tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9761381732906199252024-03-05T11:17:03.321-06:00allinawordsometimes it's just all in a wordChristopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-67743119573011881692023-06-15T09:24:00.010-05:002023-06-15T22:15:31.188-05:00Change Morphs to Chance<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">I was part of a large layoff from Wells Fargo, the only place I had worked since emigrating from Great Britain many moons ago. It felt like a gut-punch at first. When my job disappeared so did part of my identity. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLp6uAcj9ivzyhNehfujC49XkKdHpxRumSf6x9oLUKOxGIXjy8K68RZqzYJXgNEQarZq4c_I8hLYlytu6bRvmhKWBBbKSKaB8j_IVY60Np72IcVimOnYDCC4QQ-O0IB_-4h-ZrVLOWyNNoOswhU-0326-vjZ9ZtfQ_O8aqCEu1GnIy8hakkumh_nfjg/s6240/952A9284-F54B-42FF-BE39-6C779023BEFF.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLp6uAcj9ivzyhNehfujC49XkKdHpxRumSf6x9oLUKOxGIXjy8K68RZqzYJXgNEQarZq4c_I8hLYlytu6bRvmhKWBBbKSKaB8j_IVY60Np72IcVimOnYDCC4QQ-O0IB_-4h-ZrVLOWyNNoOswhU-0326-vjZ9ZtfQ_O8aqCEu1GnIy8hakkumh_nfjg/w320-h213/952A9284-F54B-42FF-BE39-6C779023BEFF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I wondered what I was meant to be. Similar questions came and went and came back again. After drinking my morning coffee, I had no one to see and nowhere to be. I vacillated. I procrastinated. And then I took some time off.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);">With time came a changed perspective, and I began to think about what was next. I knew I wanted to find more purposeful work. Some years ago, I completed my degree (English/Communications) as an adult. I love to write—using words to inspire, persuade, inform and tell stories. I have always known in my heart that that is where my passion lies. Although communication has been a critical component of past jobs, I resolved to attempt to make this long-term passion into a much tighter focus. More a change of emphasis than a change of career—a full-time communications role.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: inherit;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);">It took a forced change to refocus my goals. I had drifted into a career working with mortgages and stayed because it was the easy thing to do, but there was always the nagging feeling I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing. Sound familiar? Putting one foot forward and trusting my instincts seemed like a solid place to start: Be comfortable being uncomfortable.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: inherit;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);">Being without a job is scary for a myriad of reasons but I am learning that life has a way of challenging you to get closer to the person you want to be. That doesn’t have to be job-focused, but a job may help in reinventing yourself.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: medium;">Photo credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich</span></span></span></span></p>Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-14938913780576044962023-05-22T12:51:00.025-05:002023-06-11T10:02:06.372-05:00Fast Travels Time in the Rear View Mirror<p>After a lengthy hiatus, <i>allinaword </i>is active again!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxc4IV8wvgeiP1UqE5ad0EHu3TVg2EI57bOjCFL_D_jMAXNMsYNZ1u6-cXGSHHXWAgZ7lnPz3gNOSWtC9ttVEAyI57t6VRNNg0UefdR1whsiivU33iCSamdrFBTyU1TLUAKwTXe_ITGOybndWlFg5cfOi0nXn_R6wD8QRpLf3z72ffQ4EtiDkT3vDgGQ/s4533/pexels-mark-neal-5268219.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="4533" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxc4IV8wvgeiP1UqE5ad0EHu3TVg2EI57bOjCFL_D_jMAXNMsYNZ1u6-cXGSHHXWAgZ7lnPz3gNOSWtC9ttVEAyI57t6VRNNg0UefdR1whsiivU33iCSamdrFBTyU1TLUAKwTXe_ITGOybndWlFg5cfOi0nXn_R6wD8QRpLf3z72ffQ4EtiDkT3vDgGQ/s320/pexels-mark-neal-5268219.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">What seems like only a few years since my last post is in reality much
longer. As someone who loves to write, I am looking forward to posting my
thoughts and comments regularly again.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our world has changed much since my last post. This glance back
from then to now takes a brief look at some of the major events in just two
countries, Great Britain, where I grew up; and the United States, my adopted
home. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My last post speculated whether people in Scotland would
vote to stay in the United Kingdom or choose to be an independent country. We know now that they voted for the former,
electing to remain part of the United Kingdom by 55-45 percent. But fault lines—that have widened over time—remain.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In another referendum two years later, in 2016, the majority
of people in the United Kingdom voted to
leave the European Union by a narrow margin of 52-48 percent, formally exiting
that body one hour before Big Ben rang in the New Year of 2020. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also that year Donald Trump won the US presidential
election, beating Hillary Clinton in an upset, but was defeated four years later
by Joe Biden, who became the 46th president. Between the two
elections, the 41st president, George H.W. Bush—resident in the Oval Office when I arrived as an immigrant—died in 2018.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the UK, the revolving door to 10 Downing Street opened and
closed in quick succession as five prime ministers sat in office behind that
famous black door.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Last Autumn Queen Elizabeth II, the epitome of stability and continuity, died at the age of 96 while in Scotland. An
ever-constant in my life, the Queen was always there. I watched from across the
Atlantic as her coffin moved somberly through the Scottish countryside, with
thousands of people lining the route. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The Queen’s reign spanned 15 British
Prime Ministers, beginning with Winston Churchill and ending with Liz Truss. During
that time there were 14 US presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the first; Joe
Biden, the last. The Queen was succeeded by Charles III, who was crowned king
at Westminster Abbey earlier this month.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2020 was a momentous year. The world shut down as result of the
coronavirus pandemic, leaving the US and the UK with many changes wrought in its wake. Remote work—</span>not really widespread pre-pandemic—became commonplace
with many workers reluctant to return to their offices. <span style="background-color: white; background: white; color: #202124;">Behavioral changes such as </span><span style="color: #040c28;">social distancing, isolation and masking affected many of
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That same year, my city of Minneapolis witnessed the death of
George Floyd at the hands of a policeman. The social unrest and demands for
racial justice that followed touched many aspects of American life—sparking a
reckoning of how American history is viewed—and spreading far beyond this
nation’s borders.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2021, the United States also got an official new holiday,
Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>On a personal note, I finally became a US citizen late in
2022. </span><span> </span><span>More on that in an upcoming post.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Photo Credit: </span><a href="https://www.pexels.com/@mark-neal-201020/">Mark Neal - Photography (pexels.com)</a></p>Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-73010832550095304442014-09-14T13:45:00.001-05:002014-09-15T22:06:34.603-05:00Scotland Decides<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaUoeQjonbmFTLnOlIKyv-UaOpY6M_GYkJsT7efzORjj0vsg7sulDjnex3oxZ3ah5iP2PUP0IjVeO_FwRXyuF9HQS4Z_2uYO3x7MQFzShMnyCMVPNJmJBbJ-XszJMjCVXwfCt0OwvMZ0N/s1600/Blog+Photo+-+Scotland+Decides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaUoeQjonbmFTLnOlIKyv-UaOpY6M_GYkJsT7efzORjj0vsg7sulDjnex3oxZ3ah5iP2PUP0IjVeO_FwRXyuF9HQS4Z_2uYO3x7MQFzShMnyCMVPNJmJBbJ-XszJMjCVXwfCt0OwvMZ0N/s1600/Blog+Photo+-+Scotland+Decides.jpg" height="145" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">On September 18, people resident in Scotland and age 16
or older will answer the question: "Should Scotland be an independent
country?"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The potential consequences are enormous. For the first
time in over 300 years, the United Kingdom could be less united; Great Britain
less great; and Scotland an independent state. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Although I have lived in the United States for over 20
years, I still cling to my British identity. That hasn't changed since I have
lived here. But Britain has. Born in England of a Welsh mother and an English
father, I return to visit family often and remain passionate about the United
Kingdom.<br />
<br />
The referendum is for Scotland alone but the decision will have a dramatic effect
on the rest of the UK. Scotland's population, at around 5.2 million, is one
twelfth of the UK population, yet the decision on whether the UK survives as a
state will be made without any input from voters in England, Wales or Northern
Ireland.<br />
<br />
So what has happened to transform the question of Scottish independence? A change
set in when Britain turned away from the Commonwealth to embrace a new European
identity, but more recently than that were the Thatcher years. And it is here
that real damage was wrought.<br />
<br />
Not that long ago the British state mined coal and forged steel. It
manufactured cars and trucks and employed an industrial workforce that did these
things. If you were a miner or a steel worker or a car worker you were part of
a community and shared interests with others in places such as Liverpool,
Sheffield, or South Wales. There was a common identity and it was British.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it signaled the end of a long period of industrial decline, but
Margaret Thatcher's brutal policies destroyed these industries and did long term harm to social cohesion in Scotland
(as it did in South Wales and large tracts of northern England). Communities
were broken up and with it a shared British endeavor, replaced by the global
market. I have long thought that the privatization of gas, electric, water and
other national assets also served to take something away from a collective
sense of Britishness, as it did in later years when British Rail was
privatized.<br />
<br />
Since the Thatcher years Westminster has shifted to the right while Scotland
has remained left of center. Many Scots who once felt both Scottish and British
no longer do so. And yet the ties that bind us are still strong: the NHS,
popular culture, the BBC and the pound. All parts of the UK are intrinsically
linked by history, trade, and family. Issues affecting people in Scotland are
the same as those affecting people in other parts of the UK. Living here I see
more in common between the average Scot, English, Welsh and Northern Irish
person than between people in many states of the US. <br />
<br />
What unites us is infinitely stronger than what divides us. During our 307-year
union we have discovered new medicines, made great inventions, created great
works of art, fought together and died together. And, when faced with perhaps
our darkest hour, we stood together and hurled defiance at Hitler when the
whole world thought our fate was sealed.<br />
<br />
Whatever happens on September 18, Great Britain will have forever changed. A
yes vote maybe a vote for independence but it is also a vote to render asunder
the United Kingdom. There is a vacuum of power in the world and this vote will
have a direct bearing upon that too. Both Scotland and the UK would be
diminished. Both would have less of a voice on the world stage. But perhaps the
most profound effect would be on the national psyche.<br />
<br />
Scotland doesn't need a seat at the United Nations to be a nation. She has as
strong an identity as any country on earth but with the economic benefits and
added security as part of the UK. I have traveled to most parts of Great
Britain and see a wonderful diversity of nations within a nation and regions
within those nations. Scots are welcomed everywhere. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Britain, British, Brtishness all stand for
something in the world - freedom, democracy, a sense of humor. We have built
the United Kingdom together. Britain deserves another chance.<br />
<br />
My view is a view from afar seen through English and Welsh eyes and it is for
my own patriotic reasons that I want Scotland to stay. Scotland balances
Britain socially, politically and culturally. It is my fervent hope that if the
referendum is defeated a new sense of national identity emerges. For too long it
has not been British to discuss what makes you British. I look back just a
couple of years to the London Olympics and recall the pride I felt at what we
achieved together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Scotland must have bold new powers but so too should the regions of England. With
devolved power in Wales and Northern Ireland, perhaps the United Kingdom could
function as a more cohesive, fairer state. Scotland remaining in the UK would
not be any less of a country but one that has recognized the advantages of
political and economic union with the rest of the people who share the same
island. The Union is an opportunity, not a threat.<br />
<br />
The President, the Pope and the Prime Minister of Australia have all spoken in
favor of the union as have countless celebrities from across the UK. Scots are
traditionally averse to being given advice, however well intentioned. Perhaps
they are listening; perhaps not. Strong of will and independent of thought, the
decision is for them alone; yet it is bitterly hard for me to accept that the
rest of the people in the UK will have no say as the fate of their country hangs in
the balance. I hope that come sunrise on September 19 the people of Scotland will
be secure enough in their identity, nationality and culture to continue to
share with the people they have been together with through thick and thin for
centuries.<br />
<br />
At a time when wars rage across the globe, it is a testament to the democracy
built over the centuries by the people of this remarkable island that this vote
is taking place. The stakes for Scotland and the United Kingdom could not be
greater. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Scotland: The rest of the UK is holding its breath.
