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February 29, 2004

Guest Beli-Blogger Matt H.: "Leap Day"

Today is "Leap Day." What's that all about?

According to Wolfram Research, "A leap year is a year in which an extra day in added to the calendar in order to synchronize it with the seasons. Since the tropical year is 365.242190 days long, a leap year must be added roughly once every four years (four times the fractional day gives). In a leap year, the extra day (known as a leap day) is added at the end of February, giving it 29 instead of the usual 28 days. "

So, to me, that means that I squeezed an extra day out of my lease at NO CHARGE!!! (He states with a Homer-rific "woo hoo!") But, it also means that we are in an election year, well...sort of. The complete list of leap years in the first half of the 21st century is therefore 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028, 2032, 2036, 2040, 2044, and 2048. Things get messed up with certain centuries, but I'm not about to bore you with the math. Additionally, we will not be alive for the next time a United States election year doesn't coincide with a Leap Year.

I like to pretend that I'm a political junkie; thus, I really look forward to Leap Years because we get one more day to listen to campaign rhetoric and related news. I get giddy knowing that we get to peacefully overthrow our government. Many countries are subject to violent regime change, Haiti and Venezuela to name a couple. We truly are fortunate to have our republic in such a stable state. There are problems and corruption without doubt, but through participation we can right those wrongs. It is the responsibility of every voter to inspire non-voters to participate in our government. And, this year, you get an extra day to do it.

Are you doing anything special with your extra day? Do you know any '5 year olds' that are really 20 years old? Do you think the 'extra' day circling the sun will tire you on December 30? On December 30th, do you think that you will even remember that we had an 'extra' day? For those of us that have been near death, do you consider treat Leap Day as a 'free' day, a day during which you get to do something that you may not have?

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February 28, 2004

GUEST BELI-BLOGGER BRADLEY W : MEANING OF PLACE

Do we choose place, or does place choose us? After many years of living in differing landscapes, place and my heritage are beginning to become more and more important in my everyday patterns of life. Our lives are defined by more than just the geo-political lines drawn, congressional representatives, the location of our job, or where our home is located. Today, now more than ever, we have lost our sense of place. Not recognizing our membership in place, the landscape, and pattern's of life has caused separation anxiety and a severe loss of the memory of that place. How many of us know what watershed we live in, or what the story is of our particular landscape? Do we know the changes of the seasons and how it effects the landscape? Instead, we confine our knowledge of place to the highways and byways, closest grocery store and most convenient Starbuck's, and how long it takes to get to work and home again.

As I've grown older it has come to my increasing attention and awarness that my "place" is very important to my development as a person. I pay more and more attention to the story of the place, the landscape, changes in the seasons, and the voice and memory of the place. We share this wonderful tapestry of life, sharing a common memory that has meaning beyond the scale of an industrial template.

What do you find unique about your place? Can you locate the 'being' of your place, whether that be a river or some defining mytho-geographic story?

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February 27, 2004

Q: Do you have a regular routine for surfing the web... in other words, do you visit certain sites everyday at around the same time (like during lunch if you eat at your desk, or in the morning before you leave for work)? If so, what's your routine... which sites do you visit, and in what order?

Q: These days it seems that more and more scholarship athletes are leaving college early for the professional ranks. Do you think athletes who leave school early should be required to pay back the money that their college or university spent on them?

Q: Do you plan on seeing the new Mel Gibson-directed film, The Passion of the Christ?

Q: Do you have a car of your dreams? If so, what's your dream car?

February 26, 2004

Have you seen the new Nike commercials? They feature prominent sports figures like Andre Agassi, Lance Armstrong, and Randy Johnson competing in sports other than their own. For example, the ad leads off with Agassi batting for the Red Sox, moves to Randy Johnson bowling for a strike, and ends with Armstrong giving a few punches in the boxing ring. The voice over at the end is "This guy can do anything." I love this ad!!! But does it merely build enthusiasm for our sports heroes and for all sports or does it feed the notion of athletes as total superstars beyond reproach? I look at it with such thrill and enthusiasm, but maybe that's just because I'm eager for Spring Training! Click here to see the ad.

February 25, 2004

This is one issue that just wonít go away. Yesterday morning, President Bush declared his support for amending the U.S. Constitution to ban same sex marriages. The reason, Bush said in a prepared speech, is that several states in recent months have ignored the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 (which defines "marriage" as a union between a female and a male) by allowing non-heterosexual couples to secure marriage licenses. But for Bush it doesn't stop there. He also said:

The union of a man and woman is the most enduring human institution, honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every religious faith. Ages of experience have taught humanity that the commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society. Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society. Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all. Today, I call upon the Congress to promptly pass and to send to the states for ratification an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife.

