By John Y. Brown III, on Fri Dec 21, 2012 at 9:15 AM ET
Well, the trip is about over now. The trip of a lifetime, for sure, for my family.
We’d never before been on a cruise or to the Mediterranean. And had the great good fortune of doing both. For that I am grateful.
And, as with all family vacations, the best is yet to come. It’s my experience that the memory of the vacation always exceeds the experience of it. Not sure why it works that way, but it does. For us anyway.
We saw a lot and learned a little and may be inspired to learn a lot more as a result of our travels.
It’s a great big world out there. Stunning in it’s breadth and diversity. And yet no matter where you go, people are just people–far more alike than different. Just making do with different circumstances.
For our trip of a lifetime we touched Italy, Greece, and Turkey.
I hope—if I can distill my thoughts of this trip to a single hope–that we learned an appreciation of the roots of all Western culture in Greece. In Turkey, I hope we recall the roots of all human history–from the Biblical to the political– and that the deep divide at present between Westerners and Muslims seems harder to understand when interacting face to face with one another. And finally, from Italy—oh, Italy–I hope we learned just a little bit about how to live and love with greater passion. That’s Amore!
And, of course, perhaps our greatest blessing: Returning to a place that we have the extraordinary privilege of calling home! The good ole U.S. of A. With a new term learned along the way that describes both where we have been– and where we are going.
By John Y. Brown III, on Wed Dec 19, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
Why Facebook won’t ever save your life.
Today I was working from my car (something I do often) and both phones were out of charge and and I had left my charging cable at home.
I mean….the whole point of having a back-up phone is in case the primary phone runs out of power but it was drained too. Having a back up phone is especially critical if your primary phone is an iPhone (which holds a charge about as long as you can drive on a spare tire) And note, iPhones are terrible back-up phones to another iPhone. It’s like replacing your spare tire with another spare tire.
But here’s how I realized Facebook isn’t a great vehicle for a blast text message screaming out for help. Of course, I didn’t need to scream out for help. But I did have a few minutes left on my laptop which was connected to wifi. And it made me wonder what would happen if I did post in big bold letters on Facebook, “Help Me!!”
And I realized instantly what would happen if I was being beaten and kidnapped moments before posting my desperate plea for help….assuming I survived to check my Facebook page the next day.
I would have received maybe 25 “Likes” and had about 10 comments along the line of “Hilarious!,” “No, not him. I need help! LOL,” “You should use a red octagon sign,” “OMG, that happened to me once and all I got were “likes.” Good luck!” And maybe a few “shares.”
But, then again, if something like that ever did happen, it would make a really funny Facebook post.
By John Y. Brown III, on Wed Dec 19, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET
What if the most remarkable country in the world that has been negatively and unfairly defined by a single movie?
If you answered “Turkey” and “Midnight Express,” I’d say you and I agree.
In Ephesus today.
Here I momentarily forget what I’m thinking about and inadvertently find myself captivated by the tour guide’s explanation of the city’s history.
It happened many times today.
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Kickin’ it with my girl, Ottoman style! ; )
One of the greatest sins we can commit is to have a chance to get to know extraordinary people.
And then not take advantage of it.
And you never know when the opportunity will present itself. So always be ready to talk. Even when your not sure.
This pic of a cat siting on a column led to some chuckles from my wife and daughter but then a nice lady with a very professional looking camera decided to take the same shot. I nudged my wife and daughter and said, “Told ya it was a good photo to take.”
The woman with the professional camera overheard us and, along with her husband, laughed. And that’s all I needed. Over the next 20 minutes I learned that Matt worked as a VC for 6 years before he and his wife, Erica, dropped out and became professional world travelers 2 years earlier. They’ve visited and written about 30 countries, mostly about economic development but also offering a sort of personal Trip Adviser take on each destination. (Think of Albert Brooks’ Lost in America —but working out. And going international.)
Next year Matt hopes to find himself in Standord’s MBA program. And deserves to be there.
And if that still isn’t enough to pique your curiosity, their website is titled “What if” with the tag line, “Living to never wonder, What if”
Extraordinary young people I have a feeling I’ll see again and already have suggested they write for a blog and would love to help these two any way I can.
