Mitchell's thoughts, photos, etc.

The Dads Hang

While Alana and Tzipora were at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Marc, Dan, Jake, and Eran were at Liberty Island with all their children. No one was worried about anyone causing problems. Only Jake’s and Eran’s kids had no superpowers. Marc’s and Alana’s twins are probably the most powerful of them all. They’re predicted to grow up to be the strongest ever. Their DNA contains the biological code from two people with powers. Rare, that is.

They were walking outside the Statue of Liberty. The kids were too young to understand what they were seeing fully. But they were being taught. Marc made sure his kids learned. He thought it was essential for them to start learning when they were very young. They could barely walk. But their eyes took in the statue. The other kids were a little older and were talking about it.

Marc handed out bottles of water to all the children. No one was allowed ice cream or other junk. Once in a while it was permitted, usually during the sixth inning of a Yankee game. Only while at the Stadium. They had tickets to go up to the crown and began their entry.

Everything was moving quite nicely as they made their walk along the winding staircase. All of a sudden, someone went flying down the stairs. They thought the person tripped. The faller bumped into a few people, causing them to lose balance. Marc and his crew were fine. Security guards came to help all those in need—this delayed things.

Everything snapped back into play, and they kept climbing. As they got there, they noticed one of the security guards. She had blood-red eyes and cuts all over her face and arms. She was chanting about and screaming more people would fall. Marc looked at David Benjamin, Sarah, Jerry and Gili. He signaled that they might need to take her out. He knew it was unfair for all of them to attack. But knew it’d be quick.

Quickly, Sarah turned into a serpent, and her twin became a whale—the security guard, high as a kite, freaked out. Jerry started tossing olives at her. Marc unleashed dozens of pomegranates—both seeds and the whole fruit. Sarah’s fangs were getting ready to make an incision when the guard passed out. Quickly, everyone turned back into themselves. Marc got another guard, who helped her get up and got her out of the statue.

Everyone else proceeded as they wished.

How to Weaponize AI Against Employment Scams

How AI Prevents You from Falling for Scams During the Job Search

We all know looking for work is work. You spend hours perfecting your resume, cover letters, and networking. You reach out to everyone to make introductions, share your resume, and get recommendations. You make sure your information is posted on all the job boards, then you pray and wait.

The Search

We’ve all been through it time and time again. In the old days you mailed your resume, then you faxed, and now you email or text. I remember searching ads in the job section in Sunday’s The New York Times. It seems the same roles I applied to in the early 90s are still featured as open on today’s job boards – Be it Glassdoor, Indeed, or LinkedIn.

The Scammers

Most of the time recruiters email you using the address on your resume. They might reach out to you via LinkedIn. Some still call. But thanks to today’s social media and scammers, many of the people reaching out have nothing to do with the company you applied to. I have received far more fake requests than I can count. Many say they are recruiters who’ve found the perfect job opportunity that matches my experience. They coax you into supplying your resume and other data. Then they tell you they need to rewrite your resume and ask for your credit card. I have never fallen for this. Those who do never get a perfect AI-sourced resume. But they get plenty of stuff from Apple, Google, Microsoft, and high-end fashion designers. Only they never get the merchandise. Bills appear on their credit card statements.

Some recruiters impersonate real recruiters. They spell Apple, “Aple.” Most people don’t carefully look at the emails, and they write their recruitment emails “Hollywood style.” They also say they want to do interviews via chat on Microsoft Teams and ask you to download and become their friend. Many people, even me, fell for this. You do an interview, and most of the time they schedule follow-ups. Sometimes they happen. Usually not. All a scam.

How AI Helps

How does AI help you? It helps you quite a bit. All you need to do is take the ad and the email it was sent from, then input them into an AI search. It will think for a few seconds. Then it will tell you if it is legitimate. Most of the time, it notes red flags with the email addresses and URLs. Often the recruiters make minor changes to the URL. Sometimes they direct you to the company they claim to represent. Most often it goes nowhere. But they may implant malware into your computer to track your credit card and which sites you buy from. AI will note inconsistencies with the job description and the recruiter’s LinkedIn or other social media profiles.

AI will also search the job sites of the companies the recruiters allege they work for. It will give you an outlook on what is really going on. It often tells you to write to the actual recruiter to see whether they really contacted you and to express your interest.

AI is making great strides in helping people in their searches. Now the search needs to end with the role that is right.

Girls Day Out

The Wine is Flowing

Alana and Tzipora haven’t hung out in ages. They texted a lot. Mostly sending photos of their children. Tzipora now had, in addition to Tamar Hannah. He is 18 months old and quiet.

