"Can't we just all go out and say things are OK?"

The segment below is from an Associated Press story about the recent financial crisis.

"Meanwhile, new details emerged of a remarkably tumultuous White House meeting on Thursday. With the session breaking up in disarray, according to two participants, President Bush issued an appeal, saying, "Can't we just all go out and say things are OK?" The group around the table, congressional leaders as well as McCain and Obama, spurned the presidential request for a publicly united front."

Someday I'd like to hear a recording, to know if that is indeed what President Bush said.

For now, I will simply say that I'd like to see more courage from our leaders.

Perspective about the financial choices we are facing this week

“Yet our distress comes from no failure of substance. We are stricken by no plague of locusts. Compared with the perils which our forefathers conquered because they believed and were not afraid, we have still much to be thankful for. Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it. Plenty is at our doorstep, but a generous use of it languishes in the very sight of the supply.

Primarily, this is because the rulers of the exchange of mankind's goods have failed through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence, have admitted their failures and abdicated. Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men.

True, they have tried, but their efforts have been cast in the pattern of an outworn tradition. Faced by failure of credit, they have proposed only the lending of more money.

Stripped of the lure of profit by which to induce our people to follow their false leadership, they have resorted to exhortations, pleading tearfully for restored conditions. They know only the rules of a generation of self-seekers.

They have no vision, and when there is no vision the people perish.”

Sound familiar? David Gregory (MSNBC anchor) picked this one out today, and I was thoroughly impressed. This is a passage from Franklin Roosevelt’s first inaugural in 1933.

(This entire post is from a personal email from Mark Gonzales.)

Colin Powell makes a stop in Tulsa

Yesterday I attended the morning session of a "Get Motivated" seminar in our new 18,000 seat arena downtown, the BOK Center.

The ticket was free, and I would not have gone if Mr. Powell had not been slated to speak. I wanted to hear what he had to say, this man who is a career military leader and is fond of old Volvo's.

He spoke of America's Promise, and how "we have no greater responsibility now in America than to make sure that the next generation of youngsters is ready for positions of leadership." He divulged that he is a bit of a tech geek, and is involved in a few businesses in the area of information and technology.

In his talk he noted that leadership is "all about followers and followership." Leaders need to 1) "clearly set goals" and 2) "take care of the troops." He said that passion is infectious, and a leader's task is to motivate and inspire people. He also pointed out that today's leaders need to display moral and physical courage, as well as character and integrity.

He then went into stories about his experience in the military and as Secretary of State.

Mr. Powell quickly glossed over four e's that we need to be focusing on: economics, energy, environment, and education.

He ended by saying that we need to "get back to simply American values" and "build bonds of trust," but that the US still has a strong role in leading change in the world.

Overall I was impressed with the man. He used humor effectively in his oration, and at times seemed like just another guy. There was a female voice at one point yelling at him, and he turned to that part of the arena and said, "Hello. How are you? Thank you," and moved on. The voice from the stands was not heard again.

Had he taken questions, I would liked to have asked him about sitting in front of the UN during that fateful moment in February 2003, and if he indeed thought it was his lowest point in life, how did it fit into his previous words about leadership?

He spoke for 37 minutes, and after his speech I left, sensing that the rest of the day's "Get Motivated" events would not hold much for me.

Listen to your colleagues and patrons!

It has been a year now since I have been working in the world of the academic library, and I have to say I'm hooked. I have had steady challenges, along with the occasional Ah Ha! moment, and I have yet to experience the same day twice.

Two interesting things I have been able to do this last year have been a result of listening to staff. One staff member suggested Playaway audiobooks (think audiobook on an iPod, but the Playaway is a self contained audiobook). We ordered 60 titles, and at any given time about 10-15% of them are checked out (Ok, Ok, small sample size, but it still sounds good).

Another project we are embarking on is Podcasting, and the catalyst here was that a staff member suggested the $100 Podcast Studio kit. This set up includes a quality microphone and a set of headphones that any DJ would be proud of.

To reiterate, staff have suggested very timely and interesting products and services this year. My goal is to write a similar entry one year from now, with students being the group that has provided inspiration.