Well Done! Canada!

Congratulations! Well done. The Canadian national ice hockey team's gold medal is the icing on the cake for Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Yapdates would like to salute the athletes and the Canadian people for embracing the world and sharing the celebratory mood with all.

I watched the gold medal game together with church friends this afternoon. The passions are high and everyone share one common goal: A Win for Canada. After Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal, the entire country erupted into a joyous celebration. Within minutes, people throng the streets of Vancouver and major cities all over the nation. It is an unbelievable sight and ecstatic experience. Thanks Canada for a great organization of one of the most unforgettable Olympics.

conrade

My Top 5 URL Shorteners

Ever since the rise of Twitter, we have seen the mushrooming of websites offering to squeeze in a typically long web address into a compact one. Take for example, the 'longest URL' such as [http://thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com/wearejustdoingthistobestupidnowsincethiscangoonforeverandeverandeverbutitstilllookskindaneatinthebrowsereventhoughitsabigwasteoftimeandenergyandhasnorealpointbutwehadtodoitanyways.html].

The shortened version of it is using is.gd is a whopping 93% shorter in the form of http://is.gd/9bRD2. Here are my Top 5 URL shortcuts. There are all chosen because they are 6 characters or less. A 'dot' counts as a character. Short URLs are extremely useful for at least two reasons. First, they easily fit into a Twitter message that has a restricted 140 characters per tweet. Second, they are easier to remember. Usually just remembering the website (eg tr.im) plus a 5 or 6 letter encrypted word. Below are 5 that I use.

1) bit.ly
I like this for its sheer speed and simplicity. If you create an account and use it to shorten, it serves as a repository for all your past URLs shortened. Easy to remember, this is fast and easy to use.

2) is.gd
This is another favourite. I like the way it gives me the statistics on how much the URL was shortened. Looking like a clean sheet, it resembles Google search engine. Programmers will find a delight to use as it can be used as a Firefox addon.

3) tr.im
The name itself is a sheer winner. However, it is average as far as speed is concerned. It is twitter ready.
 
4) cli.gs
This is another popular one. It sounds like the word 'clicks' and is intuitive. The main disadvantage is that users need to click to another page before entering the URL. Most of the rest, you can do it at the first page.

5) tinyurl.com
This is easy to remember and the name of the website resembles the conventional 'dot com' sound. Though the number of characters are slightly longer than the rest, I think this is a good balance between 'shortening' and 'readability.'

For a list of more than 90 URL list of shorteners, check here. Have fun!

conrade

The Olympic Spirit

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games end this Sunday 28th February 2010. In terms of gold medals, this third attempt is the best ever by a Canadian city. Montreal (Summer 1976) and Calgary (Winter 1988). So far, the host country Canada has raked in 7 golds, and more are expected to come. Of course, for a die-hard hockey fan, none of these really matter if Canada fails to bring in a gold in Ice-Hockey. In fact, many are already preparing for the gold medal game this coming Sunday noon. Some churches have even prepared large screens for their members and friends to capture the historic occasion. Even though Canada is not officially in the gold medal game yet, anyone walking in downtown Vancouver is confident that Canada will be there. Having swept past Russia 7-3 last night, Canadians all over are preparing and hungry for a rematch between Canada and the USA. After the surprise upset last week where Canada lost 5-3 to the USA, this time, Team Canada will be ready.

The Olympic Spirit

This is one Olympic moment to remember. It is a moment in which we cherish our beloved hometown heroes. It is a moment where we marvel at history being made. It is a moment in which we experience the ecstasy of human achievement. In a competition that is highly contested and sometimes results disputed, everyone plays to win. Even though some are there for the experience, the fact is that, to be an Olympian is already an accomplishment in itself. What exactly is an Olympian? What exactly is the Olympic Spirit?

Baron Pierre de Coubertin has been credited as the founder of the modern version of the Olympic Games. His famous words ring true to this day. With regards to the Olympic Spirit, he says:

"It is not about winning but taking part, not conquering but fighting well."