Marriage, in these united states, has numerous definitions. George W. and his supporters see marriage only through a prism established by a churchÖ a religious union. But what about civil marriages with a justice of the peace? What about shotgun weddings in Las Vegas, or reality TV shows that marry people off for the opportunity to win boatloads of money? Should a constitutional amendment be passed to prevent these types of marriages as well? The fact is, one in two traditional marriages do not survive in this country, so what was it again that our esteemed President said? Oh yeah, that's right... "Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society. Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all.

Really? Well, I can only speak for myself, but if I'm fortunate and worthy enough to marry the girl / women of my dreams, I won't be marrying her to satisfy or tend to any of the cultural, religious or natural roots our President speaks of. We'll choose to marry because we both feel that our worlds will be an ever better place with us committed to one another together and forever. What's so wrong with anyone choosing the same for themselves, regardless of their gender?

February 23, 2004

A Great Big "Happy Birthday" goes out to my Mom, who on this day in 19xx (don't worry, Mom, I won't say it) was born to Jack and Essie Mandel in the great state of New York. My Mom is the best Mom in the world, period. She is kind, generous, smart and honest, and she has supported me thru thick and thin, all the while never once allowing me to think or feel that I wasn't capable of anything. I owe her so much that it isn't even funny. The lessons she has taught me--just by being who she is--have had, and will continue to have, an amazingly profound impact on my way of being. She's my best friend, my most ardent supporter, and hands-down the most appropriate critic and teacher I have in this crazy world of ours. Happy Birthday, Mom! I Love You Very Much. I hope that someday I can be at least half the parent and friend you've been to me!

If You're A Fan of HBO's Sex and the City, then you already know that in the end, Carrie Bradshaw abandoned the Russian and returned to New York with 'Big'... but what I really think happened is this... the person Carrie really ended up with, as the curtain dropped on the final season of the hit HBO show, was herself. It was a great ending, because in life, as I'm still learning, there is no perfect ending. Instead, we tend to find emotional bliss and true happiness in places and with people we probably didn't expect, or love with a person who might have seemed fated to be a big disappointment. In the end, life just goes on, and you're either a part of your own solution or you're just not.

Why Can't Ralph Nader Run for President? He can, and that's the point. Nader announced on NBC's "Meet the Press" this past weekend that he will run again for the presidency of these great united states, stating quite eloquently, I feel, that Washington D.C. has become ìcorporate occupied territoryî and making a strong case that there's little difference between the Republican and Democratic parties. ìThis country has more problems and injustices than it deserves,î Nader said. ìThereís too much power and wealth in too few hands." Would anyone really disagree with this? I for one am glad that Nader has entered the fray. It's time we took a serious look at the two-party monopoly in this country. I don't know if I'll vote for him, but I say, more power to ya, Ralphy-boy!

February 20, 2004

Q: Earlier this week the University of Colorado placed its head football coach, Gary Barnett, on paid administrative leave for comments he made to reporters about the school's first and only female football player (who just so happens to have alleged that while she was enrolled at the school and playing for the team, she was raped by another team member): "It was obvious Katie was not very good. She was awful," Barnett said. "Katie was not only a girl, she was terrible. OK? There's no other way to say it." Despite what you do or do not know about the wide array of accusations regarding CU football team members, do you feel Barnett's comments warranted his being placed on administrative leave?

Q: Which of the following do you think would have had a bigger impact on society had it NOT happened: The assassination of President Kennedy or the birth of Bill Gates?

Q: If you were offered a spot on the reality TV show your choice, would you accept? If so, which show would you choose to be on?

Q: What household chore do you dislike the most?

February 18, 2004

...I'm tremendously busy right now, which means that I didn't devote the time necessary to posting something for today. There is, however, a really interesting discussion going on in the 'Comments" area of a post a made a few days ago called "Where's God." Click in and check it out. I'll be back tomorrow with something more insightful or meaningful, I hope... Mikal.

February 17, 2004

The hotel and restaurant industry, and the agriculture and construction fields... Would you agree that it's fair to say that these sectors of our economy could not function without the undocumented workers--most of whom hail from Mexico and the rest of Latin America--who come into United States illegally? In most cases, 'those people' take jobs that the rest of us won't take. Let's face it, it's killer work with low pay, long hours, and very few benefits.

