About the Education of an Idealist: A Memoir by Samantha Power
Today I finished my favorite book of the year. The Education of an Idealist, a memoir by Samantha Power is the most interesting book I have read in quite a while. It tells the story of a woman, who immigrated to the US from Ireland as a child. After being a war correspondent, she aided Obama’s presidential campaign, served in the Obama administration as part of the National Security Council, and ultimately served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations. Describing her career in this manner would make for a boring book. Her memoir on the other hand is anything but boring. I could not put the book down. I was falling asleep with my Kindle in hand, and would pick up the story when I woke up at 6:30am in the morning.
The first chapters cover her early childhood and relationship with her father in Ireland. They provide an important backdrop for what comes later in the book. The book gets really interesting in the chapters about the Bosnian war. Her years as a war-time journalist during the Bosnian war in the 90s shaped much of her later career.
Reading the book, I kept getting side tracked in looking up stories online about Bosnia, the siege of Sarajevo, Mladic, Karadzic, and others. And I was only 125 pages into the book. When I shared this tweet on the book, I was surprised how many people agreed, and had a similar experience.
What stuck with me about her life thusfar is that, she didn’t waste a moment to further her causes. For example, during a Holocaust remembrance event, when she caught president Barack Obama on his way to the bathroom, she kept pressing him to recognize the Armenian genocide. “Hi Sam, how is your pregnancy going?” “Good, but let’s talk about the genocide.”
Regardless of having degrees from Yale and Harvard, and being part of Obama’s inner circle, she comes across as level headed, insecure, and second guessing herself. Living among the A-players in Silicon Valley, it is refreshing to read such humble and honest account.
The later part of the book provides a behind the scenes of the Obama administration and what happens in the corridors of the United Nations.
At first I was turned off by some of the stories. The US felt content winning seemingly theoretical arguments at the UN: we snuck in word similar to genocide, or the UN maps still show Crimea as Ukrainian. It seemed like a Harvard academic debate. I don’t think the people living in Sebastopol, Yalta or Kalynivka experience any difference whether the UN map draws the line here to there, when the flag at city hall is white, blue and red, rather than blue and yellow.
However, as the stories evolve, it becomes clear how real the work is at the United Nations. Real people get real food, real medicines, and real protection by the blue or white helmets. Communities in East Ukraine, Darfur, Syria, or the LBGT community around the world experience a real difference because of the actions by the United Nations. What looks like an academic exercise in words, is not an academic exercise at all.
It also is very clear how evil Russia and Putin are, whether it is by refusing humanitarian aid into bombarded cities in Syrian or by objecting to “vulnerable populations” in a document about the LGBT community. At first Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, comes across as sympathetic. He even joined the Sunstein-Power household for Thanksgiving one year. However, it quickly becomes clear he is only a Putin-puppet and fully complicit.
Reading the book, I became also a lot more aware and amazed by the US response to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. It also made me think about how we would have handled the covid pandemic if it had happened 4 years earlier. I know we would have been in better hands and with better leadership. Coincidently on the day of reading the Ebola chapter, while running, I also listened to Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History episode Druid Hills, about the work at Emory University in Atlanta, the unsung hero in pandemic response and important medical research.
The book ends as the Trump administration is about to take office. As I raced to the final chapter, I wondered what Samantha Power must be thinking about Trump’s undoing of all the things she worked so hard on: the Iran nuclear deal, the Paris climate accord, a pandemic response, standing up to Russia, or merely the basics of diplomacy and respect for women. As a fellow immigrant to the United States, I already know the answer. An isolated United States is worse off than one who would leads the world by example.
I hope Samantha Power will have the opportunity in the Biden administration to pick up where she left off, and restore a dignified place in the world for the United States.
December 13, 2020
The Way I See It
While preparing a Belgian staple food, vol-au-vent tonight, I watched Pete Souza’s documentary The Way I see it.
It is such a great behind the scenes look at the Obama presidency. Reading Samantha Power’s The Memoir of an idealist and having now watched the documentary one gets a great behind the scenes look of what a decent president looks like. I even got me curious to search on Youtube for Jon Favreau, Obama’s speech writer, and not Chef-Swinger-Iron-Man-Jon-Favreau.
