my view from in here

hOpe. vOte. 08.

2008-10-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

Hope. Believe. Change the world.

ALC Video

2008-09-11T17:34:00.001-07:00

One child dies from AIDS every minute

2007-10-23T10:22:00.000-07:00

Last June, I stood in a crowd of thousands at the Veterans Administration campus in Westwood, holding hands with strangers, crying and sharing a moment that would be burned in our collective memories for the rest of our lives. We were watching over 2,000 cyclists ride into a large parking lot, their last stop on a 545 mile journey dedicated to ending AIDS. These riders raised over $11 million dollars that will be used to fund the cure for AIDS. We hear about HIV/AIDS so frequently in the press that we tend to forget, or even minimize, the magnitude of this epidemic that kills. Below are some statistics found on the AIDS LifeCycle website:

In the United States...

There are approximately 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. It is estimated that a quarter of them don't know it.
Since the start of the AIDS epidemic, 1.5 million Americans have been infected with HIV and more than 550,000 have died of AIDS.
At least 40,000 more people are infected each year, with young people, men who have sex with men, and communities of color most heavily affected.
African Americans account for 50% of new HIV infections, although they comprise only 12% of the population.

Globally...

A total of 39.5 million people now live with HIV/AIDS
2.2 million of them are under the age of 15
Every day 12,000 people contract HIV -- 500 every hour.
In 2006, 2.9 million people died from AIDS, 380,000 of whom were under the age of 15. That's one child dying per minute.

Euripides once said, “One does nothing who tries to console a despondent person with word. A friend is one who aids with deeds at a critical time when deeds are called for.”

We are now at a critical time in our history when deeds are called for and they are desperately needed.

From June 1-8, 2008 I will join almost 2000 other cyclists in riding the 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles in an effort to raise money and awareness in the battle against AIDS.

I am asking for your support, both financially and emotionally. Help me raise money to end this disease that is devestating our world.

One week of Starbucks coffee - $15-20
A nice meal out with friends - $50
A tank of gas - $40
One month of cell service - $100
One month of DirecTV w/ TIVO - $80
Funding the cure to AIDS - Priceless.

To make your tax deductible donation, visit my AIDS LifeCycle homepage: http://www.aidslifecycle.org/5501.

Spread the word.

Let's Go For Drinks! We've Got to Celebrate!

2007-09-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

Now, you may be asking yourselves, "Celebrate what?!?" You might also be thinking that this is merely another one of my attempts to find something mundane to celebrate. Well, GUESS AGAIN, my friends, GUESS AGAIN! This is huge - it's.................CONSTITUTION DAY!

Ya. Constitution Day. A whole day to celebrate, study, and reinvigorate our passion for the Constitution. Today's blog will, therefore, be short, in order to give you plenty of time to celebrate (especially if you're reading this tomorrow!).

Raise your hand if you love/loved the School House Rock series? And keep your hand up if you, like me, fell in love instantly with the America Rock series???? Well, if so, it's your lucky day! Click here to listen to the hit song, "The Preamble", whose catchy folk tune will have you swaying in your seat!!

And in case you've forgotten, here is the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. [Remember, this is its mission statement. Also, please note the use of the word "ordain". Ordain, bless, sanctify. This is a document viewed as holy, unbreakable and unchanging by its authors (a much smaller number than you would think). From its inception it was open to change, but only through the most rigorous of methods, one of which includes approval from 2/3 of congress and 3/4 of the states. It's been amended 27 times (out of over a reported 10,000 attempts).]

We the People,
In order to form a more perfect union,
Establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
Provide for the common defense,
Promote the general welfare and
Secure the blessings of liberty
To ourselves and our posterity
Do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America.

Happy Constitution Day! Now do your patriotic duty and spread the word!!!!

Popcorn (lung), anyone? PART 2

2007-09-12T20:18:00.000-07:00

So here's the deal: earlier this year I wrote an entry for this blog about a disease that is becoming more and more prevalent in people who work in microwave popcorn factories. The disease, known in medical circles as "Popcorn Workers' Lung" [bronchiolitis obliterans](I like to think that all diseases have a clever name like this - for example, bronchitis is really called Stuffy Lungs by doctors, or herpes has earned the moniker Itchy Hoo Hoo) is debilitating and unresearched. The disease is contracted as a result of inhaling diacetyl in its vaporous form.

Diacetyl is found naturally in dairy products like cheese, butter and milk. However, during the process of heating, diacetyl becomes a vapor and when inhaled over a prolonged period of time, it can cause the blood vessels in the lungs to swell and scar, resulting in difficulty exhaling. Little is being done by government regulatory agencies (no need to name names, but let's just say the agency that SHOULD be paying attention to the issue has a name that rhymes with SHOSHA.) For those of you who aren't familiar with the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration, they are the agency charged with regulating workplace safety, but they are currently doing little to assess the situation and address it.

With all of that said, A NON-FACTORY WORKER NOW HAS POPCORN WORKERS' LUNG! Run for the hills, start a riot, panic! Do something! Actually, just be aware of the amount of diacetyl you consume/inhale on a regular basis. The man with the disease consumed microwave popcorn two times a day for more than 10 years and "often inhaled the fragrance because he liked it so much" (NYT, 9/5/07).

Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) belongs to a subcommittee which oversees the budget for the FDA. Take 3 minutes from your schedule and write her a quick note letting her know how you feel. By clicking here you will be directed to a form that you can complete and submit directly to the Representative.

Some would say Viva Las Vegas. I say Viva La Lungs.

Did you know?

