Aaron Stiner

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:45:00 +0000

I must be waxing philosophical today. I take the situation of me leaving messages and calling people, emailing people and the people not responding back and I turn it into a riff on the state of US culture and how it's affected by our cyber culture.

I began thinking sometimes it seems like people just don't talk to each other. We spend our lives behind our computer screens, we don't even pick up the phone, sometimes we never leave our houses.

How many of us are just doing what we are doing, only paying attention to ourselves and doing whatever it is we are doing by ourselves? Unless you count the computer as a person.

And, who is paying attention to others more than the approximate empixelations of themselves we get fed through Facebook? How many of us read more than the first sentence of a blog and get to know people beyond their status updates?

Why does that not seem enough? Am I the only one who sees an opportunity for more face to face communication in our world right now? In case you missed it, things are not going real hot right now; not in the economy, not in international affairs, state affairs and in even some cases, local and family affairs. I don't think tweeting is going to fix the problems we are facing.

Ask yourself, "Are my community relationships, my friendships and my family ties as strong and healthy as I wish they would be?" If so, what are you going to do to fix it? Blog about it? (Yes, I know the irony is incredibly deep here, but I think the point stands).

I think we need more phone calls, lunches, face to face meetings, workshops, conventions, conferences and caucuses in neighborhoods and communities. Among friends and strangers alike.

Isn't that how things get done? When people sit down, hash things out and walk away with decisions? I think that's how republics get governed. And I think we the people need to do a little more face to face chatting and a little less exclusive online connecting.

It seems right now we need to make some smart decisions about the way our world is going to work. No one knows what the other side of this economic catastrophe will turn out to be. And so we need to be talking about what we want it to be. Do we want it to look like it was, like it is, or some new way? And we need to spend a little less time talking about last week's episode of Lost and spend more time talking about solutions and actions.

And I just don't think the internet is going to cut it. At least not without web cameras in everyone's offices - I like that. But until that happens, we need to get out of our offices. Out from behind our computers and from in front of our TVs. If we are going to solve problems so that everyone has a chance to have input we have to come together. I don't see it happening right now.

Maybe I am missing it. What about all of you? Where are you coming together in voluntary action for the common good? Where are you creating community? And what does action mean to you? What does together mean?

Is action to you a status update with a link to a website where you can click a button and someone you never meet gets helped. While the upside of that kind of tool is great, I think we overrely these days on technology and I worry it inhibits our ability to create personal relationships and to be involved in our physical communities. In my humble opinion anyway.

And, no wonder the economy is collapsing. No one is doing anything! We aren't making anything. We hardly leave the house to buy the goods we need to live in our homes. And, as a country we only produce for our own entertainment and edification. Everything else is outsourced. The problem is we can't outsource the decisions about how we shape our communities. We need to get offline and get to work.

Thankfully, I believe, at least right now we have a President who is making good decisions on behalf of our common good. But it can't end there. People have to participate at the local level to improve our country. How I don't know. But not behind the computer.

Internet communications are important and have their place. And we must integrate them into our strategies in a way which maximizes their impact. But, they should not be our only strategy. I think human relations suffer when our only contact is virtual.

In every sector of our lives we should be engaging in thoughtful dialogue with our closest friends and partners about how we can work together to tackle the toughest problems facing us all. Family, friends, neighborhoods, communities and cities. Business sectors, healthcare, nonprofits and government. All talking about how to make our country great and keep it great for everyone.

Pick up the phone. Go to a lunch meeting. Go get coffee. Start talking. Ask some questions. Invite others. Make it a group. Get things done. Make change. We need everyone doing their part.

Democracy is humans working together to create and manage human action on behalf of the common good. We aren't talking about government here. We are talking about the people. That is what Tocqueville loved about America - we are a nation of barn raisers. We get shit done. Let's get together and get shit done. Let's work our nation out of the mire in which we're stuck. Get out feet moving.

I'm just saying Facebook ain't going to cut it.

Peace out.

And PS Please return my calls. You know who you are.

Just playing

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:30:00 +0000

From DRBism Photos

It's been fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:27:00 +0000

Today is my last day with Valley of the Sun United Way.

I leave with mixed emotions, excited about my new opportunity and sad about leaving all the great people I work with at United Way. They are great people doing great things, making a difference in countless lives and improving our community.

As of January 12, 2009, I will serve as the Advancing Philanthropy program manager for the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation. I am tremendously honored and excited about this new opportunity. The Center is a leader in helping nonprofit organizations and those who support them.

