Don Moyer's Home Base

SUN PILLAR

2012-01-21T10:18:00.002-06:00

22 Jan 2008 -- Sunrise looking over the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. The shaft of light forward is Mie scattering from water droplets. The shaft going vertical -- a sun pillar -- is light scattered at 90 degrees from ice crystal turbidity, like seeing a flashlight beam through a smoky room.

GREAT PLACE TO WALK

2012-01-02T06:37:00.001-06:00

Art Institute of Chicago 31 Dec 2011

IN WITH THE NEW

2011-12-30T16:03:00.000-06:00

Setting up new exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center 30 Dec 2010

ICE TRICK

2011-12-27T07:46:00.002-06:00

North Pond 12 Dec 2010

LOVELY AFTER SOME SNOW

2011-12-11T06:31:00.001-06:00

Art Institute of Chicago, South Garden 06 Dec 2010.
Nothing like this so far this year.

MAPLES FIRST

2011-11-25T19:46:00.001-06:00

SCIENCE FRAUD ENABLES SCIENCE DENIERS

2011-11-03T06:49:00.001-05:00

My reaction to this science fraud story in the news today is this:
Science deniers are very greatly enabled

by any scientist cutting any corner,
bending any rule,
beautifying any data,
hiding any assumptions,
misrepresenting any errors, . . .

EINSTEIN ENVY: THE "BEYOND US" VERSION

2011-11-02T16:37:00.004-05:00

The idea that work in science can not be understood by ordinary people even if they tried became widespread with popular reactions to the eclipse test of general relativity late 1919.

This led to not trying.

Which enabled science deniers to convince too many people that scientists conspire to feather their own nests.

GREED

2011-10-31T13:09:00.001-05:00

Greed focused on increasing property and privilege can be a driver of innovation.
Greed focused on self and against common good is a high barrier to innovation.

PULLING TOGETHER -- PULLING APART

2011-10-19T09:59:00.000-05:00

During and after WWII we pulled together, were positive, with a can-do spirit, bringing over fifty years of incredible innovation.

Now we are pulling apart, are negative, with a can't-do spirit, erecting huge barriers to innovation.

EINSTEIN ENVY: THE "WAS HE WRONG?" VERSION

2011-10-05T08:06:00.000-05:00

Einstein envy takes many forms.

One form is when folks get all excited at the slightest suggestion that relativity might be wrong, even though special and general relativity are confirmed by many independent measurements all with tiny error bars and the new result has huge error bars and very many dicey assumptions.

INNOVATION RIGHTS INCLUDE MUCH MORE THAN PATENT RIGHTS

2011-10-03T16:29:00.001-05:00

"Right" has many and various meanings such as "just and good" such as "correct" such as "genuine, real" such as "preferable" such as "best practices" and more. Along with understanding patent rights, understandings related to many of these various meanings of "right" are included in the goal of helping the greatest diversity of persons understand innovation rights.

CREDIBILITY REQUIRES DISCLOSING ALL UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS

2011-09-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

It's not that I don't believe what you say.
Knowing that there are always underlying assumptions,
I want to uncover underlying assumptions, often hidden.
I want to know how changes there might change what you say.
If you don't tell me about underlying assumptions,
I give very low credibility to what you say.
Because there are always underlying assumptions.

[Yes, this does apply to stories about neutrinos going faster than the speed of light. The physicists do a good job of disclosing the underlying assumptions. Folks in the "media" do not!]

THE COUNTER ATTACK AGAINST DIVERSITY AND INNOVATION IS UGLY

2011-09-21T15:33:00.001-05:00

After invention of farming, farmers tremendously
out-reproduced hunters and gatherers.
This made property and privilege super important.
Now city-dwellers out-reproduce farmers.
Now diversity and innovation are super important.
This challenges old ideas about property and privilege.
The counter attack on behalf of the old ideas is ugly.

HELPING THE GREATEST DIVERSITY OF PERSONS UNDERSTAND INNOVATION RIGHTS IS THE BEST WAY TO ENCOURAGE INNOVATION

2011-09-19T07:38:00.003-05:00

Know-it-all big-shot: I just read that we continue to fall behind our trading partners in innovation.
Geezer pragmatist: Yes, the trend is rapidly downward on various measures.
BS: Geezer, you studied innovation as a physicist and as an historian of science each for several decades, working directly with inventors in the Inventors' Council for two decades, and now working on the second decade of working directly with inventors through the Patent Clinic at the law school. So, what do you suggest is the best way to encourage innovation.
GP: BS, the best way is to lower barriers to innovation.
BS: For example?
GP: Helping the greatest diversity of persons understand innovation rights lowers a huge barrier to innovation.
BS: Nonsense, my friends at the country club know plenty about how to hire lawyers to look after their intellectual property rights. That's all we need.
GP: Wrong on two counts Ace. First, innovation rights include much more than intellectual property rights. Second, innovation depends on diversity, diversity of ways to look at things, diversity of ideas. Your country club friends are too focused on excluding people not like them and on excluding ideas which might threaten their existing privileges. Those exclusive country club attitudes are dragging us down.

WILL BELIEVE ONLY IF ALL ERROR BARS ARE INCLUDED

2011-09-15T08:30:00.001-05:00

It's not that I don't believe what you say.
Knowing that there's always error,
I want to know what the error is.
I want to see all of the error bars.
If you don't tell me about the error,
I give very low credibility to what you say.
Because error is never zero.

MOCK TRIALS -- DRAMATIC UNITIES

2011-09-12T08:42:00.004-05:00

Innovation rights mock trials (left panel) have the classical Aristotlian dramatic unities of action, place, and time and thus are especially potent means for understanding, in our case for understanding practical issues in innovation rights.

The photo of a sun pillar over lake Michigan was shot 19 Sep 2008 from the window of a former residence.

INTEREST IN INNOVATION IS BOOMING, BUT INTEREST IN INNOVATION RIGHTS IS LAGGING

2011-09-11T06:38:00.001-05:00

Using Google to search "innovation" alone yesterday found 41,700 entries per day.

Searching "barriers to innovation" with the quotation marks found 234 entries per week.

Searching "innovation rights" with the quotation marks found 89 entries per year.

You might say that patents and patent rights and intellectual property and intellectual property rights are better search terms than innovation rights.

The response is that innovation rights is much broader than those terms because innovation rights should also include many other areas such as contract law, tricky innovation joint ventures for example; tax policies, R&D credits for example; NIH, NSF, etc funding policies; much more.

And, intellectual property rights are best related to innovation within a context of thorough understanding of innovation, barriers to innovation, diffusion of innovation, and more.

We know that the most diverse groups are the most innovative, but the diversity of researchers is not close to the diversity of our whole population. I at least consider this an important innovation rights issue.

FUD* IS NOT AMONG INNOVATION RIGHTS

2011-09-08T08:05:00.001-05:00

Teach the controversy!
Teach the facts!
No! Teach the controversy!
No! Teach the facts!
But, there is no "controversy."
And, there are no "facts."
In science all results have error bars.
Teach the results with the error bars.
And, ask folks teaching controversy
to put the error bars on their “results.”
Watch the scientific error bars get smaller.
Watch the folks teaching controversy squirm.

