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Thursday, September 28, 2006

Dodge Poetry Festival - Day 1

Kurtis Lamkin started the day. He talked about writing, (he does not actually write anything down, it is all in his head). He talked about his kora, the musical instrument seen on the table at his side. He played it sometimes when he read. Some times he read a capela. He closed this reading session with a wonderful poem, Jump Mama. I had first heard it when Bill Moyers did the PBS piece on the Dodge Festival. You can view that clip here.

The first day was well attended with about 5,000 expected. Thursday and Friday are open to the schools so there are lots of yellow buses with lots of high school boys and girls around.

I will have much more to say with pictures and stories. Sitting at one of the picnic tables for supper, I overheard the conversation at the next table about one couple had come from Australia for the festival. Earlier during the day, I had meet a couple who had driven in from Toronto. I was joined at the table by a fellow Massachusetts resident. I had just found her blog when looking for writers in preparation for the festival. It is a small world after all.

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Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Harvest time


BigApple2_009_1
Originally uploaded by shersteve.
The orchard is ready for harvest. Leaves are turning color. The morning dew is still in the air.

The harvest comes in the fall after planting in the spring and tending the crops during the summer.

Are you ready to harvest some ideas or learning that you planted earlier this year?

Or are you ready to plant some seeds for harvest later?

Friday, September 22, 2006

Questions of Synergy - Summary

Rosa posed 5 questions.
 
I provide five answers, one per question.
 
Now you can join in to add your own comment or answer.
 
 
How will our LEARNING STYLES and HABITS have to EVOLVE so that the web communications of our future serve to POWER partnerships, teams, groups and communities?          The answer to Question 1 

 

TOPIC HIT LISTS: There’s been a lot of talk of Web 2.0 and Globalization 3.0… What is it we’ll all have to learn to remain in the know and to feel we’re caught up and not left behind?           The answer to Question 2

 

Have you been patting yourself on the back because you’re a part of blogging communities and are among the web savvy who “get it?” Don’t rest on your laurels; what do you think we’ll have to keep learning about WRITING, CITIZEN PUBLISHING and BLOGGING? The answer to Question 3

 

RELATIONSHIP ESSENTIALS: We talk about the value of relationships with good reason. What are the things we will still need to learn from each other, and only from each other?
The answer to Question 4

Personal GOALS: How do you suppose you’ll have to change your m.o. to learn with others, and in teams or partnerships? What can’t you learn on your own, at least not as well, and not as effectively? What are the goals you’re setting for yourself now so you can keep up? The answer to Question 5

What do you think?

 

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Questions of Synergy - #4

Continuing to answer Rosa Say's questions posted to Team Synergy ., this is her fourth question:
 

RELATIONSHIP ESSENTIALS: We talk about the value of relationships with good reason. What are the things we will still need to learn from each other, and only from each other?

I think of all the things we can learn, the thing that we can only learn from each other is each others story. Anyone can teach us how to write, knit, cook, play basketball, blog, etc. Granted some teachers will be better than others but these items we can learn from almost any teacher.
 
No one knows your story better than you. No one else can tell your story.
 
Tell me your story. 
I'll tell you my story.
 
In the magic that will come from this exchange, we will come to appreciate the diversity of each our own backgrounds, respect for the steps that we each took to get where we are, and the wealth of info that each can bring to the table.
 
 
 
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Thursday, September 21, 2006

Questions of Synergy - #2

I am continuing to answer Rosa Say's questions posted to Team Synergy. The second question she asked was:

TOPIC HIT LISTS: There's been a lot of talk of Web 2.0 and Globalization 3.0. What is it we'll all have to learn to remain in the know and to feel we're caught up and not left behind?

In specific, I think it will be hard to determine exactly what we will need to learn to stay current. In general, we will need to trust our instincts. I think, our instincts will serve as crystalstal ball.

How's that?

What is the new buzz about? While there will be plenty of hype about it, does it really make sense? Can you use it? Is it easy to use? Is there some traction there?

Web 2.0 is about the interaction capability of the internet.comparisonsion to Web 1.0, there was a static web page. You went to visit to gather information or for entertainment. Web 2.0 is more about participating, creating a sense of community, a sense of belonging.

