From his perch in Northern California and from other select places on the planet, my friend Eric Rorer has been documenting the majesty of our natural world for decades.
By still camera and video, he has captured strikingly beautiful images of nature. In his latest video piece, Eric wonders whether the present subject of his art will slip into history.
We are raising buildings, polluting our oceans, killing off species of animal and flora. We all know this - these facts are indisputable. And we are beginning as a species to recognize this and make changes. Hopefully, these will be enacted in time.
The purpose of this post is not to cover well worn ground about our abuses of nature, however.
The purpose is to share Eric's latest creation. It reminds me of the presence of heaven around us. It reminds me that the most wonderful fundamental things are with us each day and if you are present to be witness to them, then you will ask no other heaven.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Friday, February 27, 2009
The American Family
Family dynamics in the US are changing fast. As much as it becomes tedious from time to time to witness the share of media space taken by "the Boomer Generation", there is absolutely no denying its power and influence over the US economy, both in business and in home economics.
A recent article published by USA Today showed figures that are changing dramatically, given the aging Boomer population and their children. As their kids head to college, the % of children under 18 living at home has hit its lowest point (46%) in half a century.
This has as much to do with the journey of the Boomer generation into older age...and the corresponding aging of their kids as it does with other trends happenning in other generations. Gen X, for example put more women on a path for richly-rewarding careers, but also for later starts of motherhood - at it could be argued, more deliberate and slow-paced starts of families.
The recent article also pointed out some startling figures for home dynamics and also showed that this country still has dramatic differences between races. An obvious statement, but these figures are shocking. 85% of Asian families have 2 parents at home and 78% of white families have 2 parents at home. This contrasts with 38% of African American families.
Will we see more scholarship on family demographics in the coming decade - these seismic shifts are profound. This article points out that we need to be sensitive to not only the most macro developments, but also to the developments within key population segments.
A recent article published by USA Today showed figures that are changing dramatically, given the aging Boomer population and their children. As their kids head to college, the % of children under 18 living at home has hit its lowest point (46%) in half a century.
This has as much to do with the journey of the Boomer generation into older age...and the corresponding aging of their kids as it does with other trends happenning in other generations. Gen X, for example put more women on a path for richly-rewarding careers, but also for later starts of motherhood - at it could be argued, more deliberate and slow-paced starts of families.
The recent article also pointed out some startling figures for home dynamics and also showed that this country still has dramatic differences between races. An obvious statement, but these figures are shocking. 85% of Asian families have 2 parents at home and 78% of white families have 2 parents at home. This contrasts with 38% of African American families.
Will we see more scholarship on family demographics in the coming decade - these seismic shifts are profound. This article points out that we need to be sensitive to not only the most macro developments, but also to the developments within key population segments.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Can a Kid Get to College?
I thought it was tough to get into college back in 1991. For kids who are in the thick of the college admissions process in 2009, the reality is much tougher. There are tremendous pressures on both sides of the student/institution relationship.
On one hand, the college/university is dealing with plummeting endowments thanks to the market meltdowns. On the other hand, the applicant is dealing with family circumstances strained by the same meltdown, plus record numbers in the applicant pools.
I am encouraged by steps that colleges are making to help. I have read newsletters of dramatic cost-savings steps of many institutions, and am very proud of my alma mater, Vassar College, which has a need-blind admissions policy and which continues to put great emphasis on funding financial aid. This has actually made it one of the best values in the nation for liberal arts colleges.
As in business, schools must continue to make tough choices, focus on value, and provide in the best ways that they can for their customers. This is more critical than ever when our nation needs to give its young people access to the finest educations possible.
On one hand, the college/university is dealing with plummeting endowments thanks to the market meltdowns. On the other hand, the applicant is dealing with family circumstances strained by the same meltdown, plus record numbers in the applicant pools.
I am encouraged by steps that colleges are making to help. I have read newsletters of dramatic cost-savings steps of many institutions, and am very proud of my alma mater, Vassar College, which has a need-blind admissions policy and which continues to put great emphasis on funding financial aid. This has actually made it one of the best values in the nation for liberal arts colleges.
As in business, schools must continue to make tough choices, focus on value, and provide in the best ways that they can for their customers. This is more critical than ever when our nation needs to give its young people access to the finest educations possible.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Election Underscores Need for Strength in Both Parties
The dust is settling on the outcome of the historic election on Tuesday and the media (and all of us individuals) are sifting through the information to draw conclusions about what it all means.
Certainly, it is confirmation that this is a great country - that any individual, no matter what his or her background, can acheive anything. Anything.
And certainly, it is confirmation that this country is yearning for change. I for one have been dismayed and angered by witnessing 8 years of a President that believed in and executed unilateralism and anti-intellectualism. That's not the leadership that a country with as diverse and intelligent a population as ours deserves.
We deserve a leader who can listen to and process multiple viewpoints and complex data and make the best decisions that have the right end goals in mind. To me, the right goals are always very, very simple: the furthering of prosperity, peace, and human rights.
The election is also confirmation that the GOP is in chaos. As I mentioned, our new leader must listen to and process multiple viewpoints. And the proper functioning of both parties within our 2-party system is an absolute MUST.
It is my distinct hope that the GOP can assess what has happened here, take a step back, and emerge a better party with better leaders and a better ability to put the right goals first:
Here's to the furthering of prosperity, peace, and human rights...and to our great and diverse country where anything is possible.
Certainly, it is confirmation that this is a great country - that any individual, no matter what his or her background, can acheive anything. Anything.
And certainly, it is confirmation that this country is yearning for change. I for one have been dismayed and angered by witnessing 8 years of a President that believed in and executed unilateralism and anti-intellectualism. That's not the leadership that a country with as diverse and intelligent a population as ours deserves.
We deserve a leader who can listen to and process multiple viewpoints and complex data and make the best decisions that have the right end goals in mind. To me, the right goals are always very, very simple: the furthering of prosperity, peace, and human rights.
The election is also confirmation that the GOP is in chaos. As I mentioned, our new leader must listen to and process multiple viewpoints. And the proper functioning of both parties within our 2-party system is an absolute MUST.
It is my distinct hope that the GOP can assess what has happened here, take a step back, and emerge a better party with better leaders and a better ability to put the right goals first:
Here's to the furthering of prosperity, peace, and human rights...and to our great and diverse country where anything is possible.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Welcome to My Blog
This is the first blog post on my new blog - the title is an amalgom (the idea was copied/stolen from another blog that I think is terrific). It's a combination of the Wild Boar from Choate Rosemary Hall and the Brewer from Vassar College...plus it was a blog name and username I've never seen before.
This blog will be about life as I see it. The thoughts at the start will be the beginnings of my family's Christmas letter. It's been quite a year.
This blog will be about life as I see it. The thoughts at the start will be the beginnings of my family's Christmas letter. It's been quite a year.
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