How many times have I started to attempt to read through the Bible, thrilled by the Creation narrative and sobered by the fall, only to get mired in the begats? Well, as I started Matthew 1 this morning, what do I face? Yes, the part that usually gets skipped in the Christmas narratives. Begats.
But pondering some of the names really got me thinking. It's not just names, it's a history of redemption so far. Joseph, the example of obedience, comes from a long line of redemption. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Rahab was the mother of Boaz (or ancestor in any case?) I'd never realized that before. Other familiar names are Hezekiah, Amos, Josiah, David, and so on. Pictures of redemption line Joseph's ancestry. And he would enable the redeemer to come to earth.
The rest of chapter 1 and chapter 2 are familiar -- we read them every Christmas. But the genealogies were the most exciting part of the reading today. Imagine that!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Advent: What, Why and How?
I had the opportunity to lead the Sunday School lesson today. We have just finished studying Rick Warren's very good book on "The Purpose of Christmas" and I thought it would helpful to review a bit of the background of Advent. Perhaps these thoughts will be useful to you as well.
Advent: What?
Think of a time when you were expecting something with longing, but weren't quite sure what it would be like. Maybe your wedding day, graduation from college, a new job or the birth of your child. Think about the planning, the waiting, the tension and the disagreements with others as you waited for the coming event. Think about the joy and the special closeness you felt with others waiting for this event as well.
Now, consider a time when you were expecting something but were pretty sure of what it would be like -- you were just marking time until this thing came to pass. Monthly communion, perhaps, or the birth of a second or third child. Your third or fourth race of a certain distance. Another Christmas? Another Pentecost? The waiting is more annoying than it is constructive. Until you realize that when the event happens, something is different. The differences between the birth you expected and the birth you experienced are too intense to describe. The November race ends up in 6 inches of snow. Something breaks through in the singing of "Joy to the World" or "Hail Thee, Festival Day" that takes your breath away. Or perhaps things don't come together at all the way you expected. I'm sure that my father didn't expect to end up in the hospital with a heart attack on Christmas Day 2004, never to come home again. Even when the expectation is routine, we know that preparation is no less important. We never know what will happen.
Advent is a time of expectation, a gift from our mother, the Church, to prepare us and point us to Christ. It helps us to remember that the Redeemer is already here, but that the Redemption is still at hand. Advent has taken many forms since it first came to the Church in the 4th century, and didn't assume its current four-week structure of hope, peace, joy and love until after the Reformation. But we have it and it is a powerful means to orient us toward Christ in a new way.
Advent: Why?
The Old Testament is full of expectation. As early as Genesis 3:15, with Adam, Eve and the Serpent engaged in comparing and blaming, God promises that enmity -- strife and conflict -- will be the lot between the children of Eve and the Serpent, the personification of temptation. And yet, God promises that the Serpent will bruise the heel of Eve's child, while having his own head crushed. Isaiah, preaching to Israel oppressed by about to be taken into bondage in Assyria, promises that one will come who will be "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:2-7). He further promises that that one will come in judgment and set everything right (cf. Isaiah 11:1-5). The people of Israel were seeking a king who would relieve them from their oppression and avenge their enemies. We know now how wrong they were -- or do we? We still await the full consolation of Israel, and we know that blaming and comparing still rule in our lives as much as those around us. As Advent points us again toward Christmas as the Christ who came in a way so markedly outside of expectations, can we prepare for His coming?
But what will His coming look like? We know that the Israelites were wrong to look for their knight in shining armor to come riding in on a white horse to take the reigns from whatever nation, ruler or chaos was oppressing them at the time. Their savior came in humblest of means, on a donkey. We rightly await our trumpet sound and king returning in Glory to set things right -- or do we? What will that trumpet sound like? What will Jesus' face look like? What does it really mean to be "caught up with him"? Just as the Israelites had no shortage of prophecy about the true nature of Jesus' coming, many didn't see him because they were still looking for someone else -- someone greater than them -- someone more powerful than them -- because that is what it would take to set things right. But Christ's human form was nothing that people would consider extraordinary at the time. He preached meekness as the investment for inheriting the earth, hunger and thirst as the prerequisite for satisfaction, making peace as the gateway to being a child of God and death as the road to eternal life. No wonder Israel didn't recognize him.
Advent: How?
How will you observe Advent this year? Will you expect another Christmas followed by another New Year, in which things might be different but in all likelihood will be just the same? And how will you know Christ when he comes? Consider what Jesus said about how you will know him:
I lay no claim to having solved this dilemma in my own life, for as I was leaving the church after leading this very lesson, I was approached by a homeless man asking for some food. I, a well-dressed Christian coming from church with only $20 bills in my pockets, hurried past this man, ignoring his pleas. Making mental excuses: "but I have no small change -- but our city leaders ask us to not give money to such as these, they have access to services and we wouldn't want to become the place for more to seek to panhandle in our streets -- but how dare he approach me at an inconvenient time? --how do I know he wouldn't just use the money for booze or drugs?" No, I fear that I may have seen the very Christ I claimed to worship as I left the building but could not make space for him in my own Inn.
May God open our eyes to see and give us wisdom to discern when Christ stand before us with open arms, and give us the grace we need to stop the blaming and comparing and bring about His Kingdom on earth.
Advent: What?
Think of a time when you were expecting something with longing, but weren't quite sure what it would be like. Maybe your wedding day, graduation from college, a new job or the birth of your child. Think about the planning, the waiting, the tension and the disagreements with others as you waited for the coming event. Think about the joy and the special closeness you felt with others waiting for this event as well.
Now, consider a time when you were expecting something but were pretty sure of what it would be like -- you were just marking time until this thing came to pass. Monthly communion, perhaps, or the birth of a second or third child. Your third or fourth race of a certain distance. Another Christmas? Another Pentecost? The waiting is more annoying than it is constructive. Until you realize that when the event happens, something is different. The differences between the birth you expected and the birth you experienced are too intense to describe. The November race ends up in 6 inches of snow. Something breaks through in the singing of "Joy to the World" or "Hail Thee, Festival Day" that takes your breath away. Or perhaps things don't come together at all the way you expected. I'm sure that my father didn't expect to end up in the hospital with a heart attack on Christmas Day 2004, never to come home again. Even when the expectation is routine, we know that preparation is no less important. We never know what will happen.
Advent is a time of expectation, a gift from our mother, the Church, to prepare us and point us to Christ. It helps us to remember that the Redeemer is already here, but that the Redemption is still at hand. Advent has taken many forms since it first came to the Church in the 4th century, and didn't assume its current four-week structure of hope, peace, joy and love until after the Reformation. But we have it and it is a powerful means to orient us toward Christ in a new way.
