Okay, I am not one to really watch television too often, but tonight I just wanted to wind down and watch some shows and fall asleep. Been pushing hard lately.
All of my favorite things were showcased on Jay Leno tonight -- Computing, supermodel, surfing, and music.
Now I had no idea that Al Gore was seriously involved in technology, but his new Television network, Current, seems really promising. I don't want to count my chickens, but user-submitted content, web interaction, and many shorts covering a broad array of content...almost in the continuous computer, social-connecting way all seem to be what this new network is trying to exhibit. Bravo!...citizen journalism (thanks Brian) creativity and flexibility really have a lot of potential in this new venue. I wish I was more savvy so that I could send my content.
Really interesting, that Al Gore, but the show got even better!
Gisele came on and started talking about surfing!!! What is hotter than a supermodel surfing?...hmm...I dont think it gets much better than that.
To top the show, one of my favorite bands, Incubus, performed! From Pardon Me to Wish you were here to Megalomaniac....they really rock...fuse many styles, artfully blend cacophonic missed timing with curvy-jazzy improv with slow melodic sweet tones. Great show tonight; thought I would share :D
Monday, August 01, 2005
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Technology Volunteers Rock!
Okay, I have to just unload some excitement in this blog because I am totally excited and stoked about the prospects and the future of the work that will be accomplished in the coming months.
Today I met with 2 volunteers on very different sides of the spectrum in experience and background, while also totally impressing and blowing me away with thier motivation and sincerity.
The first volunteer has knowledge in html and little database using MS Access. His name is Derek. He is 11 years old and in 6th grade. On his own volition, he sought this volunteer opportunity as a Technology Page and upon meeting him, I was mezmerized with his insight and his dedication to making the world a better place. So young!!! so young, yet so excited!
The second volunteer is also very inspiring. His name is Renato. What is truely amazing about this guy is that he and his wife just moved from Brazil, basically do not know anyone and he wants to commit hours of his time helping lead the project team on our new mysql database. To top it off he is very knowledgable both in database modeling and analysis in Oracle and many other platforms as well as software engineering. He almost singlehandedly built databases for major financial institutions in Brazil and engineered software to comply to best standards with thorough documentation.
This is why I am here. This is why I work so hard. This is why I am where I am; people like this truely inspire me to reach, learn, and deliver my very best every single day.
Today I met with 2 volunteers on very different sides of the spectrum in experience and background, while also totally impressing and blowing me away with thier motivation and sincerity.
The first volunteer has knowledge in html and little database using MS Access. His name is Derek. He is 11 years old and in 6th grade. On his own volition, he sought this volunteer opportunity as a Technology Page and upon meeting him, I was mezmerized with his insight and his dedication to making the world a better place. So young!!! so young, yet so excited!
The second volunteer is also very inspiring. His name is Renato. What is truely amazing about this guy is that he and his wife just moved from Brazil, basically do not know anyone and he wants to commit hours of his time helping lead the project team on our new mysql database. To top it off he is very knowledgable both in database modeling and analysis in Oracle and many other platforms as well as software engineering. He almost singlehandedly built databases for major financial institutions in Brazil and engineered software to comply to best standards with thorough documentation.
This is why I am here. This is why I work so hard. This is why I am where I am; people like this truely inspire me to reach, learn, and deliver my very best every single day.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Babies, BABIES everywhere!!!
This past weekend I went home to visit some good friends and attend a baby shower! It was great! We got to play games and play with a bunch of kids. Being my first baby shower proved not to phase me since I wasn't the only guy there and I kept busy meeting a lot of Marc and Danyel's friends that I've never met before. It was fun, hot, and full of food. I made my sidedish staple, Lumpia, which is basically an eggroll filled with ground beef with spices and everybody loved it.
What was really crazy about the baby shower, and I don't know if I was just keen on babies since thats sort of the theme, but there were literally babies everywhere!!!! Cute cuddly, chummy, googly, BABIES! I'm a pretty baby friendly person so I fit right in playing with them.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Surfing....with impending hurricane season.
The time of year is again here! As an avid surfer for 13 years, hurricane season always brings excitement, danger, and anticipation for those sweet nice rides. However, living the furthest away from a beach than ever, I find myself missing it more than ever. The only way I can quench my desire to skip out on work and just sit at the beach and surf all day is to check out the latest contests in pro surfing via ASP World Tour and the local surf scene found where I grew up in the Central North Carolina District. Talking to non-surfers, and agreeably so, whenever the mention of hurricanes comes to topic, a shudder of danger and loathing soon follows. I completely understand, but with an almost macabre delight. Not to say that I want people hurt by a hurricane, but its the only time of year that a sustainable amount of good waves comes rolling through the outer banks, for weeks on some stints. This season proves to be more promising than ever, with all the hurricanes already formed this early...could this be a record? Hurricanes aside, the CNC Eastern Surfing Association District continues to churn out some of the best Surfers on the East Coast, Kelly Nicely, for example attends NCSU and is currently ranked one of the best in the nation and is even on the International US surf Team. In an alternate world, I wish I could dedicate all my time to getting better at surfing and learning how to surf. I'm just lonely for waves....
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
2 cents on technology's role in social change
Realizing my role and upon my first days as a VISTA at NCCU, technology has permeated the very fabric of my purpose, both in my personal and professional aspirations/endeavors to engage citizens in communication, understanding, and change..
From the second day at 'work,' attending the "Raise Your Voice: Get a Job or Get a Life, or Both" to plucking away at the keyboard programming a webpage, communication remains the underlying dogma to which my motivations lie for exchanging knowledge, ideas, and culture. More than ever, technology is connecting people on very profound levels, finding common grounds to move towards a better world understanding. One of my charges as a VISTA is to combat poverty...through closing the digital divide gap, which still remains a major barrier to access with competitive job markets, functional literacy in communicating ideals, and actualizing dreams (i.e. business ownership, social justice) where distance, realtime information, and organizing find profound relevance and technology a weapon to combat inequality.
