Call Me MAYBE: Theories on "Catchy"

In this previous post, I wrote about the "Call Me Maybe" cover contest and the exploding number of covers of this song.  The covering hasn't stopped since then, but has only continued...

...from the Olympic Swim Team visiting Downing Street...



...to Military in parts unknown...



...to Late Night...



...to Sesame Street.


Has there ever been a more quickly and over-parodied song in the history of music?

If you type in "Call Me Maybe cover" into a YouTube search, you'll receive "about 146,000 results"!  Compare that to a Katy Perry hit of the same time frame--type in "Fireworks cover" and you get "about 11,900 results".

According to a Wikipedia article, (the song already has a significant enough history to warrant an article), the Canadian born Carly Rae Jepsen's catchy hit was released in September 2011, in Canada, breaking the Canadian Music scene's top 100 in October.  It's not until April of 2012 that the song cracks US Billboards Top Ten--it reached number 1 by June 23--and, as of this posting, it's still number 1.

What makes a silly, "chick-flick" of a song the default soundtrack of summer?

It's not because it's a better song than all the other songs released in the same time frame.  It's not because Carly Rae Jepsen has a track record of great music and fanatic following.  It's not because she slickly marketed her song through YouTube, Twitter, and other social media networks.

So what was it?

Maybe, because it's different:

It's not laced with innuendo, even in the age where "sex sells" and taboo equals "cha-ching", it retains a bit of innocence.

Maybe, because of timing:
Spring fever is all about the crush, and this song gains momentum in the largest media market in April.

Maybe, because it's universal:

"Crush at first sight and, though unconfident, wanting to do something about it" is Romantic Fiction 101 because it resonates.

Maybe, because it's simple--instrumentally, lyrically, and vocally:
It's simple, quirky casio-friendly melody gets stuck in your brain.  Vocally, it doesn't it have high-arching/range-stretching vocal solos, so it can be easily replicated in the shower.

Maybe, because it's all of the above.
Marketing "guru" Seth Godin shared in a TED Conference on "How to get your ideas to spread" that "in a world where we have too many choices and too little time, the obvious thing to do is just ignore stuff."  He goes on to talk about the necessity of being "remarkable"--literally causing someone to create a remark:
to notice the difference,
at the right time,
connecting with need or desire,
and the simple option.

Godin uses two examples of products:
1) SILK "milk", which watched their product sales triple immediately when they took their product out of the aisles and placed it in the refrigerators beside the milk--even though didn't need refrigeration.  Godin exemplifies, "milk, milk, milk, Silk?!?"

and 2) Dutch-boy Paint, whose product line was saved by not making a better paint, but a new paint can.

Godin thinks proclaims that Silk and Dutch-boy challenged their alternatives/competitors by simply being 'remarkable'.

"Call Me Maybe" is not the best song of the summer, but it's been the 'remarkable' one--and that will have people remembering this summer with this song for years and years to come.  Potentially, when flashback scenes in romantic comedies are filmed in 2022 or 2032, don't be surprised if you hear this song playing.

(Side note: If this hit becomes her albatross, as in becoming a "one-hit-wonder" she cannot escape, the potential, ongoing future royalties will make it a little easier to bear as opposed to other one-hit wonders such as Vanilla Ice, Dexy's Midnight Runners, or Toni Basil.)

So, what does this matter? What lessons can we learn from the summer success of "Call Me Maybe"?

Attention getting, movement creating, interest drawing -- however you want to define it -- is essential in  offering anything in the day and time in which we live.  Beyond the applications to creating something new, what about what we currently provide or do?

When you work, are you attempting to offer something "remarkable" or just enough to get an "A" or cross it off the "to-do" list or out of the "in box"?  One of my greatest educational challenges came when a different professor asked if a project I had prepared was "my best"--I knew it wasn't; I knew it was just enough to get the "A", but I didn't strive to give it my all, and his question pierced me.

When you are preparing for a weekly or monthly meeting, are you preparing to make it "remarkable," or just routine?  How many church services include copy-and-pasted bulletin material, rerun sermon outlines, similar song sequences, and little imagination?  (As a result, how many people walk out facing the "too many choices versus too little time" dilemma and may choose just to "ignore" the next meeting?)

What thoughts do you have?
How would you dissect or define "catchy", and how would you apply that?

My Favorite Olympic Record (UPDATED)

As we await Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, we're excited.  We love the competition, the national pride, the superiority of American basketball, but most of all the stories that we learn about these athletes every 4 years.  This has caused me to reminisce a bit in the past couple weeks of my favorite Olympic moments--some that I've only read about.  But my favorite Olympic Record may be my favorite Olympic story--and it's a record that will likely never be broken...

Australian swim-sensation Ian Thorpe was the one to watch in the pool when the Olympic games were held in Sydney in 2000.  Thorpe would win three gold and two silver medals during those games, setting three World Records in the process.

But Thorpe never had the opportunity to swim against my favorite Olympian of the 2000 Games.  Even though Eric Moussambani set an Olympic record and won his heat, he would not compete against any other swimmer during those Olympic games.

