The Gatsby's Guide

Marriage!!!!!

2008-06-30T17:58:00.000-05:00

I'm getting married in less than a week.
How crazy?
Maybe I'll write about it at some point. Who knows? I'm in a bit of a daze, but am happy!

Passover's Forbidden Grains

2007-03-26T19:19:00.000-05:00

Last year I wrote this short post about {assover. The holiday looms ahead with the first Seder Monday Night. As always, I try and sort out what I feel comfortable eating and not eating. My parents are lenient, and I derive my roots from them They avoid the most obvious things: breads, pastas, cereals, etc. My girlfriend is a little stricter. She tends to avoid corn syrup, beans, rice, and most things that aren't strictly kosher for passover.
Strangely, many kosher for passover products are strange too. Often, they use baking soda. as their chemical leavening is not strictly forbidden. You can get all sorts of cakes and such that are kosher for passover by the letter the law. But what about foods that aren't obviously forbidden? Do we really need kosher soda, kosher mustard, kosher jelly? Is corn syrup really something to be feared?

Now, I don't want to get in to a detailed analysis about what is allowed and what isn't allowed. Mostly it's because I'm lazy and I don't want to dig into a 1000 sources and debates. But I also am not sure it matters that much to me.

I also don't think it's settled. Tamara recently sent me a link from a Rabbi asking why kitniyot (rice, beans, corn etc...) are forbidden among the Ashkenazic (Jews of Eastern-European descent). If she reads this, perhaps she'll kindly put the post up again. Even if one decides to avoid those things, do you avoid derivatives like oils made from these products.

So how do I move forward. Well I like to think about:
1) Tradition: both family tradition and older religious tradition.
2) Community: What does the community around me do?
3) Personal belief

The tradition is a little mixed. Eastern European Jews tend to avoid kitnyot, Jews from Spain and the Meditteranean tend to include them. My family's practice I've already eluded to. I belong to a Reform synagogue, so the communal practice is a bit variable. Reform Jews tend to swing from just avoiding bread to keeping a pretty strict observance.
So that of course leaves personal belief.
I think a good bit of it for me is personal sacrifice. It's about doing something to help you remember what the holiday is about. It's about connecting with your community. It's remembering and honoring what your parents and family have taught you.
So, I think I'm going to try harder not to eat out and avoid foods I don't have control over.
I don't eat very many frozen or pre-packaged foods, so I should be ok on that end. I'll just make simple meals that are as far away from forbidden foods (chametz) as possible. I'll avoid rice and corn,mostly because I think it will make things more meaningful for me. But no one will take away my peanut butter.

Cat Update

2007-03-20T20:53:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to give you an update. A few readers have asked about Charlie. He seems to mostly be better. We took him to the vet last week and all his lab tests were normal, so there isn't anything seriously wrong with him as far as we can tell.
He is still licking his fur a bit too much. I'm not entirely sure the cause, but the vet thinks it's environment. Is it stress? Is he upset because I travel a lot or am away from my apartment for work and social things? I'm not sure.
At this point, I'll just wait and see. I don't think it's a serious skin condition because the anti-inflammatory hasn't helped. A few people have suggested fleas.
Any thoughts?

Cat Connundrum

2007-03-04T16:36:00.000-06:00

I've been caring for a sick cat these past few weeks. It started out with Charlie licking and pulling his fur from his belly and many of his paws. When I brought him into the vet, he noticed a sore on the back of his throat. The vet gave me some food to see if Charlie had a food allergy and an antibiotic for the sore.
Well, after three days, the antibiotic made him sick and he wasn't really eating the food.
Now, he's been drinking a ton of water and hasn't been eating very well. As of post time I'm still waiting on blood work from the vet and am just wondering what will happen.
I keep reading online about different possibilities. I watch every move he makes and ask whether it is unusual for him or is cause for concern. Honestly, I'm acting a bit crazy.
I am by nature, a worrier. I always think there is something I should be doing and worry about the how things will go in the future. I wonder if he's on medication how I can go out of town?
Who will look after him? Am I not giving him enough attention?
As I said, it's a bit ridiculous.
But what I can do? Waiting is hard. Charlie isn't very clear about what's bothering him. So I feel like I should try and decode anything I can decode.
How am I going to survive having children if a sick cat gets me this worked up?
These are all good questions. Fortunately, I have great friends who help me work some of this issues out. I have a wonderful girlfriend who listens to me worry all the time and amazingly, doesn't get sick of hearing it. Charlie is a great companion and a very loving, gentle cat. I'd be torn up if something serious happened to him. But, the worst thing is not knowing. It's feeling like I should be doing something differently or something better. Could I? It's possible, but I doubt it. I just have to use my instincts and stay in contact with my vet. I also have to accept that the vet is doing his own guesswork.
Most importantly, perhaps, is that I just have to appreciate the time I have with Charlie. He's wonderful and loyal, and I do love him dearly. I just want to do so for a lot more years.

Beautiful Bread

2007-02-13T20:29:00.000-06:00

I never really thought much about bread. I mean, I love bread. Good break can make or break a meal. It is the foundation of a sandwich and a necessary accompanyment to good sauce.
But making it? That seemed like a lot of work and a lot of time.
But then, why not? Isn't that part of the fun? The challenge of making something kinda difficult, or at the very least, something that takes some time is really kind of the point.
So, I did a quick web search for a bread book and came up with:
Bread Made Easy by Beth Hensperger. It's a step by step guide starting with the basics of bread making, and then progressing from simple breads to more complex and difficult ones.
It starts out with a simple batter bread. It's made with evaporated milk, and doesn't require kneeding. My first experience: the bread didn't rise! I actually ended up cooking it, and it tasted fine, but something wasn't quite right.
The solution was quite easy: I had old yeast. The second time, the bread rose perfectly and tasted great.
Variety #2 was challah, the wonderful egg bread. This recipe was slightly more complicated: it required kneeding and three rising sessions.
The thing is, none of the steps are very difficult, it was more a matter of time.
When I was done, this beautiful golden brown braided bread came out of the oven.
It was gorgeous, and tasted perfectly.
The best part was that I made it with my own hands.
I have illusions of cooking a loaf every weekend and eliminating the need to buy bread altogether, but I doubt it will happen.
I suppose that is why many go to bread machines. At this point though, it's the hand-making that I like.
So now I will move on: I have the basic white bread, wheat bread, sweetbreads, flat breads, country breads, and even coffee cakes to try.
Give it a try yourself. At the very least, your kitchen well smell incredible.

A few random thoughts about words

2007-01-21T15:38:00.000-06:00

A few random thoughts about words.

1) Weather forecasters should never use the word "normal". Even the national weather service does it. Normal weather is meaningless. How about average? Average has a precise definition. It is, however, entirely possible, to never have an average day. But at least the language is precise.

2) Grocery stores shouldn't have a "10 items or less" or "15 items or less" aisle. Instead, they are "10 items or fewer". Fewer describes things that are discrete quantities: fewer potatoes, fewer cats, fewer anal bloggers. Less describes non-discreet quantities: "less patience", "less strength", "less annoying".

3) One doesn't take alternate routes or try alternate strategies. The word you'd like is: alternative. For alternate to be used as an adjective, it should describe something that alternates like "alternate days" for every other day, or "alternate side parking" for the insane parking system that downtown Madison uses.

4) Enormity doesn't just describe size. Enormity refers to a very large negative, such as the "enormity of September 11th" or the "enormity of the tragedy". Enormousness is the more generic word.

5) This one is a bit debatable I suppose. But, one who is disinterested does not have a stake in an outcome. Someone who is uninterested doesn't care. A disinterested judge is a good thing, an uninterested judge is not. This distinction has faded a bit in modern English.

6) Weather isn't unpredictable. If it were, I'd be out of a job. Weather is highly variable or chaotic.

7) Cold air doesn't hold more water than warm air. Warmer air causes liquid water to evaporate more readily, so the actual amount of water vapor in warmer air is greater than colder air. This one probably takes more explaining than this short blog allows.

Feel free to add more below or correct anything I have wrong. Rant over.

Parking Prediciment

2007-01-16T20:32:00.000-06:00

I don't drive my car to work very often. I pride myself on it: I can walk, take the bus, or bike when the outside temperature is sensible. But sometimes, the situation works itself in such a way that you have to. I had some errands to run before and after work that I had to drive to, so I did.

Now our campus and city are like many, in that there are various parking limitations, restrictions and rules. Many people in my building park in the 2-hr parking areas, and walk down to their car once or twice a day and check to see if their tires have been marked. If so, they simply move the car to a new spot. When I drive in, I don't like to do this, so I drive the extra block or two away and park in the first legal street without the 2-hr restriction. As I was driving, I noticed the signs that said "No parking Tuesdays from 8-12" and the line below it that said "Valid May - November". Doing the quick calculations in my head and realizing I was ok, I pulled along the snow-covered street and parked my car.

So...8 hours later I walk back to the street I parked on and to where I was expecting my car.
No car.
Maybe it was a block up? Nope...nothing there.
A block back? Did I really remember this wrong?
Nope.
Panic sets in. Did I lock the door? It's a residential street in broad daylight? Who could steal a car without it being seen.
I wander over to the traffic signs checking my months again. Yup, I should have been good.
What could have happened? I inspected the sign for further details. No phone number or instructions in case of being towed.
And then, I remember a story from a friend of mine. Her car had been towed. But, it wasn't towed to an impound lot; they just moved it to a legal spot nearby.
I wandered over to a nearby cafe, figuring that I couldn't have been the first to have had this problem. They hand me a phonebook and even offer me a phone to use. They mention that my memory is correct: most people who are towed have their cars nearby. It would be a matter of simply finding it.
I try to call the Madison Parking people. The recording lists a phone number to call for a towed car. So, I call and get endless rings. Don't they even have an answering machine?

The friend I was meeting after work calls me wondering what had delayed me. I explain what has happened and she kindly offers to drive over and help me look for the car. I accept. So we drive around getting our hopes up at anything that vaguely resembles my car only to have our hopes dashed when it isn't the right car. We finally come up with the idea of calling the local police: at the very least, they'll know who to call.

It was strange while going through this procedure in that I was hoping that the car had been towed. The thought of dealing with a stolen car just seems horrific. When the man at the police dispatch tells me it had been towed, and gave me its location about a quarter of a mile away, I actually breathed a sign of relief.
So, my friend drove me to the car, which was parked safely and legally. I grabbed the $70 dollar towing and violation ticket without reading it, relieved that my car was OK.
It wasn't until I was driving home that I began to wonder what the violation was. I was sure that the sign didn't apply, and I knew that this wasn't a 2-hr parking so. When I got home, I saw what the violation was: parking within 4-feet of a driveway. I think I'll take the bus in tomorrow.

Keys to the Capitol

2007-01-15T21:31:00.000-06:00

Former Congressman Toby Moffett gives advice to freshman congressman in this Op-Ed in the Washington Post. My favorite is the last item on his list:

10. Look up at that dome often. Especially on nights when you're headed to or from a vote. If you reach a point where it doesn't give you goosebumps, draft your resignation letter the next day.

Holiday whirlwind

2007-01-15T19:39:00.000-06:00

So one or two have egged me on to update this blog, so I figured I might as well. I'm not sure why I've been so sparse in updating this blog. I don't think it's because I don't have a lot to say or that nothing has happened to me since November. Perhaps it's a bout of laziness, or just a lack of motivation to sit down and write. I'm not really sure.Well regardless, I"ll see if I can make the time to update this a little more often.

The past month or so has been a whirlwind of travel. I was in Germany at the beginning of December, and in New Orleans at the beginning of January, with trips to Maryland and Cedar
Rapids in between.

Travelling is stressful. Although almost all of my trips were voluntary, it still takes a lot out of you to get through it: You worry about getting to the airport on time. You worry about the flight taking off on-time, catching your connections, finding something to eat, and even deciding what beverage to get from the beverage cart.

It's easy to lose focus while you're sitting on a grounded-plane in Madison, 10 minutes before the last connection of the day is supposed to take off from Chicago. But while you're on the phone yelling at that United official, remember what amazing opportunities flying gives you.
Within 24 hours you can be on the other side of the world. Each time I reached my destination, saw my family, or went to that conference, or thankfully, made it home, I thought about how amazing it was that I was somewhere far away just hours ago.

It was also notable how much more pleasant it was to travel with someone else. Having my girlfriend with me for many of these trips reminded me how wonderful it could be to to "ordinary" things with her. Having someone else to get through difficult times with can make travel disasters something to laugh about the next day. Safe travels everyone, and may you not have to fly through Chicago, O'hare anytime soon.

Election Summary

2006-11-08T11:01:00.000-06:00

The Washington Post's editorial on the election is brilliant.
Read "The Voters' Message".

Election thoughts

2006-11-07T20:04:00.000-06:00

It's election night as I write this. I'm sitting in the living room, listening to the coverage on the news, and of course, wondering what will happen.
By the time you read this, perhaps, the election will be settled (or perhaps long settled for any late stragglers), but for now we are faced with questions, and in my case, a bit of suspense.
Earlier in the evening, I went on a run through town. I could see signs of the election everywhere. Literally, campaign signs for all of the democrats and their issues lined the yards of houses (there aren't too many Republicans in this city). A stranger who was walking out of her well-signed house, shouted to ask if I had voted.
As I continued running, I passed a polling site, with a reasonably long line . It was about 6:30, and the after-work crowd had built up outside the very small Gates of Heaven building on the shores of Lake Mendota. They were talking, or just waiting patently. A few people were in post-halloween costumes. I saw one man handing out post-halloween candy to the crowd. In general, they seemed to be enjoying the relatively mild November night.
While I was running, I was listening to an interview with Dexter Filkins, a New York Times writer who had a spent a great deal of time in Iraq. He was talking about the horrible violence and danger he had seen in his trip last summer. Particularly horrific and heartbreaking were his descriptions of the deaths of many of the Iraqi journalists who had been killed, simply because they were doing what journalist do: report the truth.
As I reflected on my peaceful night, I thought about how wonderful we have it. A few court cases aside, the elections run smoothly and peacfully. No one fears for their life. People's critique of the "corporate media" sounds hallow compared to the attempts at media in a place like Iraq.
I can appreciate that many Americans believe that they could give Iraqi's the same kind of life we have. They hoped this peacful night could be replicated thousands of miles away by people who probably want some of the same things we want.
But now, on the eve of the election, we must look at the results of what we as a nation have done. Perhaps our leaders lied. Perhaps the press failed. Perhaps the opposition party didn't put up much of a fight. The criticism must begin with ourselves.

Yom Kippur

2006-09-27T04:44:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Jewish New Year. Last friday night to Saturday night (or Sunday night, depending on your denomination) was Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
The High Holidays are a special time. Although Rosh Hashanah is mostly a happy holiday, it is the beginning of the ten "Days of Awe" between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: the Jewish Day of Atonement. It's a time of reflection and repentance for many Jews. Yom Kippur provides the climax, of sorts, for this period of reflection. Many Jews fast and will spend the entire day at synagogue, praying and looking for forgiviness from wherever you believe it comes.
For me, every year, it seems to be a search for someone with whom I can break the Yom Kippur fast. I've fasted pretty much every year that I can remember for a long time. It's never something I look foward to, but I wouldn't feel the same if I didn't do it. If I can, I'll spend the entire day in synagogue as well.
The question is, why? What is it about this holiday that inspires me to observe it?
Part of the reason, I suppose is that I've always done it. But that's not a particularly good or satisfying answer, even if it is partly the truth.
When I moved to England, just after the Rosh Hashanah, my first goal was to find a place to worship for Yom Kippur, and find someone to break the fast with. I managed to do both, despite having to sit through my second Orthodox service ever. It was a very long day and a good chunk of the afternoon service was incomprehensible. But, was that the point?
Are the specific prayers and ritual the key?
Of course, now that I am part of a synagogue that I like, the services themselves mean more to me. The words of the prayers invoke thoughts that reasonate more with more with me than at the Orthodox synagogue. But, I don't even think I go for the prayers. I have a prayer book. I could read them on my own.
To me, it's about being connected. During Yom Kippur, the entire congregation goes through something togther. Most of us are fasting. We are all reflecting on our past deeds. Trying to understand what we did wrong and what we need to improve. Although our thoughts don't lead us the same way, in a sense, you have support. That's also why it's so important to be with people you love.
By the end of the day, when I end my fast I'm exhausted and a bit unsteady, but I always feel clearer: like I've faced something and made it through. Some years, I do feel like I've faced who I am and came through the other side with a better understanding of that, and some ideas as to how I could be better. I think that's mostly why I do it. I come through with an idea of how I can be a better person than I was going in. Perhaps this year I can follow through.

Pizza

2006-09-07T20:43:00.000-05:00

So I'm finally back. Of course this makes no guaruntees that I'll continue writing with any frequency. But hey, we can all make an attempt, can't we?
I just finished a nice dinner of a homemade pizza.
Every time I cook something that I like the taste of (or rarer, that I think actually looks good)
I'm proud. I can't do a lot with my hands. Hammering a nail straight into a wall is a challenge for me. When it comes to drawing straight lines: let's just say there is a reason I became a meteorologist rather than an engineer (besides the fact that most engineers became engineers because their dad's were engineers). We like our lines curvy.
But, cooking is one thing I can do. It doesn't require much exact measurement. Things don't have to be very straight. You can even make food look nice if you try hard enough.
Now, I'm not a very complicated cook. I stick to basics: pastas, stir-fries, pizza, tacos, etc. But I'm slowly learning more and more. Each time I do it, and things come out well I'm happy, and usually full.
So, I'll just enjoy my meal and leave you with that quick post. Hopefully I'll be more inspired later.

Technical Difficulties

2006-08-15T09:42:00.000-05:00

Due to technical difficulties (namely, a klutzy gatsby spilled water on his laptop), the Gatsby's guide is on a temporary hiatius. So, get outside and enjoy the rest of the summer! He'll return as soon as it is technically possible.
Go ahead. Shut your computer down now. Put your shoes on. Go get some excercise. It's good for you!

Summertime

2006-07-25T20:58:00.000-05:00

Welcome to summer. We're deep in the thick of it, with temperatures near and into the 90s throughout the country. Perhaps it's the summer heat that's keeping me from coming up with interesting things to say. Perhaps it's that I'm really busy with summer activities: volleyball, softball, running, etc.. so I don't have time to reflect. I'm not really sure.
I've already commented a little on current events. I really only have one word: scary.
It's still scary. Israel is trying to balance a fine line between defending itself and destroying it's own self-interest. US foreign policy is exploding everywhere, and domestic policy is continuing it's busy and contentious debates between the rich and the poor, the city and the country, the feds and the state, and of course the liberals and the conservatives.
My own life is going pretty well. My job is good. My family is doing well: my dad is retiring at the end of the month. My girlfriend is still wonderful.
So how do you balance the calm sunny days of my daily life with the occasional rumblings of thunder of the greater world?
Mostly, you can't. You just have to live your life. I remember my parents got married and my dad got his law degree in 1968. It was tumultuous year for the country with the deaths of MLK and RFK, among other things. But, you just have to take each day as it comes and enjoy life as you can. The summer will be over before you know it.

