Reflections Friday 12/19/14

While this was recorded on Friday, the day got away from me and I did not complete the upload until now.

listen to ‘Reflections Friday 12/19/14’ on audioBoom

amaryllis - day 15

Dec 12 reflections

listen to ‘Dec 12 reflections’ on audioBoom

catching up

listen to ‘catching up’ on audioBoom

Reflections Friday

listen to ‘Reflections Friday’ on audioBoom

Labor Day weekend photos

Happened upon some photos from the Labor Day weekend that are worth sharing

My brother was sitting

my brother siting

So I decided to do likewise

me thinking in the sun

and we all posed by the Chicago waterfront

group pose on Chicago waterfront

For additional information on the art project installed in Chicago;s Grant Park
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/icelandic-artist-brings-26-life-sized-sculptures-to-solti-garden-in-grant-park/

playoff soccer weekend

listen to ‘playoff soccer weekend’ on audioBoom

#GivingTuesday

The day after Thanksgiving is "Black Friday".

The Monday after Thanksgiving is "Cyber Monday"

In response to these two commercial efforts, there is "#Giving Tuesday"

Franklin Food Pantry appreciates #GivingTueday

Deja brew 6 kettles

The 'Band Of Brewers' returned recently to bottle our six kettles. I am late posting the cap codes for the six we made.

Oktoberfest Bier = O
Sammies Octoberfest = SO
Harvest Spice (and pumpkin liquor) = P
Bassalope = B
Harry's Brown IPA = IPA
Olde English Strong Ale = SE 

6 kettles at Deja Brew

http://www.deja-brew.com/

trick or treat and the teal pumpkin

listen to ‘trick or treat and the teal pumpkin’ on audioBoom

change and irrelevance

listen to ‘change and irrelevance’ on audioBoom

changing

listen to ‘changing’ on audioBoom

fall into the new season

listen to ‘fall into the new season’ on audioBoom

Reflections on the center

listen to ‘Reflections on the center’ on Audioboo

Looking for work? - Job Search Jam Sessions returns Sep 12

If you are looking for work, or know someone who is, this is the event to be at. The 5th edition of Job Search Jam Sessions returns Sep 12.

What will the Job Search Jam Sessions be like?

Additional details on the event can be found here
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/p/expections.html

Job Search Jam Sessions - Sep 12

What is the schedule for the day?

The schedule will be similar to that held in 2013
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/p/schedule.html

Where will this be held?

Job Search Jam Sessions #5 will be held in Hopkinton at the St John Evangelist Parish Center
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/p/location.html

How much does it cost?

$8 you can pay online or at the door. Tickets can be purchased online or reserved so you can pay at the door. (To pay at the door - choose 'Show other payment options.'  Advance registrations are highly encouraged to ensure we have a good count of participants to plan for the food and refreshments).

Online Ticketing for Job Search Jam Sessions 5 powered by Eventbrite

If there is interest in helping to sponsor this event, please let me know!

catching up

listen to ‘catching up’ on Audioboo

Coincidence of 'play'

The podcast I was listening to on the ride home one night referenced play. Marc Maron interviewed Josh Groban and in the course of the discussion Josh mentioned that he is learning to fly and close to getting his pilot's license.  Coming off his hour or two of flying where he has had to focus on the controls inorder to fly the plane, leaves him in a position to make his best decisions.

http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_507_-_josh_groban

The podcast I was listening to on the ride in the next morning was all about play. Krista Tippett interviews Stuart Brown  who is the founder and president of the National Institute for Play. He is co-author of "Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul."  The whole episode (approx 50 mins) gets into the benefits of play for children and for adults.

http://www.onbeing.org/program/play-spirit-and-character/143

And the third reference (three times the charm!) was the daily poem from poets.org/

http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem-day

"'Popcorn!' was spurred into being by seeing a status update or tweet by the poet Dorothea Lasky (the DL of the dedication) that went, I believe, 'Let us all make room for the new.' Messing with the syntax and making the result my first line allowed me to insist on our role in making—and subsequently apprehending—new reals. It's not an original idea, but I do believe that one of the best ways to make room or to room make is to indulge in serious play."

Anniversary day

This is a special time. 32 years ago, I really didn't know what to expect. I had no real idea what would happen. All I knew was that the journey forward would be a good one with Dolores by my side. It has been a good one. Thank you Dolores!

wedding day - once upon a time

sherku: milestone

another dayanother yearanother touchanother kissI love you

The 5th Job Search Jam Sessions returns Sep 12

The 5th edition of Job Search Jam Sessions returns Sep 12. If you are looking for work, or know someone who is, this is the event to be at.

