I shall return....

I am fortunate to be posting today. Yesterday, I suffered an abominable collision with a taxi as I returned from a Cambridge Union Debate over austerity cuts. Neither my sisters who tried to destroy my bike with poor maintenance and corrosion nor the cab driver, armed with a motor vehicle, could destroy my Schwinn Expedition. As the cab pulled out from a string of cabs (out of order), the driver did not see me. As he veered into the opposing bike lane, we struck. I tumbled onto the curb, protected only by my helmet and a thin layer of padding in the shoulder of my best suit. My front wheel was jammed between the curb and the cab. It did not survive. My coat was torn and is irreparable, but my helmet is a survivor. My insulation from poor drivers is crushed, but I will ride again (as soon as the bike store realigns my tire). As I walked home, dressed in my suit, carrying my portfolio in one hand, and the remains of the "red raider" in the opposite hand, I could not help but think that fortune favors the bold. I am the cyclist who rides in either snow, or rain, or heat, or gloom of night, or with the winds of change, or a nation challenged, and will not be stayed from the swift completion of any ride. Even if, I have to walk home carrying my bicycle. After this experience, I feel quite at home with an English culture committed to bicycles, flat tires, and the occassional wreck.

Don't Give Away A Fish; Don't Teach Someone to Fish; But Rather Revolutionize the Fishing Industry

Last night, I attended the second installment of Beyond Profit, the aforementioned social entrepreneurship club, at Cambridge. One presenter, Christopher Dobbing, founder of Oxbridge Tours, described social entrepreneurship as: "the application of business discipline to social issues, pairing accountability with sustainability." This definition encompasses a broad swath of organizations and businesses. More importantly, it highlights the importance of social accountability, doing what is right for society and ensuring that it is sustainable. I particularly enjoyed the spin-off of the proverb of "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime." Social entrepreneurship requires individuals to find new and innovative solutions to common problems. It requires that the entrepreneur work to remedy age-old issues with new methodology and approaches.

Christopher Dobbing founded Oxbridge Tours in response to the increases in higher education costs. The company utilizes students at Oxford and Cambridge as tour guides for the booming tourist industry. The students are then paid for their service and subsequently are able to pay for their schooling. He encouraged the audience to start any venture by realizing that in social entrepreneurship people buy not how you do it, but why you do it. In his instance, his company started to provide students with a mechanism to overcome the highly contentious increases in higher education funding. As a larger example, he discussed the evolution of chain coffee shops in the UK. Cafe Normandy, a UK chain, prided itself on its quality and presentation; however, it lost its market share to Starbucks, which boasted fair trade coffee (Fair trade as opposed to free trade requires acceptable wages for workers/farmers and environmentally sustainable practices). While its products are 100% fair trade in the UK, only 20% of its U.S. coffee and tea is fair trade. Consequently, Starbucks lost market share to Café Direct who brands itself as a wholly fair trade company as well as a supporter of agricultural opportunity. Café Direct, unlike the global Starbucks trend, is grower centric: "We’re passionate about working with smallholder growers because we are passionate about taste and we believe in business being a force for good. Growers are not just suppliers, they are our partners and at the very heart of our business. We bypass the conventional market, sourcing our coffee, tea and cocoa directly and building long-term, personal relationships with smallholder growers." They pair their successful business model with the charity, CaféDirect Producers Foundation (CPF), a registered charity led by growers for growers that decides how Cafédirect’s profits should be reinvested in their communities. This type of business venture makes the Starbucks' model seem antiquated. Profit maximization may no longer be enough as consumers add ethics to their consumption preferences. Enter social entrepreneurship.

The Virtue of Technology

Since the 2011 Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference entitled "People, Power, and Politics in the Internet Age," I have been contemplating the value and virtue of technology and the opportunity cost associated with inter-connectivity. While I do not necessarily eat, breath, and sleep the conservatism of Robert Nisbet, his work, The Quest for Community, delivers a coherent argument about the dissolution of civil-society. He writes in the shadows of fascism and the nascent days of communist empowerment. His fears are indicative of his time, but they are also transcendental. He argues two crucial points: 1.) Man has and always will seek community as a means of me of attaining meaningful, spiritual fulfillment and 2.) In recent years, man has turned away from traditional civil-society and instead turned to the state for this fulfillment (communism/fascism). These observations are not so different from what we observe today.

Last week, I wrote a now well-circulated letter in support of a local library levy. Then, I waged a debate with a local reader defending my position on a newspapers message board. In both instances, I was working from thousands of miles from home. While theoretically disconnected from my community, I retain the ability to shape and mold perceptions and opinions from afar while empowering supporters. This capacity would not be available 10-15 years ago. Nisbet would consider this type of technological advance as a shock, which alters individual-society relations. He would caution that this type of evolution provides only shallow spiritual fulfillment, and I tend to concur. The internet and its "communities" provide a source of information, organization, and mobilization. However, they do not yield the type of interpersonal connections which people inherently desire. They are a "hollow" force. Interpersonal relations still matter, yet people turn not to the state, but to the internet and technology to interact. They tend to generate awareness rather than sustainable action. One can leave the community on the slightest whim. Fortunately, Nisbet likens the entire community-individual relationship as cyclic. The shallow and meaningless fulfillment of today gives life to the real community of tomorrow. While I admire technology as a tool, I reject it as the end-all be all of community. Civil-society must work to leverage this tool while simultaneously providing real human interaction and community esprit de corps.

The Debate Rages

After my letter to the editor was published in the Warren Tribune Chronicle on Sunday, I have been debating with a reader who is purely anti-tax/anti-levy. I find this position illogical. The following is the exchange which can be found here:

AFRET1:

Nice story, John, and I'm sure you're a stand-up guy. BUT, taxpayers are sick & tired of being asked for more, more, more. Off the top of my head I can't think of ANY levy I would vote for.

JDMILLER:

While I respect your stance, I stand to disagree. Local tax levies provide for basic, localized services and infrastructure. They provide essential functions with definitive returns. They are an investment, utilized for specific purposes. Local taxes are also transparent. Services are measurable and observable on an individualized level. Socially, they provide for both the present and the future. If roads, police, fire protection, schools, and libraries are not sound investments, then we as a society must be ready to decay.

AFRET1:

JD, I, too, respect your comments. My position as far as levies, i.e., taxes, are concerned is that at some point entities must learn to live within their means; otherwise, develop and employ practices and methods that will enhance their fiscal standing. I agree that everything you cited has merit. That said, as a homeowner I have had it with this levy and that levy. Schools are the most bothersome. (By the by, nice to have a civil discourse on this board.)

JDMILLER:

Local government provides opportunity. If one is displeased with either the spending or the levying of tax dollars, one can certainly run for public office with minimal barriers to entry. At the same time, it is difficult to win on a platform of cutting public services. The concept of developing and employing revenue generating schemes on a localized level is not feasible given resource constraints (personnel and capital). If you pair state funding cuts with moderate levels of inflation, local governments have been executing crucial functions within their means for sometime. In addition, the millage system is such that the revenue generated over time is reduced. The voted millage does not equate with the effective millage collected. Therefore, revenue decreases and local government must provide the same service with less. Taxpayers pay less for the same services over time.

