April 30, 2006
Ideation
I'm just full of ideas for spending my time: write novels, create a stirring blog that more than 3 people might want to visit, do stats analysis for nonprofits, collect music-inspired poetry from people I know. But those ideas are so dull. Finally, I've come up with a brilliant idea: month-by-month religious adoption! Over a year, I could spend a month at a time learning and practicing the lifestyle of a particular religious group. Whatever the observant religious person would do, I would do, following gender customs and so on. I would do it from a respectful stand point, not a critical one. I'd need a mentor in each community lined up before I began, I would think. Ideally, it would be organized such that a major holy-day or period would be included in the month. In some cases, more than a month might be necessary. The more I play with this idea, the more it intrigues me. Of course, it's sort of like one episode of Morgan Spurlock's show 30 Days. And of course, it will have to wait at least 12 months. *sigh* So many good ideas, so little time.
April 16, 2006
Coffee
It's ironic given the following, but I do not like coffee in any form, even mocha or mud pie, and I'm pretty sure I don't inspire impulsive action; nonetheless, apparently...
| I Am Mud Pie |
 I'm the perfect combo of flavor and depth Those who like me give into their impulses |
Wrongs
Okay, so five posts in 24 hours is a bit frenetic, I agree. But I just had to add this fifth one. You know that Next Blog button in top right corner? Well, today's meanderings brought me to this fabulous posting entitled "10 rules for knowing you're wrong". It's about scripture and faith, told with apparently deep conviction plus a desire to throw stones at glass houses. The author and commenters are clearly very serious about their faith. Anyway, it's a thought provoking list, check it out.
Someday I will post on why on earth I spend so much of my blogtime exploring religion. I'll have to figure out the answer to that first.
And while I'm at the Next Blog button, here's another interesting post I found using that button. It's a reprint of an article and then blogger's response to the incident involving Congresswoman McKinney, who claimed racism when she was stopped at House office building a few weeks back. Point of the post: using issue card to highlight one's own idiocy just detracts from efforts to actually address the issue.
Your thoughts on either of the above?
Someday I will post on why on earth I spend so much of my blogtime exploring religion. I'll have to figure out the answer to that first.
And while I'm at the Next Blog button, here's another interesting post I found using that button. It's a reprint of an article and then blogger's response to the incident involving Congresswoman McKinney, who claimed racism when she was stopped at House office building a few weeks back. Point of the post: using issue card to highlight one's own idiocy just detracts from efforts to actually address the issue.
Your thoughts on either of the above?
Co-opted
It's that time of year. Yes, some Christians are complaining that Easter has become too secular, coopted by candy and kitsch makers. I totally understand that Easter is a more significant Christian holiday than Christmas, plus I'm not a big fan of consumerism (not to mention that I'm not a Christian, per se). But I do enjoy the odd Cadbury egg (original, not the caramel version-blech) and oversized Reese's pb "egg". And I enjoy coloring eggs and putting out my trio of bunnies (aka The Bunny Brigade). At least the bunny giving out candy thing has some relation to spring and abundance. And I don't claim to be celebrating Easter, really, but Spring, so bunnies and candy in moderation works for me personally.
All this reminds me of abortion arguments. "Against Easter candy and kitsch? Then don't buy it." Okay, that is rather hard line of me. I know it's tough to instill a sense of piety in your child when friends and consumerist relatives inculcate expectations for stuff rather than substance on this, like many other, occasions. It's not just a problem with consumerized holy-days. And wow was that a strange juxtaposition or what? But I seriously digress...
Scandinavia takes the cake on head-scratchingly random Easter activities. Check out the Easter link below for more on that....
The Bunny Brigade and I send pleasant Passover and Easter greetings to our Judeo-Christian friends out there. Don't worry about us missing out though--we will enjoy some secular revelry of our own, fear not, for spring is afoot!
By the way, David, we got you a Yummy chocolate bunny (this is a test to see if he's reading along). The bunny's name is Yummy, thus making the act of eating him a bit easier. I mean, he's made to be eaten.
Oh dear, I just pictured those cows in Coalinga and felt my argument go out the window. They were made to be eaten too. sigh Time to go...
All this reminds me of abortion arguments. "Against Easter candy and kitsch? Then don't buy it." Okay, that is rather hard line of me. I know it's tough to instill a sense of piety in your child when friends and consumerist relatives inculcate expectations for stuff rather than substance on this, like many other, occasions. It's not just a problem with consumerized holy-days. And wow was that a strange juxtaposition or what? But I seriously digress...
Scandinavia takes the cake on head-scratchingly random Easter activities. Check out the Easter link below for more on that....
The Bunny Brigade and I send pleasant Passover and Easter greetings to our Judeo-Christian friends out there. Don't worry about us missing out though--we will enjoy some secular revelry of our own, fear not, for spring is afoot!
By the way, David, we got you a Yummy chocolate bunny (this is a test to see if he's reading along). The bunny's name is Yummy, thus making the act of eating him a bit easier. I mean, he's made to be eaten.
Oh dear, I just pictured those cows in Coalinga and felt my argument go out the window. They were made to be eaten too. sigh Time to go...
Purview
Since when did management of professional sports become a matter for the voters? An opinion poll of voters found most support sanctions against Barry Bonds. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Major League Baseball did not have a suspension policy for steroid use during the time in question. Sure, Barry Bonds sure seems to be a jerk, arrogant, standoffish, and so on; but asking voters? And before you go all, "But he lied" on me, the issue of his committing perjury is perfectly fair to discuss. However, that was NOT part of the opinion poll and hence my indignation over its uselessness is justified. Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.
