tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10748656631926336722011-11-28T13:25:38.803+13:00The blog of Philip Patston. Gay. Disabled. Vegetarian. Kiwi. Comedian. You definitely want a bit of what he's got.diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.comBlogger641100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-28126616288022761492008-12-16T07:44:00.003+13:002008-12-16T07:54:19.907+13:00

This blog has been integrated into the new blog and website of Philip Patston, Diversityworks Group and Diversityworks Trust.You can find it here »

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-46229531628364036772008-12-05T17:12:00.003+13:002008-12-05T17:25:31.346+13:00

Curtis at Attitude tipped me off that this thread on Hard News was hotting up - great to see. Thanks Russell Brown for posting the clip and Hilary Stace for the kind words. Bless.I always feel slightly torn when considering contributing to these kinds of discussions around impairment and disability, mainly because the language used is so inconsistent and, in many cases, either confusing or just

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-91993892767338779682008-08-30T11:09:00.002+12:002008-08-30T11:17:08.160+12:00

I recently penned the column, "Fellow ventures", which was originally published in Idealog #16, page 87.There are two Kiwi courses for social entrepreneurs. Will either pay?Read the article here »Idealog :: the magazine and website of creative New Zealand business, ideas and innovation

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-1624993784625093442008-08-30T11:06:00.003+12:002008-08-30T11:48:09.796+12:00

Article in "The Aucklander" promoting "Diverse Dads" forum - see here for more »

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-21125563643017125522008-08-29T16:02:00.005+12:002008-08-30T11:48:50.272+12:00

Today I attended a workshop run by AnewNZ on what matters most for NZers. One of the exercises was to write a personal vision for NZ. This was mine:"My vision is that everything anyone does is done with the realisation that their action has an effect on their and everyone/thing else's being. That people's sense of connection paralyses them - for seconds, minutes, hours, days, even a lifetime -

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-91165466083285881622008-08-21T21:10:00.002+12:002008-08-21T21:14:43.459+12:00

It's been so long that the dashboard at blogger.com has changed.No time to write but last night I was inspired by Maggie Buxton.It's been too long...

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-65904074511328056202008-07-14T20:22:00.007+12:002008-07-14T20:42:37.497+12:00

Red, over at walkingisoverrated.com  (I've wanted to say that "over at" thing for ages) says in a recent post that it was a "shock to me [that] more than half of the respondents of a recent online poll said they’d rather be dead than severely disabled."I commented that they are "great stats to have, backs up what I’ve been saying for at least two years. Over half of people fear functional change/

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-62097580891015562842008-07-14T19:35:00.002+12:002008-07-14T19:49:36.505+12:00

Yay, this blog has reached 1000 visits - a private goal achieved, for what its worth.Even a daily research journal hasn't increased my posting frequency or consistency -- sporadic is as sporadic does.But here's a good news story: a great experience of customer service from TradeMe prompted this feedback from me:Possibly the best TradeMe experience I've had to date. Allyse and Paul, you have a

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-26023632730312396772008-07-01T07:21:00.006+12:002008-12-10T12:11:00.074+13:00

Yesterday I started keeping a daily journal for some research I'm involved in about being disabled and living in Auckland. As I'm far more motivated to do things (in the short term) for others than for myself, it'll be interesting to see if I keep it up for the two weeks. I thought it would be a good opportunity to leverage it and do some regular blogging too, so here's the first entry:Another

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-54977813804497837662008-06-25T13:28:00.005+12:002008-12-10T12:11:00.311+13:00

In January I proffered that even deciding to change the TV channel was an act of leadership. Recently I adapted and developed the post for an article for Sync Leadership. So, in my usual desperation for blog fodder, here's the renewed article:Leadership is often mistaken as a quality that only some people possess. When we look for leaders to lead others, we look for particular developed skills

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-45344729665770226502008-06-18T18:07:00.011+12:002008-12-10T12:11:00.689+13:00

I read a blog about blogging today (go figure), which discussed its pros and cons. One of the cons mentioned was the need to write regularly in order to keep readers interested and returning. Others I've talked to say it doesn't matter whether it's regular as long as it's consistent, so that people know when to return, whether daily, weekly or monthly. Well, I like the element of surprise, so my

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-33354812827135624642008-06-04T21:40:00.014+12:002008-06-08T22:15:08.750+12:00

[Image: www.tv3.co.nz]While mainstream New Zealand agonises over whether pink "Tagger" jackets will suggest taggers are gay, I wonder what the choice of colours conveys about the cop who chose it and, by proxy, all cops – all heterosexual men for that matter. I mean, subconsciously, what was he thinking? Skater boys with spray cans wearing caps and baggy shorts, clad in pink. Sounds like a

