Opinion

Jerry's View: April 6, 1930: A great day

patr — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:11:39 +0000

patr Mon, 04/06/2026 - 9:11am

By Jerry Robinson

Publisher Emeritius 1920-2014

Excerpted from Listen to your Father, the life story of Jerry Robinson

On my 10th birthday Russell, my big brother, bought me my first bike. April 6th, 1930. What a day. "C'mon, Gerald," he said. "Let's go up to Killingsworth Street."

"Okay," I answered, and we took off. "Where're we going?"

"You'll see." The most exciting place on Killingsworth Street was Darling's Bike Shop. Many times we had feasted our eyes on the row of shiny bikes in the window.

When we turned in there I nearly died. It smelled so good. Rubber-tired heaven.

Russell had already made the choice: a powder blue, 26 inch, balloon-tired baby with steerhorn handlebars. Absolutely the most gorgeous creation from the hand of man. The frame had been broken and brazed down by the sprocket, but I didn't mind.

I loved it. Russell gave Mr. Darling a ten-dollar bill and we pushed it out the door.

When we got outside I asked him where he got the money. "Out of Dad's dresser drawer," he confessed. We both knew it was wrong, but we guessed right--that Dad, an alcoholic, wouldn't know he had ten dollars when he went to bed the night before.

Russell taught me how to ride. After a few spills, I got the hang of it. It was a wonderful thing to do for a little brother, so I couldn't complain too much when he'd beat me up and take off on it. I kept that bike for three years, taking it back every few months to have the frame re-brazed. When I was thirteen Russell and I pooled our paper route monies and bought a brand new Royal Blue Schwinn World Bike with knee-action forks and red reflectors on the mud flaps. I wish I had it now, just so I could look at it.

Robinson Papers

Pat's view: People with Peripheral Neuropathy might see a solution

patr — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:54:42 +0000

patr Wed, 03/18/2026 - 2:54pm

UPDATE: Lancet has published a study on this medication

By Patrick Robinson

NOTE: The British Medical publication Lancet has published a study on a medication from WinSanTor.

Read it here.

Original post May 2025

I and millions of other people suffer from a condition called Peripheral Neuropathy. It's a condition that means painful, burning and numb feet and can lead to more serious damage. It makes it hard to walk or stand for extended periods too. There is no cure. There are many causes for the condition and often it is treated by neurologists who prescribe medications like Gabapentin, Lyrica (Pregabalin), and others. Many of them have side effects and while some patients report relief of some level of symptoms the results are different for many. I have tried many of the OTC remedies and pills from Lion's Mane mushroom caplets, Blessed Thistle caplets, R-Alpha Lipoic Acid, Circumin, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin B-1, Red Light therapy, Tens unit therapy, acupuncture, Lidocaine creams, magnesium creams, even Vicks Vapo rub at night with socks. I have purchased 10 different pairs of shoes. Virtually none of it has made any kind of significant difference. That doesn't mean I have given up or stopped seeking a solution. My search led me to one that looks to have the most promise. I am looking forward to further developments. It gives me hope. That's why I'm sharing this now.

Beyond symptom relief: A shift in the fight against Peripheral Neuropathy

For the millions living with peripheral neuropathy, the search for relief can feel endless—and often confusing. The market is flooded with creams, supplements, socks, devices, and other products claiming to support or restore nerve health. Many include ingredients like CBD, L-arginine, or R-alpha-lipoic acid and are marketed as safe and effective. The seemingly endless stream of social media ads are filled with glowing testimonials, but most of these products aren’t required to prove anything beyond basic safety. They’re sold as supplements or consumer medical devices, not as medicines—meaning they avoid the kind of testing and regulation drugs must pass through.

The difference between hope and proof

While many of these products offer comfort or promise, they aren’t required to show they work—at least not the way medicines are. Supplements, consumer devices, and cosmetics are sold under different regulatory frameworks than drugs. They're specifically prohibited from claiming to cure or reverse disease, which is why their labels often include the disclaimer: “This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”

Actual drugs, by contrast, must go through structured clinical trials—rigorous, multi-phase studies designed to determine safety and efficacy. The gold standard is the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial: a setup where neither the patient nor the doctor knows who is receiving the active drug versus a placebo. This design helps ensure results are based on data—not expectation or belief.

Where WinSanTor Is different

That’s where a company called WinSanTor comes in. Unlike many products that are marketed using language like “nerve support” or “regeneration” without requiring evidence, WinSanTor’s approach is built on lab research and validated in human trials. The company was co-founded by the leading researchers in diabetic peripheral neuropathy to pursue an ambitious goal: not just easing symptoms, but actually helping damaged nerves regrow—something few treatments have ever shown in rigorous clinical studies.

