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civact6
The Development Set -- (A Summer Re-Run)
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G'Day All --
If you haven't already seen it, "The Development Set" -- a poem by Ross Coggin -- provides us with a humorous reminder not to become too preoccupied with our own self-importance.
I hope it will give you a smile, and provide some food for thought:
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"The Development Set" -- by Ross Coggin
Excuse me, friends, I must catch my jet --
I'm off to join the Development Set;
My bags are packed, and I've had all my shots,
I have travellers' cheques and pills for the trots.
The Development Set is bright and noble,
Our thoughts are deep and our vision global;
Although we move with the better classes,
Our thoughts are always with the masses.
In Sheraton hotels in scattered nations,
We damn multinational corporations;
Injustice seems so easy to protest,
In such seething hotbeds of social rest.
We discuss malnutrition over steaks
And plan hunger talks during coffee breaks.
Whether Asian floods or African drought,
We face each issue with an open mouth.
We bring in consultants whose circumlocution
Raises difficulties for every solution --
Thus guaranteeing continued good eating
By showing the need for another meeting.
The language of the Development Set,
Stretches the English alphabet;
We use swell words like "epigenetic,"
"Micro," "macro," and "logarithmetic."
Development Set homes are extremely chic,
Full of carvings, curios and draped with batik.
Eye-level photographs subtly assure
That your host is at home with the rich and the poor.
Enough of these verses -- on with the mission!
Our task is as broad as the human condition!
Just pray to God the biblical promise is true!
The poor ye shall always have with you.
******
Best wishes, Dave Matthews
Facilitator, The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
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One Way the Internet Has Fundamentally Changed the Nature of Education
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G'Day All --
One of the great things about the Internet is that it should increasingly enable even the youngest of students to custom-tailor greater and greater segments of their educational experience to correspond more fully with their actual needs and interests.
For example, back in the "olden days," when many of us studied geography in grade school, each student was given -- and expected to study -- the single textbook that had been selected for use in the class.
This situation began to "open up" as school and public library resources expanded through the years, and could be used to supplement the class textbook.
But now, with the 'Net, a kid can zero in on specific aspects of the subject matter that "ring his/her bell" -- and the readily available resources for those aspects are likely to be almost inexhaustible.
If a kid likes "butterflies," for example, he/she can start with the "Dick and Jane" material, and then proceed as rapidly as he/she is able to material of secondary school, college-level, graduate-level, and even on to Ph.D.-and-beyond levels of sophistication.
Of course, there will continue to be "general education requirements" that every kid has to slog through. Nothing wrong with that, as far as I can see.
But its going to freak us older folks out to find ourselves increasingly confronted with young "whiz kids" -- who, at entry career levels in our respective organizations and/or professions, know four or five times more about our fields of "expertise" than we do.
A problem becoming fairly common in the transitional decade or two that we are in at the present time is that quite a few "established" professional people, organizational staff members, administrators, and/or senior executives are likely to have a hard time coping with the phenomenon of "hyper-precocious" entry level personnel.
Various members of the "Old Guard" may either want to play ostrich games (sticking their heads in the sand and pretending that the problem doesn't exist) -- or, in a variety of ways, they'll be inclined to "circle the wagons" to defend against or suppress these "new-generation upstarts," who seem likely to "rock the boat" or otherwise upset the status quo.
In such cases, the cadre of senior personnel within an organization may risk becoming a significant obstacle to progress of a worthwhile and necessary sort.
For us older folks who want to confront the challenge in a forthright manner, we also have the opportunity to update / expand / modernize our educational and professional qualifications by availing ourselves of the information and resources provided by the 'Net.
There's no getting around the fact, however, that for people who thought they had pretty much concluded the period of formal education in their lives -- and who have subsequently become preoccupied with other competing responsibilities such as home and family obligations -- having to revert to knowledge acquisition activities of "grad-school intensity" can be an upsetting prospect.
As noted, within couple of decades this sort of discombobulation may very well be behind us, and the "new generation" will be firmly in the saddle. But for the next few years, at least, people in positions of programmatic and/or administrative authority may find it increasingly necessary to say to their younger colleagues, "Brief me on what we should be doing, and how we should be doing it. I am your leader."
I hope you'll find the above comments to be thought-provoking. Differing and/or alternative perspectives are always welcome.
Best wishes, Dave Matthews
Facilitator, The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
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Update RE: Emergency First Aid, Medical, and Dental Care Information
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G'Day All --
RE: Yesterday's TIG Blog post on "Emergency First Aid, Medical, and Dental Care Information," at:
http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/39700
Worthwhile feedback was received, suggesting that TIGers might find related information on "International Travelers' Health Maintenance, First Aid, and Medical Care" to be most useful.
In response, a new file has been inserted as the leading entry in the referenced Links Directory. Or, it can be accessed directly at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CivilPrepSkillsEmergencyFirstAidMedicalandDentalCare/links/First_Aid___Emergenc_001148850763/International_Travel_001150733366/
As indicated in the original post, if you have additional questions, comments or suggestions, please don't hesitate to share them.
Best wishes, Dave Matthews
Facilitator, The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
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Emergency First Aid, Medical, and Dental Care Information
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G'Day All --
In the Civic Action Free University's Emergency Preparedness section we've attempted to assemble some of the 'Net's most informative links on First Aid, Medical, and Dental Care, for the benefit of anyone who's interested in matters of this sort.
But before providing the links, our Legal Advisor says we have to insert the following:
>>> Cautionary Notes:
(1) Some listed websites cover advanced, professional-level First Aid procedures. Readers of this material are cautioned against attempting any type of treatment beyond the scope of their training and certification.
(2) Inappropriate or erroneous use of First Aid information may result in adverse consequences for the patient, the spread of infectious organisms, and/or serious legal liability for persons attempting to function as caregivers.
(3) Inclusion of these sites does *NOT* imply affirmation that the material they contain is accurate, complete, safe, or effective.
(4) These links have been provided: (a) for their general edcational value, (b) to serve as "review & refresher" information for certified personnel, and (c) as an encouragement for laypersons who may wish to seek out and undergo appropriate training to become qualified First Aid practitioners.
With those caveats in mind, you'll find the links in question at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CivilPrepSkillsEmergencyFirstAidMedicalandDentalCare/links/First_Aid___Emergenc_001148850763/
I hope you'll find this information to be worthwhile. If you can suggest additional high quality sites to be included in the collection -- and/or if you have other questions, comments, or suggestions, please let me know.
Best wishes, Dave Matthews
Facilitator, The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
E-Mail Address: civact6@yahoo.com
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