I'm going to cheat a bit and not really write much. I am going to give you some links to things I have found on the web that have inspired, provoked,enlightened or amused me over the last few weeks. Most of these are from blogs that I read every day.
I think it helps us to read alot. I don't always agree with the things that I come across on these sites but they stir me to think and that is always a good thing.
http://dickstaub.com/culturewatch.php?record_id=1235
http://donmilleris.com/2010/04/30/if-youre-life-were-a-movie/
http://donmilleris.com/2010/04/23/telling-the-truth-is-more-important-than-selling-the-truth/
http://mockingbirdnyc.blogspot.com/2010/04/killed-by-robber.html
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/04/the-coming-meltdown-in-higher-education-as-seen-by-a-marketer.html
That should be plenty for now. I'll try to get some lighter stuff in here at some point in the near future.
Peace.
P.S. Click the post title for one more. Amazing!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Regular Storytime
I enjoyed the last post (see "Storytime") and the "overwhelming" response immensely so I have decided to make this a weekly staple of my blog. Each Wednesday, I will endeavor to write a short snippet of a story, or maybe just a prompt, to have you, the reader(s), write a little to explain a scene or talk about your own experience. The goal is to engage you as the reader and to make you use some of that God-given creativity that you may have buried.
It will also force me to be consistent in writing and thinking about writing.
Here we go. Be creative. Thanks for playing.
Peace.
"The numbers don't lie," she said. "It's all right there in front of you."
"How did it happen?"
"I don't know," she replied.
"Are we sure they're right? I mean, have you checked them and have you asked questions? I'm not saying they're wrong, I'm just trying to make sure we covered everything."
"I have been doing this for fourteen years and I could do this in my sleep. I know every possibility, every scenario. I know where the mistakes could be made and I have been over this three times myself. The numbers are right. Crazy as that may be, they are right."
"Well, if they're right, and we're absolutely sure we're right, this is huge. Any ideas about where we go from here?"
What's going on in this scene? Who are the characters? What do "the numbers" refer to? Is it business or personal, positive or negative? Where do they go from here? Leave your thoughts in the comment section. Have fun.
P.S. If you click the titles of the posts, sometimes they take you to interesting places. Sometimes.
It will also force me to be consistent in writing and thinking about writing.
Here we go. Be creative. Thanks for playing.
Peace.
"The numbers don't lie," she said. "It's all right there in front of you."
"How did it happen?"
"I don't know," she replied.
"Are we sure they're right? I mean, have you checked them and have you asked questions? I'm not saying they're wrong, I'm just trying to make sure we covered everything."
"I have been doing this for fourteen years and I could do this in my sleep. I know every possibility, every scenario. I know where the mistakes could be made and I have been over this three times myself. The numbers are right. Crazy as that may be, they are right."
"Well, if they're right, and we're absolutely sure we're right, this is huge. Any ideas about where we go from here?"
What's going on in this scene? Who are the characters? What do "the numbers" refer to? Is it business or personal, positive or negative? Where do they go from here? Leave your thoughts in the comment section. Have fun.
P.S. If you click the titles of the posts, sometimes they take you to interesting places. Sometimes.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Storytime
Isaiah had never seen this preacher before. This man was way too handsome to be a real preacher. He was tall and broad and had a full head of hair. His suit fit well. His shoes were free of scuffs. He was the kind of man that Isaiah imagined was really a professional baseball player, a pitcher he thought, and had hurt his arm so he couldn't throw anymore. That's why he's here, pretending to be a preacher. "He probably smells like leather and chewing tobacco", Isaiah thought.
Isaiah's mind began to drift. "How come there's not even a real preacher here? Who are all these people? Where's my dad? I hope nobody talks to me. What am I supposed to say to them if they do talk to me? I wish Reggie was here. That lady has some bad hair. It looks like she's carrying a raccoon on her head. I want to get out of here. Oh God, here comes the fake preacher."
Just thought I might try something a little interactive. I'm curious about what you think is going on in this little scene. Who is Isaiah? How old is he? Where is he in this scene? Who is Reggie? I know people don't read blogs to be made to be creative (this blog at least!), but maybe we can stir those creative juices anyway. Let me know in the comment section what you see going on here. Be as detailed or vague as you would like but be creative.
Peace.
Isaiah's mind began to drift. "How come there's not even a real preacher here? Who are all these people? Where's my dad? I hope nobody talks to me. What am I supposed to say to them if they do talk to me? I wish Reggie was here. That lady has some bad hair. It looks like she's carrying a raccoon on her head. I want to get out of here. Oh God, here comes the fake preacher."
