tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40495117907738254292024-03-14T03:22:53.503-04:00Coloring Every MomentA Little Bit of EverythingGerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-81735942939494209072013-12-23T16:19:00.000-05:002013-12-23T16:42:25.637-05:00The Best Books I've Read in 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been voraciously reading a lot of books this year; some were highly recommended, and some were barely good enough to keep me awake. I know there are many people who will come out with strong resolution to read more books next year. So, to ensure that those determination do not fizzle out in the first weeks of January, here are some excellent books which I promise will keep you entertained. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sycamore-Row-John-Grisham-ebook/dp/B00CNQ7HAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387833517&sr=8-1&keywords=sycamore+row" target="_blank"><img alt=" Sycamore Row John Grisham" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g9IOi_4PYus/UriimFAWeQI/AAAAAAAAUMk/DWgmddsPi6M/s320/sycamore-row.jpg" title="" width="210" /></a></div>
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<b>Fiction: </b>John Grisham at his another best. Somewhat a sequel to his best-selling book, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Kill-John-Grisham-ebook/dp/B003B02O0A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387834926&sr=8-1&keywords=a+time+to+kill" target="_blank">A Time to Kill</a>", this one is as gripping and entertaining</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stumbling-Happiness-Daniel-Gilbert-ebook/dp/B000GCFW0A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387833769&sr=8-1&keywords=stumbling+on+happiness" target="_blank"><img alt=" Stumbling on happiness" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L9x33QApobQ/UriilPVXbgI/AAAAAAAAUMo/6PAJA0pYIDw/s1600/9780739332238_p0_v2_s260x420.JPG" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: 13px;">Non-Fiction: </b><span style="font-size: 13px;">Learn how our brain processes past, present and future events, and why what we think will give us happiness usually fail us</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Room-Read-Battle-Literacy-ebook/dp/B008EKMBF0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387833796&sr=8-1&keywords=creating+room+to+read" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DstO_gEmp48/UriilskxLlI/AAAAAAAAUMs/1d7f-Pst9YU/s320/creating-room-to-read.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: 13px;">Non-Fiction: </b><span style="font-size: 13px;">Since I read John Wood's first book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Microsoft-Change-World-John-ebook/dp/B000UOJU16/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387833839&sr=8-1&keywords=leaving+microsoft+to+change+the+world" target="_blank">Leaving Microsoft to Change the World</a>", I was hooked by his passion and determination to make Room to Read, a global and life-changing non-profit organization. Inspiring. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Why-Cant-Live-Without-ebook/dp/B005KAD11U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387833855&sr=8-1&keywords=forever+tripp" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FB6as-O-oHw/UriilBft0HI/AAAAAAAAUMY/BmpUnVQEJZM/s320/ForeverPaulDavidTripp.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: 13px;">Christianity: </b><span style="font-size: 13px;">Why many of our problems stem from our failure to keep Forever / eternal perspective at our sight. We don't have a financial problem, or relationship problem, we have a Forever problem </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Return-Prodigal-Son-Henri-Nouwen-ebook/dp/B00G8ELSM6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387833884&sr=8-1&keywords=return+of+the+prodigal+son" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xEHCNinIKQ/UriilN9eGPI/AAAAAAAAUMg/nj5iItWVybA/s320/91721.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: 13px;">Christianity: </b><span style="font-size: 13px;">I heard many sermons elaborating on this passage before, but I never read a piece so moving, so warm, and so tender . This is Nouwen's reflection of Rembrandt's painting: The Return of the Prodigal Son. </span></div>
Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-78336405923041350682013-12-18T11:25:00.000-05:002013-12-18T11:38:41.209-05:00Nelson Mandela - The Gift of Prison Most of us aspire to be big. We desire to leave a lasting legacy or to have our name recorded in the book of history. As we observed the life of the late Nelson Mandela and the tribute that the world gave him, we aspire to be like him.<br />
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What frequently being overlooked is, the pathway to success is not the one with the least resistance. We forgot that what augment Mandela's tribute was not his presidency nor his freedom from prison, but his 27 years of imprisonment. It was in that lonely isolated cell that he meditated and shaped his vision. It was out of adversity that his greatness was born. Suffering begets greatness. In every success, there's a price to pay, and in Mandela's case, it was not a cheap one.<br />
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Most people start strong in a marathon, but only a few finish it well. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=heb%2013:7&version=NIV" target="_blank">Hebrew 13</a> urges us to consider the outcome of the faith of those who brought us to faith. Look at a person's final outcome and then, imitate it. My fear is not many people will manage to get through the finish line, as the trials of adversity often prove to be too overwhelming to bear. Pure gold is obtained after it has been forged out of all its impurities by the blazing heat of fire. Like everybody else, we want to escape that. But unlike everybody else, Mandela went through that fiery trials, gracefully.<br />
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Do you aspire to be big? Start with yourself, and most probably that will entail trials, sleepless night, radical sacrifice, and some "imprisonment" in whatever kind of forms - maybe it's your freedom to relocate to a bigger city, maybe it's your desire for a comfortable lifestyle, maybe it's your rights for a one-week vacation. Whatever that is, greatness does not come out of a magic wand, but out of the gift of adversity.<br />
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Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-27953353107809153602013-12-11T21:09:00.002-05:002013-12-12T16:08:47.958-05:00Appalachian Mission Trip with World Vision Philippi, WV.<br />
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That's where we went for our 4 days and 3 nights mission trip. Philippi is located in the Appalachian region and with a sparse population of 3,000 residents, we joined World Vision to help this struggling small town.<br />
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Admittedly, each of us had different expectation about the town and the community that we would be serving, and what we saw there seems to defy all of our expectations. I guess we were still struggling to reconcile the definition of poor in the US compared to what we have brought up seeing in Indonesia. The family that we were serving seems to possess things that low-income Indonesians would be considered luxury: flat TV, fully stocked refrigerator, electricity, plumbing, and comfy bed.<br />
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However, this initial shock did not last long. We had a debrief the first night and took the chance to unite and align our perspective again to the Bible. God is teaching us that He does not discriminate any of the disciples when He washed their feet, including Judas. Thus, regardless of their poverty level, we were called to serve, and serve we will.<br />
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Our main goal is to finish painting one living room. First, we started the day getting to know Rosetta and her family (this is the family that we served), and quickly started to work. Before the wall can be painted, we needed to sand and chalk the wall. So majority of our time was spent doing these, while some of us (Eva, Upik, and Maria) were assigned to repaint another room.<br />
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During the course of three days, we slowly got to know Rosetta and her family. She shared how she was raised in a church, but hardships and disasters that came later in life pushed her away from believing in God. She could not understand why a loving God would put her in an alcoholic family and allow suffering to happen in her life: bankruptcy, medical bills, and many other calamities.<br />
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Despite the disappointment, she also shared how she was touched by the kindness of World Vision and all the volunteers who had come to help her renovating her house. Teared up, she confided that she was not ready to accept Christ yet, but all these gospel-adorning activities by Christians around her definitely softening her heart.<br />
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One personal memory with Rosetta was when she invited all of us to watch her son's football match. We were more than thrilled to take part in this family event and quickly agreed to attend. We arrived at the field, her brother insisted on paying all of our tickets (such an act of generosity) and we all sat down together cheering the home team. That game was a special moment because at that point, I believe we were bonded deeper when all of us cheering and shouting together for her son. No label, no presumption, no I-am-the-volunteer, and no I-am-the-poor, just people having fun together over a game.<br />
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The last day of service, we started out with a morning devotion from John 13 about Jesus washing the disciples' feet. We meditated on Jesus' servanthood: that He loves in spite of who the disciples are (no discrimination, including Judas), in spite of what He is facing (single focus to serve although He would be crucified the next day), and in spite of who He is (King).<br />
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Then, we painted the outside of the house and by the end of the day, we finished painting two sides of it. Quite an accomplishment. For our last dinner, Rosetta and her family came to our campground. It was truly a delight to have her over, and we discovered that she was a very friendly and sociable person. We thanked God that during the course of three days, the ice had melted, the racial and demographic gap had been bridged, and a memorable friendship was built between Rosetta and us.<br />
