My wife's post about weird science reminded me of two different experiences I had with roommates at two school. My first quarter in college, I moved into a dorm room with a buddy I had met the year before at a summer program. We shared a mini-fridge since the hall fridge was just a good place to have food stolen. The school required that all appliances by unplugged when students were away for break, so we had to unplug the fridge. I finished finals before my roommate, so I told him just before leaving, "Hey, I know you still have food in there, so just clean it out and throw anything away, then unplug it when you go."
Somehow only that last phrase "unplug it when you go" was the only part he listened to. I came in to start the new term, plugged the fridge back in and opened it to put in a soda or something. If green smoke had come out to color the smell that hit me, I would not have been shocked. I nearly vomited right then and there, and I almost fell over. I quickly closed it back up and went into the hall to catch my breath. If I had known when my roommate would be back, I might've saved it for him to find, too, but instead I cleaned it out. That was the first time I learned that mold could be orange and yellow (on top of white and green). It was also the first time I learned that butter could grow mold.
A year and a half later, I was sharing an apartment with three other guys. Todd and I chose to use my mini-fridge and let the other two guys use the main fridge. Because of a strange set of circumstances, Todd and I ended up having the apartment to ourselves for more than a month. Because of that, we decided to finally use the main fridge, which had ignored by the vacating roommates.
What we found was pretty disgusting. In the vegetable keeper, there were blobs of things no longer distinguishable as a particular fruit or vegetable... or as food, really. Then there were the various bottled substances. I say substances because they had expiration dates from our senior year in high school, nearly three years before and a year before Todd had moved in (I joined him a year later). I'm pretty sure that means they were no longer "food" or "condiments".
I am amazed I did not die of food poisoning or some random fungal infection thanks to those two experiences. I did have a lot of breathing problems in college, which probably were not helped by the disgusting filth my roommates kept in the kitchen. So when I opened the "rice" my wife had left, at least I had dealt with such things before. Hers was mild by comparison.
-- Robert
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Should Wii, or Should We Not?
So today our family has joined the world of Wii owners. I think it will be cool to find out if I can manage the whiteboard trick I saw on this video. My brother-in-law did it and loved it for his classroom. I am sure my kids (and my wife) will enjoy the actual games of the Wii. Okay, I probably will, too. In fact, I'm sure I will enjoy it a lot. Just hopefully not too much. All things in moderation or something like that. Maybe I'll be Wii Exercise or whatever workout "games" they have and see how that goes. I am certainly open to suggestion.
Thank you, my loving wife. I love you.
-- Robert
P.S.: I am sure she would love to hear any suggestions for good games for kids.
Thank you, my loving wife. I love you.
-- Robert
P.S.: I am sure she would love to hear any suggestions for good games for kids.
Monday, October 6, 2008
A Challenge to Our Higher Institutions...
Like most of you, Robert and I both have Master's Degrees, and as Robert mentioned he's working feverishly to continue his education. If there's one common bond that Robert and I share it's our love for learning, and that love for learning has been passed down from our parents and other family members to a common focal point -- college.
In most families, like ours, who have risen out of poverty and blue-collar jobs, the prospect of college is often thrown around like an arrow whenever a unruly teenager gets out of line. In both of our families college was not an option, it was a requirement. There was never any question that my brother and I would attend--and finish--college. There was never any entertaining the thought that "college just wasn't for me." Everything in my education, from pre-Kindergarten onward was focused on college.
To be sure our young people are under a tremendous amount of pressure to achieve that college degree. Neither of my parents nor their parents nor their parents' parents graduated from a four-year University, so while the pressure was on my brother and I, I doubt I experienced any pressure like those of children from severely impoverished families, or those from disadvantaged socio-economic classes. It's the pressure to learn (and eventually earn) that our institutions of higher learning must cradle, nurture and frankly use to prepare students to become better wage earners, better thinkers and hopefully better citizens.
Our "Higher Instituions" should be regaled for the importance they play in our collective future. Yes, all education is critical including early education, but how many doors are closed to those that don't attend college? I can't begin to name how many were open for me, and how many more were opened once I attended graduate school. I've heard the refrain from others saying that college isn't for everbody and I think the best answer is, "but it should be." With that in mind here's a few challenges to our Higher Institutions:
1) Place more emphasis on teaching interpersonal communication and developing and maintaining relationships. There are many outstanding Communication programs in multiple universities. But I would love to see more emphasis placed on this type of curricula for students across disciplines. The world runs on relationships, and the grist for the mill of commerce is communication. We need to not just develop great problem-solvers but problem-solvers who can work with people. Leaders aren't the ones with all the answers, they just have the right people around them. I think too often we dismiss this type of learning as "fluff." It isn't fluff, it's critical, and our lack of attention to building great communicators harms our ability to build great leaders, great workers and great citizens.
