Author Archives: loiswhitmanhess

Write A Song In John Lennon’s Handwriting

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I sent a birthday card to a friend who I haven’t seen or spoken to in 10 years. She said the minute she saw my card in her mailbox she knew it was from me. She said she would recognize my handwriting anywhere, I was amazed. Was my handwriting that distinctive?

I don’t think so, but apparently it made some impact on her. I guess that’s why songwriters are now loving a digital project called “Songwriters Fonts” because they can download typefaces created from dead rock legends and write songs using their handwriting style. Some of the rockers are: Kurt Cobain, David Bowie and John Lennon. There are so many others.

Songwriters fonts were designed to give musicians inspiration, motivation and imagination. Creating a composition in the handwriting of a musical super star could possibly give someone the impetus to write the next big hit.The company clearly states the fonts are for personal use only.

This is what the promotional material looks like. Create a song for me.

Read more about this in Pitchfork, an online music publication.

Don’t Say A Word

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For some reason, the technologists at MIT, do not think it’s natural for human beings to be speaking out loud to voice assistants.

Instead they want everyone to get what they want by just thinking about it.

MIT is working on a nonverbal device that communicates your demands. I know this sounds like voodoo, but MIT has invented a jaw-mounted device that reads your neuromuscular signals through built-in electrodes.

Now this is scary. The hardware called AlterEgo, can read “words in your head.”

The idea is to meld human and machine.

The IA device, intelligence-augmentation, was trained by 10 techies to read their neurophysiology. A school news release stated,”Once calibrated, the research team was able to get about 92 percent accuracy for commands.”

It’s very possible that one day you will be able to order a pizza from the comfort of your couch without saying a word. You will be surprising the whole family when the doorbell rings.

I guess we are all in for a bunch of surprises in the not so distant future.

TechCrunch covered this development too.

Miami Beach Gay Pride

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Since its inception in 2009, the Miami Beach Gay Pride has grown from a neighborhood event to a global celebration. Eliot and I volunteered to walk alongside the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce float in the annual parade. There were so many young people who showed up to give out promotional materials to the crowds, we were able to actually sit down and watch the show.

We are proud to be involved in any activity that demonstrates love for others.

Photos by Eliot Hess, except the one he is in. Marcia Grand took that one.

I’ve always been attracted to tall men.

Everyone wanted to participate in photo ops.

Our jobs were to give out bubble bottles.

Marcia Grand took this photo. She should have been in it. We just weren’t complete.

The Miami Beach Chamber Of Commerce float.

Interesting choices.

It was so good to see young people getting involved.

Walking Through The Muck In The Everglades National Park

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This is one time when you really want cold feet. After walking through the muck in the Everglades National Park for a few hours, the continuous flow of cold water was truly appreciated. It was hot outside. Eleven of us met early this morning to walk through the secret gardens of the Everglades to see what inspired artist Christina Pettersson to create her intricate and life-like nature drawings. Christina is on the top row, far left.

I’m pictured here with Kathryn Mikesell, founder of Fountainhead Studios and the events organizer for the day. Christina is a Fountainhead artist who has been working in the Everglades for several months and is having an exhibition in conjunction with AIRIE (Artists in Residence in Everglades) www.airie.org at Ernest Coe Visitor Center https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/coedirections.htm.

Kathryn invited some of her residency artists and members of her foundation (that’s us) to visit the gardens that inspired Christina. It was an amazing expedition because we walked through slog up to our knees. We used walking sticks and stayed pretty close together to lend a helping hand.

John DeFaro, a Miami multidisciplinary artist, is a close friend of ours from New York. His parents lived on our floor in our Manhattan Co-op for over 30 years. His work is collected by many.

I wasn’t really concerned about walking through the muck. Look at the bottom of my pants. I was anxious to do something different. The Everglades were peaceful, fascinating to look at, and timeless. We can all use a little of that.

Christina’s pencil drawings

A Cool Way To Get Around

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If you always wanted to drive a motorcycle, say hello to the Arcimoto, the first fun utility vehicle. It was recently introduced at the New York International Auto Show. Many of the tech publications gave the Arcimoto a good review.

It garnered most of the attention at the show.The Arcimoto is a three-wheeled electric car priced at $12,000. It’s set up like a motorcycle, but can be driven with a regular driver’s license in most states.

Take a close look. Handlebars replace the steering wheel, the front brake is on the right handlebar, and a rear brake on the floor. The Arcimoto has a single windshield wiper, a defroster, a hand parking brake, and seat heaters. The base-level battery has a range of 70 miles.

That’s enough to go from NYC to the beginning of the Hamptons. I wonder how many Arcimotos we will see on the road.

My Moveable Desk

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I’m getting a Cozy Desk this week. We ordered it today and it should be here by Friday. I’m very excited because my work environment is not what you think it should be.

I start working very early every day on my bed, then move to my club chair, then the terrace, and then back to bed. It works for me. Not having a desk gives me the freedom to relax in many different spots.

The Cozy Desk is engineered with venting holes so my laptop will not overheat and it is adjustable for desired heights.

You can buy this new portable desk around $70 on Amazon.

Finding Meaning and Happiness in Old Age

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Jane Brody

I just finished reading an essay about how to feel good about your age in your senior years. Jane Brody, the long-term writer of Personal Health, in the New York Times, wrote the piece. It’s very worth your time.

She talks about two books she recently read and then said, “I have a new way of looking at myself: as a ‘good-enough aging adult who continues to pursue and enjoy a variety of activities commensurate with the limitations imposed by inevitable changes in body and mind that accrue with advancing years.” It’s a must read. Click here.

President Jimmy Carter lives life to the fullest at 94. This interview with Stephen Colbert shows us attitude is so important. Fabulous.

Isabella Rossellini details how it was to lose her Lancôme contract at 43, and then regain it at 65. Great inspiration.

I could never do a blog post without showing off Lyn.

Pass The Smartphone

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Image: Seattle Times

I have several friends who spend a great deal of their time raising funds for houses of worship. They recently told me their efforts are now completely digital. No more pass the plate. It’s now, pass the smartphone.

Boy have things changed.

There is a growing list of online donation sites and apps right across the United States.Those in the lead are NYCharities.org, PushPay, Venmo and Network for Good, FaithStreet.and Tithe.ly.

The New York Post recently ran a story that said, “Americans gave $122.9 billion to religious institutions in 2016. These sites are reportedly boosting donations around 30 percent.”

Mobile payments overall in the US soared 72 percent, to $187.8 billion, in 2017, according to Juniper Research.