Book Art

Posted on May 5th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Personal, Literary, Omnia Vanitas, Meta-Fors.

I love books.  They are the way, the truth, and the light — No Joke.  This obsession is a little strange as I get almost all my information online and rarely look at my books except for fond memories or when I can’t find the equivalent information or text in a digital format.  But my personal library is quite substantial, although I once sold a bunch under the prompting of a boyfriend who was tired of stepping over them, a decision I still very much resent to this day.  I don’t believe that books should be locked up or put away, but rather should be open and accessible to anyone who visits my home, nor do I believe that books need to be handled with archivist precision, although I do have a thing about deliberately damaging texts.  I recently discovered this site of Book Art which is just amazing.  I guess if you are going to cut up works of literature, its a little more okay if its to make it a work of art . . . Check out the personal catalogue of Georgia Russell to see her amazing work, including the one below, which is entitled Memoire.  She’s Scottish, which is a bonus.  :)

Memoire by Georgia Russell, Scottish Artist

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Appreciative Inquiry

Posted on April 28th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Education, Literary, Technology, Sponsored Posts.

Disclosure: The following blog post is based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

As a wannateach, I’m always interested in ways to encourage individuals to flourish. Sara Orem, a faculty member in Capella University’s School of Business and Technology, recently coauthored a book on Appreciative Coaching: A Positive Process for Change. She writes that this text, rather than “focusing on individuals in limited or problem-oriented ways,” uses “appreciative inquiry” in a new way to “guide the reader through four stages – Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny – that inspire them to an appreciative and empowering view of themselves and their future,” which sounds lovely. Appreciative coaching apparently uses “positive questions, mindfulness, and other tools to acknowledge the strengths of individuals and effect change.” Although the book is aimed at “individual coaches of managers, executives, and ‘those who do one-on-one work with people who can influence and create change in their organizations,’” it sounds like it would also be an interesting and useful read for teachers.

I believe that Capella University’s support of such a scholar speaks to their stated commitment “to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth.” At Capella, students can earn a college degree online, an increasingly popular and effective means of changing one’s life through education. Since its inception in 1993, Capella University has worked to develop “graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, and psychology, and bachelor’s degree programs in business and information technology,” containing more than 80 specializations and 16 certificate programs. With more than 17,900 students from all 50 states and 56 other countries, I won’t be surprised if enrollment continues to grow at a rate that outpaces traditional universities into the future.

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Betrayal

Posted on April 27th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Education, Personal, Literary.

Ever since my honors seminar on Beckett & Pinter, I have wanted to see a live performance of one of Harold Pinter’s plays. It was even on my ‘To Do’ list for my year in London, but I never managed to check it off. My intelligent and cultured sister Jillian, maven of all things artsy in Chicago, brought to my attention a few months ago that Betrayal was beginning a run through May. Of course, I am completely unable to handle the process of getting tickets and organizing my free time in such a way as to get tickets, thus the plan lay dormant for so long I figured it just wasn’t going to happen. Thankfully, Jilly is much better at these things than I am. So it looks like I will be going as soon as I complete my finals for this semester. Betrayal isn’t my favorite Pinter play, which is Party Time, but I know it’s going to be a fantastic experience!

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Cheap Therapy

Posted on February 25th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Education, Personal, Literary.

“The best thing for being sad,” replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, “is to learn something. That’s the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.” - T.H. White, The Once and Future King

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Dewey Readmore Books, Library Cat

Posted on December 2nd, 2006 by gail helen.
Categories: Literary, Current Events.

Dewey Readmore Books, library cat

There is nothing like rescuing a cat that becomes a life companion. When they pass away as all things must, it feels like losing a close friend. Dewey Readmore Books, a library cat in Spencer, Iowa, encouraged children to do exactly as his name implies for 19 years. He died this Wednesday in the arms of his librarian. I hope all my giving & literary friends will consider adopting a rescue cat this holiday season.

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