retired men’s association cigar box bulletin october 2011
TRANSCRIPT
Anniversaries 8 Birthdays 9 Taktaalik 11
Retired Men’s Association
Cigar Box Bulletin October 2011Volume 14 Issue 10
Inside this Issue
UpcomingMeetings
Friday, Nov 11Friday, Dec 9Friday, Jan 13Friday, Feb 10October Minutes
Continued on page 4
October Speaker
Reporter: Frank Irish
Reporter: Abner Salant
continued on page 3
Ships Bells rang at 10:00 AM
Dr. Silber is a native Texan, born in San Antonio in 1926, and, prior to his selection as President of Boston Univer-sity in 1971, served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of
Texas. He has published widely in philosophical journals as well as magazines and newspapers. In 1996, he became Chancellor of Boston Uni-versity and continued in that position until his retirement in 2003.
The meeting was called to order by President Frank Lyons and Rey Graunas led us in the pledge of allegiance. The President expressed appreciation to various mem-bers who had helped with the details of the meeting, including Dave Calder, who prepared the coffee, John Iberg, who procured the doughnuts from Stop and Shop; Fred McDougall, who handled the identification badges, and Frank Irish and Abner Salant who will be writing the Bulletin articles for this meeting.
The travel and guest announcements were introduced by NickVeeder. Guests were Dave Stallard (his second time as guest) who was the guest of John Heckscher, and Paul Healy, the guest of Jim Carlton.
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The Cigar Box BulletinP. O. Box 261
Wayland, MA 01778
Board of Directors Frank Lyons PresidentBill Ely 1st Vice PresidentBarry David 2nd Vice-PresidentAl Persson 3rd Vice PresidentMerrill Mack TreasurerMort Brond Program ChairmanAl Persson Editor of Bulletin Karl Geiger Ron RiggertWally Hart Wayne Clemens John Kassabian John Kiladis
Proof ReadersYutaka Kobayashi, Bob Curtiss,
Karl Geiger, Fred Schultz, Ken Slowman , Anthony Martinelli
Felix Bosshard
The RMA is a not-for-profit corporation
Published monthly by the Retired Men’s Association
of Weston, Wayland, Sudbury and surrounding communities.
Page 3 Speaker-- Contiued from page 1
Dr. Silber’s interest in architecture was derived from his father who was an architect. While a young faculty member at the University of Texas, he was a regular participant in weekly meet-ings devoted to the discussion of architecture. He is an Honorary Member of American Insti-tute of Architects and has published a book entitled Architecture of the Absurd, which pro-vided the theme for his presentation to the RMA.Dr. Silber was in fine fettle as he delivered his polemic on architects who practice “theory speak” and are indifferent to the rules of sound architecture. He spared none of the big names in architecture, including Le Courbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Frank Gehry. At the same time, he also held the clients of these architects responsible by allowing them to run amok in their designs and expenditures. He maintained that there would never be architecture of the absurd if someone did not agree to pay for it. He also noted that architects who produced absurd structures were also capable of delivering functional, efficient products when carefully managed by their clients.He cited a number of examples of the absurd, including the following:-A Frank Lloyd Wright building with cantilevered balconies with inadequate support which ultimately fell apart. He also cited Wright’s philosophical rubbish in which he said he had to break open the building box by inserting windows at the corners.-Le Courbusier’s plan to raze the Casbah and replace it with a completely rebuilt city of his design. The mayor of Algiers rejected the plan, and Le Courbusier was equally unsuccessful trying to sell it to the Vichy government after the Nazis overran France.-Sert designed the BU library, law school, and a dorm. From the outside, there is nothing to differentiate their functions from one another. In addition, in what was to be the razing of run- down buildings, he destroyed perfectly adequate homes of working class people. The entrance to one of the buildings faced northeast, the direction of some of the worst weather in the area, a problem that Silber had to fix by having an entrance constructed facing in another direction.-The BU student union was built with a below grade patio that was unbearably hot in the summer and plagued with rain, snow, ice and cold the rest of the year. Eventually, he had it enclosed to make a ball room.-The Jewish Museum in Berlin was based on a deformed Star of David. However, it has nine points where the Star of David only has six.-Royal Art Museum in Toronto where the new section has no relation to the original building.-Extension of Royal Albert Art Museum in London consisted of a spiral between two beautiful old buildings. Construction cost increased from the original $72 million to $162 million lead-ing major donors to back away.-Bilbao effect essentially utilizes convoluted structures that attract tourist, for example, while behind or within there is an ordinary box-like building. This effect is found in Denver Art Mu-seum, some say the Guggenheim, and many others throughout the world.-Fisher Hall at Bard has stainless steel “thatch” while the actual concert hall is an ordinary box behind the façade.
