Matthew Swinburne's Posts - Urgent Evoke2024-03-28T10:19:28ZMatthew Swinburnehttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/MatthewSwinburnehttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2209231236?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=0fm84t9kmex7a&xn_auth=noCelebratory Tacticstag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-25:4871302:BlogPost:639482010-03-25T20:11:27.000ZMatthew Swinburnehttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/MatthewSwinburne
For most of us the food shortages are overseas, however the help that we offer them often comes from home. That said, the more likely we are to assist local food drives; who often donate to overseas efforts, the more aid will reach the people who need it most. With that idea in mind, there needs to be more done to <span style="font-style: italic;">celebrate</span> food drives as a rewarding event rather than a task that needs to be done. It doesn't even need to be during a time of crisis when…
For most of us the food shortages are overseas, however the help that we offer them often comes from home. That said, the more likely we are to assist local food drives; who often donate to overseas efforts, the more aid will reach the people who need it most. With that idea in mind, there needs to be more done to <span style="font-style: italic;">celebrate</span> food drives as a rewarding event rather than a task that needs to be done. It doesn't even need to be during a time of crisis when food is needed quickly, but imagine if the stockpiles were even more full before the event happens?<br/><br/>It goes without saying that Evoke itself is a powerful example of this; but it's not nearly as focused as what I've been looking into. Here are some other examples of this tactic in use, making collecting food fun:<br/><br/><a href="http://www.canstruction.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=34">Canstruction</a> takes donating food and turns it into Lego, figuratively at least. They have been active for over 15 years and have their competitions all over America and other locations in the world. Here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbb8Nc0--Uc">video</a> celebrating Calgary alone collecting over 250,000 lbs of food over four years.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.alderac.com/">Alderac Entertainment Group</a> is an American company that produces card and board games that have over the years become popular over the world. One particular game (Legend of the Five Rings) has yearly competitions across the globe to determine what occurs in their game world's fictional storyline with the winners having the most influence. Recently they have begun offering fictional rewards as prizes for charitable 'mini-games' run by the retailers and tournament organizers and amongst these are food drives, where an individual can donate perishables towards their in-game faction.<br/><br/>Human beings are a competitive lot, and who doesn't like winning? Why don't we put it to good use? Make charity events more exciting so we can celebrate them annually.<br/>Unconventional Heroicstag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-25:4871302:BlogPost:636012010-03-25T17:00:00.000ZMatthew Swinburnehttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/MatthewSwinburne
<span style="font-style: italic;">Evoke tells our own stories so that we might too inspire</span>.<br></br><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"></hr>I can't quite remember if I've ever held a real person in such regard as to call them my hero, except maybe my father for a time; but most of us go through a similar stage in life. On the other hand, fictional characters have been on my mind ever since I first stepped into the library at school and found the many works within, and have been a continued…
<span style="font-style: italic;">Evoke tells our own stories so that we might too inspire</span>.<br/><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"/>I can't quite remember if I've ever held a real person in such regard as to call them my hero, except maybe my father for a time; but most of us go through a similar stage in life. On the other hand, fictional characters have been on my mind ever since I first stepped into the library at school and found the many works within, and have been a continued influence to this day. At first it may seem a little silly to consider works of fantasy or science fiction as something to look up to. For one, you can't exactly shadow them like any other heroic influence, and the actions they take fade when you put the book down, or when the author decides for the story to end. But how is this any different from a hero in the real world? You only know as much about them as you chose to explore, and they too can decide when their own story will subside.<br/><br/>Having never been a conventional individual, let me offer another thought. Why settle for just a single story, or even a single individual within a story? While we are certainly influenced by the people we admire, we are shaped and moved by our peers and communities each and every day. It has always been like this in the past, and the only change I see in our modern era and the future is that these communities will only grow in size thanks to the technological advances in communication.<br/><br/>One can't be too surprised to immediately think of Citizen X; and other 'anons', when we consider the internet amongst these innovations. But there are many groups out there to admire, which is where I found my own choice of heroes when I felt the need to be inspired outside of some crazy adventure. Thanks to the internet, the people at <a href="http://www.ted.com/">TED</a> are getting new and innovative ideas out to the people who would normally never have the opportunity to listen. With each additional speaker presenting their thoughts, it's not too difficult to imagine the benefits. However, there is a more recent example I can give, and one that likely hits closer home in regards to anyone reading this.<br/><br/>With all that I have said so far, I hope no one is surprised when I say that it is <span style="font-style: italic;">ourselves</span> in the Evoke training program.<br/>Scrying the Future - 2020tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-25:4871302:BlogPost:627032010-03-25T05:30:00.000ZMatthew Swinburnehttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/MatthewSwinburne
