To Be Precise: Confessions of a Logomaniac

Words engage my interest. An hour’s study of one of my thesauri is time well spent. Dictionary definitions often obfuscate the delicate nuances; gentle coaxing achieves precise meaning.  Some words are confused or misused. Differences can be subtle. Here are some words that are sometimes confused with each other, occasionally misused, or shaded. Some are common, others arguable, a few intriguing.

Adverse, Averse:  Adverse which means harmful, unfavorable, or antagonistic should not be used to refer to people, but, rather, to things that are contrary to one’s interests. Averse implies opposition, a strong disinclination to do something. Averse is used with reference to people. She is averse to speculation in banking stocks. Adverse weather conditions caused our flight to be canceled.

Among, Between: Among is normally used to indicate inclusion within a group of more than two but can also be used when entities are considered as a mass or collection. Between separates, compares, or connects two things, or more when entities are considered as distinct. My choice among entrees was overwhelming. You must decide between MS Explorer and FireFox as your default browser. The UFO landed between the house, shed, and garage.

Amount, Number: Amount is used for bulk quantities; number for countable quantities. A large number of yen and euros make a large amount of currency.

Apogee, Perigee:  These are opposite terms. Apogee is the farthest point in the orbit of a planet around another body. It can also be considered to mean “highest.” The perigee occurs when the planetary orbit is closest to that body. Perigee is less commonly defined as “lowest.”  Are the tides lower when the moon is at its apogee in its orbit around the earth? Be sure to see Mars tonight; it is at its perigee with respect to the earth.

Auspicious, Propitious: Auspicious indicates that things are favorable for some future event. It carries with it the suggestion of something important. Propitious describes favorable conditions at this point in time. The shaman declared all signs auspicious for the success of tomorrow’s hunt. Tonight’s new moon was propitious for the air drop of supplies the rebels so badly needed.

Biannual, Biennial: A biannual sale occurs twice a year, or semi-annually. A biennial plant flowers every other year. Hollyhocks are biennial flowers that can be planted biannually for early and late bloom.

Burglary, Robbery: Breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime like theft is termed a burglary. In a robbery the thief directly takes another’s property by force or threat of force. A neighbor reported a probable burglary in progress when she saw a door ajar in the empty house next door. The masked man robbed the couple of their money, jewelry, and credit cards.

Complement, Compliment: An item chosen to complete, augment or accompany something will complement that item. A compliment is an expression or act of praise, courtesy or respect. I complimented the hostess on her choice of complementary sauces for the rack of lamb.

Cement, Concrete: Cement is a powdery ingredient used with water and sand to make concrete. He needed six bags of cement to mix for the concrete sidewalk.

Disinterest, Indifferent:  Disinterest implies having no self-interest in something. Indifferent implies having no care for something at all. The petitioners agreed that only a disinterested arbitrator would be allowed to facilitate the settlement. As I do not ride, I am indifferent to your choice of saddle for the gymkhana.

Emergency, Crisis: While both are serious situations, emergencies must be dealt with urgently. Crises are grave situations indicating a turning point on which everything may depend. The assignation of Archduke Ferdinand created a crisis that led to World War I. The evacuation of British forces at Dunkirk in World War II was an emergency.

Exiguous, Exigent: Exiguous means scant or meager. Exigent is an adjective indicating some urgency or demand for action. The extremely exiguous state of the homeless family created an exigent response at the shelter.

Gaff, Gaffe: A gaff is fishing apparatus. Gaffe is an error. He realized his gaffe when he handed me the net instead of the gaff to hook the grouper.

Flammable, Inflammable: Flammable items are easily ignited and are capable of burning rapidly. Inflammable means exactly the same thing. The prefix “in” does not mean “not.” It means “in flame.”  If something is not easily ignited it is non-flammable. Parents should avoid purchasing both flammable and inflammable sleepwear for their children.

Hanged, Hung: Pictures are hung; people are hanged. ‘Nuf said.

Hellenic, Hellenist: The Hellenic period covers Greek history and culture before the conquests of Alexander the Great. Thereafter the period is properly referred to as Hellenistic. The urn dates from the Hellenic period approximately 550 BCE. His poetry was written in 149 CE and is a fine example of Hellenistic letters.

Infer, Imply:  Infer means to reach a conclusion based on evidence, reason or deduction when drawing conclusions that are not explicit. Imply refers to understanding something based on implication without being stated outright. The jury inferred the defendant’s guilt after hearing all the evidence. The scowl on the lawyer’s face implied he was unhappy with their decision.

Invent, Discover: One can discover something that was hidden but a person invents things that did not exist before. Wilhelm Roentgen discovered x-rays. The slinky and the telegraph were invented by clever individuals.

Jewel, Gem: A jewel can be a precious stone, a precious stone in an ornament of some kind, or a precious stone used in a watch or other precision instrument. A gem is a cut precious stone or an engraved precious stone. That is a ten jeweled timepiece you’re wearing. The marquis cut diamond gem shone brilliantly.

Lie, Lay, Lie: 1) Lie means to speak falsely. Lie, Lied, Lied.  2) Lay means to place something. It requires a direct object. Lay, Laid, Laid. 3) Lie means to recline or rest horizontally. It does not take a direct object. Lie, Lay, Lain. As he lie (3) on the couch, John lied (1) when he said that he laid (2) the book on the shelf.

Libel, Slander: While both are the defamation of another libel is written, published or broadcast by official media. Slander is oral defamation answerable in a civil court. Libel would be tried in a criminal court. The explorer’s slanderous accusations did not convince his partner to retract his potentially libelous description of what happened in his book about their expedition.

Loath, Loathe:  One who is reluctant is described as loath. To feel intense hatred or dislike for someone or something is to loathe it. John was loath to leave his driver’s license with the librarian. No matter how hard I try I simply loathe asparagus.

Majority, Plurality: A majority consists of any amount over 50%. A plurality is the highest of three or more candidates when none received a majority. Alice won a majority of votes with 60% choosing her for mayor. Theo’s plurality of 34% was enough to earn him a spot in the run-off election for alderman of the Fourth Ward.

