For the Resounding Blog, here is a pretty timely and apropos lyric from the Christmas carol "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1864:
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With Peace on earth, good will to men."
Now there's a Christmas wish, Merry Christmas all.
12/26/2008
10/19/2008
Elections
I've been fascinated by the elections going on here in North America.
The Canadian election did not seem to capture anyone's imagination, and appeared to be a failure to every party. No majority for the Conservatives. Liberals tanked and Dion is soon to be out. NDP did not meet Ed Broadbent's high or capture a seat in Quebec, let alone make the breakthrough that labour parties have been able to in other British Commonwealths such as U.K., Australia and New Zealand (For which we can all thank Bob Rae -- why are the Liberals even considering him for leadership?). Bloc lost votes across Quebec. The Greens couldn't even win a seat.
In the U.S., the election is a slow grind -- at least there the possibility of renewal not only exists, but is currently in the lead. We'll see if Obama can stay there until November. ("Recent" thinking by some Anderson Cooper wannabe at CNN says that the polls in favour of Obama might be misleading, since Americans don't like to admit their racism.) Actually, I'm excited for election day in the States because I will be there on a conference. It's also interesting to see the fascination with Sarah Palin (especially the SNL sketches with Tina Fey -- Alec Baldwin's "You are way hotter in person" was great!). I am thinking that her protracted 15 minutes of fame are soon to be up. Alaska will never fly under the radar again!
The Canadian election did not seem to capture anyone's imagination, and appeared to be a failure to every party. No majority for the Conservatives. Liberals tanked and Dion is soon to be out. NDP did not meet Ed Broadbent's high or capture a seat in Quebec, let alone make the breakthrough that labour parties have been able to in other British Commonwealths such as U.K., Australia and New Zealand (For which we can all thank Bob Rae -- why are the Liberals even considering him for leadership?). Bloc lost votes across Quebec. The Greens couldn't even win a seat.
In the U.S., the election is a slow grind -- at least there the possibility of renewal not only exists, but is currently in the lead. We'll see if Obama can stay there until November. ("Recent" thinking by some Anderson Cooper wannabe at CNN says that the polls in favour of Obama might be misleading, since Americans don't like to admit their racism.) Actually, I'm excited for election day in the States because I will be there on a conference. It's also interesting to see the fascination with Sarah Palin (especially the SNL sketches with Tina Fey -- Alec Baldwin's "You are way hotter in person" was great!). I am thinking that her protracted 15 minutes of fame are soon to be up. Alaska will never fly under the radar again!
10/12/2008
Spirituality and Credit
An interesting article on CBC.ca this week from Listen Up TV's Lorna Dueck on Spirituality and Credit. I am definitely a fan of Christians getting involved in media, moving up-stream of culture to have an impact on our society. I also know that there are inherent dangers -- the need to get published or broadcasted can often lead to the distortion of the gospel message, as well as the need to sensationalize what we say and write. For example, Lorna writes "I hope the church can cash in on our turmoil." Not really the best sentiment there -- pithy, though.
I can relate a little -- I was interviewed last year and at the beginning of this year regarding my position at school. In both cases, the journalist was looking for that elusive sound bite, that quote which could sum a complex idea up ever-so-neatly for people to easily digest. In the first interview, I was far too detailed to be used for quotes. However, in the second interview, I said something mildly controversial in the first sentence, and knew that was the clip they would show on the daily news. I was right. All of the other brilliant things I said were stolen right from my mouth by the interviewer, and used as her monologue piece, then - CUT! - straight to my contentious line. Oh well, I suppose it was worth my 15 sec. of fame!
I can relate a little -- I was interviewed last year and at the beginning of this year regarding my position at school. In both cases, the journalist was looking for that elusive sound bite, that quote which could sum a complex idea up ever-so-neatly for people to easily digest. In the first interview, I was far too detailed to be used for quotes. However, in the second interview, I said something mildly controversial in the first sentence, and knew that was the clip they would show on the daily news. I was right. All of the other brilliant things I said were stolen right from my mouth by the interviewer, and used as her monologue piece, then - CUT! - straight to my contentious line. Oh well, I suppose it was worth my 15 sec. of fame!
