2006 National Book Festival

2006 National Book Festival
The Library of Congress Celebrates Creativity

The 2006 National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by first lady Laura Bush, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 7th and 14th streets from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain or shine). The festival is free and open to the public.
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Goals to improve your conversation skills

PLANT SMALL CHANGES, HARVEST BIG RESULTS As you anticipate the new year, some of you will be seeking changes in your health, life-style, and careers. You probably know by now that most New Year's resolutions fail. The main reasons they fail are that goals are unrealistically large and that resolvers have no clear plan to reach their goals. If you want to improve your conversation skills (and thus your relationships), you can do so with a much greater chance of success by following a few simple procedures. Choose small goals, then take small steps to reach them. Making changes in this way helps you to avoid the kick-back effect you'd encounter if you try to make massive changes in a short time. Your current habits have long been anchored in place and resist change. Three Small Conversation Goals That Have Big Effects: 1. Listen attentively without interrupting. Give your full attention to the speaker, then check to see that you understood accurately by giving a short summary. Doing this two or three times each day for a few weeks will install this skill as a habit. As well, people will begin to see you as a great communicator. 2. Use more open questions and fewer closed questions. For example, "What are your plans for the holidays?" is an open question that requires a detailed response. "Will you be traveling to your parents' home?" is a closed question that requires only a "yes" or "no" answer. Similarly, "What did you like or dislike about the movie?" elicits detail. "Did you like the movie?" may get a one-word response. 3. Replace saying "Yes, but . . ." by saying "Yes, and . . ." When someone says something you disagree with, don't make them wrong with "Yes, but." Instead, let them know you have a different point of view by adding, "Yes, and in my experience there is another way of understanding that situation." People who are successful at conversation leave clues. As a professional observer of talk-patterns, I have noticed the patterns that work and those that don't. The three small patterns above are relatively easy to install, and adopting even one of them can make a big positive difference in your conversational effectiveness. Write Mini-Goals and Simple Plans It's helpful to set one or two small goals, then write them down and read them over once each day. For example: Goal: "I give my full attention to what others say and check to see that I understand." Deadline: February 2, 2006 Plan: "I will practice giving my full attention when listening at least twice each day until I can do so with comfort and ease." Partner with Another If you have a friend who is also making changes, you can partner with them and hold each other accountable by checking in from time to time. For example, Joe wants to lose ten pounds, and you want to listen more effectively. Each of you shares your goal(s) and plan, then every few days checks in with "How are you doing with your goal(s)? Use Reminders Because we are so habit-bound, it's easy to forget about what we are trying to achieve. To deal with forgetfulness, use reminders such as wearing your watch on the other hand, or putting a rubber band around your wrist and giving it a little "snap" if you forget. Also, reading over your goal and plan daily will help a lot. You can write your plan on a note-card for review. If you select a few small goals and take small steps to achieve them, please let me know of your success. Meanwhile, best wishes for a wonderful New Year!

Loren Ekroth, Ph.D. is a specialist in human communication and a national expert on conversation for business and social life. His articles and programs strengthen critical communication skills for business and professional people. Contact at Loren@conversation-matters.com Check resources and archived articles at www.conversation-matters.com

Ulysees most valuable book

Joyce tops poll of most valuable books
Ulysses, James Joyce's classic 1922 novel which chronicled the perambulations through the streets of Dublin of its main character, Leopold Bloom, in groundbreaking stream-of-consciousness style, has topped a poll of the most valuable works of fiction of the 20th century.

Article continues

Structure your speech for maximum impact

Structure your speech for Maximum Impact

To create an impact with your speech or presentation, the audience has to “get” the message.  That means they have to be able to hear it and to understand it.  And to do that, first they must listen.  

So the very first step in this whole process is to gain their attention and then keep it, so that they listen, hear what you say, understand it, and then they can be influenced by it  …  which is, after all, the essence of impact.

There are several strategies to keep attention and the one we’re looking at here is designing the structure of your speech.

That structure has to work flawlessly to keep attention, and you can also use it to make you message absolutely clear.

“Tell them what you’re going to say. Say it. Then tell them what you said”And that is so true!! We must take into account that we have such short attention spans. And so do audiences. If we want to make a point that will stay with an audience after they leave the room, we have to repeat and reinforce it throughout the presentation.

