David, rhetorical question? If not, I hazard that I see this woman as defiant in a good a way. Despite her chains (because of them?) she persists in looking goofy (glasses) and undeterred (body language). Subjective, but nonetheless sort of what I was thinking….

ur on a rant n roll today arent u.
hows your family doing? thats mostly what i read this blog for occasionally is to see how jenkins and or hatch people are doing.
David :?|

Well, I certainly do read your blog and every so often I find something of interest to comment on. This is the notion about images and the printed word. Many years ago I wrote about the conversion of information into knowledge and this has expanded over the years. Words in the printed form are images which must be converted in the brain into knowledge which is stored. Imagery or pictures of things or symbols are more and more being used to express a meaning. I think that the storage of information in the current methods (computer digitization) will eventually eliminate the use of the printed word. I am not sure of a time line and it may take a long time to get there, but what I am seeing in writings of my students indicates the trend in this direction. This is troubling to me about the ability to communicate in a variety of forms. Will the printed word be replaced by a digital symbol which is less complex in its implementation and conveys more information than that of the printed word? If so,……

When I traveled to Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall. I was able to work on a substantive project in the Czech republic (just after the velvet revolution-which was the separation of the Slavic and Czech states) Havel was the elected leader. I was there along with General Electric (aircraft engine group)to be together a deal to purchase the LET (state aircraft manufacturing group)Company from the State. I met with many people including Havel and the then, U.S.Ambassador, Shirley Temple Black. What I remember the most was his personal commitment to making their country free. His background as a playwright provided a unique ability to assess the mood of the country. I relayed to him my background in theatre and it created an instant bond of understanding. A great and courageous man who did much for his country.

Steve, I’ve read your blog for over a year, mayhap two. I found it shortly after our 40th reunion from Carman (you)/Ainsworth (me) & Caryl Laansma Burke told me that she had reconnected with you & others. I didn’t have the luxury of attending (nor very much of an inclination either, but that’s another story). I have found myself drawn to your prose & your honesty. (I like to call it “standing in your truth”, but it about being a present as you can be every second.)

Words can’t express how much I enjoy your blog. First the observations about self & others with considered thought & delicate phrase. (I enhance my kindness approach here.) Then I move on to music–my husband is a gifted amateur euphonium player. I surprise him with my understanding of music–most of which comes from reading your blog. (Thank you.) And then the links…I don’t read as much as I should or as much as I’d like. But I do follow many (sometimes most) of your links. I appreciate the survey course in modern events & literature. I don’t know where I could find it as easily, WOW.

And now at near year’s end, I want to say thank you & let you know that your blog enriches my life. Blessing to you & your family,

Michelle Smith Kingsley
Hampton NH,
formerly Flint Michigan

Wow. Thank you for your kinds words, Michelle. It almost leaves me speechless. Almost, heh. Hope you and yours have a good upcoming holiday. And thanks for reading my blog.

I find that writing brings clarity to one’s ideas. Perhaps that is too vague, but I believe that writing does bring your ideas into focus. I have read David’s recent articles. It is interesting to read how other people think. I suppose that is why I read your writings.

One of my criticisms of digitally recorded music was a loss of tonal quality. A magnetic recording device does pick up tonal variations and records it in the same way. I suppose that is why I have kept my vinyl recordings. Anyway, just an observation.

You didn’t get rid of any of your records? Good man. I was foolish and got rid of some of mine. Still have around 250 to 300 sitting around, though.

I did look up the Chevron issue and it appears that the history of this is has more to it than the perception in the press NYT and Reuters. This is about “lawyering”. I got some of this in the Financial Times, I have included the link here. I thought that you might be interested in this.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/86d1169c-36ef-11e1-b741-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss#axzz1igjCdnSl

I know i always relate everything to either This American Life or Radiolab, buuuuut… Have you listened to the Radiolab on Deception? It talks about self deception as well. http://www.radiolab.org/2008/mar/10/

X

I haven’t listened to this program. But I’ll put it on my list. Thank you!

[…] Essays by Donald N. Michael. It arrived a few days ago in the mail. I mentioned this book in my Dec 20th blog post. I attempted to get the local bookstore to order it for me. But they couldn’t match my $25 […]

I know that this is a little off your topic, but I played Horton the Elephant in a Reader’s Theater adaptation of “Horton hatches the Egg” I had very long hair and I tied my hair into two pony tails over each ear. (supposed to look like elephant ears)Any way I still remember,like an elephant, my lines. “an elephant is faithful 100%”

Horton is great! What year was that?

It was 1972. I was much thinner in those days. I wore huge gray sweat pants and sweat shirt which was stuffed with pillows. Also, large tennis shoes. It was amazing that some years later that I saw a Horton hatches the egg animation and voice sounded much like the one that I did in the production.

I am worried about Elderly Care not only for my Father, but what happens to us as we get older. I am thinking about this due to your comment about conversations with health care providers. I am having difficulty with the idea of a nursing home. I have had a lot of difficulty with these people in providing this care for my Father. I think the operative word here is “care”. I think that they are interested in “managed” care, but do not really provide care to the individual. They are specifically, oriented around meeting the federal requirements so that they can receive reimbursement. I have no problem with being fiscally responsible, but to leave out care, leaves me with a tremendous frustrating experience with these people. So, do I want to be managed by these people? God help us.

I replied to your comment on Facebook, but will comment here as well. The care being given to my Mom (and previously my Dad) is/was pretty good in my estimate. I partially attribute this to the fact that Holland has a significant number of older people and services them in many ways (including the Evergreen center which is a sort of social club/gymnasium/activity center). “Leaving out care” as you describe is indefensible to me. I’m sorry you are not finding better services for your Dad. Thinking about my own retirement, I shudder to think I will end up in a religious nursing home, but have noticed that the local care (which is extremely religious) is also pretty good (maybe I can skip the worship serves and surf the net). I’m hoping that Eileen and I will be able to retire to our little place here on 18th Street and that we will have to move to a nursing home at the last possible moment (if at all). Hard to look in the future. Anyway, good luck with your Dad. I recall how Dave Barber mentioned to me recently that he admired people who made sure their elderly parents were cared for…. he seemed to be saying that not everyone takes that much interest in this part of their parents lives.

How’s the upgrade on your harpsichord going? I think about it every now and then. What you need is another project. You seem so uninvolved.

I am keeping the harpsichord sitting out in the dining room to keep it in my radar. So far I haven’t found the time to do anything on it, however….