Mountain View Reads Together

FYI: Grazing in the Grass

2011-11-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

This is not part of Mountain View Reads Together, but was brought to our attention. Perhaps it's interesting for you.

Tuesday, November 8
GRAZING IN THE GRASS
Creating a Sustainable Food System through Pastured Livestock & Poultry

Join us for an eaters' event celebrating pastured livestock and poultry and learn some simple actions you can take to create a healthy and sustainable food system. Guest speakers Michael Dimock, president of Roots of Change, and Dan Imhoff, editor of CAFO, the Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories, will discuss industrial food fallacies, facts about the importance of biodiversity and show you how to vote with your fork for healthy food.

Our sponsor and host, Epicurean Group, a Bay Area sustainable food service company, will make the case for taste. Attendees will enjoy fine organic wines and graze on tasty appetizers of grass-fed meat and poultry and organic vegetables and artisan cheeses prepared by Epicurean chefs.

Seating is limited, so get your ticket now at Brown Paper Tickets:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/207804

$15 Student - $25 Member - $30 Nonmember - $10 Wine supplement

Tuesday, November 8, 2011
6:00 - 8:30 PM
SLAC Café, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025

2011 Book: Eaarth

2011-07-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

This year’s Mountain View Reads Together book choice is Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet, the most recent book by environmental writer Bill McKibben. The author describes a drastically changed planet he calls “Eaarth,” yet also offers hope via new ways of living. McKibben is the founder of the grassroots group 350.org, dedicated to solving climate change.

Mountain View Reads Together, currently in its sixth year, is a project that creates a shared community experience by offering a series of events related to one book. All of Mountain View is encouraged to read or listen to the chosen book, and participate in related events. A series of free activities that are related to the themes of the book will be offered throughout November. For more information, visit mvreads.org or www.mountainview.gov/library.

How [2008 book] "Three Cups of Tea" Changed One [Mountain View] Woman's Life

2011-01-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

How ‘Three Cups of Tea’ Changed One Woman’s Life
June Bennehoof was so inspired after reading the book, she decided to raise enough funds to build a school in Pakistan—and she’s nearly there.

Read more

2010 Book: Persepolis

2010-07-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

The City of Mountain View Public Library has announced its fifth annual Mountain View Reads Together, a city-wide celebration of one book that is scheduled for November.

This year’s selection, Persepolis: the Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi, is a memoir of the author’s childhood during the Iranian Revolution. The highly-acclaimed book is told in a vivid graphic-novel format.

The month-long program includes book discussions and events for all ages that explore the themes of the book. For details, check the library's website or phone the Reference Desk at 650 903-6337.

Help Select the Book for 2010!

2009-12-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

If you'd like to help select the book that Mountain View will be reading in 2010, please contact Karin Bricker (karin.bricker@mountainview.gov), (650) 526-7042.

A planning meeting will take place in March 2010, with a date to be finalized later.

In the meantime, think of books that lend themselves to good discussion and diverse activities. Ask others you know, too!

Artists' Reception on December 2, 2009

2009-12-10T16:13:00.001-08:00

The winning artists and their pieces of art at the reception held the evening of December 2 at the City of Mountain View Public Library lobby.

Magnetic Bookmarks on stand: photographs suggested by the book and the inspiring quotes. By Nanci Tousignant
Pillow with bookcover and iconic swatches suggested by the book. By Susan Morgan.
"A Higher Place" (charcoal drawing) by Lynn Fennema
"Don't Be Afraid" (paper collage) by Karen Zellers
"The Fall Garden" by Amanda Miller (pictured) and Carly Miller.
Susan Morgan presents the Mailbox pillow as a gift to the author, Audrey Shafer (on left).

November 2009 "The Mailbox" Events

2009-10-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

The November events are now listed at http://mvpl-mvrt.blogspot.com/

Author Audrey Shafer will speak at the library, Books Inc., and local schools. Other activities include an art contest, calligraphy class, pop-up card workshop, talk about traumatic stress, and an event centered around dogs (& cats, too).

Art Contest -- due November 2

2009-09-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

("Flowers!" by Amanda and Carly Miller, ages 8 and 12, respectively)

Read the book — “The Mailbox” by Audrey Shafer
Create a work of art in any medium suggested by the book’s themes
Art must not exceed 16”H x 18”W x 20”D
Submit your art and the info below by November 2
Artwork will be displayed in the Library’s lobby through December 1
Artists’ reception Monday, December 1 at 7pm in the Community Room
Prizes will be awarded to three winning entries and five honorable mention submissions.

Name:
Phone:

Email:
Name of work/description:

Submit your work & entry form by November 2 to either of these librarians:

Karin Bricker, Children’s Services, 650.526.7042

Candace Bowers, Adult Services, 650.903.6887

Download PDF of Art Contest flyer.

Did you know that Mountain View is joining in celebrating October National Arts and Humanities Month? For more information, visit http://mv-arts.blogspot.com. You can create your Mountain View Reads Together art piece and also fill out the October Arts Challenge entry form and you'll have TWO chances for different prizes. You can submit your Arts Challenge entry form by mailing it to the City Clerk or turning it in at the library in the autumnal mailbox shown above.

Secret Delivery

2009-07-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

Artist: Michele Mitcavish
Napa County , California
"Secret Delivery"
Fused and Cut Glass Mosaic
2008

"I wanted to take a dreamy approach to my interpretation of the book, "The Mailbox". While I was reading the book, I started to make notes of things that jumped out at me in the story. As wisps of the book's images ran through my imagination, I drew them onto the box. I also incorporated some of the key phrases from the text into the imagery. Then I began cutting and melting the glass. The rhododendrons, flames and green envelope (inside) were all fused in a glass kiln and then filled in with hundreds of pieces of cut glass for the areas of color. After the glass was adhered, I completed the grouting to make sure the mailbox could weather the outdoors. I find working in the medium of mosaic gives me the freedom to visually pull the different elements together to create a complete story."

The Mailbox was the book choice for 2008 Napa County Reads. On November 7th, 2008, Arts Council Napa Valley, the Napa County Office of Education, the Napa County Board of Supervisors, artists, and community members celebrated the Napa County Reads program at an auction and benefit at Artesa Winery. The book was the inspiration for 28 artful mailboxes designed by local artists and auctioned off at the event. The proceeds benefitted Napa County Reads, a literacy program sponsored by the Napa County Office of Education.

2009 Book Choice: The Mailbox

2009-07-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer has been selected as 2009’s Mountain View Reads Together book. This is the first book chosen that was written for a younger audience.

Gabe is a 12 year old who has moved from foster home to foster home and is eventually adopted by a reclusive uncle, a Vietnam Veteran. As the book begins, the boy returns home from school to find the uncle has died unexpectedly. Not wanting to return to foster care, he decides to keep the death a secret. He is aided in this by a mysterious person who communicates with him by leaving messages in the mailbox.

The 178 page book is written for grades 4 and up but should appeal to adults as well. It is a good one for families to discuss. It addresses the lingering effects of the Vietnam War on participants, the plight of a 12 year old orphan who longs for a family, the importance of pets, the value of reading, and a caring community--all wrapped up in a compelling mystery.

The author, a Mountain View resident, is a professor of anesthesiology at Stanford and an anesthesiologist at Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System.