April 15, 2006
Messages
In California recently I saw several quotable bumper stickers. The first was an amusing reminder that irresponsible behavior is in the eye of the beholder, and there are some behaviors that really are reprehensible.
Along with those bumper stickers, I was excited to see this United Church of Christ commercial. I thought it was a California thing (watch the ad and you'll understand why I might think that), but I saw it on Houston tv too. Wow, almost makes me want to join a UCC church.
I'd rather hunt with Dick CheneyThe other bumper sticker was pointed in a different way:
Than fish with Ted Kennedy.
When Jesus said "Love thy enemy"I was checking the wording for the last one and came across this blogger's twisted variation:
I think he meant to not kill them.
When Allah said "Kill the infidels"Another instance of something being bad and funny at the same time.
he meant you too.
Along with those bumper stickers, I was excited to see this United Church of Christ commercial. I thought it was a California thing (watch the ad and you'll understand why I might think that), but I saw it on Houston tv too. Wow, almost makes me want to join a UCC church.
Meanings, update
More odd dreams. Last week I dreamt that I was drowning. There are certainly books on what such dreams mean, but I don't take these things to be so symbolic. The dream just spooked me because I've never had that sort of a sensation before. I could feel myself not having enough breath in my lungs and wanting to inhale, but sensing that I wouldn't be able to. I was close to the surface but I couldn't get my mouth up to the air. I remember thinking, am I going to die?
Anyway, my last message entitled Meanings started with a strange dream (President Bush and the mooses) and ended with a personality test. I won't let you down...
I recently took the short version Enneagram test and came out to be equal parts Reformer (type 1) and Loyalist (type 6). Upon examination, I think the former is dominant for me. I'm guessing David would be a Peacemaker (type 9). Once upon a time I disliked taking the Meyers Briggs test; after completing it, my profile said people of that type often got frustrated taking such tests. It earned my respect. I've since been through many professional development trainings meant to illuminate various personality and behavior tendencies, and each time I find it useful. From what I recall, I am creatively analytical, introverted, seek order, and willingly face confrontation. Odd combo, eh?
If you complete such assessments, keep track of your type(s). Find out the type of those around you, especially parents, siblings, partners. Use it as a way of reminding yourself that there are many types of people out there. And as a way of understanding why those people do such annoying things. ;)
Check out my type. Or find your own.
Anyway, my last message entitled Meanings started with a strange dream (President Bush and the mooses) and ended with a personality test. I won't let you down...
I recently took the short version Enneagram test and came out to be equal parts Reformer (type 1) and Loyalist (type 6). Upon examination, I think the former is dominant for me. I'm guessing David would be a Peacemaker (type 9). Once upon a time I disliked taking the Meyers Briggs test; after completing it, my profile said people of that type often got frustrated taking such tests. It earned my respect. I've since been through many professional development trainings meant to illuminate various personality and behavior tendencies, and each time I find it useful. From what I recall, I am creatively analytical, introverted, seek order, and willingly face confrontation. Odd combo, eh?
If you complete such assessments, keep track of your type(s). Find out the type of those around you, especially parents, siblings, partners. Use it as a way of reminding yourself that there are many types of people out there. And as a way of understanding why those people do such annoying things. ;)
Check out my type. Or find your own.March 23, 2006
Identity
Help! My name has been stolen! I've long operated under some delusional assumption that my name was unique. That's right, there is another ME out there. I had previously seen her name show up, but hyphenated, so not really ME. A recent Google of my name however showed her to have dropped the hyphen. This is a sad day for me (nee ME).
March 11, 2006
Craziness
Reports of snow back in the Bay Area, long periods of dry weather in Houston, and an utter lack of desire to eat Egg Beaters for breakfast. This is a crazy time for me. Luckily I embark on a spring break adventure next week. Woo hoo! Alas I just recalled the last--and only--time I ventured off on a spring break adventure before. It must have been 1991 and it involved a sailboat, very poor weather, and one contagiously vomiting infant. Thus I clarify...I embark next week on a fabulous spring break vacation.
We've heard news of some chocolate lab-English springer spaniel puppies available in the area. David and I might go view them with the idea of taking one. Fortunately, for this is the most important prep work, I've got a name all picked out--Cadbury. Do you get it? And since I was in a naming mood, I gave the whining ceiling fan in the bedroom the moniker Hiram. Do you get that one too?
We've heard news of some chocolate lab-English springer spaniel puppies available in the area. David and I might go view them with the idea of taking one. Fortunately, for this is the most important prep work, I've got a name all picked out--Cadbury. Do you get it? And since I was in a naming mood, I gave the whining ceiling fan in the bedroom the moniker Hiram. Do you get that one too?
February 25, 2006
Happy birthday David
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag!Feliz cumpleanos!
Joyeux anniversaire!
Tanti auguri!
A world of cheery birthday wishes to you.
February 24, 2006
Run
Your uplifting (or depressing) thought of the day:
"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It does not matter whether you are a lion or gazelle. When the sun comes up you had better be running."
from The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman
"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It does not matter whether you are a lion or gazelle. When the sun comes up you had better be running."
from The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman
February 22, 2006
Hopeless
You remember those cheesy "Love is..." cards? I'm going to start my own line of thoughts, "Hopefulness is...". And here's my first entry.
Hopefulness is...
checking my inbox even when no new message icon appears.
I could retitle it "Patheticness is..." but I don't think that's a word.