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As I looked back over the experience, I, and I'm sure I'm speaking for the whole team, was truly blessed by this trip. First, it is true what the Bible said that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) and we experienced that first-hand. Not just the acts of service, but the satisfaction from being a blessing and to do this in the context of friendship and fellowship. Second, it humbled me: that my life is undeservedly blessed, that I complained more than I need, and I give thanks less than I should (we also had a no-complaint rule during the trip :) ). Third, God's unconditional love is far more radical than I imagined. Love views the world in opaque: no cultural, racial, socio-economic black and white and ultimately, demanding no response.<br />
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All in all, thanks to World Vision, Kris (the coordinator), and Rosetta and her family for the experience. Hopefully we can come back next year, with a different team!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Team, Rosetta (in pink), her husband and children, and Kris (in orange) from World Vision</td></tr>
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Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-40066603606991997112013-10-20T23:22:00.000-04:002013-10-20T23:23:01.917-04:003 Years After Mom, I think you know it. As time goes by, I kinda accept the fact that you are no longer with us. It sounds mean maybe, and I'm afraid that I'm getting used to do this, but doesn't that how grief works? I still think of you, in fact, every time I look at my friends and their mom, I can't stop your face from popping into my head :) and can't help feeling a sliver of hurt on my heart. You are no longer here, and whatever interactions that they have together, are something that I have to bitterly swallow. It's just a wishful thinking, after all.<br />
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But, I think I am coping with this better. Is that wrong? I always thought that I will be forever haunted by this loss, and indeed, to some degree, I still am. But, I think humans have the ability to cope with even the worst tragedy. And I think that's what I'm experiencing here.<br />
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It just gets better....<br />
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Wish that you could still be there with koko and Helen and your grand daughter, Kinerette Anka. Still think you've gone too soon mom. I haven't looked at her as well, but I know you'd love her. Now, in some nights, I wish I would receive a phone call from you, although I know what you're gonna ask anyway :) I think I'm afraid I'd forget how your voice sounds like.<br />
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I just looked at our pictures together, and somehow I never really pay attention to this one particular picture. I love it. Really want to take picture together with you again, later in heaven? How's life up there anyway? Life has been super good for me, but ah, you know I know that you know all anyway. So...<br />
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Happy anniversary again mom. Been 3 years. I am still surprised how time flies.Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-75113658232112059932013-10-07T11:08:00.003-04:002013-10-07T11:10:34.369-04:00Little Exciting Things about AtlantaI visited Atlanta a week ago with two other friends, and during our short visit, I discovered some memorable things about Atlanta, and they are not about the old boring Coca-cola museum, or Aquarium. These were the places that not so much touristy but we decided to visit it anyway, and they easily became my highlight of my trip.<br />
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1. <a href="https://landofathousandhills.com/" target="_blank">Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Shop</a><span id="goog_1823472332"></span><span id="goog_1823472333"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
Hidden gem, so hidden that we had to figure out how to get into this coffee shop. It is located inside an apartment complex, and you have to buzz the coffee shop and let them open the gate. A twenty minutes drive from downtown, and you'll enter a coffee shop with one of the most beautiful view. You can either enjoy the nice interior decor or go out and sit by the river, sip your cup o Joe and lost in the beauty.<br />
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2. <a href="http://northpoint.org/" target="_blank">North Point Community Church</a> (30 min from Atlanta)<br />
I have been listening to Andy Stanley on and off, and I would not miss the opportunity to visit his church personally. I know this is not everybody's cup of tea, but if you like a good and sound biblical teaching, visit this church and your soul will get nourished. One piece of advice: try to come to the morning service since you will be seeing Andy in his flesh, not his video (as in the evening service that we came to)<br />
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3. <a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/atlanta/dining/lounges/park_75_lounge_and_terrace/" target="_blank">Park 75 Lounge and Terrace</a><br />
Part of me always and will forever always enjoy the ambiance of a serene lounge - with live music, good drinks, and great friends. Unfortunately, Columbus has little to offer in this area so I have to hunt for a great lounge every time I travel. This one was a wild card; pulled up my Yelp app, looked for a hotel around downtown and found this spot. 95% satisfaction, with the 5% being an absence of live music. But nevertheless, great drinks, sumptuous desserts, and great conversation. What a nice way to end a long day<br />
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4. <a href="http://www.globalsoap.org/" target="_blank">Global Soap</a><br />
Global Soap is an Atlanta-based non profit organization whose work is to provide millions of people with soap. They recycle partially used soap from hotels into new bars and distribute it to people who need it around the world. Why soap? More and more research have revealed that a simple hand-washing practice could reduce disease-related diseases and school absenteeism significantly. I think we in the developed world tend to underestimate this simple and ordinary practice. Currently, they have distributed their recycled soap to 31 countries - a pretty remarkable achievement for a four years old organization.<br />
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It is truly an honor to have this experience. Derreck Kayongo, the founder and also one of <a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive11/derreck.kayongo.html" target="_blank">2011's CNN Heroes</a>, was kind enough to refer me to his Executive Director, Sam Stephens, who then agreed to meet and talk with us about Global Soap. I am always thrilled to absorb lessons from experienced people who have gotten their hands dirty in the business of changing the world. Sam is truly an inspirational and visionary person and we really enjoyed our one-hour meeting and tour around the facility.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Sam Stephens, Executive Director of Global Soap</td></tr>
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<br />Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-8258842843556721582013-09-06T00:35:00.001-04:002013-10-07T10:33:21.518-04:00Breaking Bad - How It Will End? How a docile and harmless chemistry teacher turns into a ruthless drug dealer is what <i>Breaking Bad</i> all about. After being diagnosed with a cancer, Walter decided to cook crystal meth in order to provide for his family. Progressively, he descended into the abyss of moral destruction. The irony? This was after the factor that led him to "break bad" had disappeared: his cancer.<br />
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How this TV series would end is the one million dollar question. Whatever Vince Gilligan, the creator of <i>Breaking Bad</i>, has in mind, there are two moral complexities that need some resolution.<br />
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First, every action has its consequences. The idea of justice is ingrained in us and we are taught since child that consequences will follow. No crime goes unpunished. Revenge, is the default response whenever feelings or rights are violated. Thus, Walter has to face the ultimate judgment from all people whose lives and freedom he had raped for the pursuit of his drug empire. To let him off the hook seems to be offensively simple - a fairy tale.<br />
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On the other hand, some of us secretly wish that fairy tale does come true. We all know how dire circumstances awaken the Dr Jekyll in us, and the impossibility of extricating ourselves from the spiraling journey down. Part of us wish that forgiveness is not too much too ask; a jewel that the world can still readily dispense.<br />
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The reason <i>Breaking Bad</i> captures the heart of many viewers is because, to some degree, the story of Walter White is a story of us. It reveals a frightening nature of human. Given the right ingredients - power, absence of moral authority, wealth, duress - people "break bad".<br />
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I believe <i>Breaking Bad</i> is not a story about personal change, but about situational change. The more Walter's drug empire grows and the more obstacles he overcomes, the more convinced he is of his invincibility. His crime begets another crime, but the better he is at damage control, the more God-like he feels. Steadily, as the circumstances increase, he decreases. Under this escalating situational change, Dr Jekyll has totally overtaken Mr Hyde. It is this self-inflated Dr Jekyll who looks straight to his wife and says, "I'm not in the drug business, I'm in the empire business".<br />
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<i>Breaking Bad</i> runs on a frightening moral principal: every one of us can turn into season-6 Walter White. It shows, in a modern twist, what Philip Zimbardo had concluded in his famous Stanford Prison experiment: Dr Jekyll is not a hell of our own making, but a hell exist all along inside us. <br />
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At this point, no one knows how <i>Breaking Bad</i> is going to end, and I trust Gilligan will bring this challenging dilemma to a satisfying conclusion. Whether it would end with the idea of justice and love being mixed into a beautiful concoction still remain to be known. If yes, then <i>Breaking Bad</i> would be the closest tale of grace in today's modern culture - the return of the prodigal son, Walter White.Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-69086957789096398062013-08-05T17:45:00.004-04:002013-08-07T22:35:45.763-04:00Lessons from Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain Validated!<br />
