Dan Lococo

Regulation? No, just simple economics

2011-07-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

On January 1 of 2012 the European Union will be giving air carriers the choice of reducing fuel emissions or paying additional fees. In an article in the July 28 New York Times (U.S. and Europe Battle Over Airline Carbon Fees) this choice is depicted as simple economics by EU regulators and as inappropriate regulation of U.S. corporations by lobbyists and the U.S. State Department.

As long as the air carriers are free to choose between the fees and reducing emissions this is simple economics. The problem appears to be the fact the U.S. airline industry isn't prepared to do business in Europe under the new standards. The story behind the story is "What does the Air Transport Association do for its members if it is not helping them to continue to be competitive in a changing world?"

Read the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/business/energy-environment/us-air-carriers-brace-for-emissions-fees-in-Europe.html

http://www.DanLococo.com/

Prioritizing Sunday morning

2010-06-27T05:26:00.000-07:00

It is a warm Sunday morning here in Milwaukee. The air is fresh and the birds are singing.

that's not how the morning started. I was awoken this morning by the sounds of an approaching thunder storm and the recognition I would need to get up and make sure the windows were closed against the impending sheets of rain. This has become a regular routine lately and it is not always a pleasant way to start the day.

I took Zoe for our usual Sunday morning walk. Everything was still wet despite the fact the rain had stopped an hour ago. As we walked the swaying trees drop the rain water clinging to their leaves. At times I was not sure if I was being showered with fresh or leftover rain drops. I was surprised to find small branches and twigs freshly fallen from the trees. With all of the storms we've had recently I thought the trees would have shed all of their dead branches by now.

As we walk I realize the recent weather pattern will bring a level of frustration to those who tend yards and gardens. I know my wife has been wanting to get some seeds planted but has not been able to plant them between the frequent showers. I expect more than one person will have grown weary of gathering the fallen branches which have littered their lawns so many mornings in recent days.

Upon further reflection my mind wonders back to a time when these city blocks were forests of rolling hills. The weather pattern we have been experiencing would allow some seeds to flourish and others to rot in the ground. The branches freed from the trees by the wind would have simply composted back into the ground to nourish the forest.

That is all the time I have for reflection this morning. It is Sunday after all. I have Bible readings to review and I need to wake my wife in time for us to get in the car so we can go to gather to celebrate God's creation.

I have to prioritize.

____________________

http://www.DanLococo.com/

Marquette University disrupts morning prayers

2010-05-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Each morning I try to take a little time out to pray the Rosary. I find the prayers allow me to take a step back before getting into the activities of my day. Today, I found my prayers were disturbed by thoughts about Marquette University's decision to rescind its offer to hire a Seattle University professor as Arts and Sciences dean.

Various reports identify the reason for rescinding the job offer as being related to the professor's writings on marriage and gender issues, but unrelated to the fact Jodi O'Brien is a lesbian. This is a plausible explanation as Marquette University very likely employs the same proportion of gays and lesbians as occur in the general population (about 10%). Unfortunately, the questionable writings have not been identified so there is no reason, other than the fact the professor is a lesbian, to believe she would not serve the university and the community well in the position she was hired to do. I suspect Fr. Paul Hartmann more accurately described the problem when he said "My greatest fear..is that the important decision to be made in this moment will instead dichotomize university from Church and reason from faith," The intriguing idea here is that of dichotomizing reason from faith.

While it is often much simpler to keep reason and faith separate both are often strengthened by the presence of the other. If the decision to rescind the job offer to professor O'Brien has nothing to do with her sexual orientation or political pressures it seems more likely there are fears the professor's power of reason may overwhelm the university's Catholic identity. This seems highly unlikely in a 131 year old institution.

I consider myself a person of faith and a person of reason. Why do I pray the Rosary most mornings? It is a part of my faith. I frequently question my faith but I rarely change my beliefs as a result of being exposed to others who are different from me.

____________________

http://www.DanLococo.com/

Economic Hit Men in Louisiana

2010-05-01T05:08:00.000-07:00

While eating lunch yesterday, I tuned into one of the many talk shows which focus on things angry white men can get behind. The host was taking a call from a woman in Louisiana who warned about the dangers associated with elimination of oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

The woman explained that oil drilling must continue or the State of Louisiana would be in a worse financial situation than California is in. The caller contended that Louisiana relies so heavily on oil revenues as a funding source the state would be unable to fund operations if oil money were cut off. My first reaction to these statements was: "Who got you onto that plan?" The talk show host had different ideas and began a long monologue on how poorly the Obama administration is running the country.

