Tuesday's flower

Sign of the Times > space alien tries to fly Skywest flight

Breaking News: A Skywest Airlines flight headed from Helena, Montana to Salt Lake City had to be diverted to Idaho Falls Sunday night. Idaho Falls Police say an unruly passenger was banging on the cockpit door forcing pilots to make the unscheduled landing just before 6:00 p.m. Sgt. Phil Grimes says other passengers on the flight helped restrain Matthew Kleindorfer, 32, who told flight attendants he was a space alien and wanted to fly the plane.

Slate > SCOTUS closes main entrance to public, a shame IMO

Beginning tomorrow, the Supreme Court announced today, the public will no longer be able to enter the Court’s building by the main entrance at the top of the steps on the front.  Citing security concerns, the Court said two new entrances beside the steps will now be the public’s main point of entry into the courthouse.  The decision provoked what amounted to dissents from two Justices — Stephen G. Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (although they did not call their remarks a formal dissent).  The two Justices, while acknowledging the security issues, noted that no other supreme court in the world has shut down its front entrance.

The Court’s statement on the issue is here, and the Breyer-Ginsburg statement “concerning” the decision is here.  That statement was entered on the Court’s Journal for today’s proceedings.  The entry reflects who was on the bench today, not the list of Justices taking part in the decision about the entrance; that presumably was decided by the full Court.

Monday's flower

Sunday's flower

Saturday's Flower

Whew > Size really doesn't matter

[snip] bigger brains by themselves don't necessarily mean greater intelligence or more complex behavior — for instance, cats show more smarts than cows despite having a feline brain 10 times smaller than a bovine brain. What might really matter is that humans and some other species have bigger brains for their body size. [/snip]  Read the entire scary article here.

Friday's Flower

Reflecting on a spring day

News about television news

Either this will make your mouth water or you are a garden gnome.

Yesterday, starting at noon, I had a delicious lunch: a selection of soft cheeses, prosciutto, olivatta, olive oil soaked baby artichokes, grated parmigiana, a fresh baguette & bottle of cold white wine (I drank the WHOLE thing), rounded out by hot coffee & chocolate covered biscotti (pronounced bishcot).

Is your mouth watering? Mine is.

But the most delicious ingredient of all was that I had this lunch in a spotless, sun filled room in a homey triplex on the lower west side, with two sweethearts whom I hadn't seen in much too long. Our hostess: Mary Ellen Silver - nay Schaefer & my date, Ms. Shirley Weiss. Just the three of us (and a King Charles Spaniel named Toby).

I was lucky to have both these ladies (and I use that word advisdely) in my professional & personal life at a time when working in a network news department was fun, honorable, rewarding & extremely satisfying. We were part of a larger team who labored together at ABC News, on a variety of programs, over a number of years. 

It was patient work. It took many hours. It was detail oriented. And never in my career while working with them did I ever doubt that these women weren't doing their absolute best at all times, no matter the circumstances, to complete whatever task was before them. And they knew they could count on me for the same. Because of that faith in each other we were a very close knit group. Yes, there were a few others in the group but, honestly, there were really only a very few. 

Together we worked on hundreds of hours of television, programs like Good Morning America, 20/20, a host of pilots & specials & probably our least favorite project, the ill conceived 'The Last Word'. 

Like many teams in life, this one broke up for selfish reasons. One of the members just had to move on -- me.  And afraid to face the 'music', I did it suddenly & surgically: I just didn't show up, didn't communicate, didn't attend a group party. 

I hid out, an emotional thief in the night. And it has been that way for the better part of 30 years.

Oh yes, I would run into someone from the 'old days' every once in a while but not in the same context as this lunch where we could sit and talk exhaustively.

Rather than focus on how our form of work had changed for the worse over the years, we focused on the good times, discussing what was important then & now & how you can never go back. And we were a bit saddened that newcomers in the business couldn't enjoy what we had enjoyed because the news business model had changed. No longer was it a public responsibility; it became a profit center. 

I'm sure some of our collective memories were romanticized, as all such memories are, but I can say with absolutely certainty that those were very special days, a magical time, a rarified atmosphere of excellence & mutual respect. And I was able to share that with these two ladies. 

About four o'clock we hugged & kissed so long. 

I was and am one lucky guy.

