Quayle Droppings

Samples of the Writings of Max P. Quayle

Professional Writing PW 5500 Maria Siano

Drop Pattern:
Introduction, Splat!. 2

The Essay Times and Tides: New Media Convergence ... 3 On-line Articles Families Under Fire: Media Impacts on Youth-Parents . 5 Blogs
4D AND THRIVING

....................................................................................................... 7 Ordinary Misery Biking with Laura Bass Delivery Trophy Bass Passing Shades

The Personal Column Handled With Care: A Facebook Encounter ........... 10 Policies & Formal Positions New Media Regulation: Politics and Policy ... 15 The Editorial Texters: The Lingual Assassins .. 18 Reflective Letter .. 20

Splat!

There comes a time for every writer to present The Sample. For Max Quayle, Droppings is just that, a selection of writings that have represented both technique and flavor, and a splat of bias. This collection reveals a thirty-or-more-somethings views on a smattering of topics, supported by a strong level of research and proper attribution, that are all tied to family. There is to be found here an clear voice in support of transparency in adolescent, marital professional communication a declarative voice. In His recently launched Thesis Project (www.writetimeinc.com), Max has opened a way for anyone to kick back and consider what is going on around them, or just read what has been going on around him. Look to have your opinions requested, considered and then challenged Max does not acquiesce to waves of popular morality with respect to your absolute to have, hone and share them. The website is intended to showcase voices emerging in the early years of a brand-new millennium, with a focus on pieces that pre-stage, or even predict shifts in the international consciousness. Outrageous, Audacious? Would be in an age without the internet, as it is, all this information is pretty readily available. So, enjoy, throw back a response, follow, like or tweet, or just read, breathe and think. One of the last frontiers of privacy in our minds is the freedom to read, consider and develop opinionand this may be up for invasion sooner than we know. Max has broken onto the Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and other social platforms and is always collecting, gauging and listening for distinct voices to showcase. He finds, more often than not, stories of individual accomplishment, suffering, loss, hope and acceptance and puts forth the theory that there is still more good in the world than illit just doesnt have shock, and is therefore sidelined to a word of mouth traditionhistory is one great revolving lesson, after all the tech, blitz and bling fade into the background. www.facebook.com/max.quayle www.twitter.com/enotsxam

Times and Tides: New Media Convergence

As I walked out onto the southernmost sandbar on the tip of Plum Islandwhich is at the far edge of the Parker River Wildlife Refuge, and may as well be the far end of the worldI was mesmerized by patterns in the surf. The peninsula stands at the point of convergence of the Parker River and the Atlantic Ocean and plays host, twice daily, to a remarkable shift in the nature of the waters. As the low ebb passes and the moon swells the Atlantic tide, the hungry ocean seeks the low-lying sand bar. Concurrently, with gravity and pressure insisting that the river maintain its course, fresh water spills onto the same bar from the others side. In a complicated dance, a beautiful cross-hatched series of interlacing waves zip and unzip to and from each other while the sand lies silent. The effect is a nearly geometric, salty-fresh plaid of white crested peaks and touch of green troughs that order the inevitable blend of differing yet complimentary sources. Closing down summer thoughts and turning that space to considerations of new media and media convergence has formed a hybrid definition in my mind. As endless news sources continue to pool and flow into the vast sea of information, media convergencewhich phrase truly blends the news flow from all sources and in all media formatsand the resulting new media, can be likened to the effect of the tides blending with freshwaters. I visualize many news sources of varying stability and strength pouring like streamlets into the flow of fresh information. As this volume increases, it passes through well worn beds of editorial influence and is filtered and redirected, but inevitably (lightning fast in some cases) is offered to the vast retrievable information sea. At this junction, the waves of opinion and belief crash and steadily push to consider this flow and to find a place for it on the complete human consciousness. The result is a constant immersion in information of which some rises up to capture large notice and the rest simply makes its way to the public outlets. Any interference or at-

