Friday, May 26, 2006

Well, this is a first - I am blogging from Oklahoma, Woodward to be exact. The hotel has hi-speed Internet, which surprises me, since the whole town didn't get dial-up until a few years ago (I almost called it slo-speed, but realized I should reserve that term for DSL). My mother's side meets every year or every other year up here (since Grandma can't travel), and it's usually a pretty good time. Especially since Nelwyn brought the PlayStation. :-)

Finished Assassin's Apprentice, which was excellent fun. Looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.

I'm hearing almost everyone I know who pays attention to politics and is under 40 talking about the need for a third party. Not that any of these people have any political positions in common. Just bring up abortion and watch the platform crumble. Don't get me wrong - I greatly respect these people (I'm one of them), but I don't see how the practical obstacles will be overcome. At this point, I'm focusing on what I can do for my family, my neighborhood, and hopefully my church when I find one. Politics can take a back seat.

My wife is amazing. Just the fun of being with her, of traveling with her all day and still wanting to be around her to hear what she's gonna say next. She rocks.

It's late - I should sleep. Stayed up last night watching 8 Mile (pretty well-done film) so got maybe 5 hours of sleep if I was lucky. And then 9 hours in the car, although the CRV made it much more enjoyable (and my passengers put up with one run-through of the Buffy Musical CD).
posted by Unknown 10:56 PM | 0 comments

Monday, May 22, 2006

UPDATE on previous story: Apparently the badges story has been unsubstantiated (although, in my defense, major news outlets were also fooled on Friday). Hope it didn't give Iran or publicity-seekers any ideas.

Thanks to Brownbeard for pointing this out.
posted by Unknown 10:45 AM | 0 comments

Friday, May 19, 2006

Ever wish a news item was just an Onion satire? This story reports that Iran has passed legislation requiring non-Muslims to wear special badges indicating their religion. It doesn't mention atheists - maybe they have to be naked? This is most threatening and humiliating to Jews, given the Nazis' Star of David badges and the whole "erase Israel" political atmosphere, but any marker to indicate "Different," even if it's not explicitly "Inferior", seems like a dangerous road.

Closer to home, I'm afraid people might retaliate a la Freedom Fries and treat Muslims similarly. I'd like to think it wouldn't happen, but I couldn't guarantee it.

Personally if I was labeling people with apparel badges, I'd make it something important: am I interested in talking to this person? Different colors would stand for combinations (or totals) of the following and similar qualities:
--Willing to have discussions with an open mind and perspective
--Holds thought-out opinions on religion, politics, and/or other Big Topics
--Has read Lord of the Rings, 1984, Harry Potter, and other excellent books
--Has watched Buffy/Angel/Firefly or other lesser but impressive shows
--Has nothing in common me and is open to exploring our backgrounds and differences

Doesn't that tell you a lot more about people than their religion?
posted by Unknown 2:48 PM | 1 comments

Starting Robin Hobbs' Assassin trilogy for a quick foray back into fiction. Doesn't the word Assassin suggest light and fun reading?

I'm torn today. Part of me wants to go see DaVinci Code just to protest the protesters. I don't want to paint with too broad a brush, but the Christianity they proclaim as truth is a greater danger to Christ's teachings than any self-proclaimed fiction ever written. On the other hand, I also believe Dan Brown deliberately triggered this reaction to increase sales of the book and movie, and that just sucks. So, in the battle of which idiot do I get to work against, I think I'm working against Dan Brown for the moment since I hear the movie's pretty awful (currently 17% on RottenTomatoes.com). If I hear better things, I might see it eventually, especially since Gandalf's supposed to be the only piece of the movie worth watching. You! Shall! Not! Decode!!!
posted by Unknown 11:08 AM | 0 comments

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Wow! The Cavs are up 3-2 over the Pistons, which goes to prove we have to play the games to know the results. Dunno if they can maintain it, but it's fun watching Detroit lose. Sadly, the Spurs could be knocked out tonight, but it's made for amazing basketball. These playoffs have been better than I could have ever hoped.

Management of the Absurd was good - here's a quick summary on things I found enlightening or good illustrations/phrasings of things I knew before (my phrasing, just in case this would embarrass Richard Farson):
1) Solving problems in the office doesn't stop complaints - it just changes them.
2) Some negative factors are problems that can be solved, others are predicaments that must be endured.
3) Any technique loses effectiveness as long as you're using it as a means. You know when someone flatters you to get something vs. honestly praising you.
4) Big changes are easier to imploement and more effective than small ones.
5) Whenever another person is involved, you have no control - possibly more power, but never control.
6) People want more of what they already have rather than something new.

