by Greg

Are You Feeling Apathetic?

One thing I’ve been thinking about quite a lot lately is our current posture as a nation, as a people. From studying forms of education, and specifically researching the lives of the founders of this country by reading from their own writings, I’ve just been challenged by their devotion to learning and their fascinating courage of convictions. And in contrast, been saddened by what appears to me as not only a lack of courage (or even perhaps, a lack of convictions altogether) but really a palpable apathy.

But I could really be wrong.

What I mean is this: Many of us go about our daily lives, really just trying to get by. We go to our jobs to “pay the rent,” we probably have some TV shows we like to watch, maybe some music we like to listen to (though it seems I have fewer conversations about good music than I remember having in the past…), and there are all sorts of video games that keep us entertained (read: busy), but then that’s it. Several of us, if we’re not students or parents of students, belong to some sort of group (maybe Scouts, community sports, a church, even perhaps a political group). But, at the end of the day (literally) we are not very motivated to (1) know what is going on with our neighbors, and in our community, and (2) even less likely to know what’s going on in our country and in our world.

Is that true? Do you notice that, too? Am I just surrounded by incredibly unmotivated people???

Of course, that’s unfair to say. In fact, I know many people who are very motivated to first better themselves, then their kids, then to be actively involved in the lives of their neighbors and friends, and even on a wider scale as a citizen of their state and country. However, they sure seem like the exception.

Why is that? What has bred this sense of apathy into our nation? Apathy about the deterioration of our marriages and families. Apathy about us “settling for less” in so many arenas of life (in our jobs, in the marketplace in general, in politics, in our churches, even in our own life with God)… to me, it seems we just don’t care to fix it.

If you are, what is your motivation? What spurs you on to better yourself and to “love your neighbor as yourself?” I think that’s what we’re doing when we “get involved” in our neighborhoods and communities. It’s the “Golden Rule” in action. If you’re living that, why do you? Why are you not content to just play video games and watch TV and go to your job when you have to?

My sense is that our culture is much more defined by the latter than the former. What I’m hoping to instill in our kids is a strong foundation of being loved by God (just as they are loved by Mom & Dad, but better), being people of character and integrity (knowing what is right, and doing it even at their own personal expense), and being actively involved in loving people as they have been loved (equally without favorites, unconditionally, and selflessly). That’s what we (Jen & I) are doing with every ounce of energy that we have on every day. At least, that’s what we’re trying to do.

But some continue to slovenly linger in apathy.

Is that you? Why? Is that someone you know? Ask them why they don’t care to better themselves, if you’re so bold. (If you do, please do so with a humble, non-judgmental attitude. None of us is inherently better than another, some are just perhaps more self-aware and aware of others, in a good way.)

I’m very intrigued by the character of the people who founded our country. Some may argue, “But they had slaves!” Well, if you read history, there were many who flat out wanted it ended, and others (including George Washington) who “owned” slaves, but never bought any slaves, nor treat them as property, and made sure they were freemen when he died. Slavery is certainly an ugly blemish on our nation’s history, but as with all things there are many “sides” to the story. (Of course I don’t ever condone anyone owning any other person. However, it is also true that there are always more “sides” to the story.)

The courage these guys showed in the face of insurmountable odds. The integrity they displayed in standing up for what they knew to be right, despite the fact that it likely meant losing everything they had, including their lives. And to do it, not just for themselves or their families, but for their fellow countrymen.

I don’t think we have people like that today. At least, I’m not sure I’ve met them.

(No offense to any of my friends who may be reading this.) 😉

I’m not sure I’m them.

So, how do we get past the generations of ingrained apathy? Something like 9-11 perhaps? Maybe. That did seem to draw us all together, and perk up our ears to the current events of the day. We were all one people then, rather than a country divided by “left” and “right” leanings. I would hope that wouldn’t be necessary, but I’m not sure how we lift that (apparent) heavy blanket of apathy, and motivate and inspire each other to betterment of ourselves, our marriages, our families, and our communities. Do you?