Advent: Why?
The Old Testament is full of expectation. As early as Genesis 3:15, with Adam, Eve and the Serpent engaged in comparing and blaming, God promises that enmity -- strife and conflict -- will be the lot between the children of Eve and the Serpent, the personification of temptation. And yet, God promises that the Serpent will bruise the heel of Eve's child, while having his own head crushed. Isaiah, preaching to Israel oppressed by about to be taken into bondage in Assyria, promises that one will come who will be "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:2-7). He further promises that that one will come in judgment and set everything right (cf. Isaiah 11:1-5). The people of Israel were seeking a king who would relieve them from their oppression and avenge their enemies. We know now how wrong they were -- or do we? We still await the full consolation of Israel, and we know that blaming and comparing still rule in our lives as much as those around us. As Advent points us again toward Christmas as the Christ who came in a way so markedly outside of expectations, can we prepare for His coming?
But what will His coming look like? We know that the Israelites were wrong to look for their knight in shining armor to come riding in on a white horse to take the reigns from whatever nation, ruler or chaos was oppressing them at the time. Their savior came in humblest of means, on a donkey. We rightly await our trumpet sound and king returning in Glory to set things right -- or do we? What will that trumpet sound like? What will Jesus' face look like? What does it really mean to be "caught up with him"? Just as the Israelites had no shortage of prophecy about the true nature of Jesus' coming, many didn't see him because they were still looking for someone else -- someone greater than them -- someone more powerful than them -- because that is what it would take to set things right. But Christ's human form was nothing that people would consider extraordinary at the time. He preached meekness as the investment for inheriting the earth, hunger and thirst as the prerequisite for satisfaction, making peace as the gateway to being a child of God and death as the road to eternal life. No wonder Israel didn't recognize him.
Advent: How?
How will you observe Advent this year? Will you expect another Christmas followed by another New Year, in which things might be different but in all likelihood will be just the same? And how will you know Christ when he comes? Consider what Jesus said about how you will know him:
I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me...as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (Matthew 25:35-37, 40)Are you waiting for Christ to come with the trumpet sound to catch you and take you away from this mortal coil, where sin and sorrow and death are no more? Or is He calling you to bring about His Kingdom through you, as you move beyond blaming and comparing and disobeying and serve Christ where He said He would be found?
I lay no claim to having solved this dilemma in my own life, for as I was leaving the church after leading this very lesson, I was approached by a homeless man asking for some food. I, a well-dressed Christian coming from church with only $20 bills in my pockets, hurried past this man, ignoring his pleas. Making mental excuses: "but I have no small change -- but our city leaders ask us to not give money to such as these, they have access to services and we wouldn't want to become the place for more to seek to panhandle in our streets -- but how dare he approach me at an inconvenient time? --how do I know he wouldn't just use the money for booze or drugs?" No, I fear that I may have seen the very Christ I claimed to worship as I left the building but could not make space for him in my own Inn.
May God open our eyes to see and give us wisdom to discern when Christ stand before us with open arms, and give us the grace we need to stop the blaming and comparing and bring about His Kingdom on earth.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Some Cape Cod vacation tips: Falmouth edition
Here are a few things we learned about Falmouth this week:
- The Falmouth Public Library has an excellent children's room. Visitors can take out a "courtesy card" that allows up to 6 items at once. We've borrowed books, DVDs and museum passes, which provide discounted or free admission to local attractions (Cape Cod Childrens Museum, Plimoth Plantation, etc.)
- There is a farmers market from May-October on Thursdays downtown. In May-June, the selection is limited, consistent with the New England growing season, but there are fresh breads, seafoods and coffee available. It sure looks like greater variety would be evident later in the summer.
- The Shining Sea Bikeway is excellent, and has been extended another 6 miles north.
- There are no 24-hour laundromats in Falmouth. The three laundromats open early, but close by 10 (last load at 9). Town Laundry on Main Street has a TV and free wi-fi.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
I've been giving a lot of thought lately to the Genesis 3 narrative, and finding myself in it.
Do you recall what the forbidden fruit is? The Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil... eat of it and you will surely die. Or will you? So tempts the slippery serpent.
For all my years, I've seen this a little more than the first act of disobedience. Sort of like God putting something there just to make us see what we cannot have. And eating of it allowed our first parents to see what they were missing -- clothes. Aha, nakedness must be evil, and it was the fruit of of the tree that opened that up to them. Perhaps this reading is consistent with your understanding. The great thing is that most expositions of this passage focus less on the actual sin and more on the solution, Genesis 3:15.
I've started wondering, though, what the actual knowledge of good and evil looks like. Was there something magic in this fruit that opened Adam and Eve's eyes? Perhaps the forbidden fruit was filled with vitamin K, helping their vision? Indeed, I've come to realize that the knowledge of good and evil arose from the realization that one thought they were better than the other. Eve was the first one to bite, and Adam realized that he had something on her. But he saw that she actually didn't die, so he ate too. Now, they were both ashamed because they started comparing themselves to each other. And they realized that their bodies weren't perfect either. In their shame, they started covering themselves up and hiding from God.
When we draw lines and decide that we are better than our fellow travelers, we gorge on the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We decide that we know something about goodness that they don't know and hold it over them. We then hide our own deficiencies out of shame. And the fall affects us all.
Jesus came to save us from our shame and guilt. As the first to live without shame, he showed us the way. It's backwards to the fallen world: you lead by serving, you win by dying, you triumph by rising again on the other side of the death that brings final shame to all. May we feast on the fruit of the tree of life and not be ashamed.
Do you recall what the forbidden fruit is? The Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil... eat of it and you will surely die. Or will you? So tempts the slippery serpent.
For all my years, I've seen this a little more than the first act of disobedience. Sort of like God putting something there just to make us see what we cannot have. And eating of it allowed our first parents to see what they were missing -- clothes. Aha, nakedness must be evil, and it was the fruit of of the tree that opened that up to them. Perhaps this reading is consistent with your understanding. The great thing is that most expositions of this passage focus less on the actual sin and more on the solution, Genesis 3:15.
I've started wondering, though, what the actual knowledge of good and evil looks like. Was there something magic in this fruit that opened Adam and Eve's eyes? Perhaps the forbidden fruit was filled with vitamin K, helping their vision? Indeed, I've come to realize that the knowledge of good and evil arose from the realization that one thought they were better than the other. Eve was the first one to bite, and Adam realized that he had something on her. But he saw that she actually didn't die, so he ate too. Now, they were both ashamed because they started comparing themselves to each other. And they realized that their bodies weren't perfect either. In their shame, they started covering themselves up and hiding from God.
