Something Strange and Wonderful

Polymers

2006-08-01T05:51:00.000-07:00

For all the chemists out there!

Technorati Tags: Polymer

I'm dreaming of a green Christmas

2006-07-27T04:37:00.001-07:00

At City Hippy they have started a neat idea, the Christmas Lights Campaign. Basically you pledge to buy one CFL for each person you buy a gift for this Christmas. They're hoping to get pledges for 100,000 bulbs. A great way to spread the frugal, green spirit.

Technorati Tags: Christmas Lights, Simple & Sustainable Living

I'm dreaming of a green Christmas

2006-07-27T04:37:00.000-07:00

At City Hippy they have started a neat idea, the Christmas Lights Campaign . Basically you pledge to buy one CFL for each person you buy a gift for this Christmas. They're hoping to get pledges for 100,000 bulbs. A great way to spread the frugal, green spirit.

Technorati Tags: Christmas Lights, Simple & Sustainable Living

Best Places to Live

2006-07-24T06:18:00.001-07:00

Money magazine just released their poorly-named Best Places to Live survey. Interested in how it happened that 8 of the top ten in the Midwest or South and that they all had populations between 57,000 and 230,000, I did the first thing you should always do when looking at statistics - I looked at the "how we massaged the numbers to get the result we wanted" section.

So what did they do first? Selected only places with over 50,000 people. This practically eliminates any possibility of not living in a development. McMansions here we come! So I guess all farms and small towns are terrible places to live? They don't explain why they made this choice or whether it reflects what most Americans would consider the "best" places to live.

Next they screened out cities with populations over 300,000 - again with no explanation given. They gave no consideration as to what falls within city limits either. One of the nicest places to live in the Philly area is Chestnut Hill - lots of beautiful houses, not McMansions, lots of open spaces, right on the train line (read: no need to sit in traffic jams), and within city limits.

In a completely unrelated move, they also eliminated 'retirement havens' where more than 40% of the population is over 50. First of all - just because people are over 50 doesn't mean they are retired, many people are working until 65 or even 70. According to this logic, I work at a 'retirement haven'. Also the baby boomers are turning 50 now - and many of them still have living parents, which is a lot of people over 50. This step (city and retirement haven elimination) drove the list from 670 cities to 201. Considering there are only around 60 cities with populations over 300,000, that's an awful lot of places eliminated simply because their population boomed during the 70's. More to the point, what's so bad about having elderly neighbors? They're quiet; they tend to keep their houses nice. You'll probably have good medical facilities nearby. They like kids. They have more leisure time to devote to church, volunteer groups, and cultural groups. Yeah, I don't understand this at all.

Next they removed places with "low education scores, high crime rates, absurdly high housing costs, declines in employment or income less than 90% of the state median". I can understand this step, although I wish they would have explained “absurdly high housing costs” as that is extremely vague.

However, they also eliminated "bedroom communities and places where people identify themselves as being from a smaller locale within the area." I haven't the faintest clue what the first refers to. For the second, I guess they assume that it's terrible to conveniently describe where you live. I'm from a very small town south of Buffalo. When people ask me I always say Buffalo because no one has ever heard of my small town. My guess is that they just assumed that where I'm from is just like Buffalo so they'll just lump us all together. Or they assumed that everyone meant that they worked in the well known city and had thus had terrible commutes. Basically this was just laziness and close-mindedness. "You mean you live 20 miles from Philly and don’t work there! Impossible"

After eliminating 73% of their list of cities with populations over 50,000 they finally got around to see what other people thought was important, or at least what other people like themselves thought was important. "A Money/ICR poll of 1,005 Americans found that ample job opportunities, good schools, and low crime are the most important characteristics people look for in a place to live ... the most disliked attributes are congestion, high crime, and lack of job opportunities." Hmm, this list was obviously taken off another poorly written 'survey'. Obviously if people want "ample job opportunities" they're not going to want the exact opposite. Also, what about asking what people like/dislike about where they currently live – not some fantasy about where they might want to live. Sure maybe they think they don’t want a commute, but if they actually lived in a place without a commute they’d hate it because it’s 10 hours from their favorite designer store. I know there are people here in the Philly suburbs that would rather die than live more than 20 minutes from a Coach store. They would probably faint if I told them people actually live more than 20 minutes from a Coach store.

To utilize their survey data, they ranked the "remaining places on economic opportunity, taking into account income, job growth and affordability; quality-of-life indicators, including risk of violent crime and property crime, quality of public schools, arts and leisure, park space and incidence of stress-related ailments; and "ease of living" gauges such as commute times, divorce rates, population density and weather." Ok, this favors married couples with children and traditional office jobs and where people are affluent, but not rich (because most rich people live in big cities, near big cities, or in rich communities that would qualify as 'retirement havens').

High(ish) income is not a direct indicator of happiness and having affluent neighbors is not necessarily a good thing. Personally I think most people would be much happier if they were the wealthiest person in their neighborhood, as opposed to making slightly more money but being the poorest. Think about it.