More questions than answers here today, but it’s the stuff that is currently ruminating in Greg’s Head. Thanks for reading along, and do add your thoughts to the stew, if you’re so inclined.

by Greg

Free Preview of Glenn Beck’s Insider Extreme

Glenn Beck Insider Extreme Free PreviewGlenn Beck announced today that his paid content will be available for free as a two-day trial. This is a great chance to see the short documentaries that he has been making covering subjects like US history, biographies on the Founding Fathers (Samuel Adams, George Washington).

We in the Campbell home have really enjoyed watching them and been inspired to look deeper into the history of our country from the topics covered in these documentaries.

Usually, the “Insider” access is a paid service (roughly $75/year) but, as I said, this is a good chance to see what Glenn Beck is really saying, for free. 🙂

(Also included are access to his magazine, the video cast of his daily radio show, and/or audio podcast of the show, sans commercials, and I think some more stuff. Check out the link for more information.)

We recommend. I think lots of people have the wrong idea about Glenn Beck. He’s discovering for himself, and sharing what most people in our country want: the real values of character, integrity, honest, courage… and not any party affiliation. For too long, discussions of policy and politics for our nation have been politically driven, played according to party-line rules. Blah. There are so many problems with our country … it’s not just politics, and political solutions are not the answer. The only thing that will fix the brokenness of our people is to change who we are. To fix ourselves, to educate ourselves, and to live out those values.

Glenn Beck is not the answer, but he’s become a great resource and inspiration toward that end. Don’t just believe what you’ve “heard” about the man… check it out for yourself.

by Greg

Getting A Good Education

A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMilleAs I have likely already mentioned here, I have recently read a book titled, “A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the 21st Century” by Oliver DeMille. Having listened to a recorded seminar—and as someone who has chosen to not send his kids through the public school system—I knew going in that I agreed with a lot of the ideas from the book.

One thing that I took issue with early on, however, was simply the word, “Education.”

From the beginning, DeMille says repeatedly that we need to make sure we have a great education. That we need to have better educations. That it is paramount to have an excellent education. For some reason, though, every time I read the word, I had a negative reaction to it.

Why would that be? Do I not think that there are problems with the education system that needs to be addressed? No, that’s not it. It’s the major reason we don’t send our kids there. That’s not the education they need. (Among many other things they don’t need.)

Am I just weary of hearing year after year, in every town I’ve ever been in, “We need to improve our education system! Our kids need a better education!” Could be that. Especially since the call for educational improvements seems to go almost completely unheeded. (Or, if heeded, the attempted fixes apparently don’t do the job, evidenced by the fact that we all continue to bemoan the current education system!)

Really what I think it was for me was that I was operating on a poor definition of the word education.

The author contends that an education is something you must earn yourself. It’s what you actually learn and take away from your study and from any teaching or instruction you have received. Also important to his definition is that, “You can not educate anyone, they must educate themselves.”

Schooling is the opposite idea in that the end goal is that the recipient is only intended to have the information that is being taught; not do the work to get there, thus earning the education. (Doing the work to educate yourself allows for knowing how to think, not just what to think.)

The further I read into the book, the more I understood this distinction he was putting forth.

And, the more I agreed.

Public school is not by default an incompetent educational system, nor a bad choice. (The author of A Thomas Jefferson Education is not suggesting that, either.) But public schools operate on the “conveyor belt” idea, where the object is to get everyone to a certain standard set of “knowledge” in a set amount of time (at the preset times). Thus, the system is set up to teach students what to think, rather than how to think.

There are exceptions to the rule in any given school, or classroom, but that principle is generally true, just by the nature of the system or structure we have created.

And I believe that is what made me cringe every time he said that we need to help our kids (and ourselves) get a better “education.”

What he helped me understand is that, first of all, I did somehow get a good education. I have always loved to learn. I love documentaries, including what my Dad and I called, “nature shows.” We have watched many of those together over the years. Definitely have always loved to read. And from that reading and learning to think more on it, and then to discuss with others or write about it. (Like I am often found doing on these pages.)

