Every year around this time, the threat of the first "snowmegeddon" starts to circulate. There is always the question however, of whether this awful impending blizzard will really live up to the news hype, or if Mother Nature will change her mind. Do the school's and businesses really need to be shut down? Do you have to run to the store and buy enough food to last you a month? The thing is, you never know. Even though we have amazing scientists doing around the clock information about storms such as this, we can never be one hundred percent sure. Since that is the case, it is never a bad idea to be at least a little prepared.
Aside from your standard first aid kit, you might have to have some of these on hand as well...
Three days’ worth of nonperishable food
Can opener
Water
Extra pet food and water
Flashlights and batteries
Waterproof matches
Candles
Change of clothes in a knapsack
Extra set of house and car keys
Blanket
Roll of toilet paper
Notebook
Wine (of course)
In addition to your house, make sure you stock up in your car as well, just in case.
Blankets
Snacks
Water
Flashlight
Shovel
Extra Salt (or Kitty Litter)
Crank Radio
Not that you should be driving anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary, there are a few things you can do to make your life a little easier for driving in a snow storm.
Don't forget to raise your windshield wipers. If you want to get double protection, cover them with an old pair of socks so they don't get ruined.
Take an old large sock, fill it with cat litter and leave it in your car over night. This will absorb moisture in the air and it will prevent fog and frost on your windows.
Use cooking spray to keep the rubber edges of your doors from freezing shut.
Do not. I repeat. Do not use hot water to melt the snow off of your windshield. You will have a cracked, and ruined windshield, which is much worse and harder to fix.
Put large zip lock bags over your mirrors to prevent them from freezing over.
Water and vinegar makes a great DIY ice melt.
Use a car mat to get traction if your tires are stuck on ice.
In the end, you may or may not need to use any of these things (It is always a blessing when you do not). So, this snowstorm, stay inside, stay safe, use the excuse to lay around in your PJs all day on a Netflix binge and just relax.
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The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
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