As we all know, unemployment is a big problem in the United States right now (right now the ranks of the unemployed are between 5.6% and 7.9%, depending on how you count them). While jobs are not being created fast enough to fill demand, our own citizens aren't exactly lining up for those low-paying service sector positions that we like to say are being taken by "those people." Would that change if wages were higher (in case you weren't aware, the minimum wage in this country is $5.15/hr.)? Maybe, but would you and the person next to you be willing to pay more for produce or for the meals you receive in a restaurant, to cover those costs? While I'd like to think so, there's still a sense out there that "those people" are taking "our" jobs... and with this being an election year, we're sure to hear lots of rhetoric about it, especially when you throw the debate surrounding border control--in the name of preventing terrorism on our own soil--into the mix.

February 16, 2004

Last night I was chatting online with an old friend when out of no where he asks me, "Where is God?" My response... "I believe God is within all of us and in everything around us." To which he replies, "That's very Pantheist of you." Not knowing exactly what that meant, and not wanting to come across as a complete ignoramus, I just sent an "LOL" reply, and made a mental note to look into this Pantheism thing as soon as we were done chatting.

A quick Google search reveales that Pantheism holds that the universe, taken as a whole, is synonymous with the theological principle of God. A little more digging around and I learn that Pantheists believe that all matter, energy, and life (especially nature) exist in an some sort of an interconnected unity in which we as humans are an inseparable part. And, Pantheists view death as the pathway to returning to the nature of our elements, and the complete end of existence as individuals all together (no reincarnation). If you're a Pantheist, it seems your actions, ideas and memories live on in accordance to what you do in your own life here on earth.

So, apparently, if you feel a deep sense of peace and belonging and wonder in the midst of nature--in a forest, by the ocean, or on a mountain top--and if you find it difficult to believe in supernatural beings, and difficult to conceive of anything more worthy of reverence than the beauty of nature or the power of the universe, then you just may be a Pantheist. Of course, this isn't to say that you're probably not a lot of other things, too, but now you can add 'Pantheist' to the list. Who knew!

February 13, 2004

Q: Is there an actor or actress whom you dislike so much that you wouldn't even see a movie or TV show they were in? If so, who and why?

Q: Tomorrow is Valentine's Day... a time of the year when flowers, candy, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones and secret admirers, all in the name of St. Valentine. Do you have anything special planned for Valentine's Day... and/or... how do you feel about Valentine's Day... 'Overrated' or 'I love it / I'm really into it.'

Q: It's two-fifteen / three o'clock on a Tuesday afternoon, and you're falling asleep at your desk (or wherever it is that you work). What do you do to reinvigorate yourself so you'll make it thru to the end of the workday without dragging every step along the way?

Q: Would you rather play a game of basketball with Michael Jordan, have dinner with Oprah Winfrey, or listen to Jessie Jackson read aloud from Penthouse Forum?

February 12, 2004

For all those regular Beli-Blog readers, you'll remember Mikal posted about Matt Holzmann's experience with an auto accident, and the resulting "post-traumatic high." Just this week I was once again reminded of how fragile life can be. My mother (who is the Director of Ministry for Incarnate Word Academy Catholic High School during her now retirement years) called me yesterday and was virtually in tears. One of her former students--who is now a freshman at Mizzou, and who experienced the loss of her mother less than four years ago to a car accident, in which she was a passenger--just this past week lost her father to an auto-accident. She now remains in this world with no family, no siblings, aunts, uncles, or cousins. How does one find the confidence to go on in life amidst such loss and pain?

The reason I've posted about this is for very personal reasons. At the tender age of 19 (which was 11 years ago), I lost my father to Lou Gehrig's disease... and I'm STILL in emotional pain over the loss. Has it brought change to my life? Certainly... but do we know any different, and is the change not just a natural progression of life anyways? All these experiences contribute to the grand journey of life. The question we have all been asking about these types of experiences is how do we find the beauty, and the awe-inspiring emotional blanket of warmth we know as "right life" again and again, amidst the trials of a somewhat mundane existence?

February 11, 2004

As I wrote on the 5th of August, my good buddy J.J. Grace--who I've known since the fall of 1984--was recently engaged to a beautiful and blessed woman named Erika Rising. Earlier this month, Erika and J.J. sneaked off to the Florida Keys and made it official. The following letter, which was written by Erika at 2:00am just a few days following the wedding, is an amazing tribute to the couple's love and reasons for being together. And with this being Valentine's Day week and all, I figured we could use a nice reminder of what it means to truly be in love. My wish, for both myself and my friends, is that this kind of love and companionship may be found and cherrished by us all. J.J. and Erika... Congrats, and thanks for allowing me to share your story with my friends!

It is not hard to think about why J.J. and I decided to get married in the Keys. J.J. proposed to me in Islamorada, at Mom and Dadís place on July 31, 2003, after he too fell in love with the Keys months earlier. Thank God for the Rising family memories that drew us here for our wedding.

