"Don't be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you".'
~ Zig Ziglar
Saw this quote recently and it made an impression. You could replace the word criticism with negativity--it also works. Criticism is fine, as long as it's constructive (but it so seldom is). Negative criticism is destructive; its aim is to squash initiative and motivation. That's where negativity comes in. By negativity, I mean the words and behavior of those who wish to discourage others at all costs from dreaming and achieving those dreams. They behave that way because they don't want you to get ahead (of them). Maybe they had dreams and were defeated, by themselves or others or both. Instead of learning from their experiences, they want to inflict them on others.
You've got to really weigh the words of the naysayers. A few of them have your best interests at heart and don't want to see you get hurt; those are the people who love you and whom you trust and go to for advice. So listening to them is not in and of itself a bad thing--you can weigh what they say and decide for yourself whether or not to take a specific risk. They'll discuss it with you and won't try to stop you or squash your dreams. It's the naysayers you meet in everyday life, the ones who say, 'why would you want to do that?', or 'I would never do that', or 'I would never do it that way' ('You should do it my way'). Or the ones who, no matter what your plans, goals, or dreams, always put a damper on them by saying 'I thought about doing that, but there were too many problems involved, so if I were you, I would forget about it'.
I bring this up today because I realized today that too many women simply never pursue their dreams and ideas. They will tell you that they are bound by family obligations, work, and other things. But the truth is somewhere in between. I think what happens is that many women turn to other people in their lives for support and encouragement when they have a dream or an initiative they'd like to pursue. Or they discuss a potential dream with colleagues. And maybe the majority of the people they talk to are naysayers. And so they give up on a dream before it even gets a footing. We've simply got to really listen to each other, to respect the dreams and goals of others, and to encourage them to achieve them. This way of thinking cannot just apply to children or teenagers; adults must also be encouraged to achieve. It's part of my way of thinking--that motivating others to achieve is a lifelong goal. We are never 'finished products', we are always seeking and searching for ways to grow and become better. We are always looking for outlets for our talents. We should be able to encourage others to do that, and to allow ourselves to do that as well. It is what our lives are really about.
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
What I see in the faces of others
I’ve been thinking about kindness and compassion, and how it
is possible to see them in the faces of other people. It strikes me when I look
at photos or live footage of powerful political figures, celebrities and the
like, that there is a hardness in some of the faces that is indicative of their
true characters. There is also something about the eyes that gives their true
natures away. Who was it said—‘the eyes are the window to the soul’. If they
are, then I’ve seen some pretty hard and merciless souls in my life. I’ve also
had the misfortune of having crossed paths with a few psychopaths, and their
eyes are often black and soulless—empty and actually rather frightening. So
their empty eyes are the windows to their lack of souls. Luckily, the bulk of
my experience with other people has shown me that kindness and compassion are
still in abundance. Why is it such that we often let one bad apple spoil the bunch? We must
try to guard against that happening, because if we let that happen, the wrong
people win. One bad apple out of ten means that ninety percent are still good.
Those are good numbers.
There is likely no hard scientific evidence to back up my
observations about what I see in the faces of others. Nonetheless, I cannot help but look at the faces of Trump and Putin and
observe hardness there. They look rigid, angry, formidable, and mean. They
don’t look happy nor do they look relaxed. They look like plagued souls, and perhaps that is the reason for their
bullying natures toward others. The current Pope is a contrast to them both.
His face looks relaxed, not rigid, and he has kind eyes. My reaction to a photo
of the current pope is visceral; I instinctively know that I could trust him to
be kind. I could not say that about Trump or Putin or men like them.
I gravitate toward kind and compassionate people and tend to
remove myself from the presence of hard, rigid and mean people if I can, including psychopaths. Not
all people are so lucky. I can remove myself by choice, whereas others are
perhaps trapped by virtue of the fact that they live in a dictator-led country,
or in an abusive relationship, or that they work at a job they need and cannot
leave.
I do not like hard, rigid, formidable and mean people, whether
they are men or women. I do not like power- and control-hungry people, nor do I
like boorish, loud, or narcissistic individuals. I am not interested in getting
to know others if their behavior involves humiliating others, making them feel
worthless, or actively trying to destroy them. I instinctively shy away from
these types of people because I know they are no good for me. That is how my
mother would have phrased it. She would not have been overly-judgmental; she
would merely have said ‘be careful’ or ‘don’t cast your pearls before swine’.