They have no vote but want you to stay. </span></div>
Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-75202075758946220362013-05-18T15:45:00.000-05:002013-05-18T15:54:36.458-05:00A Hidden Gem<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rNSkv4t7tGzQFwF-7OsXsdCoW_hby8i3fcHH1UCjxvyMm79t7TCB3xVNnlz74ogfZT7M0xTWOWwrZPMOHVybGXcxOFi1pyzCWA9aayTjj3yiJC5Xhm-83_vAukX4Pgb4_Oni3qh5sXg9/s1600/May+Blog+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rNSkv4t7tGzQFwF-7OsXsdCoW_hby8i3fcHH1UCjxvyMm79t7TCB3xVNnlz74ogfZT7M0xTWOWwrZPMOHVybGXcxOFi1pyzCWA9aayTjj3yiJC5Xhm-83_vAukX4Pgb4_Oni3qh5sXg9/s320/May+Blog+Photo.jpg" /></a><br />
Earlier today I visited the Museum of Russian Art in South Minneapolis. Located in a Spanish-revivalist church built to mimic the Alamo, the three floors of this beautifully converted church create a blend of art and culture greater than its parts.<br />
<br />
The singular focus is on Russian Art. The permanent collection portrays the former Soviet Union’s tragic and unique history but there is also modern art as well as a photographic exhibition titled “Jewish Life in the Russian Empire”.<br />
<br />
Having studied Russian, I have a place in my heart for Russia and Russian culture and I particularly enjoyed the paintings portraying the former Soviet Union from different periods, art which ranges through both time and style. What works about this museum is its enchanting use of space. I don’t tend to linger in museums but this one is small enough to read about each piece and be done in an hour; there may be bigger collections in the Twin Cities but the quality of art is amazing. <br />
<br />
The architecture adds space for contemplation. If you are not familiar with Russian art or Russian culture do make a visit. It will educate and enlighten; engage and enthrall.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-55171357760252942642012-12-31T10:42:00.000-06:002013-01-01T12:31:16.073-06:00Guns and Freedom: An American Conundrum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5QqSp5o7ahvlbFxliayyHnF8m87akHi9mF8euM-CjRTfjvgahPwWFEg8vEvzOKoC1zjYK9NYuSGjYaMn4Lmght1_iI4t-S-U7_S8JdrcmJYYC8JM2a6GHibSbizQJ7aaulyPH98xxwBZ/s1600/Blog+1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="170" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5QqSp5o7ahvlbFxliayyHnF8m87akHi9mF8euM-CjRTfjvgahPwWFEg8vEvzOKoC1zjYK9NYuSGjYaMn4Lmght1_iI4t-S-U7_S8JdrcmJYYC8JM2a6GHibSbizQJ7aaulyPH98xxwBZ/s400/Blog+1-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I didn’t grow up with guns. I have never owned a gun. In fact, as a child and young adult in Great Britain, I never even saw a gun - except on television. <br />
<br />
The United States is very different to Great Britain. It has different freedoms and a unique history that has given birth to those freedoms. Because of this, threats to take away people’s guns by force would go nowhere. Nor would it solve the issue of gun violence. Criminals will always get guns – legal or not.<br />
<br />
In the aftermath of the murder of 20 six and seven year-olds, as well as six adults, at a Connecticut school, there has never been a more critical time for serious debate about guns. The National Rifle Association’s claim that the reason for mass school shootings is not the prevalence of military-style weapons but the lack of armed officers in schools left me cold. This misses the point entirely. It also assumes that living in an armed society is normal. It isn’t.<br />
<br />
Even though I’m not a citizen, I have lived here as a legal resident for two decades and support the right to bear arms. But I would suggest some common sense restrictions, especially with regard to military-style assault weapons that release a round of bullets with one pull of the trigger. <br />
<br />
The NRA has easy answers. Gun control advocates have easy answers. But the answers are not easy. The issue is far from simple, and changing the law is not going to make guns disappear from the black market. What is needed is dialogue, not unilateral dictates. Those children cannot have died in vain. After each of the recent massacres there has been excuses and inaction; now is the time for action. <br />
<br />
Armed guards wouldn’t make classrooms safer, let alone promote a learning environment. There would have to be guards in every classroom and not just at the entrances as there are many ways to get into a school. A student simply has to put a gun in a bag, come to school as normal and start shooting, and there will be multiple deaths before an armed guard could get there. Schools should be safe sanctuaries, not armed camps.<br />
<br />
So, what to do? For a start, severely restrict or ban the relative easy access to military style assault weapons, whose purpose is to kill human beings. Close the loopholes that allow guns to be sold without background checks, and have a mandatory training course for all guns purchased. <br />
<br />
Consider the issue of mental illness and alienation in society. Most—if not all--of the recent perpetrators of mass shootings seemed to be mentally ill. Beef up the background checks for mental illness. And buying guns and ammo on the internet just seems like a really bad idea. <br />
<br />
A recent no-questions-asked gun buyback program in Los Angeles was a huge success. Expand this to other towns and cities. Fewer guns on the streets can only be a good thing.<br />
<br />
Today children are bombarded with violence throughout the gaming industry, movies, and the media. Where is the outrage about the ever increasing violence in video games? <br />
<br />
In a free society there has to be reason and I hope there will be a shift in the conversation. America is better than this. What next? Kids going to school wearing bullet proof vests?<br />
Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-35604136821454851682012-10-19T16:36:00.000-05:002012-10-29T22:19:58.424-05:00Why Malala Matters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR-U-2n2Yoto84x4rzzr3NcOKPzfE46ZriSdxdFkDoIw3GbqsuHw0993bgaFetEdxXp-sK8LssY7M0jJamUTMFqIbvKveOnjvFAmc7D7Bvlh02lkMfIKUj9ndVrwFsc233nUr90T7QvNB/s1600/Malala+Yusafzai.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR-U-2n2Yoto84x4rzzr3NcOKPzfE46ZriSdxdFkDoIw3GbqsuHw0993bgaFetEdxXp-sK8LssY7M0jJamUTMFqIbvKveOnjvFAmc7D7Bvlh02lkMfIKUj9ndVrwFsc233nUr90T7QvNB/s400/Malala+Yusafzai.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
Malala Yousafzai, aged 15, was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman as she returned home from school in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. Her alleged offense? A yearning for an education and her public pronouncements in pursuit of it. <br />
<br />
Even as she recovers, after being flown to a hospital in Great Britain, the Taliban chillingly re-stated their intent to kill her - should she survive.<br />
<br />
Fundamentalism is unbending and the Taliban’s obscurantist interpretation of Islam has nothing to do with religion. Scratch at the surface of this and many other authoritarian creeds and you’ll see a play for power and control. Imposing your will by force. <br />
<br />
Malala, with her books and outspoken denunciation of school closings, threatened that; the alternative is to be a second class citizen.<br />
<br />
A fundamentalist may claim that theirs is the path to true salvation, but how can faith be real and true if coerced? It is knowledge they fear. And it is knowledge that will set you free. <br />
<br />
The enduring menace of the Taliban will have consequences for girls and women long into the future though perhaps this brave girl’s actions will a more enduring impact; after all, the Taliban targeted her because they fear the future that she embodies. <br />
<br />
Three years ago she spoke out, in turn giving voice to thousands of girls like her – banned from attending school and hidden from public view. Her courage in facing down the Taliban is a sign they cannot win because without tolerance and education there is no future. <br />
<br />
I hope Malala will inspire a new generation. The future lies in protecting children like her -- and there are millions of them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-89054401158624997902012-06-10T17:02:00.000-05:002013-04-08T16:30:41.965-05:00Flame Fever Grips Britain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bR9X20rNKtLvezQmcc3FHosQJSZ1TWva9qO4BApPiUyop5x3o78Cmx7VUtLvPgmhHvINWkJGc-7F9DJDgwyqm1_LB6K3muy8jg3fBNUjXvvcKZJt_31UB_TRlb_vPCm_f4YKxKUcJjfr/s1600/Waiting+for+Olympic+Flame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bR9X20rNKtLvezQmcc3FHosQJSZ1TWva9qO4BApPiUyop5x3o78Cmx7VUtLvPgmhHvINWkJGc-7F9DJDgwyqm1_LB6K3muy8jg3fBNUjXvvcKZJt_31UB_TRlb_vPCm_f4YKxKUcJjfr/s400/Waiting+for+Olympic+Flame.jpg" /></a><br />
The London Olympics--for so long a glimmer on the horizon--are now just weeks away. <br />
<br />
Last month, while staying with my dad, I saw the Olympic flame pass through Cirencester. Before it arrived on British soil I had images of lone runners splashing through puddles, watched by only hardy enthusiasts. The reality could not have been more different. A torch relay that began in uncertainty quickly became a phenomenon. <br />
<br />
In Cirencester, the local schools closed early and the town center was filled with thousands of people. Long before the flame arrived they stood in lines six deep waving union jacks and school children clutched replica cardboard torches, creating a carnival atmosphere. The sense of anticipation was palpable.<br />
<br />
In spite of the corporate sponsors’ choreographed efforts, the relay quickly took on a life of its own and became the people’s event. The same thing has happened in towns and villages across Britain. The triumph has been to make the London Games seem both <i>national</i> and <i>local</i>. <br />
<br />
But not everyone is excited about the Olympics. Many people argue that the two weeks spent staging the Games is a misuse of tax payers’ money, and that the cost, £9 billion ($13.8 billion),--a huge increase on the original claimed cost of £2.3 billion ($3.5 billion)--could have been better spent on education or the health service.<br />
<br />
Olympic history is also littered with white elephants and debt. When the Games are over, it will be the Government left holding the bag and the British taxpayer who will be paying for it for years to come. The government is confident there will be a lasting legacy of regeneration, at least in east London. We’ll see.<br />
<br />
Despite the enormous cost, hosting the Olympics is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I can‘t wait for the Opening Ceremony. In any event, Britain always rises to the grand occasion. Case in point: The Diamond Jubilee celebrations. And we certainly have the heritage. Just look at some of the Olympic venues: cycling at Hampden Court Palace; beach volleyball at Horse Guards’ Parade; road running in the Mall; and tennis at Wimbledon. Not bad for starters.<br />
<br />
A serious failure, however, is the Games’ dog’s dinner of an <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1245&bih=621&tbm=isch&tbnid=ptWjug9tRQ9ODM:&imgrefurl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/artblog/2007/jun/05/howlisasimpsontooktheolym&docid=vpu2JjCbMMYJ4M&imgurl=http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2007/06/05/olympics460.jpg&w=460&h=500&ei=-BjVT6zTHaqw2wXJ6uCfDw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=657&sig=102599361943226130664&page=1&tbnh=122&tbnw=112&start=0&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:87&tx=58&ty=58">official logo</a>. In an apparent modern twist on the Olympic colors it looks like it has been dropped on the floor and the shattered pieces picked up and used anyway. Makes me dizzy just looking at it. <br />
<br />
And let’s not forget the official mascots, <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1245&bih=621&tbm=isch&tbnid=Jz54m-QVhZ4_LM:&imgrefurl=http://www.theage.com.au/sport/london-gets-chance-to-eyeball-its-2012-olympics-mascots-20100520-vfq0.html&docid=4VAGTU3KCymg_M&imgurl=http://images.theage.com.au/2010/05/20/1466729/st_mascots2-420x0.jpg&w=420&h=300&ei=JBnVT_qZHoTC2QWu-qS5Dw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=938&vpy=287&dur=3356&hovh=190&hovw=266&tx=163&ty=114&sig=102599361943226130664&page=1&tbnh=132&tbnw=161&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:0,i:110">Wenlock and Mandeville</a>, who as one commentator joked, look like the offspring from a one night stand between a Dalek and a Tellytubby. They are surely the worst Olympic mascots ever. At the very least, they are certain to scare many a small child. <br />
<br />
But if nothing else, both the logo and the mascots play to Britain’s innate quirkiness and mild eccentricity that the country seems to revel in. We seem to enjoy laughing at our own failures. Perhaps they’ll grow on me, but I’ll not hold my breath. <br />
<br />
On a more somber note, the Olympics will militarize London. Officers with machine guns will patrol the Underground; Police special forces, their faces covered by balaclavas, will be present; and the army will man supersonic surface to air missile systems capable of shooting down an airborne target from six sites nearby. A Royal Navy battleship will also be moored in the Thames. <br />
<br />
There are the things I love about the Olympics that live long in the memory - the medals, the anthems, the great sporting moments. I wish it didn’t need to be branded like everything else. The people’s way of engaging has little to do with Coca Cola, Samsung, or Lloyds TSB. <br />