J.J. and I married on Little Palm Island, at approximately 6pm on Sunday, February 1st, 2004. February 1st was not a completely random date ñ true, it was one of a few available dates at Little Palm. Most importantly, we felt that this date was a continuation of the date sequence started on our engagement day on the 31st of July.

The only words we could really use to come close to describing our wonderful marriage experience were the likes of ëWowí and ëAwesomeí.

We arrived at the Little Palm launch dock on Little Torch Key around noon on February 1st, after spending two rainy days in Key West. The forecast for our big day was miserable and we had no reason to think it would change. However, the first miraculous event of the trip ñ actually there are a few ñ was the bright sunshine that broke during our drive north from Key West. There is more to this that I will explain shortly.

Little Palm Island can only be reached by boat. In the days of his presidency, Harry Truman visited the island for the world-renown fishing the Keys has to offer. Little Palm Island today is a transformation of a fishing camp from an earlier time, to a secluded tropical resort. Fittingly, J.J. and I were taken to Little Palm on the ëMiss Margaretí ñ a ten year old 30í-35í wooden replica of a launch boat from the time of Truman. Our bags, wedding dress, champagne and all were loaded on the boat while our attention was diverted to rum drinks and soaking in the scenery. The boat was ride was a mere 15 minutes, taking us a few miles off Little Torch Key and into the Atlantic.

Once we arrived at the island, we were greeted by Dave, the concierge, who took us on a brief tour of the 6 acre resort. At this point, all J.J. and I could do was revel in our happiness about the change in weather to bright blue sunny skies. Dave just made it all better for us by confirming that the storm system was gone for good on the satellite. Therefore, we were not really paying attention to him saying how great our suite was, that was still being prepared.

We had about two hours of sitting on this unbelievably lush pool deck and walking around the island on our own until Dave quietly appeared again. Wedding day jitters?? I donít think so! The best gift J.J. and I gave each other on our wedding day was the same relaxing joy and comfort together we have experienced every day of our relationship ñ now, just taken to a whole new level!

Dave, this professional young guy, kept exclaiming how much we would like our suite. I kept thinking to myself ñ ëHe tells this to everyone.î Then he took us there, and I realized to myself ëUh, no, he does not tell everyone thisí.

We reserved a bungalow ñ one of about 20 something (or less) on the island. Letís just say we have pictures, and they still wonít do the place justice.

The suite, the ëEagles Nestí was one of two on the island over looking the water. It was decorated in ëold tropicalí style (I just made that up), with a wrap around deck, out door hot tub, French doors leading into a living and dining room area, and an unbelievable master bedroom with separate his and her bathrooms on either side. We quickly learned that Mary, the wedding planner on the island who we had been working with for the past month, typically works with other staff to upgrade the accommodations for brides & grooms getting married there, to this magnificent suite, if there is availability. This was only one example of the wonderful experience we had there.

J.J., in his typical thoughtful and romantic fashion had worked his own magic. A dozen roses awaited us on the dining room table, along with a large box mailed to the island before our arrival. Also in typical J.J. style, he feigned ignorance about the contents of the box while insisting I open it. Inside was one of the largest stand-up picture frames I had ever seen. J.J. had secretly gathered and copied black and white versions of loved ones who were no longer with us: his mother Alice Grace, my grandfathers: John Finnegan and Albert Rising, a picture of me sailing with my dog Mika, and a picture of him with his childhood dog Sparky. It has always been our belief that heavenly forces brought us together, and J.J. made sure that they were honored on our wedding day. We both shed some tears.

The magic of our relationship has been built upon the same beliefs of family and religion, and without even speaking to one another, we both knew that the change in weather was not just due to the science of storm systems. The number of breaks in the weather, at coincidental moments that J.J and his family have witnessed since his motherís passing, attest to her heavenly presence in the familyís life up through the present. I have a feeling that Alice Grace ordered up the perfectly timed shooting star seen the night J.J. proposed to me.

Bear with me ñ no detail can be sparedÖ The magic continued...

We spent the last few hours before marriage probably the most relaxed any couple has ever been the day they made their vows to each other.

We dressed, presented ourselves in our wedding ëdudsí less than half and hour before the photographer and wedding planner/ordained minister arrived at the door. Another half hour and several pictures later we were standing on the waterís edge, on the west side of the island, minutes before sunset.

The vows were perfect: heart felt, down to earth and spoke to our feelings for one another. The most significant statements I recall from memory were ëGod knew you needed one anotherí and ëLove each other in honor of your true selvesí.

