Here's an article I came across while I was perusing Etsy.
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Story by TeenAngster
Published on Sept 27, 2011 in Read
Do you know how many slaves work on your behalf?
This may seem like a provocative — perhaps even offensive — question to ponder. Maybe you’re thinking, “Slavery doesn’t exist anymore. Abolition! …Right?”
Unfortunately, there are probably more folks being exploited for your benefit than you’re aware of — and now you can find out the exact number. As The New York Times reports, the nonprofit group Fair Trade Fund recently launched Slavery Footprint, a website which attempts to educate consumers about the supply chain laboring on their behalf. Guided by a survey composed of clever animated prompts about location, family size and lifestyle habits, the site attempts to show that forced laborers are connected to every type of product, from designer jeans, to your new smartphone, to the coffee you’re sipping as you read this.
But what exactly is a “slave” in contemporary parlance? As Slavery Footprint defines it, a slave is “anyone who is forced to work without pay, being economically exploited and is unable to walk away.” And that number is not small; the State Department estimates that there are 27 million slaves globally. But this is not a matter of pointing fingers at the stereotypical sweatshops bandied about in the press; this is a matter of identifying just who’s mining the mica for the new metallic eyeshadow lining the shelves, the hands that touched my pear before I bite into its juicy skin: the human slaves who fall through the cracks in the supply chain.
But all of this questing for truth — well, it leaves us with some uncomfortable realities. (According to the survey, I have 39 slaves working on my behalf.) You might think, “What can I do? I’m just one person.” As Slavery Footprint says in its mission statement:
“That’s why we’d like to help you understand your influence on slavery. Not so you can feel bad. Not so you’ll stop buying stuff…so you will ask the brands you like to find out where their materials are coming from. It’s not hard for them. A free market should come from free people. We’re all working towards making available an objective, third party supply chain review that will be quite clear. Together, we’ll work toward a world where everything you buy could have a new kind of ‘Made in…’ tag.”
And now, we put it to our readers: Do you value transparency in the products you purchase? What brands are doing an exemplary job communicating their process to consumers?
And what’s your number?
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Well, I visited their site and it looks like so many people want to know their number that the traffic is overwhelming their server. I'll check back soon and see what the results are...
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
AFI Progress
Here we are at the end of March. At this point I've watched 16 movies total. A bit behind, but I've got time, right?
So, since the last time, here's what I've watched:
Tootsie (1982)
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
All great! The Philadelphia Story gave me a new appreciation for Jimmy Stewart. Vivien Leigh is brilliant in Streetcar and Gone with the Wind. Gene Kelly is a fabulous dancer in Singin'. Tootsie has a subtle humor and that happens to be the kind I like the most. And Lawrence of Arabia...Peter O'Toole is amazing and the scope of the movie is breathtaking; it really stirred my thoughts. I'd recommend 'em all!
So, since the last time, here's what I've watched:
Tootsie (1982)
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
All great! The Philadelphia Story gave me a new appreciation for Jimmy Stewart. Vivien Leigh is brilliant in Streetcar and Gone with the Wind. Gene Kelly is a fabulous dancer in Singin'. Tootsie has a subtle humor and that happens to be the kind I like the most. And Lawrence of Arabia...Peter O'Toole is amazing and the scope of the movie is breathtaking; it really stirred my thoughts. I'd recommend 'em all!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Obama on Libya
I didn't get a chance to hear the President's speech about Libya, but I got an email about it from the White House. I figured I'd share it so that anyone else who hadn't heard it could read it, or watch the video at this link. Regardless of our individual feelings about Obama, it's good to know what his position is on the conflict and the role that we are playing there.
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Good morning,
I'm writing today with an update on the situation in Libya, including the actions we've taken with allies and partners to protect the Libyan people from the brutality of Moammar Qaddafi. For further details, please take a moment to watch this morning's Weekly Address:
Sending our brave men and women in uniform into harm's way is not a decision I make lightly. But when someone like Qaddafi threatens a bloodbath that could destabilize an entire region, it is in our national interest to act. In fact, it’s our responsibility.
Our mission in Libya is clear and focused -- and we are succeeding.
Along with our allies and partners, we are enforcing the mandate of the United Nations Security Council. Working with other countries, we have put in place a no-fly zone and other measures that will help prevent further violence and brutality. Qaddafi's air defenses have been taken out, and his forces are no longer advancing across Libya.
As a consequence of our quick action, the lives of countless innocent civilians have been saved, and a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided.
The role of American forces in this mission is limited. After providing unique capabilities at the beginning, we are now handing over control of the no-fly zone to our NATO allies and partners, including Arab partners like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The United States has also joined with the international community to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance. We're offering support to the Libyan opposition and have frozen tens of billions of dollars of Qaddafi's assets.
Our message to Qaddafi is clear: attacks against innocent civilians must end, his forces must be pulled back, humanitarian aid must reach Libyans in need, and those responsible for the violence in Libya must be held accountable.
The progress we've made over the past seven days demonstrates how the international community should work, with many nations, not just the United States, bearing the responsibility and cost of upholding international law.
Every American can be proud of the service of our men and women in uniform who have once again stood up for our interests and ideals. And as we move forward, I will continue to keep each of you fully informed on our progress.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
President of the United States
P.S. On Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. EDT, I will deliver an address at the National Defense University in Washington, DC on the situation in Libya. You can watch the speech live at WhiteHouse.gov/live.
-------------------
Good morning,
I'm writing today with an update on the situation in Libya, including the actions we've taken with allies and partners to protect the Libyan people from the brutality of Moammar Qaddafi. For further details, please take a moment to watch this morning's Weekly Address:
Sending our brave men and women in uniform into harm's way is not a decision I make lightly. But when someone like Qaddafi threatens a bloodbath that could destabilize an entire region, it is in our national interest to act. In fact, it’s our responsibility.