It later occurred to me the talk show topic was a page right out of the book "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" by John Perkins (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2005, ISBN 1576753018, 9781576753019). In the book Perkins tells of a U.S. foreign policy which creates an economic dependency on the United States while providing great wealth to U.S. corporations. The parallels between Perkins book and the caller's assertions were very close. Louisiana may very well be in a position where its people and representatives can't afford to do what might well be in their own best interest.

____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

Fact, fiction and "The Road"

2010-02-13T05:08:00.000-08:00

I recently read "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. I found it a riveting book that was both compelling and depressing. Actually I read the book after buying it as a Christmas gift for my wife. Helen found the story equally compelling and we find our selves talking about scenes from the book on a regular basis. One of our favorite quotes from the book is: "Query: How does the never to be differ from what never was?"

Helen recommended the book to a friend of ours who had a negative reaction to both the book and its author. He sent Helen a note which described some of the apparent discrepancies in the author's biographical history and between the authors background and the life of his characters.

Our friend's note clarified a mental practice I have embraced for many years. I purposely try to avoid learning too much about the lives of writers of fiction. I don't read forwards to books if they were not written by the author themselves. I want the writer's words to be the fact of their lives. To me the biographical information about the author is the fiction. The author's writing is the facts of their life.

I spend too much time with non-fiction to chase after facts about the writer of a perfectly good piece of fiction.

____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

MIA? Ho, how rude of me

2010-01-07T08:11:00.000-08:00

I periodically contract people to provide services I either cannot or do not want to do myself. Since my daughter is home from college and in need of money, I thought I could take advantage of her recently acquired web-development skills. My daughter has adapted to her role as a contractor quite quickly. We had a 9:00 AM appointment to review the project and she is nowhere to be found.

I thought to myself: "Where's Jessica? She's missing in action (MIA)". In fact, Jessica stayed out late with friends last night and is still fast asleep. Not only is she not MIA she's fully engaged in producing no action at all.

It occurred to me I often use MIA to refer to people who have forgotten about commitments they've made. The more traditional use of MIA refers to persons who are unaccounted for in war zones. Using "MIA" to refer to a kid who forgot to set her alarm is a long ways from the original use of the term. Oh, how rude of me.

____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

Losing my way

2009-12-06T19:36:00.000-08:00

Zoe and I took our usual Sunday morning walk today. The Sunday morning routine is to make a pot of coffee, load up my talking book reader and head out for our walk. It was about 6:00 Am: prime time for a morning walk.

Unfortunately 6:00 AM is much darker this time of year and my vision continues to get progressively worse. I found myself having trouble negotiating our route and giving my book the attention it deserved. I also wasn’t very present to Zoe. I ended up not enjoying my walk very much at all. As I reflect on my experience this morning I find myself knowing I need to do something different if I am going to continue to enjoy the morning ritual Zoe and I have come to look forward to each day.

I realize I am making the experience too complicated and at the same time trying to be too controlling. I created a set of reinforcing loops that lead from bad to worse.

Given the amount of vision I have it may not be feasible for me to both navigate the walk by sight and read a book at the same time. I realize now I walked slower to compensate for my inability to keep track of my surroundings. This resulted in Zoe feeling she had time to explore all the interesting things a dog can find along the way. I found myself having to struggle to get Zoe back on track, which got me more off track.

The fact is there is nothing bad about just enjoying the sounds of the morning and leaving it at that. I think I have a plan for next weekend.

____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

The challenge of the non-negotiable

2009-10-08T08:38:00.001-07:00

I did a couple loads of laundry this morning. laundry is one of the less glamorous percs of having a home office. As I was starting the second load the felt dot I use as a guide to set the washer came loose and fell off the control dial. I can't see the lines on the controls of the washer so I must have a tactile means of setting the machine. No tactile feedback, no way to set the machine. To paraphrase and old, bad, joke: No touchy, no laundry.

The solution to this problem is very simple. I just need a sighted person who can put another felt dot on the washer control dial and everything will be fine for another few years. If I can't get this assistance I simply cannot use the washing machine. I don't say this to be demanding just a statement of fact.

It occurred to me this is a great example of the challenges disabled persons face in many settings each day. Part of the problem is the simplicity of the solution. I have a very supportive family but it simply isn't a high priority to anyone (including myself) to put a dot on a washing machine.

There is a fair chance I won't get the dot on the washer control until the towels and sheets are dirty and no one else feels like doing them. That's fine in a home setting but may easily reflect badly on everyone (but more likely the disabled employee) in a work setting.

