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About Me

Sorry, no picture because my iPad doesn't provide for flash! I grew up in Minneapolis, luckily close enough to the University - it made going much easier. I have an older brother who lead the way through school and college (but not through sports). I was always 'fast-tracked' in public school though I was not a stellar student. I almost failed my first year of college, but fell in with good friends and began to get very good grades. This helped a great deal. I spent 3 years working on orientation programs at the University - this helped me to begin to get out of the 'Scandinavian' shell I'd grown up with. I learned a great deal there - probably more than in my 'education'. I've been fortunate enough to visit Europe 3 times, but nowhere else. My next stop is New Zealand. We moved to Colorado in 1979 due to my wife's new position at Hewlett-Packard. That provided a good but too intense life. We (I) raised two wonderful children - an luckily they made it through the school system and the University of Colorado. They are absolutely fantastic! I'm very happy they have gotten where they are -but now they have their lives to lead. I am a very fortunate man and I tell people daily "if I were doing any better, I'd have to be twins!".

Location:
United States, Colorado Springs, CO
Current role:
Print Purchasing and Sales
Gender:
Male
Areas of expertise:
Print Purchasing, Commercial printing sales, Demography
Associations:
Brights, NPR, PBS
Languages:
English
Universities:
University of Minnesota, B.S. Education, University of Colorado - Colorado Springs (MBA)

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Education as an everyday matter, not something to be 'gotten through' or 'experienced'. I also would like people to understand art is accomplished when artlessness is part of the mix. (per Piet Hein)

An idea worth spreading

1. What I'm passionate about above. 2 . 'Non-intellectuals' think very well. (thanks to Howard Taylor for that thought)

Talk to me about

Opening possibilities for 'EVERYONE'. The thrill of understanding new things is truly stunning!

People don't know that I'm good at

I played Frisbee all of my youth, through college - and now the ability lies dormant. I do enjoy playing it very hard when I can find a good partner.

My TED Story

I have no idea what my TED story might be. I do tell many people about it, but I'm not sure it sinks in. I need to go to a conference! I need to take someone to a conference! Perhaps my story is this: I am in this conservative bastion in Colorado and have few to talk to. I am doing my part by not letting the attitude around here be unanimous. Sadly, I worked for several of the religious ministries in the area (when the printing industry took a nosedive around here in the 90s). I had enough of 'faith' and 'belief'. Workers in the bowels of the institutions were treated poorly and they hurt themselves for that 'faith' or 'belief'. I am very glad to be free of them for 5 years now!

Comments

  • TEDCred score: +0.60 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

  • A comment on Conversation: Should school administrators be required to be teachers first?

    Mar 3 2011: Without question! I have a degree in Education but decided not to pursue teaching mostly because school administrations, they were so small minded. I'm sure they are limited because of school boards and public controls but still, the Administrations needed to know more about the effect of the policies they demanded.
  • +1

    A comment on Conversation: Are Educational Institutions responding to the challenges of teaching and learning in the 21st Century?

    Mar 3 2011: In brief, NO. The poor institutions have a giant scenario laid out for them. In.the past schools were not meant to care for social ills.and make up for societal weaknesses. Today, they are too busy trying to keep up with the demands of School Boards (ours was particularly lobotomized).while attempting to keep children learning. I think they are fighting a losing battle because the wonderful teachers we train are burned out by their experience though they want to do well.

  • A comment on Conversation: Which relevant/important events currently unfolding around the world are being ignored by the media? Why are they relevant?

    Mar 3 2011: The events of the day seem to be dealt with in the media much more after a crisis has occurred. I liken it to the hawkers on the road seeing what accident has caused them a problem. They have taken no steps (nor will they) to see what can be done to repar possible problem states, they will merely go on watching the slower traffic. This is negative, I know, but I have seen it for decades.

  • A comment on Conversation: We spend 3 billion hours a week as a planet playing videogames. Is it worth it? How could it be MORE worth it?

    Feb 22 2011: I'm writing this without looking at any of the other comments, yet. 10,000 hours sounds like a great deal! Malcolm Gladwell's book indicates that it requires 10,000 hours of work to become truly proficient at a skill - e.g. The Beatles. The games would need to be channeled well but could actually build strength and understanding as well as skill. On the other hand it could be a horrible waste - someone feeling stupid for wasting time. My son has graduated from college and left his old life behind, but I still play "Tetris" on his Gameboy, it helps to keep me alert and sharp for the rest of my life. I'm sure a dedicated gamer would laugh at the simplicity but it gives a me great deal of help, as it did when he was younger and we both played. How much time did I spend running and training for my races and marathon? I think that was very positive, but perhaps the game gives back too.
  • +3

    A comment on Conversation: Test Schools, Not Children

    Feb 20 2011: Over the past two years I have realized my children's most important school years were 1-5. They developed a worthwhile base for Middle School, High School and College while there. It was a good school, and I was happy with it. Perhaps they were doing more that would have given them a 'good grade'. I certainly wouldn't have given some Middle School and High School teachers a decent grade - but my children were able to move through the teachers silliness. It was because of that elementary school grounding.
  • +1

    A comment on Conversation: What does it mean to be authentic?

    Feb 20 2011: Not looking around at others to take your cues for behavior.

  • A reply on Conversation: What was the most amazing social experience you had and why?

    Feb 20 2011: I was amazed to read the liner notes for my CD of "Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis had a description of Dwayne Allman listening to that album over and over for the inspiration it gave him to improvise. I've always liked both: it was great to see those two rivers flow together.

  • A comment on Conversation: What was the most amazing social experience you had and why?

    Feb 20 2011: A sad story but I was told one Monday morning in high school of the suicide of a good friend. He was the smartest guy I knew at the time and the best athlete (though he'd never try out for any of the teams). I couldn't even get close enough to family members to find out more of Dewey. I still hurt inside when I think about all the waste - maybe he'd be a contributor to something SO special. I made no vow or other statement but I'm sure the reason I'm still alive is because I knew it was such an awful waste. He could talk to me as if I were a child and he an adult. The experience I had that day changed me as no other in my life.

    That days' impact has never left me, though it was long ago.

    It IS difficult to find an occurrence so amazing in my life, there are so many others of importance, but that changed my life more than any other.

  • A comment on Conversation: What's the best hidden gem in the TED archive?

    Feb 20 2011: Michael Pollan's talk led me to read his books further. With no push at all, I am beginning to see many of his ideas as VERY useful.

  • A comment on Conversation: Why do so many think that population growth is an important issue for the environment? Don't they know the facts of demographics?

    Feb 20 2011: Unfortunately, the average citizen of the United States (or any country on earth for that matter) does not understand demographics. I wish it were otherwise but it's true. The growth of population is not understood by the typical person. For example, people do not understand what they sign when they buy a house or car. Would that the typical person knew what cohort they were in, and it's effects n others.

    Now, the main question is "why do so many think this kind of population growth is such a problem?". Well, they were scared into worrying about population growth some years ago and can't let go of the notion. Now, they are being slowly scared into being concerned about global warming, and they don't seem to be enjoying the concern of extra items in their lives. Give them a basic course in demography and MAYBE they'll start to put problems in perspective.
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