| Friday,
December 19, 2008 Today at 1500 I get my MRI. First they fill
me with barium or something -- whatever MRI uses for contrast enhancement --
and then I get scanned and magnetized. It's loud and a bit claustrophobic,
and thus a bit intimidating, but endurable with a bit of patience. I don't
know when I'll have the results.
"We sow the wind."
Hi Jerry,
Have you noticed that seldom a day goes by absent
one of your (regretful) favorites. I would offer that human affairs are
messy and not all activities result in "progress" or "improvement" (and
never have). Nonetheless, progress is achieved -- slowly and painfully,
it's true, and not infrequently with setbacks. For example, the
improvement in human rights and diversity in our lifetimes (I'm mid 70s
too) is impressive.
How about some positive news or, even better,
positive reactions to at least some of the events of the day?
-- Cheers,
Alan Messer
I got this yesterday and I have thought about it since. I am also
reminded of Russell Kirk's dictum. "Conservatism is enjoyment," which is
another way of saying count your blessings; and I guess my answer is, I deny
the charge. I do agree that hardly a day goes by without news that is
disturbing, and I certainly do not assert that all
activities result in "progress" or "improvement"
nor have I ever suspected that; and back in the doom
and gloom days of the 1970's I was one of the very few who kept asserting
that mankind has a future; this despite Isaac Asimov's increasingly gloomy
predictions and revelations.
The way out of our economic problems is increased
production. It's a lot easier to divide up a big pie than a small pie.
Socialism only works if there's very high production, enough so that the
people willing to work hard are able to produce enough to keep those who
want to consume hard without doing a lot of work if not satisfied -- my
experience is that the non-productive consumers will always find leaders
willing to demand more and more -- at least out of the streets.
There are two keys to increased productivity: low
energy prices, and a well educated work force imbued with a work ethic.
Eliminate either and you have a society either unable or unwilling to meet
the demands of the non-productive (which includes both the deserving poor
and the undeserving poor as well as those "employed" in "jobs" that consume
but add nothing to the goods available for distribution). When energy prices
and/or appropriate education are threatened, it's rather difficult to have a
positive reaction.
I try to report good news when there is some. As to
the rest, one of the characteristic actions of Jeremiah was Jeremiahiads;
and while I don't think of myself as a prophet and certainly not one in his
league, that seems to be my job, and I will continue to do it. Someone has
to sound the trumpet.
Still, this is a reminder. Conservatism is
enjoyment. We prefer not to have the obligations of making changes in
things. Alas, this is not possible at this time. Still, it never harms to
count your blessings. Often.
And at 1500 I get my MRI...
================
Majel Roddenberry, RIP
http://www.roddenberry.com/
I never knew her. We met once, I think,
at some awards ceremony when I was president of SFWA. Gene and I became
fairly good friends despite our political differences after we met at a
Science and Literature conference at the Library of Congress some years ago.
She was the voice of the computer in most Star Trek episodes.
===================
And I have been thinking about this
since I got it:
NASA - A Giant Breach in Earth's Magnetic Field,
Jerry
This story is about how a satellite found a huge
hole in our magnetosphere:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/
16dec_giantbreach.htm?list1067857
But that's not why I sent you the story. Here's why:
" Researchers at the University of New Hampshire are using computer models
to unravel the basic physics of the great breach. They're finding that
reconnection at the poles is key. Conventional wisdom held that equatorial
reconnection was more important, which is why the giant breaches were not
anticipated until THEMIS flew through one."
As usual, the scientific consensus blinded them
until they had incontrovertible data.
Ed
Dr. Hume's observation is very much on
target. And how much more of that is going around?
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