So ... that happened ...

A few months ago, I wrote that I was fearful for my friends of all stripes.  Then the election happened.  Then the attacks started.  Then my wife cried.

I am so fucking angry right now I cannot even stand it.  It is taking everything I have to write this rather than throwing the keyboard through the window and take out the first bigoted, xenophobic, woman-hating, piece of shit I run into.

Now that that is off my chest, what to do?  What to do?

1) Breathe.  Very important.
2) Respect the feelings I am having, that others are having, and the responses others are having to those feelings.  They are real, tangible, and powerful.
3) Work to protect those who feel they are one block away from being attacked.
4) Recognize that as a white, straight male, I am systemically privileged and have an awesome responsibility to protect those who are systemically stripped of protections.
5) Recognize that the system is not just the official system but the discursive system that we all participate in (whether we even know it or not).
6) Get involved.  Dismantle the system from the inside.  Make it so it truly reflects all people, even those whose beliefs are barely fathomable by me.
7) Develop pedagogy that, dare I say it, moves past my usual "non-sided" approach (I know you cannot teach critical theory like that, but I have tried).  Even Intro to Mass Comm has to change tack. Corporate Media coverage is part of the problem here, but not the whole problem - not by a longshot.

All for now.  More coming.

Take care of each other -

Adam

My thoughts today ...

I fear for my friends and tribe that happened to be born with darker skin pigment than I. I fear for my friends and tribe that have chosen a profession where they carry a badge, walk into harm's way every day, and have sworn to protect and serve us.

I feel fear.

This is the first time I can actually think of when I woke up and I was a little scared - a little confused - and ready to pack up the house and head for the hills. So, instead, I watch, I learn, I think, and I hope.

We are watching the overt war over our country's competing ideologies play out on our TVs, through our politics, shrouded by our doctrines of faith, and across our screens. It is so easy to put the walls up and attack anything that is counter to our little niche of beliefs. I challenge you ... to breathe. To listen. To consider. I, like many of you, are quick to react. Perhaps we need to not react, not repost, not retweet so quickly without dialogue. Not yelling. Not mocking. We need to listen.

Don't "like" this and move on. Don't "thumbs up" or :-) or whatever is easy to do then go right back to putting another brick up.  I will do my best. I challenge you to do the same.

Ask.

Question.

Accept.

Respect.

I am here for a while ... Now what?

I was granted tenure and promotion this past spring ... The golden handcuffs are in place. So, since we know Omaha will be home for a while ... What to do? I am further developing my home brewing hobby, which is excellent. I am finishing a book project and taking on admin roles on campus, so that works for "the plan." I do find myself getting more fired up about what is going on in the community, particularly with commuting and "living locally." Perhaps it is time to become fully part of this place that is becoming "third home." Stay tuned.

Central, Brewing, and End of the Semester

Well, this is interesting.  I just finished an interview as an "Expert" on Social Media with the local Fox affiliate regarding the "mouse in the chinese food" meme.  It looks like it has been around four a little while, been in a few states, and is now gracing our lovely little corner of the grass plains (hmmnnn ... could we call this area the Plains Sea, like the Dothraki Sea in 'Thrones'?).  Doing press is always weird.  Doing TV is REALLY weird.  As the saying goes, I have a lovely face for radio.

On to the title: Central States was great this year.  Exhausting and recharging at the same time.  I am so fortunate to have an academic home like CSCA.  Of course, that means that way too many projects were once again generated while there.  Luckily, I am taking a break from planning ... for a little while, at least.

Brewing.  Needs to happen.  Soon.  Thinking about getting something going this afternoon before the parents show up.  Let's see if that actually happens, but it seems to be a good idea right now.

End of Semester.  Really?  Already?

Damn.  Too much to do ... as always.

Realizations

So, in the last few months, a lot has been happening around Casa de Tyma-Nelson.  The biggest thing is the planning of our wedding.  That has been interesting and, oddly enough, going a bit more smoothly than I anticipated.  I am sure I just jinxed us and we are now going to have something close to, well, name your "wedding becomes a spectacle" movie.  Nah.  It will go off just fine.

The next monster thing is me ... going up for tenure.  This has me worried in ways that I cannot even fathom.  I put on my best face but, at the end of the day, I continually ask myself "am I worthy?"  Tenure - the acceptance of your peers that you do have something to offer your department, school, and discipline - is a strange and oft nerve-wracking experience.  Like the above-mentioned nuptials, I am confident this will also go fine ... or at least confident enough ...