Our mission in Libya is clear and focused -- and we are succeeding.
Along with our allies and partners, we are enforcing the mandate of the United Nations Security Council. Working with other countries, we have put in place a no-fly zone and other measures that will help prevent further violence and brutality. Qaddafi's air defenses have been taken out, and his forces are no longer advancing across Libya.
As a consequence of our quick action, the lives of countless innocent civilians have been saved, and a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided.
The role of American forces in this mission is limited. After providing unique capabilities at the beginning, we are now handing over control of the no-fly zone to our NATO allies and partners, including Arab partners like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The United States has also joined with the international community to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance. We're offering support to the Libyan opposition and have frozen tens of billions of dollars of Qaddafi's assets.
Our message to Qaddafi is clear: attacks against innocent civilians must end, his forces must be pulled back, humanitarian aid must reach Libyans in need, and those responsible for the violence in Libya must be held accountable.
The progress we've made over the past seven days demonstrates how the international community should work, with many nations, not just the United States, bearing the responsibility and cost of upholding international law.
Every American can be proud of the service of our men and women in uniform who have once again stood up for our interests and ideals. And as we move forward, I will continue to keep each of you fully informed on our progress.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
President of the United States
P.S. On Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. EDT, I will deliver an address at the National Defense University in Washington, DC on the situation in Libya. You can watch the speech live at WhiteHouse.gov/live.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
An Apology to My Muslim Friends by Lynne Hybels
A link for the below article was just sent to me and I think it's worth reading. I also saw the video that Lynne mentions and I thought it was absolutely ridiculous. People, hate mongering doesn't get us anywhere.
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An Apology to My Muslim Friends
by Lynne Hybels 03-09-2011
On the weekend of Oct. 6, 2001 — less than one month after 9/11 — my husband preached a sermon called “Religion Gone Awry.” That was not the message he had originally scheduled for that weekend. But the rising level of hostility — and hate crimes — directed at Muslims compelled him to speak out.
“I’ve been aghast at what some pastors and Christian leaders have been saying,” Bill stated in the introduction to his sermon. “I’ve been embarrassed. Christians are saying words that are widening the gap.”
He talked about “hot reactors,” people who “opinionate before they reflect, before they bow down and pray; who ventilate before they ask God for sober-mindedness and self-control; who indict whole races of people before they know the facts. Let’s call this what it is: not good. Not good behavior. Not good Christianity. This is Christianity gone awry.”
He then challenged Christians to focus on James 1:19: “My brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” In Bill’s well-known “soft” style he continued, “Some of us have to just shut up, because saying anything would likely mean saying an inappropriate thing. If we’re hot reactors, we better be quiet or we’re going to sin with our mouths.”
In response to the many emails he’d received from fired-up Christians claiming that Islam encourages violence and that the Qur’an advocates terrorism, he suggested that we engage in fair play. “There are passages in the Old Testament where God tells the children of Israel to wipe out an entire nation — men, women, and children. We would be offended if people interpreted Christianity based on those passages. So we shouldn’t do that to Muslims, either.”
Bill then invited a friend, local Muslim Imam Faisal Hammouda to join him on stage to be interviewed. Bill explained that while there are many differences between Christianity and Islam — and he and Faisal had discussed those at length — the interview would focus strictly on Faisal’s response to 9/11.
During the next 30 minutes, Faisal stated unequivocally that while Osama bin Laden may claim to be a Muslim, he is clearly not a true Muslim. “In Islam it says, whoever kills one life is as if he has killed all humanity, and whoever gives life to one soul is as if he has given life to all humanity.” Faisal said that terrorism — the killing of innocents — has no place in the just war theories of Islam. To the extent that 9/11 was connected with Islam it was clearly “Islam gone awry.”
It is a moving interview. Faisal ’s wife had hoped to join him for the interview but she had been visiting her daughter in Florida during the attacks on the Trade Center; being an Arab woman wearing a headscarf, it was not safe for her to try to fly home. After the Saturday evening sermon, one of our church members who worked for Southwest Airlines offered to arrange to fly Faisal to Florida so he could bring his wife home. Another man said, “I don’t have access to planes, but I have a car. I would love to drive you to Florida to pick up your wife.” Faisal mentioned these offers on Sunday morning and said, with a slight quiver in his voice, “God bless them both.”
I’m describing this church service from nearly a decade ago because of a video I watched this week in which protesters in Orange County, California, shout insults and accusations against a group of Muslim men, women and children who are attending a fund-raiser for a women’s shelter. It is a shocking, horrifying video.
I don’t know if the protesters claim to be Christians, but they do claim to be Americans. I need to state unequivocally that they do not represent me or my understanding of what it means to be an American. I am saddened and embarrassed by their words and their actions.
I offer this public apology to my friends and acquaintances who are sincere, peace-loving, American Muslims. I am so sorry. You do not deserve this.
Lynne Hybels, co-founder of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois, is author of Nice Girls Don’t Change the World and a columnist for Sojourners magazine.
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An Apology to My Muslim Friends
by Lynne Hybels 03-09-2011
On the weekend of Oct. 6, 2001 — less than one month after 9/11 — my husband preached a sermon called “Religion Gone Awry.” That was not the message he had originally scheduled for that weekend. But the rising level of hostility — and hate crimes — directed at Muslims compelled him to speak out.
“I’ve been aghast at what some pastors and Christian leaders have been saying,” Bill stated in the introduction to his sermon. “I’ve been embarrassed. Christians are saying words that are widening the gap.”
He talked about “hot reactors,” people who “opinionate before they reflect, before they bow down and pray; who ventilate before they ask God for sober-mindedness and self-control; who indict whole races of people before they know the facts. Let’s call this what it is: not good. Not good behavior. Not good Christianity. This is Christianity gone awry.”
