Last week when I had breakfast with a friend, she took a photograph of me. (Snatching the camera from my grasp, she quickly turned the aged cyclops eye of the beast towards me and activated the sinister mechanism within.)
I fiddled around with the image in Lightroom (lovely app.) and here is the result:
A Chinese blogger and TV commentator, Li Chengpeng, said he had spoken to the project manager. The man, who did not want to be named, said his bosses had stressed the importance of safety – but also recalled the battles that had involved. On one occasion he had to force builders to replace substandard cement. On another, he had to fight officials who had intercepted part of the funding.
The children’s trip across the mountains was miraculous, Li said. “But it was a true miracle that somebody fought hard for the school’s safety 10 years ago so it was able to stand firm in an earthquake many years later.” [emphasis mine above]
One of my pet peeves is the attribution of someone’s hard work, competence or exceptional performance being called a miracle. This project manager worked hard, was dedicated to his job, and did (sadly, it seems) exceptional work in ensuring that the school under his charge was built to standard. As a result of his (again, sadly, it seems) exceptional performance, all 483 students and the teachers survived the large earthquake in China. The tale of the kids trek to safety is one for the ages.
The problem I have with the characterizing the project manager’s work as a “miracle” is that it diminishes his efforts and removes some of the credit he richly deserves.
On August 2, 2005 an Air France jet overshot the runway at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. Again, the headline was “‘A miracle’ no deaths as Air France flight skids off runway, burns in Toronto”. There was no miracle. What happened was that the flight attendants were amazing. They had 90 seconds to get everyone off a burning plane and they did it. They should be praised for their work. They should be celebrated. Instead, much of the coverage talked about miracles.
Don’t diminish the work of people who are true heroes, recognize and celebrate them for the work that they have done and the lives that they have saved.
Met a good friend the other morning for breakfast. Things got out of hand. In addition to “healthy” breakfast type food, my friend and I shared an ice cream filled crepe. yummy.
After that we went for a walk and I spent too much money on things that I needed (and got deals on them to boot).
This blog needs to have a purpose. I have a number of goals.
1. I will post at least 3 photographs per week.
2. I will post at least one video every two weeks
3. I will post at least 3 drawings per week
4. I will have to have something intelligent to say at least once per week.
starting today.
