I had to share this, as it was shared by one of my classmates: Storybird – Artful storytelling. This is a great way to create stories with artwork in a collaborative setting where several people can work in virtual space to create online books. The library of published work is excellent, and even if you don’t choose to create a Storybird yourself, you should enjoy browsing the stories that others have created and published there.
Storybird – Artful storytelling
February 25, 2012
Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël! Καλά Χριστούγεννα!
December 24, 2011
It’s Christmas Eve, and I realize it’s been over 2 months since I posted anything to my blog. It’s been an interesting and pivotal time in my life. I’ve been through a crisis of faith which was, for me, of epic proportions – and I’ve come out the other side with greater belief in God than I had before.
When you live in a house populated by unbelievers, it’s an easy step to start seeing the concept of God as part of a great superstition. When you watch people use religion for political or financial gain, it’s easy to understand why atheists see religion as an enemy of ordinary people. Every day I see people on TV and in the news who have used and hurt other people in the name of religion, and I see senseless war throughout the world, much of it stemming from religious difference and intolerance. Slowly, I slipped into this mindset that says religion is a tool of the unscrupulous and the last bastion of irrational, uneducated people. Eventually I realized that I had lost my faith. I didn’t think I believed any more.
Some weeks ago, I sat helpless as someone I love beyond all understanding reached a crisis of his own. On that night, I realized that I simply could not conceive of a life without Jesus in it. Without my faith to sustain me, I had nothing to hold on to. What do atheists do when they can’t pray? I don’t know. But I learned that night that I personally cannot live my life without prayer, and a belief that God is listening. I thank God that he listened to my prayer that night.
On this, the commemoration of Christ’s birth, I am here to say that, however irrational, superstitious, or unscientific it may be, I believe in Jesus. His life, death and Resurrection are not simply fairy tales to me. In my heart, and my soul, and my life, He is real, and He sustains me with His grace. My Orthodox faith follows in the footsteps of the first believers, and teaches me that it is in humble moments on my knees that I am the strongest, and that the greatest Love of all still holds me in His hands.
I pray (yes, really pray) that all of you reading this have a beautiful and love-filled holiday, whatever your belief may be. I pray that the Light of this season will touch all of you in some special way. And for all of my fellow Christians, know that I thank God for you each and every day, and I wish His greatest blessings upon all of you this Christmas and in the year to come.
My Christmas gift to you:
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Douce nuit, sainte nuit !
Dans les cieux ! L’astre luit.
Le mystère annoncé s’accomplit.
Cet enfant sur la paille endormit,
C’est l’amour infini,
C’est l’amour infini !
Άγια νύχτα, σε προσμένουν, με χαρά οι Χριστιανοί
και με πίστη ανυμνούνε, το Θεό δοξολογούνε,
μ’ ένα στόμα, μια φωνή ναι με μια φωνή.
Στης Βηθλεέμ, ελάτε όλοι, τα βουνά τα ιερά
και μ’ ευλάβεια μεγάλη, ‘κει που άγιο φως προβάλλει,
προσκυνήστε με χαρά ναι με μια χαρά.
Η ψυχή μας φτερουγίζει πέρα στ’ άγια τα βουνά
όπου ψάλλουν οι Αγγέλοι απ’ τα ουράνια θεία μέρη
στο Σωτήρα “Ωσαννά!” ψάλλουν “Ωσαννά!”
A brain thingy
October 5, 2011
You know me and my love for brainy things! I really really want this… can’t have it, but it’s way cool.
I think I’m getting weirder because Halloween is so close! LOL!
A Rant about Human Cargo
September 19, 2011
One of the topics I read about this week in class had to do with an instructional model called Human Performance Technology. Something about that name just set something off in me, about how corporations (and sometimes even small businesses) have come to think of the people who work for them as commodities, like raw materials.
There was a time that you worked for someone, and they considered you an important part of their company. My dad was a good plumber, and when a contractor would hear that he was looking for work, he’d be called up right away. People knew each other by their names, not just CEO and Employee.
Along the way things became more formal. Instead of talking to the boss about an issue, you went to the Personnel Office. At least we were still considered “Persons.” But there was a go-between now who shielded the boss from getting to know us. I should have seen in coming when I stopped being a Secretary and became an Administrative Professional, or worse, a Project Coordinator. Nothing about what I did day to day had changed– just my title. And one day the Personnel Office was gone, replaced by the Human Resource Office.
There it was — I’d look in MS Project and discover that Resources had nothing to do with pipes and equipment. Resources were people. Like raw materials, we were just another cog in the machine. A resource.
During my MBA, I didn’t study about Human Resource Management. Further dehumanizing the employees, we were now taught Human CAPITAL Management. We’re Capital. We’re also ready cash, as seen by the massive layoffs the companies will enact in an effort to see that quick no-longer-need-to-spend-it money is retained in the coffers.
You might notice here a little irony. While the corporations of the world were busy replacing us with offshore workers who would accept any meager wage, jobs here became more scarce. And like any commodity, the supply and demand rules apply. Corporations don’t have a lot of open spaces, and we have a lot of unemployed people. So we will accept any level of dehumanization, because it’s a job. And we’re just stuff. We’re just part of the stuff that makes other stuff. And since our particular kind of stuff is so widely available, the bidding for our time continues to go down.
Americans will continue to be out of work and struggling to hang on to the jobs they do have, as long as the notion that we are Capital is maintained. Workers offshore will continue to be exploited for the same reason. We’re all just part of something more important — the corporate bottom line.
Ok, rant over for today.
Of course these women need jobs too. I don't argue that point. But they shouldn't be treated like commodities any more than we should.
I am a human being. Not Capital.
Well now I understand…
September 13, 2011
I often wonder, when I hear politicians say that the American People want this or that, where they get their information. This morning Lynn Cheney cleared it up for me. She and the former VP are on The View. Lynn was asked if it bothers her when people say things that are not at all nice about her husband and the former administration’s policies. She answered that the way they deal with this is to only read the blogs of the people who like them.
WELL! No wonder they think the American People approve of everything they do. If you only look to the people who agree with you for affirmation of your point of view, you’re bound to lose touch with what the REST of the people think. But hey, you’ll get a really great self-esteem boost by constantly looking into the magic mirror that makes you look the best, right? 
Ok, my political rant is over for now… back to your regular activities now!
I had to laugh when I saw this — how many times have I used a puzzle piece to represent the connection of ideas? Ok, I get it, no more puzzles… too cliche! Enjoy the article — lots of good e-learning tips there (link is below).
These Simple Tips Will Help You Build the Right E-Learning » The Rapid eLearning Blog.
I’ll never look at my eBooks the same…
September 9, 2011
We have lost the inventor of the eBook and founder of Project Gutenberg. May his memory live on each time we read in pixel-ink.
Here’s what I expect to happen…
September 5, 2011
Matt Bors does cutting-edge editorial comics. I mean really great. And this one sums up entirely how I feel about the direction that the PTB (Powers That Be) in Big Oil are going as they keep looking for MORE oil rather than finding non-petroleum solutions to our energy woes.
You can catch more of Matt’s genius at http://www.mattbors.com/
Enjoy!
This is Your Brain on Knitting
August 30, 2011
Hey, remember knitted brains? Here’s a new entry!
This is Your Brain on Knitting – Crazy Shoes and Cool Accessories: If Style Could Kill.
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