(Note: I mainly say “somehow” in regards to my education because I was not a great student. I generally received good grades, but I did so without much effort at all. And I frequently did not complete—or even start—homework assignments, much to the chagrin of my parents. Thus, that statement is not intended as any sort of condemnation of my own various schools or teachers.)

I also have always really enjoyed listening to classical music, which they say stimulates the brain… perhaps that’s it? 🙂

Whatever the reason, I do have a love for learning that seems unquenchable, and that, too me, is a sign of a good education. That’s what we want to instill in our children as well. A good, strong sense of right and wrong, of character and how to treat others, and a full and rich love for learning—especially in the subjects that matter most to them.

So how does that happen? How do we first, give our kids (and ourselves?) a good education, and second, how do we spark that love for learning in them?

DeMille and friends would suggest using a system of “mentors and the classics.” I don’t want to get into a full review of the book here (it’s a pretty short book, actually, perhaps you can get a copy for yourself, and we can discuss more fully at a later juncture?) but I do really like—and feel that we have implemented—the teaching model they suggest.

I’ve always said that we learn from life. It’s not a separate thing. It’s not a separate time. All of life—from the moment you are conscious in the morning, to the moment you go to sleep at night… well, and sometimes during sleep!—we are learning. There is something to be learned, or, as a parent/mentor, to teach. A parenting course we have loved over the years says to train in “moments of non-conflict,” and we regularly look for opportunities to do so.

The idea of learning from mentors and from the classics is similar to that. Rather than picking up a text book and plowing through what someone has written about a subject, often you can learn directly from an important thinker or doer on the subject in a classic piece of literature, or art, or even a person or a movie or play. Really, it can be anything that makes us think on a deeper level, and ultimately challenges us to think about who we are and who we want to be.

It was fascinating to see how he suggested that all disciplines can be studied and mastered through this method, simply by reading what the greatest minds have said on any particular subject. Want to learn science? Read Newton. Want to learn math? Read Copernicus. And so on.

It has definitely inspired Jen, not only as a teacher, but likely even more so as a learner. That’s pretty amazing. I’m loving learning along with my wife as she keeps discovering things about herself and the world around her. (How sad is it that, for her, this hasn’t really been happening until her 36th year of life?!)

Oh, one more important thing from the book, and the reason for the title. When DeMille was studying methods of education, he found repeatedly that the model of great teachers (mentors) inspiring students to get great educations was the model by which nearly every great leader—ever—was educated. Every one. Interestingly, including all of the men we call the Founding Fathers. The ones who helped create this country, whose freedom for the individual has never before nor since been equalled.

Chief among those learned men was Thomas Jefferson. His education was astounding. He spoke multiple languages, was a master of several different trades/fields, and as we all know, he was also the writer of the Declaration of Independence, one of the greatest proclamations ever penned of man’s inherent right to live free.

Where are those people today? Some are in research fields, making great discoveries. Some are teaching in institutions of higher education. (But, showing my personal bias, I’d say those folks are different, as, though they are also quite learned, they tend to get a bit stuffy and irrelevant in their positions in academia.) But the combination of a great education, great wisdom, along with great character and courage don’t seem to exist currently. Especially as selflessly as can be seen in those men who were willing to sacrifice literally everything (and some did!) to preserve freedom for their families and fellow countrymen.

Is that what a good education can produce? Not just smart people who know lots of things… but honorable people? Men and women of courage, and character, and integrity? We think so. And, that’s why we are giving our kids the best opportunities, to the best of our abilities, to get an excellent education. Not just to know what to think, but how to think.

Moreover, how to really live life. And live to the full.

by Greg

You’ll Be Seeing More of Me…

Yesterday was the last class day for a home school group that we’ve been part of this year. Every Monday a couple dozen families or so come together for three classes, a talk about life with God, and some extra time in the gym. (The kids love that part!) It’s a place to connect with lots of other families who are also not sending their kids through the public school system, which is really nice.

If you’re a regular reader of GregsHead.net, you’ll already know this about me, but for those who may have just happened by, or are new here…

I’m very weird. 🙂

So, I notice funny things. One such thing was from a conversation yesterday that seemed to suggest that because it was the last day of Monday classes, I would not be seeing a particular person from our group again, presumably until the classes resume again in September!