I will be creating programs, workshops and other services to help philanthropists in strategic giving. What this means exactly is still to be defined, but I have some ideas =) As part of my interview process I had to present on a 90-day business plan. Creating that plan has provided me fertile soil for my imagination to plant ideas and hope they grow.

Next week Beth, Omar and I, along with the pups, head to Bisbee to unplug and refresh. The next two weeks overall will be time spent planning, reflecting, having fun, cleaning things out, relaxing, internetting, reading and writing. I hope to begin the new year with a fresh perspective and full of energy.

As of today, I will be phoneless, I am not sure for how long. So, if anyone needs anything, feel free to email me at aastiner@yahoo.com

All the best and Happy New Year!

MNpS Capstone Project Poster - FINAL

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:13:00 +0000

My Grad School Capstone Project Poster - FINAL VERSION - to be presented at the ASU Nonprofit Conference in early December, along with the other Master's students' project posters

The final poster will be 3ft wide by 2ft high.

From DRBism Photos

Omar, Peter and the Wolf

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:47:00 +0000

From Omar, Peter and the Wolf.

Nonprofit 2.0: How nonprofits can use blogs, videos and Facebook for social change

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:10:00 +0000

Nonprofit 2.0: Blogs, online videos and Facebook to promote your mission

Get your own at Scribd or explore others: Technology Web 2.0 blogs videos

DRB on break

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:05:00 +0000

At least until after grad school. I want to maintain it but don't have the time and energy. All of my long form writing is going into school right now.

Check back in January.

In the meantime, look me up on Facebook.

Peace out.

Aaron

This is why I like Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:40:00 +0000

It is a great way to communicate. I have been wall posting all night.

The message is to the seven friends and family who are my friends on facebook who came to Omar's party today and who we saw over the weekend for Ryan's wedding.

Facebook really facilitates keeping in touch with people in a variety of networks. I think it has helped me become better networked to friends and family. It is great to see everyone and pass notes along that can easily be picked up. People can be on different schedules and still keep in touch. At whatever level they like. Sounds like good for family making to me!

Beth is on Facebook. And my mom and brother's and one sister in law and my cousin and my aunt and all of my closest friends. I want to get Omar on. Ooh. Could they make a kid's facebook? It would have to have huge protections. Hmmm.

We aren't always in contact on Facebook, but it seems like we are in more contact then we were before facebook. We shall have to see how that bear's out in the long run. And if anyone comes along and does it better (imagine facebook with video portaits of you on your webcam - from your car even). But, for now it is good.

From a professional perspective, Facebook allows social networking to happen efficiently and personally. It has tremendous potential to begin social movements and lead social change based on what the group decides.

It would be interesting to study a movement for social change springing up online. To study it's characters, leaders, how they come together and what about a particular cause would get them to create a whole citizen change movement.

Maybe I could think of one to lead? Hmmm....interesting.

Well, until then, I have a lot of homework to get done. I will see you tomorrow. Maybe on Facebook?

It is very easy. My Mom does it!

From DRBism Photos

An open letter to Obama supporters

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:26:00 +0000

I wrote this as a comment in response to other commenters responding to a post by politico.com's Jonathan Martin:

First off, can everyone RELAX?

We are going through major crises in our country and across the globe and we are arguing about PETTY things.

Obama supporters - your guy is winning and you know Ayers isn't going to bring him down. So why are you being so whiny and defensive.

Obama isn't being whiny and defensive. He is showing confidence in the election and in the American people.

Lets have that same confidence in ourselves and focus on the positive solutions to get us out of this mess.

Let's start talking about Obama's plans for America. I can tell you they are much more exciting and positive then anything Bush has been doing the last eight years. And we should be looking forward to Obama's administration and his plans for moving our country forward.

For example, in Obama's acceptance speech he outlined his goal of ending our dependence on foreign oil in 10 years. That is a huge goal! It sounds almost impossible. But it's not impossible. It is very possible. That is what makes it such a good goal.

We can do it. I am confident Americans have the knowledge, skills and creativity to innovate our way out of using foreign sources of oil. But you know what, it will take an enormous investment from government to businesses and from businesses themselves.

It will be money well spent. If we make ourselves the global leader in renewable energy we can innovate our way out of this mess. Lots of people will make a lot of money developing and BUILDING green energy. And the building part is very important.

