Google: all of a sudden I want to visit Topeka

Well, this is really silly and wonderful. It's almost as though you can feel the spirit of Glenda the good Witch fooling around some where in the background!

Stillwater Gazette > Opinion > Columns > Hovland: The power of Google: all of a sudden I want to visit Topeka

Topeka Coffee Party, (my private manifesto.)

We are working on a Coffee Party situation here. I know that there are many arguments (for and against) for this type of seemingly partisan politics. I for one feel the need to participate on some level.It has always been my experience that to be a good citizen one needs to stay informed and abreast of the times, not only the current topical aspects, but the historical overview of what has transpired in the past.

Learning is not a part time occupation, but a life long one. Attempting to understand the working of human nature and government are considered by some to be beyond the realm of comprehension. I believe that this attitude can be dangerous, It is much to easy to persuade those who know little of the working of government and people that the view of the elite and powerful is the correct one. So, I say this if you have no desire to learn and be aware of what is done both to and for us, then we deserve the leadership (and problems) we get. I for one will attempt to do what I can within the knowledge I have and the beliefs I hold to increase the betterment of those who I share this planet with. Those who would abuse the the idea of a reasonably decent life for all are my foes.

Help us to do what I feel in my heart and head to be right and help our community and planet. Coffee Party may be a reaction to something else, but it is a step in the right direction of dialogue and betterment for all of us.

We meet every two weeks. Next meeting, Blackbirds Cafe on the 19th. of April unless otherwise noted.

http://www.coffeepartyusa.com/

Vern

Attention and the Digital Age

Technology, what a Blast!

I'm looking at and drooling over all the new technology out there. It's amazing. The one thing that still is bothering me is this and it's not what you might think.

The kids Seem to embrace it and enjoy it, but my questions is are we utilizing it to teach kids in a manner that makes sense. Many districts race to make use of new technology, but so often they are being advised by people and companies that have profit in mind. OK, I'm not exactly anti-capitalism or anti-business, but if were being driven and advised by forces that need to report a quarterly profit, what's really going on here?

Some of you may remember that there have been issues raised over such low tech items as text books. Who makes the decisions, how are they made and who really benefits from the placement of said text books. Issues have ranged from the content of the books to kickback scenarios and more. Often groups of people for one reason or the other have dictated the content more or less based on beliefs and values. I'm not going to argue that here. The problem is we have no goal, vision or plan at a national level as to what dictates a really worthwhile text. If this is the case regarding low tech items such as a text book, what is going on in the technology arena.

Many if not most schools don't have the staff or the monies to hire qualified technology consultants. Most don't really have good in house planning to deal with it. I will take this moment to say that the more schools with better educated and involved parents are a plus when setting up technology goals. Often times these parents are professionals, some who work in a technology related environment. They can be great resources as to setting a good path towards useful tech programs.

Speaking of technology, on wonders why schools don't form relationships with other schools who have tech programs that work well. It's not like a web cam, a projector and a great group "face to face," meeting isn't easy to arrange these days. With the expertise available on the web, it seems foolish to not take advantage of the people out there who would love to reach out and help if asked. Open source software developers have always embodied the desire to help out any one who is interested in the open source community. Why don't educators reach out and ask/search for good examples of technology programs that are working and embody goals that are real and well thought out. Reinventing the wheel is too much work and foolish to boot, unless of course you are part of a sales group, IT team or someone else with vested interests in keeping your job and feathering your nest.

One other thing. Many of our schools are still teaching subjects that do not take advantage of the technology to make education something students can embrace. We live in a world that s literally being reduced to bytes of information. Attentions spans are being reduced in the general population because the world is presenting it's self in smaller and smaller samples for them. How do we deal with the compression of information when we are used to one hour or one and half hour schedules for a class. Is there a more effective way to present information? If the average adult has an attention span of 20 to 40 minutes, is there a way to utilize that to make information more accessible? Lots of questions and some of the best minds on the planet are engaged in searching for answers.

Technology is still only a tool, a tool that can help us to bring dreams, concepts and successful paradigms to or students and the world around them. It will only work if we decide to work smart and look towards a future with a successful integration between the human interface and the technology that is washing over us in ever faster waves. Search for the answers and partner up with people who have the intentions and goals with our kids in mind. Software vendors, corporations and equipment sales people are not the solution. If you have a stake (and it's profit) in mind for your involvement with technology education, then you may be part of the problem, not the solution. We still have some of the worlds best minds. We need to turn to them for a little input on making technology accessible and keep in mind your doing this for your kids. Don't let people with profit as the agenda sway your common sense. Oh yeah, keep current w/ research on educational technology.
Below are some site that are useful to me:

http://thejournal.com/Home.aspx

http://www.techlearning.com/

http://www.eschoolnews.com/

I like these sites, but there are lots others. Look around, learn something, it's fun!

I want you!

