Ming's Research Pages

Book Summary : Character Makeover: 40 Days with a Life Coach to Create the Best You

2011-09-04T22:02:00.000-07:00

Character Makeover: 40 Days with a Life Coach to Create the Best You
Katie Brazelton (Author), Shelley Leith (Author)

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (January 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0310256534

Part 1: The Making of a Right Relationship to God

1. Humility - drives at the inner strongholds of pride, self-centeredness, judgmentalism, and worthlessness.

Part 2: The Making of a Right Relationship to Myself
       2. Confidence - is an inner quality that speaks to strongholds of insecurity, poor self-esteem, and perfectionism.
       3. Courage - is an outward quality desperately needed by women who struggle with fear, anxiety, or untruthfulness.
Part 3: The Making of a Right Relationship to Others
       4. Self-Control - is what women need to exhibit inwardly if they are impulsive, additive, undisciplined, overemotional, or stress-prone.
       5. Patience - is a great outward character quality for women who are intolerant or demanding.
Part 4: The Making of a Right Relationship to Things
       6. Contentment - is an important inner characteristic for women who batter strongholds of envy, dissatisfaction, or perpetual restlessness.
       7. Generosity - is an outward expression that comes against greed and an entitlement mentality.
Part 5: The Making of a Right Relationship to My Future
       8. Perseverance - is an outward character quality that's needed when women feel like quitting, hesitating, avoiding a decision, or not following through.

Methods of collaborating with God: preparation, prayer, and practice.

For each of the 8 character qualities, there are 5 days of readings, assessments, directed journaling, and prayers.

3 Ways to Deepen Your Experience

Character Journal - record your thoughts, write out your own prayers, and journal even more questions and answers.
Forty Days - 40 days = 5 days per week for 8 weeks OR 56 days = 7 days per week for 8 weeks.
Accountability Partner - enlist a reading and prayer partner who knows you well enough to give your feedback and hold your accountable.

Additional resources from the book available here.

Book Summary : 10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College

2011-09-04T19:57:00.000-07:00

10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College Bill Coplin (Author) - Syracuse University

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Ten Speed Press (August 6, 2003)
ISBN-10: 1580085245

The Ten Know-How Groups:

Establishing a Work Ethic
Developing Physical Skills
Communicating Verbally (Speaking)
Communicating in Writing
Working Directly with People (Teamwork)
Influencing People
Gathering Information (Research)
Using Quantitative Tools (Number Crunching)
Asking and Answering the Right Questions (Critical Thinking)
Solving Problems

Good new and bad news face all college students:

The Good New
- Over their work life, college graduates earn an average of $2.1 million dollars compared with $1.2 million dollars for high school graduates.
- Someone with a professional degree (M.D., J.D., or M.B.A., for example) will make $4.4 million.
The Bad News
- 63% of students who begin a 4 years college do not finish in 4 years, and 42% do not finish in 6 years.
- 68% of graduating seniors in 2000 borrowed a mean average of $19,785.
- 60% of college graduates plan to live with their parents after graduation.

Employers rate the importance of candidate qualities/skills (listed in the order of importance):

Communication skills (verbal and written)
Honesty/integrity
Teamwork skills (work well with others)
Interpersonal skills (relates well to others)
Strong work ethic
Motivation/initiative
Flexibility/adaptability
Analytical skills
Computer skills
Organization skills
Detail oriented
Leadership skills
Self-confidence
Friendly/outgoing personality
Well mannered/polite
Tactfulness
GPA (3.0 or better)
Creativity
Sense of humor
Entrepreneurial skills/risk-taker

Nonprofit Organizations in Bay Area

2011-01-04T11:33:00.000-08:00

Nonprofit

Web Page

Art Angels

http://www.artangelssanjose.org/

Blossom

http://blossombirth.org/

BUILD

http://www.build.org

Citizen Schools

http://www.citizenschools.org

City of San Jose, Adopt-a-Park Program

http://www.sjadoptapark.org/

City Year

http://www.cityyear.org

College Track

http://www.collegetrack.org

Engineers without Borders

http://www.ewb-usa.org/

Environmental Volunteers

http://www.evols.org

Friends for Youth

http://www.friendsforyouth.org/

GLOW

http://www.glowfoundation.org

Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley

http://www.habitatsiliconvalley.org

MOUSE

http//:ca.mousesquad.org

One Million Lights

http://www.onemillionlights.org/

Resource Area For Teachers (RAFT)

http://www.raft.net

Room to Read

http://www.roomtoread.org

Save the Bay

http://www.savesfbay.org

Science Buddies

http://www.sciencebuddies.org

Streetside Stories

http://www.streetside.org

Taproot

http://www.taprootfoundation.org

The Tech Museum

http://www.thetech.org

Volunteer Match

http://www.volunteermatch.org

Volunteers for Outdoor California

http://v-o-cal.org

Water 1st International

http://www.water1st.org/

Women's Initiative

http://www.womensinitiative.org

Year Up

http://www.yearup.org

Zero1

http://zero1.org

Exploratorium

http://www.exploratorium.edu

Second Harvest Food Bank

http://www.shfb.org

Hope Technology School

http://www.hopetechschool.org

BUILD

http://www.build.org/

Citizen Schools

http://citizenschools.org/

Year Up

http://www.yearup.org

One Brick

http://onebrick.org/

Last Updated: 01/04/2011

Young kids and computers -- a balancing act - San Jose Mercury News

2010-11-18T13:44:00.000-08:00

Young kids and computers -- a balancing act - San Jose Mercury News

Dos

Put the computer where you can see your kids using it.
Watch what they're doing, and be ready to answer their questions.
Make computer use a privilege that must be earned.
Talk to kids about keeping their passwords and names private.
Discuss the difference between advertising and nonadvertising content online.
Stand by rules about time limits and sites allowed.

Don'ts

Install a computer in your child's bedroom.
Allow kids to surf the Internet without supervision or without setting restrictions on your Web browser.

