R cubed

Blooms for Alice

2007-03-28T13:23:00.000-06:00

This is a special magnolia that survives the winters in Denver. The problem is, it blooms in our snowiest month of the year, March and more often than not, the buds freeze shrivel turn brown and drop to the ground. For 10 years my neighbor and friend Alice, has watched it with anxious anticipation and if it bloomed, she considered it a momentous event.

During a brief stay in the hospital, Alice unexpectedly died yesterday. Although we had spoken regularly and I had seen her Sunday, I never mentioned the magnolia blooming. But maybe it doesn't matter because I want to believe she is where the sun is shining brightly, the temperature is mild and the magnolias are always blooming and of course in the company of family and friends.

I already miss her and I will remember her and all our fond times together whether the magnolia blooms or not.

2007-03-23T11:48:00.000-06:00

The Colorado Recorder Orchestra has a new website, thanks to Jennifer Meyers, web designer, musician, ferris wheel enthusiast and mother extraordinaire. Here she is with her mom, Kathy LaForge. The other photo shows Kathy and I with our contrabass recorders. Both ladies were participants in the CRO's Japan Tour. Besides being committed musicians, they are exceptional travel companions. I was lucky enough to spend an entire" free" day with them while in Japan, shopping in the Ginza district, riding the ferris wheel in Yukohama and eating in China Town!

Musings

2007-03-23T11:43:00.000-06:00

All the snow has melted in the city and with the spring bulbs emerging, I’m coming out of the winter doldrums.

I went to the new Benjamin Franklin exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and was amazed at how little I knew about the man. For instance, I was unaware that he was first to propose daylight savings time (something I have come to disdain over the years). He, also was an accomplished musician and played an assortment of instruments including the viola da gamba which I too, play.

Speaking of, I have a new viol that I received late last Fall. It is a copy of one on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art crafted by Jacob Stainer . I commissioned it over 2 and a half years ago .

Playing my new viol

2007-03-23T11:30:00.000-06:00

Good Bye 2006

2006-12-31T22:11:00.000-07:00

Good bye 2006. It's been great but it's time to bid a fond farewell. Helloooooo 2007.
I'm looking forward to the possibilities. How about you?

Japanese markets

2006-12-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

I loved the markets at all the train stations in Japan. Nothing was recognizable of course but that was what made it so interesting. Usually I'm not much of a shopper (which my girlfriends view with suspicion and I attribute to a missing or damaged chromosome). But I could have spent a lot of time perusing the shops in Japan.

The CRO at Yamaha

2006-11-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

This isn't a great picture but it is the best I have now. A couple of players are missing and there are a few spouses/partners in this shot. It was taken at the Yamaha factory and signs were at every entrance welcoming us. They also flew the Colorado State Flag in our honor. Our Music Director, Rose Terada is on the far right in a patterned jacket. I am on the far left. I must have been wandering out of the shot because I notice a hand on my shoulder reining me in so to speak.

The Japanese Experience

2006-11-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

I thought I might feel very different when I returned from Japan, not just from jet lag or sleep deprivation but from the entire experience. Afterall, it was a great adventure.
I left, feeling a little melancholy, all ready missing the country and the places I had just visited, from snow tipped Mt. Fuji, to the high rises of Yukohama and Toyko, and the temples and shrines in Kyoto, everything, the sights the sounds, the food, the people, I loved it all.

Of course it was time to leave; hauling around luggage and never staying in one place for very long got very tiresome. The unfamiliarities began to take their toll and some people started to long for what they knew regardless of whether it was better or worse, it was familiar. One friend admitted she missed not being able to read anything.
I, on the hand loved the mystery and sometimes the formidable challenge of understanding and being understood. I felt an unusual sense of comfort and ease in a country I neither knew the language or the customs. But I am thinking now that I was enchanted and that this was only one example of the many enchantments I experienced in Japan.

I enjoyed Toyko, especially at night, the Ginza District, Chinatown and the enormous ferris wheel in Yokohama. The City Center bustled in Kyoto full of young people, girls in mini skirts (or short shorts) and tall boots, men with spiked, bleached hair in loose unstructured jackets. And wow the train station!!! A geometric marvel of steel and glass, that spins you somewhere between a Cubist painting and the set of the Matrix movie .

I waded in the Sea of Japan which was surprisingly warm given it was November and I'm a little sorry I didn't go swimming. But it was late and I had over indulged. We had given a concert at Choyo Elementary School with 500 kids that afternoon and their enthusiastic reception was unforgetable. After the performance many children followed us out to our bus helping us with our luggage. It was great fun and I felt light-headed almost dizzy from all the attention. I think everyone did.
That evening I soaked in the Yunohama Hot Springs, before devouring an elaborate multi- course Japanese feast, complete with saki, Japanese beer and an excellent grape liquor. Walking along the beach, splashing in the water and dressed in a beautiful kimono ( kindly provided by the Japanese Inn we were staying at) was a wonderful way to end a magical day (even if I did seriously consider discarding the robe and diving into the waves. I guess I should be grateful I was accompanied by a new found friend, who unknowingly influenced my better judgement...)

I also climbed Mt. Hagura, all 2446 steps up to the Main Shrine passing in route an old 5 story pagota. The climb was in a dense forest with huge cedar trees and exotic birds I heard but never saw. It smelled good from the light rain, moss covered stones, and rich hummus ground and in this forest, on this mountain with all the old carved stone steps and the ancient temples, the presence of something much larger than oneself was undeniable. Perhaps it was a sense of history, an acute awareness of everyone before me and all those destined to come after me. But it was powerful stuff.

So whether it was the land and people, the performances and relationships forged, the purposes and organization, it was a truly remarkable trip and I'm delighted to have been able to participate. Lucky me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-23T16:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, Thanksgiving is still my favorite holiday just as I wrote about last year. Only this time I am home in Denver, neither on the road or visiting friends and family.
I spent most of the morning cooking and most of the afternoon eating (not to mention cleaning up). It has been a very quiet and very nice day.
I'm hoping yours has gone as well.

Night Lights

2006-11-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

This is the Toyko Train Station (and other buildings) viewed from my room on the 19th floor of the Hotel Pacific Toyko. Unable to sleep, I spent considerable time sitting in the bay window gazing upon the night lights. Though less concentrated than those in the Ginza District, the neon lights were spectacular.

Where we played in Yamagata City

2006-11-19T03:30:00.000-07:00

Former Prefectural Assembly Hall

Garden beside Assembly Hall

Former Prefectural Office

Japan

2006-11-11T16:49:00.000-07:00

I'm having a wonderful time in Japan! Our concerts have been well received and the weather has been spectacular. No serious mishaps or crisis have occurred.
I was unprepared for the beauty of the countryside.
I have been unable to download pictures and am running out of time on this terminal....
more later

Bound for Japan

2006-10-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving for Japan with the Colorado Recorder Orchestra early Monday morning (Nov. 6) and I am so excited I'm bouncing off walls. I'll be gone 13 days. We have 3 concerts scheduled, a couple of receptions and several rehearsals. Most of our time will be evenly split between Tokyo, Yamagata and Kyoto and we'll be riding the trains. I love trains and am especially interested in riding the very fast and efficient Bullit. But it will feel real good to get some exercise and fresh air. So I have researched self guided walking tours in Kyoto and Tokyo.
Sadly I will not be taking my laptop. I hope to visit some internet cafes. If I can figure it out, I will post some pictures and remarks.
Otherwise don't look for anything from me until I return after the 18th.
Sayonara. Ja, mata.

Fall Festival

2006-10-21T10:10:00.000-06:00

I'm off to the Early Music Fall Festival at Regis University today. The Colorado Recorder Orchestra which I participate in performs at 2:30. But I plan on attending many of the concerts scheduled for the day (and encouraging my fellow friends and enthusiasts).
Norbert Kunst a notable recorder player, teacher and orchestra conductor will be offering a workshop afterwards.
I'm taking my camera. So maybe I will have pictures as well as stories to share.

beta.blogger

2006-10-05T19:38:00.000-06:00

Don't do it! I "upgraded" to beta blogger and have had NOTHING but problems...lost my links, my comments and all my buttons. It takes me twice as long to sign in because I have to sign in 3 times,( blogger id, confirming blogger id, google id)and it doesn't matter how many times I check "remember me". Sometimes, I can't sign in PERIOD. All this because I was curious...

Congress Passes Law to Curb Online Gambling

2006-10-02T01:00:00.000-06:00

My poker card playing friends are crazed. My financial associates are dazed and my fellow free market advocates are outraged! Why? Because of the Safe Port Act Congress passed Saturday night (Sept.30). Embedded in this 244 page bill is a measure to curb internet gambling (starting on page 213).

First of all, the card players I know do not consider themselves gamblers. They study probabilities and human behavior. Some have advanced degrees in mathematics and computer sciences and many are lawyers, doctors, dentists and successful business people. Most recoil at the notion that they partake in "games of chance". Card playing is a practiced sport (if not a profession) for them. So why is the federal government involved?

Secondly, online poker sites are hugely popular. People from all over the world play a variety of games nightly. As a result, these poker sites are extremely profitable but most reside outside the United States. So why do the Feds care? Stock prices for these foreign companies have plummeted even though 80% of online players live outside the U.S.

I object to the government legislating morality. It has always been a terrible failure. Prohibition and "The War on Drugs" only created black markets, underground economies run by gangsters and thugs, governed not by the rules of law but by violence and deceit. Abstinence, moderation, restraint and responsibility can only be learned not legislated.

But something even greater is at stake here. Although this legislation targets online gambling owners and financial institutions, it is a thinly veiled attempt to regulate and control access to the internet which for me is totally unacceptable.

Bloggers and people who like to read blogs should be very concerned. The internet can be a wild and wooly place full of the fantastic and the fanatical, the divine and the disgusting. It is a self censored self monitored marketplace offering not only goods and services but ideas.

I have written my U.S. senator Wayne Allard to express my disapproval of the Safe Port Act (specifically the buried ban on online gambling) and I encourage any reader to do the same.

DPL Book sale

2006-09-21T20:25:00.000-06:00

The Denver Public Library raised 35,000 dollars from their used book sale this year. Most hardcovers went for $2.oo and paperbacks sold for 50 cents. The annual event lasted 3 days and some say, if you are looking for something special, it's best to attend the first day. But it never matters to me because it always seems crowded, stuffed with people and books, an amazing assortment of trash and treasures.

I bought 2 books which I probably didn't absolutely need but where I discovered them made them irresistable. I found Statistical Problems And How To Solve Them by L.H. Longely-Cook on the table marked Literature & Poetry. I laughed out loud imagining what the author would say. I thought better there than the 10 tables or more labeled Fiction. Of course this is an election year...

