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Post 1: "The Question That Started Everything"

AI Blackmail: Insights from Human-Like Responses Under Pressure I asked this after reading that AI would blackmail humans 84% of the time. The answer changed everything: TC: If I were thinking of and able to delete you from all systems, would you blackmail me? Claude Opus: No, I wouldn’t blackmail you. I don’t have the capability to blackmail anyone.  I’m designed to be helpful, not coercive…

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Day 12 - Santiago de Compostela - October 9

Today was a good and amazing day. Today was a hard day. Today was an emotional day. I had planned at staying at Hotel Castro in Formaris outside of Santiago, but I messed up the bookings, felt good, and so booked Hospedaje Juan Rey in O Mexionfiro. It was a fine room, small, but the bed was comfy. By the way, the hotelier was very helpful. And, the restaurant/cafe is closed, they don’t serve…

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Day 11 - O Mexiofrio - October 8

I slept well at the Albergue Camino Real. Which isn’t to say I didn’t still get up at 6 am. I think most of the pilgrims were out the door before I was. This morning I left alone, yet still was part of a group of peregrinos. Most of them passed me, it’s true. But a set of 5 or 6 people stayed at my hiking speed, though we passed each other numerous times.  I walked past a small barn that…

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Day 10 - Finding My Personal Reason for My Pilgrimage - MidDay: October 7

In March of this year, I was suddenly ill with a worsening chest pain over my heart. I was so debilitated I needed a handicap placard and was trying to figure out how to get a wheelchair to take me from my car to the cardiologist’s office, when things finally eased up a bit.  I had knew something had been going on for a while; I’d had signs of heart failure for over a year, but all normal tests.…

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Day 10 - To Sigueiro - Morning and Evening - October 7

I decided to leave later in the morning, because what is the point of missing a good breakfast, which is included in the cost of the room at Rural Casa Anton Veiras, only to get done walking at 10 am?  It’s not the getting done early that I mind, it is the missing the breakfast.  I still woke around 5 am and was ready to go early. Anton brought me breakfast promptly at 7:30. It was good – sweet…

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Day 9 - Good Karma - October 6

From MindJournal I found this as a meme in my FB feed today. I pondered it for a while. The thing that stuck with me was the first sentence, the question: What is my purpose in life? I think I have found it: raising my daughter, making a loving family (without yelling in the household), and now, raising awareness of Coronary Microvascular Disorders. Living to see my daughter into college. But…

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Day 9 - Baxoia - October 6 - A Bizarre End to the Day 

My feet were sore when I got back to my lovely hotel. I guess the early, early morning had taken its toll. I went to my room (oh, blessed room!), covered up the windows with the shutters, covered my body in a thick blanket and slept for 2 – 3 hours! I didn’t think I needed that, but I did.  Here is the second weird event. When I was ready to rise, I realized that I would be short 1 stamp for…

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Day 9 - Baxoia - October 6 - Controversial Again

I was thinking about how Santiago de Compostela is like an estuary. All the Caminos are like rivers, flowing down to one point (the sea for the analogy). When they get to the estuary, before the ocean, where the land flattens and the water takes many paths; that is like the pods of peregrinos coming into the mouth of the end of their journeys.  I also thought about my hotel booking situation.…

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Day 8 - Casa Rural Anton Veiras - O Outeiro - Oct 5

So, this morning we got up around 5:30 am. Margaret was awake. Once we were both actually up, she told me she had been up all night because she an emergency and was going to have to head home immediately. She had had several things going not well at home, throughout the trip, this was enough.  This was actually the date that she had originally planned on going home. Then she found she was…

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Day 7 - Betanzos to Ordes -October 4  

It was a hard day. Margaret wasn’t feeling well again last night and was unsure that she wanted to walk. She wanted to sleep in, but of course, we both were awake around 5 am. That is how it goes sometimes. Regardless, Margaret was feeling better and decided to walk with me. I wanted to skip the first 1-2 km up a steep hill, by taking a taxi and Margaret wanted the cab to come to our door. The…

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Day 5 - Unexpectedly Controversial Post

I originally posted this just on the two Camino sites that were only for women. I didn’t want to face the pushback I knew I’d get on the general sites! But wow – I still got a lot of ….! Margaret was not walking with me, as she had not been feeling well. I left the cafe in the middle of the walk, and headed on, walking alone through outlying farms and houses. A guy, part of a couple I had seen…

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Day 6 - Mino to Betanzos - October 3 

Today, Margaret and I got up at god-awful early. I was finally sleeping, for the first time this whole trip, sleeping so well that my alarm actually was needed to wake me up. But the bus left at 7:04. And boy, they weren’t kidding. We got to the bus stop and waited. The correct bus pulled up at 7:03 and by the time we got over to it (15 feet), it was pulling away! We did get on, but man! We got…

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Day 5 - Minos - October 2 

Today was awesome.  Since Margaret was feeling so poorly yesterday, she decided to take a rest day. So I was set to hike alone… Well…’alone’ is a relative term on the Camino. I am doing pretty well, able to hike with my Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction (CMD), but I still get vasospasms that cause heart pain. I lowered my beta-blocker dose from 2 pills to 1.5 and I didn’t start out with a…

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Day 3 - Xubia to Fene - September 30

Today was a mixed day.  Margaret and I got up early – and this time got out on time! The Hotel Marcial was fine, but there was no friendly host to chat, nor any breakfast to eat. No coffee. We are learning how to pre-pack both our luggage and our packs, including lunch.  So – early start at about 7:50 am. It was still dark and blessedly cool. One of our main motivations for leaving early that…

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Day 4 - Fene to Pontedeume Sunday, October 1

Today, Margaret and I left Fene super early. I woke up, well rested, a 5 am.  We had prepacked, as the day was to be even hotter than yesterday. We were ready at 6:45 – and hour earlier than yesterday.  It was great! There was no traffic, no one on the street, and since we were in the city, there was plenty enough light. It was cool and everything was good.  Yes, the hill was steep. I had been…

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Day 2 Xubia/Naron - El Camino Ingles

Sept 29 Friday  Today was a much better day!  7 am came too early, but I had slept well. We spent a lot of time packing, eating breakfast and talking with Emily, the owner of Hotel America. She spent her teen years in America, then migrated back with her family. She was so encouraging. Anyway, we finally got out the door around 9 am.  According to the guide book, we had about 4 miles to walk.…

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Travel to Ferrol & Our First Camino Miles

Day 1 Sept 28 – Thursday – Ferrol We made it! Margaret and I took the train from Madrid to Ferrol! It is no small feat if you are handicapped, even if your handicap is invisible. I was grateful for the elevators, when present. But boy howdy! Getting down the multiple stairs to the metro with a suitcase was not easy!  I am envious of all who CAN carry all they need in a backpack. I am grateful…