Bee Fetching Honey at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Today they were hanging at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden—just the two of them. The kids were with their dad. The weather was nice. Tzipora has been 100 percent faithful to Eran. She’d never sleep with another guy. But we know she used to coax Alana into bed. She knew Alana was experimental. But one hundred percent devoted to Marc. But she was mad at him because that’s when he decided to try again with Jen. Alana knew it would not last. But she was annoyed. She knew she and Marc would never wed. But she wanted him as her one and only. She had just saved Tzipora and Stacey from some dumb jock. It was the first time she publicly used her powers. Tzipora was hot for her at that moment.

Alana didn’t fight back. She was depressed over Marc and needed someone. Tzipora recognized this and lured her in. These days they are two devoted moms. Tzipora’s medical practice is doing quite well. She and Alana looked at the flowers and sipped bottled water. Both wore their usual black clothes, and before arriving, they’d been listening to Joy Division. They smiled at each other when they mentioned this. There will always be a connection between those two.

All was well at least for the time being. Alana heard kids screaming. Most were those annoyed because mom and dad didn’t let them have all the candy they wanted. They heard a teenage girl scream. They recognized her voice as more mature than the little ones. They figured she was annoyed with how the wind was blowing and messing up her hair. That was happening to Alana. But she didn’t care.

Screams got louder. Tzipora poked Alana in the back and told her to turn around. She saw a 14-year-old girl getting smacked by another teen girl. The aggressor was about two years older. She looked like the crazies you see on the subway. Tzipora knew Alana wasn’t gonna let this girl get hurt. Alana did not want to make a scene. She inched up to the two teens, opened her eyes, and shot wine into the attacker’s eyes. She followed up by lunging a few apples, which nailed the belligerent teen in her knees. She fell to the ground. Alana switched to white wine and splattered it all over her body. She buried her head into the ground and started weeping. The other girl was nervous about what was going on. She got up and walked toward the ladies’ room.

Alana and Tzipora continued their walk through the gardens.

Why AI Won’t Steal Your Camera’s Soul

The Spellcheck of Photography

To continue the discussion on AI and photography, I think the shot’s creativity comes from the photographer. Like Paul Simon, I have a Nikon camera and I take photographs. Back in 1973, when he wrote that song, Photoshop didn’t exist. Neither did mirrorless cameras. In the darkroom, you did Photoshop. You processed your film in darkness and threw it into a chemical bath.

Everything was timed. A little shorter or longer would change your image. That was about as AI as it got. Jump ahead to 1990, when Photoshop was first released for the Mac. A whole new world of photo editing opened. I know some who do not believe in any edits. Berengo Gardin, the master of photojournalism, who shot with a Leica, believed editing was fine for advertising and fashion. But not for news. He never cropped or manipulated his images. He stamped the back of images with “Vera Fotografia” (True Photography).

Jump ahead to today’s world. Everything is edited. Apps on your iPhone can edit what you shoot. They sit on mine. I haven’t used them in years. I consider my phone shots quickies. Phones do take terrific shots. However, they cannot beat the depth of a mirrorless or DSLR camera. Adobe’s Lightroom and Photoshop tools have added AI.

It is a breath of fresh air. The new features are a pleasure. Remember, you still need to take the best picture you can. Meaning, use the right lens, ISO and F-Stop settings. I used Adobe’s Pre-AI suite to remove shaving cuts from someone’s face and remove fences from pictures of animals in zoos. I don’t like them being there. So, removing the fence makes them look free. I know they are not. I have touched up bodies of water and the sky.

In the old days, taking out shaving cuts and/or removing fences, be it at the zoo or the ones around the planes at the USS Intrepid, could have removed part of the person’s face, the wolf’s teeth, or the propeller on the USCG chopper. You had to be very careful with your brushes in Photoshop. The remove feature wasn’t like it is today. Now you can use AI to remove these things, and it recognizes that someone’s face is very close to the cuts. It realizes you likely want to keep what is behind the fence in full. Denoising photos falls into the same playbook. AI can sharpen your photos.

I don’t like all the new features. I am not sure they are fully ready. But they are there. If you’re willing to toy around and put in the time, you will find many will enhance your photo and make it much better. Microsoft launched Word in 1983. It did not add spell check until 1985. For two years, we had to proofread ourselves. Now we set it to auto, and it cleans up our documents.

Photoshop is a tool to clean up your pictures. Now that it has added AI, it is no different than how Word evolved. Technology will keep evolving, and it is up to us to evolve with it.

Shooting with AI: Why It’s a Tool for Creators, not a Replacement.

Maverick, The Beatles, and AI: A Photographer’s Solo Birthday Adventure

A few days ago, I went solo to the USS Intrepid as part of my birthday festivities. I am not into birthdays. But feel the need to do something special. Maybe it is a cultural thing. I haven’t been to the ship in many years. Last time, I probably needed Goose, Maverick, and Iceman to fly in and save me—long story.

