Who’s the better blogger: Ryan or Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence could soon put my blog out of business. But before throwing in the towel, who’s posts do you like more? To find out, I took some of my old posts and asked ChatGPT to answer the same topics.

1. What was the coolest cell phone in the early 2000’s?

Ryan:

The Samsung Juke. It doubles as an mp3 player, fits in your pocket, and the clock is reasonably accurate. The only con is that I’m not sure if it can actually make a phone call or not.

ChatGPT:

The Nokia 3310. With its physical buttons that required a Herculean effort to press, texting on the Nokia 3310 was like playing a high-stakes game of finger gymnastics. If you mastered the art of texting on this phone, you were considered a modern-day Shakespeare.

See my full post Cell phones have gotten lamer over time

2. What’s the biggest drawbacks of having a girlfriend?

Ryan:

When your girlfriend says her hands are cold, there’s a 95% chance she’s going to put her cold hands on you to prove how cold they are.

ChatGPT:

Forget about living in a pet-free home. With a girlfriend, you suddenly find yourself in a never-ending battle against her shedding hair. 

See my full post The Drawbacks of Having a Girlfriend

3. What’s the best household appliance?

Ryan:

The George Foreman Grill, as presented by Evan and voted on by the Revolution

ChatGPT:  

The Washing Machine.

It’s a marvel of modern technology, freeing us from the ancient burden of hand-washing clothes. It’s like having a magical vortex that devours your dirty laundry and spits out fresh, clean garments. But beware of the treacherous sock-eating monster that lurks within.

See my full post What’s the best household appliance? A Spirited Quarantine Debate

4. Which is the WORST apple-based recipe?

Ryan:

Colin’s Apple Cider, from my sister’s 1st grade class cookbook. Note this recipe has more sugar than water, and one of the ingredients is “one bowl.” Some of the other recipes in the cookbook included bizarre ingredients like 20 bumble bees??, raw eggs and flour (yuck!), and then nonsensical instructions like “cook at 12 for 11.”

ChatGPT:

Apple Explosion Delight:

  1. Take peeled apples and give them a nice roll in glitter. Make sure they sparkle like magical disco balls. It’s all about that glitz and glamour in our recipe.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the toothpaste and ketchup. Stir it up until it becomes a sticky, colorful mess. This is our top-secret sauce that will bring all the flavors together. Or maybe not.

See my full post The WORST Recipes From My Sister’s First Grade Class

5. Name something useful you learned from your dad

Ryan:

With boats, don’t ask how much it’s going to cost. You don’t want to know. Just do it.

ChatGPT:

Having a secret stash of snacks strategically hidden throughout the house ensures a constant supply of deliciousness. Whether it’s a bag of chips behind the sofa or cookies in the bathroom cabinet, be prepared for any snacking emergency.

See my full post Things I Learned from My Dad

6. Can you turn your craziest dream into a movie idea?

Ryan:

Movie Title: The Pirate from the Shadows

Plot: My sister Erin and I find out we have an evil step-brother. Because of a traumatic incident as a child at Disney World, he thinks he’s a pirate, and has been locked away for years in a mental hospital. He escapes and comes after our family for revenge, armed with a pirate ship and crew.

ChatGPT:

Movie Title: Chronicles of the Quantum Dreamers

Plot: In a world where dreams come alive and reality bends to the whims of the subconscious, a quirky group of individuals discover they possess the ability to control their dreams and enter a shared dream realm called the “Quantum Dream.”

Our protagonist, Max, a socially awkward math genius, finds himself trapped in a perpetual dream loop where he’s chased by a horde of rubber duckies armed with laser guns. Desperate to escape this nightmarish cycle, he stumbles upon an underground society of Dreamers, led by the enigmatic Dr. Lucidia.

Dr. Lucidia reveals that the Quantum Dream is under threat from an evil dream villain known as the Nightmare King, whose malevolent presence is infecting dreams with fear and chaos. Max, along with a colorful crew of fellow Dreamers, including a retired circus performer who controls dreams through juggling and a talking cat with a knack for riddles, embarks on a mind-bending quest to stop the Nightmare King and restore balance to the dream realm.

See my full post Ryan’s Crazy Dreams Turned into Movie Ideas

7. How badly can you roast my friend Carter?

Ryan:

The only thing more broken than Carter’s love life is his wallet. As a broke high school student in 2012, he ordered the market price steak and lobster, and just about cried when the $80 check came. Moral of the story, Carter, if you have to ask… you still can’t afford it!

ChatGPT:

Carter, you’re like our very own Fez from That ’70s Show. I mean, with that wild hair and those big, innocent eyes, it’s like you were plucked straight out of the Jungle Book. And let’s be real here, we’re not entirely convinced you know how to read. Remember that time in Spanish class when the teacher asked about your weekend plans, and all you could muster up was “uhhhhh poptarts?” Yeah, Carter, we’ve got our doubts.