In another interesting twist of fate, J.J. and I were sharing with Mary, the coordinator/interfaith minister who married us, all of the Marys who were leading us through marriage. J.J. himself would have been Mary Elizabeth if was born a girl (as his mother was convinced he was prior to birth!), my mother Mary Elizabeth, his sisters having the name Mary, his Aunt Mary, the Mary that gave us our marriage license at the Tampa courthouse and now Mary who was marrying us. She was intrigued as well. We did not know the greater extent of these coincidences until we retired back to the suite later that evening and looked at the marriage license only to learn that Maryís full name was Mary Elizabeth. For us, this event just gets added to the list of ësignsí we have experienced during our relationship, like for example, our parents sharing the wedding date of June 14th.

Did I mention the key deer? J.J. and I were told about the small key deer residents on the island shortly after arriving. We were warned not to feed them people food and that flowers on the islandís plants were probably the best for them to eat.

Right after the ceremony, a little female deer made her way down to the beach and then retreated back into the bushes. That was not the last we saw of her that night!

Some background informationÖ I insisted upon bringing my own bouquet to the island. I wanted to select and buy flowers on my own, that were native to the keys. J.J. and I found a florist in Key West the day before and I ended up selecting a few strands of dendrobium orchids ñ flowers that the florist mentioned grew prolifically in the Keys. Looking back, I donít think I could have made a better selection.

We made our way up to the wooden, peaceful waterside deck of the restaurant for a spectacular candlelight dinner. The natural scenery, silence, and soft, background music made for another unreal experience. We were the only ones there for a good hour. About a half hour after sitting down, our little key deer friend appeared right next to us, resting her head on the side of the deck. Letís just say that I could not have had a better time tossing a bouquet, as every orchid blossom and bud, minus one, was fed to our fuzzy friend. J.J. and my love of animals needed to be shared too, so we gave a few blossoms to those at tables surrounding us. There was no possible way that this day could have been made better, I thought.

J.J. proved me wrong again as we got back to a suite lit only by several candles and rose petals sprinkled on and around the bed. And thatís all I will be writing about our wedding night!

Well, no story is complete without a touch of the ëodd surrealíÖ

The weather remained beautiful on the day following our wedding. We enjoyed more great food, sat in the sun, kayaked around the whole island, met some more great people (including, would you believe a couple from Long Island whose son was attending the Stony Brooks School ñ my high school??), and had lunch on the pool deck. All of a sudden, an entourage of men ñ body guards and plain clothed ñ filed into the pool area with an apparent mission. Talk about a change in mood! Come to find out, the people casing the joint were body guards and employees for Benny Hinn, some shady, world renown TV evangelist healer. Yes, we saw him too (the island staff was told not to look at him). The guy apparently rented most of the island for his entire entourage, for a meeting he was having. At that point, J.J. and I remarked how that change in scene made our afternoon departure easier. Even stranger/funnier were the two hulking body guards who stopped me on my way back from the dock, to take their picture in one of the islandís gardens. It was a good thing J.J. was not there, because we both would have started laughing in front of them right then and there. We cracked up afterwards!

That was our wedding! Love, beauty, heavenly presence, tears, laughter and a TV evangelist rolled into one!!

February 10, 2004

Where do you draw the line between maintaining a secular state and allowing freedom of expression? Today, the French National Assembly will vote on a resolution to ban the display of religious symbols--Muslim headscarves, crucifixes worn on a chain around the neck, and yarmulkes--in public schools. The plan has set off a raging debate in France and elsewhere. Has the post-9/11 world changed the way we look at anything to do with the Islamic faith? Apparently so!

France has the largest Muslim population in Europeósome 5 million strong. And from what the media reports, there is a feeling among some that the population has failed to assimilate into mainstream French culture and society. So the French government decided that the banning of headscarves in public schools would help that process. But of course, since itís a move widely viewed as discriminatory and anti-Islamic, there has been an immediate backlash. As a result, the ban was broadened to include religious symbols-- crosses and yarmulkes --to make it an issue about secularism, and not Islam. But it hasn't been seen that way. Many Muslims see it as an assault on their faith, and it has emboldened many who might not be inclined to do so to now display their faith publicly. You know how it goesÖ when youíre 15-years-old and your mother doesn't want you to wear that old sweatshirt or those ratty sneakers, that's exactly what you wear. The most effective way to get people to do something is to ban them from doing it.

The furor in France raises issues that are important for a country like the United States. In a society that prides itself on the separation of church and state, what is an appropriate public display of religion that doesn't interfere with the notion of secularism? Itís a tough issue made even more emotional by the seemingly intuitive reaction people have towards headscarves. For some the headscarf is a symbol of oppression, while for others itís a symbol of a woman's strength. In a free society, shouldn't people be free to demonstrate their faith? And with the free world at war with terrorism, how do you balance the instinct to brand many of the Islamic faith as suspicious people, and the need to see people of faith as individuals, allowing them to practice their faith without interfering for political or security reasons?

