24/7 News Cycle : An Informational Failure

The "24/7 News Cycle" contains very little NEWS, and mostly partisan analysis. Investigative news has fallen to the wayside to political advocates. This is how we end up with former radio DJs or comedians analyzing foreign policy with PR pros.

What does Hannity know about military service? Nothing. What does Rush know of solid foreign policy? Nunca. There are brilliant thinkers on every facet of an issue with true solutions that don't have an R or a D next to them. Our local radio stations choose not to air those syndications.

If you're seeking a TV face and voice to fear and agree with you, yes, you'll probably find one on today's cable news. But if you're looking to solve real issues, take a moment to listen to brilliant thinkers... we can find them on the web beyond the fray:

http://www.ted.com
http://www.fora.tv

Learn for yourself. There's simply no excuse anymore. :)

peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com.

SoZen Formula: Political Social Innovation

Here's a simple difference between two political camps of social innovation -- for the U.S. Congress:

DONKEYCRATS:
Weaving memes into legislation in the name of "progress" which affects us all...
Progressive Legislation is inspired by a perception of sub-standard-ness -- the answer to this perceived injustice is "progress".

REPUBLIPHANTS:
Building memes by legislation in the name "security" which affects some...
Security Legislation is inspired by a perception of security threat -- the answer to this perceived insecurity is "control".


Before you begin rooting for your team. When it comes to legislating "the market", both parties reverse roles. As we can imagine, both benefit the nation. Some call it gridlock, others call it compromise.

peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com.

Martians *can* Exist!

Now that NASA's Phoenix lander touched and tasted Martian Ice. Wonder if it tastes less like Hawaiian and more rich like the Italian -- or like the fish freezer ice cubes in the garage?

Where there's Martian Ice, there's bound to be Martian amoeba's right?

peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com.

NewGen Comic Strip: Get Your War On

Clever, sharp and beholden to only truths... and a smirk.

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© seanrox.com.

To Understand and Cope with a Growth Mind-Set

Quite often, Autumn and I discuss how we hope the Boy will "become" in his own life. From the very beginning, she hoped for him to simply "understand" the world around him. I thought this a gracious prayer and concur. What a great gift -- to understand.

I hope the Boy learns to cope. We all developed coping skills through out our lives. Some learned and others discovered. At an early age, through karate, Boy Scouts and studying the NASA space missions I first learned to open your mind to possibilities. Through skateboarding, I applied this "growth mind-set", and I discovered it made me a better thinker and problem-solver.

The psychology of "Born-Again Christianity" (which I share) is built upon the same premise: The epiphany that life circumstances can indeed change, evolve and grow once you're in control of your own destiny.


Here's "Unboxed", an article from the NYTimes that inspired this post.

Is it possible to shift from a fixed mind-set to a growth mind-set?

Absolutely, according to Ms. Dweck. But, “it’s not easy to just let go of something that has felt like your self for many years,” she writes. Still, she says, “nothing is better than seeing people find their way to things they value.”

Read the whole article >>

So, I suspect, it is better to instill these values in someone as they develop rather than expect someone to come to this specific conclusion on their own. I suppose we'll just need to teach these lessons through living them... as a family.

peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com.

SoZen Understanding for Cocker Spaniels

Coming to terms with a cocker spaniel is to know they probably don't have a "stay function."

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© seanrox.com.

Learn a Craft, have a Life

Work is the creative clock we follow. The timepiece by which we survive by the fruits of our labor. Since we're in the watch-making business, shouldn't this clock be the best clock -- we best craft?

Lyrics to the song. Paint on the wall. Solutions for problems. Lessons for a child. People are best when they're at their best.

peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com.

Islandscopic Childhood

Rivers and lakes, fresh water, nearly every pre-Interstate American city was built upon one, the other or both. So, what does it mean for someone who lives on an island, surrounded by salty seas? By the time I turned 23, I had lived 11.5 years, nearly half my life on islands including Japan, Okinawa, Hawaii, England and Cocoa Beach, Florida. Important?

peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com.

The Difference: Good Vs. Great Ideas.

For many years, I've been receiving a free independent email newsletter geared towards copywriters. (from Jack Forde) Not sure how I got on the list, but it's been a pleasant weekly pep-talk about Creativity these many years.

Sure, I write copy. A rogue spattering of techniques with little formal education other than the love of the "story" itself. The mix of solid design with nuanced copy... now, that's the creative edge in a competitive industry sharing ideas. Examine this excerpt of today's newsletter, where Jack illustrates the difference between a Good Idea and a Great Idea. Here is Jack's head on nail:

* Great Ideas Simplify: A really great idea simplifies what was once tough to convey, in a head- smacking-obvious kind of way.

* Great Ideas Focus: The tighter the focus of an idea, the more power it has. One thought, expressed in one sentence.

* Great Ideas Inspire Action: If you "think up"
plenty but do nothing, it's mind-power wasted. Great ideas inspire great acts in response.

* Great Ideas Are Actionable: If you can't put the idea into practice, what's the point? Insight without usefulness isn't worth a heck of a lot to most people.

* Great Ideas Create Familiarity: Creativity is all about finding links between what we already know and what we've just discovered. Metaphors with a twist.
A bridge between the already-known and the new.

* Great Ideas Connect People: An "idea ahead of its time" is really an idea that fails to ride the tide of mass desire. And, arguably, ideas that fail to do that aren't so great after all.

* Great Ideas Inspire Hope: We latch on to ideas that will take us places. This is especially true for marketers, where the idea is the solution we're selling.

Thanks Jack!
peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com.