A Unique Date Night Offering - Ignite Ann Arbor 11

A few years ago, I was looking for something unique to do for date night. I found this event called Ignite Ann Arbor. The premise sounded intriguing, a myriad of speakers and topics, and a time limit of five minutes for each speech as twenty slides advance automatically every 15 seconds.

I didn't know what to expect or knew about any of the subjects about to be presented. Without expectations, I was open to whatever was about to happen.

Not only did I find it highly entertaining, it was as educational, thought provoking and at times offered touches of drama, especially if an inexperienced speaker's timing mismatched the slides going by. We were all pulling for them to get back on track.

The dynamics of the evening was a surprise to me. The first speaker was by a professor that had worked on the Hubble space telescope. her talk was called, Peering Towards the Beginning of Time with the Hubble Space Telescope. I was so happy to hear from a person at the head of her profession, knowledgeable, professional, and as far as I was concerned, a rock star!

I heard from an 11 year-old girl that started a neighborhood newspaper called Murray Avenue Times. Her speech was called Why Your Street Should Have Its Own Newspaper. The poise of this young girl as well as her message was delightful.

The five-minute speeches ranged from a map specialist called Your World Crushed Flat, a teacher and tutor to underprivileged children in a powerful speech called They Can't See Me, and a law student's equally compelling speech called Unequal Justice for All.

Surprise after surprise with each speech presented. Topics ranged from How to Enjoy Shakespeare, Everybody Trolls Sometimes, I am the Commuting Pope, The Depths of the AADL - The Secret Lab, Changing the Way Fashionistas Pay It Forward, Crowd-sourcing your Job Interview and more.

Looking for a different and intriguing evening, then check out Ignite Ann Arbor 11. What is also wonderful about the event is that it is Free.

Run, Young People. Run!

Run, Young People, Run

By E. B. Ambrose

Young people, do you know that you are being played because you are the ones that have no experience or memory of what has gone before.

Young people, being groomed to be commoditized, to be the new feast before the greedy. 

Young people, do you know that a thought of your future was never been on the minds of the elders. 

Young people, do you see what is being hidden from you?  You that are buried with your head hung low, never looking up to see the boots coming your way. 

Young people, do you care that no one cares about you, or what will become of you?  Those whom in your name, cry, “for the children” are used to manipulate, subjugate, and eviscerate your very own futures. 

Young people, do you see them at the edges of your rug, preparing to pull it out from under your feet?

Young people, they played you when they stuck all those pieces of papers under your unsuspecting nose and you signed on the dotted line, without understanding or knowledge of the indentured life they want you to lead.

Young people, they ganged up on you; the mo’ bros and the uni’ cads, collaborating to take from you, your future livelihood. 

Young people, have you ever wanted to actually hold a hammer to build, instead of the abstract action of using the “craft of the mind.” 

Young people, do you see the uniform of uniformity, the helmets of white perfectly parted to the same side, strands never straying from their stations, the look of insincerity in their eyes, the fear and the drive to make the part they play appear true or real.

Young people, do you see and hear their plans for you as fodder, to be plowed under in their fields of unrest.

Young people, do you see they mean never to offer knowledge just to educate you by their own terms.

Young people, build a new world, build something yet inconceivable, establish a new norm, remove the shackles that are slowly and almost imperceptibly being placed around your feet. 

Young people, leave us behind, run as fast as you can away from the decaying, murderous, rotten plot of keeping you down here with us. 

Run young people, run.

Dave Helps Himself

Quote, “God helps those that help themselves.”

David in Paris
by Father Wheeler of Catholic Central HS

       Many people do not know how to put themselves in a position to receive. My son does. Of his many talents and traits, he wholeheartedly sets himself up to succeed. Beloved gives himself every chance he can make for himself. He makes his chances. He creates an environment of acceptance.

      He retired for about a month and traveled southward and westward to meet up with old friends and to see more of the United States. He went by himself - Guts. Another goal of the trip was to find a new place to settle. He would size up the cities he visited and then make a decision as to where his new home would be. He chose New Orleans. 

     What amazes me is his tenacity, his quest to find what he wants. He goes through a process of his own making, sizing up employment opportunities and housing possibilities. He’s out there doing it on his own. When he applies for a job, he scouts out the location, the atmosphere and vibe of the place, checks out dress codes, learns about the businesses he visits, checks out the menus for an idea of the direction of the establishment. 

     For the past number of years he has honed his skill sets and his marketability. He repeatedly has been validated, that he is excellent at customer service, offering his employer loyalty and devotion to carrying out the owner’s vision and style.  As an artist and writer, he brings romance and the love of artistry and craft to his every endeavor.  Believing in harmony, a cohesive work dynamic and the building of community, he elevates moral and the work ethic of those around him.  Believing that work even the trivial or mundane should be elevated to the state of artistry allows him the satisfaction and accomplishment he desires. His high work ethic and predilection for efficiency, practicality and simplicity makes him a favorite of his employers. His style and manner energizes the environment for both co-workers and patrons and creates a welcoming atmosphere. His ability to create a sense of neutrality allows those around him to feel secure and accepted.

      David’s confidence that failure (whatever it means to him) is not an option or even a factor makes him a unique individual who has a direct hand in creating his own future.  Even if he falls down, he picks himself up and gets moving again. No matter what, he is always striving forward. 

     He has taught me that a vision can be created and realized.  He is always teaching me things.

     I have no worries. Whatever he learns up to this point in his life will make him truly and wildly successful, not just monetarily but as a human being.