Polynesian Tatau - Art, Culture & Personal Expression

 Tatau is the name of artwork originating in the Pacific Islands, over 3,000 years ago, and discovered when early explorers, enamored with their beauty, collected it from places like Tahiti and New Zealand. This artwork grew in interest, continued to spread around the world, especially with seafaring explorers. Over time, the word tatau turned into "tattoo".

If you are anything like me, what you knew about tattoos growing up was limited. I thought that sailors got them (loud people, using foul language) in tattoo parlors (dark, unsanitary, questionable places). The only people I ever knew with tattoos were in the military, or they were folks that I didn't really hang out with. I never understood the appeal of a tattoo and never wanted one-- Ever. I couldn't think of any image to put onto my body that would stay there. Forever. Until I die. What could I commit to that wouldn't eventually fall out of fashion with me, or move on from being super important after a few years? Or a few decades? 

My family feels the same. Also, you should know, that my family is also considered very proper. Growing up in the American South, we'd go to church every Sunday, help the elderly woman next door change her lightbulbs and take out her trash. We never wore white after Labor Day, but always wore gloves and pearls to match our Sunday outfit. We were sure to get good grades, land the right job, stay out of trouble. We did what is expected. We did not get tattoos. My brother's friend got a tattoo when he was in the army, but he regretted it when he came home and sobered up, so all was forgiven.  

Fast forward from the 90's to 2020. Things have changed. The world has changed. I have changed. Perceptions of tattoos have changed. And yet my ideas about getting them have not. I still can't think of a single image or saying so important to me that I want it permanently set into my skin, either viewable or hidden to others. By now, I've given it plenty of thought. I've talked with friends. Considered it seriously, on more than one occasion, and still -- nope.

Until I see tattoos from New Zealand. I'm stunned into silence at how beautiful they are. I've never seen anything like it. Instead of some bounded image, first seen flat, on a wall or in a book, then copied onto the skin in different colors that fade, Maori have their own art form, blending ink and canvas, freeform in a symbiotic relationship where the skin, stretching over bone and muscle in constant motion making curves and folds, hold personalized and familial symbols unique to the wearer, linking them to their culture. These symbols are known collectively in the community, familiar, inked by someone who crafts their own tools and delivers markings as part of a ceremony. The art is an act, embodied, an expression of a community - collectively and individually. 

I learned all I could, in the way I knew how. The internet. (Although, i wish I cold have traveled to New Zealand in person.) As I looked around, I learned more. I learned about Ta Moko and its cultural significance, and how every symbol has a meaning. In some cases, the community leader would choose symbols for the person, and there are unique symbols for each community or family. It's an important expression of Maori culture, and people get upset when non-Maori take it and copy it. It's insulting, and considered cultural appropriation.

My heart sank. I found something beautiful, and it was off limits. With more reading, and more research, it turns out that Ta Moko is sacred, only for Maori, but kirithuhi was created for people like me, a collection of symbols that can be used by those who appreciate the art but aren't Maori. Relieved, the only thing left was to find an artist who knew the difference, so I could feel comfortable with whatever I might want to get.

By now, I've changed my mind about the whole tattoo thing.  Now... now I want a tattoo. I TOTALLY want something that I wear, but isn't clothing, conforms to the unique shape of my own body, and expresses who I am. I couldn't sign up fast enough. Of course, my family is taking longer to win over.  My mother comments "A tattoo?! Why on earth would you want a tattoo?" The same way someone might ask ,"Why would you want an extra horn growing out of your head?" Remember. Sailors. Unsavory people. Not our family. It isn't proper.

Afterwards, I sent pictures of my new body art to family members. My brother is stunned into silence, and only when prompted does he respond with "Well, I guess, if that's what you want. OK." My mom is more understanding. She gets it.  "It's so beautiful! It's not a tattoo. It's art."

#LikeAGirl

I can't remember the last time a TV spot during the superbowl made me choke up. The ad by Always #LikeAGirl did just that. It was a great spot about how the phrase is insulting to women and supports the need for people to change.  I tweeted my approval to the world and read that others disapproved for some unfathomable reason.

Why is the phrase "...like a girl" offensive to women? Let me explain in very basic terms. I've learned by raising two sons. If you don't practice something, you don't get good at it. Watching my kids learn how to throw, hit and run in little league baseball showed me it's not easy. It took 2-3 seasons for them to lose that awkwardness around catching a baseball while wearing a mitt. Hitting a ball with a bat is so hard that the first year they have a device that holds the ball in the air for them to swing at (the "t" in "t-ball"). Even then, they miss a lot.

The conclusion? Everybody "throws like a girl" until they learn not to. In my family, girls weren't really encouraged to learn sports. As a kid, my brother was signed up and supported to play football, baseball and basketball before he decided that soccer was his preferred sport. I was enrolled in ballet. Although I was a natural at swimming and loved the water, I didn't recognize that my swimming was considered "athletic" until well into adulthood.

If girls don't participate in sports, they don't learn to throw, kick, hit, catch like boys do. Thanks to Title 9, that is changing. This amendment legally gave equal access to sports for both genders. It was controversial. It passed in the 1970's but wasn't fully enforced until well into the 2000's. My cousin gave up a shot at Olympic skiing because of the impact Title 9 had on him in college. Despite that, I find it hard to express the inner freedom I feel when I see more laws like this put in place, and more attitudes changing as a result. Women growing up now may not ever have to know what it was like to be excluded from sports and the subsequent inequality that follows us through adulthood (anyone putting up with sports metaphors when talking shop in the boardroom knows what I mean... really, when's the last time you heard a childbirth metaphor used at work?)

My world is slowly transforming to make more space for the contribution of women, but we are far from a place where equality and respect flourish. I could cite plenty of statistics on how women earn less than men, own less land, hold fewer positions of authority around the world, etc. The Always superbowl ad displays to the world that we still have a long way to travel before womens' contributions are valued and recognized.

For anybody who thinks "throwing like a girl" is an insult, I'd like to set the record straight. May you, and all whom you know, be able to:

• drive like a girl, Danica Patrick
• fight like a girl, Laila Ali
• kick like a girl, Brandy Chastain
• hit like a girl, Venus Williams
• lead like a girl, Hillary Clinton

I know there are many examples of women doing amazing things in your community. May you celebrate each and every one of them.

