What Are You Reading?

Many of our schoolmates have talked about books they have read or are reading today.  Think back to your high school days - what teacher was prompting you to read back then?

Helen Thies - She Loved Her Lit

Perhaps in junior high you read some of the teen mystery books like Nancy Drew, Bobbsey Twins (72 books written by a syndicate between 1904 and 1979), or their ilk.  Or perhaps you read some of those fabulous sports novels, where fair play was more than a favorite term, becoming heroic by invoking the concept of fair play as the cause du jour.  In some of those novels the protagonist learned from the hard work of the Polish kid, whose name ended in "sky," or "ski," that being Polish was not a bad thing, that you could play on the same team, and that the nastiness of the kids at "Northern" or "State" was far greater than the undeserved ethnic disfavor heaped on the Polish kid earlier in the novel.  And there weren't any Polish kids in Northwood anyway, were there?

None of these books was included in the curriculum, outside reading that they were, and not until one encountered American literature as a junior, under the tutelage of Helen Thies, did one become erudite about great American novels.  Or did we?  Certainly we heard about Mark Twain, Emerson, Thoreau and others, but how many of them became part of your reading library - or inspired you to read more?  Perhaps the criticism is unfair, perhaps not.

As sophomores we were treated to an entire quarter of Leonidis Chimbidis reading All's Quiet on the Western Front, no doubt a great novel, but certainly an easy lesson plan for him to prepare just as it meant no homework for the students.  So it was like we were getting cheated on inspiration.

And then this writer discovered, through the Google, that Mr. Chimbidis died at age 73 in 2004, and found his obituary online.

We missed out on something, as you will discover if you click that link and read his obituary.  He was indeed a traveled man.  He never left you with any doubt that he was quite intellectual, but the depth and breadth of his life may surprise you.  It's just that he never seemed like the kind of guy who would come out to the farm and help you unload a wagon load of bales.  We knew him as having worked as a bartender at the Red Llama, as reported by Mike Lien after one of our proms, but his involvement in the development and operation of that and other businesses was never brought to the light of day.

What a shame.  The obituary reports that Leo was a teacher and philosopher in the tradition of those classical scholars of Classical Greece.  We could have learned much from the man,what with his repeatedly investigating the religious and archaeological sites in Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia. . . .

Leo, we hardly knew ye.

What Technology Brings

Logitech Webcam - about $50

A few days ago I was talking with the District Governor of the Wisconsin Lions about a workshop I will present at the March District meeting, and described for him how my brother and I are able to use technology to stay in touch with my Dad.  The next day I was reflecting on the Miniatur Wunderland posted yesterday, and the technological progress it has meant for all of us.  And I realized - it's all the same topic!

The Governor has asked me to write a story in the State Newsletter for our Lions, many of whom are aging, to encourage the use of technology now available.  Reviewing what I wrote, it is probably suitable as a story to post, and challenge each of you who are in need of staying in touch with your aging parents or elders, or even with your children/grandchildren if they are far away.  Here's what I wrote:

Dad in 1939

My dad is 94.

He has had a computer for close to 25 years, and as he has aged we have found ways to use the computer and internet to accomplish a number of things.  In late 2009 we added a webcam, and this past summer we upgraded him to a Mac.

We checked out a few options for video conferencing and finally settled on Logitech Vid software because it is the easiest for him to use.  We added a Dropbox folder for storing and sharing documents, and TeamViewer software so we can control his computer remotely.  My brother, a Mac guy, uses their iChat function.

Dad loves his music, which he plays using iTunes, and, an avid reader his entire life, he has a long list of e-books including several Zane Grey stories that are his favorites.  Using an online photo service we are able to share several photos and videos with him.  He has seen our oldest grandson performing at a jazz concert and now has enjoyed the youngest grandson running the train we set up under our Christmas tree, smoke, whistle, and all.

We are able to make all this happen by doing hookups and software setup when we are on-site, then connecting with him by video conferencing on a regular basis.  When he has problems with the computer or we need to show him something, we connect by way of TeamViewer and I can operate his computer remotely even though he lives miles away.

About three years ago I started helping him with his bank accounts, viewing them online, downloading transactions to Quicken, and providing him reports on a monthly basis.  He lost his right arm 50 years ago and has difficulty writing checks, so doing it for him online is a big help, and I am able to watch his bills and payments for him.

At the end of the month I put all the transaction and balance reports in his Dropbox, check in with him by video conferencing, take over his computer remotely with TeamViewer, and walk through each report with him, line by line.

From time to time I will tell him about the weather outside my window, and can take down the webcam, point it out the window and show him – the wind blowing the trees, rain sweeping across the street, or snow piled up by the snowplow.  When I do this he just giggles – at what he is able to see from so far away, at the marvelous changes in technology, how all of that is "live" and fed through, for him, a phone wire.  Progress.

In times of crisis the video feed is invaluable as a tool to check his mental and/or physical health; my brother, especially, may have a better handle on his needs than my sister who lives but a block away but works in Rochester.  

