1. U.N. SUSPENDS SYRIA MISSION, CITING INCREASE IN VIOLENCE & HEAVIER WEAPONS PUSH SYRIAN CRISIS TOWARD CIVIL WAR - Things in Syria have been heating up this week. Hilary Clinton, accused Russia of supplying Syria with new attack helicopters. Meanwhile the UN is pulling out the monitors and accusing Syria of using children as shields of protection. Check out this map; THE U.N'S LIST OF SHAME: WHERE CHILDREN ARE TOOLS OF WAR. Another interesting resource is the U.N.'s SYRIA REGIONAL REFUGEE RESPONSE.
2. ASK NOT WHAT CHINA WANTS FROM AFRICA, BUT WHAT AFRICA WANTS FROM CHINA & CHINA, AFRICA TRADE VOLUME TO HIT 150 BILLION - I'm always interested in what China is doing on the continent of Africa. I thought this was very interesting, "China-Africa trade to double to $300B in 3-5 yrs."
3. OBAMA TO PERMIT YOUNG MIGRANTS TO REMAIN IN U.S. & WHY SOME ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AREN'T CELEBRATING OBAMA'S NEW POLICY - This week President Obama made an executive order to allow thousands of children of illegal immigrants to remain in the US. I've read that this could benefit more than 800,000 young people. While it doesn't grant them "permanent legal status, it does clear the way for young illegal immigrants to come out of the shadows." I think this is a great positive way for Obama to set himself apart from the Republican candidates. While also backing them into the corner, where they will not walk away the winner. Oh politics.
4. THE 22 RULES OF STORYTELLING, ACCORDING TO PIXAR - Just something fun.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Weekly Reading List [6.8.12]
This was a big week for us. First our couch was delivered! We have spent weeks sitting on our wooden porch chairs. What a reprieve to have something soft to sit on. Then yesterday our refrigerator was delivered! We've been using a mini fridge that I borrowed from work. The new one is HUGE! Wow. The house is now....complete. Until we start renovations.
1. Starting the weekend of with some poetry by Walt Whitman.
"...this is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people..." (Preface to Leaves of Grass)
"...I say to any man or woman, Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes" (Song of Myself)
2. This week the author of Fahrenheit 451 passed away. I really enjoyed this book, but have to be honest, I never gave much thought to the author. I was impressed with the quotes and stories and interviews that started pouring out with his passing. Here was a man passionate about doing what you love. He said, "Books are smart and brilliant and wise. Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life." A school teacher wrote to several high-profile people and asked them to describe overcoming an obstacle in their life. He used these letters in his class. Ray Bradbury's response is awesome! First, look at his letterhead. I'm in love! He says, "What did I learn? To be myself and only myself and never let others, prejudiced, interfere with my life. Kids, do the same. Be your own self. Love what YOU love!!" There is another letter on Letters of Note from Ray Bradbury. It's a response to a fan who was commenting on the many dangers of robots taking over the world. Ray responds by saying, "P.S. Can't resist commenting on your fears of the Disney robots...Any machine, any robot, is the sum total of the way we use it...I am not afraid of robots. I am afraid of people, people, people...I am afraid of Catholics killing Protestants and vice versa. I am afraid of whites killing blacks and vice versa. I am afraid of young killing old and vice versa...But...robots? God, I love them."
3. Some fun little creative artistic things I've seen this week -
Lost Type Co-op - this is a site devoted to artists obsessed with typography and the creation of new types.
Nippon Colors - it's all about color.
Christian Popsicles - It's a little bit awesome. It's a little bit creepy. And it's a little bit offensive.
