What Kindness Looks Like

Following are a few thoughts about what it means to be kind:

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." -Plato

"Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up." -Jesse Jackson

"I always prefer to believe the best of everybody, it saves so much trouble." -Rudyard Kipling

"There is no greater loan than a sympathetic ear." -Frank Tyger

"Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not." -Samuel Johnson

"The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway." -Henry Boye

I love these because in them we see that an act of kindness is a reflection of what is in our hearts. We are kind when we are acknowledge people's struggles.. when we give them a helping hand.. when we believe the best about them.. when we listen.. when we get past our dislikes.. and when we let go of our needs to meet the need of another.

How about you? What do you think kindness looks like?

Bailing Out Congress

Anybody wondering about all the money that is thrown away each year in congressional salaries? Consider that, effective Jan. 1, 2009, the salary each member of Congress is paid will rise from $169,300 to $174,000 per year. It kind of puts all of the other bailouts in perspective. Interesting that many of those in congress are against a bailout for those making minimum wage.

Christmas Blogging Wishes

Absolute Power

With the news of the corruption of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich I have been thinking of these quotes:

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. -John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton

Those in possession of absolute power can not only prophesy and make their prophecies come true, but they can also lie and make their lies come true. -Eric Hoffer

Power - Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. But it rocks absolutely, too.” -Larry Kersten

That last quote (used in the poster) speaks to the real issue of power. Like most bad behavior it can often feel good in the moment.

And before we cast too many stones at the governor it would do us good to remember that one known as a many after God's own heart was corrupted by power.. King David used his power to take another man's wife and then murder her husband.

The good news in all of this is that corruption, like other crimes, is often found out. King David was confronted by the prophet Nathan.. the governor was locked up by the FBI. Let's pray that Governor Blagojevich will find a bit of humility in the aftermath of this public humiliation.

Cell Phone Deals

I love to get a deal.. doesn't everyone? But it seems that cell phone companies aren't really giving anything away these days. If you get a "deal" on a phone it usually costs you a two or three year commitment to that company.. and if you want smartphone services like email and web access.. well you wind up paying through the nose.

Anyone have a really great experience with a cell phone company or even a particular phone?

Inspirational Movie Clips

40+ inspirational clips.. I think I recognized 35 or so of them..
in just a little over 2 minutes.. complements of Robin.

Seinfeldisms

For all of you that are addicted (as I am) to the reruns..

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Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason. -Jerry

I hate asking for change. They always make a face. It's like asking them to donate a kidney. -George

I couldn't raise a kid? C'mon, I love bossing people around. -Elaine

I just can't be with someone who's life is in complete disarray. -Kramer

I think she finds my stupidity charming. -George

I relate to George through you. We're more like friends-in-law. -Elaine

You know what they say, 'You don't sell the steak, you sell the sizzle.' -Kramer

You know the message you're sending out to the world with these sweatpants? You're telling the world, 'I give up. I can't compete in normal society. I'm miserable, so I might as well be comfortable.' -Jerry

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..alas, it is a show about nothing :)

What's up with High Heels?

So I was watching one of my favorite crime drama TV shows a few weeks ago and I saw the main female detective running after a criminal and noticed that she wasn't running too fast because she had very high heels on. It got me to wondering.. yeah I know why gals on TV wear high heels.. if heels are really all that "in" anymore.

So I started looking and noticing:

• Almost every gal on TV wears very high heels.. I suppose they believe it complements their plunging necklines.
• Women shopping at Walmart wear very high heels.. some higher than others but most of them seem to wear them.
• Walmart workers seem to all wear comfortable shoes.
  

So it got me to asking:

• Given that they are not all that comfortable - why do women wear high heels?
• Is this dress standard inflicted from within or without?
• Is it all about looking good for the guys who don't seem to really dress that great these days? In truth most guys look like slobs compared to 20 years ago.
• Is it about looking "professional"? Do heels make a female cop look more "professional"? Is this an uncommunicated and informal expectation in Corporate America?
  