This simple situation is an example of how a person with a disability can be perceived as being less capable of getting a job done. There's no real blame to be placed here just a non-negotiable need for a cooperative effort.

____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

Stripping it down in Nature

2009-10-05T09:35:00.000-07:00

I attended a retreat yesterday called "Meeting God in the Rawness of Nature" with Richard Rohr, OFM. The day was held in Lakewood Forest Preserve, Wauconda, IL. As with any good retreat experience it has taken a little time for the revelations of the day to clarify in my mind.

One of the reflection opportunities was to find a quiet place in the nature preserve and to reflect on the connection we have to what we found. While I don't like to let my blindness be a controlling factor in my choices, I decided to keep things simple and not go too deep into the forest. I found ample opportunity to reflect at the place I was drawn to.

After settling myself I stood and absorbed the various textures, sounds, and smells of my surroundings. The reflection instructions asked us to identify a single object to reflect on but nothing called out to me. Instead I found myself reflecting on how the textures, sounds and smells of the nature preserve appeared to be a single monolith of input. As I paid closer attention I was drawn to the fact each element of this environment was a seemingly insignificant part of the whole. Instead of embracing the message of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 I found myself thinking quite the opposite.

I saw the sense of order we often prescribe to our natural environment is just a way to simply put order to a very complex system. I had to question my assumption everything has a 'purpose" in nature. By making this assumption I can infer I must have a purpose in the universe. I realized I could not assume everything has a purpose nor could I infer I have a purpose in the universe. Instead I realized each plant, bird and insect was simply doing what they do.

This revelation left me struggling to see where my place in the universe resides. It would be comforting to know there was a plan for me and I am merely a passenger on a ride designed by someone else. While the passenger idea has a lot of merit I've never really embraced the idea.

My reflection drew me to the conclusion I am an active participant in the mystery of the universe. A much harder, but far more exciting, view of the world. While this revelation is not new or novel, it reinforces my beliefs and experience. I am regularly amazed at the gifts in my life. I am also regularly surprised at how easily the gifts in my life compliment or are supplemented by the environment I'm a part of.

I found myself left with a need to regularly reflect on my own gifts and how I can be gift to others. While this revelation is not significant it is also not something I purposefully do on a regular basis.

____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

She kissed a girl

2009-09-20T20:45:00.001-07:00

One of the nice things about Facebook is the opportunity to keep up to date with the people I've gotten to know over the years but don't have frequent contact with. Jean is one of those people. We served on a Board together for a number of years. Our paths cross occasionally but infrequently. I enjoy reading her FB updates and I send her a copy of the newsletter I write.

The other day Jean posted a link to a disturbing story about the Atlanta police harassing a group of bar patrons for no other reason than they happened to be gay. I'm happy Jean posted the link because we all need to be vigilant when it comes to civil/human rights abuses.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-alvear/stonewall-2009-police-rai_b_286649.html

Jean has posted a number of links related to issues facing gay people. Some have been serious, some funny and some I've ignored. Out of curiosity I took a look at Jean's profile. Jean is in a relationship and she's gay. The world is now different and I'm not sure how to deal with this new information.

acknowledge or ignore: that is the question. To acknowledge Jean 's sexuality is filled with all sorts of presumptuous pitfalls. I don't want to seem like I'm showing some sort of approval: indicating approval for someone's sexuality is kind of like indicating approval of someone's racial background: "Hey I just realized you're Asian and I want you to know I'm OK with that". Showing some sort of solidarity seems like a noble thing to do but I can't imagine being part of one of the very few groups who are openly (and legally) discriminated against so that would be a hollow gesture. Pointing out the dangers of living together out of wedlock might be useful if it weren't for the institutionalized discrimination thing.

I guess I'm stuck. I'll shoot Jean a copy of this blog post and hope she continues to share tidbits from her life in whatever ways our paths cross.

____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

The Insurance Industry fears free-market capitalism

2009-09-14T07:49:00.001-07:00

Susan Pisano of the America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) trade group stresses two major points about health insurance plans:

1. The health insurance industry does not believe they could compete with a government operated insurance plan.

2. Only one percent of health care premiums go toward profits.

Two generally accepted points regarding health insurance administrative costs are:

1. For-profit health insurance have administrative costs of 15 - 30%.

2. Medicare has administrative costs under 5%.

When we put the position of AHIP together with what is accepted about administrative costs it is hard to see AHIP's concern over the competition a government administrated plan would provide. True, for-profit insurance plans would have to bring their administrative costs under control but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Once AHIP members brought their administrative costs under control the one percent difference (profits) would be insignificant and a free market would determine if they were deserved.

