Beast Mode

In honor of the upcoming NFL season, here's a great photo from two summers ago. The kids and Auntie Annie. Beast Mode!

Here's a smaller version that we're using for our fantasy football team.

Marauding Baboon Gangs Target Non-English Speakers

A post on Slate’s news summary, “Slatest,” warns of the increasingly aggressive nature of South Africa’s baboons. It seems that more than 400 baboons have organized themselves into gangs and are ransacking cars, causing officials to worry about the threat to tourism in Cape Town during next year’s World Cup. The AP reports that a baboon called “Fred” opened “unlocked doors and jumped through windows to search for food.” Slate continues wraps up its summary as follows: “City officials fear that as monkeys grow more aggressive, non-English speaking visitors will be their first targets. ‘Tourism is going to go through the roof, and this equals exposure to naive people and rich pickings,’ a baboon researcher said. ‘People who stop the car, they're going to get raided.’”

Maybe Caroline and Annie, ESL teachers extraordinaire, can turn the threat of Baboon bias into an international teaching opportunity.

(The AP account, which is quite interesting, describes how city residents have asked for signage in many languages in order to warn tourists about the dangers of these wild animals. Slate omits this part in its summary.)

Is there justice in our land?

Here are two reasons that make me believe that the answer is no:

1. Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. the director of Harvard's W.E.B. DuBois Institute for African and African American Studies, was arrested outside of his home in Cambridge, MA. His crime? He was locked out of his house after a trip to China. The lock on the front door was jammed so he attempted to force the door open. The police responded to a phone call reporting two black men trying to break into a house, arrested him, and charged him with disorderly conduct. There are many things one could write to describe the situation, but Prof. Gates says it best: "There are one million black men in jail in this country and last Thursday I was one of them...This is outrageous and that this is how poor black men across the country are treated everyday in the criminal justice system. It's one thing to write about it, but altogether another to experience it." Read the article in the Washington Post.

2. Gov. Schwarzenegger may be smiling after his budget agreement, but is cutting services to seniors and children a good thing? Yes, California has a bloated budget. Yes, we are living in complex times where the federal, state, and local governments can't meet every need. But should we celebrate cutting access to health care? Is it reasonable to smile when the once vaunted California education system faces massive cuts? See the picture and read the article (LAT)

As the psalmist says, "May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace; may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce;... may there be no cry of distress in our streets! Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!" (Psalm 144: 12-14) I echo that prayer for our state and for our nation.

Overheard Recently on the Train

1. A man shouted into his cell phone, annoying many people on the train. I heard him clearly through my headphones and over the NPR broadcast. "Girl, I ain't had pig feet in a long time...I weigh 215. How much do you weigh? Girl, you weigh 226? You don't look like it in the pictures. It must be all in your butt." (He laughed. After a while, he hung up and spoke softly, almost tenderly, to a young African American man who sat down next to him.)
2. A Latino man in his twenties spoke with an almost radio-quality voice to a trio who seemed to be related: a woman in a wheelchair, a man with wispy white hair whose bulldog look made him look like a man playing a villain in an adaptation of a Dickens novel, and their brother in denim and Vans. They had a fascinating conversation about the comfort/discomfort of Vans shoes, the JFK assassination (in 1966), the George Orwell novel "1985," and other things that I wish I could recall. At some point, as I stood to exit the train, the young man looked down at his shoes and said, "Did you shave with Jesus?" Then he said it again, and again, six times in all. The trio looked at him, then at each other.
   

"S" Factor Online

Here's the link to the interview with Don E. Miller in Books and Culture (www.booksandculture.com).

Gerardo Marti, a good guy, professor at Davidson College, and former visiting scholar at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture, posted his take on the interview here: http://praxishabitus.blogspot.com/. "In the course of conducting a sweeping study of Global Pentecostalism,Don Miller changed," he writes. "He went from being cynical to a sympathetic in his analytical stance. In the process, he proposes that social scientists take into account the ‘S Factor’ in studying religion.”

Career Aspirations (Circa June 2008)

The other night, apropos of nothing, Daniel began to outline his future career. "After I graduate from college, I'll be 22," he said, "And then I'll play baseball." At the end of an 18-year career in the majors he’d hang up his cleats. (He estimated that he'd earn $20 million a season.) Since he will have completed law school in the off season, he will ready to launch his political career. Following terms as governor of California and President of the United States, he would then consider a return to baseball as a manager. "I'll probably retire after that," he said.

A quizzical look appeared on Lucy’s face."Then when will you become a librarian?" she asked.

(Our kids love librarians, especially their Great Aunt Lucia. Lucy is still considering the options. She's not sure whether to become a librarian, an illustrator, a writer, or a teacher.)

Tonight's Random Quotes

Daniel just stirred in his sleep and said, "Hmmm. Nothing to do."

