Like anyone else if required to say something about Bertram Russell I'd say, "Famous philosopher imprisoned for pacifism," I think. In the poker book it talks about his belief that the key to problems of life is contained in language. In Indian Country, where I work, the language issue has been huge for many years -- because language gives shape to our thought-processes. I think each language gives a distinct shape to the thought-process, and it's something I've thought about a lot in the context of where I live. I lived with a man whose four grandparents had come from Sweden. His own father chastised him if he was caught "wasting time" by reading. That reminds me, too, of Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, who grew up where my school is. She said she climbed trees and hid so that she could read. I think the people who speak English here operate at about half-speed -- half the tenses and vocabulary are gone -- because of the disconnection. The divide is often more cruelly defined in Indian Country, where in some cases children were prevented from speaking their native tongue. The range is wide -- from Apache children starting school in recent years without having heard a word of anything but Apache, to areas of the country that have lost all speakers of specific languages and dialects. Bringing a language back is a terribly difficult uphill battle -- even with plenty of native speakers and committed language students.

The roofers are up there working very noisily. Excellent that things are moving along.