“New Year's Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” (Mark Twain)
-----
So, how was 2010 for you?
For me, it wasn’t that bad. Could’ve been better. Could’ve been worse. But as the ball dropped in Times Square, ushering in a new year for every person on the planet, I decided that I needed to reflect on what I said I would do in 2010 and whether I actually did it. At least that way, I can start my own scorecard. You might want to do the same. After all, how can progress be measured if no one is willing to see what happened the last time, right?
Losing Weight
According to many articles that I’ve read, the number one resolution for the new year is (surprise) to get physically fit. This, of course, is why gym memberships surge at the beginning of the year and then become wastelands by Valentine’s Day. Gyms know this, though, and they count on it as a business model.
I wanted to lose weight and be more physically fit. I have a gym membership. See the correlation?
So, how did I do? Well, I lost 40 pounds, then gained back 20, then lost 5. I can wear a 38 (which for now counts as my skinny jeans). I dropped an X from my short size, though I still have two more to go. My back, which has issues due to herniated disks, stopped me from going all out, but I can at least say that progress was made.
Result: Did It!
2011 Promise: Lose more.
Learn a New Language
This usually falls in line with learning something new, which on average is the seventh or eighth resolution on someone’s list.
How did this work for me? Let’s put it this way… if I had to leave the country because the Girl Scouts have placed me on their Top Ten Most Wanted for my comments on Twilight and Bella Swan in particular, and had to pick out a country that I know I could survive in because I know the language, I’d have to go to Canada. The English-speaking side.
Result: Epic Fail!
2011 Promise: Try Again. Rosetta Stone, here I come!
Get Rid of Debt
Debt is the monster in our closets and under our beds. It is the primary cause of many people losing their bloody minds. It destroys marriages at the same rate as affairs. And it isn’t going away, especially in this economy.
Earlier last year, the CARD Act was passed by the government as a way to help consumers on the path to get out of debt. Of course, it required the banks to play by the rules. Instead, they made getting credit harder, reduced the limits on thousands of users or take the cards away, raise the interest rates, and even do things like eliminate free checking accounts (the lesson: when you own the ball and you don’t like the rules, you can say screw you, take the ball and go home).
But I digress. How did I do?
Well, on one hand, my credit card debt is down. My savings went up… and down… and up… and down… and a little up. But my house is still underwater (owe more than it’s worth), so it’s kind of a toss up.
Result: Middle of the Road.
2011 Promise: Get off the middle of the road and teach the kids how to do it earlier than I learned.
Go Someplace I’ve Never Been Before
I’ll keep this one short. Went to Kennedy Space Center for the first time (yay!) and St. Petersburg, Florida (yay!) to see my niece and her hubby graduate law school (triple yay!).
Result: Did It!
2011 Promise: Do it again. Duh!
Write A Book
Sigh. I really shouldn’t go here, but I must.
I was bad. Very, very bad. I really want to start this one.
Alas… I didn’t do it. Not one word. Really. I mean it.
I did write a few articles for this blog, but that was to get the ideas flowing in my head. And they are… but I did not put them on paper, where it counts. I even signed up for NaNoWriMo, hoping that it would force me to write, but I let other things get in the way. I can forgive myself a little, only because my back also caused a lot of problems which even using the laptop didn’t help.
Result: Fail (not an Epic Fail, but still)!
2011 Promise: Get off my [censored] and do it! And no, a blog doesn’t count! But I will be putting out more articles this year. So far, I’ve got the technical ones started. It’s called I Pwn You! and I hope that it helps many of those out there with making your technical lives a little easier. And if not, then I hope Canada will accept me. I Pwn You! will start… oh, that’s right, I already started it! Stay tuned for more articles on Wednesdays.
Overall, I did okay. My #1 resolution for 2010 – Live To See 2011. Did It!!! Big win in the books!!!
Progress is the measuring stick by which humanity is judged! So what did you accomplish? If you did something, then congratulations. If you didn’t and you’re still alive, then it’s not too late.
If you didn’t and you’re dead… and you’re reading this article, just keep in mind that the shotgun is fully loaded.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
I Pwn You! Part I: Hiding The Keys To The Kingdom
pass·word [pas-wurd, pahs-wurd] (noun) - 1. a secret word or expression used by authorized persons to prove their right to access, information, etc. 2. a word or other string of characters, sometimes kept secret or confidential, that must be supplied by a user in order to gain full or partial access to a multiuser computer system or its data resources.
“Computers have enabled people to make more mistakes faster than almost any invention in history, with the possible exception of tequila and hand guns.” (Mitch Radcliffe)
-----
This is the first of a series of articles designed to provide you with the common sense to survive the digital age that we live in. This does not imply that you are an idiot, but I've been wrong before.
There are many traditions that are celebrated for the New Year. Many of us sit in front of the TV and watch the immortal Dick Clark (I think I will die before he does) count us down into the New Year. Some will be in church, getting in that last-minute Hail Mary to make up for that little thing they did the hour before they got there.
But I'm sure that many millions of people will be on their computers, buried in Facebook status updates wishing everyone of their Friends a Happy New Year or tweeting it to their vast legion of followers. So, for those of you who live on the Net or pay it the occasional visit, here’s your new New Year’s tradition in three words:
Change.
Your.
Password.
Now.
Okay, that’s four. Sue me. Glad to see that kindergarten paid off for you.
I can hear the groans now. And, oh, the complaints. I’ve heard them all:
“I’ve used this for years.”
“I don’t have time.”
“I might forget this one.”
“I don’t wanna!”
