The Amazing Race, then Survivor, followed by Big Brother
I'm not really much into television but that's my preference for the various series, in order from left to right. I think the new seasons have started. At least I know it has for the Amazing Race, the only of the 3 shows I really care to watch. And that's as much because of the places they go and cultural things the contestants do than because of the actual contestants. But this season's teams are all quite accomplished – from former Olympians and NBA stars to successful ‘goat yoga' entrepreneurs (talk about creative!) – each team has a unique talent. Now my fear of heights and lack of interest in eating bugs or drinking whatever it was teams had to consume while in Iceland for this season's first stop would prevent me from ever wanting to pursue applying to be an Amazing Race contestant. But I find it easy to watch because teams can work independently without having to go out of their way to derail another team's game. Survivor, a show I can withstand in very small doses, has a bit too much of a social strategy within the game for my liking. Big Brother appears to be nothing but a social game, thus I find myself motivated to leave the room and make far better use of my time if it happens to be on. Fortunately, I don't seem to be places where it is on.
Along the lines of talent, the Strategic Initiative Leaders met this week as did Program Council. John Harper (banjo player) passed the torch to David Lile who will be leading the Sustainable Natural Ecosystems SI. And Carl Winter (keyboards, singer/songwriter) was able to participate in a portion of the Program Council meeting but was also hosting CE Specialist candidates for one of the positions under recruitment in the Food Science & Technology Department.
The SI Leaders talked about the larger purpose and benefits of having Strategic Initiatives, the value of the panels, and shared ideas and experiences. Program Council heard about the California Naturalist Program from Adina and Greg. If you don't know much about the program, take some time to look into it – it's an impressive story to hear about how it has grown over a short time and Adina's passion for the program is evident when she talks about it and the larger vision. Program Council had an update from Shannon and Lupita about the diversity efforts within 4-H. Nothing short of incredible, and, like Adina, Lupita has a real talent for pulling you into the story and success of the Latino Initiative. Hearing from the leadership of these 2 programs at the first Program Council meeting of 2018 really set the stage for Program Council's renewed commitment to UC ANR and all that it does.
Program Council also talked a bit about the 2018 Position Call process. A few details need to be wrapped up and communications drafted to explain the process both internally and externally but more information will be out soon. It occurred to me that this process brings in aspects of those social games I don't care to watch – a reminder, I suppose, that, like it or not, the social piece is as important and any strategic play.
Tomorrow and Friday is an Invasive Species Summit in Sacramento. Anne Megaro (vocalist) has been quite involved working with the planning committee with considerable leadership from John Kabashima. UC ANR is a co-sponsor of the event.
I won't be at the Invasive Species Summit as I am attending the first session of the CORO leadership program SoCal cohort. The NorCal cohort was meeting in the Davis UC ANR building during the first day of Program Council. It was a bit loud. Keith (CORO graduate) described the exercise he knew to be going on next door as ‘a bit like Survivor' and then described the social aspect of the exercise. When I followed up with Jim Farrar who is in the current NorCal cohort he eluded more to what I would describe as a strategic exercise. So perhaps it is like Survivor, with both strategic and social elements to it and without the voting. I will have a better sense after I watch it tomorrow.
Hard to believe a long weekend is just around the corner. I'll try to use some of that time to hone build some everyday life skills.