I had not heard of Globalization 3.0 but it would make sense that this comes after Web 2.0 and Tom Friedman's "The World Is Flat". The competition amongst the knowledge workers will not just be with those in the neighborhood, or within commuting distance, the competition in a flat world will be amongst any one who has the same skill set when the work canaccomplishedihed remotely. What can help to bring about a community will require a good user interface and experience. If it has these features it will be more likely to succeed than something that is hard to use.

Learning something new each day will hePrioritizezing what you learn in the arena of collaboration and communications, I think, would be the way to go.

What do you think?


The first question was answered here.


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Wednesday, September 20, 2006

House - Shadow Painted


House - Shadow Painted
Originally uploaded by shersteve.
Reminds me of something like sponge painting, except there was no effort on my part for this effect.

It also does not last. But with good sunlight has been known to appear again in slightly different ways.

In the winter, the shadows are more stark.

Did you look at something differently today?

Did you learn from it?

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Plenty of Paradoxes

Came across the Abilene paradox recently and looked it up on wikipedia to get the scoop. Intersting! I think I have seen groups actually do this. Have you?
 
Continuing to explore the links on this one, I found there is a full listing of paradoxes in wikipedia.
 
So if you are lost someday, check out a paradox!
 
 
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Blue burst in the morning


Blue burst in the morning
Originally uploaded by shersteve.
After walking with Dolores last Saturday morning, I went snooping around the yard for some pictures.

This was just too blue and full of dew to pass up.

Do you change your point of view sometimes to see something differently?

Why not?

A good exercise is to simply take a camera and act like a photographer. Get into different poses, lie on the ground, curl around a tree.

What does the world look like that way?

What if that was the only way the world looked to you?

Would you change your lens?

Monday, September 18, 2006

Guest author today at Talking Story

Click on over to Rosa Say's Talking Story to read my entry for this month's Joyful Jubilant Learning event or hear the podcast version of this posting on Steve's 2 Cents.



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Friday, September 15, 2006

Lysistrata Project

Readiness is a natural stage in education. There is a time when it all comes together.
 
The Lysistrata Project happened in 2003, yet I was unaware.
The 5th anniversary of 9/11/01 occurred this week, and I was very aware.
 
I had just spent a weekend in a historic coming together at PodCamp Boston. Techie, geeky stuff to most but it is an enabler. My eyes were opened to new ways.
 
Enjoy the viewing of this video!
 
Are you ready to learn?
 
 
 
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Source of personal accomplishment

I met Kirk several years ago and have been subscribing to his Thought 4 the Day (T4D). His email this week was worth re-posting in whole. He gets the credit!
 
So many of my greatest personal accomplishments in life were not preceded by me “believing in myself” but by someone I respected and trusted telling me that they knew I could do it.  It was their sincere belief in me that gave me enough courage, faith and hope to take action.  In the end, when the task I never would have attempted without their encouragement was complete they never seemed surprised, and they never praised me for, what to me was a great accomplishment.  Instead they would in a matter of fact manner say something to the effect of, “I knew you could do it.”  Their belief helped set me free, it helped to get me going and growing, and now that I also knew I could do it,  I could never do less.   Kirk Weisler
 
Check out his web site and subscribe to the T4D.
 
 
 
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Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Pod Camp Anthem

The PodCamp Anthem
rewritten by Steve Sherlock with sincere apologies to Frank Sinatra


Start spreading the news, I’m blogging today
I want to be a part of it – PodCamp, PodCamp
My interesting views, are begging to spray
Right through the very heart of it - PodCamp, PodCamp

I wanna wake up in YouTube, RSS doesn’t sleep
And find I’m king of the hill - top of the heap

These internet blues, are melting away
I’ll make a brand new start of it – an audio blog
If I can upload it there, you’ll download it anywhere
It’s up to me – PodCamp, PodCamp

PodCamp, PodCamp
I want to make up a new podcast, interview Joanne
Or maybe Steve, or Chris, footage in Berkman, mix it at Bunker Hill
All number ones

These Technorati blues, are melting away
I’m gonna make a brand new start of it – podcasting the world
And if I can upload it there, you’ll download it anywhere
It up to me - PodCamp, PodCamp

PodCamp Boston




2006 Sherlock's Foolish Music, Inc. (MADCAP Records)



This is one more in the series of classics destroyed,
for an earlier rendition, see Cracklin Rosa


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Monday, September 11, 2006

ze frank video workshop

zefrank video workshopOriginally uploaded by shersteve.