To classify school levies as “bothersome” is maddening. Investment in the youth of our area cannot and should not be sacrificed. Schools are also facing significant funding cuts from the state. Teaching staffs are being reduced; programs are being cut; and students are already losing. Failure to support local school levies punishes our youth and ensures that they are less competitive than their peers from more affluent and civic minded areas. Perhaps, it is time that individuals live within their means and sacrifice for the collective good of this generation and the next.

The Mandate

The following is one of the many iterations of speeches that I gave to local Rotary Clubs before I departed Ohio:

Good Afternoon,

Dr. Patel’s introduction is truly humbling. I would like to take a moment and thank her for making this event possible. I would also like to thank the Rotary District Foundation and Governor Hayes for their flexibility and willingness to accept me as the 2011-2012 District 6650 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. I am grateful.

In one week, I will arrive at the University of Cambridge for what will be the newest chapter in my life. I look at my selection as the districts representative as a mandate. First, it is a mandate from my hometown of Kinsman to go forth and represent the club and the community at events such as this one. Second, it is a mandate from you, the members of the district, to go forth and represent the district and the values of Rotary, not only at Cambridge, but also throughout my journeys, now and in the future. I chose this map for its aged appearance. It represents to me the rich experiences and history of the world. If I was to characterize myself, I would not have a tan aged, hew, but rather some hew of green, indicative of my inexperience and malleability. Given this realization, I will speak on the world that I know today, and in one year, I will speak again on the world that I have found and explored and the people that I have met and friended.

I usually like to start with a quick survey of the audience:
How many of you have been to Kinsman?
You surely have outdone several other nameless clubs…..

Kinsman is a small agrarian community in northeastern Trumbull County. It is nestled along the Ohio-Pa border and is the main population center in the Joseph Badger Local School District. Its population hovers around 2000 people. Its most prominent resident was Clarence Darrow, who gained notoriety as a human rights and civil liberties advocate and litigator in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.In his second book, an autobiography, he wrote and I quote: “If I had chosen to be born I probably should not have selected Kinsman, Ohio, for that honor. Instead, I would have started in a hard and noisy city where the crowds surged back and forth as if they knew where they were going, and why.” In contrast, I would not have selected anywhere but Kinsman to grow up.

My experience in Kinsman was not suffocating as Darrow characterized it. We surely have our share of fields, but the town also has much more. It is a town committed to service whether to the community or to the nation. It is people committed to their neighbors. The town celebrate Darrow’s boyhood home on Main Street, known widely as the Octagon House, but I remember him less fondly than the little old lady, Mrs. Brown, who insisted that her home be open year round to strangers. Kinsman has more churches per capita than most towns in America, and it is these churches which help to instill and reinforce the broad sense of community.We also have a truly one of a kind Carnegie library, where I spent much of my youth reading, learning, and exploring the world beyond Kinsman. It is a library which embodies the vision of a community that aspired for something better in its future generations.

As an anecdote, when I was in second grade, I won tickets from the Kinsman Public Library to go to my first Indians game with my father. We settled into our seats and the gentleman next to us asked where I was from. I told him Kinsman and he responded that he understood how I read so many books: “There are only two things to do in Kinsman: Read books and watch the corn grow.” Today, I would take exception: There are soybeans behind the house.

Our library is paired with a school district which is stocked with superb educators like my mother. While Darrow was suffocated, I was empowered. We also have an excellent Dairi Oasis, but I digress.We are also a town committed to service. Some of my earliest memories take me back to the town square on Memorial Day where the local veterans from the American Legion Harry Lee’s Post 506 would render honors at the veteran’s memorial. The Legion is an organization like the Rotary that afforded me tremendous opportunities, but more importantly, it is an organization and an entity that guided me to service in the military. Like the Legion, Rotary also impacted my life and shaped the way in which I have pursued my greatest ambitions. My first experience with Rotary beyond the annual Chicken BBQ was with RYLA. At the time, RYLA took place in the depths of February at the Timberlanes of Salem. Beyond the wonderful pool at the Salem Community Center and the new acquaintances, the real value of RYLA came in a single exercise. We were told to write a life mission statement, which I carry in my wallet to this day:

“My life mission is to live a fulfilling life while maintaining my values of hard-work, service, and leadership by example in all that I do.”

This commitment matched favorably with the mission of the U.S. Naval Academy which strives to “graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.” Emulating the tradition of military service within my family and within my community, I accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. I followed in the footsteps of my father, a U.S. Navy veteran and boiler technician. As you can imagine, I experienced a slight culture shock. My time at the Naval Academy was filled with failures, challenges, and triumphs.

The first year, or plebe year, dragged on for what seemed an eternity. An eternity captured in my disgruntled appearance. However, I was well prepared. My mother would often scold me for wearing shoes inside or not folding my laundry. Some things were just like home. During my 2nd summer, I went to sea for the first time aboard LSD-42, USS Germantown, a dock landing ship. I quickly fell in love with ocean as many romantics have done. At the conclusion of my second year, I signed my final commitment papers, agreeing to serve 5 years of active duty upon graduation. I had little reservation. I had committed long before that point.With the paperwork complete, I enjoyed the many aspects of Naval Academy life. These included everything from formal parades to Ring Dance, a formal ball, marking the day in which I could officially don my class ring. A ring inscribed with our class motto: Dom Respiramos Defendemus. “While We breathe, We Defend” My final summer in Annapolis found me traveling in Vietnam and Cambodia, operating on a submarine in the Western Pacific, and serving as an action officer at a Federal Advisory Committee to the Chief of Naval Operations. My senior year commenced and before I knew it. I reached my final Army-Navy football game and was home for Christmas.

In the interim, I received confirmation of not only the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship but also, the Nolan Scholarship, which will fund my 2-years of study at Cambridge. The fall was a period of reflection for me. For me my pursuit of scholarships served as an epiphany for me. I was fortunate to be selected as a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. It was at this interview that I realized what I valued more than anything else: my community. During the interview, I made the best mistake of my life. When asked how I planned to impact the world and where I found my calling, I answered unequivocally: "I want to go back to Northeastern Ohio. I want to go back and mentor and guide. I want to go back and give voice to people. I want to make sure that we don’t have one student at the Naval Academy, but instead many. I want to make sure that we have multiple people interviewing for this scholarship. But at the end of the day, if I don’t get the scholarship, I still get to wake up Monday morning and put on my uniform and I am ok with that." Fortunately, the committee found me unworthy.

May and graduation arrived quite quickly. I had the honor of leading my class onto the field at graduation. I received my commission, my first salute, and celebrated the milestone with my wonderful, supportive family.While my time at the Naval Academy was constrained, I took the lessons of Kinsman and the commitment to service with me. These lessons of education, service, and community inspired me to action.

