Gong Hey Fat Choy! A most auspicious New Year to each and all. I just saw the link to an International Business Times article on my friend Valerie’s facebook page. She put this quote from the article in her post, “The Dragon is larger than life and its appearance means that big things are to come.” Then she wrote, “I can get into that! :)” Me, too! So here I am 500 miles down… Read More
Three years ago today, I began the EX:Change project. Our new president had been inaugurated the day before and January 21 was the first of my 100 days for learning from everyday U.S. citizens what they meant when they said the word, change. My goal was to interview 100 people in 100 days and one result was the publication of the book 100 VOICES – AMERICANS TALK ABOUT CHANGE. Now it’s three… Read More
Sam is a barista at the Starbucks where I did a good number of the initial interviews. I’m actually sitting here right now. I came to know of Sam from voice 006, Leila Bowen, who was the manager here during that time. She hired Sam just before she left for another position. I remember her saying really complimentary things about him – how she thought he was management material. Today I told… Read More
Here we are. In crisis. Together. The truth of the oft cited Chinese logograph for crisis is that it holds two characters, one connoting danger and the other signifying a point of uncertainty, a critical moment, a point of profound and unsettling change. This is vastly more realistic than the more New Age rendition that misattributes the notion of opportunity to the second character. We are in crisis. These years are more… Read More
I want to see this country back to using its head. Just common sense. I’ve known some Congressmen and other people in Washington. They all kind of shrug their shoulders. I have a Congressman friend I asked, “How many Senators and Congressmen do you admire for their intelligence?” This man is very, very sharp. He said, “About 20%.” He said there are more idiots sitting in the Senate and in Congress than… Read More
Back in October I got a call from Dave Jarecki. He had been assigned to me by the Lewis & Clark College Chronicle — the alumni magazine of the college where I’ve been a professor for well more than 20 years. I was happy to know my school was pleased with the publication of 100 VOICES – AMERICANS TALK ABOUT CHANGE and wanted to have an article following its release. Dave and I… Read More
You Reading This, Be Ready Starting here, what do you want to remember? How sunlight creeps along a shining floor? What scent of old wood hovers, what softened sound from outside fills the air? Will you ever bring a better gift for the world than the breathing respect that you carry wherever you go right now? Are you waiting for time to show you some better thoughts? When you turn around, starting,… Read More
Art Garcia holds one of many distinctions as Voice #2 in 100 VOICES — AMERICANS TALK ABOUT CHANGE. Today I got a text message: “Check your front porch.” Then a second message followed “: )” — Both were from Art. I wasn’t home at the time, so I called David, my world’s best ever next door neighbor and asked if he’d go see what Art had left. “It’s flowers,” David said…. Read More
Listen to the voices of your neighbors. One hundred voices from across the U.S. All talking about change. All speaking their dreams. Give the book to yourself, to friends or family. Join us in the EX:Change as it continues to offer its invitation to all of us — Listen to each other. See what is there in those with whom you think you have nothing in common. See what is there in… Read More
Down the street @ Bloke http://blokepdx.com/, Justin-the-botanical-artist is well beyond priming – that happened back in October [EX:C blog, “Bloke – AKA, Barber Babes Redux,” 10-29-2011]. Now, since a few weeks before Thanksgiving, Bloke is hitting its prime for the cold weather Holiday season – the festivities that cry for decorative plants and flowers between Halloween and New Year’s Day. Every time I see him these days, Justin is a little breathless, but… Read More
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