Watch for upcoming details about the November 2009 series of Mountain View Reads Together. More details will be on the Library's website.

Women in Islam (Nov. 24)

2008-11-25T08:55:00.000-08:00

L to R: Ameena Jandali and Sumbul Ali-Karamali

Ameena Jandali is a founding member of Islamic Networks Group. She has delivered hundreds of presentations in schools, colleges, universities, churches, and other venues on Islam and related subjects, and has appeared on numerous television and radio programs. She currently team teaches a class on Islam at San Francisco City College. She received her M.A. in Near Eastern Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and B.A. in History from the University of Illinois.

Sumbul Ali-Karamali is a local author who earned her B.A. from Stanford, her J.D. from U.C. Davis, and her L.L.M. in Islamic Law from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. She was a teaching assistant in Islamic law at the University of London and was a research associate at the Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law in London. For excerpts, reviews, and information about her first book, The Muslim Next Door, please visit her website at www.muslimnextdoor.com.

This was the final program for 2008. Raffle tickets had been given out throughout November whenever an evaluation form was turned in. The drawing was held and four prizes donated by our sponsors were awarded: gift certificates from local bookstores East West Bookstore and Books Inc., a Talk Cinema Palo Alto subscription, and a Flip Ultra video camera from Pure Digital. The winners will be contacted by phone.

Thank you so much to the many people and organizations involved in putting on this year's program! Thank you to those of you who made it out to events, connected with the community, and shared your thoughts and opinions. It takes all of us to make Mountain View the vibrant community it is.

"Change Your World" Youth Contest

2008-11-24T12:02:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, November 22, the winners of the MVRT Change Your World contest were recognized at a program at the Mountain View Public Library. The prizes and refreshments were sponsored by the Mountain View Los Altos Challenge Team and the Friends of the Library.

1st place, Grades 3-7
Natalie Lillie reading from her book Natalie's Lice Aren't Nice
Natalie, age 12, turned a difficult personal experience into a positive lesson for others with her book, “Natalie’s Lice aren’t Nice.” Natalie wrote the book to show other children that they don’t need to be embarrassed about this very common problem. Her book offers a realistic and entertaining story as well as guidelines for avoiding an infestation and recovering from one. The book is in the process of being translated into Spanish. Natalie received a 1st place award of $250.00 in the 3-8th grade category.

2nd place, Grades 8-12
Alexander Gonsalves -- Disha Trust: India
Alexander volunteered at the Disha Charitable Trust, a school for mentally challenged children when visiting Panaji, a city in Goa , India . He wants to do something to help the children at the school. Alexander will be starting a drive for books and art supplies to be sent to Panaji. He won a prize of $150.00 as the second place winner in the high school category.

1st place, Grades 8-12
Akash Nigam -- Kick, Lead and Dream
Akash, the $250.00 1st place winner in the high school category, loves soccer and cares about people who have not had the advantages he has enjoyed. He put those passions together to create “Kick, Lead and Dream” a summer soccer camp for at risk youth in Mountain View. Akash has enlisted many others in his vision-- from fellow students (to serve as coaches) to the support of local organizations including Police Action League (PAL) and Mesa de la Comunidad. The program has been so successful that Akash has been asked to replicate it in Sunnyvale .

L to R: Sharlene Gee, Alexander Gonsalves, Akash Nigam, Natalie Lillie, Karin Bricker

Copies of the advance uncorrected proofs from Penguin: Listen to the Wind (a picture book) and Three Cups of Tea (young reader's edition for grades 3-6). Final copies of the books will be available for sale in January 2009.

Words N2 Action at MVHS (Nov. 18)

2008-11-19T09:49:00.000-08:00

At the Words N2 Action fair at Mountain View High School on Nov. 18, organizations described what they did and shared their needs for volunteers. Students contacted and coordinated the following organizations to participate:
Community School of Music and Arts, Green Citizen, Magic, Tri-City Breakfast Program, Sierra Club, Pathways Hospice, City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley, American Red Cross, Special Olympics -- Silicon Valley, City of Mountain View, Ronald McDonald House, and Reading Partners.

Jennifer Jordan (11/12); Red Rock (11/13)

2008-11-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Jordan

Kate Reid (from Call of the Wild) and Jennifer Jordan

Scenes from the discussion at Red Rock.

"Back to School"; Margo McAuliffe and Kenyan girls school

2008-11-11T06:29:00.000-08:00

Excerpted from the PBS site below:

Back to School is the second installment of Time for School, the multi-year project launched in 2003 when Wide Angle profiled seven children in seven countries – Afghanistan, Benin, Brazil, India, Japan, Kenya, and Romania – starting their first year of school, often despite great odds. Returning in 2006, we find that some are already hanging onto their enrollment by a thread.

For more information on the PBS "Wide Angle" documentary, "Back to School," click here.

=================
Excerpted from the kenyahelpkenya site at the end:

Kenya Help: Building a High School for Girls in Kenya

"You don't need me to come here to teach math. What you need is for me to go home to raise money for the girls' high school". Those were the words, spoken in September 2005, by Margo McAuliffe, retired high school math teacher from Menlo Park, California. Thus began the journey from a bare plot of ground in Naivasha, Kenya to the opening of St Francis Xavier Girls Secondary School (or just St. Francis Girls) to the first class of students in February 2007.

Fr. Daniel Kiriti dreamed of a school for the girls of his Naivasha parish, be they Catholic or not. He wanted a school for the bright but poor girls whose only hope was a secondary education. Its mission would be to empower young women, to build their self-confidence and instill a sense of owning their destiny and that of their community and their country.

For more info on Margo McAuliffe's Kenyan girls school project, go to kenyahelpkenya.org.

Celebrate Pakistani Culture

2008-11-10T11:55:00.001-08:00

Sunday, November 9, in the Mountain View City Hall Rotunda.

Building Multicultural Bridges

2008-11-08T16:21:00.000-08:00

By Sumbul Ali-Karamali

When I read Three Cups of Tea, my predominant reaction was gratitude for Greg Mortenson. In his book, Mortenson relates Jean Hoerni once cynically stating that Americans would never help the Pakistanis, because they cared about the Buddhists, not about the Muslims. Yet, Mortenson almost single-handedly did care and did help, recognizing – as so few ever do – that education is the key to peace.

As an American Muslim girl growing up in Los Angeles, I had the luxury of education. But I was always aware, even as a child, of how close I had come to not having it. My parents had grown up in India, and my father put himself through school by tutoring children – eventually earning four university degrees. He told me repeatedly, as his grandfather had always told him, that education was the only thing no one could take away.

I grew up Muslim at a time when I was usually the only Muslim in my vicinity – so I got all the questions about Islam. In a way, much of my life has been one, long interfaith dialogue! That’s why it occurred to me one day, after I’d embarked on a career as a corporate lawyer, to write a book for everyone who had ever asked me a question on Islam – and for everyone who had ever wanted to ask but didn’t know any Muslims.

So when my husband’s job took us to London, I earned a graduate degree in Islamic law. To my cultural, practioner’s view of Islam, my degree added a Western, academic viewpoint. And I sat down to write that book!

