Category Archives: View

The Constitution

  By Chaos Manor Staff | Jan 4, 2015 - 7:56 am | Updated: January 4, 2015 - 7:58 am |
Comments Off on The Constitution

[A short thought from Dr. Pournelle as he continues his recovery. You can send him your support via the Well Wishing page. You might also find some of his past posts interesting; a random selection is shown on the right column. – Editor]

The Constitution Is Not a Suicide Pact

The [US] Constitution is not a suicide pact, but apparently some think it is.
Note they are having trouble trying the Boston Marathon bomber, because
everyone in the city knows he did it.  One day someone will commit a crime
on TV, everyone will see it or a rerun, and the only people eligible for the
jury will be halfwits.

Originally Anglo-Norman juries were drawn from local populations, and were
expected to know of the crime and quite possibly the defendants.

Message from Dr. Pournelle

  By Chaos Manor Staff | Dec 26, 2014 - 5:07 pm | Updated: December 26, 2014 - 5:07 pm |
134 Comments

Dr. Pournelle asked to have this posted:

Monday Dec. 25, I had a stroke.   I think my head is all right, and I am recovering.  Alas I used to be a touch typist and I am now learning to be a two finger typist.  At present I am a one finger typist.  Call it 1.1 finger, but after today’s therapy , maybe 1.2; I am learning. I just made the Spock sign.

Started a ramble to post, but it is easy with Windows 8 to have what you write vanish.  I will keep trying.

Please someone post in my blog that I am here and learning.  The Surface works but learning to use it and Outlook 13
after a stroke is hard enough and I am clumsy. But I am trying and think I will recover. But it takes time.

But I am coming back.

Comments are enabled for this post for any encouraging words from his many readers.

 

Medical Update

  By Chaos Manor Staff | Dec 22, 2014 - 2:56 pm | Updated: December 22, 2014 - 2:57 pm | ,
109 Comments

Alex Pournelle reports today on Dr. Pournelle’s current health status:

As of this morning, Dad is improving still. More motor skills, more speech improvement (at least to me). He is also annoyed at his inability to express himself by typing, though I suspect he will be back to banging away pretty quick, at least with 2 fingers.

Tomorrow starts the long term intensive physical therapy and then home adaptation. Will update as that happens.

Thanks again for all the good wishes.

Here’s a picture of Dr. and Mrs. Pournelle:

Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Pournelle

Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Pournelle

Note that comments are enabled on this update, for expressing good wishes and encouragement.

Dr. Pournelle Health Report

  By Chaos Manor Staff | Dec 16, 2014 - 7:53 pm | Updated: December 22, 2014 - 2:57 pm | ,
342 Comments

From Alex Pournelle, Dr. Pournelle’s son:

“Jerry had a small stroke. He is recovering well at a local hospital. Prognosis is good, though they’re running more tests and he’s expected to stay at least another day or two.

“He felt well enough to call Mom [Mrs. Pournelle] from the hospital.

“Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. More updates when we have them.”

Note that Dr. Pournelle cannot respond to emails at this time, although he and his family are grateful for your concern and well-wishes. If you wish to express your thoughts, we are allowing comments on this post only. All comments are moderated, so will not immediately appear. (To view comments, or add your own, use the link on the right of the byline under the title. Scroll to the bottom to enter your comments.)

You may enjoy looking at some of Dr. Pournelle’s past posts by using the links in “Random Posts” shown on the right column.

UPDATE – 19 December 2014

“Update: Jerry continues to make much progress. Even in the last day the differences are marked. He has moved yet again to a long-term acute rehab assignment for speech/throat and physical therapy, where he will stay at least through the holidays.

“In a twist of fate far too strange to put into fiction, Jerry ended up in the exact same room as did Harlan Ellison a month earlier, after his own stroke. Harlan related this in a call today to get an update on Jerry. Harlan, by the way, sounds completely recovered on the phone—another good sign.

“We expect Jerry to start updates on the website presently, but they will be short at first. He’s re-learning to type, now just with one finger ‘and a claw’, so patience is appreciated.

“He called after the transfer, to say it was 17 minutes by car from the one facility to the next. Not the sign of someone out of touch with his surroundings or the passage of time.

“His cognition appears little affected. He keeps answering the many ‘do you know where you are?’ questions straight, but he’s sorely tempted to start embroidering the truth…”

Comments are still open if you wish to express your thoughts. Just click the Comment link at the top right of the byline area.