disoriented

Segway — Nothing New Under the Sun

The dis-oriented author watched with interest in 2001 when inventor Dean Kamen unveiled the Segway. The Segway is a two wheeled, self balancing scooter. If you listened to the hype, Kamen suggested that his device would revolutionize transportation all over the world. The Segway has not lived up to the hype. It does, however, represent original thinking and some pretty clever engineering.

Recently I was in Amish country near my home and I discovered that the Segway may not be as original an invention as Kamen suggests.

This is a picture of an Amish Segway near Fairbank, Iowa. Apparently it runs on hay and oats.

One of the common uses of Segways is to run tours in tourist spots like Paris or San Francisco on Segways. I guess you could use these to tour Amish country.

Cedar Rapids — the Deluge

The dis-oriented author lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. If you have been following the news, my hometown is at the epicenter of a flood of biblical proportions. I had heard of a 100 year flood but until this week I had never heard of a 500 year flood.

This is the part about traveling for a living that I hate — I feel so helpless sitting in a hotel 300 miles away.

Currently there are nearly 20,000 people displaced form their homes. Our levees have been breached and the river is still rising and tonight we have a tornado watch. The river rose 8 feet today and the level is currently 12 feet above the all-time record.

Tonight around 10pm, the city put out a call for volunteers to help sandbag and protect a city pumping station. The city just announced that they had 1200 volunteers and had to start turning people away.

Tomorrow I am going to try to drive home but with so many highways and bridges closed I don't even know if I will make it.

I am watching CNN right now and a reporter just said that it looked like a scene out of Katrina. But I must say, as a lifelong Iowan, that we will recover. Iowans look out for one another, we care for each other. We will survive.

Watson, DNA & Racism

The dis-oriented author is a minority. I had a black grandmother. Therefore I find my interest piqued by news stories about race. Today, CNN reported that a lecture by Dr. James Watson at the Science Museum of London had been canceled. Watson, of course, is a Nobel laureate having shared in the 1962 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his pioneering work in DNA. Along with his partner, Francis Crick — his name has been synonymous with DNA.

Watson's speech was canceled because he suggested that blacks are less intelligent than whites.

According to the Times of London:

The 79-year-old geneticist said he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours - whereas all the testing says not really.". He said he hoped that everyone was equal, but countered that “people who have to deal with black employees find this not true”.

He says that you should not discriminate on the basis of colour, because “there are many people of colour who are very talented, but don’t promote them when they haven’t succeeded at the lower level”. He writes that “there is no firm reason to anticipate that the intellectual capacities of peoples geographically separated in their evolution should prove to have evolved identically. Our wanting to reserve equal powers of reason as some universal heritage of humanity will not be enough to make it so”.

Watson is a smart guy he should know better. In this era of political correctness there are some questions that simply cannot be asked. As a scientist is it not reasonable to hypothesize as he does here? In a purely scientific context his hypothesis, that human evolution among geographically diverse populations may not be identical seems reasonable. But as soon as that hypothesis involves race, and worse intelligence, it cannot even be considered.

Now what is my position on this? Easy, I am a creationist. I believe that all people are created in the image of God. The idea that some are more or less intelligent based on divergent evolutionary paths does not factor into my belief system.

Watson is not the first to follow evolution to its logical conclusion.

Music at the Iowa State Fair

The dis-oriented author loves the Iowa State Fair.  I try to take my family every year. I am fortunate to have found the love of my life at an early age. One of the gifts my wife has given me and my children is music.

My oldest son is a singer and won a piano scholarship to college. My second son played in a high school Jazz band that won a state championship. My oldest daughter and next son participated in show choirs in high school and a variety of ensembles. My next daughter is a competitive pianist and a singer and the three youngest are very musical as well.

For me, this year's fair was all about the music.

We decided to start our visit to the fair with the old-fashioned hymn sing in the morning. We now attend a church that sings a variety of musical styles. We have a band, we sing choruses and we still do hymns with piano and organ. While we enjoy much of the music in our church, my wife and I love the old hymns. Our oldest children grew up with them. So on our drive to Des Moines we ended up singing all the hymns we could remember. On some of them we even knew our parts and could harmonize.

My oldest son is an excellent accompanist and we have spent many an evening around the piano with our hymnals out. When we got there it was not as hot as it had been all week. The temperature would still hit 90 degrees but not until later in the day. The hymn sing was in the newly built church on the fairgrounds. The church was built with old-fashioned tools and techniques and the design was based on one of the earliest churches in the Iowa territory.

We got there early and crowded in with people joining out the front walk and through the side windows. One of the area churches provided a pianist and some mini hymnals. We must have spent 45 minutes singing mostly old gospel hymns. Many people could sing their parts (I sing bass) and it sounded absolutely wonderful. Even my kids said that we should do it again next year!