Yes, that is Steve Garfield, head in hand pondering how to do this? What can we create that will be worthwhile for ze to use? It will have the zip of PodCamp Boston, the historic first, but will it be good enough?

Look at ze's face! A classic ze expression. Those eyes. The lens sooo close! We are in his face.

No, he is right here in our face!

And we dare to do something for him?

Yes, we will!!

We did. One is posted, two others remain to be.

It was great fun.

Thank you Steve for thinking of the session. To my session compatriots, fellow PodCampers, thank you as well. Together we made it happen.

Other links:

Someone else liked this picture.

My orignal post on the workshop

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Sunday, September 10, 2006

Video & Pix for PodCamp Boston

Running late to get my own pictures up but you can check out some of the others who have already posted their pix and vids.
 
For a good sample of the day's events, see Beth's Blog:
 
Go to the source at the PodCamp Blog:
 
Joanne Colan interviews the Chris Brogan and Chris Penn with video and commentary by Steve Garfield.
 
 
 
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Saturday, September 09, 2006

Live Learn Lead - connections

Two great quotes from today's session at PodCamp Boston .
 
Christopher Penn referenced a Japanese term for martial arts that I would paraphrase as "Every experience contains the potential for the fulfillment you seek."
 
Mitch Joel said "Be you, others are already taken."
 
It was late in the day when I finally caught up to Phil Gerbyshak's posting as part of the September Joyful Jubilant Learning event being coordinated by Rosa Say at Talking Story. Short, simple and to the point.
 
Very much in line with these two quotes. I'll likely comeback to expand upon these but in the meantime. Read Phil's post and then ponder these quotes.
 
 
 
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Friday, September 08, 2006

What is your method to gladness?

Andrea Learned provides some insightful food for thought today:

I work from home, by myself, in a small town, far from the everyday hustle and bustle - and no, I have not yet gone batty. Instead, I have managed to create an incredible life by learning from, and paying attention to, letting the outside in. And this, my friends, has been the method to my gladness for years.

For me, learning to live from the "outside in" means both being outdoors as much as possible (that's me walking along Lake Champlain with my dog in the photo) AND being outside the usual business and lifestyle construct. I have found that I learn by living on the other side of any more common boundary. Force an 8 to 5 schedule on me, and I’ll squirm and gasp for air – resenting it all the way. But, allow for my life of structured randomness - unusual hours, a wide variety of project topics, many dog walks and Pilates breaks, with a dose of travel/speaking/being “with” people - and I deliver my absolute creative best.

Read her full posting (so you can also see the picture) at Talking Story.

As mentioned previously, I'll be stepping into the world of podcasting this week at the PodCamp unconference being held here in Boston. The opening party is tonight at Harvard. That should create some gladness!

What is your method to gladness?
How do you maintain some balance in your perspective?


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Thursday, September 07, 2006

PodCamp Preparations

There is no time like the present to make those last minute preparations for the PodCamp Boston unconference this weekend.
 
 
 
Don't just show up, be ready!
 
I look forward to meeting you there.
 
 
 
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Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Contingency Planning

Greg Balanko-Dickson has the floor today in the Joyful Jubilant Learning 2006 forum going on at Talking Story. His topic is serious and timely.
 
What is your contingency plan if a disaster happened to hit your house/neighborhood/town, etc. ? Heaven forbid that it actually occur, but if it did, would you be prepared?
 
When we moved into Franklin, the girls were still young and we reviewed fire safety measures in conjunction with one of the elementary school activities one October. We had a plan to gather nearby. Our girls are grown up now, both away at college. We need to update our family planning. If something were to happen, we are all separated now. How would we connect? What would we do? Not something you normally want to think about but you know, there is no time like the present to do so.
 
Check out Greg's posting and he'll lead you through the basics of putting together a plan.
 
Hopefully, you won't need to use it. But you'll have it just in case!
 
 
 
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Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Knowing and Not Knowing

Great advice from Adrian Savage who in addition to writing at Slow Leadership or The Coyote Within has the honor to post at Talking Story today:

Always acknowledge your ignorance. Never allow yourself to presume to knowledge, even the little you think you have. So long as you grasp how little real understanding you possess today, you will be prompted to go on learning with your mind wide open to every passing breeze of potential insight. The wisest people are those most acutely aware of their own ignorance, and therefore most ready to question everything around them—including whatever they imagine they might know today.