[* FUD means promoting "fear, uncertainty, doubt" and is the marketing tool of choice for nasty people to use to discredit anyone threatening the status of those nasty people.]

The photo from 09 Jul 2011 shows part of the Agora installation in Grant Park just north of Roosevelt here in Chicago.

INNOVATION RIGHTS CAN BE HURT BY "DEADLY SINS"

2011-09-06T06:24:00.002-05:00

Though the “deadly sins” - extravagance, lust, gluttony, greed, acedia, despair, sloth, wrath, envy, pride, vainglory – can be drivers of innovation they are at least as likely to be barriers to innovation.

[See also 11, 08, 06, 04 Jul 2011]

The photo from 19 Sep 2008, 5:20 AM overlooking lake Michigan from a former residence.

INNOVATION RIGHTS CAN BE HELPED BY "DEADLY SINS"

2011-07-11T12:18:00.001-05:00

Drivers of innovation can include the “deadly sins:” extravagance, lust, gluttony, greed, acedia, despair, sloth, wrath, envy, pride, vainglory.

We should not need to invest in those drivers of innovation, but we do.

[See also 08, 06, 04 Jul 2011]

The photo is from 10 Jul 2011 on walk through Chicago's Grant Park to the lake front at our museum campus.

WHO COULD BE AGAINST INVESTING IN INNOVATION? II

2011-07-08T10:37:00.001-05:00

You are likely to be against using tax dollars to invest in innovation if you are against activist government, except that you expect government to enforce ideas you happen to believe in, and except that you expect government to solve all problems causing you difficulty.

[See also 06, 04 Jul 2011]

The photo is from 05 Jul 2009 at the Lily Pond just north of Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo

WHO COULD BE AGAINST INVESTING IN INNOVATION? I

2011-07-06T20:45:00.002-05:00

Who could be against investments in innovation?

If those investments might reduce consumption on which your income depends, or otherwise might reduce your advantage, then you are likely to be against those investments.

[See also 04 Jul 2011]

The photo is from 05 Jul 2009 at the Lily Pond just north of Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo

WHAT DRIVES INNOVATION?

2011-07-04T11:27:00.003-05:00

What drives innovation? Answers often confuse drivers and carts. A driver can shout “forward,” but without a working cart there will be only hollow echoes.

Science and patents are carts especially important for carrying innovation forward. There is very big pay back from investing in these carts.

The photo is from 04 July 2008. This lovely overgrowth of bloom near the lake front at Chicago's museum campus has been replaced with something dull. Not progress.

NOT QUITE RANDOM LINKS TO AGING STUFF

2011-06-24T12:13:00.002-05:00

25 Jun 2011: Some not quite random links re aging, Alzheimer's, healthy living.

Aging Services Technologies, Center for (CAST)

AGS Aging in the Know

Alzforum: Alzheimer Research Forum Home

Alzheimeer's - Johns Hopkins: Memory|Alzheimer’s including memory loss, Alzheimer’s, dementia

Alzheimer's Association | Home

Alzheimer's Disease | Fisher Center Foundation

Alzheimer's Disease International

Alzheimer's Foundation of America

Alzheimer's NIA Home

Alzheimer's Study Group (ASG)

Alzheimer's Store - Dedicated to providing unique products to those with Alzheimer's

Assistive Technology Industry Association

Center on Age and Community

CDC - Healthy Living

DASNI: Dementia Advocacy and Support Network International

forMemory Home

Healthy Aging

Healthy Aging - State of Aging and Health in America Report

Learning To Speak Alzheimers

Medicare.gov - Nursing Home Compare

MedlinePlus: Healthy Living

National Council on Aging

National Family Caregivers Association

NIA - Progress Report on Alzheimers Disease

Technology helps elderly live alone - Technology - smh.com.au

The Myth of Alzheimers :: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis

TimeSlips :: Home

TimeSlips :: Home

SOMETHING WAS NOT NORMAL

2011-02-23T07:16:00.003-06:00

Something was not normal.
Her brain no longer did
things it did before.
Very troubling.
She raged.
Diagnosis -- scary names:
DEMENTIA ALZHEIMER'S
"Oh, good," she said,
"I thought it was me."
No more rage.
No more trouble.
Just new normals.
Her brain does less and less.
No rage. No trouble.
Just new normals.
And, cupcakes and baloons

CHUMP

2011-02-08T08:39:00.003-06:00

08 Feb 2011: Chump is a great concept.
   A chump is a dope, easily duped to believe what someone wants believed.
   Usually that someone works hard to recruit chumps to believe that measurable harm actually caused by that someone is somehow not caused by that someone, to recruit chumps to believe that reliable facts showing that the measurable harm is actually caused by that someone are lies generated by some evil conspiracy.
   The only conspiracy is the recruitment of chumps by that someone.
   The only evils are the debasement of reliable factual knowledge, the debasement of persons pursuing reliable factual knowledge, and the growth of measurable harm caused by that someone.
   Meanwhile the chumps feel superior, feel that they are following some higher calling They are the just fools working against their own well being.
   Chump is a great concept --- unless you want to help build a better world using reliable factual knowledge.

AUSTIN POLYTECHNICAL ACADEMY

2011-01-24T07:28:00.002-06:00

24 Jan 2011:Know-it-all big-shot: So you think that law school students can mentor high school students in the Austin neighborhood here in Chicago so that the high school students can understand patent issues. You're a crazy Geezer.
Geezer pragmatist: Wrong again Ace. Even you would have been impressed if you saw those high school students at a mock trial competition get their minds around a slippery patent case they just saw and leave experienced patent pros with their mouths open in disbelief.
Know-it-all big-shot: Oh, so you're working with a highly selective high school which just happens to be located in a disadvantaged neighborhood.
Geezer pragmatist: Not at all! Austin Polytechnical Academy is not selective. They take anyone from the neighborhood, have a high retention rate, and have a high graduation rate. It can be done! Raw ability is there! Good teaching works! Putting resources into education works!

UNDERSTANDING INNOVATION RIGHTS DISTINGUISHES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM RUN OF THE MILL

2011-01-21T07:37:00.005-06:00

Know-it-all big-shot: You claim that patent savvy high school students have a special advantage for careers in advanced manufacturing and engineering. What if they don't want careers in advanced manufacturing and engineering?
Geezer pragmatist: Patent savvy is an especially good example of how a person can lose a special advantage -- granted by a patent for example -- if the person fails to play by the rules, which is a good lesson for all.
Know-it-all big-shot: So what Geezer! If people don't play by the rules, throw them in jail.
Geezer pragmatist: Smart move Ace -- you lose double: To run those jails you throw away lots of money which could have done some good. And, you throw away persons who could have done some good. We have a better idea.

MANUFACTURING IS ALIVE AND VERY WELL

2010-10-25T09:49:00.005-05:00

Know-it-all big-shot: There's no point in talking to high school students about patents.
Geezer pragmatist: Patent savvy high school students have a special advantage for careers in advanced manufacturing and engineering.
Know-it-all big-shot: Manufacturing is gone, dead -- good riddance.
Geezer pragmatist: Not so. Advanced manufacturing is the key to a future which is sustainable socially, economically, and environmentally. See: this "why manufacturing" link.