9/04/2008
New-Fangled Compooters
Kudos to me for posting during the school year - I tend to be August and March Break heavy.
Got the biggest laugh from this 1978 news clip about "TV-like machines" with keyboards that would wipe out the need for secretaries. BAHAHAHA!
Got the biggest laugh from this 1978 news clip about "TV-like machines" with keyboards that would wipe out the need for secretaries. BAHAHAHA!
8/28/2008
Food
I've read a couple of recent studies on food which have me thinking.
The first is a CBC article on food consumption as it relates to portion size. The study found that people eating smaller portion sizes were likely to eat more food than those eating bigger portions when it comes to snacking. The most fascinating idea in this study, though, is the psychology behind the eating choices. When faced with little temptations, people were more likely to give in, more often, and to a greater degree. Those faced with the choice of a large temptation were more likely to limit their complicity or completely resist the temptation. The real question for me is worth long term study: Do those "small snackers" eventually turn into "big snackers"? That is, if you keep giving in to little temptations, will you eventually be more susceptible to large temptations?
The second study looked at Kraft Dinner (Mac and Cheese for the uninitiated), and its perception by varied socio-economic groups. Interestingly, rich people think KD is an acceptable meal - tasty, filing, nutritious - to be donated to a food bank. The poor disagree. It is not tasty if it is all you can afford. Not to mention that the good taste often comes from the butter and milk added, which are not available to most poor families! Most organizations say that the best thing to do if you are planning to give to the food bank is to give money, or to give these items:
The first is a CBC article on food consumption as it relates to portion size. The study found that people eating smaller portion sizes were likely to eat more food than those eating bigger portions when it comes to snacking. The most fascinating idea in this study, though, is the psychology behind the eating choices. When faced with little temptations, people were more likely to give in, more often, and to a greater degree. Those faced with the choice of a large temptation were more likely to limit their complicity or completely resist the temptation. The real question for me is worth long term study: Do those "small snackers" eventually turn into "big snackers"? That is, if you keep giving in to little temptations, will you eventually be more susceptible to large temptations?
The second study looked at Kraft Dinner (Mac and Cheese for the uninitiated), and its perception by varied socio-economic groups. Interestingly, rich people think KD is an acceptable meal - tasty, filing, nutritious - to be donated to a food bank. The poor disagree. It is not tasty if it is all you can afford. Not to mention that the good taste often comes from the butter and milk added, which are not available to most poor families! Most organizations say that the best thing to do if you are planning to give to the food bank is to give money, or to give these items:
- Pasta Sauce
- Juice (1 litre)
- Canned Tomatos
- Baby Formula with Iron
- Pasta
- Canned Fish
- Peanut Butter
- Baby Food (jars)
- Canned Soup
- Canned Beans in Tomato Sauce
- Canned Meat
- Canned Fruit
- Canned Vegetables
- Rice
- Processed Cheese (jar)
8/25/2008
Leyenda
My favourite classical guitar piece is Leyenda by Issac Albeniz. Leyenda means legend in Spanish (it's also called Asturias, because a confused musician thought is was from Asturia in northern Spain, when it is really from Andalusia in southern Spain). It is also one of the few classical songs that I can play (well, attempt to play) on the guitar. I have made Leyenda my new clip of the month, since I think this particular version is very well done (there are at least 5 or 6 others on youtube, though).
Watching the video makes me want to go buy nylon strings and re-string my Yamaha classical guitar, but I just shelled out the money for strings on my Norman accoustic. If practicing becomes a habit again, maybe I'll fork out the cash. Who am I kidding? September is right around the corner. I'll be lucky to get off another blog post between then and Christmas knowing me!
Watching the video makes me want to go buy nylon strings and re-string my Yamaha classical guitar, but I just shelled out the money for strings on my Norman accoustic. If practicing becomes a habit again, maybe I'll fork out the cash. Who am I kidding? September is right around the corner. I'll be lucky to get off another blog post between then and Christmas knowing me!
