Movie: The First Basket

Hmmm...the intersection between history, sports, and Judaism.

Seems like a good combo for me.

What impressed me most about the movie wasn't so much the fact that the first basket in the NBA was scored by a Jew or the role of Jews in the formation of the league.

What really impressed me was how many quality interview (ranging from Red Auerbach to hard-core Rabbinical authorities) were part of the documentary.

The filmmaker is David Vyorst whom I met a few weeks ago and he's done a very impressive job in documenting this story.

Who wants the DVD? I'll send it to you (and yes, review of the movie would be necessary). Hey, no such thing as a free lunch!

The Culture of Tipping

This post will probably be as popular as the ones on gift cards and was motivated by this Op-Ed from the WSJ.

Bottom line: I don't get the culture of tipping.

Perhaps it is my overly economic-based view of the world, but I guess I feel like there is a price for a good or service, you agree to pay that amount and you get the good or service in return.

That's it.

Why do you need to give "something" on top of it?

And, if a tip is only for truly spectacular service, why don't we hold off when the service isn't so good or really lousy?

The Op-Ed summarized it well.

Sign the Petition...

Guinness is sponsoring Proposition 3-17 which, after obtaining 1 million signatures, would submit a proposal to the US Congress to make St. Patrick's Day an official holiday.

In a great example of integrated marketing, I saw a TV ad and then went to the site.

On the petition, they ask the basics and then you need to fill in the blank that says:

"I signed the petition because..."

So, I wrote:

"According to Thomas Cahill, the Irish Saved Civilization. This is the least we
can do."

His book is called How the Irish Saved Civilization (Hinges of History)

Loving the next one...

The NFO and I were talking last night about how when Paco was born, our big concern was that "we couldn't love another child as much as we loved the first one."

We were wrong.

Last night, we were discussing that with number 3, we just have no concerns. We know that the love we feel for the others will be matched. It is just a matter of time, but we're not stressed about it.

Movie: White King, Red Rubber, Black Death

Netflix recommended Congo: White King, Red Rubber, Black Death after watching Blood Diamond . It's a 90 minute documentary about how the Belgians, led by King Leopold II absolutely raped, pillaged, and plundered their way to fortune by total exploitation.

Pretty damning and conducted in the form of a trial of the King, it really dives down into some of the late 19th/early 20th century abuses (and this was, according to the film, well past the time that the other European powers had realized it was not worth it to exploit without reinvesting). The Belgian King felt pressure to catch up.

Interestingly enough, the practice of chopping off hands which gained notoriety in Sierra Leone's conflict actually was, according to the film, 'invented' en masse by the Belgians.

A sad, sad tale that will make you look at the "wealth" of Brussels and Belgium in a whole new light.

20th Democratic Debate..and First

It may have been the 20th for them, but it was the first for me.

The NFO went out dancing (yes, I am not kidding) and I was holding Ahn (working nickname seed).

I am not voting for either of them, so it wasn't like I was trying to be persuaded or something like that.

I've got to tell you that, although Obama certainly is more inspiring than Clinton in the speech giving arena, I thought he held up well in the debate.

A few observations about style:

1. There was one interchange where Clinton was attacking Obama for saying he "denounced" but didn't "reject" Farrakhan's support. She was making a big deal about it. Obama finally said, "ok, I concede the point. I denounce and reject!" Brilliant.
2. When Clinton spoke, Obama looked at her. When Obama spoke, Clinton looked down. There was also one answer at the end (don't remember which one) where she just wasn't making eye contact at all with Tim Russert, looking down. Made me feel like she wasn't being honest.
3. On releasing her tax returns, she said: "I'm getting those together. It's taking some time." Are you kidding me? I could walk downstairs and give you my last 6 years of return and be back by the time the commercial was over. You don't want to release it. Fine. You're hiding stuff. I get it. Don't take me for a fool.
4. Obama is left-handed. So is my brother, Barak. Bizarre coincidence.

On the more substantive issues

1. Who doesn't want universal health care? I just don't understand how we're going to pay for it and, at the same time, give people the level of care they expect/deserve? How do you price a life? (see Epidemic of Care if you want a PHENOMENAL book primer on the subject)
   
2. NAFTA-You're going to pull out if you don't get it re-written? Protectionism, much? You want economic hardship for the whole country? Do that. The best primer on this topic is The Choice by Russell Roberts.
   