Finance Blog - Credit: Four Things College Kids Need To Know About Credit

2010-11-16T14:33:00.000-08:00

Finance Blog - Credit: Four Things College Kids Need To Know About Credit
Lesson #1: Credit cards are a convenience, not a form of income.
Lesson #2: Just because you can afford the minimum payment every month doesn’t mean you’re not in debt.
Lesson #3: You should shop around for the best terms for your financial situation.
Lesson #4: You should limit the amount of plastic in your wallet.

Three Financial Terms Kids Need to Know - WSJ.com

2010-11-16T14:31:00.000-08:00

Three Financial Terms Kids Need to Know - WSJ.com
- Direct deposit.
- Dollar-cost averaging.
- Index mutual funds.

A managed fund is where your money's handled by people who think they're smarter than other people like them.
An index fund is managed by a computer that knows it's no smarter than the market; that's what you want.
Why direct deposit or auto deduction for investment/retirement? You don't even want to see the paycheck. Best not to tempt yourself by having it land in your bank account or having any immediate choice about where it goes. Pretend it isn't there.

Chores and kids

2010-11-14T22:51:00.000-08:00

更新日期:2007/05/17 04:39 記者: 王超群／台北報導
台大校長李嗣涔日前收到一封自稱是「藍領勞工」、署名林先生的電子郵件。信中指出有些社會新鮮人「活在高學歷的光環下」、「過於自私」、「沒有時間觀念」、「身段不夠軟」、「缺乏謙虛」、「沒有敬業精神不夠尊重工作」、「藉口太多」等七項缺點；希望身為龍頭大學的台大能重視此問題，甚至應舉辦相關座談會或課程，讓學生了解進入職場後應有的工作態度與倫理。
他的批評獲得李嗣涔共鳴，隨即將此封郵件內容轉給台大師生，要「大家省思、警惕參考」。
◎作家事的孩子長大工作機會多◎ 文╱ 謝水乾* 本文轉載自國語日報2006/03/31 家庭版

你會不會怕孩子長大後找不到工作？
或者根本不想工作？
也不會工作？

那麼就別一手包辦所有的家事！
放手！
放手！
讓孩子參與！
有參與才有學習，才有成長。

要期中考了，孩子一樣得拖地、清理 …做好份內的家事比考試重要，真的！

根據專家學者的研究，孩子做家事不僅可以養成勤勞的習慣，更可以學到許多能力，獲得自信心與發展良好的人際關係。筆者的女兒國一參加學校舉辦的露營活動，晚上打電話回家，既興奮又驚訝的說：「爸，我不知道我們同學都不會煎蛋，現在大家都在排隊等我煎蛋給他們吃呢！」

假如一個國小低年級的孩子，媽媽告訴他：「小寶，垃圾車來了，請你幫忙把垃圾袋綁好，然後拿去垃圾車好嗎？」當小朋友接到這樣的請求後，他就要開始思考，垃圾袋要怎麼綁，才不至於沿路掉垃圾；綁好之後要開始分析、判斷、選擇並且做決定，要經由哪一條路徑拿去垃圾車。

分析的結果，甲路線的張家有一條狗很凶，乙路線比較近但是路燈太暗，丙路線比較遠但是路燈較亮。判斷的結果，丙路線比較安全，他要選擇安全的路徑，所以決定走丙路線。當小朋友把垃圾拿到定點後，垃圾車還沒到，他是要放著就走，還是要遵守垃圾不落地的規定，等垃圾車來了再將垃圾丟上去。這就是他表現責任感的時候。

不要小看一件小小的家事，它可以培養孩子分析、判斷、選擇、做決定以及負責任的能力與態度，大人不可不察。

美國哈佛大學心理學家韋朗特曾經追蹤研究一組青少年達數十年，發現這些孩子在童年時期參與家務工作做得較多的人，比做得較少的人，成年後在人際關係方面有較好的表現，獲得高薪工作機會的可能性高四倍，失業可能性則少十五倍。此外，前者也比較樂觀而有充實感，後者犯罪的可能性則比前者高。鄭石岩教授也表示，臺灣社會因為經濟生活方式的改變和工業科技的不斷提升，造成社會變遷加速。

我們想要下一代有良好的生活適應能力，就必須提早訓練，而最好的訓練方式，就是指導孩子做家事。因此，如果父母對孩子過度保護，捨不得讓他們做家事，反而剝奪了他們學習的機會。
Source: http://www.lelandbridge.org/parentsarea/gen_chores.htm

15 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Becoming a Teacher - TheApple.com

2010-11-02T01:16:00.000-07:00

15 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Becoming a Teacher - TheApple.com
1. Relating to every student takes research.
2. Be prepared for anything and everything to happen on your watch.
3. Student teaching may not completely prepare you for your own classroom.
4. What you want to teach may not be in demand when you look for a job.
5. Working with parents is hard.
6. Your principal can be your greatest ally or biggest enemy.
7. More degrees mean more pay.|
8. Earning the respect of students is hard work: the older the students, the harder the work.
9. Getting supplies for class is sometimes impossible unless you spend your own money.
10. The day before a vacation day brings back child-like excitement.
11. You’ll make some of your best friends teaching in a school.
12. The internet is your friend.
13. Only someone who’s been alone in a classroom full of students can appreciate exactly what your job is like.
14. A note of thanks from a parent or student will mean more than any gift.
15. Students are amazing creatures.

Top 10 Things You Should Look For In A Friend - CollegeTimes™

2010-10-31T20:09:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Things You Should Look For In A Friend - CollegeTimes™
1. Humility
2. Generosity
3. Reliability
4. Care/Interest
5. Sense of Humor
6. Similar Morals
7. Similar/Complimentary Interests
8. Flexibility
9. Respect
10. Fun

The Top 4 Priorities of Life - CollegeTimes™

2010-10-31T20:07:00.000-07:00

The Top 4 Priorities of Life - CollegeTimes™
1. Health
2. Relationships
3. Career and Purpose
4. Fun & Satisfaction For Christians, "Spiritual" or "Relationship with God".

The Five Basics of How to Parent Teens

2010-10-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

1. LOVE AND CONNECT

Support and accept your teen as she/he gets older. Their world is changing. Make sure your love doesn't.