8/24/2008
Alex Baumann (WARNING: this post is all over the map!)
A recent article (read: ploy) by the CBC to get people discussing the Olympics was a forum on who is the better athlete: Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps? I think both are fantastic athletes, and I see no reason to compare apples and oranges. I will, however, say that I am more partial to swimming than track (although I love running). I have been ever since I watched my first Olympics -- the heavily boycotted Los Angeles games of 1984. In one of my first memories, I watched Alex Baumann win two gold medals in world record time in the 200m and 400m IM (Individual Medley - you have to swim all four strokes - back, breast, fly, free). Baumann was my first athletic hero, and the image that prompted me to learn to swim, and become a lifeguard. I comtemplate becoming a competitive swimmer about every four years thanks to him as well.For that or some other reason, I've always loved the Olympics. I don't have cable TV, and I've been away on vacation, so I have seen very little of the coverage (despite streaming internet video!). I did happen to catch one of the commercials that the Olympics themselves put out about these athletes being the best of us.
I'm not so sure.
I wonder if the elevation of the human body to the pinnacle of beauty isn't really a symptom of the greatest problem that we as humans face. Exalting creation beauty over Creator is the sin that got Satan kicked out of heaven, and Adam and Eve booted out of Eden. It is the mindset that gives human physicality, sexuality and pleasure the revered position, the primacy and the urgency in society that it currently has. Our culture would say: "Get sex. Get it often. Get it at any price. Forget relationships or commitment. Sex is better."
Interesting, then, to hear that teenage girls are having less sex, and using more condoms. At least in Canada. Maybe, the whole Abstinence or bust program isn't the best way to tackle this issue. We haven't had many abstinence programs in Canada, and this is working. What I hope we have, is self-worth programs. I hope these stats show that girls are beginning to understand the value of their self and their bodies as a part of that self. That's my kind of feminism!
8/23/2008
A Tough Day
I've been trying to figure out how I was going to get back into teaching mode. I generally have this problem - I easily become absorbed in work, and find it hard to shift gears to vacation. Time off is never really satisfying, because I expect myself to take that time for personal development. I rarely rest well, because I am preoccupied by what I am not doing to better myself. This has manifested itself before heading back to school, going on missions projects, staring a new job, getting married, etc. And each time something happens to jolt me back to reality. (Except the year that I had knee surgery. That in and of itself was the wake-up call.)
Today, I clicked on my work email to see if there were any more new messages that I wanted to avoid/ignore, when I received a bereavement notice that one of my students had passed away. He took his own life at 15.
To be honest, I'm heartbroken. He was one of "my regulars" who I worked with a fair bit this past year. A good kid, with lots of friends and a spunky personality. You should have seen the number of kids at his viewing!
His obituary said that he was lost in the transition from boyhood to manhood. How sad. His whole family is Christian, in the sense that they attend church. The kids had all gone to private Christian elementary schools, but since moving here they were enrolled in secular high schools. Did he really believe? I don't know. I couldn't find anything useful to say to the parents--what can you say? But here's what no one was able to say to that boy (from the Five for Fighting song 100 Years):
Today, I clicked on my work email to see if there were any more new messages that I wanted to avoid/ignore, when I received a bereavement notice that one of my students had passed away. He took his own life at 15.
To be honest, I'm heartbroken. He was one of "my regulars" who I worked with a fair bit this past year. A good kid, with lots of friends and a spunky personality. You should have seen the number of kids at his viewing!
His obituary said that he was lost in the transition from boyhood to manhood. How sad. His whole family is Christian, in the sense that they attend church. The kids had all gone to private Christian elementary schools, but since moving here they were enrolled in secular high schools. Did he really believe? I don't know. I couldn't find anything useful to say to the parents--what can you say? But here's what no one was able to say to that boy (from the Five for Fighting song 100 Years):
Every day's a new day...
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
Goodbye, my young friend. You will be missed.
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
Goodbye, my young friend. You will be missed.
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