Canned Unicorn Meat > an excellent source of sparkles

Ted Koppel > News Entitlement

"I think we're living through the — I hope — the final stages of what I like to call the age of entitlement...We now feel entitled not to have the news that we need but the news that we want. We want to listen to news that comes from those who already sympathize with our particular point of view. We don't want the facts any more."

And for some interesting comments on this subject click here

Maybe We'll Leave Ridgefield

Eleven years ago Carol & I moved to Ridgefield CT after seventeen years in beautiful Pound Ridge to live in a quaint New England town. This was going to be our last stop. While Ridgefield remains a wonderful town, it's beginning to remind me of what happened to us in New York City.

Many, many years ago we bought into an historic brownstone on an historic street on NYC's upper west side. It was in the 70's between Central Park West & Columbus Avenue. We had a neighborhood watch. People cleaned up after their dogs (before there was a law). Mr. Tiffany had once owned the brownstone across the street & you could see his study, complete with a back lit Tiffany glass ceiling; it was that kind of neighborhood. And it had a mix of all kinds: from folks who had moved there 30-40 years prior to newcomers, renters as well as owners. The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards was a neighbor. So was a well known heart surgeon.

Columbus Avenue was replete with tiny mom & pop shops: dry cleaning, fruit & veggie stands, cheese & hardware stores & the corner newspaper shop where Morris (who owned it) was the only person who cashed personal checks, knew everyone and had everyone's preferred paper ready for them in the morning. There were old styled soda shops with stools and counters, ordinary coffee and lots of mirrors, chrome & vinyl. Richard Ruskay of Ruskay's served reasonably priced, delicious meals to couples in old fashioned booths.

Then the neighborhood got gentrified. Fancy coffee houses, those kitschy little shops sprung up like so many weeds, Morris had to move out to make way for Putamayo and the rest is history. The sidewalks became so crowded with strangers that stepping into the gutter was sometimes necessary just to get by.

The neighborhood had been devoured and so we moved away, having lost the very quality we had bought into, worked hard to preserve and loved so much.

My Little Stella Bella

Death and Taxes > Wallstats by Jess Bachman

Anyone interested in information, typography or graphics should look in on this effort. At the bottom of the graphic, click to take it full screen. Mouse over to the left & click on any area of interest. It's a fascinating piece of work.  Tell me what you think. 

Viacom Muzzles Freedom of Speech > 'South Park' creators respond to censors

Trey Parker and Matt Stone have issued a statement about Comedy Central censoring Wednesday night's "South Park" that suggested that this the first time in the history of the show that the duo haven't been able to "stand behind" an episode. "In the 14 years we've been doing South Park we have never done a show that we couldn't stand behind. We delivered our version of the show to Comedy Central and they made a determination to alter the episode. It wasn't some meta-joke on our part. Comedy Central added the bleeps. In fact, Kyle's customary final speech was about intimidation and fear. It didn't mention Muhammad at all but it got bleeped too. We'll be back next week with a whole new show about something completely different and we'll see what happens to it."

Someone Stole His Picnic Basket

Click on the title for a seriously funny series of photos of Joe Biden courtesy of the Huffington Post

Comment > MSNBC pulls plug on 'anger show'

We may not be the 'angriest' country in the world but we emit our share, frequently influenced by our national leaders. Media carries the message aloft; think multi-viral. 

Anger is one of many legitimate emotional responses that one can have.  But contrived or un-controlled anger taken to an extreme -- a word that needs definition -- can be dangerous for a simple reason. 

Like love & other emotions, anger works on a different plane from logic like two parallel roads that never intersect. This makes for imbalance. 

So to have a rational discussion about anger is a good thing in my book.
Exploration & discussion can dissipate anger. Operating just below the boiling point is a lot better than boiling over. 

I never saw the show but it makes no difference. I'm only sorry that what is perceived as our current 'national' anger couldn't be discussed publicly. It would have been a good exercise.  

I applaud DD & MSNBC for trying. It was a good idea. I hope someone else picks up on the idea & runs with it. 

Ridgefield Press > Outlook for CT bats bleak

Written by Dennis Schain 
Tuesday, 20 April 2010 09:28

Bats with White Nose Syndrome.

