Why Travel?

All Aboard

Acrylic on Canvas framed/ 36” by 48”/ $ 695 /sale price $ 556 – Holiday special through July 10th

Why Travel?

Adventure travel calls out to me, for I enjoy visiting foreign countries and meeting people with unfamiliar customs. I go at it much as an anthropologist does, studying art, exploring political and social systems, seeing how meals are shared and observing celebrations of life’s passages . But recently, I’ve questioned whether globe-trotting is worth the hassle.

When in college, I occasionally traveled from Philadelphia to Boston by plane to visit my fiancé. On one such trip, I was late getting to the airport. By the time I reached the gate the doors were closed and the plane had started taxiing toward the runway. Seeing my distress a smiling the ticket taker contacted the pilot and directed him to stop the plane.  He did so, lowered the stairs and waited on the tamarack until I arrived. Now that’s what I call customer service! Hail to the good old days.

When Homeland Security took over, a new era began. It introduced the period of ticket holders only, shoes off, jackets off, electronic devices out, no liquids, no, no, no. I know a man who cracked a joke (another no) to one of the security guards causing him to be escorted to a side room and strip searched. It is not unusual for international travelers to have their belongings scanned two or three times before boarding. The process is particularly terrible for those with an accent or skin color that is not “lily white.”

  Travelers are understandably frustrated. In 2012, a Portland man took off all of his cloths in protest of TSA rules. When changed with a misdemeanor he decided to go to trial for being unlawfully hassled. Since public nudity is legal in Portland, he was acquitted by a local Judge. He didn’t get away unscathed, though, for TSA fined him $ 1,000. This man is not the only inconvenienced traveler to respond by stripping. It happened in Russia when a flight to Jamaica was overbooked. Times are improving ,however, for in 2017, a man was permitted to pass through Milwaukee security as though he was the emperor who has no clothes.He was deemed not to be a security threat.

I wonder what would happen if everyone took off their garments while waiting in line? Imagine the press that action would generate and the statement it would make. TSA must be paying some attention to these complaints, for with a five year pass you can now keep all your clothes on. Of course, that costs extra money and the lines are apt to be long.

Once through security most of us breathe deeply with relief, that is, until we sit down and find our knees bumping into the seat in front or are pushed sideways by a fat neighbor. I  am relieved that there’s no smoking on planes. Do you think we could petition for people to take showers before traveling? How about insisting they’re healthy and will not a spread cold?

If you don’t like airport security lines or expensive parking lots, perhaps you prefer driving to your destination. Freeways are a good choice for those traveling between 10pm and 5am in the morning. Near some small towns you can also move freely between 10am and 3pm. It is in metropolitan areas and tourist locations that drivers have to contend with speed maniacs weaving in and out of lanes and men who raise their middle fingers as though it was an item of sculptural beauty. To counterbalance road rage, however, you can relax behind those beatific seniors who drive ten miles under the speed limit while gracing you with broad smiles when they signal left and turn right. At least their grandchildren are there to entertain you with waves and funny faces when traffic stops moving.

Is it worth the it? Is travel more cumbersome today than it was in prior years? It took my mother twelve hours to travel from New York to London in 1961 when my first son was born. The average flight today takes seven hours. Even with security issues the trip takes less time. A few years from now a supersonic flight is expected to cross the ocean in three hours. 

What about cost? Has anyone noticed that since 1978 the average round trip on domestic flights has dropped 50 percent? Traveling by plane was a big deal when I was in my twenties. It is why I crossed the ocean four times by ship. But what a luxurious fairy tale experience that was. On my first trip with Holland American Lines there were white gloved waiters training apprentices who were proud to be of service. Staff pampered us over a five day period. By the time we arrived in Europe I was thoroughly rested but more importantly I was ready to transition to a different reality. Later crossings took only three days to complete, not nearly enough time to unwind.

In the 1900s, most people vacationed close to home, but change was coming.  In 1903, Horatio Nelson (known as “The Mad Doctor”) and his mechanic, responding to a $50 bet were the first to travel from New York to San Francisco in a Winton touring car. It took 63 days and cost them $ 8,000.  According to reporter, Peter Fimrite, “they left the trail littered with broken parts, tools, clothes, flat tires and tears.” Today, a cross-country trip can be accomplished in two days if you drive nonstop or go by train. It is much faster than going by covered wagon. In the early 1800s, the trip from the Missouri River to Sacramento, California took four to six months. Even then there were choices. You could go by train and save a great deal of time.  In the 1830s, in five weeks you could travel from New York to Minnesota. By 1856, you could reach California in just over a month. Just love that speed, don’t  you?

Construction of the interstate system was the gift that made long distance driving possible. It was authorized in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower when he signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act. Three states, Missouri, Kansas and Pennsylvania claim they were the first to complete their roads.

How exciting it was to speed down empty highways going 80 to 90 miles an hour while avoiding the policemen hiding behind billboards. No need to worry about that today, however, for there are few traffic-free roads. Yet, even with clogged freeways, the wonders of the country are within reach of most people. Just as in yesteryear, those who travel need patience. As you plan your vacation, take time to enjoy the process. Consider how fortunate your are to be able to stay connected to your love ones and to explore beautiful sites worldwide without having to travel by sailing ship or wagon train.

