World without pain is hell, parent says
By A. Chris Gajilan
CNN
I'm not downplaying how bad pain is. It's just that conversations frequently come up in church about how useful pain is. This article shows that pain actually helps us learn and enjoy life more.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
RGT for Senate!
A friend of mine began his candidacy for Senate today. I think he has a lot of feeling about political issues. I read his first post on his facebook group today and it got me thinking. Here is my reply to his first post:
RGT, First, let me say that I applaud your intentions. I'm going to be blunt and say that I think your an opinionated guy. You have strong feelings about things; I think that's clear to anyone who has spoken with you. Far better than having an opinion and pestering people with it or complaining about other peoples' perceived inadequacies is deciding to do something with your views. I firmly believe in taking action to fix something that you perceive to be broken. Good for you.
Second, I'm going to respond to your three principles above. I liked the first one of responsibility, especially the references to previous generations and the sacrifices they have made. I believe that Americans and those Americans who hope to lead the others must be willing to make sacrifices at their own expense. It is easy to legislate a sacrifice for somebody else. Your call to responsibility makes me think of the current economic crisis and deficit. It simply must be addressed. America cannot continue to function on borrowed resources. You have to pay the piper at some point. I think we need to start paying now rather than hoping that the piper will somehow forget about us or change his mind about the money we owe him. Americans cannot push the blame for the broken political system off onto their leaders. Who put them there? I am sure politicians gladly would have elected themselves, but it takes a few more votes for that to happen. Few leaders will take responsibility until their electorates take them to task.
Your second point about self-reliance quite honestly scares me. I know that there are a variety of ways people apply self-reliance. Some use it as a way to develop character with the intent to open the eyes of people who have esteemed themselves too low and have lost sight of their own worth and potential. Others use it as a shield, a way to withhold assistance from those who need it. I am not certain I know where the line is between self-reliance and benevolence. When should a person help out another? When should someone who is struggling ask for help? I believe it would be unwise to focus on self-reliance without also focusing on benevolence. America does need to cultivate a stronger willingness for hard work. There does need to be less expectation of a handout. But at the same time, I firmly believe that we must work to encourage a sense of community. People need to feel like they are all in it together regardless of historical differences or divisions. We should work to develop consideration for those around us, look beyond ourselves and offer assistance to others of our own free will. Any work that can be done to encourage an active concern for others' well-being is good.
Efficiency brings economics to mind. Economics is a wonderful discipline. I believe it provides useful tools to analyze problems and work out solutions to them. I am concerned about the relative lack of sound economic education in America. I believe that many and perhaps most politicians do not have enough of a handle on basic economic principles. Nor, sadly, are they willing to employ them when they do. Too often they vote in favor of policies that help themselves or some privileged part of their constituency while harming the public as a whole. This, in spite of their knowledge that their chosen policy will make a particular market function less efficiently. Your contrast of efficiency and fairness leave me groping for examples. I would be interested in an illustration of an "efficient" vs. a "fair" solution.
RGT, thank you for your post. I hope to read more of your ideas as you continue on this path.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Gratitude for Mosquitoes?
Okay, so this is definitely not my usual thing, but I stumbled across this on NPR. Check out this article. I thought the third reason was rather intriguing.
Separatism in Tatarstan?
NY Times
International / Europe
Russia’s Recognition of Georgian Areas Raises Hopes of Its Own Separatists
By ELLEN BARRY
Published: September 10, 2008
Russia has opened a Pandora's box by recognizing South Ossetia. It's only going to encourage its internal separatist movements. Someday, Russian leaders will not be in such a strong position and will not be able to repress their civilians as they did/do in Chechnya.
Take note of what the Russians say in regards to Georgia's attack on one of its separatist provinces:
Moscow’s position is that South Ossetia and Abkhazia were extreme situations, in which decisions were driven by the threat to the lives of its citizens. Russian troops poured across the border early in August, after Georgian forces attacked civilian areas in the city of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital, with rocket and artillery fire.
The attack made it “completely impossible” to conceive of South Ossetia returning to Georgian control, said Dmitri S. Peskov, a spokesman for Mr. Putin, now Russia’s prime minister.
Pay attention to the facts given above. You have a state using military force against a constituent geographic unit. Russia's conclusion is that given the attack it is "completely impossible" to see South Ossetia returning to Georgian control. Now compare the facts from Chechnya:
...In the 1990s, President Boris N. Yeltsin urged regional leaders to “take as much sovereignty as you can swallow.” Movements toward self-rule were taking hold in some of Russia’s most valuable territory...
All this came to a halt in Chechnya, an oil-rich patch of land in the north Caucasus. Chechnya was the only region to declare independence outright. In 1994, Russia sent troops into Chechnya, and two years of fighting left tens of thousands dead. In 1999, amid a crescendo of violence throughout the north Caucasus, Mr. Putin, then the prime minister, oversaw a second war that obliterated the Chechen rebel movement.
The message from Moscow — empowered and newly rich with petrodollars — was clear. “Russia has shown the inhuman price it will pay to preserve its territorial integrity,” said Sergei A. Karaganov, a political scientist who leads the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy.
I do not countenance what Georgian leaders did in South Ossetia. As bad as it was, it pales in comparison to what Yeltsin and Putin did in Chechnya.
This level of hypocrisy would be unbelievable from almost any nation. Distressingly, Russia is making a habit of it.
International / Europe
Russia’s Recognition of Georgian Areas Raises Hopes of Its Own Separatists
By ELLEN BARRY
Published: September 10, 2008
Russia has opened a Pandora's box by recognizing South Ossetia. It's only going to encourage its internal separatist movements. Someday, Russian leaders will not be in such a strong position and will not be able to repress their civilians as they did/do in Chechnya.
Take note of what the Russians say in regards to Georgia's attack on one of its separatist provinces:
Moscow’s position is that South Ossetia and Abkhazia were extreme situations, in which decisions were driven by the threat to the lives of its citizens. Russian troops poured across the border early in August, after Georgian forces attacked civilian areas in the city of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital, with rocket and artillery fire.
The attack made it “completely impossible” to conceive of South Ossetia returning to Georgian control, said Dmitri S. Peskov, a spokesman for Mr. Putin, now Russia’s prime minister.
Pay attention to the facts given above. You have a state using military force against a constituent geographic unit. Russia's conclusion is that given the attack it is "completely impossible" to see South Ossetia returning to Georgian control. Now compare the facts from Chechnya:
...In the 1990s, President Boris N. Yeltsin urged regional leaders to “take as much sovereignty as you can swallow.” Movements toward self-rule were taking hold in some of Russia’s most valuable territory...
All this came to a halt in Chechnya, an oil-rich patch of land in the north Caucasus. Chechnya was the only region to declare independence outright. In 1994, Russia sent troops into Chechnya, and two years of fighting left tens of thousands dead. In 1999, amid a crescendo of violence throughout the north Caucasus, Mr. Putin, then the prime minister, oversaw a second war that obliterated the Chechen rebel movement.
