Mitchell's thoughts, photos, etc.

Will AI Create Puzzles in the Tech Age Gap?

From “What is Word” to “What is AI?”

How many times have you heard, “I am too old for this technology. I remember when we did it like this.” This tech could refer to email, texting, social media, and countless other things, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or the Google Suite.

I am involved in many community activities and chair one of them. My responsibilities include creating and distributing our newsletter using Constant Contact, hosting meetings on Zoom, and managing social media across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, etc. To do most of this I shoot the images with a mirrorless Nikon Z, I use Adobe’s Bridge, Lightroom, and Photoshop. I write most of the material in Word and keep my spreadsheets in Excel or Google Sheets.

Here are three different tales.

Tale 1

At one point, someone was supposed to type reports for a committee. I sent back my edits in Track Changes in Word. He was very confused. He did send his report typed up in an email. He asked me what Track Changes was. I said it is Word’s editing feature. He said, “What’s Word? Is that something new?”

I said no, it was created when I was in the eighth grade, and the editing feature came out a few years later. Bear in mind this person was 71.

Tale 2

At the same time, I worked on a PowerPoint for a podcast I was coordinating with one of my heroes. He and I created the slides and ran the event in unison. He was 91 at the time.

A week ago, to help me with my newsletter, he sent me an amazing article totally ready to go. All I needed to do was insert it into Constant Contact and pick some images, which I shot and edited.

Tale 3

A week ago, a buddy of mine invited me to a baseball game. He was lucky enough to get field-level seats at the Stadium at no cost. He had to transfer my ticket to me via Ticketmaster.

That was the ride from hell. He tried and tried. Eventually, the ticket landed in my inbox, and I transferred it to my Apple Wallet. He’s only a few years older than me.

AI – The New Wrench

I can go on for several pages with similar stories. But you get the picture. Let’s jump ahead.

Now we have AI. I have been using it to do research and cut back on the menial tasks. I let AI do the work so I can focus on the bigger picture. When I bring this up with some of the people I just spoke about and others, I feel like I am scaring them. I mentioned new apps for them to test. Some have said that we are still learning email.

Yeah, I know someone who still goes to a teller and has never used an ATM. I remember using them in the 80s. I remember lots about that decade – great clothes, music, and leadership.

The Conclusion

Technology will keep offering us ways to make things better and easier. No matter what, there will still be people of all age groups who grasp it and those who do not.

AI and NYC Transit

Do They Mix? Which is Smarter?

Most of us use AI. We find it helpful. We might find it confusing. But we need it, and it makes things easier and helps our lives in countless ways. Now it’s time to discuss how AI interacts with public transportation. In my case, it is the NYC subway system. I am sure all of you can take your city’s public transit system and write your own dialogue. Do it and let’s compare notes.

A few days ago, a buddy I haven’t seen in a decade texted me to ask if I wanted to go to the next day’s Yankees game, v Houston. I immediately asked how much and where the seats were. He texted back images of seats in Field Level Section 110 right between first base and right field. We all know Judge has been out for too long. So, I wouldn’t get a close-up view of his plays.

Nevertheless, I jumped at the opportunity and was thankful. For the record, I miss Paul O’Neill in RF. I trust him more than Judge.

My real worry was the rain. I have been to a few games where Mother Nature was not my friend. The rain delayed the start of the game for only ten minutes. I am sure by the end of the night the Yankees wished the game had been delayed forever or forgotten.

I rarely go to night games. Getting home is not easy. Lately, day games, with all the subway changes, have turned into a trip from hell. I need to take the 4 line from 161 Street – Yankee Stadium and transfer to the Queens-bound R at 59^thStreet and Lexington Avenue.

What to do? The LIRR usually works decently. Yes, I could write an essay about it, too. I could transfer to it. But those trains run hourly. Sometimes late at night the subways run hourly. No, they are not supposed to, but they do. So, I used AI to check my options and checked the respective MTA service change sites and the individual line maps and schedules. Hell, the game was a disaster. I needed something to keep me entertained.

