And Then Some News

Thursday's Essay Preview

This is the fourteenth of 17 essays that cover our Southeast Asia cruise (March, 2010).  The first paragraph of the fourteenth essay reads as follows:  "With three days in Beijing, we really had a good chance to get to know the city, and there is no doubt the city has a great deal to offer tourists.  After visiting eight other large Asian cities, you might think we had seen enough or that our views might be slightly jaundiced, and there is something to that perspective.  We feel we had been in Beijing one day too long by the afternoon of the second full day, and we felt we had seen everything we wanted to see — but this does not have anything to do with what this city has to offer tourists."
                                  
                                                                                      

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last two paragraphs of the essay

The Great Wall is impressive in its size, but that is precisely what makes it one of the eight wonders of the world.  It is 3,889.5 miles long (we didn’t walk the whole length!), and it was begun in 221 BC.  It was only in the Ming Dynasty when the Ming constructed walls along the northern border of China designed specifically to keep the Manchurian and Mongolian nomadic tribes out of China.  Also, the Great Wall helped defend the empire against the Manchu invasions of 1600, even though the Manchus crossed the Great Wall in 1644 and seized Beijing, defeated the Shun Dynasty, and established the Qing Dynasty.  Obviously, the decision to construct the wall as part of a defense system was a good idea, even though at times it didn’t work as effectively as planned.
    
I want to talk about our continuing tour with Michael Ye.  In the second Beijing essay, I will continue from the Great Wall forward.




And Then Some News

Click: The magic of instant connections

Click: The magic of instant connections
By Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman


Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.


The stories the Brafmans tell, the conversational language used, and the effective way they incorporate research findings and studies, make this a compelling read.  The only problem I see is that some readers may find that much of what they write about is common sense.  That doesn’t discredit the information nor does it detract from the quality or worth of the book; most people need to have this kind of substance to reinforce and underscore what they already know and practice.  There is nothing wrong with material that shores up and bolsters us in the ways we think and behave.


Having written a best-selling college textbook on interpersonal communication (my book, Understanding Interpersonal Communication, went through 7 editions), I can tell you that the information the Brafman’s offer is “right on.”  What the Brafmans add to any material on the subject is numerous examples that bring the information to life and add power and zeal to it.


If you’re just looking for an interesting, short (192-pages), and useful book that will occupy you for a couple of hours, this is a good selection.  You’ll lose nothing but a couple of hours, and it may be that you will have your behavior reinforced, your skill sets enhanced, and your overall ability to connect with others strengthened.  Nothing wrong with that!


This book is available at Amazon.com: Click: The magic of instant connections

LAUGH . . . And Then Some

A Frickin' Elephant:

Jake is 5 and learning to read.  He points at a picture in a zoo book and says,  "Look Mama!  It's a frickin' Elephant!"

Deep breath . . . "What did you call it?"

"It's a frickin' Elephant, Mama!  It says so on the picture!"

 . . . and so it does . . .
 
"A f r i c a n Elephant."

Hooked on phonics!!!!  Ain't it wonderful?

Laugh Like There's No Tomorrow: Over 2,000 jokes from the Internet

From Day #210 in a complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II

Shanghai II: Modern versus traditional

by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.    

We are walking through the Yu Garden in Old Shanghai.  The buildings of the Yu Garden are all of vintage Chinese style with dark brown tile-like, fancy roofs, white sides, and perched on stones.  Most overlook small pools of large, golden carp, and the pools are outlined in rocks of various sizes and shapes, brought down from the surrounding mountains.  Some rocks, our tour guide said, were taken from the mountains then put into lakes for 200-300 years so that the weaker soil and rock would be eroded away and an artistic limestone shape was left that revealed holes and crevices that made them especially attractive and unique.  Some of these are massive in size, and the garden area is absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful — a clear reason why the crowds of tourists are here.
    
In one area of the Yu Garden, there is an elevated stage where the royal family occupying the home would bring in special entertainment just for the family and friends seated in the courtyard or at tables and chairs in protected (from the hot sun or rain) porch areas under the surrounding buildings.  Along the top of one wall, a full-length dragon (as mentioned in the previous essay) is displayed.  The dragon, in China, represents royalty.
    
As we left Yu Garden we were given 20 minutes to shop in the little snack and souvenir shops just outside the Garden walls in Old Shanghai.  There we bought a Shanghai tee-shirt and observed the hoards of tourists.  The young lady selling tee-shirts started telling us the cost of the shirt in Yuen, then converted it to U.S. dollars, and $20.00 was her beginning price.  We bought the shirt for $11.00, but could have had it for $10.00 as we were about the leave her store.  All of these stores accepted credit cards or U.S. currency since this is a tourist mecca.
    
From the Yu Garden we proceeded to the Ju Long Silk Store in the Old City, which is the drop-off point for all the shuttle buses to the ship.  Since we had toured a silk factory recently on a previous excursion in another city, we chose to end our excursion here.
    
One thing you notice as you are bussed around this very large city are the many rivers, canals, streams, and lakes.  One website, “China Travel.com,” talks about the water under the heading, “Shanghai Travel Guide”: “Indeed, the entire region of Shanghai - Hangzhou is characterized by water, with several larger and smaller rivers as well as ponds and lakes, of which West Lake is the most renowned.”
    
 There are always regrets when you have a limited amount of time in a port or you must choose between a number of attractive shore-excursion options.  For example, we had to miss the Shanghai Museum of Art and History.  It has, according to one Internet website, “one of the best collections of Chinese historical artifacts in the world, including important archaeological finds since 1949.”
    
We had to miss, as well, the Shanghai Art Museum, located near the People’s Square (which we viewed ever-so-briefly from the bus window) which is “a major art museum holding both permanent and temporary exhibitions,” and the Shanghai Natural History Museum, which is a large-scale natural history museum.
    