Percent, Percentage: Percent is used with a specific number. Use percentage when no number is specified. Marie scored 86% on her math test. What percentage of the corn crop is being sold for ethanol?

Politician, Statesman: These words carry different connotations. Politician can be used disparaging, implying scheming for one’s own ends. Statesman is never used disparagingly. It implies wisdom and foresight in one dedicated to the interests of his country or party. George Marshall was a statesman; Joseph McCarthy a politician.

Recant, Retract: To deny one’s words or to go back on something one said is to recant one’s words. Retract one’s statement is to withdraw it so that the situation remains as it was before your statement. Howard recanted his promise to keep silent when questioned by the authorities. The newspaper retracted its endorsement of the incumbent and blew the race for governor wide open.

Solecism, Solipsism: A solecism is an error or mistake. It can apply to mistakes in grammar, syntax, manners, or etiquette. Solipsism is the belief that the only truth one can be sure of is that one exists, all else is speculation. Eating artichokes while wearing white gloves is a solecism but it is solipsistic to think no one else is in the dining room to see you do it. 

Soufflé, Mousse: A mousse is a light, sweet pudding made with cream, beaten whole eggs, and gelatin that is served cold. A soufflé is a puffy, light, and savory baked dish made from beaten egg whites and containing fish, cheese, etc. that is usually served warm. A dessert of chocolate mousse followed the main course of salmon soufflé.

Unconsciously, subconsciously: When one acts unconsciously, they do something without realizing that they are doing it. A subconscious act is one performed without full knowledge of why it is done. I must have been unconscious when I put the cat in the refrigerator. He subconsciously cracked his knuckles despite his promise to be very quiet.

There's Hope For This Country Yet

I had a great day yesterday.  I worked the reference desk at the public library and my faith in the future has been renewed.  A young woman, probably a freshman at the college across the street, came in looking for information on how to plan and operate a literacy program for children.  I suggested several books that might help her. While we talked, the young lady expressed her doubts as to whether or not she should become a teacher. "It is just an idea I had about something I' like to do but I don't know if I can." She was trying so hard to find the right materials and get ideas.  I told her not to worry because she would bring her own creativity into solving her problem.  The fact that she was here on a long holiday weekend and diligently researching a variety of ideas demonstrated that she really cared. I said that I was certain she would find a way.  Keep your fingers crossed; there's a really good teacher in the making working her way through to a school near you in a few years!

As if this wasn't enough later in the afternoon a young boy, about 11, came in with his dad. The boy had already read a biography of Chief Black Hawk and was here for more books on the Black Hawk War.  I lead the boy and his dad to the 973s,  where we found the books on his topic. I explained that this was the U. S. History section and that it was basically arranged chronologically.  The young man was so excited to find his topic.  His dad responded positively and encouraged his interest. As they were leaving, the boy found some books on the history of Du Page County in the 977s.  When I left them to return to the reference desk they were eagerly discussing these books and what they might learn.  

I don't often see such enthusiasm in youngsters today.  This was true interest and desire to know, not a school assignment. The interaction between dad and son was so nurturing. This is what I hoped to see when I decided to become a librarian.  It was a wonderful day.  Thank you young teacher-to-be, avid young boy who is building a wonderful life through reading, and the dad willing to give up a part of his holiday weekend to foster the gift of curiosity within his son.

i before e

Mnemosyne, the ancient Greek Titaness, is the goddess of memory, sleep, and dreams. She was the daughter of Uranus and Gaea. Mnemosyne and Zeus were the parents of the nine Muses. Thus she became the mother of inspiration.

The word, mnemonics, is derived from her name; it is the study of methods to aid remembering. Samuel Johnson wrote, “The true art of memory is the art of attention,” and the Greek word for memory also means mindfulness. Paying attention is sine qua non to memory. But inattention may also be a factor in the process. Allowing the mind to unconsciously absorb bits and pieces that will become the fabric of memory is equally necessary. One also needs to include Mnemosyne’s other responsibilities—sleep and dreams. These are the states when “unlearning” and re-organization occur. Too often the work of sleep is overlooked when memory is considered. It is an important factor.

There are myriad methods and techniques to assist memory. These comprise the study of mnemonics. Various techniques can be employed. Rhyming is simple yet extremely effective. Some examples include:
> i before e, except before c or when sounded as “a” in neighbor or weigh (spelling, beware exceptions);
> Slander is said; Libel, pencil lead (law);
> Click it or Ticket (reminds us to fasten our seat belt);
> Thirty days has September, April, June and November. All the rest have 31 except for February which has 28 and in leap year 29 (rhyme scheme deficient but a good way to recall the days in a month);
> Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning – red sky at night is sailor’s delight (weather); and
> Left is loose, right is tight (turning a screw).

Acronyms aid memory. >  KISS, stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid reminding a speaker to be clear, brief.
> To assess a stroke Think FAST: is Face drooping on one side; can victim lift both Arms; is victim’s Speech slurred, confused or stopped; Time is critical, call 9-1-1.
> HOMES reminds one of the names of the Great Lakes.
> Have you met Mr. Roy. G. Biv? He’ll help you with the colors of the rainbow from longest to shortest wave lengths.
> The order of operation in mathematics is learned by remembering PEMDAS—parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition and, finally, subtraction. One extremely clever junior high school teacher had the class act the order out, ala the Village People’s YMCA song, adding left to right where appropriate.

Singing a rhyme and physically acting out are useful techniques, especially with younger people. If you wish to remember what to do with your clocks at time change, act this out with body memory: Spring Forward, Fall Back. How many of us learned our ABCs singing the song? I still cannot spell the word “encyclopedia” without singing the accompanying melody. Have you ever hear the periodic table elements being sung in a patter song from The Pirates of Penzance!

