Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Blue Sky in Emigration Canyon


Blue Sky in Emigration Canyon
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Found while looking for something else in the book Life's Greatest Lessons by Hal Urban:

"True discipline isn't on your back needling you with imperatives; it is at your side, nudging you with incentives. When you understand that discipline is self-caring, not sel-castigating, you won't cringe at its mention, but will cultivate it."
--Sybil Stanton

Sunday, December 26, 2004

Wild Bells Discovery


bells
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Ring Out Wild Bells by Alfred Tennyson includes eight stanzas, not just the three I've sung for years in the hymn with music by Crawford Gates. Here's the complete poem.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light: The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more; Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times; Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease; Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Friday, December 24, 2004

The Pond at Sugarhouse Park


winter-pond
Originally uploaded by rfin.

This was Sugarhouse Park this morning about 9:30. It wasn't quite as cold as it looks. My Christmas wishes are from the text of a 1942 greeting card from my Uncle Rich to his father:


May the PEACE of long ago the GOOD WILL and the cheer
Be with you at this Christmastide and all throughout the Year!

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Thursday, December 16, 2004

The Governor's Good Advice

Our governor held her last televised news conference this morning at the Eccles Broadcast Center. Listen to her passion for education and public service:

"Get as much education as you can. Reach out. Dream your dream. Get involved. Do the hard work. Lay the groundwork. There's been no greater experience for any individual, male or female, than to be involved in public service."
--Olene S. Walker

Next month we'll see how Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. likes this venue.

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Blogging Principal

What elementary school principal would make it a priority to write a blog and post Flickr photos to the web? I hadn't really considered the question until I ran across Tim Laurer's Education/Technology blog. Tim is principal of Lewis Elementary School in Portland, Oregon. The school's site also is in a blog format.

Thursday, December 09, 2004

December 9, 1942

Hotel Cape Fear - Wilmington, North Carolina

Dear Father and Ruth,

I regret that we were unable to make it home for Thanksgiving. It would be nice to see you all again and to look the farm and livestock over.

Since I was being stationed at Camp Davis and the fact that the trains aren't running on schedule and that I had only 10 days to make the round trip and get located here there just wasn't time enough.

I met Joe in Washingtona and went as far as Chicago with him where we met Klee.

Joe showed us about Chicago for a day which we enjoyed very much. He then left for Milwaukee and we headed for N.C. by way of Washington. In Wash. Klee and I sat in on a session of the House of Rep.; visited a number of gov't places and buildings.

The weather was very cold in Chicago and Washington. It has been raining most of the week down here. I am being assigned to the 486 separate Automatic Weapon Batallion.

With the rest of the officers I was out looking over the set up today. From all indications it looks like we'll have a pretty good set up; providing it doesn't continue to rain every day.

Perhaps you received the bundle of clothes I sent home. If there is anything you can use you are perfectly welcome to do so.

I just arrived in town from camp and am waiting for Klee to catch the bus and come on in. We have a place out at Wrightsville Beach, which we were fortunate in getting.

My address at camp is 486th Battalion, Camp Davis N.C. and don't forget the Lt.

We'll be glad to hear from you; wish you well and a very Happy Christmas and New Year. With love, Klee and Rich

Saturday, December 04, 2004

Friday Night Soup


Friday Night Soup
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Thursday, December 02, 2004

"Blog" is most sought definition

"I enjoyed them before I knew what they were. Then I learned the word. Later I joined those who create them." I guess such a progression could apply to many things from smores and shish kabobs to tv spots and memoir, but in this particular case the concept is that of the blog.

InfoWorld TechWatch: Word of The Year: Blog

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Why We Seek Sunshine in December

Here's the best brief explanation I've seen of the Winter Solstice. Winter Solstice, Von Del Chamberlain, Project Astro Utah

Monday, November 29, 2004

Found While Looking for Something Else

"A word as to the education of the heart. We don't believe that this can be imparted through books; it can only be imparted through the loving touch of the teacher."
-Cesar Chavez (1927-1993)

We are all of us richer than we think we are.
-Michel Eyquem De Montaigne (533-1592, French philosopher, essayist)

To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.
-Bertrand Russell (1872-1970, British philosopher, mathematician, essayist)

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

PYP: Protecting Your Petabytes

I've been brainstorming on the name for a security summit we're hosting in January. So far I've kind of liked:
  • T3: Tools, Training and Tales of Network Security
  • SHS: Safe Hex Summit
  • PYP: Protecting Your Petabytes
Now we'll see what others think. Yes, I realize that the Safe Hex ain't going to make it, but it definitely has the chuckle factor going for it.

Found this nice online glossary when searing for the definition of a Petabyte.

Monday, November 22, 2004

Sleep, Dogs and Blogs

Here's another reason to get walk your dog and get a good night's sleep. And on another topic, I agree with Will Richardson that there's a difference in posting vs. blogging. Maybe that's why I've felt my blog could be so much better with a little more focus and work.

Friday, November 19, 2004

Banana Mocknog

My Florida cousin Rich reminds me that this is eggnog season, and I like his observation that "even if you are a Grinch...and for some odd reason don't like eggnog you've got to admit it is a fun word to say: 'Eggnog'. Those two short syllables with dominating vowel sounds and the alliterative 'G' closing each syllable - say it over and over and it feels like your tongue is doing a little dance."

Of course "banana" as in "bananafannafoefannafeefifoefannabanana" can be fun, too, which brings me to this recipe for Banana Mocknog...

    1 banana that's starting to turn brown
    1 cup of crushed ice
    1/4 cup of milk
    a few drops vanilla extract
    a dash of nutmeg
    a dash of cinnamon
Throw this all in your blender for about 30 seconds. Pour into a glass, garnish with some more nutmeg, and enjoy.

Although you have no eggs, no refined sugar, very little cholesterol and fat, you do have a smoothie that tastes a lot like eggnog and has all the benefits of banana--dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamins B6 and C.

Another banana thought:
http://rfin.blogspot.com/2003/02/banana-sits-on-top-of-radio-on-my-desk.html

(Variation: I tried substituting real eggnog for the milk the other day, but didn't like it as much as the guilt-free version.)

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

puddle


puddle
Originally uploaded by rfin.

This is not a fuddled, wuddled, poodled, noodled, paddled, battled, puddle. It's just a sunny puddle.

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Rain on Campus


rain
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Monday, November 08, 2004

Sunday morning on the back porch


P1010020
Originally uploaded by rfin.

My son was the first to notice the extradorinary quality of the sunlight yesterday morning. I was headed out for some reading and journal writing, but when he came in with camera in hand, I thought I'd better get my camera, too.