What will the Job Search Jam Sessions be like?

Additional details on the event can be found here
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/p/expections.html

Job Search Jam Sessions - Sep 12

What is the schedule for the day?

The schedule will be similar to that held in 2013
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/p/schedule.html

Where will this be held?

Job Search Jam Sessions #5 will be held in Hopkinton at the St John Evangelist Parish Center
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/p/location.html

How much does it cost?

$8 you can pay online or at the door. Tickets can be purchased online or reserved so you can pay at the door. (To pay at the door - choose 'Show other payment options.'  Advance registrations are highly encouraged to ensure we have a good count of participants to plan for the food and refreshments).

Online Ticketing for Job Search Jam Sessions 5 powered by Eventbrite

"Many Sides" - Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka's Taiko Dojo

My annual pilgrimage to the Lowell Folk Festival took place this past weekend. One of the more interesting groups to perform were the taiko dojo drummers from San Francisco.

One of the audience members sitting in front and to the left of where I was captured this video and posted it to YouTube. The piece is called "Many Sides' and is performed with an interlude during which a lion dance is performed.




Enjoy!

Weikert July 2014 (audio)

listen to ‘Weikert July 2014’ on Audioboo

Pann's Creek flows through Weikert, PA

The text was posted here yesterday
http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2014/07/ghazal-weikert-2014.html

ghazal: Weikert 2014

There’s no wifi, points don’t matter
But before each meal
We pause to give thanks

Fallen tree diverted the trail
Along shaded rail line
Where folks gave thanks

Infant music box conjures
Ice cream, grass stained fun
And fire flies giving thanks

Intense or cursive the
Fire circle discussion
Solves enough to give thanks

Joy of sewing triumph fades
Quickly with news of three
Sleeping so well to give thanks

Juggling cans, crossing over
Monkey bridge where laurel
Line the path saying thanks

Composed in Weikert, PA

Note: This ghazal is composed of six individual sherku. Each will be posted separately to quietpoet.com/

Deja Brew: 'Band of Brewers' return for 6 kettles

Friday night, summer time, and a good time to make some beer. The 'Band of Brewers' gathered at Deja Brew for a set of six kettles. A good mix of some favorites and some new ones.

Blueberry Ale = A delicious ale. It smells good, tastes good and finishes clean
Death Star II: Return of the Citra = A new IPA, so new it isn't listed on the DejaBrew webpage
Lobster Claw = A highly aromatic barley wine. Very Potent.
Nessie Scotch Ale = So new, it isn't listed on the DejaBrew webpage
Sammy's Summer = Modeled after a popular summer ale from Boston
Stunner = A creamy British Pub style pale ale “stunning colour”

We'll be back in three weeks to bottle and bring home to enjoy!

part of the ingredients for Sammy's Summer

Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listen

I haven't shared a TED Talk in awhile but this one is definitely worthy of watching and listening to.



So insightful...

Julian's bio and links to other talks he has shared at TED
http://www.ted.com/speakers/julian_treasure

summer begins

listen to ‘summer begins’ on Audioboo

summer time

listen to ‘summer time’ on Audioboo

small pond in Cook's Farm

World Cup time (video)

These two videos give you the sense and spirit of the World Cup. Two approaches, two results. driven by "life in the jungle"

June 6th - 70th anniversary

listen to ‘June 6th - 70th anniversary’ on Audioboo

Busyness as May ends

listen to ‘Busyness as May ends’ on Audioboo

dogwood blooming

winter moths ballooning

listen to ‘winter moths ballooning’ on Audioboo

Simon Sinek - good video and audio links

Simon Sinek made it to the full TED conference this year. You may be familiar with his TedX video. He has continued to explore and learn and share.

Spend 12 minutes with this video of his talk.





For more Simon, you can also listen to his interview with John Wall on the Marketing Over Coffee podcast.
http://www.marketingovercoffee.com/2014/04/08/sinek-leadership/

PodCamp Western Mass #6 - Participant survey

Some good PodCamp-style collaboration (thanks Val Nelson, et al) has put together the following survey to gather feedback from the recent PCWM6 event.

The survey will remain open until Jun 8th. The results will be summarized for the organizing committee to review and act upon.