I don’t care. I really don’t. Take Nike’s advice: Just do it.
Let’s face it, kiddies. We live in a digital world now. Almost everyone is online now. I’m sure that days ago, many people just got their first computer for Christmas and, like a kid who just got his new bike, went squealing feet first into the internet so they could tweet and Friend everyone.
But the Net is but a digital mirror image of real life. Like real life, the internet is fraught with hidden dangers. I’ll go through them as this series progresses, but nothing irritates me more than people who use simple passwords on their accounts. Your password is the first line of defense that most black hat hackers (aka The Bad Guys, who will now be referred to as BHHs) have to breach to get access to those bytes of information that stand between you and your bank accounts and credit cards.
Fun Fact #1: The most common password used today is “123456”.
Think of it like this: using a simple password is the equivalent of putting your spare house key under the carpet on the porch just before you go on vacation, then yelling to the top of your lungs to the neighborhood that you’ll be gone for a week.
Most of the time, BHHs will try simple passwords to break into user accounts. If there are, for example, 1 million people who have a username and password on a web site, maybe 1% of those people will use a simple password like “123456”. That would mean that 10,000 people risk having their accounts hacked.
I know. Not a lot of people, right? But keep in mind that BHHs will use faster-than-average computers to do this. So, something that would take several weeks for one person to do can be done in minutes.
Fun Fact #2: The second most common password in use today is (surprise) “password”.
Statistically, many users will use the same password to access their e-mail as well as their online bank accounts and credit card accounts. This would mean that a determined BHH who acquires that one simple password has the keys to your kingdom. Usually, they will not only run through the kingdom unchecked, but they’ll bring their friends along to play, too. Before you know it, you’ll be getting calls from creditors about the $5,000 you owe on a credit card you never knew you had.
Scared yet? Good.
The good news is that you can still do something about it. So here are the rules that you will follow from now on regarding your rules. Note that if you don’t follow them and something happens, it’s all your fault, so pay attention.
One method I recommend for creating a tough password is to think of a long phrase, take the first letter of each word, and apply rule #7 to it. So, for example, take the sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”. Using rule #7, I can get many passwords out of this. The following shows the variations as well as how long it would take to crack:
So there’s your assignment for the new year. Get to it. And if you’re out there trying to guess what my password is, I wish you good luck. If you’re lucky, it’ll only take you 700 million years, give or take. By then, I won't need it.
Maybe I should give it to Dick Clark.
“Computers have enabled people to make more mistakes faster than almost any invention in history, with the possible exception of tequila and hand guns.” (Mitch Radcliffe)
-----
This is the first of a series of articles designed to provide you with the common sense to survive the digital age that we live in. This does not imply that you are an idiot, but I've been wrong before.
There are many traditions that are celebrated for the New Year. Many of us sit in front of the TV and watch the immortal Dick Clark (I think I will die before he does) count us down into the New Year. Some will be in church, getting in that last-minute Hail Mary to make up for that little thing they did the hour before they got there.
But I'm sure that many millions of people will be on their computers, buried in Facebook status updates wishing everyone of their Friends a Happy New Year or tweeting it to their vast legion of followers. So, for those of you who live on the Net or pay it the occasional visit, here’s your new New Year’s tradition in three words:
Change.
Your.
Password.
Now.
Okay, that’s four. Sue me. Glad to see that kindergarten paid off for you.
I can hear the groans now. And, oh, the complaints. I’ve heard them all:
“I’ve used this for years.”
“I don’t have time.”
“I might forget this one.”
“I don’t wanna!”
I don’t care. I really don’t. Take Nike’s advice: Just do it.
Let’s face it, kiddies. We live in a digital world now. Almost everyone is online now. I’m sure that days ago, many people just got their first computer for Christmas and, like a kid who just got his new bike, went squealing feet first into the internet so they could tweet and Friend everyone.
But the Net is but a digital mirror image of real life. Like real life, the internet is fraught with hidden dangers. I’ll go through them as this series progresses, but nothing irritates me more than people who use simple passwords on their accounts. Your password is the first line of defense that most black hat hackers (aka The Bad Guys, who will now be referred to as BHHs) have to breach to get access to those bytes of information that stand between you and your bank accounts and credit cards.
Fun Fact #1: The most common password used today is “123456”.
Think of it like this: using a simple password is the equivalent of putting your spare house key under the carpet on the porch just before you go on vacation, then yelling to the top of your lungs to the neighborhood that you’ll be gone for a week.
Most of the time, BHHs will try simple passwords to break into user accounts. If there are, for example, 1 million people who have a username and password on a web site, maybe 1% of those people will use a simple password like “123456”. That would mean that 10,000 people risk having their accounts hacked.
I know. Not a lot of people, right? But keep in mind that BHHs will use faster-than-average computers to do this. So, something that would take several weeks for one person to do can be done in minutes.
Fun Fact #2: The second most common password in use today is (surprise) “password”.
Statistically, many users will use the same password to access their e-mail as well as their online bank accounts and credit card accounts. This would mean that a determined BHH who acquires that one simple password has the keys to your kingdom. Usually, they will not only run through the kingdom unchecked, but they’ll bring their friends along to play, too. Before you know it, you’ll be getting calls from creditors about the $5,000 you owe on a credit card you never knew you had.
Scared yet? Good.
The good news is that you can still do something about it. So here are the rules that you will follow from now on regarding your rules. Note that if you don’t follow them and something happens, it’s all your fault, so pay attention.
- Never use a password shorter than seven characters.
