Category Archives: Mind Uploading

JEFFERSON The Jefferson community has two dedicated cable television channels, provided by Charter Communications as part of its service contract. The city channel has regular programming, but the channel dedicated to the school district has gone unused for the past few years.

Its true that people now have many other sources for local news, from the Daily Union to the school district website to social networking sites, but the school district is letting a potential asset go untapped.

So asserted John Foust, a board member with the states community cable association who has been involved with the community cable station on the city side since its inception.

Foust addressed the School District of Jefferson Board of Education Monday. On the agenda as an informational item only, the issue was not up for a vote, but it could come back for consideration at a future meeting.

Im here to remind you of an underused resource that can help the school district show the public what you are doing, Foust said.

He noted that the community has exclusive use of two cable channels via Charter, channels 987 and 988.

The local community cable station started in 2005 as a successful collaboration between the City of Jefferson and the school district, Foust said. When it started, one station was dedicated for use by the school district and one for public access and government.

A committee of the Jefferson Common Council oversees the station, and the school district has a seat on that committee.

However, Foust said, the school district has not used its channel for the last several years.

He encouraged district decisionmakers to reconsider using the districts local cable channel as one more means to get out the word about happenings within the school district and to expand the districts use of video.

To put it simply, the channel is a place where you can freely advertise 24 hours a day, he said, asserting that this would be a good place to provide information on any future referenda, to promote the district as an open enrollment destination, and to inform all taxpayers, not just those with schools in the district, about the good things the Jefferson schools are doing.

How many parents work second shift and cant attend their childs choir concert or team sport? Foust asked. That can change if you start to record and play them on cable and the Internet.

But first, he said, these events need to be recorded. He noted that anything recorded for local cable also could be shared on the Internet.

The local cable channel could help parents of middle-schoolers learn about the opportunities their children will have in high school, he said.

How many times have you spoken to a parent who wished they could have attended a past school board meeting to see how an issue was discussed and decided? Foust asked. They could watch a video if you start to record meetings.

Foust said that around 60 percent of homeowners subscribe to cable, and that programs played in Jefferson actually reach surrounding communities, as well.

A program played on Jeffersons channel reaches more than 15,000 homes, with more than 40,000 viewers in other nearby communities, he said.

This could be a good tool for promoting the district as an open-enrollment destination, as people in surrounding communities learn about the programs, opportunities and achievements of the Jefferson schools.

A lot has changed since the community cable channels got their start in 2005, Foust said.

At their inception, the station equipment was located at the high school. In 2011, the stations equipment moved to city hall as Jefferson High School broke ground on its expansion and remodeling project.

Now, the cable stations have an office in Jefferson City Hall, a part-time station manager position, and two part-time camera operators, as well as upgraded cameras, tripods, microphones and computers for video editing.

The station is positively regarded by the mayor and council, Foust asserted. It is reasonably well-funded, with a budget of just over $20,000 per year.

He said that Mayor Dale Oppermann developed the system that currently prevails, in which half of the cable programs budget comes from the city coffers (via Charter subscriber dollars designated for that purpose) and the other half is raised by the station itself.

If you look in the fine print of your cable bill, the city collects a few percent as a franchise fee, Foust said, giving that amount as around $95,000 per year.

Like many cities, Jefferson uses some of this revenue to support the station, he said. The station also raises money for its budget through underwriting of programs, and by selling DVDs.

The cable program also receives money from Jefferson County since it has begun to tape and play county board meetings, Foust said. The county requires the station to send DVDs of county board meetings to the other community cable stations in the county so its not just shown in Jefferson.

The station also has a reserve fund of $30,000 set aside to buy the next generation of video servers and equipment in the year ahead, he said.

The city channel currently plays recordings of concerts at Rotary Waterfront Park, Gemuetlichkeit Days events and parades.

For several years, we recorded the high school football and basketball games, he said, noting that the station has a library of hundreds of programs from past years.

Many improvements have been made since the station got its start, Foust said.

I remember learning that there was only one video camera at the high school, and it was locked in the principals desk, he said. Today, most people carry a pretty good video camera in their pocket.

Serving as the first station equipment were two spare computers that ran a PowerPoint slideshow of announcements. By 2006, the station had a stack of programmable DVD players, and by 2008, it had a video server.

Up until a few years ago, Foust said, the school station material came from each of the principals, who contributed a few slides of information per month. A teacher put the slides together into a single slideshow and copied it to the station computer.