A syndrome that attacks hibernating bats continues to kill them at alarming rates both in Connecticut and in expanding areas range-wide, which will lead to a dramatic reduction in the size of the state’s bat population this summer, according to wildlife experts at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

DEP Commissioner Amey Marrella said today, “On the eve of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the outbreak of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) that we are seeing serves as a reminder of the fragility of our planet and the interconnectedness of all living things. The massive die-off of the bat population that it is causing is also likely to have serious impacts on agriculture, forestry and other sectors of our economy.”

Jenny Dickson, DEP Supervising wildlife biologist, said, “White Nose Syndrome continues to have a catastrophic effect on bats. Just three short years ago, one of Connecticut’s largest hibernacula had over 3,300 wintering bats. This year fewer than a dozen remain — all but one showed active signs of WNS. The outlook for their survival is grim.”

The DEP says visits to other winter hibernacula — caves and mines where bats hibernate — revealed similar mortality rates. Another large site showed a 95% decline in bat numbers since a winter count in 2007. The only positive note from the 2010 surveys was that only three of the remaining bats at that site showed visible signs of the fungus.

Ms. Dickson also noted that WNS continues to take a devastating toll in the nearby states of New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont, where a significant percentage of the state’s bat population hibernates for the winter.

Ms. Dickson said, “WNS continues to kill some of our most common, backyard bats including the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and the tricolored bat (pipistrelle; Perimyotis subflavus), but has spread to other species, too.”

“When you put together the massive die-offs in our hibernacula and the continued spread of WNS in the northern hemisphere, the news is not good,” said Ms. Dickson. “Bats live long lives and reproduce in small numbers — so there is no doubt that WNS will have a major impact on our bat population and on the biodiversity and ecosystems throughout the US and Canada for decades to come.”

Ms. Dickson also noted that the presence of WNS in bats has spread geographically at an alarming rate. After first being discovered in caves in New York in the winter of 2006-2007, it is now in two Canadian Provinces and 11 states from New Hampshire south to Tennessee.

Last week, the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF) in Quebec announced that WNS has been formally identified in the Outaouais region of Canada. Reports of abnormal behavior by suspect bats have also been made in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region in recent weeks. The MRNF is monitoring the situation with assistance from the Centre québécois sur la santé des animaux sauvages and the United States Geological Survey’s (U.S.G.S.) National Wildlife Health Center.

Bats with WNS have a white fungus on their noses and occasionally other parts of their bodies that is only visible during hibernation. The identity of the fungus responsible for this white bloom, Geomyces destructans, was confirmed late last year. The fungus has been genetically linked to a European fungus. There are strong indications that this fungus is a non-native, invasive species has had a deadly impact on native populations of bats. The exact role of the fungus in bat deaths is still unclear, but it is well-documented to alter normal sleeping patterns of hibernating bats causing them to use all of their stored fat reserves before winter ends. There is no indication that people are susceptible to the fungus.

Ms. Dickson said the DEP is asking the public to report any known summer bat colonies by calling (860) 675-8130 or via email to Wildlife Technician, Christina Kocer at christina.kocer@ct.gov . As bats continue to return to maternity sites and summer roosts, the agency would like to hear from people about changes in the number of bats they are seeing or even about bat colonies that once existed and do not return to their previous homes.

Ms. Dickson said DEP is working with other affected states and provinces, federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S.G.S. and several research universities to learn more about WNS, possible control methods, and to develop conservation strategies to protect remaining bat populations and hopefully prevent the continued spread of this fatal fungus.

Additional information about WNS — and its impact in various states — can be found at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html

For all you silent film buffs

Movie Review > The Ghost Writer

"The Ghost Writer", the most recent Roman Polanski effort is a good old fashioned thriller in the style of "Chinatown" or, better yet, a political thriller like "The Parallax View". 

This two hour film didn't seem too long or at all contrived. The characters & situations flow easily as we follow the Ewan McGregor character -- the writer hired to 'ghost' a former U.K. Prime Minister's memoirs -- as he painstakenly unravels an elegant mystery that revolves around the fine art of modern espionage. 

The prime minister character, fashioned after Tony Blair, is played ably by Pierce Brosnan. His accomplished political wife, played by Olivia Williams, floats in and out of the thriller, while putting up with her husband's personal assistant (wink, wink) played by a buttoned up Kim Cattrall. The dialog is snappy most of the way through and there are few legitimate laughs to be had as a bonus. 