AI told me the R would be running its regular route in Queens. At night, the R doesn’t usually run all the way into Queens. It makes one stop, and you need to transfer to the E. That line is known as the hobo or public restroom train.

AI claimed it pulled this from various MTA sites. I checked myself and the information was mixed. Mixed up, that is.

With my head down after our loss, my friend and I exited the Stadium and walked to our respective subway lines. I took the 4 and decided to transfer to the Queens-bound R. AI told me it was gonna go to my stop. I boarded the R, and it ran it’s one stop, and I transferred to the E. I do have to say, the trains ran on time and didn’t have their usual delays. So, I was better off doing this v. transferring to the LIRR. Sure, I would have rather taken two trains than three. I wish I’d gotten better advice.

I do not blame AI. I blame NYC Transit. AI is getting there. NYC Transit is still trying to get us there.

Yankee Stadium and Tradition

What Happens as You Get Older and Things Cause You to Update?

I follow a lot of traditions. Most are the ones I created myself. I created the first ones at the original Yankee Stadium, when I was 7. I have kept them wholeheartedly. I am very strict. But what happens when things in your life change? Do you keep the tradition, or do you update it to fit your needs?

So here it is. When I exit the 4 subway station, I go down the same flight of stairs and use only one of two turnstiles to exit. I alternate turnstiles at each game. Yes, I remember from the previous one. These days I walk through the park where the original stadium was situated.

Once I am in the Stadium there is much work to do. Before the first inning ends, I must eat a hot dog with mustard, a potato product, and finish a Pepsi. As for the potato product, a knish ranks at the top. But chips or fries will do. Not every stand sells knishes. That’s a shame. The kosher ones do. They are delicious. In the fifth inning, you need to eat peanuts. I never finish the bag. I have a bunch at the top and bottom of the fifth. I bring the bag home and finish. Often, I hand it to one of the people experiencing homelessness outside the stadium.

Current Stadium and Park Where the Old One Lived

Any flavor of ice cream is required in the sixth inning. It can be in a Yankee helmet cup, cone, regular cup, or an ice cream sandwich. Not enough vendors sell ice cream. The lines at the ones that do are too long. I usually go in the middle of the fifth to make sure I have it by the sixth. As for the brand, I am hoping for Good Humor, Mrs. Fields, or Häagen-Dazs. I will not get Ben & Jerry’s. That ice cream is disgusting. You are better off skipping it, and speaking of skipping it. Sometimes you must. It is not unusual for the machines to break down or they run out. That’s not my fault.

Once the 7^th inning starts, I can eat or drink whatever I want. They no longer sell beer after the 7^th inning. Once, I had one in the 7^th. I went with my cousins, and they bought me one for that inning. Anyway, the beer in Stan’s across the street from the real House that Ruth built is cheaper, and they have a better selection. Plus, Stan’s is like Cheers.

Over the last decade, probably longer, I have had less and less soda. It is not good for you because of the sugar, and it can irritate your bladder. As someone who has had four kidney stones, I am careful. Soda is at the top of the list of no-nos. Spinach is up there. But I have never seen it at the Stadium. I do miss both.

So, what to do? I buy the Pepsi and take a sip or two, and somehow it falls and spills on me. Or spills into the sink in the bathroom. I am too clean to let it spill on the floor in the stands. Sadly, too many people do. Water is the best thing to drink for bladder health. Heck, we all know it is the healthiest thing to drink. I have added water to my beverage mix. I sometimes drink it before the 7^th inning. I do not want to dehydrate. I do wish to overhydrate. I have had that problem.

So, as long as I follow as closely as possible, with minor medical adjustments, I believe I am staying within my traditions. By the way, when the game is over, I exit via a certain stairway and try to enter the 4 subway station through a specific entrance. However, I am not beholden to that.

