Top 5 Social Good Summit Moments

In no particular order:

1. Desmond Tutu laughing. Even while passionately discussing the tragic issue of child marriage his charisma, humor and warm spirit shined through.

2. Skyping with a classroom in NJ, listening first-hand how technology is democratizing and revolutionizing education.

3. Previewing the One Day On Earth documentary

One Day on Earth - Motion Picture Trailer from One Day On Earth on Vimeo.

4. Hearing one of my heros, Dr Muhammad Yunus speak.

5. Watching my social network grow with inspiring and driven individuals as I tweeted and interacted with attendees throughout the day

Social Good Summit

Mashable.com

Muhammad Yunus is here. The President of Tanzania is here. Tony Bates (CEO of Skype) is here. Desmond Tutu is here. Kate James (COO of Gates Foundation is here. And, I am here. If you're not so fortunate you can watch is live here: http://mashable.com/2011/09/20/social-good-summit-livestream-2/ and look for #socialgood tweets.

Thoughts On Tonight's IQ2 Debate: Are Men Finished?

The classic boy versus girls banter was in full effect with the debate full of witty one liners, like David Zinczenko zinger, "Men are not finished because we all know that when men are finished they just roll over and go to sleep". I can only assume that Zinczenko "borrowed" this one liner because it was basically the only worthwhile thing he said all night. He and his teammate Christina Hoff Sommers stuck to the argument that throughout history males have dominated and that will continue primarily because they are willing to do dangerous and dirty jobs. While the opposing team comprised of Dan Abrams and Hanna Rosin argued that men have dominated because women were prohibited from competing, but now that there is more of an equal playing field, and the economy is moving away from jobs that require brawn and strength, women are beginning to surpass men. Both sides made the audience laugh. Both sides made valid points, but it became clear early on that Abrams and Rosin were the better debaters. Best line of the night goes to Dan Abrams explaining why men are still dominant forces in politics and continue to earn more than women: "men are surviving on the fumes of sexism and unexamined residual beliefs about the sexes". I love the phrase "fumes of sexism".

video of Hanna Rosin's family having the men vs. women debate:

Are Men finished?

Tonight, I am attending my fifth

Intelligence Squared debate

. (If you live in the New York Metro area I highly recommend attending these and, if you don't live nearby you can listen to them on NPR or watch them on Bloomberg.) The topics tend to be of a political nature, but tonight's debate is a Mensa version of the age old playground banter that boys drool and girls rule. AS someone who has never been comfortable identifying as a feminist I hope that this debate focuses on the science, the biological differences and the strengthens and weaknesses of each sex's predispositions. In preparation, I re-listened to this Radiolab episode

Sperm - Radiolab

(starting at the 40:00 mark, it delves into the debate topic more directly).

On My Mind This Monday Morning

• avoiding real work and focusing on the Times crossword puzzle

• must get my finances in order

• wish that my favorite podcasts aired new episodes more frequently

• the w button on my MacBook is becoming difficult to press

• i got a terrible night's sleep last night

• i miss my family

• must research topics and relevant news for Wednesday's Social Good Summit

• today is the first day in months that I have worn a coat during the day. Hello, fall.

• the music in this Starbucks is awful

• how much energy should I exert comforting a friend who knowingly puts herself in the same repeating painful situation?

• i wonder if I can get my boyfriend's family to volunteer with me this Thanksgiving

• i hope my family can come out for Thanksgiving

• when is my stepsister going to get engaged?

• i hope I make it to boot camp tonight

• why is it so difficult to find information about hosting private events at restaurants in New York?

• a man's whose style can only be described as Ed Hardy, 80's, hipster cowboy just sat down (*discreetly snapped iphone photo below)

• i want to write at least one post a day this week

• 12 days until Caitlin's wedding

• one Venti coffee down and no signs of stopping