It’s tempting to use short words as passwords, but here’s why you should not do it. Let’s say you create a password for your account that uses lower-cases letters, like “fluffy” because that’s the name of your cat. Using a standard PC, a BHH can crack this in less than 30 seconds. Make it as long as possible, preferably seven or more characters. - Never use personal information as a password.
Another temptation, which I used in the above example, is to use a name of a favorite something or other. Why not? After all, it’s easy to remember. But if I wanted to find out personal information on you, I could go into your Facebook page, click through your information and photos and use those to make some pretty good guesses about what your password might be. And I would have you to thank for it.
Never, ever, ever use the following as a password: your name, your spouse’s name, your parent’s name, your kid’s name, your pet’s name, your best friend’s name, your boss’ name, anybody’s name, your phone number, your license plate, your birth date, anybody’s birth date, or any part of your social security number. - Whether it’s foreign or domestic, don’t use the dictionary.
What’s wrong with using “purple”, as an example? It’s your favorite color, right? Beside breaking rule #2 above, it’s a common word in the dictionary, which BHHs love to use in their brute force attacks. In fact, it is also one of the 500 worst passwords.
How about “fiesta”? It’s a Spanish word, right? It shouldn’t be that easy to crack, right? Wrong. Maximum time to crack “fiesta”? Thirty seconds. - Never use the same password for every place you log into.
In this day and age, it’s a pain to have different passwords for everything. So, to keep this simple, use different passwords for different categories. For example, use one password for your financial information. Use another for your newsletters. And another for your e-mail. That way, if you are compromised, the damage will be minimized and contained to one area. - Do not use letters that are next to each other on the keyboard.
An example of this is “qwerty”, which is the first six letters on your keyboard. This is also in the top five commonly used password list. “123456” fits this bill. So does “kkkkkk”. - Do not use an account number as a password.
This is common sense. Just don’t. - Use as many characters as possible, including capital letters, small letters, numbers & symbols.
The more characters you use, the harder it will be to crack. Be as creative as possible. - Change your passwords frequently.
At the very least, change your password every 90 days. At most, every 30 days. Keep them guessing.
One method I recommend for creating a tough password is to think of a long phrase, take the first letter of each word, and apply rule #7 to it. So, for example, take the sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”. Using rule #7, I can get many passwords out of this. The following shows the variations as well as how long it would take to crack:
- “tqbfjotld” (initials): 6 days
- “Tqbfjotld” (initials, first letter capital): 8 years
- “Tqbfj0tld” (initials, first letter capital, zero replacing “o”): 42 years
- “Tqbfj0t!d” (initials, first letter capital, zero replacing “o”, exclamation point replacing “l”): 237 years
So there’s your assignment for the new year. Get to it. And if you’re out there trying to guess what my password is, I wish you good luck. If you’re lucky, it’ll only take you 700 million years, give or take. By then, I won't need it.
Maybe I should give it to Dick Clark.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Giving Thanks
grat·i·tude [grat-i-tood, -tyood] (noun) - the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.
“When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.” (Chinese proverb)
-----
It’s amazing to think that in a little over a month, we will be entering the year 2011. This means, of course, that we are almost two years to doomsday, according to the Mayan calendar.
Since it’s been a while since I’ve written to this blog, then I’m going to use the opportunity I have now to get some thoughts down. And since Thanksgiving is here, instead of the usual commentary on the lack of common sense in the world, I’m going to use this time to give thanks. So let’s begin.
First of all, I have to thank God. I could go into thousands of details in which He has been there for me this year, but I won’t. Suffice it to say, if it weren’t for him stepping in and handling things for me, I wouldn’t be here writing this now. Believe what you want. I do.
Next, but certainly not the least, I’d like to thank my wife of fifteen years for putting up with me for all this time. She has taken on many different roles in that time -- spouse, friend, shrink, cheerleader, counselor, masseuse and coach to name a few -- and she did them with relish, without complaining (most of the time) and with just enough tact to get her point across without making me feel like crap (at least not for too long). A lot of what I’ve done in life could not have been accomplished without her.
Next, I’d like to thank my son and daughter. They make me feel like a superhero. In their eyes, I can accomplish anything. Because of them, I try to.
Friends and family are the next people I’d love to say thanks to. No one can do anything alone, and without support one can find themselves feeling lost and alone. So it goes without saying that those of you who are on this list know who you are, why you are my friend, and that if you need anything from me, just ask.
A couple of things I’m thankful for:
My job. Many people lately have lost theirs lately, and I’m thankful that I still have one to go to.
My intellect. A God-given talent, and one that I exercise as much as possible. Waste not, want not.
My health. It’s not the greatest, but it is sure not the worst. I’m breathing. I can walk under my own power. I can see (yeah, it’s with glasses, but at least I have them). I can hear clearly. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that I’m still here, alive and kicking with steel-toe boots on.
Another year. I’m not old. I’m seasoned. With black pepper and paprika. And I can only get better.
“When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.” (Chinese proverb)
-----
It’s amazing to think that in a little over a month, we will be entering the year 2011. This means, of course, that we are almost two years to doomsday, according to the Mayan calendar.
Since it’s been a while since I’ve written to this blog, then I’m going to use the opportunity I have now to get some thoughts down. And since Thanksgiving is here, instead of the usual commentary on the lack of common sense in the world, I’m going to use this time to give thanks. So let’s begin.
First of all, I have to thank God. I could go into thousands of details in which He has been there for me this year, but I won’t. Suffice it to say, if it weren’t for him stepping in and handling things for me, I wouldn’t be here writing this now. Believe what you want. I do.