As mentioned earlier, I spent 4 weeks last summer in Vietnam and Cambodia as part of a U.S. Navy Language, Regional Expertise, and Cultural Immersion trip. It was my first trip outside of the U.S.

In Vietnam, and in particular, Quang Tri province, in Central Vietnam, we worked in an isolated rural village called Khe Luo. Here, the central state had built schools, but it provided no resources, a ploy to appease international criticism of the state’s discriminatory treatment of indigenous tribes. The school was actually being used as a chicken coup. We were to work with the locals to rebuild the trail to the school, to paint, and to clean, but this short term commitment became something more. Moved by the children who assisted us and their thirst for knowledge, we paired with Global Community Service Foundation to provide books to schools in the area.
This initiative started Bridges Through Education Corporation, a 501-C3 non-profit organization, intended to support educational opportunity in developing areas. While our initial shipments to Vietnam were not immensely successful, I and another Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from the Naval Academy intend to return to Vietnam in the coming year and revitalize our supply changes and connections.

Studying at Cambridge will afford me with such opportunity; it will also provide an opportunity to learn from a country not so dissimilar from the United States. For instance, Clare College, my assigned college, has an immense library like Kinsman. It also has a militant dining room like the one at the Naval Academy. Once I overcome the language barrier, I am told that I will adjust quickly.While in the UK, I would also like to explore the British approach to industrial regeneration and business incubation as part of my course in development studies. As we are all aware, our area from Kinsman to Canton is suffering from economic decline. I hope to take their approaches, programming, and lessons and juxtapose them against local development initiatives. While my impact will not be immediate, I plan to return to the area after the conclusion of my naval service and work to turn the tide of human capital flight out of our area. I want to work to end the pattern of escapism, which plagues my fellow youth and our communities today.

After Cambridge, I will report to the USS Fort McHenry, a dock landing ship, as a Surface Warfare Officer. The Fort McHenry is intended to support amphibious operations by providing a platform for airlift as well as a well deck which can launch smaller transport vehicles to coastal areas. Traditionally, this type of ship was utilized to land Marines on hostile shores, but today, it helps the U.S. Navy fulfill its core competency of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief in places like Haiti and around the world. As President John F. Kennedy said at Annapolis in 1963, “I can imagine no more rewarding career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think I can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: ‘I served in the United States Navy.’”

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your service to your community and our world. At the same time, I want to issue a challenge. Engage your youth. Challenge them. Bring them into the fold. Show them that it is ok to stay that there is work to be done in District 6650. Demonstrate that they can make a difference through service. My generation merely needs a challenge to meet. Thank you.

At this time, I will open the floor for questions.

Escape reality. Read fiction.

The following is the letter that I sent to the Warren Tribune Chronicle and the Youngstown Vindicator:

Dear Editor,
When I share with people about my childhood in Kinsman, Ohio, I never fail to mention the Kinsman Public Library. It was an integral part of my childhood and my development. From my earliest years, I was taken to Story Hour and crafts in the basement. I participated in the Summer Reading Program. I grew to know the librarians, who knew me by name and who could always point me to the right shelf. I would read books by the hundreds. When I was finally old enough for my first library card, I was given a ticket, a ticket to an unexplored world and a ticket to academic success and personal growth. As a child, I spent hours reading, learning, analyzing, and developing a skill set which rivaled my peers from some of the best schools in the nation. Kinsman Library, despite critics of the town and school district, provides this opportunity for those who take it. In my experience, some of the brightest and well-read individuals that I have ever met call Kinsman home. We are not the stereotypical, ignorant, country “hicks.” The existence of the Kinsman Library and these observations are not coincidence. The library represents the community’s commitment to education, whether it is the education of its youth, its elderly, or everyone in the middle. Andrew Carnegie gave the community a shell, but it is the community that has filled this shell. The shell is now cracked, and if the levy fails, we will fail generations of residents who committed themselves to the organization and continued development of our community’s greatest institution. More importantly, we will fail the youth who will never be given a Kinsman Library card.

Opposition will come in three forms: 1.) Economic conditions in our area are such that I can't afford levies for non-essentials; 2.) The library only benefits a small group of people within the Joseph Badger Local School District; and 3.) The library has not been fiscally responsible in response to state-wide budget cuts.

In response to the first argument, I contend that the library provides an essential service to the community. First, it is a free source of knowledge, providing computer and internet access. Many people within the community cannot afford a Kindle, internet access, or let alone a computer. They depend on the library for books, magazines, and technology. The library is a central hub for all of these functions. Times are tough in our area, but in the toughest times education cannot take the hit. The library and the school are assets to the community and to the future of our area. They go hand-in-hand.

In response to the second argument, I argue that the library can support a much larger swath of the school district, but the decision to use the library is a personal one. Opponents will argue that they should not pay for a public good which they do not utilize. I believe that these arguments will come from areas of the Joseph Badger Local School District, which are "far" or "distant" from the library. For these people, I challenge you to cut two trips to the Eastwood Mall for dinner, a movie, and some shopping. Instead, go with your children to the Kinsman Library on a Friday or Saturday; check-out some books; select a movie; go to dinner in the community; and head home for a night together. The benefits are obvious. You spend more time with your family; you instill the values of literacy with your children; you support the local economy; and you get a "return" on your taxes. Eastwood Mall and the Kinsman Library are interestingly the same distance and the savings is actually greater if one takes the "challenge."

In response to the third argument, I submit that the library has already been tightening its belt for several years. Hours have been cut. Staff has been reduced. The core functions have remained. These core functions now face the chopping block: new books, periodicals, and technology upgrades. If you feel that staffing is the issue, I challenge you to volunteer your time to do the same work without pay or compensation. If the levy fails and state funding continually deteriorates, the library will only remain if you are prepared to operate the library yourself. These threats are not idle.

The 1.9 mill levy will cost $58 dollars per year for a house valued at $100,000 dollars. Given the devaluation of housing within the area, most households will pay significantly less. It is time for the community to come together and signal a re-commitment to the values of education and opportunity by voting “Yes” on the library levy. Whether you are from Orangeville, Farmdale, Gustavus, Burghill, Hartford, Vernon, or Kinsman, we are still a community. The library is an integral part of this community. Do not be the electorate that spells the end of its existence.

Sincerely,
John Miller
Kinsman, Ohio

Political Vice and Political Voice

    When I received the link for the fundraising campaign for Traficant: The Congressman of Crimetown, a documentary chronicling the rise and fall of the Mahoning Valley's most recognizable political force, I was skeptical. As the Mahoning Valley works to change and rebrand itself, it might be better to let his tenure in Congress slip into oblivion. Traficant was coarse; he was tactless; and he was rude. Without a doubt, he took money from the mob and his affiliation with Lenny Strollo is not beyond reproach. His eventual conviction included charges of bribery, racketeering, and tax evasion. Whether he was unjustly targeted or not, he made the bed in which he would lay. However, I argue that even if Traficant and vice are synonymous that it was the voice that he gave the Mahoning Valley that mattered, whether a person was from his district or from another state. His ability to connect with the people as a stakeholder and to care about their plight and struggle made him different. He could empathize.