5 tempt to stem this flow would be futile, yet individual sources routinely flood and dry up as events demand. We stand on the brink and watch. The marvelous advantage of these media is their ability to channel small and simple things along with earth-shattering reports to the human mind for consumption and consideration. There will always be an appetite for the convergent media, and the system of sources that built it will continue to replenish it as time rolls forward. In many ways, it is the natural evolution of the protection of free speech inherent to the United States constitution that drives this phenomenon. Standing on the peninsular point, the beauty of the flows can be so alluring that one may lose their balance. Seeking stable, solid ground while amid such churning forces requires stepping back and assessing the motions from a safer, more distant vantage. Similarly, too much source material can overwhelm ones ability to completely forge opinion and leave thoughts incomplete and confused. A drawback to the constant stream of finer and finer bits of newsgathering is the limitations all experience when there is too much varying information and not enough time to categorize and process it all. Enter the infinite potential of the future. As we carefully position ourselves to observe the tumult of media convergence, the influence of technology will soon insist that we filter (and thus categorize and profile) our preferences. The press of data carries enough to fill all vessels and we will be forced to select the sources we find valuable based upon our morals, ethics, interest, and preferences. This rising tide will force some to higher ground while others will dive right into the swirling tide. The resulting interplay between humans and inert information will become more and more influential in the way we shape the world in which we live, thus dealing a significantly influential role to the sheer volume and diversity of data and source.
Concord News | September 15, 2010

Families Under Fire: Media Impacts on Youth-Parents

CONCORDThere are few moments in Emily and Laura's life that are disconnected from their social world. Being twins in their 15th year, they stand at the very center of their universe, and it takes a lot of software to support their busy lifestyle. Emily packs her slightly dated cell phone calendar with events and notes, turning it into a virtual diary, while Laura presses the keys on her phone so fast that a humming seems to emanate from the metallic candy green device as she carries on three different conversations at once. Neither of them would part easily with this token of instantaneous connectivity and storage. But, when asked if they had to let the phones go, what would they do? Both sisters grin and began naming survival schemes rapid fire: Meebo, Facebook, Skype, they alternate, and Laura adds, even Google, email, MySpace, and AIM are better than nothing. As long as it has instant messaging were cool. Oh, yeahLimeWire and YouTube, interjects Emily. Weve gotta have our music. These popular social/sharing media head the listthey know these powerful networking tools contain apps and options enough to keep an eye on just about any part of their relentless world of friends, siblings and their all-encompassing curiosity: Boys. Though they freely admit to sneaking their phones after curfew, and speak with obvious envy about all the other kids whose parents apparently do not require sleeping, chores or the dated concept of earning privileges, these girls are seriously in tune with what matters mostto them. With all of their connections to the supposed real world, their stepmother, Deb, is amazed at their apparently shielded conclusions about how the world works. She has spent hours explaining that other kids do have boundaries, homework doesnt do itself, and what they must do to retain privileges. According to the Wall Street Journal, children are spending a mere 24 minutes a day doing cleaning, laundry and other housework. This represents a 12% decline since 1997, and a 25% drop from 1981. I cant wait to see how you treat your kids..." she says. And we will definitely be stopping by for dinneron you!

7 In quiet moments between the four younger childrens demands, she mentally calculates the growing girls share of the family budget. When she shares this figure the twins roll their eyes, and slowly resume their phone privilege producing tasks of carrying laundry and helping with siblings. "The Internet has certainly changed how chores are done around here." she confides. Sure it would be easier to do their chores myselfno griping, no complaining but Im hoping it will teach them something about the way real life works. They cant text and IM 24/7, besides; I believe this will help them become better people." "I spend a little too much time on it, too", she says, turning and lowering her voice after they have gone. Deb is one of a growing number of parents who use the Internet to spruce up dinner, plan housekeeping, entertain kids andof course monitor grades, and social networking activities of the young, empowered teens of an undefined generation of entitlists. Internet usage in America has doubled in the past five years, according to a Gallup poll what was 26% in 2002 has become 48% in 2009. Deb is clearly not alone. As her stepdaughters submit to the family deadline of 10:00 pm for all media, they share a word of goodnight, literally, before the twins hurry to their rooms to 'crash'. She thoughtfully holds her 4-month-old son in her lap and wonders what the constant battle between the world's pressure to abandon the future for the now, and her own hopes that there will be enough good left in it to sustain him, will produce. Somewhere behind her, a buzzer goes offthe scent of warm bread fills the room.