The drug is based on research from academic scientists who found that blocking a specific muscarinic receptor in nerve cells could jump-start regeneration. The active ingredient, Pirenzepine, had already been available in Europe for unrelated conditions. WinSanTor’s version, a variation of this drug, is applied topically and appears to reactivate mitochondria—cellular powerhouses—at the nerve endings, triggering localized nerve repair. Because it stays mostly in the skin and doesn’t circulate widely in the bloodstream, it has shown a promising early safety profile.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many trials were halted, WinSanTor completed two Phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies—an impressive feat under challenging conditions. Each trial included fewer than 50 participants and was designed to detect early biological and clinical signals.

What Did the Studies Show?

Nerve Regeneration: Skin biopsies taken before and after treatment revealed significant nerve regrowth in patients receiving the drug. The p-value—used to assess statistical confidence—was 0.001, meaning there’s a 99.9% likelihood the effect wasn’t due to chance.
Improved Function: Participants on the drug improved in mobility and function, based on standard clinical tools and fitness tracking data. While these results didn’t quite reach traditional statistical significance (p-values of 0.053 and 0.065), they showed strong trends considered meaningful in early-stage research.
Reduced Pain: Though not the primary goal, participants reported a 10% drop in chronic pain. Pain is especially complex—it's subjective, tied to emotional memory, and often persists even after tissue heals. That’s why pain relief from regenerative treatments may lag behind biological repair, but the early data is encouraging.
Safety: The only notable side effect was mild skin irritation, typically resolved with moisturizer. Systemic absorption was minimal.

A Narrow Focus on Pain—For a Minority of Patients

Most pharmaceutical and consumer products for neuropathy still focus narrowly on pain—typically by dulling or masking sensation. But pain affects only about 20% of people with peripheral neuropathy. For the majority, symptoms like numbness, tingling, and loss of coordination dominate. These are signs of nerve degeneration, not just discomfort, and masking them doesn’t address the disease. That’s why WinSanTor’s regenerative approach could be so important: it targets the underlying damage rather than the surface symptoms.

Looking Ahead: A Cross-Continental Strategy

Regulatory paths differ by region, and WinSanTor is advancing in Europe first, where Pirenzepine’s prior approval and clearer guidance from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) create a more defined route. The company plans a 350-patient Phase 3 trial with a European partner, aiming for approval by 2028.

In the U.S., where the FDA has historically prioritized pain reduction as a benchmark, the path is more uncertain. But regulatory interest in disease-modifying therapies is growing. Meanwhile, WinSanTor plans to launch a U.S. compassionate use program to provide access at cost to eligible patients, and to seek conditional approval in Canada, which could make the drug available years ahead of full approval.

A Challenge of Awareness and Funding

Despite its scientific progress, WinSanTor—like many early-stage biotech firms—faces steep financial hurdles. Venture funding for drug development has tightened, and neuropathy still receives limited attention despite its widespread impact.

Stanley Kim, the CEO co-founder of WinSanTor believes awareness must come from the grassroots: patients, caregivers, and clinicians who understand the toll of the disease and demand more than short-term symptom relief.

What Patients Can Do

While no single treatment is guaranteed, WinSanTor’s case highlights the importance of research-backed solutions. Patients can help advance the field by:

Talking openly about their experiences to raise awareness.
Asking their doctors about clinical trials and investigational programs.
Participating in advocacy efforts or research surveys.
Being cautious of unproven products, and asking whether claims are supported by data—not just testimonials.

As science catches up with the scale of the problem, the hope is that more treatments grounded in evidence—not just marketing—will become available to those who need them most.

Robinson Papers

OpEd- Word to the AI Wise: Add a password and security key to ChatGPT

patr — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 23:13:56 +0000

patr Mon, 03/09/2026 - 4:13pm

EDITORS NOTE: Local West Seattle Mediator and Attorney Liz Steen is also a very capable technology user. As such she often uses various AI tools and other accounts interchangably as necessary. But as she discovered, that can lead to problems.

By Liz Steen

"OAUTH permissions" can be confusing. When you sign into Claude, Perplexity, or ChatGPT, the pop up says “Do you want to use open.ai to sign in?” Below the options are “Continue with Apple” “Continue with Google” “Sign up” or “log in.”

Most of us click Google or Apple, enter our account password, and move on to chat. Every time you sign into Chat GPT after, the log in will flash with Google or Apple, indicating no you’ve used OAUTH to log into your account. On which you have a password and other security protocols. It all seems perfectly safe. Every once in a while you’ll even be asked to add your Google or Apple password. It feels secure.

I used Apple. I assumed that meant someone could only sign into my ChatGPT if they had my Apple password. I downloaded the app on my phone and felt fine about that… I was so wrong.

I need a password to log into my Apple. And my Apple is linked to ChatGPT. But ChatGPT accounts do not automatically have a password anywhere in that onboarding flow.