That was actually so odd to me (since I am, in fact, the one who is odd) that I didn’t even understand that possibility! But after thinking about it a bit, I replied, “But… we’ll still get together…”

What struck me about it afterwards was that I know I used to think that way. I totally did. The sadness (if there indeed was any) of a school year coming to an end was that you wouldn’t see your friends again till the next year. Same with any other programs we are part of. We wish they wouldn’t end, because it means we won’t see those people any more for a while… at least, not regularly.

But why? Why do we live that way? Is it our culture? Our very individualistic society? Are we intentionally only allowing relationships to happen through structures that we have created? What about dropping by a neighbor’s house just to say hello? What about inviting those friends over for dinner? What about inviting them to meet you at a park, or out for a walk with your family, or at the ice cream place?

How about just a friendly phone call for no particular reason at all? Might find out about something that’s going on that you could help with, or just join in on. (With mutual consent, of course… not recommending “crashing” someone’s party.) 😉

I’m fascinated by the way we relate to each other in our society, our culture. We have forgotten the days of knowing and doing life beside our neighbors. We drive to every social club/event/gathering that we do, because they are often not in our local community. And our social interactions are nearly all “scheduled”. Schedules aren’t bad, necessarily, but where’s the freedom to just be friends? Does every interaction have to be for a reason?

Sadly, I think somewhere along the way, I learned that to be true.

Thankfully, somewhere later along the way, I unlearned that.

One thing we try to do as the Campbell family is be available. We really try hard not to plug in to too many things because it will just drive us crazy. Sure there will be fun parts. Seeing lots of people on a regular basis is one of those parts. But the drawbacks are too great. Do you ever feel like your days are all about getting to the next thing or getting the next thing done? Where are the moments to enjoy life? Alone, with God, or together with family and friends?

Not that events are not part of life. That’s not at all what I am saying. But our tendency (at least, speaking for our family a few years back, and even now when we don’t pay attention!) is to say “yes” to every fun opportunity, or even seek out things to be doing. I won’t go into all the possible reasons we busy ourselves so, but it is certainly true of most everyone that I know. So, I’m guessing it is true of you, too.

Groups and events and scheduled gatherings are super great. There are good memories made, and often, good relationships developed. But it just doesn’t end there. In fact, if it does, I contend that you don’t have good relationships (with those people). A friendship is more, deeper. Through good and bad, in meaningful and completely meaningless times. It’s always on. There’s no summer break.

So, to any of our home school group friends who may be reading this… I know that our last day of classes was yesterday, but, I’m fairly certain that if our families have connected, you’ll be seeing more of me. 😉

by Greg

Sabres Exit Early, Here’s Why

Buffalo Sabres exit the playoffs in the first roundThe Buffalo Sabres 2009-2010 season ended tonight in Boston. They were the losers of Game 6 of the best of seven first round series, and that loss closed the doors on only the sixth season where Buffalo were the champions of their division.

In many ways, this team had everything going for it. Third seed in the Eastern conference. Worked hard all year long to get there. They were 30-0-0 in the regular season with a lead going into the third period. (That means they were dominant.) They had the best goalie in the league for much of the year. (He was overtaken late in the year by the goalie who manned the pipes at the opposite end of the rink in this series, Tuukka Rask.)

But they came up short. Very short.

Now, usually when that happens to one of the higher seeds, it’s cause for tongue lashings and many calls by the fans for the heads of this player or that, or even the coaches and GM. But this series was really, very close. They were essentially all one goal games, with the only exceptions being Boston’s 5-3 victory (thanks to an empty net goal) and Buffalo’s 4-1 win—the only game where there was a 2-goal lead at the end of the game.

The goalies played great. The teams gave tons of effort. And each game was a battle throughout.

The Sabres wish they had a couple of second periods back. They wish they hadn’t given up two 2-goal leads. And, well, they wish they were playing in round two.

They are not. And here’s why.

0-22.

