Greetings readers,
My blogging is also going to be linked over at the Young Professional Blog Aggregator. Right now it’s a short list of bloggers, including some from Brazen Careerist and others that creator Alex Fisher knows.
Over time it could be a one stop shop for Gen Y worker bee blogging headlines and trendlines.
If you’d like to be considered for aggregation, apply here.
I try to read about 50 books a year. Sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less. In all likelihood, I’ll get to another 4-8 books before New Year’s Day (since holidays are great days to curl up with a good book), so I may need come back and another title or two to the the list below.
But for now, the books below make my list of best reads this year.
Rather than give away the ending of a novel or write a precis of each non-fiction tome (which could each be a post until themselves), I’ve provided a brief paragraph summing up what you’ll find cover to cover.
Anatomy of Love: A Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray by Helen Fisher (NF) (added 1/2/09)
Though this book is about 15 years old, there’s still plenty of relevant study and anecdotal data to supporter Fisher’s hypotheses about love and reproduction. It’s fascinating to read about certain behavioral patterns that appear across a variety of cultures and what common biochemical threads unite romantic relations regardless of what part of the world you are from.
The Scandal Plan: Or: How to Win the Presidency by Cheating on Your Wife
It’s an election year; I needed to be entertained. A Presidential candidate is just too vanilla and uninteresting to the American people, so his campaign fabricates an affair and its exposure to drum up support from the American people. A wag-the-dog scenario.
Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism
Journalist Goldberg takes a look at Christian extremists and their efforts to infiltrate (quietly or openly) the infrastructure of our society, in order to slowly dissolve the separation of church and state. Revisionist history would have you believe the found fathers sought theocracy, not the clear split between the government and religion which they actually saw as necessary after watching the divisive relations of the two in Europe. Christian Nationalists continue the fight to bring intelligent design/creationism into schools whenever they can muster the community support.
The faith-based initiatives launched by Bush ( which Obama supports) funnels government money to religious groups for community work. Despite government funding, they are allowed to discriminate in hiring policies, with many groups choosing to only hire candidates who can embrace the Bible. . . Christian groups receive the bulk of this funding. In return, some leaders of this movement are working to systematically get supporters in places of power in government and education, so as to expand the reach of their theocratic goals. A disturbing and enlightening read after seeing the power of the Christian Right in the 2000 and 2004 elections.
Intuition
Call it a continued passion for medical ethics stemming from my undergraduate years. . . but this book captivated me from beginning to end. Researchers spend years toiling away in labs hoping to make a breakthrough that will yield a cure or a vaccine for cancer. Can the pressure get to be too great? Do scientists sometimes cut corners or hide discouraging data to move research forward? What does that mean to the integrity of the research and the funding of the research itself?
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
I’ve already blogged about Klein’s book. The $800 billion Wall Street bail out provides a great example of disaster capitalism at work in America. After insisting that the world will come to a screeching halt without the bailout, legislators forked over the billions after negligible negotiating. Shock and awe at work. (PS. Here’s Klein’s defense against criticism from the libertarians/supporters of Friedman economics.)
The Elephant and the Dragon: The Rise of India and China and What It Means for All of Us
We live in a globalized economy. With so many of our service jobs being outsourced to India and manufacturing jobs outsourced to China, you should be sure to understand the growth of the two economic behemoths over the last decade. Meredith also gives you pause when considering the trajectory these countries are on and what it means for our future (globally and as Americans) and our access to the limited resources we need to keep our economies active.
How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America
Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade changed America. Access to birth control and the ability to plan a family meant a better quality of life for the next generation and a greater involvement of fathers in the parenting process. Allowing women to get in and stay in the work force on their own terms shook up American culture for the better. Legal access to birth control and abortion have greater significance than the sexual revolution, though pro-life leadership is typically rooted in controlling women’s sexuality. (Page regularly blogs about reproductive issues for the Huffington Post)
When the Rivers Run Dry: Water — The Defining Crisis of the Twenty-First Century by Fred Pearce (NF)
Pearce reviews the state of the water supply around the world. He looks at the dessication of once water-rich areas and the excess flooding in other regions that leave hundreds of thousands homeless. In his travels he examines the technology (dams, aquifers, qanats, water seeding, drip irrigation, etc) and politics (pacts between states and countries that split water resources). Instead of forcing water to bend to the will of settlements, we should instead “go with the flow” and look to simpler technology used for thousands of years, as well as modify our infrastructure for more efficient use of water.
Good Grief
An unexpected widow climbs out of a personal breakdown to relight her life passions and put her own needs on the front burner. In focusing on her interest in baking, she launches a successful business and provides support to a troubled teen, helping them both get their lives back together.