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That was the pervasive feeling I had after reading <a href="http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/" target="_blank">Susan Cain's</a> book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375732670&sr=8-1&keywords=quiet" target="_blank">Quiet</a>. Being an introvert for almost 26 years is like living under constant prejudice that we are the 2nd class personality. Who care about that kid sitting quietly at the corner? Why is he not contributing to the discussion? "He's sooo quiet," people whisper.<br />
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Like the sun by which everything become clear, this book explains why I behave the way I behaved. The crux of the issue is not about which personality is superior, but how one personality can support the other, and vice versa. This writing is even not an argument, but a plea (I'll let the extroverts argue) for more understanding to the inside world of an introvert.<br />
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<b>1. We are not anti-social.</b><br />
Might be shocking to you, but we enjoy being in a social event and socializing. However, I wish you would redefine the idea of social events that have been shaped heavily by the culture, and enter into the introverts' idea of social event instead.<br />
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Imagine a small table of four, either at a coffee shop or a wine bar, with Michael Buble playing on the background, and four friends chatting heartily about life. Forget beer pong. Forget limbo and please don't even mention a disco night, all those are beyond our threshold of tolerance. So, it's not that we are anti-social, but we are differently social. Apparently, a table of four works better for us.<br />
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<b>2. We are not anti-fun</b><br />
I apologize if I did not jump from my seat and dance to the beat of Pitbull singing. I remember I was at a Bruno Mars' concert, and there was me sitting down quietly trying to enjoy his voice in the middle of girls jumping, hollering and cam-videoing. Pardon me for being the "lousiest fan", but I did enjoy the concert and did have fun. I just prefer less stimulation, and thus produce less expression of enthusiasm. Take off the lighting, and everything that make a concert spectacular, and I will not be deprived of fun. I just enjoy it differently.<br />
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<b>3. We do engage in brainstorming and group discussion session.</b><br />
These two types of environment are the perfect incubator for extroverts: spotlight, quick decision, thinking out loud, and actions oriented. Unfortunately for introverts who prefer solitude, contemplation, and thought processing, these brainstorming and discussion session will only produce half-baked ideas that we feel very uncomfortable to present.<br />
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Believe me, we do engage in the discussion, but for the time you spend talking and brainstorming, we are thinking and contemplating - mostly about what you said two minutes ago. And because there is rarely a moment of silence to which we can finish our thought, we just can't keep up. It's not rare that I come out from these sessions feeling wrecked by all the brains storming my resources and leave me in vertigo.<br />
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<b>4. We do feel excited about your idea</b><br />
Don't interpret our lack of excitement, or our hesitant to high-five as a non cooperative gesture to your initiative. It's just very natural for us to go into contemplative mode and wander into the realm of "what if this does not work". Instead of risk taking, too often we are heed taking. And it's hard to be gregarious when our path to gregarious require a five minutes risk assessment of the idea. Trust me, once we settle with it, we develop what Cain said Quiet Persistence or Soft Power - a silent tenacity in achieving a goal.<br />
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<i>"Foothill College communication studies professor Preston Ni calls this style soft power, and contends that even someone who's not outwardly charismatic can lead if she is committed to her cause. The introverted Mother Teresa wielded soft power, and so did Gandhi, who had been a shy man. "In the long run," says Ni, "if your idea is good and you lead with your heart, it's almost a universal law: You'll attract people who want to share your cause. Soft power is quiet persistence.""</i><br />
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<b>5. Believe me, I'm an introvert</b><br />
And many other of your friends who can be gregarious, loud, and seems pretty comfortable in a large social setting. This is because many introverts are pseudo-extrovert, or as what Cain put it, a high self monitoring introvert - people who can modify their behavior to social demands. Although we do enjoy (point #1 and point #2) the social interactions, they are taking a toll on us and our energy meter is depleting rapidly.<br />
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To this, Cain suggested a method called "restorative niche" - a physical or mental place to recharge your energy and be true to yourself. Allow this 5- 10 minutes break between high stimulating activities and go for a walk before meeting, or hide in a bathroom, or put on your noise-cancelling earphone, etc.<br />
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Overall, there is no finger pointing here, I don't blame the company culture or the education system for favoring the Extroverts ideal. What I am hoping is for introverts not to shy away from their strength, and for extroverts to understand the contribution that for long have been closeted by the introverts. I'm sure the synergy of a team depends on all parts working together in their areas of strength and after so much training and focus on 7 Habits or Strength Finder, maybe it's time to shift our focus and go back to people's most basic trait, introverts and extroverts personality.Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-31227955605761752412013-07-26T10:51:00.000-04:002013-07-31T21:16:09.267-04:00Vancouver, I Will Be Back <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llgFhST76uU/UfHTaqWtxzI/AAAAAAAAT94/ssct9M8J4ho/s1600/2013-06-15+17.28.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llgFhST76uU/UfHTaqWtxzI/AAAAAAAAT94/ssct9M8J4ho/s200/2013-06-15+17.28.48.jpg" width="149" /></a>Call me selfish, but some of my best vacations were the one I had with myself. Five minutes, instead of 2 hours wait, for that delicious Ippudo ramen. Roaming freely and pressureless-ly, visiting each and every exhibition at the Library of Congress. And straddling along Las Vegas Boulevard observing the newly wed and the just-bankrupt.<br />
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Last month, it was Vancouver's turn. Having heard repeatedly that this is 'one of the most beautiful cities', I was excited to venture what this city has to offer: food, culture, and scenery.<br />
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Without a doubt, my first stop had to be Stanley Park. That had dominated my Google search history for days, and I had been eyeing it with pure lust and determination. So, after stuffing my stomach with delicious fresh salmon sashimi, I made my first stop at Stanley Park. With the evening sun glaring softly, ocean breeze blowing gently, together with mountains and oceans witnessing my act of freedom, I put on my running shoes and ran.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Vancouver from Stanley Park </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Brandywine Falls</td></tr>
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It's not a rumor. Vancouver is indeed one of the most beautiful cities that I have ever visited. Not New York because of its reckless and constantly-honking yellow taxis. Not Chicago because it lacks the mountain view. Not Boston because of it mediocre Japanese food. Not San Francisco because of the absence of a park in the middle of its downtown. Vancouver competes in a completely different league - beat them hands down.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KGTaLWZN-bY/UfHTu1tgsmI/AAAAAAAAT_E/7QAMz2uzWvw/s1600/DSC_0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Granville Island" border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KGTaLWZN-bY/UfHTu1tgsmI/AAAAAAAAT_E/7QAMz2uzWvw/s640/DSC_0211.JPG" title="Granville Island" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Granville Island </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aV0bEp7qSxo/UfHTmttSUhI/AAAAAAAAT-s/HN7Ukw3RTt4/s1600/DSC_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Statue of Ilanaaq" border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aV0bEp7qSxo/UfHTmttSUhI/AAAAAAAAT-s/HN7Ukw3RTt4/s640/DSC_0096.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Statue of Ilanaaq, the official logo mascot of Winter Olympic 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxpgUIwJcSE/UfHTsd9C47I/AAAAAAAAT-8/f2FBdYfkMIQ/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vancouver view from Cypress Bowl" border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxpgUIwJcSE/UfHTsd9C47I/AAAAAAAAT-8/f2FBdYfkMIQ/s640/DSC_0298.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skyline from Cypress Bowl </td></tr>
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Whistler was a different beast on its own. There was something mysterious and grandeur on the view before me that I was forced to slow down and observe. It felt like my existence was being challenged by the mountain and was being put in a ring together on a battle of ego. How could I be the center of the world? How could everything revolve around me? I need to take a class on perspective, because definitely my self-centered and narrow view of self cannot contain the vast yet intricate detail of this one snapshot of creation.<br />
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Call me selfish, but also call me a mere human. Nature is created to be enjoyed, and some people find its utmost pleasure in solitude. Reflection, I'd argue, is an art slowly missing in this fast paced, LTE data plan culture. So what does it take for a person to get recharged and be energized again? I don't know what works for you, but for me, travelling to Vancouver works just fine.Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-67052189522287969682013-07-19T17:47:00.001-04:002013-07-19T17:47:56.392-04:00After 9 Months9 months and 9 days<br />
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That is how long I have been absent from this blog. Not that anyone would realize, but finally I feel guilty for not writing again. Not because I will write anything inspirational, because a travel log on my journey to Cambodia can hardly be called inspirational. Not because anyone blame me for not writing. But just because this blog has recorded significant moments of my life - due to my discipline of writing - and I intend to keep it that way.<br />
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9 months and 9 days is what it took to make me realize that I have not been putting too much thought into what's going on around me. I have left my crayon untouched and left the world uncolored, and I intend to make it stop.<br />