2007-08-27T16:27:00.001-07:00

For an updated version of this video, visit youtube.com and search "Did You Know 2.0"

"SHIfT HAPPENS"

2007-08-27T11:42:00.001-07:00

I'm on-board with Whitney Houston.

I, too, believe the children are the future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.

We exist in a time of dynamism. Everything is moving, constantly changing and our lives are seemingly dedicated to keeping up with everything around us. We can no longer keep up with the Joneses because we can't keep up with ourselves. Handheld devices allows us to be reached anywhere in the world. We watch movies on a 2" x 2" screen. Billboards, once used solely on rural highways, now populate our urban landscape and are electronic, changing ads every 30 seconds. We are drowning in information and there is no rescue in site.

Our kids are being thrown into this sink or swim world and they don't have a prayer. A major shift needs to occur in the way we Americans view education. Teachers who have the ability to engage and motivate students need to be hired and retained which requires money. Serious money. Schools need resources to provide students with the tools they will need to be competitive in the ever-changing global market. American education is underfunded and underrated. More time is spent on figuring out how to test our students than on teaching them. Annually, Nintendo spends almost three times the federal education budget on developing video games. Where are our priorities?

View the video above, which is from Karl Fisch's blog, "The Fischbowl". This is Fisch's original PowerPoint presentation that highlights the impact of globalization on our shrinking world, and it highlights our increasing dependence on the global economy and its players. Martin Luther King Jr. was a fan of John Donne's writing, and he eloquently echoed Donne's sentiments on the interpersonal connection when he said,

"In a real sense, all life is interrelated. All men are caught
in an inescapable web of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.
Whatever affects one directly affects others indirectly. I can never be what
I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. And you can never be what
you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the interrelated
structure of reality."

If you don't think that all life, all new technologies are interconnected, review the video. Wonder what we are teaching our children today and how that will help them survive the future. What can we do to change it? In Fisch's video, Did You Know 2.0, he suggests asking the principal of a school what is being taught, and asking your legislators to make change. And, like my friends the Temptations, I second that emotion.

The webs we weave

2007-07-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

Scandal. Drugs. Prostitutes. Lying. Cheating. Stealing.

Please mark your answer clearly on your test sheet. Remember to keep your work covered.

The following words describe:

Professional athletics

Young Hollywood

Major cities in the United States

American politics

American college campuses

Collegiate athletics

All of the above

If you selected option 7, there is a serious problem in our country, in our society, in our communities, in our schools, and in our governance . We know this because it is being thrust at us from every possible angle. We read it, see it, watch it, breathe it, and search it out. I'm guilty of it - I read Perez Hilton's website daily. I try to balance it though, reading different news outlets' sites daily, listening to NPR, reading periodicals that are dedicated to reporting the news we consider to be "boring" (i.e. political news, financial news, etc.) Does this excuse me? Am I above anyone else? No. I have to remind myself of the following:

Oh, hey guess what? We're at war. We have military personnel deployed all over the world right now. 16 million Americans are illiterate. Homelessness is still rampant. The median American household income in 2005 was $46,326 (remember, please, that number represents an entire household, not a single earner.) 12.6% of the population (aka 37 million Americans) lived in poverty in 2005. In that same year, there were more children in poverty (11.1%) than elderly (10.1%). Nuclear weapons are still a threat. The energy crisis in America is reaching a level of threat that must be addressed by voters and policy makers alike. College athletics and the scandals they generate garner more press than the problems plaguing our public schools today.

Today, read a news source NOT dedicated to gossip. Read an article from a section of the paper you normally avoid. Listen to the news at work, instead of You Tube. Reframe your perspective.

The greatest man I know.

2007-06-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

The greatest man I know was born in Missouri, and grew up working hard to make a living. He has been immensely successful, both professionally and personally. Professionally, his peers will say that he is the best in his business. That no one else can work a room like he can...talking to employees and employers with the same level of confidence and humility. In his work, from which he is now retired, he never bragged about how good he was. Rather, he always gave praise where praise was due. He empowered the people around him and always spoke glowingly about his colleagues and staff. Work invigorated him, and the challenges that shaped the landscape of his career made it only more interesting, and something he looked forward to each day.

Personally, he is kind to a fault. He is unswervingly loyal, yet always fair. He is equitable in everything he does, and gives freely of his time, his resources and his spirit. He loves to share his knowledge about things ranging from orchids to cars, and is always the first to chime in with a story when it's needed. He is a role model to his three children, and never stops telling them how proud he is of their diverse achievements. He has been blessed to have two great loves in his life, and his love is deep and lasting. He is blessed with an incredible wife with whom he can relax and laugh and love. He is at ease with children and is always willing to play. He lives life to its fullest everyday, and never, ever takes anything for granted.

The greatest man I know, is my dad. I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day!

Does size really matter?

2007-06-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Does size really matter? It's the age-old question that has plagued men (and women, if you know what I mean) for years. It generates controversy, inspires arguments, prompts heated debates and can make a grown man sweat. It's a question, really, that we all must ask ourselves: does size count?? Size affects how we live our lives. It impacts how we sleep at night. It determines how we spend our money. It divides families, towns and nations. Without us knowing it, size becomes the most pressing matter in our lives (that's what she said!).

Yep, the size of government is crucial in our modern political debate. Pundits, teachers and politicians describe government in one of two ways: big or small. Throughout the history of the United States, the size, scope and power of the national government has fluctuated and this change can normally be correlated to the party-in-power.

Big government can be characterized by:

More social programs that are funded by the government.
Higher taxes to fund the social programs.
Increased government participation in policy making regarding civil rights, criminal justice and Constitutional interpretation.
The government tends to use its Constitutional powers to their full limits, stretching the "implied powers" to their fullest.