In other words, don’t waste your time on them. It’s a good way to live if one
can manage it.
Understanding what employees want
I am going to plug a book in this post, a book about modern workplaces and what employees want. And why employers should make sure that employees get what they want. Because what employees want is respect. That is the basis of any good relationship, and it is essential for employee motivation and productivity.
The book is entitled What Employees Want And Why Employers Should Make Sure They Get It. Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/yd3jtx6p
The book is entitled What Employees Want And Why Employers Should Make Sure They Get It. Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/yd3jtx6p
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Raising strong women and my father's contribution to that
I sometimes wonder if my father knew what he was doing when
he sat at the dinner table together with me after dinner, discussing the world
news and debating with me about different topics of interest. I was a teenager
at that time, in high school, and we did much of the same in our history and
sociology classes. So it only felt natural to extend this behavior to the home
arena. It was considered a sign of intelligence to be interested in society, in
politics, in the life around you. It was considered a sign of intelligence to
have a reasoned opinion about some of the important events that were happening
around us, and important to impart that opinion in a reasonable manner. I credit
my father with teaching me that it was important to use your brain, to use
logic, to use reason, in order to argue and debate with others. He was no fan
of the bully approach, and would probably have coined the phrase ‘the pen is
mightier than the sword’ if it hadn’t already been coined before him. He was a
great reader, as I’ve written about in this blog before. An intelligent man, an
intellectual, a peace-loving man who was uncomfortable with raw conflict. He
had served in WWII and lived to tell about it. I know he was proud to have
served his country, but he was no war-monger. When the Watergate scandal broke,
he and I watched the drama unfold on TV and watched the Watergate hearings (1973-74)
together. We discussed it all, from all sides. His requirement for discussions
and debates was that we used logic and reason, not just feelings, to present
our opinions. He was not the kind of man that tolerated utterances such as ‘he’s
an asshole’ or ‘what a jerk’ as interesting contributions to a discussion, even
though we both might have felt that way about certain politicians at the time.
And so I learned from him that discussion, debate and even arguments had their
place in daily life. Conflict and differences of opinion were part of life; it
was how you handled them that mattered. He was not perfect, and even he at
times could opine about his feelings rather than his thoughts on certain
matters. Then I reminded him of what he had taught us. He was not afraid to
tell me when my arguments didn’t hold water, and that infuriated me, enough so
that I could storm away from the dining room table, but I retreated and did my
homework and came back stronger the next time. He wanted facts, logic, reason
and a civil manner on top of it all. God love him for it. He helped to create
strong, independent-thinking, and rational women (me and my sister) who are
proud of their intelligence and talents. I think he did that because he knew
what we would face in the world. I wish he was still alive, because I know he
would have discussed the role of women with me now, in 2017, and how terrible
it is that the current president and his cronies want to return women to a time
when their opinions and wishes did not matter. He would have been appalled at
the language that the president uses about women, and appalled that the world
had come to this point where women were reduced to objects, to be abused and
attacked, bullied and mocked. He would have deplored the state of the world in
2017.
I bring up my father because I believe the world needs more
men like him. He was ahead of his time, in so many ways. He was one of the
first men I knew who would absolutely have preferred to spend more time with his
children and less time at the office. He had a good career as chief technical
librarian for a number of companies, but he never brought his work home with
him. He never spent evenings immersed in work projects that could wait until the
next day. He never complained about how busy he was or how little time he had
for everything. He was a family man and he made time for his family. His
evenings were spent talking to us about the world, helping us with homework, and
testing us in preparation for exams the next day. He and my mother bought me my
first microscope set at one of the science fairs in our local grammar school.
My father would patiently sit with me as we looked at slides of amoebas and
diatoms together. He was as interested as I was in the natural world, but he
could not keep up with me once I immersed myself in science as a career. But he
was proud of me and proud of my endeavors. He called me at work once to tell me
that he loved me, and I never forgot that. He would clip out articles from the
newspaper and send them to me (my mother did the same)—science-related and literature-related.