Saturday, November 06, 2004

The Redman Building


redman
Originally uploaded by rfin.

For years it was the Redman Moving and Storage building. Then it became Redman Movies and Stories, a great name for a business that didn't make it. The building's been largely vacant for years, but now it's in transition again.

P1010027

Thursday, November 04, 2004

Take a Deep Breath


pool
Originally uploaded by rfin.

This semester I'm alternating a lunch-hour spinning class (stationary biking) with swimming on my own. The Tues-Thurs spinning class leaves me Mon-Wed-Fri for lap swimming. I enjoy the structure and comraderie of a class, but here's a telling comparison. On swim days I don't miss spinning, but on spin days I do miss the pool. Maybe it's not just the aquatic environment, but how these differing activities require different breathing.

September's issue of Health magazine quotes Dr. Bonnie Berger, the director of the School of Human Movement, Sport, and Leisure Studies at Bowling Green University in Ohio. "The way you take deep breaths when you do certain types of exercise is similar to the techniques used in stress management and meditation." Of course I breath deeply in both the swimming and spinning classes, but much more so when swimming. Maybe that's why I miss it on spinning days--I'm just not getting as much deep breathing and the benefits that go with it.

Sunday, October 31, 2004

medotrs lantern


P1010013
Originally uploaded by rfin.

afterswim west


P1010012
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Sunday, October 24, 2004

Friday, October 22, 2004

KUED's Jackson Hole and Battalion Documentaries Win Gold and Silver Awards

Congrats to my KUED and Media Solutions colleagues for winning Gold and Silver in the best television documentary division of the Utah Broadcasters Awards.
  • Gold Award: The Jackson Hole Story with producer/director/editor Joey Prokop; writer Heidi Prokop; videographers Gary Turnier and Dan Schaerrer; and Kevin Sweet, William Montoya and William Gordon for location and post-production audio.
  • Silver Award: Battalion with producer/writer Ken Verdoia; producer/editor Nancy Green; and photography by Gary Turnier.

It's cool to have even a small part in an award-winning production and thanks to Ken I got to portray the voice of William Hyde who wrote in his journal of thirst, swimming an icy stream, and the deaths of his fellow soliders:

"He (Sam Boley) was taken sick soon after he left the camp of the saints, and I tried to prevail upon him to abandon the idea of trying to perform the expedition, but his desires were so great to continue with the company that I submitted. He was buried Thursday, the 23rd at ten minutes before seven in the morning."

"At six o'clock p.m. brother Alva Phelps died and was buried at six o'clcok in the morning of the 17th. Brother Phelps suffered much from the poisonous effects of calomel, which without a doubt, was the cause of his death."

Walking 70 miles without water. (And I hesitate to mountainbike virtually any distance without a CamelBak full of cold water.)

"The distance that we traveled without water was not less than seventy miles across a barren desert. After we were encamped, the Colonel sais that he believed that any other company under like circumstances would have mutinized. He further stated that had he known the situation of the desert we had just crorssed, he would not have come onto it on any account."

A death and birth in his own family:

"I received letters at this place from my family, which brought me the sad news of the death of my only sister. She died in Council Bluffs after a lingering sickness which was caused by exposure. At this place of encampment, I also received the news of the birth of my son, William."

And upon his return journey the need to swim across an ice-filled river:

"The last stream I had to swim a part of the distance. The water was extremely cold with much ice running. Some thought it best to send two men on two of the bvest mules in camp for winter quarters. To this I replied that we had now traveked near five thousand miles, and that we had suffered much with hunger, thirst and fatigue, and now to give out on the last hundred miles I didn't like the idea."

Sunday, October 17, 2004

Saturday's ride to Dog Lake


trail
Originally uploaded by rfin.

on the way to Dog Lake


bike
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Saturday, October 16, 2004

Dog Lake


Dog Lake
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Skyshot


Skyshot
Originally uploaded by rfin.

God's Barcode


God's Barcode
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Saturday, October 09, 2004

Swimming for the Gold

I wanted to swim in high school, but in those days, long before "no fear" became a marketing phrase, I couldn't motivate myself to attend the tryouts. If I'd heard Woody Allen's quote that "90 percent of life is showing up," I didn't understand it. The closest I got to competitive swimming as a teenager was photographing our state-championship team at the nearly-new University of Utah Natatorium in 1972.

"Life comes at you fast," as the life insurance commercial says. I finished high school and college, married a beautiful young school teacher and we're now the parents of children who are in high school and college themselves.

My career eventually led to a great job at the University of Utah, and a few years ago I started swimming on my lunch hours at same natatorium where my friends made their mark three decades ago.

U of U Natatorium Originally uploaded by rfin.

Thanks to a local swim shop, I discovered the life work of Terry Laughlin, founder of Total Immersion Swimming (TI), a method of instruction for adults seeking to hone their swimming skills. Terry's books, tapes and Web site made sense and I began to swim with greater confidence, better flow and even a little faster.

Through Terry I also met a Utah TI swimmer who has won senior triathlons. This summer he invited me to compete at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George. "Since you're 50 now, so why don't you sign up?"

Prior to the games I had never raced, never stood in the blocks before a motionless pool as a starter instructed "swimmers take your mark." By Friday afternoon I'd raced in six events at the beautiful Sand Hollow Aquatic Center. Last night at the awards banquet I heard these still unbelievable words, "From Utah, Richard Finlinson, two gold, one silver, one bronze."

The wins are both thrilling and humbling. Thrilling because they were so unexpected. Humbling because my fastest times are slower than winners in their seventies and eighties.

But to win, I only had to do better than other men in my age group of 50-54. In two of my races, the other scheduled competitors didn't show up. I got lucky, but I've never been more motivated to keep striving to improve. Below are my results and the comparisons that put my times in perspective.

100 M Gold 1:27.67 (1:01.49)* 200 M Gold 3:31.29 (2:14.66)* 400 M Bronze 8:33.74 (4:45.72)* 800 M Silver 16:38.10 (9:50.53)*

*FINA Masters 50-54 World Records Short Course Meters as of 05-01-04.

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

A Few More Things I'm Grateful For

Way back in May I made wrote an entry called "50 things I'm grateful for in my 1st 50 years." The list still stands, but here are 50 more just to make it an even hundred. Hey Thanksgiving is not that far away. I've got to get in some practice.

