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* BFU Weekly Journal *
documenting creation of a
Visionaries Learning Center

Bastiat Free University offers internationally accessible and actionable student-directed learning to visionaries and entrepreneurs.
Your BFU resources are now available without cost.

Start Today
Rediscover the pleasures found in self directed learning.

BFUniv, BFU college, self-directed e-learning, Bastiat Free University


Wednesday, March 29, 2006

School, Business, & Life

I don't usually reference our other journals, but Small Business Motivation, Inspiration & Perspiration has a short entry that may be of value to you.

The basics of starting a successful life are outlined here in three easy points.

Following these three keys will not make you a success.

Not following this simple task set may lead to avoiding success.

A simple fix to some self sabotage.

Quick and easy.

necessary.

Go to the Small Business site and take a look.

Why not postpone failure rather than postpone success?



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Saturday, March 25, 2006

LMS - Learning Management Systems - LMS

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Can't tell your players without the score card.


LMS is an enterprise level e-learning system. School and the supporting tools available in a Learning Management System to the whole organization.

Bureaucracies love acronyms, The educationist bureaucrats provide plenty -LMS is just one of them.

The best of systems would not be noticed, the learning would be intuitive, the efforts as enjoyable as finding an answer to a question that was worrying you.

Self directed learning has that promise - the rediscovery of the pleasures you had learning as a child.

LMS is one approach, but that may be part of the problem, too many discrete approaches.

At BFU we know we have a long way to go.

Our Docebo open source software is better than we are. With our planned full push starting in July we are a long way from a smooth and seamless educational experience.

It is an excuse that our target student is a self employed business person and can figure us out. In reality those students need an easy and self tailored curriculum, something better than what we now offer.

Do us a favor. Head over to the Bastiat Free University on-line campus and register (for free) - let us know what you find frustrating - we will address those problems.

We need to get better, but hopefully we will never be satisfied.


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Monday, March 20, 2006

Why Not You? - By Steve Maraboli

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Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration. Why not you?


Today, many will open their eyes to the beauty that surrounds them. Why not you?


Today, many will choose to leave the ghost of yesterday behind and seize the immeasurable power of today. Why not you?


Today, many will break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present. Why not you?


Today, for many the burden of self doubt and insecurity will be lifted by the security and confidence of empowerment. Why not you?


Today, many will rise above their believed limitations and make contact with their powerful innate strength. Why not you?


Today, many will choose to live in such a manner that they will be a positive role model for their children. Why not you?


Today, many will choose to free themselves from the personal imprisonment of their bad habits. Why not you?


Today, many will choose to live free of conditions and rules governing their own happiness. Why not you?


Today, many will find abundance in simplicity. Why not you?


Today, many will be confronted by difficult moral choices and they will choose to do what is right instead of what is beneficial. Why not you?


Today, many will decide to no longer sit back with a victim mentality, but to take charge of their lives and make positive changes. Why not you?


Today, many will take the action necessary to make a difference. Why not you?


Today, many will make the commitment to be a better mother, father, son, daughter, student, teacher, worker, boss, brother, sister, & so much more. Why not you?


Today is a new day!

Many will seize this day.

Many will live it to the fullest.


Why not you?

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Thursday, March 16, 2006

Everything Worthwhile Is Always The Other Side Of The Merry-Go-Round

It is wonderful to say things that sound profound - but are really meaningless.

It must be wonderful because you hear so many people do it.


I tried one the other night, but got challenged - I guess my friends know me to well.

My friend Tom was commenting on how it was impossible to understand women - but women seem to have men figured out.

I told him it was easy - "men are just a one act play."

Unfortunately Tom asked me to explain that one act play idea. I could have created even deeper hooey - but I just admitted I had no idea - he would have to figure it out.

At least it was easier to understand than women.

This has led me to a stroke of marketing genius.

Have you seen the hot cars with the prestige university license plate frames? Around here it is USC or UCLA. My guess is most of the drivers are working at dad's company or are in hock up to their eyeballs.