Tips for Parents:

Say good things about your teen when he or she does something well.
Support your teen's interests, strengths, and talents.
Spend time one-on-one and as a family.
Get to know your teen's friends and their parents/caregivers.

2. WATCH AND OBSERVE

Find out what is going on by talking with your teen. Notice your teen's activities. Your interest matters to them.

Tips for Parents:

Talk with the other adults in your teen's life.
Be aware of your teen's classes, grades, job, and interests.
Know where your teen is, what he or she is doing, and who your teen is with.

3. TEACH AND LIMIT

Limits protect your teen from unsafe situations and give him/her room to mature. Be firm, but also be willing to adapt and change your mind.

Tips for parents:

Help teens make better choices by teaching them instead of punishing them.
Stand firm on important issues such as safety, and let go of smaller issues.
Be consistent and follow through with consequences you set up with your teen.
Be firm about rules without turning to physical punishment.
Give your teen more responsibility and more freedom to make their own choices as they grow into adults.

4. SHOW AND DISCUSS

Talk to your teen, support him or her, and teach by example!

Tips for Parents:

Set a good example by behaving the way you want your teen to behave.
Praise your teen's positive behaviors and habits.
Give teens the chance to solve their own problems and make their own choices.

5. PROVIDE AND PROMOTE

Teens need parents to give them healthy food, clothing, shelter, and health care. They also need a caring home and loving adults in their lives.

Tips for Parents:

Seek out good opportunities and activities for your teen.
Make sure your teen gets checkups with his/her doctor every year, and any counseling that he or she needs.
Reach out for support from other parents when you need it!

Source: Acalanes Parents Club eNewsletter (October 27, 2010) - From the School Nurse (Dvora Citron, R.N., M.S.)

Resource : Bank It - Educate Teens about Finance

2010-10-26T21:08:00.000-07:00

Bank It

Through Bank It, Parents and Teens Will:

Learn how to make positive money choices—starting now.
Become more comfortable with talking about and managing money.
Discover how to avoid common money traps.
Identify easy steps to reach their financial dreams.
Find people and resources to support them in making money choices.

HouseCall - Free Online Virus Scan - Trend Micro USA

2010-10-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

HouseCall - Free Online Virus Scan - Trend Micro USA HouseCall is Trend Micro's highly popular and capable on-demand scanner for identifying and removing viruses, Trojans, worms, unwanted browser plugins, and other malware.

Gates asks students to reach higher and solve world problems - Inside Bay Area

2010-04-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

Gates asks students to reach higher and solve world problems - Inside Bay Area

Are the brightest minds working on the most important problems?
inequity in poor countries around the world and the challenge of education as among the most important problems
The largest factor in the drop in child deaths, Gates said, was the spread of vaccines. But he cautioned that the problem is far from over.
"One way of looking at it is: when I'm born, how old will I become before 20 percent of all the people born in the same year are dead? In the U.S., I'd be older than 60. In many countries, the age is 4," Gates said.
"We've still done relatively little," he added. "We will need a lot of innovation. One of the major factors is that many vaccines need to be kept cold, and they're being delivered to countries where refrigeration is a challenge with no electricity being regularly generated or delivered there."
If you start saving more people, won't there be population growth? That means educating, feeding and finding jobs for people will be more difficult. However, Gates said, citing a recent speech given by Swedish doctor and researcher Hans Gosling for the think-tank nonprofit group TED, "As you improve health in a society, very rapidly the birthrate drops. People become less concerned with having several children."
while the U.S. used to boast some of the best education systems in the world. "Since 1975, by almost any metric, things have not improved, and in many ways they've gotten worse.
In terms of achievement levels, the U.S. was the best of rich countries for a long time, and is now among the worst.
Is it a time in your life when you could go off into these countries to help?
Answering a question about what skills are most important to be of help, Gates said, "This is a good time to be multidisciplinary. At the (Bill & Melinda Gates) Foundation, it's great if you know the science, but that doesn't necessarily solve the problem. There are delivery issues. It helps to understand economics, and social resistance — how do you talk to mothers who don't want their children taking this weird vaccine? There are government aid issues, about how you convince local governments to help.
"I'd recommend you learn about public health, government and politics, and communications," Gates said. "We're looking for hard-core specialists, but also a lot of generalists.
"You won't be able to take all the courses you need to get there. A lot of that education will have to be you reading and learning on your own."

Experts Answer Common Teen Driver Questions

2010-04-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

Experts Answer Common Teen Driver Questions

By Mike Marando, Communications Director

California Department of Motor Vehicles, Sacramento

Are you a teen with questions about how to get your provisional driver permit or California driver license? Do you have questions about general driving related requirements like registration or insurance? The California Department of Motor Vehicles has answers. For more information, visit the DMV Web site for teens at www.DMV.ca.gov/teenweb.

Q: I scheduled my appointment online to take the written driving test and now I need to practice. Does the DMV Web site offer any resources to help me pass?

A: Definitely. On the front page of www.dmv.ca.gov click on the “How do I…” tab and select “Practice My Written Test?” The California Driver Handbook and a number of simple practice tests are available but I recommend trying the Driving Knowledge Tutorial. The interactive test is available exclusively online and includes multiple choice questions accompanied by pictures depicting common traffic situations and the correct ways to respond. Here’s the direct link (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/interactive/tdrive/flash/flashtest.htm) if you want to try it out.

Q: I heard a newscaster talk about motorists “rubber-necking” in regards to a morning accident. What does the term “rubber-necking” mean?

A: Rubbernecking is a term used to describe when motorists slow down to look at accidents or virtually anything else out of the ordinary. Rubber-necking should be avoided at ALL TIMES not only because it increases traffic congestion, but because it also endangers your driving safety and that of the motorists around you. For more information on dealing with traffic congestions, please visit http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs60thru61.htm#trafficcongestion.

Q: Where do I go to take my driver license tests?