It just came out in September, and it’s called The Muslim Next Door: the Qur’an, the Media, and that Veil Thing. It’s a fun-to-read introduction to Islam that combines a warm, often humorous, conversational narrative tone with academically reliable substantive content. It’s full of stories and anecdotes about growing up Muslim in America, but it’s deeply informative.

As I read Three Cups of Tea, I reflected that Greg Mortenson touched on, but did not explain, several Islamic concepts. For example, would readers know what he meant by “Sunni,” “Shia” or “mullah”? Or what the religious clergy in Iran have to do with Pakistan? Or what Mortenson is saying or doing when he joins the Pakistanis in their prayers? Or what a fatwa is and what the Wahabis and the Taliban are?

That’s the kind of question I answer in my book, but in a relatable, American context. What does the Muslim family next door believe and what do they practice? What’s the significance of Ramadan and how does it play out in an American Muslim life? What’s the status of women in Islam? I still cringe when I remember a conversation with a young man that culminated in his demanding, “What do you mean you can’t go to the prom because of your religion??”

I hope my book helps build multicultural bridges and, yes, even world peace. I know that’s a lofty goal, but Mortenson began the same way, too, doing what he could do and not worrying about what he couldn’t. Civilizations are not antithetical to each other; rather, it’s the misunderstandings of those civilizations that cause clashes. We can all contribute, in whatever way we can, to the eradication of the “clash of ignorances.” And thus, perhaps even to world peace.

---------------
Sumbul Ali-Karamali is a local author who earned her B.A. from Stanford, her J.D. from U.C. Davis, and her L.L.M. in Islamic Law from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. She was a teaching assistant in Islamic law at the University of London and was a research associate at the Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law in London. For excerpts, reviews, and information about her first book, The Muslim Next Door, please visit her website at www.muslimnextdoor.com.

MVHS Art Show at the City Hall Rotunda

2008-11-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Visitors looking at the art.

Honorable Mention: by Eric Rizo

Honorable Mention (top) by Amanda Hyer, (bottom) by Becca Robbins

Second Prize (piece on top left) by Michelle Bernard (pictured with her mother)

First Prize by Masha Kitaigorodsky (left), pictured with Lori Nock, MVHS Commercial Art teacher, show organizer

Getting to Know Your Muslim American Neighbors (Nov. 1)

2008-11-04T10:17:00.001-08:00

Maha ElGenaidi, President & Founder of Islamic Networks Group presents to the audience

L to R: Sumbul Ali-Karamali, author of The Muslim Next Door, and Maha ElGenaidi listen to a question from the audience

Maha El Genaidi has presented to hundreds of schools, churches, synagogues, police departments, corporations and other public agencies and has appeared on numerous television and radio programs. She is a recipient of numerous civil rights awards, including the 2002 "Citizen of the Year" Award from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Maha received her B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the American University in Cairo. http://ing.org

The 2008 Election and the Gap Between Our Minds and Our Ideals

2008-11-03T10:07:00.000-08:00

This blog entry is an aside having to do with this year's historical election and the 2006 Mountain View Reads Together book choice, Blink. Back in 2006 we ran a Mountain View Reads Together event related to this gap:
http://mvreads.blogspot.com/2006/11/reveal-your-mind-computer-exercise.html

**** On Sunday, November 2, the San Jose Mercury News published an article by Nicholas D. Kristof:
Race in this election exposes the gap between our minds and our ideals

For the past year and a half, a team of psychology professors has been conducting remarkable experiments on how Americans view Barack Obama through the prism of race.

The scholars used a common research technique, the implicit-association test, to measure whether people regarded Obama and other candidates as more foreign or more American. They found that research subjects — particularly when primed to think of Obama as a black candidate — subconsciously considered him less American than either Hillary Clinton or John McCain.

Click here for the entire article.

**** And another article you may find interesting:
Studies Find a Candidate's Looks Matter
by Jeanna Bryner, on livescience.com, published online 10/30/08

Voters look for someone who appears both competent and attractive when choosing a president, at least when the candidate is female, finds a new study.

If true, the reportedly astronomical fees spent on vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's appearance could have been right on the money.

"Campaign managers seem to be ahead of the game in understanding that image really matters," said Joan Y. Chiao, a psychologist at Northwestern University in Illinois. "They know that, contrary to popular notions, people are not necessarily using deliberate and rational strategies in deciding whom to vote for, especially when it comes to women."

Click here for the entire article.

Saturday Kicks Off 2008 Events

2008-10-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

In this post ...

1. Saturday Kicks Off MV Reads Together 2008
2. MVHS Art Reception (Nov. 3, 5:30-7pm)
3. Margo McAuliffe's Path to Kenyan Girls' School (Nov. 10, 6:30pm)

1. Saturday Kicks Off MV Reads Together 2008

During the entire month of November Mountain View Reads Together is encouraging a community conversation around the themes of this year's selection, Three Cups of Tea.

This Saturday at 2pm, the events kick off with “Getting to Know Your Muslim American Neighbors” at the library. The founder of Islamic Networks Group (ING), Maha ElGenaidi, will be speaking. She is known to be a fabulous speaker and has been the keynote speaker at many events. Maha’s educational presentation is ideal for adults and families with children grades 3 and up.

Getting to Know Your Muslim American Neighbors
Library Community Room
Saturday, November 1, 2-3pm

2. MVHS Art Reception
Meet the artists from Mountain View High School at the opening of their month-long art show at the City Hall Rotunda. Over 80 pieces of work will be displayed -- photography, painting, and digital art. Some of the pieces might be controversial – experience it yourself and talk to the artist.

MVHS Art Show Reception
City Hall Rotunda
Monday, November 3, 5:30-7pm

3. Margo McAuliffe's Path to Kenyan Girls' School

Margo McAuliffe, a retired math teacher from Menlo Park, followed her dream of teaching African girls and travelled to Kenya in 2005. Instead of teaching math, she discovered a greater need: fundraising. A local priest desperately needed money to fund the building of a new girls’ school in the town of Naivasha.

Although the funding came from the US, this is an African project, with Kenyan architects, engineers, and builders. Margo divides her time between the US and Kenya, as the final phases of the school project continue.

Margo will speak following the rescheduled screening of PBS documentary "Back to School."

"Back to School" & Margo McAuliffe
Library Community Room
Monday, November 10, 6:30pm

What happened next? What's happening now?

2008-10-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

I read Three Cups of Tea a few months ago and right away I wanted to know “What happened next?” and “What’s happening now?” Almost all the events in the book took place more than five years ago.

The Central Asia Institute site (www.ikat.org) is the best resource I’ve found. Three Cups tells the story of CAI’s start in 1996. The focus today remains schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but the Institute has smaller projects in Krygyzstan and Mongolia.

Check out the videos https://www.ikat.org/media-and-press/videos/ for a small glimpse of the schools, students and workers. The publication called Journey of Hope linked from the CAI front page www.ikat.org is a compilation of a series of articles published in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle in the fall of 2007. Two newspaper staff members joined Greg Mortenson on a trip in July of last year. The photographs alone make this document worth viewing. The text tells of several schools built to replace those destroyed in 2007 northern Pakistan / Kashmir earthquake, and of one school in Afghanistan that was attacked by the Taliban, who were fought off by a local militia. Journey of Hope II is due to be published in November and should provide the latest news.

