1twentyeight — Brad Hamilton

The Buggles were right, way back in 1979, when they sang that videos killed the radio stars. As a child of the 80′s I can remember watching MTV waiting for the next “cool” new video to come out. Videos drove music sales, not the radio. We may have come full circle…I don’t know of many teens today that sit around and watch music videos, but that’s beside the point. The point is, we shape the tools and the tools shape us.

Social media has changed the way we view and interact with the world around us. From Twitter to Facebook to micro-blogs we have shaped tools that allow us to get information more quickly, more succinctly, and more frequently. Unfortunately, these tools that we have shaped to “help” us are now shaping us…with consequences we have yet to fully know and understand.

There are those vices, those addictions, whose consequences are easy to recognize…especially after years of observation. The smoker faces any number of cancers and/or respiratory illnesses. The gambler faces loss of career, possessions, and even family in some cases. The drug addict faces…well, you get the point. But what about the person who, in a quest to know more, read more, and learn more through the tools that power social media, is spending copious amounts of time in front of his/her computer? What happens to, and in, the person that is addicted to Facebook, Twitter, etc.? Even now psychologists do not how to label this type of addiction, much less how to treat it. With smokers you take away the cigarettes, with gamblers you take away the ability to gamble, and with drug addicts you take away the drugs. But what do you do with social media/computer addicts? Can you take away the computer? What will the person do to communicate (email), to book travel reservations, to do research? I’m being a little facetious, but I think you understand where I’m going with this. The computer has become such an integral part of our lives that it is almost inconceivable to contemplate a life without one.

Several weeks ago I came to the conclusion that it was time to honestly evaluate my use of the computer, and more specifically my use of social media. I loved Twitter and the 500+ people I “followed”. I found it extremely useful to find out more about the city I live in, to track releases of software, to understand more about web design. I loved Facebook…the perfect tool for keeping in touch with friends and family around the world. Flickr, Gowalla, blogs, they all had their use and I was engaged with all of them. I knew that these “tools” were impacting me more than they should when I began to feel that I was going to miss something important if I wasn’t monitoring them. When I worked from home I had Tweetie (my Twitter client) up and running the whole time. I checked email and Facebook from my iPhone right before turning out the lights at night and as soon as I awoke in the morning. It all became too much. Honest evaluation led me to realize that my marriage was suffering, my parenting was suffering, my friendships (now that’s ironic) were suffering. A change had to be made.

Here is a sampling of the changes I’ve made:

• No computer before the kids leave for school, except to check the weather forecast.
• No computer from 3PM to 8PM (kids get home at 3PM, go to bed at 8PM).
• No computer on Sundays (it’s a day of rest and family).
• I check Facebook no more than 3 times a day (morning, lunch, and bedtime).
• I dropped the amount of people I’m following on Twitter from 570 (2 months ago) to 182 today. I will probably drop another 80 or so within the next couple of weeks.
• Dropped my RSS subscriptions (blogs, etc.) down to 68, from well over 100.
• I only sit down in front of the computer when I have a task to accomplish. Editing a photo, replying to email, filing an expense report, etc. No more pointless browsing and fiddling.

Is social media evil? No. Are these tools evil? No. I think great benefits can come from the use of these tools. But have we as a society jumped head first into something with little consideration for the long term consequences? Yes, I think so. And while my solutions for handling my time on the computer may be a bit extreme for some of you, I would still ask you to consider, honestly, are the tools shaping you, or are you using them effectively?

I get asked from time to time what I’m doing here (Cardiff, Wales), especially as soon as someone recognizes that I’m from America. So I thought I would take a second and tell the story. Don’t worry, it’s not a long story.

From the time I graduated from university (1997) to early 2006 I worked for a major telecommunications company in America. It was a good job, especially if you wanted to take the opportunities to climb the corporate ladder and make a name for yourself. I taught courses for our internal training department. If you were a software engineer and were looking to move jobs, or gain new skills, you came to us. I traveled a little (in the States) and taught a lot. And like I said, it was a good job.

But I wasn’t fulfilled. I had no interest in climbing the corporate ladder. I didn’t see how that would have any sort of impact on the world around me. So my wife and I started asking questions, to ourselves, to the God we follow, to friends, etc. We wanted to get to the end of our lives and not feel as though we had wasted the opportunities we had been given. And with that, we sold our home, our two cars, and some of our stuff, packed up the rest, and moved to Cardiff. I am unapologetically a follower of Jesus. My relationship with him motivates me to do the things I do and say the things I say. I’m not the guy that’s going to cram my beliefs down someone’s throat, but in order to be true to my beliefs it’s important that you know that our main motivation for coming to a place and culture not our own was that we felt like this is where God wanted us. And I’m here doing what I do because of my love for others…not to save them, not to convert them…but because I’ve been loved, I’m to love others.

