Coffee thief No. 2

Once again Luka wants some coffee.

Posted by Mark Wallace Posted in: Luka No Comments » November 2007

The Last Class of 2007

I just finished the last night of my eight week photography course. We
had a blast and I’m going to miss hanging out with everyone.

This is a photo of Amy and Michael from my Tuesday night class.

Posted by Mark Wallace Posted in: Photography No Comments » November 2007

Living life backwards

I’m still reading Middlesex.  I’m toward the end now and just read a terrific paragraph.  Let me share.

“I hadn’t gotten old enough yet to realize that living sends a person not into the future but into the past, to childhood and before birth, finally, to commune with the dead.  You get older, you puff on the stairs, you enter the body of your father.  From there it’s only a quick jump to your grandparents, and then before you know it you’re time-traveling.  In this life we grow backwards.  It’s always the gray-haired tourists on Italian buses who can tell you something about the Etruscans.”

In a funny way it reminded me of Start With The Ending by David Wilcox

Posted by Mark Wallace Posted in: Books, Music No Comments » November 2007

Obominable ‘O Holy Night’ Revealed!

This is just too rich not to post.  One of my favorite holiday traditions has been to send out the incredibly bad, horrific, life changing version of “O Holy Night” that has spread like wildfire across the internet.

Now it looks like we know who the original “artist” is.  Click here to read more about the man who started it all.

Posted by Mark Wallace Posted in: Humor, Music No Comments » November 2007

Give One Get One = buy 2

This seems like a good idea, but it has a few flaws.  I’m all for education for everyone but maybe we should start with basic math.

Give One Get One seems to imply that if I give someone 1 of something I should get 1 of something.  That means I only pay for 1 of that thing.  But it’s clear that “Give One Get One” actually means, “hey, buy two of these!”

For a donation of $399, one XO laptop will be sent to empower a child in a developing nation and one will be sent to the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. $200 of your donation is tax-deductible (your $399 donation minus the fair market value of the XO laptop you will be receiving).

-quoted from OLPC

So if the fair market value is $200 and I’m giving you $400 for 2 computers…  Yep, that means I’m buying two.  What a gimmick.

I’m not opposed to giving out laptops, but I think the need for basic food and water is a little higher on the list of priorities.  How about peace?  Maybe a no-fly zone over Darfur?

“This is not just a matter of giving a laptop to each child, as if bestowing on them some magical charm. The magic lies within—within each child, within each scientist-, scholar-, or just-plain-citizen-in-the-making. This initiative is meant to bring it forth into the light of day.”—Kofi Annan

Sounds good Kofi.  Oh, by the way, Kofi is also the dude who did nothing during the genocide in Rwanda.  I base my assertion on the book (and research documented in) We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda

Do you want to make an impact?  Maybe you should take some lessons from Bill Gates.

As you probably know, Gates is aggressively tackling third world diseases. He has targeted not only high-profile scourges like AIDS but also maladies like malaria, diarrhea, and parasitic infections. These latter illnesses are the really important ones to attack, because they kill millions a year and are entirely preventable. For decades, they flew under the radar of philanthropists in the West. – Clive Thompson

Ok, don’t bash me just yet.  Go ahead and do some research and see if OLPC is the right thing for you.  Here’s some more reading:

http://www.olpcnews.com/

What the heck? The laptop is only 100 bucks?  Hmmm, shouldn’t that mean my $400 donation turns into 4 laptops?  I’m sure they have to take into account shipping, administration, etc.  Who knows?  Does anyone know where we can find out who the kids are who get the laptops and how the money is being spent??

Help me out here.

Posted by Mark Wallace Posted in: Charity, Politics No Comments » November 2007

The real deal

8:15 and the real dude arrives. Note to self: new watch for Craig this Christmas.

Posted by Mark Wallace Posted in: Humor 1 Comment » November 2007

Imaginary Friend

I’m hanging out at Starbucks with my imaginary friend Craig.  Usually he shows up in person, but today he’s only a chair…

Posted by Mark Wallace Posted in: Humor No Comments » November 2007

So I married an Iraqi Terrorist…

Upon inspecting the convoy, soldiers found a stubbly-faced man, Haider al-Bahadli, decked out in a white bride’s dress and veil

Click here for the full story.

Posted by Mark Wallace Posted in: News No Comments » November 2007

Middlesex update

I’m about half way through the book Middlesex that my friend Celeste recommended I read.  I have to say that I’m really enjoying it. Its the story of a Greek American family told through the eyes of Cal Stephanides, a 41 year old hermaphrodite.  Yeah, that’s what I thought too – what kind of story is this?

It’s a great story.  Yesterday I thought I’d read a few pages and wound up mesmerized for a few hours as I turned page after page.  One of the memorable quotes:

Emotions, in my experience aren’t covered by single words. I don’t believe in “sadness,” “joy,” or “regret.” … I’d like to have at my disposal complicated hybrid emotions, Germanic traincar constructions like, say, “the happiness that attends disaster.” Or: “the disappointment of sleeping with one’s fantasy.” … I’d like to have a word for “the sadness inspired by failing restaurants” as well as for “the excitement of getting a room with a minibar.” I’ve never had the right words to describe my life, and now that I’ve entered my story, I need them more than ever.

Another thing I like about the book is it’s references to actual historical events.  It’s the first time I’d heard of the Great Fire of Smyrna.  This fire sets the first act of the book in motion.  We also get to learn about pre-depression Detroit and The Nation of Islam (although I’m not sure how accurate the description is).

I’m not done with the book yet, but I’ve read enough to know I’d recommend it.  Thanks for the recommendation Celeste!

Posted by Mark Wallace Posted in: Books 1 Comment » November 2007

Crappy Dog Park

We took Luka to the dog park earlier today.  Luka had a blast.  Unfortunately we probably won’t be going back anytime soon.  The dog park was littered with dog poo.  Not only is this nasty but it’s very unhealthy was well.  The dog park has signs everywhere telling people to clean up after their dogs.  They even have stations placed all over with doggie bags and trash cans.  They couldn’t really make it any easier to clean up after your dog.  But clearly, people aren’t cleaning up after their dogs.

What’s up with dog owners just letting their dogs poop and then not cleaning up after them?  That’s part of being a dog owner.  If you own a dog you’d better pick up after them.  After all – it’s your duty (pun intended).

Posted by Mark Wallace Posted in: Luka No Comments » November 2007

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