Surviving and thriving in an extroverted world

I heard a rumor about a book written recently that extolls the virtues of being an introvert. I knew immediately that I must read this book, since I strongly identify with all possible definitions of introversion. Every personality test I've ever taken confirms this identification. This blog post summarizes what I've learned from Susan Cain's book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.  I found it to be enlightening, educational and enjoyable to read. The author lays out with meticulous detail, supported with credible research, what it means to be an introvert vs. an extrovert, and how each of these can function ideally. Rather than cast one as "right" and the other as "wrong", she merely states that they are "different" and anyone who can recognize and respect the differences will benefit. Since introverts make up 20% of the population, there's a chance you may be one or know one.

Introverts and Extroverts

Public opinion states that we should all be gregarious and comfortable in the spotlight. Taking action quickly, risk-taking, exuding certainty, workings well in teams and socializing in groups will take us far in life. It helps to "put ourselves out there" in order to get ahead in life. Some people struggle with this ideal, thinking they are less-than, broken or wrong. Maybe others have been told, or think to themselves:

• You're thinking too much about this
• You're so boring
• You need to come out of your shell
• Promote yourself more!
• You're so shy
• Why don't you go out and make more friends

These are questions asked by extroverts to anyone who doesn't conform to the extrovert ideal. Why aren't we all outgoing and confident? We live in a highly urbanized society where the first impression is of extreme importance. It pays to be magnetic, stunning, forceful and energetic. That's what's been reinforced for the last 100 years, and its different from an era when more of us lived in smaller towns, we knew each other, and one's character was the most important currency. Reputation communicated who we were and guided others about who to befriend, marry, hire and respect.

In an extroverted world, it may seem strange to encounter people who prefer a quieter atmosphere, work alone rather than in groups, have fewer friends, think deeply and don't speak up unless there's something important to say. Without a viewpoint like Cain offers, we might follow society in thinking that something is "wrong" with these quiet people, we might manufacture drugs to "calm their nerves" or "give them confidence" so that they can emulate gregariousness and confidence, no matter how painful it is. 

Cain, however, asserts that there are a number of famous, brilliant, strong leaders who were, and are, introverts. And the introvert ideal has something tremendous to offer anyone who wishes to cash in on its wealth of assets.

Extroverts 

• laugh at your jokes, 
• are more assertive, 
• think out loud, 
• prefer talking to listening, 
• are rarely at a loss for words, 
• blurt out things they don't mean to say, 
• are comfortable with conflict
• don't like solitude.

Introverts

• can be serious, sensitive listeners, 
• prepare in advance for situations, 
• avoid conflict,  
• ponder deeply before making decisions, 
• listen more than talk, 
• think before speaking, 
• find expression better in writing than in conversation, 
• don't like small talk but enjoy deeper discussions. 

People in creative professions are more likely to be introverts. Famous leaders (Gandhi) are introverts. CEOs can be introverts (Bill Gates), as can famous inventors (Steve Wozniak, Nikola Tesla). However, the world today is set up for extroverts both in schools and at work. Business schools reward the extrovert ideal, reinforcing gregariousness over deep thinking, even though studies show that both introverts and extroverts make excellent leaders. In fact, introverted leaders are more successful in companies comprised of self-starters who innovate and jump at opportunities to do new things with little managerial encouragement. Extroverted leaders are better with teams that are more passive, requiring managers who talk more and provide more explicit direction. 

Cain points out that our economy could have strongly benefitted from more introverts within leadership in the financial sector during the years leading up to the Great Recession. She outlines a strong trend in rewarding quick decision-making with little attention to details and nuance of the surrounding environment within financial and banking companies. We all paid the price for that mistake. 

In school settings, we know that introverts and extroverts are measured as equally intelligent. However, studies show extroverts thrive more in elementary school, but introverts fare much better in higher education, which favors deep thinking and independent learners. 

When viewed objectively, introverts are seen as serious and careful, good at school, watchful and quiet, devoted to love ones, loving intellectual problems, sensitive to their environment, thinking and feeling deeply (which brings nuance to experiences), who concentrate with intensity and are capable of complex emotionality.

Cain spends chapters outlining how introverts function at work and at home, in school and in relationships (both romantic and friendships). She even outlines extroversion and introversion between the East and the West on a cultural level. "Americans are some of the most extroverted people on earth" (186), and within our nation, Congress typifies the extrovert ideal, preferring flash and bang over deep quiet thinkers who will say something once then remain silent. 

What can we learn from this book?

1. If you know an introvert or are an introvert, realize that these traits are to be celebrated, not scorned. Look for environments where an introvert can thrive: lower levels of stimulation, time and space for quiet reflection and deep thinking, opportunities to speak up without threat or intimidation (either explicit or implicit), opportunities to speak with other 1-on-1 about meaningful topics. Identify how your current environment rewards both introversion and extroversion and ensure there is a balance to accommodate both styles. 
2. Understand that both introverts and extroverts have limits. People who tend to be quiet can be outgoing and gregarious in the pursuit of a passion, as long as it is meaningful to them (more money or vacation time is rarely the best reward), just as extroverts can occasionally think deeply and pause to reflect on their actions. However, requiring too much of this from someone who isn't comfortable with it can actually bring harmful results (yep, studies show that, too). 
3. Even though we have limits, it makes sense to push on the boundaries of our comfort zone. Be willing to engage with large groups of people, to learn how to make small talk, to worry less about what others think and feel. It is especially helpful to understand your passion and pursue it. Do you care about the environment? About educating others? What is standing in your way and how might you adapt in order to reach those goals? Cain's book is full of examples of people who have found ways to thrive as an introvert in an extroverted environment -- they push their limits, then find ways to retract and recharge. As long as you are pursuing your passion, its possible and fun.
4. The better we understand our own personality, the better our chance of operating in a world that may or may not accommodate us. Understand that "quiet" does not equal "bad", and we all have something powerful to offer to those around us. Find a passion and pursue it. Thrive. 

What Every CEO Should Know About Designers

How do we manage creative people? “Let them be unproductive until they are.” Don Draper, Mad Men

Two decades of working as a designer in business has provided many lessons learned over the years. I'd like to pause, momentarily, and put forth this short list of insights for my fellow workers in the business world. Specifically, you who lead the business world and shape the direction of products and services we rely on daily, these are the things I'd like you to know.

