Next Wednesday, the first graders are trying a social experiment. The kids have been asked to go the whole day using as close to no electricity as possible. What a cool idea--to try and boost awareness of the ways we consciously and unconsciously use energy.
No TV, no Wii--okay, great idea, check, check. Cold breakfast--check. Parents, we're asking you to not use your coffee makers in the morning. Huh? What? Can I make it? Wait until Mr. Dewberry figures out he's going to have to take a cold shower.
It's actually a fantastic, thought-provoking idea...and maybe after that day the kids will actually learn to turn off the lights and the TV.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
There's a reason they didn't share
Amazon.com used to never give out its customer service phone number. Today, I found it on their website pretty easily, but I have to say that the rep was spectacularly unhelpful.
I have spent 3 hours today dealing with the fall-out from an usurped credit card number. My credit card company was great; all our other accounts checked out clean. But more than $3,000 was charged, in a sequential series of charges, from amazon.com payments to the main credit card we use. I haven't ever used that service and haven't activated a payments account. But clearly someone else did, using some of our personal information. My credit card company readily removed the charges, canceled the account and did so promptly, efficiently and expediently. All I wanted was for amazon.com to make sure that there wasn't an open account in my name and if there was, to terminate it.
After 40 minutes the upshoot is that I'll be getting an email at some vague point in the future updating me on the status. Compared to the swift action of my credit card company, this is rather wan.
I have spent 3 hours today dealing with the fall-out from an usurped credit card number. My credit card company was great; all our other accounts checked out clean. But more than $3,000 was charged, in a sequential series of charges, from amazon.com payments to the main credit card we use. I haven't ever used that service and haven't activated a payments account. But clearly someone else did, using some of our personal information. My credit card company readily removed the charges, canceled the account and did so promptly, efficiently and expediently. All I wanted was for amazon.com to make sure that there wasn't an open account in my name and if there was, to terminate it.
After 40 minutes the upshoot is that I'll be getting an email at some vague point in the future updating me on the status. Compared to the swift action of my credit card company, this is rather wan.
Culture of Dishonesty
Well, I said I'd get personal on this blog, and how much more personal can you get than politics?
I am not loving Bill Clinton these days. When he was President, I stuck up for him (sometimes vigorously). But I hated that his inappropriate conduct, half-truths and mendacities made that defense necessary. By the time he left office, I was ready for him to go. (Of course, I wasn't prepared for the level of lies to come...but that's another post). In the intervening years, I could remember Bill fondly as he ran around doing things like working on global poverty issues, tsunami relief and the like. Very dignified, very appropriate (of course he's raking in the big bucks as a speaker and Director-for-hire), at least in the public eye.
And now this...slugfest...where he has thrown off that post-office dignified mantle and gotten down and dirty in the trenches, seemingly relishing every minute of the spotlight as nasty vitriol spews forth. And you know what? Every time he opens his mouth, I'm transported to that era when I defended someone who I hated having to defend, whose great promise was just about negated through his actions. I don't want to go back there. And I become more disheartened about the concept of a Hillary presidency, which I was never that keen on anyway, but had come to accept.
After the last sixteen years of shaded words and too many outright lies, I want it to stop.
Note: This is part of a much longer draft that I've written, but not posted, about my ambivalent feelings about HRC as a candidate. Please feel free to comment--agree or disagree with me, I'm good with that. Keep it civil. I'll edit or delete posts that aren't appropriate.
I am not loving Bill Clinton these days. When he was President, I stuck up for him (sometimes vigorously). But I hated that his inappropriate conduct, half-truths and mendacities made that defense necessary. By the time he left office, I was ready for him to go. (Of course, I wasn't prepared for the level of lies to come...but that's another post). In the intervening years, I could remember Bill fondly as he ran around doing things like working on global poverty issues, tsunami relief and the like. Very dignified, very appropriate (of course he's raking in the big bucks as a speaker and Director-for-hire), at least in the public eye.
And now this...slugfest...where he has thrown off that post-office dignified mantle and gotten down and dirty in the trenches, seemingly relishing every minute of the spotlight as nasty vitriol spews forth. And you know what? Every time he opens his mouth, I'm transported to that era when I defended someone who I hated having to defend, whose great promise was just about negated through his actions. I don't want to go back there. And I become more disheartened about the concept of a Hillary presidency, which I was never that keen on anyway, but had come to accept.