    The 2001 Congressional redistricting broke up Traficant's home field advantage. It split Trumbull County in half. It sent the northern tier of the county into the then new Ohio-14th Congressional District. It preserved the political/population center of the county (Warren-Niles-Cortland) as part of the new 17th District. While this may seem irrelevant, it had two major consequences. First, it accentuated the division between county and township government. The commissioners’ power base has and will remain in the South rather than the agrarian North of the county. It is difficult to have a voice and an ally in county government without impacting elections and generating revenues.  Second, it placed the northern tier of Trumbull County within the 14th Congressional District, whose power base lies in Chardon-Hudson-Mentor-Eastlake, four places that could not be more dissimilar from the northern tier in terms of socio-economic make-up and production. Thus, the redistricting isolated the Northern Tier of Trumbull County and silenced what little voice it ever had.

    What are the consequences of this division? My small town of Kinsman, Ohio, is under an EPA deadline to install sewers by 2013. Currently, small businesses are already under the threat of fine and are installing new septic tanks to avoid the death-sentence-like fines that are on their way. Ironically, a waste-treatment facility exists (an old Kraft plant, abandoned in the early 2000's) and a trunk line is already heading into town, but the project is frozen. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 should have been a god-send. The project was certainly "shovel-ready," but inaction and delays by the county and invisible representation in Congress subjugated Kinsman to the back burner. Kinsman is set to receive second-hand funding (the unused funds from projects elsewhere, which may or may not exist). As an anecdote, I attended a county meeting on sewers in Kinsman in Warren last April. I think the make-up of the meeting is telling. The following individuals attended the meeting:
     1 of 3 County Commissioners (Frank Fuda)
     1 Representative from the Office of Tim Ryan (OH-17th)
     0 Representatives from the Office of Steven LaTourette (OH-14th)
     1 Businessman/Farmer from Kinsman
     1 of 3 Trustees from Kinsman 
     1 Kinsman Township Clerk
     2 Representatives from the Ohio Department of Agriculture 

   First, the attendance of the commissioners was wanting. In terms of prioritization, it was clear that Kinsman had little relevance for the other two commissioners. One commissioner entered the County building as we departed. He had forgotten the meeting and Kinsman. Tim Ryan's office offered as much support as it could, but in the end, the representative said that Steven LaTourette’s office would need to take the lead (Of note: LaTourette voted against the stimulus package which would fund the project and staunchly opposes the use of federal earmarks for such infrastructure projects). Her words meant that Kinsman would not receive help on the congressional level. The lack of attendance by anyone from our own Congressman's office sent another signal: Your revenue generation is too small; your political contributions are too small; and your population is too small to provide me with the votes I need. My time and resources are better spent elsewhere. In terms of the township, the board of trustees was only informed second-hand that a meeting would actually occur. The Trustee in attendance was my mother, who took a day off from school in order to attend. The local businessman and farmer receives attention as a consequence of his affluence and centrality in terms of land-holdings in the Northern tier. The representatives from the Ohio Department of Agriculture were there to offer funding, which may or may not exist, but it is important to note that the lobbyist for this funding was a native-son of Gustavus, the neighboring township. He did not fail to remember where he came from or the people that made his success possible. Attendance does matter as it sends signals about the interests of key political and economic players.

    The connection between Traficant and this series of events should be quite evident. I come from a place without a voice. Jim Traficant, love or hate, provided a voice. I wish my town, my area, could have someone as dynamic and connected to real people and their struggles as Traficant once was. I would prefer that they told the truth, provided fair representation, built goodwill and trust across the diverse political and socio-economic spectrum, and worked to benefit everyone that they supposedly represent. Is it too much to ask that someone represents the interest of the little town, a town with per family income of $28,000 per year in its proposed sewer district? I think someone like Jim Traficant would. Perhaps that is why as we come to terms with the vice of the past, we should examine his impact more carefully and think of the voice which our area requires. As the redistricting from the 2010 Census is revealed, let us think of the consequences and the real impact that it has on people not just politics.

The 1991-2001 Congressional Map of Ohio (A County Together):

The 2001-2011 Ohio 17th Congressional District (A County Divided):

The  2001-2011 Ohio 14th Congressional District (A County Divided):

   
   

   

Free Lunches and English Educational Inequality

  "In life, there is no such thing as a free lunch."

     Last night, I attended a lecture hosted by Beyond Profit, a social entrepreneurship club. Beyond Profit works on business initiatives which combine social good and economic profit. This type of initiative is working to meet the disparate and often conflicting drive of individuals of this generation. The concept uses business principles for socially beneficial ends. As the Beyond Profit mantra goes: "There are people who want to save the world and there are people who want great personal success. Nowadays most of us want to try and do both. Beyond Profit is the place to find out how to achieve this." Because of my desire to make Bridges Through Education Corporation self-sustaining, I decided to become active within the club and to learn from those with more experience and knowledge.

   This night's event covered educational inequalities within Great Britain. The program was sponsored by Beyond Profit, yet it was presented by Alex Spiers of Teach First, the UK equivalent of Teach for America. Of note, the program does not receive the same philanthropic funding that its compatriot in the U.S. receives. Its funding comes from the state, donors (corporate/private), and schools. Money is exchanged for the service of providing high caliber teachers, but the business board receives only one pound per year. The program offers the opportunity to teach in comprehensive schools in which at least 50% of students fall into the low income range within the UK. Unlike the U.S. educational construct, all individuals who attain a bachelor’s degree may become teachers through hands-on student experience (the equivalent of student teaching in the U.S.). Education majors do not exist in the UK. Thus, a program like Teach First faces less institutional push-back as 50% of the individuals who work in the program continue teaching at the end of their one year commitment. No additional education is required. With the merits of the different methodologies and qualifications aside, the program targets the issue of educational inequality within the UK.

      Educational disadvantage is about more than someone being "lucky." In this era, it is despicable that family affluence remains a primary determinant of children’s educational and career outcomes. Education impacts the entire life span of an individual not just childhood, but as time progresses, the divergence between the well-education and the poorly educated is accentuated. 17% of UK individuals ages 16-24 years old are NEET (Not in education, employment, or training). From a fiscal standpoint, it costs the central government and more directly, the taxpayers, 35 billion pounds per annum ($55-$60 billion U.S. dollars). In addition to the financial burden, this issue creates long-term negative externalities: prolonged unemployment, lower income, depression, mental health issues, and alcoholism. These phenomena are the logical bedfellows of poor educational outcomes.