WHAT GOOD IS SCIENCE?

2010-09-28T16:14:00.013-05:00

28 Sep 2010: Know-it-all big shot: Science can’t help make good decisions for investing in the innovation pipeline.
  Geezer pragmatist: It’s no wonder your investments make so little in return.
  Know-it-all big-shot: There’s no way to tell good science from bunkum.
  Geezer pragmatist: Yes there is. Good science pays very close attention to error and learns from error. Bunkum admits no error.
  Know-it-all big-shot: Ha! Since there’s always error, science can’t prove anything.
Geezer pragmatist: When you know about errors, you can know about uncertainties in your investments and you can make good decisions, and you might get better returns than you get now.

ALL PATENTS ARE NOT THE SAME

2010-09-27T09:25:00.009-05:00

Know-it-all big-shot: Patents are just a right to sue.

Geezer pragmatist: You might be the one being sued if you’re not patent savvy.

Know-it-all big-shot: All patents are the same -- get the cheapest.

Geezer pragmatist: Cheap patent work likely will cost you a bundle later. Good patent work can create great value, keeping competitors far away from your product, which would be worth much more than the cost of good work.

INNOVATION RIGHTS CAN INCREASE OPEN ACCESS

2010-08-26T14:47:00.003-05:00

Patent savvy can actually increase open access.
   In her dissertation at the University of Gothenburg, Caroline Pamp makes several very important observations about how patent grants can prevent loss of access to ideas.
   For example, if primary results are covered in a patent grant, then contracts can be used to keep access open. It follows that workers should be patent savvy so that the right to obtain a patent grant is not lost. If the right to obtain a patent grant covering primary results is lost, then an uncooperative entity might cover secondary results in a patent grant and lock up access.
   If X is covered in a patent grant owned by A, and Y is covered in a patent grant owned by B, then A can use a contract to give B access to X, which is an incentive for B to use a contract to give A access to Y.
   Patent savvy enables cooperating entities to keep access open. This can help fill the innovation pipeline fueling our innovation economy.

BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF INNOVATION RIGHTS WOULD HAVE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE

2010-08-11T16:51:00.007-05:00

Patent savvy would have made a big difference.
   On the phone the inventor was so busy telling how clever he was to write his own patent application and get it allowed and issued, that he did not hear anything that was said.
   He did have a very good idea. He did have an issued patent. His idea is in frequent use and each use might have paid a good royalty. Might have.
   His claims were drawn so narrowly that they might be infringed only accidentally. He did not have patent savvy to see the value of claiming his idea so that the claims would cover a broad range of embodiments of his idea.
   There is far too much bad information available about how patents work in our innovation economy.
   The first step toward patent savvy is seeing that what you think you know might be wrong, seeing the need to learn from a reliable professional, and hearing what is said.

ART COULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE

2010-07-16T08:52:00.009-05:00

At university “fine arts” were outside the college of arts and sciences so that the “fine arts” wouldn’t be sullied by anything practical. The label “fine arts” is not now used much, but division and separation linger on.
Any area of study or work which can be imagined now has its own profession and academic department. Somewhere there must be a Studies Studies department and profession, keen to be faithful to self-defined standards and to avoid corruption by neighboring areas of study and work.
Imagine what might happen in a different world.
While studying physics I might have learned to use words more artfully, with greater skill, with greater musicality, more pleasing to senses and emotions, more effectively expressing and communicating. I might have learned better ways to express data visually, better means for visual explanations.
Through dance I might have learned to move in ways causing less breakage in the lab. And, there is a growing understanding of muscular components of cognition which dance might help -- dis-embodied brains would be useless.
Brain wiring might have been nudged toward more creative thinking, to better see novel ways to test the limits of knowledge and practice.
Theater was a way to taste some of this -- artful, musical words; visual arts, including sculpture and architecture; artful movement; mechanical and electrical complexity backstage; organizational complexity at every turn; all needing constant creativity for effective expression and communication.
But, none of this happened -- except theater and that was soon abandoned to spend time in the physics lab -- as those “fine arts” continued to be about only themselves.

PHOTOS COMPILATIONS

2010-07-13T14:59:00.012-05:00

You can see a compilation of my 2002 photos of St. Ives, including Barbara Hepworth's garden, via this garden link. The video starts with Barbara Hepworth's garden in St Ives, has views out the window of the room we were staying in, and has views of various walks in and about St Ives. The light there is wonderful, which is why so many artists are attracted there. Nearly ten years ago on a visit to Key West - which is like St Ives in several ways - we were attracted to some pottery which reminded us of Bernard Leach's pottery in St Ives. (Leach did the tiles on the grave, shown early on in the video, of Alfred Wallis, a mariner, pirate, and primitive artist much admired by Leach, Hepworth, and others.) We met the potters - Chuck and Tim - who were indeed much taken with Leach's work and had visited the Leach pottery in St Ives. In 2003 I gave copies of these photos to Chuck. The next day told me that he and Tim had stayed in the same room we had - he could tell from the view. One of life's mysterious pleasures and warm memories.

You can see a compilation of my 2004 photos from UK -- Thames in Oxford, St. Ives, Cambridge -- via this uko4 Link. These walks in England start along the Thames in Oxford just east of Port Meadow. The fields were full of buttercups and daises. Then it's St Ives, Cornwall, with lots of attempts to catch the lovely light on the water and sand of Porthmeor beach. Finally it's along Tennis Court Road in Cambridge past the Pearse School for Girls to the botanic garden. The music is George Gershwin playing Rhapsody in Blue with the Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra.

You can see a compilation of my 2005 photos on a walk to the zoo and lily pond a fine June day via this summertime link.

You can see a compilation of my 2006 photos at the Art Institute of Chicago via this ARTIC link. The music is Adagio - Allegretto by Charles Gounod from a disc "Art and Music: Renoir" which is a compilation of music complementary to the impressionists. The subtle body language in the great Caillebotte in the Art Institute of Chicago inspires me to photograph persons viewing it and the art nearby to show the fascinating body language they exhibit, sometimes matching the art.

You can see a compilation of my 2006 photos at the Field Museum of Natural History via this Field link. The photos were taken at the Field Museum here in Chicago the 3rd of April 2006. The music is Antonin Dvorak, Romantic Pieces, Op. 75 - III. Allegro Appassionato, played by Ilya Gringolts, violin and Christopher Guzman, Piano from the disc Master Play, Music from Saint Paul Sunday.

You can see a compilation of my 2006 photos on a walk in Chicago a fine April day via this clouds link.

You can see a compilation of flower photos via this gardengrow link. This is an unorganized collection of flower photos from far-flung places - Key West; St. Ives, Cornwall; Cambridge; Oxford; London; Chicago. The music is: Bernstein's Candide - Act 2: Make Our Garden Grow: Jerry Hadley, June Anderson, Etc., Leonard Bernstein; London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

JENNY KNAUSS COMPILATIONS

2010-07-13T13:35:00.010-05:00

You can read about Jenny Knauss via this Jenny Knauss Then and Now link -- be sure to read the still-accumulating testimonials under "comments" -- and look for updates to the main entry.

