Editorials from Theslowlane

Lust for wealth and retribution are major factors driving Trump politics. Plus there are a few slightly better motivations for it's rise.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 15:59:16 +0000

It seems like two major things drive the Trump movement. A lust for wealth and prosperity and the desire for retribution. Getting back at one's perceived enemies.

There are other somewhat more positive, but less prominent things. Some folks feel that he's an out of the box innovator. His candidness may be refreshing, compared to normal politicians. Quite a few people are frustrated with "process," regulation and the slow pace of progress. There's a desire to "just get it done." Reliance on simple answers and sound bytes in a society that seems to lack patience.

Yes, our large complex society is gridlocked with the demands from contradicting interests among the public.

The traditional left also has it's desire to increase or maintain the material standard of living, plus there is also resentment among many people's who feel they have been shafted by others, so to speak.

I still tend to lean left, but negativity infects the entire political debate.

The right wing seems to be better, much of the time, at marketing the politics of resentment.

Community wealth versus private wealth.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 15:31:57 +0000

I've never had that much interest in accumulating personal wealth even though I'm not in poverty.

My interest is more in community wealth, the buildings, parks, bike lanes and so forth.

Some community wealth is privately owned which is okay also. Even the wealth of billionaires, if it's serving the community; such as the buildings of a business. I have little interest in the fancy private homes, however.

On bike trips down the California Coast, I camped in San Simeon State Park a few times, but I never bothered to take the time to go up the hill to the Hearst Castle. That's the opulent mansion of the historic Hearst Family. It's now a museum and tourist attraction.

The big mansion I never bothered to visit at San Simeon.

Along south part of Big Sur Highway.

I'm headed down Highway 1 in San Simeon area 2006.

Ragged Point eatery. A place to buy food after the long Big Sur Road through mountains along the sea. One day's ride from Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park to San Simeon.

A beach near San Simeon.

A few photos from other trips in that part of the California Coast.

Big Sur in 2003, but then I had a camera with a date stamp that I never bothered to set. It stamped everything with 1994.

The kind of private property that's not open to the public. I took this for effect. A mansion view along 25 Mile Drive outside Monterey. 2003.

Bixby Bridge in Big Sur Area.

My friend Rick Segreda who joined me during my 2003 bicycle trip down the coast. Posing in a pedestrian tunnel crossing under the highway.

Riding bikes to shoebox-sized apartments can still be a prosperous vision of the future.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 17:39:44 +0000

Some Trump supporters might think my vision of the future is riding bikes to shoebox-sized apartments and eating crickets, to quote a DOT spokesperson interviewed on NPR.

Except for the crickets, some of that is correct, but my vision of the future also involves chatting with AI, following the news from space telescopes. Biking around town following the progress of construction projects. Enjoying the sight of new construction. Looking forward to technological breakthroughs like hydrogen fusion. Having lots of friends who are millionaires (these days, just being a homeowner can mean being a millionaire).

I've experienced riding in a Rivian all electric truck, it was fun and interesting. I've also been on all electric buses and the Skytrain in Vancouver, BC. I look forward to the days of safer, self driving cars. Among my favorite travel destinations are the observation floors of tall skyscrapers.

Part of my view from observation deck of Columbia Tower in 2025 during a transit / bike trip to Seattle.

My vision of the future seems bright and prosperous to me. I still find biking a friendly way to follow the construction sites and serendipitously meet up with friends along the way. It's a more interesting way to stay in shape than working out in a gym.

As bike information is being removed from Trump's Department of Transportation, a DOT spokesperson told NPR in an emailed statement, "This is a common sense approach despite the Left's belief that everyone should ride a bike to their shoebox-sized apartment to eat crickets to achieve a phony climate agenda." <

If the vote is close gerrymandering will likely keep Republicans and Trump running national government.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:15:50 +0000

I hope for nearly a landslide vote for Democrats this November. If it's a close vote, I fear that gerrymandering will maintain Republican and Trump's total control of the national government.

Maybe Republicans should advocate an income tax increase to pay for their war.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 03:38:41 +0000

The Defense (or the War) Department wants more more money due to the war with Iran and spreading to other areas. I wonder when and if Republicans would ever say that there needs to be an increase in income taxes? People sacrificed during WWII when they thought that was necessary.