And what did they consider in the Arts & Leisure category? Movie theaters, Restaurants, Bars, Public golf courses, Libraries, Museums (accredited by AAM), Ski resorts. What about concert venues, performing arts venues, art galleries, botanical gardens and arboretums, % of good restaurants (their number includes fast food and chain restaurants), historical attractions, amusement parks, beaches, camp grounds, white water rafting, climbing gyms, dance studios, community sponsored cultural events (like Taste of [City], Movie Nights, Art Shows, etc.), etc? My biggest question – why just Skiing? This heavily favors location in the Rockies and Northeast and there are many, many people who don’t ski. Plus it was ski resorts in a 100 mile radius so the same resort could count for hundreds of cities, which just increases favoring a city in the Rockies.

After their rankings they got more data on "job markets, housing prices, schools, ambience, weather and taxes" as well as calling people on the phone. At the end they visited 20 of the cities and picked the "best" one.

Their conclusion was to pick a small city in Colorado. Surprise – Not.
Stats for Fort Collins:

Median family income (per year) $64,623
Median home price $212,000
Colleges, universities and professional schools 2
Personal crime risk (100 is nat'l average; lower is better) 77
Property crime risk (100 is nat'l average; lower is better) 91
Median age 28.8
Amount spent on vacations(domestic and foreign, household avg. per year) $7,209
Percentage of Population that is white (non-Hispanic) 83%
Percentage of Population under 50 80.9
Average Family Size 3

Yes, that looks like your average American to me. Some stats from Area Connect

Actual results from this survey :
It just supports and perpetuates the popular media b*llsh*t theory that everyone should live in McMansions in developments (that they probably can't afford) and live in places where it's too big to know everyone but not big enough to actually be all that diverse. And to associate only with other white, affluent people, and to hold only those opinions that the media says other people hold too. Heaven forbid anyone lives near retired people, or dislikes hot weather, or uses public transportation, or likes to live in rural/urban areas, or doesn’t have enough money to ski.

Aside from the stereotyping, there’s another thing wrong with this article - they promote this as the "Best Places to Live" not the "Best Places to Find Affluent People". Just because you move to a place with a high median income doesn't mean your income will go up. Basically this is just a pat on the back for Money magazine readers, ‘If you live in these places you're doing well comparatively speaking, provided you value the same things we do.’

Hat Tip to My Money Forest.

Technorati Tags: Personal Finance

Personal Finance - Franklin Style

2006-07-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

I've been reading the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and came across some paragraphs that were very relevant to personal finance (No surprise there!). Anyway I thought that I'd put them in a post together with few observations for your edification. (I love reading older books - my vocabulary skyrockets for a few hours!).

Paragraph 95

Franklin is discussing one of his employers whom he greatly admired.

I must record one trait of this good man's character. He had formerly been in business at Bristol, but failed in debt to a number of people, compounded and went to America. There, by a close application to business as a merchant, he acquiredr'd a plentiful fortune in a few years. Returning to England in the ship with me, he invited his old creditors to an entertainment, at which he thank'd them for the easy composition they had favored him with, and, when they expected nothing but the treat, every man at the first remove found under his plate an order on a banker for the full amount of the unpaid remainder with interest.

Para. 132

In his youth, Franklin had been trusted to receive payment of acquaintance's debt and ended up using some of the money himself. Here he discusses finally repaying it (approx 5 - 10 years later).

Mr. Vernon, about this time, put me in mind of the debt ow'd him, but did not press me. I wrote him an ingenuous letter of acknowledgment crav'd his forbearance a little longer, which he allow'd me, and as soon as I was able, I paid the principal with interest, and many thanks; so that erratum was in some degree corrected.

I think that these paragraphs are very heartening for those of us struggling to pay off our own debts. If I owed any of my friends and family money, I would definitely look forward ability to treat them to a nice dinner and suprise them with repayment. It would be something to be proud of!

Para.s 142 amd 143

I began now gradually to pay off the debt I was under for the printing-house. In order to secure my credit and character as a tradesman, I took care not only to be in reality industrious and frugal, but to avoid all appearances to the contrary. I drest plainly; I was seen at no places of idle diversion. I never went out a fishing or shooting; a book, indeed, sometimes debauch'd me from my work, but that was seldom, snug, and gave no scandal; and, to show that I was not above my business, I sometimes brought home the purchas'd at the stores thro' the streets on a wheelbarrow. Thus being esteem'd an industrious, thriving young man, and paying duly for what I bought, the merchants who imported stationery solicited my custom; others proposed supplying me with books, and I went on swimmingly. In the mean time, Keimer's credit and business declining daily, he was at last forc'd to sell his printing-house to satisfy his creditors. He went to Barbadoes, and there lived some years in very poor circumstances.