4. And finally a little Mister Rogers [Remix]
1. Starting the weekend of with some poetry by Walt Whitman.
"...this is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people..." (Preface to Leaves of Grass)
"...I say to any man or woman, Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes" (Song of Myself)
2. This week the author of Fahrenheit 451 passed away. I really enjoyed this book, but have to be honest, I never gave much thought to the author. I was impressed with the quotes and stories and interviews that started pouring out with his passing. Here was a man passionate about doing what you love. He said, "Books are smart and brilliant and wise. Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life." A school teacher wrote to several high-profile people and asked them to describe overcoming an obstacle in their life. He used these letters in his class. Ray Bradbury's response is awesome! First, look at his letterhead. I'm in love! He says, "What did I learn? To be myself and only myself and never let others, prejudiced, interfere with my life. Kids, do the same. Be your own self. Love what YOU love!!" There is another letter on Letters of Note from Ray Bradbury. It's a response to a fan who was commenting on the many dangers of robots taking over the world. Ray responds by saying, "P.S. Can't resist commenting on your fears of the Disney robots...Any machine, any robot, is the sum total of the way we use it...I am not afraid of robots. I am afraid of people, people, people...I am afraid of Catholics killing Protestants and vice versa. I am afraid of whites killing blacks and vice versa. I am afraid of young killing old and vice versa...But...robots? God, I love them."
3. Some fun little creative artistic things I've seen this week -
Lost Type Co-op - this is a site devoted to artists obsessed with typography and the creation of new types.
Nippon Colors - it's all about color.
Christian Popsicles - It's a little bit awesome. It's a little bit creepy. And it's a little bit offensive.
4. And finally a little Mister Rogers [Remix]
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Weekly Reading List [6.2.12]
It's been a crazy week. It's had some major ups and downs. But it's Saturday, and we're moving on.
1. N.Y. PLANS TO BAN SALE OF BIG SIZES OF SUGARY DRINKS - Bloomberg wants to combat obesity by banning the sale of drinks like the Big Gulp. I can't say I think the Big Gulp is a good idea, but I'm not a fan of a government ban. I think it still holds that you can't legislate morality, it won't change people's hearts, you'll just end up with a lot of rules. It'll be interesting to see if this goes through.
2. EDWARDS NOT GUILTY ON ONE COUNT; MISTRIAL ON FIVE OTHERS & CAN JOHN EDWARDS MAKE A COMEBACK? - I have to admit, I didn't follow the trial at all. I think very little of John Edwards and thought for sure, with all the press coverage, there must be some serious basis for the accusations, and surely he would be convicted. Apparently I was wrong. No matter what, as both articles point out, Edwards has lost in the court of public opinion.
3. WEAK JOB GROWTH STOKES FEARS OF GLOBAL SLOWDOWN & OBAMA, ROMNEY SPAR OVER FIGURES - New job figures came out this week, and they were lower than expected. This has give rise to fears over a new global turndown.
4. UN RESOLUTION FOR SYRIAN MASSACRE - There was another attack in Syria earlier this week. The atrocities in Syria are still worse than atrocious, and I, personally, am tired of not being able to do anything, and having other nations stand between life and death for the citizens of Syria. It's just wrong. I saw a tweet relfecting that political posturing "#Clinton says #Russian policy on Syria is going to contribute to a civil war. #UN warns of a looming "catastrophic" conflict there." There was a GREAT cartoon in the economist. Worth checking out!
1. N.Y. PLANS TO BAN SALE OF BIG SIZES OF SUGARY DRINKS - Bloomberg wants to combat obesity by banning the sale of drinks like the Big Gulp. I can't say I think the Big Gulp is a good idea, but I'm not a fan of a government ban. I think it still holds that you can't legislate morality, it won't change people's hearts, you'll just end up with a lot of rules. It'll be interesting to see if this goes through.
2. EDWARDS NOT GUILTY ON ONE COUNT; MISTRIAL ON FIVE OTHERS & CAN JOHN EDWARDS MAKE A COMEBACK? - I have to admit, I didn't follow the trial at all. I think very little of John Edwards and thought for sure, with all the press coverage, there must be some serious basis for the accusations, and surely he would be convicted. Apparently I was wrong. No matter what, as both articles point out, Edwards has lost in the court of public opinion.
3. WEAK JOB GROWTH STOKES FEARS OF GLOBAL SLOWDOWN & OBAMA, ROMNEY SPAR OVER FIGURES - New job figures came out this week, and they were lower than expected. This has give rise to fears over a new global turndown.