4D AND THRIVING

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Ordinary Misery
Carter Hill Orchard beckons locals with two outstanding reasons: Proximity to Concord and plump, red apples. The second may behoove any orchard, but after a day there, I was skeptical of even the apples. A gorgeous bird blind dominates the hill top orchard, and draws many birdwatchers (hawks, specifically) to the place. Beware the "walking trails," though. A fine kiosk displays the network of walkways, but it is not so...My family took the trails only to find downed trees, locked gates and a mile and-a-half loop back to the entrance. We licked our wounds with free fruit and over done cookies that left a poor taste.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Biking with Laura

Ok, the chains have become rusty and I sometimes drive...This blazing summer has nearly squeezed the ride right out of me. Last quest was two weeks back, a return to Sewall's Falls with my teenaged daughter. Laura is 15 and has complained of the same lethargy that I am enduring. We hit the road at 8:30 and got up a good wind; 6-7 miles of street riding only made me hungry. Slicing into the riverside dim brought the scent of hot summer/low river deep into my sinuses. We did the nominal trail shots, but must mention the killer whoops about 1/3 mile inLaura was very poised and handled the roots well, I barely avoided a throw. The bomb was yet another trail-blaze on the way home, and ended up climbing and circling the same rugged hillLaura was not amused! We beat back the undergrowth and followed a narrow streambed back to State Street and civilization. It was a good ride.

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Bass Delivery
Though the bike is cankered, the fishing gear is absolutely in order. I took half a day late August and put the canoe into the "stump field" at Hopkinton Dam. The wind heaved the prow over constantly, but I pushed with a will and made a wave line over to the western pools. A few casts netted naught, but the sense of silent scales filled my mind. I caste near a stump and - Bang! - the line went downed hard. A little slow reflex saw me set the hook a second late, but sure. Bringing in the prince of the pond at 17 inches and a pound and a half, he kicked without feet and spat lipless curses- but he was mine. More to come...

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Trophy Bass
The slow wandering canal that connects the stump field of the Hopkinton Dam to the dam itself is nearly current free. Only the slightest ripples march away from the spillway confluence into the lower landsthe whole area is low and really does not appeal to my anglers sense. I paddle under the wind, down a long watery way and emerge at the lower pool. I do not expect much, but a small, earthly, bush covered island catches my eye. With the open pool, the wind navigates for me, but I lob a line just short of the outcropping. A snag...frustrated, I paddle over to free the snarl. Lifting the line I feel a jerk. A mangled clump of pondweed greets my net firstthen I see him: 3.5 pounds and close to 22 inches, the king is on.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Passing Shades
How does nature do it? As I walked home tonight, I notice the hundred year old oak in my back yard has begun to turn. It is a lovely old tree with long sweeping branches and a thick covering of full leaves. I pause, admiring the pretty shade of light orange and while musing upon its uniqueness my eye is drawn to two pots of identically shaded party mums sitting in clay pots upon my neighbors doorstep.

10 Could it be that these two remotely related species one spiraling inevitably towards sleep and the other in prime form of wakefulnessboth on a sliding scale of color changemight have paused to compliment one another as old oak goes a-browning and the bright little mums strive to shame the sunset hue? I realize that this is life. In our old age, we often reflect shades of youthful splendor, if only in one passing day. While in youth, we seek to reflect those few elders in whom we have seen a spark of greatness. The sun sinks and all things turn to gray as I round the corner. The moment fades, but another little piece of natures infinite balance has found its niche in my mind.

http://4dandthriving.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html

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Max P. Quayle

Handled With Care: A Facebook Encounter

The anonymity of the web has certainly thickened our collective skins. If we stumble into a chat room filled with road rage glory, foaming racial hatred or sexual permissiveness we can just leave right? Strangely, sometimes we stay--if only to see a little more of the shock before we go. In person, an offensive or bellicose conversation is often affected by the appearance or withdrawal of a new person, but with the subtle voyeurism available on the web, we can take part in some very raw experiences without even interrupting the flow of words.

The same is true on the endless scroll of the Facebook wall: opinions are thrown against this emerging soundboard with abandon; only to stick for a few minutes before sliding into "past comments" oblivion. The most delicate subjects can be severely maligned, twisted and bruised there, and all with a growing sense of bravado or worse -- indifference. Is the state of Internet communications rapidly streaming toward sudden, impulsive and thoughtless ranting?