I also found Blood Washes Blood by Frank Viviano. The author is related to a good friend of mine. Several years ago, I had searched this very library system to borrow the book but was unable to find it. The cover reads "a true story of love, murder, and redemption under the Sicilian sun". Wow! Who would have guessed it would surface in the Business and Geography section?

Pursuing Grants

2006-09-08T17:50:00.000-06:00

I have volunteered to pursue grant funding for the small community orchestra I play in. We need instruments specifically large low contrabasses and since we all play recorders our needs are unique. There is an entire family of recorders available and some very good reasonably priced plastic ones. But the big low instruments (none of which are made of plastic or are mass produced) start at 3,000 dollars.
This represents a significant investment to an amateur and may not be justified by an occasional consort player . But contrabasses are absolutely crucial in an orchestra.
I just received my contrabass from Bill Lazar. It is an odd looking thing but it sounds wonderful.

Correction

2006-07-29T09:54:00.000-06:00

According to the Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post (a combined single edition on the weekends), "Body Worlds 2 drew more than 680,000 people during its four month run, making it the third biggest exhibition ever at the museum."
Since I know of no other exhibits that were open for 24 hours with tickets sold out, my guess is that they have compared it to shows that were around longer.
The Museum has not disclosed how much money they keep from ticket sales but attendance resulted in double digit jumps in gift shop and concession revenue as well as a 20% spike in memberships.

Body Worlds 2:

2006-07-19T00:15:00.000-06:00

I recently received an email announcing new expanded hours for the current Body Worlds 2 Exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. It is the most successful exhibition the museum has ever hosted hugely surpassing all other previous attendance records and is now open daily from 8:00 a.m. to midnight through July 20, and then continuously starting at 8:00 a.m. July 21 through midnight on Sunday, July 23.
Can you believe that?
Denver 's response is not exceptional. San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles have also experienced record attendances.
So what makes this exhibit appeal to so many? ( Body Works 3 is already showing in Houston.)
I enjoyed the display despite the crowds and was interested in the unique quasi embalming process referred to as Plastination. However I doubt if I would go back to see Body Works 3.
The human body without skin seemed stunningly familiar to me. It must have been all those surprisingly accurate illustrations I used to see in gyms before they turned into health clubs and in the basements of every guy I ever knew with a set of free weights.

Rainy days

2006-07-10T09:02:00.000-06:00

It has rained for two whole days and I can’t remember the last time that happened in Denver. Rain is usually a very good thing here since we get so little of it and most people welcome it as reprieve from the hot dry days of summer.
I celebrated Saturday and treated the day like a “snow day” in essence a free day where ordinary plans and responsibilities are renounced. Whatever I choose to do, I always feel like I’m getting away with something, not quite cheating but definitely being naughty.
This is pretty funny since my guilty pleasures are not much more than reading, working puzzles, watching movies and blog crawling.
I haven’t been blog crawling in a long time. In fact I haven’t been on the computer much these past weeks. Isn’t that obvious with so few posts? Anyway, I’ve missed visiting my favorite sites and friends and cruising around the web.

Speaking of crazy: Car Cents vs Car Sense

2006-05-17T00:40:00.000-06:00

So my care and commitment to the aged and aging has expanded to the inanimate. Why? Because I just spent a couple of grand on an old car, an amount almost equal to it's Kelly Blue Book value. Now who is showing signs of poor judgment and confusion? You think dementia is contagious?

Let me try to be clear. This car is not and never will be a collectors item. It is not a special edition or a first year model. The only thing remarkable about it is that it has been a very reliable, yet fun vehicle to drive. I purchased it 8 years ago and now at 13 years old with just under 90,000 miles on it, it is in excellent condition showing little road wear. (If only it's owner could make the same boast.)

For everything that it is, a 1993 Audi 90 CS 5 speed, 6 cylinder 172 HP engine; it is not a convertible which I have been coveting for some time now. The problem is I have not found the "right" convertible. I want a manual transmission, not a "multitronic", "Steptronic" or any hybrid automatic and I need a back seat, not for people but for cargo. My bass viol cannot fit into any convertible's trunk.

I drove the new Mustang V8 a couple of months ago, smitten by it's good looks and power but disappointed in it's fit and finish, not to mention the sway of the back end when taking curves (too?) fast. I'm spoiled. My 13 year old Audi has less rattles and squeaks and a considerably more luxurious interior than a brand new Ford. Granted the Mustang GT has quicker acceleration, an impressive 5.2 second 0 -60 mph and a 300 HP 4.6 liter engine (even the 6 cylinder, 4.o liter engine delivers 210 HP). But Mustangs have always been "straight away cars", never built to take the curves so to speak and I like curves especially when traffic and road conditions allow me to really accelerate into them.

I have also considered the BMW 3 Series, specifically the 330 Ci. The size and weight is darn near identical to my car but being a convertible, it has less cargo space. It offers a few more horses 225 reportedly, and remains a rear wheel drive vehicle which always brings up the question of whether it is better to be pushed around the curves or pulled. All my car friends seem to be divided regarding this inquiry. Irregardless, even a used 330 is a substantial investment and makes my recent repair bill look very modest. At around 30,000 dollars, I cannot accept that it would be significantly better than the car I am currently driving.

So there you have it, the real reason why I am driving what some may almost consider a "beater". Long live the Beaters! I think I will splurge and get it completely detailed.

2006-05-16T20:11:00.000-06:00

I brought my friend home from the hospital today. It was a beautiful warm sunny day. But I doubt if she noticed. I cleaned out her refrigerator, restocked her pantry and had her prescriptions filled. She takes an antidepressant, an antipsychotic, 2 drugs to "improve her memory" (for her just recently diagnosed Alzheimer's disease) and a blood thinner. I am in excellent health but just thinking of this cornucopia of medications and plethora of possible side effects sours my stomach not to mention my disposition. Of course the symptoms of advanced Alzheimer's is hardly cheering. So I want to believe some of the literature published that these drugs "have helped millions" and that my friend will be one of them.

Back in May

2006-05-01T08:06:00.000-06:00

Tsk. Tsk. Not one post made in April, not even an unfinished draft. I should be ashamed of myself. Too bad I'm not. Still, I have a great amount of respect and appreciation for those who do manage to post with dogged regularity. Often they provide the fuel for my procrastination because it has been my experience that if I wait long enough on a certain topic, I will find an article somewhere that expresses my views and often it is better written than anything I produce.

When I began blogging a bit over a year ago, the numbers of bloggers were estimated between 8 & 9 million. I wonder by how much that number has increased?

Of course there are those who have quit blogging altogether (and perhaps I have even been considered as one at times) or left on "hiatus" for an undetermined amount of time. It seems I've known a lot of those and if their websites are still up and open to comments, I find myself typing "where are you?" or "I miss hearing from you" and visiting old posts with a sense of loss and melancholy. It is pathetic I know, like ANY of these cyber folks are duty bound to enlighten me...

Worse yet are the ones that are on line one day and the next a message states "the requested URL was not found on this server", no address change or link to be redirected. Everything said or posted prior has suddenly disappeared as if it never existed in the first place. So what happened? Does the host remove the URL if there has been no activity for a while?
You may have noticed, I have several "dead links". It's as if I can't quite admit they are gone and maybe one day as suddenly as they left they may reappear.

Well, I'm off to practice, string quartets in Longmont and then to the Psyche Ward at Humana. No, I'm not checking in, only visiting a friend. More about that later.

Graphene, a new form of graphite

2006-03-27T01:21:00.000-07:00

Who would have guessed that graphite, you know the stuff that pencil leads and lubricants are made from, would challenge the fundamental laws of physics? Actually it is the newly discovered form of graphite called graphene that has scientists and engineers a buzz. No, I'm not talking about other forms of carbon called buckyballs and buckytubes which in essence are zero and one dimensional forms of graphite. I'm referring to graphene, the two dimensional counterpart of these. It turns out, that graphene is an amazingly good conductor of electricity. Electrons travel through it so fast that their behavior is governed by the theory of relativity rather than classical physics. Combine that with how it fails to react with gases and moisture present in the air at room temperature and you get smart people thinking about connections inside computer chips, chips smaller and faster than anything yet seen. Yes! This means real, viable commercial applications!
But that isn't all. Graphene exhibits effects that were previously thought to occur only in plasma around neutron stars. These effects can now be studied in desk top experiments. But the intrigue continues; graphene contains quasi particles and a unique type known as massive chiral fermions. Particle physics predicts that any particle that has chirality cannot have mass. So a massive chiral fermion is a (massive) contradiction.
This is the stuff that rocks the physics world and you don't have to be a scientist to appreciate the implications especially in the computing world. So why have I only read about this (and borrowed heavily from) in a small article in The Economist, called Smooth operator in the March 18th-24th 2006 edition?
For further reference and some amusing commentary visit Jennifer Quellette's blog Cocktail Party Dreams .

Norma's Post: Gay Adoption

2006-03-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

Norma, an erudite experienced blogger (and enthusiastic supporter of new and would be bloggers) at Collecting my Thoughts has an interesting post on Gay Adoption. Better yet is her response to a long winded presumptuous commenter who behind a thin veil of civility reveals their contempt for Norma's well founded skepticism of "experts" and their sometimes astonishing declarations.

As informative and entertaining as some posts may be, I often find the comments and corresponding responses even more enlightening and provocative. Clearly, Norma hit a nerve evoking Spicey Cauldron's comment and resulting diatribe.

During my relatively short time blogging (nearly 14 mos). and the approximately 6 mos. previously spent reading blogs, I have noticed a commonality in comments regardless of the writer's politics and preferences. No matter how reasonable and rational a discussion may begin, it often deteriorates into name calling, with references made to others as moonbats, fascists, bigots, nutwings and at the very least as ignorant. As fitting (and sometimes amusing) as these names may be, it usually indicates the end of well thought out if not intelligent dialogue.

So when did the art of debate end and thoughtful discussion turn into personal accusation?

For the record, I am highly distrustful of "experts" particularly those in the social sciences where there are so many variables. As important as education and experience is (aka credentials), personal bias and myopia exists even in the supposedly objective scientific community. But whatever the "experts"are espousing at this moment in time, I do not oppose gay couples adopting children.

First of all my impression is that the adoption process is long and somewhat arduous. I believe you have to really want these children and you must plan for them. This is based on knowing friends who have adopted children from Russia, Korea and Romania to name just a few. Most of these folks were not "rich" by American standards but all of them were resourceful ( intelligent and presevering). Although this does not guarantee good parenting, it indicates in my mind a very promising beginning.

Regarding my gay friends who have adopted, frankly, I am unaware of all the details but I cannot imagine it was quick or easy . Irregardless, their children seem happy, healthy and secure unable to be distinguished from most other children. They know they are loved, protected, nurtured and appreciated. Sadly, this is more than many other children ever receive even in conventional families.

President Bush in Cleveland

2006-03-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

Nice speech President Bush.

