Yeah!!! It’s my last day at work! The countdown is over and I have survived the last 15 months of judaicness…. and now it is on to the land of music-y goodness at the DSO. I don’t have much to say beyond that but I thought I would leave everyone with some happy images of penguins in sweaters.

An oil spill near Phillip Island, Australia set a new trend in motion. Rescue workers at the Phillip Island Nature Park tried different ways to keep the penguins warm and to stop them from swallowing the deadly oil. Dressing the penguins in doll sweaters proved to be the most successful technique.

Soon, news of the penguins’ need for sweaters spread via the Internet. Knitters in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States downloaded penguin sweater patterns and set to work. Some got very excited, adding special touches, like little bows. Others knitted sweaters in the colors of their favorite sports teams.

So I’m just wondering if there’s ever a throwdown whilst waiting in line for a special sweater? [Ha Ha Suckers! I got the one with the bow tie on it! Whatcha gonna do ’bout that?! Hey! Get off me! It’s my sweater! Oh no! Sweet agony!]

Or do the other penguins make fun of their friends who get the dorky sweaters? [Pssst…. Look at Tom over there. He got stuck with the PINK sweater. And look at Manny! He’s looking a bit plump in that green number!]

Ok, I’m the first too admit. I have too much free time. And I like roosters. I actually found this article in Wired magazine and had to comment….

"Researchers have developed a cybernetic system to allow physical interaction over the internet. The system allows touching and feeling of animals or other humans in real time, but it’s first being tried out on — chickens.

You walk into your office, where a hollow, chicken-shaped doll sits on a mechanical positioning table close to your computer.

The doll whirs to life as soon as you switch on the system, duplicating the motion of a real chicken in the backyard whose movements are being captured by a webcam.

The chicken feels your touch in the exact same place where the replica was stroked.

Touch sensors attached to the doll convey tactile information to a nearby PC through radio signals. The data is sent over the internet to a remote computer near the chicken; the remote computer triggers tiny vibration motors in a lightweight haptic jacket worn by the fowl.

"This is the first human-poultry interaction system ever developed," said professor Adrian David Cheok, the leader of the team, who has been developing the technology for nearly two years.

"We understand the perceived eccentricity of developing a system for humans to interact with poultry remotely, but this work has a much wider significance," he added.

The technology’s real potential is ushering in a tele-haptic future where human-to-human interaction is vastly enhanced.

Now really. The creators say the technology has wider implications but I just think they invented it so they could "make you feel as if God’s rubbing your tummy for a few seconds".  Now lets take a few minutes to think about what the benefits really are:

o A hollow, chicken-shaped doll sits on your desk. [Well, I would say that’s a bit creepy but I’ve got a chicken on my desk right now]

o In addition to owning a chicken-shaped doll, fondling the doll translates into touching the real fowl…. [How cool is that?! I would be lining up in the street for that kind of experience. Why stop at chickens… let’s get the penguins, ferrets, and bunnies on this train to HappyLand]

o There’s also the option of wearing special shoes with electric sensors that receive information about the chicken’s leg movements… [It brings a whole new meaning to the Chicken Dance doesn’t it…]

o You can view a live image of the chicken running around in a virtual garden. [Like your very own Garden of Eden… if only there were fairies and unicorns too]

o Now here’s the good stuff…. this translates to "Internet Hugging". Parties in the internet hug would wear haptic suits and cuddle a human doll embedded with pressure sensors…. [Mmm Hmmm… Is that what we’re calling it these days? Are we really that naive? Just you wait, I can see the movie trailers now for a little film with the working title "Love on the Go"]

I went to see Rent, the movie version of the musical. I haven’t seen the musical on stage but I’m a big fan of the soundtrack and, can I just say, this film did not disappoint. The music, acting, and film interpretation was fabulous. It’s difficult to transform a musical into film without going overboard but Chris Columbus did a wonderful job of creating gritty emotion and darkness for the production.

In case you don’t know what the musical is about; here’s a brief rundown. Rent is based loosely on Puccini’s opera “La Bohème” and centers around a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive in New York’s Alphabet City neighborhood under the shadow of AIDS (in La Bohème the disease was tuberculosis).

