Benjamin Zander: The transformative power of classical music

The Weekly Reading List [10.14.12]

1. TALIBAN SHOOTING OF 14-YEAR OLD SPARKS OUTRAGE IN PAKISTAN & TALIBAN REITERATE VOW TO KILL PAKISTANI GIRL & TALIBAN GUN DOWN GIRL WHO SPOKE UP FOR RIGHTS - A young woman, the daughter of a teacher in the Swat region of Pakistan, has been speaking up against the Taliban for the last three years. She's curated a blog about her life, and her distain for the Taliban and the influence they welded. Last week, they attempted to assassinate her.

2. Evidence from the Investigation Into Alleged Doping by Lance Armstrong & Details of Doping Scheme Paint Armstrong as Leader & Statement from George Hincapie - If you are further interested in the allegations against Lance Armstrong and others follow @Coalescemedia and you can read the executive summary of the Reasoned Decision here.

3. Some politics - If you missed the VP debate earlier this week CBS has done us all a favor and put the entier debate online. You can see it here. In addition, PBS has some great resources - THE CHOICE 2012 & THE FRONTLINE INTERVIEWS. Speaking of PBS, since Mitt publicly said he'd stop funding them, there's been a firestorm of information and public outcry. I loved the visual nature of this one, "PBS IS AMERICA'S LARGEST CLASSROOM"

4. There have been some awesome articles about the power of design in tackling major global issues. Here are two great articles - DIGNIFYING DESIGN & USA: THE UNITED STATES OF DESIGN

**Have a great week everyone!**

happy 10.11.12

Prop 30 vs. Prop 38

This is my first year voting in a California election, and while I feel confident in my ability to learn about candidates and their values and ambitions, California propositions are a whole other animal. I'm less confident in the information out there, and in the transparency of what I'm reading, or even in finding out what all the propositions are before the election. It is daunting.

[enter co-worker]

Fortunately, I have some great co-workers who are just as concerned and interested in this stuff as I am.  This morning someone shared a blog outlining Prop 30 and Prop 38. If your a California voter, it's worth a read. Children's education isn't something I really want to choose based on "ennie, meenie, miny, mo"

PROP 30 VS. PROP 38: A VOTERS GUIDE FOR PARENTS

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Weekly Reading List [9.28.12]

1. Did you know Google has started mapping the ocean! Check out this article - Google Maps Goes Diving, Provides “Seaview” Of Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii and Philippines j.mp/TxZIju.

2. Did you know spiders have clear blood due to a lack of hemoglobin. 

3. By gone America - a photo blog of the past 

4. This week the U.N. General Assembly is gathering. Here are some of the highlights and commentary 

• OBAMA CALLS FOR TOLERANCE AT U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• FULL TEXT OF OBAMA'S SPEECH 

5. In conjunction this week the Clinton Global Initiative hosted it's annual event. Both Obama and Mitt gave speeches. As did Tim Brown (CEO of IDEO) as well as a couple additional colleagues. The video's are worth checking out if your interested in the intersection of development and design.

• MITT ROMNEY'S SPEECH TO THE CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE
• OBAMA'S SPEECH TO THE CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE 
• LINK TO TIM BROWN'S OPENING PLENARY TALK
• NICOLAS KRISTOF'S COMMENTARY OF OBAMA'S SPEECH

Inspiration - Who's Afraid of Ai Weiwei?

Watch Who's Afraid of Ai Weiwei? on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.