Hopefulness is...
checking my inbox even when no new message icon appears.
I could retitle it "Patheticness is..." but I don't think that's a word.
February 20, 2006
Worthwhile?
Is it worth your while to know the history of monetary values? If so, do check out How Much Is That. There you can compare values in current dollars or British pounds to values from yesteryear. You can even compare values from one specific year in past to another.
The HMIT is perfect for contextualizing those history lessons. The Louisiana Purchase cost US a fair amount way back when. What would it cost today?
In 2004, $15,000,000.00 from 1803 is worth...
$249,180,882.35 using the Consumer Price Index
$262,262,165.72 using the GDP deflator
$3,979,473,684.21 using the unskilled wage
$5,757,601,498.24 using the GDP per capita
$390,659,102,694.23 using the relative share of GDP
The natural follow up to above would be, what the heck's the difference between worth using CPI and worth using relative share of GDP? I'll get back to you on that one.... Uh, David, care to comment?
The HMIT is perfect for contextualizing those history lessons. The Louisiana Purchase cost US a fair amount way back when. What would it cost today?
In 2004, $15,000,000.00 from 1803 is worth...
$249,180,882.35 using the Consumer Price Index
$262,262,165.72 using the GDP deflator
$3,979,473,684.21 using the unskilled wage
$5,757,601,498.24 using the GDP per capita
$390,659,102,694.23 using the relative share of GDP
The natural follow up to above would be, what the heck's the difference between worth using CPI and worth using relative share of GDP? I'll get back to you on that one.... Uh, David, care to comment?
February 17, 2006
Silly
Have you been hearing about online movie spoofs lately? Brokeback Mountain has inspired a number of parodies, but the art form is certainly not new. An old favorite of mine is Store Wars; it's Star Wars told with health foods. There's Chewbroccoli and Darth Tater (who killed Organican Skywalker), and R2D2 is a cube of tofu--well, see it for yourself, it's just too precious.
The leader of the faux-trailer group might be this contest winning entry for Shining. It takes actual footage from The Shining, rearranges it with uplifting music, and voila, you've got a heartwarming family film. A funnier current one is Brokeback to the Future. It would work even better if Doc wasn't always bug eyed and crazed sounding. And lastly, I wonder about the people behind an online picture book using peeps to play parts in Lord of the Rings; check out Lord of the Peeps: Fellowship of the Peep. I think they're working on the entire trilogy, one chapter at a time.
And for an entirely different brand of silly, there's Katamari Damacy. It's the strangest video game ever, and now you can play a mini version online. Here's the official description: "When the King of All Cosmos accidentally destroys all the stars in the sky, he orders you, his pint-sized princely son, to put the twinkle back in the heavens above. The only way you can do that is by rolling everything on Earth into clumps so that he can replace what's missing in space. 'Everything' includes cookies, lawn mowers, lamp posts, sumo wrestlers, bulldozers, brontosauruses , cruise ships, and more." Come on, roll away, it's Friday.
The leader of the faux-trailer group might be this contest winning entry for Shining. It takes actual footage from The Shining, rearranges it with uplifting music, and voila, you've got a heartwarming family film. A funnier current one is Brokeback to the Future. It would work even better if Doc wasn't always bug eyed and crazed sounding. And lastly, I wonder about the people behind an online picture book using peeps to play parts in Lord of the Rings; check out Lord of the Peeps: Fellowship of the Peep. I think they're working on the entire trilogy, one chapter at a time.
And for an entirely different brand of silly, there's Katamari Damacy. It's the strangest video game ever, and now you can play a mini version online. Here's the official description: "When the King of All Cosmos accidentally destroys all the stars in the sky, he orders you, his pint-sized princely son, to put the twinkle back in the heavens above. The only way you can do that is by rolling everything on Earth into clumps so that he can replace what's missing in space. 'Everything' includes cookies, lawn mowers, lamp posts, sumo wrestlers, bulldozers, brontosauruses , cruise ships, and more." Come on, roll away, it's Friday.
February 16, 2006
Focus
Not that you asked, but...
My latest obsession is to monitor worldwide earthquakes via RSS feed to My Yahoo page. I've also recently been monitoring medal counts at the Olympics, but that's not really obsession-worthy. What obsessions are you harboring these days? Please don't tell me you have none, for that would throw me for a loop, and I need my focus today.
Cleaning out my desk this morning I came across an old fortune cookie. Instead of checking its staleness (bad idea) I decided to just chuck the thing (good idea--I'm practicing positive reinforcement on myself). But because I am irrationally superstitious (yes, there is such a thing as rational superstition) I pulled the fortune out. "You will soon get something special because of your charm." This begs several questions: Does a fortune become active only once it is pulled from its cookie, or is there some kind of fortune expiration after having received the cookie? And what if the recipient, in this case, is not charming?
My latest obsession is to monitor worldwide earthquakes via RSS feed to My Yahoo page. I've also recently been monitoring medal counts at the Olympics, but that's not really obsession-worthy. What obsessions are you harboring these days? Please don't tell me you have none, for that would throw me for a loop, and I need my focus today.
Cleaning out my desk this morning I came across an old fortune cookie. Instead of checking its staleness (bad idea) I decided to just chuck the thing (good idea--I'm practicing positive reinforcement on myself). But because I am irrationally superstitious (yes, there is such a thing as rational superstition) I pulled the fortune out. "You will soon get something special because of your charm." This begs several questions: Does a fortune become active only once it is pulled from its cookie, or is there some kind of fortune expiration after having received the cookie? And what if the recipient, in this case, is not charming?