Because after science, it is world literature that interests me. That is in my
genes from both my parents. My father was interested and involved in our lives
and God bless him for it. If your father is the first man who teaches you about
men, I’m glad that he was the man who taught me what a good man is. I used
to tell him he was cute, and that made him happy—he would smile that little
smile he had (my mother said he had a particular way of pursing his lips). I
never left my parents’ house without telling them that I loved them. Because I
knew that my father could disappear from my life at any moment due to his poor
health. Unfortunately, I made my mistakes when it came to choosing men to share
my life with, as have many others. A failed first marriage was the result. Even
then, my father was supportive. I remember walking around our neighborhood, he
with his cane to steady himself after a stroke he had had, and we talked about
my unhappy marriage and what to do about it. He and I both knew that it would
never improve. He understood what it would cost me to divorce my first husband,
and he understood that my life would never be the same. Sadly, he didn’t live
to witness my divorce nor did he get the chance to meet my current husband. But
I know that he wished (and wishes) me well, in that universe of parallel lives
where he lives now, perhaps as a healthy man. I hope so. I do know that he is
still a loving one.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Very good article by New York Daily News writer Linda Stasi
Brainiac Miss USA Kara McCullough says some really idiotic things by Linda Stasi
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/stasi-usa-kara-mccullough-idiotic-article-1.3167660
Very good article by Linda Stasi of The New York Daily News about nuclear scientist Kara McCullough who just became the winner of the Miss USA pageant. A pageant I care nothing about, just for the record; I agree with Ms. Stasi--an outdated pageant, part of the dinosaur era that should soon become extinct.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/stasi-usa-kara-mccullough-idiotic-article-1.3167660
Very good article by Linda Stasi of The New York Daily News about nuclear scientist Kara McCullough who just became the winner of the Miss USA pageant. A pageant I care nothing about, just for the record; I agree with Ms. Stasi--an outdated pageant, part of the dinosaur era that should soon become extinct.
Sunday, May 14, 2017
My photo of the Vikersund ski jumping hill was used on a Polish sports website
http://sportsinwinter.pl/ps-w-vikersund-loty-na-final-raw-air-padnie-rekord-swiata-lista-startowa/
I found out recently that my photo of the Vikersund ski jumping hill was used on a Polish sports website. They even credited the photographer, me, which is not always the case. So I thank them for that and for using the photo. After all, I make my photography public and available for use, and it's a matter of trust--that you trust and hope that the people who use your photos will credit you. I make a special point out of doing so when I refer to or use other's photos.
Every now and then it's nice to see that some of the things you pour your heart and soul into, like my writing and photography, get noticed. Good karma. Thanks, universe!
I found out recently that my photo of the Vikersund ski jumping hill was used on a Polish sports website. They even credited the photographer, me, which is not always the case. So I thank them for that and for using the photo. After all, I make my photography public and available for use, and it's a matter of trust--that you trust and hope that the people who use your photos will credit you. I make a special point out of doing so when I refer to or use other's photos.
Every now and then it's nice to see that some of the things you pour your heart and soul into, like my writing and photography, get noticed. Good karma. Thanks, universe!
Some reflections on the status of women on Mother's Day
I have been preoccupied with balance between the sexes since
I was a teenager, with an atmosphere of mutual respect and love as the
foundation of a relationship. Over forty years later, I don’t see much of it in
modern society and I find that immensely disappointing. I watched the women in
my mother’s generation raise their children and live within the constraints of
the times they lived in (1950s-1960s). Most of them did not work outside the
home, and the few that did (in my neighborhood) were considered to be unusual.
There always had to be an excuse for why they worked—they needed extra money to
help with the mortgage, or they needed to supplement their husband’s income if
he was sick or on disability, etc. In addition, many of them took care of
parents and other family members who were old or sick, respectively (unpaid
work). Rarely was it considered that a woman, a wife, a mother, would want to
work because she enjoyed working, because she wanted to put her education to
use, because she wanted to contribute to progress in society in this way,
because she wanted to give something back in the form of her intelligence,
diligence and hard work. It was not considered that she might want to be a part
of the process, might want to make a difference, and might want to matter. Wanting
to work, to pursue a career had and has nothing to do with wanting to abandon her
role as a wife and mother. It had and has to do with honoring herself and her
unique talents.