References:

Thompson, D. (2013) How Airline Ticket Prices Fell 50% in 30 Years.THe Atlantic. retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/02/how-airline-ticket-prices-fell-50-in-30-years-and-why-nobody-noticed/273506/

Fimrite,P. (2003) Long before the interstate . . . SF Gate.  retrieved from https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Long-before-the-interstates-there-was-a-Winton-2608886.php

Richard, M.(2012) How fast could you travel across the U.S. in the 1800s? Mother Nature Network.retrieved from https://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/stories/how-fast-could-you-travel-across-the-us-in-the-1800s

Art is always for sale. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com

How do you feel about travel. I would love to hear your experiences both good an bad.

 

Three Clicks to Home

Window to Home                                                         

Where is home— the place that makes you truly  happy? Is it a structure, part of nature or do you    find it in an activity you engage in? Is it a place for solitary refection or for joyous camaraderie?

acrylic on canvas /20” by 16”/ $325

 

 

Three Clicks to Home      It was easy for Dorothy find home. The Wizard told her to click her heels three times and she was transported back to Kansas. She knew where she wanted to be, where she felt safe and where she was loved.

Many of us do not have a physical place to ground us throughout the years. As we move from house to house and community to community we leave love ones  and favorite haunts behind. And we learn to live with emptiness as our grown children do the same.

I was born in Pennsylvania, spent summers in New Jersey and went to college in Massachusetts, where  I gave birth to four babies. I then moved to Michigan, had another child, before finally settling in Oregon. During my working years, my close friends were primarily those I met through my businesses. They were scattered throughout the country. But now that I am retired, we no longer meet at conferences to share a meal and get family updates, and they are not nearby when I need help.

What is home? Is it a building or a place where the heart is? Does it provide love and promote dreams? Does home connect you to memories? To nature? To beauty? I realize now, that over the years, I’ve redefined its meaning several times.

Today I see home, not as a house, but rather as a place to go to for comfort, to find happiness and to create memories. It is where I am fully centered. Though its location changes from time to time, it is not because of moving, but because my mind and physical abilities have evolved.

As a child, I spent summers with my family on beaches off the coast of New Jersey. I loved listening to the sounds of waves and marveled at the sun as it set over the horizon. White sandy beaches on the Atlantic coast were joyous places. They were where I spent time with my first love and where I became healthy jogging along the water’s edge after a winter indoors.

Shortly after moving to Michigan, I discovered a secret location several miles from my house. With my infant daughter strapped in a child seat, I’d ride my bicycle through fields and wooded areas imagining that I was a world traveler. I rode through savannah lands, marshes, jungles, mountains and farmland, all the while creating adventures in my mind that rivaled reality. These excursions enabled me to express the emotional ups and downs of raising a family. When upset, I screamed at the top of my lungs, at times crying until my miseries dissolved. When happy, the sun shone overhead even on cloudy days, and I was energized.

A sense of adventure accompanied my move to Portland. The forty-mile loop  outside the front door of my new house provided a rejuvenating trail within easy reach. Unfortunately, over the past years, many people discovered my special refuge. Now, part of the 4-t trail, it brings hundreds of hikers past my door and compelled me to look further afield for a place that speaks to my soul.

I am fortunate to live in a state of incomparable beauty and it wasn’t long before being caught by a magical spell. The John Day area of central Oregon is my new home, for spending time there makes me whole. It is where I feel complete, connected to the earth and at peace with the world. It is where I belong.

As a city girl, the emptiness of the high desert was strange at first. It took time to be comfortable with traveling through miles of sagebrush devoid of inhabitants. But eventually, the grasslands, expansive skies with brilliant stars undimmed by city lights and wind-etched rocks holding millions of years of history, spoke to me. Hillsides are splash with vibrant colors made by volcanic eruptions. Families of deer unafraid of hunters come out to feed each evening, while sounds of wildlife echo in the distance. The high desert renews me and provides shelter for my heart. When not there, I dream about what I’ve seen and try to capture on canvas the emotions and scenery that remain vivid in my mind.

A friend recently shared that he too moves around a lot. He also does not think of a dwelling as home. When I asked him where home was for him, he said that it is the feeling he gets when surfing. Waves cresting under his feet, the vast ocean and his ability to move in harmony with the motion of his board as it sails towards land, provides him with comfort that has no equal. It is perfect.

Everyone needs a happy place, a spot to go to for comfort and renewal. Daily responsibilities can impinge on our thoughts so strongly that it is easy to forget we are part of nature, live in community and are a speck in the universe. A place to call home  puts momentary concerns into proper perspective. It allows you to stand still, and though the world spins, you never get dizzy.

Where is home for you? Do share thoughts of your special place below.

Works of art are always for sale.  Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.

Do You Need a Mother?

Training for Independence

As a young mother, I read the latest child rearing books, became a Montessori parent and enrolled my children in every imaginable enrichment program I could find to stimulate their curiosity. They danced, learned karate, did gymnastics, played instruments, studied art, and became computer literate well before computers were routinely used in schools. I thought of myself as “supermom.” I was determined to insure that nothing hurt my children while on my watch.  I was 100 percent satisfied driving them from activity to activity, baking cookies and washing up after them.  It was just part of the deal of being Mom.

If they struggled reading—we read out-loud until they did so with ease. When a daughter was bullied—an older child was sent to accompany her to school. I coddled, pushed, pampered and protected them in every way I could. You might imagine my surprise when they became teens and started to push back. Seemingly overnight their friends became more important, and I was marginalized.