Letter mapping, known as first letter mnemonics, is a frequently used technique that fosters memorization and help in spelling.
> To spell RHYTHM, think Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move; A Rat In The House Might Eat The Ice Cream spells arithmetic.
> My Very Energetic Mother Just Served Us Nachos places the planets in our solar system in order from the sun.
> "Apple Pies are round" yields the formula for the area of a circle; whilst the number of feet in a mile can be expressed as 5 TOMATOES = 5280.
And while we’re on the topic of food, how about the taxonomic classification system:>  King Paul Cried Out For Garlic Soup reminds us of Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.
> The order of operations mentioned above can also be remembered with this phrase: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.

Another form of letter mapping uses the number of letters in a word to aid memory.
> FEED a Cold; STARVE fevers—each have the same number of letters.
> When setting a table, on the LEFT (even number of letters) side place the FORK (4), NAPKIN (6), and bread DISH (4); on the RIGHT (odd number of letters) side place the KNIFE (5), SPOON (5), and GLASS (5).
> To recount the numbers of π remember this: May I have a large container of coffee ready for today. (The number of letters in each word gives you the answer 3.1415926535)
> Want to know the speed of light in meters per second using the same method? We guarantee certainty, clearly referring to this light mnemonic. (299,792,458)

Individual letters are sometimes used to prod one’s memory.
> Stalactites grow from the Ceiling; Stalagmites grow from the ground;
> To correctly spell dessert, remember the two “s” mean something sweet;
> When is it safe to eat oysters? In months with “r” in their name;
> The Tropic of Cancer is in the Northern Hemisphere;
> The harder the stem, the hotter the water.
> Use alphabetic proximity to learn which remedies work on bee and wasp stings: Ammonia for a Bee sting and Vinegar for Wasps.

I am certain the reader knows dozens of others, or variations on the above. Make up your own. I often use association to remember phone numbers. For example, the final four digits in this number, area code 537-543-1316 might remind me of the dates of someone’s birthday or of a year when something memorable happened. The middle three are simply one down in order and use simple subtraction as a reminder. The area code numbers are all prime numbers with first and middle number sets beginning with 5, both having a 3 in the second and third spot. To get the number "7" just add 4 + 3. It's not as complicated as it sounds.

Two areas of memory not often discussed are habit and use of the sense of smell. If you ALWAYS do something it helps the memory. For example, if you make a habit of ALWAYS unplugging the coffee maker when you pour your last morning cup you won’t need to remember whether or not you unplugged the pot while driving to work. If you ALWAYS put your keys in the same place, you won’t need to search the house for them. Habit has saved my bacon several times.

Some research points to the coupling of smells with memory. It would be interesting to try using this sensory mnemonic: When trying to memorize a passage or something for work or school, have an orange or spice nearby to smell while working on the passage. Use the same stimulus each time you rehearse your passage. Then use the memory of that smell to rehearse further. When you really need to recall the memory, its association with that certain smell might make the task easier. Give it a try. We have more than one sense. Why not try Smell and/or Touch? Sing and Move--whatever helps. Take your inspiration wherever you find it.

A Postal Service Proposal--Minus the "P" Word

Today’s news brought notification that the U. S. Postal Service (USPS) reports losses of $5.7 BILLION for the first 7 months of 2011.^a  Reduction in the number of delivery days is planned soon.  The Postal Service blames much of its deficit on the Congressional mandate to pre-fund pension and disability benefits. The Postal Service explains that this overpayment is funded, not by tax dollars, but by rate payers who undoubtedly pass on higher costs to those who use their products and services:  read “tax-payers.”

Officials seek to have this mandate recinded, using the savings to fund postal workers’ health care benefits.  Legislation introduced by Senators Susan Collins and Tom Carper to eliminate this requirement and forbid no-bid contractual arrangements with retired postal workers was noted in a Wall Street Journal ^b article. The WSJ  reported that more than 2000 postal workers, age 70 and over, receive workers’ compensation at 75% of their salary—tax free—instead of less costly retirement benefits.

The USPS has been bleeding dollars for decades.  In 1990 the difference between income and expenses was ($835,054,000), partly reflecting the loss of tax dollar funding. In 2000 USPS made a profit of $1,548,000,000.  In 2007 losses reached ($5.1 Billion); ($2.8 Billion) in 2008; ($3.8 Billion) in 2009; and ($8,374,000,000) in 2010.  How can they operate that way?

Post offices have been closed, nearly 2000 fewer since 1990. The delivery process relies heavily on labor-saving automation. A FY2002 report in the Postal Reporter^c reveals that 94.5% of letters were distributed using automated equipment in that year. “Letter mail productivity in processing plants improved nearly 50% from 1993-2001. Production in time devoted to sorting allowed the Postal Service to reduce the number of city delivery routes by 4100 from 1995-2001, while simultaneously absorbing about a 4% increase in the number of delivery points.”

[I can personally attest to the reduction of delivery routes. We lost our reliable 10:35 am delivery by the same mail carrier for over 25 years. Now our mail is delivered any time after 4:30 pm by a different person each day. It is not uncommon to receive our mail—often our neighbor’s mail—after 6 pm.  The mis-delivery record is 8:20 p.m.!]

Use of the U. S. mail is on the decline because of the Internet. Pieces of Mail Handled numbers have fallen since 2001, yet the Pieces Handled per Employee ratio has continued to rise every decade, up 11% between 2000 and 2010, thus validating the Postal Service’s investment in automation.  Mechanization began in the 1950s. Zip codes were introduced in the mid-1960s. Zip plus 4 began in 1983. Each innovation was made possible by the introduction of a variety of Optical Character Recognition capabilities. Multiple Optical Character Readers (MLOCRs) read the entire address and spray an 11 digit barcode (the zip +4 + the last two digits of the delivery address) onto the envelope and sort materials at a rate of 9 per second. Images that cannot be read automatically are sent to Remote Encoding Centers (REC) to create a bar code.  In 2003, there were 11,000 part-time, non USPS employees, processing 6 billion images at 20 REC Centers.  The Postal Reporter states that in 2003, “Barcoded letter mail can now be sorted at speeds of up to 34,650 letters per hour on sorters requiring 4 people to operate.” Automation makes it possible to face, read, code, sort, and put in walking order today’s mail quickly and accurately.  Yet the USPS reports record deficits.