The Sabres were zero for twenty-two on the power play. ZERO. You can not win with those numbers. In contrast, the Bruins were something like 6 for 22 for the series. By far, that was the advantage the Bruins were able to turn into a series win.

Add to that the inability of some of the Sabres’ key players to “step up” to the playoff level—really, to even regular season level—and help push their team to the next level. Players like Tim Connolly, and Derek Roy, and Drew Stafford, and even Raffi Torres. Players who had scored a good number of goals in the regular season, but who contributed next to nothing (or, actually, nothing) in the post season.

That’s also going to kill you, every time.

Players who did impress include, of course, Ryan Miller. He is the real deal, and will be for years to come. That’s awesome. Mike Grier was clearly the missing piece as he returned to the Sabres after two years in San Jose—two years that the Sabres did not make the playoffs. Of course, it apparently wasn’t quite enough. But he was fantastic.

The two Tylers were very impressive. Myers and Ennis both will be fixtures on this team, as well as perhaps Nathan Gerbe, who despite his (super) diminutive stature, was winning puck battles, hitting guys all over the ice—including 6’9″ Zdeno Chara!—and was rewarded with a goal in the final game.

Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman played well. Thomas Vanek even played really well while he was in there. (Was out for three and a half games.)

Overall, the Sabres really don’t need to be disappointed with their effort this series. Of course they wish they were still playing, but they, as a team, really did compete hard, and this season, they had grown accustomed to Ryan Miller being spectacular enough to pull out such close games in the end.

Sadly, his counterpart was equally (if not more) amazing.

Bruins advance 4-2. They’ll face either Pittsburgh or Montreal in the next series. (If Montreal beats Washington.)

As the Sabres advance to the offseason, it’s time to move on from a few experiments. Please, Sabres GM Darcy Regier, start moving these guys off the team. If you can find a willing partner, trade Tim Connolly, Derek Roy, and Drew Stafford immediately. If no one will trade, then cut them. Now.

Similarly (but oppositely) it’s time to re-sign Henrik Tallinder, Toni Lydman, Adam Mair, and Mike Grier. Bring in more scoring, and guys who know how to play in the playoffs like Boston’s Mark Recchi.

After all, isn’t that all that matters?

Where did our #3 seed season get us? An early offseason. That’s where.

The Sabres have a good team. They’re fun to watch. Cut away the dead wood. Prune the branches. And next year we won’t have to shave our playoff beards so early!!!

by Greg

Thoughts on the Buffalo Bills 2010 Draft

Buffalo Bills RB C.J. Spiller and Roger GoodellYou really never know right away how well a team fared with their draft selections. There are some who love every pick, some who love a few, and of course, many who hate everything about the picks. And all this despite the fact that you rarely know how a draft actually pans out for at least two or three years. It never matters, we all feel the need to “grade” or in some way rate the picks of our favorite teams.

Apparently, I am no different. 🙂

I was never on the “draft-a-QB” bandwagon. So that was not a disappointment to me, as it seems to be to some Bills fans. (Even though we DID draft a quarterback in round seven… that was not the guy most anyone wanted us to draft.) I was a bit surprised—though I should not have been—that they passed up some of the lineman that seemed like great choices, and were available at spots where they were selecting.

But overall, I really like it.

C.J. Spiller - Buffalo BillsHere’s the list of the 2010 picks:

  1. RB C. J. Spiller
  2. DT Torell Troup
  3. DE Alex Carrington
  4. WR Marcus Easley
  5. LT Ed Wang
  6. DE/LB Arthur Moats
  7. DE/LB Danny Batten
  8. QB Levi Brown
  9. G Kyle Calloway

Spiller, a running back, was a surprise to some, since the Bills have two better-than-average RBs already, but first, coach Chan Gailey has already said they wanted to add a third RB, and second, this guy is exactly what they were looking for. More of a “home run hitter” so to speak. He’s been compared to Reggie Bush and Chris Johnson. He compares himself to Warrick Dunn. And from the sounds of things, this guy will at the very least be exciting. His numbers are impressive (the only comparable player in the NCAA record books is Reggie Bush. That’s good company.

