I would like to welcome to the hatbox two other blogspots that have just opened (or rather, they've just been introduced to me). Jan Can Too gives us glimpses into the witty lives of Jan as TMMITEU (The Meanest Mom In The Entire Universe). The other blog, well, if you've never been to Moscow, if you love books the way librarians love books, and if you're into fine writing, stop by Luba's Moscow.
So, grab your hat, and go visit...
April 24, 2008
April 22, 2008
Let the glass of muddy water rest
After writing my previous posts about "taking a sabbath", I came across John Pritchard's discussion of our need to build "slowing-down time into our lives." Here is an excerpt from Section I: Watch This Space:
This reminds me of the Lamplighter in Le Petit Prince. (Remember him? I always loved that little gentleman!) Anyway, while visiting planet #5, the little prince meets the lamplighter who inhabits the tiny planet with one street lamp. The planet used to spin at a slow pace, enabling him to light the lamp at night and put it out in the mornings and still have the rest of the day for himself. Then the planet gradually spun faster and faster until it turned so fast that the unfortunate lamplighter (whose orders to light and then put out the lamp haven't changed) must continually light then snuff the lamp every minute without resting. His entire day is consumed with the mindless, endless work of the lamp. He turns it on, then turns it off.
On, off. On, off. Constantly. No sleep, no rest, no pause. Amazing thing is, the lamplighter doesn't question "the orders" that bind him to this eternal work. It has become a part of who he is. He has become defined by his title: lamplighter. What I take away from this story is too much to write about in one post, but I am most struck by the very creative solution which the little prince offers to the lamplighter: After sunrise, when the lamp is snuffed, the lamplighter need only slowly walk around the tiny planet (in three strides!) to remain in the sunlight, thereby giving him some rest before having to "return to work" to light the lamp again.
"All you have to do is walk more slowly," says the prince, "and you'll always be in the sun."
In a culture where speed and the ability to "pack more in" is becoming self-defeating, many people are crying out for space. They long to slow down. A group of porters were once rushing through the jungle at a ridiculous pace set by the Europeans who had hired them. Eventually they got to a clearing and sat down. The Europeans tried to get them moving again but the head porter said, "No, we're not moving. We've come so far and so fast that now we have to wait for our souls to catch up with us." So does our culture.
Individually, therefore, we need to build some slowing-down time into our lives. Then we can listen to the quiet whispers from another country that we're just becoming aware of. We need to look for the moments of calm in our day and stretch them out. We need to create times for stopping, taking everything out of the case and trying a different way of packing altogether. Slowing own is a vital part of the spiritual journey. Then we can stop panicking about when we're going to come off the rails, and start noticing the fascinating countryside we're traveling through.
This reminds me of the Lamplighter in Le Petit Prince. (Remember him? I always loved that little gentleman!) Anyway, while visiting planet #5, the little prince meets the lamplighter who inhabits the tiny planet with one street lamp. The planet used to spin at a slow pace, enabling him to light the lamp at night and put it out in the mornings and still have the rest of the day for himself. Then the planet gradually spun faster and faster until it turned so fast that the unfortunate lamplighter (whose orders to light and then put out the lamp haven't changed) must continually light then snuff the lamp every minute without resting. His entire day is consumed with the mindless, endless work of the lamp. He turns it on, then turns it off.
On, off. On, off. Constantly. No sleep, no rest, no pause. Amazing thing is, the lamplighter doesn't question "the orders" that bind him to this eternal work. It has become a part of who he is. He has become defined by his title: lamplighter. What I take away from this story is too much to write about in one post, but I am most struck by the very creative solution which the little prince offers to the lamplighter: After sunrise, when the lamp is snuffed, the lamplighter need only slowly walk around the tiny planet (in three strides!) to remain in the sunlight, thereby giving him some rest before having to "return to work" to light the lamp again.
"All you have to do is walk more slowly," says the prince, "and you'll always be in the sun."
Eating my rice one penny at a time
Last week, my parents told me they were buying rice in bulk - major. Apparently, the Vietnamese community in Arlington, TX, where they live, and in southern CA and in other areas of the U.S. have been stocking up on rice. The price for a 25 pound bag of rice has risen 3x what it used to be -- and anyone who eats rice as a staple is running to the stores. Why? You know why. Countries producing crop in SE Asia have been suffering; crops fail; or crops may fail; people hear bits and pieces through the grapevine and before you know it, Nam Hung in Arlington gets stampeded by rice-seeking consumers. Phuoc Loc Tho in Orange Country raises prices on rice. Ranch 99 thinks I'll pay through the nose for white jasmine rice, so... Demand goes up, and supply (which may not have been scarce before the stampede) really, truly BECOMES scarce.