His apprentice, David Harry, whom I had instructed while I work'd with him, set up in his place at Philadelphia, having bought his materials. I was at first apprehensive of a powerful rival in Harry, as his friends were very able, and had a good deal of interest. I therefore propos'd a partnership to him, which he, fortunately for me, rejected with scorn. He was very proud, dress'd like a gentleman, liv'd expensively, took much diversion and pleasure abroad, ran in debt, and neglected his business; upon which, all business left him; and, finding nothing to do, he followed Keimer to Barbadoes, taking the printing-house with him. There this apprentice employ'd his former master as a journeyman; they quarrel'd often; Harry went continually behindhand, and at length was forc'd to sell his types and return to his country work in Pensilvania. The person that bought them employ'd Keimer to use them, but in a few years he died.

These two paragraphs vividly contrast frugality and industry with rampant consumerism. It is interesting to see this same pattern today, around 250 years later.

Technorati Tags: Benjamin_Franklin, Personal_Finance, Literature

Reading Ben Franklin's Autobiography (Para's 1 - 150)

2006-07-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Introduction

Franklin planned what would later become the University of Pennsylvania - where I will begin my 'official' graduate education in a few short months

Para. 3

Franklin discusses the difference between vanity and pride (justifiable and reasonable) and notes that pride is necessary for happiness

Para. 6

"was bred a smith"
It is interesting to note the words that were used to describe how people were trained for a profession. Although the wording does not suggest it (in modern usage) his uncle, whose training was being discussed, later becomes a scrivener, or scribe. Franklin also speaks of similarities in personality and temperament between himself and this uncle, who died 4 years to a day before Franklin was born. Franklin suggests that, had the uncle died 4 years later "trasmigration" would have been suggested. I find this interesting when contrasted with the beliefs of most contemporary Christians in relation to reincarnation and the historical fears of witchcraft during Franklin's life. (Note to self: Consider the implication of "transmigration" on the abortion debate - how would it affect the pro-choice argument of 'killing a soul'.)

Para. 9

From the brief sketches given of his family to this point (and the description of his father that follows) it seems that most of the Franklin family was well educated and well written for many generations before Benjamin

Para. 12

After relating a humorous episode in his youth, Franklin relates his father's lesson, "nothing [is] useful which is not honest".

Para. 14

Franklin relates several anecdotes about his father, including one where he describes his father always choosing friends and conversation that would be edifying to his children, especially during dinnertime conversations. A result of this practice, Franklin suggests, is his lifelong preference for mental stimulation as opposed to being a gourmet. This strikes me as one possible cause for the obesity epidemic among Americans. Family dinners used to be treasured for conversation and companionship, not for the physical fulfillment from sugar and fat. Robbed of mental and emotional fulfillment, American seek to fill that void with rich foods. I'm aware that the dwindling of the family dinner has previously been cited as a cause for the obesity epidemic, but the reason I've heard has more to do with the increase of dining out and thus the increased consumption of rich foods.

Para. 17

Franklin describes the usefulness of being familiar with many diverse trades. This is also touched upon in further paragraphs, and Franklin considers 'well-rounded-ness' as praiseworthy trait in his friends and acquaintances.

Para. 21

Franklin advises against developing a combative conversationalist, in blog-speak, against being a troll.

Para. 23

Franklin describes how he used poetry writing and copywork as methods to increase his vocabulary and to improve his writing style a la Charlotte Mason

Para. 24

Franklin discusses the start of his periods of vegetarianism and discusses frugality and time management. He switches to a different landlord (at the time landlord usually provided their tenants with meals as well) and uses his new found time and eating habits to increase his studies.

Para. 25

Franklin studies philosophy and discusses his decision to refrain from using positive phrases like never, certainty, and undoubtedly. He also discusses his reasons for this decision.

As the chief ends of conversation are to inform or to be informed, to please or persuade, I wish well-meaning, sensible men would not lessen their power of doing good be a positive, assuming manner, that seldom fails to disgust, tends to create opposition, and to defeat every one of those purpose for which speech was given to us.

Para. 27

One of Franklin's contemporaries remarks that one newspaper is enough for America. Franklin also gives examples of how his education gained him the respect of powerful men even before he was an adult. The value of an educated mind is continually apparent as Franklin continues to relate his experiences

Para. 65

"So convenient to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do."

Para. 73

Franklin recounts how he made a pact with a friend that the first one to die would visit the other to appraise of the outcome. His friend never fulfilled the promise.

Para. 88

Franklin recounts some of his experiences in London, including contrasting his frugal and teetotaling habits with those of his fellow workers who drink at every meal. The small amount of money they spend everyday on beer prevents them both from excelling at their jobs and from saving up any money. Essentially it is a description of an eighteenth century Latte Factor.

Para. 100

Franklin discusses the marriage and (effective) divorce of his future wife. I find this very interesting as it contrasts greatly with the contemporary view of divorce prior to the 1950's.

Para. 113

"I grew convince that truth, sincerity , and integrity in dealings between man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life."

Para. 116

Franklin discusses the founding of Junto, a club for mutual improvement.

Para. 123

Franklin explains the value of industry. This is another recurring theme in his Autobiography.