Small government can be characterized by:

Less government intervention in social matters.
Reduced funding to programs considered to be unneccessary, which in turn, reduces the amount of taxes to be collected.
A more literal (or strict) interpretation of the Constitution, with minimal use of the "implied powers" clause.

So, in your opinion, does size matter? If you know how you feel about the size of government, it will help you in taking a first step toward choosing a candidate to back in the '08 election based on something other than looks and personality.

Giving 16 year olds the franchise!!!

2007-05-31T10:01:00.000-07:00

I realize that I overuse the always-popular exclamation point(!) in my writing. It's not because I'm a bubble-gummy girly girl. No! If you know me, you know that's definitely not ME. I'm just an easily excitable person. Ideas and movements excite and thrill me, so imagine the number of exclamation points that ran through my mind when I read this article on promoting civic activism among high school students.

Fair Vote, the Center for Voting and Democracy, is promoting their 100% Registration Project. The project's goal, as the name implies, is to achieve 100% registration among eligible voters. [For those of you who have been of out school for a while, here is a quickie review on the federal requirements for voting: you must be 18 years old, a citizen of the United States and the region in which you are voting, and you cannot be serving a sentence for a felony conviction (three states still maintain a life-long prohibition on voting for convicted felons). Although most states claim universal suffrage (allowing people to vote regardless of gender, religion, etc), the felony disenfranchisement clause puts a crimp in those claims.]

The project aims to clean up the voter rolls by correcting duplications and omissions, and by sharing the responsibility for registering potential voters between the government and the people. Currently, 72% of voting-eligible citizens in the U.S. are registered to vote. That's not surprising considering that only 55.3% of the voting aged population voted in the 2004 federal election (*note: only 37.0% of the voting aged population voted in the 2002 mid-term elections).

By educating students at the high school level, and by promoting early registration, Fair Vote is hoping to make for a more educated electorate. Several states are recognizing the value of early, non-partisan education efforts and are introducing legislation to lower the voting age from 18 to 16. I don't know if YOU know any 16 year olds, but if you do, you might join me in a moment of cringing. Annnnnd we're done with that. Providing education about how voting is effective (or can be effective) and providing the tools necessary to understand the importance of the responsibility it carries, can help shape young voters into citizens whose opinions are truly important.

So, I say let's educate our high school aged youth. Let's get out the vote. And let's give 'em the franchise! !

Al Gore is sexy, S-E-X-Y, sexy

2007-05-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

Al Gore is hot. Nope, that's not a chunk of last week's snack stuck on your monitor - you read correctly: Al Gore is hot. Naw, he's not hot. He's HOT. Sexy. Grrrrooooowwwwwwllllll. It's not his looks. It's not his sense of humor (which I really do love). It's not even his well-articulated stance on trying to end the climate-crisis both nationally and globally.

Nope. It's none of these. What makes Al Gore sexy is what he said in a televised interview with Diane Sawyer that aired this morning. He said (and I suggest you prepare yourselves here), "We need to reinvigorate democracy". Now, if you don't find that sexy, well, then, um...OK. Most people don't find that sexy. I get it. But let me tell you why I do.

Democracy is a spectrum with two clearly defined ends: Direct democracy and indirect democracy. As a nation, we move between these two ends with grace and ease, interjecting our indirect democracy with moments of direct and vice versa. If we had no representatives, no elected officials, and instead, voted on everything together, we would be a direct democracy. We would also get nothing done. Think about how much time and energy it takes the 535 members of Congress to pass one law. Now imagine the hundreds of millions of Americans coming to consensus on that same law. It would be akin to giving every member of your family equal power in helping to plan your wedding. Not a pretty picture.

Instead of complete and utter chaos at a local, state and national level, we run our nation as an indirect democracy. We are a republic (as in "and to the republic, for which it stands...") with our roots in the democratic structure of the Roman Republic. Like the citizens of ancient Rome, we elect representatives to go forth and meet, to re-present our ideas and make our concerns heard. We are supposed to work together for the good of our communities, both small and large. But too often, we the people (now that should look familiar to just about everyone) are not presented with the information we need to make informed decisions. Our representatives are voting on our behalf on issues we don't even know exist. Landfills, redistricting, school closures and wars happen without our knowledge or consent.

"We the people" has become a trite phrase. We are being ruled by the people we pay to represent us. Think about our current state of representation in this way: our reps are our employees. WE interview them (campaigning, debates, etc), hire them (elections), and pay them (our tax dollars = their salaries). WE have the power to fire them (recall vote, refusal to reelect, etc). WE give them performance reviews (approval ratings, reelection, letters, emails, exercising our first amend right to petition for redress of grievances, etc). Do the people you oversee at work tell you what to do? Well then, why do we let our elected officials tell us what to do? Why do we let them vote their own opinions and beliefs? Why do we settle for elected officials who are more likely to vote with their fundraising coffers in mind, and not our preferences?

WE need to reinvigorate our democracy. WE need to make it about us again. I'm not saying to give us classified information. I'm just saying let's remind these folks who is in charge. As I see it from in here, we sure do outnumber 'em. Let's push our own opinions. Tell your city council, and state assemblypeople what is important to you. If your child's chance to get an above par education in public schools is important, talk about it. Want stricter regulation of the food being sold in your community? Mention it.

And yes, Mr. Gore, talking about reinvigorating democracy is sexy. But doing something about it is way, way sexier. Thank you.

