Friday, December 19, 2008

If...

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Hot, Flat, and Crowded

I adore Thomas Friedman. I find myself completely enthralled when listening to his talks and lectures. Today I heard on MPR a talk he gave recently discussing his new book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, as well as some of his ideas on fostering a green revolution.

Sit back, grab a cup of tea, and take a listen to Friedman:



Thursday, December 11, 2008

Like a Rose as an Orchid

Me, and my helmet such an un-conventional kid
All intense and kinetic, at best tolerated from afar
Not yet arrested, and by that I mean betrothed
Though a start I am newly courted
I've just not been trusted with alters

I'm a sweet piece of work, well intentioned yet disturbed
Wrongly label-ed and under-fed, treated like a rose as an orchid

My friends, as they weigh in, get understandably protective
They have a hard time being objective
So inside we cancel each other out

I'm a sweet piece of work, well intentioned and unloved
Unlabeled and misunderstood, treated like a rose as an orchid

You've brought water to me, making sure my bloom rebounds
You know best of what my special care allows

So I've lived in my blind spot
Thought myself usual when I'm not
And your garden is a nice spot
As long as it is brave and where you are

For this sweet piece of work, high maintenance and deserted
I've been different and deserving, treated like a rose as an orchid
Sweet piece of work, overwhelmed un-observed
I've been bowed down to but so misread
Treated like a rose as an orchid


"Orchid" lyrics by Alanis Morissette

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

60 years ago, a Universal Declaration....

60 years ago, on the 10th day of December 2008, the UN General Assembly adopted and declared the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration outlines the rights of which all human beings are inherently titled. I've read over the Declaration many times in my life and it never ceases to bring new understanding and awareness to me. Think of the many positive and needed changes weve seen in the world in the last 60 years! The world is a very different place than it was 60 years ago. Unfortunately, still 60 years after the document was adopted, there are still billions of people for whom these rights have yet to be realized.

Take a look at the video posted below, courtesy of the Human Rights Action Center. Read the many rights established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
What do each of these mean to you?
How many of the rights are actually extended to you?
How many are not?



How much longer until we all treat each other as the lovely equals that we are?
Will it be another 60 years?
Will it be more?
It will be only as long as it takes for us to decide it to be so.
Just think, the world could wake up tomorrow and say, "Ahhh. Today, things will be different."
How amazing would that be?

In hope!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Australia Always Makes Me Laugh

I thought I'd pay tribute to my favorite internet video of all time, Ebaum's World's The End of the World. You've probably seen this because it is one of those classic internet videos, in fact perhaps one of the pioneers of internet videos, the video that paved the path for all future internet videos to walk. ...err, something like that. Anyways, lest I get too carried away, take a looky at the End of the World. It ALWAYS makes me laugh.




WTF, Mate?