<br />
In Britain, the Olympic spirit has stirred something in the collective experience. And given how much it has all cost it’s appropriate that the games belong to the people. There was an alchemy at work in Cirencester that May afternoon and if a similar reaction continues everywhere else the flame appears then perhaps we can expect magic come July.<br />
<br />
Photo by Ian Lloyd-GrahamChristopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-56242016152696582182011-12-31T19:16:00.046-06:002013-04-08T16:30:13.894-05:00Village of Enchanting Beauty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcFfyNzo65EHA8x4sSIC4tFE8QrQVBSGGefECGbuZw0uk47wmGs5nxCTExWysakhH_Kf5VhHyIeAf8lhoDoFVXlGekAkhMvMv_lpx79bGc1rAws6KTicjoEHz41ow4i0cazwzfsvT4d0F/s1600/Pictures+5-24-10+106.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcFfyNzo65EHA8x4sSIC4tFE8QrQVBSGGefECGbuZw0uk47wmGs5nxCTExWysakhH_Kf5VhHyIeAf8lhoDoFVXlGekAkhMvMv_lpx79bGc1rAws6KTicjoEHz41ow4i0cazwzfsvT4d0F/s400/Pictures+5-24-10+106.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692773405708543058" /></a><br />
Nineteenth century writer and poet <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William Morris">William Morris</a> once described Bibury as “the most beautiful village in England.” It’s a view I find difficult to argue with. <br />
<br />
Bibury is famous for <a href="http://www.bibury.com/arlington-row.htm">Arlington Row</a>, a row of medieval stone cottages. With their honey-colored stone and steep pitched roofs, they are among the most photographed images in Britain. <br />
<br />
My dad moved to Bibury 10 years ago and visiting is always a treat. Situated in the Cotswolds, an area of gently rolling hills in the English countryside, Bibury exudes charm from every house and tree and meadow. Footpaths cross scenic hills and fields leading to rivers, woods, and charming country pubs. Life is unhurried and the past is ever present.<br />
<br />
The village is popular with tourists from all over the world; they arrive in their hundreds on sunny summer days but also on the coldest winter day. <br />
<br />
Arlington Row was built in 1380 as a monastic wool store and converted to the present day cottages in the 17th century. The cottages face out to a water meadow, known as Rack Isle, once used to dry the cloth for Arlington Mill on the other side, but now a wildlife preserve for water voles, frogs, and other animals. It takes its name from the wooden racks that were used to stretch the drying cloth. <br />
<br />
There are some great places to eat and drink in the village, my favorite being the <a href="http://www.catherinewheel-bibury.co.uk">Catherine Wheel</a>, which dates from the 15th century. But it‘s also fun to explore, and on many an occasion I'll drive through the countryside with my dad in search of country pubs further afield - and we have found a few. <br />
<br />
A real treat is to get up early and walk along the River Coln, which runs through the village, and along Arlington Row as the first rays of sunlight kiss the limestone walls giving them a warm, luminous glow. Equally enjoyable is to walk the same route after dark when the stars in an ink blue sky sparkle above steeply-pitched slate roofs. <br />
<br />
Spring is my favorite time to visit. Daffodils sway softly in fields filled with new-born lambs that skip joyfully up gentle inclines, their fresh white wool in sharp contrast to the lush green grass. <br />
<br />
In summer I love to walk across the countryside. A favorite route is to the nearby village of Coln St. Aldwyns, a journey lasting roughly an hour. My dad and I once walked there together. We climbed over stone stiles, walked beside ancient dry stone walls, through woods and along pathways edged into the earth. We saw no people, just the occasional house in the distance, the golden-colored Cotswold stone blending into the land and the land into the sky. <br />
<br />
In autumn, the smell of fallen leaves mixes with the rich clay earth. Smoke rises from cottage chimneys and fills the crisp air with the smell of burning wood.<br />
<br />
In winter the light fades early. A walk at dusk along Water Lane, the narrow path that borders Rack Isle, reveals bare trees cloaked in the frozen embrace of frost. <br />
<br />
A short walk from my dad’s house is the Saxon church of St. Mary. Tucked away in a tranquil setting the church dates from the 8th century, though Norman and Perpendicular styles can also be seen. The high, slender chancel arch is especially striking.<br />
<br />
The entrance door is always unlocked so I often go inside, sit in one of the pews, and watch as rays of sunlight shine through the 13th century stained glass windows. I look at the plaques on the walls commemorating local men and the regiments they served. All left to fight for crown and country on foreign fields. None returned. <br />
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Outside in the churchyard, ancient gravestones covered in moss protrude through the earth. Next to the church is <a href="http://biburycourt.com">Bibury Court</a>, a majestic Jacobean mansion, now a hotel, and set in six acres of grounds. The house itself was built in 1633 by the Sackville family, whose initials can still be seen carved over the entrance. <br />
<br />
Access to Bibury Court is through a large wooden door set in an even larger stone wall that borders the churchyard. On the other side is an apple orchard, neatly clipped yew hedges, trees, arbors flanked by beds of lavender, vines and shrubs; meandering past on one side is the silvery river Coln. <br />
<br />
It is the quintessential Englishness of Bibury that it so special. Even Hollywood used Arlington Row as part of the mythical village of 'Wall' in the 2007 film <a href="http://www.stardustmovie.com">Stardust</a>. I was visiting at the time as Bibury was transformed into a film set with bright lights, cameras, actors and...fake snow. <br />
<br />
Other interest from this side of the Atlantic came in the form of Henry Ford who attempted to buy the cottages and ship them back to his home in Michigan. Fortunately the plan was blocked. <br />
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On a recent visit, long after the last tourist bus had departed, I stood on Swan Bridge, the river Coln flowing underneath. I watched as a silhouette of a white swan glided elegantly through the icy water; a black cousin followed closely behind. In the distance silhouetted against the darkening sky stood Arlington Row. Soft orange lights flickered through tiny windows in a scene both timeless and of its time. <br />
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Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-25801761032054559812011-09-11T19:36:00.010-05:002011-09-12T19:01:01.027-05:00A Sanctuary in the City<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WUKVqFnQmu2XLjI35Jyyzko8-5ouUCDw2zd0Ipuhk_g3ynB1neA1Khgaed9S8gqMVNpvVMHRXLp8AU3Wjb8EMFnXxYCfXPxZ5MYhOeWaFxZgq5goSBr2vgjLqLTOotDQenWJhvskk2S6/s1600/Soo+Line+Garden+Plot+Summer+2011.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WUKVqFnQmu2XLjI35Jyyzko8-5ouUCDw2zd0Ipuhk_g3ynB1neA1Khgaed9S8gqMVNpvVMHRXLp8AU3Wjb8EMFnXxYCfXPxZ5MYhOeWaFxZgq5goSBr2vgjLqLTOotDQenWJhvskk2S6/s400/Soo+Line+Garden+Plot+Summer+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651265700411604450" /></a><br />The arrival of fall brings with it cooler temperatures and changing colors. It’s also the time of year when I look forward to harvesting the crops from my garden. <br /><br />I live in a condo and don‘t have access to my own garden space at home, so having a plot at the Soo Line Community Garden is like having my own horticultural sanctuary in the city. <br /><br />Nestled between Garfield and Harriet and bordered by the Greenway in South Minneapolis, the land was once the site of a grain elevator. After that was torn down in the late 1980s, it sat barren and stagnant in a state of tax forfeiture but has since been transformed and is today a destination for gardeners, cyclists, walkers and bird watchers. <br /><br />The first plots were dug in 1992, and today there are close to a hundred. With the development of the Greenway, the land became very desirable and for years the specter of development loomed over gardeners’ carefully-nurtured plots. <br /><br />But the custodians of the Soo Line, along with many residents, fought long and hard to secure the land for the gardeners of the future, finally seeing their efforts rewarded when administration of the site passed to the Park & Recreation Board in 2010 who subsequently granted approval for its permanent use as a community garden. <br /><br />The surrounding neighborhood is very dense and many neighbors don’t have garden space of their own so the Soo Line also acts as a gathering point, and as somewhere for people to interact and to come together in a public space. <br /><br />Next time you are nearby, or even if you find yourself walking or biking along the Greenway, take a moment and stop by. Walk through the garden and you’ll see many tiny miracles happening every day. In Spring--once the snow has melted--perhaps you’ll see just a few old leaves and last year’s perennials having emerged through winter’s frozen embrace; but wait a few weeks and you’ll be greeted by buds unfolding, leaves unfurling, and a sudden swirl of color. <br /><br />Summer is my favorite time at the Soo Line. Long evening hours filled with scents from new flowers and many vibrant colors. My heart expands at the sight of day lilies and sunflowers swaying in the summer breeze, flowers and crops of many shapes and sizes, and at butterflies fluttering gracefully from one flower to another. I especially love to go there in the fading light, an hour or so before darkness. My garden also takes stock of my moods, as digging in the dirt is medicine for my soul. <br /><br />September means longer shadows, shorter hours and petals that shrivel in the fall. Longer days of golden sun may have come and gone, but that also means that I’ll soon be enjoying many meals made from what I have grown. <br /><br />Just last evening I returned from the garden with a bag filled with tomatoes, bell peppers, cherry peppers, rosemary, lima beans, tomatillos, and parsley. Likely I can leave my beets in the ground until well into October—the colder nights seem to enhance their flavor. And after that? I’ll just wait patiently until next spring - when rebirth comes again.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-37010903279381573062011-07-25T19:23:00.045-05:002011-08-07T02:40:24.902-05:00Developer's Plans Stir Debate in Small Community<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHiVIFGD3urU12RasgitOqnK8GYT7jYdSh_ys_TJ1MYji5QmSVDy-3OWPu4KX59_ySOJzLNo0kvLc1-Zf_PN_jXtXFnBT28gUws_KLAWx7nNrGKHHwFTnBLVCRr98elu_sIGixkD7bZ80/s1600/Linden+Hills+Piano.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHiVIFGD3urU12RasgitOqnK8GYT7jYdSh_ys_TJ1MYji5QmSVDy-3OWPu4KX59_ySOJzLNo0kvLc1-Zf_PN_jXtXFnBT28gUws_KLAWx7nNrGKHHwFTnBLVCRr98elu_sIGixkD7bZ80/s400/Linden+Hills+Piano.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633452292114699170" /></a><br />I have often wondered about the impact of new housing and retail developments on older, established neighborhoods. How much input do residents have if opposed? Is compromise sometimes possible? Can developments be stopped?<br /><br />I was recently prompted to ask these questions first-hand after learning of a proposal to build a five-story commercial/residential building in my community of Linden Hills in Minneapolis.<br /> <br />After reading about the project, known as Linden Corner, I attended a meeting of local residents opposed to the development and discovered that their views were broadly in line with my own; I also wanted to hear from the developer, Mark Dwyer, who lives in the area.<br /><br />I contacted Dwyer and told him that although I was opposed to his plans, I would appreciate hearing his perspective and thoughts. He agreed to meet me.<br /> <br />Dwyer explained that what is being proposed is a five-story retail and residential development with plans to include approximately 34 condominiums, a restaurant, as well as a handful of businesses. <br /> <br />At present, the proposed site is zoned for buildings no taller than three stories in height and Dwyer is seeking a variance--or conditional use permit--to override this. Further, there’s an additional layer of regulations that was drawn up by local residents and businesses over a decade ago to protect the character and image of the area.<br /> <br />An affable man with a pleasant manner, Dwyer believes his plan makes economic sense for Linden Hills, in part due to the departure of the previous anchor tenant. He either owns the existing buildings at the proposed site (43rd and Upton) on a contract for deed, or has options to buy. But can he sell his plan to the community, I wondered. <br /> <br />Dwyer says he is sensitive to the aesthetic of Linden Hills but insists that five stories are necessary economically. “There is just a small group of people who are opposed,” he said. <br /><br />My own observation differs drastically as I see a groundswell of opinion against his plans.