Sunburnt Sky

Day of Remembrance

2012-02-20T01:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the mandatory relocation of mainland Japanese-Americans to camps sprinkled across the United States. It is called a day of remembrance. The optimistic slogan, used prior and since, is “Never forget”. But I can say, without sarcasm or humor, I have forgotten why I remember. The Japanese Relocation Camps were not special.

Sonnet to young lovers from a jealous heart

2012-02-14T21:07:00.001-08:00

Cramps! The stomach rebels against my will And up and down and out comes the cheap swill Drunk this day, to salve my poor broken soul-- as they say, "make love to yon porcelain bowl". Ay, me, this be a familiar sight-- Drink Pepto, Immodium through the night And all for naught, in the end all for none For I am, haggard, with the rising sun Greeting the morn an empty container Vomit and stench--

In (qualified) defense of the state

2012-02-11T11:43:00.000-08:00

Updated: Found the link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79ZosnxGKgk This is the first of a series of articles I plan on writing to refine, for myself, what my political and economic philosophy is. I was on Youtube recently (hell, I’m on there a lot), and an interesting ad caught my attention. I actually sat through the entire 2:30 spot, which is a credit to the designers of the ad. At some point

2012 campaign starts!

2012-01-30T12:44:00.000-08:00

Citizens, patriots, Medicaid parasites, morons in public schools, rich morons in private schools, racists, bigots, chauvinists, pinko commies, neo-Confederates, my fellow Americans – I stand before you today a changed man, yet still a man, having man parts, and most importantly, man hearts. For it takes no less than three beating in my chest, one God-given, the other two because of a generous

Cheating in science

2011-12-22T14:07:00.000-08:00

A friend posted an interesting two-part article from Psychology Today about cheating in science. Part 1 Part 2. Coincidentally, this dovetails with another story about cheating (in journalism) posted by CNN a few days back. I am happy to report that I did not witness - or at least was not aware - of any fraud during my time at Cornell. It might be harder to get away with in astronomy and the

Santa Monica, Faith, and the Great Recession

2011-12-12T19:18:00.000-08:00

Today I write about the showdown in Santa Monica about Nativity Displays. A coalition of atheists has managed to secure the vast majority of permits for lots in a Santa Monica park, historically dedicated to nativity displays. It looks like yet another showdown between Christians and atheists. But I believe this is a great opportunity masquerading as a crisis. All parties currently involved, and

OOPS is just POOPS without PEE

2011-11-10T09:26:00.000-08:00

Oops

Testicles

2011-11-06T22:42:00.001-08:00

At this time, it may pay to remember that Greece, for all its present troubles, was the birthplace of some of the greatest figures in history. We Themistocles who fought at Marathon, successfully foresaw the need to create a massive navy and defeated the greatest military power on Earth at Salamis, and experienced a tragic defeat politically that left him exiled and in service to the very power

Admittedly armchair economics - taxes and jobs

2011-09-18T01:11:00.000-07:00

Tax policy should always be on the table. I'm tired of listening to people who admittedly have the job of fighting tax increases. I'll do my job, and dig past the repeated boilerplate about taxes killing investment and hiring. American business have practically zero interest rates and historically low tax rates. And yet businesses are (perhaps rationally) not hiring. No wonder - the customer

Why you should hug a math major today (and maybe even scientists and engineers)

2011-08-29T23:02:00.000-07:00

I've been working on Slader, a website where you answer math questions and get paid a bit per solution. There's more comprehensive information in a review here, if you're interested. Anyway, it occurred to me that the math majors/grad students I know are absolutely, totally nuts. Look, I like LaTeX. It makes things pretty, especially equations. I've had to use quite a bit of it to write papers

2011-02-02T23:52:00.000-08:00

2011-01-29T23:37:00.001-08:00

I'm running for office, again!

