Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Obama, the Nobel Prize and Lutefisk
There has been a lot of discussion and controversy about the Nobel Peace Prize Committee awarding the 2010 prize to Barack Obama. Questions abound such as, "What has he done? Is it just because he is not George Bush? Is it because he is a person of color? The committee, comprised of people like Thorbjoem Jagland, Aagot Valle, Kaci Kullman Five and Inger Marie Ttterhorn answered that is was for the promise he offers.
I admit I was a bit shocked. Though I don't keep much mind of the committee's movements (or the spelling of their names), I was completely surprised. It was a bit over the top. Like a Simpson's episode. Next I imagine the Vatican will be looking for miracles so they can offer sainthood.
The question of whether he deserves it, is interesting. The award was voted on February 1, a short time after his inauguration. In a sense the guy won it for campaign promises, which seems like a sticky wicket to pin your hopes on, let alone your prize and 1.4 million dollars. If you belief his work deserves it, or the promise, then it might be best to give it to his supporters, or the people who paved the way, the Republicans who nominated a candidate like McCain, or for that matter the voters. I'm not expecting my twenty cent share to show up in the mail soon.
Now, let's be honest, the Nobel Committee can give the award to whomever they want. Ever since Alfred Nobel set the thing up in order to assuage his guilt about creating dynamite the committee has not always been visionary. Le Duc Tho. Theodore Roosevelt. Henry Kissinger. Henry Kissinger? Like giving the prize to Judas for killing Jesus.
I imagine they sat around in discussion.
"How about Angelina Jolie?"
"NO, not yet.
"The Simpson's. Since everyone watches them they have not time to fight.
"Hmmmm"
Maybe Thorbjoem picked up a magazine cover or covers and there was Obama.
"Let's get this over. Let's give it to him" "Now we can go get lutefisk"
(actually they don't like lutefisk that much in Norway but it sounds good)
Thorbjoem, Aagot, Kaci,Inger and whomever can pick anyone they desire. It's their money. It's their award. It's their choice.
That being said, they might actually want to be visionary. Instead of acting like a high school prom committee, and making a choice within their disconnected group in Norway, they might go out and go speak to people in the middle of conflicts. Both sides. Who do they see making changes? Who brings promise? Hope? Like the All-Star Game, let the public vote. Talk to the people. People in pain. People who are suffering. People who are watching their loved ones die or kill. Don't take away their hope by taking away their voices.
If they are really visionary, Thorbjoem, Aagot, Kaci, Inger and the other judge, then they could use all the Nobel money to acquire dynamite and destroy it. If they own the patent, maybe they stop the production. For this effort, they could award themselves the 2011 Prize, buy up more weapons, destroy them and in doing so model. Set the standard and then go home and eat all the lutefisk they want. Which in my case is none.
I admit I was a bit shocked. Though I don't keep much mind of the committee's movements (or the spelling of their names), I was completely surprised. It was a bit over the top. Like a Simpson's episode. Next I imagine the Vatican will be looking for miracles so they can offer sainthood.
The question of whether he deserves it, is interesting. The award was voted on February 1, a short time after his inauguration. In a sense the guy won it for campaign promises, which seems like a sticky wicket to pin your hopes on, let alone your prize and 1.4 million dollars. If you belief his work deserves it, or the promise, then it might be best to give it to his supporters, or the people who paved the way, the Republicans who nominated a candidate like McCain, or for that matter the voters. I'm not expecting my twenty cent share to show up in the mail soon.
Now, let's be honest, the Nobel Committee can give the award to whomever they want. Ever since Alfred Nobel set the thing up in order to assuage his guilt about creating dynamite the committee has not always been visionary. Le Duc Tho. Theodore Roosevelt. Henry Kissinger. Henry Kissinger? Like giving the prize to Judas for killing Jesus.
I imagine they sat around in discussion.
"How about Angelina Jolie?"
"NO, not yet.
"The Simpson's. Since everyone watches them they have not time to fight.
"Hmmmm"
Maybe Thorbjoem picked up a magazine cover or covers and there was Obama.
"Let's get this over. Let's give it to him" "Now we can go get lutefisk"
(actually they don't like lutefisk that much in Norway but it sounds good)
Thorbjoem, Aagot, Kaci,Inger and whomever can pick anyone they desire. It's their money. It's their award. It's their choice.
That being said, they might actually want to be visionary. Instead of acting like a high school prom committee, and making a choice within their disconnected group in Norway, they might go out and go speak to people in the middle of conflicts. Both sides. Who do they see making changes? Who brings promise? Hope? Like the All-Star Game, let the public vote. Talk to the people. People in pain. People who are suffering. People who are watching their loved ones die or kill. Don't take away their hope by taking away their voices.
