The baby's coming!

I'm dealing with some serious psychological noise today.  You see, my best friend of over 25 years is having her first baby today.  She was induce this morning and has been updating me constantly on her status.  I've been quite preoccupied by thoughts of her, concerns for her, and checking my phone for updates from here that I'm afraid I wasn't as focused as I should have been in my classes today.  The last message I got from her was about 50 minutes ago, so I'm getting really eager to be reassured  that everything is okay, to see a pic of her baby boy, and to know that it's time to celebrate rather than worry.  Here's hoping I am gifted with some good news, soon!

Electronic Communication Evolution

I'm really excited for class today. We are starting You've Got Mail since it shows the evolution and effects of electronic communication. I was telling this to another teacher in the media center today, and she was reminded of this movie, War Games, which shows an even earlier use of computers for communication!

War Games Clip 1

War Games Clip 2


That got us thinking to about American Online, and how much I DON'T miss this:

And it reminded me of all this excitement of early online communication:

Powerful Words

Chapter 5 is all about verbal language, the words that we use. What do YOU think is the most powerful word in the English language?  I'm sure what I would pick.  Maybe "No" because it has such finality to it? Here's an interesting website that has a list of what people thought the most powerful word was and why. Do you agree or disagree with what they wrote?  What would you add to the list?

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-powerful-word-in-the-English-language

Are you listening?!?!

We are all guilty of not actively listening from time to time.  For me, I'm most guilty when a device is in my hand.  For others, it's while they are working on a complicated task, or they might be preoccupied with what they are going to say or do next.  I think this clip does a good job of showing both of those last ideas.

Sparkling Trees

Beads are a BIG DEAL in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. They are EVERYWHERE! On balconies, on vehicles, on storefronts, counters, doors, EVERYWHERE. At first, this was a little strange to me, this cultural accessory, but of all the places I saw beads, in the trees were my favorite, like colorful, sparkling plastic icicles.  Many were left there from parade throws gone wrongly, while others were purposely left as festive decorations.  I would love to do this to my own trees, especially in winter and fall when they look so empty and barren, but few Minnesotans would get the cultural reference.

Yogurt Conflict

Chapter 2 was all about culture, and while in New Orleans eating breakfast, I encountered a difference in culture that I found both disturbing and humorous.  We stayed at an Embassy Suites while there, and the hotel hosted a HUGE breakfast each morning.  One of my favorite things there was their extra goopy oatmeal (I'm salivating just looking at this picture).  Next to the oatmeal was a fruit and yogurt bar. On my first morning getting breakfast there, I scooped my oatmeal into a bowl and added my favorite toppings.  Then I saw the yogurt.  I decided I'd put some of the strawberry yogurt in a bowl, too.  Just then, this lady with a strong local accent walked up behind me, ranting, "Don't any of these folks know that yogurt goes on a plate, A PLATE, and not no darn dish.  Really?! Leave the bowls for the hot eats." Needless to say, I turned a little red in the face and booked it to my table before I made another cultural mistake. I also didn't make that same mistake the next morning out of fear the same loud lady would be there looking for me. Regardless of the embarrassment, that oatmeal was worth it.

Culture Shock?

I think I'm about to experience a bit of culture shock. Chapter 2 is all about culture: the language, the clothing, the traditions, the celebrations.  I know heading to New Orleans, I'm going to run into a different accent and dialect (semantic noise), I'll hear different music than I'm used to, and come Tuesday, I bet I'll see dress and costumes that I'm not used to, too.

I love traveling! I love experiencing new things, new cultures, and more than anything else, new foods! I'm sure I'll have all kinds of examples of Interpersonal Communication to share when I get back.