Recently I was "creeping"

<should I define this term in my final draft?> my teenagers' social

media accountsa pre-requisite to their existencewhen I came across what I thought to be a downright vulgar post. After a quick profile check, I discovered a male, 20 year-old college student who was contributing to my 13 year-old nieces wall. In perfect parental form I shot a personal comment off (without the benefit of review) to him inquiring as to his meaning and intention. The result of my protective impulse netted me an hour and a half long exchange with the

12 young man, portions of which will be quoted below, that truly inspired, surprised and humanized my social Media opinion, forever:

10:28pmMax Dave, take a minute and read the Message I just sent you, ok?

(My tone was meant to be friendly, but I was pretty angry, and that would have come through in any other medium.)

10:29pmDave Sure =) 10:31pmMax Oops! You are twenty; you probably don't even know [my daughter], do you?

(Sarcasm, implied)

10:31pmDave i doubt it... lol i'm sorry if my swearing offends you i just dont believe in censorship... 10:33pmMax Okay, just be careful about letting in minors into your world, there is a power of influence which speaks to a higher purpose than censorshipit is free will. 10:34pmDave i dont think that swearing make kids bad... they all do it even if you dont see it happening

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10:34pmMax Choosing to be aware of your audience is a supreme act of maturity. Oh, believe me I am not crusading against cursing, I wish I could stop myself...I just prefer to project my better language around minors. Do you agree? 10:36pmDave well i think until like 13 probably yeah... i dont swear in front of my niece...

(At this point, Dave has actually admitted that he is opposed to swearing around some young people. He has also made a few condescending remarks, and I must confess that maintaining civil decorum was wearing on me, but we plodded on.)

10:45pmMax Well, I am new to Facebook, and have been asked to help set my niece on a better path. I have enjoyed this exchange-you have the makings of an excellent parent. 10:45pdave idk what kind of idealistic world you live in lol well than you i guess 10:46pmMax The F-word is powerless. Context and intent are powerful 10:49pdave idealism only leads to heart break my friend... one day you'll see how cruel this world... is... an maybe this can give you some perspective... in an idealistic world 14 year old boys moms dont die like mine did.... so maybe you can see why i thinks ok for someone that age to say [expletive]... cuz sometimes its necessary

(I began to sympathize, a little, with Dave. But was still quite wary of a predator playing out a poor me role. I decided to press him more closely:)

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10:52pmMax Now that the sore is wide open, please allow me to offer you some healing words: There is no pain like the loss of a loved onewe are alike in this sacred way. There is no love like love lost. And, for me, there is no greater comfort than the fact that the time I had with the one I lost was mine to keepalways. 10:53pdave dude seriously dont patronize me....

(Not sure how I was misinterpreted here, more evidence of the poor accuracy of chat exchange.)

10:53pmMax You are a powerful and creative man. You will do well...I am confident your loved ones are sometimes still near 10:54pdave look i'm fine i deal with my probs its cool i'm just saying this conversation didnt need to happen cuz she's seen and heard the word before and will again.. 10:54pmMax Please receive my words as peaceful, I have no patronization for you--only recognition of the twenty year old I once was. I also don't know when to shut up, so I will wander off, thank you for you. 10:54pdave and prolly already says it on occasion 10:56pmMax It did happen-and we are ever so slightly changed by it. Thank you for the reality check. I know swearing is rite of passage- I just couldn't interpret your post group thing. 10:57pdave your really preachy today...

15 (Here I relented, and we discussed creationism, nihilism and the state of the world. Dave revealed a profound distrust in human nature, and I began to see that he truly stumbled across my nieces wall, and did not seek her out. They had a mutual friend. I chose to wrap up with a compliment/invitation to chat at a further time:)

11:59pmMax My time with you was well spent - and I am thrilled that neither of us have changed-much...nor did we descend to insults or arrogance...Your last comment is worth another hour of my time, may I email you? enots.xam@hotmail.com - me 12:03adave ok then... yeah you can give me your thoughts... i wont be able to respond tonight i have class in the morning i need to wind down so i will get back to you... i'm also feeling that i'm losing my concise thoughts at the moment my email is blackfire6615@aol.com it has been a pleasure discussing with you and a welcomed change for most college students really dont want to discuss anything that has substance its always superficial convos... sometimes i fear i maturity is beyond my age