Rambling thoughts on current events

2006-07-18T20:05:00.000-05:00

I have a vague memory of October 23, 1983. I remember being in my grandmother's apartment in Baltimore and watching the TV news. The US Marine barracks in Beirut had been hit by a suicide bomber and over 200 marines had been killed.
The memory isn't clear: I was only 9, but I'm certain that I was in Baltimore when it happened. Having the TV on in my grandmother's house was unusual, and the family gathered around it watching the news was also shocking. It was a frightening moment, even if I didn't understand it.
This memory always comes back to me when I'm struck by the violence and enormity of recent events. I feel like that faint memory was an introduction to some of the awfulness of the world. These days, events like that seem almost commonplace. Every day, I wake up to stories of more death and bombs. Then, a few positive developments will come that seem to level off some of the violence until days later, those developments are destroyed. It would be like sitting in front of that television every day.
That memory, of course, has more direct ties to current events. The Americans went into Beirut in 1983, along with a multi-national force, to assist in the removal of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and provide stability and security to the Lebanese government.
Now, violence erupts in Lebanon again between the Hezbollah organization and Israel. Threats of war from both countries are shouted. Calls for international intervention are once again sounded as we all wait and read the news with fear. .
What is really going to happen? Of course, we don't know. Opinions blaming fault and suggesting action abound in the newspapers. The bombings and the casualties continue to mount. Rockets and missiles hit Haifa and Beirut. With each one, the hope for peace that most everyone says they want moves further away.
I'm a hopeful person. I tend to believe that awful things in the world eventually get settled. I'm also fortunate: I've lived in very peaceful places all of my life. I've never had to fight for a right to exist, or for representation or speech, or even just for food. Deep down, I believe we will have a cease fire and Israel will just be in the tense state it's always been in. But what if things escalate? It's a question I don't want to face the answer to.
So now we sit back and wait. We live our lives and just stay awake and enjoy the life we've been given. Every once in a while though, we'll be sitting in front of that TV, holding our breaths, and watching.

Sibling Tour 2006

2006-07-09T13:20:00.000-05:00

Last week, my girlfriend and I went on our "Sibling tour 2006". We visited Boston, MA to see her sister and coastal Maine to visit mine. It was a great trip, and a lot of fun for both of us.
What struck us during the trip is the distinct contrast of each part of the visit.
In Boston we stayed in her sister's apartment, a small two-bedroom on the outskirts of downtown Boston. We were in easy walking distance of about 1,000 restaurants, two or three T-stops, stores, and even Fenway park (if you stretch the definition of walking distance a little bit). We ate out almost every meal and spent our days mostly on foot wandering around the city. We even had an excursion to Revere beach on the hunt for a roast-beef sandwich place mentioned in a PBS documentary. It was great.
My sister, on the other hand, lives in a beautiful house tucked on the edge of the woods in coastal Maine. We had plenty of space for the 5 of us (her son, husband, her, my girlfriend and I). We could walk on a short path near her house, but otherwise, anything we wanted had to be in a car.
We hiked in Acadia national park, and climbed up a 1,000 foot hill. We also strolled on a pebble-filled beach and enjoyed the sunshine. We even had a few home-cooked meals.
The contrast definitely shows the pluses and minuses of country life versus cities. I lean to be a city person. I love to walk and enjoy being close to coffee houses, restaurants, and stores. Although I love being outside, I find it comforting to be able to move on my own two feet.
Now, that isn't to say I can't appreciate my sister's choice. Her house is beautiful, and would be completely unaffordable in the outskirts of Boston. Her son will go to a small school, and they can leave their doors unlocked.
It was wonderful to be able to experience and appreciate both lifestyles. We had fun in both places, and I would love to do the trip again. Besides the simple act of seeing my family, the chance to experience what life has to offer outside of your own lifestyle is a priceless opportunity.

Questions of religion

2006-05-13T17:04:00.000-05:00

I've been catching up on Tamara Eden's blog and came across this comment discussion in an April post.
Please read it.
Part of Tamara's post:
How is it that a person like me can be raised in a home where I felt so Jewish, and yet, knew almost nothing about Judaism?

How is it that a person like me can go to six years of Hebrew school and not know which prayers to say when?

How is it that a person like me, who loved Hebrew school, was always
beyond proud to be Jewish, never learned the importance of prayer until
I was an adult?

How is it that a person like me, even though nobody told me, knew that
certain things should and shouldn't be?

What follows her post is a conversation with tikkunger a non-Jew undergoing a conversion. The conversation is a very intelligent one about reform/Orthodox/Chabbad Judaism.
As I've just joined a Reform synagogue, it is a topic dear to my heart. I've commented on reform Judaism before and it is not my goal to repeat those comments here (although I did have to re-read my post and see what I said. Fortunately, I still agree with most of it).

The post did get me to think about these questions that Tamara posted. They are good ones, and ones I can't answer.
I suppose part of the problem is very few people can answer them. Tamara relates a lot of this knowledge gap to her Reform upbringing. I can sympathize with that view: my upbringing was similar. Growing up Reform, I got a very good grounding in history and ethics, and I knew the Reform service structure quite well, but I was in for a shock when I spent a year at an orthodox synagogue. Most of the prayers we learned were just the first few lines of the full prayers. Many prayers were skipped altogether, and others just weren't repeated quite the same number of times.
With the Orthodox community, I also celebrated holidays I had never celebrated before. It wasn't entirely because my synagogue didn't have a service for the given holiday, it was just that it wasn't part of my family to observe it. I stayed up late for Shavuout (the commemoration of Israelites receiving the Torah at Sinai) and ate cheese cake. The Seder lasted until 1 am. I had long Shabbat meals and ate cholent (a slow-cooked bean/meat/veggie concoction).
These moments were fabulous and deeply meaningful. Just because I didn't do them as a Reform growing up, however, doesn't mean I can't do them as an adult Reform Jew. Part of what being a Reform Jew is is learning what is meaningful to you and important to the tradition and adopting it into your life. Do I wish I learned more? Of course, but I don't plan on stopping my learning anytime soon.
I obviously don't know how I'd be different if I had a different upbringing. But although my background didn't teach me all I needed to know (whose does), it taught me to seek and value learning. And for that, I'm grateful.

China Part II: The International Winds Workshop

2006-05-09T21:10:00.001-05:00

I wanted to talk about the meeting a little bit, because I think it is interesting from a scientific and cultural point of view. I hope you'll indulge me a bit.
First, I have to give a bit of background. Satellite images are something you're probably familiar with. Every tv weather forecaster stands in front of an animation of clouds flying over your region. Those images were created from very smart people figuring out how to distinguish clouds from clear sky given what a satellite measures: emitted and scattered energy. It's not a trivial task.
Once you have those clouds isolated, you can trace how they move over time. If you assume that they move at the speed of the wind, you can actually map out what the winds look like in the upper atmosphere. These winds are extremely valuable for weather forecasters, particularly over the oceans.
Those winds are roughly what the meeting is about. It was a meeting of satellite wind producers from around the world, and users of the satellite winds: namely computer weather modeling centers. What's pretty cool about it to me is that all of these great minds are gathering together to work on some very specific issues. International politics is forgotten in favor of problem solving and collaboration. The meeting is pretty low key and involves lots of socializing and eating together as well.
China was a great venue, as they are really up-and-coming in terms of satellites and meteorology. In a few years they will be among the best in the world. Combining this meeting with a chance to see Beijing as a tourist was an exciting experience. It's something I'm not likely to forget soon.

China Part I: the touristy bit

2006-05-09T20:37:00.000-05:00

I was fortunate to to attend the 8th International Winds Workshop in Beijing, China at the end of April. Both professionally, and personally it was really a fabulous trip. I was there for 9 days, but because the meeting only lasted 4 and a half, I had some time to explore a bit.
I arrived there exhausted from jet lag and a bit shaky from a bumpy landing into Beijing. For future travelers, don't eat that last meal an hour and a half before landing. You'll thank me once you're on the ground.

We were picked up by a Chinese colleague who is working for my office at Wisconsin. He was kind enough to help us get checked into the hotel and then take us out to dinner.
The meals in China generally involved having entirely too much food arrive at the table at a steady rate. Just as you thought you'd tried everything, three more dishes would arrive. As we almost always ate in large groups, we were fortunate to have a lazy-Susan in the center so the dishes would rotate around while you were trying to grab that slippery mushroom with your chopsticks. Most of the dishes were not too exotic, but I definitely tried spices and flavors that I wasn't too familiar with. I'd say that was the primary difference between food in China and Chinese food in the US: the food in China was much more varied. The fish was often served whole. The meat was generally in separate dishes from the vegetables. The Peking duck we had was exquisite.
The service in general was also exceptional, although I think it was mostly because we were kinda pricey places. The hotel had someone greeting you at the lobby elevator pointing you to the lobby. Our conference room had two people running microphones to audience members if they had questions. When we went to a hot pot restaurant, where you cooked your meat and vegetables in a hot broth, servers stood above us and put food from the hot pot onto our plates (although I think that was mostly because we were foreigners).

The entire city is under construction for the Olympics in 2008, so many sites were covered in scaffolding and cranes were everywhere, including the tourist sides. The Forbidden City had several buildings that we couldn't see because of the repairs. The same was true for the Summer Palace. However, we could walk around the beautiful lake and gardens of the Summer Palace and see most of the enormous Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City was the giant complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Some 10,000 people lived there, and the size and scope of the place reflected it. The Summer Palace was where the Emperor escaped from the summer heat of Beijing. Given the dust and haze of Beijing in April, I can appreciate needing to escape in the heat of the summer.

No trip to China could be complete without a trip to the Great Wall. We saw it at Badaling, a city about 70 kilometers from the center of Beijing. The Great Wall has only been restored at parts, and this particular region is one of the best maintained and restored. The crowds reflected it: the wall was crawling with people. I think that was the only time I felt really overwhelmed in China: at Badaling. It was strange to be in a sea of people and not understand a single word of what was being said.

Beijing is definitely a city undergoing change. Western influence is obvious with the increasing number of English signs and western businesses. It's also obvious with the huge number of cars. As you could imagine, in a city built around the bicycle, the infrastructure is just not set up for automobiles. The roads were crawling, even on a Saturday afternoon. It is something that would take getting used to.
American culture still creeps into China in strange ways. We went into a bar one night, covered in Corona signs, where a band was playing western-style rock music in Chinese. Before the act started, however, the waiters led a lively version of "If you're happy and you know it" including claps, arm waves, and feet stamping. Surreal.

In the next post, I'll talk a bit about the meeting itself. If you're interested in pictures, send me your email and I'll send you a link.

New post on China

2006-05-07T16:54:00.000-05:00

I'll have a summary of my Beijing trip up as soon as I can get it written.
Stay tuned!!!

Thoughts, Links and Wishes

2006-04-11T09:01:00.000-05:00

My good friend Simon has started a new blog. The focus is on climate change and climate science, but it's written for the general audience. Read his opening post about an encounter with a US customs agent and that agent's opinion of his commander and chief.

To my Jewish readers I wish you a Happy Pesach. May it be a meaningful reminder of the freedoms we enjoy and the sacrifices that have been made for those freedoms. Those wishes apply to the non-Jews in the crowd as well. It is truly a universal holiday.

Consider how fortunate Americans (and citizens of democracies everywhere) are in this article I've been meaning to link to for a while. In "Washington Stories" , Anne Applebaum tells bittersweet stories of a few foreigners and what the nation's capital means to them:

And yet Washington is also a very real home, both permanent and temporary, to many people whose sole desire is to live an ordinary life -- to study, to work, to talk about what they please -- but who cannot do so, whether in Mali, in Russia, in Iran or somewhere else. Every once in a while, and for no particular reason, I try to remember how lucky I am to have been born here, where the possibility of living such an ordinary life is so easily taken for granted.

Happy holidays and happy spring! May you celebrate wherever you are.

Wisconsin Film Festival: 2006

2006-04-04T21:14:00.000-05:00

A sure sign of Spring: The Wisconsin Film Festival.
Once again, Madison opened its doors to hundreds of local and international movies. We had quite a few big names. Here is a quick summary of the films I saw:

Awesome; I fuckin' Shot That
This is the movie that opened up the film festival for me. It's a concert video from the Beastie Boys during a 2004 Madison Square Garden Show. The premise: 50 cameras handed to various concert goers around the show. Amateur filming: professional editing.
The effect was pretty spectacular. You get the sensory overload effect of being in a concert with quick cutting images and lots of camera effects. Often, the filmmakers would have a shot of all 50 cameras going at once in small boxes filling up the screen. We even took a trip to the bathroom with one of the concert goers: a required experience of course.
The concert itself showed off the beastie's versatility and talent. I'm not a huge fan, so I couldn't appreciate all of their lyrics, but you can see that they are great musicians and skillful entertainers. A not-miss if you're a fan. If you're not, you'll sill be very entertained and find yourself grooving to the beat.

Our Brand is Crisis
A 2005 documentary from filmmaker Rachel Boyton. This documentary chronicles the (2003?) Bolivian election of Gonzalo (Gonzi) Sanchez de Lozada. This former president wants to get re-elected after being out of power for many years. But, he's got an image problem: his people don't like him. His solution is to hire American political consultants Greenville, Carville and Shrum to help get him elected. So, they roll out all modern election techniques: polling, focus groups, ad campaigns, and carefully crafted TV ads to try and sell Gonzi to the Bolivians.
The documentary chronicles every step, focusing particularly on Jeremy Rosner, the lead consultant in this campaign. The scenes with James Carville are easily worth the price of admission.
The documentary offers surprising insight into American politics, as these guys were the brains behind the Clinton campaign. Gonzalo's very carefully measured and controlled image is both disturbing and fascinating. He's often his own worst enemy.

Lonsome Jim
This was perhaps my favorite film of the festival. It was directed by Steve Buscemi, with Casey Affleck and Liv Tyler in the starring role. Affleck plays Jim, returning to his small Indiana hometown after a failed stint in Manhattan walking dogs and working at Appelbys.
His divorced brother Tim (Kevin Corrigan) lives at home with his two parents. All three of them work at a ladder factory owned by his parents, a job Jim has wanted to avoid working at all his life. Tim also coaches is daughters' basketball team: a team that not only hasn't won a game, they haven't made a basket all year.

After Tim fails suicide and must recover in the hospital, Jim is forced to stick around and work in the factory. He must also face his relationship with his family, and his own failures.
While he's there he falls for the very lovely Anika (Tyler). A single mom who works as a nurse in the local hospital. Her enduring optimism and idealism contrast with Jim's maudlin life.
The movie is slow and understated. Buscemi steps back and lets his actors act and develop. It's funny and thoughtful. Go see it.

The Wendell Baker Story
This silly comedy by the Wilson Brothers would be alright if it were a renter with a bunch of friends. It doesn't really have a place at a film festival. Luke Wilson plays Wendell Baker, an ex-con whose idealistic schemes always get him into trouble. After a recent arrest, his girlfriend Doreen (Eva Mendes) finally leaves him. When he gets paroled, he starts his job at a retirement home and works out a plan to revitialize the home and get her back. When he discovers an evil plan by the home's nurse (Owen Wilson) to take advantage of the residents, as you can imagine, zaniness ensues. It's silly and non-sensical. I laughed a few times, and Baker is likeable enough, but there is just nothing special with this one. Save it for cable.

Darwin's Nightmare
This Oscar nominated documentary is truly a nightmare. It's a frightening account of the effects of Nile Perch on a fishing village near Lake Victoria in Tanzania. The Perch was released in the lake in the 50's or 60's. Although the fish brings profits to a few fisheries near the lake, it has destroyed a lot of the natural diversity in the lack.
The horror, however, is not the environmental effects of the fish on the lake ecology. Rather, it focuses on the plight of the people in the village. While a few fishing companies make a fortune selling the perch to Europe, the local population scrapes by on the fish heads and leftovers from the factory. Women, widowed by the AIDS virus must turn to prostitution. Children, often parentless, fight amongst themselves for scraps of food. The few available jobs only pay enough to barely survive. Herbert Sauper's documentary is slowly paced and unforced. He lets the story come to life in the various people he follows during his visit to the lake. His blame is mostly tilted toward the Europeans who happily consume the fish while ignoring the plight of the locals.
See this one with a friend.

The final film I saw was a collection of Wisconsin shorts. I won't go into detail because it's unlikely that they would be seen elsewhere, and I can't recall most of the names. They covered diverse topics from folk singer Ben Glazer to a man in a doughnut shop.
The festival was a great mix of films. I can't wait until next year!

Taking Turns Talking

2006-03-25T16:27:00.000-06:00

My girlfriend asked me an intriguing question:
"How are you ever to know that anyone in your life really understands what you say?"
It's a good one, I think, because you never really know the answer. A favorite quote, attributable to no one in particular is, "Most people don't communicate, they just take turns talking".
How many conversations have you had with people who tie one vague mention you've made into their own story about something almost entirely unrelated? How often do people misinterpret your question or your concern based on something they think you said?

Technology makes things more difficult. Email is one of the worst culprits of miscommunication. My colleagues and I were discussing how its ability in enhance and inflate misunderstanding and anger. One related a story in which a simple difference of opinion through email built into an argument. Sarcasm is constantly misread. Humor is lost in the casual words of instant communication. The phone, at least, gives you the ability to use voice to communicate some sense of mood and tone, but it is still prone to misunderstanding. Perhaps you're foolishly trying to do something else while the conversation is going on, so you don't listen well to your friend. They assume you've heard something, you completely miss it, and then ask them about it a few minutes later. You can imagine how well that goes over!
Romances created from the guises of an instant messenger window and email can be very difficult. The computer creates an illusion of intimacy that can be shattered by the awkwardness of the first personal meeting. The instant intimacy that you felt online takes time to build.

But what about day to day communication? The doctor give you instructions that you only half understand. Your boss gives you a task that you think you are doing correctly, only to find out that you've completely missed the emphasis. You ask a stranger for directions and simply turn the wrong way. These communications are person to person, face to face, but yet we can still screw it up.

Given all of these possibilities, it's amazing that communication happens at all. It's amazing that you can get problems solved as a group, that you can get to the right place, that you can take the right steps toward health. It's amazing that you can fall in love with someone that you fit with so well, the communication is almost automatic. Maybe that's how you know you're in love. When you know the person you're in love with understands what you say. At least most of the time.....

Skiing in a winter wonderland

2006-02-19T18:43:00.000-06:00

What a gorgeous afternoon! The mid-afternoon sun was doing its best to warm up the frigid Wisconsin air. Its shine was causing the snow crystals on the ground to sparkle, blinding you with its brilliance.
In short, it was a beautiful winter day and perfect for one of my favorite sports: cross country skiing. I can't think of a better way to spend a winter afternoon than gliding through forest trails smoothly and swiftly on skis.
It's a sport that can be as relaxing or exhilarating as you'd like. You can crawl slowly on wooded trails or fly down hills, turning at the last minute so you don't crash into that tree near the bottom. I settle somewhere near the middle: I love the quiet moments where you are just enjoying being outside, and I like those moments where your heart gets pumping as you tumble in a pile of snow in order to prevent hitting that skier in front of you.
Most importantly for me, is that it gets me outside during the winter. I think, for every season, you have to have something to look forward to that gets you outside. You can ski in frigid temperatures, because you stay pretty warm. The only requirement is of course: snow. You can't really make a cross country ski course. And the joy of it really, is to be able to wander wherever you want. You can go any park or open space with snow. It's quite liberating.
So if you're in a cold snowy area, give it a try. It doesn't take that much coordination. Renting skis isn't expensive. And, it will make you feel better about the winter instantly.

Work Stress

2006-02-09T22:10:00.000-06:00

Wow, I had a rough week. Well technically, it started at the end of last week, but who's being technical. Essentially, in the work I was doing, I discovered that I had made quite a few mistakes. I suppose bugs is the technical word for them.
I just found errors in my code. Most of them were understandable, excusable perhaps. A few were just plain dumb. The worst part of it, though, was that I kept finding them.
Every step I went through I seemed to find something else that I had done wrong.

To be honest, my boss was great. He would say "glad you found it" and "quit being so hard on yourself" every time. But I just got more and more frustrated. I found I was thinking about work outside of work, which is something I don't usually do. I even had a few awful work-related dreams. And, my typical stress reaction: my stomach started hurting. My confidence was just essentially shot.

In reality, of course, it wasn't a big deal. The bugs brought up some issues and questions that my boss and I had to work through anyway. I was going to have to redo a lot of this, because of those issues anyway, so fixing the bugs and re-running the work wasn't really a waste.
Today, he said to me "Some people would have not found the bug, or just kind of buried it". So, at least I had that.

In truth of course, everyone makes mistakes. Particularly when you program a lot: bug free programs are non-existent. I'm going to make a ton of more mistakes in the future. Of that, I'm sure. Hopefully they aren't significant, or serious, or are in anything that gets published.
Hopefully I don't stress out like this again. Finding ways to let go of work, or anything when things get rough is difficult, but important. Every job has problems. Mine is generally pretty relaxed. But when the stress does come, you must be ready to cope, and move on through it.