That slideshow got broadcast when no other program was playing.

In the intervening years, the School District of Jefferson has done a great job of expanding into social media, informing the public through Facebook, upgraded school websites, district promotional videos and more.

Foust encouraged school officials to think of the local cable channel as one more outlet for the material the district is already creating.

He noted that the district has uploaded about 30 videos to its district Facebook page in the past two years. The high school has put up about 150 videos on its Facebook page, and East, West, and the middle school have all put up local video content, too.

The Jefferson High School mass media class has a couple of dozen videos on its YouTube channel, as well as its Facebook page, he said.

Meanwhile, the local schools have uploaded vast quantities of photos, 538 for the district, 683 for the high school, 3,700 for the middle school, 1,000 for East and 500 for West.

Youre already taking the pictures and the videos and deciding what to upload, Foust said. We just need to expand your process to send all this to your channel on Charter.

He said the district should consider recording school board meetings to replay on cable, as do many districts.

Yes, at first, everyone feels a little funny about being on camera, but it soon becomes no more disruptive than someone taking the minutes. You still control when the camera is running and which meetings get recorded.

Foust said the city station could do the recordings itself, as it does for the county board, at the cost of a few hundred dollars per meeting, which would include the equipment, the recording, simple titles (as in 2/13/17 school board meeting,) editing and uploading the videos on the server.

The school district could choose to do this recording itself. It would require a camera, a tripod, a way to connect to the boards sound system and someone to operate the camera, then upload the information to the server.

You can also upload the video to YouTube for people who dont have cable, Foust said.

Again, this is well within the skill set of staff and students who are already uploading videos to Facebook, he said.

No one needs to travel to Jefferson City Hall to make this happen, as a network link still exists over the schools fiber between the city station and the high school. Computers and the video server can be programmed remotely over that network or the Internet, he said.

Through being on the board of the state association of community channels, Ive seen up close how 50 other communities in Wisconsin operate their school and city channels, Foust said, noting that every community is different in terms of how the stations are funded, staffed and operated.

After Fousts presentation, school board members had a few questions.

One wondered where the rest of the $95,000 in station fees that Charter subscribers pay the city goes, beyond the amount that goes toward the community cable programs $20,000 budget.

General revenue, Foust said.

Board member Dick Lovett asked whether programming is run in a continuous loop or whether theres dead air.

Foust said that the Jefferson station is currently in the process of recruiting a new station manager, and how the programming is run is up to that person.

The last station manager, he said, treated the community cable channel like a regular station, running church services and city council meetings at regular and predictable times and putting up community announcements when no other programming was running.

The resource of that channel is there for you 24/7, Foust said, noting that taking advantage of this asset could be as easy as assembling 10 minutes of prerecorded content and re-running it on the hour every hour.

Lovett then asked what kind of viewership a local cable channel would get, expressing doubt that very many people would watch.

The Nielsen Ratings dont percolate down to community channels, Foust said with a smile. The truth is, very few people are watching any given program at any given time, given all the options that are out there.

Even a Disney movie running over the Christmas holidays which came out on top of the Nielsen ratings, would only have around 15 viewers in a city this size, he said.

Youve got to build that process, he said. Let people know its out there.

Board member David Hollenberger asked what it would cost to run the material the district already has produced.

Theres really no cost, Foust said.

Asked what quality of video was required, Foust said that community cable channels still operate on standard definition, not HD. The top stations have commercial quality production, he said, but in his mind, getting the content out there and letting people see them was more important than having flawless images.

Thats what community cable is all about after all: community access.

Scott Buth, school board president, said that Fousts presentation had given him something to think about.

I thought it would be kind of a waste, living out in the hinterlands as I do (with no cable,) he said.

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Jefferson schools urged to use cable TV station - Daily Union

The Rock DJ star has been given the right to do whatever he wants by his wife

ROBBIE Williams been granted a hall pass for blokey behaviour on his birthday by his loving wife Ayda Field.

The Aquarian singer turned 42 on Monday and his 37-year-old actress wife gave him an impressive gift to celebrate.

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Sharing a handwritten birthday card on Instagram, Ayda revealed that she would be turning a bling eye to all things outrageous on his big day.

On this very special day, I want to give you the gift of things you love the most (besides us, of course, her note began.

