Archive for July, 2012

Monday, July 30th, 2012

Olympics

I am a sucker – I admit it.

Or maybe I’m not…you decide.

I love watching the Olympics.

I love the buildup.

I love rooting for my country’s team, but I always find myself cheering for individual athletes – from anywhere – who show perseverance and defy the odds to win.

And then you have the odds….

Once it was only about sheer ability and will – and maybe it still is – I think/hope so.

But many countries and some individual athletes spend fortunes on new methods of training – scientific methods…methods that remind me of the old Rocky movie where he saws wood and runs in the snow while his adversary trains on computer-driven machinery…we all know who won though….

Having said that, science is applied to mapping muscles, movement and even to athletic wear – with every millisecond advantage meaning another advantage on the road to gold.

Then of course, there is doping and drugging – anything for increasing the odds and still a concern – and what does that say about the Olympic spirit?

And yes, the Olympic spirit – overhyped, overpromised, oversold – yet for many (me too) still an ideal.

But of course, there are countries and individual athletes who just don’t get it – who won’t play and compete against specific competitors for geopolitical or religious reasons – hmmmm – Olympic spirit? Watch out for those – maybe though, this year it can be transcended….

And then I found this quote, which really chilled me and made me realize the negative power that the Olympics can have: “The sportive, knightly battle awakens the best human characteristics. It doesn’t separate, but unites the combatants in understanding and respect. He also helps to connect the countries in the spirit of peace. That’s why the Olympic Flame should never die.”  Adolf Hitler – talk about spin…but Jesse Owens showed him and the world – and won despite the Nazi derision of including a Black athlete in a team competing with Aryans. Sadly, the US treated him no better on his return home…another lesson….

Then there was the controversy over a moment of silence commemorating the murder of 11 Athletes at the Munich games 40 years ago. Despite many world and sports leaders weighing in on its importance to Olympic memory and spirit, the IOC ignored the request and the organizers instead did a video tribute that many have interpreted as a tribute to the 7/7 victims in London, but was vaguely billed as a memorial wall for the deceased loved ones of spectators.

And so it goes – weird science, artificial enhancement, politics, hatred – all are present at the Olympics as they are in our lives – but…

I still watch it.  So do many tens if not hundreds of millions of people. I get inspired, I sit on the edge of my chair, I cheer and jump up and down and I well up with tears – because even more than the veneer of the games as a mirror of all that can be bad in society – in our world when you get right down to it – most of the individual athletes represent all that is good, all that is best in the human experience and soul…

I watch South African sprint runner, Oscar Pistorius, who has a double amputation and has created a new heroic title in the Olympics jargon: “The Fastest Man with No Legs.” Some are focused on the science behind his blades, but to me the real story is that he embodies the good spirit of the Olympic games: the endurance to train, confidence to compete and passion to win. Who doesn’t watch him and feel inspired?

Listen:

“Champions aren´t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.”  Muhammad Ali

I had the privilege of seeing Ali on Thursday night, at the US Olympic Committee’s preopening party. He is in a wheelchair, can’t speak, can’t even really move – but his very being radiates champion and as I watched the young hopefuls from Team USA excitedly take his picture and literally bask in his radiance – I knew that desire, dream and vision trump it all.

So I’m back to watching and rooting – for any and all with desire, dream and vision – because no matter where they rank, those are the winners.

What do you think?

Posted by David on 07/30 at 07:10 PM
  • I plan to root for her!!!!!!!
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    Posted by David Sable on 2012-08-06 11:14:43
  • I walked the hills, visited several towns & chilled in the ghettos of Jamaica last week as I do every year. Destinations maybe not on your 'Top 5 places to visit', but places which have given rise to Jamaican olympic greats from Arthur Wint, Don Quarrie to more recently Usain Bolt. The olympics may be an 'ideal' riddled with politics, ...
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    Posted by JTC on 2012-08-01 21:09:42
  • I think it's sad that the Olympics highlight the racism and hate that still exists, but that is overshadowed by the athletes. I don't think people watch the Olympics simply to support their country (although that's a big part) but also to watch in awe what a person is capable of when they dedicate themselves 100% to their craft. All ...
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    Posted by Gustavo on 2012-07-31 14:05:43
Monday, July 23rd, 2012

5 Generations

5 Generations.

Doesn’t seem a lot, does it – in the digital age?