When we draw lines and decide that we are better than our fellow travelers, we gorge on the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We decide that we know something about goodness that they don't know and hold it over them. We then hide our own deficiencies out of shame. And the fall affects us all.
Jesus came to save us from our shame and guilt. As the first to live without shame, he showed us the way. It's backwards to the fallen world: you lead by serving, you win by dying, you triumph by rising again on the other side of the death that brings final shame to all. May we feast on the fruit of the tree of life and not be ashamed.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
School Fundraiser Manifesto
Dear School Board Representative,
I write this time to discuss the use of our children as captive sales agents for private companies. Our son's school today sent home notice of our third fund-raiser since the winter break. One was the coupon book drive, which I believe many schools in the area participated in. The second was the PTA Cake Auction, a popular, parent-led and family involved fund-raiser. The third was a request to provide the names and addresses of 7-10 friends and family members to a magazine marketer, with some of the profits from magazine sales being returned to the school for "school supplies and student and teacher incentives".
First, let me say that I love the cake auction and events like it. They involve the creativity of the students and their parents and teach the students very useful lessons about how markets and prices work. I wish we could do things like this more often without wearing out the idea, but it's a great success for our school.
That said, I'm quite disturbed by the deputation of our children to sell stuff for private companies. Whether wrapping paper, magazines or coupon books, there is a company on the other side of these transactions making money from putting our kids to work as their sales staff. Children are encouraged to participate so forcefully that when we chose to opt out of the coupon book sale and instead make an equivalent cash donation, our son felt left out. Today, he was so excited to write down the names and addresses of our relatives so that he could get a trinket. I'm frankly appalled that our teachers were essentially discouraged from showing the President's address to students unless some clear link could be made to the standards, but class time is taken up to get them to sell overpriced (maybe) stuff to their unsuspecting relatives for a private company's profit.
Is our school district budget really so constrained that our children need to hit up their fixed income grandparents for another magazine subscription? Don't teachers get supplies contributed by parents? We'd be far happier to provide supplies requested than sell out our siblings' contact information. The letter accompanying the magazine fund raiser suggested "staff incentives". I don't know about other teachers, but I get incentives. They're called a job and a salary. The salary goes up when I get good teacher evaluations and publish successfully and the job ends when I don't. If we can't compensate our teachers appropriately, then the school district needs to trim expenses in other areas (like retired administrators now serving as high-salary consultants in the school district office) or request a tax increase.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, when we use our children as the sales agents for private companies, we send several messages to our children. First, we provide them with an opportunity to learn sales skills. I know that this is an invaluable skill, but I resent having them learned under duress and at such a young age. But on the down side, we tell our children that it's ok to pay more than market value for something. This attitude that has led to record consumer debt. We tell our children that competition doesn't matter because people will pay more than market value for a cause. This is no different from asking our children to go hat in hand from door to door asking for contributions for our struggling schools. It tells our children that our community doesn't really value public education, since they, at ages 4 and up, have to do their part to raise the funding for it.
No, I'm not generally opposed to fund raisers. For specific purposes, extracurricular activities, sports, and even PTA/PTO support they are vital. I am vehemently opposed to conscription of our children to private profit-making companies for operating budget support. I am even more opposed to using classroom time to train the children to make poor economic decisions and guilt them into participating in a wrong-headed fundraiser.
You have been a good listener to my concerns in the past. Please help me know how to communicate these concerns to the board and the superintendent.
Best regards,
Bitter Man
I write this time to discuss the use of our children as captive sales agents for private companies. Our son's school today sent home notice of our third fund-raiser since the winter break. One was the coupon book drive, which I believe many schools in the area participated in. The second was the PTA Cake Auction, a popular, parent-led and family involved fund-raiser. The third was a request to provide the names and addresses of 7-10 friends and family members to a magazine marketer, with some of the profits from magazine sales being returned to the school for "school supplies and student and teacher incentives".
First, let me say that I love the cake auction and events like it. They involve the creativity of the students and their parents and teach the students very useful lessons about how markets and prices work. I wish we could do things like this more often without wearing out the idea, but it's a great success for our school.
That said, I'm quite disturbed by the deputation of our children to sell stuff for private companies. Whether wrapping paper, magazines or coupon books, there is a company on the other side of these transactions making money from putting our kids to work as their sales staff. Children are encouraged to participate so forcefully that when we chose to opt out of the coupon book sale and instead make an equivalent cash donation, our son felt left out. Today, he was so excited to write down the names and addresses of our relatives so that he could get a trinket. I'm frankly appalled that our teachers were essentially discouraged from showing the President's address to students unless some clear link could be made to the standards, but class time is taken up to get them to sell overpriced (maybe) stuff to their unsuspecting relatives for a private company's profit.
Is our school district budget really so constrained that our children need to hit up their fixed income grandparents for another magazine subscription? Don't teachers get supplies contributed by parents? We'd be far happier to provide supplies requested than sell out our siblings' contact information. The letter accompanying the magazine fund raiser suggested "staff incentives". I don't know about other teachers, but I get incentives. They're called a job and a salary. The salary goes up when I get good teacher evaluations and publish successfully and the job ends when I don't. If we can't compensate our teachers appropriately, then the school district needs to trim expenses in other areas (like retired administrators now serving as high-salary consultants in the school district office) or request a tax increase.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, when we use our children as the sales agents for private companies, we send several messages to our children. First, we provide them with an opportunity to learn sales skills. I know that this is an invaluable skill, but I resent having them learned under duress and at such a young age. But on the down side, we tell our children that it's ok to pay more than market value for something. This attitude that has led to record consumer debt. We tell our children that competition doesn't matter because people will pay more than market value for a cause. This is no different from asking our children to go hat in hand from door to door asking for contributions for our struggling schools. It tells our children that our community doesn't really value public education, since they, at ages 4 and up, have to do their part to raise the funding for it.
No, I'm not generally opposed to fund raisers. For specific purposes, extracurricular activities, sports, and even PTA/PTO support they are vital. I am vehemently opposed to conscription of our children to private profit-making companies for operating budget support. I am even more opposed to using classroom time to train the children to make poor economic decisions and guilt them into participating in a wrong-headed fundraiser.
You have been a good listener to my concerns in the past. Please help me know how to communicate these concerns to the board and the superintendent.
Best regards,
Bitter Man
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Washington Nationals Park
Wow, sometimes it's unbelievable how the pace differs between National League games and American League games. I think the last NL game I went to before last night was John Smoltz' complete game 3 hitter in Atlanta, which lasted 2:35. Last night's Nationals/Cardinals affair was hardly a pitchers' duel, given that every single run was scored on a homer, and the game was still over in 2:40. I can't remember the last Sox game I went to that went less than 3 hours, and many have been much, much longer.
