Locked-In Syndrome Movie

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
DVD Release 4/29/08

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" movie is based on a book by the same name about which I wrote extensively on 11/30/07 (see archives.) The book's author, Jean-Dominique Bauby writes about his experience with Locked-In Syndrome after a stroke at age 43 years of age. This syndrome is characterized by complete body paralysis and inability to speak. The challenge is how to communicate. People around Bauby must first recognize that he is actually mentally intact in his body, then a system must be found that will enable him to express himself.

Of special signifcance in my original post was mention of two individuals living today who know first hand what a diagnosis of Locked-In Syndrome means to their life. I since have noted a third here, but there are likely more. This sudden circumstance presents the communication challenge which these people have faced with varying success in overcoming (not all can) :

• a New Jersey, U.S.A. husband and father, Steve Chiappa, in 2001,
• a young mother Glenda Hickey in 2000 of Alberta, Canada, as noted in these links to ABC News stories
• a New Zealand Rugby player, Nick Chisholm, since 2000 in a BMJournal report.
  

I read Bauby's book when it was first published, then followed with intense interest the progress of the book to movie screen a few years later. "Diving Bell..." had limited theater release last year beginning with that end of ' 07 release date. Now the DVD is available.

I expressed some concern last November about whether or not the book's translation to the screen would aptly represent Bauby's story, since I have often been disappointed with other books' movie versions. I wrote I would comment on that matter once I viewed the film.

I had an opportunity to view this movie some time ago prior to the earlier Academy Awards ceremony. I was quite pleased with the production and can unequivocably recommend the film for viewing. I thought the movie portrayed Bauby's experience in such a way as to convey the unique happiness and joy he was able to create for himself within his limitations.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, awarded the film's director, Julian Schnabel an Oscar. (Correction: thanks to OldOld Lady of the Hills at "Here In The Hills": Schnabel was nominated for an Oscar but did not win.) Other awards for the film preceded that nomination including a Golden Globe as Best Director and Best Foreign Language Film. Read Chris Cabin's review at "Filmcritic.com"

The movie trailer can be seen at this Moviefone link.

The following comments will be most fully appreciated after reading my earlier post referenced above or even viewing the film.

I was able to immerse myself in this movie's story which features French dialogue augmented by English subtitles. The visual effects were especially significant in their ability to convey Bauby's perspective. I experienced simultaneously with him awakening to the fog-like gradually whitening light he sees when he first emerges from his stroke-caused coma. He sees a world that is startling to him as slowly human figures assume a more clearly defined presence, then he hears their voices offering information orienting him to his situation. This is his beginning to derive meaning from his surroundings, establish his new reality.

Medical personnel begin with accepted informal testing procedures to examine every facet of his functioning, including senses, motor skills for movement. Can he hear? Does he understand the words he is hearing? Is he able to speak? What body movements does he have? If he can't talk, is there some other way in which he can communicate? Is it possible to somehow devise a system using questions that require some sort of yes or no response, but with no spoken words? Could he possibly use a system that doesn't require speaking to actually designate words, then put words into sentences for complex thoughts? These questions were only a few of many that are asked, but require in depth exploration over a lengthy time period to determine whether or not he still has any of these skills.

Incorporated into this film are details of his life prior to his stroke with scenes integrated through the means of flashbacks. We become acquainted through his own recollections of complicated factual aspects of his personal life with his children, their mother, his father, his own psychological reckoning with his circumstances. His attitude, emotionality, and effects on behaviors, feelings of others are an integral part of this movie's story, his life story.

He perceives his paralyzed virtually motionless body as being beyond his control alone in a sea; envisioned like a heavily leaden-weighted deep-sea diver, sinking to the ocean bottom much as a diving bell. Ultimately, he realizes his mind is free as he imaginatively visualizes a world, desired activities, people, places in which he flits about much as a butterfly.

I, personally, find Bauby's story-telling of his life experience illustrative of possibilities in such a physically limiting life situation. I recommend this movie not only for that reason, but because I experienced the film overall as a pleasure to view. I do want to add a few thoughts that came to my mind as I watched the movie.

1. I think the film story may have minimized one important facet I recalled Bauby writing in his book. He reported that initially, for some period of time, he was presumed by many, including some medical professionals, to be a mental "vegetable" by virtue of the fact he was perceived as being unable to talk. He wrote about overhearing discussions by some staff to that effect, the anger and frustration he felt but could not express. He even mentioned being subjected to discussion with words to the effect that perhaps his life could be allowed to end since he was just a vegetable, anyway. My impression from reading the book was that he had a much longer period of such awareness and the medical staff were much slower to establish his mental capabilities than evidenced in the film.

I believe that communication issue is of singular importance to everyone, family members, friends, medical personnel. We should all keep in mind that just because someone is without speech, or gesture, assuming the individual is incapable of understanding could be a tragic mistake. By the same token we cannot assume that everyone who does not speak, understands everything they see and hear. Obviously, a determination of the situation must be carefully made.

2. The scene where Bauby is asked short yes and no questions beginning with the most simple such as, are you a man, are you a woman, etc. did accurately reflect how insulted he felt. He did not understand the need for what he perceived as demeaning questions. A few individual patients and some family members who overhear this sort of questioning can become quite irate, even despite having received explanatory information about the necessity for questions at such a basic level.

Establishing the level at which someone is able to understand after any sort of possible life altering brain event is a very delicate process in which you can never assume any individual continues to function as they did before. In the beginning under those circumstances, querying anyone with higher level questions i.e. do cats bark, do dogs meow, can be highly demoralizing to someone who is suddenly shocked with the realization they should know the correct answer, but now they don't. Some are so embarrassed, they pretend, and guess. Keep in mind there's a 50-50 chance of getting the right answer with a guess in yes/no questions.

3. Such instant establishment of someone's ability to understand all words said to them with just one or two basic yes/no questions as depicted in the movie, is generally not likely. There's a gradation of question complexity.

4. A patient being given a choice of visitors is good. There can be situations where a patient's choice to not see select people might not be in that same patient's best interest and an effort to circumvent their expressed choice might be better -- at least one time. But care must be taken since as individuals we do have the right to make choices.

5. There were probably more interventions before the alphabet card was introduced and having him spell words -- including introduction of words to see if he could read them, then sentences and more. But, that would have been tedious to include all that in the movie.

6. His imagination and memory were not paralyzed nor was his ability to blink his left eye which they established. We cannot always assume these functions are fully intact with someone.

7. Humor was an integral part of his recovery. There is a scene with a telephone man who couldn't understand how a man who couldn't talk could use a telephone, followed by a funny comment about which Bauby laughed -- in his mind. I believe humor is essential for all.

I would especially welcome the comments of any others who view this film, have read the book, or find this subject to be of interest.

Movie "21" Memory/Hawaii Kilauea Volcano

Hawaii Trade Winds Not Blowing Out Volcano Gases For 2nd Time
Volcano National Park had to be evacuated earlier this week for a rare second time on 4/23/08 United Press reports at "Federal News Radio." Big Island's Kilauea Volcano has continued to spew its sulphuric gases, but the trade winds have failed to blow out the noxious fumes their news reports. Volcano National Park Officials are also quoted there, saying they're in contact with the National Weather Service and "...look forward to favorable winds by week's end." The link above provides additional information. My earlier blog posts this past week regarding Pele and the recent volcanic eruption provide links and information regarding the first evacuation which also included surrounding communities.