You have to get into ChatGPT settings to add a password to your ChatGPT. If you don’t, your ChatGPT is just an account without a password. A password-less account, with no security whatsoever, that is also linked via OAUTH to your most personal anccount. Apple, with the “save password for this site” feature that conveniently stores all your logins in one account. Or Google, with the “log in with Google” feature enabled on every other account you own - Pinterest, Adobe, Roblox (which your kid uses).

Your quick-and-easy log in opened up a maze of connected experiences. Your accounts are now one or two degrees of separation away from a password-free app that you keep open all the time to ask things like “what can I make for dinner with potatoes and chicken thighs.”

Each log in looks like “you” to the computer. An attacker can be in, and then out, in ten minutes. During that time the attacker could set up their own Adobe or Pinterest account connected with OAUTH permissions for automatic log into your Google or Apple account. You can revoke third-party app permissions in Google or Apple. But you can’t revoke permission from the attacker’s account. Only your own.

That means you’ll never know who’s logging in as “you.” All the unauthorized logins will be “you” to Google.

if you have any AI accounts open the settings app right now. Add a password, and ideally a passkey such as Yubikey or other device. Reset your security settings on every account. And cross your fingers and hope you added that password before someone else got in.

Robinson Papers

Stop the Steal: Why your digital identity is at risk and how to fight back

patr — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 04:53:59 +0000

patr Fri, 03/06/2026 - 8:53pm

By Liz Steen

Imagine waking up to find that someone has taken over your entire digital life. They didn’t steal your wallet from your pocket, but they stole the "key" to your online world.

Digital identity theft is a widespread crime that can hurt both people and big businesses. Right now, many of us are using outdated ways to stay safe, and it is time for a change .

The Problem: Passwords Are Not Enough

For a long time, we thought a strong password and a text message code (SMS) were enough to keep hackers out. However, experts now say these traditional methods are no longer sufficient because of new AI-driven attacks . Hackers are getting very good at using AI to trick people and steal their login information . They also use "consent attacks," where they trick you into clicking "Allow" on a fake app that then steals your data .

What You Can Do Right Now

You don't have to be a tech expert to protect yourself.

Here are a few ways to stay safe:

Move Beyond Passwords: Stop relying only on passwords. Switch to Passkeys or hardware security keys whenever you can .

Use Your Face or Fingerprint: Biometric tools that check if you are a "live" person are much harder for hackers to trick .

Be Careful with "Sign-On" Buttons: When an app asks for permission to access your Google or Facebook account, read the fine print. Don't grant access to apps you don't know or trust .

Watch for Red Flags: Pay attention to alerts about "unusual travel" or sign-ins from devices you don’t own.

What We Must Ask Our Legislators to Do

We cannot fix this problem alone. We need our government to pass laws that force tech companies to take our security seriously. You should urge your legislators to support laws that:

Require Stronger Security Standards: Laws should push companies to move away from weak SMS codes and toward more secure methods like Passkeys .

Mandate Better ID Checking: Companies should be required to use strong identity verification, like matching government IDs with live biometrics, when someone creates a new account .

Force Plain-Language Warnings: It should be a law that companies must explain what data you are sharing in plain language instead of long, confusing legal documents .

Demand Continuous Monitoring: Legislators should require companies to monitor for suspicious activity and alert users the moment something looks wrong . Identity theft is a major threat, but by updating our own habits and demanding better laws, we can keep our digital lives safe

The real (maybe) reason Tech Execs don’t let their kids have screens, and how to stay safe:

1) If your app asks “Do you want to stay logged in?” Click no. Clicking yes issues a “token” that’s easy to steal with cheap equipment and just a bit of tech knowledge.

2) If an app asks “Trust this device?” Click no. Your trusted device might have a SIM swap or be synced with your child or your partner’s device in a family sync that shares password.

3) If an app asks, “Remember your login details?” Click no. Anyone synced with your device will get all your login details and be able to get in whenever they want. You’ll never even know.

4) When a pop up window offers a suggested password, Click no. Your password manager is easy to access from synced devices with family members. Once an attacker is in, even for a minute or two, they can enable automatic logins from their own account. You’ll never know it.

5) Use a passkey like Yubikey to get into your apps with just a fingerprint. Or enable only a passkey to use your face. Don’t use passwords at all if you can help it.

6) Enroll your child under 13 in a Family Plan and do not allow them to sync their passwords or device with yours. Many programs will do this automatically, for convenience.

7) Your child will have to pick one, Google or Microsoft, or you will need a Family Plan for every single service they use (Xbox is Microsoft and Minecraft).

8) Check your child’s online accounts regularly – at least once a week. A hacker can enroll your child’s email address in a family account that they control. Then the hacker has your child’s passwords, and your child has your passwords. Your child can only be in one account at a time. Make sure you’re the only one managing their online identity.