In England, a political advesary accuses the P.M. of a war crime while he is visiting America which sets off a media frenzy (and the mystery) that everyone here in the U.S. should already be familiar with: remote trucks, shouting reporters, microphones, angry mobs of protesters, helicopters & the rest. You know.... it could easily have been coverage of Paris Hilton going to jail or Lindsay Lohan coming out of jail or tracking Michael Jackson on his way to and from court, only more serious, presumably. Here, at least, there is some real suspense.

Anyway, I walked out of the theatre feeling like I hadn't wasted a minute of my time except on the ads & trailers preceeding the film. If I were a critic I'd be tempted to give "The Ghost Writer" five stars but would probably back off a bit & give it 4 or 4.5. I had a great date. Even the popcorn was tasty. 

A Classic of Magnificent Proportion

From BreakingNews.com

12:35pm 4/19 Large plume indicates second Icelandic volcano, Hekla, has begun erupting.

01:53pm 4/19 Update: Iceland weather service confirms it was looking at wrong volcano; Hekla is not erupting.

Living With An Old Dog

Truman @ 14.... Well the old boy is still a bit unsteady on his feet & his head is still slightly tilted after his bout with old age vestibular syndrome but he runs, goes up & down stairs, etc. at an age appropriate speed. Truman was extremely agile, athletic & afraid of nothing & he still exhibits those traits however it's obvious it would be easy to knock him off his feet. 

And he still remembers some of his duties, i.e. closing the door behind himself when he comes in & other such things. He still follows commands when I talk quietly into his right ear & follow up w hand signals but he frequently has senior moments which might be mini episodes of some kind where he stops where ever -- could be facing a wall or in the middle of the yard -- & sometimes has to be distracted from his reverie by hand clapping or a slight touch. Given enough time he seems to come out of these 'episodes' by himself so I'm not too worried.

OTOH, his sense of timing remains impeccable. He still wakes me to go out when needed, gets me up @ 5:30 every morning no matter what, reminds me when it's treat time or dinner time. And he still shows some sexual interest in Stella. Of course she just brushes him off like an errant fly.

I must say that I love living with this old gentleman. It's such a privilege for me to be able to give back to him. It's not that he's very demanding but, whatever his needs, I'm prepared to help him as best as I can for the remainder of his life. It's payback time & that sense of obligation is over powering in me. How could it not be so?

At last report, all his organs & vitals are in great shape so, except for the natural aging process, there doesn't seem to be anything special on the horizon.

Did I have my first out-of-body-experience?

I was attending a town meeting relating to this year's budget & taking notes for a possible article later in the week. As I looked up from my Samsung Netbook I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. That may not be the most accurate phrase to use but I don't know what else to call it. (I'm open to suggestions)

Across from me, a woman was scanning the local newspaper & this was the page she was on.

All I could see is what I've highlighted. There was nothing else on the page except my father's obit.  I wondered if she was reading it. Was she merely scanning it  or had she completely ignored it? How could she do that? 

She seemed focused so possibly she was reading the obit and, if so, what would she think?  Was she impressed with his accomplishments?  Did she wonder about him?

I wondered if she going to look in my direction.  Silently: "I hope she doesn't say anything to me." It's so awkward to thank people who offer their  pro forma condolences without an ounce of sincerity or care.  OTOH, I guess they don't have to say anything. This woman did not say anything. And I wondered, if indeed she hadn't read any of the obits on that page ,how whole lives could be so casually & completely ignored.

On Sundays I generally watch all the public affairs shows, i.e. ABC's 'This Week', 'Fox News Sunday', NBC's 'Meet The Press', Fareed Zakaria's 'GPS', CNN's 'State of the Union' & 'The Chris Matthews Show'.

I will only refer to one show for reasons that will become obvious in a moment.

Besides interviewing the current news makers, The ABC show also offers political humor, generally from Comedy Central or the late night shows & an 'In Memoriam' section where they offer mini-biographies of interesting people who have died during the week. Then they list the names of all the service people --  along with their ages & home towns -- who were killed in our two current theaters of war.

No matter what I'm doing, bored, multi-tasking, day dreaming...... when the 'In Memoriam' section begins I focus entirely on the television set, listening intently to every mini-biography while staring at the pictures of these people & I silently read every name, age & hometown of those who have lost their lives in war.