Imagine massive investments in new, high tech infrastructure throughout our country designed, maybe manufactured and definitely built in the US by the US. You want to revive the blue collar middle class? Invest in a massive green energy INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT project paid for by government and private sector partnerships.

Solar, wind and biofuel will be the main drivers and we can build all of them around the country. When we become experts we can begin building it around the world. We will invest in new auto jobs building green cars and create a new class of green US jobs, like installing electric delivery units at gas stations or manufacturing solar panels.

It's the same with what we did with the internet - much of which was funded through government investments and private/public partnerships. Despite the bubble, a lot of people made a lot of money in technology.

Plus, think of how much money we lose to unstable and unfriendly regimes in the Middle East each year. We cannot afford to give away all that money for something we can easily take care of ourselves.

We are going to need a massive infusion of jobs and innovation and investments in capital in the US to dig ourselves out of this hole. An energy independence initiative would provide that. It is an investment in our country which will pay massive financial, environmental and even social dividends.

We need to begin talking about what an Obama administration would do for America to dig us out of this crisis. He can't do it until he is President, but what happens then?

Obama should announce his plan for energy independence as his primary year one goal in office. And he should begin sending that message now.

Inauguration day, he will reaffirm our country's support to that mission and lay out in detail how the project will benefit every American. He will spell out how doing this will lead to more jobs, more money focused on rebuilding America, more money in America and better opportunities for all. He will ask us all to be involved and we can all play a part.

That is something I can get behind and something I can be excited about right now. Instead of focusing on the economy and the crazy machinations of John and Sara, let's begin dreaming for January and hoping for better to come.

So, quit worrying about what McCain is saying. He is now irrelevant.

Let's focus on how America will again thrive under an Obama administration.

Be positive. Work hard. Focus on results. Obama as President. Citizens united.

USA

Aaron Stiner

PS I am sure people will ask how we will pay for it and I don't know how exactly. We will figure it out. But the downside of not doing it makes the inevitable payoff even more appealing.

PS² It will be interesting to see what role venture capitalism and social entrepeneurship play in this green expansion - there are a lot of wealthy philanthropists who care about the environment.

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:12:00 +0000

I am in my car listening to Ben Folds before class, blogging from my phone. I am looking at the downtown buildings; they look bright and vivid in the fading afternoon. The light this time of year is much softer then in the summer and fall sunsets in Phoenix are awesome!

One of the reasons I love my Masters program is because of the downtown campus location. I have spent a lot more time downtown since I began my program two years ago then I did in the previous four living here.

The great thing is, downtown Phoenix is looking good and is on it's way to looking better - from the north end at Camelback and Central, to down south in the civic/sports district there are a lot of good things happening in the way of urban development.

For one, light rail has added a great dimension. While it doesn't begin running until December, the rail construction and all the stops are done and it looks great. It's so clean and new. Just the physical architecture alone adds something to downtown Phoenix's look and feel.

With the addition of the rails - they run down the middle of Central Avenue, with lanes on either side and the stops in the middle - the streets seem tighter in a way. While it is a new driving experience, my sense is the tighter streets will lead to slower driving and easier street crossings. I think it will encourage pedestrians to get out and walk. I can see how it will be good for businesses along Central Ave.

I think the architecture of the rail line and the presence of the trains will create a great urban environment, especially along the Central corridor. It is a great thing for Phoenix!

The BEST quote of the election

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:31:00 +0000

Biden warns Obama: Don't take my gun

“I guarantee you, Barack Obama ain’t taking my shotguns, so don’t buy that malarkey,” Biden said angrily. “They’re going to start peddling that to you.

“I got two, if he tries to fool with my Beretta, he’s got a problem.”

This is the BEST comment of the entire election! It makes Biden look serious, yet folksy and strong. It tells the world he isn't there to be Obama's best friend - he is there to represent the country and his country includes gun owners.

And he's saying he is going to have a voice at the table. He is going to be a strong adviser - he isn't going to take any ****.

It also makes Obama not look like a raging liberal. I mean come on. Do you really think Obama would try and take people's guns away? And do think he really could if he tried? Come on.

Biden is making his appeal, and therefore his ticket's appeal, to gun owners. He's saying to gun owners he will represent gun owners in the WH. And that this WH, Obama's WH, is not going to be trying to control guns.

And I think he wouldn't say this about Obama unless he respected Obama. And he wouldn't say it if he didn't think Obama respected him.

