There are days when I don't know myself anymore, and I wonder how I can only see the empty side of the glass. Humor goes so much further than complaining, yet it seems like every other word out of my mouth is more negative than anything else.
Operating on the incremental step process, I will try to look at things in an upbeat fashion, just for today, and see how that goes. Although, I have a meeting with A's teacher this morning, so I know this will be difficult.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Plight of the Honeybees
For quite some time now, beekeepers have been alarmed about a phenomenon called sudden colony collapse.
This occurs when a hive dies for no apparent reason. Speculation about the causes have ranged from cell phone tower interference to excessive use of pesticides on crops. This link, from the New English Review, points out that there is less death in beehives located in cities rather than the countryside. Could extensive use of pesticides be at the core of the problem?
This occurs when a hive dies for no apparent reason. Speculation about the causes have ranged from cell phone tower interference to excessive use of pesticides on crops. This link, from the New English Review, points out that there is less death in beehives located in cities rather than the countryside. Could extensive use of pesticides be at the core of the problem?
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Concerts for (whose) charity?
Several years ago, I pulled together a benefit concert for a local charity: a small city about 10 miles north of the town I work in is in complete failure. Highest teenage pregnancy rate in the county, about 75 percent of the population living at or below the poverty level, high school dropout rate around 70 percent. The figures were (and still are) mind-boggling. Our short-term, practical goal was to establish a middle school for some of this community's most vulnerable residents - girls in the 5th to 8th grades.
The concert was a success by many standards. We spent very little money - our reception after the concert was pulled together by a couple volunteers who love to cook. We had a full house: most of the people there were introduced to the school, and many have, since then, become dedicated supporters of the school As a side benefit, we raised about 5K - a small dent in the annual 2M+ budget to be sure - but that was not our primary goal. Fund-raising is always a challenge, but this year, the school graduated its first class, and is by all accounts, thriving.
Now, from the NYT comes this article. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/arts/music/18benefit.html
It seems that the charity was really for the concert hall and the union workers. Sure, UNICEF and other recipients thought that the most important part of the concert was to keep Haiti in the news, but honestly, how many of us remember the earthquake? I'm more than ever convinced of the importance of grass-roots community involvement, rather than gigantic p.r. events.
The concert was a success by many standards. We spent very little money - our reception after the concert was pulled together by a couple volunteers who love to cook. We had a full house: most of the people there were introduced to the school, and many have, since then, become dedicated supporters of the school As a side benefit, we raised about 5K - a small dent in the annual 2M+ budget to be sure - but that was not our primary goal. Fund-raising is always a challenge, but this year, the school graduated its first class, and is by all accounts, thriving.
Now, from the NYT comes this article. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/arts/music/18benefit.html
It seems that the charity was really for the concert hall and the union workers. Sure, UNICEF and other recipients thought that the most important part of the concert was to keep Haiti in the news, but honestly, how many of us remember the earthquake? I'm more than ever convinced of the importance of grass-roots community involvement, rather than gigantic p.r. events.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
So, What's Up with that Free Speech, anyway?
First it was Salmon Rushdie, then Theo Van Gogh, then the Danish cartoonist. Now it's Molly Norris.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2010-09-15/news/on-the-advice-of-the-fbi-cartoonist-molly-norris-disappears-from-view/
Does anyone remember that Norris drew her cartoon as a result of Comedy Central's censorship of an episode of South Park?
I'll admit to not liking anyone desecrating any religion's icons. But, just as our society embraced Lloyd'Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar" (hard to believe this was controversial!) and Andreas Serrano's "Piss Christ," I think that it is time that we all band together to overwhelm those who dare infringe on our society's tolerance. (It would also be nice if self-censorship occured not only out of fear of a backlash. But I'm not holding my breath that this bully will be ko'd any time soon.)
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2010-09-15/news/on-the-advice-of-the-fbi-cartoonist-molly-norris-disappears-from-view/
Does anyone remember that Norris drew her cartoon as a result of Comedy Central's censorship of an episode of South Park?
I'll admit to not liking anyone desecrating any religion's icons. But, just as our society embraced Lloyd'Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar" (hard to believe this was controversial!) and Andreas Serrano's "Piss Christ," I think that it is time that we all band together to overwhelm those who dare infringe on our society's tolerance. (It would also be nice if self-censorship occured not only out of fear of a backlash. But I'm not holding my breath that this bully will be ko'd any time soon.)
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