2010-10-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

My fellow Americans. As none of you may know, I have, in anticipation of a recall election, decided to run for the highest office in the land – I want to be your next mayor of San Gabriel. While Mr. Hwang reinforces existing negative stereotypes about Asians’ singleminded focus on money and dangerous driving, I promise to give you completely new reasons to regard us with scorn and horror. Some

The Last Dream

2010-10-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

This is actually taken from a dream I had last night. Not "Kublai Khan", but it was vivid enough that I thought I'd try to recreate it. “David.” I wanted to tell him that, growing up together, he had always inspired me with his confidence, his athleticism, how effortlessly he had made friends and moved between disparate groups. I wanted to tell him how much it hurt to see him playing the part

Sample question from a student, and my reply

2010-10-09T14:32:00.000-07:00

Looking for feedback on whether I'm providing good help to my students via email. A sample (in fact, to this point, the only) email exchange for precalc. How are you today? I am a student in your pre-calculus class.I have some questions on my homework.Could you please give me some help? 1.How to find out real zeros from all possible rational zeros of a function?(I have read the samples in the

I got a job

2010-10-02T17:14:00.000-07:00

I’ve just been hired by Excelsior school, a private boarding school in Pasadena, CA that serves about 60-70 predominately international students from East Asia and Russia. I will be teaching six subjects: pre-calculus, calculus, physics, chemistry, Algebra 2, and SAT math. I will be teaching five days a week, about six hours a day. Pay is $24/hr. Health benefits typically aren’t offered until one

Learning some humility from a technical interview

2010-10-02T00:32:00.000-07:00

I had a brutal interview today for a tutoring job. Writing it up as a lesson to myself and others about under-preparation and overconfidence going into an interview with a test component. It started nicely enough –resume questions from the president, who is an econ major, and some jovial joking with a Caltech engineering major who had worked at JPL. I bedazzled with my complicated one-sentence

Hale's invitation

2010-10-01T09:56:00.001-07:00

If you find yourself wandering and lost, stop by my corningware oubliette. Bring me a touch and I will share with you the loveliness, the loneliness of eternal sky

My favorite astropolitik story

2010-10-01T00:31:00.000-07:00

Louis XI (1423-1483), the great Spider King of France, had a weakness for astrology. He kept a court astrologer whom he admired, until one day the man predicted that a lady of the court would die within eight days. When the prophecy came true, Louis was terrified, thinking that either the man had murdered the woman to prove his accuracy or that he was so versed in his science that his powers

United Methodist Sermon on gay rights

2010-09-28T21:20:00.000-07:00

(This is a sermon I have not yet given before a congregation. But I present it here, with the hope it may be of value to the congregation of friends, religious or not, I am privileged to know. -R) The Lord be with you. (And also with you.) Today’s story comes from the headline news. On Monday night, Anderson Cooper interviewed Andrew Shirvell, who is an assistant attorney general for the state

Kitchen table discussion on the drug cartels in Mexico

2010-09-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

Today I had a kitchen table discussion with Mom and Roy about immigration. Lately, I’ve been trying to avoid these, mostly because I feel like there’s not much actual exchange of information and insight, but tons of entrenched positions. This discussion, however, was reasonably good and provided some interesting thoughts. Some highlights: I think one of the reasons why immigration has gotten A

Why I wouldn't exist without anti-immigration laws

2010-09-07T12:13:00.001-07:00

So I haven’t written about SB 1070 or really any other immigration policy. But I would like to highlight one case where anti-immigration laws were helpful, if you believe, as I do, that my existence is a Good Thing. My grandfather, Masao, initially wanted to be a literature professor at the University of Tokyo. Throughout his life, he became a fairly accomplished haiku poet of some regard, and

An email from myself, four years ago

2010-08-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

I received an unusual email today. It was from me, four years ago. I’d completely forgotten I signed up for, or used, Futureme.org. I had apparently written it on August 29, 2006, just at the end of my first year of graduate school. Dear FutureMe, Hi, this is me in grad school. Remember grad school? Yeah Remember to laugh and love. Remember how awesome Ann and Ryan and Dave and Suniti are.

Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them - Introduction

2010-08-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

David Anderegg is a psychologist affiliated with Bennington University in Vermont. In addition, he runs a private practice specializing in psychotherapy for children. He has written a fascinating book about nerds. Yes, nerds. In case it’s not obvious, I do have a bit of interest in this topic, if for no other reason than an obsession with fruitless self-examination. I came across Nerds: Who They

Help for a friend seeking entrance into USMC Officer Candidate Program

2010-08-21T21:37:00.000-07:00

Today I am appealing to you to help me find a way for a friend to successfully join the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate Program. I knew James in elementary school. He’d always been athletic, and a leader. From what I’ve learned about his cross-fit training, he’s continued that today. He’s come a long way from the guy who busted my chops because of lackluster performance on the flag

What Cordoba really means to me

2010-08-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

Olbermann's comments about Park 51:"There is no 'Ground Zero Mosque'" Until now, I never really read much Olbermann or had reason to quote him. But he's right about this. I can confirm, from my memories of Medieval History class, that the characterization of "Cordoba" by Newt Gingrich misses the point. "Cordoba" is, in part, a microcosm of the history of Islam - it's bloody civil wars, its

Thoughts while listening to Philip Glass

2010-08-19T21:01:00.000-07:00

From half-remembered moments, from half a lifetime ago dendrites strain like monstrous hands To strangle and elevate a connection. To leave conviction stranded in the realm of truth. The terror, the absolute terror of losing all, waking one distant day to un-discover a lifetime spent in a fugue state.

Proof that there is such a thing as a "bad poem"

2010-08-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

I see a little kitty Now isn't she pretty A little kitty cat Now how about that. - an actual poem I wrote in 8th grade to try to fill space in an end-of-year project

Sharing a secret - hopefully funny, likely creepy, and definitely weird

2010-08-19T01:57:00.000-07:00

Breaking News: I’m an odd guy. I’m about to share a secret I’ve never told a soul. But it illustrates a quirk that, I suspect, is either quite common, or will certify me as completely insane. Once upon a time, I was part of a performing church dance group called Inochi. I participated for much of my childhood until about fifth grade. It was filled with tons of wonderful, intelligent, and

How to calculate your 10,000th day on Earth

2010-08-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

As usual, whenever I try to take a nap I think of something to keep me awake. This time, it was my 10,000th day of life. It’s pretty straightforward to calculate, though one needs to exercise some caution when converting it into a memorable format (for example, October 15, 2010). To convert into years, multiply the following factors (Note: Throughout this post, I multiply conversion factors

On growing up "nerdy" and nerdiness at Harvey Mudd College

2010-08-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

I started thinking about the extent of my self-identification as a “nerd” after reading David Anderegg’s book, Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them. A later post (or posts) will include a summary and analysis of his arguments. For now, as a starting point, I’ll stick with a brief, rough definition he offers. To paraphrase: Nerds are characterized vaguely by a combination of school

Fairness

2010-08-10T16:00:00.001-07:00

We must be fair, because life is not.

From "Ulysses" by Tennyson

2010-08-06T00:20:00.000-07:00

Though much is taken, much abides; and though We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

Moving White House AIM conversations to a new blog

2010-08-05T23:44:00.000-07:00

Hi all, Given the whimsical nature of the AIMconversations, and given its stark contrast to the moody and often downright depressing content of the typical post here, I've decided to move the AIM conversations to a new blog, White House AIM Conversations. I've also created a Twitter account for the AIM conversations (@WhiteHouseAim). Hopefully, this will prevent emotional whiplash, and preserve

Repeat after me

2010-07-31T23:40:00.001-07:00

I will not allow isolated communications from members of my family to sabotage my self-confidence. I will not allow others' attempts to guilt me into behavior be a prime motivator for changing behavior. I will rise above and beyond the expectations and norms set for me by those lacking imagination and courage. I will define my relationship with my father, and not allow, through inaction or

