It's been at least 2500 years since Aesop told his fable to his Greek friends and family about the tortoise and the hare. Slow and steady wins the race, we say today. The story came to mind recently reading about the trouble with Haiti earthquake relief. In the social service sector, we talk about "emotive giving." People give money, and large amounts of money, when they are emotionally charged. Estimates are that $9 billion was given after the catastrophic earthquake devastated the already-impoverished island nation. Questions abound in the whole situation, but one thing I do know is that the days and years after a crisis are not the most effective time to spend money. It's absolutely necessary to spend whatever necessary on emergency relief, but I can't help but think about that $9bn.
A quick check on the USAID website shows that from 2001-2009, US foreign aid to Haiti averaged $162 million per year (that's a total of $1.5bn). At this point, it deserves to be mentioned that I'm very suspicious of foreign aid and its purported benefits, but it's entirely necessary. My guess is that it takes $10 of official aid to equal the impact of $5 of private giving to better organizations. Problem is, private donors still can't afford aid in that scale. Hard to say what the private giving toward Haiti projects was over that time period, but I'd bet it doesn't add up to much. I'm curious what progress could have been made in Haiti over that time period with $1bn per year rather than $162 million. How much stronger would have the nation been and better prepared to deal with it? USAID disaster preparedness giving to Haiti didn't begin until 2007 and in 3 years added to less than $10 million.
Everyone knows an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We're all guilty of this kind of emotive giving. We'd rather write a $10,000 check at a big fundraising event than find a cause we believe in and pledge $1000 per month over the long haul. We're swayed by fundraising appeals that hit our emotions rather than well-researched and professionally presented strategies for progress. We'd rather have booming 10% market growth for a few years followed by recession than a century of steady 6% growth. None of these are rational thought processes - in each case we're choosing the option that is neither best for us nor for anyone else. Let's get back to the original point - when it comes to the developing nations in our midst, will the world get serious proactively working for development, or spend another century responding to expensive crises?
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
We Are More Alike Than It Seems
People know me for not being afraid to speak politically. There's a lot of voices for Republicans and Democrats speaking loudly, and our modern communication technologies have given everyone a megaphone and made it easier for people to be heard. Unfortunately, they've done something else in the meantime: they've made it appear that we're more divided than we are. Because the only ones speaking are the radicals on either side, the centrists aren't heard. The reality is, we've all got these little micro-networks made up of largely people similar to us, and when we log into Facebook we see a lot of people speaking. It's easy to see a half dozen people saying one thing on Facebook and draw the inference, "Wow everyone is talking about this!" That's the reason why I don't mind speaking politically, because I view myself as a centrist and I don't mind having a voice from the middle in the mix.
There's a great 20-minute video from TED on the reality of American politics. The truth is that we're not nearly as divided as it seems. In fact, 40% of Americans describe themselves as independents. Us independents are somewhere between the two parties - we pick and choose different stances on different issues, rather than aligning on one party. And we have an impact - the video shows how polls on a variety of issues rarely show the radical divisions that the news media would make us think exist. There's a lot of radical rhetoric out there, which is disappointing because issues are rarely as clear-cut as that. We need clear thinkers who consider both sides of issues, and there are a lot of us out there. There's also a lot of misinformation (how many times have you heard lately that Congress gets full-pay-for-life after one term in office?) making the waves, and it's important to have level-headed truth seekers who evaluate claims before spreading them like gossip.
Independents and centrists are critical to the working of a political system, and when 533 out of 535 members of Congress are members of a political party, it's easy to forget that we outnumber either one. I get upset at radical rhetoric that ignores the centrists because they polarize issues, and I have personally seen the results of polarization in Kenya in 2008. After a bitterly contested election, both sides rose up in arms and literally began to slaughter each other. Some estimates show as many as 1500 killed. I have photographs of the results of excessive polarization. Having nearly half the population calling themselves independents can help prevent this sort of thing. I fully appreciate both Republicans and Democrats and I'm glad we have them, but I generally believe that neither has a hold on "truth" or "right" and that neither is a route to greatness for our nation. Politics will never get us there.