I write this today, on Mother’s Day (in the USA), because I find
it astounding that women haven’t come further in the USA than they have when it
comes to childcare and working outside the home. I find it astounding that
Europe is light-years ahead of the USA when it comes to federally-funded
childcare centers. I find it astounding that we are still arguing about the
importance of providing childcare for women in 2017 in the USA. I find it
astounding that women still find that they need to defend themselves when they have
children and want to work, whether part-time or full-time. It is not that they
cannot work, no, there are jobs for them. Of course there are jobs for them;
this is 2017. But there is still a limited support system in place to make it
easier for them to do those jobs. So most of the women I know who raised their
children during the past thirty years worked part-time or relied on family
members to help them juggle it all. The few wealthy ones found nannies that
they relied on while they pursued their careers. I am not going to argue for or
against working full-time or pursuing a career for women who have children. I
believe that feminism gives us the possibility of choice, and each person must
choose wisely and live with her choice. But if women choose to work, then they
should not be subjected to the subtle critical judgment that still exists—that she
is a bad mother for wanting to leave her children and be part of the workplace.
You might say that I am wrong, that this is not the case. But it is. Just take
a look at the current president surrounded by his cronies who want to return
the USA to a time when women had little or no say in society and in their relationships.
They are white men of privilege who view women and children as their
possessions and their trophies. Many of them behave like hypocritical banal evil men, not unlike many of
the men in Hitler’s regime, who were married with their family lives intact
while they broke up Jewish families and destroyed their lives. These men spout
the importance of family values while doing exactly the opposite—they do what
they want, when they want, and how they want. They promote a culture of attacks
against women, they bully women, they diminish women (think Trump’s behavior toward most women he
dislikes)--in short, they do not respect women, no matter what they say. They
are not nice men. Some of them have been accused of spousal abuse (e.g. Steve
Bannon http://www.snopes.com/2016/11/14/steve-bannon-was-accused-of-domestic-violence/). So these are not men you would want your daughters to marry. These are men who
purport to know what is best for women and children. These are men interested
only in power, control, money and prestige; they cannot really love their wives
or their children, because real love is not about controlling others or using
them as trophies. If you are interested in controlling others, you do not love
them. These kinds of men I simply cannot abide. I want nothing to do with them.
I do not believe in dialoguing with them, because you will simply be shouted
down, squished under their thumbs, bullied, diminished, disrespected, told you are
stupid, dismissed, ignored, frozen out (in the workplace), told you are ‘too
emotional’, too difficult. The list of abusive terms and behaviors is endless. These men
should teach a course—How to keep women
down. Even in the church, women’s roles are limited; men rule the roost. It
simply has become boring to consider that old men in funny hats in Rome are
telling us how to live our lives. While I respect the current Pope for his
kindness and compassion for others, I have little use for the hierarchy of the
church. I am more preoccupied with having a personal relationship with Christ.
I remember back in the 1980s when I was young and foolish and didn’t grasp the
depth of men’s power in the world, that I argued with a priest about the
phrasing “Now as the church submits to
Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands,
love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her…..”
There was so much emphasis on the first part of this statement when I was
growing up, that wives should obey their husbands. I argued with the priest
that the latter part of the statement was just as important, and that I had no
interest in obeying a husband unless he loved me as Christ loved the church.
That put an end to that discussion, since most men simply cannot hold a candle
to Christ. I guess I could have been considered a smart-ass at that time; I say
now—good. More power to me. But after a lifetime of fighting injustice toward
women in the workplace, and there is plenty of it, I am tired. I am leaving it
over to the next generation. You’ll find me in my garden now.
It is astounding that in 2017 that women are still subject
to abusive behavior publicly and privately. I applaud the women who stand up
against these men, who fight them, who challenge them, who sue them, who take
them to court (e.g. for spousal abuse), who call out their behaviors. I applaud
the women who do all these things while raising their families, working
full-time, and taking care of aging parents. I applaud the women I know today,
on Mother’s Day, because without them, the world would simply not be a place worth
living in. But I believe that the time has come to take another route toward
changing the world. I believe that women should turn their backs on the type of
world many of these men stand for. They should not marry them, they should not
have children with them, and they should ignore them. I hope the younger
generation of women will find it in their power to defeat these kinds of men. I
will support them even if I cannot lead them. I cannot wait for these dinosaurs
to die out.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Stormy by Classics IV
There were two songs running through my head today; one I've already posted--Ship of Fools by World Party (for obvious reasons, given the current political farce in the USA that cannot lead to anywhere good). The other is Stormy by Classics IV (from 1968), also for obvious reasons, given that the weather in the middle of May resembles more like what one would see in mid-November. It even snowed today, to complete the dismal picture. I know the song is not about the weather, but it just popped into my head and the weather was the reason, especially one line of the lyrics "Bring back that sunny day". Please, weather gods, bring back the warm sun. Snow and chilly temperatures in mid-May don't do anything for me (or for anyone, for that matter). Or for the plants in my garden.
