Biblioburro

Just read a heartwarming article about a Colombian teacher delivering books to the countryside via donkeys named Alfa and Beto. If the link doesn't work, search for 'Acclaimed Colombian institution has 4,800 books and 10 legs' at http://www.nytimes.com/

I rearranged the desks in my office. It is more welcoming now and that makes me happy.

"Permanent Employment for Physicists for Decades"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/science/11collider.html

The article presents a melancholic tone in its description of Fermilab's new second-place position in the world of particle collision and in the dejection that followed Congress' decision not to fund the Superconducting Supercollidor.

In a roundabout way, CERN reminds me of the scene in 'Contact' where John Hurt's character explains to Jodi Foster's character that a second wormhole machine has been built in secret in Japan and all is not lost. ["Why build one when you can build two for twice the price?"]

The world may end

tonight! Those Swiss scientists are gearing up to recreate the Big Bang. Hold on to your hats.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/science/09collide.html

If, like me, you don't really understand the science, this video may help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j50ZssEojtM

And this video is just incredibly cute:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpAl58XyV5Q

Rhetoric

I was impressed with Obama's acceptance address at the Democratic National Convention last night. Man, that guy can speechify like nobody's business. He and his wife are rhetorical powerhouses and I mean that with the utmost respect, recognizing the definition of rhetoric as the art of speaking or writing effectively. Just over 2 months until November 4...

'Rhetoric' is more commonly used as a disparaging adjective. With that usage, I have been thinking hard about the Peace Corps' rhetoric of peace and friendship. The Peace Corps is an agency of the United States government and it has made clear that it is supportive of, and aligned with, US foreign policy. This is troubling and something about which I need to think more. Additionally, would I be taking away a job that would otherwise have gone to a citizen? And just because the host country invites the Peace Corps doesn't mean the city/town/village thinks that is the best use of resources and a position that they actually need. I'm not rethinking my desire to go overseas, rather I am pondering the question, "How should I make the best use of my skills?"

Unrelated but adorable, watch this with the sound off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0UKqwUd8Ec

Peace Corps cutbacks

The Washington Post reports that the Peace Corps has been asked to cut its budget by 15% which will result in 400 less positions in the coming year. I think I'll be safe but I've been researching alternatives just in case. I'm actually rather interested in WorldTeach's Access Academy position in Bangladesh.

Washington Post article If the link is broken, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/ and search for 'Peace Corps to pare ranks of volunteers'

The Wild

I just finished reading Into the Wild. I remember seeing it in an airport bookstore, years ago, but can't recall why I didn't pick it up. Probably because it didn't sound interesting. "Oh, rich hippie kid eschews privilege and dies due to stupid mistakes? No thanks."

But I picked it as my book club selection because I am interested in learning about people who choose something a little different and how they prepared for and dealt with the challenges, mental and physical (or didn't, in McCandless's case). Also because I realize that Peace Corps is inherently about rich people eschewing privilege for a while, emphasis on the temporary. Hopefully I will not die in the process or, if so, at least not due to a stupid mistake(s).

I recommend the book, if only for Jon Krakauer's chapter about his own youthful, naive Alaskan adventure. I don't symphathize with Chris McCandless but I can see how others would and I definitely see how I could have made both of his final, foolish mistakes. Note to self: a river in Spring is not the same river in Summer and don't eat what you don't know.

The Journey on the Wild Coast blog is the other end of the spectrum: people who could live for months in the wilderness, and did! Check out the photo of the pre-canned salmon. Neat.

Will I be living in 'primitive' conditions this time next year? Probably not and I won't lie and say I'm sad about that. I adore my conveniences but I'm curious to see how I react to conditions that are slightly, or more, less than what I'm used to.

Thankfulness

Recently I watched two documentaries that reminded me how privileged I am.

The first was The Devil Came on Horseback, an on-the-ground perspective of the genocide in Darfur. Brian Steidle was a Marine who went to work in 2004 as a ceasefire monitor for the African Union. As a monitor, his job was to observe and write reports. He heard stories about the violence in Darfur but that region of Sudan wasn't part of the negotiated ceasefire. Regardless, he started monitoring and what he found was almost beyond belief. His photographs, interviews, and video help to illuminate and make real an extremely dire situation.

I agree that Steidle is too much a part of the film -- I would prefer more interviews with people who survived the violence -- but it's still worth watching. Check out Global Grassroots for more information about successful efforts to help those displaced to Chad.

Wetback: The Undocumented Documentary was the second film. It's about illegal immigration and follows two men as they perilously make their way north from Honduras due to poverty. The director said that he chose to make the film after conversing with a man who had illegally immigrated to Canada and said that the most difficult and dangerous part of his journey was getting through Mexico. The man called Mexico the 'Highway of Hell'. I had heard of the Mara Salvatrucha gangs but learned more about how they originated. Luck be to any immigrant who crosses their path. A fascinating and heartbreaking film.

I learned this week that U.S. hospitals have the authority to deport people: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/us/03deport.htm

And that the Army published a field surgery manual:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/health/05surg.html

And that I am still deathly afraid of spiders. Case in point: last night I spent 45 minutes trying to work up the courage to kill a cocooned, obviously pregnant lady spider up in a corner of my room. A 1.5 hp shopvac didn't work! [Note to self: spiderwebs really are as strong as you heard they were.] Tentative poking with a BBQ skewer didn't work! Staring intently and wishing it away didn't work! Solution: fearless roommate.

God help me if I end up in a land of creepy crawlies.

Muskrat Love

A 5lb muskrat has undone all of the work put into a Winfield, MO levee. It's funny, from way up here in the sunny (snicker) Northwest, until you read this quote:

"How bad do I feel? You have no idea," said Travis Tutka, the Army Corps of Engineers' dam safety expert who helped coordinate the effort to save the levee. "The challenge we met for so long out here — I can't come up with the words for the feeling. The levee did as well as it did because of the resolve of the people who worked on it."

Dam on, engineers.

Taken from: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080627/ap_on_re_us/midwest_flooding

Courage

Edith Macefield died on Sunday at the small home she courageously refused to give up. Hers was a small battle in the global scheme but it impressed me nonetheless. Seattle developers offered her up to $1 million to leave her $130,000 property but she said no. The developers built around her.

RIP Edith.

http://www.komonews.com/news/20188164.html

[If the link doesn't work, go to komonews.com and search for 'epitome of vintage ballard']

Inactive status

I'm officially 'inactive' with Peace Corps until I show them that I've taken care of my financial obligations and/or have a plan to take care of them while I'm away. I am cautiously optimistic that, very soon, I'll be able to show PC that I'm financially clear. YAY!

Right now the Pacific Islands desk has my application but I think I'll get thrown back into the mix when I become active again. Often I am asked, "where do you want to go?" And my answer is, "I haven't been anywhere that Peace Corps goes so it's all new and therefore ok by me!"

As soon as I said it, I realized it was true. Any region/country is fine as long as I'll be at a teacher's college and training English teachers. I've stayed firm on the job description and flexible on the location so I think PC is happy.

PCV blog I like: http://onerevolution.net/

Peace Corps criticism

Interesting article written by a former Cameroon country director on the failed promises of the Peace Corps. I agree with him that sending untrained recent college graduates is a poor idea and I applaud PC's recent efforts to heavily recruit retirees. Also I agree with him about the need to measure success. 50 years and no assessment? That's disappointing.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4295&page=0

[If the link doesn't work, go to foreignpolicy.com and search for 'Think Again: The Peace Corps' by Robert L. Strauss]

Fear

What is there to be scared of? I mean, really?