A Still Verdictless LifeA work-in-progress, both life and blog. By Jeff Nichols.(Untitled)- January 30, 2003 A side effect of spending a weekend visiting someone stuck in a hospital is the massive appreciation you suddenly get for your life. Things that were everyday and boring are suddenly wonderful. Just getting into the car and driving out for lunch, or listening to James Taylor in the backyard, are things worth appreciating. And the big things, like having a job and a wife, are positively sublime. It is indeed fine to be alive and well.http://radio.weblogs.com/0110445/2003/01/29.html#a485 (Untitled)- January 30, 2003 The End of Days Just got back from five days in Florida, gone to visit my maternal grandmother in the hospital. I've much more to say about it, but even if you don't read the rest of this, say a prayer or have a good thought for Ruth Hunt Bates, age 86, approaching the end of her days. I don't even know where to start. Being around someone in her situation (hospitalized, sick, weak, hanging on to what little quality of life is left) gives me so many things to think about. Death is a big...http://radio.weblogs.com/0110445/2003/01/29.html#a484 (Untitled)- January 22, 2003 Hilary Rosen Is A Dangerous Moron Today's Wired article covering Ms. Rosen's idiocy is quite a read. I particularly liked this bit, wherein security consultant Robert Farrell gives Hilary the what-for: "Well, Ms. Rosen, I'll tell you what: You forward all your e-mail unedited to a public mailing list, scan and post all your private written correspondence to the same list, give us all-read access to your hard drives and post 24-7 webcams in your boudoir and bathroom, and then I'll believe you...http://radio.weblogs.com/0110445/2003/01/22.html#a483 (Untitled)- January 22, 2003 I've taken a lot of time off, not writing in this weblog for two weeks. In that time I've recovered (mostly) from the holidays, gotten back to work in a big way, and have gotten the professional site Pervasive Computing News up and running. So I haven't been lazy. It's more like I'm trying to decide what to do with my time and energy in 2003. January is always an opportunity for a fresh start, but this January is more so. I can feel the last bits of my old life falling away, and what's left...http://radio.weblogs.com/0110445/2003/01/22.html#a482 (Untitled)- January 6, 2003 I can't say it any better than this. Karlin Lillington writes about the US's amazing apathy as we lose 200 years' of personal rights and freedom (from Ireland, no less). So rather than paraphrase, here's her post. And read the article being linked in the first sentence - it's a great, disturbing summary. ----------------------------- "This piece is being widely blogged and highlights a disturbing truth -- that people just do not seem to care that the most basic rights and principles,..http://radio.weblogs.com/0110445/2003/01/06.html#a481 (Untitled)- January 5, 2003 Also from the NY Times, another big shift in the US, this time in health care. I predict this proposal is the beginning of universal health care coverage in the US. There's no doubt that our system is a mess. There's also no doubt that as the wealthiest nation on Earth, it's a crime to let anyone go without proper health care. Senator Breaux's proposal to require purchased health insurance for everyone is a good starting point. The trick is to get the maximum number of middlemen out of the...http://radio.weblogs.com/0110445/2003/01/05.html#a480 (Untitled)- January 5, 2003 Today's NY Times article about water in Socal is a big deal. Population pressure in Socal is immense, and if you constrain the water here, well...let's just say that one of the most expensive places to live just got more expensive. As a realist, it's about time. How can we possibly rationalize 17 million people living in a place with no fresh water Plus, we waste water here as if it were free and plentiful. I have no doubt that things will change here, possibly quickly. The politicians will...http://radio.weblogs.com/0110445/2003/01/05.html#a479 (Untitled)- January 2, 2003 It's January 2nd, another travel day. Our lo-o-o-ong holiday trip comes to an end, thankfully. I'm ready to get back to Socal. Between getting ready for the trip and difficulty keeping a dial access line up, not much will get posted today.http://radio.weblogs.com/0110445/2003/01/02.html#a478 |