A relevant song for our times--Ship of Fools by World Party
Who knew? That a song from 1986 would foreshadow so much of what is happening in our world today, over thirty years later. It's a great song with such relevant lyrics, that I'm including here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_BoAXopS54
Ship of Fools by World Party (written by Karl Wallinger)
We're setting sail to the place on the map
from which no one has ever returned
Drawn by the promise of the joker and the fool
by the light of the crosses that burned.
Drawn by the promise of the women and the lace
and the gold and the cotton and pearls
It's the place where they keep all the darkness you need.
You sail away from the light of the world on this trip, baby.
You will pay tomorrow
You're gonna pay tomorrow
You will pay tomorrow
Save me. Save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools. No, no
Oh, save me. Save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools
I want to run and hide right now
Avarice and greed are gonna drive you over the endless sea
They will leave you drifting in the shallows
or drowning in the oceans of history
Traveling the world, you're in search of no good
but I'm sure you'll build your Sodom like you knew you would
Using all the good people for your galley slaves
as you're little boat struggles through the warning waves, but you don't pay
You will pay tomorrow
You're gonna pay tomorrow
You're gonna pay tomorrow
Save me. Save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools
Save me. Save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools
Where's it comin' from?
Where's it goin' to now?
It's just a It's just a ship of fools
All aboard....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_BoAXopS54
Ship of Fools by World Party (written by Karl Wallinger)
We're setting sail to the place on the map
from which no one has ever returned
Drawn by the promise of the joker and the fool
by the light of the crosses that burned.
Drawn by the promise of the women and the lace
and the gold and the cotton and pearls
It's the place where they keep all the darkness you need.
You sail away from the light of the world on this trip, baby.
You will pay tomorrow
You're gonna pay tomorrow
You will pay tomorrow
Save me. Save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools. No, no
Oh, save me. Save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools
I want to run and hide right now
Avarice and greed are gonna drive you over the endless sea
They will leave you drifting in the shallows
or drowning in the oceans of history
Traveling the world, you're in search of no good
but I'm sure you'll build your Sodom like you knew you would
Using all the good people for your galley slaves
as you're little boat struggles through the warning waves, but you don't pay
You will pay tomorrow
You're gonna pay tomorrow
You're gonna pay tomorrow
Save me. Save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools
Save me. Save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools
Where's it comin' from?
Where's it goin' to now?
It's just a It's just a ship of fools
All aboard....
Friday, May 5, 2017
Peace is a garden
My idea of peace is a garden. My garden. It's not a secret garden, hidden behind a wall covered in ivy that conceals a hidden door. It is a community garden and we have each been allotted our own parcel of land. But it's what you do with that land that makes it 'your' garden. And if you like, you can make it as private or as open as you like. The community garden itself is contained within high fences with locks on the entrance gates; if we didn't have the fences and locked gates, you can bet there would be nightly visitors that would break in and steal what they could to make some small money (the gypsies have been accused of this). There were several break-ins during the past few months that are attributed to them. But there is no hard evidence of such. It's best not to store valuable items in the garden in order to discourage thieves.
You might think that having to worry about petty theft detracts from the overall experience of having the garden. You'd be wrong. I look forward to visiting my garden each day. It soothes my soul like nothing else. Abstinence is a good word to describe how it feels when I cannot go there on a daily basis--either too much to do at work or some other activity that takes priority. Up to now, it's fine that I haven't been there each day. But now that all the seeds are planted and the sown areas need water, I will be going there each afternoon or evening to water the planted areas. I cannot wait until I start to see growth. I planted tomatoes in large pots in the greenhouse, and small green seedlings are already starting to make their appearance. I feel responsible for them, that nothing happens to them. I also planted artichoke seeds in a container in the greenhouse, and am quite eager to see if they grow well. The greenhouse is nice and warm, but the daytime temperature can be quite high with the doors and windows closed. The temperature can be adjusted by opening the window to let in some cooler air. That will be quite useful and probably a frequent thing come summer.