There were several areas of the city, too, that we had to miss.  For example, a visit to Suzhou, which others who went said was a wonderful visit to a small fishing village where they had an opportunity to cruise on the Grand Canal, view the Humble Administrators Garden, and visit the Suzhou Embroidery Research Institute where they could see artists working.  Those taking this excursion said they viewed classic Chinese architecture and saw (up close and personal) the lifestyle of people living along the banks.
    
We missed seeing ancient Zhujiajio (Shanghai’s Venice) too, the home of 36 moss-covered bridges and canal-side boats.  The TravelChinaGuide.com website describes this little water town as follows: “Located in a suburb of Shanghai city, Zhujiajiao is an ancient water town well-known throughout the country, with a history of more than 1700 years. Covering an area of 47 square kilometers, the little fan-shaped town glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains.”
    
There were other things we missed seeing in Shanghai, too.  We missed touring the Bund, the financial hub of colonial Shanghai, although we saw it from floor 88 of the Jin Mao Building (discussed in the first essay on Shanghai).  At China 2001, the Bund is briefly discussed: “ . . . The Bund parallels the western bank of the Juangpu Jiang River. It was here that the European, American and Japanese built their banks, trading houses, consulates and hotels. Renovated by the Chinese as a tourist attraction and brightly lit at night it is a spectacular sight when viewed from the promenade across the Bund and adjacent to the river.”
    
We missed seeing the Maglev train.  Ron Gluckman in an essay, “Is it a bird?  A plane?” describes the Maglev train like this: “Indeed, the Maglev is faster than any speeding locomotive precisely because it's as much like a plane as any railroad we've known.  True, the train has no wings, but no wheels or engine, either. Transrapid, the German firm that developed the system, describes the Maglev as ‘the first fundamental innovation in the field of railway technology since the invention of the railway.’ Magnets are the attraction. First, powerful magnets lift the entire train about 10 millimeters above the special track, called a guideway, since it mainly directs the passage of the train.  Other magnets provide propulsion, and braking, and the speeds - up to 500 kph in test runs; a good 60 percent faster than the renowned Bullet Trains - are attained largely due to the reduction of friction.”  
    
Even though we missed a great deal, we had a valuable and worthwhile opportunity to see downtown Shanghai and where it is heading as well as various parts of Old Town.  This was not just an adventure but a real look at contrasting cultures where a city treasures and preserves its past while moving rapidly into the future.
-----
At Lonely Planet, the essay, “Modern meets tradition in China’s dynamic cities,” includes this paragraph: “'The slick and futuristic parts of Shanghai are impressive but the gritty and down-to-earth areas are even more captivating. The city’s li(long alleyways, lòngtáng architecture and shíkùmén houses are gorgeous and capture the community feel of Shanghai. And a walk around the Old Town can pop you back into the past,' said author Damian Harper.”

At IndependentTraveler.com, Aida M. Garcia-Toledo describes the “Tradition” in her essay on “Impressive Shanghai.”  She writes about the area around the Yu Garden: “The area around Yu Yuan Gardens is a touristy shopping district that used to be the 'Chinese City' in colonial times. Here traditional Chinese architecture creates a huge, although welcomed, contrast with the rest of the city's modern sites. Red balconies are carved in traditional Chinese style, complimenting the white facades and topped off with traditional Chinese 4-point tiled roofs. The streets are cobblestone and red lanterns hang from most of the balconies. Downstairs different stores line the streets; here you can find everything from tea sets and kites to exotic herbs and exotic medicinal rarities (for westerners). Be warned: this area is full of tourists, and thus best to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon.”
-----
Copyright May, 2011, by And Then Some Publishing, LLC.

Day #255 - Have patience.

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." --John Quincy Adams

Day #255 - Have patience.

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.  This is one of six motivational quotations for Day #255.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com

And Then Some News

Thursday's Essay Preview

This is the thirteenth of 17 essays that cover our Southeast Asia cruise (March, 2010).  The first paragraph of the thirteenth essay reads as follows:  "We are walking through the Yu Garden in Old Shanghai.  The buildings of the Yu Garden were all of vintage Chinese style with dark brown tile-like, fancy roofs, white sides, and perched on stones.  Most overlooked small pools of large, golden carp, and the pools were outlined in rocks of various sizes and shapes, brought down from the surrounding mountains.  Some rocks, our tour guide said, were taken from the mountains then put into lakes for 200-300 years so that the weaker soil and rock would be eroded away and an artistic limestone shape was left that revealed holes and crevices that made them especially attractive and unique.  Some of these were massive in size, and the garden area was absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful — a clear reason why the crowds of tourists were there."
                    
                                                                                      

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

Even though we missed a great deal, we had a valuable and worthwhile opportunity to see downtown Shanghai and where it is heading as well as various parts of Old Town.  This was not just an adventure but a real look at contrasting cultures where a city treasures and preserves its past while moving rapidly into the future.



And Then Some News

Well Being: The Five Essential Elements

Well Being: The Five Essential Elements
By Tom Rath and Jim Harter


Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.


I like this book for many reasons.  Here are ten.  First, it underscores and encourages all of the activities and behaviors that I support — and have supported in my essays.  This book could easily have been titled: IMPROVING YOUR LIFE AND THEN SOME!!!


Second, it is supported by great evidence.  The Gallup organization studied people in more than 150 countries.  “Rath has been with Gallup for 14 years and currently leads Gallup’s workplace research and leadership consulting around the world” (from the back flyleaf).  Rath has degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania — all Big Ten!!!!  (With tongue squarely in my cheek, there needs to be no other reason, of course, than the fact he is a U of M graduate!!!!)