In a nutshell, Pujols is as dangerous as advertised. Jordan Zimmerman, pitching in his third major league game, pitched admirably and sharply, but made a few too many mistakes, including an early one to Pujols, and eventually gave up a tater to batters 2-5 before his night was done. The Cards dominated this game in every sense, but there wasn't a lot of excitement. Two double plays, I think? The most exciting moment was the fastest trip around the bases on a homer I have ever seen.
The park (#12 franchise, #13 stadium for me) was nice and clean and our seats were in the club level, which meant padded seats, nice amenities and short lines. But in general, I was underwhelmed. Of the newest stadiums, AT&T, PNC and Citizens Bank Parks have a lot more personality. Beer selection was poor, service was worse and fan intensity was non-existent. Food was mediocre. It certainly seemed that Cardinals fans outnumbers Nats fans, at least in intensity. The spectacle scoreboards had so many gimmicks, I could have sworn I was at a minor league game. And why do so many teams (my Bucs included) insist on copying the old sausage race tradition of Milwaukee? I certainly would rather have a clear announcement of a pitching change (which we did not have) than a stupid "kiss-cam" or follow the baby in the bucket game.
I guess if we sat in the upper decks, we'd have had a nice view of the Capitol and Washington Monument, but from where we were, nothing special.
I'd go to another game there if I happened to be in DC on a game night, but if I go out of my way to go to a game in the DC area, it will be in Baltimore...
In a nutshell, Pujols is as dangerous as advertised. Jordan Zimmerman, pitching in his third major league game, pitched admirably and sharply, but made a few too many mistakes, including an early one to Pujols, and eventually gave up a tater to batters 2-5 before his night was done. The Cards dominated this game in every sense, but there wasn't a lot of excitement. Two double plays, I think? The most exciting moment was the fastest trip around the bases on a homer I have ever seen.
The park (#12 franchise, #13 stadium for me) was nice and clean and our seats were in the club level, which meant padded seats, nice amenities and short lines. But in general, I was underwhelmed. Of the newest stadiums, AT&T, PNC and Citizens Bank Parks have a lot more personality. Beer selection was poor, service was worse and fan intensity was non-existent. Food was mediocre. It certainly seemed that Cardinals fans outnumbers Nats fans, at least in intensity. The spectacle scoreboards had so many gimmicks, I could have sworn I was at a minor league game. And why do so many teams (my Bucs included) insist on copying the old sausage race tradition of Milwaukee? I certainly would rather have a clear announcement of a pitching change (which we did not have) than a stupid "kiss-cam" or follow the baby in the bucket game.
I guess if we sat in the upper decks, we'd have had a nice view of the Capitol and Washington Monument, but from where we were, nothing special.
I'd go to another game there if I happened to be in DC on a game night, but if I go out of my way to go to a game in the DC area, it will be in Baltimore...
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Alleluia, Christ is Risen!
The Lord is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!
Easter Festival Bread... from Peter Reinhart's The Bread Baker's Apprentice.
Easter Festival Bread... from Peter Reinhart's The Bread Baker's Apprentice.
Great new iPhone/iPod Touch App!
I am greatly looking forward to opening day tomorrow. Since going to spring training this year, I'm about as excited about opening day as I ever have been.
So I was elated to see the new MLB At Bat app. For $10, you get a full season of pitch by pitch updates, video replay and... And.. Gameday audio. This means that I can listen to the Sox and Bucs on the treadmill at the gym, and listen at the office without using pc processor power. For even moderate baseball fans, this is a great deal!
So I was elated to see the new MLB At Bat app. For $10, you get a full season of pitch by pitch updates, video replay and... And.. Gameday audio. This means that I can listen to the Sox and Bucs on the treadmill at the gym, and listen at the office without using pc processor power. For even moderate baseball fans, this is a great deal!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Spring Training Trip: Coda
While we camped in Fort Myers, we had arranged for hotels on the way down and back. As I have for the past 10 years, I booked on hotwire.com, in which I commit to a hotel in a particular area at a particular quality level for a deeply discounted price. The downside is that I do not know what the hotel is until after I pay, and cancellations are not refunded. From an economics perspective, this makes perfect sense: hotels can sell otherwise unused inventory for something close to marginal cost while the commodity-seeking traveler sacrifices some certainty about lodging for a huge discount. In 10 years, I have stayed in very nice hotels in New York, Boston and San Francisco and some other reasonably clean, though bare-bones hotels in other parts of the country. The only disappointment I have ever had was a hotel in Boston that was technically in the zone advertised but much less convenient to public transportation than I expected. But this was not hotwire's fault -- it was mine.
Even our hotel for the trip down was a clean, bare-bones Days Inn in Lake City, FL that was easily worth the $40 we paid for it. Certainly nothing luxurious, but convenient, clean and safe.
The hotel we had in Valdosta, GA for the return trip was an extremely different story. For the first time, it was not a brand-name hotel. After learning the hotel name, I looked for some online reviews and very few were positive, so I was leery. We pulled in at 10:40 pm, tired boy in tow and very tired Dad in the lead. We had to turn down a spooky alleyway, with a strip club on the corner and a semi-truck depot on the other corner. Around the bend, we found the place. My concern was well-placed.
In Peter's words: "The room had an echo. It didn't even have a radio! We got out of there so fast we still had our pajamas on! And a little dog tried to get into our room before the woman picked him up and put him on the trailer!"
So here's a tip: If you are ever looking at hotwire for a hotel in Valdosta, GA, don't take any 2-star facility for less than $40. You might end up with the Briarwood Homeless Shelter Nightmare. It's very good to be home.
Update: Hotwire responded to my complaint and reviewed the star rating for this hotel. They determined that it was not up to their standards and downgraded it to a 1-star (still generous in my opinion, but at least I know never to bid on a 1-star hotel...) They credited the total fee to my account for use on a future hotwire purchase.
Even our hotel for the trip down was a clean, bare-bones Days Inn in Lake City, FL that was easily worth the $40 we paid for it. Certainly nothing luxurious, but convenient, clean and safe.
The hotel we had in Valdosta, GA for the return trip was an extremely different story. For the first time, it was not a brand-name hotel. After learning the hotel name, I looked for some online reviews and very few were positive, so I was leery. We pulled in at 10:40 pm, tired boy in tow and very tired Dad in the lead. We had to turn down a spooky alleyway, with a strip club on the corner and a semi-truck depot on the other corner. Around the bend, we found the place. My concern was well-placed.
- In 20 years of hotel stays, all around the world, I have never been asked to pay a $2 key deposit.
- I have also never been asked to leave a $5 deposit for the TV remote.