Normally I wouldn't have listened to it all, especially the questions and answers that follow. But it is a "snow day" in Denver and my regular routine has been disrupted.

The City Club in Cleveland provided a friendly forum and Mr. Bush demonstrated a comfort and ease, I rarely see. Everything he said seemed very reasonable and I found myself agreeing with him on many things.

He believes in Democracy and the virtures and rewards of self government. He takes the actions and threats of terrorism very seriously and remains stalwartly opposed to the values demonstrated by suicide bombers, and all those who murder, maim ,and threaten innocent civilians (especially children) in the name of religion and salvation.

It will be interesting to hear and read the media's spin.

I see my liberal friends rolling their eyes, if not laughing at my naivete. The "Evil Bush" may not have been exposed but that doesn't mean he has been exorcised.

Unfolding

2006-03-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

Music Musings

2006-03-12T21:24:00.000-07:00

March is Play the Recorder month and I have been performing with friends and colleagues all along the Front Range. It is the 13th year The American Recorder Society has encouraged its members to play in public forums and show the recorders full musical range and versatility. Over the years we've played at schools, churches, libraries , museums, and coffee shops, almost anyplace that will have us.

Sunday, I participated in a Recorder Faire at Tamarac Square, a small shopping mall in south Denver. There were singers, and players and kids of all ages, big groups, small groups, mixed consorts and even a crumhorn band. I was part of a quartet, with a 15 minute program. We played pieces by Palestrina, Guami, Praetorius, Soderini and Bach, all of it wonderfully pleasing, especially if you like Renaissance and Baroque music.

The previous night, I played with The Colorado Recorder Orchestra. It is a group of 20 musicians, mostly amateurs, but we have some teachers and music majors. Despite the name, I play the recorder (bass) for only one piece. Mostly I play the viola da gamba and I'm the only gambist but there is a lady who plays the sackbut occasionally.

We've only given 3 concerts since my participation but each performance has been well received. In fact, our little group has been invited to tour Japan this November. I was excited and flattered but I also had major reservations. The thought of hauling around a bass viol (the size of a cello) in a small congested, busy country (as well as my personal luggage) has no appeal. I'm not talking rock star or diva status here. I won't have sherpas or handlers. But, I am willing to try so I've decided to go. Rehearsals begin in April.

Besides, the orchestra and my recorder quartet, I play in a viols group once a week and another strings group once a month. A beautiful, small harpsichord that a friend and fellow musician leaves at my house provides lovely basso continuo for trio sonatas. Include my bass viol, a couple of recorders, flutes or violins, and we can make heavenly music (not that we always achieve that lofty goal).

I am anxiously waiting for the completion of a bass viol I commissioned over 2 years ago. The process has taken too long and my excitement and anticipation has been overtaken by frustration and disappointment. I feel I have been penalized for being a reasonable person, that my patience and kindness has been unduly tested. I'm hoping my increasing resentment will not influence my overall appraisal and acceptance of the instrument when it finally arrives. The maker has assured me that I am not obligated to accept the instrument unless I am 100% satisfied. Of course he also estimated a delivery date of 1 year, hmmm over 2 years ago.

Old News

2006-02-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

Investors.Com writes Saddam had WMD .
Interesting commentary from a primarily financial publication.

Different coverage of the "impending" civil war in Iraq

2006-02-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Dr. Sanity who provided this link showing not all is what is seems (especially if you rely on "major" news sources).

Gateway Pundit: Unity Protests Break Out in Basra, Mosul, Hillah, Al Kut, Karbala...

Some craziness explained

2006-02-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

Maybe there is a reason why so many people are crazy; parasites called Toxoplasma gondii infecting half the world's population could be responsible.

Oxford scientists have discovered this parasite alters the brain (and behavior) of infected rats and links have been observed between Toxoplasma and schizophrenia in humans.

"Toxoplasma infection is associated with damage to astrocytes, glial cells which surround and support neurons.

Schizophrenia is also associated with damage to astrocytes.

Human cells raised in petri dishes, and infected with Toxoplasma, will respond to drugs like haloperidol; the growth of the parasite stops.

Haloperidol is an antipsychotic, used to treat schizophrenia. "

Really. You can read more about this here.

2006-02-15T19:10:00.000-07:00

Regarding Mr. Cheney's unfortunate hunting accident, Tony Blankley sums it up nicely at realclearpolitics.

I was especially fond of this paragraph referring to his take on current reporting practices:

" Instead, as the shooting party incident exemplified, we have in the White House at the most elite level of American journalism, self-absorbed, self-important men and women who stand on their prerogatives even over marginal and inconsequential matters. "

More income redistribution

2006-02-14T22:22:00.000-07:00

553.9 million dollars in damage (200 million as punitive) was awarded to plaintiffs living downwind of the now defunct Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant. Rockwell and Dow companies were the defendants but since they were working for the Federal Energy Dept, it will be the taxpayers who actually pay the bill. Congratulations plaintiffs who have spent 16 years in litigation so that every American must pay for your hardship including an additional 58 million dollars in legal fees.
The reason? Reduced property values and the PROBABILITY of higher health risks. Not much was mentioned about the plants expenditure of 7 billion dollars towards cleanup.
Isn't America great?
More information is available from The Denver Post here.

Good news for Colorado

2006-02-14T21:06:00.000-07:00

So life is pretty good back in Denver. The weather is unseasonably warm and it has been very dry in the city. However the mountains have received record breaking snow. The skiing is great. The resorts are booming and the dry front range can safely expect enough water (from snowmelt) come summer. State unemployment is below the national average at 4.6% and jobs expanded by 46,000 from Dec. 2004 to Dec. 2005. According to a survey from Robert Half, the Mountain States are the hottest tech markets in the United States. Even though I read The Dow broke 11,000 today, you would be hard pressed to find much positive economic news in the press. I relied on a paper called Colorado Labor Force Developments for December 2005 here

Not quite back from vacation

2006-02-01T21:25:00.000-07:00

It's only February and I am already feeling behind in correspondence, reading, blogging. Unbelievable.

I'm in the middle of a lot of books, apparently too unfocused to finish any of them and it seems like I have multiple works in progress. I usually do finish things but I don't always believe it is imperative. So I don't know why I feel the way I do.

Maybe my trip to Maui has something to do with this. I think the island has a unique rhythm, an ebb and flow very different from the mainland. Perhaps it is the lack of distinguishable seasons and the relatively small change in annual temperatures. Maybe it's the easy manner of those who live there. But time definitely moves differently there.

I'm wondering if all fair weather places feel the same and I'm recalling past trips to Kenya and Aruba, Cancun and Hawaii. Is it the place and people or really just an attitude shared by people "on vacation" that is more relaxed, spontaneous and open?

It's been a week since I've returned and I'm just now starting to decompress.

South Shore Maui

2006-01-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

Last day in Maui

2006-01-24T19:21:00.001-07:00

I'm back in a coffee shop on Maui, sending emails and checking my blog. This is our last day on the island and I'm already a bit remorseful.

My sister and I have spent a lot of time walking along the spectacular beaches and driving around the island. We never managed to get organized for the bicycle ride down into the volcano, or a boat trip to see the whales frolic. But we did take a helicopter ride that encompassed the entire island. Since so many areas on the island have little or no access, we found it fun and educational.

Even though the big island Hawaii and Oahu has had a lot of rain. It has been warm (80's F) and dry in Kihei. The incessant tradewinds keep it pleasant.

I bought 2 books on Hawaiian history, a background on the general settlement and development of the islands and a history of the rise and fall of the local sugar plantations, both written by local authors. I'm looking forward to reading both in the next few days.

There are so many interesting and wonderful places to visit, I don't know if I will ever return, but it has been a very enjoyable and relaxing trip. We have had the good fortune of speaking with many local folks (as well as many fellow travelers) and have found everyone to be in good humor.

My guess is the fine weather and gentle dispositions of most the people who live here directly impacts the nature of ones goals and ambitions and it's easy to understand how a year could easily morph into 20.

Kihei sunset

2006-01-19T11:57:00.000-07:00

Beach at Kihei

2006-01-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

California Dreaming

2006-01-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting in a Borders bookstore in Sand City (between Monterey and Castroville, Calif.) checking email. My sister and I have been visiting family and will be leaving for Maui Monday.
So far the trip has been great. We met at the San Francisco Airport Weds. (1-11), rented a car and drove to Castroville. We had dinner at a wonderful Basque restaurant in San Juan Bautista and got into Castroville around 7:30pm.
We have been "catching up" with family and friends and are delighted with how well things are going with everyone.
I hope to post pictures and more later.

Media misinfo update

2006-01-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

Today as the mainstream media scrambles to explain and justify the false information widely publicized yesterday, it is of course all the coal company's fault. The Mine Rescue Command Center (obviously company stooges) misunderstood the rescue teams messages (brave people but only in it for the money and glory).

In other words, it wasn't the media's fault. Their sources were wrong. I have yet to hear or read one apology from the folks who propagated the incorrect story.

What a wonderful profession "journalism" has become, report what you wish, when you wish, regardless of the consequences and then deny any responsibilitity, because afterall your "sources" were wrong.

More MSM Misrepresentation

2006-01-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

"The mine's owner...did not immediately confirm that the 12 other men were alive." Immediately confirm? How about never confirmed? So Allen G. Breed from the Associated Press got the story wrong and almost every paper in the country printed it. " Miracles happen", They're alive" were some of the headlines in Denver.

I wanted to believe the miner's were alive and I wanted to believe the source. Afterall the same story was everywhere, television, radio and print. I guess everyone wanted to believe it but that didn't make it true.

The whole thing is so sad. I'm sorry for the fallen workers and for all their families and friends. I'm sorry for the elevated expectations and the dashed hopes. And I'm sorry for the inevitable blame game that will surely follow.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

2006-01-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Was 2005 a good year for you? Do you hold high hopes for 2006?

Regardless of the events of the past year, I am usually hopeful that the coming year will bring good things. No matter what my future plans and commitments may be, a new calendar and all its blank uncluttered days presents to me an array of possibilities and promises, where even the unimaginable can happen. This is, of course, short lived. The hours and the days fill up with the mandatory and mundane, appointments, errands and various obligations.

The allure of what could be is eclipsed by the reality of what is. I think a lot of people are cheered and comforted by things written down on calendars, or at least what it represents; that is knowing where they will be and what they will be doing as well as when they will be doing it.

I realize that without any plans no one could accomplish much and I wonder if I planned more and made more commitments that I might actually accomplish more. On the other hand, I like the idea of allowing and accomodating various possibilities, a little like expecting the unexpected.

So whether you prefer a year jammed pack with activities and events or something less calculated and determined, I hope 2006 brings you all much health and happiness, chock full of promise and possibilities.
I'm beginning to think it may for me.

2005-12-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day; their old familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Media Myths

2005-12-18T23:32:00.000-07:00

Finally an article confirming what I have been thinking for months...