Disclaimer: These books were not necessarily published in 2008. They do not necessarily belong on a list of best books ever, books to read before you die, or best kept secrets. It’s just a list of the books I enjoyed most in this calendar year.
photo by higashitori
From The Star Ledger:
Special education teacher in Springfield, Ellen Frances Bruno, 48, died on Nov. 20, 2008, in Overlook Hospital. Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Spirit R.C. Church, Morris Ave., Union. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Westfield. Born in Elizabeth, Mrs. Bruno resided in Springfield. She attended Kean University, where she completed both her undergraduate and master’s degrees. She was a devoted and much loved special education teacher with the Springfield Board of Education, where she received the Teacher of the Year award in 2002 from the Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School. Ellen loved gardening, reading, cooking, and always had time for her family and friends. She was predeceased by her sister, Victoria Ryan, and is survived by her loving husband, Joseph; the joys of her life, daughters, Melisa McKinnon, with her husband, David, and Victoria Bruno; also surviving are her brothers, James and Tim Ryan, and her sister, Carol Hauschild. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory to the Center for Hope Hospice, 1900 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076 or the Community Food Bank of N.J., 31 Evans Terminal, Hillside, N.J. 07205 would be appreciated.
photo by dominikgolenia
My mom’s on-and-off best friend of the last 15 years rests on life support today. Over the weekend complications from emergency surgery for an aneurysm led to bleeding in the brain, and doctors told her family that recovery was unlikely. It seems that it’s less a matter of if the plug is pulled than when the family is ready to do so.
In discussing with my mom the tough decisions Ellen’s family faces and the unfairness of the situation, I’m reminded of the little ways those a few degrees removed can lend a hand in a time of crisis.
Extended family and a network of friends would like to be kept in the loop about changes in the patient’s condition or details about memorial service plans. Close family members are focused on the ill or beginning to grieve.
Volunteer to be the point person for people seeking information. That way, a family member can check in with you once or twice a day and everyone else can check in with you. It lifts a huge burden off those closest to the sick or recently deceased.
Parents sometimes need a break when juggling young kids and grandma in the hospital.
Offer to take the kids to the park, the movies or the mall for a few hours to give the parents the opportunity to either take a break or put their full focus on the sick, dying or deceased loved one.
When family members are rotating shifts at a loved one’s bed side, they’re not planning their 3 square meals. Most hospital food leaves much to be desired. Soup and sandwiches are easy to drop off for those relatives.
When they get home from a long day at the hospital or in the days following funeral proceedings, prepping a meal is not what anyone wants to do. Schedule a time to drop off one pan meals that are easy to cook or reheat, like ziti, minestrone soup, lasagna and chicken marsala.
For those of you not particularly adept in the kitchen, gift certificates to local restaurants and meal services that deliver also make difference.
When dealing with the realities of a prolonged illness, the less important household chores fall by the wayside. Cleaning house takes energy and effort, which those holding a family together don’t have to spare.
For close family and friends, volunteer to come over on a Saturday to change the linens, to vacuum and to do a few loads of laundry. Alternately, you could pay for several hours of a cleaning service to do the same at the home owner’s or renter’s convenience.
Unfortunately, prolonged terminal illnesses, freak accidents, and sudden deaths happen, but you can try to help lighten the load a bit for those coping. How do you lend a hand?
One of the best designer sales (for charitable purposes) takes place next month in Los Angeles. Divine Design is worth adding to your calendar.
Two years ago I picked up a $375 skirt for $75; it’s swooshiness never fails to make me smile, so I know I’ll be getting years and years of use out of it. I also grabbed several $90 tank tops for just $10 apiece.
What:
Divine Design is an annual pre-holiday shopping event featuring designer clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and furniture. 100% of proceeds benefit Project Angel Food.
The designer items are the latest from trendy lines like Trina Turk, Theory, Dolce & Gabbana, Jimmy Choo, and Smashbox Cosmetics.
Where
9900 Wilshire Blvd (old Robinson’s May location), Beverly Hills 90210
When
VIP Early Shopping December 4th, 6pm -8pm, with $100 ticket purchase
Friday, December 5, 11am – 8pm
Saturday, December 6, 11am-8pm
Sunday, December 7, 11am – 8pm
Monday, December 8, 11am-8pm
The discount is usually progressive, meaning on Friday items should be 50% off, Saturday 60%, Sunday 70% and Monday 80%.
Tickets:
Tickets are available online for $15 or at the door for $25 ($10 off admission coupon)
Bonus:
Just 500 Raffle tickets are available to those of you who’d like to drive home in a Prius. For a $100 ticket, you’re odds of winning a 2-year lease on a 2009 Prius are way better than that of winning the state lottery.