I was in the garden during a late afternoon this past week. The sun was shining and it was probably close to about 5 pm. Still a lot of sunlight and warmth. I took some photos, and one in particular caught my eye. It's a lovely shot of the greenhouse, the garden, the lovely red tulips in the background, and the lovely yellow daffodils--a soothing combination of colors; in short, one of those lucky photos. Enjoy!
You might think that having to worry about petty theft detracts from the overall experience of having the garden. You'd be wrong. I look forward to visiting my garden each day. It soothes my soul like nothing else. Abstinence is a good word to describe how it feels when I cannot go there on a daily basis--either too much to do at work or some other activity that takes priority. Up to now, it's fine that I haven't been there each day. But now that all the seeds are planted and the sown areas need water, I will be going there each afternoon or evening to water the planted areas. I cannot wait until I start to see growth. I planted tomatoes in large pots in the greenhouse, and small green seedlings are already starting to make their appearance. I feel responsible for them, that nothing happens to them. I also planted artichoke seeds in a container in the greenhouse, and am quite eager to see if they grow well. The greenhouse is nice and warm, but the daytime temperature can be quite high with the doors and windows closed. The temperature can be adjusted by opening the window to let in some cooler air. That will be quite useful and probably a frequent thing come summer.
I was in the garden during a late afternoon this past week. The sun was shining and it was probably close to about 5 pm. Still a lot of sunlight and warmth. I took some photos, and one in particular caught my eye. It's a lovely shot of the greenhouse, the garden, the lovely red tulips in the background, and the lovely yellow daffodils--a soothing combination of colors; in short, one of those lucky photos. Enjoy!
Monday, May 1, 2017
This year's garden project--a greenhouse
I decided last year that I wanted to buy a greenhouse for the garden, and that setting it up would be this year's garden project. Our community garden allows greenhouses, but no larger than 3.4 square meters (about 37 square feet). Luckily, Plantasjen sold one that was exactly this size: (http://www.plantasjen.no/drivhus-mythos-3-4m-200007739-no). It is now finished--assembled and functional. And yes, it was a project, a labor-intensive one, and one that I could not have accomplished without my husband's help, who patiently put most of it together, with my assistance. I thought there would be a lot more swearing during the whole process, but there wasn't. But would we do this again? Probably not. Some tips for those of you who might like to do the same: assembling a greenhouse requires two people; a good amount of time, say at least two to three days (unless you're pros--the manual is optimistic about the length of time it should take); it should be assembled on a sunny, non-windy, non-rainy day; it needs to be placed on level ground (a concrete foundation is recommended by many online garden sites, but we did not do this); and finally, the greenhouse has to be anchored in place so that a strong wind doesn't blow it away, as it doesn't weigh very much (at least if the windows and door panes are made of polycarbonate and not of glass, like ours). I am exploring different options for anchoring it, but at present have settled on large flat heavy stones that I have placed strategically on the stainless steel foundation framework inside the greenhouse. I also purchased and assembled two different bench/shelf systems from IKEA (the HINDÖ series: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/33957/)--one is a potting workbench with two drawers for holding tools and other useful objects, and one is a 3-shelf bench to place plants on. Both were fairly easy to assemble, and both can be bolted to the stainless steel framework of the greenhouse (another contribution to weighting it down). They are sturdy and well-made; each of them weighs circa 13 kg (28 lbs) . I also bought weed matting from Vida XL (https://www.vidaxl.no/e/8718475854869/pp-ugressduk-5-x-1m-90gsm) to cover the soil floor in order to keep weed growth down. We'll see if it does the trick.
I will say that it is nice to step into the warm greenhouse on a chilly blustery day. It seems to me already that it will provide the perfect conditions for growing plants from seed as well as for protecting plants that are very sensitive to temperature changes. It will be interesting to see how things develop this year. In any case, here are some photos of the greenhouse and the IKEA benches.