Eric Moussambani went to the 2000 Olympic Games as wide-eyed as a kid in a candy shop holding a $10 bill--he went representing his tiny African country of Equatorial Guinea with the equivalent of $80 in his pocket.  Though given the honor of carrying his nation's flag in the Opening Ceremonies, no one knew him prior to his Olympic performance--yet few who watched him set my favorite Olympic Record will ever forget him.

Eric was at the Games by virtue of a now revoked Olympic Committee privilege that allowed smaller, usually non-competing nations a pass straight to the games in a select events, intending to build the Olympic spirit and encourage participation by all.  Equatorial Guinea was given the opportunity to send someone to participate in the 100 meter free-style race.

Eric knew that he would have to swim the length of a 50 meter pool.  No such pool existed in his tiny nation--but that was not his biggest problem.  No, Eric's biggest hurdle was learning to swim.

Eric began to train and teach himself at the largest pool he could find--20 meters in length at a hotel.  The first time he would see an Olympic/competition sized pool would be at his Olympic practice, the day before his race, the first heat.  Imagine the awe of this 22 year old African--not just of the pool, but also of the 15,000+ spectators who had began to fill the natatorium for a day of Olympic races!

But this, again, was not his biggest surprise; prior to the heat, he learned that he would not only swim the length of the pool once, but twice for the 100 meters.  Prior to the competition and all throughout his training, he only prepared for 50 meters; in fact, he had never swum 100 meters at one time!

The irony and the amazing turn of events never stop in this story.

Eric steps onto his first starting block in lane 5 against 2 seasoned and overly eager swimmers--yes, only 3 swimmers in this first heat.  At the first gun, Eric doesn't move, perhaps still out of shock--it's a good thing though because the other 2 were too anxious and BOTH end up false starting.

So there's Eric, alone, on the block, staring at the largest pool he has ever seen, in front of 15,000 fans, at the Olympic games.

Barring a false start, simply finishing guarantees he will win his heat.  But Eric would not only finish, he would finish in Olympic Record time...

...the slowest Olympic time ever recorded for 100 meter freestyle.  Check it out...



100 meters in 1 minute, 52.72 seconds.
How slow is that?  Consider this: Ian Thorpe, the day before, swam 200 meters 7 seconds faster.

UPDATE:  New CNN article adds additional info, including:
--he was the only "swimmer" to show up at the "selection event"
--he didn't know how to dive, only learning after watching US team practice
--he did compete at 2002 World competition
--he is still attempting to earn permission from E.G.'s Olympic committee to compete in 2016
--regarding the 2000 Olympics, "It was me against the swimming pool.  I didn't care about anything else, I just wanted to finish the race ... When I went to Australia that was the first time I had seen an Olympic swimming pool.  I was scared of the dimensions."

Why is this my favorite Olympic record?

Courage.

Most of your Olympic athletes have been competing their whole lives, most because they possess a particular knack or physical ability that sets them a part from their peers.  They get discovered, get training, get better.  They also get pressure and scrutiny by fans and skeptics as they progress--by the time they reach Olympic level competition they are seasoned and strong, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.  They are not swayed by crowds or critics, not in awe of venues, and never surprised by what their discipline will demand of them.

Eric has no such benefits or conditioning.  He teaches himself by his own dedication and gumption in a simple hotel pool.  He prepares for the honor of representing his country.

When he learns that everything he has prepared for is wrong, he still steps out of his warm ups.

When his old style, baby-blue, Adidas bikini doesn't match the newer, technologically-advanced Speedo suits, he doesn't flinch.

Though 15,000 people are not there for him, he steps onto the block in front of them.

When the others false start, and it's just him, alone in a pool, he still dives in.

When he doesn't feel he can go on, and the echoing laughter throughout the natatorium, he still kicks and strokes rather than grab the ropes.

When he is seemingly about to drown and the laughter turns to cheers and applause to urge him forward, he digs in and finishes the race.

As a result, Eric can say many things that many of us couch-potatoe, Monday-morning quarterbacks will never be able to say--in fact, even a few Olympians can not make some of these statements:
- "I represented my country in the Olympics."
- "I carried the flag for my country at the Olympics."
- "I won my heat at the Olympics."
- "I finished the race at the Olympics."

In fact, in one of the hundreds of interviews given by Eric after his heat, Moussambani said he had telephoned his mother soon after his win but she was not even aware that he was supposed to be racing. "I told her: 'Mama, I have done it,'" beamed Moussambani. "Many people thought that I would not be able to finish the race. I would have been ashamed had I not been able to finish the race. I would not have been able to live with myself." (This link is to a great, similar article that also shares the after story and his preparation for the Athens Games in 2004).


Eric entered the Sydney games an obscure name in the program, but he left the Sydney games as the darling, earning the nickname, "Eric the Eel"--fellow competitors would even be asked about his effort, and all seemed to praise him as the ideal of the Olympic spirit.  


Unfortunately, he returned to his home country not as a hero, but as a laughingstock--his government feeling embarrassed by his representation rather than pride in his commitment and effort.  Eric continued to train despite obstacles and ridicule, shaving more than a minute of his time and and raising his ability to world competition status; though he would never compete on the world stage again.