The vast majority of the prior group are older, the latter group younger.  When I see a name followed by a II or a III, I think how sad that the line was ended this way.  Of the older group, I consider how much they have contributed to this world that I live in.

I want to pay my respect to all these people -- in both groups -- as best as I can at the moment, under the circumstances.  I feel better having tried.

Did that woman do that for my father. I'll have to wonder.

Three in the afternoon.

I went to Starbuck's for a cup of coffee (no, no, no...'a tall latte, no fat' in SB parlance) & a mallorca but they were out of mallorcas. So I had my latte with a chocolate chip cookie outside, facing the sun, perched on a metal Starbuck's chair.

There I sat, sipped, crumbled & tried to immerse myself in my current paperback mystery. The place was bustling with business so I was frequently distracted by what walked by.

After about 30 minutes, I got into my little, black car, its top down & started driving through the connecting 'mallettes' to avoid the afternoon traffic so I could get home to my Bouvs.

Instead something came over me. And rather than tamp it down, I let it go.

I turned into a big, empty parking lot, maneuvered my car to face the sun which was perpendicular to the parking lanes, turned the engine off, moved my seat waaay back & took out my book to read some more.

The sun was warm, a gentle breeze blew by. Soon I placed the open book on my chest & took a delicious nap right there in the parking lot.

Then I drove home.

Tribute to my Father

Nathan Rifkinson, MD

May 23, 1912 - March 21, 2010

Delivered to those who came to pay their respects

On the occasion of my father's passing, I want to say some things about him &, frankly, it is hard to know where to begin as I have so many mixed emotions.

Yes, he was my father & I knew him better than he thought I did. But I also have to share this father thing with many of you in this room which is a great honor.
 

It is a sad day but I prefer to remember the more interesting things about my father. He was -- to say the least -- a complicated man who presented a number of mixed messages to all of us. And all of us had to get used to these and other contradictions to understand who he really was.

My father was an only child but he grew up amongst a group of cousins. He loved that life with his cousins. They played amongst the push carts in the streets of New York City & they traveled together to the countryside during the summers in a rickety model "A" Ford. They got into fights, had girlfriends and boyfriends, grew up and grew apart. But of that group of cousins, my father was the only one who became a professional.

His cousins knew him as Natie. His wife, his many friends & colleagues knew him as Nathan, He was dad for me, daddy for Stephanie, grandpa to the two young ladies sitting there in the front row & Dr. Rifkinson to some of you.

After working his way through college & medical school, finishing his internships & residency, my father wandered in his early medical years: first in general medicine then in public health, finally as a pathologist at the Bayamon District Hospital.

But the Government of Puerto Rico offered him the biggest opportunity of his life: a three year fellowship to Barnes Hospital in St Louis Missouri, to study Neurosurgery under the great Dr. Sachs, himself a student of Harvey Cushing, the father of modern Neurosurgery. So off he went, me & my mother, too.

When we returned from St. Louis -- by that time I was 5 & Stephanie wasn't....yet... the government   provided us a half a house to live in. The other half was occupied by Doctora Janner, a psychiatrist. The house was situated between the insane asylum & the prison in Rio Piedras, not the most picturesque location but my father was grateful.

I learned to drive down the long entrance to the insane asylum sitting on my father's lap & we had prisoners doing yard work.

In 1950, when the Independentista revolution broke out, much of the traffic from the outlying parts of the island was funneled onto a road that ran directly in front of our house and each car had to be searched for weapons at a road block, manned by very young & nervous National Guardsmen.

Frequently, gunfire would erupt & bullets went flying, some right into our home. No, this was not a Hillary Clinton sniper moment. This was for real & I remember the three of us hunkered down behind a thick cement wall that divided the living room from the dining room.

It was during one of these dangerous moments that the phone rang. There was a patient in need & it was the only time that my mother absolutely forbade her husband to leave the house, although that was his first instinct -- to go see that patient who needed him.

I grew up -- & then Stephanie grew up -- knowing that patients came first. That was my father's primary focus & responsibility.

He was very grateful to Puerto Rico & loved the people. He worked hard for them, for you, & for us. And I think he never forgot that large family of cousins because, through the years, he amassed a huge group of medical students, interns & residents, their spouses & their children, all of whom he considered family.