Anat and Dan Return to the US

Aside from the incident during dinner at La Maggiore, Anat and Dan had an amazing time. They have been home for two days. Both took the day after they landed to chill. Anat sent their laundry out, and they unpacked all the new clothes and jewelry they’d purchased. Dan got some things for his parents. Anat was a little upset she couldn’t do that. But at this stage in her life, she knew the deal and carried on.

A bruised Christy A. was still causing trouble throughout the city. She barely recovered from the beatdown she took a few weeks ago. Rumor had it, Jay was still in bad shape. She could move as fast as she normally did. Christy figured her speed would return in due time. But it was taking too long. Impatient she is.

Anat actually had to go into her office. She had meetings that needed to be in person. She was not pleased. But she was thrilled to be wearing her new Zegna dress with shoes from Ferragamo. She walked down to her office and heard people screaming. She figured the city’s usual nuts were going wild. She kept heading toward her office on Park Avenue.

The screaming was getting louder. She heard everything over her AirPods, which were playing Lebanon Hanover and Strawberry Switchblade. She stopped and took a look around. She saw Christy limping away. She also saw some people on the ground and lots of stale bread.

Anat had no interest in a fight. She walked to the front door of her building and smiled at the security guard. He waved. Christy was a few feet behind her. Her arms shook. Anat turned away from her office building and headed toward Dunkin, which was where Christy was outside sipping coffee. Anat fired some raisins and prunes at Christy. A few landed in her coffee, which wound up splashing Christy in the face. She dropped her coffee cup and rubbed her cheeks. Anat just stared at her.

Christy started yelling. She fell to the ground. Anat laughed, walked back to her building, and went to work.

Holy Places. The Places that Make You Feel at Peace.

Yankee Stadium, Coney Island, Ten Mile River Scout Camps and the Kotel

We all have places we visit that calm, energize, and bring peace and a sense of reason. They change over the years. Some get stronger. Some weaker. Some you eliminate.

For me, the top places include Yankee Stadium, Coney Island, Ten Mile River Scout Camps (TMR) and the Kotel (Western Wall). For the record, all of Israel does it and so do a few other camps. But TMR is at the top of the list.

How does this work? Well, it is different in each case. For example, as the 4 subway line pulls into 161^st – Yankee Stadium, I feel a certain charge. I stand up as it approaches the station and stand by the exit door. I always go down the same stairwell and alternate between two turnstiles, depending on which one I exit from. Then you see greatness – The Stadium. Yes, the original Stadium was far superior and brought a deeper feeling. But the new one has its merits and is growing on me. It has been since day one. I look at it in awe. And all is right with the world. I take a walk to the hallowed grounds where the original one sat and say a few prayers to win the World Series. Hasn’t happened in a while. Too long. But I try.

After I go through security and enter this holy building, I am ready. Of course, as the game goes on and if we start losing, the happy feelings turn to despair. But I keep coming back, ready for victory and the joy it brings.

When I get off the train at Stillwell Avenue and see the lifeguard chair in the station as I am walking towards Nathan’s Famous and the boardwalk, I feel this excitement. You never know what the day will bring. I see the Cyclone, the Wonder Wheel, and in the distance the holy waters where the Coney Island Polar Bears swim, and during the regular season families go and spend their day(s) enjoying the beach. Who says the winter isn’t the regular season? Many think it is. I do.

Walking along the boardwalk and seeing all the characters and the little kids hoping they are tall enough for the Cyclone makes you feel all is right with the world. I usually go straight to the Cyclone and ride it several times. Then I decide on my next ride. I always walk along the beach and let the sand pile up in my sneakers. I head over to the Wonder Wheel and play some games. I win lots of toys. Then the time comes when you need to board the subway and head home. I look back at the beach and rides and board, knowing I had a great time and probably ran into many of my Coney pals.