Dissolving those barriers to access via communication (digital divide) begets class mobility, confidence, and preserving one of our most valuable resources, time. This is my role, my purpose and the 'education' to which I am offering citizens of the 'Greater Durham Area' through my workings in creating a quicker, more easily usable web-database, teaching people web/graphic design, assessing CBO technology needs, and empowering volunteers both within the NCCU campus community and beyond with a sense of vision, hope, and opportunity for growth.
With communication increased and made more efficient, civic responsibility is strengthened and engagement is enhanced.
From the second day at 'work,' attending the "Raise Your Voice: Get a Job or Get a Life, or Both" to plucking away at the keyboard programming a webpage, communication remains the underlying dogma to which my motivations lie for exchanging knowledge, ideas, and culture. More than ever, technology is connecting people on very profound levels, finding common grounds to move towards a better world understanding. One of my charges as a VISTA is to combat poverty...through closing the digital divide gap, which still remains a major barrier to access with competitive job markets, functional literacy in communicating ideals, and actualizing dreams (i.e. business ownership, social justice) where distance, realtime information, and organizing find profound relevance and technology a weapon to combat inequality.
Dissolving those barriers to access via communication (digital divide) begets class mobility, confidence, and preserving one of our most valuable resources, time. This is my role, my purpose and the 'education' to which I am offering citizens of the 'Greater Durham Area' through my workings in creating a quicker, more easily usable web-database, teaching people web/graphic design, assessing CBO technology needs, and empowering volunteers both within the NCCU campus community and beyond with a sense of vision, hope, and opportunity for growth.
With communication increased and made more efficient, civic responsibility is strengthened and engagement is enhanced.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
inspiration via Continuous Computing
Being a VISTA really has its perks, let me tell ya! Not only is Poverty your theme through living under 10K a year salary, crazy workloads charged with creating hope, opportunity, and change, but also it has to all be packaged with sustainability! Combine that with the label of volunteer which sometimes undermines your leverage in 'getting things done' and the fact that these 'real life' issues we fight daily through our work are so integrated, encompassing, and unrelenting that you try to understand how you can make a mark...a change, a dent in the world you live in.
My answer to that is you can make a mark, but only if you embrace the very things you instill in others. But also, and I feel more important, is to recharge your batteries by being with the ones you love, reading the books you enjoy, and to constantly revisit the reasons for your committment. Live through your actions, practice integrity, and by all means have a few beers with some friends!
While 'recharging my battery' on the July 4th holiday, I was reading one of my favorite magazines, "MIT's Technology Review," which has a lot of cool articles relating to cutting edge...also dispersed with neat links and places to wander in cyberworld. One article in the recent issue really stuck out to me and kicked me back into inspiration mode. The article is titled, "Social Machines" by Wade Roush.
In the article, they talk mainly about continuous computing, which is basically a term used to describe the ubiquity and continuity of computers and how they are 'always on', meaning in a train, park, bedroom, bathroom, classroom, meeting, etc.
The article really frames it in a social context(Social Machines, duh) by explaining how continuous computing enables people to constantly communicate, relate, and exchange experience, culture, and ideas and how it will 'continue' to progress and become more integrated in our interactions with one another.
The article really had an impact on me and reaffirmed my motivations for doing what I do in the technology arena. Connecting people and stripping communication down to the core meanings by providing more personal interactions and realtime 'feelings', I believe, is the core of causing change and what drives the engine of understanding....if you can get past the many words in this blog post, of course.
batteries recharged!
My answer to that is you can make a mark, but only if you embrace the very things you instill in others. But also, and I feel more important, is to recharge your batteries by being with the ones you love, reading the books you enjoy, and to constantly revisit the reasons for your committment. Live through your actions, practice integrity, and by all means have a few beers with some friends!
While 'recharging my battery' on the July 4th holiday, I was reading one of my favorite magazines, "MIT's Technology Review," which has a lot of cool articles relating to cutting edge...also dispersed with neat links and places to wander in cyberworld. One article in the recent issue really stuck out to me and kicked me back into inspiration mode. The article is titled, "Social Machines" by Wade Roush.
In the article, they talk mainly about continuous computing, which is basically a term used to describe the ubiquity and continuity of computers and how they are 'always on', meaning in a train, park, bedroom, bathroom, classroom, meeting, etc.
The article really frames it in a social context(Social Machines, duh) by explaining how continuous computing enables people to constantly communicate, relate, and exchange experience, culture, and ideas and how it will 'continue' to progress and become more integrated in our interactions with one another.
The article really had an impact on me and reaffirmed my motivations for doing what I do in the technology arena. Connecting people and stripping communication down to the core meanings by providing more personal interactions and realtime 'feelings', I believe, is the core of causing change and what drives the engine of understanding....if you can get past the many words in this blog post, of course.
batteries recharged!
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Bush--Fort Bragg Speech 06/28/05
Last minute, last night I went with a friend to Fayetteville, NC to join others in a Vigil against the war in Iraq.
My attendance shovelled up memories of days past and shook my core. While Bush was doing damage control on the war and the 'liberation' of Iraqis, I was seeing children holding up signs saying, "Toddlers for Peace"...one even said to me that he was, "..waiting for daddy to come." Now he was just talking about his dad filming the president's speech down the road, but it totally threw my heart at the wall.
Waiting for my father to call, write, and come home was probably one of the toughest times in my life while he served in Desert Shield and Storm. Sure, it was cool when he came in my 5th grade class in full chemical warfare gear showing my classmates some of the things they wore, but whenever we had to hang out in the hanger and watch him get on that monsterous plane with all the other families, I would cry for days. I guess I was a little more mature when I was younger, realizing he could die any moment. He never sugar coated things.