<br /><br />I asked how he might react if a petition (which I know to be circulating the area) were presented containing the signatures of a significant number of residents. “Opposition is important and healthy and informs opinion. We believe we are bringing the solution that has the best balance,” he said. “Change will happen in the face of opposition. It balances needs and wants. If there is an alternative that’s better, I’m not aware of one.” <br /><br />I believe that the majority of people wouldn’t have an issue with a three-story structure. So why not build within the current zoning? “A three-story building isn’t a marketable property. Five stories drive the revenue, and it can’t be built smaller,” he replied. <br /><br />This leads me to speculate that if scale and economy are linked, if this is the only way for the project to be financially viable, and if that doesn’t match what the community wants, then perhaps something somewhere is wrong. <br /><br />If Dwyer is convinced this development will benefit the area, another resident, Kristin Tombers, owner of Clancey’s Meats, has a different point of view. She believes that the independent owner/operator businesses currently prevalent in the area reflect the “charming, small and village-like” feel of the business district. <br /><br />“A large, cold commanding structure will be at extreme odds with the community’s current personality, no matter how thoughtfully or tastefully executed," she said.<br /><br />“The beauty, charm and magic of Linden Hills will be lost for the people who love it here and the businesses of today will be gone forever to the commerce of the future. Whose future and well-being, then, are we talking about?”<br /><br />Nor does Tombers view this project as inevitable and even has some creative alternatives for the corner. She alludes to the possible availability of grant money to make this an “urban green space” and “something innovative, inspiring, and responsible for all our interests, not just a select few.”<br /><br />The developer’s website gives details of a local design team that has employed many features tailored to the aesthetics of the community, but I can’t get past the sheer size (both in height and length) that I feel is so wrong for the area. As someone said to me the other day, the reason Linden Hills has remained quaint and charming is because it is the total opposite of what this proposed development represents.<br /> <br />I think it is a false assumption to think that a small community will not be affected by a giant complex like this at its heart. I am also concerned about the types of businesses that will fill the retail spaces. Will they be national chains or will they be small locally-owned businesses? Linden Hills' pedestrian-friendliness would be overwhelmed by a development on this scale. <br /> <br />I appreciate the efforts made to reach out to the community, and I don't even mind the design, but for me the bottom line is the size of the project. It would tower over the area. <br /><br />But if there is a Plan B, in the event that an override to the existing regulations cannot be obtained, I am sure many people in the community would love to have a voice in any future plans.<br /><br />I love the small town feel of this community. It is unique, has character, and is unlike so many other places because of that. I am in favor of responsible development and believe the existing zoning should be respected. Overriding that would set a precedent for other developers wishing to build taller than permitted buildings in the area.<br /> <br />There are a lot of other issues associated with the Linden Corner development, and I have only covered some of them. Please check out the resources below for more information.<br /><br />Finally, I'd like to point out that the opinions expressed in this article are my own. I state this only because I have spoken with other residents who share similar views. <br /><br />Links: <br /><a href="http://www.lindenhills.org/">Linden Hills Neighborhood Council</a> <br /><a href="http://www.lindencorner.com/">Developer's Website</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/No-Linden-Corner/211830732192519">Neighborhood Opposition Facebook Page</a><br /><a href="http://nolindencorner.com/">Neighborhood Opposition Website</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linden-Corner/105874032813577">Developer's Facebook Page</a>Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-54062464639312424052011-06-12T19:04:00.016-05:002011-06-13T13:00:09.447-05:00Arab Spring<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtoncW0siDaLNZb6Ve1Xw5IB8KOq0FrVPu92eK82vgCpFIJlFzbkUdYxaqLnuEVEhtixuahzLnQE2lMiqV3GCmfpk1mKR-4U12w5tqz7a3IhJbzH4OfOW-E-sCH8YjHruBTYmfb_mq7d0/s1600/Arab+Spring+Blog+Photo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtoncW0siDaLNZb6Ve1Xw5IB8KOq0FrVPu92eK82vgCpFIJlFzbkUdYxaqLnuEVEhtixuahzLnQE2lMiqV3GCmfpk1mKR-4U12w5tqz7a3IhJbzH4OfOW-E-sCH8YjHruBTYmfb_mq7d0/s400/Arab+Spring+Blog+Photo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617538855384862018" /></a><br />The popular revolts taking place across the Arab world came as a surprise, but big changes always do. Yet history shows us that repressive governments are not finite. Just look at the Soviet Union. Communism’s collapse once seemed unimaginable, too.<br /> <br />Like a set of dominoes waiting to be toppled, the old guard--the despots and the autocrats--many of whom have bled their societies dry, are on shaky ground. Freedom of expression is clearly a threat to their survival. <br /><br />Ruled for too long by dictators who cared little for the wishes of their populations, the image of Arab peoples has gone through a rapid sea change that has seized the imagination of the world. <br /><br />The popular image of the ubiquitous terrorist and the Arab “strongman,” where stability equaled stagnation, are being swept away. After all, what choice is there for men who have come to power by non-democratic means except to resort to force or flee? <br /><br />The West paid lip service to alliances in the Middle East at the expense of the citizens of those countries. A stable Middle East was a synonym for many things, among them free-flowing oil. <br /><br />With the fall of Mubarak in Egypt, American foreign policy was re-made overnight. As a consequence, the US isn’t in the driving seat anymore - the Arab people are. And you’d better believe the West is paying attention. <br /><br />But it is the concept of dignity and taking justice into one’s own hands that I find particularly inspiring. I marvel at the courage of the people driving the changes. Shaking off decades of passivity must be intoxicating. And in an age where technology has made information both accessible and instant, Facebook and Twitter seem to have served as catalysts for the widespread eruption of rage, certainly among the young. <br /><br />I recall hearing about a man in Egypt whose identity card was issued with an incorrect spelling (and hence a subsequent mispronunciation) of his name. Because of corruption and inefficiency he had to go through life constantly dealing with this slight. This might be a small thing to us in the West, but it’s so important a concept for an individual’s pride and dignity. <br /><br />There is civil war in Libya and perhaps in Yemen and Syria, too. No one knows what the eventual government of Egypt might look like, and Islamist influence remains an unknown across the entire region; but I can't help but feel that extreme Islamist ideologies will continue to subside if popular revolutions drive real change. <br /><br />Israel isn't immune from these shockwaves, either. Without Syrian support, Lebanon might also descend into chaos. Perhaps even the US might be less friendly toward Israel if she is seen as an obstacle to US influence in the new Middle East.<br /><br />For Israel, supporting moves toward democracy in the Arab countries is a gamble because she needs stability and predictability. The Arab Spring could yet turn into an Israeli Winter. <br /><br />What if the Palestinians again march to Israel’s borders but in greater numbers? Used to dealing with violent demonstrations, what would Israeli soldiers do when confronted with thousands of unarmed demonstrators demanding to return to homes their families lost over half a century ago? <br /><br />Change does not necessarily mean the Arab people will remain anti-American in the long run and I think this is a real chance for the US to be an influential partner. Gone are the days of supporting dictators as the lesser of two evils. The Arabs have revolted by themselves. These are their revolutions. But freedoms won can turn into dictatorship again. Widespread violence cannot be ruled out. Western style democracy seems unlikely, but it is too early to know that. <br /><br />It is for future historians to grapple with the significance of what is happening today. Will it be a transition to democracy, or a reshuffle to a different form of autocracy? <br /><br />After all, despite the best efforts of NATO, Gaddafi is still in power, and President Assad--aided by his ghastly brother--will kill as many of his own citizens as is necessary to remain in power. Plus, if and when change comes to Saudi Arabia, expect bigger earthquakes ahead.<br /> <br />These are heady times and I hope the Arab Spring blossoms into real change and not something that might have been.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-61314162737203234782011-05-11T19:17:00.023-05:002011-05-23T23:57:33.966-05:00Community Leadership<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTxZadV32aq0uDaHzMnfHb5lZlbtXRo8osykym08hyphenhyphenQQ1UB1FZAdV3WIuys8bucVASO0uw3gmBJmMsYlU2CiiKm195SiRVXXOvpMwJWj4uO_wzav7p07Ve-Y6BiAz0hSmrt_gzBQ9rJi6/s1600/untitled.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTxZadV32aq0uDaHzMnfHb5lZlbtXRo8osykym08hyphenhyphenQQ1UB1FZAdV3WIuys8bucVASO0uw3gmBJmMsYlU2CiiKm195SiRVXXOvpMwJWj4uO_wzav7p07Ve-Y6BiAz0hSmrt_gzBQ9rJi6/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605621268280164338" /></a><br />Tomorrow sees the end of the 2010/11 <a href="http://minneapolischamber.org/program_leadership_twin_cities.php">Leadership Twin Cities </a>program, and with it ends my term as co-chair. What began nine months ago at a wooded retreat in Monticello, and continued one day each month, culminates in Vision Day at the <a href="http://www.neighb.org/wellstone_center.aspx">Wellstone Center </a>in St. Paul. <br /><br />Leadership Twin Cities’ focus is to inform and inspire future leaders about critical issues facing the community; it in turn challenges them to make a difference through personal commitment. <br /><br />Going through the program again (I was a participant 2 years ago) has been brilliant and has enabled me to see things through a different lens. What I particularly like about Leadership Twin Cities is that it prompts questions but does not provide answers; finding answers is up to each individual. <br /><br />At Vision Day, one of the speakers will challenge the class of fifty to find their “community calling.” And they will certainly have some great experiences from which to select — be it a police ride-along, a theater tour, a visit to a jail, a tour of the cities, a day spent at a High School, or a particularly inspiring speaker from any of the nine program days. <br /><br />My co-chair Becky and I have encouraged the class to recognize common themes linking the days. This time around I’ve been aware of how money—or the lack thereof—has affected everything from the number of firefighters employed to the funding non-profit organizations receive. <br /><br />Consider: Is it more important to fund libraries or the arts? Is it more prudent to have safe streets or places for homeless people to spend the night? Is the aesthetic beauty of the cities more important than efficient, well-funded hospitals? These are just some of the issues the class can reflect on.<br /><br />Another great aspect of the program is the relationships you form with each other, and I suspect that many among this year's class will be in touch with each other for years to come. <br /><br />If community involvement is your calling I encourage you to get involved - join a board, or find a place to volunteer that matches your passion. It is commitment from people like you and me that will make the difference between success and failure. Leadership Twin Cities lets you decide just how deep into an issue you want to get. <br /><br />As a parting gesture, Becky and I plan to give the class refrigerator magnets with a quote from Winston Churchill on them that reads “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Perhaps making a difference matters by confronting the prospect that it doesn't; and putting a smile on someone's face may just serve to put a smile on your own.<br /><br />Two class members were even able to imagine a whole new career for themselves after finding inspiration through the program. One joined a non-profit after years working in the corporate world; another left her job and started her own interior design business. <br /><br />My own position was recently eliminated and, like the two class members mentioned above, I believe that now is the time to make a change, to imagine a whole new career for myself as well!Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-52752213157092474142011-01-18T19:18:00.036-06:002011-05-16T23:24:26.032-05:00Say NO! to Stratford<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV749KBWiEPqEAIGwjeWi6y_jmaaeUPMMonBSnQ3JDDhAZC6SBln_FQ79rGV04Xv_JT7OgM9yE_LAPz_57Lw38mD8wSQYoywBkTiWekTrz3YH3gd78cUmgbFFB5yh3Nh2xGAckV3kOfN0/s1600/tottenham-cswy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV749KBWiEPqEAIGwjeWi6y_jmaaeUPMMonBSnQ3JDDhAZC6SBln_FQ79rGV04Xv_JT7OgM9yE_LAPz_57Lw38mD8wSQYoywBkTiWekTrz3YH3gd78cUmgbFFB5yh3Nh2xGAckV3kOfN0/s200/tottenham-cswy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563702634890096674" /></a><br />My dad took me to my first Spurs game in the 1970s -- against Arsenal at White Hart Lane. I’ve been crazy about them ever since. <br /><br />There have been some rough years, of course, but I knew I’d made the right choice early on when the other kids at school would try to persuade me to support the local team, West Ham. But following Spurs runs in the family so there was no chance of that. <br /><br />For a while, White Hart Lane was my second home. I even had my own favorite spot in the Shelf. I was there when we were still competing for four trophies at Easter and when Tony Parks saved the decisive penalty to win the UEFA Cup.<br /><br />Since moving to the US in the early ‘90s, I have followed every result and try to keep up with all the news. I still get to White Hart Lane when visiting family, though the occasions are limited.<br /><br />Just two years ago I sat in the East Stand on a cold, rainy Sunday. It was Harry Redknapp’s first game in charge. At that time we were bottom of the Premier League.<br /><br />Today Spurs are at their healthiest position since the Premier League began. In the knock out stages of the Champions League and challenging for the title, the team’s progress over the past 2 years has been startling. <br /><br />But football today is big business and the world is its window. In financial terms we are not in the same league as Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal. <br /><br />White Hart Lane is ridiculously hard to get to, but it can create an atmosphere like few other grounds. Anyone who was present when Spurs demolished European Champions Inter Milan last November will testify to that. European nights at the Lane are magical. <br /><br />But with a capacity of just 36,000, Spurs will struggle to attract the sort of sponsorship or generate the revenue needed to compete for new fans globally. A bigger stadium is essential.<br /><br />Their original plan was to build a new stadium next to the current one though it now looks as if moving to the Olympic Stadium site in east London might be their preferred--and not their not back-up--choice. <br /><br />Certainly the case to move to Stratford makes economic sense: Great transport links to the whole of Europe, close proximity to the City and Canary Wharf, a brand new leisure and recreation area, and a reported £200 million saving in construction costs. <br /><br />So what’s all the fuss about? After all, American sports teams relocate all the time. And Stratford is just 5 miles across London. Yes. And no.<br /><br />It may be just a short distance across the city, but a move to east London would represent an even greater distance in terms of culture and history. It would rip the soul and identity out of the club. Spurs are synonymous with north London, not east.<br /><br />One thing that separates sporting teams in Britain from those in the US is that in Britain teams have a long legacy and their names are rooted in the communities they are from. <br /><br />Years before I arrived in Minnesota there was a team called the Lakers, who now play in Los Angeles. Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. I bet there are not too many lakes in LA. <br /><br />There’s also the Utah Jazz, who came from New Orleans. Jazz in Utah? Right.<br /><br />A Spurs team playing in Stratford would not be the team I grew up with. <br /><br />Tottenham Hotspur. The name says it all: Tottenham, London N17; Hotspur: Sir Henry Percy (nicknamed Harry Hotspur), a land owner in nearby Northumberland Park. <br /><br />I get it that Spurs might be looking at the global market but moving onto West Ham’s patch (and let’s not forget Leyton Orient too) would create so much antagonism I wonder whether it’s worth it. <br /><br />Spurs fans sing a song suggesting that Arsenal go back to South London from whence they came. And that was 90 years ago! Spurs have been in north London since 1882. To do what Arsenal did and then leave them as the sole Premier League club in north London would be hard to accept. And Spurs fans would never hear the last of it. <br /><br />And could they even retain the “Tottenham” part of their name if based in Stratford?<br /><br />Of course, as events play out the club may build the new stadium next to the old one; that’s certainly my hope. But I wish they'd received more help from the government in upgrading transport links, and from the local council with planning permission. Perhaps then I wouldn't be writing these words. And Spurs wouldn't be looking to move.<br /><br />You can't put a price on history and tradition - Spurs belong in north London. <br /><br />Stratford Hotspur? No, thank you!Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-52112974843764409362010-10-31T12:54:00.021-05:002011-06-03T15:27:06.924-05:00Minnesota's Dirty Oil Secret<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0beXhQgojJsl1YESvquzVSQqloPt090yVc-y8Vz44Wexe1CFHI5Bi3vFSBXWgCjLF-5L3vDIXErF2OrgIg0hS0s-86AyQaR9fbn3Cgp719VB23eF3tpGwRc0qoDFWKuOC0I0jbJesNHjR/s1600/New+One.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0beXhQgojJsl1YESvquzVSQqloPt090yVc-y8Vz44Wexe1CFHI5Bi3vFSBXWgCjLF-5L3vDIXErF2OrgIg0hS0s-86AyQaR9fbn3Cgp719VB23eF3tpGwRc0qoDFWKuOC0I0jbJesNHjR/s320/New+One.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614092680125506738" /></a><br />Think of Canada and images of pristine rivers and vast open spaces may come to mind. But there is another Canada, one that is home to what the Sierra Club has called “the dirtiest oil on Earth.”<br /><br />And it’s coming to a gas station near you.<br /><br />Like me, I’d guess most Minnesotans assume the gasoline in our cars comes from the Middle East. Imagine then, my surprise when attending a recent <a href="http://www.stthomas.edu/bulletin/2010/09/20/alberta-tar-sands/ ">public forum</a> to learn that up to 80 percent of it actually comes from Canada—or more specifically from the boreal Forest of Alberta. This figure appears all the more amazing when it’s estimated that this oil accounts for only about four percent of overall U.S. use.<br /><br />The oil is known as tar sands and Alberta is home to nearly all Canada’s deposits. After Saudi Arabia, it represents the second largest recoverable oil reserves in the world. But to create one barrel of oil requires mining two tons of soil! This in turn releases three times as much greenhouse gas emissions per barrel of oil compared to conventional oil. <br /><br />Tar sands are a combination of clay, sand, water, and bitumen. They are mined for the bitumen, a heavy thick hydrocarbon with the consistency of tar, because it can be converted to oil. But unlike conventional oil, it can’t be pumped out of the ground so instead it must be strip mined.<br /><br />Strip mining is dirty and destructive. Pristine forest and topsoil must be stripped away and the ground dug up using gigantic diggers and earth moving trucks. Heated water is then used to remove the bitumen from the sand. This water is recycled and is then dumped into toxic lakes called “tailings” ponds. These ponds cover an area of 50 square miles and are so large they are visible from space.<br /> <br />Two years ago 1600 migrating ducks landed in a 5 mile square waste pond; three survived. <br /><br />And what of the indigenous people who still live off the land? Residents downstream from the largest concentration of strip mining operations report that they can no longer drink the water or eat the fish from the area and they suspect that rare forms of cancer are caused by tar sands pollution.<br /><br />We hear in the news about hybrid and fully electric cars and of breakthroughs in green technology and I know that our dependence on oil won’t be solved overnight, but why are we searching for ever more remote sources? And proposing to build a new network of pipelines across the United States to carry this oil to market? <br /><br />If the proposed pipelines are built, tar sands oil will be a major source of gasoline for years to come, and one of our last ecosystems will be further destroyed. Perhaps the solution lies in opposing the construction of pipelines. But change doesn’t happen with one person; it happens when people are moved and motivated by an idea. <br /><br />Perhaps all this may sound hypocritical because I rely on my car every day, but it has at least opened my eyes to something I see as both destructive and unnecessary. And, at a minimum, it has made me ask what I can do.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-58784140498706451842010-07-11T18:37:00.019-05:002012-10-04T23:20:22.138-05:00Aliens on Earth and Life in the Universe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUBPzbe9JcsXgI_kO7iEEoalUuaLE8yMUiMk8LowfXf5tlrMHtqx3qZ0zkibYX0JXirYeKyK_6JceMR8GzU8KrdG4AwPSW9XcLelv60AHfQuS2kXibiI8lbD-8zGNOnVdGUoTCLjDPKtC/s1600/Life+in+the+Universe.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="183" width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUBPzbe9JcsXgI_kO7iEEoalUuaLE8yMUiMk8LowfXf5tlrMHtqx3qZ0zkibYX0JXirYeKyK_6JceMR8GzU8KrdG4AwPSW9XcLelv60AHfQuS2kXibiI8lbD-8zGNOnVdGUoTCLjDPKtC/s400/Life+in+the+Universe.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
Since prehistoric times there have been clues found to possible contact with extraterrestrials, be it in oral traditions, stone monuments, petroglyphs (cave drawings), or other forms of art.<br />
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Today, we are able to send spacecraft on missions to explore other worlds and have powerful telescopes capable of peering deep into space to observe distant galaxies in all stages of evolution. And yet, the question of whether there is life elsewhere in the Universe remains unresolved. One thing is certain, however: the implications of such a discovery would be immense. <br />
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As part of a recent class project, I met with a woman in her mid to late 40s from northern Minnesota and asked her to share her thoughts and opinions about the possibility of life (particularly intelligent life) elsewhere in the Universe and about the impact that such a discovery might have on society. As we talked, my pre-formed questions were quickly cast aside as the conversation--concentrating more on the social aspects--took a course of it’s own. The conversation took place near Duluth, Minnesota on June 5th, 2010. At her request, I have used her preferred pseudonym of <em>Lynen</em>. <br />
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Asked to consider the implications of the discovery of intelligent life on other planets, or of an alien visit to this one, Lynen doubted that such a discovery would ever be made public for fear of creating widespread panic.<br />
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“Even if they (the aliens) handed out daisies while rainbows beamed from their fingertips, people would still buy guns and flee,” she said. In a broadside against our commercial age, she added, “Because of the potential for enormous wealth from such a discovery - through merchandising and entertainment, for example - there would be a stampede to try to co-opt, copy write, trademark, or patent some aspect of it.” She thinks that in order for such an adventure to prove successful, “the masses would have to accept the alien life forms.”<br />
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I asked what difference it might make if intelligent life were discovered far from our own solar system, far enough away, in fact, that it would take thousands of years (traveling at speeds currently available to man) for them to reach Earth. <br />
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“I think it would be an opportunity for governments to take more power and exercise control over their populations through fear-mongering. Martial law could be justified and military budgets increased,” she replied. “Having the aliens far away would be a vague and poorly defined threat – like today’s terrorist,” she added. <br />
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Turning to religion, I asked what might be the effect on our belief systems. “Religious leaders would try to dispute any proof of intelligent life far from Earth - claiming it had been fabricated or photo-shopped – fearful of the threat to established norms,” she said. <br />
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Looking past the initial panic she sees as inevitable, Lynen painted a picture of how religious leaders might adapt to a changed world. “Once the masses have accepted the reality of the discovery, each religion would then try to claim the alien life as proof of the existence of <em>their</em> God - that either the aliens <em>are</em> their God or are <em>their</em> God’s creation,” she said. <br />
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I suggested that Christians might see the arrival of aliens as an allegory of the Christ story, coming from the heavens to bring healing to humans. “There would definitely be those who would assume that the life forms had good intentions – like that scene in Independence Day, when people massed on roofs of skyscrapers holding banners welcoming the hovering spacecrafts. As the base of the crafts opened and bathed the throngs with light, everyone cheered and beamed euphorically – until, of course, the aliens beamed back – annihilating people, buildings, and cities,” she said. <br />
