Tom signing in

- “I’m out of everything and I need to go to the grocery store – but I can only remember about three things on my mental list – and when I get there, I’ll have forgotten those and remembered a different three things (the ones that are sweet or fat or both) – Oh! Wait! I know how to read and write!” – problem solved
- “I just heard the greatest quote! And I really want to remember it – it could really change my life - but I’ve got all those grocery lists and “to do” lists to remember. Oh, what will I do?! – Wait! I’ve been to school and I know how to read and write!” – another problem solved by literacy
- “I owe about six people a dozen things – and come to think of it, those rat finks owe me something too! Now, how to remember all those niggling details so my family doesn’t starve … Oh, yeah! I know how to read and write (and so do those rat finks that owe me money!) and we can all sit down and go over our “written documents” (If I don’t show them to a lawyer first)!” – yes, another problem solved by that form of public memory: literacy! Hoo-rah!
- But what do you do if you don’t have those abilities …