Coming home after Desert Shield and then almost immediately leaving again for Desert Storm left a permanent scar and resentment for war...why did he leave? will he come back? how will my little sisters and mom survive?
At the Quaker house in Fayetteville there were names of all the dead US soldiers in this 'war on terror'...I read some of those names, trying my best to pronounce and say them as if their families were right in front of me. I started to feel like that 5th grader again. I have a few friends in Iraq right now and started to think about what they were doing and if one of the names would come up on the list I was reading.
At the demonstration, I met a man named Stan Goff, who's writings I am just now noticing. His insight and experience truely give me hope that there are more people who have 'awakened' from the dogmatic 'loyalty' I've seen in some soldiers, my father included. My dad is a great man, but it seems he still follows Bush...and sometimes this pulls the carpet from my feet.
Here is an excerpt from Stan's speech:
Yet, tonight the President of the United States is going to come here to Fort Bragg and tell everyone in the country that this war is making people safer. In fact, since the Bush administration opportunistically used the terrible shock of 9-11 to advance what we now know to have been a pre-determined agenda, the number of terror attacks in the world has dramatically increased.
Let me say this very clearly, because the empirical evidence is very clear. Bush’s war has not made anyone safer. It has, however, destroyed the lives of thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, and according to international polls, the United States is now held in lower public esteem in the world than China.
The United States is already suffering higher casualties than we were at the same stage of the Vietnam War. So, okay, Iraq is NOT Vietnam. It could, in fact, get
worse. Rumsfeld is now telling us that the war could last for 12 more years.
This trip was an experience and I am very glad I went.
My attendance shovelled up memories of days past and shook my core. While Bush was doing damage control on the war and the 'liberation' of Iraqis, I was seeing children holding up signs saying, "Toddlers for Peace"...one even said to me that he was, "..waiting for daddy to come." Now he was just talking about his dad filming the president's speech down the road, but it totally threw my heart at the wall.
Waiting for my father to call, write, and come home was probably one of the toughest times in my life while he served in Desert Shield and Storm. Sure, it was cool when he came in my 5th grade class in full chemical warfare gear showing my classmates some of the things they wore, but whenever we had to hang out in the hanger and watch him get on that monsterous plane with all the other families, I would cry for days. I guess I was a little more mature when I was younger, realizing he could die any moment. He never sugar coated things.
Coming home after Desert Shield and then almost immediately leaving again for Desert Storm left a permanent scar and resentment for war...why did he leave? will he come back? how will my little sisters and mom survive?
At the Quaker house in Fayetteville there were names of all the dead US soldiers in this 'war on terror'...I read some of those names, trying my best to pronounce and say them as if their families were right in front of me. I started to feel like that 5th grader again. I have a few friends in Iraq right now and started to think about what they were doing and if one of the names would come up on the list I was reading.
At the demonstration, I met a man named Stan Goff, who's writings I am just now noticing. His insight and experience truely give me hope that there are more people who have 'awakened' from the dogmatic 'loyalty' I've seen in some soldiers, my father included. My dad is a great man, but it seems he still follows Bush...and sometimes this pulls the carpet from my feet.
Here is an excerpt from Stan's speech:
Yet, tonight the President of the United States is going to come here to Fort Bragg and tell everyone in the country that this war is making people safer. In fact, since the Bush administration opportunistically used the terrible shock of 9-11 to advance what we now know to have been a pre-determined agenda, the number of terror attacks in the world has dramatically increased.
Let me say this very clearly, because the empirical evidence is very clear. Bush’s war has not made anyone safer. It has, however, destroyed the lives of thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, and according to international polls, the United States is now held in lower public esteem in the world than China.
The United States is already suffering higher casualties than we were at the same stage of the Vietnam War. So, okay, Iraq is NOT Vietnam. It could, in fact, get
worse. Rumsfeld is now telling us that the war could last for 12 more years.
This trip was an experience and I am very glad I went.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Rock'n roll, tigers, and drag queens!
What a great week!
Not only did I come face to face with tigers leopards and panthers, see a good live free concert, and see drag queens perform, but I got to share it with great people!!!!!
Thursday night I went to the annual 'Live after Five' concert in Raleigh..leading to Friday spending all day at Carrboro's 'Carnivore Preservation Trust', then heading off to 'Drag Bingo'!
Not only did I come face to face with tigers leopards and panthers, see a good live free concert, and see drag queens perform, but I got to share it with great people!!!!!
Thursday night I went to the annual 'Live after Five' concert in Raleigh..leading to Friday spending all day at Carrboro's 'Carnivore Preservation Trust', then heading off to 'Drag Bingo'!
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Release or Re-leash
Monday, Monday....MONDAY!
Coming off yet another great weekend, Mondays are like a brick wall, especially posed with what needs to be done for the rest of the week. But after fishing with my nephew, basking at the beach and enjoying the water, catching up with old friends, and appreciating my father, this week will be amazing.
I still cannot believe how lucky I am to be doing what I am doing! It's just hard, taxing, and incredibly thought draining, but man, if I can at least accomplish some of my duties, I think I can contribute a great deal.
So, coming off a wonderful weekend and facing a week of challenges, do I feel release or like I am re-leashed? I feel both!!! Refreshed, relaxed, but strapped in and ready to go!!!
I'm not really sure the purpose of this post, but I guess I am just a little overwhelmed...not to be taken by challenges, but to take them on.
Hope everyone else had a great weekend!!
Coming off yet another great weekend, Mondays are like a brick wall, especially posed with what needs to be done for the rest of the week. But after fishing with my nephew, basking at the beach and enjoying the water, catching up with old friends, and appreciating my father, this week will be amazing.
I still cannot believe how lucky I am to be doing what I am doing! It's just hard, taxing, and incredibly thought draining, but man, if I can at least accomplish some of my duties, I think I can contribute a great deal.
