Friday, October 26, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Wildfire evacuee shelter offers lesson in volunteerism
Welcome to Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers and, for the time being, thousands of people who have fled the California wildfires that destroyed nearly 1,600 homes and burned some 679 square miles. (MORE)
Facebook Continues to Soar!
Microsoft Buys Facebook Stake for $240M
SAN FRANCISCO — Rapidly rising Internet star Facebook Inc. has sold a 1.6 percent stake to Microsoft Corp. for $240 million, spurning a competing offer from online search leader Google Inc.
Culminating weeks of negotiations, the investment announced Wednesday values Palo Alto-based Facebook at $15 billion _ a stunning figure for an online hangout started in a Harvard University dorm room less than four years ago.
Microsoft also will sell Internet ads for Facebook as the site expands outside the United States, broadening a marketing relationship that began last year. (MORE)
Italians make better.... activists.
Posters of a rosy, puffy cheeked newborn baby have provoked controversy in Italy because the infant is shown wearing a wristband name-tag with the word "homosexual" written on it.
The photograph of the baby is part of a anti-discrimination campaign launched by Tuscany's regional government and is accompanied by the slogan: "Sexual orientation is not a choice."
"Homosexuality is not a vice and hence should not be condemned nor marginalised, or worse still persecuted," the Tuscany region's civil rights councillor Agostino Fragai told Milan-daily Corriere della Sera in a interview published.
Thousands of copies of the poster have been printed, and will go up on city walls and public offices around Tuscany with the sponsorship of Italy's centre-left government's Equal Opportunities Ministry.
"That's not a knife...THIS is a knife!"
by Michael Bungay Stanier
You might recognize one of the great quotes from Australian cinema - Crocodile Dundee - in the subject line. (It was when my Canadian wife could say that in a perfect Australian accent (and sounded like she meant it) that I knew our relationship was here to stay...).
But the inspiration for this week's article wasn't Mick Dundee, but a short article on what knives you need to have in a properly stocked kitchen.
===============
This isn't turning into the Cookery Channel
===============
It was a perfectly interesting article, and should you be looking for tips on how and what to wield in the kitchen, I can recommend it.
But what was really interesting was the problem it helped me to solve - how to fine tune my new office space.
As some of you may recall, I moved into a new office a couple of months ago, leaving behind the comfort and familiarity of my home office. The move has been great ... and it's also clear that the office isn't yet what I hoped it might be.
===============
Danger! Creativity at work
===============
And this of course is one of the genius things about our brain - our capacity to make connections.
In fact, someone one defined creativity as making new connections between known things.
If you're stuck, what that means at its heart is you can only see one way to do what you need to do - and you don't like what you see.
If you can generate new possibilities, then you have choice. If you have choice, you have your freedom back - and you're unstuck.
And one of the best ways to create new possibilities is to add "new stimulus" into the mix, and shake your brain up.
Let me give you an example, combining the article on knives with my challenge to make my office space more successful.
===============
Knife tips
===============
==> Knife tip #1 You only need two, a chef's knife and a boning knife
The question underneath that: "What if the solution was "two"?"
My insight/idea: I only need two types of "space" in my office, one for efficient "good work", and another for more creative, planning, ambitious "great work"
==> Knife tip #2: Use your steel and keep your knives sharp
The question underneath that: "What need sharpening?"
My insight/idea: Clutter is already dulling the space. I need to sharpen up the "put stuff in my inbox" process
==> Knife tip #3: Find a knife your hand really likes
The question underneath that: "What's the best fit?"
My insight/idea: The room doesn't yet feel comfortable. What about a radio, so I can listen during the day? And a heater, now that winter's setting in. And put some art on the walls
==> Knife tip #4: Expensive doesn't necessarily mean better
The question underneath that: "What's the cheap and cheerful solution?"
My insight/idea: Buy flowers every Monday for the table, so I've got something living in the room (besides me!)
===============
What's your challenge?
===============
Think of a challenge you're facing, one you'd like to bring some creative thinking to. (It's worth spending some time on this - the art of thinking creatively about a problem starts with making sure you're working on the right problem).
First, jot down ideas you've already got. (That way you're clearing out the brain, ready for some new ideas).
Then spend a couple of minutes per question - and see where they take you. Aim to have at least five new ideas per question.
1. If the solution was "two" - one to do one thing, one to do another - what would it look like?
2. What's needs sharpening? What has got dull?
3. What's the best fit? What would be comfortable?
4. What's the "cheap and cheerful" solution? What's the "over priced" solution?
You might recognize one of the great quotes from Australian cinema - Crocodile Dundee - in the subject line. (It was when my Canadian wife could say that in a perfect Australian accent (and sounded like she meant it) that I knew our relationship was here to stay...).
But the inspiration for this week's article wasn't Mick Dundee, but a short article on what knives you need to have in a properly stocked kitchen.
