My friends Brionna & Anne & I had drinks downtown Friday and then walked over the Stone Arch Bridge to see the 35W bridge and then have dinner on the other side. Brio wrote some reflections that night and said I could reprint them here.
Hi Everyone,
Thought I would share something that I wrote about the 35W bridge
collapse. It's funny how the mind works. I wrote this almost
immediately after coming home from hanging out with a couple of my
favorite people. When I returned to the same place today with Chris and
Ben, I found it odd how much my memory of seeing it the night before and
the images I took in today were, in many ways, different. While the
storm last night had something to do with that, I'm sure, I think my
narrative below is more indicative of how seeing it affected me rather
than a true account of what I saw. Emily and Anne - it will be
interesting to hear how your recollections of what you saw agrees or
conflicts with my recollection of what I saw). Anyway, for what it's
worth. . . here it is.
Brionna
A couple girlfriends and I met up downtown for drinks this evening and
walked over to the Stone Arch Bridge. For those of you unfamiliar with
the Twin Cities, the Stone Arch Bridge is part of a large historical
park memorializing the flour mill ruins. (A little over 100 years ago,
Minneapolis was known, in part, for its flour mills. Flour dust is WAY
more combustible than gunpowder and with the Industrial Revolution
relatively new to the States, the technology and working conditions were
ripe for sparks to fly. A number of mill explosions, including the BIG
one, resulted in too many worker deaths. The park honors that history by
turning the ruins into an educational park. It's pretty cool.)
From the bridge you get a decent view of the 35W collapse and boy, it
is difficult to find the right words to string together into sentences
to describe the whole thing. I was having a difficult time envisioning
where the bridge would have been because I kept looking for a landmark
to place the bridge in my mind. The problem, I later realized, was that
the bridge itself was the landmark I was searching for and could not
find. It wasn't until I was able to make sense of the other landmarks
WITHOUT the bridge, that the gravity of the bridge collapse from a
simple environmental/geographic standpoint sunk in.
While on the Stone Arch Bridge, you look to the right and see a slab of
concrete cascading like a waterfall down into the south bank of the
river. You see concrete move like that on hilly roads and streets, but
seeing the concrete take the particularly shape it has taken as a result
of the collapse challenges the mind to grasp how a concrete road can
take such a path. Strangely, it seems very fluid, as though it is
supposed to do it. Just as the concrete takes its dive downward, you see
a car, very precariously positioned, as though a strong enough breeze
could send that car down the waterfall of concrete to the rubble below.
As you move your field of vision to the left, just passed the
lock-and-dam system - which obscures a large part of the river and thus
the rubble of the bridge - you happen upon another very part portion of
the bridge, above the water, bent in a concave manner. Once again, you
are struck by how a road just shouldn't DO that. There is no reason to
have such a strong sense of cognitive dissonance, except that this
expansion of road is also an island of sorts in the Mississippi River. A
week ago, there were a number of cars on this piece of the bridge,
including the delivery truck engulfed in flames that became the death
pyre for one of the dead. Now, all cars are gone from this u-shaped
piece of interstate, fallen from its groundedness. All that is left are
the white stripes of the lane divisions, another eerie reminder of what
it once was.
Still farther to the left, you see a mangled mess of bridge trusses,
green in color and collapsed in such a manner that the geometric
patterns formerly created by the supports have fallen into each other,
creating dozens of new triangles, hexagons and open angles searching for
the beams that closed the shape it had once been. On the northern side
of this display of metallic geometry is another large slab of concrete,
cast down at nearly a 90% angle. Most of this section is shielded by a
number of trees, if I recall. At this point, however, it could have been
partially hidden by just about anything because at the same time, you
are hypnotized by your own personal, private, intellectual and emotional
response to seeing something that the local media, in its coverage, has
been unable to "make real" in your head and heart.
From that far away, it is difficult to take in the full effect of the
view. But, I'm not sure I want to. The miracle that so few died as a
result lessened the impact. Had we lost more to the event, I'm not sure
I could write my thoughts down immediately after seeing the aftermath.
Having attended the University of Minnesota for both undergrad and
graduate school, I know the bridge, traveled it often. There is a part
of my identity that is attached to it for the sheer fact that it is the
road I took so many times to get to where I am most comfortable, a
classroom, any classroom. It's funny the flood of memories, often very
visceral, you can have of simply driving a stretch of road, slowing down
along an exit ramp, sitting at the yield sign waiting to leave the
highway, cross four lines of traffic to get in the best position to
enter Dinkytown to find parking near a coffee shop that you might get a
demitasse of espresso to fuel a quick study session before a midquarter
exam or a discussion during recitation. Somehow, now, those memories
have more value in my mind, plug a bit more urgently at my heart.
Despite having traveled that portion of 35W for any number of other
reasons, the fact that it so often served as a gateway to the U is that
of which I am most contemplative. As I look back at what I just wrote,
to share this experience, it is a bit odd that I took myself out of the
narrative, using instead second person language. I suppose I needed a
bit of space to put words to paper around the experience of seeing the
site of the collapse, because, as I sat down to write about it, I felt
that the words would not come. Still, I, like so many here in the Twin
Cities and others - wherever they may be - who have followed the story,
recognize the change it means, however small or however monumental,
however public or however private.
Like Brio, I have traveled that bridge many times as an undergrad and grad student at the U of MN. As an icon, that bridge sticks in my memory as having the most amazing view of downtown when you are travelling south and look to the west. It was strange to look AT the bridge FROM downtown - an odd reversal.
My recollections from that evening are right there with Brio's. The concrete waterfall - the twisted geometry of the green metal parts - simultaneously disturbing and interesting. Locating the bridge within the context of other landmarks - the "aha" when we remembered that the Humphrey Center is just at the south end of the 10th St bridge...
It was strange to be on the bridge with so many people when it wasn't the Fourth of July. Usually, folks are just walking across - or it's a holiday and that's a reason for crowds - but this was neither...
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Even Better
Check out more entertaining social commentary from Wellington Grey! As always, razor-sharp and RIGHT ON.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
I Don't Get It
Not a huge controversy, but interesting anyway... a writer on PopWatch takes issue with MTV censorship of a video. Apparently the top pop song these days is "Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston (or rather, by Lieber & Stoller, performed by Kingston.) I didn't know that - maybe because I'm 39 and just don't watch enough MTV?
OK, I don't watch MTV at all, so I haven't seen this - though the link includes the video - but apparently MTV, in its infinite wisdom, blanks out a couple words (or a few lines, depending on who you believe) of the song on the video. That, in itself, can't be surprising, but here are the lines:
You're way too beautiful, girl
That's why it'll never work
You'll have me suicidal, suicidal
When you say it's over
Now I absolutely think the lines are stupid - but not in need of censorship. The idea of dying over rejection is pathetic, but do teens need to be protected from the very idea? Come on.
Frankly, while I'm impressed that MTV actually does bleep out offensiveness - another thing I didn't know - all this does is draw attention to something that would otherwise have received much less attention.
Dumb.
OK, I don't watch MTV at all, so I haven't seen this - though the link includes the video - but apparently MTV, in its infinite wisdom, blanks out a couple words (or a few lines, depending on who you believe) of the song on the video. That, in itself, can't be surprising, but here are the lines:
You're way too beautiful, girl
That's why it'll never work
You'll have me suicidal, suicidal
When you say it's over
Now I absolutely think the lines are stupid - but not in need of censorship. The idea of dying over rejection is pathetic, but do teens need to be protected from the very idea? Come on.
Frankly, while I'm impressed that MTV actually does bleep out offensiveness - another thing I didn't know - all this does is draw attention to something that would otherwise have received much less attention.
Dumb.
Modern Communication pt 2 OR It's a Small World pt 2
A colleague told me yesterday that the news of the 35W bridge collapse was so dominating national & global news that it was even the lead story on Al-Jazeera. I didn't have a chance to look at the website until today, and while it's not on the front page, it is still the lead story on the "Americas" section of the website. Interesting!
It's always hard to gauge the extent that a story in our back yard will be interesting to the rest of the world. I was in Philly on Tuesday when the Wolves traded Garnett, and was pleased to find pretty significant coverage in the papers out east.
I'm curious to see how Gov Pawlenty will deal with the national exposure he'll get from this. On the one hand, it raises his name recognition & gives him a chance to be a hero. On the other hand, he's already taking a beating for vetoing the transportation bill this year & being a generally "no new taxes" kind of guy his whole tenure in office. If he's angling for a Veep spot on someone's ticket next year, he'll have to walk a pretty fine line between now & then. It will be interesting to see how the national news covers him in the process...
It's always hard to gauge the extent that a story in our back yard will be interesting to the rest of the world. I was in Philly on Tuesday when the Wolves traded Garnett, and was pleased to find pretty significant coverage in the papers out east.
I'm curious to see how Gov Pawlenty will deal with the national exposure he'll get from this. On the one hand, it raises his name recognition & gives him a chance to be a hero. On the other hand, he's already taking a beating for vetoing the transportation bill this year & being a generally "no new taxes" kind of guy his whole tenure in office. If he's angling for a Veep spot on someone's ticket next year, he'll have to walk a pretty fine line between now & then. It will be interesting to see how the national news covers him in the process...
Friday, August 03, 2007
Modern Communication
I didn’t understand the “are u safe? im at the u now too” text message at first – it followed an earlier text from the same friend asking about lunch, so I just replied that I was glad she had started her doctoral program, I had just landed from PA, and we’d have lunch next week.