AHIP appears to fear free-market capitalism more than anything else.

____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros are all that

2009-09-06T16:10:00.001-07:00

In going through my e-mail yesterday morning I found a very welcome surprise. The group "Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros" was going to be in town for a show tonight. They would be appearing at Club Garibaldi, a small venue, for the nominal cost of $10 per ticket. This seemed like a chance that might never come again. My plan to see the show came together better-than-expected. Unfortunately, the show itself turned out to be quite a disappointment.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is a Los Angeles-based band led by Alex Ebert. the group plays a mix of folk, world music and acoustic music, delivered with an enthusiasm reminiscent of a tent show revival.

I've been following Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros through various Internet radio stations across the country. I've heard them live in concert a number of times over the Internet. I had put them on my (very short) list of groups to see regardless of the ticket price. This opportunity appeared to be too good to be true and in unexpected ways it was.

Jeremiah Nelson (of Madison, Wisconsin) opened the night with a set of original songs. Nelson was accompanied by a violin player and they put on a good set. A number of times Nelson noted they would do a couple more songs and then Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros would be out. After the second time nelson said this I began to wonder if they weren't getting the stretch signal from off-stage.

When Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros finally did come out it was clear this was not going to be their best performance. It became all too obvious Alex Ebert, the group's leader was performing while impaired. My wife told me later all of the band members and the sound person were drinking quite heavily throughout the performance.

By the end of the night my initial concern this opportunity to see Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros might be a one-time thing was confirmed. I had assumed the group was on a path which might leave "small markets" such as Milwaukee behind. I never imagined the group might implode in a fog of substance abuse.

Some links to the music:

http://www.myspace.com/jeremiahnelsonmusic

<http://www.edwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.com/

_____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

Helen and Dan on Relevant Radio

2009-09-02T19:54:00.000-07:00

As a follow up to the article "

Couple begins every day with wedding vows"

published in the August 6th Catholic Herald we were asked to do an interview with Sean Herriot of Relevant Radio.

The interview was great fun and we had a chance to share a little bit of how we have kept our love alive for these past twenty years.

An archive of the interview can be found about 45 minutes into hour three of the 9/3 program:

http://www.relevantradio.com/Page.aspx?pid=1380&cid=17&ceid=3392&cerid=0&cdt=9%2f2%2f2009

The Catholic Herald article can be found at:

http://www.chnonline.org/

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

Grace in the dangerous part of town

2009-05-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

I took the bus down to meet my Big Brothers/Big sisters "Little" this morning. It was a nightmare. The connections were lousy and it just took forever to get there and back. The more I think of it though, the more I realize the trip was the high point of the day.

I met Dennis on 27th and Wisconsin Ave. Dennis introduced himself to me and I immediately assumed he was a pan-handler and wanted my money. it turned out Dennis is a sweet gentleman who is known by many people in the area. I listened to an older woman (who knew Dennis) talking on the bus about places she's worked and volunteered. I don't get the feeling she's been invited to any fancy events lately yet she is the type of person I admire for their giving spirit.

It turned out the bus driver didn't hear me when I told her where I wanted to get off the bus. I ended up going beyond my stop and having to catch a bus back south to meet my Little. As I was getting ready to cross the road I heard a gentleman say "Cousin, help this man across the street.". A woman took my arm and helped me across. I could have crossed myself but thought it better not to refuse such a kind heart. When we got across she told me we were in front of the barber shop. She gave me the name of the owner and told me I should let him know if I needed anything. I didn't but it was lovely to think I could go in to a place I've never been before and know I was recommended to the owner by one of the members of the community.

All of these very nice encounters took place in an area of town many people are afraid to go to because of the imminent danger lurking at every street corner. I'm grateful for the bad luck that brought me face-to-face with these people. I can only hope they would be treated as graciously in my neighborhood.

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

The Pirate Paradox

2009-04-18T19:01:00.001-07:00

The President has made a commitment to keeping American shipping crews safe from pirates wherever they travel in the world. This seems a reasonable response to the recent hostage situation off the shores of Somalia. The commitment is also a contradiction to Obama's commitment to supporting American job growth through environmentally responsible policies.

A major problem with using U.S. forces to protect American shipping crews as they travel in dangerous waters is the cost of the goods being protected is dramatically increased but not reported. The cost of U.S. Navy patrols gets lost in the massive Defense Department budget and simply becomes a part of the cost of running the U.S. government. The cost of the goods being shipped then becomes a combination of the materials, transport and marketing plus and unknown (and un reported) cost of protection. When we, the consumer, buy these goods we pay for only part of the cost of the goods. The other cost for these goods is paid by general tax revenues and deficit spending.

