Journal Entries
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Hip Replacement
Posted Mar 1, 2006
At my tender age (55) I'm having a hip replaced. 
It's been giving trouble for a long while, but now I can barely walk anymore. Last October I was put on 'the list'. Which means I am on Britain's National Health Service's waiting list for the operation. They are telling me that my turn will come up in April. It is my understanding that a 6 month wait is a big improvement on the 2 year wait that people had to suffer not long ago. The NHS has demanded that waiting times for the patients be cut. The hospitals and doctors have complied by eliminating patients actually seeing their consultants (surgeons) until just before the operation takes place. All the preliminary examinations, x-rays, and the diagnosis are now handled by lesser beings... in my case it was a physical therapist. Also, worst cases are now moved forward.
Mustn't complain, though.. the operation will be 'free'... if you forget that we've paid for it all through taxes. 
Right now I'm waiting for a phone call from the hospital to set up my appointment for my 'evaluation'. This will be a thorough examination to make sure I am fit for surgery. This is also when I will finally meet my surgeon, and learn exactly what to expect will happen to me. Many people have told me how wonderful a hip replacement is, and how good it will be to be out of pain. I'm looking forward to that; but not the operation.
Discuss this Journal entry [1]
Latest reply: Mar 1, 2006
Market Trends in the World of Art
Posted Jun 9, 2004
According to the owner of a successful art gallery in a nearby town, the people who purchase paintings are between 20 and 50 years of age. The sorts of paintings they are buying answer three criteria;
• They are colourful
• They are panoramic vistas
• They induce a feeling of tranquillity to the viewer
The gallery owner went on to say, ‘Of course, right now no one is buying art.’
This is all rather disheartening to those of us who do not paint wide tranquil colourful vistas. We are faced with the dilemma, do we change our style to suit the marketplace and hope to cash in on the trend, or do we stick with painting what we love? Of course, there is a third option. We could try a vista or two and see, meanwhile plugging along with the old familiar.
The world of art and artists has long been driven forward by trends and styles. It is not difficult to assess whether historically the trends came from within the artistic community, or were driven by the marketplace. The impressionists, who were ridiculed by the critics of the time, developed their style out of the community of artists who loved the philosophy of creating light and movement rather than accurate representation. Moving on right through the development of Modern Art, all the subsequent schools; fauvism, expressionism, art nouveau, art deco, cubism, surrealism, and abstract art all came from artists who felt the need to express themselves using that particular style. The marketplace has always followed the trends. Usually it has done so a great deal too late for the artist to still be alive to cash in on his good fortune. There is always the exception so we will forgive Picasso who lived to a great ripe old age and was lavished with wealth for his work.
This is not to say that some artists don’t gain fame and instant wealth. Some do, but isn’t that becoming trendy rather than setting a trend?
People of working age who buy artwork that helps to relieve the stress of their lives are easy to comprehend. They aren’t the only buyers out there, though. To be fair, the gallery in question had many different styles of art on display in many different mediums. The owner explained that he chose the artists because he liked their work. There you have it… the appreciation of art is subjective entirely. Well, we all knew that already didn’t we? So, go ahead and try your hand at a colourful, yet entirely restful and stress free vistas. Then go back to doing what you love. The marketplace will find you eventually. Just not right now, of course.
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Latest reply: Jun 9, 2004
Continuing news on the Hubble Space Telescope
Posted Feb 8, 2004
An article published in the NY Times gives hope that the Hubble Space Telescope may be allowed to continue its missions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/07/science/07HUBB.html?ei=1&en=db5ea26b27193147&ex=1077149669&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1076235876-tiBZg72W9K13ZX4gcX7Lbw
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Latest reply: Feb 8, 2004
Hubble Update
Posted Feb 4, 2004
The battle over the future of the Hubble Space Telescope has taken a turn for the better, at least from the perspective of the observatory's supporters. The conflict began on January 16th, when NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe shocked astronomers worldwide by announcing that there will be no more Space Shuttle missions to maintain and upgrade the orbiting telescope. Five days later Senator Barbara Mikulski, whose home state of Maryland hosts both the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and the Space Telescope Science Institute, sent a letter to O'Keefe asking him to reconsider his decision. In the week thereafter, her request was bolstered by a huge outcry from professional astronomers, backyard stargazers, and the public — Apparently bowing to all this pressure, O'Keefe has now agreed to reconsider his decision to abandon Hubble.
In a letter sent to Mikulski, the NASA administrator wrote, "I have asked Admiral Hal Gehman, Chair of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, to review the matter and offer his unique perspective. [He] has agreed to undertake this review and offer his view in a thoughtful and expeditious manner."
Mikulski hailed O'Keefe's response. "When someone is told they need major surgery, any prudent person would get a second opinion," she said in a statement released to reporters earlier today. "That's what I told Administrator O'Keefe and that's what he has agreed to do. Hubble has made so many extraordinary contributions to science, exploration, and discovery," she continued. " We cannot prematurely terminate the last servicing mission without a rigorous review."
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Latest reply: Feb 4, 2004
Farewell Hubble
Posted Jan 19, 2004
Scientists say Hubble captured the "best ever" image of Mars
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It also:
Gave us the age of the Universe
Provided proof of black holes
Gave first views of star birth
Showed how stars die
Caught spectacular views of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's collision with Jupiter
Confirmed that quasars are galactic nuclei powered by black holes
Gathered evidence that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating
Although it was scheduled for retirement in 2010, the announcement that there would be no more shuttle missions to maintain the telescope's batteries and gyroscopes came as a shock. The Hubble has been a success story. It will fail between 2007 and 2008, and its orbit will decay by 2011. The next generation space telescope is due to replace the Hubble in 2011.
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Latest reply: Jan 19, 2004
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mari-rae
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