It is with great excitement and anticipation I announce the birth of the Culture of Yes Flog.
We see the statistics and hear about how quickly the digital world is changing –standing still is not an option. So, over the last few months my team at the Culture of Yes (I understand most people in our district affectionately refer to them as “Kennedy’s Yes Men”), have been hard at work designing our next project. The project idea was put to seed just a few short months ago, when my colleague, mentor and friend, the Superintendent of Schools for the Vancouver School Board, Steve Cardwell, proffered a challenge in his interview with the Vancouver Courier, “I used to have a blog, probably ahead of most metro superintendents. I discontinued it. I find blogs to be not as useful, but I’m moving ahead of blogs. I’ll probably be the first superintendent to launch a vlog, a video blog.” Wow! Now that sounds like a challenge. And, this is the why and how we are here today. Mr. Cardwell, colleague, mentor and friend, I see your VLOG and raise you with the launch of my FLOG.
And, just what is a FLOG?
A FLOG is a fax-blog and combines the innovation of the blog with the safety and security of the facsimile machine. While some see fax machines as the near-dead technology of the early 1990s, like many things that have enjoyed a renaissance revival, I think the technology is about to make a comeback, and I want to be on the front-end of that edge with my flog. Once a week, I will be putting pen to paper, editing my work, reprinting it and then sharing it with the world through the power of faxing an exact copy. If you are willing to share your fax number with me, once a week, I will fax you my latest thinking directly into your fax machine, letter tray. And if you like my flog, please feel free to share it with others. As an added value to this innovative service, I will also be encouraging re-flogging. I hope you will consider sending my flog to others with employing the new old technology — it IS all very exciting.
Further, in the spirit of Twitter, I will also send a Big Fax of the Day. I will handwrite the most interesting thing I hear each day, and again fax it directly to you. Again, please feel free to re-fax to your fax network.
We have lonely fax machines in all of our schools just waiting for this revival, and the hoarding mentality in all of us as educators will ensure we need never (or dare) discard our fax machines, so we ARE ready for this day. As this movement grows, I can also see engaging others and hosting public flogging sessions. I think there would be real power in seeing all our educators engaged in flogging in all our schools and in the community – how thrilling it would be to be part of a flogathon.
Storing your favourite faxes would be simple — no longer would you need to struggle with saving files on a computer, simply take the printouts from the fax machine and store them in a binder for easy reference. What better way to display your engagement in the digital era than with more binders sitting on your office shelf.
Now, I know some of you have not used your fax machine in quite a while, so let’s review some fax etiquette. Always include a cover sheet when you send a fax. If you would like to subscribe to the Culture of Yes Flog, indicate this on one sheet, and then add a cover sheet with the message “Page 1 of 2 – See other Page”. If you hear a busy signal, don’t leave — just wait a couple of minutes and then try your fax again. Once you hear the dial-up modem tone – you know your fax has been sent — but just to be certain, be sure to print a confirmation sheet for further reference. And yes, long-distance charges will apply.
It has been a pleasure engaging with you on my blog over the last few years, hopefully, my flog will take our relationship to a new level and will save the fax machine. Finally, I hope your first day of April is as good as mine.
cultureofyes.ca 
Happy April Fool’s Day! I was tricked for a minute!
Happy April Fools to you to Chris!
604-981-1001
1st number in my file – wait . . .that is my fax number (the one I still have on my business card!)
My first thought: Oh no, he’s not going video, is he? (I enjoy reading your blog!) Then: Fax? He’s going to fax stuff??? For security reasons????? However, it didn’t take me long to figure out the date that was in it…. Nearly as good as our (Ireland’s) beloved http://www.seomraranga.com/ claiming they were closing down…
Thanks Sabine – that is great – glad to know educators in Ireland are finding similar ways to celebrate today 🙂
This is April Fools Day isn’t it?
Bruce – it was hard enough to drag you to Twitter – I don’t think you are ready for flogging yet.
I read and reread your flog post this morning, perplexed to say the least. In fact I couldnt recall the departmnet fax number let alone where it was? Good one Chris! Happy April Fools Day!
Kevin from Winnipeg… .
This new craze may lead to willful snogging – snail mail blogging. A great use for the underutilized snail mail box.
And you would be supporting Canada Post – brilliant!
Brilliant idea! I think that is an idea worth exploring.
I had been toying with the idea of writing a newsletter-style publication (NLOG?), and distributing paper copies. I might need to rethink that plan now! 🙂 A FLOG sounds easier…..no typing…..and it will help make use of those underutilized machines in our offices!
Have a great April 1!
Glad to know there is no longer a need to turn on these pesky computers to receive your words of wisdom!
And to think that we just got rid of our fax machine! Do you think that Apple will come out with a new iFax?
At twice the price!
I have read and could not believe! Yes, good one Chris! Happy April Fools Day!
Sir, you are a true visionary! We have a cupboard full of empty binders at VLN. I am sure Mr. Cardwell would not object to donating them if it will help this important flogging initiative get off the ground. May I humbly add to your rules of etiquette for flogging?
1. As noted, always use a cover page because it consumes twice as much paper.
2. Ensure your paper supply is always topped up so that those budget travel outfits and stationery suppliers can flog you back 24/7. This way, the one way communication of blogging is not simply replicated.
3. Consider flogging all of your confidential and time-sensitive reports. The occasional mis-dial leads to greater transparency; when you are running late, you can claim the flog didn’t get through. (Steve, did you get that report I flogged you on Friday?)
I think there is real promise to this technology!
I appreciate how you see this initiative works on so many levels – I think the use of paper will be a real boost to the pulp and paper industry in BC.
Hilarious!
Long live the fax machine. Can you find a use for some old telex machines?
In the spirit of a good teacher – hold onto them – just in case.
I think you are overlooking something Chris… most fax machines are shared and in public spaces, thus compromising security. A better alternative would be mail… hooray for Canada Post. Please let me know your address so that I can send you self-addressed stamped envelopes… I’m assuming that will be the cost of of subscription to your mlog. Mlogging seems far less intrusive than flogging.
Excellent Dave – it has been too long since I sent a self-addressed stamp envelope – love how you are supporting the Canadian economy.
Chris you deserve a “flogging” for that post!
Haha! Love it.
Enjoyed a good laugh this morning!
I think Ryan from the Office can take this idea to the next level. Why “VLOG” when you can “WUPHF”? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytc9-wGCHW0
Ah – it was the HANDWRITING part that tipped me off – let alone the idea of accumulating paper!!! Imagine the amazing shift folks would have to make – pen to paper! Arrghh – maybe even back to teaching handwriting. Glad to see your creativity is well in hand, as innovation and creativity are key aspects of 21st C learning.
Sue Elliott
Well with the return of “Mad Men” this week, they say retro is in. Good luck! (Happy April Fool’s)
Chris, I am wondering if you have thought of starting a PLOG? Carrier pigeons are often overlooked today, but are quite environmentally friendly and are power outage-proof to boot.
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Great post … had me going for awhile!
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