I remember the phrase "Guns and butter" during the the Vietnam War.

Learning more about the development of Salish Landing Park than just peeking past the trees along South Bay Trail.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 16:40:25 +0000

Progress is being made turning an old landfill into Salish Landing Park. It will take 3 years as a lot of work has to be done. The process was being explained during a kayak tour. I didn't kayak, but met them at a their rest stop in Boulevard Park. There was a discussion about what steps are being taken to develop the new park. The process is interesting.

From South Bay Trail, one can see lots of work being done. the view is through the trees.

Eventually the city plans to put up a sign explaining things and possibly trim some trees for a better view.

Like a vapor barrier, the toxic landfill is being covered in a thick permanent cap. More rocks and soil will be put on top with the park built above that.

Thousands of pages of documents explains things. Lots of agencies are working on this, including the State Department of Ecology.

I read about the kayak trip and ask AI if there was any way to learn from the trip without a kayak. AI explained that a rest stop and information session was planned on shore at Boulevard Park along the way.

Kayakers on their way along the shore from the Boating Center in Fairhaven District past Boulevard Park and then up to the new Salish Landing site.

Passing Bellingham's famous little island made out of tin flakes tossed out from a cannery that was there long ago.

On way back to boating Center the kayakers stopped at Boulevard Park for a lunch break and information session.

Lots of questions were answered.

Here is the containment cap seen from the railroad crossing at Warf Street and the end of Corwall Avenue. I went there later in the day.

View from the north entrance. Site is not open to public. It will take nearly 3 years to build, monitor and open as a park. The park will be larger than Boulevard Park.

It takes patience to wait through this long process. It might be like the building of a cathedral in the Middle Ages, only not as long. Some Cathedrals took hundreds of years to build.

Is pride sinful? The sinful concept is more likely arrogance.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 16:25:27 +0000

Some religious people think of pride as being a sin. I got to thinking that people get the concepts of pride and arrogance mixed up. Some of my conversations with AI indicate that other writers have similar thinking.

Arrogance, the thinking you're better than others, looking down on others is more the concept that is problematic.

Definitions of words can vary over time and when translated between languages, such as from ancient scriptural writings until today.

Self righteousness can be related to arrogance. Someone who refuses to consider another opinion often thinking they are always right is self righteous.

Humbleness is more a virtue. Scientists often admit that an old theory they had was wrong when tested against better evidence. There's the term "back to the drawing board."

As for the name of the pride parades, the word pride may seem "in your face" to some people, but it is different than arrogance.

Other words that relate to the concept are acceptance and gratitude. There is acceptance that one is okay and one's life has been okay.

Another concept that seems lacking in modern society is gratitude. Having gratitude for what we have and acceptance of who we are can bring peace of mind.

Detached homes bring detached cars.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:42:24 +0000

It seems like the biggest hurdle, for electric vehicles, is the battery. It's still better than gasoline, but it has its problems of cost, chemicals, weight and so forth.

Battery technology can improve, but in the meantime I still like Seattle's electric buses that run from overhead wires connected to the power grid. No need for the battery. Yes, the bus has to be attached to a wire system. Eventually, private cars could be attached to a road based charging system, so I read.

Still, I got to thinking about the concept of attached, versus detached. Attached trolly buses are more economically viable in areas where there are less detached single family homes. This relates to density.

Detached homes are usually less efficient for heating and cooling as well. Detached homes lead to more detached vehicles. I connect the dots.

The Pride Parades are becoming about acceptance of a broad spectrum of lifestyles

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:38:36 +0000

I think that pride parades have evolved over the years. At the historic roots are in the LGBTAQ rights movements, but the concept of acceptance can be broad. It's called the Bellingham Pride Parade, or sometimes called Pride In Bellingham. Acceptance of a broad spectrum of lifestyles, sexual orientations, races, national origins, and so forth. Some people might feel that the original seed has been watered down, but it is turning into a nice message of acceptance. There are parts of the world where people fight over these things. Here we celebrate many flags of many colors.

Following my bliss path didn't bring high wealth, but it was an authentic path to happiness.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:03:45 +0000

After college, I did gardening jobs and custodial work to pay the bills. Work was mellow and non stressful. I wasn't qualified for most higher end professional jobs.