Love it or hate it... (Part 2 of 2)

2007-05-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Like most people, I bristle at the image of hooded members of the Ku Klux Klan marching on city streets with police protection. I cringe when I hear members of the fundamental Christian right saying that homosexuals are sick and don't deserve equal rights under law. Unfortunately, if I want to have the freedom to express my own thoughts and opinions in this country, I need to acknowledge that the first amendment does not discriminate. That ALL people, no matter how much they bother us, have the opportunity to exercise free speech.

Most developed nations around the globe have laws in place that prohibit hate speech. France, England and Spain have all led the way in writing language into their laws that protects the marginalized members of their society. In article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in 1948, all people, globally, are given the right to free speech. Article 29, section 2, however, limits that right, saying that that

"everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law
solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights
and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public
order and the general welfare in a democratic society."

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has worked tirelessly since 1920 to protect free speech. They protect the free speech of minorities attempting to achieve equality, of religious organizations seeking to implement change, and of hate-mongers trying to incite people to take action against certain populations. Does that strike you as odd? It should. But it should also seem incredibly natural on a much deeper level. Wouldn't we be hypocritical if we said that only the most powerful, and most influential members of society have the right to free speech?

This new climate of sensitivity begs a couple of questions:

Why are public figures who make jokes at the expense of racial groups or public figures the only ones being chastised? What about the slew of jokes about over-weight people, women, the mentally handicapped, the poor, religious minorities, immigrants and the disabled? Are these jokes any less offensive?
How can we enter into a conversation about what these firings mean? Why must we simply slap people on the wrist and move on with our day? Shouldn't we talk about why this language is being used and why society allows it? If we don't like it, we need to go back to the root and kill it there. Cutting off the dead leaves doesn't kill the tree, and it won't stop the increased use of hate speech.

Love it or hate it... (Part 1 of 2)

2007-05-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a list that should look relatively familiar to you: Don Imus. Opie and Anthony. JV & Elvis. In the last three months, public outcry and pulled sponsorship has led to the firing or suspension of the above listed radio hosts. Don Imus called a collegiate women's basketball team a "bunch of nappy headed hos", JV & Elvis aired a prank call to a Chinese restaurant where they teased the gentleman working there about his accent and driving skills, and Opie and Anthony had a guest who implied that he would like to have violent sex with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and First Lady Laura Bush. Writing those things out makes me shudder...I can't imagine my reaction had I heard them in real-time, on my commute to work.

As someone whose entire anthropological career is limited to one class at USC as an undergrad (I wrote an amazing paper comparing the Greek system's hazing rituals to the Dobe!Kung tribe's initiation ceremony - that makes me an expert, right?), I would like to theorize that hate speech has been around as long as humans. I can just see Og, a rather suave caveperson, grunting trash about Thor, his romantic rival.

The United States has been built on hate speech and this kind of language has positive and negative effects: Hate speech spurred a movement toward economic and political freedom from England in our fledgling years. However, it also led to centuries of oppression for religious and ethnic groups here in the US. The first amendment of the Constitution guarantees free speech and the exercise thereof to the citizens who fall under its jurisdiction, and those rights have been upheld by the Supreme Court over and over. But here is the kicker: the free speech we love so much, is the free speech that we hate.

When bad analogies happen to moderately good people.

2007-05-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

Who has heard of Senator Sam Brownback from Kansas? Haven't yet? Well, get ready because he's planning to take the GOP presidential race by storm. Whether or not that will happen, I can't say. He's loved and hated by the citizens of Kansas, and has supporters in and out of the Republican party. Unfortunately for the Senator, though, he may have had his Howard Dean moment on Friday.

In a speech given in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, the Senator referred to Peyton Manning as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. You might wonder: what's wrong with that? Let me start over...In a speech given in LAKE GENEVA, WISCONSIN, blah blah blah. There are two fundamental rules in the badger state: don't mess with the Packers and don't mess with the cheese. Cheese and the Packers, the two things of note that have come out of Wisconsin and Senator Brownback accidentally slammed Brett Favre of the Packers by claiming that Peyton Manning was the greatest qb in the history of professional football. He drew boos and disapproval from his audience, but to his credit, managed to apologize immediately and move forward.

With its ten electoral votes, I don't think that this event will make or break his presidential run. There are other issues and statements that might contribute to that. But keep an eye on him.

Howard Dean had his shouting tirade. Walter Mondale chose a woman as a running mate while facing one of the vote winningest presidents of all time. Gerald Ford engaged in what pundits called the "corrupt bargain", offering former President Nixon a full pardon. (Ford believed his own actions were not quid pro quo, but rather in keeping with Burdick vs. United States (1915), which stated that accepting a pardon is tantamount to admitting guilt, which he felt Nixon did in accepting it). Nixon had his now infamous sweaty debate in 1960.

All pre-term incidents that led to political death can't be listed here without going on for pages. So, we'll just hope that in today's political climate, where voters seemingly care more about personal lives and opinions than voting records and experience, that a little pigskin comment will be forgotten.

Give up WHAT??

2007-05-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

So, here's a hypothetical question (Purely hypothetical, mind you. No binding decisions will be made based upon your response). Let's say I asked you to give up your right to privacy. You know, the right that is guaranteed to you under the fourth amendment of the Constitution. That's the one that protects you in your "persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable search and seizure". It's the one that can stop an officer from suspecting that you are about to do something wrong and searching you, a la Terry vs. Ohio (1968). It also stops the police from making incorrect assumptions about items that may or may not belong to you, as seen in Arizona vs. Hicks (1987). But enough about case law, and back to the question: if someone asked you to suspend that right or give it up entirely, would you? I wouldn't. And to be quite honest, I can't think of many people I know who would.