2) Emphasize Partnerships with Public Schools, especially those in impoverished areas. The Education Departments of many, if not most Universities are well-schooled in this area. They can provide teaching support and assistance for many under-funded school districts. But what about providing support beyond just student help? If we asked a random University President how involved they were with the ten closest high schools to campus what could they say? Universities need to lead the charge for resource sharing and partnerships in everything from curricula development to athletics programs. This type of work builds more and better future college students, and everyone wins.
3) De-emphasize athletics by instituting revenue sharing across athletic divisions. Collegiate athletics are important, please don't get me wrong. I love collegeiate athletics, I'm a multiple sport season ticket-holder. But the fact that football and men's basketball are supporting so much at so many insitutions begins a sort of inter-collegiate competition that is unhealthy for education. Yes, I recognize that collegiate athletics opens up doors for fundraising and recruitment, and yes, I recognize that these two most visible athletic programs are self-sustaining. However, at some point we need to decide "enough is enough." The NCAA would do well to institute revenue sharing across all schools in a particular division, not just within Conferences. When certain conferences are competing against one another, and school's athletic programs get stronger and stronger, everyone loses. With the massive TV revenues now being experienced by nearly every major conference, we need to put less emphasis on making the best better and more emphasis on raising the ability for all schools to use athletics in positive ways, at lower costs. This too, would require schools agreeing to spending limitations on athletic programs.
4) Continue aggressive efforts to fund education for poor students. True, private universities are not in the business of giving away education. Public universities aren't either...but public universities share a duty to provide education for the "common good." In many ways their outreach and resource-sharing efforts accomplish this, but so too should the substantial resources that larger universities generate from commercial partnerships. True, there isn't enough money to go around for everyone, but expansion of grants, low-cost or forgivable at the Federal and State levels must be coupled with a Universities own efforts to expand its education among those who may otherwise not get a college education. Helping people get out of poverty on their own terms...that's "common good."
5) Expand social entrepreneurship as a discipline through research, teaching and funding. Business is a good field, and we know that sound business principles can lead to meaningful social change and profits for investors. It's important then for our Universities, who by and larget do outstanding work partnering with the private sector, to ramp up efforts to expand this important field. I share the call of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus to build this "new kind of business" to ensure that we get beyond simple charity and effect lasting change through social business. The type of piecmeal work that many charities and non-profits do is honorable and laudable, it is not my intention to tear them down. But a self-sustaining enterprise can take these efforts to the next level and eradicate many of our social ills. I see our Higher Instituions holding the key to opening this field to the masses.
I'm interested in your thoughts, how would you challenge today's Higher Institutions?
In most families, like ours, who have risen out of poverty and blue-collar jobs, the prospect of college is often thrown around like an arrow whenever a unruly teenager gets out of line. In both of our families college was not an option, it was a requirement. There was never any question that my brother and I would attend--and finish--college. There was never any entertaining the thought that "college just wasn't for me." Everything in my education, from pre-Kindergarten onward was focused on college.
To be sure our young people are under a tremendous amount of pressure to achieve that college degree. Neither of my parents nor their parents nor their parents' parents graduated from a four-year University, so while the pressure was on my brother and I, I doubt I experienced any pressure like those of children from severely impoverished families, or those from disadvantaged socio-economic classes. It's the pressure to learn (and eventually earn) that our institutions of higher learning must cradle, nurture and frankly use to prepare students to become better wage earners, better thinkers and hopefully better citizens.
