Editorials from Theslowlane

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.

Remembering my first permanent job. A part time custodial shift in a pizza prlor called Pizza Haven.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 17:44:36 +0000
I was soon out of college at WWU and it was a good start that lasted over 10 years. A fun place to work.

Back in the late 1970s to early 80s, full time jobs were hard to find, but living expenses were low. I was able to meet my modest bills with quite a bit of free time to develop my creative interests and bicycle travel.

The people were good and the job was low stress. They had a promotion called "Pizza Haven is Pizza Heaven." I still have the frizbee.

I was able to afford a nice apartment in Bellingham on a fairly low wage part time job.

Can you believe my rent for a one bedroom with kitchen and living room was only $155 per month?

Yes, it was below market, for even back then, but way below today's prices. This was late 1970s early 1980s. Wages ahve gone up since then, but rents and property values have gone up much more.

I heared about the job at Bellingham Senior Center. Yes, I was going to the Senior Center during college as it had an employment office. They sent people out to senior homes for things like lawn mowing jobs.

When a part time cleaning job came in, the employment agent walked me out into the big room, where, these days, I eat senior meals.

Back then, the seniors were playing bingo and the employment agent ask me, "how many of these seniors do you think want to get up in the morning to clean a restaurant?" We both agreed probably not likely.

The restaurant wanted a reliable senior, but I got sent out out to the job though I was only in my 20s.

The first manager was dubious, but I stuck with it and out lasted several managers.

Pictured is some of the mess by the ovens I would clean up in the morning before opening.

Pizza Haven had indoor dining, but also a big delivery business. Dorms at WWU were big sources of customers.

Photo from an old Western Front newspaper.

Masthead at the top is from the corporate newsletter called "A Slice Of Pizza Haven."

The company had over 40 locations mostly in Washingon State. It was headquartered in Seattle. There was also one in my home town of Pullman.

After about 10 years, corporate shuffling was happening. Some of the Pizza Haven locations were sold to another company - Pietro's.

I kept working and didn't realize that Pizza Haven had a profit sharing retirement plan.

It wasn't that profitable in the later years, so when the company sold, I got my share of the plan, a whole 26 cents.

The paperwork explaning tax rules and rollover options still came in a large envelope.

Fortunately I got a more lucrative retirement plan from a future employer.

When the Soviet Union fell, I came up with an idea for the reader board that was soon after it became Pietro's Pizza. I continued working there a bit longer.

Not long after the new company purchased, it went out of business. That was after I left and was working at YMCA.

Photo taken 1991.

Eventually the old Pizza Haven building, on Magnolia and Garden Streets, was being converted into Binyon Optometrist.

On a bike trip, I saw that there was still a Pietro's Pizza in Hood River, Oregon. Lots of corporate musical chairs going on as owning entities come and go.

As for Pizza Haven, the last location was at Seattle Center, well into the 2000s.

On another bike trip, I passed what may have been part of a commisary truck for delivering supplies to the various locations. It was in a rural yard east of Everett. This image taken in 1994.

In 1988 I passed the Bothell location of Pizza Haven near Seattle.

It is still a pizza parlor, but called Sparta's these days. I have eaten there several times over the years. Most recently in the summer of 2025 bike riding around Seattle area.

Republicans say cut government spending, but it's harder to be specific. Meanwhile there's still lots of money at the top of the wealth spectrum.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:01:51 +0000
Washington State is facing a budget shortfall due to lower than expected state revenue. This news is met with the typical Republican response that spending needs to be cut with no specific cuts mentioned, so far in the news. What cuts to schools? What cuts to state salaries, parks and so forth? It's easier to just say spending is out of control than to really say what needs to be cut.

On the revenue side, there is good news that the state's capital gains tax is bringing in more revenue than expected. It's one bright spot in the otherwise weak revenue picture. This is due to the rising stock market and the continued rising fortunes of the very wealthy.

If the stock market takes a hit, however, it's seen as a volatile source of revenue that would be difficult depend on.