4. UN RESOLUTION FOR SYRIAN MASSACRE - There was another attack in Syria earlier this week. The atrocities in Syria are still worse than atrocious, and I, personally, am tired of not being able to do anything, and having other nations stand between life and death for the citizens of Syria. It's just wrong. I saw a tweet relfecting that political posturing "#Clinton says #Russian policy on Syria is going to contribute to a civil war. #UN warns of a looming "catastrophic" conflict there." There was a GREAT cartoon in the economist. Worth checking out!
*Hope everyone is having a great weekend!*
Friday, May 18, 2012
Weekly Reading List [5.18.12]
1. Belgian Congo Pale Ale: Yes the horror! - I'm a little on the fence about this one. A Virgininan brewing company put out a line of brews all named after acts of genocide or other atrocities. As the author summarizes, "At the very least, they've decided to attract attention in one of the most cheap, cynical and distasteful ways I can imagine. At worst -- and, under the circumstances, this is plausible -- they are indeed celebrating genocide."
2. Dear Einstein, Do Scientists Pray? - Great little article from a sixth grade Sunday School class to Einstein and his reply back to them. I was going to share a couple of quotes, and then realized I was about to write nearly his entire letter. So just read it.
3. What would a Greek exit from the eurozone look like? - I've heard rumblings about this for a couple of weeks now. My impression is that the austerity measures imposed by Germany and the rest of the EU are too great for the Greek's to bear, and ultimately may not solve their problem. So what would it look like if Greece left the Eurozone, and what does that mean for other struggling countries, and ultimately for the EU.
4. Simulated Mars mission "lands" back on earth & 6 Guys in a Capsule: 520 Days on a Simulated Mars Mission - All I can say is wow. A year and a half pretending to be on Mars, or on the way to Mars. The first article is short, sweet, to the point. If you really want to nerd out on what the crew did, what was learned etc. read the second article.
5. Explaining Why Minority Births Now Outnumber White Births & Whites Account for Under Half of Births in U.S. - This is not the first time people have talked about the dropping birthrates in U.S. and in Europe. But as the NYTimes article points out "After years of speculation, estimates and projections, the Census Bureau has made it official; White births are no longer a majority in the United States." I have to say, I think this means great things for us. More interracial marriages, an opportunity for us to expand the meaning of the American melting pot. Senior demographer at the Brookings Institution described the shift as a "transformation from a mostly white baby boomer culture to a more globalized multiethnic country."
2. Dear Einstein, Do Scientists Pray? - Great little article from a sixth grade Sunday School class to Einstein and his reply back to them. I was going to share a couple of quotes, and then realized I was about to write nearly his entire letter. So just read it.
3. What would a Greek exit from the eurozone look like? - I've heard rumblings about this for a couple of weeks now. My impression is that the austerity measures imposed by Germany and the rest of the EU are too great for the Greek's to bear, and ultimately may not solve their problem. So what would it look like if Greece left the Eurozone, and what does that mean for other struggling countries, and ultimately for the EU.
4. Simulated Mars mission "lands" back on earth & 6 Guys in a Capsule: 520 Days on a Simulated Mars Mission - All I can say is wow. A year and a half pretending to be on Mars, or on the way to Mars. The first article is short, sweet, to the point. If you really want to nerd out on what the crew did, what was learned etc. read the second article.
5. Explaining Why Minority Births Now Outnumber White Births & Whites Account for Under Half of Births in U.S. - This is not the first time people have talked about the dropping birthrates in U.S. and in Europe. But as the NYTimes article points out "After years of speculation, estimates and projections, the Census Bureau has made it official; White births are no longer a majority in the United States." I have to say, I think this means great things for us. More interracial marriages, an opportunity for us to expand the meaning of the American melting pot. Senior demographer at the Brookings Institution described the shift as a "transformation from a mostly white baby boomer culture to a more globalized multiethnic country."
*Congrats to Facebook for finally IPO'ing*
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Floor Speech on the Violence Against Women Act
An amazing speech about protecting women from domestic violence situations.
(Thanks to my friend Nicole, sitting behind Rep. Trey Gowdy, for sharing this).
(Thanks to my friend Nicole, sitting behind Rep. Trey Gowdy, for sharing this).
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The future of nightlife...