But today, as the Olympics open in London, Equatorial Guinea has a swim team--and they will be coached by "Eric the Eel".

Follow us now on Twitter @ok2serve

Olympic Countdown

Three days (at the time of this posting) until the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics in London.

We love the Olympics, and we love London, so it was a no brainer to buy some tix for a few choice events.

That's a lie.  These aren't our tickets.

We'd love to--but not likely anytime soon.

So, like the majority of the planet, we will be watching online broadcasts and replays.  For those who will be lucky enough to attend an Olympic event, you may want to check this Yahoo article for a list of curiously banned items, including:

Liquids, even water, greater than 3 ounces.  The TSA must have contributed ideas to the Olympic security committee.  While there's the obvious need to keep yourself hydrated in the summer, you'll be doing so by purchasing water in the venue.  Hey, you got to pay for the Olympics somehow.

No large umbrellas and no big hats.  It's London--it rains there--in fact, isn't this picture stereotypical of what you picture when you think of London?  And wearing big hats in London is kind of customary (remember the royal wedding).  I know this has also got to be safety/security issue; if you can have shoe and underwear bombs, imagine what you could put in any of these hats pictured!  But this may simply be a courtesy issue--who wants to pay all that money to be stuck behind an umbrella or a gaudy hat?  Also, large flags (greater than 3ftx6ft) are similarly banned.

No vuvuzelas -- the ban on the World Cup sound sensations will allow everyone to maintain their hearing without trading and arm and leg for Olympic earplugs.

Ramadan, Release, Refugees...

...And More From the Middle East.

The Islamic month and concurrent holidays of Ramadan began last Friday evening.  Ramadan is a month on the Islamic lunar calendar, and the month's name comes from a word meaning "scorching" or "dry"-- though the dates shift according to the Gregorian calendar, it couldn't have arrived at a more appropriate time of scorching, dry heat.  Islam teaches that it was during the month of Ramadan that the prophet Muhammad received the revelations that became the Quran.  The month and the receipt of these revelations are remembered by daily fasts and change in work patterns to allow for more time in prayer and readings of the Quran; ornately decorated lanterns of various sizes are sold and hung to light up the night--like the one pictured outside of a new Thai restaurant in Maadi--much like Christmas lights during Advent in Christian cultures.  The fasting from sunrise to sunset is broken nightly with the Iftar meal--these are usually shared in large groups and have a celebratory feel.  The change in business hours can be seen throughout the community, but perhaps most notably along the roadways and Metro lines as traffic is far less busy.

In Egypt, newly elected President Mohammed Morsy used the commencement of Ramadan as an opportunity to grant pardon to 572 prisoners who were detained by military for their roles in the January 25 revolution more than a year ago.  Morsy has been in an ongoing battle to court public favor despite the celebrations that erupted in Tahrir Square and throughout the country at the announcement of winning the runoff election last month.  This video from the Al Jazeera's "Listening Post" program highlights the struggle to overcome the formerly state-run news agencies who seem to be still aligned with SCAF/military, as well as the battle against the new and rapidly increasing private news agencies that appear to have their own agendas; the Morsy and the media portion is begins after the introductory show statements and continues till 8:30 in the recording.

The above program concludes with an interesting segment on the "low tech social media" of graffiti and its role in the "Arab Spring" of North African countries (Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt); this concluding segment runs from 12:50-21:45.  The rise of graffiti art was an indicator of a growing desire and acceptance for freedom of expression of the people of Egypt.  Freedom of expression has been an ongoing hot topic debate since the Revolution.

This pic from a Naharnet story that
indicated more than 2000
refugees entered Lebanon
in one day.

Finally, Syria's ongoing troubles continue to increase need in surrounding countries as thousands upon thousands of refugees flee while violent conflict continues.  According to this CNN report, the U.N. is reporting more than 120,000 refugees have fled to neighboring countries, including at least 30,000 into Lebanon.  The Church of God in Lebanon as well as parachurch groups like Heart for Lebanon are actively seeking to minister to the needs of these refugees.  Through Three Worlds, we have seen reports of this service and read of their strategic response to meet this growing need within their borders.  In 5 weeks, Zeke and I will travel to serve the annual youth camp in Lebanon and we will also visit leaders and see their service to refugees first hand.  Pray for the wisdom of the Lebanese leaders as they seek to compassionately and correctly offer aid to these in need.

a few Red Sea pics

We didn't take a lot of pics during our time in El Gouna last week.  We didn't take a waterproof camera on the boat when we went snorkeling, though now that we have a bit more experience, we'll be sure to do so next time.  Here are a few pics though...

listening to some instructions as we pull out to sea

(Marco's on the other side of Jamie, followed by Zeke, Titus, Grace, and Keli)

Patrick was there, too :)

one of the guides took us way off course because he thought he saw something--and he did, a large group of dolphins including a few babies.  We chased them around the sea for 20 or 30 minutes until they would let us get closer.

 everyone was on their feet as we bobbed through the waves 

for better looks at the dolphins (Zeke above).

 Titus taking a look...