The Perfect Gift

2006-01-22T16:37:00.000-06:00

I've just returned from a trip home. It was partially business, partially an opportunity to see my parents. Both elements of the trip went well.
While with my parents I caught up with an old friend from my undergraduate days. Her parents live close to mine and get along quite well. It was very nice to catch up but there was a moment of awkwardness and embarrassment.
Her birthday is early in February while mine is late February. Although the parents had called the gathering a "chance to celebrate the birthdays", neither myself nor my parents brought gifts. They of course, did. I got a gift certificate from her and a book from her parents. I was of course, embarrassed that I didn't have anything for her.
The question is: should I have been?
I can send her a gift online, and may very well do so. But, I tried to think about times I've bought gifts for friends in a similar situation. I bought the gift to buy the gift, not to get one in return. For some reason, this is awkward, even though it happens all the time. It's a classic Christmas or holiday dilemma, and many people have standby gifts for this situation.
Honestly, I did think about a gift, but couldn't think of anything off hand. Does she really need a "thing"? Do any of my friends? It's obviously better to come up with something thoughtful and meaningful, rather than a book or CD, unless of course that book or CD is the meaningful thing.
Now, that isn't to say I don't think gifts should be given. Finding something perfect that someone will love and use is a wonderful thing. Getting something with sentimental value (or even practical use) can really mean a lot to me, particularly if it's a surprise.
One of my favorite gifts I've given was to a friend at a wedding. I went to Penn State: he didn't. He made fun of Penn state, particularly their football team. While in a used book store I found the sublimely titled: "I hate Penn State and here are 301 reasons you should to". I bought it and very discretely placed the book in a box for cards at the wedding. Of course he knew without a note who it was from.
I think perhaps, that is the perfect gift. A gift so personal, meaningful and funny, that you didn't need to tell them who gave it to you.

TV sell out

2006-01-08T14:51:00.000-06:00

I've finally done it.
I'm selling out to the man.
I'm getting a TV set.
I had decided when I moved into my apartment that I didn't want to buy a TV. Why did I need it? I haven't watched TV much when I have had one. I can certainty find better things to do with my time. There is also a certain pride in knowing that you're one of the few people that don't own one. I get my news from online newspapers and NPR. I can listen to music online or from CD's. I can watch movies on my DVD player. I can even watch TV shows on my DVD player. What's the point?
The truth is, TV isn't all bad. I was riveted by the DVD's of "Freaks and Geeks". Of course, the show was cancelled after a season, but it was still made and shown on TV. Arrested development has also grabbed my attention. Of course, that one has also been cancelled. But, it's still fun to watch. Then of course, there is the Daily Show. It's still a personal favorite of mine, even if I don't see it very much. Near the election I'd pop up to the gym upstairs in my apartment and catch the periodic episodes. It still makes me laugh.
I am not a TV addict. I've lived with them, many times. Whenever an alternative activity presented itself I would take it. I remember coming and going unnoticed by housemates who had their eyes glued to a mini-series on the history channel. Or, I'd pop in and sit down to my housemate watching something like "Home gardening on the space shuttle". When I asked him, quite plainly, why he was watching it, he'd respond with "There is nothing else on." The big red off button must have missed each attention.
But now, my parents are offering up their old set. I'm going to take it. I imagine I'll still get news from NPR and online (TV news is dreadful). I'll still listen to music and read. I still have to watch DVD's on my computer (no DVD player). And I'll still be addicted to NPR.
But, I'll also get to watch simpsons's reruns. I'll grab the occasional watchable network show. I'll even be able to watch political debates, news events, and the occasional riveting documentary on Space Shuttle Gardening that happens to be on PBS.
Unless my addiction has grown. In which case, I suppose you won't see many more posts.

The hiatus is over

2006-01-02T11:57:00.000-06:00

Wow...such a long hiatus since my last blog. As I write this post it's gray and drizzly outside. It's perhaps my least favorite type of weather: rain and nearly freezing. Ice forms if the temperature drops a little; But for now, it's just dreary and wet. As you can imagine my impetus for venturing outside is quite low.
My holidays were quiet and comfortable. I had the pleasure of sharing them with someone special this year, partially explaining my long absence from blogging. I'm not really into personal posts, so I won't go into too many details. But it made the relaxing time of year more special to be able to share them. Lighting the Chanukah candles with family and friends is practically a necessity: It's never fun to light them by yourself.
New Year's eve was spent with friends as well. It was a chance to be goofy, to dance, to eat and drink, to just enjoy a moment.
I guess that is what the holidays are about: enjoying moments. Whether you are opening presents under a well-lit pine, lighting candles, drinking champagne, or just laughing with family and friends, you have to take the time to enjoy where you are. We focus too hard on getting the right gift, on finding the best party, even on pleasing all of our relatives. It's not about that. Even "tradition" can be overemphasized. Tradition is good, but it's based on the past. If you aren't living a little bit in present you're missing the point.
So now we face the rest of the winter. I look forward to the same things I always do: skiing, walking, good food, laughter with friends, a nice pint of beer, and of course, a few days of sunshine.
As for this blog, I will continue with the periodic postings. Although I do not write often, I enjoy this chance to write and reflect a little bit. Hopefully you'll find the time to continue reading.

Mixed up on Iraq

2005-12-08T19:32:00.000-06:00

Anne Applebaum wrote a very good opinion column
in the Washington Post. She writes:

Although both the administration and its antiwar opponents speak as if there must be an either/or solution for Iraq -- either democracy or Islamic fascism -- it is perfectly possible that we end up with both. We may indeed create the first truly democratic Arab regime, with independent media, real elections and a relatively liberal political culture. But we may also, simultaneously, strengthen al Qaeda and its radical Islamic allies, in Iraq and the entire region. We may create a more entrepreneurial, globally integrated Iraq that can inspire economic reform throughout the Middle East. We may also create a deep well of international anti-American resentment that hampers our ability to conduct everything from trade negotiations to counterintelligence for decades to come.

It is even possible, in the end, that we really will help bring into existence a new generation of democratic Arab reformers across the Middle East -- and that we will need to keep troops in the region for five decades to defend them. Would such an outcome mean the war was a "defeat"? Not necessarily. Would it mean the war was a "victory"? Not exactly. Can we, the nation that invented the Hollywood happy ending, live with such a conclusion? Hard to imagine, but we might not have a choice.

I'm very mixed up about Iraq and what to do. On one hand, I believe we should try to help the country as much as we can, particularly since we made such a huge impact on it. On the other hand, my stomach turns when I hear of more casualties and I hear of other countries spouting hated anti-Americanism. The truth perhaps, as Anne suggests, is that the way may never be clear. Either path we choose will be a mixed bag of consequences. The worst we can do is make a decision on politics rather than on proper policy.

Winter

2005-12-04T20:36:00.000-06:00

Today was my first day out skiing. I slid across two to three inches of glorious fresh powder under the bright after-snowfall sunshine.
Yesterday was another great winter day. The snow started. I parked my car by mid-afternoon and wandered through town. Then, I rented movies, made dinner, and watched the snow from inside. It was great. I avoided the thing I hate the most about winter: driving in snow and did the things I love most about winter: watching the snow fall with nothing to do, and skiing in it afterwards.
I can understand why people hate the winter. You have to bundle up. The cold is painful. You can't be outside. Colds and flus are rampant.
But it's also beautiful. The snow makes the world eerily quiet and calm. It's one of the few common weather events that force you to adjust your life a little bit.
The cold is a good excuse to drink hot chocolate, coffee, tea, and dark strong beer.
As much as I love those bright, sunny, 70-degree days, you need some cold to appreciate it.
Do I hate it? Sometimes I do. As a native from the DC area I'm deathly afraid to drive in it. 3-inches of snow? It's bread, milk, and toilet paper time. I'm slowly adjusting to skids and getting your car unstuck from the parking lot. Hopefully I won't need too many pushes out this year.
By March of course, I will be singing a different tune. Winter is long in Wisconsin. While the tropical south is enjoying spring, we'll still be hovering at the freezing mark dealing with those awful cold rainy days and residual snow storms.
But for now, let it snow. I'm going to make some cocoa.

Thanksgiving

2005-11-22T20:32:00.000-06:00

So I've been terribly slack in writing recently. It's been quite a busy few weeks and I feel like I haven't had time to sit down and reflect very much, never mind getting the time to actually write.
I suppose Thanksgiving is good for that sort of thing though. Once you fight your way through the airport check out lines, or crawl your way through traffic to your destination, you can sit back and relax. My father said "I love thanksgiving. All you have to do is eat". There are no prayers. There is no fasting. You don't have to avoid certain foods, or even fight your way to a crowded field to watch fireworks. You just sit back with family and eat. You might watch football. You might sit back and have a beer with that weird uncle who puts you in a corner so he can talk to you about cars and trucks. Or perhaps you have that weird cousin who brings in exotic wines made from "interesting" ingredients. He insists that this particular parsnip wine is the latest craze in all of California. So you take a sip, smile politely and try to gulp down a glass of water before any of the fermented parsnip flavoring lingers in your mouth.
It's all about family.
I remember one or two Thanksgivings in which family wasn't involved. I went to to two Thanksgiving meals in England. A friend of mine was kind enough to make a thanksgiving meal for several of us at the synagogue in Reading. They were replete with bad American beer, pilgrim salt and pepper shakers, and plenty of gentle America bashing.
Another was as a grad student in Madison: I decided to stay here rather than fly home. So, I went to a pot luck and had quite an exotic mix of food and drink. Turkey was involved, but it certainty wasn't traditional.
So, once you've done the traveling, once you've fought the traffic and the crowds. Take a minute to relax. Enjoy the craziness of whomever you are with, and give thanks for the chance to do it.

The Things They Carried

2005-11-06T16:17:00.000-06:00

My girlfriend lent me the book "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. It's his account of his experiences in the vietnam war. He was drafted in '68 after he graduated from college. His accounts are harrowing, humerous, vivid, and clear. He puts war right in front of you, cutting through the politics and the ideals, or lack their of,behind the war. An example:

"But in truth war is also beauty. For all its horror, you can't help but gape at the awful majesty of combat. You stare out at tracer rounds unwinding through the dark like brilliant red ribbons...You admire the fluid symmetries of troops on the move, the harmonies of sound and shape and proportion, the great sheets of metal-fire streaming down from a gun-ship, the illumination rounds, the white phosphorus, the purply orange glow of napalm, the rocket's red glare. It's not pretty, exactly. It's astonishing."

He writes of nearly dodging the draft in Canada. He describes his Lt. Commander and wrestling with his conscious after he loses one of his men.
I grew up after Vietnam was in the past. The ideas supporting the war were confusing to me. Communism was not something I really feared. The Soviets might have been a declared "enemy", but I never really understood why.

Naturally, as I read this, I make comparisons to the war on Iraq. We have men and women, barely old enough to drink, giving their lives for the country. Civilians and combatants alike are also being killed, and are often lost in the shadows of American lives. Whether you think these sacrifices are worth it, is of course a matter of controversy and debate. The circumstances of the two conflicts are different, but the costs are the same: human lives.

I have always been mixed on the war. On a theoretical level, I could understand it. Saddam was an awful dictator who did unimaginably cruel things to his people. Ridding Iraq of him is certaintly not a bad thing, regardless of whether the infamous "weapons of mass destruction" ever existed.
But I have always questioned whether we could actually succeed in stablizing the country. To succeed it would have to be done with care and with careful planning.

It's possible of course, that twenty, or even 50 years from now, Iraq will be a better place. We don't know. It's possible that the lives that have been sacrificed have prevented more deaths under Saddam's continued rule. But it could easily spiral further downhill. We'll see more violence and more bloodshed. It could "stablize" as the breeding ground for terrorists that the war's critics have often predicted.

So now we must once again, proceed with caution. We must remember those soldiers in the line of fire who don't care about politics. At that moment, they are from both red and blue states. They are democrats, republicans, Iraqis, Shiites, Kurds, Sunnis: they are human. We must always ask, are their lives worth it?

Rosa Parks

2005-10-30T10:21:00.000-06:00

Rosa Parks is being honored in the Capitol today. Her influence and importance on civil rights in the United States cannot be underestimated. Her courage in standing up for what she believed in by refusing to stand up on a bus leaves a legacy that will haunt and inspire Americans for decades to come.
I always remember learning about her during our black history month celebrations in Elementary school. We heard stories of her being too tired to stand on the bus and their being no room in the back of the bus where black folks were supposed to sit.
Of course, if you believe any media I've heard this past week, including quotes from Mrs. Parks herself, most of that wasn't true. She was tired, but not of a long day on her feet. She was tired of injustice. She was tired of being discriminated against because of the color of her skin. So, she sat. And in sitting, she started a movement and inspired, and continunes to inspire men and women to fight for justice.

So today she is being honored. Being honored in the Capitol does have an air of vindication. As Wil Haygood writes in today's washington post:

It seems fitting that she should be celebrated in the nation's capital, where many of the laws that held her back were written, then defeated in a slew of federal legislation won by shrewd civil rights lawyers -- many trained at Howard University's law school -- fighting in the legal trenches of American jurisprudence.

Of course, this honor also has twinges of irony. The current political battles over "judicial activism" the concept of judges usurping the role of legislators by creating their own agenda is a very hot fight. Equal rights came from the courts. Schools were de-segregated because of the Supreme Court's activism. The Federal government stepped in to protect African Americans in places where the local government wouldn't do it. Yet, somehow this is forgotten. One person's "judicial activism" is another's Judicial justice. One person's State's rights can be another's local persecution.
So, whenever you hear cries of government being the "problem", stories and cries of courts over-reaching, remember Rosa Parks. Remember how her stand inspired a nation to begin to question serious wrongs. Don't let the struggle she started end in vain. Local isn't always better. Sometimes, wrongs are just universal.

Sukkot

2005-10-22T14:54:00.000-05:00

Sukkot is about wandering. It commemorates the Bibical account of the Israelites wandering 40 years in the desert. It's also a harvest festival. The Torah commands Jews to live in temporary huts, or booths (Sukkahs) to commemorate the wandering of our ancestors. So many people build these huts.
I was invited to a party in which someone cleverly built one around her deck. We brought vegetables and other harvest goodies to decorate the sukkah. We said the Shabbat Prayers and performed the rituals of Sukkot in this small, intimate Sukkah in the middle of Madison. I was with people I did not know well, but we were together, being Jewish, remembering those before us who wandered and lived off the land. But how is that relevent today?

I am personally not physically wandering. I have a nice apartment and a good job. I have wonderful friends. I've even got the beginnings of a romance. Spiritually, however, I am very much wandering.

I've explored Madison's Jewish options, and for Yom Kippur, I settled on the Reform service as that is what I've grown up with. But, even with the comfortable prayer book, service style, and some common ideals, I have issues. I don't like singing in English. It seems church-like to me. I dislike the way one or two people were using cell phones IN the synagogue on Yom Kippur. I imagine I wasn't the only one who disapproved. These are elements of Reform that people often criticize. It isn't always fair or representative, but it happens. What of that?
Others at the Sukkot party had similar complaints about their synagogues. "No one likes that Rabbi...". "This service is a bit weird..." "Young people just don't go there". They were questioning what we grew up with, and trying to find out where they've grown to.
A few blogs do the same. Tamara Eden's blogs are often about her search for spiritual belonging. Esther Kustanowitz's My Urban Kvetch and Jdater's anonymous also occasionally delve into questions of belonging and wandering, particularly as they relate to being single in New York City. She also talks about Madonna a lot, but that is definitely part of the fun.

Why all of this restlessness? I suppose it's natural for 20 and 30 somethings to question and seek. If you are single, in particular, you might not feel the need to affiliate with one synagogue. You can float and look for an environment your are comfortable with. We also wander a lot physically. We might be students, or working at temporary jobs, or just finding ourselves.
So as we wander, we remember our ancestors who had no home. They didn't have jobs, or nice apartments, or speed dating, or someone's good-looking third cousin that you really should meet. They just had a faith and a belief. That belief took them out of Egypt and into the wildnerness to seek who they are and what they might become as a people; It's not so different from us, after all....

Yom Kippur

2005-10-14T10:47:00.000-05:00

Another year of Jewish High Holidays has come and gone. I do not think that many Jews enjoy or look forward to High Holidays, but most Jews, I imagine, find them meaningful and reflective. Rosh Hashanah signifies the Jewish new year, and begins a period of reflection, known as the "Days of Awe". These days conclude with Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.
It's a fast day and considered the most important Jewish Holiday of the year. It's themes are reflection and atonement from sin. Jews are encouraged to be charitable, compassionate and forgiving.
For me, I always reflect on where life has taken me between Yom Kippurs. Last year, I was with my parents and sister. It was the day before I was to leave for Madison, and about a month since I had returned from England. My life was changing quite rapidly, and was the ideal time for reflection and thought. Was my last year well spent? Was I prepared for the year ahead? Who knows? But the words and thoughts on that holiday helped.
The year before that I was actually in Madison. I had flown here to visit with work colleagues after my first year in the UK. It was strange being back in a city I had spent three years in as a graduate student. But after my first year in England it looks different. College students dressed in sweatshirts. Cool, clear mornings. Coffee shops, open until midnight. All of these elements were slightly unfamiliar to me after my year in the UK.
Then, the fall of 2002: My first year in England. I had been in Reading a week when Yom Kippur fell. I was welcomed into a family from the synagogue in Reading. She housed me and fed me the night before Yom Kippur, and fed me once again when it ended. We hadn't met before I walked in the door for dinner that night. It was amazing. I still keep in touch with them, and cannot thank them enough for their kindness.
It was also my first (and so far only) Yom Kippur with an Orthodox synagogue. I hardly knew anyone. I didn't know most of the prayers, only able to read along to the parts I was familiar with, or what I could site read in Hebrew. It started early, and ended late. But still: the reflection was there. I found time to think about my life: where I had been, where I was, where I was going.
All of these holidays were filled in different places and with different people. But the connection was always there. The words of the Kol Nidre prayer were always the same. The thoughts and struggles within me were different and difficult, but I'm always better off for having done it.

Some random thoughts

2005-10-06T15:49:00.000-05:00

So I've been slacking quite a lot in writing my blogs. It's not completely intentional. We've had the Jewish holidays. I have had a few trips. I've got a few more coming up. I have to work occasionally too. Yes, these are all excuses, but such is life. I'll try and post slightly more frequently as I'm afraid my small, loyal audience will slowly fade away.
In general, life has been good. Work has good days and bad, but is generally good. I had a great few days off exploring England. I spent last weekend with my family, spending quite a bit of time chatting with my almost year-old nephew.

He's grown up so much. I'm amazed at what he understands and figures out. He's got his father's knack for gadgetry and he learns words every day. While I was there he mastered the word "salsa", and developed a strong taste for the stuff. When we went out to a Mexican/Salvadoran restaurant, I think he ate his weight in chips and salsa. I'm so glad I got the chance to look after him, as I don't see him very much. I can't wait to see him grow up and see what he will accomplish.

In politics lots of things are happening: Bush's Supreme Court justice pick, Tom Delay and other Republicans in trouble, budget deficits and low public opinions. Even with these events the Democrats are scattered and weak. John McCain thankfully proposed a bill to the senate with the radical notion that we ought to treat detainees humanly. Fortunately, Bush has threatened to veto this crazy idea if it reaches his desk. It won't of course, because it will have to pass the House of Representatives. If they see common sense and moderation in a bill it tends to get pushed out along with any idea proposed by a Democrat. Good fun.

So, those are a few of my random thoughts. Hope the loyal readership is doing well.