The next “Are u safe?” text came after my mom had told me about the bridge collapse, so I understood what it meant!
I was annoyed at the airport that my call dropped about 6 times while I was trying to tell my mom which door to pick me up at – I just switched to Verizon from T-Mobile and was starting to regret it! But as I complained about it to her, she explained about the bridge and it became clear that the lines were just overloaded.
Flashback to September 2001!
I landed within an hour of the bridge collapse, and within an hour after that I had at least 3 texts from friends asking “are u safe?” – then a call, then another text… I had only called my brother after she told me about the bridge – his family was intact, my daughter was hundreds of miles away, and my mom was sitting right next to me, so all good. It just didn’t occur to me that I would know anyone in the tragedy!
Amusingly, my mother called my brother when she first heard the news – just to tell him to take a different way home, as 35W would be blocked off. She left a message & didn’t think twice about whether he might be IN it! We’re just not the worrying types, I guess.
But I have to admit it felt pretty good to have so many people checking on me… so I checked on a few more of my closest friends just because. Counted heads & all were present. One of my daughter’s friends told her that all their friends are accounted for – between texting & instant messaging I’m sure they counted heads in about 10 minutes!
Two of my good friends were in NYC on 9/11, so I was aware that the need to find out if people were OK must be strong for them. Both admitted they were more than a little freaked out by the situation. Apparently texts get through better than calls in busy times, so both used text and I was not surprised.
My boss’s brother’s wife’s sister is among the missing – that’s as close as it has come to me to my knowledge so far. Of course there are many more bodies yet to be pulled out, so who knows – but I’m feeling lucky, and loved, and blessed – by my loved ones and by modern communication. ☺
The next “Are u safe?” text came after my mom had told me about the bridge collapse, so I understood what it meant!
I was annoyed at the airport that my call dropped about 6 times while I was trying to tell my mom which door to pick me up at – I just switched to Verizon from T-Mobile and was starting to regret it! But as I complained about it to her, she explained about the bridge and it became clear that the lines were just overloaded.
Flashback to September 2001!
I landed within an hour of the bridge collapse, and within an hour after that I had at least 3 texts from friends asking “are u safe?” – then a call, then another text… I had only called my brother after she told me about the bridge – his family was intact, my daughter was hundreds of miles away, and my mom was sitting right next to me, so all good. It just didn’t occur to me that I would know anyone in the tragedy!
Amusingly, my mother called my brother when she first heard the news – just to tell him to take a different way home, as 35W would be blocked off. She left a message & didn’t think twice about whether he might be IN it! We’re just not the worrying types, I guess.
But I have to admit it felt pretty good to have so many people checking on me… so I checked on a few more of my closest friends just because. Counted heads & all were present. One of my daughter’s friends told her that all their friends are accounted for – between texting & instant messaging I’m sure they counted heads in about 10 minutes!
Two of my good friends were in NYC on 9/11, so I was aware that the need to find out if people were OK must be strong for them. Both admitted they were more than a little freaked out by the situation. Apparently texts get through better than calls in busy times, so both used text and I was not surprised.
My boss’s brother’s wife’s sister is among the missing – that’s as close as it has come to me to my knowledge so far. Of course there are many more bodies yet to be pulled out, so who knows – but I’m feeling lucky, and loved, and blessed – by my loved ones and by modern communication. ☺
No Post from Philly or DC
The TREO has almost eliminated my need for computer access while traveling since I can get home & work email on it… so I didn’t think to post at all!
I left my lovely daughter at U Penn on Saturday, went to DC for a few days to visit friends, then came back after she was all settled in. I strongly recommend this strategy to other parents who have to leave kids at college many miles away!
It was great because by the time I came back, she had friends, knew her surroundings a bit, and had been to her classes so had a good sense that she was going to enjoy it! I even got to take her out to lunch with all 3 of her roommates – nice to put faces with the names and see that they are, in fact, pretty cool kids.
Yes, the trip was wonderful. So I didn’t post.
I left my lovely daughter at U Penn on Saturday, went to DC for a few days to visit friends, then came back after she was all settled in. I strongly recommend this strategy to other parents who have to leave kids at college many miles away!
It was great because by the time I came back, she had friends, knew her surroundings a bit, and had been to her classes so had a good sense that she was going to enjoy it! I even got to take her out to lunch with all 3 of her roommates – nice to put faces with the names and see that they are, in fact, pretty cool kids.
Yes, the trip was wonderful. So I didn’t post.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
This Is It!
Tomorrow is the big day - I take my only child off to college!
We are NOT driving - I don't see that as the best way to spend our last couple of days together! We are bringing most of her stuff with us on the plane & shipping a box or two. Having family in the area makes the shipping part much easier! We weighed all her bags & even the very largest was under 50 lbs, so all of that comes with us for free.
We have had some drama with U Penn - the latest was over insurance during the summer program she's attending - but to their credit they have figured everything out every time. Her case is more complicated than most - I suspect she may be the first foster kid they have ever accepted - but they have managed to make everything work out in the end. I appreciate that they seem to really want her there!
I loved college so much - and I want that for her. I want her to LOVE it. I think it's the perfect way to transition into adulthood - on your own, making your own choices, but still part of a pretty sheltered community (with someone else still cooking for you!) What more could a kid ask for? :)
So tomorrow morning we're off. Wish us Godspeed.
We are NOT driving - I don't see that as the best way to spend our last couple of days together! We are bringing most of her stuff with us on the plane & shipping a box or two. Having family in the area makes the shipping part much easier! We weighed all her bags & even the very largest was under 50 lbs, so all of that comes with us for free.
We have had some drama with U Penn - the latest was over insurance during the summer program she's attending - but to their credit they have figured everything out every time. Her case is more complicated than most - I suspect she may be the first foster kid they have ever accepted - but they have managed to make everything work out in the end. I appreciate that they seem to really want her there!
I loved college so much - and I want that for her. I want her to LOVE it. I think it's the perfect way to transition into adulthood - on your own, making your own choices, but still part of a pretty sheltered community (with someone else still cooking for you!) What more could a kid ask for? :)
So tomorrow morning we're off. Wish us Godspeed.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
It's a Small World...
Once again, as I was trolling through other blogspot blogs, I was struck that about half of them seem to be in other languages! I just love how global something as simple as blogging can be! :)
Here are a few of them - figuring out what language each one is can be kind of a game...
http://manskensbondensmemoarer.blogspot.com/
http://bruneiartnation.blogspot.com/
http://heliodon.blogspot.com/
http://meumundoeste.blogspot.com/
http://arcticmonkeysportugal.blogspot.com/
http://cursosfree.blogspot.com/
http://barbatrespelos.blogspot.com/
http://danielavroth.blogspot.com/
http://urikugas.blogspot.com/
Here are a few of them - figuring out what language each one is can be kind of a game...
http://manskensbondensmemoarer.blogspot.com/
http://bruneiartnation.blogspot.com/
http://heliodon.blogspot.com/
http://meumundoeste.blogspot.com/
http://arcticmonkeysportugal.blogspot.com/
http://cursosfree.blogspot.com/
http://barbatrespelos.blogspot.com/
http://danielavroth.blogspot.com/
http://urikugas.blogspot.com/
Friedman Nails It
You haven't seen much war commentary here - and you won't - but Thomas Friedman's latest column so completely nails the current conundrum that I have to give him credit!
He says, simply, that if he were Bush at this point, he would draft some of the country's best negotiators and send them to Baghdad with the following orders:
"I want you to move to the Green Zone, meet with the Iraqi factions, and do not come home until you've reached one of three conclusions:
1) You have resolved the power- and oil-sharing issues holding up political reconciliation;
2) You have concluded that those obstacles are insurmountable and have sold the Iraqis on a partition plan that could be presented to the United Nations and supervised by an international force
3) You have concluded that Iraqis are incapable of agreeing on either political reconciliation or a partition plan and told them that, as a result, the United States has no choice but to redeploy its troops to the border and let Iraqis sort this out on their own."
The last option is the one the Bush administration doesn't seem to be willing to consider, but that is really most crucial. As Friedman points out, when negotiating a contract, "if the other side thinks you'll never walk away, you've got no leverage." This is Bush's basic problem - the Iraqis don't believe he'll ever walk.
How come Thomas Friedman isn't running for president? Too smart?!?!?!
He says, simply, that if he were Bush at this point, he would draft some of the country's best negotiators and send them to Baghdad with the following orders:
"I want you to move to the Green Zone, meet with the Iraqi factions, and do not come home until you've reached one of three conclusions:
1) You have resolved the power- and oil-sharing issues holding up political reconciliation;
2) You have concluded that those obstacles are insurmountable and have sold the Iraqis on a partition plan that could be presented to the United Nations and supervised by an international force
3) You have concluded that Iraqis are incapable of agreeing on either political reconciliation or a partition plan and told them that, as a result, the United States has no choice but to redeploy its troops to the border and let Iraqis sort this out on their own."
The last option is the one the Bush administration doesn't seem to be willing to consider, but that is really most crucial. As Friedman points out, when negotiating a contract, "if the other side thinks you'll never walk away, you've got no leverage." This is Bush's basic problem - the Iraqis don't believe he'll ever walk.
How come Thomas Friedman isn't running for president? Too smart?!?!?!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Red State Heaven, part 3
I generally try to avoid Wal-Mart - I'm a good union member - and if you've ever been in a Wal-Mart you know that it can be a scary experience: loooooong rows & rows & rows of just about everything you can think of - all cheap in price and quality. The monster Wal-Mart by our cabin has everything from fabrics to hunting supplies. It freaks me out.