...and though Grace wanted to see the dolphins, she

still wouldn't let people take pics of her!

 once the dolphins let us hang around, several dove in for a closer look and a chance to swim with them.  Jamie and Keli jumped in with Marco and Zeke -- the sea was quite rough here and the boys were not able to get used to their masks; though Keli didn't a good look, Jamie was close to one of the dolphins before all were called back to the boat.

we went back on course and spent 30 minutes or more in two different areas of reefs where we could snorkel -- the water was more calm and we all had a great time.  Only Jamie and Keli had been before, but we were all blessed by the chance to see some amazing scenes.

A view of one corner of El Gouna on our return from snorkeling.

As you drive back toward Cairo, you really are 

along the coast for large portions of the trip!

Red Sea Report

We took off Monday morning with the Nachtigalls for El Gouna on the eastern coast of Egypt. This resort community is a vacation paradise in the middle of the desert. The community has restricted access so only registered guests or villa owners have access. There are several hotels divided by condos, shops, restaurants, & entertainment along the multiple marinas overlooking the Red Sea. It's the desert, so there's blue skies with hot sun throughout the day, but wonderfully comfortable evenings.

We all took a snorkeling excursion today--a first for all except for Keli and Jamie. We saw a large group of dolphins early in the trip and some of the experienced swimmers were able to jump in and swim with them at one point! We continued to two stops along coral reef and we all got in and observed real life scenes from Nemo; clown fish, angel fish, & silver fish (and many more we didn't know). With the opposite coast in sight, we realized we were closer to the Sinai Peninsula than the main of Egypt--CORRECTION: upon further investigation, we were in sight of a couple islands of the coast of Egypt (see added map pics).

Pics from snorkeling will have to come later, but here's a collage from around the marina nearest to us.

This has been a wonderful break for our family; a needed break from the routine before we begin some new work. It's given us great family memories, and helped the kids to have a different, positive experience in Egypt. We are grateful for the leadership and friendship of the Nachtigalls to encourage this--we're looking forward to our next trip to the Red Sea.

RC's in Cairo, & Clinton, too

We were happy to welcome Patrick and Jamie Nachtigall, along with their son Marco to the villas in Cairo this week.  The Nachtigall's serve as Regional Coordinators of Church of God ministries in the Europe and Middle East Region, which includes 18 countries with dozens of churches and projects.  Both have had quite a schedule in the past year, especially Patrick; he was recently in the US, flew home to Berlin briefly before speaking for a serious of meetings with the churches in the Ukraine, then back home to prepare for this trip--then, when he leaves, he will be back in Spain.  The Nachtigall's are great leaders and have been orchestrating ethos and systemic changes throughout the region that have been influential to similar leaders around the world.

They are here officially and unofficially: first, it's just past our 6 month of service mark here in Cairo, so they're checking in on us to make sure we're not losing our mind or making others lose theirs--there's a bit of "business" to discuss as it relates to what we've done, what we're doing, and what we need/hope to do.  As our largest goal right now is the acclimation of our family to this new and challenging metropolis, there is just a lot of relating and observing of our children.  Zeke and Marco have been playing nonstop from early morning to late at night, which has been good for both of them; and Titus and Grace really enjoy having Patrick and Jamie around and taking an interest in their lives.  Tomorrow night, the Nachtigall's will share during the CCF worship service--the Fellowship love the Nachtigalls and have a special relationship with Jamie who grew up here among them as her parents and grandparents served the Fellowship.

But, the Nachtigall's are also here unofficially--to vacation and hang out.  Both our families could use the downtime together, and so we will be off to a few days of fun and sun at the Red Sea.

Oh, and Hillary Rodham Clinton also came to Cairo for a visit.  She hasn't called yet, but we're sure there's a lot to do right now in talking to President Morsy and Field Marshal Tantawi, but we're sure we're on her mind and in her prayers ;)


  

Pat Summit, 2012 Arthur Ashe Award Winner

Sports' equivalent to the Academy Awards Ceremony were hosted last night in Los Angeles by ESPN, the founders of the "Espy's".  The Espys began in 1993, and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award has been awarded annually since its beginning to an individual or group whose contributions transcend sport.

Last night's winner was Pat Summit, the now retired coach of the University of Tennessee Women's Basketball team.  The introduction to the award was given by the most famous of UT sports alumni, Peyton Manning, followed by this video introduction narrated by actress Reese Witherspoon.

The video introduction is well done, not only recapping a stellar career as a coach, but someone who also advanced all of women's athletics, not just basketball, through her career.  Her winning attitude and inspiration will now tackle the battle against early-onset Alzheimer's.

"If I'm not leading by example,

then I'm not doing the right thing;

and I always want to do the right thing."

~ Pat Summit

Frankfurt Flight Frustration / Future Flight

before the reduced operational hours,
Frankfurt airport boasted as many as
50 million passengers daily.

All week, we've been anticipating the arrival of our friends and regional coordinators, the Nachtigall's.  They were flying from Berlin to Frankfurt tonight, and then overnight into Cairo, set to arrive in the early morning hours at our home.