You can see some of Jenny's art work via this art link.

You can see Jenny and her cousins via this cousins link.

You can see Jenny and her cousin Brenda enjoying the Art Institute via this Brenda link.

You can see Jenny and her great niece Orlagh and find some links to other family posts via this visit link.

You can read about Jenny and the Buddy Program via this buddy link.

You can see our first publication on advocacy via this role of advocacy link. You can see our second publication via this enjoying life link. Research we commissioned is struggling toward publication. [While it may still be struggling toward publication I now (10 Feb 2011) doubt that it is and believe that this is sadly a dead issue. The raw data were posted on this dancing link.]

You can see an early interview with Jenny via this Jenny interview link.

You can see a short outtake of Jenny's hour-long memory video via this memory video link.

You can learn about Jenny's Alzheimer's advocacy via these links: JenTV link, Sad link, Early link, Forget link, and Cruel link.

You can see a brochure made from quotes, photos, and art of Jenny and some fellow travelers via this what next link.

SCIENCE IS A KEY FACTOR IN INNOVATION

2010-06-30T08:12:00.005-05:00

Science has long been a key factor in our innovation economy, both as a source of ideas and as a key resource for moving ideas along the innovation pipeline.

In the nineteenth century, as scientists were investigating the magnetic effects of electric currents, various ideas for electric telegraphs were generated -- the resulting innovation changed the economy of the world.

Just after the US Civil War an Atlantic submarine telegraph cable to connect Europe and America was attempted -- it failed because of pseudo-science, costing much. When the cable promoters turned to appropriate science the cable became a successful innovation, almost immediately earning back the losses and again changing the economy of the world.

This year we celebrated the fifty year anniversary of the first laser which had no known use. In those fifty years lasers have been sources of ideas which became innovations and have been means for turning ideas into innovations, both contributing to our innovation economy beyond count and growing.

WHY WOULD ANYONE BE AGAINST GREEN INNOVATIONS?

2010-06-29T08:18:00.007-05:00

Why would anyone be against policies promoting green products in our innovation economy? There are rational and irrational reasons.

If green products would reduce consumption of products your income depends on, you are likely against any policies nudging green products toward the innovation pipeline.

If your income depends on resource extraction, you are likely against an innovation driven economy

You are likely to be against policies promoting green products if you are against activist government -- and thus against government having any active role in our innovation economy -- except that you expect government to enforce policies you believe in, and except that you expect government to solve all problems causing you difficulty.

Note how easily people having irrational reasons are exploited by interests having rational reasons.

WE NEED TO REINVIGORATE OUR INNOVATION ECONOMY -- AGAIN

2010-06-17T12:37:00.010-05:00

Again we need to reinvigorate our innovation economy to alleviate our dysfunctional dependence on oil. Again.
   Years ago there was an Energy-Related Inventions Program (ERIP) in the US departments of Energy and Commerce, created in response to the oil crisis of 1973.
   ERIP was an aggressive program which worked to create inventor support organizations around the country in order to funnel energy-related inventions into the program. I took the bait and started the not-for-profit Inventors’ Council here in Chicago.
   ERIP was constantly in trouble at the Federal level because it was, and still is, argued that government should not promote innovation, should not pick winners and losers. Never mind that government protects, and promotes, interests of big oil -- that’s a story about campaign contributions.
   So, ERIP slowly died and is forgotten. It was a program for “small people” as the BP chair calls us.
   ERIP understood -- and we must understand again -- that, since it is not possible to predict where good ideas will blossom, policies to reinvigorate our innovation economy must at least present no barriers to participation, The innovation economy welcome mat must be all-inclusive.
   The second lesson comes from many years working with unsophisticated inventors. The most important form of support for inventors is helping inventors use patent savvy tool kits.
   For example, our Mentoring helps very unsophisticated high school students in Chicago's Austin neighborhood use patent savvy tool kits and also goes a step beyond the innovation economy welcome mat to encourage active participation in our innovation economy.

ART OR GARDEN

2010-06-14T07:09:00.005-05:00

Sitting in the Art Institute with E looking at Monet’s “On the Bank of the Seine, Bennecourt, 1868” (shown) E asks, “which do you prefer sitting under that tree or sitting here looking at the art.”

The first answer was, “it’s not a competition.”
The more thoughtful answer is, “Art gives meaning to reality. Because of art, we can experience reality more mindfully and see more meaning in reality.”

CAN THERE BE COMMUNICATION WITHOUT ART?

2010-02-03T08:03:00.008-06:00

Can there be communication without art?
As evidence for communication without art we might cite solutions to fully abstract problems written in the fully abstract language of mathematics.
Most of us prefer communication less abstract, more musical, with movement, images, mystery, drama, unexpected discoveries.

RE ART -- I VOTE FOR MEANING

2010-01-29T08:12:00.006-06:00

What draws us?

   Often observed:
   Persons in a gallery at the Art Institute
browsing, it seems without plan, then
are drawn to one painting,
always the same painting,
and stop long there with purpose.
   Me too.
   What draws us?
   Greater beauty?
   Greater meaning?
   Greater manipulation?
   I vote for meaning.
   You?

A TRIP TO THE EDGE OF THE KNOWN UNIVERSE

2010-01-21T17:45:00.000-06:00

Click on this link for a trip to the edge of the universe and the edge of time, all based in fine detail on what we know about the universe.

FUD AGAINST DIVERSITY

2010-01-06T07:30:00.002-06:00

Clowns appealing to fear
to exclude persons
because they are different
rob us of values of diversity.
If persons are excluded
because of difference,
then there are no checks
on false beliefs,
no checks on
movement toward disaster,
no checks on movement
toward drinking the kool aid,
no vision of alternatives,
just the same old trap.

FUD MAKES EXPERTS

2010-01-04T07:05:00.003-06:00

Appeal to fear,
appeal to wishful thinking,
become a media star.
Laughing causes cancer.
Laughing cures cancer.
Can't lose,
either way,
or both ways
on alternate weeks,
can't lose.

LIGHT TRICK

2010-01-03T07:19:00.000-06:00

An interesting trick by early morning sun light at just the right angle new year's day 2010:

Here's what it usually looks like:

ART FOR ART

2009-12-31T07:38:00.003-06:00

CHRISTMAS STORY

2009-12-24T08:14:00.006-06:00

On Christmas eves I remember a conversation with a waitress on a Christmas eve many years ago. She told me that at 2 AM (or was it midnight -- little difference) a large store reduced the prices of goods for children. So, taking public transportation with several changes, she'd go there then to buy gifts for her children and lug the gifts home to be found by the children when they awoke.
It is heroic how she -- and many others -- live by their own hard work and grit. Comparing those heroes with rich folk, sure that they deserve their riches and wallowing in excess, brings me a very deep sense of shame for anything I do which might excuse that dis-equity.

WHY WORRY

2009-12-22T08:50:00.005-06:00

On remembering
now, a task forgot
it's so sweet saying
why worry, so what.

SOMETIMES

2009-11-06T08:38:00.005-06:00

Sometimes

Sometimes every
thing speaks to me.

Sometimes I don't
hear what is said.