51. challenging work and associates with a sense of humor
52. opportunities to be creative
53. fall colors and pencil sketches
54. noticing the colors
55. and how there's a different quality in the fall light
56. a working furnace
57. the book "14,000 Things to be Happy About"
58. the author Barbara Ann Kipfer
59. how her work probably inspired this list
60. higher education
61. public education
62. libraries
63. the power of example
64. words and smiles of encouragement
65. definitions
65. people who help you define yourself
66. children as kids
67. children as teens
68. children as adults
69. hard lessons and software
70. soft answers and hardware
71. turning away wrath
72. a box of fresh crayons
73. a box of old crayons
74. Joseph will have a pencil*
75. red rock and rusticating
76. blue sky and blessing
77. my great grandpa's diary
78. my dad's letters
79. my mom's photographs
80. my wife's patience
81. my kids just hanging out
82. eye contact and contacts for eyes
83. glasses, goggles and gloves
84. a blue oragami crane
84. leather bound journals
85. ink on paper
86. today's
87. this year's and this decade's
89. and from as early as 1930
90. words as fresh as they were then
91. conversation and laughter
92. comfortable silence
93. synchronicities
94. fireworks and Christmas lights
95. classical and country, jazz and rock
96. piano, guitar and other strings
97. digital photography
98. good old chemical photography
99. dodging, burning and Photoshop
100. safety in the storms

*The young son of an English immigrant is known in his 1870's community as the boy who always has a pencil handy. He follows his father and brothers in the cattle business, but also trains as a teacher. Later he becomes a school superintendent, state legislator, one of the founders of a rural telephone company. And in the midst of the Great Depresssion he encourages all of his children -- both sons and daughters -- to graduate from college. It takes a while, but they all do.

Saturday, September 25, 2004

A week since Capitol Reef


capreef
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Here's another shot from last weekend's trip to Capitol Reef.

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

The Paradox of Winter Swimming

To many people the thought of swimming in winter has little appeal, yet thousands of others are confirmed winter swimmers. Now some researchers in Finland are shedding some scientific light on why this choice makes sense.

The study compared the mood of winter swimmers with a control group. At the start of the study there were few differences between the groups, but the swimmers showed several advantages as the research continued.

“Tension, fatigue, memory and mood negative state points in the swimmers significantly decreased with the duration of the swimming period. After four months, the swimmers felt themselves to be more energetic, active and brisk than the controls,” according to International journal of circumpolar health [Int J Circumpolar Health] 2004 May; 63 (2), pp. 140-4.

The study also noted that swimmers who suffered from rheumatism, fibromyalgia, or asthma, reported that winter swimming relieved pain.

Found with the MEDLINE database at Pioneer, Utah's Online Library

Monday, September 20, 2004

A Barn for Aunt Susan


barn.JPG
Originally uploaded by rfin.

My Aunt Susan loved all things nostalgic. As I rode past this Fruita barn at Capitol Reef National Park over the weekend, I could almost hear her saying, "Oh Richard, look at the wood on that barn." I also like the way the line of the roof works with the cliffs and the sky.

Sunday, September 19, 2004

Finding Florida at Capitol Reef


crflorida
Originally uploaded by rfin.


I'd never thought of red rock as ocean until I saw Florida in the blue sky and clouds this weekend at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah.

Friday, September 17, 2004

The Plaid Truth


iron.JPG
Originally uploaded by rfin.

A few days ago I posted an entry called Ironing a Shirt. After I posted it I saw this pile of clothes in the den and thought it would make a good illustration for the post. But I hestitated because this isn't the actual shirt. So I'll just let the photo and the previous entry stand on their own.


I'm off to Capitol Reef National Park this afternoon and Saturday. Will post shots from this adventure on Sunday.

If you haven't checked out codefin.net yet, take a look. This new Utah blogger is combining a tech blog with some great photography.

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Goblin at Bobsled Gulch


car in salt lake's bobsled gulch
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Farewell to a Colleague

Dear Becky,

I’m writing this on behalf of Uncle Milton Bennion, Aunt Lucy May Van Cott and Aunt Dolores Dore Eccles. They--like all of us--are going to miss you, would love you to stay, but wish you all the best. True, we didn’t know these three as people, but even as buildings each housed such personality.

As a home for professors, classrooms, labs and darkrooms, Milt’s place felt the most academic. Remember the great views of soccer practice and the basement storage dungeon with heavy locks and chains?

Lucy was more like a warm, dark cave. She gave us a taste of privacy and control with doors that closed and windows that opened. How rare and wonderful to have so many offices and so few cubicles.

Dore showed such hospitality, flexibility and desire to grow. Views mattered to her and she provided a great variety including those of her husband George’s bridge and the Olympic torch relay.

All of these places kept us warm, sometimes way too warm. Milt and Lucy May made certain summer days almost unbearable, but offered a welcome shelter from winter storms. Dore sought to bring comfort in every season, warmth in winter, cool shade in summer, but she could be temperamental, sometimes emulating a sauna or freezer. She had the newest roof but the most likely to leak.

Each tried their best with what they had. They sought to welcome and keep us. All of them invited us to come early and stay late. They each hosted breakfast bagels, potluck holiday lunches and birthday desserts--as well as their own distinctive bugs and not just of the software variety.

Thanks for welcoming me to Milt’s place way back in November 1997. Thanks for helping make Lucy’s halls a little brighter. Thanks for sharing Dore’s great views of blue sky, clouds and storms. Thanks most of all for smiling through so many moments of our weeks, months and years together.

All the best in your new adventures,

Saturday, September 11, 2004

Ironing a Shirt

A son’s 25th birthday celebration. All the kids home for the weekend. Laughter, discussions, more laughter. Beautiful fall weather. A lunch hour swim. A late afternoon bike ride. A phone call, an e-mail, a card in the mail. A drive through the neighborhood. These are among the memories of the last few days. Life doesn’t get much better.

And yet today, September 11, 2004 is also a time of reflection over the past three years. I can remember ironing a shirt a couple of days after the towers fell in 2001. Seeing the wrinkles disappear some how brought comfort. Sometimes when I wear that shirt I still remember that night.

Thursday, September 09, 2004

Dry Canyon


Here's the Salt Lake valley as seen from last night's after-work ride up Dry Creek Canyon east of the University of Utah. I haven't been as serious about mountainbiking this summer as swimming. Early in the ride I thought I'd traded lungs for gills with all the pool time, but once my endorphins kicked in the ride turned out great.

You can breathe all you want underwater, but exhaling only is generally more comfortable.

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

Dog Bone It

"Pursue, keep up with, circle round and round your life, as a dog does his master's chaise. Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still."
-Henry Thoreau

Tuesday, August 31, 2004

George's Voyage to America

I'm a great grandson of a Englishman who sailed to America 140 years ago. My great grandpa George was a 29-year-old married father when he responded to preaching of Mormon elders and neighbors. Although he joined the church, his wife Ann did not share his enthusiasm for the new religion. He left her and an infant daughter behind, hoping they'd eventually join him. They never did. Although his diary has been published in print and elsewhere on the web, this is the first "blog edition."