A: You may take the written, vision, and driving tests at any DMV office which provides driver license services. Written and vision tests are required when you apply for an original or upgrade to a different class of license. Written tests may be required for a license renewal and driving tests are usually waived for the class of license you currently have. However, the department may require a driving test for any type of application. Appointments are available for all DMV services and are usually required for the driving test. For more information, please visit www.dmv.ca.gov Source: Cal High PTSA Newsletter, April 2010

5 Characteristics To Look For In Every Potential New Hire

2010-04-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

5 Characteristics To Look For In Every Potential New Hire

Aptitude

In interviews and on resumes, we looked for clues that suggested aptitudes like the ability:

to create rapport quickly,
handle rejection and
to be willing to follow a proven process.

Attitude

exhibited the great attitude of never giving up
Some people look at problems as proof that they're victims while others consider problems to be challenges

Intelligence

person's ability to come up with creative solutions

Intensity

Compete to be the very best and be impatient to reach your goals.

Integrity

ability to do what they say they will do
show up for meetings on time
have the guts to deliver bad news rather than shade it or hide it

Best business books on everything from productivity & perseverance to globalization & investing.

2010-04-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

Best business books on everything from productivity & perseverance to globalization & investing. The Ten (okay, fourteen) Most Important Business Books for the Ages

Productivity Less is More by Jason Jennings. Jason is the master at finding companies that are truly productive, narrowing his list to the absolute best of the best and then immersing himself into researching what makes those companies truly extraordinary in the area of productivity. I think you will find this book to be of tremendous practical value.

Perseverance Walt Disney by Neal Gabler. Since I believe that perseverance is of utmost importance in creating a great business and a great career, I found this book to be amazing. Disney’s creative mind was a big part of his success, but a bigger part was his absolute willingness to persevere no matter what obstacles he faced. Stubborn, yes; legendary performance, double yes.

Overcoming Obstacles Personal History by Katherine Graham. Greatness is also derived through overcoming massive obstacles. When she was 46, Katherine Graham’s husband, Phil, committed suicide. Suddenly she was the publisher of the Washington Post with exactly zero experience in any aspect of publishing a newspaper. Through exceptional courage and tenacity she vaulted the paper onto the national stage and became one of the most powerful women in the world.

Precision Born Standing Up by Steve Martin. This is the extraordinary story of the eighteen years that Steve Martin invested to go from being a comic newbie to the most popular stand-up comic in history. My favorite quote in the book is from E.E. Cummings who wrote, “I am abnormally fond of that precision which creates movement.” It is this pursuit of precision that generates extraordinary business results in every industry.

Marketing Positioning by Al Ries and Jack Trout. The brilliance of this book is in its simplicity. Ries and Trout explain that every buyer carries categories around in his or her head, and that for every category there is always a ranking of the products or services within that buyer’s head. The key is to have the first or second position in the minds of buyers for the category you want to be known for.

Purpose Inside Steve’s Brain by Leander Kahney. This is a remarkably useful insight into the management approach of Steve Jobs, who guided Apple to fundamentally change three industries: computers, music and cell phones. I found it to be extremely helpful in multiple areas.

Economics The Age of Turbulence by Alan Greenspan. Greenspan does a spectacular job of explaining the impact of emotions, particularly exuberance and fear, on the economy and financial decisions. From this book, I learned the psychology of results and the importance of staying logical with results and not getting emotional.

Investing The Snowball by Alice Schroeder. Extraordinary in its detail, this book provides the reader with a deep understanding of Buffett’s approach to investing, which he cultivated over a period of more than sixty years. It’s quite long, but it moves very fast and you will walk away with powerful and practical insights on what types of organizations to invest your time and money into.

Teamwork Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Goodwin is a gifted writer, and this is her greatest book. It is a magnificent example of how completely different types of members can make for an exceptionally powerful team. One of Abraham Lincoln’s greatest contributions to America was his willingness to assemble the best team he could and constantly work to make it better.

Consulting Getting Started in Consulting by Alan Weiss. In times of great economic change, many successful executives decide to start their own consulting practices. They find purpose in leveraging their knowledge and experience in ways that can help other people achieve their desired business outcomes. Alan Weiss is the world-wide guru on how to make this happen, and this is his finest book, which should be renamed, What to Do From the Day You Start Your Consulting Business to the Day You Retire.

Globalization The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman. Not only is Friedman a compelling writer, but his travels and ongoing diary make the concept of globalization real and accessible. This book is a masterpiece in explaining how interconnected the world of products, services and producers really are.

Management The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker. This is Drucker’s shortest and finest book. Chapters two and four are particularly useful in explaining how leveraging strengths and optimizing priority management can generate extraordinary results.

Strategy Only the Paranoid Survive by Andy Grove. Perhaps Grove’s greatest contribution to business was his explanation of strategic inflection points and how they provide extraordinary opportunities for strategic growth. Times of great systemic change, like the era we’re living in now, provide great opportunities to step back and find better approaches to the marketplace.

Inspiration The Greatest Miracle in the World by Og Mandino. This is the shortest book on my list, but it was critically helpful to me during two key transitions in my career.

A list of 110 recommended books - “Business Books for the Ages"

Food For Thought - Autism

2009-10-22T14:31:00.001-07:00

Prevalence

A new study indicates autism now affects 1 in 91 children - 1 in 58 boys
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the US
More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined

Prevalence vs. Private Funding

Leukemia: Affects 1 in 25,000 / Funding: $310 million
Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 20,000 / Funding: $175 million
Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 8,000 / Funding: $394 million
Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500 / Funding: $130 million
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Affects 1 in 91 / Funding: $42 million

National Institute of Health Funds Allocation

Total 2007 NIH budget: $29 billion
Of this, $80 million goes directly to autism research. This represents 0.28% of total NIH funding.

For more information, go www.AutismSpeaks.org.

Technorati Tags: health,autism,funding,children,NIH,research,boy

God’s Characters in Genesis 1-2

2009-09-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

Chapter 1

v1 – creator
v2 – God is spirit
v3 – whatever God said will happen
v4 – God see things created by Him are good
v5 – God is the one gave name to different things
v3-5 – God created light (day) and separate light from darkness (night) – 1st day.
v6-8 – God created expanse (heaven) and separated water – 2nd day.
v9-13 – God created dry land (earth) and gathering of waters (sea). He also created vegetation, plants, seed, fruit, trees – 3rd day.
v14-19 – God used light to separate and govern day and night – 4th day.
v20-23 – God created living creatures in the sea and birds. He blessed them to multiply – 5th day.
v24-31 – God created cattle, creeping things and beasts of the earth. God made all these living creatures after their kind. God created man and female in His own image. God blessed them to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and rule over other living creatures. God gave plant and fruit yielding seed as good to man. God gave green plant as food for other living creatures – 6th day.