I chose this picture because, well, it is funny.  Perhaps it presents me in a non-caring place.  Perhaps I look like a hippie from the 12th century.  I don't know.

So ... Realizations.  

Damn, I am freaking lucky!  I mean, look at this situation.  I am, currently, sitting in my office at home (in a HOUSE), working on a blog (because I am taking a break from editing chapter one of a thesis), marrying an amazing woman, working on my health, watching my beard bet a bit more gray every day (and kinda digging it), have my PhD and will hopefully be a tenured professor at a truly impressive university in a city that surprises me more and more every day, while getting full-on into brewing beer (something I have wanted to do for a long time) ... and I am not even 40?  Yeah ... that's the stuff.

Next time - a discussion of brewing and the insanity that is Central States.

See this woman?  Amazing!

Site Visit #1: Hot Shops

Since I assigned my students to keep a blog during the Visual Communication and Culture course this semester, I decided I should do something as well. So, as we visit various places both on and off campus, I will shoot pictures and video - all with the phone - to capture some of the ideas and moments that come up. My students are going to do so much better at this than me ... I can already tell!

Site Visit #1: The Hot Shops Gallery and Artist Spaces in North Downtown Omaha

Here is video of the Curator discussion the reasons that she chose the artifacts she did and her creative process while constructing a show like this

Social Media, Social Commentary, and being "Social" - a Semester in review

Hello, fellow travelers and readers -

It has been some time since I wrote here. There has been a lot going on. So, as any good Public Speaking student will agree with, I shall break it down into main points and ask you to follow along:

1) This semester was a little more challenging than most, not because of the courses being taught but because of some of the realities that are setting in re: my role. I am happy to report that the honeymoon between me and UNO is now over. It typically does not take long for me (far too cynical for my own good), but I am starting to see everything and just beginning to recognize the internal workings going on. My students have such potential, but not all of them want to be pushed. My students bring such insight to their discussions ... but not all of them bring it to their work. This is something that I struggled with. I lucked out in that - at least it seemed to me - the latter students strived to become the former. It was excellent. I start to wonder why others are not challenging their students as well. I hope they are, but the amount of red on the paper when I am done might speak to the contrary. Perhaps I am tricking myself into thinking my own work is that important or influential. If I am, that happens. I just want my students to be the best they can be. If I can help in that ... even if that means backing out and off ... then I will do that. Our job is to push our students further than they have ever gone before. Imagine if each of our instructors did that during our education experiences. Where would we be now?

2) I find myself really, REALLY digging around in various social media applications and "worlds." I wonder if I can write this Twitter/Blog/Facebook/Online TV/CreativeCommons/NewsSurfing reality off as "Research"? I certainly hope so. I am really interested in seeing how relationships are developed and maintained in 140 characters (that is a Twitter reference, BTW). I think meaningful relationships, though very target and intention-specific, can happen. You may not speak with that person everyday, or even every week, but you read their words, perhaps respond (or at least re-Tweet), and learn something you did not know before. Isn't that what communication (and the World Wide Web) is supposed to be all about? I think so. I look forward to your thoughts.

3) Perhaps a 2b rather than a 3 - I find that I am discussing (read "complaining") social situations more and more and wondering what I can do about it ... I mean really DO about it. I hate the idea that, because I have carved out my dusty, book-riddled, dimly-lit corner of the Ivory Tower, I cannot REALLY enact change in my immediate and global society(-ies). So, outside of the classroom, I just post things on Facebook or Twitter and wait for the conversation to get started. It is fun to watch. Sometimes, nothing happens, and my statement or link sits dormant and flaccid. Other times, however, the responses, rants, yelling, exasperations, agreements, extensions, alternatives, and discussions come pouring in. I love it. This is exactly what is needed. The question becomes "what is the next step?" I am hoping that the conversation does not end there. I hope that people keep thinking about what they said - that is was not just a rant but something that gets brought back with them back to the offline discussions.

4) I think I may be in Omaha for a few years. I see the potential here. I have people in my life that I care about deeply here. Of course, if something calls me home, then I go. Having said that, and in reference to 1), the honeymoon is over. I am here. Time to make the most of it. Watch out, Omaha! You just inherited a Tyma. What you gonna do now?

That is all. Oh yeah - bangs are at 11 inches. Thinking either September or New Year for the hair donation. Also thinking the new ink comes this summer. Stay tuned.

Cheers and be excellent to each other!

Adam.