See my full post The Roast of Carter Fields: A Tribute to 16 Years of Friendship

8. How much does it cost to have a girlfriend per month?

Ryan:

Grand Total: $70.50

May 1: Britt bought ice cream for both of us. Running total: -$3.50.
May 4: Britt bought me a cocktail at Calavera. Running total: -$13.50.
May 8: I bought ice cream. Running total: -$10.
May $19: I bought a round of drinks at Top O. Running total: -$4.
May 20: Erin (my sister) gave me tickets to a Brad Paisely concert. Cost: free! We went to dinner beforehand at the Loop. Running total: $5.50.
May 23: Dinner at Imbibe, I had a gift card so it was basically free. Don’t go here for food though… 1 star.
May 31: So this one’s on me. I really wanted to go to a Green Day concert and I think the only way I could convince anyone to go with me was if I buy a ticket for Britt. Running total: $70.50.

ChatGPT:

Grad Total: $220

  1. Gift expenses: $50 – Because nothing says “I love you” like a bouquet of half-price gas station flowers and a last-minute, on-sale box of chocolates. Romance on a budget, folks!
  2. Date nights: $100 – We’re talking about those fancy candlelit dinners at the finest fast-food establishments, complete with the extra-value meal and a shared soda. Classy, yet cost-effective.
  3. Movie outings: $40 – Catching the latest blockbuster movies on discount Tuesdays, armed with a smuggled-in bag of stale popcorn and a pocketful of expired coupons.
  4. Miscellaneous surprises: $30 – This includes those spontaneous moments of chivalry, like buying her a dollar store trinket or surprise serenading her with a kazoo rendition of her favorite song.
  5. Emotional support: Priceless – Because being there for each other during good times, bad times, and the “I can’t decide what to wear” times is invaluable. Cue the sentimental music.

See my full post How Much Does it Really Cost to Have a Girlfriend: A One-month Study

9. Make up a recipe that uses less four ingredients and takes less than 20 minutes start to finish

Ryan:

Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Chicken Pizza

 Step 1: Start with pita bread— I’m really not seeing the difference between pita bread and pizza crust so let’s just stick with pita bread.

Step 2: Add pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and chicken

Step 3: Throw it in the oven for 15 minutes at 350 degrees

photo 1

ChatGPT:

Cheesy Pesto Chicken Skillet

  1. Preheat your skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides.
  3. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cook for about 5-6 minutes per side, or until they are cooked through and no longer pink in the center.
  4. Spread 2 tablespoons of pesto sauce on top of each chicken breast.
  5. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the chicken breasts.
  6. Add the cherry tomato halves to the skillet, spreading them around the chicken.
  7. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the tomatoes are slightly softened.
  8. Remove the skillet from heat and let it cool for a minute or two.
  9. Serve the cheesy pesto chicken hot, and optionally garnish with fresh basil leaves for extra flavor.

See my full post How to Food: The One Where Ryan Learns How to Cook and Can Teach You Too

10. Create a Bingo board using action movie cliches

Ryan:

ChatGPT:

See my full post Bad Guy Bingo: A Summary of Every Action Movie Ever

Still not convinced? Check out these 10 reasons why you should follow my blog

DIY Projects at the Kelley House

Brittany and I (along with lots of help from our dads) are trying to learn some DIY skills. Here’s a look back at the past few months…

Replaced a rotten deck post (scroll through)

Replaced a leaking garbage disposal (which had started pouring water five minute before we were about to leave for our wedding)

Brittany spackled and painted over lots of dog scratches

Straightened the fence (scroll through)

Patched over some holes in the wall

Made some minor color adjustments

Installed a ceiling fan

And lots more– changed locks, replaced dishwasher hoses, installed a flood light, sealed the driveway, refinished furniture (in process), and changed/installed smoke detectors, among others.

A Tribute to 20 Years of Friendship

Zach has been one of my best friends since we met in Mrs. Hopp’s class in the third grade. Here’s a picture history of our friendship…

Fifth Grade Graduation circa 2005

Always having goggles on hand

A birthday party at Celebration Station

An early camping trip with the Boy Scouts

Ziggy’s to see Zach’s brother play a show, probably around middle school

Figuring out how to use social media for the first time (and how to spell)

But don’t be fooled there were also some tense times along the way too…

Our junior year prom

Sophomore / junior year of high school

High school graduation

A camping trip we almost didn’t make it back from

That time he tried to hit on my sister and her friend…

Halloween 2016 ish (1950’s “Greaser” and Burt Reynolds?)

Halloween 2017 (Samuel Adams and Mr. Gamby from the TV show Vice Principals)

Playing in the snow

Zach, aka the “Godfather”

A canoeing/camping trip

Lots of sporting events (here Mount Tabor won the state championship)

\

And hopefully many more good times to come…

She said Yes!

Brittany had no idea.

She had worked until 11pm the night before and was just tired enough that she hadn’t picked up on any of the subtle clues. Most notably, her best friends Carol, Kayla, and Brooke had taken her to get her nails done just a few days before. In Brittany’s eyes, the plan for the day was we were going to have lunch at a new restaurant in the American Tobacco Campus, go Christmas shopping at South Point mall, and then meet up with friends to watch the UNC basketball game.