So, coming off a wonderful weekend and facing a week of challenges, do I feel release or like I am re-leashed? I feel both!!! Refreshed, relaxed, but strapped in and ready to go!!!
I'm not really sure the purpose of this post, but I guess I am just a little overwhelmed...not to be taken by challenges, but to take them on.
Hope everyone else had a great weekend!!
Monday, June 13, 2005
Disturbing News about blogging censorship in China!
I feel like spreading this news because, if you are new to blogging or don't realize how much freedom you have in posting, its very shocking to know that in China they are making everyone with a blog register with the government!!!!
'Big Brother is watching'!!!
[Net-Gold] China orders bloggers to register with governmentChina orders bloggers to register with government
Associated Press
Tuesday June 7, 2005
The Chinese authorities have ordered all weblogs andwebsites in the country to register with thegovernment or face closure in Beijing's latest attempt to control online dissent. Commercial publishers and advertisers could be finedup to 1m yuan (へ6,000) for failing to register, according to documents on the Chinese information industry ministry's website. Private bloggers or websites must register the complete identity of the person responsible for the site, and the ministry - which has set a June 30 deadline for compliance - said 74% of all sites had already registered.
More at http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,7369,1501184,00.html
'Big Brother is watching'!!!
[Net-Gold] China orders bloggers to register with governmentChina orders bloggers to register with government
Associated Press
Tuesday June 7, 2005
The Chinese authorities have ordered all weblogs andwebsites in the country to register with thegovernment or face closure in Beijing's latest attempt to control online dissent. Commercial publishers and advertisers could be finedup to 1m yuan (へ6,000) for failing to register, according to documents on the Chinese information industry ministry's website. Private bloggers or websites must register the complete identity of the person responsible for the site, and the ministry - which has set a June 30 deadline for compliance - said 74% of all sites had already registered.
More at http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,7369,1501184,00.html
Friday, June 10, 2005
Phil Shapiro's explanation of 'Wink' w/example
as quoted by Phil Shapiro on the Digital Divide Listserve:
"hi everyone -
last month i mentioned to you about the neat free software named Wink for creating screencasts on Windows and GNU/Linux computers.
a screencast is a narrated explanatory movie with accompanying mouse movements on the screen. although Wink doesn't have audio capabilities yet, that shouldn't stop folks from creating compelling screencasts with a separate mp3 audio file. such audio files can be played concurrently in a separate tab within firefox or safari.
check out this short screencast i created explaining about the freeInkscape vector drawingprogram. http://www.writersforliteracy.org/canyoumakethis.htm
the accompanying audio for this is athttp://www.writersforliteracy.org/inkscapeaudio1.mp3
note -- the appropriate time to start the audio playing is when my mouse chooses the rectangular drawing tool -- about 20 seconds into the screencast. (i'm still learning how to do this kind of stuff.)
Wink is available at http://www.debugmode.com/wink/if you'd like to give it a try.
use shift-pause to start and stop your screen capture. onwindows computers you'll see a small animated box with 4 squaresin it in your system tray (bottom right of screen) when you arerecording your screen capture. right click on that box to finishyour screen capture.
you could fit several hours of home-made computer tutorials on acd-rom in this way.although created on Windows computers, these tutorials are in Flash format, and play fine on Mac and GNU/Linux computers. (there is also aversion of Wink for creating tutorials on GNU/Linux computers.)
surprise us with what you make. there's a lot of stuff out therethat needs explaining.
- philbtw, if you'd like to download all the files associated with the abovescreencast, i've zipped them into an archive athttp://www.writersforliteracy.org/inkscapetutorial.zip the 3 fileswithin this archive are: a very small html file, a shockwave format file showing the screen activity and an mp3 audio file containing thenarration.
click on the html file to start the shockwave file playing.the mp3 audio file can play in any of several different programs alreadyon your computer -- itunes, quicktime, and other mp3 playing software.thanks for telling others you know about Wink."
"hi everyone -
last month i mentioned to you about the neat free software named Wink for creating screencasts on Windows and GNU/Linux computers.
a screencast is a narrated explanatory movie with accompanying mouse movements on the screen. although Wink doesn't have audio capabilities yet, that shouldn't stop folks from creating compelling screencasts with a separate mp3 audio file. such audio files can be played concurrently in a separate tab within firefox or safari.
check out this short screencast i created explaining about the freeInkscape vector drawingprogram. http://www.writersforliteracy.org/canyoumakethis.htm
the accompanying audio for this is athttp://www.writersforliteracy.org/inkscapeaudio1.mp3
note -- the appropriate time to start the audio playing is when my mouse chooses the rectangular drawing tool -- about 20 seconds into the screencast. (i'm still learning how to do this kind of stuff.)
Wink is available at http://www.debugmode.com/wink/if you'd like to give it a try.
use shift-pause to start and stop your screen capture. onwindows computers you'll see a small animated box with 4 squaresin it in your system tray (bottom right of screen) when you arerecording your screen capture. right click on that box to finishyour screen capture.
you could fit several hours of home-made computer tutorials on acd-rom in this way.although created on Windows computers, these tutorials are in Flash format, and play fine on Mac and GNU/Linux computers. (there is also aversion of Wink for creating tutorials on GNU/Linux computers.)
surprise us with what you make. there's a lot of stuff out therethat needs explaining.
- philbtw, if you'd like to download all the files associated with the abovescreencast, i've zipped them into an archive athttp://www.writersforliteracy.org/inkscapetutorial.zip the 3 fileswithin this archive are: a very small html file, a shockwave format file showing the screen activity and an mp3 audio file containing thenarration.
click on the html file to start the shockwave file playing.the mp3 audio file can play in any of several different programs alreadyon your computer -- itunes, quicktime, and other mp3 playing software.thanks for telling others you know about Wink."