As a result, many of us in this room today share similar experiences & know that he could be as demanding as any dictator, as devoted as any priest or rabbi, as generous as any philanthropist, as self centered as any super star and still, despite it all, he was a humble man who never forgot his roots, loved to argue and had a theory about absolutely everything.

So all of you here today are part of our family, Stephanie and I know, appreciate & are proud of that fact. Like our father, we will never forget Puerto Rico, what it did for him, what it means in our own lives. We have both traveled the world but we always love coming home. It is after all, home, where we were born and where both our parents remain.

Towards the end of his life, many of you returned the love & respect he had for all of you by taking care of him in so many ways, big & small. Doctors who didn't make house calls, did. The nurses he had worked with for years, the residents he had helped train, all gathered around him when he was hospitalized in the wards he had helped design.

And when he came home, friends and colleagues stopped by to confer, chat, bring little gifts of food, photos & articles. And -- as the news spread -- the phone calls, the endless stream of phone calls, from people all over the world. Invitations to coffee, movies, ice cream, dinner, concerts, holidays filled his last years.

Stephanie & I know our father loved his life here, with and amongst all of you. You gave him a great & rewarding life & he truly appreciated it.

Thank you for demonstrating your love & respect for our father by coming here & sharing this time with us today. After all, in the end, we are all one big Puerto Rican family.

March 23, 2010

San Juan, Puerto Rico

30 minutes in a life

My father is dying. He is 97, comfortable, not in distress nor in pain, slowly slipping away. It could be a matter of days or weeks or maybe even a few months. He is the-little-engine-that-could, known on the streets when he was growing up on the lower east side as 'tough Natie', aka the state college boxing champion -- fly weight division -- circa 1930. 

He lives in Puerto Rico where he has been for more than 60 years & where his wife, my mother, is buried near a scrawny tree in the Jewish part of the cemetery off Route 1, the road to Caguas.

He is well cared for at home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by people who have known him & have cared about him for decades.

Over the past few years, I have flown to P.R. often to visit him, sometimes for weeks at a time, sometimes in emergencies, sometimes just to visit & to push him through the little park that fronts his condominium. During this period, I've had some very personal conversations with him; some about him, some about me, some about our strained relationship.

His decline in mental, as well as physical health, has been gradual but steady over the past two years. Through it all, he has dealt with it in a pretty realistic way. He is a doctor, after all, familiar with death, and says he is not afraid to embrace it when his time comes naturally.

I don't think he believes in an after life as such but sees it more as release of his life's electrical energy back into the universe. He's been quite dignified throughout this time.

The thoughts that cause me to write this are as follows: should I fly to Puerto Rico now & wait until the end comes or should I wait until I get that phone call announcing his passing, then fly down, help with the necessary arrangements, attend the ceremonies & return to Ridgefield, CT where I live. 

Is this issue about the 'show', about him or about me? 

I've never cared much about what other people think, i.e. the 'show'; "See?... his son has been here to see him every day... so nice.... to have been able to say good-bye." 

Since dad basically sleeps all day, is on oxygen constantly, can't move on his own even to feed himself, is easily confused, forgets the last sentence spoken to him and mumbles almost incoherently, it's hard to imagine that it would make much difference to him if I was with him on his last day.....or not.

That leaves me with me. How would I feel if I was down there on a 'death watch'. How would I feel if I got the phone call. I've been thinking about it for a while now.

A few weeks ago, when I was in Puerto Rico, visiting with my father, I went to his apartment at lunch time as this is the time he is most alert. Unable to feed himself, I volunteered to do it.

His eyes were closed & remained so as we moved him into a sitting position & I explained I had food for him. He mumbled something incomprehensible & I told him he would have to help me by opening his mouth, that the food was good & it would make him stronger. He nodded, eyes still closed. 

So I took a bit of food on a spoon and told him to open his mouth wide, into which I deposited what was on the spoon. I waited patiently as he chewed and swallowed. After a number of spoonfuls, I offered him water through a straw & he sucked it in (a good exercise). And so we proceeded this way for the better part of a half hour. When he signaled he had enough, I wiped his face, removed his bib & he nodded off.