3. Taxes--oh, by the way, if you institute mandatory health care at rates based upon your income, that's a nice way of saying "I'm going to raise taxes."
   
4. Foreign Policy-aside from the "oh, I was an idiot for voting on Iraq" or "we need to get out," I didn't hear anything substantive about the threat of radical Islam to Western Civilization. Further proof, IMHO, that it's not top of mind for the Dems...and another reason why I'm not voting for them.

starbucks training

many of you heard about the three hour closing of starbucks so they can get their mojo back.



nice marketing



here is the one near my office delivering the training

The Mom Song...

Received Links of the Day

Leonard Nimoy: The Origin of Spock's Greeting

Stuff White People Like (very funny!)

Three Kids...First Thoughts

I know it's early, something like 1% of the precincts have reported, but so far, I'm willing to go along with the wisdom I've received that:

"the transition from 1 to 2 kids is more difficult than 2 to 3."

0 to 1 is, of course, a paradigm shift of epic proportions, so that's a different category.

But, especially with the whole bedrest experience, I feel pretty confident and at ease in my ability to manage the other 2 (playing zone) while the NFO takes on Nitzahn (man to man) [btw, a lot of folks have asked-no nickname yet...you can't rush the evolutionary process]

Besides, it's proportionally not that big a deal. Going from 1 to 2 is a 100% increase. 2 to 3 is only a 50% increase in the number of kids!

There was a moment over the weekend when the NFO was napping and I found myself in the den with all three kids at once. Caught myself thinking...whoa, I have a brood here.

That was a bit crazy, indeed.

I understand why non-first children feel a bit neglected sometimes (the NFO is #4) b/c you just don't have as much time.

On that topic, I am a bit concerned...how do you allocate time, my most valuable asset, to the kids in the right proportion?

I feel like Paco has been given a bit of extra time lately...my gut tells me that he needs it a bit more, so I've focused on it. But, I don't want Tonka to be left out of the mix and tonight, I apologized to her for not having as much 1:1 time as I would have liked today.

They had a solid day and we had fun (and a big assist to my brother, Barak, and two rock star sisters who came in for some middle inning relief work), but knowing when to give time to each, all, or none [need to have time to blog, of course] is something I'm going to have to learn.

Regardless, it's pretty cool...my ego tells me that I'm a mild patriarch now.

What's interesting is the absolute blurring between work and life, particularly in the digital age.

I've got a desktop pc and 2 laptops, deployed strategically around the house. Plus a smartphone. I move seamlessly from one to the other as I alternate between work and home responsibilities. Send an email, go change a diaper, pick up some toys, and then analyze a spreadsheet.

The digital revolution empowers me to be at home and do more than I would if I were at an office, but knowing what is "work time" or not is more and more becoming a thing of the past.

The NFO has been great about not asking me to get up too much in the middle of the night (she asks for 1 time so she doesn't have to get out of bed to change diapers) and I've becoming a devotee of the "whenver I can get it" nap, so all in all, I'm not too exhausted....yet.

Honestly, a bigger challenge recently has been that Paco (who usually naps for 2-3 hours in the PM) hasn't been going to bed [and has been getting out of bed multiple times a night] until 10pm.

So, yesterday, even though he threw a tantrum, I wouldn't let him nap at all...made him take a bath when he was tired, just so he would stay awake. I worked, but it was a 1 hour long tantrum. Need to figure out a way to get him 'over the hump' so he catches his 2nd wind without the kicking, screaming, and crying of "I want to take a nap!!!"

Bottom line, Nitzahn is a beautiful kid. Her siblings and mother adore her (as do I) and we're adjusting...one day at at a time. As I've often quoted my mom:

"The days are long, but the years are short."

wisdom at the bakery

was walking through the store with paco this morning and got into a discussion with the bakery manager about how they use statistics to forecast demand for cakes.



i started to explain to paco the concepts, as if he were in a college level economic class



the manager, robert, encouraged me.



'i love how you speak to your son. i have two boys in their twenties and i never used baby talk with them. and now, i couldn't be more proud of them. keep doing it and he will turn out just fine.'

Lens Activation...

Just got a pair of "transition" lenses that turn into sunglasses.

When you pick them up, they put it under an ultraviolet light that "activates" the chemical.

Neat stuff.

Embedded Reporter...

This would be my right hand cutting Nitzahn's umbilical cord.

Meeting the sibs...

Paco, Tonka, and Nitzahn got to meet and get acquainted.



For more pictures of Nitzahn’s first few days.

