Because spelling bees are fun...

This is an interesting international comparison of how things work elsewhere: How do spelling contests work in other countries? - By Michelle Tsai - Slate Magazine

The power of negative thinking

Slate has had an interesting response to the best-seller, The Secret: Slate readers testify to the power of negative thinking. - By John Gravois - Slate Magazine (check here for their letter to Oprah on the subject). I haven't read it, but the Secret seems to be the latest in the line of similar works, sort of a version of the prosperity gospel of Joel Osteen without dragging God into the mix. I prefer the non-God version as it seems more true to what is really going on: it is all about looking out for #1 and thinking yourself into success.

On an interesting side note, I went on a Journey of Enlightenment last Saturday - the new theme park-like attraction at the big Buddha. This involved a walk with Buddha, a multisensory display that taught the life of Buddha. It was perhaps a tad bit disrespectful that parts of it made me laugh out loud (not sure if it was the floor shaking during the elephant race cartoon or the fake rain while looking at the fake bodhi tree). Anyway, it was interesting that one of the major points that the Buddha made in his cartoon adventure toward enlightenment was that you can think yourself to a better world. Evidently, Buddha had the secret long before the Secret did but he didn't use it to get more money. Another fun part of the walk with Buddha was that after you learned about how to walk the middle path, you were led directly into the gift shop. I wonder what Buddha would have thought of that.

New Pirates Movie...

I saw it today. It was much better than the second movie. Of course, I felt like I needed a refund after the torture that was the second movie so that isn't saying much. The downside of this third installment is that they didn't tie up all the lose ends...the door is still open for another sequel. Still, if you liked the first Pirates movie, this one should entertain.




Click here for the Slate review.

May Exercise Update!

15 May - Went to the gym (treadmill)
16 May - Went to the gym (treadmill) - I note that Lance Armstrong informed me via my iPod that this was my longest workout since I got my Nike+iPod at Christmas.
17 May - Went to the gym (treadmill) - This time, someone named Paula something told me it was my longest workout. I miss Lance!
24 May - Went to the gym (treadmill)
26 May - Sightseeing (with all the walking and stairs, it definitely counts as a workout)
29 May - Went to the gym (treadmill)
30 May - Treadmill again :)

I know...there was a week long break since my last workout. But, I think if I can manage 3 times a week it is a good start. We'll see how it goes :)

lol!

Read this: You cannot resist lolcats. - By Michael Agger - Slate Magazine It is a winning combination of cute pictures and e-cultural education.

A little more insight in the AG situation

Read this article to get a better understanding of the Alberto Gonzales scandal: Why This Scandal Matters - New York Times

German Beer

This is an article that highlights some of the lesser-known German beers: A German Beer Trail: Searching for Local Brews - Travel - New York Times

This highlights the koelsch from Cologne, which I love, and the rauchbier in Bamberg.

Angela - be sure to check out some of the recommendations this summer! With the promise of a unique beer, you might even get a visit from The Engineer :).

Happy Birthday Montessori!

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first Montessori school in Rome. As a Montessori child raised by a Montessori mother, I was not fully aware of the mystery that surrounds the teaching method nor of the cult-like qualities that may be attributed to it. Here is a short article for those unfamiliar: What exactly is Montessori education? - By Emily Bazelon - Slate Magazine

I think I'm going to miss Hong Kong

As pretty much everyone knows, Wes and I are moving back to Houston this fall after our two years here in Hong Kong. We have known this for months and it has always seemed sort of distant. But, with calls to sort out the final dates here and information coming in about movers, I have started thinking about all the things I really like about living here. Some of them were slightly over shadowed in the exciting prospect of taking a long vacation and heading back to the States.

Looking at this upcoming weekend, I realized that there are some aspects of Hong Kong that I will miss. Tonight, the "expats and others" of the Firm are having a happy hour in Lan Kwai Fong. LKF (unfortunately a.k.a. "the Fong") is a popular area in Central that is less than a 10 minute walk from our apartment. The interesting grouping of people not from around here at the Firm, in a wide variety of groups, makes for a good time when we get together.

Tomorrow, I am heading to Stanley in the afternoon to meet some of the girls at a cafe on the beach. When I first arrived, I was the only western woman below Director in the tax group. The directors are not much for hanging out. Since then, we have been joined by various ladies from London (3) and Australia (2) so we have a nice time hanging out sometimes. It is a lot of fun and suddenly my 3 or so months left seem very short. I guess I will have to make the most of it.