I am chairman of the Ten Mile River Scout Museum. As we drive along 97, the road that leads to camp, I feel I am 12 years old again. I jump a few years into my teens and remember all the friends I made at this camp. I am still friends with many. Sadly, some, like My Leader and Uncle Funky, are at the great campsite in the sky.

I always make sure I get to the section where I spent my teen years earning merit badges, listening to great music, such as the Ramones, U2, Depeche Mode and the Clash, as well as spending lots of time in Rock Lake; it rocks. That section is now gone. Nature has taken it over. But when I am there, I channel back to the 80s and feel incredible. I still jump into the lake and hike the trails. I walk by the cement blocks that once held important buildings, such as the nature and handicraft lodges, offices and latrines. Then we get to the gate and drive back to the other sections, full of kids, great programming, and camp food. We are all smiles.

When the El Al jet lands at Ben-Gurion Airport, I feel at home. The first time I went to Israel, I didn’t feel like a tourist. I felt I was returning home. Yes, I had no idea where I was. But I didn’t feel that way. There is something about that place that makes you feel you’ve always been there. I went through security, got my luggage and got to my hotel. I have done this many times. The excitement grows each time.

I check my bags and immediately walk to the Kotel. Tears fall from my eyes as I get there and place my head against it. Yes, I stuff notes in it. Some are mine and some were given to me by others. I feel connected to the world and the higher one. Sometimes I talk to others. We all take pictures of each other to text home to Mom and others.

I spend a few days in Jerusalem and travel. I might go north to Safed or south to Eilat. The feeling never leaves me. Eventually, I wind up on Tel Aviv’s stunning beaches. I am often the first one out. I am an early riser and am often sitting on my lounge chair or in the Mediterranean Sea around 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. Walks along the boardwalk are different than walks along Coney’s boardwalk. Although sometimes they are similar. You meet lots of interesting people and partake in lots of great food and drink.

Bottom line, everyone has these places locked into their hearts and souls. I don’t know which one(s) will come next. I know the places I discussed will always remain at the top.

Tripping Up AI with Apple Music and YouTube

It Knows What Tunes I Like. Or Does It?

Many of us who work from home, or are home most of the day, spend a lot of time listening to music. We all have our music apps of choice. For the most part, I use Apple Music and YouTube. I have more albums and homemade playlists on Apple than I can count.

Those of you who have read my posts know I favor ’80s new wave and goth tunes, with classic rock and a few other things mixed in. The mixed-in includes some disco. Yeah, I remember the Disco Sucks pins in the 70s. A lot of it does suck. But not all. Classical, opera, and theater music are also in heavy rotation. Country has never been, and never will be, mixed in.

Other than when I go to sleep, all my music is from the digital platforms. Bedtime is from my CD player. Yeah, they still exist and sound fine. I often let Apple Music or YouTube make a mix. It almost always has mixes I can click on as soon as I log in.

AI creates the setlist. It knows what bands I listen to most often, as well as the songs from those bands. It is not unusual for the lists to be heavy on Bauhaus, Bowie, the Beatles, the

Cure, Erasure, Echo & the Bunnymen, Elton John, Depeche Mode, Love & Rockets, the Ramones, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and a few other bands. You get the picture. I am sure you can pick the rest. Feel free to enter your comments in the chat section.

For the most part, my AI music lists are spot on. But I trip it up. It’s not hard. I often add stuff like ABBA, the Bee Gees, Jackson Browne, “La Bohème,” the Village People, and “Tosca.” Feel free to guess some of the others. You’d be right if you picked Prince, Led Zep, and the Who. All are heavily in the rotation.

Apple often says, “Mitchell’s Mix.” It adds a hyphen and says light, rocking, chill, etc. For the most part, it does a decent job. I guess it is learning my tastes. Occasionally it adds the Grateful Dead. When that happens, I immediately exit the list. I have never listened to them and never will.

AI is doing a great job with my playlists. However, like all of us, it is still learning. I think it’ll get there. But who knows what I will pop in to confuse it?

