Social Networking!

Cool term! .... But what is it and how long have we known about it? .... The Wikipedia definition is as follows .... 'A social network is a social structure made up of individuals (or organizations) called "nodes," which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.' ....  Okay, now this makes sense! .... See, I thought this was a relatively new term to our society, but I now realize it's been around along time and has involved some well known characters in history! .... Even some famous story-lines from movies and television involve 'Social Networking'! .... First the historical characters! .... There are far too many to list in this post, so I'm just going to deal with a couple that everyone can identify with! ... Almost everyone is familiar with Benjamin Franklin. .... That's right .... the 'kite guy' ....  everyone knows of at least one of his famous exploits! .... What most of you don't know is that he was one of the great Social Networkers of his time .... both with men and .... especially the ladies! .... Hard to believe those funky looking glasses could be considered sexy, but they really worked for old Ben! .... You see, when it came to .... 'getting around' .... he was a better candidate to be called .... 'father of our country' ....  than George Washington! .... The ladies loved him! .... No .... I  mean they really loved him! .... I'm not sure the his total number of offspring has ever been accurately counted .... but it's many! .... The other great Social Networker of his time was Thomas Jefferson! .... He too was a great communicator and did everything in his power keep his slaves ....  Happy .... If you know what I mean! .... But seriously, the imagination of Gene Roddenberry .... the man behind the Star Trek iconic science-fiction series, captured in his plots the future of Social Networking! ....  He stated in his prolog that .....'We would go where no man had gone before' .... at least not yet! ... In most of his story-lines he constantly was seeking new life sources and trying to establish an open line of communication .... even if these life forms were different from what we knew! .... The challenge for the star-ship Enterprise and its crew was to find common ground to link various civilization together, constantly seeking discussions rather than conflict. .... Did he have the right idea? .... Was this the true meaning of Social Networking? ..... Is it possible that with the advancement of technology this is the greatest tool mankind has ever received? .... Or have we gone too far too fast from Franklin and Jefferson's time? .... Have we made it too complicated? .... I think not! .... I believe we do need to .... 'Go where no man has gone before' .... Heck we have too! .... Franklin and Jefferson have already taken care of the other!

America's Team!

Are you kidding me! .... I think it's time to retire that term for the 'STAR'! ( Dallas's Logo) .... Let's face it, in an earlier post I commented on a quote by George Allen, when he referred to a very talented NFL rookie running back in the early seventies .... When ask by the press as to how good and how successful  he thought  this young man could be ....  he replied. "Talent is not enough"! .... Now we flash forward forty years and because we are so enamored by flash and cash .... the marvelously over rated mystique of the Dallas Cowboys  and other pro sports franchise's, has become tarnished and quite frankly a little annoying! .... The annoyance comes from the plethora of football retirees and so called experts, dissecting every aspect of .... 'What's wrong with the boys'? .... I say who cares? .... There are 31 other NFL teams that deserve the respect and attention for what they do .... not only on the field .... but off of it too! .... In this age of the pro sports athlete and extremely high salaries, it is becoming difficult listening to excuses and finger pointing as to why they are coming up short of expectations! .... Criticism of these talented individuals is based as much on personal life styles as on field performance! .... These criticisms are justified! .... There are so many instances where athletes have been more easily recognized for their poor judgement .... reckless endangerment of themselves and others .... suicides or accidental deaths ....  and greedy me, me, me only attitude! .... For the thousands of pro athletes that go about their job with enthusiasm ....  hard work .... dedication to family and community .... and commitment to team and owner .... there is a very small percentage of malcontents that attract the majority of the press! .... So here it is! .... We can't stop people reporting the information the way they do ..... but we can recognize when images and symbols are becoming bigger than the definition of athletics and what they mean to a city or country! .... We can shun sleazy marketing techniques of a few owners whose egos are bigger than the games themselves! .... We can expect a quality product and outstanding effort! ....  We can reject the behavior and thoughtlessness of those few! .... because .... 'Talent is not enough!'

Life As We Know It!

