Twenty-years ago on December 31 people began to wonder what will happen when The Digital Transformation begins? Would transactions made in 1999 be honored when banks began to use zeroes to record financial and personal deposits? How would Hospital, Police and Fire Departments operate? People began to store water, food and other necessities in fear that delivery systems would be interrupted. Though the engineering changes had been studied and anticipated many years before, there was a sense of uncertainty that calamity would happen when the great Crystal Ball of New York would ring out the message "Happy New Year 2000!" I believe the same sense of uncertainty and fear is felt now.
To overcome our fear then we sought the advice of honest, reasonable leaders who were not arrogant. We found information easily and accessibly through a free press. As citizens we used technology to help us improve deficiencies and extend opportunities for education. In the next twenty years we will experience more changes. Sometimes we may call upon religious or spiritual faith to ease us through change, but let that faith not question one's loyalty to this country. It is not a single person or ideology that will lead us safely. Not one of us is above the law, it is our heritage. We need to listen more to correct injustice. We need to examine our own behavior. The New Year allows us to be hopeful that America's fairness will be seeded by the kindness we citizens accord each other.
May good health, good weather and common sense be accorded you and yours in 2020.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020!
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Monday, December 2, 2019
WORDS AND WIT THAT INSPIRE
I was curious about the article "The Polymath Who Led With His Wit.*"
I had never heard of a polymath. Nor did I know of the writing of Clive James a literary critic until I read his eulogy. At first I thought polymath was about mathematics. In some ways the logic of mathematics combined with the rhythm of music are the things I enjoy most about writing.
James was 80 when he died. I read of his literary accomplishments and of his ability to laugh at himself and illness. He left a legacy of quotes. In one of his final interviews he talks of "The childish urge to understand everything doesn't necessarily fade. If you don't know the exact moment when the lights will go out, you might as well read until they do."
Would that all of us understood that kind of plain, earthy language.
_________________________
*The Polymath Who Led With His Wit
Dwight Garner/ An Appraisal
New York Times, 11-30-19
I had never heard of a polymath. Nor did I know of the writing of Clive James a literary critic until I read his eulogy. At first I thought polymath was about mathematics. In some ways the logic of mathematics combined with the rhythm of music are the things I enjoy most about writing.
James was 80 when he died. I read of his literary accomplishments and of his ability to laugh at himself and illness. He left a legacy of quotes. In one of his final interviews he talks of "The childish urge to understand everything doesn't necessarily fade. If you don't know the exact moment when the lights will go out, you might as well read until they do."
Would that all of us understood that kind of plain, earthy language.
_________________________
*The Polymath Who Led With His Wit
Dwight Garner/ An Appraisal
New York Times, 11-30-19
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