An alternative to providing U.S. navy protection to private shipping interests is to let the shippers decide how they want to protect their crews and the goods they transport. They can employ private security or pay the ransoms associated with operating in an area controlled my pirates. In either case the costs are passed along to the buying public through higher product prices. These higher prices reflect the true cost of the products.

When faced with the true costs of products on store shelves consumers might find themselves making different decisions. They may find themselves seeking out products produced in safer parts of the world. Local producers may find they are able to compete with products shipped from the other side of the world once the true costs of the products are reflected in their price.

U.S. naval protection of private shippers provides a subsidy to the shipping companies and to the companies bringing materials from across the world. At a time when we need more jobs in America and have huge budget deficits we would be better served by letting shipping companies take responsibility for their own security costs. The free market would reward companies that didn't have the cost of dealing with pirates built into their cost structure.

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

The flow at the coffee shop

2009-03-31T11:32:00.001-07:00

I stopped at the coffee shop at the Central Library to have lunch between appointments today. I hadn't been to the shop since they remodeled it about a year ago. I like to give the place some business since it is run as a project for a nonprofit organization.

I was surprised to find they either didn't have sandwiches any more or they only had some in the refrigerator case. I wasn't sure which because the person behind the counter didn't make it too clear. I figure if the shop is a project one of the lessons to learn is clear communication leads to more sales than mumbling. I ended up having a cup of coffee and reading for a while. As I was sitting there I heard people ordering soup. I thought it odd the person didn't mention the soup as an option.

After sitting a while I decided I'd have the soup. I ended up waiting to order because one of the regulars was chatting with the counter person. The soup was week and expensive.

The shop is more of a fixture than a business. The rhythm of the shop includes regulars who know the menu and occasional stragglers. It fulfilled its mission of being a nonprofit project. As a producer of good, fast, food it was marginal. next time I'll stick to the coffee and find another place for lunch.

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

Today's reading - John 8:1-11

2009-03-30T06:45:00.001-07:00

The bible reading today was the Gospel of John chapter 8 verses 1 through 11. It's the story of the Pharisees bringing a woman who had been accused of committing adultery to Jesus. I find the passage very interesting because of its simplicity and complexity.

The accepted take-away from the reading is: let he who is without sin cast the first stone. A great message but it doesn't do the reading justice if that is all that is seen in it. If we took the accepted message literally we'd never have a firm stance on anything. The inference to not get too self-righteous is clear and worth taking to heart. But what was Jesus writing on the ground? The reading provides no answer. A blog entry? Probably not.

My wife has studied the Bible and often gives me the contextual background of Bible passages. Sometimes she is very helpful. Sometimes I just like to sit with the reading and be satisfied with the ambiguity of the message.

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

The challenge of a clean slate

2009-03-29T04:56:00.001-07:00

It is the start of a new day at the start of a new week. There is a fresh snow to make everything appear bright and clean.

As I look out on the freshness of it all the opportunities are overwhelming. Of all the things I could do with all of this freshness... Where should I start? How do I prioritize? My mind races from the moment to the day to the week and beyond. Read a book? Shovel the snow? Plan my week?

As I fixate on the options and possibilities I realize I want to pace myself and be thoughtful in my actions: some good music, a cup of coffee, a conversation with my daughter. Al good and important things. Am I pacing myself or just getting distracted?

A bit less analysis and a bit more savoring the time I have will put things into perspective.

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

Not watering the wok

2009-02-21T05:24:00.001-08:00

I made fried rice for supper last night. After the meal I cleaned the wok I had used with salt and a paper towel.

I had “rescued” this wok about thirty years ago from a closet. My Dad’s girlfriend thought the only way to clean any cooking tools was with soap and water. She had let the steel wok deteriorate into a rusted mess. As I recall I found a couple of very nice cast iron frying pans at the same time.

After many hours of working the wok with steel wool I was able to clear the rust and have a smooth cooking surface. I seasoned the wok with oil and have never used soap on it. A few years ago I decided to take things one step further and stop using water on the wok.

As I cleaned the wok I wondered if it was worth the effort to keep it clean. As I rubbed the salt into the wok I realized there was more to this process than just getting organic material off a cooking surface. In asking myself if it was worth the effort I was asking myself if the meal was good enough to justify the work it took to clean up after consuming it. It was. I was also aware that by using the wok I had made it better than it was before I started. I was also aware the time I spend doing simple tasks well is rarely wasted time.