"21" Movie Stimulates Vegas Card Gambling Memory

I decided to take advantage of the special early afternoon rate to go to the movies recently and received the added bonus of a memory being stimulated. I've been so pleased our community finally has our own five screen theater complex again. Our previous theater closed some thirty years ago. I've been taking advantage periodically of viewing offerings of featured independent films I've looked forward to seeing. Often these are the films that never are shown in our surrounding communities more commercial movie houses.

One such film was the subject of an extensive post I wrote here earlier about "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." I was able to watch that film prior to the Academy Awards and will write next time about the eminent DVD release.

The movie theater drama I recently viewed, "21," is inspired by real events in which six MIT students undertake making a financial killing in Las Vegas by card counting -- a practice not welcomed there. The cast includes Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey and others. If you're curious to see some scenes, read more about the storyline, and where it was filmed, I suggest you follow the link on the title above. I enjoyed the movie and left the theater feeling not only well entertained but in possession of a long ago forgotten memory.

Memories can be triggered in the most unexpected ways and at equally surprising times is a fact of which I've become more aware in recent years. This movie reminded me of those early college years, fellow student friends and acquaintances with whom I long ago ceased to have contact. Some full names I now remember, others are just shortened surnames by which the individuals were known, but I won't include them here.

The story as I first heard it was that two older students newly admitted from out of state had been talking about the possibility of devising a plan whereby they could beat a certain card game and win a lot of money gambling. Most of us just assumed this was the type of ideas fun talk that abounds on campuses but rarely goes beyond that stage. As the year progressed, however, these students were said to have progressed from talk to actually developing a system to enable them to win. Even then, those who heard the story concluded the system would likely not prove to be consistently successful beyond sport gambling in their dormitory.

Winter session passed and the spring session in the new year was coming to a close. Renewed rumors circulated in certain campus circles that the two students most specifically known as the brains behind this plan had actually come up with a system they and others, including a friend of mine, were increasingly confident would succeed. Furthermore, they were so convinced their system would work they were going to try it out in Las Vegas and win their fortunes.

None of us really thought such a trip would materialize into actual reality as the school year ended. Most of my friends left campus but I remained, attending summer school in an accelerated effort to hasten my graduation. The fall sessions began and my friend had not returned to the campus, so some of us began to ask questions about where they were. Eventually, someone purported to know that they had actually gone to Vegas, but that was all anyone knew. As the days, weeks, then a month or two went by we could only wonder if they had really gone to Vegas?

Questions abounded in our minds. Were they busy practicing their system as we spoke, accumulating thousands and thousands of dollars? Had they already won a lot of money, left the city and were now traveling all over the country, or even the world? I don't recall that we ever considered any of them might have incurred any actual physical harm from this venture, much less that anyone would figure out they had a system. I wonder if they considered all that in their planning? Of course we did know organized crime supposedly was in control of the casinos, if not the city, but surely these gangsters wouldn't be too hard on a few young clean cut college boys just having fun.

In the 1950s the rapid communication with cell phones and inexpensive calling long distances of today was not present. Long distance calling by the average person was usually done only in a case of emergency -- somebody died. So none of us really expected to hear from our former classmates right away and we didn't. In fact, we also wondered if maybe they might just go off to college somewhere else later and we'd never hear from them again.

Then, one late fall day I checked my campus mail box and found a letter that resolved the unanswered questions about my friend. He wrote me describing a much less exciting scenario of events than any of us had considered. He had gone to Vegas, but had not even been able to attempt to use the "system" as authorities had determined he was underage, and threw him out of the casino, so he never even got to gamble.

He wrote he had used his session's tuition money for this unsuccessful excursion which was less than pleasing to his father. Left without adequate tuition funds and to his own devices he had concluded the best thing he could do was join the Air Force which he had done. He was completing basic training at the time of his letter. I don't recall what, if anything, he said about any others who went to Vegas or what happened to them. I'm sure I would have answered his letter, but we didn't keep up a correspondence as I recall.

Many years later I happened to notice his name in an alumni magazine where he had updated his status. He had taken a position teaching at a university, having completed his undergraduate studies, then earning a doctorate after completing his Air Force enlistment term of duty. He was married and had a family.

Isn't it fascinating how memories are triggered? I wonder what other memories are waiting to emerge in the future?

Earth Day ' 08 /// Elderblogger Survey

Celebrate Earth Day 2008 -- today 4/22/08 and throughout the year -- check out the link.



Participate in the Elderblogger Survey about which you may read with this link to "Time Goes By."

Bloggers and blog readers age 50 and older are invited to participate in this survey that will be open until May 1st.

Pele Dances On With Usual Steps

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Hawaiian Volcanic Observatory (HVO) status reports continue as previously with "Volcano Alert at Watch" level and the "Aviation Color Code: Orange."

In depth reports give no indication of overt new volcanic concerns nor have there been any reports of tradewinds blowing sulphuric gases toward population areas such as prompted my initial post. Lava is reported to be continuing to flow through the tubes into the Pacific Ocean contributing to the continued growth in size of this Big Island in the Hawaiian chain of islands.

Hawaii's Pele Dancing Act Continues

Kilauea Volcano's Pele USGS status report:

Tues. 4/15/08
"Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea Volcano is active at two locations. At the summit, low ash production and elevated sulfur dioxide emissions continued from the Halema`uma`u vent. Seismic tremor levels continued elevated to several times background levels. The second DI tilt event in a week was finishing up this morning. At the east rift eruption site, lava continued to flow from vents in the east rift zone through tubes into the ocean at the Waikupanaha and Ki ocean entries."

Much more detailed information available at the web site link above; up dates there periodically.


The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Wednesday, April 16, 2008 report reveals the following remains the same as last week noted in my previous post.

KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW#1302-01-)
19.42°N 155.29°W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

"SO₂ gas plume crosses road near Halemaumau and low on Chain of Craters Road. Sensitive individuals should limit exposure in these areas."
The National Park Services provides additional information with a map of the area and up dates when you visit the above page for this link titled:

"Current SO2 levels and wind direction in Hawaii National Park"


Wonder if Hawaii's mythical goddess Pele was really dancing or if she was feeling a bit explosive with that 4/15 income taxes filing date looming here in the U.S.? Well, it's past now, so perhaps she'll calm down.

Hawaiian Goddess Pele Dances

Kilauea Volcano's Pele on Hawaii's Big Island has recently been a bit more cantankerous than usual. Kilauea is the Hawaiian word meaning "spewing" or "spreading out" in reference to the lava flow. "In Hawaiian mythology, Pele, pronounced /pele/, (peh-leh, not pay-lay) is the goddess of fire, lightning, dance, volcanoes and violence," per Wikipedia described myths.

"Pele Dancing" was captured by Katia Krafft while she was photographing the lava streams flowing down Mauna Loa Volcano during its 1984 eruption...and this dramatic nighttime photograph shows her (Pele) exulting in her awesome volcanic power" per CSAV. (Enlarge by clicking on the photo at this University of Hawai'i at Hilo site for The Center for Study of Active Volcanos--CSAV. Read also about photographer Katia and husband, Maurice's tragic volcanic end in Japan in 1991.)

Trade winds during this current April 2008 Kilauea eruption have not been cooperating to keep the sulphuric fumes away from populated areas. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park had to be closed Tuesday 4/8/08 and some 2000 people had to leave the area. Several nearby communities on this Hilo side of the island were recommended to evacuate voluntarily including Volcano Village whose surrounding area is home to many artists and their studios.