Please spend your day watching and playing as much football as you like, eating as much chocolate as your hearty desires, with all the time in the world you want, she continued.

Scratch your balls, trump to your merry delight, and be in total boy heaven. This is your day, she wrote.

Getty Images

Uploading a photo of the card to Instagram, she added: Happy Birthday to my beautiful hubby @robbiewilliams!! May you have the best day today and may this year be the best year yet!! I love you boozy!!

The occasional Loose Women star later shared a photo of some expletive slogan balloons that said old git, Happy f***ing birthday, and old as f**k.

Robs birthday celebrations come just days after he confessed to smoking marijuana in Buckingham Palace during the 2012 Queens Diamond Jubilee Concert.

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Robbie said: Threw up in Buckingham Palace? No, before adding: I smoked a spliff in Buckingham Palace.

Robbie, who has daughter Teddy, four, and son Charlie, two, with wife Ayda, has been open about his use of the class B substance.

In 2013 he said he still uses the drug recreationally, despite two trips to rehab.

He said at the time: The last time I got high was two days ago. No big drug sessions, mind, just a small amount, purely to relax.

Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220

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Robbie Williams' wife Ayda proves she's the best ever as she completely overshares with hilarious birthday card to him - The Sun

Dont HangUp

Its undeniably impressive just how well Dont Hang Up recovers from its irritatingly obnoxious and terribly-charactered first act to become a thrilling and suspenseful little morality tale that owes a minor debt to the likes of Saw and Scream. But good lord is it a rough beginning.

A woman is woken from a deep sleep by a ringing phone. A voice tells her its the police, that they have her house surrounded, and that multiple intruders are in her home. Shes understandably terrified, but its her fear for her young daughter that forces panic in her mind, especially as the voice says the daughter has been abducted and shotbefore its revealed that the callers are a group of pranksters making funny calls and uploading the clips to YouTube for lolz. They make people believe their loved ones are dead or cheating on them, and its hilarious.

These are not likable young men, and as the montage of calls over a period of months comes to an end we settle on the tightest and most dickish of the bros, Sam (Gregg Sulkin) and Brady (Garrett Clayton). The script (from Joe Johnson, The Skulls III) makes efforts to humanize the pair through their relationships to parents and a girlfriend, but they failthese are irredeemable pricks. So when a stranger calls them warning them not to hang up or face dire consequences, we cant help but root for the stranger.

And we keep doing so right through to the end.

Directors Damien Mac and Alexis Wajsbrot do serviceable work early on, but just as the script picks up during the second act so does the direction. Suspenseful beats are played well through close-ups, smart reveals, and an appreciation of genre expectations that still allows for a surprise or two. We have a vague suspicion of the killers motivations before theyre actually shared, but it doesnt hurt the films execution and momentum as it heads toward a solidly satisfying conclusion.

Both leads do good work despite the handicap of playing obnoxious characters deserving of almost everything heading their way, and the supporting players are equally fine. The killer is a curious one as once he finally appears Im still not entirely sure if hes wearing a mask or not. Its creepy regardless.

Dont Hang Up brings Saw-like judgement to a Scream-like scenario, but it succeeds in being its own creation by delivering some fun thrills, plenty of blood, and a smart turn or two. It touches on tech issues related to computer security too, and while its efforts pale beside the likes of The Den theyre enough to add some real-world scares to the proceedings. Ignore the cheesy title and give this one a shot next time youre home alone and looking for something to watch. Just trust me through the first twenty minutes or soit gets better.

Dont Hang Up opened Friday in limited theatrical release.

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Morality and Murder Collide in Two New Horror Movies - Film School Rejects

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Editors note: This is Part 2 of Jonas story about an ominously last-minute meeting with the Rio de Janeiro headquarters of his oil and gas company, right before an ERP launch. Missed Part 1? Read it here.

When Joo began his portion of the presentation, he introduced a new piece of technology for uploading new materials into the ERP, identifying duplicates and managing existing item parameters. They informed us that this initiative for reshaping the data which served the lifeblood of all onshore and offshore drilling operations had already begun in the back offices of a shared services center in suburban Rio and was naively set to complete before the end of the following summer.

Who will manage the definitions of replaceable maintenance parts? asked Tom, the MRO procurement manager. And does it comply with the existing Management of Change process [which only allowed leading engineers from within the operations to approve exchangeable parts]? Toms questions were met with vague answers and some blank stares.