The message from Moscow — empowered and newly rich with petrodollars — was clear. “Russia has shown the inhuman price it will pay to preserve its territorial integrity,” said Sergei A. Karaganov, a political scientist who leads the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy.
I do not countenance what Georgian leaders did in South Ossetia. As bad as it was, it pales in comparison to what Yeltsin and Putin did in Chechnya.
This level of hypocrisy would be unbelievable from almost any nation. Distressingly, Russia is making a habit of it.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Another Episode in Russia's Campaign Against Freedom of the Press
September 1, 2008
Anger at Russian Journalist’s Funeral
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
It doesn't look like I can setup a permalink for this article, so here's the gist of what happened. Russian police detained Magomed Yevloyev, a reporter, at an airport in Ingushetia, a province that neighbor's Chechnya. On the way the police station, one of the officers shot Yevloyev in the temple. The region's prosecutor is calling this an accident.
The article goes on to discuss the level of force Putin has exercised against independent news media. There have been more than twelve reporters murdered in "contract-style killings" since 2000. Most notably, Anna Politkovskaya was killed in her apartment stairwell in 2006. She spent years documenting human rights abuses in Chechnya.
According to Human Rights Watch Researcher Tanya Lokshina, “The crimes in Ingushetia, although on a far smaller scale, evoke the thousands of enforced disappearances, killings, and torture cases that plagued Chechnya for more than a decade." See Article.
Anger at Russian Journalist’s Funeral
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
It doesn't look like I can setup a permalink for this article, so here's the gist of what happened. Russian police detained Magomed Yevloyev, a reporter, at an airport in Ingushetia, a province that neighbor's Chechnya. On the way the police station, one of the officers shot Yevloyev in the temple. The region's prosecutor is calling this an accident.
The article goes on to discuss the level of force Putin has exercised against independent news media. There have been more than twelve reporters murdered in "contract-style killings" since 2000. Most notably, Anna Politkovskaya was killed in her apartment stairwell in 2006. She spent years documenting human rights abuses in Chechnya.
According to Human Rights Watch Researcher Tanya Lokshina, “The crimes in Ingushetia, although on a far smaller scale, evoke the thousands of enforced disappearances, killings, and torture cases that plagued Chechnya for more than a decade." See Article.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Thoughts on Nationalism
Why is it that people cannot handle it when others bash their country? (I realize the pronouns could be clearer, but hopefully you get my drift) I was just reading an argument between an elderly American man and a young Russian girl. They are going back and forth about the conflict in South Ossetia. (If you are curious, the group is called "Ossetian conflict" on Facebook.com).
Observing their argument, it was apparent that both sides were stridently trying to assert the validity of their respective positions. They want to force the other person to believe what they believe and are saying. I look at the exchange and see how nothing gets done. People just get upset and yell at each other. So what then is the best way to get another to come around to your way of thinking? Loudly proclaiming your position in concert with disgust for views that differ from your own is not effective. Even if you "win" the argument, you still do not achieve your purpose. You may trounce your opponent rhetorically, but he (English really needs a gender neutral third person pronoun) still walks away holding on to his position stronger than ever. You cannot force someone to believe that you are right.
How would you set up a constructive exchange of starkly divergent views? Can it be done if the various parties are predisposed to spend their time thinking of rebuttals rather than listening and working to comprehend what another party is saying?
Where does all the passion and fervor for one's nation come from?
It comes from how people identify themselves. I am an American. As such, there are certain qualities I ascribe to America as a whole. At the same time, there are some of these qualities that I claim for myself; they make up part of my identity. When someone lashes out against America or its leaders, I may perceive that as an attack not on a distant, unrelated third party, but a personal attack on who I am and what I believe in. Perhaps there is nothing more sacred or fragile to a person, than their own estimate of self-worth. We wear ourselves out trying bolster and defend this fragile sculpture.
I once had a fight, an intense verbal argument, with a close friend. We were roommates and worked together 24/7 for several months. I do not recall having many arguments with him before or after, but I do remember this one. I do not remember how we got on the topic, but my friend made a comment which I took to mean that he thought his country was better than mine. This, of course, was absurd to me. I assured him that I am from the greatest country on the planet. The closest thing we had to a rival had fallen and disintegrated. If the world was a playground, we would be the king of the hill. Those are not my exact words, but the idea of American supremacy to any and all other countries was present. He proceeded to bash America. I then bashed his country. Looking back, we were not so much defending our countries as those parts of our identities that were wrapped up in our countries. We were fighting to protect our perceptions of our own self-worth.
How can a person move beyond the frenetic struggle to maintain their own self-worth?
The only sure core a person can have is knowing who they are. This knowledge transcends national, racial, economic and all other boundaries. People possessing this knowledge know that they are in fact children of God, known by and loved of Him with a love as real as any tender parent's care for their helpless infant. Only when you have this knowledge and learn to rely on it, to test it by your faith, can you be free of the daily rituals of building yourself up and fending off perceived threats. Only then can you be secure enough to move beyond the zero-sum-game mentality and treat those with whom you disagree, not as enemies to be conquered, but as siblings to be understood.
That, at least, is a step in the right direction.
Observing their argument, it was apparent that both sides were stridently trying to assert the validity of their respective positions. They want to force the other person to believe what they believe and are saying. I look at the exchange and see how nothing gets done. People just get upset and yell at each other. So what then is the best way to get another to come around to your way of thinking? Loudly proclaiming your position in concert with disgust for views that differ from your own is not effective. Even if you "win" the argument, you still do not achieve your purpose. You may trounce your opponent rhetorically, but he (English really needs a gender neutral third person pronoun) still walks away holding on to his position stronger than ever. You cannot force someone to believe that you are right.
How would you set up a constructive exchange of starkly divergent views? Can it be done if the various parties are predisposed to spend their time thinking of rebuttals rather than listening and working to comprehend what another party is saying?
Where does all the passion and fervor for one's nation come from?
It comes from how people identify themselves. I am an American. As such, there are certain qualities I ascribe to America as a whole. At the same time, there are some of these qualities that I claim for myself; they make up part of my identity. When someone lashes out against America or its leaders, I may perceive that as an attack not on a distant, unrelated third party, but a personal attack on who I am and what I believe in. Perhaps there is nothing more sacred or fragile to a person, than their own estimate of self-worth. We wear ourselves out trying bolster and defend this fragile sculpture.
I once had a fight, an intense verbal argument, with a close friend. We were roommates and worked together 24/7 for several months. I do not recall having many arguments with him before or after, but I do remember this one. I do not remember how we got on the topic, but my friend made a comment which I took to mean that he thought his country was better than mine. This, of course, was absurd to me. I assured him that I am from the greatest country on the planet. The closest thing we had to a rival had fallen and disintegrated. If the world was a playground, we would be the king of the hill. Those are not my exact words, but the idea of American supremacy to any and all other countries was present. He proceeded to bash America. I then bashed his country. Looking back, we were not so much defending our countries as those parts of our identities that were wrapped up in our countries. We were fighting to protect our perceptions of our own self-worth.