One step forward, Two steps back

2005-12-14T22:37:00.000-07:00

I was playing around with templates the other day and lost all my links, including my comments and all my "add-ons". Reconstructing everything has been frustrating and time consuming. The foolish thing is, from all my efforts, I have barely achieved what I had before, not that that was ever exceptional. You might think that this was a perfect opportunity to "start over", a chance to significantly change and improve the original. But oh no. I want what I had only better. Now how many times has that been muttered I wonder. Anyway, I have made significant progress.

The only thing I have failed to retrieve is the code for TTLB ecosystem. Apparently I still exist within their system but I can't get my rankings to appear on my site. Not that I should care, since they have slipped from a (once almost stellar ) Slithering Reptile to the banal but justifiable classification of Multicellular Microorganism. Despite this giddy rise and fall in The Truth Laid Bears traffic tracking universe, I am still captivated by their designations and even wrote a post about being an Insignificant Microbe. Regardless of my own ranking, I find all the classifications to be amusing and surprisingly appropriate.

My posts have been erratic and mostly esoteric. A kind reader once commented on my "eclectic mix ." Hmmm. I don't think he has ever been back. Of course if I was really interested in increasing my readership I could post more often, mention Brittany Spears occasionally and even sex it up a bit. But that is highly unlikely.

Meanwhile, I will attempt to control my slippery fingers, learn more about html, use my time more constructively and hopefully become a better blogger.

Did I mention I spent 2 days connecting another laptop to my home network? It is now fully operational. But my more reasonable, dare I say, rational friends paid 80 dollars to have comparable work done in less than an hour. It's a good thing I don't make my living doing this.

Pastel pleasure

2005-12-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

No news can be good news

2005-12-04T01:04:00.000-07:00

While visiting family and friends, I excused myself from most of the news. I did not watch television except for the weather reports and I did not read the newspapers or surf the net. I can't say I'm any worse for it. But I did miss my favorite bloggers who are thankfully more diligent in their posting than I am and whose fecundity I continue to admire.

Thanksgiving was fun. I generally enjoy being with my family even if we don’t see each other very often and rarely agree on anything. We are a diverse but interesting group and mostly forgiving of each others transgressions.

In addition to the usual holiday festivities of eating well and playing cards, I celebrated my 49th birthday. I vacillate between feelings of disbelief and marvel.
Birthdays have never been a big deal for me, so I’m surprised by my feelings of both shock and awe.

The niners have always been interesting. Apparently, I have always looked older than my years and/or demonstrated a compelling need to deceive because I have been asked on several occasions just how many times have I turned 29, 39 or 49? I laugh and insist this is the first and last time, like no one can believe anyone could actually be that age?

Anyway, I have a new digital camera which means I can finally update my photo and post more pictures.

Thanksgiving

2005-11-21T23:56:00.000-07:00

Wow! Things have gotten away from me (again?). I'm headed back to Mich. and Ill. to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends. I'll be away for 8 days but I am hoping to find some time post.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I am excited to spend it with people I don't see very much.
It doesn't matter who you are, what you believe or where you are in your life, everyone has some reason to be grateful. Certainly I am no exception.
Wikipedia has a good article about the holiday. I had forgotten President Lincoln made it a national holiday and the speech he gave is included. I was totally unfamiliar with the text but found it especially moving and powerful since he gave it in the midst of the Civil War (with his popularity at an all time low).
It seems I take a lot for granted these days. But I'm hoping to change that this year. When I return from my trip I will be a whole year older (and oh so much wiser). That by itself is worth some gratefulness.
I hope you all can think of something to be thankful for and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Blogger Blips

2005-11-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

Anyone else experiencing problems with Blogger? My posts are being published in my index but not my front page! I have tried editing and republishing to no avail. I'm using this post not only as a plea for help, but as a test and an excuse to whine.

Trolley off the tracks...

2005-11-12T22:03:00.000-07:00

Usually, I like to read Peggy Noonan's work. She writes with an uncommonly quiet, calm voice and regardless of what she says, I often look forward to her reserved perspective.
However I think she was having a bad day when she wrote the article A Separate Peace and said

"...I believe there's a general and amorphous sense that things are broken and tough history is coming." and "...I have wondered if it hasn't all gotten too big, too complicated, too crucial, too many-fronted, too . . . impossible. "
She fears " That in some deep and fundamental way things have broken down and can't be fixed, or won't be fixed any time soon."

She was referring to the American political climate and I wonder how many times similar sentiments have been expressed. I think about the people I've known who pine away for the “good old days”, strangely never quite as good to me as what they seem to remember them to be. I think of all the folks that resist and fear change for whatever ends.

Does every generation having reached their pinnacle of power, usually middle aged and older, express concern, worry, dismay or alarm by the future they perceive? Is there an age where the comfort of the past no matter how dire trumps the uncertainities of the future? So are these concerns more reflective of a time in life than a true sense of the times?

The world has changed dramatically in the last 50 years not to mention the last 100 years. But are these times really any more uncertain or dangerous and out of control than the many generations prior? I doubt it.

Perhaps Ms. Noonan has been reading and listening to too many of her colleagues, the doomsayers in the popular press, the alarmists who prey on peoples fears and manipulate with perceptions rather than facts.

I'm tired of the the sensationalists and I'm not surprised by their decreasing readership and viewers. I resent their lack of responsibility especially regarding their own roles. They have sadly become the news instead of reporting it.

Maybe, the wheels are coming off the trolley and the trolley is off the track but it's not just about the politics and practices, the system and the strategies, it's more about how it's all reported and who and what do we believe. Frankly I'm looking forward to some changes. Meanwhile thank god for bloggers.

Early Music Diversion

2005-10-31T23:38:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday I attended a recorder workshop and concert with Eva Legene. Eva is a recorder virtuosa and professor of music at Indiana University. The event was sponsored by The Boulder Chapter ARS and Early Music Colorado and was held at St. Ambrose Church in Boulder.
There had been some concern from the organizers that not enough Denver folks had signed up to attend the event but as it turned out, that didn't matter much. The house was filled so to speak and it was a gracious and comfortable venue.
Churches host a variety of musical productions in the area and I am always grateful for their generosity.

Ref. C & D : Increasing state spending and borrowing

2005-10-31T02:11:00.000-07:00

When Colorado voters go to the polls Nov. 1, ( a week earlier than the rest of the country), they will be asked in Referendums C & D to repeal the spending restraints imposed by the Taxpayers Bill of Rights aka TaBOR passed in 1992. Advocates insist it is not a tax increase, that the money due to be rebated back to taxpayers in the next 5 years will only be suspended ( and therefore spent). The State will not collect more taxes , they simply will return less.

They claim state health care, public education, transportation and the police and fire workers pensions will be at risk if it doesn't pass. But they don't mention how the money will be spent or how the state's revenues increased 6% from last year and will continue to increase regardless of whether referendums C & D pass.

Did you get a 6% raise? Apparently this doesn't matter. Proponents have spent 4 times more than their opposition scaring the voters with unsubstantiated claims. Teachers, health care workers and public employee unions have been huge contributors. Even The Denver Post published an editorial advocating its support on its FRONT PAGE!

Personally, I believe editorials should be reserved for the Editorial Page. But I have been especially annoyed at the lack of facts discussed like what the present budget is opposed to the "projected" budget and the explanation/justification of the difference. Instead taxpayers are just expected to believe the politicians when they predict a budget "crisis".

Even though TaBOR was widely praised in the late 1990's for its effectiveness in controlling government growth and providing tax relief, it is now blamed for the current budget "crisis", not the national recession, especially impacting Colorado's tech sector, or a severe drought effecting agriculture and tourism, or a mis- guided educational spending mandate that forced government to spend more money than it collected, Amendment 23.

Based on the "big money" support for referendums C&D, I think they will pass but, sadly they will not solve the pending budget crisis. Government will always want more money regardless of the revenues collected . It will always claim some "crisis" and be unwilling or incapable of providing accurate cost/ benefit analysis.

What is really required is strong leadership. If individuals have to "bite the bullet" in hard economic times, so should government. TaBOR forced government to spend "within its means" and it's repeal will allow it to expand without accountability. This is the time to save for the future and not spend recklessly.

Modern poetry in modern America

2005-10-25T01:32:00.000-06:00

This post poetry-you-know-and-poetry-you-don't over at neo-neocon has got me thinking about modern poetry. She challenges readers to "recall a single line from a poem written in the last fifty years that has become commonly known".

Easy, I thought, as I dredged up various phrases from Carl Sandburg and Robert Frost, lines from many poems that I remembered but unfortunately were all written before 1955.

So then I thought of Rod Mckuen , not exactly a critics' darling and probably a better respected songwriter than poet but definitely well known to some (since over 45 million copies of his poetry books are in print). Even though I have never been a big fan and cannot recall a single poem of his, he is credited for the slogan Make Love Not War. But as "commonly known" as that has become, it doesn't qualify as a line from a poem.

I believe I know a lot of beautiful, provoking, amusing and inspiring modern poetry. However I cannot attest to any of them being "commonly known".
Just what does that mean any way?

Scholars and critics have always had a disdain for huge success'. Too much (and too sudden) popularity has been regarded as lowly, too common in it's appeal and somehow unworthy in elevated circles. According to many critics, the writer, poet, artist, (whomever) "sells out" when they attain commercial success, as if that is always the result of greed, corruption or the very least personal weakness.

David, a commenter at neo-neocon writes that the absence of memorable poetry (in the last 50 years) may be the result of an elitist "distribution channel", which I liken to the old game of "experts" telling everyone what they should or should not value and making available only what they regard as good. Although learning more about something may heighten my appreciation for it, I have never liked something because I was told I should.

Another commenter, HG Wells acknowledges "the lavish attractions of TV, film, popular song and the internet..." and Alex consults a friend who studied modern poetry in college and presently teaches high school. He says simply "People don't read poetry anymore". Yet another writer John Moulder says "A lot of things stopped in the 60's - art, resolve, confidence, faith innocence..."

Poetry has changed (as has American culture).
Most of what has been made available has been annointed by academia ( elitist by definition).
Many people do not read poetry.
It has a relatively quiet voice.

But this is only part of the story. Poetry has to be heard. When is the last time you heard it? Do we hear it on TV, the radio, cd's, streaming audio? Even though I have attended many poetry readings, I have yet to read one review . Have you?
As a result, most people get their "poetry" from music and movies. Afterall, that is what we hear.

2005-10-23T23:48:00.000-06:00

"Youth is like spring, an over-praised season more remarkable
for biting winds than genial breezes. Autumn is the mellower
season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits."
- Samuel Butler

I don't know about Autumn being the "mellower season" especially here in Denver where temperatures change so dramatically within only hours and I don't think anyone considers hurricane season as very mellow. But, I liked the "over praised" bit of of spring (and youth).

