I can see clearly now
I’ve needed eyeglasses since first grade. Throughout school, my relatively poor vision led me to sit in the front row whenever I could. I think that possibly contributed to my more active participation in class and frequent “teacher’s pet” stigma. It also fed into my already nerdy nature, as eyeglasses helped me look the part. To my surprise, over the years the rest of the... READ MORE
Take note of hallucinations
Funny how the mind works. Well, at least it’s funny how my mind works. A few years ago, as my vision began to change with age, I started to “see things” that weren’t there. One day, I was lying on a physical therapist’s table when I noticed that the tiny random holes in the ceiling tiles above me started to look like sheet music. I saw what appeared to be staffs with... READ MORE
The last move
Those of us who were lucky enough to go to college may have cozy memories of campus life. Everything we needed was close by. A short stroll through a tree-lined campus led us to the dining hall, library, gym and classrooms. On the way, we’d recognize fellow students and wave or stop to chat. It was hard to be lonely in college. Just outside our dorm rooms, there were conversations... READ MORE
Up for the challenge
As editor of the Beacon, and an advocate for older adults throughout the area, I spend a good part of my day reading and thinking about the short- and long-term challenges that face us as individuals and confront our rapidly aging society as a whole. Sometimes these can feel like intractable problems, and when that happens, it can get dispiriting. Fortunately, I get to... READ MORE
A time for thanks
I want to thank the thousands of Beacon readers and their guests who attended our two 50+Expos in October. I think those who came will agree that it was wonderful to be together with other people, and simply to be out and about on a beautiful day, visiting the informative exhibits, getting essential vaccines and health screenings, and enjoying a fun, public event. I was especially... READ MORE
Where do we go from here?
Have you ever had a near-death experience? Of course, each day in our lives we’re one day nearer to our deaths. That’s the nature of the human condition. But those who’ve had what is now called a near-death experience (known as an NDE) have the sensation of having “died and gone to heaven,” and then return to life. The term is frequently applied to those who may have... READ MORE
In appreciation
The Beacon has been blessed with an amazing group of dedicated, talented employees throughout our 34 years in business. Typically, every fall I devote a column to thanking our staff and our freelance writers. I will do so again later this year. But today, I want to write in appreciation of an employee who retired from the Beacon many years ago. I am sorry to report the recent passing... READ MORE
No simple answers
I believe there’s a basic human drive to answer questions, solve problems, and develop new technologies to make life better. Sometimes the solutions are what scientists call “elegant.” That’s when a problem lends itself to a simple, straightforward solution. Unfortunately, life tends to be complicated, and sometimes we fail to predict the full impact of our solutions. Other... READ MORE
What to make of AI?
Efforts to develop computer systems capable of “artificial intelligence,” or AI, have been underway and making progress for decades. What is AI? In brief, it’s the ability of computer applications to understand language and answer questions or solve problems in a human-like way. Some signs of the success of these efforts include the current embedding of AI into our daily lives... READ MORE
Layers of reality
Since the invention of microscopes and telescopes some four centuries ago, our view of the world around us and the universe in which we live has changed markedly. What we used to believe about how our bodies worked, how stars and planets moved, and the very nature of reality have been repeatedly disrupted by new knowledge thanks to scientists and their steady improvement in developing... READ MORE