Later in the day I sat with the little kids at a playground while the bigger ones went over to hear Vocal Trash. Vocal Trash is a combination of Stomp and A'capella that you really have to hear to believe. They were very good and the kids loved the energy.

We ended up staying longer than we had planned. At the end of the day there was a concert by Don McLean. His haunting ballad Vincent (Starry, starry night) about Vincent Van Gogh has always been one of my favorites. Of course his biggest hit is the anthem American Pie.

At 62, McLean can still belt it out. We all enjoyed the concert even though most of the songs were older than my kids. By the time he closed with American Pie, almost 90 minutes later, everyone was up dancing clapping and singing along.

I agree with my wife, it was the most fun we have ever had at the fair.

 

I Support the Troops but Oppose the War

The dis-oriented author has been a reluctant supporter of the so-called war in Iraq. Almost three years ago, I began posting on the topic (see my2004 post: The so-called War in Iraq) though my misgivings go back to the days before the invasion.

Let me clarify what I mean by my opposition to the war. I mean that I think it was ill-advised to go into Iraq. I also believe that if we were going to overthrow a sovereign government, we should have had a real declaration of war.

But, that was then, this is now. We are in Iraq and to pull out now would be a disaster.

Many of my Republican friends would say that it is impossible to support the troops and oppose the was. I beg to differ. I have already indicated my opposition to the war — what about my support for troops?

I am writing this post from Columbia, South Carolina. I am here to celebrate my son Jonathan's graduation from Army Basic Training at Fort Jackson. In the past two years, my oldest two sons have both joined the armed forces. My oldest son Jedidiah is currently at his Advanced Individual Training (AIT) as a US Navy Sailor. Jonathan will leave this weekend for his AIT. Both of my boys volunteered for military service in the midst of the current conflict.

Despite my feelings about the initial decision to go to war, I support the troops.

 

Jedidiah

Jonathan

The Fourth of July

The dis-oriented author is a homeschooling parent. I am also a history buff so my children and I often discuss various history topics. This week my little history geeks kept saying we should celebrate on July 2nd when the Continental Congress really declared our independence.

My kids love reading and history — I could not be any prouder.

The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4th, 1776. However the Continental Congress passed the following resolution proposed byVirginian, Richard Henry Lee:

Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.

That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.

John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail of that day saying:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Adams was only off by two days.

Full Circle on Race

The dis-oriented author comes from a mixed race background. I am both Asian as this blog title suggests and Black as Barack. I have lived in cultures where I was part of the racial majority and others where I was part of a racial minority. Therefore I have been very keenly aware of racial politics in America throughout my adult life.

This week the Supreme Court ruled in two similar cases on racial preferences in K-12 educaiton: Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District #1 and Meredith v. Jefferson County Bd. of Education. In these cases the court ruled that race may not be used as a factor in assigning children to K-12 schools.

The court votes against discrimination on the basis of race and the Democrats are up in arms! It is a great day to be an Republican.

It is interesting to see the history of some of the Supreme Courts rulings on race.

In 1954 the court decided the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education. In Brown, the court ruled that states could not provide separate schools for blacks and whites. After Brown we became accustomed to hearing, separate but equal is not equal. Brown was a victory for civil rights.

In the summer of 1978  the Supreme Court rule in landmark race case: Regents of the University of California v. Bakke. Bakke decreed that race could be one factor among many in considering college admissions but it was largely a victory because it also declared that racial quotas by themselves were unconstitutional. It was Bakke that added the phrase reverse discrimination to the language. Bakke was mostly a victory for civil rights.

In 2003 the Supreme Court decided Grutter v. Bollingeret al. Like Bakke, Grutter was an admissions case at the University of Michigan. Unlike Bakke, Grutter was a defeat because the decision unambiguously declared:

The Court endorses Justice Powell's view that student body diversity is a compelling state interest that can justify using race in university admissions.

Grutter was a defeat for civil rights.

The most recent ruling is definitely a victory for civil rights. How is it that those who fought for so long to be equal — not separate now want to be treated separately but not equally? It was interesting to hear all the Democrat candidates blasting the ruling.

What is wrong with color blind equality.

My new Diet — Eating Bugs

The dis-oriented author is fat. I am not a little bit large. I am not big-boned. I am not a bit overweight. Fortunately, in American culture guys can get away with being fat while women have a much harder time.

Over the last couple of years I have started exercising and been losing weight steadily. Nothing extreme. I swim between 3-4 miles a week when I am at home and 2-3 miles when I am traveling. Up until this point I have not made radical changes in my eating habits. I simply eat a bit less and given choices I choose the healthier lower fat alternative when possible. For example I still eat Prime Rib but I order a much smaller portion and have a vegetable instead of a potato smothered in sour cream. This modest approach to weight loss has resulted in a steady, sustainable drop of about 3lbs a month. I have a long way to go but I know I will get there.