After the last sixteen years of shaded words and too many outright lies, I want it to stop.
Note: This is part of a much longer draft that I've written, but not posted, about my ambivalent feelings about HRC as a candidate. Please feel free to comment--agree or disagree with me, I'm good with that. Keep it civil. I'll edit or delete posts that aren't appropriate.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Azaleas don't have calendars
Just one last post today...
In my backyard, one of my azalea bushes is blooming. This is not the blooms 2x a year azalea variety; this is a normal azalea that is supposed to bloom in March. I've seen a few others starting to bloom around town, and it's a jarring phenomenon, somehow I am sure related to our completely odd winter, weather-wise. It does not bode well for this year's Azalea Trail, a home-and-garden tour. Last year, at Bayou Bend they had to put buckets of ice around some of the azaleas to hold them off from blooming. Imagine!
I'm going to go take a picture, because the saucer magnolia, the azalea and the camellia are all blooming at once. That is not supposed to happen.
In my backyard, one of my azalea bushes is blooming. This is not the blooms 2x a year azalea variety; this is a normal azalea that is supposed to bloom in March. I've seen a few others starting to bloom around town, and it's a jarring phenomenon, somehow I am sure related to our completely odd winter, weather-wise. It does not bode well for this year's Azalea Trail, a home-and-garden tour. Last year, at Bayou Bend they had to put buckets of ice around some of the azaleas to hold them off from blooming. Imagine!
I'm going to go take a picture, because the saucer magnolia, the azalea and the camellia are all blooming at once. That is not supposed to happen.
Book Characters
So, for some tidbits of amusement, instead of the usual blog-time lists of movies and the like, I listed my favorite book characters (look to the left). These aren't always my favorite books (although some are), and is probably not even a scientific list--just what I could remember at the exact moment I compiled the list.
Who/what are some of your favorite characters and why?
Who/what are some of your favorite characters and why?
Beating the buzz word to death
For fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJtgEfIla0A
As I am only semi-technically literate, I don't know how to embed youtube videos in my blog...but this is a funny one. Keep watching...the most amusing part starts about 50 seconds in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
As I am only semi-technically literate, I don't know how to embed youtube videos in my blog...but this is a funny one. Keep watching...the most amusing part starts about 50 seconds in.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Acceptable Risk
My boys were playing Risk this morning (a game I never got into as a kid), and that got me thinking about risk, risky behavior and what is acceptable risk.
As a parent, you want to help engender enough risk taking behavior that your kids feel like they can spread their wings and really fly, but not so much that they end up in a crumpled heap of metal by the side of the road because they took one colossally stupid risk too many. That balance, and how to help your kids understand even about balance itself, it is one tricky parental tightrope.
My younger one seems to have it naturally down. He will try new foods and experiences eagerly. Broken arm notwithstanding, he's also not flying off the garage roof in constant search of an adrenaline rush. My older one, well, that's the hard one. He is a perfectionist and doesn't want to try things he's not naturally good at. He's been naturally talented at a lot of things, so that behavior has been heightened. This year, this attitude seems to be finally loosening up, moderating quite a bit. Besides just maturity, I credit a few things:
Anyway, the beat goes on. One day at a time.
As a parent, you want to help engender enough risk taking behavior that your kids feel like they can spread their wings and really fly, but not so much that they end up in a crumpled heap of metal by the side of the road because they took one colossally stupid risk too many. That balance, and how to help your kids understand even about balance itself, it is one tricky parental tightrope.
My younger one seems to have it naturally down. He will try new foods and experiences eagerly. Broken arm notwithstanding, he's also not flying off the garage roof in constant search of an adrenaline rush. My older one, well, that's the hard one. He is a perfectionist and doesn't want to try things he's not naturally good at. He's been naturally talented at a lot of things, so that behavior has been heightened. This year, this attitude seems to be finally loosening up, moderating quite a bit. Besides just maturity, I credit a few things:
- He's been lucky enough to have one of those tough, tough teachers this year (hopefully the kind you remember for a lifetime). Not only has he gotten his first-ever B on an assignment, he's even gotten a C. For a kid who skated by with 100s on nearly everything, this has been a shock to the system. But, he's learned that you can make a 78 on one paper and still make an A for the quarter. You work a little harder (a little more carefully) and you can do it.