This is important. In a winner-takes-it-all world, sometimes, we can allow our infatuation with medals and results overwhelm us to the point that we miss out the 'participation' aspect. There has been many cases where athletes behave in an unsportsmanlike manner. Take the victory of Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau for example. After winning the first gold medal for Canada, others grumbled about his win. One Australian daily reported that the silver medalist, Begg-Smith representing Australia should have won. Geoff Lipshut was quoted as saying:

"My own opinion is that probably Alex is not capable of a 4.8 or a 4.9 (on his turns) ... because 5 is a perfect score." (link)

Is this a case of sour grapes? Probably, it is a spur of the moment comment as a result of heightened emotions. I believe that the Australian officials will take a more reasonable stance once the results sink in.

True Competitor

Personally, I believe that sportsmanship is a mark of a true competitor. Whether one wins or loses, one should be proud of having been part of the sports to spur one another on toward achieving their best. A healthy competition is only when all athletes give of their best. It makes it worthwhile. It motivates each athlete to compete and fight well. It encourages the public to see that dreams can come true. I like what the Canadian skier, Jennifer Heil says about her silver medal. She said:

"I really don't feel like I lost gold, I really feel like I won silver." (link)

While she may have felt let down by her failure to win gold, I think this should be the attitude of all competitors. The joy is in participation. The reward is in knowing that one has tried the best. If there is a medal won, great. If there is no medal, give thanks for the privilege of being able to compete in the first place.

More Than Gold Within Us
Truly, a thankful heart goes a long way. As a Christian, I believe that this is where Christian athletes can shine for God. With a thankful heart, be grateful for the privilege to compete. For the Christian, if winning is important, there is something else that is 'more than gold.' In fact, this is precisely why a group of Vancouver churches have banded together under the umbrella, "More Than Gold," to remind all of us, that winning is not the end of it all. It is competing for something that is more than gold.

We may not know the extent of the influence of More Than Gold. However, I must say that the words 'More Than Gold' (MTG) captures the Olympic Spirit in more ways than one. It is helpful to contrast "Just Gold" vs "More Than Gold."

Firstly, there can only be one gold medal winner. In MTG, we are all winners in the name of Christ. Secondly, in the medal race, some people use all kinds of ways to win. Some use cheating, like drugs. In MTG, there is no need to do any cheating. One seeks to give more than to receive. Thirdly, a 'Just-Gold' mindset tempts one to try to win at all costs. A MTG mindset reminds us that winning is just not the only thing in life. Whether one wins or loses, one can be proud of the fact that they have tried. Finally, in the MTG website, there are many different athletes whose testimonies reflect a common faith in Jesus. They come from diverse ethnicity, different nationalities and various other backgrounds. They may compete under the flag of their respective countries. However, all of them know that something else is at stake: their witness for Christ. Their stories can be found under the "Beyond the Ultimate" website. Some of their quotes are worth repeating here. Reading them warms my heart. I pray that you experience the same too.

Quotes from Olympians who are Christians:

• "The way that I conduct myself could be seen around the world. In the heat of competitions, emotions run high. It can be easy to lose tempers, get mad, or argue with officials or opponents. But the person that keeps Christ as a priority throughout the competition seems to be the winner no matter what the score is in the end. A great Christian can remain calm in pressure situations, upbeat in the face of defeat, and even content with not winning. It’s important to be consistently reminded that winning and losing are not the most important things in life. The bigger picture is serving God the right way. I pray that I will always compete as a man with a strong apparent faith." (Curt Tomasevicz, Bobsled, USA)
  
• “Having Jesus in my life makes a big difference. Even if you fail, God can make the best of it. He stands behind you and carries you through the difficult times. I don’t know how I would survive without God, knowing that whatever I do in competition is good enough and doesn’t affect what God thinks of me. To get to the top in the world of sports there is so much pressure. People may think you have everything in life but I have learned that knowing Jesus and being loved by Him is the only thing that can really satisfy me.” (Ursula Bruhin, Snow Boarding, Switzerland)
  
• "My courage comes from my faith, and I don’t know any other way of thinking about it. It’s engrained in me and I can rely on God and know that He has a plan for me and things are in His control, not mine. That’s where my courage comes from." (Lyndon Rush, Driver in Bobsled, Canada)
  