February 9, 2004

Drawing Blood: I've never been a big fan of needles. So when I had my blood drawn a few weeks ago as a part of my medically-supervised weight loss program, I was understandably nervous. But this time around I did something I'd never done before... I acted as if it was no big deal. I didn't make any silly comments to the blood tech about how nervous I was or about I much I hated needles. I didn't even ask for a third person to be in the room so I'd have an extra hand to squeeze. Rather, I confidentially walked to the chair, made authentic chit-chat with the tech, and simply looked out the window while the four vials of blood were being drained from my arm. And, as I'm sure you figured out by now, it was completely painless and over before I knew it. By choosing not to make a big deal out of it, it wasn't that big of a deal.

Volunteer Tutoring: For the last month or so I've been tutoring a 5th grader in reading, math, and science for a couple of hours each Saturday morning. My new little buddy is 12-year-old Jamal, who, when it comes time for college, wants to study video game design at Harvard! Working with Jamal has given me renewed hope and enthusiasm for the future. Nothing is out of his reach; absolutely nothing. As a result of being in his presence, some of my own self-imposed limitations have been called into question.

Presidential Match: Can't decide which candidate for President to support? Try this online guide... answer a few multiple choice questions and presto, a ranking of all of the candidates, republican and democrat, appears right before your very eyes. Check it out by clicking here.

February 6, 2004

Q: Tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of The Beatles' debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. What do you think about the Beatles... as amazing and groundbreaking as everyone says or overrated?

Q: CBS, which aired Janet Jackson's 'peek-a-boob' stunt during the Super Bowl Halftime Show, has instituted a tape-delay to cut potentially inappropriate footage from next Sunday's Grammy Awards show. Overreaction or a necessary move?

Q: If given the opportunity to spend 48 uninterrupted hours with a special someone, where would you choose to spend it... in a first-class cabin on the finest cruise ship in the world; your first college dormitory room; a penthouse suite in a mid-town Manhattan hotel; a tree house in the middle of the forest; your current house; in a Swiss Chalet; or somewhere else?

Q: If you had a band, what would you name it?

February 5, 2004

Saying that "separate is seldom, if ever, equal," the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled yesterday afternoon that its state Legislature could not substitute 'civil unions' for full marriage rights to satisfy a previous Court decision. What this essentially means is that starting in late-May, same-sex couples can get hitched in Massachusetts, making it the only state to permit gay marriages. From the Supreme Court's decision:

"The history of our nation has demonstrated that separate is seldom, if ever, equal... The dissimilitude between the terms 'civil marriage' and 'civil union' is not innocuous; it is a considered choice of language that reflects a demonstrable assigning of same sex, largely homosexual, couples to second class status."

President Bush immediately denounced the decision and vowed to pursue legislation to protect a traditional definition of marriage:

"Today's ruling of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is deeply troubling. Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman. If activist judges insist on re-defining marriage by court order, the only alternative will be the constitutional process. We must do what is legally necessary to defend the sanctity of marriage."

As a result of yesterday's ruling, it would seem that a constitutional crisis may soon be at hand. By order of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, starting in late-May, marriage in the USA is no longer the exclusive right of heterosexuals, and no longer exclusively the union of a man and woman. Once the State of Massachusetts begins issuing marriage licenses to all partnered human beings, homosexual couples will likely flock to the state in droves to get married. And when they return to their home states, or move from Massachusetts to another state, challenges are sure to be filed against the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. To top all of this off... the current front-runner in the race to oppose George W. Bush for the presidency of these United States -- John Kerry -- hails from the State of Massachusetts, and he oppose gay marriages!

If you're comfortable commenting on any of this, please share your thoughts on this interesting question... is marriage a human right or a privledge? If you have an opinion but are not comfortable sharing your thoughts, primarily because your name will be associated with your comments, consider this... the 'comment' feature on this site allows you to post thoughts without leaving your name or e-mail address.

February 4, 2004

Two little girls recently made their way into our world. My dear friend Kate Robey -- who I first met because we once held similar jobs at the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) in Boulder -- ushered 7 lb., 6 oz. Alexa Grace into the world at 9:26PM last Monday evening, January 26th. Messages from Kate and her sister indicate that mom and baby are both doing well. Here's a picture:

Stella Marie also joined us last week. The daughter of Andy and Paige Jackins (Andy was a sales manager on The Outdoor Network team during most of 2001), Stella entered the world at 7:51AM last Wednesday, January 28, weighing 5 lbs., 14 oz. Stella is seen below with her very proud mom:

February 3, 2004

Respectability on Television. Many would say that those two terms are unable to both be true at the same time. But a couple of days after the Super Bowl telecast on CBS, and everyone from your average co-worker on down the line to the pitiful chairman of the FCC is once again talking about what should and shouldnít be shown on the boob-tube (no pun intended; okayÖ maybe a little pun intended).