I also wrote and did a lot of self publishing thinking, at first, that the experience would look good on a resume. It never got me into so called "professional work," but it was what I wanted to do all along. Now that I'm retired, I'm still doing it.

My first priority was saying what I wanted to say, rather than figuring out what sells. Without a family, pets, or a car to support, there wasn't that much pressure to make lots of money. I also found niches with affordable rent.

Zuanich Point Park memorial takes a hit, but gets restored.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:57:04 +0000

Where I go for Saturday's silent disco dance brings memories of fun, calming bay views and sunsets. Now there's social media posts that the memorial, at Zuanich Point Park for those lost at sea, was badly vandalized with paint. It's being cleaned and restored.

Fortunately the granite is hard to vandalize permanently, but restoration comes at cost in dollars and time.

I haven't paid much attention to that sculpture as it quietly watches over the park. It's hard to imagine why someone would want to do that except out of meanness.

Memorial being cleaned and restored from the paint dump.

North side of I-5 in Bellingham where the boxstores are is like a trip in itself.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:35:16 +0000

One slightly arthritic ankle has bothered me for years while dancing and walking, but not while biking. A doctor recommended remidy is new shoes, better arch support and so forth.

Bike traveling to the north side of I-5 in Bellingham where the boxstores are is like a trip in itself. Improving bike access has allowed me to avoid the rat race.

Selfi at Big 5 where I noticed floor tile almost looks like the official colors of WWU. "Back the blue."

Freshly painted bike lanes along James Street north of I-5.

A bike / pedestrian path being built on north into the King Mountain Neighborhood pushing improvements farther north.

To go between sprawling parking lots, one often has to improvise, but look at the flowers in the vacant lot accoss the street!

Amazing, this field of flowers.

Looking east.

It's near a bike path by Whatcom Community College.

I ate at the northside branch of Bellingham Food Coop.

Showing off the meal I had.

Artistic bike racks at the Coops in Cordata and Downtown were made by the HUB bicycle Collective.

What much of the boxstore neighborhood looks like.

Bellingham has been called the "Tijuana of Canada."

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:13:08 +0000

Some people notice empty storefronts in downtown Bellingham. I remember when I came here for college, I was amazed how many stores Bellingham had compared to my hometown of Pullman.

Bellingham was not that much bigger than Pullman, but it seemed to have many times more stores. Then someone said it's supported by Canadian shoppers. Yes, at one point, during my college years I read that around half of the dollars, supporting Bellingham businesses, were Canadian. That figure varies over the years due to exchange rates and so forth. Today, many Canadians are staying home due to dislike of Trump.

During the 1980s, I remember one national TV network (maybe CBS) doing a feature on cross border shopping. It called Bellingham the "Tijuana of Canada."

It does seem like there is a lot of floorspace devoted to retail, compared to how much the local population can spend.

Property values and rents have gotten so high that they squeeze out other spending. Today, retailing is also competing with online shopping.

Years ago, when Georgia Pacific Pulp Mill and other factories closed taking away many family wage jobs, I wondered if retailing would take a hit. Those big industries brought outside money into the local area by selling products that were used all over the world.

Some of that loss was more than made up with retirement dollars. Lots of people moving to this area bringing their retirement incomes and home equity with them.

A few years ago, I jokingly said that Bellingham's economy is based on home equity loans.

Yes, it does seem like there still is lots of floorspace devoted to retail with the downtown and all the outlying districts as well as the mall. This is a problem in many American cities.

Pullman, where I grew up, has a lot more shopping now than it did during my high school years before the development of Bishop Boulevard. Bishop is to Pullman what Meridian is to Bellingham.

I tend to only use Facebook from a desktop. Not while distracted on the go.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:06:24 +0000

I basically only use Facebook from a desktop computer. It's not that I don't want it on my phone, but it seems to always come up in Spanish on my phone. I tried to fix that once and English came back for a while. Then it went to Spanish again.

I don't multitask and use Facebook on the go anyway. I like to focus on deeper thinking so I prefer a desktop in my quiet apartment.

Tips I got from Google AI for saving energy on the servers when I ask that question.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:59:41 +0000

I use AI like a personal tutor. Still I think about how much energy it uses, so I ask Google AI. It provided tips which I'll share.