George Finlinson's 1864 Voyage to America

Monday, August 30, 2004

Durante on Schnozzles

"All of us have schnozzles--are ridiculous in one way or another, if not in our faces, then in our characters, minds or habits. When we admit our schnozzles, instead of defending them, we begin to laugh and the world laughs with us."
-Jimmy Durrante, quoted in Laughter Therapy, How to Laugh About Everything in Your Life That Isn't Really Funny, by Anne Goodheart

Sunday, August 29, 2004

Signature Strengths

The highest success in living and the deepest emotional satisfaction comes from building and using your signature strengths.
-Martin Seligman

Saturday, August 28, 2004

Terry's Approach


Phelps from Baltimore Sun / Laughlin from totalimmersion.net

What can an "average" person learn from an elite swimmer like Michael Phelps? Terry Laughlin of totalimmersion.net has written two articles about this. He says that while you can't change your wingspan, and you can only make marginal changes in your strength and cardiovascular capacity, you can "through mindful and consistent practice" put yourself in swimming positions "just as sleek as the best swimmer in the world."

This approach reminds me of AA's Serenity Prayer: "God grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change, courage to change things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." -Dr. Ronald Niebuhr

"Fast, fluid, effortless swimming depends far more on how cleverly you avoid drag and how sensitively you work with the water than on how long and how hard you swim."
-Terry Laughlin

Friday, August 27, 2004

Two More States Down

My summer business trips to New Orleans for UCET and Nashville for NSPRA mean I can add the states of Louisiana and Tennessee to my list of visited states. I enjoyed seeing the places where Garth Brooks, Elvis Presley and Tennessee Williams created some of their most famous work.

create your own map here

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

Welcome CodeFin to Blogosphere

The blogosphere just got a new source of light. Welcome Joe of CodeFin.net. I'm sure we'll enjoy reading your posts and getting your perspective on life as a computer science student and IT professional. Joe's a long time friend. I've known him a couple of decades. He's remarkably resourceful outdoors and in, from wilderness to the darkroom. I can vouch that he's got something to say and will be a welcome addition to the blogs I regularly read.

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Quantico 1942

I've mentioned that my dad served as a Special Agent in J. Edgar Hoover's FBI. Here's the text of a letter sent to his father on February 6, 1942. He was 29 years old.

Dear Father,

Am writing this note from Quantico, Virginia at which place I have been the last few days.

Have been given some more responsibility and am doing some special training. Quanitco is about 50 miles south of Washington near the mouth of the Potomac river. This is a training center for sailors and Marines and I find it very interesting to see a little of what is going on. More and more I am impressed with what the FBI is doing for the welfare and security of the country.

I have been very busy and have had very little time to call my own. Expect to be back in Washington on Monday night and will then write you at greater length. Am looking forward to hearing from you again and trust that this finds you and Ruth and everyone at home well and happy.

Much love,

Joseph

Saturday, August 21, 2004

Jerry's Good Word

Long before blogs, we had newspaper columnists. I'm glad we've still got 'em. One of my favorities is Jerry Johnston of the Deseret Morning News. Jerry and I became friends years ago when I was in the radio business. We've had some great discussions over the years, usually over lunch.

This morning when I grabbed the newspaper off the front porch, Jerry's column caught my eye. He wrote today about renewal, how our bodies do this, and how we need to make it happen in other ways as well. He wrote about having lunch with an old freind and those conversations about things that matter. I'm due for a lunch with Jerry. Maybe this column will remind you of a lunch you need schedule.

Comment?

Friday, August 20, 2004

On Winning and Writing

"The next best thing to winning is losing! At least you've been in the race." --Nellie Hershey Tullis

"Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self." --Cyril Connolly

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

A Virtual Anniversary

You married her 60 years ago today. You loved her smile, brown eyes, talent, intelligence, and the way you felt when you were together. She loved your curly brown hair, blue eyes, your courage and confidence, the ease and depth of your conversations.

Your work in the FBI took the two of you from Detroit to Cleveland, El Paso, Los Alamos, Ogden and what was then a little Utah town called Bountiful. You didn't live to celebrate your 20th anniversary. The term downwinder wasn't mentioned in your obituary. You now have three granddaughters, three grandsons and a great grandson. Happy 60th anniversary, Dad.

Monday, August 16, 2004

Worth Repeating

I ran this quotation in a previous post, but I'm running it again. I know this is related to my weekend experience. I'm not entirely sure how this all fits together, but I guess that's the beauty of a blog. It gives me some space to figure it out. In the meantime, here's the quote.

"If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person." --Fred Rogers

Saturday, August 14, 2004

Survivors at the Summit

I didn't hesitate when Charlie inivited me to help haul donated Starbucks coffee up to Snowbird for Survivors at the Summit, an annual event of the Cancer Wellness House. It's hard to beat the combination of good company, mountain scenery, hotcakes for breakfast, live music from his son-in-law's band, and the chance to help out in a good cause.

Just before noon we boarded the tram, reached the summit of Hidden Peak, and helped staple a last line of yellow flags joining the dozens already in place. Each flag bore the name of a loved-one touched by cancer. Some carried the names of survivors. Many honored the memory those who lost their battle.

Guest speaker Steve Tempest expressed gratitude for his adoption into the fraternity of cancer survivors. When he first started chemo he didn't like the names of the poisons dripping into his bloodstream. The all ended with "cide" as in insecticide, homicide, genocide. Later when his tumors shrunk by 95%, he thought of this term: "life-saving wonder fluids that can extend or save life." His cancer has returned, but he says nothing could be as devastating as his first diagnosis. Now he says he'll go with the flow and do anything to extend time with his family.

He shared several observations about cancer and life.

  • Enjoy every sandwich.
  • Art, food and music came alive with his cancer diagnosis.
  • One life-threatening illness is worth 10,000 meditations.
  • Pain is God's megaphone to get our attention.
  • No one is promised tomorrow. Enjoy today's simple, tender moments.
  • We all have been born. We all will die. The gift of cancer is now. Why not enjoy now?
  • Don't limit yourself to, "I'll be happy when..."
  • Live in the now. Now is all we have.

    Two of the flags flying at the summit carried the names of my parents. Dad, who was likely a downwinder, died of lung cancer in 1963. A few years later mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has survived 33 years. She and my step-dad (who is also a cancer survivor) still live independently. He golfs and writes. She still makes time for bridge with the girls and a monthly piano lesson. I could have also placed flags there for my brother-in-law Dan who is in remission from multiple myeloma, or my grandfather who died of leukemia when my mom was a toddler.

