Guiding Vision

One thing I always keep close when going on a trip is reading material. I bring my idea book (a simple spiral notebook) where I make notes for new content for my websites and other action items. Then there’s the latest book in the business or marketing category, personal development or fundraising.

But after even a short trip, by the time I get back to the airport I am ready to give my brain a break. On my trip to Montreal prepared for the return route by bringing a book that I’d found at Half Price for just $3. I had no idea if it would be any good, but at least I recognized the name - The Daily Show’s Resident Expert, John Hodgman. If you’re not addicted to the Daily Show like Troy and I are, you may be more familiar with Hodgman from his starring role as “PC” in the Mac commercials.

While reading The Areas of My Expertise it’s easy to hear Hodgman’s voice narrate the variety of humorous and sometimes inexplicable topics. As he explains in the introduction, the book is loosely based on the idea of the old-fashioned almanac. The farmer’s almanacs would typically include folk wisdom, “predictions” of the weather and encyclopedia type entries. This is supposedly a modern version of the almanac (though he makes a point to say that most of the facts are made up).

For reasons that defy explanation, this book is hilarious. My fellow travelers were occasionally startled by outbursts of pure laughter. Other times if glancing my way they would have seen a most puzzled expression. Case in point: instead of weather predictions Hodgman features charts of the incarnations of werewolves based on the phases of the moon. With at least four Doctor Who references (counting all mentions of Cybermen as one) and a page devoted to “Great Rivalries in Dungeons and Dragons” sci/fi comicon geeks will be pleased. But there’s plenty of odd topics and photos to go around.

Satiric, random, and just plain silly… it’s definitely a fun diversion. Especially at 30,000 feet.

Getting places on time is not my strong suit. There I admit it. I’m not usually that late, but just a few minutes enough to stress me out. So when it comes to traveling I always have this fear that I’ll be reenacting the scene from Home Alone where the whole family (except the kid) are running for the plane. (And for the record that has only happened to me once.)

But what my friends and family who travel with me really enjoy kidding me about is losing things. I’ve lost not one but two cell phones either at the airport or on a plane. When Tracie and I went to PubCon last December I kept leaving my boarding pass laying around. It’s a wonder we made it there and back. (more…)

Well I don’t like most country music. But I like this song, I think it is called “My wish.” I have been finishing up a redesign of Step by Step Fundraising and just had to watch this video again. It’s so moving.

Powerful Video: JDRF

It’s not everyday that two of my favorite people are featured in a political cartoon together! (the Doctor and Barack Obama that is.)

See the full cartoon at Salon.com

With thanks to Outpost Gallifrey Doctor Who News

and This Modern World by Tom Tomorrow

Living here in Tornado Alley, especially in a town that still has strong memories of a twister in the ’70’s, I can certainly relate to the fear of tornadoes. Every spring school children go through tornado drills just like others across the country do fire drills. Though I’ve been through some bad storms, including 90 mph wind and rain last year, I pray to never be through an actual tornado.

Residents in San Angelo, Texas did go through such a tragedy in early April. While there were no deaths or injuries there was commercial and residential property damage. The tornado ripped through the distribution center of R.G. Barry Corporation, maker of Dearfoams shoes. But instead of sending the 180,000 pairs to a landfill, the company decided to give them to Shoes for Orphan Soles instead.

Shoes for Orphan soles is a program of Buckner International, a well known Dallas based charity that helps orphan children worldwide. There’s more on the story on Dallas Morning News and on the Shoes for Orphan Soles website.

So now thousands of children will get new shoes! All because a company had a vision that their loss could be a gain for someone else (thousands of deserving someone else’s).

Perhaps this new project is one reason Oprah decided not to renew The Big Give TV show…

Yesterday “The Oprah Winfrey Show” presented the O Ambassadors program, a joint project of Oprah’s Angel Network and Free The Children. It aims to connect young people in North America with people around the world to create lasting change. This school based program provides a curriculum for local educators who lead their student club in activities that raise funds for development projects and increase awareness of global issues. (more…)

Since I first proposed the topic of the blog writing contest which Jim is running over at Top School Fundraisers, I’ve been pondering who out of all my K-12 and college teachers I’d consider to be my favorites. My mind first went to the kind, patient elementary school teachers who I recall fondly. But after reading Angela’s post about her math teacher, one person jumped out as being one of the absolute best. And that was my high school math teacher, Mr. Bennett.

First off I will say I am by no means a math wiz and math was probably my least favorite subject! But somehow he was able to explain the ides to me in a way that I could understand. If the class didn’t quite get how to work a math problem he kept answering our questions, rephrasing things and doing “just one more problem” until we did get it. He never wanted to leave anyone behind.

When I got to college I realized just how lucky I had been to have Mr. Bennett as a math teacher. Even with a study partner and trying my best I had to drop college algebra since I was squeaking by with a low C. The next semester my new teacher seemed to have a similar knack as Mr. Bennett and I actually got an A. Though I was thankful that as an art major that was the only required math course!

Of course it wasn’t his skill with numbers that impressed me the most. It was his character and personality. He infused his trademark humor into class and his hilarious presentations on awards day were legendary.  He simply exuded an optimistic view of life.

When not in the classroom Norman Bennett spent his free time in front of a camera or on stage. He performed in local theatre but has had many small speaking roles in major films. In a recent interview for a Sherman TV Station he admits that he tends to be typecast (basically playing himself) but he doesn’t seem to mind.

When I heard he’d retired a couple of years after I graduated I knew he wasn’t likely to sit still too long. One day my mother-in-law phoned us up and said to turn on the TV, Mr. Bennett was on Wheel of Fortune! Not too long ago we rented the film Infamous and there he was again.  Even after all this time, Mr. Bennett is still teaching by example — you’re never too young, too old, too anything to enjoy life as the blessed adventure it can be.