These issues face governments nationwide.

AI and other new technologies are often a boom to consumers, but a mixed bag for workers.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:29:13 +0000
There is worry that we are in an AI bubble. Could it burst?

Through most of my life, new technologies, from automated factories to the internet, have brought a plethora of useful and sometimes free things for the consumer. This has not always been a blessing for workers.

During these decades, asset values have also gone way up compared to most wages. Assets like land, homes and stocks have appreciated so much in value that there is a lot of loose money, around the world, looking for lucrative parking spots. This vast amount of private capital drives a lot of investment in emerging technologies, such as AI.

There is great pressure to keep up with the Joneses. Everything from keeping up at work to the US feeling pressure to keep up with China has created a pressure cooker that leaves many workers behind.

In past decades, such as the 1970s and 80s, automation and globalization in manufacturing brought more abundance for consumers, but also brought layoffs and the hollowing out of high paid manufacturing employment to many communities.

The internet boom of the 1990s brought many low cost and free services to consumers. We have free long distance phone calls and 24-7 banking from home without having to conform to banking hours. We have social media as well as millions of websites and media channels at our fingertips. These blessings have been more dubious for workers and in the long run for consumers as well. Since consumers are often also workers, lower wages effect consumers as well.

The benefits of online services has brought the cost of more surveillance. There are algorithms pushed by the need for clicks so advertising can pay the bills. From this we get echo chambers of similar belief as well as what's called "manufactured outrage."

Now we have the AI boom, also driven by a desire to keep up, plus all that private capital, from rising asset values, looking for lucrative places to park money. Huge fortunes drives the AI buildout.

Consumers are now seemingly benefiting from the free AI services while workers fear the loss of control over the fruits of their intellect. Admittedly, I use AI quite a bit as it sorts through lots of reading saving me time as I research and fact check for my own writing. In the past, teachers often didn't have the time to provide individualized instruction for people, like me.

Yes, I know, AI can make mistakes.

AI can benefit the user providing personalized services, such as teaching, tutoring and counselling, while Professional services, from humans, can cost a pretty penny and have been subject to budget cuts.

Still, this comes with hidden costs and consequences that we can't predict for the long run, let alone the moment.

Behind these buildouts, whether it's been automation in factories, internet technology, or the most recent rush to AI, is the question of whether the whole thing is sustainable. Will AI ever make a profit, or will the bubble burst and lead to a panic?

Will there ever be a sustainable business model of paying consumers and workers, with livable wages, for continuing these business models into the future?

These are questions that we keep needing to ask?

Two conservative teams battled to a standoff in Seattle. The city, itself, won by calling it the Pride Match.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 17:33:13 +0000
While both countries are culturally conservative about gay rights, Egypt and Iran's teams played to a tie score in the World Cup. This game took place in the US city of Seattle, noted for liberal attitudes on gay rights; the city calling that game "The Pride Match."

Some rainbow flags were flown in and around the stadium to the dislike of both Egyptian and Iranian officials. Meanwhile, back in the Middle East, war is still more deadly than a soccer game. Missiles fly between Iran and Gulf state Sunni nations more aligned with Egypt. The Sunni and Shiite split, in Islam, is one of many friction points among conservatives in the Middle East.

Ironically, the "elephant" in the Middle Eastern room is the United States with its ally Israel, each with the most powerful weapons of all. These countries are leading a sputtering war against Iran under the leadership of their conservative leaders Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.

Still, within the belly of the US elephant, rainbow flags fly peacefully in Seattle, in spite of more conservative leadership at the top of the US government. Freedom of speech is still alive in USA.

The soccer match between Egypt and Iran took place to a stalemate, as rainbow flags flew and crowds cheered more peacefully than the war that is now taking place in the Middle East itself.

Here in Bellingham, far out in the hinterlands of Seattle, some rainbow color projected on our Acid Ball Sculpture. Sculpture, a leftover from former Georgia Pacific Pulp Mill.