Our Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to our Constitution which were ratified almost immediately upon ratification of the Constitution), were added against the will of their author. James Madison, the clever little man who penned most of the Constitution, resisted vehemently the idea of adding a Bill of Rights. He wasn't trying to be controlling - he did believe that there were certain rights we are entitled to as human beings.

His strongest, most guarded belief, though, was that by listing certain rights, we would imply that none of the others existed. He assumed that any rights NOT enumerated in the Constitution would be considered insignificant while those listed would be viewed as God's truth. He was right. Most Americans act as though the only rights we have are those explicitly listed in the Constitution's 27 amendments, particulary the right to free speech and the right to bear arms.

Recently, a number of a out-spoken critics have called for the American public to willingly give up their second amendment right to bear arms. The second amendment, which reads, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed", seems a little murky from the outside. Strict constructionists of the Constitution interpret it to mean that only the armed forces and police agencies have the right to bear arms. More liberal constructionists, including most Supreme Court justices, read it as giving all people the right to bear arms. However it is read, I don't think it is reasonable to expect people to give up their guns. We can ask for stricter regulation in background checks before purchasing, we can try to educate the public about gun safety, we can offer incentives for turning in weapons, but asking people to forgo a right seems a little over the top.

I don't like guns. I don't want a gun. I don't want to be approached by someone with a gun. I don't think hunting is a sport when someone uses a semi-automatic weapon. I don't condone violence. I'm the first person to admit that I get freaked out when I read about people like Blues Traveller front-man John Popper, who had a cache of more than 30 semi-automatic weapons. But I also don't feel comfortable asking those people who want to own weapons to forgo that right. I like being able to exercise my rights and I just am a little scared that giving an inch may lead to a mile.

Look into both sides of the argument. Don't take my word for it. Read about the fight to maintain privately owned weapons, and the movement to restrict them. If you care about the issue, on either side, let your representatives know - it's predicted that this year, it's not going to be a major issue in the presidential and congressional campaigns. If you care, make it one.

Storm Chasers

2007-05-07T08:44:00.000-07:00

OK, so I have a slight addiction to cnn.com. I find myself looking at headlines multiple times per hour, as though being at work or in my home might lead to me missing the goings-on in the world. This week, I was entranced by a headline I found there: "50-100 yards from tornado". There are so many different things wrong with this statement. First, the distance. Who in their right mind approaches the eye of a storm to videotape it? Reed Timmer, the storm chaser alluded to in the headline, actually says he didn't mean to get so close, which makes me feel a bit better, but come on... Secondly, the whole tornado thing. I am a native of Los Angeles and I would rather go through an earthquake than a hurricane or tornado anytime.

The headline led me to think about the devastating effects of the recent tornadoes in the mid-west and how we, as a nation, will respond the need of the families and communities suffering loss. We have a history of responding to help others in need - we are not a isolative society. Our communities have set up disaster response plans, much like the states in which we live and the national government. After a large-scale fire obliterated much of a city in New Hampshire in 1803 , the US Congress signed into law our first version of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Throughout the centuries that have followed, FEMA has responded to offer federal aid to areas damaged by natural and man-made disasters. Often criticized for their seemingly chaotic response, FEMA is actually quite good at what it is charged with doing.

Consider this: FEMA must coordinate with state and local agencies to respond to hazardous situations. Every state has its own emergency response plan, every city has its own emergency response plan, and the national government has its own emergency response plan. Rarely are the existing plans taken into consideration when a commission sits down to structure their own, new emergency response plan. Still can't see where the chaos is coming from? Imagine this: the USC Trojans begin their spring practices for their 2007-2008 footballs season. However, unlike previous years, they decide to do individual workouts, individual practices, and individual play runs. They never take the field as a team before the day of their first game in the fall. They players have met together and have had cloudy talks about plays, but they do not have the exact same playbook.The tight ends have one version of the book, and the quarterbacks another. Think about what their first few plays on offense would look like. Not pretty, huh? Well, that's the obstacle that we are up against in our response efforts in the U.S.

In 2003, FEMA was absorbed into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a response to the attacks on September 11, 2001. We watched, in real time, on television the response to Hurricane Katrina. The responding agencies seemed disorganized and at a loss for a comprehensive response plan, but they did what they could. I'm asking that you consider writing to your local officials (city council, mayor, etc) and voice your concern that your local community coordinate with state and federal agencies to ensure a rapid, and organized response to emergency situations.

To send an email to your local representative, just cut and paste the content from this google doc into your own email. Good luck. Be safe.

Spread the love (part 3 of 3)

2007-05-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

Emergency kits and advice on how to slow down and enjoy your surroundings are all fine and good, but let's really take a moment to think about what is important. I'll tell you what makes me tick. What makes me excited to be alive.

People.

The people in my life who impact me every single day whether I'm consciously aware of it or not, are the key to my survival. I have had days where it feels like everything is going wrong, and a kind word from a stranger will make me feel a little bit better. I can turn to people when I need someone to talk to, to laugh with, to bounce ideas off of, or to just sit with quietly. People just get it.

So. Today, tell someone how much you appreciate them. Take 3 minutes to send an email, make a phone call, or reach out to a friend. Take a moment to tell someone that they are good at their job. It's win-win.

Tomorrow I'll be back to my quasi-political ramblings. But for now, I'm off to tell a new friend I think she's great.

Stop and smell the roses (part 2 of 3)

2007-05-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

Stop. Wait. Don't stop. Finish this post. Then stop. Walk outside for 5 minutes. Escape. Open your eyes.

Quick quiz (that's the teacher in me): What color are the flowers growing near your home? What was the name of the person who took your coffee order today? What color were his or her eyes? Name three of your neighbors. What did your lunch taste like? Do you notice these things? Do you have the time to pay attention to details and to really enjoy things? Below are some tips to help you enjoy your surroundings more fully.