Para. 138

Franklin explains how he was able to get a lucrative business contract due to his continued efforts to improve his mind and his writing.

All emphases are original to the text. The rest of the notes and a review to come.

Technorati Tags: Benjamin_Franklin, Literature

Semi-Regular Quote

2006-07-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

"It is never too late to be what you might have been.
-- George Eliot"

courtesy of Silent in the Morning

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Interesting Use for Postcards

2006-07-18T05:24:00.000-07:00

Postcrossing - The Postcard Crossing Project

When I was younger I used to collect postcards. Now that I'm trying to get rid of all the crap that I used to collect, this sounds like a neat way to used up all those postcards and get some in return. Oh wait. :) At least postcards from strangers on the other side of the world are more interesting. Anyway it could be amusing, and fairly inexpensive. $0.24 for postcards 6"x4.24" and $0.39 for anything larger.

Technorati Tags: Postcrossing

The Frugal Wedding

2006-07-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

If anyone noticed, my recent lack of posts was mostly due to getting married. The wedding went off without a hitch and now it back to work :) But before I put the wedding completely behind me, I'd like to share a few tips on having a nice wedding without going into bankruptcy.

The 'average' cost of a wedding now exceeds $20,000 according to this chart on wedding costs, although I've seen estimates anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000. There are three things to keep in mind when looking at these stats: (1) they are all researched by wedding professionals, people who will benefit if couples spend more money, (2) they include wedding from people with far, far above average incomes who are far, far more willing and able to spend crazy amounts of money, (3) $20,000 is way, way too much money to spend on a wedding.

Expanding on point three - a wedding is ONE, day. Your marriage is (ideally) for the rest of your life. Quite frankly, there is nothing about a wedding that should make anyone spend that kind of money, even if you're Bill Gates. Don't believe all that malarky about 'the wedding is the happiest day of your life.' It shouldn't be. You're going to be married for a long time (again ideally) why bother if the next 50 years are all downhill. Your wedding should be the beginning of the happiest period of your life. Which it won't be if you spend more money than you can afford on your wedding. Money troubles are a cause many divorces and I wonder how many of those couples started out their financial lives together spending more than they could afford on a wedding. Never, ever borrow money for a wedding. If you truly cannot afford anything consider a private ceremony (religious or civil) with just your two sets of parents and then go out to dinner. Have the big party later, when you can afford it and when you can truly enjoy it.

Ok. Enough with the preaching and on with the tips!!

SIZE - this is the single most important factor affecting the cost of the wedding. Always go small. Even if you are able to spend a lot of money. Consider the hypothetical $20,000 wedding, with 100 guests you can spend $200 on each guest - imagine how nice that wedding will be! Or you could invite 350 guest and spend $57 on each - and catered food is expensive. Also, the fewer people you invite the more time you'll have to spend with them - and if you don't want to spend time with them - why are they at your wedding.