    I wasn't prepared for the emotion of stepping off the tram, seeing those flags, knowing that each carried someone's story of struggle. I felt humble and proud, grateful and sad, connected to eternity and mortality. Sometimes I'm not comfortable with my own tears. This morning I just let 'em flow.

    Comment?

  • Thursday, August 12, 2004

    20 Years with the Zen Writers Group

    "I joined the Zen Writers Group 20 years ago. Only a couple of us were published writers then, but now most of us have seen our work in print, broadcast or online. The group's been a profound source of inspiration and energy, and just a lot of fun."

    That's a quotation from the future. Right now we're just getting started. In fact the first meeting was last night. But the group has already been together all summer as part of an 8-week creative non-fiction workshop. We jelled within the structure of a weekly class, now we're going to try continuing on without our able instructor.

    The above quotation isn't just wishful thinking. We've heard of at least one group that did start 20 years ago and they're still going strong today.

    Comment?

    Tuesday, August 03, 2004

    How many Rich Finlinsons?

    Today's e-mail contained this message:

    "Just wanted to let you know you are not alone in the world. . . there are others of us out there. I've enjoyed reading parts of your Blog - I just started a blog myself and so I'm using you as inspiration. Here is a recent post of mine where you made a cameo:http://finlinsonfamily.blogspot.com/2004/07/other-rich-finlinson.html

    later,
    Rich Finlinson"

    So there are at least two of us. Three if you count my second cousin Dick Finlinson, four if you count my late Uncle Rich Lyman Finlinson of Leamington, Utah. Five if you count this Richard Finlinson from the UK. If you know of others, just let me know.

    Saturday, July 31, 2004

    The Brown Fox

    One approach to writer's block is to simply write: I don't know what to write. I don't know what to write. I don't know what to write... until you get some better idea. Personally if I'm going to write one sentence over and over, I prefer this one: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." It includes every letter of the alphabet and is an example of a pangram or holoalphabetic sentence.

    Here are a few other pangrams:

  • Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.
  • Jackdaws love my big sphinx of quartz.
  • The five boxing wizards jump quickly.
  • Bright vixens jump; dozy fowl quack.
  • Quick wafting zephyrs vex bold Jim.
  • My faxed joke won a pager in the cable TV quiz show.

  • Friday, July 16, 2004

    Ghosts at Studio B in Nashville

    If there are ghosts here I didn’t see or hear them, unless you count the glare my camera caught as I snapped this shot of the control room while standing in the studio.

    I didn’t want to leave Nashville without touring RCA Studio B. I’d already seen the impressive new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum built in 2001 and the historic Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Old Opry from 1943 to 1974. They’re big places designed to accommodate hundreds of visitors.

    Studio B is just a single story, cinderblock building with a reception area, one studio, one control room, one listening area. It’s not about the architecture, it’s who came here and what they produced. For a couple of decades Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, the Everly Brothers, Dolly Parton, Jim Reeves, Floyd Cramer, Willie Nelson produced hundreds of hit records here.

    Friday, July 09, 2004

    "Are you still writing your blog?"

    asks a friend in the hallway today. "Yeah, but you know I've been taking a writing class, so I'm doing a lot of writing, but it's made pushing the 'publish' button on the blog a little harder to do."

    "Wait a minute, I thought a writing class should make it easier to write, not harder," is the unspoken comment. "It is easier to write, just harder to publish."

    Something similar to this happens when teachers start their students blogging. The students become aware of readers and they seek to clean up their writing. Kids who didn't care about spelling and grammar have new motivation to get it right. Now that I'm a student again, I do care more about what I'm saying.

    So, yes, I'm still writing and blogging. And in just a moment, I'll push the "Publish Post" button once again, even though it's not quite as easy as it was a few weeks ago.

    Sunday, July 04, 2004

    Fireworks at Sugarhouse Park

    I've watched July 4th fireworks at Salt Lake's Sugarhouse Park for more than three decades.

    Watched with my sweetheart before we got married. Watched them there together as newlyweds and young parents. A son remembers falling asleep on the Highland High football field when we watched them together as a family. He'll be a senior this year.

    In the last few years, I've watched them from my neighbor's driveway, but last night I got on my bike and rode down to the park. A couple of my nephews were there somewhere on the practice field, but I didn't spot them. I didn't feel alone though. I felt that I was an American among Americans.

    Maybe I'll try the bicycle approach again next year. And maybe I'll watch Avalon before I go.

    Wednesday, June 30, 2004

    Lake Desolation

    This is the fourth of fifth year I've tried Salt Lake's world-class Wasatch Crest mountainbike ride from Big Cottonwood Canyon to Millcreek Canyon. It took three of us older married men five hours to cover the 20 mile route, and as always, I found the view of Lake Desolation to well worth the climb.

    Overheard in New Orleans

    "We can’t stay with my dad. He’s so PO'd that I didn’t call him on Father’s Day."
    -young woman on her cell at the airport

    "They lost my luggage and I’ll be damned I’ve going to go spend at couple of hundred dollars just so I can go to a cocktail party tonight."
    -middle-aged man on his cell at the Riverwalk mall

    So what do we learn from this, you ask. I guess there are several things, actually. If you talk loudly on your cell phone while standing an airport drinking fountain maybe you're not going to be as good at using that cell to call this man you don't always get along with and say "Happy Father's Day, daddy. You know I'm not always great at staying in touch, but I do love you. Howya doin today?"

    You probably won't hear the guy in shorts at the mall saying, "Yeah, they lost my luggage. I'm not happy about it, but you know it's a great excuse to do some shopping. I'm going to take it as a sign from the universe that it's time for a little upgrade in my business attire."

    Related article: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/27/weekinreview/27bels.html
    (may require free registration)

    Friday, June 04, 2004

    Free Writing Ain't Free


    "Writing isn’t hard. It isn't any harder than ditch digging." -Patrick Dennis

    I'm taking a writing class on Wednesday nights. Our instructor, Teresa Jordan, is an acclaimed author and she's whipping us into shape without mercy. She's not just lecturing about writing, or giving us some examples to consider, she expects all of us write right there in class, and then almost immediately read aloud some portion of it.

    She understands that this isn't always easy or comfortable. The only rule of free writing is that once you start, don't stop, just keep the pen moving on the page.

    And when it's your turn to speak, "Don't apologize, just read the crap," she tells us, quoting one of her writing mentors.

    This "free writing" isn't free from stress or pressure, but it does free the mind in the way that exercise frees the body. I might not enjoy every lap I swim, but my almost daily swimming has made the water so much more inviting. Writing's rarely been easy for me, but with this class I'm already less intimidated by the prospect of an empty page.

