Tonight President Obama will be hosting the two men at the center of the recent racial profiling scandal, in Cambridge, MA, at the White House. As has been well reported, they will be sitting down to discuss their issues over a beer. Alcohol has long been used to grease the skids for negotiations and apparently this age old tactic is not below the President of the United States.
With all the different angles and issues to be dissected and analyzed about this meeting here is arguably the most important: What type of beer will they be drinking? Apparently at the White House even your drink orders have to be vetted and their choices have been the topic of some debate. NPR even ran a story on it last evening. So if you're curious here is what the three men will be drinking:
President Obama - Bud Light (originally reported as just Bud but the president's press secretary notified the media of the correction in his afternoon press conference yesterday - no joke)
Professor Gates - Red Stripe
Sgt. Crowley - Blue Moon
Bottoms up gentleman!
Seriously?
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. Well, here are 1,000 words about the growing obesity issue in America. (Note: if twinkies are not your favorite you could also get a deep fried oreo or banana at this fine establishment.)
Winning by losing
Officially Lance Armstrong did not win le Tour de France in his return to the race after a 3 year 'retirement' but he may have done more to help promote his Livestrong Foundation internationally by losing.
So is it possible? Can you really win when you actually lose? It depends on what your goal is. While Lance Armstrong has long been admired in the United States for both his professional and philanthropic achievements he has at the same time been equally reviled across Europe, especially in France, the home of le Tour.
The complete focus, dedication and cut throat nature that led Armstrong to the pinnacle of professional cycling and an unprecedented seven consecutive Tour victories from 1999-2005 also made him appear cold, calculating and unapproachable. A very bad combination if you are trying to gain broad based public support for a charitable cause.
But a funny thing happened during the 3,500km (2,174 miles) trip to Paris this year. Lance Armstrong became a human being. While still finishing an amazing 3rd in the Tour (at age 37 the third oldest podium finish in the 106 year tour history) Armstrong is no longer unbeatable, at least in the world of competitive cycling, and that just might help him become a stronger international force for his foundation. Why? Because in losing he showed the world, most importantly a jaundiced European public that he can be both humble and gracious and is willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of the overall cause (in this case playing a supporting role to help his teammate win the Tour); and those traits will take you a long way in gaining the broad based public support necessary for a charitable cause to be successful.
So did Lance Armstrong win? I guess that depends on the measurement. If his goal was to win le Tour de France then no, he fell short. But, if his goal was, as he often stated, to promote his the Livestrong foundation internationally then he most certainly won.
So is it possible? Can you really win when you actually lose? It depends on what your goal is. While Lance Armstrong has long been admired in the United States for both his professional and philanthropic achievements he has at the same time been equally reviled across Europe, especially in France, the home of le Tour.
The complete focus, dedication and cut throat nature that led Armstrong to the pinnacle of professional cycling and an unprecedented seven consecutive Tour victories from 1999-2005 also made him appear cold, calculating and unapproachable. A very bad combination if you are trying to gain broad based public support for a charitable cause.
But a funny thing happened during the 3,500km (2,174 miles) trip to Paris this year. Lance Armstrong became a human being. While still finishing an amazing 3rd in the Tour (at age 37 the third oldest podium finish in the 106 year tour history) Armstrong is no longer unbeatable, at least in the world of competitive cycling, and that just might help him become a stronger international force for his foundation. Why? Because in losing he showed the world, most importantly a jaundiced European public that he can be both humble and gracious and is willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of the overall cause (in this case playing a supporting role to help his teammate win the Tour); and those traits will take you a long way in gaining the broad based public support necessary for a charitable cause to be successful.
So did Lance Armstrong win? I guess that depends on the measurement. If his goal was to win le Tour de France then no, he fell short. But, if his goal was, as he often stated, to promote his the Livestrong foundation internationally then he most certainly won.
Waiting for the Sun
About a year and a half ago Deb and I visited London for a few days. I worked in London for a short time and had some experience in the city but it was all new for Deb and mostly new for me from a tourist perspective. The thing about visiting London is it typically rains close to half of the days every month so you have a choice to make. You either plan a very flexible schedule and spend a lot of time inside waiting for the sun to come out or you have to be willing to get wet. So if you are like us and only have a couple days and really want to see and enjoy the city you are going to get wet (in our case very wet).
Life is a lot like visiting London and you have a choice to make. You can either spend your life waiting (waiting for just the right opportunities, waiting for all the problems to work themselves out, waiting for your next promotion or raise, waiting for a better deal, waiting for just the right timing) or you can choose to get wet.