So in the end, yes I will continue to speak politically. It's the duty of the citizens of a democracy to be involved in politics. It's moreover the duty of Christians to be involved as prayer and Scripture study leads them. You can rest assured, however, that my speech will rarely be anything radical (unless the Bible is clear on the issue and it's radical). It will usually be either clarifying an ignored side of an issue or defending truth in the face of misinformation. It will generally be a centrist and independent point of view. And you are welcome to tune me out if you'd prefer. But unity is better than disunity, and diversity does not preclude unity. Americans are more alike than it seems.
There's a great 20-minute video from TED on the reality of American politics. The truth is that we're not nearly as divided as it seems. In fact, 40% of Americans describe themselves as independents. Us independents are somewhere between the two parties - we pick and choose different stances on different issues, rather than aligning on one party. And we have an impact - the video shows how polls on a variety of issues rarely show the radical divisions that the news media would make us think exist. There's a lot of radical rhetoric out there, which is disappointing because issues are rarely as clear-cut as that. We need clear thinkers who consider both sides of issues, and there are a lot of us out there. There's also a lot of misinformation (how many times have you heard lately that Congress gets full-pay-for-life after one term in office?) making the waves, and it's important to have level-headed truth seekers who evaluate claims before spreading them like gossip.
Independents and centrists are critical to the working of a political system, and when 533 out of 535 members of Congress are members of a political party, it's easy to forget that we outnumber either one. I get upset at radical rhetoric that ignores the centrists because they polarize issues, and I have personally seen the results of polarization in Kenya in 2008. After a bitterly contested election, both sides rose up in arms and literally began to slaughter each other. Some estimates show as many as 1500 killed. I have photographs of the results of excessive polarization. Having nearly half the population calling themselves independents can help prevent this sort of thing. I fully appreciate both Republicans and Democrats and I'm glad we have them, but I generally believe that neither has a hold on "truth" or "right" and that neither is a route to greatness for our nation. Politics will never get us there.
So in the end, yes I will continue to speak politically. It's the duty of the citizens of a democracy to be involved in politics. It's moreover the duty of Christians to be involved as prayer and Scripture study leads them. You can rest assured, however, that my speech will rarely be anything radical (unless the Bible is clear on the issue and it's radical). It will usually be either clarifying an ignored side of an issue or defending truth in the face of misinformation. It will generally be a centrist and independent point of view. And you are welcome to tune me out if you'd prefer. But unity is better than disunity, and diversity does not preclude unity. Americans are more alike than it seems.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Phrases We Should Stop Using, Pt. III: Dying?
Part III of Phrases We Should Stop Using.....
There's a mildly-sappy and moderately-depressing country song by country star Tim McGraw called "Live Like You Were Dying." It is about how if you knew you were dying, you'd do all sorts of crazy things you wouldn't do normally (and that it's a good thing). A movie called The Bucket List tackled a similar subject, although the themes were much deeper and more complex. People of all faiths have discussed how you would live if you knew that the world were ending in a very short time. Surely you'd live your life differently, grasping onto each day and living with remarkable purpose. Why can't we live this way all the time, these people ask? Why do we waste so much time?
It's a valid question. Why do we waste so much time? I don't want to demean the question, because it's a great one that should be asked. However, the phrase to "live like you were dying" or like the world were ending is a bit ridiculous, and the answer isn't likely what we intend. Would we really like people to live like the characters in The Bucket List all the time? For that's surely how people would live. You would have no cares about the future, or about saving money, or preparing for things. You wouldn't spend time resting or investing in long-term things. This isn't the way we should live! If I knew I were dying in the next six months, I'd probably drop out of school and burn my savings. But I don't live like I'm dying - I know that school is worth it for my future.