Cap Codes for 6 Kettles

The "Band of Brewers" went to Deja Brew on Monday to bottle and take home the 6 kettles we made two weeks ago. The all important cap codes are as follows:

K = Kick Ass Pale Ale	Our Own Award winning recipe Developed By Chuckaroo!!
D = Der Racecar Red	A nice light red ale. Our own recipe, easy to drink
N = Nessie Scotch Ale	So new, it isn't listed on the DejaBrew webpage
G = Gnomey's Pilz	Our own recipe by our own Gnome. A really excellent Pilsner
(blank) = Oak Island Bitter	Dave’s rendition of an easy drinking English Bitter. Very smooth
B = Blueberry Ale	A delicious ale. It smells good, tastes good and finishes clean

What is the cap code? The letter on the cap indicates the contents of the bottle.

cap codes

Insights on LinkedIn usage

Interesting insights from a survey on LinkedIn users


Via: PowerFormula for Linkedin Success

The Quiet Girlz Club Is Open (ages 17-24)

Some of my readers might be interested in this opportunity especially if you are in or around Western Mass.

Hi Steve, Hey, it's finally here, the "Quiet Girlz Club," starting June 3rd in Northampton, Mass.  See what you think and consider forwarding it to someone who might need this. Thank you! ++++++++++++++++++++ The Quiet Girlz Club Is Now Open! As you may know, I want to reach introverted and shy young women (ages 12+) so they can get on a path of confidence and success... instead of the painful and frustrating path that is too common for introverts in our extrovert-oriented culture. (I'm going to explain the path from pain to confidence in the next email. Cool diagrams too!) Over the last few months, I've had some wonderful discussions with "quiet" young women and parents of "quiet" young women, and they have helped me design this group for ages 17-24. People are starting to sign up. Here's what I learned from my youth advisors: Quiet-loving, shy, or introverted young women are finding it challenging to thrive in our loud fast-paced culture -- which seems to expect them to become louder in order to be heard and valued.   It's sometimes hard to feel confident and valuable just being themselves.   They're sick of people asking them "Is something wrong?" just because they're being quiet!   All that drain on their confidence can snowball into feeling more and more nervous to speak. Ack!  (I got stuck in that snowball when I was young.)   They hate it when people assume they have nothing to say. They have plenty to say. Don't confuse taking time to think with having nothing to say! Here's what I learned from my parent advisors: They worry about if their daughters will speak up when they need to -- with dating, with teachers, with bosses.   They are especially worried when their "quiet" daughters head to college or beyond. (I feel for them. Oh my, my first year of college was... problematic, because in my case, I was a doormat.)   They long for their daughters to have all the confidence and ease possible for creating a fulfilling life for themselves. The Quiet Girlz Club can help: This small group "learning circle" is for ages 17-24, perfect for college-bound women, college women and other "new adults." It's a place to tap into your introvert strengths, learn to manage the common pitfalls, and build confidence. Group members will learn from each other and learn from an experienced life coach/ former wallflower.  (That's me.) Starts Tuesday, June 3rd. (Oh, that's right around the corner! Please register before Memorial Day, May 26th.) Group size:  4 - 6 members More details about what we'll do, how it helps, and how to begin: Quiet Girlz Club ++++++++++++++++++++ Coming up in the next email... The Path from Shyness to Confidence... an easy-to-understand diagram. Perfect learning tool for all ages. Reply emails always welcome. I love it. Thank you! Val Nelson Career/ Business/ Life Coach (A.K.A., The Introvert Coach) Quick Links: Meet Val (video) The Introvert Clubhouse (free community) Quiet Girlz Club (ages 17-24) - (filling up now) Visit Val on Facebook   Forward to a Friend    Val's Website

Val Nelson (Career/ Business/ Life Coach) · 25 Main St., Suite 339A · Northampton, MA 01060 · USA

The trees are no longer naked

listen to ‘The trees are no longer naked’ on Audioboo

Friday, May 9

listen to ‘Friday, May 9’ on Audioboo

Deja Brew - 6 kettles after a long absence

The 'Band of Brewers' went to Deja Brew on Monday. And yes, if you were keeping track, it was the longest time between brewing night that this group has had. We were last there November 2013 to brew, Dec to bottle. It was good to get back and good to get 6 wonderful kettles.

Kick Ass Pale Ale	Our Own Award winning recipe Developed By Chuckaroo!!
Der Racecar Red	A nice light red ale. Our own recipe, easy to drink
Nessie Scotch Ale	So new, it isn't listed on the DejaBrew webpage
Gnomey's Pilz	Our own recipe by our own Gnome. A really excellent Pilsner
Oak Island Bitter	Dave’s rendition of an easy drinking English Bitter. Very smooth
Blueberry Ale	A delicious ale. It smells good, tastes good and finishes clean

5 of the six are new, only the Blueberry Ale is one we have done before.