A National Journal Daily article^d quotes James Miller of the Postal Service Board of Governors, “The system is biased in favor of labor and against management.” The American Postal Workers’ Union is one of the country’s largest labor unions. While the newest labor agreement freezes some salaries, the latest agreement raises the salaries of more than 200,000 employees. Increased workers’ health insurance contributions do provide a savings of $3.8 billion. The National Journal Daily quotes California Congressman Darrell Issa “We have deep concern that some of the provisions of the contract might in fact be the wrong direction toward less flexibility, less ability to trim the work force, and less ability to make the kind of investments for the future that we need to make.” 

Payscale.com^e reports that the average (carrier) postal worker’s salary range is between $37,214 and $58,859 in the Midwest. At least 60% of the workers have 10 years or more experience.  The USPS is the second largest employer in the country.^f Union membership guarantees employment security and vigorously protects habitual “light duties” and “disabled” workers. The previously mentioned no-bid contract system of retirees being rehired at 75%, tax free games the system.

[Our assigned mail carrier has been off work and on “disability” for the better part of two years, non-consecutively. Apparently she is a bit "accident prone." It delights me no end to learn that one of our erstwhile mail carriers is being handsomely rewarded for continuously talking on the phone, rudely interrupted only the necessity of placing  junk mail in my box. Perhaps I should apologize to her?]

What is my Swiftian “Modest Proposal”?  It is NOT to privatize the Postal Service. Privatization causes Democratic masses to swoon while Republican businessmen salivate.  What possible advantages might accrue if the USPS as we know it today were to be dissolved? However can the universality and privacy of mail delivery be maintained if services escape the incompetent Postal Service? It is a little known fact that the USPS tried to make a grab for email in the 1980s—the good old days of telnet and ftp.^g   Fortunately that benefit did not ensue for the USPS which already received the benefit of monopoly, partial immunity from competition, no tax payment requirements, and federal taxpayer dollars paid into the postal infrastructure for more than 200 years, through 1982 to be exact.

Privatization has already been employed by the Postal Service. The 2003 Postal Report stated that, “Research and Development efforts were moved out of the Postal Service and to the companies that would ultimately become the original equipment manufacturers.” In the 1980s conversions to newer Optical capabilities, “The new approach sought out multiple suppliers in a competitive environment.” In the past decade the Postal Service has reached agreements with delivery services like FedEx to cooperate in the delivery of parcels. Private contractors have maintained service in the very profitable rural delivery routes for years. Part-time, non-postal employees work at REC sites. These incursions into the private sector have worked well.

I seek a different solution.  Postal services should be franchised. The NEW USPS would be the Franchisor. Revocable franchises will be licensed in accordance with postal legal protections. Businesses, small and large, would compete for delivery and handling licenses at the local (probably large section or all of an MSA area), regional, national and/or international levels. Networked levels would provide for a regulated continuity of service. Small business would be given incentives for local job creation. Franchisees would pay taxes. Franchisee fees would include the right to use postal automation equipment, the rights and responsibilities pursuant to   protecting the privacy and integrity of the mail, and access to the institutional infrastructure appropriate to the level of service level. Royalties would be paid annually. Franchises can be terminated for failure to meet strictly defined performance standards. Ingenuity and creativity will be encouraged.

 

The Franchisor will retain its postal “trademarks” and the exclusive right to print postage stamps. It may need to retain some autonomy over equipment like MLOCRs, leasing time to franchise providers.  Economies of Scale can be shared with franchisee. The Franchisor will provide regularly scheduled training, access to technology, affordable facility insurance, and expert assistance. It will set minimum days of service requirements and enforce uniformity in privacy standards, services, and equipment. Enforcement of standards and operational oversight will be the responsibility of the Franchisor. Reasonable rights of petition and review would protect franchisees.

Franchisees will create competitive structures whereby consumers contract for mail delivery while maintaining choice in dispatching services. Franchisees will retain the right to innovate within the parameters of service standards set by the Franchisor. End user fee structures can be set by franchisee and may be contractually varied, e.g. some may opt for daily delivery while others choose fewer delivery days; others may wish to save money by picking up mail at the point of service. Franchise agreements must run for a reasonable amount of time but can be rescinded if performance falls below certain expectations.

Why would Revocable Postal Service Franchises work?  The legal force of the USPS would be maintained, ensuring privacy and universality. Licensing would be competitive but various levels would be statutorily networked to insure continuity and conformity of services. Franchises would be independently owned and operated. Innovation, especially in electronic delivery, will be encouraged and rewarded. Hours of operation can be tailored to the convenience of users. Private sector franchisees can choose which type of mail it will handle, or contract to deliver all types—letters, flats, and parcels. Different organizations can choose to operate within areas of various complexities—local, regional, national, or international.

Postal employees will use their experience as a positive attribute. They can be given preferences in franchisee hiring for a limited time.  Their termination from the USPS would result in the conversion of their retirement benefits into 401Ks, thus awarding them autonomy in controlling their futures. 

 

The USPS can divest itself of nearly all physical property.  Instead of applying the cumbersome process of right of first refusal from a long list of federal and state organizations, the real estate can be put up for sale in a timely manner, returning tax revenue to the community. The USPS, relieved of all disability, pension, and health care financial burdens responsible for today’s deficits will be able to pay its own way.  What would emerge is a lean, focused Expert Organization with regulatory powers. Royalties and licensing fees will cover much of its administrative costs, relieving taxpayers and end-users of punitive expense. Research and Development would benefit from new customer bases and challenges. Consumers would receive better service. What’s not to like?