I have loved ones living in one of those communities, so as you might well imagine I have been quite interested in news of Pele's activities and the trade winds directions. Wednesday an explosion blasted rocks 230 feet into the air from Halemaumau Crater where noxious gas continued to rise as reported by the U.S. Geological Surveys Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. USGS Kilauea

The Los Angeles Times print edition Fri. 4/12 includes a United Press International report the northeasterly trade winds have returned to push the sulfur dioxide away from visitor areas according to park officials.

KITV news reported the Volcanoes National Park reopening and the Honolulu Star Bulletin carried Sudhin Thanawala's United Press report on the pollution effects from volcanic fumes.

A Great Britain humanities scholar Dr. Ralph Harrington writes about Kilauea at "The Volcanism Blog" in his April 9th blog post.

National Geographic has a current photo of lava flow (Note: I found I had to move my cursor frequently over this short one minute video to keep it playing.)

National Geographic also as a short series of volcano videos, each a very few minutes duration including the last one which describes this continuously active since 1983 Kilauea volcano of the "shield" type. Keep in mind the Krafft couple who lost their lives as you watch this new young couple of Volcano Adventurers. (note: there are two brief commercials)

John Seach, described at his web site as "one of the world's leading volcano adventurers" reports on Kilauea at "Volcano Live," -- "the world's first volcano news and travel website, which monitors worldwide volcanic activity."

Fortunately, during this present Kilauea eruption the trade wind change means the air in surrounding communities has likely been cleared of the noxious sulphuric fumes. Several Hilo news sources speaking of Volcano Village reported the Big Island mayor said Weds. he had declared a lowering of the color coding alert system from the dangerous purple to yellow, but was expecting to go to the desired green code when the trade winds changed direction as they now have done.

My families many years of Big Island residence encompassed the volcanic event in 1983 when some significant loss occurred in some areas other than their immediate community. One family member had been part of a group helping remove and save some materials from an endangered visitor's center threatened by lava flow.

Residents are respectful of Pele but take all this action quite in stride, exercise precautionary measures as needed, but generally are nonplussed by it all. Stationed here on the mainland with bits and pieces of scattered sound bite news reports and awesome television and Internet photos I must confess to feeling just a bit less secure about their situation than they do. I'm quite cognizant that in times of trouble contacting others isn't always easy and must wait until some semblance of calm and stability has been established. I have so few family members still living, I may have come to experiencing undue concern for those remaining.

Their voices, especially, or messages from them or others always reassure me. We've generally said in our family, "no news is good news" based on the premise that bad news has a way of travelling fast. I embrace that idea, but I'm not so sure, even in this day and age, that's quite true. In fact, I've found it not to be on occasion.

Now with all the airlines bankrupting and going out of business, especially Aloha Airlines which ferried them about so much, I think about how much more complicated quickly leaving that island could be. Still they give no thought to leaving. Just another day on the Big Island that Pele reminds us all is shared with her.

As I complete writing this post I visited again the U. S.Geological Survey (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) Friday, April 11, 2008 Daily Up Date is the last one posted. For the volcano this is a short summary at the beginning of the report:

"KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW#1302-01-)
19.42°N 155.29°W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE"

I'm glad the trade winds changed to blow any noxious gases away from Big Island populated areas. I hope whatever mythical Hawaiian god or goddess is responsible for those winds directions they continue blowing as they are.

Bookstore Addiction

Book store addictions may soon become a problem of the past. Every few months this year seems I read in newspapers, or hear on the radio that another independent bookseller is having to close their doors. (scroll down to Wikipedia's list of Indies at the end of end of article.) I feel guilty Indies are closing and think about how much my ordering that last book online contributed to their demise. I really do like going to a new or used bookstore, a library, and just wandering around.

I guess the beginnings of my book addiction occurred when I was quite young with stories being read to me, receiving books as gifts. Some were given to me with an inscription the book had once been gifted by someone else to my giver. They were now passing along their treasured book to me. I suppose it was only a matter of time before I would progress to visiting libraries, finally venturing on my own into a store selling new books. Probably, by the time I was a young adult I was becoming habituated to all forms of the book store habit.

I can remember being in my then home state's capital one afternoon when one of the main streets sported several adjacent large used book stores. I wandered in and out of them for several hours, up and down aisles lined by long shelves filled with books. I recall walking in the door, sensing a mixture of aromas emitted from the paper, bookbinders glues -- a musty aging smell that sounds quite off putting, but one I experienced as a unique special odor pleasantly wafting through the interiors air.

My awareness of a love affair with books began in the late 1940s when I was old enough to ride a city bus all by myself downtown, then walk the block or two over to the city library. I was in the upper years of elementary school. A young girl my age traveling alone in our community of around 15 thousand residents was quite safe then making such early afternoon daylight trips and walking around on our down town's main streets, in and out of stores. I could attend select daytime movies alone -- usually musicals.

I could even sit in the back of the bus. That was the location of the most attractive seats to those of my young age group. It wasn't until my family moved to another part of the country a few years later I was shocked to learn sitting anywhere on the bus was not free and open to everyone. Plus, I could no longer sit in the back of the bus. One more example to me that there were inequities in the world needing righting.

At the library I loved the freedom of looking at all those books to decide which ones I might select to check out and bring home. I also could look through books some might have considered "too old for you" and then select them for reading. I sometimes favored big thick books because they were really complex with plots that were challenging to follow and lots of pages meant the stories would last awhile. Historical dramas became a favorite and then a liking for other genre developed.

I introduced myself there to Lorna Doone, Madame Bovary which I probably read quite differently than I might have as an older adult. At home were books I had been gifted which were also favorites: The Bobbsey Twins, and always favored dog stories like Lad: A Dog. I still have a box of these books, but haven't looked at them for so long I can't remember what else might be in there. I always found it hard to part with books. Though their contents became part of me I still wanted to retain the physical enclosures of those magical words, people and places.

Recently I've found myself drawn back to bookstores, so have indulged that attraction. So many years there simply wasn't time in my life to do other than run in or out of a bookstore or library for just a pre-determined specific book with little time for leisurely browsing or reading. The independents and most used bookstores have slowly departed my area communities so I'm left with large corporate bookstores that probably contributed to the loss of the Indies. Now, it seems even those larger enterprises are under assault. I guess I better make the most of these stores before they are forced out.

What I'm finding pleasurable now is time spent just looking around in these bookstores that sell new books, even if they are chain businesses. Their plush easy chairs hidden throughout the store beckon. One section of the store draws me as it is situated near bars dispensing a variety of coffee lattes, iced beverage mixes, fruit scones, pastries, fruit and nut flavored bread slices, sandwiches, other finger foods.

I've gotten quite taken there with tables of books labelled: "buy 1, get 1 half price" -- noticing large size paperback books I intended to read but hadn't, along with some titles quite unfamiliar to me. An early afternoon on one of my first book store visits I noted that table held a familiar Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel and unfamiliar Elizabeth Berg's Dream When You're Feeling Blue. I've never been that keen drinking coffee other than straight black, but thought I might just splurge on this store's Seattle's Best in a nonfat latte form, try out one of those easy chairs and see if I really wanted to buy these books. Many hours later as I read the last page in Berg's book, I glanced out the floor-to-ceiling window behind me to discover darkness had enveloped the night.

