Ever wonder what Adobe CQ5 is? Here’s a short one-minute video that explains it on WebSmart TV.

I have not yet read this controversial new book by Rob Bell (just purchased the Kindle version and will read it on my iPad), but I have read a couple reviews of it. There is the review by Kevin Deyoung on The Gospel Coalition website, and  a new commentary just posted today by Chuck Colson on Breakpoint.org.

While both commentators agree that there are some valid criticisms Bell makes of Evangelicals, they also agree that the heart of Bell’s theology/doctrine is not historical or orthodox.

Here is Rob Bell’s trailer for promoting the book:

I just read a great blog post today by Chris Horst on Smorgasblurb, highlighting two recent celebrity charity “fails” – Greg Mortensen and Madonna – and what we should learn from them.

“If we’ve learned anything from politicians and pastors; it’s that we need to measure them by the lives they lead and by what they have done, not solely on what they say, by how famous they are, or by the nobility of their intentions.”

“Madonna and Mortensen endeavored to help the poor, but pious motivation is no excuse for bad charity.”

Chris Horst
Regional Representative
HOPE International

I first posted about the Headstand Media Bank of Hope on my company website. Since I have a son who is working for HOPE International (partnering with Esperanza) in the Dominican Republic, where the Bank of Hope is located, he was able to get some photos of the Dominican women (mostly) who are receiving micro-loans from this bank.

These photos were taken by a HOPE International worker named Liz, about a week ago as she visited the area that the Headstand Media Bank of Hope serves. Captured in these images is a biweekly meeting of our (Headstand Media’s) Bank of Hope named “El Futuro!” (The Future!).

"El Futuro" Group Associates

Our bank is partnering with 2 groups in the bank – Group #1 and Group #4. The whole bank is made up of 8 groups for a total of 40 associates. There are pictures of various members of the bank, and also specific photos of group #1 and #4. One woman from Group #1 couldn’t make it to the meeting, so she isn’t pictured.

"El Futuro" - Group 1

"El Futuro" - Group 4

The bank meets in a community center, which is currently undergoing a new green paint-job on the interior.

Reading the Verbal Pledge

Ana, the Esperanza loan officer, is the one wearing the black and white striped shirt.

Ana, the bank loan officer, receiving a loan payment

A woman from the bank named Rafaela, brought some ice cream to share with the rest of the bank associates. She has an ice cream business. Here is a photo of her with her business.

Rafaela's ice cream business

It is so great to see the faces of those we are helping to provide an opportunity for their businesses to grow. In time, this help positively affects their families and community, which leads to a more stable and flourishing local economy, which leads to less poverty and greater health all around.

I recently wrote a blog post on my company website about the Headstand Media Bank of Hope. For those of you who are interested, you can find out a lot more about Hope International and their micro-finance work around the world by attending the “Evening of Hope” event with Peter Greer (author: The Poor Will Be Glad: Joining the Revolution to Lift the World Out of Poverty) on May 5, 2011.

You need to RSVP by contacting Quenton Marty at qmarty@hopeinternational.org or calling 651-262-8043.

We are planning to attend.

I stumbled across this video on YouTube that puts in to word/images one of the key reasons why I think the Web is a Net Gain for us as humans. I am well aware of all the negative bad stuff that comes along with it, but that has been true of every major technological advance, especially in communications: the printing press, the camera, the movie camera/projector, the telephone, radio, television, computer, mobile phone, etc.

I particularly like this style of communication (visual/audio) as Stephen Johnson talks about “Where Good Ideas Come From.”

I guess this scooter owner doesn't know how to read or see the white parking space dividing lines?

I recently purchased a motorcycle parking spot next to the building I work at in downtown Chicago. The paperwork I signed clearly states in Rule #5 that: “Not more than one motor vehicle may be parked in each parking space and no motor vehicle may be parked in a manner to occupy an area greater than one parking space.”

In the photo we can see a scooter with Illinois plate #C30706 can’t seem to figure this rule out. It is pretty hard to understand I know… and there were open spaces to the left that must have been hard to see.

So, I wonder if the building management will enforce Rule #10: “A violation of these Rules shall entitle Licensor to revoke the parking privileges of the offending Licensee, in addition to other rights and remedies available to Licensor.”

Deb and Kathryn outside a Mugg & Bean's waiting for our flight from Capetown to Durban

After spending a week in Capetown, we travelled with daughter Kathryn to Durban on Friday, February 25, 2011. We were greeted at the airport by our old friend Skip Collins, who both Debbie and I knew when we were kids growing up in the western suburbs of Chicago. Skip and his wife Sheila have lived in South Africa for over 20 years and raised three sons there. We spent the next few days at their home and enjoying their generous hospitality.

Skip & Sheila Collins - Debbie & Randy Birkey

Sunset sky over Durban

Durban beach and surf

Durban is on the East coast of South Africa, on the Indian Ocean. It hosts Africa’s largest sea port and is one of the largest sea ports in the world. The ocean is much warmer than that around Capetown, so we enjoyed some time in the pounding surf!

Rugby Game

On Saturday evening we went to visit the stadium where the World Cup soccer games were played, and then we went to an actual rugby game in the rugby stadium between the Durban home team called “The Sharks” and the New Zealand team called the “The Blues.” We actually started to understand the game, how it is played, scored and even some of the strategy, thanks to running commentary by Jordan Collins! Plus, The Sharks won!

We enjoyed many other features of Durban including: walking along the downtown beaches, eating at a local Kauai wraps franchise (really good!), enjoying long conversations preparing food in the kitchen and over dinner at the Collins’ home, visiting Grace Family Church, eating at a nearby Bangkok Wok Thai restaurant, riding in cars on the wrong side of the road and experiencing turnabouts, and “robots” (traffic lights), and so much more!

Here is a sculture I commissioned for Headstand Media which was unveiled on our trip – not!

Headstand Media Sculpture?

It seems that no matter where you go in the world, there’s always someone cutting corners… !

No Parking?