The first thing to do is get that attention – arouse it, focus it and keep it.  Don’t waste your breath on the expected or the blah.  If you must begin with something like “Good evening”, then make it different, or unusual.  Here in Australia, we might say “G’day!”  That would be unexpected. Otherwise use your voice and body language to make the greeting unusual, challenging, noticeable.  Use pause here.  Then use an opening that grabs the attention.  You can use a question, a joke, a comment about the people or surroundings or event.  You can make a statement, use a quotation, or simply use body language or gesture.  But choose that opening to grab attention, to align with the audience and their needs, hopes and aspirations, and to lead into your message.Your introduction to the speech shouldlead into the main pointand give a short background for the points to follow…The body of the speech shouldpresent points that are pertinent and support the theme or premisesupport the points with examples, illustrations, etc.

use different strategies to appeal to different interests and learning stylespresent original ideas or a new approach to familiar materials…The conclusion should:summarise the points and restate them brieflyemphasise the theme or premise againmake the purpose of the speech clearprovide a strong finish for the speech…

Your closing is your last chance to create impact, to influence, to call to action.  Make it very clear.

So right through the speech, there has to be a reiteration in as many ways as you can find, and clarification in as many ways as you can think of, of the message you wanted the audience to take with them…to make that message clearly heard and understood.  

(This assumes, of course, that you articulated the impact you wanted and the message you intended to convey at the beginning.  That step is vital – visit my article “Plan to create the WOW factor with your speech or presentation”)
The structure of your presentation introduced your well defined theme, presented that theme, and repeated it to conclude.And you will have given your audience a great chance of remembering it.

No need for Powerpoint on the web

Web Presentations? PowerPoint Not Required - S5 Is The Answer
Open-source non-commercial template-based web presentation delivery system - if you can work with XHTML and CSS, and want to break out from the PowerPoint grip, S5 maybe a good road to go. Details.

Laughter medicine?

Comedy Films Boost Blood Flow To The Heart
Watching comedy films boosts blood flow to the heart, finds a small study in the journal Heart.   Read the whole article

The WHODO

The WHODO

Before you walk into a meeting, send an email or start a call, take a minute to think about what you want to achieve.1. WHO are you talking to? This is the decider, your prospect, the person who, by direct action, can get you the result that you want.2. What do you want that person to DO? This is your call to action – the single, specific action you want him to take.

Thanks Dave

Dublins building boom damages priceless library stock

Dublin's building boom puts priceless books in danger
The recent prosperity and development of the capital of Ireland is causing major problems for one of the city's most venerable institutions, the library of Trinity College, Dublin.
The university has discovered to its dismay that a quarter of a million books, many of them irreplaceable and dating from the earliest days of print, have been damaged by building dust.  Article continues

Beat movement museum

Beat movement honoured at new museum

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Beat Museum, a tribute to the literary generation that helped inspire the 1960s counterculture, has opened in the San Francisco neighbourhood where the movement took off 50 years ago.  Article continues

Awesome Stories

AwesomeStories.com uniquely uses the Internet to link its story content to hundreds of thousands of the world's best on-line primary sources. Enjoy an interactive learning experience as you see relevant maps, pictures, artifacts, manuscripts and documents, IN CONTEXT, within each story. Take advantage of human-based searches for a safe, fast and fun way to learn the real story behind historic events, famous people, heroic exploits, legends, disasters, movies, plus topics of current and general interest.

Google books online

Google mulls online book future
Google has suggested it may consider setting up an online book store.
Google CEO Eric Schmidt told reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that this would depend on permission from copyright holders.  Article continues

Anatomy of a book?

Some of nation's best libraries have books bound in human skin
PROVIDENCE, R.I. --Brown University's library boasts an unusual anatomy book. Tanned and polished to a smooth golden brown, its cover looks and feels no different from any other fine leather.
But here's its secret: the book is bound in human skin.
A number of prestigious libraries -- including Harvard University's -- have such books in their collections.   Article continues

Short story contest to enter

~Winter 24-Hour Short Story Contest is Just Around the Corner!~
There's only 2 1/2 weeks until the next 24-Hour Short Story Contest! Start time for the Winter 24-Hour Short Story Contest will be 12:00 p.m. (noon) central time on Saturday, January 28, 2005! Participation is limited to 500 entrants. Contests always fill up, so don't delay if you want to sign up! You can see the list of prizes (first prize is $300) and sign up here: http://www.writersweekly.com/misc/contest.html

