- The usually pro-engagement Nicholas Kristof advocates the use of a few more sticks in American-North Korean foreign policy in "Rethinking North Korea, With Sticks."
- Now that we're about halfway through his first year in office, Gail Collins offers "Barack's Progress Report."
- A disease that used to be nearly unknown now becomes quietly prominent, as Neil Amdur writes about in "Asperger's Syndrome, on Screen and in Life."
- Dan Barry writes about this land of ours, in which the homeless in Providence, RI are "Living in Tents, and by the Rules, Under a Bridge."
Thursday, August 06, 2009
NYT Round-Up
Just a few quick hits that caught my attention--
Simple Pleasures
As I spend time contemplating my priorities and assorted goals for the upcoming year, it's helpful to think of the little things that, when added into the mix of a given day, make the effort and life in general more palatable and fun. So here is my list of 25 simple pleasures, many of which I enjoy any time, and some of which are things I specifically enjoy while at school.
- Walking.
- Laying on the Quad on a warm sunny day.
- Reading a good book.
- Movie nights.
- Ben & Jerry's.
- Frozen yogurt.
- Long conversations with good friends.
- Conducting along to good classical music.
- Spontaneous off-campus outings.
- Milk and Oreos.
- Cooking with friends.
- Soul-baring late-night conversations.
- The monuments at night.
- Crossing things off my to-do list.
- Journaling regularly.
- Prowling in an old and used bookstore.
- Random sing-a-longs and/or jam sessions.
- Fries and a chocolate milkshake.
- Sitting outside at dusk.
- Warm, fresh chocolate chip cookies.
- Disney music.
- Reading the comics.
- Macaroni and cheese.
- Getting mail.
- Making someone smile.
A Proud Day...
...for Hispanics, for women, and for the US in general.
The Senate today voted 68-31 to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the 111th associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic, and the third woman to serve on the nation's highest court.
The voting breakdown:
-Democrats for Sotomayor: 57/58 (Sen. Ted Kennedy did not vote due to health concerns)
-Independents for Sotomayor: 2/2 (Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut)
-Republicans for Sotomayor: 9/40 (These few being Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Christopher Bond of Missouri, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Richard Lugar of Indiana, Mel Martinez of Florida, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, and George Voinovich of Ohio.)
The Senate today voted 68-31 to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the 111th associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic, and the third woman to serve on the nation's highest court.
The voting breakdown:
-Democrats for Sotomayor: 57/58 (Sen. Ted Kennedy did not vote due to health concerns)
-Independents for Sotomayor: 2/2 (Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut)
-Republicans for Sotomayor: 9/40 (These few being Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Christopher Bond of Missouri, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Richard Lugar of Indiana, Mel Martinez of Florida, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, and George Voinovich of Ohio.)
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Today's Reading..and Other Thoughts
TOP ARTICLE OF THE DAY: My late former professor's widow, Regina Holliday, was featured in Dana Milbank's Washington Sketch for Thursday August 6. Mrs. Holliday has been something of a hero to me in her fight for health care reform through her artwork. The late Prof. Holliday and his family lacked health insurance for many years; when he finally was employed by an organization that provided health insurance (my university), he was soon diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer, and died several months later. He was an inspirational professor for me, and his wife has been fighting for better health care since his diagnosis and death. I could (and probably will) say a lot more, but for now, I will say this-- IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE TODAY, READ DANA MILBANK'S PIECE "IN A PLEA FOR HEALTH REFORM, A WIDOW PICKS UP HER PAINTBRUSHES."
Thank you.
On a separate note, here's some of my "simple living/simple productivity" reading, mostly from my new favorite blog, Zen Habits, and an entertaining yet profound site called SlowDownNow.org.
Thank you.
On a separate note, here's some of my "simple living/simple productivity" reading, mostly from my new favorite blog, Zen Habits, and an entertaining yet profound site called SlowDownNow.org.
- 5 Inspirations for Being in the Moment
- How to Get Out of Bed
- Slow Down, Get Smart
- The Art of Not Doing Much
- Slow Down...to Enjoy Life
- How NOT to Multitask-- Work Simpler and Saner
- 10 Benefits of Rising Early, and How to Do It
- 12 Ways to Decompress After High Stress
- 75 Simple Pleasures to Brighten Your Day
Monday, August 03, 2009
Finding the Balance
Leo Babauta at Zen Habits writes all the time about simplicity. His latest piece, "Your Life, Simplified," is a profoundly basic list of how to simplify your life in the most important ways-- one which I intend to use as I start to evaluate my goals and visions for the upcoming academic year.