The musical bases its interpretation of HIV and AIDS on how the epidemic effected the U.S. in the late 1980’s. The epidemic has been completely redefined in the last 10 years and the interpretation that defined a generation is not a true translation of the current issues associated with HIV/AIDS. Thus, watching the film inspired me to find out more information about the current AIDS pandemic.

In North America today, there are 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS. At this point, the AIDS epidemic is no longer limited to a demographic group; every part of the U.S. and all sectors of society are at risk of contracting the virus. These statistics stand in stark contrast to sub-Saharan Africa in which 3.1 million adults and children were infected with AIDS in 2005 and 25.8 million are infected with AIDS in the region.

Also, in an interesting development, today’s London Evening Standard reported on an initiative to create a measles vaccine that could fight AIDS. The EU is funding a collaborative effort with Belgium, France, and England to fuse genes from the HIV virus to an existing measles vaccine that delivers long lasting immunity.

Though I could not conceive to bring a fully developed perspective to the ever-changing epidemic; these reports show the changes that have occurred in the U.S. and the world in the past 10-15 years. However, you have to ask yourself what is really being accomplished? If changes in social attitude are being addressed in the U.S. why can’t we translate these educative reforms to help decrease the number of children and adults infected each year in Africa? Why are reforms on a national level rather than a global level? Why are only 3% of those who have HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa receiving treatment? Why, in 2000, was the U.S. spending $10.8 billion domestically on AIDS [approximately $13,000 per person with HIV/AIDS] when spending in sub-Saharan Africa is so miniscule that millions are left without care and support?

I know these questions are without answers but at least they are being asked….

So, now that Thanksgiving is safely behind us, and a long day at work looms ahead of me I am contemplating what I’m thankful for.

I am thankful for:

…the life I have led.

Last Sunday night, the radio talk show host, Glenn Mitchell, passed away. He was only 55. As an avid 90.1 KERA listener, I feel that his death "in a way marks the end of an era," [stated more aptly by his producer than I could ever find words to say]. He brought an intelligence to radio that you don’t find very often. So, I hope that I can only bring as much joy and make a difference in as many lives as he did over his 30 year radio career.

…the small miracles.

My cat, Hammie, disappeared Sunday night. As anyone knows despite his surly demeanor and cranky attitude I love my cat. His behavior is probably a reflection of me…. (maybe not totally, I would like to think that I’m not totally surly or cranky). I thought the worst after his disappearance; perhaps the other neighborhood cats had beaten him up or the little yippey dog down the way had him for a mealtime snack. But it was not his time to go…. he came home on Wednesday night (with a look in his eye that said, "don’t mess with me, you best not take another trip to Africa without me…"). So all is restored in the world of Rachel and Hammie, the planets have aligned and Hammie is home, all can rejoice.

…happiness.

Which I can find:

-in a photo of me popping Wiley’s head off (see photo of me torturing Micah’s cat…always brings a smile to my face).

-in a conversation with someone across the globe

-in making a piece of jewelry for my mom (which I will likely steal back after she wears it once).

-in knowing that there are only 4 MORE DAYS!

-in going home, curling up in bed, and watching the true version of Pride and Prejudice and waiting for my phone call from Colin Firth declaring his undying affection for me (or maybe just knowing that my next cat’s name will be Mr. Darcy).

-amongst other things….

Ok, so I’ve already posted today and I was going to be productive and do some real work, some research for my final project… but instead here I go again… I’m not into astrology but on a lark I decided to look into the traits of the Cancer sign. Surprisingly, some of the traits listed were spot on…hmmm…still curious about the implications of that….

Traditional Cancer Traits are listed as:

-Emotional and loving

-Intuitive and imaginative

-Shrewd and cautious

-Protective and sympathetic

-Changeable and moody

-Overemotional and touchy

Since those of you reading this probably know me pretty well, I’ll let you decide which of these traits embody my personality… I’m also including some other interesting tidbits:

-Cancerians are often over-imaginative and prone to fantasy, sometimes trying to shape their lives to fit some romantic ideal. If they can reconcile the personal conflict of their urge to be outgoing with the reserve that causes them to withdraw into themselves, then at best they can inspire a generation, especially the youthful part of it, by their idealism.