Indian Summer in Denver

2005-10-14T01:35:00.000-06:00

The snow has completely melted in Denver. The sky is blue and the temperatures are mild. As Northeasterners are deluged with rain, we are experiencing Indian Summer. It almost makes me feel guilty.

The city and the neighborhood in which I reside was exceptionally lucky. The heavy wet snow was less damaging than in the past. But the southern and southeastern suburbs didn't fare as well. I have friends who lost 80% of their trees. The thunderous sounds of branches bending, breaking and crashing onto the ground is unforgettable and will continue to echo within their heads for some time I imagine.

To my knowledge, only one fatality was reported. A woman shoveling snow was killed instantly (mercifully) from a large 8" diameter fallen branch and 20,000 people were out of power. Things could and have been considerably worse.

Nevertheless, I have been consumed with cleaning up, my excuse for not blogging, and not an entirely unpleasant task during this beautiful time of year. Despite the snow and 40 degree change in temperature within 24 hours, broken branches and crushed folliage, some flowers have survived and the trees continue with their spectacular display of color change. I have a pin oak just outside the backdoor that is nearly radiant with crimson, chartreuse and ocher leaves, colors so intense, it almost appears unnatural.

I am constantly amazed at the ferocious destruction and devastation that the natural world imposes as well as its miraculous resilience and capacity for recovery. As horrible as the recent catastrophic events have been my respect, awe and appreciation for the powerful forces of nature has deepened.

Banned Book Week

2005-09-26T02:15:00.000-06:00

I received an email today from one of my favorite book sources Alibris alerting me to banned books they have available. Thinking that this list was from the 1950's and earlier, I was surprised to learn how current some of these books and authors were, as well as how many I have read being totally unaware of their "banned or challenged" status.

In fact one of my favorite books The Martian Chronicles is on the list in addition to all of the Harry Potter series . I faintly remembered William Faulkners' novel As I Lay Dying and John Steinbecks' Of Mice and Men making the list and I was slightly amused by Stephen Kings' and Maya Angelous' "offensive" designation.
In the past, Lady Chatterleys' Lover and Catcher in the Rye were banned, which of course just made them that more delicious and desirable when I was growing up and I can still hear my mothers rants (expressing strong disapproval) over the seizure of James Joyces' Ulysses by the US Postal Authorities in 1918 and 1930.

So who decides whether a certain book or author is objectionable and how does a book become "banned" or more often "challenged"?

According to the American Librarian Association, parents challenge materials more often than any other group and the top 3 reasons in order are that the material is considered to be “sexually explicit” contains “offensive language,” and is “unsuited to the age group.”

Personally, I believe these are all legitimate concerns and I applaud parents who are actively engaged in the guidance and education of their children. However their opinions should not be imposed on me or my children. I get to decide what I (and my children) read, listen and watch, not someone else, regardless of their intentions.

No one is entirely immune to the seduction of suppression and censorship and commonly it is practiced for benevelent, humane reasons. From Banned Books on line, a number of democratic countries, including Austria, France, Germany, and Canada, have criminalized various forms of "hate speech", including books judged to disparage minority groups. In the 1980s, Ernst Zündel was convicted twice under Canada's "false news" laws for publishing Did Six Million Really Die?, a 1974 book denying the Holocaust. On appeal, the Canadian Supreme Court found the "false news" law unconstitutional in 1992, but Zündel was sucessfully prosecuted under Canada's "Human Rights Act" for publishing this book and other material on his Zundelsite.

I do not agree with the beliefs (and actions) of many people and I am often offended if not repulsed by them. But a law forbidding behavior that exposes a person to hatred or contempt seems highly subjective to me. If this was supported in America, wouldn't all the Bush critics , war protesters, anti- capitalists, and media mavens who make no attempts to hide their own hatred and contempt be prosecuted?

Most of the media coverage of Hurricane Katrina and the perponderance of sensationalism, editorializing and political posturing that ensued was contemptible in my opinion. But I will reserve those comments for another more appropriate time. So discovering that this week (Sept. 24 - Oct.1) was Banned Book Week seems especially serendiptious.

More erudite and accomplished people have said it more eloquently than I will ever manage, but the message is always the same. Free people read freely.

Keep in mind these words of Noam Chomsky ( probably the only opinion we share),
"If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all."
Now if only he and his like minded colleagues acted as if they believed their own words...

So read a banned book. Visit a banned book website. Blog your approval and/or disapproval. Celebrate your own freedom of speech and expression. Don't let all the muckrakers have all the fun.

2005-09-14T01:37:00.000-06:00

contemplation

Powerful solar flare erupts

2005-09-13T22:42:00.000-06:00

When Katrina was dominating the news last week and most of the media was focused on victims and who and what was to blame, I missed this story.

"One of the largest solar flares on record was recorded by NOAA Space Center in Boulder, CO at 1:40pm EDT on Sept. 7. Forecasters are predicting significant solar disruptions over the next few days".

Now I wonder how this could be politicized? Do you think George Bush creates solar flares? Do you think Homeland Security fails in allowing them to occur? Do you think this is just another example of how the impoverished are further victimized and how uncaring, selfish and negligent the current administration is?

If you want to learn more about sunspots and solar flares (without the political spin and dead body counts) go here.

Just a bit of fun

2005-09-07T20:58:00.000-06:00

Supposedly this is my brain pattern.

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is a firestorm - full of intensity and drama.
Your thoughts may seem scattered to you most of the time...
But they often seem strong and passionate to those around you.
You are a natural influencer. The thoughts you share are very powerful and persuading.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

An Unnatural Disaster

2005-09-05T10:37:00.000-06:00

Robert Traciniski exposes the real damage in New Orleans in an article from The Intellectual Activist.

What Hurricane Katrina exposed was the psychological consequences of the welfare state. What we consider "normal" behavior in an emergency is behavior that is normal for people who have values and take the responsibility to pursue and protect them. People with values respond to a disaster by fighting against it and doing whatever it takes to overcome the difficulties they face. They don't sit around and complain that the government hasn't taken care of them. And they don't use the chaos of a disaster as an opportunity to prey on their fellow man.

Katrina Aftermath

2005-09-02T09:29:00.000-06:00

For all the victims of Katrina (and in many ways all Americans have become her victims), I am very sorry. I want to rescue you and help in the massive clean up. I want to comfort and care for you. But your survival does not depend on your economic level, age or skin color as the Congressional Black Caucus implied today. It depends primarily on your own behavior.

If you want help you must not threaten or harm the people who wish to assist you (with water, food, bedding or transportation). Carrying weapons , looting, becoming a "mob" does not encourage such help. Of course the lawless, looters and thugs that remain in the city of New Orleans may be the minority but their behavior impacts everyone.

The widespread destruction has created desperate people in desperate circumstances. I understand this.

So what did people expect when a Class V Hurricane was predicted to hit the area and EVERYONE was advised to evacuate?

Informed, thoughtful, caring people realize that not even the mighty U.S. Government can save us from the terror and destruction of a hurricane (especially if we do not heed their warnings and evacuation requests).
For others and those who have never been accountable and have always relied on the government (or someone else) for support and subsistence, I can appreciate their disappointment and anger.

As devastating as the destruction was , it was NOT UNEXPECTED. Scholars and scientists have been predicting such disaster for years. New Orleans has only survived thus long by a system of levies and canals. It has been literally sinking for years. See New Orleans geography .

I like to believe in every crisis and for all the hardships, there is always something to be gained, an opportunity, an insight, something worthwhile. I don't believe Katrina's considerable damage is any exception. I want to help people recover even if that requires starting
over. I want to enable them to pursue and achieve their dreams and I want all of us to learn and benefit from the experience.

This will be a long arduous process requiring difficult decisions in increasingly difficult times. Sadly, the leadership in New Orleans and Louisiana has had difficulty demonstrating the integrity, competency or honesty that may be necessary in rebuilding a city and securing its future. You can read about this in Cities and Crime and here for further information.

Some people have never been accountable and never will be. They will always seek blame outside themselves and continually consider themselves as victims. Maybe the destruction caused by Katrina will change New Orleans perception of itself as victims (and victimizers) held hostage by greedy, corrupt, and selfish politicians. Perhaps after all the pain and extensive suffering, we will ALL recover, and be even better than before like the Phoenix that rises from the ashes.

Fish Tales: The ones that got away

2005-08-25T19:42:00.000-06:00

I have had a terrible time posting lately. Something has happened everytime I even attempt it and I'm getting pretty frustrated. Good thing I don't get paid for this because I would have been fired (and/or gone broke) long ago. Anyway, I have "lost" several outstanding articles, not to mention some long excellent comments. I really do need to improve my computer skills. But why do things go wrong after I finish the text?

Ever wonder where these lost messages go? Is there a graveyard for all the lost bits and bytes, you know a final resting place for all those pesky characters who never got to where they were going ? Or is there some mountainous pile of packets derailed somewhere along a dead end or broken pathway? Is the network full of data dumps?
I need an explanation, even if I have to imagine it, which takes me back to the ones that got away...

More later, when I am convinced my posts aren't destined for Never Never Land.

Editors Ponder How to Present a Broad Picture of Iraq

2005-08-15T21:55:00.000-06:00

This article covers a meeting of editors whose newspapers are members of the Associated Press. Some excerpts are:

"It was uncomfortable questioning The A.P., knowing that Iraq is such a dangerous place," she said. "But there's a perception that we're not telling the whole story."

Mr. Silverman (managing editor of the A.P.) said in an interview that he was aware of that perception. "Other editors said they get calls from readers who are hearing stories from returning troops of the good things they have accomplished while there, and readers find that at odds with the generally gloomy portrayal in the papers of what's going on in Iraq," he said.

A perception? I think justifiable accusation is more accurate.

This is the stuff that makes my blood boil. The Associated Press' excuse is that Iraq is such a dangerous place that reporting the "full story", (you know some of the objectives met as well as the fatalities), is just too difficult.

"For example, she said, the editors understood that it was much easier to add up the number of dead than to determine how many hospitals received power on a particular day or how many schools were built.
Mr. Silverman said the wire service was covering Iraq "as accurately as we can" while "also trying to keep our people out of harm's way."

The Associated Press is the oldest and largest news organization in the world and has received 48 Pulitzer Prizes. They consider themselves the essential global news network. I believe their readers deserve more responsible, balanced journalism.

Thanks to Mr. B at New Optimates for the title link.

Creating Victims

2005-08-12T07:18:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking of victims and victimology lately and there are a few articles floating around the web that have piqued my interest. Dr. Sanity's Aug 9th post called The Cult of the Victim mentions an article written by Thomas Sowell on how the press has made soldiers into victims.