Someone passed this video around at work. I thought it was so fascinating to hear how these environments designers think about space, it's purposes, how to repurpose things, how to draw people in, and the sense of mystery that they create.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Weekly Reading List [5.13.12]
It's been a while since I've done one of these, but better late than never!
1. J.P MORGAN IS EXHIBIT A FOR VOLCKER RULE NEED & J.P MORGAN COLLAPSE: CAN WE REGULATE WALL STREET NOW? & JPMORGAN'S SHOCKING $2 BILLION LOSS - I've been following this since it started breaking yesterday. J.P Morgan is chalking it up to "errors, sloppiness, and bad judgement." The worst part is, as The Week notes, "Wall Street gives tons of cash to pliticians and "money like that speaks louder to policymakers than the interests of everyone who deposits their money in a bank and hopes not to have it wiped out by Wall Street's bad bets." We bank with J.P. Morgan and I've always felt that at least they weren't as shady as Bank of America. But now I'm realizing I may have been duped. Anybody make the jump to a Credit Union? Or am I really just trading one broken system for another?
2. ECHOING OUT OF TEXAS, CHINESE VOICE OF DISSENT FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM - When I worked for the Jubilee Campaign back in 2006 we worked a lot with Bob Fu. He really does have an amazing network, and has been so faithful about raising the voice of the persecuted Church, and human rights activists in China. This is a great article about him and Chen, the blind pro-life activists (ACTIVISTS: CHEN GUANGCHENG FLEES HOUSE ARREST [UPDATED]). I also saw today while reading the WSJ that Chen is still in China, is waiting on China to grant him a visa to the US so he can study here, and that his nephew was arrested shortly after his escape. I would say that the fight isn't over for Chen; fortunately he has Bob Fu and many others on his side.
3. MEMBER OF AFGHAN PEACE COUNCIL IS ASSASSINATED - Sad news coming out of Afghanistan today. As the article notes, "The fact that he was shot dead in front of his house while he was surrounded by his bodyguards raises a lot of questions."
4. SHANGHAIED - Just an interesting article, an inside (or almost inside) look into China and what's behind the Great Wall.
5. Puppy love - 19 days til Thor (pronounced 'Tor') moves in with us!!
1. J.P MORGAN IS EXHIBIT A FOR VOLCKER RULE NEED & J.P MORGAN COLLAPSE: CAN WE REGULATE WALL STREET NOW? & JPMORGAN'S SHOCKING $2 BILLION LOSS - I've been following this since it started breaking yesterday. J.P Morgan is chalking it up to "errors, sloppiness, and bad judgement." The worst part is, as The Week notes, "Wall Street gives tons of cash to pliticians and "money like that speaks louder to policymakers than the interests of everyone who deposits their money in a bank and hopes not to have it wiped out by Wall Street's bad bets." We bank with J.P. Morgan and I've always felt that at least they weren't as shady as Bank of America. But now I'm realizing I may have been duped. Anybody make the jump to a Credit Union? Or am I really just trading one broken system for another?
2. ECHOING OUT OF TEXAS, CHINESE VOICE OF DISSENT FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM - When I worked for the Jubilee Campaign back in 2006 we worked a lot with Bob Fu. He really does have an amazing network, and has been so faithful about raising the voice of the persecuted Church, and human rights activists in China. This is a great article about him and Chen, the blind pro-life activists (ACTIVISTS: CHEN GUANGCHENG FLEES HOUSE ARREST [UPDATED]). I also saw today while reading the WSJ that Chen is still in China, is waiting on China to grant him a visa to the US so he can study here, and that his nephew was arrested shortly after his escape. I would say that the fight isn't over for Chen; fortunately he has Bob Fu and many others on his side.
3. MEMBER OF AFGHAN PEACE COUNCIL IS ASSASSINATED - Sad news coming out of Afghanistan today. As the article notes, "The fact that he was shot dead in front of his house while he was surrounded by his bodyguards raises a lot of questions."
4. SHANGHAIED - Just an interesting article, an inside (or almost inside) look into China and what's behind the Great Wall.
5. Puppy love - 19 days til Thor (pronounced 'Tor') moves in with us!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)