You may have noticed that I have not posted as much in recent weeks .... that may have something to do with today's topic! .... For years scientists have insisted that they have not identified life anywhere in the universe, and a term they frequently use is .... 'As We Know It!' .... I've been thinking about this and coincidentally heard the term used recently in a commercial for a new movie .... Life As We Know It  .... being released in a couple of days.  This is a perfect term for anyone that has gone through stuff .... retirement .... relationships .... friendships .... and generally any other changes! .... The point here is that change is not all bad .... scary .... but not bad .... just different! .... And when you come to grips with the reality of it, it can be therapeutic! .... The down side is that some parts of your life that you grow accustomed to are no longer available for you to use as a safety net and comfort zone! .... It's a mechanism we have in place and use .... that both protects us and hinders us.  In my case many things have changed for me since I turned .... dare I say ....  'SIXTY'! .... And of course retirement ....  has proven to be extremely more difficult to adjust to than I thought! .... Aside from that though, surprisingly, friendships have been altered! .... At first glance I integrated the two and made them symbiotic with resolution and conciliation! .... Not the right approach .... A better approach is to reflect back on the affects and derive a process in which I garner wisdom to accept and glean peace and tranquility! .... You see this is just another piece to a very intricate puzzle that we call life! .... I am beginning to understand that my new life is different from the way I understood my old one! .... In my classroom on the front wall, I posted a quote by legendary Indiana University and Texas Tech basketball coach .... Bobby Knight .... He said, " The will to win is not as important as the will to prepare to win." .... and as I told my students many times, they need to work hard, stay focused .... realize that working hard is more important than raw talent .... if you want to succeed! .... The same can be said for ultimately adjusting to life's course changes .... I need .... 'to prepare to win' .... at this new life challenge! .... I need to realize that ...."Life As I Knew It" .... has changed!

Paradise Lost!

Okay .... maybe not to the extent  John Milton's 'Paradise Lost' referred to in the 17th century poem .... but paradoxically  to what's happening in my world.   Milton's poem has strong biblical implications and closely aligns with the story of Adam and Eve! .... But goes even further to develop tie ins to other forms of religion and worship throughout civilization! .... Ultimately it's the original story of good versus evil .... but Milton's twist is that the villain .... or evil ....( Satan in this setting ).... is not that bad a character! .... So how is this a paradox for me? .... Simple, for many reasons most of us are judged on how our life's turn out.   We usually are perceived and evaluated based on our body of work .... which includes but is not limited to our relationships and accomplishments! .... Example, a quote from Milton's work states that ' It is better to rein in Hell than serve in Heaven.' .... Now remember that when Milton wrote this .... modern psychology was still more than 200 years in the future ....  Freud and Skinner  .... were still in waiting! .... It doesn't matter how often  that what I perceive to be a good deed .... an altruistic gesture .... goes unnoticed and overlooked .... it only matters what the final score is! .... I don't know who keeps score on this stuff .... maybe no one .... never the less, it still affects me and how I will proceed to rule the rest of my life! .... If I'm the only one that sees benefits in what I am doing .... while others believe that what I am doing places me in my own personal 'Hell' .... then so be it! ....  Once again ...  maybe Milton was right? .... ' It is better to rein in Hell than to serve in Heaven!'

Results May Vary!

What a great statement! .... If you use this phrase you can pretty much cover your a _ _ for anything you do when it doesn't work out! .... But what does this really mean? .... I'm sure that no one sets out to almost accomplish what they want .... even-though the companies that rely heavily on this phrase have no qualms about taking your money! .... Diet and Pharmaceutical companies are notorious for placing this statement in their adds. .... But for me it has a less sinister meaning! .... I understand it to mean that I am free to experiment and enjoy opportunities that if I take the safe approach I might miss out on something wonderful .... Still, knowing this, instilled caution sometimes prevents me from venturing forward and just let things happen! .... To help me get a better grip on this imperfection, I need to relate life to a sporting analogy .... Here are the facts! .... Countless times in team sports the most talented team with the best players .... highest salaries .... extensive media coverage .... end up underachieving! .... Many reasons are scrutinized .... rationalized .... and publicized .... but ultimately something really simple is the culprit! .... ATTITUDE .... that's right attitude of the players involved .... George Allen .... the legendary Washington Redskins coach .... once commented about an extremely gifted running back that had all the tools to be a Hall of Fame player .... but had issues with authority and following the rules! .... He replied when asked by a reporter as to his opinion on how great a career this individual might enjoy .... 'Talent is not enough!' .... From the first time I heard this I have tried to understand and incorporate this in my youth coaching and then in my classroom when dealing with students that were talented but sometimes were difficult to deal with because they were talented! .... I learned that patience and understanding for these individuals was the best elixir .... along with a strong firm hand of discipline! .... So my point is that having known this for years and understanding how to use it to help others, I forgot that this may now apply to me! .... Doing and saying all the right things .... expecting that I had all the answers .... not allowing room to try different things .... is critical during the change from working to retiring! .... I realize now that I truly need to accept the idea that .... Results May Vary!