I was quite surprised I had become so engrossed in this novel about three sisters, set in Chicago when World War II was raging in Europe. At that time I was only elementary school age. I thought of my older cousins living in a small village, driving weekends during a time of gas rationing to a city in a nearby state where they attended USO dances, entertaining the troupes. Some servicemen they met were invited on weekends home with the girls and their parents -- the "home away from home" atmosphere all of America wanted to create for our military, mostly sons, and daughters wherever they were in this country.

Author Berg is not of the WWII generation but has created her story from the memories of relatives who were. The sisters letters written to servicemen on the battlefront, coping with a boyfriend's departure, learning about love are the lessons at home and away in this compassionate tale of these women.

I used to want to buy only hardback books, but many many years ago I became attracted to large size paperbacks as they seemed to comprise more titles of interest to me. Also, a friend in the entertainment business, who had necessarily periodically relocated around our country as his broadcast contracts changed, told me he switched to paperbacks to lower his shipping expenses. This cost saving measure made sense to me given the difficulty I had parting with books I'd read and my expectation of moving about, too.

I have completely lost all reason these past few months with my periodic visits to this bookstore, and now have several books in various stages of being read. There's Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik and Complications by Atul Gawande. Also, Brian Greene's The Fabric of the Cosmos and Born On A Blue Day by Daniel Tammet intrigue me.

I recently visited one of the few used book stores near me. They will accept some new books but have a buy back provision for books purchased there. I also discovered they either have new ownership, or at least have changed to significantly increase offerings of a type that interest me, so I purchased an older release of Margaret Atwood's, The Blind Assassin. I read her writings many years ago, but drifted away to other books. I have other books in the process of being read or waiting to have their pages turned, others I've completed reading and may write more about here in the future.

I have reached one conclusion. I hope the day never comes when the only way I can obtain a book is online, or at large corporate bookstores who've decreased the variety of selections they offer, or when all independent book stores have closed.

Happy Birthday, Ronni Bennett

Monday, April 7, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

RONNI BENNETT


May your special day be filled with happiness

May you have many more years of joy filled birthdays


Readers Here:
Visit "Time Goes By" and leave Ronni a birthday wish.

Visit "Blogging In Paris" and see Ronni's interview on public radio's "Brian Lehrer Live" last week.

Added Later:
Ronni's interview (audio & video) on public radio's "Brian Lehrer Live" can also be seen on "Time Goes By" 4/7/08 post.

Simplicity, Sanity, Satisfaction in Technology

"Finally we are learning that simplicity equals sanity." This is the first sentence on the inside book cover of The Laws of Simplicity by John Maeda. His biography describes him as "...a graphic artist, visual artist, computer scientist..." He founded the "Simplicity Consortium" at the MIT Media lab (Massachusetts Institute of Technology.)

This slim thin book offers complex thought simplified into the ten laws of the book's title. The author employs the techniques of his talents, informed by his personal family experience observing his young daughter's behaviors, to explain the laws he perceives.

The book was recommended to me last fall by an administrator at a company in the tech world, so I promptly ordered it and even sent a copy to another blogger with whom I shared some similar interests at the time. I never heard her reaction, and I never found time myself to read the book until some four months or so later. Only now am I finally writing about it here.

In this day of technological change where everything happens at a speed almost before it's actually happened, and ideas are soon outdated, surely the thoughts here aren't passe'. I have to recognize I'm sometimes a bit slower, occasionally still embracing some thoughts others have moved beyond, but I try to be aware of new ideas, or old ideas modified, presented from a new perspective. I still think, the thoughts here can't be that outdated. Simplicity is still important! Isn't it?

Maeda shares some of his current thoughts at his "Laws of Simplicity" blog.

More recently at MIT's "Technology Review" in Maeda's 3/31/08 blog post he references the typewriter. Remember the typewriter? I still have my Royal Portable from 50's college days though I must admit I haven't used it for some years. (I keep thinking if the power ever goes out for a really really long time, I can keep writing.) Maeda makes an interesting prediction on this blog for technologies future. He noted that "...every letter typed made an imperfect and unique imprint.." then explains why that might be just what we'll be seeking in our future.

In a Feb. post on one of his blogs he reports he is in the process of transitioning from MIT. I hope his emphasis on simplicity has been internalized in the educational process for future computer scientists and technology designers. Perhaps some of them will create tech equipment that incorporates features more user friendly for an aging population, or at least they'll seek out information to inform their designs.

I wonder what systems technology creators and designers have set up and utilize to solicit input from users, especially from the aging population? This is, after all, and aging society and our views, needs, desires deserve consideration. Those young techs will eventually age, too, and I think they might be glad they created products more amenable for their use then.

I wonder what features computer users, especially elder bloggers, would like to see modified, added or eliminated? What about laptops? Other technology, cell phones?

I'll be satisfied if some suggestions and feature applications are incorporated in new technology.

Announcing Eminent Blog Post Change

"Along The Way" future blog posts
increase in frequency
to at least twice a day
9 A.M. and 9 P.m. Pacific Time
(either daylight or standard time.)

• Subject matter of many future posts will focus strictly on topics that have absolutely nothing to do with anything of consequence. (Some previous posts have already met that criteria.)
  

• Earth topics will be centered solely on animals, vegetables and minerals -- maybe with occasional discussion of ice cream flavors, fruits and nuts. (You'd be surprised what the nut category includes.)
  

• Reader's will be encouraged to share comments about their experiences in outer space, especially those who are visiting from other planets. (This includes those from outside our galaxy, but please use English.)
  

• Suggestions for other blog topics will be welcomed and given not very serious consideration, unless they're humorous, unlike this post.
  

Life is serious, so just like credit cards, this blogger reserves the right to change this agreement, or any part therein at will.*


*For the Visually Impaired:
Life is serious, so just like credit cards, this blogger reserves the right to change this agreement, or any part therein at will.


Courtesy of an April Fool

Marian McPartland -- Happy 90th Birthday

Jazz pianist Marian McPartland, born 3/20/1918, celebrated her 90th birthday at New York's Lincoln Center the evening of the 19th. Variety's Sunday, March 23rd issue noted in Robert L. Daniels' review of the celebration:

"The grand doyenne of the keyboard still plays boldly assured piano. Her approach resonates with a rare, studied blend of elegance and subtlety that must be the envy of younger musicians."

Excerpts of the event include this National Public Radio link to a slide show; also you can listen to McPartland performances as Norah Jones sings "Yesterdays," jazz violinist Regina Carter's rendition of "Georgia On My Mind." This NPR account then describes (Wynton) "Marsalis and the Grand Dame of Jazz sparred in a conversational improvisation. The trumpeter strolled the stage, bouncing notes off McPartland's piano strings." Highlights of the birthday celebration performances will be featured later on her jazz radio program.

I first became aware of Marian McPartland's music in the early 1960s from a man (he later became my husband) whose avocation was as a professional jazz musician. Most of the jazz musicians were male with few females other than vocalists or, "girl singers" as they were generally called. When he and his musician friends assessed the talents of any local female jazz musicians, some of the discussions I heard left me wondering if perhaps there might be a gender bias. There were two or three women that when named were said to be "pretty good...for a girl."

There was one female jazz pianist, Marian McPartland, who came to town fairly often whose piano playing elicited only admiration from all the musicians. Her talents crossed whatever gender barrier there might have been. In an effort to understand what it was about how she played that placed her in a talent category far superior to any other female jazz musician, I repeatedly tried to get an explanation from my husband as to what it was about her playing that made her better. His explanation always came down to "She plays like a man." He's no longer here to combat my teasing about his possible sexism or to enjoy her earthly music, but maybe some heavenly notes find their way to him. I'll content myself with continuing to enjoy her music as I always have since I first heard her play.

