Andrew Bird

Principal of Kelburn Normal School in Wellington, New Zealand; 2016 Woolf Fisher Trust Fellowship recipient.
Previously Principal Muritai School 2001-2016

[The Tennessee Holler @TheTNHoller]

LENO: “Usually it’s the truth that winds up getting canceled.”

[Enezator @Enezator]

Mohammed Qahtani, a Saudi engineer, delivered one of the most powerful speeches in history, winning the Toastmasters World Championship. Proof that words carry incredible strength

[Helen Clark @HelenClarkNZ]

Importance of broad cross-party consensus on #NZ educational system’s qualification framework cannot be overstated. That requires consultation, not imposition. #NCEA was 1998 National Govt decision. My govt implemented it. Political football not desirable: https://t.co/8eNqG2D6Nt

[politicalnash @Nach9636]

#ConvictedfELONdonaldTrump lives in a world of fiction @TimothyDSnyder #DemsUnited #DemVoice1

[kira 👾 @kirawontmiss]

the internet was made for videos like this

[eric_c_anderson 🇺🇸 1776 American @eric_c_anderson]

@beinlibertarian China trolls American "re-industrialization". Turn on the sound.

[James Tate @JamesTate121]

Someone asked "Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?"

Nate White, an articulate and witty writer from England, wrote this magnificent response:

"A few things spring to mind.

Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem.

For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace - all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed.

So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.

Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing - not once, ever.

I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility - for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman.

But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is - his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers.

And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults - he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.

There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface.

Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront.

Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul.

And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist.

Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that.

He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat.

He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.

And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully.

That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a snivelling sidekick instead.

There are unspoken rules to this stuff - the Queensberry rules of basic decency - and he breaks them all. He punches downwards - which a gentleman should, would, could never do - and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless - and he kicks them when they are down.

So the fact that a significant minority - perhaps a third - of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think 'Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that:
* Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are.
* You don't need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.

This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss.

After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum.

God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid.

He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart.

In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws - he would make a Trump.

And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish:

'My God… what… have… I… created?

If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set."

[🇨🇦🍁SillyRabbitFaFo🍁🇨🇦 @sillyrabbitfafo]

LMAO This is Canada 🇨🇦

#Trump #TrumpTariffs

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

I was a Head Coach at age 26 and a Principal at 33.

I spent the last two decades living and learning the hard truths of leadership.

Here are the 9 lessons I wish I’d known when I started.

1: Learn the 20-40-60 Rule ASAP

- In your 20's - you worry about what others think.
- In your 40's - you don't care what others think.
- In your 60's - you realize no one was thinking of you, to begin with!

The earlier you learn this as a coach, the better off you will be.

2: Simplicity Wins

Can you explain your "O" philosophy in 8 words or less? Can you explain your "D" philosophy in 8 words or less?

You should. And your players should.

Offense: Spacing, Inside-Out, Shot Selection,
Defense: No Paint, Contest, Rebound. Less is more.

Simple wins.

3: Play the Long Game

Culture Wins. Culture is a long game, but culture is fragile.

Culture is:

- What you allow.
- What you emphasize?
- Every Day.

Focus on your Culture EVERY DAY.

Every decision you make defines your culture.

4: Relationships First

Coaching is about managing and leading people.

And leading people is always about relationships.

Don't lose sight of this. Focus on people.

5: Players not Plays

In pressure situations, do NOT worry about plays.

Focus on Players.

This is still a challenge for me.

It is so easy to worry about a "play."

In reality, players win. Get the ball in the "player's hand who will make the right "play."

6: Give up Control

As a young coach, I tried to control how we played. I coached BB like I coached FB. Play by Play.

I have since learned. Teach kids how to play.

Don't teach them what to do. It is much more enjoyable for everyone. A

nd success has followed.

7: Find a Great Mentor

I was lucky.

I had a 30-year coaching legend as my assistant coach.

His wisdom was priceless. One time, I had a sticky decision with a player/parent. I was grounded on principle.

I was lucky to have my mentor.

8: Connect with Coaching Colleagues

Coaching is hard. The skill set needed to do a good job is incredible.

You are also on an island at times.

Connect with your coaching colleagues on a personal level. The relationships are lifelong and priceless.

9: Family Time

Don't lose sight of your time.

Don't lose sight of your commitment.

Always make time for your kids and family. Done right, raising kids in a coaching household has incredible rewards!

[Mia @MiaWilsonn24]

We need more people like @JosephShalaby_ in the world ❤️

[The Figen @TheFigen_]

You need to learn this ...

[CEO 2 scared 2talk2 media @liedmyway2top]

Since Luxon came to power, All Blacks lost final, Black Caps lost semi final, Crusaders bottom of the table, Warriors not doing well, Singapore PM resigned, Tesla share price tanked, Anzac Day service cancelled and Phoenix lost semifinal. Please keep him away from Olympics team.

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

9 Keys for Coaches to Remember.

1. Simple wins.
2. Less is more.
3. Failure is growth.
4. Culture is every day.
5. Relationships matter.
5. Player-led teams win.
7. The process is the prize.
8. It is a marathon, not a sprint.
9. You are what you emphasize.

[Allyson Apsey @AllysonApsey]

"Empowering others to share the leadership journey is no longer just a choice for principals; it’s an absolute necessity for effective leadership."

New Post:
Principals: It's not you, it's the job. https://t.co/v1kulXvR0G

#WhatMakesAGreatPrincipal #LeadingTheWholeTeacher @gcouros

[Restoring Your Faith in Humanity @HumanityChad]

listen her, have you ever thought this way??

[Historic Vids @historyinmemes]

Pink the Border Collie absolutely demolishes an agility competition

[Hil.i.am @hilaryluros]

Timeline cleanse. You want to watch this. No…seriously…you do.

[John Campbell @JohnJCampbell]

Who are we?

Where are we heading?

And who will we be when we get there?

My year-end politics column.

Please read it (🙏🏽), no matter who you voted for, because - where are we heading?

John Campbell: Are we on the cusp of something new or something old?
https://t.co/TAaEewhHvQ