Quick, Quick, Slow...

Calvino's idea of quickness to me sparked a rather well know image and story, The Tortoise and the Hare.

Now, nearly everyone knows this story, the hare challenges the tortoise to a race and the over confident bunny takes a nap while the Tortoise comes home for the win. You learn that slow and steady wins the race and that everyone can be beaten, no matter how good you think you are.

To me, the concept that shows us quickness is the idea of Slow and Steady wins the race. The fact that Calvino speaks to us about the fluidity and quickness that is needed to be a writer, however the biggest point that seems to be forgotten is he doesn't ever condemn the idea of slow and steady.He even says that there is a time and place for it.

Just as in the story, the tortoise may have been slow, but he was also hard working and didn't give up. While the Hare, caught up in his bragging, lost the race in the end do to over confidence. Calvino wasn't telling us not to be quick, but he was telling us there is a time and place for that quickness and that need to speed along.

Always Coca Cola

When we were discussing lightness, this was the first image that came to my head. The idea of all these people, from different cultures and life styles getting together in one place to simply enjoy life and enjoy a Coke. There is nothing in the world that seems to make these people upset or concerned, simply the idea of buying the world a coke. Teaching them how to sing and be together as a world culture.

This commercial, however, was put out in the 70's. A time where the tensions in Vietnam were high and the country was in the "lightest" and yet the "heaviest" of times. We had war and love and right after Woodstock, which was a time of peace and love. Just like the song promotes.

However, this commercial promises me this concept of lightness. The idea of no worries while you drink a coke and no worries if you keep up teaching the world to sing and to grow apple trees and turtle doves. It all seems so light and happy. This seems like the best thing in the world, especially during a time of chaos and political problems. The idea of lightness of the world, lightness off your shoulders and lightness of the creative mind.

Just like Calvino talks about in his lightness chapter.

This is a test of the UNK Emergency Alert System...

When I firsst heard about the UNK Alert system, I was honestly pretty excited. It meant not having to check my email every day to make sure we didn't have a snow day or if there was an issue here in Kearney, I would be immediately informed of it.

That was until last night...

I was at work and got a phone call from a number that I didn't recognize, I ignored it and didn't admittedly check the message until this morning and should have checked it after work, I wasn't sure of the number and thought I could have been butt dialed by a friend who had been drinking that had changed numbers and didn't let me know.

Now, here is my point.

When I finally did get around to listening to the message, all I heard was "Five males, one black, hispanic, White..." Then something about near Foster Park and dark clothes. Then, a slight pause and "Press star to hear this message again."

Alright. Now, what good does this message do me? I didn't know what was going on and I wouldn't have at all if I hadn't gotten the call later about the guys getting caught. Then, I learned that they escaped from the Youth Center literally less then 3 miles from my apartment.

Doesn't that completely defeat the purpose of the alert system? I learned more from the secondary message telling me they had been caught then the one telling me to call 911 if I saw someone or something suspicious.

Aren't we at a point where we can time the phone call so that it starts when the call is answered or when it hears a human voice, not just when it starts ringing? Isn't that the beauty of the advancement of creativity? Not to mention, it would be just as easy to send a mass text message via Email? Isn't that the beauty of electronic literature?

Now, call me crazy, but isn't text messaging and such a new form of language and literature that is unique to this generation? In a generation of text messaging, email and facebook, you would think that UNK would be able to get someone to figure out just how to make an important message, like Juvenile escapees who could be in your neighborhood or on our campus that could possibly be dangerous.

Make a facebook page, then post a status explaining the situation. I know more people who would add that, get the updates on there phone and let others know. Or those who are obsessed with facebook who are on ALL THE TIME. The second they here something a new status is up, more people know, the text messages fly. Send a text message and no matter how simple, word WILL get around.

So, here is my suggestion to you UNK.

Make sure your students get the message... Don't just half-ass it and think that it's all going to be okay.