Communication upwards

The Inside Advantage
Have an important decision to make? Your employees know more than you think. Open the lines of communication and get valuable advice from those who understand your company best.
The biggest challenge in communicating with employees today is not coping with a culturally diverse work force, overcoming the impersonalization of e-mail or battling information overload to get your message across. Instead, it's getting employees to trust you and offer ideas for improving the business.
Read On: >>>

Conversation goals

PLANT SMALL CHANGES, HARVEST BIG RESULTS As you anticipate the new year, some of you will be seeking changes in your health, life-style, and careers. You probably know by now that most New Year's resolutions fail. The main reasons they fail are that goals are unrealistically large and that resolvers have no clear plan to reach their goals. If you want to improve your conversation skills (and thus your relationships), you can do so with a much greater chance of success by following a few simple procedures. Choose small goals, then take small steps to reach them. Making changes in this way helps you to avoid the kick-back effect you'd encounter if you try to make massive changes in a short time. Your current habits have long been anchored in place and resist change. Three Small Conversation Goals That Have Big Effects: 1. Listen attentively without interrupting. Give your full attention to the speaker, then check to see that you understood accurately by giving a short summary. Doing this two or three times each day for a few weeks will install this skill as a habit. As well, people will begin to see you as a great communicator. 2. Use more open questions and fewer closed questions. For example, "What are your plans for the holidays?" is an open question that requires a detailed response. "Will you be traveling to your parents' home?" is a closed question that requires only a "yes" or "no" answer. Similarly, "What did you like or dislike about the movie?" elicits detail. "Did you like the movie?" may get a one-word response. 3. Replace saying "Yes, but . . ." by saying "Yes, and . . ." When someone says something you disagree with, don't make them wrong with "Yes, but." Instead, let them know you have a different point of view by adding, "Yes, and in my experience there is another way of understanding that situation." People who are successful at conversation leave clues. As a professional observer of talk-patterns, I have noticed the patterns that work and those that don't. The three small patterns above are relatively easy to install, and adopting even one of them can make a big positive difference in your conversational effectiveness. Write Mini-Goals and Simple Plans It's helpful to set one or two small goals, then write them down and read them over once each day. For example: Goal: "I give my full attention to what others say and check to see that I understand." Deadline: February 2, 2006 Plan: "I will practice giving my full attention when listening at least twice each day until I can do so with comfort and ease." Partner with Another If you have a friend who is also making changes, you can partner with them and hold each other accountable by checking in from time to time. For example, Joe wants to lose ten pounds, and you want to listen more effectively. Each of you shares your goal(s) and plan, then every few days checks in with "How are you doing with your goal(s)? Use Reminders Because we are so habit-bound, it's easy to forget about what we are trying to achieve. To deal with forgetfulness, use reminders such as wearing your watch on the other hand, or putting a rubber band around your wrist and giving it a little "snap" if you forget. Also, reading over your goal and plan daily will help a lot. You can write your plan on a note-card for review. If you select a few small goals and take small steps to achieve them, please let me know of your success. Meanwhile, best wishes for a wonderful New Year!

Loren Ekroth, Ph.D. is a specialist in human communication and a national expert on conversation for business and social life. His articles and programs strengthen critical communication skills for business and professional people. Contact at Loren@conversation-matters.com Check resources and archived articles at www.conversation-matters.com

How Mass Media May Shape deep reality

How Mass Media May Shape Deep Reality Assumptions? Lung Cancer, Smoke And The Trinity Test
“Though the sources and references in this report from Joe Vialls are hard to verify and check, and most readers will discount such story as paranoid-conspiracist, what I find most interesting is researching and understanding how the reality perceived by millions of people could be indeed be just the fruit of a highly-well-planned social engineering scam and information cover-up.”  Article continues

Dictionary has spoken pronunciation

Dictionary has spoken pronunciation
Your dictionary.com provides definitions, yes, but it also features the Top Word of 2004, a  tool that allows you to write your name in exotic alphabets (Hieroglyphics, Eskimo, and Latin), as well as links to features on the languages of the world.  And, of course, it provides the pronunciation for you to hear.