February 14, 2006
Music
Today's random music selections have been particularly pleasing. Would you care to listen along?
Meat Puppets: Maiden's Milk
Morcheeba: The Sea
Travis: Love Will Come Through
The Magic Numbers: Love Me Like You
Don Williams: I Believe in Love
David Byrne: Glass, Concrete and Stone
The Coral: I Remember When
Slobberbone: Sister Beams
Secondhand Jive: San Francisco
Cordero: Vamos Nenas (Live)
Drive-By Truckers: My Sweet Annette
Unfortunately, if you mentioned half of the above artists to me tomorrow, I'd have no idea who you were talking about, more less recognizing that they are a band. This is what I get for downloading the iTunes free song at random.
Meat Puppets: Maiden's Milk
Morcheeba: The Sea
Travis: Love Will Come Through
The Magic Numbers: Love Me Like You
Don Williams: I Believe in Love
David Byrne: Glass, Concrete and Stone
The Coral: I Remember When
Slobberbone: Sister Beams
Secondhand Jive: San Francisco
Cordero: Vamos Nenas (Live)
Drive-By Truckers: My Sweet Annette
Unfortunately, if you mentioned half of the above artists to me tomorrow, I'd have no idea who you were talking about, more less recognizing that they are a band. This is what I get for downloading the iTunes free song at random.
Desires
Not that you asked, but...
Far be it from me to seek material amusements, and yet I do. David is hard at work on a Drupal version of our material wants list, which would be a tad less consumerist of me. In the meantime I post those items I desire (but do not require) to an assortment of Amazon wish lists.
Quote of the Day 1: I believe that I know the specific amount needed that would allow me to have or do these few things I can't quite afford, and if my income would increase by that much I would then be happy. Yet when the increase comes, I find that I am still discontent because from my new financial position I can now see a whole new set of things I don't have. The problem will be solved when I accept that happiness is a present attitude, not a future condition. --from Notes to Myself: My struggle to become a person by Hugh Prather
Quote of the day 2: A hypocrite is the kind of politician who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump and make a speech for conservation. --Adlai E. Stevenson
Happy Valentine's Day by the way. Let love be all around you.
Far be it from me to seek material amusements, and yet I do. David is hard at work on a Drupal version of our material wants list, which would be a tad less consumerist of me. In the meantime I post those items I desire (but do not require) to an assortment of Amazon wish lists.
Quote of the Day 1: I believe that I know the specific amount needed that would allow me to have or do these few things I can't quite afford, and if my income would increase by that much I would then be happy. Yet when the increase comes, I find that I am still discontent because from my new financial position I can now see a whole new set of things I don't have. The problem will be solved when I accept that happiness is a present attitude, not a future condition. --from Notes to Myself: My struggle to become a person by Hugh Prather
Quote of the day 2: A hypocrite is the kind of politician who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump and make a speech for conservation. --Adlai E. Stevenson
Happy Valentine's Day by the way. Let love be all around you.
February 13, 2006
Learning
When I was a kid I often felt that those closest to me in many ways knew the least about me. I behaved and was viewed as they expected. Inside I was an insecure mess, but to others I seemed confident and content with cockiness. I was bossy, stubborn, and lonely. Distance and secure environs and unconditional acceptance have stripped away many of the insecurities. But recently I've felt a bit of it coming back, and this seems to be oozing out into my blog postings. Reading over my archived postings I see that I have been a bit high and mighty ("A bit?!" you might ask). I need to work on that.
February 01, 2006
Meanings
What does it all mean?
Last night I had a dream in which I was out in gorgeous undeveloped rolling hills grassland, sort of Montana-ish, sitting with a small crowd in rows of folding chairs. At a podium up front was President Bush casually dressed. He was delivering a speech but just could not stand still or keep from smiling. He was in a jubilant, silly mood. Laura Bush, who was standing behind her happy hubby off to the side, kept having to redirect him to keep on with his speech and stay near the podium. She was very patient. He said he just felt like walking around while he spoke. I didn't listen to what he was saying because I was so fixated on the mooses and caribou in the hills just behind the President. There were dozens of them, evenly spread out, and one really large moose with comically large horns (antlers?) which had stuff kind of hanging from them (gigantic cobwebs? Xmas decorations?). Undoubtedly the timing of Bush's state of the union speech, my general observation of his constant little smile, and my introduction of Pavel (the rein-moose) to Virginia yesterday played a part in the dream. But is there anything more to dreams than just random synapses firing away?
Seeking meaning about dreams and other personal reflections, I took a personality test. Well, I took it because I was told to by my instructor. The results are not at all in line with how I view myself. Maybe lots of people have this reaction, because at the end, they give you a link to allow you to post your results for the world to see. So, am I really like that in your eyes? More importantly, do I care?
Last night I had a dream in which I was out in gorgeous undeveloped rolling hills grassland, sort of Montana-ish, sitting with a small crowd in rows of folding chairs. At a podium up front was President Bush casually dressed. He was delivering a speech but just could not stand still or keep from smiling. He was in a jubilant, silly mood. Laura Bush, who was standing behind her happy hubby off to the side, kept having to redirect him to keep on with his speech and stay near the podium. She was very patient. He said he just felt like walking around while he spoke. I didn't listen to what he was saying because I was so fixated on the mooses and caribou in the hills just behind the President. There were dozens of them, evenly spread out, and one really large moose with comically large horns (antlers?) which had stuff kind of hanging from them (gigantic cobwebs? Xmas decorations?). Undoubtedly the timing of Bush's state of the union speech, my general observation of his constant little smile, and my introduction of Pavel (the rein-moose) to Virginia yesterday played a part in the dream. But is there anything more to dreams than just random synapses firing away?