Journey of Hope counts 64 schools by the end of 2007 and the CAI site (https://www.ikat.org/projects/regional-map/) lists 93 projects – 69 in Pakistan and 24 in Afghanistan.

You won’t find too much additional information at the official Greg Mortenson site www.gregmortenson.com. But Dr. Greg’s blog (http://gregmortenson.blogspot.com/) is more up to date and it lists several books that he has read or recommends.

It’s somehow refreshing to find that there isn’t a detailed page or site for every school built in Pakistan. It says something about CAI’s emphasis. With no letup in the popularity of Three Cups of Tea, the international versions, the upcoming publications of versions for young adults and kids, and the brutal Greg Mortenson travel and speaking schedule, I hope CAI can grow in a way that balances the outpouring of interest with the continuing core mission.

-- Eric Anderson

A Burqa in Mountain View?

2008-10-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

I went to see Rosemary speak about women in Afghanistan and after the presentation I was asked to model the burqa that Rosemary brought along as a prop. I agreed.

It was uncomfortable to peek out the little netted window, the head band was tight around the top of my head, and I simply can't imagine having to wear it on a daily basis. I felt like I was hiding behind a curtain. It is unfathomable to imagine being told that I would have to wear that garment everyday.

Heidi Chun

Female in Afghanistan. Stasek presents in September.

2008-08-27T16:04:00.000-07:00

Free programs about the Lives of Women and Teens,
featuring the stories and slides of Rosemary Stasek

An inspiring and passionate speaker, Stasek will change the way you read and watch the news about Afghanistan. Rosemary Stasek is the founder of “A Little Help,” a charitable organization dedicated to improving the health, education and lives of women in Afghanistan. Stasek, the former mayor of Mountain View, has worked tirelessly to make it possible for Afghan women and girls to begin to realize their own dreams.

The Struggle of Women in Today’s Afghanistan:
Wednesday, September 10th
Mountain View City Hall, Council Chambers (2nd floor)
500 Castro Street
7:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Teens in Afghanistan
Thursday, September 11th
Mountain View Public Library, Community Room
585 Franklin Street
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Questions? Call Karin Bricker at the Library, 650-526-7042

Download the flyer.

MV Fraternal Order of Eagles Support

2008-08-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

Standing on Castro Street in front of the Fraternal Order of Eagles property, Sharlene Gee receives a check for Mountain View Reads Together from President Frank Busuttil.

It Takes a School, Not Missiles (NYT, 7/13/08)

2008-07-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

It Takes a School, Not Missiles
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: July 13, 2008

Since 9/11, Westerners have tried two approaches to fight terrorism in Pakistan, President Bush’s and Greg Mortenson’s.

Mr. Bush has focused on military force and provided more than $10 billion — an extraordinary sum in the foreign-aid world — to the highly unpopular government of President Pervez Musharraf. This approach has failed: the backlash has radicalized Pakistan’s tribal areas so that they now nurture terrorists in ways that they never did before 9/11.

Mr. Mortenson, a frumpy, genial man from Montana, takes a diametrically opposite approach, and he has spent less than one-ten-thousandth as much as the Bush administration. He builds schools in isolated parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, working closely with Muslim clerics and even praying with them at times.

Read the entire article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/opinion/13kristof.html?ref=opinion

Rosemary Stasek: A Little Help Goes a Long Way

2008-07-01T18:05:00.000-07:00

Former Mountain View mayor, Rosemary Stasek, was featured on NBC on June 27 for the work she's doing in Afghanistan. To view the two minute segment, click here.

Her non-profit, "A Little Help," has a website:
http://stasek.com/alittlehelp/.

The resources link is her bibliography of books about Afghanistan that she finds exceptional.

June 2008 Newsletter

2008-06-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

In This Issue
1. Building Up to November
2. 2008 Book Chosen
3. Announcing Film Competition
4. Designing Community

1. Building Up to November

It's happening for the third year ... Mountain View Reads Together!

Buy the book on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View at Books Inc. or East West Bookstore, and 10% will be donated to the MV Public Library
Read the book over the summer
Mark your calendars for November activities

2. 2008 Book Chosen!

Read Three Cups of Tea, the multiple award-winning book and #1 New York Times bestseller, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This true story starts with Mortenson's failed attempt to climb Pakistan's K2, the world's second highest mountain. After receiving life-saving help from villagers, Mortenson vows to repay that kindness by helping those villagers build a school. Mortenson's passionate determination enables him to successfully build schools and promote education and peace in some of the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

3. Announcing a Film Competition

Produce a film, ten minutes or shorter, inspired by Three Cups of Tea and compete for publicity, cash, and other prizes. Films will be judged according to relevance to the book's themes, creativity, filmmaking quality, inspirational qualities, and popularity. First prize wins
$500, the new Flip Ultra video camcorder, and a pass to Talk Cinema Palo Alto.

4. Designing Community

Our logo is a little different this year, thanks to Mountain View High School (MVHS) student Gena Adamo. This year we're working with MVHS Commercial Art students (taught by Lori Nock) to build upon the past two years' designs by Kelly Leong. Jennifer Feeney has designed the flyer promoting the film contest. We have looked at design ideas and interviewed to pick the student who will continue to work with us on the poster and brochures.

================================

Mountain View Reads Together is run by mostly volunteers.

* Got an idea?
* Want to host an event?
* Want to help?

Contact us!

Mountain View Reads Together Announces 2008 Book; Film Contest Added

2008-06-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2008

Contact:
Candace Bowers, 650-903-6337, http://www.mvreads.org, email: info(at)mvreads.org

Mountain View, CA -- Three Cups of Tea, the multiple award-winning book and #1 New York Times bestseller, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is this year’s choice for the third annual Mountain View Reads Together. This book recounts the unlikely journey that starts with Mortenson’s failed attempt to climb Pakistan’s K2, the world’s second highest mountain. After receiving life-saving help from villagers, Mortenson vows to repay that kindness by building those villagers a school. Mortenson’s passionate determination enables him to successfully build schools and promote education and peace in some of the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mountain View Reads Together offers a rich variety of activities around one book in order to encourage Mountain View to get together and talk about the book and its themes. Even if you haven’t read the book, families, neighbors, and those in Mountain View can still talk or learn about it and attend activities. For the fullest experience, read the book over the summer and mark your calendars to attend free activities in November based on this true story and its themes of charity, education, and living life to its fullest. Buy the book on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View at Books Inc. or East West Bookstore, and 10% of the sales will be donated to the City of Mountain View Public Library.

To encourage even more community participation and creativity, this year a short film competition is being held. Produce a film, ten minutes or shorter, inspired by Three Cups of Tea and compete for publicity, cash, and other prizes. Films will be judged according to relevance to the book’s themes, creativity, filmmaking quality, inspirational qualities, and popularity. Prizes are provided by sponsors of the film contest: KMVT15, Talk Cinema, and Pure Digital. First prize wins $500, the new Flip Ultra video camcorder, and a pass to Talk Cinema’s Sneak Preview Film Series in Palo Alto. Second and third prizes win a Flip Ultra. The top three films will be broadcast on community television channel, KMVT15. For more details, please see the website.

Tying into the book’s theme of charity, a Pennies for Peace program will also be held this fall. This program created by the Central Asia Institute, the non-profit formed by Mortenson, educates American children about the world beyond their experience and shows them that they can make a positive impact on a global scale, one penny at a time. Contact us if you are willing to run a Pennies for Peace program within your Mountain View-based organization.