However, as we approached the lunch spot I pulled her aside and told her that we didn’t actually have lunch reservations. She was confused, but quickly understood what was happening when I got down on one knee. I spoke from the heart and asked her if she would spend the rest of her life with me. It was all a blur– I can’t remember word for word what I said, and I’m not even sure if any words came out of Brittany’s mouth. But she enthusiastically and repeatedly nodded “YES” as she fought back tears and I slipped the ring onto her finger. Meanwhile, Roy, our photographer, emerged from the shadows and a small group of bystanders clapped.

That wasn’t the last surprise of the day, though.  After wrapping up photos, we headed home to start calling family and close friends. Unbeknownst to Brittany, all of those people already knew the good news and were waiting for us at Ramblers, the neighborhood bar which was conveniently on the way home. For the second time that day, I could see Brittany’s face fill with shock and then joy as she peered into the glass windows and realized there was a party waiting for her. I owe a special thank you to to Erin, Kayla, and Carol for helping plan and execute this special part of the day.

By the end of the day we were exhausted but filled with love and excitement. We look forward to celebrating with all of you in the coming year!

Pictures of Pictures: A Journey Through Utah’s National Parks

Brittany, John, and I just returned from a long trip through Utah’s National Parks nicknamed the “Mighty Five.” Rather than taking boring traditional pictures, I decided to just take pictures of Brittany taking pictures (and she took a lot).

Here’s the first picture that inspired this blog post, taken at Zion National park.
Right after we got there, Brittany quickly pulled out her phone to take a picture of these deer. Turns out we’d see about a thousand more over the next few days.
A rare picture of both Brittany and John taking a picture of the same view from Zion.
These rock formations are called “hoodoos” at Bryce Canyon National Park.
Brittany snapping a picture of John at the Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park.
Awesome view under the arch.
Notice the camera lens cover is still on.
Another view of Bryce Canyon where the ground underneath a tree has eroded over time.
This is a morning sunrise near Capitol Reef National Park.
This is the bridge over Hoover Dam, where I was clinging tightly to the wall.

Taken from the Ethel M. Chocolate Factory near Las Vegas, which had a strangely decorated Cactus garden outside.

If you liked this post, check out my very fist post, “Pictures of my Finger in Unique Places in Europe.”

Senior Superlatives… Did we get it right?

It’s been nine years since Mount Tabor gave out these prestigious awards. Did we give the right awards to the right people? Cast your vote at the bottom.

1. Most Intelligent: George Oliver

george0001_censored

Was this the right choice? Definitely.

George Oliver is no stranger to winning awards dating back to the middle school geography bee. He knows every world capital, several languages, and the answers to every quiz in “Seventeen” magazine.

2. Best Dressed: Matt Stockburger

matt0002_censored

Was this the right choice? Probably not.

Matt was never afraid to take a fashion risk. Unfortunately, some of those risks didn’t work out, like UGG boots for men, cowboy boots with short shorts, or, my favorite, a crop top with “USC GameCOCKS” on the front (big emphasis on the COCKS).

3. Most Athletic: Neal Callahan

neal_censored v3

Was this the right choice? At the time, yes. Right now, no.

Neal had six pack abs since elementary school and was a two-sport varsity athlete in high school. But he totally washed out as soon as he went to college and joined a fraternity. Now he’s Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite.

4. Most Musical: Liz Olson

liz_censored v3

Was this the right choice? Unquestionable yes.

Liz was in all of the high school plays, talent shows, and choral groups. Since then, she’s earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Theory, a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting, and has even performed at Red Rocks amphitheater. This pick was right on key.

5. Most spirited: Kayla Blevins

kayla and sean

Was this the right choice? TBD.

According to Kayla, her biggest accomplishment as Senior Class President was choosing the theme for high school football games. Her next responsibility is planning our 10 year high school reunion in 2021. I’m going to hold off on a formal rating until I find out if the party will have an open bar or not.

6. Most Spirited: Sean Gartley

kayla and sean

Was this the right choice? Probably.

Sean went to every high school sporting event… mainly just to find out where the after party was… but he was there.

Was Ryan a Ladies’ Man in Middle School? Analyzing photo evidence from old year books

Hindsight is 20:20. Take a look at who signed my yearbook and then vote at the bottom.

Evidence For:

1. Sparkly eyes… check.

pro 3 sparkly eyes_censored

2. Back to back phone numbers. Score.

pro 2 cell numbers_censored (1)

3. Nice.

pro 1 good times dancing_censored final 2

Evidence Against:

1. Uh oh. This isn’t good.

con 1 best guy friend (2)_censored

2. Seriously?? Two in one year really hurts.

con 2 best guy friend_censored

3. This is DEFINITELY not what I was going for. Here’s a note I got from another male track team member.

con 3 rock hard_censored

4. I’m 100% sure this never happened.

con 4 fat_censored

5… And by ninth grade the only signature I got was from my sister.

In Conclusion, No, probably not.