How can a person move beyond the frenetic struggle to maintain their own self-worth?
The only sure core a person can have is knowing who they are. This knowledge transcends national, racial, economic and all other boundaries. People possessing this knowledge know that they are in fact children of God, known by and loved of Him with a love as real as any tender parent's care for their helpless infant. Only when you have this knowledge and learn to rely on it, to test it by your faith, can you be free of the daily rituals of building yourself up and fending off perceived threats. Only then can you be secure enough to move beyond the zero-sum-game mentality and treat those with whom you disagree, not as enemies to be conquered, but as siblings to be understood.
That, at least, is a step in the right direction.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Papa Cito
A week ago, my dad, whom I frequently call Papa cito - I'm fairly certain that's incorrect Spanish, but oh well - came to visit me. It was the first time that a family member has made the trip out here to the DC area since I moved out here a year ago.
It was great to see him. I had had the idea that maybe he could come a couple of months ago. I had been thinking about making a trip out to Utah to visit before school started, but it just did not look practical from most any angle I looked at it. I simply did not have the time or means to make it happen. When I realized that, I decided to ask my dad if he would come out and see me. Judging from his reaction, it was like I had given him a Christmas present (not just the usual, but one he actually liked :) He made the arrangements for his flight and worked hard to get his work schedule under control so that he could take the time away.
I had a great time with him here. I got to take him over and show him around George Mason Law. We also took a trip to the National Archives and looked at the Consitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. After that, we went and got some grub and watched Get Smart (which both of us found to be much funnier than we had anticipated - I would recommend seeing it) On Saturday, I took him to the Maryland side of Great Falls. We took some pictures and watched the kayakers that were negotiating the Potomac right there. We also got to see a demonstration of the lock system on the Chesapeake/Ohio canal that runs parallel to the river. That was actually pretty cool. Saturday night we relaxed with some hefty servings of ice cream and watched the Olympics.
On Sunday, my dad gave me a blessing before church. That had been one of the main reasons I had asked him to come. I have received a blessing each year of college and did not want to embark on my law school journey without the added strength and comfort that comes from a priesthood blessing.
At church, my dad spent a couple of hours helping me get the clerks' office into a workable state. I could not have done it without him and was sorry he got dragged into it, but grateful for his help.
After church, we went over to Bronwyn & Emma's house for dinner. I had invited a bunch of friends and B & E were gracious enough to allow me to host the dinner at their place ( I don't really have a dining room at my place) Anyway, I was in charge of the main entree which was a dish called Saucy Chicken. The recipe is a favorite of mine that my mom makes. She got it from Aunt Renee. Anyway, things were going well with making the food until I noticed the cook time in the oven was supposed to be 2 hours! Steve heard that and went to Brad's for pancakes ( I would have joined him if I wasn't hosting :D As a result, we had plenty of time to sit and talk until dinner was ready. Overall it turned out good with the Saucy chicken, egg noodles, baked potatoes, salad, bread, and yummy dessert. I was stuffed to the rafters! After dinner we all hung out and talked. It was a lot of fun. It reminded me how lucky I am to have such good friends! Oh, I almost forgot; I looked hot in my chef's apron :P
On Monday, my dad and I visited the Masonic Memorial to George Washington and Christ's Church in Old Town Alexandria. We made a quick visit to Five Guys before I took him to the airport. It was a quick trip, but I was so glad he came.
It was great to see him. I had had the idea that maybe he could come a couple of months ago. I had been thinking about making a trip out to Utah to visit before school started, but it just did not look practical from most any angle I looked at it. I simply did not have the time or means to make it happen. When I realized that, I decided to ask my dad if he would come out and see me. Judging from his reaction, it was like I had given him a Christmas present (not just the usual, but one he actually liked :) He made the arrangements for his flight and worked hard to get his work schedule under control so that he could take the time away.
I had a great time with him here. I got to take him over and show him around George Mason Law. We also took a trip to the National Archives and looked at the Consitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. After that, we went and got some grub and watched Get Smart (which both of us found to be much funnier than we had anticipated - I would recommend seeing it) On Saturday, I took him to the Maryland side of Great Falls. We took some pictures and watched the kayakers that were negotiating the Potomac right there. We also got to see a demonstration of the lock system on the Chesapeake/Ohio canal that runs parallel to the river. That was actually pretty cool. Saturday night we relaxed with some hefty servings of ice cream and watched the Olympics.
On Sunday, my dad gave me a blessing before church. That had been one of the main reasons I had asked him to come. I have received a blessing each year of college and did not want to embark on my law school journey without the added strength and comfort that comes from a priesthood blessing.
At church, my dad spent a couple of hours helping me get the clerks' office into a workable state. I could not have done it without him and was sorry he got dragged into it, but grateful for his help.
After church, we went over to Bronwyn & Emma's house for dinner. I had invited a bunch of friends and B & E were gracious enough to allow me to host the dinner at their place ( I don't really have a dining room at my place) Anyway, I was in charge of the main entree which was a dish called Saucy Chicken. The recipe is a favorite of mine that my mom makes. She got it from Aunt Renee. Anyway, things were going well with making the food until I noticed the cook time in the oven was supposed to be 2 hours! Steve heard that and went to Brad's for pancakes ( I would have joined him if I wasn't hosting :D As a result, we had plenty of time to sit and talk until dinner was ready. Overall it turned out good with the Saucy chicken, egg noodles, baked potatoes, salad, bread, and yummy dessert. I was stuffed to the rafters! After dinner we all hung out and talked. It was a lot of fun. It reminded me how lucky I am to have such good friends! Oh, I almost forgot; I looked hot in my chef's apron :P
On Monday, my dad and I visited the Masonic Memorial to George Washington and Christ's Church in Old Town Alexandria. We made a quick visit to Five Guys before I took him to the airport. It was a quick trip, but I was so glad he came.
Kid Sister
Okay, so I realize this is my third entry of the day, but I've been crazy busy the past couple of weeks and feel that if I don't post now, it just won't get done. So there, hopefully its worth reading.
I got a phone call today from my little sister. She's about 7 years younger than me and one of my favorite people on the planet. She called me up and I answered the phone with some trepidation. She generally has not called me in the past unless she has needed something or something has happened in the family.
However, to my surprise and delight, she was calling to see how I was doing. It seems that she was talking to her friend Tucker this week. He had mentioned how close he was to his siblings and she had thought about how close she felt to each of her siblings. She wanted to be closer to all of us and decided that she was going to try to be a better sister. As part of this, she decided to call Chad and I today.
I was touched by her gesture and just felt distinctly how she was growing up. She's no longer a little girl, but has become a thoughtful and sensitive young woman who has her head squarely on her shoulders. I've seen her make some difficult decisions in the past year or two. She has reasserted herself and demonstrated her faith by the decisions she has made. She has worked hard and succeeded at school both in her coursework and in her extracurricular pursuits. She has also labored diligently to earn money to pay for college.