Drive with your windows down at least once a day. Repeated exposure to air-conditioning (both in your car or in buildings) has been proven to increase symptoms of arthritis and neuritis. It can cause sinus problems and you become more suscepitble to colds and flus.
Go for a walk. Being more active can help combat the effects of aging, can increase heart health and can help you learn about the community where you live. What you might just find is that there is a fantastic sushi restaurant, only a few walking minutes from your home. You also might - gasp - meet your neighbors!
Make eye contact with the people around you. How many times have you walked down a hallway, only to find yourself avoiding eye contact with the people you pass? Try saying hi today. You might just find it makes you happier.
Look around you when you're driving. I find myself driving to places and then not remembering how I got there. I've been so consumed by my own thoughts, ideas, problems and concerns that I haven't paid any attention to where I've been. Slow down. Look around. Look at the clouds.
Open your windows at home. Air out your place. Open the blinds, let sunlight into the rooms where you spend time, as natural light can make a world of difference in how a room feels.
Go for a hike. Leave your phone at home, or in the car. Set out on your own or with friends, but find a way to be outside. Look at the things around you, even if it makes you look like a fool.
Be flexible. Stretch something right now. That might sound awfully wrong. Stretch your legs. Get up. Move around. Increasing circulation and the flow of blood to your brain will make you more productive and will make you more engaged in what you do on a daily basis.

Any other suggestions? Leave a comment and let us know.

Like a boy scout, Be Prepared (part 1 of 3)

2007-05-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

Go, go, go. Hurry up and wait. We are always on the move - we can't go places quickly enough so we honk our car horns at the people in front of us. We multi-task in line at the post office. We do work on airplanes, in coffee shops, and yes, even in bed (not THAT kind of work). We have cell phones and PDAs that make us accessible from virtually anywhere in the world and most of us use them constantly. We are battling an e-ddiction at a scale never before seen in the history of the world.

Our constant state of motion often precludes us from looking around, causing us to move through life in tunnel-vision. It's not until we are jarred from within ourselves that we take time to look outward in earnest. Things like 9-11, domestic terror threats, natural disasters, and campus shootings force us to step out of ourselves and look around. In the next few days, I'll challenge you to take the time to examine your surroundings and to be alive in them.

Today: Be preapred. How would you respond in an emergency? One of my favorite scenes in film history is the moment in AIRPLANE when the passengers panic and utter chaos breaks out on the flight. While it's funny, this is too close to reality to be entirely comfortable. You will be in one of two positions should a crisis occur: you will either be prepared and ready to enact your crisis management plan, or you will be a victim, relying on the people around you for assitance. Below are some suggestions to help you in basic crisis planning. As you read them, don't take anything for granted. Don't assume that everything will go according to plan, because it never does.

Prepare a family/home and office evacuation plan - In an emergency, where will you go? Who does what? Where are your emergency supplies? Are they up-to-date? Do you have batteries?
Run emergency drills to test the plans - On a regular basis, run emergency drills. It seems alarmist, but practice makes for comfort. It helps people learn the routine and can prepare you for dealing with unexpected deviations from the plan. What if a giant tree is in your living room blocking the route to the door? What now? Look for gaps in the plan so that they can be addressed.
Put emergency numbers in your cell phone and near all land-lines - Did you know that in the state of California, 9-1-1 calls made from cell phones are re-routed to the CA Highway Patrol? Not helpful if you're in a dire emergency. Look up and enter local emergency numbers into your cell phone. The emergency number for your workplace, your city, your campus, etc. should all be at your fingertips.
Create an emergency kit for home, work and your car - Prepare an emergency kit with a change of clothes and provisions for at least 3 days. If you require medication on a daily basis, keeps some in the kit. Wear contacts? Keep an extra set of glasses there. Have hard soled shoes available should you need to walk over sharp debris. Keep a kit in a central location at home, at work and in your car. Build your kit for the people using it. Include a picture of your loved ones. Note that you should check your car kit every 3 months as it often sits in heat exceeding 100 degrees and medications or ointments might be damaged.

And the most important point...just think. Look around when you enter a place. Identify your exits. Know the evacuation route for a hotel or auditorium. Know where stairs are located. Be prepared.

For more information on how to become prepared for an emergency, visit my website.

Free T-shirt!!!!!

2007-05-01T15:41:00.000-07:00

Ok. Now that you're paying attention, I thought I'd talk about credit in America. Anyone who has ever been to college will know that the best way to get someone's attention is to offer them a free t-shirt, free foam finger (or fingers if you attended USC), blanket, or any other free, but useless, gift. Many universities across the nation have banned banks and financial institutions from soliciting on campus, but many still offer these groups the chance to recruit in university centers. It's not unheard of for companies to prey on uneducated consumers (tobacco companies did that for years) but it is problematic. And it's exacerbating America's increasing dependence on credit.

Fact: there are just under 1.2 billion credit and retail cards in use in the United States today.
Fact: nearly half of those card holders pay only the minimum amount due on their balance each month.
Fact: the average interest rate is between 18-19%.
Fact: the credit debt held by an average American is $8,562.

I'm not dumb. I recognize that credit companies make money off of us. They hope that we won't be able to pay off our balance each month because the money they make comes from interest payments. In fact, Americans paid over $50 billion in interest last year alone. It's time we begin offering consumer education on how credit works and how to avoid racking up debt that cannot be paid down. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), the chair of the Senate Banking Committee, has put credit companies on "blast." He wants to tame them and is pushing for legislation that will reform their practices. He recently made a public statement declaring that any practices a credit company would be embrassed to discuss before the Senate committee, should be stopped.

