Walking Toward Wisdom

Car on the Street

2009-07-15T23:26:00.002-04:00

Here's a cool car I saw on the street. A vehicle of the future, perhaps.

Consumer versus Contributor

2009-07-15T22:36:00.003-04:00

At a Bible study today, the class went over Collosians chapter 1. For the past two weeks, the study group has been tackling that one chapter, and today we finally made it to the end. In essence, the chapter speaks of the words of Paul to the Corinthians. These are a people currently seeking the truth of God but are wrapped in a culture of idolotry (sp?). Paul is a prisoner, yet he has come to them to speak about the truth of God and how Jesus died that we might live. What struck me most came in Collosians 1:28-29. Here are few translations:

Contemporary English Version
28 We announce the message about Christ, and we use all our wisdom to warn and teach everyone, so that all of Christ's followers will grow and become mature.

29 That's why I work so hard and use the mighty power he gives me.

New International Version
28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

King James Version
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

(Ahhh, yes. Good 'ol King James. Never fails to confuse.)

Now Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about God as their savior, but in the last verses that I mentioned here, he also speaks about every Christian's call service. In the Bible study, we referred to it as stewardship. In essence, it begs the question of whether we are mere consumers of the Christian faith or contributors to it. I am doing a bit of simplification here for the purposes of this blog post, but the final question we had to ask ourselves was how we were using the talents God gave us to be good stewards and to educate others about the beauty and grandeur of Christ.

It's a simple question yet it's one I know I cannot answer adequately. I have talents clearly that God has given me, but how I am using them to win souls for Christ? How am I using them to strengthen the spiritual maturity of the church? Of MY church?

Do I just go to church to reap the benefits of contructive dialog and grappling with the Word or am also taking that knowledge or using what I know to encourage others?

Do I give away all my talents to the entity who signs my paycheck? Or am I using those talents to fulfill God's mission? And when I am honest with myself and admit that I am not, what can I do to set things right?

Guilty Pleasures

2009-04-19T09:52:00.003-04:00

It's a little immature, I know. I had just come out of the grocery store and then I saw him. On any other day, maybe it would have grossed me out, but today, I couldn't stop laughing.

Villa... Who?

2009-03-27T02:36:00.002-04:00

Villanova beat Duke? What is basketball coming to?

My picks for the remainder of the tournament:

Pittsburgh vs. Villanova = Pittsburgh
Louisville vs. Arizona = Louisville
Kansas vs. Michigan State = Kansas
Connecticut vs. Missouri = Connecticut
North Carolina vs. Gonzaga = North Carolina (though I do hope Gonzaga wins)
Syracuse vs. Oklahoma = Oklahoma

And what team will win the tournament now that Duke is out? It's hard to say. But I'm liking Kansas and Louisville. And of those two, I like Kansas. However, so far, each of the #1 seeds have proven themselves to be the best in their region consistently. Kansas would definitely be an upset, but what's a tournament without a little surprise? My final four picks are:

Kansas, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, and North Carolina

Of those four, Connecticut and North Carolina will go to the big dance, and UConn will win the championship. Convention say UNC will win, and my aunt loves the Tarheels. Upsets make the game interesting, though, so UConn it is.

Beyond the Ball

2009-03-15T19:51:00.001-04:00

In an interview with CBS Sports, the SEC conference chairman noted that NCAA basketball selections were founded on a big picture approach to evaluating teams. They look beyond what the media announcers dubb the "power teams" (UNC, UCLA, Perdue, etc.) and instead consider a number of other factors that go into determining what makes a great team. He mentioned not only the skill of each team's players but also their willingness to compete against higher ranked teams. For some schools that means enduring strenuous travel schedules. The opposing teams they're out to meet often aren't the ones who anything to lose and so will often refuse to travel to the campuses of lower ranked teams because they don't have to. There is fairness in the team selection process that wasn't clear before, and I find it refreshing to know the process is based on a logical, weighted system. It isn't just about the number of games a team happens to win; it's also about the games' level of difficulty.

That said, I give more value to the selection of the final 65 teams that have made it to the NCAA tournament. Just being there validates the practices, plays, and sacrifices each student athlete has made, regardless of whether his team wins in the end. It is a matter of distinction.

Now I must make my picks. Several of my favorite schools have made it to the tournament, and most of these are relative surprises. They're going against highly favored teams, and their wins would be what most announcers would call upsets. I'm going to call the games as I'd like them to go anyhow. Not as the experts say they will, but as I hope the outcomes will be.

Midwest
Ohio vs. Sienna = Ohio
Utah vs. Arizona = Utah
Wake Forest vs. Cleveland = Wake Forest
WVA vs. Dayton = Dayton
Kansas vs. N. Dakota = Kansas
Boston College vs. Southern Cal = Southern Cal
Michigan State vs. Robert Morris = Michigan State

West
UConn vs. Tennessee = UConn
BYU vs. Texas A M = BYU
Purdue vs. N. Iowa = Purdue
Washington vs. Mississippi = Mississippi
Marquette vs. Utah = Marquette
Missouri vs. Cornell = Missouri
California vs. Maryland = Maryland
Memphis vs. CS Northridge = Memphis

East
UPitt vs. E. Tenn = UPitt
OK State vs. TN = TN
FL vs. WI = WI
Xavier vs. Portland = Xavier
UCLA vs. VCU = UCLA
Villinova vs. American = American
TX vs. MN = TX
Duke vs. Binghamton = Duke

South
UNC vs. Radford = UNC
LSU vs. Butler = LSU
Illinois vs. Western KY = Illinois
Gonzaga vs. Akron = Gonzaga
Arizona vs. Temple = Temple
Syracuse vs. S F Austin = Syracuse
Clemson vs. MI = MI
OK vs. Morgan State = Morgan State

Road to Final Four Picks

2009-03-15T00:14:00.005-04:00

Image credit: pelotafan.com/2007_04_01_archive.html
Image credit: www.duke.edu/~blp3/dukebball/

Today a reader asked me how I was doing with my basketball challenge. I told her I hadn't had time to keep up with the games as I'd like. I will begin this weekend. Today at 1pm, the Florida Seminoles are playing. Since I don't know if the Seminoles are the same as the Gators, I suppose that will be the first thing I research once I've finished this post. She and her husband are huge Gators fans.

It behooves me as well to announce my picks at least for the Final Four. Unfortunately, no team from Florida will make it even to the Sweet 16. My aunt favors North Carolina. I favor Duke. But identifying the serious contenders -- a feat requiring more than supporting the teams with prettiest colors (as I admit to having done in the past) or the team that happens to be leading at the time I tune into a game -- that takes effort. I will do a bit of research, abd compile four picks.

Coincidently, the Seminoles are playing Duke tomorrow. How confident am I that Duke will win?

A Post From My Film Blog

2009-03-11T02:48:00.001-04:00

Here's a post from my film blog Walking Toward Wisdom in Film:

Here's an interesting tidbit of information about a new Jaimee Foxx film coming up in April. The film is called The Soloist and is about a successful musician who ends up homeless because of mental illness. In conjunction with the release of the film orchestras around the country are accepting donations of non-perishable goods.

The League of American Orchestras (“the League”), Feeding America, and Participant Media are three major organizations teaming up to sponsor this event. For more information about these organizations, visit their websites at americanorchestras.org, feedingamerica.org, or participantmedia.com.

Here's a blurb about the food drive and the upcoming Soloist from a press release:

League President and CEO Jesse Rosen commented, “The story of The Soloist reminds us that classical music has the power to sustain spirits and change lives, even under the most difficult circumstances. Our team effort with Feeding America and The Soloist gives America’s orchestras a way to use that power to make an even greater difference in our communities--to feed both body and soul.”