He then challenged Christians to focus on James 1:19: “My brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” In Bill’s well-known “soft” style he continued, “Some of us have to just shut up, because saying anything would likely mean saying an inappropriate thing. If we’re hot reactors, we better be quiet or we’re going to sin with our mouths.”
In response to the many emails he’d received from fired-up Christians claiming that Islam encourages violence and that the Qur’an advocates terrorism, he suggested that we engage in fair play. “There are passages in the Old Testament where God tells the children of Israel to wipe out an entire nation — men, women, and children. We would be offended if people interpreted Christianity based on those passages. So we shouldn’t do that to Muslims, either.”
Bill then invited a friend, local Muslim Imam Faisal Hammouda to join him on stage to be interviewed. Bill explained that while there are many differences between Christianity and Islam — and he and Faisal had discussed those at length — the interview would focus strictly on Faisal’s response to 9/11.
During the next 30 minutes, Faisal stated unequivocally that while Osama bin Laden may claim to be a Muslim, he is clearly not a true Muslim. “In Islam it says, whoever kills one life is as if he has killed all humanity, and whoever gives life to one soul is as if he has given life to all humanity.” Faisal said that terrorism — the killing of innocents — has no place in the just war theories of Islam. To the extent that 9/11 was connected with Islam it was clearly “Islam gone awry.”
It is a moving interview. Faisal ’s wife had hoped to join him for the interview but she had been visiting her daughter in Florida during the attacks on the Trade Center; being an Arab woman wearing a headscarf, it was not safe for her to try to fly home. After the Saturday evening sermon, one of our church members who worked for Southwest Airlines offered to arrange to fly Faisal to Florida so he could bring his wife home. Another man said, “I don’t have access to planes, but I have a car. I would love to drive you to Florida to pick up your wife.” Faisal mentioned these offers on Sunday morning and said, with a slight quiver in his voice, “God bless them both.”
I’m describing this church service from nearly a decade ago because of a video I watched this week in which protesters in Orange County, California, shout insults and accusations against a group of Muslim men, women and children who are attending a fund-raiser for a women’s shelter. It is a shocking, horrifying video.
I don’t know if the protesters claim to be Christians, but they do claim to be Americans. I need to state unequivocally that they do not represent me or my understanding of what it means to be an American. I am saddened and embarrassed by their words and their actions.
I offer this public apology to my friends and acquaintances who are sincere, peace-loving, American Muslims. I am so sorry. You do not deserve this.
Lynne Hybels, co-founder of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois, is author of Nice Girls Don’t Change the World and a columnist for Sojourners magazine.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Shorts
My friend, Joanna, and I went to the theater on Sunday evening to see the five Oscar-nominated, live-action short films. I saw that they were playing and decided that I wanted to be informed when I watched the Oscars.
Joanna holds an Oscar party every year. And every year all the guests receive a ballot to fill out, indicating who you think the winner will be in each category. I've had some good luck with this over the past couple of years. I usually watch most of the movies up for best picture, and therefore know the actors and actresses as well. But, I've never seen the shorts - live-action or animated. This year I wanted to be able to make a choice based on real, personal belief in what was the best.
The live-action shorts were:
The Confession
"Quiet and sincere 9-year-old Sam is worried about making his first confession. His conscience is clear, therefore he cannot hope for any relief from the experience. He and his friend Jacob decide to remedy that situation, but their initially innocent prank turns unexpectedly tragic."
26 Min.
The Crush
"Ardal Travis is in love. There's just one problem. He's an 8-year-old schoolboy and the object of his affection is his second class teacher, Miss Purdy. But, when her boyfriend arrives on the scene Ardal is heartbroken. His reaction, though, is a little unexpected. He challenges Miss Purdy's boyfriend to a duel. To the death."
15 Min.
God of Love
Lounge-singing darts champion Raymond Goodfellow finds his prayers are answered - literally - when he receives a mysterious package of passion-inducing darts. The cath is that the one woman he loves - Kelly, a drummer in his band - is already in love with Ray's best friend Fozzie, the guitarist in the band. But, when Ray uses the darts in a loony scheme to resolve this strange romantic triangle, he learns a surprising lesson about unrequited love and discovers his own place in the universe. Romance is in the air in this bohemian charmer."
18 Min.
Na Wewe (My pick for the Oscar)
"1994: There is a civil war in Burundi, a small country in central Africe that directly borders Rwanda. When a gang of Hutu rebels attack a minibus, the 'selection' process begins. But who is a Hutu and who is a Tutsi?"
19 Min.
Wish 143
"A fifteen-year-old boy with only months to live is granted one wish from the Dreamscape Charity. But David doesn't want to go to Disneyland or meet Gary Neville; what he really wants is an hour alone with a naked woman."
24 Min.
As I indicated above, I'd like to see Na Wewe (meaning "you too") win. It was the best quality film, with the best actors, and the least contrived script. The Confession was almost there, but some less than stellar acting from the young boy playing Jacob left me dissatisfied. The Crush could have been good, but there was only one good actress in the short, and the others were awful! God of Love...what to say...cute, but worthy of an Oscar? I'm not so sure. And lastly, Wish 143 - completely contrived, and again, only one good actor in the bunch (Jim Carter).
Hopefully on Thursday Joanna and I will be off to the theater again to see the animated shorts. If you'd like to catch them too you can check out this site and find the theaters where they're playing. Happy watching!
Joanna holds an Oscar party every year. And every year all the guests receive a ballot to fill out, indicating who you think the winner will be in each category. I've had some good luck with this over the past couple of years. I usually watch most of the movies up for best picture, and therefore know the actors and actresses as well. But, I've never seen the shorts - live-action or animated. This year I wanted to be able to make a choice based on real, personal belief in what was the best.
The live-action shorts were:
The Confession
"Quiet and sincere 9-year-old Sam is worried about making his first confession. His conscience is clear, therefore he cannot hope for any relief from the experience. He and his friend Jacob decide to remedy that situation, but their initially innocent prank turns unexpectedly tragic."