Your comments are welcome. I do not expect that this conversion would be easy or quick. I do think it’s worth a try.  Sources consulted include:  a) “Postal Service Delivers Red Ink” Daily Herald 6August2011, p.3.1; b) “The USPS Needs Fairer Pension Rules, Not a Bailout” (Anon) Wall Street Journal 19May2011 p16; c) “Distribution Technology in the Postal Service: Past, Present and Future” Thomas Day, USPS Vice-President, Engineering. (circa 2003) www.postalreporter.com/usps/dist_tech.htm; d) “Postal Service is Latest Battleground for Public Unions and Government” Ben Terris, National Journal Daily, PM Update 5April2011; e) Payscale.com “Salary for Employer: U.S. Postal Service (USPS) 15July2011, www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer=U.S._Postal_Service_(USPS)/Salary; g) “Competition Policy and Comparative Governance of State-Owned enterprises” D. Daniel Sokol, Brigham Young University Law Review 2009.6 p.1753 ProQuest Document ID: 194366995; and, finally,  some statistical and technology information is from the Historian of the Postal History section of the USPS website, www.usps.gov .

  

Land of the Free

Happy 235^th Birthday, America!  It is surprising to realize that the Bicentennial was more than a third century ago.  The country had a great party, sans Twitter™, Facebook™, and smart phones.  The songs and stories of our nation’s history were heard throughout the land.  I recall our family trip to Boston where we walked the Freedom Trail, threw tea into Boston Harbor, and learned about the hardships of the Mayflower settlers at Plimouth Plantation. Our daughter won the local library’s writing contest with her recollections of the trip.  For a prize she received a copy of Caddy Woodlawn.

This morning I heard a lovely rendition of “America, the Beautiful.”  When was the last time I heard that?  Truthfully I can’t remember. The local classical music station, WFMT, played America’s music all morning:  “O! Susannah!”, “Grand Canyon Suite”, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”, Aaron Copland's "Old American Songs"...   Do children still learn the wonderful songs of our country’s history in schools so driven by diversity and egalitarianism? I’m fairly certain that Woody Guthrie songs, many of which I dearly love to hear, are still on the ‘approved list’ because of the author’s life of protest and ‘oppression’.  Unfortunately, many of Stephen Foster’s songs are banned by the same folks who wish to sanitize Mark Twain.  Sorry, folks; history is history. It is not the polemic of today’s social scientist.

“All men are created equal” does not mean all men’s outcomes are created equal only that some standard of fairness should prevail. Nor did it mean that all human qualities are equally valuable which was the patent folly of Marxism.  [Incidentally, our forefathers really meant, white men are created equal—not slaves, and certainly not women!] 

What has become of America’s dream of a republican form government that is representative; where the rights of the minority are protected by the majority?  I seriously doubt that today’s governance is representative of anyone lacking political or financial clout, anyone expecting comity and compromise, anyone without an agenda.  Tyranny of the minority predominates.  No wonder we seldom hear the songs and stories of our great history, warts and all.  The Levelers (and that's the LCD Levelers, lowest common denominator) are too set on contorting that history to suit agendas unrepresentative of the majority,  creating a country never intended by the signers of our Declaration of Independence.  Yes, the word is “Independence,” with liberty and justice for minority and majority alike.

Tonight, while the fireworks brighten the night, give some thought to where it all went wrong and how we can correct our direction.

Adieu Erudition

A modern librarian’s graduate degree generally includes the words “Information Science.” Librarians are trained to have a solid understanding of “information”—how it is created, whether or not the creators are reliable, what formats are appropriate to the subject field, how information is organized, its ‘shelf life’, where information can be located, and the means by which it can be disseminated. Traditionally libraries have been charged with the collection, organization, preservation and transmission of information by means dictated by the end user. Librarians are taught to critically evaluate information; they develop evaluation criteria like objectivity, currency, accuracy, and authoritativeness.

Paradoxically, with the exception of subject specialists in academic and research libraries, librarians don’t need to understand informational content in any depth. They just need to know how to get at it. My experiences in public libraries have sent me searching for the chemical components of a class of drugs, the chief elements of Italianate landscaping, the name of the organization that houses the Campbell Collection and all the Rose Bowl winning teams since 1902… The hunting has been great fun!

Today, the hunt is far more democratic yet unexpectedly more difficult and, potentially, more dangerous. The universality of Internet connectedness, coupled with a cyber-glut of information, blurs distinctions within the Information Hierarchy. It becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish—data, information, knowledge, opinion, belief; all are equivalent. Understanding is social consensus; Wisdom whatever is currently trending. While the e-verse drowns in data, librarians struggle to keep it reliable.

Is that reliability valued today? Everyone can and does “Google” for answers to diverse questions. Information is quickly “Binged” to mobile devises and “Twitted” in a frenzy of egalitarianism. Knowledge has become the creature of a social moment; information a commodity driven by expediency, bottom lines, and ‘push.’ Certainly today’s intellectual junk food has its place. If you are hungry and looking for a Chinese restaurant in a strange city, texting GOOGLE® for the location of the nearest one is far better than researching the history of Asian cuisine and customs! People want their information to be easy, hip, and quick. Any results that satisfy those criteria are “good enough,” no need to go further.

Good Enough information works in the short run, but it is not knowledge. Critical judgment is short circuited by ever shrinking attention spans. Context is lost in expediency. Consensus may be fine for trivial and transitory situations, but a steady diet of factoid tidbits can lead to poor intellectual nutrition. One’s sense of a well-balanced diet of facts and principles degrades when the mind is put on the back burner of opinion too often. Expediency blunts the appetite for better fare. One forgets how to plan, prepare, and serve a fine meal.

Formerly information was defined as knowledge attained through study or communication by authoritative persons; today it consists of topical facts or data supplied by any agent. A knowledgeable person was thoroughly conversant with a subject, having gathered diverse, complementary, and supplementary information into a corpus of facts; today, knowledge is downgraded to a general awareness of ideas or principles. Understanding required skilled discernment and comprehension; Encarta defines it as “somebody’s interpretation of something or a belief or opinion based on an interpretation or inference of something.” As for wisdom, we won’t go there.