The first pick was not what many were expecting, but I think Spiller will be what the Bills were looking for: a TD scorer.

(I also think it may spell the end of Roscoe Parrish’s Buffalo Bills career… Spiller is also a kick returner with a record-tying 8 return TDs in his college career.)

The next two picks are not the DLs that most expected the Bills to draft, but both are rated fairly highly by scouts. They both also have experience and the skill set to fit into the new 3-4 defense that the Bills will be running in 2010. That was clearly a big consideration in drafting Troup and Carrington.

Marcus Easley is another tall, fast receiver. James Hardy was drafter a couple years ago. This offseason we signed free agent Chad Jackson from the Denver Broncos, another tall receiver. And of course there’s Steve Johnson who has shown some promise in the limited action he’s seen.

With Owens and Reed (and even Justin Jenkins) all allowed to go on their way this off season, that leaves the Bills with a rather inexperienced (though quite tall) team of receivers. After Lee Evans—whom some would call and “all pro”—the Bills have (in order of experience): Roscoe Parrish (5’9″), Chad Jackson (6’1″), Steve Johnson (6’2″), James Hardy (6’5″), and Felton Huggins (6’2”). That’s a fairly tall receiving corp. Aside from Parrish, whom I still feel is going to be expendable, with the addition of Spiller.

The Bills finally addressed their offensive line needs by drafting Ed Wang to fill the LT position. They are rather thin at that spot with Demetrius Bell being the “incumbent”. Wang is a big dude, with good “feet” (according to Bills’ GM, Buddy Nix) and should compete for the starting LT spot.

Moats and Batten are a couple more 3-4 defense guys, whom the Bills have been seeking out in their transition to the new defense. They are listed in some places as LBs, and in some places as DEs, so I’m not sure exactly what role they Bills drafted them for, but it was definitely for the 3-4 defense. And, apparently, special teams. (Check out this glowing review of the Bills draft from the NFL Network guys.)

Finally, in the seventh round, the Bills drafted their quarterback. There were some rumors that the Bills were trying desperately to trade up to get Tim Tebow in the first round, as the Denver Broncos did. However, the Bills deny this, and as was apparent from their passing up of both Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy, they really had their sights set on Levi Brown, their eventual 7th round pick.

Brown was the top player in his conference last season, and definitely comes from a winning program, which is something that has been lacking in recent QB selections by the team. But, it’s fairly rare to find a starting QB in the final round of the draft! (Many like to remind nay-sayers however that Tom Brady was a 6th round selection. Bills fans, though they may not much care for Brady, would love to see a similar outcome for their final-round pick.)

Gailey has already stated that Brown will be allowed to compete for the starting QB position along with the three incumbents from last season. Should be an interesting competition this offseason.

Lastly, the Bills drafted an OT whom I have read they intend to move to guard. Calloway may or may not make the team—the Bills drafted two (starting) guards in the 2009 draft—but it was good to see that six of their nine picks went toward linemen, offensive and defensive. (Due to his size, 6’7″ 323 lbs, I’m not sure about that move to guard. So perhaps he will compete more at the RT spot.)

Conclusion
The Bills did not select the players that anyone expected them too. Not even Spiller, whom some are calling the “best player in the 2010 draft.” However, they really did address all of the positions that they needed to. If the guys they got—whom they say are all guys they had targeted—turn out to be viable NFL players, well, then they did an excellent job!

But, that’s the thing. That’s the part we don’t know for a couple of years.

There’s some who think Spiller could be in the running for Rookie of the Year, based on his talents and work ethic, but of course you can’t really predict such a thing. If that’s the case however, then the Bills definitely already improved their team.

Overall, seems like a great job by the Bills! (How often do we Bills fans get to say that???)

by Greg

Genius

Greatness isn’t the work of a few geniuses, it is the purpose of each of us. It is why we were born. Every person you have ever met is a genius. Every one. Some of us have chosen not to develop it, but it’s there. It is in us. All of us. It is in your spouse. It is in all of your children. You live in a world of geniuses. How can we settle for anything less than the best education? How can we tell our children that mediocre education will do, when greatness is available?