     In the UK, data collection and analysis is excellent. One study analyzed the differential in school readiness between the rich and poor. At the age of three years old, the rich already possess a one year advantage in terms of behavior. At the age of 5, the gap in vocabulary development between the rich and poor is 15 months, which continues to widen over time. In terms of socioeconomic differences, 27% of students receiving free lunches (need based food programs) achieve the required scores on the GSCE (Proficiency or Graduation Test Equivalent) to continue onto A-Level, which is the university preparatory curriculum. In comparison, 54% of students who do not receive free lunch achieve this standard. The disparity is even greater when one compares comprehensive schools (public schools) and independent schools (charter/private schools). At Age 11, 93% of UK students attend comprehensive state schools and only 7% attend independent schools. At Oxbridge (Oxford and Cambridge), 54% attended comprehensive state schools and 46% attended independent schools. Only 43 out of the 600,000 students per year on free school lunches in the United Kingdom are currently continuing their studies at Oxbridge. The statistics speak for themselves: affluence provides opportunities which are not otherwise enjoyed by the poor.

   Teach First works to counter this startling trend by turning exceptional graduates into inspirational educators and leaders who work to overcome educational disadvantage and educational inequality. The program targets schools with a large underprivileged population and schools with underperforming teachers. Interestingly, "performance" evaluation of teachers is on a value-added basis. Based upon post code and family income, models clearly predict academic performance on the GSCE. If the student performs better than their surroundings suggest and their predicted score indicates, the teacher has had some "value-added" and is considered proficient. The program works on the concept of "micro-change" where change/improvement occurs at the local level. Individual students and groups benefit. The culture and internalization of educational stereotypes is changed within schools. At the end of the teaching obligation, teachers become eligible to be Teach First Ambassadors, which affords them the resources and mentorship required to start their own social enterprise. Thus, the program retains a strong alumni group which benefits from business and non-profit support.

   To conclude, the United Kingdom and the United States face similar challenges of educational inequality. Social mobility via educational attainment appears stunted and dysfunctional. It is the youth who suffer, both affluent and poor. The affluent neither know nor understand the nuances of poverty and struggle. The poor neither know nor understand the institutional knowledge of education. If they do, they often do not have the means to achieve the desired end. Everyone loses without socioeconomic diversity within the educational framework. Some lose more than others.

Social Value

      Last night, I hosted the first social at my new home for all of the students who are studying Development Studies at Cambridge. To begin, the program is quite diverse. As an interdisciplinary program, students come from a variety of academic backgrounds. As one would expect, it is also multinational.  My purpose for hosting the social was for people to meet and socialize outside the parameters of academia. It was wholly successful with nearly 30 students from 16 different nationalities attending. The house proved quite welcoming and spacious and the requests for a repeat performance were many. The wine flowed and the conversation was lively. I hardly expected the group to stay past midnight, but they were up for the challenge. The experience was mutually beneficial. I shared about the U.S. Navy, the Rotary, and Bridges Through Education. I also learned from my peers as they shared their experiences growing up and studying within different societies and cultures. Alas, I can finally put names with the numerous faces that I see each day at lectures.
    Events such as this provide an opportunity to increase mutual understanding. They provide an opportunity to delve into the motivations and aspirations of others. Each individual is driven by a certain purpose and a certain interest, which I found is often country or even regionally specific. The common denominator is the general drive and motivation to facilitate change and to make an impact in the world. The University of Cambridge, and in particular, the Development Studies Committee, has provided a commonality amongst a disparate group of people. Given the opportunity, it is then our responsibility to grow and learn together. Last night provided the first real opportunity to develop synergy within the group. It was my intent to facilitate this development and it will be my goal to see it through to the end of our time together by the Cam. I look forward to hosting the next event and gaining new perspectives, new ideas, and new friends.

What is an Institution?

   For my class on the role of Institutions and Development, we are required to succinctly write a one paragraph response to the above question. Over the coming days, weeks, months, and years, I hope to utilize this working definition as a framework for analysis. Today's post is short, yet I feel important.

What is an Institution?
 Institutions are the rules of various political, economic, and social interactions which regulate, normalize, and render predictable human behavior. Human interactions shape them while simultaneously being shaped by them. Institutions are also resistive to change. Once formed, they persist. Their regulation may be formal or informal, codified or assumed. Membership or participation within the institution is either open or selective based upon the characteristics of the individual or entity that desires access. Access may be de jure (legally open to participation) or de facto (actually/practically open to real participation). Institutions also contain other sub-institutions, which impact the operational environment within the institution. As a body, they represent a stock of information, which has been conceptually developed into a form of institutional knowledge that is shared, even if unequally, amongst its members and component parts. Institutions are also amoral as their classification is entirely subjective. Membership, non-membership, and the actions of the institution impact and influence people and groupings in different ways.

The Times They Are A-Changin': Civil-Society Organizations Today

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

     When Bob Dylan released these lyrics in 1964, he was speaking of the social transformation that was erupting. In essence, he was speaking of the rise of individuality and the dismantling of the post-WWII honeymoon. Today, as the baby boomers retire, the times are changing again. These individuals took over the civil-society organizations from their parents and preserved solidarity. These organizations give people and society a sense of community, the foundation of belonging. Unfortunately, these organizations are dying. They are dying because of inaction. Who is responsible? I argue that the fault lies not only with my generation, but also my parents’ generation, the generation of contemporary leadership. First, my generation is one of individuals. We would rather start an organization than take over the reins of an archaic body. We want it our way and we want it to benefit us. We want returns, personal not societal. We are dynamic. In contrast, the leading generation is stagnating. They steer inflexible and unwieldy organizations. They preserve the status quo within a confined box. As an enlightened generation who experienced societal unrest and civil-society movements, they don't innovate anymore or accept new ideas. The line of demarcation is clear.

    Of course, these are blatant stereotypes. They represent perception, and in some cases, reality. Perceptions matter. The demise of civil-society organizations is a consequence of asymmetric information, where one party has more or better information than the other. In this case, neither the leading generation nor this generation possesses adequate information. In fact, they possess misinformation, which distorts the commonality of purpose and value which civil-society organizations provide across generations. They are a mechanism for positive social activism and service. The organizations of today possess institutional legitimacy which allows them to function, to raise revenues, and to act as a force within society. Yet, we must remember that they are fungible. They can change and adapt to meet the needs of today's society. They are capable of innovation and of fighting the world's fights whether locally or internationally, now and in the future. They need both generations working together. This synergy is the intrinsic characteristic of such organizations. Diversity can be the strength of the new civil-society, ending generational frictions.  Without intervention by both generations and shared-compromise, our society (I use this term broadly to encompass many societies) will face a crisis of community. The bastions of community will die and we will be left with nothing but individuals, searching for community.

