My World Map

Movie Trilogies I Should Own

Bourne: Identity, Supremacy, Ultimatum
Ocean's: 11, 12, 13
Matrix: Matrix, Reloaded, Revolutions
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship, Two Towers, Return of the King
Star Wars: A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi
The New Star Wars Trilogy: Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith
Godfather
Indiana Jones (when it WAS a trilogy): Raiders, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade
Hannibal Lecter: Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, Red Dragon
Back to the Future
Pirates of the Caribbean: Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest, World's End
The Red Curtain Trilogy: Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!
Spider-Man
Elements by Deepa Mehta: Fire, Earth, Water
Jurassic Park

Anything you would add to my list?

Honest to God

Yesterday, I was interviewed for a radio program called Honest to God hosted by a young pastor named Josh Weidmann.

www.honesttogodradio.com

I was able to talk about the India documentary I'm working on and how it relates to human trafficking.

I had never thought of it in terms of trafficking, but it's an interesting concept.

If orphanage directors are gathering more children who are not orphans to their homes in order to get more support from America, in order to line their pockets, are the children, in essence, being trafficked?

Albeit nowhere near bonded labor or prostitution, if these children are being used for the personal betterment of an individual, even though their needs are being taken care of, is it wrong?

Would it be better for these kids to go live with their impoverished families? Or is it better to live with corrupt orphanage directors who care primarily about money?

On another note: I've found someone who's interested in developing a web site for the documentary. Pro bono.

I'll pass along details of the radio broadcast and the web site as they come.

Reflections of my time in India

I just returned from three weeks in Mumbai.

I was working on a documentary about orphans. But it's becoming about so much more than that.

I can't share too much at this point, but I can say I feel it's becoming a strong story, deeper and more miry than a piece solely about orphans.

Personally, I was stretched. Again. It never ceases to amaze me how easily I fall back into taking things for granted.

I learned about patience again. Our cultures have several differences, and remembering and realizing yours isn't the only one is always a hard lesson to learn. It's an attitude you must have if you are to be effective in India.

I'll post some pictures later.

Orphans of India - Chennai & Shankavaram

Here's a video I put together for a demo reel of our time in S. India 2007.

Orphans of India - Mumbai

A little over 2 years ago, a friend and I started a documentary that focused on children who were orphaned by the tsunami of 2004.

We went to southern India and filmed children in orphanages for the better part of a year. (I was there only three weeks.)

We're leaving tomorrow to go back for another three weeks, this time to Mumbai, focusing on AIDS orphans and victims of the sex trade.

Here's Peterson: One of the boys I'll meet.


I'm looking forward to my time there, but three weeks is a long time away from my wife.

Iranian Elections

I'm paying attention to the craziness that's happening in Iran. I can't get it out of my mind. It's like it's a movie; because it's so bizarre and enthralling, yet we're so detached from it all.

It's strange to experience an extended event like this one, all the while knowing it'll probably end up as a film or a documentary.

My heart goes out to the Iranian people during this time. I think I'd be pretty upset if I thought my vote didn't count either. Who knows? Maybe I'd be out there with the hundreds of thousands of other protesters on the streets.

I can't say whether or not I think the election was rigged. One one hand, it seems like a conspiracy theory - not to mention, it would be very difficult to pull off.

On the other hand, the opposition has a lot of compelling circumstancial evidence, like how Pres. Ahmadinejad won so heavily in the opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi's hometown. And also, counting 40 million write-in ballots in a matter of hours seems a little fishy.

My gut is telling me that it'd take a miracle to change the 'outcome' - and likely not much will change in US-Iranian relations. Both leaders are pretty anti-American. And our approach won't change either. We will still try to engage them with talks, persuading them towards nuclear disarmament and ending support for terrorist states.

I'd like to see a change in their leadership, but we'll probably have to wait 4 more years.
In the meantime, I'm glued to the news.

Colorado

I love living in Colorado. I think the greatest thing about living in the Springs is being literally minutes from being swallowed up in vast pine forests among snow capped peaks.

There's such a variety of nearby hikes to where I work and live. Any day, I can come in early to get off at 3:30, and I'll be in the mountains by 4.