As the decades passed, my family was challenged by unexpected occurrences. Cancer, accidents, mental episodes, divorce and a handicapped child created worries beyond imagination. When I was  involved in their difficulties, nothing else mattered. But as they aged and became more independent, I began to be relegated to the role of helpless bystander.  Being on the edges I found to be difficult, for I’m a problem solver. My nature is that of a fixer who makes everything right.

  Two weeks ago I bought a t-shirt that says, “O My Gosh, My mother really does know everything.” I bought it to wear to Shift Festival, a music fair my youngest son has been running for the past few years  n Central  Oregon. He asked me to rset up a booth called, “Do You Need A Mother?”, I said yes. and  immediately bought a t-shirt saying, OMG MY MOTHER WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING. Along with conversation and relaxation on soft sofas and chairs there will be a craft table so visitors can let out their inner child. Spiked ice tea will also be served with strong doses of motherly advice available.

But, as I began preparing for the event I started to question whether adults still need their mothers. My adult children like me but they certainly don’t need me. They are surrounded by spouses, friends and children who enrich their lives. What they appear to want from me is an occasional listening ear, a companion when it’s convenient, and someone to brag to when they or their children reach a milestone achievement. They want me to be a proud mother, which is easy. I have a Garrison Keiller type family “where the women are strong, the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.” 

I asked a thirty-year-old festival  attendee if she needs a mother? Her response was, “All I need are hugs.” Five other young adults sat nearby shaking their heads in agreement. Then my son told me something that rang true. He said that the reason he was able to take  risks was because he knew that his father and I would be there to pick him up if he failed. His trust that our love would never disappear enabled him to be an entrepreneur and to inspire a community of friends interested  in art and technology.

I’ve come to acknowledge the unpredictability of life. There are good parts and bad, ups and downs. I can not protect my children from all harm and realize they deserve to try things on their own, even if it is dangerous. They have the right to make mistakes. So, I bought another t-shirt to wear at the festival, “JUST BE YOU.”  I see now that the only gift I can give is that of love—unconditional, unshakable love.

However,  I can also be a tree with many branches. Roots will hold me firm so that my children know where to find me when they want to But I know they will not stay. They will swing free of my branches and fly off to test themselves and discover just who they are. They were trained to survive without depending on their parents.   

If they have  problems that worry me—ones outside of my control, I know exactly what to do. l relax and wear my latest shirt, HEAVILY MEDITATED. That works.

 

How  do you interact with your adult children?  Do they need you? Enjoy your company? Ask for your advice?

I look forward to your comment below

 

The 3 Rs Plus Technology


   Oregon City Falls

Acrylic on Canvas / 436” x 49” / $ 1,100

Oregon City is the site of the first electric power transmission line in North America. We have come a long way since then. Miniaturized components enable us to operate devices that were never imagined during the late 1880s.

The 3 R’s plus Electronics?                       

For over 300,000 years, humans worked with stone and metal hand tools. But 150 years ago, with the invention of electronic devices, many of these helpers became obsolete. Since 1835, when American scientist, Joseph Henry invented the electric relay, emerging technologies have changed the way we live and do business. It is difficult to imagine a home without television, mobile phones, computers or internet connections. We rely on microwaves, remote controls, satellite dishes, keyless automobiles, global positioning devices and baby monitors. These devices that control homes and keep us secure have created a demand for skilled workers who can design, build, install, test and maintain them. It makes me wonder what schools are doing to prepare students for technological jobs.

Elementary schools concentrate on the 3 Rs – reading writing,  ‘rithmatic but the notion of introducing young children to  technology has not been embraced by educators. To most adults, techno-specialists speak a foreign language. We do not know what a diode, capacitor or resister does nor do we understand how electrons flow through wires and light traveling through fibers is converted to electricity.

Are you staying abreast of changes in cognitive science, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, robotics and nanotechnology? Most people aren’t. These subjects feel too foreign—too scary. It is for this reason that we need to introduce young children to these technologies through games and interactive devices. Their minds are adaptive and they have not been programmed against them. All one has to do is look at youths to see how much easier it is for them to use computer operated devices than their parents.

Art, music, sports, cooking and craft programs provide hands-on experiences that stimulate the sense and use the creative side of the brain. Assembling robots, electrical boards or drones do the same thing. The first time I put together a theremin was exhilarating because it was such a foreign activity. Once I overcame my fear of being thought stupid, I discovered success was a matter of learning a few new words (electronic-speak), following directions and being patient. As I assembled the small components, I discovered my eye-hand coordination and ability to concentrate also improved..

Assembling electronic devices requires organization in the same way a cook organizes ingredients for a favorite recipe.  Collecting, measuring, storing ingredients and cleaning are part of the process. They are both problem solving activities that can have satisfying outcomes.

Schools do not think about hardware in the same way they do software, yet workers are needed to repair electric cars, computers and home monitoring devices. Engineers of the future will continue to make devices go faster and more efficient. Those who are technically savvy are the pace setters for tomorrow and our education system must be challenged to teach to them.

Many educational devices have been invented that make techno-learning fun. They can be purchased in upscale toy stores and are used in many after school science programs. It is now time to bring them into the public school system. Tinkering and taking things stimulates the imagination and makes life exciting. Leonardo da Vinci, knew this for he was not only and fine painter for an amazing engineer.