Seeking meaning about dreams and other personal reflections, I took a personality test. Well, I took it because I was told to by my instructor. The results are not at all in line with how I view myself. Maybe lots of people have this reaction, because at the end, they give you a link to allow you to post your results for the world to see. So, am I really like that in your eyes? More importantly, do I care?
January 27, 2006
Celebrate
Today is Mozart's 250th birthday. Enjoy all things Mozart, Salzburg, classical, or prodigy. Pick your celebration. NPR's Talk of the Nation had a delightful show on Mozart's life. Listen in.
Me, I'm celebrating--in a state of shock--that when Brokeback Mountain went wide release, that included Beaumont, Texas. Yes, our one remaining movieplex in town (the other one is a victim of Rita) has four showings a day of the conflicted gay cowboy romance. I almost want to see the movie again in order to see who sees it. What's keeping me from doing that? Fear of homophobes. Not fear of their hurting or judging me, mind you, but fear of the deep sadness that comes over me when in the presence of hatred.
Me, I'm celebrating--in a state of shock--that when Brokeback Mountain went wide release, that included Beaumont, Texas. Yes, our one remaining movieplex in town (the other one is a victim of Rita) has four showings a day of the conflicted gay cowboy romance. I almost want to see the movie again in order to see who sees it. What's keeping me from doing that? Fear of homophobes. Not fear of their hurting or judging me, mind you, but fear of the deep sadness that comes over me when in the presence of hatred.
January 26, 2006
Pointed
Bumper sticker spotted in Houston yesterday made me simultaneously laugh and cringe: Republicans for Voldemort.
Apparently it's an old joke and I missed it. The original comic strip that inspired subsequent stickers and t-shirts actually isn't all that funny. The counterpart at the time was Muggles for Dean. So, who won?
And on an entirely different subject (though I came across it during my investigation into above--I'll let you discover the connection), I found what right now is my favorite avatar (the little picture someone uses to represent them in blogs and chats). It's for some guy named Will. Let the thing run its course. [UPDATE: Sorry, folks, if you are just now coming across this posting. The guy's avatar has changed. It's still fun, but not as fun.]
And while I was in LiveJournal-land, where I actually have another blog (sort of), I made a post. It's pretty amusing, so check it out.
Apparently it's an old joke and I missed it. The original comic strip that inspired subsequent stickers and t-shirts actually isn't all that funny. The counterpart at the time was Muggles for Dean. So, who won?
And on an entirely different subject (though I came across it during my investigation into above--I'll let you discover the connection), I found what right now is my favorite avatar (the little picture someone uses to represent them in blogs and chats). It's for some guy named Will. Let the thing run its course. [UPDATE: Sorry, folks, if you are just now coming across this posting. The guy's avatar has changed. It's still fun, but not as fun.]
And while I was in LiveJournal-land, where I actually have another blog (sort of), I made a post. It's pretty amusing, so check it out.
January 23, 2006
Getting it
To pass judgment is bad. To judge in a discerning way is good. This is what I have recently learned. Well, I suppose I knew that already, but it has been confirmed to me by various religious websites. I was looking for reasons not to be upset with the local NBC affiliate for refusing to air even a single episode of The Book of Daniel. Apparently, KBTV4 is being discerning. So, does the Bible say anything about discernment on behalf of others being bad? Hmm, I'm not getting very far with my arguments. Ironic that I am becoming agitated over the lack of support for my judgmentalism against a station for exercising judgment. Me, who supports acting from your principles and being and doing good. Can anyone say hypocrite?
But I do think it was a closed-minded decision of the station to decide on behalf of its viewers that the show is so offensive as to be harmful. I mean, it must be more offensive than The Biggest Loser (which casts aside its outvoted wieght loss participants and then follows up on their pitiful failures later) and Joey (which is just plain stupid) for the station to take such drastic action.
Okay, I do actually get it, the station's rationale and sense of doing right. They don't see Joey as harmful, fine. And The Biggest Loser harms only itself; viewers might learn something (big stress on might). The Book of Daniel presents a hugely fallible clergyman as worthy of contact with Jesus, who overlooks the man's egregious errors in judgment; some see the comedic stretching of that as disrespectful and the wrong message. I also get that the subject of Christianity is too important to the local affilliate's management to touch, both morally and financially. The untouchable nature of religion makes me uneasy. *sigh*
Why is it so wrong to have fun with cherished parts of our life? Is it not good to laugh at ourselves from time to time? Hey, here's an idea for television: Make a show based on The Life of Brian or Christopher Moore's Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. An alternative look at the life and times of Jesus with a sense of humor built in. Neither would change my faith or beliefs; they'd just be fun.
I did my student teaching at a religious school and worked under a fabulous nun, Sister Cathy. Not having been raised religiously (funny, that) she was my first meaningful contact with clergy types. She was smart and caring and faithful. She was also irreverent and hilarious. I have a feeling that a show like The Book of Daniel would be must-see TV for Sister Cathy. Not because she would find it funny (I have a feeling the show is not as well written as it could be) but because she would want to give it a chance. She'd take the mocking of religion in stride--she too had qualms about problems in organized religion--and find some humor in the situations. She'd form a thoughtful argument for watching or not and tell her students to do the same.