26 Min.
The Crush
"Ardal Travis is in love. There's just one problem. He's an 8-year-old schoolboy and the object of his affection is his second class teacher, Miss Purdy. But, when her boyfriend arrives on the scene Ardal is heartbroken. His reaction, though, is a little unexpected. He challenges Miss Purdy's boyfriend to a duel. To the death."
15 Min.
God of Love
Lounge-singing darts champion Raymond Goodfellow finds his prayers are answered - literally - when he receives a mysterious package of passion-inducing darts. The cath is that the one woman he loves - Kelly, a drummer in his band - is already in love with Ray's best friend Fozzie, the guitarist in the band. But, when Ray uses the darts in a loony scheme to resolve this strange romantic triangle, he learns a surprising lesson about unrequited love and discovers his own place in the universe. Romance is in the air in this bohemian charmer."
18 Min.
Na Wewe (My pick for the Oscar)
"1994: There is a civil war in Burundi, a small country in central Africe that directly borders Rwanda. When a gang of Hutu rebels attack a minibus, the 'selection' process begins. But who is a Hutu and who is a Tutsi?"
19 Min.
Wish 143
"A fifteen-year-old boy with only months to live is granted one wish from the Dreamscape Charity. But David doesn't want to go to Disneyland or meet Gary Neville; what he really wants is an hour alone with a naked woman."
24 Min.
As I indicated above, I'd like to see Na Wewe (meaning "you too") win. It was the best quality film, with the best actors, and the least contrived script. The Confession was almost there, but some less than stellar acting from the young boy playing Jacob left me dissatisfied. The Crush could have been good, but there was only one good actress in the short, and the others were awful! God of Love...what to say...cute, but worthy of an Oscar? I'm not so sure. And lastly, Wish 143 - completely contrived, and again, only one good actor in the bunch (Jim Carter).
Hopefully on Thursday Joanna and I will be off to the theater again to see the animated shorts. If you'd like to catch them too you can check out this site and find the theaters where they're playing. Happy watching!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Life is a Cabaret, My Friends!
I saw Cabaret (1972) when I was younger. And after having just watched it again I can say that I remembered most of it fairly accurately. I remembered the singing and dancing, I remembered some of the relationship dynamics, and I remembered the movie being slightly frenzied.
Cabaret is set in pre-WWII Germany. The Nazi party is on the rise and Jews are beginning to be persecuted. It's here that we find the two main characters, Sally and Brian, played by Liza Minnelli and Michael York. She, an American, is a cabaret performer, and he, a Brit, is an English teacher. We see them through the rise and fall of their relationship and all of the intricacies in between. They are joined by a colorful cast of characters, including the Master of Ceremonies at the cabaret, who is played fantastically by Joel Grey.
I didn't remember everything though. And I'm finding that to be a common occurrence when re-watching movies that I saw before I was an adult. What I didn't remember from before was the ever-increasing Nazi brutality toward Jews and any others who didn't like their politics or methods. I also forgot the fact that after becoming pregnant, Sally eventually decides to have an abortion to save herself and Brian from what she sees as a bleak future. And, I didn't catch before the way in which the movie deals with the sexuality of Michael York's character. It's all of these things, and more, that make the movie so interesting.
When I saw Cabaret on the list, I don't think I really understood why it was there. I thought, yeah, sure, it was good, but one of the top 100? I don't know about that. But, I can say now that I agree with AFI. I think it should be on the list. The acting, themes, costumes, music, choreography, directing, etc. are all great. In fact, the movie was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, and took home 8, including best director, best actress, best supporting actor (Al Pacino was robbed), best cinematography, best editing, best music, best art direction, and best sound. It only lost best picture and best screenplay to The Godfather. Not too shabby.
My overall recommendation: You should definitely pick it up the next chance you get.
Cabaret is set in pre-WWII Germany. The Nazi party is on the rise and Jews are beginning to be persecuted. It's here that we find the two main characters, Sally and Brian, played by Liza Minnelli and Michael York. She, an American, is a cabaret performer, and he, a Brit, is an English teacher. We see them through the rise and fall of their relationship and all of the intricacies in between. They are joined by a colorful cast of characters, including the Master of Ceremonies at the cabaret, who is played fantastically by Joel Grey.
I didn't remember everything though. And I'm finding that to be a common occurrence when re-watching movies that I saw before I was an adult. What I didn't remember from before was the ever-increasing Nazi brutality toward Jews and any others who didn't like their politics or methods. I also forgot the fact that after becoming pregnant, Sally eventually decides to have an abortion to save herself and Brian from what she sees as a bleak future. And, I didn't catch before the way in which the movie deals with the sexuality of Michael York's character. It's all of these things, and more, that make the movie so interesting.
When I saw Cabaret on the list, I don't think I really understood why it was there. I thought, yeah, sure, it was good, but one of the top 100? I don't know about that. But, I can say now that I agree with AFI. I think it should be on the list. The acting, themes, costumes, music, choreography, directing, etc. are all great. In fact, the movie was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, and took home 8, including best director, best actress, best supporting actor (Al Pacino was robbed), best cinematography, best editing, best music, best art direction, and best sound. It only lost best picture and best screenplay to The Godfather. Not too shabby.
My overall recommendation: You should definitely pick it up the next chance you get.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The Question of Death
I just read a really interesting article about the subject of ageing (British spelling) and death in China.
Apparently, it's taboo to discuss death, because it might help the process along. And to even think about placing an elder in hospice is anathema.
I think that we could learn something from the Chinese regarding the care of our older loved ones. It seems to me that we push them off into nursing homes or assisted living facilities all too easy. We see ourselves as individuals and we want the opportunity to make our own way. Many times this means that we are unwilling to make sacrifices in order to keep our parents or grandparents from being alone in old folks homes. Here's the thing though! We can look around and see the pain caused when parents don't have time for their children. Shouldn't we learn from this and ask ourselves what pain is being caused when children don't have enough time for their parents?