An interesting interview by Gene Seymour with McPartland is featured in the Salt Lake Tribune in which she reveals having fractured her pelvis this past Christmas holiday season. That event may have slowed her a bit, but she's back at the keyboard as her birthday celebration photo attests. She's also continuing with her radio show.

Marian McPartland's National Public Radio, Piano Jazz is the longest-running national performance program on public radio and was called "an oasis of intelligence and grace and probably the best hour of jazz on the airwaves" by The Washington Post. She features a combination of conversation and music with a variety of performers from jazz legends to newer artists. A schedule for her program's weekly broadcast in all areas can be easily accessed at the NPR link by providing your location.

Currently, you can listen to the March 21st program featuring her husband, cornetist Jimmy McPartland, to whom she attributes much of her music success. He was in the Army, Marian was from England and they met in Belgium entertaining World War II troups. They came to the U.S.A. in 1946, divorced in 1970, remained good friends, re-married a few weeks before his death from lung cancer in 1991 Wikipedia reports.

A Ted Kurkland Associates biography of Marian McPartland contains detailed information noting that she was

"...born in a small English village near Windsor Castle.." but went on to "...become one of the leading proponents of America’s Great Musical Idiom..." jazz. She's a composer, writer "...helped to develop and participated in a jazz education program for Washington, D.C. schoolchildren that ended up becoming a model for similar endeavors around the country." She "...supplied Down Beat with some concert reviews back in 1949, took up the pen occasionally to write witty and prescient appreciations and remembrance-filled essays for different magazines, which were collected in a volume titled All in Good Time in 1987. The book was reissued by the University of Illinois Press in February 2003 as Marian McPartland’s Jazz World with new postscripts from the author.

Marian McPartland has a new album, "Twilight World," a mixture of "...familiar standards and original material..." released March 11, 2008. Her Concord label notes "Twenty-one albums in 29 years at one label is a feat unto itself ..." They write "Pianist and frequent Piano Jazz guest Bill Charlap has said that, "MM is a harmonic genius. Her singular musical voice encompasses the past, present and future of jazz." Her facile touch is present throughout this sumptuous ballad-centric program."

She says, ""I'm so happy to have done this album...It's nice to have something you're this happy with at this stage of life."

I'm just happy that at 90 years of age she's still playing and recording music, continuing her weekly radio show -- truly a "...musical voice encompassing the past, present and future of jazz," as Charlap said.

Political Campaign Fatigue -- Already?

An authority whose words of wisdom
I first read in the 1950s
is alleged to have said:

"How come we choose from just two people for President,
 and fifty for Miss America?"

"Crime does not pay... as well as politics."
Alfred E. Neuman

Fatigue with this U.S. presidency political campaign is creeping up on me quite rapidly. I restrained myself earlier this year from writing the annoyance I felt when so many states started playing musical chairs rescheduling their primary/caucuses dates. Yet -- this change seemed to stimulate increased interest resulting in greater voter participation. Or, would there have been just as much interest by virtue of the historically unique variety of candidates?

Yes, I know the real campaign hasn't started until one political party with two still vying candidates decides on just one, as the other party already has, and that may not occur until -- August (?) Maybe that's good to lessen the time for that final race toward November.

I'll tell you one thing, if I lived in Michigan (have family there) or Florida, I'd be mad as you-know-what that my party officials (local and/or national) prevented my opportunity to vote in the countdown earlier this year, and now can't figure out how to give me a voice.

I'd also be angrier than you-know-what if the "Super Delegates" of this party play games with their votes come the national convention. What is this "super delegates" stuff? Sounds real democratic to me -- reminds me of a quote from George Orwell's novella Animal Farm:

"All animals are equal but some are a little more equal than the rest."

Meanwhile, I just hope those two wanna-be candidates still vying for their party nomination don't destroy each other and their party in the effort to determine which one becomes the actual final candidate.

When I stop to think about this election, I realize we have individuals from different races, even opposite genders competing for the Presidency. Surely, by now these are known facts. How much more time, print and talk needs to be spent by candidates, Fourth Estate, others (including us bloggers) repeating that information, then contaminating those facts with all sorts of innuendo and speculation?

Also, we've whittled our candidates down to a rather wide age spread -- at least, wide enough that all too many writers, comedians, talk show hosts, political pundits take the easy way out for getting a laugh with repartee that is insultingly ageist, and cheapens a viable point as they angle for a laugh. I think we now know the age range of our candidates. Just how much more time, print and talk needs to be spent repeating that information, then contaminating those facts with all sorts of innuendo and speculation?

What do I want to hear? These are largely broadly framed topics about which a President needs to be aware and knowledgeable I think. Some can be and need to be discussed with some specificity. These are just some of my concerns which have readily come to mind that I have quickly written down here. I want candidates to address by offering possible solutions to:

• resolving this interminable war
• correcting the grave state of our economy
• eliminating health cares' serious inadequacies
• solving Medicare's weighty issues
• upgrading and repairing our nation's infrastructure
• certain foreign policy issues today

• improving our world image, approaches to take, demonstrate ability and knowledge to talk about other countries intelligently

• protecting our citizen rights by stating positions on currently pending legislation since as Senators they may need to vote on some of these bills anyway
  

• eliminating politicization of Homeland Security and other law enforcement,

• defending citizens rights and that definitely includes all women, minorities, socially oppressed

• immigration problems by describing plans, with utilization of modern technology and termination of wall building on our borders
  

• enable recognizing California's right to establish our own environmental laws stronger than the EPA that is trying to dilute them
  

• prevent vehicles from entering this country if they and their drivers do not meet all requirements U.S.A. drivers and trucks have to meet, including border states (especially California) vehicle pollution limitations
  

• re-establish the rights of American citizens which have been dramatically stolen
  

• assure and demonstrate to American citizens the Executive Branch of government will immediately cease usurping the people's and legislative branches powers, and corrupting our justice system
  

-- and that's just the beginning.

What did I leave out? I'm sure plenty, because an over-abundance of issues exist.

Living In Place

Independent Living Option

Healthcare System Need


Living In Place is my retirement plan, if the support system I need is present and my circumstances are such that I am able to enjoy living independently in my home, or smaller private living quarters for my remaining years. The Los Angeles Times regular weekly Health Section attracted my attention this Monday, March 3, 2008 when I saw the front page titled "Not leaving home -- Older Americans want to live out their days in familiar comfort. Increasingly, they can" by Shari Roan. This is what I want to know about. What support systems are available now? What services are available? I certainly hope there's more support available than twenty years ago when I was trying to fulfill my mother's desire to live independently in place.

I was even more interested in reading this section of my paper when I discovered Shari had written additional articles in that section, "A network of helping hands," one called "Health tactics that pay off," another "Older caregivers help make up for shortage of home aides," and "Resources for those aging in place." I've found these articles quite informative and would urge anyone who is interested in living independently in their own living accommodations, whether an apartment, town house, condominium, or house, read these articles. You can access some of them by clicking the links on their titles including this "Guide to Retirement Living" with independent living reference.

Following is a brief summary of her front page article I mentioned above, "Not leaving home..." This article offers some dollars and cents figures for comparison purposes of costs for living in settings other than home and that of some supplemental services costs that would be incurred should an individual choose to remain in their home.

