Getting screwed!

OK enough is enough. I know I am mostly responsible for all of the jokes about my ear... or, more accurately, my implant. Comments such as "John got screwed" or "has a screw loose" etc. So here's the final thing I'm going to say about "the ear".

About 10 days ago I went to LA to the House Ear Clinic, which is rated as the leading ear research institute in the USA. After interminable bureaucratic delays that turned my 45 minute procedure into a 9 hour ordeal, I was finally wheeled into the operating room. I chose not to have general anesthesia as I was very interested in the process so I had a local instead. It's pretty interesting to hear someone crank up the ole Craftsman power drill and begin drilling a hole in your head. This happened with three different drill bits, each a bit larger than the last. Once the hole was finished, the next sound was that of a ratchet screwing the titanium implant into the bone.

I couldn't see a thing but could hear everything. Dr. House told Jill after it was over..."He really asked a lot of questions." Indeed, who wouldn't when someone is drilling a hole in your head.

Now all I have to do is wait a couple of months for my skull to embrace the titanium threads on the implant so it will transmit sound on my deaf side through the skull to my good ear.

So that's it. Here's a gross looking picture. Within a week or so my hair should grow out and eventually when the transmitter is in place it will look like this.


I was fortunate to have been invited to a discussion group last week at a good friend's house in La Quinta. This is the same concept as the group I belong to in Oregon. It's rare to be able to spend an evening with thoughtful people who can discuss what are often contentious issues with clarity and thoughtfulness. The subject for the evening's discussion was American Exceptionalism—Fact or Fantasy.

Coincidentally, the day after this lively conversation I received the following about Thomas Jefferson. His life makes the case that America was founded by an exceptional group of fearless patriots. When you compare Jefferson with our current leaders (both sides) it makes one wonder if we still have the ability to be exceptional. Personally, I believe we do but it will be a near run thing.

Thomas Jefferson was a remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.

At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.
At 9, studied Latin, Greek, and French.
At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.
At 16, entered the College of William and Mary.
At 19, studied law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.
At 23, started his own law practice.
At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.
At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the
Rights of British America" and retired from his law practice.
At 32, was a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.
At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.
At 33, took three years to revise Virginia's legal code and
wrote a Public Education Bill and a statute for Religious Freedom
At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding
Patrick Henry.
At 40, served in Congress for two years.
At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated
commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John
Adams.
At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.
At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of
the American Philosophical Society.
At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active
head of the Republican Party.
At 57, was elected the third president of the United States.
At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size.
At 61, was elected to a second term as President.
At 65, retired to Monticello.
At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.
At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of
Virginia and served as its first president.
At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the
Declaration of Independence along with John Adams.

Thomas Jefferson studied the previous failed
attempts at government.  He understood actual history and the nature of man.
That happens to be way more than what most understand today.

Jefferson really knew his stuff.  A voice from the past to lead us in the future:

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we
shall become as corrupt as Europe."
   Thomas Jefferson

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are
willing to work and give to those who would not."
   Thomas Jefferson

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A
principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."
   Thomas Jefferson

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the
government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of
taking care of them."
   Thomas Jefferson

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from
too much government."
   Thomas Jefferson

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
   Thomas Jefferson

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear
arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
   Thomas Jefferson

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood
of patriots and tyrants."
   Thomas Jefferson

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas
which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."
   Thomas Jefferson

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties
than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to
control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation,
the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive
the people of all property - until their children wake up homeless on the
continent their fathers conquered."
   Thomas  Jefferson 


John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the White House for a group of the
brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement, "This
is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time
in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."