The Complete Randomness that is ME!!!!!!!!!

How to embed a Youtube video into Power point using a Mac.

2010-06-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

It's Been Awhile

2010-04-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

Well what can I say other than it has been awhile since I posted. I have been busy being a new dad and enjoying everything that comes along with it. Being a new dad is a lot of work but I am loving it. So much so that right now my little girl is just finishing up feeding and I get to burp her. I am really good at it :) So I will try my best to come back to some of my regular Change posts, but it might be a little while. Until then, I hope you will check out my YouTube channel and subscribe.
Thanks,
Jim

2010-03-18T10:48:00.000-07:00

"Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary."
-Reinhold Niebuhr

Social Media

2010-03-14T19:17:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post a quick update on the use of Social Media. Generally, I think of how social media can help nonprofit organizations produce change on a number of different levels. However, tonight I used social media for what it was originally intended for. Making connections. I was able to connect family located in many different states/time zones to an event with one family member through Ustream.tv This worked great as we all enjoyed being a part of a special experience.
Later I ended up using Skype to connect with my brother and his family, and it was just awesome to see how much his kids have changes since we have moved away. Technology is amazing in all the things that we can do with it and I am so glad that we can continue to create memories even though we may not be located in the same town. If you haven't started using and social media, go ahead and check it out. You can follow me on twitter or check out some of my YouTube videos for more information.

But how do you use social media to connect and produce positive change?

Online Social Activism and Change

2010-03-01T14:12:00.000-08:00

I recently finished reading a couple of books that have transformed the way I think about social change. The first book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, was written in a fashion I am not really used to. Yet it had a unique message about leadership in the digital age.

The second book I read and would highly recommend was CauseWired: Plugging In, Getting Involved, Changing the World. This book provides great examples of how individuals are engaging in social change using social media and technology. I had to post a quick few comments on these books as I just finished the second and I am getting ready to write a formal review on CauseWired for Nonprofit Voluntary Sector Quarterly. Be sure to look back here as I may post an excerpt of the review here.

Unexpected Change

2010-02-22T11:06:00.000-08:00

Throughout this blog I try to highlight the benefits and positive aspects of Change. I like to see how through Change we can grow, develop, become better. However, I realize that not all Change is positive, especially if it is unexpected or tragic. Sometimes the unexpected can prove to be beneficial but today I have experienced the kind of Change that is inevitable to all of humankind. I don't know if this sort of Change is really ever an expected one. One where we can cherish the journey and reflect back on the experiences. We lost a beloved colleague today. An unexpected and tragic Change that is perhaps the hardest to bare. I understand that today, while many of us gather to reflect and remember, we will cherish the memory and friendship of this beloved friend. Although I only knew her a short time, she has Changed my life forever. That bright smile and lovingly cheeky attitude was so infectious that you couldn't help but to laugh. I am truly grateful to have known you, Robin. I wanted to post the following video because if you listen to the words closely, I believe it captures some of how I feel today. I think this video is also somewhat cheeky, just as you were to me so many times that would bring a smile to my face on a cloudy day. Thank you Robin and God speed.

Critically REthinking Education!

2010-02-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

I have been involved in education for a long time now. As I work ever closer to my final degree and think about what I want to study more, I am enthralled with the work of Dr. Wesch at Kansas State University. He is an anthropologist and is using technology in exciting ways and challenging the status quo of traditional educational models. He has given several talks over the past few years to different groups on the topic of social media and how it is changing education. This video shows what I am talking about.

I think that many people only see social media and the internet for entertainment, but I think that is quickly changing. I think it is important in the new technological environment that we utilize these tools to do exactly as Dr. Wesch points out, Create Knowledge-able students. Students that can use resources to critically think about the issues before them and act in a more meaningful way.
My question(s) for you are why isn't education or instructors utilizing tools to create an engaging classroom? Is it fear? Time involvement? or lack of ability/resources? I understand that it may be all of these and more, but we have got to try better. If we truly want to promote positive change, we need to utilize our resources and opportunities to do so. Let me know what you think and comment below.

CONGRATS TO THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS.....WHO DAT

2010-02-07T18:58:00.000-08:00

New Orleans Saints Classic NFL Throwback Logo T-Shirt - Large New Orleans Saints Logo Premier T-Shirt - X-Large
Indianapolis COLTS vs New Orleans SAINTS Super Bowl XLIV 44 T Tee SHIRT Size 2XL

2010-02-01T18:39:00.000-08:00

Subjects enter a social world they didn't make, but they are able to act upon it provided they can understand how it is made, & in so doing, develop a revolutionary praxis to free themselves.
----- Peter Leonard (1997), paraphrasing Karl Marx

2010-01-29T13:47:00.001-08:00

Change requires innovation. Text messaging is simple but effective way to produce change

THE DAVOS DEBATES

2010-01-24T19:30:00.000-08:00

YouTube is partnering with the World Economic Forum to host the Davos Debates.
Anyone has the opportunity to post a question that may receive the attention of some very prominent world leaders. I have submitted my question so click the link below and vote for it.
Thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/davos#15/e=3316&t=3316.42&q=3316.17fe9

The Disaster in Haiti

2010-01-14T06:34:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to put up a quick post for those of you that undoubtedly have seen or heard about the earthquake in haiti that has been a nightmare for those involved. This is truly a disaster and what is making matters worse is scammers who try to profit from this travesty. Below I have included a few links to organizations that are reputable and trustworthy, and need your support in helping those in Haiti. Thanks for your support.

http://www.redcross.org/

You can also text to the Red Cross with the message "HAITI" to 90999, and the money will be charged directly to your cell phone bill.