Vicki Escarra, Feeding America President and CEO, said, “Feeding America is thrilled that America’s orchestras are joining us in our fight against hunger in America. This partnership will help the hungry in nearly every community nationwide and the 36million people who are at risk of hunger.”

The Soloist, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr., directed by Joe Wright, will be released by Paramount Pictures to theaters nationwide on April 24.. A DreamWorks Pictures/Universal Pictures presentation in association with Studio Canal and Participant Media, the film is based on the true story of the relationship between Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a gifted Juilliard-trained string player whose mental illness and unfortunate circumstances landed him among the homeless on the streets of Los Angeles . Featuring the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Soloist is a testament to the redemptive power of music and a reminder of our connections to the most vulnerable among us.

The Price of Basketball Madness

2009-03-05T20:01:00.002-05:00

After a good deal of surfing this evening, I've resolved to attend a live basketball game. It is March Madness season after all, and most every team that's made it to the finals is bound to turn out a good game. The tickets are pretty cheap, too. About $12 at one university.

I also checked out the professional teams. One ticket courtside is $2,500! Nose bleed seats are at a much more reasonable rate, $20. Then out of curiosity, I also checked out the NCAA tourney tickets. The less expensive seats are about $150, and the courtside seats are $700. It's a slightly better deal on the high end, but for someone like me who's not really into sports, nose bleed at $20 or college ball $12 is just fine.

Though How March Became Madness is still on my list, I realize, as is usually true for avid readers, that I have more books waiting to be read than I actually have to read. Right now I'm finishing up Get Ahead by Going Abroad. Not all of it is relavant to me, but I find the details about business and personal experiences of women who've traveled and made sucesses of their careers quite inspiring. Then there are two books each on volunteering and foreign cultures. After that, a tome of etiquette. Where will I squeeze in my study about basketball?

Valentines in the Madness of March

2009-03-04T21:21:00.007-05:00

It feels like Valentine's Day. All around there are happy, smiling couples, chirping birds, exchanges of knowing glances between long settled pairs. Then there's me. Walking alone. Eating alone. Sitting on the bus alone. Reading a book.

What I need is a basketball game. It's March Madness season. So, that will be it. That will be my next challenge, and I will forget about hearts and kisses and hugs, hand holding, rubbing noses, and all manner of embrace. But first things first: Learning the rules of the game and its history.

Go blue!

I believe I will begin with How March Became Madness. It's a book I've perused before maybe a few years back, but I remember enjoying it a good deal. I knew very little about basketball when I picked the book up. I'd initially gotten it because it had a nice cover. Then I read it, and I was amazed at how interesting the author, Einhorn, made everything. I never finished the book when I read it the first time. Now is a great time to start again.

Confessions...

2009-03-03T22:09:00.002-05:00

I'm still working on my personal challenge, but somehow along the way, I met a man who got me sidetracked. Well, I can't really blame him, but lately, he has been the source of much temptation. So, without the nerve or gall to tell him in person, I told him in an e-mail that I no longer wanted to see him again. But who am kidding?! If he called me now, I'd come running.

The odd thing is that just three days prior, I witnessed to him about the very thing that tore us apart. I encouraged him to go to God since it was clear that by looking for he wanted the world's way, he was getting nowhere. What would he have to lose?

Then yesterday, I was tempted by the same longing, but instead of his encouraging me the way I had encouraged him, he encouraged me to do the opposite. In a way, it's a little funny. Men are notorious for not being able to refuse to certain things. Of course, it is a myth, but humourous to consider, nonetheless.

I'm sitting there waiting for him to say something contrary, like maybe we shouldn't jeopardize our friendship. And he says, "You know, I think it would be good for both of us."

"Yeah, I'll bet," I say to myself, and then he goes on to describe certain details.

When I had a few moments to reflect on my decision, that's when I began to feel the weight of it all. I felt guilty, but to save myself and my friend (though I am certain he will find someone else soon enough), I ended it all. Part of me wants to call him back.

YourBookTube.com

2009-02-08T09:56:00.004-05:00

It's true. I haven't written in a while, but I suppose all I needed was a catalyst to get me back in the swing. Today, I've had several of them. The first of which is the embarrassment of make a huge-"bottom" mistake on my travel website page. I can't be considered a credible journalist making faux pas (how does one write the plural of faux pas???) I misidentified the name of a theater where a great one-woman show is now playing. The play is Funeral Potatoes, and it is at the Flashpoint Theater in Washington, DC. In my original article, I'd said it was located at the Source Theater, which is owned by the same people who own Flashpoint. Arghhh!!!!! I want to scream.

The next jolt I got was when I looked in my inbox and found a ton of mail. I've got to answer or address each one.

And the last thing that woke me up was an article I read about a website called YourBookTube. What's so curious about it is the fact that it's a website of videos for people who love books, for people who have made it a habit to read. Perhaps it's a play on the social tendency to buy and read books on the basis of the recommendation of a friend. Do people seem "friendlier" when you can see them versus when they write? Would I trust a video recommendation over a written review? And if so, what would that mean for the future of books in general?

Years ago people feared that television would eliminate the need for print materials. Maybe that revolution didn't happen as quickly as they may have guessed, but it seems that today's technologies are taking more and more away from that sector of communications. The odd thing is that it has been proven that reading does more for the brain than watching television or online videos. When we read, it's like giving our brain a workout. So what happens to a society or a generation of young people who abandon reading for videos and other less challenging tasks?

How Do You Obama?

2009-01-21T20:35:00.005-05:00

I think I'd be a rich woman right now if I had something with Obama on it to sell. The election is over, and there's still a buying a frenzy over all things Obama. That's all you see on the magazine covers, the newspapers, and in the talk around the water cooler (or microwave). I spoke to one woman at the newstand. She had 12 newspapers in her hand. I thought, perhaps, she might be a collector, but she tells me instead that she scrapbooks. "It's something for the grandkids," she said. That's a novel idea.

I succumbed (sp) to the frenzy myself and bought a NYT and a New Yorker. But what a waste it would be to just let those papers sit around. So, of course, I'll read them. I do wonder what other collectors do with their papers and books. Do they wrap them in plastic and store them away in a box, waiting on end until other copies are destroyed and tarnished? Is it even profitable at this point to collect Obama gear? The market is so saturated.

Walking with the Crowds

2009-01-17T09:39:00.010-05:00

(Image Credit: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/06/04/midday2/

I remember in Philadelphia, as a volunteer for the Obama campaign, arriving at the volunteer office just blocks from the Community College of Philadelphia on Spring Garden Street where I had once worked. I returned to Philadelphia after hard break up with the city. There were things about it I couldn't master and things I refused to face. It was something like the way people refer to New York City when they say, "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere."

I returned to the city with mixed feelings. Obama brought me back. But it was also time for me to reconcile my differences. My assignment from the volunteer office was to knock on doors and ask people if we could count on their support. I started out with a friend, and as we walked through the streets with our Obama gear, I began feeling better about the city.

Of course there were dissenters, Republicans, and the like who did not support Obama. But overall, there were a lot of people who believed in the promise, that thing we call "change" moving along quietly, with that feeling that reporters called in their news stories "momentum." Reflecting upon that time in the face of an inauguration, I see how time and place can profoundly affect a person's attitude.