As great as those things are, it was wonderful to see her thinking about things with more of an external focus. She mentioned our little brother Ryan and how she has worked to stop fighting with him. I think he needs that. He's the second youngest and as a result has had to put up with a significant amount of grief from his older siblings. I am sure that he will appreciate her support and friendship.
Living out here on the east coast by myself has had its ups and downs. I love living here. I have wonderful friends and coworkers. I am blessed to be a member of a great ward of young single adults who do wonderful things and are just plain fun to be around. The one deficit that occasionally gets me down is how far away my family is. The bulk of my family is out west. I do have some relatives in Michigan, but it's not like I can just hop in the car and go visit for the weekend. I miss being around my little brothers and sisters (I'm not discriminating against older siblings as I'm the oldest :), my parents, and my grandparents. At some point I hope to have the means to travel out west to visit them more often than once per year.
I am grateful for my family. I miss them and love them a lot. I know that their prayers for me have been heard and answered repeatedly. I think of them often and pray for them as they are working through their trials and temptations. I am grateful for the power of the priesthood and that my family has been sealed in the temple. Families really are meant to be forever and I know I want mine to be.
I got a phone call today from my little sister. She's about 7 years younger than me and one of my favorite people on the planet. She called me up and I answered the phone with some trepidation. She generally has not called me in the past unless she has needed something or something has happened in the family.
However, to my surprise and delight, she was calling to see how I was doing. It seems that she was talking to her friend Tucker this week. He had mentioned how close he was to his siblings and she had thought about how close she felt to each of her siblings. She wanted to be closer to all of us and decided that she was going to try to be a better sister. As part of this, she decided to call Chad and I today.
I was touched by her gesture and just felt distinctly how she was growing up. She's no longer a little girl, but has become a thoughtful and sensitive young woman who has her head squarely on her shoulders. I've seen her make some difficult decisions in the past year or two. She has reasserted herself and demonstrated her faith by the decisions she has made. She has worked hard and succeeded at school both in her coursework and in her extracurricular pursuits. She has also labored diligently to earn money to pay for college.
As great as those things are, it was wonderful to see her thinking about things with more of an external focus. She mentioned our little brother Ryan and how she has worked to stop fighting with him. I think he needs that. He's the second youngest and as a result has had to put up with a significant amount of grief from his older siblings. I am sure that he will appreciate her support and friendship.
Living out here on the east coast by myself has had its ups and downs. I love living here. I have wonderful friends and coworkers. I am blessed to be a member of a great ward of young single adults who do wonderful things and are just plain fun to be around. The one deficit that occasionally gets me down is how far away my family is. The bulk of my family is out west. I do have some relatives in Michigan, but it's not like I can just hop in the car and go visit for the weekend. I miss being around my little brothers and sisters (I'm not discriminating against older siblings as I'm the oldest :), my parents, and my grandparents. At some point I hope to have the means to travel out west to visit them more often than once per year.
I am grateful for my family. I miss them and love them a lot. I know that their prayers for me have been heard and answered repeatedly. I think of them often and pray for them as they are working through their trials and temptations. I am grateful for the power of the priesthood and that my family has been sealed in the temple. Families really are meant to be forever and I know I want mine to be.
Confessions of a Law School Greenie: We're not in Provo anymore Toto
Okay, so one of the most important changes in my life is that as of Friday August 15th, I am part of the Fall 2008 entering class of law students. This past Friday I attended orientation at the George Mason University School of Law. I was there with about 250 other excited people. We had an introduction to our legal research and writing class that endeavored to teach us how to brief cases. Afterwords, we had a bbq in the school's atrium.
I was impressed at how nice everyone was. People were outgoing and friendly. I sat at a table with a bunch of other students in my section. It was fun meeting people and learning where they were from.
The next morning, we listened to the Dean give a speech in the atrium as we ate breakfast. Afterwards, we spent four hours in various breakout sessions covering the following topics: intro to law & econ class, how to use the library and other related services, student life, and career services. At one point in the middle of the day I definitely had some anxiety. I was getting a little nervous about everything that needed to be done before school begins on Thursday.
Throughout the course of the day, they did a wonderful job of keeping us full. Breakfast and lunch were good and there was pizza afterwards.
This may seem strange, but the two things I noticed the most about the experience had more to do with the social aspect than anything else. First, there was alcohol at every meal except breakfast. There was wine, pitchers of beer, as well as bottles of it. Honestly, I was so surprised. I hadn't thought about how the social scene would be so different from Provo. It's probably been almost 7 years since I've seen alcohol in such quantities. I was disappointed at the selection of soft drinks and ended up alternating between Sprite and water. The second thing I noticed was the way people dressed. It was like I'd been thrown back into high school. I saw girls in short shorts, tank tops that showed too much, and backless attire. I saw guys lowriding with their boxers hanging out of their shorts. It was a stark contrast to my four years at BYU.
Notwithstanding the differences in dressing and drinking preferences, I had a good time meeting people and am excited to get to know more of them. In particular, there were several people who went out of their way to help me. One guy, Rich B, helped me obtain a copy of my class schedule so that I could get my ID and take care of other administrative stuff. He went so far as to show me where the computer labs were and even paid for my print job (I could not without my ID card). He didn't have to do anything, but saw that he could help and jumped in. That's the second time that's happened at the school already. I really appreciated the help.
I was impressed at how nice everyone was. People were outgoing and friendly. I sat at a table with a bunch of other students in my section. It was fun meeting people and learning where they were from.
The next morning, we listened to the Dean give a speech in the atrium as we ate breakfast. Afterwards, we spent four hours in various breakout sessions covering the following topics: intro to law & econ class, how to use the library and other related services, student life, and career services. At one point in the middle of the day I definitely had some anxiety. I was getting a little nervous about everything that needed to be done before school begins on Thursday.
Throughout the course of the day, they did a wonderful job of keeping us full. Breakfast and lunch were good and there was pizza afterwards.
This may seem strange, but the two things I noticed the most about the experience had more to do with the social aspect than anything else. First, there was alcohol at every meal except breakfast. There was wine, pitchers of beer, as well as bottles of it. Honestly, I was so surprised. I hadn't thought about how the social scene would be so different from Provo. It's probably been almost 7 years since I've seen alcohol in such quantities. I was disappointed at the selection of soft drinks and ended up alternating between Sprite and water. The second thing I noticed was the way people dressed. It was like I'd been thrown back into high school. I saw girls in short shorts, tank tops that showed too much, and backless attire. I saw guys lowriding with their boxers hanging out of their shorts. It was a stark contrast to my four years at BYU.
