Random Musings

You can’t image my delight when I got an e-mail this week announcing that my very small investment in a microloan through Kiva was starting to be repaid.  If you are unfamiliar with Kiva (there are other similar sites) for a very small investment you can be part of a loan to someone with a financial plan! that makes reasonable economic sense.

I have this vision of US students doing something to earn $ and then investing that money with different small buisness people around the world–reading about them, corresponding with them, and analyzing the data–now  that would be global awareness..

Mountain Tryptich

Originally uploaded by techmuse.

As I listen to Bush tonight, I find it hard to believe that the bright sky can be seen through the clouds. It’s been an interesting day; discovered that some folks I work with actually think Palin is a good idea (much to my utter astonishment).
I don’t see how, letting the folks got us in to this mess solve it is part of the solution—it has a feeling of letting the fox into the henhouse–especially since the legislation says that the courts can’t overturn any part of it.
And while I’m totally angry that folks were misled about how much they can borrow–what does it say about the education level of the general populace–or our willingness to fool ourselves into believing what we want to believe….so, in the end…
Is the American Dream a figment of our imagination….and one that misleads and entices people to do things that are not rational?

is one of the more intriguing strips that shows up in my analog Washington Post  every day.  As we prepare to continue to roll out our on-line formative assessment system I’m thinking about posting this one up “poster-sized” before each training.

Tim–ber!

Originally uploaded by techmuse.

53 is a number that just makes me grin—but hope I”m still smiling 6 weeks from now.

This cast is proving to be almost intolerable….but only 41 more days to go.

Originally uploaded by techmuse.

The past few days have felt so extremely isolated. I’ve been staying with my in-laws, and they don’t get a newspaper, don’t watch the news and don’t talk at all about current events except for hurricanes. I feel like I’ve been living in a black hole with little contact with the rest of the world. My one connection to the “real world” has been through office e-mail (sigh)

I realized how much of my social interaction revolves around the web and my on-line friends and I’ve felt incredibly isolated.

Today, however, I’ve spent the day observing cognitive coaching training and talking with Colorado educators–what a treat!  and what I love about the web—it allows me to make connections across the continent.

Today is also a day when I realize how lucky I am; I love my job, I work with an amazing team, and have an opportunity to make positive change happen.

The beginning

Originally uploaded by techmuse.

…..the next time I hear this from someone–they will have a close encounter with these teeth!
I “facilitated” a conversation between two individuals this week and they both used the phrase several times…if only they knew what it did to the other person. The “yes” comes off as absolutely insincere (which, of course, it is).
So, my challenge to today is to come up with 20 other ways to say “I heard you but I need to add additional information”…here goes…
-”Do we need to consider…..?”
-”what will the long-term implications be…?”
-”I’d like to offer a different perspective”
-”have you thought about……….?”
-”I think we also need to consider……”
-”I’m not sure I understand your point….”
-”can you clarify your thinking for me…”

or anything else that says “I’m not convinced–but I can be….”

Please add your suggestions…