Graduation and Computer Malfunction

Good Morning,

I wanted to provide something witty and insightful with respects to yet another significant Spring happening (I hope you enjoyed doing your chicken dance or dances as the case may be)--Graduation. Be it from high school, college, prison…solid foods…whatever you are graduating from or to...

But, my computer’s been down all week; my creative spirit has been dampened. (The quickest way to lose your creative energy is to spend a week of your free time at the computer store talking to computer guys).

So, in a pinch, I have been filing through old Podcasts, I was able to find one in particular that spoke to me of the theme/occasion of “graduation.”

If there is one person besides God, or,..okay, really Jesus, I thought qualified to impart wisdom on a group of seniors it’s…Wilford Brimley…”I have diabetes...So call now and receive your free testing supplies. You’ll be glad you did.” Oops no, how about Einstein?

From the man who is known for his science the whole Relativity thing… I found it interesting what he chose to speak about when asked to provide a statement of deep conviction to an audience of his peers.

Get out your deodorant and program fans! Here’s what Einstein had to say*

(If you follow this link, you will hear Einstein's essay “An Ideal of Service to Our Fellow Man”)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4670423


So...what I think I thought he said was (He was speaking in “Einsteinese”)

America was built on a value system that emphasizes competition, being #1 and the individual’s success.

If we look at the state and condition of our country today…probably more so than in the 1950s, we are getting a big fat “F” in realizing our spiritual potential and an “A” in alienating ourselves and others.

Okay, there was more but that’s mainly what I got from it.

Anyway, I do have a "greater" point/purpose in sharing this...

I also went to an open house for the "Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design" last week at OSU. This event was open to the public. I read about it in the paper.

I couldn’t help but think after listening to Einstein’s essay…in the car on the way over…what the world would be like if we used some of this industriousness to help

A person in a wheelchair navigate a crowded hallway or locate an accessible entry into the conference room.

What the world would be like if we used some of our industriousness to say help the airlines develop better “special needs” services or a more travel safe power chair.

If we took more time putting our heads and hearts into helping disabled people find new dance and satisfying recreational opportunities…(veeery important)

And less time developing broad-based applications to make more money for the animation/movie studios…Pixar or Disney.

Okay, end on a happy thought.

Think empty room. Computer geek standing in the background flapping his arms like a chicken. I was asked to participate in the "New Ground Dance Performance" at the open house. (oh...no, no, no).

I did my part wheeling from mark to mark on the demonstration floor making rain, thunder and bird squawking noises blast from the speakers...good times!

Yep, just trying to help diagnose the malfunction this morning…

Happy Monday,

Amanda

*the entire “This I Believe essay” for Einstein can be found at NPR This I Believe www.npr.org/templates/rss/podcast.php?id=453813