Both moderate and more left leaning Democrats, electable in different districts, can still provide votes to counter Trump if elected to Congress.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:59:36 +0000
The concept of the big tent works for the Democratic Party. Some districts, such as in New York City can elect candidates who are pretty far to the left. They likely would not win elections in most districts, but their voice could still be welcome in the big tent. Just about all Democrats, whether left or moderate still provide the votes needed in Congress to put guardrails on dangerous dictatorial tendencies of Trump.

Populism can swing to the right or to the left depending on what causes gas prices to go up.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:57:25 +0000
When gas prices go up due to environmental regulation or taxes, it often causes populism to go toward rightwing politics. Trump winning popular vote in 2024 and things like Yellow Vest protests in France.

Now it's Trump's mistaken war on Iran that has pushed up prices, possibly leading populism to swing left.

In some cases, a slower economy might be better.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:37:13 +0000
An expanding GDP isn't always good news. If the GDP goes up, it could be just due to inflation. This doesn't necessarily mean progress.

Some people think an ideal world would not have money, but I don't go that far. I think money is a needed tool to keep track of the math. Instead I just think a high GDP should not be the bottom line goal. Health, happieness and good stewardship of the planet should be the bottom line. These things can be measured also. In some cases, a slower economy might be better.

Some economists do call this Triple Bottom Line Accounting, I hear. I apply it to the whole economy.

Higher GDPs and faster growth, just measured in dollars, isn't necessarily better. It can also mean higher costs of doing business and more hardship for people as well as the environment.

I do find economics interesting, so I still think about money, but I don't see it as a god or the ultimate goal. I see it as a tool for running business and government, but the ultimate goal is not just money.

I recently biked to a small concert and party around 15 miles south of town.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 23:30:24 +0000
Also see my 2026 trip to Anacortes Pride

Lots of art at that place including this little house.

The carrot is often better than the stick.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 22:11:52 +0000
Seems like the "go to" solution for Republicans is war rather than foreign aid. The War Department is highest priority.

A better strategy could be to offer aid to Iran in exchange for Iran's corrupt government making reforms, such as western expertise in dealing with the Iranian water shortages and so forth.

If the Iranians refused to do some reforms, we could have withheld the aid. Instead, Trump chose war as the response to what was seen as an opportunity for change when Iran was having civil unrest.

As the news is now saying, we nearly have to beg them to reopen the strait of Hormuz. Looks like the demonstrations in Iran are now supporting the government as people rally behind their country being attacked.

Bad planning is now leading to an algae bloom and paint peeling at the Washington Mall.

At least they ahve reversed another bad choice announcing a halt to the dismantling of NSF's floating scientific observatories in the oceans.

Why they wish to remove climate monitors from the oceans, rather than just turning them off.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 21:20:16 +0000
Trump's NSF plans to remove around 900 sensors from the oceans. Sensors for monitoring water temp and so forth. Yes, a bad idea, but I also have a question that hasn't been answered in the media I've seen, so I ask AI.

Why go through the trouble to remove all this hardware, rather than just turning it off and let it sit? Why, especially if the goal is to save maintenence costs since Trump doesn't believe climate change needs to be studied.

AI said, in short, that some of the equipment would present a navigation hazard, if left unmaintained in the ocean; buoys cables and so forth. Ironically, there are lots of environmental laws about leaving junk in the ocean. This system has some expensive cameras, lithium batteries and so forth that can be repurposed or recycled.

Then I went to a discussion where one of my friends said she wasn't quite as kind as the AI I got. She said they want to undue anything that wasn't about Trump. If Obama supported it, it's trash. They want to make it harder to ever find the funds to rebuild such a system again, as monitoring climate change is woke.

No, she didn't actually use those words. I'm embellishing it a bit. Basically, it's, "forget pluralistic society." "If Trump doesn't like it, it's trash."

I tend to think and live local, but am I provincial?

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:02:58 +0000
In the 1960s, my grade school was trying to teach us Spanish. My language aptitude was bad so I was even struggling with English. I did better in the section of the class about Latin American geography. My aptitude is better at special reasoning so I developed a fascination in South America. It could be my own world as I wasn't that interested in the world of my other classmates. I wanted to be different. Thinking local was mundane.