But occasionally when we're at the cabin there are things we need that can only be found at Wal-Mart. Recently, I needed a few more deck chairs, and Target didn't have the kind I wanted because it's already the middle of July, and Target's seasonal stuff doesn't stick around long.
So I braced myself and went to Wal-Mart. They not only had the chairs, but they had lots of them for about $5 each. Scary. I bought 6. But what really amazed me wasn't that...
Wal-Mart now offers a Wedding Registry.
But occasionally when we're at the cabin there are things we need that can only be found at Wal-Mart. Recently, I needed a few more deck chairs, and Target didn't have the kind I wanted because it's already the middle of July, and Target's seasonal stuff doesn't stick around long.
So I braced myself and went to Wal-Mart. They not only had the chairs, but they had lots of them for about $5 each. Scary. I bought 6. But what really amazed me wasn't that...
Wal-Mart now offers a Wedding Registry.
Of Resumes and Digital Fingerprints
In a recent column, Thomas Friedman notes that one's personal & professional reputation is becoming increasingly transparent with the rise of the Internet and video cell phones.
In a new book called "How", author Dov Seidman posits that, according to Friedman, "...in this transparent world, how you live your life and how you conduct your business matters more than ever, because so many people can now see into what you do and tell so many other people without any editor."
There are interesting generational implications at work here. Friedman calls our online presence a "digital fingerprint" that will follow us around - an important point for young people just entering the job market or trying to establish a professional reputation. The rise of Google means that the resume is no longer the primary basis on which a potential employer will make a decision.
As Seidman puts it: "In the information age, life has no chapters or closets; you can leave nothing behind, and you have nowhere to hide your skeletons. Your past is your present."
For younger people who have Facebook pages, MySpace pages - and for everyone with a blog - it's something to think about!
In a new book called "How", author Dov Seidman posits that, according to Friedman, "...in this transparent world, how you live your life and how you conduct your business matters more than ever, because so many people can now see into what you do and tell so many other people without any editor."
There are interesting generational implications at work here. Friedman calls our online presence a "digital fingerprint" that will follow us around - an important point for young people just entering the job market or trying to establish a professional reputation. The rise of Google means that the resume is no longer the primary basis on which a potential employer will make a decision.
As Seidman puts it: "In the information age, life has no chapters or closets; you can leave nothing behind, and you have nowhere to hide your skeletons. Your past is your present."
For younger people who have Facebook pages, MySpace pages - and for everyone with a blog - it's something to think about!
Is It Legal?
Here's a cool thing - a website called Working America, a community affiliate of the AFL-CIO union, offers Ask a Lawyer, a free legal advice service to workers about on-the-job issues.
How cool is that for average folks?
I am blessed with a good friend who is an employment attorney & lets me ask him questions once in a while, but I'm guessing that's not the case for most people, so this is a great resource!
Anyone can ask a question - it's a free service and you don't even have to be a union member to use it.
Bravo, AFL-CIO!
How cool is that for average folks?
I am blessed with a good friend who is an employment attorney & lets me ask him questions once in a while, but I'm guessing that's not the case for most people, so this is a great resource!
Anyone can ask a question - it's a free service and you don't even have to be a union member to use it.
Bravo, AFL-CIO!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
RIP Another N-Word
Today's Strib has a commentary piece by local writer Syl Jones lamenting that the N-word we're all concerned about is not NEGLECT.
No doubt!
No doubt!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
RIP N-Word
Last week the NAACP declared the death of the "N-Word" and held a funeral for it - which I think is appropriate. Although I get the concept of re-claiming a word to disempower it, in reality it still holds a lot of negative power.
What I think is more interesting is all the media coverage that never once used the actual word!
And my own debate right now on whether to include it or not. My inclination is to use it, because I think it's a little silly not to, but on the other hand, it's a word that we just don't use and I guess that means even while writing about it.
Now - to see if it will really happen and people will stop using it...! We can only hope.
What I think is more interesting is all the media coverage that never once used the actual word!
And my own debate right now on whether to include it or not. My inclination is to use it, because I think it's a little silly not to, but on the other hand, it's a word that we just don't use and I guess that means even while writing about it.
Now - to see if it will really happen and people will stop using it...! We can only hope.
Little Mosque on the Prairie
Seriously! A new Canadian sit-com about Muslims who start a mosque in an abandoned chruch in a rural Saskatchewan town. Check it out on YouTube - several episodes are there, broken into 5-10 minute clips. I watched the whole first episode and it IS pretty funny.
The StarTribune article about it today notes that while many Muslims were initially wary about such a thing, once they watched it, they liked it. It's funny and real - positive portrayals AND actually entertaining.
Figures it's a Canadian show, not American!
Another ridiculously entertaining Canadian show, Trailer Park Boys, is worth a look... a show about 2 guys who get out of prison and try to get their lives in order. A friend bought the whole first season, and when we sat down to watch it, we watched three in a row! It's silly and sometimes pointless, but very funny...
The StarTribune article about it today notes that while many Muslims were initially wary about such a thing, once they watched it, they liked it. It's funny and real - positive portrayals AND actually entertaining.
Figures it's a Canadian show, not American!
Another ridiculously entertaining Canadian show, Trailer Park Boys, is worth a look... a show about 2 guys who get out of prison and try to get their lives in order. A friend bought the whole first season, and when we sat down to watch it, we watched three in a row! It's silly and sometimes pointless, but very funny...
Monday, July 09, 2007
Not Sure How I Feel About This...
Thanks to an article in the newspaper, I discovered a website for teens that's all about sex: Scarleteen.com
It seems to exist for educational purposes - it's not porn - but a quick glance confirms that it's got both breadth and depth.
As an educator, I guess I'm all for anything educational - and this certainly is. I'm glad there are resources out there for teens, so that they aren't just listening to their friends (like we did!) As a parent, it makes me grateful that I am able to talk about stuff like this with my kid, though this website probably knows more than I do.
But the flip side is that our culture has become so hyper-sexualized that there is a serious need for a website like this - and I guess that's what bugs me. Kids see sex everywhere - they can't even walk around the mall without seeing Victoria's Secret - and that + hormones is a pretty combustible combination!
An article in yesterday's paper is not unrelated - called "A million young women never forgot the babies they were forced to surrender" - it looks at baby boomer women who were forced (by their families) to give up babies in the years before abortion became legal. The implication that they were too incompetent to be mothers scarred many of them for years.
What's the connection?
a) Kids need to know about birth control, because they're going to have sex whether you like it or not
b) Sex has multiple unintended consequences, so kids had better be informed
c) It's not just a rebellious behavior - even the "good" kids will do it, so better to be helpful than to judge
d) All of the above!
So sure, we all wish kids would just wait until they're adults to have sex (ha!) but we're also realistic enough to know that ain't gonna happen. Thus, Scarleteen.
It seems to exist for educational purposes - it's not porn - but a quick glance confirms that it's got both breadth and depth.
As an educator, I guess I'm all for anything educational - and this certainly is. I'm glad there are resources out there for teens, so that they aren't just listening to their friends (like we did!) As a parent, it makes me grateful that I am able to talk about stuff like this with my kid, though this website probably knows more than I do.
But the flip side is that our culture has become so hyper-sexualized that there is a serious need for a website like this - and I guess that's what bugs me. Kids see sex everywhere - they can't even walk around the mall without seeing Victoria's Secret - and that + hormones is a pretty combustible combination!
An article in yesterday's paper is not unrelated - called "A million young women never forgot the babies they were forced to surrender" - it looks at baby boomer women who were forced (by their families) to give up babies in the years before abortion became legal. The implication that they were too incompetent to be mothers scarred many of them for years.
What's the connection?
a) Kids need to know about birth control, because they're going to have sex whether you like it or not
b) Sex has multiple unintended consequences, so kids had better be informed
c) It's not just a rebellious behavior - even the "good" kids will do it, so better to be helpful than to judge
d) All of the above!
So sure, we all wish kids would just wait until they're adults to have sex (ha!) but we're also realistic enough to know that ain't gonna happen. Thus, Scarleteen.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
The Family Road Trip
"You might be a Gen-Xer if... you took family trips BEFORE the invention of the mini-van. You rode in the back of the station wagon and you faced the cars behind you."
Oh, yeah. We had the ultimate station wagon – the Checker Cab version. Bigger & badder than the wooden-door kind – although once when I was about 12, we were going across Arizona and the back door flew open for no reason! Luckily I was lying down so didn’t fall out. Another time – same trip, different state – a pheasant hit the windshield. Seriously. Huge bird. Freakish.
My brother & I visited 40+ states before we were 18, thanks to parents who believed in the family car trip. And no DVD player in the back for us! We watched license plates for different states, played the alphabet game with the billboards, and read books.
This summer, however, I will take my daughter to college in Philadelphia via airplane - no long car trip for us. I just don't see that as the greatest way to spend our last couple days together! Instead, we'll fly out early & hang out with my aunt. Much better.
Oh, yeah. We had the ultimate station wagon – the Checker Cab version. Bigger & badder than the wooden-door kind – although once when I was about 12, we were going across Arizona and the back door flew open for no reason! Luckily I was lying down so didn’t fall out. Another time – same trip, different state – a pheasant hit the windshield. Seriously. Huge bird. Freakish.