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So, today is July 19th 2013 - the date where one streak of color is painted on the canvas.<br />
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First, let me blame someone for these 9 months<br />
1. For eight months, my writing class had occupied my time and really deplete all the desire, that was very negligible to start with, to write.<br />
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2. I have been managing two other blogs. So in my defense, I was nothing like that sloth who was busy watching Masterchef (although that is a frequent occurrence), but just because I have so many blogs to juggle with. Ha, so give me a break. <br />
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3. The world was boring. Well, maybe not. Because during that 8 months window, Oklahoma was hit by tornado, a new pope was elected, and Obama won the election. But somehow all of those left me undisturbed. It was not until Travyon Martin trial started and the hateful responses following its verdict that left me disturbed. The world does not run out of problems, in fact it can't keep up with the problems.<br />
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So rest assure, I will write more often (let's not remember that I have made - with such an ease - a similar promise in this blog which I have broken as easily too). Granted nothing distracting will happen in the next couple of days, please anticipate my next blog on my trip to Vancouver and Seattle.Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-71583832790981633052012-10-10T14:55:00.000-04:002012-11-06T11:26:13.382-05:00PotPals and DinoPals - Friends for Your Flower Pots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For you who love indoor gardening or anything to do with flower pots, these innovative and creative products are especially made for you. <a href="http://www.wgardens.com/Products/search.aspx?searchterms=Potpals" target="_blank">PotPals</a> and DinoPals, as the name suggests, are home decor products made from bendable wrought iron for your flower pots.</div>
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The idea is pretty simple, flower pots in itself are plain and boring, so why not spice it up with cute decor item like your favorite animals or favorite dinosaurs. Bend it to your liking, and voila, you have for yourself a cute potholder which would make your guest wow-ing in admiration. Check out the video for more details. </div>
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<br />Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-66032245212168060872012-09-20T01:38:00.002-04:002012-09-20T11:15:17.403-04:00Hope is Back. Jokowi - BasukiThis is it, today is the day Jakarta would elect its future governor for the next five years. It's been super exciting to see all people in Jakarta so pumped up to support one of the candidates, Jokowi - Basuki. The support has been unprecedented and the excitement for this sort of political event is unheard of. <br />
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This is a message of hope, and the people of Jakarta are desperately wanting to see transformation, not only changes, happening. There are tons of lingering issues need to be solved and we have been waiting too long for changes too happen. Slowly, at one point along the line, we stop hoping. Thus, the emergence of this candidate most surely resurrect the passion and hope we have for Jakarta again; the vision, values and dedication that they have for Jakarta are inspiring, and contagiously yet unconsciously, we start to hope, once again.<br />
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Today, we bring our hope to the ballot and put it to the test. Today, together we hope for a new Jakarta and for leaders who are actually working for the good of the people. Today will mark a historical event, either it will be the abomination of hope, or the re-creation of one. <i>Pilih no 3!! </i><br />
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#JakartaBaru<br />
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<br />Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-694202930182104672012-09-09T12:08:00.000-04:002012-09-09T12:08:21.555-04:00Short Term Mission Trip to CambodiaHere is bits and pieces of my two weeks short term mission trip to Cambodia. Although I can't say definitively that there are lots of new discovery (maybe mostly because it is pretty similar to Indonesia), it is still a great learning experience nonetheless.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just like real missionary, being sent off to the field. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day, we went to this floating village. It's amazing how they manage to live in this kind of environment, I get sea-sick easily so this is not a very friendly environment to settle in. Most people stay in one places and depending on the rain level that season, they move to other places. It is basically like a small town of their own, only the roads are water. They have people going around selling produce every day (kinda like a moving market),and they also have schools for the kids. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still can't wrap my mind around it. There are not one, or two, but many of these kind of children, wearing a real snake like a necklace and pointing it to all the tourist, while muttering "one dollar, one dollar". Not a really good marketing strategy though, you can't make me grab a dollar and give it to you if you have that creature on your shoulder like it ready to devour me. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have the opportunity to have a buffet dinner at this restaurant that also showcases local dances. Some of the dances are pretty boring for me maybe because it is too traditional and we don't really get the meaning behind it. But some of the more modern dances are pretty entertaining. One dance tells the story of rice farming and the love story between the farmers. Now, that is more relate-able! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd day: Temple Hopping - we visited four temple, all of which have distinct and unique characteristic of their own. We took a group picture with the renown Angkor Wat as the background. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just thought this is pretty awesome. Imagine having no sophisticated tools at that time, and using your hand to carve this statue. The precision level (and frustration level too) must be very high. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After done with all the temple hopping - we took a 7 hour bus drive to Pnom Penh where we will start our work week. I am with the construction team and our big task is to build a wall around the church's compound. This is one of the sites - digging dirt, building a gutter, putting solid foundation. Next couple of days later: mixing cement, pouring the cement, and building the poles. </td></tr>
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Look at their expression, really adorable. The kid on the left is my favorite, he is pretty playful although a bit spoilt. Well, what can you do, he is a kid. He forces me to put him on the wheelbarrow and push him around. Our VBS (Vacation Bible Study) team play with them, teach the Bible, do some craft work. We are so grateful for the four kids who accept Christ. </div>
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We also get the chance to visit two historical sites: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and The Killing Field. These were where the Khmer Rouge, led by Pot Pal tortured the Cambodia people back in 1975 - 1979 and then all the bodies were being dumped in what they called 'The Killing Field'. It is a very gruesome and bizarre pictures of human's cruelty and we all are very overwhelmed by what we've seen there. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all miss the good old American ice cream so we don't waste our time during our free day and quickly go to DQ to satisfy our craving. They have a green tea blizzard, so in the name of being adventurous, I try it and not regret it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once we're done with our work week, we spend two wonderful days in Kep at this wonderful resort. I get to sleep on this outdoor bed complete with mosquito net, a pretty wonderful experience I should say. Back to nature!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner by the beach, waiting for the sunset. The picture does not do the view justice though, the view is much more stunning if you see it by yourself. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our last day, we go to one of the provinces where World Vision do its work. This is a puppet play educating the children the importance of washing hands and staying healthy. We also got the chance to hear the testimony of one HIV positive patient, how she got the disease, how Jesus gave her hope again, and how the support group has been very helpful in helping her go through her struggle. Pretty impactful. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My last picture - in front of World Relief Cambodia office. Very grateful to have these guys working for the cause of the Lord there. </td></tr>
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Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-10054878228078939482012-09-06T20:57:00.000-04:002012-09-06T20:57:11.030-04:00Update on Writing ClassFinally, after long deliberation and tons of excuses, I registered for the writing course that I have been planning to take since last year. There are many options available, but I think my heart finds its rest on the "<a href="http://www.christianwritersguild.com/articles-that-sell/">Article That Sell</a>" program from <a href="http://www.christianwritersguild.com/">Christian Writers Guild</a>, basically a six month writing course which goal is to produce 10 ready-to-publish articles by the end of the course.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQ0vfEqha_s/UElD4-dn0pI/AAAAAAAATu8/XU9U0Stsneg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQ0vfEqha_s/UElD4-dn0pI/AAAAAAAATu8/XU9U0Stsneg/s200/photo.JPG" width="150" /></a>So what do I exactly want to achieve from this course? Of course not to be the next John Grisham because taking one writing course does not even slightly close the one light year gap between his prowess and mine in fiction writing. I guess I have no definite and satisfactory answer to this question as well.<br />
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Part of it because a bunch of friends have encouraged me to take one, maybe too naively thinking that I can really pull this off. Partly because I am still pretty much ambivalent about this, can't seem to put my foot down; I do enjoy writing to a certain degree, I feel I am able to express myself better in words, but it is nothing like a walk in the park, definitely nothing like spelling an ABC. I mean, c'mon, there are so many better writer out there; every time I read an intimidating column or article from Time, it always, without a fail, leave me with a sense of belittlement, think of an image of an overweight guy looking at the P90X workout guy.<br />
