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call for reform

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Vatican calls for the reform of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.  More details at Whispers in the Loggia April 18, 2012. It made the news in The New York Times.

music

Sunday, April 15, 2012

I don't often buy music CD. But I yesterday I did make an impulse purchase of Adele's 21 album, in hopes of finding more music gems. No such luck. The radio stations have already picked out the better songs.

I continue to appreciate The Beatles, with Michael Jackson a close second, who put out almost 100% likeable music.

update: Gumby listened to the CD and loved it. If it were an LP record, the tracks would be all worn out by now.

going overboard

Friday, April 13, 2012

I just finished watching Nightline's story about parents spending tons of money to prepare their preschoolers for the entrance exam to schools for gifted kids.

I find it rather irksome.
1. If there is one thing that life has taught me, it's that brain smarts isn't everything. I've seen geniuses fail miserably in life. Fail in relationships. Fail in emotional stability.
2. Aside from that there are a variety of intelligence, you might call it "talent." You only need one exceptional talent (and some marketing magic + drive) to do well.
3. We don't all learn the same way. Classroom instruction is not necessarily the best way to gain our education. I once heard on the radio some comment about how ridiculous it would be to put all the animals in the jungle in a classroom and expect them to perform equally well in the different tasks. Lions are not good swimmers and tigers are not good climbers, for example.
4. Finally, I don't believe in studying for tests that are meant to measure your general intelligence. I don't believe in studying for the SAT.

Formal education is good. I'm all for it. But please put it in perspective; it's not the end-all, be-all.

I have come to appreciate the marvelous talents, personalities, courage, creativity and various redeeming qualities of others. Yes, redeeming qualities. We all have some redeeming qualities don't we?

Happy Easter

Saturday, April 07, 2012

Wishing everyone a most blessed and holy Easter season! May you experience more deeply the love, mercy, wisdom, power, and closeness of God.