Here, they call it paradise--and I'm not going to challenge that thought one little bit.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Where I am on the planet
Here, they call it paradise--and I'm not going to challenge that thought one little bit.
Saturday At Noon
I'm in Sarasota at Spring Training enjoying my favorite sport. Live!!
Those are the Philadelphia Phillies doing batting practice.
The temperature on this March 19th approaching noon is already nearly 80 degrees. The sky is clear, the sun is hot, and there isn't a hint of snow anywhere.
Outside my Hotel
You can see the mirror of the car in the lower right of the image.
Not going to find anything like this in Maryland in March.
This morning the sun is bright, the sky is clear and blue, and I am comfortable in a short sleeve short and shorts.
How far away is summer?
Friday, March 18, 2011
From my seat in the stadium
Unfortunately, my glasses just broke. At least they lasted three weeks.
And I just found out that the seats we are sitting in used to be in Camden Yards. Way cool. But I'm glad we are getting new seats this year.
March, baseball, and 81 degrees--what could be better? Nothing!
Birds Waiting for the Game
Since most of the spring training games are afternoon games, they were just a bit early.
Siesta Key beach
I'm here with a couple thousand of my new best friends on the Siesta Key beach.
Baking in the sun.
The water temperature is a chilly 69 degrees though.
Out the Hotel Window in Sarasota
The green-ness is everywhere and I was constantly asking myself the question: I don't live here full-time, why?
While the scene out the hotel is not much to look at, the blue sky and green grass more than makes up for it.
Spring training may become an annual event at this rate.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Out the airplane window
What a time we live in and we don't even appreciate the speed we can move and the places we can go with just a small bit of work.
I know it is a 18 or so hour trip by car. Think about riding a horse or in a wagon. Weeks.
And still I'm not moving fast enough it seems.
Accidents, Fear, and Knee Jerk Reactions
We knew it was going to happen again.
Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and now in Japan--Fukushima.
Accidents where we learned of the inherent dangers of nuclear power and thought we could do better. Each one has its own story and, for many of us, remembering Three Mile Island and Chernobyl brings back the fears of the world as they were occurring.
An article in the Christian Science Monitor is already accusing the Japanese Government of lax oversight. Like that is going to make a difference right now.
Countries around the world are examining their nuclear power, which a good thing; but let's not condemn the entire system, yet. We still need to learn more--but apparently the community has gotten complacent. But to turn off the nuclear plants does not make the problem go away.
We do not stop mining coal when mines collapse. We didn't stop drilling for oil in the wake of the BP sponsored oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year.
Similarly, since shutting down the plants does not make the problem go away--we should not stop producing electricity using nuclear fuel. We need to devote more research to making the process safer and thinking about the "what ifs" that are out there when dealing with a natural disaster. I'm still amazed that no one thought about an earthquake followed by a tsunami and the need to have on site power to keep the pumps circulation coolant. But that's just me looking in hindsight.
And while I'm at it--the finger pointing that the Christian Science Monitor is reporting doesn't help. There will be plenty of time for finger pointing later--and there will be a lot of it because I'm sure there is a lot of blame to go around.
Right now--let's not waste brainpower trying to determine blame--let's solve the problem at hand. Then point fingers and begin planning to correct deficiencies to preserve the future around the world.
Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and now in Japan--Fukushima.
Accidents where we learned of the inherent dangers of nuclear power and thought we could do better. Each one has its own story and, for many of us, remembering Three Mile Island and Chernobyl brings back the fears of the world as they were occurring.
An article in the Christian Science Monitor is already accusing the Japanese Government of lax oversight. Like that is going to make a difference right now.
Countries around the world are examining their nuclear power, which a good thing; but let's not condemn the entire system, yet. We still need to learn more--but apparently the community has gotten complacent. But to turn off the nuclear plants does not make the problem go away.
We do not stop mining coal when mines collapse. We didn't stop drilling for oil in the wake of the BP sponsored oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year.
Similarly, since shutting down the plants does not make the problem go away--we should not stop producing electricity using nuclear fuel. We need to devote more research to making the process safer and thinking about the "what ifs" that are out there when dealing with a natural disaster. I'm still amazed that no one thought about an earthquake followed by a tsunami and the need to have on site power to keep the pumps circulation coolant. But that's just me looking in hindsight.
And while I'm at it--the finger pointing that the Christian Science Monitor is reporting doesn't help. There will be plenty of time for finger pointing later--and there will be a lot of it because I'm sure there is a lot of blame to go around.
Right now--let's not waste brainpower trying to determine blame--let's solve the problem at hand. Then point fingers and begin planning to correct deficiencies to preserve the future around the world.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Zero Tolerance is for Computers
Today's blog follows up on a post I made a week or so ago about the basketball player at BYU. I was reading my recent issue of Time Magazine the other evening and ran across a well written editorial by Nancy Gibbs titled: Zero Tolerance, Zero Sense.