For anyone who didnít see it or hasnít heard, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson were together on stage for a lip-synched performance during the Super Bowl Halftime Show Sunday evening, and whether it was planned or not (some say it was, others say it was an ëaccidentí), Timberlake tore aside part of Jacksonís costume, revealing one of her breasts (the right one, Iím pretty sure; yep, someone on the radio just said it was the right one). This was on live television, mind you, and happened during the coveted 8:00pm ëfamily hourí spot. The performance has touched off quite an objection here in the heartland, and elsewhere too. CBS and MTV, which co-produced the Halftime Show, have said that the tear away was not planned and that they are not happy about what happened. Timberlake has apologized thru the media for what he says was a "wardrobe malfunction," while Jackson has been quoted as saying sheís sorry, but no oneís buying it.

FCC Chief Michael Powell, has been quoted in the media as being ëoutragedí by what he saw during the Halftime Show, and says there would be an immediate investigation into the broadcast. "Like millions of Americans, my family and I gathered around the TV for the celebration," said Powell. "Instead, that celebration was tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt. Our nation's children, parents and citizens deserve better."

But why focus all of the attention on the Jackson/Timberlake thing-a-ma-jigÖ after all, by Powell's and everyone else's standard (everyone else who's 'outraged,' that is), almost every second of the Halftime Show was inappropriately provocative. During Jackson's bit, cabaret dancers were dressed in underwear pulled down to below the waist. The dance moves included bumping and grinding and a whole bunch of you-know-what grabbing. Kid Rock's musical selection (which I thought was the best performance of the Show) spoke of hookers, methadone clinics, and beer commercials; not to mention the fact that the song that Timberlake lip-synched before he tore off Jacksonís top was called ìRock Your Body,î with lyrics that included ìI'll have you naked by the end of this song.î

On its website Monday, MTV said "the tearing of Janet Jackson's costume was unrehearsed, unplanned and completely unintentional and was inconsistent with the assurances we had of the content of the performances.î But the network also wrote in one web-based story that appeared on its site late-Sunday evening that Jackson "got nasty" on the MTV produced Super Bowl Halftime Show. "Jaws across the country hit the carpet at exactly the same time," the story read. "You know what we're talking about; Justin Timberlake and a kinky finale that rocked the Super Bowl to its core."

There are bigger issues at play here, of course, and they extend well beyond the supposition that Timberlake and Jackson were once romantically linked with one another. Whatís okay to show on TV, and why the about-face from MTV? Language that was once forbidden is now a regular part of the prime-time dialogue. Should the FCC impose a rule that live events be broadcast with a delay, allowing language or images to be cleared up or bleeped out? Is that what should happen with live news events also? Or is it our responsibility as consumers to simply change the channel if we donít like what we see? Before you answer or comment on any of this, hereís whatís perhaps the most interesting fact of allÖ Despite all the outrageÖ despite all of the calls for investigationsÖ the boob-tube moment drew the largest spike in audience reaction TiVo has ever measured. TiVo said viewership spiked up to 180 percent as hundreds of thousands of households used TiVoís capabilities to pause and replay live television to view the incident again and again and again and again.

February 2, 2004

The debate over teaching creationism or evolution as scientific theory dates back to the 1925 trial of John T. Scopes, who was convicted of teaching evolution in a Dayton, Tenn., high school. Scopes was held in violation of the 1925 Butler Act, which made it unlawful to "teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible." The Tennessee Supreme Court dismissed his conviction on appeal, and the law was repealed in 1967.

During the 1970s and 1980s, bills to require the teaching of creation science were introduced in more than 20 states. Only Arkansas and Louisiana, though, passed such laws. The Arkansas law was overturned by a federal district court in 1982. And in 1987, in Edwards v. Aguillard, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Louisiana law, which prohibited the teaching of evolution unless it was accompanied by a "balanced treatment" of creation theory. The Kansas Board of Education proposed and continues to debate the omission of the word "evolution" from their curriculum and all textbooks.

Fast forward to today, 2004.

Schoolhouses are once again a site of this battle, as debates rage on which theory belongs in the science classroom. State legislatures, seeking to define the roles of church and state, continue to grapple with how to teach religious issues in the classroom. In a recent firestorm, Former President Jimmy Carter criticized the Georgia Department of Education over a proposal to eliminate the word "evolution" from the state's curriculum.

