This is not new news but I still find it interesting. Some people might quibble that it is a waste of time to program a robot to solve a puzzle, but I disagree, Having participated as a FIRST coach the last two years I marvel at the ability of elementary school children to build and program robots to do different tasks. Granted, my kids aren't at the level to get their robot to solve a Rubik's Cube, but they are getting more and more comfortable building and programming.
http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/28/lego-smartphone-robot-solves-rubiks-cube-in-a-flash/?hpt=hp_bn6
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
How Honest Abe can make you a better speaker
I really like this column published by Ragan.com. It's simple and effective advice for crafting powerful speeches. Too often we try to cram too much into our remarks, muddling the message and boring the listener.
http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/43996.aspx
http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/43996.aspx
Sunday, November 20, 2011
A winning combination
Three weeks ago, my oldest son Ian uttered these words: "We didn't win a trophy but that's OK. We had fun."
These words came just a short time after Ian's FIRST LEGO League team, the Banana Bricks, competed in their first state competition. The team did not fare well that day, scoring poorly in their interviews and being vexed by robot probems in their four matches.
At one point, I offered a challenge to shave my head if they could get the robot to complete aseries of missions. They did and I have since been true to my word.
This past Saturday, the Banana Bricks competed in the state qualifier against nearly 50 teams from around the state of Michigan. Their mood was upbeat and the nervousness that affected all of us three weeks ago was absent.
Only 13 teams would advance to the state championship next month and one team would emerge from that tournament to compete for the world championship in St. Louis next year. To think the Banana Bricks could end up among the elite FLL teams was pretty exciting, but deep down I knew reality would come into play and my young team would need more time to grow and mature before they could compete with the best in the state, country and world.
That said, I witnessed a desire among the Banana Bricks team members I did not see three weeks ago. There was a determination to succeed and it was evident in the valiant efforts to get the robot to run some tough missions.
It was also evident during the interviews, in which the team talked about the FLL core values, how and why they built and programmed their robot to run certain missions and how they researched and resolved a challenge based on the FLL theme of the year.
At the practice tournament last month, the team members were trying to find their footing, battling nerves and absorbing the craziness known as FLL. It was a desire to make it through the day that motivated the team, along with a desire to see their coach shave his head.
In just three weeks, the team had matured to a point where they could have fun while staying focused on the tasks at hand. I was able to relax, confident they would do their best, no matter what challenges awaited them during the robot missions and interviews.
I would like to report that the robot performed better than three weeks ago, but that would not be the case. Despite some creative approaches to completing missions, too many problems cropped up, limiting the number of points the team received.
It was a different story in the interviews, where the team members improved their scores in all three areas. From core values, where the team talked about how they enjoyed working with other teams, to the technical review, where they demonstrated their robot, to the project, where the discussed their research on the meat industry, the team impressed the judges.
While their final scores were not enough to move then into contention for a spot in the state championship tournament that didn't seem to sap the team's excitement. In fact, the team members, while tired after 8 hours at the event, were just happy to be there.
The mood changed dramatically at the end of the day as the Banana Bricks sat on the gym floor to high five teams that won various tournament categories. I stood near a wall, talking with a coach from a Flint school that was competing in the event.
Suddenly, the Banana Bricks jumped to their feet, screaming and running toward the center of the gym. The tournament director had just announced the Banana Bricks and three other teams that shared a "pod" in the pit area where they practiced and worked on their robots had beaten all the other teams in a pod challenge.
The Flint coach and I screamed and hugged each other before dashing to join the kids as they circled around the gym, getting high fives from the volunteers who made the event possible.
I had to fight back tears as I ran around the gym. I'm not prone to crying but I was so happy for the kids. Moments before they claimed what appeared to be the largest and heaviest trophy of the tournament they appeared content with their performance that day.
Winning the pod challenge put them over the top.
For Ian the moment was thrilling, but as we drove home, he reiterated what he said three weeks ago. In short, he said winning a trophy was not that important. It was about having fun with your team and demonstrating gracious professionalis toward your opponents.
