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23 Cheshvan/10 November, 2009
Nov. 10th, 2009 11:00 pmToday I pretty much spent the day relaxing after the whole traveling/grading week. I really needed the break. I managed to comment on one student outline but mostly I caught up on tv I missed like “Brother and Sisters” and read books. I also ordered Papa’s b-day presents online and slept more. Also talked on the phone. A mild day. Back to work tomorrow.
I finished “Miracle of the Hudson” book. It was a really well crafted book that made you feel like you learned everything about that flight from many different perspective. The last chapter was also people’s reactions up to six month later. Seven people got on another plane the very same day, I can’t imagine it. The reason I liked this book was because of different perspective of life and death situations and decisions people make. The chaos and the calm were both present in the situation but overall people helped each other and kept each other from panicking too much, which was interesting to read.
I started “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn today. I first read an article in New York Times a few month ago on this subject, I think the article condensed this book a bit. As soon as I read the article I put this book on waiting list at local library. The book focuses on women’s rights issues around the world, Asia, Africa, Latin America, to show that by pouring funds into women’s education and other women’s issues we can have direct impact on poverty around the world. Women would spend the microloan on their families while men are more likely to drink it. When women are educated longer then can also delay childbirth and grow up, making childbirth less riskier. The book deals with difficult subjects like sex trafficking of girls, prostitution, rape, honor killings, death in childbirth, family planning, education and microloans. It is written by two married journalists from New York Times who spent years covering these issues and who are trying to really promote them. What makes this book so compelling is the individual, personal stories of women and girls around the world. There are not always happy endings, it is complicated but I feel they are presenting a great picture of conditions women face in the world and what poverty and a weak government really means. In some countries when women are systematically raped, they can’t go to police who would just rape them more. I just can’t put this book down. It is compelling. I haven’t read a book this good in a while. It really makes me appreciate my first world life too. There is also lots of great ideas of what can actually help. Highly recommend.
SYTYCD Top 16. The performances and dances were pretty lackluster. African jazz danced by Russell and Noelle and Mandy Moore contemporary set to “Relax” with Jakob and Ashleigh stood out, otherwise not really exciting.
I finished “Miracle of the Hudson” book. It was a really well crafted book that made you feel like you learned everything about that flight from many different perspective. The last chapter was also people’s reactions up to six month later. Seven people got on another plane the very same day, I can’t imagine it. The reason I liked this book was because of different perspective of life and death situations and decisions people make. The chaos and the calm were both present in the situation but overall people helped each other and kept each other from panicking too much, which was interesting to read.
I started “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn today. I first read an article in New York Times a few month ago on this subject, I think the article condensed this book a bit. As soon as I read the article I put this book on waiting list at local library. The book focuses on women’s rights issues around the world, Asia, Africa, Latin America, to show that by pouring funds into women’s education and other women’s issues we can have direct impact on poverty around the world. Women would spend the microloan on their families while men are more likely to drink it. When women are educated longer then can also delay childbirth and grow up, making childbirth less riskier. The book deals with difficult subjects like sex trafficking of girls, prostitution, rape, honor killings, death in childbirth, family planning, education and microloans. It is written by two married journalists from New York Times who spent years covering these issues and who are trying to really promote them. What makes this book so compelling is the individual, personal stories of women and girls around the world. There are not always happy endings, it is complicated but I feel they are presenting a great picture of conditions women face in the world and what poverty and a weak government really means. In some countries when women are systematically raped, they can’t go to police who would just rape them more. I just can’t put this book down. It is compelling. I haven’t read a book this good in a while. It really makes me appreciate my first world life too. There is also lots of great ideas of what can actually help. Highly recommend.
SYTYCD Top 16. The performances and dances were pretty lackluster. African jazz danced by Russell and Noelle and Mandy Moore contemporary set to “Relax” with Jakob and Ashleigh stood out, otherwise not really exciting.