Of course the tricky part is whittling down the guest lists - here are some suggestions: (1) Don't invite children. They won't have much fun and you'll be able to give their parents a night off. The only person under the age of 21 at our wedding was my husband's brother. (2) Start small and build up. Start by limiting your list to 10, then expand to 25, 50, 75, and finally 100. This works much better than making a huge list and eliminating. (3) Don't invite 'and guest'. This is your wedding and you're paying the bills, you have the right to invite only people you already know. We made it our policy to only invite significant others if we had met them and the relationship was long-term (several months when we sent out the save-the-dates). (4) Don't invite relatives you don't talk to. I have a huge family (My mother has 8 siblings and my father 6, plus the extended families) if I had invited everyone one of my relations the guest list would have been over 400. As long as you are consistent with your policy (we didn't invite any of my cousins on my father's side or any relations more distant than cousin) people shouldn't be offended. If you get questions it is perfectly legitimate to explain that you are short on funds and are having a small wedding, if someone doesn't understand then they probably care more about the free meal than you.
Limit Transportation. Limos, etc. are expensive. Moving everyone from the ceremony to the reception is a hassle. Making sure that everyone has directions is a pain. Renting two sites is more expensive that just one. It's worth the extra effort to find a location where you can have both the ceremony and reception (as well as a place to get ready). Your guests will thank you. We had our ceremony outside in the garden of our reception site. The ceremony fee was $125 and that included setting up chairs, ushers to direct the guests, and a coordinator to help with the rehearsal and ceremony. Plus we didn't spend a dime on transportation. We arrived in regular cars early in the day to get ready (get ready onsite - you don't want to worry about the florist delivering to two or three locations nor do you want to forget the flowers) and borrowed my Dad's GTO when we left.
Don't buy a 'bridal' dress. The mark-up on gowns marked as 'bridal' is ridiculous. I spent less than $300 on my off-the-rack dress. Every single person at the wedding commented that it was the most beautiful bridal gown they had ever seen and wanted to know where I purchased it. I also didn't need to spend any money on alterations because it wasn't made in a weird non-size to force alterations (which all bridal gowns and bridesmaids gowns are). Shop around during prom season - there are many white prom dresses now if you're dead set on white - or you can go with cream, beige, or very, very pale pastels (white's not the most flattering color anyway). Look at upscale dress shops - ones you might not consider for a prom dress due to cost - Jessica McClintock often has very nice things.
Smaller wedding party = fewer headaches, easier planning, fewer attendants gifts, more quality time with each attendant, etc. And if you end up chipping in for some of the cost of the dresses (which I did, my cousin was in three wedding this summer!) that will be cheaper as well. It also helps in achieving a smaller guest list because you'll have fewer significant others to invite. And the point is to highlight people that are special and important to you, not possible if you ask everyone you've ever known.
Make your own wedding desserts. Not the best tip if no one in your family can bake, in which case I'm very sorry for you - nothing beats homemade cookies! My mother made a small cake for cutting, and I asked some of my aunts and cousins to contribute 2 dozen cookies each. There were plenty of desserts, people were able to choose what they liked (You will never ever have a wedding where everybody likes the flavor of cake you choose - there are people who don't like chocolate - I'm one) and it was very cheap. It also lets other people participate which they enjoy. Much, much cheaper than wedding cake. It also gives you more of a chance to personalize your wedding - you could make a cake entirely out of cupcakes (don't pay a baker to make cupcakes - just buy the boxed mixes and make it yourself!) or out of Pepperidge farm cookies, or donuts - whatever.
Photographer. My first bit of advice is to nix the videographer. Not only are they expensive but you'll either end up with photos full of the videographer or a movie full of the photographer. We decided just to hire a photographer for the formal shots and for the ceremony. We figured that most of the reception shots are just candids and there are enough people with cameras already at the reception. (Plus my parents used to do wedding photography as a side job so we would get at least one set of photos without thumbs.) Now that more people have digital cameras it's also very easy to get copies of their pictures. With 60 people taking pictures of us cutting the cake we're virtually guaranteed at least one good shot. Also, don't be afraid to negotiate with the photographer - if there's something in the package you don't want tell him/her and see if you can get a markdown - we did.
Decorations. Do NOT get floral centerpieces. They are extremely expensive and won't last long. If you want flowers go to a garden shop and buy a potted plant with flowers - they you'll have something afterwards as well. If you are dead set on roses - consider buying mini-rose bushes - very cute and original. We had an herbal theme and used potted herbs for our centerpieces - about $5 ea. including pots. Consider making your own favors - I made candles with scents to coordinate with the centerpieces. They were about $1 ea. and I got many complements. Plus they were pretty easy to make. Also consider decorations when selecting your location - one of the reasons I selected the Butler Mansion was the fact that I wouldn't need to decorate at all.
Have a casual rehearsal dinner. We went to the Anchor Bar (invented the Buffalo Wing). It was cheap, fun, and the out of town guests got a chance to visit a Buffalo landmark. Generally speaking, the more casual the restaurant the cheaper the meal.

Figure out what aspects of the day are most important to you (for us it was the food, personalizing the ceremony text (free!), and the location) and slash the budget on everything else. Try comparing wedding costs to other things you'd like to spend your money on - a nice honeymoon, paying off your debts - and try to decide if it's really worth it. For example, $55 ea. for floral centerpieces - if you have 10 tables that's $550. If you went with $10 potted plants instead you could pay off $450 of credit card debt and (at 17%) save $76.50 in finance charges!

Hopefully these tips are helpful!

Technorati Tags: Wedding, Personal Finance

Our First Dance

2006-06-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

Technorati Tags: Wedding

Sound Money Tips » Tip For Buying a Fuel Efficient Car

2006-06-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

Sound Money Tips » Tip For Buying a Fuel Efficient Car

Yet another example of misleading stats

But if you are in the market for a car, here is a list of the top 10 most fuel-efficient cars for 2006, as compiled by Edmunds.com. An interesting note: Only 3 of the cars on this list are hybrid automobiles!

Well duh. There are only 3 hybrid car models in the US. What should have been noted is "Hybrid cars top the list and are more fuel efficient than all conventional cars." People are so irritating

'Christian' Love

2006-06-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I was greeted with this (sickening) 'Christian' sentiment as I was reading my feeds (from a blog whose ideas I rarely agree with but is usually well written and a good devil's advocate):

Bookworm Room: I'm only sorry it was a 'clean' airstrike that took these evil men down. I can't imagine that one of the bloodiest killers of the 21st Century suffered quite as much as his many victims did. If you go here (although the lines are jammed, so to speak), you can see footage of the airstrike. The President has already issued a statement, which is very polite. I'd have preferred something along the lines of 'we killed that Gosh-danged murderous bastard, and Bin Laden is next on our hit list.'