Using 'Wink' to create screencasts!!
Hello everyone,
I found some really cool new software via Phil Shapiro on the Digital Divide listserve!
It's called Wink, and you can download it free at http://www.debugmode.com/wink/
I played a little bit with it as well HERE
The potential for this software is unlimited! And Free! Personally, I have a lot of training that I do in my job, so this will be awesome to do a bunch of tutorials and burn them on a disc, but this technology is so portable because it is a shockwave file and most browsers support it!! If you can't play it, you can download the plug-in from Macromedia's website!!
I found some really cool new software via Phil Shapiro on the Digital Divide listserve!
It's called Wink, and you can download it free at http://www.debugmode.com/wink/
I played a little bit with it as well HERE
The potential for this software is unlimited! And Free! Personally, I have a lot of training that I do in my job, so this will be awesome to do a bunch of tutorials and burn them on a disc, but this technology is so portable because it is a shockwave file and most browsers support it!! If you can't play it, you can download the plug-in from Macromedia's website!!
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Alcohol!
This is just a random rant.
I still subscribe to a listserve of plant geneticists and found this particular thread pretty funny.
As qtd by Dr. Arditti, " some orchids seemed to like a little alcohol... hmmm? Maybe Arrack is their preference. I'f I'm not mistaken, even people seem to multiply at a greater rate when
alcohol is present ;)"
It may not be funny without some background, but the bane of many plant geneticists' work lies in their ability to grow plants after they have inserted genes in them, thus propagating a clone for cultivation. Alcohol in small amounts seems to do this...although, like humans, overdosing or an excess can lead to death.
Humans = ethanol = propagation
Plants = ethanol = propagation
Humans = ethanol[unbounded] = death
Plants = ethanol [unbounded] = death
I still subscribe to a listserve of plant geneticists and found this particular thread pretty funny.
As qtd by Dr. Arditti, " some orchids seemed to like a little alcohol... hmmm? Maybe Arrack is their preference. I'f I'm not mistaken, even people seem to multiply at a greater rate when
alcohol is present ;)"
It may not be funny without some background, but the bane of many plant geneticists' work lies in their ability to grow plants after they have inserted genes in them, thus propagating a clone for cultivation. Alcohol in small amounts seems to do this...although, like humans, overdosing or an excess can lead to death.
Humans = ethanol = propagation
Plants = ethanol = propagation
Humans = ethanol[unbounded] = death
Plants = ethanol [unbounded] = death
Dude! Killer bee!
This is just a silly realization about my phobia of bugs!
The other day I was getting into my truck and a bumble bee flew in. Not knowing what to do, I tried my hardest to get him from trying to go through the back window, which has no opening, but he kept buzzing and trying to dig through the sealing...so i used some mail to try and pry him away and let him fly away. Just a little background on me and bugs; I never have liked them...to look at hear or know are around...i get really really scared when a bug is near me...so you can imagine how scared I was. After trying to get him away several times, he fell between the seat and the back of the truck....so I popped the seat to see if i could help him further...but after about an hour of trying, he was just sitting in one place....i thought he died....so i didnt want to mess with him. This morning I forgot about him, but after I did a little grocery shopping, he flew right by my face out of my truck. I didnt believe it was him, so i popped the seat again, and he was gone!!!!
Silly bees....then as I was driving away, I realized that there was a lady bug on my driver-side window...not wanting to roll it alll the way down, i put it partially down with hope that my driving will blow him off. That little sucker stayed on until i arrived at my destination. How wierd!
Bugs....
The other day I was getting into my truck and a bumble bee flew in. Not knowing what to do, I tried my hardest to get him from trying to go through the back window, which has no opening, but he kept buzzing and trying to dig through the sealing...so i used some mail to try and pry him away and let him fly away. Just a little background on me and bugs; I never have liked them...to look at hear or know are around...i get really really scared when a bug is near me...so you can imagine how scared I was. After trying to get him away several times, he fell between the seat and the back of the truck....so I popped the seat to see if i could help him further...but after about an hour of trying, he was just sitting in one place....i thought he died....so i didnt want to mess with him. This morning I forgot about him, but after I did a little grocery shopping, he flew right by my face out of my truck. I didnt believe it was him, so i popped the seat again, and he was gone!!!!
Silly bees....then as I was driving away, I realized that there was a lady bug on my driver-side window...not wanting to roll it alll the way down, i put it partially down with hope that my driving will blow him off. That little sucker stayed on until i arrived at my destination. How wierd!
Bugs....
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Exploration bears fruit!
Well, this weekend rapidly is reaching an end, but at least I have a free Monday! Yesterday I went out on an adventure, today my mind went on an adventure...all fun!
Yesterday I was driving back from playing with Macho and Gumbo and right next to my dorm room, where I usually park, was a guy and his son. Usually I slow down and move totally out of the way, but as I got closer, I saw one of those recogizable faces that brings admiration and total respect. It was Abdul Ghaffar, my college mentor who ignited the fire that leads me here today. You see, Abdul is student activities director at UNC Pembroke and also advisor for Student Government, where I was fully involved. Through his leadership, I was inspired to start a service program called, Campaign for Compassion and do many other things that lead me here today! So you can imagine my excitement when I saw him with his son, Walter. It turns out that he was there for a track meet that his daughter was competing in. That's a whole different story, but his daughter is on an olympic laureate trek. She already broke a national AAU record for high jump at 10, but anyways, I went down and hung out with him and we just caught up, of course he bragged about his daughter, talked with his wife and we boomeranged effective practices in service learning and leadership! It was great, and when I thought it couldn't get any better, I met him and his wife's family friend, Tracey Williams who was so nice. Now I would be lying if I said I knew who she was at first, but didnt really know until I came back to my computer to see who she was. Such a nice lady and what a wonderful job to have, giving opportunities to women in basketball! I also met her fiance, who is also very nice and funny!
