I tried to follow up on it, but then I had a million other things to do.
Here is what I found out about Fanny.
1 month until new book!
1 week ago
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Quote Thursday...again
I tried to follow up on it, but then I had a million other things to do.
Here is what I found out about Fanny.
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
More NM Education
Along with letting the NCLB AYP standards slip and slide, apparently the state is also rethinking what diplomas mean. See article below. It is most interesting to me from the perspective of where these kids will go after they get their diplomas. The university is already talking about toughening admissions standards and isolating some of the students into an honors college ... what can kids do with a diploma that means something other than what is a standard high school diploma?
In my opinion, this is just another sign that we do not all agree on the purpose of public education. Somehow the magical diploma makes everything alright ... regardless of what it stands for.
I was coincidentally listening to this piece recently ... when you hear the Pew guy talk about the diploma making kids eligible for college -- and then the other guy talk about how those who are going to community colleges are invariably getting stuck in "developmental" (read: remedial, he corrects himself midway through the conversation) courses. These students generally are not making it to the golden BA diploma or even AA diploma. They spend a lot of time getting to know just what it means to have a substandard education -- even if it has been faux gold plated with a diploma.
What we forget is that these students, by and large, are doing exactly what we ask of them only to find that their compliance leads to an empty diploma... empty of promises and surely devoid of any thing that might be of use to them in the future.
We need to seriously consider the meaning of our actions as we rush to give students (read: schools and parents) the feel good of a "diploma" or school ratings of A-F. In the end, it is what the students LEARN and are able to take away that matters.
Here are some articles, in entirety since I can't trust the links.
Given that NM is a majority minority state (the only one in the US) and UNM is the only research one Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), the numbers in the article below matter -- and are directly related to the article above, my commentary and that piece on NPR's Tell Me More... we've got to start putting all the pieces together rather than living our lives in sound bites.
This dip in enrollment is not unique to NM, however, as I read a similar article from California.
In my opinion, this is just another sign that we do not all agree on the purpose of public education. Somehow the magical diploma makes everything alright ... regardless of what it stands for.
I was coincidentally listening to this piece recently ... when you hear the Pew guy talk about the diploma making kids eligible for college -- and then the other guy talk about how those who are going to community colleges are invariably getting stuck in "developmental" (read: remedial, he corrects himself midway through the conversation) courses. These students generally are not making it to the golden BA diploma or even AA diploma. They spend a lot of time getting to know just what it means to have a substandard education -- even if it has been faux gold plated with a diploma.
What we forget is that these students, by and large, are doing exactly what we ask of them only to find that their compliance leads to an empty diploma... empty of promises and surely devoid of any thing that might be of use to them in the future.
We need to seriously consider the meaning of our actions as we rush to give students (read: schools and parents) the feel good of a "diploma" or school ratings of A-F. In the end, it is what the students LEARN and are able to take away that matters.
Here are some articles, in entirety since I can't trust the links.
State Gives Other Options For Diploma
Hailey Heinz / Journal Staff Writer, Published: Sep 1, 2012
For the roughly 10,000 New Mexico high school seniors who didn't pass the Standards Based Assessment last year, hope is on the horizon.
The Public Education Department on Friday released the details of how students can show their knowledge and receive a high school diploma in other ways. Moreover, the PED clarified that students who fail to demonstrate competency can still receive the lottery scholarship to attend college in New Mexico.
This year's high school seniors are the first class that must get a passing score on the 11th grade SBA or prove their knowledge through other criteria in order to receive a diploma. "Passing" the SBA means achieving a certain total score in math and reading, and scoring at least "nearing proficient" in both subjects. Students must also reach a set score in the "nearing proficient" range on the science section of the test.
Required scores
If students don't pass the Student Based Assessment on the second attempt, they can earn a diploma by getting certain scores on several common college placement tests. Here are the scores they need for the ACT and SAT.
ACT
Social Sciences (reading): 21
College Algebra: 22
Biology: 24
SAT:
Reading: 450
Math: 450
Students who don't meet these standards or the other criteria outlined Friday, but who meet all other high school graduation requirements, will receive a "certificate of completion" instead of a diploma.
Policymakers in 2010 decided to scrap the state's previous high school exit exam, which the state had been using since the 1980s and which measured skills at an eighth grade level. The SBA tests 11th grade standards.
The law that authorizes the lottery scholarship says students are eligible to receive it "immediately upon completion of a high school curriculum at a public or accredited private New Mexico high school or upon receiving a graduate equivalent diploma."
PED spokesman Larry Behrens said he interprets the statute to mean students who receive a "certificate of completion" from their high schools rather than a diploma can still get the lottery scholarship.
But there may be other hurdles for students who earn a certificate instead of a diploma. The federal government's "basic eligibility criteria" for federal financial aid says students must have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent like a GED or completion of an approved homeschool program. In other states, students who received certificates found they were not eligible for federal aid.
In their first attempt at the test last spring, 57 percent of students across the state received a passing score. The other 43 percent will have another chance to take the test during the first two weeks of October.
And if they don't pass on the second try, they have other options for receiving a diploma.
According to a PED manual released Friday afternoon, students can demonstrate their knowledge in core subjects by meeting a minimum score on one of the following tests: Advanced Placement, ACT, SAT, PSAT, AccuPlacer or International Baccalaureate.
Students can also demonstrate their skills by passing designated core subject classes, or an equivalent end of course exam. Specifically, to show math competency, students must pass Algebra II, Integrated Math 3 or an equivalent course. For reading, they must pass English 3 or an equivalent course. And in science, students must pass either chemistry or biology.
This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal
Given that NM is a majority minority state (the only one in the US) and UNM is the only research one Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), the numbers in the article below matter -- and are directly related to the article above, my commentary and that piece on NPR's Tell Me More... we've got to start putting all the pieces together rather than living our lives in sound bites.
This dip in enrollment is not unique to NM, however, as I read a similar article from California.