My siblings and I eat rice almost every day, but it takes us quite some time to finish a 25 pound bag. I can't even tell you how much I pay for a bag. It's quite shameful but I go into Ranch 99 and swing my cart into the aisle and plop a 25-lb bag into the cart w/o thinking twice. At check-out, I don't even bother verifying the price. It's such a staple, and I can't imagine not having rice. I can't imagine not having money for rice. So I buy w/o thinking.
Now I'm told rice prices are sky-rocketing. Now I hear that I'll be affected by prices. Now I pay attention.
But Now may be too late.
Or is it? I know it starts with making a statement to our nation's leaders -- starting with the very top. WE need to tell them to commit the U.S. to the world-wide campaign to end hunger. We as citizens need to tell them our nation should commit to the Millennium Campaign, goal #1 of which is to eradicate poverty and hunger. Make our voices heard at the G8 Summit.
Make a commitment. Sign the petition urging President Bush to take seriously our role in the G8 Summit in Japan this summer.
My siblings and I eat rice almost every day, but it takes us quite some time to finish a 25 pound bag. I can't even tell you how much I pay for a bag. It's quite shameful but I go into Ranch 99 and swing my cart into the aisle and plop a 25-lb bag into the cart w/o thinking twice. At check-out, I don't even bother verifying the price. It's such a staple, and I can't imagine not having rice. I can't imagine not having money for rice. So I buy w/o thinking.
Now I'm told rice prices are sky-rocketing. Now I hear that I'll be affected by prices. Now I pay attention.
But Now may be too late.
Or is it? I know it starts with making a statement to our nation's leaders -- starting with the very top. WE need to tell them to commit the U.S. to the world-wide campaign to end hunger. We as citizens need to tell them our nation should commit to the Millennium Campaign, goal #1 of which is to eradicate poverty and hunger. Make our voices heard at the G8 Summit.
Make a commitment. Sign the petition urging President Bush to take seriously our role in the G8 Summit in Japan this summer.
Collect for Earth Day
Almighty and everlasting God, creator of all things and giver of all life, on this Earth Day we pray for favorable weather, temperate rains, and fruitful seasons, that there may be food and drink for all your creatures; for your blessing upon the lands and waters, and all who work upon them to bring forth food and all things necessary for your people; and for all who care for the earth, the water, and the air, that the riches of your creation may abound from age to age; through Jesus Christ your son, our Lord. Amen.
- Trinity Cathedral Earth Day Collect
- Trinity Cathedral Earth Day Collect
April 17, 2008
When do you take your Sabbath
Sabbaths
Whatever is foreseen in joy
Must be lived out from day to day.
Vision held open in the dark
By our ten thousand days of work.
Harvest will fill the barn; for that
The hand must ache, the face must sweat.
And yet no leaf or grain is filled
By work of ours; the field is tilled
And left to grace. That we may reap,
Great work is done while we're asleep.
When we work well, a Sabbath mood
Rests on our day, and finds it good.
- Wendell Berry
Earlier this semester, someone asked me when I take my sabbath. It was an intriguing question, and no matter what was taught to me in Sunday School or in CE classes, I've always thought of Sabbath day as a day preset and pre-ordained, out of my control -- determined for the people of Israel. And, for those of us clinging to the NT age of Grace, this kind of covenant does not carry the same sort of meaning as it did/does for Israel. Right? Isn't sabbath supposed to be on the seventh day? Isn't that the day of rest pre-determined and utterly irrevocable?
Am I really understanding the meaning of "sabbath"?
Lately, I've been trying to control my spending. And I've been trying to control the ebb and flow of work in my office. And I've been trying to regulate the number of emails I answer in the office mail. And I've been trying to control the pieces of mail I open, the letters I let pile up in the Inbox, the phone messages I return, the plants I water, the meetings I attend, the papers I print, the documents I edit... And I've been trying to number the articles of clothing I wash and fold, the shoes I buy, the books I read, the CDs I collect, the coffee cups I drink...