Many of these stories only see the day of light a long time after the president leaves the Whitehouse. Sadly (I presume), don’t hold your breath for such stories from number 45.
December 12, 2020
Markdown All the Way
At work, we primarily use Google Docs for collaborative writing. However, on my laptop Markdown rules the desktop. My todo list, my status reports, many emails, notes all start as a simple Markdown file.
My favorite editor is iA Writer. It is a great distraction-free editor. It supports some nifty features. For example, I can export directly to Medium.com. It allows for importing pictures, reference and embed other Markdown files, and even CSV files for tables. I wish it was easier to create a custom html template, and that iAWriter would support the folding feature on the MacOS version.
I enjoy the simplicity of Markdown so much that I even moved my blogging to a Markdown powered platform called Blot.im. I simply write in Markdown, save the file in a predetermined folder in DropBox and the Blot.im service automatically renders the HTML. If I am really paranoia, I use a revision control system to manage changes. The write-edit-publish cycle is very fast. I can also quickly edit the content from any device with access to DropBox. Lastly, all content fully remains under my control.
One capability has remained elusive: a collaborative markdown platform for the masses. GitHub does support Markdown, allows for multiple editors and revisions, and even allows for “code review commentary”. But it was not designed for this. Glitch tries to bridge the two worlds as well, but lacks the suggest/comment capability.
Google Docs support for Markdown is the platform I was originally looking for, with suggest and comment mode, with real-time collaboration, and with revision control. Perhaps it could even be smart enough to allow one to access the Markdown file in Google Drive directly with external editors. I could then keep using my favorite editor, iA Writer. Such platform would appeal also to non-techies.
HackMD shows promise. I can write, invite collaborators and add and reply to comments. You can even import and export Markdown files from DropBox. Although in that case you are not editing the same file in Dropbox. HackMD appears to make a copy. My write-edit-publish cycle would thus be (1) write in iAWriter and save your first version in DropBox, (2) import, collaborate, edit, update a copy in HackMD, (3) export version2 back to DropBox, (4) rinse and repeat steps 2 and 3, and finally (5) publish.
As I use Markdown more and more, the idea of dealing with the formatting later, has become less of goal. The simplicity, easy of use and focus on the content is what makes me look for more integrations and use of Markdown everywhere.
December 12, 2020
Preparing a Memorial Is Very Difficult
This week I have been preparing a memorial for a colleague.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/janvanbruaene_i-am-sad-to-share-that-irwin-moiseff-lost-activity-6742231342894977024-as1o
This has not been easy. Although I have help in organizing the event, people ask me to review the slideshow, or what they want to say during the event or write the blogpost. It is very sad to read all those nice words.
I have no experience in putting this together at all. Let alone, I am not the type of person who easily finds the words for this.
Here’s what I wrote about Irwin.
Irwin joined RTI around the same time as I did. He was at RTI a bit earlier. As I was in the services and support team at the time, and Irwin was teaching quickstarts to our customers, our paths crossed often. After a few years, travel was becoming a burden to him. So I asked him, why don’t you join us on support. You’ll keep working with the customers directly and you don’t have to travel. And the rest is history. Throughout the years, he would bring it up regularly: “Jan, I “blame” you for bringing me to support.” But I don’t regret it. Every day you could tell he loved it.
Irwin was a smart engineer, with lots of debugging experience. He was the customer’s best advocate. He was humble, honest, direct, and very often funny. He said it the way he saw it. Especially if he didn’t like something in our products, he would call the developers and let them know in colorful explanation why … “It didn’t make any sense”. Or there was that time at one of our company kick offs, where we normally discuss big picture things, strategy or roadmaps. “Are there any questions?”, the presenter asked at the end of one of those presentations. … and Irwin’s hand went up. He didn’t want to waste the opportunity to share his opinion about a very specific Quality of Service field “I got this one thing I got to tell ya, when customers use that Qos …”. He was always caring about the product and the customers.
Irwin was also very caring for his team. He admired all in the support team and spoke highly of them. Later in our professional relationship, when I wasn’t his direct manager anymore, I would call from time to time. He would always answer with “To what do I owe this honor?” He appreciated the call.
During those calls, he would always make sure I knew how great each and every individual support engineer was. “You hired a great new engineer for the support team.” or “I am proud to work for your new support manager” or “That young kid straight out of school is smart as a whip. Make sure you keep them.” No matter your age, your experience, your background, or your title, he respected you.