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And the last part, maybe I am still intrigued to find out how much I really want to do this, and how much writing capacity hidden down there I can excavate, is it a gold mine? or actually only a seasonal almost dried out well? Is this something that I need to take seriously in the end? I hope that the course can really push me out of my comfort zone, and give me the technical tools required to be a better writer - of which it has done a great job at, been scratching my head numerously to complete my first assignment, a deja-vu to my undergraduate experience.<br />
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So yeah, I have completed my first assignment, and I was about to celebrate it with a champagne when I realized there are 11 assignments to go, so as crestfallen as I was, I decided to postpone the celebration until a more significant time. The next assignment is due in two weeks, so I definitely have strong excuses to disregard the next assignment, don an invisibility cloak on the textbook, and update my blog with my recent travel to Cambodia and Indonesia. Finger-crossed!<br />
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<br />Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-52075114896033051272012-06-22T20:50:00.000-04:002012-06-22T20:50:00.073-04:00Preparation for the Trip to Cambodia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not many people are familiar with Angkor Wat in Cambodia; it never get as much spotlight as The Great Wall in China or Eiffel Tower of course, but it holds such beauty nonetheless. It is not a familiar discussion as well to hear people going to Cambodia for vacation, despite its fascinating historical background. However, that is where I'm planning to go this late July. Together with 30 other people, we are going to Cambodia for a 2-weeks mission trip.</div>
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This trip might be the highlight of the year for me. I have been planning to go abroad to some 3rd world countries, not to witness the beauty and pretentiousness of skyscrapers and mega-complex shopping mall, but really to understand the low and reality of life; the side that is frequently hidden behind the glossy cover of tourism magazine.</div>
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I was born and raised in Indonesia; a developing country with one of the highest corruption, population and pollution level. Street beggars are conspicuous, slums are a daily eyesore, and criminal activity is a normal everyday threat, not to mention circulating rumors of bombing here and there. Growing up in this surrounding, I am certainly not unfamiliar with poverty. So what else do I need to understand about poverty?</div>
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I actually do not have a great answer for that. What I know is, so far my involvement with poverty has been confined to mere emotional and intelligence level. I know I look at them with teary eyes, my heart breaks and my gut shouts for the world to help them. I also read books and study about several poverty alleviation business models, I attended seminar and created a social business club as one of the efforts. But still, even after all that being done, I know I have not even crawled anywhere near sacrificial level.</div>
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To witness is not to understand, to have an eye-opening revelation is different than to have a life-changing experience, and regardless of how many cook books a person has read, that doesn't make him a chef.</div>
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And these are what I'm expecting to do and achieve to get nearer to that level</div>
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1. Talk to as many people as possible to identify one specific problem that can be tackled through social entrepreneurship</div>
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2. Although we are supposed to stay in a hotel during our trip, I'm gonna try to find a local that is willing to let me stay at his house for a couple of nights</div>
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3. I am with the construction team, so I'm gonna work my head off to help them build a school</div>
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Last but not least, I will hold on to this promise from Numbers 6:24-26</div>
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<i><span style="color: orange;">"The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen" </span></i></div>
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When times go rough, and when the heat of the day is just painfully suffocating, when there is no power left to even form a simple thin smile, I will see upon the Lord's face, who will graciously lend his smile and lift up the light of his countenance upon me, and give that peace that surpassed all understanding. That's, where my heart will rest. Amen. </div>
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<br /></div>Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-75022425149760585122012-06-13T19:49:00.000-04:002012-06-14T12:05:33.034-04:00Commencement Speech - You Are Not Special<div style="text-align: justify;">
Be careful what you hear. We tend to selectively hear only things that validate our opinion and sense of liking. We like to hear messages that tickle our ears, telling us that we deserve it, we are strong, and we are special. Aren't we the contender? Imagine that you are one out of the millions sperms that being dispensed, and you're the one who swim victoriously towards the egg? But hey, listen more carefully please: there are 6.8 billions sperm that manage to do that too, and more are following. That is why when one commencement speaker states that we are not special, the whole world throws a tantrum and gasp in disbelief.</div>
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How could he? </div>
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How dare he? </div>
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Yes, what rarely said and often only heard in a faint whisper is the line after that: how could he tell that disturbing truth that soon? How dare he shatter the beautiful yet misconstrued pictures that we have been constructing for this little child - that he is the most special and that the world revolve around him?</div>
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This speech is an appropriate wake up call not only for these children, but also for all of us. Listen to what David McCullough Jr, an English speaker from Wellesley High School has to say during this commencement speech. </div>
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Here are some of my favorites:</div>
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<i>'Yes, you've been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble-wrapped. Yes, capable adults with other things to do have held you, kissed you, fed you, wiped your mouth, wiped your bottom, trained you, taught you, tutored you, coached you, listened to you, counseled you, encouraged you, consoled you and encouraged you again. You've been nudged, cajoled, wheedled and implored. You've been feted and fawned over and called sweetie pie. Yes, you have. And, certainly, we've been to your games, your plays, your recitals, your science fairs. Absolutely, smiles ignite when you walk into a room, and hundreds gasp with delight at your tweet. ... And now you've conquered high school ... and, indisputably, here we all have gathered for you, the pride and joy of this fine community ...</i></div>
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<i>But do not get the idea you're anything special. Because you're not.'</i></div>
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<i>'Your planet ... is not the center of its solar system, your solar system is not the center of its galaxy, your galaxy is not the center of the universe. In fact, astrophysicists assure us the universe has no center; therefore, you cannot be it'</i></div>
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<i>'Like accolades ought to be, the fulfilled life is a consequence, a gratifying byproduct. It's what happens when you're thinking about more important things. Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. Go to Paris to be in Paris, not to cross it off your list and congratulate yourself for being worldly. Exercise free will and creative, independent thought not for the satisfactions they will bring you, but for the good they will do others, the rest of the 6.8 billion- and those who will follow them. And then you too will discover the great and curious truth of the human experience is that selflessness is best thing you can do for yourself. The sweetest joy of life, then, come only with the recognition that you're not special. </i></div>
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<i>Because everyone is'</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">See this for <a href="http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/18720284/2012/06/06/full-transcript-youre-not-special-speech">complete transcript</a></span></div>Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-85118706985577778402012-06-05T10:39:00.001-04:002012-06-05T10:42:37.900-04:00Easy Gardening with Fertilizer Tree Spikes - Winchester GardensDo you have trees whose leaves are turning brown or yellow, or stems getting broken easily? Chances are, your trees suffer from the same fate as mine, and are in dire need of fertilizer. But the idea of fertilizing trees, with all the mess and intricacy, really push me away. It is easier to rationalize that the mother nature will faithfully supply all the nutrients that my trees need without me having to bend down and hurt my back. Right?<br />
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Well, thankfully I have some fertilizer tree spikes. Most people are not familiar with tree spikes but they are basically very similar to any granular fertilizer, only they are being compressed and compacted into a solid spikes form. Thus, allowing a very easy & customer-friendly usage, I just have to drive the spikes into the soil, let mother nature do its charm, forget about it, and voila, my trees are fertilized constantly throughout the season. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The tree which I fertilized with Winchester Gardens' Fertilizer Spikes</i></td></tr>
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The 'secret' is in its slow-release formula. Once the spikes are placed beneath the soil, water and micro-organism will help to break down the nutrients slowly but continuously all season long. At the right pace too! Thus, it eliminates the need to apply your fertilizer every week or two weeks. You just have to apply it, not twice, not thrice, but just once! No more 'Oh my, I forgot to fertilize my tree'. With fertilizer spikes, you can literally forget all about it. </div>