What makes me good at my job won't always make me good at fitting into your enterprise.

As a designer, I naturally challenge the status quo. I find new ways to solve existing problems. I deal in the novel, the possible but not yet realized. This approach challenges stasis, balance, routine, ultimately nudging people out of their comfort zone. It's not always fun for those who aren't ready for change. Often, I hear "what's wrong with how we are doing it now? It seems to be working." Sometimes they have some data to back it up. From last week, last month, or last quarter. But I'm looking into the future, and I usually take the long view.

I design for people.

I care about people. Real, flesh-and-blood people. Not markets. Not audiences. Not segments. Not nameless, faceless groups that you talk about in order to improve margins and, ultimately, make more money. I care about one person at a time, and I eventually group like ones together (into a tool that I use, called personas). I need a name, a face, emotions, motivations and goals. Once I get that, nothing can stop me from thinking creatively about their needs and how we can meet them. Or their pain, and how we can remove it.

I'm not so much motivated by money.

Don't get me wrong. I love money. Having it means I have a place to live, a car to drive, care for my kids and occasionally take a vacation (woot!). However, if you want to get me to do something great, give me a cause, a purpose, a reason.

Before I got into this line of work, I set my sights on social work, non-profits or academia. All have a reputation for benefits other than money: changing people’s lives, offering a cause to believe in, providing mental stimulation and camaraderie. These are all things that drive me.

Yes, I could change my career path and go do those things. But, ultimately, I'd find myself back here, because you control the look and feel of my smart phone, my online banking experience, my car's navigation system, how I buy different products and services online. I can add value to what you want to do. But first, I have to survive in your company.

Understanding what I do will ultimately serve you.

I have a passion for what I do, and that can benefit you. As long as I feel part of a larger cause, making a difference, I can dedicate my time to working very, very hard. And my work doesn't stop when I leave the office. I'm always on, even when I don't look like I'm "at work". Design is about problem-solving, and I solve some of my hardest problems while on the treadmill, taking a shower, or fixing dinner. I never know when that flash of insight I need will hit.

You don't see everything I put into my work. 

Very few people do. I problem-solve all the time. I learn new things by doing non-work-related activities. A lot of my efforts are spent understanding the complex and the confusing (networks, information, systems, people). I ask a lot of questions. Listen to others. Gather information. In the end, I assemble something to discuss: a model, a report, a poster, a drawing. The final thing is usually beautifully elegant... which is what you hired me to do. But that's not the sum total of my work. It's just the part of the iceberg glistening above the water.

If you expect me to do great work, understand that it’s more than just the result. Design-work is hard. For all the ways it looks effortless, elegant, simple, and clear, everything that goes into it takes a lot of time and effort. Without them, my best work goes untapped.

I can learn to fit in.

I am a professional. I can learn the language of business, adopt your jargon, and take on your work style of hour-long meetings throughout the day, in order to get stuff done. I enjoy working with others with similar goals, who also want to solve problems for your customers.

To conclude:
I know you have a business to run. That's hard work. I know, because I've seen businesses thrive and fail. I'm not going to tell you how to run yours. I can only tell you how I add value. Working together, we can both succeed powerfully as we do what we love.

“We're going to sit at our desks and keep typing while the walls fall down around us because we're creative - the least important, most important thing there is.”  Don Draper, Mad Men

Generative Art

My concept of art usually involves taking raw materials (canvas and paint, or rock and chisel) and using them to create something beautiful. However, I appreciate generative art, that uses already existing items (not raw materials), recombining them in new and different ways to delight and surprise. 

I often must use what already exists, and create something new and different that adds value to the company that has paid for my consulting services. I don't create from scratch. I must have existing information to work with, and access to the people who use it, to understand their thought process. From that, I create a framework... new perspective that is useful to others. So I identify with this style of generative art. Here are two examples that I really like.

Example 1: @Pentametron

I've blogged about him before here and here. This creative soul has automated a way to detect tweets that are in iambic pentameter, pairs 2 unrelated tweets that rhyming and republishes them.  He would have nothing without the original tweets, but taken out of their original context and paired with other, seemly unrelated things, he has created something original.

Example 2: Blackout Poetry

Austin Kleon will black out all but a few words of a newspaper article. The result is a work of poetry that is topically very different from the original work. He states he must do that in order to avoid legal action.

@Pentametron

This twitter poster is awesome. He's written an algorithm that detects tweets adhering to iambic pentameter, and pairs them up for small poetry lines. I've  posted a few lines from January 3, 2014.

*@O_gentil*   I will a live in yellow submarine.
*@kiera2tall*  Fresh out the shower feeling squeaky clean.

*@AleexDirienzo*  My little sister has the loudest snore.
*@SavannahRuhl*  Not even gonna bother anymore.

*@liamcross_*  I never get invited anywhere.
*@GaurdGirl*    I really want a giant teddy bear.

*@AdrianaSophia_*  I'm always hungry. Im an endless pit.
*@MaisieJohnston*   love how luisa doesn't give a s**t.

*@xChops*   Not everyone deserves a second chance.
*@PaulaStone2*  I'm so excited for the snowball dance.

Read a few of the latest, generative twitter poetry: @pentametron. After a while, the laughter becomes contagious.

The Post Office in need of Design Thinking...

The news recently showed a local union boycotting Staples because the box store has started offering postal services in select locations. Typically I will root for the working person. I support the ideal of a living wage and putting food on the table for middle-class families. But this time, I may have to side with Staples.

My local post office is not a place I want to go regularly, nor do I enjoy my time when I'm there. The hours are inconvenient, the lines can be long, and some very "interesting" characters helping me out from time to time. I'm often reminded that the post office is a government organization. It looks, smells and acts like it. My local post office is drab, smelly, boring, and unpleasant during the holidays. That's not true for all post offices. In a nearby city I get to wait in line and enjoy historic architecture, or admire collectable stamps while I stand in line. But they are not close by, so I rarely get to participate in that experience.

I like the idea of going to a box store to mail packages, get stamps, and do other things. I'd be willing to pick up packages there that are held for me, and fill out those silly forms for holding my mail. It is very appealing to me. I'm more likely to shop for other stuff as well. Why not pick up stamps at the same time?