Notwithstanding the differences in dressing and drinking preferences, I had a good time meeting people and am excited to get to know more of them. In particular, there were several people who went out of their way to help me. One guy, Rich B, helped me obtain a copy of my class schedule so that I could get my ID and take care of other administrative stuff. He went so far as to show me where the computer labs were and even paid for my print job (I could not without my ID card). He didn't have to do anything, but saw that he could help and jumped in. That's the second time that's happened at the school already. I really appreciated the help.
Russia's Infuriating Conduct
NY Times: International / Europe
Rice, in Georgia, Calls on Russia to Pull Out Now
By ANDREW E. KRAMER and CLIFFORD J. LEVY
Published: August 16, 2008
As the secretary of state tried to fix a loophole that Russia could use to justify its advance, Russian armor moved within 25 miles of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi.
Russia's recent behavior infuriates me. I had a conversation via email with a friend earlier this week. Here are some of my views on the conflict, not to mention China's treatment of journalists during the Olympics.
Friend: Hey dude, you know this whole thing with Russia vs. Georgia. Bush declared our whole-hearted support for Georgia. Do you think that could be interpreted as a declaration of war? Another cold war would be less than tasteful, in my opinion.
Me: It's not a declaration of war. Right now it's all moral support. When the missiles and troops start moving and Congress gets involved, that is when it becomes a war. I don't see that happening, but honestly, I would like to shove Russia back into their own country. What they are doing is wrong. They lied and said they were there to keep the peace between the Georgian forces and the separatist forces. Instead, they are there to obliterate Georgia, if possible, get Georgia's oil fields and access to the Black Sea, and to just plain tick the US off and show our government that Russia is, in the minds of its leaders and citizens, strong again.
Friend: Wow. You know being the most benevolent bully on the playground has its pros and cons. I would hate to see that happen to Georgia, and I think we should stand with them if it comes to that, but I would hate to see us get embroiled in a conflict like that. Especially with the Olympics going on. I mean, c’mon!
Me: I really think we should back Georgia. Can you imagine the US invading Mexico to support two rebellious states there? The idea is just ludicrous.
As for the Olympics, I love the Games, but am angry at China's behavior. China and Russia are from the same cloth. They don't do things based on values and principles. They do them based on power, self-interest, and money. I know the US is often accused of the same thing, but when's the last time you saw Russia or China actually help another country? The US is a bully some of the time, but honestly, the buck gets passed to us every time. The Europeans are weak. They don't stand up and defend anything. I must exclude the UK from those statements. Of all the European countries, they are the most willing to put their money and troops forward to stand up for right. I think a big problem with Europe especially vis-a-vis Russia is that they depend on the oil and gas coming from Russia's fields and so are hard pressed to make a firm response knowing that Russia has the leverage. All the more reason to fast track alternative fuel research and applications.
Back to China - have you seen how they've cracked down on journalists during the Olympics?! People breathe the word "Tibet" and they end up beaten and imprisoned, despite China's promises that the press would not be molested during the Games. The native Chinese journalists have it the worst as there is no other government to protect them and the one that should be only cares about maintaining its power and control.
Rice, in Georgia, Calls on Russia to Pull Out Now
By ANDREW E. KRAMER and CLIFFORD J. LEVY
Published: August 16, 2008
As the secretary of state tried to fix a loophole that Russia could use to justify its advance, Russian armor moved within 25 miles of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi.
Russia's recent behavior infuriates me. I had a conversation via email with a friend earlier this week. Here are some of my views on the conflict, not to mention China's treatment of journalists during the Olympics.
Friend: Hey dude, you know this whole thing with Russia vs. Georgia. Bush declared our whole-hearted support for Georgia. Do you think that could be interpreted as a declaration of war? Another cold war would be less than tasteful, in my opinion.
Me: It's not a declaration of war. Right now it's all moral support. When the missiles and troops start moving and Congress gets involved, that is when it becomes a war. I don't see that happening, but honestly, I would like to shove Russia back into their own country. What they are doing is wrong. They lied and said they were there to keep the peace between the Georgian forces and the separatist forces. Instead, they are there to obliterate Georgia, if possible, get Georgia's oil fields and access to the Black Sea, and to just plain tick the US off and show our government that Russia is, in the minds of its leaders and citizens, strong again.
Friend: Wow. You know being the most benevolent bully on the playground has its pros and cons. I would hate to see that happen to Georgia, and I think we should stand with them if it comes to that, but I would hate to see us get embroiled in a conflict like that. Especially with the Olympics going on. I mean, c’mon!
Me: I really think we should back Georgia. Can you imagine the US invading Mexico to support two rebellious states there? The idea is just ludicrous.
As for the Olympics, I love the Games, but am angry at China's behavior. China and Russia are from the same cloth. They don't do things based on values and principles. They do them based on power, self-interest, and money. I know the US is often accused of the same thing, but when's the last time you saw Russia or China actually help another country? The US is a bully some of the time, but honestly, the buck gets passed to us every time. The Europeans are weak. They don't stand up and defend anything. I must exclude the UK from those statements. Of all the European countries, they are the most willing to put their money and troops forward to stand up for right. I think a big problem with Europe especially vis-a-vis Russia is that they depend on the oil and gas coming from Russia's fields and so are hard pressed to make a firm response knowing that Russia has the leverage. All the more reason to fast track alternative fuel research and applications.
Back to China - have you seen how they've cracked down on journalists during the Olympics?! People breathe the word "Tibet" and they end up beaten and imprisoned, despite China's promises that the press would not be molested during the Games. The native Chinese journalists have it the worst as there is no other government to protect them and the one that should be only cares about maintaining its power and control.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Solzhenitsyn - Солженицын
I don't know what to say about him, other than that I respect him. I have read some of his work and hope to read more of it. Despite his cantankerous nature, he persisted in defiance to a system that did its best to destroy his life and the lives of millions of others. He knew the worth of his message and refused to be silenced.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Good times!
Okay, so I realize I haven't written on here in ages. I've been busy - reading my friends' blogs, playing Zelda, working, you know, with life in general. Actually, it was reading my friends' blogs that motivated me to write this.
So, this past Thursday, I had the chance to meet up with an old high school friend, Bria, and her husband Kris. The two of them got married earlier this year. I sent Bria and some other high school friends and email early last week to update them on how life out here was going. Come to find out, Bria and Kris were getting on a plane to DC. I was totally surprised to hear that they were coming to town!
We decided to go walk around Georgetown and get some dinner. We met up in Rosslyn and walked over to Georgetown and took a stroll down the main drag there. It was fun to hear about how their lives are going and all of the new changes with work, buying a home, etc.
We also had a chance to talk about politics, both international (read Russia, Ukraine & Belarus) and domestic. It was interesting hearing Kris in particular talk about one of the presidential candidates. I enjoyed his perspective and learned some things I did not know that helped me view that person with less animosity.
Beyond the political, we also talked about movies and our various occupations. At some point, Bria asked me more about what my experience has been this past year with getting ready for law school and dealing with setbacks related to the LSAT. She has a family member who is experiencing many of the same challenges in another field. This led to a discussion about trials and faith and practical strategies for dealing with these kind of problems. I was grateful for the exchange of feelings and insights that occurred. I love how close I feel to people after we share lessons that we have learned and the faith that keeps us going.