England

2005-09-25T10:25:00.000-05:00

I arrived, quite bleary eyed and sore from the long flight across the Atlantic Ocean. It was cool, rainy, and a bit dreary as I stepped out of Heatherow airport. It was a little more than two years ago that I faced England for the first time. I had accepted a visiting scientist program at the UK Met Office, and was planning to live abroad for the first time in my life.
I was nervous, tired, cranky, but very excited. I arrived at my temporary accommodation, and settled in for a short nap, bundling up to stay warm in the house that was just slightly chilly. The landlady then kindly took me to the supermarket and to a bank, and then made dinner for myself and a friend of hers. It was the only time I had a meal with her, but the gesture helped melt away my homesickness, and I never looked back.
I love the UK. I lived there for two years and miss it very much.
Now, two years later I returned to a similarly dreary day. I stumbled, in a jet-lagged fashion through the Tower of London, and then nearly got hit by about 12 buses in central London. I was wet, tired, and loving every minute of it.
My trip was wonderful. I spent two nights in Reading, where I spent my first year in the UK. Reading is a bit of a commuter hub of London, being only 30 minutes by train. It's filled with young professionals, families, and some university students. It's quite international, and although it's not filled with character, it's quite a comfortable place to live.
I then headed west toward Exeter, where I spent two years. Here, I visited my old Met Office and synagogue friends. Exeter is sort of the "capital" of the more rural and scenic west country. It's close to Dartmoor (of Hound of the Baskervilles fame) and Exmoor. It's also a 20 minute drive from the coast. It's very English, although becoming more mixed as more and more ex-London businesses are moving out there. It's an ancient city, with history dating back to the Celts and the Romans. I loved it as well.
I spent time catching up with friends, wandering around Exeter, eating Indian and pub food, and having a beer or two.
Four of us then spent two days in Cornwall (the county to the West of Exeter), wandering the cliffs and countryside and visiting quaint little coastal towns. I love walking in the UK. You can walk from village to village, wandering up and down cliffs, through farms, around cows, and of course, to and from pubs. In the states, you have the very spectacular national parks, but you are far from towns, and they often involve camping and serious outdoor skills. In Britain, hiking is quite accessible, with beautiful views and breathtaking coastline. Go and walk some of it, if you haven't yet.
It was a great trip. It was just as difficult to leave the UK this time as it was the first time. But, I know I can always go back and their will be more to explore.

A long delayed post....

2005-09-14T13:18:00.000-05:00

...will be delayed a little bit longer. I'm off to the sunny United Kingdom for a few days. I'll post of my travel trials, tribulations, and triumphs when I return.
Or, more likely, I'll talk about the pubs.
Until then...

The Media, Katerina, and Hurricane Forecasters

2005-09-08T20:26:00.000-05:00

A column in the Wisconsin State Journal has some important things to say about what's lacking in the media's wall to wall coverage of Katerina. I've reprinted it in it's entirety:

Hurricane Forecast And Tax Dollars Saved Lives
Wisconsin State Journal :: DAYBREAK :: D1
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
William Wineke
I received this fascinating e-mail Tuesday from Chris Velden, a member of the UW-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center, reminding me that the toll from Hurricane Katrina could have been far worse.

"In contrast to the media focus on all of the failings of agencies and officials, the one things that I have not heard mentioned, not even once, is that there were over three MILLION people evacuated out of the 'ground zero' zone before Katrina hit," Velden wrote.

"Why? Because the forecasts of this storm were spot on, and allowed ample time for most folks to get out of harm's way . . . Can anyone comprehend what this storm would have resulted in if the National Weather Service reports were not so good in this case?"

The Space Science and Engineering Center had a part in this good news. It takes satellite data and turns it into "useful products" to submit to the National Hurricane Center (this part has been reported in the local press).

I have sympathy for Velden's position. The fact is that thousands of people in the weather prediction business did their jobs competently this time, as they have so often in the past.

They don't get proper credit because things that go right aren't generally considered "news." In our business, we write about planes that crash, not planes that land safely. We write about people trapped on rooftops, not about people who evacuated to safety.

Nevertheless, it probably ought to be "news" that so many people are alive today because of the detailed predictions provided before Hurricane Katrina struck.

During the hurricane season, "Dr. Max Mayfield," director of the National Hurricane Center, becomes almost a family friend because of his omnipresence on the newscasts. We see the satellite photos of the hurricanes almost from their first waves and we track them across the ocean, across the coast and on to landfall.

Mayfield becomes the symbol of hurricane forecasting but, of course, there are hundreds of people like Velden behind the scenes who deserve credit.

While we're on this feel-good kick, this might also be a time to point out that the tax dollars we so hate to pay actually buy things.

In this case, they buy hurricane forecasts, which surely saved hundreds of thousands of lives on the Gulf Coast last week. They also buy the FEMA and military rescue workers who are now saving lives and restoring order to three states. They buy the hospital ships and the helicopters and the fuel for the rescue trucks and the tents for tent cities and the funds to put refugee kids in schools and, and, and. . .

Former President Ronald Reagan used to get cheers for asserting that "government is the problem" and, in some cases, it can be. But government is also absolutely essential to civilized life in this society.

The volunteer efforts now being waged are wonderful and will be meaningful to so many people who might otherwise be without hope.

But the ability of government to stick its hand in my pocket and extract enough cash to make things work is one of the reasons those people will be alive to even seek help from the volunteers.

For purposes of full disclosure, I'll say that Chris Velden is absolutely, positively not my boss. Or maybe he is. I can never remember.

Katerina

2005-08-31T18:38:00.000-05:00

Hurricane season is truly upon us. All of the major news programs and papers have their coverage, their commentaries, their photos and audio recordings. Emergency managers, city planners, insurance companies, and even meteorologists are called in to the talk/radio circuit. All of them are here to talk about one thing of course, Hurricane Katrina.
Katrina was a monster. It might not have made landfall with its previous intensity, but the power and scope of its damage will impact the region for many months.
Even at their weakest, hurricanes are powerful storms. They bring with them powerful winds, tornadoes, and heavy rain. Most frighteningly, the winds pile up water against the coast raising the tides above normal levels to a frightening storm surge crested by strong waves. These combinations make hurricanes a truly scary and serious weather event.

How are they forecasted? What sorts of evacuation decisions are made? What makes hurricanes natural disasters though? And how can we prevent these disasters better? I hope to address, although not necessarily answer, all of these questions.

Hurricanes are predicted like other weather phenomenon. Satellite and aircraft observations measure the intensity and location of the storm. Powerful computer models using physical equations make a prediction as to it’s strength and position. Then, very experienced forecasters at the National Hurricane Center absorb all of this information in their most powerful brain, evaluate it all, and produce an official forecast. It’s a difficult job, but they lay their reputation on the line every six hours, for every storm in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific.

Once landfall is imminent, what then? Evacuations are made for storm surge only. Once again, computer models calculate the storm surge caused by the expected storm, along with the surge from storms that vary slightly from the expected storm, and come up with an “envelope” of surge calculations. Thus, if the forecast is off slightly, or is slightly stronger than expected, additional people in danger will still be moved to safety. The surge models are very good if the storm forecast is good.

With these surge calculations, emergency managers issue an evacuation. Most people leave. Some do not. Evacuations are costly, scary, and difficult, particularly from a city like New Orleans. This brings me to my next point. Why are hurricanes such disasters? The forecasts aren’t perfect, but they are very good. Surprises are a matter of miles, not a matter of storm or no storm.

Well most of the problem, I think, is demographics. People live where they shouldn’t. Coastal populations have exploded, mostly during times of low hurricane frequency. People live in vulnerable locations that are difficult to leave with only a few causeways or roads in and out. Barrier islands are temporary. They move. They grow and shrink. They erode.

New Orleans is also extremely difficult. High ground is miles away, and escape is only possible on a few roads, with millions of people wanting to use them. Every hurricane season the Big Easy is a disaster waiting to happen. This year, it happened.

So now we reflect. My colleagues have sent emails evaluating the forecasts. They’ll continue to be evaluated. Forecasters will learn what they did wrong and right.
Emergency managers and government officials will learn how to manage the public better and how to communicate more effectively. Were the forecasts made early enough for them to make good decisions? Did the public listen?
City planners will evaluate the levees and the walls. Pass Christian, Biloxi, and other Mississippian cities that were devastated will examine their own city planning. They’ll figure out how to make building codes better, and how to get their citizens to safety faster.

Mostly though, we’ll respond, mourn and rebuild. We are amazing at helping others during crises. The donations will pour in to the Red Cross and the United Way. People will bring in water and food, and offer shelter to those in need. As the death toll rises, we’ll hear stories of hope and sadness. We’ll hear of people who couldn’t afford to leave, or who left too late. We’ll see vivid images of flooding and wind damage in the south, and we’ll know that perhaps a different disaster will bring us on the other side of the camera.
Then, slowly, the damaged cities in towns will rebuild. People will pull their lives together, or start a new one somewhere else. Our country is strong, and it will heal.

Hurricanes can’t be prevented. Their fury reminds us that we are vulnerable to the forces of this planet. All we can do is be better prepared and try to lessen the impacts of the next big storm.

Nechama

2005-08-21T09:19:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I volunteered with the organization Nechama. Nechama is a Jewish organization, based in Minesota, that is set up to provide disaster assistance and relief from flash floods and tornadoes (primarily). As you may or may not know, a fairly strong tornado ploughed through Stoughton, Wisconsin: a town about 10 miles south of Madison. Although there was only 1 fatality, there were quite a few injuries and lots of damage.
The relief effort was organized by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, so there was a bit of drama in allowing the Nechama truck to the relief site at all, but eventually all was resolved and we happily puttered our way to the house that we were assigned.

Trees were down everywhere. A good bit of their roof was ripped off. A van, which I later learned had been turned upside down a few times, looked it had, well, been rolled over by a tornado. Siding, glass, and leaves were everwhere. It was a mess.
But, the dynamic of the relief effort was amazing. 100 or so strangers managed to get to work surprisingly quickly, pulling branches out of the yard, collecting debris from the fields, and throwing away huge quantities of wreckage from the yard.
They even gave in and let the man from Nechama bring out his chainsaws. I was frightened, but he did very well. When we left that afternoon, the yard looked a thousand times better. Their family and friends had arrived, and the cleanup was fully underway.

The amazing thing, I think, was the family hadn't lost their spirits. The father of the household was out with his chainsaw, directing the clean up effort, and keeping a smile on his face. He seemed greatful for the help.

It always amazes me to see the response to disaster. Humans are actually very good at coming together for a crises. People of all ages, from the entire region were at the Stoughton high school volunteering to help. From teenagers in sandals, to fully trained and equipped disaster specialists, they all wanted to show their sense of community. All of us know that a different twist of a butterfly's wings could have brought the tornado over our house rather than over the houses it did strike.

Last week I was dealing with an infestation of fruit flies. They had come in attacking a peach pit I had foolishly left on my kitchen counter. The next day they were swarming. I panicked a bit. I freaked. I cleaned everything in site. I complained to all of my friends because a relatively harmless insect had invaded my apartment. When I stood in front of the house and yard the tornado had plowed through, I realized how silly my problem is. The fruit flies are nearly gone. Their house is still, most likely, incomplete. But their spirit is strong

Mustard in a small town

2005-08-07T11:29:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I left the psuedo-cosmopolitan world of Madison, Wisconsin and ventured away to the scenic small town of Mt. Horeb. You have to bring your passport, hide your democratic party registration forms, and purchase a hunting rifle before they let you leave, but it is well worth the trip.

Why did we make this venture? Well, yesterday was National Mustard Day., so we were off to the National Mustard Day Festival at Mt. Horeb's infamous mustard museum.

What goes on at a mustard festival? Well, you can play all sorts of mustard games like wheel of mustard, and mustard ring toss. The prizes? Well, you guessed it: mustard. You can make mustard painting. They give away free hot dogs (with optional ketchup for $10.00). And of course, you can wander through the Mustard Store, I mean, museum, and sample and buy mustard.

This year, there was another reason to go. A friend of mine had entered a recipe for mustard-battered mushrooms and cheese curds into their mustard cook-off competition. She placed a respectable 5th (out of 10), and it earned her a $20 gift certificate to the museum. That can go quite quickly, suprisingly enough.

I find these small town events amazing. Yes it kitsch. Yes, from an outsider perspective, it's a big scary. But, it's an excuse for people to gather together and be a bit goofy.
Small villages in the UK had similar events. The Village of Ottery St. Mary has a burning tar barrel celebration close Guy Fawkes day. Yes, people fill up the streets in this small village, often well-liqured up, and watch people in burning tar barrels run through the streets. This event, a bit more disturbing than mustard, still had those elements of community.
I've never wanted to live in a small town. I'm a city boy at heart. I love being able to walk outside my apartment, down to a coffee place, around the corner to a movie theatre, and then to a restaurant for a quick take out meal. I love the variety and diversity in most american cities. But, there is definitely a place for a small, closely knit community. I can at least see the comfort in that lifestyle, and appreciate it's charm and strength. I just sometimes need a reason to go out and see it.

The Song of the Dodo

2005-07-31T13:55:00.000-05:00

I'm taking a break from the quite lengthy but interesting John Adams book, and am now reading "The Song of the Dodo". The book is by David Quammen and is about, as it is subtitled: "Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions". Biogeography is perhaps not as complex as it sounds. It basically looks at how animal species are distributed, and how that's important. In 1855 Alfred Wallace came up with an idea so simple and profound, it almost seems obvious:

Every Species has come into existence coincident both in space and time with a pre-existing closely allied species.

Essentially: new species come from old species, and tend to live close them. It was groundbreaking at the time, because it argued against the previously accepted idea of "special creation". Namely, God designed species to specifically suit each geography location. Islands are a focus because they are simple. Species can't easily come and go from them, so they are essentially closed systems.
Of course, what Wallace didn't know at the time of his idea was how new species formed. He would later, nearly simultaneously with Darwin, come up with the mechanism of natural selection (the history is mixed as to who really deserves credit for publishing the idea first).
What I find amazing is the creative inspiration that allowed these brilliant men to come up with their theoretical leaps. They both (Darwin and Wallace) collected and observed animal species. But it took a leap in the brain to come up with the theory to explain how the species were evolving. Science, contrary to what you may think, does involve creativity. You have to come up with ways to interpret evidence, and use those interpretations to figure out what to do next. It's perhaps one of the most difficult and rewarding elements of science. Anyone can blindly run statistical tests, or, can dig their way through difficult classes. It takes something else to put those ideas to discover something new, or to figure out which tests to run, or how to interpret those tests. It's a skill that I certainly need to improve in my own work.
For now, I've got another page to read...

The blah's of extremist blogs

2005-07-25T19:25:00.000-05:00

Joel Achenbach's blog in the Washington Post was interesting the other day (the 18th of July to be exact). He's commenting on an article about political blogging written by David Von Drehle

... Surely there is still a place in American society for journalists who try to present the facts as best as they can be ascertained, and let the readers and viewers make up their own minds. Crazy as that sounds.

The two bloggers in the DVD story strike me as intellectually rigid, mere spouters of dogma, and with every utterance provide a vivid reminder of why so many blogs are a drag. Political blogs too often are mires of political fundamentalism. A fundamentalist, whether political or religious, has a hard time being a good storyteller, because every story ends the same. You know how it's going to turn out! Look at all that Karl Rove stuff from the Right and the Left: The analysis of his actions precisely tracks the pre-existing political bias. [Except when I write about Rove, in which case you learn amazing stuff, like the fact that he was once in the cast of Spanky and Our Gang.]

I like mainstream print and radio journalism. It has it's place, and it's important. He's right, it is a drag to read extremists on either side of the fence. What's interesting is wrestling with the ideas from a complete perspective, and seeing the truth and what's right outside of politics. An unbiased source is nearly impossible to find. But at least the mainstream media tries, despite it's many flaws, to give you some ideas to sort through, rather than handing you an opinion on a platter. I don't listen to Air America or Rush for that reason. I try not to write like them either.

A Review of Internet Romance

2005-07-21T21:28:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I've tried internet dating. I have had some success, and have dated a few people, but at press time I'm still single.
So, the question is, how effective is it? Is it good or bad? Does it help people find romance?
Well the answer, and this may be a bit disappointing, is that it is mixed. I have known people who have met, fallen in love, and have gotten married. I've known others who have met their share of freaks and weird people, or have had their heart broken.
Why this very mixed picture? Well, no matter how you sell it, it's still dating. Dating is subjective, selfish, complicated, and awkward. It can also be fun, surprising, intriguing, and can lead to something really amazing. So let's look at it in a bit more detail.
First, what is so troubling about it? Online dating gives you the ability to put up a profile and sorta sell yourself to potential mates. You list your likes and dislikes, what you do for fun, vital statistics, and of course you show a picture. Then, you can search for others by various combinations of these profile elements.
What's wrong with this? Well, it gives you the illusion of control. You believe you can pick and choose among various qualities and custom order your potential mate. So, if someone sends you a message, and they are too short, or they don't like sushi, or they actually voluntarily watch American idol, you don't respond. It's impossible to get to know someone from a profile, but because one or two of these elements doesn't mesh with you, don't give it a chance. Effectively, online dating can make people more superficial, because one sees people as a bunch of individual qualities, rather than a whole person.
In the non-online world, of course, you can be just a superficial. Looks are more apparent. But, you learn about them on your own time, not based on a quick read through a profile. And of course, you can't really pick and choose among various options; Not in the same way at least.
So what's good about online dating? Well, intent. In general, you can meet a whole group of people who are single (hopefully) and looking to date other people. You can find ones who live near you, and are hopefully willing to be open minded about who they meet. If this happens, then it can work great. You meet someone, and can begin to judge them on who they are, not how they come across in profile. You can also join dating sites with a theme: Midwest Jewish science geeks, for example (I wish).
So in sum, it's just an option. It has it's pluses and minuses. It requires you to use your instincts and good judgment as much as anything else. But it's possible, just possible, that it can lead to romance.

Happy 25th!

2005-07-16T10:36:00.000-05:00

The organization I work for just had it's 25th Anniversary celebration. A lot of former employees, visiting scientists, and related scientists all fell upon Madison to commemorate and reflect on the past and future of satellite meteorology.
Two "themes" of the meeting made an impression on me. The first was reflecting on how amazing it must have been to be on the forefront of satellite meteorology. We take for granted the satellite image that appears on the nightly weather forecast. We don't get surprised by the formation of hurricanes anymore: they are easy to find in a satellite image. The collection of satellite data has made huge impacts in improving day to day weather forecasts as well. Without that data, the computer models that forecasters rely on would have significantly less skill. But, there was a time when this information wasn't around, and a few visionaries put their imagination and knowledge together and came up with the idea of viewing clouds and the atmosphere from space. Many of those pioneers founded my organization.

The second impression the meeting made on me was the degree of international collaboration. We had speakers from China, Australia, Great Britain, Korea, and Germany, among others. Many of those workers spent time at my organization, learning and sharing ideas. I believe that a bridge across political conflict is scientific cooperation. If your countries have a vested interest in working together, conflict has more severe consequences. I've touched on this topic before, and it struck me more strongly this week. If even one politician could use science as the center of their platform, they'd have a much stronger and healthier platform. Perhaps I'm a dreamer on that one.

I don't always like my job. Hardly anyone does. But, most of the time it's an amazing place with people working really well together doing cutting edge science and having a good time. For that, I'm luckier than most.

The Art Fair?

2005-07-10T23:24:00.000-05:00

I don't really have much to say about the Art Fair in Madison. Lots of people, expensive art, and pretty good food vendors.
(Please see Ellen's comment on irony post if confused).
I feel so cheap.

10 Seconds of My Fifteen Minutes

2005-07-10T22:36:00.000-05:00

I was on tv today. No, I didn't get arrested or get seen streaking across the field in a baseball game. It was for my job. The reporters were doing stories on hurricane Dennis, so they did a story about our research lab in the University of Wisconsin. My boss was out of town, so I was put under the gun instead.
It was actually pretty straightforward. I was afraid of being asked a strange "Is this the end of the world, and what does it have to do with global warming, el nino, the solar cycles, and the price of pencils in northeast china?" type question. Reporters have been known to do that sort of thing.
But no, it was really just explaining how we use satellites to study hurricanes from Wisconsin. They just happened to have a camera rolling to tape the conversation. From our ten minute conversation, I was on for about 10 seconds: quite a lot for tv news standards I think. They showed some of our images, our building, and a quick quote from me. Kinda fun.
It's quite strange to see yourself on camera. It seemed sage-like, witty, and clear when I delivered it. When I saw myself say it, I thought it was dorky, awkward and odd. Well maybe that's a bit harsh, but it definitely did not look natural.
Oh well, it was a cool opportunity. When the future tv contracts come pouring in, I'll invite you all out to the parties.