Harter joined Gallup in 1985 and has a Ph.D. in psychological and cultural studies from the University of Nebraska.  Both are insiders in the Gallup organization and with their background and experience not just in polling but in interpreting of polling results, they are clearly experts who can depended upon for their credibility and expertise.


Third, it is written in a comfortable, easy, conversational style which makes reading it both pleasant and fast.  The book is already small (5 1/2-inches by 8 1/4-inches), and they have chosen to print each line almost double-spaced from each other.  This puts only 24-25 lines on a page in the essential first five chapters.


Fourth, it is practical.  Look, for example, at this excerpt from the chapter on “Physical Wellbeing”: “As you walk through a grocery store, one simple way to sort through what foods are best is to look for fruits and vegetables that have darker tones of red, green, and blue.  Look for reds in apples, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, red peppers, radishes, chili peppers, and pomegranates.  Healthy greens include broccoli, asparagus, artichokes, spinach, sprouts, lettuce, arugula, collard greens, kale, or Swiss chard.  Blue tones include blueberries, blackberries, cabbage, and grapes” (p. 77).


As you can see from the quoted material above, there aren’t any stunning or surprising findings and outcomes IF you already do all the right things in your life.  The authors simply underscore and encourage you in the same directions.  It’s a little like having a parental voice on your shoulder telling you — in all the right areas — to continue doing what you’re doing because you’re doing a good job!  (If you’re unhealthy and NOT doing the right things: read this book!)


Fifth, I like the authors’ choice to focus on the five main areas (discovered by distilling the results of their worldwide survey): 1) career wellbeing, 2) social wellbeing, 3) financial wellbeing, 4) physical wellbeing, and 5) community wellbeing.  These, and I’m quoting from the front flyleaf here, “five universal, interconnected elements that shape our lives.”  The chapters are arranged in their order of importance for the average person they surveyed.


Sixth, at the end of each of the five opening chapters (covering the universal, interconnected elements listed above), the authors offer “Three Recommendations for Boosting . . . “ that type of wellbeing.  These are simply summaries of what the authors discuss within the chapter, but they serve as excellent summaries and reminders.


Seventh, at the end of the five opening chapters, and after several pages of concluding remarks — which take a total of 112-pages only — the authors offer “Additional Tools and Resources.”  This is where you will find all the charts, graphs, and statistical results (along with discussion), and I have to admit that most people may not want to read all of this information (about 109 pages of information), but it is fascinating and well-presented.  Incidentally, the technical area of the book is written in a smaller font, and the lines are closer together.  (It is clear the authors were aware of which part of the book would get read!)


Eighth, I like the fact that the authors have refrained from including “cute little stories” that capture reader attention and cater to “the least common denominator” in reader knowledge and understanding.  They aren’t necessary in this book.  Instead, the authors talk directly to the reader — or use the third person: “A recent experiment revealed that just 20 minutes of exercise could improve our mood for several hours after we finish working out” (p. 78)” or, “It might seem counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to combat fatigue is by exercising” (p. 79).


Ninth, the paragraphs are short, and the sections are short as well.  You can read through and gain the essential information of this book in just over an hour or so.  The material is so valuable, the advice so important, and the ideas so critical to boosting your wellbeing that it needs to be short and to the point.  It is.


Tenth, the results from reading this book work!  Yes, you may have a better understanding of what makes life worthwhile (from the front flyleaf), but the important result is that if you follow the instructions, absorb the information, and incorporate it into your daily life, there is no question that you will be a better person.  Not only that, but your friends, family members, colleagues, and others with whom you associate will notice the results.


Buy this book!


This book is available at Amazon.com: Well Being: The Five Essential Elements

LAUGH . . . And Then Some

A blond suspects her boyfriend of cheating on her so she goes out and buys a gun.  She goes to his apartment unexpectedly, and when she opens the door she finds him in the arms of a redhead.

Well, the blond is really angry.  

She opens her purse to take out the gun, and as she does so, she is overcome with grief . . .

She takes the gun and puts it to her head . . .

The boyfriend yells, "No, honey, don't do it!!!"

The blond replies, "Shut up,  you're next!"

Laugh Like There's No Tomorrow: Over 2,000 jokes from the Internet

From Day #208 in a complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II

Shanghai I: Modern versus traditional

by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.    

This essay on Shanghai could just as easily be two completely different essays about the same city, because Shanghai is cut in half by the Huangpu River (a tributary of the Yangtze), and on one side is Puxi, the old area lying on the west side, and on the other, Pudong, the new development zone lying on the east side.  The contrast between these two sides is not just a “conversation piece”; it is real, dramatic, and startling — the obviously modern versus the clearly traditional.  (I have written two essays on Shanghai; however, they don’t divide the city into two parts.  The essays simply divide the information on Shanghai into two parts.)
    
Shanghai (with its humid, subtropical climate) is the largest city in China and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world.  It sits on the Yangtze River Delta on China’s eastern coast and is roughly equidistant from Beijing (our next destination) and Hong Kong.  It is 2,401 square miles in land area, and it is flat with an average elevation of only 13 feet.
    
The approximately one-hour bus/shuttle ride to and from the port on the elevated road into the center of the city confirms this observation: the density of the city with apartment buildings everywhere, just seems to go on and on.  There are, after all, over 20 million people.
    
It was in 2005 that Shanghai became the world’s largest cargo port in terms of total cargo tonnage, and our ride through the numerous high stacks of cargo boxes at the port, the more than 30 container ships I could count from the top deck of our ship anchored in the bay area, as well as the number of cargo ships passing us while docked, provide vivid testimony to this.
    
The new financial district, Pudong, competes with Singapore and Hong Kong not just in the numbers of impressive skyscrapers (over 400 and growing), but in the city landscaping and certainly in the many architectural styles.  
    