POOLS OF YELLOW

2009-10-29T16:06:00.004-05:00

It's been raining
but not blowing
so under trees
drop bright fall leaves.

Pools of yellow
and red, glowing
do foreshadow
winter's snowing.

COMMON GOOD

2009-10-23T07:33:00.004-05:00

Too much life
is wasted
trying to
make better,
things plenty
good enough.

Best to make
better our
common good
which remains
not nearly
good enough.

[About the image, see this link.]

JENNY KNAUSS THEN AND NOW

2009-10-04T20:46:00.005-05:00

Jennifer Lilian Margret Dobbin was born 23 Feb 1937 at Moor Close, the house of the parents of her mother Marjorie Alice Louise Dobbin (formerly Webb), in Melbourn, a tiny village near Cambridge, UK.

Her father, Robert Raymond Dobbin farmed at Lords Bridge farm, Harlton. During the war across the road there was a military establishment drawing bombing which spilled over to the farm so that the family had to sleep in a Morrison shelter.

Nastiness of war didn't stop Jenny learning from her mother, and her mother's parents, to always find something interesting to be happy about -- an attitude which sustains her still. She even saw it as happy that all kinds of people on the farm worked together to make it through the war.

Jenny was schooled first by her mother, an infant teacher, and by a private tutor, then at the Perse School for Girls in Cambridge. Jenny waltzed through Oxford majoring in History and fun.

After the Oxford MA she worked for the Nigerian Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She got there new year's day 1960 the very exciting year of independence -- more fun. She switched to teaching at the university there 'till 1964 when she moved to teach at the University of Ghana in Accra.

August 1964 she married an American Peter Knauss in Accra and came to Chicago. Son Orlando was born 6 Oct 1966 and daughter Olivia was born 5 Nov 1969.

Soon she was a single parent supporting the children and her parents by teaching hither and yon. Later she taught community health at the University of Illinois Medical School and later still she was a community organizer for the Suburban Health Systems Agency.

During this period she was a major force in women's health issues with a national reach and reputation.

In 1983 she accepted the challenge of turning the not-for-profit Illinois Caucus on Teenage Pregnancy (later the Illinois Caucus on Adolescent Health) into an effective state-wide advocacy agency, which she did in award-winning fashion.

Consequences of a serious brain injury acquired in Nigeria caught up with Jenny, bringing symptoms diagnosed as Alzheimer's the first of April 2002. She retired at the end of 2002, started sketching, and never looked back.

Jenny changed steadily with increasing rapidity this year to where she needs hands-on help with almost all of her activities of daily living. Her children and her physicians and I could not avoid concluding that her safety must no longer depend on a person my age with my own health issues, that she needs full time skilled care.

It turns out that care available in an Eden Alternative facility very close to where Jenny's daughter Olivia lives at the NW edge of Baltimore will be much better than would be available here in Illinois. So, Monday the 28th of September 2009 Jenny began residence there.

There, she is living in her new now and is happy and healthy and safe, which is all that matters. She seems to have already forgotten about Chicago and us here, which is good for her but odd for those of us with memories.

For the first few years after diagnosis she was able to be a forceful advocate for better understanding of her Alzheimer's fellow travelers and for increased funding for Alzheimer's research and programs.

A famous interviewer taping a TV spot on Alzheimer's for the Today Show asked her why she wasn't unhappy. She answered that nothing since has been as scary as the bombs falling around the farm when she was very young, that she's had a full life working to change the world which let those bombs fall, that she's much too busy to be unhappy. The TV spot did not run. Jenny did not -- does not -- fit the mold.

DREADED TRANSITION

2009-09-19T13:42:00.006-05:00

Lin: Why did you say "dreaded transition" -- what is dreaded?

Don: Sometimes it is necessary to choose between a person's happiness and the person's safety.

Lin: We do that all the time with children -- we expect them to learn to make those choices.

Don: It's very different when the person is mature and is not able to make the choice.

Lin: Yes, I would dread making the choice in that case.

Don: And, it is very different when the choice means transition to a skilled care facility.

Lin: It would feel like abandonment.

Don: It is abandonment.

Lin: But, not a making that transition likely means a disaster which would be even worse.

Don: So the dreaded choice is made, first in principle.

Lin: Then come plans and actions to bring it to reality.

Don: Each step toward the reality is dreadful.

Lin: Steps like picking a facility, picking a date . . .

Don: Completing admission and qualification forms -- lots of sub-steps there . . .

Lin: Arranging transport, packing . . .

Don: Last times activities are shared.

Lin: That's a lot of steps.

Don: Each step is an unsaid goodbye.

Lin: That's a lot of goodbyes.

Don: The dread, the pain increases with each step.

Lin: With each goodbye.

Don: Imagine the pain at the very last step.

Lin: A dreaded transition.

WE AGE

2009-09-11T09:49:00.007-05:00

We age.
We go
away,
sometimes
slowly,
sometimes
faster.
Many
painful
goodbyes.
Not fun.

FREE WILL

2009-08-16T16:26:00.007-05:00

Believe in free will.
If free will is real,
then you won't be wrong.
If though, free will is
illusion, then you
won't be wrong because
you weren't free to choose.

WATCHED THE SPIDER

2009-07-22T13:49:00.006-05:00

22 Jul 2009:

Watched the spider spin a web across a window corner.

Watched the spider harvest and tend the web.

Watched the spider get big from web bounty.

Watched the bird fly by and grab the spider to eat for lunch.

JENNY KNAUSS COUSINS AND GRANDCHILDREN

2009-06-21T09:22:00.003-05:00

Today -- 22 June in Australia -- is Jenny's cousin Brenda's birthday. Cousin Elizabeth's birthday was 10 June.

The left photo is of Brenda and Jenny, the right of Elizabeth and Jenny.

Here is something I recently found that Jenny wrote a few years ago:

We always went to Melbourn (if there was petrol) during the fair, which was in a meadow on the Moor, the narrow road where our grandparents lived. Everybody in the village went, there'd be lots of spring flowers as well as roundabouts, dodgems, and booths.
My cousins, Elizabeth and Brenda, used to come and I remember all three of us sharing a bed(with me, as the youngest, in the middle). Our mothers would get up early and pick fruit from the garden and put in a dish by the bed so we could have it when we woke up.
My sister, Deb, was the youngest cousin and hadn't yet earned a place in the bed. I thought myself very lucky to be there with my big cousins, and certainly didn't complain about not having room to turn over. I wasn't taking any chances of being cast out of the "big girls" group!
A little later, perhaps just after the war ended, and a little more petrol was available, I was actually able to go to stay with my cousins in Puckeridge, where they lived. My father drove me half way and my uncle picked me up. I was overjoyed to be socially accepted by my cousins, and away from my little sister.

Elizabeth shares her birthday with grandson Theodore. Brenda almost shares her birthday with granddaughter Louisa, but -- maybe because Louisa didn't want to share her birthday -- Louisa delayed appearing 'till July first. The last photo shows Theodore and Louisa along with their parents Orlando and Rachael and Jenny.

With so many birthdays overlapping this post is to celebrate them all. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALL!