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Wako, Texas</span> - I've never been a big traveler, but every now and then I'll make my way through the States to visit my sister; amongst others, and this time I had gotten all caught up in her recent crusade in the struggle with autism.<br></br>She was crazy as far as I was concerned, but not in a bad way; the kind of person who planned far in advance, the kind of person who thought big. I had lived most of my life in her shadow, which was an unlikely feat were…
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Wako, Texas</span> - I've never been a big traveler, but every now and then I'll make my way through the States to visit my sister; amongst others, and this time I had gotten all caught up in her recent crusade in the struggle with autism.<br/>She was crazy as far as I was concerned, but not in a bad way; the kind of person who planned far in advance, the kind of person who thought big. I had lived most of my life in her shadow, which was an unlikely feat were one to note her stature. But these days I didn't mind so much, and for the time being I had found a measure of satisfaction simply greasing the wheels. A few of the kids at the hospital even enjoyed the stories, though more of them liked the way the dice felt, or how they bounced around on different surfaces. Just no four-siders.<br/><br/>By the buzzing against my leg told me my phone was vibrating, and I figured it would be the guys back home asking if I would be in town for a game; or three if they had their way. I picked up to tell them they'd need someone else to stay dry and was surprised by the voice on the other end, it was <span style="font-style: italic;">him</span>. As the line disconnected I sighed and replaced the cell before putting the last case of donated toys in the back of the rental. Sometimes even the world needed someone to help it run smoother.<br/><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"/>I honestly could not say where I'll be in 10 years, I can't even find the the strength plan the next 3 unless it was for something I considered important. However I can certainly imagine that moment when Alchemy makes the call, and I do like telling stories.<br/><br/>By 2020 I figure I'll have landed a career as either a minor government social worker, a teacher, or computer technician, or a full-time nerd working for a game company. This of course means I will have acquired my A+ and/or network certifications on top of finishing my degree at a university. More importantly, I would like to have lost a <span style="font-style: italic;">lot</span> of weight by this time and secured a relationship with someone I cared about and cared about me in return. Off the top of my head, I can't really place a prime location other than the vague claim that it will be somewhere I fit in.<br/><br/>Edit: Completely slipped my mind, but I also have a story running through my head I'd like to get published.<br/>Strangers in a Strange Land and Problems at Hometag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-25:4871302:BlogPost:626402010-03-25T04:34:56.000ZMatthew Swinburnehttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/MatthewSwinburne
'talk to the people who have the problem – and LISTEN to what they have to say' (<a href="http://www.nextbillion.net/blog/2008/10/22/pop-tech-paul-polak-on-scaling-the-bottom-of-the-pyramid">Paul Polak</a>)<br></br><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"></hr>I'm probably not the first to admit it, nor am I certainly going to be the last; but I know so little about the world's cultures and the people who live and work within them. Sometimes I even feel I know more about dealing with 'people' on the…
'talk to the people who have the problem – and LISTEN to what they have to say' (<a href="http://www.nextbillion.net/blog/2008/10/22/pop-tech-paul-polak-on-scaling-the-bottom-of-the-pyramid">Paul Polak</a>)<br/><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"/>I'm probably not the first to admit it, nor am I certainly going to be the last; but I know so little about the world's cultures and the people who live and work within them. Sometimes I even feel I know more about dealing with 'people' on the internet more than I do with my local suburban community. With this in mind how can I even consider taking the steps to make a difference in the world, especially when I don't like stepping on people's toes; not to mention my little streak of arrogance/pride and perhaps fear that keeps me from asking for help in new situations. In realizing this weakness however, I can find strength.<br/><br/>Though the problem is hardly unique to myself, there are some who don't always realize that they don't know what the best approach to any given situation is before jumping in and trying their own 'solution'. This can be something as simple as arguments between family members to something as complex as inter-cultural relations. How can anyone solve a problem without actually knowing why it needs to be solved from the perspective of the one with the issue? Sometimes someone will even apply their 'fix' without asking around to see if it actually makes a difference, and that can be just as bad. In our modern era of communication, there are very few excuses to not develop an understanding of those who may be affected by one's solutions.<br/><br/>Of course this also means one needs to identify the individual or group who has the problem, but all that takes is a little information gathering and some patience, in particular when it feels like the problem is yours when it may not be. In those cases, my advice is to speak to a (preferably trusted) neutral party about it before acting on emotional responses.<br/>