I hope this post does not come across too chauvinistic. In general I think that guys don't usually get fashion trends.. but this one has been around for a while.. I am just wondering.. please don't shoot the questioning messenger.

Gifts for Geeks

Yesterday Adrian Kingsley-Hughes posted these Christmas gifts especially for geeks:

IronKey is the ultimate USB flash drive! ($79)

Davis Weather Wizard III is the ideal gift for those geeks who spend a lot of time at their desk but still want to know that the weather’s like. ($250)

Dyna-Flex Powerball with Speedometer tones up your arm, wrist and hand muscles. ($40)

Khet is a strategy game that combines an Egyptian theme with lasers. ($44.95)

PC Dice is a randomized approach to fixing technical problems! ($20)

Interesting list.. not sure that I am geeky enough to really appreciate these gifts. For the record, a gift card at Best Buy or Starbucks would probably work better for me :)

Lookin Out My Front Door

Well.. not exactly.. Ann took this pic a few years ago.. I post it in anticipation of our first snowfall.. expected to hit KC this afternoon. Of course the weather geeks are predicting 60 degrees this weekend.. might be a while before we get snow that sticks around.

Christmas Letters

This cartoon reminded me that we have not put together our yearly letter.. not sure that I have the wherewithal to do one this year.. getting cards out will be hard enough.

What do you all think bout Christmas letters? Yea or nay?

Intolerant of Intolerance

Friday The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty ran this full-page ad in The NY Times.

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I like what this ad says (not sure about publicly shaming people) but doubt that it will have any impact on those who preach "tolerance". I heard it said years ago that the only thing that is intolerant to some who preach tolerance is intolerance. The reactions by some in California are an example of this intolerance of intolerance. It is sad that the intolerant actions of those asking for tolerance are so violent. What do you think?

Humility is not an Option

Here is an excerpt from the latest post from my faith blog:

Pride is not an option for a believer.. and neither is humility. We can either clothe ourselves with humility or find God humbling us.. and the latter often resembles humiliation. So what does humility look like?

Check the rest out here.

Soft Skills Needed

Diane Stafford's column in Sunday's Kansas City Star:

12 skills that workers need

How do you stand out among co-workers or other applicants for a job?

ACT, a nonprofit research and information service, pinpoints 12 skills that employers say they want.

We’re not talking about job-specific skills, such as an ability to design a Web site or give vaccinations.

Sure, the right education, experience and abilities are the main requirements to get or advance in any job. But we’re talking here about personal attributes that make bosses want to hire, keep or promote you.

Having those “soft skills” is a very big deal in today’s workplace, where a lot depends on interpersonal relationships.

Employers say they want workers who:

1. Think before speaking and plan before acting.
2. Are cordial and likable.
3. Can quickly summon creative juices or imagination to find new, cost-cutting or time-saving ways to do something.
4. Follow through on tasks without being distracted or bored and, overall, are responsible and dependable.
5. Forgive others and believe that others are well intentioned.
6. Speak up and exert positive influence. (That’s leadership!)
7. Exude confidence and a positive attitude.
8. Are efficient and neat.
9. Can read others’ moods and are savvy about office politics.
10. Enjoy sociable interactions with co-workers.
11. Maintain composure and rationality under stress, whether it’s real or perceived.
12. Have high aspirations and will work to achieve those goals.

If you think that’s so much squishy malarkey, think again.

Many employers are measuring those traits through pre-employment testing. (Fair disclosure: ACT is a purveyor of such assessments.)

Unfortunately, you’re not going to hear back from employers that you “failed” such a pre-employment test. You just won’t get an offer.

And you’ll have to count on a communicative boss to tell you exactly which traits (or lack thereof) are holding you back.

More often, an accurate self-analysis is your best bet. In fact, it ought to be No. 13 on the list.

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Agree with these? Any others that you'd add to the list?