Just thought I might try something a little interactive. I'm curious about what you think is going on in this little scene. Who is Isaiah? How old is he? Where is he in this scene? Who is Reggie? I know people don't read blogs to be made to be creative (this blog at least!), but maybe we can stir those creative juices anyway. Let me know in the comment section what you see going on here. Be as detailed or vague as you would like but be creative.
Peace.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Excuses
This is supposed to be an excuse post regarding why I have not written on this little piece of cyber paper for almost a year. I gave options for which excuse you wanted. You voted. I had great plans for some made up stories to go along with the first line.
I decided to just go with reality. (That's a novel thought in this world isn't it?)
There isn't really an excuse other than I haven't been writing here. I have been working on a couple of projects off and on (writing curriculum, if you want to call them that). I had been, up until January, working on a full time job that sucked all my energy and creativity to stay on top of it. Both qualify as excuses, but not very acceptable ones.
I came across this quote a few years ago and it has stuck. I don't know that it has made me more "productive", but it has made me aware that "not enough time" doesn't really fly as an excuse.
Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein.--H. Jackson Brown
I will do better.
Thanks Scott.
Peace.
I decided to just go with reality. (That's a novel thought in this world isn't it?)
There isn't really an excuse other than I haven't been writing here. I have been working on a couple of projects off and on (writing curriculum, if you want to call them that). I had been, up until January, working on a full time job that sucked all my energy and creativity to stay on top of it. Both qualify as excuses, but not very acceptable ones.
I came across this quote a few years ago and it has stuck. I don't know that it has made me more "productive", but it has made me aware that "not enough time" doesn't really fly as an excuse.
Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein.--H. Jackson Brown
I will do better.
Thanks Scott.
Peace.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Gone awhile
It's been awhile since I last posted to this blog (thank you Capt. Obvious). I could give a variety of reasons for why it has been ALMOST A YEAR! since I last put anything on this site but I am not going to do that. To get me writing here again, I am going to let you the reader (yes I meant for that to be singular, thanks Mom) help me with the excuses. I am going to post three options for what my excuse may be and let you (again, thanks Mom) determine what the story will be.
Here's how it will work.
There are three options that follow. You pick the one that you think would make the best story and put your choice in the comments. I will do my bestest to come up with an entertaining and mostly believable excuse. Got it? Here we go.
1. I have been too tired to write here because of my other writing project. I have been writing...
2. On June 25, 2009 I left the house as a healthy, relatively normal, 38 year old man but I when I returned...
3. I'll try to explain, but it's complicated. Let me just say that it involved a wrestling match and a slight limp.
Let me know which will make the best excuse and I'll write it. I am also open to prompts that you may come up with on your own. Hope to hear from you soon.
Peace.
Here's how it will work.
There are three options that follow. You pick the one that you think would make the best story and put your choice in the comments. I will do my bestest to come up with an entertaining and mostly believable excuse. Got it? Here we go.
1. I have been too tired to write here because of my other writing project. I have been writing...
2. On June 25, 2009 I left the house as a healthy, relatively normal, 38 year old man but I when I returned...
3. I'll try to explain, but it's complicated. Let me just say that it involved a wrestling match and a slight limp.
Let me know which will make the best excuse and I'll write it. I am also open to prompts that you may come up with on your own. Hope to hear from you soon.
Peace.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Experts
I have been wondering lately about how one becomes an expert on something.
Many people go to school for way too long so they can post a few initials after their name. Certainly, they have the information in their heads, and I would assume that they understand the minute details of what it is they have studied. These seem to rank at the front of the pack when it comes to expertise.
Others work at a particular job or in a specific industry long enough and they have seen and done approximately everything there is to do in that field. They eventually stand in the position of having all the rookies and possibly some of the other veterans approach them for advice.
Still more live long enough to become life experts. Eighty some years on this planet have to count for something don't they? They may not consider themselves experts but to last that long, you have to have done a few things right.
My least favorite is the expert who has no qualifications, no experience and minimal years of life on their resume. Middle school kids are the first group who come to mind when thinking about this brand of expert. On any given day, you will be lucky to get a middle school kid to remember what he had for breakfast, but they can pass out relationship advice like they were Ann Landers, Dear Abby and Dr. Phil all crammed into one pint-sized body.
So how does a person come to be regarded as an expert? Is it one of the four things listed above? Maybe it is a combination of all of them. I wonder if 90% of becoming an expert is being confident enough in what you say or do and then presenting yourself as an expert. There has to be some credibility behind your expertise, but it seems that confidence can get you that "expert" label. Maybe I'll try it.