The Friday before I went doorknocking for Obama, I had attended one of his rallies in the downtown area. It's in an historic district, just on the other side of Chinatown and minutes from the waterfront on Columbus. What's most amazing was the commonality I felt between myself and the thousands of other supporters who had gathered that day. That was a feeling that had been missing when I used to reside there. Today, I stood at 6th and Market, paces from the Liberty Bell, and squinted out over the crowds. I was part of a huddled mass of supporters, mile upon mile strong, shoulder to shoulder, north to south, friend and stranger gathered to support a campaign that transformed me, my attitudes, and this country.

I share this episode because in spite of the barriers you'll face on your way to D.C., whether personal or logistical, know that your journey will be worth it. It is a monumentous thing to stand and be a part of history. That is what it will feel like as you walk through the crowds. It won't matter how close you get or how far down the Mall you are, just being there, being among other supporters will make your journey to D.C. a remarkable one.

For more travel stories, please visit my travel website at MidAtlantic USA at BellaOnline.com.

Think Big, A Book Review

2009-01-16T20:54:00.006-05:00

Dr. Ben Carson is an extremely well accomplished neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in Detroit with his brother, the two of them sons of a single, working mom. As his story begins, Dr. Carson acknowledges that in his youth he did poorly in school, but through the help of his mother and other kind souls in his path, he was able to become the man and professional he is today. Think Big is more than an autobiography, it's a book about achievement. If you don't know how to succeed or know if you're headed in the right direction, Think Big helps put any doubts you may have to rest.

Most striking and infectious is Dr. Carson's regard for books. He believes, as experience has shown him, that through books, one's imagination sparks and one's ability to relate others soars. The book is like a catalyst for change.

In my own reading, I was inspired to re-evaluate my interests through Dr. Carson's writings about the significance of in-depth learning. As a professional, I understand the significance of keeping up with trends or a hobbiest keeping up with new toys. Yet something different happens when we make the decision to immerse ourselves in a subject. Whether it be in accounting, literature, stamp collecting, or volleyball, your mind and attitude are different when you approach them with more than just a cursory reading, more than a "just enough to do my job" or "take this test" sort of attitude.

Think Big is part biography, part advice, part medicine, and it is excellent preparatory reading for college-bound seniors and undergraduate pre-meds. Yet, it is also part drama and entirely true, which makes it fair reading for any person young or older who wishes to learn about passion, learning, and determination from someone who has experienced it all.

Finding the Time

2009-01-15T04:51:00.005-05:00

(Image Credit: www.omegaeh.com/)

How do people find time to do all the things they want to do? I just signed up for Twitter. Can anything be shorter and faster to do than that? It's not blogging, it's not e-mail. It's even shorter than facebook. (To follow, my name is donnaledbetter.) Yet with each new technology, each new social media, each new way to get connected, there is less time for everything else.

Especially with regard to my challenge about learning more about my world, I find that I am spending less time doing the things that move me toward that goal and more time doing other things. That is not to say that I am not moving forward. Only, somehow, I'd thought my journey would be faster than this. Perhaps it's all a matter of perspective.

I am doing more now with my time than I'd ever thought possible. So, perhaps, I should consider my strides as remarkable ones. I am reading a book called Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence by Dr. Ben Carson (to be reviewed here soon) and he talks about how he has been able to accomplish so much, even coming from the humblist of backgrounds. "If he can do it," I say, "then I can do it, too."

Obama Inauguration 2009 Writing Contest

2009-01-10T08:50:00.004-05:00

Since readers are usually writers, I'd like to pass along this information to my blog viewers. If you know of a young person in the DC metro area, you may be able to go with him or her the Barack Obama Inauguration January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. Here's a letter from the presidential inaugural committee:

This Inauguration, President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden are calling on all of us to renew America's promise. They believe that this renewal begins with service to our own communities, service that can begin at any age.

Do you know a student who's active in the D.C. community? What about one who would like to attend the inaugural parade and have seats right in front of the White House?

You can help him or her be there.

We're asking students throughout Washington, D.C. to answer in 500 words or less, "How can I contribute to my neighborhood through community service?"

Submit that student's essay and he or she could be among those selected to attend the inaugural parade.

Here are the basics: the essay must be written by a D.C. middle or high school student. It should be 500 words or less, and the student's parent or guardian must submit the essay by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 11th.

We will select over 100 essays that offer interesting ideas on service. The student, a parent or guardian, and one other guest will come to the inaugural parade and sit in prime seats: in front of the White House, right next to the presidential reviewing stand.

At every inaugural, after the swearing-in, the new president joins a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Capitol to the White House. He invites marching bands, dance troupes, military units, and other organizations to be part of the parade.

It's a tradition that illustrates the best of America -- people from across the nation coming together to celebrate the promise of the next four years.

Help a student in your life be there to see it by submitting his or her answer to the question, "How can I contribute to my neighborhood through community service?"

www.pic2009. org/dcstudentess ay

To comply with legal guidelines, we ask that you be sure it is the parent or guardian who submits the essay on behalf of the student.

The day before the Inauguration, the Obama and Biden families will join other Americans in renewing a commitment to service in our communities. Thousands of students will be part of that effort.

Help a student get to the inaugural parade, too.

Thank you,

The Presidential Inaugural Committee

A Little Thing Happened on the Way in New Orleans

2009-01-09T08:20:00.003-05:00

Stephanie Meyer is a writer of vampire fiction. Her latest book, Eclipse, is a hit and is somewhat related to this blog. If you love vampires, I'm sure you'll love Eclipse, but this genre of book is really not my sip of blood...er, cup of tea.

Here's an interesting blog post from one of the blogs I follow. She talks about spiritual warfare and how she relieved herself of fear through scripture and prayer.

Wine, Tomatoes & Dandelions: But I will trust in Him...selah...

I bring this up because I experienced something similar myself yesterday. I'm away on business now (though that is not a good excuse for not blogging) and one of the things there is to do here where I am is go on a tour. I'm here in the French Quarter of New Orleans and I have the options of taking one of the lesser expensive walking tours (which mostly have to do with ghosts and vampires and such), take a less interesting tour of a garden, or spend loads of money taking a tour of the swamp. Of course, given my financial challenge of 2009 to save at least $2000, I'm looking at the less costly options as the better options.

I'm not usually interested in "the dark side," but I figured, well, I'm in New Orleans, the home of Voodoo, so going on a dark tour would simply be like partaking of the culture. I really had to psyche myself up for this. The tour didn't start until 8:30, so I walked around a bit. Ambling really. I'd convinced myself to take the vampire tour, meeting up at a nearby voodoo shop to start. The closer I got to the start of the tour, though, the more I kept being reminded of God. I began to see crosses in storefronts that I hadn't seen before when I had passed by earlier. Then I walked into an antique shop and saw another cross. I jokingly said I should buy one to protect me while I'm out on the vampire tour. He didn't laugh. He walked over to me, picked up the cross, and opened it. He said it was "sick" cross. He showed me where the holy water went and several other things that were supposed to go in it.

Well, that last experience did it for me. Nightfall had finally come over the city, and I'd decided to just go back to my hotel. I'd gotten some beignets and a cafe au lait from the legendary Cafe du Monde and headed back. I'd passed by this homeless man (or at least a disheveled man who appeared homeless) and he said something to me under his breath, but I did hear him say something like, "get out of New Orleans." He could have been saying anything. He could have been talking about he wanted to leave the city. He could have been deranged. But the crosses, and vampires, and the darkness really scared the daylights out of me so that when I heard him say that, I really felt I needed to get back to my hotel.

So headed on and then I thought about dinner. I stopped in a dive and ordered two slices to go. Then I stayed to chat with the bartender for a while. Wouldn't you know it, when I left that place, the homeless man was outside, along with three other devious characters, sitting in a dark alleyway just on the other side of my hotel.