Der Racecar Red with the start of the rolling boil

Mastery is in the reaching (video)

In her TED Talk, Sarah Lewis says:

"Mastery is in the reaching, not the arriving. It's in constantly wanting to close that gap between where you are and where you want to be. Mastery is about sacrificing for your craft and not for the sake of crafting your career."

The full transcript (for the speed readers)
http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_lewis_embrace_the_near_win/transcript

Sr System Admin opportunity

a good friend of mine sent me this note:

Hey, I'm looking for a senior systems administrator to help out with a new gig that my consulting firm has just landed. Basically, we need someone with Windows Server (2008/2012) and VMware (vSphere 4/5) chops. Needs to be someone very hands on. Doesn't have to be an architect. A good, solid engineer is what we need for this job. The gig is in Waltham. Might require a bit of travel, but not much.

If you know of someone to fit this opportunity, please contact me

Healthy thoughts

listen to ‘Healthy thoughts’ on Audioboo

Indian Rock, Franklin MA

Podcamp Anthem - Updated for PCWM6

I have a habit of re-writing lyrics and have realized that to avoid copyright problems one needs to do so with music in the public domain.

I did a version of this for me for PodCamp Boston. I have updated the lyrics for PodCamp WesternMass. The longest running podcamp in New England!

Enjoy!

enjoying pcwm5

---------------------------------------------


This can be sung to "Oh, Susanna"
with apologies to Stephen Foster



I come from Franklin with a recorder on my knee
I’m going to PodCamp WesternMass my friends there to see
The web was down the day I left
Wireless was so spotty
Text and Twitter were all I had left
To keep me from going dotty

All you bloggers, don’t you cry for me
I’m a new media maker
With a PowerBook on my knee

I had a dream the other night
Google rank had settled still
I thought I saw my blog somewhere
High upon high, on top of the hill
Technorati, RSS, even Digg
Comments were incoming furious
How did this happen to get so big?
Ah, the "Molly Cyrus" video drew the curious!

All you listeners, don’t you cry for me
I’m a new media maker
With an iPod on my knee

I’ll soon be at PodCamp WesternMass
And then I’ll look around
And when I find Morriss Partee
I’ll fall upon the ground
But if I don’t find Lesley Lambert
This podcaster surely die
And when I’m dead and buried
Bloggers don’t you cry

All you viewers, don’t you cry for me
I’m a new media maker
With a laptop on my knee


2014 Sherlock's Foolish Music
(MADCAP Records)


--------------------------------

This can be sung to "Oh, Susanna"
with apologies to Stephen Foster



I come from "insert your place" with a recorder on my knee
I’m going to PodCamp "insert your place" my friends there to see
The web was down the day I left
Wireless was so spotty
Text and Twitter were all I had left
To keep me from going dotty

All you bloggers, don’t you cry for me
I’m a new media maker
With a PowerBook on my knee

I had a dream the other night
Google rank had settled still
I thought I saw my blog somewhere
High upon high, on top of the hill
Technorati, RSS, even Digg
Comments were incoming furious
How did this happen to get so big?
Ah, the "insert your name of the" video drew the curious!

All you listeners, don’t you cry for me
I’m a new media maker
With an iPod on my knee

I’ll soon be at PodCamp "insert your place"
And then I’ll look around
And when I find "insert your local celebrity"
I’ll fall upon the ground
But if I don’t find "insert your local celebrity"
This podcaster surely die
And when I’m dead and buried
Bloggers don’t you cry

All you viewers, don’t you cry for me
I’m a new media maker
With a camcorder on my knee


2007 Sherlock's Foolish Music
(MADCAP Records)

Good friday

listen to ‘Good friday’ on Audioboo

Breaking news: frozen earthworms

Wednesday morning brought the discovery of thousands of frozen earthworms. They had risen from their ground homes during the warm spring rain on Tuesday. As evening fell, the rain turned to sleet and ice before turning to snow.

frosty earthworms

This phenomena appeared in driveways in Franklin and other parts of MA west of the i495 beltway. What the long term effects of this will have on the lawn conditions remains to be seen.

spring blossoms bent in the snow

PodCamp WesternMass 6 - Apr 19

Where do I learn how to do what I do here for Franklin Matters? I managed to attend the first PodCamp in 2006 in Boston and have been continuing to learn something new at unconference event since then. At last count, I have helped with the registration desk (or more) for about 30 unconferences.

