"LGBT Professionals Networking Event" written by Heidi on estrip.org

08/25/10 10:20 - 66.ºF - ID#52569

LGBT Professionals Networking Event

The Pride Center of WNY will be having our next LGBT Professionals Networking event on Sept. 1!

Wednesday, September 1st
Mode Urban Bisto (corner of Elmwood & Utica)
5:00pm - 7:00pm

Please let me know if you are able to attend!!!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Richard
richard.ridenour [at] ml.com

Permalink: LGBT_Professionals_Networking_Event.html
Words: 51
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/25/10 10:20

Category: home

08/24/10 03:28 - 73.ºF - ID#52550

Bodhi likes taxes

He's doing a great job filing all our old tax stuff!
(notice the blanket!)

Permalink: Bodhi_likes_taxes.html
Words: 15
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/24/10 11:03

Category: home

08/23/10 02:25 - 64.ºF - ID#52546

Torture at the beauty shop

Nisha now has a dress!

Permalink: Torture_at_the_beauty_shop.html
Words: 6
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/23/10 02:26

08/23/10 12:37 - 63.ºF - ID#52542

Testing location

Permalink: Testing_location.html
Words: 1
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/23/10 12:37

Category: home

08/23/10 12:13 - 63.ºF - ID#52541

Bodhi's loose!

Okay he can't get anywhere yet but he's trying!

Permalink: Bodhi_s_loose_.html
Words: 11
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/23/10 12:13

Category: home

08/22/10 09:42 - 68.ºF - ID#52532

VFW post 8730

Excellent antique signs!

Permalink: VFW_post_8730.html
Words: 9
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/22/10 09:42

08/22/10 04:46 - 72.ºF - ID#52522

Be kind

So cute!

Permalink: Be_kind.html
Words: 3
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/22/10 04:46

Category: ideas

08/21/10 11:24 - 70.ºF - ID#52496

Time Orientation

This 10 min video discusses concepts of time orientation (future-positive, future-negative, present-positive, present-negative, past-positive, past-negative) and how that is shaped by geographies and culture. It uses an illustration of "there's no future tense in the sicilian language: was, is, will be - there's no "will be"." It also looks at video games and their instant gratification and control over the environment makes heavy users bad students and workers. I hope you'll watch it and comment on it. I'm not advocating its viewpoint, just trying to think it through. Caution: it's extremely Euro-centric to the point of being obnoxious.

metalpeter writes at 03:08:12 08/22/10 - Comment #57985: Sit down dinners are Very important. Kids sit there and don't like it and want to go to their room, but it is a good way to be social and put up with their family and talk about school, if they want. The point of the family dinner is so that no matter what is going on all day, everyone commits to step away from what they are doing and be a family even if it is for 10 minutes. It is a way to show that everyone at least is there for each other. Open (I don't mean being your kids best friend) communication is very important and that is one way to get it.

Video games just like TV and many other things are isololated events for many people, to much of that is bad for you. Instant gratification teachs you that you have to have things now. Well that isn't how the world works. That raise you get it when you prove your self (except in prosports) worthy of it. You get a review when the company says not when you say. If your mate is working you don't go get a Whore you wait till they come home. Many things that tech teaches us isn't how the world works, and what it teaches us is a diservice.

Think of this Single Mother, kid sits by him self playing video games and Jerking off watching porn, and blaring music. No wonder he is awkward in school. No wonder he won't play sports. No dad to show him, and no interest in being physical. It is easy to see why, when the kid who used to pick on him gets beat up the kid who did the beating now has him push dope for him. Has money and girls and people respect him (yes taking it a bit far). Or he hates school cause he isn't that smart so he drops out.

This doesn't mean that all kids do that. In fact some video games are very complex and (yes addicting) are made for smart people. The Final Fantasy games are and example or really any role play games. But the kids who play thouse aren't dropping out anyways.