===============
This isn't turning into the Cookery Channel
===============
It was a perfectly interesting article, and should you be looking for tips on how and what to wield in the kitchen, I can recommend it.
But what was really interesting was the problem it helped me to solve - how to fine tune my new office space.
As some of you may recall, I moved into a new office a couple of months ago, leaving behind the comfort and familiarity of my home office. The move has been great ... and it's also clear that the office isn't yet what I hoped it might be.
===============
Danger! Creativity at work
===============
And this of course is one of the genius things about our brain - our capacity to make connections.
In fact, someone one defined creativity as making new connections between known things.
If you're stuck, what that means at its heart is you can only see one way to do what you need to do - and you don't like what you see.
If you can generate new possibilities, then you have choice. If you have choice, you have your freedom back - and you're unstuck.
And one of the best ways to create new possibilities is to add "new stimulus" into the mix, and shake your brain up.
Let me give you an example, combining the article on knives with my challenge to make my office space more successful.
===============
Knife tips
===============
==> Knife tip #1 You only need two, a chef's knife and a boning knife
The question underneath that: "What if the solution was "two"?"
My insight/idea: I only need two types of "space" in my office, one for efficient "good work", and another for more creative, planning, ambitious "great work"
==> Knife tip #2: Use your steel and keep your knives sharp
The question underneath that: "What need sharpening?"
My insight/idea: Clutter is already dulling the space. I need to sharpen up the "put stuff in my inbox" process
==> Knife tip #3: Find a knife your hand really likes
The question underneath that: "What's the best fit?"
My insight/idea: The room doesn't yet feel comfortable. What about a radio, so I can listen during the day? And a heater, now that winter's setting in. And put some art on the walls
==> Knife tip #4: Expensive doesn't necessarily mean better
The question underneath that: "What's the cheap and cheerful solution?"
My insight/idea: Buy flowers every Monday for the table, so I've got something living in the room (besides me!)
===============
What's your challenge?
===============
Think of a challenge you're facing, one you'd like to bring some creative thinking to. (It's worth spending some time on this - the art of thinking creatively about a problem starts with making sure you're working on the right problem).
First, jot down ideas you've already got. (That way you're clearing out the brain, ready for some new ideas).
Then spend a couple of minutes per question - and see where they take you. Aim to have at least five new ideas per question.
1. If the solution was "two" - one to do one thing, one to do another - what would it look like?
2. What's needs sharpening? What has got dull?
3. What's the best fit? What would be comfortable?
4. What's the "cheap and cheerful" solution? What's the "over priced" solution?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Dear Al Gore,
Americans want you to run and we can be sooo annoying at times, I know. But I doubt any of us will shut up anytime soon - you know how we can be.
The Blue States are yours already, the Purple States are yours too because they look back at what could have been if things had gone differently in 00, that and they feel bad - they feel you need your chance to pull us out of the Hell-hole we are currently in. The Red States (what there is left of them) are a toss up. Nothing you can do about the blind political rage they have.
I know another run for the Presidency may not seem like a fun thing to do right now and in a strange sort of way WINNING the election will totally suck. It will be on your shoulders to fix the multi-layer putrid mess we are in. (MORE)
Iraqi Gay Safe Houses to Close
bilerico.com
At a time when billions are being spent in Iraq, a small group of Iraqi gay safe houses might have to close their doors due to lack of funding. LGBT Iraqis have increasingly faced violence from Shia death squads, especially since the 2005 fatwa from Iraq's leading Shiite Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, which declared that gays and lesbians should be “killed in the worst, most severe way.” (READ MORE)
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Obama Got it Right and Wrong on Gay Bashing
Huffington Post, Earl Hutchinson 10.23.07
In direct response to my column, "Obama Should Repudiate and Cancel His Gay Bash Tour, and Cancel it Now," Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama quickly issued this statement:
Obama's response to my call for him to reject support of Grammy winning singer and anti gay crusader, Donnie McClurkin was a big, bold, and direct claim that he will fight anti-gay phobia, and aggressively challenge religious leaders to do the same. One of those at the top of the list of religious leaders that he says that he challenged is McClurkin. But one line missing from his disavowal of gay bashing was this: (READ)
In direct response to my column, "Obama Should Repudiate and Cancel His Gay Bash Tour, and Cancel it Now," Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama quickly issued this statement:
"I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts of our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country.
I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division."
Obama's response to my call for him to reject support of Grammy winning singer and anti gay crusader, Donnie McClurkin was a big, bold, and direct claim that he will fight anti-gay phobia, and aggressively challenge religious leaders to do the same. One of those at the top of the list of religious leaders that he says that he challenged is McClurkin. But one line missing from his disavowal of gay bashing was this: (READ)
Monday, October 22, 2007
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