I can understand feeling glad that a known terrorist can no longer harm innocent people. But this is the part of Christianity that I cannot understand no matter how hard I try. (Note: I am in no way implying that all, or even most Christians would express these kind of sentiments. However I find that those who are most vehement about proclaiming their religion and its supposed superiority at every corner almost invariably express exactly these kinds of thoughts. Case in point: Pat Robertson.) It says very clearly and many times in the Bible, and from the mouth of Jesus (whom all Christians are supposed to emulate - hence calling it Christianity) that love and mercy should be expressed at all times and to all people, including and especially those whom have caused you injury.

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
1 Timothy 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
James 2:12-13 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Matthew 5:43-44 You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Matthew 5:38-40 You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
All quotes courtesy of BibleGateway.com

I, myself, am not a Christian and am not big on the Bible quotes, nor do I normally consider them to make an effective argument. However, one would assume that most Christians know the Bible at least as well as, and hopefully better than, I do. And all Christians profess to follow the teachings and examples of Jesus and to respect the contents of the Bible. My question is this:

Why do so many professed Christians NOT follow, or even consider, the teachings & examples of their own god, and at the same time, try to force everyone else to respect and abide by the very book they so blatantly ignore?

And in response to the comment itself - following through on the suggestion to brutally torture someone whose ideas you don't agree with, in a country where you have no legal jurisdiction, makes you a terrorist as near as I can tell. It is unfortunate that he died. He should have been arrested, fairly tried, and found guilty of his crimes, and given a fitting punishment, within the law. Nothing can ever bring those whose deaths he caused back from the dead - at least a trial would be less likely to turn him into a martyr and incite more violence.

Interesting Food Books

2006-06-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Dim Sum and you can't beat Boston!

Technorati Tags: Books, Dim Sum, Boston, Food

Veggies here I come!!

2006-06-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

Charlestown Cooperative Farm

WhooHoo - we can go pick up our first veggies this week! Beets, bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, fennel, lettuce, peas, radishes, salad greens, scallions, spinach, and turnips - yummy!

If you can't tell, I'm super excited. EVERYBODY should be excited about veggies. Just try it - smile big and announce "I love [insert veggie of choice]". It feels good :)

Technorati Tags: Veggie Love, CSA, Charlestown Cooperative Farm, Sustainable Food

Thoughts from Walden

2006-06-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

Walden

I've been (attempting) to read Walden in the past two weeks. It's a good read so far, but the house, wedding, grad school, and work has got me too busy. Not to mention that our DSL is still a little shakey. Oh well.

There are a lot of good quotes in the part I've read so far. So in the absence of having any time to think about a post, I'll add them here. All are by H.D. Thoreau and are from Walden.

no way of thinking or doing, however ancient, can be trusted without proof

all chagne is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which si taking place every instant

there are nowadays professors of philosophy, but not philosophers,

in any weather, at any hour of the day or night, i have been anxious ... to stand on the meeting of two eternities, the past and the future, which is precisely the present moment

i am sure that there is greater anxiety, commonly, to have fashionable, or at least clean and unpatched clothes, than to have a sound concience

the cart before the horse is neither beautiful or useful

spending the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable libery during the least valuable part of it

Technorati Tags: quotes, Walden, Thoreau

Oh wait, I have a blog

2006-05-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry for dropping off the face of the internet (or perhaps its little toe). Things have been extremely busy and, of course, this is exactly when I decided to do blog planning. What a wonderful idea! Anyway, I have a backlog of things to blog about and perhaps some more time so, so stay tuned.

Technorati Tags: Metablog

A most auspicious quote

2006-05-18T17:57:00.000-07:00

A person creates what they defend against.
Buddha

We are defending against terrorists, and terrorists we have become.

Technorati Tags: Quotes, Buddha

I am a citizen without a country

2006-05-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

Beyond Warrant-less Wiretapping

For those of you unfamiliar with the organization of our government, the NSA is part of the Executive branch (i.e. under the president's control)

The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.

"It's the largest database ever assembled in the world," said one person, who, like the others who agreed to talk about the NSA's activities, declined to be identified by name or affiliation. The agency's goal is "to create a database of every call ever made" within the nation's borders, this person added.

The concern for the customer was also based on law: Under Section 222 of the Communications Act, first passed in 1934, telephone companies are prohibited from giving out information regarding their customers' calling habits: whom a person calls, how often and what routes those calls take to reach their final destination. Inbound calls, as well as wireless calls, also are covered.

This is just one symptom of a larger problem. The basic tenant of the constitution is the all people are equal under the law. A lot of attention has been paid to the 'equal' part, but the most important word is UNDER.

NO ONE, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, REGARDLESS OF 'NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS', IS ABOVE THE LAW. However, we now have, not a president, but a dictator. A leader who believes that laws don't apply to him and the wishes of his constituents can be ignored. Any country that allows this to happen cannot call itself the United States of America. The largest threat to this country is not terrorists, bird flu, or obesity; it is the apathy of its people and the avarice of its leaders.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Technorati Tags: Constitution, America, Dictator_Bush

We started our walk to Rivendell

2006-05-04T16:22:00.000-07:00

We haven't gone very far yet (.5 mile) but I added a progress bar none the less. I also added progress bars for the books I'm reading.