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-65459944636818815072008-05-19T21:55:00.006+12:002008-05-19T22:14:23.216+12:00

While I was in Manchester in April I was interviewed by the local gay radio show about being gay, disabled, vegetarian, kiwi and funny...Listen here: Part 1 || Part 2

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-9317731336008939402008-05-11T00:00:00.002+12:002008-05-12T07:44:08.813+12:00

MEDIA RELEASESelf-confessed gay, disabled, vegetarian, Kiwi comedian Philip Patston is prone to reinventing himself – and he's on a mission to change the way the world understands human diversity.He started his career as a social worker, a counsellor, a Winston Churchill Fellow, a human rights activist and a trainer, then became an award-winning comedian, a soap opera actor on Shortland Street, a

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-2511187628304224272008-05-08T00:00:00.004+12:002008-05-09T06:49:16.305+12:00

Presentations by Philip Patston in Newcastle, Oxford, Manchester and Exeter, UK | March/April 2008Kia Ora - that's hello from New Zealand and it's great to be here and greetings from one of your colonies.I've titled this presentation ‘From Whinger to Wise Man’, which is just blatant self-promotion really but it does summarise what I want to share with you. It took about an hour and a half usually

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-39698665346678076402008-05-06T23:48:00.000+12:002008-05-06T23:48:00.463+12:00

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-62214104829229668792008-05-04T15:30:00.000+12:002008-05-04T15:55:08.340+12:00

Recently I had a great discussion about the dangers of children assuming supportive roles with their disabled parents. As a disabled non-parent (as opposed to a non-disabled parent, hehe!), I've witnessed many disabled friends parent children who have contributed differing levels of support. I think there are a couple of issues that are important to explore.Firstly, I think problems occur when a

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-54330865365734478702008-04-30T10:48:00.000+12:002008-04-30T10:49:55.215+12:00

Can you present complex information in a dynamic, lively way?Are you comfortable working with a wide range of people?Can you work reliably and professionally as a sub-contractor and be available at short notice?Diversityworks Group is seeking Expressions of Interest from trainers, preferably with the lived experience of disability, to provide disability awareness training for people in front line

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-13030347598051748172008-04-24T20:25:00.000+12:002008-04-24T20:28:20.659+12:00

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-43402279162916005042008-04-23T23:04:00.002+12:002008-04-23T23:06:07.804+12:00

Peter Drucker - "The only thing we know about the future is that it will be different."

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-89976125647264683012008-04-20T09:43:00.008+12:002008-05-04T15:56:39.788+12:00

It's been a while since I blogged properly and those who have been following are probably wondering where I've been. Quite a bit has happened in the last three weeks –let me do a bit of a plotted history and I'll wind up with a reflective summary of my overseas learning.31 March - 5 April: ManchesterI blogged about the Bodyworlds exhibition, but of course that wasn't my reason for being in

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-65717690066459342742008-04-20T08:45:00.002+12:002008-05-04T15:55:08.341+12:00

On 18/04/2008, at 12:54 PM, darren.bevan@... wrote:Good afternoon PhilipThanks for your query.I can assure you it was a genuine mistake in the processing area and we are sorry about it.It was actually a technical error and I will explain how that happens. We moderate all comments and a large number of words are highlighted automatically when they come in in case the comments around them could be

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-89525732550232930202008-04-16T20:46:00.005+12:002008-05-04T15:55:08.341+12:00

I'm flabbergasted - the Herald censored my tribute to Mahinarangi Tocker.In my original post I wrote: "...my gay, disabled, vegetarian comedian status could never beat her place as a Maori, lesbian, crazy (her words) musician."I just reread it - they deleted "lesbian" before they published it, reducing her to a Maori, crazy musician. She so wasn't.How homophobic. How insulting to both of us. I'm

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-82111636875086591312008-04-15T16:41:00.002+12:002008-04-15T16:59:43.600+12:00

(Image sourced from nzherald.co.nz)There are few people I've known who could outdo me in the minority stakes - Mahinarangi Tocker, who died today following an asthma attack that left her without oxygen for a period of minutes, never let me forget it. She trumped me well and truly - my gay, disabled, vegetarian comedian status could never beat her place as a Maori, lesbian, crazy (her words)

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-89998047720408869892008-04-04T04:25:00.004+13:002008-04-22T07:08:23.259+12:00

While queuing for nearly half an hour this morning to buy tickets for Bodyworlds at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, I was looking at an old Linotype machine on display. While musing that I'd expect an institution specialising in science and industry to have devised a more efficient way of queuing for and buying tickets than traipsing through a temporary, prefabricated building

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-63948513539411360152008-03-30T10:18:00.002+13:002008-05-04T15:56:49.492+12:00

To get a feel of the Forum as we experienced it, check out the coverage at www.socialedge.org

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-91136531725398519212008-03-30T09:59:00.003+13:002008-04-22T07:08:23.261+12:00

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-81177337710539068802008-03-30T07:36:00.002+13:002008-05-04T15:57:14.323+12:00

My great friend Julie McNamara talked about this recently; then I received an unrelated email with a link. Fantastic!