One of the most impressive buildings is really not a building at all!  It is the Oriental Pearl Tower which is over 1535 feet high.  According to “The Oriental Pearl Tower” website, “It is the highest TV Tower in Asia and is the third highest one in the world. The designers magically set the eleven beautiful spheres of various sizes up from the green grassland to the blue sky with two giant spheres shining like two rubies. The whole design is rich in poetic and pictorial splendor, which gives the tourists the impression that pearls of various sizes are dropping onto the emerald plate.”  
    
Considering the modern aspects of Shanghai, it is the cultural and economic center of East Asia, and according to Wikipedia on “Shanghai,” and under the subheading “Culture,” “it is popularly seen as the birthplace of everything considered modern in China.  It was in Shanghai,” the site says, “that the first motor car was driven and the first train tracks and modern sewers were laid.”  They were but symbols of what was to come.
    
Our best view of the Pearl Tower (we didn’t climb it), was from the 88th floor of the Jin Mao (meaning golden prosperity) Observatory 88, the first stop on our Princess sponsored “Shanghai Sampler” excursion.  According to the See It With Me website, “The Pearl Tower is one of the first things that I noticed from the observation deck.  Behind it is the Huangpu River, which separates Pudong from Puxi.”
    
Incidentally, the Jin Mao building is an exact replica of the “101" which we saw in Taiwan.
    
Just as impressive (if not moreso), than the views from the 88th floor is the ride up and down.  It takes but 45 seconds to go from the ground floor to floor 88, and you cannot feel the elevator begin its ascent or stop.  The elevator travels at 29.86 feet per second or approximately 1,791.6 feet per minute. The speed of the elevator is phenomenal, and you can watch its progress as a red line following up an outline of the building on the back wall of the elevator.
    
Also impressive is that from floor 88 you can look down into the atrium of the Grand Hyatt Hotel.  The Hyatt atrium starts at the 53rd floor and extends upward to the 87th floor; thus, when you look down into the atrium, you see 35 floors of it — a shiny, gold, illuminated column.
    
As an interesting aside, the modern portion of Shanghai, where all the skyscrapers are built (and are being built) is located on a flat alluvial plain recovered from the sea.  This means that new skyscrapers must be built with deep concrete piles to stop them from sinking into the soft ground.
    
There is a long, busy tunnel that connects Pudong with Puxi, and after being dazzled by the colors, shiny surfaces, towering edifices, and cleanliness of the modern Shanghai, when you emerge from the tunnel, the stark reality of Puxi suddenly and dramatically confronts you.
    
What is so dramatic?  There are old, low-rise apartment buildings, small China-town-like shops crowded in side by side, litter, local people on bicycles going about their daily business, motor scooters, laundry hanging outside apartment windows, and an overall look that strikes you as traditional and classic — the very image of China that those in power want to change.  The image is striking because it is sudden, remarkable, and unexpected.
    
Our excursion took us into the heart of the Old City to the Yu Garden (Garden of Peace and Comfort).  Built during the Ming Dynasty, the Yu Garden is over 400 years old and, as a national heritage site, it represents a southern Chinese style garden.   As described at the Frommer’s website, the garden “is a maze of Ming Dynasty pavilions, elaborate rockeries, arched bridges, and goldfish ponds, all encircled by an undulating dragon wall.”  The garden occupies 5 acres, but it appears expansive with its 30 pavilions.
    
Read more about Yu Garden at the Frommers website. When we visited, the place was teeming with visitors — most, it seemed, from other parts of China.  Pressed against each other and shoulder to shoulder, we traversed narrow walkways, small entrances, and saw little viewing areas where many people pushed to see the view.
    
Yu Garden is considered landscape art.  It is meant, throughout, to perfectly balance the yin and the yang.  Each garden within the walls “must have several elements, the main ones being plants, rock, water, and pavillions, in order to make it harmonious,” says our Beijing Encounter guidebook — which includes information on Shanghai.  Our guidebook pointed it out: “To make it harmonious, the gardens are built . . . for promoting the flow of qi [energy flow] as they are to be an aesthetic pleasure.  The hardness of the rock (yang) should balance out the softness of the water (yin)” (p. 124).
    
The gardens within the Yu Garden are stunning in their beauty, and I will continue my discussion of them (briefly) in the second essay on Shanghai.
-----
At the Destination 360 website there is a complete explanation of the Yu Garden.

At the Shanghai Finder website, its purpose is to help people planning to live in Shanghai find a school, villa, or apartment, and the website offers a realistic view of Pudong as contrasted with Puxi.

“Despite efforts to promote Pudong, Puxi remains the cultural and entertainment center of Shanghai. The two main shopping centers, Huaihai Zhong Lu and Xujiahui, the major bar streets such as Maoming Lu and Julu Lu, and cultural centers such as The Bund, the Shanghai Grand Theatre, and the Shanghai Museum are all located in Puxi. The famous Nanjing Road shopping strip runs through Puxi and the 7 Pu Road Apparel City is located in there as well.”  This quote is from Wikipedia in its essay on Puxi.
-----
Copyright May, 2011, by And Then Some Publishing, LLC.
   

Day #254 - Avoid all jealousy.

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

"Love sees sharply, hatred sees even more sharp, but jealousy sees the sharpest for it is love and hate at the same time." --Arab Proverb

Day #254 - Avoid all jealousy.

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.  This is one of seven motivational quotations for Day #254.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com

And Then Some News

Thursday's Essay Preview

This is the twelfth of 17 essays that cover our Southeast Asia cruise (March, 2010).  The first paragraph of the twelfth essay reads as follows:  "This essay on Shanghai could just as easily be two completely different essays about the same city, because Shanghai is cut in half by the Huangpu River (a tributary of the Yangtze), and on one side is Puxi, the old area lying on the west side, and on the other, Pudong, the new development zone lying on the east side.  The contrast between these two sides is not just a “conversation piece”; it is real, dramatic, and startling — the obviously modern versus the clearly traditional.  (I have written two essays on Shanghai; however, they don’t divide the city into two parts.  The essays simply divide the information on Shanghai into two parts.)"
         