Once here I established a charity (non-profit) called CommunityOne. I won’t go into all the details about CommunityOne, you can check the website for those. Essentially we offer services (teaching, business training, web/online assistance) to people that need them. No strings attached. No “you need Jesus” speech. Just assistance where we can provide it. I truly do believe that communities can be transformed through the simple act of helping others. As an initiative of CommunityOne we launched Cardiff Connect in the middle of last year. Cardiff Connect was established to promote individuals and organisations in Cardiff that are doing good for the community. We put up two organisations last year and have a couple lined up for the next couple of weeks.

CommunityOne will be getting a makeover in the coming weeks. We just got back from a six month break in the US and a new start means a new look. Here’s a teaser:

That’s me…and that’s how I got to Cardiff. If you’re curious about anything let me know.

And if you’d like to support CommunityOne you can shop at Amazon.

Two things have caught my attention in the past several days. One, the bizarre story of Tiger Woods and his meeting with the fire hydrant and tree. And two, the news that went out on Thanksgiving that Matt Chandler, pastor of the Village Church, had a seizure and was found to have a small mass on the frontal lobe of his brain which will require surgery this coming Friday. These two stories, on seemingly opposite ends of the spectrum, I can’t help but compare and contrast as I go throughout my day(s).

In Tiger Woods we are reminded yet again that excellence does not mean perfection. He may be the greatest golfer to ever walk the earth, but he’s not a perfect man, nor a perfect husband. We hold these types of men on pedestals that are so high they can’t help but fall. We put our kids in golf camps at the age of three in the hopes that they become the next Tiger. We cheer for his wins and we groan in his defeats. But what he showed us in the early hours of the morning is that he is fallible, that he has issues, that he, just like you and me, is normal. I’m not too concerned about the details of his marriage. I’m not even concerned about what actually happened the other morning. I am concerned that the media, and by default you and I, put so much stock in his life. Why do we care so much? Why is this a story? Because we’ve made much of a man…a normal man.

In Matt Chandler we are reminded that life can change in the blink of an eye. We are reminded, that in all reality, we aren’t guaranteed our tomorrow. In fact, it’s not even ours. I’ve read with great interest Matt’s Twitter updates, Lauren’s (his wife) updates, and the updates given on Facebook by the elders of the Village. What I read in their words is what I’ve heard in Matt’s sermons time and time again. I am of the opinion that Matt is one of the best speakers in America today. He brings passion, and conviction, and compassion, and best of all, the Word of God. If you listen to Matt long enough you’ll come to understand that He places the glory of God above all things. He places it above the church he pastors, the children he has, Lauren, and even his own life. He knows for certain that when Paul says in Romans that God works all things together for our good that the all means even the bad things. Matt knows that this mass in his frontal lobe is there so that he can bring glory to God. Why do we care so much? Why is this a story? Because Matt has made much of God…a great God.

I’m not sure what will happen in the lives of these two men in the coming days. The Tiger story will grow faint and may, someday, be a tiny little asterisk on a fabulous career. The next chapter in the Chandler story will be his upcoming surgery this Friday. I know which story has me on the edge of my seat. It’s not the one that makes much of man, but the one that makes much of God.

Every family has their funny stories, the kinds of stories that make each family unique. Most of time however, these funny stories are only funny to the members of the family. And so it is with my family and the story of “Bako, Bako, Bako!”.

As a child, my wife Julie, would participate in church Christmas programs. These simply consisted of children memorizing lines, and at the appropriate time, walking up to the mic and saying what they had memorized. Most of the time these kinds of things work out just fine, except for the occasional mis-step, which is usually repaired by the nice grey haired women helping out.

Julie went to church with a friend named John Britain Churchill. John was a year older than Julie. John and Julie had their lines memorized, along with all the other children, and when it became John’s turn he walked to the mic and instead of saying something to the effect of “Jesus was born in a manger and came to save the world” boldly stated “Bako, Bako, Bako!” Of course, this was not the line John was to quote. In fact, to this day no one even knows what it means. But we’ve adopted the line and have used it at will in our home. When one of our children asks a question we don’t know the answer to, or don’t want to answer, we simply respond “Bako, Bako, Bako”. When we’re asked what we’re doing for the day…Bako, Bako, Bako. When they want to know what’s for dinner…Bako, Bako, Bako. You get the idea.