Tom also asked how they can align MRO part substitutes when most of the assets were inherited from acquisitions that used manufacturers as diverse as Caterpillar, Hannon and Hitachi. Moreover, would two bearings with the same size and threading characteristic be deemed identical? What if they had slightly different heat tolerances?

These were critical details that had both operational and safety implications, yet Luizs confounded response confirmed that our 2013 global materials strategy had not considered the most basic functional requirements.

And how would this new global rationalization of materials work with our scheduled go-live for the new ERP? Months earlier, a data conversion and cutover strategy had been defined and approved. The work preparing conversion files in order to safely move records from the legacy system into the new ERP had been completed. Yet this further data cleansing exercise indeed may have thrown a wrench into our project plan, not to mention additional challenges integrating a new piece of unfamiliar technology. This could not have come at a worse time.

Luizs implementation strategy, which may have seemed feasible on its surface and in isolation from our diverse operations, could not work as simply as it was presented in a North American environment with substantially different safety and engineering protocols.

Ultimately, with unintended costs and delays, North American operations were able to approximate a solution that satisfied the stated global strategy, yet the additional costs were difficult to quantify as there was likely as much deterioration of trust between Rio and the U.S. as additional spend on headcount.

This familiar conflict that so often arises between siloed executive leadership and diverse regional divisions is entirely avoidable. I call to mind this particular spring day meeting because as executives of global enterprises set procurement and supply chain agendas for 2017, it is more critical than ever to rely not only on raw data that is accessible from arms length, but also operating knowledge and cultural understanding, both of which can only be ascertained through sustained engagement with the field. The former cannot substitute for the latter, particularly in light of increased global political volatility.

The year 2016 showed us how political events, market movements and social trends could be more easily mapped to emotional triggers than axioms ofbehavioral economics or underlying transactional data. In 2017, we are likely to see more of the same.

Luiz often asked why I thought American operations were always so resistant to change. It was clear from his implication and the growing friction between Houston and Rio that regional engagement was a shared responsibility. Our Houston-based team had to learn the importance of framing questions in cooperative language quickly, to avoid feeding the Rio-based stereotype of the reactionary American manager.

The absence of engagement and diplomacy between rival factions never ends well.

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Breaking Down Global Silos (Part 2): Lessons Learned from Conflict - Spend Matters

World's first "corporate" version of Procurious reinvents how public sector procurement professionals work and collaborate

BOSTON and LONDON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In a climate of continuous economic, social and political change, public sector procurement professionals are under increased pressure to meet goals, comply with regulations, and maintain integrity while capturing the best value for every pound spent.

With this in mind, Procurious, the world's leading free online business network for the procurement and supply chain profession, has announced the world's first private, "corporate" version of its platform for the Society of Procurement Officers (SOPO), using technology to reinvent the way in which public sector procurement professionals work and collaborate.

The Community Platform offers SOPO's membership base of more than 2,500 local government procurement professionals in the UK a free, convenient and private place to communicate, share knowledge, develop skills and network online with fellow members.

"Procurious' platform is a big step forward for us and a necessity in helping unite a disparate membership group with common aims," said Paul Smith, Director, SOPO. "By bringing everyone onto the same platform and talking together, we can deliver more value than ever before."

Replacing the previous members-only area on the SOPO website, this world-first use of social media technology by a public procurement organisation provides benefits previously not available, including securely uploading documents, sharing job offers and posing discussion questions.

"We are delighted to partner with SOPO to launch our world-first corporate platform to their broad membership base," said Tania Seary, Founding Chairman, Procurious. "With today's rapidly changing global environment, social media is empowering public procurement professionals to work together in unprecedented ways. We are confident that our customised platform will empower SOPO members to do their jobs more effectively, and propel the collective public procurement profession forward."

In addition to the private SOPO platform, members can also tap into everything that Procurious' larger 20,000 member network has to offer, including professional networking, active discussion forums, blogs, online training videos and podcasts, and event listings. Members will also be able to attend Procurious' annual Big Ideas Summit, a free global digital think tank hosted from London on February 23, 2017.

About Procurious Procurious is the world's first online business community dedicated to procurement and supply chain professionals. It's a hub to advance your career, develop your skills and expand your global professional network. With 20,000 members from around the globe, Procurious aims to empower procurement leaders to connect, collaborate and take a more innovative professional outlook. Think of Procurious as a professional network, news and knowledge hub, learning and career center, all in one place. Join now at http://www.procurious.com it's free to register and participate in the platform.