N.M. College Enrollment Dips
Astrid Galvan / Journal Staff Writer, Published: Sep 1, 2012
[Photo not available in the version I read] University of New Mexico students at the school's main campus walk to class at lunch hour recently. Classes started Aug. 20, and enrollment has stayed steady at about 28,000. Photo Credit Roberto E. Rosales/Journal
Enrollment at some of New Mexico's colleges and universities has decreased since last year, but only slightly.
For most schools, the numbers aren't final, as students can still register late. But trends have emerged: a drop in the number of graduate students and an increase in freshman classes.
Enrollment at the University of New Mexico has stayed steady at about 28,000. It is seeing a slight increase in its freshman class, most notably among out of state freshman, which grew by 6 percent.
However, there's a 3.75 percent decrease in the number of graduate students, from 4,268 to 4,108.
Such is the case at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, where the graduate student population has dropped from 504 to 485 students, or 3.76 percent, according to spokesman Tom Guengerich.
Guengerich said that's in large part due to the school's year old policy of allowing students to graduate every month. For example, a graduate student who finishes degree requirements in September can officially graduate within the month instead of having to wait until the end of the semester. That opens up more job opportunities, Guengerich said.
"For some students that created a real problem," he said. "We've heard nothing but positive feedback from graduate students who are now getting their diploma off schedule."
An 11.3 percent increase in Tech's undergraduate population, to 1,676 students, helped offset the decrease. What's more, the university this year has its largest freshman class in the school's history with 373 first year students.
At New Mexico State, enrollment has dipped about 2 percent since last year at the school's main campus in Las Cruces, according to university data. That campus has more than 17,000 students enrolled, but there are an overall 28,000 students in the university's campuses around the state.
Central New Mexico Community College's enrollment numbers have seen gains since the Journal reported a 10 percent drop earlier this month. The gap has closed to about 2.9 percent, spokesman Brad Moore said. There are now 28,346 students in classes, which started Monday.
Perhaps the biggest changes in enrollment were within UNM, CNM and NMSU's satellite campuses.
CNM's Rio Rancho campus saw a nearly 16 percent spike, from 1,466 to 1,700. UNM's Rio Rancho location grew from 407 to 572 students. Both campuses opened in 2010.
As for New Mexico State, enrollment at its Grants branch fell 9.5 percent, and at its Carlsbad one it grew 14 percent. "Students can adjust their course schedules during the first two weeks to better balance their academic, work and family life," Bernadette Montoya, NMSU vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, said in a statement.
"In addition, late registration continues through Sept. 4, so enrollment numbers will continue to fluctuate."
This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Gifts from the Universe
I have been struggling, since I don't feel well, all day ... I wondered, is it that mercury has secretly gone retrograde? Did I do something to upset the blue moon?
And the universe answered with this DailyOM:
And the universe answered with this DailyOM:
September 3, 2012
Being Your Own Voice of Reason
Meaning
by Madisyn Taylor
How we attach meaning to events in our lives has a large influence on the quality of our life.
The meaning we assign to our experiences–whether pleasant or distressing, is a very powerful factor in determining the quality of our lives. What we imagine events to mean will color the way we feel about ourselves, about the people in our lives, and about the world at large. If we want to encourage a positive outlook, well-being, and a sense of self-confidence and even trust in the universe, we can begin by assigning more peaceful, loving meanings to what we experience.
Imagine, for example, that a friend fails to show up to a lunch date. You have choices as to what you will make this experience mean for you. You could allow being “stood up” to reinforce your feelings of unworthiness, you could begin to mentally attack your friend’s character, or you could assume that something big must have happened to cause them to miss the date—then, you might open yourself up to enjoying some relaxing time alone.
If you were recently laid off and are having difficulty finding a new job, consider that you might have hidden gifts or passions that were untapped in your regular career that you are now available to explore. The universe might simply be moving you in a more fulfilling direction. If you have recently lost a loved one, gained weight, lost money, or gotten in a fight with your partner, see if you can infuse the experience with meaning that feels loving and empowering and opens a door for you to embrace life and the world a bit more.
When we begin to bring consciousness to what we are making things mean, we may be shocked at the messages we have been feeding ourselves all these years. Try taking the reigns and begin assigning a kinder meaning to the events in your life and you will likely find yourself on a much more pleasant ride.
Monday, September 03, 2012
The perils of google and the trouble with information, too much and too little....
I was listening to a discussion about ethics and it turned to how the internet had changed our lives in terms of ethics over the past ten or twenty years. One thing the ethics guru mentioned was how over the past ten years, his answers had changed about the intrusiveness of googling someone. He said when he was originally asked about whether it was appropriate to google someone -- say you were going on a blind date, etc., people were inclined to feel it was too intrusive. Now, he said, it would seem imprudent not to use all the resources available to get information about a prospective (fill in the blank).
I wondered as I listened to him... you could, for instance, pay for a background check on anyone in minutes over the internet. Is that intrusive? Does it matter how the information would be used? And then I saw this article. I am the last one, internet sleuth that I am, to tell anyone not to try to find out information. However, using it against someone in this way seems like an overstep. Clearly the parents were upset about not being consulted about the change in teachers. However, what level of control should parents have over personnel in a school? If they are in charge of deciding teacher moves, why do you need a principal? Certainly, the parents have every right to google the teacher, to use that information to form a rational reason for being extra vigilant ... but do they have the right to ban her from a classroom? If she had been convicted, perhaps ... but she took part in a program specifically designed to get her back into the classroom.
Well, in other news, I have been following this story about the hanta virus in Yosemite for at least the last two weeks. I was disturbed to see the first story ... simply saying that two people had contracted it and one person had died. Now it turns out there were at least four and two of them have died, this year. The problem here is not too much information, it's too little. Turns out that there were people infected last year, and maybe the year before. But were the people staying in these popular and apparently coveted cabins aware of the situation? Worse than that, what did the agency in charge of these cabins do to protect the public they weren't warning? It is a little more than ironic that it is the "luxury" cabins that create the haven for deer mice. Poor little deer mice, they have no interest in being infected themselves, nor in infecting others, they are just making their homes in the best environment available to them.