I admired Irwin’s spirit, how he was forever young at heart. Those who worked with Irwin knew he still rode dirt bikes, his Harley Davidson. He seemed happiest when it started to snow and he could go ski or snowmobile.
One of my favorite visuals of Irwin - and yes may not be suitable for work - was after one of those ski trips. He was working part-time already at that time. He had just returned from a morning on the slopes. He must have been thinking about a support case on the slopes. Maybe he had figured it out, or something was bothering him and he wanted to check in on it. He didn’t waste a moment. He skyped me right away, and not even fully changed out of his ski gear he wanted to run something by me. His hair was a mess. Bare-chested in his ski-pants and full of energy. … “I think I figured it out .. let me tell ya” … and off we went into the technical details. It took me a moment to catch on, as I was just thinking: I hope he shows up like this only with me.
That’s the Irwin I will always remember: thinking about customers, caring about his team, and full of energy.
I will miss you!
December 10, 2020
I Have an Interest in the Garbage Business
Why is garbage collection so different depending on where you live? Shouldn’t this be simple, uniform, and straightforward?
In San Jose, local politicians will organize San Jose Dumpster Days. Originally, this was the practice where dumpster would be dispatched to neighborhoods to dump your unwanted household items. I once rescued a nice and gently-used Webber barbecue once from the claws of recycling.
As folks would show up from outside of the neighborhood to dump stuff, it has now become the equivalent of underground raves from the 90s. You have to subscribe to a list, and be admitted and notified a day before the event of the location.
Dumpster days are nice, but do create a hassle for those without a pickup truck. Luckily my 2005 Volvo station wagon still goes strong and can haul a bunch of stuff.
The city of Santa Clara has a much different approach. Santa Clara organizes an Annual Cleanup. You dump any household garbage in big piles in the street and bulldozers will scoop it up and dump it into dumpster trucks.
https://twitter.com/briansim/status/731145255551033346?s=20
I am surprised two neighboring cities have such a different approach to recycling and garbage collection.
In my native Belgium, recycling and garbage is much more detailed, organized, and costly at the same time. Nevertheless, the system seems to work.
Perhaps the answer lies elsewhere.
December 5, 2020
Afterpay
In the Make me Smart podcast episode 332, there was a question: “Dollar General are popping up everywhere. Yet people will spend $100 on leggings and pay in $15 installments. What’s up with that, the afterpay?”
Afterpay is big business. You may even have noticed a little Affirm logo on websites. Affirm is a new and hot fintech company, that is about to go to IPO to raise $100 million at a $10 billion valuation.
I came to know about afterpay in Argentina, during the crisis. When folks who needed a new fridge but could not pay for it up front, could do so through quotas or installments. (There is also layaway, where you pay a deposit for later purchase. That was also new to me.)
When you consider how wages flattened since 1971, a decreasing personal savings rate, and yet goods became a lot more expensive, it is no surprise that people can not afford new things, and need creative ways to pay for their purchases.
But really, what happened in 1971? (There are a lot of interesting graphs at https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/)
December 2, 2020
Grande Diego
I rarely post these days on Facebook. When I do click on a post or a video, the Facebook algorithms roar to life: He clicked on something … send him more.
And that’s how I got to learn a different side of Diego Maradona. Not the side of the Hand of God, the cocaine, the excesses, nor the scandals. No. These were the videos of Diego, dad to Dalma and Gianinna. This was Diego being a friend of many in the street. Diego who was generous with his time.
For example, in 1984, while playing for Napoli, a friend of friend asked Maradona to arrange a friendly match to help a sick child. The Napoli owner refused to do it, as Lloyds of London only had insured Maradona for official games. So Maradona took everything in his hands and organized a match next to child’s house and 4000 paying fans came to watch it.
If you see the millions paying tribute to Diego in Buenos Aires after this death, it was not just because he brought home a world cup. It was also because people saw a common guy, from Villa Fiorito, who started with Los Cebollitas, and became their hero.