All these little things that I'm trying to "manage" because I need in my life some semblance of organization and order, believing, hoping, that if I can manage it, then life will be more peaceful and more livable. More enjoyable.
Wendell disagrees. Doesn't he? Whatever is foreseen in joy must be LIVED out from Day to Day. Ten thousand days of work. The most important things, after our sweat and tears, are accomplished outside our control, beyond our means. Those crucial, life-giving acts of filling the grains or greening the leaf -- they are done while we sleep, while we relinquish our grip. We leave to grace whatever needs to be done...
Great work, by golly, can be accomplished by doing less... by doing well... by doing nothing? Incroyable! Pas possible!
I've been reading The Botany of Desire (great, great book!! Read it!) by Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food and The Omnivore's Dilemma. The book is much, much more than a social history of the plants (apple, tulip, cannabis, potato) or a natural history of the four human desires that he links them with (sweetness, beauty, intoxication, control). Pollan posits that as humans, "we're prone to overestimate our own agency in nature". In fact, he thinks that what we believe we do to control "the wild" of nature is actually not because we are the subjects lording over the objects. "Many of the activities humans like to think they undertake for their own good purposes," says Pollan, "are mere contingencies as far as nature is concerned." Here, he's talking about our "design" over nature -- our clever hybridizations, our cultivations, "inventing agriculture, outlawing certain plants, writing books in praise of others", etc. But Wendell, he's talking about a greater Mystery -- un-Named, un-tamed, most times beyond our comprehension.
I appreciate what he says so frankly. It's not our design. As much as we want it to be, it's not our control. Relinquish it. It's in God's hands. Let it go. It is good.
If you need an reason to take a break:
Fire
What makes a fire burn
is space between the logs,
a breathing space.
too much of a good thing,
too many logs
packed in too tight
can douse the flames
almost as surely
as a pail of water would.
So building fires
requires attention
to the spaces in between,
as much as to the wood.
When we are able to build
open spaces
in the same way
we have learned
to pile on the logs,
then we can come to see how
it is fuel, and absence of fuel
together, that make fire possible.
We only need to lay a log
lightly from time to time.
A fire
grows
simply because the space is there,
with openings
in which the flame
that knows just how it wants to burn
can find its way.
- Judy Brown
What makes a fire burn
is space between the logs,
a breathing space.
too much of a good thing,
too many logs
packed in too tight
can douse the flames
almost as surely
as a pail of water would.
So building fires
requires attention
to the spaces in between,
as much as to the wood.
When we are able to build
open spaces
in the same way
we have learned
to pile on the logs,
then we can come to see how
it is fuel, and absence of fuel
together, that make fire possible.
We only need to lay a log
lightly from time to time.
A fire
grows
simply because the space is there,
with openings
in which the flame
that knows just how it wants to burn
can find its way.
- Judy Brown
April 16, 2008
One World, One Dream?
Having trouble thinking about boycotting or not boycotting the Olympics? Here's a dilemma that I experienced: How do I make a statement about the social injustices committed by China and still support and encourage the young student artists who hail from that country who are beckoning me to visit their homeland?
At the very last minute, my siblings and I were given the opportunity to purchase tickets ($40 regular, $5 for us - woohoo!!) to a very special show last night at Zellerbach Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. We had not heard any advertisement or publicity until out of the blue one of our church members, a retired staff member at Zellerbach, said she had tickets for sale at $5 for an Olympic Spectacular, a programme called "One World, One Dream" (2008 Beijing Olympic theme):
...the sights and sounds of modern and ancient China... featuring one hundred Chinese student performing artists... Combining music, dance, theater, martial arts and acrobatics, this high-energy production traces the history of the Olympics down through the centuries. Highlights include Chinese acrobats dating from the second century BCE; Peking Opera techniques and costumes; and traditional musical instruments juxtaposed with up-to-the-minute modern musical instruments, staging, and music.
The students came from:
Despite the police presence, there was no unusual movement or deviation from the course of the evening, and for about 2 hours, we witnessed the pure, unadulterated, unbounded joy of student athletes, dancers, and performers of various arts from Beijing.
Imagine it -- 100 of the best student performers coming from Beijing calling us together and celebrating the human spirit, and of course, inviting us to Beijing to see the land, the cultures, the people. We witnessed the clash and clang of swords; the swirling, tipping umbrellas and conical hats of young ladies on a stroll; the fierce fists of martial artists; the delicate steps of contemporary dance; the precision and trills of opera singers; the colorful array of ethnic dress costumes; and so much more.