9) Log into “Manage My Account” management pages for Google, Apple/iCloud, Facebook, and Microsoft at least once a week to check your logins, and check the date and time to make sure it was really you. Even logins that look like you could be unauthorized. A hacker can log in on your wifi with a token stolen after you clicked “remember me on this device.”

If you don’t remember updating your LinkedIn profile at 4:30 a.m., log out the device and flag it.

10) Ask your legislators for help. It’s dangerous to have OAUTH tokens that allow someone to log in without a password even months after you clicked “remember me on this device.”

There’s no consumer benefit, and a lot of risk. Tech companies know the risk and hide the controls to make your family safer behind paywalls and subscriptions that cost hundreds of dollars each – each app will charge for a family account if your child wants to play Minecraft or Roblox and a Doodle game on Google play.

Email addresses that sync your device for games are free to create but expensive to protect.

Ask your legislator to force the tech companies to add guardrails.

That free email is like driving a free car and then finding out you have to enroll in a subscription service for working brakes.

Liz Steen is a privacy advocate and mediator in West Seattle.

Robinson Papers

Ken's View: About Jack

patr — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 22:50:41 +0000

patr Tue, 02/10/2026 - 2:50pm

By Ken Robinson

Managing Editor

Over time, friends come and go. But some people stay with us, no matter how long it’s been since we last met. Once we were friends, it was forever.

Jack Jones was one of those people.

Jack died last week. He was 82.

Jack and his dog Teddy.

We met in 1972, when we were both 28, through his wife, Darla, who worked with me at the town’s weekly newspaper.

We both had two sons, close in age. I took some photos of the Jones family—young, energetic, and full of life. Those photos are treasures, and I’ve shared them with the family.

A few images rekindle the friendship:

—Jack and Darla and the boys at the park at Dash Point, in the sun. —The Jones family, happy and together, sitting on a couch in the living room. —Jack and Darla, often with a shovel, rake, or trowel, working in their yard—always busy, always tending to something. —Both our families out in the country on land owned by a friend of Jack’s, cutting firewood on a cool fall day and eating chili outdoors when the work was done. —On the deck at their home on Mirror Lake, serving food and drinks to friends, including us. —At the small business repairing lawnmowers and other gas‑powered tools, named for the boys—Jack, Darren, and Keith—shortened to JDK Small Engine Repair. —Jack in the shop on Highway 99 across from the high school at Locks, Mowers and Bikes, after he learned the locksmith trade. —Jack and Darla as proprietors of Auburn Lawn and Garden, after the founder—ready to retire—placed his faith and trust in Jack to take over the business. —Jack and Darla and their sons, grown and running their own branches of the hardware business.

The family has maintained a way of living that has disappeared for most of us—their door was always open, always welcoming. No one was a stranger, just a friend they hadn’t met yet. And once you met them, you were always a friend. You wanted to be a friend.

Once they are in your life, it is forever, marked by generosity, a helping hand, and honest affection.

Jack grew up on a small farm, where he had to pitch in early because his father was injured at work and struggled with many of the tasks needed to keep things going. Jack learned to work, learned the value of work, and learned that if you want something done right, you probably have to do it yourself.

Jack lived by an unwritten philosophy grounded in focus, fairness, honesty, and trust. The person he presented to the world was unvarnished—without pretense, without guile. He was a handshake guy, transparent and real.

He once told me he didn’t use credit cards for things he wanted. He paid cash. And over time, he acquired property, toys, and the rewards of persistence. He didn’t do it alone; Darla hitched her wagon to his star early on, and they were truly a team without needing matching jerseys. She has always been strong in her own right and shares the same life view that made them strong partners.

Darren and Keith show every sign of having absorbed the values their parents lived by. They are good, strong men—clear reasons for their parents to be proud.

I shuddered when Darla called from their place in California to tell me Jack had passed. A palpable sadness washed over me, as if something important had just gone away. But I cannot dwell on the sadness. I can revisit the gift of my friendship with a good man—a true man.

Robinson Papers

OpEd- The Psychology of Human Stupidity: Why we sabotage ourselves and how to stop

patr — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:18:52 +0000

patr Mon, 02/02/2026 - 2:18pm

Human stupidity is a paradox wrapped in everyday life.

We're the species that split the atom, mapped the genome, and sent probes to Mars, yet we also elect unqualified leaders, text while driving, and fall for obvious scams.

What drives us to engage in behaviors that are risky, irrational, or downright self-defeating?

Stupidity isn't just a lack of intelligence; it's a cocktail of psychological quirks, evolutionary holdovers, social influences, and emotional impulses that override our better judgment. Let's explore why people do "stupid" things across various domains, uncover the underlying roots, and offer practical ways to break the cycle.

By understanding these patterns, we can foster smarter choices in a world that often tempts us toward folly.