I also discovered Rodrigo Bueno’s, Mano De Dios
En una villa nació, fue deseo de Dios Crecer y sobrevivir a la humilde expresión Enfrentar la adversidad Con afán de ganarse a cada paso la vida
En un potrero forjó una zurda inmortal Con experiencia sedienta, ambición de llegar De cebollita soñaba jugar un mundial Y consagrarse en primera Tal vez jugando pudiera A su familia ayudar
En una villa nació, fue deseo de Dios Crecer y sobrevivir a la humilde expresión Enfrentar la adversidad Con afán de ganarse a cada paso la vida
En un potrero forjó una zurda inmortal Con experiencia sedienta, ambición de llegar De cebollita soñaba jugar un mundial Y consagrarse en primera Tal vez jugando pudiera A su familia ayudar
Al poco que debutó Marado, Marado La doce fue quien coreó Marado, Marado Su sueño tenía una estrella…
And then there is this emotional guitar and bandoneon version:
Grande Diego!
December 2, 2020
Kai, The Kitchen Appliance Inventory Index
In the late 90s, I read that you could you learn more about the economy, while sitting in a truck stop in the middle of the country, than reading economic papers. One famous investor even regularly called the head waitress at a truck stop every month on the dot to know how business was doing. Coffee consumption and how much diesel is filled up at giant truck stops are a leading indicator of how the economy is doing. As a matter of fact, Professor Ed Leamer of UCLA partnered with Ceridian, who manages payment cards for trucking companies—drivers, to create the Ceridian-UCLA Pulse of Commerce Index, or PCI.
“Trucking represents inventory and finished goods in motion,” said Leamer. “In a normal economy, the trucking activity is proportional to GDP.”
Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan on the other hand favored the Men’s Underwear Index as an unconventional economic indicator. This measure suggests that declines in the sales of men’s underwear indicate a poor overall state of the economy, while upswings in underwear sales predict an improving economy.
After unsuccessfully looking around on Black Friday, and Small Business Saturday, for a common, yet not inexpensive, large kitchen appliance in stock, I conclude it has to be an economic indicator of some sort. How can they be out of this item already? I am purposefully being coy here on the item, as it is a Christmas gift after all.
I called major kitchen appliance stores and department stores from San Francisco to Gilroy. I checked also their online inventories. I visited the manufacturer’s website. Even Amazon didn’t carry the item anymore, except at hugely inflated prices.
I therefore introduce the KAI, or Kitchen Appliance Inventory Index. I don’t really know how to interpret it yet. Perhaps a low inventory means that the factories in China weren’t running due to the covid pandemic. Or perhaps it means that folks are cooking more at home, have depleted the inventory long before the Christmas shopping season, and therefore many restaurants will be at risk. Or it could mean that home exercise equipment will be in high demand, as folks gained a few too many pounds from delicious home-made cakes. It is strange nevertheless.
I’ll get Marketplace’s Kai Ryssdal, Molly Wood, or the undergrad economic student living under my roof on the case.
November 28, 2020
A Hectic Thanksgiving Kitchen Is the Best Kitchen
A lot is going on in our little kitchen this Thanksgiving. Four chefs are busy creating various dishes. It is a lot of fun to have a family of foodies.
We’re serving up brie and chorizo or proscuito crackers for appetizer.
The smoked hard lemonade came out just ok. I need to smoke them more time. Although, when it is mixed with bourbon, it was perfect.
There are the Brussels sprouts (in bacon fat), my wife’s famous bread-celery-apple-herb-walnut stuffing, fresh cranberries, a beer-can chicken surrounded by carrots, potatoes, garlic and onions, salmon and mashed potatoes with chives and bacon.
Desert will be a traditional Thanksgiving pie, made with Magdalena big cheese squash from my daughter’s garden club’s loot.
There will be enough food for a few days, regardless of the size of the bird. For me the most important part of Thanksgiving is not the food, but the fun that goes on in our kitchen. It gets messy. The music gets a little crazy. There may be some dancing involved. It is always a good time.
November 26, 2020
Thanksgiving Prep
It will be a big grilling/smoking day tomorrow. We are making a lot of food for our Thanksgiving feast.
- Grilled lemons for a hard smoked lemonade
- Beer can chicken - a turkey is just too big for the four of us.
- Smoked salmon - for the pescatarian in the family
- Smoked bacon - to be added to the mashed potatoes or mashed yams.
- Brussels sprouts
And a few potentials for the weekend, including sausages.
November 26, 2020