The turnout was low -- much lower than it should have been, and I left feeling sad for the student performers. There was very little publicity (no funds? fear of protest?) and so very little was known about this performance. I felt such conflicting emotions while sitting in the auditorium -- they appeared excited, energized, thrilled, to be here, performing with their hearts on their sleeves. I was amazed at the sheer talent -- the skill, the artistic quality of their performances was unmatchable last night. They were sizzling with good intentions. They wanted to do their best -- and they surely did. They represented themselves well, and of course, they represented their country well. But I chose to think only of how they were able to bring themselves (allowed to be brought by their govt?) across the world to say that we young peoples of the world should unite as one world.
As much as I wanted to believe that we could - should - be "forever friends" (title of their closing song/performance), as much as I wanted to believe that this young generation will be the one that changes the world, I could not help but see all the gray shadows that tainted the evening. At the end, when they were standing around the auditorium, waving star-shaped hearts (yes, they did!) and singing to us about friendship and a united world, I simultaneously wanted to jump up saying "yes, yes, we can change the world -- starting with changing the situations in Tibet and Darfur!!!" and also slinking away saying "you've been brought here through propaganda and your talents are being wasted in the service of the party and I'm afraid of the subliminal messages you're sending my way."
And then I thought I'm such a hypocrite. Anyone of them could challenge me on the same grounds -- me, living in a supposedly "free" nation that bombs innocents and wages war on millions.
They spent 11 days in the U.S., no doubt traveling around and visiting the sights and of course practicing for their performance (this was one of two places in the U.S. where they performed!). Did they sense the rejection, the dismissal, the hatred, the anger that some (heartless, un-discriminating) people have thrown their way simply b/c they come from China? Did they interpret our unresponsiveness as indifferent, uncaring? Did they feel slighted? I hope not.
They were loved. Their earnest, young faces with so much potential - loved, admired, respected. I wish them well. I wish them great accomplishments. I wish them as much joy as possible during the challenging years ahead. Most of all, I wish them discernment, good judgment, strong hearts, solid character. I wish that for us all. We need to apply all that art, love, peace, skill, and discipline toward maintaining humanity...
At the very last minute, my siblings and I were given the opportunity to purchase tickets ($40 regular, $5 for us - woohoo!!) to a very special show last night at Zellerbach Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. We had not heard any advertisement or publicity until out of the blue one of our church members, a retired staff member at Zellerbach, said she had tickets for sale at $5 for an Olympic Spectacular, a programme called "One World, One Dream" (2008 Beijing Olympic theme):
...the sights and sounds of modern and ancient China... featuring one hundred Chinese student performing artists... Combining music, dance, theater, martial arts and acrobatics, this high-energy production traces the history of the Olympics down through the centuries. Highlights include Chinese acrobats dating from the second century BCE; Peking Opera techniques and costumes; and traditional musical instruments juxtaposed with up-to-the-minute modern musical instruments, staging, and music.
The students came from:
- Academy of Chinese Traditional Opera
- Central Univ. for Nationalities
- Capital College of Physical Education
- Beijing University
- Tsinghua University
- China College of Music
- Beijing Dance Academy
- Central Conservatory of Music
Despite the police presence, there was no unusual movement or deviation from the course of the evening, and for about 2 hours, we witnessed the pure, unadulterated, unbounded joy of student athletes, dancers, and performers of various arts from Beijing.
Imagine it -- 100 of the best student performers coming from Beijing calling us together and celebrating the human spirit, and of course, inviting us to Beijing to see the land, the cultures, the people. We witnessed the clash and clang of swords; the swirling, tipping umbrellas and conical hats of young ladies on a stroll; the fierce fists of martial artists; the delicate steps of contemporary dance; the precision and trills of opera singers; the colorful array of ethnic dress costumes; and so much more.
The turnout was low -- much lower than it should have been, and I left feeling sad for the student performers. There was very little publicity (no funds? fear of protest?) and so very little was known about this performance. I felt such conflicting emotions while sitting in the auditorium -- they appeared excited, energized, thrilled, to be here, performing with their hearts on their sleeves. I was amazed at the sheer talent -- the skill, the artistic quality of their performances was unmatchable last night. They were sizzling with good intentions. They wanted to do their best -- and they surely did. They represented themselves well, and of course, they represented their country well. But I chose to think only of how they were able to bring themselves (allowed to be brought by their govt?) across the world to say that we young peoples of the world should unite as one world.
