Paper or plastic? Or maybe digital?

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:55

“There is much more emotional attachment to the paper book than there is to the CD or the DVD…. It is not logical, it’s visceral.” —Mike Shatzkin, The Idea Logical Company

A few years back when I worked in the computer industry, I attended a trade show where the CEO of the presenting hardware company gave a speech on all the great things to come in technology.

In particular, he became very excited talking about a digital screen that would display a child­ren’s book. He explained how it would work and, after a dramatic pause, said, “Just think…if your baby is laying in his crib, you could set up the screen and read him a bedtime story from the other room!”

I remember mostly silence after that and a few questioning...

Read more: Paper or plastic? Or maybe digital?

Sandwich generation now younger

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 13 September 2011 16:32

“...This isn’t real. You know what it is? It’s St. Elmo’s Fire. Electric flashes of light that appear in dark skies out of nowhere. Sailors would guide entire journeys by it, but the joke was on them... there was no fire. There wasn’t even a St. Elmo.... They made it up because they thought they needed it to keep them going when times got tough.... We’re all going through this. It’s our time at the edge.” —Billy, St. Elmo’s Fire

Whoever said “live in the now” has my forever devotion. Special thanks to Garth from “Wayne’s World.”

My kids take great pleasure in thumbing through my old high school yearbooks. Even more so in creating an ’80s station on Pandora, the Internet radio. They don’t do this...

Read more: Sandwich generation now younger

Voices of experience carry wisdom

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 23 August 2011 14:39

“Thing to remember is if we’re all alone, then we’re together in that too.” —Patricia, “P.S. I Love You”

“It all seemed so unnatural—loading up the cars with his belongings. Helping him make his bed in his new house. Both of these brought tears to my eyes. I hugged him goodbye and got into my car. Pulling out of his driveway something happened. I lost it…I sobbed. I wept. I cried until I was done—until there were no more tears. And guess what? I felt better. He is going to do great things and he is ready for this world. I can see this more clearly after allowing myself to cry.” (Parent of high school grad)

These were some of the words that squeezed every drop out of my heart when I read them. I asked a panel of...

Read more: Voices of experience carry wisdom

Remember, stupid is as stupid does

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 09 August 2011 15:36

“Our people are suffering. They’re not suffering so much from the reality of a down economy. The media has pounded hopelessness into them to the point that they are starting to believe that hopelessness is the act of the day. Our people are suffering not because of the economy, they’re struggling with hopelessness.” —Dave Ramsey

Don’t you love Forrest Gump and his mamma? I know that movie is old and has little relevance anymore. But it’s a classic. He’s a classic. A socially inept, underestimated and naive version of what we all wish we were.

I don’t know about you, but I’d give up a few things to be a shrimp boat captain for awhile.

Forrest met a handful of presidents, single-handedly saved his platoon in Vietnam...

Read more: Remember, stupid is as stupid does