Rethinking Outlaws

I'm all over bad guy turned good guy stories. So I was captured by the title of the article I've linked here..."Outlaws at the Art Museum." I was doubly excited that I'd heard of Bansky, seen his bandit work in London. I liked it - I liked the whole romantic concept of sneak attacks on barren buildings - the smiles those images would bring in the mornings. But as I read on, I couldn't help connecting this outlaw story with another thought that's been at the forefront of my mind - networking. How, you say, does one have anything to do with the other? Let me see if I can unravel it for you...and this could be a challenge because the concept is a bit of a tangled mess in my brain as well.

I was not born into the technological age. I'm convinced kids' brains are mutating right before our eyes. Networking to me is email - I'm pretty proud of my ability in that realm. But, because I am in education (and live on this planet!), I recognize how critical it is to learn, adapt, dive into the thorny thicket and figure out this whole thing. Forget navigating the information highway - the world has moved beyond the space shuttle here - it is rocketing to the very edges of the universe through some serious networking ability. The "quality vandals" of the world are those that move with the speed of light through the Internet learning, discussing, trading secrets, dreams, ideas. The street artists of the Internet are doing the fun stuff. I admire that "old grafitti artist work ethic." They are out there getting their work up anywhere, everywhere, any way they can! Man, I want to do that. MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and all the myriad other similar sites aren't the outlaws anymore - they're the residences of corporations, capitalists, and presidents for heaven's sake!

Okay, this is a stretch - this article and my networking ideas...but the street art isn't criminal anymore, somehow it has credibility. Social networking sites aren't just for kids anymore - their telephone/texting/internet obsession has gained some respect in my eyes. I feel like the stuffy museum curator who finally appreciates the value of the great street art. Bring it on!

Ruby and Hondo apres snow-dogging.

The Rubester

Ruby, our yellow lab, has developed a wonderful new skill this winter. The roads around us are plowed so have a bank of snow that has built up along the shoulder. The road itself is snowpacked and fairly slick. Ruby will gallivant along at the edge of the road then will put her nose down into the soft new layer that has built up along the pile created by the plows. That's a signal that the frivolity is about to begin. She then starts a roll. She is generally on the right so drops her right shoulder into the snow bank. This is particularly successful going downhill because as she rolls onto her back she slides along the road for as long as possible...doing a bit of a sledding-on-the-back routine. This can last for quite an extended period of time. She rarely breaks stride in the entire endeavor - whether she does a half roll or a full. She is back on her feet before either Hondo or I can catch her. She's the best snow-dogger around!

2009

The New Year started quietly but had already promised greatness. A new baby entered the family, a tad early, on 12/22. We saw a Christmas week filled with snow but then a slight break so I could go down to Denver to see the new arrival. She's beyond all expectation. She has an inquisitive, quiet approach to her new life that I think signals her will to take everything into consideration before she reacts. I know she's destined for great things. Her older brother Tyler has taken her arrival in stride. He goes about his regular business but includes her whenever he can. He was quick to take me to her to meet her and is equally quick to let mom know when she is needed "cribside." He seems unaffected by her arrival - probably because mom continues to tend to him as attentively as ever. What a gift. I wish you all a Happy New Year that will meet all your expectations.