People have been saying this is a gaffe. I explain below why I don't think it's a gaffe. But, even if it is, can we talk about gaffes for just one moment?

I mean, we keep saying we don't want our President's to be perfect. And yet, 24 hours a day we nail every one of them for every little thing they say. Like any of us is perfect all the time. And which one of us hasn't uttered an inartful word, or said something stupid. Probably on a weekly basis.

Can you imagine being followed by bloggers, YouTubers and the mass media all the time. Almost every minute of the day? And then you are expected to have say everything right and remember every little detail? Yeah right. Good luck with that.

I mean we are talking about a HUGE economic crisis and wars in two countries! You get that right ALL THE TIME.

(Honestly, sometimes I wonder if McCain wants you to think he and Sarah are perfect. But that's for another day).

Obama and Biden have much bigger things to worry about then inartful turns of phrase. Unless they are McCain's of course - then the Dems splatter them everywhere! But that is too, for another day. Back to the subject at hand.

Man, first off, if I were President, I would want a well armed populace right now - who knows what crazy country might decide to kick us while we are down (okay, channeled Norm there for a second). But even if we don't need to defend the motherland, I don't think the plan is to take people's guns away - I mean seriously, would you want to try that?

Therefore, I would get really, really popular, and have all those gun owning, middle class patriots behind me all the way! Get popular with salt of the earth people. Get popular with Wal Mart Moms and firefighter dads. Heck, while you are at it, get popular with young green urbanites.

Get popular with teachers, police and fire, community organizers, churches, nonprofit and businesses. Get popular with as many different kinds of people as you can. And, get popular with them for the right reason - because you are on their side. The next President needs to do the right thing with the average American Joe and Jen, Bob and Barbara, Sam and Sam.

If I were Obama and Biden, I would only be worried about telling the American people they are going to do good by them. The American people don't care about gaffes, they care about not having to worry about the world crashing on their heads. If I were Obama and Biden I would only be thinking about how I was going to connect with the American people.

That's who keep our country strong. American people. American workers - the priest, the small business owner, the nonprofit ED, volunteer, parents, military personel and their families, the baby boomers, the old people and and all those young kids too! That's who make America go round.

Get friends with all of them!

They keep our country strong. Get on their side!

I am not sure who's side our administration has been on the last four years, but it's not been mine. If you think about polls, it's only about 30% of Americans who think Bush is on our side.

If I were a Presidential candidate, I would say, "Let's get on the side of Americans Again! Come on!"

So now, when you go vote, ask yourself, who's on the side of Americans? On the vast majority of American's - it's a democracy after all. Majority rules, minority rights. Let's make the minority as small as we can.

In everything - salaries, healthcare, discrimination, job burnout - we should have as few as possible in the minority, especially if they are getting screwed! We should make sure the minory of American's getting paid the least, paying the most for healthcare, working their butts off, not-getting-anywhere kinds of people are a very small minority!

I think Obama and Biden are more on my side and more on the side of more Americans then are McCain and Palin. That's why I am voting for Obama.

No offense against them. I am sure they are good people. McCain and Palin. I just don't know if they know enough about the rest of Americans, outside of where they are from. And I don't think they know America has changed.

John McCain doesn't use a computer - who doesn't use a computer - and Palin is from a big state, way far away, with its own set of important issues that seem, sometimes, not very related to what is going on down here. They just aren't in touch with most Americans. How could they be?

I think Obama and Biden know what's going on in America. Obama is from a state not very close to the other 49, but he grew up his adult life working the streets, then the government of a big important city in a very rural, very large, very important state.

He knows what it's like to struggle and he knows people who have struggled. From his time as a community organizer working with churches on Chicago's south side helping laid-off steel workers, he learned how hard you have to work to make it in this country.

But he didn't pity anyone. And he didn't offer handourts. He helped find them jobs and get to work. Finding the job was the hard part, because another American industry had left thousands with no one on their side, no money in their pockets and no where to go, they were left stuck by an industry they gave their backs and bodies to.

Finding the job was tough. Getting them to work was easy.

Obama respects working Americans and how they help our country. He is on their side.

And after he went on to help the city of Chicago, he helped the state by serving in their State House. And now he is serving the country as a United States Senator. No short feet for anyone, much less someone in his 40's.

But that's what America has always been about. Working hard, serving, making a difference and just waiting for your lucky break. In any job. Working for the government, or for business, or in the nonprofit sector, they are working hard. Those are the people I want on my side.