Next, but certainly not the least, I’d like to thank my wife of fifteen years for putting up with me for all this time. She has taken on many different roles in that time -- spouse, friend, shrink, cheerleader, counselor, masseuse and coach to name a few -- and she did them with relish, without complaining (most of the time) and with just enough tact to get her point across without making me feel like crap (at least not for too long). A lot of what I’ve done in life could not have been accomplished without her.
Next, I’d like to thank my son and daughter. They make me feel like a superhero. In their eyes, I can accomplish anything. Because of them, I try to.
Friends and family are the next people I’d love to say thanks to. No one can do anything alone, and without support one can find themselves feeling lost and alone. So it goes without saying that those of you who are on this list know who you are, why you are my friend, and that if you need anything from me, just ask.
A couple of things I’m thankful for:
My job. Many people lately have lost theirs lately, and I’m thankful that I still have one to go to.
My intellect. A God-given talent, and one that I exercise as much as possible. Waste not, want not.
My health. It’s not the greatest, but it is sure not the worst. I’m breathing. I can walk under my own power. I can see (yeah, it’s with glasses, but at least I have them). I can hear clearly. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that I’m still here, alive and kicking with steel-toe boots on.
Another year. I’m not old. I’m seasoned. With black pepper and paprika. And I can only get better.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I Want Patience... Now!!!
pa•tience [pey-shuh ns] (noun) – 1. the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like. 2. an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay. 3. quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence.
“In any contest between power and patience, bet on patience.” (W.B. Prescott)
-----
I was standing in front of forty-six eyeballs that stared at me and stripped me bare of everything that I had in an attempt to decipher what I was going to tell them. Next to me was the woman who, at one time, seemed to be so old to me but now I realize wasn’t old at all. She put her hand on my shoulder and smiled.
“Class, this is Luc Joseph,” Mrs. Pino said with a smile. “He was one of my brightest students. I asked him to come here to talk to all of you who are thinking about college.”
“Hello,” I waved. “Instead of me just telling you about it and hoping that I get everything, how about we just start with questions. Anyone?”
And it began.
Where did I go to college? How long? Were there parties? Did you commute or stay on campus? Did guys and girls live in the same dorm? What did you say about the parties?
On and on it went. But there was one question that stuck out to me because I think it was the only specific question directed at me that needed a really well-thought-out opinion. The question was “Since you’re a programmer, what is your advice to someone who wants to pursue a degree in technology?”
I’d be lying if I said I had to think about it. The answer, at least to me, was obvious.
“If you don’t have patience, then don’t do it.” That was my answer.
Patience, in my view, is a skill that it needed more than ever, yet is taught less and less. We live in a society of instant gratification. Everything is about now, now, now. Not later. Not a minute from now. Now!
Investing money in the start market? I want my dividends now!
Starting a business? I want to be a millionaire now!
Going on a date? Let's have sex now!
Surfing the internet? I need that download now!
I know I’m old. I can remember when I got my first computer. It came with a modem for surfing the Net. I set it up to connect to AOL, pressed the dial button on the screen, then waited as the modem dialed a local number, connected through a serious of weird noises that I would be ashamed to even try to duplicate (called, affectionately enough, a “handshake”), and then began to download the AOL start screen. This took a while (understatement of the decade), but I dealt with it. If my kids had to endure it now, they would swear that they were undergoing torture.
Even now, where I work, we have users who call us when it takes more than 10 seconds for a web page to load. “The computer’s too slow,” they cry. “It’s taking too long.”
We hear it all the time. Good things come to those who wait. Patience is a virtue. Yet, I think we are in the midst of the most impatient generation in history. Instant coffee, microwave ovens, fast food and broadband internet have created Generation Now. They want their children to walk and talk now (never mind that once that happens, all they’ll tell the kids is to sit down and shut up). They don’t want their MTV because, on the computer, their music and videos come up instantly. Even MTV doesn’t want their MTV anymore.
It has also lead to a generation that doesn’t consider the consequences of their actions. Since they make their decisions (say it with me) now, they hardly have time to consider (1) alternatives or (2) repercussions. They don’t take the time to think anymore. Everything’s on autopilot, and the autopilot’s fueled by caffeine and burger binges brought on by Mickey D’s and Starbucks lattes.
Even worse, they get mad when you take the time to think (gasp) and consider your actions (gasp again). I know I frustrate my kids with this, because they want an answer now, and my answer is, “I’ll think about it and get back to you.” But there's a balance to this. They’re frustrated. I’m happy. See? It balances out.
But I have hope. I think that patience comes with time. The older you get, the more patience you develop. So who knows? In another decade or two (it won’t happen now) Generation Now will become Generation Hold-On-A-Sec.
And when it does, I will be there to say, gushing with pride, “Get off my lawn! Now!!!”
“In any contest between power and patience, bet on patience.” (W.B. Prescott)
-----
I was standing in front of forty-six eyeballs that stared at me and stripped me bare of everything that I had in an attempt to decipher what I was going to tell them. Next to me was the woman who, at one time, seemed to be so old to me but now I realize wasn’t old at all. She put her hand on my shoulder and smiled.
“Class, this is Luc Joseph,” Mrs. Pino said with a smile. “He was one of my brightest students. I asked him to come here to talk to all of you who are thinking about college.”
“Hello,” I waved. “Instead of me just telling you about it and hoping that I get everything, how about we just start with questions. Anyone?”
And it began.
Where did I go to college? How long? Were there parties? Did you commute or stay on campus? Did guys and girls live in the same dorm? What did you say about the parties?
