Kate called to tell us that she and Phil are expecting a baby boy! I squealed with delight, but then added that we would have been just as happy to hear it was a baby girl! Truthfully, we just want Kate, the baby and Phil to all be healthy and happy, now and forever, Amen. Still, the idea of having a boy born into the family is very exciting because right now there are a whole lot of girls.
Unlike when Kate’s sister Carrie was pregnant with “Bambalina” who became Isabella Rose, we all know the name of the baby already. Phil is in the unusual position of being not just a “junior” or a “third”, but a “fourth”! So “Phil the Fifth”, or “P5” is officially on the way! P5 is joining a very interesting, exciting, loving and fun loving family. We can hardly wait to see what he brings to the mix!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
A Liter Of Light
Two minutes of your time will open your eyes to an incredibly clever idea! Originally created by students at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), these Solar Bottle Bulbs are now helping people in poor communities in the Philippines.
Find more information at the Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light) website.
You can follow the 1LitrongLiwanagTeam on Twitter.
And you can “like” A Liter of Light on FaceBook.
Find more information at the Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light) website.
You can follow the 1LitrongLiwanagTeam on Twitter.
And you can “like” A Liter of Light on FaceBook.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Ben’s A Father
...but not a Dad.
Because he donated to a sperm bank, Ben Seisler is the biological father of at least 75 children. The subtitle on the Boston Globe article by Linda Matchan reads: “As kids conceived with donated sperm grow up, life may get complicated for donors”.
But aren’t the lives of the 75 half-siblings just as complicated - if not more so?
Read the complete, thought provoking article here.
Because he donated to a sperm bank, Ben Seisler is the biological father of at least 75 children. The subtitle on the Boston Globe article by Linda Matchan reads: “As kids conceived with donated sperm grow up, life may get complicated for donors”.
But aren’t the lives of the 75 half-siblings just as complicated - if not more so?
Read the complete, thought provoking article here.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
They’ll Do Anything
There was an extremely disturbing article in Mother Jones today.
It outlines the Republican strategy to gerrymander the Electoral College.
The piece by Nick Baumann is entitled: “The GOP's Genius Plan to Beat Obama in 2012”.
Be warned, the word “genius” in the title is not sarcastic.
: : Update: Nate Silver, the statistical (and political) genius behind “FiveThirtyEight” which now lives at The New York Times, has a new post up: “Pennsylvania Electoral College Plan Could Backfire on G.O.P. ”.
We can only hope.
It outlines the Republican strategy to gerrymander the Electoral College.
The piece by Nick Baumann is entitled: “The GOP's Genius Plan to Beat Obama in 2012”.
Be warned, the word “genius” in the title is not sarcastic.
: : Update: Nate Silver, the statistical (and political) genius behind “FiveThirtyEight” which now lives at The New York Times, has a new post up: “Pennsylvania Electoral College Plan Could Backfire on G.O.P. ”.
We can only hope.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
September 11th
Because this is the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001, there has been an intense focus on the tragedy of that day.
It changed us.
It changed us all.
But today, on this solemn anniversary, I want to remember the kindness. Citizens and leaders of countries all around the world reached out to us here in the United States. They expressed love, compassion, sympathy, friendship, solidarity and support. Ordinary folks of all ages took to the streets of their hometowns with signs and flowers and candles. They made their way to US embassies and signed condolence books. They ordered the flags of their own nations flown at half staff to honor the dead. They wept. They prayed. They rallied to our side. We were no longer one nation, but one world, indivisible, seeking liberty and justice for all.
Today, I will remember the kindness...
It changed us.
It changed us all.
But today, on this solemn anniversary, I want to remember the kindness. Citizens and leaders of countries all around the world reached out to us here in the United States. They expressed love, compassion, sympathy, friendship, solidarity and support. Ordinary folks of all ages took to the streets of their hometowns with signs and flowers and candles. They made their way to US embassies and signed condolence books. They ordered the flags of their own nations flown at half staff to honor the dead. They wept. They prayed. They rallied to our side. We were no longer one nation, but one world, indivisible, seeking liberty and justice for all.
Today, I will remember the kindness...
Saturday, September 10, 2011
To Be Awesome Again
1. Read this wonderful piece by Melissa Wardy.
2. Then embrace your true, authentic awesomeness.
3. Then help a child to embrace theirs!
2. Then embrace your true, authentic awesomeness.
3. Then help a child to embrace theirs!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Dear National Grid, NSTAR, et al
Thank you.
Thank you for all your long hours and hard work.
Special thanks to the linemen who go out in all sorts of miserable and dangerous conditions so that our lives can be easier and safer.
And thank you for restoring power to my nieces’ homes after Irene left them in the dark.
Now I’d like a word with management.
Please bury your power lines.
Seriously.
Your infrastructure is aging.
Your lines and poles are vulnerable.
I know because during the ice storm of December 2008 our power was out for 157 hours - nearly seven days.
Because of Hurricane Irene more than seven million homes and businesses lost power.
Is burying the power lines expensive?
Damn straight it’s expensive.
But so is the cost to homeowners, businesses, insurance companies, municipalities and the utility companies themselves when power lines come crashing down under the weight of ice or the fierce power of hurricanes.
Isn’t burying power lines complicated by all of the coordination with municipalities?
Yup.
Will burying the power lines keep us from ever losing power?
Nope.
Will burying the power lines help?
Damn straight.
Sincerely,
Lee/Pink Granite
Further information:
Article in the Christian Science Monitor
Underground 2020
Interview on NPR
Q & A at Renewable Energy World
Thank you for all your long hours and hard work.
Special thanks to the linemen who go out in all sorts of miserable and dangerous conditions so that our lives can be easier and safer.
And thank you for restoring power to my nieces’ homes after Irene left them in the dark.
Now I’d like a word with management.
Please bury your power lines.
Seriously.
Your infrastructure is aging.
Your lines and poles are vulnerable.
I know because during the ice storm of December 2008 our power was out for 157 hours - nearly seven days.
Because of Hurricane Irene more than seven million homes and businesses lost power.
Is burying the power lines expensive?
Damn straight it’s expensive.
But so is the cost to homeowners, businesses, insurance companies, municipalities and the utility companies themselves when power lines come crashing down under the weight of ice or the fierce power of hurricanes.
Isn’t burying power lines complicated by all of the coordination with municipalities?
Yup.
Will burying the power lines keep us from ever losing power?
Nope.
Will burying the power lines help?
Damn straight.
Sincerely,
Lee/Pink Granite
Further information:
Article in the Christian Science Monitor
Underground 2020
Interview on NPR
Q & A at Renewable Energy World
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