My brother & I visited 40+ states before we were 18, thanks to parents who believed in the family car trip. And no DVD player in the back for us! We watched license plates for different states, played the alphabet game with the billboards, and read books.
This summer, however, I will take my daughter to college in Philadelphia via airplane - no long car trip for us. I just don't see that as the greatest way to spend our last couple days together! Instead, we'll fly out early & hang out with my aunt. Much better.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
A Little TOO Connected
At the cabin the other day I was shocked to open my laptop & have a little box pop up with a wireless signal option! It didn’t catch, but for a minute I thought I had internet at the lake. No, thank you very much.
I admit I do occasionally bring some work out there, but I have NO desire to be that connected. (And if I did, the TREO would serve just fine.)
There's a reason we don't have a TV at the lake!
I admit I do occasionally bring some work out there, but I have NO desire to be that connected. (And if I did, the TREO would serve just fine.)
There's a reason we don't have a TV at the lake!
Red State Heaven - pt. 2
My brother put on quite the extraordinary fireworks show last night - and I realized that the fireworks we've been watching around the lake every year have probably all been from people's yards, not from formal (sanctioned) displays! It' amazing the show that you can buy in a box for $50. Who knew?
Red State Heaven
(written July 3)
I’m at the cabin, it’s early evening, and usually I would hear birds and not much else – maybe punctuated occasionally by a boat going by. But tonight it’s the day before the 4th of July, the neighbors a few doors down are having a huge party, and they are all singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. I am not kidding. There is background music, but the people are definitely singing along. There are about 8 boats gathered in front of their place (and a bazillion cars parked up & down the road) so it’s quite the crowd. Now it’s America the Beautiful.
It’s at once touching and gagging. If it were 1949 I’d think it was awesome. But 2007? Not feeling too beautiful in this country these days, and the Lord doesn't seem to be leading us to victory in this war anytime soon!
[Interesting side note - I looked up the battle hymn and noticed the original line was " As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free" - eventually changed to live - what does that say about our attitudes toward war?!?!]
But isn’t the point of Independence Day to celebrate what’s good about America? In that respect, the scene before me is pretty cool. More boats are gathering spontaneously as I write: what’s not to like? People coming together, boating, drinking, singing… hallelujah!
I’m at the cabin, it’s early evening, and usually I would hear birds and not much else – maybe punctuated occasionally by a boat going by. But tonight it’s the day before the 4th of July, the neighbors a few doors down are having a huge party, and they are all singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. I am not kidding. There is background music, but the people are definitely singing along. There are about 8 boats gathered in front of their place (and a bazillion cars parked up & down the road) so it’s quite the crowd. Now it’s America the Beautiful.
It’s at once touching and gagging. If it were 1949 I’d think it was awesome. But 2007? Not feeling too beautiful in this country these days, and the Lord doesn't seem to be leading us to victory in this war anytime soon!
[Interesting side note - I looked up the battle hymn and noticed the original line was " As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free" - eventually changed to live - what does that say about our attitudes toward war?!?!]
But isn’t the point of Independence Day to celebrate what’s good about America? In that respect, the scene before me is pretty cool. More boats are gathering spontaneously as I write: what’s not to like? People coming together, boating, drinking, singing… hallelujah!
Friday, June 15, 2007
The Transgender Jesus Shark
Our science teacher friend didn't believe us that a shark gave birth without insemination, but it's true - DNA evidence has confirmed (how do they do that???) that a shark born in '01 had no daddy - a virgin shark birth.
National Geographic posits that it is the result of parthenogenesis - a real virgin birth - because there was no paternal genetic material. Earlier reports had speculated that the shark mama is essentially a hermaphrodite, capable of inseminating herself, but that's apparently not quite the case...
My cards group had fun with this one last night - it's the second coming of Jesus! Who knew it would be in the form of a shark? And a possibly trans shark at that? All hail the Transgender Jesus Shark! Hmm...
But then I looked up the article and found out that the Jesus Shark was killed on the day of its birth by a stingray, so it is apparently not going to save the world. Bummer.
Bad stingray.
National Geographic posits that it is the result of parthenogenesis - a real virgin birth - because there was no paternal genetic material. Earlier reports had speculated that the shark mama is essentially a hermaphrodite, capable of inseminating herself, but that's apparently not quite the case...
My cards group had fun with this one last night - it's the second coming of Jesus! Who knew it would be in the form of a shark? And a possibly trans shark at that? All hail the Transgender Jesus Shark! Hmm...
But then I looked up the article and found out that the Jesus Shark was killed on the day of its birth by a stingray, so it is apparently not going to save the world. Bummer.
Bad stingray.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
WikiPopes
From Wellington Grey, the master of contemporary social commentary in creative art forms, here's the one that made me laugh out loud today. (You maybe have to be a Wikipedia fan...)
George Will Does It Again
The man is brilliant - you have to give him that. And a darn great writer. Much of what he says is hogwash, but he says it so convincingly...
George Will's column "Balancing Freedom and Equity" (I love how you have to subscribe to the Wash Post to read it there, but the Strib reprints it free) paints an interesting contrast between conservatives' supposed love of freedom (except when it comes to abortion?) and liberals' supposed love of equity (which is not equality, mind you.)
What I dig: the notion that sometimes we have to choose between the two. It's individual rights vs greater good for the community, all dressed up. And yes, at its foundation, it seems to me that the tension between liberals & conservatives these days is about the balance between freedom & equity.
What I don't get: his baloney about how liberals are supposedly so into dependence on government. He points to all sorts of things to back up that assertion: support for public schools, aversion to privitizing Social Security, any hint of desire for universal health care. Not that these things have anything to do with welfare, which is the real issue conservatives are pointing at when they say "dependence on government."
Favorite line: "Liberalism once argued that large corporate entities of industrial capitalism degraded individuals by breeding dependence, passivity and servility. Conservatism challenges liberalism's blindness about the comparable dangers from the biggest social entity, government."
Dang, he's good. But still can be deconstructed.
First, was it liberals who worried about workers' dependence on big companies? Liberal refers to generous and accepting - it has nothing to do with this type of argument. So maybe Democrats, or Farmer-Labor Party folks got into it, but it's hardly a "liberal" issue and is amusing to see him so blithely paint it as such.
Next, since when is liberalism blind to the dangers of welfare dependence? Who's on the front lines, SEEING the needs of the poor every day? Not many conservatives...
Finally, I don't see conservatives often noting the difference between use of government welfare and dependence on it. It's all called dependence when many - most? - welfare users get on and get right back off. (See the Urban Institute website for some interesting statistics.)
So yes, I still think that much of what he writes is crap. But you have to respect his cleverness and persuasiveness. The man is a master.
George Will's column "Balancing Freedom and Equity" (I love how you have to subscribe to the Wash Post to read it there, but the Strib reprints it free) paints an interesting contrast between conservatives' supposed love of freedom (except when it comes to abortion?) and liberals' supposed love of equity (which is not equality, mind you.)
What I dig: the notion that sometimes we have to choose between the two. It's individual rights vs greater good for the community, all dressed up. And yes, at its foundation, it seems to me that the tension between liberals & conservatives these days is about the balance between freedom & equity.
What I don't get: his baloney about how liberals are supposedly so into dependence on government. He points to all sorts of things to back up that assertion: support for public schools, aversion to privitizing Social Security, any hint of desire for universal health care. Not that these things have anything to do with welfare, which is the real issue conservatives are pointing at when they say "dependence on government."
Favorite line: "Liberalism once argued that large corporate entities of industrial capitalism degraded individuals by breeding dependence, passivity and servility. Conservatism challenges liberalism's blindness about the comparable dangers from the biggest social entity, government."
Dang, he's good. But still can be deconstructed.
First, was it liberals who worried about workers' dependence on big companies? Liberal refers to generous and accepting - it has nothing to do with this type of argument. So maybe Democrats, or Farmer-Labor Party folks got into it, but it's hardly a "liberal" issue and is amusing to see him so blithely paint it as such.
Next, since when is liberalism blind to the dangers of welfare dependence? Who's on the front lines, SEEING the needs of the poor every day? Not many conservatives...
Finally, I don't see conservatives often noting the difference between use of government welfare and dependence on it. It's all called dependence when many - most? - welfare users get on and get right back off. (See the Urban Institute website for some interesting statistics.)
So yes, I still think that much of what he writes is crap. But you have to respect his cleverness and persuasiveness. The man is a master.
Pink & Blue Reversed - Who Knew?
A comment on how arbitrary some of the things we take for granted in life really are - from The Ladies Home Journal in 1918:
"There has been a great diversity of opinion on the subject, but the general accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. Pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl."
Go figure. :)
"There has been a great diversity of opinion on the subject, but the general accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. Pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl."
Go figure. :)
Choice Anniversaries
Today, QueenMAB (my friend Melissa) reflects on the anniversary of the day writer Raymond Carver got sober, and asks:
What are my anniversaries? What small choices have turned large and the consequences, lingering, transformative? What decision or discernment created a shift in my own ability to be present on the planet and to my own gifts, as writer, artist, human being?
Great question for us all to consider!
I certainly have a couple - most notably November 20, 2001, the day my daughter moved in and became my daughter. Also the day in June 1992 that I both received my first college degree and quit smoking. Talk about feeling powerful - knowing for sure that I could do anything in the world.
Hmm...
What are my anniversaries? What small choices have turned large and the consequences, lingering, transformative? What decision or discernment created a shift in my own ability to be present on the planet and to my own gifts, as writer, artist, human being?