-The Cancerian has many potential faults. They can be untidy, sulky, devious, moody, inclined to self-pity because of an inferiority complex, brood on insults (very often imagined), yet are easily flattered. However, their romanticism in another sense make them ardent supporters of causes. The romantic side of their natures also make them enjoy grubbing about in places where exciting discoveries may be made.

So what does this amount to? I’m sure not to much, just enough to intrigue me for the moment at least. I think what interested me the most was the list of famous Cancerians. The list of notables included Julius Caesar, Ernest Hemingway and Nelson Mandela. Though I don’t put much stock into astrology it’s intriguing to think that I may have similar personality traits to some powerful historical and living figures.

"I cherish my freedom dearly, but I care even more for your freedom. Too many people have died since I went to prison. Too many have suffered for the love of freedom. But I cannot sell my birthright, nor am I prepared to sell the birthright of the people to be free." ~Nelson Mandela

"Beware of the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry, [who] infused with fear and blinded with patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How will I know? For this I have done. And I am Julius Caesar." ~Julius Caesar

"I learned never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that feed it." ~Ernest Hemingway

So, as you can tell by the blogger’s time stamp, I’m at work. I’m blogging at work. You might say, "Why, Rachel…. what has made you so apathetic that you would actually blog rather than be productive?"

Although my normal self would never be a slacker (don’t laugh, I mean it); I have only 8 days (really only 5 work days) left till I leave my little Jewish bubble and take on a new job of music and mystery at the symphony. I’ve come up with a special song to memorialize this time in my life; it goes something like “8 more days, just 8 more days” and includes a little jig.

"Oooohhh, ahhhhh, what an exciting life you do lead" may be the first words that leap to your mind. And in only 8 more days I will embrace the exhilarating profession of corporate fundraising. What more could you want? The begging, cajoling, and sweet-talking of corporate donors awaits me. The anticipation mounts as images of tiny philanthropists dance through my dreams.

That’s all I have for now, nothing more to see, sweeping up the circus, the elephants have gone home.

So I went to the Ben Folds concert last night with a friend. Since she’s been so great and attended 3 Old 97s concerts this year I figured I would break my own habit and attend a concert that didn’t include any mention of Rhett or Murray.

I have to say that I do like Ben Folds but I don’t own his cds or obsess as I do over, say, Old 97s. Upon sitting down in our seats (second section, stage left) I looked around and realized that we had been transported into an Old Navy commercial. A sea of middle class white boys captivated me with their attempt to dance to the sarcastic lyricism of Ben Folds.

I think what I found most appealing about the concert was the people- watching. About 3 rows in front of me on my left there were two insanely tall white boys with a short fellow that looked as though they could fit him in their pocket. It reminded me of a story in a hideously boring book [Alpha and Omega: The Search for the Beginning and End of the Universe] we were forced to read back in college in which the only information I retained about Galileo, Copernicus, and particle physics was that Tycho Brahe kept a house dwarf around and fed him scraps under the dinner table. (Don’t ask me where my train of thought leads me…). So, back to the tall guys, after each song they would jump in the air and high five each other. I think my $30 was well spent just watching their feeble attempts to rock the suburbs.

About two rows behind these guys was another guy who apparently spent his money to ignore the music and play Tetris on his cellphone through the entire show. Now, really, I do have a soft place in my heart for Tetris and have spent many an hour playing the mindlessly addictive game. But at a Ben Folds concert? Really?

And finally a row behind me to my left there was a couple who apparently had 3 too many drinks. They were loud and obnoxious to the point where everyone around them was silently cursing them and their unborn children. The girl in front of them turned around and asked them to keep it down and was told to shut up and turn around. I thought we were going to have a Jerry Springer show in the midst of the concert; but sadly, this was not to be as they all settled down and returned to enjoying the music. (I was at least hoping for maybe some quick slaps and a couple of hair pulls before security came to break it up).