I couldn't agree more.
These words came just a short time after Ian's FIRST LEGO League team, the Banana Bricks, competed in their first state competition. The team did not fare well that day, scoring poorly in their interviews and being vexed by robot probems in their four matches.
At one point, I offered a challenge to shave my head if they could get the robot to complete aseries of missions. They did and I have since been true to my word.
This past Saturday, the Banana Bricks competed in the state qualifier against nearly 50 teams from around the state of Michigan. Their mood was upbeat and the nervousness that affected all of us three weeks ago was absent.
Only 13 teams would advance to the state championship next month and one team would emerge from that tournament to compete for the world championship in St. Louis next year. To think the Banana Bricks could end up among the elite FLL teams was pretty exciting, but deep down I knew reality would come into play and my young team would need more time to grow and mature before they could compete with the best in the state, country and world.
That said, I witnessed a desire among the Banana Bricks team members I did not see three weeks ago. There was a determination to succeed and it was evident in the valiant efforts to get the robot to run some tough missions.
It was also evident during the interviews, in which the team talked about the FLL core values, how and why they built and programmed their robot to run certain missions and how they researched and resolved a challenge based on the FLL theme of the year.
At the practice tournament last month, the team members were trying to find their footing, battling nerves and absorbing the craziness known as FLL. It was a desire to make it through the day that motivated the team, along with a desire to see their coach shave his head.
In just three weeks, the team had matured to a point where they could have fun while staying focused on the tasks at hand. I was able to relax, confident they would do their best, no matter what challenges awaited them during the robot missions and interviews.
It was a different story in the interviews, where the team members improved their scores in all three areas. From core values, where the team talked about how they enjoyed working with other teams, to the technical review, where they demonstrated their robot, to the project, where the discussed their research on the meat industry, the team impressed the judges.
While their final scores were not enough to move then into contention for a spot in the state championship tournament that didn't seem to sap the team's excitement. In fact, the team members, while tired after 8 hours at the event, were just happy to be there.
The mood changed dramatically at the end of the day as the Banana Bricks sat on the gym floor to high five teams that won various tournament categories. I stood near a wall, talking with a coach from a Flint school that was competing in the event.
Suddenly, the Banana Bricks jumped to their feet, screaming and running toward the center of the gym. The tournament director had just announced the Banana Bricks and three other teams that shared a "pod" in the pit area where they practiced and worked on their robots had beaten all the other teams in a pod challenge.
The Flint coach and I screamed and hugged each other before dashing to join the kids as they circled around the gym, getting high fives from the volunteers who made the event possible.
I had to fight back tears as I ran around the gym. I'm not prone to crying but I was so happy for the kids. Moments before they claimed what appeared to be the largest and heaviest trophy of the tournament they appeared content with their performance that day.
Winning the pod challenge put them over the top.
For Ian the moment was thrilling, but as we drove home, he reiterated what he said three weeks ago. In short, he said winning a trophy was not that important. It was about having fun with your team and demonstrating gracious professionalis toward your opponents.
I couldn't agree more.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
53rd wedding anniversary turns into quite a surprise
Imagine getting a phone call from a stranger, stating you just won a Corvette. If you're Sally Layman of Davison, who might have some serious doubts. Sally answered just such a call recently. Watch the video to find out if it was a prank or a special surprise on her 53rd wedding anniversary.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Politics according to Dilbert (well, his creator)
On election day, this is just the right bit of commentary I needed ...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577014262225551278.html?grcc=a85155ffa0c3a394003db29e39e17c05Z3&mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_lifestyle#articleTabs%3Darticle
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577014262225551278.html?grcc=a85155ffa0c3a394003db29e39e17c05Z3&mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_lifestyle#articleTabs%3Darticle
Let's make some moola...
On a whim I activated Adsense on my blog. I am mildly surprised that I am actually "earning" money, but even more amused at the type of ads running.