Photo my sister Judith took, in the 1980s, of our shared grade school, Edison School in Pullman, WA. The Palouse fields and Kamiak Butte in the background. Edison School has since been torn down.

More recently, my interests have flipped to local. It's now Washington State and Bellingham, where I live. It's still my own world as I see Bellingham from the perspective of a bicyclist while almost everyone else drives.

Sometimes I jokingly say that my friends, who know their way around Europe, still don't know how to get across Bellingham without going on I-5. I know the surface streets, alleys and trails as I have a perspective so many others don't share, bicycling.

In grade school I studied maps and read about that favorite "other" continent of South America.

Now days, my own world is local, but it's my perspective of bicycling and interests that many people don't share. I have big interests in the economic underpinnings that make this world work while others tend to follow the arts and the movies. I'm interested in technical things that other folks just pass by, like the heating systems, power systems, radio towers and so forth.

During grade school, the local state of my classmates, Washington seemed mundane compared to another state which I thought had a much greater diversity of climates; California. It could also be mine versus Washington, the home of my classmates.

I remember hearing, during my grade school days, that Washington was, "nature's wastebasket." When naure got done making other places, she tossed the leftovers into Washington. Yes, this little state, in land area compared to other western states, does have great diversity in geography. It's just not quite as much as California.

Besides looking at maps and encyclopedia articles about California, I remember a book called, "California and the West." That book fascinated me as it described such a diverse state ranging from mountain glaciers to baking deserts. The state had giant redwoods as well as giant cities.

California and the West was mostly about California, but it had small sections about other western states, including Washington, on the back pages.

Recently I did an AI search and found that it was an officially adopted California State Series elementary school textbook. That's, I guess, why it focused on California. Published in 1963 by author John W. Reith.

Since then, my interests have shifted to more local focusing, instead, on my unique perspectives of the world around me. I feel pretty grounded in my own state of Washington and the city I live in, Bellingham.

Besides just my unusual "car free" lifestyle, Washington does provide another world that's other from the world of most friends. I grew up in Pullman on the Idaho border in Eastern Washington. Since college, I've lived in Bellingham on the west side of the state. Because most Washingonians live on the west side, I can be different as I still know about the east side.

Sometimes I get the feeling that most Washingtonians only experience the east side as "fly over country."

I have friends who have traveled to Europe on their frequent flyer miles. While they travel around, I may seem more limited and provincial since I've never been on a jet plane in my life. The farthest I've been, byair, was way back in the 1980s. It was across Washington State from Seattle to Pullman. The plane had propellers. That trip took around one hour, but my favorite way of crossing the state is by bicycle. That trip takes about a week, but it's a longer lasting experience.

The farthest I've ever been, from Washington State, is Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts. I got there by bicycle during my 1991 bike trip across USA.

I'm not totally against jet travel, though it does have a high carbon footprint. I just haven't really had an occasion to get places that quickly. My lifestyle is different than most people in USA.

Does a billionaire business owner need a huge personal yacht as business asset for the business to serve the public?

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 18:58:33 +0000
Mark Zuckerberg's 300 million dollar yacht is an example of wealth that I think should be taxed more. I can see a billionaire business owner needs to keep the wealth that runs the business, like server farms for instance, but a huge yacht for personal private use? Maybe he needs it to entertain for recruiting top talent to the company? That's all I can think of for it's possible justification. Somewhere, a line does need to be drawn.

Excerpt exchange from comments on my Facebook page.

YIKES. You're making the case that its cost was tax deductible as a business expense. -Phil.

My Reply. I don't know the specifics in these cases, but right wingers often say, "the rich need their money as they create the jobs and provide the products and services." Right wingers and other members of the rich do seem to find ways to justify whatever. They can afford the best lawyers money can buy. -Robert.

Phil's reply. We have the best Congress that money can buy. -Phil.

