New Ideas in Print

The December 2007 issue of the Utne Reader magazine, ( http://Utne.com ), listed a number of new print magazines and online zines they deemed worthy of note. I reviewed a few and was quite interested in both the varied subjects covered and in how they organize and share knowledge.

These days it takes a lot of courage to put out a print anything. The Internet has shifted print media forever. Yet, you really owe it to yourself to take a look at these well designed print publications and online zines.

Esopus ( http://www.esopusmag.com ) is one which caught my eye. They describe themselves as follows:
'Published by the non-profit Esopus Foundation Ltd., the magazine has a simple mission: to provide an unfiltered, non-commercial space in which creative people and the public can connect in meaningful, productive ways.'

The magazine and related website include prose, poetry, visual arts, video, interviews and more. I was impressed by the variety of the content and again, by the spirit of those putting the magazine and site together. These publications remind us all to keep speaking up, speaking out and expressing our ideas and opinions. We don't have to agree with each other but we do need ways to be heard. So take a look, enjoy the formats/designs, the ideas, the writing and the continued drive to express.

A Few of the additional magazines listed:
http://www.geist.com/ Canadian culture with a sense of humor
http://www.ninthletter.com/ merging literature with art and other venues
http://www.poz.com/ covering information for those with HIV

Shifting Perspectives

As we begin a new year, we can take the opportunity to begin a new way of thinking. In managing knowledge, as in life, we can choose the perspective we wish to embrace. We can choose to see the world as a place where knowledge is hoarded, people are unwilling to share and teach, and we can choose to see knowledge sharing as a huge and difficult task.

Or, we can shift our perspective. We can choose to see the world differently. We can decide that those who do not easily share knowledge do so out of fear. We can decided the best course of action is not to simply judge the person but rather to understand the fear. Maybe the fear is justified. Perhaps the person believes people have been adversely affected by openly sharing.

We can choose to see the world as full of challenges, as a difficult and harsh place or we can shift that perception and see the world as a huge classroom, teaching us to be the best we can be at every moment. It's a new year, why not make it the best year yet, for knowledge sharing, for developing a healthy culture, for yourself. What have we got to lose.

If you want to see the world in a new perspective, try:http://www.earthcam.com/