So you may see that this guy was no predator, feeding on the innocence of young teens, but more a misplaced wanderer who was clearly opinionated and willing to defend his idle stream of thoughts with the energy of a civil libertarian who has just been asked to censure himself. I believe a real need is out there to clarify the apparent intentions of posts and chat streams, but acknowledge the incredible amount of time and dedication such an endeavor would require. The solution? Clearly, parents must be wired in to the social networkings of their children, even opt to clone their page and receive real time wall posts. But, closer to the heart, I have spent some really good conversation/lecture time with my daughters to educate them on impressions and misunderstanding and the value of ignoring foul thoughts and filthy language. We have agreed that anything posted to their wall is as if it were spoken in our home. They have agreed to deter friends from cursing and we have reduced their friend lists to persons whom we actually know.

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New Media Regulation: Politics and Policy

Some articles, over the past two years, when taken in at once, suggest a bleak state of affairs when it comes to New Media Regulation. They are all reactive, as if the regulations are being outpaced by the innovations. A few are found below: Security breach reporting rules are introduced Standards and protocols, which when released are nearly obsolete before the ink dries. Copyright reform heats up The iPod levy takes centre stage. Anti-spam legislation.

These first lines were found in 2008 issues of the Toronto Star newspaper, and show clearly, the merchandisers, code writers, and engineers are willing to enter into a two-step dance with existing regulation, neatly sidestepping redundant legislation with clever technology and techniques. The never-ending action/reaction approach to effective Media regulation has been the norm since the Internet bubble first rose. What then is the form of media regulation to take in order to effectively administer a level field to all users which does not offend the advocates of an embattled free speech? It has become clear that governance must be installed in cyberspace. Imagine waking up and wiggling the mouse to wake up your PC. Up comes a new page: Internet Law Enforcement Agreement. You blink, and wonder if some criminal has been at your machine, but soon read

17 that there is an interim governance board over seeing New Media regulation, and it is law. A constitution is presented for your signature, and by so signing, you agree to use the Internet interface as a representative of your native country, with an acceptance that the actions you undertake may be used to identify and stop Internet crimes. It is a lot to take in, and could never pass in one swift congressional vote, but many scholars agree, the Internet needs a government. With constitutions that remind all users of their inherent fidelity to their country of citizenship, a new mood might sweep across the world, and a new awareness could take hold. Slowly, media that tear down the precepts of Democracy, free speech and violate the rights of others would fall into a black market existence. Any entity could of course, go legal by altering content and adjusting wares according to guidelines--or suffer the same ban that might accompany an untested pharmaceutical drug or a toy that was shown to be harmful to children. Though such Governance may be easy to envision as bureaucratic and flawed, it is hoped that some of the finest minds would sign on to write the constitution, and during draftingas occurred during the original American constitutional conventionthe rest of the country would debate, discuss and deploy all manner of strong, ruddy freedom of speech to challenge, overturn and influence all points on the table. According to Manuel Puppis, an Internet scholar and Swiss citizen, such governance might take an institutional form. He states, When interested in how the regulatory structure affects the media, then it has to be stressed that governance is closely connected with an institutional way of thinking. As he suspects, the look of Internet governance might take a very familiar form at its outset, but it is to be believed that over short time, people would see the need for it.

18 And, like so many dependable institutions we rely upon in our day, would reluctantly, passionately and certainly begin to reflect the true desire of its creators. He concludes, I argue that new sociological institutionalism is particularly well suited as a theoretical framework to analyze the influence of media governance on media organizations. With his hat in the ring, Mr. Puppis is confident that familiarity would over rule contempt. An Internet conscience might result which truly puts regulation back into the fingertips of the citizens who use it. A time of considerate analysissort of a prolonged beta state would catalyze opinions and groups for and against would spring up in blogs, chats and feedback the world over. The bottom line is, the world would likely disagree in the form to give, but unanimously approve of the need to give it. Says Puppis: we are interested in the interplay between regulatory structures and media organizations." And, what an interplay it would be. In this sketch, a concept of citizen appointed New Media Governance has been proposed. The current alternative is a sprawling unregulated entanglement of forces both good and ill vying for attention in a no-mans land of unexplored ethical terrain. The Internet and new media are not legal entities, but the place where they do businessCyberspaceis a place, and as such, should be a place of order.