I suspect that my topics and key words are helping tailor the ads that are posted on my page.
To that point, I love the fact, my post about shaving my head generated ad postings for vitamins to restore hair and grooming supplies.
I can only imagine what ads will appear when I start talking about other topics.
Say tuned.
I suspect that my topics and key words are helping tailor the ads that are posted on my page.
To that point, I love the fact, my post about shaving my head generated ad postings for vitamins to restore hair and grooming supplies.
I can only imagine what ads will appear when I start talking about other topics.
Say tuned.
Monday, November 07, 2011
United Way of Genesee County Corvette Raffle
Congrats to the winners of the Chevy Corvette raffled off to support the United Way of Genesee County. We raised $26,000 with this raffle, which will help us toward our county goal of $2.9 million.
http://www.abc12.com/story/15963688/mid-michigan-couple-wins-new-corvette?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6420630
http://www.abc12.com/story/15963688/mid-michigan-couple-wins-new-corvette?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6420630
Get your tickets here!
Come one, come all to the greatest show on earth....
Well, it's not a circus but it will have lots of cool entertainment.
I'm referring to the Chevy centennial bash, the Party of the Century.
This Friday.
In Flint.
Tickets are going fast, so act now to get yours and celebrate a century of innovation. Click on the following link to get your tickets:
http://fcccorp.org/events/PartyofCentury.asp
Well, it's not a circus but it will have lots of cool entertainment.
I'm referring to the Chevy centennial bash, the Party of the Century.
This Friday.
In Flint.
Tickets are going fast, so act now to get yours and celebrate a century of innovation. Click on the following link to get your tickets:
http://fcccorp.org/events/PartyofCentury.asp
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Flint on the comeback?
The Flint Assembly/UAW Local 598 team had the opportunity recently to work with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation on a video about Flint being on the comeback trail. Our role focused on the importance of adding a third shift at the plant.
The following video was produced by the MEDC and is available on YouTube.
The following video was produced by the MEDC and is available on YouTube.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHEVROLET
3,155,692,600 seconds
52,594,876 minutes
876,581 hours
36,524 days
5,217 weeks
1,200 months
100 years!
209 million Chevrolets
Priceless!
52,594,876 minutes
876,581 hours
36,524 days
5,217 weeks
1,200 months
100 years!
209 million Chevrolets
Priceless!
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
A new path for Scouting in Michigan
For the last year. approximately 100 volunteers (myself included) from around the state of Michigan have worked to develop a new model for the Boy Scouts of America in our state. The Area 2 Project brought together a diverse group of Scouters with one goal: to improve Scouting for the current and future generations of Scouts.
Last night, nine councils in Michigan, including Tall Pine Council in Flint, voted overwhelmingly to support changes that are geared at increasing the number of units and Scouts. It's been a tough road, one that has been emotional and tense, at times, but always focused on ways to improve the Scouting experience.
I have enjoyed my tenure with the project team, helping where I can in the area of marketing and communications. As a parent of two Scouts and Scout den leader, this change will benefit my boys and open up new opportunities for them.
For more on the Area 2 Project and the Crossroads Recommendations that resulted from our work, check out:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scouting-volunteers-in-michigan-take-steps-to-solidify-strong-next-century-of-scouting-133074948.html
Last night, nine councils in Michigan, including Tall Pine Council in Flint, voted overwhelmingly to support changes that are geared at increasing the number of units and Scouts. It's been a tough road, one that has been emotional and tense, at times, but always focused on ways to improve the Scouting experience.
I have enjoyed my tenure with the project team, helping where I can in the area of marketing and communications. As a parent of two Scouts and Scout den leader, this change will benefit my boys and open up new opportunities for them.
For more on the Area 2 Project and the Crossroads Recommendations that resulted from our work, check out:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scouting-volunteers-in-michigan-take-steps-to-solidify-strong-next-century-of-scouting-133074948.html
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