But, while on the plane, the Nachtigall's learned something new in Frankfurt firsthand--there's a ban/curfew on flights after 2300 hours.  So, while they are taxing into position to takeoff, the tower calls and says basically, "you missed the curfew--come back to the gate"!

We have yet to hear how Lufthansa will accommodate our friends, or when they will now arrive for what is an official visit, as well as a time of vacation for their family and ours.

"So what's with the curfew," you ask?

We asked too, and thanks to a little googling, found a couple of articles to help us learn why Frankfurt has such crazy rules...

Apparently, the residents of Frankfurt have been in quite a foul mood when it comes to air traffic noise; so much so that it was a big election platform in the last mayoral election, and the new mayor may have been elected on the promise of instituting such a curfew on these annoying, late night flights.

But while the residents sleep peacefully, there's bound to be fallout, particularly financial.

Lufthansa airlines, the airline affected tonight, has had disastrous customer service issues as a result -- as many as 14,000 travelers have had to return to the gate in the first 8 months of the curfew, and had to be receive complimentary hotel accommodations or slept in the airport.  Many of which who were flying to Cape Town, South Africa (likely leaving at that time to arrive for the start of business the next day).  Frankfurt had been Lufthansa's major hub for this flight, but no longer--Lufthansa has officially moved these flights to nearby Munich.

Obviously, this affects more flights than just the Cape Town travelers.  Most airlines have difficulty operating in the black as it is--imagine having to add this many hotel bills and breakfast cheques?  How long before Lufthansa and other airlines evaluate whether or not to move all their flights, not just their night flights?

Then, Frankfurt may not only get peaceful skies at night, but they may also get them all day long, along with long unemployment lines.


In other airline news...

Richard Branson, billionaire-extraordinaire, says his Virgin-Galactic group will launch their first private passengers into space by December 2013, including he and his children.  We blogged about this approaching epic milestone on May 27 --here's a new CNN video interview with one of Branson's smart business guys talking about more about it...



The quote on the side of this CNN article from Branson is, "The initial flights will be sub-orbital, which will give people a taste of space... Maybe one day hotels in space."


Where are our forward-thinking, big dreaming, risk-taking leaders in the Church?
Oh, they may be stuck in Frankfurt :(

Wanna Party? Power Plays & the Rise of Third Current

Last Month, the Supreme Constitutional Court was busy, handing our verdicts regarding Mubarak and other leaders roles in the deaths of around 850 lives during the Revolution in 2011--this infuriated the revolutionary groups who wanted the death penalty for the ailing octogenarian.  Then, the SCC also ruled that the Parliament was improperly elected and should thereby be dissolved.

The next day, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) dissolved the Parliament and took over legislative powers until the Constituent Assembly could finish a new Constitution (goal of September) and then hold new Parliamentary elections (goal of 2 months later).  This decision was made during the Runoff Presidential Election and caused uprising demanding power to be returned to civilian hands and the new President, calling the actions of SCAF a "soft political coup".  SCAF, and several legal/constitution experts, maintained they were merely looking out for the country's best interests while respecting the unappealable rule of the SCC. 

 On Sunday, July 8, newly elected President Morsy calls Parliament back to session, overriding the ruling of the SCC and putting him at odds with the leadership of SCAF.  Morsy has yet to name a Prime Minister or most of his cabinet as he faces pressures and rejections from several political forces, including his former Muslim Brotherhood relationship (renounced after winning the election).  The MB has been pressuring Morsy to name their first choice for President (al-Shater) to be his Prime Minister.

Today, the SCC has called for an emergency session to review Morsy's move.  Egyptian Nobel Prize winner Mohammed ElBaradei tweeted, "The executive decision to overrule the Constitutional Court is turning Egypt from a government of law into a government of men."  According to this CNN report, retired General Sameh Seif Al Yazal (who now heads the Cairo-based "Republican Center for Political Research") called Morsy's decision, "an insult to the hegemony of the judicial system in Egypt...this decision puts the judicial system in crisis...the President is a role model.  How are the Egyptian people going to respect any court rulings after that?"

Never a dull moment, and never a shortage of opinions in Egypt's political scene these days!

While the military (who largely represent former patterns and means of leadership) wrestle with the new political force in Egypt (the Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood), the development of any new democracy such seems to be caught in the middle of the power play.  The MB, a part from the former National Democratic Party of which Mubarak represented and has since been burned out (literally), is the oldest and most organized political force in the country.  They clearly had the pole position in the race for power after the revolution, and that led them with "underdog" Morsy straight to the Presidential Palaces.  Meanwhile, SCAF has demonstrated that they are clearly reluctant to relinquish power to Islamist, although civilian, hands and have sought to "legally" undermine the Presidential Powers until a new and improved Constitution could be created.

This tug of war has created ambivalence among the people and the revolutionaries, perhaps best summarized by Ahramonline writer Samer Soliman, "Egypt is currently reeling from the outcome of the presidential race, exhausted, confused and with blurred vision. This is accompanied by deep frustration among half of the population who opted for Ahmed Shafiq, or reluctantly voted for Mohamed Morsi, or voided their ballot or boycotted the entire process altogether."

