Our wonderful electronic world

ARE WE GETTING SMARTER?

(Left to right, Isaac Mocarski, Charlie and Elizabeth Coulbourn)

          It was Easter, and our grandkids were taking a break between dinner and dessert, in order to connect to the vast world of their friends and interests.

            With the plethora of electronic aids to our brains, one might think we are becoming a society of brilliant communicators, able to pluck the most obscure knowledge from the clouds, to assist us in scintillating writing and conversation.

            A new Athens may be on the horizon, with even the simplest soul able to transcend his or her meager education and understand the wisdom of the ages. 

            As an elder American I often think wistfully of those days when we went for days without communicating with anyone except face to face. It’s a whole new world, and I’m sure that it will get more electronically connected as time goes on. 

            Consider the article below.  Imagine—QR codes on gravestones!

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QR codes everywhere — even on grave markers

By Laura Ruane, USA TODAY


When Edouard Garneau died last August, his wife of 53 years ordered a bench-style tombstone.

"I go and talk with him," said Faye Garneau, who admits she isn't so sure she likes that her own name is already inscribed there, too.

That wasn't all: Several months later, the monument maker added a high-tech innovation — a small, square image known as a quick response or QR code, affixed alongside the big letters spelling out Garneau.

The monument maker — a friend — was working on the code before Garneau died of cancer at age 78.

People scanning the code with their smartphones are taken to a website that includes Garneau's obituary and a photo gallery highlighting the Seattle-area businessman. They learn he was a collision auto body repair expert, a world traveler and a loving uncle. In the future, more photos and stories from family and friends can be added.

"I think it's a neat deal," Faye Garneau said. "It kind of keeps people alive a little longer, down through the generations."

'Free to think creatively'

The Seattle-based tombstone company is one of many new adopters of quick response or QR codes that also includes, a Florida nature trail and a T-shirt maker.
New uses for the technology are popping up almost daily, said Shane Greenstein, a professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., who studies IT markets. That's because "the bugs are worked out" from the code, which was created in Japan in the early 1990s, Greenstein said, adding that "there's no licensing fee; there are no restrictions. Users are free to think creatively." And, they are.
In Seattle, Quiring Monuments has made code-adorned "living headstones" for about two months. It has sold about 30 so far, General Manager Jon Reece said, adding he's gotten "tons" of inquiries, often from people still very much alive: "They say, 'I want my story to be told the way I want it to be told.'"
Quiring Monuments offers the QR code, website and website hosting free to people buying new monuments from the company, Reece said, noting the company will add it to existing grave markers for $65.
On Sanibel Island, Fla., the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge unveiled QR code signs last month along Wildlife Drive, on which nearly 800,000 visitors a year travel by car, foot or bicycle.
"It was nice and easy," said 13-year-old Tom Garvey of Delran, N.J., who put his iPhone — an eighth-grade graduation gift — to use on the trail. The refuge's iNature Trail sports 10 signs, each with two QR codes — one that pulls up videos and educational websites for adults, and another that's tailored to children.
"We wanted to find that niche to get kids outdoors and excited about nature," said refuge ranger Toni Westland. The videos feature snippets about ospreys, alligators and other creatures living along the mangrove forest-dotted estuaries of the 6,400-acre refuge.
Newspapers, including USA TODAY, use the codes to direct readers to such items as videos and photos.

A multitude of uses

Examples elsewhere include:

•Boulder, Colo., acoustic rock band SoundRabbit sells or hands out T-shirts with codes that take smartphones to free music downloads, said Chris Anton, band member, shirt creator and website design company co-owner.

•Lafayette, N.J.-based Fuzzy Nation, a designer and wholesaler of gifts for dog lovers, for the first time is putting QR codes on hangtags on its products sold at Macy's department stores nationwide, said Fuzzy Nation owner Jennifer Liu. The scanned code helps people enter a contest that began July 11. The contest promotes pet adoption and will earn one shelter a $10,000 stipend.

•Organizers of the Chevrolet Fireball Run Adventurally, from Sept. 23 through Oct. 1, say it will be the first national motoring event to use QR codes. For this year's multistate run though the South, competition cars will sport decals with codes. And, driving teams will distribute missing-child posters with codes. The scanned codes aid people with crucial information to share with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, said J. Sanchez, event executive producer.

•Kansas City, Mo.-based mobile tech marketing firm Kickanotch sends code-imprinted frosted graham crackers to new clients as a "thank you" and to take them to a website offering more ideas for the codes, CEO Andy Lynn said.

•Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles, La., is using QR codes in its bulletins and posters to encourage sign-ups for special family and youth programs, said Steven Haney, church media director.
Real estate sales agent Marilyn Boudreaux did a double take when spying a code for the first time in the church's bulletin: "I was like, wow — we are with the times."
Her discovery occurred shortly after the worship service began. That made the QR code a temptation, Boudreaux said: "I wanted to pull out my phone, and scan it."

Now—The Personal Navigator offers some books and papers (alas, without QR codes!!) ….

Boston Monthly Magazine, Vol I. No. III, August, 1825 Knapp, Samuel L. Editor and Proprietor. 1825 Boston, MA: Samuel L. Knapp. 54 pp.           14.5 x 24 cm. Brilliant little magazine, in its third issue, aimed to present American literature instead of European."Nugæ Historiæ" (Gossip of History) "Quicquid agunt homines, votum, timor, ira, voluptas, Gaudia, discursus, nostri est farrago libelli."--Juvenal, Sat. I.  From Col. McLane's Journal, this is an interesting summary of General Washington's operations in the Revolutionary War, with Lafayette, a youth of uncommon spirit, and Baron Steuben, an experienced Prussian soldier, against Lord Cornwallis and Gen. Howe. Continued. "The Natural Rights of Woman" Tongue-in-cheek piece about man, since he was created 6000 years ago, has become wiser than his maker, and much wiser than woman. Written by D'Anville, "a woman who resides near us."  "Memoir of Stephen Hooper" read before the Boston Debating Society by Samuel L. Knapp. Hoope was born at Newburyport April 8, 1785, called to the bar in 1811. "A Visit to the Metropolis" by Agricola (Farmer), Letter dated June 21st, 1825, written after the corner stone of the Bunker Hill Monument was laid. Recent fire has removed undesirable buildings to make way for new.   Interview of Lafayette in the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in the masonic halls of the old State House. Masonic ceremony to lay the corner stone. Address of Mr. Webster. A momentous event! Magazine, front cover waterstained, back cover torn near spine. Edges worn and frayed. Fair.  (8234) $50.00. History

  

King of Otaheite

American Baptist Magazine and Missionary Intelligencer, May 1820, Vol. 2 No. 9 Boston, MA: Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts. Memoir of Rev. Henry Jessey. Review of sermon delivered at the ordination of Rev. Stephen Chapin by Jeremiah Chaplin, Professor of Divinity in the Maine Literary and Theological Institution, at North Yarmouth. Extract of letter from Missionary College, Serampore by W. Ward. [Note: Ward was among founders of this College in India in 1818. It still exists in 2008.] College is open to all denominations of Christians, and to as many heathen scholars as choose to avail themselves of its exercises and lectures. Letter from Pomare, King of Otaheite,Society Islands. Report on efforts to Christianize American Indians of the Oneida and Stockbridge; letter signed with marks by Oneida Indians asking to embrace Christianity. 34 pp. 15 x 24 cm. Paper periodical, edges frayed, page corners curled, poor. (6399) $34.00. Religious/Missionary

American Baptist Magazine and Missionary Intelligencer, September 1820, Vol. 2 No. 11 Boston, MA: Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts. Frontispiece engraving of Rev'd James Manning Winchell, A.M. late pastor of the First Baptist Church in Boston. Memoir of the death of Mrs. Tamma Winchell, Rev. Winchell's widow. Tribute on death of Rev. Edward W. Wheelock, who, dying of consumption, left Rangoon for Calcutta, and died at sea. Letter from Mrs. Colman on the Burman Mission, mournfully relates last days of Rev. Wheelock. In letter to her sister she chides her for not answering for "nine long months" and goes on to tell her about revival of Buddhism in Burma, and building of pagodas.  32 pp. 15 x 24 cm. Paper periodical, edges frayed, page corners curled, poor. (6400) $34.00. Religious/Missionary

Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper:

American Messenger, May 1856; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 14. No. 5 New York, NY: The American Tract Society. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Statistics on intemperate persons among the inmates of the Baltimore almshouse: 60%. Mr. John Sadlier, member of the Parliament from Ireland, has just committed suicide, after having been engaged in enormous frauds. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper,  very good. (5360) $20.00. Religious/History