Five generations of software can be weathered by watching the “update your app” icon on your iPad…turn the device on and off a few times a week, and who knows how many generations of whatever you have passed on.

Yet in human, familial terms, generations have lengthened as our lives and society have changed. So today, 25 years is a good round number to use when calculating generational length.

Therefore, a span of five generations encompasses some 125 years – and that does seem like a lot – no?

Five generations has been on my mind all week as my daughter gave birth to our latest grandchild – a girl – the first – while in the room next to her, unplanned but serendipitous, another girl was born, and the two represented an unbroken chain of five generations between our respective families and its many branches.

Imagine the joy you have in the birth – now double it as you celebrate another birth and then exponentially add five generations of celebration, sorrow, laughter, tears and love – even as I write this I find it hard to articulate…yet I can’t stop smiling and feeling great.

These two little baby girls are connected back to their great-great grandparents, and it’s an all-inclusive melting pot of connections, including grandparents…and aunts and uncles (great and non), cousins of all types, extended families of every description, and it keeps on growing.

If this was an App – the “Link the Generations App” – we would be talking about how to monetize the links – what’s the value of one in – two in? Three? A Great-Great…JACKPOT!

How many connections does each generation have? What can we do with them? What is that value?

How do we take it public?  After all, talk about social – this is the height, the touchstone – unbroken lines of deeply connected people expanding and extending in all directions – this is the real thing, a true social network linked by way more than bits and bytes.

Imagine – pre-Facebook, pre-digital – before we even knew we needed social networks to have friends and generate income for Brands, these two newborns were hurtling toward their shared destiny, and two families – and all of their numerous and diverse branches – are celebrating.

At the end of the day, it’s all about understanding what’s really important and what’s not, what’s real and what’s not, what counts and what really doesn’t.

Facebook and whatever other social means you have of connecting are in reality no more important or powerful than your imbuing in them real feelings, real caring, real connectivity. People and relationships are not disposable – not even in today’s world.

Listen:

“In times of change and danger when there is a quicksand of fear under men’s reasoning, a sense of continuity with generations gone before can stretch like a lifeline across the scary present….”
John Dos Passos

The way I ask the question today is – of all of your hundreds of network friends – how many will pick you up at the airport late at night in the pouring rain….

Dos Passos had it right – at least for me – I’m grabbing on to that lifeline and never letting go….

What do you think?

 

Posted by David on 07/23 at 06:42 PM
Monday, July 16th, 2012

Temptation in the Big Apple

The temptation was too great…

The need…the need…what can I say?

I did it!!!!!

YES!!!!!!

I can’t hide from it….

I went into a bookstore and bought books.

There…it’s out – WHEW – I’m feeling better already.

Brick and mortar. No digital full-immersion experiences.

No clicks; swipes; tweets or posts.

Just people and books – lots of them.

And a librarian of sorts…look it up if you’ve never heard the term…

And it was liberating.

Let me explain.

My two grandsons were spending the weekend with us.

I always buy a book or two to read with them. Printed books. No video; no “interactivity;” nothing moving, jumping or singing…except for me…

My usual source? Amazon – children’s book section – “These recommendations are based on items you own and more…”

Always works…easy and convenient…no misses so far. At least not many.

But here’s the thing…

Friday came around too quickly…I hadn’t acted – I was too late for even Super Expensive Ship Right Away and Get It Almost Before you Order rates.

So I did the unthinkable and defied all of the analysts who don’t just predict but claim that bookstores are already buried, and I entered the Dead Zone.

Let me be clear before I continue – numbers speak for themselves – obviously the hardcover book business is declining and the e-reader business is growing – as it should! But do read on…

No zombies; no walking dead…yet – I went right to the children’s section – and there they were – bodies all over the place – on the carpets; in the chairs; on the little stage; leaning against the bookshelves – looking – reading – sharing – talking – excitedly pulling parents and friends and brothers and sisters and whomever over to look or read or touch or browse.