Really, there hasn't been much going on. I spent the morning painting the house which was a nice break from my 13+ hr days (free tuition, free tuition - I need to keep that in focus). We're almost done painting the 'front' of the house - the three bedrooms, living room, and hallway. (Check out our website for pictures.) All that's left is the bottom half of the master bedroom and one wall of the guest room. And some accent color blocks in the office. Definately doable this weekend. We also need to make a trip to Lowe's - which will probably take more time than the painting.

After that, we need to decide whether or not (and what colors) to paint the kitchen and family room. And what type of flooring we want in the family room. And then we need to paint the trim, and the doors, and pull out the carpet in the master and guest bedroom, and find some curtains, and light fixtures, and move all of our crap, and actually put in the floor in the family room, and add extra molding to the rooms where we removed the carpeting, and buy, cut, paint, and install the trim in the living room, and, and, and ...

Technorati Tags: Remodeling, Walk to Rivendell

Gas Prices and the Media

2006-05-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

Extreme Gas Savings - May. 2, 2006

Idiot Media

When settling down in Florida, the couple found a home about 1 mile from their place of work, with shops located between the two. The close proximity is 'one of the reasons we chose this place to live.' The Parkers own a Nissan Xterra full sized SUV but with a one mile commute, gas costs them only $40 every two weeks. The cost is, by the Extreme Saver's own admission, 'just lost in the noise...It doesn't even phase us.'

These people live one mile from work and commute with an SUV? Why not just walk!?! And they're considered Extreme Savers? Moral: Don't ever take the media at face value. Distrust everything they say.

Technorati Tags: Frugal, Gas Prices, Media

Tips For Helping Your Career

2006-05-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Sound Money Tips » Tips For Helping Your Career

seven career killers to avoid which will help your reputation and career:

Procrastination

A Sense of Entitlement

Only Doing Your Job Description

Completely Avoiding Office Politics

Failing To Be A Team Player

Not Dressing Appropriately

Failing To Network

I need to keep this list on my desk. Of course the hard part comes in when your boss will only let you do your job description...

Technorati Tags: Career

My Favorite Place

2006-05-03T06:49:00.000-07:00

Where's Yours? Place Details

This was my favorite hideout as a child, and the website is very interesting - you can add your own sites as well as comment on other people's. Check it out. Thanks to Here in the Bonny Glen for the link.

Technorati Tags: Nature, Geography

Ready, Aim, Teddy Bear!

2006-05-02T18:45:00.000-07:00

Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things:

Gun that fires teddy-bears on parachutes A Japanese paintball-gun company has made a special gun that fires small stuffed teddy bears who float down gracefully on parachutes. It's intended for use at weddings, where, apparently, it's become common to throw teddies instead of confetti. Link (via Neatorama)

I want one! - Hey I wonder if we should fire teddy bears at our wedding...

Technorati Tags: Teddy Bears, Happy News

The Eowyn Challenge

2006-05-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

The Eowyn Challenge

For anyone who's a (dorky) fan of LOTR - walk in the footsteps of the Fellowship! Charles and I will be tracking our progress and keep you updated!

Technorati Tags: Tolkien, Exercise

Chapters 1 & 2 of Vanity Fair

2006-05-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

I. Chiswick Mall. Thackeray, William Makepeace. 1917. Vanity Fair, A Novel without a Hero. Vols. V & VI. Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction

Chapter 1

Who:

The Misses Pinkerton - Jemima and Barbara (Minerva)
Miss Amelia Sedley
Miss Becky Sharp

What:

Amelia's departure from Miss Pinkerton's Academy

Where:

Miss Pinkerton's Academy for Young Ladies, Chiswick Mall, London

When:

1810-1819ish - begins in June

Thoughts:
Character Sketches:

Miss Jemima - blinded by devotion to sister, but not as cold/mean as Miss Barbara
Miss Barbara - blinded by devotion to herself, importance due to pupils and 'patronage' of Samuel Johnson (dictionary author)
Miss Amelia - very nice, pretty, etc. also very shallow, flighty, rich
Miss Becky - arrogant, poor, not well liked, scorns Miss Jemima's sympathy

II. In Which Miss Sharp and Miss Sedley Prepare to Open the Campaign. Thackeray, William Makepeace. 1917. Vanity Fair, A Novel without a Hero. Vols. V & VI. Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction

Chapter 2

Who:

Miss Amelia Sedley
Miss Becky Sharp

What:

Expose of Becky's background

Where:

In the coach on the way to, and at, the Sedley's house

When:

Right after Chap. 1

Thoughts:
"All the world used her ill ... persons who the world treats ill deserve what they get."
There is a 'tug-of-war' for the reader on whether or not to like Becky - she's 'plucky' and interesting - but only looks at people for what she can gain from them - she's sometimes cruel.
Contrast between Becky's exterior arrogance and her feelings of inadaquacy - she feels she needs to justify her ambitions in society and so she invents grand ancestors.
Not a nice person - ridicule of Miss Jemima who had been nice to her Society is the only arena where Becky could excel/advance in life - interesting to consider how she would act in today's society.