White House AIM conversations - Steele and McConnell discuss strategy

2010-07-31T01:32:00.000-07:00

White House AIM conversations - Senate GOP meeting

2010-07-29T23:10:00.001-07:00

White House AIM conversations - Boehner drunk-IMs McConnell

2010-07-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

White House AIM conversations - Reid and Pelosi talk with Rangel about a deal

2010-07-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

White House AIM conversations - Boehner calls a House meeting

2010-07-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

White House AIM conversations - Hillary empathizes with Barack

2010-07-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

CA-29 election flyer targets Asian-Americans

2010-07-26T13:23:00.000-07:00

Updated 14:22 PDT: I uploaded low-resolution copies of the entire flyer. Some of the text is illegible. But given that there's nothing especially controversial in the flyer, I think the low-res images still convey the interesting approach taken in these political direct mailings. Let me know if you want high-resolution copies. Interesting - Adam Schiff (D-CA 29th) just sent an update that

White House AIM Conversations - Trojan Horse

2010-07-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

Two short videos of young souls in old bodies playing piano

2010-07-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

Both of these are beautiful in separate ways. Enjoy.

3000

2010-07-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

Yet another threshold – I have had 3,000 visitors to my blog. The last three months of posts works out to about 43 pages in Word. I typed 15,609 words, or 75,478 characters, excluding spaces. It’s 91,234, if you include spaces. Text density, as well as content, must be on the light side. The secret? Short words. Also, I know there’s at least one “I” in narcissism. Too busy being a god among men

Shirley Sherrod Part 2: Telling the Story

2010-07-21T03:49:00.000-07:00

This was going to be an analysis of the politics, the decision trees, the steps that led to the present debacle, and the possible options going forward for the players in the Shirley Sherrod saga. Then, I realized that the internet will be filled with that tomorrow. How will it play in November? Can Obama afford to hire her back? Can he afford not to? The talking heads that charged headlong into

Shirley Sherrod, Part 1: Summary of the controversy, and notes on full speech

2010-07-20T23:32:00.000-07:00

Note: Timestamp embedding doesn't work for the CNN clips because of the advertising code. To view the clip from that time, you will have to manually move the playback control to the referenced timestamp. CNN summarizes the main issues and timeline of the Shirley Sherrod controversy. Briefly, Shirley Sherrod, the Georgia director of rural development for the USDA, was forced to resign on

My OKCupid Profile

2010-07-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

We are an overexposed society. Continuing with a trend of TMI, here is my OkCupid profile. Take a number, ladies! http://www.okcupid.com/profile/resplendention

Resurrected Facebook Post 5: True Story

2010-07-20T16:25:00.000-07:00

True story: I don't know where I am. I went with my cousin Renee to the mall. While she was trying on some clothes, I decided to try my hand at being French. As you may know, I had originally intended to be French for Halloween. My costume was to consist of a horizontally striped shirt, a beret, and a cigarette (and possibly some French bread). I would also have a delightfully crappy French

Your pretty, I'm desperate

2010-07-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

An OkCupid study looked at response rates for messages containing certain phrases. (via Sociological Images: http://contexts.org/socimages/2009/09/28/what-do-women-want/) Lesson: knowing the proper use of "your" vs. "you're" is helpful, but "your pretty" is still better than proper use of the adverb "very", as in "very pretty". Does this mean that high praise tends to be viewed as excessive?

The Tea Party' sCreed

2010-07-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

(CNN:Palin Likens Self to Shakespeare) Oh, Queen of the North, flower of Wasila! Her plaintive tears make the mockingbirds cheep Sweet tweets on how the world doesn’t getcha, Stalked by a neighboring, muckraking creep. Athene and Helen of the GOP, Pit bull stylist, polymath performer, Return us to glory! Please, make us free From fascists, communists and conformers! You possess the will; we

White House AIM conversations - Pelosi consoles Boehner on his loss

2010-07-19T00:09:00.000-07:00

Thought Experiment: Warfare in a warm, energy-starved world

2010-07-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

Continuing the theme of "ultra-heavy Sunday", I'm considering a grim possible future outcome of the energy crisis. This, I admit, is inspired by the Discovery Channel special on global energy consumption: Powering the Future. This is going to be a lazy, "for-fun" analysis - don't expect numbers or a lot of research. Imagine a world where energy costs have become a high, and possibly primary,