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-84642218506621705002008-03-29T20:40:00.005+13:002008-05-04T15:58:09.971+12:00

After a good night's sleep I feel more able to reflect less emotively on my experience at the Skoll World Forum! Spending three days in the company of some of the most influential changemakers in the world was truly inspiring. The most impacting element for me was hearing the stories of scale and leveraging resources to make wide-reaching, global impact. This is the area in which I feel I have

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-55410978679651832922008-03-29T11:41:00.002+13:002008-05-04T15:56:49.493+12:00

I took time out from my UK tour to answer some probing questions from BBC Ouch...

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-68309937277603240072008-03-29T11:10:00.002+13:002008-05-04T15:56:49.495+12:00

I've been asked for more information about the result of my meeting with Skoll management about wheelchair access: "What action has been taken and is everybody at the conference now educated from that moment of opportunity and enlightenment? Or was it a one to one hushed apology on the sidelines and we’re now all buddy buddy?"Well no, a public announcement was not made and in the circumstances I

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-78622817880940465122008-03-29T04:08:00.012+13:002008-05-04T15:56:49.496+12:00

Having just emerged from the Closing Plenary of the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship, I feel a sense of depression and hopelessness that I've not felt for many years. I'm left questioning my own purpose and motivation, even the value of the work I do. I'm struck with an incredible sense of irony and, despite all this, I have an overwhelming trust that everything will be ok - for me at

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-82253228357032633702008-03-27T23:36:00.004+13:002008-05-04T15:56:49.497+12:00

I've always thought it's possible to change the past. This morning I've had evidence of that.I used my experience of last night to introduce a workshop on Experiential Diversity - it set the scene perfectly. Then I had a very constructive conversation with Liz Nelson, Development Manager of the Skoll Center at Oxford, about access at this and future World Forums. In the space of two hours, last

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-78178606415776800512008-03-27T10:42:00.005+13:002008-04-22T07:08:23.268+12:00

You bring around 800 of the world's leading social entrepreneurs together to celebrate five years of excellence in social innovation. You call it the 2008 Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship. You hold it at the prestigious Saîd Business School at Oxford University.You hold the opening plenary at the Sheldonian Theatre on a cold, wet, spring day in March. You forget to open the only

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-70919868997049814882008-03-25T05:44:00.005+13:002008-12-10T12:11:02.135+13:00

I've not much to say and we're about to check out the local gay pubs of Oxford - three within walking distance (who'd have thought?). So here are a few photos of our trip from Newcastle:Me, cold again, on one of the nine bridges that cross the river Tyne in Newcastle.Claire, asleep at the wheel, somewhere on the M4.Chernobyl?My mate Tim, the SatNav (GPS) - a wonderful relationship, short but

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-56276123819203325232008-03-22T23:08:00.007+13:002008-05-04T15:55:54.018+12:00

So much for regular blogging - my three days of working and hanging out with the folk at arcadea was so intense that writing about it was really out of the question. Even now it's hard to know how to do the experience justice without giving myself an overuse injury. I'll start with a really brief synopsis and then add the contents of an email I've just sent to Vici, arcadea's director.On Tuesday

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-32189833502297134782008-03-17T07:45:00.011+13:002008-12-10T12:11:03.273+13:00

Newcastle, 7:00pm Sunday It's funny how the brain condenses memory. About 36 hours ago (it's hard to be sure after traveling through 12 time zones) we were in Osaka, Japan for 18 hours, marveling at the culture, the people and the orderly way airports and hotels work. Now it seems just a blip in an ever growing landscape of travel stories.To add perspective, we were only in the Hotel Nikko, about

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-56163500229906528102008-03-13T22:33:00.006+13:002008-12-10T12:11:03.425+13:00

It's now 10 hours until I leave for 5 weeks' work in the UK and Hawaii. For the next 35 nights my friend Claire and I will be sleeping on planes, in hotels and on friends' lounge suites on a whirlwind tour of creativity, inspiration and social innovation. Check out my new website, my itinerary below and come back regularly for updates on the trip...16-24 March | Newcastle, UKI take up a