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>-------------------------

Dan Lococo

Facilitation, planning, analysis

Affinity By Design, LLC

414.333.5846

dlococo@AffinityByDesign.com

<http://www.AffinityByDesign.com/>

Sharing hard lessons

2009-02-14T05:31:00.001-08:00

The other day Jessica let her mother know she had sold her I-Pod for $200. She was very proud of herself for getting some good money for something she had never used.

When she came home from college last night we found she was depressed about the way her semester has been going so far. School is much harder this semester. The math class she is taking is being taught by a new instructor who doesn’t seem to have the knowledge transfer thing down too well. Jess needs a tutor but has been too busy to get one. The drama of dormitory life is present at her school just as in all other schools at all other times. Still, it is a force to be dealt with at the most inconvenient times. And the I-Pod sale: E-Bay let her know the buyer was fraudulent and she wasn’t likely to get paid for her I-Pod. Unfortunately she had already sent the device to the buyer on the assumption she was dealing with an honest person.

I could tell how bad Jessica felt about getting ripped off. It didn’t seem like time well spent to ask her about why she didn’t use any of the safeguards E-Bay has suggested avoiding rip-offs. The situation left me with a dull ache in my stomach.

After sleeping on it I began to wonder about that dull ache in my stomach. It certainly had something to do with Jess getting ripped off but I don’t wish we had raised her to be suspicious of everyone she deals with. The naivety Jessica possesses is a precious part of her personality. As I lay in bed thinking about how bad jess must feel about losing the $200 she thought she had earned for herself I reflected back to my college years. I had had a beautiful racing motorcycle I no longer used but didn’t want to let go of. I had left it in the storage area of a house I had lived at. When I went back to get the motorcycle (many months after moving out of the house) I found it was gone and the owner knew nothing about where it might be. It was an expensive lesson for a nieve kid.

I think I need to find an opportunity to share the experience with Jessica and let her figure out the lesson part for herself. I am confident she will take the lesson well and move on with life.

<DanLococo.com>

A Ministry in Waiting

2009-02-07T14:28:00.000-08:00

It’s the warmest morning we’ve had in the past month and a half. Both Zoe and I really could use an early morning walk. As I come down the driveway one of my neighbors lets me know it’s very icy. I knew this as soon as I came out of the house, but was grateful to have the cautionary warning.

I’ve decided this morning to forego the standard listening fare of business reports/books in favor of commercial radio. I figure this will allow my mind to wander during the endless stream of commercials for things I don’t need or want. The classic rock station is playing some good music, so I think I’ve struck a good balance between time to ponder and time to just let the morning drift by.

My neighbor is right, it’s quite icy in places, but the warn air makes the occasional dance steps a welcome trade-off. The walk is a good opportunity to reflect on the week.

The song “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas comes on the radio. It was popular at a time when I was quite troubled over losing my vision to retinitis pigmentosa (tunnel vision). Listening to the song reminds me of how fleeting things can be: having vision and loosing it, feeling sorry for myself and moving on with my life.

As I walk my mind goes to conversations I’ve had in the last two days. I’ve been working on a project to get blind people more involved in the pursuit of their own independence. In doing the grass-roots portion of this project I’ve talked to a wide variety of people and received a wide variety of responses. Two of these people have contacted me in the past two days just to talk.

On Friday I got a call from a microbiologist who has lost his vision over the past three years. This PhD has published two dozen articles and written a number of chapters for various textbooks. He seemed very interested in the fact I have my own consulting practice, http://www.AffinityByDesign.com/. Our discussion included some of the struggles involved in dealing with vision loss. It was an interesting discussion; as much as I have great respect for the accomplishments this man has achieved, he seems to be equally captivated by the fact I don’t let my blindness get in the way of my goals. There seems to be a great opportunity for mutual benefit here.

On Thursday I got a call from an older woman who wanted some advice on software which would allow her computer to both magnify the screen and talk out loud. From our previous discussions I’ve learned she has done some investing. I am hoping to get her involved in the program I’m developing so she can be a role model for others. As we talked I learned she really wants to do more things for herself. She wants to be able to read her own investment reports and to be able to stay in contact with people by email. This is exactly what I am hoping the program work I’m doing will cultivate.

Reflecting on these conversations brought me back to the start of my walk: sometimes all we need is a friendly voice to remind us to watch out for the slippery spots. I only hope I can be that friendly voice for those who reach out to me. What if the project I’m working on could create a place where hopes and fears, and sharing of gifts came together?

http://www.danlococo.com/

A great holiday deal

2008-12-25T08:00:00.001-08:00

today is Christmas. As a person who practices the Christian faith this is a special time to celebrate and reflect.