Mountain View Reads Together is presented by the City of Mountain View Public Library and planned by a committee of mostly volunteers. More volunteers and ideas are encouraged.

Contact: Candace Bowers, 650-903-6337, http://www.mvreads.org, email: info(at)mvreads.org
# # #

Nov. 28 -- MVHS Leadership Class Visits Oak School

2007-12-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

On November 28 students from MVHS Leadership class visited Oak School and read Filipino stories to four first grade classes and two kindergarten classes. One of the MVHS students, Emma Eline, had this to share:

My name is Emma and I'm one of the leadership students that went to Oak School to read. In my opinion, the whole thing went really well. We began practicing reading out loud and working on Tagalog word pronunciation a few weeks before we actually went to the school. In order to make sure that we were pronouncing words correctly, a few members of our group attended a lunch meeting of the Asian FYO [Filipino Youth Organization] club. Some of the members of the club were able to help us with pronunciation, and then the information was passed along to the rest of our group. The day before we went to Oak School, we talked about how we would introduce ourselves, and what else we could do to make the children more comfortable with us. Once we got to the school, we were each sent to a different classroom (4 first grade classes, 2 kindergarten classes) to read. Everyone's experience went really smoothly. The kids were interested, attentive, and involved in the reading - making comments or asking questions. The teachers seemed welcome to more students coming to read to classes in the future; and we all found it to be such a fun experience that we would gladly do it again.

Last 2007 Event: Tess Uriza Holthe at MVHS

2007-11-30T13:43:00.001-08:00

The MVHS Madrigals opened the event with festive songs. What a musical treat!

We heard your feedback from November 1, so Ms. Holthe opened this event with a brief reading from When the Elephants Dance. Since people enjoyed the conversational style used on November 1 so much, we used the format again. MVHS Assistant Principal Donna Peltz posed several thought-provoking questions before opening up to questions from the audience.

The organized activities are over for this year. Let us know your feedback and book suggestions for future years. We'd love to have your help, too! (info at mvreads dot org).

Fires on the Plain (DVD and Book)

2007-11-23T11:29:00.000-08:00

After looking at the book description on the front of the Mountain View Reads Together brochure, a colleague told me about a book he read and recommended, "Fires on the Plain." When I googled it, I found that a film was made (in 1959) based on the book that was restored and reissued just this year. The MV library has the 2007 DVD.

It's a tough film to watch. I advise watching the video introduction by Japanese-film scholar David Richie to help understand the film's relevance. The booklet that comes with the DVD is also interesting.

The book by Shohei Ooka was originally published in Japanese in 1951, and the English translation was published in 1957. A new edition was published in 2001.

I'm reading the book now, after watching the film. I often like a book better than its film version. Maybe it's because I usually read the book first and have to imagine everything, and the film doesn't match what I imagine. When I watch a film first, I often can't forget the images I've seen in the film, so it's a different reading experience.

NEA Announces New Reading Study

2007-11-21T20:41:00.000-08:00

November 19, 2007 the National Endowment for the Arts announced the release of To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence, a new and comprehensive analysis of reading patterns in the United States. To Read or Not To Read gathers statistics from more than 40 studies on the reading habits and skills of children, teenagers, and adults. The compendium reveals recent declines in voluntary reading and test scores alike, exposing trends that have severe consequences for American society.

The key findings:

Americans are reading less (on average, Americans ages 15 to 24 spend almost two hours a day watching TV, and only seven minutes of their daily leisure time on reading)
Americans are reading less well
The declines in reading have civic, social, and economic implications

Sunil Iyengar, NEA Director of Research and Analysis, said, "To Read or Not to Read compels us to consider more carefully how we spend our time, since those choices affect us individually and collectively."

To Read or Not to Read confirms the central importance of reading for a prosperous, free society. The data here demonstrate that reading is an irreplaceable activity in developing productive and active adults as well as healthy communities.

Click here for the press release.
Click here for the research report.

Filipino American Literature Bibliography

2007-11-18T16:28:00.000-08:00

Several times I've heard people express that "When the Elephants Dance" is the first book they've heard about that was written by a Filipino American. I found this entry by Barbara Jane Reyes in the Philippine American Literary House's Blog. If you know of others, please add a comment (click on the word "comment" below this entry).

Bookmaking

2007-11-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

Yakkity-yak book to save family stories.

Tracing the MV Community Tree

2007-11-18T10:54:00.001-08:00

After the presentation about Mountain View's history and an active discussion with the audience, SFSU Professor Dan Gonzales, second from the right, reviews his notes. These notes will be available online soon.
Graham Middle School TV was on-hand to film the event.

Nov. 10 Storytelling & Family Stories

2007-11-11T17:45:00.000-08:00

Olga Loya
Tony Robles introduces Lakas and the Manilatown Fish

Nov. 7 Celebrate Filipino Culture at MV High

2007-11-08T07:41:00.000-08:00

The Filipino Culture Festival was successful from all aspects.
Although we could have used more food, everyone enjoyed themselves.
At least half of the staff and many of the student population came
out after school to enjoy Filipino food, music and games but everyone
seemed to be interested in the food! That was the main attraction:
the food. Everyone who came to the festival refused to leave without
having had a lumpia to eat. The festival could have lasted a little
longer, but I don't think our food supply would have lasted.

-- Angeline Capati, MVHS student, Filipino Youth Organization member

Read-Aloud with Crafts and Snacks

2007-11-04T20:36:00.001-08:00

Linda Watanabe McFerrin Interviews Tess Uriza Holthe

2007-11-04T20:13:00.000-08:00

The activities kicked off on November 1 at the MV Senior Center with Linda Watanabe McFerrin (on left) asking thoughtful interview questions to Tess Uriza Holthe (on right).

It was Linda Watanabe McFerrin’s class offered at Book Passage Bookstore in Corte Madera that launched Tess Uriza Holthe’s interest in writing and her first novel (When the Elephants Dance) a year and a half later.

A "Blink" Back

2007-11-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

During 2006 researchers from the Exploratorium attended some of our Mountain View Reads Together activities because they were working on a major new exhibit, Mind, for their permanent collection. It was four years of research and work. Check out the website, which includes the press release. If you go to the exhibit, you'll have a lot of fun experiencing many of the topics covered in 2006's book, Blink.

http://www.exploratorium.edu/mind/

Russell Volckmann and "We Remained"

2007-10-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

Mountain View Reads Together is about conversations around the book of the year. You might not have even read it to have interesting conversations you might not have had otherwise. The other night Chris Campbell told me about a guy from his hometown, Russell [somebody], and how he served in the Philippines and wrote a book, now out of print.

Later, I "googled" what I remembered, and asked Chris to write a few paragraphs for this blog about Russell McLogan, who wrote "Boy Soldier: Coming of Age During World War II." Turns out it was the wrong Russell. Here's what Chris had to share:

When I was a child, growing up in a small Illinois town in the 60s, I was surprised to learn that the father of my friend, Ted Volckmann, was a West Point Graduate, a retired Brigadier General and a WWII Veteran. He never spoke about his experiences, and we just knew him as Mr. Volckmann, the owner of Volckmann’s Furniture factory. As it turns out, Russell Volckmann had been a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army, stationed in the Philippines in December of 1941. Like many other American Service personnel, he was captured and held in a camp on the Bataan Peninsula. On the night before the infamous Bataan Death March started, he and several other soldiers slipped out under the wire and escaped into the Philippine jungle. And there they remained for the entire war, gone, but certainly not forgotten.