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“Regardless of the aliens’ intent, fearful people would become more fearful and peaceful people more peaceful. Some would loot, some would pray, while others would mix another cocktail,“ she added. <br />
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But what if the aliens had good intentions? Lynen considered the possibility of some sort of camaraderie developing between humans and aliens, but ultimately doesn’t think such altruism could last long. “We’d present our motives as altruistic – the aliens would make the cover of Time, be knighted and be given the keys to cities, until, that is, we see something of theirs that we want – even if it was only an idea – we’d still want to call it our own,” she said, adding, “We'd take what they have and need, and then try to sell it back to them.” <br />
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To glean more insight into how humans might react, Lynen drew on periods from history when there have been “alien” arrivals. She mentioned the Spaniards and the Aztecs. “At first the Spaniards were greeted as gods by the Aztecs. But had the Aztecs correctly perceived the threat, they may have been able to overpower the outnumbered Spaniards instead of becoming enslaved by them,” she said. <br />
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Alluding to a non-mainstream belief, she said, “There are people who believe that humans were engineered by aliens as a slave labor force – that ancient Samarian texts, scripture and myth support that theory – and that “Our Creator” is only another intelligent life form.” Expanding on this theme, she said, “Some of the mythological creatures are also thought to be the offspring of aliens (Nephilim) mating with early humans and that there are alien life forms living among us to this day, manipulating us with mind control towards some nefarious end.” <br />
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Lynen does not believe in God. Asked why God might create such a vast universe if the only beneficiaries are those on our own planet, she said, “Any creator of the Universe should be beyond our comprehension - the more we try to define it, the further we get from the truth. Defining it humanizes and diminishes it.”<br />
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Looking at the longer term impact, Lynen said, “It wouldn’t take too many generations for paradigms to shift. All those born after the discovery of life elsewhere would filter their perceptions through it. No longer would history be relative to B.C/ A.D. or B.C.E./C.E., but instead, another acronym would quickly come into use, separating life before the discovery, and after.” She concluded, “The discovery of intelligent life would undoubtedly change our perception of what God is.” <br />
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And how might life on Earth be defined within the context of the Universe? I wondered. “Both secular and religious people can agree on one thing and that is the concept of no beginning and no end. Religions call it eternity, but too often focus less on the life we have – that has a beginning and an end, and more on the indefinite. Life on Earth should be enough,” she said.<br />
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“Thank God for scientists!” she exclaimed. “They also accept the concept of eternity, but call it infinity and use it in math problems that have nothing to do with the Ether, unless it involves traveling through it,” she continued. <br />
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“Before I sleep at night, I often try to imagine infinite space. I imagine myself reduced to a grain of sand, and then I imagine my neighborhood, my town, my state, my country, and my continent…reducing each of them in turn to a grain of sand and I keep going--bigger and then smaller--until all that defines the Universe is a grain of sand – so, vastness then becomes more comprehensible, but reversing the process – finding the beginning is…well, impossible.”<br />
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“What I do enjoy considering, though, is that the infinite provides infinite possibilities – and really, that should be proof enough that other intelligent life has to exist. If there is an infinite before and an infinite after, then anything can and has happened,” she concluded.<br />
Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-52389285245022996492010-03-29T22:20:00.003-05:002010-03-29T23:06:43.202-05:00The Power of WordsWords – at first glance they are just groups of characters on a page, but when our thoughts are translated into emotions they have the power to inspire. Words are very important to us. <br /><br />When used to good effect in a well-formed structure your self-confidence can improve; but when used negatively you can be tricked by the power of words. They can be used to twist your thinking and to manipulate. <br /><br />There are so many words in the English language and a myriad ways of saying the same thing, so choosing the right word(s) matters. Often it’s all too easy to use too many words when fewer might be better. Alluding to this, Thomas Jefferson said, “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” <br /><br />Your vocabulary can reveal much about you. Consider: Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I learn immediately from any speaker how much he has already lived, through the poverty or the splendor of his speech.” <br /><br />And do pay attention to what you say. It is worth remembering the words of 17th century English poet, Wentworth Dillon, who said, “Words once spoken can never be recall’d.” <br /><br />Also beware of platitudes; instead, try to find new words. Write them down. Incorporate them into your next speech or conversation and better communicate your thoughts. Be clear and direct and you’ll help eliminate filler words such as <em>um</em>, <em>er</em>, <em>like</em>, or <em>you know</em>. <br /><br />Use what you say to lift yourself up above the crowd; but be careful not to lose your audience by overusing unfamiliar words.<br /><br />Think of the future, not just of the present.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-21079119293533166902010-01-31T11:22:00.023-06:002010-02-02T23:14:02.488-06:00Frozen TravelsThis past Thursday a friend mentioned something to me about a film festival taking place in Winona this weekend. It doesn’t take much for me to heed the call of the open road, and after doing a little research I decided to go. I’ve taken a handful of road trips since the summer though it’s been a while since I went alone. <br /><br />I had offered to drop off a friend at the airport (very) early Saturday morning and after doing so headed for Highway 61, the air temperature a bone-chilling minus 5 Fahrenheit (minus 20 Celsius). As dawn broke I drove past frozen fields, the sun’s early light giving them an appearance like polished marble. The land, locked in a frozen winter embrace, is asleep, but still breathes its magic.<br /><br />I love to start Saturday mornings listening to <a href="http://kbem.mpls.k12.mn.us/BLUEGRASS_SATURDAY_MORNING.html">Blue Grass Saturday Morning </a>and today was no exception. One song mentioned being up before the rooster crows. I’m sure I was though I didn’t hear him in South Minneapolis.<br /><br />My first stop was Redwing where I found a restaurant, Liberty’s, just opening its doors. It was the sort of locally-owned, rooted-in-the-community type of place I love. Coming into town I had spotted a YMCA and anyone who knows me well won’t be surprised to read that after breakfast I decided to go there and work out. On the treadmill, with a view of the Mississippi in the distance, I got talking to my neighbor, Rocky. We chatted for a while and she suggested I visit a place in Wabasha to watch the eagles, and a coffee shop in Winona. Good things to know. <br /><br />A little further along 61 I drove past Hok-Si-La where five months ago I camped, and then past Lake Pepin, now frozen solid, where on that same trip I sailed at night on a yacht, on one of my most memorable nights of 2009.<br /><br />Then onto Wabasha and, at Rocky’s suggestion, the <a href="http://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/">National Eagle Center</a>. Looking through binoculars I watched a handful of eagles perched in a tree on the Wisconsin side of the river. Suddenly one of them left his perch, swooped, circled and danced low over the river, and then -- soaring higher on the lifting wind -- returned to the tree. I wish I could fly like an eagle: Drifting. Circling. Dipping. Freedom.<br /><br />Next stop: Winona. I arrived at the college campus where the <a href="http://www.frff.org/">Frozen River Film Festival</a> had attracted hundreds of people. I saw two films: the first, Surfing 50 States, a film about two Australian friends who, armed with their surfboards and a beat up ice cream van for transportation, attempt to surf in all 50 US states; the second, Kashmir, a short documentary on that region and its people as seen through the eyes of a visiting American traveler. Time didn’t allow but I had wanted to see a documentary about an overweight 55 year old Slovene who attempts to swim the length of the Amazon while consuming two bottles of red wine a day even when swimming. Insane. But what a character! <br /><br />After visiting the Acoustic Café (the coffee shop suggestion) I headed back to the cities. I arrived in Minneapolis close to midnight, my senses nourished by the change of scenery. It had been a full day but seeing something new is always good for my soul.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-47440966244537418112009-11-29T13:16:00.008-06:002009-11-30T08:34:46.825-06:00A Manner of SpeakingSince moving from England to the United States in the 1990s, I still get a kick from some of the questions and verbal exchanges my accent (British) elicits. Here are some of the best -- or, depending on your point of view, the worst -- encounters that have endeared themselves to me. <br /><br />Traveling is always guaranteed to produce some good exchanges. One time I stopped for something to eat in rural Iowa. Hearing me order, a trucker walked up and asked me, “You from Canada or something?“ Most definitely <em>something</em>, I thought. <br /><br />In a Kansas City coffee shop I got talking to a couple of teenage girls and, after a while, decided to introduce myself by shaking hands whereupon one of them took my hand and, bending her knees and slightly bowing her head, curtsied. I was highly amused and told her, “There is no need to curtsey to me!” Perhaps she thought that was the expected etiquette when meeting a Brit. <br /><br />Bar Talk - In Minneapolis I spoke with a man in a bar who, after learning I was half English and half Welsh, said, “But Wales is just a part of England, right?” Trying to explain the difference, while carefully throwing in the few words of welsh I knew for good measure, he accused me of trying to hoodwink him. Hilarious.<br /><br />And how could I forget the drunk in a Detroit bar who refused to believe I was not faking my accent. He asked that I show him my “currency” as proof of where I was from. Except he wasn’t quite that polite. Twisted, eh. <br /><br />The holidays - “Do you guys have Christmas in England?” someone once asked. “Used to. We all recently converted to Islam,” I quipped. Needless to say, I wasn’t too surprised when my explanation was accepted at face value. <br /><br />Some exchanges just stretch belief. Case in point: I once parked in a downtown Minneapolis parking lot when the attendant, to whom I paid the parking fee, said, “You speak English very well. Where do you come from?" <br />“England,“ I replied. <br />A confused look, and then, “So they teach you the language there, huh?” <br />Apparently, they’ve been teaching it there for some time. I smiled, wound up the window, and drove off.<br /><br />Perhaps the most bizarre exchange of all took place in a Jacksonvile, Florida, supermarket during a break from a road trip between Miami and Atlanta. Ordering a sandwich at the deli counter, I became conscious of a man nearby staring at me. A look back a few seconds later and his eyes were still fixed on me. After collecting my sandwich I headed toward the checkout only to notice the same man heading my way. By this point I was a little apprehensive so decided to turn into the adjacent isle, stop and pretend to look at something on the shelf, and hope that he’d walk past. But he didn’t. Instead, he stopped inches away, and in an elongated Southern drawl, said, “Excuse me sir, can I say something to you?” <br />My heart began to pound a little faster as I imagined what he might want. “Sure, say whatever you like,” I replied. <br />“Cheers, mate!” he boomed, adding, “I’ve always wanted to say that to an Englishman.” <br />And then he was gone. Just like that.<br /><br />Being (mis)understood can also present its challenges. At a state park this past summer, having just been on a hike, I asked someone to take a photo of me and my new friend.<br />“Take one a little closer,” I requested. <br />“Take our clothes off?” my friend said, a look of complete surprise on her face. <br />Oh sure, but I hardly know you. <br /><br />And then there are the really fun encounters. Not long ago, in a Brueggers Bagel shop, I asked, “Can I have a little more cream cheese on that bagel?” <br />“Honey, with an accent like that you can have as much cream cheese as you like,” replied the woman, smiling. <br /><br />These are, of course, some of the more memorable (and extreme) encounters. For the most part having the accent I do can be a fun thing and, more often than not, a non-event.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-44416726852877536232009-09-28T19:15:00.005-05:002012-10-09T11:21:51.874-05:00Waiting for ChangeLimbs laid bare<br />