Anat and Dan Go Away

A Crazy Woman Attacks Little Kids at Lake Maggiore

Dan dropped Jerry and Gili off at his parents’ home for babysitting. He and Anat were getting ready to go to the airport for their flight to Milan. Anat’s been there before. Dan’s first time. She loves swimming in Lake Maggiore and, of course, the Italian food and wine. She knew it would be hot when they went. But they didn’t care. It was their first vacation since Gili was born.

All was well at JFK. Security and boarding were easy. Anat had her TSA pass, and Dan had his NYPD ID. They chilled at the gate and walked onto the jet. They fastened their seatbelts and took off.

Several hours late they landed and took a cab to the hotel. They went for pizza, wine, and gelato, changed into their swimwear, and jumped into the lake. They were very happy. Anat was so pleased she learned to swim. She pushed her bad days at her camp’s waterfront behind her. Heck, she was even friends with her old nemesis, Jen. She realized Jen wasn’t evil. She was just an obnoxious little kid and teen. Anat was mature enough to let bygones be bygones.

The two exited the lake, went back to their room for a shower, and got ready for dinner. They took an evening walk along the lake before reaching the restaurant, where they sat down and ordered wine and fish. All was well.

Suddenly, they heard strange noises by the fence near Lake Maggiore. They figured it was nothing and sipped their wine. Then they heard screams. A crazy person was attacking little kids. Anat thought they were away from all the crazies. She was hoping for peace and fun with her husband. She glanced at the nut. She figured the police would take care of things. But nothing happened. She kept watching.

Finally, she had enough. She put down her wine glass and quickly walked over to the lake. A few kids were crying. Two were bleeding. The crazy person looked familiar. But Anat couldn’t place her. She figured it was her eyes playing tricks on her. Anat yelled at her in English and Italian. The woman kept going after people.

The next thing people saw were prunes and raisins flying out of Anat’s hands and eyes. All landed on the attacker. She tried to block them by crazily swinging her arms. She slowed down. Anat told her to go away. The person ran toward Anat and tried to punch her.

She missed. But Anat’s raisins didn’t. She was hit right in the head. She started spinning around. The injured kids were being cared for by their parents. Most already left the area. Anat kept firing. Finally, the woman screamed and fell over the fence into Lake Maggiore. Anat walked back to her table and ordered another glass.

Marc and Alana are Still in Camp

A Fight with the Camp Staff Occurs

They woke to sounds of a truck. They saw that the ranger staff was driving around. It was odd that they were in the same section as Marc and Alana. That site has been left for the dead. But they figured they were making their rounds and just checking on things. Sometimes people abandoned autos and dumped trash here. Sad.

Driving the truck was the idiot who destroyed parts of Marc’s childhood. Alana was washing up with water from one of their canteens. This site’s water and electric was turned off in the 90s. The two of them brought in all the supplies they needed to survive. They did purify some of the water from a stream. They bathed in the lake. At least they bathed.

Marc saw the guy get out of his truck. The two eyed each other. Marc was told he wasn’t supposed to be at this site. Marc told the guy where to go. He responded by coming after Marc with a shovel. Marc laughed.

Pomegranates shot out of Marc’s hands and eyes. Barley followed. The shovel-carrying ranger fell. Marc laughed. He kept firing. The ranger started crying. Marc asked him why he destroyed parts of his former campgrounds. The guy was shaking and too scared to answer.

Marc was usually mild-mannered and peaceful, and he only used his powers to protect those being attacked. But he felt like this was using them in self-defense. He believed he had been attacked and would stop at nothing to make sure the attacker was down for the count.

The ranger started to cry. Marc pelted him with more barely. Alana was oblivious. She was too busy dealing with her hair and texting Marc’s mom to see how her twins were doing.

Marc finally stopped. He told the idiot he fought with never to cross him again. The guy, hysterical and crying, shook his head in the affirmative. Marc walked away and poured a bowl of Frosted Flakes.