Chapter 2

v15-17 – God gave clear direction.
v19-20 – God gave authority to man to name all the
animals.
v21-25 – God care about Adam and provided him with a wife.

Systematic, methodical, organize, detail, caring

Technorati Tags: christian,God,character,Genesis

Hudson Taylor

2009-07-07T21:32:00.001-07:00

Hudson Taylor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James Hudson Taylor 戴德生 (21 May 1832 – 3 June 1905), was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM) (now OMF International). Taylor spent 51 years in China. The society that he began was responsible for bringing over 800 missionaries to the country who began 125 schools^[1] and directly resulted in 18,000 Christian conversions, as well as the establishment of more than 300 stations of work with more than 500 local helpers in all eighteen provinces.

Primarily because of the CIM's campaign against the Opium trade, Taylor has been referred to as one of the most significant Europeans to visit China in the 19th Century.^[3] Historian Ruth Tucker summarises the theme of his life:

No other missionary in the nineteen centuries since the Apostle Paul has had a wider vision and has carried out a more systematised plan of evangelising a broad geographical area than Hudson Taylor ^[4]

Taylor was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, the son of a chemist (pharmacist) and Methodist lay preacher James Taylor and his wife, Amelia (Hudson)
but as a young man he moved away from the Christian beliefs of his parents.
At seventeen, after reading an evangelistic tract pamphlet, he professed faith in Christ
in December 1849, he committed himself to going to China as a missionary.
In 1851, he moved to a poor neighborhood in Kingston upon Hull to be a medical assistant with Dr. William Hardey, and began preparing himself for a life of faith and service, devoting himself to the poor and exercising faith that God would provide for his needs.
In 1852 he began studying medicine at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, London, as preparation for working in China.
Taylor left England on 19 September 1853 before completing his medical studies, arriving in Shanghai, China, on 1 March 1854.
In 1858, Taylor married Maria Jane Dyer, the orphaned daughter of the Rev. Samuel Dyer of the London Missionary Society, who had been a pioneer missionary to the Chinese in Penang, Malaysia^[5].

If I had a thousand pounds China should have it- if I had a thousand lives, China should have them. No! Not China, but Christ. Can we do too much for Him? Can we do enough for such a precious Saviour?^[6]

in 1905, Taylor returned to China for the eleventh and final time. There he visited Yangzhou and Zhenjiang and other cities, before dying suddenly while reading at home in Changsha. He was buried next to his first wife, Maria in Zhenjiang near the Yangtze River.

J. Hudson Taylor Missionary to China - Christian Biography Resources

J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was an English missionary to China. Founded the China Inland Mission which at his death included 205 mission stations with over 800 missionaries, and 125,000 Chinese Christians.

Hudson Taylor | Christian History

History - OMF International

OMF International was founded as the China Inland Mission on June 25, 1865. It was then that J. Hudson Taylor knelt upon the beach at Brighton, England and “prayed for twenty-four willing, skillful laborers” to reach the inland provinces of China.

Taylor and the requested workers began work in China the next year. The CIM quickly established itself as a new kind of mission agency. The CIM sought to take the gospel where it had scarcely been taken before – to the inland, unreached provinces of China. To do this, CIM workers contextualized themselves – wearing Chinese dress, donning Chinese hair styles and eating and living among the Chinese people. Though now not so rare, at the time such activity was revolutionary, even for missionaries.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2009-07-07T21:16:00.001-07:00

http://www.pittsburgh.net/about_pittsburgh.cfm

Established: 1758
City Population (2000): 369,879
County Population (2000): 1,281,666
Location: South Western Pennsylvania
Average High Temperature (July): 82.5° F
Average Low Temperature (January): 20.8° F
Port: Pittsburgh is the largest inland port in the U.S., providing access to the nation's 9,000 mile inland waterway system.
Bridges: Allegheny County has more than 1,700 bridges and 720 are within the Pittsburgh city limits.
Media: Two Major Newspapers: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Pittsburgh Tribune Review; Thirty Two Radio Stations; and Five Major Television Stations: KDKA (CBS), WPXI (NBC), WTAE (ABC), WQED (PBS), and WNPA (FOX).
Colleges and Universities: There are 29 colleges and universities in southwestern Pennsylvania including Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Point Park University, Robert Morris University, and Geneva College.
Sports: Pittsburgh cheers for four major sports teams, the Penguins, Pirates , Steelers, and Riverhounds.
Airport: The Pittsburgh International Airport was ranked one of the top five U.S. airports by Conde Nast Traveler.
Tourism: An average of 3.9 million people visit Pittsburgh annually.
Pittsburgh ranked in the top five Most Livable Cities in the 1983, 1985, 1989 and 2007 editions of the "Places Rated Almanac."

Wikipedia

was named in 1758 by General John Forbes in honor of the British statesman, Sir William Pitt.
are home to the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Museum and Library, and many other educational, medical, and cultural institutions.
The warmest month of the year in Pittsburgh, as in most of the northern hemisphere, is July. The average high temperature is 83 °F (28 °C), with overnight low temperatures averaging 62 °F (17 °C). July is often humid, resulting in a considerable heat index.
The city can be broken down into the Downtown area, called the Golden Triangle, and four main areas surrounding it. These areas, relative to downtown, are known as the North Side, South Side/South Hills, East End, and West End.
As of the American Community Survey 3-Year Estimate of 2005–2007, the city's population was 68.3% White (65.8% non-Hispanic White alone), 28.0% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race and 2.0% from two or more races. 1.9% of the total population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,588, and the median income for a family was $38,795.
Overall, the "violent crime" rate for the city is about twice the national average, while the "property" or non-violent crime rate is about 1.11 times the national average.
The growth of Pittsburgh and its economy was caused by the extensive trade in steel. Pittsburgh has since adapted to the collapse of the region's steel industry. The primary industries have shifted more to high technology, such as robotics, health care, nuclear engineering, tourism, biomedical technology, finance, and services.
Pittsburgh often places high in lists of the nation's most livable cities. Livability rankings typically consider factors such as cost of living, crime, and cultural opportunities.
In 2009, Pittsburgh was named most livable city in the United States and 29th-most-livable city worldwide by The Economist.
In 2008, the American Lung Association ranked the Pittsburgh area as the nation's third most polluted metropolitan area, behind Los Angeles and Bakersfield, CA.
Pittsburgh is the only city where all major sports teams—the Steelers of the NFL, the Penguins of the NHL, and the Pirates of the MLB—all share the same team colors, black and gold.