Everyday Examples of Stupidity: From Politics to Pyrotechnics

Consider the baffling support for leaders or public figures who lack clear qualifications or who commit illegal acts yet retain support. History is littered with charismatic but incompetent rulers, from ancient emperors to modern politicians.

People rally behind them not out of ignorance alone, but because of tribal loyalty and confirmation bias. We see what we want to see, ignoring red flags if the figure aligns with our identity or promises quick fixes to complex problems. This applies to both sides of the political spectrum.

Then there's dangerous driving, like speeding through red lights or weaving through traffic despite knowing the statistics on accidents. In 2023 alone, reckless driving contributed to thousands of fatalities worldwide, yet many persist. This stems from an illusion of control: we overestimate our skills behind the wheel, thinking "it won't happen to me."

Add in the thrill of adrenaline, and rational risk assessment flies out the window.

Walking alone at night in unsafe areas is another classic. Urban dwellers might cut through dark alleys to save time, dismissing gut feelings or crime reports. Here, optimism bias plays a role. We assume the best outcome because bad things happen to "other people." Coupled with habituation, where repeated safe experiences dull our caution, this can lead to preventable dangers.

Mishandling fireworks or hazardous objects amplifies the point. Every Fourth of July, emergency rooms fill with injuries from people lighting explosives in their hands or ignoring safety labels. Thrill-seeking and peer pressure turn a festive activity into a gamble, where the immediate excitement overshadows potential disfigurement.

Ignoring expert advice is pervasive, from anti-vaxxers rejecting medical consensus to investors chasing "hot tips" against financial gurus. This often arises from distrust fueled by misinformation or a desire for autonomy... after all we'd rather feel in charge than admit we need help.

Falling for scams, like phishing emails or pyramid schemes, exploits our greed and naivety. Even savvy individuals wire money to "Nigerian princes" because hope and urgency cloud judgment. Scammers prey on emotional triggers, making us act before we think.

Finally, repeating mistakes despite consequences is the hallmark of stubbornness. Think of the smoker who quits and relapses, or the serial dieter who yo-yos. We know the pain, yet we revert, driven by habit loops and short-term comfort.

These examples aren't isolated; they're symptoms of deeper psychological mechanisms that evolved to help our ancestors survive but often backfire in modern contexts.

The Roots of Stupidity: Psychological, Evolutionary, Social, and Emotional Factors

At the core are cognitive biases, mental shortcuts that distort reality. Confirmation bias makes us seek evidence supporting our beliefs while ignoring contradictions... explaining why we support unqualified leaders or ignore expert advice. Availability heuristic amplifies this: vivid stories (like a rare scam success) loom larger than statistics, leading to poor risk assessment in driving or fireworks mishaps.

Overconfidence is another culprit. The Dunning-Kruger effect shows that the least competent often overestimate their abilities, while experts underrate theirs. This explains dangerous speeding: novice drivers feel invincible, blind to their limitations. Evolutionarily, overconfidence might have aided hunter-gatherers in bold pursuits, but in a car at 90 mph, it's lethal.

Social pressure and group identity herd us into stupidity. Conformity experiments like Asch's line tests reveal how we'll agree with a wrong majority to fit in. This drives support for flawed figures if our "tribe" endorses them, or walking unsafe paths because friends do it. Groupthink in social settings amplifies risks, like daring each other with fireworks.

Thrill-seeking taps into our dopamine-driven reward system. Evolutionary psychology suggests risk-taking helped early humans explore and mate, but today it manifests as adrenaline junkies ignoring dangers. Walking alone at night or speeding provides a rush, prioritizing excitement over safety.

Poor risk assessment stems from how our brains evolved in scarce environments, not data-rich ones. We discount future threats (hyperbolic discounting), favoring immediate gratification much like scam victims chasing quick riches despite long-term losses.

Emotional decision-making overrides logic. Fear, anger, or desire hijack the amygdala, bypassing the rational prefrontal cortex. Repeating mistakes often involves emotional avoidance: we'd rather numb pain with familiar vices than face change.

Lack of information or misinformation compounds this. In an era of echo chambers, fake news spreads faster than facts, leading to ignored advice or scam susceptibility. Our brains crave simplicity, so conspiracy theories feel empowering despite evidence.

Finally, the human tendency to prioritize short-term rewards over long-term safety is wired in. Behavioral economics' prospect theory shows we hate losses more than we love gains, but we'll gamble on shortcuts. This explains everything from dietary relapses to political choices promising instant utopia.

These factors intertwine: a thrill-seeker under social pressure, biased by overconfidence and misinformation, is a recipe for disaster. Stupidity isn't innate; it's a byproduct of mismatched evolution and environment.

Breaking Free: Recognizing and Avoiding the Traps

The good news? Awareness is the antidote. By cultivating self-awareness, critical thinking, and humility, we can outsmart our wiring. Here's how:

First, recognize cognitive biases. Keep a "bias journal": after a decision, note what influenced it. Was it emotion or evidence? Tools like decision matrices such as listing pros, cons, and risks can help assess dangers objectively, whether speeding or scam-spotting.