JENNY KNAUSS AND BUDDY SARAH

2009-01-05T15:09:00.002-06:00

This program was initiated in the 90's by a patient in the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center at Northwestern University Medical School. He suggested that it would be good to pair him with a medical student so that the student could learn from a real person, so that the patient would have mentally stimulating activity with the student, and so that the patient's caregiver would get some respite.

Center staff turned this into an award winning program. Each fall the staff recruits first year medical students and center patients and pairs them up. The buddy pairs then spend about four hours each month on various outings.

Jenny joined the program in the fall of 2002 and was paired with Amy Badger. You see them in this TV feature.

This was incredibly helpful for Jenny. Sharing activities with a much younger person is very helpful. Sessions with Amy helped Jenny to come to grips with how her life had changed, to focus on what is really important, to reconfirm her determination to be active and happy, and, as you can see in the video, to turn her advocacy juices toward Alzheimer's.

Sarah Cole – a young researcher in one of the medical school labs – suggested that people like herself also be paired with people like Jenny. It was no surprise that Sarah got paired with Jenny since Sarah was married in the tiny UK village where Jenny was born. You see them in the photo at the top.

Sarah continues the story (10 July 2005).

Jenny is the first person I've met who has Alzheimer's and the wonderful relationship we've established has entirely changed my misconceptions of this disease.

On learning about the buddy program I felt instantly that SO MUCH could be gained in pairing researchers with AD patients. After all, we study Alzheimer's at a cellular level every day and yet I suspect few of us really appreciate what Alzheimer's means, on a personal level – hence the many, somewhat shocking, misconceptions I had about people with early stage Alzheimer's. Indeed, I am still amazed to this day that, despite knowing about statistics and the biology of this disease, how ignorant I was about all this.

The following paragraphs are reflections of my own experiences from participating in the buddy program and meeting Jenny and Don, and of course we're all different. Indeed, there is no escape from the fact that having Alzheimer's changes life. However, through writing this I aim to highlight the very positive and life-enriching experiences that I have shared with Jenny and Don.

Before meeting Jenny I was very apprehensive – after all I thought – this is a person with early-stage Alzheimer's. Through ignorance I had sub-consciously categorized Jenny into an "Alzheimer's group" that, in my head, was separate from the rest of society. This is WRONG and NOT AT ALL HELPFUL!

For example, I wondered whether our conversations would be awkward – would we be able to build a relationship that would be maintained over the following months or would we have to start again each time we met? And what about activities? I went for the easy, safe option and favored activities that could be done at home rather than "risking" being out and about.

All of these fears we instantly dispelled when I met Jenny. We have NEVER met at home and we are ALWAYS out and about – the Art Institute, the conservatory, the lily pond, taking "lunch" (see the photo) at a selection of fine Chicago bars – we're often joined by Don and my husband, Rahul . . . . the list goes on.

Our first meeting was at the Art Institute and it was fantastic. The conversation was free-flowing and rapidly turned to gossip. Both having rather outrageous British humors added to the fun and as we pottered around the galleries we discovered that we had a huge amount in common. Our trip to the Institute yesterday, a year later, was equally, if not more fun and more fulfilling due to the strong friendship we have built together.

The fact of the matter is that yes, Jenny has Alzheimer's and yes, this is something that needs to be addressed. However, the over-riding point of all this is that Jenny is NOT, in any way, DEFINED by this disease. It doesn't matter what gallery or pub we visit – whenever and wherever we meet up we both know we're in for a real treat and that we're going to have plenty of fun together. Having Alzheimer's hasn't changed our interaction – the conversations are always non-stop, meaningful and fulfilling.

Categorizing people with early-stage Alzheimer's doesn't work and isn't necessary. This sub-conscious categorization may be human nature but through building relationships, such as the one Jenny and myself share, I think that we can really challenge misconceptions and educate people.

Over the past months I have learned of the importance of gaining early-diagnosis and living-life to the full. My relationship with Jenny has re-confirmed and focused my research and has underscored the importance of connecting researchers with the general public.

Don and Jenny are always full of excellent ideas and I find the following two particularly appealing. Firstly, wouldn't it be an excellent use of human resources if every Alzheimer's lab established a relationship with someone with Alzheimer's? - there is SO MUCH to be gained that is currently wasted.

Secondly, getting a diagnosis of any disease is a life-changing experience. However, the sting of such a diagnosis may be eased somewhat if the newly diagnosed could see how life is for Don and Jenny, three years post-diagnosis.

As an onlooker and good friend, I have learned that while life changes direction following diagnosis, for Jenny and Don it remains a very fruitful and fulfilling adventure.

Don adds (05 January 2009).

We continued to enjoy good times with Sarah, Rahul, and their lovely daughter Kalyani Eve, born two years ago, until they repatriated to England less than a month ago. We'll stay in contact via the internet and in person when they make return visits.

INVENTORS' COUNCIL

2009-01-01T15:12:00.012-06:00

Inventors' Council activities are now part of the Patent Clinic at John Marshall Law School. At this time there are no meetings. Please see this Patent Clinic link.

JENNY KNAUSS SAYS GOODBYE TO KALYANI

2008-12-12T15:31:00.001-06:00

Yesterday we visited with marvelous young Kalyani and her parents Sarah and Rahul for the last time before they repatriate to England today.

Kalyani was especially mischievous which is no surprise since she must sense that something big is happening.

We will very much miss them all

JENNY KNAUSS AND FRIENDS

2008-08-04T08:29:00.007-05:00

Jenny's daughter Olivia used a visit from England by Orlagh, twins Keir and Luke (Orlagh's father), and Marty (Orlagh's grandfather) to organize a gathering of family and friends last Saturday at the Heartland Cafe which is very familiar to Jenny and evokes happy memories. Jenny wasn't bothered a bit by the tremendous ruckus and greater noise.

She was very happy, seeing the occasion as celebrating continuity of generations starting with life-shaping memories of Jenny's happy childhood with her mother and younger sister Deb -- on to their children Olivia, and Deb's twins Luke and Keir -- on to Jenny's grandson Jacob and Deb's granddaughter Orlagh. Jenny saw her age peers from the CWLU days and former students and their children at the gathering as celebration of overlapping continuities.

Katy Hogan hilariously told about how she first met Jenny when Katy, a college freshman in 1968, went to a meeting on feminism and womens' liberation called by Jenny. Katy, and many other women her age, were inspired by Jenny to move causes forward. Katy continues moving forward as co-owner of the Heartland Cafe.

Mardge Cohen told that it was almost to the day 36 years ago four days after starting medical school when Mardge met Jenny in the community health program being taught by Jenny and Lauren Crawford. Mardge remembered that Jenny hollered at her for talking too much and Mardge hollered back. Mardge is still hollering back through her highly honored HIV/AIDS work here and in Rwanda.

I believe that all this gave Jenny a happy sense of the meaning of her life -- always moving forward and hollering back.

You can hear Jenny speaking about generational continuity via this Bejing Diary Link.

You can see more about Orlagh via this Orlagh link .

You can see more about the Heartland via this Heartland Cafe link.

You can see more about CWLU via this CWLU link.

You can see more about Mardge Cohen by Googling her.

