I took the easy way out last night. I posted an earlier attempt at poetry in lieu of posting a blank page or posting something new and awful. My decision to plagiarize myself was testament to something, but I don't know what. Today, I'll break the shackles of dullness that have gripped me these last few days. Here's what I'm thinking and seeing at the moment...nothing earth-shattering of particularly orginal here, just my world through my eyes.
Read about Leo Prieto, one of Chile's staunchest advocates of technology for the masses. Aside from building what he believes will be a much better social networking site than Craigslist, he advocates for One Laptop Per Child (OLPC).
The Futurist, the magazine published by the World Future Society, offers up its top 10 list of forecasts for 2007, none of which are, in my view, particularly earth-shattering, but some of which do strike a nerve with me. I was particularly interested in the forecast that huge numbers of Generation Y will migrate outside the U.S.
The New York Times expresses its editorial opinion about the $500 million Bush presidential library that is to be built at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. I shudder at the idea of a memorial to the Bush presidency where I live, but would welcome it if Bush rescinds Executive Order 13233. A library in which the massive mistakes and blunderings and lies of this administration are finally opened to public review would serve the country, though the identity of the donors of the $500 million they're saying it will cost should be public record.
A new budget airline, Sky Express, will launch on Monday in Russia. According to The Moscow Times, internal flights in Russia have dropped from 130 million annually to 20 million annually during the past 20 years, due to cost, among other things. The new budget carrier expects to help reverse that trend.
I've been to Halifax, Nova Scotia just once, about nine or ten years ago, but really enjoyed my short time there and I'd like to go back for a longer visit. Interesting, they call it the Halifax Regional Municipality...don't know why, but I like that.
In keeping with my commitment to encourage conversations about ways we can make significant differences in our communities, I'd like to ask readers of today's post to tell me...either publicly on this blog or privately via email to musingsfrommyopiaATyahooDOTcom...what you do to have an impact on your community. I think we sometimes do not realize the impact we are having until we give the topic dedicated thought. And we can learn from one another.
I've been intrigued by the Snap.com previews of site links, so I am giving it a try.
And that's enough for me before my second cup of coffee.
3 comments:
From the top 10 list from The Futurist.
#5. Children's "nature deficit disorder" will grow as a health threat. -- Yup, I think they've got that one pegged right.
Re: Halifax. My brother lived and worked there for a few years. He had a place on the ocean about a half hour drive up the coast from Halifax. We also try to spend a couple of weeks in Nova Scotia from time to time. It's one of our favourite places. Have been contemplating moving to the Bay of Fundy area when we retire.
Re: what I do to have an impact on my community. I don't seem to do as much as I used to. Years ago, I was on a local agriculture fair board, organized agriculture awareness events, did school visits related to agriculture, etc... Now, I'm doing things that are more nature-related. In April, I'll be giving a talk and slideshow on how to use digital photography to study nature at a naturalist organization meeting. I may be leading a nature hike or two for a hiking association this summer. If asked, I'll probably do the usual annual Grade 10 science class river survey outing. That may be about it for me this year, although things come up and I rarely refuse to do anything nature-related when asked. Btw, I used to do quite a lot of volunteer work, but I've become "less public" in recent years. Not sure exactly why, but I think it may have been from doing too much for awhile and getting burned out - by nature, I'm a very private person, so public events tend to wear me down after awhile.
Bev,
Again, you are right on target. Actually, I thought of you when I read #5; I figured you would confirm their point right away. Halifax just intrigues me...I'd love to be there with someone who could give me the full-scale local tour...your brother may be just the guy. When I was in elementary school, and a bit later, we talked alot about the Bay of Fundy and its incredibly massive tidal changes. I have always wanted to see it up close and watch the incredible change in tidal levels and in what the tide leaves. As to impact on your community, you may have reduced it a bit in recent years, but I can tell you that your blog has a spectacular impact and will for years to come. You are one of my most favored people who act even more than they talk about having an impact. I look to you as a leader and wonderful resource for people who want to know "what can I do" to impact he environment.
Halifax is a neat little city. Did you get to visit the Citadel when you were there? It's wonderful to be there when they do the military parade with bagpipes and drums - assuming you like bagpipes, that is. I happen to love the bagpipes (must be the Scottish in me!) The last time I was there, it just happened that there were bagpipe and drum corps from all over the place for a competition in the downtown area. I don't think that's an annual event though. My brother is now in Toronto, but worked in television in Halifax for a few years. The Bay of Fundy is a very neat place to visit. The tides are pretty amazing. I think the nicest place to watch them coming in is at Thomas Cove, which I wrote about and posted to my blog last July, but truly, there are many great viewpoints.
Thanks for the kind comments regarding the impact of my blog. As I've reduced my activities in public, I've put some of the energy into the blog in hopes of transferring some of what I know about nature to others. I think it's a very effective form of communication. As you no doubt have noticed, I've been contemplating some of the deeper issues that have an effect on nature, society, the earth. I don't have that many answers, but I think we do need to be discussing how we're going to proceed if we want to leave this earth a habitable place for future generations.
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