I know I've been writing a lot about simplicity lately. I think I've gotten more interested in this idea of simple living because of the life I've seen during my time in DC, which I inevitably always reflect on more when I'm away from the city. With some distance, it's easier to compare and contrast the lives I see people living in small town New England, and the lives I see people living in the District.
I don't pretend to believe that one is better or worse. In fact, I rather enjoy the balance I have going between the two. DC has its pluses-- good public transportation (makes it easier not to drive everywhere and damage the environment), high levels of public engagement, and my university friends (all of whom are wonderful people and some of whom are wonderful people with great ideas about simplicity and social justice). But it also has its minuses-- high levels of consumerism, people always on the go and in a hurry, people more interested in networking than relationships. My hometown in New England, on the other hand, still has high levels of consumerism (you get that everywhere), and public transportation is minimal so people generally drive-- though some of my friends are more known to bike or walk. But the air is cleaner (something I ALWAYS notice-- it's like a veil is lifted on the sky) and people are usually more relaxed and enjoy the chance to communicate and develop real relationships. Small businesses are arguably more present and established than corporations. There may be less "big-league" stuff to do, but the only way you can be bored is if you allow yourself to be.
I often wonder about how simple my life really is, either in DC or at home. Is there any kind of measuring stick? Part of me doubts it. It's such a personal thing. For me, learning to shut down my computer at night and not boot it up until I was up and dressed was a big development, and felt like a major step toward simplicity. But how much of an impact does that really have, on me or in the grand scheme of things? I don't really know. Maybe simple living is more of a continual process, something you do when your life feels like it's spiraling out of control or when you get discontented. Everything I read says describes it as a lifestyle. Some things have described it as a means to an end. Either way, evaluating life from the perspective of simplifying can only be a good thing, in the long run.
I know I've been writing a lot about simplicity lately. I think I've gotten more interested in this idea of simple living because of the life I've seen during my time in DC, which I inevitably always reflect on more when I'm away from the city. With some distance, it's easier to compare and contrast the lives I see people living in small town New England, and the lives I see people living in the District.
I don't pretend to believe that one is better or worse. In fact, I rather enjoy the balance I have going between the two. DC has its pluses-- good public transportation (makes it easier not to drive everywhere and damage the environment), high levels of public engagement, and my university friends (all of whom are wonderful people and some of whom are wonderful people with great ideas about simplicity and social justice). But it also has its minuses-- high levels of consumerism, people always on the go and in a hurry, people more interested in networking than relationships. My hometown in New England, on the other hand, still has high levels of consumerism (you get that everywhere), and public transportation is minimal so people generally drive-- though some of my friends are more known to bike or walk. But the air is cleaner (something I ALWAYS notice-- it's like a veil is lifted on the sky) and people are usually more relaxed and enjoy the chance to communicate and develop real relationships. Small businesses are arguably more present and established than corporations. There may be less "big-league" stuff to do, but the only way you can be bored is if you allow yourself to be.
I often wonder about how simple my life really is, either in DC or at home. Is there any kind of measuring stick? Part of me doubts it. It's such a personal thing. For me, learning to shut down my computer at night and not boot it up until I was up and dressed was a big development, and felt like a major step toward simplicity. But how much of an impact does that really have, on me or in the grand scheme of things? I don't really know. Maybe simple living is more of a continual process, something you do when your life feels like it's spiraling out of control or when you get discontented. Everything I read says describes it as a lifestyle. Some things have described it as a means to an end. Either way, evaluating life from the perspective of simplifying can only be a good thing, in the long run.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Productivity & Focus Reading
As a reasonably busy person (at least, during the school year), I have developed a high level of interest in techniques for productivity and focus. Here's some of my latest reading on the subject:
- From Productivity 501-- 10 tips for "Office Timesavers" and links for ideas on "Ways to Deal with Distraction."
- From an Older Non-Trad Student-- tips on "Staying Focused During Summer School" that are still applicable during any time at school.
- These "21 Ways to Stay Focused in an Online Class" also apply to other academic settings, especially those requiring work on a computer.
- Of course, you knew it was true-- the intellectual/emotional/spiritual benefits of taking the time to read.
- Collegiate time management isn't much different than other types of time management--but this article provides pointed tips on managing your time in college.