I have been working with middle school, high school and college students for 13 years now. I am an expert. Maybe I will write a book.
Right after I work in another area of my expertise. I'm off to dunk a few Oreos in some milk and curl them to my mouth. (By "a few", I mean anywhere from 4-17 cookies).
Peace.
Many people go to school for way too long so they can post a few initials after their name. Certainly, they have the information in their heads, and I would assume that they understand the minute details of what it is they have studied. These seem to rank at the front of the pack when it comes to expertise.
Others work at a particular job or in a specific industry long enough and they have seen and done approximately everything there is to do in that field. They eventually stand in the position of having all the rookies and possibly some of the other veterans approach them for advice.
Still more live long enough to become life experts. Eighty some years on this planet have to count for something don't they? They may not consider themselves experts but to last that long, you have to have done a few things right.
My least favorite is the expert who has no qualifications, no experience and minimal years of life on their resume. Middle school kids are the first group who come to mind when thinking about this brand of expert. On any given day, you will be lucky to get a middle school kid to remember what he had for breakfast, but they can pass out relationship advice like they were Ann Landers, Dear Abby and Dr. Phil all crammed into one pint-sized body.
So how does a person come to be regarded as an expert? Is it one of the four things listed above? Maybe it is a combination of all of them. I wonder if 90% of becoming an expert is being confident enough in what you say or do and then presenting yourself as an expert. There has to be some credibility behind your expertise, but it seems that confidence can get you that "expert" label. Maybe I'll try it.
I have been working with middle school, high school and college students for 13 years now. I am an expert. Maybe I will write a book.
Right after I work in another area of my expertise. I'm off to dunk a few Oreos in some milk and curl them to my mouth. (By "a few", I mean anywhere from 4-17 cookies).
Peace.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Lessons
Thursday was the last day of our after school program for middle school kids. I have been working with students for about 13 years now, students from junior high all the way up to college. It is still amazing to keep learning all the time about how kids think and act. I don't have any advanced degrees with letters after my name. I haven't studied formally about how to deal with teenagers and their many, many issues and concerns. Here are a few things that I did learn, or was reminded of, over the last nine months of working with at risk sixth, seventh and eighth graders.
1. We have no control over who our parents are, what they are like as people or as parents, how much they use their gifts or talents, how much money comes into the house or anything else along those lines. We don't get to choose who gives birth to us and then brings us up in this life. The field isn't always level when we start the game.
2. Middle school boys are often full of deadly odors and they are not shy about sharing with others. Enough said.
3. I got quite an education in gang signs and symbols. I am no expert but I now know some things to be aware of. Gangs are often about being connected and taking care of each other. It's all about being "loved" without actually saying that.
4. Lots of kids don't know how to dream. No one talks to them about what they can do when they "grow up". It is difficult to encourage them to dream and stay grounded in reality at the same time.
5. Emotions run high and logic is often non-existent.
6. Things don't automatically happen just because you spend time with a kid. It is good to let your life be an example, but sometimes you need to teach using words.
7. Kids need to know they are loved; that lays the foundation for everything that follows.
8. Change takes time. We want to change the world, but it is one very small step after another.
There were many more moments of enlightenment, too many to list. Suffice it to say that it was a hard year, but a very good year. Our summer programs start in a week so we will be right back at it. I'll keep you posted.
Peace.
1. We have no control over who our parents are, what they are like as people or as parents, how much they use their gifts or talents, how much money comes into the house or anything else along those lines. We don't get to choose who gives birth to us and then brings us up in this life. The field isn't always level when we start the game.
2. Middle school boys are often full of deadly odors and they are not shy about sharing with others. Enough said.
3. I got quite an education in gang signs and symbols. I am no expert but I now know some things to be aware of. Gangs are often about being connected and taking care of each other. It's all about being "loved" without actually saying that.
4. Lots of kids don't know how to dream. No one talks to them about what they can do when they "grow up". It is difficult to encourage them to dream and stay grounded in reality at the same time.
5. Emotions run high and logic is often non-existent.
6. Things don't automatically happen just because you spend time with a kid. It is good to let your life be an example, but sometimes you need to teach using words.
7. Kids need to know they are loved; that lays the foundation for everything that follows.
8. Change takes time. We want to change the world, but it is one very small step after another.
There were many more moments of enlightenment, too many to list. Suffice it to say that it was a hard year, but a very good year. Our summer programs start in a week so we will be right back at it. I'll keep you posted.
Peace.
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