Chaotic change not in the interest of the people of Egypt...

...neither is dictatorship.

This Music is Really Good for You - VI

The David Crowder*Band is a very entertaining Christian group out of Texas. They are loaded with talent and fun to listen to and watch. I think of them as a fusion between the sounds of U2 and Michael W. Smith. I can't wait to see them perform live. Enjoy!

Poverty and Affluence in Ethiopia

Ethiopia today is a study in contrast between two extremes, more so than at any time in its modern history. The picture below is a composite of two pictures: a mother begging on a street side in Bahr Dar and a family celebrating a birthday in a private room at a hotel in Addis Ababa.

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

This WSJ article with the same title should be of high interest to most readers of this blog who, I believe, are either parents of young ones or prospective parents. The author, Amy Chua, is a parent and a professor at Yale Law School. Her Chinese approach to strict parenting was an extremely refreshing reading for my wife and I; stereotypes aside, we agree with most of her parenting philosophy. I hope you will find it useful. Here are a couple of quotes from the article:

"Chinese parents can order their kids to get straight As. Western parents can only ask their kids to try their best."

"...studies indicate that compared to Western parents, Chinese parents spend approximately 10 times as long every day drilling academic activities with their children. By contrast, Western kids are more likely to participate in sports teams."

The Tiger Mother Talks Back

Amy Chua responds to readers' questions about happiness, relationships and tips for teaching toddlers.

Have a Happy New (Zealand) Year!

Poi-E is a song in Maori language by Patea Maori Club of New Zealand. The harmony and rhythms they display is infectious. Enjoy!


Here is the original version.