More than that... POWER

By chance did you catch the 20/20 Diane Sawyer coverage of Lakota children who live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota?  In the show, A Hidden America: Childrenof the Plains, Diane Sawyer interviewed Native American children and their families who although poverty-stricken, have hope for a productive future, even if it seems like their goals are against the odds.  

In response to the Children of the Plains, two high South Dakota school classes posted a video on YouTube entitled More than that…  These kids are creative and truly amazing.  Their message is powerful and taking them further than they had imagined.  Per the original news article by reporter Derek Olson, "On February 25th, six of the students are flying to Washington D.C. to present the video at an education conference."

My message to these kids is: YOU MATTER.  And they do.  Isn’t it obvious?  They have the ability to make changes in the world; they have already made a difference by creating this video.  Indeed, these kids are much more than poverty and despair.  Who knows, maybe one day we will have a Native American president?   

A hat tip goes to Lisa.  You are a star for sharing :)

http://youtu.be/FhribaNXr7A

Robert Looks Twice for President

Cookie Love

Photo by Laurie Hansen

Do you love someone who is watching his/her cholesterol? Here is a recipe that was tested and approved by our household "Cookie Monsters."  These treats are heart healthy, low in fat and sugar, and taste sort of like granola bars.  They are also a nice "indulgence" for someone with a restricted diet, minus the guilt.  Sweet!

QT's Peanut Butter Choco-Chunk Cookies

2 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup natural peanut butter (We used Smucker's with honey.  Note: This contains a bit of added sugar.)
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
2, 1oz. squares unsweetened chocolate, crushed or chopped into small pieces

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F.  Mix banana, egg whites, vanilla, peanut butter and honey until smooth.  Add oats, flour, baking soda, chocolate and mix.  Spoon onto non-stick cookie sheet, flatten each a bit with a fork.  Bake 10-12 minutes.  Makes about 11/2 dozen large cookies.  Enjoy!

Tweet Smart (again!)

This was originally published onThe Innovator Network, a.k.a. The Innovations Lab Blog (original post: Tweet Smart) but I felt it was worth repeating. Perhaps I am preaching to the choir. If so, maybe you can share with a few "non-believers"?

I often describe Twitter as one of a few things:

· A room filled with people where you can enter, shout a message and run back out again

· A pool filled with floating free info that you may gather and sort through as needed

· A gathering of individuals and groups where you may meander through quietly and listen in on interesting conversations or stop and chat for a while

I use Twitter to connect, promote, collect, share and sometimes just spread some love. Twitter is sort of a collective consciousness that some claim will make you smarter! At least that is what David “@dmullen”Mullen says. In his article, Five Ways Twitter Will Make You Smarter, David shares the following rationale:

1. You get access to different points of view.

2. The people you follow point you to great resources you wouldn’t find otherwise.

3. You can poll your followers.

4. You can learn what consumers are saying about your company or your client’s brand.

5. Twitter will make you a better writer.

I find number 5 intriguing, but what I like most about Twitter is that it is a place to be nice and benefit from the niceness of others. On Twitter, everyone shares knowledge. Remember what Robert Fulghum said? “Share everything.” Just like in Kindergarten. And it’s fun!

A hat tip goes to Steven W. Anderson (@web20classroom), as he shared David Mullen’s (@dmullen) blog post via Twitter!  And, of course, one to you @profdebock!

Conscientious Fashionista: Science Meets Fashion

I share the story of Natalia Allen, Design Futurist, with hope for my kids, our future.  I first heard of Natalia through an email subscription to Green Eco Services.   Natalia is Winner of the Young Scientist/Entrepreneur Partnership Award from the IAP Global Network of Science Academies   and graduate of Parsons The New School For Design, where she won the Designer of the Year Award.  She is also one of “Utne Reader's  25 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World.”  Initially, Natalia worked with scientists to develop novel, high-tech fashion and processes such as photolumniscent  fabric, “rusted” denim and laser bonding technology.  Really cool stuff!

Throughout her journey, Natalia witnessed production houses, sweat shops (50% in the U.S. alone!) and excessive waste in the fashion industry and, as a result, felt compelled to switch gears.  She then put her energy toward “sustainability as innovation” in the fashion world. No wonder they call her the “Conscientious Fashionista.”   You'll be glad you watched the video below. Pretty. Awesome. Pinky swear. (Hat tip to Natalia's no-spam email subscription promise!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcZK26R3xdM

This video was posted by EcoSpeakers on YouTube.  Read more about Natalia here: http://www.ecospeakers.com/speakers/allenn.html

Words of Wisdom: Talking with Al Gonzalez about Professional Development and Social Media

Alfonso "Educator Al" Gonzalez

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Alfonso (Al) Gonzalez, a.k.a.  Educator Al, during #EdChat on Twitter.  For those who do not know, Al is a National Board Certified Teacher and Social Media extraordinaire.   He also was the recipient of the 2010 WA STEM Entrepreneurial Award which is “designed to provide incentives for quality proposals in exploring new approaches in STEM instructional practices and improving student outcomes.”

I hope this interview inspires you to expand your PLC, your PLN and your PDSM (Professional Development through Social Media).

Take a listen here:

Laurie Hansen Interviews Educator Al Gonzalez by LaurieHansen

Below is the information about the TED talk I referred to in the podcast (via @profdeBock’s Innovator Network aka Innovations Lab Blog) and Al's links:

http://innovationslab.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/zittrain-the-web-as-random-acts-of-kindness/

Educator Al’s Blog WA STEM Entrepreneurial Award 

Mr. Gonzalez’s Webs http://educatoral.com/

Follow @EducatorAl on Twitter

Nothing.

I wrote a poem about nothing.  Not in the spirit of George's idea for a show about nothing, but rather, nothing as it pertains to something.  Something really important.
Why a poem?  I'm not sure.  Because it's (I'm) emotional, I guess. 
Of course, there's  always a back story:  I was inspired by a friend who, at his surprise, needed immediate open heart surgery.  I wanted to send something, give them something. 

I asked what the family needed.  His wife said, “Nothing.  We have everything that is important to us.”  He’s alive. 

Of course, friendship and support go a long way.  But things?  Things leave much to be desired.

So here it is..

Pow!

A moment of panic scrambles in, but leaves

As the light of realization reveals:  I need nothing

It’s all here

with me

now

In loving memory of Kim M.

#Shoutout to @FRESHthemovie #Brooklyn You Are #FRESH

Tweet that!   Watch this!  FRESH!  a film by Ana Sofia Joanes