The more aging data, informative specifics I can gather the better. Some of us may be quite familiar with some of the figures and additional elder issues from ongoing aging articles by other bloggers, especially Ronni Bennett at "Times Goes By." (An increasing number of bloggers and readers have come to refer there as a primary source for current overall aging information.)

I think Shari Roan's articles are definitely of interest to bloggers and newspaper readers (older folks, their children, caregivers desiring to offer services.) She provides cost of care dollar amounts obtained from MetLife, AARP for accommodations in more institutional type settings ranging from the

* "Average national cost per year of private-room nursing home care: $77,745* (*100,000in Southern California)" to

* "Average national base rate per year of assisted-living care: $35,628** (**As much as several hundred dollars a month may be added for..."special services of fairly routine need by many i.e. diabetics and others she describes.

She discloses details about costs associated with home health aide care for one hour per day with a base of $6,916 per year, but notes additional costs with additional services you can read about in her article.

A possibility for living independently in place on which she focuses in her article is described with the acronym "LIFE : started in 2005 as a federally funded pilot project designed to see if such communities -- called naturally occurring retirement communities...could help people remain in place as they age. Loosely defined, the communities are neighborhoods in which a large segment of the residents are older adults."

The program Shari Roan describes is located in Park La Brea where more than 500 residents are 60 and older. She says they have developed a unique network of volunteers to facilitate continued success of LIFE (Living Independently in a Friendly Environment.) "Susan Alexman, director of senior services for Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, which operates the LIFE program..." says, "You know the saying, 'It takes a village to raise a child'? Well, it takes a community to support an older adult."

Most exciting to me is Roan's report "About 80 supportive services programs have sprung up in naturally occurring retirement communities in recent years in the United States" with "about half...funded by Congress as pilot projects" according to Peter Notarstefano, director of home and communities-based services for the American Assn. of Homes and Services for the Aging in Washington, D.C. Roan reports other Southern California elderly programs, mentioning one of the first in the Beacon Hill neighborhood in Boston in 2000 as examples of nonprofit corporations but the latter "operates with annual membership fees that give people preferred access to vendors who have been pre-screened." She says some programs "are springing up in affluent areas of the country that operate with dues paid by members."

The subject of independent living for elders has been close to my heart since the 1980s when my mother expressed the desire to continue living on her own through her elder years. My mother had lived independently for many years, coping quite competently with being legally blind, remaining active in her community with no other family members there. Eventually my family settled in California, and she came to visit. Previously, she and I had periodically considered the pros and cons of her moving closer to me. For the first time when we talked of living so far apart I could hear her increased uncertainty, hesitations about the desirability of having so many miles separate us.

She was reluctant, but I suggested we explore various types of accommodations for her consideration, just to see what might be available. Serendipitously we located living accommodations that pleased her and proved to be quite ideal for many years. As her needs gradually grew, we also discovered the challenges facing elders trying to remain independent living in place, a loved ones difficulty in meeting the need to provide increasing care and the stresses to obtain the necessary assistance to supplement what family and friends could offer.

I am aware that locally many more services are available now and I can only wish that had been so when my mother was living. Some in the U.S. and other countries may have systems in place to more readily facilitate living in place. Other people may have a serious need for more services. I am very interested in knowing what options and services exist elsewhere for possible integration into some sort of overall plan beneficial to all elders who desire to live in place. Surely, whatever health care plan any system change in our country brings should incorporate provisions enabling elders the option of independent living in place.

Salute to Janis David Cooley

Black History Month


The House of David

A Family History

by Janis David Cooley, Ed.D.


This is a salute to Janis David Cooley who I had the good fortune to become acquainted with in the early part of the year 2005. We had regular contact several times a week for several months during which we engaged in some interesting conversations.

I think she would be pleased I chose this Black History Month of February to write about her as she was very proud of her African-American heritage. She was well aware she told me, that with her light skin she could easily have passed as white, as others had suggested she should consider doing, but chose not to do so.

She presented herself to me as an obviously well-educated, attractive older woman, friendly, personable, and warm in manner. A delightful sense of humor was often quick to surface as I came to know her.

One day she quite enthusiastically told me she had been writing the history of her family and was now in the final process stages of self-publishing the book. She was in the midst of her final editing of proofs. A few weeks later she announced with great relief this step was completed, the corrected proof's returned to her publisher, Xlibris, for initiation of the actual printing process. During subsequent weeks of waiting to receive word her book was finally published, she spoke of her gradual increasing anxiousness to see the finished product of her labors, but clearly was trying to remain patient.

I would come to learn the pages of Janis Cooley's book chronicles individual family members' lives. A few pages graphically arrange names in family tree fashion. Short biographies and pictures of numerous family members fill other pages. She adds informative commentary about her personal and professional life including various moves with her husband beginning in Chicago, eventually to the east, then west coasts. Most recently she had been continuing to provide English essay writing assistance for a Chinese and a Cuban senior high school student to enable their passing their necessary tests, which they successfully did.

She notes in her book, "Virtually all of my African-American forbears were slaves until the end of the Civil War in 1865." Her historical accounts confirm the rightful pride she expresses in her ancestors wide range of achievements -- including some who became theologians, others, educators as did she.

She also recounts unique experiences with descriptions of some occasions when others assumed she was white, or forgot she wasn't -- the comments they made, even the questions she was asked as a white skinned black woman, an African-American. We had laughed together incredulously as she relished telling me some stories of those instances, or about other situations such as she relates in her book. I couldn't help thinking how we often find humor where pain can sometimes rest just below the surface.

Wilberforce University receives special attention in a few pages, since it played a significant role in her families life and her own early years. They lived in the Ohio town the University website reports was "named to honor the great 18th century abolitionist, William Wilberforce." Formed in 1856 the University describes itself as "the nation's oldest private college historically black."

This educational institution had been established "...to provide an intellectual Mecca and refuge from slavery's first rule: ignorance." The University in west central Ohio was a major destination point in The Underground Railroad, for slaves escaping "the yoke of slavery" preceding the years before the Civil War (1861-1865.)

I recall my mother telling me she had been told by her parents, who lived during slavery years, of a nearby house in her Northern Ohio farm community that had been a safe haven and rest spot for slaves on freedom's journey headed toward Canada via that virtual railroad. There were numerous such safe houses in Ohio and quite a few in various other states.

The author smiles at me in the photo on the cover of her book, exactly as I prefer to remember her on the occasion before I last saw her. Our last encounter was a late Friday afternoon when I took a few minutes before leaving for the weekend to see if she had yet received word about her book, or wanted to have a brief chat.

Much to my surprise she was not sitting up at her computer, or planning her next activity in the retirement community where she resided, but was reclining in bed. I learned later she had played Bridge in the morning, but after returning to her room around noontime began to feel unwell.

When I looked at her, I sensed by her expression she seemed somewhat perplexed that she didn't feel well. Her wan, unsmiling facial appearance, and soft weak tired-sounding voice strongly indicated to me she was fatigued or more. Medical care had been provided, she said, and that she needed nothing, but I immediately re-confirmed that fact with staff. I did not linger with her, as her drooping eyelids suggested she might sleep. Sleep she did ..... later, in the very early hours of a new day ..... forever ..... on July 9, 2005.

Two weeks later word was received from her publisher the drop shipment of books she had ordered that many of us had wished to purchase was ready for mailing. She never saw her book in final published form -- The House of David, "A Family History" by Janis David Cooley, Ed.D.