• “There are great pressures – having spent so many years of effort just to get there. The expectations of your team and country and your own expectations, the coach is under pressure and passes that pressure on to athlete. If your race does not go well everything seems to collapse and you don’t know how to deal with it. As a Christian if I knew I had done all the preparation I could then I was able just to leave the rest to God.” (Katya Antonuk, Cross Country, Russia)
  
• "Whether the suffering is large or small, many people believe they will feel joy only after their circumstances get better. Actually, it’s the other way around. Making time and choosing God’s joy when your circumstances are at their worst gives you the energy to face those difficulties and truly effect change. The secret is to allow God to continually clear out the old cobwebs and make room for new joy in your life." (Bonnie StJohn, Paralympic, USA)

Sob. Sob. I think these are true Olympians in the Lord. One more thing, as light of the world and salt of the earth, how are we training for the spiritual Olympics?

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim 4:7)

May we be true Olympians in the Lord, not just in name but in the heart. All of us can be.

conrade

Vancouver 2010 Medal Count Widget

(Credit: www.vancouver2010.com)

Note - Updates end at the conclusion of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Technology and Learning

Letting Technology Do all the Talking (and Learning!)

On February 5th, 2010, the Province published an interesting opinion (http://bit.ly/dwriPq) piece about technology and its influence on the young. Entitled, 'Heavy Use of Technology Undermines Learning,” Michael Zwaagstra cites the results of a Kaiser Family Foundation ('Generation M2: Media in the lives of 8 to 10 year olds'). In that survey of 2000 young people from 8-10 years old, he sees a direct correlation between the use of technology and its impact on reading and learning, with social implications.

When compared to five years ago, TV watching has risen by 16%; computer use by 44% and video gaming by a huge 49%. The study further divides the technology users into 3 groups, namely the heavy users (more than 16 hours per day), the moderate (between 3- 16 hours per day), and the light users (less than 3 hours per day). People who are in the heavy and moderate categories report the following characteristics:

• More easily bored;
• Dissatisfied in school;
• generally unhappy with life;
• Readily get into trouble.

Book - "Five Love Languages" (Gary Chapman)

Book Review: The Five Love Languages – the secret to love that lasts
Author: Gary Chapman
Published: Chicago, Northfield Publishing, 2010.

This is a classic book on communications, in particular marital communications. Published since 1992, this book has become a phenomenal bestseller worldwide. The idea is simple. Every spouse has one or more out of five major ‘love languages.’ By learning, knowing and learning each other’s love language, spouses will be better able to connect meaningfully and love wonderfully. These five languages are: ‘Words of Affirmation,’ ‘Quality Time,’ ‘Gifts,’ ‘Acts of Service,’ ‘Physical Touch.’

Using his personal encounters with hundreds of couples over a period of 30 years, Chapman crystallizes his experience into five conveniently packaged ‘love languages’ which becomes the ‘secret to love that lasts.’ Indeed, we all claim to love our spouses. Often, we become more frustrated instead even when each of us tries to display acts of love without our spouses responding in some meaningful way. Gary Chapman argues convincingly that the reason lies in our lack of understanding of both our own as well as our spouses’ love language. In the book, the author explains in detail what the love languages are an in easy to understand manner. He tries to make it interactive by posing questions for reflection after every lesson. He provides a simple exercise to help couples discover their primary love language. Now, with online exercises, this is made available to even more people.


My Comments

POSITIVES: The first time I read this book, I was blown away by its sheer simplicity and relevance to many marriages suffering from communication problems. It makes one more aware of one’s strengths and weaknesses. It helps one to become more conscious that showing love is not a one-size-fits-all box of chocolates. Often, what is needed is for people to have their inner lights turned on so that they can see the road ahead. Chapman’s metaphor of an emotional love tank is especially helpful. Filled with optimism, it makes marriages exciting and significant for both parties when both know what to do.