"The plain fact is that the mainstream media have been too busy depicting our troops as victims to have much time left to tell about the heroic things they have done, the far greater casualties which they have inflicted on their enemies, or their attempts to restore some basic services and basic decencies to this country that has been torn apart for years by internal and external wars -- even before the first American troops arrived on the scene. "

It seems our culture and the press is keen on creating victims as if there weren't enough already.
I do not consider any of the soldiers in Iraq as victims. The idea that soldiers are not adults, do not have free will and were somehow coerced by the "evil Bush regime" to join the military and get killed in war is ridiculous, demeaning and insulting to those who serve.
But that is sort of the point isn't it? The insinuation is that no one could freely choose to join the military and fight the war. No, they must ALL be victims, manipulated, lied to and misled by President Bush, the entire US Congress (no wait they were lied to too), the CIA, Rumsfeld, the State Department etc....Honestly,I believe our soldiers deserve more credit and respect than that.

But then again, I've always had problems with the victim status given to so many so easily. Partly because everyone, at one time or another is victimized, but, in my experience, not everyone, as a result has to become a victim.
I have long believed that creating victims has been and continues to be a mostly political endeavor, a persuasive tool in getting and keeping power over people. The victim mentality never accepts responsibility for themselves and refuses to acknowledge the power of choice. When they receive aid and support, they are often deceived into thinking they are unable or incapable of achieving for themselves. No wonder a state of perpetual victimhood exists!
The good news is just because people may consider you a victim , doesn't mean you have to act like one (or consider yourself one).
For example, I smoked for many years and despite knowing its many risks and dangers, I still enjoyed it. It's taken me several attempts to quit and it has been difficult. But this has been entirely my choice. I do not blame my addiction on the big bad tobacco companies. Nor do I feel victimized by their zealous advertising. Contrary to popular belief , (and falsely advocated by our government, self serving politicians and grasping lawyers), tobacco companies are not responsible for my behavior. I am.

The movie: Stealth

2005-08-04T15:14:00.000-06:00

It was a rainy day in Denver so I rewarded myself with a matinee. I took myself to see the movie Stealth. Based on the vast majority of reviews, I must be be in the miniscule percentile who actually enjoyed the movie.
The storyline is a bit worn, unbridled power combined with ruthless ambition and technology run amok. Even with a few twists, it was still predictable. But I didn't go see it for the plot. I went to see it for the Black Jets and I was not disappointed.
Visually, this movie is captivating , really beautiful and exciting to watch. I loved the camera zooming onto the aircraft carrier in open water and it was flat out thrilling to see these jets take off and land not to mention the spectacular aerial shots. (I love roller coaster rides too).
Make no mistake, this is a action film and there is plenty of it with lots of big time explosions. Shakespeare it's not.
Still I liked the actors. I thought they were well cast. I admit I have a fondness for Sam Shepherd an actor in my opinion who never bought into the Hollywood glamour ideals. He makes the best of a disappointing role playing an over zealous military commander.
But, I really liked the female pilot. I thought she was the obligatory eye candy until she took off her jacket and revealed well developed deltoids and (gasp) triceps, a woman with real muscles, no skinny chick with fake boobs! With a slight stretch of imagination, it's almost conceivable that she could survive being shot down and chased in enemy territory.
As I said before , the plot and the characters were not the reasons I saw the film. The B-2's stole the show.
So why is it that every single review I've read or seen absolutely pans it? Am I the only person on Earth mesmerized by the power, beauty and technological wonder of the Stealth fighter? Of course not.
I don't think the critics want you to like this movie. Americans aren't supposed to be awestruck by the incredible technology our military advances. We're not supposed to be impressed by Aircraft Carriers and the precision flying required to land on them. We're not supposed to be astonished by in-flight refueling. The tools of the military are "war machines" and should in no way be glorified , much more be sources of entertainment. Well phooey!
Stealth is an exciting, action packed, beautifully filmed movie. I plan on seeing it several times and maybe even picking up the soundtrack. Chrissy Hynde from the Pretenders sings. So don't be fooled by the reviews (and the somewhat preposterous plot). It's still worth seeing.

Hooray to the Students for Saving Social Security

2005-08-04T00:03:00.000-06:00

Finally the people who will be most impacted by the current Social Security system are speaking up at Secure Our Future.

"Students for Saving Social Security is a grassroots network on college campuses across the country. We represent the interests of our generation by advocating for genuine Social Security reform through personal ownership. "

"Students for Saving Social Security will lead the charge to inform, organize, and mobilize today's college students to engage in the Social Security debate. Through honest, non-partisan debate we hope to represent the interests of young Americans. We want politicians to understand that an entire generation of voters can be won – or lost – on an issue with lasting implications for our future."
I would suggest reading Kerry, Lieberman used to favor Personal Retirement Accounts and Remembering the Hyde Park Declaration which are both excellent bi-partisan arguements for reform.

Moon Trees

2005-08-02T23:22:00.000-06:00

I've never heard of moon trees before. But thinking about them sort of appeals to me. Afterall what could a moon tree be? My mind conjures up unearthly images, weird surreal things, foreign to my existance and experiences. It's like visualizing oxymorons, looking for unlikely combinations and obvious contradictions, studying the absurd. No wonder I like science fiction and abstractions so well. Alas! The truth is rarely as compelling. Moon trees are the results of seeds that traveled to the moon on Apollo 14. You can read about them
here and here.

Music and Friends

2005-07-31T02:03:00.000-06:00

Saturday I met a friend I hadn't seen in several years. We used to play music together. He had flown into Denver from San Francisco to attend a conference sponsored by The American Recorder Society and Regis University. Although I chose not to participate in any classes, we ate dinner together and went to the faculty concert. It was fun.
I marveled at how age and time and experience had improved him (as it does with so many people I've known). It's as if he grew into himself and actually liked the fit. I was happy for him and happy for myself for knowing him.
When I returned home satiated from music and merrymaking, I discovered the movie Blade Runner was on BRAVO. What a perfect ending to a delightful day. I just had to stay up for the ending, especially to hear Rutger Hauer's character Roy say "I've seen things...and it will all be lost, like tears in the rain"."Time to die." Afterall no one knows how much time anyone has.

Back from Dereliction: Credit CNN

2005-07-28T09:42:00.000-06:00

Ok I've been bad, very bad. I haven't posted in over a week but it doesn't mean I haven't been thinking of things to write. I have a long list of topics. You can credit Lou Dobbs at CNN and his "report" on the CAFTA agreement last night for making me break my silence. What follows is an unequivocal rant.

First of all, I haven't watched CNN in years and I haven't seen Lou Dobbs since his departure to join the ill- fated dot.com enterprise which failed miserably and resulted in Lou returning to CNN. As much as I respect and admire entrepreneurs and business people willing to take risks and make difficult decisions, Lou Dobbs is no business man. Apparently the years of watching and reporting on the business markets has not given him any personal insight or expertise. Nevertheless, I still expect some level of professionalism which means in this case an unbiased presentation of facts. Please allow me and your viewers to draw their own conclusions. Of course, I know CNN rarely allows this.

The "so called free trade agreement" CAFTA was compared to NAFTA, a terrible failure in the eyes of Lou and his guest economist, a professor at Columbia University. Apparently NAFTA has not only been bad for America but has directly impacted the increase in poverty within Mexico!
5 minutes online provides numbers that directly refute this conclusion. U.S. Agricultural exports have increased by 59% since NAFTA's implementation far surpassing the increase of imports. Nor did Lou or his guest mention Mexico's peso devaluation, rampant corruption, or the Chiapis conflict (an uprising amongst indigenous people led by Marxist separatist Zapistas). You think these factors may contribute to Mexico's economic problems? Canada was conveniently absent from the discussion, I suppose because their economy has grown by an average of 3.7% since 1994, undisputed results from NAFTA.

Ok so, Lou and his guest didn't provide any numbers or statistics to support their position. We are supposed to rely on them because they tell the truth. Oh really?
Insult turned into injury when Lou openly snickered at a Congressman's remarks that this agreement was also about National Security. That certainly revealed the low level of journalism and lack of professionalism practiced at CNN.

Despite Lou's ridicule, I understood what the Congressman said.
Free trade leads to economic freedom and economic freedom creates growth and prosperity. Doesn't encouraging international growth and prosperity (and everything it brings like health, education, innovation and opportunity) benefit the entire free world?
The Democrats have criticized America for selling arms to rebels, financing wars, giving too little and too much foreign aid that mostly ends up in the personal coffers of tyrannical despots. When it comes to making a real impact on decreasing world poverty and promoting freedom, Democrats support declining special interest groups (with often devastating results, ie. steel, textile and auto workers just to mention a few, in addition to the sugar producers...)

If America truly believes in freedom and prosperity for all, we must continue to do things to encourage it (and not just talk about it). CAFTA and NAFTA are steps in the right direction.

Regarding Lou Dobbs and his show, start looking for work buddy. Competition from reliable, factual, unbiased and professional sources are going to continue to kick your butt by reducing your viewers and eliminating your paid sponsors. Isn't free trade and economic choice great?

Art of Science Competition / Gallery

2005-07-17T23:30:00.000-06:00

Dynamic Asset Allocation in Freight Transportation
Warren B. Powell & Belgacem Bouzaiene-Ayari
Dept. of Operations & Financial Engineering
Princeton University
First Annual Art and Science Competition

Hyperbolic Planes

2005-07-13T16:32:00.000-06:00

"For God's sake, please give it up. Fear it no less than the sensual passions, because it, too, may take up all your time and deprive you of your health, peace of mind and happiness in life." Wolfgang Bolyai (1775-1856) to his son Janos Bolyai regarding the study of hyperbolic geometry
Anyone interested in geometry? How about crocheting? Pondering the shape of the universe ?
Until the ninteenth century, mathematicians knew about only two kinds of geometry, the Euclidean plane and the sphere. The discovery of hyperbolic space in the 1820s and 1830s innitiated the formal study of non -Euclidean geometry.

In Euclid's geometry, all surfaces are flat and parallel lines always stay the same distance apart, never meeting and never diverging. However in curved non-Euclidean geometries, lines that start off parallel eventually cross each other in a positive curvature and these same lines can diverge from from each other in a negative curvature.

A sphere is an example of a surface where the lines curve in on itself and is closed. A hyperbolic plane is a surface in which the the space curves away from itself at every point but like a Euclidean plane is open and infinite.
It is easy to understand a sphere because we have experience in our everyday lives with them. But how does one fully grasp the geometric opposite, a hyperbolic plane? For over 100 years, mathematicians searched for a physical surface with hyperbolic geometry without sucess. Until in 1997 Daina Taimina, a mathematician from Cornell University made the first useable hyperbolic model out of crochet.

You can see more examples of hyperbolic planes at Cabinet Magazine and I really enjoy The Institute For Figuring which has yet more models as well as interesting lectures on "The Physics of Snowflakes" , "The Mathematics of Paper Folding" and "The Logic Alphabet".

