My Daughter Dressed as Open Solaris

My soon-to-be-20-year-old daughter Jessica is in her second (Sophomore) year
at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is majoring
in Political Science with minors in Music and Computer Science.
We have been giving her Sun clothes and giveaways all of her life.
For Halloween last month, Jessica put it all together in a costume:
she dressed up as OpenSolaris,
complete with blue hair. For pictures, see her blog:

FeelingElephants
. She is coming home for Thanksgiving in
less than two weeks – hooray! Here we are together at the airport
after attending the
Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing
together last month.

Jessica and Katy
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Image Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

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Excellence in Preaching Series – Schell, Lyman, Countryman

On 4 September, I wrote about St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church holding a three part Excellence in Preaching series. Three remarkably gifted, different, and distinguished speakers and authors each had one day to preach twice and then offer a ninety minute seminar. The series is designed to better equip the listener to recognize and respond to different preaching styles – and to appreciate even those styles that may differ from personal preference. Photos follow of the speakers:

    • 14 September 2008: Rev. Donald Schell, All Saints Company Consultant and Creative Director and founder of St. Gregory’s, San Francisco
    • 26 October 2008: Rev. Dr. Rebecca Lyman, Professor Emerita of History, Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP), Berkeley
    • 16 November 2008: Rev. Dr. Bill Countryman, Professor Emeritus of Biblical studies, Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP), Berkeley

This was an inspiring and thoughtful series! I learned from and admired each of the speakers. I hope that St. Andrew’s continues to offer excellent education opportunities like these.  In the final series sermon two days ago, the Rev. Dr. Countryman considered three of the more difficult stories told by Jesus – the parables of the Ten Talents, Prodigal Son, and the Workers in the Vineyard. Each parable presents a question of generosity and fairness in human versus divine context. Every time I hear those stories, I secretly sympathize with the third slave who was cast out, with the older brother who felt ignored, and with the grumbling laborers who worked all day.

Rev. Dr. Bill CountrymanRev. Dr. Bill Countryman at St. Andrew's Saratoga, CA<br /> photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson Bill CountrymanRev. Dr. Bill Countryman at St. Andrew's Saratoga, CA<br /> photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson Bill CountrymanRev. Dr. Bill Countryman at St. Andrew's Saratoga, CA<br /> photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Rev. Dr. Rebecca LymanRev. Dr. Rebecca Lyman at St. Andrew's Saratoga, CA<br /> photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson Rebecca LymanRev. Dr. Rebecca Lyman at St. Andrew's Saratoga, CA<br /> photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson Rev. Dr. Rebecca LymanRev. Dr. Rebecca Lyman at St. Andrew's Saratoga, CA<br /> photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Series BrochureSt. Andrew's Saratoga, CA Excellence in Preaching series brochure<br /> photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson Rev. Donald SchellRev. Donald Schell at St. Andrew's Saratoga, CA<br /> photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson Rev. Donald SchellRev. Donald Schell at St. Andrew's Saratoga, CA<br /> photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Images Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

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Big Awards for Greg Papadopoulos and Sun

Today, I attended National Philanthropy Day (“Change the World with a Giving Heart”), sponsored by the
Silicon Valley Chapter of the
Association of Fundraising Professionals
(AFP). One of the Silicon Valley
Philanthropic Leaders honored was

Greg Papadopoulos
(Sun CTO and EVP). Greg was nominated by the
SETI Institute. On every chair at the
celebration lunch was the November 2008 issue of
San Jose Magazine
which features a long article about the event and its honorees. From
that article:

      Greg Papadopoulos

      Nominated by the SETI Institute

      Dr. Greg Papadopoulos has served on the board of the SETI Institute since
      1998, including four years as chair. Papadopoulos and team developed the
      concept for a world-class radio telescope and made a leadership gift to make
      it a reality. He also inspires young people in math and science. Through
      Papadopoulos’s funding, the Institute will disseminate the research of more
      than 90 scientists working on 120 projects to both the general public and
      specific programs targeting students. Papadopoulos is a role model for all.”

In that same magazine issue, I was pleased to find an article called
“Best Places to Work” which included Sun Microsystems among the
fifty best, saying:

      Nowadays, most companies in Silicon Valley provide competitive salaries
      and opportunities for advancement, but our 50 employers also lavish their
      workers with much more… Why the employee-friendly focus? Workers are
      much happier, leading to an increase in productivity and retention…”

Some pictures from AFP’s National Philanthropy Day event:

Bagpiper to lead AFP

honoree parade

Bagpiper to lead Association of Fundraising Professionals honoree parade
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Thomas Pierson, Greg Papadopoulos,

Laurie Cantley, Frank Drake

SETI's Thomas Pierson, Greg Papadopoulos, Laurie Cantley, Frank Drake at Association of Fundraising Professionals event
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
AFP Distinguished Volunteer Fundraiser

Association of Fundraising Professionals Distinguished Volunteer Fundraiser certificate to Greg Papadopoulos
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Santa Clara County Recognition Certificate

County of Santa Clara Certificate of Recognition to Greg Papadopoulos
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Images Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

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SEED and PreSEED applications now closed

The application periods for both the SEED and PreSEED terms are
now closed. Human Resources records is now in the process of verifying
key application information (performance ratings, hire date, grade
level, etc.). The selection results for both terms of Sun’s worldwide
Engineering mentoring program will be announced on 19 November.
The terms will run January-June 2009. SEED and PreSEED will
accept a maximum of fifty participants per term (no minimum number).
The Global Sales and Services SEED term received 98 applicants, 79
of whom completed their applications. The PreSEED term received
103 applicants; 90 completed their applications.

Where?