That's why I want Obama to President. That is why I ask you to vote for Obama. He is on our side.

If you vote for McCain/Palin or Green or Barr or anyone else, good for you. Thanks for voting. And if your guy or gal doesn't win, sorry. And if they do, well good luck to us all, right. Either way, let's all be nice about it. I think it will be easier that way.

So maybe it was no gaffe. Maybe that's what Biden was saying.

Progressives for a Positive American Future - Unite (PaPAFU)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:03:00 +0000

Hello all you progressives and Obama peeps! Let's forget about all the garbage we have been focused on the last week and refocus on the excitement of an Obama administration. Let's refocus on the positive energy that built Obama's campaign.

Remember energy independence in 10 years? Clean, green jobs that will help our environment, bring economic recovery, new investments in technology and energy independence from the middle east.

How about healthcare that everyone can afford? Remember - no $'s into Obama's campaign from big pharma or health insurance lobbyists. Guaranteed eligibility, expansion of SCHIP and a benefit package similar to that offered through Federal Employees Health Benefits Program - that's something McCain/Palin can't touch!

And my personal PaPAPU-fave, from his website - Zero to Five Plan: Obama's comprehensive "Zero to Five" plan will provide critical support to young children and their parents. Unlike other early childhood education plans, Obama's plan places key emphasis at early care and education for infants, which is essential for children to be ready to enter kindergarten. Obama will create Early Learning Challenge Grants to promote state "zero to five" efforts and help states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school.

Go to his website, look at the issues – find your personal PaPAFU-fave and spread it around!

Don't get dragged in the mud - that's going backwards - progressives unite behind Obama's vision for a more prosperous, cleaner, greener America!

This is probably the last word you will hear from me for a while on the campaign while I detach a little bit.

Just remember PaPAFU Loves you!

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:03:00 +0000

From DRBism Photos

No words

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:02:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:31:00 +0000

I get more feedback and conversation from Facebook.

I don't have the time or inclination right now to write anymore than a pithy post on the ol' DRB.

I sit and I think and I even start a new post here and there. But they don't seem current enough. And there isn't any one thing I want to write about. But I don't have the energy to write anything complex.

I think of writing about Omar, but my life as a parent, right now, is too, too much to capture into words. Anything I write just seems so inadequate. How do you put the life of a boy into words?

Omar is doing very well, thank you very much. Happy and chatty. Lots of energy, lots of fun. Eager to learn. Mostly eager to please. Tonight he tried our patience more than I can remember. Pushin' the buttons!

But overall good. Tonight we taught him the word "extrovert" because he is the epitome.

The transition to school is going fine. Some crying, some clinginess, but nothing out of the ordinary. He likes school and likes his teachers.

We are spending a lot of time with friends. Our local community seems to have tightened in some ways. We see more of our local friends and Omar knows them pretty well. He gets along with everyone!

I am probably more isolated now on long distance communication and much more in touch on local communication than I have been in my life before. The locals and the long-distance initiators - those who call me or email me - get the most up to date on the Oboy.

Sorry if this isn't meeting anyone's needs. I am beginning to wonder if it is meeting mine - the blogging, not the frequency of communication. That is fine.

I am also beginning to wonder if this (being a parent) is a bigger transition then I may be admitting to myself.

And, this week starts my last semester of grad school.

I had a sad little bump last week, a dip into the swamp of my "fourness" (Enneagram, look it up). I am now beyond that bump and my outlook is good.

Settling is my mantra. A negative connotation for some. Right now, the universe tells me to give it a try.

I will settle for this post, as inadequate and opaque as it may be.

Good night.

Experience versus Judgment

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:18:00 +0000

From Nancy Pelosi's speech at the DNC, courtesy of Ben Smith:

Republicans say John McCain has experience. We say John McCain has the experience of being wrong. On the failed Bush policies that have weakened our economy and taken us from the Clinton surplus to reckless Bush deficits and on raising the minimum wage for millions of American workers, Barack Obama is right and John McCain is wrong. On health care for 10 million American children and on protecting Medicare — a bill so crucial that Sen. Ted Kennedy left his own medical treatment to cast the decisive vote — Barack Obama is right and John McCain is wrong. On a future of American energy independence, investment in renewable clean energy, and millions of good-paying green jobs here at home, Barack Obama is right and John McCain is wrong. And on the most important foreign policy decision of our time, the war in Iraq — a catastrophic mistake that has cost thousands of lives of our men and women in uniform and trillions of dollars, as well as has weakened our standing in the world and our capability to protect the American people, Barack Obama is right and John McCain is wrong. Very, very wrong.