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-76103892234999877602008-03-02T09:51:00.001+13:002008-03-02T09:53:28.363+13:00

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-89881421300718632322008-03-02T09:47:00.001+13:002008-04-22T07:27:40.112+12:00

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-83695876944514848212008-02-26T08:36:00.004+13:002008-04-22T07:41:15.282+12:00

Last week I presented some new work to a group of colleagues and peers and, not to put too blunt a point on it, I stuffed up big time. My presentation was unrehearsed and not targeted at the group of people I was talking to - in fact I had started by saying, "This is an outline of what I will present overseas next month." So straight away I had alienated my audience.At the time I felt awful

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-6599964322836161262008-02-14T21:10:00.005+13:002008-04-22T07:30:23.009+12:00

The foundation of my concept of Constructive Functional Diversity (CFD) calls for the complete removal of any notion of difference or deviation from a predetermined functional norm. The potential of functional diversity to truly change the social mindset is to create one box only, labelled “functional diversity”, in which all human beings sit, stand, lie or otherwise exist. The average person

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-90493205926438424482008-02-02T08:48:00.000+13:002008-02-03T20:58:04.717+13:00

In an address at the launch of ArtVenture 2008, I spoke about my experience of business acceleration from the perspective of a social and creative entrepreneur. I shared briefly my learning that acceleration is not just about speeding up – it’s about first ensuring that the vehicle, conditions and destination are suitable for a faster ride forward. This post expands on these ideas:On a recent

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-58407917003286220492008-01-28T09:49:00.000+13:002008-01-28T11:02:50.137+13:00

Mat says: I like 2008 much better than 2007 already, I just got a new agent, and finished my new play...And another friend told me yesterday that she got a pay rise the day after she heard of 200GR8!

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-19543520221095776442008-01-23T14:28:00.000+13:002008-12-10T12:11:03.601+13:00

Here's a little gem I received by email. It has no real relevance to success or potential, except for serving as a reminder that it's good to unwind and poke a little harmless fun every now and then :-)Download PDF »

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-50115643227897403702008-01-22T17:31:00.001+13:002008-05-04T15:59:24.335+12:00

"The test of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already." - John BuchanLike wisdom, leadership is often mistaken as a quality that only some people possess. When we look for leaders to lead others, we look for particular developed skills and attributes - perhaps extreme competence in a certain area like sport or a technical skill,

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-83800892862528075632008-01-20T12:08:00.000+13:002008-01-21T20:27:19.965+13:00

"The philosopher George Santayana (I think) once said that if you do not learn from the mistakes of the past you are doomed to repeat them. This is true but so also is the following:If you learn from the successes of the past you are doomed to be trapped by them. Success always stops us thinking."Edward de Bono (15 October 2007)

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-76860347043897890912008-01-20T10:13:00.000+13:002008-04-22T07:29:33.357+12:00

"There's a huge difference between positive thinking and constructive thinking. You are standing in a market-place and a car parks on your foot. Positive thinking suggests that you make the best of your enforced immobility. You look around and appreciate the architecture. You watch the stallholders and human nature. You inhale and appreciate the smells. You chat to children who gather around.

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-50964116997824612008-01-19T15:04:00.000+13:002008-01-20T10:09:29.375+13:00

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-1219228817694851442008-01-18T22:52:00.000+13:002008-04-22T07:41:15.284+12:00

Realising potential is dependent on expressing wisdom. Most people think that some of us have wisdom and some don't. That's not true. We're all wise. But some people are better at understanding and expressing wisdom than others. Wisdom is really just the sum total of the experiences, attributes and learning we accumulate through our lifes, individually and collectively. Put together, they offer

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-72588748230727696362008-01-16T09:05:00.000+13:002008-01-21T20:33:37.593+13:00

From an email received:Fostering a spirit of teamwork is critical in times of change. The key element is trust. Trust for the leader and trust for each other.There is a wonderful story from the play, Some Folks Feel the Rain; Others Just Get Wet, that truly captures how people really feel about working together. Here it is...Enjoy!A man was lost while driving through the country. As he tried to

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-28682768913947973042008-01-14T22:32:00.000+13:002008-01-21T20:37:06.510+13:00

From the Mail & Guardian online: President Nicolas Sarkozy's talk of creating a new growth and well-being index for France is part of a mounting global campaign that many economists believe will shape civilisation and democracy in the 21st century. Sarkozy presented his recruitment of Nobel prize-winning economists Jospeh Stiglitz and Amartya Sen to work on a quality-of-life index.Read the story