To combat overconfidence, seek feedback. Before supporting a leader, research qualifications from diverse sources. Practice humility by admitting "I don't know” (this is more important than you think) it opens doors to expert advice. The Socratic method which is based on questioning assumptions, builds this muscle.

Counter social pressure with independence. Ask: "Am I doing this for me or the group?" Surround yourself with diverse friends who challenge echo chambers. For group risks like fireworks, designate a "safety skeptic" to voice concerns.

Tame thrill-seeking by channeling it safely. Replace dangerous drives with go-karting or simulations. Mindfulness apps like Headspace train impulse control, pausing the adrenaline rush.

Improve risk assessment with data. Use apps tracking driving habits or crime maps for walks. Educate on probabilities: knowing a 1-in-100 scam risk feels abstract, but visualizing 99 failures makes it real.

For emotional decision-making, implement a "cool-off" rule: wait 24 hours before acting on urges. Emotional intelligence training, like journaling feelings, separates impulse from reason.

Address information gaps by verifying sources. Fact-check with sites like Snopes or multiple outlets. Curate feeds to include opposing views, reducing misinformation's grip.

Finally, prioritize long-term thinking with habit hacks. Use commitment devices: apps locking funds to prevent scam impulses, or "future self" visualizations imagining consequences years ahead.

These strategies aren't foolproof, but they build resilience. Stupidity thrives in autopilot; wisdom emerges from deliberate reflection. As philosopher Bertrand Russell noted, "The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." By embracing doubt and discipline, we tip the scales toward smarter living.

In the end, human stupidity reveals our humanity...flawed, fascinating, and fixable. Understanding its roots empowers us to evolve beyond them, one mindful choice at a time.

Riding the light rail at night...it's a breeze

patr — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:16:12 +0000

patr Fri, 01/30/2026 - 7:16am

By Tim Robinson

As much as we mocked the light rail system 17 years ago, when trains began rolling up at Tukwila Station in 2009, we confess Sound Transit got some things right. It works. It wasn't always so. From the ideas in the 70s and 80s, the people in charge were trying to figure out how to build it and where it would go. It had to be user friendly. It was a very slow start.

In those days, as we motored up 518 near the airport, we were not the only automobile in the fast lane mentally admonishing transit folks for the high cost of operations. They annually reported..something like $13 per rider, per trip. Not many folks were visible through the large windows on those linked units. Absurd, costly and huge taxpayer funded waste.

We were wrong.

It took a few years. We rode for the first time around 2012, almost three years before we trusted it to get us to town. It was fairly empty. Cars were dirty in places.There were food wrappers, empty cans and the occasional inebriate or possibly a drugged out person, slouched in a corner seat. This was more apt to be seen on a late evening trip. But things improved.

The folks in charge had a vision and for the most part, that vision was correct. Light rail is great, if you need to get from Federal Way to Lynnwood most anytime of day and costs $3. Just a buck if you are a senior. Kids under 18 ride free. Light rail is great, if you want to go to a theatre event in town or the stadiums or the UW. Beware, on game days, it will be very crowded but again, that's okay. Seating is not cushy but it is there, along with plenty of grab bars and ceiling straps. Sound Transit said nearly 200 people can fit into one four-car train, sitting and standing. We do not want to imagine that.

Getting on at Federal Way, on a Monday afternoon, has some clear advantages. Very few riders heading north. Our car was mostly empty, as were the other three cars on the loading platform. There was an anxious moment as the electronic doors slid open to green flashing side lights.

Those same lights turned a warning gold moments later, suggesting the doors were closing and we'd better step forward to find a seat. We had our choice of two of 70 seats. We sat. The system is on a schedule that teaches riders to move quickly. One surprise, after using our ORCA cards at the small ticket kiosks at each station--There were no ticket checkers on board. Could we ride free? Some probably did.

On the cars there are LED backlit displays showing current travel status and upcoming stations. Public address speakers provide regular updates about arrivals. The audio can be a challenge to hear clearly, so listening is paramount if you are new to the light rail.

It is also loud. Not just with people talking but large air exchange fans pull/push air from the ceiling of the cars that are combined with the symphony of the rails and what must be rumble strips on the line. Maybe those strips are there to warn the attendant driver, whose role is to witness the upcoming station and make certain the braking system slows the train cars down as they enter the loading platforms. The views, if you have a window seat, can be hypnotizing. Cars on Highway 99 or I-5 move briskly alongside and not that far from your seat at times. Looking over at I-5 you are at speed for most of the traffic. Train cars traveling in the opposite direction give one a dizzying feeling as the differential of two 55 mph trains pass each other.