Dad used to complain about the cost of the phone and internet service, but that doesn’t happen anymore.  He loves the video chat, especially with his great-grandchildren.  And my brother and I are pleased that by way of his computer and the internet we are keeping him “out of the four walls” of his apartment. 

Technology provides so much – if you are willing to step out of your own limitations.  If you choose to do something like this I encourage you to "Keep It Simple Stupid" and let the usage grow as the comfort level increases.  You can set programs to load automatically if the computer is turned on, and set Vid to open simply by pressing the enter key when a call comes in.  

Demonstrate the potential by showing them a video conference you might have with your own children, and let them know they have that same potential.  Be bold.  You won't be sorry.

Miniatur Wunderland

While pondering what to post next, an email arrived from Marilyn Weidler Ulve.  Titled "Miniatur Wunderland", it sparked an immediate reaction:  "Hey, a Christmas scene to include!"  Not really.

The only requirement of this posting is to somehow connect this awesome YouTube video to the NKHS 62 blog, and that will be done primarily by reflecting on the comparative differences of today's technology versus what you saw in the 50s or 60s.  Remember, after all, the spaceshot to the moon in 1969 was handled by a computer no larger than a Radio Shack TRS80, which today would not begin to power even the typical cigarette lighter, probably.  If a person had only paid more attention during math class, right, Merrilee?

(For the record, this writer has every paper published by the Waterloo Courier in the duration of the flight of Apollo 11, from launch to landing.  Just another historian.)

Perhaps you had a train like the one sitting on the bookshelves next to our fireplace.  It is an off brand dating back to about 1952 or so, had little or no machining that would keep it on the track, and an engine that worked 50 years ago but today is best considered a relic, not a functional toy.  At one point it had a headlight and would smoke when you poured in oil, but its best days are history.  Only a remembrance.

So this Hamburg Wunderland could make you feel how far behind you were back then.  It is so expansive it requires a computerized control center staffed by several computer engineers, as you would expect to see in an actual transportation environment.  And you might just wonder why these folks can't get hired to handle the clogged up freeways in so many major cities?

Thanks, Marilyn.  And now, everybody show it to your grandkids.

Deck the Halls

Church choir would tour the neighborhood sometime in December, normally on a really really cold night and sing a variety of songs at the homes of the elderly, usually.  The selection process for identifying them wasn't necessarily a closely-held secret but then most of the choir probably didn't care unless they had a specific person they would want to entertain.

Goldy the Gopher was never one of them.  See what a University of Minnesota flash mob can do.  Click the full-screen icon for your best view, and use a 22" monitor or larger.  If you are receiving this posting by email, click the link to go to the blog site.

Old News from the Anchor

NKHS had hunters and outdoorsmen and the Anchor spotlighted Dave Randall, '61, in their November 30, 1961 edition:

Dave Randall, Northwood, bagged his third deer in three consecutive years with an arrow near Stimes Woods southwest of Northwood, last Saturday evening.  The deer was a four-year-old doe.  He is the son of Mr and Mrs Whitney Randall.


Dave was one of the upperclassmen to take Fabian, Stan Arendts, under their wing when the consolidation occurred, and if memory serves right, would have enjoyed watching this website video featuring cars and music from the era.  Thanks to Stan for passing it along.  It's a bit of a segue from hunting to classic cars, but hey, it's a blog and anything is possible.  Click that link.  Here's the cover info from the email:

Someone did an awesome job putting this together.  And with sound to boot.  At the very end of the video you'll hear the song "Thunder Road" sung by the star of the movie of the same name.  (Having a theme song that is the movie title) is not uncommon except this is the one and only song ever recorded for publication by Robert Mitchum.

Only In a Dream - at least these days

Sometimes you see some fantastic physical/artistic performances and wonder - could I have done this - 50 years ago ? ? ? ?   So when Merrilee Reid passed this along the thought was a vision, a dream, of perhaps being one of the performers, all the time knowing better.  Strength, flexibility, coordination - once upon a time, maybe, though in reality never at this level.  Still, dream along . . .

Once you've finished viewing it you may be asking yourself, "Why were all those people sitting on their hands with frowns on their faces?"  

Christmas Old and New

A weekend enjoying Christmas at Luther leads to a posting of the "old" with the "new."  The "new" comes from Janis Hendrickson, and features the "card section" of the Hallelujah Chorus, which was not performed at Luther last weekend, but in a prior posting was described as one of the traditional Lowell Gangsted tunes performed at the NKHS Christmas Concert.  This YouTube presentation comes all the way from Quinhagak, AK, if you know where that is. Don't worry about the dark screen - the music and video will come.  (If you get this posting by email you need to click the link to go to the NKHS 62 website to view it.  Thanks to Janis for sharing.)

The "old" is a familiar face and voice for those growing up in the 50s.  Tennessee Ernie Ford was a favorite with songs like "Sixteen Tons" and this YouTube comes from his TV show.  If you like kids, you'll love this one. It was forwarded by an old friend who has no kids but has memories of Ernie...  And you'll recall the simplicity of all those Christmas programs by Ernie, Andy Williams, Lawrence Welk, ad infinitum.