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For the most effective result, place the tree spikes along the drip line. Let me explain. Basically, look for the outermost branch or leaves, and then hammer the spikes just below it, exactly where water drips from and unto the ground. This is important because the root is usually located along the drip line so you are basically geo-targeting the fertilizer. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tree Spikes before I <br />hammered it in</i></td></tr>
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Another tips is to water the soil before hammering the spikes in, you basically want to make sure the ground is moist and soft and is happy enough to welcome the spikes. If not, you are creating troubles for yourself. Don't worry, contrary to the popular belief, spikes do not easily break apart during application. Well, at least the one that I used did not. </div>
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The most typical tree spikes you can find out there are tree & shrub, evergreen and fruit citrus. However, <a href="http://wgardens.com/products/category/53-fertilizers.aspx">Winchester Gardens</a> has a wide collection of fertilizer spikes, from <a href="http://wgardens.com/products/products/141-tomato-fertilizer-spikes.aspx">tomato spikes</a>, <a href="http://wgardens.com/products/products/144-vegetable-fertilizer-spikes-with-micro-nutrients-18-count.aspx">vegetable spikes</a>, <a href="http://wgardens.com/products/products/140-rose-fertilizer-spikes-winchester-gardens.aspx">rose spikes</a>, and even <a href="http://wgardens.com/products/products/148-organic-all-natural-berry-fertilizer-spikes-winchester-gardens.aspx">berry spikes</a>. I use the tree shrub and evergreen on my yard, and everything are looking good so far. I might have to apply them again in the Fall, but at least for the next two months, I can cross one task off my to do list, forget about it and just sit back enjoying the beauty of my yard. That's, my friend, how you can improve your quality of life :) </div>Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-5693549147034477022012-03-09T01:32:00.001-05:002012-03-09T01:34:40.585-05:00StopKony 2012 - Campaign Against Child Soldiers in UgandaToday, a social campaign against child soldiers is going viral, taking all social medias by storm. <a href="http://kony2012.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/">Kony 2012</a>. A campaign initiated by Invisible Children with the purpose to create awareness about Joseph Kony, an international criminal who abducted children and forced them to be child soldiers. Pretty horrifying fact although the issue itself is not new.<br />
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I laud the campaign for successfully bringing this issue to the dinner table. At least, I've seen more post about Uganda now on my Facebook feeds rather than the usual food pictures and 9gag.com. I am excited that such issue can be shared with millions of people around the world, and now people know what's happening in Uganda and hopefully many other parts of the world.<br />
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As with anything viral, things will wane and all these people now tweeting #StopKony will wake up a week from now and have no slightest remembrance of this issue. It is expected that most people are driven emotionally and only feel the nudge to press the like or share button mostly to make themselves feel better. However, I believe out of millions who sway and move on, a few will take the issue to heart and would not be able to erase what their eyes have seen and what their ears have heard. These raging unstoppable passion will be the driving forces once more, rallying people to care about issues that matter.<br />
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So, I am totally behind this movement and this ground-breaking visibility especially after lately been exposed to testimonies from former child soldiers themselves. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Long-Way-Gone-Memoirs-Soldier/dp/0374105235/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3">A Long Way Gone</a> is a great memoir of a boy detailing his odyssey with war in Sierra Leone. Another book that I've read is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-They-Killed-Father-Remembers/dp/0060856262/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331273430&sr=1-1">First They Killed My Father</a>, another gripping story of a girl's journey in a devastating brutal war in Cambodia. And now, the story of Jacob in Uganda.<br />
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Too many things are left unsaid and too many tears have been poured out invisibly. It is time for the people of the world to start noticing and sharing their problem. I know how the pain of losing a family member can be torturous, but to witness your parents being murdered is another different game, let alone to be forced to kill them yourself. There is no closure for that. No one should go through that kind of nightmare. Not us, and certainly not them.Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-74437351185822061822012-03-08T23:57:00.005-05:002012-03-09T11:26:45.997-05:00Lessons Learned - The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_6gxoFys4k/T1mMY38BFXI/AAAAAAAATsI/rEl9wV03pxc/s1600/TheBlueSweater_300_450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_6gxoFys4k/T1mMY38BFXI/AAAAAAAATsI/rEl9wV03pxc/s200/TheBlueSweater_300_450.jpg" width="133" /></a>The idea of helping the poor has never escaped me, I am always internally drawn to the possibility of making the world a better place. I believe this is the passion that I share with Jacqueline Novogratz, the founder of <a href="http://www.acumenfund.org/ten/">Acumen fund</a>, who unlike me started to realize her dream early in her career. It is with elation that I ravage the pages of her book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Blue-Sweater-Bridging-Interconnected/dp/1594869154/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331274921&sr=8-1">The Blue Sweater</a>, mostly for sharing stories that had I possessed the courage, I would also be able to experience and share.<br />
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When the idealist and novice imagine a life of a social entrepreneurs in Africa, one would sway, due to their inept knowledge of the reality, to either one extreme: the painful rough path of suffering or the rewarding transcendental joy of changing the world. I myself have unconsciously been apologizing to myself for wanting the former and for enforcing such 'curse' upon my own life, why not vie for that wall street or consulting job? This book, however, shatter my misconstrued reality<br />
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Yes, the business of changing the world usually entail certain level of loneliness and hardships, but do not all roads contain their own rubble and hard path? Being negatively judged, unlawfully accused and even being poisoned are part of the package. Jacqueline described it perfectly here,<br />
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<i><span style="color: orange;">"Doing this in a different language, in a place far from home, where navigating even simple things could thwart the best intentions challenged me to my bones. There were plenty of nights when the sheer injustice of the world in which I lived would come crashing down. With no means of communication other than letters, a sense of isolation would envelop me, and there were nights that ended in tears of tiredness and sadness for a world that didn't seem to want to see the possibilities right there in front of it. In those times, I would turn to music. Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Cat Stevens began to feel like good friends on lonely nights" </span></i><br />
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But unbeknownst to me is the magical adventure this life has to offer at the same time. Weekend is still weekend wherever you are, and the world is not lacking of any perks and fun to throw at you. For Jacqueline, it is that climbing one mountain in Africa or an adventurous travel from the far reaches of Ethiopia to the Kenyan savannas or to the volcanoes of Rwanda. Or even as simple as eating shish kebabs and grilled bananas, dancing to the tunes of African music with Rwandan beer at hand. Those are pictures that my misconstrued mind often denigrated as not being philanthropic, but certainly with every trough, a peak is about to follow.<br />
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Another issue that I am having hard time to grip with is the issue of lifestyle: how much are they going to change me and vice versa, how localize should we conform to their lifestyle and how much freedom are we throwing out of the window? I think big part of that answer depend on the level of involvement you want to be in. But this story helps me to understand and find a better conciliatory point between the joy and suffering of social entrepreneurs.<br />
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<i><span style="color: orange;">"I'm not sure I even want the champagne, Dan," I said. "I feel a little ashamed by it. I just don't know if it is right to be doing this while we're living here." </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: orange;">Dan looked at me. "I know it doesn't make a lot of sense on one level. We're working with the really poor, and you and I couldn't be more privileged in relative terms. But don't pretend to be someone you aren't. If you were at home, you'd celebrate with champagne. If you want to remain happy and alive in this work, you need to reconcile this part of who you are and understand the inconsistencies with the work you do and how it all fits into your whole way of being." </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: orange;">I looked at my lovely friend. As a young man, he'd lost his brother and had already endured great sadness in his life. His commitment to social change had never wavered. Maybe he knew something I didn't. </span></i><br />
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Certainly, there are something I do not know unless I jump into it and get my hands dirty. Reading this book awaken the sleeping giant in me, I know I am several years behind, I am 24 now and little that I did except reading and learning about the issue. Other passionate young men and women have flown high and even let their wings being clipped and plucked during the quest, while mine remain ironically unscathed.<br />
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Going to Cambodia this year is my first action plan; an adventure to learn the world beyond me and to be familiar with what I think would be my world. Cowardice and comfort are two vices that I have been submitting into, but this time I refuse to bow down and present my tithe. I know I will take what Jacqueline said to heart,<br />
