A Modern Christmas Story.

As I have said many times, I have the great privilege of working with middle school students. They are so awesome! Recently a few of my students wrote and acted in a Modern Day retelling of the birth of Jesus. Since, it is highly likely that Jesus was born to a teenager, this video is strangely compelling to think about.

Brandon the INVENTOR!

My friend Michael challenged me to take this personality test today... so I thought I would publish the results here... Do you think they fit me?


Here is how they describe my type:

"ENTPs are idea people. Their perceptive abilities cause them to see possibilities everywhere. They get excited and enthusiastic about their ideas, and are able to spread their enthusiasm to others. In this way, they get the support that they need to fulfill their visions"
- Portrait of an ENTP (The Personality Page)

"It is so natural for these individuals to practice devising gadgets and mechanisms, that they start doing it even as young children. And they get such a kick out of it that they really never stop exercising their inventive bent"
- The Portrait of the Inventor Rational (Keirsey)

"ENTPs are usually verbally as well as cerebrally quick, and generally love to argue--both for its own sake, and to show off their often-impressive skills... argument as a sport."
- ENTP Profile (TypeLogic)

"ENTPs contribute an innovative, versatile, and enterprising approach to work. They view limitations as challenges to be overcome and look for new ways to do things. They need to find a niche for themselves in order to be free to maneuver. They prefer the start-up phase of a project rather than the followthrough or maintenance phase. Once the project is designed, they prefer to turn it over to someone else."
- ENTP - The Innovator (Lifexplore)

"...attention seeking, experience junky, insensitive, adaptable, not easily offended, messy, carefree, dangerous, fearless, careless..."
- Jung Type Descriptions (ENTP) (similarminds.com)

Did You Know Video

Since I have been talking about Communication a lot lately, I thought I would include one more video... it has been making the blog rounds lately... I say it on both marko's and michael's blogs...



As always, let me know what you think...

Brownsquirrel Classic Rewind: The Story Begins..

This is the first real post ever published concerning the legend of the brown squirrel...

Checking his pack again, the brown squirrel set out on his journey... He had everything, yet nothing that he needed... a strange paradox common in this time. "@#$%," he thought, "how's a squirrel supposed to find his way in the world without a map." He had a map, of course. The very same map that had been used by the travelers before him and then passed on, stained & scribbled over with "helpful" instructions by all its previous owners. The map "spoke" with all of their voices, but loudly and at the same time. Rather than helpful, the deeply layered directions nearly always led nowhere, or more to the point, led everywhere, while at the same time warning the reader not to go there...

"I wish I could look at this map without all of these scribbles," said squirrel while swearing under his breath. The frustration of so much sitting still was really getting to him, but did he dare journey onward with such great perils all around him?

Before the brown squirrel could take even a step upon the trail before him, he heard someone walking up behind him.

"Hello Friend," came the greeting from what appeared to be a wayward raccoon. The raccoon had a slick appearance, like a used car salesman, and was carrying a briefcase. Squirrel had never seen a raccoon so slick and professional looking.

"Have you lost your way?" asked the raccoon.

"Sorta," replied the squirrel, "it's just that the way is not as clear as some have said, and my map is covered with all of this conflicting directions."

"Well," snorted the raccoon, "Have no fears at all... I am an expert in these here parts... I have known them well since my birth... where is it you want to go? Hand my your map..."

The Squirrel was very uncomfortable with this raccoon... he had not asked for help, nor did he really want this over slicked "friend" to further complicate his map...

Deep inside of him the tension was building to near explosive dimensions. On the one hand, the voice of niceness was telling him that he had to be civil and friendly to this person.

On the other hand, he wanted to push him away and run. Caught in this in-between moment of life, Squirrel had no concept of the true implications of this decision. If he again allowed appropriate niceness to govern the day, he would have to forfeit his map and listen once more to the advice of another "slick perfect answer man." He had done that before, always to frustration and discouragement. What was the solution... could he run... would his conscience allow it...?

According to Legend, the squirrel ran... but I am not sure if I believe it