Dunno what's next - I'm reading this week's Newsweek and then will figure it out. I've been a bit serious lately, so I think it might be fiction. We'll see.

I watched Bush's immigration address on Monday night. I liked his approach - seems like a middle road that tries to shut down the illegal border-crossing, and recognizes both the economic value of current illegal immigrants and the difficulty of removing them. I just wish I trusted him (and Congress) to follow through it.
posted by Unknown 8:52 PM | 0 comments

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

A few thoughts I wanted to share:
1) Management of the Absurd is better than I gave it credit for. More on it later.
2) Arthur C. Clarke's third law in Profiles of the Future is: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. But science fiction is far more separated from fantasy. I don't know why, but science fiction seems fairly pessimistic about the future, but something about the human race (usually our adaptability or luck or something else out of our mind's control, but occasionally our conscience or something more distinguished) causes us to survive and eventually triumph. Fantasy is more hopeful of the future, but less positive about the human race - usually the continuance of the species has to do with the support of other beings, sometimes supernatural. Maybe because so much of fantasy is derived from Tolkien's heavily Christianized work? No idea.
3) Watched the Spurs lose to the Mavs tonight (uggh!), but was amused at the Texas themes the TV broadcasters were using. One team led by a Virgin Islander, a Frenchman, and an Argentinian played against a team led by a German missing his Canadian sidekick. I don't even know if a single player/coach in the series grew up in Texas - it's just their office. But still country western music played over the intros and montages. Yee haw.

No idea why the burst of expression today. Mebbe it'll keep up with me.
posted by Unknown 12:13 AM | 0 comments

Monday, May 15, 2006

US Representative John Culberson is a spammer and a fraud of a Congressman, even by their standards. I somehow ended up on the mailing list of this West Houston Republican who seems to worship at the alter of DeLay "conservatives." I can't unsubscribe because it's a forwarding address (I've gone through a few rounds of email with the Congressional listserv operators), I can't email his office because I'm not in his district (his site makes you go through a 5-minute process and type your entire message before telling you this), and he has no 800 number for either his Houston or DC office.

Why am I posting? Well, he seems like the kind of person who would Google himself, so if Representative Culberson or one of his associates/employees finds this entry, please leave a comment as to how I can contact you without incurring expense to remove myself from your mailing list. I dislike Houston, but reading about the person (almost wrote man, but that implies a certain amount of dignity and humanity) they elected sickens me even further.

If you're a political opponent of Representative Culberson and would like a donation, please leave a comment.
posted by Unknown 3:19 PM | 0 comments

CNN had an article this morning about the Vatican continuing in its convoluted attempts to denounce the Da Vinci Code without alienating its millions of Catholic fans. Now the Vatican has no monopoly on condemning books it's never read (I still have trouble convincing people in the church of Christ that Harry Potter has more Christian elements than romance/mystery novels they dig into.), but this kinda comes around to my problem with Catholicism. I know a lot of Catholics who are very sincere in their beliefs, but I don't understand the need for a hierarchy to lay out the thoughts members are supposed to have on every topic. Reading this article, my main impression is that the Vatican doesn't have enough respect for the laypeople to know fact from fiction - I know some people who'd say they're counting on that quality. Once again, I know enough people in every denomination who feel the need to provide that kind of groupthink for everyone around them. I just can't imagine creating and maintaining a hierarchy to reinforce that attitude.
posted by Unknown 8:47 AM | 4 comments

Finished the Buffy&Philosophy book. Then went through In A Sunburned Country, kinduva travelogue(?) of a writer in Australia. Cool descriptions and anecdotes, but I prefer plot/character/significance kinda stuff. Still, a nice break, and I admit I want to visit Australia now.

Currently reading Management of the Absurd. It was recommended (actually bought for me!) by a coworker who's leaning towards doing leadership counseling. It's got some great "blow your mind" kinda perspectives, like how much the automobile has shaped society as opposed to society using the automobile to accomplish predefined goals. The overall theme seems to be that "techniques" and "tricks" don't work in relationships and managing people, that who you are shines through in the end, for better or worse, and that that "real you" is what determines effective leadership. I don't disagree, but I'm hoping for more how-to later in the book as otherwise it just kinda points out flaws and laughs. Not that other management books have any significant value, but I can't imagine the Nelson Muntz School of Management being the best option.

