Changing Course

A story to live by...

A Navy ship was on sea maneuvers in extremely heavy weather and shortly after dark the lookout reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow."
"Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out.
Lookout replied, "Steady, captain," which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: We are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees."
Back came a signal, "Advisable for you to change your course 20 degrees."
The captain said, "Send, I'm a captain, change your course 20 degrees."
"I'm a seaman second class," came the reply. "You had better change your course 20 degrees."
"By that time, the captain was furious. How dare a seaman second class order him to change course. He spat out, "Send, I'm a battleship. Change your course 20 degrees or prepare to be rammed."
Back came the flashing light, "I'm a Light House do what you want!"
The captain changed course immediately. When important decisions come our way it is pertinent to remain objective and to look for alternative solutions. Although, being right is important, being wrong can be devastating. Yet, the choice is ours, we can be objective and change course or we can be obtuse and run aground. Sometimes, it is better to change our course…
W. Bishop

Technorati Tags: motivational leadership

Technorati Profile

Technorati Profile to get the traffic ball rolling. See my other posts.

Thanks
W. Bishop

The Net Squirrel

I just thought I'd start this blog off right by introducing everyone to one of the tech gurus of our time Patrick Crispen AKA the net squirrel. I have been using his knowledge for sometime now and he is one sharp cookie. Also, he's a UA grad and a die hard BAMA fan. Nothing wrong with that!

Patrick's website is http://www.netsquirrel.com/ here you will find all types of information to help you with all types of technology applications. I first met Patrick at the AETC conference a few years back and I make it a point to go to his seminars when he's in town. Unfortunately, Patrick left Alabama and went to the West coast. He is the Instructional Technology Coordinator at California State University in Long Beach.

Additionally, Patrick along with Bob Rankin have a very informative site called the internet tourbus that provides a weekly newsletter about cool tech stuff. I will most likely create a post about the bus later on.

As for now, I hope some of you find this post useful and worthwhile.

W. Bishop

Technorati Tags: educational technology
Technorati Tags: k12online06 k12online

Educational Technology: To be or not to be

The conundrum behind the true origin of the name Lost Johns is just that, a mystery. But my aunt Celia used to tell me as a young boy that the name of her somewhat famous mercantile business (i.e. old country store) established in the 1920’s in rural Northwest Alabama related to a family that wandered off and got lost from their wagon train.

The truth of the matter she said was that a man and his wife came down with some type of fever and were going to be dismissed by the other parties participating in the wagon train due to their illness along with their young daughter. However, rather than allow their daughter to see them die and then most likely die in the wilderness herself, they decided to go in search for water with the provision if they did not return that some of the others in the party in exchange for their wagon and goods would care for their only daughter. As expected, the Johns, that being their sir name, wandered off and never returned to the wagon train.

Hence, when great aunt Celia and her husband opened their old country store they did so on the spot where supposedly the Johns had left to go in search of water. That being the case uncle Van Buren decided to call their country store Lost Johns. Of course, great aunt Celia said that Buren as she called him was always telling some type of yarn (i.e. lie) as it was his nature. Nevertheless, the old country store became famous and remained open for almost fifty years. Additionally, two skeletons were found in a nearby cave some years latter. Ironically, one skeleton was a female and the other was a male. Yarn or truth, only the Johns know!

Now, I know what your thinking. Why name a blog after some old country store that is all but forgotten. Well, like Lost Johns, technology is currently being developed as such a rapid pace that most of us are all but lost. In lieu of this predicament, I feel that I need to do my part to enlighten parents, teachers, and the average Joe to the best of my ability. Wish me luck!

I'll try not to wander off and get lost. No pun intended!

Technorati Tags: new blog