The Four Agreements
Don Miguel Ruiz published a self-help/spirituality book called The Four Agreements, in which he passed along four principles for living a better life. I wrote them down at one point, and just stumbled back over them. It's pretty good advice.
The Four Toltec Agreements
The Four Toltec Agreements
- BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD- Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
- DON'T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY- Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.
- DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS- Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
- ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST- Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are health as opposed to sick. Under any circumstances, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
Notes from Simple Living Reading
One of my recent interests, as regular readers will know, is the idea of simple living. I participated last fall in a Simple Living Experiment through my university's Methodist student group, and really enjoyed the experience. Since then, I have been looking for further ideas to simplify my life and, as a by-product, improve my productivity and quality of life. I read two books this summer on simple living-- Paula Huston's The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life and Frank Levering and Wanda Urbanska's Simple Living: One Couple's Search for a Better Life.
Huston's book looked at the subject through the lens of her own experiences with learning to live simply, and the Catholic monks that she used as an inspiration. Levering and Urbanska, on the other hand, took a more secular and autobiographical slant, telling the story of their move from life in the "fast lane" of Hollywood to running an orchard in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Looking for ideas to restart the Simple Living Experiment at school, I took notes while reading these books; here are a few of the ideas I took away.
From Huston's The Holy Way:
Huston's book looked at the subject through the lens of her own experiences with learning to live simply, and the Catholic monks that she used as an inspiration. Levering and Urbanska, on the other hand, took a more secular and autobiographical slant, telling the story of their move from life in the "fast lane" of Hollywood to running an orchard in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Looking for ideas to restart the Simple Living Experiment at school, I took notes while reading these books; here are a few of the ideas I took away.
From Huston's The Holy Way:
- A time of solitude and silence is essential for self-exploration and growth, helping you to uncover weaknesses and strengths-- these guide the parts of your life you change in light of simple living.
- A period of fasting or other kinds of asceticism can be helpful in refocusing your energies on things that really matter.
- It's important to reorganize areas of your life where you find physical or emotional clutter.
- Work to control your desires, rather than letting them control you.
- Don't become cynical or those around you who are not following the same simple living habits as you are.
- Community (especially spiritual) is important for personal and spiritual growth.
- Communal worship is a profound tool for simple focus on what matters.
- Do not make an idol of work or achievement; our real work is to love.
- Take Sabbath times-- eliminate all but the most essential obligations in favor of rest.
- Abandon yourself and your fears to God's love and goodness-- freedom awaits.
- Value integrity-- wholeness, or the state of being complete.
- Live with veracity, in matters small and large.
- Generosity-- the way of the servant-- teaching and living without ego getting in the way
- Tranquility-- need for centering, peaceful and harmonious existence
- Awareness of world's darkness need not affect our capacity to love
- In the end, simplicity is a method to an end result of joy and love
- Simple living leads to time for family, community involvement, creative outlet, and self-discovery
- There is a direct connection between our personal lifestyle choices and protecting the environment.
- There is no absolute standard by which simplicity can be measured.
- License to play and relax-- enjoy time, take rests
- *Not* keeping up with the Jones's-- how many "things" do we need, really?
- what matters is not the number or status or value of our possessions, but the amount of pleasurable time a person is able to spend with them
- Where is the middle ground between the total rejection of a consumer culture, and excessive consumption?
- Frugality-- save money, limit borrowing, live within your means
- streamline possessions-- keep and maintain what matters most
- give back to the earth a small measure of what we have taken
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Favorite Columns
I love reading columns, especially the ones in the New York Times. These opinion pieces are, to me, like more sophisticated, less ranting blogs. Here's a list of my favorite NYT columns from recent weeks:
- Roger Cohen discusses Disney World, fat Americans, and The G.M. Diet.
- Gail Collins reminds us that, no matter how many scandals erupt in your state, things could always be worse-- you could live in New Jersey.
- Maureen Dowd discusses the distracted American "whirling dervish drivers" and the "white man's last stand" of the GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee against Sonia Sotomayor.
- Of course, most columnists want a crack at Sarah Palin-- Maureen Dowd really goes to town, slamming her with Sarah's "Sweet, Tweet Revenge" (a fictional Twitter exchange with Sen. John McCain), and "Sarah's Secret Diary," about how misunderstood she is. Meanwhile, Frank Rich takes a more serious look at how Palin "Broke the G.O.P., and Now She Owns It."
- David Brooks examines the decline (to near-zero) of dignity in American public life, in light of how much dignity early Americans like George Washington insisted upon.
