Morning, Don,
Are you
seriously asking me if I think cursive is something we should teach or not?
Even if you can't write legibly, the rewards of learning cursive are
outstanding! Think about line, space, movement in space, not to mention all of
the great and wonderful neural pathways that are created in the brain! And
think about all of the small motor muscle development that occurs with cursive…
Just because you write and no one but you can read it doesn't make any
difference. The fact that you have been able to figure out how to put something
in a small space that makes sense to you is one of those gratifying experiences
of being intelligent. Cursive should be taught in school.
And
unfortunately I think you're right – it is going the way of knitting,
crocheting, breadmaking, woodworking… We are losing a lot of those absolutely
incredible intricate skills that our ancestors took such great pride. We saw
quilting almost die out, but it is coming back slowly. Some of the new quilt
designs take into account the new geometry, creating pictures, using as many
different styles in the way the blocks are cut that the quotes themselves have
become masterpieces. In the actual material that is available now is phenomenal
in colors. When I was quilting, I was using 2 inch squares and creating
pictures along the same lines that Monet made his paintings. I keep hoping that
once I get my thumb back I'll be able to start sewing again.
So we had a
sleepy little town event here in Colorado – old outside of Gunnison where my daughter
and her family live is a small community called Crested Butte. Crested Butte is
a ski area that has always been known for its parties. It was the party place when I was going to
college in Gunnison. So Anheuser-Busch – Budweiser decided to use Crested Butte
as the backdrop for one of their new "What ever" commercials. They
paid Crested Butte half $1 million to paint a couple of blocks Budweiser blue –
that included the streets and the
buildings. Then they brought in 1000 people to party for the weekend. They
created a volleyball sandpit which I'm hoping Crested Butte gets to keep.
This little
foray into commercialism caused quite a ruffle for the local folks. A lot of
them could see the commercial value to allowing Budweiser to come in and shoot
their commercial. There were also a lot of folks who felt that it could very
well ruin the family atmosphere that
they've been trying to create over the last years. I'm sure that the jury will
be out on this for a long time but I imagine the money will help the city
along.
I love your
report on the Dragon submarine. I'm not sure I can afford it yet, but wouldn't
it be an adventure to be able to explore the ocean beds on your own and not have
to wear all the scuba gear. I'm sure that there are going to be a lot of
limitations involved, but it's still a really neat idea.
I was
cruising through the science and came across an article about a quantum
computer. Google has partnered with the University of California in Santa
Barbara to create a computer that encompasses the mechanics of the
motion and interaction of subatomic particles. How
this actually works in a computer is really not a concept that I can grasp at
this moment in time. But I'm sure that the scientific world is waiting with
bated breath.
I also discovered that 3-D
printers are soon to be available for home use. Now this has some interesting
applications. If you need a PVC joint, would you be able to construct one on
your own printer instead of having to go to the hardware store? What if you
need a screw? Or a handle… These are just beginning thoughts of what you would
be able to create home. How many businesses will we be putting out of business
by having our own 3-D printers? I'm sure the materials are going be very cost
restrictive so that driving to the hardware store and taking the 10 or 15
minutes necessary to find what you need will still be more cost-efficient than
printing something at home. But what an idea!
Speaking of computers, my little laptop is on
its final bytes. I've had it into the shop twice since April and I'm beginning
to think that maybe it is time to replace it. I've been looking at computers
and I think I've decided on a Dell 17 inch touchscreen. When I was 1st
doing my research, I never considered touchscreen. I thought them to be a waste
of time and definitely very costly. While I was at the store, I checked them
out and discovered that I really do like touchscreen and they aren't that
costly.
So this is for me is a moral dilemma – my
little computer is not dead yet. Do I replace it now before it is dead or do I
wait? And just what do you do with an old computer? Do you get it fixed and
pass it on to the grandkids? They have smart phones and Kendall Fires, they're
not going to want my poor little tiny now un-loved laptop. So anthropomorphism
strikes again! I realize that the laptop is just a mechanical device that has
allowed me freedom to write without having to be really "plugged in",
it was the 1st computer that I had that had Skype that allowed me to
talk to my son and his wife while they were on the other side of the world… Do
you actually say "goodbye" to a mechanical device or do you just dump
it? I guess this is that "soft heartedness" that you were talking
about, Don.
As for your riddle, I've had 2 weeks on it and
every time I think I'm close to coming up with an answer, the
"Commonwealth clocks strike four" interferes and I decided maybe my
answer isn't right. So I'm going to throw out some guesses:
some kind of tree nut – a tree seed of some
kind
the plant and flower called "Four
O'clocks"
marijuana – the reward at the end of the day
tea time – and that wonderful tasty little
snack people have around 4 o'clock in the afternoon that takes them to dinner
those are my guesses – and I'm thinking it's
more "tea time" than anything else.
Have to finish out the final edits on Jeph's news
story. It will come out in October and is loaded with puns. I'm also going to
be starting the editor on Ariel's new book which we will start running in
January. We got Transport 34 on the website and it's looking good.
I'm about 6 pages into the 2nd
draft of my book on the Wired Generation. One of the problems that I've been
faced with is I keep coming up with new information can be included in the
book. I really do have to draw the line somewhere.
Have a great week everyone,
Carolyn
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