This seems so right to me, to think. Think about what you do and why you do it. My current bumper sticker says "Don't believe everything you think". Is this so difficult a concept or practice to undertake? Okay, some things I don't get.
UPDATE: Apparently, NBC is removing The Book of Daniel. I suspect controversy did nothing for its ratings or uneven quality.
But I do think it was a closed-minded decision of the station to decide on behalf of its viewers that the show is so offensive as to be harmful. I mean, it must be more offensive than The Biggest Loser (which casts aside its outvoted wieght loss participants and then follows up on their pitiful failures later) and Joey (which is just plain stupid) for the station to take such drastic action.
Okay, I do actually get it, the station's rationale and sense of doing right. They don't see Joey as harmful, fine. And The Biggest Loser harms only itself; viewers might learn something (big stress on might). The Book of Daniel presents a hugely fallible clergyman as worthy of contact with Jesus, who overlooks the man's egregious errors in judgment; some see the comedic stretching of that as disrespectful and the wrong message. I also get that the subject of Christianity is too important to the local affilliate's management to touch, both morally and financially. The untouchable nature of religion makes me uneasy. *sigh*
Why is it so wrong to have fun with cherished parts of our life? Is it not good to laugh at ourselves from time to time? Hey, here's an idea for television: Make a show based on The Life of Brian or Christopher Moore's Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. An alternative look at the life and times of Jesus with a sense of humor built in. Neither would change my faith or beliefs; they'd just be fun.
I did my student teaching at a religious school and worked under a fabulous nun, Sister Cathy. Not having been raised religiously (funny, that) she was my first meaningful contact with clergy types. She was smart and caring and faithful. She was also irreverent and hilarious. I have a feeling that a show like The Book of Daniel would be must-see TV for Sister Cathy. Not because she would find it funny (I have a feeling the show is not as well written as it could be) but because she would want to give it a chance. She'd take the mocking of religion in stride--she too had qualms about problems in organized religion--and find some humor in the situations. She'd form a thoughtful argument for watching or not and tell her students to do the same.
This seems so right to me, to think. Think about what you do and why you do it. My current bumper sticker says "Don't believe everything you think". Is this so difficult a concept or practice to undertake? Okay, some things I don't get.
UPDATE: Apparently, NBC is removing The Book of Daniel. I suspect controversy did nothing for its ratings or uneven quality.
January 19, 2006
Standards
Education Week ran a Live Chat with Diane Ravitch this week on the subject of national standards. Ravitch is a conservative analyst and she favors solid traditional schooling that meets needs of every child. She's got high standards for education and all involved. Although politically I might often disagree with her, in educational terms I think she often makes excellent points. Her book Left Back is one of my favorite education texts. Anyway, this week's Live Chat with Ravitch focused on subject standards. The following comment struck me because it is a particular petpeeve of mine. I've got a phone book-sized copy of all the subject standards. To expect that all students--or even any student--would learn all that is contained therein is preposterous. Ravitch's answer points (I think) to a lack of leadership and common sense. Not to mention any appreciation for balance or boundaries.
In response to a later question about barriers, Ravitch acknowledges, again, some common sense problems with no easy solution.
I agree with her, but no one asked me. Nonetheless, I can and do make a difference in this debate. I believe that the little things I do, the people I choose to publicly support, the questions I ask, and the standards of behavior that I uphold and practice, these do make a difference, regardless of who is "in power". It seems to me that people are absurdly afraid of cooperation, hard work, and prioritizing. All I can really do about that bothersome fact is to counteract it.
Amen to that.
Question from Lisa Ross, Federal Policy Director, Former Chief Counsel on Education to the US Senate: It's my recollection that when model national standards were developed for various subjects that so much content was included in each subject area that teaching just one of them would take up the whole school day and year. They were developed by groups of subject matter teachers but they were not realistic. How would you propose developing national standards for all subjects that fit into a school day?
Diane Ravitch: I was involved in that earlier effort and I am well aware of everything that went wrong. The effort to create national standards started in the last year of the first Bush administration. The grants were awarded then, but when the standards were written, there was no entity in a position to review them, send them back for revision, insist on paring them down, look at them all together and acknowledge that the amount in them was simply overwhelming. Having participated in standard-writing in various states, I know that one of the biggest problems is what to leave out. There is a lot of old-fashioned log-rolling, where everyone agrees to cut nothing. But if we had a serious and sustained national conversation about what our kids need to know in math, science, history, literature, the arts, etc., then we would also need some oversight, some coordination from the top to make sure that the standards were reasonable as well as geared to high performance. When they are overwhelming in bulk, they can't be taken seriously. Then they are just a wish list.
In response to a later question about barriers, Ravitch acknowledges, again, some common sense problems with no easy solution.
Diane Ravitch: There of course is strong political opposition, based on fear that the standards will be taken over by "them" (whoever you happen to disagree with). The left mistrusts the right, the right mistrusts the left. All of which is reasonable, unless it is possible to create a national entity with real integrity. Having been on the NAGB board, having seen so many people who were dedicated to the well-being of America's children, I think it can be done. But I do not question how hard it will be.
I agree with her, but no one asked me. Nonetheless, I can and do make a difference in this debate. I believe that the little things I do, the people I choose to publicly support, the questions I ask, and the standards of behavior that I uphold and practice, these do make a difference, regardless of who is "in power". It seems to me that people are absurdly afraid of cooperation, hard work, and prioritizing. All I can really do about that bothersome fact is to counteract it.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. -- St. Francis of Assisi
Amen to that.