Homeless

This is a thought provoking article that my Dad posted to his blog last month. It is worth a reread, and a good dose of introspection on how we all treat those less fortunate. I know that I am one of the many who does not practice charity in my day to day life as I should. Sure, I give plenty of money to organizations who help the homeless and the poor. I still think this is the best use of the funds - to direct it to people who know what these groups need and are actively seeking to help them. But does this really absolve me from helping the needs of those that I am directly presented with? Does that make it OK to walk past the beggars on the street? In some places, if you give an inch you will be mobbed (I recall the children in Cambodia and it breaks my heart). But, is the fear of the swarm of needy enough of an excuse to not give to anyone? It is something to think about. I do not know the answer.

Good grief

Someday, I will make a list of the people in the world who need some sense shaken into them. There are too many for me to address right now. I might get fired if I spend the next month blogging a list of names and descriptions of people who need help (e.g. the guy who pushed the "door close" button and shut me in an elevator door yesterday). Once again, I am irritated by litigious Americans: No damages for student who said 'That's so gay' - CNN.com

I am wholeheartedly glad that this girl was not awarded any damages. This is not to say that I think the points made in the lawsuit were wrong: it is kind of dumb for her to be punished for what she said when the other students were making fun of her for being Mormon. But that isn't the point. The point is that the damage did not in any way warrant monetary compensation. I mean really - if every person in this world who was unfairly treated or had their feelings hurt deserved to be paid for it, we would all spend our entire lives in court trying to get what we deserve. It is just a stupid idea. I think there should be some sort of punishment for bringing frivolous lawsuit, but of course that would then run up against who defines something as frivolous. There are some valid first amendment cases that absolutely should be brought to help stem the onset of fascism. This is not one of those cases.

It is kind of fun how many times the article says "That's so gay", even including a helpful explanation for those living under a rock who don't know what the kids mean.

I am official!

I picked up my Australian passport today. It is funny to see it in print: Nationality Australian. It has a chip in it which is very fancy and exciting. I am also calling to pay for my plane tickets today (booked them last week) so there is nothing standing in my way. I am very excited!!

Getting back in shape in May

For weeks (maybe months) now, I have been telling myself that I will start being more active. It is easy to slip into a rut of going to work and coming back home and not doing much active in between. Realizing that pure will power alone may not be enough, I have decided to start posting a workout log. I will update this entry through the end of the month and let you know what I am doing everyday. Help keep me on track!!


15 May - Went to the gym (treadmill)
16 May - Went to the gym (treadmill) - I note that Lance Armstrong informed me via my iPod that this was my longest workout since I got my Nike+iPod at Christmas.
17 May - Went to the gym (treadmill) - This time, someone named Paula something told me it was my longest workout. I miss Lance!

Alberto Gonzales, Zen master.

I am at a loss when I try to understand what the heck is going on in the executive branch of our government. But, it is fun to read about the antics and wonder from a distance.Alberto Gonzales, Zen master. - By Dahlia Lithwick - Slate Magazine

It is better to laugh at it because otherwise it would just be sad.

Kirk Cameron proves that God exists.

This article is pretty entertaining and I think the show it is describing would be too. Kirk Cameron proves that God exists. - By Troy Patterson - Slate Magazine

Passport Success!!

I got an e-mail today that my passport application is completed. I should be able to pick it up next week. I guess that means that my picture passed muster in Canberra. Woohoo!! Now, for plane ticket shopping...

Australian Passport: The Saga Continues

At last, I went today to lodge my passport application. I would have gone yesterday but Becky, my guarantor, did not have her passport number with her so I was delayed a day.

Today I got her to sign the form and the back of my photo and I was off to the consulate. The application process was no problem - there was no waiting. I gave them the application, proof of address, two forms of ID, and proof of address...no issues raised so I thought it would be smooth sailing. Then, I gave her my pictures. I went and had the pictures especially made for this occasion so you can imagine my surprise when she looked at it and said "oh, naughty" (I am not making this up). She held my picture behind her template and said that the face size was perfect, but that the rim of my glasses was just touching the top of my eye so she was not sure they could accept it. She went to the back to check, because evidently this tiny infraction of the frame into my eyeball could prevent them from scanning the picture for purposes of facial recognition software. She came back and said "it was a close call", but they would go ahead with the application. I will hear by tomorrow if Canberra rejects my picture and I have to get another one...which I would have to have Becky sign and then take in person back to the Consulate. What a pain.