If they are really visionary, Thorbjoem, Aagot, Kaci, Inger and the other judge, then they could use all the Nobel money to acquire dynamite and destroy it. If they own the patent, maybe they stop the production. For this effort, they could award themselves the 2011 Prize, buy up more weapons, destroy them and in doing so model. Set the standard and then go home and eat all the lutefisk they want. Which in my case is none.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Ippy for a Hippie-More News for Saving Erasmus fans
• Yesterday the awards were announced for the Independent Publishers Book Festival. Saving Erasmus won a Gold Medal in the category of Religious Fiction. Since I work at Omega Institute which was started by “hippies” in the late 70’s one of my co-workers commented that it was an “Ippy for a Hippie”. The link is: http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1231
• I will be interviewed on July 8th on the radio talk show, Spiritually Speaking, which airs out of Vassar College. Spiritually Speaking examines the intersections between engagement with the world and living a life of meaning. It airs live from Vassar College on WVKR, 91.3, Tuesdays from 5-6pm (new time starting 5/20). You can listen to previous shows by clicking on the link Spiritually Speaking on www.uucckingston.org. I’ll keep you posted as to when the interview will air. (one would think it would be on the 8th)
• On June 9th, I will be part of the main bill at the Colony Café in Woodstock, NY.
I’ll be reading poetry from as unyet published compilation, Dear God, or Whatever Your Name is Now, from One of Your Carbon Units.
• I continue to facilitate a weekend workshop at Omega for Rest and Relaxation participants. It is called Spiritual Humor. It’s been quite a blessing to be part of the discussions.
• The Laundarette Contest continues. I might have been confusing, but the goal is to name where the picture was taken. So far no one has been correct….
• I have joined AuthorsDen. Check out their website and you can read a little more of my writings on that site (www.authorsden.com).
• I will be interviewed on July 8th on the radio talk show, Spiritually Speaking, which airs out of Vassar College. Spiritually Speaking examines the intersections between engagement with the world and living a life of meaning. It airs live from Vassar College on WVKR, 91.3, Tuesdays from 5-6pm (new time starting 5/20). You can listen to previous shows by clicking on the link Spiritually Speaking on www.uucckingston.org. I’ll keep you posted as to when the interview will air. (one would think it would be on the 8th)
• On June 9th, I will be part of the main bill at the Colony Café in Woodstock, NY.
I’ll be reading poetry from as unyet published compilation, Dear God, or Whatever Your Name is Now, from One of Your Carbon Units.
• I continue to facilitate a weekend workshop at Omega for Rest and Relaxation participants. It is called Spiritual Humor. It’s been quite a blessing to be part of the discussions.
• The Laundarette Contest continues. I might have been confusing, but the goal is to name where the picture was taken. So far no one has been correct….
• I have joined AuthorsDen. Check out their website and you can read a little more of my writings on that site (www.authorsden.com).
Friday, March 21, 2008
If greater happiness comes from giving money than spending it on ourselves, then how can I help you to be happy?
In an article dated March 20, 2008, a group of researchers from the University of British Columbia and Harvard Business School suggests that greater happiness is achieved in giving money than in getting. Hmmm.
Seems when people were given money to spend on others, they experienced greater happiness than when they were given it to spend on themselves. This brings up a few points.
1) If giving money begats happiness, I am willing to make as many people happy as possible. $5 or $10 sent my way would certainly increase your perception of the world. Don’t be cheap when it comes to your own well being. Remember-you are important. GIVE. GIVE like there’s no tomorrow and then there will be one ..a happy one.
2) If giving money begats happiness, then what does receiving it do? If Bill Gates gives me a cool million, does that make me a cool million down in my feelings? “I don’t want your stanking money, Gates” . Ah…on second thought. Bill. You owe me big time for all those upgrades and changes that just seem to cost me. Vista Premuim, eh? That’s one window that needs cleaning.
So, Please, Please, don’t cheat yourself when it comes to your happiness. Checks, money, orders and cash are all willingly accepted in order for you to be the happiest darn person in the world. Please contact me at savingerasmus@gmail.com to make a donation.
Seems when people were given money to spend on others, they experienced greater happiness than when they were given it to spend on themselves. This brings up a few points.
1) If giving money begats happiness, I am willing to make as many people happy as possible. $5 or $10 sent my way would certainly increase your perception of the world. Don’t be cheap when it comes to your own well being. Remember-you are important. GIVE. GIVE like there’s no tomorrow and then there will be one ..a happy one.
2) If giving money begats happiness, then what does receiving it do? If Bill Gates gives me a cool million, does that make me a cool million down in my feelings? “I don’t want your stanking money, Gates” . Ah…on second thought. Bill. You owe me big time for all those upgrades and changes that just seem to cost me. Vista Premuim, eh? That’s one window that needs cleaning.