Russell Volckmann commanded the Allied guerilla campaign on Luzon in the Philippines, operating out of the Cordillera in the northern part of the island. He was in communication with the US Government and Allied forces during the occupation, and the Japanese forces knew his name well. They had a large price on his head, but there were no takers. His civilian liaison and lieutenant was Ferdinand Marcos, later President of the Philippines. In America, his wife at the time was told by the Government that he was dead, and I believe that she remarried. While Douglas MacArthur famously said “I shall return,” Russell Volckmann wrote a book entitled We Remained. It is out of print and almost impossible to find.

During the Vietnam War, the Johnson Administration made extensive use of his vast expertise in jungle fighting and guerilla tactics. My parents and Ted’s parents used to golf together, and there were occasions when Mrs. Volckmann would show up alone, saying that Russ had business out of town. We found out later that he was being flown to Washington DC to consult with the President and the Pentagon. If they flew him to Saigon, he’d be gone for several days. We were told it was just a long business trip. Whenever President and Mrs. Marcos were in Washington, General and Mrs. Volckmann were always invited to the State Dinner at the White House.

General Volckmann passed away many years ago, but the hard lessons he learned during his experience as a guerilla leader are more relevant than ever. Further information can be found online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_warfare#World_War_II_American_writings

From Tess Uriza Holthe

2007-10-04T10:16:00.001-07:00

I am so delighted to have When the Elephants Dance chosen for Mountain View Reads Together.

The power of the written and spoken word to heal, spark discussion and bring people together never ceases to amaze me. In fact, many aspects of this book stemmed from having grown up in a diverse household teeming with people: relatives, newly immigrated Filipinos, players of my parents weekly mahjong games, service men from my brother's Vietnam boot camp and my grandfather's World War II Navy Veteran's group. Over the years, their personal experiences, stories and characteristics soaked into my skin and many years later, onto the page. During many of my book readings people in the audience felt compelled to share their parents' and their own life experiences of World War II. I look forward to hearing what the community of Mountain View has to share after reading WHEN THE ELEPHANTS DANCE.

-- Tess Uriza Holthe
(photo by Russ Pelton)

2007's Book: When the Elephants Dance

2007-09-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

The book selected for Mountain View Reads Together 2007 is When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe. A family hides with their neighbors in a cramped cellar, where they glean hope from the family stories and folktales they share with each other. These stories of love, survival, and family blend the supernatural with the rich, little known history of the Philippines: the centuries of Spanish colonization, the power of the Catholic church, and the colorful worlds of the Spanish, Mestizo, and Filipino cultures.

The author will be participating at these events:

Tess Uriza Holthe in Conversation with
Linda Watanabe McFerrin
Thursday, November 1, 7:00 PM
Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave.
It was poet, novelist, and teacher Linda Watanabe McFerrin’s class that launched Tess Uriza Holthe’s interest in writing. A year and a half later, Holthe wrote When the Elephants Dance, a novel of human survival in the crossfire of warfare based upon her own family stories in the Philippines during World War II. Join us for a thoughtful conversation between these two Bay Area authors.

Meet the Author
Thursday, Nov. 29, 7:00 PM
Mountain View High School, 3535 Truman Ave.
In When the Elephants Dance stories of Filipino culture and history are woven into the harsh realities of the last days of World War II in the Philippines. Hopefully, you’ve read the book and now’s your opportunity to ask the author your questions. Author Tess Uriza Holthe will speak and answer questions.

Last(!) Event of 2006: Teens & Parents Online. Raffle Winners!

2006-11-30T14:00:00.000-08:00

19 Mountain View Reads Together events are all over! Almost 500 people attended (some people attended many activities, so those aren't 500 different individuals). The last event was teens and their parents taking the Implicit Association Test (IAT; see also this former blog posting). Unlike the earlier IAT activity, this group started off with the "Weight IAT."

Since this was the last event of the season, we did the raffle drawing at the end. An observer from the Exploratorium, who didn't have any raffle tickets in the pail, was drafted to pull the winners. Many thanks to the raffle prize donors: Books Inc., East-West Bookstore, and two anonymous individuals who donated the iPod shuffles.

$25 East-West Bookstore gift certificate	436260
$25 Books Inc. gift certificate	436030
iPod Shuffle	436039
iPod Shuffle	436107

"Experiencing Stereotypes" Activity at Samovar

2006-11-29T10:08:00.000-08:00

Since the Samovar Russian store (groceries, books, movies, etc.) moved from their former location on California & San Antonio to their current location on Independence Ave. (near Costco and REI), they now have an adjoining room, Samovar Hall. It's busy! Our event took place after a rehearsal for a local children's dance company and before a jazz band rehearsal.

We were very fortunate that AudioVision was able to describe "Silent Beats" for the visually impaired in the audience. If you haven't yet seen the film, click on the link to the right. Imagine "being the eyes" for someone else, trying to describe what you see without interpreting it so that the visually impaired person can self-interpret. It almost seems impossible! Several sighted people listened in to the description.

In the discussion that followed, people shared their reactions to the film, talked about the description, race relations, first impressions, the usefulness and drawbacks of stereotypes, and many other topics. The Chinese translator mentioned how translating the drop of sweat requires one to decide if it's from exertion, anxiety, or nervousness.

The planned "Who Am I?" game was introduced and we had a teaser of how it'd be played out, but we didn't have time to actually participate. The game was intended to draw out more discussion about rapid decision making and stereotypes, but there was more than enough that people wanted to talk about even without the game.

Librarian Action Figure, Nancy Pearl

2006-11-26T15:15:00.001-08:00

Nancy Pearl is a real person, a librarian, who made it to "action figure"-dom (available from accoutrements.com). From the back of the packaging: "Accomplishments: Director of Library Programming and the Washington Center for the Book at the Seattle Public Library. Nancy is best known for the, 'If All Seattle Read The Same Book' project. This idea of one city reading the same book at the same time has been imitated in cities around the world."

This finally seemed to reach the Bay Area in 2005 in San Francisco and Berkeley. 2006 seemed to be the year of many Bay Area cities launching their first years ...

Here are Bay Area "city reads" that we've found. If you know of others, please post any info in a comment to this posting.

The original idea came from Seattle in 1996.

Hummingbird's Daughter, Luis Alberto Urrea, San Francisco, Sept.-Nov. 2006.
China Boy, Gus Lee, Sept.-Oct. 2005.

Funny in Farsi,, Firoozeh Dumas, and The Circuit, Francisco Jimenez, Berkeley, kicked off 9/30/06.
House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros, 2005

The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini, Redwood City, May 2006.

The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri, Walnut Creek, Sept.-Oct. 2006

Funny in Farsi, Firoozeh Dumas, Palo Alto, 10/10/06-11/10/06

In the MV Reads Together evaluations returned so far, over 60 books have been suggested for future years. If you have a book suggestion, please post it in a comment to this posting and include your ideas for activities for your book suggestion that have wide appeal.