After watching him sleep a bit, I kissed his forehead & left, returning to the hotel where I was staying. It was February 25th and I realized it was the same day that my mother had died 15 years previously. What more can I say?

I'm not sad. I'm convinced another visit with my father can't be better than what I've described. I'm content to just hold that memory  close...... and wait.... for that inevitable phone call.

78 mpg.....Oh YES. YES. YES

Peripheral (Old Age) Vestibular Syndrome

click here for article or here for more information

At age 14  Truman is experiencing this now & it is very upsetting to witness.  His head tilts to one side, his eyes dart back & forth like he's watching a tennis match resulting in vertigo, a loss of appetite, a disinterest in  drinking water, an inability to keep his balance, stand or walk properly. If his eyes were moving up & down  (rather than  back & forth) it would be a death knell.

The syndrome is caused by an inflammation of the nerve that runs between  the ear & brain. In Truman's case, it seemed to come on suddenly. One minute he was playing outside, the next minute he was panting in distress.

The prognosis depends on the possible cause: idiopathic (unknown origin), ear infection, brain tumor. It is feasible the first two could resolve themselves, possibly with residuals (head tilt + walking in circles). The third cause is inoperable.

My heart breaks every time I see him in the hospital (2x daily). Today I got him to wag his tail, we traded kisses & he tried his best to stand on his own when I asked him to.

Day 10 -> 02 Mar 10   Today Truman received his 2nd acupuncture session. When he saw me,  he wanted to get up to greet me, needles & all. He is on Tramadol, eating, drinking, peeing & pooping.  His eyes have stopped shifting from side to side but he has a confused look about him.

He can stand by himself if he's on a surface that offers some traction.  Walking is a veeeery slow process w frequent rest stops & he leans to the left against his handler. For his own protection, he is held aloft by a harness but currently he is carrying most of his weight.

The vets feel he is on the right track, recovering from an episode of idiopathic old age vestibular disease. That's good. It could have been much worse.

Most dogs recover; some w residual weakness & head tilt, some enjoy a full recovery. I don't care as long as he is comfortable & not in pain.  Other than this, the vets concur that he is in fine health.

Day 17 -> 09 Mar 10 Truman has been home for less than a week. In that time I don't think he has improved much although he is getting around by himself for the most part.

We spread runners & mats all over the house but he walks around them. He won't even sleep on them, instead preferring the hard wood floor. However, in the last day or so  he  has agreed to lie on his beds scattered around the house & office.

We've decided to rename him "Lurch" (from the Addams Family) because he walks in spurts, i.e. he no longer has his light, agile movements. And he definitely lists to the left. Frequently he pauses, either because he's lost in thought or he's gathering his forces for the next lurching steps.

When stopped & looking at us, his head seems a little straighter but when walking his head tilts left (where else?) so he is prone to walking in circles.

We do not let him out alone, i.e. he is always on a lead just in case he needs help balancing himself.

However, he is compensating & where I can say he has improved is that he now climbs a few steps without much ado & he can get through a body shake w/o falling over. He cleans out his dish with his head twisted & his appetite hasn't been affected.

He refused my help climbing onto the sofa the other day but did it himself & then got off because he couldn't find a comfortable spot for himself. This was good because I got to sit on the sofa.

He manages a three legged piddle with more grace than before & is eating, drinking, peeing & pooping normally.

His personality is pretty much intact, as charmingly demanding & demonstrative as before. He is a little less vocal but definitely makes his wishes known.

He was discharged with Tramadyl (pain med) which is being tapered so we can see what happens & an antibiotic as a precaution against an inner ear infection which could possibly aggravate his situation.

He is noticeably stiff in his hind quarters but that's his arthritis. And he is getting acupuncture & rehabilitation for that. He has legitimate loss of hearing for normal communication but I lean down & yell in his ear when necessary. He still remembers commands.

The vets tell me he may never get over the disease but  will compensate to the point where I might not even notice the difference.

He will never be the graceful & precocious Truman that I once knew but he's still my best pal & I know he has good spirit & a strong, stubborn, independent will which will serve him well. There is no reason to believe that he won't be with us for a while longer.

Record winter storm, Feb 10, 2010, an elegant, four minute video by William Hollinger, Jr.