“When your spouse’s emotional love tank is full and he feels secure in your love, the whole world looks bright and your spouse will move out to reach his highest potential in life.” (34)

POTENTIAL PITFALLS: Two brief comments. Firstly, I notice very little updated citations on the latest research on marriage communications. The book does look a little outdated. It seems like the book stands mostly on its own authority. Perhaps, that is understandable as it has blossomed into its own ministry. As our world becomes more interdependent, I feel that Chapman may do readers a greater service by having additional reference materials and links to other notable authors and resources, other than Gary Chapman incorporated. Secondly, as I reflect, I think its simplicity may lead people to practice it simplistically. In other words, a simple concept, naively applied without due consideration for timing, for appropriateness, for many other non-communications factors will let the best ideas give the worst possible results. Marriage counselors will be the first to argue that communications is important, but is definitely not the only factor that make love last. By having a subtitle that claims to be a ‘secret to life that lasts,’ the book may be overselling its main optimism of the author, which is,

“When the emotional need for love is met, it creates a climate where the couple can deal with the rest of life in a much more productive manner.” (167)

My conclusion is that this book works best as a primer that turns one’s inner lights ON, as far as marital communications are concerned. It could be the ‘secret’ switch to shine light on a darkened path of a troubled marriage. However, it is just a switch. Like a flashlight, there are batteries to keep the light running, a hand to hold the light, and a conscious decision to know where and how to shine the light. Otherwise, it can become an insensitive effort to blind one another into thinking that we are in marital bliss. If you have not heard of the five love languages before, go get this book. If you have, it is certainly worth re-reading it and let it turn our lights on again. Remember, it is only a 'switch.' Marriage after all, is more than a switch. It is a love for life and a life of love.

The book is available now at your favourite bookseller.

conrade

First Gold for Canada!

The biggest news story for the day is definitely about Canada's first gold yesterday at the Moguls event during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. It has many firsts, but the top one is that the Home-Gold jinx has been broken. Canada did not win gold when they play hosts to the Olympics in Montreal or in Calgary. It takes the resolve of Alex Bilodeau and the united support of the entire country of Canada to rein in the first gold for the country, on home soil!

At every major newspapers in Canada, Alex Bilodeau has become the national hero. The pictures above and below speaks more than a thousand words. Yet, it tells me that this home-goal-drought element has become more hyped up than anything. Advertisers and the mass media has done an impressive job of getting this into the heads of every Canadian. It has become a resounding success in media influencing the minds of so many people. On the streets, we can hear the hype turning into mounting pressure for athletes to break this jinx. At some point, I think it becomes unhelpful. This is when athletes start to fumble under pressure. Not many people can perform their best when the limelight is shined upon them. Much less, the novices or unknowns who simply compete for the joy of the sport.

Rejoicing with Those Who Rejoice

We want to rejoice with all in Canada on this historic moment, with "Go Canada Go!" Yet, I believe there is something else that Canadians have to maintain their passion in. Winning gold at a major competition like the Olympics is great. Winning it against all odds is even better. What is most important for the human spirit is to share this joy of achievement with all athletes. This is a time to rejoice. This is a time to be happy. However, let us not forget that the medal winners cannot be where they are without the support of so many people. Apart from their families and friends, the government and various big organizations that step up their giving, the time and sacrifices of every volunteer, there is also the need to recognize the competitors. Be glorious when we win, but be gracious when we lose. There can only be one gold winner at the top. What makes this gold most meaningful is not the winning, but all the rest who pushes him/her to achieve the gold. Alex Bilodeau may be the champion for now. Canada may be partying all over for the first gold to be won on Canadian soil. We must always remember to acknowledge the rest who makes it all possible to push Alex to attain his best. 

Keeping Things in Perspective: Hospitality Gold at stake

If we win, we give thanks for the privilege to excel. If we lose, we give thanks as well for the opportunity to compete. As important as winning is, I believe sportsmanlike behavior must be the winning attitude in all. When this attitude is worn throughout the Olympics, I believe Canada and all countries supporting the Olympics are the true winners. For Canadians, remember that we are all competing in another arena: Hospitality. Thus I feel troubled that even as protesters are congregating downtown to protest against the Olympics for whatever reasons, we need to distinguish between 'freedom of speech,' and extending a hand of hospitality to our guests. Both can be done. May we win 'gold' in this oft-forgotten responsibility even as people are embroiled in a medal-feasting frenzy. In fact, it is clearly ours to win.

conrade