Gender norms, advocacy, medicine, and the law - Cornell case study

2010-07-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

When I first read that a friend had joined a group called "End Female Genital Mutation at Cornell", I braced myself for a report of an international student's child being subjected to mutilation according to their culture of origin. What I found was a different story that is currently taxing my vocabulary for appropriate descriptors. I'm very bothered by this group and what it discusses on many

Working through some thoughts on faith and purpose

2010-07-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

"Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones." - Phillips Brooks I’ve been thinking about the words of Phillips Brooks for some time. It’s amazing how an Episcopalian minister from 19th century Massachusetts can still touch lost seekers. There is nothing I have found from science that compares. Science can provide drama, mystery, and grandeur, but it, and

White House AIM conversations - Cabinet Meeting 1

2010-07-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

White House AIM conversations - Axelrod tries to Rick Roll McCain

2010-07-17T16:23:00.001-07:00

White House AIM conversations - Rahm and Mitch make a bet

2010-07-17T14:55:00.001-07:00

White House AIM conversations - Boehner and Pelosi have philosophical differences

2010-07-17T00:46:00.001-07:00

White House AIM conversations - Typo

2010-07-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

White House AIM conversations - Hil says bye to Bill

2010-07-16T21:02:00.001-07:00

White House AIM conversations - Obama and Biden talk about family

2010-07-16T20:25:00.000-07:00

Text problems on blog appear fixed for now

2010-07-15T22:50:00.001-07:00

Just noticed some problems with earlier posts. I believe it may have been a problem with displaying web pages on my computer that led to some sloppy cut-and-pasting earlier. It appears fixed now.

Advice on recruiting volunteers for community service projects

2010-07-15T22:47:00.000-07:00

This is taken from my correspondence with a friend seeking to recruit volunteers to work with at-risk kids in the Greater Los Angeles area. From what I could tell, this project was early in the planning stages. Some of it may be helpful to me or someone else, despite the fact that I'm too lazy to tighten the structure and organize the points better. If there's interest, I may do so -- however,

Goodbye Facebook

2010-07-13T11:38:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: I have been advised to NOT leave Facebook until I manage an alternative structure taht provides social connections. With some reservations, I've decided to cancel, or delay, my departure from here until further notice. Sorry if it seems like I was yanking your chain - I really was going to delete this profile Tuesday. - R There are good reasons for leaving. For me, it has become a

The next -gate scandals

2010-07-09T14:31:00.001-07:00

Apple-gate: Controversy surrounds Apple’s new iPad, which, in a move to support the troops, comes with a pre-installed racy background of Christina Applegate . She is depicted making out with the Mac guy on the top of a bunk bed, with the PC guy tearfully peeking from under the covers on the bottom bed. [1] Gates’ gate-gate: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is forced to resign for inappropriate

Some brief thoughts on climate change, prompted by the Economist

2010-07-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

The following comments were in response to an Economist article, "Science behind closed doors", concerning climate change science. This is perhaps the first time I've publicly communicated my thoughts on the ongoing discussions of global warming and climate change. I would appreciate your input. Vitriol surrounding climate change appears to conflate a few separate topics that have to be

The Atlantic: "Societal Forces and 'The Daily Show' "

2010-07-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

An interesting article from the Atlantic on gender and the Daily Show. It brings up a point or three about women in comedy. But I still have a feeling that I'm pretty (but not completely) sure isn't grounded in sexism that tells me that Olivia Munn's delivery isn't meshing well with what I enjoy about The Daily Show. In college, I once felt guilty for being annoyed by a Jewish guy in my

Ms. K is still teaching

2010-07-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

For the last few months/years, I have had a low enough opinion of my life and abilities that I do not do much to make my life better – it is the life of someone waiting for death, yet too cowardly to actively seek it out. It is with some surprise, then, that I find myself feeling somewhat hopeful today. I attribute this to talking with one of my mom’s close teacher friends, whom I'll call Ms. K.