And why has the US Post Office been so slow in adopting and updating its services? I know they've tried some things over the years. Such as stamps-by-mail, the ability to make purchases online, and I really enjoy their self-service booths. I can weigh my package, pay for the right postage and post it without any help. The machine is easy to use, so I don't mind multiple upsell messages. I get free boxes for overnight or priority packages. What's not to like?

Who is examining the post office's holistic customer's experience? Who has reviewed at the average consumer experience and applied design thinking to update services and find innovative ways to do more with less? I'd like a post office in my local grocery store. It has very convenient hours, I'm there often, would happily pick up packages & buy stamps. Heck, I'll even tolerate standing in line for a long time when it's busy. Oh, wait... I do that already.

Maybe someone is already thinking about all this. It's hard to tell, because I'm still unsatisfied with my retail post office experience. So I'll keep hoping, and keep my fingers crossed for Staples.

2014 Information Architecture Summit -- Reflections

I've just returned from the 2014 Information Architecture Summit, the 15th one. I first attended this event in 2001 in San Francisco, and I've been going ever since (barring illness).

I've pondered in the past why I keep going to the IA Summit. Most of my career inspiration has come from outside the field. There are no academic classes or tutorials offered. I don't hear about new research that expands our field. The program is nice, and there are some presentation that I enjoy, but its not the real reason I go to the summit.

The people are the real lure for the IA Summit. This is my tribe, these are my people, the one place I can go where I never, ever have to explain what I do. I don't have to apologize for being an introvert, for sitting back and listening. The structure of the summit supports people like me, with plenty of coffee breaks, hallway conversations and shared lunches. We welcome new people and have interesting conversations over food.

The 2014 IA Summit has changed many things for me.

In addition to hanging out with my peeps, I also heard many powerful messages. Some were formal presentations, others were hallway conversation. Until now, I thought I'd moved beyond IA. I thought my career growth would come from outside this domain and community. If I went back to school, I assumed it would have to be in another field.... Business administration. Cognitive Psychology. Computer Science. These aren't bad fields, and the knowledge they offer would be very beneficial to me. What troubles me is that I'm an information architect. I'm not an interaction designer, sociologist, psychologist, anthropologist, cognitive scientist, computer scientist or designer. I like those things and find them interesting, especially as they lend me tools to use to do what I do what I do best. But I don't identify as those things.

I'm an information architect. I framework. I listen. I understand. I explore. I clarify. I get overwhelmed by complexity. I doubt if things will ever become clear. I talk with others. I listen some more. I construct hypotheses. I build models. I wrangle oceans of information. I talk with users, customers, participants, members. I sketch. I ponder. I give up, but never for very long. I ask lots of questions. And I framework. Document, share, update, repeat.

What have I heard at the 2014 IA Summit that has provided me such relief? I heard that we've moved beyond the web but have kept our identity as information architects. I heard about reframing IA, designing for understanding, emphasizing context and many other things. Rather than talk about deliverables, we are talking about principles. We are demanding more substance from academia to clarify and extend these principles.

Andrea Resmini told me that IA's entered the mainstream when the web was born. We learned how to build intelligent navigation and search, promoted faceted classification and taxonomy. But we stagnated for a while and forgot to grow. Now, we are discovering that we don't just build navigation, we support wayfinding. We don't draw site maps, we show context. We don't build models, we support sense-making. And we can do this anywhere. We started with digital environments and are expanding from there. For example, I've architected future plans for non-profits, and revised messaging platforms for emerging startups, My current project is to create a culture of customer experience in a growing company, extending the company's vision within a framework centering the business around customer needs and goals. It's a messy project, with lots of ambiguity, false starts, and course corrections. But it's clear we are making a difference, helping others to make sense of how they fit in the company's vision and figuring out how to find their way within the organization.

This is the path I've taken, and until recently, I thought I was alone. I thought I needed to leave my chosen field in order to pursue the Next Step. But the 2014 IA Summit set me straight. Peter Morville summarized my feeling well:

"...there’s something about the summit that’s unsettling, and it’s not just that it’s hard to be new or that many of us are kinda off the map on the introvert scale. No, it’s deeper than that. People come to the summit and have a good time, but they leave with this uneasy feeling that they somehow missed something important. They don’t talk about it much. It’s actually a little embarrassing, so they bury it deep. And I feel bad for these folks. I want to reach out. I want to tell them a secret. You’re not alone. Really. Nobody understands information architecture. We don’t even know what it is. And that’s okay. That’s why we’re here."

Metaphors: Purple Kool-Aid, Religion and ...Star Trek?

I recently read a Facebook post from colleague, Lou Rosenfeld: 

"What's a gentler way to say "drank the Kool-Aid" without being so bland as "Got religion"?", he asks. Thirty-six people respond with clever suggestions. My favorites: "Bought the whole album", "Down with..." and "Wearing the team colors."

I was going to give a response, but after writing my 3rd paragraph, it seemed silly to continue on Facebook. The post obviously triggered something in me. Hence, you get to read about it on my blog. 

"Drank the Kool-Aid"

First, you left out an important word: "purple". The Kool-aid incident was a mass suicide of religious cult followers who lived in the US but moved to Guayana. It shocked the socks off our country and made it to the cover of Time Magazine. 

"Drank the Purple Kool-aid" refers to the blind faith needed to act or think in certain ways, regardless of the outcome. Over the years, "drinking the kool-aid" has been softened to signify that someone has become part of a group and thinks the way the group thinks, seeing the world similarly to the rest of the group, organization or company culture. I use it often with clients when I sell my consulting services, telling them that, as an outsider, I have a fresh perspective because I have not yet "drunk the kool-aid."  

Even with the back story, it doesn't really help to figure out what a different metaphor might be. Which is my favorite conundrum. If you want a similar metaphor, you need to deconstruct the current one, brainstorm different options, select specific attributes to emphasize, then put it all together in a story.

Deconstruct the Current Metaphor
First, the people who drank the original kool-aid were in a cult, and they were willing to follow the directions of their leader, even when they knew what the consequences would be. All 909 of them. So you have themes of a cult, of groups thinking alike, taking similar action, having similar viewpoints, doing something extreme, drinking a special liquid. There's a treasure trove of metaphor frameworks here. Woot!