Puerto Rico NightLife

Caribbean Dreaming

Rm 932 - San Juan, PR

Feb 16, 2010 - Winter Wonderland - Ridgefield

Film Review: "Crazy Heart" w Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell & Robert Duvall

Jeff Bridges was so scuzzy in 'Crazy Heart'. He was so sweaty, so raw, so natural, that you could just about smell him on the screen where he portrays a character named 'Bad Blake' (what he thought of himself), a talented but end-of-career boozy country singer, playing one night stands (in more ways than one) in dingy bars, even in a bowling alley, who falls in love too late in his troubled life.

I don't know if Jeff Bridges will get a best actor Oscar for his performance this year, considering the competition in his category & the politics of such awards, but his performance was exceptional. He seems to get better every time I see him on the screen.

Bridges seem to slip in and out of this kind of role with great ease. Whether this is because he has become one of those exceptional character actors or because it's just so close to his own personality is hard for me to know. John Wayne always played John Wayne -- even in 'True Grit' when he was probably at his best.

In any case, I would definitely recommend spending the $8 on 'Crazy Heart'. It's a touching film with a meaty role for 'Bad' even though the very end was a bit too 'packaged' for me.

Others in the cast include Robert Duvall, Maggie Gyllenhaal & Colin Farrell -- all of whom play convincing roles as they touch the life of "Bad Blake" aka Otis (I forgot his last name).

Happy Valentine's Day.

Canine Weirdness (click)

OMG. Aerial photos taken on 9/11

A wonderful card for my 67th birthday

Valentine's Day for Animal Lovers

Rather than spending Valentine's Day with their partner, one-fifth of adults would prefer to be with their pet, according to a joint global poll by Reuters/Ipsos.

The survey of 24,000 people in 23 countries found 21 percent of adults would rather spend February 14 with their pet than their spouse....

Book Review

The Rum Diary by Hunter S Thompson

Copyright 1998 (long lost novel)

Large Format

204 pages

This is a thinly veiled novel about a young newspaper man, aged 31, from New York City, who decides on an adventure, arrives in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the winter of 1958. 

There he gets a job at the local American rag, thus joining a cast of adventurers, miscreants and journalistic drunks.

Because I was born & grew up in Puerto Rico, it was an enjoyable read for me but if you like Hunter S Thompson, gonzo journalist, you'll like this book anyway. Although labeled a novel, I tend to think otherwise.

There are funny, thoughtful -- as well as -- pathetic scenes with people easily imaginable in the tropics at that time. Now Puerto Rico is an overgrown tourist destination and heavily dependent on U.S. 'foreign' aid.

At one time Hunter Thompson lived on an island off Puerto Rico (he may still).

It is rumored than Johnny Depp bought the film rights to this book. It is a fact that a movie is being made out of it. Depp, as the main character, is a perfect fit.

When the film is released, I will definitely see it.

For Wordmeisters Only

THE WASHINGTON POST'S MENSA INVITATIONAL ONCE AGAIN INVITED READERS TO TAKE ANY WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY, ALTER IT BY ADDING, SUBTRACTING OR CHANGING ONE LETTER & SUPPLY A NEW DEFINITION. 

And the winners are:

1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole.

3. Intaxicaton: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

5. Bozone ( n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high

8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

10. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

11. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

12. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

13.. Glibido: All talk and no action.

14. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

15. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

16. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

17. Caterpallor ( n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

THE WASHINGTON POST HAS ALSO PUBLISHED THE WINNING SUBMISSIONS TO ITS YEARLY CONTEST IN WHICH READERS ARE ASKED TO SUPPLY ALTERNATE MEANINGS FOR COMMON WORDS.

And the winners are:

1. Coffee, n. The person upon whom one coughs.

2. Flabbergasted, adj. Appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.

3. Abdicate, v. To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

4. Esplanade, v. To attempt an explanation while drunk.

5. Willy-nilly, adj. Impotent.

6. Negligent, adj. Absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.

7. Lymph, v. To walk with a lisp.

8. Gargoyle, n. Olive-flavored mouthwash.

9. Flatulence, n. Emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller.

10. Balderdash, n. A rapidly receding hairline.

11. Testicle, n. A humorous question on an exam.

12. Rectitude, n. The formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.

13. Pokemon, n. A Rastafarian proctologist.

14. Oyster, n. A person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.

15. Circumvent, n. An opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.