                                                                                      

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last two paragraphs of the essay

Yu Garden is considered landscape art.  It is meant, throughout, to perfectly balance the yin and the yang.  Each garden within the walls “must have several elements, the main ones being plants, rock, water, and pavillions, in order to make it harmonious,” says our Beijing Encounter guidebook — which includes information on Shanghai.  Our guidebook pointed it out: “To make it harmonious, the gardens are built . . . for promoting the flow of qi [energy flow] as they are to be an aesthetic pleasure.  The hardness of the rock (yang) should balance out the softness of the water (yin)” (p. 124).
   
The gardens within the Yu Garden are stunning in their beauty, and I will continue my discussion of them (briefly) in the second essay on Shanghai.


And Then Some News

Ubuntu! An inspiring story about an African tradition of teamwork and collaboration

Ubuntu! An inspiring story about an African tradition of teamwork and collaboration
By Stephen Lundin and Bob Nelson


Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.


J Garrison, from Nebraska, writes the following in his four-out-of-five star review of this book at Amazon.com: “This book appeals to many different audiences. It is a quick read with suitable content to be applicable to workplace management, team building, developing learning communities and personal reflection. It is a fictional work which takes the reader through the individual and professional transformation of John Peterson from an authoritarian manager and distant spouse and father to a reflective and caring person who understands the value and necessity of recognizing the humanity in all people. Peterson hits rock bottom in both his work and personal life. He encounters Ubuntu when one of his staff sacrifices personal time to help Peterson out of a professional jam. Thus begins the transformative power of Ubuntu; the power found within a collaborative community striving together by discovering a unity of purpose and humanity. This book is both uplifting and reflective. An added bonus is the insight into the South Africa of today; the power of reconciliation to begin the healing process from the years under apartheid, the poverty that still grips the country; the beauty of the veldt; and the magic that is Africa.”


The overall theme of this book is, “We can be fully human only when we live in harmony with others” (p. 99).


Perhaps it’s me, I’m a little tired of books built on parables that relate to business, and this is another fictional narrative designed to help businesses build teams and cooperative efforts.  It is well-written, and the book flows well.  Unfortunately, I feel the theory on which it is based is common sense, the “how-to-do-it” approach suggested is both predictable and rather mundane, and I felt no attachment to the characters (especially John Peterson) of this fictional story or the story development.  You quickly get a sense of “who cares?” that makes it—even though a quick read (131 pages in a 7.6 x 5.1-inch format)—rather dull and boring.  That is why I reproduced J. Garrison’s review from Amazon.com at the top of my review of the book.


This book is available at Amazon.com: Ubuntu!  An inspiring story about an African tradition of teamwork and collaboration

LAUGH . . . And Then Some

A recent study conducted by Harvard University found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year.

Another study by the American Medical Association found that Americans drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcoholic beverage a year.

This means, on average, Americans get about 41 miles to the gallon.
 

Laugh Like There's No Tomorrow: Over 2,000 jokes from the Internet

From Day #206 in a complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II

Okinawa: Unexplored, undiscovered, and unexperienced

by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.    

You do not get a fair view of the main island of the Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa, with just a half-day stay and no excursion, but that is what we did.  Some could probably argue that you can’t even get a fair view of anywhere without an extended stay — and that is probably an accurate point of view.  We did not exchange enough money (we had just 2,000 Japanese yen — $22.6 U.S.) which was not enough for a taxi ride to and from Shuri Castle or the World War II Memorial.  They are both a fair distance from the downtown area of Naha, the capital, where our shuttle from the ship dropped us off (a mere 15-20-minute drive), and the time to get there (to the castle or the memorial) and back could have prevented a walk down the main shopping street.
    
The Okinawa Prefecture consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands.  They stretch southwest for about 600 miles from the Japanese island of Kyu-shu — to within 75 miles of the island of Taiwan.  Okinawa lies about half way between Japan’s mainland and Taiwan.
    
Instead of being dropped at a high-end mall we were left off in front of a government building, and even the guides at the drop-off (we had no tour guide on our bus) spoke poor, broken English.  Also, the main tourist information area was a 15-20 minute walk from our drop-off point.  The guide at our drop-off point suggested we walk to the information booth before deciding to go to any other destination points.
    
Shuri Castle, one of our potential destinations, was used as a palace by the Ryukyu Kingdom, and it was completely destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa.  From original photographs and historical records, it was reconstructed in 1992, and it remains today as a huge tourist attraction.  You can see 20 images of Shuri Castle at the Google website of the same name.
    
In addition to the Shuri Castle, there is a memorial on the island to the many people who died when the U.S. bombed it/destroyed it in World War II.  We did not visit the memorial, although we wanted to, because of the distance from our drop-off point, and the cost for hiring a taxi (more than we had exchanged).
    
We did walk the main shopping street in Naha to make positive use of the short time we had, and I have several observations regarding our walk along the main shopping street.  First, it was very busy with lots of people.  Second, there are no hawkers, few sidewalk vendors, and streets are clear of litter and refuse.  When we stopped to have our lunch on one of the benches along the sidewalk, we stopped opposite the “salesroom” (sidewalk) of a local street vendor.  Not only did she sport dreadlocks, she wore the clothes of a San Francisco hippie from the 1960s.  Her products were bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and various other crystals and jewelry-like items (all looked very homemade) — just exactly what you would expect from a person dressed like this.
    