January 17, 2006
Measurability
From the introduction to Levitt and Dubner's highly readable book Freakonomics comes this whopper of a statement: Morality, it could be argued, represents the way that people would like the world to work--whereas economics represents how it actually does work. Economics is above all a science of measurement.
Anyone out there care to comment?
Anyone out there care to comment?
Pathos
Sometimes the funnies aren't that funny. In the world of editorial cartoons, laughter is the farthest thing from the mind of the artist. Sad chuckles, yes, hearty gut laughs, no. Anyway, the three editorial cartoons I read daily, by Toles, Oliphant, and Sargent, all were good today. But not funny. If you enjoy a good sad laugh with a decidedly left tilt from time to time, check out Santa Cruz's own Comic News. And if you prefer your funnies the old fashioned way...okay, not in the newspaper, but the standard titles and contents, even classic Peanuts is included--go to the Comics.com website. Come on, laugh a little.
January 11, 2006
Awards
I'm going to create my own awards listing for the movies I've seen that were released in 2005. My top ten:
1. Crash
2. Capote (best actor = Phillip Seymour Hoffman, by far!)
3. Brokeback Mountain
4. Syriana
5. Munich
6. The Squid and the Whale
7. A History of Violence
8. Broken Flowers
9. Off the Map *
10. Pride and Prejudice *
Mind you, I've not seen all the big movies of the year. Here's the list of other 2005 releases I saw:
War of the Worlds
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Wedding Crashers
The 40-Year Old Virgin
March of the Penguins
The Aristocrats
Serenity
Fever Pitch
Kung Fu Hustle
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Thus my top 10 could be adjusted. I can catch King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia, or Walk the Line in theaters this weekend if the urge hits me. If I hurry and drive around Houston I might still catch Transamerica. I think I've missed theater viewing of Rent and Good Night and Good Luck, and I don't think they'll be out on DVD before Oscars. But a few others I have added to my Netflix queue. Cinderella Man, The Constant Gardener, Junebug, Hustle and Flow, and (woo hoo!) Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Wererabbit. I've got several documentaries on the list too: Parrots of Telegraph Hill, Murderball, and Grizzly Man will likely all see nominations. I could see Woody Allen's London-based adultery drama Match Point in theaters but somehow I have zero desire.
So what are your top 10 movies, of those released in '05? If you need help, check out the official list of Oscar-awardable movies for the year.
*UPDATE: I saw The Constant Gardener and Cinderella Man on DVD this week. I'm not sure where they fit in my list. They are both fine movies, but not top 5. Okay, they become my new #9 and #10. Sorry ladies, it's just not your year in the movies.
FURTHER UPDATE: Hated Match Point. As in, it physically pained me. Walk the Line is interesting but not great. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is fabulous--really, I recommend it to everyone. Rent was fine but tolerance for musicals must be high. I just didn't feel all the love for Good Night, and Good Luck. Solid basic history, but not all that interestingly (or clearly) told. IMHO.
Does anyone even care? :)
1. Crash
2. Capote (best actor = Phillip Seymour Hoffman, by far!)
3. Brokeback Mountain
4. Syriana
5. Munich
6. The Squid and the Whale
7. A History of Violence
8. Broken Flowers
9. Off the Map *
10. Pride and Prejudice *
Mind you, I've not seen all the big movies of the year. Here's the list of other 2005 releases I saw:
War of the Worlds
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Wedding Crashers
The 40-Year Old Virgin
March of the Penguins
The Aristocrats
Serenity
Fever Pitch
Kung Fu Hustle
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Thus my top 10 could be adjusted. I can catch King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia, or Walk the Line in theaters this weekend if the urge hits me. If I hurry and drive around Houston I might still catch Transamerica. I think I've missed theater viewing of Rent and Good Night and Good Luck, and I don't think they'll be out on DVD before Oscars. But a few others I have added to my Netflix queue. Cinderella Man, The Constant Gardener, Junebug, Hustle and Flow, and (woo hoo!) Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Wererabbit. I've got several documentaries on the list too: Parrots of Telegraph Hill, Murderball, and Grizzly Man will likely all see nominations. I could see Woody Allen's London-based adultery drama Match Point in theaters but somehow I have zero desire.
So what are your top 10 movies, of those released in '05? If you need help, check out the official list of Oscar-awardable movies for the year.
*UPDATE: I saw The Constant Gardener and Cinderella Man on DVD this week. I'm not sure where they fit in my list. They are both fine movies, but not top 5. Okay, they become my new #9 and #10. Sorry ladies, it's just not your year in the movies.
FURTHER UPDATE: Hated Match Point. As in, it physically pained me. Walk the Line is interesting but not great. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is fabulous--really, I recommend it to everyone. Rent was fine but tolerance for musicals must be high. I just didn't feel all the love for Good Night, and Good Luck. Solid basic history, but not all that interestingly (or clearly) told. IMHO.
Does anyone even care? :)
Jeopardy
Not that you asked, but...