JENNY KNAUSS AND COUSIN BRENDA RECONNECT

2008-06-21T08:41:00.008-05:00

Jenny's mother Marjorie had a sister Enid married to Benjamen Cannon with two children Elizabeth and Brenda. The Cannon's immigrated to Australia after the war. Brenda visited Jenny here in July 07. It was the first time they'd seen each other since 1949!

They spent time looking at scrapbooks Marjorie kept and they enjoyed a visit to the Art Institute. It's clear that they're the mischievous cousins.

I'm posting this slide show today to honor Brenda's Birthday the 22nd of June.

JENNY KNAUSS INTERVIEW 2003

2008-06-20T10:11:00.008-05:00

This interview with Jenny is from 2003.

Jenny Knauss, MA was born in UK, went to Nigeria and taught History at the University of Ibadan after her Oxford degree, married an American in Ghana, came to Chicago, soon found herself a single parent with two children, taught at various Universities in and near Chicago, began more than forty years of health care advocacy, was a pioneer in womens' health reform, was CEO of a not-for-profit health care advocacy organization for twenty years.

Q: You say that you're lucky that you got an early diagnosis. What do you mean by that?

A: I'm lucky because early diagnosis is rare and because treatments do work.

Q: Is this why you started advocacy?

A: Yes, I was horrified when I learned that early diagnosis is rare. I was doubly horrified when I learned that so many people who ought to be out front on health issues do not see my symptoms as a health issue. Apparently they still see my symptoms as being about hiding granny in the attic.

Q: And your position is?

A: It is a health issue. It is about diagnosis and treatment – just like diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and diabetes – the earlier the better. Diagnosis is not hard and treatments do work.

Q: Is the new advocacy part of your treatment – and when you say "treatments" do you mean lots of things other than medication?

A: Yes, I've spent many years as a health advocate and this new advocacy gives me continuity and purpose and keeps my challenges at bay. And, yes by "treatments" I mean lots more than medication.

Q: Let's come back to "treatments" after filling in some history. How did you discover that you had problems?

A: Running a small, underfunded, but creative organization I became frustrated when I couldn't remember names of my staff, couldn't find the nouns I needed, and would start a sentence and then not remember what I intended to say. I was angry, hostile, and sad at work and at home. It was rough on Don.

Q: But, what got you thinking about diagnosis?

A: On her Christmas visit (2001) my daughter Olivia got concerned when she noticed that I asked the same question several times in a row. She called Don, and that got us started with various tests.

Q: Tests?

A: We did a basic physical exam and then an MRI. I didn't like the MRI but now I do MRIs as part of research.

Q: Lets come back to that.

A: Right, the next step was an examination by a neurologist. I didn't like the neurologist at first because he spoke to Don rather than to me. I now like him a lot.

Q: And?

A: As a result of his exam and his study of my MRI he suggested that I might have vascular dementia. It was funny. After just putting a name on the beast – even though it is an ugly name and turned out to be the wrong name – I became much more calm and the anger, sadness, and hostility left.

Q: Wow, what next?

A: Next came the full neuropsychological exam where they found more cognitive impairment than could be explained by what looked like infarcts on the MRI. To see if we could learn more we did a lumbar puncture – aka spinal tap.

Q: Was that nasty?

A: No, we made it a bit of a picnic. The results did show * that it was 95% certain that my challenges would increase. This was May of 2002. My children came to visit and talked us into visiting England – my original home – in June. My son Orlando lived then in London so we could stay in his flat.

[* It could be said here that the results showed a 95% chance that Jenny's challenges can be labeled as "Alzheimer's," but we know that memory and neurocognitive challenges come in various combinations of pathologies and that each individual has their own set of challenges depending on the mix of pathologies and on the individual's brain reserves. We can identify the brain injury starting Jenny's mix, but not details of the mix. We think it best to focus on the challenges rather than on a specific label.]

Q: Let's get back to your main theme. You said that diagnosis was not difficult.

A: Right, there was nothing hard about any of this. The hard part was knowing to seek a diagnosis.

Q: Do people avoid diagnosis because they fear the outcome?

A: I'm sure, and I can understand why. My first reaction was that life looked bleak. I would have to leave my work. I couldn't imagine what I'd do. Now that I know that treatments work I'm busy with all kinds of things.

Q: What happened to change your outlook.

A: In October my organization had a big 25th year anniversary celebration. It was sort of a culmination of my work there, and I knew that I would retire at the end of November. My responsibilities as executive director were essentially over. Also at the end October I became a part of a buddy program.

Q: What's that?

A: It's a great program. First year medical students become buddies with people like me who are in the early stage of memory challenges. We spend four hours each month through the school year doing things together. My buddy Amy and I spent our time in museums. I learned more about my challenges as Amy and I talked about medical school. I began to realize that there are lots of people with early stage memory challenges and that there are lots of things which we can do to live active and useful lives with our challenges.

Q: What was the next step?

A: After I retired Don and I spent two weeks in Key West. I forgot all about the job I'd just left. I started sketching and discovered that I was quite good at it. Not long after we returned we joined an early stage group.

Q: Yes, I read about these groups.

A: Well now I met a bunch of people living with memory challenges like mine and began to recognize key issues. Naturally I wanted to start organizing around these issues. Meanwhile, Don in his group was having the same reaction. We had fun thrashing out these out these issues together, and soon our adventure became a positive part of our lives.

Q: So you started your not-for-profit?

A: There was one more step. I was interviewed for a TV feature on the buddy program. This got my advocacy juices flowing full force. I began to see how lucky I was to get the early diagnosis. I knew by then that there were lots of things which we could do to slow the progress of the symptoms and lots of ways to work around the memory challenges. And, I got up in arms about all the people who don't get early diagnosis and don't get the chance that I have to keep the beast at bay. It wasn't long, nor a big step, to starting our not-for-profit.

[The not-for-profit organization paid the cost of a web site which is the forerunner of this site. The funds we raised are now paying for a major literature search an what we know about things persons with challenges like Jenny's can do to mange challenges and enrich their lives. The not-for-profit will then cease existence later this year.]

Q: OK, you said several times that treatments work. What do you mean by treatments?

A: There are the medications of course. I'll leave discussion of these to experts. I will say that they are working for me.

Q: But by "treatments" you mean more than medications.

A: Yes, Don sees to it that our nutrition is consistent with what the best research shows. That means lots of fish and good-for-you veggies. I love it – I'm full of energy. It's lots of work for him, but it's part of his contribution to our adventure.

Q: There's more?

A: Walking. People from England like me love walking, so I get lots of exercise that way. Don loves walking too – that's one reason we decided that we could get along. The physical activity is known to be a good weapon against my symptoms, and walking is especially good because I'm always seeing interesting and new things and getting mental exercise as well.

Q: Mental exercise?

A: My sketching is great mental exercise because I have to see my subject, form my own ideas about it, and then get that on paper. This can take several days, with some of the work away from the subject. Also, looking deeply at things leads me to the library to read up on them. I was sketching a Tang Dynasty image and ended up spending more time reading about the Tang Dynasty than sketching. Often people approach me when I'm sketching and ask how I can do that. I've come close to saying, "well, first you have to have memory challenges."