About Society of Procurement Officers in Local Government The Society of Procurement Officers in Local Government (SOPO) engages in a range of activities to promote the strategic purchasing, contracting and supplies functions. Representing more than 2,500 members, SOPO provides area networks and forums and produces guidance on best practice. Its aim is to advise local authorities throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on all purchasing and supplies matters of national/general interest, and represent its members on other bodies to promote the Society and its aims. For more information, visit http://www.sopo.org.

Contact: Dawn Ringel, Warner Communications dawn@warnerpr.com or +1 781-449-8456

Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/467035/Procurious_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Procurious

RELATED LINKS http://www.procurious.com

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Procurious and SOPO Launch Innovative Online Community Platform for Government Procurement Professionals - PR Newswire UK (press release)

If you have yet to try out Google Play Music and YouTube Red because you didnt want to pay $9.99 a month, theres some good news. Google has once again launched a promotion that lets new customers try out both services for free for four months.

2 weeks ago

This isnt the first time Google has offered this extended demo periodbut it does give you a much longer time period to experience both of these subscription services without having to pay up $39.96 from your wallet.

If you are not familiar with Google Play Music or YouTube Red, heres the skinny on both. First, you can still access all of the free features of Google Play Music, such as listening to tunes, uploading up to 50,000 of your own songs and access to podcasts and radio stations. However, the paid subscription adds ad-free access to its library of 35 million songs. You can also download your favorite tunes so you can play them offline, which can be helpful if you are on a beach, out in the woods or anywhere else where a cellular or Wi-Fi connection is not available.

The YouTube Red service may be even better. Signing up for that subscription ditches all those annoying video and banner ads from the video service, so you can check out your favorite channels like Android Authorityin full. A subscription also come with background audio support, in case you just want to listen to a video while doing something else on your phone. You can also play videos while offline. Finally, YouTube Red offers access to original video content thats only available on this service, such as movies, sitcoms and more.

Keep in mind that you will still need to type in your debit or credit card info, as you will be charged $9.99 a month after the free four month demo ends. The good news is you can cancel well before then and still get your free demo time, so its almost a win-win.

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Deal: New customers can get Google Play Music and YouTube Red free for 4 months - Android Authority (blog)

From Texas Standard:

Selene Moreno is a senior at Benito Juarez-Abraham Lincoln High School in La Joya, Texas. She says shes looking forward to graduation.

Im planning to become a physical therapist after I graduate from high school and Im planning on going to Texas A&M, Moreno says.

Moreno is petite and soft-spoken. Shes also ambitious taking college courses and a bunch of AP classes. That can be especially difficult because she doesnt have Internet access at home.

Some parts of Texas are at the epicenter of what's called the digital divide. Thats the gulf between those who have ready access to computers and theInternet,and those who dont.

The Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas found the two metropolitan areas in the country with the lowest broadband access are in the Rio Grande Valley. Those most impacted by the digital divide may be students in the Valley from low-income families, like Moreno.

Moreno does have some access to the Internet, but she says it isnt enough.

I do have a cellphone and that has Internet, but sometimes its really slow and its hard to catch up because it takestimeto get it done, she says. I wish I had fast Internet to get it done faster.

She often finds herself having to work on projects until 2 or 3 a.m.

I remember one time I stayed up to cry, Moreno says. I worked through my tears to stay up late. And sometimes I would come sleepless to school and I wouldnt be able to concentrate the next day.

Moreno's story isnt unique.

Clem Garza is La Joya Independent School District's Director of Instructional Resources and Technology.

Theresparents that sit, take lawn chairs, outside a campus so they can access the web, Garza says. There are students that sit outside by the fence on the grass so they can access the web to do homework. And that tugged at me and that visual never left my mind.

So Garza came up with a plan.

We equipped the buses with routers and antennas so that our students are able to accessInterneton the school buses, Garza says.

Only two of the district's buses have Internet access right now.

Equipping thebusescost a little more than $4,000. But this is not an out-of-pocket expense for the district. Verizon and other businesses are paying for it.

Juarez LincolnHigh School teacher Karim Briseno says the program is also helping teachers. They now feel better about assigning projects that require Internet access. Although most families dont have the Internet at home, kids do ride the bus.