The above quote (with my emphases added) is from A Thomas Jefferson Education, by Oliver DeMille. Jen has read through it, and some companion books, and I have become familiar with it via an audio CD we have that presents some of the principles from this “leadership education” philosophy.

We really like it, and I really liked that paragraph you just read above.

I think this all the time, and it’s why we home school. That doesn’t mean we school at home. We don’t. It means that born into everyone—which includes all of my children—is the unbounded potential for greatness. All we have to do is love, observe, and help steer toward that greatness. Some think that approach to be idealistic, and perhaps too simplistic. But it seems to be working so far.

My goal as Ian, Alex, Kirsten, Julia, Emma and Cameron’s Dad is to help them see their greatness (AND the greatness of everyone else around them) and to help them know the foundational truths of life, the most important things which will be their character, their anchor… then the rest is up to them realizing the greatness that God has built into each of them. The “sky” is truly the limit.

(Although, that may be too limiting…)

Looking forward to finishing this book, and sharing more thoughts from Mr. DeMille.

by Greg

(A Very Brief) iPad Review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwCUXbL2LwI

Last week we went up to our local Apple Retail Store and got to actually touch the new iPad!

And, yes… it was fantastic, as advertised.

I thought it might be fun to highlight a couple of things that I noticed and would say make the iPad worth the purchase. Certainly you may have a different list, or just disagree completely. But, without actually taking one home, here were my initial impressions/thoughts.

It’s Fast!
OK, I kept hearing everyone say this, but didn’t fully understand the hullabaloo as there aren’t really any Apple products that are slow. However, when you get into it and see how quickly everything launches, and that there is zero latency in how the stuff on the screen reacts to your contact with it … you understand. Apple took this part into their own hands by developing the 1 Ghz A4 chip to run their OS. They understand that what makes their stuff unique and great is that it, “just works.”

How It Felt
Clearly, it’s just an impressive device. When you see it, you can’t help but say, “Oooo.” That’s impressive to begin with, but then when you pick it up, it impresses further. Nice and thin, just about the perfect size for an handheld device (that doesn’t have a tiny screen or keyboard.) It was a tad heavier than I expected, actually, so that was a bit confusing to my brain. It was about the right size (height and width) and weight for a big hardcover book, but it was too thin to be a hardcover book!

Which leads me to the thing I liked best…

iBooks
iPad with iBooksI went in really wanting to see what books looked like and felt like on the iPad. I love the idea of digital books, but haven’t ever found a way that makes them enjoyable to see, read, and feel/touch. The iPad promised it would do that, and, I do believe it does. (Again, I have not actually used one, as I don’t own one yet. My opinion on this could change if I were to read a book or two on the iPad.)

The interface is just great. When you launch the iBooks app, you see a nice bookshelf with all your books there for you to choose from. Tap a book cover and you’re instantly in it, reading right where you left off. Check out the video at the top of this post (if you didn’t already) to see some of the other cool features.

The iBook store was very much like the iTunes store. Found some books fairly quickly, downloaded a sample of one, and was reading it within seconds. (Even on the store’s notoriously slow internet connection.)

I really think this is a big feature of the iPad and will perhaps do for (at least digital) books what iTunes/iPod did for music.

Camera?
The funniest thing I noticed was the spot for the camera, which is not currently a feature of the iPad. 🙂 Yes, there was a tiny hole/space right where a camera would go on the top of the front of the device. So, perhaps they are already in there? But, likely they are just saving the spot for a future (maybe near future) upgrade of the hardware. Thought that was interesting.

Final thoughts
I didn’t play with iWork, movies, games, maps, web browsing (ok, did that a bit… even updated the software that runs this blog!) … so there is much more to explore, but, from what I did see, it’s certainly a device that will be used—and used often.

Think of the iPad as another device. It’s not going to replace the laptop, which has much more expandability (including the use of more pro-level apps like Photoshop and Final Cut, and even consumer apps like iPhoto). It’s not going to replace your iPhone (or other “smart phone”) because, well… it’s not a phone!

