August
August
August 28, 2002 - New Tools for the Desktop
It's a kind of illness. I know that.
Nonetheless, every 18 months or so, I'm compelled to do an inventory of all the tools on my computer desktop. Here are the things I look at:
First, where do I spend most of my time? That is, what kinds of work do I need to do?
Second, which applications do I use to accomplish that work?
Third, what else is out there that might help me be more productive, to accomplish more work in fewer steps?
August 7, 2002 - Writing in the Margins
I was shocked and appalled to find out that John Adams, architect of the Constitution, 2nd President of these United States, actually (and I still can't believe this) wrote in the margins of almost every book he owned.
In one book, his marginal comments were actually longer than the book itself. Clearly, he took more pleasure in his disagreements than in the writing.
What are we to make of such a travesty?
August 1, 2001 - Teen Dreams
Some 15 years ago I did a workshop on creative writing. It was at a private school, grades K-12.
I started all the sessions with a simple question: who remembers what they dreamt last night? In the kindergarten class, every hand went up. Of course, not every child really did remember his or her dreams. But they all remembered something ABOUT their dreams and were eager to share it.
August 8, 2001 - Boardsmanship
I think I've worked about every side of this now. I have worked FOR a Board in three capacities: as the Chief Executive Officer (a library director hired by, reporting to, and accountable solely to the Board), as the staff member working for the CEO (but presenting information to the Board), and as an independent contractor or consultant.
I have worked ON a Board as a member (sometimes with few responsibilities, sometimes as a committee member or chair), as an executive officer (Secretary, for instance), and as Board President.