How to post comments

Think Fast! Speed Chess

2006-11-18T16:16:00.000-08:00

The meeting room at the Computer History Room was filled to capacity, mostly with local chess club members and their families. We were welcomed by Computer History Museum's Vice President of Public Programs, Karen Tucker. By a show of hands, the majority of the room had never visited the museum. Huff Elementary chess coach, David Floyer, played a demonstration game of speed chess with Math Olympiad teacher and Chess Prep owner, "Mr. G" (Dan Gertmenian). Afterwards the two debriefed and discussed their moves and strategies. With only five minutes for a game, Mr. G said we have to look for patterns. Rapid decisions are based on intuition and experience. "Go with it!"

We then moved to the large room where the "Mastering the Game" exhibit resides (very appropriate). Everyone then had a chance to try a rousing game of speed chess. Even a half hour after the official two hour activity, it was hard to put away those last two chess boards.

How to post comments

"Reveal Your Mind" Computer Exercise

2006-11-17T10:16:00.000-08:00

Attitudes toward topics like race or gender operate on two levels: (1) conscious (those we choose) and (2) unconscious. Psychologists have been looking at the role our unconscious, or implicit, associations play in our beliefs and behavior. The idea is that we make connections more quickly between pairs of ideas that are already related in our minds than we do between pairs of ideas that are unfamiliar to us. Taking the Implicit Association Test (IAT) on the computer allows for measuring the time in milliseconds between stimulus and response.

The group started with doing the Gender-Career exercise discussed in the book (pp. 77-81).

You can do this, too. Take IAT.

What went through your mind as you took the test and when you saw the results?

How to post comments

Panel Discussion on Interviewing

2006-11-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

Panelists represented three different types of MV employers: non-profit Community School of Music and Arts, the oldest organization of the three (almost 40 years); Tellme Networks, a tech start-up with hundreds of employees; and Mercury Interactive, the host, with 26 worldwide offices and ~3000 employees. Catherine Tornbom, Interfuse Associates, facilitated the panel. The purpose of the panel was to explore the theory of "thin slices" as it relates to interviewing potential employees (Chapter 3, specifically pages 34-39).

Here's an example of the lead-in discussion and a few questions: Gladwell suggests that we are not very objective about ourselves, which makes face-to-face conversations confusing and complicated sometimes, and that ultimately, irrelevant pieces of info can screw up our judgment. He also discusses that our first impressions are generated by our experiences and our environment, and that quick decision making invokes our prejudices and stereotypes. He gives two examples – the students preparing for an exam and the example of the orchestra struggling through discrimination issues when conducting auditions face to face. Going to blind auditions shifted the process considerably.

Q: In what ways does your interview process support a more solid and skilled interview?

Gladwell has an interesting example of how it is possible to tell more about the person by spending time in their living space. Assuming that this is not one of techniques that you are able to use,

Q: What are some of the techniques that you’ve found most useful to avoid getting your judgment confused?

How to post comments

Discussion at Books Inc. (Nov. 12)

2006-11-14T13:23:00.000-08:00

Fifteen or so people joined the discussion of Blink at Books Inc., Sunday afternoon. Most had read the book, or had nearly finished; but a few attendees were curious about the Mountain View Reads project. We had a spirited and far ranging discussion, drawing from life experiences in the classroom, the Red Cross, and sales, along with other areas; and I think that everyone who attended contributed something that enriched the talk. Although touching on most of Malcolm Gladwell’s points, our conversation centered on the chapters in Blink dealing with bias, stereotypes, and, especially, the IAT, or Implicit Association Test. We considered the different strategies put forward by Gladwell for overcoming, or at least questioning, our biases, and tied them in to our own experiences: from helping school children make positive associations with their backgrounds, to deepening our own experiences with diverse cultures, to taking advantage of other peoples’ unexamined associations, such as dressing the part of an authority with a hardhat and vest for the Red Cross. The chapter on the IAT is one of the most challenging and disturbing in the book, and I found it refreshing to have such a frank conversation that didn’t shy away from difficult emotions.

Thanks to everyone who attended,
Eric Petersen, Books Inc. Manager

Triangle Taste Test: Verona vs. Yukon

2006-11-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

On Thursday evening, a group of about fifteen Mountain View Blink fans enjoyed themselves discussing Blink over coffee and pastries generously provided by Chris and James at Starbucks (Middlefield&N.Rengstorff). Starbucks was a wonderful environment to relax and chat in small groups about priming, thin-slicing, implicit attitudes, facial expressions, dirty bedrooms, and other interesting topics from Blink.
Then came the triangle taste test. First James taught how to taste coffee (like wine tasting!). Each cup was inside another cup to hide if it had "V" (for Verona ) written on the bottom. The triangle test is like that old Sesame Street game -- "One of these things is not like the others." Given three cups of two coffees only about 5 of the 15 people could distinguish Verona from Yukon , so that jells with what Gladwell says in the book (1/3rd of people can distinguish Coke from Pepsi in a triangle test.)

--Dhananjay (DJ) Ragade

How to post comments

Anti-Blink?

2006-11-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

To try and get your opinions ... if you're interested, there's another book, "Th!nk: Why Crucial Decisions Can't Be Made in the Blink of an Eye" by Michael R. LeGault. The heading and first sentence in the book jacket say, "This isn't the time to Blink. It's time to THINK! -- before it's too late. Outraged by the downward spiral of American intellect and culture, Michael R. LeGault offers the flip side of Malcolm Gladwell's bestselling phenomenon, Blink, which theorized that our best decision-making is done on impulse, without factual knowledge or critical analysis."

I personally disagree that Blink reaches that theory or conclusion, but I do invite those who have disagreements, doubts, and questions about what was written in Blink to chime in. I recall that there were people from Stanford who had a lot of questions for Malcolm Gladwell when he spoke at our Books Inc. in January 2005.

-- Sharlene Gee

Nov. 8 Discussions

2006-11-08T23:36:00.000-08:00

From smaller-sized discussions (e.g., at the new senior center) to larger-sized discussions (at East-West Bookstore), people say they most enjoy conversation, interaction, learning of others' opinions, sharing, exchanging ideas and thoughts, etc. We urge you to continue this experience online. Many of you would probably enjoy seeing others' comments, but it seems people are reluctant to comment here.

Are any of you reading this that participated in an activity? We need a few people to start an example of sharing opinions online. Perhaps you observed others talking but didn't feel strongly enough to chime in, or maybe you're shy or not as assertive as others that were there, or maybe someone spoke again just when you were about to finally speak -- you have another opportunity online. Or maybe you're one of those who spoke a lot but even more thoughts have come to mind.

To comment, click on "comments" below the appropriate posting. For example, if you went to the police event, comment on the posting with the police photo. Under "Choose an identity," if you do not have a Blogger identity, we encourage you to choose "Other" and enter your name and neighborhood or zip code. For example, "Jane Smith, Monta Loma" or "Jane, 94043."

