I Can See 39 From Here...

20 years of awesomeness...

Today, somewhere in West Texas, a slew of people I knew in an earlier life are congregating to celebrate two decades since we reigned our little dusty morsel of friday night lights. I assume it was homecoming at San Angelo Central High School. I hope maybe won this time...

Meanwhile, 1100 miles away, my pre-toddlin' son are spending the day playing wrastlin', rakin' leaves and writin' songs off the top of our heads -- these are our three Rs here in beautiful Columbus, Georgia. Our latest musical masterpiece --  "Chocolate, Son".

OPPORTUNITY
Nothing in the world has afforded me opportunity to share everything I've learned on this long journey more than being a Dad to Kai (戒). The way of respect and interest. A loving sensei (先生).

It's the inner-peace I learned from my childhood in Hawaii, the effervescence felt at thirteen when I became "born again" and especially, the universal harmony of an impromptu jam with people you've never met before -- this is movement. This combined result is why I title: SouthernZen.

Each, peace, joy, harmony, movement -- all together, without one slipping away, is how Kai and I spent my 20th class reunion.

One month from today, I will be one year away from my 40th year in this world. Hard to believe and what a gift given!

Class of 1989, I hope your day was as fulfilling as our own.

peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com, Sean "Rox" Michael Schoff. Eagle Scout. Airman. Artist. Dad.

Smart: Google's CEO is Right. Newspapers are Not Evolving.

MISSING THE STORY ALL TOGETHER.
Earlier, I "twat" a smart link about Google's CEO telling newspapers they don't need to die -- just create a better product.

Because my Twitter account is connected to my Facebook account, which changed the my status, which prompted a friend I knew in Texas from 18 years ago to comment nostalgically about the Era of the Newspaper. (Hi Tom.)

I am sorta bummed about the many newspapers around the nation going belly-up. Seems like an end of an era. Ever seen the movie "The Paper" with Michail Keaton, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Marisa Tomei and Randy Quaid? One of my fav movies of all time. ~ Tom

Before I could comment, a mutual friend from years back blasted:

If todays papers had the morals of those people and would print the news instead of commentary, maybe they wouldn't be shutting down..... Printed medium used to be the only non-biased source of news, now its not..... Sad day for all. ~ Clint

I added:

Hell yea, but the newspapers dying across America is case of executive stupidity due to lack of creativity.

CASE ONE.
Newspapers are the natural "winner" in local news due to archive lifespan, customer retention and the ability to place a PHYSICAL OBJECT in every person's hand, everyday.
... Read More
CASE TWO.
Newspaper sites should cover their city and region aesthetically and impeccably. Careful information gathering and filtering... then, reporters find the stories rise from trolling the data -- quotes, statistics, blogs, video, audio, social networks from the people. The newspaper tells the story of a place -- your town, USA. It is a paper's duty to its city and it's history.

*smells newsprint*
Whew. :)

The real story newspapers should be covering is not that something was said, but how it affects us in our own communities. People will stop to read this new MUST-HAVE hidden story in which everyone of us are included. Then, newspapers can sell accompanying, engaging PR/adspace for companies again.

The people, the city, the changes from one time to the next... the story is not being told, so the lazy storytellers are dying.

And... here's that link about the Google CEO: http://bit.ly/daMjc

peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com, Sean "Rox" Michael Schoff. Eagle Scout. Airman. Artist. Dad.