One of the things I like most of days like Christmas is how they are a mix of ritual, expectation and unstructured time. We went to church last night and will spend time with family today. Right now however is that unstructured time that is open for interpretation. Being the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ puts some significant pressure on how this free time is spent. I am looking forward to spending some time in prayer, some time visiting with loved ones and some time reflecting on the many gifts I have in my life.

At the same time I realize Christmas doesn’t have the same clout it once did. In part this is because the religious aspects of Christmas have diminished and been replaced by commercialism (although not so much this year). We also are more open to acknowledging spiritual diversity of those around us. As I take the time to celebrate and reflect today, I wonder how persons of other faith traditions will spend this holiday. If the commitments of faith and family tradition were not present in my life, today would be a free day to pause and reflect and regroup. I’m left to wonder how I could take advantage of this opportunity. I could easily learn about the traditions of others and take some time out on their sacred days. This would give me a chance to celebrate the gifts of my life without the hassle that sometimes comes with the holidays. What a deal.

Web: <www.DanLococo.com>

Siddhartha and the kids at the funeral

2008-12-21T19:40:00.001-08:00

I went to a memorial service for the mother of a friend of ours today. As the service was going on a couple of kids were fussing near us. Little people making little people sounds don’t really bother me but I have a low threshold for kids who’s parents believe they can pack enough stuff to keep their little ones entertained only to find they have failed.

As members of Mary Margaret’s family shared memories of her life and the lessons they had learned from her I found myself reflecting on Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha. The story tells of Siddhartha’s journey from boyhood to a man of wisdom. Siddhartha’s life was made of many phases and facets. It was the combination of these dissimilar pieces that made Siddhartha a wise man. The rememberances of Mary Margaret’s life were varied and she clearly touched different people in different ways. It was only through listening to these many stories I began to get a glimps of Mary Margaret and how she touched the generations that follow her.

As I listened I also wondered about the fussing kids. I got the sense their parents hoped they wouldn’t notice this situation was different from others in their little lives. There appeared to be an expectation the kids could get by without knowing this was a time to be still and to listen. The special person Mary Margaret was and Siddhartha’s wisdom were a convergance of listening, learning, joy, sadness, challenges and gifts. I found myself wondering if the cocoons we get ourselves into through the entertainment bag at the funeral, personal entertainment systems, audio devices, cell phones, etc. will support or eliminate that convergance.

Web: www.DanLococo.com

Email: dlococo@AffinityByDesign.com

Harley 105th Anniversary

2008-08-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

Every five years Harley-Davidson has a big anniversary celebration here in
Milwaukee. This weekend is the 105th year for the company. While I don't
get involved in the Harley activities around town, it's impossible to avoid
the presence of the thousands of motorcycles circulating around throughout
the city.

As I took my dog out at 10:30 last night I listened to the rumble of the
engines. It reminded me of a group of workers hammering on a roof. The
sounds of motorcycles going East and West along Blue mound Road blended with
those going North and South along Highway 45. As I listened the engines
seemed to synchronize into one low rumble. In the truest sense of the
phrase: this is a city-wide celebration.

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/Events/105th_Coverage/landi
ng.jsp?camp_id=16&source_cd=SEM_entertainment&locale=en_US&GCID=S18577x001&K
EYWORD=harley+105th+anniversary

Turning down a big project

2008-08-10T06:02:00.001-07:00

One of the things I value most about my walks with Zoe every morning is the chance to reflect on the upcoming day. As this is Sunday, my thoughts went to some of my interactions with people I'll see at church today.

Last Sunday the parish Trustees let me know I would be approached to participate in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee's "Faith In Our Future" fundraising campaign. The campaign is seeking to generate $40M for the Archdiocese and $5M for the fundraising coordinators. The incentive to the potential donors is they will keep 60% of the campaign proceeds in their parish. While it sounds like a good scheme, it just doesn't smell right to me. This sense of a bad odor is shared by many I've spoken to.

On Monday of last week I was asked by the head of our Pastoral Council if I would act as one of the Administrators of the campaign. This would involve a great deal of coordinating, monitoring and facilitation. All things I'm good at. I was quite flattered to be asked to fill such a significant role in this project. I told Jerome I'd review the job description and let him know if I would participate. Review of the job description confirmed the Administrator role requires a committed individual Unfortunately, the Archdiocese' web page didn't disperse the bad odor I've associated with the campaign. I let Jerome know I was honored to be asked but didn't feel I would be committed enough to participate in the project.