Great question for us all to consider!
I certainly have a couple - most notably November 20, 2001, the day my daughter moved in and became my daughter. Also the day in June 1992 that I both received my first college degree and quit smoking. Talk about feeling powerful - knowing for sure that I could do anything in the world.
Hmm...
Friday, June 01, 2007
'Tis the Season!
My schedule is getting out-of-hand - in the way that used to make my ex-husband nuts. Too many social events...
My potential schedule for tomorrow, literally:
* Chiropractor
* Aerobics
* Finish putting together final exams for next week
* Former student's graduation party
* Friend's surprise 40th b-day party
* Friend's 5th annual housewarming party
* Friend's CD release party
Any bets on how many I'll actually make it to???
But let's admit it - nothing on the entire list is a real obligation - it's all stuff I want to do on this particular Saturday. (And I am finding some time to myself this week - I just started the new Anna Quindlen novel this week & am already almost 1/2 way through.)
It'll wind down soon enough. A month from now I'll be looking at a wide-open weekend at the lake. :)
Maybe then I'll have time to write something interesting!
My potential schedule for tomorrow, literally:
* Chiropractor
* Aerobics
* Finish putting together final exams for next week
* Former student's graduation party
* Friend's surprise 40th b-day party
* Friend's 5th annual housewarming party
* Friend's CD release party
Any bets on how many I'll actually make it to???
But let's admit it - nothing on the entire list is a real obligation - it's all stuff I want to do on this particular Saturday. (And I am finding some time to myself this week - I just started the new Anna Quindlen novel this week & am already almost 1/2 way through.)
It'll wind down soon enough. A month from now I'll be looking at a wide-open weekend at the lake. :)
Maybe then I'll have time to write something interesting!
What's Your Question?
At first, the U of MN's "Driven to Discover" add campaign seemed cute but kinda silly - until I happened to find the question of the day interesting, clicked on the link, and found serious answers to all these random but unique questions, including:
* Why is it that the heart does not get cancer as often as other organs in the body?
* Why can’t we all use the metric system? (we will)
* Will we ever speak to dolphins? (kinda)
* Is peace in the Middle East and surrounding nations really possible? (not likely)
* Do we have memories stored from before we were born? (yes)
* Can we provide health care for everyone? (yes)
* Do the arts reflect society or vice versa? (both)
There are a bazillion questions - use the page numbers on the bottom to scroll back through them - each one with a short, easy-to-comprehend, but scholarly answer. Random but totally fascinating. Check it out!
* Why is it that the heart does not get cancer as often as other organs in the body?
* Why can’t we all use the metric system? (we will)
* Will we ever speak to dolphins? (kinda)
* Is peace in the Middle East and surrounding nations really possible? (not likely)
* Do we have memories stored from before we were born? (yes)
* Can we provide health care for everyone? (yes)
* Do the arts reflect society or vice versa? (both)
There are a bazillion questions - use the page numbers on the bottom to scroll back through them - each one with a short, easy-to-comprehend, but scholarly answer. Random but totally fascinating. Check it out!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Random TV Thoughts
I missed TV Turn-Off Week this year - always the last week in April, when it's getting nice out again so kids can go outside - though I probably didn't watch during it anyway. Back when I taught middle school I always assigned it as homework, and challenged the whole family not to watch for a week. It was fascinating!
Here are some fun stats compiled by the TV Turn-Off Network from research studies:
* Sleeping is the only thing children spend more time doing every day than watching TV.
* 98% of Americans own TVs, and spend four hours per day watching them.
* Over half of teenagers have a TV in their bedroom, and they watch 2.5 hours more
per week.
* TV makes people fat, (or fat makes people watch TV?) Either way - duration of daily TV watching is strongly associated with obesity in adults and children.
I told my daughter that as soon as she goes off to college this fall, I’m canceling our cable. We never watch it! She can’t bear to be without HBO, but most of the TV she watches is network, and I rarely watch at all. It’s a ridiculous waste of money.
However, I was glad to find that Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip – the only TV show I have watched with any intentionality this year – is back on tonight after a 3-month hiatus, and I happened to be home, and happened to see that it would be on. Happy coincidence! I thought it had been cancelled, but at least they're airing the remaining episodes & not killing it mid-season.
My daughter is religious about watching LOST and used to be very hot on One Tree Hill and The OC. She would never forget to watch something she loves! But mostly she watches an hour of dumb reality shows "to relax" after school - not much beyond that.
The one show we’re really big on is Gilmore Girls – though we never catch it when it’s on during the week. We just wait until each season comes out on DVD – then we watch the whole season in about 2 weeks. It’s just our mother-daughter thing. :) We own & have watched the first 6 seasons together. It’s appropriate that it’s ending for good just when she’s going off to college.
Movie Questions
from The Sheila Variations - Some random questions about movies...
1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
Probably none...
A few I’ve seen maybe 5 times: Philadelphia Story, Crash, The Outsiders, When Harry Met Sally, St Elmo’s Fire, Purple Rain, Renaissance Man…
2. Name a movie that you’ve seen multiple times in the theater.
Rocky Horror, back in 8th grade – can’t think of any others
3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Kate Hudson, Terrance Howard
4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Those who are known for dumb comedy – Will Ferrell , etc.
5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from.
Hmm…
6. Name a movie musical from which you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs
Scary – quite a few: Rent, Grease, Oklahoma, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (hey, that one I was actually IN, so I have an excuse!)
7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with
Rent
8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
Crash
9. Name a movie that you own.
Crash – Renaissance Man – Do the Right Thing - Almost Famous - Purple Rain – X - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (a gift)
10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
Does Eddie Murphy count?
11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
Yes, but don’t remember what. Too young.
12. Ever made out in a movie?
Oh yeah
One funny moment in 10th grade: making out & suddenly the theater went silent - we looked up and realized we had missed the big death scene in Terms of Endearment.
13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t yet gotten around to it.
Fahrenheit 9/11
14. Ever walked out of a movie?
Nope. Not my style.
15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
I’m not sure I’ve ever cried in a theater - probably because I tend to choose comedies.
16. Popcorn?
Yes, but plain – no butter. That’s how I prefer it - I’m weird that way.
17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?
Maybe once every other month or so…
18. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
Reign Over Me - Don Cheadle & Adam Sandler - it was better than its short run would imply
19. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Always comedy. Life is real enough – movies are for escape.
20. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Gone with the Wind in 6th grade – we got confused by a Blues Brothers preview & wandered around the theater for a couple minutes trying to find the “right” theater until the actual movie started & we figured it out!
Also remember seeing the original Star Wars but I don’t remember how old I was, so not sure if it was before or after GWTW
21. What movie do you wish you had never seen?
A Clockwork Orange – I was too young & it was too violent. Also Videodrome – again, I was waaay too young.
22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
Hmm… probably Prizzi’s Honor. It’s not really that good – but for no good reason I really like it!
23. What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?
The Shining
24. What is the funniest movie you’ve seen?
Old Eddie Murphy stand-up
1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
Probably none...
A few I’ve seen maybe 5 times: Philadelphia Story, Crash, The Outsiders, When Harry Met Sally, St Elmo’s Fire, Purple Rain, Renaissance Man…
2. Name a movie that you’ve seen multiple times in the theater.
Rocky Horror, back in 8th grade – can’t think of any others
3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Kate Hudson, Terrance Howard
4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Those who are known for dumb comedy – Will Ferrell , etc.
5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from.
Hmm…
6. Name a movie musical from which you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs
Scary – quite a few: Rent, Grease, Oklahoma, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (hey, that one I was actually IN, so I have an excuse!)
7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with
Rent
8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
Crash
9. Name a movie that you own.
Crash – Renaissance Man – Do the Right Thing - Almost Famous - Purple Rain – X - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (a gift)
10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
Does Eddie Murphy count?
11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
Yes, but don’t remember what. Too young.
12. Ever made out in a movie?
Oh yeah
One funny moment in 10th grade: making out & suddenly the theater went silent - we looked up and realized we had missed the big death scene in Terms of Endearment.
13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t yet gotten around to it.
Fahrenheit 9/11
14. Ever walked out of a movie?
Nope. Not my style.
15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
I’m not sure I’ve ever cried in a theater - probably because I tend to choose comedies.
16. Popcorn?
Yes, but plain – no butter. That’s how I prefer it - I’m weird that way.
17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?
Maybe once every other month or so…
18. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
Reign Over Me - Don Cheadle & Adam Sandler - it was better than its short run would imply
19. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Always comedy. Life is real enough – movies are for escape.
20. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Gone with the Wind in 6th grade – we got confused by a Blues Brothers preview & wandered around the theater for a couple minutes trying to find the “right” theater until the actual movie started & we figured it out!
Also remember seeing the original Star Wars but I don’t remember how old I was, so not sure if it was before or after GWTW
21. What movie do you wish you had never seen?
A Clockwork Orange – I was too young & it was too violent. Also Videodrome – again, I was waaay too young.
22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
Hmm… probably Prizzi’s Honor. It’s not really that good – but for no good reason I really like it!
23. What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?
The Shining
24. What is the funniest movie you’ve seen?
Old Eddie Murphy stand-up
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Apparently I Owe You an Update
A couple people have commented that I haven’t been posting much recently, and while I have been very busy, I don’t seem to be doing anything worth writing about! Hmmm…
A few random, possibly interesting things from recent weeks:
* Was very proud last weekend as my daughter gave a tribute speech about me at a parent appreciation luncheon. Nice to have it reaffirmed that I really AM the most important person in her life. :)
* Hosted local writer Syl Jones in my classroom last Friday – not nearly as controversial in person as he is on paper. Very nice guy.
