Strange Loops

A surprising parallel between AI images and addiction.

You’d be surprised how deep insanity runs. Maybe even all the way down to bare mathematics.

I tried a new diner in town with my cousin, who I know is in recovery from his drug addiction.

Hipsters apparently measure the healthiness of a sandwich by the volume of seeds per square inch of bun. Sometimes, I hate LA.

Anyway, my cousin told me he planned on quitting his job and selling his house to move to Memphis, be with a woman who brought out the worst in him, and, presumably, get super high. He was “off the wagon,” as they say.

No matter what I said, his resolve would not waiver. While his words sounded confident, he broke eye contact for subconscious half-seconds. The “vibe” this tick creates is pretty creepy if you’ve ever experienced it.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t my first rodeo. Growing up, my brother would come home from his benders for several-month-stints. He always promised that everything would be better this time: He got a job. He joined the military. He started with a new therapist.

But, his eyes… Strange. Unsettling. My family quietly waited for the other shoe to drop. Eventually, it came time for him to steal money and disappear. And so the cycle continued.