On and on it went. But there was one question that stuck out to me because I think it was the only specific question directed at me that needed a really well-thought-out opinion. The question was “Since you’re a programmer, what is your advice to someone who wants to pursue a degree in technology?”
I’d be lying if I said I had to think about it. The answer, at least to me, was obvious.
“If you don’t have patience, then don’t do it.” That was my answer.
Patience, in my view, is a skill that it needed more than ever, yet is taught less and less. We live in a society of instant gratification. Everything is about now, now, now. Not later. Not a minute from now. Now!
Investing money in the start market? I want my dividends now!
Starting a business? I want to be a millionaire now!
Going on a date? Let's have sex now!
Surfing the internet? I need that download now!
I know I’m old. I can remember when I got my first computer. It came with a modem for surfing the Net. I set it up to connect to AOL, pressed the dial button on the screen, then waited as the modem dialed a local number, connected through a serious of weird noises that I would be ashamed to even try to duplicate (called, affectionately enough, a “handshake”), and then began to download the AOL start screen. This took a while (understatement of the decade), but I dealt with it. If my kids had to endure it now, they would swear that they were undergoing torture.
Even now, where I work, we have users who call us when it takes more than 10 seconds for a web page to load. “The computer’s too slow,” they cry. “It’s taking too long.”
We hear it all the time. Good things come to those who wait. Patience is a virtue. Yet, I think we are in the midst of the most impatient generation in history. Instant coffee, microwave ovens, fast food and broadband internet have created Generation Now. They want their children to walk and talk now (never mind that once that happens, all they’ll tell the kids is to sit down and shut up). They don’t want their MTV because, on the computer, their music and videos come up instantly. Even MTV doesn’t want their MTV anymore.
It has also lead to a generation that doesn’t consider the consequences of their actions. Since they make their decisions (say it with me) now, they hardly have time to consider (1) alternatives or (2) repercussions. They don’t take the time to think anymore. Everything’s on autopilot, and the autopilot’s fueled by caffeine and burger binges brought on by Mickey D’s and Starbucks lattes.
Even worse, they get mad when you take the time to think (gasp) and consider your actions (gasp again). I know I frustrate my kids with this, because they want an answer now, and my answer is, “I’ll think about it and get back to you.” But there's a balance to this. They’re frustrated. I’m happy. See? It balances out.
But I have hope. I think that patience comes with time. The older you get, the more patience you develop. So who knows? In another decade or two (it won’t happen now) Generation Now will become Generation Hold-On-A-Sec.
And when it does, I will be there to say, gushing with pride, “Get off my lawn! Now!!!”
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
You Can Dish It Out, But Can You Take It?
crit·i·cism [krit-uh-siz-uhm] (noun) - 1. the act of passing judgment as to the merits of anything. 2. the act of passing severe judgment; censure; faultfinding.
“One mustn’t criticize other people on grounds where he can’t stand perpendicular himself.” (Mark Twain)
-----
Here’s a scenario I would like for you to imagine. It is the year 1512. Michelangelo, a renowned painter and sculpture, had just put in the finishing touch on his work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Four years of blood, sweat and tears spent on such an intricate piece of work. As he wiped the sweat from his brow and took a deep breath, the Pope walks in. The exhausted painter steps back, proud of his work and lets the pontiff take it in.
Four years. 300 figures, all rendered in painstaking detail. The ultimate rendition of the doctrine, painted on a curved ceiling more than 65 feet in the air and almost 46 feet wide. All done on a customized scaffold designed by the artist himself. All detail rendered while standing up, his head craned back very uncomfortably. Even as he patiently waits, he massages the back of his stiff neck.
The Pope turns to the artist, lets out a sigh, then points to a small spot somewhere in the midst of the painting and says disappointingly, “You missed a spot.”
While this scenario did not happen, I know that a lot of us go through situations just like this. We all have people who love to do nothing more than to criticize every single thing you do. It could be a parent, a sibling, a friend, your best friend, your boss, your neighbor, or anyone in between. If you are a pet owner, it’s usually the cat. Just for the record, it’s never the dog.
We would like to avoid them, but we can’t. Like the drunk uncle at the Christmas party, they always show up at the right moment to kill the mood.
“Look at my kitchen remodeling job,” you say with pride.
“That doesn’t look like oak wood,” they say, hands on hips.
“Well, yeah, but look at the new stove,” you say, trying your best to stay calm.
“Why did you get a gas stove?” they ask even as they pass their eyes over it.
“Gas is cheaper and more efficient,” you answer with a nervous laugh. “Besides, you can’t say the refrigerator isn’t nice.”
“Is that stainless steel?” they ask.
“Yes,” you nod approvingly.
“Do you know how hard stainless steel is to clean?” they comment.
Why do some people do this? Oftentimes, it’s to make themselves feel superior to others. They have a need to be perfect, and what better way to feel that way than to look for fault in others. Here’s the irony: those that criticize harshly cannot deal with criticism. Even while they try to knock you down, in most cases they are the ones with fragile self-esteem. They are the ones who feel that they are worthless. So rather than acknowledge this, they would rather make themselves feel better by making you feel worse.
But the instant you say something about them, they suddenly become defensive, dismissive, and downright hostile. Suddenly, you have nothing to say that they want to hear.
“Look at my new $400 purse,” they boast while displaying it, making sure that the name brand is visible. “It was on sale this weekend.”
“$400? Isn’t that a little steep?” you ask, concerned.