As much as I wanted to believe that we could - should - be "forever friends" (title of their closing song/performance), as much as I wanted to believe that this young generation will be the one that changes the world, I could not help but see all the gray shadows that tainted the evening. At the end, when they were standing around the auditorium, waving star-shaped hearts (yes, they did!) and singing to us about friendship and a united world, I simultaneously wanted to jump up saying "yes, yes, we can change the world -- starting with changing the situations in Tibet and Darfur!!!" and also slinking away saying "you've been brought here through propaganda and your talents are being wasted in the service of the party and I'm afraid of the subliminal messages you're sending my way."
And then I thought I'm such a hypocrite. Anyone of them could challenge me on the same grounds -- me, living in a supposedly "free" nation that bombs innocents and wages war on millions.
They spent 11 days in the U.S., no doubt traveling around and visiting the sights and of course practicing for their performance (this was one of two places in the U.S. where they performed!). Did they sense the rejection, the dismissal, the hatred, the anger that some (heartless, un-discriminating) people have thrown their way simply b/c they come from China? Did they interpret our unresponsiveness as indifferent, uncaring? Did they feel slighted? I hope not.
They were loved. Their earnest, young faces with so much potential - loved, admired, respected. I wish them well. I wish them great accomplishments. I wish them as much joy as possible during the challenging years ahead. Most of all, I wish them discernment, good judgment, strong hearts, solid character. I wish that for us all. We need to apply all that art, love, peace, skill, and discipline toward maintaining humanity...
April 15, 2008
Three Easy Ways to Be Greener
As we move toward Earth Day and warmer summer temperatures, I have to think about how best to stay "green" and still do what I do best: enjoy the sun! Try these easy FanHATstic tips:
#1. Summers in Berkeley are cool and breezy so open the windows and enjoy the fresh air. If you have to use the AC, turn up the thermostat two degrees instead of keeping it in the low numbers. Don't forget to close the windows tightly if you turn on the AC. On really warm days, I like taking the kites out to Cesar Chavez park near the marina -- the winds are fanHATstic up on those hills! And if you pack a picnic, it's even better...
#2. Instead of using a water hose to wash your car (hey, neighbor who lives across the street from me, I'm talking to you...), consider using a sponge and bucket. Get a bunch of friends together and throw a car-washing pizza party! I usually go to a place like Solar Car Wash instead of an automatic car wash place and I always let the car air dry.
#3. Turn down the fridge. Well, what I mean is, turn down the knob on the fridge that keeps the fridge cold. I have my fridge on a nice "5" out of 7 and the veggies are frozen, especially spinach. So, I turned it down to 3 or 4. Let's hope it works! Also, how many times have I stood in front of the refrigerator with the door open on a hot summer day because I need instant cooling? Doing no good for my electricity there...
If you have other tips, share them!
#1. Summers in Berkeley are cool and breezy so open the windows and enjoy the fresh air. If you have to use the AC, turn up the thermostat two degrees instead of keeping it in the low numbers. Don't forget to close the windows tightly if you turn on the AC. On really warm days, I like taking the kites out to Cesar Chavez park near the marina -- the winds are fanHATstic up on those hills! And if you pack a picnic, it's even better...
#2. Instead of using a water hose to wash your car (hey, neighbor who lives across the street from me, I'm talking to you...), consider using a sponge and bucket. Get a bunch of friends together and throw a car-washing pizza party! I usually go to a place like Solar Car Wash instead of an automatic car wash place and I always let the car air dry.
#3. Turn down the fridge. Well, what I mean is, turn down the knob on the fridge that keeps the fridge cold. I have my fridge on a nice "5" out of 7 and the veggies are frozen, especially spinach. So, I turned it down to 3 or 4. Let's hope it works! Also, how many times have I stood in front of the refrigerator with the door open on a hot summer day because I need instant cooling? Doing no good for my electricity there...
If you have other tips, share them!
April 10, 2008
Would I carry the torch or go to the Olympics?
Some folks have signed petitions. Other folks congregate in front of the BART station in downtown Berkeley to bring attention to the plight of Tibetans. Other folks have contacted the National Olympic Committee representatives to voice their opinions. Some, like Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, have decided not to attend the opening of the Olympics.