The applicants for these terms are very diverse geographically, working in:

    Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Dubai UAR, France, Germany, India,

    Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand,

    Norway, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan,

    Thailand, UK
    USA: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Georgia,

    Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon,

    Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia

More?

More information on the SEED worldwide Engineering mentoring program
is available at
http://research.sun.com/SEED/

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SMUM Book Club, week 2

We are in the second week of the new book club at
SMUM Studio 17
(Santa Maria Urban Ministry). Each of the older children
in the after school homework program has the opportunity to check out a book
from Studio 17’s book shelf, read it, then give me an oral report. Prizes are
offered! Credit will be given for each book read before Thanksgiving.
(Studio 17 does not meet between Thanksgiving and Christmas.)
Prizes to be paid in a Target gift card.

We did well in week one. Most of the books were started, some were finished.
Several of the kids decided to trade books. Each child gave me a brief
report on the book before passing it on. Here is where we are:

    • James Howe The Bunnicula Collection (3 books in 1 volume)

      1st reader: Abigail – started 6 Nov (read most of book 1, passed it on)

      2nd reader: Jose – started 13 Nov
    • Madeleine L’Engle A Wrinkle in Time

      reader: Stephanie – started 6 Nov (extended for a 2nd week)
    • C.S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

      1st reader: Jose – started 6 Nov (read half, passed it on)

      2nd reader: Abigail – started 13 Nov
    • Christopher Paolini Eragon

      1st reader: Robert – started 6 Nov (read half, passed it on)

      2nd reader: Carlos – started 13 Nov
    • Tamora Pierce Alanna

      reader: Leslie – started 6 Nov (extended for a 2nd week)
    • Tamora Pierce First Test

      reader: Jocelyn – started 6 Nov (extended for a 2nd week)
    • Louis Sachar Holes

      1st reader: Carlos – started 6 Nov (read it, passed it on)

      2nd reader: Robert – started 13 Nov

Several more kids were begging to join the club this afternoon but I had no
more books. Tonight, I went to the Recycle Book Store (1066 The Alameda,
San Jose, CA) and picked up four more:

    • Roald Dahl The BFG
    • Jack London Call of the Wild
    • J.K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
    • E.B. White Charlotte’s Web

The Studio 17 kids liked the three pictures I posted on
6 November
from the
Make Your Own Kaleidoscope
software toy. (I gave the three girls
color printouts of their pictures to take home.) More kids requested that I
take their photos today so that they can play with their own images next
week. Here are some of the Kaleidoscopes from today:

SMUM Studio 17 kaleidoscope, San Jose CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson SMUM Studio 17 kaleidoscope, San Jose CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson SMUM Studio 17 kaleidoscope, San Jose CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Images Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

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San Francisco Bay Area Pictures

Here are some recent pictures from the San Francisco Bay Area:

San Francisco City Hall

by Night

San Francisco City Hall by Night
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
SF City Hall

by Day

San Francisco City Hall by Day
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
San Francisco Buildings

at Dusk

San Francisco Buildings at Dusk
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Red Rose with Dew, my backyard

Red Rose with Dew, San Jose CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Fan Man-Air Dancer

Fan Man-Air Dancer, San Jose CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Fan Man-Air Dancer

Fan Man-Air Dancer, San Jose CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Fan Man-Air Dancer

Fan Man-Air Dancer, San Jose CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
3 Dolls, from:

Russia, Louisiana, Tennessee

3 Dolls: Russia, Louisiana, Tennessee
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Folded Book Display

Santana Row

Folded Book Window Display, Santana Row, San Jose CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Folded Book Display

Santana Row, San Jose

Folded Book Window Display, Santana Row, San Jose CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Pigeons on a light

Palo Alto

Pigeons on a light, Palo Alto CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Small old railroad
Semaphore


Palo Alto High School crosswalk

Small old railroad Semaphore, Palo Alto High School crosswalk,
Palo Alto CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson
Drippy Tree Bark

Menlo Park

Drippy Tree Bark, Menlo Park CA
photo: copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Images Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

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SEED and PreSEED Application Update

We are in the midst of two Sun worldwide Engineering mentoring program
application periods. The first is a SEED term for Global Sales & Service
(see my
October 22, 2008
entry, all material is due now, today –
12 November
), and the second is for PreSEED (see my

October 31, 2008
entry, all material is due 14 November). I am sending
out daily summary reports in email to the applicants and their managers.
Tanya Jankot and I are replying to many email questions. SEED and PreSEED will
accept a maximum of fifty participants per term (no minimum number). Both
mentoring terms will run from January-June 2009.

Mentor Lists?

We are getting many questions about the preliminary mentor list on the
application form. This is not the final mentor preference list and the
applicant’s answer does not influence acceptance into the program.
(However, since this is a mentoring program, leaving the question blank
does not look good!) The question is asked to get applicants thinking about
the qualities they want in a Mentor and to start their research about
specific potential Mentors.

Program applicants and Mentees (Participants) are strongly discouraged from contacting potential Mentors directly before the match is formally made by SEED
program staff. Some potential Mentors are requested by many Participants,
while others have already communicated their preferences to SEED program staff.
We want to respect the potential Mentors’ time and preferences. Engineering
staff who want to contact mentors directly can do so without joining SEED.
Once applicants are accepted into the program, they have over a week to
prepare their ten name “Mentor Wish List”.

Status?

So far, we have 93 GSS applications (64 complete) and 86 PreSEED
applications (56 complete). The applicants for these terms are very
diverse geographically, working in:

    Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Dubai UAR, France, Germany, India,

    Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand,

    Norway, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan,

    Thailand, UK
    USA: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts,

    Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas,

    Virginia

More?

More information on the SEED worldwide Engineering mentoring program
is available at
http://research.sun.com/SEED/

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Filed under Mentoring & Other Business