...And speaking of irony

2005-07-04T16:40:00.000-05:00

According to the Washington Post in an editorial:

a House majority overturned a city law and voted to allow D.C. residents to keep in their homes loaded shotguns and rifles, as well as handguns bought before 1976, unbounded by trigger locks or disassembled. The deed itself makes a mockery of Congress as a federal body. If the action is allowed to stand, however, the consequences could be even worse: The nation's capital will become a deadlier place in which to live.

So, let me get this straight. On the eve of the celebration of our independance, the day we rebelled against "Taxation without Representation", the House of Representatives overturnes a very popular gun control law in the District of Columbia, making it a more dangerous city. The irony? Guess how many representatives residents of the District have in the House? 0. Delegate Norton has no vote. Perhaps Alanis can add this vote to her song.

A few good wishes

2005-07-03T16:27:00.000-05:00

I've got two or three half-finished posts just hanging around in my drafts folder.
One was another attempt to say something deep and profound about American culture and sex. Another is a tribute to a good friend of mine who is leaving town after finishing her PhD. A third examined the question of whether or not we should be patriotic. A final one, coincidentally enough, was about writer's block.
None of these seem to want to get up, flop on my screen and become proper posts. So instead, I'll write a simple post to just be happy. Appreciate those in your life that come and go into it. If you have a lover, screw what Americans think about sex, and enjoy what you're lucky enough to have. If you don't have one, count on the fact that when you are ready for it, it will come.
Be patriotic. Be proud about who you are and where you came from. Enjoy the irony and humor that surround you. (Apparently only 20% of humans are wired to understand irony. Appreciate the irony in that fact that one of 80 that doesn't understand it made a hit song about it). Finally, if you're an American have a great Indpendance day. If you're not, have a great July 4th.

More seasonal thoughts

2005-06-27T21:53:00.000-05:00

So I've been a bit slack in posting recently. You'll have to forgive me.
Well, I suppose you don't have to forgive me...you'll just stop reading the blog for a while until it seems like I can start writing regularly again.
Well, I try I suppose, but it's the summer.
I'm a bit obsessive about getting out in the summer. If it's still warm and sunny outside when I come home from work then I must get out in it. Even if it's just sitting somewhere and reading a book: it's something. I'm out of the house. On the weekends, if I haven't gotten out of the house by 10, I feel guilty. I'm waisting the day. It's the summer. Get out into it.
I've put a few posts about the effects the season has on me. I am a seasonal person. I think it's healthy to have the weather impact your life from time to time. It humbles you. It forces you to relate or get help from other people. It reminds you don't always have control over every detail in your life.
I think it's one reason people from southern California are a bit crazy: they've no weather to mellow them out. It's also the reason the northern boondocks is just a little bit mellower than southern boondocks. Compare Texas or Oklahoma to Wisconsin or Minnesota. I can tell you where I'd rather live. The northerner's have at least some respect for their environment, and hopefully for other people. Eating seasonal foods (farmer's markets are great for this), drinking seasonal beer, playing seasonal activities: all of these are important. It always gives you something to look forward to, and something to miss.
So while you are sweltering in the heat, or watching a thunderstorm roll by from your air-conditioned home, take some time to appreciate the summer. The leaves will begin to fall soon enough.

The lake

2005-06-19T20:30:00.000-05:00

I spent yesterday with my friends in a cottage near a lake. We talked. We laughed. We drank really bad beer and wine. We ate too much food. We made 'smores over a campfire. We even had a drunken ride on a pontoon boat. If you've never done it, I'd highly recommend it. We also had a highly contested game of lawn dice for mustard. A friend of mine is obsessed with mustard. His wife tries very hard to give them away: hence the prize.
Lawn dice is another must do before you leave the planet: Two plastic circles in which you try to throw two pairs of large dice. By the time someone reaches 21 you're begging for it to end.
My favorite moment was probably walking out in front of the lake before everyone else had woken up. I just stood on the small pier and watched the tiny fish swimming around, and cowering in fear when the shadow of a large bird crossed over them.
It was quiet, but like all mornings, weighed with the potential of the day ahead. The memories of the campfire, the beer and wine, the pontoon booze cruise will blur together as the day ages. But at this moment, they are crystal clear in my head. In that early morning moment, I could enjoy them.

The Weather and World Peace

2005-06-12T13:50:00.000-05:00

I think the weather can lead to World Peace.
Well perhaps not, but hear me out before you click on to the next blog.

I've sat through quite a few scientific conferences in the half dozen or so years that I've been involved in science. Almost all of these conferences have had a strong international contingent: Europe, China, Japan, Canada, Russia, Australia, etc.
The field I'm in (Atmospheric science) lends itself quite well to international collaboration: weather is global. More importantly, observing the weather needs to be global. The only way to completely understand one part of the atmosphere is to understand how it changes over the entire globe.
I've personally been involved with several international projects: one of them allowing me to work in the United Kingdom for two years. Two of them more recently were field projects: They involved cooperation with Europe, Canada, the US, and Australia (among others) to investigate and observe the atmosphere in unique ways. One of them involved putting observations in parts of the Atlantic Ocean that were expected to have large impacts on computer model forecasts later in time. Another, involves taking observation of potential tropical systems to better predict which ones will become hurricanes and which will not.
So, how does this lead to world peace? Well these scientist work together on problems despite international politics. Political conflict gets in the way of what they want to do. Also, when the teams meet up for conferences or meetings, they eat, socialize, debate, and drink together. Friends are made. Future connections are formed. Science moves forward.
I'd love to see a political candidate use this as part of their platform. In fact, I'd love to see a political candidate use ANYTHING scientific as an element of their platform. How about:,

I will try to strengthen international relations by funding projects that encourage international collaborations. I hear-by will make scientific visits visa free from all countries. I will increase funding to have visiting graduate students attend our Universities. More incentives will be given to those research projects that either

a) decrease our dependence on fossil fuels

b) alleviate world poverty

Imagine the power of a science-based political platform.
Now, why weather? Well it's hard to argue that weather, or any Earth Science really, is bad for our country or amoral. Perhaps a few creationists might be upset if we advocate using evidence and facts in our studies of geology, but I think even the "Intelligent Design" community argue that the physical sciences are worth while to pursue. It's important, it's non-controversial, and most importantly, it saves lives. This argument can of course apply to lots of different earth sciences, life sciences, and medicine. It's the scientific framework, with the goal of saving lives that can be used as the focus. The religious can certainty not be opposed to that.
World peace? Maybe not. World health? Good international politics? Definitely!

Non-Sequitur

2005-06-07T23:02:00.000-05:00

HaHaHaHa

This American Religion

2005-06-07T22:22:00.000-05:00

Please listen to last weekend's episode of "This American Life" . For those who aren't familar with it, the radio show takes a theme and examines it through various different stories, documentaries, and monologues.
Last week was "Godless America" and it investigated the seperation of church and state in the US. The summary from the webpage:

At a time when House Majority Leader Tom Delay calls for enacting a "Biblical worldview" in government, when Christians are asserting their ideals in the selection of judges, in public school science classes and elsewhere, This American Life spends an hour trying to remember why anyone liked the separation of church and state in the first place. Julia Sweeney, among others, gives a full-throated defense of godlessness. Julia's faith began to crack after reading Biblical passages like the one pictured here, of Abraham about to cut the throat of his beloved son, Isaac.

It's riveting radio, and it will definitely make you think.

Global Climate Change and Other Non-environmentalist Thoughts

2005-06-05T11:08:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I had a long conversation with a good friend of mine. He's done a lot of work recently investigating the effects of climate change on some of the small central and south Pacific islands.

His idea, or at least my interpretation of his idea, is that global climate change should not be presented as an environmental issue. Environmental issues bring with them the stigma of people munching granola with long hair and sandels. They also bring with them an idea that "the environment" is separate from the world that people inhabit. It's something you visit on weekends when you go for a walk, or in august when you drag the wife + kids to Yellowstone.

Environmental issues also set up a built in opposition. Let's say the issue is protecting the rain forest. In posing the issue as "humans must protect the rain forest" , you are artificially separating yourself from what you are protecting: the rain forest. It becomes easier to then argue the issue as humans versus (insert environmental issue here). It becomes human economic growth versus rain forests. Or it might be logging jobs versus old growth forests. It's habitat versus humanity.

If you argue global climate change as a human issue, it becomes harder to separate oneself from the problem. First of all, what is global climate change? Essentially, the global temperature has been rising steadily over the last century. This temperature increase, based on incredibly thorough modeling and testing, can be traced to human causes. Most of the uncertainty is related to the impacts and mechanisms of climate change. We know that atmospheric carbon dixoide is increasing from human sources. We know that this can lead to a warming of surface temperatatures, but it's more difficult to determine exactly how and to what degree. For a more detailed information see the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US National Climate Data Center , or the UK's Hadley Center among many other organizations.

So, why should this not be presented as an environmental problem? Well, I firmly believe that the only way the United States will change is when businesses decide it is in their best interest to consider climate change important. Why would they? Well, fundamentally, climate change is an energy problem. Fossil fuel consumption is one of the greatest contributors to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If businesses decide that is in their best interest to reduce the amount of energy they use, which I believe it is, then this country can begin to turn around. Alternative efficient engines can be produced. Businesses will take into account commuting time and public transportation when they consider their location, rather than just land cost. Most importantly, they will lobby congress and the president and make it an issue. GE has led the way. Hopefully other businesses will soon follow.

So, what about the personal view? As consumers, we have to make businesses and government know that climate change is a problem that affects us. It's a symptom of the way humans view the world. Everything we do impacts not only "the rainforest", or islands in the south pacific, but our home town. Long commutes not only release carbon dioxide, they emit other pollutions that are a health threat. Using excess plastic or paper causes pollution both at it's production and filling up extra space in a landfill. Little decisions we make matter.

So, my challenge to my blog readers: Add something..one thing to your life to make a difference. Pick up a bike and ride to work if that's possible. Bring a reusable bag to the grocery store. Turn down that plastic bag for an item you buy in the store when you don't really need it. Drive your SUV off of a cliff and buy a hybrid. At the very least, think about the impact of the decisions you make. And please, comment with any suggestions or choices you have made. Global climate change: it's not just for environmentalists any more.

Religious conservative liberalism

2005-05-26T22:43:00.000-05:00

David Brooks's column in the New York Times was quite interesting.
Essentially he sees that a war on poverty might be a uniting factor between religious conservatives and liberals. He writes

we can have a culture war in this country, or we can have a war on poverty, but we can't have both. That is to say, liberals and conservatives can go on bashing each other for being godless hedonists and primitive theocrats, or they can set those differences off to one side and work together to help the needy.

He continues:
Millions of evangelicals are embarrassed by the people held up by the news media as their spokesmen. Millions of evangelicals feel less represented by the culture war-centered parachurch organizations, and better represented by congregational pastors, who have a broader range of interests and more passion for mobilizing volunteers to perform service. Millions of evangelicals want leaders who live the faith by serving the poor.

Serious differences over life issues are not going to go away. But more liberals and evangelicals are realizing that you don't have to convert people; sometimes you can just work with them.

I've always wondered why, of all of the serious but non-controversial problems that religion could help solve, religious leaders often choose some of the most controversial and divisive: homosexuality, abortion, contraception, and evolution, among others.
Poverty is a natural issue and something that could unite all religions, and the socially concious non-religious. It could bring the compasion into compassionate conservative, and do the world a lot of good.

My Jewish History

2005-05-25T18:34:00.000-05:00

My father attended an Orthodox synagogue until he was a Bar Mitzvah. He went to religious school. He attended synagogue with his grandfather as seldomly as he good. Then, when he turned 13, he ran away from synagogue life as quickly as he could.
Why? Mainly because his parents were not observant Jews. They didn't keep kosher or observe the Sabbath. When he went with his grandfather on Yom Kippur, his grandfather would pledge more money to the synagogue then he could afford. So, without the support of his parents, and with my dad's slightly rebellious nature (not atypical at 13), he left orthodoxy saying he didn't want to set foot in a synagogue again.

My mom grew up in a Conservative synagogue. She was never Bat Mitzvah'ed (I don't believe the Conservative movement was doing that then). Judaism was definitely a part of her life as well, but much more so culturally than associated with a a synagogue.

After my parents met and married, they settled on the Reform synagogue they attend today. The rituals, observances, and service suited both of their lifestyles.

They became active members. They sent my sister and I to religious school. My father even became President. His mother and aunt were so shocked they drove an hour to see the installation.

My sister and I both attended in religious school until we were 18. Although she didn't marry a Jew, she had a Jewish wedding and is raising her child Jewish.

Why do I tell this history? Well, Reform Judaism is often criticized because of the high rate of mixed marriage and secularization. I don't know this for certain, but would imagine that intermarriage is higher among Reform Jews. As a Reform Jew, you're exposed to more of the secular world. You are more likely to socialize, eat, and yes date non-Jews. In my dad's case, however, if Reform Judaism did not exist, it's unlikely I'd have the Jewish upbringing I did have.

So it's possible, just possible, that Reform (and perhaps Conservative) can appeal to people who would otherwise be secular: Jew by definition only, with little observance or education behind them. If they sent their children to be educated and they don't practice Judaism in the home, then their children may very well end up like my father did: running away after his Bar Mitzvah Torah portion was read.
I feel honored and much richer to have had a Jewish upbringing. Being Jewish is a deep part of my past and a large part of who I am now. Ever since I left high school I've always sought out some connection to the Jewish community. The Hillels at my undergrad and grad universities, and to the two synagogues I attended in the UK were very much a part of my life. I may not know every detail of an Orthodox service, or all of the appropriate prayers to say, but I believe I have a very good understanding of the religion's history and its traditions. Of course, there is much more to learn.

I can't say how my ideas will change as I get older. I struggle everyday with who I am religiously, and what it means for me to be Jewish. I struggle with the concept of God, and tradition, particularly in times where those words carry so much public meaning and power. But by having the upbringing I did have, Judaism will always be a huge part of who I am.

The House of Representatives passes another bill

2005-05-16T23:01:00.000-05:00

First paragraph of The Washington Post's lead editorial on Monday the 16th could have been made generic to apply to any bill the House of Representatives passes.
Read the original at the link provided. Here is the generic version:

THE House of Representatives passed a bill last week designed to [do something noble]. The so-called [clever bill name] bill would greatly expand federal authority [to something that might be good in moderation]. It would [include details about it's excessivness]. These are terrible ideas that ought to be rejected if and when the Senate considers similar legislation.

The Good the Bad and the Ugly

2005-05-14T14:58:00.000-05:00

As usual, it's been a full week in the world of politics and current events. Here are my thoughts on three stories that I found interesting.

The Good
On Monday (May 9th) General Electric announced it's new environmental initiative entitled "Ecomagination" According to the Washington Post:
GE is the biggest addition to a growing list of corporations seeking to be seen as "green," and one of only a few business titans to call for broad action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that many scientists say lead to global warming.

They are looking into wind power, hybrid technology, and simply more efficient technology. A lot of their customers are European. So, I've heard it argued that one of the reasons for this change is to satisfy the more environment friendly European customers. Is the whole thing lip service? Only time will tell. But regardless, it's good lip service, and shows private industry is going in the right direction. Maybe our pro-business government will follow.

The Bad
The "Emergency" spending bill recently passed in Congress is an awful example of how to pass laws. Here's the basic idea:
You come up with some cause that requires large sums of money quickly and that would be a huge political cost to argue against. In this case it's the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then, you slip some other contentious items in the bill that wouldn't be passed without huge debate: in this case, some really controversial Immigration reform (reform used very loosely). Since debate is limited, and the political costs of voting against the money are so high, these bills get passed without debate. Disgusting!
If immigration reform is necessary, which it is, then you debate it and pass bills the normal way. Not by bypassing the legislative process.

The Ugly
The debate over Senate filibusters is really going to get ugly.
It looks like the showdown is going to begin next week. The president resubmits his 10 controversial judge nominations. The Democrats threaten to filibuster. The Republicans change the rules forcing an up or down vote on the nominations. All hell breaks loose.
Neither side really has the moral high ground. The democrats have often decried the filibuster when they were in the majority. The Republicans have used plenty of legislative tricks to block Clinton nominees, even if they didn't filibuster. They've also attempted to filibuster before. One, a Johnson nominee, was withdrawn before the filibuster was necessary. Other Republican filibuster attempts have been brought to a vote with help from other Republicans.
So what should happen? Well, from what I've read, I don't agree with
a lot of what these judges have to see. I'm not particularly qualified to judge their competency as a judge. The question is, how much leeway does Congress have over the president's nominees?
My solution: let the voters decide. Let the Democrats filibuster the nominees. If the voters think the Dem's went to far, they will make sure that there are not enough of them in the next Senate to do it again. If the voters agree that these nominees were "outside of the mainstream", then there will probably be enough Dems to force the President to choose more moderate judges next time.

Evolving Hitchikers in the Galaxy

2005-05-07T22:35:00.000-05:00

I just saw the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The movie was the long awaited adaptation of Douglas Adams's radio show, book, and BBC short series.
The book is the first of five in the "Hitchiker's trilogy". It tells the story of Arthur Dent, who joins the imperturbable alien Ford Prefect on an interstellar journey, after the earth is destroyed by the Vogons (another alien race) to make way for an interstellar bypass. The book (and movie), however, is more of an excuse for Douglas Adams, through the voice of the electronic "Guide", to explain his philosophy about Life, the Universe, and Everything.
His main point: Humans aren't so special. They are an insigificant race in "the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy". "[Earth] is an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet whose ape-descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea..." (remember this was written in the 80's).

In fact (possible plot spoiler here) they are the outcome of a computer program. The Earth is not actually a proper planet at all (please see the film or read the book for clarification).

Douglas Adams was a devout atheist, and quotes the evolutionist bible "The Blind Watchmaker" by Richard Dawkins (brilliant book by the way) as his favorite book. The ideas in "Hitchiker" and many of his other books bring out this idea behind the absurdity and silliness of the plot. They are brilliant. Funny, silly, absurd, and incredibly intelligent.
Evolution has managed to get itself back in the presses. It's a scientific theory that has proven to be correct in explaining countless scientific phenomenon. The people who criticize it use disagreements over its mechanisms as an excuse to call the theory itself into question. However, it's pretty close to what a non-scientist would call a "fact". Its premise can be quite threatening to those that believe that humans are the center of the Universe. It can also be threatening to those who believe in God.
Do I believe in God? Honestly, I don't know. I believe there is a lot that we (as humans) don't know or understand. I swing back and forth as to whether that lack of understanding, can be called God, or is just the chaotic and amazing mix that's explained by the things we call physics, chemistry, and biology. Perhaps the answer is a mix of both. I certaintly don't know.
I do agree with Adams, in that we need to think that we, as humans, are not more important than the rest of nature. We are a apart of nature, and we happen to have the power to affect the planet, both for good and bad. We have to use that power carefully, or it will destroy us.