* Still dating a Republican. Still having mixed feelings about that.
* Received an email from my ex-husband, congratulating me on my new job and asking what my daughter wants as a graduation gift. Only interesting because we haven’t spoken in a VERY long time. (And that he’ll probably get in trouble now because his new wife reads my blog & he’s not allowed to contact me. Too bad saying this is likely NOT the way to get her to quit reading it.)
* Had my hands & feet dipped in hot wax as part of the mani/pedi routine – am amused at how my hands look covered in wax – like a Star Trek creature. (Am easily amused, obviously.)
* Got an email from Al Franken’s son – didn’t open it yet.
* Told a whole bunch more people (who asked) that my kid is heading for U Penn in the fall. Starting to sink in that my kid is heading for U Penn in the fall.
* Planning her graduation parties. Yes, plural.
* Planning a friend’s retirement party and another friend’s grad-school graduation party. Not hosting any of the above parties at my house.
* Am finally making decent retirement plan contributions, as my new job offers a 4% match, where the old job just gave about $500 if you contributed the minimum. Am apparently too responsible not to do what it takes to get the full match, much as I’d rather spend the $$ now.
* Read that the creators of Facebook turned down a $1 billion buy-out offer. My kid is a Facebook devotee – have to wonder what’s next for that site.
* Continue trying to be everywhere at once. Having mild success.
* Not finding much time to ruminate on the state of Gen X in relation to the wider world...
A few random, possibly interesting things from recent weeks:
* Was very proud last weekend as my daughter gave a tribute speech about me at a parent appreciation luncheon. Nice to have it reaffirmed that I really AM the most important person in her life. :)
* Hosted local writer Syl Jones in my classroom last Friday – not nearly as controversial in person as he is on paper. Very nice guy.
* Still dating a Republican. Still having mixed feelings about that.
* Received an email from my ex-husband, congratulating me on my new job and asking what my daughter wants as a graduation gift. Only interesting because we haven’t spoken in a VERY long time. (And that he’ll probably get in trouble now because his new wife reads my blog & he’s not allowed to contact me. Too bad saying this is likely NOT the way to get her to quit reading it.)
* Had my hands & feet dipped in hot wax as part of the mani/pedi routine – am amused at how my hands look covered in wax – like a Star Trek creature. (Am easily amused, obviously.)
* Got an email from Al Franken’s son – didn’t open it yet.
* Told a whole bunch more people (who asked) that my kid is heading for U Penn in the fall. Starting to sink in that my kid is heading for U Penn in the fall.
* Planning her graduation parties. Yes, plural.
* Planning a friend’s retirement party and another friend’s grad-school graduation party. Not hosting any of the above parties at my house.
* Am finally making decent retirement plan contributions, as my new job offers a 4% match, where the old job just gave about $500 if you contributed the minimum. Am apparently too responsible not to do what it takes to get the full match, much as I’d rather spend the $$ now.
* Read that the creators of Facebook turned down a $1 billion buy-out offer. My kid is a Facebook devotee – have to wonder what’s next for that site.
* Continue trying to be everywhere at once. Having mild success.
* Not finding much time to ruminate on the state of Gen X in relation to the wider world...
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Human Condition?
"Space ships and time machines are no escape from the human condition. Let Othello subject Desdemona to a lie-detector test; his jealousy will still blind him to the evidence. Let Oedipus triumph over gravity; he won't triumph over his fate."
- Arthur Koestler (1905-1983)
- Arthur Koestler (1905-1983)
She's Right!
I don't make a habit of agreeing with Katherine Kersten (much as Mitch won't often agree w/ Syl Jones, but hey, that's OK) but this week she was right on.
Most of you know that I'm a big Efrem Smith fan, so her profile of his work with Sanctuary Covenant Church is all good as far as I'm concerned.
Of course, calling "family breakdown" a problem is NOT the same as saying women need to skeedaddle back to the kitchen - tread with caution here! - but it's still a righteous issue for many of our kids today.
Efrem points out that this is not just a poor kid issue - though my work on the north side in recent years tells me it IS an issue for them - but it's real for ALL of our MN kids. Efrem says that: "this void, this hole from having no moral compass or guidance at home, can only be filled spiritually." Before you recoil from the straight-out moralizing, think about it. I will say that, anecdotally, my students who have a strong faith absolutely do better in school than those who do not.
Why?
Efrem posits: "If you believe that you are beloved of God... you believe you're on earth for a purpose, and you can make it."
Truth.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Wisdom from Mark Twain
“A patriot supports his country all of the time, and his government when it deserves it.”
- Mark Twain
(Thanks Gary Trudeau!)
- Mark Twain
(Thanks Gary Trudeau!)
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Did You Know about This???
We're building a wall in Baghdad to separate ethnic areas. Can you imagine that happening ANYWHERE in the U.S.???
I don't check the links on my site very often - much as I find each one of them interesting - but I happened to click on Baghdad Burning today and was shocked to find a new entry, just posted today, about the building of a wall in Baghdad. She likens it to Berlin and the ghettos of the holocaust:
The Great Wall of Segregation...
It's also sad that she points out how much we've screwed up her country:
I remember Baghdad before the war- one could live anywhere. We didn't know what our neighbors were- we didn't care. No one asked about religion or sect. No one bothered with what was considered a trivial topic: are you Sunni or Shia? You only asked something like that if you were uncouth and backward. Our lives revolve around it now. Our existence depends on hiding it or highlighting it- depending on the group of masked men who stop you or raid your home in the middle of the night.
The nasty juxtaposition of this with my prior entry is not lost on me. Prayers of thanksgiving for the luck of landing on this side of the planet are not enough!
I don't check the links on my site very often - much as I find each one of them interesting - but I happened to click on Baghdad Burning today and was shocked to find a new entry, just posted today, about the building of a wall in Baghdad. She likens it to Berlin and the ghettos of the holocaust:
The Great Wall of Segregation...
…Which is the wall the current Iraqi government is building (with the support and guidance of the Americans). It's a wall that is intended to separate and isolate what is now considered the largest 'Sunni' area in Baghdad- let no one say the Americans are not building anything. According to plans the Iraqi puppets and Americans cooked up, it will 'protect' A'adhamiya, a residential/mercantile area that the current Iraqi government and their death squads couldn't empty of Sunnis.
The wall, of course, will protect no one. I sometimes wonder if this is how the concentration camps began in Europe. The Nazi government probably said, "Oh look- we're just going to protect the Jews with this little wall here- it will be difficult for people to get into their special area to hurt them!" And yet, it will also be difficult to get out.
I was also shocked to read that they're leaving. Her family has finally decided to give up, pack up, and get out. This one little voice of reason in the midst of the war is going to leave the country, and who knows if/when she'll write again? That thought makes me really sad.It's also sad that she points out how much we've screwed up her country:
I remember Baghdad before the war- one could live anywhere. We didn't know what our neighbors were- we didn't care. No one asked about religion or sect. No one bothered with what was considered a trivial topic: are you Sunni or Shia? You only asked something like that if you were uncouth and backward. Our lives revolve around it now. Our existence depends on hiding it or highlighting it- depending on the group of masked men who stop you or raid your home in the middle of the night.
The nasty juxtaposition of this with my prior entry is not lost on me. Prayers of thanksgiving for the luck of landing on this side of the planet are not enough!
We Have a Winner!!!
And the winner is... PENN!
My lovely daughter is off to college in a few months, and after a year-long process, has finally chosen the school. I am beyond proud that she has done so well for herself already - and the adventure has barely begun! Scoring a full ride to an Ivy League school is no small feat - but one she richly deserves.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Post from Columbia
OK, let's face it - Columbia rocks. This is going to be a tough call... If Columbia does eclipe Penn for her, it might just be the sunshine! :) This whole weekend has been beautiful weather. Perfect for running around Manhattan!
Many things here are right in line with Penn: the student body is just as mixed, (and it's a great mix! :) the campus is at least as beautiful, and of course both have a strong Humanities curriculum. They will also cover her insurance, so the financial aid packages are identical. So how to compare???
> It's the most diverse of all the Ivy League schools. Last year's freshman class for Columbia College was only 48% white.
> It's in Manhattan - with a subway stop right here.
> It accepted only 8.9% of its applicants this year - and states firmly that each accepted student deserves to be here. (They appreciate her!)
> The History department offers a course called "Gender and Empire" at the undergrad level.
> The food court offers Malaysian Artichoke Noodle Salad - which is really good and turns out to be noodles made form artichoke flour - who knew?!?!
Her comment about the students she's met so far: "they're all really interesting" - and she meant that as a huge compliment. That will probably be the kicker. I will find out in a few hours (as we head home) what her thoughts are, but I did get one clue: she started talking with another pre-freshman about sharing a dorm room... so I suspect she's leaning this way. We'll see!
Many things here are right in line with Penn: the student body is just as mixed, (and it's a great mix! :) the campus is at least as beautiful, and of course both have a strong Humanities curriculum. They will also cover her insurance, so the financial aid packages are identical. So how to compare???
> It's the most diverse of all the Ivy League schools. Last year's freshman class for Columbia College was only 48% white.
> It's in Manhattan - with a subway stop right here.