You can significantly lower the server-side energy consumption of your desktop AI sessions by adopting a few highly effective habits:

1. The "One Topic, One Chat" Rule.
If you keep using a single, massive chat thread for weeks, every single new question you type forces the server to re-read the entire history from day one just to answer a simple question.

The Green Solution: Start a fresh chat thread every time you switch topics or finish a task. A short, clean thread takes a fraction of the computational energy to process compared to a sprawling, 20-page archive.

2. Condense and Prompt Efficiently.
Sending dozens of rapid-fire, single-sentence follow-up questions keeps the server constantly recalculating.

The Green Solution: Take an extra moment to bundle your thoughts into one comprehensive, well-structured prompt. Fewer server requests translate directly to less electricity used.

3. Archive Locally.
Clicking back into old threads just to read or reference information you talked about last week triggers the server-side context reloading process.

The Green Solution: Once a conversation yields a piece of code, a piece of writing, or a breakdown you want to keep, use the Export to Google Docs feature. Reading that data from Google Docs or a local text file uses virtually zero computational power compared to waking up an LLM.

4. Rely on Search Engines for Simple Facts.
Asking an AI "What is the capital of France?" or "When does the local post office close?" forces a massive neural network to fire billions of connections just to give you a static fact.

The Green Solution: For straightforward lookups, direct links, or simple facts, a traditional web search is significantly more energy-efficient than generating text via an AI model.

---

Now I'll add that I mostly use AI for text based research. I also gather that image rendering, music and other uses use quite a bit more power for the AI servers; especially video rendering.

A microcosm of climate change in the Washington DC reflecting pool.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:59:19 +0000

The problems with the reflecting pool, on the Mall in Washington DC, makes me think of climate change. Both problems seem to relate to warming and science denial.

I've been having talks with AI about this. I did have an idea that if the algae can be blamed on sabotage it would be someone dumping fertilizer into the water. Not alleged cutting of the painted surface.

AI agreed and apparently Trump did come up with a similar idea, it just hasn't gotten as much publicity. Still, there isn't evidence of that; from cameras and so forth.

Much more likely, the heating of the pool from a darker surface absorbing sunlight has an effect; like climate change on a small scale. Seems like the problem can be blamed on poor planning; something I find more common among Republican rulers, so I believe.

It looks like Trump is still forging ahead with more expensive plans to prevent algae growth while insisting on keeping the pool blue. It's your tax dollars at work from a party that talks about efficiency in government.

In spite of science, I fear that the Supreme Court could side with presidential power over the folks who hope and file lawsuits, in lower courts, for another, more efficient strategy to manage the reflecting pool; like going back to its original color.

Yes, lots of dirty nutrients get into the pool all the time anyway, according to AI. Bird droppings storm runoff and so forth. I'd also add my own thought -litter. Yes, people can be part of the problem, but conspiracy theories about sabotage seem typical of Trump's populist tendency to blame someone.

A problem with populism.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 06:48:20 +0000

It's a relief that Maine Senate Democratic candidate Graham Platner has stepped out of the race due to the allegations he faces.

I tend to be critical of populism on either the left or the right. I sometimes think "the people are the enemy" even though I do like most people. That is just my political idea of why we end up with so many political problems. Of course Trump is also a populist. Campaigns driven by anger and passion.

Unfortunately passion can motivate the masses and the fundraising, on both sides, but passion can often lead to trouble.

I hope the Democrats can find a viable candidate to run in our push to take back at least something in national government. I tend to think that incremental change usually works better than revolutionary change.

Is using AI cheating today? I remember when using the encyclopidia, for writing a term paper was considered lazy.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:23:10 +0000

Like Facebook and other things, AI can be a useful tool. It's also a fad right now being pushed, in part, by its potential as a cash cow to our money addicted society. It's both loved and hated.

In some ways, it's just glorified reference books. Websites, like Webmd offered well organized FAQs before AI. Before that, there were reference books in the library. Some materials have been well organized for easy reference. Other writing and website designs are more complicated to navigate and find what one wants.

AI speeds up that process even more. I'm sure it has other uses, but answering questions is a big feature. Some answers may not be accurate, but that's the same with any media.