You can donate $5 via your cell phone to singer Wyclef Jean's grassroots organization with the message "Yele" to 501501.

Other sites include

http://www.americares.org

http://www.care.org/

or for a full list of organizations go to CBS news.

Books for Change

2010-01-13T07:16:00.000-08:00

My last post was about New Years Resolutions. I know that everyone makes them but hardly anyone keeps them. Maybe some don't even really know how to make them. That's why I thought I would add a little more here to help you get started.
Below are some links to books that might help you get started.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:

Making Your Goals a Reality:

Making a Habit of Success: Learn the Methods That Can Make You a Winner:

Making This Year Your Best Year Ever!: Personal Goal Setting Ideas And Strategies To Get You Motivated To Make Positive Change In Your Life:

The Secret:

Some of the books are rather good, such as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and others are just okay if you ask me. At any rate, I hope that you can get the information you need to have a successful year and produce the positive change that you are looking for.

To the New Year

2010-01-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!!!! (insert annoying kazoo sound here). Well okay so maybe it's a little late but I have been pretty busy. Okay so I have actually been on vacation, much needed vacation.

Anyways, I wanted to post this a few days back and ask the question about New Years Resolutions. What are yours? I don't really make any resolutions because I don't really make definite goals. It works for me but maybe not for others. I see myself completing several projects in the new year and I always look forward and think about Change!

Whether there are some changes that I need to make to have a better year or changes in circumstance or whatever. Change can be a good thing, the idea is to take change as an opportunity to improve. So whatever resolution you have made for the year, I hope that is producing the change you are expecting. 2010 promises to be an exciting year so I think we should make the best of it.

Hard work and a Little Time

2009-12-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

I may not be the biggest fan of hardwork, since I would rather be on a beach somewhere, but I know the value of hardwork. I once had a poem, if you can call it that, that discussed the notion of work. Thanks to nbkrishna for helping me find it...But it goes like this

Work is man's great function

He is nothing, he can do nothing, fulfill nothing, without working
If you are poor - work
If you are rich - continue working
If you are burdened with seemingly unfair responsibilities - work
If you are happy, keep write on working
Idleness gives room for doubt and fear
If disappointment comes - work
If your health is threatened - work
When faith falters - work
When dreams are shattered and hopes seems dead - work
Work as if your life is in peril. It really is.
No matter what ails you - work
Work faithfully - Work with faith
Work is the greatest remedy available for all mental and physical afflictions.

So although I genuinely don't like to work, I understand that it is through work that Change happens. It takes time, but eventually something will change. It is when you see the change happening that is really exciting. You will only ever see that if you work. As I continue to work towards my degree and several projects that are going on, I know look for the little steps of change that produce the results I am looking for. Perhaps my own reason for work is that I work so that I can play and have fun.

Nonprofits take Facebook to the next level.

2009-12-08T19:46:00.000-08:00

Here is some interesting information for nonprofits interested in getting more out of their Facebook...

http://nonprofitorgs.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/six-advanced-facebook-strategies-for-nonprofit-organizations/

I still think it is kind of funny, the hype that is around the nonprofit sector to utilize social media. I mean it makes complete sense to me, but I just wonder how many organizations actually critically think about what kind of content they put out on the web through social media and how that affects the organization?

Feel free to comment.

Thanks,

Jim

Customize your Website or Blog!!!

2009-11-30T16:55:00.000-08:00

Alright everyone. Now I am not the biggest techy person out there, but I do know how to utilize the net and find useful information. That is one reason I am loving twitter. search.twitter is a great way to learn something new. Case in point, I was able to find this website http://www.w3schools.com/

and it provides great and useful tutorials on how to write html for customizing your website or blog. It also has much more than that, but I have been using it to customize my person tumblr blog as it doesn't have as many apps as blogger. At any rate you should check it out and learn some code. Go on. It's easy. And when you have gotten the hang of it, pass it on, and let me know how it went. Take care.

Welcome

2009-11-12T20:12:00.001-08:00

Hey there and welcome to my new blog.

However you found me, I am glad you are here. I hope to use this blog for a creative outlet, thus the title "My Anything Blog" fits or I should say suits me well. Here you can expect to find anything from artistic pieces of writing or even video to news to opinion pieces to calls to action. Again, pretty much anything goes. So be sure to check back often, subscribe, follow me, or whatever and I hope you enjoy.

Thanks.