> It accepted only 8.9% of its applicants this year - and states firmly that each accepted student deserves to be here. (They appreciate her!)
> The History department offers a course called "Gender and Empire" at the undergrad level.
> The food court offers Malaysian Artichoke Noodle Salad - which is really good and turns out to be noodles made form artichoke flour - who knew?!?!
Her comment about the students she's met so far: "they're all really interesting" - and she meant that as a huge compliment. That will probably be the kicker. I will find out in a few hours (as we head home) what her thoughts are, but I did get one clue: she started talking with another pre-freshman about sharing a dorm room... so I suspect she's leaning this way. We'll see!
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Post from NYC
Three days is enough to remind me why I love this city - as a visitor.
I love the mix of people and the constant energy. I love the wide - wide - wide range of options for things to do! I love the juxtaposition of beautiful old architecture with brand new, creative designs. I love hearing different languages as I pass by people on the street & overhear snippets of conversation. I enjoy random things like finding a Whole Foods in the basement of the AOL TIme Warner building. Smoked salmon sushi and other ethnic "fusion" flavors.
Maybe it's the new job that is anchoring me at home, but I just don't feel the pull to LIVE out here that I have in the past. I think provincial things like, "not enough grass" as I walk down the sidewalk. I love the skyline, but not the temperature drop as I walk in the shadow of those same buildings. Central Park, which used to enthrall me, now seems no different than any of the Twin Cities' lakes or river parks.
However, if my kid moves out here, I sure won't mind visiting - the flights are comparatively cheap and always non-stop! :)
I love the mix of people and the constant energy. I love the wide - wide - wide range of options for things to do! I love the juxtaposition of beautiful old architecture with brand new, creative designs. I love hearing different languages as I pass by people on the street & overhear snippets of conversation. I enjoy random things like finding a Whole Foods in the basement of the AOL TIme Warner building. Smoked salmon sushi and other ethnic "fusion" flavors.
Maybe it's the new job that is anchoring me at home, but I just don't feel the pull to LIVE out here that I have in the past. I think provincial things like, "not enough grass" as I walk down the sidewalk. I love the skyline, but not the temperature drop as I walk in the shadow of those same buildings. Central Park, which used to enthrall me, now seems no different than any of the Twin Cities' lakes or river parks.
However, if my kid moves out here, I sure won't mind visiting - the flights are comparatively cheap and always non-stop! :)
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Post from Philly
Whoosh!
Through the rain, we have arrived at Penn for 3 days of festivities designed to convince accepted students to choose Penn. It's ironic - the kids spend months working on applications and praying to be accepted, then they are accepted - here and elsewhere - so the tables are turned and the schools are courting them! It's really a kick.
Even better: Penn added an extra preview day for the students of color, and seeing throngs of students of color in the room, talking with current students about Engineering, Pre-med, International Studies, etc... very nice for we who are from Minnesota, where students of color rarely fill a room! ;) Especially for my kid, who goes to a very white school, it was fun to see...
Through the rain, we have arrived at Penn for 3 days of festivities designed to convince accepted students to choose Penn. It's ironic - the kids spend months working on applications and praying to be accepted, then they are accepted - here and elsewhere - so the tables are turned and the schools are courting them! It's really a kick.
Even better: Penn added an extra preview day for the students of color, and seeing throngs of students of color in the room, talking with current students about Engineering, Pre-med, International Studies, etc... very nice for we who are from Minnesota, where students of color rarely fill a room! ;) Especially for my kid, who goes to a very white school, it was fun to see...
Saturday, April 07, 2007
39
I'm not sure why I expected turning 39 to be interesting - maybe because I remember not liking 29 very much (whereas 30 didn't bother me at all!)
But the only interesting thing about turning 39 seems to be that I was born 3 days after Martin Luther King was killed, and he was 39 at the time. (Think about what he had accomplished in 39 years!)
However, to honor the day, here are some other things - totally random, but kinda interesting - about 39...
39 is:
- The sum of five consecutive primes (3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 13) and the sum of the first three powers of 3 (31 + 32 + 33).
- The number of books in the Old Testament
- The code for international direct-dialed phone calls to Italy
- Japanese Internet chat slang for "thank you" when written with numbers
- The duration, in nanoseconds, of the nuclear reaction in the largest nuclear explosion ever performed
- the number of points Lebron James scored last Saturday in a Cleveland Cavaliers win over the Chicago Bulls
At age 39:
* Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong became the 1st person to set foot on the moon
* Charles Goodyear led the way to the effective use of rubber
* Jimmy Connors reached the U.S. Open semifinals
* Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated
* Thomas Edison had already invented the telegraph, lightbulb and phonograph
In history:
* 39 AD - Caligula ordered that a statue of himself be placed in the temple in Jerusalem. The governor of Syria, Publius Petronius, responsible for erecting the statue, faced mass demonstrations by Jews of the region and managed to delay construction of the statue until the death of Caligula two years later.
* 1039 – The Persian poet Unsuri was born
* 1639 - Connecticut's first constitution was adopted
* 1639 - Harvard University was named for clergyman John Harvard.
* 1739 – The bible was first published in Estonian
* 1839 - The University of Missouri was established, becoming the first public university west of the Mississippi River
* 1839 - The Slave rebellion of Amistad happened on July 1
* 1939 –Spanish Civil War ended (April 1) and World War II began in Europe 6 months later (September 1)
* 1939 - The Philadelphia Story, (one of my favorite movies,) debuted March 26 at the Shubert Theater in New York City.
* 1939 – Batman was created by Bob Kane
Sunday, April 7, 1968 - on this day 39 years ago:
- It was Palm Sunday
- It was a national day of mourning for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Motor racing world champion Jim Clark was killed in a car crash during a race.
- Janis Jopin played a concert with Big Brother, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, Joni Mitchell, Richie Havens, Paul Butterfield, and Elvin Bishop billed as a wake for Martin Luther King, Jr. at Generation in New York City
- President Johnson signed an executive order to send federal troops to quell riots in Baltimore. (Also check out the President's Daily Diary: April 7, 1968 – What a day!)
Other random facts about 39:
* Presidential Decision Directive 39 (PDD 39) is the US policy on Counterterrorism
* 39 Second Single is a blog about “dating stories so bad they must be true”
* The Roman numeral 39 is XXXIX
* Pier 39 is a big attraction in San Francisco’s Bay Area – it even has sea lions
* "The 39 Steps" is a Hitchcock movie in which the main character is handcuffed to the girl who double-crossed him
* Renee Zellweger is currently making a movie called "Case 39", due out in August ’07, in which she plays a social worker who fights to save a girl from her abusive parents
* Genesis 39 is the chapter in which Joseph, having been sold by his brothers into slavery, becomes very rich and successful
OK, now I feel better! :)
But the only interesting thing about turning 39 seems to be that I was born 3 days after Martin Luther King was killed, and he was 39 at the time. (Think about what he had accomplished in 39 years!)
However, to honor the day, here are some other things - totally random, but kinda interesting - about 39...
39 is:
- The sum of five consecutive primes (3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 13) and the sum of the first three powers of 3 (31 + 32 + 33).
- The number of books in the Old Testament
- The code for international direct-dialed phone calls to Italy
- Japanese Internet chat slang for "thank you" when written with numbers
- The duration, in nanoseconds, of the nuclear reaction in the largest nuclear explosion ever performed
- the number of points Lebron James scored last Saturday in a Cleveland Cavaliers win over the Chicago Bulls
At age 39:
* Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong became the 1st person to set foot on the moon
* Charles Goodyear led the way to the effective use of rubber
* Jimmy Connors reached the U.S. Open semifinals
* Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated
* Thomas Edison had already invented the telegraph, lightbulb and phonograph
In history:
* 39 AD - Caligula ordered that a statue of himself be placed in the temple in Jerusalem. The governor of Syria, Publius Petronius, responsible for erecting the statue, faced mass demonstrations by Jews of the region and managed to delay construction of the statue until the death of Caligula two years later.
* 1039 – The Persian poet Unsuri was born
* 1639 - Connecticut's first constitution was adopted
* 1639 - Harvard University was named for clergyman John Harvard.
* 1739 – The bible was first published in Estonian
* 1839 - The University of Missouri was established, becoming the first public university west of the Mississippi River
* 1839 - The Slave rebellion of Amistad happened on July 1
* 1939 –Spanish Civil War ended (April 1) and World War II began in Europe 6 months later (September 1)
* 1939 - The Philadelphia Story, (one of my favorite movies,) debuted March 26 at the Shubert Theater in New York City.
* 1939 – Batman was created by Bob Kane
Sunday, April 7, 1968 - on this day 39 years ago:
- It was Palm Sunday
- It was a national day of mourning for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Motor racing world champion Jim Clark was killed in a car crash during a race.
- Janis Jopin played a concert with Big Brother, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, Joni Mitchell, Richie Havens, Paul Butterfield, and Elvin Bishop billed as a wake for Martin Luther King, Jr. at Generation in New York City
- President Johnson signed an executive order to send federal troops to quell riots in Baltimore. (Also check out the President's Daily Diary: April 7, 1968 – What a day!)