I wondered as I listened to him... you could, for instance, pay for a background check on anyone in minutes over the internet. Is that intrusive? Does it matter how the information would be used? And then I saw this article. I am the last one, internet sleuth that I am, to tell anyone not to try to find out information. However, using it against someone in this way seems like an overstep. Clearly the parents were upset about not being consulted about the change in teachers. However, what level of control should parents have over personnel in a school? If they are in charge of deciding teacher moves, why do you need a principal? Certainly, the parents have every right to google the teacher, to use that information to form a rational reason for being extra vigilant ... but do they have the right to ban her from a classroom? If she had been convicted, perhaps ... but she took part in a program specifically designed to get her back into the classroom.
Well, in other news, I have been following this story about the hanta virus in Yosemite for at least the last two weeks. I was disturbed to see the first story ... simply saying that two people had contracted it and one person had died. Now it turns out there were at least four and two of them have died, this year. The problem here is not too much information, it's too little. Turns out that there were people infected last year, and maybe the year before. But were the people staying in these popular and apparently coveted cabins aware of the situation? Worse than that, what did the agency in charge of these cabins do to protect the public they weren't warning? It is a little more than ironic that it is the "luxury" cabins that create the haven for deer mice. Poor little deer mice, they have no interest in being infected themselves, nor in infecting others, they are just making their homes in the best environment available to them.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Rome, by all means Rome ...
Returning to this travelscape journal after several months means that this will be more impressionistic than journalistic. At this point, I am not sure you all (whoever you are) care about the epic vacation, but I would like to finish recording my impressions.
I have still not been home, so I don't have any pictures -- beyond those you paint in your mind from my words.
One last caveat -- probably not going to be in chronological order.
The Tree Lined Avenue
Somehow, one evening, we ended up on a large tree lined avenue. There were beautiful doors opening on to hidden gardens, gelatto shops, restaurants, houseware stores... but mostly this truly beautiful canopy of trees over a large avenue. I couldn't get there again, I am not sure how we got there. I think we wandered there from the Vatican, but I am not sure. My mom and sister snapped picture after picture, and I spent some time shopping for demitasse. Then it started to get dark, and I wondered where we were, and how we would get back to our neighborhood.
The Vatican
One day, we spent in line with the million or so other people who wanted to to get into the Vatican. I recall it as even less pleasant than when my mom and I saw the huge line at the Louvre. I must have had more stamina then ... in this line, you could "cut" to the beginning by being in an organized group. I kid you not, we hiked to the end of the line (about four city blocks) and settled in -- hoping it wasn't going to rain.
It is always somewhat disconcerting when you have to walk several blocks to the entrance and then KEEP walking till you get to the real end of the line. It was particularly painful to walk by the group line which was more like a trickle than the torrent of people in our line. Then, we spent about an hour or so telling the "tour organizers" that we were not interested. I think at one point I said to one, "why would I have walked all the way to the end if I was going to say yes to a tour?"
They were an interesting lot ... you could almost see the wheels turning as they approached a group of people in line trying to determine which language to assail them in. The funniest was a young Irish man whose name I no longer remember, though we did remember it for a long time, who got quite irritated with us. I don't know what we said to set him off, but at one point, he told us not to pray for him because he didn't need to change anything in his life. It was funnier in the moment ... and every time we approached a church for the rest of the trip, we would ask each other if we should pray for him -- hence the remembering of his name.
We also made friends with a Colombian man ... he was traveling alone in Italy, but seemed to want to be part of our group. I can't remember his name either (maybe Miguel?), but my sister told me that recently he got in touch with her via email to send her some of the million pictures he took of her.
There was too much to look at in the Vatican. Like I said, it was overwhelming like the Louvre ... not just the line. My favorite part was the hall of busts and sarcaphogus(es?). I was tickled to see the range of hairstyles ... nothing in the world is new, in case you were wondering. I also enjoyed the patio with the lions. We took pictures of all the lions we saw for my sister, and noted all the ducks, saying, "Aflac" because a friend of ours was about to get a job with that company. It was truly exhausting to walk through all the halls with so many people bustling around us ... and it was not peak season ... only to get to another set of halls.
I just wanted to see the Sistine Chapel - and we took all the shortcuts, but it was never ending. By the time we actually got to the Chapel, I was so done ... I couldn't enjoy it. I just kept noting how no one there had any idea what rules were or how they might be employed. The Italian guards tried over and over to explain that this was a holy place, to not take pictures, to lower our voices, etc. Instead there was incessant, loud chatter in a large room that had not one surface undecorated, but it hardly looked like a chapel... I guess I can't really blame the visitors for not seeing the sacred there. The truth is the Vatican Museums, as they are called, do not give off any religious feeling. I am sure that if you are an art aficionado or connoisseur you would feel some bit of ecstasy at the collection of artists and work represented -- from earliest Christian (and even pre-Christian) history through modern times.
The Train Station
We spent another half of a day arguing with the woman at the train station ticketing office -- I longed for Germany and the first class line -- we spoke in English until she wouldn't do what I asked. Then I unleashed some Italian on her and she "Madame'd" me. It was a common occurrence in Italy ... when you had pushed someone, anyone, past where his/her sense of respectability could handle, he/she would look at you (me) and say, "Madame" as if to say -- you, crazy bitch. It is said with emotion that displays the ennui that has been engendered in two distinctive syllables: "Ma, DAME." There was no need to roll your eyes or sigh after that delivery. Well, I got Madame'd by her quite a bit.
She objected to us wanting to go to Naples for a day. Truthfully, so did I! But, it was going to be a rainy day, and I had no idea what we would do in Naples beyond eat pizza (that hardly takes all day). So, I wanted to go all the way past the Amalfi coast on the train and then come back to Naples and stop for the damn pizza. [By the way, I underestimated my mother and sister's ability to entertain themselves with shopping, ugh and sigh.] The ticketing agent was beyond indignant. She informed me that just because we had a rail pass didn't mean we could travel as much as we wanted. I had to tell her that, actually, that was exactly what it meant.