It seems though, that the Chinese have room to grow as well. Because discussing death is seen as bad luck, talks about end of life care and things such as wills are largely neglected. And with 25% of their population, approximately 400 million people, reaching retirement age, the article posits that these types of issues really do need to be addressed.
Definitely thought-provoking...
Read the article here.
Apparently, it's taboo to discuss death, because it might help the process along. And to even think about placing an elder in hospice is anathema.
I think that we could learn something from the Chinese regarding the care of our older loved ones. It seems to me that we push them off into nursing homes or assisted living facilities all too easy. We see ourselves as individuals and we want the opportunity to make our own way. Many times this means that we are unwilling to make sacrifices in order to keep our parents or grandparents from being alone in old folks homes. Here's the thing though! We can look around and see the pain caused when parents don't have time for their children. Shouldn't we learn from this and ask ourselves what pain is being caused when children don't have enough time for their parents?
It seems though, that the Chinese have room to grow as well. Because discussing death is seen as bad luck, talks about end of life care and things such as wills are largely neglected. And with 25% of their population, approximately 400 million people, reaching retirement age, the article posits that these types of issues really do need to be addressed.
Definitely thought-provoking...
Read the article here.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Who do you think you are?
Luke 18: 9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (NIV)
The Message puts verse 14 like this:
Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."
To me, this passage begs the question: Who do we think we are?
We like to be self-sufficient, right? We like to brag to others about our accomplishments. But, when we come before God, shouldn't we have a little more perspective? I mean, he knows what's going on. All the time. He's know what we're doing. What's in our hearts. Our minds. What we think about our next door neighbors or the person who sits next to us at work. And yeah, he knows the good stuff, too. Like when we shovel all the sidewalks in the neighborhood. Or when we spend time with family and friends and make them feel loved. But, the key I think, is that, in the words of Jesus, "Only God is good."
So, what's my point? Well, it's that God knows us and that we can't fool him. We need to remember to check ourselves. This past weekend I had a prayer retreat with my co-workers. During worship we were singing this song about God helping people to see that they need him. And I started to think of some others. Not myself. Some others. But, thankfully, I was quickly reminded that the song was about me, too. I need God to heal my blindness. To unstop my deaf ears. I need God's grace. And I always will.
We all need to recognize that we're not really self-sufficient and we really aren't all that awesome. But God is right there. He justifies and loves us because of HIS goodness and mercy. It's good to remember that that's really who I am...or should be, at least.
Who do you think you are?
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (NIV)
The Message puts verse 14 like this:
Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."
To me, this passage begs the question: Who do we think we are?
We like to be self-sufficient, right? We like to brag to others about our accomplishments. But, when we come before God, shouldn't we have a little more perspective? I mean, he knows what's going on. All the time. He's know what we're doing. What's in our hearts. Our minds. What we think about our next door neighbors or the person who sits next to us at work. And yeah, he knows the good stuff, too. Like when we shovel all the sidewalks in the neighborhood. Or when we spend time with family and friends and make them feel loved. But, the key I think, is that, in the words of Jesus, "Only God is good."
So, what's my point? Well, it's that God knows us and that we can't fool him. We need to remember to check ourselves. This past weekend I had a prayer retreat with my co-workers. During worship we were singing this song about God helping people to see that they need him. And I started to think of some others. Not myself. Some others. But, thankfully, I was quickly reminded that the song was about me, too. I need God to heal my blindness. To unstop my deaf ears. I need God's grace. And I always will.
We all need to recognize that we're not really self-sufficient and we really aren't all that awesome. But God is right there. He justifies and loves us because of HIS goodness and mercy. It's good to remember that that's really who I am...or should be, at least.
Who do you think you are?
AFI Update
We're about a week into February and I'm still moving along on my AFI Top 100 list. I haven't watched as many movies as I had planned, but I'm slowly making progress and I've added in a few that seemed necessary.
Last time I wrote about the list I had already watched The Godfather (1972). After that it took me a bit, but I also watched The Godfather, Part II (1974), which is also on the list. And honestly, could I really have stopped at that point and not watched Part III (1990)? Of course not. I have to say that Part I is my favorite and quite possibly one of my top movies of all time. Part II is phenomenol as well and Part III is good. I know that people get down on Part III, but I think that some of those people haven't even seen it. They're just going along with what they've heard. Does it match the brillance of the first two? No. But, it's part of the story and I think it's necessary to complete the whole picture. And what is the whole picture? A devastating tragedy. Michael Coreleone didn't want the family business, but he took it over because he loved his father. And as a result, he lost everything else. Truly heartbreaking. The whole thing guts me. If you haven't seen them, you should. One, for the story, and two, for the brillance of Al Pacino.
Besides The Godfather Saga, I've also watched Duck Soup (1933) and On the Waterfront (1954). What can I say about Duck Soup? It's a Marx Brothers movie. Zany. Screwball. Ridiculous. But, I actually found it somewhat entertaining and good for a laugh. On the Waterfront is fantastic. Marlon Brando is a superb actor and portrays beautifully a young man wrestling with a major moral decision that has far-reaching consequences. It's interesting to watch Brando in his younger days after seeing him in The Godfather.
One thing that I'm really coming to appreciate is the further exposure to actors of different generations. It's one thing to see a movie or two that someone has done. It's another to watch actors progress through their careers film after film. The AFI list will help me out with that, and I'm sure I'll add in a few films here and there as well.
Next up: After a short break to watch a more recently released film (Let Me In), it'll be on to Cabaret (1972).