I spent some time taking pictures on the ground level at Pier 86. I shot the Growler and Concorde. It was quite sunny, and I was using a Nikkor 24-70 F2.8 with a polarizing filter—sunglasses for my lens. I was wearing those for my eyes. All was well; I decided to go onto the Growler Submarine. It is gray. I wish it were yellow another long story. From the second I boarded the Growler until I left the Intrepid, I sang “Yellow Submarine” in my head.

How AI helped My Shots on the Intrepid and a Few Weeks Ago at Coney Island’s Sand Sculpture Contest

Filter Issues

While waiting in a short line to enter the Growler, I wanted to switch to a clear filter. No need for such a polarizing filter indoors. At least not in this case. I could not get the polarizer off. A few weeks ago, while in camp, I had a similar issue with my 24-120. I gave up and spent more time in Photoshop. I was determined to switch filters.

I Googled my issue. Google sent me many sites. All I wanted was a clear answer. I switched to asking in AI mode. It was so direct. It gave me three straightforward options. I didn’t have what was needed for the first two choices. So, I was left to try the third one. It told me to make my index finger and thumb into a C and place it on the filter. It then said to start turning, and it should loosen. It also had a video, which I watched. I tried it, and the filter popped right off, and I swapped on the one I needed.

Yellow Submarine

As I was boarding, I asked the attendant to take a shot of me in front of the Regulus missile. I was far from the only one. I texted the shot to a few friends with the caption: It is gray. But I wish it were yellow. An hour later, a friend texted back with her birthday wishes and said she was having fun with AI. She took the picture and made the sub yellow. She then took a picture of me and transposed me in front of the yellow submarine from the cover of the Beatles’ album and placed me on Coney Island’s boardwalk with the Cyclone and Wonder Wheel in the background. It was great that she took my shot from an iPhone and still had fun with AI. The shot wasn’t really created with AI. It was just edited. I still believe in taking the shot yourself – be it with a mobile device or traditional camera.

Transposed to Coney by a Yellow Submarine

Sand Sculpture Contest

Recently, I headed to my home away from home, Coney Island, for its 34^th Annual Sand Sculpture Contest. Dozens of people created great sand art. I had the same lens and polarizing filter. I packed the night before. I put in the lens hood. I popped it onto the lens, and it fit. I didn’t think anything else. I tossed it in my camera bag.

I got to the beach and noticed I was seeing parts of the filter through my lens. I was not happy. I never had that issue. I panicked. I shot without it for a while, and it was fine. But wanted to avoid the glare. I did the usual Google search. It led me to many sites. Finally, I typed in the lens hood model into AI. It responded that I was using the wrong hood. The one I mistakenly bought is for one of my other lenses. I was a little surprised. All of my lenses are different sizes. I never thought this hood I bought was wrong. Alas, it was. It is slightly different in size and does not fit on the lens I brought. But not properly.

Conclusion

I believe the work should come from someone’s creativity. Over the years, many tools have been created to help us when we need them. AI is one of those. If it were not for it, I’d still be stuck trying to get the filter off my lens; I would not have realized my lens hood miscues, and my pal wouldn’t have been able to make her birthday greeting for me. AI will keep offering us help and making our lives easier. I am not sure if it is an infant, toddler, or tween. Not sure it is a teen yet. But maybe. Bottom line, we need to watch it grow and let it help us so we can move ahead.

Good Grief, Google: How AI Saved My NYC Birthday Walk

A few days ago, I celebrated my birthday. I am not into them. To me, it’s just another day. But I do try to do fun things on that day. I started at the Intrepid and spent over three hours there. I took tons of photos on the carrier’s flight deck. I wish Maverick were there. Stay tuned for my AI photography post. It’s gonna land soon.

After I left the Intrepid, I headed down to the Meatpacking District to see the “Snoopy in Style” exhibit on Little West 12^thStreet. My family loves the Peanuts. They say I resemble Charlie Brown. One day I hope to hit that homer or strike out the batter. I am fine with my shortstop using his supper dish for his glove.The Village’s geography is chaotic and how its streets are cut off from each other, is interesting.

I asked Google for directions for the exhibit. Typical of a traditional Google, or any other search engine for that matter, it directed me to many links. Some useful. Some useless. It told me which train or bus to take. Or what streets to walk. Bear in mind I was about 5 minutes away. I told the search engine my exact location.

I switched to an AI search. I was quite direct. I said I was in front of the Gucci store on West 14^th Street. It said I was less than two minutes away and told me exactly what to do. For kicks, I tried it again one block later. This time I said I was in front of Sephora on West 13^th Street. AI told me I was about 30 seconds away. All I had to do was make a right on the next block, onto Little West 12^th Street, and the Peanuts exhibit would be a few doors down.

It was. The line was around the corner. It was closing in less than an hour. So, I went over to City Winery. I plan to try again to see the exhibit.

AI was so direct. I was always taught to explain something like you are explaining it to your grandmother, who might need more direct instructions, rather than being directed to too many options. I was very pleased that it spoke to me as a person who needs a little help and coached me along.

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 not 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.