Our "Higher Instituions" should be regaled for the importance they play in our collective future. Yes, all education is critical including early education, but how many doors are closed to those that don't attend college? I can't begin to name how many were open for me, and how many more were opened once I attended graduate school. I've heard the refrain from others saying that college isn't for everbody and I think the best answer is, "but it should be." With that in mind here's a few challenges to our Higher Institutions:
1) Place more emphasis on teaching interpersonal communication and developing and maintaining relationships. There are many outstanding Communication programs in multiple universities. But I would love to see more emphasis placed on this type of curricula for students across disciplines. The world runs on relationships, and the grist for the mill of commerce is communication. We need to not just develop great problem-solvers but problem-solvers who can work with people. Leaders aren't the ones with all the answers, they just have the right people around them. I think too often we dismiss this type of learning as "fluff." It isn't fluff, it's critical, and our lack of attention to building great communicators harms our ability to build great leaders, great workers and great citizens.
2) Emphasize Partnerships with Public Schools, especially those in impoverished areas. The Education Departments of many, if not most Universities are well-schooled in this area. They can provide teaching support and assistance for many under-funded school districts. But what about providing support beyond just student help? If we asked a random University President how involved they were with the ten closest high schools to campus what could they say? Universities need to lead the charge for resource sharing and partnerships in everything from curricula development to athletics programs. This type of work builds more and better future college students, and everyone wins.
3) De-emphasize athletics by instituting revenue sharing across athletic divisions. Collegiate athletics are important, please don't get me wrong. I love collegeiate athletics, I'm a multiple sport season ticket-holder. But the fact that football and men's basketball are supporting so much at so many insitutions begins a sort of inter-collegiate competition that is unhealthy for education. Yes, I recognize that collegiate athletics opens up doors for fundraising and recruitment, and yes, I recognize that these two most visible athletic programs are self-sustaining. However, at some point we need to decide "enough is enough." The NCAA would do well to institute revenue sharing across all schools in a particular division, not just within Conferences. When certain conferences are competing against one another, and school's athletic programs get stronger and stronger, everyone loses. With the massive TV revenues now being experienced by nearly every major conference, we need to put less emphasis on making the best better and more emphasis on raising the ability for all schools to use athletics in positive ways, at lower costs. This too, would require schools agreeing to spending limitations on athletic programs.
4) Continue aggressive efforts to fund education for poor students. True, private universities are not in the business of giving away education. Public universities aren't either...but public universities share a duty to provide education for the "common good." In many ways their outreach and resource-sharing efforts accomplish this, but so too should the substantial resources that larger universities generate from commercial partnerships. True, there isn't enough money to go around for everyone, but expansion of grants, low-cost or forgivable at the Federal and State levels must be coupled with a Universities own efforts to expand its education among those who may otherwise not get a college education. Helping people get out of poverty on their own terms...that's "common good."
5) Expand social entrepreneurship as a discipline through research, teaching and funding. Business is a good field, and we know that sound business principles can lead to meaningful social change and profits for investors. It's important then for our Universities, who by and larget do outstanding work partnering with the private sector, to ramp up efforts to expand this important field. I share the call of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus to build this "new kind of business" to ensure that we get beyond simple charity and effect lasting change through social business. The type of piecmeal work that many charities and non-profits do is honorable and laudable, it is not my intention to tear them down. But a self-sustaining enterprise can take these efforts to the next level and eradicate many of our social ills. I see our Higher Instituions holding the key to opening this field to the masses.
I'm interested in your thoughts, how would you challenge today's Higher Institutions?
Saturday, October 4, 2008
A Korean Pioneer
One of the first members of the LDS Church in Korea was Kim Ho Jik. He was an educator who wished to help his nation improve nutrition and overall health. He knew that scientists in the United States would give him a great deal of insight into that subject, and so he sought the chance to pursue a doctorate from an American school.
He also had a deep love for Christ and his teachings. Unfortunately, he had not found a church he felt completely comfortable with and hoped he might find the "true church" while pursuing his degree. He visited several, still unsatisfied, but then he began to notice another student, Oliver Wayman, who shared his office. They had become friends, but had never discussed religion. Still, not long before he was to return to Korea, Kim Ho Jik commented, “I have never seen you smoke or drink. I have never heard you use vulgar language or profane the name of God. You work harder and longer hours than any of the others, but I have never seen you here on Sunday. You are different in so many ways. I wonder if you would tell me why you live as you do?”
Oliver Wayman, as it turned out, was a Latter-day Saint. He gave him a copy of The Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage, which Kim Ho Jik read within a week. He loved it and wanted more. Brother Wayman then gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, which he also read and accepted it to be the word of God. He did not immediately decide to join the LDS Church, but he continued to study the gospel.
