Former Facebook executives warn social media is ‘Ripping Apart’ human society

Recenly former Facebook exectutives been featured in the media discussing the impact of social media on society.  What are the impacts of social media?   Here’s what the people who helped make Facebook are saying.

I should note that I love social media. We just need to use it with purpose and integrity. I think part of that requires we recognize that getting a small sense of connection and a hit of dopmine from a social media interaction is not a substitute for our deeper need for connection, meanining, and belonging that comes from being part of a strong local face-to-face community.   Part of our strengthening the social fabric of our society requires we first acknowledge that we need community, that we need eachother, and that the void when we are missing it can’t be satisfied in the long term by digital connections.

 

Creative Commons Small Group Resources

My project The Small Group Lab is dedicated to empowering people to strengthen communities and organizations everywhere using small groups.  A primary way we’re going to do this is by releasing small group resources and templates that can be adapted and shared in a wide range of contexts.

We’ll be releasing new resources over the coming months including Creative Commons small group models and session templates can be adapted for your specific context.

Sign up to receive Small Group Lab updates.

What is Creative Commons?  It is a way for creators to make their work publicly available with specifications for how that work can be used, remixed, and so on. The following video explains:

The content contained in this video is available under the Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike License v 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…) unless otherwise stated. The work is attributable to: Victor Grigas, Wikimedia Foundation. Video by Victor Grigas Music by Kate Orange

Announcing the new Climate Workshop Podcast!

climate workshop podcast header

Exciting news! I’ve started a new podcast with my friend, colleague, and internationally recognized climate activist Tim DeChristopher. The Climate Workshop Podcast is dedicated to working through the challenges of the climate crisis from the uncharted to the unthinkable.

As Tim notes on his website:

We’re calling this the Climate Workshop Podcast because we’re “workshopping” the emerging ideas at the boundaries of the climate change discourse, and because we are very conscious of the fact that all our talking needs to be connected to actually doing the work of defending a livable and humane future.

Listen and Subscribe

Below is a SoundCloud player with the introductory episode which covers why we’re making a podcast, the kind of converstionswe hope to share, and some of our background.

You can subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform using the following links.  Want additional news and updates on the show?  Sign up to receive Climate Workshop Podcast email updates.

https://soundcloud.com/climateworkshop/episode-000

100% Listener Supported

We’re funding this project using Patreon, the membership site for content creators. If you’d like to help support the podcast at $1 or more per episode, you may become a patron of the show here. We have our first few patrons which means we have started the journey towards being 100% listener supported.  Thank you for your support, be it subscribing, sharing this podcast, or becoming a patron.

Watch “Slaughterbots” today and help ban the autonomous killer drones of tomorrow

This Slaughterbots video depicts one way drones and AI could be used in the future, the development of swarms of tiny killer flying weaponized robots.  Does that horrify you?  This is one of the outcomes of our advancing technology that we need to proactively work to prevent.  Watch the video and if you are against this development, please take action at http://autonomousweapons.org.

How fast are robots evolving? These robots will blow you away.

I am blown away by the speed at which our robots are evolving.   We aren’t seeing them too much in our everyday lives, but as soon as they reach a critical threshold for agility, balance, autonomous navigation, and safety — BOOM!  They will be everywhere.  I see us approaching that quickly.  Not tomorrow, not next year.  But five years from now I think we’ll see the number of everyday robots in our communities skyrocketing.  Here are a few videos to give you a sense of the trend.

“Our idea is to try and build robots that can do everything that people and animals can do.”  – Marc Raibert, Boston Dynamics.

New Spot Mini

The older spot. Amazing difference between these two videos (above and below)

Atlas now.

Agility Robotics

 

Welcome Show and Tell: UU Congregation of Phoenix, AZ

The average guest visiting a congregation decides if they are going to come back within minutes of being on site.  How we welcome guests is critical!

This is a problem for our congregations with cringe worthy welcome tables,  cobweb covered welcome nooks hidden in dark corners, and in some cases nothing at all.

To help inspire taking our welcoming environments to the next level, I’ve invited members of the UU Growth Lab to join in a little welcome table show and tell.  Additional submissions welcome, see the end of this post.

Here is our first installment! ~ Peter

The UU Congregation of Phoenix

Our first welcome area show and tell is from Janine Gelsinger and the UU Congregation of Phoenix, AZ. Janine serves as their Membership and Welcoming Ministries Coordinator.

Pay close attention to how you feel as you review the photos below.

The Welcome Desk
This is their beautiful welcome desk with Janine modeling being a friendly presence.  I wish I had an animated GIF of her smiling and waving, but this will have to do.

Don’t you want to walk up, ask her questions, and get involved?

The notebook computers on each side of the welcome desk have sign-up forms including name tag request, pathway to membership enrollment, children’s registration, etc…

Temporary name tags and markers for visitors are available front and center!  Look close and you’ll see that they have a golden cup filled with a rainbow of Sharpies.

I love that they offer a rainbow of Sharpies.  Why?

  • Unitarian Universalists LOVE RAINBOWS
  • People enjoy picking their own color
  • If you are going to use guest nametags, use bold markers with ink!
  • I’ve seen many congregations with dry Crayola markers,  BIC ball point pens, and pencils next to their name tags. These are not only bad for visibility, they tell people you  don’t care.

Brochure Rack
Across from the main welcome desk is the brochure rack featuring a wide range of pamphlets. These are available via the UUA Bookstore.

Television Monitors
There are two televisions in the lobby. The one next to the desk, facing the sanctuary, scrolls through quotes relating to the monthly theme.  The side television displays information including new member photos, upcoming events, and photographs of the staff and board.
Children’s Ministry Welcome Table
Outside of the front doors, there is a Children’s Ministry welcome table. This is where parents are greeted by family greeters, sign in their kids, learn what rooms they go to, and get info about children’s ministry events.
What do you think? 
How do these photos make you feel? 
Does it give you any ideas for your congregation?
 
Comment on this post or wherever it appears online, especially in the UU Growth Lab.  Submissions for this series are welcome, as are other Unitarian Universalist growht, outreach, and media focused guest posts.  Before you submit a post, take a look at my UU PLANET guest post suggestions.
Thanks again to Janine!