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1. My son's high school preparation in the sciences was not that good (while it was great in the humanities). Consequently, he is going to be an English major. However, after two semesters at Indiana U, he has progressed to 'I like physics very much, though I don't still love it'. IU, the two physics courses that he has taken, and his fellow students (and my son too) deserve all the credit. (This is what I hoped will happen in college and am thrilled.) He is planning to take Electricity and Magnetism during his study abroad year and this desire has influenced his choice of foreign country (to an English speaking one). He is trying to become an Assistant Instructor (AI) in physics. He has two good friends both freshman now, who are good friends themselves. One of them is going to take this physics sequence next year and the other will be an AI for that course. I find this heartwarming that everyone feels comfortable with these kinds of things - having a friend in a position of some authority. That all these are happening in a state university makes me feel good about my state and its flagship university.

2. I am reading an article by Atul Gawande (a surgeon) in The New Yorker about the medical pioneer Francis Moore of Harvard. Very inspiring (both Gawande and Moore). I read and hear so much bad news that I have truly come to savor inspiring articles like this.

amd

By Morgantruce (Morgantruce) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 09:30 am: Edit

In the May 5, 2003 issue of The New Yorker magazine:

"Desprate Measures---A Doctor Who Would Try Anything" by Atul Gawande

It's a terrific article---certainly of interest to anyone in the medical field---but also shows that trying something different can work in any situation.