If you bought a $10,000 piano on credit today, with a 19% interest rate, and pay only the monthly minimum, it will take you 29 years, and total of $55,408 to pay it off. And that is with the assumption that you never use that credit card again. What a life-long burden.

If you have friends or family with debt...if you have debt...if you're concerned about your children having debt....then ask your local officials to begin offering city sponsored classes on understanding and using credit. Talk to your children about responsible spending. Start them on an allowance that will teach them how to budget and spend wisely. The Consumer Affairs.com slogan is "Knowledge is Power" - and it is. Sir Francis Bacon thought so and so do I.

For more information on credit and consumer education, visit my website.

Hunters and Gatherers

2007-04-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

After watching enough of The Discovery Channel, it is easy for us to imagine bands of people trekking across mountains, valleys, plains and fields, as they hunt and gather to stay alive. They didn't have the convenience of In-N-Out, Baja Fresh, or Pink Berry. They were nomadic. They moved with their food (can you tell I subbed elementary school this year???) and gathered what they needed purely for survival.

We, as a society, hunt and gather. Unfortunately, we are hunting bargains, and gathering crap. That's right, I said it. Crap. Look around your home right now - or later tonight, or in the morning. How much of what you see do you really need? I'd be willing to bet that at least two items within your immediate reach are dispensable.

We are a culture obsessed with consumerism and our power to purchase (see tomorrow's blog entry on credit, please). According to numbers published by Morgan Stanley, the average American personal consumption expenditures between 1996 and 2004 were about 3.9%. The rest of the "so-called advanced world" averaged about 2.2%. What are we buying? Where is all of this going? Well, my theory is this: nowhere. It's simply piling up in our homes, under our beds, on shelves, and in garages. We've got something new in our closet - and it's junk. We are in need of a large scale, tissue wringing, wailing and sobbing, intervention - something much bigger than Oprah can offer in a few episodes about "clutter bugs."

We are building bigger homes to deal with our treasure troves of stuff. If you live in a home built pre-1950, you know what size the closets were then. They were not walk in, they had one rail, and were at most 7-8 feet long. That closet would house a person's entire wardrobe. We are no longer building bigger closets. The average size of an American home in 1973 was 1,660 sq. ft. As of 2004 the average size of a home had grown to almost 2,400 sq. ft. (according to the National Association of Homebuilders).

Public storage spaces are the best real estate in the country. Americans are using over 1.875 billion square feet of storage. The average storage facility reports a 90 percent occupancy rate. We are a mobile society. As we move, we store. As our salaries fluctuate and we move to smaller dwellings to accommodate the cost of living, we store. We buy more stuff and it won't fit in our space, so we store. It's affordable and easy to find, as there are over 40,000 public storage facilities in the U.S. But as we all know, out of sight out of mind. We need to reexamine our spending habits. We need to commit to buying fewer items of less importance. We need to live by this rule of thumb: something in, something out. If we are adding something to our home (a new sweatshirt, for example) one must go. This will reduce clutter, eliminate wasteful spending, and save money. And in a world where Social Security is no longer guaranteed, this is crucial.

Worried about what to do with your old stuff? Give it away! Don't throw it away! Clean clothing in good condition can be given to charities. Several schools will accept old technology items. Almost every public library has a bin for collecting donated books. Help others who are in need. Want more information or links on how to donate items? Visit my website.

A web-home for my view from in here

2007-04-28T17:45:00.001-07:00

The new website is up: http://www.myviewfrominhere.com

The Importance of Being Literate

2007-04-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

I'm really good at reading. I am. I always have been. I read a lot - sides of cereal boxes, backs of books, street signs, the classifieds, people's t-shirts (my current favorite: "Pedro Lacks Political Experience"). I'm also very humble, in case you couldn't tell from that last slew of words. Reading has been an escape for me my entire life. As a kid, I could sit and read for hours, engrossed in a book, feeling as though I am one of the characters contained within the pages in front of me. Books make me laugh, cry, emphathize and sympathize. They humanize their characters, they tell stories that are otherwise ignored in our society, they entertain and they illuminate. Millions of American adults will never, ever read a book.

More importantly, millions of Americans will never read their water bill. Their child's report card. A funeral program. The bus stop sign. The cautionary label on prescription medicine that advises against operating forklifts and other heavy machinery while taking certain drugs (thank GOD I can read that label...it's saved my life many a time). In an essay that I think all literate Americans should be made to read in school, Jonathan Kozol (a life-long critic of public schools and the people who underfund them) issues forth startling and horrific statistics about illiteracy in America.

In "The Human Cost of An Illiterate Society," a chapter from his 1985 book, Illiterate America, he presents the following points in an effort to make us (those of you reading this blog can clearly read) aware of what it is like to be illiterate:

Illiterates cannot read the menu in a resturant.
They cannot read the front of a bus, street signs, maps, or off-ramp signs. They cannot read the gas prices, or which fuel is unleaded.
They cannot read the numbers on a phone, and would be of little help when trying to dial 9-1-1-.
An illiterate adult cannot help his or her child with homework, and cannot read a school permission slip when it is brought home.
They cannot read the contract they are being asked to sign when leasing apartment or car.
They cannot read warning labels on the back of household cleaners.
Food labels that contain information that might be important to someone battling high blood pressure, diabetes, or food allerigies are also cryptic.