- I've never been able to hear every noise in the parking lot.
- I've always had a clock radio (they haven't always worked, but that's beside the point)
- I've never had to call hotwire to complain, and have them call the hotel while I was on the line to seek intervention on my behalf.
- I've had pools closed for the season, closed for cleaning, or had inconvenient hours. I have never had pools closed for "mandatory upgrades" with yellow police tape across the front door.
In Peter's words: "The room had an echo. It didn't even have a radio! We got out of there so fast we still had our pajamas on! And a little dog tried to get into our room before the woman picked him up and put him on the trailer!"
So here's a tip: If you are ever looking at hotwire for a hotel in Valdosta, GA, don't take any 2-star facility for less than $40. You might end up with the Briarwood Homeless Shelter Nightmare. It's very good to be home.
Update: Hotwire responded to my complaint and reviewed the star rating for this hotel. They determined that it was not up to their standards and downgraded it to a 1-star (still generous in my opinion, but at least I know never to bid on a 1-star hotel...) They credited the total fee to my account for use on a future hotwire purchase.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Fun in the sun and moonlight, post #5
I had been looking forward to our last game most of all. Sox vs. Pirates in Bradenton. I had been hearing about Bradenton since I toted a transistor radio along on my paper route, and always dreamed of going to a game there. I also know my Dad would have loved spring training, and he never got to go. So in a sense, this was a pilgrimage on his behalf as well. After the last two days in the sun, I realized the tickets I had for this game were also in the sun, on benches with no backs or arms. So my first priority on arriving in Bradenton was to find better seats, and willing to pay something for them. The first scalper I encountered had only scattered singles and wanted $10 over face value for them, trying to convince me that better seats were not available. Fortunately, I had been online the night before to see that seats were available together from the ticket office in the shade, but stopped short of buying in advance, since I would also have to pay the dreaded "convenience fees". After checking in with a couple other scalpers, we made our way to the ticket window where there was a line. I wore Pirates' gear and Peter was in Sox gear. Quite a pair :) and made a lot of people laugh. An usher right next to the ticket window was charmed and gave Peter a batting practice ball that had just popped foul into the sidewalk in front of him. While standing in the ticket line, a scalper caught my attention and indicated he did have seats in the shade. He wanted face value for them, and was also willing to take my bleacher tickets for face value. Wow, an honest scalper! I might have been able to bargain him down, but I was pretty pleased to be able to unload the seats I didn't want for a game I knew would be close to a sellout.
In the souvenir shop, Peter fell in love with the Pirate Parrot doll and had to have one. He also wanted to buy a gift for Liam, which was a baseball that unzipped to a cute little bear inside. Imagine his joy when he saw the genuine Pirate Parrot in the stadium. He got the Parrot's attention by holding up his stuffed friend and using the friend's voice to call out to "Daddy!" (i.e. Stuffed friend was clearly Pirate Parrot's son...) Here was a little Sox fan toting around the Pirate Parrot. Well, the Parrot had his say about the mix and match when we got the picture together. Pirate Parrot happily signed the ball from the usher outside the park.
Thus far on our trip, "our" team had won every game. So who would win this one, in which we were fans of both teams? Turned out to be a slugfest with multiple home runs, two triples and a combined 29 runs scored. At the end of the ninth, it was tied at 14 apiece. So it was a perfect ending. In spring training, extra innings is typically limited to a single extra inning and if a tie remains, it goes in the record books as a tie. The Sox manufactured a run in the top of the 10th and even though the Bucs got on base in the bottom, they couldn't score a run. Thanks to entertainment from the Pirate Parrot in our seats, and a visit from Aunt Gail in the latter innings after our neighbors had left, Peter made it through his first extra inning game which lasted 4 hours and 10 minutes. Plus the extra 45 minutes in our seats ahead of first pitch. I was SOOOO proud of him, and also knew that we would not have had nearly so much fun if we were sitting in the sun. It was a picture perfect end to our baseball adventures. I know Dad would have enjoyed being there with us and watching the hilarity of his grandson and the Pirate Parrot throwing popcorn at unsuspecting fans, and would have beamed when the Parrot returned to give a game ball specifically to Peter, and would have cheered on his Bucs all the way.Best line of the whole trip was in the car after the game: "Daddy, why didn't they play that Dirty River song after the Red Sox won?" I had to dial up the Standells on my iPod and blast it on the car radio. Twice.
I can't wait to go back to Bradenton.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Fun in the sun and moonlight, post #4
On Sunday, we went to church before the game. As always when traveling, I checked ahead to see what the church situation was in Fort Myers and didn't see much that was convenient to our campsite or to the ballpark (where there was a 1:05 p.m. first pitch). So I was prepared to spot a place somewhere nearby or perhaps just have a devotional with Peter at the campsite. When arriving at the game on Friday, we parked in the lot of Central United Methodist Church, whose marquee sign said, "Welcome Spring Training Fans!" Looked like we'd found a church for Sunday worship. Given the proximity and the warm welcome, I'd expected to see more fans in the service, but it was sparsely attended and few obvious fans. We were warmly welcomed by several parishioners, though. There was no childrens church available, so Peter sat with me for the whole service; not something he does often, but he did well. The minister was young and energetic, and Peter wondered why he was "preaching so crazy".
We saw Gail (Christy's aunt) almost as soon as we entered the park. Peter had some tooth fairy money to spend on a souvenir, so we visited the ballpark store with Gail. She was, I think, amused at my discussions with Peter about what he could afford, how much he would have to borrow from me, and what was just not worth the money. She said it was clear I was a finance professor and wondered what the interest rate would be (0% as long as he paid within the grace period, btw). After he found something he was happy with and purchased it, Gail noticed that there were some Wally (Red Sox mascot) books for sale. He already had one of them, but she asked if he would like her to buy the one he didn't have. The rest of the day was spent looking for Wally. We finally found him, and Peter got him to autograph the book for him. Our seats were 4th row behind first base, in the sun. We lasted 5 innings before the heat made Peter miserable and we headed out for the campsite where we could use the pool.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Fun in the sun and moonlight, post #3
Peter's lower front four teeth have been loose since his dentist appointment in January. More recently, his adult bottom front teeth, which couldn't wait, started popping through before the babies were ready to leave (a thoroughly normal, though uncommon, phenomenon, according to our dentist). The babies have been wiggling for a while now, with Peter scared and excited at the same time. He had a hard time eating a soft pretzel at the Red Sox game, since it hurt his wiggling tooth so much. So that night, while preparing S'mores for the campfire, he had a raw marshmallow and winced in pain. Thinking not much of it, I suggested that he take smaller bites. It was later that I saw that his wiggly tooth had finally come out -- swallowed in marshmallow, it seems! He was beyond excited and used the reward from the tooth fairy (who apparently used *his* magic to take the tooth out of Peter's stomach, so he says) to buy a nice souvenir at the ballgame. Now he can't wait for the next one.
