WOW Word-Of-the-Week #309: Juxtaposition
June 29, 2010 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #309: Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition – putting side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.
Is this a word you are familiar with? Have you ever used it in a conversation? I have to admit, it isn’t a word I have ever used.
My good friend and fellow speaker Sarita and I were chatting about my WOW’s and she commented that she liked this word. So when I invited her to submit some thoughts she had she responded by saying, “Yes, I love the word ‘juxtaposition.’ I think the word would give you a great opportunity to talk about your recent travels…traveling is when I most notice ‘contrast.’”
Hong Kong Harbor
Example: “When I spoke in Hong Kong years ago, I remember that I was struck by the juxtaposition of the old-world Chinese boats and the modern high-rise buildings.”
So then I sent her an e-mail back saying give me some more juxtapositions. Sarita wrote back, “When I looked at my sister’s photos from a recent trip to India and Dubai, the juxtaposition of the poverty in India and the lavish living in Dubai was striking.”
“I’ve discovered that the real secret to being an effective speaker is the juxtaposition of lecture, stories and audience participation.”
“While playing tour guide to visiting relatives last weekend, I was reminded of what I’ve enjoyed about living in Oceanside for almost 20 years…the juxtaposition of suburb-dwelling families, beach-going tourists and ever-changing military personnel.”
So Sarita got me started thinking about “contrasts.” What came up for me was cruising on the Mekong Delta in Cambodia in relative luxury, relaxing on my teak lounge chair, sipping my cocktail, and watching the world go by. The juxtaposition being that the world I was watching was the locals bringing their cows and children down to the river to take their baths. And then I realized there were a lot of juxtapositions on that trip!
This week think about contrasts. Do you have an example from your travels? Have you experienced driving through a city and the juxtaposition of bordering neighborhoods?
In Search of the New Seven Wonders of the World: #2 The Great Wall of China
June 22, 2010 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on In Search of the New Seven Wonders of the World: #2 The Great Wall of China
We made it to our second New Seven Wonders of the World in April, 2010. I must say we were more than a little disappointed to find the Great Wall shrouded in thick, dense fog and drizzling rain. There are very few steps and the walkway consists of flat tiles so they were extremely slippery and very hard to navigate.
The Great Wall of China literally translated means “long fortress.” With all of its branches it stretches for 5,500.3 miles.
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #308: Frugal
June 22, 2010 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #308: Frugal
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #308
Frugal – practicing economy; living without waste; thrifty.
Jacqueline, Nikki & Sheridan
Do you consider yourself to be frugal? Do you recycle? Do you use coupons? Do you love a good deal?
I have a post card on my desk that reads, “frugal is such an ugly word.” It cracks me up every time I see it. And all the people that know me well know I love a “bargain.”
Last week’s WOW generated lots of feedback about the youngest generation. Jane wrote, “My grand kids are very smart and yes – know about money and its value.” As a parent and/or a grandparent do you talk about money with them? Do you let them have everything they want? Do you talk about different saving and spending options?
We take our older grand kids shopping for their presents. They know that if they buy items on sale they get more. On one of those shopping trips last year we had Sheridan & Jacqueline, the four year old twin granddaughters. While looking for clothes for Nikki, our eleven year old, the twins spotted dresses they liked. I said, “Let’s go see what’s on sale.” There wasn’t anything we liked so I went back to the dresses they picked out, took them off the rack and said, “We could get you these for Easter.” On the way to the checkout stand Jacqueline said, “We should put these back and wait for them to go on sale.” I was shocked and proud at the same time. (I would have never given up the dress.) And clearly their parents get lots of credit.
As adults we are responsible for teaching them how to save and spend. I did a program for a country club and one of the other speakers was a financial advisor talking about this very subject. This week think about what frugal means to you. How do you feel about recycling? Do you talk to your staff, your kids, and/or your grand kids about the economy? Do they think you are an ATM machine? Do they appreciate what you do for them?
Reader Responses
“I love a bargain also!! Years ago we bought a car and by the time we paid it off, we only paid a total of $200 in interest on the loan – LOVED IT! However more recently I was at an estate sale and offered less for a table (my son is moving off campus, so I didn’t want to spend much on furnishings). The man did take less because I was also buying a chair . . . but then he mentioned that all proceeds were going to the cancer society. Of course now I could not pay less for the table, so I told my brain that I got the table for less and made a donation to the cancer society. So it was still a bargain – Nick got his table and hopefully my ‘donation’ will assist in finding a cure for cancer! I so love your weekly emails and your commitment to helping so many people be better, stronger, smarter, kinder, and more human.Thank you!!” – Mary
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #307: Generation Z
June 15, 2010 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #307: Generation Z
Generation Z – born after 1995.