“Don’t be jealous,” they say after sucking their teeth. “Besides, I work hard. I deserve it.”
“It’s not that,” you say, “but didn’t you just say that it was hard for you to pay your bills this month? $400 could go a long way in fixing that.”
“I don’t want to hear it!” they shout defensively while glaring daggers at you. “You don’t know what you're talking about! I’m keeping it, and that’s that!”
I believe in the power of constructive criticism. If I make a comment, it’s not to tear someone down or knock the wind out of their sails. I’ll throw in encouragement and understanding along with the comment. I admit that I do stand on the philosophy of brutal honesty with those that I love or associate myself with, but I do it with love.
In turn, I expect the same thing from them. In fact, I encourage it. I can’t tolerate yes-people. If I’m doing something that's stupid, just come up to me, hit me on the back of the head, and say, “That was stupid.” Even if I get mad at the moment, I will come to my senses sooner than later. Then we can hug it out or something.
In the Bible, Matthew 7:1-5 talks about this:
So if you have to say something, say it constructively. Offer solutions, encouragement, or just simple understanding. Offer it with love and respect. Otherwise, you might as well slap the person in the face.
Remember, what comes around goes around. Can you take it when it comes back?
“One mustn’t criticize other people on grounds where he can’t stand perpendicular himself.” (Mark Twain)
-----
Here’s a scenario I would like for you to imagine. It is the year 1512. Michelangelo, a renowned painter and sculpture, had just put in the finishing touch on his work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Four years of blood, sweat and tears spent on such an intricate piece of work. As he wiped the sweat from his brow and took a deep breath, the Pope walks in. The exhausted painter steps back, proud of his work and lets the pontiff take it in.
Four years. 300 figures, all rendered in painstaking detail. The ultimate rendition of the doctrine, painted on a curved ceiling more than 65 feet in the air and almost 46 feet wide. All done on a customized scaffold designed by the artist himself. All detail rendered while standing up, his head craned back very uncomfortably. Even as he patiently waits, he massages the back of his stiff neck.
The Pope turns to the artist, lets out a sigh, then points to a small spot somewhere in the midst of the painting and says disappointingly, “You missed a spot.”
While this scenario did not happen, I know that a lot of us go through situations just like this. We all have people who love to do nothing more than to criticize every single thing you do. It could be a parent, a sibling, a friend, your best friend, your boss, your neighbor, or anyone in between. If you are a pet owner, it’s usually the cat. Just for the record, it’s never the dog.
We would like to avoid them, but we can’t. Like the drunk uncle at the Christmas party, they always show up at the right moment to kill the mood.
“Look at my kitchen remodeling job,” you say with pride.
“That doesn’t look like oak wood,” they say, hands on hips.
“Well, yeah, but look at the new stove,” you say, trying your best to stay calm.
“Why did you get a gas stove?” they ask even as they pass their eyes over it.
“Gas is cheaper and more efficient,” you answer with a nervous laugh. “Besides, you can’t say the refrigerator isn’t nice.”
“Is that stainless steel?” they ask.
“Yes,” you nod approvingly.
“Do you know how hard stainless steel is to clean?” they comment.
Why do some people do this? Oftentimes, it’s to make themselves feel superior to others. They have a need to be perfect, and what better way to feel that way than to look for fault in others. Here’s the irony: those that criticize harshly cannot deal with criticism. Even while they try to knock you down, in most cases they are the ones with fragile self-esteem. They are the ones who feel that they are worthless. So rather than acknowledge this, they would rather make themselves feel better by making you feel worse.
But the instant you say something about them, they suddenly become defensive, dismissive, and downright hostile. Suddenly, you have nothing to say that they want to hear.
“Look at my new $400 purse,” they boast while displaying it, making sure that the name brand is visible. “It was on sale this weekend.”
“$400? Isn’t that a little steep?” you ask, concerned.
“Don’t be jealous,” they say after sucking their teeth. “Besides, I work hard. I deserve it.”
“It’s not that,” you say, “but didn’t you just say that it was hard for you to pay your bills this month? $400 could go a long way in fixing that.”
“I don’t want to hear it!” they shout defensively while glaring daggers at you. “You don’t know what you're talking about! I’m keeping it, and that’s that!”
I believe in the power of constructive criticism. If I make a comment, it’s not to tear someone down or knock the wind out of their sails. I’ll throw in encouragement and understanding along with the comment. I admit that I do stand on the philosophy of brutal honesty with those that I love or associate myself with, but I do it with love.
In turn, I expect the same thing from them. In fact, I encourage it. I can’t tolerate yes-people. If I’m doing something that's stupid, just come up to me, hit me on the back of the head, and say, “That was stupid.” Even if I get mad at the moment, I will come to my senses sooner than later. Then we can hug it out or something.
In the Bible, Matthew 7:1-5 talks about this:
1“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.In essence, it says that we should never look at others down our noses and think we are better than the next man. None - I repeat and emphasize, none - of us are perfect. All of us have our faults, and if we judge others with the intent to maliciously nitpick on all of their faults in an effort to boost our sense of superiority, then we should expect the same thing to be done to us.
3“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”
So if you have to say something, say it constructively. Offer solutions, encouragement, or just simple understanding. Offer it with love and respect. Otherwise, you might as well slap the person in the face.
Remember, what comes around goes around. Can you take it when it comes back?