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-39412216173291522902008-01-13T15:29:00.003+13:002008-06-08T22:11:01.780+12:00

This is my favourite from TED.com:Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining (and profoundly moving) case for creating an education system that nurtures creativity, rather than undermining it. With ample anecdotes and witty asides, Robinson points out the many ways our schools fail to recognize -- much less cultivate -- the talents of many brilliant people. "We are educating people out of their

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-63824162423183209012008-01-13T10:59:00.000+13:002008-04-22T07:28:28.803+12:00

Check out our list of gr8 books for 2008 on the right - have you read any of them? If you have, why not submit a review (just add a comment to this post)? Or perhaps you have read others you'd like to recommend - let us know...

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-46272884528109198822008-01-12T16:48:00.000+13:002008-05-04T15:59:03.702+12:00

Reader LePoet says: "I am gr8ful to be free from an abusive relationship - a relationship where my cre8ivity has been stifled & frowned upon for the last 5 years. I left 17 Dec 07 & haven't looked back!My plans for 200gr8 are to make a comeback as a Performer; develop my photographic skills in taking portraits (eventually doing nudes); to learn to dance the tango - no mean feat when one lives

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-74717381016448723772008-01-12T10:10:00.000+13:002008-04-22T07:40:57.977+12:00

Reader Joyologist says: "I believe in the healing power of humour and art. I believe people perform to optimum in high trust environments where they are rewarded for having fun doing what they love. I have a vision for 2020 that we will be experiencing an intimacy revolution! By that i mean we will be communing at a deep level. I have been able to experience this intimacy with the physical being

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-32700144367874760232008-01-12T07:24:00.000+13:002008-01-21T20:44:11.039+13:00

"I have reached the conclusion that I lack the power to change the world, or any significant part of it. I only have the power to change myself. And the fascinating thing is that if I decide to change myself, there is no force in the world that can prevent me from doing so. It is just my decision and if I want to do it, I can do it!. Now the point is that if I change myself, something may happen

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-70336970603622031642008-01-10T09:23:00.000+13:002008-04-22T07:39:23.995+12:00

For the first time last year I set annual goals and objectives. At the beginning of this year I was able to review them, seeing clearly what I'd achieved and, where I hadn't done what I'd planned, benefiting from the learning I'd gained. This year I'm able to continue last year's success by setting even more focussed objectives to continue long term goals, and change or set new goals that

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-86079352504139399202008-01-09T20:24:00.000+13:002008-01-21T20:53:43.219+13:00

Dylan says:"Happiness is not about having what you want. It's about wanting what you have." - Anonymous

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-85815009349883643622008-01-07T19:55:00.000+13:002008-04-22T07:39:57.279+12:00

Carol says:"It's easy to forget the positivity and hope that fills the world at New Years. Imagine if we remembered that feeling and lived it all year, rather than being sucked into the stress and angst of work and relationships."

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-45161881043410062662008-01-07T19:00:00.000+13:002008-05-04T15:59:24.337+12:00

It's only a matter of moving the "e" to get from "grateful" to "greatful" and back again...The Law of Attraction advocates focus on the outcome we want and trust in the universe to arrange itself in order to create that. The Secret outlines a 3-step process:1. Ask for what you want. 2. Expect the Universe to answer. 3. Be ready to receive what you want.The first two are about creating "greatness"

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-69282308147354256712008-01-07T18:57:00.000+13:002008-05-04T15:59:03.703+12:00

Definitions of grateful on the Web [Source]:feeling or showing gratitude; "a grateful heart"; "grateful for the tree's shade"; "a grateful smile"affording comfort or pleasure; "the grateful warmth of the fire"feeling or showing appreciation for kindnesses or benefits; thankful.grate·ful adj1. having the desire or reason to thank somebody2. giving pleasure or comfort (archaic or literary)Encarta®

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Definitions of "great" on the Web [Source]:relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind; "a great juicy steak"; "a great multitude"; "the great auk"; of major significance or importance; "a great work of art"; "Einstein was one of the outstanding figures of the 20th century"remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect; "a great impact"; "had a

diversitynzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14275115826690082686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074865663192633672.post-65873535338562635842008-01-01T21:00:00.000+13:002008-01-14T22:41:52.362+13:00

200gr8.com is a social and creative entrepreneurial whim. It's one of those organic, creative ideas that one can't quite remember having. It's a hobby. It's a way of one doing something metaphysical to make sure one has more chance of having a good year. It's a social experiment. It's just another .com blog. It's the beginning of a movement. It's made an impact on everyone who has read it. This

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