Of course, not everyone is a hands-on learner. Some enjoy reading, learning history, and using their knowledge to analyze change. For these individuals, there will be ethical questions to explore and laws to enact. Questions will be asked such as, should infants be tagged with an electronic device under their skin that will follow them through life and how will people survive if robots continue to replace workers. Historians, philosophers and journalists will have plenty to do.

So in addition in helping children become familiar with hardware and software they will need to develop ways of thinking about ethical issues and social change. Embracing innovation is complex and needs our full attention or we will continuously be surprised as was Mark Zuckerberg over Facebook’s privacy issues.  Let’s get out front of technology and consider ramifications before we are in trouble. 

Reference:

World Economic Forum. (2017) Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2017. Scientific American. retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/report/top-10-emerging-technologies-of-20171/

I look forward to hearing you opinion Go to eichingerfineart.com/blog to comment.

Sasquatch and the Bear

     Beginnings 

Acrylic on canvas /30” by 40” / $499

Did primitive man start the Bigfoot myth thousands of years ago?

         

 Sasquatch and the Bear

Stories of gigantic human-like creatures hiding in the northwest woods have been told for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. Last century the Sasquatch flame was fueled by a 1923 investigation that took place on the east side of Mt. St. Helens. The area, now known as Ape Canyon, was so named because of a Bigfoot siting by a group of gold prospectors. The men were discovered shaking in fear as they ran from the woods shouting that they were attacked by 7 foot tap ape-like animals throwing boulders. A member of the party said that the animals were first spotted in the afternoon One creature fell off a cliff after shooting him three times with his rifle. 

That evening the“gorilla men” returned to attack their small cabin near Spirit Lake. The prospectors described four erect standing creatures moving about with human-like strides and were covered with long, black hair. “Their ears are four inches long and stick straight up. They have four toes, sort and stubby,” described one witness who estimated that each animal weighed over 400 pounds.  

About 50 years later, just south of the Oregon boarder, images were caught by Yakima cowboys who claimed to have seen a gorilla-like creature covered in fur. Though it too stood upright, it was hunched over with exposed breasts. The animal, named “Patty” was captured on a film that is considered to be the best of the Bigfoot documents. To date, no-one has definitively proven that the creature on the film is a fake, but then again, no one can say it was staged. Images of Patty can be found on mugs, magnets, cards and t-shirts around the world in gift shops around the world.

There have been hundreds of other sitings and numerous theories about whether they exist or not. I have a new one that popped into my head after looking at a true-to-life sized image of a short faced bear.  I saw it at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in the Dalles and was amazed at its size and demeanor. It made me wonder if it was possible that stories surrounding Bigfoot originated with native people who lived during the same time period as the now extinct bear.

For decades, first Americans were thought to have traveled over Beringia, a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska,10,000 to 13,000 years ago.  A 2014 genetic study of a one-year old boy believed to have died about 12,700 years ago is among the oldest Clovis skeletons found. However, evidence has been building that shows that the first humans occupied the Americas much earlier.  Remains  uncovered in 2017 are of people who lived in a cave system in the Northern Ukon Territory of Western Canada going back 24,000 years. 

These recent finds are changing the way archeologists think about how the Americas were populated. They still commonly believe that people landed in Beringia when the climate was a bit warmer and damper than on the mainland, allowing vegetation to grow. They image that woody shrubs and animal bones provided enough fuel for several small settlements to exist over 15,000 years ago.  And, when the ice sheets melted they endorse the idea that hunter gatherers started to disperse south. 

However, they are now open to other theories concerning human occupation of the Americas. Recent discoveries in South America show genetic links in common with people from Australia, New Guinea and the Andaman Islands. Evidence of human settlements in Chile dates between 14,500 and 18,500 years ago.  They believe tribal members built fires, ate seafood and used stone tools. How they got to Chile is still a mystery.  Some anthropologists hang on the the Bering land bridge theory and conjecture that there was a break in the ice sheet on the Pacific coast that allowed canoes to travel south while others postulate that they came by boat from southern Asia and Australia. 

Learning that human beings were on the continent 20-25,000 years ago made me curious about how they lived and what they thought their young. Following is my own idea concerning the myth of Sasquatch.  I’m certainly not an expert but it is fun to imagine. 

The short faced bear was a giant animal considered to be the fastest running bear that ever lived.  When he stood on his hind legs he reached between 12 and 14 feet. Unlike the pigeon-toed bears seen today, its toes pointed straight forward which let him run over 40 miles and hour despite weighing over 1,500 lbs. (One was found that weighed 2,500 lbs.) The bear roamed North America from 1.8 million years ago until 11,000 years ago.  There were plenty of years when their presence overlapped with settlements of primitive Americans. 

The animal was so large that it most likely had to consume 35 pounds of meat daily to survive. At one time about 800,000 roamed the land, making them the most abundant species of bear in North America. As the human population grew, however, bears were forced to compete with hunters for food. And, as hunting skills increased, they were able to kill the bears for their fur and meat. Eventually, as the ice age ended and the climate warmed,, the species became extinct.

My thought is that standing bears with their short snouts and forward pointing feet look human. I can image parents sitting around the fire at night telling stories to their children of what will happen to them if they wander off alone in the woods. Tales passed down from generation to generation are like down the lane, the grown and change over time.  A mythology eventually builds to grabs the imagination of thousands of people who believe the myth is factual. 

What do you think?