I'm listening to the Beatles. Listening to "I want you," and thinking about it, or maybe feeling it. I forget from time to time how much of the Beatles was about raw emotions, life and love. How many of you have had that kind of a day, or hour or week. "I want you so bad, it's driving me mad.'

Aren't we supposed to grow out of that as we age. does it still happen to you. Are you still in love with some one, desperately. Spouse, friend, ex, lover etc. wheres your desire, what do you desire. Passion and desire for what ever is a movable feast. It's the motivation we use to set our engines revving to accomplish something. With out these fiery smoldering underpinnings we'd be nothing. we'd be shadow people gliding through life with little or no attachment to it.

Ever notice how we adore and idolize those few who push the envelope, who really go for it. The hero's, the explores, the people who take the risks. Were in love w/ poets, thieves, scallywag's, musicians, serial killers and the like. We claim to hate them and yet were fascinated. Any one who lives outside the norm, pushing the envelope, revealing the mysteries of life. Altering conciousness where ever they go.

Kerouac, Manson, Armstrong, Earhart and all the others. pushing, striving for God knows what. scaring the shit out of all of us as we watch with bated breath, wondering why they do it. wishing we could do it too. So, I want you, or some thing. So bad it's driving me mad. Life with out Passion is like breasts with out nipples. Salt with out pepper, cats with out hair and chicken with out the KFC. (Did i say that?) Christ that barista is gorgeous! Where's my crash helmet?

Enlightenment & Ice Cream

Nirvana?
Something about those moments when your able to indulge yourself in a small pleasure that makes it all work for me. Ice cream, vanilla bean to be exact is not my downfall, but the ting that lifts me up for a few glorious moments.

While rushing headlong into that abyss that is the end, the great unknown, I am able at times to stop myself, forcibly, if only for a moment to suspend time. I go to the fridge and gently remove the container of creamy frozen goo I love. It's almost like a rare seldom used ritual I have. It is my reward for a job well done, a week of stress, an outpouring of energy and concern while I madly juggle the lives of others around me. Dancing on the head of a pin with so many invisible angels while calling up lists, scenarios and machinations by the dozens. Mad plans for what we will do, how it will be done and what it might accomplish. It's the ritualized dance of the madman as he tells himself that some how it all matters, while knowing full well that little matters except perhaps love, honor and acceptance of the knowledge that all is illusion, impermanence.

When I pass the point where all is good, I know that nothing matters except the sun on my face, a child's bright smile, the shade of blue in that particular corner of the sky today I am ready. Ready to stop, sit down with a bowl of frozen forgetfulness. Nothing exists, save for the moment, the first breath of cold as the spoon nears my tongue. The flash, then flood of flavor as the first taste washes over my taste buds alerting my brain that something wonderful is in the offing. Cool, carnal, licentious bliss. Nothing exists, I am all tongue, taste buds and having given in to the moment I am awash with joy. I am all simple childish giddiness as I begin to revert to moments gone by when all that mattered was the flavor of that first scoop. My soul for a while belongs only to me, the moment and my Ice Cream...

My own personal scary monsters!

I'm sitting here thinking of the things that scare me. Of all the things in the world I can think of it's not having a "well spent life." I saw a documentary back before people were making films about every possible thing under the sun. In it a film maker,Les Blank was was visiting Kansas University at a showing of his film, A Well Spent Life. The film was about Mance Lipscomb,A Texas Delta blues guitar man. I remember the feeling I came away with after watching the film. Mance Lipscomb the elderly guitarist had spent his life playing the blues. He lived a humble life, not rich, by any standard, probably poor by most. His life was his music, and just being alive. Living and being thankful for it.

I wonder about all the things we put ourselves through and the worth of those things. Striving for so much we think we need, or maybe not. What's important, what's the point.
In the film you met the Mrs. A charming elderly African American woman, like her husband, humble. They seemed so comfortable together. Could I ever be that content, that comfortable with my life. It seems like a good question. I often wonder if my life is that complicated of if my choices have just been choices, not of the heart, or perhaps just not true enough to self. I still don't know.
My scary monster. Waking up some day to realize I've over complicated things and missed all the simple joys that can make life the kind of a journey that when your done, you can say it was a, Well spent life."

Missing out on "Being There."

I must admit, I was emailed this. It meant perhaps more to me because I recently bought my first house. The other night a friend asked me if they could play their viola in the downstairs because of the great acoustics. I stopped while they were there and listened for a few moments. It was beautiful. I was moved. I took the time to listen and was happy for it.

I try not to miss much, it's all so amazing and beautiful... Sunlight after a rainstorm, low hanging clouds speeding on their way in a hot electric blue sky, a child's direct stare followed by a hearty giggle. All of it beautiful beyond belief, It's like standing on the brink of creation and becoming drunk on it. So this was interesting.


Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule
4 minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

You have to be present to win!