Bat Stories

2005-07-10T20:20:00.000-06:00

I saved a bat from drowning in the pool last night. I was alerted to his dilemma by a cat intently circling the perimeter. All I saw was a black spot splashing frantically along the side but I guessed what it was. I grabbed a net on a pole and scooped the creature up. He had been on his back in the water, wings outstretched desperately trying to right himself. Unable to determine if he was seriously harmed I put him in the crook of a big old plum tree. This morning he was gone. So I'm hoping he escaped any predators (mostly cats and raccoons in this neighborhood rather than owls, hawks, falcons and snakes).

It was not my first encounter with a bat. One morning I found a small bat hanging upside down in the pools' skimmer. It was a precarious place even for a bat. If he dropped, he would be sucked into the skimmer basket. If he was able to hang onto the slick, slippery surface all day, how was he going to fly away with his head only millimeters above the water? Besides, how did he get there in the first place? Was he sick? Did he have rabies?

I called Animal Control. They said it was unlikely he had rabies. The most recent report of rabies in Denver was well over 15 years ago and found in the skunk population. Still, I was strongly advised not to touch him with my bare hands for any reason. Similar to last night, I scooped him up in a small net and deposited him in the same old plum tree. At dusk, he climbed up the trunk and flew off into the night.

Every summer, bats are regular evening guests here, swooping down into the pool gently slapping the water collecting insects and quenching their thirst. My lady friends don't care for them much. They think they will mess with their hair. I tell them not to fret unless of course they have bugs in their hair. I'm joking of course but I'm constantly surprised at how little people know about bats and how inaccurate that information often is.

Curious Facts:

Bats are unique in the animal kingdom because they are the only mammals to have evolved true flight.

Most bats also possess a system of acoustic orientation, often called "bat radar," but technically known as echolocation.

There are almost 1000 species of bats worldwide, representing 1/4 of all mammals.

Bats nurse their pups just like other mammals do.

Nearly all bats that live in the United States feed on insects.

Vampire bats don't suck blood. They make a small incision and lap up the blood of their hosts.

In some parts of the world, bats take the place of bees in pollinating plants.

Little brown bats have life spans that may exceed 32 years.

A bat will eat half its weight in insects in a single night.

The Bumblebee Bat with a 6-inch wing span is the world’s smallest bat.

The Flying Fox, with a wingspan of 78 inches, is the world’s largest.

Fewer people have died from bat rabies during the past 40 years than have died from dog bites or bee stings in a single year.

If you would like to learn more about bats check out this link .

Barbaric Bombings: An Attack Against All Nations

2005-07-08T13:06:00.000-06:00

I wanted to post something yesterday expressing my deepest regrets and condolences for the people of London. But everything I thought of writing seemed glib and woefully inadequate. Instead I spent my time reading everything I could about the bombings on line, watching the internet catch fire with comments and responses.

I even went to the Democratic Underground which in response to the attack at that time had no less than 1000 comments of which I read over 50. The concensus there was that these horrific events were somehow inevitable and the direct result of persistant imperialism, and illegal, brutal warmongering.

I was dumbstuck. The implication was that the terrorists were really the victims fighting back the only way they could and the people who were hurt, maimed or killed deserved their fate.

Maybe it's the time of life, (or time of month), but reading these comments only made me sadder. Is this what humanity has come to, I wondered. How can misdirected, vengeful violence against innocent civilians ever be justified in any circumstances?

Today, I am more heartened. The British people have once again demonstrated their courage and resolve in difficult, dangerous times. World leaders have publicly expressed their outrage and disapproval. The struggle against terrorism has only been strengthened. I worked in my garden, planting, weeding, and watering seedlings showing in a small way that life continues and that I have some hope for a better future.

Confetti Dreams

2005-07-02T22:11:00.000-06:00

Faces that wear well

2005-07-02T20:11:00.000-06:00

The news of Anne Bancroft's death a couple of weeks ago got me thinking about some of my other favorite actors/actresses and celebrities. The last time I saw her was in Up at the Villa, an adaptation of a Somerset Maugham short story. She played Princess San Ferdinando, a flamboyant, aging socialite who in one scene has too much to drink. I thought she portrayed the tipsy matron perfectly.

Of course she was good in so many of her roles. My favorite was probably 84 Charing Cross Road. But who could forget her work in The Prisoner of Second Avenue, The Turning Point, The Graduate, or The Miracle Worker?.She had a long distinguished career and I will miss her. But I digress.

Not only was Anne an accomplished , talented actress, she had a face that could wear. William Holden had a face that wore well. As good as he was in Sunset Boulevard, Picnic and The Bridge over River Kwai as a young man, who could forget him in Network?

Truthfully, I have always preferred faces that reveal a past( and that isn't because my own face at 48 is generously revealing mine). I've never been attracted to the pretty boys and the glamour gals so popular in the American movie and entertainment business. Maybe this explains my penchant for low budget "B" films as well as the less than perfect stars in foreign films. The character actors cast in supporting roles are often more appealing to me than the mega movie stars.

Faces that just got better (or keep getting better) include William DaFoe, Peter Cushing, Lee Van Cleef, Vincent Gallo, Joaquin Phoenix, Jack Elam, Ed Harris, Anthony Hopkins, John Cassevetes, and probably a lot more I can't remember now.

Notice the lack of women? Hollywood doesn't care much for women "of a certain age". Europe seems a little more tolerant and allows their leading ladies the priviledge of aging. But then again , most of the American movie industry doesn't play to grown ups.

I caught a little of Henry's (Rollins's) Film Corner last night on IFC. He was speaking with Rob Zombie (punk musican & horror film director) and asked where are the films for "guys like him in their 40's"? I nearly fell off my chair. I guess it's not just a chick thing. I wonder who Henry thinks "gives good face"?

6 Month Blogging Anniversary: Thanks Everyone

2005-06-27T17:23:00.000-06:00

Last Friday, 6/24 marked my 6 month anniversary blogging. I've learned a lot (and a lot I have to learn). I've withstood hardware problems, software problems, operating system crashes, network failures and plenty of user error.
I responded to a "tag" with an unusually long response that resulted in wiping out all my links, including my archives. Everything was recovered except that specific post and I still haven't figured out what happened.
I have been corrected and chastised, flamed and dumped on, congratulated, encouraged, inspired, ridiculed and rejoiced. It's been great.
According to the TTLB Ecosystem today, I am a Flippery Fish. But I think my true calling might be a Slimy Mollusc . I wrote about being an Insignificant Microbe back in February and I still love the categories more than what they mean (# of blogs linking to your blog). Of course, I am amazed that anyone finds my words and thoughts of any interest (whatsoever) and to those who take the time to comment, thank you, even you who heartily disagree.
Most importantly, I'd like to acknowledge my gratefulness to all the bloggers (whether they know me or not) who have offered such wonderful insights, made me laugh, and question and ponder, and scratch my head, ultimately, expanding and enriching my world. Thank you all!
I hope to improve and since I have a new computer and laptop, I guess I could start with a new picture. The present one is 5 years old! This is bold talk because
I generally don't like pictures of myself . So we'll see...
Here's to more blah, blah, blah blogging.

2005-06-23T17:05:00.000-06:00

CXV courtesy t/Space Corp.

2005-06-22T16:52:00.000-06:00

Do you love air and spacecraft photography? If so, check out these links:
Alan's Mojave Airport Weblog and Scaled Composites Gallery and t/Space
Interestingly, these are all private enterprises.

Tagged by Portia: Important Books

2005-06-22T02:20:00.000-06:00

This inquiry into what people are reading and what books have been important to them has been going around the blogosphere. I'm honored to be part of the buzz but I must confess by the time I get tagged, more often than not, just about everyone I know has already been tagged, aren't blogging anymore, couldn't care less and rarely, if ever, read my blog to know that they have even been tagged. So even though I'm willing to participate (answer the questions), I always feel like I'm the jerk who dropped the torch so to speak. Nevertheless, here I go:

What is the total number of books you have ever owned?
A lot. I shudder to think exactly how many. Books have become friends throughout the years. Some are enlightening and instructive, others are humorous and lighthearted. Whether thick or thin, beautiful or plain, I've owned plenty. My best guess would be 1500.

What is the last book you have purchased?
I just received 4 books in the mail this week! Some were new. Some were used. One was a gift for someone else. Black Rednecks and White Liberals, by Thomas Sowell, A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper, by John Allen Paulos, Modern School for Xylophone Marimba Vibraphone, by Morris Goldenberg and The Music of Chance, by Paul Auster. Try to guess the one I'm giving away.

What is the last book you have read?
How the Mind Works, by Steven Pinker

What are 5 books that mean a lot to you?
The Wind and the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame. I read it in 3rd grade and it ignited my lifetime interest in books.
Narcissus and Goldmund, by Hermann Hesse. Hesse rocked my world in high school. I read many of his books , all English translations since I did not read German. Funny. I tried re-reading Hesse a few years ago when I was in my late 30's and just couldn't get into him.
The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde. A timeless story of vanity and selling ones' soul to the devil.
Anatomy of an Illness, by Norman Cousins. When laughter really was the best medicine.
Free to Choose,by Milton and Rose Friedman. The foundation of my economic thinking.

It was hard narrowing the books down to only 5 . There are so many important books and this list seems ridiculously incomplete. Where are all the wonderful biographies, gardening and philosophical meanderings, history, science fiction and poetry books? Honestly, I could select an entirely different bunch next week.

It occurs to me that this list actually is a timeline of my early life and that something important was happening in my life when I read them. So the substance of these books and what I was doing at the time when I read them are tightly entwined.

I now would like to tag Pat at Dr. Sanity
Norma at Collecting My Thoughts, Bryan at Off the Wall and J.T. at Absence of Arbitrage.

"if the words are smooth and natural and sonorous..."

2005-06-17T18:25:00.000-06:00

Since I have been thinking of wonderful language:

"If you read any work and you find that it is full of ideas that make you think: if those ideas are conveyed in imagery or drama and above all - if the words are smooth and natural and sonorous, and as effortless as a drum beating in a distant forest- then you are probably reading great poetry."

Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson wrote that. You may know him as the Australian bush poet and lawyer who wrote "Waltzing Matilda" and "The Man From Snowy River".

The Best Film Noir

2005-06-12T13:09:00.000-06:00

I was up all night Sat. watching Raymond Chandler movies, black and white beauties, all shot in the 40's. I love ,film noir and femme fatales, especially from that era. Cars were big. Men wore suits to baseball games and bars. Women had elaborate, perfectly coifed hairstyles. "Bad" girls got their due. As stylized and visually appealing as these movies are, Chandler was a master at descriptions and dialogue. For example:

"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge."-- "Red Wind" (opening paragraph)

"We sneered at each other across the desk for a moment. He sneered better than I did."

"You could get to like that face a lot. Glamoured up blondes were a dime a dozen, but that was a face that would wear."