Obviously, I made it back because I've lived to write this blog. But my goodness, how strange it is that the blogger from Wine, Tomatoes, and Dandelions also had an eerily similar spiritual experience at around the same time.

Defining the Light and the Word

2009-01-04T17:41:00.003-05:00

There is a certain calmness and assuredness that sweeps over man when He acknowledges the presence of God in his life. Today, I was touched to read Matthew chapters 11 and 12, and most specifically to share these words from Matthew chapter 11:

28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

In an earlier post from 2008, I spoke of the importance of challenging translations. Or at least seeking out varied translations to better inform one's understanding of the Bible. In these verses, it's worthy of noting the Contemporary English Version's use of footnotes to help define the word "yoke" as "a device put on the necks of animals, so they could pull a plow or wagon. A yoke was a symbol of obedience and hard work." For the longest time I used to think that "yoke" was "yolk" because as a child, I would often hear people say things like God is "breaking the yolk." That seemed to make sense since when you crack open an egg and pour into a bowl, the yolk often often remains intact. It takes a deliberate act to break the yolk. However, the word is "yoke," not "yolk."

With this newfound understanding, verse 29 has new meaning. Here, it seems God is saying to let go of the burdens of this world, and instead take upon the burdens of heaven or God. But of course, God is omnipotent, so whatever burden God carries is light like a feather. That's one way to look at it. The other way is to say that we should let go of the burdens of the world (again) and instead accept those burdens that God chooses to give us. Note that God does not say that things would be carefree, but that they would be easy compared to what we endure now.

Danica Patrick in the News

2009-01-02T22:28:00.003-05:00

Here's an interesting story from Yahoo! sports about Nascar winner Danica Patrick, the first female winner of an IndyCar race.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=ap-danicapatrick-speeding&prov=ap&type=lgns

Freakonomics, A Book Review

2009-01-01T20:16:00.006-05:00

The basic premise of Freakonomics is that everything that happens leads to something else, or that one thing leads to another. It's a book about cause and effect from a social perspective. With this view, the author challenges our assumptions about the way things are or the way we actually perceive them to be. The book is written with a lighthearted tone, making its subjects and case studies seem more like fodder for a cocktail party than as questions for research. Such treatment makes Freakonomics accessible for a broader audience of readers, especially those who might not otherwise venture into learning about such a field. And what is that field exactly? The "freakier," less mathematical side of economics.

For all its great writing and its rather daring subjects, the book and the cause-and-effect relationshps the authors propose are a bit of a stretch. Abortion is heralded as being responsible for the dramatic dip in crime across America in the 1990's. It is supposed that abortion was responsible for ridding the nation of the young, lower income, less well-educated individuals who would no doubt have been responsible for perpetuating crime had they been born. Yet the author fails to account for the drop in deviance levels from other segments of the population that were around. The book makes arguments like this and others without also giving attention to plausible alternatives.

Another case in point is the authors' assumption that young people want to be dealers of narcotics because it is flashy and cool in spite of the risks and low pay associated with it. They compare it to the way a young person would want to enter a glamourous low-paying profession like publishing to have a one-in-a-million shot at becoming a super high-paid executive. (See my review for The Devil Wears Prada.) That the authors compare an industry of entertainment to the selling of narcotics is laughable, but then to also say that young people become sellers of narcotics because they want to seems even more absurd. The author points out that the sellers of narcotics in his book earn as little as $3 a day, much less than minimum wage.

It would seem to reason that a person interested in making money would try to find a job that paid more. In the face of minimum wage, selling narcotics isn't even an option ... unless you have no other place to find a job. In areas suffering from the proliferation of the trade of narcotics, one key issue in whether people decide to sell narcotics is their options for finding an honest job. How many corporations house their offices in the ghetto? How many people patron businesses housed in ghettos over those they find in a mall? How many malls are in the ghetto? And even if a person were to find a job outside the ghetto, how much more of a burden would it be to find transportation to that job, an additional cost, especially if that person is already working to earn extra money and the only ride that person has is the bus. Now, if that person is a child or a teen, the time that child spends traveling to and from that honest job miles away from his or her home then takes time away from studying. For adults, it takes time away from parenting. It takes time away from learning skills for a better job. Given the choice, thinking in real economical terms of opportunity cost and benefit, the reason people choose to sell narcotics is clear. It has nothing, or at least very little, to do with being cool.

Freakonomics is not a rigorous book. That is its major flaw. It attempts to explain some of our generation's most challenging questions, but it offers only simplified answers. The onus to dig deeper for the true causes of events falls on the reader, but the book does not actually encourage such thought. Nowhere do the authors even suggest that they could be wrong or that there could be other plausible reasons for various events. Such writing is the mark of poor scholarship and I do not recommend that it be read.

Resolving to Resolve

2008-12-31T21:27:00.004-05:00

This year has been filled with challenges. Some of them great, some small. Some affecting communitities and nations. Some influencing only me. The most obvious challenges are the ones I've created: learning more about the world, saving money, losing weight, and, more recently, to read more books. The country has also been challenged with a new president, a new administration, and a new way of thinking about race. This upcoming year will also have its challenges. Many will be the same one's I've tried to battle in 2008.

Of all the challenges, I am finding my battle with weight the most difficult. I am not huge (yet), but I don't want to have to get there before I realize I have to stop gaining weight. Part of my challenge in learning about the world now must also encompass learning more about myself if I am to win. I must overcome my excuses for not exercising.

Centers like Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and such are available, but at what cost? There is not only the financial investment, which is not an option given my financial goal, but there is also the investment of time and other resources. Are there free weight loss centers?

Miss Black Maryland 2009

2008-12-31T00:33:00.008-05:00

Pageants and the people who win them are always interesting. Winners have been ridiculed often for participating in pageants because part of the qualification for winning is beauty. But winners also must show their knowledge of world events, community service, and education among other things. There is also a talent and evening wear competition. The talent portion seems important because it sends a message to other women that it's important to develop interests outside of oneself to become well-rounded. The evening wear portion is also important because it highlights our need to continually place an emphasis on the way we present ourselves before others. It's a crucial part of developing self esteem. The pageant also provides scholarship funds to the contestants, and who wouldn't be in favor of an organization that provides an honest way for women to pay for college.

Here's a great news segment about Elsie Owolo, Miss Black Maryland 2009. This link takes you to WJZ Channel 13. Miss Black Maryland 2009 is on segment 2.

I've also heard word about a new television series about pageant winners competing for the Miss America title. It will air on TLC at 10pm on Fridays all next month. Here is a link to the show.

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Fat Pockets follow up

2008-12-29T20:37:00.006-05:00

Avidan, a follower of this blog, commented on yesterday's blog post with

I used to do the same thing with being thrifty because it seemed the reasonable thing to do, then I decided that I will save more money and calories if for example I buy one doughnut for $0.90 rather than a dozen for $4.00, which I ended up throwing out half of anyways.

I came across your blog from Shelfari and find your posts quite interesting :)

I have two comments on that, and the first is that I am pleasantly surprised that people are reading. There are millions of blogs to choose from, and to have a reader stumble upon mine and then find it interesting is definitely a compliment. Thanks again, Avidan. Stop by again soon.

Second, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one this frugality/diet conflict has happened to. I did not end up throwing the doughnuts away, however. I took two more for breakfast the next day and left the rest in the kitchen in the office. They were gone in less than 20 minutes.

