purple

For Christmas, Grandma got me a selection of fun purple goodies because I love me some purple. Grandma said that in the store, when she was checking out, the cashier said, "Oh, some little girl is going to be very happy!" Yes, some little girl.

Business School's Winter Dressings

Quotation of the Day

"If Columbus had an advisory committee he would probably still be at the dock."  

~Arthur Goldberg

Stuff

Currently, I am reading Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Randy Frost and Gail Stekette. So far, it's good, though it's funny to read a popular book based on academic research. I want to know about sampling, study design, and p-values! I considered skipping the chapter on animal hoarding but decided to read it. It was quite tame, and a little disappointing. I don't know if the authors were trying to sanitize the issue or if it is truly because so little research has been done on that particular aspect of hoarding. I think I wanted more about the impact of animal hoarding on the animals themselves. The case study they used for the topic seemed so outrageous, I think it belies the seriousness of the issue. I wondered if that chapter was included due to an editor's insistence. But I digress.

I'm very fascinated by hoarding, and watch Hoarders and Hoarding: Buried Alive, even though I feel the shows are exploitive. George referred to one of the shows recently (I think comparing my behavior to that of a person featured on the episode). I asked him which one of the two shows, and he replied, "You know, the one that actually tries to help people." By that he meant TLC's Hoarding: Buried Alive which is a longer, more thoughtful process-based intervention than the dramatic (and likely destructive) weekend cleanup depicted on Hoarders on A&E. In an interview with Salon, Frost takes both shows to task.

Do you secretly (or not-so-secretly) watch these shows? Do you know a hoarder? How has it impacted you?

Salon.com interview with Randy Frost.

Palin Fatigue

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Mika Brzezinski Experiences Palin Fatigue
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

Have I Told You How Much I Hate Winter?

Boston, Day Five: Freedom Trail

On our last full day in Boston, we walked along Charles Street then followed the Freedom Trail from the Boston Common to Bunker Hill. This was an ideal activity because I enjoyed learning about the history and taking photographs while George was happy to be on foot walking through the city. I found it rather amazing to be in the places where the United States was born.

A few drawbacks: we did the trail on a Monday, so the U.S.S. Constitution was closed to visitors. We did go to the museum which was a little goofy but probably ideal for children (and George). Also, by the time we crossed the bridge into Charlestown, it was so cold. The Bunker Hill Monument is closed to visitors right now due to renovations; it would have been nice to be able to go to the top. Even from the bottom of the monument, on the hill, I could see how lovely the view of Boston would be.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., was born on January 15, 1929. In his life, taken too soon, he exhibited courage and vision. It is up to us to be his legacy.

“The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers." 

–Strength to Love

"I want you to say on that day that....I tried to love and serve humanity."

-A Drum Major for Peace

The King Center
Martin Luther King, Jr., Biography
Google Doodle Honoring MLK

Dandelion | Antje Duvekot