Bits and Pieces

Technology: as in trouble with! A week ago, Comcast melted down. Our wi-fi was out for maybe four hours. My computer became a word processor with no where to go. Internet connectivity was nowhere. I did not turn on the TV so am unaware if cable service was interrupted; I presume it was.

For days afterwards, computer blips appeared out of nowhere. Routines were changed. Favored sites were no longer readily available. Over time I restored a semblance of order. One thing, however, never came back.

This blog – The View From Here – originally posted at gsafford.blogspot.com. however, was blocked. I still do not know how to fix this issue. With posts readied for publishing, I opened a new blog site – georgesafford.blogspot.com. The name remains View From Here, and I post daily Monday through Friday. I also copy those posts to my Facebook page as I did in the past. I don’t know if readers can or will access this new site.

If anyone knows how to get me back to where I was with gsafford.blogpost.com, I would appreciate it. If readership traffic does not improve on the new site, I will discontinue blogging. I think I will miss writing this blog. It has kept me sane and calm through years of sick society syndrome. I know I am not alone in this feeling. I wonder what I will do to replace the blog?

An Old Car: we recently bought out our car lease, turned around and sold the car to cash out the once in a lifetime car value, and bought for cash a 15 year old car. The used car is a 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-500 wagon. Actually, Mercedes terms it a small truck, but to you and I it is a station wagon. Three seats with 2 captain chairs per row, we don’t need the 3rd row and use it to haul our handicap treasures – two walkers, some first aid stuff, and still have room for an eventual wheelchair. Meanwhile we enjoy seating for four full size adults.

The old car is also a throwback to the days I owned a new 2006 Mercedes E-350 sedan. The used car shares many of the E-350’s features, but now we enjoy air suspension, variable height suspension, and a variety of ride quality options. This car is also four wheel drive, has three zoned heating and AC, dark tinted windows and a ceiling of glass, half of which slides back at the touch of a button. The V-8 power is reassuring. The ride is flawless. The sound is very quiet. This car is the lap of luxury. And we are tickled with it.

Of course, new tires have been bought to give the nearly 89000-mile car new shoes. The all-wheel drive is noisy and we are having that looked at. Before spring we will have the AC system either replaced or refurbished back to working order. The cost of doing all of this is daunting, but without a car loan, repairs are affordable and manageable. What’s not so easy is the gas mileage of 15 to 17 mpg at $4+ per gallon for premium gas. But then we don’t drive much these days which is why the trade in was so valuable. That gave us the opportunity to enjoy what driving used to be like! We are grateful.

Role of Arts: I was talking with a new SCORE client the other day. We did a strategic planning session for her nonprofit to help it boost its effectiveness and reach. It is dedicated to reducing gun violence in low income suburban areas of Chicago. Among her programs is teaching art to youth in these at risk areas. Finding an inner voice for youth to express their reality and hope for the future is a critical piece for these kids and families. She was surprised I understood this. She is encountering resistance from communities. They believe other programs are needed more than art classes. They are correct in knowing their needs, but they are incorrect about the role of art. It is not a frivolous extra in the classroom. It is the core of communication skills for many people. Often creative arts uncover enormous talents of  students. But the real value is inside their emotional and intellectual selves. This is where a person ‘talks’ with him/herself and gets comfortable with who they are. And accept who they are. And live through the good and bad times into fully functional adulthood. That is the objective, the outcome of the art program.

This struggling nonprofit is dedicated to combatting gun violence in affected communities. Healing from violence is a lifelong struggle for most families. Traditional and non-traditional mental health programs and methods must be developed and supported to give these people a healthy future. Gaining ground in communities suffering from gun violence is a first step in understanding the problems, its causes and solutions, if gun violence is to be reduced in our lifetime. I am so grateful this nonprofit is doing this work. It is thankless but necessary work that we the people must do if we expect our social order to become healthier. Arts is a small part of this effort, but an important one.

November 17, 2021

 

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