Living like you were dying is not the right perspective. The right perspective is to balance the interest of intentionally seizing every day with the interest of long-term planning. We should certainly have an eye toward today and recognize the reality that any day could be our last on earth. We should be ready to die any day, but plan as if we'll live to be 100. Every day can have purpose in this sense, even if the entire day is spent resting and relaxing. Rest is a God-given gift that is valuable for the future. Let's live intentionally, but with a long-range vision!
There's a mildly-sappy and moderately-depressing country song by country star Tim McGraw called "Live Like You Were Dying." It is about how if you knew you were dying, you'd do all sorts of crazy things you wouldn't do normally (and that it's a good thing). A movie called The Bucket List tackled a similar subject, although the themes were much deeper and more complex. People of all faiths have discussed how you would live if you knew that the world were ending in a very short time. Surely you'd live your life differently, grasping onto each day and living with remarkable purpose. Why can't we live this way all the time, these people ask? Why do we waste so much time?
It's a valid question. Why do we waste so much time? I don't want to demean the question, because it's a great one that should be asked. However, the phrase to "live like you were dying" or like the world were ending is a bit ridiculous, and the answer isn't likely what we intend. Would we really like people to live like the characters in The Bucket List all the time? For that's surely how people would live. You would have no cares about the future, or about saving money, or preparing for things. You wouldn't spend time resting or investing in long-term things. This isn't the way we should live! If I knew I were dying in the next six months, I'd probably drop out of school and burn my savings. But I don't live like I'm dying - I know that school is worth it for my future.
Living like you were dying is not the right perspective. The right perspective is to balance the interest of intentionally seizing every day with the interest of long-term planning. We should certainly have an eye toward today and recognize the reality that any day could be our last on earth. We should be ready to die any day, but plan as if we'll live to be 100. Every day can have purpose in this sense, even if the entire day is spent resting and relaxing. Rest is a God-given gift that is valuable for the future. Let's live intentionally, but with a long-range vision!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
New computer backgrounds
I love custom computer backgrounds that have song lyrics or Bible verses....I had free time today and felt like playing around in Photoshop some, so I ended up with 4 new backgrounds. I'm happy to share them with anyone who wants them! They are 1920x1080 since that's the resolution of my monitor at work.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Sustainable Cooking
I've been interested lately in the idea of a more sustainable style of cooking. It's no secret that we are exceedingly wasteful people but what to do about the problem? I began to wonder if I could start working on the challenge right at home. Was I wasting valuable food at home? The answer was yes, and it was coming in ways that I didn't realize.
It started by realizing that there's a lot of valuable liquid that is wasted. Every time you steam or boil vegetables, some of the flavor and nutrients are lost in the liquid, which always goes down the drain. What if that liquid were preserved and used in the future in place of water in recipes? Many recipes leave wonderfully flavorful broth behind when they're done cooking - check out the bottom of the slow cooker. This is useful for marinades or more cooking broth (but beware of a high fat content). Then I read online about making your own vegetable broth at home - old veggies that are about to expire can be tossed into simmering water for an hour or so and you've got a pot full of beautiful, dark, tasty, and salt-free broth.
Next, I realized that a lot of wonderful things can be made at home. Of course, any time you find something pre-made at the store, it can be made at home for cheaper. They sell grilled, sliced chicken for salads at the grocery store, yet grilling and slicing chicken at home is really easy. I found dried chilis for very cheap at the Hispanic market behind our office and discovered that a little bit of work and an inexpensive coffee grinder can turn out some great chili powder, which is useful for more recipes than you might think. Plenty more ground spices can be made this way. I also discovered that I could substitute for a lot of salt by making my own mild seasoning blend based on garlic, onion, and Italian seasoning. I also make a great deal of salsa at home, which is very inexpensive and simple.
This is probably just the beginning. What other ideas do you have for more a more sustainable kitchen at home?