In most situations, I'm inclined to think that it is much, much more preferable to be FOR something rather than be AGAINST something. Making a positive statement for a positive outcome seems more constructive, so the question is not really boycott or not boycott.
No matter how we look at it, we cannot examine the Olympics in an a-political way because it IS about sports and athleticism and sportsmanship, but also about politics. What pushes our buttons and what persuades us to speak out and stand up about a cause? What rallies you towards the cause of helping Tibetans on the other side of the world -- and I mean to really do something instead of saying "those of you who can afford to go to the Olympics really should not go"? I'm not going to the Olympics, and I'm not carrying a torch, so what is my part in all this?
Last night, on the news, the reporter for Channel 5 News asked a few protesters to point out Tibet on the world map. Sadly, very few even knew the region where Tibet was located. I'm willing to bet that if asked, they would know exactly where China is located. If I cared about the killings in Tibet, I should know where those atrocities are happening. It doesn't help that I know more about the perpetrators than the victims.
When I saw the mile-long line of protestors walking up and down Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley on Sunday, I wanted to jump out there and join them -- grab a banner or poster and traipse up and down the streets. But it also seemed so false and pretentious for me to wave a couple of posters for one night just to appease my need to reassure myself that I am trying to make a difference in the world. It's laughable, and demeaning and condescending and patronizing and dismissive of what is really at stake. People. Human beings. Human lives.
I don't know what to suggest for those who are itching to take a stand. For me, the first thing would be to find a solid non-profit group in the Bay Area that knows what they are talking about, that knows the situation in Tibet, and commit myself to their local project -- they would be tapped into what is happening and I can do much more good with their guidance than on my own trying to protest against Beijing. As for those who don't know where Tibet can be found, I suggest http://www.tibetanfreedomtorch.org/. Also, buy a world map. Please.
In most situations, I'm inclined to think that it is much, much more preferable to be FOR something rather than be AGAINST something. Making a positive statement for a positive outcome seems more constructive, so the question is not really boycott or not boycott.
No matter how we look at it, we cannot examine the Olympics in an a-political way because it IS about sports and athleticism and sportsmanship, but also about politics. What pushes our buttons and what persuades us to speak out and stand up about a cause? What rallies you towards the cause of helping Tibetans on the other side of the world -- and I mean to really do something instead of saying "those of you who can afford to go to the Olympics really should not go"? I'm not going to the Olympics, and I'm not carrying a torch, so what is my part in all this?
Last night, on the news, the reporter for Channel 5 News asked a few protesters to point out Tibet on the world map. Sadly, very few even knew the region where Tibet was located. I'm willing to bet that if asked, they would know exactly where China is located. If I cared about the killings in Tibet, I should know where those atrocities are happening. It doesn't help that I know more about the perpetrators than the victims.
When I saw the mile-long line of protestors walking up and down Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley on Sunday, I wanted to jump out there and join them -- grab a banner or poster and traipse up and down the streets. But it also seemed so false and pretentious for me to wave a couple of posters for one night just to appease my need to reassure myself that I am trying to make a difference in the world. It's laughable, and demeaning and condescending and patronizing and dismissive of what is really at stake. People. Human beings. Human lives.
I don't know what to suggest for those who are itching to take a stand. For me, the first thing would be to find a solid non-profit group in the Bay Area that knows what they are talking about, that knows the situation in Tibet, and commit myself to their local project -- they would be tapped into what is happening and I can do much more good with their guidance than on my own trying to protest against Beijing. As for those who don't know where Tibet can be found, I suggest http://www.tibetanfreedomtorch.org/. Also, buy a world map. Please.
April 9, 2008
How many 1 cent stamps to pay for the war?
As of May 12th, first class mail stamps are going up. 42 cents for one piece of mail! 62 cents for a square greeting card! For someone who often writes snail mail in lieu of e-mail, I have to count the remaining 41 cent stamps that I have (try unraveling & counting those cumbersome rolls of stamps!) and then buy 1 cent stamps that are often very ugly and which get lost so easily. It's like I threw away a penny when I lose a stamp (but not really b/c I care more about the stamp than I do the penny, weird, yes?). So I am pleased to know that the Forever stamps will last between now and, theoretically, forever. (Who knows if they'll take my Forever stamps in 2020.) Hearing this announcement of the increase in stamp prices, I immediately Googled for information about where all my pennies are going to... and I don't know. I don't know where all that money is going to. Can someone enlighten me? Not so Funny question is, how many 1 cent stamps do we have to buy from the U.S. postal office in order to pay off the 2.5 trillion dollar war? Hmmm?