When Julie and I planned a recent trip to Chicago I knew that I wanted to take advantage of getting a t-shirt made at the T-Shirt Deli. I also knew that I needed to work Bako, Bako, Bako into the design. And so, I give you the John Britain Churchill inspired “Bako, Bako, Bako” shirt.

In another post I’ll share with you the details of getting a shirt done at the T-Shirt Deli. Very cool place, very cool people, and a very cool process.

I recently attended the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. One of the highlights was the meeting that took place between an African, Jimmy, and his Compassion International sponsor of 19 years. I’ve included the video below. If you’ve never considered sponsoring a child through Compassion International, or World Vision, I’d like to ask you to think about it.

Several years ago my family began sponsoring a little girl through World Vision that is the same age as our daughter. This year we’ve started sponsoring a little boy the same age as our son. For us, it’s a great way to be involved in the life of a child in need, for our children to get a sense that the world is a very small place, and to live out our call to be Jesus in all spheres and domains of life.

More information: Compassion International // World Vision

Ignite Cardiff is happening again. This time it’s being held at the Wales Millennium Centre on Thursday, October 15th. I think Ignite is a really cool idea. Presenters get 5 minutes, 15 slides, 15 seconds per slide to talk about anything they want…although there is a “no self promotion” rule.

Unfortunately I’m unable to attend this year since I’m in the States. If you’re in or around Cardiff you should make plans to attend. Here are two links for you. The first is to the official Ignite Cardiff info page, through Cardiff Web Scene, and the second is my short review of Ignite Cardiff #2.

Enjoy.

Ignite Cardiff Details
Ignite Cardiff #2 – A Review

One of the things I’m passionate about is what I would call a Good Works Initiative. Simply, it’s about doing good works for others. Giving back. Assisting. Offering help. Creating something for the betterment of a person, group, or community. Some, like me, are motivated to do good works because of my faith. Not in some under-handed scheme to get the recipient to convert, but because I believe my faith requires nothing less than doing good for others. Others may not be motivated to do good works because of faith in a higher being, but it does not diminish their ability to have an impact on another’s life.

I’m seeing a lot of this good works initiative as I meet and talk with others and as I crawl the interwebs. Here are a few places I see the good works initiative being lived out: (disclaimer: some will be faith based while others will not)

Help-portrait.com is a group of photographers that will be providing free portraits to those that are less fortunate this holiday season.

I-HEART is a movement of people helping people – showing the love of God in practical ways, wherever need exists. Right here, real soon, you’ll find an online community with the sole purpose of offline action – sharing ideas, being inspired, shoulder to shoulder, part of the solution – transforming local initiatives into a collaborative global impact. But in the meantime, let’s take time to look beyond ourselves and truly see others…Their worth, their needs, their future. Because it’s together that we love… and think… and act. As one, I-HEART. (from the i-heart website)

TheCommon allows individuals to sign up for things they need help with, and then the community matches their respective abilities to help meet the need.

Kiva is a micro-finance organization that allows individuals to supply loans to entrepreneurs in many third world countries.

These are just a very small sample of organizations that are providing the opportunity for you and me to do good, to give back, to better the communities we’re a part of. I would like to encourage you to take part in the good works initiative.

A few weeks before we left Cardiff I found myself getting a bit nostalgic. We attended a community parade and festival. At the festival they had displays from different organizations in the Grangetown community. One of the displays was from St. Patricks Karate Club. During the display they played a song, Brothers In Arms, by Dire Straits. It took me a few seconds to recognize the song since it had been so long since I had heard it. But when I did recognize it I was immediately transported back to the mid 80′s.

When I was 11 or 12 my father bought me a Kenwood stereo system. This was no ordinary stereo. This was a system of separates (amp, pre-amp, dual cassette, turntable, CD player, tuner, remote control) with speakers almost as tall as I was at the time. If I can find a photo of it I’ll post it, but let me just say, it was an awesome behemoth. At the age of 11 I wasn’t real big into music. I was more of a baseball guy. But hearing Brothers In Arms a few weeks ago reminded me of playing the cassette tape of the Brothers In Arms album over and over. CD’s were still relatively a new thing but for some reason my dad had Elton John’s Ice On Fire CD. When I thought of Dire Straits, I then thought of Elton…oh Nikita you will never know. I then thought about the the vinyl version of The Joshua Tree by U2 that I was given as a Christmas present. That album changed how I viewed music, even as an 11 year old. It remains to this day my favorite album.

