What is a "Commonplace Book"
Commonplace books (or commonplaces) were a way to compile knowledge, usually by writing information into books. They became significant in Early Modern Europe.
"Commonplace" is a translation of the Latin term locus communis which means "a theme or argument of general application", such as a statement of proverbial wisdom. In this original sense, commonplace books were collections of such sayings, such as John Milton's commonplace book. Scholars have expanded this usage to include any manuscript that collects material along a common theme by an individual.
Such books were essentially scrapbooks filled with items of every kind: medical recipes, quotes, letters, poems, tables of weights and measures, proverbs, prayers, legal formulas. Commonplaces were used by readers, writers, students, and humanistsas an aid for remembering useful concepts or facts they had learned. Each commonplace book was unique to its creator's particular interests.
So there you have it...! .... and this is mine... actually the whole Web-Site is a sort of Commonplace Book
Ray Ingram
Coaching...It's not about writing songs... It's about learning how to sing them!
21 March, 2011...Fulda, Germany
Yesterday was the last day of the regular season for all teams. There is so much to think about ...! There are lots of positive aspects to Basketball in Fulda ... but equally as many reasons for dissatisfaction. Isn't it strange how sometimes the things we need can prevent us from obtaining (or even seeking) the things we want...? You grow up believing the axiom .. "If you work hard enough and long enough, your efforts will be rewarded.." Then you look around and ask yourself just what exactly does that mean. ... The answer to that one is long and very complex.
02 March, 2011...Fulda, Germany
Pass in Review is a military term but it fits. Standing and reviewing the things you've done...decisions, accomplishments, failures, relationships... everything. An evaluation of where you have been helps detremine where you are... then you can decide where you want to go. This process is something unique for coaches because it's not just about you. Equally unique is the fact that the evaluation of coaches includes how his players play and only coaches really understand how difficult it is to have your performance judged by what others do. It's time to answer the question... "where do we go from here?"
03 February, 2011...Fulda, Germany
I just realized that I have been "somewhat" irregular when it comes to making entries in my book. On the other hand, it is "my" book and I am sure that the missing entries have gone relatively unnotticed. Anyway, much has happened since the last entry. The Houston Trip with the kids last summer was good for me. It had an up-side and a down-side. The down-side was the the health situation and the operation...(which had it's own up-side... finding out for the first time that superman only exists in comic books and appreciating your situation)... The up-side was a reaffirmation in what I do ... and the way I do it. .. I've been in Fulda now for eight months and if I had classify the start on a scale of 1 to 10 ... I'd give it a 7. I suppose the hardest part is trying to get young / potential players to develop an enthusiasm for the game and getting older / established players to respect the game. In the Plans... New Practice Groups and Schedules ... an In-House-League and two Basketball Camps... The next step as well as the future (in general) hinge on the outcome of those three things.
Noteworthy: 27.January, 2011 .... Basketball coaches (who do it for a living) assess their situations. Salary, Management, some Players, or the city... Success, Failure, or just time for a change! The number and nature of things that influence the decisions are many and varied. I've gone through the process "often". I just received an E-Mail from a 12-yr-old. He politely excused himself from Practice on Saturday and asked if it was okay to make it up on Monday at "7:00 P.M" (with the 16-18 yr-olds). No question; big salary and name in the news has an up-side... but ...
12 July, 2010...Houston, Texas
Yesterday I coached a basketball game... that's nothing new.... but it was the first time in a lng time that I felt good coaching a basketball game. My team (on paper) had no chance of winning. The opponent was bigger, faster, stronger and in general just more athletic. They also might possibly have had better basketball skills. But, on this day the young men from Quakenbrueck, Germany played better basketball. They were more disciplined, they executed their offense, they played team defense and they paid attention to detail. They followed instructions to the letter in the last 1:30 of the game... They won 65:63... It was a good feeling.... Einige Beispiele.. (Weilheim-Leverkusen / Wuerzburg-Noerdlingen / Artland Dragons-Schwelm / QTSV (U16)-Oldenburg / QTSV (Damen) - Rostock / UNCA-UMBC / Leipzig Oberhausen) It's rare but it's possible... Now to the task of making it a regular occurance in Fulda... it's possible
06.July, 2010 ... Houston, Texas
Today marked the first time in my life that I had to give in and admit that I can't take care of "everything" on my own. That's what way to look at it. On the other hand, I have always listened to my body and that is what I eventually did... and checked myself in to the emergency room. Now I can get back to pretending to be indestructible.
For a very brief compilation of how I got to this point ....... Some of the statements were taken out of context but it paints a "fairly" accurate picture ..... Newspaper Article from 2008