  

  Left _ Artist’s rendition of Bigfoot

Right- Reconstruction of Short Faced Bear

 

 

 

 

1.According National Geographic, for years Clovis people were thought to be the first people to occupy the Americas. They were were named for their distinctive spearheads  found near Clovis, New Mexico.  However, new radiocarbon dating shows that they inhabited the continent later and for a shorter period of time than previously believed. There is evidence that there were people living in the Americas before the Clovis people arrived.

References: 

Hogenboom, M. (2017) The first people who populated the Americas. BBC.retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170328-the-first-people-who-populated-the-americas

North American Bear Center, (2018) Extinct Short-faced Bear. retrieved from web site 

https://www.bear.org/website/bear-pages/extinct-short-faced-bear.html

Giant Short-Faced Bear Facts.( 2018) Extinct Animal Facts. retrieved from web site at  http://extinct-animals-facts.com/Extinct-Animals-List/Giant-Short-Faced-Bear-Facts.html

hofer,J. (2017) 7 Facts about an Extinct Giant Bear. Wide Open Spaces. retrieved from http://www.wideopenspaces.com/7-facts-extinct-giant-bear/

Sottile, L. (2017 )50 Years Ago, One Scratchy Home Movie Made Bigfoot a Northwest Icon. Northwest Lore. retrieved from   https://www.pdxmonthly.com/articles/2017/9/13/50-years-ago-one-scratchy-home-movie-made-bigfoot-a-northwest-icon

Lovgren,S. (2007) Clovis People Not Firsr Americans, Study Shows, National Geographic News. retrieved from  https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070223-first-americans.html

Dig It

Into the John Day Fossil Beds                                                            

Dig It

Summer is a time to inspire youth and renew your own craving for adventure. For mystery lovers, it does not get any better than going on a big dig! Paleontology and archaeology sites around the world present some of the best ways to satisfy curious minds. So put on that pith helmet and take off for the experience of your life.

You are never too old.  Last week I drove to Fossil, Oregon with my eldest son. We went behind the High School with shovels and pails and dug for treasures, finding 30 million year plant fossils.  A nearby trail through the John Day National Monument pointed out  environmental changes over a 50 million year period. The above painting was my way of documenting the change.

Imagine the excitement of finding an dinosaur bone sticking out of the earth in Texas, Montana or even China? You will immediately be transported back 65 million years to when these colossal creatures walked the earth. If you participate in the painstaking job of exposing these heavy fossilized bones, you will have plenty of time to wonder how huge creatures managed to forage for food and raise their young. You might question why they went extinct and which mammals, birds or amphibians today are distant relatives. Fossil digs take perseverance and careful adherence to strict research rules often in uncomfortable environments. But it is fun to be part of a team which is why so many families sign up to go on volunteer expeditions.

Museums are great places to go to become inspired. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History has an outdoor dino-pit so children can get the feel of a dig. The Science Museum of Minnesota and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, installed labs where visitors can watch scientists work uncovering and assembling fossils. There may even have a fossil for you to excavate. In front of the world famous Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the La Brea Tar Pits bubbles where specimens were trapped thousands of years ago. the museum has a display of many of their discoveries.

If you don’t have the time to go on a dig, you certainly can live vicariously through. videos and movies. Dr. Stefano Piccini, inspired as a youngster, went on to study Geological and Paleontological Science from the University of Bologna. He now travels the world uncovering fossil and mineral deposits and employing the latest techniques for restoration and display. He shares his excitement with the public through television presentations, lectures and installations of geological and paleontological specimens in museums and private collections.

What gives a child the impetus to want a career in geology or paleontology? It often starts with a gift by a relative.  An educational dinosaur dig toy, a visit to a museum, a book or exposure to a fossilized tooth may be enough to ignite the spark to ignite curiosity. Small beginnings can lead to large discoveries. It worked for me. As a child I visited museums in Philadelphia with my parents. The Franklin Institute, with its hands-on approach to learning, and the Natural History Museum inspired me to pursue a career as a museum executive.

It is a good time to have a job as a paleontologist. New imaging devices and global warming have exposed an unprecedented number of fossils. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, geoscientists, which include paleontologists, earn an average of $106,390 annually.  Though universities and museums are experiencing difficulty getting funding for research projects, industry jobs are expanding. Infrastructure laws for highways, gas and oil drilling and pipelines, electric and phone lines have become more restrictive when it comes to collecting and preserving fossils. This has led to the expanding field of environmental consulting.

But industry is not the only  place vertebrate paleontologists are found. It may surprise you to know that medical and dental universities use them because of their knowledge at the cellular level. Science journalism, artists and special effects workers are also in demand as are governmental jobs with the Bureau of Land Management, The National Park and Monuments, and the National Forest Service.. 

Whether seeking a career or a volunteer position it is key opening to take off blinders and  open yourself to previously unimagined  opportunities. The world is a intriguing planet to explore above and below the surface.

Case for a History Sleuth

 

  Family in a Turkish Village 

 Acrylic on Canvas/  Black Frame24” x 48” / $690

The Kurds are an ethnic group that spans Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Historically and linguistically they are classified as belonging to the Iranian people. Since the end of the Ottoman Empire they have been separated by boundaries created by foreign interests. During the 20th century the Kurds regained their voice  and instigated a call for Kurdish nationalism. What is the right path for these people? Who is to decide their future?  And who should take responsibility for upheaval and displacements when they occur?               