Gathering up the feathers...

There's a great story within the context of spreading rumors:

A Chasidic tale vividly illustrates the danger of improper speech: A man went about the community telling malicious lies about the rabbi. Later, he realized the wrong he had done, and began to feel remorse. He went to the rabbi and begged his forgiveness, saying he would do anything he could to make amends. The rabbi told the man, "Take a feather pillow, cut it open, and scatter the feathers to the winds." The man thought this was a strange request, but it was a simple enough task, and he did it gladly. When he returned to tell the rabbi that he had done it, the rabbi said, "Now, go and gather the feathers. Because you can no more make amends for the damage your words have done than you can recollect the feathers."

I'm in the unfortunate position of having to gather the feathers up as well.

The bulk (over 85%) of the explanation of Nitzahn's name was written by the Nameless/Faceless One (NFO=my spouse) who is also the Creditless one, but...

because it was on my blog and I sent the note out, everyone thinks that I wrote it.

Whoops!

I didn't.

NFO did. I just added a bit.

Consider this the first feather I am attempting to gather.

Fear of the Unknown...

Interesting how many women have written back to me and said "I don't want to read your 'liveblogging' of the birth of Nitzahn because I hope to give birth one day..."

And, here's a HILARIOUS site for you Obama folks (and you non-ones as well)

Law of Parental Proximity...

In parenting, it's tempting to overhear a dispute between your kids and try to resolve it. That's natural.

The NFO and I have added a new axiom. The LPP (Law of Parental Proximity).

That means, whichever parent is closer to the action at the time of conflict is the de facto field commander until he or she decides to abdicate that position to the other spouse.

What that means for the spouse who is farther removed is that s/he must resist the temptation to communicate over the de facto commander to the kids, thereby calling the chain of command into question and reducing the field commander's effectiveness.

The further removed spouse can consult directly with the field commander, of course, and collaborate on the best course of action.

The LPP. You heard it here first.

Say Hello to... Nitzahn Ta'ira Epstein

Our daughter’s name is Nitzahn Ta’ira.

The word “Nitzahn” is Hebrew for “blossom.”

“Nitzahn” is a unique word in that it constitutes a hapax legomenon, that is, a word that appears only once in the entire Bible.

It is found in Chapter 2 (verse 12) of Shir HaShirim (the Song of Songs):

הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ, עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ; וְקוֹל הַתּוֹר, נִשְׁמַע בְּאַרְצֵנוּ.

“HaNitzanim Niru Ba’Aaretz. Eyt ha Zamir hegiyah ve Kol Ha Tor Nishma Beartzeinu”

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land;

The Song of Songs is widely recognized as some of the most vivid love poetry in existence. In naming Nitzahn, we recall our beloved Nana and Poppy (z’l), Jeremy’s maternal grandparents, and specifically the love affair they shared for over 60 years.

In our estimation, their love was one of a kind, unparalleled, as is the word “Nitzahn” in the Bible.

In the next verse, (2:13), we read:

קוּמִי לכי (לָךְ) רַעְיָתִי יָפָתִי, וּלְכִי-לָךְ

Arise, my love, my fair one, and go forth yourself.

This was the hallmark of Nana and Poppy’s style of love throughout their lives until their passing. Their mutual love and attraction unquestionably empowered each other to go forward and perform seemingly mundane as well as heroic acts;

Nana courageously waited for Poppy as he flew missions with the Flying Tigers during World War II and she supported his dedicated work as a volunteer at Sibley Hospital.

Poppy encouraged and rejoiced in Nana living a life that Frank Sinatra must have imagined when he sang “My Way.” A friend to hundreds, a classy lady, and a woman of dignity, Poppy reveled in Nana’s unique and elegant style.

And Poppy made the ultimate sacrifice.

Watching as his beloved endured a year’s worth of physical pain and passed on, and longing to be reunited with her, he knew that he had only one more task in his life’s work.

On the night after she died, Poppy said:

“I loved her, I will always love her, and I cannot live without her,”

5 weeks later to the day, he too passed away.

They were buried next to each other on what would have been their 64th wedding anniversary.

The appearance of a blossom reminds us that despite the cold, harsh winter, life can re-emerge. Sometimes at the expected time. Other times in unexpected ways. A blossom appearing on a tree is a true indication of the ability of the tree, so battered by winter, to yield fruit, to draw from its roots, and produce beauty and sustenance where it has been lost.