Ironically, it was the Word of Wisdom that finally touched his heart completely. He had come to America to find a way to help his people fight malnutrition, and the prescription was right there in the famous doctrine given in revelation to Joseph Smith in the 1800's. Very soon after, he was baptized as the first official Korean member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Now there are many stakes in Korea, but as Brother Wayman told Brother Kim, he was sent to be a messenger to his people. If he had chosen not to listen, the Lord would have raised another in his place, but such was never necessary. His story inspired me the very first time I heard it. So many pioneers faced great obstacles to their membership, yet they knew the gospel message when they first heard it. I am thankful for their examples to me.
-- Robert
He also had a deep love for Christ and his teachings. Unfortunately, he had not found a church he felt completely comfortable with and hoped he might find the "true church" while pursuing his degree. He visited several, still unsatisfied, but then he began to notice another student, Oliver Wayman, who shared his office. They had become friends, but had never discussed religion. Still, not long before he was to return to Korea, Kim Ho Jik commented, “I have never seen you smoke or drink. I have never heard you use vulgar language or profane the name of God. You work harder and longer hours than any of the others, but I have never seen you here on Sunday. You are different in so many ways. I wonder if you would tell me why you live as you do?”
Oliver Wayman, as it turned out, was a Latter-day Saint. He gave him a copy of The Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage, which Kim Ho Jik read within a week. He loved it and wanted more. Brother Wayman then gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, which he also read and accepted it to be the word of God. He did not immediately decide to join the LDS Church, but he continued to study the gospel.
Ironically, it was the Word of Wisdom that finally touched his heart completely. He had come to America to find a way to help his people fight malnutrition, and the prescription was right there in the famous doctrine given in revelation to Joseph Smith in the 1800's. Very soon after, he was baptized as the first official Korean member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Now there are many stakes in Korea, but as Brother Wayman told Brother Kim, he was sent to be a messenger to his people. If he had chosen not to listen, the Lord would have raised another in his place, but such was never necessary. His story inspired me the very first time I heard it. So many pioneers faced great obstacles to their membership, yet they knew the gospel message when they first heard it. I am thankful for their examples to me.
-- Robert
Friday, October 3, 2008
Amazing Pioneer Stories in Africa
In honor of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is tomorrow and Sunday, I wanted to share this amazing story of how the Church came to be in Africa. When I first heard it, I was truly amazed, but more than that, I felt the Spirit touch me and let me know the truth of it. As I read the linked story, I felt the Spirit again. For anyone not interested in reading the long version in that linked article, I will relate the first story I was told:
Anthony Obinna (I got the name from the story) had a dream one night where an angel took him to a magnificent building and showed him all around it. Years later he saw a Readers Digest magazine featuring the Mormon Church, and the picture of the cover was of that same building - the Salt Lake Temple. He knew immediately he needed to write to the Church and request materials. After many requests, the Church finally sent materials, and after many more he was able to be the first member baptized in his area. The longer version of the story explains in more beautiful detail how amazing his story was and is, but again, I wanted to offer a simpler version.
- end of story -
I loved that story, and I am glad to see how much the Church has grown in Africa. It now has at least one temple, many stakes, and many missionaries going there. In a few short weeks, my wife's oldest nephew will begin serving a French-speaking mission in Africa. I am deeply proud of him for his sacrifice, and I look forward to hearing more about his experiences.
-- Robert
P.S.: For anyone interested in General Conference, it can be listened to on http://LDS.org/ or watched on http://byu.tv/ or BYU TV/KBYU. If I can find it, I will also share a story of how the Church came to Korea tomorrow.
Anthony Obinna (I got the name from the story) had a dream one night where an angel took him to a magnificent building and showed him all around it. Years later he saw a Readers Digest magazine featuring the Mormon Church, and the picture of the cover was of that same building - the Salt Lake Temple. He knew immediately he needed to write to the Church and request materials. After many requests, the Church finally sent materials, and after many more he was able to be the first member baptized in his area. The longer version of the story explains in more beautiful detail how amazing his story was and is, but again, I wanted to offer a simpler version.
- end of story -
I loved that story, and I am glad to see how much the Church has grown in Africa. It now has at least one temple, many stakes, and many missionaries going there. In a few short weeks, my wife's oldest nephew will begin serving a French-speaking mission in Africa. I am deeply proud of him for his sacrifice, and I look forward to hearing more about his experiences.