Case for a History Sleuth

In the New Reformers (1844) Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “We are students of words: we are shut up in schools and colleges and recitation rooms for ten or fifteen years and come out at last with a bag of wind, a memory of words and we do not know a thing.”

Emerson’s sentiment rings true to me.  I had a difficult time studying history and found the required readings had little relevance to my life.  As a teen, anything that occurred before I was born, was unimportant. My focus was on the present moment and what I would do with the rest of my life. 

This myopic view is not uncommon. What occurred  hundreds of years ago doesn’t matter to most children. One of my grandsons is an exception. His interest in history was actually peaked in school by a teacher that did not require him to memorize dates and battles but inspired him through games and play acting. More likely, though, he likes history because he has been fortunate enough to travel abroad with his family and see remnants of the past for himself. Walking grounds where past civilizations tread or reading letters by eye witnesses can make the past come alive.

Yet, despite visiting ruins and reading about the ancient world, I doubt that teens understand how history influences what is going on in the world today. For most children, the past is represented by storybook tales that have nothing to do with computers, YouTube, cell phones or space exploration. They are enthralled by League of Legends, Minecraft, and Tetris.

A grasp of history is imperative for our leaders but also important for the rest of society. It is not the facts, but the values, mistakes, and influences on the direction human civilization that matters most.  Past events provide avenues for contemplation that test our values and contribute to our sense of identity. 

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” said philosopher George Santayana. There is truth in his words. Wars in the United Staes and Europe have often served as breeding grounds for more wars.  After WWII we carved countries into new entities without understanding the ties that previously stabilized the regions. Distrust and ongoing fights within these new borders continue to plague these politically created entities. Men like Napoleon, Stalin, and Mao Tse Tung used war as opportunity for regime change.  Over time their initial good intentions led to dictatorships. When foreign powers intervene in the internal affairs of sovereign states, war becomes protracted. This pattern is repeated time and again throughout the ages. 

How can studying history be made fascinating yet useful? Primitive people used to gather around the fireplace to teach through oral presentations that stimulated emotions. Stories of creation and historical events were combined with moral lessons often animated by dancers and masked actors. Until television, storytellers in were in great demand and commanded respect. Troubadours in the middle ages sang about historical as well as current events. Abraham Lincoln mastered the art of storytelling and spun tales that captured the imagination of his audiences in order to get his point across.  Information is digested more easily when facts  are connected to emotions. Stories help people to remember what is said and provide a way for them to relate to one another.

Another way to teach history is to develop cases that challenge with hidden messages.  Students are asked to become detectives who unravel clues from by gone eras. Facts become illuminated as the past is unravelled and not because it has been presented for memorization. Cases can be entertaining and offer opportunities to observe, interact, and understand human nature. 

Just as forensic experts are scientists who use sleuth-like strategies to solve crimes, case system participants are similarly immersed in the scientific method. They form hypotheses, collect data, analyze it, and report results. The outcome may shed light on a current societal issue and inspire a new hypothesis to be tested that is relevant for today’s.  Using the scientific method as a system for solving  problems can help understand conflicting and confusing data. 

For example, the Supreme Court is often asked to clarify what the signers of the constitution meant when they wrote certain articles. Though it is difficult to put ourselves into a dead person’s mind there are many clues that can help in our analysis. Were the signers religious? Well educated? Family men? What were their professions? Were they wealthy or poor?  And a topic I find most interesting—what happened to the founders later in life because of their earlier involvement? Did you know that that some were considered traitors? Several became bankrupt.  A few had their homes ransacked? 

Change does not happen smoothly as can be seen by many convicts that plague the world today. By studying past revolutions, however, students learn to question and develop insight into the cost of freedom. 

As parents and grandparents it behooves us to help youth become history sleuths. We have an opportunity during vacations to look behind the surface when we take children on trips to parks and historical places. It is our job to teach the next generation how to think.  I do believe we can do a better job of showing them how the past relates to the many conflicts of today.

References:

Clairmont, N. (2017) “Those Who Do Not Learn History are doomed to repeat it. Really? Big Think. retrieved from http://bigthink.com/the-proverbial-skeptic/those-who-do-not-learn-history-doomed-to-repeat-it-really

Do comment below. Your thoughts are meaningful.

Does your word mean anything?

 Seeking Perfection                                                                                                                                          Acrylic on Canvas / 20” by 24” / $399                                                                                                                  What do you see as the truth of this image? Do you think you and your neighbor would describe it in the same way?

Do You Mean It?

When you say something do you mean it? Can another person depend on your words and attest to the integrity of your intention? What do you do when you make arrangements to meet someone and an opportunity arises that is more interesting? Do you break your commitment by phon, text, email? If you do, are you honest about your reason for backing out of the engagement or do you tell a little white lie?

There was a time when a person’s word and a handshake was something to be counted on. It was all it took to seal a deal—no notaries, legal documents or witnesses needed. When there were disputes they were taken to the tribal leader who would dispense justice.

In our country, we are urged to be more careful for times have changed greatly in our litigious society? An attorney friend recently said that if it wasn’t signed and sealed there was no promise. He mentioned that we can basically say anything and change our minds without concern for a lawsuit.

I’ve since discovered, however, that this lawyer’s remark was nuanced. Verbal agreements are binding as long as the proof will hold up in court—which isn’t easy. So what has to be done to turn a verbal promise into a court approved contract?  