Seth Kaye's photo of me at #PCWM5

PodCamp WesternMass 6 - Saturday, April 19, 2014 

Where: The Kittredge Center, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, MA 

When: Saturday, April 19, 2014 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Tickets are $30 plus processing, or $10 with a valid student ID, and includes a full day of PCWM6, lunch, admission to our after party, and so much more! 

At PodCamp, everyone's a rock star. 

PodCamp is an un-conference about social media and online networking. It is an open and collaborative event with discussions and interaction from attendees. Anyone with something to contribute or with the desire to learn is welcome and invited to join. Some sessions will be planned ahead of the event, but plenty of spaces will be open for the topics YOU want to discuss and learn. You can participate by giving a presentation, demo, or joining into another cooperative event, being on a panel/roundtable, or in other ways helping out on event day. 

PodCamp is NOT just about podcasting, but about all social media/networking, and its relevance and usefulness to community, business and otherwise. This PodCamp is all about blogging, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, podcasting, videocasting/YouTube, and any other online community tools. 

Western Mass entered the Social Media age with the inaugural PodCamp WesternMass in early 2009. We have a thriving community here of some truly amazing people. This is a chance for Western Mass bloggers, business people, artists, and academics, to get together, make connections, and for everyone to learn how social media can enhance their business, cause or organization. This is also a chance to celebrate the cornucopia of Western Mass. culture, a joyous blend of urban and rural; business, artistic and academic; near enough to other large metro areas, but small enough to hear yourself think. 

There will also be a Post-PodCamp Party on Saturday after the event, at Sláinte.

To get your ticket, follow this link  pcwm6.eventbrite.com/

The schedule of sessions for PodCamp WesternMass 5

connections on Friday

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Sexplanations - consent

great presentation for an important topic





Find more on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/sexplanations/

or YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkxMlA7rt-mnIc1AjbyAsPw

Friday reflections

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Sharing goodness

Three things that came across the radar on Sunday and well worth sharing.

1 - collaboration takes courage and trust. Watch carefully as each continue to communicate as they perform together.




Love the collaboration!


2 - Brene Brown's TED talk and discussion with Jonathan Fields are ones I frequently turn to or recommend. This posting from the OnBeing blog summarizes the steps to be ready for giving and sharing feedback.

I know I am ready to give feedback when:

I'm ready to sit next to you rather than across from you.

I'm willing to put the problem in front of us rather than between us (or sliding it toward you).

I'm ready to listen ask questions, and accept that I may not fully understand the issue.

I want to acknowledge what you do well instead of picking apart your mistakes.

I recognize your strengths and how you can use them to address your challenges.

I can hold you accountable without shaming or blaming you.

I'm willing to own my part.

I can genuinely thank you for your efforts rather than criticize you for your failings.

I can talk about how resolving these challenges will lead to your growth and opportunity.

I can model the vulnerability and openness that I expect to see from you.

OBeing article
http://www.onbeing.org/blog/grace-in-disagreement/6191

Good Life Project
http://www.goodlifeproject.com/brene-brown-vulnerable/

Brene Brown's TED Talk
http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame


 3 - and finally on the food front, what we eat does provide us the capability to do everything else we do. This article in the Atlantic reports on the scientific results of all the various food diets. Very good reading. I encourage you to check out the full article. Along the way, you'll find that Dr Katz is behind the NuVal scoring system used by the BigY markets.

The current review is in pursuit of that, as is a system for determining the nutritional value of foods that Katz recently spent two years developing. It's called NuVal, and it offers consumers a single numeric value to determine foods' worth, as opposed to a complex nutritional panel. The number does things like differentiate intrinsic from added nutrients. "If you don’t do that, the best thing in the whole damn food supply is Total cereal. Total is basically a completely vapid flake delivery system for multivitamins. You could skip the cereal and take the multivitamin." 

"If you eat food direct from nature," Katz added, "you don’t even need to think about this. You don't have to worry about trans fat or saturated fat or salt—most of our salt comes from processed food, not the salt shaker. If you focus on real food, nutrients tend to take care of themselves."

Atlantic article

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/03/science-compared-every-diet-and-the-winner-is-real-food/284595/

NuVal at BigY

http://www.bigy.com/LivingWell/NuVal

NuVal homepage

http://www.nuval.com/