1. Cult: although the original metaphor is religious, there are cults that aren't. There are also popular cults (ComiCon, Star Trek, Marine Special Forces, tree huggers, pet lovers, etc.). So, you could say that someone has already bought their ticket to the Star Trek convention, or always gets the extra pet insurance... boo-yah!
2. Thinking alike: Vulcan mind meld? Being in the same camp. Voting along party lines. Which side of the aisle someone is on (works for those familiar with American politics and the 2 party system).
3. Joining a group: Welcome to the club! Are you a card-carrying member? Mention training, orientation, induction, graduating, getting an official document/certificate/diploma. 

Obviously, there are many different frameworks to choose. Which one works best for the idea you'd like to get across? Circumstances and context should dictate going in one direction over another.

Brainstorm New Metaphors

Once you have deconstructed the base metaphor, you want to figure out which attributes to focus on. Obviously 900+ people dying a horrible death isn't Lou's goal. Nor is moving out of the country, or making headlines, or killing a congressman. His other reference is to "get religion". Hmmm, maybe  having an awareness that changes our point of view, or thinking alike as a group.  "Get religion" can be helpful, because it doesn't speak to any specific religion, but in the workplace, anything religious can be a touchy subject. (Hey, let's mention abortion, Ronald Reagan, or gay marriage instead!)

Having an awareness -- who has awarenesses? When? Do they come quickly (Homer Simpson's "DOH," or "Could 'a had a V8")? Do they evolve over time ("getting an education")? Is it the awareness itself ("seeing the light," "the lightbulb came on"), or is it the process?

Once you've done this brainstorming, there should be enough for you to construct the metaphor of your choice, using a basic framework, and then focusing on specific attributes that highlight the point you are trying to make. It must appeal to your audience and use references that are familiar to them.

Prologue:


FWIW, you can read more about whack-a-doodle Jim Jones and the horrible Purple Kool-aid incident on Wikipedia. Those of you who were born after this memorable event in 1978, probably don't remember a preacher by the name of Jim Jones who lead a church called The People's Temple in the San Francisco Bay Area. He ended up moving it to Guayana (South America) and eventually led almost all its followers to their untimely death. Most died due to ingesting poison that was mixed with purple kool-aid. Those who resisted were shot, including a congressman from California. 

Twitter Poetry

My brother loves poetry. So when a new kind of poetry comes onto the scene, he had to share it with me.

Twitter Poetry, thanks to @pentametron who mines twitter for iambic pentameter, then finds phrases that go together. It makes for a good read!

Here is an sample of the feed from 4/17/13:

@ZaynM_RP     And find a girl and tell her she's the one
@nataliebosiacki     This is the perfect weather for a run

@whatever_luh     Shall spend a minute looking at the sky
@Ralph87_     I am a really jealous person... why?
...
@MulhernFM     In Denver after many years away
@fruit_gums     I'm ready for another holiday

@MrCraigButler     I haven't owned a pencil case in years
@MeganSchoen4     I always eat in intro to careers...

@Yonis_R2I     Hope szczesny has a breakdown on the pitch.
@TaylorPebbles     You ruined everything. Conniving bitch.

@taylor_galek33     Home early for the Awkward. marathon
@Gabe_Saenz     Too many social networks going on!

@ynganid     @be_nimble morals #complicated_stuff
@devnnv     Sometime, potential isn't good enough

@elainelainee     I really wish the sky were clear tonight..
@ShitNajeeSays   This bringing us into a twitter fight.
...
@MohitPatel094  It's only Tuesday. Gotta power through.
@madeleinewhite7    It really is a million dollar view
...
@izzati_innania   Selena Gomez has a pretty face
@salbawa   Another day, Another paper chase!

Magazines taking over the world

Magazines. They've taken over my home. I get them for free, thanks to an abundance of credit card reward points. They come in the mail (except Bloomberg News, which is plopped in my driveway every week). Sometimes they come to me weekly, sometimes monthly. Sometimes every 2 months.

I get some for work, some for home, some because my hubby might like them (golf, travel, cooking). Others because I think they might be inspiring (Architectural Digest -- not!). My favorite magazine, National Wildlife, I get solely because they have a photo contest every year. It's amazing and I clip out pictures every January that reflect my mood at the time. The picture that tops the list: The yellow-bellied marmot sunning itself on a rock. I feel warm and relaxed every time I look at it. First runner up are the 2 crows who are goofing off by sliding down a snowy bank (no kidding), then getting up and doing it all over again. Like silly little children.

I learn something new every time I read a magazine article. Google is using it's mastery of big data to teach cars to drive themselves. You can take a pill to help you forget, thanks to the latest brain science. People want to teach online and give it away for free (shhhh, don't tell Stanford or Harvard). Creative people start interesting businesses. People misuse our natural resources and ruin our country.

So, what's my problem? I have no time to read. Not magazines, not anything. Reading opportunities appear when I travel. Then, I can sit in one place, relax, and take in the ideas of others.

For now, I'm too busy working, commuting, parenting, wifing, cleaning, organizing, talking on the phone with my parents, trying to relax, going places, seeing friends. Going, doing, talking, working. That's me. Not reading. When I'm tired, I enjoy watching fiction on tv. Maybe a reality show or two. But I don't want to learn about How Social Media Fuels Social Unrest (Wired, Jan 2012), or An Intimate Portrait of the World's Most Famous CEO (Fast Company, April 2012).  I'm not even concerned about Allergy-Friendly Pizza (Living Without, Feb/Mar 2012). I'd rather focus on whether or not the America's Got Talent singer is on key, what will happen next on The Closer, and where I can find the latest season of Mad Men online for free.

Spelling lists, hairy people and poverty

My son has weekly spelling words and must use them to make sentences in his 4th grade class. This recent homework assignment caught my attention. (Note: all spelling and punctuation is preserved from his original writing.)

1. My dad has gear to plant in the garden.
2. Usually Native Americans have spears to catch fish.
3. I like to write with a perfectly sharp pencil.
4. Link was really weary after he fought Ganondorf.
5. William cheered loudly when I won a baseball game.
6. In geometry they use squares alot.
7. Some people are really hairy.
8. Lots of friends have a golden heart.
9. Some movies have really weird endings.
10. Alot of countrys starve and I don't like it.

Passing it on at Overlap 11

Here is a video of me telling a story. Actually, it's me bragging about my kids. The setting is Overlap 11, a retreat for design professionals interested in using design skills in other settings, such as business, education, etc. Saturday night is Moth Night, when we each tell a 3-5 minute story. Mine was about how we can pass things on to our kids and how that results in them passing things on to us.