(Note, however, that after playing with the iPad, we remained in the store for a bit, and while waiting to talk with a friend there, both my wife and I saw the iPhones and snickered at the thought of doing what we were just doing on the iPad on the iPhone’s (now) super tiny screen…)

The iPad is a perfect computer for what we use computers for at home. And you can even bring it with you, if you want. It’s great for kids. It’s great for students (think of the possibilities for the iBookstore and textbooks, plus the whole iWork productivity suite for only $9.99). And it’s great for Mom/Dad, Grandma/Grandpa who aren’t comfortable with a computer, but might be with this multi-touch interface device.

I think it’s certainly a great first release. With Apple’s track record, there’s no doubt it will only get better. (Speaking of which, don’t forget that this is only the Wi-Fi model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models ship in a couple weeks.)

Final conclusion… if you have the extra $499-$829 to spend, you will not be disappointed!

Your thoughts are welcome… Do you have an iPad? Let me know what you think!

DISCLAIMER: Though I was previously employed and otherwise officially affiliated with Apple, Inc., I am currently in no way affiliated with Apple, nor compensated for this glowing endorsement. I just like their stuff! 🙂

by Greg

Current (Ever-Growing) Reading Pile

My pile of books continues to grow. I truly am reading each one of the books I have grabbed from the library, or purchased from Amazon, or had loaned to me by a friend, but…

For some reason, the phrase “your eyes are much larger than your stomach” comes to mind…

In this case, my desire to sit down and read is much (MUCH) larger than my moments to sit down and do so. I am getting moments, though, and thought I’d share a couple of the titles currently in the rotation with you:

  • Thomas Jefferson: In His Own Words
  • Googled: The End of the World as We Know It
  • The Torch of the Testimony
  • Oliver Twist
  • The Misunderstood God: The Lies Religion Tells About God
  • Growing Kids God’s Way
  • A Thomas Jefferson Education
  • Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear
  • The Time Pirate
  • The Age of the Unthinkable

OK, some of those I am only planning to read. (Like… the last four. One I don’t even have in my possession yet!) But the rest are in the current rotation and I’m reading them as much as I can in between many other things. (Some might say I have readers ADD?)

Oliver Twist is a book that I’m reading aloud with the boys. That’s been a lot of fun. Especially after we read the book about George Müller, whose orphanage was visited by Charles Dickens, as they were contemporaries, and Müller was doing simply amazing things for the orphans in England at the time.

Growing Kids God’s Way is a video course, but there’s a book along with it, so I am (along with Jen) reading through that currently.

The Thomas Jefferson books are unrelated, but both are fascinating. The “In His Own Words” book is literally that: a collection of much of the writings of Thomas Jefferson. Fascinating! And the education one is on, well, education, just in a different light. Perhaps I’ll explain more on that later.

If you’re curious… I am trying to build up the library of books I read (and/or will be reading) using a Library plugin for WordPress. You can see the full library here, or see a selected few books in the furthest right column.

All of the books in the collection are linked to Amazon, where you can purchase if you’d like. (Of course, check your local library first, as that’s a fantastic way to read lots of books, then buy the ones you want to read again!) As an associate of Amazon, however, I of course do appreciate any time you click through an Amazon link and make a purchase. 🙂

So… enough typing. Time to get back to reading!

Hope you’ll join me.

by Greg

There Are More Important Things…

I had to double and triple check to make sure this video was real… it is.

How can we really think this way? The language this woman uses to describe her “problem” (which was … until two months prior to the speech you see in this video—from the “Digital Inclusion Summit” on March 9, 2010—her family only had dial-up internet in their home, because they could not afford broadband) makes it seem as though they were in dire straits, and in danger of losing their lives…

Like these people.

Friends of ours uprooted their lives in Australia to live in Thailand, helping the Karen refugees of Burma just have the basic necessities of life as they flee from people who want to kill them!

But we want to have free (to us) broadband internet in our homes. And it’s unfair if we don’t.

Wow.