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.

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

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

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.

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.

Fascist America

This article makes some good points. You should take the time to read it: AlterNet: War on Iraq: Fascist America, in 10 Easy Steps

It's a small world after all

This article presents an interesting view on the cover of the recent tragedy in Virginia: For the world press, the Virginia Tech massacre is a local story. - By Anne Applebaum - Slate Magazine. The interesting point that was made is just how much Americans do not know about the world around them. A comparable story would likely not make the news in the US for more than a brief mention if it occurred outside of the US. The lack of international coverage in the US is appalling. The article also fails to use the terms ethno-(or ego-) centric to describe this phenomenon, but I think the shoe probably fits.

Overreact much?

Sometimes, I read news stories and I can't tell if people in news stories are genuinely crazy or if their reactions are driven by a desire for notoriety and/or profit (from the inevitable lawsuits). This is one example: Chinese translation error blamed for slur on sofa label - CNN.com. In this article, a woman of color in Canada purchased a brown couch that turned out to have the n-word on the label. The label had been made in China using an outdated translation program.

Now, of course it is an offensive word and appalling that her 7-year-old daughter read it. But, she has now used and is demanding compensation. She says a personal apology is not enough. Also, she said she had guests who refused to sit on the couch.

What is wrong with these people? This was a mistake - a simple mistake. The people who wrote the label had no idea it was offensive. It was not a personal attack on her or anyone else. The appropriate reaction would be to bring this to the attention of the store so that they can prevent it happening again, cut off the label, and get on with life. But no. These people decided to sue. It is absolutely ridiculous.

The Feminine Mistake

AlterNet: WorkPlace: Women Who Ditch Their Career for Homelife Could Be Making a Huge Mistake This article from the author of a new book considers the reactions she has gotten from stay-at-home mothers to her book about the downside of leaving the workforce. The expectation from mothers that this book is most likely one-sided is not unexpected and neither is the author's indignation that she purely presented the facts. We all know that facts can be presented to make the point that you are trying to make. That said, I think it is good to consider that there are pros and cons on both sides of the debate. Everyone should consider all of the facts when making a decision as major as whether or not to leave the workforce. As the (current) sole bread winner, I have no such hard decision to make.

Green Challenge

It is hip to be green. I encourage everyone to play along with the Slate Green Challenge and try to reduce our carbon footprint: The new and improved Slate Green Challenge. - By Meaghan O'Neill and treehugger.com - Slate Magazine I was surprised by the statistic that American average 22 tons of CO2 emiisions each year compared to an average of 6 for the rest of the world. We have a lot of work to do.

How the world's poor live

Here are some interesting articles on the lives of the poor (the second MUCH longer than the first): How to live on $1 a day. - By Tim Harford - Slate Magazine and The Economic Lives of the Poor.

What's wrong with the SBC?

What Explains SBC Attacks on National Association of Evangelicals? This editorial on EthicsDaily gives an interesting contrast between these two evangelical groups. Since ousting Ted Haggard, it seems that the NAE is on a reasonable path. Here are some examples of issues on which I think the SBC has landed on the wrong side:

1. Global warming - We are all stewards of the world that God has created for us. Seems like a good idea not to treat it like our own garbage can.
2. Torture - is wrong. It is fairly simple.
3. Israel's War in Lebanon - Unprovoked (or lightly provoked) war is not just and is not acceptable. It doesn't make it OK if you think it is going to bring about the end of the world.

The SBC leadership seems on a path that is firmly counter to the teachings of Christ. This is just my opinion from observing their behavior. What is in their hearts is between them and God.

Texas law

Here is a story from Arlington: Husband kills wife's lover; wife charged - CNN.com I have to say that I agree that the wife is responsible for her lover's death. But, there are a few things that jump out at me in the story:

1. No one seems to question that it was alright to shoot a supposed rapist in the head when he was trying to get away. They are not suggesting that he was protecting his wife, just that he is justified in shooting a rapist in these circumstances.
2. He did not evidently question why his wife was in the driveway in a robe.
3. He happened to be carrying a gun. This point particularly stuck out - this tragedy would not have happened if people could not just walk around with a gun. He is not a police office or a security with a reason to be carrying a gun - he is an employee of a real estate firm coming home from a card game.

Gonzales Update

I have been enjoying Slate's tracking of the Gonzales scandal. I think it is obvious to pretty much everyone that the firings of the attorneys were politically motivated and the Gonzales knew about it. It is just a matter of watching how is all unfolds. Is Bush backing away from Gonzales? - By Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and Dahlia Lithwick - Slate Magazine

Too Busy?

This article is a good reminder that some of us (myself included) need to consciously make an effort to not be so busy: Too Busy to Notice You’re Too Busy - New York Times. It is nice to take a break sometimes, even if it just for a chance to calmly whittle away at the to do list.

American Idol Fun

I don't watch America Idol, but I know that evidently many people do (by "evidently many" I mean about 10% of the population). I even read that Condy loves her some Idol. Although I don't watch it, I do appreciate the humor of this article: American Idol - Vote for the Worst - TV - New York Times. If you do watch, you can check out the website and decide if you want to vote for the worst.

Criticism from the inner circle

All of the opinions that I have formed about the President are based on publicly available information. Clearly I have no special inside track. This article addresses comments from someone who did have an inside track: Ex-Aide Details a Loss of Faith in the President - New York Times. It is interesting to read how Mr. Dowd has gone from true believer to critic. It does make me wonder, though, if Bush is even aware of the criticism. Maybe he knows that Mr. Dowd is a turncoat, but I am not sure he has been given the specifics. I get the impression from various things that I read of the President as a slightly dim figure surrounded by yes-men who do not want to tell him something that might upset him. It is not a flattering impression and I am hopeful that it is wrong (though I haven't read much that contradicts it). As it is, I feel that there is nothing we can do at this point, short of impeachment, but just wait it out and hope he doesn't make any more colossal blunders. Clearly, having public opinion and Congress firmly in opposition has not weakened his resolve to do whatever he feels like doing.

Florida is funny

I know pretty much everyone has noticed that weird things tend to happen in Florida. There is just some kind of crazy in the water there. This one made me laugh a little.Ex-wife becomes a man; ex-husband seeks end to alimony - CNN.com Do not miss the part about the ex-wife's new name. It just shows what can happen when you get to pick your own name.

A Race Track Mystery

This article is an entertaining look into the Hong Kong horse racing scene: A Mystery at Hong Kong Horse Racing Track - New York Times. They take racing, particularly the gambling part of it, very seriously around here. I agree with the authorities that it was probably gamblers trying to fix the race. It doesn't really seem like much of an act of terrorism.

Happy Valley is where Wes and I lived when we first moved to Hong Kong. We were about 2 blocks away from the racecourse.

Visions of the future

India Made Easy - New York Times

Wes and I are hopeful that we will manage to make a trip to India later this year. It is fun to read about it and think of these things - particularly while at work. It isn't that work is not big fun times, but sometimes it gets a little slow (as in boring, not as in not busy) so it is nice to have something to look forward to.