I'm unconvinced you'll listen to me, so...
... I've taken the liberty of posting at nothing but hat's an entry from Generacion Y, a blog maintained by a pretty smart young lady. I recommend that you read it, and be thankful because, if you were actually on the island, you probably wouldn't have access to the blog TO read it if you wanted to, considering how she's being censored - just a little.
From Generacion Y:For several years I’ve been noticing that we’ve stopped using such conciliatory words “excuse me”, “pardon me” and “I’m sorry”. When we screw something up, we would rather blame clumsiness than admit our failure. Into that absurd “code of national male-chauvinism”, with laughable phrases as “a real man doesn’t drink soup, a real man doesn’t eat sweets, etc., etc.”, someone has added the phrase: “A real Cuban doesn’t have to apologize.”
I remember the hilarious anecdote of a friend of mine, whose toe was “crushed” by the narrow heel of a lady passing by. When he realized the lady was not going to apologize, he got closer to her and said, “Forgive me, my lady, for getting your heel dirty.” The woman didn’t like the irony at all, and she came very close to again crushing the toe of her “victim.” All this because she didn’t want to pronounce the magic words that proved her regret for the mistake she made.
How many times have we been badly waited on, insulted or ignored by a waiter who is incapable of articulate words as, “I’m very sorry, Sir.” A phrase like that is not the key to the problem, but at least it leaves you with the sensation that there no premeditation went in such a bad service. The record of pending apologies, however, goes to the bureaucrats and politicians. They’ve been our teachers in this “intensive course for not regretting anything.”
We are exceptional students of a government who, in the almost fifty years of “dancing alone” in the stage of our politics, has never given an apology for anything. We’ve been waiting in vain for the necessary mea culpa for the revolutionary crackdown in 1968, for the atrocity of the repudiation meetings, for the dependence on the Soviet Union, and for the successive and disastrous economic plans that ended up in this productive asphyxiation. Anyway, the list is so long and so dramatic that, instead of an apology, it demands a prolonged act of “public flagellation.”
Oh, well. I already know politicians never apologize. That’s why we, small copies of them, who imitate them, repeating their slogans and poses, also emulate them in not apologizing. “For what?”, the lady who stepped on my friend’s foot would ask. “We already have our toe crushed, and up there they don’t want to recognize they already have their soles dirty.”
April 8, 2008
Generation Y blogger
Thanks to New America Media, I discovered a great new blog called Generation Y, written by a young Cuban. She is sharp. I warn you -- you will like her very much. Read the English translation if you can't read the Spanish or German.
April 7, 2008
To Boycott or Not to Boycott The Olympics?
"The Beijing Games present us the opportunity to think about the international crises we face as part of a holistic system, to consider the bodies of our athletes as the bodies of the people of Darfur, to consider the Olympic flame as the flames that torch Tibet, to consider the voices of activists and politicians together with the voices of people on the ground and athletes on the fields. Wherever you come down on the question of the boycott, this is an opportunity for all of us to consider how, and to whom, we ask the question." -- India Currents, Commentary, Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan, Posted: Apr 07, 2008
Read the Article on New America Media
Read the Article on New America Media
I don't make enough to pay taxes!!!
#1. I did my 2007 taxes. Done. Finito. Finit! Hah!
#2. There was about 1 minute of panic during the process when taxactonline.com told me I owed like $1700 in state taxes. This ugly number in red appeared in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. I nearly died of a heart attack. You think that's nothing? For me, that's an awful lot considering I work in a theological seminary which does NOT receive funding from the General Convention (unlike the United Methodist schools) and which relies on the generosity of overtaxed donors and dwindling parishes. Every. Single. Penny. Counts.
#3. California's Franchise Tax Board has a free e-filing program called CalFile which refused to let me claim the interest I paid on my student loans. Do not use this program. I do not endorse it.
#4. Doing taxes has drained me of all desire to write poetry for tonight. I do not believe it is inspiring at all. Not at all.
#5. I make so little and yet have to pay so much. It makes me want to cry.
