By Bradford Queen, Managing Editor, on Wed Jul 25, 2012 at 12:30 PM ET
Monsignor William Lynn, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 3-6 years in prison for covering up sex claims against Roman Catholic priests. [NYT]
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says the West is “asleep” to the narrative of Islamist extremism. He discussed his Christian faith with The Daily Telegraph. [Telegraph]
Mike Huckabee announced ‘Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day’ in the wake of the company’s founder’s public denouncement of gay marriage. [The Washington Post]
An appeals court ruled against a Wisconsin school system that held its graduations in a church. The Court said the district unlawfully endorsed a religion. [The Christian Post]
By John Y. Brown III, on Wed Jul 25, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
Week two with the iPhone.
I like it.
If this were The Bachelor, the iPhone would get another rose. And proceed to week 3.
But not before showing some highlight clips from the prior week. And not flattering ones.
The time I was alone with my iPhone and asked if it had ever stayed charged long enough to see what dusk looked like.
The time I typed “i” inadvertently instead of “o” 5 times, said s…omething really loud. Just a single word, really. And then substituted another word that didn’t have an “i” or “o.”
And, finally, sarcastically joking with a friend about several mishaps —in front of the iPhone.
But then we rounded out the week with a sweet highlight where I called tech services and later took it into a local Verizon store complaining about the ringer sign being frozen on screen. Then the Verizon person showed me I had put the case on upside down.
We all had a nice laugh.
But I’m giving a rose because there’s something about this iPhone. It did not have me at hello. Or even at Siri’s first clever response. Just seems like the kind of phone you can be with for long periods of time and not need to say anything. And even though I get frustrated with it sometimes, I can’t stay mad at the iPhone. I just can’t!
And it helps that it’s kinda cool. I need that. We compliment each other well. I can’t decide if we are more like Claire and Phil Dunphy or Jay and Gloria from Modern Family.
Hard to say. The important thing, though, is that it just works.
Few would deny that Rupert Murdoch and his papers’ dirty tactics went too far, but now London is seeing hesitation by news outlets to track down any of these “unsavory” stories. [NY Times]
Awaiting the day they will return home, Syrian refugees in Turkey have found some peace and normalcy for now. [NY Times]
A motley crew marched on the White House yesterday, demanding more government support for the fight against AIDS. [WSJ]
In my book, keynote speech and leadership workshops, all under the title “Building Cathedrals:The Power of Purpose,” I introduce a powerful metaphor of a “Fire” to describe personal and organizational setbacks we’ve all experienced. The metaphor originates from the great fire of 1666 that leveled London. Pre 1666, London was a very medieval town. 10,000 people annually dying of the plague. The major cause of the plague was diseased carrying rats and fleas. After the fire, the rats and fleas were gone. The leaders of London were determined and succeeded in rebuilding and making London a great city. We too, like London, can come out of our personal “fires” great.
I’m sure optimism played a big part in the leaders of London as they began to rebuild. Optimism has played a significant role in my transition from 20 plus years in corporate America to now an independent business owner, realizing that while I would experience months without making any money whatsoever, I would eventually be successful. In fact my co-author, Skip Wirth, lists seven characteristics of those who come out of “fires,” with number seven being “optimism.” And while I still believe more than ever the power of being optimistic, I also realize the challenge of never confusing faith that we will prevail in the end—which we cannot afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of our current reality (our “fires”), whatever they might be.
Admiral Stockdale
This lesson is best explained in an interview with Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was the highest ranking United States military officer in the “Hanoi Hilton” prisoner-of-war camp during the height of the Vietnam War. Tortured over 20 times during his eight-year imprisonment from 1965 to 1973, Stockdale lived out the war with without any prisoner’s rights, no set release date and no certainty as to whether he would ever see his family again. He shouldered the burden of command; doing everything he could to create conditions that would increase the number of prisoners who would survive unbroken, while fighting an internal war against his captors.
During an interview, Admiral Stockdale was asked what helped him and the other survivors endure the torture and isolation. He described elaborate communications systems, strategies to reduce the sense of isolation and even coping mechanisms while being tortured. Reluctantly, the interviewer finally asked the question, “Who didn’t make it out?”
Read the rest of… Greg Coker: Prevailing in the End
While traveling through the Jewish State, The RP was interviewed about his new book, The Liberal Case for Israel by The Times of Israel. Here’s a clip:
Q: Your book debunks “eight crazy lies” about the Jewish State. Are they actually lies, or possibly misunderstandings?
A: There are many misunderstanding, but I identify untruths that really do rise to the level of crazy lies. This includes the libel that Israel is an Apartheid state and the ridiculous notion that Israel promotes gay tourism as a way to “pinkwash” its faults.
Q: One of the lies you debunk in the book is the use of the word “apartheid” when referring to Israel. In brief, what is your argument against this lie?
A: Arab citizens of Israel have all of the same rights and responsibilities as their Jewish neighbors (with one exception — military conscription which is now being debated.) This thoroughly refutes the notion that there is apartheid. Even in the disputed territories, Palestinian engage in self-government — a completely opposite approach of the former apartheid regime in South Africa.
By John Y. Brown III, on Tue Jul 24, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
“I know it is going to be a good day when….(fill in the blank with what the tip odf is for you).
Me?
It’s when driving to work I nail lip-synching Mos Def’s “Know That” from the album Black on Both Sides. And when I nail both Mos Def’s AND Talib Kweli’s part –like I did this morning….well, step aside son.
Anything is possible for me.
There is nothing I can’t lip-sync.
That is until I get …to the office and am waiting at the elevator. Then I start to question the correlation between my illest hip-hop impersonations and having a successful day at work. But I smile to myself because I know deep down if free styling hip-hop is required, I won’t have any trouble taking down the other 4 guys on the elevator with brief cases.
The finances of Lin’s departure to Houston are more complicated than they appear. See how last summer’s negotiations left a loophole for the Rocket’s back office. [ESPN]
College basketball fans everywhere are drooling over the new ACC match ups set to begin in 2013, but Pitt had to pay a pretty penny to make the jump. [Yahoo]
Oh, so that’s why Nash went to LA. Hollywood is calling. [Grantland]
As usual, USA will be favored in tonight’s rematch of the 2008 Olympic finale. However, the Spaniards’ post presence and team experience may prove to be trouble for the guys in red, white, and blue. [Bleacher Report]
#1 ranked prospect of 2013, Jabari Parker, has an arsenal of offensive talents that will leave you saying, “He’s only how old?!” [Youtube]
It’s official: The RP is a very, very, very old man.
To commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Six Day War (and his ignominious birthday milestone), The RP is traveling the Jewish State with Mrs. RP and an RPette. The big birthday celebration will be held in Eilat, on a cruise boat in the Red Sea. At the conclusion, The RP will part the Red Sea, a la Moses.
(Hey, it couldn’t be much more difficult than reaching a World Series of Poker final table!)
Above, The RP is enjoying four of his favorite things: an RPette, his birthday hat, the State of Israel, and the country’s largest solar installation at Kibbutz Katura in the Negev desert in Southern Israel.
If you want to join in the commemoration of this dreadful day, please feel free to add your birthday wishes in the comments below.
