I get on the elevator at the sixth floor. Mr. Overtanned Business Executive Who Drives a Lexus is already on the elevator, along with Cute New Secretary. He is explaining to her, as best as I can tell in six flights of travel, the philosophy of their office culture:
"You see, too many people get caught up in 'hi,' 'how are you,' 'can you believe how hot it is' small talk, and never get to the meat of what they really mean--'you have bad breath,' for example, is something you would say to a friend, but not to someone you have to tiptoe around... OH I'm just using that as an example, I'm not saying that YOU have bad breath."
And then I bust in with: GREAT! I think you're a TOOL.
No, I don't really, but I wish I could have.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
When I have fears that I may cease to be
This book called Fears of Your Life c/o Mighty Goods reminds me of a writing prompt I learned about in a WITS training.
In the prompt, aimed at middle school and higher grades, students read a poem which is essentially the author's litany of fears, written as graphically and explicitly as possible. (I can't find the poem right now, but will update if I do.)
In conjunction, students either visit or look at prints of Andy Warhol's electric chair prints, some of which are housed in the Menil Collection.
The idea is to face your nightmares head on, write them down on paper where they will cease to be as horrible as they seem in the receases of your mind.
Some examples:
-That I will fall on a sharp stick and piece my eyeball
-That roaches will crawl into my head through my ears
-That a nuclear bomb will hit, and I will watch my skin burning from my bones.
You get the idea.
Not surprisingly, middle school kids LOVE this stuff. Even the reluctant writers, when given permission, could fill pages upon pages of horrible, frightening, sad and often revealing fears.
A "gateway" prompt to other types of writing.
I was not the world's best teacher, but it makes me sad that this information lives in my head and not in classrooms where it might be useful. If you are a teacher who has stumbled upon this page, I recommend calling the WITS people to see if they have any upcoming teacher training. Seriously cool stuff.
In the prompt, aimed at middle school and higher grades, students read a poem which is essentially the author's litany of fears, written as graphically and explicitly as possible. (I can't find the poem right now, but will update if I do.)
In conjunction, students either visit or look at prints of Andy Warhol's electric chair prints, some of which are housed in the Menil Collection.
The idea is to face your nightmares head on, write them down on paper where they will cease to be as horrible as they seem in the receases of your mind.
Some examples:
-That I will fall on a sharp stick and piece my eyeball
-That roaches will crawl into my head through my ears
-That a nuclear bomb will hit, and I will watch my skin burning from my bones.
You get the idea.
Not surprisingly, middle school kids LOVE this stuff. Even the reluctant writers, when given permission, could fill pages upon pages of horrible, frightening, sad and often revealing fears.
A "gateway" prompt to other types of writing.
I was not the world's best teacher, but it makes me sad that this information lives in my head and not in classrooms where it might be useful. If you are a teacher who has stumbled upon this page, I recommend calling the WITS people to see if they have any upcoming teacher training. Seriously cool stuff.
Friday, July 21, 2006
The Lady in the Whaaa?
Y'all, I'm starting to think that rottentomatoes.com is just whack. I know, I know--don't shoot the messenger. Ok, maybe the film critics are just pissed at their fictional and amusing demise.
Lady in the Water? Completely delightful. The only beef I have, if you can call it that, is M. Night Shamayalamamamaaman making himself the savior of the world.
And even that is sort of excusable because it's his fairy tale, goddammit.
I wanna make a movie!!
(ed.) As a footnote, having recently read [the first three chapters of] Jim Collin's book Good To Great, I contend that Cleveland Heep is a "level 5" leader and over the course of the movie he builds a really "Great" apartment complex. Here's why:
Level 5 Leadership: Moving from good to great starts with leadership, with the will and drive to succeed. Not on a personal level, but for the company to succeed.
--Cleveland Heep operates as a CEO with "personal humility and professional will" focused on making a great company (or in this case, getting Story back to her Blue World) regardless of how crazy people will think he is.
First Who...Then What: Next find the right people to manage and run the business.