Keep in mind that just over half of the eligible voters participated in a runoff that was basically decided by about 26% of the eligible voters choosing Morsy.  While half the population wants either the Islamist  or the former military rule, the majority of the population wants a third choice.

In American politics, the desire for a third political party is nearly as old as the country itself.  Republicans versus Democrats has been the dominant system, but there have been moments in history where other parties sought to offer another solution.  The outcry for something other than elephants and donkeys seems to be growing louder with campaigns such as Free State project (move to New Hampshire and join the Libertarians), and the newly launched Americans Elect project.  So it is not surprising to see the growing desire and efforts of the Egyptians in their new democratic pursuits to seek a third alternative.

Coptics recently formed a "Christian Brotherhood" party with similar goals of the Muslim Brotherhood -- with 10% Christian population in Egypt, this is not likely to capture the majority vote any time soon--and exchanging one religiously-based political group for another is not what the majority seem to be seeking.

Other political parties have been established since the Egyptian Revolution, including: Karama Party, Constitution Party, Democratic Alliance, Free Egyptians, Al Wafd, and the Egyptian Social Democratic Party.  Now these former rival parties that split the vote during the recent Presidential elections have been discussing a merger that would create what they are already calling the "Third Current", as a third path as opposed to the military or Islamist agendas.

The supporters and leading figures of such a merger include former Presidential Candidates Sabbahi and Mousa, as well as vocal and secular Parliamentary leaders such as Amr Hamzawy and Mostapha El-Guindy.

Sabbahi says, as reported by the Egypt Independent, the Third Current would not be a new political party, but a movement to unite and pursue the demands of the 25 January revolution.  He is further quoted as saying, "We want a society that loves religion and the military, but refuses control by the military or religious parties."

Hamzawy, as quoted in AlArabiya, said, "We in the Third Current want to protect Egypt's right to a constitution that uphold personal freedoms, the rule of law and the division of power, the right to fair elections and government institutions not dominated by one party or ideology."

Such rhetoric makes good press, but raises many questions for every answer the Third Current hopes to bring:

Can such a Third Current exist and work together merely as a collaboration and partnership of various political parties?

Which of the "alpha males" will become "top dog" with the loudest "bark" when it comes to formulating policy and agenda?

Which groups will subsequently jump ship to try to maintain their own ideals and pursuits?

As Sameer Soliman astutely writes, "It is not enough to agree on principles.  Those who seek a 'third current' in Egyptian politics have to innovate with new methods of management and organization."

Violence Against Women in Egypt

During the erupting celebration in Tahrir Square after the announcement of Mohammed Morsy winning the Presidential election, British journalism student Natasha Smith was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a mob of men.  Separated from her companions, her clothes were even more quickly separated from her as she cried out "Lord, please make it stop."  She reports that Muslim women were standing nearby crying out, "This is not Egypt."

The report of Smith's attack can be read here at CNN; here is a brief video interview with her, as well...



Smith, with amazing selflessness, speaks not about her own victimization but about the countless number of women whose attacks do not make headlines, because contrary to the cries of the Muslim women around her, this may be Egypt after all.

This morning, Yahoo reposted "Sexual Violence rises in Egypt's Tahrir" a news story originally posted by Al Jazeera reporter Sally El-Sabbahy.  The report lists several other attacks in what had been the landmark of change -- something that is lamented by women interviewed in this video that appears on the Al Jazeera's story page:



This older CNN video report also documents the history of assaults and abuses against women that predate the revolution:



Newly elected President Morsy has separated ties with the Muslim Brotherhood that dominated the previous Parliament.  He has stated that he wants to be a President for all Egyptians, not just Islamists, and has made overtures to reach out to Coptic Christians, Youth, and Women groups.  Women's rights groups have also been reaching out to Morsy, writing and expressing their hopes for changes in a new Egypt.  Leading women's activists have a lot of skepticism despite their hopes for change, as exemplified by this report: Egypt's Islamists: Much to prove on women's rights.  The Al Jazeera report (mentioned above) references the growth of protests and demands for change to this tragic normal--not just on the streets, but also along social media as #EndSH (Twitter hash tag for "End Sexual Harassment") has seen growing traffic.

We regularly travel on the Metro trains, and though there have been teenage boys that have leered at our daughter, even attempting to move closer for a chance to make eye contact, there have never been any threatening moments on the Metro.   We have heard comments made by men as the females pass by; and my wife and daughter did have an unfortunate, brief encounter with a man while walking to a store before my wife chased him off.  My daughter is hypersensitive to the looks and comments, and though this type of vigilance is good, we do not want her to be "subject to fear" that paralyzes and prevents her peace.

I'm sure that parents throughout Egypt have the same concerns for their daughters.  As we pray for Egypt, pray for justice to be sought by the new President and his leadership on behalf of these assaulted victims; pray for truth and light to overcome deception and darkness; pray for a culture of respect rather than harassment.

To Boldly Go...

While we traveled last fall to share our story and to raise support/awareness, one of the main questions we were asked by people who have traveled to Cairo was, "Are you planning to drive in Cairo?"