One way to validate an oral agreement is to put your words into immediate action. If one party acts and the other is in compliance, evidence is created that proves there was a deal. Emails, letters, memos and receipts all reinforce handshake deals. Telling a friend what happened at the meeting and sending a “thank you” letter describing what was said are two other ways to seal a deal.

It is unusual for handshake arrangements to wind up in court, though it is possible. When they fall apart it is usually over details.  If you are exchanging a toaster oven for two hours of roof cleaning, you are probably OK with a verbal agreement but to rent an apartment or engage in work for hire, for clarity it is best put the arrangement in writing. Both parties must be crystal clear over the terms of the agreement they have entered into. If all details are not clear then there is a potential for a dispute. You may make an agreement for someone to design a logo for your business that is not in  writing. But once it is complete, you may discover that you do not own the logo because transferring intellectual property rights is not bound by a verbal agreement.

You may wonder why I bring this topic to your attention. Once again, it is because we live in a political climate that is filled with he said/she said accusations. It makes me wonder about truth and how a person can be held accountable for words spoken in private. Fabrications have been part of American politics for a long time.  Resumes are routinely puffed up, misdeeds hidden, sexual affairs denied, and false information presented to the public.  But today’s lies are blasted through internet sites at ever increasing speed. We are burdened by so many untruths that I wonder about the consequences of making false political claims.  It takes so much time to fact check that most of us are unwilling to look into the truth of most comments. 

Entrepreneurs often say they will only do business with someone they trust. They are quite content with a handshake agreement, believing that written contracts somehow undermine trust. However, since no one can ever assume that something will not wind up in court, it is at least wise to have credible witnesses to a business agreement. 

Politicians are another story for most voters don’t think of them as people to be trusted. The consequences of making false claims are rarely strong enough to dissuade voters from supporting those who espouse their political views.  Political fabrication has become an art with “Pants on Fire” burning tolerance-to-falsehoods into our psyche.  

I’m concerned. Are you?

Do comment at eichingerfineart.com/blog 

Nixon,S ( 2014) When your word and a handshake meant something ChicagoNow.   retrieved from http://www.chicagonow.com/lupus-purple-reigns/2014/12/when-your-word-and-a-handshake-meant-something/

Harline, K. (2018) Oral Contracts: Do They Carry Any Weight? legalzoom. retrieved from https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/oral-contracts-do-they-carry-any-weight

Walker,D (2018) Does a handshake form a legally binding contract? Business advice. retrieved from http://businessadvice.co.uk/business-development/business-planning/does-a-handshake-form-a-legally-binding-contract/

Sleuths for Truths

            Flickers Caring for the Next Generation 

Birds have little need for politics though they have great need for human beings to act as stewards on their behalf. 

Sleuths for Truths

During the last election cycle we often heard stories about Horrible Hillary. Taunts about her private email servers turn her into a criminal in the minds of many. However, she wasn’t the only one to use private email accounts. Competing politicians such as Jeb Bush, Mike Pence, Jared Kushner, and Sean Spicer acted similarly without receiving public rancor. 

Hypocrisy and name calling are not new to politics, but chants that Clinton was a criminal unfit for office imbedded thoughts that she was shady. Lies abounded, like the video clip narrated by a medical doctor saying that she had Parkinson’s disease. The possibility that one lie might be true made us tremendously uncomfortable. Bullying and hacked internet sites bludgeoned her so thoroughly that it became impossible to separate truth from fiction. Could she have done anything differently to change the public’s mind? 

For many years scientists have been trying to discover what factors influence beliefs. Every study I read came to the same conclusion—facts do not change minds. Back in 1957 Festinger, Riecken, and Schacter wrote in When Prophecy Fails: 

“A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point…Suppose that he is presented with evidence, unequivocal and undeniable evidence, that his belief is wrong: what will happen? The individual will frequently emerge, not only unshaken, but even more convinced of the truth of his beliefs than ever before.”

Psychologists say that we are influenced by motivated reasoning. It is why we remain convinced that our beliefs are correct even when they are proven wrong. We are more comfortable holding on to false ideas and double down in our convictions when presented with conflicting evidence. We tend to seek out information we find agreeable and avoid or devalue contradictory arguments. Most people do not watch a variety of  channels in order to obtain a balanced perspective on the news.

It took many years to convince sailors they would not fall off the end of the earth when traveling across the Atlantic. Strangely, some still hang on to that notion. The Flat World Society boasts of an increase in membership, proving that even when beliefs are totally refuted some people will not alter their thinking. In many instances, those appearing to be reasonable turn out to be the most irrational.

Harvard cognitive scientists Mercier and Sperber say the reason people turn away from rational thinking is because we are a cooperative species.  We seek supporting information to confirm the group’s beliefs. Concerned with social standing, we feel more secure when our beliefs are not questioned. Arguments that call for change are likely to be at odds with the group’s expectations. New facts and information can burden the recipient with the responsibility to change the group’s thinking—not an easy task.  We saw this play out when we learned that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, yet the establishment still decided to proceed with going after Saddam Hussein.

A Stanford University study divided a group of students into two categories based on their support for or disagreement with capital punishment. Participants were then presented with bogus pro and con articles to read. Filled with statistics, the papers gave solid sounding evidence in support of each point of view.  By the conclusion of the study, those who started out in the pro camp were more in favor than they were before and those opposed became more hostile to using capital punishment. In other words, both sides dug into their positions and were stuck in the mud. 