I remember, during my school days, teachers would often have you write a term paper. They would sometimes say, "Don't use the encyclopedia." That was considered too easy, almost like cheating. They wanted people to read through other books and magazines to learn how to fish out information the hard way, so to speak.

When a Bicentennial wagon train rolled through Bellingham.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 05:22:15 +0000

Remembering the Bicentennial around 1976, this area played an important role in the national celebration. Summer of 1975 saw the start of several wagon trains headed to Valley Forge Pennsylvania for the 1976 celebration.

One of the trains started at Peace Arch Park with a big camp at Northwest Washington Fair Grounds in Lynden. Then it headed through Bellingham camping in Cornwall Park. The horse drawn carriages went around 15 miles per day, stopping for winter as they made their way across USA. Many folks greeted the wagons as they passed through.

The one from this area went south to Portland and then followed close to the route of the Oregon Trail. I was asking AI about this.

I had a memory of this happening during my early college years as it was getting lots of publicity, but I didn't see the wagon train itself.

Now I realize, the reason why I didn't see its passage through Bellingham was that I was back home for the summer in Pullman when the wagon trains rolled through Bellingham.

Is Social Security an entitlement? It is under the first connotation of the word, but this gets conflated with another connotation of the word.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 21:49:34 +0000

There are two connotations to the word entitlement. One is that it is something you are entitled to that you paid into and / or has been promised to you. The other is the attitude of "entitlement," like the concept of being spoiled. The two are different. The two connotations get conflated in discussion.

My childhood Fourth of July memories are from a neighborhood picnic.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 23:20:09 +0000

It was on a hill that served as a natural amphitheater for fireworks after dark.

Our little neighborhood was sandwiched between two dorm complexes for Washington State University in Pullman. Back in those days, Pullman didn't have an official fireworks display, as I remember. It was all homegrown little gatherings.

Out in the little town of Johnson, south of Pullman, was a quaint little parade that still takes place these days. I only remember being at that parade once, during my college years when I was back in Pullman for summer break.

The little neighborhood picnic that, I remember more often, continued (I think) into the 1980s. I remember it from the 1960s to the 70s.

The area that was like a stage with the other WSU buildings in the background.

My picture of a Vesuvius Fountain. Little fireworks from Safe and Sane that were sold at a fireworks stand.

Picture, from my brother Bill's collection taken during one of the potlucks.

When they hissed at Dixy Lee Ray and other memories from possibly more optomistic times, the 1976 Bicentennial.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 22:59:54 +0000

USA's 250 year birthday seems fairly tarnished by worries about an overly powerful president and hotter weather cancelling some events back east. I bring up memories from the Bicentennial in 1976, my college years at WWU.

Back issues of our campus newspaper, The Western Front, have been digitized and are searchable on the Wilson Library website. The service is free.

Remembering that I had written something that was placed in a time capsule, I looked up the details of that Bicentennial capsule on campus.

I knew that I would not likely live, in this earthly form, to the 300 year birthday when that capsule was to be opened. Too bad it wasn't a 50 year capsule. 100 years is a too long to wait, however I can open the time capsule of the Western Front Newspaper Archive today.

By searching for the capsule, I came up with the October 1976 Edition of the Western Front, a bit after the Forth of July, but when the article, about the capsule, appeared.

Also, in that same edition was a treasure-trove of other things I remember, including one of my own letters to the editor.

Here are some selected screen captures from that paper.

I remember sitting in the back of that lecture hall when Dixy Lee Ray gave a speach. She was running for governor of Washington State as a Democrat. Her pro nuclear power stance got heckles from the audience.

At one point, I remember her talking about fossil fuels running out, "but we still have the atom."

The crowd started hissing loudly. When the room calmed down she said, "would someone please remove the snakes."

The hissing sound was associated with "atomic" back then.

About that time capsule now buried in the State Capitol Building.

President Ford was in the White House, Watergate had mostly been resolved and Carter was running for president.

People wrote, "Will Carter win?" They also drew lots of magic mushrooms on the paper as that was a big thing back then.

I wrote a comment wondering where the gay movement would be and also wondering how civilization would adjust to so many natural resources being depleated on earth.

Some people called Dixy Lee Ray, "Dixy Lee Radiation."

The writeup of her speach. Looking back, it was quite insightful.
Continued writeup.