#2. There was about 1 minute of panic during the process when taxactonline.com told me I owed like $1700 in state taxes. This ugly number in red appeared in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. I nearly died of a heart attack. You think that's nothing? For me, that's an awful lot considering I work in a theological seminary which does NOT receive funding from the General Convention (unlike the United Methodist schools) and which relies on the generosity of overtaxed donors and dwindling parishes. Every. Single. Penny. Counts.
#3. California's Franchise Tax Board has a free e-filing program called CalFile which refused to let me claim the interest I paid on my student loans. Do not use this program. I do not endorse it.
#4. Doing taxes has drained me of all desire to write poetry for tonight. I do not believe it is inspiring at all. Not at all.
#5. I make so little and yet have to pay so much. It makes me want to cry.
April 4, 2008
Handsomest fella in my heart...
[photo removed]
Stats: B., age 1 year and 1 month old; curly dark blond hair, light colored eyes, walks with Frankenstein-esque style; living with parents; loves big copier machines, computers, and Monkey.
My only claim to him is that I and the rest of our faith community were lucky enough to be around when Ben's parents welcomed him into our midst last year. I saw pictures of him when he was first born in February. I heard about his mom having to live in a hotel room for four months to care for him while waiting for adoption papers. I saw photos of the hotel room where they had to stay because he and his mum couldn't leave his birth state of Indiana until he was legally adopted. I held his little, five-month-old self in my arms when he first arrived in Berkeley. I saw how he grew, and I shared with him my all-time favorite children's books: Good Night Moon & Where the Wild Things Are.
[photo removed]
In two months' time, B. and his parents will be moving to Austin, TX, and though he will always be a special little guy in heart, he will soon reach two years, then 8, then 12, then he'll be 16 and driving, and by then he would have no recollection of the lady he used to visit at the office. This Saturday, we celebrate his adoption. The whole community will come together to eat, drink, and be merry, knowing that we are a part of his life. We celebrate his uniqueness and we give thanks for his presence in our own lives. We heralded his coming, and we now celebrate in thanksgiving as he journeys forth to Austin, and into the world.
Stats: B., age 1 year and 1 month old; curly dark blond hair, light colored eyes, walks with Frankenstein-esque style; living with parents; loves big copier machines, computers, and Monkey.
My only claim to him is that I and the rest of our faith community were lucky enough to be around when Ben's parents welcomed him into our midst last year. I saw pictures of him when he was first born in February. I heard about his mom having to live in a hotel room for four months to care for him while waiting for adoption papers. I saw photos of the hotel room where they had to stay because he and his mum couldn't leave his birth state of Indiana until he was legally adopted. I held his little, five-month-old self in my arms when he first arrived in Berkeley. I saw how he grew, and I shared with him my all-time favorite children's books: Good Night Moon & Where the Wild Things Are.
[photo removed]
In two months' time, B. and his parents will be moving to Austin, TX, and though he will always be a special little guy in heart, he will soon reach two years, then 8, then 12, then he'll be 16 and driving, and by then he would have no recollection of the lady he used to visit at the office. This Saturday, we celebrate his adoption. The whole community will come together to eat, drink, and be merry, knowing that we are a part of his life. We celebrate his uniqueness and we give thanks for his presence in our own lives. We heralded his coming, and we now celebrate in thanksgiving as he journeys forth to Austin, and into the world.
April 1, 2008
Ok, who else got sucked in, huh? Can't just be me...
I am such a fool!
So I go to check my email, and Gmail has this great "new feature" called New! Gmail Custom Time. Wow. Sounds neat. Because I'm always looking up new features, I go read the description. And it has the craziest "testimonials" from beta test users, like Todd, the Investment Banker:
The joke's on me. Clearly. Hah!
So I go to check my email, and Gmail has this great "new feature" called New! Gmail Custom Time. Wow. Sounds neat. Because I'm always looking up new features, I go read the description. And it has the craziest "testimonials" from beta test users, like Todd, the Investment Banker:
"I used to be an honest person; but now I don't have to be. It's just so much easier this way. I've gained a lot of productivity by not having to think about doing the 'right' thing."- Todd J., Investment Banker
I think to myself. Crazy. What's going on here? Why would Gmail use these funny testimonials. Must be their peculiar way of making boring descriptions more interesting. I go to Compose Mail and can't find any such Custom Time button. I check and check, and I go to Help and I look up Custom Time and I'm beginning to feel like a total idiot. Then I see that a bunch of other idiots have been on a forum talking about the April fool's joke from the very creative folks at Gmail.The joke's on me. Clearly. Hah!
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