This week, I started a new diet — I have started eating bugs.

I decided this week to get back on my bike. On my first ride within the first mile, I swallowed a bug — boy did that bring back memories!

When I was younger I was a bicyclist. I used to race — road race since there were no mountain bikes then. I rode a 400-500 mile ride across my home state of Iowa every year. The ride, called RAGBRAI, is in its 35th year. I rode solo from Boston to Quebec carrying all my gear, and each year I would try to fight the Iowa weather and ride 1,000 miles in March to begin my season's training.

I have been fortunate to own some awesome, albeit retro bikes. I used to have an Dura-Ace equipped Austro-Daimler Vent Noir road bike and an XT equipped Schwinn Paramount PDG 7 mountain bike. I replaced these with my current bikes, a very cool, very retro Ultegra equipped Bridgestone RB-1 with Phil Hubs and a Specialized StumpJumper with a Manitou Front Shock.

So, when I decided to get out and ride, I went back to my RB-1. Even though it has been years, it all came back to me. The hum of the bike rolling down the road. This is a retro bike so while I have indexed shifting, I still use downtube levers. I found myself reaching down without looking and doing double shifts with one hand just like the old days.

It felt good to unweight the bike as I maneuvered over some bumps. The cornering forces felt like the embrace of an old friend. Of course, I am riding in a more upright position than I used to and I am doing all of these several gears lower than I remember. But it just feels right to be back on the bike — it feels like re-uniting with an old friend.

So as I continue on a course to improve my health and lose weight, I have decided that I should eat more bugs.  I might even ride a couple hundred miles of RAGBRAI this year. In a battle like this, it is good to be able to rely on a friend.

Opening Day

The dis-oriented author is not really a baseball fan. Since I live in Iowa, I guess I am a bit of a Cubs fan. This week, I am in Cincinnati, staying in the Marriott River Center. My room is on the fourteenth floor with a balcony overlooking the Ohio River. Across the river, I have a great view of the Cincinnati skyline and both the baseball and football stadiums.

Yesterday was opening day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, the sun was shining and there were blossoms in the air. I went out at lunchtime and I found myself in the middle of of a parade celebrating opening day against the Cubs. There I was in a sea of red. It was enough to make me wish I were a basesball fan.

It was nioe to see people of all ages in a celebratory mood. Young people, adults and families with children. After walking along the parade route, I went to a Cincinnati institution, Skyline Chili. I got to Skyline just in time, five minutes after I arrived, the line was out the door. I sat down at a table and ordered a four-way, chili with onions and mounds of shredded cheddar on spaghetti. That's right spaghetti. It was surprisingly good.

The only thing that put a damper on the day was the fact that the Reds beat the Cubs.

Hi, my name is Bob

The dis-oriented author has terrible timing. For example when the Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons come by my house, I am never home. In 2004 when the Deaniacs (John Dean supporters) were canvassing my block, they skipped my house. Until this week, I had never even had to deal with Indian call center employees.
I had taken a trip on United Airlines. Normally I fly Northwest, but I needed a direct flight to Denver so I flew the friendly skies. Since my return was flexible, I volunteered to be bumped and got a voucher for a free flight.
This week I tried to use the voucher. I called United reservations and heard;

Hi, my name is Bob, how can I help you?

Upon hearing the accent, I knew right away that he was lying. Sanjeev or Ranjeet maybe, but he was no Bob. The accent was a dead giveaway.

OK, I thought, "Ranjeet/Bob or whoever you are." I work with Indians all the time so I figured that Ranjeet/Bob and I would do just fine — boy was I wrong.

I have to admit that Ranjeet/Bob's English was very good. I have studied several languages and I certainly can't speak any as well as Ranjeet/Bob speaks English. In fact I am certain that had I met Ranjeet/Bob at an airline ticket counter everything would have been fine.
The problem is that we were exchanging voucher numbers and confirmation codes over the phone. Bob would try to clarify things like numbers and letters. For example the sequence 6id9, Bob would say;

6, i as in idiot, d as in dog, 9

I would repeat the sequence back as

 

6 india delta niner

After a long pause, Ranjeet/Bob wouldn't understand and he would ask me to repeat it. This went on for quite a while. After about a half hour of frustration I hoped, he had my reservation correct. At the end of the conversation, I was not quite sure. It took twice as long as it should have. I am glad that United is not my regular airline. If this is indicative of United's service, they will not be my regular airline anytime soon.

Well, to be fair, when I call Northwest Airlines their customer service people all speak with a pronounced accent. You can tell that Minnesota twang anywhere.