Iran's Web Spying Aided By Western Technology

Just in case the daily news isn't sobering enough, another assault on liberty everywhere. (Click on the headline for the link.)

Dance to the Music

Cheerful music

Joyful baby

Exuberant dancing

Lightening the heart.

Saturday Morning on the Porch

The cats and I are are enjoying a Saturday morning respite on the porch, listening to the morning chorus. From my perch I wouldn't know that songbirds are endangered. The music continues with all the texture of a Baroque concerto.

At least one of us is fascinated by the visitors feasting at our new feeder. The other two are sleeping in the sun, oblivious to the ever changing scene which would have caused such a stir in their younger years.

As I write, a goldfinch is perched atop the lucite dome. Young cardinals and blue jay are dining next to a beautiful pair of purple finch. Ah, an adult blue jay just showed up, and off they all flew. Teenagers must be the same the world over.

Technology Overload or Oh to be England - Part 1

The truth is I love learning, including learning how to use all that is available to me when I open my computer and say, "Hello, world!" The greater truth is that I miss having the personal time to read, reflect, take walks, write letters, make strawberry jam and any of the other activities which were part of the ebb and flow of life before technology took over.

I have come to despise Facebook after my inital fascination and elation over reconnecting with college friends and folks I taught twenty years ago. Twitter has proven to be a great source of information and an even greater way to communicate with a broader audience, but finding that audience takes more time. Add email, voicemail, text messages, research and I am counting the cost in hours lost. Hours of life. And life is what I experience in England.

In England I find time to walk among the sheep and newborn lambs. Time to sit in a window seat and read. Time to enjoy the deer roaming past my window and the pheasant who pecks and asks to come in. Time to wander in an out of the village shops and talk to my loquacious neighbor. Time for tea in the garden.

In England I have to drive six miles to the village and stand in line at the Cotswold District Council's lone public computer in order to check email. Forget Tuesday. It's Market Day. And Saturday and Sunday. Half day closing on Wednesday, too.

My attitude quickly shifts to "forget my other life". This is real. Wired 24/7 is not living.

American Revolution 200 years later: Give me liberty! Give me England!