We went fishing at W.P. Franklin Locks in North Ft. Myers. It was apparently a good fishing spot since the people next to us were reeling them in one after another and they were not small. Peter had in mind that we should catch our own dinner, so we tried. As you can see, there are no pictures on this post because even though our neighbors had bursting nets, we had not a bite. So we made up for it by going to Pincher's Crab Shack. By the time the day was done, Peter was literally begging to go to bed. This never happens.
We went fishing at W.P. Franklin Locks in North Ft. Myers. It was apparently a good fishing spot since the people next to us were reeling them in one after another and they were not small. Peter had in mind that we should catch our own dinner, so we tried. As you can see, there are no pictures on this post because even though our neighbors had bursting nets, we had not a bite. So we made up for it by going to Pincher's Crab Shack. By the time the day was done, Peter was literally begging to go to bed. This never happens.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Fun in the sun and moonlight, post #2
Day 2 took us to Hammond Sports Complex, Spring Training home of the Minnesota Twins who were hosting my childhood team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. We both got decked out in Buccos regalia for this event, but not before a visit to Fort Myers Beach. Two words: avoid. it. at least during spring break. We sat in traffic for 45 minutes for the privilege of paying $6 to park and then be mobbed and huckstered most of the time we were there. The beach itself was pretty and the water blue, but the clientele and the strip of bars right behind the beach were not what I expected. Bath houses were hard to find and we didn't arrive dressed for the beach, so had to change in the car. Because the traffic was so bad (even at 10 am) we couldn't stay as long as we'd hoped or we'd miss much of the ballgame. Not that I wanted to stay for long anyway...
Hammond Sports Complex is a very nice place and we had fantastic seats. I hadn't realized that part of the reason our first game was so much fun was our seats in the shade. Even though these were among the best seats I have ever had for a game, it didn't last long because the sun was beating down on us. The temps were in the high 70s and it wasn't very humid at all, but the stadium risers pretty much blocked out any breeze. If we walked out into the concourse, it was very comfortable but in the stands it became quite uncomfortable, and you can see what colors the Bucs fans wear. About 5 innings was all we could take, but the Bucs took this one, meaning that our team had won each of the games we'd been to so far.
Fun in the sun and moonlight, Spring Training 2009, post #1
This was the week to fulfill a lifelong dream and take Peter along for the ride. We both enjoyed ourselves and learned some lessons along the way.
We arrived in Fort Myers at City of Palms Park just in time to meet Christy's aunt and friends, one of which was holding a spot for us in the autograph line. At Susan's suggestion, I hoisted Peter up on my shoulders and we waited. And waited. Chatting with a few folks who were waiting, consulting my roster for the names of some of the Sox who may have never played higher than AA (like Zach Daeges), we finally saw Chris Carter, who had 18 at bats for the Sox last season. Peter was yelling to him at the top of his lungs for about 10 minutes as he made his way down the line, until Carter finally recognized him and made clear that he intended to sign his ball. Peter yelled, "Sign it on the sweet spot, Chris!" which made everyone around us laugh. Carter was very nice and generous with his time and seemed to enjoy meeting the fans. Peter stayed for the complete game after making friends with a lady next to us and a little girl in front, so we got to sing "Sweet Caroline" in the middle of the 8th and "Dirty Water" at the end of the game. I've never been in the swing of baseball so early in the season (sorry Christy...)
In the interest of ease, we got a hotel for the half-way point of the trip down but according to plan, we camped in a tent, with a single electric outlet and a water faucet at our site. We did have access to the bathhouse and pool, but we'll wean away from those extra features (not to mention my inflatable mattress) as Peter gets older. It was a pretty nice campground and it took Peter about 4 seconds to make friends with the lady in the next site. He spent the rest of the weekend looking for her and was very sad when she had to leave on Sunday. They left notes for each other. Peter is a very good and patient camper. He never asked for TV, computer games (even though I had a computer with me) or complained about noise or acted scared at all. His only complaint was that he was cold in the mornings (on Monday, I had a campfire going when he woke up -- make note for next time).
I'll blog the other events of the trip over the next few days.
We arrived in Fort Myers at City of Palms Park just in time to meet Christy's aunt and friends, one of which was holding a spot for us in the autograph line. At Susan's suggestion, I hoisted Peter up on my shoulders and we waited. And waited. Chatting with a few folks who were waiting, consulting my roster for the names of some of the Sox who may have never played higher than AA (like Zach Daeges), we finally saw Chris Carter, who had 18 at bats for the Sox last season. Peter was yelling to him at the top of his lungs for about 10 minutes as he made his way down the line, until Carter finally recognized him and made clear that he intended to sign his ball. Peter yelled, "Sign it on the sweet spot, Chris!" which made everyone around us laugh. Carter was very nice and generous with his time and seemed to enjoy meeting the fans. Peter stayed for the complete game after making friends with a lady next to us and a little girl in front, so we got to sing "Sweet Caroline" in the middle of the 8th and "Dirty Water" at the end of the game. I've never been in the swing of baseball so early in the season (sorry Christy...)
In the interest of ease, we got a hotel for the half-way point of the trip down but according to plan, we camped in a tent, with a single electric outlet and a water faucet at our site. We did have access to the bathhouse and pool, but we'll wean away from those extra features (not to mention my inflatable mattress) as Peter gets older. It was a pretty nice campground and it took Peter about 4 seconds to make friends with the lady in the next site. He spent the rest of the weekend looking for her and was very sad when she had to leave on Sunday. They left notes for each other. Peter is a very good and patient camper. He never asked for TV, computer games (even though I had a computer with me) or complained about noise or acted scared at all. His only complaint was that he was cold in the mornings (on Monday, I had a campfire going when he woke up -- make note for next time).I'll blog the other events of the trip over the next few days.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Bagels
The closing of our local bagel shop (which I never made it to, but had their bagels at PTO coffee) got my friend excited about trying his own bagels. I shared the bagel recipe from the The Bread Baker's Apprentice and he raved about the bagels the recipe produced. This gave me the incentive to try it myself.
I'd always been leery of bagels, since I knew they had a two-stage baking process (boiling then baking) and it seemed like too much of a hassle. But I honestly found it easier to bake bagels than a standard kneaded loaf of bread. There's really only one rise, and it's a piece of cake to form the bagels using the method in the book (which is, essentially, form a roll and let it rise a few minutes. Poke a hole in the middle of the roll and form the bagel around the hole.) The boil is absolutely not a hassle and the baking is much quicker than a loaf of bread.