If they spend that much time, from 30 to 45 minutes on the bus, Briseno says, Im pretty sure they can use that time in order for them to do research, homework [and] communicate with teachers [any] questions they might have.

Briseno says she hopes the program will soon be accessible to more students.

I think every bus should have Wifi, Briseno says.

An expansion is in the works, but first La Joya ISD needs to look at the data from the pilot program.

How many users logged on, what types of sites, not necessarily individual sites, but let's say how many educational sites were accessed, how many social sites were accessed, Garza says. Were able to use that and then to see are they mainly streaming, are they downloading, uploading? What are the students doing?

Garza says that information will go to the school board. Itll be up to the board to implement the program. One thing that will help her case, Garza has already found funding for 20 of the 261 buses in the district.

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How a WiFi Pilot Program Is Helping Students in the Rio Grande Valley - KUT

Online professional network LinkedIn has partnered with bestselling biographies author Christopher Sandford to provide advice for those looking to improve their profiles with relatively simple changes.

1. Draw your readers in:

Because your profile summary is one of the first things people look at, its important to get it right. You want the reader to want to know more about you, so start with something punchy. You can do this through specific phrases, storytelling or even clever use of punctuation. Dont be afraid to lead with a short sentence, such as Music is my first love, Sandford says. Above all, you should always keep your reader, or customer, firmly in mind.

2. Add a personal touch:

While its often tempting to speak in the third person when it comes to our working lives, Sandford urges users not to. Its impersonal and wont draw the reader in. Take a professional tone and be assertive and direct when youre talking about your achievements, dont hide behind buzzwords or jargon. At the same time, dont shy away from adding some personality to your language this is a great way to show your character, he says.

3. Use everyday language

Many users make the mistake of filling their profile summaries with common complex words. Standford suggests listing out all your relevant previous roles and describe what you did in everyday language. This will help people understand the breadth of your work story - a complete profile reflects a well-rounded person, he says.

4. Show real examples of your work

Language is important, but showing real examples of your work is vital too. Instead of using common words like strategic, prove it by uploading presentations or projects that bring this to life, Standford says. These are individual to you and help paint the picture of your special skills and unique background whether thats an image from a launch of a big campaign or the blog you write in your spare time, he adds.

Link:

How to improve your LinkedIn profile - ArabianBusiness.com

"A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a Cathedral." ~ Antone de Saint-Exupery

Several years ago, while in Barcelona, Spain, I had the opportunity to visit Catalan architect, Antonio Gaudi's, one-of-a kind, "Sagrada Famlia." While not officially a "cathedral" because it is not yet the seat of a Bishop, it is often thought of as such because it stands as high or higher than many ancient cathedrals. What is unique about the structure is that, while Gothic in design, it is also very "Art Nouveau" and unlike any other cathedral ever built; it is one-of-a-kind, in a class of its own. If you have ever seen pictures of it you'll understand why I call it one of a kind. I encourage you to Google "Sagrada Famlia" and see for yourself--you'll be rather stunned.

Gaudi designed and took over the construction of the project in 1883 and, the amazing thing is, to this day, it is still a work in progress. It stands higher than many skyscrapers; scaffolding and huge mechanical cranes loom in the skyline. The completion of the project is tentatively set for 2026, the centennial of Gaudi's passing. It is said that he devoted the best of his years to the project, and at the time of his death at age 73 in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Can you imagine holding such a grand vision and not living to see it come to full fruition?

One-hundred and twenty-eight years after his vision was cast, I humbly stood at the base of this monolithic structure and gazed skyward wondering how much more had to be done to complete his vision. My mind raced back to the year 1883 when there was little more than barren land and rocks in that spot and I imagined him standing there, looking up, seeing his masterpiece in its completed form. That's what visionaries do--they see their dream in its completed form long before it is realized in the material world. The transformation of concrete and rocks into a cathedral happened before Gaudi's workers ever broke ground...and the fact that they are still working on the manifestation of it proves it was a very big vision.

Do you have a vision for your life and, if so, how big is it? Can you see yourself living that life now, even if the outer manifestation of it isn't yet visible? While many say you have to see it to believe it, others are saying, you have to believe it to see it. Which are you? This is where and when the foundation for a life worth living is established. The practice is to contemplate your life as Gaudi contemplated his cathedral--as a completed idea in the creative Mind of a Universe that knows no limitations. In other words, the sky really is the limit; the only caveat is that this creative Mind is waiting for you to upload the design blueprints known as your belief system. What is your vision for your life? Are you looking up, or looking down? Be mindful of where your predominate thoughts go because, whether you are aware of it or not, that is the design plan you are uploading.

