Archive for February, 2008
Lessons Learned
Thursday, February 28th, 2008What I hope we have learned:
OK GO back in the day
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008We all love those OK GO videos. Here is a little of the backstory. This is from Peter Sagal’s blog. Peter is best known as the host of NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me”:
In the future, everyone will be on YouTube. Specifically, all the odd videos taken of you will migrate to the site. Back in 1999 or so, a local band here in Chicago called OKGO was invited to appear on a public access cable show called Chic-A-Go-Go, in which local bands lip-synched their songs while pretending to play their instruments. OKGO said to hell with that, and choreographed a dance number. But who should pretend to play the instruments? The then-girlfriend of Damian Kulash, lead singer and guiding light of band, worked at our show, and Damian had become close to a lot of people at Chicago Public Radio. Thus, in this video, they are backed by the Chicago Public Radio All-Stars: me on bass, Gretchen Helfrich on lead guitar, Jerome McDonnell on keyboards, and yes, Ira Glass on drums. BTW, I can’t play the bass, so note my too-energetic attempts to fake it. OKGO has gone on to greater things, and much more interesting dance routines, but the seeds of their genius is here.
A House In A Box
Saturday, February 16th, 2008Some design students in Germany created this. It is a full room of furniture in one little box.
[Full Casulo details | via lrm]
Welcome the Missionaries
Friday, February 15th, 2008From Here and Now by Henri J. M. Nouwen
While living for a few months in one of the “young towns” surrounding Lima, Peru, I first heard the term “reverse mission.” I had come from the North to the South to help the poor, but the longer I was among the poor the more I became aware that there was another mission, the mission from the South to the North. When I returned to the North, I was deeply convinced that my main task would be to help the poor of Latin America convert their wealthy brothers and sisters in the United States and Canada.
Ever since that time, I have become aware that wherever God’s Spirit is present there is a reverse mission.
When I marched with thousands of black and white Americans from Selma to Montgomery in the summer of 1965 to support the blacks in their struggle for equal rights, Martin Luther King already said that the deeper spiritual meaning of the civil rights movement was that the blacks were calling the whites to conversion.
When, years later, I joined L’Arche to live and work with mentally handicapped people, I soon learned that my real task would be to let those whom I wanted to help offer me — and through me many others — their unique spiritual gifts.
This “reversal” is the sign of God’s Spirit. The poor have a mission to the rich, the blacks have a mission to the whites, the handicapped have a mission to the “normal,” the gay people have a mission to the straight, the dying have a mission to the living. Those whom the world has made into victims God has chosen to be bearers of good news.
Ever since that time, I have become aware that wherever God’s Spirit is present there is a reverse mission.
When I marched with thousands of black and white Americans from Selma to Montgomery in the summer of 1965 to support the blacks in their struggle for equal rights, Martin Luther King already said that the deeper spiritual meaning of the civil rights movement was that the blacks were calling the whites to conversion.
When, years later, I joined L’Arche to live and work with mentally handicapped people, I soon learned that my real task would be to let those whom I wanted to help offer me — and through me many others — their unique spiritual gifts.
This “reversal” is the sign of God’s Spirit. The poor have a mission to the rich, the blacks have a mission to the whites, the handicapped have a mission to the “normal,” the gay people have a mission to the straight, the dying have a mission to the living. Those whom the world has made into victims God has chosen to be bearers of good news.
Huh?
Thursday, February 14th, 2008The spell checker in my e-mail application doesn’t have the word “spam” in its dictionary, but the application does have a spam filter.
A New Energy Source That Is Unlimited
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008Engineers at the University of Michigan have discovered a new way to generate energy.
A new energy-capturing knee brace can generate enough electricity from walking to operate a portable GPS locator, a cell phone, a motorized prosthetic joint or an implanted neurotransmitter, research involving the University of Michigan shows.
If you can generate that much energy by having an adult walk 2.2 miles an hour (which is not brisk at all), we could end the energy crisis if you hooked every middle school boy in the US up to one of these.
[Full story at Science Daily | via Scientific American Podcat]
Come to Peru! (maybe)
Monday, February 11th, 2008One of the questions I asked the group near the end of our time in Chimbote was, “Is it fair to bring people down here?”
Most of them looked at me dumbfounded. Thinking, “Of course it is a good idea to bring folks down. I am glad I came down.”
I am wondering how they would respond if I asked them now after having to transition back.
I love the trip. I love the people. I love how the place stretches and challenges me.
But I know it is hard and I know it isn’t for everyone. It is a lot of work to get to Chimbote, the food is different form what you are use to, you share large dorm rooms with people might not know, and you will be emotionally and spiritually challenged.
At this point the tentative plan is to go back Easter time 2009. If you are interested, just fill out the form below. By doing this you will get occasional e-mails from me as the details come together.
Blogs that should have been written in Peru (part 5)
Sunday, February 10th, 2008WALKING THE LINE
It is very easy to talk about the neighborhood we visited in statistical terms.
- 50,000 people served by one church
- Average income one dollar a day
- 2500 fed in soup kitchens each day
- Weekly collection at mass $80
- average drop out age
- percent of kids who use drugs
- Number of people who don’t have medicine they need
When speaking in these terms it doesn’t do justice to the people we met.
There was joy. There was happiness. There was deep faith. There was active participation in mass. There were hugs and kisses on the cheek. There was a warm smile at every turn.
But just as easy as it is get caught up in negative stats, it is just as easy to get caught up in the joy we did experience. It is easy to fall into the trap of, “Oh they are the happy poor. They may be materially poor, but they are so spiritually rich. They are blessed to have this burden because it has made them so close to God.”
The picture is so much more complicated than either of those points of view. There is lots of suffering, but there is also lots of getting over suffering. Some do respond well the situation they are in, but it is an unjust situation that deserves to be changed.
The question then comes, how do we walk that line? How do we meet others where they are? How do we do this by providing help and love, with out coming in to fix? How can we approach others knowing they have something to teach and share with us?
I Said What?
Friday, February 8th, 2008It is very cool when you find a quote you really like.
It is really weird when you find out you are the one being quoted.
I guess I said this: An absurd love