Google Translate meets Soccer

This is a touching story of the convergence of soccer, technology and, most importantly, kindness:

Alberto's story

Brokenhearted in Baltimore

Like so many of my fellow Baltimoreans, I awoke this morning with a profound sense of loss and sadness. Given that this is the fourth case of riots following the recent, high-visibility death of an African-American held within police custody, there is growing recognition that there is clearly a deeper story to this picture.

Many Baltimoreans are saddened by these images of our city being broadcast to the world. And yet on several occasions when I meet people for the first time, they ask me "Is Baltimore really like The Wire?" My answer is always the same..."Well, there are some parts of the city like that...but there are also some nicer places too..." What I am really saying -- with a sense nervous discomfort -- is that there are some devastated neighborhoods in Baltimore, but I don't live in one of them. I live in a "nice" neighborhood.

Ursula K. Leguin's "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" is a haunting story of how many of us are willing to look the other way from peoples' suffering as long as our lives remain fulfilled and unaffected. There are many others who are speaking much more eloquently than I about the undercurrents of these riots, pointing out the inexcusable nature of the violence but also noting the seething, simmering anger that underlies it. That such anger does not pour out without a deep sense of suffering and hopelessness.

Most people in Baltimore know about the idea of "two Baltimores" -- one depicted in the aerial views of the Inner Harbor during baseball or football games and another captured strikingly in The Wire. One of the reasons I like Baltimore is its "biggest small town" nature. It is a relatively compact city where one could literally walk from the mansions of affluent neighborhoods to worn down, crime-ridden areas of town where many of us wouldn't walk at night. But where many people live everyday and try to cope. It is a city where one can easily meet a diversity of people from all walks of life. There is an opportunity to experience the stark, sincere reality of having hundreds of thousands of people trying to live together in the same space -- at least physically.

These riots are inexcusable. The rioters and looters should be held accountable. Yet if we are to take something actionable away from them, I can't help but imagine that more of us need to consider what it means to have two Baltimores within the same space.

As for myself, nothing captures this more powerfully than this screen shot:

I have been reading local coverage but this screenshot comes from the New York Times, a newspaper I read on a regular basis. The screen shot shows a church-based community center that was set on fire. But what I really noticed was the advertisement on the lower right corner. 

Could there be any sharper distinction of two Baltimores? Or perhaps two Americas?

While I could jump to judging the New York Times, I realize that this advertisement is at least somewhat generated by my digital footprint. By my purchases, my choices, my links, my preferred sources of news, entertainment and consumption. 

How do I reconcile the two minds that I often find myself between? 

Regardless of my and others' two minds in Baltimore, I know that everyone today shares a single, collective broken heart.

Live Long and Prosper

Rest in peace Leonard Nimoy.

Inevitably, most of the news coverage focuses on his iconic role as Mr. Spock. Nimoy wrote a book "I am not Spock" only to write a subsequent book "I am Spock." He perhaps suffered from the blessing and curse of having a very public persona that defined him for many people. The two books seem to imply that he eventually acknowledged -- maybe even embraced -- that he would never fully escape the attachment to Spock.

Recently, there's been a growing trend of appreciating or celebrating geeks. Even the recent JJ Abrams Star Trek movies have a notable hip edge to them that was non-existent in the original TV series, which featured episodes written by well known science fiction authors.

I wonder about this trend for two reasons. First, it seems to apply only to male geeks. Second, it seems to correlate with some high-profile "geeks" becoming billionaires. So maybe it's the most modern variant of celebrating rich, powerful men.

There wasn't an appreciation for geeks when Star Trek first came out and even when I watched re-runs. If you admitted being a Trekkie or Trekker, you might as well have said "No, I didn't have a date on Saturday night…I was playing Dungeons and Dragons."

Mr. Spock was my favorite character from Star Trek. In a fundamental sense, he was the ultimate outsider caught between not only two cultures, but two worlds. Through his intellect, he managed to make his mark. But it was through his emotions that he made his real impact.

In "This Side of Paradise" Spock immerses himself in emotions, feeling love with Leila and ultimately anger when Kirk shakes him free of the effects of the spores. There are two poignant quotes that offer tremendous insight into the swirling eddies within the deep, still waters of Spock. When he is explaining to Leila that he can not be with her, he says: "I am what I am, Leila. And if there are self-made purgatories, then we all have to live in them. Mine can be no worse than someone else's." And at the end of the episode, the last moment is given to Spock when he responds to Kirk: "I have little to say about it, Captain. Except that, for the first time in my life, I was happy."

Leonard Nimoy's last tweet: A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP

"Amok Time" offered insights into the angry -- repressed -- emotions within Spock. Yet even with the "burning" he begs T'Pau to release Kirk from the ceremony, realizing that it will end badly for his best friend. When Spock sees Kirk back on the Enterprise, he displays perhaps his most joyous expression of emotion. He can not contain himself yet he still feels embarrassed to admit his outpouring when McCoy confronts him, asserting he was displaying his "quite logical relief that Starfleet had not lost a highly proficient captain."

