Dave Eggers on Writing, Tutoring, and Pirate Supplies :: TED Talks

In reference of yesterday's post on writing tutoring and creativity...  This is a video of literary great, Dave Eggers, on the idea behind his 826 Project and how it can be applied anywhere.

I love his concept that there should be no borders real or imagined between the writing community and the students in the same community.


http://onceuponaschool.org/

For the Fallen

Over the weekend, a man walked into a local coffee shop where four police officers were preparing for their shift. He killed all four of them. Based upon sketchy early accounts, it's thought that one of them fought with their executioner and may have shot him before he fled.

As of this writing, the assailant remains at large and the cities of Tacoma and Lakewood are in a state of utter shock.

I've seen thousands of movies and television shows where this sort of conflict erupts, read many books where shots ring out, bad guys and good guys fall to the ground and the story continues to unfold without any indication that there was an effect on the wider community beyond the main characters. At most there is mention in passing that the events made the news. On days like this, I'm reminded how false a construct that is. No one in this community goes to work today unaffected by these events. This sort of attack affects the wives and husbands and kids of those cops. Every family of every police officer is affected from their cousins, aunts and uncles spreading into the surrounding community, a sense of loss and helplessness.

A month ago, a man who works with my wife was attacked by a disturbed coworker who remains at large. Since that day, a police officer has guarded her office, watching over her and her coworkers. Outside her office is a man or woman willing to put him or herself between my loved one and a violent attack. I cannot thank them enough.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards, four members of our community who made the ultimate sacrifice. We will miss them even if we don't realize it. http://police.cityoflakewood.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77:city-of-lakewood-identifies-slain-police-officers&catid=2:hot-topics&Itemid=59

Mugshots

About a month ago, I started a ritual of posting a picture every morning of my morning coffee ritual. Similar to the "Project 365" meme, this is very specific. If you want to share a cup of coffee with me on any given morning, join me on Daily Booth and post your photo response. (Free membership required, instructions for posting on the site) I love the idea that the internet can join us all in a global kaffeeklatsch. There are very few problems that cannot be solved over a steaming mug of Joe. If nothing else, these little rituals help get a writer through his day... This morning's Mugshot (And PSA) Writing causes wrinkles. They never tell you that in school, so consider this my PSA. Beware the wrinkles of writers! Had a dear frind of mine who happens to be a photographer tell me once that it was "okay for guys to look craggy" in our publicity photos. Love it. (Good thing too.) In other news, the New York Times validated my lifelong approach to education: NYT - How Nonsense Sharpens the Intellect http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/health

365 Mugs

I am blessed with friends and family who now reside in all corners of the globe. It occurs to me that the only cup of coffee I can share with them on a daily basis is a virtual one. So I'm planning to do just that. Every morning for the next calendar year, I will be posting a picture of my "mug" over on Dailybooth.com (username: pages2type). I invite anyone who wishes to share a tasty beverage to join me in the exercise. You can even drink tea if you want. Or milk, or orange juice or some healthy wheatgrass smoothie thingy. We won't laugh at you. . . much. I'll try to be fresh and creative as ever, but I'll admit up front that these probably won't be the finest examples of photography ever seen. That's not really the point. Much like the internet, writing is a tool for bridging divides. Every novel serves this purpose from the pulpiest of pulp fiction to the highest of high-brow, because novels are ultimately about stepping outside ourselves to see what the world looks like through a different set of eyes. The Internet has a unique capacity to bring that experience out of the fictional realm. Family and friends are welcome, but so are strangers! In a world that grows more divided by the day, the least we can do is sit down for a moment to see one another as real people. The 'comment' function even allows us to carry on conversations. Good coffee and civilized conversation? Can the world survive such a thing? If you want to come have a cup with me, follow the link above. All are welcome at my table. The service is free to sign up and all it takes is a digital camera or webcam and a steaming cup of something. So sit with me for a moment each day and share a cup with me and my farflung friends.