I think I can honestly speak for everyone reading this when I say we take for granted our education. We may not have enjoyed a subject or two (or three or four), but we have the most basic, most fundamental skill that helps to equalize society. The inability to read puts people at an automatic disadvantage. It disqualifies them from a significant percentage of jobs that are available and puts them in the control of others. They take suggestions from others, follow others' behavior, and are subject to trusting that others are being honest and upfront (imagine a dishonest clerk in a supermarket, or a landlord who cheats you out of amenities). It cannot be easy to admit that you can't read...or that you can't read well.

As a society, we need to try to put an end to the stigma associated with illiteracy. We need to reach out to our neighbors and put aside our mutual embarassment as we help others learn how to read. Please visit my website to find out about how you can make a difference.

Popcorn (lung), anyone?

2007-04-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

As a child, I longed for the rainy days when we would make Jiffy Pop on the stove. The anticipation of the sound of the first pop and the agonizingly long wait for the foil to break open was my first real training in patience. Pioneered by Fred Mennen in 1958, the Jiffy Pop pop-in-pan was the first step in convenient popcorn. Gone were the days of air-popping machines, or using a pan on the stove with loose kernels, risking the stench of burned corn for a treat. With the progression of kitchen technology and the advent of the microwave came microwavable popcorn pouches. In the last five years, a myriad of flavors has popped (pun fully intended) into markets: caramel corn, kettle korn, lightly salted, plain, but of course, the ever present and always popular flavor, butter.

In a rather common moment of curiosity, I cut open a pouch before microwaving it one day. My stomach turned as I saw the product in its pre-cooked form: a slew of kernels haphazardly stuck into a yellowish, jaundiced looking slab of lard. Mmm. It was enough to deter me from eating microwavable popcorn for years. I, of course, eventually forgot about that gut-wrenching moment and overcame my disgust, joining right in with the others when I smell the delicious scent of recently popped corn. An article in this week's New York Times, though, has renewed my disgust and has raised some serious questions about our beloved popcorn industry and the federal agency which regulates it.

In Stephen Labaton's brilliantly written article, he discusses the newly discovered phenomenon known as "popcorn worker's lung." The name, a reference to the medical condition suffered by most coal workers in the Southeastern United States, is an apt description for the increased incidence of lung disease resulting from the prolonged exposure to, and inhalation of, diacetyl, the food flavoring agent that provides the buttery taste we crave. According to Labaton, a Missouri doctor reported his findings to both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. While the latter agency moved quickly to identify the cause of the high number of illnesses being reported, OSHA has dragged its feet, claiming that the science proving a connection is "murky". They have issued statements claiming that they will inspect some of the thousands of plants across the country that use the additive, but they have no plans to impose restrictions on its use. This inaction is much like their refusal to require that construction firms limit worker exposure to silica dust (found in sand and rocks) and site noise.

OSHA is a federal agency that works under the umbrella office of the Department of Labor. Founded in 1970, it was begun in order to protect the interest of workers around the country (where was this group during the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire?) and to ensure their safety and health. They are charged with creating and enforcing regulations that will keep you and I safe at work. Who do you think started the "lift with your knees" movement? A rogue band of chiropractors, out to save the world? Well, maybe. But I like to think it was OSHA. Why then, in the past eight years, have they failed to live up to their duties? When are they going to start standing up to big business and require a new standard of consideration and safety? We have to offer tax breaks to companies for their care and renewal efforts toward the environment - should we do the same if they show some actual concern for the humans (with families) who work in their plants?

To learn more about OSHA, visit their web page here. For more links, visit my website.

Will the President say, "No, No, No"?

2007-04-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Man, it's gotta be nice to get everything you want. I know I don't, and to be quite honest, I don't know many people who do, except of course, for President Bush. I'm saying this not from a place of political bias, but rather from a pretty neutral observation point. I'm standing in the middle of my own political spectrum, and I can see it from here.

The news has been saturated recently with reports about the affirmative votes on a bill proposing a timeline for withdrawl from Iraq. Although the US Constitution does not grant the president the power to veto a bill (the word veto never appears in the body of the Constitution), it does grant him/her the opportunity to refuse to sign into law, a bill presented by Congress (Article I, section 7). The exact wording reads as follows: "If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it".

So, if we, as able-minded citizens, look closely, we can see that the onus for passing legislation is really in the hands of the Congress. The bill must receive 2/3 approval from each house before going to the president (we ALL watched "I'm Just A Bill" from the School House Rocks series), which would seemingly mean the folks voting for it believe in the bill. Why then, are they so afraid to override a presidential veto? Do they not want to cross the president (it does help to have him on your side in a fight, just ask most of the Middle East), are they scared of losing support from their party, or are they simply afraid to take action? The piece of proposed legislation would require another 2/3 vote from each house to become law...it's time the electorate throws down the proverbial gauntlet and demands action.

Perhaps a well penned letter to a state or national representative (because his/her job is to re-present your ideas, right?), or maybe an email to your local news affiliate asking them to provide more coverage on the matter will help us spread the word.

For more information, visit my website.

A bit about blogs...

2007-04-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

The blogs I've seen in the past have been wrought with references to DragonQuest, D & D, family vacations, and the like. No, I don't normally cruise D & D sites....I promise.

I choose to avoid the obvious topics, and blog, instead, about what is happening in our world, our communities and our lives. How do we understand what happens around us and look at it in local, national and global terms? How do we make the connections that are absent in our daily existence? With this blog, I hope to help people change their perceptions to better inform their perspectives.

With that in mind, tell me what you want to talk about. And we'll make it work.

Dabbling...

2007-04-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered where our ideas come from? Are they shaped by our experience, by our perspective or by external forces? Can it be a combination of all three? Should it be a combination of all three or are we then becoming subject to allowing others to tell us what to think? Too early for you to think about it? Then let's talk tomorrow.