Clearly, Gaudi believed in his vision, so much so that it had no alternative but to become a reality, even years after his passing. That is a powerful vision when it takes on a life of its own. Turning a pile of rocks into a cathedral isn't difficult once you have the vision--the Universe conspires to support you in your vision if you are willing to stand in it, own it and act on it. We are all visionaries--that is to say, we each hold in our mind a vision for our life; what it can or can't be, might or might not be, or, will or won't be. So the question really isn't, do you have a vision for your life--if you are alive you have a vision. The real question is, what is your vision? Are you looking down at the rocks or up to the sky? Remember, the Universe is listening and it is already uploading your blueprints.

This Blogger's Books and Other Items from...

Your Redefining Moments: Becoming Who You Were Born to Be

by Dennis Merritt Jones

The Art of Uncertainty: How to Live in the Mystery of Life and Love It

by Dennis Merritt Jones

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Does Your Vision for Your Life Cause You to Look Up...or Down? - Huffington Post

Kathryn Slunecko, Guest Opinion 1:15 p.m. CT Feb. 8, 2017

Kathryn Slunecko(Photo: Special to the Press-Citizen)

As a communication studies major at the University of Iowa, I have the opportunity to participate in a nationally recognized program on information needed to strive in a constantly changing world a digital world. Reiterated throughout a few of my courses, communication technologies are continually advancing to be more convenient, swift and simple. The technologies in my life that come to mind texting, Snapchat, FaceTime hold these qualities in their digital DNA.

As a college student living in this generation, technology is necessary; without it, I would lack internet use, conversation and up-to-date knowledge on friends and family. Yet, I am not alone. The majority of people live in a digital world with email, instant messaging, Instagram and other forms of online communication, and when the internet and these technologies make advances, we all consider our lives online.

Contemplating what influences my use of specific technologies, one important and easy word comes to mind: connection. At a young age, I was constantly encouraged to connect. Whether it was to join the local park district soccer team or Girl Scouts, it was simply to make friends. When I approached my freshmen year of college, the use of technologies strongly came into play. Facebook Messenger, Snapchat or texting were prominent to continue the relationships I had built back home. Now, as a senior, technologies like LinkedIn, a professional networking platform, or HireAHawk, the UIs online recruiting system for students, are encouraged and expected to start building connections for a future career.

If you are like me, no matter the age difference, this similar theme of finding, building and maintaining relationships has progressed throughout our life; humans naturally gravitate toward connecting with others whether it be online or face-to-face. Although technology was not as influential on a child born in the early 90s as it is on the upcoming generations of today, the ability to have grown up with technology evolving around me has been an eye-opening experience. For example, I did not own a cellphone until my first year of high school. Today, I have witnessed children as young as 10 possessing this essential device. Why? Because their parents want to be virtually connected to them when they are not physically there. With a rapidly changing digital world, there is a continual push to find the easiest way to feel and stay connected.

Although my personal experience as a UI student may differ from someone of different interests or background, I can confidently say that the internet and technology is a part of each one of our lives, every single day. Whether it be emailing a professor or supervisor, checking a bus schedule with an app or uploading course work to an online system, no one would be able to do college without the help of these technologies.

Applying my knowledge and personal usage of the internet and specific technologies to UI's 2017 Theme Semester, Our Lives Online, I encourage the Iowa community UI student body, staff and faculty, local residents and entire state to consider their lives online and engage with this program. Whether you choose to attend a marquee activity with guest speakers covering the topics of social media, big data or new media; submitting work to be featured online; becoming a collaborator;or simply joining the conversation, all are encouraged to take part, be creative and feel more connected.

Kathryn Slunecko studies communications and represents UIs Our Lives Online Theme Semester as a student ambassador.

WHAT:An evening with Oscar Salazar, co-founder of Uber, part of UI's "Our Lives Online" speaker series

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Monday

WHERE: Iowa Memorial Union Main Lounge

DETAILS: Find a full listing of Theme Semester events and activities online at theme.uiowa.edu.

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Connectivity in a digital world - Iowa City Press Citizen