Most people do not understand the origin of their beliefs. Scientists say global warming is human induced, but those of us who accept their conclusions find it difficult to explain the basis of their claims to another person. Those against global warming theories are also unable to give reasoned arguments to support their point of view. The public mostly relies on media accounts that filter comments that come in sound bites by expert witnesses. Viewers do not want to receive information requiring them to change their way of life.  If I were willing to follow my belief in global warming then I would become a vegan and stop driving, something I don’t want to do.  Few of us are willing to take the time to analyze hidden agendas or understand the science behind our beliefs. Yet, despite our inadequate knowledge, we are quick to share misinformation with friends. 

In the United States, technological developments are more readily accepted than sociological shifts. There is often an advantage to being an early adaptor of technology. The first people to use calculators were much more efficient than their slide rule colleagues and they got ahead in their work.

The political realm is more likely to get us into trouble for we cling to feelings around many issues. The need to be wary of those who are smug about their biased beliefs for they can easily become a danger to society. 

Good science allows no room for bias and results doming from a well executed research plan provides a path towards rational decision making.  It is a way to get unstuck from false beliefs. Yes, there are times when research needs to be confirmed with replication ,but at least the scientific method provides a system to encourage critical thinking.

In my opinion, Hillary was a poor campaigner who did not know how to inspire her audience. Her arguments were well researched but that is not what listeners wanted to hear.  She talked statistics, presented facts and spoke in such a cerebral manner that people tuned out. Her audiences would have preferred receiving messages that spoke to their hearts instead of their brains. By not doing so, her arguments were ignored in favor of slogans from opposing candidates. 

It is not unusual for an intellectual campaigner to be defeated in their bid for public office. Intellectuals as presidents are few—perhaps eight in all—two Adamses, Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Wilson, and Obama (who tried to disguise it). Those who win are smart enough to package their intelligence as wit. Jokes, gibes, and slogans do more to inspire crowds than lectures.  

References:

Meyers,S (2016) Use of Unclassified Email Systems Not Limited to Clinton. New York Times. retrieved from  https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/11/us/clinton-emails-routine-practice.html

Apuzzo,M & Haberman.M (2017) At Least 6 white House Advisers Used Private Email Accounts. New York times. retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/us/politics/private-email-trump-kushner-bannon.html

Beck,J. ( 2017) This Article won’t Change Your Mind.. The Atlantic. retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/03/this-article-wont-change-your-mind/519093/

Kolbert,E. (2017) Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds. The New Yorker. retrieved from    https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds

Cooper JR.,J ( 2017) The Historical Presidency: Few and Mostly Far Between: Reflections on Intellectuals as Presidents. Wiley Online Library. retrieved from abstract https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/psq.12398

Curious Cat Emerging

Curious Cat Emerging

The back deck of our house is visited by many birds. Large and small come to feast on suet bricks or seeds from several dispensers. In warm weather we enjoy standing by the window watching them take turns eating and splashing in the bird bath. They look like they are having a great deal of fun, but I have to keep an constant eye on my cat.

Franny is a warm weather feline reluctant to go outside when it is cold. During the winter, she moves lazily from room to room in search of a comfortable pillow. Much of her day is spent sleeping soundly near a heater vent. The only time Franny bounds with energy is during morning and evening feedings. During those times she cries incessantly until a dish of salmon or mackerel is placed before her. Accustomed to a gourmet diet, Franny became a little butter ball this winter. Unfortunately, she gained so much weight that on her last visit the vet told us to reduce her portions if we didn’t want her to get diabetes.

We quickly learned that our cat had other ideas. If we are not going to feed her then she is prepared to augment her own diet. We began to notice her spending hours at the glass doors leading to the back deck. Staring, without moving a muscle, she watched every motion made by the visiting birds. If we weren’t careful opening the door she scooted between our legs to run for the deck. Her readiness to pounce on our feathered friends made us quite nervous.

Now that is warmer Franny has evonlved into a different kind of cat. Awake and energized after hibernating all winter causes us worry for she started to resume her old feline tricks. Last year, for example, she caught mice and brought them into the house to bat around as playmates. She would release her captives in order to hunt them over and over again. She arrived with one mouse that was pregnant and it wasn’t long before a litter of babies ran through the house.

To escape Franny’s clutches the small bodies scurried to the top of a curtain rod over a large picture window. The mice ran back and forth afraid to come down while our cat sat stone still for hours watching their antics. As soon as one bravely descended, Franny was ready to spring towards her prey. She usually batted it around before releasing it though sometimes the mouse became her meal. In an effort to rid the house of Franny’s playmates, Ray tripped down the living room stairs determined to catch them. I watched with bated breath.

Baby birds, mice, and moles are all targets of our domesticated cat. But since we are unwilling to confine her completely to the house, putting her on a diet has become a family joke. Who are we to regulate her meals when she is outside.  We can’t control what she swallows for she certainly knows how to fill her belly.

Franny makes me aware that just as I don’t have power over her diet, neither do I have over my family’s. I can’t make husband, children (or myself) eat reasonably sized portions of a healthy diet unless they are willing to do so. They always manage to find a way around food austerity measures. If they want sodapop, candy, or ice cream they know where to find them. Willpower is an elusive subject and obesity is a problem that bothers more than 30 percent of the population. It is not one I am ready to tackle, however.  So–if you have a solution, do let me know.

Please comment belose with your cat stories .