LIke we expected, our train filled up as we got closer to the airport and was mostly full all the way to the U-District.

Near town you are adjacent to much of the vehicle traffic from Othello Station to Mt. Baker, sometimes waiting for traffic like every other car or pedestrian. Folks get on and off at each 1 minute stop along the line. It is efficient and mostly seamless. Cold air does rush into the heated units like a winter breeze but blends quickly once the automatic doors close. One minor negative. You cannot stick your arm out the window and you would not want to. The narrow walls of the Mt. Baker tunnels leave no room for that or even your pooch, licking the air like he does in your SUV. The walls are so close in there it can make you feel like the train is moving faster. It isn't.

In town and the U-district, the access to the light rail is fairly deep underground. A series of escalators move people very well down to the loading platform. The underground stations are also well lit, with great signage for where you want to go. Speaking of having to GO,there are no restrooms on the cars, so GO before you go.

On heading home, the return trip was less eventful. Our car was mostly empty all the way to Federal Way. This is understandable at 10 p.m., when fewer folks are going home or heading for the airport. Still, there was some apprehension over the vulnerability we felt. As senior citizens, we kept a vigil of alertness. Previous negative aspects of riding the light rail came to mind but nothing eventful occurred. The cars are well it, mostly warm and while the ride takes about twice as long as driving, we were glad to have it.

One nice surprise, around nearly every station except downtown tunnels, there was ample parking and lighting, with a plaza find of feel. Leafy trees in grated, cement squares made for a welcome walkup to the elevator or escalators. Security personnel were on hand around the station as well.

It took nearly 50 years to get there but Sound Transit's vision is mostly a reality. It is fast (1 hour + to UW from Federal Way) and inexpensive, compared to driving and parking. We wish they'd work on the noise. We'll do it again but we're bringing noise-cancelling ear plugs or maybe just earmuffs, if winter does not let go of its grip.

Robinson Papers

Jennifer's View: "I can only draw stick people"

patr — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 22:05:16 +0000

patr Mon, 01/26/2026 - 2:05pm

By Jennifer Carrasco

"I can only draw stick people”

When friends tell me that, I smile and say, “Its because you haven’t been taught how to draw”. (t’s also because you stopped trying at about 7 or 8, but I don’t say that because it might sound insulting.)

Gary’s first drawings. His hand and face.

What happens is most people get caught up in the efficiency game at around 7, and admittedly, it IS more efficient to scrawl out a stick figure in a minute to illustrate a point. But it takes more time to really see. It’s also the age where people start worrying about other opinions, and are afraid that their drawing efforts are “not good enough”.

Up until about the 1940’s drawing was taught in the public schools. And almost every kid learned how to play an instrument, however indifferently, and it was usually the piano. Not everyone became a Rembrandt or a Duke Ellington or Vladimir Horowitz, but they could draw adequately and bang out tunes and read music. And we sang…some of us better than the others. I saw kids who “couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket” learn to sing after 8 years of singing the Mass and parochial school class singing lessons. In the 60's and 70's we young adults got together and sang. It was so much fun and even if it was "Kumbaya" and 3/4 of us didn't play a "real" instrument, we could thrum a kazoo and raise our voices in song. Willie Nelson has a distinctive voice. Renee Fleming has a distinctive voice. They sang, and are still doing it.

Gary’s drawing of his grandchild after his 10th and last class.

I can teach anyone to draw. Not because I’m a genius teacher, but because it’s been part of my job and my practice for 60 years. The secret is a change in a perpetual mode….and like any skill from basketball lay ups to dancing en point…it takes practice and time.

Diane’s “final” after 10th session.

Why bother learning to draw? Because with drawing you learn to really SEE. It’s a slow, meditative act. You realize (again) that the world is miraculous. Drawing, singing, playing an instrument, and dancing, enlarge our knowledge of the world. Make it a private practice, if you feel self conscious. No one needs to see your drawings, or hear you sing. Sing in the shower. Take your guitar and play it in the garage.Take a ballet class. It’s a meditation and a profound pleasure in the midst of this crazy demanding world we humans have inflicted on ourselves.

Jennifer Carrasco is a longtime West Seattle resident and internationally recognized muralist whose work combines historical depth, mythic storytelling, and botanical elegance. With decades of experience painting large-scale trompe l’oeil and chinoiserie murals for clients ranging from Tommy Bahama to private collectors, she brings a distinctive Northwest voice to decorative arts. Her artistic journey has taken her from Peace Corps service and teaching in the Philippines to NEA residencies across the globe, and long ago she chose to make West Seattle her home.

You can reach her at Jennifer@carrascostudio.com

Draw yourself by Saul Steinberg

Take your sketchbook everywhere. Myself when I was “a bit” younger drawing Filipino fishermen who masked as protection from the sun.