Some advice for nurses in dealing with hospice care, hopefully (but probably not) more funny than bitter.

2010-07-03T02:42:00.000-07:00

Couldn’t sleep, so I decided to write. Trying to be funny and angry is hard. But it feels good. I’ll leave it to the pros, and go back to being existentially mopey tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll be back to a normal depressive state for a therapist appointment by noon – I’d hate to make a good first impression. - ed. Background As you may know, my father has failing kidneys, caused by a long life

Do not go gentle into that good night

2010-06-26T22:17:00.000-07:00

I just came back from a birthday dinner for my dad. It was a pleasant experience. It was also a bit surreal. My dad is old, much older than his 61 years. He lived hard when he was independent, and two decades of supervised living has slowly eroded his autonomy and independence. About a week ago, my aunt and I had a conversation with him about his kidney health - he has stage 4 renal disease,

Revanchism

2010-06-24T15:03:00.001-07:00

Still not a fan of soccer or imperialism. But I do love opportunistic bandwagoning and latent nationalist identity.

Killing the wunderkind

2010-06-19T01:23:00.001-07:00

It’s occurred to me that the farther I am from grad school, the more I’ve been relying on academic achievements to shore up my shoddy self-esteem. It’s been sickening is how much I’ve clung to this anachronistic self-ideation. It’s as if I haven’t developed my non-intellectual identity at all. I still hang onto that damn NSF as if it’s some sort of validation of whatever preconceived notions and

Never try to pick up a woman at a differently-abled Barnes and Noble.

2010-06-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

Just got back from my differently-abled Barnes and Noble (no bathroom, no cafe, no tables). Got a passive-aggressive hint over loudspeaker that I'm not allowed to sit on the floor, and should take my practice CBEST test in the most uncomfortable wooden chairs. But things could be worse. I saw what may have been a pretty attractive woman in a black dress eviscerate this poor guy trying to make

An old favorite: Kim Jong Il's livejournal

2010-05-31T09:00:00.001-07:00

http://users.livejournal.com/kim_jong_il__/profile

Piano Lessons

2010-05-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

I touched a piano for the first time in ages - my old, decrepit upright Steinway – but it is mine, in a way that only an old, decrepit, but upright heart could know. It was purchased at a good price from my church, and to this day I believe the church organist covets it. The pedals don’t work properly – it’s a bit too loud. But it’s tuned reasonably well. Once in an engineering lecture I was

Andrea del Sarto

2010-05-02T01:04:00.001-07:00

But do not let us quarrel any more, No, my Lucrezia; bear with me for once: Sit down and all shall happen as you wish. You turn your face, but does it bring your heart? I'll work then for your friend's friend, never fear, Treat his own subject after his own way, Fix his own time, accept too his own price, And shut the money into this small hand When next it takes mine. Will it? tenderly? Oh

Disappointment

2010-04-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

When someone very close to you disappoints you greatly, it can blindside you. It can shock and enrage. It can tempt you into trivializing their transgression, or offering immature promises. It can do many things. What it does, with absolute certainty, is provide an opportunity to observe the world more clearly. I am currently whether I've got the stomach to take off rose-colored glasses.

Character is Destiny

2010-04-24T09:32:00.001-07:00

Character is destiny. Not genetics. Not personal history. Character is destiny. It's the story of Lincoln, of every great American, of every great person who rose from nothing to shape themselves, and to shape their world. It is a terrifying, unforgiving truth, affording no room for excuses. Yet, if we embrace it, it will carry us to where we must go.

