Ali Farka Toure has died. I missed seeing him play, but have loved his music since first hearing it. He was a blues player and a griot and a link to a deep source. mp3: Ali Farka Toure – Allah Uya
My buddy Jon Husband today blogged a fascinating piece by danah boyd on why and how youth are using MySpace. Her conclusion… Youth are not creating digital publics to scare parents – they are doing so because they need youth space, a place to gather and see and be seen by peers. Publics are critical to the coming-of-age narrative because they provide the framework for building cultural knowledge. Restricting youth to controlled spaces typically results in rebellion and the destruction of trust. Of course, for a parent, letting go and allowing youth to navigate risks is terrifying. Unfortunately, it’s necessary …
Sitting in Books and Company in Prince George. An older man is sitting in the window seat drinking tea and reading. Another comes up to him with a cup of coffee and points at the chessboard. “Hello Joe,” he says. “Want a game?” “Oh hello,” says Joe, looking up. “I’d love a game.” There is warmth in the rhythm and cadence of the exchange, these two men at 5:00 in the afternoon, wanting to pass the time of day in each other’s company. Such an affectionate exchange, from two men who clearly have the hardest days of their lives behind …
Euan Semple, recently liberated wage slave, has a lovely post on love and work: Where did all this come from, where did the idea that the most powerfully motivating force in the world had nothing to do with business? We spend most of our adult lives in the workplace and at work we bring about the most important and long lasting changes to our society and our planet – and yet we are not encouraged to talk in terms of love. OK we just about get away with “loving our job” our “loving success” but start talking about loving colleagues …
I’m currently in Prince George BC, with my partner Chris Robertson co-facilitating a two day Open Space gathering for people working on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder issues in Northern British Columbia. We have close to 200 people here and the dialogue has been amazing. If you want to join us virtually, follow along with the photos from the event, posted in real time.