We turned into “the covered Heiwa-do-ri Shopping Arcade and Makishi Public Market, a massive shotengai [a style of Japanese commercial district running along a certain street] filled with fresh fish, meat, and produce stands, restaurants, tourist goods shops, and liquor shops . . . ,” according to Wikipedia, and we knew we were in a place of special interest because of the number of people from our ship, the Diamond Princess, taking excursions there.  (Excursions are often revealed when you see a tour guide leading a group of people with his or her “Princess” sign held high for all those on the tour to see and follow.)
    
What I found most interesting about this shotengai was the mix of stores.  You could have a small shop selling various kinds of grains, for example, right next to a high-end clothing shop, or a place that sold only lotions and perfumes, next to a market, a souvenir shop, or a place that sold only umbrellas or liquor — or fresh fish.
    
My wife was looking for a “smart casual” top she could wear for the evening on board ship, and she tried on a couple.  In one place, to try on the top, she had to go to the back of a darkly lit, little, single-cubical store, where only one person could squeeze through the main aisle to the back where there was barely enough space to try it on.  It was already warm and humid; thus, going into this small, dark, poorly ventilated place was “an experience.”  (She purchased no top.)
    
One of the problems we discovered with clothes in this shotengai was that they were not specifically designed for tourists.  Clothes stores catered, as you might expect, to the local population.  What you may not realize about local Okinawan people is that they tend to be small.  The tops my wife tried on (despite trying on the largest size available) were all small and tight, and store clerks had none in her size (and my wife is not a “large.”)
    
We found a silver souvenir trinket with Okinawan letters on one side (we were told), and Japanese letters on the other, that we could use on our Christmas tree (we collect tree ornaments from the places we visit), and I found a tee-shirt at a store along the street that accepted credit cards.  Although we walked for eight or ten blocks, we bought nothing else.
    
The shops and streets were clean, people were nicely dressed, and we felt entirely safe wherever we walked in Okinawa.  People were friendly, but none of the vendors (or other store personnel) spoke any English at all.  Although there is a heavy U.S. presence on the island — the 14 U.S. bases here occupy 90 square miles or 18% of the main island — we saw no military personnel and few other tourists except those from our ship.
    
For all of the immigration papers we had to fill out, the fingerprinting, pictures, and thermal scanning (all before going ashore), you would think we had planned to stay on the island for some time.  It is too bad that we did not have a chance to see their pottery, textiles, or glass making (products they are known for).
    
Even though we got but a meager glimpse of Okinawa, the lack of big high-rise buildings, the palms along the streets, the modern bridge connecting the port with the city, made this an interesting place to visit, but for us, it remains undiscovered, unexplored, and unexperienced.
-----
 Okinawa.com is a delightful website where you can get a wide variety of information and links to even more.  Also, there is a photo gallery at the bottom of the first page (you must scroll all the way down) that highlights many of the special features you can see on the island.  This is one of the main tourist destinations for many of the Japanese people, and it is a place we would gladly return to based on what we saw in our brief sojourn there.

A gallery of outstanding photographs can be found at HDR Japan,  where all of the various areas of Okinawa are shown and discussed.

From food to entertainment and from culture to nature, you can find it all — and written conversationally by someone who lives there — at Okinawa Hai.  If you’ve been there, plan to go, or are just interested in all that is Okinawa, then this website is a great place to begin.
-----
Copyright May, 2011, by And Then Some Publishing, LLC.
   

Day #251 - Work your way through difficulties.

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

"There are two ways of meeting difficulties: You alter the difficulties or you alter yourself to meet them." --Phyllis Bottome

Day #251 - Work your way through difficulties.

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.  This is one of six motivational quotations for Day #251.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com

A life of being, having, and doing enough

A life of being, having, and doing enough
By Wayne Muller


Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.


The author writes: “What, then, can we do?  We begin by listening, paying attention, gradually uncovering our own clarity and wisdom.  If we are to learn to trust that inner knowing and rely upon the authority of our deepest heart’s intuition, this is where we must begin.  For the voices of the world are loud, they are legion, and they are growing exponentially.  These outer voices each have their most decidedly necessary prescription for our lives.  Each screams louder than the next, insisting we listen to what they [sic] say, what we should need, want, buy, and do, to have a life of enough” (p. 8).


“Wayne Muller,” it explains on the back flyleaf,”is a Santa Fe-based therapist, public speaker, minister, and bestselling author.  His previous books include Legacy of the Heart; How, Then, Shall We Life?; Sabbath; and Learning to Pray.  He is the founder of Bread for the Journey, a nonprofit organization that supports community organizing and neighborhood philanthropy.”  I mention this simply because you would expect this book to be a religious one.  The author, however, responds: “I have no concern whether one is religious or not, whether one believes in heaven, or hell, or penance for indulging in these sins. . .” (p. 15).


Later in this same early chapter he says, “I have no interest here in any moral argument regarding sin as a religious precept.  I honor and respect any spiritual community that dedicates itself to creating a world where people’s lives matter, where they try to do more good than evil, do no harm, practice loving compassion and service to others.  Indeed,” he adds, “I take this seriously enough that I answered my own personal call to graduate from theological seminary and become an ordained minister” (p. 18).


I love the many truths that you find between these covers.  For example, “Let us be clear: The choices we make each day are rarely bold, weighty things that immediately, absolutely, and irreversibly eradicate the life we know and force us into a completely new, untried, and untested path for the rest of our lives. . . “ (p. 29).


Another simple truth: “If we can know with confidence and trust the source of love, the unshakable veracity of why we live and work and struggle and give, and remember always what we are living for, the choices we face each day regarding how we will choose and act and move will become vastly less complex and more simple” (p. 37).