Finally, we relented and decided to just go to Naples. That restarted her objection to ONE DAY in Naples. Then she tried to bully us into leaving at 8am ... it was a 30 minute ride to the train station from our apartment... I hardly wanted to be getting up early enough for three of us to be dressed, breakfasted and traveled 30 minutes. She was a tough cookie and NEARLY as stubborn as me.
Her energy must have been waning because she sold us the ticket for 10am ... and a return at 5pm. Boy was she disappointed when I told her we were also going to make the rest of our reservations that day. Keep in mind there was a long line of people behind us, hoping to get a chance to get Madame'd by her. Fun times...MADAME!
There is more, but this is already too long of a post without pictures.
I was right ... by the way... a short time in Rome is not enough.
I have still not been home, so I don't have any pictures -- beyond those you paint in your mind from my words.
One last caveat -- probably not going to be in chronological order.
The Tree Lined Avenue
Somehow, one evening, we ended up on a large tree lined avenue. There were beautiful doors opening on to hidden gardens, gelatto shops, restaurants, houseware stores... but mostly this truly beautiful canopy of trees over a large avenue. I couldn't get there again, I am not sure how we got there. I think we wandered there from the Vatican, but I am not sure. My mom and sister snapped picture after picture, and I spent some time shopping for demitasse. Then it started to get dark, and I wondered where we were, and how we would get back to our neighborhood.
The Vatican
One day, we spent in line with the million or so other people who wanted to to get into the Vatican. I recall it as even less pleasant than when my mom and I saw the huge line at the Louvre. I must have had more stamina then ... in this line, you could "cut" to the beginning by being in an organized group. I kid you not, we hiked to the end of the line (about four city blocks) and settled in -- hoping it wasn't going to rain.
It is always somewhat disconcerting when you have to walk several blocks to the entrance and then KEEP walking till you get to the real end of the line. It was particularly painful to walk by the group line which was more like a trickle than the torrent of people in our line. Then, we spent about an hour or so telling the "tour organizers" that we were not interested. I think at one point I said to one, "why would I have walked all the way to the end if I was going to say yes to a tour?"
They were an interesting lot ... you could almost see the wheels turning as they approached a group of people in line trying to determine which language to assail them in. The funniest was a young Irish man whose name I no longer remember, though we did remember it for a long time, who got quite irritated with us. I don't know what we said to set him off, but at one point, he told us not to pray for him because he didn't need to change anything in his life. It was funnier in the moment ... and every time we approached a church for the rest of the trip, we would ask each other if we should pray for him -- hence the remembering of his name.
We also made friends with a Colombian man ... he was traveling alone in Italy, but seemed to want to be part of our group. I can't remember his name either (maybe Miguel?), but my sister told me that recently he got in touch with her via email to send her some of the million pictures he took of her.
There was too much to look at in the Vatican. Like I said, it was overwhelming like the Louvre ... not just the line. My favorite part was the hall of busts and sarcaphogus(es?). I was tickled to see the range of hairstyles ... nothing in the world is new, in case you were wondering. I also enjoyed the patio with the lions. We took pictures of all the lions we saw for my sister, and noted all the ducks, saying, "Aflac" because a friend of ours was about to get a job with that company. It was truly exhausting to walk through all the halls with so many people bustling around us ... and it was not peak season ... only to get to another set of halls.
I just wanted to see the Sistine Chapel - and we took all the shortcuts, but it was never ending. By the time we actually got to the Chapel, I was so done ... I couldn't enjoy it. I just kept noting how no one there had any idea what rules were or how they might be employed. The Italian guards tried over and over to explain that this was a holy place, to not take pictures, to lower our voices, etc. Instead there was incessant, loud chatter in a large room that had not one surface undecorated, but it hardly looked like a chapel... I guess I can't really blame the visitors for not seeing the sacred there. The truth is the Vatican Museums, as they are called, do not give off any religious feeling. I am sure that if you are an art aficionado or connoisseur you would feel some bit of ecstasy at the collection of artists and work represented -- from earliest Christian (and even pre-Christian) history through modern times.
The Train Station
We spent another half of a day arguing with the woman at the train station ticketing office -- I longed for Germany and the first class line -- we spoke in English until she wouldn't do what I asked. Then I unleashed some Italian on her and she "Madame'd" me. It was a common occurrence in Italy ... when you had pushed someone, anyone, past where his/her sense of respectability could handle, he/she would look at you (me) and say, "Madame" as if to say -- you, crazy bitch. It is said with emotion that displays the ennui that has been engendered in two distinctive syllables: "Ma, DAME." There was no need to roll your eyes or sigh after that delivery. Well, I got Madame'd by her quite a bit.
She objected to us wanting to go to Naples for a day. Truthfully, so did I! But, it was going to be a rainy day, and I had no idea what we would do in Naples beyond eat pizza (that hardly takes all day). So, I wanted to go all the way past the Amalfi coast on the train and then come back to Naples and stop for the damn pizza. [By the way, I underestimated my mother and sister's ability to entertain themselves with shopping, ugh and sigh.] The ticketing agent was beyond indignant. She informed me that just because we had a rail pass didn't mean we could travel as much as we wanted. I had to tell her that, actually, that was exactly what it meant.
Finally, we relented and decided to just go to Naples. That restarted her objection to ONE DAY in Naples. Then she tried to bully us into leaving at 8am ... it was a 30 minute ride to the train station from our apartment... I hardly wanted to be getting up early enough for three of us to be dressed, breakfasted and traveled 30 minutes. She was a tough cookie and NEARLY as stubborn as me.
Her energy must have been waning because she sold us the ticket for 10am ... and a return at 5pm. Boy was she disappointed when I told her we were also going to make the rest of our reservations that day. Keep in mind there was a long line of people behind us, hoping to get a chance to get Madame'd by her. Fun times...MADAME!
There is more, but this is already too long of a post without pictures.
I was right ... by the way... a short time in Rome is not enough.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Quote Thursday...