American Messenger, June 1856; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 14. No. 6 New York, NY: The American Tract Society. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Report on desperate condition of women ofChina, by Rev. John C. Lord of Ningpo:  They are slaves. Story about a dog who saved a store from burning in Troy, NY. War in Europe is ended, Treaty signed in Paris March 30 by Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Sardinia, Turkey, France, Prussia. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper,  spinefold torn 24 cm,  good. (5361) $20.00. Religious/History

  

American Messenger, April 1857; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 15. No. 4 New York, NY: The American Tract Society. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Florence Nightingale, her upbringing, and her service in the recent war in the Crimea. The Rev. Dr. Eli Smith died Jan. 11 in Beyrout,Syria, aged 55. His work was in translating, preparing and issuing a Bible in Arabic. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper,  very good. (5365) $20.00.  Religious/History

 American Messenger, June 1858; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 16. No. 6   New York, NY: The American Tract Society. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Bishop McIlvaine's Address at 33rd anniversary of the Society. Position on "anti-slavery".Minnesota was admitted into the confederacy of the United States May 12, making the number of states in the Union 32. Russia to adopt the new style of calendar, so that by 1912 their calendar will coincide with the Gregorian. The children's missionary vessel,"Morning Star" since arriving at the Sandwich islands in 1857 has made two important cruises. Newspaper,  very good.  (5372) $20.00.  Religious/History

 Andrew Peabody

Andrew P. Peabody: Three Sermons preached at the South Church, Portsmouth,NH December 25, 1859 and January 15, 1860 by Peabody, Andrew P., D.D. 1860Portsmouth, NH: James F. Shores, Jun. & Joseph H. Foster. Andrew P. Peabody became famous at the South Church when he stormed against the American victory in the Mexican-American war in 1847. A lifelong pacifist Unitarian preacher, Peabody was a champion of abolition. These three sermons, preached just before the start of the War Between the States, display his eloquence, religious fervor and absolute dedication to the Gospel of Christ. His last sermon is a Vindication of Unitarianism. 32 pp. 14 x 22 cm. (6441) $31.00. Religious/Unitarian

 Hosea Ballou

Ballou's Sermons: Select Sermons Delivered on Various Occasions from Important Passages of Scripture by Hosea Ballou, Pastor of the Second Universalist Society in Boston 1844 Boston, MA: A. Tompkins. Twenty-five sermons delivered between 1818 and 1829.  Christ our Example. Rich Man and Lazarus. False Teachers Compared to Foxes. Sinner meets with deserved punishment. The New Birth. The End of the World. Divine Truth, as represented by Tithes.  The Golden Calf. Evil of Striving Against God. Book belonged to Library of Rev. Eli Ballou, a prominent Vermont Clergyman. 350 pp. 12 x 19 cm. Cloth on board, blindstamped design, Small bookplate shows "Rev. Eli Ballou's Library". Endpapers torn out, leaving only edges. Except for that, appearance and condition very good.    (1757) $40.00. Religious

  

Our Woman Workers; Biographical Sketches of Women Eminent in theUniversalist Church for Literary, Philanthropic and Christian Work by Hanson, E.R. 1882 Chicago, IL: The Star and Covenant Office. Word-pictures of the women who helped to lay the foundations of the Unitarian church. In introduction author Hanson gives a scathing account of how Unitarianism rose in opposition to the male-centered faith that had dominated Christianity for so long.  This elegant book includes excellent engravings of 14 women, and biographies of an additional 130 or more. Includes Clara Barton; Henrietta A. (Burrington) Bingham; Rev. Augusta J. Chapin; Eunice H.(Waite)  Cobb; Phoebe A. (Coffin) Hanaford; Charlotte A. (Fillebrown)  Jerauld; Mary A. (Rice)  Livermore; Sarah C. (Edgarton) Mayo; Sarah M. (Clinton)  Perkins; Caroline M. (Fisher)  Sawyer; Julia H. (Kinney) Scott; Caroline A. (White)  Soule; M. Louise (Palmer) Thomas; Emeline C. Tomlinson, Alice and Phoebe Cary. 500 pp. 15.5 x 21 cm. Dark brown cloth on board with gilt lettering and blind-stamped design; minor rubbing on heel and toe of spine; Owner name, "Mary A. Mayo, 1882" on front free endpaper, along with "To Maria Dove and Elizabeth P. Ross, June 17, 1905." Very good. (4706) $67.00. Biography/Women's/Religious

Please contact me at scoulbourn1@verizon.net