Continued on page 7
Page 4
Travelers included Bob Peterson, who took a trip through Kiev, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Talinn and Helsinki. Neil Kaufman went to Denmark and Norway, where he particularly enjoyed Bergen. He also went to have a “wee dram” in Scotland, and walked around Brussels. Bob Cooke went to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, enjoying great weather all the way. Frank Irish spent a few weeks with his daughter and granddaughter, who are living in Lyon, France. Jim Stoddard went on a river boat trip in Europe, and Charlie Raskin went to Bermuda. Ed Parrott reported on a trip to the Baltic countries, and mentioned in particular a 400 year old ship, the Wasa, on exhibit in Stock-holm.
Stan Waugh spoke about the next RMA hike, on October 18. Hikers will be gathering at the park-ing lot of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge at 10:00 AM.
Special events were announced by Chris Hammer. On October 21 there will be a trip to the USS Constitution. And on October 18 there will be a Men’s Bridge game at Springhouse Pond. Chris mentioned that E mail announcements of special events like these are sent out by Al Persson to RMA members. Chris also mentioned several possibilities for future special events: the Mason & Hamlin piano factory; the Genzyme building (which is supposed to be ergonomically perfect); and asked for other suggestions to be sent in.
Birthdays and anniversaries were detailed by Gerry Brody, who noted that it was a short list this month. Don Sherman told the group that he is planning to use photos of husbands and wives in the anniversary slide show, and asked members to send in such joint photos.
Charlie Raskin read an obituary of Robert Hayes who died at age 77. He served four years in the Air Force and was a 45 year resident of Sudbury.
Charlie also spoke of the health problems of some of our members. John Kassabian is going into the hospital in New Bedford. Bill Metz was injured in a fall but is doing better now. Bob Lening-ton is back with us after a period of disability. Pat Mullen’s biopsy looks good, Charlie reports.
Jack Bushman entertained us with a number of short stories and one-liners. Jim Howard an-nounced the ROMEO luncheon which will be at Bella Costa. Don Sherman requested that mem-bers be careful around the projector table (coffee spilled into valuable equipment would not be welcome) and also asked members to send material for slide shows several days ahead of time, and to notify him that it is coming.
The President noted that the RMA has given $1000 to Parmenter Health Center. John Hecksher added that RMA members are asked to volunteer for renovating a room at Parmenter on October 22.
Continued from page 1
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Our own Bill Ladoulis serenaded a "Lucky Thirteen" RMA members at Bella Costa Restaurant for the ROMEO lunch following our October meeting.His mandolin selections set the perfect tone .Rick Dugan has scheduled the November lunch for the recently renovated Lotus Blossom in Sudbury. Jim Howard
-MIT’s Stata Center had such a large cost overrun that there was no money left to finish the enterior. Design flaws have led to leaks, foundation problems, and other issues.Examples of sound architecture include the Novartis Center in Cambridge, the Center for Per-forming Arts in China, and the Beijing Aquatic Center.Dr. Silber concluded with the observation that absurd architecture can be avoided when archi-tects work as practical artists in partnership with their clients. Client, often boards of chari-table organizations, have an obligation to be actively involved and see that another absurd structure is not design and built.
Speaker from page 3
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It was noted that the Salvation Army is asking for volunteer bell-ringers during the Christmas sea-son. The First Baptist Church of Sudbury is looking for clothes for the homeless. Milt Jones had further information about Lipitor, which he promised to discuss with interested members during intermission. Joe Bausk reported that there will be a men’s breakfast at the Sudbury Senior Center on October 18.