Birthday Celebrations and Civil-Military Relations

    Last night, I attended a seminar group entitled, "The Trouble with Strategic Leadership in International Interventions." The program kicked-off with an hour long discussion of civil-military relations, centered on the politicization of the military in Western democracies and the creep of military activities into the civilian domain or sphere of influence. On these issues, I raised two points. First, the coalition leadership in Afghanistan and Iraq may politicize issues and speak publically, but this does not imply that the military has its own autonomous political ends which are at odds with civilian control of the military. It is strategic bargaining in the public forum and is intended not to undermine civilian rule but rather to inform the civilian leaders and the polis. When bounds are overstepped, military leaders are removed. The "creep" is a consequence of meeting operational demands with available capacity, military capacity. Pair civil capacities with military security and you have the ideal setting, but as we have observed over the last ten years, the civilian capacity does not exist. Creep occurs on the operational level not the strategic. If anything, strategy seems to be coming from civilian leadership. Second, I made the distinction that pre-conflict military advice in the case of Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq was given by a cadre of military leaders whose formative operational experiences  were shaped by significantly different campaigns.  Korea and WWII shaped the Vietnam leadership and Desert Storm, Panama, and Grenada conditioned The Afghan-Iraq leadership. To some extent, this phenomenon explains the lack of cohesive institutional push back. Push back was ad-hoc and disorganized.

   Given that today is the 236th Birthday of the United States Navy, it seems appropriate to take exception to something that a Royal Army counterpart said in reference to Tony Blair's 2001 assertion that the British military would be a "Force for Good..."  This officer wondered how he was to deliver what he called "philanthropic violence," an obvious oxymoron. I draw a distinction between the U.S. Navy and Western armies. The U.S. Navy is a safety net. It performs 6 core functions, which provide public goods if not public good to the world writ-large. These functions include Sea Control, Power Projection, Forward Presence, Deterrence, Maritime Security, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. While these core capabilities are self-serving, they also have positive externalities for not only our partners and allies, but also the world in general. They protect trade, deter conflict, intervene, provide presence, and relieve those in duress. So, when the Navy issues its next video or you watch the one below about being a "Global Force for Good," think about what a day without the U.S. Navy would be like. The Secretary of the Navy often talks about what the Navy did on a particular day in March of 2011. He spoke of it at my graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, but I have since heard it several more times. He proceeds to discuss what various platforms, units, and sailors were doing to execute these functions around the world. I think the Navy would do better by popularizing the counterfactual, a day without the U.S. Navy. Inflation sky-rockets as the costs of trade increase, oil becomes unaffordable, shelves in stores are empty, conflict erupts in several hotspots (Iran, North Korea, ect.), a natural disaster strikes in a least developed country, and a manmade disaster strikes an ally. The world wonders what nation has the capacity and the will to help. The answer is not one. No country can match the will and capacity of the U.S. Navy to respond. This counterfactual is a day without the U.S. Navy.

Welcome to Cambridge Rotary

Last night was my first opportunity to interact with the local Cambridge Rotary Club and District 1080. It just so happened that it was a combined meeting of all the clubs in East Anglia as the district welcomed a Group Study Exchange Group (GSE) from District 6510 in Southern Illinois. The meeting took place at the University Arms Hotel, one of the few hotels in the area, but a convenient stroll from the house on Grafton Street. I finally met my Rotary Counselor, Jenny Roux, in person, and it seemed as though we had already met. We enjoyed a nice cocktail hour and followed it with a wonderful dinner of pork chops, properly roasted potatoes, and cauliflower encapsulated in broiled cheese. I am certain and hopeful that this is not the regular meeting style or I will return to the U.S. 20-30 lbs. heavier. Like many of the clubs back home, the members in attendance were older, either retired, or nearing the end of their careers. The meeting was quite formal with the President presiding and orchestrating the meeting on a stringent timeline. The dress code was widely followed and I fit well with a suit and tie. It was quite the change from the Kinsman Area Club, but the coffee is still better at Time Square.

The discussions at my table were quite intrusive and we covered the full range of topics from my family, to the Navy, to the Rotary, to politics, to Ohio, and so on, but I do so love sharing and answering questions that it never grows old. The members seemed quite intent on gaining the U.S. perspective on defense spending, the War on Terror, social safety nets, educational reform, and the national debt. We truly share the same contentious issues, but the human interaction and perspective on these issues is missing on both ends. While I initially wondered whether I could be a Rotary Ambassador to a country so similar, I found my confirmation tonight. We share such common problems that we certainly should and ought to arrive at common solutions. We are divided by the separation of dialogue on all levels of state and society.

Due to the GSE presentation, I was not fully exposed to the range of activities (fundraising and service) that the clubs organize and execute, but I certainly have time in the coming weeks to integrate and involve myself in their functions. Of consequence, I met several of the other Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars for the year. Cambridge Rotary could not have landed a more homogeneous group of Virginia Military Institute, U.S. Military Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy graduates. In fact, we each were sporting our new beards and long hair to mask this distinction. More importantly, we share a commonality in terms of athletics: we are terrible at football (The English term for the game that we call soccer). Of note, I would also be poor at American Football. This lack of skill will be fully exposed at the Cambridge Rotary Homeless tournament where the District fields a team of Rotary Ambassadors and members. This project provides constructive activities for homeless shelters throughout the District and works to generate revenue for homeless programs and awareness of homelessness within the UK. I look forward to working with the District and the other Ambassadors on this an other meaningful projects in the Cambridge area as well as elsewhere around the globe. My mind is already at work.

Reading, Writing, Socializing, and Civil-Society Activism

Studying at the University of Cambridge is truly a blessing. The reading load is quite heavy; the socializing is quite vibrant; but more importantly, I finally have time to work on two major initiatives.

Bridges Through Education Corporation, Non-Profit 501-C3

While we received significant criticism for the shallowness of our intent in launching Bridges Through Education Corporation, Brandon Beckler, Dien Nguyen, John Deterding, and I pushed through to organize this 501-C3 non-profit organization. We are trying to do what we expect others to do within their sphere of influence: identify a problem/shortcoming and work to remedy it regardless of the scale. National affluence comes with responsibility. Our mission is quite idealistic:

To build bridges between the United States and the developing world through the moral and material support of the educational process and to promote cross-cultural and historical awareness in order to support educational opportunity and eliminate cultural and historical divides.

This mission is the consequence of our shared experiences in Vietnam. For students there, English enhances social mobility and increases students’ ability to integrate into the world system. This integration is a vital component in increasing not only competitiveness, but also cross-cultural awareness. By providing elementary English texts, we are able to provide the foundation for English literacy which breaks the poverty trap that undermines social mobility. It is not some grand panacea, but rather it is a start. Education allows for a range of options, whether a student pursues something in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math or the Humanities.

Vietnam was an ideal place to start. The U.S. is currently the number one foreign direct investor in the country, a stark contrast from the past. Interestingly, our relations with Vietnam only began to normalize in 1995 under the Clinton administration. From 1975 to 1995, our only real interaction with the Vietnamese was on the military to military level; we retained a trade embargo, limiting growth and undermining the transfer of not only technology, but also culture and understanding. We hold shared culpability with our Vietnamese counterparts for stunting the healing process. During this period of disconnect, our only interaction centered on the recovery of POW/MIA remains throughout the country. As we continue the process of rebuilding relations with our Vietnamese friends, we should recall the sacrifice of those 58,220 Americans who perished and the 1,687 who remain missing as well as hundreds of thousands more who suffered injury whether mental or physical during the conflict. These casualties are shared by the people of Vietnam. Estimated deaths throughout Vietnam range from 1 million to 1.25 million. Given these sacrifices, it seems appropriate that it is us, the current generation of military leaders who reach out and win the peace by building friendship and understanding through shared civil-society organizations.