Beneficiary:
Project Angel Food is unique: we are the only, free meal-delivery program that serves men, women and children debilitated by HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses throughout Los Angeles County. Thanks to a devoted corps of volunteers, every day Project Angel Food cooks and delivers more than 1,400 to people in need throughout our community. We act out of a sense of urgency because hunger and illness do not wait. The people we serve range in age from 12 to 97 years.
Welcome to the 2nd annual publication of Zak’s Favorite Things.
There aren’t strict qualifications to make the list. Some of these items are on my wish list, and some I already own and love. Others I stumbled across on the web and couldn’t help but investigate further.
As a gym rat, my hair is either in a ponytail or braids during my workout. As any woman with long hair can attest, fashionable hair elastics typically don’t have staying power: they fall off, and they stretch out. While I’ve yet to find a product that perpetually springs back to its original size, I|M offers elasticized bands that you won’t lose half way through your workout or on your way home. Their “ActiveHold Technology” runs a rubber tread through their I|M Active products. You avoid the painful dislodgement of a typical rubber band, but the tread grips enough to keep your hair accessories in place. ($4.99 for 4 thick bands, 8 thin or medium bands)
Hero Nutritionals created Slice of Life, a line of gummy vitamins for adults. Surely I’m not alone in envying all the tasty chewable and gummy vitamins available to children. Gummy vitamins feed your inner child. While not the most comprehensive multi-vitamin on the market, looking forward to gummy slices means I’m more apt to remember to take calcium and wheat grass supplements as well. (Suggested retail $19.99 for a 30-day supply, but I found them for $11.95)
In 2005, custom cosmetic site reflect.com shut down. I stocked up on my favorite lipstick as they shipped their final orders. I recently accepted I needed to find a new lipstick brand or brands because I have reached the dregs of my final tube from reflect.com. The berry tones I love are really hard to find; apparently, they don’t flatter most complexions. My search brought me to two brands I recommend.
Bare Escentuals offers a 100% natural lipstick line. No chemical additives or preservatives. The lipstick applies a bit dryer than other lipsticks I tried, but a layer of lip gloss solves the problem. It’s supposed to “hug” your lips for 6 hours (if you’re a talker, divide by 2). Red Zin is my hue of choice, held in a curvy, but a tad oversized cylinder. ($15 per tube)
Launched in 1991, Fresh is just reaching the West Coast markets. Stand alone stores have popped up in Los Angeles in the past couple of years. Though a bit more expensive than I’d prefer ($22/tube), their lipsticks slide on like butter; no gloss needed. You can’t put a price tag on sexy, silky lips. Cranberry Lemonade is my color of choice.
PS. My favorite lip gloss? Try Kiehl’s for slight sparkle and subtle mango flavor.
Threadless offers great graphic tees, but Hanes is the ticket if you need basic solid tees. I’ve never understood how some people pay $100 for a t-shirt, when you can get quality at a much more affordable price. I’m particularly fond of their 3/4 sleeve boatneck t-shirt ($16); so much so, that I have it in 3 colors. Hanes keeps you covered in fitted and relaxed t-shirts, tanks and camisoles, as well as comfy loungewear for rainy weekends in.
photo from www.douglasscandies.com
Family vacations as a child meant a road trip to the Jersey shore. My family stayed in the same motel every year for more than a decade. The best part of the trip was the last day’s stop at Douglass Fudge, famous for its saltwater taffy and, obviously, fudge. All week long we’d snag samples as we passed the store each night, and on the final day, before the drive home, my mom would buy a variety of Douglass products by request for various members of the family. If you’re a fudge person, I recommend their coconut cream and chocolate marshmallow flavors; for saltwater taffy, take the sampler.
Still, my favorite sweet is their molasses paddle — a dark chocolate-covered molasses caramel on a stick. You can pick up a box of 6 for $16.50 + shipping. I like to cut them up in 8 pieces and freeze them, so I can enjoy a square a day.
Warning: These are super chewy and sticky, so be careful if you have a lot of fillings.
PS to Mom: Hint Hint, X-mas is coming!
The Urban Wacky Walk’r is a stretch rubber leash that doubles in length from 3 to 6 feet as you dog applies forward pressure. The give of the rubber is much easier on your joints when your dog tries to make a dash for it, but its stretch limitations means it keeps your dog in line and at your side.
Fear not that the rubber could snap, all leashers are reinforced with an inner safety line just in case. They come in a variety of funky colors, so you can keep your dog both safe and styling. This awesome line of leashes runs between $21-$31 depending upon the size of the dog. (Amazon offers a 15% discount off typical retail prices)
Pomegranates are my favorite fruit, making the POM Wonderful brand icon one I look forward to each winter when pomegranates come into season.