Fat Pockets

2008-12-28T19:43:00.004-05:00

I saved money today in three ways, though I'm still not sure how this will translate into extra savings each month. First, today I did a free museum visit for my entertainment. The original admission for the museum would have been about $8.00 or more. Second, rather order a full meal with at drink, I opted for an appetizer and water. If I'd ordered a soda ($3.00) and a full dinner -- with a difference of $4.00 between the appetizer and the meal -- I'd have spent an additional $7.00. In total, that's a whopping $15.00 I've saved today just by making smarter consumption choices.

I also wound up saving myself lots of empty calories. Of course, being thrifty can also add on the pounds. On the way home, I thought it would be better to buy a dozen doughnuts from the market for $4.00 instead of just one for about $0.90. It does make sense economically, but with another 11 doughnuts sitting around, it will be difficult not to overeat. I am tempted to just throw the remaining eight (I've 4already) into the trash, but that would be like wasting the same money I just saved earlier today. I think I will throw them away. I've just eaten another one.

Ode to the GPS

2008-12-24T18:46:00.004-05:00

How did people used to get around without GPSs? The one I have is made by Garmin. Not only does it give you directions to the locations you request, but you can also find directions to nearby banks, theaters, restaurants, hospitals, lodging, etc. It even includes a mode that directs you away from traffic to your destination.

I'm usually not much into electronics, but I really appreciate my GPS. Knowing that I can drive around and not get lost has really helped me think about exploring a new way home from work or just going off on a road trip. I can drive to another city or get a rental car and travel anywhere in North America without a paper map.

Automatic Saver

2008-12-24T12:54:00.009-05:00

I've announced already that part of my challenge will include learning more about money, saving, and finances. As of today, I'm taking it a step further and issuing a challenge to myself to save at least $2,600 in 2009. That's $25 per week for 52 weeks, a full year of saving. That amount, $2600, in and of itself isn't a lot. I have student loans and past due tuition up the wazoo. However, saving just that small sum consistently will be the mark of a breakthrough.

In the past, when I've tried to save consistently, some sort of emergency would inevitably show up. And then when the money was gone, it would be easy not to start all over again. I know this one simple act of saving consistently is the first step in realizing financial independence. One of my favorite money books, The Automatic Millionaire (by David Bach), is based on this principle. But as I've learned throughout this challenge, reading and knowing how to do something is very different from actually doing it.

At first, I started with the idea of saving $40 a week. Then I suppose I felt that amount was just too comfortable, so I upped it by $10. The truth is, saving $40 is actually no easy task. I'm really living paycheck to paycheck. One wrong move, and I'm out. I've got to think about what I'm spending my money on, what I'm not spending on, and how I can go about reducing my spending where I can.

I already know I spend a lot of income eating out. Sometimes, it will be at a restaurant. Other times, it's just fast food. Least of all will I spend time actually cooking, though it is both the cheapest and healthiest way to eat. It might also help contribute to my weight loss. (Follow my weight loss on my other blog: www.poundapound.blogspot.com.) Eating out, I think I spend about $75 or more a week. It's not just because I like to either. Eating out is convenient when you spend lots of time at the office.

I will also try to chronicle how I save money. I think I'm paying too much on my cell phone bill already. That's something else I can cut back on. But I don't want to become a penny pincher. I don't want to live in fear of not having enough. I want to live comfortably and be debt free with considerable wealth.

Next Stop: Factory Girls

2008-12-22T21:54:00.008-05:00

The next book on my list is Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China
by Leslie T. Chang. What is this obsession, this proclivity I have toward Asian culture? And really, it's not Asian culture so much as I am interested in the rights and cultural lives of women in that area. The Asian Mystique: Dragon Ladies, Geisha Girls, & Our Fantasies of the Exotic Orient
was the first such book I read addressing American interpretations of Asian culture. Then there was the Memoirs of a Geisha
. I didn't really get into that book so much, but I know it added to my interest of region and women's rights.

I look forward to reading the book. From the jacket cover, I think it may also have a lot to do with globalization and business: two additional areas in which I have a great interest.

Better News than BJ Hill

2008-12-22T21:22:00.005-05:00

(Image Credit: Walk America 2008)

Tonight, as I was watching the news (ABC, I think, with Charlie Gibson), they aired a story about a man named BJ Hill who quit his job teaching to walk across America collecting letters people to the President (Obama, that is). As I watched that news story, several things struck me. First, I wonder why it is that we're celebrating a man who quit his job teaching when our country is experiencing a shortage of highly qualified teachers. Wouldn't he be doing our country a better service if he were to stay in the classroom (assuming that he is a good teacher) and teach our children to read or do algebra? Second, why didn't he just organize a e-mailing campaign? With the technology we have today, it's really unnecessary to go about on foot collecting responses in a notepad. Third, with all the clean-up Bush has left for Obama, what would make Mr. Hill believe that the President (Obama) would have either the time or inclination to read the fruits of his voyage?

I can only suppose it must be a slow news day, but there are stories to report about Toyota experiencing its first financial loss in several decades, stories about Zimbabwe and Mugabe's refusal to step down from power in the midst of country's bitter turmoil, stories about Russia and the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe). Even if the news show were searching for a feel-good ending to the newscast, I find it very difficult to believe that in this "season of giving" that a reporter could not find a better story of how men and women give up their time to reach out and help those in need. Mr. Hill isn't even reaching out. He isn't even walking for a worthy cause. He is raising money on website for what? New shoes for himself so he can continue to walk across the country collecting stories when a simple e-mail to the White House would do.

Critical thinking. That's something we all need to work on and I hope that this challenge, by opening my eyes to all that's out there, can also help me see even when others do not.

The Devil Wears Prada, a book review

2008-12-21T23:53:00.005-05:00

I finally finished The Devil Wears Prada! From its reviews on Amazon.com, there doesn't seem to be much consensus either way on the merits of the book. The disparity in the rating stems, I think, from people assigning stars on the basis of differnt criteria. If everyone were to judge the book on qualities as chic lit, there would be more of a consensus. The same would be true, I think, if all the reviews were about the literary quality of the book. Either way, I'm glad I finished. Here's the review I wrote myself for Amazon.com:

Add This Book To Your Business Collection

It's certainly not literary fiction, but The Devil Wears Prada is a light, easy read for a stress-free vacation and a surprising addition to a professional's business library. The book tackles such issues in business as management, employee satisfaction, and the deadline-driven world of the publishing field. As readers follow Andrea Sachs through her first job and first year at a popular fashion magazine in New York, NY, they are invited to share in the ups and downs of working for a demanding boss in a position of low pay and virtually non-existent status. Along the way, Andrea realizes what it takes to be successful and what unquestionable abuse one can yield upon employees when their boss is one of the most respected and feared professionals in their field. Andrea also learns to prioritize. In coming to understand her personal work limits, she also begins to develop a healthy work/life balance, something many professionals -- men and women alike -- find themselves struggling with day after day.

Andrea represents what most people are like when they take on their first job or what many become after years of unsuccessful attempts at getting ahead the old-fashioned way. They're caught up in the myth that hard work and perseverance are what get people promoted. Yet after a few years of brown nosing, these same people begin to realize that the true road to success actually lies elsewhere, that to succeed, they must indeed be very good at their chosen profession, but to rely on it as the sole means of advancing their career would be naive.

The Devil Wears Prada should be a staple among business books. There are lessons about dealing with bosses, navigating through business culture, and more all illustrated in its pages. The lessons one might learn from reading some of today's greatest business books are found together in The Devil Wears Prada. It is a perfect learning tool for professionals who like to learn by example and through reading about other people's mistakes.

