grace

… filling in the negative space with positively everything

America Has Lost One of Its Greatest Voices: Dr. Howard Zinn (1922 – 2010)

I wanted students to leave my classes not just better informed, but more prepared to relinquish the safety of silence, more prepared to speak up, to act against injustice wherever they saw it. This, of course, was a recipe for trouble.

- Howard Zinn

A true leader and inspiration for those who believe strongly enough in democracy to fight for it, Dr. Howard Zinn passed away today at the age of 87. Dr. Zinn wanted to be remembered for introducing a new way of thinking and “getting more people to realize that the power ultimately rests in people themselves and that they can use it.”

Howard Zinn not only taught people history, he showed them how to shape it. He walked the talk. May he now rest in peace.

Click these links to see Dr. Zinn’s project The People Speak (history) and celebrities participating in The People Speak.

Click here for Howard Zinn’s Democracy Now podcast list.

Click here for more video & audio links for Howard Zinn.

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Art Not Ads!

Inspired by the guerilla DIY styles of the Tech Collective and SeanMorrisseyCarroll, I decided to remake my blog into a platform for art, not ads. Sure, it may pay even less than the pennies I make from click-thru’s; but the personal satisfaction and public value of sharing creative and innovative work is priceless. Plus, I’d rather stimulate minds than numb them.

So, per AdFreeBlog: “By using this icon on my website I am stating…

  1. That I am opposed to the use of corporate advertising on blogs.
  2. That I feel the use of corporate advertising on blogs devalues the medium.
  3. That I do not accept money in return for advertising space on my blog.

Signed,
The Author”

That felt good. Now, what I mean by turning this into a platform for art: I’m going to use this space to share everything I come across that’s artistic, creative, innovative, evocative, provocative, or shows that someone put passion, thought and craft into their work. There’s so much good stuff I get to see and experience that it would be a shame to keep it all to myself.

Artist and organization opportunities, exhibits, events, etc., will still be posted; but from now on I’m not posting any brainfarts unless I can express them creatively. I need to start holding myself to higher standards, too.

Resilience: How To Build Sustainable Communities

Critical Mass at Heroes' Square, Budapest, Apr...
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Resilience is emerging as the seminal skill for leaders as more economies slide towards recession. The American Psychological Association, which has studied resilience closely since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, defines it as the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, and from sources of stress such as work pressures, health, family or relationship problems.

A resilient person is not only able to handle such experiences in the moment, but also to bounce back afterward. The good news is that leaders can develop resilience by managing their thoughts, behaviours and actions.

- Resilience: How to Build a Personal Strategy for Survival by Gill Corkindale in Harvard Business Blog

This weekend, the University of Houston Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts and Blaffer Gallery presented a conference titled Systems of Sustainability: Art, Innovation, Action (SOS). Described as part arts festival, part academic symposium, SOS centered on exploring and discussing creative enterprise as an integral tool for cultural growth and social change, with presentations given by people whose creative works simultaneously elevated the human spirit and the human condition by successfully addressing social problems.

  • Art Not Ads!

  • Flickr

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