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I love living in the future
Nov. 6th, 2009 02:11 pmThis article from The New York Times talks about a neat sounding interface. What made my ears perk up was the idea that it might be useful for illiterates. I'm meeting too many of those through my job. The idea that they could still use computers and other tech is really great.
Also, this Berlin Wall stuff is intriguing me. My parents ended up spending about a year there in total -- Dad actually ended up with closer to 16 months. I know that it was a terrific symbol of the reunification of Germany/fall of Communism, but no one seems to remember it was the three segments occupied (and yes, that is the correct term) by the Western Powers that was hemmed in. The Communists could go into the surrounding countryside. The Westerners could buy more products. I spent a few Christmases there (and my 26th birthday -- I saw Modern Jazz Quartet at the Concert Hall), and it's amazing how quickly the sense of limitation set in every time.
For me the seminal moment of my first visit to Berlin was going to the big department store, KaDeWe, in the Kufurstendamm with my family. When we exited the U-Bahn, we went up a long escalator. As we neared the top, there was a sign to my left. The first word I saw, because I read it from bottom to top, was Therezienstadt. It took me to Dachau to realize it was a list of every death camp. In 1988 at the busiest subway stop on the Western side, the populace of Berlin had to see that sign every time they entered or exited their metro system.
Also, this Berlin Wall stuff is intriguing me. My parents ended up spending about a year there in total -- Dad actually ended up with closer to 16 months. I know that it was a terrific symbol of the reunification of Germany/fall of Communism, but no one seems to remember it was the three segments occupied (and yes, that is the correct term) by the Western Powers that was hemmed in. The Communists could go into the surrounding countryside. The Westerners could buy more products. I spent a few Christmases there (and my 26th birthday -- I saw Modern Jazz Quartet at the Concert Hall), and it's amazing how quickly the sense of limitation set in every time.
For me the seminal moment of my first visit to Berlin was going to the big department store, KaDeWe, in the Kufurstendamm with my family. When we exited the U-Bahn, we went up a long escalator. As we neared the top, there was a sign to my left. The first word I saw, because I read it from bottom to top, was Therezienstadt. It took me to Dachau to realize it was a list of every death camp. In 1988 at the busiest subway stop on the Western side, the populace of Berlin had to see that sign every time they entered or exited their metro system.