To think my weekend was going well, was an understatement...today I woke up to dogs licking me caught back up with a childhood friend and read a really good book called "The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel.
Jay, my childhood friend, was my first best friend. When I first moved to North Carolina he was the first to say hi, come over and play and to share my first childhood romance with the neighboorhood girl. It's pretty amazing, but thanks to google's search engine I found his email, emailed him this morning, then he called me mid-day! We caught up and a reunion is in the works. He lives in Oklahoma City, OK so it might a little bit, but to finally reconnect with a friend I haven't seen or heard of in a while means a lot to me. He was also the first friend to move away, and through some of the rough times when my dad fought in the first gulf war, "Desert Shield/Storm" he provided me friendship and support! But as custom with military families, he moved to Missouri and I visited once, but then he moved to Alaska, explaining why it was harder to keep in touch!
The book, "Life of Pi" is fascinating and really provides me some entertainment as well as deep thought on religion and where I stand beliefwise. It's a tale about a boy who is lucky at surviving a shipwreck, only to be stranded on a lifeboat with an orangutan, zebra, hyena, and tiger(Richard Parker)....its about survival, love, and just life. Hearfully punctuated with insight and how to live, it proves to be very worth the read!
Then my father called me, always a pleasure and the best dad anyone could ask for! He is buying me a much needed fridge for my pseudo-apartment...so now i can actually go grocery shopping!
so my weekend is not over yet! I do not know if anymore events could top these past couple of days though, but I will keep you all posted!
Calvin
Yesterday I was driving back from playing with Macho and Gumbo and right next to my dorm room, where I usually park, was a guy and his son. Usually I slow down and move totally out of the way, but as I got closer, I saw one of those recogizable faces that brings admiration and total respect. It was Abdul Ghaffar, my college mentor who ignited the fire that leads me here today. You see, Abdul is student activities director at UNC Pembroke and also advisor for Student Government, where I was fully involved. Through his leadership, I was inspired to start a service program called, Campaign for Compassion and do many other things that lead me here today! So you can imagine my excitement when I saw him with his son, Walter. It turns out that he was there for a track meet that his daughter was competing in. That's a whole different story, but his daughter is on an olympic laureate trek. She already broke a national AAU record for high jump at 10, but anyways, I went down and hung out with him and we just caught up, of course he bragged about his daughter, talked with his wife and we boomeranged effective practices in service learning and leadership! It was great, and when I thought it couldn't get any better, I met him and his wife's family friend, Tracey Williams who was so nice. Now I would be lying if I said I knew who she was at first, but didnt really know until I came back to my computer to see who she was. Such a nice lady and what a wonderful job to have, giving opportunities to women in basketball! I also met her fiance, who is also very nice and funny!
To think my weekend was going well, was an understatement...today I woke up to dogs licking me caught back up with a childhood friend and read a really good book called "The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel.
Jay, my childhood friend, was my first best friend. When I first moved to North Carolina he was the first to say hi, come over and play and to share my first childhood romance with the neighboorhood girl. It's pretty amazing, but thanks to google's search engine I found his email, emailed him this morning, then he called me mid-day! We caught up and a reunion is in the works. He lives in Oklahoma City, OK so it might a little bit, but to finally reconnect with a friend I haven't seen or heard of in a while means a lot to me. He was also the first friend to move away, and through some of the rough times when my dad fought in the first gulf war, "Desert Shield/Storm" he provided me friendship and support! But as custom with military families, he moved to Missouri and I visited once, but then he moved to Alaska, explaining why it was harder to keep in touch!
The book, "Life of Pi" is fascinating and really provides me some entertainment as well as deep thought on religion and where I stand beliefwise. It's a tale about a boy who is lucky at surviving a shipwreck, only to be stranded on a lifeboat with an orangutan, zebra, hyena, and tiger(Richard Parker)....its about survival, love, and just life. Hearfully punctuated with insight and how to live, it proves to be very worth the read!
Then my father called me, always a pleasure and the best dad anyone could ask for! He is buying me a much needed fridge for my pseudo-apartment...so now i can actually go grocery shopping!
so my weekend is not over yet! I do not know if anymore events could top these past couple of days though, but I will keep you all posted!
Calvin
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Google Jobs!
Now, I am pretty happy with my job, but in another universe, my dream job would be...
some of the listed jobs at Google!!!
I keept track of their initial public offering and it was fun to see how exploited it became with all the pundits scrambling to insert their predictions! I am sure the job opportunities are a product of the successful IPO.
I don't know why I am thinking of this, but lately I've been reading some cool magazines.
There are a few magazines for the savvy that I'd like to recommend: Fast Company and MIT's Technology Review
These two magazines always seem to have something interesting to read and I usually learn a lot of emerging ideas/issues regarding business and innovation.
So its a nice day, been hanging out with Gumbo and Macho...I think they had a fight or something yesterday because they growl at each other, at least when I am around. Gumbo is definitely a 'male' dog with his little antics. He always tries to plop in my lap and he is a fairly large dog! Macho is more reserved, sophisticated almost, but very loving!
Its a beautiful day and I really miss the beach. I know there are some cool things to do around here, but I just havent tapped into them yet...Maybe a lake will ease my beach longing.
Anyways, I'm going out to explore...Have a great day!!!
some of the listed jobs at Google!!!
I keept track of their initial public offering and it was fun to see how exploited it became with all the pundits scrambling to insert their predictions! I am sure the job opportunities are a product of the successful IPO.
I don't know why I am thinking of this, but lately I've been reading some cool magazines.
There are a few magazines for the savvy that I'd like to recommend: Fast Company and MIT's Technology Review
These two magazines always seem to have something interesting to read and I usually learn a lot of emerging ideas/issues regarding business and innovation.