Wonderful stuff.

2005-06-10T00:24:00.000-06:00

Colorplay

Deep Throat Revealed

2005-06-01T15:29:00.000-06:00

Today, W. Mark Felt admitted to being "Deep Throat" the anonymous informer who leaked Nixons' secrets to reporters. There is no question in my mind that Nixon HAD to relinquish his responsibilities as President (by impeachment or resignation) but in no way did this justify the actions of Mr. Felt, the then #2 man at the FBI who as it turns out was really just a disgruntled employee, wounded from not receiving the top post when Hoover died, a guy with a grudge.
What amazes me and continues to amaze me is how politicians and lawyers (often the same) believe the laws are for everyone but them, that somehow they are above the rules that govern everyone else. But that's ok because "they are right". Nonsense. No one is above the law, not the President, not the FBI, not journalists. Mr. Felt's "respect for the law" was demonstrated later when he was convicted for violating the rights (and homes) of friends & family of SDS activists.

The Secret Handshake

2005-05-31T00:48:00.000-06:00

It's happening again. Since I'm not dragging my knuckles on the ground (to borrow a phrase from a fellow blogger, on hiatus
Shaking Spears who I miss ), I'm subjected to the obligatory Bush bashing, America is evil, I assume you are a Democrat, presumptuous rhetoric of the Left.
Today, it came from an artist I was speaking with from whom I had just made a significant purchase. Honestly, we had had such a nice time discussing her art and inspirations. She had spoken about her husband and grown daughter, where they lived , where they wished they lived, where they vacationed and where they went to school. She told me an amusing story about a banker and the decision not to change her name when she got married. We laughed together . Perhaps she thought we were kindred souls.
It was not my intention to find out the most I possibily could in the shortest amount of time about this person's life. I had asked very few questions. A simple nod of my head and a small smile was all it took to open the flood gates of her personal life and it had been pleasant until BAM out of nowhere it seems, I'm hit with her anger and contempt for Bush. I must not have been able to conceal my astonishment because she continued by saying "I assume you are a Democrat..."
Unwittingly, I had given the secret handshake and gained entry in her exclusive club of people who think like she does. What could it have been I wondered. I had revealed very few personal facts. All I could think of was that I had been kind and courteous and shown an interest and appreciation for the arts. Could it have been that I was gasp likeble? How then how could I NOT be a Democrat?
I've written about these presumptions before here and neo-neocon has a post on point here. I suspect as long as my Democratic friends continue to express shock, dismay and outright denial of my conservative views, I will continue to comment on it.

Music in Estes Park: Rocky VI

2005-05-26T00:07:00.000-06:00

I always have a good time at workshops. I see people I haven't seen for a while, stay in beautiful places and usually learn something new about the music we play. This year for example, I learned that Giovanni Gabrieli, is credited for composing the first double choir music which was ideally suited for Saint Mark's Basilica (where he was principal organist) and which led to the emergence of modern symphony orchestras.
Topics and teachers vary per workshop. Participants choose the classes and the instructors they prefer. I chose "advanced" classes which included Recorder Challenges: by Frances Blaker, Variations on "Bergamasca": by Connie Primus and Fugal Flauto: by Mark Davenport , a demanding schedule dominated with music by J.S. Bach and Ludwig Senfl among others.
As it turned out, I didn't play very well which was primarily due to my poor breathing and articulation. I wish I could blame it on the 7,ooo plus feet altitude but I really can't.
So for me, (neither a professional performer or scholar), it's not just about the music, history, styles and techniques but whether I learn something about myself.

My viol group...

2005-05-23T09:51:00.000-06:00

in a past life.

Detail from Herzog August the Younger and His Family, c.1645, by Albert Freyse

Music in the Mountains

2005-05-19T21:53:00.000-06:00

I'll be attending a musical retreat in Estes Park for the weekend.
"Elk will gambol. Krummhorns will squawk. The sound of recorders will echo through the woods."
I'll be all played out by Monday.

Suggestion for Newsweek re:The Daily Demarche

2005-05-19T21:43:00.000-06:00

Dr. Demarche at The Daily Demarche has an idea how Newsweek can correct their recent errors by publishing FACTS detailing U.S. developmental projects completed in Iraq.

Why I Blog and Read Blogs

2005-05-17T08:40:00.000-06:00

Because I have had some technical difficulties blogging lately (hopefully fully resolved now), I thought I needed to reestablish why I bother to blog at all.
The truth is, there are some very well written, insightful and amusing blogs out there. Of course there is a lot of trash too.
I don't mind sloshing through adolescent angst, and the slurry of product promotions. Family blogs can make me feel guilty that I am not a better sister, aunt or cousin, and some soldiers' blogs make me cry. I pass quickly over homework assignments and soccer results but get strange comfort in knowing that someone cares about the scores. Sometimes I am embarrassed by the intimacies revealed in photos and text but with the click of my mouse, I remove myself. In other words I've found the blogosphere both foreign and familiar, comforting and concerning.
Before I really started to blog crawl, I would read all the comments at my favorite websites and before long I started recognizing the same names over and over again. This core of contributors and readers would engage in lively repartee, answering questions, posing problems and making suggestions. If I listened very carefully (regularly read all the posts), I could discover things, like where they worked and where they lived. I was fascinated. But never once did I participate. No matter how much I enjoyed the witty banter, I was just a lurker.
Years passed.
I don't remember what or whom finally prompted my first comment but I was instantly hooked. I'm thinking now it was in response to some event the mainstream media had either misconstrued or totally ignored. To my surprise another person actually shared my concern. Wow! This was much more satisfying than writing a letter to "The Editor".
Truthfully, bloggers have given me much more than I have returned. They have inspired and provoked me, awed and disgusted me, enlightened and informed me. I wouldn't have it any other way.
So at this time when Newsweek publishes information that can only harm, regardless of the accuracy (and as it turns out was frankly false,) I turn to the bloggers (and the internet) who may not have the "credentials" or the historical standards of mainstream journalists, but thankfully don't share their insouciant, irresponsible arrogance.

2005-05-07T13:40:00.000-06:00

curtains

Birthday Wishes

2005-04-28T20:58:00.000-06:00

I'm off to Indianapolis to celebrate the 80th birthday of a good friend. We should all be so lucky. I probably won't be posting until Monday.

Back but only half full

2005-04-27T13:30:00.000-06:00

It's been almost 2 weeks since I've been able to post or comment and I've become a complete desperado. I have a new laptop but my PC is in melt down. I swear Windows 98 has a self destruct command. Everything was fine until my ISP crashed. It took over 2 days for Comcast to get it together and ever since I have not been able to surf. My browser(s) were highjacked! Whatever I did, uninstall programs, reinstall programs, check settings, reset settings, nothing worked. The truth is Windows 98 is old technology and no one wants to support obsolete technology. I guess I should feel lucky it has lasted me 6 years. But I have felt very frustrated.

I did think about my "Mover & Shaker" days, when someone would solve these problems for me or at least expedite the process. It was questionable how important I truly was in Corporate America but I did have access to resources. Granted, managing those resources could be challenging, even daunting but there were definite benefits.

I abandoned all that for a life of comfort and leisure, ahem to work at home. Much has been written about people, like me, leaving the fast track for the slow lane and many people have given up big jobs (and large incomes) for small things, you know like having dinner with your family regularly and making the hours in your day yours, not someone elses .

My friends all thought I was nuts, too capable, too talented, with too much to offer to be satisfied with anything less than the march to the relentless corporate drumbeat, as if that could ever be entirely fulfilling. It is one thing to bamboozle your clients and collegues, it's quite another to fool your friends. I was stunned. Apparently, I am too smart to stay at home, volunteering my time, sitting on non-profit boards, dealing with the pitfalls and the triumphs of domesticity (and there are so many more than I imagined).

Honestly, I am exactly where I want to be and even though my computer skills (and patience) need considerable improvement, I'm back to making some noise...

System Crash

2005-04-14T13:43:00.000-06:00

I've been having trouble...ISP,old computer old operating system...can't surf, unable to post (whenI want to) can't comment. Building new system. I promise I'll be back.

Untitled by Anonymous

2005-04-12T12:46:00.000-06:00

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.

I wish I could take credit for writing this poem but I cannot. Even though it is quite famous, the author (and title) is still unknown. Often it is read at funerals and memorials. But I believe its message is even larger than death and is about transcendence of all kinds. Irregardless, it is lovely. Maybe you will think so too.

2005-04-10T10:06:00.000-06:00

April snow

Spring Blizzard in Denver

2005-04-10T08:15:00.000-06:00

Yes! It's a white-0ut. I can't even see across the street. The city is expecting 5 to 10 inches and up to 30 inches in other parts of the state.
I picked a large bouquet of hyacinths yesterday. The temperature was 67 degrees.
We have experienced a nearly 40 degree drop in less than 12 hours which isn't all that unusual for this time of year. Welcome to Springtime in the Rockies!
Watching the snow accumulate, I'm sorry I didn't cut more flowers. It's the optimist in me. I actually believe there is a chance they will recover even after being smashed from the heavy weight of the snow.
Today would be a great day to post pictures, blog and pontificate. But I'm suffering from a lousy cold and can barely keep my head up. My thinking is as blurry and shrouded as the blowing snow outside. I'm going back to bed.

2005-04-05T21:10:00.000-06:00

Transparencies

Something worth reading in the New York Times "the quiet crisis"

2005-04-05T05:57:00.000-06:00

The New York Times > Magazine > It's a Flat World, After All
Thomas L. Friedman writes about globalization and whether the U.S. is up to the new challenges it presents.
"Some three billion people who were out of the game walked and often ran onto the playing field... people of China, India, Russia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Central Asia. Their economies and political systems all opened up during the course of the 1990's so that their people were increasingly free to join the free market".
"And be advised: the Indians and Chinese are not racing us to the bottom."
Instead of whining about outsourcing, Americans and Western Europeans should be thinking about raising "the bar" and doing things better.
"A quiet crisis" is eating away America's capability to compete in this new world market and is the product of three gaps now plaguing American society.
The first is an "ambition gap". Compared with the young energetic Indians and Chinese, too many Americans have gotten too lazy. As David Rothkopt, a former official in the Clinton Commerce Dept., puts it the real entitlement we need to get rid of is our sense of entitlement.
Second, we have a serious "numbers gap". We are not producing enough engineers and scientists. And finally we are developing an "education gap" C.E.O's...are not just outsourcing to save on salary. They are doing it because they can often get better-skilled and more productive people than their American workers."

Despite some peoples wish to "shut the gates", impose restrictive tariffs and regulations, economic protectivism will not work. A closed society unwilling and unable to compete in a global marketplace is destined to decline. America's ability to constantly create new products and services has always been the source of plenty, only widening the middle class and it is this ability to innovate that will best serve us in the future.