The thing with school is, it isn't fun. You are there to learn. This sounds cold but The teacher is there to teach class to everyone and if a couple kids don't get it she can't hold up the entire class for 2 kids. They can get special instruction after school or work harder. Are there bad teachers ? Of Course. But there are bad students who don't care about learning. You don't need new tech in teaching. Yes computers are great to type papers on, But. You know you have to learn how to write and present things in writing. That is a life skill you need.

I don't even think this video is trying to make a point. I think it is a reflection that different people think about time differently and what they consider more important effects how they live their lives......

tinypliny writes at 12:13:25 08/22/10 - Comment #57979: Oh - another little thing. Computer bootup time. When processors are as fast as they are nowadays, there is simply NO EXCUSE for a 1 min boot-up. This is such a characteristic pathetic excuse of bloated up outdated operating systems and software to curtain their inadequacies and cleverly make you feel guilty about your impatience.

Take Photoshop for instance - it takes FOREVER to start up. Why? Because it's a crap piece of code. Ever tried Fotographix - it's a mere ~320 kb, doesn't require a zillion registry entries and starts up lightening fast AND does 80% of what people generally use Photoshop for.

This video is a big excuse for justifying outdated thinking. And the irony is it manages to be pseudo-effective just because it is employing an innovative method of projecting those excuses.

tinypliny writes at 12:06:19 08/22/10 - Comment #57978: Man, I wish I could draw my mind. I just saw the illustrations without sound again. I am in raptures. I hope this format continues to stick around and evolve. When Google presented its Chrome OS, they used a simliar story-boarding approach to building up the theme of the OS. Brilliant.

tinypliny writes at 12:01:39 08/22/10 - Comment #57977: Lovely illustrations! I love how he converts words into graphics and then draws ideas again from the graphics. I was fascinated by the storytelling form. It's very effective.
Those 10 minutes went by fast! :-)

However, I have to disagree with the assertion that living in a world that is overtly surrounded by technology is probably influencing the time perception of kids and THIS change in time perception is making traditional classrooms boring and indirectly contributing to drop-outs.

I think the basic problem is "traditional" classrooms. Take this presentation as an example. There is a simplicity in conveying ideas and words. He is not reading off a powerpoint. He is actively involved in projecting ideas. This is a non-traditional presentation - a self-interactive one that draws the audience (however, remote) into its threads. But a majority of classroom teaching employs methods from the past. I think we are doing tradition a disservice by labeling these outdated methods "tradition". The human tradition is to evolve. If classrooms were to evolve and keep up with technology, they have a better chance of being successful with the kids of today.

The illustrator mentions how people know what the consequences of their actions are in the future and yet continue with self-destructive present behaviours. He points to the example of teenage pregnancies and STDs. I know this may not be an entirely appropriate analogy but these teenagers, when playing a video game, also know when they are going to be shot down (or however their online persona gets injured or killed). What is the result? They learn to extend their online lives and go "unharmed" to the next level. And yet, these are the very kids who are apparently not learning their lessons in "real" lives. Why is there a difference? I think that this is a stark illustration of the *ineffectiveness* of our teaching and parenting methods - totally out of sync with what is required to mentor kids of the 21st century.

Blaming video games is a simple way to absolve ourselves - teachers and parents alike, of the necessity to evolve, and follow in the path of true human tradition. As we update our labs with new computers, new apparatus and new reagents, we also need to rewire and update our brains to new methods of more effective communication.

The presentation also touches upon sit-down dinners as a cornerstone of family values. That is such an outdated way of thinking about things. You don't need "sit-down" dinners when parents are good examples and good role models. "Sit-down" dinners are just a facade of the images that characteristically come to mind when we think about the word "family". Let's consider another analogy to see how this is flawed - the word "marriage". How many people would think of a gay couple exchanging vows when they think of "marriage"?