Pittsburgh Facts & Statistics

Pittsburgh Facts, Pittsburgh Firsts

Pittsburgh Basics
Founded: 1758
Founded: 1758
Incorporated: 1816
City Population: 350,363
Allegheny County Population: 1,336,449
Median Family Income (1997): $38,200 (within city limits)
Unemployment Rate: 4.2%
Median Home Sale Price (1999): $53,438
Average High Temperature (July): 82.5° F
Average Low Temperature (January): 20.8° F
Also Known As (AKA): The 'Burgh

Geography
Area: 55.5 Square Miles
Rank: 13th Largest City in the Nation
Elevation: 1,223 Feet
Port: Pittsburgh is the nation's largest inland port, providing access to the extensive 9,000 mile U.S. inland waterway system.

Pittsburgh is within 500 miles of more than half the U.S. population, and the city is less than 90 minutes flying time from 20 states and Canada.

Fun Facts & Short Takes

Pittsburgh was named in 1758, incorporated as a borough in 1794 and chartered as a city in 1816.

Pittsburgh audiences enjoy the nation's fifth oldest opera company.

Pittsburgh ranked in the top five Most Livable Cities in the 1983, 1989 and 1985 editions of the "Places Rated Almanac."

The fountain at Point State Park, right at the tip of the golden triangle (downtown Pittsburgh) is fed by a glacial formation and sprays 6,000 gallons per minute.

Pittsburgh is home to nine Fortune 500 companies.

The Carnegie Museum of Art opened in 1895 as the world's first museum of modern art.

Mister Rogers' real neighborhood was Oakland, home to WQED (the first public television in the country) and the "Neighborhood of Make Believe."

Allegheny County has more than 1,700 bridges, 720 within city limits, and 15 major bridges crossing downtown Pittsburgh alone.

Pittsburgh lost the "h" in its spelling in 1891, but after 20 years of protest, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names relented and the "h" was restored.

Fun Facts

Online Reading – June 1, 2009

2009-06-01T19:42:00.001-07:00

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Agora Financial's Rude Awakening (Link)

Class of ‘09: You’re Screwed!
By Bill Bonner

“Plastics,” was the advice given to college graduates in Mike Nichols’ ‘67 film. But that was when there was still hope for America’s manufacturing sector. Even then, it was too late. The percentage of GDP from the manufacturing sector fell for the next four decades, from over 20% in the last ’60s to barely 12% last year. Better advice would have been ‘derivatives.’ They stank just as bad, but they were much more profitable. While only 8% of GDP, finance accounted for 40% of corporate profits in 2007. And derivatives grew from nothing to a face value of 16 times the GDP of the entire planet.

When you were born 20-some years ago, the nation’s total debt per person was less than $90,000 - adjusted to ‘09 dollars, of course. While that was a lot of money, it was nothing compared to what was coming. Now it’s $186,717 per person - more than twice as much, in real terms. Fortunately, private debt is not inheritable. But it comes to you as a lien against property. Instead of paying off their mortgages and leaving you a house, free and clear, the baby boomer generation spent the ‘equity’ in their houses even faster than they got it. House prices rose. But mortgage debt rose faster. While your grandparents owned 80% of their houses, by 2007, the typical homeowner only really owned 4 rooms of an 8-room house. And then, when house prices fell, so did his remaining equity…to the point where one out of six homeowners in America is now underwater. You could still eventually inherit a house, but you may have to scrape the barnacles off the front porch.

But that’s not even the half of it. While your parents had control of the US government they allowed themselves a little larceny. Add the unfunded retirement and healthcare benefits they voted for themselves to the official national debt, and together they are scheduled to cost your generation 4 times the total annual output of the US. This is over and above the private debt they accumulated.

Some of this debt can be carried. Some will have to be paid down. But as it stands, as much as $77 trillion of post-’09 earnings must be stolen from the future in order to pay for the liquor your parents drank…the bombs they dropped on god-forsaken foreigners…and the interest on their debts. So, forget about saving for a European vacation or a house of your own. Even if every penny of your savings - and every other American’s savings - are put to the task you will still be paying for your parents’ expenses all your life.

But wait, there’s more! The burden is getting heavier. Federal budget projections show an additional $7 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years. Described as the cost of fighting recession, the present generation buries its own mistakes under cash that the next generation hasn’t even earned yet. Today’s bankers, businessmen and speculators are being bankrolled by you - tomorrow’s bankers, businessmen and speculators. Today’s homeowners get a helping hand…from whom? Tomorrow’s homeowners - you. Today’s employees get a boost too. Same story. Where do you think the money came from to pay Wall Street bonuses this year? How do you think GM stays in business…and Fannie Mae…and AIG… Who pays those salaries? Who pays to keep troops all over the world and keep old people supplied with new drugs? Who pays for hundreds of billions’ worth of ’shovel ready’ boondoggles? You will. At least, that’s the plan.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Agora Financial's Rude Awakening (Link)

China control over 33.89 million ounces of gold for monetary purposes. That’s an increase of 75% in Chinese gold holdings over the past six years.

This kiloton of Chinese gold makes the Middle Kingdom the world’s sixth largest holder of the yellow metal. The U.S. — courtesy of President Roosevelt’s gold confiscation in 1933 – tops this list of the world’s largest gold holders, followed by Germany, the IMF, France and Italy.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Agora Financial's The Daily Reckoning (Link)

Your family’s share of the government debt is now over half a million dollars. A record $546,668, to be exact.