And this comment, too, reveals the quiet, peaceful, soothing, and reassuring approach Muller takes: “In opening ourselves to the unknown, our choices may not find an authority within logic, reason, and accumulated evidence but rather in more subtle nuances of intuition, feeling, and sense.  So rather than presenting themselves with bold, decided confidence, bolstered by facts and figures, our choices reveal with tender humility, in a soft, open palm.  We may not know if we are choosing ‘correctly,’ but we can begin to trust from where the choice arose” (p. 43).


Now that you have a sense of how Muller writes, let me explain a number of other things about this book.  The book is 239 pages long (8.1 x 5.7-inches in size) with 61 short (average 4-pages each) chapters.  Each focuses on a particular story or example, and often there are additional poems to illustrate or simply expand on an idea.  Occasionally, too, there are short pieces that relate to religion.  For example, “This is, of course, nothing at all revolutionary or new.  For ages people have described feeling guided by the Holy Spirit, following the will of God, or living in respectful obedience to the ways of the Great Spirit; others take refuge in the precepts of right speech, right mindfulness, or right action” (p. 61).  There is nothing pushy here, just references and reminders and notations.


Muller concludes his chapter on “Listening,” saying, “So we begin by listening—a deep listening, with the ear of the heart, practiced among widely diverse spiritual communities.  We listen for, name accurately, feel our way into, make peace with, what is, for us, for love, for life, for today, enough” (p. 149).


This is the kind of book that is best read in solitude — a place where you can meditate, contemplate, ponder, reflect, ruminate, and lose yourself in thought.  It is a gentle, peaceful, soothing book that has the same effect on your mind as it has on your body.  It is an absolutely wonderful collection of thoughts, stories, and ruminations, and I assure you, that if you put this book on your “must read” list, you will not be disappointed.

This book is available at Amazon.com: A life of being, having, and doing enough

LAUGH . . . And Then Some

A little old man shuffled slowly into the "Orange Dipper," an ice cream parlor in Naples.

He pulled himself slowly and painfully up onto a stool.

After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split.

The waitress asked kindly, "Crushed nuts?"

"No," he replied, "hemorrhoids."

Laugh Like There's No Tomorrow: Over 2,000 jokes from the Internet

From Day #203 in a complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II

Taiwan II: Undiscovered Jewel

by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.   

We’re in Taipei, Taiwan, the capital of the country.  TAIPEI is mnemonic for Technology, Art, Innovation, People, Environment — something I only discovered after I Googled it when I was writing this essay back at home.
   
Tour with me for a moment.  Pretend you are standing in the middle of a large esplanade (courtyard) — open space.  At one end there are massive white gates, and if you’re looking at those, behind you there is the white and blue mausoleum containing a bronze statue of Chiang Kai Shek..  The mausoleum stands like a modern block-house on a huge raised pedestal.  The pictures at the Taiwan Taipei website “Chiang Kai Shek Memorial,” are outstanding.
   
If you are in the middle of the courtyard of this 60-acre piece of property, then on either side of you are two large buildings (mirrors of each other) with red columns and bright, yellow-orange (the color of Tibetan-monk robes) tiled roofs.  One is the National Concert Hall, and the other is the National Theatre, and all buildings (including the Memorial Hall and the gates) are within sight of the Republic of China’s Presidential Building in Taipei’s Zhongzheng District.
   
You may wonder why I even mention the Presidential Building. It is the office of the President of the Republic of China and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Taipei.  The reason it is heavily visited is its location.  Wikipedia explains the importance of its location: “The Presidential Office Building stands within walking distance of 228 Memorial Park, the National Taiwan Museum, the original hospital of the National Taiwan University, the original East Gate of the City of Taipei, the Chang Yung Fa Foundation Building (formerly Kuomintang Party Headquarters) and the National Theater and Concert Hall at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. A few blocks to the west is Taipei's popular Ximending shopping district with its historic cinema and Jhongshan Concert Hall. A few blocks to the north is Taipei Main Station and Shin Kong Life Tower.”  Talk about an important location!
   
We are on a walking tour with Jan de Vries, our Princess excursion tour guide, and just as we had observed in the Sun Yat-sen Memorial, we arrived at the Memorial to President Chiang to watch the changing of the guard.  (We had observed a similar activity at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Washington, D.C., and the similarities were startling.)  The red carpet, twirling of the guns with bayonets extended, the calling out of signals (as if to get President Chiang’s attention!), stiff, regimented, precision marching, and the pageantry of spit-shined shoes, polished guns, and bright colors were eye-catching; many people observed from behind the red, velvet-rope barrier.
   
Again, we briefly toured the museum, then we headed back to the MRT to return to the Town Hall and “101.”  Taipei’s 101 (1,671 feet) is a 101-floor, landmark skyscraper in which over 10,000 people work.  Taipei 101, whose pinnacle reached full height on Oct. 9, 2003, and opened in 2004, was the world's tallest building until surpassed by the Dubai, United Arab Emirates, tower, Burj Khalifa at 2,717 feet tall which opened January 4, 2010.  At SkyscraperPage.com a great deal more information on the 101 tower can be found.
   
A large mall is located at the base of the tower, so it was no wonder our shuttle dropped us off and picked us up there.  It has, thus far, been consistent.  Because we returned close to the time we were to be picked up, we followed Jan, our guide,  to a McDonald’s where I had my afternoon coffee, and we were finally able to have our cinnamon roll, bran muffin, and hard roll, plus water, too, we carried from the ship.  With no lunch, we were starving and tired.
   
There were a number of reasons why Taiwan is a jewel.  First, it is clean and safe.  Second, it is easy for tourists to navigate, and the public transportation system is terrific.  Third, it has some wonderful, picturesque sites for tourists.  There are the two palaces, a fine arts museum, National Palace Museum, National Taiwan Museum, and Museum of Contemporary Art (all of which we did not have time to see on this short visit), and some of these museums house artifacts much older than any that can be found in Europe, our guide told us.  At Yahoo Travel, “Things to do in Taiwan,” there are 25 destinations, with reviews, and all sound terrific.
   