Other random facts about 39:
* Presidential Decision Directive 39 (PDD 39) is the US policy on Counterterrorism
* 39 Second Single is a blog about “dating stories so bad they must be true”
* The Roman numeral 39 is XXXIX
* Pier 39 is a big attraction in San Francisco’s Bay Area – it even has sea lions
* "The 39 Steps" is a Hitchcock movie in which the main character is handcuffed to the girl who double-crossed him
* Renee Zellweger is currently making a movie called "Case 39", due out in August ’07, in which she plays a social worker who fights to save a girl from her abusive parents
* Genesis 39 is the chapter in which Joseph, having been sold by his brothers into slavery, becomes very rich and successful
OK, now I feel better! :)
Thursday, April 05, 2007
JibJab - 2006 in Review
OK, it's April already - so apparently I'm a little slow - but it's still funny.
Check out JibJab's latest!
Check out JibJab's latest!
Proud Mama
So it turns out that my lovely daughter was accepted to 7 of the 9 schools she applied to - including Columbia and Penn. Wahoo!!! But now she has to choose between them... (Yeah, nice problem to have! ;) She was accepted to Penn, Columbia, Macalester, George Washington (GW), American, Rollins and Whittier.
I have been bragging ridiculously!
Conveniently, both of the Ivies have offered to pay to fly her out to visit - but at certain times that are not congruent and thus involve her being away from school for several days. So we're trying to figure out how to fit trips to NYC and Philly between her play performances, debutante rehearsals (don't ask) and homework...
It's interesting, because I never went through any of this myself - I was dead-set on the U of MN and that's where I went. But I do remember how excited I was to arrive there, how much I loved the campus, dorm life, even classes... and I want all that for her! With the choices in front of her, there is no doubt that she'll get it.
Again, nice problem to have, I know. I'll shut up now.
I have been bragging ridiculously!
Conveniently, both of the Ivies have offered to pay to fly her out to visit - but at certain times that are not congruent and thus involve her being away from school for several days. So we're trying to figure out how to fit trips to NYC and Philly between her play performances, debutante rehearsals (don't ask) and homework...
It's interesting, because I never went through any of this myself - I was dead-set on the U of MN and that's where I went. But I do remember how excited I was to arrive there, how much I loved the campus, dorm life, even classes... and I want all that for her! With the choices in front of her, there is no doubt that she'll get it.
Again, nice problem to have, I know. I'll shut up now.
Lit Quiz
Inspired by a guessing game on the Sheila Variations:
Here are the first lines of some of my favorite novels – try to match as many as you can! (And go read any that you haven't already! :)
THE NOVELS:
The Awakening – Kate Chopin
The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood – Rebecca Wells
Having Our Say: The Delaney Sisters’ First 100 Years – Sarah L Delaney and A Elizabeth Delaney
The House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
The Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan
Much Ado About Nothing – William Shakespeare
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A Prayer for Owen Meany – John Irving
Pride & Prejudice – Jane Austin
The Red Tent – Anita Diamant
The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd
Sula – Toni Morrison
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water – Michael Dorris
FIRST LINES:
Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano BuendÃa was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
We didn’t always live on Mango Street.
I learn in this letter than Don Pedro of Aragon comes this night to Messina.
At night I would lie in bed and watch the show, how bees squeezed through the cracks of my bedroom wall and flew circles around the room, making that propeller sound, a high-pitched zzzzzz that hummed along my skin.
I sit on the bed at a crooked angle, one foot on the floor, my hip against the tent of mom’s legs, my elbows on the hospital table.
Bessie and I have been together since time began, or so it seems.
I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice – not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother’s death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.
We have been lost to each other for so long.
The old woman remembered a swan she had bought many years ago in Shanghai for a foolish sum.
When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.
A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept repeating over and over: “Allez vous-en!”
Sidda is a girl again in the hot heart of Louisiana, the bayou world of Catholic saints and voodoo queens.
“What you looking at me for? I didn’t come to stay…”
In that place, where they tore the nightshade and blackberry patches from their roots to make room for the Medallion City Golf Course, where there was once a neighborhood.
Here are the first lines of some of my favorite novels – try to match as many as you can! (And go read any that you haven't already! :)
THE NOVELS:
The Awakening – Kate Chopin
The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood – Rebecca Wells
Having Our Say: The Delaney Sisters’ First 100 Years – Sarah L Delaney and A Elizabeth Delaney
The House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
The Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan
Much Ado About Nothing – William Shakespeare
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A Prayer for Owen Meany – John Irving
Pride & Prejudice – Jane Austin
The Red Tent – Anita Diamant
The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd
Sula – Toni Morrison
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water – Michael Dorris
FIRST LINES:
Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano BuendÃa was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
We didn’t always live on Mango Street.
I learn in this letter than Don Pedro of Aragon comes this night to Messina.
At night I would lie in bed and watch the show, how bees squeezed through the cracks of my bedroom wall and flew circles around the room, making that propeller sound, a high-pitched zzzzzz that hummed along my skin.
I sit on the bed at a crooked angle, one foot on the floor, my hip against the tent of mom’s legs, my elbows on the hospital table.
Bessie and I have been together since time began, or so it seems.
I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice – not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother’s death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.
We have been lost to each other for so long.
The old woman remembered a swan she had bought many years ago in Shanghai for a foolish sum.
When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.
A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept repeating over and over: “Allez vous-en!”
Sidda is a girl again in the hot heart of Louisiana, the bayou world of Catholic saints and voodoo queens.
“What you looking at me for? I didn’t come to stay…”
In that place, where they tore the nightshade and blackberry patches from their roots to make room for the Medallion City Golf Course, where there was once a neighborhood.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Metaphor
Email story I received recently from a friend serving in Iraq:
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hanging on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived each day only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream... "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?"
"That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Of course, like many forwarded emails, this story came with a cheesy spell-it-out-in-case-you’re-stupid final paragraph, which I have deleted. All I can say is:
Perspective!
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hanging on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived each day only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream... "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?"
"That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Of course, like many forwarded emails, this story came with a cheesy spell-it-out-in-case-you’re-stupid final paragraph, which I have deleted. All I can say is:
Perspective!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
DNA Ancestry Project
When my daughter first suggested that she get her DNA tested to find out her real ancestry, I expected it to cost thousands of dollars. DNA testing just doesn't seem like the kind of thing that would be cheap!
It turns out the DNA Ancestry Project, run by Genebase, will send you a test kit to do either maternal or paternal lineage for only $118! So of course we ordered two. What's even better is that the test is a simple mouth swab - no needles, no blood. Just rub a little swab on the inside of your cheek for 15 seconds, send it off, and log in online to get results.
Check it out at Genebase
One bummer is that paternal lineage can only be tested on men - women don't have the Y chromosome needed - but my brother can test & his results will apply to me as well.
In addition to getting our own info, the website has a ton of cool info about migration patterns of early peoples and how we fit into the big picture of the global population! I've known since I was a kid that my ancestry is Swedish & English on dad's side, and mostly German with a little Welsh on my mom's - but I think it'll be interesting to see what else might be in the mix! And my daughter knows she's Somali, but nothing beyond that! Is there any Italian in there? Ethiopian? Who knows?
It turns out the DNA Ancestry Project, run by Genebase, will send you a test kit to do either maternal or paternal lineage for only $118! So of course we ordered two. What's even better is that the test is a simple mouth swab - no needles, no blood. Just rub a little swab on the inside of your cheek for 15 seconds, send it off, and log in online to get results.
Check it out at Genebase
One bummer is that paternal lineage can only be tested on men - women don't have the Y chromosome needed - but my brother can test & his results will apply to me as well.
In addition to getting our own info, the website has a ton of cool info about migration patterns of early peoples and how we fit into the big picture of the global population! I've known since I was a kid that my ancestry is Swedish & English on dad's side, and mostly German with a little Welsh on my mom's - but I think it'll be interesting to see what else might be in the mix! And my daughter knows she's Somali, but nothing beyond that! Is there any Italian in there? Ethiopian? Who knows?
Glad I Studied!
A chicken-and-egg question:
Does one's GRE score lead to success or failure in life, or does one's life lead to success or failure on the test?
According to researchers at the U of M, an extensive study has shown that entrance exams are, in fact, the best predictor of future success - even better than prior student success.
Check it out on the U of MN website
According to the study, test scores are actually a better predictor of grad-school success than any other measure, including undergraduate performance. This is apparently true from law school to med school to PhD programs like mine. The U article doesn't speculate as to WHY this is true (and the full Science magazine article is only available online to subscribers) but I think it's interesting to ponder...
My GRE score was a mixed bag - very high verbal & writing, stinky math. (Ironically, just like my daughter's SAT!) So what does that tell you? I'll do well in life when I need to talk, but not when I need to calculate? Hmm...
I do suspect that there is something about being a good problem solver on tests that relates to being a good problem solver in life - and which would then lead to success in general. Beyond that...?
Other ideas?
Does one's GRE score lead to success or failure in life, or does one's life lead to success or failure on the test?
According to researchers at the U of M, an extensive study has shown that entrance exams are, in fact, the best predictor of future success - even better than prior student success.
Check it out on the U of MN website
According to the study, test scores are actually a better predictor of grad-school success than any other measure, including undergraduate performance. This is apparently true from law school to med school to PhD programs like mine. The U article doesn't speculate as to WHY this is true (and the full Science magazine article is only available online to subscribers) but I think it's interesting to ponder...
My GRE score was a mixed bag - very high verbal & writing, stinky math. (Ironically, just like my daughter's SAT!) So what does that tell you? I'll do well in life when I need to talk, but not when I need to calculate? Hmm...
I do suspect that there is something about being a good problem solver on tests that relates to being a good problem solver in life - and which would then lead to success in general. Beyond that...?
Other ideas?
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