Since I was firmly planted on memory lane I thought back to things I had long since left behind, but for some reason found myself missing just a little. Things like Keller High School football games, good conversations with my group of friends, camping with Ryan…you get the picture. I guess part of my nostalgia had to do with us getting prepared at the time to leave Cardiff for a few months and return here to the States. Knowing I was coming back caused me think of things that have long been a part of my past.

I then thought about how I would love for my kids to experience some things while they are here in the States that will become memories for them, something that they can become nostalgic about when they’re older. But last Sunday I changed my mind about what I want for my kids while we’re here in the States, and what I want for me as well. I’m not looking for “experiences” for them, or me, to have and remember. I’m looking for relationships that can both change their lives and allow them to change others lives. I’m looking for the same for me.

I’ll take relationships over experiences any day. To invest in others, and have others invest in me, is infinitely more valuable than any trip down memory lane…even when that trip includes the greatness that is Dire Straits.

Most of you have heard of Seth Godin. Rich, marketing guru, who’s written several books. His latest is called Tribes. I liked the book. I didn’t particularly care for how it was written, no chapters, just sections. But overall I would recommend it to anyone really. You don’t have to be in the business world to appreciate it.

For those of you that don’t like to read, I thought I would just give you Seth’s TED talk. It’s an abbreviated Tribes.

Enjoy.

There are certain things that I have a thing for. Me having a thing for these things is what makes me me. Hope you followed that. I wouldn’t say that these things are things that I’m passionate about. I’ve written about the things that I’m passionate about elsewhere. But these are things, some simple, some unfortunately expensive, that bring a smile to my face. They give me that nice little feeling in the place that you get nice little feelings. So, I give you…the things that I have a thing for:

• Moleskine Journals – I currently have 7 Moleskines, each serving it’s own purpose. Here are the first 5 (from left to right):

2009 Pocket Weekly Notbook (soft cover)
Address Book
Large Plain Notebook (my primary journal)
City Guide Journal (Barcelona)
Small Plain Notebook (for taking notes in meetings or when I’m out in the city)

The next 2 Moleskines are my favorites. These were given to me by Julie this past Valentines Day. They are small lined pocket journals. They are from a limited edition made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the font Helvetica. They were made available at a museum exhibition in Japan, and had to be purchased from the Asia Moleskine website. They are still wrapped, and I haven’t decided when, or if, I’m going to open them. They’re just too cool to write in. And I figure if I do decide to write in them it better be something special I write about.

• Pens – For some reason, ever since university, I’ve been on the hunt for the best pen that doesn’t require me to sell my organs on the black market. After all these years I still haven’t decided what the best is, or if I prefer rollerballs to ballpoints. I do know that fountain pens are at the top of the list, but not for everyday writing. A Mont Blanc is on the wishlist, but it will have to be a Christmas present. Here’s what I use currently (from left to right):

Staples Optiflow Rollerball – not great, but can be used in a pinch.
Uniball Rollerball – my most used pen
Waterman Fountain Pen – the special occasion pen
Sensa ballpoint – first “real” pen I owned. Valentines gift from Julie years and years ago.
Parker Profile XL ballpoint – my current favorite

• Watches – For some reason I just like watches. I like big watches, but if they get too big they look funny on my arm. I’ve owned Fossil, Guess, and until recently a Timex Helix, which I loved. I currently have a Tissot T-Touch (stainless steel), pictured below. The glass is tactile sapphire crystal which means that it is touch sensitive. I love the Tissot. By touching certain parts of the glass I can tell the temperature, altitude, barometric pressure, direction (compass), set an alarm, or use the chronograph.

• Type – I’ve got a thing for type…or fonts…or more specifically, the use of fonts to convey a message. I’ve got favorites, but honestly, if you’re still reading at this point you don’t want to be reading about the names of fonts. So instead, I’ll show you a picture of a special find from a few weeks ago. Julie and I (and the kids) went about an hour northeast of Cardiff to a store called Bailey’s (I think). And I found this old type set. It has the complete alphabet, plus numbers and punctuation marks. I think the font is Helvetica Bold Condensed. I’m not sure what I’ll use it for, but I couldn’t pass it up.

So, that’s part of me. The things that I have a thing for.