My point is, we are limited by our perceptions of how things were defined two centuries ago. The moment we learn to let go and evolve to meet this century's needs and scenarios, we will be a lot more effective in managing our time, our health and our future.

paul writes at 11:34:25 08/22/10 - Comment #57973: I wrote this in response (e:paul,52504). Have you found waiting in line to be less annoying since you got your droidX?

heidi writes at 11:30:52 08/22/10 - Comment #57971: (e:Lauren) - yeah, I was worried no one would watch it so I made that long intro for it. You're absolutely right about the lack of detail and sweeping generalizations. I spent a little time looking at some peer-reviewed articles on the topic and most of the stuff seems document-able, it's just extremely condensed to make the format work (including the cute visuals). The wiki article was the nicest overview: :::link:::

Waiting in line is super annoying to me because I didn't really experience lines until I went to college. Red lights ditto - there are about 10 in my entire county.

(e:Metalpeter) - Here's the personal time orientation quiz :::link:::
(don't click away from the results in the same tab/window - they'll disappear). No one is all one way, we have a preference but it's balanced by preferences in other directions.

metalpeter writes at 10:16:07 08/22/10 - Comment #57963: 1. Is it just me or does the guy sound just like the Sham-wow Guy
2. The illustrations remind me of the UPS ads, well same idea is used here
3. It is very interesting and brings up a lot of good points
4. There is a flaw in the idea though (not that I expect them to touch on this in a 10 minute video). It makes it sound like people are only one way when that isn't true. I'll use myself as an example
A. Everyone not just me has Nostagila for when things where better in there lives, when they where a kid
B. I like many others like some things from the past, Classic cars and Pinup girls
c. I work and plan somewhat for the future 401K

5. I like the kinda bashing of America
6. But at the end the guy says that most differences in culture can be explained by this different view of time

I wont take it one step further and say that people in gangs are only thinking of the present time and not the future and may feel as if there life is not theirs to control, I don't think it is that simple really.......

lauren writes at 10:08:29 08/22/10 - Comment #57962: I think that this is very fascinating and right on a lot of ways. Question Heidi, were you concerned when you posted this that not everyone would watch it because it's more than a minute long? I catch myself doing this, thinking that people just won't watch anything online that is more than a minute unless they are personally invested in it in some way. And admittedly, I was playing Farm Town while I listened to this in the background. Yet, generally speaking, I find myself to be much more patient than most people. Perhaps because I come from a small town and not a city? Or maybe it's just a fantasy of mine so I can be self righteous toward those who drive too fast and get easily upset by a line or a traffic jam. Course, I am still not much a cell phone user, and I only use my phone as a camera, no other uses. And I think the video game theory is worth while, but certainly deeper, at least for me, than mere instant gratification versus boring classroom settings.
I think this video leaves me feeling unsatisfied, mostly because it's too sweeping and not quite down and dirty enough for my preference :) I would like a ten minute video on cultures and time, a separate one on language and time, and another on video games. You get the point. Oh and, what does it say that they filled the visual void with cutesy drawings? Just sayin' ;)

news writes at 01:11:54 08/22/10 - Comment #57954: I found this really interesting but ya, it seems super eurocentric.

Permalink: Time_Orientation.html
Words: 109
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/21/10 11:27

Category: moving

08/20/10 07:03 - 76.ºF - ID#52481

Yea!

I signed the lease for my new apartment today! The property manager is *crazy* but the tenants I met said she's right on top of maintenance. She's got a thing about bugs and women in headscarves and unemployed or disabled people.

[btw, i'm done being pissed. sorry for being a brat!]

I also sold FOUR of my photos!!! I'm so excited. That more than covered all my expenses for Infringement Festival.

So I'm planning to move 8/28 & 8/29 and would love love love and deeply appreciate your help! I have a small apartment and light furniture. It took *maybe* an hour for three people to move all my stuff from a U-Haul to my apt when I moved in in 2008 (Thank you, (e:chico)!). There will be plenty of beer (and pizza or other yummies) available. If there seems to be a time that works for a couple people, we can make a party out of it.

Permalink: Yea_.html
Words: 155
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/20/10 07:12