As I walked with Zoe, I initially felt a need to articulate my reasons for declining to participate. By the end of our walk, I realized I can simply keep my reasoning to myself. That, in part, is what qualifies me to administer large projects.

http://www.danlococo.com/

19th Anniversary

2008-07-15T20:11:00.001-07:00

Today was our 19th Wedding anniversary. It was different from the wedding day in many ways and much the same in others.

Instead of being totally focused on the wedding ceremony we spent our day doing the things middle-aged people do. Helen went to work. I had some meetings and errands to run. Instead of a big party we went to a presentation at Schwartz bookstore. I made us a couple of sub sandwiches and we ate them at a picnic table in Lake Park.

The mechanics of the day were different but the important things remain the same. Helen is still the love of my life. The best part of any day is still the time we spend in each others arms. Part of the reason for this is we start every day just like we started our marriage:

I Dan Take you Helen to be my wife
And in doing so, commit my life to you.

Encompassing all good times and bad, all joys and sorrows, all of the experiences of life.

A commitment made in love, kept in faith, lived in hope, and eternally made new.

Just waiting for a bus

2008-07-14T20:54:00.001-07:00

While on the way to a meeting this afternoon I found there was a scheduling mix-up. I ended up turning around to go home. While waiting for the bus I had a great opportunity to reflect on what would have been discussed, if the meeting had actually taken place.

I was going to meet to talk about acting as a Coach for the Milwaukee Mosaic Partnership program. Mosaic is a project to bring people together with the goal of fostering malty-racial interaction through individual and small group relationships. I helped facilitate a group of twenty-four persons during the 2007-2008 program and am looking forward to doing it again this Fall.

While waiting for the bus, at 35th and Wisconsin Avenues, I had a chance to sit with three African-American people with very different backgrounds than my own. From their discussion I learned at least one of them was a high-school drop-out. Two of the individuals had experienced job loss from poor attendance. All three peppered their dialogue with words I rarely speak within hearing of others.

While I like to think of myself as a social person I was clueless as to how to engage in polite conversation with this group. I realized my discomfort in this situation was over an inability to communicate. Fact is this was a very nice group of people. I know of many people who would be scared in this situation, I just don't know why.

I'm looking forward to some of the deep discussions that will be a part of the Mosaic Partnership Program in the coming year. It is a great opportunity to face fears and prejudices in a safe setting. I am sure I will learn a lot and hopefully start some long-term relationships. I know however, the big challenge lies in chatting with people of different ethnic, educational, and economic backgrounds while sitting around waiting for the bus.

Being simple

2008-07-13T06:14:00.001-07:00

Helen and I had a good walk last night. While we walked we talked about where our life is and where we are going. Helen asked how I was doing. I gave her an assessment of my business and where I was with the plans I have made for myself. We also talked about Helen's aspirations and how our lives might change as Jessica and Rachel grow and move out of the house.

I have to say things are going pretty well for me. My business is on track and I am happy with the opportunities I have in my life. I am blessed with a supportive wife and family. I'm grateful for the opportunity to pursue the things I find important in life. The fact I'm getting paid to do some of these things is a gift.

<http://www.affinitybydesign.com/>

As we walked we also reflected on the time we had spent, earlier in the week, participating in a Native American Sweat Lodge. The gentleman who helped us through the experience was as wise as he is generous. David lives in a simple house in a semi-rural area. While the house is not elegantly adorned, it is rich in the treasures of his life. The experience helped us recognize the need to focus on what we find important in our lives. While the question "What is important?" is often a challenge to articulate, we know the answer is not "More stuff.".

When I awoke this morning I listened to the Reverend Daniel Meyer talking about simplifying our lives. Rev. Meyer is doing a series called "Living Insanity" this summer. Today's topic talked about "more" and "better". The sermon was a great way to reinforce the talk we had the night before.

<http://lovechangeslife.org/programs.php>

Zoe and I took our customary walk through the neighborhood this morning. We listened to birds, smelled the flowers and enjoyed the solitude. Ironically, the biggest distraction was making sure I remembered where the sidewalks are obstructed. A number of people in the neighborhood park their vehicles across the sidewalk. They have so much stuff they can't use their garages as a parking area. Apparently the stuff in the garage is so sacred to them they are oblivious to the fact their vehicles don't fit on the short space between the garage and the sidewalk.

I am grateful we have a simple life and a roomy garage.