One of these days I will seriously get back to looking for poetry ... depending on my reading/writing schedule.
Here's a quote I found while looking around:
Here's a quote I found while looking around:
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
you can tell ...
...I'm dieting because I listened to this and began plotting when and how I could 1) make these and 2) justify it.
Ugh... I have been very, very good... who knows what will happen next.
I want these:
Ugh... I have been very, very good... who knows what will happen next.
I want these:
Courtesy of Jones Franzel
The original caption: A traditional sweet treat from Maine, needhams are made with coconut, chocolate and real Maine potatoes.Tuesday, August 28, 2012
at the pet shop
I was waiting for the guy to come around to bag up some feeder fish. I glanced around and saw at least three families hanging out at the pet shop. This is not the first time I noticed parents using the pet shop as an air conditioned spot for the kids to hang out -- browse, if not buy. The kids seem to really get into it.
This particular visit, I saw a young girl, maybe 4 or 5, and she had one shell up to her ear and the other over her mouth. She was talking loudly into the shell as though she were on the telephone.
She disappeared around the other aisle, but then emerged again -- this time with one shell. She was talking into it, and pretty soon another voice was behind her. The older sister, maybe 7, was talking into the other shell.
When they got close enough, I had to ask... are you guys talking to each other? Can you hear her in your shell?
The older one at first said, yes, and then corrected herself. Actually, she was having a conversation with the ocean. A long and complicated conversation, I might add.
I leaned down towards her and pointed at my ear. She held the shell up to my ear. I heard the ocean roaring, and I nodded.
Yup, she was talking to the ocean all the way from Albuquerque.
This particular visit, I saw a young girl, maybe 4 or 5, and she had one shell up to her ear and the other over her mouth. She was talking loudly into the shell as though she were on the telephone.
She disappeared around the other aisle, but then emerged again -- this time with one shell. She was talking into it, and pretty soon another voice was behind her. The older sister, maybe 7, was talking into the other shell.
When they got close enough, I had to ask... are you guys talking to each other? Can you hear her in your shell?
The older one at first said, yes, and then corrected herself. Actually, she was having a conversation with the ocean. A long and complicated conversation, I might add.
I leaned down towards her and pointed at my ear. She held the shell up to my ear. I heard the ocean roaring, and I nodded.
Yup, she was talking to the ocean all the way from Albuquerque.
Monday, August 27, 2012
it gets better, round 47?
perhaps a little late to the game, and cajoled (convinced) through a social media campaign -- but here it is, the first NFL sponsored "it gets better"
I can't believe the Mormons got a gay pride parade before any football players (teams) stepped up ... but I guess we will take open mindedness wherever we can get it.
I can't believe the Mormons got a gay pride parade before any football players (teams) stepped up ... but I guess we will take open mindedness wherever we can get it.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Books I Read This Summer
Murder Your Darlings -- J. J. Murphy
Ugh... I didn't really like this one, but my mother "chose" it from the stack I gave her to choose from -- and then when we got one day into the trip she told me she didn't like it. So, I gave her the one I had brought for me (see below - Tell Me Something True).
Stabat Mater --Tiziano Scarpa
I wanted a book in Italian preferably about Venice (that's where I bought this one) -- the lovely blue eyes that sold me this book thought it would be perfect for me. It was odd -- but interesting. The entire book is really a monologue in the guise of letters to a mother this young woman has never known. While the "action" takes place in Venice, there are very few times when it is noticeable since she rarely leaves the convent walls. I don't know now how much I enjoyed the book or just that I was excited to still be able to read Italian well enough to get what was happening.
Tell Me Something True -- Leila Cobo
Someone gave me this book after she read it for a book club. It sat on my shelf for a while, I might not have chosen it. But, it turned out to be engaging and not your typical story. My mom liked it because it was melodramatic at times and centered around romance. I read it on the plane home ... that might have been a mistake. It would be better as a beach read. That is as much as I can say without spoiling it. I did leave this one at a friends house.
Claire Dewitt and the City of the Dead -- Sara Gran
I searched high and low in the THREE neighborhoods I visited in NY city on the day before I left and could find NO bookstore. This is a significantly bad side effect of the online bookstore mania. I needed a book and the only place that I could buy a book was Walgreens (I won't even tell you how bad the selection was) or the airport ... so, I waited for the airport hoping their selection would be a tiny bit better. This was one of the "sales people choose" books ...it was not the worst book, but not the best book either. It got better -- but I was concerned that I found so many typos. Who edits books these days??
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -- Stieg Larsson
I finally got around to reading this ... it was a long slog, but I had a lot of time. I spent most of my time comparing it to the movie. I am still not sure what the hype is about it ... it is much less mystery than it is political commentary. For a while, that commentary is somewhat interesting. Did not knock it out of the ballpark for me.
Emma -- Jane Austen
I was staying with a friend for a few weeks -- while I was reading the book above -- when I needed another book to read, I grabbed a cute little edition of this that she had. We had been watching Austen and Austen-like (read Downton Abbey) movies and series, so I decided I should finally just read one. I really never had read an Austen all the way through. There were some descriptions I had to skim through... I am still not sure where I stand on these. I guess I could never be an Austen scholar.
Into the Beautiful North -- Luis Alberto Urrea
I started reading this book a while ago -- I only allowed myself a chapter at a time while I was studying. But, I decided to finish it when I got back to town this summer. I love Urrea, so I was already enjoying this. This is the lightest piece of his that I have ever read, but there were still edges that hurt -- like the pain of the main character traveling through the racism of our country. However, it rang true and was beautifully described. I am hoping and waiting for a sequel to this one. You should read it.
Ugh... I didn't really like this one, but my mother "chose" it from the stack I gave her to choose from -- and then when we got one day into the trip she told me she didn't like it. So, I gave her the one I had brought for me (see below - Tell Me Something True).