Puppis, Manuel. "Media Governance: A New Concept for the Analysis of Media Policy and Regulation." Communication, Culture & Critique 3.2 (2010): 134-149. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 9 Oct. 2010. Eight technology law issues to watch in '08." Toronto Star (Canada) n.d.: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 6 Oct. 2010.

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Texters: The Lingual ssassins

An Editorial

The shuffling steps, the downcast eyes, the half-lidded glances at the dinner table--what does it all mean? From a distance, many of todays teens can easily be mistaken for OCD-ridden castaways from the set of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Upon closer inspection, the observer may catch a glowing reflection in the eyes, and the rapidly wiggling thumbs of an adolescent completelyif momentarilyabsorbed in the act of text messaging. For good or ill, the days of following a taut-stretched phone cord around two corners and under the bathroom door to locate a huddled young person chatting away with friends are over. Without speaking word one, entire dialogues are being transmitted invisibly and silently right over our heads. With up to ten or more active text streams flowing at any given moment, teen-agers have moved multitasking forward by an order of magnitude. Distraction is imminent. In general, the adult world has settled down over the texting craze; many states have established laws to punish distracted drivers, and most cell phone companies have weaseled an unlimited texting clause into the average subscriber's ever-inflating phone bill. Quick series' of pressed buttons have simplified family scheduling and the busy signal is truly going the way of the vinyl recordbut where are the minds of the kids?certainly not fixed with rigid attention on that tough trig problem, and definitely not on household chores or helping out with dinner. Adults who have been raised with certain decorum dont even know if it is polite to interrupt a person texting, while the average teen texter thinks nothing of fetching a vibrating device from a half jean pocket right in mid-sentence. And how is it, with every cell phone on earth tied to-

20 gether by electronic precision to the exact time that these future adults still have not a clue what time it is? A price will be paid. Whether in attention span deficits or by an inability to select one's own clothing for the following day without a dozen opinions, the nation's 'text wrapped' youth are evolving. No need to write down homework assignments, they know which kid to text. Heck, why even trouble with making flash cards for Spanish class, a series of self-sent texts will provide ample reviewand other incoming texts can be addressed without so much the turn of a head. Mom and Dad can be avoided discretely and completely between meals by an irregular stream of reminders and, in some households, trips up and down stairs are all but eliminated by delegation and demand through he medium. The Spoken word has timbre, dimension and melody. Even a timely phone call can convey tact, etiquette and consideration. But the supplanting of texting for so much of daily verbal exchanges will bear a bitter fruit: Important items requiring face-to-face will be postponed or downgraded to a text. Myriad true intentions will be misunderstood. And, the steady simplification of depth and dynamics in speech must inevitably lead to further decay in the once rich pleasure of meaningful conversation. Why speak at all? The pathway were on may result in a mute nation; texting the bus driver to stop, texting answers to teachers, and the ultimate indecency: the texting of marital vows. A humorous exaggeration? Maybe, but it is the opinion of this newspaper that texting has already assassinated half of all previously pertinent verbal conversations and shows no signs of slowing down its voracious appetite.

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Bird Bath: Reflections

I really enjoyed selecting work for Quayle Droppings, from academic papers to editorials, it represents a real slice of my mind. The journey from creative mind (thanks, Mom!) to literary entrepreneur is a thrill, interspersed with extended periods of extraordinary boredom. I have found a daily schedule consisting of two-hour creative chunks set between physical activity and meals. My family of four lively children ten and under, encourages the option of day-scattering, as long as all the important pieces are there, it counts. Now that this project is finally ready and launched, return to the ordering and shaping of the next period. Look for a rash of essays and yarns, on topics from science fiction to faith, to atrophy of the mind. All launches should proceed from my business page at Facebook, called writimeinc. The onrush of Facebooks supremacy in the social media world is astounding, I was there when it first came to my campus, UMASS Lowell, I thought Now there is great way to connect with the ladies. Never was a tool so under estimated, and misjudged, people really care about status, posts and timelines Some as writers, others as likers, and some many still as creepers, peekers and seekers. The field contains them all, and we are all connected, as much or as little as we like. Please post to my wall any voices that you think should linger in our ears, and I will try to get exposure to them. Together, a wave of good news may suffice to wash away the grim misfortunes of bad news.

Max Quayle