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<i><span style="color: orange;">Entrepreneurs see possibility, an idea, and won't stop, regardless of the obstacles, until they make it happen. They aren't necessarily the smartest people in the world, but they are the ones who have the guts and the heart to do whatever it takes to make dreams come real.</span></i>Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-57418798499556801142012-01-31T23:38:00.002-05:002012-02-01T14:05:47.996-05:00Why Do I Choose to Yelp?Yes, my name is Gerry and I am a <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=N-gBJ0rB8EdXMn4e0bbFlw">Yelper</a>! I said that with the most declarative tone and highest pride any food lovers can exude, putting my name in the same caliber with any other food experts yelping and reviewing various kinds of restaurants or food establishments.<br />
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</div><div>I wonder why do I join this Yelp bandwagon pretty late compared to all my other friends. Although at least one shot of espresso and crumbs of chocolate pistachio cake run in my blood, and despite the fact Yelp has been one of my most visited website, at home or unashamedly I admit at my work laptop, I have been reluctant to complicate my life with reviewing stranger's restaurant as if they will remember me and send me a thank you card later. </div><div><br />
</div><div>But, certain angelic revelation came unto me one day and I was convinced to join the bandwagon and added "yelper" to my part time occupation, only mine is not about raving or bitching over the overly cooked fillet mignon or the not-so tender carrot. No, I refuse to do that, mine is, as I have alluded, contain an 'angelic' aspect,<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s9R9j6mydjk/TyjBQnlU_xI/AAAAAAAATrM/ToTdMFk3KK0/s1600/yelp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s9R9j6mydjk/TyjBQnlU_xI/AAAAAAAATrM/ToTdMFk3KK0/s200/yelp.jpg" width="200" /></a>And this is the reason. I've seen too many great small restaurants and talented chef destined to pack their cookware only because they don't get enough exposure in this super cluttered food business world. Places like Mike's place and Ippudo are reaching to a point of exploding because of glowing review from tons of Yelper, joining the hype at the moment, and at the same time, attracting multitude of crowds. Life is not fair I know, there is a gap distancing the famous and infamous, but I'm gonna try to do my part to make it a little bit fair-er.<br />
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And thus is the decision. Those restaurants worthy of five or at least four stars, will get what they deserve. From this day onward, you are going to see me cruising more on Yelp, writing my piece of mind for small restaurants that possess the potential to be the next Ippudo. It might sound petty for some people, but 'do unto others what you want them to do to you' right? With scanty marketing budget and unfamiliar brand name, a simple review from one customer or a rating boost from 4 to 4.5 star could be just what the fledgling entrepreneur needs to put his head at rest and face another day with confidence.<br />
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So in short, and yes, this post could have ended 30 minutes ago, but kudos for you who manage to stay until this point. For me, Yelp is not only a platform to evangelize your favorite bar or to express your resentment towards that fail-to-melt molten chocolate cake, but also a platform where people put all of their chips - aspiration determination and hope - into one single business, letting its fate to be determined by some strangers, freely to be crushed or to be actualized. What's your choice? As for me, I rather choose the later. </div>Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-50906636159644512212012-01-13T20:17:00.003-05:002012-01-30T11:49:42.682-05:00Response to Marine Urinating Dead BodiesOnly a few really know the cost of war, no one can really claim to understand what's happening out there only by sitting on their couch and watching BBC's documentation on war, just like no one understands tragedy and suffering without actually having your life tied to it, no matter how many movies you watch about death or even the holocaust.<br />
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</div><div>After watching the video of soldiers urinating on dead corpse, and seeing the condemnation the whole world threw at them, I started to think. Of course, that was a stupid act, a 'completely inhuman', and 'utterly deplorable'. But still, granted that, what cause it? What is this shock viralling on the media?<br />
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</div><div>Viktor E. Frankl, a holocaust survivor, in his book "Man's Search for Meaning" wrote that the prisoners upon witnessing so many scenes of beating, are hardened morally and mentally. Their impulse toward violence is increased (add to that the bereavement from food and rest), thus their capacity to handle, tolerate and commit violence is catapulted as well.<br />
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Not only the prisoners, the guards are also slowly transformed into a darker evil upon seeing and living and committing act of brutality in an increasing dosage. It dulls you, and suddenly gassing the Jews is not so bad at all. Let alone beating them or withholding food ration and in this case peeing on dead bodies. This kind of hellish environment forces the prisoner's life (and the guards as well) down to a primitive level, where humans cease to have meaning, merely an object, a thing, a weightless matter.<br />
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In a pretty much similar fashion, these soldiers are made to commit some atrocious acts which unlike the peeing video, never being taped and posted on Youtube - destroying community, shooting people on their head, bombing houses, and having to watch their friends being tortured and murdered on the battlefield. We often shriek and close our eyes upon watching such gruesome acts in a war or horror movie, these guys see it too often to even bother to close their eyes anymore. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The urinating incident is indeed grotesque and insensitive, yet are we planting the seed at the first place? These people are put in hell; these are people who are commanded to 'kill on sight' upon seeing another human being and then to celebrate his death while the family, mother and daughter of that person gasping for breath trying to understand the gruesome reality of war. When morality is being taken out of the equation, when such immoral acts are their daily consumption, could they be blamed for urinating on dead bodies? </div><div><br />
</div><div>If we were to be so "deeply troubled" at this incident, maybe what the world needs is a world without war after all. Maybe instead of putting all effort to bring justice to this, we should put greater effort in ending the war. Maybe war, even the most 'normal' activity of war, should trouble us greater, than the urination. </div>Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-5303147144398358942011-12-02T00:51:00.001-05:002011-12-02T10:56:18.111-05:00Salary of Non Profits' Top Officials<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, look at the picture below. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Source: www.csmonitor.com</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alright, in the spirit of not being judgmental, I did a quick Googe on the salary of top officials in non profit organizations. And I partly understand the argument that non profit has to compete with corporation to get the best and the brightest. But, still, six digit figures touching the veneer of $500,000 (or double that in some cases) seems a little bit unsettling to me. I am not a big corporation guy so I have little idea about the benefits and compensation in that kind of surroundings, but combining the idea of non profit dealing with malaria in Africa with the six digit figures spent on a holiday in Montreal is ..... a painful mental exercise. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am almost tempted to urge the non profits to simply settle with the brighter mind and look for the brightest heart instead. In my imagination, someone who is not motivated by dime (or in this case, hundred thousands) and who will voluntarily choose to be under underpaid (notice the double 'under'). There must be someone like that out there right? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But after scrutinizing the report, it comes as a shock to me that World Vision, the organization that I wholeheartedly support, is on the list. Having read the book that Rich Stearns wrote, he definitely does not come out as a selfish greedy old guy, I can feel the passion and genuineness surfacing from his writings. So, no reconciliation yet to be made about this, I guess I'm just trying to be open minded and patiently waiting for a better explanation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not arguing that the top executives should suffer and sacrifice his / her life, I guess what I'm calling for is a further re-evaluation of what salary range is acceptable or appropriate. How does compensation or benefit or salary is justifiably allocated? Should it be commensurate with his / her dedication, or how much money he / she raise that year, or seniority or a soft re-calling to that deep dark place often untouched nowadays called conscience? </div>Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-42868617026270869612011-11-24T12:14:00.000-05:002011-11-24T12:14:00.479-05:00Charity This Christmas - Where to Donate?There is at least one time in a year where people care about charity and more gleefully rummage their pocket to find some money to donate. Yes, the highly advertised season of joy and blessings is just at the corner. Because of this, I am sending an early gift for you guys by listing some of the charities that I am supporting / proposing and hopefully this will help some of you to decide which charity to give this Christmas. And since Christmas is again the season of sharing and helping, I ask you guys to list your charity or non-profit giving in the comment section to help other readers to decide too.<br />
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First and foremost, <a href="http://www.worldvision.org/">World Vision</a>. You can adopt a child for $30-35 per month. This will not only pay for their school, but also to build their community by building infrastructure and facility.<br />
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2. <a href="http://www.kiva.org/">Kiva</a>: A micro-finance type of charity, supporting entrepreneurs all around the world by loaning money.<br />
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3. <a href="http://www.roomtoread.org/page.aspx?pid=183">Room to read</a>: building schools and library to educate children. They believe the world change when children are educated!! Amen to that.<br />