I don’t know how I even had time to listen to the music with all of the entertainment right in front of me.

let me tell ya’ll what it’s like

being male, middle class and white

it’s a bitch, if you don’t believe

listen up to my new cd

shame on

i got shit running through my brain

so intense that i can’t explain

all alone in my white boy pain

shake your booty while the band complains

What can I say? I’m amused. For more stabby stabby fun go to http://www.warrenellis.com/index.php?cat=32.

Let’s start out slow…

November 3rd: What day’s today? How long have I been traveling? No, you can’t go back to bed, you’re in Africa!

So I started out the day a bit tired, a bit groggy, but who can blame me, a slightly hysterical situation at DFW, a rerouting to London via Chicago, and upon arrival no luggage…. needless to say it was one of my more interesting flight experiences.

We spent the day on a whirlwind bus tour that started at the Cape Point. And, funny thing, there is a colony of baboons that live on the cliffs outside the Cape Point that tend to get aggressive if they smell food because crazy tourists think they are lovable and that it’s cute too feed them. Well, that point, along with the American hobby of watching the macabre had the bus tilted to one side as we all watched some woman edging towards a group of baboons with us waiting for a beast vs. man situation straight off of Animal Planet.

[Narration as by Steve Irwin: The tension is palpable folks as the unsuspecting female nears the aggressive male. Oh no, the male smells food, he turns towards his unsuspecting prey and Crikey! He’s headed towards her ready to pull her into the herd and rip that pb&j sandwich right out of her chubby fingers! Her best bet now is to just get some good close up photos as the baboons ravage her lunch.]

Ok, so after the episode of Animal Planet wrapped up and we actually headed towards the Cape Point. Can I just say that despite what anyone might think, I am not particularly athletic, especially at a couple of thousand of feet above sea level. So while I huffed and panted my way up the Cape Point and the rest of my group, Colorodoans, skipped their way to the top I had a chance to see the view from some gorgeous vantage points; I think it was made even better due to the lack of oxygen to the brain.

After I conquered the Cape Point we made a beeline to the bus for the best part of the trip. Penguins. Who would have thought that one of the penguins natural habitat would be in Africa? The penguins were in the midst of their molting season so they were actually a bit sad looking, they looked as though they had been ravaged by a flock of angry seagulls. But despite their bedraggled appearance they were the cutest penguins I had seen close up. The African penguin is smaller than some of the other species; 2 points for the underdog!

So, I know you want more, but then what fun would it be for me to recount the whole story in one sitting? This is it for now folks but tune back in and maybe you’ll get another sneak peak into my African holiday for free(well to you it is).

I just returned from S. Africa. 28 hours and three plane trips later I’m sitting at my computer at 5:30 in the morning realizing that I will not be able to function at work in three hours. There is so much to say that I don’t know where to begin. It’s hard to verbalize the culture, the emotions, and the intensity of the trip. Normally I would express myself through 3x5s but since I am without camera I find myself reliving the experience in my mind and can’t put words to paper (or computer in this case).

Let me start off with some background or it will be difficult to imagine the experience. I travelled with a student group for a capstone project for my Master’s in Nonprofit Management. The course is intended to expose students to the international nonprofit sector and have an opportunity to serve a foreign nonprofit agency. In addition, the group worked in collaboration with Educo, an international youth leadership program. We had the opportunity to stay in local townships with young adults who had completed a leadership program with the organization.

I would have to say the most intense experience was staying in a township, Old Crossroads, with my youth host, Pati. Coming from a middle class American background it was hard to anticipate what the experience might bring. On first glance the issues seemed to be the disparity of wealth between the black townships and the gated homes in Capetown and throughout the coastal region. But once you look beyond the surface; beyond the violence and the poverty there is so much more to see.

I asked myself how this environment produces leadership? There are so many people who are so broken by their living conditions that they cannot rise out of the situation but then there are people like Pati who have taken intentional steps to not let her current situation make her a victim but rather a future leader.

So I don’t want to get too contemplative, after all it’s nearing 6:00 am and my mind is becoming slush. It’s difficult coming home, seeing my place filled with items that define us; as a person, as a consumer, as an American and are supposed to fulfill us both physically and emotionally. I heart AFRICA because the experience forced me to reevaluate myself on both a personal and professional level… I would love to share more but that’s it for now kids.