LinuxLefty's personal blog - Misc

Team Day!

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:12:24 -0600

Every break, we try to have a team day where the Chinese staff and the American facilitators get together to hang out. This break, I was in charge of organizing the team day. First, we went into town for mutton sticks. Afterwards we had good 'ol American-style ice cream Sundays.

Mmmm.... ice cream!

Continue reading "Team Day!"

Five Things I Want to do Before I Die

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 06:05:29 -0600

WRITING_PROMPT:@List five things to do before you die. | Plinky@

See that I'm leaving the world better than I found it
Get married
See my kids making a difference in the world
Make a real, lasting difference in at least 50 people's lives
visit Alaska and Europe

Lies

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 06:00:03 -0600

WRITING_PROMPT:@Write about a lie you told to someone else, or to yourself|The One-Minute Writer@

Lies are a particular thing. When close to a lie, it can be almost impossible to spot the lie as it is alarmingly intertwined with every fiber of life. However, it can be easily and quickly spotted by those removed.

The biggest lie that I have struggled with is the lie that "what is done in private will only affect you." Of all the lies that people struggle with, this is the most dangerous and deadly. When buying into this lie I have gotten into more trouble than any other. That is why I always need to remember that sin is always sin and it will always affect everyone around me.

Because It's There!

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:00:15 -0600

Sometimes this is how I feel about my work in China. Sometimes I ask myself, why am I here? Why did I give up a good job with a good future to come to China and help sometimes-no-so-cooperative students? Why am I sorting and counting hundreds of pieces of paper in preparation for the next session? And then the answer comes. It's because I might have the opportunity to make an impact in the student's life here and for all eternity. That's why I'm here.

Winner, Loser

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:24:18 -0600

WRITING_PROMPT:@Write a brief, fictional piece about someone winning, someone losing, or both|The One-Minute Writer@

His face was locked in a concentrated stare as he focused all of his energies on the ten pins silently standing at the end of the lane, awaiting and certain and swift demise: almost like prisoners standing before a firing squad. Taking a deep breath, Frank's 235 pound frame slowly eased into motion as the ball was gently and purposefully drawn back, cocked and ready for action. Then exhaling, his body fluidly began propelling itself forward; arms, legs and torso all working together to provide a maximum velocity. As Frank reached the foul line, he released the ball, his body straining to give it one last bit of energy.

Upon the release, a satisfied grin crept over Frank's face. It had been a good night. With five straight strikes in a row, his luck was strong tonight and he felt confident that this bowl was a winner. The ball crashed into the pins, sending pins sprawling in every direction. All the pins had been decimated, racking up yet another strike. Frank performed his victory dance and raised his hands to high-five his onlooking friends. The fires of his enthusiasm were quickly doused with the apathetic glazes of his friends. One of friends put his arm around Frank and said soothingly, "Frank, we're happy for you, we really are. Maybe tomorrow you can play without the bumper guards!". Frank sighed.... baby steps; baby steps....

Plinky!

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:12:37 -0600

The other day I found out about EXTLINK:@http://www.plinky.com/|Plinky@, a service that sends you a daily writing prompt. It can also link into various different social networks. However, I just use it for its EXTLINK:@http://www.plinky.com/prompts|writing prompts@. Hopefully this will get me to practice / improve my writing and I can blog more! I created a new "musings" category and I'll be putting all my writing from Plinky in there

EDIT:

I also found the EXTLINK:@http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/|One Minute Writer@. I'll be using both of these. I can take one minute every day to improve my writing

The T.I.P Facilitators

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:21 -0600

Daniel - The Gangster
Patrick - The One Thats Up To No Good
Peter - The Geek
Nancy - The One You Can Depend On
Julia - The Innocent One
Laura - The One Thats Always Hungry
Holly - The Princess
Preston - The Funny Guy
Krista - The Stylish One
Syrena - The Drama Queen
Doro - The Good Friend
Kristi - The Cutie Pie
Jackie - The Tiny Dangerous One
Brandon - The Jock
Wouter - The Tower

Sarcasm

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:40:58 -0700

I saw this pin today and I agree with it completely. Sarcasm is definite a survival skill here in China.