Pictures of the visuals I used will come later.

I AM

(Written by my youngest, who is 9)

I am an awesome boy that loves science
I wonder if I could fly
I hear factors saying learn me
I see science floating in my head
I want Ms. M to be my teacher forever
I am an awesome boy that loves science

I pretend I can fly through the sky
I feel the wind as I fly
I touch the air when I soar through the air
I worry about my grades
I cry when Ms. M is gone
I am an awesome boy that loves science

I understand nobody is perfect
I say everybody gets an A+
I dream I can fly
I try to be nice
I hope I will be famous
I am an awesome boy that loves science

New Trip to Haiti - New Blog!

My blog has been silent for a long time. Since my trip to Haiti, I've wanted to keep this space dedicated to work that I'm doing in and for Haiti. Alas, I've been busy and neglectful.

I've also been trying out new blog formats, services, etc. I thought it might be easier to create blog pages on my own computer and upload them to my mac site. This may or may not be a long-term solution.

For new entries on my latest trip to Haiti, please go to my new blog site.

Help and Hope Combat Fear in Haiti

What follows is the latest news we've received from Haiti, this time from one of Bethlehem Ministry's Board members, Frank Marchman. Frank returned Sunday from a week in Haiti.

Jan 31, 2010

Dear Friends,

I have just returned from Terrier Rouge and hope that this update will help you better see what is happening in Haiti. While I was there I was able to get a good feel for how the quake has affected the minds and souls of all Haitians. This will not be a report on the school, clinic or other projects-those will come later. Instead here I will try to tell you more about the current “psyche of Haiti.”

The news coverage that you have seen of the earthquake in Haiti has been very good at showing the damage and extreme hardships caused by this tragedy. However, that news coverage has not been able to depict the resulting tension and fear that pervade the country at this moment. The physical destruction was minimal in the extreme north and other parts of the country, yet the mental impact of the quake has affected all Haitians. Everyone is coping with a fear of the unknown. It is obvious in their conversations, and some cases mannerisms.

One evening about 3:00 am I awoke to a sudden sound of wailing coming from the direction of the clinic. This chilling cry of fear rose up and down in volume as if someone was on a roller coaster. I found out later that there had been a slight aftershock and that cataract patients sleeping overnight on the floor in the clinic had felt it. The wailing I had heard was their collective cry of fear and dismay. I had not felt a single tremble in the ground yet for those Haitians sleeping on the hard floor it was all too real.

This collective fear has manifested itself in many ways throughout the country. For example, there are many people in the affected regions of the south that are not getting help from the massive aid campaign currently going on there. According to Pere Bruno and others who have been in the south there are many Haitians who stay away from the aid distribution points because they fear the fighting and violence that sometimes occur in and around those points. As a result there are Haitians falling through the cracks in terms of getting food, water, and shelter. These are the unseen citizens of Haiti that the news outlets don't really know about.

These are the people that Haitians like Pere Bruno can effectively reach with aid. His trips to the south have been to areas where he knows the ground. It is his extensive local contacts and knowledge of how to feed large numbers of people that has helped him be very successful in reaching and feeding hundreds of Haitians in and around Port Au Prince. He has targeted individuals and groups not being helped by aid groups. This has been critical for saving many lives.

Pere Bruno was due to leave again today and make the long 8-10 hour drive down to the city with another truckload of aid supplies. On the return trip he will once more bring back Haitians who are in dire need of medical care or have relatives to stay with in Terrier Rouge. He hopes to do weekly trips for as long as possible.

Terrier Rouge and the clinic are starting to see a steady influx of refugees from the quake area. I also saw an increase of injured citizens coming to the clinic for additional treatment on their injuries. There were many people on crutches or with obvious recent injuries present in the streets. Who knows how many more injured are in homes of friends and relatives in Terrier Rouge. I know that several of the staff at the clinic have dozens of people staying at their homes- homes already crowded in normal times. This influx of refugees will only grow as people in the south are able to escape the ruined capital.

The recent outpouring of aid and generosity from you have made it possible for Haitians like Pere Bruno to step up and help their fellow citizens. I can't tell you how great a medicine this is for the minds and souls of Haitians. It is very important that we continue to do all that we can for the months of repair that loom ahead. Terrier Rouge and other places of the North will come to be seen as places for safety and repair of the mind and soul. It will put an increased sense of urgency upon Pere Bruno and others as they attempt to reach out to their fellow citizens.

Pere Bruno asked me to tell everyone that every Haitian feels supported and loved by your efforts. He has insisted that we understand that Haitians know and appreciate that Americans care and are helping. Knowing that people are praying for Haitians and providing aid will help get them through the dark nights of the coming months.

Please continue with your prayers and your contributions in the months to come. All of it is vital to help Haitians like Pere Bruno and others help others in their time of need.

Sincerely,

Frank Marchman

Report from Port au Prince, Haiti

I wanted to pass on this email I just received. Before I left, I helped to pack up food to be taken to Port au Prince. Jean Monique Bruno is the person who transported the food to the capital city, and this is a report of his experience. Just thought you might like a follow-up of what he saw while he was there.

Sincerely,

Sarah


Dear friends,

I made the trip to Port-au-Prince and back to Terrier Rouge. Thank you to all of you for your prayers and generosity. Thank you for accompanying the people of Haiti in their moment of trial. We urgently need your continued help.

I left Terrier Rouge on Sunday 17th at 5.00 am with a truck loaded with food for 250 families affected by the earthquake and 10 young volunteers. After eight hours on the road we arrived at the Capital of Haiti. Immediately we started our relief work by visiting the most affected areas. I could not believe what I saw. The City where I grew up does not exist any longer. The Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Church attended by my family, the temple which witnessed my ordinations was completely destroyed. My primary and high school where I had my education was leveled. Most of the government buildings including the National Palace either were severely damaged or do not exist any longer. One cannot describe the scene. One has to be there. TV coverage shows only part of the devastated Port-au-Prince.

I went to one of the Episcopal high schools, named College St Pierre to see the Bishop and saw the damages. This school which was the pride of the Diocese for their academic performance fell down and killed lot of students. In the court yard the sisters of St Margaret, the Bishop and two other priests along with more than a thousand people took refuge there. They live under camping tents. The Bishop was not there but I visited with the two priests. One of them was the Dean of the Seminary, The very Rev. Oge Beauvois who explained to me that they do not have the means to feed the people there. I promised him that I will send food for them this coming Friday.