The science behind an eclipse of the moon is simpler and less nuaunced than the science behind climate change.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:24:19 +0000
I hear people ask why folks don't question the science behind an eclipse of the sun, or moon, yet they question climate change science. I guess eclipses are much more simple and obvious while other some sciences are more nuauanced and complex.

There was a time when people feared eclipses thinking God might be mad.

The science behind a lunar eclipse is quite simple to figure out. Climate change is also real, but more nuanced as to how fast it's happening, how it effects each region and what the best strategy is for dealing with it, while juggling economics and other human demands.

I've been doing some AI research about the neighborhood I grew up in.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:16:45 +0000

Picture my brother Bill took during my grade school years from the end of our driveway. Streit-Perham (back then) a new dorm complex at the the east border of our neighborhood.

When Washington State College (now WSU in Pullman) rapidly expanded after WWII to accommodate the influx of G.I. Bill students, the university desperately needed to attract and house top-tier researchers and professors. The Turner-Wexler Addition was platted on the northeast edges of College Hill to create a quiet, prestigious residential enclave tailored specifically for WSU faculty families.

Now, in my own words. 3 dead end streets constituted the addition. It is a small piece of private land, wedged between what eventually became two large dormitory projects.

While I'm normally not a fan of dead end streets, the little streets in that neighborhood had no place go, by car at least. They led to the property line of big dorms.

Through traffic continued, around a bend and into the university, farther to the east.

Pedestrians could take an easy walk from that neighborhood to the campus. Dad often walked over the hill and through the dorm complex at the end of our street on his way to work.

At the south border, Regent's Hill dining complex and dorms with other university buildings beyond. My photo.

The neighborhood was originally part of a farm that was later subdivided into both university and private properties. There was an apple orchard, among other things on that farm.

A little stream ran through the farm which was covered over by placing it into a large culvert. When the university built dorms, parking lots and playfields, the land was reshaped.

It wasn't until I got to Bellingham that I made a connection in my mind. One day, while I was sweeping stairs at my custodial job, my mind made a connection between two streams in childhood memories. One was out by the university golf course and the other was through the back yards of folks on my paper route. Those are the same creek separated by the large underground culvert.

My old picture.

Willow trees, but actually the branches of one willow tree. Buried under regrading to build the culvert and the dorms. Branches pointing toward a common trunk.

This little grove is now gone as yet another new dorm has been built.

The original Wexler farmhouse is still in that area. It's life story used to interest me, during childhood. It went from being out on a farm to being in an urban setting, surrounded by other homes and large buildings.
Google Streetview image.

Today, the houses in that neighborhood, are mostly student rentals as faculty tend to live in other parts of town these days.

During my childhood, most of the houses were occupied by faculty families with some rental apartments for students in a few homes.

At one end of our street was a small house rented to a grad student. This many years later, I met someone at a discussion group here in Bellingham who lived in that small house. I met her here in Bellingham, where I now live; some 400 road miles from Pullman. Another one of those small world experiences.

Regents hill at the other end of our dead end streets. This photo I took in 2022 after most of the apple trees were gone.

Regents Hill is university property, but basically it was our neighborhood park. We had Fourth of July picnics there. It served as an ampatheater for folks watching kids set off little fire works. I remembr many neighbohood kid slumber parties, in sleeping bags, up on that hill.

The interplay of grounds and buildings of Regent's Hill. My picture.

Picture my brother Bill took in the 1960s out over the neighborhood from a balcony of Striet Perham Dorms.

Redefining progress and the American Dream.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 23:35:34 +0000
Hearing a radio interview about career opportunities for today's young people brings me back to my first years out of college as if nothing ever changes.

It's said that this generation may be the first to have lower standards of living and smaller homes than their parents. I heard that before and I keep thinking, smaller homes, but maybe better social lives?

Since my college days, I've been thinking that we are running out of room on planet Earth. If not actually running out of room, at least economic development has been constrained by more and more regulations. These regulations are attempting to protect the environment, such as farmland preservation, wetland rules, zoning and so forth.