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Playing With Fire, a.k.a. A Letter To Rev. Terry Jones
“Intolerance betrays want of faith in one’s cause.” (Mahatma Gandhi)
-----
Dear Rev. Terry Jones,
By now, you have let every news outlet in the country know that your plan for International Burn a Koran Day on September 11th will continue. You have made it clear that you will do this despite being denied a permit to do so, despite the departure of several members of your church who disagreed with this course of action, and that you would do this even if former President George W. Bush, who you claimed to respect, asked you not to.
Now, don’t me wrong. I am a strong believer in the Constitution. You feel that your first amendment rights give you the right to do this, and I could not disagree with that. You are also using the freedom of religion card, and again, I could not disagree with that. And since I don’t trust George Bush, I definitely cannot begrudge you for that.
However, I do believe that, in the realm of common sense, what you are doing is morally irresponsible and downright stupid.
For a man who claims to be following the will of God, your actions show otherwise. I know that there are several passages in the Bible show how God struck out at the enemies of His people, so I’m sure that you could use this as justification for what you're about to do. But in many of these passages, it was shown that these acts were done by Him, not for him. Don't believe me? Check out Romans 12:19:
I know people who agree with you, Pastor Jones. A friend of mine said that since they love to burn our flags and burn effigies, they should get to see what it’s like. Another said that this will show them that we are not afraid.
The problem with this is that hate can never conquer hate. It only feeds it. Darkness cannot dispel darkness. Only light can do that. And if you notice, even the smallest light can dispel the deepest darkness. If we as a nation, as a people, are to show that we are stronger and better, we can only do that by being stronger than our emotions and better than our impulses. We should the example, not play Follow the Leader. What you are doing is the equivalent of a pissing contest.
Here’s another dose of common sense: every action has an equal reaction. You want to send a message. By burning a Koran, what do you think the reaction will be? How mad would you be if someone burned the Bible? Think about it!
You’re safe in Gainesville, but what about American soldiers and civilians who are not within America’s borders? What do you think will happen to those people who are deployed in Muslim countries when this act occurs? Think they get to escape the repercussions of your actions?
This is not about personal freedoms. What it is about is responsibility. The only way to show that we deserve something is to show that we are capable of handling it responsibly and accept the consequences when we are irresponsible. Face it, Pastor Jones, if anything happens to those people due to this, it's on your head, whether you like it or not. And we all know that God does not like ugly.
I know that nothing will stop you from doing this. Ignorance never needs a reason to be what it is, after all. So, rather than hate you, I’m going to pray for you. To paraphrase Jesus, I'm going to ask God to forgive you, not because you don't know what you're doing, but because someone said that He is the God of children and fools, and obviously you are not a child.
Enjoy your book burning, Pastor Jones. Enjoy your fifteen minutes. When it’s all said and done, you’ll have a few people on your side, a lot of people who will be disappointed, and a hell of a lot of Muslims with axes to grind into your skull. But when you find time to get off your high horse, just remember two things, okay?
First, those that play with fire often get burned.
Second, the last time a “famous” book burning occurred was in 1933. The place: Berlin, Germany. The reason: Nazi efforts to control the population disguised as national pride.
So, when history looks back at this, you’ll be in great company. Just thought you should know.
-----
Dear Rev. Terry Jones,
By now, you have let every news outlet in the country know that your plan for International Burn a Koran Day on September 11th will continue. You have made it clear that you will do this despite being denied a permit to do so, despite the departure of several members of your church who disagreed with this course of action, and that you would do this even if former President George W. Bush, who you claimed to respect, asked you not to.
Now, don’t me wrong. I am a strong believer in the Constitution. You feel that your first amendment rights give you the right to do this, and I could not disagree with that. You are also using the freedom of religion card, and again, I could not disagree with that. And since I don’t trust George Bush, I definitely cannot begrudge you for that.
However, I do believe that, in the realm of common sense, what you are doing is morally irresponsible and downright stupid.
For a man who claims to be following the will of God, your actions show otherwise. I know that there are several passages in the Bible show how God struck out at the enemies of His people, so I’m sure that you could use this as justification for what you're about to do. But in many of these passages, it was shown that these acts were done by Him, not for him. Don't believe me? Check out Romans 12:19:
“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”I’m not exactly a Bible scholar, but I think it says to let Him handle these things.
I know people who agree with you, Pastor Jones. A friend of mine said that since they love to burn our flags and burn effigies, they should get to see what it’s like. Another said that this will show them that we are not afraid.
The problem with this is that hate can never conquer hate. It only feeds it. Darkness cannot dispel darkness. Only light can do that. And if you notice, even the smallest light can dispel the deepest darkness. If we as a nation, as a people, are to show that we are stronger and better, we can only do that by being stronger than our emotions and better than our impulses. We should the example, not play Follow the Leader. What you are doing is the equivalent of a pissing contest.
Here’s another dose of common sense: every action has an equal reaction. You want to send a message. By burning a Koran, what do you think the reaction will be? How mad would you be if someone burned the Bible? Think about it!
You’re safe in Gainesville, but what about American soldiers and civilians who are not within America’s borders? What do you think will happen to those people who are deployed in Muslim countries when this act occurs? Think they get to escape the repercussions of your actions?
This is not about personal freedoms. What it is about is responsibility. The only way to show that we deserve something is to show that we are capable of handling it responsibly and accept the consequences when we are irresponsible. Face it, Pastor Jones, if anything happens to those people due to this, it's on your head, whether you like it or not. And we all know that God does not like ugly.
I know that nothing will stop you from doing this. Ignorance never needs a reason to be what it is, after all. So, rather than hate you, I’m going to pray for you. To paraphrase Jesus, I'm going to ask God to forgive you, not because you don't know what you're doing, but because someone said that He is the God of children and fools, and obviously you are not a child.