Aspiring professionals in publishing will also benefit from reading this book. Even those readers with other interests will still find the book appropriately amusing, touching, and perhaps even all too real to be just fiction.

The Worth of Travel

2008-12-21T10:28:00.008-05:00

(Image Credit: traveldk.com)

I'm finally back from my business trip. My flight was cancelled early last week and the next available flight was for two days later. When I returned, I found that my car had been towed! Unfortunately, I'd used up all my discretionary income during my trip. Now I have to borrow money. Was the trip worth it? I don't know.

From a business standpoint, I've been able to represent my company well and demonstrate that I am capabale of completing long-term assignments and being able to travel for extended periods. This assignment prepares me for travel assignments abroad, which I am eager to accept. Part of what I want to do with my career is venture into the forays of international business and communications. What a delight it would be to represent my company in Europe, China, Egypt, or even Canada! I remain open to new experiences that will move me forward.

From a financial standpoint, this trip shows I have some work to do. I will need to develop several means of saving money and develop a nest of income specifically for business trips and another for emergencies. I would also do well to begin saving for my own vacations. Of course, the trick is not in deciding how to save, but in determining how you're going to save when you have thousands of dollars of debt to eliminate. That is yet another challenge, one not as easily accomplished by reading alone. Learning about savings and investments is an endeavor that requires lots of energy and time to do right. And by right, I mean profitably.

From the standpoint of getting through this challenge, I can say that I have indeed been able to learn more about my world. Travel allows one to see up close how other people live. It's good now and then to step back from a book and actually go about the business of learning up close. While away, I spent a lot of time talking to cab drivers. Many of them are from different countries. I spoke to one man from Bulgaria, another from Israel, and still another from Pakistan. It's amazing how much one can learn about other cultures in just a 10- to 15-minute cab ride. I also learned a bit from taking chartered tours of the area and of sites nearby.

Would it stand to reason that if I approached my own surroundings like a tourist that I could learn just as much?

The verdict on how useful this trip was to me is still out. I've had a lot of great experiences, and I learned a lot. But it's the financial sacrifice I made that's really getting to me. That, of course, is one of the tacit laws of education: You have to be willing to invest today, whether it be time or money, to realize huge returns in the future.

One for the Team

2008-12-18T00:27:00.003-05:00

(Image Credit: businesstravel.us)

I feel like it's been months since I last blogged. I'd really gotten into a great grove, then I had this business trip, and suddenly it was like everything blogging and writing had dissipated. I have come to enjoy this blogging as much as I enjoy going to work each day. It's a labor of love. It's not always fascinating, but when I get into it, I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing.

Today, I'm taking one for the team. I'm on a business trip, but my flight has been cancelled, so I must stay in town for another two days. It's a sacrifice, but one I am willing to make.

So how does this relate to the challenge? Well, in one aspect, I still haven't managed to finish The Devil Wears Prada. It's really a good read, but my goodness, if I don't finish it this weekend, I'm going to burst. I'm tired of looking at that book, and as I've said, I do have a dozen or more other books I'd like to read. In anticipation of finishing The Devil Wears Prada during this trip, I brought along Gulliver's Travels as my backup. A good classic. That's part of the challenge of broadening my understanding of the world: reading some of the world's most revered books.

There's a book that's coming to mind whose name escapes me at the moment. It was a book with a trial, a set of twins -- one black, one white, one rich, one poor -- in the South, riverboat country, slavery or early emancipation. I bring it up because it was one of those classics I was actually surprised to have enjoyed. I hope I feel the same way about Gulliver's Travels...if I ever get to it.

Two Cents

2008-12-12T19:02:00.003-05:00

(Image Credit: blogs.cars.com)

America was built on the backs of slaves. Then on the backs of its poor. Now, we're seeing economic times not unlike ones we've experienced before in this nation, one where unemployment goes rampant and recovery is slow.

In spite of what I know about the history of our country, and in spite of what I know about the 3000+ businesses who risk closing as a result of the loss of an auto industry bailout, I still believe that the way for this economy to get back on its feet is not by handing out money to failing corporations by creating new jobs to meet the needs of those who will lose them. The answer seems simple. If we're anticipating a period of job loss, we need to prepare our economoy to meet it. Green jobs, yes. But also education. There has to be a workforce ready to educate to masses into tranferrable jobs.

There has also been mention of healthcare. The NYT featured a thoughtful article the other day that examined the shortage of primary care physicans that our nation is facing. Medicine, pharmacology, nursing, biotech: these are all noble professions that we can transfer our people into.

Then there's media, God bless it. This industry, too, is facing its own share of woes. People are reading newspapers less and turning to online sources more. Some people, mostly young people, don't even watch the news. We need people at the forefront of technology and communication who can make use of tools like the Internet, YouTube, social media, i-Pods, etc. and reach consumers. We'll always have a need to be informed. So it behooves us to figure out how to do it, and then get to it.

Art is another overlooked area. It's hard to put a value on art. It's terribly subjective. But that doesn't make it any less worthy of our attention. And let's think about it for a moment just how intertwined the arts with fields like communication. It's not just about the aesthetic, it's also about providing information visually, making concepts easier to understand.

Even though they were Republicans, I side with the majority of the Senate today who would not support a bailout for the auto industry. The reason is just that maybe autos have run their course in America. They're not competitive, so if they don't innovate, the corporations deserve to plummet. Thus making way for other industries or autos who can fill their place. People have been complaining about the poor quality of auto since the 80s. So why now, after nearly 30 years of opportunity to get its act together, to anticipate demand, to get ahead of the curve should we bail them out. It seems to me that the auto makers in the US simply were'n't listening. They were trying to hold on and ignore financials that clearly signaled that it was time for them to head out.

I do regret that we've come to this. But the bailout doesn't represent the backbone of what America was built on: literally and figuratively. We're an innovative bunch. We have talent all around, though admittedly, not as well educated as it should be. Fifteen billion dollars would be better spent on jobs of the future and occupations that fill today's needs.

Lincoln

2008-12-11T22:03:00.003-05:00

Lincoln -- It's Obama's declared role model for leadership. In a television interview about a month ago, Obama said he planned to read up on Lincoln and his philosophy. Now Lincoln is on my list.

How will I find the time?

All in One

2008-12-11T06:25:00.006-05:00

To meet my challenge, I've been perusing bookstore's lately. There's something about going into a physical bookstore to browse, I think, that makes it a pasttime that will not likely fade quickly. True, I do love Amazon; I buy books there a lot, but when I don't know what I want, I usually head to the bookstore itself in search of the perfect book.

To meet my challenge, and also feed my interest in foreign cultures, I bought Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China. The goal of the book is to describe the changes Chinese women are making in modern days from a life restricted to family and village to one in the business world and big cities. I look forward to reading it when I'm done with The Devil Wears Prada. It's an easy read with an interesting plot, but I just haven't made the time I need to allow myself to read through it quickly.

While in the bookstore most recently, I came across a collection of books that directly addresses the "learn more about the world" challenge. Some of the books are a collection of random factoids or summaries that you could read each day (like a calendar, but in book form). Other books were like how-tos and gave you a book list to get through in a year. One of these such books was totally rediculous. It suggested that you read as many as 5 classic books a month. What working professional has the time to read 5 classic books in a month? We're not talking Anne Rice, John Grisham classic, but Faulkner, Tolstoi, real epics. Five of those in one month. Honestly, I think I've been reading The Devil Wears Prada for almost a month now and I'm only halfway through.