Minutes continued from page 4
Romeo Report :
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Anniversariesin
Page 8
October
All those in Green have been married 50 years or more.
Day Year Years
Your Anniversary Photos
Please send, via e-mail, a recent (last 10 years) photo of you and your wife, and a wedding photo if available, for inclusion in the anniversary images displayed each month at the RMA meeting.Send to [email protected]. Please put your name and anniversary month in the e-mail sub-ject line.You can also send an email at [email protected] or a printed photo to me at via snail mail to 5 Dean Road Wellesley, MA 02481. I will scan the photo and send the orginal back to you.
Charles Fowler Catherine 23 1943 68Benjamin Stahl Shirley 19 1950 61Charles Pepper Anne 7 1951 60Karl Geiger Bettyanne 16 1954 57Rolf McVickar Joan 28 1955 56Robert Russo Lotte 27 1955 56James Stoddard Miriam 22 1955 56Frederick Dugan Peg 11 1958 53Christopher Jones Debby 25 1958 53
Ed Gottmann Mary 28 1967 44John Kiladis Trish 12 1969 42
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October Birthdays
1) New volunteers to ring the Salvation Army bell for one hour!2) Setting up the kettle in the morning and retrieving it in the evening at Donelan's.3) Setting up the kettle in the morning and retrieving it in the evening at Whole Foods (be-cause of Wayland traffic, it is not feasible for one person to do both).4) Collecting and counting money - the FUN part!5) Phoning volunteers. This is nice because people like helping the Salvation Army.
This year therre are nine December dates for bell ringing still open: 3, 10, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
You may phone me, John Heckscher, at 508-358-4020 to put your name on a list to be called to schedule a time. You may also call Sonja Strong directly, at 508-358-4623.
Only one hour, folks!John Heckscher
Savation Army needs Volunenteers
Rolf J. McVickar 24 1924 87Robert S. Johnson 19 1925 86Donald Soorian 12 1925 86Frank Irish 12 1932 79David R. Thielscher 10 1932 79Frederick Dugan 17 1933 78Merrill Mack 17 1936 75Karl Kelber 16 1937 74David Doran 13 1937 74Larry Bankart 13 1938 73William Johnson 17 1941 70William Kneeland 17 1944 67
Day Year Age
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If you received this bulletin by U.S. mail but would like to receive it in the future by email only, please email your request to [email protected] or AL Persson, [email protected]. If you want to receive other email news and notifications from the RMA please send your email address to [email protected]. The e-mail address for the RMA is [email protected].
Photos by Bob Diefenbacher and Chris Hammer
Page 11
by Al Persson
A group of paleontogists headed by Neil Shubin were interested in the transition of animals from living in water to living on the land. They reasoned that such a creature would need to have gills and a lung. It would also need some method of movement on land.From known fossils they calculated that such a creature would have lived between 350 and 400 million years ago. They postulated the habitat would need to be tropical or sub-tropical. The 11 major and multiple tectonic plates have moved a great deal in the last 350 million years. During the time they were interested in the Laurentia plate was at the equator. It is now Ellesmere Island north of Greenland. In 2001 the group went to Ellesmere Island and after five summers of searching they found Tiktaalik. In fact they found several very well preserved fossils of what the local Inukyiuts called Tiktaalik or Cod like fish. It has been dated at 375 million years old.
Tiktaalik has two spiracles on the top of its head that lead to primitive lungs. They also have gills of a type seen in animals that live in low oxygen warm swallow water. They have upper limbs that consisted of wrist bones and rudimentary digits. These limbs allowed the animal to lift itself up allowing it to see farther and to move along the land.
“They found something that split the difference between living on the land only and in the water only right down the middle. It is a water creature that had developed the necessary features to exploit the land as a place of habitat.”
First Class Mail
R.M.A.Box 261
Wayland, MA 01778
Next meetingFriday November 11, 2011
web site RMenA.orge-mail [email protected]