Technorati Tags: Literature, Book Cents

Happy Nutrition Labels

2006-04-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

WhooHoo! A nutrition label that demonstrates the ideal:
Indgredients: basmati rice, chick peas, water, onions, tomatoes, canola oil, corn starch, almonds, vegetable base/sauce (sauteed carrot, onion, and celery, sugar, salt, corn oil, potato flour, carrot powder), spices (including tumeric), salt, ginger, garlic.

Notice anything? It's all stuff you would cook with if you were actually cooking (except for the carrot powder - which you could cook with if you wanted to)! But - it's a frozen meal. Which was tasty and cheap (whole kitchen chana masala, <$4.00). This is what prepared foods should be like.

Technorati Tags: Food

Reading Vanity Fair

2006-04-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

Thackeray, William Makepeace. 1917. Vanity Fair, A Novel without a Hero. Vols. V & VI. Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction

I'm (re)reading 'Vanity Fair' by Thackeray with this Book Blog - Book Cents. It's an excellent book, I highly recommend it.

Technorati Tags: Literature

Reform Math

2006-04-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

From: Spunky Homeschool

Reform math is a complete departure from traditional math.

Reform math also emphasizes estimating and being able to analyze whether the answer derived is correct and reasonable. Students are urged to use calculators from an early age, "because as adults, that's how we do it -- we either do mental math or use a calculator," said Ruth Balf, who teaches fourth and fifth grade at Olympic View Elementary.

Which is fine – it’s valuable to know how to estimate an answer to verify that you’re on the right track and when you aren’t able to do a complete complex calculation. And I’m not against using calculators – provided that the students are still taught how to do the math on their own. However,

Or at least makes a good guess. Here's an example,

How do you convert a fraction to a decimal? Divide the numerator by the denominator? Not in CMP [Reformed] math. That might call for long division. Too difficult! CMP students use "models." They have 9 "fraction strips," with a separate fraction strip for the denominators 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12. Students also have a "hundreds strip." To convert 7/8 to a decimal, the student compares the eighths strip to the hundreds strip, looking to see where 7/8 "hits" the hundreds strip. Answers can be expected to range from .86 to .89. The "right answer" is .87 or .88

Which is a complete load of bulls**t and certainly no easier than long division! And what about when you need to convert 9/16? Or 127/398? The point of math is once you learn the basic principals you can apply it to any number!

Technorati Tags: Education, Homeschool

Mars Science Laboratory comes to Lockheed

2006-03-29T09:31:00.000-08:00

WebWire® Lockheed Martin Awarded Contract To Design The Mars Science Lab Aeroshell Totally, Totally Awesome!! I worked on MSL in college and now it's coming to Lockheed! I have to get on that program!

Technorati Tags: Lockheed Martin, Mars, MSL

The Plight of the American Auto Industry

2006-03-29T04:51:00.000-08:00

Chicago Tribune Uncertainty on sale of GMAC

Yet more woes for the auto industry. I wish they would have said how this will affect those with loans through GMAC. It also mentions the possible UAW strike at Delphi. I don't know what the union is thinking. The American auto industry is in dire straits. Partly through poor products but also due to high costs, almost all related to labor. If they strike a Delphi, which is considering bankruptcy if wages aren't lowered, Delphi will shut down, causing GM to shut down as well. Which won't help it reach financial solvency.

Where does the UAW think its members will work if GM collapses? No other American automakers can afford to hire them. Better lower wages, more closely related to the market value of the job, than no job. The government shouldn't, and hopefully won't, step in and finance the industry - where would they get the money? At some point the union is going to have to realize that unless they allow their workers to be paid market value for their jobs (they are definatly paid well about market value - especially since the union also prevents them from doing anything - I've lived near Detroit and have friends who work in the auto industry) the jobs are going to disappear completely.

As an addendum: A friend of mine works for a company that setup and maintains networks several of their main customers are auto companies. During one of these installs, GM paid for him to fly to one of their plants, wait around for two days while 5 different unions moved the servers from the loading dock to the server room and wired them (different unions for hooking up the electricty, ethernet, etc). And then, because they couldn't get everything done, GM flew him home, paid for all of the time he was there as well as hotel, etc. and he did NOTHING. After the union finally finished setting up the servers, they had to fly him out again to actually do the installation and setup. What a huge waste. And that's what you're paying for when you buy an American car. :(

Technorati Tags: Auto Industry, UAW

Ozy and Millie

2003-09-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

Ozy and Millie by David Craig Simpson

Ahh Ozy and Millie - best web comic out there. This is possibly the best quote ever.

Revel in your Strangeness!

Technorati Tags: Web Comics

First Post

2003-09-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

Wow, my first blog. Are you quivering with excitement yet? No? I didn't think so. Hmm, welll I don't know what to write. I'll come back later...

Technorati Tags: Metablog