The Lone Elm

Dika Newlin - Schoenberg Student and Punk Rocker

The obituary in the New York Times for Dika Newlin caught my eye. (Note that you need to sign up to see the full write-up -- if you don't want to I have some articles on her following.) It is rare to see an American obituary sharing with us eccentric individuals the way the British papers often do.  Dika Newlin died last week at age 82, a child prodigy, student of Harold Schoenberg, cat lover, and punk-rocker in her 70's.  The NPR story on her is a hoot, concluding with a recording of her singing her cat song, accompanied by herself.  Good write-up at Playbill and a  lengthy remembrance by Sabine Feisst, who knew her well in her later years.  Mark Holmberg, a friend with her during her last days, of the Richmond Times-Dispatch writes: "She read dictionaries at age 3, began composing at 8, graduated high school at 12, had a symphony play one of her compositions at 14, finished college at 16 and had her doctorate at 22. One of her books on Schoenberg "will be read by generations to come," wrote a critic for The New York Review of Books."  The Richmond Times-Dispatch also has a photo montage.

Emilie du Châtelet (1706-1749)

Edward Lucas, a reporter for the Economist, has a delightful blog with considerable insight into the current workings of the broader European economy. (A number of his entries are items included in the magazine.) His most recent entry concerns his review of a book about Emilie du Châtelet, who found the love of her life in Voltaire. He says that as compared to Voltaire, "she was a more rigorous thinker, a better writer, a more systematic scientist, a formidable mathematician, a wizard gambler, a more faithful lover and a much kinder and deeper person. And she did all this despite being born a woman in a society where female education was both scant and flimsy."  For more information, and pictures, see here and here.  NOVA has a good description of her scientific discoveries with Voltaire.   

Hang Out with People Who are Happy!

Creating Passionate Users has a very interesting and compelling discussion of how we tend to become the people that we are around. The post has plenty of further references which I intend to follow up. The prescription is to hang around happy people and you will be happier and more productive! 

Drum Roll....Ta.Ta.Ta.Tum.......

So the new James Bond has been unveiled!  A blond guy ....Go look at the Gallery at this site.   And hopefully you will appreciate ALL of his qualities.  If you are going to read The Lone Elm you have to visit the links!!  He bears a lot of resemblance to my favorite guy Russell Crowe, but I can't imagine Russell Crowe as James Bond.