In May, our initial shipment of 8 boxes (approximately 600 books) arrived in Quang Tri Province in Central Vietnam. Last month, these books were distributed throughout the province. Our initial project “Bridges to Dong Ha” was successful in its infancy! With this success, we are moving forward, generating revenue, and expanding to another developing country: South Africa. Brandon Beckler, a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, is currently there working on building relations with the local Rotary and setting the foundation for large shipments to underprivileged schools and libraries near Capetown. I plan to visit him and the project in December. In addition, we are planning a return to Vietnam in the Spring of 2012 to increase the ante. Instead of putting hundreds of books on the ground, we hope to put thousands in cooperation with the tireless workers of Global Community Service Foundation and Books for International Goodwill, a Rotary foundation out of Annapolis, Maryland. By working with these organizations, we are able to ship a high volume of books around the world at reasonable cost. As we continue our progress and institutionalize the donation process, I ask for your support.

The Next Step Initiative

In the 2010-2011 school year, Joseph Badger Local Schools, my alma mater, was designated Excellent with Distinction on the state report card which evaluates schools based on standardized tests and graduation rates. While I felt academically prepared to compete at the U.S. Naval Academy, I was overwhelmed by the differences in institutional knowledge that was enjoyed by my new peer group. When I was home over the summer, I was asked by a young man “Where can I find information and apply for scholarships? My mom and dad said that I should start applying for some.” At that moment, I realized that students truly are disadvantaged in comparison to their suburban, upper-middle class contemporaries. A knowledge gap exists between three groups: rural students, urban students, and suburban students. As a rising senior, the young man should have been working on taking the ACT/SAT again and tweaking his resume, essays, and application in order to get into his ideal school and winning scholarships at the University level. These actions were what his contemporaries in the suburbs were doing. They know and understand the game which is college admissions and funding. The young man did not understand the game, nor did I when I started playing.

Partnering with the school administration and guidance program, Andrew Morris, a graduate of Badger and Ohio University, and I are spearheading an initiative which we call The Next Step Initiative. It works to pair academic excellence with improved institutional knowledge of the post-high school process and the mechanisms which will maximize the range of opportunities available to students. We hope for a whole of community approach. By leveraging the academic foundation provided by teachers and staff, we as alumni hope to provide equal access to information by sharing our shortcomings, experiences, successful methodology and timelines, and most importantly, what we would do differently. As the program progresses, I will continue to update you on our progress, but it is too early to tip our hat.

The Whirlwind

I have not observed due diligence in providing you with an update of my transition to Cambridge. I have begun four crucial processes in the interim: Lengthening my hair, growing a beard, socializing, and commencing graduate education. I have settled into my new house quite nicely. In fact, I have fallen in love with it. I can already sense separation anxiety when I return in two years, but I have a lot of living to do. The following is a somewhat comprehensive update on the first few weeks to include the journey and the settlement:

September 27:
I departed Kinsman, Ohio for the Pittsburgh Airport and enjoyed driving for the last time. It was a very emotional departure as I had grown quite fond of being home and recklessly driving from Annapolis/Washington, D.C. on many a weekend over the last few years. I will surely miss my family, friends, and loving girlfriend, Taylor. My first leg took me to Baltimore Washington Airport, where I have flown to and from on many occasions over the last four years. It was bittersweet saying goodbye to good old BWI for the final time. My flight to Newark was inevitably delayed and I missed my flight to London. After a dramatic sprint through the airport, I arrived at the gate and was told that my seat was given away. With some luck, I caught the next flight to London Heathrow and was upgraded to first class as compensation.

September 28:
I arrived at Heathrow, but my luggage did not. I soon discovered that it arrived on my original flight which was diverted to Manchester due to fog in London. So, I set off for Cambridge and 24 Grafton Street. Unfortunately, I left my cell phone in the cab and lost all communication capabilities with the Rotary, my letting agent, and the U.S. Air Force Captain who was to turnover the house to me. Fortunately, the cab driver contacted Jenny Roux with the Cambridge Rotary and is returning my phone. I quickly set about getting a phone and setting up a bank account. To take off the edge, I ventured into an English Pub, The First and Last, and enjoyed my first English Pint. I became a psuedo-regular over the first few days. I made contact with the Captain and arranged to take over the house at 530. In the interim, I went and bought a pillow and pillowcase from the Primark, a UK department store. The house was better than I could ever imagine (pictures forthcoming). I soon realized that I will need many guests to make it habitable, and I suggest that you book your stay now while availability exists.

September 29:
This day found me wandering about Cambridge, getting lost, and wondering if and when I could have a bed rather than the hard floor. I also began the immense process of cleaning the house before my household goods arrived. Fortunately, my mother provided excellent training and I was provided with a wide range of cleaning supplies by the former tenant. I finally managed to find magnificent Clare College and sign the matriculation sheet, confirming my attendance. I also received my household goods on this day and spent the afternoon with a hacksaw cutting apart my box spring in order to fit it up the twisting, narrow stair case. To note, my reassembly was quite sufficient and I have had no further problems, but I think that I will leave it in the UK when I am done.

September 30:
I received my stove, refrigerator, and washer/dryer combo. The process was quite amusing as regulation requires that your stove is connected by a professional. So, I had to arrange a service call. In addition, my baking sheets are too large for the oven. Thus, I have learned the importance of contingency planning. The micro-appliance trend is also true in terms of the refrigerator/freezer. I have limited freezer space, which is a unique challenge for someone who grew up in a house with a chest freezer.
In the evening, I went to the first MCR, or Middle Common Room, event at Clare, which included champagne tasting and pizza. The event was a blend of Cambridge elegance and typical college fare. It marked the kick-off of Fresher's Week or the week of slightly debaucherous events which serves to introduce new students whether grad or undergrad to life at Cambridge. However, I feel the lifestyle of Fresher's Week is only sustainable for those who are not responsible to the spartan-like demands of the U.S. Navy: "Come back with your shield (degree) or we will put you on shield (tremendous monetary and time debt.)"
This event solidified my understanding of the educational system at Cambridge. Academic endeavors occur at the University within each respective department while social endeavors occur at the college. The MCR comprises all graduate students at Clare College. The diversity is amazing. It ranges from individuals on all levels from masters degrees to doctoral candidates and runs the gamut in terms of nationalities. The range of studies is also amazing from anthropology to zoology. Literally, A to Z in terms of field specialities. I hold a special distinction within the group: I am the first American military officer to call Clare College home. I have one counterpart who is in the British Army. The college is actually Pro-American if not pro-military and is quite progressive. (Lord Cornwallis whose defeat at Yorktown guaranteed our independence studied at Clare College).