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4. If water is your thing, <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/">charity:water</a> may be a good channel. Committed to bring safe and clean drinking water.<br />
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5. <a href="http://www.thp.org/">The hunger project</a>: their vision is to end a person's hunger not by giving them fish, but by empowering and teaching them "how to fish"<br />
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What about you? Please don't hesitate to share charities that you want to support or call out!!Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-78467985394764236632011-11-16T00:48:00.002-05:002011-11-30T14:41:06.798-05:00Ted Video - David Gallo and Alexander TsiarasI think these two cool videos deserve more coverage (although I don't think my blog will boost their number of views that much), but still, I can't help not to share it. Some objects are not easily captured, and most of the time remain foreign to the eyes of the average Joe, but these two experts did some serious undertaking to visualize and capture and made it unknowable to us the mystery lies in the deepest & darkest part of the ocean and also the miracle of a cell's conception.<br />
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If there is one feeling that these videos should evoke to us is the feeling of awe and wonder (jaw dropped) of how little we actually have discovered and how many more things remain unfamiliar to our mind. Like what one of the speakers said, "its magic, its miracle, its divinity", something that beyond comprehension of any humans' mind. Enjoy.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>David Gallo shows underwater </b></i><b><i>astonishment</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="374" width="526"></p><p><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param></p><p><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /></p><p><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/></p><p><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param></p><p><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param></p><p><param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talk/stream/2007/Blank/DavidGallo_2007-320k.mp4&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/DavidGallo-2007.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=512&vh=288&ap=0&ti=206&lang=&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments;year=2007;theme=ocean_stories;theme=animals_that_amaze;theme=inspired_by_nature;theme=evolution_s_genius;event=TED2007;tag=Science;tag=Technology;tag=animals;tag=evolution;tag=exploration;tag=fish;tag=oceans;tag=short+talk;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /></p><p><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="526" height="374" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talk/stream/2007/Blank/DavidGallo_2007-320k.mp4&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/DavidGallo-2007.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=512&vh=288&ap=0&ti=206&lang=&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments;year=2007;theme=ocean_stories;theme=animals_that_amaze;theme=inspired_by_nature;theme=evolution_s_genius;event=TED2007;tag=Science;tag=Technology;tag=animals;tag=evolution;tag=exploration;tag=fish;tag=oceans;tag=short+talk;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;"></embed></p><p></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Alexander Tsiaras: Conception to Birth - Visualized</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="374" width="526"></p><p><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param></p><p><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /></p><p><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/></p><p><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param></p><p><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param></p><p><param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talk/stream/2010P/Blank/AlexanderTsiaras_2010P-320k.mp4&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/AlexanderTsiaras_2010P-embed.jpg&vw=512&vh=288&ap=0&ti=1270&lang=&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=alexander_tsiaras_conception_to_birth_visualized;year=2010;theme=tales_of_invention;theme=art_unusual;theme=medicine_without_borders;event=INK+Conference;tag=Design;tag=Science;tag=medical+research;tag=visualizations;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /></p><p><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="526" height="374" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talk/stream/2010P/Blank/AlexanderTsiaras_2010P-320k.mp4&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/AlexanderTsiaras_2010P-embed.jpg&vw=512&vh=288&ap=0&ti=1270&lang=&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=alexander_tsiaras_conception_to_birth_visualized;year=2010;theme=tales_of_invention;theme=art_unusual;theme=medicine_without_borders;event=INK+Conference;tag=Design;tag=Science;tag=medical+research;tag=visualizations;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;"></embed></p><p></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div>Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-83852883029193346782011-11-07T12:19:00.001-05:002011-11-16T00:10:57.626-05:00Models of Social Entrepreneurship in OhioAll good things deserve some good publicity, right? Whenever you listen to spectacular concert or watch an Oscar winning movie, you can't help not to open your mouth and spread the word. And they deserve it, good things need good publicity to be heard and known. And this is what I'm doing with some social business or entrepreneurship here in Columbus, OH.<br />
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Try to google "social business in Columbus" and you will get a sparse result. Not enough publicity is given to all these great and noble businesses which put social benefits on top of profit, which value employee's welfare more than the company's reputation. So, this post is a short summary of some social businesses or social entrepreneurship that operate in Ohio, and some of the impacts that they have made in their community.<br />
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1. <a href="http://www.passionworks.org/">Passion works</a> (Athens, OH)<br />
This is a collaboration effort between artist with and without developmental abilities. They truly believe that every humans have the ability to create somethings valuable and people with disabilities are no exception. With this collaboration, they are able to create a beautiful piece of art, and even one of their artwork, Passion Flower, has become the <a href="http://www.passionworks.org/tag/official-flower-of-athens-ohio/">official flower of Athens</a>. I have the privilege to visit Passion Works last year and here is <a href="http://chrisagonus.blogspot.com/2010/06/visit-to-passion-works-studio.html">the link</a>.<br />
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2. <a href="http://www.freshboxcatering.com/index/">Freshbox Catering</a> (Columbus, OH)<br />
The tagline explains it all, "Feed your appetite, nourish your community". They are committed to provide a healthy great lunch, and to empower the community by its employment system. The workers that Freshbox hires are mainly homeless people who they hold to an extraordinary standard. The tiered level employment system is developed to filter the uncommitted and unwilling thus only allowing those who are motivated enough to go through the three training stages.<br />
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3. <a href="http://pearlinter.org/index.html">Pearl Interactive Network</a> (Columbus, OH)<br />
Often disabled veterans, military spouses and people with disabilities are workforce that are being overlooked for their potentials or even worse, being discriminated against. Luckily, Pearl Interactive Network see their potentials and based its business system on tapping into this unique workforce. Some of them are hired as home-based sales person, or customer service representative, or even as market researcher.<br />
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4. <a href="http://www.earthalimited.com/">Eartha Limited </a>(Columbus, OH)<br />
One of the hallmarks of Eartha limited is its emphasis on eco friendly product or service. They help businesses to achieve sustainability by implementing waste control methods. For example, installing energy efficient lighting, recycling all aluminum or plastic bottles or cardboard from a restaurant, even to introducing a beer on tap system to eliminate bottle waste. Some creatives initiatives are also introduced, like converting football food waste into compost for garden, or gallons of used vegetable oil for bio-diesel. In addition to that, they also produce green products like cutlery, plates, to-go box from plant materials (corn, palm leaves, etc).<br />
<div style="color: #919191; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 23px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div></div></div>Gerry C Joenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063588531641825177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4049511790773825429.post-52269813785474213852011-10-21T02:06:00.000-04:002011-10-21T02:06:33.261-04:00A Year After ...Been a year without your phone calls, no one tell me to "drink more water" again. How's life up there with him? Still think you went too quickly mom, still look at the places we visited together here and can't help not to think of you. Went to Chicago several months ago, and still wish you were there. Planning to go to Hongkong with papi etc this Dec, and can't help to wish you can go with us, and enjoy the trip together. We never travel together right, the five of us, not that papi will allow it though ;p<br />
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Miss you... I know it's your anniversary up there, but it does not look like an anniversary down here. They went to your site to place some flowers though, or should I say to shower you with flowers. Not that you care or could be happier with that, knowing that you have more beautiful flowers there, but we, still in our flesh, can't help not to do it. At the very least, it makes us feel better, even me who only look at the picture. I guess each of us has to express something, with our own way of handling it.<br />
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I did some stupid things too, sometimes I wonder if that comes from my lack of faith or simply just an act of "showering flowers". But God has been gracious though, well, I think you know him better now than I. Glad that He is taking care of you there, must be a hell of a year.<br />
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Well, till we meet again?<br />
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This is beautiful, I hope you like it, considering how much you like flowers. Happy one year.<br />
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