Nancy Rizzo Physics

Training Directors Forum 2005

Conversations are shaped by the ancient defense mechanism known as the fight or flight response that’s hardwired into every human brain. The fight conversational style is competitive; Pfizer calls this a “win” conversation. The flight style is accommodating, which often involves evading tough issues; this is the “min” style. When I lived in the monastery as a Catholic priest, we had a spiritual practice called the “Grand Silence.” Each evening after dinner and night prayer, we would retire to our cells under a cloak of silence that reigned until after Mass the following morning. It was spiritual time spent reflecting on life, death and one’s relationship to the Divine. A chance to grapple with the dynamic tension between human frailty and the personal call to holiness. While religious reading was tolerated, we were encouraged to spend the time creatively doing nothing. The Roman philosopher, Cato, once said: “Never am I more active than when I do nothing.” Granted, he wasn’t a monk, but he was articulating one of life’s golden truths. In sacred silence, we have a chance to hear an alternative voice beyond our self-serving subconscious. There are certain messages that will only be revealed in darkness and uncluttered space. Those who have the fortitude and faith to wait there are often copiously rewarded. I came to understand how valuable this silence was only after I left the monastery and got married. When my wife and I returned from our honeymoon and began our life of marital bliss, she would, each evening, talk about her day at work, planned projects for the house, the number and names of our expected offspring, as well as an endless array of other wifely concerns. It took about a week before I broke under the barrage of words. “Dear,” I remember saying, “In the monastery, we didn’t talk after dinner; we had the ‘Grand Silence.’” I explained that I wasn’t used to ongoing evening conversations. “I need some quiet in the house,” I whispered. With concern and respect for her new husband, she lovingly replied: “Honey, you’re so damn weird!” What the bleep? is the title of a loony movie bankrolled by former supporters of con-man/guru/shyster Frederick Lenz. Through interviews and examples, the film presents head-turning forays into quantum physics, complexity theory, alternate reality, biological drives, and mysticism. Here's the trailer . I suspect that Dale Dauten and Nancy Rizzo-Roberts of The Innovation Lab modelled their presentation on the movie. Look at the growth... 470 million wireless handsets worldwide; expected to reach 1 billion by 2005. (Gartner Group) More mobile phones were shipped in 1999 than the total number of cars and personal computers together. (Gartner) Wireless handsets will outnumber televisions and PCs combined by 2005. (Dataquest) The Cahners In-Stat Group is pegging the number using wireless data at 25 million subscribers in 2003. The Strategis Group anticipates 14.3 million wireless data subscribers in 2003 and 21.5 million in 2004. Opportunity: eLearning on Devices Ease of Use Yes, there are wild horses in Wild Horse Pass, although they’re on the residential side of Interstate 10. When I hear the phrase “wild horses,” I think of Monument Valley, John Wayne, and a beautiful, fleeting group of mustangs galloping across the desert. It’s good that I didn’t see the local variety. Apparently, they are pitiful animals, one hoof away from the glue factory.

Physics I For Dummies

Physics I for Dummies

Physics

Physics

Physics