Democracy, by Leonard Cohen

This is a very timely tune, although it has been around for a while: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU-RuR-qO4Y

Socializing at work for the good of your organization?

In yesterday's New York Times is an article that caught my eye: "Building a Bridge to a Lonely Colleague, by Phyllis Korkki(http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/jobs/building-a-bridge-to-a-lonely-colleague-workstation.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha25&pagewanted=print). Social scientists around the world are investigating any links between loneliness, collaboration, and productivity in the workplace. It makes sense that there would be. This may also have implications for integrating ethnic diasporas and other minorities.

Cultural diplomacy--what's not to love?

Though the Australian government and the Indonesian people have their differences, one diplomat from down under has figured out how to connect with at least some music lovers in the country with the largest Muslim population. So far, the arrangement sounds like it's working out: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9007155/Australian-diplomat-becomes-Indonesian-singing-sensation.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WhatsNewInPd+%28What%27s+New+in+Public+Diplomacy%29#When:19:55:53Z

Kahlil Gibran's Birthday

Thank you to Garrison Keillor http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/ for reminding listeners that today is the birthday of artist-poet Kahlil Gibran. Someday I would like to visit the neighbor in Boston's South End where he lived with his mother after immigrating at age 8 from Bsharri in Lebanon. Gibran died in 1931, famous for many works. See, e.g., http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/gibrn.htm