As good as walking has been for us, and though we have learned to navigate a taxi driver fairly well, we have been eager to be able to drive ourselves when the distance or need called for it.  But what experienced travelers knew, and what we have discovered over the past 1/2 year, is that driving in Cairo is unlike driving in any other part of the world.

Frogger may have been inspired
by pedestrians along the Corniche el Nil

Merging the typical developing nation traffic issues with the modern-esque, 11th largest metro area on the planet creates difficulty on the roadways--then add to that the combination of newer cars and the speeds they can obtain with older forms that cannot obtain any speed.  It's not just the absence of "rules of the road", its also the absence of all the norms you take for granted.  There are larger roads, similar to highways in the states, designed for 3-4 lanes--but there really aren't any drivers conforming to what were once neatly painted but now faded or missing stripes.  Throw in your mopeds and motorcycles squeezing into the diminishing gaps, while you brake and swerve to miss the donkey/horse carts trotting next to stopped  trucks on the inside "lane" of the road.   The roadways themselves are not just imperfect due to large, road-wide potholes, but there are also occasional speed-humps to keep everyone from gaining to much speed.  Debris fills the medians and/or shoulders and can spill into the driving lanes; wherever you may find no debris, you will find a street vendor trying to sell novelty items to oncoming traffic--who will stop if they see something interesting.  Meanwhile, you have to watch for taxi's and minibuses that are looking for fares along the roads and who will stop on a dime to make one--along with the fares themselves racing from one side of the road like a modern variation of frogger.

But don't just take our word for it -- ask anyone who's traveled to Cairo, or do a search in YouTube; I did, and found this one posted just a couple months ago...

(note: mothers carrying babies/toddlers on the back of motorcycles is common)

Locals say that it has only gotten worse in the last 5-10 years as the number of cars, trucks, and other modes of transportation have grown exponentially--parking, even double parking which most do by leaving their vehicle in neutral, is difficult at best.

A part of our fund-raising was funds for a sturdy vehicle.  We have spent the last month (because it took several months to secure the necessary visa, then bank account, then wire transfer) looking for a car, jeep.  We really wanted a jeep-type vehicle with a higher suspension because we wanted to have a better perch to view the crazy traffic around us, and a higher suspension that could handle the crater sized potholes along all the streets.  Jeeps, and similar 4x4's, are terribly expensive because they are in such high demand; unless you happen to be duty-free/tax-exempt due to oil or diplomat status--these lucky few buy and sell these vehicles for pennies on the dollar as they come and go seasonly.  We tried, but could not find a way to purchase these on our visa (though we heard several reports of others finding a way, it was hidden from us).  So, we also wanted a vehicle in which a couple of kids could hop in the back so that we could help carry other adults if the need arose.  And, we wanted to find a vehicle that could be repaired easily and inexpensively.  Fortunately, older jeeps met all these requirements as there are a plethora of parts, and the older models are not full of all the computer systems that create havoc for basic mechanics.

We were able to find an older jeep 4x4 with good seats, clean interior, relatively low miles, new tires, a motor in decent condition, and within our price range!  The money we saved on the purchase price has allowed us to begin to have a couple of items repaired, and we will continue to work on more items in the months ahead.  We closed the transaction on Sunday evening in New Maadi, and I drove across town (without a map, nor stopping for directions) to find Grace at a friends house in Maadi--then we managed to get across the rail and metro tracks and back home easily.  Though Grace spent a lot of time laughing at me for leaning so far forward, "like an old man", as I tried to keep my eyes moving in 360o.

I took the car for work yesterday, and today was our big day -- we all loaded up and went to the gas station; a big step for us.  We went from there, finding our way through town to the Autostrad (one of the larger highways), merging onto Ring Road, and arriving at the City Center Mall.  We stocked up on a few groceries at Carrefour, ate at the food court, and headed for home.  We intentionally took a different way back, and only missed one turn.  While dodging slower traffic, we were doing 80km/hr in the 60 km/hr, and we were passed more than were passing others, only reaffirming Grace's "old man"comments as i continued to lean forward.

We're very proud of ourselves ;) -- keep in mind, we haven't driven in 6 months (since arriving).

Next up, Keli starts to learn the driving route from home to the kids' schools in preparation for fall.

Birthdays, Giants in "Mecca", Presidents-Swearing

...and other Middle East musings...

Happy 5th Birthday to the iPhone; though we do not (yet) have one of these amazing little critters, they are ever intriguing and awe-creating when I see someone else interact with one.  I remember my first mobile phone call from a car in 1985.  My friend's dad had a mobile phone installed in their car for business and it so intrigued me that he allowed me to call my mom while we were on the way to a school dance.  It was huge--a wired handset with glow in the dark buttons that went to a half-briefcase style box mounted beside the center console--the special mini-cb antennae (and it's sad that most of you won't know what a "cb" was) was mounted outside on the roof of the car.  At the time, I thought this must be the pinacle of cool and importance; how else would you explain the need to be in contact with someone while you drove?