If not actual limits to growth, we have imposed red tape limits which is basically what people, on the right, keep harping on. I still think most of these limits are there for good reasons. Yes, we do need to protect the environment. Still, this does have an effect on the ease of attaining economic growth and prosperity.

For years, I've kept thinking it's a tradeoff. We can live better without necessarily consuming more space on the planet.

Examples of this come from social progress in personal fulfilment and community life. Progress in gay rights is one example. More use of public transit, versus the space hogging private automobile, is another example.

For the entirety of my adult life, at least, cities, such as Seattle, have delt with traffic congestion. I keep thinking we could solve that, but people have just acquiesced to it instead; for the most part.

Back in my days right out of college, the big issue was lack of job creation. Industry faced red tape limits. Mining was going overseas and so forth. We faced the energy crisis with gas rationing during my college years. Since then, new technologies have brought more fossil fuel energy from fracking and so forth. Innovation and substitution has brought new wealth around the limits. We've had the tech boom.

Lack of affordable housing is a big issue now, whereas back in my past, it was more the lack of jobs. Today, there are more jobs, but they don't pay enough to afford the same space in housing.

Somehow, I still keep thinking we need to make fundamental changes in the way we define as the American Dream. I still think life can be better now than in (for instance) the 1950s. "Better" can be defined in different ways. Information and personal choices can be seen as wealth. Free time can be seen as wealth.

We need to think differently about the definition of the American Dream. Just taxing the super wealthy isn't going to solve this problem. Yes, I'm for taxing the rich, but even just taxing the super rich still has consequences for all consumers. Today, people are worried about Washington State's wealth tax chasing away the super rich and businesses with them. Will this impoverish our state?

We may need to learn to redefine what wealth means. Can one have a happy life while not necessarily living in a bigger house than their grandparents lived in?

An energy saving air conditioning trick.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:36:33 +0000
Today was a lovely warm day. I thought I might try out my new air conditioner, but it wasn't really that warm. I do like retrofitting things so I decided to try just putting a small fan, that I have, in the air tube that the conditioner uses with the window. Just that works well for bringing cool evening air into my apartment without even using the air conditioner itself.

My apartment doesn't have a cross breeze as both windows are on one side, yet it stays fairly cool being on the north side of the building. This little hose fan setup gives the airflow a boost.

My power bill is covered by my rent, but it is good to think about energy saving solutions anyway.

Maybe no motor vehicle signs should be updated to say no fossil fuel vehicles.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:01:00 +0000
On trails, there is often a sign that says, "no motor vehicles." Now with the advent of electric bikes, skateboards and even wheelchairs, the sign should say, "no fossil fuel vehicles." Electric motors tend to be quiet and okay; especially if the vehicles are not going too far over 15mph. It would be hard to ban motors these days. I'm glad to see them as more people are discovering bicycling.

Windfall for American oil under Trump.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:26:54 +0000
As the Strait of Hormuz continues to be closed, oil production is ramping up in other parts of the world, including USA. This may make the straight less important in the long run. USA is now the biggest oil producing country in the world. Since oil is more expensive, US oil companies are making lost of money on the world market. The BBC said that this is one factor pushing up the Stock Market.

I add that this basically lines up with Trump's philosophy which is basically pro big business and pro billionaires. Much of the world, including even in USA, in spite of Trump is gradually transitioning more to cleaner energy. Possibly an unintended consequence of Trump's governance as well.

I heard this on BBC business news from London.

The idea of reparations to poor countries for climate change has gone over like a led balloon.

noreply@blogger.com (Theslowlane Robert Ashworth) — Mon, 25 May 2026 17:47:31 +0000
A few years ago, there was talk at the climate conferences about richer countries making climate reparation payments to poorer countries. Seems like that idea has been a non starter all along. In today's world even the regular foreign aid that richer countries were contributing to the world is being cut back.

The idea of reparations hasn't worked, but green technology continues to advance in both rich and poor countries.