The Auspicious Hotel

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 05:27:53 -0700

Today we had some important big-wigs over for a meeting. They were from an IT organization that is interested in sending students to attend TIP/IT. Since I was the teacher for the only TIP/IT class that we've had so far, I got to attend the meeting. As most people know, I very much dislike meetings and as far as meetings go, this one wasn't too painful. However, after the meeting we went to lunch!!!! Dr. Yu took them to the Auspicious Hotel, the best restaurant in ChangPing. The food the the decor were amazing!!! Supposedly, it runs about 100 to 200 yuan per person. Here are some photos I took in the restaurant

Haircut!

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:00:19 -0700

I went yesterday to get a badly needed haircut

I've always had short hair, but I'm starting to experiment with different Asian men's hair styles (shorter on the sides, but longer on top). I figured that since I'm in China, it would be a good time to try Asian hair styles, lol

New Workouts

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:47:17 -0600

I've been starting a new set of workouts and they are really good. I feel really good.

I've never liked going to a gym, preferring to do workouts at home if possible. If anyone is looking for good exercises to do in a hotel room or on the run, this would also be a good list. However, this list is only for upper body. I bike / walk almost everywhere in China so don't worry about my lower body too much.

Abs: EXTLINK:@http://www.beastskills.com/AbWheel.htm|Ab wheel@. This is is a small wheel that can be easily dissembled and taken where ever you go. However, it an dish out a lot of work. It is great for working on your core strength, and is relatively inexpensive.

Chest: EXTLINK:@http://www.trainforstrength.com/ex-1.shtml|Dive-bomber@ push-ups and diamond pushups Both of these are a variation of the basic pushup and are a lot harder. The diver-bomber, especially works a wider range of muscles.

Shoulders: EXTLINK:@http:/www.criticalbench.com/push_up_exercise.htm|Pike handstand pushups@ I'm not strong enough to perform a hand stand pushups, but this is the next best thing. This provides a great shoulder workout while being easier and safer

Biceps: Curls . I do normal curls as you would do with weights. However, I don't have any weights so I use my backpack instead. With my watter bottle, Bible, some textbooks and a Chinese dictionary it does the job. I try to do the curls really slowly. Also, I use the backpack to do wing lifts to work different shoulder muscles.

Triceps: EXTLINK:@http://www.fitstep.com/Misc/Newsletter-archives/issue12-bench-dip-tip.htm|Bench dips@ This is easily done with a chair and books can be added to the lap if it becomes too easy.

Back: EXTLINK:@http://www.tacticalathlete.com/bridge2.htm|Back bridge@ Great workout for the back

Well that's my basic workout. I divide the workout into two parts. I work on one section of muscles one day and another section the next. That reduces the time needed to block out for workouts and still gives my muscles a rest.

Any thoughts?

Remembering the Holocaust

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 21:04:19 -0600

I'm not sure how many of you are aware that April 15 - April 22 is the EXTLINK:@http://www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/years/2007/|National Days of Remembrance@ for the victims of the the Holocaust.

Mr. Nutz (a friend / elder from church) and I went down to the EXTLINK:@http://www.ushmm.org/|United States Holocaust Memorial Museum@. For those who have not seen this, it is definitely worth the visit. It was good to know more about what happened and why the holocaust occurred. There was quite a bit of shocking and repulsive material, but all of it was necessary to accurately document what happened.

Throughout the museum, there were many quotes that filled the walls. Here are a couple that really made me think:

Only guard yourself and guard your soul carefully, lest you forget the things your eyes saw, and lest these things depart your heart all the days of your life, and you shall make them known to your children, and to your children's children.

Deuteronomy 4:9

Out of our memory...of the Holocaust we must forge an unshakable oath with all civilized people that never again will the world stand silent, never again will the world...fail to act in time to prevent this terrible crime of genocide....we must harness the outrage of our own memories to stamp out oppression wherever it exists. We must understand that human rights and human dignity are indivisible.

Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States

Where books are burned, in the end people will be burned.

Heinrich Heine

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.

Pastor Martin Niemoller

Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. ...Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.

Elie Wiesel

Even if you are not able to go to the holocaust museum, at least take a moment to skim through the EXTLINK:@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust|Wikipedia article on the Holocaust@.