Today I came up with a counter stroke. Click on that BFU hat and it will take you to our cafe press site. Here is a great statement that you too can make.

I took one of the baseball jerseys - the one that says:



Bastiat Free University

because I'm too smart for State
And
too good looking for Ivy League


And gave it to an admiring street person.

Everybody he asks for a quarter will get a look at that BFU logo.

Feel free to do the same.

Street people will be well dressed.

Everyone will wonder what the heck is BFU?

And it is an easier counter ploy than buying an old Chevy that was parked on the ocean floor and driving it around with USC bumper stickers.

If they ask where BFU is - just tell them that like all wonderful things - it is the other side of the merry-go-round.


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Monday, March 13, 2006

Google Mars - soon to join with Google earth

This is just so cool, take a look at Google mars.

You can examine Mars with infrared and other filters, and you can see where various space craft have landed and / or are working.

Explore Mars.

Read some of the stories, investigate Mars topography, dig into the background data.

There is a world of information here.

Another world.

Enjoy your Mars vacation.

Now - how many miles is it to drive to Tholus Summit from L.A.?


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Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Universities - Institutions Of Education Or Institutions Of Certification?

We now consider an article on a topic we have already explored from a different vantage point.

This is well written and hits on a significant problem with the existing industrial age educational establishments. The focus is on the humanities as taught at the college level - and the author seems well qualified to issue an opinion.

Bastiat Free University is dedicated to learning rather than certification. That may require a great deal of self discipline as opposed to blindly doing what others have done for centuries.

Rediscover the pleasures - and learning - of self directed education. You can do that at BFU.

This article was received from Tech Central Station as an e-mail. If you find it interesting you may wish to try their free subscription service.

Here than is a quote from the article:

"The correlate of the above trends on the teaching side of academic function has been the transformation of our universities from institutions of education to institutions of certification. Few students in a regular humanities class are motivated by curiosity and the desire to learn and understand. It's hard to blame them: they lack role models who do."


Access the entire article here --> Autumn of the Humanities.


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Tuesday, March 07, 2006

On Understanding Religious Violence

Like reading the preface of a book - a post on A Sovereign Speculator gives a quick view on understanding religious violence.

The post itself is very limited, but it contains a link to a short video by an Arab woman debating with a cleric, The link
is to a quick video clip taken from Al- Jazeera TV, and without any introductory material. This cleric may be a well known extremist to the listeners, we have to make some assumptions.

The video clip does throw some light on the subject of violence and religion.

What makes this A Sovereign Speculator entry valuable is not just the video clip - be sure to read the comments. In the comments a balance is struck against the edited clip by an astute reader.

You will not get the whole story.

What you will gain is some insight into a story that has been presented as emotional sound bites. Like all simple coverage those short emotional sound bites tend to confuse and alienate rather than illuminate.

Most of what main stream media has presented is the equivalent of a book's cover art as used to draw attention. Little real information has been given - and even less balance.

If you appreciate the
A Sovereign Speculator's preface to knowledge - you can now delve into deeper research if you so choose.

Go to This Post about the brave Arab woman and view the clip - read the comments - then consider how little we know of so much.

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Friday, March 03, 2006

The Hawk Perspective

I was walking a trail on a cliff over a bay.

The hawks soared past at my eye level watching the cliff face and lands below - it is a beautiful sight.

Of course to the squirrels and rabbits below the hawk creates a totally different feeling. They scurry from cover to hole as quickly as possible.

The perception of the hawk is also of interest. I am too large to be a meal, and am not seen as a threat. In fact finding the next meal consumes his interest.

It is something we as humans frequently lack - this dedication to the task at hand.

What is it you most want in life - where do your passions lead you?

Dedicate yourself to learning all you can about those dreams that have the power to ignite your ambitions.

If you wish to soar - discover the air currents of self-directed learning.


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"Free" University or Church defined



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