But, on the bright side, if I do not get rejected then my passport will be ready on May 22. They are pretty good with their 10 business day turn around. I am going to start looking into plane tickets for Perth! Although, just to be on the safe side, I may wait until later this week to actually buy the tickets.

Addendum: The consulate called Becky today. They asked her to confirm that she had signed the form and the picture, that it was the same signature as on her passport, and how long she has known me [at almost 15 months, we are just over the one year cut off]. They are very thorough. I hope my picture makes the cut. Stay tuned.

Some people are such jerks

In classic style, the CNN story represents all that is bad in the American legal system (and society). Judge's missing pants lead to big suit - CNN.com The just is just being a total jerk and is clearly in it for the money. I hope he loses and is forced to pay back the legal costs of the small business owners he is suing. I also kind of hope he loses his position as a judge and that someone kicks him in the shin. Hard.

The sad part was that this made BBC News this morning. The story intro went something like "What would you do if the cleaner's lost your pants? Well, if you are in America than you would probably sue the pants off them." That's something to be proud of right there.

I can hardly wait!!!

There is new HP trailer out!! Woohoo!!

Twelve Steps to Cutting Poverty

This is an interesting article: Twelve Steps to Cutting Poverty in Half.

I have listed the steps from the article below and included my comments in italics. As you would expect, the list of steps are far reaching and may not offer a balanced solution that would actually be achievable in the real world of politics and limited resources. But, some of the recommendations are good and the overall point that it is ridiculous to have so may poor people in such a wealthy nation is exactly right. In addition, the article addresses how to pay for only a limited number of the steps and does not lay out a complete plan for accomplishing the steps.

Here are key excerpts from the twelve recommendations:

1. Over a 10-year period, raise and index the minimum wage to half the average hourly wage–that would presently be $8.40 an hour. The report notes that for most of the 1960’s and 1970’s a worker with a full-time minimum wage job could lift a family of three above the poverty line. Now it’s at its lowest level in real terms since 1959. I think this is a good suggestion. The argument against an increased minimum wage is that it would put small business owners out of business. From what I have read elsewhere, this has not been supported by evidence in places where the minimum wage has been increased. Of course, that may be because some small business owners are not actually paying the minimum. I would think, though, that rather than raising the national minimum wage to half the national average hourly wage that this be considered on a regional or state basis. The average wage in California and New York will be very different from the average wage (and correspondingly the cost of living) in Mississippi. The cost to society that is not considered here is that if we are not careful, the overall cost of living will increase as employers raise prices to compensate for increased costs and the poor stay relatively poor even with more actual dollars. Go shopping for food or housing in London sometime and you will feel the pinch of a high cost of living.

2. Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. The EITC is an earnings supplement that raises incomes and helps low-income working families build assets. The Task Force recommends tripling the EITC for childless workers and expanding help to larger working families. The Child Tax Credit provides a tax credit of up to $1,000 per child but provides no help to the poorest families. It should be made fully refundable so that it’s available to all low- and moderate-income families. (Currently people with incomes below $10,000 do not receive this credit. “Totally absurd,” Edelman said. “This is a powerful anti-poverty step…. It will get over 3 million people out of poverty just from that one, single public policy step alone.”) Doing all of the above would move as many as 5 million people out of poverty.
Absolutely raise the EITC! I am not sure about expanding to larger working families - you have to consider the impact of financially incentivizing people to have more than 2 children. If people are poor, then it is likely that they cannot afford to support a large family, even with an expanded EITC, so other solutions should be found for larger families rather than a blanket expansion. As for the child tax credit, I do not support making this refundable. It would be better to take the funds that would be paid out if the child tax credit were refundable and put them into the expanded EITC. It is dangerous to effectively offer someone $1,000 a year to have a child. At least the EITC requires people to be earning income to receive the benefit and thus there is an incentive to work. Incidentally, the comment that people with incomes below $10,000 currently do not receive this credit is misleading - people with incomes below $10,000 do not pay any taxes and so do not benefit from a reduction in their taxes. It is not that they are not eligible.

3. Promote unionization by enacting the Employee Free Choice Act. This would require employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers signs cards authorizing union representation. “It’s very important that we get this legislation enacted this year,” Edelman said. “Unions are absolutely a backbone of getting fair labor standards and fair wages in our country.” My internal jury is still out on unionization. I can see valid points on both sides of the issue.