Last time I wrote about the list I had already watched The Godfather (1972). After that it took me a bit, but I also watched The Godfather, Part II (1974), which is also on the list. And honestly, could I really have stopped at that point and not watched Part III (1990)? Of course not. I have to say that Part I is my favorite and quite possibly one of my top movies of all time. Part II is phenomenol as well and Part III is good. I know that people get down on Part III, but I think that some of those people haven't even seen it. They're just going along with what they've heard. Does it match the brillance of the first two? No. But, it's part of the story and I think it's necessary to complete the whole picture. And what is the whole picture? A devastating tragedy. Michael Coreleone didn't want the family business, but he took it over because he loved his father. And as a result, he lost everything else. Truly heartbreaking. The whole thing guts me. If you haven't seen them, you should. One, for the story, and two, for the brillance of Al Pacino.
Besides The Godfather Saga, I've also watched Duck Soup (1933) and On the Waterfront (1954). What can I say about Duck Soup? It's a Marx Brothers movie. Zany. Screwball. Ridiculous. But, I actually found it somewhat entertaining and good for a laugh. On the Waterfront is fantastic. Marlon Brando is a superb actor and portrays beautifully a young man wrestling with a major moral decision that has far-reaching consequences. It's interesting to watch Brando in his younger days after seeing him in The Godfather.
One thing that I'm really coming to appreciate is the further exposure to actors of different generations. It's one thing to see a movie or two that someone has done. It's another to watch actors progress through their careers film after film. The AFI list will help me out with that, and I'm sure I'll add in a few films here and there as well.
Next up: After a short break to watch a more recently released film (Let Me In), it'll be on to Cabaret (1972).
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
She
She sat alone.
She always seemed to be alone.
She lingered in the dusty barn as the light streamed through the old wooden slats.
And she loved the barn.
And she loved being alone.
She sat on one of the beams that stretched across the structure, let one of her legs dangle off the side, and straightened her other leg along the dark brown lath. She leaned up against another beam that extended from floor to ceiling supporting the timeworn building.
And she loved the barn.
She loved the smell of the hay and how she felt like she was in her own secret place. She loved the quiet.
And she loved to read there.
As she sat on the beam she flipped through the pages of her book for hours, lost in a world that was not her own.
And why not?
Because her own world was one that she could live without. Or at least she imagined living without. Without the fear and anger and rejection.
If she chose to be alone, to read her books, and to be lost in her own thoughts, she was safe.
And it was in this solitude that she found her refuge and she made a world for herself.
And so she sat alone.
And in that moment, she was peaceful and she was happy.
She always seemed to be alone.
She lingered in the dusty barn as the light streamed through the old wooden slats.
And she loved the barn.
And she loved being alone.
She sat on one of the beams that stretched across the structure, let one of her legs dangle off the side, and straightened her other leg along the dark brown lath. She leaned up against another beam that extended from floor to ceiling supporting the timeworn building.
And she loved the barn.
She loved the smell of the hay and how she felt like she was in her own secret place. She loved the quiet.
And she loved to read there.
As she sat on the beam she flipped through the pages of her book for hours, lost in a world that was not her own.
And why not?
Because her own world was one that she could live without. Or at least she imagined living without. Without the fear and anger and rejection.
If she chose to be alone, to read her books, and to be lost in her own thoughts, she was safe.
And it was in this solitude that she found her refuge and she made a world for herself.
And so she sat alone.
And in that moment, she was peaceful and she was happy.
Rice and Syrup?
After I left work tonight I walked next door to a Japanese grocery store. They didn't have what I usually get (Inari), so I just got some prepared rice instead. When I got home I started to eat the rice. But, I stopped, because it was really missing something. A little bit later I figured it out. Sugar. So, I went to the fridge, got out the pancake syrup and poured it over the rice. Yum!
As I sat eating, I felt like Buddy the elf. Syrup on rice? What? Tell me, is that weird??
As I sat eating, I felt like Buddy the elf. Syrup on rice? What? Tell me, is that weird??
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tea, anyone?
My husband loves tea, especially English Breakfast Tea. In March, we picked up a small container of this tea from Harrod's when we went on vacation to England. During the warm summer months that container didn't see much action, but now my husband has been reaching for it quite often.
So then, yesterday, he came home from an all-day meeting. He said that the tea the site had wasn't good enough. And really, what else is a body to do if the tea isn't up to par? Yes, that's right, you have to take your own tea. And not just the tea, mind you. You should probably also take your own teapot so that you can have a good amount to drink. So, this is, in fact, what my husband did today. He packed up the tea, the tea ball, and the tea pot, and took it with him to his second, all-day, off-site meeting.
I didn't think much of this, other than the thought that he was really getting into his tea. But then it struck me a little later...How cute is that? I mean, my husband, a sports-watching, video game-playing guy took his tea and teapot to work with him so that he could have the tea he wanted. How cute! I love it! So, I was sure to tell him via text that he was so cute and that I loved that he loved tea so much.
And this is just one of the many things that makes my husband such an awesome guy! Love you babe!
So then, yesterday, he came home from an all-day meeting. He said that the tea the site had wasn't good enough. And really, what else is a body to do if the tea isn't up to par? Yes, that's right, you have to take your own tea. And not just the tea, mind you. You should probably also take your own teapot so that you can have a good amount to drink. So, this is, in fact, what my husband did today. He packed up the tea, the tea ball, and the tea pot, and took it with him to his second, all-day, off-site meeting.
I didn't think much of this, other than the thought that he was really getting into his tea. But then it struck me a little later...How cute is that? I mean, my husband, a sports-watching, video game-playing guy took his tea and teapot to work with him so that he could have the tea he wanted. How cute! I love it! So, I was sure to tell him via text that he was so cute and that I loved that he loved tea so much.
And this is just one of the many things that makes my husband such an awesome guy! Love you babe!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Poor Bailey
1. Borrow shock collar from friend in order to teach your dog that he can't incessantly bark while in the backyard.
2. Place shock collar on dog's neck.
3. Wait for dog to bark, as the directions say you should be with the dog the first time they are shocked...(Think to yourself that this recommendation sounds ominous...)