As a librarian and a traditionalist I find today’s ubiquitous buffet of information without context or depth to be troubling. Today’s typical information seeker knows everything and understands nothing. We live in an age where access to data is incredibly lavish. This is good. Unfortunately plenty has made the mind careless, or should I say, care less. The fundamental substructures of knowledge are crumbling. The recipe for True Understanding must be preserved. I fear tomorrow may have no room or regard for the cordon bleu.

Data is the roux of our chef d’oeuvre. It must be intelligently organized and carefully tended before it becomes Information. Before qualifying as knowledge, Information must be seasoned with similar and contradictory facts. Related sources must be checked. Confirmation of the truth or correctness of data must be determined; critical judgment utilized to strain away impurities. Thus clarified, Knowledge becomes the principal ingredient of our entrée. Refinement follows. The pièce de résistance, Understanding, comes from years of hard work, practice, and devotion to excellence. The Wise cook knows how to tailor the menu for the user, what to take away and how to garnish the presentation.

It takes work and time. Fewer and fewer are willing to develop the recipe of True Understanding. Vive le connoisseur.

Bardolatry, the Quiz

It’s that time of year again; Shakespeare’s birthday on little cat’s feet attends. I have chosen a number of quotes from Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets, choosing the exceptionally lovely, including some most often quoted, incorporating a few of my favorites. Can you name the play from which the following quotes are taken? Give yourself extra points for naming the speaker. If you can place the quote in the correct act, scene, and line you are a) a Shakespearean actor of renown, b) an academic who teaches the works of the mighty bard, or c) you’re using the same sources that I have used. Dame Fortune be thy friend.



1. Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.

2. For there was never yet a philosopher

    That could endure a toothache patiently,

3. Cowards die many times before their deaths;

    The valiant never taste of death but once.

4. For ‘tis the mind that makes the body rich.

5. Things without all remedy

    Should be without regard: what’s done is done.

6. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my

    reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and

    what remains is bestial.

7. We are such stuff

    As dreams are made on, and our little life

    Is rounded with a sleep.

8. When to the sessions of sweet silent thought

    I summon up remembrance of things past,

    I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,

    And with old woes new wail my dear time’s waste:

9. A friend i’ the court is better than a penny in purse.

10. O, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness

     through another man’s eyes!

11. The moon, like to a silver bow

      New-bent in heaven.

12. Those wounds heal ill that men do give themselves.

13. The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.

     An evil soul producing holy witness

     Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,

     A goodly apple rotten at the heart:

     O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

14. Experience is by industry achieved

     And perfected by the swift course of time.

15. Slander,

     Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue

     Outvenoms all the worms of Nile, whose breath

     Rides on the posting winds and doth belie

     All corners of the world.

16. Let Hercules himself do what he may,

     The cat will mew and dog will have his day.

17. Silence is the perfectest herald of joy: I were but little

     happy, if I could say how much.

18. Who steals my purse steals trash; ‘tis something, nothing;

     ‘Twas mine, ‘tis his, and has been slave to thousands;

     But he that filches from me my good name

     Robs me of that which not enriches him

     And makes me poor indeed.

19. And do as adversaries do in law,

     Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.

20. They say, best men are moulded out of faults:

     And, for the most, become much more the better,

     For being a little bad.

21. Every good servant does not all commands.

22. He that dies pays all debts.

23. Neither a borrower nor a lender be;

     For loan oft loses both itself and friend,

     And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.

     This above all: to thine own self be true,

     And it must follow, as the night the day,

     Thou canst not then be false to any man.

24. There is a tide in the affairs of men,

     Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;

     Omitted, all the voyage of their life

     Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

25. We, ignorant of ourselves,

     Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers

     Deny us for our good; so find we profit

     By losing of our prayers.



Zounds that was fun! Each time I read Shakespeare there is something new to admire. I hope you enjoyed the quotes. Answers follow.

1. King Henry VI Part II – III.i.53 (Earl of Suffolk)

2. Much Ado About Nothing – V.i.35-36 (Leonato)

3. Julius Caesar – II.ii.32-33 (Caesar)

4. The Taming of the Shrew – IV.iii.174 (Petruchio)

5. Macbeth – III.ii.11-12 (Lady Macbeth)

6. Othello – II.iii.262-264 (Cassio)

7. The Tempest – IV.i.156-158 (Prospero)

8. Sonnet XXX – first four lines

9. King Henry IV Part II – V.i.33 (Shallow)

10. As You Like It – V.ii.47-48 (Orlando)

11. A Midsummer Night’s Dream – I.i.9-10 (Hippolyta) A marvelous simile!

12. Troilus and Cressida – III.iii.229 (Patroclus)

13. The Merchant of Venice – I.iii.99-103 (Antonio)

14. The Two Gentlemen of Verona – I.iii.22-23 (Antonio)

15. Cymbeline – III.iv.35-39 (Pisanio)

16. Hamlet – V.i.314-315 (Hamlet)

17. Much Ado About Nothing – II.i.316-317 (Claudio)

18. Othello – III.iii.157-161 (Iago)

19. The Taming of the Shrew – I.ii.278-279 (Hortensio)

20. Measure for Measure – V.i.444-446 (Mariana)

21. Cymbeline – IV.i.6 (Posthumus)

22. The Tempest – III.ii.140 (Stephano)

23. Hamlet – I.iii.75-80 (Polonius)

24. Julius Caesar – IV.iii.218-221 (Brutus)

25. Antony and Cleopatra – II.i.5-8 (Menecrates)



Happy Birthday, Will.

Quiz Time! Commonalities

Below you will find several groups of words or phrases. The members of each group have something in common. Can you determine the commonality? Enjoy, and maybe learn—I did.