As of yesterday, I had a view of Pikes Peak from my desk. They just replaced the window with a cubicle piece. Bummer.

Today, I'll be hiking Eagles Peak, which towers above the Air Force Academy Chapel
What a great way to end the workday!

Invisible Nation with an Invisible Future

I'm editing a story right now on the beginning of some work we're doing in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq.

The Kurdish people are the largest people group without a nation.

They're spread out mainly throughout Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey. They've been persecuted heavily in Iraq, especially in the late 80s when Saddam launched his Anfal Operation, exterminating thousands and thousands of Kurds. Villages were leveled and millions were displaced.

This was done in the name of Islam, and so it left the Kurds a little disenfranchised with the religion. As if they need any reminders, the hillsides are covered in mass graves.

They're especially grateful for the Americans. We helped topple Saddam and establish a Kurdish Regional Authority, which gives them some degree of autonomy.

I felt like a celebrity when I was there. If you ever want an ego boost, go to Kurdistan.

There's a feeling of hope and openness in the region. It's exciting to see what will happen in the upcoming years, especially with all the foreign investment pouring in.

They've been called an Invisible Nation with an Invisible Future. With this great freedom they're now experiencing, I hope that will no longer be the case.

General Council

This last week, I had the opportunity to attend our denomination's General Council in Louisville, KY.

I pronounce it Looahvul. How about you?

I was there recording interviews of our international workers from all over the world. It was eye opening for me to see just how broad the Alliance is.

Africa, Asia, Latin America, we're every where!

And it wasn't just missionaries. It was encouraging to see all the pastors, youth leaders and lay leaders who are living the call together.

I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to connect with people at Council, and I was very happy to get back to the Lexington area and visit my Alma mater.

Thugee

In preparation for my upcoming trip to India, I'm watching lots of films from that area.

Sometimes it's Bollywood. Other times it's Hollywood (See Slumdog Millionaire).
Lately I've been watching films set during the British Raj.

Most recently, Gunga Din, starring Cary Grant and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., features an ancient cult; the Thugee.

The Thugee were also the villains in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. They were worshipers of the goddess Kali, wife of Shiva. Basically, they were the lord and lady of death.

The cult was supposedly wiped out in the 1830-40s, but not until they had killed tens of thousands of people. Strangulation was their modus operandi. They would pre-dig the graves and loot the bodies.

What if there's some remnant still alive today?

And why does this mystery have such a grasp on our western mindset?

Student Loan Dilemma

I heard this story on NPR this morning.

With graduation upon us, many young people will have to face the harsh reality of paying back their student loans very soon.

College costs have risen every year, and this year is no different. A new record - an average $22,000 will need to be repaid by your 22 year old friend who aspires to become a writer, or a social worker, or a musician.

Personally, I wish I only owed that much. I've been paying on mine for 5 years now and I'm not close to that number yet. One of the side effects of financing a 4 year private Christian education.

Most of these young people end up taking jobs that give them the most money, not necessarily the jobs that they dream about.

The host of the NPR show suggested something absurd. But the more I thought about it, the more I think he was on to something.

He said that maybe the Federal Fund that allows us to borrow student loans at such a low rate should be repaid at a flat 10% of one's income for 10 years. Those who earn more will make up for those who earn less. The numbers could be adjusted to make it work. But what if you knew your loan time was fixed and the amount was never too much of your income?

Before you get vigilante on me, you have to admit that something's broken. And maybe it would allow people to follow their dreams instead of settling for whatever they can get.

Sallie Mae lobbyists would have a heyday with this, I'm sure.

Welcome to Jordan

I'm stealing the most popular phrase from the Middle Eastern country.

"Welcome to Jordan!"

It seems to be the obligatory English sentence one must learn in school.

But it worked on me.

I felt very welcome. And I also felt some of my misconceptions about this people group melt away.

I welcome you to my blog.

My aim is share with you what I've gained through my interaction with several different people groups throughout my travels.

No lengthy tirades. No prejudging. Just observations through an ever-broadening perspective.

Please feel free to share your experiences here as well.