    Comment?

    Thursday, May 27, 2004

    Hierarchy of Effective Communications for Educators in the 21st Century

    This list contains both research-proven and best-guess items.


    1. One-to-one, face-to-face
    2. Small group discussion, face-to-face
    3. Small group discussion via audio or videoconferencing
    4. Speaking before a large group
    5. Telephone Conversation
    6. Personal E-mail
    7. Handwritten, personal note
    8. Website or blog the user considers “Must visit daily”
    9. Clear, consise voice-mail
    10. Group E-mail (subscribed to by the user)
    11. Any E-mail that prompts the response: “Now that’s something I needed to know.”
    12. Word-processed “personal” letter
    13. Online search that yields relevant, credible information
    14. Brochure or pamphlet
    15. Article in online or printed organizational newsletter
    16. News (online, broadcast, print)
    17. Advertising (online, broadcast, print)
    18. Mass E-mail (not subscribed to by the user)
    19. Billboards, bus boards, other signage

    Comment?

    Tuesday, May 25, 2004

    50 Things I'm Grateful For in My 1st 50 Years

    My oldest nephew and his wife welcomed their first child into the world yesterday. It just happened to be my 50th birthday, too. What a memorable day. This list comes from some of those memories. It's certainly not all inclusive, but it is in rough chonological order. It jogs my memory and may stir a memory or two for you.

    1. dad
    2. mom
    3. sister
    4. grandparents
    5. aunts

    6. uncles
    7. cousins
    8. friends
    9. phonographs
    10. records

    11. trains
    12. holidays
    13. snow
    14. television
    15. radio

    16. books
    17. school
    18. reading
    19. coloring
    20. math

    21. teachers
    22. playgrounds
    23. bicycling
    24. swimming
    25. kickball

    26. baseball
    27. basketball
    28. football
    29. cars
    30. electronics

    31. summer
    32. rock and roll
    33. classical
    34. jazz
    35. newspapers

    36. debate
    37. high school
    38. amusements parks
    39. scholarships
    40. studios

    41. wife
    42. first son
    43. first daughter
    44. middle daughter
    45. last son

    45. last daughter
    47. belief
    48. trees
    49. mountains
    50. weather

    Comment?

    Thursday, May 20, 2004

    Couple of Quotations

    I've had a couple of quotations here on my white board at work and thought I'd share them. I like them because they're empowering. The speak to the need of doing something about discontent, about the difficulty but possibility of creation, change, improvement.

    "Cautious careful people always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing can never bring about reform." -Susan B. Anthony

    "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world; indeed its the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

    Comment?

    Sunday, April 25, 2004

    Happy Birthday Dad

    Congratulations on your 92nd birthday. I just got back from a great visit with mom and she lent me some pictures of you I’d never seen before. They were taken back in your newlywed days in Cleveland. You’ve got mom in your arms and you both look so happy and romantic. What fun for you then and for your family now.

    I bet you’ve had quite a celebration in the last two days. With Uncle Rich’s birthday yesterday and yours today, I’m guessing Aunt Susan had a great time with you two.

    So many happy returns on the day. Thank you for the gift of my life, for loving us all so unconditionally, for the wonderful times we had together, for your example of loving life, believing in your faith, cherishing your family, serving your country, savoring sage, sunsets and fresh peaches, for comforting me when I felt sick or afraid, and cheering me on in school and swimming, horsemanship and biking, photography and music and so much more.

    With much love, your son,

    p.s. Mom played Debussy's Arabesque tonight. She's amazing.

    Monday, April 19, 2004

    21845+ Sign to "Save Bob"

    21,845+ have now signed a petition urging NPR to reconsider its decision to remove Edwards as host of Morning Edition. Most of those signing also leave comments. More than a few concern comparisons with the CocaCola's New Coke marketing fiasco 18 years ago.

    When Coke finally re-introduced the original formula as CocaCola Classic, they acknowleged their blind spot: "The simple fact is that all the time and money and skill poured into consumer research on the new Coca-Cola could not measure or reveal the deep and abiding emotional attachment to original Coca-Cola felt by so many people."

    Will NPR learn this lesson? It remains to be seen.

    The obituary for our colleague Larry Holt was published over the weekend in Salt Lake's two dailies.

    Friday, April 16, 2004

    21,390+ Sign Save Bob Edwards

    21,390+ have now signed a petition urging NPR to reconsider its decision to remove Edwards as host of Morning Edition. Here's a nother New Coke-type of example: Louis Rukeyser who was booted by Maryland Public TV, then picked up CNBC cable which syndicates his new show to about 150 PBS stations.

    Thursday, April 15, 2004

    More about Larry Holt

    Dan Bammes has published this page "a way to share our condolences with his family and our memories of Larry with each other."

    On this day in 1912: The Titanic Sinks. 1,513 of the 2,200 on board die. Related resources include UEN ThemePark pages on the sea, exploration, and transportation systems...

    Bob Edwards petition update: 21,082+ who urge NPR to reconsider this flawed New Coke decision. It took CocaCola 79 days in 1985 to introduce Classic Coca Cola after New Coke failed.

    Tuesday, April 13, 2004

    Dear Larry,

    Even though you gave us some warning, your departure last night left us all a bit stunned. We will miss you.

    More than a decade ago you moved from the cramped basement of Kingsbury Hall to the sparkling new Eccles Broadcast Center on the edge of the university golf course. At last you had pristine studios facing the valley and the distant Oquirrh range with its spikes of towers on Mount Vision and Farnsworth Peak.

    Back in the Kingsbury days you helped with my transition from directing news to finding the world of tech marketing in what would become the AS/400 environment. I believe you knew what twinax was long before I did.

    Later as my son became an Eagle Scout, you made arrangments to cut a soundtrack for his slide show. In those days before audio editing on the desktop, we pulled an all-nighter from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. The 10-minute show and the 24-man hours it took to cut the sound were definitely worth it. A reel-to-reel tape on a safe shelf at home verifies that.

    In 1998 you welcomed me to EBC not as a guest but as your associate once again. Later you helped Joe with several madrigal recordings. In fact you've helped on so many projects over the years that it wasn't too surprising when I heard Liane Hansen say, "and engineering help from Larry Holt of member station KUER" as a tag to Hal and Taki's Wright Brothers piece on Weekend Edition.

    I've enjoyed hearing you occasionally on KUED, remember your stint as the voice of KUER underwriting and your subhosting for Hawk and Bryan on Morning Edition. I'll say this for your timing, you've helped me see the Bob Edwards "New Coke" fiasco with some perspective.