A play about gay rights that was big in the local area, back then. Play by Rebecca Valrejean.
I knew her. She was one of the founders of the gay group on campus. She was a student just before my time.

One of the venues, besides campus and around the state for the play Lavender Troubador, was in this building.

Back then, someone was planning to develop it as a community center for many alternative things.

It later became an office supply store and is now other things.

Mural has been added recently.

Oh, ya. This letter was also in that issue of the Western Front as well. Coincidence.

After the big gay symposium, on campus, in 1976, I noticed that it seemed like apathy was setting in.

The fast lane versus the slow lane.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:45:23 +0000
I call my online presence theslowlane. Here's the fast lane.

From an Idaho Department of Transportation Facebook post.

New law alert

Heavy trucks can now travel up to 80 mph on Idaho highways, matching the speed limit for passenger vehicles where posted. The goal of the change is to reduce crashes caused by speed differences between passenger vehicles and large commercial trucks.

Even with the updated speed limit, safety still comes down to drivers making smart decisions behind the wheel:

. Don’t linger in truck blind spots

. Give large vehicles extra space

. Allow more stopping distance

. Be patient when passing

Big trucks need more time and space to react and small decisions can make a big difference on the road. Some trucks, RVs, and people pulling trailers can't go 80, so continue to watch out for slower moving vehicles.

Years ago, Montana used to have no posted speed limit for cars on certain highways. I biked through that state several times during cross country bike tours and survived thanks to wide shoulders and light traffic volumes. Trucks still had to go slower.

Image from 1997

I think they now have a speed limit again.

Back then, the speed limit was "reasonable and prudent." This was determined by law enforcement at the scean when someone was pulled over for speeding.

I remember talking to a waitress, while eating in a Bellingham restaurant, who said she was given a ticket for speeding in montana when she was driving at 100 mph.

Yes, I prefer the slower pace, but most Americans value speed. It may make sense to have the same speed limit as cars. Slow trucks mixed in with fast cars might create more hazards due to impatience when passing. Also Americans do like quick service in the flow of products.

At the same time, trucks tend to be unpopular among the general public. This unpopularity is another case of people "wanting their cake and eating it too." As long as automobiles and highways remain our main transportation system, trucks are part of the mix.

Someone jokingly wrote this in chalk on a Bellingham bike path.

Is AI a better tutor? AI to the rescue when the time of professionals becomes a scarce commodity.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 17:57:00 +0000
AI seems like it can be good at one on one individual tutoring. Yes, it's good to have redundant ways to fact check. Still, AI has time when lots of professionals advisors are too busy.

I had a conversation with someone who had recently graduated from college. I was amazed how hard she said it was to get an appointment with her faculty advisor. Advisement was sometimes booked out over a month.

I don't remember that being a problem during my college years. Faculty advisors and other faculty were easily available. I had many an informal conversation in faculty offices. If I needed something signed or an official consultation, it was easy to make an appointment within a day or two.

I assumed that would still be the case, but maybe not. How long does it take to get an appointment with a doctor? I can see why people go to AI for advice.

It was just a rumor, back in the 1980s.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 17:50:26 +0000
When I worked for Pizza Haven, there was a rumor that the owner of the chain was Mormon. Turns out that long persisting rumor wasn't true. He was not LDS.

I did an AI search which I assume is accurate that explained how that rumor got started. Long story, but here is a shorter story about me.

That company did an anonymous survey of employees and I filled it out saying good things about the company. They treated employees quite well. The only negative thing I wrote was that it was too bad the owner had donated to an anti gay cause.

Turns out I was following false news, back in the 1980s.

The reason I'm thinking about this now is another controversy in today's news about Alaska Airlines. Apparently Alaska fired two employees after they shared concerns about the company's Equality Act in an internal employee forum. In this case, the company had an inclusive equality act that the employees were not as liberal about, I guess.

Turns out responses in that forum were not anonymous so company management could see who was writing what.

I'm on the side of gay rights, but I also understand that employees, within an organization, will have various personal opinions. Not everyone thinks like the company line.

When I filled out the survey, at my pizza company, I did feel, a bit, like I was biting the hand that fed me. Still, it was an anonymous survey. This many years later, I find out that the rumors, about the owner's politics, were false anyway.