Which part do I pick?

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:04:00 +0000

There is so much to any person. Everyone of us is layers upon layers of complexity, each one of us filled with consistencies and contradictions. No one knows the entire aspect of another. We barely even know the entirety of ourselves.

So, I sit and write and wonder, what should I write about, which me, or which part of me, do I present to the world? (Or at least the couple dozen or so people who read this blog on a regular basis)

There is the part of me that ponders the deep philosophical questions of life and wonders if there is any meaning to any of this and if so, what is the meaning. You know, the part of me that always asks "why?". It's the same part of me that has no faith in anything, and doesn't believe anyone's answers to the questions anyway. Should I blog about that?

There is the part of me, which late at night, gets very scared by not knowing the answer to the question "why?", the part that gets scared at the improbability and fragility of our life and feels very, very alone. Maybe I should write about those feelings.

Then there is the part of me which loves life, loves to experience it, feel it, taste it and touch it. There is the part of me which is awed by the beauty of existence and isn't scared by anything. It's the part of me that wants to hold onto life and everyone in it with all I've got! I have written on that plenty of times.

Or maybe I could write about all the very mundane parts of me. The ugly parts of me, Like the part of me which is a slob - the part that drinks too much wine and eats too much desert and is lazy and who can spend an hour sitting on the computer, getting sucked into every little story about the presidential election instead of doing anything remotely productive. The part of me which can put the best procrastinators to shame!

Along with that part is the part that says "I will get up at 5AM tomorrow morning and work out" but knows I am just going to sleep in instead.

There is the part of which is very critical of myself and the part of me which is a snob.

There is the poet part of me. And the photographer part of me. The video maker part of me.

The parent part of me (a new part). The husband part. The friend part.

Which part do I share? Not just with you, my oh devoted readers, but with anyone. Which parts am I even hiding from myself?

And, why do I even share? What motivates me to post any part of me, much less the deep personal parts, onto a public website? And, who even cares?

And, do I post what I think people want to see, what people want to hear? Or, is this blog just for me? Do I have responsibility to the people who read this blog?

And, why do people read this? What do they gain? And why are the majority of my readers anonymous? Why do they read, but not join in?

What do people think about this blog and all these parts of me? Especially the random people who I sort of know, but don't really know, who stumble across the blog. What do they think? And should I even care?

When I first started blogging, gosh like four years ago, my writings were 90% personal journaling and only 10% for public consumption. Over time, I have focused more and more on writing for the public, writing to be heard over writing to process. I don't think it's flipped completely, but it certainly is now written primarily for public consumption.

Not only does that beg the question, in my mind, of why the shift, why did I change from a personal journal to a public weblog, but it also leads me to wonder if I change what I write based on how I think others will react to what I write. In fact, I am sure the filter through which I write is more about how the public views what I have to say, versus my writings being just for me.

And, is that "okay"? What have I lost by doing that? Where do my personal thoughts go? And, do the readers who have been with me from the start, the readers who like the random rambling and processing, do they lose anything by my shift away from the most personal of my posts?

Sometimes I think maybe I will just stop blogging, there are just too many questions I don't have the answers too. Sometimes it feels like work and I worry if I don't blog for a few days that I am being a "bad" blogger. Maybe it would be better if I didn't have to worry about the blog (but then I would just worry about something else).

I do think if I wasn't blogging that I might try some other kind of writing, you know something real. Maybe a book or magazine articles. Or maybe I should just take a break from the public blogging and do some private journaling again. Who knows.

But I don't think I will, not right now anyway. Shutting down the blog means losing something, even if I am not sure what that something is, and I don't think I am ready to give it up - whatever "it" is! Sigh...just more questions without answers.

So for now, I keep the blog, but with limited time - I have a kid now, you know. So, what do I blog about with that limited time? Which part do I share, which Aaron do I present? Which Aaron do I bring out for the show? I can never give you the full picture of myself, so sometimes I think, "why even bother?" And even the things I do write about are just snapshots and summaries of the thoughts I hold around a particular subject, so why even share? And, like I said, who even cares?

So I just wonder sometimes, which part do I pick? And why? And does any of it really even matter? I just don't know.

