The sound of creepy

 

Dan over at Slapinions had a neat entry the other day about the discovery of sound recordings that predate those of Thomas Edison. On my way home from work today, they had a story on NPR about it, and it was fascinating! I won't write about all the details here. To get the scoop, read Dan's entry, or read the brief story on NPR.org (I believe a podcast will also be available). Both entries include a sound file of one of the recordings.

They spoke with the professor who led the research team who found these files (turns out the guy teaches at Indiana University), and I always love hearing people speak of the discovery of something unexpected and exciting. What a rush that has to be. They played a few files, starting with the earliest, which consisted of low-pitched buzzing sounds, and apparently was someone speaking. For someone who studies these things for a living, I realize that it was incredibly exciting to hear these recordings. Personally, I couldn't get over how utterly creepy they sounded. It sounded to me like an alien life form trying to make contact. (Maybe I've watched a few too many horror movies, because that's how it immediately struck me. Too many horror movies?! There IS no such thing as too many horror movies!).

The other file they played (and this is the one on Dan's blog, as well as the one on the NPR site) is of someone singing "Claire de Lune." This one is more recognizable as a human voice, with a hint of the tune. This one creeped me out as well...all I could think of was that this was someone long dead communicating across time. "The Dead Speak! A Voice From Beyond the Grave!" On one level, I was thinking how cool it was, but on another, deeper level, it really gave me the heebie-jeebies. I'm not sure what was so creepy about it to me--it must have reminded me of some movie that had that sound in it and really scared me--and I wouldn't be surprised if I have a creepy dream about it tonight.

I felt a little better when the professor said that as he was first listening to the recordings, it hit him that he was listening to something that was recorded before the American Civil War, and that he felt like a ghost was speaking to him.

So it's not just me!

Tags: NPR, sound recordings

One last word about Sophie's Choice

 

I mentioned yesterday that I finished the book. I wrote a bit on our book club forum about it, and I talked to a couple of friends at work about it, but it was still nagging at me. Here's what I wrote (and if you're planning on reading the book, you should skip this, because there are spoilers ahead):

"They seem to be haunting me a bit today, so I think that means I need to write a little more about their strange relationship. As Mary and I talked about today, it's understandable why Sophie is willing to take abuse from Nathan: she feels she deserves it. She constantly tells Stingo, 'I done such bad things,' and although Stingo tries to convince her, and she admits herself, that normal behavior doesn't apply under such circumstances as the war and the camps, she still feels that obsessive guilt because of her 'choice' and because of her survival.

Nathan...you have to feel a little sorry for him, because as his brother Larry stated, 'The truth is that my brother's quite mad.' (I love that phrase! I think I'm going to start using that, so watch out!) But I can't have much sympathy, because he exacerbates his
schizophrenia with amphetamines and cocaine. I kind of wonder why Larry and his family didn't choose to institutionalize Nathan permanently, but I suppose that when someone exhibits rational behavior part of the time, you want to believe they can manage their condition and live independently.

Since I finished the book, I've been pondering these two. Nathan was in many ways her savior. He recognized how ill she was, and with the help of his brother, returned her to health. But he was also her doom, and with her constant guilt, she easily succumbed to his crazy thoughts of a double suicide. I wonder...if she had not met Nathan, would she have died because of her lingering illnesses? Or would she have struggled on until she found a different type of savior--a decent and kind one--in Stingo? I also find it ironic and tragic that she managed to survive the camps, but was unable to bear the guilt. In the end, the Nazis killed her just as surely as if she'd been sent to the gas chambers. I wonder what the real statistics are for suicide rates among camp survivors? I'd be willing to bet that they're above the norm, especially in the years immediately after the war."

It made me wonder if there have been any studies about suicide rates among camp survivors, and a quick search led me to this paper. http://www.ima.org.il/imaj/ar07mar-21.pdf

I found it interesting reading, if you'd like to take a look. I was surprised that there were so few studies about this. And while I expected a higher rate right after the war, I never even thought about a higher rate among aging survivors.