Nitzahn, our daughter, arrived approximately one month earlier than expected and represents life and sustenance on our family tree. She draws upon the roots of her ancestors and brings light at the end of a dark and cold winter, our first without Nana and Poppy.

The role Nitzahn has played in this context also constitutes our hope for the role she will play in the lives of her friends, family, community and nation going forward.

Nitzahn’s middle name is “Ta’ira,” which means “bringing or shining forth light.”

We pray that she will seize upon the examples set by her family, Stanley (Poppy) and Karlyn (Nana) Robinson as well as Tamar’s maternal grandfather, Frederick Goldsmith (in Hebrew ‘Uri Shraga’) and known as “Saba.” Saba brought light wherever he went through unselfish, heroic, and noble acts, whether in the darkness of World War II or in the lives of friends, family, and community.

We will regale Nitzahn Ta’ira with tales of the light brought by our family members and the community of Kemp Mill in the weeks of uncertainty preceding her birth. And, she will undoubtedly, we hope, quickly come to recognize and bask in the light and joy brought by her sister, Calanit and her brother, Erez.

As her parents, we hope that we will have the Zchut (merit) to raise her to a life that fulfills the vision of the name we have chosen, to Torah, Chuppah (the wedding canopy) and Ma’asim Tovim (good deeds).

Baby Girl's Name--Focus Group

In one of the comments (I can't find it now), someone asked if we were going to continue on with our botantical theme for our kids name.

Answer: maybe.

Today, however, we were discussing the issue of

"what is the best way to spell, in English, the name of our daughter...whose name is of Hebrew origin?"

After some debate, we decided to conduct a survey of the nurses on the floor.

We wrote down three options.

"Ladies, excuse me," I said, "but I need some multi-cultural input here.

I am assuming that you don't speak Hebrew."

They nodded.

"So, my wife and I are trying to figure out which way to write the name of our daughter, which is a Hebrew one, in English so that the largest number of people will pronounce it correctly at first glance."

I showed them the three options.

#2 was eliminated and, to my amazement, for both #1 and #3, all eight respondents pronounced it perfectly. By a vote of 6-2, they settled on version 3.

So, that is the spelling that went on the Birth Certificate form.

On my way back to speaking with the NFO to share the results, I thought it would be interesting to get the country of origin of each of the nurses, in order to "bulletproof" my data set from cultural bias.

While I was asking, "where do you come from?" a strange incident occured.

A doctor, who hadn't overhead the first conversation, confronted me and said in a rude tone (and for me, that's saying something), "WHY are you asking where they are from?"

"Excuse me?"

"I have been here for 35 years and I know what you are doing. It is not
right to categorize people."

"Is this some sort of joke?"

"I know what you are doing and it's not ok."

"You know what I am doing?!" I was incredulous. "You KNOW that I am trying to figure out the best transliteration of a foreign word so that the largest number of people will find it easy to pronounce in English and in order to support my results, I am gathering the country of origin of my focus group respondents?"

I was really ticked off by this jerk.

Finally, I left and when I came back, I asked the nurses what had happened.

One said, "I don't know, I guess the doctor was just very sensitive. I didn't think it was a big deal, but in this country these days, some people get overworked about these things."

Anyway, it was quite bizarre and shows that you shouldn't jump to conclusions, especially in an inflammatory way.

I know you want to know. The respondents (all female) were from:

• Jamaica (2)
• Rwanda
• Colombia
• El Salvador
• DC
• Chicago
• North Carolina

Movie: Maxed Out

Maxed Out is about the huge pain that is inflicted on people (and our society) when it comes to debt.

A decidedly liberal slant was obvious, but that didn't really bother me.

I was genuinely moved by the stories of the people portrayed. The hypocrisy displayed by government officials (much more in the film on the GOP side, of course) does turn your stomach. You wonder...where does it end?

The reason why I would only give this movie 2.5 stars is not because of its bias or its poor ability to tell a story. The bias was fine and the storytelling was very effective. I get the problem. It's huge. Real people are being hurt (and let's assume that individual responsibility has nothing to do with it)

What I didn't like is that there was (aside from one Harvard professor saying "I don't know the answer") no effort to even offer up a solution. Ok, it's a big deal, now what?

That's where I felt disappointed by this film.

I did feel thankful for the, I believe, relatively solid financial education I received from my parents and grandparents.

And, I felt a bit of nerves, wondering if I'd be able to duplicate that for all of my brood.