Upon Further Review!

Maybe it's the time of the year, or maybe this phrase is being used more often! .... I was thinking how .... 'Upon Further Review' .... might relate to me too! .... You hear this term used after a play on the field has been called by an official .... umpire .... or referee .... but they may have missed it! .... The play or call can be challenged as to being correct! .... Anybody that has watched a National Football League  game is familiar with the procedure! .... After a period of time the head official returns from a sequestered location that involves a camera .... hood .... security .... and earphones .... to inform the television audience and thousands of somewhat knowledgeable fans .... that .... 'Upon Further Review' .... they got it right or they screwed up! .... Most sports .... professional and amateur .... have adopted at least some version of instant replay! .... Unbelievable advancements in technology has created an entirely new culture for the sporting world that allows .... managers .... coaches .... and in some sports .... even the players to question officials decisions! .... It seems natural for this technology to play a major role in sporting events because of the insatiable appetite to .... scrutinize .... optimize .... analyze .... and anyway else .... dissect everything! .... The intent of this process and highly developed technology .... is to get it right! .... Now to the point as it relates to me and who knows .... maybe even you! .... Until recently we lived our life .... did the things that people do for years .... were successful or not .... but had to wait awhile to find out if what we did or accomplished was important .... meaningful .... hurtful .... good .... or bad! .... And for many .... by the time we out .... it was too late and nothing could be done to change it! .... But with the advent of social networking .... YouTube  .... Facebook  .... Twitter  .... we can now judge or be judged almost immediately! .... If we are challenged by something or someone about how we act .... talk .... or think .... 'Upon Further Review' .... we can change it!

As The World Turns!

How many of you know the television 'Soap Opera' that originated in the 1950's by the same name? .... That's right ....  'As The World Turns' .... It recently broadcast its last episode .....  A daily show that aired for over fifty years! .... Like other baby boomer creations, it ran its course and rode off into the sunset! .... But, just like everything else in life the world doesn't stop turning .... Television shows will continue .... other shows will replace this icon .... story lines will be revisited .... but with different characters! .... This is true for anyone that retires and moves to the the next stage of life called retirement .... Even though we consider what we do unique and special .... The truth is in the phrase itself .... 'As The World Turns' .... says it all! .... No matter what, everything will turn as agreed .... It's been this way since the first cave dwellers walked from their shelters and discovered that it took a lot of work just to get to the next day! ..... If you were lucky, you lived to 'retire' and were taken care of at the ripe old age of about twenty! .... That was the ultimate 401k! .... Live long enough and you garnered the spoils of life's accomplishments .... became wise .... revered by a few .... looked at with awe by some, and contempt by others! .... Is it any different tens of thousands of years latter? .... I say no! .... Oh yeah the social scenery has changed .... Walmart  has replaced the Wooly Mammoth  hunt as a source of garnering supplies to survive! .... Ipods .... Computers .... Facebook and You Tube .... have filled in nicely for meeting new neighbors instead of attacking and enslaving them! .... We are much more civil now .... we have political parties to take care of that! .... The point here is that we realize no matter what we think .... or how we pride ourselves into believing we are better prepared for this time in life when it comes .... and that we are really ready to just sit back .... enjoy .... reflect .... and accept the process! .... The question remains .... do we truly understand the phrase .... 'As The World Turns'?