Somehow, most of my generation survived not only going through High School without cell phones, we also went through most (if not all) of college without a cell phone.  Keli and I got our first cell phone, a clunky-nokia in 1998 once Grace was born so that babysitters could reach us whenever we were out--i bought a pager before we stretched the budget a few years later to have 2 cell phones--and all they did was make calls (still an important, though overlooked feature), store numbers, and have 1 simple pong-style game.  A few laters, I got my first smartphone--not sure why, because they really did poor email at that time, but it had a good calendar program and this was helpful to merge my palm data and reduce my need for two devices. 

At this point, having an iPod was a luxury we couldn't afford, so when Apple CEO Steve Jobs made the now famous "a phone, an iPod, an internet communicator" presentation, we couldn't conceive of how that pitch was to change and create the communications/tech-junkie world in which we now live.  In 5 years time, iPhones (or a similarly styled and capable devices) are as common as cigarrettes in the hands of many Egyptians on the streets -- what was previously conceived of as cool and elite has become common, and yet still cool and desirable.  5 years ago, many were still figuring out how to OMG their BFF while ROFL--today, you can simply video chat through your phone.

Speaking of Birthdays, today's a big one for the recipient of my first mobile call--my mom.  Happy Birthday to my mom.  Yesterday, our family took turns speaking to her on her cell phone in Alabama while she shopped and drove home, while we called from our internet-connected "magic jack" phone here in Cairo.  Mom still looks like she's my age and acts half-my age ;)  She and dad will spend the day getting ready and leaving for a VA hospital in Georgia where Dad will have prostate surgery this week due to recently diagnosed cancer.  Say a prayer for my mom and dad this week.

I love my parents and I am honored by who they are and what they have done in my lifetime--they are clearly "Giants on My Path". 

While we're surrounded by millions of Islamists who regularly pray facing Mecca several times a day, we represent a church group that has a different kind of "mecca"--our "holy city" is Anderson, Indiana.  Not because I was born there, and not because the church movement started there, but because that's where the printing press, Bible college, and eventually national offices came to be established.  Along the way, annual "Campmeetings" were held on those grounds and the tradition, oh the tradition, continues today in what is now called the North American Convention of the Church of God.  That event took place last week, and thousands made the "annual pilgrimage" for a day or more of meetings, fellowship, worship, inspiration or frustration depending on what they attended :)  During that time, our friends the Langfords and the Kihms were commissioned to serve the international Church in the U.K. and Holland respectively; our fearless 3W leader shared about doing ministry and missions differently in through the 3W paradigm.  And, the concluding Wednesday night service saw it's trational campmeeting itinerary scrapped for a different style of service.  The link to watch the nearly 3 hours of service is here (there's about 8-10 minutes of filming before the service begins); if you can, I encourage you to take sometime to sit through the opening with Jim and Chuck, listen to some of the dramatic-recreation of a DS Warner sermon, and get to the part with Gretchen Olsen and Bob Marvel (the service goes at least another hour and half after them).  Gretchen is now one of the Junior High pastors at WillowCreek Church in Illinois, and she gives a good testimony of her calling and growth to that place of leadership, speaking of "giants" who helped her to that, including Bob.  Bob comes out and speaks of a divine-spin on chaos theory that is just great.

"Giants on My Path" was a book title from a leading ChoG pastor/hymn-writer, Dale Oldham (no close relation).  The whole service was an opportunity to reflect and inspire on those who have helped to shape us while encouraging us to be that type of person for someone else.  My parents aand my grandparents, all each and uniquely for different reasons, have been giants on my path.  There were several others who have had key rolls in my development, but the roll of my family is special to me in these days now as we serve in the Middle East.

Speaking of the Middle East, the political world continues to turn here.  Newly elected President Mohammed Morsy had his first opportunity to straddle both sides of the fence--the young revolutionary movements were demanding that he take his official oath of office in Tahrir Square--many cited that he would not/could not do that because of security concerns, not to mention the tradition of the oath being taken at the Supreme Constitutional Court.  The revolutionary movements wanted not only a symbolic connection to the scene of the revolution, but also a simultaneous rejection of the SCC and their role in not condemning Mubarak to death, absovling several key Mubarak leaders, dissolving Parliament, and (in their view) strengthening the hold of the military on the country.  Meanwhile, the tradition of taking the oath before the judges and the SCC to uphold its place within the government and its legitimacy was necessary.  Morsy managed to appease many with a Friday evening speech (in which he steps out from the podium and opens his jacket to reveal he's not afraid and not wearing a bullet-proof vest), and then on Saturday having his oath taken in the SCC.  As I said, this appeased many, but there were reports of doubters and skeptics, not just from the revolutionary movements, but from the ordinary working class.  He has a huge road ahead of him.

Many continue to camp out in Tahrir, for various reasons and hopes.  I was able to step into the Square earlier in the week (and hope to add a couple pics later)--it's a mess, not just from the debris and remains of thousands of people coming in and out, but the mood is anxious and a bit depressing.  There are high hopes throughout this city and country, but their seems to be an even deeper despair.

Last week's gathering and Presidential announcement kept us from getting downtown for worship, but we'll be back at it tonight.  The kids are out of school, and are starting to get a bit of cabin fever here at the villas, so it will be good to get them out and about.  We have a car purchase about to finalize, so we hope that will also give us the wheels to get around and about a little more easily--more on that once the deal is done.