--Heep actively seeks out weirdos in his complex who can fit into pre-ordained roles in order to make the ceremony work, and isn't afraid to move, add, or eliminate folks when that doesn't work out.
Control the Brutal Facts: Then look at the facts objectively. What are your core competencies?
--Instead of sitting around and moaning and groaning about "Where are the Tartuics? They were supposed to be here by now! Why is this happening to me?" Heep and Co. focus on what they CAN do in order to help Story escape.
Hedgehog Concept: Then take action based on being the best at what you can be the best at.
--The interpreter interprets, the writer writes, the guardian guards, the healer heals, the guild throws a party, the movie critic dies. No one's going around being all, "I wanna be the guardian! Look I would make a really good guardian..."
Culture of Discipline: Implement the resulting plan rigorously, with discipline and focus.
--How long does Heep hold his breath under water? Like two hours? Case and point.
Lady in the Water? Completely delightful. The only beef I have, if you can call it that, is M. Night Shamayalamamamaaman making himself the savior of the world.
And even that is sort of excusable because it's his fairy tale, goddammit.
I wanna make a movie!!
(ed.) As a footnote, having recently read [the first three chapters of] Jim Collin's book Good To Great, I contend that Cleveland Heep is a "level 5" leader and over the course of the movie he builds a really "Great" apartment complex. Here's why:
Level 5 Leadership: Moving from good to great starts with leadership, with the will and drive to succeed. Not on a personal level, but for the company to succeed.
--Cleveland Heep operates as a CEO with "personal humility and professional will" focused on making a great company (or in this case, getting Story back to her Blue World) regardless of how crazy people will think he is.
First Who...Then What: Next find the right people to manage and run the business.
--Heep actively seeks out weirdos in his complex who can fit into pre-ordained roles in order to make the ceremony work, and isn't afraid to move, add, or eliminate folks when that doesn't work out.
Control the Brutal Facts: Then look at the facts objectively. What are your core competencies?
--Instead of sitting around and moaning and groaning about "Where are the Tartuics? They were supposed to be here by now! Why is this happening to me?" Heep and Co. focus on what they CAN do in order to help Story escape.
Hedgehog Concept: Then take action based on being the best at what you can be the best at.
--The interpreter interprets, the writer writes, the guardian guards, the healer heals, the guild throws a party, the movie critic dies. No one's going around being all, "I wanna be the guardian! Look I would make a really good guardian..."
Culture of Discipline: Implement the resulting plan rigorously, with discipline and focus.
--How long does Heep hold his breath under water? Like two hours? Case and point.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Out of Yar!m's Way
A while back, I posted some pictures that my friend Michael had taken of Yar! spottings in Houston. I'm not a graffiti aficionado, but I think this is good stuff. Every now and then I'll be driving and some lovable ghosty figure will say "Yar! loves you!" and it's like--awwww--this city is a'ok.
So I found a link to his/her flickr page and it looks like even though Yar! loves the city of Houston, the city of Houston does not love Yar!, and is spending upwards of 2 million to stop the "eyesores." I think that would be very sad, but what do I know.
You can decide for yourself here.
So I found a link to his/her flickr page and it looks like even though Yar! loves the city of Houston, the city of Houston does not love Yar!, and is spending upwards of 2 million to stop the "eyesores." I think that would be very sad, but what do I know.
You can decide for yourself here.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Monday, July 03, 2006
A Prairie Home Snoozefest
Given my virtual upbringing in Lake Woebegone, I expected to love this movie--and found it a disapointment.
For one, I was expecting (don't ask me why) a fictional MURDER-MYSTERY that takes place on the set of the popular NPR weekend radio show.
As a stand-alone drama, I found the "plot" elements distracting and downright boring.
I don't understand, because it got such positive reviews.
Am I not THE target audience for this film?
What went wrong?
For one, I was expecting (don't ask me why) a fictional MURDER-MYSTERY that takes place on the set of the popular NPR weekend radio show.
As a stand-alone drama, I found the "plot" elements distracting and downright boring.
I don't understand, because it got such positive reviews.
Am I not THE target audience for this film?
What went wrong?
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