It was my turn to say goodnight to Lucy. She asked me why it was always "so short" when I said goodnight. "You just pray and then sing, and then it's over. When mom says goodnight, I ask her questions..." She rattled off a list of tough questions, the last one of which was, "Why are we alive?"

The "S" Factor in Books and Culture

At long last, my interview with Donald Miller (the sociologist, not the author of Blue Like Jazz) appeared in Books and Culture. The interview isn't online yet, but check the site in the coming weeks.

Three Great Quotes

I’m trying to get back into the blogging thing. To ease back into it, here are three quotes that have completely blown me away in recent weeks.

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Annie Dillard, The Writing Life, on trying to jump start her writing:

“I drank coffee in titrated doses. It was a tricky business, requiring the finely tuned judgment of a skilled anesthesiologist. There was a tiny range within which coffee was effective, short of which it was useless, and beyond which, fatal.”

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Carey McWilliams, Southern California: An Island on the Land :

“When the sunlight is not screened and filtered by the moisture-laden air, the land is revealed in all its semi-arid poverty. The bald, sculpted mountains stand forth in a harsh and glaring light. But let the light turn soft with ocean mist, and miraculous changes occur. The bare mountain ranges, appallingly harsh in contour, suddenly become wrapped in an entrancing ever-changing loveliness of light and shadow; the most commonplace objects assume a matchless perfection of form; and the land itself becomes a thing of beauty. The color of the land is in the light and the light is somehow artificial and controlled. Things are not killed by the sunlight, as in a desert; they merely dry up. A desert light brings out the sharpness of points, angles, and forms. But this is not a desert light nor is it tropical for it has neutral tones. It is Southern California light and it has no counterpart in the world.”

(This has to be the definitive word, the ideal form of writing about light in Southern California.)

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The Sons of Korah, Psalm 85:10-13

“Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.”

(Is it me, or does anyone wonder how the Sons of Korah collaborated to write something so beautiful, so hopeful, and so true? And which brother was the editor?)

Playing/Praying

At a recent barbecue, our kids were inside watching the game and I was outside with Joy and Lucas. We were playing some kind of chase/adventure game, of course, and the bad guys were gaining on us. Joy sat in the wagon, holding on as we avoided fallen oranges and leaf piles. Lucas tore around on the tricycle, shouting out instructions. “Watch out! They’re coming” There was a moment of tension as we braced for the onslaught.

Suddenly, Joy had a smile on her face and said, "Jesus help us! The bad guys are going to get us!"

"Lord, please help us!" I said.

Lucas made some explosive noises and then said, "It’s okay, they're gone."

"Thank you Jesus!" I said.

"No, that was me," said Lucas.

Lego N.Y.

This is random, but if you have not seen illustrator Christoph Niemann's Lego art in the New York Times, you have to check it out. Here's the link: I LEGO N.Y.

Here's a sample:

Starbucks Monday

While comparisons are odious, they seem appropriate today at Starbucks. I notice an Asian man in line ahead of me. He is short in stature, dressed in black, lean, muscular, armed to the hilt. His flak jacket, emblazoned with “Los Angeles District Attorney,” gives him a boxy, almost robotic look. Similarly equipped, his companions wait for their coffee with quiet intensity. They are ready for action.

In contrast, I am unfocused and foggy in my blue fleece jacket--a portable blanket. I am equipped with multiple pens, an uncharged I-Pod, bus tokens, a Bible, a software manual, three journals (spiritual, observations, reading), an AM/FM radio, and a digital audio recorder in an old eyeglass case. I am prepared for something, but not until I drink my coffee, pray, and catch the latest on NPR on the way to work

Overheard

On the train:

• "I don't trust nobody. It's every man for they self. Everyone got his own way of hustling, and that's mine."
• "No, Del Amo station. Del Amo. Delano's a prison."
  

Starbucks:

• Today: "Tell me the non-positive then!"
• "We live in L.A., we don't help people."

A Construction site, an unseen person:

• "%&@#$ Johnny Cash...%&@#$......God!

Redundant Problems

Spam e-mail is horrible. Then again, sometimes the subject lines are brilliant, even approaching the koanic. Here's one that almost enticed me to read the whole thing:

"From Juergen: Redundant problems will fly away together with extra weight."

A New Favorite Quote

Over the weekend, Caroline said that I should drop everything and read Roald Dahl's book, Danny the Champion of the World, immediately. Fortunately, I only waited a day before I got around to it. Here's a great quote from the book: "Ah yes, my darling, there is a whole world of sound around us that we cannot hear because our ears are simply not sensitive enough."

