Monster Tales to Entertain and Enjoy

*Sigh* I know, I should be studying, working on reports/labs/projects, spending time with my seedling, etc, etc, etc. instead of reading. Growing up, that was almost a 4 letter word (Obviously with funny spelling). My brother and I couldn't put down a book if we tried. Unfortunately, I am still trying to put down books. I need BRA (not a bra, geez... Book Readers Anonymous). I started reading Twilight (Book one of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series) on a lark because I had already watched the movie (thought it was OK... not Oscar material obviously), but was curious about the differences & I wanted to read the second book before seeing that movie (coming out tomorrow!)

Anyways, to make a long story short, I was surprised at how good it was in drawing in the reader. It wasn't a hard read (pretty much one book a day), and there was no intricate plot lines to follow, but it was enjoyable (in that "Oh my god I'm tired of reading technical papers, I like reading something I don't have to think hard about"). So enjoyable that I am now almost completely done the series (only a couple more chapters to go on Breaking Dawn.

Well, now that I'm almost completely done, there are two more books I think I would enjoy. I heard about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies a long time ago, but have never gotten around to reading it. (Well, same with the Twilight... but I've been avoiding them)

Anyways, now there is Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, and here is a video you may enjoy too...

Wisdom from Unlikely Places

I just finished reading "The Wisdom Of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels, and the Business of AIDS" by Elizabeth Pisani. It was well written and the narrative format gave a natural progression through her experiences from a somewhat hopeful to a battle-worn epidemiologist. The collective struggle with politicians, religious leaders, and the bureaucratic nightmare that are individual countries and global programmes is nothing short of heroic.

As an inspirational epidemiologist, she does not hide behind organizational red-tape/policies, but truly tells the science and the reasoning behind each prevention method. Use condoms... have needle exchange programs... find ways to protect the people. It doesn't matter who the people are or what they do. They are still people.

If I could nominate her for a Nobel prize, I would. But I have a feeling that there are many people doing the same type of work just like her. However, I do want to hear her on TED Talks. She is truly inspirational and her book is a must-read. You may not agree with the methods or policies and you may not like who the "people most at risk" are, but it is important to know for preventative measures. This IS something that can be fought with good prevention policies, and there are some innocent victims.

Mistakes were made....

And dammit, they were made by me!

I just finished the book "Mistakes Were Made (but not by me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts" by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson.

The book was a dissection of the reasons why and how people self-justify their actions (as the subtitle clearly states). I found the book very interesting, as well as thought provoking. But the whole time I was reading it, I'm thinking about large and small mistakes I have made and wondering if I have owned up to them....

A very telling point for me was how people would internalize good actions "I did that as I am (smart/good/nice, ect)", while rationalizing bad actions by externalizing the behavior "I did that because (they made me/they started it/they were bad)". And therefore, anyone (not just the evil people) could be made to do horrible things to another person. It is yet another exercise in critical thinking as I continue to make mistakes and justify bad things that I do (mmmm.... really I try not to, but it seems I am one of those people with a lead foot. I will try to change :) *promise!)

Tavris and Aronson also looked at instances in marriage, war, politics, and the american justice system for both self-justification of mistakes and admission of mistakes. Clarity and accountability are not the only things we should be looking for in politicians, but from every person we know.

And the next time you make a mistake remember:

1. apologise sincerely because you DID do it, and

2. don't excuse yourself... we all have choices and you made yours.