4. Listen to dog bark.
5. Listen to dog let out high-pitched yelp of pain.
6. Scream louder than dog.
7. Burst into tears.
8. Insist to husband that dog is being tortured and that the shock collar must come off.
9. Continue to cry and feel intensly guilty.
10. Return shock collar to friend.
2. Place shock collar on dog's neck.
3. Wait for dog to bark, as the directions say you should be with the dog the first time they are shocked...(Think to yourself that this recommendation sounds ominous...)
4. Listen to dog bark.
5. Listen to dog let out high-pitched yelp of pain.
6. Scream louder than dog.
7. Burst into tears.
8. Insist to husband that dog is being tortured and that the shock collar must come off.
9. Continue to cry and feel intensly guilty.
10. Return shock collar to friend.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Music To My Ears...And Maybe To Yours As Well...
Personal background: I love music.
And luckily, I have this great friend who is ever willing to school me in all things related to the indie music scene. Over the last several years he's been kind enough to compile for me numerous mix cds and pass along bunches of other tunes. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I became the proud owner of 73 (mostly) new-to-me songs. I'm just about done listening to them all and I texted my friend today to say that with the exception of a few tracks I totally loved the selection. In fact, I said, I think this was the best effort he had made. Mind you, that statement was saying a lot, because I've had some awesome music come my way from his direction.
Who are these awesome bands you ask? Well, I'm more than happy to pass along the goodness that is this playlist. So, feast your eyes! And here's to hoping that you find something you like too! Honestly, I would be amazed if you couldn't...
ARTISTS
Andrew Bird
Arcade Fire
Beach House
Blitzen Trapper
Damien Jurado
David Bazan
The Heligoats
Maps & Atlases
mewithoutyou
Midlake
The Mountain Goats
Mumford & Sons
The National
Sea Wolf
Shearwater
Sufjan Stevens
The Wooden Birds
And luckily, I have this great friend who is ever willing to school me in all things related to the indie music scene. Over the last several years he's been kind enough to compile for me numerous mix cds and pass along bunches of other tunes. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I became the proud owner of 73 (mostly) new-to-me songs. I'm just about done listening to them all and I texted my friend today to say that with the exception of a few tracks I totally loved the selection. In fact, I said, I think this was the best effort he had made. Mind you, that statement was saying a lot, because I've had some awesome music come my way from his direction.
Who are these awesome bands you ask? Well, I'm more than happy to pass along the goodness that is this playlist. So, feast your eyes! And here's to hoping that you find something you like too! Honestly, I would be amazed if you couldn't...
ARTISTS
Andrew Bird
Arcade Fire
Beach House
Blitzen Trapper
Damien Jurado
David Bazan
The Heligoats
Maps & Atlases
mewithoutyou
Midlake
The Mountain Goats
Mumford & Sons
The National
Sea Wolf
Shearwater
Sufjan Stevens
The Wooden Birds
Monday, January 17, 2011
New Year's Goal
I didn't want to make any New Year's resolutions this year. I find that resolutions die after the fervor of the holidays has gone. But, what about a New Year's goal? For instance, something you might just do once, or even a few times, but it doesn't involve a real change in lifestyle. This sounds like a much better idea. And definitely one that would take a lot less mental effort...
In 1997, hundreds of film critics, artists, and historians got together to look back over the last 100 years and choose the top 100 movies of all time. Then, on the 10th anniversary of the project, in 2007, the group got together again to update the list. 23 movies were removed from the list and 23 were added. So, if we take both lists together we end up with 123 of the greatest movies in film history.
Personal background: I love movies. So, I thought, what better goal for 2011 than to watch all the movies on AFI's list! Now, this goal is slightly bigger than a one-time happening, as I'll have to watch about two or so movies a week on average to get it done, but other than time commitment I think it'll be a pretty enjoyable and easy goal to complete!
Out of the 123 movies I think I've seen about a quarter of them, but I figure I should watch them again with a more critical eye. I also want to do a little background research about the actors, director, and politics of the movies. There are only two movies that I won't watch again: A Clockwork Orange (1971) and The Sixth Sense (1999). I've seen both of them once, and that was enough for me...
At this point I'm on a pretty good roll. Since January 1 I've watched Pulp Fiction (1994), Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Godfather (1972), Citizen Kane (1941), and Goodfellas (1990). I've enjoyed all of these films except Bringing Up Baby, starring Cary Grant and Catharine Hepburn. It had a slapstick vibe, which I just can't bring myself to appreciate. Cary Grant did a really nice job playing the "mild-mannered zoology professor Dr. David Huxley," though. And if you enjoy zany movies involving mistaken identities and runaway leopards, this movie is right up your alley.
I'm really looking forward to watching all these movies and reading up on the background behind them. I'm also excited that I've been able to restart my long-lost Netflix subscription and watch movies right on my computer.
Next movie up...Casablanca (1942).
In 1997, hundreds of film critics, artists, and historians got together to look back over the last 100 years and choose the top 100 movies of all time. Then, on the 10th anniversary of the project, in 2007, the group got together again to update the list. 23 movies were removed from the list and 23 were added. So, if we take both lists together we end up with 123 of the greatest movies in film history.
Personal background: I love movies. So, I thought, what better goal for 2011 than to watch all the movies on AFI's list! Now, this goal is slightly bigger than a one-time happening, as I'll have to watch about two or so movies a week on average to get it done, but other than time commitment I think it'll be a pretty enjoyable and easy goal to complete!
Out of the 123 movies I think I've seen about a quarter of them, but I figure I should watch them again with a more critical eye. I also want to do a little background research about the actors, director, and politics of the movies. There are only two movies that I won't watch again: A Clockwork Orange (1971) and The Sixth Sense (1999). I've seen both of them once, and that was enough for me...