So its a nice day, been hanging out with Gumbo and Macho...I think they had a fight or something yesterday because they growl at each other, at least when I am around. Gumbo is definitely a 'male' dog with his little antics. He always tries to plop in my lap and he is a fairly large dog! Macho is more reserved, sophisticated almost, but very loving!
Its a beautiful day and I really miss the beach. I know there are some cool things to do around here, but I just havent tapped into them yet...Maybe a lake will ease my beach longing.
Anyways, I'm going out to explore...Have a great day!!!
Friday, May 27, 2005
Ahhh....Weekend!
Just a quick post because I felt like writing some!
Last evening I heard in Durham, where I live, that there were 3 cross burnings! Its hard for me to stay collected when news like that comes to my attention. Why is it that people still 'hate' so much? People are people, period! To orchestrate 3 cross burnings in three different areas of Durham on the same night is quite disturbing, meaning they are organized, are pretty good at delivering messages and must have somewhat of a network. From reading a local news outlet, I found that the Mayor had no warnings to such doings...not that he would be forewarned, but that I guess when there is a sect, uprising, group doing activities, he probably is informed, especially when it could be a detriment to the livelyhood of his city. So this is even more disturbing...that no one really knew there was a group operating in this area. What to do? Where is compassion to them?
In techie news, today our office recieved the computers that I ordered and I am quite excited except that the one I ordered for web/database development was failed to be put on the purchase order...so everyone gets a new computer except me. The IRONY!!! I think its kinda funny in that that computer, the one for development, was explicitly requested! Challenges at every corner, so I just have to make what I have work I suppose! At least the office now has computers that are all current and have the software/hardware to function. I went with Dell because they seem to have good deals and are super easy to put together and open up. I know in the future, when my VISTA term ends, someone will have to work on them. So I will be playing with them here shortly! Yippee, fun!!
Also a friend of mine, Lanya Shapiro, is doing some organizing in El Salvador so I am watching her doggies, Macho and Gumbo! I am looking forward to it because I'm a pretty big animal lover and I havent really had contact with any animals lately so the company will be fun! Just the other day, in Black Mountain, I was walking around and saw a chipmunk. Those little guys are soooo cool. Its like when they spread out, they become little squares....and not to imply cruelty,but they would look cool as little carpets....they are the kind of animal you could hug....with their cuteness!
Anyways, on to playing with these computers!
Calvin
Last evening I heard in Durham, where I live, that there were 3 cross burnings! Its hard for me to stay collected when news like that comes to my attention. Why is it that people still 'hate' so much? People are people, period! To orchestrate 3 cross burnings in three different areas of Durham on the same night is quite disturbing, meaning they are organized, are pretty good at delivering messages and must have somewhat of a network. From reading a local news outlet, I found that the Mayor had no warnings to such doings...not that he would be forewarned, but that I guess when there is a sect, uprising, group doing activities, he probably is informed, especially when it could be a detriment to the livelyhood of his city. So this is even more disturbing...that no one really knew there was a group operating in this area. What to do? Where is compassion to them?
In techie news, today our office recieved the computers that I ordered and I am quite excited except that the one I ordered for web/database development was failed to be put on the purchase order...so everyone gets a new computer except me. The IRONY!!! I think its kinda funny in that that computer, the one for development, was explicitly requested! Challenges at every corner, so I just have to make what I have work I suppose! At least the office now has computers that are all current and have the software/hardware to function. I went with Dell because they seem to have good deals and are super easy to put together and open up. I know in the future, when my VISTA term ends, someone will have to work on them. So I will be playing with them here shortly! Yippee, fun!!
Also a friend of mine, Lanya Shapiro, is doing some organizing in El Salvador so I am watching her doggies, Macho and Gumbo! I am looking forward to it because I'm a pretty big animal lover and I havent really had contact with any animals lately so the company will be fun! Just the other day, in Black Mountain, I was walking around and saw a chipmunk. Those little guys are soooo cool. Its like when they spread out, they become little squares....and not to imply cruelty,but they would look cool as little carpets....they are the kind of animal you could hug....with their cuteness!
Anyways, on to playing with these computers!
Calvin
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Self Deprication and the Power of Humility...an introspection
Well, this is going to be a pretty visceral entry of self reflection...
These past couple of weeks have zipped by with conferences, meetings, and just hard planning/work...I am happy with myself for the work I have been doing lately...but this past Monday was a really big wake up call for me and why I am here.
You see, I have many meetings, pretty much almost weekly, and they always have content, meaning and I listen, offer my thoughts, write down things, and feel really good that things are rolling and being accomplished. This entry is dedicated solely to an epiphany that occurred at a meeting where I simply had no idea the depth and importance of helping others. All it took was a guy whom I didnt know to get angry at me and basically shatter my ego into an oblivion.
His name is Gerald Taylor, an Industrial Areas Foundation leader and southeast supervisor of affiliates, namely Durham CAN (Congregations, Assemblies, and Neighborhoods).
To hopefully give some background, I was coming in on a trip from home, a three hour drive (Monday morning) to work because we had to leave for the community service/service learning directors conference, but Mrs Anderson had a meeting....at 11am...to which I had no knowledge...because I thought we were supposed to be leaving at 1030 to arrive on time...so while I was getting ready I got called into the meeting. With Durham CAN organizer, Chirs Bishop, and Gerald Taylor concerning a strategic planning of student leadership/skills training via ACSLP, well, not being sure my role, I intently listened, was asked my credentials by Gerald Taylor, then listened more. Not knowingly trying to belittle what Mr. Taylor was saying, I offered up some thoughts, as I usually do, regarding a different approach. Instead of critical thinking skills, which is what he wanted to dissolve into the training, I offered a new and really interesting leadership management type theory on 'opportunity thinking'...or otherwise intellectual optimism...basically an approach that focuses positivity instead of examining on 'problems'...on intellectual optimism you would search for benefits of a situation like what went right when you had a problem and you try to strengthen that; whereas in critical thinking you focus on what went wrong.