I walked around picking up random books that caught my attention. Looking for authors or illustrators I recognized; titles that brought a smile; colors that caught my attention.

I picked up books and reveled in the sensory rush of lush printing and the tactile experience of different papers. I imagined how Henry and Teddy would react – those two primal digitals love printed books too.

Soon my arms were weighted down – I had far surpassed Amazon’s average order of about $49 and I was still going strong – very strong.

More…

I asked about one book I wanted – the sales associate looked it up on her computer – according to the database there was one copy left in the store but she couldn’t find it – she thought it was possibly in the basement storage and called down to have someone look – good service.

Meanwhile I watched an older woman – clearly the supervisor – help others find their own reads. She listened to the moms and dads but questioned the children – she went online and shared Amazon’s rating as well as others too – but one savvy adult asked her what she thought – and wisely went with that opinion.

She reminded me of the librarians of old – who helped give me my love of books – she knew the material – she had a POV – she was not just an amalgam of unvetted reviews – she knew.

Soon my helper came back to apologize that they couldn’t find it – she was sure it was there…somewhere – the computer said it was – but no one seemed to know just where.

At this point the older woman intervened and asked me to wait just one more minute. And in less time than that she returned lovingly holding the last copy of the book I wanted. Her smile said it all – you will love it she said – I did – more so did the boys.

I checked out – similar to one click – (by the way, based on the info from the cashier, I hadn’t renewed my card since 2010 – so you know the last time I was physically in the bookstore) and took fastest delivery but really cheap. I carried the bag… and in no time I was on the street in the crazy current of a hot New York late summer Friday afternoon – letting it buffet me to and fro as I fought my way home to unpack my purchases and wait for the full immersive experience.

And there you have it – again – let’s be clear – it doesn’t mean that e-readers are not taking over – most of my reading is done on my iPad Kindle App – and it doesn’t mean that the bookstore model isn’t broken – it is.

But here is what it sure as hell means – we had better lose the mindless chatter that so permeates our lives about immersive experiences; social; digital – as if nothing else exists or ever existed – try the bookstore again – and then go online – we are nowhere near creating the true all-encompassing experience that we are leaving behind – nor is there any need to – DIGITAL EXPONENTIAL – room for both – in fact my bet is more than room – value – in sales; in loyalty; in revenue and profit for those who care.

As I said try it – I bet you buy more…and find treasures…So it might be broke – but find a fix!

Listen:

“It’s important to turn off the computer and do things in the real world.”
―Andy Borowitz

Who, by the way, also said:

“There is a fine line between social networking and wasting your f**king life.”
― Andy Borowitz

It was a great weekend – we are still reading – the interaction is amazing and by the way – I just added some books to my Kindle App….

What do you think?

NB – here are some of the books I bought that they loved. Take advantage of my having been in the bookstore and check them out….

  1. What To Do If An Elephant Stands On Your Foot by Michelle Robinson
  2. This Land Is Your Land…10th Anniversary Edition words and music by Woody Guthrie, paintings by Kathy Jakobsen
  3. The Pirates Next Door by Jonny Duddle
  4. Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

Let me know…

P.S. It may explain one way the future could unfold…I think it’s telling who Captain Kirk wants as his lawyer….

Posted by David on 07/16 at 07:20 PM
  • Interesting initiative: In-Store Tech Allows Customers To Print Books On Demand : The Harvard Book Store helps customers find exactly what they need- by creating the novels for them in 4 minutes! http://www.psfk.com/2012/07/in-store-tech-print-books-on-demand.html
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    Posted by daisy de clerck on 2012-07-18 09:50:27
  • Well reading an actual book is always a better choice for me, one i would save some of my money, two i would have a book in my hand a book that i would enherit to my children someday, the only disadvantage if you come to me is being green and save the trees from turning into books, in all ...
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    Posted by bachir Joubran on 2012-07-17 07:36:42
  • I still enjoy reading the 'extinct' way. Holding a book made of real paper, turning the pages ... there's no substitute. I buy several books every month, a few online, mostly from bookshops. Love the non-internet browsing. Of course I end up with too many books & too little time. Recently read a lot of great fiction by Arab writers. ...
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    Posted by Zohra Yusuf on 2012-07-17 07:32:37