My wife Dottie and I are fans of CBS’s The Big Bang Theory—one of the very few TV shows I take the time to watch. Just watched a new show this week—and enjoyed it.

I have a Physics degree buried in my past and I’m sure that I am understanding/picking up some of the physics comments and concepts that are sprinkled in the script that maybe the majority of viewers don’t catch. And the little comments about concepts like Higgs boson add to my enjoyment of the show. But what puzzles me is the show’s popularity. Why? Do you watch it?

The science base of it appeals to me, and it’s well written–but is the general public watching the show because they like the science geek stereotypes, or regardless of them?

Are we further eroding the ability to see scientists as normal, but inquisitive people with interests in science areas? Or are we letting people feel more comfortable with science topics or reinforce the idea that only “out of the norm” geeks do science? (At least the characters beat the old “evil” scientists stereotype from many movies.)

While I’m thrilled to see a show with a quantum physics foundation to it, I don’t know to be happy or sad that others are watching it enough to make it a hit. What’s your take?

I remember pretty vividly the first teleconference back in the early 80’s that I was part of with people around the country connected through these new 300 baud modems dialed up through the phone lines. (For comparison, base level internet connections now come at about 1 Mbps, or megabits/sec– that at 1,000,000 bits per sec was incomprehensible in our day. We were excited when 1500 baud modems came out!

That first teleconference had about 20 people, we all introduced ourselves, and then had an incredibly slow conversation watching each other type comments on the screen at the speed of a very slow teletype. The moderator indicated your turn with a “ga” for go-ahead, to which you entered your comment trying to type as fast as you could to keep the conversation going. Yet, teleconferencing was still enthralling from this new idea of communicating through the computer connectivity. Everyone knew each other’s identity and the comments were polite and respectful.

Then, as a part-time developer of educational materials for Apple Computer, networking grew to the AppleLink network they had developed for communication with their developers. Many developers, like myself, were around the country working under contract and could easily communicate without regard to time or geographic distances. Apple set AppleLink free after awhile and it become America Online (AOL). I became a forum leader, managing conversations on the topic of computer use in classrooms. (And no, when AOL went public and all of us were offered stock at $10/share as a struggling private school teacher I didn’t buy any—but don’t get me started on my lost opportunity!)

It is when I was an AOL forum leader that I first experienced the way in which writing to a computer could bring out the worst in some people. A vitriolic posting would come by, someone would respond—maybe even trying to soften the writer to the issue, followed by an even more vitriolic posting. It became too common and acquired an identity called “flaming.” And this was often when the online community was small enough that most people were identifiable to one another.

Now there is the anonymity of blog posting and online comments. Sadly I see the unpleasant tendency of some people going even further negative than the old “flaming” messages—so much so that the editor of the Dispatch chose to write about it in a recent column.

I’ve been surveying the comments to not only recent articles about COSI, but other community issues. If I didn’t have a broader perspective I’d think Columbus is only populated by angry individuals ready to lash out at anything that they can set their sights on. A few sturdy and solid souls will work to balance the comments—thank goodness.

I miss the days when the online community was just evolving and more congenial and respectful.
But I thank, big time, the readers of my blog for your courtesy and thoughtful postings and comments—maybe we can sustain this little oasis of civility where differences of opinion can still be shared with respect. THANKS!

The mood of this town seems to rise and fall with OSU sports. Thankfully a great Rose Bowl experience has everyone in a good mood!

There are other ways to feel good related to OSU, some linked to the COSI partnership. Once a year COSI is rented for the evening and opened to OSU students, faculty, and their families. We just hosted that this last weekend with some notable success.

And this year there was more underlying foundation to the evening as there is a growing OSU “footprint” at COSI—WOSU, Center for Family Research, now the Labs in Life, other research locations within COSI and affiliated OSU involved partnerships like Metro School classes and Ohio STEM Learning Network offices and activities.

So it was great to see over 5500 people in the building last Friday evening enjoying and better connecting with OSU’s COSI partner. As there is more talk about retaining and attracting professionals to Columbus, COSI is being mentioned more as an asset in this. Responses like we saw last Friday might be an indicator that that is so—or it was a slow activity night in Columbus We’re trying to figure that out, as well as our larger role in that endeavor.

Do you think that COSI has any value in engaging and encouraging young professionals, such as OSU students and faculty? Are there other ways for us to connect to the creative student base and workforce in this town?

I’m always trying to learn from museum colleagues as we all try to meet our community’s needs in a sustainable fashion. Spending time in Providence with our youngest daughter she introduced me to the Providence Childrens Museum. As a social worker she uses the museum with the children she works with and has a high opinion of it.

Meeting their long term Executive Director, Janice O’Donnell, I found it intriguing as to how deeply they had built their services for families. They have the most extensive social services collaboration I’m aware of–a testament to a museum seeing community needs they could fill with core competencies.

Talking with Janice, who has been there 30 years, it was interesting how both of us are still figuring out the optimum ways to run our museums and serve our communities. But they’ve done a good job with
what I can see. Check out their website and definitely stop in of you are in the fun city of Providence!!

Couldn’t help but notice the news item that there are now support groups forming for teens that are “addicted” to Facebook at the expense of everything else.

A minor area, but one that is on my mind are all the fancy e-cards I’m receiving from colleagues. They require you to go to a link, click on the card, watch an animation, etc.

In all honesty, I watched one and decided that I just don’t have the time. Prioritizing time seems even more important now with all the ways in which the coolest latest “techie” thing comes along to suck up more time. (Reminds me of when computers first came out with word processors that gave you the capacity to change fonts, style types, etc. One study showed that there was an immediate drop in productivity as workers explored all the layout functions and features.)

So I note that a friend or colleague has sent something, and leave it at that.

Therefore, for those of you who take a few minutes to follow my blog, the simple e-card below is my simple, quick way to wish everyone Happy Holidays! (BTW—the image is from the Science Spectrum sculpture dedicated to COSI’s late CEO, Roy Shafer).

COSI draws its support from a variety of sources. Plus we fulfill our mission and serve our community through on-site visits, programs for schools, families, and groups, outreach physically and electronically (through the largest outreach program in the country serving between 300,000 and 400,000 depending on the year), and our intense teen opportunities –from volunteering to programs like COSI Academy offering connectivity with STEM professionals and behind the scenes at their labs.

But people still identify us mostly with our general visitation and the experiences they have as families—particularly around holiday and school break visits to COSI. And without endowment and steady public support a significant part of our revenue still hinges on earned revenue from our attendance revenue (one time or memberships).

So I get anxious around these time periods when schools are out, families and couples are looking for something to do, and we hope that we are a choice for their quality time together (or for the cook getting the brood out of the house while preparing the holiday feast!

I’m traveling with our family scattered over the eastern United States, but we use Yammer to report out daily the attendance for the day. And twice a week, an updated spreadsheet is sent out updating our attendance and attendance revenue totals.

So I have my iPhone and my Yammer ap with me and I’ll be imagining large crowds enjoying themselves at COSI every day and then with nervous anticipation comparing my wishes to reality every night! Such is the life of a museum CEO at this time of the year.