4. Guarantee child care assistance to low-income families and promote early education for all. Federal and state governments should guarantee child care help to families with incomes below about $40,000 a year. “We’re not going to achieve this unless communities take the initiative with civic leadership to pull that together,” Edelman said. “We would have an Innovation Fund as part of that effort.” The funding would be about twice the level of current federal funding for quality state initiatives. This childcare expansion would raise employment among low-income parents and help nearly 3 million parents and children escape poverty. I think this is a good idea. The risks lie in making sure that the children receive good quality care. This ability to take advantage of the free child care should also be linked to employment outside of the home to ensure that this is in fact a help for working families to get out of poverty and not just a hand out.

5. Create 2 million new “opportunity” housing vouchers, and promote equitable development in and around central cities. Nearly 8 million Americans live in neighborhoods where at least 40 percent of residents are poor. We should seek to end such concentrated poverty. Over the next ten years, the federal government should fund 2 million new “opportunity vouchers” designed to help people live in opportunity-rich areas. “The housing vouchers that we currently have reach only a quarter of the people who are eligible,” Edelman said. “People should also be able to choose where they live, they should be able to live near the jobs and get to the jobs.” Any new affordable housing should be in communities with employment opportunities and high-quality public services, or in gentrifying communities. The evidence does not necessarily support the benefits of housing vouchers. After listening to NPR's Justice Talking program on the issue, I have listened to both sides of the argument and I think that there are better alternatives for alleviating poverty.

6. Connect disadvantaged and disconnected youth with school and work. About 1.7 million poor youth ages 16 to 24 were out of school and out of work in 2005. The federal government should restore Youth Opportunity Grants to help the most disadvantaged communities and expand funding for effective and promising youth programs–with the goal of reaching 600,000 disadvantaged youth through these efforts. A new Upward Pathway program would offer low-income young people opportunities to train in fields that are in high-demand and provide needed public services. Depending on the costs involved, it makes sense that training youth in practical skills that are in short supply will benefit both the students and society. The specific areas trained and job placement assistance will be important considerations.

7. Simplify and expand Pell Grants and make higher education accessible to residents of each state. Low-income youth are much less likely to attend college than their higher income peers, even among those of comparable abilities. Pell Grants play a crucial role for lower-income students. The Pell grant application process should be simplified, and the grants gradually raised to reach 70 percent of the average costs of a four-year public institution. States should develop strategies to make post-secondary education affordable for all residents, following promising models already underway in a number of states. Pell Grants are a good alternative where the student has demonstrated that aptitude to be successful in college. Many college students, from all walks of life, are in college because it seems like the logical next step after high school. But, for many students it is just a waste of time and they should have considered other alternatives, such as going directly into the work force or completing trade school. Not everyone is cut out for a college education and not everyone benefits from a college education - our society would benefit from understanding that distinction.

8. Help former prisoners find stable employment and reintegrate into their communities. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world–600,000 prisoners are released to their communities each year. Most are low-income, minority men returning to high-poverty communities. Two-thirds are rearrested within three years and about half return to prison. States should not bar former prisoners from receiving public benefits like food stamps or deny them the right to vote. All states should develop comprehensive reentry services aimed at reintegrating former prisoners with full-time, consistent employment. This is a good step in reducing poverty and crime if prisoners reintroduced into society can be prevented from reoffending. However, I fear that a steady job may not be enough. In some parts of American society, it seems that the cycle of violence and crime are endemic and a steady job may not be enough for people to break out of it when they are back in that environment. We should also consider how to heal the community as a whole rather than only focusing on former prisoners.

9. Ensure equity for low-wage workers in the Unemployment Insurance system. Approximately 35 percent of the unemployed, and a smaller share of unemployed low-wage workers, receive unemployment insurance benefits. States should reform eligibility rules that screen out low-wage workers, broaden eligibility for part-time workers and workers who have lost employment as a result of compelling family circumstances, and allow benefits to continue when workers are in programs that upgrade their skills and qualifications. I admit that I do not know enough about the unemployment laws to comment. It may be that there are sound reasons for excluding certain groups of workers from the program.