Job Searches Suck. How AI Can Make Them Better.

Job searches suck. We know that. You spend hours writing and rewriting your CV and cover letters. Scammers call you with the job of your dreams and try to ask you to pay them to update your resume. Some people fall for this. However, they never get an updated resume; they find unauthorized charges on their credit cards. It is not fun.

Where does AI get into the picture? Job boards use AI to tweak your resume or cover letter. For the most part, it is legit. In some cases, it’s free. I write my cover letters, resumes, and portfolios myself. AI is a great tool for brainstorming. Sort of like working with a job counselor.

AI is here. It is becoming useful in many areas. In the job search, it helps with research. Using a variety of tools that you can easily find on Google, you can do some great sleuthing on the company you are applying to and the specific role.

You can find out the organization’s strengths and weaknesses. You can dig into its share price, when it made job cuts, how it interacts with its local community, and how it responds during a crisis. You can see how it reacts when its competitors pull ahead or fall behind.

This data is essential for creating tailored cover letters and interview talking points. It can also help you find key people to reach out to. Yes, LinkedIn is useful. AI is often more direct. It does say it pulls from LinkedIn. But it also pulls from many other places and can help you brainstorm while you fill out your application.

Is it taking away our jobs? Or can it help you find one? It can definitely point you in the right direction and help you navigate the long road ahead. But you still need to do your own work.

How AI Can Help Communications Pros

Everyone asks What AI tools do you use? Does it help or harm your workflow? What do you need to consider when using it? Using AI can assist in many roles. The most important thing to remember is trust but verify. It is not 100 percent perfect. But it is getting there. For the record, nothing is 100 percent perfect.

I have been using AI for a variety of functions. One of the key things we need are solid media and influencer lists. Yes, there are the media relations platforms: Cision, Meltwater, and Muck Rack. I have used two of the three and tested the other. All have their merits and demerits. In many instances, what’s wrong with them isn’t entirely their fault.

Thanks for reading Mitchell’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Thanks to the consolidation of the news market, the media landscape is changing. Reporters who used to cover telecom may still cover it. But add healthcare or earnings to their beats. Some of the top reporters who you worked with at Bloomberg News, Dow Jones, and The Wall Street Journal are now freelancing for them and writing for other outlets or doing work on the client side. Their @wsj.com email address is dead. Most are using Gmail. Keeping track of who is covering what, their news submission preferences, and deadlines is harder to track. The media platforms try. However, it is difficult. Also, some databases aren’t broad enough. While they offer international databases, they generally stick to major foreign cities and aren’t wide enough for some projects.

That’s where AI comes in. It is excellent for typing in the subject matter you want covered and asking who covers it nationally and in key geographic regions. More often than not, it can give you a fairly detailed list of reporters, their deadlines, and contact information. For me, this has worked better than the list-building exercises in the media databases mentioned.

I know some people who use AI to write their marketing materials. Should you? That’s your choice. I write all of the material on my Substack and WordPress platforms. If you used AI detection scanners, they’d say 0. Do I use AI to help me? Yes. I usually write everything and use various AI tools in Google and elsewhere to check readability and get ideas to shorten or further explain. It can also help you tailor it towards a specific audience.

Is this using AI to write your piece? Not at all. In the old days, you had fun, interesting brainstorming sessions, and people got together in conference rooms and mapped things out. These days we do it on Zoom or maybe via email or chat. It works. Sometimes it doesn’t. But for the most part, we are more independent and too swamped to do the classic sessions. I miss those. AI has been a great friend for brainstorming. It pulls data from a variety of sources and will tell you which audience it is appropriate for.

Is it taking the job away? Not at all. It is a valuable tool. Should you swear by it and drop your traditional reviews and edits? Nope. Use it like you use everything else.

The following are my other AI posts.

AI and Transcript Creation

AI and the Arts

The Happiness, Toils and Tribulations of AI

What Does AI Really Know About You?