As a friend told me today, maybe I need to let go of the need for answers. But that's just another question. Maybe I will blog about it someday.

Good night.

Singing in the shower

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:40:00 +0000

I thought I knew so much
five years ago

And now I know how much
I don't even know

I wonder how things will be
ten years from now

I bet things will be
much different then

Repeat Over and Over until shower is complete
(Please note, must be sung with a faux country accent)

Quick lunch time post - or quote of the day - or "It's not??"

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:55:00 +0000

Remind me to use this line if I am ever arrested (which I hope I am never arrested, but...):

In trying to explain why former Justice Department officials will not face prosecution for letting improper political considerations drive hirings of prosecutors, immigration judges and other career government lawyers, Attorney General Michael Mukasey told delegates to the American Bar Association annual meeting, on Tuesday "not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime."

That's right boys and girls - that's your Attorney General of the United States, the head of the Department of Justice and chief law enforcement officer of the Federal Government.

God, I love George Bush!

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:15:00 +0000

I have been sitting here for 30 minutes trying to think of how I want to describe the past week - my first week being a parent and full-time worker - and I can't quite get it out.

So, I am going to try and boil it down to five quick blurbs:

Omar seems to be adapting well to school (pre-K). He doesn't like to be dropped off, but goes without too much struggle. His teachers report that he opens up more every day and seems to be engaged in the activities throughout the day.
We love Omar. He makes us laugh all the time. He is a huge extrovert and has lots of energy, which we love.
Beth and I have been clashing more than is normal for us. We are both learning about how to be parents and sometimes, like in anything, we come at parenting from very different angles. We both want to be good parents and we are realizing how much energy it takes.
I put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect. I want to be a perfect dad, a perfect employee, have a clean house, a perfect yard, healthy plants, a trim physique, in consistent contact with all my friends, update my blog and Omar's blog, make cool videos for his blog and be a dedicated YNPN board member. And, oh yeah, my final two Master's classes start at the end of August - gotta get A's!
Parenting takes a lot of energy and I, right now, I am tired.

Good night.

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:58:00 +0000

Ha!
You think I can describe
in any words
life?

Then what's this bloggy
blog
all about?

But then
what is anything
about?

I hope you all watched

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:36:00 +0000

The opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics in Bejing. They were incredible! The ceremonies were a beautiful mix of technology, artistry, fashion, coordination and teamwork.

Mina and Bryce joined us for beers, burgers and the opening ceremonies. We had a great time! Check Omar's blog for some pictures of the evening's festivities, taken by Omar!

Omar loved watching and kept saying, "I have never seen that before!" That's when he wasn't vying for Bryce's attention. Bryce, who is great with kid's, was more than happy to oblige.

From a political blog I read

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:48:00 +0000

Ben Smith talks strategy with the Schumer:

One of the Democratic Party's leading electoral street fighters, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, said that Barack Obama should respond to John McCain's personal attacks with an equally personal slap.

"I would not be afraid to attack back," said Schumer, who chairs the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, in an interview with Politico.

"I thought the Britney Spears commercial was powerful," Schumer said, referring to McCain's television ad casting Obama as a vapid "celebrity."

"They're trying to say, 'He's not one of us,'" Schumer said.

"I would answer back hard. What do you mean he's not one of us? It's John McCain who wears $500 shoes, has six houses, and comes from one of the richest families in his state," Schumer said. "It's Barack Obama who climbed up the hard way, and that's why he wants middle-class tax cuts and better schools for our kids."

Obama's campaign responded to McCain's barrage by accusing him in television ads and press releases of taking the "low road," while casting Obama as above such attacks on his opponent's character.

The strategy has produced some questions in Democratic circles as to whether Obama shouldn't be hitting back more personally - but Obama's aides argue that the perception that McCain is running a traditional, negative campaign is damaging McCain's reputation for high-minded independence.

Just flipping through pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:19:00 +0000

I love her...

People are good

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Stiner) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:51:00 +0000

People are funny
And people are sad

People are arrogant
and people are mean

People can be plain old sons a' b***ches in fact

People open their homes
People open their hearts

People listen
And people don't hear
People don't even care

People are generous
People are loyal
People are consistent
And people are wild

Selfish, lazy, hateful and petty
People are all these things

People have power
and people are weak

People look out for number one
People would sacrifice even their lives
for a stranger, or someone they love

People give, people take
People love, people hate

You are people
I am people
She is people
He is people

And, people are good