It started by realizing that there's a lot of valuable liquid that is wasted. Every time you steam or boil vegetables, some of the flavor and nutrients are lost in the liquid, which always goes down the drain. What if that liquid were preserved and used in the future in place of water in recipes? Many recipes leave wonderfully flavorful broth behind when they're done cooking - check out the bottom of the slow cooker. This is useful for marinades or more cooking broth (but beware of a high fat content). Then I read online about making your own vegetable broth at home - old veggies that are about to expire can be tossed into simmering water for an hour or so and you've got a pot full of beautiful, dark, tasty, and salt-free broth.
Next, I realized that a lot of wonderful things can be made at home. Of course, any time you find something pre-made at the store, it can be made at home for cheaper. They sell grilled, sliced chicken for salads at the grocery store, yet grilling and slicing chicken at home is really easy. I found dried chilis for very cheap at the Hispanic market behind our office and discovered that a little bit of work and an inexpensive coffee grinder can turn out some great chili powder, which is useful for more recipes than you might think. Plenty more ground spices can be made this way. I also discovered that I could substitute for a lot of salt by making my own mild seasoning blend based on garlic, onion, and Italian seasoning. I also make a great deal of salsa at home, which is very inexpensive and simple.
This is probably just the beginning. What other ideas do you have for more a more sustainable kitchen at home?
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Phrases We Should Stop Using Pt. II: Anything?
Part II of Phrases We Should Stop Using.....
Anyone my age would remember being told "You can do anything you set your mind to." We heard it over and over again from adults, presumably those who wanted to give us the entire world as our playpen. Many have opined that my generation has received more than any other generation in terms of opportunity and free wealth handed down to them. In a way, we have been given the world, and this phrase was supposed to encourage us to seek out our dreams and make them a reality through hard work and determination. We could be an astronaut, or President, or even an inventor. We just had to work hard and we'd get there.
In reality, there were two things wrong with this statement. One, it wasn't true, and two, it made it really hard to choose. The reality is, we can't be anything we want. Each of us is born with a particular set of aptitudes that make it easier or harder to do certain things. When I was in high school I took an expensive series of aptitude tests that my parents bought for me. It came back that I had low finger dexterity/precision and low color sensitivity. There went being a doctor, musician, or artist. I was supposed to work in teams and have a wide range of constantly-changing challenges. There went even more careers.
The second thing wrong with the statement is that it wasn't paired with any instruction on how to choose something. As a result, my generation is now languishing in our twenties, working a variety of dead-end jobs if working at all, waiting for that revelation from the sky that would give us a clear direction. What future generations, which will have even more opportunity and openness than ours, will need is training in how to pick a direction and follow it fully. The truth is not "You can do anything you set your mind to," it's "You will be able to fully accomplish what you were made for if you set your mind to it."
Anyone my age would remember being told "You can do anything you set your mind to." We heard it over and over again from adults, presumably those who wanted to give us the entire world as our playpen. Many have opined that my generation has received more than any other generation in terms of opportunity and free wealth handed down to them. In a way, we have been given the world, and this phrase was supposed to encourage us to seek out our dreams and make them a reality through hard work and determination. We could be an astronaut, or President, or even an inventor. We just had to work hard and we'd get there.
In reality, there were two things wrong with this statement. One, it wasn't true, and two, it made it really hard to choose. The reality is, we can't be anything we want. Each of us is born with a particular set of aptitudes that make it easier or harder to do certain things. When I was in high school I took an expensive series of aptitude tests that my parents bought for me. It came back that I had low finger dexterity/precision and low color sensitivity. There went being a doctor, musician, or artist. I was supposed to work in teams and have a wide range of constantly-changing challenges. There went even more careers.
The second thing wrong with the statement is that it wasn't paired with any instruction on how to choose something. As a result, my generation is now languishing in our twenties, working a variety of dead-end jobs if working at all, waiting for that revelation from the sky that would give us a clear direction. What future generations, which will have even more opportunity and openness than ours, will need is training in how to pick a direction and follow it fully. The truth is not "You can do anything you set your mind to," it's "You will be able to fully accomplish what you were made for if you set your mind to it."
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