It's even more horrible that this continues to haunt those that made it through....

 

Tags: Sophie's Choice, the Holocaust

Turkeys on parade

 

 

As promised, here are a few turkey pictures for you. There was a group of about 20 hanging around, and 3 of them were toms who were displaying. It amazes me how big they look when they fluff out their feathers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's all 3 of them doing their thing. I don't get the odd coloring on their heads...red and blue? What the heck? But I think their feathers are gorgeous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guess what?

 

Turkey butt!

 

 

 

That one is my favorite. They were almost posing! It's the Three Musketeers! Or maybe the Three Stooges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Wild turkeys

Studebaker stuff

Ken is involved with a PAC at work, and over the years, we've gotten to go to some great functions as part of his involvement. One year, when AEP was sponsoring the American Cirque du Soleil tour, we got to see them in Chicago, with third row seats and a chance to hang out in the VIP tent. It was the first time either of us had seen Cirque du Soleil, and I remember sitting there with our mouths hanging open, and looking at each other like, "Did they just DO that?!" It was so cool. Another fun one was dinner at the College Football Hall of Fame, and we got to roam the museum and do things like try to kick field goals.

This year, Ken is in charge of planning the annual holiday dinner, and since I won't be working soon, he says that means that I get to do a lot of it. Plan a party but not have to foot the bill?! The angels are smiling upon me! Nah, there's a budget, but it's a fairly generous one, so it should be a fun thing to plan. Ken's brilliant idea was to have it at the Studebaker National Museum, and all of the other officers of the PAC agree, so Studebaker it is. I'm thrilled, because I have yet to see the new facility, which I hear is excellent. In looking at their web site, it seems that they set the dining tables among some of the cars--how cool is that? I also think we're going to go with catering from LaSalle Grill, which is the really nice restaurant we ate at a while back. There is much planning to be done, but I think it will be fun!

 

That's a Studebaker Lark. Studebaker is a big deal around here, because it was the largest employer in the area for many years. They started out as wagon makers, and made their fortune with big government contracts during the Civil War. They prospered for years, but a combination of competition and mismanagement sealed their fate. When they shut down back in the '60's, it was a huge blow to the city and the local economy, and people still talk about their memories of when "Studebaker closed its doors." The city continued to prosper without Studebaker, but it was pretty rough on some folks, because there were no provisions for pensions. This resulted in federal legislation protecting employees and their pensions, a dubious honor attributed to Studebaker. Amazingly enough, Studebaker is still remembered with fondness around here, I suppose because of the connection that so many have to the company. I have plenty of my own connections.

 

This is a Studebaker Champion, or the "Champ" as it was affectionately called. My Dad had a Champ when he got home from the war, and still talks about what a great little car it was. (I don't think he had a convertible, though.) My family has a link with Studebaker, because over the years, my grandfather, several uncles, and an aunt all worked for the company. Aunt June was one of the last Studebaker employees, because she did payroll, so they kept her on till the end. For years when I was a kid, we had Studebaker stationery to doodle on (And wouldn't I give a bundle to have some of that stationery now--it's collectible!), and we bought some of the office furniture.

Cousin Shane and I have managed to accumulate a few collectibles over the years (I have a Studebaker hood ornament hanging on the wall in the basement), and when Ken and I got married, it was at Tippecanoe Place, the mansion of one of the Studebaker brothers, Clement. It was converted to a restaurant, and it's one of the nicest in town. When you go in, you walk through a larger foyer, and you can dine or have events in various rooms. We've had dinner in the main family room, and we were married in George and Ada Studebaker's room. It's a great place with high ceilings, gorgeous woodwork, and plenty of history; it's fun to ride upstairs in the tiny little elevator, and fascinating to look out over the ballroom where you can imagine the receptions and parties that took place there.

So I'm thrilled to be planning a party at the Museum, and I think it will be really neat. Everyone loves classic cars, and I feel confident that we'll have an event that is nothing less than fabulous!