Watched 2 movies today - Bull Durham and War of the Worlds. Yeah, yeah, I have no taste. I'm just abusing Netflix to see movies I've wanted to, for whatever reason. But it did get me thinking that decent movies can be as good as books. They can pull you into the character and plot almost as effectively (maybe as effectively, but it's definitely a different kind of hook and I prefer books), and the immediacy of sights and sounds make it a more visceral response. And some masters even manage to bring this to the TV screen - like the West Wing (which sadly finished a 7-year run of mostly ups but a few downs tonight), Buffy/Angel/Firefly, and more recently Veronica Mars. If I had to pick one, give me my bookshelves every time, but I like a good story in any medium.

If you were going to help people, where would you look to do so? Causes that already have a lot of attention, or not so much? The first category provides an easy infrastructure to fit into, and usually data (or at least theories) about how to help, but for the very same reasons makes having an individual impact more difficult. Working on more low-profile causes would be a lot lonelier since by definition people aren't focusing attention or resources, but if you can raise that profile, you've individually accomplished more. Hmm, rereading that makes it sound like I'm concerned with my own accomplishments, but it's more the impact on those that need the help - if you can help more people by your own efforts, it seems like a bigger good. Interested in comments as I haven't really hammered on answering this question myself.

Will try to blog again sooner than this time - want to explore Net Neutrality, and hopefully commenters will have insight.
posted by Unknown 12:00 AM | 1 comments

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Well, we decided Friday afternoon to look at buying a car, researched models Friday night, looked up available cars Saturday morning, and drove a 2004 Honda CRV off the lot at 1:30PM Saturday. For the record, Wife and I both agree this car is black. (She still claims my former Camry was brown while everyone knows it's gray.) (For further evidence in my defense, she thought Andy's black car was light blue, which he didn't appreciate - I guess I'm lucky she realizes the CRV is black.) It's new-to-us rather than new, but I've never gotten to drive a new car, so I like it.

Going to see MI3 this afternoon - we've heard good things overall despite Tom Cruise. Here's hoping it's actually worth $7 tickets. At least we get to have dinner at the Alamo.
posted by Unknown 11:12 AM | 2 comments

Friday, May 05, 2006

Last night a storm knocked down a large portion of the tree in front of our condo. It came to rest less than an inch from our window (the leaves were pressed up against it). We never heard a thing. I think I was even awake and just on the other side of that window during the storm. It's funny how close potential destruction can come and we never see it.

On the flip side, I'm convinced potential joy and friendships and opportunities pass by just as frequently. More frequently, judging by the amount of good things that manage to find me compared to bad things.

Might be looking to buy a car - it's been interesting looking for winning models. I probably worry too much about gas mileage, but I bet a lot fewer people think that than when gas was under $2. Test driving should be interesting - I'm usually crammed into any car, but I've been convinced to look at small SUVs and wagons so mebbe this will be a different ballgame.

Speaking of ballgames, the defending champ Spurs are slowly crushing the Kings in Game 6. Go Spurs!

Been trying to put together a rational position on illegal immigrants. I believe that any solution has to include taking a strong control of the border so that we can deal with the problem as it exists rather than expecting the number of illegals to grow (thanks to Mac for pointing this out). As to those who are here, well, yes, they committed a crime. A crime the government and employers winked at as they built much of the economic growth of the last decade on employees who couldn't even demand minimum wage (continued housing boom, anyone?). So I don't think it's fair to blame this one entirely on the immigrants themselves. My preference leans most often towards offering a process for earned amnesty - registering, fines, working towards citizenship - but recognizing America's role in their situation by granting residency. If they don't follow through on the process, deport. In addition to punishing, this method would also allow them to claim basic human rights like being paid what's promised (and a living wage), and being able to report crimes. There's no perfect solution, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't look for the best one we can find.
posted by Unknown 11:11 PM | 0 comments

Monday, May 01, 2006

We interviewed 5 students this weekend for a scholarship (ended up adding one for a second student), and I'd like to offer some tips for any readers who are applying for admission/scholarships, or have children who will do so:
1) Keep up with current events - you don't have to know the junior senator from Montana or anything, but skim a news site or magazine every so often. Or even *gasp* a daily paper.
2) Volunteer with something you're interested in - in addition to looking good on an application, it will probably give you good anecdotes for interview answers.
3) Learn how to take a position on an issue. I've never been a fan of the debate model where the important part is the persuasion, but have enough confidence to say "I think X because of A, B, and C." It's even cooler if you have enough confidence to discuss this belief with an open mind.
4) Look for something outside of school that interests you. School activities can be very important and productive (heck, I think almost everything I did was in school), but the process of going outside your normal activities to find an effort to contribute towards is what it will be like in college and later life.

Enough on that soapbox. One interesting thing I found out: apparently the Terry Schiavo case stuck in teens' heads much better than the recent Dubai ports contract.
posted by Unknown 8:30 AM | 0 comments