Unfortunately too many of us choose to wait for the sun to come out and end up missing life. That is what happened to us after Connor was born. We put our life on hold, waiting for him to get off the ventilator and get better so we could get on with our plans and his childhood. At first it was just going to be a couple months, then a year, then when they told us maybe two years. We finally stopped, took a step back and re-evaluated. The sun was not going to come out for a long time so we had a choice to make. Either keep missing life and our son's childhood or get a little wet. Thankfully we chose to get wet (and we got very wet).
What you learn after awhile is that going out in the rain is only uncomfortable for the first couple of minutes. Once you are wet, you are wet. It doesn't really get any worse over time and before you know it you are having fun.
So what are you waiting for?
Life is a lot like visiting London and you have a choice to make. You can either spend your life waiting (waiting for just the right opportunities, waiting for all the problems to work themselves out, waiting for your next promotion or raise, waiting for a better deal, waiting for just the right timing) or you can choose to get wet.Unfortunately too many of us choose to wait for the sun to come out and end up missing life. That is what happened to us after Connor was born. We put our life on hold, waiting for him to get off the ventilator and get better so we could get on with our plans and his childhood. At first it was just going to be a couple months, then a year, then when they told us maybe two years. We finally stopped, took a step back and re-evaluated. The sun was not going to come out for a long time so we had a choice to make. Either keep missing life and our son's childhood or get a little wet. Thankfully we chose to get wet (and we got very wet).
What you learn after awhile is that going out in the rain is only uncomfortable for the first couple of minutes. Once you are wet, you are wet. It doesn't really get any worse over time and before you know it you are having fun.
So what are you waiting for?
One Small Step...
40 years ago today man stepped on the moon for the first time. While that is certainly a historic accomplishment to be celebrated it only represents a small part of the story. The accomplishment of those three men was only possible because of the vision, commitment, dedication and passion of thousands of other men and women. It was only possible because of the ultimate sacrifice made by three other men.
We as a society are drawn to the 'stars'. To those who are in front of the camera. Our desire for instant gratification causes us to oversimplify amazing accomplishments into a single event instead of recognizing the years of toil and anguish that made that moment possible.
So today we should certainly celebrate the amazing accomplishment of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins (he was the one who stayed in the command module) but we should not forget that their amazing accomplishment was made possible by thousands of people working tirelessly for over nine years. Remember significant achievements are rarely, if ever, accomplished overnight.
We as a society are drawn to the 'stars'. To those who are in front of the camera. Our desire for instant gratification causes us to oversimplify amazing accomplishments into a single event instead of recognizing the years of toil and anguish that made that moment possible.
So today we should certainly celebrate the amazing accomplishment of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins (he was the one who stayed in the command module) but we should not forget that their amazing accomplishment was made possible by thousands of people working tirelessly for over nine years. Remember significant achievements are rarely, if ever, accomplished overnight.
How not to pursuade people.
Insulting your opposition will NEVER bring them around to your point of view. It cements them against you - Shar McBee
It is amazing how many people and organizations do not understand this simple truth. Politicians (pretty self explanatory), The Evangelical Church (abortion and gay rights to name two), foreign dictators (Iran, North Korea and Venezuela all come to mind).
If you want to get your opposition to come around to your point of view the first step is to stop thinking of them as your opposition. Spend some time getting to know them, maybe even do something nice for them. You'll probably be surprised to find out you have many things in common with them, and once you find some common ground you will be able to begin constructively discussing (not fighting about) your differences.
What about you? How do you deal with your opposition?
It is amazing how many people and organizations do not understand this simple truth. Politicians (pretty self explanatory), The Evangelical Church (abortion and gay rights to name two), foreign dictators (Iran, North Korea and Venezuela all come to mind).
If you want to get your opposition to come around to your point of view the first step is to stop thinking of them as your opposition. Spend some time getting to know them, maybe even do something nice for them. You'll probably be surprised to find out you have many things in common with them, and once you find some common ground you will be able to begin constructively discussing (not fighting about) your differences.
What about you? How do you deal with your opposition?
How can I help?
How can I help? It is a question that we were asked many times during our journey with Connor and it is a question that we are now asked routinely about the families we serve through Connor's House.
Typically what people are asking is: what can I do? how can I fix it? how can I rescue you from the hell you are living in? The reality is that you can't fix it. You can't rescue the child or the family. But that doesn't mean there is nothing you can do.