While "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" featured the most powerful commentary on racism from the original Star Trek, "Balance of Terror" included a character (Stiles) that openly displayed his disdain for Spock. After Spock rescues Stiles from certain death, Stiles points out that Spock did not hesitate to rescue him despite his prior, poor treatment of Spock. True to form, Spock asserts that he was simply ensuring that Starfleet retained a competent officer.

Of course the most powerful, emotional scene with Spock is the death scene from The Wrath of Khan. Even people without interest in Star Trek seemed to recognize the emotional intensity of this scene. While Spock relies upon logic to explain his action, no one could seriously believe his act was nothing short of heroic. At his funeral, Kirk heartbreakingly says "Of my friend, I can only say this: Of all the souls I've encountered in my travels, his was the most…human."

While Spock did his best to deny his humanity, every emotional moment of his life demonstrated what made him so admirable: Spock was kind.

Being kind drove him to overcome his desire to contain his emotions. Even when angry, it was ultimately kindness that brought him back to being present. Spock seemed to understand that life indeed is like a garden. And most perfect moments can probably be connected to deliberate acts of kindness. 

Early in his career, Leonard Nimoy must have been worried that the persona of Spock would define Nimoy's personality in most people's minds. As Kurt Vonnegut said: "We are who we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."

However, Nimoy seemed to inject more of his personality into the persona of Spock over time. Even in the latest hip incarnation of the Star Trek movies, Nimoy's character provided a certain gravitas, wisdom, wit and perspective that complemented the youthful energy of the new cast. The scene where the older Spock speaks to his younger self must have been particularly interesting for Nimoy.

So while most people associated "Live Long and Prosper" with Nimoy and Spock, I submit that both of them would also approve of "Be Kind."

Fortune Cookie Wisdom

Happy new year.

In some fundamental ways, 2014 was a year of cleaning out for me literally and figuratively. In doing so, I found a collection of fortunes from fortune cookies I collected while in grad school. Yes, I wonder why I still had these fortunes collected in my state championship trophy from high school cross country.

I must have eaten a lot of Chinese takeout in grad school. Enclosed below is a curated subset of wisdom or insights from fortune cookies…or perhaps reflections from the past and thoughts for the future:

• You will be called upon to help a friend in trouble.
• The world is always ready to receive talent with open arms.
• You are generous to an extreme and always think of the other fellow.
• With integrity and consistency -- your credits are piling up.
• You are one of the people who "goes places in life."
• You have the rare ability to recognize ability in others.
• Great acts of kindness will befall you in the coming months.
• Great thoughts come from the heart.
• You'll accomplish more if you start now.
• You will discover the truth in time.
• You will pass a difficult test that will make you happier.
• You are never selfish with your advice or your help.
• You'll never know what you can do until you try.
• You will advance the careers of your friends in your climb to success.
• There is beauty in simplicity.
• You are capable, competent and creative. Prove it.
• Never find delight in another's misfortune.
• You have an ambitious nature.
• You believe in the goodness of mankind.
• There will be someone sharing your warmth. 
• You are able to analyze objectively and express yourself clearly.
• You will come to realizations in your life that will change you forever.
• You will spend old age in comfort and material wealth.
• Your heart is pure and your mind clear.
• Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.
• It is time to help a friend in need.
• You will be rewarded for being a good listener.
• Someone from your past has returned to steal your heart.
• It's time you asked that special someone out on a date.
• Do not use your soul as collateral.
• In silence man can most readily preserve his integrity.
• Your ability to recognize the silly in the serious will take you far!
• Time heals all wounds. Keep your chin up.
• Ignorance never settles a question.
• Your love of music will be an important part of your life.
• You will make a change for the better.
• Be prepared for the truth.
• Your ability to juggle many tasks will take you far.
• Moderation is the key.
• The only way to have a friend is to be one.
• The gift is not as precious as the thought.
• You will be a great philanthropist in your later years.
• Remember to share your good fortune as well as bad with your friends.
• It is during difficult times that true friends become apparent.
• Smile. It'll make the world brighter.
• Goods that are not shared are not goods.
• Stop procrastinating -- starting tomorrow.
• Be cautious while walking the darkness alone.
• You will step on the soil of many countries.
• You will be fortunate in the opportunities presented to you.
• You will travel to many places.
• A good laugh and a good cry both cleanse the mind.
• When you give something away, it makes room for something new.
• Be sensitive.
• You will make changes for the better.
• Reach out your hand to support others who need you.
• Wisdom is knowing what to do next. Virtue is doing it.
• Your virtues are your priceless treasures.
• The pleasure of what we enjoy is lost by wanting more.
• If winter comes, can spring be far behind?
• Your dreams are never silly! Depend on them to guide you.
• The love of your life will appear in front of you unexpectedly!