like frozen fingers<br />
suspended in time<br />
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Huddled together<br />
yearning to move<br />
waiting for change<br />
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Spring’s warm breeze<br />
awaken buried desires<br />
as shadows recedeChristopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-2425030569973187372009-08-31T11:42:00.017-05:002009-09-12T23:27:17.825-05:00August TravelsI love to experience new things, meet new people, and see new places. August has been a wonderful month for all of these, both in the U.S. and abroad. I often find the need to fight the status quo and guard against complacency, so new experiences are food for my soul.<br /><br />The month began when my friend Krisanne invited me to go sailing and camping. Leaving Minneapolis early Thursday evening I joked that she had packed enough equipment to keep us going for a month, though she did think of everything we might need! <br /><br />After an hour's drive we arrived at Hok-Si-La campsite a mile north of Lake City and quickly put up our tent as dusk fell. We had a wonderful location with a view across Lake Pepin to Wisconsin. Shortly afterwards we met her friends Katie and Rick at the marina and boarded the yacht. When about a mile from shore Rick cut the engine and we just drifted, the sounds of Abba (Rick‘s choice) emanating from the cabin. <br /><br />The evening was perfect. There was the slightest of breezes, the moon periodically emerging from behind the clouds, casting a shimmering reflection on the water. Our two hours on Pepin were wonderful. We laughed, told stories, and drank beer. Most surprisingly, we didn‘t see another boat during the entire time - just the moon, the stars, and the lights of Lake City in the distance. <br /><br />Around midnight Krisanne and I headed back to Hok-Si-La where we built a fire and sat up until 3 am chatting. We also paid a visit to our nearest neighbors, whose voices we could hear in the distance through the trees. Here was tranquility and calm, an escape from the city with just the wind, the rustling of leaves, and the sounds of the night to keep us company. Rick and Katie stayed on the boat. <br /><br />We woke up to the gentle beating of raindrops on the tent but soon went back to sleep. When we woke up again the rain was falling so hard that we couldn’t see across Pepin. And our tent had started to leak. The rain showed no signs of letting up so we decided to pack up, getting very wet in the process. But what fun! On the way home we stopped for lunch at the St. James Hotel in Redwing and were reunited with Rick and Katie. Krisanne is a great traveling companion. <br /><br />My next trip was a lot longer, both in time and in distance. In my quest to see all 50 states I try to see at least one new state each year. Because I have been everywhere within a day’s drive of the Twin Cities, and also because I loved Kansas City so much when I visited in 2007, I decided to venture back there, stay a couple of nights, and take a separate trip to northeastern Oklahoma. <br /><br />Leaving Minneapolis early on Friday morning I headed south on I-35, past endless fields of corn and giant clouds that drifted lazily across the sky. The clouds in the midwest seem bigger than on the coasts or in England. There is something calming that the solitude of an open road offers -- a different kind of solitude to being in the woods, but a solitude nonetheless. <br /><br />The flat fields of Iowa gradually gave way to Missouri’s gentle rolling hills and after eight hours on the road I arrived in KC. That evening I visited a wonderful coffee shop (with live music) in Westport, site of a famous Civil War battle. I also spent some time in the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum. <br /><br />At breakfast the following morning I sat studying my road atlas when a woman covered in sweat and dressed in running gear approached me and asked, “Where are you going?” We chatted like old friends and she suggested I also go to Arkansas, adding, “…but you’ll need to haul ass!“ She then invited me to join her and a friend in the evening. I accepted the invitation, which turned out to be tremendous fun. <br /><br />The day was interesting though I would think twice before spending so long in the car again. In Arkansas I went to Bentonville, a charming town in the Ozarks. It is also home to Wal-Mart though I didn’t know that when I arrived. Sometimes when traveling my accent can elicit interesting responses, especially in small towns. Ordering coffee in a café I was told “there’s a girl who comes in here who does a great impersonation of your language.” I smiled. Bentonville was charming. <br /><br />I then headed to Miami, Oklahoma, where a corvette rally was taking place. The town had seen better days, but the sight of 100-plus corvettes lined up on Main Street before heading onto Route 66 later that day made me glad I came. Having been to Arkansas and Oklahoma I've now been to 32 states - I wonder where will be next?<br /><br />The journey back to Minneapolis was long though I did strike it lucky in a casino close to the Iowa-Minnesota border. I am no fan of casinos and don’t know why I went in though my 10 minutes there saw me part with $5 and walk out with $80. <br /><br />Last week, on my way to visit my dad in England, I decided to stop in Iceland. When I arrived it was cold and grey and most people were dressed in wooly hats, gloves, and big coats. I wasn’t prepared for that. In a coffee shop early in the morning a woman asked if the seat next to me was free. Recognizing each other from the plane, we chatted and arranged to meet for coffee that evening. <br /><br />During the day I explored Reykjavik and met my new friend later on. Walking around the city we stopped and stared at the sight of 30 Danish men wearing suits who were singing on the pavement outside a Danish pub. We couldn‘t decide what the occasion might be but it was wonderful to stand there and listen. Later on we listened to Celtic music, performed by Icelanders. The night was great fun. I also loved the slogan on her business card, “Adventure Seeker”. <br /> <br />In contrast to the timeless tranquility of my dad’s village and Arlington Row, in particular, I spent yesterday, Sunday, in London. I dearly love Minneapolis but London will always burn brightly in my heart. I went somewhere touristy (but fun), Speakers’ Corner; visited a couple of old haunts, Covent Garden and Camden Market; and experienced something new, the Notting Hill Carnival, which I have always wanted to see. <br /><br />Perhaps Samuel Johnson, writing in the 18th century, knew a thing or two when he wrote, “...when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” <br /><br />I don’t think I have ever traveled so much in one month. I write this from the rural charm of a hotel beside Rutland Water in England’s smallest county, Rutland, on the last day of the month (a short break with my dad). In a couple of hours my aunt and uncle are coming to dinner. What a great way to end the month.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-81788898151730594342009-07-30T20:01:00.001-05:002009-07-30T20:04:17.034-05:00HairI love to run my fingers<br />through the long strands<br />of your hair; blonde mixed with red,<br />like strawberries and cream.<br /><br />Sometimes you wear it straight,<br />sometimes braided, sometimes in a bun.<br />Pink ends, pig tails, and untamed curls;<br />or dark brown like cascading chocolate waves.<br /><br />Among a harem of maidens fair<br />I just want to wallow in your hair.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-14589058623551022642009-06-28T17:51:00.042-05:002009-07-11T10:19:07.707-05:00The Good, the Bad, and the UglySince I was old enough to remember I have been a Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) fan. In recent seasons it has become the norm for clubs to redesign their playing kits each year. Last week the <a href="http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com">Spurs website</a> showcased the club's (three) new designs for the 09/10 season.<br /><br />Yes, the home shirt is still (largely) white, the shorts still (mostly) navy, and the socks (for the most part) white. Some years I like our kit; other years I don’t. But there is more to it than that. As for the <a href="http://shop.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs08/kit_0910.php">latest offerings</a>, I’ll let you judge for yourselves. <br /><br />The home shirt sports a mustard-colored V that crosses over each shoulder. Hideous. They ruin what would otherwise be a decent shirt. In any case, yellow on white is not a good color combination. What were the designers thinking? Perhaps the club knows something we don’t, and the yellow stripes will make the players run faster and play better. Call it restyling. Call it exploitation. Call it what you will. I call it ugly.<br /><br />Then there’s the second and third kits, where the colors change each year. Consider: Last season’s second kit was sky blue, now it's navy; the third kit was black, now yellow. Tradition in an age of global branding means nothing. Even as a Spurs fan I thought the absence of white caps on Arsenal’s sleeves last season was in poor taste; instead, they got stuck with a white stripe. <br /><br />Changing kits each season lessens its appeal as an event. Perhaps after two or three years fans would <em>want</em> a change. A longer span defines an era. But the prospect of money to be made --combined with fans’ desire to wear the latest kit--will ensure this will continue - even though most people think it obscene. <br /><br />Criticize Spurs' new kit though I might, there is worse--<a href="http://soccerlens.com/shirts/files/2009/05/bolton_0910-home.jpg">Bolton’s</a>, for example. On the positive side, at least the yellow stripes will be gone next year, and as long as the players don’t emerge from the tunnel wearing red, my love for Spurs will march on. <br /><br />But whatever the kit looks like, I know we’ll finish in the top four come May. Of course we will. Just try convincing a Spurs fan otherwise.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-19097064502334012712009-05-31T19:35:00.029-05:002009-06-02T23:01:19.535-05:00Leadership Twin CitiesEarlier this month I completed my <a href="http://www.minneapolischamber.org/documents/LTC_Application_2009_2010.pdf">Leadership Twin Cities</a> class. The program's goal is to make us aware of important issues in our community, to motivate us, and to get us as leaders to use what skills and resources we have to make a positive impact. It certainly had a positive impact on me.<br /><br />I first heard about LTC through a colleague at work who had been a participant the previous year. After a little research I was keen to be involved. It seemed a good fit with my role as co-chair of a committee at work that grants funds to fund local nonprofits and my involvement with <a href="http://www.littlebrothersmn.org">Little Brothers</a>. But really, I wanted to challenge myself with issues I was not familiar—or not nearly familiar enough--with. I also wanted to take my leadership further.<br /><br />The class began in September at a wooded retreat 45 miles north of the Twin Cities. In addition to learning more about the following nine months, it was a chance for the class (around 50 people) to get to know each other. I recall the fun we had talking and drinking beer around the bonfire at night. In fact, there were many memorable moments. Here‘s a few that stand out:<br /><br />As late summer drifted into fall we went on a bus tour for <span style="font-style:italic;">Metropolitan Issues Day</span>. I saw the beauty of the cities. I also saw how maintaining that beauty comes at a cost. A community needs a good environment in which to thrive. <br /><br />At <span style="font-style:italic;">Economic Development Day</span> at the <a href="http://www.midtownglobalmarket.org/">Midtown Global Market</a> we heard a sober economic outlook from the state economist. He was, of course, being honest but his message got us all down! But this was short-lived and our mood was soon lifted when we met some of the Global Market entrepreneurs whose food we later enjoyed for lunch. <br /><br />In December at <span style="font-style:italic;">Politics and Media Day</span> we took part in a mock council meeting in the council chamber. That was a lot of fun, a great exercise in democracy, but also in improvisation. <br /><br />As we moved into winter we gathered on a bitterly cold day for <span style="font-style:italic;">Arts and Culture Day</span> at the <a href="http://www.openbookmn.org/">Open Book</a>. I saw the value of business helping to fund the arts. <br /><br />Then came warmer weather, the promise of spring, and with it <span style="font-style:italic;">Community Safety Day</span>. Our call-to-action items for this day were especially interesting. The tour of Hennepin County jail was eye-opening and made me realize the importance of funding preventative programs; my police ride-along was something I’ll never forget. If those six hours in a squad car could represent a microcosm of our community then I saw things that work, things that don’t work, people that need help, and people reaching out to help. In short, I saw a community - a living, breathing, functioning community. Like a circle, I saw how many parts are needed to make it whole.