1. Tango, Delta, Papa, Lima.

2. Nassau, Mulligan, Tennis, Checkmate.

3. Gordon Ashe, Anthony Morton, Michael Halliday, Norman Deane.

4. Hawthorn, Peach, Strawberry, Jujube

5. Silurian, Permian, Ordovician, Devonian.

6. Polynices, Tydeus of Calydon, Hippomendon, Amphiaraus.

7. Viminal, Caelian, Quirinal, Aventine.

8. Observer, Optimist, Peacemaker, Performer.

9. Phyllite, Schist, Slate, Gneiss.

10. Asparagus, Aloe, Leek, Trillium.

11. Sawm, Zakah, Shahadah, Salah.

12. Niccolo Paganini, Moliere, Agatha Christie, Vincent Van Gogh.

13. Iguazu, Helena, Fincha, Mardalsfossen.

14. Pat Sullivan, Matt Leinart, Doak Walker, Reggie Bush.

15. Windsor, Grand Isle, Essex, Lamloille.

16. Locusts, Murrain, Lice, Darkness.

17. Euterpe, Thalia, Calliope, Polyhymnia.

18. Chet, Vaisakh, Jeth, Harh.



Answers: 1) Members of the radio phonetic alphabet used to eliminate ambiguity in communication; T, D, P, and L specifically.

2) These sporting words are derived from foreign climes as described in Chapter 13 of Thou Improper Thou Uncommon Noun by Willard R. Espy. ( Clarkson N. Potter, Inc. 1978) Nassau is a golf term originating from the Bahamian island of Nassau. It refers to a match in which winning the first nine holes awards one point; winning the second nine awards one point; and, winning all 18 holes awards an additional point. Mulligan, another golf term, receives its name from an Irishman who apparently had a “poor memory.” It is a stroke not counted on the score card. The word tennis is derived from (Britannica version) the French tenez, meaning “hold.” Another origin theory attributes the word to the name of the Egyptian town of Tinnis which was known for producing the cloth from which tennis balls were made. Checkmate—yes, chess is considered a sport—evolved from the Persian-Arabic Shah-mat which means “The Shah (king) is dead.”

3) These are some of the 20 different pseudonyms used by mystery/thriller writer John Creasey who wrote over 600 books, including “The Toff” one of my favorite series.



4) All are members of the Rose Family (Rosaceae). See http://theseedsite.co.uk/ for more information.



5) These are Periods, in no particular order, in the Paleozoic Era, dating from 550 - 250 million years ago. The two Periods omitted were Carboniferous and Cambrian.



6) Four of the Seven Against Thebes are named. When Oedipus was banished his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, were to take turns ruling Thebes. Eteocles refused to cede the throne to his brother when the time came for him to do so. Seven champions, including Polynices, joined together to wrest the kingdom from Eteocles. Extra credit if you can name the other three.



7) These are four of the Seven Hills of Rome. The others are Palatine, Capitoline, and Esquiline.



8) These are four of the nine personality types that comprise the Enneagram. This system of Eastern mysticism also includes Leader, Guardian, Romantic, Helper, and Achiever types.



9) The four are types of metamorphic rocks. This type of rock has been changed due to heat and pressure. The other classifications of rocks are igneous and sedimentary.



10) These are members of the Lily Family of plants which generally have bulbs or other storage organs, long thin leaves, six petals, six stamens, and a seed capsule which forms inside the flower. Liliaceae are monocotyledons that have only one seed leaf. See “theseedsite” noted above, because frankly I don’t have a clue.



11) These are four of the five Pillars of Islam, in no particular order. Sawm requires abstaining from bodily pleasures from sunup to sundown during Ramadan. Zakah demands the paying of alms to the poor. Shahadah is the belief in the oneness of Allah (God) and that Muhammad is his Prophet. Salah requires believers to pray five times each day while facing Mecca. The fifth Pillar is Hajj that requires at least one pilgrimage to Mecca for all Muslims capable of doing so.



12) Each of these famous musicians, writers, and artists suffered from epilepsy.



13) All are famous waterfalls. Iguazu is in Argentina & Brazil, Helena is in New Zealand, Fincha is to be found in Ethiopia, and Marddasfossen (North and South) are in Norway.



14) These gentlemen are Heisman Trophy winners: Sullivan in 1971, Leinhart in 2004, Walker in 1948, and Bush in 2005.



15) All are counties in Vermont.



16) Those listed are four of the ten plagues the Lord sent to the Egyptians after they refused Moses’s demand to free the Hebrews from slavery. See Exodus 7 – 11.



17) Euterpe is the Muse of lyrical poetry and flute music. Thalia is the Muse of comedy and pastoral poetry. Calliope is the Muse of epic poetry. Polyhymnia is the Muse of sacred songs. Look up the other five yourself!



18) The four are the first four months of the Sikh calendar year which begins in the western month of March. The rest of the months, in order, are: Sawan, Bhadar, Asu, Katik, Maghar, Poh, Magh, Phalgan.



Now, that wasn’t so bad. How did you do? A score of six or more is really good.

I'm A Changed Woman

For the past several decades I have been trying to overcome my animal instincts while aiming my intellect towards the heavens; but no more. I’ve been bumped from Sagittarius and must now call myself an Ophiuchus, at least when I learn how to spell it. My new zodiac sign has been wedged in between Scorpio and Sagittarius. It is pronounced “oh few cuss.” I’ll wager more than a few Sagittarians are cussing about it.

A thirteenth zodiac sign has entered the picture. It is unclear whether the name is based on the ancient Egyptian responsible for the pyramids, Imhotep, or if the model for this constellation is the ancient Greek mythological healer, Asclepius. A quick search for information on Imhotep tells of his prowess as architect and builder. The Greeks and Romans borrowed him, associating Imhotep with their first "doctor" Asclepius. Obviously something was lost in the translation.

Greek mythology tells of Asclepius killing a snake that was about to attack him. A second snake enters the picture with a magical herb in its mouth. This snake administers the herb to the dead snake thereby reviving it. Dr. Asclepius appropriates the healing herb and brings all sorts of dead Greeks back to life thus rendering Hellenic Health Care insolvent. Asclepius found a way to make mankind immortal and Zeus wasn’t having any of that. Zeus renders Asclepius dead. Because only the Doc knew about the herb there is no one to bring him back to life. His manuscript “Magic Mushrooms and Medicinals They Don’t Want You to Know About” was destroyed in the ensuing lightning bolt. However all was not in vain; Zeus honors Asclepius by placing him in the heavens as a new constellation. [Apparently this is a big honor.] Both Imhotep and Asclepius are pictured holding two snakes. The modern symbol for this is the caduceus, symbol of the medical profession. Ophiuchus means serpent holder in classical Greek.