Read the full posting at Talking Story


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Monday, September 04, 2006

You know you've made it - reprise

“No,” Mr. Federico continued with a grin, "We want to teach you to love to read. That's what really matters, and sadly, we can't actually teach you that. Nobody can. All we can do is teach you how to read, and hope you will learn to love it on your own. And knowing how to read isn't worth much if you have not also learned to love reading.”

An excerpt from Dan Ward's book, Meet the Boomer Sisters and referenced in today's wonderful posting on the Joyful Jubilant Learning 2006 series over at Talking Story.

How does one teach your children to love to read?

From our own experience, sharing the love and passion for reading is what worked for us. By modeling the good things we got from books, the good times, Dolores and I had reading, Allison and Carolyn now are good readers with a love for reading and learning as well.

A comment that Allison made back in April comes to mind. Since it was "buried" in the comments of the posting once upon a time, it deserves its own place here. You probably should read the full post to frame the comment properly. Allison wrote:

I cannot help but laugh heartily at this. You would walk into not only those fight scenes, but also even after we had just purchased a Knight's Tale, you walked right in when a character was boldly walking down the street nude. It was the only nude scene in the whole movie and the movie was PG-13!

But aside from your bad timing...

Now living away from home, the TV is still never on unless the work is finished. It is a good habit to have. Apparently, according to my friends sometimes, they claim that I missed so many things. Like, having a crush on Zach Morris from "Saved By the Bell". Alternatively, watching Sabrina on TGIF. However, I usually ask them if they read, Ables Island, Castle in the Attic, Shiloh, The Witches or had the Tolkien books read aloud to them by their Dad (complete with voices). I ask them if they know what its like to spend a day on a mountain. Climbing up, getting the most magnificent view. Realizing you still have to climb down, but knowing the hot dogs and laughter at the end will make it worth your while. I asked them if they knew how cool the state of South Dakota is and what a buffalo stampede is like. None of them can play Hi Low Jack, Doughnut, Cribbage or Milles Bornes.

It makes me wonder sometimes, who really missed out?

I won't rest upon my laurels even though I know I have made it now.

There is still so much to learn. What are you going to learn today?

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Sunday, September 03, 2006

Learning by any other name

I've long been of the belief that living without learning isn't really living at all. We have a wide world around us, waiting for us to explore it. We don't have to sit in a classroom to learn about it anymore, either. The options for pursuing learning opportunities are incredible! You can choose to attend a class, read a book, visit a website, listen to a podcast or watch a videoblog, find a mentor, attend a teleseminar, and the list goes on. The options are virtually limitless. Even better, you can combine these options to create your own learning experience.

Read her full post as today's entry in the Joyful Jubilant Learning 2006 series on Talking Story.

 

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Saturday, September 02, 2006

Unconference - Plus/Minus

Found a discussion over at OK/Cancel on the value of unconferences. Kevin makes some good points. The comments are loaded with equally valid ones.
 
CoComment did not work on the OK/Cancel blog page so this is what I have to say on this matter.

Good points all. I have been to several conferences, some better than others. I am going to PodCamp Boston so I will be able to experience an unconference in person and will be able to judge for myself. In the meantime, I expect it will be akin to the old GIGO principle, you get out of it what you are willing to put in.

Join the discussion: Are unconferences good or bad?

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Rosa's portkey

JK Rowling should get some credit for the image I now carry of the portkey. It could be almost any object but when touched it would transport you to another place.
 
Toni Howard gets credit for writing:
Let’s also not forget books. Books are the portal to the teachers we will never meet. To be willing to pick up and read any book that looks interesting, you are opening doors to some of the best teachers of the world. Even better opportunities are the books, blogs and articles that our fellow students recommend.
Portal = Portkey, aha!
 
Rosa Say also gets some credit for pulling together a schedule of 27 authors for September all willing to share their learning via one portal=portkey over at Talking Story.
 
One portal with at least 27 doors. How exciting! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I get goosebumps thinking of all the possiblities. I guess I am like Toni, a little bit obsessed.
 
 
 
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