So, Please, Please, don’t cheat yourself when it comes to your happiness. Checks, money, orders and cash are all willingly accepted in order for you to be the happiest darn person in the world. Please contact me at savingerasmus@gmail.com to make a donation.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
On Movies, blackberries and the relevance of being relevant
On Movies
1) I received an email the other day from a producer in Hollywood,
well, somewhere in California and that says Hollywood to me. His name
is Stephen Storer (which quite frankly is pretty close to Stephen
Spielberg-which means my affirmations are just a bit off-which also
explains the million collars that I also got sent). Actually, from
what I read on IMDB he has been a Production Designer –The Ultimate
Gift –Meet the Deedles-Yes, Meet the Deedles) but is set to be the
Co-Producer of The Alchemist-according to Wikipedia).
He said he was interested in reading Saving Erasmus to see if it would
make a good movie. I emailed him the manuscript and he read it and he
replied that he didn't resonate with the book as a movie. And of
course that's important, as one can see in the difference between,
say, Lord of the Rings and The Golden Compass. Of course, I wanted to
tell him that he was overlooking a gem and thought of sending him the
old comment about Fred Astaire, "can't sing, can't act, balding, can
dance a little" -but resisted) So, on to the next one, I guess.
Spielberg, you still have a chance.
On Blackberries
The odd part, I found, was not just that most of the communication
from him was sent by Blackberry, but the funny statement, which I have
seen before, at the bottom of a Blackberry message which states that
the message was sent "via Blackberry". I know it probably has
something to do with sending a reply, but I think from now on my
emails will say "sent from my trusty ole Sony Vaio" or "sent via Al
Gore's internet". In the old days they just attached a note to a rock
and threw it through your window-perhaps with a bit that said "sent
via rock" although no doubt that was pretty obvious based on the
broken window and the lump on the head..- I think it's probably
grammatically correct to say those old messages WERE sent via rocks,
while the new ones are really sent via the internet and FROM a
Blackberry.
*Can someone send a message from a Blackberry to an Apple computer? I
know that you're not supposed to mix apples and oranges, but how about
Apples and Blackberries?
On Relevance
2) I recorded the first two chapters of Saving Erasmus last night and
I will be putting them on my website as soon as I update the website.
Yes, I realize that with such up to date event and news listings as
"Wheel Invented-Now what do we do with it? and "Ice Age-Is it here to
stay?", that my website has become somewhat irrelevant. At least from
an event perspective since the last event listed is in August 2007.
So, I'm counting on having a new version up and ready by January 31st.
That's it for now. I hope the new year has been great.
Steve
Sent via some crazy amorphous web thing with the hopes that it
bypasses your spam and you read it.
1) I received an email the other day from a producer in Hollywood,
well, somewhere in California and that says Hollywood to me. His name
is Stephen Storer (which quite frankly is pretty close to Stephen
Spielberg-which means my affirmations are just a bit off-which also
explains the million collars that I also got sent). Actually, from
what I read on IMDB he has been a Production Designer –The Ultimate
Gift –Meet the Deedles-Yes, Meet the Deedles) but is set to be the
Co-Producer of The Alchemist-according to Wikipedia).
He said he was interested in reading Saving Erasmus to see if it would
make a good movie. I emailed him the manuscript and he read it and he
replied that he didn't resonate with the book as a movie. And of
course that's important, as one can see in the difference between,
say, Lord of the Rings and The Golden Compass. Of course, I wanted to
tell him that he was overlooking a gem and thought of sending him the
old comment about Fred Astaire, "can't sing, can't act, balding, can
dance a little" -but resisted) So, on to the next one, I guess.
Spielberg, you still have a chance.
On Blackberries
The odd part, I found, was not just that most of the communication
from him was sent by Blackberry, but the funny statement, which I have
seen before, at the bottom of a Blackberry message which states that
the message was sent "via Blackberry". I know it probably has
something to do with sending a reply, but I think from now on my
emails will say "sent from my trusty ole Sony Vaio" or "sent via Al
Gore's internet". In the old days they just attached a note to a rock
and threw it through your window-perhaps with a bit that said "sent
via rock" although no doubt that was pretty obvious based on the
broken window and the lump on the head..- I think it's probably
grammatically correct to say those old messages WERE sent via rocks,
while the new ones are really sent via the internet and FROM a
Blackberry.
*Can someone send a message from a Blackberry to an Apple computer? I
know that you're not supposed to mix apples and oranges, but how about
Apples and Blackberries?
On Relevance
2) I recorded the first two chapters of Saving Erasmus last night and
I will be putting them on my website as soon as I update the website.
Yes, I realize that with such up to date event and news listings as
"Wheel Invented-Now what do we do with it? and "Ice Age-Is it here to
stay?", that my website has become somewhat irrelevant. At least from
an event perspective since the last event listed is in August 2007.
So, I'm counting on having a new version up and ready by January 31st.
That's it for now. I hope the new year has been great.
Steve
Sent via some crazy amorphous web thing with the hopes that it
bypasses your spam and you read it.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
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