Archives for November 2012

Speak with Conviction / Taylor Mali

A Question:

Bobby KennedyWatching this powerful clip of the  HBO film Ethel, I am reminded that it was once possible for politicians to speak with conviction about the most important issues of the day.  Can you imagine Bobby Kennedy leading from behind? Our leaders need to summon that same courage to be bold, to commit fully in the service of the country rather than to themselves, party, or powerful lobby.  What can we do to better hold their feet to the fire? Let’s go, while we’re young!

A Person:

Taylor Mali | Dan Cooney | Two ThingsNobody speaks with more conviction than Taylor Mali.   A four-time National Poetry Slam champion, Mali is the author of two collections of poetry and a new collection of essays.  You have to experience him in full slam mode –he’s to be experienced!  I love that he is such a fierce defender of teaching, something my mother did lovingly and beautifully for 28 years. Taylor’s talk at our 25th College Reunion last May was phenomenal; I was madly envious of the talent and inspired. I hope you will be too.

 

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Connect with Taylor:

Taylor’s Website

FB Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airplane Letters / Rich Wilson

An Idea:

It’s vulnerability I feel in a plane, not fear.  It heightens my state and so “Bridesmaids” is funnier and good song lyrics seep right into my bones.  I’m not religious but with a song like  “Closer to Heaven” I can be transported to an Eden beyond the five senses (without the vodka).  During one of  these “Up In The Air” moments, after our first son was born, I wrote him a letter and the habit stuck.  The Airplane Letters, now for he and his brother, are intended to be read retrospectively when they are collegeish.  I share what is happening in their lives and in mine. It’s a selfish act, creating this seed of immortality, but a pleasurable one.

Vulnerability/Extreme Edition:

3,000 people have climbed Mt. Everest.  500 astronauts have traveled into space and 50 humans have sailed solo, non-stop around the world.  Rich Wilson did this as the oldest overall and only American entry in the 2008 Vendee Globe yacht race.  In his podcasts, I marveled as he used “we” instead of “I” to describe his activity.   When asked about it, he said, “Well we had so much support ashore it never really felt like I was alone out there.”

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More/Connect with Rich:

 

 

What This Blog is All About

“Too much information running through my brain, too much information driving me insane.” Sting wrote that in 1981. Bill Gates had just bought DOS from Seattle Computer Products and WordPerfect 1.0 hadn’t launched yet.

How could Sting possibly think there was too much information? And yet, thirty years from now they will refer quaintly to the amount of information WE feel we have to deal with in 2012.

Into this sea of information, I am going to blog. I’m going to keep it short. Two parts in each post. First an idea, thought, recommendation or story.

Second, I’m going to tell you about a friend or a friend of a friend that I think you should know or care about. The idea is that most people are humble and will not tell you how amazing they are. It’s always been fun for me to introduce people and I get great psychic reward from the resulting connections.

The idea is to be of service to you, meet new people and learn a few mad skills along the way.

Two things, in two hundred words which should take you a minute to read. I hope you will enjoy it and pass it along to friends!

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