Archive - Oct 2011
October 8th
Random Bits
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 20:46It was a warm evening for early October. The day had been warm as well, and Kim, Fiona and I went to watch Yale play Dartmouth in a football game at the Yale Bowl. When I checked in on Foursquare, I found that a friend was also at the game and we spoke with her for a little bit. It is the sort of experience that I like to highlight as to why location based social media isn’t just narcissistic self-revelation. It is about connecting with friends that you see face to face.
Neither Kim nor I had been to a football game in ages, and Kim used to go to a lot of college football games when she was younger. It was a fun time, even though the game wasn’t particularly close. Fiona enjoyed herself and is trying to get friends and relatives to go to another game and tailgate.
Our neighbors had been observing Yom Kippur and couldn’t join us for the game, so we agreed to get together with them for a little cookout to end the fast. At both the game, and the evening cookout, the discussions drifted to the #occupy movement. There are lots of interesting discussions about who the movement represents and if the movement is being co-opted. I’ll save my thoughts on this for when I am better rested and have more time to write.
All of this comes after a long week. Friday, the New Horizons Domestic Violence Program had a Clothesline Project. This entailed t-shirts decorated by the victims of domestic violence, hung out on a line in a public location. It was jarring.
I don’t know why I find it so jarring. To the best of my knowledge, I’ve never known anyone involved in domestic violence. Yet that may just be some of it. Domestic violence happens around us, without most people noticing.
It was also the week that Steve Jobs died, the week of Fiona’s birthday, as well as the birthdays of a couple long time friends and Desmond Tutu’s birthday.
There are lots of other things I need to think about and write about, but I am tired and ready for bed.
October 7th
#ff @chc_wya @councilorcotto @heddahfeddah @nateosit @annehthomas @jon_boyer @meowsdiaries @chickenshackct
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 18:41This week's Follow Friday was constructed with Follow Friday Helper and reflects several different discussion I've been involved with.
Starting off the list is @chc_wya. This is the Wherever You Are program at the Community Health Center which provides medical services to homeless and near homeless people in Connecticut. There is a new AmeriCorps member at CHC working with this program who will be doing a bunch with this along with the program director, and I'm excited to see them on Twitter.
Next up is @councilorcotto. I ran into him a few different times over the past week. We ended up at the same table at the Common Cause event last Saturday. At Sunday, I ran into him at the #OccupyHartford planning meeting, and then later in the week, I believe he was at the #HartfordVotes candidate's night, which Common Cause helped with.
Tweeting from the #HartfordVotes candidate's night was @heddahfeddah, a stalwart of Hartford new media.
On Thursdays, I participate in a Tweetchat about community health centers called #chcchat. @nateosit is a regular in these chats and often has great insights to share. I don't believe I've given him a shout out recently, and it is long overdue.
Next are @annehthomas and @jon_boyer. These are people I've connected with via #EmpireAvenue. I met @meowsdiaries through some blogging group, maybe EntreCard, or something like that. @meowsdiaries uses Paper.li and mentions me from time to time.
Ending out the list is @chickenshackct which is what the name suggests, a chicken shack in Connecticut. They serve great chicken with dipping sauces. I first found them through a social media event and enjoy stopping to have a meal there from time to time.
So, that's my Follow Friday list for this week. Who are you following?
October 6th
Fiona's Birthday
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 20:50"Yesterday, a child came out to wonder…" Those are the words I used to describe Fiona's birth ten years ago.
"And then one day you find ten years have got behind you…"
Now, after a long day, I try to gather my thoughts, to write something. Fiona seems to have had a good birthday and I struggle to write something upbeat that reflects it, but I'm too tired.
On top of that, all of the reflections of Steve Jobs' life echo around in my head. "Live each day as if it might be your last…"
I write, seeking to improve my writing. I write, hoping to make the world a better place. I write, because I must.
Then, I stare out the darkened window. I think of all that needs to be done. I yawn. I am tired. Lines of various absurdist plays echo around in my head.
October has always been a tough month for me.
I look at the portions of thoughts I've gathered and think about the fragments ungathered.
I'll head off to bed shortly. Perhaps after some rest, words will flow more gently.
October 5th
Wordless Wednesday - Part 2
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 21:29