I had no malt in the house (except in beer bottles, ha) so I substituted honey, which the recipe allows. I also used 1/2 cup whole wheat flour in place of bread flour to increase the density of the crust just a little. I used all instant yeast, though the author suggests a sourdough method which I may try eventually. See the pictures of the finished product here.
Monday, December 22, 2008
The Mystery and faith
A great editorial from the Wall Street Journal this past week:
I'm not sure that holding certain positions just to disagree with Richard Dawkins is the best tactic, but I've been much more secure in my faith since a few years ago I decided that it didn't (and couldn't) rest on the discovery of archeological "proof" or "scientific" studies on the efficacy of prayer.
And yet, I blanch at the idea that convincing our kids about the existence of a supernatural figure who "knows when you've been sleeping, knows when you're awake" and gives gifts to good little boys and girls while withholding them from the disobedient ones, only to pull the rug out from under them when they are old enough to catch mommy and daddy putting the gifts under the tree. Our tactic perhaps ought to be, rather than to manufacture the myth and tie gifts to behavior, to focus on the spirit of Christmas -- that Christ coming into the world has made potential saints of us all, spreading good cheer (common grace) and giving to those in need (anonymously, if possible). If that spirit is to be personified in a fat elf with red pajamas, so be it. He need not have all sorts of supernatural traits (omniscience, omnipresence) but perhaps the larger supernatural traits of forgiveness and generosity -- the image of the Divine by which God created us. These traits represent the breaking of the Curse, and the coming of Father Christmas to end our never-ending winter.
I'm not sure that holding certain positions just to disagree with Richard Dawkins is the best tactic, but I've been much more secure in my faith since a few years ago I decided that it didn't (and couldn't) rest on the discovery of archeological "proof" or "scientific" studies on the efficacy of prayer.
And yet, I blanch at the idea that convincing our kids about the existence of a supernatural figure who "knows when you've been sleeping, knows when you're awake" and gives gifts to good little boys and girls while withholding them from the disobedient ones, only to pull the rug out from under them when they are old enough to catch mommy and daddy putting the gifts under the tree. Our tactic perhaps ought to be, rather than to manufacture the myth and tie gifts to behavior, to focus on the spirit of Christmas -- that Christ coming into the world has made potential saints of us all, spreading good cheer (common grace) and giving to those in need (anonymously, if possible). If that spirit is to be personified in a fat elf with red pajamas, so be it. He need not have all sorts of supernatural traits (omniscience, omnipresence) but perhaps the larger supernatural traits of forgiveness and generosity -- the image of the Divine by which God created us. These traits represent the breaking of the Curse, and the coming of Father Christmas to end our never-ending winter.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Best and worst sports moments
In college, the Bills were winning left and right, and we were a mere 60 miles from what was then Rich Stadium. With the Bills on tv every single Sunday and surrounded by Bills fans, it wasn't hard to start rooting for them. I've lost track of the Bills, and in many ways most of pro football in the last 15 years, but I did watch MNF last night. I was unfortunately reminded of one my worst sports memories when the would-be winning 47-yard field goal attempt sailed wide to the right. It brought back a crushing moment in 1991 when I was in DC with a bunch of rabid Giants fans watching Super Bowl XXV. It also caused me to think for a few moments about where Wide Right fits on my list of worst sports moments. Here goes:
5. 19-8, when I sat in the grandstand at Fenway Park for game 3 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. It was downright depressing, but I was still at Fenway in October, so it couldn't be all bad. The Sox didn't lose another game the rest of the post-season.
4. Former Pirate Barry Bonds leading the San Fransisco Giants beating up on the Pirates in the first ever major league baseball game I went to with my father, in the pouring rain.
3. Wide Right 1991.
2. Aaron Boone hitting an 11th inning homer off Tim Wakefield to end the 2003 ALCS.
1. Former Pirate Sid Bream sliding under the tag in the 1992 NLCS game 7. I STILL can't stand the tomahawk chop. I still hate the Braves with a white hot passion and root for the Yankees when they play each other.
But not to be too negative, here are my top 6 best sports moments:
6. Going to Camden Yards with my dad and brother. Still not sure why we had to wait 30+ years before the three of us went to a game together (something about beer, I think), but it was special.
5. 51-3 1991 AFC Championship. I spent $50 on a single seat, carpooled with a bunch of others and ignored signs offering $500 for a single ticket. Never regretted being at such a landmark game for my first NFL experience. Will always remember the crowd's cheer when OJ Simpson walked onto the field for a pre-game report. Still wonder what the reaction would be if he came to Buffalo now???
4. My first baseball game at Three Rivers Stadium vs. Houston Astros. Field looked like a pinball game from way up in the rafters.
3. The look of amazement on Peter's face when he first saw the field and left-field wall at Fenway, and his insistent search for Wally the Green Monster, all through the ballpark.
2. Foulke to Mientkiewicz to win the 2004 World Series.
1. After my dad spent two weeks in the hospital for treatment of a gall bladder problem in October 1979, he surprised me the morning after he came home with the news that the Pirates had won the World Series.
5. 19-8, when I sat in the grandstand at Fenway Park for game 3 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. It was downright depressing, but I was still at Fenway in October, so it couldn't be all bad. The Sox didn't lose another game the rest of the post-season.
4. Former Pirate Barry Bonds leading the San Fransisco Giants beating up on the Pirates in the first ever major league baseball game I went to with my father, in the pouring rain.
3. Wide Right 1991.
2. Aaron Boone hitting an 11th inning homer off Tim Wakefield to end the 2003 ALCS.
1. Former Pirate Sid Bream sliding under the tag in the 1992 NLCS game 7. I STILL can't stand the tomahawk chop. I still hate the Braves with a white hot passion and root for the Yankees when they play each other.
But not to be too negative, here are my top 6 best sports moments:
6. Going to Camden Yards with my dad and brother. Still not sure why we had to wait 30+ years before the three of us went to a game together (something about beer, I think), but it was special.
5. 51-3 1991 AFC Championship. I spent $50 on a single seat, carpooled with a bunch of others and ignored signs offering $500 for a single ticket. Never regretted being at such a landmark game for my first NFL experience. Will always remember the crowd's cheer when OJ Simpson walked onto the field for a pre-game report. Still wonder what the reaction would be if he came to Buffalo now???
4. My first baseball game at Three Rivers Stadium vs. Houston Astros. Field looked like a pinball game from way up in the rafters.
3. The look of amazement on Peter's face when he first saw the field and left-field wall at Fenway, and his insistent search for Wally the Green Monster, all through the ballpark.