That cheery Monday stat comes courtesy of a USA Today study, which claims that each American family’s share rose 12% in 2008. That’s $55,000 in new government debt last year for every US household – thousands more than the median household annual income. Here’s how it breaks down:

Last year’s spike is the biggest since the Medicare prescription drug benefit was added in 2003. According to the rag, the government garnered $6.8 trillion in “new obligations” in 2008, bringing the total US tab to $63.8 trillion. Given our spending record so far in 2009, it’s safe to say your family’s burden is already much, much larger.

And you ain’t seen nothin’ yet… the Social Security program will grow by 1-2 million beneficiaries every year until 2032 as baby boomers retire. Medicare will add just as many each year starting in 2011, when that same demographic starts turning 65.

General Motors, once the backbone of US manufacturing, is officially bankrupt.

Uncle Sam gets a 60% stake. The government will pump an additional $30 billion into GM (on top of the $20 billion already squandered). In exchange, the government will be the largest shareholder… leverage it will use to usher GM through bankruptcy and convert it to this “leaner, stronger company” we’ve been promised

Half of the UAW’s $20 billion health care fund will be converted to GM stock, which will give it a 17.5% stake in the company. 12-20 factories will be closed, at the cost of approximately 21,000 union workers. 40% of the 6,000 GM dealers will have to close, too

The Canadian government gets a 12% stake, given all GM’s design/manufacturing activity up north

Bondholders were bought (bullied?) out. They’ll swap their $27.1 billion in unsecured debt for 10% of GM, with warrants to own 15% more. Surely, they learned from Chrysler’s bondholders, who were publicly vilified by President Obama for demanding what was lawfully theirs… so much for that hallmark of American capitalism

Current shareholders get nada.

And how much personal federal income taxes were collected last year? Only about $700 billion dollars! And total corporate net federal income taxes paid was a paltry $171 billion!

To this point in the fiscal 2009 year, which started in October 2008 and ends in October 2009, the federal government is already showing a deficit of $803 billion, not far from its "target" of deficit-spending $1.84 trillion!

And if you look at the size of the Treasury Gross Public Debt, it shows that the federal government has, cumulatively since 1776, borrowed and spent $11,285.5 billion, whereas at this time last year (twelve short months ago!), the national debt was "only" $9,373.4 billion.

In fact, the money supply jumped, in the last couple of weeks, by almost $100 billion to a total of $1.8 trillion, which is up more than 100 percent from the $825 billion one year ago!

Online Reading – May 28, 2009

2009-05-28T18:32:00.001-07:00

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Agora Financial's 5 Min. Forecast (Link)

“For the first time in years, the Chinese have become net importers of molybdenum,” reports Chris Mayer in his latest Special Situations alert. Moly, if you are unfamiliar, is a lynchpin of the energy complex. It’s a vital resource for oil pipelines, nuclear reactors and fuel refiners. Above all, moly is used to strengthen steel.

“China recently became a net importer of moly because its mines are too costly to run profitably at current low moly prices. Various estimates put about half of China's moly production at costs north of $13 a pound. The current moly price is only $8 and change -- down from $30-plus last year, mainly as energy markets softened. So there have been a lot of shutdowns in China, as Chinese producers can't make any money.

“China is the world's largest producer of steel, by far. No one's even close. China produces nearly 40% of the world's steel. It makes twice as much steel as the No. 2 guy, the European Union. Much of that steel will need moly.

“Therefore, any rebound in moly is bound up in the China growth story. In fact, over the past five years, Chinese demand for moly has grown 27% annually, compared with only 4% globally. China alone now makes up 25% of the global demand for moly -- about 110 million pounds.”

One of the biggest projects now under way in Singapore is the Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino.

“This will be the country’s first casino, following a change in its gambling laws last year, and its first step toward its goal of becoming the Monte Carlo of Southeast Asia.

“This construction, which is valued at more than $3.5 billion, is providing jobs for thousands of workers and consuming many thousands of tons of steel, cement and other commodities. Similar work is under way across Asia, and many more projects are in the pipeline.”

Last today, the government has released Treasury documents surrounding Oct. 13, 2008 -- the day the U.S. government launched TARP. After a long battle between Judicial Watch and the Obama administration, the government has finally coughed up some details of the infamous meeting between the Treasury and the heads of the U.S.’ biggest and most troubled banks.

First and most interestingly, the documents show that Former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson gave the nine bailed-out banks NO CHOICE but to accept the government’s cash-for-equity deal. “Your firms need to agree,” his talking points read. “If a capital infusion is not appealing, you should be aware that your regulator will require it in any circumstance.”

What’s more, there’s all kinds of ridiculous Gestapo-style secrecy surrounding the meeting. Treasury officials asked for Secret Service assistance to keep the press in the dark. The White House launched a PR campaign to crush public fears of bank nationalization. And the coup de grace: In all the released documents, all remarks by current Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner are either censored or missing. After all, they have to protect their golden boy.

“How is it,” asks our executive publisher, Addison Wiggin, unable to resist, “that the Treasury secretary, chairman of the Fed and their minions have risen to the level of national security that the military has traditionally claimed?”

If you would like to delve deeper into this matter, some of the documents and transcripts can be viewed here.

“We have also been trying to find property in Florida,” a reader begins in response to yesterday’s reader mail. “What we found in the public records was alarming. Homes that were worth $95,000-125,000 had been given mortgages for $600,000-800,000! These were not isolated instances, but one after another after another. Hundreds of them. Probably thousands, but my brain started hurting.

“People got this money, foreclosure occurred and... the people walked away with all that money. Many still kept their other speculative properties. Banks aren't trying to get the money back. Taxpayer pays in bailout money and with these new toxic asset swaps. Neither the bank nor the leveraged speculator loses. Just the taxpayer, who doesn't know all this is going on.