I will say that it is nice to step into the warm greenhouse on a chilly blustery day. It seems to me already that it will provide the perfect conditions for growing plants from seed as well as for protecting plants that are very sensitive to temperature changes. It will be interesting to see how things develop this year. In any case, here are some photos of the greenhouse and the IKEA benches.
the measured area for the greenhouse |
the walls are up |
three-shelve plant bench |
workbench |
the finished greenhouse (weed matting not put down yet) |
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Questions I have for those who appoint leaders
- Why is it that so many current leaders seem to have risen to the level of their incompetence?
- Why are cowardice, silence in the face of tangible problems, and lack of honesty rewarded with appointments to key leadership positions?
- Why are employees who tell the truth, give feedback, and inform about potential problems often pushed to the side, ignored or frozen out of the leadership pack?
- Why is it necessary to resort to embarrassing lazy incompetent leaders in front of others in order to get them to do their jobs and to take responsibility?
- Why is it necessary in 2017 to have to explain to leadership that infrastructure is important? That without a well-functioning IT infrastructure, you may as well work at home where the IT infrastructure is optimal (of course it is—you cannot keep up in society without updating your computers, software, phones, TVs). That without an annual stipend from one’s workplace to purchase consumables, little will get done because there is no money to buy necessary items.
- Why is it necessary in 2017 to have to explain to research leadership that technical positions (research assistants) are alpha and omega in terms of getting things done in the lab? Why isn’t this a given, that a research group has automatic access to a full-time permanently-employed technician? Does leadership really think that senior research personnel are going to do all the lab work themselves, do all the procedures required for research projects, summarize all the data, perform statistical analyses, write articles, write grants, review others’ articles for journals (for free), review grants for national and international funding agencies (often for free or for a nominal payment), attend a plethora of (mostly pointless) meetings, act as mentors for PhD and Masters students, teach junior personnel, hold lectures, travel to conferences, etc.? Excuse me for saying so, but if they think this, they are just plain stupid. I have a colleague (over fifty years old) who told me that some of her worst work weeks have involved attending eighteen hours’ worth of meetings (that works out to almost 2.5 days a week devoted to meetings). It stands to reason that she will not have any time whatsoever to do routine work or lab work.
- Why is it considered ok for leadership to not inform employees about important matters, but not ok if employees ignore the regulations stating that they must file periodic progress reports and account for every penny they spend?
- How did it get to the point where a research career can end literally overnight when funding dries up, and more to the point, who thinks this is a good system or a good approach? Many of those careers belong to highly-competent and efficient scientists who just don’t happen to be doing trendy research.
- How can one honestly encourage young people to stay in academic research when the prospect of them attaining a permanent research job/steady funding/tenure is slim to none? Is it ok to essentially lie to them, to tell them that it will work out for them (it won’t in most cases)?
- And finally: why do we older scientists even entertain the possibility that we have a snowball's chance in hell of getting research funding? Of writing a fundable grant? If I have learned anything these past five years, it’s that even though I managed to write good grant applications that got me external funding to work as a post-doc and junior scientist during a ten-year period from 1999-2008, that’s not good enough anymore. And it will never be good enough. The past does not count. Realism is what counts. Luckily I have a permanent staff scientist position so I cannot be fired because I am older, but there is no funding for consumables. It's a strange situation to be in. But I now focus on other things that give me satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. None of them have to do with my career.
Monday, April 24, 2017
Oslo at its prettiest
I walked home from downtown Oslo this past Saturday (after marching in the March for Science--Oslo), and walked a route that took me past Gamle Aker church. It was a lovely day, if a bit chilly, but the sun was shining and I took a few photos. Enjoy!
Gamle Aker church |
Scilla siberica blue flower (Siberian squill or wood squill) |
VÃ¥r Frelsers gravlund (Our Savior's graveyard) |
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Easter, spring, and resurrection
It's April 16th, Easter Sunday, and hard to believe spring began about a month ago. The temperature in Oslo today is no higher than about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and during the night it was below freezing. It is supposed to remain cold like this for the next week or so. And that's put a dent in some of my plans for the garden. It's been too cold to spend a lot of time there (I'm usually there for three or four hours when I first set out to do some work), although I have been there several days this past week to clean up a bit more and to check on the tulips and crocuses I planted last fall. They have poked their heads up but it's been slow going. I just hope that the berry bushes that have begun to sprout new leaves won't be affected by the freezing cold.