And I never even took the time to go back and thank the cat for awkwardly sitting on that column and giving me an excuse to meet to fine young Americans–Living the American Dream. (without a sarcastic overtone)
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Oh no you didn’t!
You didn’t really dismiss the idea of an American ever beating you in backgammon, before I did!
“Here, we play very fast.”
“In Kentucky, we just beat you. Whether you get beat playing in fast motion or slow motion is completely up to you.”
I wanted to say but didn’t. Instead, I said, “Oh, OK. Sure. Maybe we can play sometime.” ; )
Me with our world class tour guy and all round great guy….getting a free backgammon lesson from his KY friend.
“Many people think backgammon came from Persia. Actually, it came from Appalachia.” Something else I wanted to say but didn’t have the courage. ; )
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Theology and social media? No!!
My deep insight of the day offered to our tour group.
In Ephesus our tour guide was explaining the “Letters” written from the area by Saul of Taursus and John and St John –and how these letters later became entire books of the Bible.
“Sir,” I offered, “Can you imagine what the Bible would look like if they’d had email back then and communicated informally via email, texts and Twitter? It would be a third of the length and filled with ridiculous acronyms and smiley faces and even a few LOLs!”
I’m pretty sure no one had ever made that point to him before and was pretty proud of my theological insight. ; )
LOL!
Read the rest of… John Y. Brown, III: An American in Turkey
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Tue Dec 18, 2012 at 5:00 PM ET
The Politics of Laughter
Cards Against Humanity ran a Holiday Pack which people could buy for whatever amount of money they chose. Here are the results. [Cards Against Humanity]
How to Seize a Moment by Daniel Radcliffe [picture]
By Lauren Mayer, on Tue Dec 18, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET
Just like the swallows returning to Capistrano, or the first lilacs of spring, once a year you can count on a few pundits at Fox to resuscitate their complaints about the “war on Christmas.” Once again, they claim their beloved holiday is under attack because a group of atheists lobby to remove a nativity scene from a city hall, or a school changes its Christmas concert to a Holiday concert. Come on, O’Reilly – for several weeks, starting on Thanksgiving and often before, this entire country is covered in an avalanche of candy canes, Christmas tree decorations, and holiday muzak. You can’t go anywhere without being bombarded by Christmas – if it’s under attack, it’s doing pretty darn well. (As Jon Stewart pointed out, since this year ‘Black Friday’ started on Thanksgiving, Christmas is now eating other holidays!)
Of course there are a few loonies out there, fighting the fact that a vast majority of this country celebrate Christmas. But for most of us non-Christians, we have nothing against the holiday and even accept that there will be tinsel, Christmas lights, and dogs barking Jingle Bells everywhere we go. We simply would prefer not to be bombarded with the more religious aspects of the holiday – sparkling lights and metallic ornaments are a lot more inclusive than crosses or baby Jesuses. And wishing people “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” makes us feel less left out, without taking anything away from Christmas. In fact, we hope you have a lovely holiday (while we eat Chinese food and go to the movies).
This week’s video tries to explain why your non-Christian friends might be getting a little cranky this time of year – so I hope you will please cut them (and me) a little slack!
By Jonathan Miller, on Tue Dec 18, 2012 at 2:30 PM ET
As you may have read, the malevolent jackasses at the Westboro Baptist Church have now chosen to further poison the American polity by picketing a vigil for the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting.
Here is their latest tweet:
Predictably, and of course most deservingly, the provocation has generated considerable outrage all over the Internet tubes.
Unfortunately, as my friend and social media guru Scott Clark writes , expressing our outrage online only helps this tiny group of extremist perverts further achieve its mission of spreading their anti-Christian gospel of hatred and intolerance:
Every time you share/like/comment on a post about the Westboro Cult, you boost their SEO and Social Media profile (yes, I recognize my role by posting this, but read on). This is precisely what they exist for – they know how to game the engagement algorithms online. Likes, Shares and Comments, Page Views, Click throughs, Good *or* bad publicity…they love it all. So stop.
So here’s my modest proposal. From now on, when you want to write something online about these malignant buffoons, refer to them as “The Recovering Politician.”