10. Modernize means-tested benefits programs to develop a coordinated system that helps workers and families.A functional safety net should help people get into or return to work and ensure a decent level of living for those who cannot work or are temporarily between jobs. Our current system fails to do so. The government should simplify and improve benefits access for working families and improve services to individuals with disabilities. The Food Stamp Program should be strengthened to improve benefits, eligibility, and access. And the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program should be reformed to shift its focus from cutting caseloads to helping needy families find sustainable employment. Expanding the benefits programs is not necessarily the way to alleviate poverty. I think that the ideas which focus on educating people and assisting with work training and placement are better suited to reducing poverty in the long term than expanding the food stamp program. Of course, my knowledge of the food stamp program is very limited and if it is not currently paying out enough for people to get basic sustenance then of course it should be expanded. If the limitations are that people are not able to get everything they want but have enough to get what they need, then I see no reason for expansion. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina showed us that although the majority of needy people act responsibly with the assistance they are given, an alarmingly large number of people are out to cheat the system and take advantage in any way that they can. Because of this risk, I am wary of programs that expand what people can get rather than expanding access for ways for people to work to help themselves. When you are giving something away for nothing, people will always find a way to play the system. It is sad but true.

11. Reduce the high costs of being poor and increase access to financial services.Lower-income families often pay more than middle and high-income families for the same consumer products. Federal and state governments should address the foreclosure crisis through expanded mortgage assistance programs and by new federal legislation to curb unscrupulous practices. The federal government should also establish a $50 million Financial Fairness Innovation Fund to support state efforts to broaden access to mainstream goods and financial services in predominantly low-income communities. Rather than government regulation in this area, the better step would be solid financial education for low-income people (actually, for everyone). Once people understand how the system works, and learn how to budget and plan, then they can learn to live within their means. To the extent that their means are not enough, then they can also be assisted in learning what their options are (education, job placement, etc.).

12. Expand and simplify the Saver’s Credit to encourage saving for education, home ownership and retirement. For many families, saving for purposes such as education, a home, or a small business is key to making economic progress. The federal “Saver’s Credit” (a relatively new tax provision which matches voluntary contributions to retirement savings accounts with a tax credit) should be reformed to make it fully refundable. This Credit should also be broadened to apply to other savings vehicles such as individual development accounts, children’s saving accounts, and college savings plans. I see no reason to make this credit fully refundable. Logically, if you are not making enough money to owe any taxes then you probably cannot afford to put money away for retirement. This would not reduce poverty.

Salary for Mommy

In what seems to be an annual tradition, Salary.com has compute the salary that a mom would earn in the workforce (Survey: 10 jobs moms work would bring in $138,095 a year - CNN.com). While I think it is important to appreciate moms and demonstrating the economic value of their work is one way to build some appreciation, I take issue with the analysis on some points.

In particular, they have included CEO and psychologist as "jobs" that a mother performs. That is just silly. CEOs manage companies with a large number of people, more than the size of a single family (even the Duggars and the rest of the quiver full set). If you want to liken the running of the family to the running of a business, then a small business owner would be a much more reasonable comparison. Given the average salary of CEOs, I would have to think that this would bring down the $138k figure significantly. Including psychologists likewise makes no sense. The fact that mothers counsel their family is not the same as receiving independent input from someone who has been professional trained in dealing with such issues. If mothers were accomplishing the same thing, there would not be so many people needing therapy. As this was one of the higher paying jobs on the list, I would think that the $138k figure would drop from this change as well.

My other issue with the survey is that it does not take into account how good these women are at the "jobs" they hold. If you actual did any of these jobs for a living, you could be fired. Not so for mothers unless the situation is dire. So, assuming they make the median wage without any consideration for training or ability seems generous. I guess it might work out on average, but in many cases the real value is much lower.

On the other hand, the value of a mother's role goes far beyond the value of the roles she performs. This value, however, cannot be readily quantified.

In conclusion, I hope everyone will show how much they appreciate their mothers on mothers' day (and every day); but, we should not mistake the Salary.com survey for anything but an entertaining view on the work of mothers.

Perth

Thanks to my dad who found my citizenship certificate, my trip to Perth next month is still looking promising. It will by my first visit in over 20 years!! I will wait to buy the ticket until the passport application is approved, just in case something goes awry.

In honor of my impending possible trip, I bring you some Perth Fun Facts (taken from the Wikipedia entry: Perth, Western Australia).

1. Perth is the capital of Western Australia.
2. With its current population of 1.5 million, it holds approximately 7.5% of the Australian population and is more than 3 times the size it was since She Who Must Be Obeyed last lived there.
3. Perth is one of the most isolated metropolitan areas on Earth (Honolulu is more isolated).
4. On 19 September 2006, the Federal Court of Australia brought down a judgment recognising Noongar native title over the Perth metropolitan area.