Everywhere in Port-au-Prince people live in the streets or they use any park or space they can find. They sleep under the stars. Their temporary shelters are made of sheets some of them have recovered from the ruins. Praise the Lord is not raining. Tears came down as I was walking between the bodies of the dead who were still laying on the pedestrian walk way waiting to be picking up by the truck to be buried in a common grave.

As I was walking I visited a community of 300 families gathered together on a small property without water, food and so on.. They were practically dying. I stopped and was watching them. One guy who happens to be their leader approached me and talked to me. He asked me for help for those people. I agreed to provide food to them. Immediately he gathered the community and we discussed how we will proceed. They formed a committee for the distribution. The next day we drove the truck there and they received the food which was going to be distributed. I gave them food for two hundred people but they told me that everybody will find something. They started reducing the packages we had prepared in Terrier Rouge so instead of 200 families, 300 may have something to eat. They show a real concern for everyone.

The remaining 50 packages were distributed in the area where my family lives to the neighbors. With the volunteers we participated in the recovery of the bodies of my cousin and her granddaughter who were under the rumblings. After we found them, we buried them not too far from their destroyed home.

The needs are countless. I felt since the moment of the tragedy that I had to intervene in a way or other to bring my support to fellow citizen. Families are living the Capital and are moving the country. I am helping also in this area. On our way back the truck was loaded with people from Terrier Rouge we brought to their families.

What we are doing is very small compared to the massive aid that the international community is pouring on Haiti. But it is very significant in the sense that in distributing our help we do not need an army to protect us. We use the channel of community leaders. We do it with discretion. Nobody has noticed that we were transporting food for the victims. There was no fight, no riot and everyone we reach had received something. Neither I nor the volunteer ever felt threatened, on the contrary we did our work with joy trusting in the Lord’s power for protection.

When I had to leave for Port-au-Prince, there was no gasoline in the whole country. I crossed the border and talked to the DR authorities in Dajabon and they allowed me to buy the quantity of diesel fuel I needed for the whole trip. The food also is bought there. So I do not have any problem to get the food to Port-au-Prince.

An idea of what I took to Port-au-Prince: rice, beans, corn, charcoal, oil, spaghetti, matches, cassava, bread, biscuits, candles, dry fish and water.

I am going back to Santo Domingo this Saturday after sending the truck again and will come back next week will make another trip to Port-au-Prince.

I urge you to be part of this relief work. You can give to any organization of your choice but believe me any penny you give our Organization “Esperance & Vie” through Bethlehem Ministry will go right away to the suffering people.

For the time being school is closed in the whole country. As I was writing this report, we have received an aftershock in Terrier Rouge and this happen from time to time. Last night, the people in Cap-Haitien experienced the same phenomenon. People are still living in a very panic situation. They do not want to take any chance to stay in their homes.

We continue to count on you prayers and generosity. Please forgive me for the length of this report.

Your servant

JMBruno+

Haiti - Last entry before returning home

This is the final entry about my actual travels. Reflections may come later, but for now I want to record some of the last interviews I had with people.

I had to scratch and claw my way onto a flight leaving Haiti. So much tumult because of the earthquake and the chaos it produced. My confirmed airplane seat vaporized, but there was still the possibility of this or that. While at the airport, I talked to a long time friend who was still in Haiti. His story is amazing.

I am on the airplane now. What an ordeal! I was on the flight. Then not. Then I am again. But now the plane is too heavy. Can only take 5 not 8. So I stay. But I wait. My friend says he has a possibility. A flight coming in with doctors might have space. So we wait. And while we wait I interview him.

He works at the local airport in a city in north Haiti. I knew that he had married an American woman. Apparently, after they married, they returned to the states and he attends college. But his heart is in Haiti, so he and his family return and build an incredible operation supporting education for Haitians. But his story doesn't start there.

He used to live in a small town in Haiti. A missionary comes and visits for a week. She sees him and likes him, but then she's gone. However, it seems she is not done with her Haitian experience. She decides later that she needs to help him. Just him. He wants to go to school. So she pays for his education. He moves to a larger town with a good high school. I meet him there. I'm there for the summer to see what I can see and do what I can do.

Soon, he is done with school. Eventually he meets someone from the States. They get married and move to the northern US. He is able to attend college because a well-known business man has bequeathed a large portion of his fortune to the college, so that 3rd world people could get an education. So he is able to afford the education! Amazing.

He graduates. I don't remember what he said he studied. Was it business administration? He loves his new life in the States, but he has a heart for Haiti. He is where he is because of generosity of others, and he can't ignore that. So he wants to give back.

Why does he stay in Haiti? What is the draw? He himself says that one must be crazy to stay in Haiti. There is nothing here. N O T H I N G. No exaggeration. But his heart is here. He and his wife build schools, and they support education for over 2000 students. Some of their success stories involve doctors who, now educated, have been able to help with the recent crisis --- traveling to PAP to provide emergency medical care. He supports students in whatever they want to do. Become teachers, doctors, nurses, construction workers, plumbers. He supports them all. And he is amazed.

It takes a special person who wants to stay in Haiti. He encourages his students to stay, but does not obligate them. No one can be forced to stay here. There's nothing to offer. How many decide to stay? About 25 or 30%. That seems low to me, until I look around. Everything is dilapidated. And not because of the earthquake. Everything is a chore -- having a car, a house with running water, lightbulbs that glow from a steady flow of electricity, a job, etc. You have to build it yourself, make it yourself, run it yourself. It gets very overwhelming after a while.

I finally get on a flight out of the country. I have to pay extra to fly on the airline whose plane has just landed. Anything. I need to leave now. I've said my goodbyes. I make it on the plane and feel as if I've just climbed a mountain, it took such effort. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to my mom, or to the nice gentleman who helped me so much. I wave at them over the large iron gate as I walk out to the plane.

Many on the plane clap when it leaves the ground on take-off. They had the same experience I did -- having to pay more for a seat. It's worth it. We fly 25 minutes and land in Provo on the tiny island of Turks and Caicos. It's a world of difference, 25 minutes away. The airport is sophisticated. In a modern building equipped with running toilets, warm water to wash my hands, and air conditioning. Air conditioning! I'm shocked that I've missed it as much as I have.

