Siesta Key beach

So what are you doing on your Friday afternoon?

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

Awesome beautiful green morning. After the winter in Maryland, the green of Florida is refreshing. That is the thing Mike and I noticed as we drove from Tampa to Sarasota--the green.

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.

Out the airplane window

A beautiful clear day for flying. I'm amazed still when I think about working all morning and being in Sarasota, Florida by evening. Wow.

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.

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.

Humor: When it really isn't funny!

I'm a big fan of political humor. In "olden times" it was used to highlight things which were happening socially and politically which needed to be addressed, but couldn't; and so the hidden meanings were critical.

A Malaysian newspaper has published a cartoon about the Tsunami which I find tasteless--as did many others who saw it.

Some things just shouldn't be joked about.

The article in the San Francisco Chronicle says it all and helps explain the charicature:

"A Malaysian newspaper has apologized for printing a caricature of Japanese cartoon superhero Ultraman comically trying to outrun a tsunami.
Malaysians reacted with a tirade of anger after the Malay-language Berita Harian daily newspaper published the cartoon Sunday. Critics vented on Twitter and Facebook and some called for a boycott of the paper.

The apology issued on the paper's website and on social newtworking sites said Berita Harian had "no intention of poking fun" at the disastrous earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on Friday.
The newspaper expressed sympathy and said it shared "the sorrow of the Japanese people.""

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/03/13/international/i210532D07.DTL#ixzz1GbPE5mG0

Some things just aren't funny. And I am left to wonder what they really meant.

Monday Musings - March 14, 2011

1. Tomorrow is one of the most famous days in infamy-- The Ides of March. "Et tu, Brute?" I found it interesting that technically only the months of March, May, July, and October have the ides falling on the 15th; during all of the other months the ides falls on the 13th. Go figure.

2. My thoughts and prayers this morning are again with the Japanese people as they struggle to recover from the devastation caused by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear reactor partial meltdowns.

3. How about the Big East placing 11 teams in the March Madness NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament? And Syracuse got its expected 3-seed. I hope they play better than they did in the Big East Tournament--although they did lose to the eventual champion.

4. And here is a tribute to capitalism: Price of preemie-preventing drug to skyrocket: Who will pay? It seems that once a company won exclusive rights to make the drug in the U.S., the price per shot went from $20 to $1500. Way to go! And who is going to pay? Well, we are of course.

5. We were blessed with an exceptionally pleasant weekend, weather-wise. It was nice to be outside in the warm sun working around to house or even being in Washington, DC as Chris and I were for Saturday afternoon. We checked out the National Portrait Gallery and wandered around F Street for most of the afternoon.

6. I'm running a bit slow this morning--the first weekday morning after daylight savings time occurred this year. Ugh--I couldn't believe it when the alarm clock went off. I just wanted to hunker down deeper into the bed and resume sleeping.

7. Just a note for everyone out there--I hate tax season. Why don't I qualify for a bailout? Oh yeah, I'm the consumer that everyone is out to gouge.

8. And speaking of taxes--did you ever consider the psychology of the process when it comes to taxes? People seem to be singularly focused on whether they get a refund or not? They forget to look at the real line--the total amount of tax due before we offset it against the amount of taxes withheld. And when the federal tax bite is added to the state tax bite AND don't forget to throw in property tax if you own your own home--anyway, I coulda bought a new car last year--and not a cheapie, either. But I'm sure someone in Congress or Annapolis thinks I should be paying more.

Daylight is being Saved

It is here. The annual sleep deprivation event has arrived. A sure sign that Springtime is upon us, which it is!

Yesterday was another sign of Springtime. I noticed the trees full with budding leaves and flowers beginning to bloom.

Last evening as we walked Makayla and Chewie we heard the peepers singing in the not so cold evening.

Allergies are blossoming with the budding trees and flowers. But it is a sign that even with one week remaining, winter's grip is slackening and the world is bursting to life after the dark and cold.

Spring officially begins next Sunday but despite the slowness of the calendar, it is already fully underway.

Tsunami, Earthquake and Japan

I spent most of yesterday appalled by the destruction in Japan from the earthquake and resulting tsunami.

My prayers and thoughts are with the people of Japan as they begin to try to recover from the disaster and bury their dead.

It reminds me how quickly life can change from the routine of the day to terror and disaster. One minute, shopping for a meal at the well stocked grocery store; the next, clawing for life from amid the rubble caused by an earthquake.

I saw the news reports of the wall of water sweeping over the countryside carrying buildings, vehicles, and probably people into the oblivion of destruction. I couldn't stop watching it everytime it was played on TV. It reminded me how fragile the creations of man are when compared against the great forces of nature.

Pray for the people there--who were just going about living until life abruptly changed.  Send aid when you can.

Grand Lady of Space Set to Retire

Discovery Landing March 9, 2011

After 27 years and 39 missions into the fringes of the final frontier--the space shuttle Discovery rolled to a final stop on the Florida runway about midday on Wednesday.

An era ends.

The ABC news story summarizes it pretty well--but being the space head that I am, it still makes me sad that as a country we have so terribly lost our way and mortgaged our future that we cannot continue to lead the discovery of space which has already returned so many benefits to us.

And so, by way of celebrating an era and a good ship, here forom the news item is a summary of some of Discovery's accomplishments:

"Discovery flew both return-to-flight missions after its sister ships, Challenger and Columbia, were lost. It launched the Hubble Space Telescope. It carried John Glenn, one of America's first space pioneers, on his sentimental return to space in 1998. It assembled the first components of the International Space Station. It has flown more times than any other spaceship in history."

And as I stand  under the cloudless night sky and gaze at the points of light that are the stars and the constellations, I continue to wonder if God put them there to taunt us with their distance and difficulty, or to challenge us to praise Him for his magnificance.