There are so many books out there I want to read. And they're not all classics. But as I roam through the bookstore, I do see I have proclivity toward the social sciences and business. I tend to stay away from history and science. So, the next time I'm perusing through the bookstore, looking for a book to help me through this challenge, I will stop in the history section. To get to science, I will need to gather up my strength.

The Most Dangerous Thing

2008-12-08T19:01:00.004-05:00

(Image Credit: britsattheirbest.com)

"What’s the most dangerous thing in the world?"

"A black person with a library card."

This was a remark made by a character on the hit cable television series “The Wire.” The speaker was a man known for his erudition. He read a lot, and instead of carrying a gun as the other gangsters did, he carried books. His daily reading included Harpers, The Nation, and other such weighty publications. Yet, he is not a noble character. He is a drug dealer like the rest of them.

I bring this up because I have a library card and I read voraciously. Yet, no one considers me a threat. Why?

This goes beyond my “learning about the world” challenge. The challenge is about stretching myself outside of my comfort zone of knowledge. It’s about exploring all there is about the world from science and culture to history and religion. This other thing I’m talking about, this being a “threat” is about my position in the professional world. There is no question that I am immensely good at what I do. Yet, I am still waiting for the promotion and recognition I know I’ve earned. No, that’s not entirely true. I’m not waiting for it; I’m going after it aggressively.

Healthy Mind, Healthy Body

2008-12-08T18:58:00.001-05:00

PBS has a pledge-drive special program called Sight and Sound 2. The show talks about the science of seeing and hearing and how it relates to our understanding of the world. Even more specifically, the program talked about the importance of maintaining one’s sight and hearing abilities throughout one’s lifetime. Often as we age, our senses diminish. Yet, we can take preventative measures to ensure that doesn’t happen or at least prolong its onset. One of the remedies the program suggested was that people interested in restoring or maintaining their senses should engage in exercises that challenge those senses.

To increase mobility and flexibility, one would engage in dance or yoga. To increase vision, one might make a conscious effort to look closer or farther away to strengthen the eyes. I have taken up dance to challenge my senses. Initially, I took it up for exercise, but I realize that the task of simply learning new moves does wonders for my brain. It’s an excellent activity that works in tandem with two of my objectives: weight loss and learning about the world. The weight loss part is easy to understand, but helping me to learn more about the world may not be as clear. The way I see it, it’s a matter of mens sana en corpo sana, which I believe is Greek or such for “a healthy mind in a healthy body.” If your mind or body is weak, it takes away from your ability to learn. So doing things to train my mind, will in turn help me become more effective at learning.

Today, the Bible

2008-12-02T18:24:00.004-05:00

(Image Credit: adampsyche on flicr.com)

1 Corinthians 14:8, New International Version
Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:8, King James Version (for the purists)
8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

President-elect Barack Obama quoted this verse (NIV) in a speech he gave to commemorate the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. And with that, I've begun my journey today into the Bible. I have never really studied any Bible outside King James, though I have read from other versions, including the NIV, on numerous times. What is different about today is that for the first time, I have opened up my realm of understanding by comparing translations directly.

It's striking the range of interpretation we find in language. In Chinese, for example, the same word can mean different things based solely on intonation. In Hebrew, I think, the absence of vowels in the original ancient texts led to a full range of interpretation as modern scholars today insert vowels in an effort to guess what the ancient writers and prophets may meant. And so, in looking at just the two versions of the Bible I've selected above, I can see not only the range of interpretation possible by following one version versus the other, but I also see how spiritually precarious it might be to blindly follow an interpretation without questioning.

Man today uses the Bible for so many things. We hide in it. We take comfort in it. We legislate by it. We educate on the basis of it. And so when people say that such and such belief should become law because it says so and so in the Bible, we should really step back and think about who's Bible these people are referring to. A lot people don't realize that religion is not just what is written in a religious text, but it is also a social organization with stated and implied rules for conduct and belief.

There are things people believe about the Bible, about passages they think exist, but that do not exist at all. The solution is for people to assume the onus to educate themselves about the very book they proclaim to live their daily lives by. But I do not blame anyone who doesn't. Our world is such that all sorts of media are competing for our attention.

But I digress.

The core difference between the versions of the verses above are in their use of the phrase "clear call" versus "an uncertain sound." And the distinction between the two, I think, is profound. The difference between clear and uncertain is intention. If you call out to someone, but they can't hear you, it doesn't mean you never wanted them to respond. On the other hand, if you call someone and you intentionally lower your voice or intentionally say it so that they could hear you if they were they were really paying attention, then it could be true that you never really wanted them to answer. The second is like sarcasm.

Now taking this one step further, I ask, "What would Jesus do?" When Jesus calls me to action, there is no second guessing. There is no ignoring. When Jesus calls, it is clear as a bell. And whatever the Lord commands, it will be done. One could say that in times of uncertainty, look to God for a clear answer.

I'm no theologian. So, I'm afraid, I'll have to end here.

Does Watching Jeopardy Count?

2008-12-01T20:08:00.002-05:00

It's so much easier to plop in front of the television each day than to take upon a more rigorous intellectual endeavor. Of course, I knew this going in. So I wonder, does watching Jeopardy count? The final question (the daily double, maybe?) was something like there's a three-letter suffix in French composed of three vowels, and those three vowels sound like another vowel. The answer is eau. I learned something. But nothing useful.

What You Don't Know

2008-11-30T18:44:00.007-05:00

(Image Credit: theseminal.com)

Of course, the problem (or great thing, depending on your mood) about learning is that once you begin to learn about something, you realize just how much more there is to learn. Now that my curiosity about Pakistan has piqued, I've begun asking myself more questions. I've also had the pleasure of attending an exhibit recently that outlined the history of the civil rights era (which is not uncommon in the US as we gear up for Jan and Feb). In thinking about those times, I began to think about the philosophers who influenced Dr. King. Ghandi in particular. And I want to know more about others who participated in SNCC and the SLC. There are women civil rights leaders beyond Rosa Parks that I'd never even heard of, like Fannie Lou Hamer.

The idea did occur to me to begin to specialize my interests, to think about one or two issues or categories and focus from there. I've decided not to do that just yet, however. Because there is so much, I think it wise to just take the first few weeks, if not the first few months, to just explore things as they arise. Then once I see a trend, I'll embrace it.

One of the things that has also been on my mind is how I'll ever find the time to read everything. Or how I'll find the money to travel. Or where I might go to experience some of the finer things.

In the meantime, I'm reading a very intellectual book that I began a while before I set up this challenge: The Devil Wears Prada. I've got to get through that one first. I'm on chapter 9. One of the things I'm discovering as read this book is that Andrea (so far) has had very little interaction with Miranda, and yet she fears her based not on what she has come to know as the truth, but based on what others tell her. Who wouldn't be intimidated by someone who you've been told is one of the meanest, coldest b's in the workplace. She doesn't have to say a word to get power. Everyone has already just handed it to her.

That is why this book rings so universally for so many people. It's the reason why it's a bestseller. More than once, each of us has fallen prey to hype or hearsay. We get scared because someone else tells us something, and immediately it affects the way conduct ourselves. And that little tidbit is important. If I'm going to read about things and experience things to broaden my knowledge about the world, I must be ready to grapple with it, to challenge it. The easiest thing to do is to read and believe blindly, but it is another to read, question, and truly understand.

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My Own Private Challenge

2008-11-30T08:47:00.006-05:00

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster.com and NYT on the Web)

As the new year approaches, people generally begin to think about ways they can improve themselves. For some, it's weight loss. For others, it's reconnecting with their talents or ambitions. For me, it's developing my sense of the world. I've never been able to sustain a ritual like diary writing or dieting on a truly daily basis, and I'm imagining that the same will be true when I tell you that I'd like to continue this blog as a daily account of my progress in learning about my world.