Stabat Mater --Tiziano Scarpa
I wanted a book in Italian preferably about Venice (that's where I bought this one) -- the lovely blue eyes that sold me this book thought it would be perfect for me. It was odd -- but interesting. The entire book is really a monologue in the guise of letters to a mother this young woman has never known. While the "action" takes place in Venice, there are very few times when it is noticeable since she rarely leaves the convent walls. I don't know now how much I enjoyed the book or just that I was excited to still be able to read Italian well enough to get what was happening.
Tell Me Something True -- Leila Cobo
Someone gave me this book after she read it for a book club. It sat on my shelf for a while, I might not have chosen it. But, it turned out to be engaging and not your typical story. My mom liked it because it was melodramatic at times and centered around romance. I read it on the plane home ... that might have been a mistake. It would be better as a beach read. That is as much as I can say without spoiling it. I did leave this one at a friends house.
Claire Dewitt and the City of the Dead -- Sara Gran
I searched high and low in the THREE neighborhoods I visited in NY city on the day before I left and could find NO bookstore. This is a significantly bad side effect of the online bookstore mania. I needed a book and the only place that I could buy a book was Walgreens (I won't even tell you how bad the selection was) or the airport ... so, I waited for the airport hoping their selection would be a tiny bit better. This was one of the "sales people choose" books ...it was not the worst book, but not the best book either. It got better -- but I was concerned that I found so many typos. Who edits books these days??
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -- Stieg Larsson
I finally got around to reading this ... it was a long slog, but I had a lot of time. I spent most of my time comparing it to the movie. I am still not sure what the hype is about it ... it is much less mystery than it is political commentary. For a while, that commentary is somewhat interesting. Did not knock it out of the ballpark for me.
Emma -- Jane Austen
I was staying with a friend for a few weeks -- while I was reading the book above -- when I needed another book to read, I grabbed a cute little edition of this that she had. We had been watching Austen and Austen-like (read Downton Abbey) movies and series, so I decided I should finally just read one. I really never had read an Austen all the way through. There were some descriptions I had to skim through... I am still not sure where I stand on these. I guess I could never be an Austen scholar.
Into the Beautiful North -- Luis Alberto Urrea
I started reading this book a while ago -- I only allowed myself a chapter at a time while I was studying. But, I decided to finish it when I got back to town this summer. I love Urrea, so I was already enjoying this. This is the lightest piece of his that I have ever read, but there were still edges that hurt -- like the pain of the main character traveling through the racism of our country. However, it rang true and was beautifully described. I am hoping and waiting for a sequel to this one. You should read it.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Poetry Thursday, visiting with Rumi (again)
I have lived on the lip of insanity
Wanting to know reasons
Knocking on a door, it opens
I have been knocking from the inside!
-Rumi
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
What's right?
When you read stories like these, it's hard to figure out which way is up.
Here is a woman who is doing what she thinks is the right thing... and for her trouble, she is getting threatened with fines and jail. She is technically breaking the law by not having a permit. But she is following what she considers a higher law.
Here is a man doing what he thinks is right ... but for very different reasons. He is breaking a law to try to come out ahead in another law-mandated situation. I can't say that I think what he is doing is right ... but I also think that we are pushing more and more people into breaking "laws" because of the way we are structuring our society ...
Ugh... Monday, I started classes and the first one is a class called Anthropology and Human Rights ... but it is an intro to human rights with particular attention to the UN's declaration on human rights. We spent quite a bit of time talking about the difference between the ideal of the declaration and the world we live in ... the prof wanted us to feel encouraged, optimistic (that we don't kill as many people in war as they did in "pre" history).
So, we should be happy and thankful for the bit of progress we have made ... and overlook (at least at times) the progress we have left to make. I am trying to have perspective about it ... I really am, but it just reinforces the question: what's right?
Here is a woman who is doing what she thinks is the right thing... and for her trouble, she is getting threatened with fines and jail. She is technically breaking the law by not having a permit. But she is following what she considers a higher law.
Here is a man doing what he thinks is right ... but for very different reasons. He is breaking a law to try to come out ahead in another law-mandated situation. I can't say that I think what he is doing is right ... but I also think that we are pushing more and more people into breaking "laws" because of the way we are structuring our society ...
Ugh... Monday, I started classes and the first one is a class called Anthropology and Human Rights ... but it is an intro to human rights with particular attention to the UN's declaration on human rights. We spent quite a bit of time talking about the difference between the ideal of the declaration and the world we live in ... the prof wanted us to feel encouraged, optimistic (that we don't kill as many people in war as they did in "pre" history).
So, we should be happy and thankful for the bit of progress we have made ... and overlook (at least at times) the progress we have left to make. I am trying to have perspective about it ... I really am, but it just reinforces the question: what's right?
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
late summer om gems
I have been stuffing these into my om gems folder for weeks ... here are some quotes that struck me as particularly inspiring/thought-provoking/comforting, etc...
"Most of us assume that brave people are fearless, but the truth is that they are simply more comfortable with fear because they face it on a regular basis." [read more]
"When we accept our divinity, we no longer question whether we are worthy, because we know that we are meant to be here to fulfill a particular purpose, a purpose that no one other than us can fulfill." [read more -- and on worthiness and too much-ness]
"Even small moments of surrender are powerful indicators of how different our lives could be if we would only let go." [truly worth reading the whole thing]
"Whenever we feel that who we are is not enough and that we need to be bigger, better, or more exciting, we send a message to ourselves that we are not enough. Meanwhile, people who are not trying to be something more than they are walk into a room and bring a feeling of ease, humor, and warmth with them. They acknowledge their wrinkles and laugh at their personal eccentricities without putting themselves down." [worth the read]
"It is difficult to understand, even with hindsight, how the choices we have made have added up to our current situation, but it is a good idea to examine the story we tell ourselves. If we tend to regard ourselves as having failed, this will block our ability to allow ourselves to succeed. We have the power to change the story we tell ourselves by acknowledging that in the past, we did our best, and we exhibited many positive qualities, and had many fine moments on our path to the present moment. We can also recognize that we have learned from our experiences, and that this will help us with our current choices." [the whole enchilada]
"Releasing ourselves from that which we can’t handle on our own. No matter how smart we are, how capable we are, or how hard we work, no one can single-handedly cope with all the worries that we tend to take on in the course of our lives. And, we aren’t designed to do so. Our well-being depends upon our ability to hand over that which we can no longer carry by ourselves." [more]
"One day, though, we may find ourselves feeling confined and restless, wanting to move outside the shelter we needed for so long; the new part of ourselves cannot be born within the confines of the shell our old self needed to survive." [read more]
"You only need to fulfill your own potential, and as long as you remain true to that calling, and always do your best to fulfill your purpose, you don’t need to expect anything more from yourself." [good stuff]
"Depending on our perspective and willingness to grow, our experiences can become fodder for negativity and patterns of playing the victim, or they can fuel a life of empowerment and continued self-development." [find out how]
"The beauty of disappointment, though, is that it provides us a bridge to its other side where the acceptance of reality, wisdom, and the energy to begin again can be found." [some more]
Monday, August 20, 2012
Plane Thoughts...