Before that night, I had met Kris previously, but did not know him well. I was grateful to get to know him better and to see how good things were between him and Bria. It is wonderful to observe my married friends and to see them thrive!
So, this past Thursday, I had the chance to meet up with an old high school friend, Bria, and her husband Kris. The two of them got married earlier this year. I sent Bria and some other high school friends and email early last week to update them on how life out here was going. Come to find out, Bria and Kris were getting on a plane to DC. I was totally surprised to hear that they were coming to town!
We decided to go walk around Georgetown and get some dinner. We met up in Rosslyn and walked over to Georgetown and took a stroll down the main drag there. It was fun to hear about how their lives are going and all of the new changes with work, buying a home, etc.
We also had a chance to talk about politics, both international (read Russia, Ukraine & Belarus) and domestic. It was interesting hearing Kris in particular talk about one of the presidential candidates. I enjoyed his perspective and learned some things I did not know that helped me view that person with less animosity.
Beyond the political, we also talked about movies and our various occupations. At some point, Bria asked me more about what my experience has been this past year with getting ready for law school and dealing with setbacks related to the LSAT. She has a family member who is experiencing many of the same challenges in another field. This led to a discussion about trials and faith and practical strategies for dealing with these kind of problems. I was grateful for the exchange of feelings and insights that occurred. I love how close I feel to people after we share lessons that we have learned and the faith that keeps us going.
Before that night, I had met Kris previously, but did not know him well. I was grateful to get to know him better and to see how good things were between him and Bria. It is wonderful to observe my married friends and to see them thrive!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
A Word about Wright
The Economist
Lexington
Wright's wrongs
May 1st 2008
From The Economist print edition
Will no one rid the airwaves of this turbulent priest?
I have not been good lately about keeping up with what's going on in the primaries. I was, of course, dissatisfied with Pennsylvania's results, but hope for better things from Indiana and more likely from North Carolina. I have heard all of the hubbub about Obama's priest, but did not know much about it until I read this. The last paragraph is particularly insightful. It talks about a generational struggle for leadership of the black politcal movement and contrasts the methods of Mr. Wright with those of his former parishioner. Let us hope that those calling for cooperation and unity are stronger than those seeking to maintain their status with divisive and hateful rantings.
Lexington
Wright's wrongs
May 1st 2008
From The Economist print edition
Will no one rid the airwaves of this turbulent priest?
I have not been good lately about keeping up with what's going on in the primaries. I was, of course, dissatisfied with Pennsylvania's results, but hope for better things from Indiana and more likely from North Carolina. I have heard all of the hubbub about Obama's priest, but did not know much about it until I read this. The last paragraph is particularly insightful. It talks about a generational struggle for leadership of the black politcal movement and contrasts the methods of Mr. Wright with those of his former parishioner. Let us hope that those calling for cooperation and unity are stronger than those seeking to maintain their status with divisive and hateful rantings.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Cell Phones + Development = ?
NY Times
Magazine
Can the Cellphone Help End Global Poverty?
By SARA CORBETT
Published: April 13, 2008
Why a corporate “user anthropologist” is spending so much of his time in the shantytowns of the world.
I found this story fascinating. I had heard that cell phones were great in developing countries, because they give the people in those countries the ability to communicate, without the costs associated with traditional land lines and the difficulties of tracking people down for monthly payments. This story, however, introduces a couple of ideas. Perhaps the most interesting is how the cell phone acts as a "fixed identity point." Regardless of where you are and what you are doing (for a good example, see the anthropologist this story covers) those who know your number can contact you with minimal expense and effort. Knowing someone's cell phone number is really the only thing you need beyond knowing them in order to maintain a connection regardless of where your individual lives take you.
Beyond that initial idea, the uses people in developing countries are finding for cell phones are incredible. Check out the part of the story where they discuss mobile banking and how people are using airtime for cell phones as a way of transferring funds to family and friends in distant locales. I also enjoyed how people would use SMS messages to keep in touch when governments shut down public media or during power failures. You've also got physicians in remote areas texting hospitals in more established regions for help in treating a particular patient.
Finally, the story raises the question of what will happen when the other 3 billion people on the planet have access to cell phones. The quantity of people is so great that even minute changes in individual circumstances will have huge aggregate effects. It will be interesting to see if companies in the mobile telecom markets can produce phones that are durable, affordable, and useful for those earning less that $4 per day.
Magazine
Can the Cellphone Help End Global Poverty?
By SARA CORBETT
Published: April 13, 2008
Why a corporate “user anthropologist” is spending so much of his time in the shantytowns of the world.
I found this story fascinating. I had heard that cell phones were great in developing countries, because they give the people in those countries the ability to communicate, without the costs associated with traditional land lines and the difficulties of tracking people down for monthly payments. This story, however, introduces a couple of ideas. Perhaps the most interesting is how the cell phone acts as a "fixed identity point." Regardless of where you are and what you are doing (for a good example, see the anthropologist this story covers) those who know your number can contact you with minimal expense and effort. Knowing someone's cell phone number is really the only thing you need beyond knowing them in order to maintain a connection regardless of where your individual lives take you.
Beyond that initial idea, the uses people in developing countries are finding for cell phones are incredible. Check out the part of the story where they discuss mobile banking and how people are using airtime for cell phones as a way of transferring funds to family and friends in distant locales. I also enjoyed how people would use SMS messages to keep in touch when governments shut down public media or during power failures. You've also got physicians in remote areas texting hospitals in more established regions for help in treating a particular patient.
Finally, the story raises the question of what will happen when the other 3 billion people on the planet have access to cell phones. The quantity of people is so great that even minute changes in individual circumstances will have huge aggregate effects. It will be interesting to see if companies in the mobile telecom markets can produce phones that are durable, affordable, and useful for those earning less that $4 per day.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
My First 10K!
Okay, so this weekend has already been wonderful. I had the chance to go down with Kristine and Melissa to run a 10K yesterday in Richmond. We stayed with Kristine's friend Brandon, a 2nd year dental student. Brandon lives in this sweet house with three other aspiring dentists. We got there the first night and crashed in his living room. In the morning we got up and cruised in to town. The race was along Monument Ave., so named because of the monuments that seemed to be located at every major crossroads. As I was running, I didn't pay much attention to who all of them were, but the first one was of Stonewall Jackson.