“In the meantime, people willing to take a hit and go for a short sale to preserve their credit (and morals) can't get the deal made. Either the bank can't find the note, they don't have time to make the deal, it's not in their interests because they could do a ‘swap’ instead and just lose 7% -- who knows. We have cash and can't get a deal done.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Daily Profit

Yesterday, it was reported that median home prices fell to $209,700 from $246,400 in April 2008. That's a steep year-over-year correction, even though prices were up from March 2009.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that 9% of mortgages are delinquent. Throw in mortgage holders that are in foreclosure and it's 12%. That's a huge percentage. It's also the highest since data was tracked, starting in 1972.

74 percent of economists responding to a National Association for Business Economics survey believe the U.S. economy will grow in the 3^rd Quarter. But the growth won't be strong or lasting.

A growing number of economists, including Dr. "Doom" Nouriel Roubini, believe it's likely that the U.S. economy will go back into recession in the second half of 2010, when government stimulus wears off.

The economic recovery is facing two major speed bumps - rising energy prices and rising interest rates. As the economy recovers, energy prices will rise, soaking up excess household funds and leaving less for discretionary spending. We've seen oil prices practically double so far this year and OPEC has announced that it feels that RIGHT NOW oil should be valued at $80 a barrel: meaning another 27% from today's $63. That's going to hurt at the pump even more. Here at the Washington, D.C. offices we're already up 40% since December with a regional average of about $2.39.

As the government continuer to sell Treasury bonds to fund the budget shortfall (over $1 trillion for 2009, and counting) and pay for stimulus initiatives, bond yields will rise, making it more expensive for consumers to get a loan. That will affect the market for big-ticket items like cars and new appliances, not to mention homes.

Online Reading – May 27, 2009

2009-05-27T19:25:00.001-07:00

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Agora Financial's 5 Min. Forecast (Link)

The New York Times, the government will give GM $50 billion in order to speedily move the company through bankruptcy court. Potential deals with GM debt holders officially fell through last night, as we forecast, and now Chapter 11 is all but imminent. Should this latest GM bailout come to fruition, the U.S. government is expected to receive a 70% ownership stake in return.

The U.S. government is on track to spend (borrow) over $70 billion on GM’s behalf… crazytown.

“General Motors is worth $879 million,” notes Eric Fry in today’s Rude Awakening. “Facebook is worth $10 billion. What else do you need to know about the strength of the American economy?”

The median price of an existing home sold in April crashed 15.4% annually, the National Association of Realtors said today. The average price of such a home is now just $170,200. Home sales did pick up 2.9% from March, but not nearly enough to make a dent in the glut of supply. Existing home inventories actually increased last month, to a 10.2-month supply. That’s just under 4 million homes.

The FDIC’s list of problem banks has grown to its highest level in 15 years. The government arm said this morning that 305 institutions now grace its infamous list, up 53 from the end of 2008 and the highest level since 1994. Just as scary, the troubled 305 banks control over $220 billion in assets. Thirty-six banks have failed so far this year.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Agora Financial's Rude Awakening (Link)

Across south-east Asia, and most particularly in India — typically the world’s No.1 destination for physical gold each year — large, chunky necklaces and bracelets make for “investment jewelry,” acting as a store of wealth in the absence of any formal banking network.

In 1968 gold represented about 4.5% to 5.0% of the world’s wealth, according to Jeffrey Christian of the CPM consultancy. By 2006 gold represented only 0.2% of world wealth. At the end of 2007, it was about 0.4%. By the end of 2008, the percentage crept up to about 0.6%, thanks both to the slight rise in the gold price and to the massive drop in global stock prices.

Online Reading – May 26, 2009

2009-05-26T20:00:00.001-07:00

Agora Financial's 5 Min. Forecast (Link)

The second wave of the housing crisis will likely be even bigger then we expected. Analysts at Credit Susie have updated this cult classic chart.

Credit Suisse added an “unsecurtized ARM” category to the coming wave of resets, a move that bumps monthly loan resets up $2-5 billion. Monthly resets are now larger across the board.

What’s more, the “second wave” crisis that was thought to be over in late 2011 is now crashing down well into 2012. According to the group, the swell of option and unsecuritized ARM resets will not only be bigger than the subprime fiasco, but now it’s forecast to last twice as long.

Stabilization in activity terms, or production and sales -- to be sure, home price deflation still reigns, and prime mortgage delinquency and default rates are, consequently, still climbing.

“Job Losses Push Safer Mortgages to Foreclosure,” headlines The New York Times. According to the Old Gray Lady, “From November to February, the number of prime mortgages that were delinquent at least 90 days, were in foreclosure or had deteriorated to the point that the lender took possession of the home increased more than 473,000, exceeding 1.5 million.”

Home prices fell another 2.2% in March. On an annual basis, national home prices are down 19%, a record crash.

GM’s goose is cooked. Despite borrowing another $4 billion from Uncle Sam on Friday, the company announced today that it will need at least another $7.7 billion by next Monday to stay afloat. On top of that, their debt-to-equity deal with bondholders is not expected to come to fruition by its deadline -- midnight tonight. Billions more in supplier bills come due at the end of the week… without a massive government bailout, GM will likely go into bankruptcy before President Obama’s June 1 deadline.

Conference Board’s measure of consumer confidence soared 14 points in April, to 54.9. That’s an eight-month high and the biggest monthly move in six years.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

How Would a Woman Change the Supreme Court? (Link)

President Reagan nominated the first female Justice to the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O'Connor, in 1981. President Clinton nominated the second, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in 1993. Thus, from 1993-2006 two women served on the Court, until Justice O'Connor resigned and her seat was filled by Justice Samuel Alito.

According to recent American Bar Association data, women now compose about half of U.S. law school students, 30.1 percent of practicing attorneys, and about a quarter of judges on the lower federal courts. Current top prospects for the nomination include Judge Sonia Sotomayor, federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; Diane P. Wood, federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; Elena Kagan, currently the U.S. Solicitor General, the federal government's top lawyer; and Janet Napolitano, current Secretary of Homeland Security and former governor of Arizona. Of the top four contenders, publically available data suggest that at least two are Christians, and one is Jewish.

Judicial philosophy matters. Political ideology matters.