 

Tags: Studebaker National Museum

My next-to-last official day off

Although I had the day off, this is my first entry. Shocking, I know! By now, I'm usually on #3 or #4.

Kind of an odd day. I feel a little discombobulated. Ken is working a night shift tonight, so he stayed up late last night, and tried to sleep in today. I left to run some errands while he was sleeping, but when I got back, he was already up. He just wasn't sleeping well, so I hope he does okay tonight. It could be a long 12 or so hours for him!

I also spent much of the day lost in Book Land. I was finishing Sophie's Choice, our book club selection for March. I love getting lost in a book, but this is a rather bleak and disturbing one in which to get lost. I'm still experiencing some lingering aftereffects, but I think I'm starting to shake it off. I'm pleased to see that our next book, Under The Net by Iris Murdoch, is apparently "a comic novel about work and love, wealth and fame." I think we (those of us in our book club) all need fare that's a little lighter, perhaps even a celebration of spring, after SC!

One of my errands this morning was a stocking-up trip to Target. Man, is Target fun, or what? Love those clearance racks! I got a skort to wear on the golf course, and a long-sleeved T-shirt in the girls' section for next to nothing. I also had coupons for things like fabric softener and laundry detergent (which also happened to be on sale), and we were down to a mere 12 rolls of Quilted Northern, so that has been taken care of. I got a new little notebook to write stuff in, and the new REM and B-52's CD's (haven't listened to them yet, because of my intense reading). I also got my wok, not a huge one, but one I hope will do well. I'll have to plan for Chinese soon! I replaced our cast iron grill skillet, too, with a better one. I like having a little grill skillet for inside, especially in the winter--don't those grill lines on a chicken breast make you think of warmer weather?--but no matter how I tried, the one I had just wouldn't season. I oiled it up, put it in a low oven for an hour...nothing. The last time I used it, Ken was trying to clean it afterwards and agreed that it was a lost cause. I got a Calphalon one, so it had better perform well!

 

I also got these babies, which I love--and apparently Sheeba does, too. Sock monkey slippers! Agh, I love them! I finally had to retire the penguin slippers (RIP, guys) that Ken got me a couple of years ago. They were great, but they were getting kind of loose and stretched out, and I had tripped over them a couple of times recently. "Woman dies in tragic fall. Tripped by nose on penguin slippers." Not a headline I want out there, and not a way I want to go.

It was such a pretty day today. Although it was chilly when I went out this morning, the sun was shining, and it eventually warmed up to the mid-50's. Ken and I noticed that the lawn is starting to green up a bit, and I also noticed the other day that the finches are starting to yellow up! A good sign!

Since it was so nice and sunny, I was hoping that the crocuses might be doing well. They were, and here are a few pictures.

One of the mini-crocuses, which are really hanging in there! It's amazing what cool weather they can handle.

 

 

 

 

Another one of the mini-crocuses, this one yellow (obviously). I think it just looks so happy and cheery.

Crocuses are such tough little buggers. I was looking at the bed in front of the house, because I knew I'd planted more there last year. There are several inches of leaves on the beds--I consider them nature's mulch here at Nutwood--and I saw a little mound of leaves where the crocuses were pushing up! I pulled the leaves off--some of the crocuses pierced right through the leaves--and they should be able to get a little more sun now.

 

 

 

 

Another mini, this one with a little friend on one of its petals. 

I also remembered the spot where I had planted some windflowers, so I cleared that spot of leaves, and sure enough, there they were. They aren't as strong as crocuses, so this should help them thrive and grow.

 

 

 

 

I walked around the front yard a bit, and I could see where the tulips and daffodils are started to pop up. I think the hyacinths should be up soon, too. Brace yourselves, because I'll be putting up a few pictures as they start blooming! I'll try not to go too crazy with flower pictures.

Oh, and one more picture. (I do have more pictures, of some of the turkeys I saw the other day, but this is enough for today!) Ken and I were surprised to see 6 deer out at the pond at mid-day. Usually we see them at dusk, but they were ambling through, stopping for a drink.