I am reminded the words she wrote which appear on the back cover of this slender 93 page large-size paperback are much the same words she once said to me:

"This book is primarily for my family, because I want them to be aware of their marvelous background and hope that they will keep up the good work. A secondary purpose is the hope that people of other races will read it and realize that their ideas about black people are wrong."

Rule of Threes

Deliberate Technique ... Phenomenon ...
Coincidence ... Superstition ... Secret Force?

"Questioning Threes Significance" elicited some comments to my previous post's speculative ramblings about whether or not certain numbers might have special meaning in our lives. Some readers mentioned select numbers other than three, as did a younger friend who said her number was "777" -- to what do all those digits apply? I recall a time period when 13 seemed to be a lucky number for me with its frequent emergence in unexpected ways i.e. a house number. Do we discover more than one number for each of differing situations?

Maybe our "number" changes over the span of our lives. Do we select experiences that associate with our number? Does our number somehow dictate what the total of those events will be? What is the significance of these multi-digit numbers in this scheme?

The numbers topic came to mind simply because I happened to notice those "threes" about which I wrote. I thought this subject offered one way in which to acknowledge the time lapse since I had last written here. I wanted to affirm I had not yet abandoned this virtual corner in the blogosphere before someone tried to establish squatter's rights. Does such happen with blogs? I have so many questions about so many subjects besides numbers.

I've been aware of 'three' groupings throughout my life, having heard such sayings as "Third time is a charm," "Everything happens in threes." I began to wonder about others experiences with three and what this 'rule of threes' is all about -- deliberate technique, phenomenon, coincidence, superstition, some 'secret force'?

The "Rule of Threes" is a concept commonly used in one form as a means for describing structural organization. This concept's origins are debatable, but creating categories of threes with their subsequent extensive employment in a multitude of ways has occurred for centuries. Categorization is used to facilitate information storage and retrieval in our brain, a way to help us better understand the world around us.

Among the variety of articles on this Rule is an essay by freelance writer Yves Barbero with the following quote which, since the source was unknown, he attributed to Kilroy, who has been "...around since at least World War II." (Read some interesting stories about Kilroy's identity HERE.)

"The common man sees the world as nature sees it,
yes and no, good and evil, on and off -- the
artificer, the scholar, the intellectual sees the
world in threes, and makes a full time occupation
of explaining the unnatural."

The classic example Barbero cites for this "three-fold division rule...is Sigmund Freud's id, ego, and superego." He notes Freud "...may have warned that this division was a shorthand convenience for psychoanalysts, and not distinct elements in defining personality, but generations of practitioners have made a priesthood of guarding these intellectual icons."

Barbero's essay describes one broad use of a threes system as including "religious, social, scientific" applications, most of which many of us are probably quite familiar i.e. the religious Holy Trinity. He demonstrates how we can devise our own divisions of three just as some scholars do. His essay uses the examples he provides to analyze issues associated with teaching creationism and evolution within a school science curriculum. The purpose here is simply to examine the more common well-known uses of the "Rule of Threes" most of which utilize deliberate techniques.

We begin from birth categorizing information received through all our senses, gradually becoming able to associate words to these groups i.e. milk evolves into food which includes sub-categories of beverages, etc. Eventually we're incidentally introduced to 'threes' as I think of the nursery rhyme category inclusive of the group designated animals, such as, "Three Blind Mice," "Three Little Pigs," and "Goldilocks" featuring three bears. This often unconscious organizational behavior continues throughout our life with new information we receive, though the 'three' grouping matters little for much of it.

Currently we're immersed in categorizing activities we can characterize as political. Candidates seeking to be our country's next president are speaking extensively with rhetoric designed to elicit our support and vote. Methods are employed to impact our emotions, increase the likelihood certain speaker words are noticed and remembered. Here, the speaker's rhetoric may use a 'threes' technique emphasizing a thought by repeating a specific statement or question three times, sometimes with increasing loudness, and changing inflection. They want us to remember: "I promise real change" ..... "I Promise Real Change" ..... "I Promise REAL CHANGE!"
("Mother Pie" provides several excellent posts analyzing political techniques being used in this current political environment beginning with her Feb. 13th post.)

Learning techniques often include the belief three repetitions are necessary for new information acquisition and retention. This idea is also prevalent in hypnosis when the susceptible, submissive candidate is perceived to have assimilated the proffered message, by demonstrating its use in observed behaviors. Often the success of the actual hypnosis is at least partially attributed to the hypnotizing process that has incorporated use of this 'threes' concept.

Additionally, the aesthetically pleasing visual composition with the "three" concept is often used by artists in the creation of their various arts and crafts, such as in determining photo composition. Similarly, actor placement or "blocking," is a system using threes directors use in grouping people on a stage as in theatre plays. More ordinary applications may occur in home decorating, including arrangement of room furniture, table or mantle objects, wall pictures, as additional examples that provide opportunities to implement the 'threes' concept.


The use of threes occurs in writing as noted in the nursery rhymes, but continues into more advanced complex writing forms. Some music is likely influenced by threes. Comics joke delivery incorporates the "threes" concept as do even professional clowns who use the technique in their behavioral actions, one such clown told me recently.

"Survival and Outdoor" website reports U.S. Armed Forces Survival Schools teach

"You can survive three seconds without thinking, three minutes without air, three hours without shelter, three days without water, three weeks without food or three months without hope."

A less pleasant application of this "rule of threes" is the belief entertained by some that certain unwelcome events occur in threes, usually within a relatively short time period of each other. My husband and I were often reminded of this latter "threes" superstition when some iconic personality departed this life. We wondered, would there be a second? If there was a second death, our interest would heighten sometimes with speculation as to whether or not there would be a third. When there seemed to be the inevitable third death soon after the second, then we questioned whether or not superstition was the appropriate descriptive word for these events. Was this merely a coincidence, a "three" phenomenon – or the result of some secret force?

I continue to wonder about this "rule of threes." I wonder how others might have acquired any notion of "special" numbers, if they entertain such thoughts? Perhaps the possibility that some "secret force" exists is simply magical thinking, a consequence of the idea having been at some time some how implanted in my mind.

Questioning Three's Significance

The Bacteria Wars


I'm bringing this blog into the present by referring to earlier events, beginning with my west coast trip to share the recent past holiday season with a few east coast family members. Requested snow flurries for at least one special day while I was there, disappointingly never materialized. Fortunately, my overall experience, enjoying the company of each other and friends, compensated by providing me much pleasure. This interfered with blogging then and, coupled with other events, has continued to do so since I returned home.

When I began to write this activity up date, I soon recognized repeated instances of experiences somehow associated with the number "three." I recalled my trip, discovering I was missing three small bottles and contents accidentally left at home as a consequence of my hasty departure. Then,I remembered later three successive unexpected medical issues emerged, ultimately exercising considerable influence on some of my behaviors. I suddenly realized the prevalence of "three" seemed somehow to be impacting my life. Three different undesirable bacteria invaded three different areas of my being in three successive unrelated instances, followed by the need to ingest three separate and differing antibiotics. Was there some symbolic significance for me in this number three concept, I wondered?

Could there even be some obscure force causing events to occur in threes? Perhaps this force can be recognized by the influence on my medical state, operating unbeknown to me at the time, as my health matters became more complicated. A bacterial germ warfare was beginning against me. My first antibiotic engaged in combat in one theater of war within my body where bacteria had slowly, methodically and silently grouped to suddenly launch their attack.