The fourth reason why Taiwan is a jewel is that the mountains are beautiful.  Some of those on Taiwan, too, are higher than those found in Switzerland.
   
The fifth reason is the people.  They are kind, friendly, honest, and helpful.  Although most do not speak English, they are more than willing to stop and try to help tourists.  They find tourists interesting and love to interact. 
   
The sixth reason why Taiwan is a jewel is that there is a great deal of shopping and entertainment, and the Shilin Night Market (we did not visit it) gets extremely crowded during the evening and operates until well past midnight.  At Taiwanfun.com, the description of the Shilin Night Market reads like this: “Since it's such a huge market, almost any product imaginable, not to mention any kind of food, can be found there. The products are of good quality and quite inexpensive, so that you're sure to get your money's worth. In fact, the deals are so good that they draw large crowds even on weekdays. On weekends and holidays, however, the market becomes a veritable ocean of people, best described by the Chinese expression, ‘people mountain, people sea.’” 
   
The seventh reason Taiwan is a jewel is its extensive system of parks, green spaces, and nature preserves.  There is a popular National Park and a Taipei Zoo.  Taiwan's northern regions offer waterfalls, volcanic pasts, beaches, paddy fields, villages, and temples.  In addition, because of its volcanic origin, there are hot springs, and there is boating and other water sports as well.
   
There is no question that Taiwan is a jewel just waiting for greater discovery.  It’s especially nice, too, when you get a proud, knowledgeable, well-informed excursion guide who not only points out the sights along a walking tour of the city but, too, talks about all the other things that make Taiwan the jewel that it is.
-----   
At Asian Info.org there is a great summary of my essay, under the heading, “Taiwan Tourist Information,” that reads: “Fascinating culture, breathtaking scenery, artistic masterpieces, delicious cuisines, and friendly people make Taiwan an ideal destination for tourists.  In addition, the island's convenient transportation, excellent hotels, and outstanding restaurants allow travelers to explore these many attractions in comfort.”

At WorldTravelGuide some unusual things (some are not unusual) to do are discussed at “Things to do in Taiwan.”
-----
Copyright May, 2011, by And Then Some Publishing, LLC.
   
   

Day #250 - Demonstrate charity.

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

"The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service." --Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


Day #250 - Demonstrate charity.

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.  This is one of six motivational quotations for Day #250.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com

And Then Some News

Thursday's Essay Preview

This is the tenth of 17 essays that cover our Southeast Asia cruise (March, 2010).  The first two paragraphs of the tenth essay reads as follows:  "We’re in Taipei, Taiwan, the capital of the country.  TAIPEI is mnemonic for Technology, Art, Innovation, People, Environment — something I only discovered after I Googled it when I was writing this essay back at home.
   
Tour with me for a moment.  Pretend you are standing in the middle of a large esplanade (courtyard) — open space.  At one end there are massive white gates, and if you’re looking at those, behind you there is the white and blue mausoleum containing a bronze statue of Chiang Kai Shek..  The mausoleum stands like a modern block-house on a huge raised pedestal.  The pictures at the Taiwan Taipei website , “Chiang Kai Shek Memorial,” are outstanding."

                                                                                      

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

There is no question that Taiwan is a jewel just waiting for greater discovery.  It’s especially nice, too, when you get a proud, knowledgeable, well-informed excursion guide who not only points out the sights along a walking tour of the city but, too, talks about all the other things that make Taiwan the jewel that it is.


And Then Some News

I am neurotic (and so are you)

I am a neurotic (and so are you)
By Lianna Kong


Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.


This is not the kind of book I pick up.  This is not the kind of book I read.  This is not the kind of book I review, and I had no intention of reviewing it once I had it home and discovered what it was!  How’s that for an introduction?


It’s a very quick read (less than an hour).  The pictures are interesting and the neuroses are . . . interesting.  They are a collection of anonymous ideas submitted to an online blog that asked for them.


Many of the ideas — even though they may be true — are quite silly: “I always have to burn any meat I eat. I am so worried I will smell that undercooked, moist essence,” or, “Whenever I kiss my girlfriend I have a need to push my glasses up using her nose,” or “I can only eat jelly doughnuts by squeezing all the jelly out.”


I find most of the neuroses unique.  That is, I think they are peculiar to individuals and not the least bit universal in nature.  Also, I don’t find them neuroses (disorders of the psychic or mental functions) about which neurotics “suffer” (according to the dictionary).  They are, instead, quirks, mannerisms, or idiosyncrasies; however, I’m not sure when a quirk, mannerism, or idiosyncrasy becomes a neurosis.  When does it cross the line?  When it becomes a habit or a defining characteristic?


Yes, you will find that most of them do not fit your own modus operandi — the way you normally behave.  And, because of that, it might make you feel more sane or normal, that’s true.


But we all have little quirks.  The way we squeeze the toothpaste tube, the order in which we eat the food on a plate, the way we get dressed in the morning, the route we take to get to work, the order in which we do our exercises and how many of each we do, which e-mail messages we answer and in which order, etc., etc., etc. . . .


This is not a book I would order (there is virtually no substance here), and it makes no sense as a reference book.  If you left it in your bathroom just to read at those critical moments when you need a book to read, you would finish it in two or three seatings.  The quirks are short; however, they offer little, if any, insight into the human condition or into human behavior since they are totally anecdotal in nature and being relegated to idiosyncrasies rather than to anything supported with evidence, there is no generalization that can be developed based on their expression — except one: Lianna Kong found an interesting way in which to put a book together!


This book is available at Amazon.com: I am neurotic (and so are you)