Sister Frances, the founder of Helen House (the worlds first pediatric hospice house which opened in England in 1982) was once asked a similar question 'What is the most important thing we can do for the child and family' and I think her answer was perfect. 'Be willing to walk alongside them.'
It sounds simple enough, but for those of you who have walked that journey or lived that journey you know, it is far from simple. To walk alongside a child and family through the most tragic journey imaginable will stretch you to your limits. For to walk alongside is not to do or to fix but simply to be. It is to be present knowing that you cannot fix or rescue but more importantly than either of those; to be is to allow the child and family to be honest about who they are what they are going through.
Typically what people are asking is: what can I do? how can I fix it? how can I rescue you from the hell you are living in? The reality is that you can't fix it. You can't rescue the child or the family. But that doesn't mean there is nothing you can do.
Sister Frances, the founder of Helen House (the worlds first pediatric hospice house which opened in England in 1982) was once asked a similar question 'What is the most important thing we can do for the child and family' and I think her answer was perfect. 'Be willing to walk alongside them.'
It sounds simple enough, but for those of you who have walked that journey or lived that journey you know, it is far from simple. To walk alongside a child and family through the most tragic journey imaginable will stretch you to your limits. For to walk alongside is not to do or to fix but simply to be. It is to be present knowing that you cannot fix or rescue but more importantly than either of those; to be is to allow the child and family to be honest about who they are what they are going through.
Histiocytosis - Finding a Cure
New video from the Histiocytosis Associate of America (HAA). The the opening line "I think it's very difficult to be the parent of a child with a life threatening illness" just might win the understatement of the year award. Here are some of the facts that they don't give in the video:
- HLH affects 1.2 in 1,000,000 children under the age of 15 (i.e. it is very rare).
- HLH only 50% of children diagnosed with HLH will survive 5 years (Connor was one of the other 50%).
- HLH is an orphan disease and receives no federal funding for research (this makes the work of the HAA very important).
One Ordinary Person
One ordinary person with the right combination of character and determination really can change the world. - Tom Brokaw
Greatness is always built on this foundation: the ability to appear, speak and act, as the most common man. - Sams-ud-din Muhammed Hafiz
Greatness is always built on this foundation: the ability to appear, speak and act, as the most common man. - Sams-ud-din Muhammed Hafiz
Pond Tour Tickets Now Available.
TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE - Atlantis Water Gardens will be hosting their annual Parade of Ponds Tour on August 1-2, 2009 to benefit Connor's House. Your ticket gives you front row access to more than 20 breathtaking water gardens' situated at homes and businesses throughout Morris, Essex and Passaic counties during the weekend of August 1st & 2nd. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated exclusively to Connor's House. Find out more and get ticket information at www.atlantiswatergardens.com.
Great Interview Question
While meeting with the folks at George Mark Children's House last week the topic of hiring came up. They suggested a great interview question. It is definitely applicable to small to mid-sized social service non-profits but I think it is good assesment question regardless of the size of your business or industry it is in. Ask all candidates, regardless of the type or level of job they are interviewing for, if necessary would they be willing to do the dishes and clean the facility? Would you?
You know you are in big trouble when...
You know you are in big trouble when a bankruptcy attorney tells you that your organization cannot afford to file for chapter 11 protection.
Random Thoughts from my trip to San Francisco
Just got back from a mostly vacation in San Francisco/Northern California (one really good day of business in the middle visiting George Mark Children's House). The following are some random thoughts from the trip.
- Rental Car: Dodge Caliber - I no longer have any questions about why Chrysler went bankrupt.
- Always wash your fresh fruit - It is strawberry picking season in Northern California. I was amazed to watch the field workers pick the fruit right off the vine into the little plastic containers you find in the supermarket. The only processing involved was their hand touching the fruit.
- Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Santa Cruz - I LOVE the Jersey Shore but in terms of raw beauty it doesn't even come close.
- Napa Valley - Enjoyable day but overall it did not live up to the hype. Granted I've been spoiled by Tuscany but it was very touristy and very expensive.
- Biodynamic Farming - Very informative tour at Benziger Family Winery. If you are interested in sustainable/organic/green issues and are ever in the area (Sonoma not Napa) I recommend it.
- 4th of July Fireworks - Sitting in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge watching fireworks from three different cities around the bay at the same time will be a hard 4th of July experience to top.
- San Francisco is a great coffee town (especially the North Beach area).
- Driving around (up and down really) San Francisco is like riding an amusement park ride. I have not been in another city that is more fun to drive in.
- Carmel is one of the quaintest towns I have ever been in, right out of a story book.
- Red Eye flight home: I may be getting to old for that.
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