Wonders Abound

From the train platform at Del Amo station, I observe a man in a tree. He stands on a slender branch, a modern halberd extending from his hand. A chainsaw dangles from a rope, but he is unfettered. The man tests his weight on a branch, then steps blithely without the use of his hands. He is hatless, crewless, and ladderless — a long row of trees in his path. When the train comes, I consider letting it pass to watch his artistry for another moment.

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Isaac and I are on the road outside of Pasco, Washington, in the cab of a 24 foot truck. His father’s ’68 Mustang is behind us on a car carrier. There are sun-drenched vineyards to our left and to our right. With the windows down, the smell of grapes is intoxicating.

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We are poolside, craning our necks to witness baptisms at Fountain of Life Covenant Church. It is one of those days when the pain and sadness that surround us — envelop us — separate like clouds and the rays of the sun warm us to the core. Today, the kingdom of God is palpable. John is in the water with Chef Mike and his brother, Rudy, in their oversized white robes. Mike came to faith and then invited his brother to “come and see.” Here they are in the pool being baptized, first Mike, then Rudy. When they are done, they hug John, and then they dive into the water and swim and splash toward the deep end of the pool. Lucas, age 4, smiles and says, “It’s just like the Olympics!"

Politics, Politics, Politics!

In case you’ve been preoccupied with the elections, as I have, Real Clear Politics is a great site. The site features the most recent articles on the election. They also include links to news articles and opinion pieces from many perspectives. For example, the site has links to these two headlines: Barack Obama for President - Washington Post and A Liberal Supermajority Would Move the Nation Far to the Left – Wall Street Journal. I don't usually click on the links to Karl Rove's opinions, but it's good to be exposed to a range of opinions.

Another great site, in case you grow tired of the Main Stream Media, is the blog God's Politics, which features Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo, and friends.

Books, Bradbury, and Snoop Dogg

It's not a happy time to be a book lover in Long Beach, CA. We knew it was coming, but the official news is that our chaotic and wonderful Long Beach used book store, Acres of Books, is closing its doors on October 18, 2008. The CRA plans to redevelop the area and the owners decided to sell the property to the city. In June, Ray Bradbury spoke at the bookstore and described it this way: "I love this place. I love the smell of it. When it used to rain...I'd come to Long Beach, I'd come here to the Acres of Books and I'd go in the back. The back section has a tin roof, and you can stand there, with the rain beating on the tin roof, making you feel good. And you're picking up the books, and you smell them, and you're alone with your loves in Acres of Books. That's why I'm here." (As transcribed by lbreport.com.) It’s not pithy, but I know exactly what he meant!

Fortunately, another book crisis was averted when, on September 9, the City of Long Beach adopted a budget plan that included funds to keep the main library open. Earlier this summer, the city proposed to close the main library in order to save $1.8 million. A public outcry, including a visit by Snoop Dogg (see the picture below if you don't believe it) and a lecture by Ray Bradbury, forced the city to revise its plans. A Press Telegram article on Bradury's lecture ended with this quote: "Long Beach is part of my life," he said. "I'll be back to help you the next time you need me." Thanks Ray!

What Are You?

Lucy always saves her hard questions for bedtime, usually after the Bible reading, and the praying, and the singing are finished. I can’t recall how we got on the topic, but last night we talked about ways to answer the question, “What are you?” Of course, the obvious answer is: “I’m a person.” (This question is usually followed by, “No, I mean where are you from?” and then, “Where are your parents from?” with the goal of determining your race or ethnicity.) I told her that she could say she is both Japanese-American and White, or European-American. Lucy instantly responded, “Wait, we’re white? Who’s white?” (I was a little shocked, then I explained that Caroline’s ancestors are Scottish and English so that makes her European-American.)

Come to think of it, I've had my own moments of confusion in conversations about race and ethnicity. I attended the Calvin Festival of Faith and Writing in April. I had a great time, met tons of people, and had many enjoyable conversations. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that I had inserted an unusual level of awkwardness into around a dozen conversations. Several days after the fact, it dawned on me that when people had asked me about my background they didn’t want to know about my undergraduate education. I saw two other Asians at the Festival--out of a crowd of around 3,000 people--so I guess I would have asked about my background, too.

Two Unexpected Highlights

I pulled out Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring (yet again), and I was struck by two passages from the first chapter, “A Long-Expected Party.” As the years pass, I don't rush through as quickly to get to the action.

“The fireworks were by Gandalf: they were not only brought by him, but designed and made by him…They were all superb. The art of Gandalf improved with age.” (I hope that, like Gandalf, my art--chopping vegetables? skipping rocks?-- will improve with age.)

“Many young hobbits were included, and present by parental permission; for hobbits were easy-going with their children in the matter of sitting up late, especially when there was a chance of getting them a free meal. Bringing up young hobbits took a lot of provender.”

A few months ago we started buying provender at a place that Mark Mikasa calls “Costco-land."