More Passover thoughts

2005-05-01T22:07:00.000-05:00

Passover is over. I had my traditional pizza outing (don't worry, no sausage or pepperoni). As I alluded to in earlier posts, I find the holiday and it's traditions fascinating.
It's interesting to talk to different Jews to see what they do or do not eat. Some of course, are extremely observant. They'll only eat foods with the strictest of Kosher rules. They have separate Passover dishes. On the other extreme (not counting the unobservant), others, "Just avoid bread".
Personally, I avoid the obvious things. I don't eat bread, cereals, pasta, cakes, etc. I usually avoid rice and corn. But, I'll drink normal soda (the corn syrup is objectionable to many). I'll eat peanut butter and other beans as well (legumes are forbidden).
These are the things that seem meaningful to me. Are they the Biblically and Talmudically (the Talmud is the ancient commentary on the Bible, often referred to as the Oral Law) forbidden foods? No. Not entirely. I'm fine with that.
What I find interesting is that some differences in Passover observance are accepted by Traditional Jews. For example, Jews of Spanish and Middle-Eastern descent (Sephardic Jews) generally eat rice and legumes as they were staples in their diet. So, I've occasionally heard people say "Hey, you're lucky, you're Sephardic, you can eat rice!". I also just recently heard someone say to an Israeli, "Hey since you're Israeli, you only celebrate Passover for seven nights". The bible commands Passover to be seven nights. But, Jews who are not in Israel celebrate the holiday for eight nights,
to account for uncertainty and delay in communicating the beginning and end of the holiday in ancient times (See Judaism 101).
Both of these customs are generally accepted by Traditional Jews and both of those comments are comments I've heard from Traditional Jews. But these are customs. It's customary to celebrate the extra day. It's customary that the staple diet was accepted for Passover. I don't understand why those customs are ok and other adaptations and changes are not. To me, it's about what you can keep and what is meaningful to you. Tradition of course, plays a large part in that meaning.
My point? It shouldn't be about what "descendandcy" you are, or where you are. The holiday should be a mix of the tradition and personal meaning. But either way, I'm off for some more pizza.

John Adams

2005-04-28T22:11:00.000-05:00

I've been Reading "John Adams" by David McCullough. It's pretty fascinating actually. I haven't taken a US history class since I was about 14, and I haven't read too many books on the subject recently.

The Founding of our country was during a pretty amazing time. They had a chance, as Adams mentions, to start a country from scratch. So they brought together ideas of leading philosophers and intellectuals, filtered those ideas through the politics of the country, and came up with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution (skipping those few years during the Articles of Confederation of course).

Does our country have problems? Of course it does. There may be days when we want to throw the whole thing out and start over. But generally, eventually, after everything else has been tried out, after few thousand people are killed or suffer in some way, the Country gets going in the right direction.

The other interesting thing about the book is the context. It's hard to say today how I'd feel about the revolutionaries. Most of those who wanted a revolution were radical for their day. I think Boston was a "North East liberal" city even then, resented by the more conservative south.

Adams himself is a fascinating man. He was stubborn, outspoken, witty, eloquent, extremely well read and passionate. It's unlikely independence would have been declared if he hadn't been there to smooth the edges of the dissenters. He was an astute politician.
I can't wait to read more. I'd highly recommend it!

Passover

2005-04-25T21:36:00.000-05:00

Saturday night was the first night of the Jewish Holiday of Passover.Passover commemorates the Biblical story of the Israelites escaping Egypt after being enslaved for over 400 years. Remember the movie the Ten Commandments? That's what this holiday is about.

Most Jews observe the holiday by abstaining from foods with leavening in it: no bread, pasta, cereal, cakes cookies, etc.
I mention Passover because it is one of the few times during the year where the Jewish world and the secular world have a visible connection. The other primary one is during Chanukah. Its proximity to Christmas makes it the recipient of token attention in American culture. It's a minor holiday, but it's status is heightened by the secular world.
Passover often occurs near Easter, but doesn't get the attention for the same reason. Passover is visible, first of all, from the Heston film I mentioned earlier: most people have seen it. Also, many non-Jews experience the Seder, the ritual meal on the first and second night (for most Jews) of the holiday. Many churches have them, and many non-Jews are invited as guests to Jews homes. The third reason this holiday gets attention is because it directly effects what Jews eat.
People see Jews eating those lovely Matzah (unleavened bread) sandwiches in the lunchroom at work. Jews might turn down invitations for meals because "they can't find anything to eat there". This experience might be common for very religious Jews who keep Kosher year-round, but for Jews who ordinarily do not follow dietary laws, Passover is one of the only times of the year where our diets would differ from those around us.
Personally, this difference is special. Of course it's frustrating to not be able to get that slice of pizza. But, it's also meaningful. I feel like I'm connecting with the community more than usual. I imagine this experience is why many people do keep kosher. During this week, every once in a while, I think about freedom, about suffering, about those people that can't choose what they eat or drink. These are the reasons I do keep Passover, and part of the reason that the holiday is special to me.

PhD

2005-04-18T21:07:00.000-05:00

A good friend of mine just finished her PhD defense today in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. She did brilliantly of course. Her command of the science is a good as anybodies in that room. She may not be as experienced as many of the professors, but she has the raw ability.
I always wonder about myself. I stopped at a Master's degree. At the time, and now really, I decided I wasn't quite passionate enough about the field to go for a PhD. I see some of my friends who have lingered for many years, trying to focus their ideas and their research. I think it's ok to be a bit lost and find your way. In many ways, that's the point of the degree: to show independent thought. I'm just not sure I want to be in that floating state at this point. I'm not committed enough to spend the late nights at the office. I'm not ready to have to stand up in front of faculty and defend my ideas. I'm not ready to be poor again.
So, although I love doing science, and I learn more about it every day, I'm just not at the point where I have to prove my own independence. Can I do it? Probably. Given a push, I think I can work through almost anything. So, perhaps part of holding back is fear. But the other part of it is lack of desire. I think the degree works much better if you've got some passion in it.
I'm just not there yet.
For now, I'll just celebrate with my friend!

Memories

2005-04-13T22:57:00.000-05:00

It's interesting how time can sometimes deepen memories. Why do I mean by this? Well, I moved out of my "young" childhood home when I was about 12 into the house that my parents currently live. I have some of the richest memories of that first house. I remember the bar we had downstairs where my grandparents used to entertain some friends when they would watch us for a few days. I remember rolling on my roller skates around the basement, entertaining myself for hours before dinner. Or even that first Atari where I would spend endless weekends playing games (we were only allowed to rent games on weekends).
I remember our narrow hallway, where my sister and I used to close all the doors and randomly bounce superballs (remember those) back and forth along the walls. We also had a living room sofa with just enough space to crawl behind for a really bad hiding space when playing hide and seek. Our kitchen had been remodeled before I was born, so it was laid out quite well unlike most kitchens that my mom would say "are made by men".
The street I lived on during those early years was also wonderful. There were about 5 families with children within about 4 years of me (both older and younger). We'd have involved games of chase, hide and seek, kick-ball and soccer until the sun had just gone down.

All of these memories are vague, but powerful. They are almost unreal: it's hard to believe that I actually lived them. To see that old house again would be hard to handle for some reason. To be back in that neighborhood would be very unreal. But I hope I don't forget those simple memories. They are a place and a time that will never happen again, except in my mind.

The Wisconsin Film Festival

2005-04-05T20:02:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I went to several movies as part of the Wisconsin Film festival. I wanted to give a few comments about what I saw. Perhaps they'll be coming to your area.

The first one I saw was "Shiva for My Mother: Seven Days of Mourning".
This was a documentary by Yael Katzir, about the seven days of mourning Yael went through for her mother's death. The film was in Hebrew, with English subtitles.
Yael is an Israeli, whose mother was a native born "Sabra" and her father was a German refugee from the holocaust. The documentary, filmed by her son Dan, shows her reflections about her parents, her siblings, and her adult children. Yael "always wanted her [mother] to hug me and say that I am a good girl, but it did not happen.
Her mom was a tough, outspoken woman. Her father was a quiet, reflective man whom she knew little about. Her children are loving, sensitive, and very emotionally honest. Her siblings discuss which one they thought loved them best. You can tell that although they had problems like any family, it was a family filled with love.
The film was beautiful, and deals with family relationships that anyone could relate to.

The second movie was "High School Record." This was a mockumentary by Ben Wolfinsohn about, well, you guessed it: an arts high school. It follows four high school students :Caleb, Sabrina, Erin, and Bobby during a few high school days.
Caleb is an odd outsider (aka Geek) who wears outrageous clothing, does screwy things with his hair, and wants to direct a futuristic TV show teaching children how to eat well. Sabrina is also a bit socially awkward, and at the beginning of the film is dating Caleb. She does and says some cruel things, but a good heart is buried beneath. There is also the wacky teacher, who plays guitar, sings off key, wears the most outrageous outfits, and eventually sleeps with Bobby. It's funny and slightly touching. The actors were all amateurs, but they were very believable.
Probably the biggest budget movie I saw was Childstar. This was a witty Canadian film making fun of shallow Hollywood, and our obsession with Child Stars and celebrity. Don Mckellar, who also wrote and directed the film, stars as driver Rick Schiller, hired to drive Taylor Brandon Burns, a child star played by Mark Rendall.
Rick sleeps with Taylor's mother, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. He also acts as the boy's tutor and mentor, as he's the only one who can stand him. It's a clever satire, and who can resist cameos by Alan Thicke and Erik Stolz?
"North Korea: Beyond the DMZ" and "Seoul Train" were two fascinating documentaries about North Korea. The first one, focused on a Korean American girl who took an organized trip to North Korea. As she did, the documentary supplied some context and history to the conflicts between the US and North Korea. The film put a lot of blame to the US and was trying to humanize one of the "axes of evil", but did go to lengths to explain the philosophies beyond North Korea's government. Although it does blame Kim Jung Il for many of its problems, it puts some blame to the United States and the West. It also shows the people of North Korea in a very warm light, particularly when the American woman reunites with her aunt.
"Seoul Train" was about North Korean refugees escaping to China in hopes of resettling in South Korea or other "safe countries". If the Chinese government catches them, it sends them back to North Korea where they are imprisoned, tortured, and almost killed. It focuses on China's culpability in the refugee problem, and on the efforts of some US congressman to address the problem. It was also interesting. The two films together put good context and depth on the Korean/American relationship.
The final movie I saw, was probably the most outrageous: Never Been Thawed.
It followed several characters who collect and trade Frozen Dinners as part of the Mesa frozen Entree Enthusiasts'. Each of them have their own quirks. Shawn, the founder, is a part time dental hygenist and plays in a punk band that goes Christian to try and make money. Shelly, who has a crush on Shawn, is a devoted virgin who works for the Wiliam Jefferson Clinton abstinence clinic. Al is a "smilist", a clown costumed hair stylist who lives with his parents at their retirement home. They meet at the "No Choice Cafe" an anti-abortion coffee house, located near abortion clinics so you can eat a snack while you are protesting. Although the film dragged near the end, it's a hilarious satire of collecting geeks, Christian Rock, religious fanatics, losers, nice guys, and competitive highway alphabet.
I'd recommend all of those movies. If you get a chance to see them, don't miss it.

Shiavo comment

2005-03-31T22:40:00.000-06:00

Not to dig up a very well covered topic, but the memo sent to Republicans that I mentioned in myTerry Shiavo blog is a bit sketchy. Apparently its origins are unknown, as discussed in this Washington Post Washington post article by Howard Kurtz:

While there is no hard evidence that the memo is fake, there are several strange things about it, including the basic fact that no one seems to know who wrote it and that the noncontroversial part of it is lifted from a Republican senator's press release.

ABC and The Post say their reports on the Schiavo memo were accurate and carefully worded. The document caused a stir because it described the Schiavo controversy as "a great political issue" that would excite "the pro-life base" and be "a tough issue for Democrats," singling out Florida's Sen. Bill Nelson. Two days after the memo was reported, the Republican-controlled Congress approved a bill, signed by Bush, to transfer jurisdiction of Schiavo's case from Florida courts to the federal judiciary in an effort to restore the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube.

Please read the article for more details, but in the interests of fairness I wanted to mention the uncertainty.

Thoughts on the Seasons

2005-03-29T21:46:00.000-06:00

We had our first real break of warm weather in Madison these past few days. It was nearly 70 today and just beautiful to be outside. Of course, everyone loves it when the weather breaks. People linger in the streets a little longer. You walk instead of drive that extra five minutes. You sit outside in the cafe, rather than take that table by the door. And of course, you wear slightly less clothing for the first time all year.
It's the first time in three years I've experienced a real winter. Although winter in England is miserable, it rarely gets below freezing. It's dreary, dark, and damp, but rarely too cold.
In Madison winters, we'd often see bright sunny days that would bring the temperature to a toasty warm 3 degress Farenheit. I was, however, able to bring out my skis and go cross country skiing a few times this winter. I can't think of a better way to exercise.
But now, winter is a quickly fading memory. I've started to run outside. I love to walk, and strolling through town in the late evening sun with a light jacket is an incredible feeling. I see people with ice cream cones and I'm tempted. I think to past summers, sitting outside our Union terrace, drinking beer and staring out over the lake. I think back to the late English summers, when 8pm meant two more hours of sunshine. Spring and Summer are about being outside.
I'd never trade the changing seasons for anything. I love experiencing both the cold and the warm. But for now, I'm ready for Spring.

Tutoring

2005-03-27T20:37:00.000-06:00

After a few weeks of shuffling and scheduling issues, I've finally met with my learner. He's a native Mexican settling in the United States and I've volunteered to teach him English.
This volunteer opportunity is arranged by the Madison Area Literary Council. They are an incredible organization, if you happen to live in Madison, Wisconsin, and have the time, I highly recommend them.
So I volunteered and this morning I met with Juan (not his real name). Juan's a pretty advanced learner. His conversational skills are quite good. He's got some understanding of basic grammar and a decent vocabulary. We went over the verb to be. We did contractions. We talked about question words. It was basic stuff, and he obviously had seen most of it.

The best part, however, was our conversations. Two or three times we stopped the formal learning and just talked. He told me about walking 11 hours with his father to go to an Easter mass. I told him (very briefly) about being Jewish. We talked about language and how it changes. He mentioned that someone from Spain told him that Spanish from Spain was superior to New World Spanish. I told him I heard the same thing from the Brits, and that it was crap.

When we first met, however, he asked me the most jarring question. He asked "Why was I volunteering?" I had all the token answers about "giving something back" and "trying to make Madison a better place", but facing Juan, those responses seemed also dishonest, if not patronizing.

So why did I do it? Well, partially, those token responses are true. I've been pretty lucky. I had a comfortable upbringing, a good education and right now have a decent job. I also feel that you need to do something to try and make your community better.

I think volunteering is also partially selfish. I've learned quite a bit doing this, even in just a few short meetings. I also am getting to know someone that I probably wouldn't ordinarily know. I suppose it also relives a bit of guilt; I'm doing something to "justify" my relatively cushy life, even if it isn't much.
So, I hope it continues to go well. I also hope that Juan learns half as much as I will.

A customer with a heart of gold

2005-03-20T17:08:00.000-06:00

From the "should have been named a saint catagory" comes this story in related in Tom Seitsema's weekly restaurant review in the Washington post:

After a restaurateur complained via my online discussion about customers expecting too much compensation when things go wrong, I received an e-mail from Bonni Cellini, who wanted to remind the industry that "there are decent people out there" as well. The Washington reader wrote: "My father owned a restaurant which caught on fire and burned to the ground right in the middle of the dinner rush. Thankfully everyone got out okay and in time, including my dad. A year later the restaurant was completely rebuilt. On the third night it had reopened a man walked up to my dad and handed him an envelope, leaned in and said, 'I was in your restaurant the night it burned down a year ago. My family and I had just finished dinner when the fire started. I never paid for dinner. Here is the money I owe you.'" Cellini added, "Of course my dad tried to refuse, but the man insisted." Both parties sound like they should have been cloned.

Terri Schiavo

2005-03-20T09:56:00.000-06:00

So we've got a war in Iraq. We've got unprecedented federal deficits. Health care costs are sky rocketing and of course, social security is in "crisis". The problems of our government are many and the resources to solve them are few. So what is our brilliant House of Representatives having a special session this weekend to solve? What is Dubya flying back from Texas early to do?
They are stepping in to force Florida doctors to restore Terri Schiavo 's feeding tube. Says Sen. Majority leader Bill Frist in the Washington Post:

Congress 'has been working nonstop over the last three days to do its part to uphold human dignity and affirm a culture of life.'
Frist said he is committed "to see this legislation pass and give Terri Schiavo one last chance at life.'

Schiavo has been in a vegetative state for 15 years. Her parents want to keep her alive; her husband wants to remove the feeding tube. This conflict has led to a very heated and complex legal battle that the Republican leadership in congress (at least mostly Republican) has felt compelled to get involved. My point is not to comment on whether Schiavo should be kept alive or not, but rather to examine the motives of our noble leaders.
Are these the same Republicans that advocate for power to the States? Are these same people that argue that the Federal government "Should stay out of my medicine cabinet"? I wonder how much federal intervention we would have had if this had been an AIDS patient who couldn't afford drugs that could keep him or her alive for 10 more years.
So, why are they getting involved? The article continues:

Republicans acknowledged that the intervention was a departure from their usual support for states' rights. But they said their views about the sanctity life [sic] trumped their views about federalism.

An unsigned one-page memo, distributed to Republican senators, said the debate over Schiavo would appeal to the party's base, or core, supporters. The memo singled out Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who is up for reelection next year and is potentially vulnerable in a state President Bush won last year.

"This is an important moral issue and the pro-life base will be excited that the Senate is debating this important issue," said the memo, which was reported by ABC News and later given to The Washington Post. "This is a great political issue, because Senator Nelson of Florida has already refused to become a cosponsor and this is a tough issue for Democrats."

Oh right. That whole election thing. My fault. Carry on.

Sex in the capital City

2005-03-19T18:31:00.000-06:00

In Wednesday’s Captial Times (a local Madison paper) we get a lovely example of morality gone wrong:

A [state] Republican legislator says he is "outraged" that the University of Wisconsin student health service provides prescription birth control, especially the so-called morning-after pill.
State Rep. Dan LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said he is drafting a bill to stop all UW student health services from either advertising or providing students with the morning-after pill

This comment from Mr. LeMahieu came after one of the student newspapers contained an advertisement suggesting that women should stock up on contraception before going on spring break. This of course leads to the usual arguments stating that if we make contraception available, we are encouraging students to have sex.

Now, this argument may hold some water in high schools, but most college students are over 18. People who are over 18 can vote, can be recruited to fight in the military, can enter sweepstakes, and, as far as I’m concerned, should be allowed to have sex. Safe sex should be encouraged and made easily accessible. If they want to abstain, they are old enough to have the power to make that choice without hiding contraception from them.

His article brings us to a wider question though. Why is sex such a contentious issue? Why do politicians care so much about who is having it, how they are doing it, and of course, what happens once sex leads to pregnancy?

But what of it? Why is sex so controversial? I guess part of it, is that the consequences of sex can be quite serious. Diseases, sexual violence, negative social stigmas, even crushed self esteem can be the possible results of sex. An unexpected pregnancy is also an obvious possibility, which has many of its own complications and confusions.

Pregnancy within marriage, is of course one of the few socially acceptable reasons to talk about sex. Sex within marriage or within a long-term relationship is generally acceptable as well, but it’s rarely discussed in mixed company.

I consider myself a pretty open-minded person, but don’t often talk about sex with my friends. With online friends, I suppose it comes quite easily. The anonymity of a chat makes it easier to open up about personal things. It’s not that I’ve done a lot that I’m ashamed of, but for some reason I find it quite difficult.

Again, why is this? Why is sex so personal? I’ve heard it explained that it’s one of the greatest contradictions of humanity: We like to believe we are civilized, intellectual, and rational beings. Yet Sex is one of the most animalistic, emotional, and natural things we do. We need to do it to for procreation. We enjoy it on a purely lustful level, and of course it can be a powerful statement of love and emotion. It can also lead to pain, confusion, and terrible illness.

Can we reconcile this? Can we reconcile the pragmatic side of making sex safe and of not selling it , trivializing it, or being degrading? I suppose the key will be to be more open about it, to not make it such a tableaux. Open and frank conversation, along with proper education will take the power away from those who want to push it back into the closet and control that which they have no business controlling.It’s a difficult balance, but something we can make sex a healthy, wonderful thing, rather than a political “sin” to be bandied about.

