South of Sunnyside

Late last night I learned a few things:

1. That the Baskin Robbins commercials are effective (I’m not debating whether or not they’re annoying)
2. That if you’re going to go out at night for ice cream and cake, you should make sure that you don’t have a headlight out
3. That if you do have a headlight out, and you get pulled over, you should make sure you that your registration doesn’t say September 2009, and that your insurance card isn’t from 2007
4. That Fresno PD can be very understanding
5. That ice cream and a slice of cake are much more economical than ice cream cake

There you have it. Knowledge is power, and power tastes like ice cream and cake (and cake).

So, I never started that garden I was talking about. At least, not in the traditional sense of a “garden”—you know, with digging and dirt and plants and water.

But, I did buy this sweet potato at the grocery store several weeks back. I forgot that it was in the basket stand; by the time I found it, sprouts had already started. So, I decided to watch it grow (this is after a week or so).

The best part: it requires no water. Or digging. Or sunlight, evidently.

A few weeks ago The Business Journal posted a story about the City of Fresno’s Twitter account; at the time, the city had just surpassed 500 followers. The article quoted Randy Reed, director of communications:

“Twitter is an important part of the City’s public outreach effort, so I’m excited to see so many citizens linking up with us in this way…I hope that more people will take advantage of technology like this to stay connected to City Hall.”

I was skeptical that the account would provide genuine connection—that it would be used as anything more than a public broadcast. I decided to test the waters with a series of questions about the growing number of chain drug stores popping up around town. Though they didn’t fully answer my questions, I was pleasantly surprised to receive responses.

I’ve had several interactions since—in fact, I seem to be one of only a handful of residents dialoging with the account, even with a list of almost 750 followers. Each interaction is more informative, and response more timely.

Case in point: After posting about dying trees in the neighborhood, I tweeted the link with a question about who to contact. I received a prompt reply; I also received a warning that funds are tight (my response). I called the next day, and on Friday received confirmation that the trees had been evaluated, and that corrective steps have been taken.

Win!

To Randy Reed, I offer kudos for embracing evolving tools for communication.

If you’re on Twitter, follow the City of Fresno.

Earlier this week I let loose on Twitter with a series of posts mocking propaganda attached to the opposition of Obama’s address to America’s schoolchildren. Opposition wasn’t my target; fear-mongering and polarization were. This morning, as I thought back eight years to where I was on September 11, 2001, I realized that I, too, was only feeding a frenzy.

When the towers went up in flames, I was at a Youth With a Mission base in Colorado, preparing an extended trip out of the country; needless to say, security at the airports was tight. I spent the next two months immersed in another culture, separated from the emotional turmoil felt back home.

I hope we never forget those who fell victim to such a horrible act of violence.

I also hope, however, that we learn to stop polarizing our communities, cultures, countries and everyday conversations. In war, or politics, or religion, or economics (or …) we seem bent on painting others as enemies—whether they’re 3,000 miles away, or right across the street.

That’s how I’d like to honor the victims of 9/11: by opening myself up to others’ perspectives, and acknowledging that even when we disagree, we can still be civil and respectful.

I have a long way to go. It won’t be easy. Anyone with me?