 

Reckoning Day

 

 

And this is a call to arms
This is a call to hands
This is a call to the voices and the minds
Of the people in every land

 

            "Reckoning Day"

                      The Rainmakers

 

A story online, and on the nightly news, made me gasp in horror, and almost feel sick to my stomach.

"Seventeen of the nation's 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50 percent, with the lowest graduation rates reported in Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland, according to a report released Tuesday. In Detroit's public schools, 24.9 percent of the students graduated from high school, while 30.5 percent graduated in Indianapolis Public Schools and 34.1 percent received diplomas in the Cleveland Municipal City School District. Nationally, about 70 percent of U.S. students graduate on time with a regular diploma and about 1.2 million students drop out annually."

How is this acceptable? Can anyone explain? Good God, this is disastrous. Colin Powell and his wife have started a new alliance to address the issue, which Powell calls "a catastrophe." That could be an understatement. I was especially shocked to see that Indianapolis graduates only 30.5% of its students. That's abominable. And 70% nationally? Still not even close to acceptable. Powell's group, America's Promise Alliance, wants to address the full scope of the problem, including the family, the school, and the community. I applaud this effort, and I hope he and his group can raise awareness about such an incredibly poor situation. While I do believe that many schools in small districts and less affluent areas are underfunded, and that teachers are woefully underpaid, we tend to think that pouring money mindlessly into schools will magically fix the problems. There are more fundamental problems going on here, and we can't just blame the schools. The family plays a huge part, as does the community, and I'm glad to hear that they are realizing that we can't foist the entire responsibility off on our schools.

I'm amazed at some of the attitudes I encounter. I've heard people say that their kids don't need to get some kind of "fancy" degree. Ain't nothing "fancy" about it, it's pretty much a necessity in today's world and competitive economy. Ken and I have actually been ridiculed for "putting on airs" because we have college degrees. Are you kidding me? (Of course, such an ignorant remark only serves to prove the ignorance of those who issue it.) I understand that not everyone was able to attend college. (I like the idea of student loans for college being forgiven for community or national service. That's a win-win situation.) There's nothing wrong with that, and there are many who have lucrative jobs and successful lives and careers without one. But anyone with kids now simply must recognize that their kids have to get a higher education. It's a competitive world, and America is not keeping up. We are beginning to lag seriously behind in science and technology, and this can't continue. There needs to be a serious paradigm shift, and the first step is to lose that narrow-minded and short-sighted attitude that a college degree doesn't matter, especially for our country's children. In the current atmosphere and global economy, it matters a lot. Our future may depend upon it.

 

Tags: Colin Powell, America's Promise Alliance, high school graduation rates, college degrees

A bun in the oven

Nope, not me! April Fool's!

But not for my pal Jillian who told us this afternoon that she and her husband are having a baby. Awww! I got all verklempt! I had a feeling, just because of a conversation we had a while back, and from some of the things she's been saying lately. I'm just so pleased for her and Neal! She is one of the nicest and most decent people I know, and I couldn't be happier for them. Here's to ya, Jillian and Neal!

I had a nice thing happen at the gas station, too. A guy at the nearby pump hollered over, "How do you like your Mustang?" I said, "Love it!" He came over and checked it out, and we had a nice little conversation about the redesign, etc. It's always fun to talk to a fellow Mustang enthusiast.

Then when I got home, Ken had gone out briefly today (he's working nights tomorrow, so is working from home today), and had gotten us some scratch-off lottery tickets. A fun treat for us, because we stopped doing that a while back. We just don't like the odds. Well, tonight, we managed a major windfall, a tidy profit of...TWO DOLLARS! Woohooo! Cha-ching! Actually, any time we come out ahead is fun.

The icing on the cake is that I've got a day off tomorrow! Ken will be sleeping part of the day, so in order to not disturb him, I'll run out to the store for a while and do a little shopping for some essentials, like the new B-52's and REM CD's. ;)