Such as posting on Facebook:
I hear The Recovering Politician is at it again — spewing hate and dragging the poor innocent souls of murdered children into its sinister plot.
Or on Twitter:
I think @RecoveringPol is the biggest douchebag in the country.
Give it a try.
Now that I’m out of politics I can handle the abuse. And I’d love to improve my SEO and Social Media profile.
By Jonathan Miller, on Tue Dec 18, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET
#TEAMJYB3:
Phat Americans.
The Anti-Immigration Movement in the US may have an unsuspecting ally.
The article I just read (click here) now shows obesity is a greater food problem than hunger. That’s a big story. But not nearly as big as the “story behind the story” –that I suspect may be true.
Americans gaining weight is nothing new. Buy why are we gaining weight so consistently and deliberately? I think it is because you can’t argue with the fact that obese Americans simply take up more space than if they were thin. And then there is the other seemingly unrelated issue: That being an American and “vocally anti-immigration” is uncomfortable at best and somewhat hypocritical at worst.
The first time I realized I had mixed feelings about immigration and found myself agreeing with Lou Dobbs, I weighed 165 pounds. That was 27 pounds ago.
I still haven’t articulated any of my concerns. But i have taken concrete anti-immigration in other ways. Making sure I physically take up more space as an American—space that could easily be filled by a very skinny illegal immigrant. At first it was only subconscious…but the harder I find it to lose weight, the more it got me to thinking about my real motive for over eating since watching that fateful Lou Dobbs interview several years ago.
It just all makes so much sense now.
Even as a young child when the ice cream truck came by I would more likely order a Red, White and Blue “Bomber” popsicle while the other kids would order “Push ups.”
America’s problem with gaining weight began at about the same time there was an increasing concern that we were pushing the immigration limits in the US.
Americans who are selflessly carrying extra-weight must have been doing so—at least in part—as a subconsciously patriotic act to make sure our country stay’s “right-sized”– for our children and our children’s children.
Sure, there is an element of passive-aggressiveness and nativism —and maybe some unflattering stereotyping of “outsiders” (and in a few isolated instances even outright prejudice) we portly patriots are guilty of. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that the only real prejudice we have is being a little too “Pro-American” for our own health.
So, next time you see one of us out and are tempted to roll your eyes at our lack of discipline —ask yourself, “What did I do today to curb rampant immigration in my country today?” It may just give you pause and remind you of the greater goal behind those who don’t believe it’s wrong to be more concerned for their country than their waistline.
And remind you, too, that the enthusiastic gleam you see in our eye– that you assume is our misplaced excitement about our next dessert order— may have more to do our determination to keep one more illegal alien from crossing the border because even though our ideals will always be compelling to others, the practical matter of available space is being decided not “one politician at a time” but “one Hot Pocket at a time. And by those who have courageously taken our “can’t say no” attitude and decided to use if for a higher nationalistic calling.
20 years ago American had about 200 Million Americans. We new our absolute maximum would be about 400 Million Americans. Or 300 overweight Americans. So the next time one of you smug little waif of an American sighs at the heavy guy sitting next to you on an airplane, to holding your disdain. And saluting instead. (And if you really want to “Thank us,” you’ll offer us your peanuts, too).
By John Y. Brown III, on Tue Dec 18, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
One more reason to avoid the “Open Box” Sale Table.
Like all American consumers, I like a bargain. The sense that I, with some savvy, cleverness and sound judgement, paid less and got more than others. It’s a sort of game we play with ourselves. Best Buy is well know for these tables but they aren’t alone. Just the seeming leader in tech retail gimmicks, from “sales” to “open box” to “rebates” to “packeges” to “trading up” and “trading in” and so on.
So, when I walked into Best Buy this afternoon I gravitated to the “Open Box” Sale table announcing 20% additional off the open box prices. Pretty darned good deal, if you can find something you really need and want. So I dug through about 20 laptops….and narrowed it to two.
I researched both on my phone. Talked to a sales clerk. Browsed some more.Researched a little more. Talked to a second sales clerk and was back at the table, finally, to make my decision between the two finalist laptops.