The Stoutest Stout

2005-03-13T00:28:00.000-06:00

I just got back from a Stout tasting competition. Essentially, a bunch of amateur beer makers submitted their own stouts, and a bunch of amateurs and a few "expert" beer tasters chose their favorites. It was a lot of fun, even if most of the beers were, well, odd tasting. They did tend to blur together, but it was fun to begin to taste the various chocolate, caramel, coffee, and god knows what other odd flavors that were found in a stout. Some were tasty, some were smooth, and some were atrocious.
The amazing thing to me is how detailed any of this tasting is. I suppose it's like any hobby: You can get as detailed as you'd like. Wine tasting in particular is filled with detailed aficionados who can distinguish all the various grapes, vineyards, and years.
One of the guys sitting next to us made a stout and had submitted it to the competition. He always had an opinion on the various beers, and thought he could identify his own; It turned out he was wrong, although that choice was one of my favorites.
It does bring up the question as to how much taste is determined by what we think it should taste like. If someone tells you it is supposed to taste good, you train your brain to taste that as good. It's one of the reasons why I think more men drink beer. As teenagers and young college students, they are stigmatized to like it. So, they drink more of it, and develop a taste for it. It's not that women are biologically less likely to like it, it's just that they aren't embarrassed to order a sweeter drink.
Is there a point to this? Probably not. I'm going to go have a Guinness.

The mighty Duhks

2005-03-09T22:43:00.000-06:00

I'd highly recommend this cd I just ordered from amazon. It's the self-titled album by the band "The Dukhs". They are wacky Canadians from the icebox that is Winnipeg, Manitoba. As their website describes them:

The Duhks' music-- "contemporary acoustic," "progressive soul-grass," and “kick-ass rock/folk fusion” [are] just a few of the attempts to classify the group.

There are elements appropriated from Irish fiddle tunes, Canadian French and Scots/Maritime folk, and Appalachian Old Time string band in their high-energy music--but from the first sight of The Duhks (pronounced as in "That's Just Ducky" and "Ducks a' L'Orange"), you know that no stab in the classifying dark can quite capture the synthesis and musical attack of this crew.

It's a great mix of music whether you're in the mood to lie on your bed and listen or dance jigs around the room. The website has some real audio clips and a link to the NPR story about them (how I heard about them). Enjoy!

A Reform Jew Speaks

2005-03-06T20:40:00.000-06:00

Lots of blogs concentrate on Judaism. I haven’t written much about it personally, but being Jewish certainly plays a large role in my life. I’m currently dating a Jewish girl, and I try to attend services once or twice a month along with the usual observances of Passover and the high holidays.

Few issues raise the blood temperature of Jews more than that of the different denominations that have developed. It’s not easy to sort out who is a Jew, and to reconcile traditional Judaism with modern secular life. It’s something Jews have struggled with throughout their existence, and something with which they will probably always struggle.

It’s not necessarily my goal to tackle this reconciliation in my blog today. Rather, I’d like to talk about my own views on what sort of Jew I am. What I see are the problems and contradictions in my own practice, and perhaps hear what others have to say about this topic.

One of the first questions to tackle is definition. It’s relatively straightforward to define your denomination by the synagogue you attend. But, the synagogue-ian definition of denomination isn’t complete. One might attend a synagogue because it is the only one in the area, or because one likes a given Rabbi. It’s possible that the majority of the congregation practices differently than you do at home. It really makes the whole thing quite complicated. However, for the sake of this blog, I’ll define my own denomination this way.

I feel most comfortable in a Reform synagogue, as that is what I’ve grown up with. I like the communal feel to the service, and the warmth and human focus that surrounds the service, at least the one I grew up in. I’m not a big fan of the organ, but I think that has more to do with my dislike of organ music, than with any spiritual reasons. Instruments in service don’t bother me. Hearing Kol Nidre played on a violin or on a cello is an incredibly spiritual experience.

The egalitarianism of the service is also important to me. Once again, I’ve grown up with it, and have no problems with men and women sitting together, or even a woman Rabbi or Cantor. Those are elements of both reform and Reconstructionist Judaism that appeal to me.

Reform Judaism, by its nature, is difficult. It’s based on principles of informed choice. One is supposed to study all of the ancient and modern texts, and then make personal decisions regarding your life. This principle is inherently contradictory, and almost impossible. Very few, including myself, spend a lot of time studying in this way. I went to religious school, and have an ok background in Jewish history and ethics, but hardly the level of depth needed to seriously make many of those decisions.

It also makes it difficult to define who is a Jew. Can someone who chooses to eat a ham and cheese sandwich on Yom Kippur claim to be a reform Jew? Well, by rules of lineage (maternally or paternally depending on denomination) they are either Jewish or they aren’t. But, by rules of behavior, are they considered Jewish? That’s a tough question. Where do we draw the line? Many would say people who eat pork, or make no attempt at keeping a kosher home aren’t Jewish. Others believe if you don’t keep Shabbat or attend synagogue weekly aren’t Jewish, at least not in practice. The line is blurry. Reform Judaism probably makes it blurrier.

Another difficulty with Reform Judaism is community. One of traditional Judaism’s greatest strength is its sense of community. Because everyone must walk to synagogue, they live close together. They go to the same kosher shops, eat in one or two kosher restaurants, and spend Shabbat with friends and family. Because they only associate with other Jews, intermarriage is less likely. Because everyone is keeping the same holidays and observing similar rules, there is less temptation to secularize.

It’s an amazing feeling to be a part of such a strong community. Some of my best memories in England were the Shabbat lunches and dinners spent with members of the orthodox synagogue. The long evenings or afternoons of eating and talking were really special. There was no temptation to shop, or turn on the TV; it was just conversation and amazing food. Usually there was too much. I wouldn’t walk home, I’d roll.

That being said, I was always ready to return to my secular world afterwards. I wanted to go out with my friends. I wanted to go to the dinners made by my European friends, I wanted to go out drinking on a Friday night, and occasionally, I even wanted to eat seafood.

So where does this leave me? I consider myself Jewish first and reform Jew second. I’ve been to many different services, and can get something out of them. I know that deep down, I am Jewish, and want it to be a center of my life. But I’m not ready to adopt a frum lifestyle. It’s just not who I am at this point in time. But, why can’t both be there.

Why can’t the reform community make Shabbat meals a priority? Even if they are prepared that night, turning the TV off, or not going out on a given Friday night to spend time with family and friends should be a priority for any Jew. Isn’t spending time at home with the family part of the social justice that Reform holds to high esteem? It can begin at home at a table “debating” an issue, rather than falling asleep at the TV. Reform Judaism allows it; it’s just a matter of us to take advantage of that freedom.

Reform services are adopting more Hebrew and tradition to their services. It seems to be the direction of the moment, and I generally think this is a good thing. But as it does this, some of the questions I’ve raised will come to a head, particularly as those of more traditional Reform begin to reject the changes. If these are addressed, the movement, and consequently, the entire religion can only grow stronger.

Brits and Americans II: How I view them

2005-02-28T21:32:00.000-06:00

As a whole, I loved the British. The friends I made in the UK were terrific, and I hope many of them will remain lifelong friends. Perhaps any comment I make beyond that will bleed toward stereotype, but I'm going to try. Keep in mind that what I say is by it's nature a generality, and there are probably a thousand exceptions to any statement I make.
The Brits generally believe Americans have no understanding of irony, and when I say that, I mean their sense of irony. British humor tends to be understated and subtle. Consequently, it can be difficult to tell when people are "winding you up" as they would say. Once you get to know someone, it's pretty easy to detect, but I think the British excel at doing it off the cuff to strangers. Americans (including myself) can get a bit frazzeled by it at first. I was told by a stranger at a nightclub that Jewish Americans tended to be exceptions to the "lack of irony" stereotype, but I wouldn't make that claim myself.
I remember making a phone call to the cinema to ask if I'd have any trouble getting tickets for a movie, as I was afraid they'd sell out. The man on the phone replied, without missing a beat, that "I might get in an accident or something on the way over" but otherwise, it shouldn't be a problem. I loved every minute of it, particularly when I could fool my friends the same way.
One of the other British passions is that of the drink. Yes, this is a stereotype, and there are plenty of exceptions. But as a general rule, their social life revolved around finding a good pint at the pub. A night out often meant having 5 or 6 pints and grabbing a quick meal on your way between pubs. It's not that a good meal wasn't appreciated, or that it was a requirement to get drunk, it was just the general focus of a night out, even among the late 20's early 30's crowd. With Americans, it is socially acceptable, and often encouraged to be a drunk college student, or even a drunk early 20 year old, but as you approach 30 it isn't quite as well looked upon.
There are plenty of other generalities that can be drawn upon: The stiff upper lip (in my experienced sometimes true), the passion for tea (true for many, but by no means all), and their bad food (not true at all). Their weather was amazing: it would rarely drop below freezing or get anywhere near 90 F, but the weather would change 30 times over the course of a day. Consequently, nothing kept you from doing things outside. I did a walk in Dartmore in 50 knot winds. Like everyone else I suppose, they were funny, serious, passionate, reserved, sarcastic, idealistic, generous, and of course complex. The two years I spent in the UK were amazing, and I hope to return again and again.

Brits and Americans I: How they viewed us

2005-02-27T14:23:00.000-06:00

When I left England, where I spent the last two years of my life, my friends gave me a Xenephobe's guide to the English. I hadn't really looked through it until recently and came upon an amusing comment about Americans. Namely:
The English like Americans and in many ways would probably like them even more if only they didn't insist on being quite so...well...American. The English regard Americans as English people who turned into something else as the result of an unfortunate misunderstanding, and who would be a lot happier if they had the sense to turn back again. Then they would start talking Proper English.
I did not have problems making friends with the Brits, or indeed the many other nationalities that I met while in the UK. I was often told "You're too nice to be an American", or "You're too quiet to be an American".
These comments were said in the nicest way of course. And, in a sense they may have been true. Americans, particularly American tourists, can be quite loud. Occasionally, we are pushy, obnoxious, naive, and of course overweight. However, we are also of course quiet, modest, kind, intelligent, and thin. I never got a sense that brits don't' like Americans. Quite the reverse. I did get a sense they took an odd pleasure in dumb things we'd do.
The BBC loved to run stories of very very rural Americans somewhere deep in Texas whose only other human contact was rifle practice with their siblings.
Their favorite target, was of course GW Bush. He was the embodiment of what brits saw as wrong with America: He loved guns, god, oil, and didn't listen to Europeans. Despite what their Prime Minister believed, almost all of my friends despised him.
The truth is, of course, stereotypes only get you so far. They are usually based on some element of truth, but truth that is distorted and oversimplified. What counters the stereotype is what is interesting. As they got to know me, and realized that Americans can understand their sarcasm, they can keep their mouth shut, and can appreciate walking, they realized the stereotypes weren't also true. I also hoped I helped them appreciate that even the most loud, overweight, gun-toting right wing American came from somewhere. They have their own views on the world which, even if I didn't understand it totally, shouldn't be discredited. And now I've got lots of British stereotypes to talk about. But, I'll save it for a different post.

Universities and booze

2005-02-21T20:55:00.000-06:00

I read something interesting in "The Badger Herald" our local student newspaper. A group called "Sober Students on Campus" had their first meeting from 9pm to 1 am last Friday night. They had games, movies and free food. Why does this matter? Am I advocating a Teetotalling lifestyle? Hardly! I've certaintly had the odd drink or two, and have spent the odd next morning recovering from said drink.
This being said, I've lived in two college towns and have seen both Universities try very hard to crack down on underage drinking. So, they bust the odd frat party and crack down on bars that serve underage drinkers; They essentially take the wrong tactic.

Students want to go out. They want something to do late at night, they generally want it to involve members of the opposite sex, and they want it to be cheap.
Some students want to only go out and drink. Fine, if you make it difficult for them, they'll just try harder. You can't do much about it. Some students don't want to drink at all. You don't have to worry about them. It's the ones in between that you can influence.
They'll follow the previously mentioned rules to find things to do. If there are fun, non-alcoholic things to do, they'll choose those sometimes, and sometimes choose ones that do involve booze. But, if all the local hang outs shut at 11..They'll find something else to do: namely, go to parties and get drunk.
So, how do universities solve this problem: Open the student unions late. Serve food late, and have fun things to do. Free movies, dancing, music, comedians...Whatever. Penn State did this my senior year, and it was a brilliant idea. At least one student organization is trying it at Wisconsin, and it's good to see. Hopefully the university will support it and make more events like it.
alcohol isn't something that should be feared or shunned, and at a University, at least most people don't have to drive. It's generally an ok place to experiment. But, there should be alternatives. Like post college life, you should be able to get along with and without it. Finding alternatives is a good start.

A science geek post -- What do I do?

2005-02-19T09:37:00.000-06:00

On Friday at work, a state senator from the great state of Wisconsin came through the office. Why did he stop by? Well, primarily, his intern was married to someone who works in the building. But, in my naive view of the world, I believe he was actually interested in the research we are doing. So, on that naivete, I'll try and talk a little bit about what I do, and how our work fits in to something that, you, as the average citizen, can relate.
I'm sure many of you watch TV weather forecasts without thinking much about them. A good looking man or woman stands in front of a blue screen and shows various of weather maps, radar images, and satellites. It's these latter images that I'm generally concerned with at work: satellites. How do they work? What are they good for? How do they help you?
Satellites work by detecting radiation. If you imagine radiation as being a wave, it would have a certain wavelength (the distance from crest to crest), and a frequency (the time that passes between peaks). The wavelength or frequency (they are inversely related) determines the characteristics of that radiation. We often describe radiation as being of a certain wavelength or frequency, such as: Radiation in the Infra-red frequencies, or of visible wavelengths. Whether you use frequency or wavelength depends on the application.
Your eyes also work by detecting radiation. They are sensitive to radiation that is emitted from the sun, often called visible radiation. It is usually reflected, or scattered off of objects on our planet, and that is how you can see them.
Satellites have instruments that are sensitive to visible radiation. Since thick clouds are highly reflective of solar radiation, they can be detected quite well in the satellites, and are useful to a forecaster. They can also be distinguished from thinner clouds which don't scatter radiation quite as well.
Another typical instrument detects radiation in the infra-red (IR).IR radiation has longer wavelengths than visible radiation. It can't be seen, but it can be felt; it's what makes cloudy nights warmer than clear nights, and is one of the reasons cities are warmer than the countryside. It's also the primary radiation of concern for global warming.
Essentially, infra-red radiation depends on an object's temperature. The warmer it is, the more IR radiation it emits. High clouds in the atmosphere are colder than lower clouds, thus emitting less radiation.
So, how do these images help? A forecaster can use these instruments to see how clouds and weather systems are moving right now, and predict how they'll move in the near future. They can use them to detect hurricanes in the middle of the ocean, something which was impossible before they were used. They can also be used to study land features, and land use. All in all, even with these two types of radiation, they are extremely powerful. And there are thousands more wavelengths that are being studied as we speak.
So, what do I do? Well, the people I work with are interested in improving those satellite images. We are using them , and additional to detect all sorts of natural phenomenon, in hopes that they will help a forecaster or just tell us more about the natural world.

I'll keep it that vague at this point so that I don't bore the 2 readers that have made it this far. Please post if something isn't clear, or if you found it interesting. If it is interesting, I'll post more science geek posts in the future, including some more details about my work.

Music in "our land"

2005-02-13T10:32:00.001-06:00

On Thursday night I went to one of the most phenomenal concerts I've ever been to. Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Joe Ely, and Guy Clark took the stage, sat on four chairs and took turns playing songs.
If you're not familiar with them, (and I hadn't really heard the last two) they are four singer/songwriters whose incredible talent is matched by their relative lack of commercial success. John Hiatt, whom I'm most familiar with, has written songs that have been made famous by Bonnie Raitt (Thing Called Love), Jeff Healy (Angel Eyes), BB King and Eric Clapton (Riding with the King) and probably many more. Joe Ely and Guy Clark have been playing in the Texas circuit for a long time and supposedly gave Lovett his first album deal. Lovett is probably the most well known, and well worth all of his fame.

They traded stories, joked with each other, sang and played back up, and just looked like they were having a good time. I imagine each of them has so many songs that they could play whatever moves them on a given night. Hiatt complained about the cold of Madison, leading him to play the humorous "Wintertime Blues" and winning local fans by doing it. This lead Lovett to play "Flyswatter/Ice Water Blues", his
song about the Texas heat.
The show ended with all of them playing a phenomenal rendition of Woodie Guthrie's "This land is your land". The first verse and chorus are a well known tribute to the beauty of the America. But the last versus compare that beauty to the injustices of a country with some of the wealthiest and poorest people in the world. Injustices that are still relevant and prevalent today:

The familar chorus is first, followed by the concluding versus:

This land is your land,
This land is my land,
From California
To the New York Island,
From the redwood forest,
To the Gulf stream waters,
This land was made for you and me.

As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

Chorus

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.

Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking
That freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me

Radio, What would life be like without it?

2005-02-09T21:49:00.000-06:00

I love music. I can't play a single note on an instrument, but I love listening to it. I'm not talking about classical music. I think it's incredible music, but I don't know very much about it, and this blog is about something else.
I'm talking about pop music. It's that song that comes on the radio, grabs your attention and holds it for 4 minutes as you're singing along.
I also love the idea of radio. The fact that you can turn it on, hear a dj play an interesting mix of music: some songs you know and love, and some you've never heard before, but the dj thinks they are so incredible that you'll catch on after one or two listens.
Of course, pop radio is never really like that. It's filled with the same 20 songs across the country that have been tested and well researched. It's so rare that your challenged or surprised by a song, that it essentially doesn't happen.
Of course there are exceptions. KEXP is an incredible public radio station out of Seattle that plays all kinds of interesting music. You can hear them online and really expand your music knowledge. In rare cities, you get the "Adult Alternative" format, which attempts to mix some classic rock with well known and not so well known national acts. And of course launch cast and other services allow you to select some pretty interesting stuff.
But what about just turning on the radio, hearing a local dj who knows music. He or she focuses on some local music. They mix in an incredible popular song, and then throw in an obscure song from a band you know but haven't heard in years. You feel like you actually get to know them, and trust their music tastes. I suppose it is the radio used to be. Might be nice to go back to it someday.

A good idea

2005-02-08T21:37:00.000-06:00

The good idea of the day award goes to Tom Friedman in his February 6th article in the New York Times. He discusses dropping the reward money offered by the US government for the capture of bin Laden and Zarqawi and proposes:

to use [the money] instead to sponsor an essay contest for high school students in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Syria and Egypt. The contest entry form would say the following: "In 2,000 words, write an essay on one of these two topics: 1. Why do you believe the Arab-Muslim world is fully capable of achieving democratic, representative government and how do you envisage it coming about through peaceful changes inside your country, without any American or other outside help. 2. Write an essay about the lives of any of the great medieval Arab or Muslim mathematicians, scientists or philosophers and how their innovations helped to shape our world today."

The winners would be awarded visas and four-year scholarships to any accredited university in America to which they could gain acceptance. The winning essays would be posted on the Web in English, Arabic, Urdu, Farsi and French. What do you think would make America more secure? Rewarding one person for turning in bin Laden or putting thousands of young Arabs and Muslims through American schools?

I've always felt that if we spent half as much of our energy trying to make it easier for foriegners to come to the US, and encouraging them to study and work here, than combating terrorism with weapons, we'd be in much better shape. You don't tackle terrorism from the top down, you have to start at the grassroots and move up. Mr Friedman's idea would be a great symbolic way to begin.

The Superbowl and the rest of the world

2005-02-06T13:10:00.000-06:00

Ah superbowl Sunday. One of the many American "holidays" of food, sports, and booze. If you went out shopping during the game, the traffic would be non-existent, and you could easily get the best seat at the movies.
When I was in England of course, very few people understood it. I did have a family that I was friends with, that was a bit of an Americaphile, so they had a superbowl party. It's not quite the same watching the game at 11 o'clock at night, with a few rugby commentators and one ex-nfl player. And, there were no commercials? What's the point of a superbowl without the commercials?
But, during the European football (soccer) championships, while England was still a competitor, we had two or three days of food/beer gatherings. Emotions were high as the English rooted for England, and the Scots and Welsh supported whoever was playing England. What fun!
And how about the Rugby world cup. How many of you knew there WAS a rugby world cup? The final was England versus Australia with the game in Australia. When the game ended, it was about noon in England, with the English victorious. I wandered from my apartment into town, and had to dodge a drunken supporter pouring out of a bar and throwing up on the street. At noon!
In the US they probably would have taped it to show it at prime time so they can sell commercials, but that's an entirely different blog.
I just find it amazing that some things can be so absorbing to a given country/culture, and completely lost on another. Oh well, enjoy the game!