At this point I'm on a pretty good roll. Since January 1 I've watched Pulp Fiction (1994), Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Godfather (1972), Citizen Kane (1941), and Goodfellas (1990). I've enjoyed all of these films except Bringing Up Baby, starring Cary Grant and Catharine Hepburn. It had a slapstick vibe, which I just can't bring myself to appreciate. Cary Grant did a really nice job playing the "mild-mannered zoology professor Dr. David Huxley," though. And if you enjoy zany movies involving mistaken identities and runaway leopards, this movie is right up your alley.
I'm really looking forward to watching all these movies and reading up on the background behind them. I'm also excited that I've been able to restart my long-lost Netflix subscription and watch movies right on my computer.
Next movie up...Casablanca (1942).
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The Brooklyn Free School
I was driving home from the library this afternoon and was excited to see that I was just in time to listen to This American Life on NPR. Today, host Ira Glass was doing a show entitled, Kid Politics, which posed the following questions:
"What if, say, the U.S.-led invasion of Grenada in 1983 had been decided, not by Ronald Reagan, but by a bunch of middle-schoolers? And what if every rule at your high school had been determined, not by teachers and administrators, but entirely by teenagers?"
Ira was bringing us a show about kids stepping into the world of decision-making usually populated by grown-ups. And the real question was, could kids do it better than adults?
All the sections were interesting, as they usually are, but the last section really got me thinking. Act 3 featured The Brooklyn Free School in Brooklyn, NY. This school functions as a small democracy for its students and staff. All decisions made within school walls are done so by committee. And not just a committee of administrators. Every student, from 5 through 18, has a vote, and those votes count just as much as the votes of the adults. In fact, at the time of the show, students outnumbered teachers 3 to 1, so really, the students were pretty much in charge of all decisions made. Additionally, students are not made to take any particular classes, given homework, or sent home with report cards like in traditional schools. Students learn what they want, when they want, and they monitor their own progress.
So, you might ask yourself, what kind of mass pandemonium goes on in this school every day? One would think that kids would be hanging off the rafters, playing video games non-stop, and generally failing to learn anything valuable for their futures. Apparently though, you would be wrong.
The children set rules for themselves through seemingly constant small and large group meetings, are offered non-compulsory classes by the school's teachers, do assignments and research that they want to do, and, from what the school says, typically flourish in the democratic environ.
The school's founder, Alan P. Berger, modeled BFS after the Summerhill school in England, the Sudbury School in Massachusetts, and The Albany Free School in Albany, NY. Berger believes that if children are not forced into learning things that are meaningless to them they will find those things that are meaningful and will be excited to learn them. He states that, "In a free school environment, students do significantly more exploration of a greater variety of topics and subjects than they would ever be exposed to at a traditional school." He and the other staff find that students are motivated, excited, and ready to learn. Yes, they watch movies and play video games during school hours, but because they are free to learn things that they're interested in they actually do learn on a comparable level to students in traditional schools.
The school's website states, under the FAQ, "Is there evidence that this approach to education works?" that:
"The research done by Sudbury Valley demonstrates overwhelmingly positive evidence of personal growth of former students, as documented in numerous, lengthy testimonials. Students who have experienced democratic free education for any significant period of time clearly articulate how invaluable this educational experience has been to them in the pursuit of an occupation, higher education, or other life choices, providing strong evidence that this approach works."
It's definitely an interesting concept. And it makes me wonder...How would I have done in a school like this?
"What if, say, the U.S.-led invasion of Grenada in 1983 had been decided, not by Ronald Reagan, but by a bunch of middle-schoolers? And what if every rule at your high school had been determined, not by teachers and administrators, but entirely by teenagers?"
Ira was bringing us a show about kids stepping into the world of decision-making usually populated by grown-ups. And the real question was, could kids do it better than adults?
All the sections were interesting, as they usually are, but the last section really got me thinking. Act 3 featured The Brooklyn Free School in Brooklyn, NY. This school functions as a small democracy for its students and staff. All decisions made within school walls are done so by committee. And not just a committee of administrators. Every student, from 5 through 18, has a vote, and those votes count just as much as the votes of the adults. In fact, at the time of the show, students outnumbered teachers 3 to 1, so really, the students were pretty much in charge of all decisions made. Additionally, students are not made to take any particular classes, given homework, or sent home with report cards like in traditional schools. Students learn what they want, when they want, and they monitor their own progress.
So, you might ask yourself, what kind of mass pandemonium goes on in this school every day? One would think that kids would be hanging off the rafters, playing video games non-stop, and generally failing to learn anything valuable for their futures. Apparently though, you would be wrong.
The children set rules for themselves through seemingly constant small and large group meetings, are offered non-compulsory classes by the school's teachers, do assignments and research that they want to do, and, from what the school says, typically flourish in the democratic environ.
The school's founder, Alan P. Berger, modeled BFS after the Summerhill school in England, the Sudbury School in Massachusetts, and The Albany Free School in Albany, NY. Berger believes that if children are not forced into learning things that are meaningless to them they will find those things that are meaningful and will be excited to learn them. He states that, "In a free school environment, students do significantly more exploration of a greater variety of topics and subjects than they would ever be exposed to at a traditional school." He and the other staff find that students are motivated, excited, and ready to learn. Yes, they watch movies and play video games during school hours, but because they are free to learn things that they're interested in they actually do learn on a comparable level to students in traditional schools.
The school's website states, under the FAQ, "Is there evidence that this approach to education works?" that:
"The research done by Sudbury Valley demonstrates overwhelmingly positive evidence of personal growth of former students, as documented in numerous, lengthy testimonials. Students who have experienced democratic free education for any significant period of time clearly articulate how invaluable this educational experience has been to them in the pursuit of an occupation, higher education, or other life choices, providing strong evidence that this approach works."
It's definitely an interesting concept. And it makes me wonder...How would I have done in a school like this?
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