From there, on to Ft Lauderdale. Then Los Angeles. Then San Jose. I'm home. The journey is so long that is helps make the break from Haiti to home. 2 different worlds. Easy to forget one while in the other. But I'm hoping that my writing will help avoid that. Time will tell.

Haiti - Day 7

It's my last day here and I'm sad to leave. There are many, many beautiful things about this place. It's a tropical island, but more than that, the people here are beautiful, interesting and varied. It helps to learn their language and their way of life, so that we can communicate and just talk with one another, sharing experiences and thoughts.

I interviewed the School Manager. He went to school in Business Administration, and worked previously in a bank, and then in the Vocational School here in town. He has been at this school for a little over a year. He is 2nd in charge after the Director of the organization. He guides the curriculum and manages the staff. There is a school Principle, who works with the parents primarily and oversees the pedagogy. At least, this is what I understand given my limited Creole and his limited English. He is shy, though, so I think he understands more than he is able to speak.

What are his dreams, his vision for this school? He has thought about this a lot. The vision is not completely formed in all aspects, but he has some ideas. First, he wants this to be the best school in all of Northern Haiti and then all of Haiti. He wants the reputation to be far-reaching. Anyone who gets a diploma from this school will know to be well-educated and well-prepared to do the next thing in their life. I think that's a good goal.

After that, he is not sure. He thinks that people need to be trained in how to use computers. Not computer science (programming, developing computer programs, hardware or software). Rather, they need to know how to use the computer in their work, no matter what they are doing. They must be able to write letters, work spreadsheets, run databases, etc. There are other work skills that are needed as well around the town.

As an educator, he believes that people must be well-educated and prepared for what they will be doing in life.

The one thing that I haven't heard much about from leaders here that I've spoken with is job creation. How to generate work for those who want it. There are good, smart people who have very little to do. They stand around, sit around. Wander around. Waiting for something to happen. Whenever there is a project -- a building needs building, or a new paint job, or a washed car, or a fixed car, they are ready and willing to help. Some of them have the skills. We have a skilled carpenter and a skilled mechanic, but very little building and very few cars. So they languish.

How can we create good, sustained jobs for them?

I spoke with a local man, who is the mechanic, handyman, yard duty manager for the school, among other things. He shows me around the Jatropha Nursery. I see plants that are 2 years old, with mature pods and seeds. I ask to see the seedlings, so they take me through the mud. As I walk along, the plants get shorter, and shorter, and shorter, til they are only little tufts of green shooting up from the dirt. These are the seedlings, 9 days old. Then 2 months old. The ones I saw when I first came through the gate are 2 years old. I take a picture of the seeds, which are picked, then crushed to create glycerine, biodiesel, etc. Even the pods are crushed and used. Nothing is wasted.

The Handyman says "This is the best project." Why? From this we can make many things. And then we can sell these things. -- He is talking about job creation. More people can grow them. Work with them, sell them, make money. Is that how it works?


How else can we create jobs? I think I need to poke around some more and figure some things out.

That's all for now. I need to eat lunch, so that I can go to the airport (and wait for 2 hours til my flight comes).

Haiti - Day 6

Today has been spectacular and busy. I thought it would be a slow day. Saturday, with school and clinic shut down, it was suggested I take a nap in the middle of the day. Little did I know what was in store for me!


We are starting our official "Disaster Relief" today. We get 1 ton of food (no joke) -- rice, beans, cooking oil, corn -- from the next town over, and we spend the afternoon divvying up the 100 lb bags into smaller rations. We must travel to The Dominican Republic in order to get diesel fuel to make the trip to PAP. How tremendous to help out with this effort, knowing that the food would be in the hands of earthquake victims in PAP in 24 hours. Plus, to see Haitians willing to help their fellow countrymen is such a great thing.

Before we were done packing the food, someone came and said we need to make a house call. Someone has returned from PAP and is injured -- could we come to her home, please? The clinic is closed. Yes, we will come.

We drive through town. Me, the clinic director, and 2 translators who know where she lives. We get there and go into her small hut. She's a girl of 13. In the earthquake, her foot was damaged. She was fixed up by the Red Cross. Afterwards, in an aftershock, a wall fell on her and she was injured some more. She is in terrible pain. Her foot hurts, she can't sit up or feel her leg, really. Her back hurts tremendously. She has a high fever and is dehydrated. She is lying down on all sorts of pillows, towels, etc. Anything to try and make her comfortable. Her back hurts, and later we find out it might be her pelvis. Either one of these is very serious.

We impress upon the family that this is a true emergency. How did she travel all the way from PAP to here in such pain? I can't imagine!

We leave her house and tell her we will return with medicine for her. We rummage through everything we have. Who has pain medication? She needs morphine, but nobody has any of that laying around. We find something for her in the clinic's pharmacy. We make a chart for her, so that she has a record should she return for a follow-up visit. We also take something special to drink for her so she can get quickly re-hydrated. It is hot in her hut, and she has a fever.

We explain very, very carefully, more than once, how to take the medicine. When, which one, how often, etc. The translator translates. We make up some of the special drink, showing her family exactly how to mix it. She must sip on it slowly. We give her a sip. Then rest. Talk with the family some more and explain what needs to happen. She takes another sip of the drink.

We say that she needs to go to the hospital as soon as possible. We need to figure out which one is open. How will she get there? There is one close, but the road is too bumpy. She will be in too much pain, so we think about the other options. We make her take another sip of the drink.

We tell the family what we think is wrong. We impress on her that it is a real emergency. The clinic director takes me aside and wonders if she will live through the night. I really hope so. I tell the girl to take another sip of the drink. We impress upon them the importance of drinking fluid. It only makes things worse if she is in pain with something broken AND she has a high fever AND is dehydrated. They can manage the dehydration.

She becomes incredibly restless, moaning from the pain. We hope she makes it through the night. And then we leave. She must rest now. And the medicine will kick in and help her sleep.

We know that we will see more cases like hers. People coming out of Port au Prince. They are distressed from the earthquake, maybe injured. We will need to treat them. We know they are coming. Thank goodness there is a clinic in the area that can provide care for them, and they know where to go.

The priest goes to visit her after dinner, later that night. Her fever has broken. Obviously the family took our advice seriously and fed her lots of fluids. And we see that they will take her in the morning to the hospital. We will hear tomorrow about her progress.