Movie Update (#24-43)
It's been a while since I posted the movies I've been watching, so there's quite a bit of ground to make up...here we go:
#24. Gone With the Wind: This 1939 Victor Fleming classic is, simply put, excellent. Vivian Leigh makes a Scarlett O'Hara that you love to hate, and Clark Gable is a smooth, roguish Rhett Butler. One of the greatest books ever written becomes one of the greatest movies ever made.
#25. Dave: A fun comedy about a presidential impersonator (Kevin Kline) who is drafted to actually be the president when the real one is incapacitated. Also starring Sigourney Weaver as the First Lady.
#26. I.O.U.S.A.: Documentary about the truly scary levels of the US national debt, how it's gotten to where it is, and how we might be able to reduce it. Very informative and yet intimidating. Check out the website of the Concord Coalition for more info.
#27. Johnny English: Spy comedy starring the bumbling Rowan Atkinson as Britain's top secret agent, who has an over-inflated opinion of himself but still somehow manages to save the day.
#28. Ferris Bueller's Day Off: Classic comedy starring a young Matthew Broderick as a boy who decides to simply take the day off from school with two of his friends. Fun and sweet.
#29. Minority Report: Excellent psychological suspense thriller starring Tom Cruise. Set in the future in Washington, D.C. when special cyborg-like beings can detect murder before it happens.
#30. Ten Things I Hate About You: An old favorite of mine, starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. Chick flick based on Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew.
#31. Matilda: Disney-esque break! Brilliant but underappreciated by her family, Matilda uses her considerable mental powers to get back at those who belittle her.
#32. The Godfather: This is one of those movies that I felt I absolutely had to see, and I don't regret that decision. EXCELLENT Mafia movie starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. I'll just say this: there's a reason this movie regularly competes with Citizen Kane for the top spot on the American Film Institute's top 100 movies list.
#33. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The latest film installment of the Harry Potter saga...this was by far my favorite of the HP movies since Prisoner of Azkaban. David Yates did an excellent job directing, and the cast was as usual superb. Well worth seeing if you're a Harry Potter fan...but I still wouldn't reread the book too close to seeing the film. It's always disappointing, no matter what.
#34. Saving Private Ryan: Another Top 100 movie that I'm glad I got to see. Tom Hanks plays Capt. John Miller, the leader of a squad that was assigned to go behind enemy lines to retrieve a private (Matt Damon) whose brothers had been killed in action. I'm not usually much for war movies, but this was just a top-notch film.
#35. Bridget Jones's Diary: A favorite chick flick starring Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, and Colin Firth. Based on the book by Helen Fielding, about a single girl who resolves to turn her life around by losing weight and finding a nice, sensible boyfriend.
#36. High Society: Classic Cole Porter movie musical (based on The Philadelphia Story) starring Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, and Louis Armstrong. How does it get better than that?
#37. Made of Honor: Another fun chick flick with Patrick Dempsey. Tom (Dempsey) is asked by his (female) best friend to be the maid of honor at her wedding. The catch? He's in love with her.
#38. High School Musical 3: Senior Year: The third and (presumably) final installment of Disney's High School Musical series. Troy and Gabriella's final year at East High is almost over, and the accompanying emotional turmoil of the end of high school ensues.
#39. Fame: 1980 music/dance flick about a school of performing arts in New York City that is geared toward mostly underprivileged students with talent. The movie follows a few of these students from the auditions to get in through the end of their senior year. A remake is coming out later this year.
#40. The American President: Michael Douglas plays a widower president and Annette Bening his lobbyist love interest in this sweet and funny Aaron Sorkin romantic comedy. This was the movie that sparked the hit series The West Wing, and you can tell-- it's the genius of Sorkin. The president in The West Wing, Martin Sheen, plays the Chief of Staff in this movie.
#41. Mrs. Doubtfire: Robin Williams comedy about a divorced man who really, really wants to spend time with his kids-- to the point of dressing up like an elderly woman to be able to do so.
#42. Pretty Woman: Julia Roberts and Richard Gere romantic comedy. Roberts plays a street prostitute in Hollywood; Gere plays a wealthy businessman who picks her up and then hires her to be his date for the week he's in town.
#43. Mamma Mia!: I had my doubts about this film. Not because I dislike Abba music or any of the actors/actresses, but because Pierce Brosnan is a singing male lead in it-- and I really think James Bond should not sing. But I was pleasantly surprised, and wound up really, really enjoying this movie based on a musical based on a story encompassing hit Abba songs.
