May 27, 2012
May 1, 2012
Money Changes Everything…
Sarah's First Fish
Looking at money in a realistic manner can be a life long goal and learning to live within your means is something few people master.
Dr. Kate Levinson has run money seminars for women for years and is interviewed on an NPR member station KUOW with calls from listeners that are fascinating. She is talking about her book Emotional Currency and about our country’s taboo about speaking frankly about money matters. She posits that having too little or too much money can both be major issues and that money can be a very emotionally charged topic. It’s worth a listen to hear her theories through years as a money coach and to hear the callers who certainly add value to the discussion.
April 1, 2012
One Person Can Make a Difference: Swimming and Chess
Some days it’s harder than others to see how one person can make a difference in a world with so many problems.
Some people fly to the Sudan to help as a doctor to many, others just show up week after week and rock another person’s world with quiet gentle kindness.
For many years Al Harkey has shown up to give Phil a break from the devastation that is multiple sclerosis by helping him to continue his desire to swim and be free in the water, a task that was no longer possible do to the chronic nature of Phil’s disease. The story appeared in the Seattle Times back in 2005 and has stuck with me as I am such a fan of swimming and the therapeutic qualities for those who have mobility challenges.
American Public Media has another amazing story about Paul Karrer a teacher to reaches out to a former student Rojelio Garcia by playing chess through the mail with him while he was incarcerated. This great radio story details how this experienced touched both their lives.
Sometimes it only takes on person to believe in you, to lend you a hand, to make a difference in your life. Have you been that person to someone this week?
March 5, 2012
9-11: a book, a video, and an audio file
Amy Waldman’s novel Submission was lauded when it first came out as her fiction debut. It is a brilliantly told story of the committee tasked to choose what the memorial would be for 9-11 in New York City. It is a highly charged read about race relations in our country and what emotions different characters on and off the committee experience as they near a decision about the appropriate memorial for this national tragedy. Here is a small excerpt of her book. It is one of the best novels I read all last year.
After you’ve read this you might want to watch this YouTube piece called “Boatlift” that details how all watercraft was employed to evacuate NYC on September 11th 2001. This is an incredible piece revealing another lesser known part of heroism demonstrated that day.
It was just before the tenth anniversary last fall that the 9/11 tapes audio recordings from the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.), North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) and American Airlines from the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 were released. It is an incredible piece of history to listen to and listening to the operator and flight attendant who were incredible while under intense pressure.
February 28, 2012
As Americans Contemplate $5 a Gallon Gas…
As people begin to freak out about $5 a gallon gas we must remember there are other options and that much of the rest of the world has been paying more for many years. Ask a friend in Europe how they’d feel about a five u.s. dollar gallon of gas and they’d likely jump with joy. Here’s a reminder about our country’s use of oil:
February 10, 2012
Black History Month: February
If you read just one thing this year make it “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson.
You may be distracted as I was about what it takes to create such a masterpiece of history and make it such a compelling read at 500+ pages, but it is so well paced you will likely be upset when you have completed the read.
Over six million blacks left the South between 1917-1975 and it was truly a great migration in our country that few stop to marvel about. Wilkerson gives us the story of three such people two men and one woman and presents their journey along with what was happening in the country in the period of time they were adjusting to the new homes. I enjoyed the book so much that I ended up buying multiple copies and sending them to my several friends I knew wouldn’t jump out the window at the prospect of a book this thick. Here is the New York Times book review, it was later listed as one of the best books of 2011.
It is the perfect book to give to a friend and to ask them to pass it along to another friend.
This is the perfect read for February to celebrate Black History Month and to remember the dream.
January 18, 2012
Stop On-line Privacy Act: Please Take Action Today!
If you are ready to take action on this important internet matter please click here: http://www.craigslist.org/about/SOPA
Tell Congress you OPPOSE Senate 968 “Protect IP Act” (PIPA) and H.R. 3261 “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA)
Let congress know that you are against this and want to keep the internet accessible. Use this link above to take action, it’s easy and is very important….
December 31, 2011
Only 20% of Plastic Water Bottles in America get Recycled? Huh?
There are a few topics that Americans don’t like to talk about, they are for the most part topics I do like to talk and learn about; such as the failure of our prison system and our odd relationship with trash.
We have such a weird relationship to consumption and to trash. A friend who was visiting from Sweden this summer was talking about her country’s campaign to get people aware of wasting food. She was raised in America and is astonished with our relationship to food after living overseas so long. I have often thought if we could raise people’s awareness of not wasting food here we could resolve the problem of food insecurity that is a growing issue in America with the struggling economy.
Infographics always delight me and this one called Trashonomics illustrates some of our relationship with our garbage.
A documentary that will change your relationship with trash is called Waste Land From their website: ” Filmed over nearly three years, WASTE LAND follows renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world’s largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs an eclectic band of “catadores”—self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz’s initial objective was to “paint” the catadores with garbage. However, his collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both the dignity and despair of the catadores as they begin to re-imagine their lives. Director Lucy Walker (DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND, BLINDSIGHT and COUNTDOWN TO ZERO) and co-directors João Jardim and Karen Harley have great access to the entire process and, in the end, offer stirring evidence of the transformative power of art and the alchemy of the human spirit.”
It is an excellent film.
As if this isn’t enough take a moment to listen to the Diane Rehm’s WAMU radio program talking frankly about hoarding . This will bring new insights to this phenomena and bend your thinking about what you do and don’t keep. Pass it on if you haven’t used it in the past year… This is a bit like “Scared Straight” for people who have a tendency of being a pack rat!
December 15, 2011
Cool Visuals
The visual display of information when well done can be an awesome way to display data. One such illustration is one that shows “Why Apples are Better than Oranges” sure to warm the hearts of the many people in Washington State’s international apple growing industry.
Another is one that shows the differences between the decades 2000 vs 2010 called “A Decade of Change“
Our lives can go in different directions, here’s one that shows ‘the incredible savant brain‘ and another that illustrates a time line of ‘the real cost of prison.‘ Here’s another that shows the amount of student loans state by state called “Graduating from IOU“. Here’s another that shows you how to “Build a Work Wardrobe from Scratch“
What’s not to love about these creative ways to display information? Perhaps they will inspire you to come up with your own visual display of information and let your talent shine.
December 4, 2011
Sibling Support: For the Families of the Developmentally Disabled
When you think about disabled children generally you have pity for the parents. Many marriages crash and burn at the prospect of raising a special needs child but what this little film will make you aware of is how long the relationship is between this child and his or her siblings will go on longer than those with the parents.
Don Meyer is based in Seattle has helped siblings all over the world with his Sibshops and those interested should connect to his website and subscribe to the Sibnet that has subscribers from all over the world who discuss sibling issues.
For a moving YouTube experience see this piece about the word “retarded” and a sister’s love of her brother.
Open your mind to the needs of the developmentally disabled and take a moment to see how you could make a difference in the lives of these special people and his or her family.