I remembered to take my drink tickets on the plane this time... I think it is what made it easier to write down my thoughts ... [on the plane ABQ LAS, no families with small children between A and B]
1) Still trying to understand sunglasses and head banger music as an antidote to flying in general and turbulence in particular.
2) There's a fine line between entertainment and annoyance.
3) Sweet surrender to buzz...thank you, 900 calories.
4) Plugged in and prepping for Vegas with online faux gaming and not talking to partner. Looks like it will be a romantic, no kid weekend for them. Perhaps they will drink enough...
5) How is bad weather determined??
6) In my head: "if you don't know my by now..."
1) Still trying to understand sunglasses and head banger music as an antidote to flying in general and turbulence in particular.
2) There's a fine line between entertainment and annoyance.
3) Sweet surrender to buzz...thank you, 900 calories.
4) Plugged in and prepping for Vegas with online faux gaming and not talking to partner. Looks like it will be a romantic, no kid weekend for them. Perhaps they will drink enough...
5) How is bad weather determined??
6) In my head: "if you don't know my by now..."
Thursday, August 16, 2012
remember when?
... at the hottest part of the summer, like now, southwest used to offer flights to Las Vegas for $29?
Yeah, I remember... and at the time, I had no reason to go there.
Now, my sister lives there, and my other siblings think that Las Vegas is a family vacation destination.
So, off to Las Vegas I go ... to even hotter weather than we are having here in ABQ ... though there will be real air conditioning there. Is that not ironic?
The truth is that I couldn't resist the chance to spend time with my niece and nephews ... as I haven't really spent time with them since last Thanksgiving... and I don't have a trip to California planned again until next Thanksgiving.
So... if there is radio silence, it is because I am having a good time with my family ...
Yeah, I remember... and at the time, I had no reason to go there.
Now, my sister lives there, and my other siblings think that Las Vegas is a family vacation destination.
So, off to Las Vegas I go ... to even hotter weather than we are having here in ABQ ... though there will be real air conditioning there. Is that not ironic?
The truth is that I couldn't resist the chance to spend time with my niece and nephews ... as I haven't really spent time with them since last Thanksgiving... and I don't have a trip to California planned again until next Thanksgiving.
So... if there is radio silence, it is because I am having a good time with my family ...
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The World We Own...Right Now
Some articles have been cropping up that demonstrate that the world we are living in right now has a particular tenor. Of course, every time period has its own characteristics. However, since this is the world I live in, perhaps that is why I am struck by the things I see more.
For instance, if you look around the world at the people leading their countries, you will find a remarkable group of folks who most people would never have imagined in this position. We can start with our own president. You may or not agree with his policies, but there is no denying that he represents a radical shift from those who have traditionally led our country. [If you don't believe me, go back to the Frontline episode comparing Bush and Kerry. They represent the status, class and political views that we have usually had leading us. Obama may have ended up in schools similar to Bush and Kerry, but his experience their was clearly different. And, much of what we have seen in the past four years is a negotiation between that schooling, the prevailing belief system, and his mother's influence.
This article from the NYTimes, although not focused specifically on the topic I note above, points out that the trend of political leaders that come from the not-dominant society is fairly widespread in Latin America. In that case, unlike ours, it means that some of those folks were not just living on the outside of dominant society (either social class or politics), they were also part of the resistance -- as such, some of them were jailed and tortured. This provides the opportunity and challenge of some interesting conversations and reconciliations.
For instance, if you look around the world at the people leading their countries, you will find a remarkable group of folks who most people would never have imagined in this position. We can start with our own president. You may or not agree with his policies, but there is no denying that he represents a radical shift from those who have traditionally led our country. [If you don't believe me, go back to the Frontline episode comparing Bush and Kerry. They represent the status, class and political views that we have usually had leading us. Obama may have ended up in schools similar to Bush and Kerry, but his experience their was clearly different. And, much of what we have seen in the past four years is a negotiation between that schooling, the prevailing belief system, and his mother's influence.
This article from the NYTimes, although not focused specifically on the topic I note above, points out that the trend of political leaders that come from the not-dominant society is fairly widespread in Latin America. In that case, unlike ours, it means that some of those folks were not just living on the outside of dominant society (either social class or politics), they were also part of the resistance -- as such, some of them were jailed and tortured. This provides the opportunity and challenge of some interesting conversations and reconciliations.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
Umm...at least it's not UGH
Everything in the draft folder would take more emotional energy than I have to finish ...
I spent all weekend trying to motivate to finish a project. I would like to report that I finished something, anything ... but, alas, I did work on three different pieces of the project, but I did not complete any of them.
Several are only a few keystrokes away... so I will get right back to it.
I am streaming all of Grimm's first season in order to catch up before it starts up again ... soon, maybe even today.
You don't have to watch them all to catch up, here is a video that purports to recap season 1:
I will be right back at it this morning ... I have only today to watch a ton of episodes that "expire."
Maybe it will help me to be motivated enough to finish THREE of the projects.
