Long Way Back

Its been a while but the blog is back . It may not stay on the same platform but Andysblackhole is definitely back .

The Tech will still be there as will

• TechForGood 
• NotForProfits CIC
• Accessibility 
• Environment 
• Outdoors.

 watch this space  

#DFN in ultra events aka #atleastyousteppedup

Two friends of mine in different Ultra event event have experienced the DFN (Did Not Finish) in the last week .
The two events the Lakeland 100 and the London-Edinburgh-London Cycling event . The former dropped out after 107km ( 60 miles ?) with bad feet and rubbish weather the latter at 400 miles plus with a knee injury .
Wells chaps bloody well done epic effort . Ultra's are just that "ultra's" no amount of training physical and mental can control what happens . They are by there very nature on the edge (of do'able or lunacy ). To be honest stuff happens . What you have done and tried (and no I wont say failed to do ) is extraordinary . The tiredness the effort that makes you verge on the edge of hallucination is a brave places to visit . In a ultra you visit that place in the bad patches and stay there . The analogy I use is put your your hand on a hot plate and keeping it there .
To call DFN failure is wrong is because the biggest challenge in a ultra is getting your head in the right place to get to the start line . The rest of humanity is #DNS (Did Not Start) .
I heard of the valiant efforts over the early part of the week and reflected on it and then amazing Mike Wesch of the ground breaking (machine is us/ing US)

 

posted the video on his youtube channel .reflections of students from his latest class the video especially the last moments explain about what you gain from going to dark places and then emerging in the sunshine . If youve never been in those places you never fully appreciate the sun on your back

So Both of you Live with decision not the regret , learn from it Regroup and start looking for the next challenge .

I will leave Words from the 24 hours of Moab dirt bike race in the USA describe whats its like ....

"Somewhere during the night you will hear a voice say, "Why am I doing this? I am never doing this again!" Look forward to this voice. Welcome it. Laugh at it. Embrace it. Look forward to hearing it again next year. Just know that it will come and that you will ride past it and be stronger when it fades into the shadows."

-- Chris Tirpak, 4x Sufferer of Canaan and Moab

Youve  heard those voices and learnt to laugh oh so loud at them for the joy of being alive!!
Enjoy the sunshine !!

Great work 

 Yesterday my youngest while on work experience for a conservation organisation working in the urban area of ipswich had his securely locked up bike nicked  . Secure in a locked garage padlocked with a quality lock to a work bench . The thieve broke down the door and sawed through substantial wooden bench to nick the bike .
Well whoever nicked it well done its an expensive bike you will get a £10 down the pub or on the street for .

 

Hope your proud nicking a bike a lad saved his cash for added Schwalbe Marathon plus tyres New Selle seat etc via our lovely friends at Elmys bike shop  to make a touring/sportiv machine. Picture above of said bike on a recent epic C2C.

Well Ive got news for you take a long look at yourself and realise that lad has more spirit than youve ever had .

He will save for a new bike carry on helping other and just doing good . He has learnt the lesson that took me his dad 30 years plus to learn   this little gem from a place mat at the cafe at Lower Horton on the C2C sums it up.

Theyve also inspired me to start blogging again on.

• Tech for good 
• Outdoor Stuff
• Challenge and Adventure

Virtuous square "quadblogging"

As a blogger with chequered history back to 2005 really interested how blogging in the educational context has taken off yet again and a project without doubt the biggest impact currently is The Quaddblogging concept developed by David Mitchell if you dont know what it is watch the video and visit the site at http://quadblogging.net/ and if you like it sign up to be involved.

 

If you need an explanation watch this great video  produced by pupils in Mrs. Yollis’ class in Los Angeles, Mr. Salsich’s Class in Connecticut, Class B4 in New Zealand and Class 2KM and 2KJ Leopold School, Australia: all vetran quadbloggers

 

One small step for a profession a giant step for .................................

Has the world changed and are learners different as usual you decide but this report from the US has kicked off the debate and got me on the blog again. The report "Take a Giant  step ; a blueprint for teaching the digital age has got me on the blog again  http://joanganzcooneycenter.org/Reports-31.html . That @bobharrisonset has via his Stanford links brought this to mine and  twitters attention . No comment from me but worth a read and maybe a reflection on your experience and practice . Thanks as always Bob for sharing and challenging the status quo

Glastonbury Breaks Mobile Data Records

Mobile data at Glastonbury its now an amplied augmented festival pardon the pun .

http://www.mobilemarketingmagazine.co.uk/content/glastonbury-breaks-mobile-data-records

 

CoSN Releases Horizon Report: 2011 K-12 Edition Toolkit

Interested in implementing strategies in education realiting to emerging technology and trends. From COSN New Media Consortium  this is a good place to start

 

http://www.nmc.org/news/nmc/8562

follow up up to report of K12 released earlier in the year http://www.nmc.org/news/nmc/8540