Q: Do you have other projects?

A: I've been helping my friend Edna with her advocacy work on school funding. She's in her 80's and still a force of nature. After I'd been helping her for several months we had this amazing conversation where we told each other about our symptoms. I'm also working with friends writing a history of our health advocacy as original members of the Chicago Women's Liberation Union. My cousin Liz and I are putting together a family history. I participate in CNADC research which got me back in the MRI machine. And, I have a new medical student buddy, who again shares many of my interests, so we'll have lots of fun together.

Q: How can you do all of this with memory challenges?

A: With memory challenges I have lost some cognitive ability, but I have lots of ability left, and I can work around the things which I can't do. That's one of the things that activity does, one learns by doing how to work around a problem, just like learning how to avoid using a strained muscle. This is another reason why early diagnosis is so important, because it gives me the chance to do these things which keep the beast at bay.

Q: Which brings us back to the mission of your advocacy.

A: Clever us. I won't tire of pounding my fist and saying that we must increase early diagnosis. Early diagnosis is not hard and treatments do work. It's terrible that so many people are being robbed of the opportunity for early diagnosis. It's not right and we must change that.

[The next section of the interview took place early in June of 2004.]

Q: You recently made a very strong statement about funding for research. Can we include it here?

A: Sure, remember that it's my personal view. Here it is:

"Those of us who are living now with challenges like mine know our destiny, and thus we know – as only we can know – how unforgivably cruel it would be to cause others to share that destiny because research opportunities which now await funding are not funded.

If funding for research is not increased, then clinical trials which are now ready to commence will not start and the cost in human suffering – and the economic cost – will be huge, simply because of the greatly increasing number of people about to enter the age where incidence is high.

It will be said that we can't provide this funding because of the need to fight terrorists, but we can only fight terrorists by making ourselves less hated – for example by conquering health challenges. If we were to fail to pursue the opportunities which we now have at hand, would we deserve to be loved?

It will be said that we can't increase funding because of our national debt, but the national debt can be reduced by conquering health challenges. If we fail to invest just a tiny bit, then the huge cost of caring for the growing numbers of people about to join me will make our current debt look like the good old days.

It will be said that asking for increase in funding for research is not appropriate when all federal funding is inadequate, but there are few cases where so much good can be done for so little funding, and so much disaster surely awaits for lack of that little funding."

Q: Can we also include your blast of the Medicare prescription drug benefit?

A: Sure, with the same qualification:

"Except for ideologues who can't tell their elbow from a hole in the ground, everyone knows that all the legislation will do is to turn tax dollars into campaign contributions from drug companies to their friends.

We're outraged that we have to support a bad bill in order to start an experiment, perhaps lasting five years, which will show that the legislation doesn't work, so that maybe good legislation might then be passed. If we didn't support the bad legislation we might not get to do this nasty experiment for another ten years – putting any possible good legislation 15 years in the future.

It could be different. We could use reliable knowledge and intelligence rather than ideology. Elected officials could promote the general welfare (as they swear to do) rather than just grub campaign contributions. But, our world is not different – yet."

Q: Do you want to blast anything else?

A: Yes, I want to blast people who patronize me. The most hurtful thing about my adventure is knowing that I can't do some things which I once could – so when people patronize me they rub salt in that wound. When I need help I'll ask for it.

Q: More?

A: OK, stress amplifies my symptoms, so when I've tried to work with friends on projects and they make the process too stressful I have to stay away. I lose and they lose.

Q: Can we end this session on a positive note?

A: There's lots of that – those of us living this adventure have a very keen sense of what's important and what's not, which leads us to find no end of simple things to be happy about. I recommend this to everyone.

Q: So again, what's next?

A: I don't know. Ask me again later.

Q: OK, let's do that.

A: You know where to find me. I'll also try to answer any questions which are sent by anyone by email to me.

In 2007 Jenny's challenges increased. With that our advocacy is now limited to this blog.

Jenny recently finished transcribing her correspondence (mainly with her mother): Oxford years, ~1955-1959, 200 pages; Nigeria and Ghana years, 1960-1964, ~300 pages; 1964-1982, ~1,500 pages.

She spends mornings now sketching.

From about 10 AM 'till 3 PM Jenny is out with a personal assistant walking, visiting the Art Institute, attending free concerts, etc.

In the afternoons Jenny, reads some of the transcribed letters and stories she wrote a few years ago, continues her sketching and does jig-saw puzzles made from family photos.

She is not bothered by her challenges, is active and happy, and continues to fully enjoy art and music and walking and life every day.

JENNY KNAUSS' GREAT NIECE ORLAGH VISITS

2008-05-08T09:04:00.045-05:00

Orlagh's visit last July was very happy making. First some background:

Here you see Jenny on the floor, her mother Marjorie on her right, her younger sister Deborah on her left, and her daughter Olivia standing behind. Deb died early in 1999 and Marjorie died later that year.

Deb was married to Marty – you'll see him later – and there are two sons: Keir on Deb's right and Luke on Deb's left. Yes they are very tall. Luke is Orlagh's father. Luke, and Keir, and Marty – seen below with Orlagh – are raising this lovely child in Tiverton, UK.

Here's Marty with the lovely Orlagh.

Luke and Orlagh smiling for Marty's camera outside the Shedd Aquarium overlooking Monroe harbor.

Fun at the Field Museum with Olivia's son Jacob.

Somewhere at a pool.

In front of the Heartland.

JENNY KNAUSS' GRANDSON AND GREAT NIECE MEET

2007-12-24T08:41:00.001-06:00

Several years ago we made this video as a gift for Olivia.

Orlagh (now 5) and Jacob (now 6) met the first time this summer here in Chicago. That's Orlagh's father Luke between Olivia and Orlagh.

DON MOYER

2007-12-01T16:57:00.001-06:00

Don Moyer

- is an unreconstructed physicist,

- is an Historian of Science and Technology

- is a Patent Agent licensed by the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office since 1994 specializing in health, safety and assistive technologies,

- is an adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School

- received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin,

- taught and did research at various institutions including University of Wisconsin, IIT, Northwestern, Fermilab, and Texas A & M,

- published extensively on topics in Physics, History, Philosophy, Sociology, and Alzheimer's,

- was a frequent consultant, invited speaker, and organizer of Conferences, Colloquia, and Seminars on these and other topics,

- was elected to Sigma Xi and Sigma Pi Sigma,

- is a member of the American Physical Society,

- had research support including NDEA, NSF, MacArthur foundation, Welch foundation, and Ford Foundation grants,

- was still working as a physicist doing research with a device intended to improve radiation therapy before semi-retirement in 2004,

- was the agent for forty issued patents from 1996 to 2004 before aleged retirement,

- created Chicago's Inventors' Council funded by the city of Chicago and the US Department of Energy to work for for many years with independent inventors and small businesses to foster technology diffusion,

- has been teaching patent writing at John Marshall Law School since 1998,

- is creating and executing a John Marshall Law School and Austin Polytechnical Academy Patents in Engineering Project,

- served on the City of Chicago Community Development Block Grant Executive Committee and chairing the Economic Development Sub-Committee thereof and on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations,

[Updated 13 Jul 2010]