Until a I had that feeling in my gut like I just realized I left home fully dressed but forgot to put my pants on.
Although that’s never happened to me. I have had to check a few times, being a little absent minded and easily distracted.
What happened?
One of the two laptops I was about to purchase was a laptop I traded in 4 weeks ago (for about $417) because I missed the 14 day return policy cut off by a couple days and had to “trade in” rather than “return” And the awesome price I was about to pay thinking I was outsmarting my fellow shoppers? $695.
After 30 minutes of sharp bargain hunting, I was on the brink of purchasing a computer today for $300 more than I sold the exact same computer for last month.
So does this mean I bought the other laptop from the Open Box table?
No. I decided given my shopping acumen so far today, I shouldn’t buy anything more expensive than a soft drink. At least while shopping alone. I found a PowerAde drink for $1.50 and don’t remember reselling it to Best Buy last month. And then I slinked out the door to bargain hunt in a less sophisticated environment.
By John Y. Brown III, on Tue Dec 18, 2012 at 9:15 AM ET
I’m not complaining. Being on a cruise ship is great.
Really.
OK. Not entirely.
It can be a little confining. But it’s mostly very pleasant.
However, it can play games with your mind.
For example, it just occurred to me that the real reason in Dr Suess’s Green Eggs and Ham that Sam-I-Am gave in and agreed to try –and then admitted he liked —green eggs and ham in a boat WAS NOT because he finally became open minded about the and discovered he liked the taste.
But rather he was feeling claustrophobic after being on that boat several days and was willing to say or do anything to wrap the story up so he could get back to dry land.
And now I really am going to bed. Before someone offers me green food and a fork. ; )
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Cruise ships and Reincarnation.
I don’t really believe in reincarnation….but I’m no expert on the topic either. I just know what it means as a general matter and couldn’t help thinking of it yesterday when boarding our cruise ship.
There were several hundred of us. Maybe closer to 1000. Tall, short, skinny, heavy, loud, quiet, young and old— different ethnicities and skin colors, and temperaments and personalities from across those spectrums.
These were the assemblage of people fate had handed me to experience this voyage with. They would be the people populating my new world.
I didn’t know any of them but had to be careful not to pre-judge who I would get along with and who I wouldn’t. I’m always surprised in that way.But there we were. Like the first episode of Lost –only a lot more of them and none of us were cast for a TV show. And, fortunately, we weren’t really lost.
But we we will be discovering and experiencing things together and create a miniature microcosm of a world of our own for a week. And least that’s what i imagined.If we had longer–a few months or year or two together, maybe we’d develop a tribe or community or perhaps even a city and decide what our common characteristics are — they’d be arbitrary, of course (a desire for adventure and interest traveling my water and ability to live in close quarters with others, etc)—and try to define ourselves accordingly.
Picture #2: What a Mediterranean Cruise actually looks like.
And then, I suppose, after distinguishing ourselves from other “cruise ship cities or communities” we’d elect leaders to protect us from them.
That just seems so odd and funny. And yet it isn’t so far fetched compared to the way we humans do form tribes, communities, cities, states and countries.
Then again, I had a lot of time to think about it all because registration for the cruise was slow…and when I have free time on my hands, my mind wanders and my imagination takes on a life of its own. Especially if I’ve just taken a Dramamine tablet.
Actually, my first thought was “This feels like the first day at a new school.” That worked for awhile and I was good with that analogy and just trying to figure out where I’d fit in and wasn’t having much luck. But as registration dragged on….my thoughts moved from first days at a new school to how communities develop to what caused nations to go to war to what reincarnation must feel like to experience. And then we were all checked in, so I stopped there.
Probably a good place to stop. Besides, the Dramamine was wearing off anyway and it started to feel like I had simply boarded a cruise ship with my family and checked into my cabin. Geez. That sounds so overly-simplified and pedestrian. But could be that’s all there was to it.
Well, the trip is about over now. The trip of a lifetime, for sure, for my family.
What if the most remarkable country in the world that has been negatively and unfairly defined by a single movie?
Oh no you didn’t!
#TEAMJYB3
It just all makes so much sense now.