Blog dump

2005-02-05T09:51:00.000-06:00

So it's been a while since I've written. I feel almost guilty. I don't really know how many people stop by here to see if I've updated, but I figure if they do long enough, and I haven't, they'll of course stop reading. Well hopefully the dry spells won't last too long, and the 3 readers that I have won't stop stopping by.
I could of course make up lots of excuses. I've been too busy. My cat keeps sitting on the keyboard while I'm trying to write. The network is down. I was kidnapped by space aliens who removed by ability to write complete sentences. Etc..Etc.
But, I suppose it's more a question of laziness. Sometimes when I come home from whatever after work activity I've been at, I'm just not in the mood to sit down and put some thoughts on the screen. Once I actually do it, it's a bit cathartic, and of course it doesn't really take that long to do a rough blog. If I'm actually trying to say something intelligent, that's an entirely different question, but sometimes it's fun just to do a brain dump (like this post) and sorta see where it goes.
If it's completely unintelligible, then such is life. So, out of curiosity, how do the various people who happen to pop by my site do their blogs? Do they just write, run the spell check (maybe), and go? Do you think about your post, write it on paper, and edit many times before you post?
I'm curious about the basic writing process for many of you for the various bloggers. Is this a brain dump, or a carefully planned exercise in thought. Thanks, and may the blogs continue...

Global warming in Fiji

2005-01-30T21:19:00.000-06:00

My good friend Simon is doing some research on global warming in the island of Fiji (I know, what a tough life he has). He put up a great web page about his work and some information about global warming. He's libal to get into various adventures, so check out his web page.
Enjoy, and keep reading!

Humor and Horror

2005-01-30T20:58:00.000-06:00

My favorite moment in the film Hotel Rwanda is a brief moment of respite. In the middle of some awful violence and fighting, the main character Paul Rusesabagina, is on top of his hotel, talking with his wife. As gunshots are firing around them, they have an incredibly romantic and humorous exchange. Everyone in the theatre chuckled and laughed, because, you had to. As tension builds and in the most awful of circumstances, humor is sometimes to the only way to momentarily release your emotions so you can face whatever is coming next.
Humor and tragedy are bound together intimately. If you can't make the audience laugh, and warm up to characters, you'll never compel them to care about whatever tragedy might befall them.
In the real world, humor is sometimes the only way to begin to understand something awful that has happened. I remember a few weeks after September 11th, the humorous newspaper The Onion released what was perhaps their most powerful and funny issue. It found the perfect balance, by making fun not of the tragedy, but of our inability to know how to react to the tragedy. Even that small bit of humor allowed us to grapple with the sadness and fear we were feeling. Finding any bit of humanity, of laughter and of love within an awful event is one of the few ways we can get through these awful events. Take them when you can.

Teaching English

2005-01-28T22:35:00.000-06:00

So I'm a night away from the last day of some tutor training. I'm training to teach non-native English speakers to be able to read, write , and speak better English. They'll set us up with our learners shortly and we'll get going.
It's kind of hard for me to imagine really. English is quite a difficult language, and to be set up to learn it when you're completely fluent in another language: what a challenge that must be. Language defines how you think. It's one thing to adopt a second language as a child, but to do it as an adult: wow. Forcing your brain to adapt to a new way to construct ideas. I suppose at least Spanish is the same root. But imagine if you are Hmong, Asian, or eastern European, languages that don't share any common roots with English.
Our instructor told us that English is the most common second language. I suppose that isn't surprising. It just shows how spoiled we are as Americans. If we go to almost any country, if they speak a second language, it is likely to be English. We may not be understood well, but communication can happen. So now imagine how difficult it must be, to not only visit on vacation, but to pick up and move to a country where you don't understand the language. You can probably settle with an ex-pat community, but to get along in the larger environment, you have to learn English. These learners are looking to get a better job, to gain citizenship, or maybe they just want to read their children's notes from teachers.
Wow, what a life we take for granted.

God and Evolution

2005-01-24T23:21:00.000-06:00

Monday's editorial in the Washington post talks about God and evolution far more eloquently than I could. I'll site the last paragraph. Intelligent design:
...violates principles of common sense. In fact, the breadth and extent of the anti-evolutionary movement that has spread almost unnoticed across the country should force American politicians to think twice about how their public expressions of religious belief are beginning to affect education and science. The deeply religious nature of the United States should not be allowed to stand in the way of the thirst for knowledge or the pursuit of science. Once it does, it won't be long before the American scientific community -- which already has trouble finding enough young Americans to fill its graduate schools -- ceases to lead the world.

Both science and religion are given a disservice by this push. Science shouldn't be corrupted and muddied by arguments that are not scientific. Religion has valuable and rich answers to life's questions that don't rely on twisting scientific ideas that are generally accepted as truth.
Having this argument, an argument that should have been settled decades ago, hurts everyone's search for answers.

"And you say he's just a friend....."

2005-01-21T20:34:00.000-06:00

So, all through college I had this problem. Every woman that I was interested in, I'd become "Just the friend". We'd hang out. Go to movies, go to dinner, and just chat.
It was great, but often, I wanted more. I think partially it was a mix of me not being clear at what I wanted, and me hanging out with the wrong women, particularly those they were dating someone else. I guess I thought they'd magically for me, break up with him, and all would end happily ever after.
Now, I seem to have the opposite problem in a sense. Sometimes I just want to spend time with someone casually. I believe the ideal way to start a relationship is to just hang out casually with someone. You start out going out for coffee, or drinks. You might move to dinner, movies, something outside...you just start spending more time together.
As you get to know each other, you slowly become both great friends and potential lovers. And then, before you know it, you're dating.
But, in your late 20's, it's assumed, mostly correctly, that you're looking for someone to date. Now that's great, but it makes a simple meet for coffee a big deal.
Ok, so you meet someone. You call them. Maybe you do go out with them for coffee, maybe you don't. But either way, it becomes serious quite quickly. If they don't want to date you, It's "I'm really busy with work" or "I'm finding myself", or maybe they don't even return your phone call.
Now, I can appreciate the desire to stay single. But, assuming you're clear with your intentions, what's wrong with just spending time with someone and seeing who they are. Don't you get into a better relationship by just spending time with them?
So you say, "Hey, I'm not ready to date, but let's meet up for coffee". Yes, let's "just be friends"
and see where it goes. I'm old enough that I can be honest with what I want, and take honesty from others. And of course, if you aren't attracted to someone, or just not interested, then just say so. "Thanks for the offer, but no thank you". No explanation needed. You don't need to be busy at work, or going through a life crises.
If the whole thing wasn't made a big deal, I think dating would be much less stressful and it would be easier to get to know someone for who they really are, not just who they appear to be.

Dave Barry's done

2005-01-18T22:53:00.000-06:00

The great humor writer has retired for the time being. Yes, it's quite sad. Who is there to laugh every Sunday (at least in the Washington post). I imagine his day of the week varies.
Well, in his place I'll recommend two other humor writers who now grace the pages of The Washington Post magazine. To look at both of these you need to sign up for the website, but it's free. The first writer is the great Joel Achenbach. His wacky article on skiing can be found here.
The first paragraph:
THIS IS THE PRIME SKI SEASON in the East, unless the prime season ended sometime yesterday afternoon. "Eastern skiing" is notoriously iffy, and the very phrase, like "British cuisine," makes purists wince. The material that coats the mountain is sometimes not technically snow, but rather some intermediate physical state of H2O -- a frozen plasma, hard and granular and as enticing as a big hill of road salt.
Also, check out his blog here.

The second writer is the brilliant Gene Weingarten and his Below the Beltway column.
You can get your last Barry fix in his column. Apparently Gene was Dave's editor at the Miami Herald, and the one who "discovered" him. He's well worth a read.
Even better then his columns, at least sometimes, are Gene's online chats. Check out:
Chatological Humor every Tuesday.
Unfortunately these endorsements are unpaid, but you can take them for what they are worth.
They definitely help get me through the week. Enjoy!

Kindness

2005-01-16T20:27:00.000-06:00

So dating is the big topic of today's blog. I suppose I've been in a bit of a dry spell, as they say. I broke up with a really nice girl when I went to the UK two years ago, and haven't really dated anyone seriously since then. I don't regret going to the UK, and although I didn't want it at the time, it was probably a good idea that we split up. It would have been tough having an overseas relationship, and it probably would have made my trip to the UK feel less complete, having someone that I loved back in the states.
However, the past is the past and I am now single, and back in the United States. Like many in the world of the blog, I have joined jdate, the Jewish dating service. I'm slowly doing things in town in order to meet more people, and just enjoy life.
I have not had fantastic results with jdate. I've managed to meet some really amazing people who don't live in Madison, but that of course is difficult to turn into something serious. One never knows of course.
That brings me to my main point. It's interesting looking over the jdate profiles, in the "ideal match" column. People look for sense of humor, someone who is easy going, likes to have fun, independent, active, intelligent. Mostly, the typical mix of stuff. Some people mention appearance of course, which is fine.
For me, it's of course a mix of those things. I couldn't imagine being with someone who couldn't laugh, both at herself and at the world around her. More importantly, I'd need someone who could make me laugh as well. Intelligence is good. Someone who reads and is driven by intellectual pursuits is definitely important, and it helps to relate to my more geeky side. Physical appearance has some place as well. You want to be able to look at someone and just kinda melt into them. To be honest though, the more you get to know someone and like them, the prettier and sexier they become. Those little quirks and expressions that only they have become really endearing.
I think one of things that's missing from most profiles was kindness. It is one of the most overlooked virtues of all. Without it, wit becomes bitter sarcasm. Intelligence becomes academic. Physical attraction is merely skin deep. If you're not with someone that cares deeply for you, and indeed for other people, why stay with them? If theyre I'm not just talking about being "nice". Being likeable, or friendly are good qualities, but deep compassion, and caring go well beyond those things. If it's something more of us sought out, perhaps it would be easier to find.

Evolving Common Sense

2005-01-13T21:26:00.000-06:00

In 2002, in Cobb County, Georgia the school district appended stickers to it's biology textbooks. These stickers are now being removed. According to this New York Times' story:

ATLANTA, Jan. 13 - A federal judge in Georgia has ruled that schools in Cobb County must remove from science textbooks stickers that say "evolution is a theory, not a fact" that should be "approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered."
Clarence Cooper of Federal District Court, wrote that the stickers, perhaps inadvertently, "convey a message of endorsement of religion," violating the First Amendment's separation of church and state and the Georgia Constitution's prohibition against using public money to aid religion.

Finally, some common sense! The judge's opinion gives the legal reasons for removing those stickers, but I'd like to address it from a more general approach.
Those stickers are all kinds of wrong. First of all, all science "should be approached critically, and with an open mind." That's the way science works: You have an idea, you test it, people argue about it, you modify your ideas and test it some more. Everything is done critically, and one should accept nothing on faith. That's why it is called science. From what I understand, it is religion that sometimes has the problem with criticism, not science.

Secondly, this whole business about evolution being a theory and not a fact is completely misleading, if not downright wrong. It is explained eloquently in this FAQ from the Talk Origins web site, but I'll quote a few excerpts. The radical Oxford English Dictionary defines a scientific theory as: "a statement of what are held to be the general laws, principles, or causes of something known or observed." The idea that organisms have descended from common ancestors is on par with the earth revolving around the sun or the theory of gravity. What is debatable, or less understood, however, "are questions about the mechanism of the observed changes... how did evolution occur?". These questions are what science is most effective at addressing. Scientists can make hypothesis and then perform experiments to evaluate those hypothesis. Ideas can be argued and changed. Yes, ideas that were thought to be true in the past get refuted, but only with proper evidence and thought. Evolution is a theory in the strict, scientific definition of the word. And yes, it is not 100% certaintly true. But at this point, anyone who considers themself a scientist understands it to be true, even if the mechanisms are not completly understood.
Finally, to address the issues of teaching about "An intelligent designer" or creationism in school biology classes. Science classes teach science, not religion. You cannot design an experiment to test whether evolution occurred under the guidance of an intelligent designer. You can show very clear evidence to refute creationist ideas about the age of the earth, but of course cannot challenge the idea of God itself. I'm all for discussing and learning about religion, and religious diversity should be celebrated. The place to do it, however, is not in a science class.

Bloggers Block

2005-01-12T18:32:00.000-06:00

So here i am, probably at the same position many of you bloggers have been in: I'm staring at an empty posting screen, thinking of something to write. So perhaps just this once I can use writer's block as a topic to write about.
It seems amazing to me now, that the people that write columns for a living, must stare at a blank screen much more often than I do. Of course, they have a bit more accesss to sources, and are usually talking to others about news, politics, romance, Tom Cruise, and reality tv in their newsrooms, but so what? I talk about similar topics in my workplace as well. The exception of course is that they don't pay me for it. They should though. Today, we had a deep and involved conversation at lunch today about the available "documentaries" at the local video store.
But it amazes me that some writers can come up with coherent, intelligent, and even eloquent columns two or three days a week. This blog is my first attempt at writing something on a regular basis, and I realize these aren't the most riveting posts. I can't even do them regularly!!!
Oh well, I suppose this is one of those things that improves with practice (on can only hope).
Anyway, have a happy day, and I'll write to you soon faithful readers.

A prairie

2005-01-09T11:17:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite NPR radio shows (yes radio) is A prairie Home Companion. It's based out of Minneapolis, although it does travel a bit, and his hosted by Garrison Keillor. He sings, he probably dances (I'm guessing since it's radio), he tells jokes, but best of all, he tells stories.
Most of his stories involve the fictional town of "Lake Wobegon" Minnesota: "where the women are strong, the men are stronger, and all the children are above average". He speaks in slow, hushed tones and throughout his tales he gently makes fun of the Midwestern/Lutheran mentality. His satire is gentle though, and it is clear that although he makes fun of this way of life, he dearly loves it.
What is it that fascinates me about this show? Well, I remember visiting with my sister and bro-in-law, who are huge fans of the show. One of their friends was over, and we were cooking diner and just hanging out. When one of Garrison's "News from Lake Wobegon" stories came on, all of us stopped what we were doing, grabbed our beers, and sat around the radio to listen. His humorous, captivating, and bitter street stories drew us all in, and for 10 minutes, we silently sat and listened to the radio. Few TV shows that are that captivating. So, tune in on your local NPR station, or listen in from his website.
And of course, don't forget to stop by the Chatterbox cafe on your way through town.

Winter Weather Fun

2005-01-07T22:26:00.000-06:00

We had our first major snow storm of the year on wednesday: It snowed about 9 inches over a 36 hour period. Now, that's not a huge amount of snow, but it's plenty to cover the roads and cause some havoc. It was also enough for me to take my cross country skis out for a go through a few of the parks in madison.
Now, as anyone who grew up in the Washington DC area knows, DC area natives are instilled with a natural fear of snow. If the forecasts mention more than an inch, then the supermarkets are cleared to the last can of spam, thousands of people buy 4-wheel drive SUV's, and the entire city closes down and prepares for armegeddon. It's great fun, as long as you don't have to go out into the weather.
So, because of my upbringing, I'm terrified of driving in snow. I love walking in the snow. I don't mind the cold weather. I love to ski, and the excuses to drink hot tea and chocolate, but I just can't face the daunting potential of skidding, or being skidding into. I think my greatest fear is driving along an interstate and not seeing a patch of black ice. The thought of skidding while driving 65 is just frightening.
However, the longer I live in this icebox of a state, the more I have to face the fact that I'll need to drive in the bad weather. Madison doesn't shut down for a few inches of snow. I can walk to many places, but I'm just going to need to get out in it every once in a while. You can learn how to avoid skids and slides, and if you get stuck, people are generally amazingly kind at pushing you out. I think it's part of what makes northerners so nice. They've all been stuck and will always need help. You Betcha!
Oh well, it' s just a bit of an adjustment. But for now, I'm off skiing!

Ordinary People

2005-01-03T21:50:00.000-06:00

I just rented the 1980 film version of the book, "Ordinary People" by Judith Guest.
The book is a favorite of mine: I really poignant (wow I actually used the word poignant) story about a family recovering from the death of one of their sons. It's also about communication, and emotion, and most importantly the brilliant psychiatrist shares my last name.
I was a bit reluctant to see it actually. A bad movie can ruin an amazing book. Sometimes, though, it's hard to understand exactly why. Just a few moments ago, I read the dialogue of the last scene in the film. The dialogue was almost identical between the two, yet for some reason it didn't quite work in the movie. It's not that Timothy Hutton and Donald Sutherland are bad actors. There was just something about the lines that didn't quite work on film. It felt cliche, forced, almost hokey.
When I reread the book, the text seemed fresh, alive, and powerful.
Movies can have good dialogue. They can develop characters, tell us about thoughts, feelings and emotions, but of course they have to do it differently than books. The movie in general is very good at moving the plot along without resorting to voice overs, and that is impressive, given that so much of Ordinary People is about thought and emotion. Perhaps I wouldn't have felt the same way if I hadn't read the book so many times as well.
I suppose my main point is read the book. The writing is astounding. You feel you like you know the characters, you can talk to them, interact, relate to their problems and emotions. It really moved me, and that is part of what reading is all about.

Welcome Home Charlie

2005-01-01T17:19:00.000-06:00

Well, I was going to write some long, deep summary of 2004, and I still might, but I realized that was taking a great deal of effort, so instead I'll write about something brand new for 2005. On december 31st, I adopted Charlie, a 5 year old cat. He's almost pure black, touched by two specks of white on the front of his coat. He's a bit scrawny too, but once he starts eating happily I'm sure he'll gain some weight.
He's the cutest cat in the world, and when he's in the mood is wonderfully sweet. Last night he spent most of the night jumping over me, jumping off the bed, and then running around the bed and hopping up the other side. I eventually had to ignore him in order to get to sleep.
It's amazing. I've been around cats all my life, but this is the first time I've been the one in charge. I picked him out. I bought his gear, and I'm the one in charge. For those who have never owned cats, then you probably can't appreciate how amazing a bond it is. I don't think it's the same as owning a dog: The cat isn't trying to please the owner. It's more that you and the cat are working together, except that as much as you think, he's really in charge. Also, every cat bonds and interacts differently. And most cats treat their owners entirely differently than strangers. So, if you've never had a cat, pick one up at your local humane society. Be prepared to fall in love!

Teenagers and SUV's

2004-12-28T21:33:00.000-06:00

When I got my driver's license at 16 I had the best car. It was a 10-year old Chrysler E-class.
It had one or two...features that really gave the car character. If you lifted the driver's side door handle while it was locked, the lock would stick, and you'd have to climb in the passenger side and unlock it from the inside. The clock was lengendary. It would only turn on if the headlights were on, and when it did turn on, it would show either 11:00, 12:00, or 1:00, depending on its mood. I think the most important feature of the Chrysler, was it's speed control. If the car went above 55, the entire thing would shake. It was great. As a 16-year old bad driver, it was crucial.
Why do I bring this up? An article in the Washington Post today (Dec 28th) ,A lethal combination, talks about teenagers in SUV's:

"Forty-nine people ages 15 to 20 died in SUV and pickup truck
accidents in Maryland, Virginia and the District last year, according
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The problem,
researchers say, is that SUVs have a higher center of gravity and are
harder to control in an emergency, which makes inexperienced teenage
drivers more vulnerable. "

Why do teenagers need SUV's? To be honest, few people outside of those who drive up and down mountain roads, or drive to hospitals in the snow need them? But teenagers in particular are bad drivers: They've just started. Generally they have less sense of control of the car, and of course have little experience reacting to traffic. If 16 year old's must drive, they should be legally required to have cars that near collapse when they get above 60. They need cars with "character" so they can begin to appreciate the power and responsiblity they have. Then, we just need to work on stopping the rest of the population from driving them, but that is another post.