In a game of smoke and mirrors, how does this really achieve any goal in curriculum matters and pedagogy of educators? A claim that "evolution" is a buzzword denies the fact that this term has been used to describe a 'theory', just as 'creationism' is used to describe a 'theory'... creationism is also used as a buzzword in the same reference. Why exclude one term without excluding competing terminology.

My recommendation is:

Require all publicly funded schools to teach a series of courses in critical thinking, ethics, and morality. Not only would this explore the intersection of religion (historically) and science, but also provide students with much needed skills in thinking critically about subject matter that is controversial. These skills lack in virtually every public school student entering college, when they could be taught at an earlier age. Providing the students with a framework, information, and the right skills will better prepare them to question both sides of any issue, without being "told" that this "is" the only theory. This solution would enable educators to teach science in the science classroom, and creationism (other topics as well, and not just the Christian worldviews) in another class. There is no reason to close the doors to free speech (thinking) and reasoning when a solution exists to satisfy all, especially if it can further the education of our young minds in their preparation for the world. Far too often, our children today don't think for themselves, or don't think critically about issues as important as this is.

Good science education should prepare students to distinguish the data or testable theories of science from philosophical or religious claims that are made in the name of science. This can't be done in the science classroom. It is not appropriate, I believe, to discuss creationism in reference to the theory of evolution in a science classroom, because the educator cannot properly cover subject material that would adhere to the standard of non-coercive teaching and invalidates their own scientific training and claims thereof. Academically, the science educator is not equipped with the training to teach creationism. How many go to a religion class to learn the fine nuances of evolution? Never, unless the class is on the intersection and nature of science in religion and religion in science. The educator would also be teaching the student in a coercive manner that 'this' Biblical, Christian theory is something that you should consider as a valid, proven claim "against" evolution, much as a student could be coerced into praying. The other problems introduced to the educator, and in return the student, are which "creationist" view do you teach? There are at least 500 different creation stories to draw from - all different. If conservatives want just "creation science" taught, which version: New earth or old earth? Support of one claim doesn't teach a student to think critically about subject matter. It breeds exclusion and gives credence to one religious world-view over another. Not to mention, this can generate intolerance in the classroom and overall school environment towards those of another faith.

Resources on Religion and Science

Metanexus Institute

Science and Spirit

John Templeton Foundation

Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science

February 1, 2004

About the only thing more boring than the first 26 minutes of the Super Bowl game itself had to have been the equally disappointing commercials. I stopped keeping track midway thru the 4th quarter, but of the 85 or so commercials I saw:

- 34 were for CBS's own shows
- 9 were for beer
- 7 were for movies
- 6 were for Internet service
- 6 were for sodas
- 4 were for smoking / drug prevention
- 3 were for automobiles
- 3 were for 'male enhancement' products
- 3 were for the National Football League
- 3 were for online job and resume listing services
- 2 were for computer operating systems
- 2 were for fast food
- 1 was for cell phone service
- 1 was for overnight / express package delivery
- 1 was for potato chips

Aside from the fact that most of this year's commercials sucked wind, here's what I'll remember:

The Ford GT commercial featured the following small print in the bottom right corner of the screen: "Clearly a professional driver on a closed course."

Best one-liner: "Baseball could use Levitra," spoken by Mike Ditka in an ad for the 'male enhancement' ad he's now 'pumping' in print and TV ads.

AOL's commercials featured the father and son team from the Discovery network show, American Chopper, but I don't think enough people watch that show to have made the on-screen combative relationship between the father and older son relevant to the majority of people watching this year's game and commercials.

Around 10 or so of this year's spots featured animals, including one farting horse!

The best commercial was the last one shown... the Subway spot, which put to rest for once and for all that Wang Chung will not have a reunion tour.

CBS, which refused to show a MoveOn.org commercial criticizing President Bush (the network indicated that they didn't accept the ad because of their position of never allowing "advocacy advertising") did air an anti-tobacco commercial which featured "Shards of glass freeze pops." The commercial itself wondered aloud why we can't get the same truth in advertising about tobacco. Hmmm, that ad sure seemed like "advocacy advertising" to me. (Regardless of how I may feel about Bush or anyone else, give me a break CBS! Be consistent with your policies, not political. Not allowing the to run was a form of advocacy advertising in-and-of itself.)

My alma matter, The University of Houston, got some major props during the telecast. The U of H marching band backed up some of the lip-synced half-time acts, and former of U of H star Antoine Smith played a solid game at running back for the Patriots.

Finally, who could forget Janet Jackson ìunintentionallyî exposing her right breast during the half-time performance. Final score... Super Bowl Game Itself: 28; Super Bowl Commercials: 7