October 1:
I spent the day recovering from the previous night's escapade and continued the process of unpacking and stocking the fridge. In the afternoon, I went to a BBQ on Jesus Green where I met a few more companions and genuinely interesting people. We then departed for the Maypole, another popular pub. I have found the discussions to be quite broad and far-reaching. In particular, I like the diverse perspectives and the ability of people to inquisitively engage on a range of topics beyond their research. In particular, I like discussing what the Navy does in the world and where I see my value-added in the long-term.

October 2:
I spent Sunday recovering from Saturday night and continued the trend of cleaning and unpacking. I took my curtains to the cleaners on the first day and my house is quite open to public viewing, which could have something to do with the fact that the letting sign is still posted. In the evening, I journeyed by bicycle for the first-time to Clare College for a Whiskey-tasting. While not a huge fan of whiskey, my appreciation grew. We received 8 shots of various Scottish whiskies, which we sipped, described, and scrutinized. While eight shots may seem excessive to the novice, whiskey tasting usually requires sloshing and spitting. However, we sipped and consumed at a reasonable rate (3 shots per hour over 3 hours), chasing with glasses of water. I cycled home flawlessly. The jaunt is only 1 mile from both my department and my college.

October 3:
This day marked my first event within the Development Studies Department. It included a nice social where the professors introduced themselves and their courses. It was refreshing to see such heterogeneity within the department in terms of academic backgrounds (philosophy, geography, sociology, psychology, engineering, political science, economics, history, anthropology, ect.) and in terms of nationality (Only 6 U.S. students are in the program). This diversity is a strength of the program. The social that followed was excellent, but it was too short to meet and greet my fellow students. So, I have decided to hold a social for the 60 or so students at the house on Saturday, October 15. Given the size and range of lectures available, I feel that this event and events like this are essential in building a cadre of Development connections for my own benefit and the benefit of long term collaborative efforts amongst peers.

October 4:
I continued my pursuit of my social education by attending a "Rubiks Cube Bop" or dance at the Clare College Cellars, which is conveniently located below the Chapel at Clare in a catacomb-like area. The concept of the party was as follows: Wear the 6 colors of the rubiks cube and attempt to solve the Rubik's cube by acquiring one color by nights end. To attend, I had to shop. I went to the local range of second-hand stores, which are affiliates of many British charities and exist in great number. I successfully solved for blue. To my surprise, the event was actually quite calm, mild, and mature.

October 5:
I set about discovering the local libraries and registering with the NHS, or National Health Services, which provides a primary care provider in case of illness. When I arrived at the University of Cambridge Library, I almost cried. Seriously, I almost cried. It was academia. If I could be locked in any building in the world, I would choose this building without contemplation. The library was opened in the 1930's and is sight to behold. It is comprised of a central tower of 157 feet with massive wings of at least ten stories. The stacks include 7 million books and 1.5 million periodicals. As a legal deposit, all books published in Ireland and UK must be delivered on demand to the library. I fell in love. In the late afternoon, I attended an informational meeting on the Joint Social Sciences Curriculum. The program is quite expansive providing methodological instruction in the social sciences which is probably the most broad and comprehensive in the world besides Professor Michael Kellermann's curriculum at the U.S. Naval Academy.

October 6:
I entered fully into the World of Cambridge academia. I attended my first lecture on Institutions and Development which led to several findings. First, class sizes are huge in interdisciplinary studies. Second, planning at civilian institutions is wanting. The lecture room (built for 60) filled over capacity with at least 120 students. The lecture was engaging, but it was also short. I returned home stimulated and enthusiastic about the year to come. I took a break from reading and stocked the fridge with homemade angel hair, fettuccine, lasagna noodles, perogies, chili, and tomato sauce. For dinner, I joined some of my fellow service academy chums for dinner. It was quite neat to experience as our studies and experiences differ, but we share the commonality of the academies and service.

October 7:
I took on a four hour lecture block from 11 am to 3 pm. While this may seem long and arduous, I could not have been happier. The lectures covered an overview of Ajit Singh who has worked in the field of economics and development since the 1960's. His lecture covered the necessity of industrial revolutions in developing countries. His lecture revealed the left-leaning nature of the department, but it also allowed me to pull from my previous studies in the field to quietly challenge his assertions if only on paper. I was engaged to think critically and determine my position on the issue. The follow-on lecture was probably my favorite: Policy, Planning, and Regeneration, which focuses on the nexus of public policy and re-development within the modern welfare state. The class was fast-moving and for the meek economist, it was surely a one shot wonder before finding another course. However, my microeconomic understanding was such that I felt at ease. Unfortunately, it appears as though the courses will be run simultaneously due to scheduling shortcomings. So, I have begun my first lobbying campaign: To get the course moved to an agreeable time for me!
Friday also marked my matriculation ceremony at Clare College, which recognizes the incoming Fresher's at the graduate level. We donned our academic regalia (I now own a black gown similar to Harry Potter's) and went through the formal photograph, the signing of the matriculation book (a tradition dating back to the beginning of Clare), and enjoyed a three course formal dinner in the Great Hall. The food was excellent and included roasted duck, lyonaisse potatoes, tiramasu, and capped with my first taste of sherry. The event included a Latin prayer and speeches by the headmaster, tutors (welfare advocates), and the President of the MCR, a Nebraskan graduate student. His Husker's would soon overcome our Buckeye's the following night. The pageantry of the night was not lost to me. It was a very different formality than at the Naval Academy. The entire place is steeped in tradition.

October 8:
I continued my exploration of Cambridge by getting lost and running for nearly 50 minutes. I received my first house guest, Sarah Grant, another U.S Naval Academy graduate, who had her bed taken from her by a visiting family member of her housemate. I soon departed and left Sarah to her work and met Gruia, a Romanian, who studies architectural redesign and planning in post-conflict states. It was quite nice to sit and visit over a pint or two. He is quite inspirational. He told me that as a boy growing up in communist Romania that he would tell people that he wanted to be a "city-doctor." He wanted to cure the sickness of the cities in his home country through regeneration. I wish that I would have had his mentorship when I was in high school or perhaps last year when applying for scholarships. Our discussion inspired me to lobby the Navy to change my course of study during my second year from International Relations to Planning, Growth, and Regeneration, which focuses explicitly on the public policy of re-development in post-industrial areas and urban/rural planning and development.

October 9:
I spent the day reading and relaxing. My first book of term: Economics and Institutions by Geoffrey Hodgson, which covers an alternative approach to Neoclassical and Keynesian economics. While this is the overly academic description, it deals with introducing individuality and the environment into understanding economic causes and effects. As I read more, I will update the blog with my current academic readings and attempt to convey them in an approachable form. For dinner, I picked up some bacon and used left over spaghetti to make a homestyle dish from my mother: bacon and egg spaghetti with a light cream sauce. I succeeded in the replication process. Afterwards, I headed over to the MCR for movie night. It was quite interesting to watch the comedy, Snatch, as comedic effect varies so much across nationalities.