That was the wrong thing to say, at least I thought at the time, but in retrospect, I am glad I did because of my growth.
Gerald Taylor did not like what I said...and went on to say (paraphrase) that he was not teaching little games, these are real issues that are happening in our communities, people are dying....and pointed out to me that what I was saying was pretty silly and not appropriate....
Well, at the time, I felt smaller than an up-quark, muon, gluon, boson....you name it! Because I merely was trying to offer up my thoughts in a 'brain-storming' type of way, but it came off like I was criticizing what he was saying. The fact that I was playing games, jovially discussing this training as a means to test out a theory of leadership thinking.....really hit me hard....which led me to questions..
Do I just read theories and think I can just randomly push them through to people?
Am I looking for prestige by 'knowing' something obscure?
Do I really think I 'know-it-all'?
Who am I to think that I can offere up a better solution that this man, Gerald Taylor, who is a national leader for social justice and change?
Where do I fall in the 'making-a-difference-meter"?
Why do I care where I 'rank' in the making a difference meter?
Do I always talk and not 'act'?
Why did it hurt my feelings so bad?
I still have a knot in my stomach because of that encounter. I know I realize that people die everyday, bad things happen, and that i am strongly moved to do something about it, but why did I feel so inadequate in that moment when he responded to my suggestion? I have been criticized before, for good reason, and my suggestion was not ego-driven, but sincerely given for aid and contribution as I thought this particular suggestion about intellectual optimism.
I guess I am still reaching for that reality of understanding, but his comment has jolted me back into examining the reasons for me being where I am today.....I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.....because...many things, my life experiences mostly though.
My summations lead me to the importance of constant humility...otherwise you start getting clouded and do start to sympathize instead of empathize. You lose feeling, but just see. People become object instead of subject.
I also just want to ask if you read this post, have you ever been in this 'knotted' place before? If so, how did it affect you? What keeps you grounded?
To anyone who reads this, thanks for listening...writing it out has helped me think about it.
Calvin
These past couple of weeks have zipped by with conferences, meetings, and just hard planning/work...I am happy with myself for the work I have been doing lately...but this past Monday was a really big wake up call for me and why I am here.
You see, I have many meetings, pretty much almost weekly, and they always have content, meaning and I listen, offer my thoughts, write down things, and feel really good that things are rolling and being accomplished. This entry is dedicated solely to an epiphany that occurred at a meeting where I simply had no idea the depth and importance of helping others. All it took was a guy whom I didnt know to get angry at me and basically shatter my ego into an oblivion.
His name is Gerald Taylor, an Industrial Areas Foundation leader and southeast supervisor of affiliates, namely Durham CAN (Congregations, Assemblies, and Neighborhoods).
To hopefully give some background, I was coming in on a trip from home, a three hour drive (Monday morning) to work because we had to leave for the community service/service learning directors conference, but Mrs Anderson had a meeting....at 11am...to which I had no knowledge...because I thought we were supposed to be leaving at 1030 to arrive on time...so while I was getting ready I got called into the meeting. With Durham CAN organizer, Chirs Bishop, and Gerald Taylor concerning a strategic planning of student leadership/skills training via ACSLP, well, not being sure my role, I intently listened, was asked my credentials by Gerald Taylor, then listened more. Not knowingly trying to belittle what Mr. Taylor was saying, I offered up some thoughts, as I usually do, regarding a different approach. Instead of critical thinking skills, which is what he wanted to dissolve into the training, I offered a new and really interesting leadership management type theory on 'opportunity thinking'...or otherwise intellectual optimism...basically an approach that focuses positivity instead of examining on 'problems'...on intellectual optimism you would search for benefits of a situation like what went right when you had a problem and you try to strengthen that; whereas in critical thinking you focus on what went wrong.
That was the wrong thing to say, at least I thought at the time, but in retrospect, I am glad I did because of my growth.
Gerald Taylor did not like what I said...and went on to say (paraphrase) that he was not teaching little games, these are real issues that are happening in our communities, people are dying....and pointed out to me that what I was saying was pretty silly and not appropriate....
Well, at the time, I felt smaller than an up-quark, muon, gluon, boson....you name it! Because I merely was trying to offer up my thoughts in a 'brain-storming' type of way, but it came off like I was criticizing what he was saying. The fact that I was playing games, jovially discussing this training as a means to test out a theory of leadership thinking.....really hit me hard....which led me to questions..
Do I just read theories and think I can just randomly push them through to people?
Am I looking for prestige by 'knowing' something obscure?
Do I really think I 'know-it-all'?
Who am I to think that I can offere up a better solution that this man, Gerald Taylor, who is a national leader for social justice and change?
Where do I fall in the 'making-a-difference-meter"?
Why do I care where I 'rank' in the making a difference meter?
Do I always talk and not 'act'?
Why did it hurt my feelings so bad?
I still have a knot in my stomach because of that encounter. I know I realize that people die everyday, bad things happen, and that i am strongly moved to do something about it, but why did I feel so inadequate in that moment when he responded to my suggestion? I have been criticized before, for good reason, and my suggestion was not ego-driven, but sincerely given for aid and contribution as I thought this particular suggestion about intellectual optimism.
I guess I am still reaching for that reality of understanding, but his comment has jolted me back into examining the reasons for me being where I am today.....I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.....because...many things, my life experiences mostly though.
My summations lead me to the importance of constant humility...otherwise you start getting clouded and do start to sympathize instead of empathize. You lose feeling, but just see. People become object instead of subject.
I also just want to ask if you read this post, have you ever been in this 'knotted' place before? If so, how did it affect you? What keeps you grounded?
To anyone who reads this, thanks for listening...writing it out has helped me think about it.
Calvin
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