But what does Ophiuchus mean in 21st century English? Astrologers are divided as to whether or not they will even bother to include the 13th sign. It all depends on whether they follow the western tradition of a tropical zodiac governed by the seasons or the eastern tradition which is based on the constellations. Hey, Asclepius gave his all to become a constellation. The least the lazy louts can do is to acknowledge him. Astronomer [read, actually does the math] Parke Kunkle noticed that some time ago the Earth’s position has shifted relative to the Sun, thus adding to the original 12 zodiac signs denoted by the ancient Babylonians. Apparently all the stargazing newspaper astrologers never actually look at the stars, only at their paychecks.

No definitive characteristics have been assigned to the 13th zodiac sign. Some of the more resourceful stargazers are combining selected traits that belong to Scorpios and Sagittarians. Heretofore I have been idealistic, profound, trustworthy, witty, instinctive, and good at organizing. [Adieu.] As a Sagittarian I have also been described as optimistic , a lover of horses [very funny], strong willed [moi?], outspoken, rebellious, and quick to anger. Those of you who know me well know that the latter qualities are not the character traits of the Sagittarian you have come to know and love…

The new “Me” remains idealistic and intuitive while adding charismatic to the list. Supervisors will find me a joy to work with. [Show of hands from current and past supervisors who secretly feel Zeus had a point.] I will continue to pursue higher education, possibly with a view to starting career as architect. I understand that pyramid building is a lucrative, if somewhat chancy, profession--just ask Bernie Madoff. Or maybe I’ll become a doctor like Asclepius and heal the ills of mankind. New powers granted to the Ophiuchian include the ability to interpret dreams and have premonitions—handy for pyramid building. As an Ophiuchian I will demand absolute freedom to explore new ideas and to become a flamboyant dresser and a poet of some repute. My new life will be dedicated to a lifelong quest for knowledge and wisdom as I reach for the Stars, at least for their investment portfolios.

Of course, all is not perfect when a snake lurks in the grass. Ophiuchicans hate rules and do not suffer fools gladly. Expect sarcasm from my honeyed lips. There was some mention of a poison tongue. As an Ophiuchican I have the right to be arrogant, bored with the mundane, secretive and [spouse skip this part] a poor candidate for monogamous relationships. My “trust issues” prevent me from revealing more.

I am working hard to change from the modest moralist of Sagittarius. The “Real Me” has been a long time coming—approximately 3,000 years. One word of warning, you can totally forget about the snake handling stuff!

Calligraphy As Art

In a recent visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) I visited the Japanese Galleries. There was a calligraphic hanging that depicted the Japanese word for dragon. The character evoked the picture of a dragon in abstract form. About 30 feet away I found a slightly more recent (but by no means modern) hanging that included a painting of a dragon. Its resemblance to the pictogram was remarkable, but the older work concentrated the essence of “dragon” in aesthetic purity.

Such Japanese paintings are derived from Chinese calligraphy. Both are beautiful. I have a print of the Chinese character for “Chaos.” It is both beautiful and arresting. The simplicity and elegance of the character is emphasized by its isolation. Only the “chop” of the artist and a brief meaning of the term, both placed at the bottom on the page, share the creamy purity of the page. I prefer the austerity of a single character over a shared work that includes a nature scene along with a character or short poem.

LACMA provided me with other remarkable examples in the Islamic Art section. Most of the calligraphic examples featured excerpts from the Koran, beautifully rendered. Islamic writing is artistic, fluid, and, yet, highly controlled. I was especially struck by one of the smaller examples that demonstrated a sublime austerity in its intensity. It is said that Islamic calligraphy became so beautiful because the religion forbids the depiction of human form. There were a number of Iranian paintings of people, animals, and flowers however. Perhaps these were older works, not prohibited at the time they were created. It was the calligraphy that captured my imagination.

My interest in seeing more examples of artistic calligraphy led me to GOOGLE. I encourage you to type “calligraphy as art” in the search box of the Images section at the top of the home page. You will be rewarded with all sorts of examples. There was a lovely Hebrew work whose composition of letters for a marriage became a beautiful painting in its own right. There were many examples of Japanese, Chinese, and Islamic works of art.

I discount ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, cave paintings, and runes. The hieroglyphics are too regimented. There is no fire or artistic creativity in their creation. Cave painting figures fail to fulfill my desire for calligraphic pictograms and/or letters. Runes are crude.

European/American sixteenth through the twentieth century penmanship, much of which can be considered beautiful, was focused on communication. Few examples of artistic calligraphy can be credited, in part because western penmanship is not based on pictograms, ideograms, or characters in the oriental sense. John Hancock’s famous signature is lovely, but not quite up to the mark at LACMA. A charming attempt at calligraphic art can be seen in the concrete poem. This type of poetry attempts to take the shape of the topic covered in the poem. GOOGLE’s Images will display several of these. It is different from the masterpieces I’ve seen but—give it credit—the concrete poem is clever and can be attractive to the eye.

Why should one bother to seek out examples of calligraphy as art? They are beautiful. And rare. Calligraphy is a dying art; its modern counterpart, cursive handwriting, is threatened. I read recently that the teaching of cursive is in decline in our schools. ‘Who needs it?’ is the cry to educators who believe this brain/hand skill is no longer necessary in our electronic era. The Palmer method has become anachronistic. Whatever will the graphologists analyze? Keyboards are the way of the future according to the latest thinking. Fluidity, personal style and individual expression give way to a plethora of computer fonts. The parsimony of utility will soon obliterate the lavish, the lovely, and the elegance of art. Oh Brave New World!