Enjoy your book burning, Pastor Jones. Enjoy your fifteen minutes. When it’s all said and done, you’ll have a few people on your side, a lot of people who will be disappointed, and a hell of a lot of Muslims with axes to grind into your skull. But when you find time to get off your high horse, just remember two things, okay?
First, those that play with fire often get burned.
Second, the last time a “famous” book burning occurred was in 1933. The place: Berlin, Germany. The reason: Nazi efforts to control the population disguised as national pride.
So, when history looks back at this, you’ll be in great company. Just thought you should know.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Your Mind Is A Closed Book
closed-mind·ed (adj) - Intolerant of the beliefs and opinions of others; stubbornly unreceptive to new ideas.
“A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood.” (Chinese proverb)
-----
How are we supposed to be in an age of enlightenment and information, yet there are so many closed-minded, intolerant and ignorant people?
You know them. Everyone has one. It might be your best friend, your girlfriend, or your neighbor. It's just like the saying goes: “There's always one.”
You want to avoid them like the flu, but you can't. They will draw you into the stupidest of arguments. What's worse is that these are arguments you cannot win, because they are so closed-minded that logic is unable to gain a foothold in their minds. They cannot accept the possibility that there is something more than what they think. To them, they are right and their way of thinking is the only way of thinking. You, sir or lady, are the one with the problem. Not them.
How can you convince a person who thinks they're right all the time? You can't. Banging your head against the wall would get better results, plus the headache's not as bad.
If you look at the world, anyone with half-a-brain could see that our progress was only possible when people looked beyond what was there and asked themselves an important question: “What if?”
Where would we be if early man had not designed tools to make his life easier? Who among you is glad that someone thought that computing power, which would easily fill a large room from wall-to-wall, could be miniaturized, leading to cell phones, PDAs and Playstations? Hell, everyone who caught an STD should be on their knees thanking Alexander Fleming for discovering penicillin from (of all things) mold.
I could go on and on about it, but closed-minded people would never get the point. So, here's a list of people that I consider to be very closed-minded. If you're open-minded, you'll agree with the list and could probably add in some names of your own. If you're closed-minded, you're in great company.
Common sense advice: Open your mind to the possibilities out there. You can't know everything. Even if you're convinced you do.
“A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood.” (Chinese proverb)
-----
How are we supposed to be in an age of enlightenment and information, yet there are so many closed-minded, intolerant and ignorant people?
You know them. Everyone has one. It might be your best friend, your girlfriend, or your neighbor. It's just like the saying goes: “There's always one.”
You want to avoid them like the flu, but you can't. They will draw you into the stupidest of arguments. What's worse is that these are arguments you cannot win, because they are so closed-minded that logic is unable to gain a foothold in their minds. They cannot accept the possibility that there is something more than what they think. To them, they are right and their way of thinking is the only way of thinking. You, sir or lady, are the one with the problem. Not them.
How can you convince a person who thinks they're right all the time? You can't. Banging your head against the wall would get better results, plus the headache's not as bad.
If you look at the world, anyone with half-a-brain could see that our progress was only possible when people looked beyond what was there and asked themselves an important question: “What if?”
Where would we be if early man had not designed tools to make his life easier? Who among you is glad that someone thought that computing power, which would easily fill a large room from wall-to-wall, could be miniaturized, leading to cell phones, PDAs and Playstations? Hell, everyone who caught an STD should be on their knees thanking Alexander Fleming for discovering penicillin from (of all things) mold.
I could go on and on about it, but closed-minded people would never get the point. So, here's a list of people that I consider to be very closed-minded. If you're open-minded, you'll agree with the list and could probably add in some names of your own. If you're closed-minded, you're in great company.
- The people who are protesting the building of a Islamic prayer center two blocks from Ground Zero in New York
- Religious bigots
- The Birthers, who are still convinced that President Barack Obama is not an American citizen
- The majority of commentators on Fox News
- The preacher in Gainesville who wants to host an “International Burn a Koran Day” on September 11th
- Skinheads
- Racists and bigots, period
- Sharron Angle, GOP challenger for Senator in Nevada, who believes that a woman should not have an abortion even if she was raped
- Sarah Palin (does this really need an explanation?)
- The Vatican, who recently listed the ordination of women as a grave crime and who still drag their feet when it comes to their priests sexually abusing little boys
- The idiots in MTV who decided that the “M” no longer stood for “Music”
- The idiots in MTV who came up with The Jersey Shore (no, scratch that. They're not closed-minded, but they have committed a crime against humanity and should be punished accordingly)
- The people in the state of Florida who wrote the law that allows homosexuals to be foster parents, but won't let them adopt
- The Pentagon officials who refuse to budge on banning gays in the military
- The people who once thought the Earth was flat
- The people who once thought the Earth was the center of the universe
- People who do not believe in evolution
- People who still think slavery was a good thing
- People who stick with a brand and won't even consider buying another brand that might be better
- The idiots who burned construction equipment at a future Islamic center in Tennessee
- Anyone who admires the Nazis
- Anyone who denies that the Holocaust happened
- The idiot who decided to put live action shows on Cartoon Network (it's called Cartoon Network, dammit! However, Adult Swim is excluded from this)
- The music industry, for not giving artists what they really deserve
- The movie industry, for not giving more major roles to people of other ethnicities (i.e., The Last Airbender) because they think it won't sell
Common sense advice: Open your mind to the possibilities out there. You can't know everything. Even if you're convinced you do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)