This challenge will include learning more about world affairs, learning about cultures, learning about the science that governs the world. It will also be about learning about religion, learning how to be a good friend, learning to contribute.

My first step happened just this morning. Just past midnight. I had returned home from a church meeting and spent a few minutes talking on the phone with a friend. Then I directed my attention to my looming curiosity over the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Usually, upon hearing of an event like this, I would read an article or two and leave it at that, without really understanding the depth of the politics and warfare the events could portend.

I'm no scholar yet, but as I read the latest article describing the Mumbai attacks and Pakistan's most probable next tactical moves, I did something I've never done before. I googled a map of the region and looked through it as I read the article. My goodness! You cannot believe how just that simple act opened up doors of understanding for me. It's something they teach you to do in elementary school, but how many people really apply that to their daily lives? Don't know a word? Look it up. Don't know where a country is? Find it on a map. I now know that Pakistan is bordered by Iran and India, and Iraq is just one country to the West. And the coast! I never realized how vulnerable thses countries were (and powerful) because of their geographic positions.

The meeting of my challenge has no prescribed regimine. Whatever I choose to explore in the world and however I choose to explore it is entirely up to me. We'll see where the Lord takes me from here.

ewe

Frederick, Maryland

2008-11-25T21:15:00.002-05:00

Here's a great article about Frederick, Maryland. I travel there sometimes when I'm on vacation on the East Coast. It's a refreshing respite from hustle of Philly and Baltimore. Click here for the NYT article.

Publishing not immune

2008-11-24T21:47:00.003-05:00

The publishing business has never been immune to ecomonic downturns. It seems that when people start losing money, one of the first things they do is stop reading. Logically, that seems like the opposite of what people should do. Turn off the television. Log off the computer (after you've read your daily blogs :0)). Then open a book. Check out the newspaper. Write something.

Here's a New York Times article about how the economy is effecting publishing, with an emphasis on how cutbacks on advertising are leaning luxury publications.

Netflix lovers and Computer gurus unite!

2008-11-22T05:48:00.004-05:00

In another NYT article today, a reporter talks about the frenzy online over Netflix's contest to beat its Cinematch program. Cinematch is a program Netflix uses to help determine best picks for movie viewers based on their ratings for previously viewed films. For example, if you've seen and watch a movie like The Pianist and rated it with 5 stars, then you might be likely to also enjoy a film like the Red Violin. Several programmers are coming close, but none have been able to improve upon the Cinematch program by more than 10%. To win the contest prize of 1 million dollars, contestants must do just that. Good luck to them all.

Teen suicide -- media nonsense

2008-11-22T05:18:00.003-05:00

An article in the New York times online reported today that a young boy committed suicide on a live Webcam essentially on a dare. He did it on a website called Justin.tv where people set up Webcams, tape themselves live, and broadcast it over the Internet.

Click for article.

As the boy died, Internet onlookers were reported to have egged him on or to have simply watched as he overdosed on prescription medication for his bipolar condition. What makes this so much of a tragedy is that before his death, the boy was obviously reaching out. He needed friends, he wanted friends, and somehow he must have thought his online acquaintances WERE his friends. The online world has blurred definitions of relationships. People you haven't spoken to in years can feel like they've been in contact with you all along thanks to facebook and myspace. I wonder if the boy had had real friends would he still have died. If he'd been able to understand that the Internet is not the real world, would he be with us today

Hulu.com

2008-11-11T18:18:00.009-05:00

I've taken to reading the Times online and I stumbled across this great article. YouTube is now facing competition for viewers from NBC's hulu.com. The popularity of hulu may also impact dvd rentals and sales. Hulu.com works like regular television. It includes full episodes of your favorite television shows, but with commercials. The difference between it and watching television the traditional way is that hulu.com features intervals of commercials no longer than 30 seconds in length. To me, this is much better than having to sit through 3 minutes of commercials at a time to get through one half-hour show.

Click here to read the article from the New York Times

Sherry James-Strother

2008-03-20T05:44:00.002-04:00

Sherry James-Strother and 5 or 6 other people are running for the Prince George's County Council special election District 5 seat. I believe Sherry James-Strother is a good candidate because she's a person of the people. She has a special needs daughter (whom she talks about a bit too much, in my opinion) who she has helped get through school and graduate. She has also been instrumental in getting accessible sidewalks paved in her area so her daughter can travel. That experience alone testifies to James-Strother's strength in being able to get things done. She's not famous. She's not wealthy (as far as I know). She's not overly demanding. She just knows how the system works, and she's been able to maneuver it help her special needs child.

In PG county, there's a lot of hubbub about losing the county hospital system. That in and of itself is a shame. What sort of community can a people have when their basics of life have not been addressed? We all need food, shelter, and security. And the hospital system is part of our security. The lax PG county government has allowed that security to be taken right under our eyes. Sherry James-Strother used to work in the hospital system. It would seem to me that she would have a keen sense about how to proceed around this issue and bring about a satisfactory resolution. The only solution of course being that the hospitals stay.

In the debate last night, she handled herself rather well. But it was a very structured debate, with strict time limits placed on the candidates' responses. I would have liked to have seen her spar it out with the other two front-runners (in my mind, at least): Adam Ortiz and Theresa Dudley.

It will be interesting to see which of those three will rise to the top. This election has been rather sleepy, though. These candidates have been running since January or so and I've seen only a handful of coverage about in the local papers. What I'd really like to see are profiles. What is each candidate really like? What do they do for a living? What do their co-workers think about their management styles, etc.?

Oh yes, I should also mention that there is one other candidate whose name escapes me at the moment. He is big on volunteerism. He's an older man, could be someone's grandfather. I like him, too. He's got lots of personality. But he needs to develop a more concrete stance somehow. Is it his persona? I don't know. He's a nice guy, but I don't if I can envision him in a position of leadership. That's what he needs to do win. He needs to develop himself as a leader of men, not as a basketball coach or volunteer coordinator. That's what I get from him -- friendly, but not leaderlike.

That's it for now.

District 5 election musings

2008-03-20T05:28:00.002-04:00

I was at the debate the other night where the candidates for the Prince George's County special election in District 5 were given about 1 minute to respond to a list of questions. On the panel were Adam Ortiz, mayor of Edmonston; Theresa Dudley, teacher at Kenmoor Middle School; Andrea Harrison, the talking puppet for Jack Johnson and his boy Harrington; Adrion Howell, the political wannabe; and Sherry James-Strother, former nurse at a local county hospital. Needless to say, I am NOT impressed by either Adrion Howell or Andrea Harrison.

First, let's things straight. Harrison used to work for Harrington. She is a candidate hand-picked from the Jack Johnson administration. That alone is enough to disqualify her from contention in this race. From her associations, it should be clear what the people of the county should expect if she is elected: more of the same. More of the same development projects that drain resources from our communities without giving back. More of the same discriminatory environmental policies that allow contracts with companies who pollute the air of our residents. More lies and deceit. Did someone say slate committee????

And Adrion Howell, well, he's actively seeking the endorsement of Jack Johnson. He's not afraid to let his connection to corrupt government be known. Good luck with that, Adrion. The people are going to see right through your glossy ads.

So that brings us to the last three. These are candidates who I feel are real candidates of the people. They are not without their flaws, but they are nonetheless who I feel are the top contenders (or at least should be).

Thank Q.

2007-07-19T20:46:00.000-04:00

Thank Q. Ledbetter for this new blog. After reading his, I was inspired to write my own.