Learn2Resolve Workshops

2006-11-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

Interest and interaction was high at both of the Learn2Resolve "Stay Out of Conflict" workshops. The concepts were the same, but examples were drawn from adult and teen lives, respectively. The first night people were still talking a half hour after the workshop and had to be repeatedly asked by the librarian to leave since the library was closing. A few people well beyond their teens showed up at the teen workshop because circumstances caused them to miss the adult workshop. The discussion was stimulating -- how often do a sixth grader, the student's parent, and an unrelated 70+-year old born in another country share stories about conflict and why it might have occurred? The parent reflected back to a time after college; the sixth grader remembered a story from second grade.

Our minds naturally seek patterns; we need them in order to function and react to all the situations we're faced with. But what assumptions went into forming that pattern? In times of conflict with another individual, we need to examine unconscious rapid decisions we've made about the other. The "ladder of assumptions" "motives" rung is what Malcolm Gladwell calls "mind reading." From reading the mind of an individual, we may proceed to make generalizations about groups and take certain actions, both individually and institutionally.

Graham Middle School has a dress code policy that limits the amount of red and blue that students wear on campus. Other debated topics are racial profiling by the police and the SPOT program at airports (see the last blog posting).

Paul Ekman's 11/5/06 article on the TSA SPOT program

2006-11-06T06:45:00.000-08:00

Did anyone read this article by Paul Ekman in the 11/5/06 San Jose Mercury News on the front page of the Perspective section? Dr. Paul Ekman is the researcher discussed in Blink who's an expert in reading facial expressions and emotions. He's a pro bono adviser to the Transportation Security Administration's controversial new security program, SPOT (Screening Passengers by Observational Techniques).

We tried to get Dr. Ekman to speak at the kickoff event but he had a schedule conflict.

Anyone care to comment on your thoughts and reactions?

Nov. 4: Police Activity; Stories for kids

2006-11-05T06:27:00.000-08:00

30 people gathered at the police department on Saturday at 10AM. People said they liked the real-life scenario, Q&A and discussion.

Unfortunately, Chief Vermeer had a schedule conflict. Captain Freeberg filled in most capably (and on his day off). He tied topics in with the book and was able to answer questions referring to Blink subjects and scenarios. Those who hadn't read the book had no problems still finding this activity interesting; those who filled out surveys all indicated that they planned to read it.

Immediately after the police event, the Spanish-language activity for kids took place at the library. Maynard clearly had their attention with his expressive reading. Big smiles, eyes showing delight, and laughter all indicated the kids were having lots of fun.

MV Reads Together Kicks Off!

2006-11-02T03:51:00.000-08:00

This brand new project kicked off yesterday with two activities: (1) a Read Aloud at noon at the library and (2) a mixed program at Google. Mayor Nick Galiotto and MVWSD Superintendent Dr. Maurice Ghysels were among those who spoke at the kickoff.

The highlight of the Google event was the playing of "Silent Beats" and an opportunity to hear from and ask questions of the writer/director, Jon Chu. He said his feature film directorial debut will be "The Prom," to be released in 2008.

Out of 39 surveys received at the kickoff, all indicated they enjoyed the activity (a few didn't mark yes or no). Almost exclusively, what people most enjoyed was the movie and Jon Chu. Not all indicated what they least enjoyed; when people did, they mentioned the length of the intro speakers, and several wanted more content to do with the book itself. A few commented on the difficulty of finding Google and that it was hard to hear some speakers.

We encourage you to participate in MV Reads Together online. Note the new link on this blog to let you watch "Silent Beats" on your computer. It seems that every time one watches this film, the more one notices.

This film will be shown again at one of the last events, Activity #18: Experiencing Stereotypes, which takes place at Samovar Hall, adjoining MV's Russian store, Samovar. This venue will allow us to gather together and have a facilitated discussion about the film and the stereotypes we've personally experienced.

If you attended either of the Nov. 1 activities and feel like commenting, please do so by clicking on "comments" below this posting. Under "Choose an identity," if you do not have a Blogger identity, we encourage you to choose "Other" and enter your name and neighborhood or zip code. For example, "Jane Smith, Monta Loma" or "Jane, 94043."

Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink

2006-10-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

I love the idea that Blink has been chosen for MV Reads Together. Sometimes people ask me what the books I've written "mean" or what I'm trying to say with them, and I always feel like I can't answer that question. I think of Blink--and Tipping Point, as well--as exercises in intellectual provocation. I'm trying to spark discussion, to open up avenues of thinking about social change or discrimination or how we make decisions. And I don't pretend to have any great clue as to where that discussion ends up. In fact, one of the wonderful things about writing Blink has been in finding out just how many different things readers can find in it. All I really care about is that readers appreciate the central message, which is that our instinctive reactions--our unconscious decisions, our biases--are in our own hands; that we have the power to control them and educate them, so long as we are willing to ACT.

I'd love to hear what all of the readers in Mountain View come up with!

Bringing a Community Vision to Life

2006-10-13T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Spark

In April I read about Redwood City Reads in the San Jose Mercury News. It was the first I heard of the “city reads” concept, though I’ve since learned of many more. What attracted me was the variety of activities – discussions, film, and community get-togethers – targeted at people of different ages and cultures. A day later I had an idea for how we could do this in Mountain View with the book Blink.

Through my work since 1999 as a volunteer mediator with the City of Mountain View's Mediation Services, I’ve become more knowledgeable about and involved with the city. Mike Ralston, a fellow mediator, had recently formed a nonprofit volunteer organization, ParadigmHill Mountain View (PHMV), dedicated to promoting local activities and interactions that reflect the mix of MV residents. I approached both Mike and the library with the idea of the project.

In May when PHMV-member Ellen Wheeler, a stranger to me then, stated interest in the project and called for immediate action, we were off! Ellen and I thought that simply implementing the “city reads” concept was important, and we decided this would be the first of an ongoing, annual program. We knew we could do something even with no or little money.

Why Blink?

Blink touches on many topics that allowed for citywide conversation and a wide variety of activities, including decision making, first impressions, and stereotypes. Mr. Gladwell’s talk at Books Inc. in 2005 was well attended and there were a lot of questions and discussion. The book is available in multiple languages and formats, including scanned text (important for the visually or reading impaired). Also, the way the book was written (“chunky” topics vs. a long, ongoing story) allowed for reading aloud.

We thought “city reads” could work even if the author couldn’t speak, which turned out to be the case because of Mr. Gladwell’s work and travel schedule. East-West Bookstore and PHMV tried to find authors related to Blink, but we were unable to schedule any.

What’s Next?

Mountain View was ready for such a community effort, proved by the 19 different activities that are being offered this year with over 15 organizations involved. We hope this illustrates what Mountain View Reads Together can be. We weren’t able to invite all the organizations we would eventually like to have involved because we have already taken on a lot for our first time.

We would like this to be an annual event, with even more involvement from the entire community. If you can even volunteer this year, please contact us! We hope that people will suggest books for future years. We hope organizations will offer suggestions for ways they can be involved; every book will offer different opportunities. We hope, via one book, the sense of community and connection grows even larger within Mountain View.

-- Sharlene Gee

How to post and access help

2006-10-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

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Welcome to the MV Reads Together Blog!

2006-09-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

Mountain View's first ever "Mountain View Reads Together" launches November 1, 2006.

This year's book is Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. Blink is about rapid decision making. Everyone makes decisions. When can we trust fast decisions? What affects them? How can we manage them?

Stay tuned ... blog activity to come in October. For info about the program see mvreads.org.