Since quality pomegranate seeds aren’t available year round, Archipelago Botanicals’ Pomegranate Body Collection provides an olfactory fix. I’m particularly enamored with their sugar body scrub. With a liberal inclusion of fragrant oils, you and your apartment will smell fabulous for hours after you shower, and you’ll have softer skin to show for it. ($25-$35 depending on retailer)
I didn’t wear perfume for a very long time because I broke out into burning red rashes shortly after application. Then I discovered Antica Farmacista, which is heavy on essential oils and natural ingredients. A little goes a long way, lasting up to 8 hours. I’m a fan of the Vanilla, Boubon, & Mandarin scent, but there are 12 to choose from. I lucked out and picked my first bottle up on clearance from a retailer that was no longer carrying the line, but it’s well worth the sticker price of $58 for a bottle.
Regulars in mind-body fitness classes of all sorts tend to own their own mats. After considering the germs and bacteria hanging out on gym-owned mats, they invest in their own. And yoga mats can tell you a lot about a person. Do they like solids or prints, thick or thin mats, textured or smooth, muted or bold colors? You can make a statement with a custom printed mat from yogamatic. Upload a jpg, and for $85+ shipping you can have the most unique mat in class.
photo by carlosfpardo
This Christmas FAO Schwarz is offering the Muppet What Not Workshop. (What Nots are background players in muppet shows.) Start with an orange, blue or green muppet. Customize the eyes and a nose, as well as hair. And then pick out attire, like a hoodie sweatshirt. Instead of just singing along to the Avenue Q soundtrack, you can act it out! ($90 + shipping)
photo by shawnzam
Several articles this summer pointed to Bacon as the hot new food trend. Bacon: it’s so bad for you, it’s good. Thus, I present The Grateful Palate’s Bacon-of-the month club. For $275 (inclusive of shipping), you’ll receive a monthly delivery of artisan bacon along with a variety of schwag, including site discounts, a monthly comic strip, a rubber pig and snout, tee and pen. Oink!
For a more affordable bacon fix, try Mo’s Bacon Bar by Vosges Chocolate, which combines salty bacon pieces with milk chocolate. ($7.50 on the Vosges website)
What new products or old favorites made your list this year?
Here’s a shortcut to my 2007 list.
The election of Barack Obama aligned with the election of Matt Santos in the final season of The West Wing. Given our knowledge of the people who inspired them The West Wing (Obama, Emanuel, etc), it seems life imitated art that imitated life.
photo by Hamed Masoumi
Attention LinkedIn:
I hate to be the one to say it, but you’re not FaceBook. In an effort to try to be cooler, the quality of the experience is on the decline.
It would be hard to miss the sudden proliferation of applications available to pimp one’s profile and LinkedIn experience. Once you leave the home page, access to these applications takes a bit of effort. Would a drop down menu be too much to ask?
At first I was gung ho about the events calendar. . . but then I used it.
With no way to sort events, I can’t see what’s coming up in the next few days. There’s no rhyme or reason to the ordering of the listings, so events in the distant future may show up before those that are just a few days away. Surely there should be a way to sort by date?
Then I posted a few relevant events to my life. Upon posting, the site assured me the event would be shared with my network, so I checked in with a connection to confirm. The event in question isn’t popping up the connection updates, nor is it anywhere to be found at first glance on the events page. If my immediate connections aren’t notified, I’m doubtful my extended network is flashed the details either.
I also posted an important event that I don’t plan to attend. Unfortunately, if you’re not attending an event you post, it disappears and you have to return to the search box to find it. Surely, events should remain somehow tethered to the person that posted it?
I happen to manage several groups; relevant groups can be very useful. And the new discussion boards within encourage greater interaction, which is encouraging.
However, the inability to sort members by name and date of application/acceptance is non-existant. This sorting capability was available with early incarnations of groups, but removed as they upgraded. Despite complaints from group owners, the lack of sorting ability continues, though LinkedIn keeps promising to give it back.
And while one can export the member and pending member lists into excel, one shouldn’t have to. With respect to the notion of “keep it simple, stupid,” LinkedIn would better serve its community leaders if we could do our organzing on site.
All the added applications and functions that can be thought up aren’t much use if they’re not easy to manipulate. If they’re not workable, LinkedIn starts looking less attractive. With 30 million users and growing, seems like changes might roll out better if they spend more time in QA.
LinkedIn users aren’t on the site for recreational purposes, like FaceBook serves. LinkedIn users are professionals trying to make the most of the networkign for professional development. So functionability matters, and it would be great if LinkedIn realized the same.
image by jarnocan
Thomas Jefferson said:
“In every free and deliberating society, there must, from the nature of man, be opposite parties, and violent dissensions and discords; and one of these, for the most part, must prevail over the other for a longer or shorter time.”
“It is the steady abuse of power in other governments which renders that of opposition always the popular party.”
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