Return of the UnderDogFerret

Interesting week so far. Begins with a new client looking to turn the post-9-11 Security Industry on its head. An underdog, with heart and talent and energy. Our kind of people. And it ends this weekend with yet another test of wits for our always-favorite underdogs--Fisher Model School.

Different group of kids, different competition from last April's come-from-nowhere Richmond City Mind Games® Champs. This time, it's the regionals of the national First LEGO® League. It's a robotics- and research-oriented competition themed "No Limits" for this year, focusing on the physically challenged. The kids had to design, build and program a robotic vehicle to tackle seemingly simple tasks such as opening doors, picking up a CD and finding your way without sight in a visual-centric world. 2 minutes 30 seconds for their programmed robot to perform as many tasks as possible, for points. Then, a presentation and Judges Q & A to compete for the remaining 75 points. Their presentation rocks.

It's been a very cool and very fun 8 weeks. These kids have learned about sequencing and movement by assembling the frames of their own silent movie and by personally interviewing Special Needs teachers and a variety of disabled people. They get the idea of systems thinking and the power of small adjustments. They know rudimentary sign language and are using it on each other in the hallways (the first txt msgs?). Best of all, they've reduced the perceptive difference between themselves and people they once couldn't understand or hadn't really thought about. Oh, and yeah, that freedom isn't an abstract concept. In their words, their robot "'fuzzy' is about ability, the thing everbody wants and deserves." Wow. Fourth Grade and they already understand that leadership isn't inspiring others to achieve, but helping them to self-inspire. You didn't hear it from me, but who cares if they win... Mission Accomplished.

[UPDATE: Forgot to mention the all-important interviews and "ethnography" above.