Jon Stewart (and text, space and voice)

Recently listening to Fresh Air's most entertaining interviews of 2010, I heard a bit of the one she did with Jon Stewart. I confess I have been a fan of his since he was on MTV. This bit struck me as an interesting analogy for thinking about learning in 2011.

"We don't do anything but make the connections," he says. "We're just going off our own instinct of, 'What are the connections to this that make sense?' And this really is true: We don't fact-check [and] look at context because of any journalistic criteria that has to be met; we do that because jokes don't work when they're lies. We fact-check so when we tell a joke, it hits you at sort of a gut level — not because we have a journalistic integrity, [but because] hopefully we have a comedic integrity that we don't want to violate."

Here is a "fake" textbook author and comedian making meaningful, purposeful connections. I continue to be fascinated by the idea of intertextuality -- how texts inform and influence one another. I believe Stewart has that idea mastered across media or text types.

Through his work he has developed a voice that NPR calls "The Most Trusted Name in Fake News."

You can watch the interview here.

New Decade in an Aging Century

Another year, and I am still gathering ideas. Sorting them, trying them in new categories. I come back to text, space, and voice. They feel like keys to learning and living in our times.

A couple of friends have listed goals for 2011. Karen, with a new look, has reminded us to remember the children. The always thoughtful Ann Marie, pledges to write more and give thanks more often.

I would say mine are: listen and observe more and write more.

Innovative and Creative

How do we differentiate these terms and think about supporting both ideas and the largest conception of both ideas?

Speed

You couldn't read this but it says, brrr ......it's cold

It was the screen message facing out on a cash register. See what you miss when you're fast?

2008 in review

A tradition among a group of friends of mine is to share three new things we tried, accomplished in the previous year. I believe reflection is fundamental to learning and growth. I was struck by how important photographs were to me in this process.

For a small set photos can be seen here.

Personal Networking Assistant

I saw this site in the tagline of a friend's chat status. Imagine that …
I am fascinated by these kind of tools -- both those 'engineered' and organic like PLN Yourself.

At the end of the day I still struggle to balance the shiny tools/gadgets with genuine/authentic uses.

Space

For a couple of years I have danced on Sundays. Every time I learn a new dance or try to remember an old one, I am reminded of being a "new" learner and the frustration with "not getting it" and being confused. The resilience required of learning is significant.