Before beginning the race, I was blown away by how many people were there. I think they said they had around 30,000. The whole street was packed with port-a-potties as far as the eye could see... The race began around 8:30 with the Men's Elite division. They were running for the national championship. We got separated from our group while we were warming up before the race and ended up starting with wave J - the 1hr group. They had gone to our wave F and started. At first it was hard just to get going. There were so many people that you couldn't take big strides, but we moved to the sides and were able to pass and work our way more into the open. At this point I was running with Kristine. We wanted to keep a pace of about 8:30. I don't remember exactly how the miles went, but I know that we had several miles that were really fast - around 7:15 or 7:30 and others where we slowed down so as to not get burnt out before the end. Around mile four I decided to press forward a little faster. I got drinks twice as we were running. I think both times I slopped them down the front of me only managing to get a swallow or two. I'll have to work on my technique. I forgot to say that when we started out, it was raining lightly. Nothing bad as we were working hard and not really noticing it. I did have a problem during the last half of the race with my eyes watering as sweat dripped into them. Ah the joys of a beginner.
Anyway, mile five was a monster. I swear that one took forever. I think it was my slowest mile - around 9 minutes. Then for the last 1.2 miles, I tried to pick up the pace. I finished with a time of 52:12, just a tad quicker than the 8:30 pace. At the end as I stopped I felt like I was going to cramp up or be sick, but neither happened. I was fine after a few deep breaths. I was very happy to have finished. I was also pleased because that's the furthest I've ever run continuously in my life.
Here's a picture of Melissa, me, Brandon, and Kristine after the race. If we look a little wet and bedraggled, you can chalk that up to the rain :)
After the race, we had a wonderful time attending conference at the stake center. We ate a tremendous amount of food at Applebee's (I love that place) and took in some ice cream together after priesthood. We finished the night with the Kansas vs. North Carolina b-ball game and some blistering foosball action. I suffered a stinging defeat at the hands of a formidable opponent.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Willpower
NY Times
Tighten Your Belt, Strengthen Your Mind
By SANDRA AAMODT and SAM WANG
Published: April 2, 2008
Consistently doing any activity that requires self-control seems to increase willpower — and the ability to delay gratification is highly associated with success in life.
I thought this was a great article. If you see this, you should definitely take the time to read it.
Tighten Your Belt, Strengthen Your Mind
By SANDRA AAMODT and SAM WANG
Published: April 2, 2008
Consistently doing any activity that requires self-control seems to increase willpower — and the ability to delay gratification is highly associated with success in life.
I thought this was a great article. If you see this, you should definitely take the time to read it.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Six "Founding" Mothers of Native Americans
Indian DNA Links to 6 'Founding Mothers'
March 13, 2008 - 10:33am
By MALCOLM RITTER AP Science Writer
"NEW YORK (AP) - Nearly all of today's Native Americans in North, Central and South America can trace part of their ancestry to six women whose descendants immigrated around 20,000 years ago, a DNA study suggests."
I thought this was pretty interesting. They might be a tad bit off on their estimate as to how long ago these women lived, or where exactly in Asia they may have come from.
March 13, 2008 - 10:33am
By MALCOLM RITTER AP Science Writer
"NEW YORK (AP) - Nearly all of today's Native Americans in North, Central and South America can trace part of their ancestry to six women whose descendants immigrated around 20,000 years ago, a DNA study suggests."
I thought this was pretty interesting. They might be a tad bit off on their estimate as to how long ago these women lived, or where exactly in Asia they may have come from.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
What Diplomacy Is All About
NY Times: Op-Ed Columnist
African Genocide Averted
By ROGER COHEN
Published: March 3, 2008
Kenya’s remarkable power-sharing outcome can serve as a model: Call it the Nairobi paradigm or Kofi Annan’s R2P marker.
Okay, so I read this article and got really excited. First and foremost, I was grateful that more bloodshed and suffering has been averted, at least for now, in Kenya. Second, I was impressed by Kofi Annan's efforts to bring the opposing factions to the table to work out a deal. I thought it was masterful that he brought in leaders from Germany to help explain how dual-executive systems work. It was a nice touch that the author included President Bush's remarks about how there ought to be some sort of power sharing agreement between the two parties. I felt that the last paragraphs were particularly good:
''When we talk of intervention, people think of the military,'' Annan said. ''But under R2P [Responsibility to Protect], force is a last resort. Political and diplomatic intervention is the first mechanism. And I think we've seen a successful example of its application.''
Some will quibble over technicalities, but Kenya kindled the somnolent spirit of R2P. We've also seen American might in subtler guise: listening better, applying soft power. That's another reason what happened in Nairobi matters so much. (Bold added - KSC)
I think that is exactly the kind of influence the US should be trying to exert - making statements that show we support efforts of credible actors in the international community. This "new" take on diplomacy, at least for the Bush administration, can also be seen in the debacle over the recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear weapons program (I should probably have some sort of caveat here like "alleged," but I just don't buy all the hogwash Iran is trying to sell about its "peaceful" pursuit of nuclear power). The US intel community narrowly defined nuclear weapons program as designing warheads, ignoring the traditional definition which included enriching uranium, which Iran has been doing. The publication of the National Intelligence Estimate killed momentum for tougher sanctions on Iran. China and Russia are none too keen to press Iran any more than they have to. This gave them an excuse to soften their approach. However, the US has recently somewhat redeemed itself by sharing some of its intel with members of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency - UN nuclear power watchdog). As a result, the Europeans are picking up the ball and pressing for tougher sanctions against Iran (See Meeting on Arms Data Reignites Iran Debate). Again, the US does not have to do everything by itself. It can provide support to other states who have their best interests in seeing the situation resolved and are willing and able to see that such a resolution develops.
African Genocide Averted
By ROGER COHEN
Published: March 3, 2008
Kenya’s remarkable power-sharing outcome can serve as a model: Call it the Nairobi paradigm or Kofi Annan’s R2P marker.
Okay, so I read this article and got really excited. First and foremost, I was grateful that more bloodshed and suffering has been averted, at least for now, in Kenya. Second, I was impressed by Kofi Annan's efforts to bring the opposing factions to the table to work out a deal. I thought it was masterful that he brought in leaders from Germany to help explain how dual-executive systems work. It was a nice touch that the author included President Bush's remarks about how there ought to be some sort of power sharing agreement between the two parties. I felt that the last paragraphs were particularly good:
''When we talk of intervention, people think of the military,'' Annan said. ''But under R2P [Responsibility to Protect], force is a last resort. Political and diplomatic intervention is the first mechanism. And I think we've seen a successful example of its application.''
Some will quibble over technicalities, but Kenya kindled the somnolent spirit of R2P. We've also seen American might in subtler guise: listening better, applying soft power. That's another reason what happened in Nairobi matters so much. (Bold added - KSC)
I think that is exactly the kind of influence the US should be trying to exert - making statements that show we support efforts of credible actors in the international community. This "new" take on diplomacy, at least for the Bush administration, can also be seen in the debacle over the recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear weapons program (I should probably have some sort of caveat here like "alleged," but I just don't buy all the hogwash Iran is trying to sell about its "peaceful" pursuit of nuclear power). The US intel community narrowly defined nuclear weapons program as designing warheads, ignoring the traditional definition which included enriching uranium, which Iran has been doing. The publication of the National Intelligence Estimate killed momentum for tougher sanctions on Iran. China and Russia are none too keen to press Iran any more than they have to. This gave them an excuse to soften their approach. However, the US has recently somewhat redeemed itself by sharing some of its intel with members of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency - UN nuclear power watchdog). As a result, the Europeans are picking up the ball and pressing for tougher sanctions against Iran (See Meeting on Arms Data Reignites Iran Debate). Again, the US does not have to do everything by itself. It can provide support to other states who have their best interests in seeing the situation resolved and are willing and able to see that such a resolution develops.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Pain - The Bane of Mortal Existence
Okay, so I am sure that many of you (many = 3 ) have been wondering why on earth I haven't updated my blog in weeks.