<br /><br />The image of a classmate being tasered by a policeman was remarkable. I'm still amazed that he volunteered for that. Hearing a husband and wife recount their time in jail after being convicted of million dollar mail fraud was compelling and will stick with me as a moral tale long into the future.<br /><br />The co-chairs’ requirement that we sing to the class should our cell phones ring made me paranoid. But to everyone’s benefit my careful vigilance saved them from that prospect; I only hope that the incoming co-chairs don’t consider tasering as a new punishment for ringing cell phones.<br /><br />Nine months ago I didn’t know much about how a community affects business or how business affects a community. I now see that they affect each other a great deal: the two are intertwined. I had taken so much--be it transportation or safe streets--for granted. LTC has changed how I see things; my ongoing challenge will be to decide how to put this knowledge to good use.<br /><br />At our last meeting at Medtronic World Headquarters for <span style="font-style:italic;">Vision Day</span> I was honored to be asked to speak at the graduation ceremony. As I stood on stage I asked why our class was important. In front of me I saw open-minded, intelligent, forward-looking people who want to make a difference. It struck me that LTC can be summed up in three simple steps. We had all completed the first: be aware of the issues; the second: decide to get involved with a nonprofit or similar organization; the third: choose to act. <br /><br />LTC was a wonderful experience. I made some great friends and would recommend it to anyone. I am excited to take what I have learned out into the world. Leadership is many things, but trying to make a difference--while learning along the way--is not a bad path to be on.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-20335127430272046852009-04-30T09:59:00.015-05:002009-09-12T23:36:17.527-05:00Myth Assigns Meaning to LifePeople often use the word myth to imply the opposite of truth. An explanation about something is referred to as a myth meaning that it isn’t true. But if you look at the original meaning of the word, myths can be viewed as timeless stories that cast meaning on our lives (e.g. classical mythology, folklore, the Arthurian legends). These stories explore our fears and desires and provide a commentary on what it’s like to be human. They also give expression to our innate sense that there is a lot more to life than what is on the surface.<br /><br />Myths don’t deal in facts -- but they do give insight into life and help us to understand our fellow human beings. I am particularly interested in the myth of the hero. Heroism features prominently in the myth stories of all the cultures and creates a direct connection to our own lives. <br /> <br />For me a hero isn’t someone with meta-human powers; rather, it is someone who emerges from a bad place or a bad experience, comes through a physical or mental trial, attempts to understand that experience, and then tries to make a difference. Life turns full circle: trial, redemption, discovery, growth, and trial again. <br /> <br />Our time on earth is finite, made up of only so many summers and winters. Choosing to make a difference in the world often begins on a local level but may in turn lead to a grander stage. Life can offer many rewards, but it’s up to each of us to look for them. Like the knights in search of the grail, we must all go on a personal quest. <br /> <br />Experiencing something at the right time, perhaps aided by fate, can alter one’s life. As we move around this beautiful earth we leave little marks everywhere we go, but it’s also possible to leave an indelible footprint. I want to make a difference with my time. I want to act and not sit by. <br /> <br />I have often wondered why myth stories are so prevalent. They are everywhere because they matter. Myth assigns meaning to life. The stories are about making choices. Heroes don’t have to be perfect, but they do need a redeeming quality. <br /> <br />The figures from mythology, shrouded in the splendor of antiquity, are still talked about today, their stories still told, their deeds still recounted. Why is that? Perhaps, through risk and redemption, like a phoenix rising out of the flames--those same flames that one devoured but then gave birth to new ideas--those old ones knew a thing or two because they have been tested. They are the ones we can learn from. Growth often comes from a background of pain. <br /><br />Life goes so fast. It is filled with risk, but that is what makes it exciting. Like a speeding train, to really enjoy the journey you must climb aboard and enjoy the thrill of the ride as you cruise past the stations of life. We have all made mistakes, we all have regrets, and some things we cannot change; but we can try to understand them so that we might gain a greater understanding of ourselves. <br /> <br />Consider the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_life">Tree of Life</a>, a tree of many branches that illustrates the idea that all life on earth is connected. Picture for a moment its branches and you’ll see a beautiful symmetry, everything woven together, alluding to the symmetry in our own lives.<br /><br />Connectedness, fate, destiny, chance--call it what you will--are often unseen and unrealized. Nourish the tree and you’ll have healthy branches; healthy branches will give growth as each new spring comes and goes. But don’t forget to nourish the mind and, as British author Rebecca West said, “Life ought to be a struggle of desire toward adventures whose nobility will fertilize the soul.” <br /> <br />When you have doubts choose to look fear in the face; after all, it is just a face. A person’s life’s work is never over if you follow your convictions. Lift your fate above earthly sensations, above negativity. People won’t always remember your words, but they’ll remember how those words made them feel. And they certainly won’t forget your actions. <br /> <br />My own journey is different to your journey, my thoughts different to your thoughts, but the path through the woods leads to the trees of life. For a long time my own path was shrouded in a mental fog. I knew I was on a journey but couldn’t see my way out of the woods. Now, after a long march I stand at the tunnel’s exit, the light streaming in, pulling me toward it.<br /> <br />Can we contribute something that is bigger than ourselves? Only time, that great arbiter and judge, knows the answer to that, but it’s important to keep trying to do what you want to do. Stay on the path, whichever way it twists, whichever way it turns, until you reach your destination. And then, like the heroic figures from long ago, life will have turned full circle.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-976138173290619925.post-72503635696059097802009-03-08T23:10:00.033-05:002012-09-26T11:26:34.538-05:00MPD Ride-AlongAs part of my <a href="http://www.minneapolischamber.org/documents/LTC_Application_2008_2009.pdf">Leadership Twin Cities</a> class we are required to do a ride-along with a police officer. I did mine this past Friday, but having never been in a squad car I wasn’t sure what to expect. <br />
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By the end of the night I had seen bar fights, street fights, and drug arrests; experienced a high speed police car response; saw police with shotguns; and was present when the officer I was with drew his pistol, and when he used mace. I also donned a police jacket as I accompanied the officers on foot at bar closing time. <br />
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For the sake of propriety I’ll call the two <a href="http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/">Minneapolis Police Department </a>officers I rode with, Officer A and Officer B. <br />
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Some Highlights: <br />
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1. A report of two men exchanging drugs outside Block E. A description from a surveillance camera was given and off we went. “We are going to pull up and get out really quick,” said Officer A. Arriving at the scene, both officers jumped out of the car and were soon searching the individuals concerned. I stood nearby, watching. So too did everyone outside Block E. Both were then put in the back of the car as I sat in the front. Unable to find drugs they could not be charged and were released. <br />
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2. We were flagged down by a disheveled-looking man close to the Salvation Army homeless shelter. “I have a gift from the chief,” he said, and began to dig around in a large canvas bag he was carrying. It was dark, we were in an area full of crack dealers, and he was inches away from the front passenger window. I was nervous. Bizarrely, he then pulled out a letter he claimed was from the Chief of Police, before telling us that “someone” in the area was dealing crack to minors. Not enough to go on said Officer A. As we drove away, Officer B told me, “Sitting in the back you wouldn’t have seen, but I pulled my gun out. It was pointing at his chest.” <br />
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3. On the radio came a call “Officer needs help!” It was in North Minneapolis. The officers looked at each other and the decision was made: they would respond. Within seconds the siren was sounding and we were speeding north on Washington Avenue at 80, perhaps 90 mph, streaking through one red light after another in pursuit of another squad car. Although nervous, I had an adrenaline rush. This was exciting!<br />
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Arriving at a house we were met by 12 squad cars, all with their lights flashing. The disturbance—whatever it was--had just been resolved but dozens of police officers were standing around, some wielding shotguns. The smell of burning rubber from screeching tires still hung in the air as we got out to investigate. Officer A told me that some cops were carrying M16s, because “even though a shotgun is more intimidating, it won’t penetrate a wall.” <br />
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4. At bar closing time the officers asked whether I wanted to go on foot patrol with them along 1st Avenue. I agreed and was given a police jacket to wear so that other officers might know who I am “should things get out of control.” I saw numerous disturbances, including someone who had been beaten, his face covered in blood. On each occasion I stood nearby observing.<br />
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Other Events:<br />
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1. Report of domestic assault. Accompanied 5 officers to apartment building near Grant Park. A woman came out to speak with female officer but wouldn’t talk.<br />
2. Woman passed out drunk near the Salvation Army shelter was carried off by paramedics.<br />
3. Woman stopped for changing lanes without signaling. Screamed abuse at Officer A when questioned. Drugs found in car. Handcuffed and taken to jail. She had multiple violations.<br />
4. Nicollet & 5th. Fight involving about 10 people. Eight squad cars arrived. Arrests made. <br />
5. Report of a gang of 30 people and gunshots on Cedar Riverside. We took off at high speed, siren blaring and lights flashing but were told it was a non situation by the time we approached Seven Corners.<br />
6. Officer B used mace to disburse a gang at parking ramp who refused to move.<br />
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What I learned: <br />
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1. CCTV cameras are everywhere Downtown <br />
2. The number of times police punch license plate numbers into the computer would surprise you<br />
3. If you wear a police jacket people will treat you like a cop, some with respect; others with contempt<br />
4. Abusing an officer will only serve to annoy them <br />
5. Most squad cars carry serious firepower<br />
6. When another officer needs help cops respond in force<br />
7. Apart from the 90 mph chase (occurred early on), although often apprehensive, I felt little fear; perhaps the adrenaline masked it.<br />
8. People make dumb decisions when drunk<br />
9. There is a side of life out there that is a daily reality for many; but out of sight and ignored by others. <br />
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At 3 am they took me to my car. We shook hands. Officer A said, “It has been a little quiet. Sorry we couldn’t get you a shooting or nothing.” <br />
"That’s alright,” I said, smiling, “I think we did ok.”<br />
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Footnote: My friend Maureen (from Leadership Twin Cities) did her ride-along a couple of weeks ago. Check out her experience at <a href="http://www.madaboutnew.blogspot.com/">Mad About New</a>.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051979669599795770noreply@blogger.com8