It's amazing what we're trying to do now. At least what some are trying to do.
Today's college football quarterbacks need to take a football snapped from the center, drop back a few steps, look over about a hundred square yards of grass, and decide what to do with the ball. They have about three seconds to make up their mind and execute the plan...or improvise....or get crunched. That's a lot quicker than 10 years ago.
Heck, I'm from Texas. I have trouble saying a simple sentence in three seconds. Don't even ask me to put "philanthropy" in that sentence.
College teams all over the country are spending big bucks for simulators from companies like Gridiron Technologies or Visual Edge to get their qb's into a better place mentally to make quicker decisions. The Air Force Academy allegedly has their football players jumping on trampolines and reading two eye charts, one inches from their face and one 10 yards away.
Is this a trend for social capital in the 21st Century??? Wikipedia describes social capital as the "advantage created by a person's location in a structure of relationships."
College football is all about having an advantage in the relationships on the field. The game is faster than ever. There are more options than ever. The relationships are more complex than ever. The costs are higher, and there's more money at stake than ever before.
This holds true for the rest of life as well. Relationships are the common denominator. What you do to maintain healthy relationships and prepare for change in a rapidly changing world is vital.
Sure hope my bifocals stay on when I'm on the trampoline.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Diversity is Dead!
Long live diversity!
Who ya gonna believe? Google "diversity" and you'll get 93.1M hits. It's an idea, a system, an industry, a hope, an argument in waiting.
Lately, it's getting even more interesting. Is it alive or is it dead? This all started recently at The Saguaro Seminar. In a nutshell, according to renowned Harvard social scientist Robert Putnam, diversity doesn't really build better communities. His studies show that the more ethnically and religiously diverse a community is, fewer people vote; less volunteer; fewer give to charity; and less work on projects for the good of the community.
But wait, there's more. Along with a decline in civic engagement, you get an increase in economic and creative innovation. This is actually kind of funny watching the conservatives and liberals switch sides of the diversity table.
For a really good summary of this new look at diversity, immigration, and social capital see Michael Jonas's story in The Boston Globe , "The Downside of Diversity" on August 5, 2007. Is this a new incovenient truth?
This Putnam guy is one of our nation's best when it comes to studying and understanding people. He's met with both Presidents Clinton and Bush. Putnam virtually coined the concept of "social capital" aka "social networks." His contention that when social networks of friends and associates are in good shape whether in church, around your home, at work, wherever - then you will have a greater number of voting citizens living in safer, healthier communities.
Hmmm....there's a key. Social networking. Wonder if that concept will ever take off in the 21st century?? In Dallas, The Williams Institute has some very interesting research on social capital and what makes a city healthy and whole.
Maybe the best (and shortest) read on Putnam's findings is by Daniel Henninger. See "The Death of Diversity" and make up your own mind.
So what's to be learned with all this new information? Things aren't always as they seem.
Who ya gonna believe? Google "diversity" and you'll get 93.1M hits. It's an idea, a system, an industry, a hope, an argument in waiting.
Lately, it's getting even more interesting. Is it alive or is it dead? This all started recently at The Saguaro Seminar. In a nutshell, according to renowned Harvard social scientist Robert Putnam, diversity doesn't really build better communities. His studies show that the more ethnically and religiously diverse a community is, fewer people vote; less volunteer; fewer give to charity; and less work on projects for the good of the community.
But wait, there's more. Along with a decline in civic engagement, you get an increase in economic and creative innovation. This is actually kind of funny watching the conservatives and liberals switch sides of the diversity table.
For a really good summary of this new look at diversity, immigration, and social capital see Michael Jonas's story in The Boston Globe , "The Downside of Diversity" on August 5, 2007. Is this a new incovenient truth?
This Putnam guy is one of our nation's best when it comes to studying and understanding people. He's met with both Presidents Clinton and Bush. Putnam virtually coined the concept of "social capital" aka "social networks." His contention that when social networks of friends and associates are in good shape whether in church, around your home, at work, wherever - then you will have a greater number of voting citizens living in safer, healthier communities.
Hmmm....there's a key. Social networking. Wonder if that concept will ever take off in the 21st century?? In Dallas, The Williams Institute has some very interesting research on social capital and what makes a city healthy and whole.
Maybe the best (and shortest) read on Putnam's findings is by Daniel Henninger. See "The Death of Diversity" and make up your own mind.
So what's to be learned with all this new information? Things aren't always as they seem.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
The Battle at Kruger
Okay kids. It's a battle for survival. Who you gonna place your bet on? Your choices are a lion, a crocodile, a water buffalo. Actually, lets make it a baby water buffalo...a calf.
If you've not seen this video, it IS amazing. Don't read any further if you want to sustain the suspense of the ending. It's on YouTube 24x7 and national tv tonight. Joe Bob says check out the Battle at Kruger. Background to the video is on the ABC news site.
If you don't have eight minutes to watch this, then bookmark it for later. It's a fast and fascinating video. Rated PG13. Some violence, very little blood, but heavy child endangement.
If you're an animal lover, you'll start with heart in throat and end with a grin. The least among them wins! It's not the stealthiest (or sneakiest). It's not the fastest and flashiest. It's the humble water buffalo who prevails.
And why did they win? Because the herd worked together (and showed a lot of courage). Funny how this paceline thing of working together to succeed keeps popping up in the world.
Do our bovine buddies have something to teach us more advanced animals? Do you think ANY of our politicians get it??
Lets hope our nonprofits get it when they're trying to save those that are the least among us.
If you've not seen this video, it IS amazing. Don't read any further if you want to sustain the suspense of the ending. It's on YouTube 24x7 and national tv tonight. Joe Bob says check out the Battle at Kruger. Background to the video is on the ABC news site.
If you don't have eight minutes to watch this, then bookmark it for later. It's a fast and fascinating video. Rated PG13. Some violence, very little blood, but heavy child endangement.
If you're an animal lover, you'll start with heart in throat and end with a grin. The least among them wins! It's not the stealthiest (or sneakiest). It's not the fastest and flashiest. It's the humble water buffalo who prevails.
And why did they win? Because the herd worked together (and showed a lot of courage). Funny how this paceline thing of working together to succeed keeps popping up in the world.
Do our bovine buddies have something to teach us more advanced animals? Do you think ANY of our politicians get it??
Lets hope our nonprofits get it when they're trying to save those that are the least among us.
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