New Facebook Virus: "Redhot sexy girl in thong dancing [HQ]"

2010-04-22T22:19:00.001-07:00

Update 4 - probably the last (11:27) Daniel Aguilar recommends Antivir Personal, a free antivirus software from filehippo.com. Link is here: http://www.filehippo.com/download_antivir/ Update 3 (10:14): This hubpages page (http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Remove-Koobface-Virus) links to free anti-spyware software that received good reviews from CNET (though they warn that some settings can lead to

Death in Tehran

2010-04-22T13:43:00.000-07:00

The title does not refer to the current state of Iranian politics. Rather, it’s the title of a story. Here’s the version that appears in Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning: A rich and mighty Persian once walked in his garden with one of his servants. The servant cried that he had just encountered Death, who had threatened him. He begged his master to give him his fastest horse so that he

Why is California cutting Adult Education in the middle of a recession/jobless recovery?

2010-04-21T00:07:00.000-07:00

It’s sad, but it’s possible that the most important thing I took away from today’s job fair was a news story. The Bassett Adult School rep – incredibly knowledgeable and competent, especially compared to a lot of other reps – informed me that California adult education programs are being cut across the state. Orders aren’t coming from Sacramento – instead, K-12 districts are making the choice.

1000

2010-04-20T19:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the readers, occasional and frequent, that helped me reach 1,000 hits. I hope you've found something worthwhile. Some stats - eliminating pictures, I've written 241 12-font MS Word pages of text on this blog. 12,707 words. My God - this is where all the time went. I decided to try something and do a Wordle cloud for each year to note some changes. No time right now to comment on it,

Only Nixon Could go to China - Sunday service at a UCC church on the conversion of St. Paul

2010-04-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

Today’s sermon was, as usual, a masterpiece by Pastor Mitch. He piqued the historian in me when he discussed The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, a 1978 book by Michael H. Hart. Mitch asked all of us to pick our top three, then solicited our responses. (I chose, somewhat incoherently and with buyer’s remorse, “Jesus, Genghis Khan, and Abraham Lincoln”.) He then went

Summary of DWP research findings

2010-04-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

Might not write that report on DWP after all, since I focus too much on unpaid work. Suffice it to say the following: (1) the Mayor's opponents will attack his leadership of Solar LA - this will have an unknown impact on Villaraigosa's plans for higher office (2) Controller Greuel's audit, due in a couple months, will either be buried or blown out of proportion. I suspect it will indicate that

Quick comparison between Obama's space policy speech on Thursday and Kennedy's Moon speech

2010-04-16T19:29:00.001-07:00

Counting words in a speech isn't the same as analyzing content. However, it does provide some quick and interesting clues, especially when contrasted with speeches of similar scope and ambition. That's why I love Wordle. Here's a quick comparison between Obama's space policy address at Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, April 15 and Kennedy's "Moon" speech at Rice University. Obama's Address on

Preliminary thoughts on the Power Politics at LA DWP/City Council

2010-04-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

1. I still hate the general style and substance of LA Times articles, but they are good for highlighting specific points that might otherwise be missed. For example, the LA Times reminds us that the Mayor's office sent out a memo (later leaked) that made the transfer to the general fund contingent on a rate increase. 2. With his personal life, I don't know how Antonio Villaraigosa stays awake,

Suspicious phone call from ADT security representative

2010-04-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

I just received a rather strange call from an "ADT representative", who had the homeowner's name and our street address, inviting us to a vague "event" this weekend, which, when pressed, sounded like a door-to-door sales pitch. But it really, really irked me that the representative could not provide an 800 number. I declined to tell him when the owner would typically be home. This stinks of at

The Taliban are Very, Very Smart

2010-04-03T22:29:00.000-07:00

NYTimes article on new Taliban tactics This is very, very smart. As Stephen Biddle at CFR noted in 2008, the Anbar Awakening happened, in part, because the local tribal leaders were fed up with Al-Qaeda in Iraq interfering with their traditional system of patronage. This approach -- using existing systems of patronage -- appears to be harder in Afghanistan, in part, because those preexisting

Embrace Life - Always Wear Your Seatbelt

2010-04-03T21:43:00.000-07:00

The most beautiful video I've seen in a long time

Resurrected Facebook Post No. 4: Thoughts on the 40th Anniversary of Assassination of RFK

2010-03-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted Thursday, June 5, 2008; updated March 30, 2010 with info on a new documentary commemorating RFK's Indianapolis speech.) 1968 is considered by many historians as an amazing year. It seems a moment in which people felt a decade's worth of emotion in a single year. Revolutions in France and Czechoslovakia. The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Race riots in America.