    I didn't know your news last night as I sat on my front porch. I'd thought of you earlier in the day, knowing that you were in the hospital, but as I sat out in the sunshine last night, something interrupted my reading several times.

    It wasn't the breeze, the fragrance or the warmth of that daylight saving hour. It was the soundscape in the trees -- birds affirming spring with an extraordinary presence.

    If you had a hand in the mix last night, thanks for saying both goodbye and hello, and know that I'll continue to listen for your talent.

    All the best, my old friend, Rich

    Comment?

    Friday, April 09, 2004

    Obfuscation

    Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures.
    -Jessamyn West

    Friday, April 02, 2004

    And the Good News

    "...the hot water is back! Wahoo! Thanks for being so patient..."

    Thursday, April 01, 2004

    Backstory on the Cold Swim

    "...the (high pressure) hot water (heating system) ...will be turned off tonight at 4:00 and will remain off through Wednesday. There is a hole in the high temp pipe and if it is not fixed it could cause major damage. This means that the pool temperature and showers will be affected. Classes will still be held. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. I’ll keep you updated as I get more information..."

    Wednesday, March 31, 2004

    Cold Swim, Shower and Shave

    I'm a lucky guy. I've rarely been without the luxury of hot water in my life. The last time I went swimming in a cold lake was years ago as a parent volunteer at Scout camp for my sons, but today I swam in a cooler than usual pool and shaved and showered in fairly cool but not downright cold water. But it will be even colder tomorrow. To be continued...

    Tuesday, March 30, 2004

    Creative Capacity

    "The creative capacity of the human brain is, for all practical purposes, infinite."
    --George Leonard

    Monday, March 15, 2004

    First Ride of the Year

    We headed out for our first lunch-hour ride of the season today. Surprisingly most of the trails weren't muddy.

    Friday, March 12, 2004

    The Impossibility of Always Knowing

    "Always know all that you say, but don't always say all that you know."

    I don't know the author of this quotation, but I'm grateful to the friend who shared it with me. For those of us who tend to talk or write to find out what we're thinking, this is a difficult ideal, but it beats trying to un-ring a bell.

    Some similar thoughts?

    • Discretion is fine but it has so many limitations. ;)
    • "Great writing. Hell I'd settle for good writing, but to warm up mediocre is OK."
    • "I don't care what you write. Just get those fingers moving. Pianists play scales don't they." (But not on their recordings, not at their concerts.)

    Which reminds me of this column from my long-time friend Jerry Johnston.

    So how about this great spring weather? I had the pleasure of an outdoor lunch today. There's nothing quite like good food, spring weather and a quiet conversation.

    Thursday, March 11, 2004

    Three Quotes on Communication

    Nothing is so simple that it cannot be misunderstood.
    -Jr. Teague

    Good, the more communicated, more abundant grows.
    -John Milton

    Communication is not only the essence of being human, but also a vital property of life.
    -John A. Piece

    Wednesday, March 10, 2004

    Winter Memories as Spring Approaches

    Finally climbed up on the roof and got down my Christmas lights. I took Monday off and thoroughly enjoyed being out in the sunshine and getting one-on-one with my gables again.

    Of course part of what makes this Spring-like weather so alluring is the memory of winter. Here's what I wrote in my hard-copy journal a few months ago. (November 2, 2003)

    There is wonder all about us. I'm grateful for this little planet of ours, for continents and oceans, seasons and sunshine, darkness and light. For this time of year, for fall leaves and this first snow. We've needed a storm.

    What a wonder it is to see the sky darken, the wind blow, and something we've needed so much start to descend. Just a few flakes at first. Almost as if the sky had forgotten how to snow. Then bigger flakes falling faster and beginning to accumulate. Then almost blizzard-like. A frenzy of snow no longer falling, but blowing in from all directions. No longer orderly, but like a child scribbling with white crayon turning the black construction paper gray, then lighter gray, the almost entirely white.

    And how this shroud changes everything. Colors are muted, then masked. Sharp edges soften. Drivers who may not want to acknowledge a change are gently--and sometimes not so gently--reminded that the laws of physics still apply. Nothing has changed. Everything has changed.

    Saturday, March 06, 2004

    Utah Educators Express Enthusiasm for Educational Blogging

    Thanks to the active participation of a full lab of Utah educators, the web has several new educational bloggers this morning. Our hands-on session, Blogging to Connect, Create and Collaborate was well received by those came to the workshop as part of the annual meeting of the Utah Coalition for Educational Technology at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake.

    Although the Utah Education Network offers several blog-like content creation tools like My.UEN, Virtual Tours, Activities, Lesson Plans and Rubrics, we opted to use Blogger in the workshop to enable participants to have a bona fide blog creation experience. Although it wasn't a race, it only took about ten minutes for the first blog to be published. Prior to the lab I test-created a Blogger blog. It took less than five minutes from logging on to creation and posting of a new blog.

    Friday, March 05, 2004

    Welcome to UCET!

    I'm blogging from the vendors area. The second lunch session is about to start. I'd rate this morning's keynote with Bernie Dodge **** (four of five stars).
    Blogging to Connect, Create and Collaborate

     

     


    Blogging to Connect, Create
    and Collaborate


    The following references are available online at:

    http://my.uen.org/18059


    What is a Weblog?

    A weblog (aka Blog) is a live online journal that can be easily and instantly updated. A Blog can be a frequently posted list of interesting web sites, or a personal diary of events and thoughts, or a combination of the two (among many other things.) The newborn publishing world of weblogs seems to be having a significant impact on digital culture, communication, education, and publication.

     

    The best proof of impact at the moment is the proliferation of Election and Political Blogs that have sprung up around presidential candidates, parties, and news agencies. Bloggers are constantly defining and debating the definition of a weblog, as well as presenting their reasons for keeping a blog. 