Sara Anderson’s Practice! cartoon

My very first oil painting when I was 7. I showed it to my Uncle Bert who had taken art classes when he was in college at Berkley. I said I didn’t like it because it wasn’t “real”. He told me that I could always learn skill, but I couldn’t learn “heart.”He said my painting had “heart”. I never forgot that.

Robinson Papers

Jennifer's View: Photos vs. Drawings

patr — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:12:21 +0000

patr Wed, 01/14/2026 - 9:12am

By Jennifer Carrasco

As an artist and a traveler, I discovered very quickly that people were often offended or uneasy with being photographed but fascinated if I drew them. So I drew them and drew them.

The Filipino Igorot mountain tribes figured out that they could charge for a photo. Like this adamant old Bontoc gentleman. (Not my photo, but I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that there was haggling before the photo was taken.) I don’t have drawings from that time in my life (before 1978), alas.

When I was in Pusan, Korea on one of my art residencies, I went to the public market with my camera and sketch book. Those tough old ladies selling piles of gingko root and hot peppers were adamant about no photos, but when I started drawing them, they were pleased and fascinated. Some of them wanted to buy the drawings, and when I shook my head no, they grabbed me by the arm and took me for coffee!

From 1978 on, I drew any people who would sit still for me, and some who wouldn’t.(like my 4 year old son who I bribed with ice cream to convince him to sit for me. He informed me that there was to be “no penis drawing”. OK. I said. It’s a deal)

I drew and painted a lot of people as they were sleeping. (It’s boring to pose for a long time) My husband and son...siesta time!

It’s a real icebreaker if one draws or paints…almost anywhere. I sat on a curb in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris and painted watercolors of the trees and tombstones.. The famously snooty Parisians stopped and spoke to me approvingly and even smiled!

And here I am just off the Kremlin Square in Moscow, Russia, with a group of teenagers and their teacher. We didn’t talk much…they just watched and gave me thumbs up.

Robinson Papers

Jennifer's View: Escape to Taiwan

patr — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 20:47:33 +0000

patr Sat, 01/03/2026 - 12:47pm

By Jennifer Carrasco

This year was another big move for me– just up my street to Providence St. Vincent. At least this time it wasn't to another country like our fraught move in '72 to Taiwan...

On September 21, 1972, I had just walked through our compound gate on Taft Avenue, Manila with my 2 month old baby Carlos when I spotted my landlady, Mrs Javier, sitting on her steps with her head in her hands. “What’s wrong?” I called out.

“Marcos has declared martial law,” she moaned.

Havoc. Marcos had militarized the entire nation of 7,641 islands. Many "enemies" (sound familiar) were jailed, and our plans came to a screeching halt. Ricardo, my husband, myself and little Carlos, were all set to fly to Taipei, and from there to the southern city of Tainan where I would teach art to K through 12 in a small Department of Defense school. The problem for us was that Marcos had cancelled all visa applications except for his cronies and his wife Imelda so when she had the urge she could fly to NYC and buy more shoes.

My visa and Carlos’s visa were ready, and Ric had his passport but no visa. Our household goods had already been shipped to Tainan. What to do?

We heard that visa applications were available at the Manila stadium on Espana Avenue. We bused out to the stadium and were treated to the sight of soldiers throwing application papers in the air above a scramble of 800 Filipinos. Ric said, “This is useless.”

We returned to the Manila Ermita neighborhood and walked around, racking our brains. We passed St. Paul’s College, where I had taught a semester of art and Ric had performed in several of their musicals. Ric said, “Let’s go in and see if we can talk to Soeur Benjamin (the head of the college) about our problem. Maybe she'll have an idea.”

We were able to catch her in her office, and we told her about Ric’s visa problem. Soeur Benjamin paused for a moment, adjusted her granny glasses, and said, “I’ll write a letter to my brother, Ponce Enrile, the Minister of Defense.” Ric and I gaped at her. We had no idea she was “connected” to anyone in the government.

For years I have kept the copy of the letter she wrote to her brother. “Dear Ponce, please allow Ricky to join his little family in Taiwan.” It worked. In two days Ric had his visa.

We left via Clark Air Base three days after, and landed in Taipei the night before the Taiwanese celebration of Double Ten. We all were exhausted and slept straight through the night in our hotel. The next morning we walked out to see musicians marching down the streets and long lines of Dragon Dancers. So joyful, Such a relief!

The next day we flew south to Tainan, were placed in a nice hotel, and the following day I was teaching art to my new pupils.

After school Ric and I went house hunting.We found a 3 bedroom house down a lane in the University district. Our new home had lots of windows, a nice yard, and floors covered with Japanese tatami mats. The bathroom had a huge PINK bathtub, which we thought quite piquant.

We moved in, arranged our furniture and art, and I placed our awful black and white official Dept.of Defense photo of Richard Nixon above our toilet. Then we settled in for two peaceful and happy years in Taiwan.