#24. Gone With the Wind: This 1939 Victor Fleming classic is, simply put, excellent. Vivian Leigh makes a Scarlett O'Hara that you love to hate, and Clark Gable is a smooth, roguish Rhett Butler. One of the greatest books ever written becomes one of the greatest movies ever made.
#25. Dave: A fun comedy about a presidential impersonator (Kevin Kline) who is drafted to actually be the president when the real one is incapacitated. Also starring Sigourney Weaver as the First Lady.
#26. I.O.U.S.A.: Documentary about the truly scary levels of the US national debt, how it's gotten to where it is, and how we might be able to reduce it. Very informative and yet intimidating. Check out the website of the Concord Coalition for more info.
#27. Johnny English: Spy comedy starring the bumbling Rowan Atkinson as Britain's top secret agent, who has an over-inflated opinion of himself but still somehow manages to save the day.
#28. Ferris Bueller's Day Off: Classic comedy starring a young Matthew Broderick as a boy who decides to simply take the day off from school with two of his friends. Fun and sweet.
#29. Minority Report: Excellent psychological suspense thriller starring Tom Cruise. Set in the future in Washington, D.C. when special cyborg-like beings can detect murder before it happens.
#30. Ten Things I Hate About You: An old favorite of mine, starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. Chick flick based on Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew.
#31. Matilda: Disney-esque break! Brilliant but underappreciated by her family, Matilda uses her considerable mental powers to get back at those who belittle her.
#32. The Godfather: This is one of those movies that I felt I absolutely had to see, and I don't regret that decision. EXCELLENT Mafia movie starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. I'll just say this: there's a reason this movie regularly competes with Citizen Kane for the top spot on the American Film Institute's top 100 movies list.
#33. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The latest film installment of the Harry Potter saga...this was by far my favorite of the HP movies since Prisoner of Azkaban. David Yates did an excellent job directing, and the cast was as usual superb. Well worth seeing if you're a Harry Potter fan...but I still wouldn't reread the book too close to seeing the film. It's always disappointing, no matter what.
#34. Saving Private Ryan: Another Top 100 movie that I'm glad I got to see. Tom Hanks plays Capt. John Miller, the leader of a squad that was assigned to go behind enemy lines to retrieve a private (Matt Damon) whose brothers had been killed in action. I'm not usually much for war movies, but this was just a top-notch film.
#35. Bridget Jones's Diary: A favorite chick flick starring Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, and Colin Firth. Based on the book by Helen Fielding, about a single girl who resolves to turn her life around by losing weight and finding a nice, sensible boyfriend.
#36. High Society: Classic Cole Porter movie musical (based on The Philadelphia Story) starring Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, and Louis Armstrong. How does it get better than that?
#37. Made of Honor: Another fun chick flick with Patrick Dempsey. Tom (Dempsey) is asked by his (female) best friend to be the maid of honor at her wedding. The catch? He's in love with her.
#38. High School Musical 3: Senior Year: The third and (presumably) final installment of Disney's High School Musical series. Troy and Gabriella's final year at East High is almost over, and the accompanying emotional turmoil of the end of high school ensues.
#39. Fame: 1980 music/dance flick about a school of performing arts in New York City that is geared toward mostly underprivileged students with talent. The movie follows a few of these students from the auditions to get in through the end of their senior year. A remake is coming out later this year.
#40. The American President: Michael Douglas plays a widower president and Annette Bening his lobbyist love interest in this sweet and funny Aaron Sorkin romantic comedy. This was the movie that sparked the hit series The West Wing, and you can tell-- it's the genius of Sorkin. The president in The West Wing, Martin Sheen, plays the Chief of Staff in this movie.
#41. Mrs. Doubtfire: Robin Williams comedy about a divorced man who really, really wants to spend time with his kids-- to the point of dressing up like an elderly woman to be able to do so.
#42. Pretty Woman: Julia Roberts and Richard Gere romantic comedy. Roberts plays a street prostitute in Hollywood; Gere plays a wealthy businessman who picks her up and then hires her to be his date for the week he's in town.
#43. Mamma Mia!: I had my doubts about this film. Not because I dislike Abba music or any of the actors/actresses, but because Pierce Brosnan is a singing male lead in it-- and I really think James Bond should not sing. But I was pleasantly surprised, and wound up really, really enjoying this movie based on a musical based on a story encompassing hit Abba songs.
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