Unexpectedly a second bacterial army separate and different from the first, apparently camouflaged, opened another theater of war. A second antibiotic was initiated contributing to what I characterize as beginning an armed forces rescue unit pill parade. Eventually, the enemy armies were finally manageable, enabling me to make my delayed return home where I expected this warfare to end.

Just as the final battles were being fought a stealth group of bacteria manifested itself with a vengeance, opening a third theater of war. The necessary third antibiotic rushed to provide defense. I privately suspect that latter enemy attack group was composed of embedded guerrilla forces active almost as long, if not longer, than those first two covert forces.

These three theaters of war battlefields are finally mostly quiet as the enemy bacterial forces have been roundly defeated and most defense forces retired. I have been reminded during this time of what is true at any age, that physical weakening also affects emotions, other behaviors, might even aggravate clear thinking. I began to realize I was not using due diligence and care with writing, so, I, possibly belatedly, had the good sense to drastically curtail writing activities and computer use.

An edgy attitude had emerged, invaded my writing that was becoming hurried. Email missives were being hastily sent without a second more-considered reading, so they tended to be abrupt, possibly even abrasive. I eventually concluded my writing nothing was best. This decision was later reinforced when a non-blogging long-time friend observed in an email that the "writing doesn't sound like you." Of course it didn't. I appreciated her honest observation, that she took the time to question in a caring manner. Other behaviors and feelings were marginally affected. I have been and am in a much healthier state than how this all may read, so note this has just been my temporary reality.

This experience has stimulated my speculation about "three," its possible significance in my life, if any. I also wonder if others have a symbolic relationship to three, or any number other than three, that they associate with aspects of their own lives?

Underdogs Are Winners, Too !

After the game up date:
CONGRATULATIONS to those Louisiana Tigers who have won the national BCS championship. http://www.lsusports.net/

I was surprised to learn the LSU head football coach, Les Miles, is a native of Elyria, Ohio. He played and later coached for the University of Michigan's Bo Schlembacher.
http://www.secsportsfan.com/les-miles-biography.html

Buck up you Buckeyes -- you're still winners -- there's always next year!


Written before the game:
Ohio State University and Louisiana State University representing the NCAA' s Big Ten Conference and the Southeastern Conference, respectively, are set to play each other at New Orlean's Louisiana Superdome in the 2007 national Bowl Championship Series BCS.) Ohio State has been designated as the "underdog" in this game.

Some folks prefer to support winners. Others pride themselves in championing the underdog's cause. The criteria for applying the "underdog" label is sometimes loosely used, but those who do so are usually well-intentioned. The result when that happens, though, is we don't always agree on who is really an "underdog."

Readers of earlier posts I've written, know the Ohio State University Buckeyes past two football seasons have assumed a special significance for me since my husband's death two years ago. He was an avid OSU fan of his alma mater's team. Then, his older sister, in her eighties, who religiously attended every game, though she had not been an Ohio State graduate, joined him this past year. I have fantasized here that they resolved some of their serious (to them, but especially her) disagreements from previous years, over the fortunes of this team, which enabled OSU to have the winning season they did in '06, but lapsed for their final bowl game.

Well, I'm convinced these family members have come to some 'meeting of the minds,' possibly with the counsel of many great sportsmen with whom they've been able to consult in that great football stadium in the sky. They're up there with Woody Hayes, a famed OSU coach in his heydey and whose teams my husband and I witnessed win many a game in the horseshoe shaped stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Another expert able to offer them his perspective on the game, Bo Schlembacher, an Asst. Coach, with Hayes, later became the winningest coach in the University of Michigan's history. Michigan and Ohio State have continued to be arch rivals in the NCAA's Big Ten Conference.

I believe we have two winner teams in this BCS bowl game, that on any given game day, one could defeat the other. I think my husband and his sister have finally managed to merge their two perspectives and coaching styles, that the results of this game will reflect their strength working together with an outcome they would each desire.

Yeah, I'll be rooting for those Ohio State Buckeyes to win that national championship title.

Happy New Year !

Special greetings to all with the hope the sentiments expressed in my previous post prevail in 2008.

Holiday Greetings '07-'08

Compassion, Tolerance, Peace On Earth


December is a time of year when various religious and other special celebrations occur. Events of most importance for some may have already been celebrated. Others have special holidays yet to be experienced.

Shared by all, usually, is a gathering of loved ones, family and friends on these occasions. Phone calls, emails, greeting cards and holiday letters across the miles may necessarily provide other individuals this feeling of connectedness we treasure especially during this winter season.

I have experienced these varied means of togetherness with those for whom I care and who care about me, just as each of you probably have, also. I've been present in family groups varying in size from large to very small, with even occasional holidays away from relatives during my lifetime. This year I am with a very few family, as our member numbers have been slowly diminishing for some years, as has been our ability to all travel and meet in one location.

Whatever the number of our individual family members and friends, I've come to believe those of us who are bloggers are able to experience a feeling of connectedness with each other, too. I think we realize we can come to feel we know and genuinely care about one another, so we exchange special greetings. We even have the opportunity to extend our good wishes in this unique written manner to others who simply read what we write, whether or not they leave a comment.

So warm sentiments are especially reserved for each and everyone who visits this blog. You are invited to take as much as you need of joy, happiness and love. Most importantly, please share these feelings with those with whom you have contact.

My special wish for you and the whole world is compassion, tolerance and peace on earth.

Disharmony Relieved by Music/Book

I've been sputtering and spewing in my mind over so many issues, as I think about the State of the Union and what is being wrought upon our country.

I'm upset that media falls more and more under the control of increasingly fewer large corporations.

I'm really distressed that one really major corporate owner has a grip on communications distribution all over this world now, with his final take over of a prominent publication here in the U.S.A.

I'm really angry at the high-handedness of the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) who blatantly disregards congressional and citizen wishes.

I don't want to get into providing links and quotes to these issues above. I would have to read even more about those topics in order to do so. That would only serve to provoke additional distress.

I'll just assume anyone reading this will know of what I speak, and if some don't, feel free to ask questions that can be answered later.

Instead, I find the music and lyrics of "Salala" I first heard earlier tonight at Tamarika's "Mining Nuggets"" playing over and over in my my mind, warming my soul.

Also, I'm remembering reading an uncomplicated activity I came across on another blog some time ago. For some strange reason the post attracted me -- must have been the simplicity. Sorry I can't recall on what blog I read it, but I do recall the blogger stating they credited the idea to Winston at "Nobody Asked," but that he had credited some other blogger, and who knows where else the credit lay.

It's pretty simple, just select a book, then complete the following. Here are the results from the current book at my fingertips:

Title and Author:

Musicophilia - Tales of Music and the Brain

by Oliver Sacks


Is the book dedicated to anyone? If so, whom?

For Orrin Devinsky, Ralph Siegel, and Connie Tomaino


What is the first sentence?

Preface:

"What an odd thing it is to see an entire species -- billions of people -- playing with, listening to, meaningless tonal patterns, occupied and preoccupied for much of their time by what they call 'music.' "


Turn to page 47. Please share the first sentence of the first full paragraph.

"It is this fidelity--this almost defenseless engraving of music on the brain--which plays a crucial part to predisposing us to certain excesses, or pathologies, of musical imagery and memory, excesses that may even occur in relatively unmusical people."