- Odyssey of the Mind has been terrific for him. Last year they did a Balsa project and this year they are working on the vehicle problem. Like last year at this time, they are struggling mightily--to get along, to make it work, to come to a group consensus. This struggle is powerful for him--it shows him that with resilience, you work through your problems, and that you don't give up because something is difficult.
- Art class. He has been blessed with a wonderful art teacher who has taught him new ways to look at things. In art, there are no bad risks. Everything you try has value.
- Parental praise for new things. He and I went out solo for sushi last week. A few years ago, I wouldn't have thought that kid and I would be sitting at the sushi bar, asking the chef for things like octopus to try and enjoy. He had a glorious time and was so proud of himself for trying everything.
Anyway, the beat goes on. One day at a time.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Party politics, all the time
This nomination season, with all the uncertainty that has come with it, has led to an overdose of political coverage. It started with the extended running-for-office season, beginning a year before the first actual primary or caucus. I think we're all sick of it, from those of us who follow politics closely (like me) to those who don't.
I'm a progressive, which means that I lean left. But, I also live in Texas, which is not exactly a blue state. So that means that I'm a pragmatist first and foremost (I also have an MBA, which means that fiscal responsibility is important too)--I don't pick on pure ideology. I have and will cross party lines to vote for the candidate that I feel will best represent the state and make some stabs at addressing the issues I care most about--education, fiscal responsibility, social justice and environmentalism.
I have voted in other elections in Missouri, but I've lived in Texas for every presidential election since I was old enough to vote in one (1988). I generally vote in the Democratic Primary. This year, Texas votes on March 4th, which in another year would have been the old super Tuesday, but because of the front-loaded season, was now thought to be way behind the curve. Usually, Super Tuesday didn't matter either--it had all been worked out by then. Because nominations are decided by the time its our turn, I always vote my favorite candidate, regardless of whether they have a chance of winning the nomination or not. In the primary at least, I don't have to make the choice between pragmatism and ideology.
There are some scenarios that lead to Texas votes still mattering this year. Wouldn't that be the kicker? What if in this, the longest election cycle in memory, what I call the street-sweeping primaries (those after the parade has long since gone by) were important and still mattered? I'd love to actually have a say in the process.
To me, that's one of the tenets of democracy--that each of our votes matter--that has been completely tossed aside by this crazy nominating process.
I'm a progressive, which means that I lean left. But, I also live in Texas, which is not exactly a blue state. So that means that I'm a pragmatist first and foremost (I also have an MBA, which means that fiscal responsibility is important too)--I don't pick on pure ideology. I have and will cross party lines to vote for the candidate that I feel will best represent the state and make some stabs at addressing the issues I care most about--education, fiscal responsibility, social justice and environmentalism.
I have voted in other elections in Missouri, but I've lived in Texas for every presidential election since I was old enough to vote in one (1988). I generally vote in the Democratic Primary. This year, Texas votes on March 4th, which in another year would have been the old super Tuesday, but because of the front-loaded season, was now thought to be way behind the curve. Usually, Super Tuesday didn't matter either--it had all been worked out by then. Because nominations are decided by the time its our turn, I always vote my favorite candidate, regardless of whether they have a chance of winning the nomination or not. In the primary at least, I don't have to make the choice between pragmatism and ideology.
There are some scenarios that lead to Texas votes still mattering this year. Wouldn't that be the kicker? What if in this, the longest election cycle in memory, what I call the street-sweeping primaries (those after the parade has long since gone by) were important and still mattered? I'd love to actually have a say in the process.
To me, that's one of the tenets of democracy--that each of our votes matter--that has been completely tossed aside by this crazy nominating process.
Dewdroppings?
So, why another blog? There's a glut of them out there, and why add to the clutter?
I already have a blog, but there I write mostly about a specific topic, letterboxing. I blow hot and cold on it, sometimes posting multiple times in one week, sometimes going weeks without posting at all.
There have been plenty of times where I wanted to talk about other things, work out some thoughts, or just comment inanely and snarkily on stuff going on. I don't feel comfortable doing so on a blog that is for a specific purpose. So, voila...dewdroppings. We'll see how it goes.
I already have a blog, but there I write mostly about a specific topic, letterboxing. I blow hot and cold on it, sometimes posting multiple times in one week, sometimes going weeks without posting at all.
There have been plenty of times where I wanted to talk about other things, work out some thoughts, or just comment inanely and snarkily on stuff going on. I don't feel comfortable doing so on a blog that is for a specific purpose. So, voila...dewdroppings. We'll see how it goes.
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