I spent all weekend trying to motivate to finish a project. I would like to report that I finished something, anything ... but, alas, I did work on three different pieces of the project, but I did not complete any of them.
Several are only a few keystrokes away... so I will get right back to it.
I am streaming all of Grimm's first season in order to catch up before it starts up again ... soon, maybe even today.
You don't have to watch them all to catch up, here is a video that purports to recap season 1:
I will be right back at it this morning ... I have only today to watch a ton of episodes that "expire."
Maybe it will help me to be motivated enough to finish THREE of the projects.
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Poetry Thursday - Recognizing Beauty and Ugliness
GARMENTS
Upon a day Beauty and Ugliness met on the shore of a sea. And they said to one another, "Let us bathe in the sea."
Then they disrobed and swam in the waters. And after a while Ugliness came back to shore and garmented himself with the garments of Beauty and walked away.
And Beauty too came out of the sea, and found not her raiment, and she was too shy to be naked, therefore she dressed herself with the raiment of Ugliness. And Beauty walked her way.
And to this very day men and women mistake the one for the other.
Yet some there are who have beheld the face of Beauty, and they know her notwithstanding her garments. And some there be who know the face of Ugliness, and the cloth conceals him not from their eyes.
-Khalil Gibran
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
The absolute last thing I wanted to be writing about is the crazy men who have decided to make our country into their personal shooting range and fire pit. I don't believe in giving the prepetrators the fame and attention they seek. But we cannot remain silent on the issues that underlie these acts.
1) I fully believe that these are the acts of crazy men (people, if you like) -- I mean mentally ill, off their meds or undiagnosed. There is no way to control the actions of any people let alone the mentally ill -- however, if nothing else, these actions, these tragedies should spur us to do more to bring out of the shadows the issues of diagnosis and treatment of the mentally ill. We cannot shrink away from this, it is squarely on our shoulders. What a wonderful way to pay tribute to those who have given their lives for us, because there but by the grace of God go any of us, than to find a way to bring compassion to those whose pain provokes their destructive behavior.
2) Just because these actions were taken by mentally ill folks doesn't mean that we cannot pass laws that would restrict the use of certain (if not all) weapons. It is no excuse to do absolutely nothing. And to those who would have everyone armed as the solution, I refer you back to #1. It is not a solution, it is a political stance. And there is no place for politics. These tragedies demand pragmatism not dogmatism.
3) Perhaps most important of all, we need to really reflect on the messages we send into the world. Again, the mentally ill demonstrate the importance of this issue. If we all think that it is perfectly right, indeed, constitutional, to spew hate, we must acknowledge that we have no way of predicting how our messages will be received. It reminds me of the parable told in my church when I was a teenager about gossiping. As her act of contrition (note, of course, that the sinner guilty of gossip was a woman), the penitent was required to go up to the tallest building in her town and cut open a goose down pillow and let the feathers fly. When she returned to the priest to let him know she had done as he asked, he then told her to go out and collect each and every one of the feathers. Of course, she could not do that ... and therein was the lesson. I would extend that to say that we would not only not be able to get back those things we had said, we can also not predict how they will be used by others.
So, simple statements of "free speech" that include railing with hate against others are not as innocent as the speakers would have us believe.
When is free speech just hate spewing? And when are we going to do something about it?
I don't mean we should take them to court or prosecute them... I mean as a society we should stop giving them the reason for going on and on. We don't need news organizations whose only content is hate. We don't need "reality" shows that only make fun of people. We just don't need to bring that into our lives or the lives of our families.
If we stopped giving them attention, wouldn't they go away? It is a harder pill than just deciding who we think are hate spewers and prosecuting them.... I know. But I think it is the only way ... we are all potential targets, therefore, we all need to be responsible for what comes out of our mouths and how that might affect others.
1) I fully believe that these are the acts of crazy men (people, if you like) -- I mean mentally ill, off their meds or undiagnosed. There is no way to control the actions of any people let alone the mentally ill -- however, if nothing else, these actions, these tragedies should spur us to do more to bring out of the shadows the issues of diagnosis and treatment of the mentally ill. We cannot shrink away from this, it is squarely on our shoulders. What a wonderful way to pay tribute to those who have given their lives for us, because there but by the grace of God go any of us, than to find a way to bring compassion to those whose pain provokes their destructive behavior.
2) Just because these actions were taken by mentally ill folks doesn't mean that we cannot pass laws that would restrict the use of certain (if not all) weapons. It is no excuse to do absolutely nothing. And to those who would have everyone armed as the solution, I refer you back to #1. It is not a solution, it is a political stance. And there is no place for politics. These tragedies demand pragmatism not dogmatism.
3) Perhaps most important of all, we need to really reflect on the messages we send into the world. Again, the mentally ill demonstrate the importance of this issue. If we all think that it is perfectly right, indeed, constitutional, to spew hate, we must acknowledge that we have no way of predicting how our messages will be received. It reminds me of the parable told in my church when I was a teenager about gossiping. As her act of contrition (note, of course, that the sinner guilty of gossip was a woman), the penitent was required to go up to the tallest building in her town and cut open a goose down pillow and let the feathers fly. When she returned to the priest to let him know she had done as he asked, he then told her to go out and collect each and every one of the feathers. Of course, she could not do that ... and therein was the lesson. I would extend that to say that we would not only not be able to get back those things we had said, we can also not predict how they will be used by others.
So, simple statements of "free speech" that include railing with hate against others are not as innocent as the speakers would have us believe.
When is free speech just hate spewing? And when are we going to do something about it?
I don't mean we should take them to court or prosecute them... I mean as a society we should stop giving them the reason for going on and on. We don't need news organizations whose only content is hate. We don't need "reality" shows that only make fun of people. We just don't need to bring that into our lives or the lives of our families.
If we stopped giving them attention, wouldn't they go away? It is a harder pill than just deciding who we think are hate spewers and prosecuting them.... I know. But I think it is the only way ... we are all potential targets, therefore, we all need to be responsible for what comes out of our mouths and how that might affect others.
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