     

    --Pattie Belle Hastings, Assistant Professor in the Computer Science and Interactive Digital Design Department at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT.

    http://mywebspace.quinnipiac.edu/PHastings/what.html

     

     

    RESEARCH

     

    Pew Research - Internet & American Life Project 

    44% of Internet users have created content for the online world through building or posting to Web sites, creating blogs, and sharing files.

    http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/reports.asp?Report=113&Section=ReportLevel1&Field=Level1ID&ID=484

     

    EDUCATION BLOGS 

     

    Weblogg-ed.com 

    Best blog on education blogging I've seen. Maintained by Will Richardson, Supervisor of Instructional Technology at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, NJ.

    http://www.weblogg-ed.com/

     

    The Gifted Thing
    A Utah summer with Dave Wiley and the USU team 

    http://www.reusability.org/blogs/jay/archives/000235.html

     

    EdBlogger Praxis 

    Examples of educator blogs sorted by pre-k and kinder, primary, EFL/ESL, cross grade, high school, school library, school administrator, etc.

    http://educational.blogs.com/edbloggerpraxis/

     


    EDUCATION BLOGS (continued)

     

    Teachnology : Teaching Blogs 

    http://www.teachnology.org/teachingblogs

     

    Seb's Open Research 

    http://radio.weblogs.com/0110772/

    Clipping: Pointers and thoughts on the evolution of knowledge sharing and scholarly communication 

     

    Delano High School 

    High School Home page built in a blog format, cited among Will Richardson's best practices links.

    http://www.delanohighschool.org

    Clipping: "school of over 2700 students, located in the City of Delano, Kern County, State of California" 

     

    UTAH BLOGS

     

    Windley's Enterprise Computing Weblog 

    http://www.windley.com/index.html

    Clipping: Organizations Usually Get the IT They Deserve 

     

    Jim's Pond - Exploring the Universe of Ideas 

    Personal/professional blog of Jim Stewart, UEN Director of Technical Services

    http://radio.weblogs.com/0117808/

     

    THE Network Security Blog - Geek Troy Jessup 

    http://www.ndnn.org/blog/

     

    Pete Kruckenberg's Perfect World 

    Pete is senior network engineer at the Utah Education Network.

    http://pete.kruckenberg.com/blog/

     

    Dan's Cancer Weblog 

    http://www.mustard.com/myeloma.html

    Clipping: I'm not exaggerating when I say that my experience with this disease has brought joy to my life that I never anticipated in the form of new friends, closer relationships to family, new appreciation for the kindness of strangers...

     

    Rich's UEN Blog 

    http://rfin.blogspot.com/

     

     

    BLOG-LIKE SITES

     

    UEN - The Governor's Monthly News Conference - Transcripts & Streaming Video 

    Watch the latest news conference or read the transcript. Archived transcripts starting in June 1999.

    http://www.uen.org/News/news_group.cgi?category_id=15

     

    UEN - Calendar of Events

    What's ahead for Utah educators, students and parents. Also includes archives of past events.

    http://www.uen.org/News/news_group.cgi?category_id=3

     

    UEN - News Articles

    What's new for educators, students and parents at the Utah Education Network, KULC and KUED.

    http://www.uen.org/News/news_group.cgi?category_id=2


     

     

    BLOG-LIKE SITES (continued)

     

    SLC Public Library : Events 

    http://www.slcpl.lib.ut.us/master_events.jsp?parent_id=9&page_id=21

     

    Google News
    Search and browse 4,500 news sources updated continuously.

    http://news.google.com/

     

     

    FREE BLOG PROVIDERS

     

    Blogger.com 

    The provider that fueled the blogging revolution. Free and premium (pay) versions.

    http://www.blogger.com/

     

    Diaryland.com

    Aimed at a younger crowd. Easy sign up procedure. No banner or pop up ads.

    http://www.diaryland.com/

     

    LiveJournal.com

    Webby award-winning site used by 400,000+ worldwide.

    http://www.livejournal.com/

     

    Xanga.com

    Rated 3 in Free Blog Providers on Mar 4, 2004 at 03:33:52 GMT. (0 views)

    Available in free and premium (pay) versions.

    http://www.xanga.com/

     

     

    OTHER BLOG SERVICES / SOFTWARE

     

    movabletype.org

    Rated 3 in Other Blog Services / Software on Mar 4, 2004 at 18:39:30 GMT. (0 views)

    Donation supported. $20 - $45 buys the software license. Commercial accounts: $150.

    http://www.movabletype.org/donate.shtml

     

    TypePad

    Online service from MoveableType. Monthly pricing at $4.95, $8.95 and $14.95.

    http://www.typepad.com/site/features/

     

    Radio UserLand

    After free 30-day trial period, Radio costs $39.95 per year with 40 megabytes of storage.

    http://radio.userland.com/

     

    EBN - Educational Bloggers Network 

    Paid Service marketed to educators. The first year rate is $19.95. After the first year, the educational rate is $39.95 per year.

    http://www.ebn.weblogger.com/newsItems/departments/policiesAndPolitics

     

     

     

    FREE CONTENT CREATION TOOLS

     

    UEN - my.uen 

    Educator-created customized web page to share information and resources with students, parents, and the learning community.

    http://my.uen.org/myuen/MyUen


     

    FREE CONTENT CREATION TOOLS (continued)

     

    UEN - Virtual Tours 

    Educator-created virtual tours organized by Utah core curriculum. Registered UEN educators can quickly create their own content using this tool.

    http://www.uen.org/tours/

     

    UEN - Activities 

    Educator-created activites organized by Utah core curriculum. Registered UEN educators can quickly create their own content using this tool.

    http://www.uen.org/activities/

     

    UEN - Rubric Tool Home 

    Browse exiting rubrics, adapt or create your own, online tutorial included.

    http://www.uen.org/rubric/

     

    UEN - Lesson Plan Tool 

    Browse existing lesson plans, adapt or create your own, online tutorial included

    http://www.uen.org/lessonplan/

     

    UEN - Basic HTML Tags Tutorial 

    One page reference for Formatting Text with basic HTML tags.

    http://www.uen.org/tutorial/html/my.uen/htmltags.html

     

    SURWEB - State of Utah Resources Web 

    Educator-created multimedia presentations using a huge library of images, sounds & movies provided by SURWEB or other digital sources.

    http://www.surweb.org/

     

    MyEdesk Reference Desk 

    Create, manage, and distribute portfolios, lesson plans, presentations, study guides, and more.

    http://myedesk.org/refdesk.aspx

    Clipping: Use several proven search engines to find reliable resources to add to the content of collections. Search for and find teacher, student, administrator, and power users to share content and collections. Create, format, and edit documents using the powerful Virtual Notepad. Bookmark your favorite websites and upload files to your personal storage space from anywhere on the web.

     

    POLITICS

     

    Utah Policy Political Weblog

    http://www.utahpolicy.com/pages/talkingpoints.htm

    Clipping: what's up in Utah politics, media, public affairs

      

    Bush

    http://www.georgewbush.com/blog/

     

    Dean

    http://www.blogforamerica.com/

     

    Kerry 

    http://blog.johnkerry.com/

     

     

    JOURNALISM

     

    OJR article: Blogging as a Form of Journalism

    Online Journalism Review - USC Annenberg

    http://www.ojr.org/ojr/workplace/1017958873.php

    Clipping: Weblogging will drive a powerful new form of amateur journalism as millions of Net users — young people especially — take on the role of columnist, reporter, analyst and publisher while fashioning their own personal broadcasting networks.