The answer is: pain. Well, that and I got busy at work.
But back to pain. So, a couple of weeks ago I woke up on a Thursday morning and my head felt like it was going to explode. All of my teeth were sore, but the pain didn't seem to be linked to them. I also felt a lot of pressure in my sinuses and ears. Well, I basically spent the next two days taking some pain pills and sinus stuff to see if that would help. I had a date Friday night ( yeah buddy! ) which I managed to make it through without giving any indication that I was in pain. Then, I went to this wonderful little shindig at the Lemon House. I knew it was the place to be when I turned onto the street and saw an ambulance there. Whew, who knew a little Valentine's Day party could get so craaaazy. Props to the Lemonheads, I think pin the diaper on cupid was pretty entertaining, not to mention the random kisses (real ones I might add) that were being distributed. I have to say I blushed when I got mine.
So, if my Friday night weren't full enough as it is, there was a deadline for a teaching position that I was very interested in that night (at 2:59 AM Eastern). I work pretty quickly, so I managed to get my app in by 2:42 or so. At this point, I was exhausted and went promptly to bed. However, my sweet slumber was short-lived. PAIN!! I woke up after about 2 hrs of sleep and felt like the left side of my mouth was on fire. It was coming from a very troublesome molar. I really don't have good luck with those.
Cutting to the present, I had the root canal yesterday. PAIN is gone, but his little brother painchik has decided to stick around a little longer.
The answer is: pain. Well, that and I got busy at work.
But back to pain. So, a couple of weeks ago I woke up on a Thursday morning and my head felt like it was going to explode. All of my teeth were sore, but the pain didn't seem to be linked to them. I also felt a lot of pressure in my sinuses and ears. Well, I basically spent the next two days taking some pain pills and sinus stuff to see if that would help. I had a date Friday night ( yeah buddy! ) which I managed to make it through without giving any indication that I was in pain. Then, I went to this wonderful little shindig at the Lemon House. I knew it was the place to be when I turned onto the street and saw an ambulance there. Whew, who knew a little Valentine's Day party could get so craaaazy. Props to the Lemonheads, I think pin the diaper on cupid was pretty entertaining, not to mention the random kisses (real ones I might add) that were being distributed. I have to say I blushed when I got mine.
So, if my Friday night weren't full enough as it is, there was a deadline for a teaching position that I was very interested in that night (at 2:59 AM Eastern). I work pretty quickly, so I managed to get my app in by 2:42 or so. At this point, I was exhausted and went promptly to bed. However, my sweet slumber was short-lived. PAIN!! I woke up after about 2 hrs of sleep and felt like the left side of my mouth was on fire. It was coming from a very troublesome molar. I really don't have good luck with those.
Cutting to the present, I had the root canal yesterday. PAIN is gone, but his little brother painchik has decided to stick around a little longer.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Getting your house in order?
NY Times - Business
Economy Fitful, Americans Start to Pay as They Go
By PETER S. GOODMAN
Published: February 5, 2008
Analysts say a shift toward thrift could have huge implications for an economy driven largely by consumer spending.
A related scripture:
50 Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. 51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness. (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:50-51)
I am definitely not an expert at managing my finances properly. I think it took me a year at college before I realized that student loans existed and I'd be better off with those than financing my education on a credit card. Money in college was ephemeral. What little I earned from part-time jobs hopefully covered my rent and food. There was simply not enough for books, medical or dental expenses, car repairs and the like.
One of the greatest things about graduating and getting a job is the ability to start putting things back in order. I do not make a lot of money, in fact, I'm more or less certain that I make less than most of my peers. Nevertheless, I have enough to sustain life (a life that I still enjoy) and to meet my financial obligations including paying down my loans. I think one of the most difficult questions I have to face in the coming months is: "How much debt am I willing to incur for a legal education?" While I am not certain, the present state of our economy makes me inclined to err on the side of financial caution and choose a school that will not leave me with a six-figure debt in a weak job market.
On a related note, I am not convinced that lawyers deserve all of the money they earn. I don't care how good you are; charging hundreds of dollars an hour seems almost criminal when you think of the other jobs that are essential to the day-to-day existence of people on this planet and yet earn minimum wage or less. These kind of disparities in income cannot continue forever. It's only a matter of time until one of the core needs of humanity trumps that of paying for a lawyer or other professional who is so supremely confident in his/her own estimation of personal value. What things do people really need to sustain life? Faith, food, shelter, clothing, basic health care, protection from external violence. We need to have other usable skills, perhaps trades or vocations, to rely on in the face of economic uncertainty.
I guess that begs the question: "What basic skills do I have/want to develop?"
Economy Fitful, Americans Start to Pay as They Go
By PETER S. GOODMAN
Published: February 5, 2008
Analysts say a shift toward thrift could have huge implications for an economy driven largely by consumer spending.
A related scripture:
50 Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. 51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness. (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:50-51)
I am definitely not an expert at managing my finances properly. I think it took me a year at college before I realized that student loans existed and I'd be better off with those than financing my education on a credit card. Money in college was ephemeral. What little I earned from part-time jobs hopefully covered my rent and food. There was simply not enough for books, medical or dental expenses, car repairs and the like.
One of the greatest things about graduating and getting a job is the ability to start putting things back in order. I do not make a lot of money, in fact, I'm more or less certain that I make less than most of my peers. Nevertheless, I have enough to sustain life (a life that I still enjoy) and to meet my financial obligations including paying down my loans. I think one of the most difficult questions I have to face in the coming months is: "How much debt am I willing to incur for a legal education?" While I am not certain, the present state of our economy makes me inclined to err on the side of financial caution and choose a school that will not leave me with a six-figure debt in a weak job market.
On a related note, I am not convinced that lawyers deserve all of the money they earn. I don't care how good you are; charging hundreds of dollars an hour seems almost criminal when you think of the other jobs that are essential to the day-to-day existence of people on this planet and yet earn minimum wage or less. These kind of disparities in income cannot continue forever. It's only a matter of time until one of the core needs of humanity trumps that of paying for a lawyer or other professional who is so supremely confident in his/her own estimation of personal value. What things do people really need to sustain life? Faith, food, shelter, clothing, basic health care, protection from external violence. We need to have other usable skills, perhaps trades or vocations, to rely on in the face of economic uncertainty.
I guess that begs the question: "What basic skills do I have/want to develop?"
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