I'll take promises for a thousand, Alex. Apparently all those pent up postings evaporated with the California rains. Contentment could be the cause--I don't have as much to say when I'm content. That seems sad. Is it true that when I talk it is largely a reaction to discomfort? I am often frustrated or wanting when I speak to people. Sometimes even my quiet is riddled with discomfort--the talking is in my head. In social situations I either shut up or babble. It all made me think about when it is that I am truly comfortable. In California it was that the demands placed upon me personally were flexible but clear. I had a lot of quiet time, without the TV or required reading or chores. I suppose it's easy to be content when you're on vacation in an otherwise vacant, fully furnished house with car. There was little if anything to be doubtful about. I had things I might have wanted to get done, but not getting them done would not and has not posed any kind of a problem for me. I recognize that I enjoyed the vacation and do not question my accomplishments during the time. So my contentment seems related to acceptance, pace, simplicity. The first two are fairly easy to incorporate into my daily life. Simplicity might require a bit more work.
A thought for the day (courtesy of Buddha): Wherever you live is your temple if you treat it like one.
I'll take promises for a thousand, Alex. Apparently all those pent up postings evaporated with the California rains. Contentment could be the cause--I don't have as much to say when I'm content. That seems sad. Is it true that when I talk it is largely a reaction to discomfort? I am often frustrated or wanting when I speak to people. Sometimes even my quiet is riddled with discomfort--the talking is in my head. In social situations I either shut up or babble. It all made me think about when it is that I am truly comfortable. In California it was that the demands placed upon me personally were flexible but clear. I had a lot of quiet time, without the TV or required reading or chores. I suppose it's easy to be content when you're on vacation in an otherwise vacant, fully furnished house with car. There was little if anything to be doubtful about. I had things I might have wanted to get done, but not getting them done would not and has not posed any kind of a problem for me. I recognize that I enjoyed the vacation and do not question my accomplishments during the time. So my contentment seems related to acceptance, pace, simplicity. The first two are fairly easy to incorporate into my daily life. Simplicity might require a bit more work.
A thought for the day (courtesy of Buddha): Wherever you live is your temple if you treat it like one.
January 02, 2006
Stills
Not that you asked, but...
My eye keeps twitching.
It's rained almost every day of my Nor Cal vacation, and still it's lovely.
I've still not seen Syriana, King Kong, Narnia, or Brokeback Mountain.
My attempt to read Proust faltered after only a few pages.
With all the rain and wandering in and out of houses not my own, I've taken to removing my shoes indoors. It has brought to my attention the fact that I brought with me very few pairs of socks.
My lack of procreation has left me far behind the Joneses.
The pictures in my mind are of a much better quality than the ones I take with any camera.
I am neither redeemed nor rewarded for my taste in end of year cards and gifts, but still I'm pretty proud of my choices this year.
California is not just a state; it's a state of mind. And it's my home.
My eye keeps twitching.
It's rained almost every day of my Nor Cal vacation, and still it's lovely.
I've still not seen Syriana, King Kong, Narnia, or Brokeback Mountain.
My attempt to read Proust faltered after only a few pages.
With all the rain and wandering in and out of houses not my own, I've taken to removing my shoes indoors. It has brought to my attention the fact that I brought with me very few pairs of socks.
My lack of procreation has left me far behind the Joneses.
The pictures in my mind are of a much better quality than the ones I take with any camera.
I am neither redeemed nor rewarded for my taste in end of year cards and gifts, but still I'm pretty proud of my choices this year.
California is not just a state; it's a state of mind. And it's my home.
December 11, 2005
December 07, 2005
Convenience
I've become a fan of the Eduwonk blog. This interest might pass if I come to find it obnoxious. Or I'll lose interest, sort of, if the topics become so interesting to me that I become obsessed. Obsession would interfere with my current schedule.
Isn't that just reminiscent of why people don't take action to right wrongs they believe to exist? The righting of wrongs is often inconvenient. I might argue that leaving the wrongs around will eventually be more inconvenient, except that this isn't necessarily true. Lots of people avoid the right/good path and rise above the sector or group soonest affected by the wrong. So long as people in authority can rise above others when bad things come around, the bad things are likely to continue. Does this not sound like universally assured destruction?
Isn't that just reminiscent of why people don't take action to right wrongs they believe to exist? The righting of wrongs is often inconvenient. I might argue that leaving the wrongs around will eventually be more inconvenient, except that this isn't necessarily true. Lots of people avoid the right/good path and rise above the sector or group soonest affected by the wrong. So long as people in authority can rise above others when bad things come around, the bad things are likely to continue. Does this not sound like universally assured destruction?
December 05, 2005
Save AD
Maybe it's beyond saving, but if you enjoy Arrested Development or enjoy truly funny things, then watch it tonight (Monday, December 5) on Fox.
Sorry the posts are dragging lately. My schedule is a little nuts (admittedly self inflicted). I waver between moments of clarity and panic. When I have ideas for this ponderous space I'm generally in the middle of an hour-and-a-half drive or in the middle of a five-hours-on-the-road-working spell. Next week my words will be gushing forth, I promise.
On the road I am amused by sports radio, Pacifica radio, classic rock from time to time, old mix tapes (the CD player is kaput in that car), and fabulous public radio tidbits like Garrison Keilor's Writer's Almanac and UH's Engines of our Ingenuity. Feel free to listen in with me.
Sorry the posts are dragging lately. My schedule is a little nuts (admittedly self inflicted). I waver between moments of clarity and panic. When I have ideas for this ponderous space I'm generally in the middle of an hour-and-a-half drive or in the middle of a five-hours-on-the-road-working spell. Next week my words will be gushing forth, I promise.
On the road I am amused by sports radio, Pacifica radio, classic rock from time to time, old mix tapes (the CD player is kaput in that car), and fabulous public radio tidbits like Garrison Keilor's Writer's Almanac and UH's Engines of our Ingenuity. Feel free to listen in with me.
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