Do you have children born after 1995? How about grand children? They haven’t quite entered the workforce yet, so I assume you don’t have any working for you, correct?
FUN with Generation Z
This past week the SD Union Tribune featured an AP article titled, “Experts trying to get a read on Generation Z.” As you can imagine, the marketing companies are busy trying to figure them out, as well as employers attempting to prepare them for the workplace. The oldest ones are just barely out of grade school.
“The one point most everyone can agree on – they are the tech-savviest generation of all time, so much so toddlers can maneuver their way through YouTube and some first-graders are able to put together a PowerPoint presentation for class. They have never known a world without the Internet.” Do you remember how long it took you to do your first PowerPoint presentation? Mine was in 2001 and it took me 40 hours to create a 90 minute program.
“Many parents are Gen Xers and say they are raising a different brand of kid than baby boomers did. Gen Xers tend to be more freethinking and not necessarily as compelled to keep up with the Joneses. They also think the recession will play a role in shaping who their kids are, and perhaps make them less ‘entitled,’ a label that – fair or not – has been slapped frequently on Generation Y.”
“We’re not afraid to say that money’s tight, so I feel like our kids are going to have that sense long-term,” says one Gen Xer father. Generational expert Neil Howe says, “2008 may turn out to be one year with a big influence on this generation, due to both the recession and the elections of the nation’s first black president. They could be a new version of the so called Silent Generation, the group that that grew up in the Depression era, who saw the country through World War II and who birthed the baby boomers.”
Does it amaze you at how smart kids are when it comes to programming anything? They just think and process differently than I do. And when it comes to money, do you have a problem letting them know when things are tight? What would you say are the positives about this generation so far?
Reader Responses
“I so agree. My grandchildren taught me to text and straighten out my cell phone whenever I mess something up or can’t figure it out. They are very smart and yes – know about money and it’s value.” – Jane
“I look at my eight-year-old daughter and she is reading 200-page books, knows how to operate the DVD, my wife’s iPod, our computer, you name it. I have trouble remembering how to turn the television on properly. Heck, when I was a senior in college in 1980, the Marquette Journalism school still had electric typewriters in the classrooms. The year before I was still hunting and pecking on manual typewriters! I am just amazed. Even as tech savvy as this generation is, it is still ALL ABOUT ME! It is a very self-absorbed group that does not take the time to build and nurture relationships. They have to have everything now, and they can’t wait. The only commitment this generation has is to itself. And that could be a problem for the future of the country. A generation isolated with its gadgets and no commitments will make it difficult to become one nation. Whatever problems we will face in the future won’t be solved with gadgets. We will need humanity. I don’t see that happening with the Generation Z. Hopefully, it will change. Not too long ago in one of his speeches, President Obama urged young people to turn away from their gadgets and open their eyes and ears as to what is happening around them. He is still trying to be the change agent that helps us bridge the gap from this generation to the future. I hope he is successful.” – Joe
FUN-travel Asia: Part 3
June 12, 2010 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel Asia: Part 3
Day 40 – Sunday, April 4 – Chongquin, China
Full Day Excursion 11:00 – 7:00
- Good News – go to largest city zoo in China
- Good News – 6 pandas all awake and eating bamboo
- Good News – beautiful Japanese gardens
- More Good News – city tour includes highest peak with gardens and former home of Chiang Kai-shek – Eling Park and
- Guangdone Guild House – 17th century buildings around courtyard with museum of relics found on the grounds
- Bad News – polluted overcast skies
- Good News – 70’s
- Good News – 5 star cruise ship
- Bad News – split beds again
- Good News – upgrades available
- Bad News – $600 (for 3 days they have to be kidding)
- Good News – I’ll be buying my upgrade in Hong Kong
Day 41 – Monday, April 5 – Yangtze River Cruise, China
- Bad News – China 5 star clearly way different than rest of world
- Good News – holiday today called Light Spring Festival and Tomb Sweeping Day – yearly cleaning of gravesite includes
- lighting incense and setting off firecrackers and to ask for blessings from the dead for those still living
- Good News – go to morning lecture – learn that Yangtze is 3rd longest river in world – 3900 miles (Mekong is the 6th longest)
- Bad News – 1:30 afternoon excursion delayed until 4:30, so take nap
- Good news – good exercise – walk 696 steps to Fendu – ghost city
- Bad News – can’t see much due to fog & pollution & not much to do so go back early