There is nothing to be done about the weather. It never behaves as you would like it to. A month ago the temperature was closer to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and it was a warm sun that shone down on those of us working in the garden. I have used this past week (I took the entire Easter week off) to do other things--finish my Norwegian and American taxes, clean the house, wash curtains and blankets--in other words--tasks that I never have the time for when I am working full-time. So that's been good. I have no problem filling my time. There is still a list of chores to be done.
I have also spent some time reading the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament, and must admit that I've really enjoyed reading this account of the early days of the new church with Simon Peter as its head. As I've read it, I've consulted the National Geographic magazine issue Jesus and the Origins of Christianity (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1683306775/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1),
specifically the maps showing the places that both Jesus and the Apostles frequented, in order to get a feel for how things 'looked' at that time. I'm glad to have finally run across publications that present the history of the early church. It has given me a new perspective on how things that we take for granted came about. I got a taste of this in college in one of the theology courses I took, where we spent part of the semester studying the evolution of the early church and the various movements that sprang up within it, all competing for power and authority.
We celebrate the resurrection of Christ at Easter time. It is no coincidence that Easter and spring are coupled together. The resurrection of life in nature--trees, flowers, bushes--is a miracle that happens each year. Even if you were not a spiritual person, you'd have to marvel at the beauty of this occurrence each year. As I grow older, it is the natural world I feel more drawn to, and less to the world of commerce and work. I suppose if I looked hard enough at the latter, I would find something that would trigger a spiritual awakening. But I find that to be too much work; frankly speaking, most of the work world has little to do with spirituality and the quest for a better self. It mostly has to do with competition, power, prestige, and greed (it makes me laugh when I realize that you could be the top leader in a department during your work life, but when you retire and have been gone for some years, no one will really remember you--new generations overtake the old--that is the way of work life and more people should remember that in their manic craze to get to the top and to stay there). It is easier in nature to see what God intended for our lives, especially where the miracles of life and rebirth are concerned. The rebirth in nature shows us that we can be reborn each year as well; it is never too late to start anew. It is comforting to know that there is a resurrection of life each year, around this time, and that we can count on that in the years to come.
There is nothing to be done about the weather. It never behaves as you would like it to. A month ago the temperature was closer to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and it was a warm sun that shone down on those of us working in the garden. I have used this past week (I took the entire Easter week off) to do other things--finish my Norwegian and American taxes, clean the house, wash curtains and blankets--in other words--tasks that I never have the time for when I am working full-time. So that's been good. I have no problem filling my time. There is still a list of chores to be done.
I have also spent some time reading the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament, and must admit that I've really enjoyed reading this account of the early days of the new church with Simon Peter as its head. As I've read it, I've consulted the National Geographic magazine issue Jesus and the Origins of Christianity (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1683306775/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1),
specifically the maps showing the places that both Jesus and the Apostles frequented, in order to get a feel for how things 'looked' at that time. I'm glad to have finally run across publications that present the history of the early church. It has given me a new perspective on how things that we take for granted came about. I got a taste of this in college in one of the theology courses I took, where we spent part of the semester studying the evolution of the early church and the various movements that sprang up within it, all competing for power and authority.
We celebrate the resurrection of Christ at Easter time. It is no coincidence that Easter and spring are coupled together. The resurrection of life in nature--trees, flowers, bushes--is a miracle that happens each year. Even if you were not a spiritual person, you'd have to marvel at the beauty of this occurrence each year. As I grow older, it is the natural world I feel more drawn to, and less to the world of commerce and work. I suppose if I looked hard enough at the latter, I would find something that would trigger a spiritual awakening. But I find that to be too much work; frankly speaking, most of the work world has little to do with spirituality and the quest for a better self. It mostly has to do with competition, power, prestige, and greed (it makes me laugh when I realize that you could be the top leader in a department during your work life, but when you retire and have been gone for some years, no one will really remember you--new generations overtake the old--that is the way of work life and more people should remember that in their manic craze to get to the top and to stay there). It is easier in nature to see what God intended for our lives, especially where the miracles of life and rebirth are concerned. The rebirth in nature shows us that we can be reborn each year as well; it is never too late to start anew. It is comforting to know that there is a resurrection of life each year, around this time, and that we can count on that in the years to come.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Really really good song--Weight of Love by The Black Keys
The intro of this song brought to mind Pink Floyd.....but this group has a sound all their own. Great song......
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