2. Foulke to Mientkiewicz to win the 2004 World Series.
1. After my dad spent two weeks in the hospital for treatment of a gall bladder problem in October 1979, he surprised me the morning after he came home with the news that the Pirates had won the World Series.
Monday, November 17, 2008
No-knead sourdough
I used my sourdough culture to re-create my fabulous attempt at no-knead bread. The results were encouraging. The only trick is finding the right consistency for the dough (since everyone keeps their culture at a different consistency, you can't exactly replicate someone else's no-knead recipe, and I haven't done enough standard no-kneads to recall exactly what the consistency should be). I think I left mine a little too watery, making the bread a little bit spongy and preventing a full rise. But it still crusted very nicely and has a better crumb structure than any previous sourdough. Christy noted that the loaves looked very artisan, and more like ciabatta than anything else.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sometimes maybe I try too hard
A couple years ago, I read an interesting article that taught me a lot about the chemical process that bread making involves. I was intrigued by the article but the accompanying recipe seemed just too easy compared to how I had taught myself to bake bread. I always thought I'd try the recipe, but kept putting it off because, after all, I liked the kneading process. Bread-making should be complex after all.
Then a college friend suggested the recipe again, and I thought maybe I'd get around to doing it when I could manage the 18+ hour process (that is, when I could fairly accurately predict that I'd be home at the appropriate times over the next 18 hours. So I fed my sourdough starter, split some off for another baker buddy, and put it back in the fridge without using it. Instead, I pulled the yeast out of the fridge that I'd sworn off for anything but waffles when I started the sourdough life and did this no-knead recipe.
The results were astounding -- by far the best bread I have ever baked. The crust crumbled like I've been trying in vain to achieve with pans of water and spray bottles and baking stones. The "crumb structure" was appropriately moist and not too dense and the loaf just looked beautiful. I'll be baking this one again. And I'm going to attempt a similar loaf using my sourdough starter, and maybe check out some of the Cooks' Illustrated modified recipes on this theme. I think I'm on to a new frontier in bread.
But it made me think about other areas in life where I try too hard and end up with something less than I could have. More specifically, when I try to help God along and end up taking the very long way to get to where he wants me to be. What about you?
Friday, November 7, 2008
More in common than not...
On my bike ride into work this morning, I was thinking about why I am not a liberal. I ought to be, given that I grew up in a low-middle (at times near poverty) class union home, am passionate about a reasonable approach to sustainable, organic living and stewardship and deliberately chose a mainline denomination church upon our move. I share Christy's passion for animal welfare and environmental sensitivity and when I do eat meat, I value knowing that the animal lived and died well. I oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and believe that corporate welfare and corporate tax breaks are evil. These are all liberal viewpoints.
This morning, I attended the PTO coffee hour at Peter's school, where the speaker made us aware of the Stable Foundation, which is seeking to eradicate homelessness in Athens. I share the values of this organization, and in fact have been a long time supporter of Habitat for Humanity whose mission is similar.
For the coffee hour, I parked next to an active PTO mom whose car was plastered with liberal bumper stickers and who was wearing an Obama t-shirt (bringing to mind this Onion satire piece, lol) and from conversations and a follow-up e-mail on the PTO list about the impact of the new administration on education in general, and the likely effects on our own school. The entire group had a real crunchy sense, discussing how to help feed hungry by collecting day-old baked goods that would otherwise be discarded, how the local caterer often donates left-over chafing dishes and even the parent-coordinated gardens that had planted around our newly-rebuilt school showed the sensitivity to sustainable and natural living that also helps lift others up.
I realized how much I had in common with this group, yet I felt like I was almost certainly the only Bob Barr voter in the group and most definitely the only one who was very nervous about an Obama administration. Why am I not a liberal anyway?
As I pedaled hard up the hill, I realized that it was wonderful that no one made me get my bike out this morning and that I had been free to choose whether to use my car and save about 30 minutes of commuting time today. And I could also choose whether to buy a fuel-efficient smaller car or a large gas-guzzling SUV. And the reason I am not a liberal is that I value that choice. I believe that if we eliminated farm subsidies and allowed the market to work, we would have far less high fructose corn syrup in our diets and childhood obesity levels would fall. If we eliminated corporate taxes and shifted the tax burden to investors (the double-and sometimes triple-taxation of dividends and capital gains is an issue for another day), corporations would have fewer incentives to avoid taxes through accounting shell-games.
Representative democracy does a few things very well -- protects individual freedom and regulates "natural" monopolies. Whenever government attempts to force redistribution of wealth, the incentives get all screwed up. And though I share much in common with the other parents in my school, I guess where I disagree is that I don't think government is the answer. Indeed, there is so much we could do if government could just get out of the way.
This morning, I attended the PTO coffee hour at Peter's school, where the speaker made us aware of the Stable Foundation, which is seeking to eradicate homelessness in Athens. I share the values of this organization, and in fact have been a long time supporter of Habitat for Humanity whose mission is similar.
For the coffee hour, I parked next to an active PTO mom whose car was plastered with liberal bumper stickers and who was wearing an Obama t-shirt (bringing to mind this Onion satire piece, lol) and from conversations and a follow-up e-mail on the PTO list about the impact of the new administration on education in general, and the likely effects on our own school. The entire group had a real crunchy sense, discussing how to help feed hungry by collecting day-old baked goods that would otherwise be discarded, how the local caterer often donates left-over chafing dishes and even the parent-coordinated gardens that had planted around our newly-rebuilt school showed the sensitivity to sustainable and natural living that also helps lift others up.
I realized how much I had in common with this group, yet I felt like I was almost certainly the only Bob Barr voter in the group and most definitely the only one who was very nervous about an Obama administration. Why am I not a liberal anyway?
As I pedaled hard up the hill, I realized that it was wonderful that no one made me get my bike out this morning and that I had been free to choose whether to use my car and save about 30 minutes of commuting time today. And I could also choose whether to buy a fuel-efficient smaller car or a large gas-guzzling SUV. And the reason I am not a liberal is that I value that choice. I believe that if we eliminated farm subsidies and allowed the market to work, we would have far less high fructose corn syrup in our diets and childhood obesity levels would fall. If we eliminated corporate taxes and shifted the tax burden to investors (the double-and sometimes triple-taxation of dividends and capital gains is an issue for another day), corporations would have fewer incentives to avoid taxes through accounting shell-games.
Representative democracy does a few things very well -- protects individual freedom and regulates "natural" monopolies. Whenever government attempts to force redistribution of wealth, the incentives get all screwed up. And though I share much in common with the other parents in my school, I guess where I disagree is that I don't think government is the answer. Indeed, there is so much we could do if government could just get out of the way.
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