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AI columns, bad opinions

Guy Speckman by Guy Speckman
August 21, 2025
in Ponder the Thought
random thoughts
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I just asked an artificial intelligence app to write a column for me, and it generated a 1,000-word column in less than a minute. That’s a bit concerning. I can’t buy the baby new shoes if the computer is going to replace me. If you see Foley having beers with his laptop, you’ll know my time has come to an end.


I’m writing this column two weeks before it is going to run, so expect some calendar bias, don’t tell The Landmark DEI office.

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It seems like a decent time to float out some unpopular opinions.

I do not understand the public pandering for dollars from schoolteachers for “classroom costs.” Schools continue to heap tons of money on administration salary costs, days of ludicrous costs for warm up to school openings and they can’t provide the classroom supplies necessary? I just don’t understand school finance I suppose. I’m probably wrong on this opinion, donate away, it’s not my money. My money is apparently assigned to hire more administrators and host back to school bashes at the largest venues in the area.

Speaking of expenses. I have seen that “back to school” photo sessions are a thing for elementary school aged children now. My “old man” sense tells me this might be a bit much, but you do you.

I also saw some “signing ceremonies” for young, pre-high school type kids playing on travel teams this fall. I might just step away from society at this point, seems like the best opinion I could have.

Just a reminder that China let COVID out and didn’t tell us. That seems bad.


President Trump hit my soul recently. He was talking about meeting with the Chinese president, and he said he might meet with him and might not and then added, “it’s a really long plane ride” and that hit my soul. I’ve said similar about places much, much closer for trips a lot less important.

This guy flies on the nicest plane on earth and he’s complaining about the flight to China. There has never been a politician alive that can hit the soul of old, tired men with these types of trivial takes than Trump.


I’m thinking of badgering Foley to call for back to work photo sessions for The Landmark columnists this fall. Me, Foley, and Kamler can stand in farm fields and courthouse rotundas and have a fancy photographer take our pictures. Probably wouldn’t work out. Foley probably takes lots of time in makeup and Kamler and I are not allowed in most courthouses.


Let’s put a final “old man” lid on this column. Can you guys remember a year with this much rain? My Lord! I read that this is the wettest spring and summer since 2001, and I believe it. For good or bad, my yard size has grown since 2001, and I’ve been mowing every three days all spring and summer and quite honestly, I’m tired of it. My mower dealer reads this column and even he sounded tired when I last spoke to him. If the mower dealer is tired of slinging steal, then we know it’s been a busy year.

Every old guy has a mower dealer, right? Don’t judge me, we all have our burdens to bear and I have an affliction for Hustler Mowers, it’s probably more normal than you think.

(Guy Speckman can be reached preparing for a Landmark photo shoot in a cornfield near you)

Tags: chris kamlerGuy Speckman
Guy Speckman

Guy Speckman

Guy Speckman is a Landmark contributing columnist with his Ponder the Thought column. Speckman is the former owner of the Savannah Reporter, where the column appeared for nearly two decades. Speckman is a former city government manager, serving as city administrator in Maysville, Plattsburg and Savannah before entering business. He is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University (1989). He is originally from Plattsburg, Missouri. He and his wife own and operate a real estate valuation firm and a daily legal newspaper and are the parents of two grown children.

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