My college degree has been for "play" instead of "pay."

mimeo art

In early 1980s I had a hand crank mimeograph machine.  Here's some art in a mimeographed newsletter I tried for a couple of years. A light bulb resulting from two ink color passes through the machine.

Some articles in newspapers and magazines about me


1973
Robert Ashworth graduates from High School

In the Pullman Herald because my name started with "A." Toward the top of the alphebet. The newspaper photographer probably didn't stay till the end of the ceremony. This was good enough. He got a represenative picture of the ceremony and then split.


1981
Cranking Out Happiness at Robert's Think Tank
Soon after graduation I bought a second hand mimeograph machine (this was before the Internet became wide spread) and started cranking out my own publication.  It didn't make money, but self expression was the goal.  I paid the bills by working as a custodian. 

Being a janitor didn't mean that I couldn't be "the director of a think tank."  My correspondence with people evolved into, sort of, a think tank that was featured, many years back, in the business section of the Tacoma News Tribune.


1984
Mail Art Beauty Pageant
Continued correspondence got me in touch with a bazaar network of artists called the MAIL ART NETWORK.  Mail artists send things like doodles, manifestoes and old shoes to one another, all over the world.

This interactive network of common folk is sort of a "pre Internet" exchange of creativity.  Mail Art shows would take place (and are still taking place) all over the world where people would collect the mail they got, put it on display and call it a show.  In 1983-84, I did a show.  See this article in the Bellingham Herald.

1989
She tossed out her car keys
My letter to the editor of a local paper, called The Fishwrapper, inspired one woman to throw out her car keys.  The Herald did a feature about her.

1991 Trip
Bike Trip Across USA

Western Front

1993 Trip
Klipson Magazine

In 1991 and again in 1993, I bicycled all the way across the US.  Articles in Western Front and the following year in Klipsun Magazine at Western Washington University.


1997
How to prepare for a long distance tour
Bellingham Herald


1999
In 1995, I started this web page.  It got its own domain name in 1999.


2001
The Second most prolific writer of letters to the editor published that year in Bellingham Herald.


2002
Map Maker
My site and Bellingham Bicycle Map featured in Bellingham Herald.


2003
Anti spam strategy from a cleanup Pro
Seattle Times Online edition. 

Excerpt:
"The first clue that Robert Ashworth thinks differently comes when he is asked how he got the idea for his new spam-fighting scheme. 

"I have a job as a custodian," he said. "And I think about things as I mop the floor." 

The first impulse is to get out while there is still time, were it not the fact that Ashworth's idea seems pretty sound:" 


Check out this odd story.

2012
Bellingham Filled With Pride
A friend and me were interviewed by Bellingham Herald during the Pride Picnic before the Parade.


Articles on many topics in the Betty Pages
Most recently, I've been writing a monthly article for the Bellingham based Betty Pages.


A photo of mine used in Earth Magazine
An environmental science magazine. Article about 100th parallel as a climate boundary. Picture I took of sign as I crossed that boundary during 1991 in South Dakota.


Collages made from my many letters to the editors on these topics.

Things around Bellingham

Is there too much retailing in Bellingham?

Bellingham's central waterfront

Local growth in Bellingham and Whatcom County

The enemy is us

Bicycling and transportation

Good and bad reasons for government

Home and land values are too high

Inflationary arms race to attract top professionals

Healthy lifestyles can reduce inflation

Open minded religion

Sexual politics

Overpopulation

Build up instead of sprawling out

Increasing cost from exhausing non renewable resources

Shorter workweek

Reducing consumption

Technology can be good


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