-- Robert
P.S.: For anyone interested in General Conference, it can be listened to on http://LDS.org/ or watched on http://byu.tv/ or BYU TV/KBYU. If I can find it, I will also share a story of how the Church came to Korea tomorrow.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
#200, Great to Be Here
Recently, my wife gave Todd and I an award, which I was honored to receive. She, after all, inspired me to begin this blog. Numerous others had suggested it, but she finally gave me the motivation I needed to do it. Writing it with Todd has been a real pleasure, since we'd wanted to write something together for ages. We even tried co-writing a website before the age of blogging began, but it was not to be. Now we have this blog.What inspired us to begin? We wanted to share our thoughts on success, on what that really means for us (and perhaps what it should mean for others), and on how we hope to find it in various elements of our lives. Hopefully over these two hundred posts we have at least scratched the surface in that endeavor. Certainly there are many more things we could write about on the subject of success. Along the way, my own plans in life have changed (or at least accelerated), and I give Todd a lot of credit for helping me wake up to that possibility. So, to my co-blogger and best friend, many thanks.
Finally, in the spirit of an acceptance speech, I'd like to thank my children. They bring joy to my life each day. The way they greet me when I come home would make life worth living even if I were shoveling manure to pay the bills. And even greater, looking at my children every day has helped me realize how important it is to follow my own dreams. I can't bear the thought of having to explain to them one day that "Daddy had a dream, but it wasn't important enough to follow... but you follow your own." No, I must show them - lead by example - if I can ever hope to give them the fatherly love and guidance they deserve. These special beings give me so much hope for the future - their future - and I would hate to be the one who snuffed out that hope.
I don't know seven bloggers to pass this award on to - at least not that my wife hasn't already given it to. I will say I have truly enjoyed Attached Parent (my wife's blog) because it is fun to see her perspective on our life together, both for the similarities and the differences. I have only recently started reading Natasha's blog, but I would definitely pass the award on to her because I love the conversational tone of her posts. I second my wife's inclusion of Melissa's blog because so many of her posts make me laugh, and her virtual book club has gotten me to read at least one excellent book (The Last Lecture) and one other book I would never have read but for her. I also like Jill's blog because it is full of humor and great family experiences. The same goes for Darlene's blog - have I ever mentioned I love my in-laws? - which helps me think about things we should be doing for our little family. Martha's blog is always full of happy thoughts - she is one of the most upbeat people I've ever met - and great pictures. Crissy's blog (when she writes) is inspiring because I know it has to be hard as a single mother of three boys to even consider working toward debt elimination. Good for her.
So there are seven blogs I have enjoyed reading and with whom I would gladly like to share the award our blog received. Thank you again.
-- Robert
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
It's a Small World After All
So there I was, driving along, mostly minding my own business, listening to Eddie Fantastic on audiobook with my family. We'd left her brother's house that morning, stopped off in Las Vegas for lunch and then headed on. It was a lovely drive through the red rocks and desert, lots of amazing views of mountains.
Then we were stopped on the Hoover Dam. Apparently it was undergoing some construction, causing slowdowns. Because I was effectively parked, I found myself looking around. That girl... well, okay, that woman... I knew her... and that bearded guy with her looked vaguely familiar.
Yep, there, driving across the Hoover Dam, hundreds of miles from where I live, and where I went to high school - hundreds of miles from where this couple lived in fact - were two people I went to high school with. I just had enough time to roll down a window and call out their names. They saw me and waved back, but it truly was one of the more bizarre happenstance meetings I've had. Not the most, no, that still goes to a couple of meetings at different church buildings, but that one was pretty funny to me.
Anyway, we're home from out west. I thought that was a pretty funny way to end it.
-- Robert
Then we were stopped on the Hoover Dam. Apparently it was undergoing some construction, causing slowdowns. Because I was effectively parked, I found myself looking around. That girl... well, okay, that woman... I knew her... and that bearded guy with her looked vaguely familiar.
Yep, there, driving across the Hoover Dam, hundreds of miles from where I live, and where I went to high school - hundreds of miles from where this couple lived in fact - were two people I went to high school with. I just had enough time to roll down a window and call out their names. They saw me and waved back, but it truly was one of the more bizarre happenstance meetings I've had. Not the most, no, that still goes to a couple of meetings at different church buildings, but that one was pretty funny to me.
Anyway, we're home from out west. I thought that was a pretty funny way to end it.
-- Robert
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