I urge you to take a minute to read the editorial because I believe that she points out some real inequities that are appearing in our society as we become more and more unable to apply common sense to everyday situations and wind up ruining lives, like the high school career with a promising student: "A Florida honor student faced felony charges when a dinner knife — not a steak knife or a butcher knife — was found on the floor of her car, which she had parked at school. "A weapon is a weapon is a weapon," the principal said."
It is the inability to determine both intent and discern the difference between a knife intended for killing and spreading butter which makes these types of things happen. It is the same as letting a computer make life decisions for us--without any quality of humanity or mercy. It is easier that way, but it ignores what makes us humans and not machines.
And at the heart of it all is the battle cry of: Zero Tolerance.
Really?
Yes. And the cost? Destroyed lives. The Time article also highlights a 15-year old young man who made a big mistake, admitted it, and then as a result of the consequences of his actions and the lack of mercy shown by the system became so despondent that he killed himself. And who lost? We did because we are deprived from knowing this really special young man.
As a parent, I am appalled. As a grandparent, I am afraid for my grandchildren. As I man, I know this is wrong.
I was reminded of a story in the bible as I read this article. You probably know of it--John 8:3-11 about the young woman caught in the act of adultery. (Of course I have always wondered where the guy was in this incident). The law was very clear on the penalty for adultery--death. And Jesus knew this. It was an open and shut case and in our present day world of zero tolerance a very different ending to the episode would have happened. Jesus did not dispute the law and the penalty--but his words smack at the very heart of zero tolerance: “Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7b - NET Bible.
No one could stand up under this requirement--except for the one who spoke the words. All the assembled people who were calling for her to be killed according to the law, departed without throwing a stone at her. And his final words to her were very simple: And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” John 8:11b - NET Bible.
The next to last paragraph of the article in Time really spoke to me:
"Making distinctions is part of learning. So is making mistakes. When authorities confuse intent and accident, when rules are seen as more sacred than sense, when a contrite first-time offender is treated no differently from a serial classroom menace, we teach children that authority is deaf and dumb, that there is no judgment in justice. It undermines respect for discipline at a stage when we want kids to internalize it."
More is learned from mercy than can ever be obtained from vengeance or the mindless application of zero tolerance.
Who among us has not shown bad judgement or sinned? Show mercy to others because we certainly cannot throw the first stone.
I urge you to take a minute to read the editorial because I believe that she points out some real inequities that are appearing in our society as we become more and more unable to apply common sense to everyday situations and wind up ruining lives, like the high school career with a promising student: "A Florida honor student faced felony charges when a dinner knife — not a steak knife or a butcher knife — was found on the floor of her car, which she had parked at school. "A weapon is a weapon is a weapon," the principal said."
It is the inability to determine both intent and discern the difference between a knife intended for killing and spreading butter which makes these types of things happen. It is the same as letting a computer make life decisions for us--without any quality of humanity or mercy. It is easier that way, but it ignores what makes us humans and not machines.
And at the heart of it all is the battle cry of: Zero Tolerance.
Really?
Yes. And the cost? Destroyed lives. The Time article also highlights a 15-year old young man who made a big mistake, admitted it, and then as a result of the consequences of his actions and the lack of mercy shown by the system became so despondent that he killed himself. And who lost? We did because we are deprived from knowing this really special young man.
As a parent, I am appalled. As a grandparent, I am afraid for my grandchildren. As I man, I know this is wrong.
I was reminded of a story in the bible as I read this article. You probably know of it--John 8:3-11 about the young woman caught in the act of adultery. (Of course I have always wondered where the guy was in this incident). The law was very clear on the penalty for adultery--death. And Jesus knew this. It was an open and shut case and in our present day world of zero tolerance a very different ending to the episode would have happened. Jesus did not dispute the law and the penalty--but his words smack at the very heart of zero tolerance: “Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7b - NET Bible.
No one could stand up under this requirement--except for the one who spoke the words. All the assembled people who were calling for her to be killed according to the law, departed without throwing a stone at her. And his final words to her were very simple: And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” John 8:11b - NET Bible.
The next to last paragraph of the article in Time really spoke to me:
"Making distinctions is part of learning. So is making mistakes. When authorities confuse intent and accident, when rules are seen as more sacred than sense, when a contrite first-time offender is treated no differently from a serial classroom menace, we teach children that authority is deaf and dumb, that there is no judgment in justice. It undermines respect for discipline at a stage when we want kids to internalize it."
More is learned from mercy than can ever be obtained from vengeance or the mindless application of zero tolerance.
Who among us has not shown bad judgement or sinned? Show mercy to others because we certainly cannot throw the first stone.
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