Resurrected Facebook Post No. 3: In Memoriam, Ed Salpeter

2010-03-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

(from a Facebook group created in 2008, shortly after Dr. Salpeter's death) I created this group to commemorate the passing of one of the senior statesmen of astrophysics, Edwin (Ed) Ernest Salpeter, who passed away today. I'm hoping everyone will take a bit of time to post your memories or thoughts about Ed on this group. I was at Cornell for only three years, and heard only about Ed

Resurrected Facebook Post No. 2: 25 Things About Me

2010-03-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

Originally posted Feb. 6, 2009 Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. 1. My childhood hero was Scrooge McDuck. And yes, once, when I was six, I took my meager cash

NYTimes -- Well:Talk Deeply, Be Happy?

2010-03-21T23:41:00.000-07:00

NYTimes -- Well:Talk Deeply, Be Happy?Three notes does not make a dies mirabilis, but I couldn't resist posting a link to a NYTimes article on the value of deep conversations. The researchers seem to think along similar lines to Frankl, that, for humans, meaning is a "primary motivation in his life and not a secondary rationalization of instinctual drives." (Man's Search for Meaning, 99).From

Does anyone know an astronomer at Griffith Park Observatory?

2010-03-21T22:33:00.002-07:00

I'm trying to set up a tour of GPO for my cousin Nathan. My cousin Sally mentioned at the concert tonight that little Nathan loves Star Wars. I thought it would be exciting for him to be exposed to some real astronomy.I'm hoping that one of the wonderful astronomers I've been privileged to meet, and whom I might even presume to call "friend", could help me get in touch with someone at GPO.You

Truth or Consequences, Healthcare Edition

2010-03-21T22:30:00.004-07:00

I'm curious what, if any, retaliatory action will be taken against Democrats who voted no on health care. I'm thinking back to heavy primary challenges of moderate Republicans over the last few years -- think senators Arlen Specter and Lincoln Chafee", who both ended up leaving the party, and Florida governor Charlie Crist, who, despite being quite popular among his constituents, has come under

Some very early thoughts on "Man's Search for Meaning"

2010-03-20T23:45:00.003-07:00

Some of the problems I have had with the more self-centered approach to Christianity I'd participated in during my adolescence might be resolved by emphasizing on responsibility than on salvation. I think I've tried adopting a "nothingbutness" philosophy from 2005 onward. That's worked out terribly. It might've been a product of a hyperquantitative and largely atheistic community in grad school,

Please join "If 1,000,000 people join this group, it will have 1,000,000 people in it".

2010-03-19T23:31:00.001-07:00

My fellow e-mericans, Not long ago, I made a digital campaign for a position I had no intention of filling at a time past the point of eligible candidacy. Then, as now, I promise that my lack of legitimate credentials or redeemable qualities will not stop me from appealing to you, the noble, vacillating, marginally hygienic masses to join me in the greatest cause since our valiant but ultimately

Consider

2010-03-17T01:14:00.001-07:00

Consider: You are the current manifestation of the lusts and dreams of a hundred thousand generations of humans. And yet, you are also a single lifeboat in a vast historical tempest, surrounded by the hostility of stretches of space, a mote on a mote on a mote of dust that universal historians long forgot. Should we feel pride or despair? Perhaps, if we are wise, we will embrace both.

Thank you, Glenn Beck.

2010-03-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Glenn Beck urges listeners to leave churches that preach social justice courtesy of Maxx Lee, via Timo Chen. I never thought I'd say this, but thank you, Glenn Beck. I think you're going to get me to go back to church. It's hard to be angry, and harder to be effectively angry. I've been depressed and done my best to self-lobotomize myself over the last year or two, so it's been really, really