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January 31 ‘09
Year One of the Obama
It was Chinese New Year earlier this week. We are now officially in the Year of the Ox. I’m not sure what that means to me. I’ll be the first to admit that I know NOTHING about Chinese astrology and even less about Oxen, but I am familiar with what is reported to be an ancient Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times…” Well, I can’t argue with that. We certainly do live in “interesting times” especially if you are experiencing, as I am, these times as being both hopeful AND terrifying, full of uncertainty AND excitement. These days I have an overwhelming sense of trepidation about the present AS WELL AS unbridled optimism about the future. What’s more, current indications are that our situation is going to become a lot more interesting before this curse is finally lifted.
I recently joined a social networking site called Twitter. The reason that I joined is simple. However the reason that I have stayed and made a conscious decision to become as Twitterer myself, is what has led me to this BLOG.
I joined Twitter because it came to my attention that there was someone who was impersonating me! Actually pretending to be LeVar Burton. Now, I must admit to being no stranger to social networking sites and am certainly aware of the number of “fake LeVars” on MySpace and Facebook and I know you can’t control that kind of thing… but! It really bugged me that this “person” had convinced an impressive number of people following his every post or Tweet as they are known in Twitter Dom, that he was me. So with the help of the good folks at Twitter, the ‘fake LeVar Burton’ got kicked to the curb and I reclaimed my inalienable right to speak for myself!
After lurking for a while (not in a creepy context, simply observing) it occurred to me that I had encountered in Twitter a bona fide community of individuals bound together by common interests and occasionally, ideals. Which brings me finally, to my point. If we are to get through these trying times in which we live, and I definitely believe it our destiny to do so, it is important for us all to remember that none of us is in this alone. It makes sense to me that we are going to need each other to get through this! During a time such as this when monetary resources are scarce, the one commodity we have unlimited access to is the currency of our compassion. It is, I believe, incumbent upon each of us to be willing to extend ourselves to those around us, to support one another through these interesting times. It seems to me that our willingness to engage one another on that level is as good a way as any, to bring a blessing from a curse.
I feel like I have found part of my tribe in my online community, my Tweeple, so to speak. It is my intention, in the days and weeks to come, to lean on my online tribe for the kind of support, advice, and good humor that any man can expect from one’s community. I would like for this website to become, in the fullness of time, my home base. A place where I can connect and interact with those who feel connected to me. The point of view will be my own. I see this as my opportunity to speak what’s on my mind and in my heart.
The way I see it, the Blog will, in time, come to be only a fraction of what goes on here, but more about that later…
… I’ll see you next time… but you don’t have to take my word for it!
LeVar
PEACE
Join my Tweeple →
{ 4 trackbacks }
{ 304 comments… read them below or add one }
Awesome Levar. Keep up the good work.
Levar You are a great man… I love following your Tweets Keep up the great blog.
Can’t wait to see what you’ll post.
I’m happy to be one of your tweeple. Thanks so much for being so willing to connect with your fans. Oh, and thanks for responding to my fan letter that I sent you when I was nine — it made my DECADE and then some.
Very nice. I’ve subbed to your RSS feed. The site is nicely done and not OVER done. Keep smiling! I’ll keep reading!
Lori aka: RedwoodRed - Waterboro, ME
Your sentiments about community are right minded. In this world there is all manner of suffering, but that suffering has a cure and that cure is the path that each of us must follow for the enlightenment of man.
peace
-ernie
Hi Levar,
Loving the new site and keep on twitting.
Fran
“unbridled optimism”? Is anyone listening to the economic outlook? It seems all the speeches are designed to lower our expectations.
It’s been enjoyable to read your stuff on Twitter. Glad to see you blogging now, too.
I followed you here from twitter…been following you for a few weeks now. I’m unbelievable impressed with your optimism, and the way you reach out to your ‘community’ on a very real and tangible level. I have bookmarked this site, and plan to return often. Keep your head up, and looking forward.
My irish ancestors had a strikingly similar proverb.
Looks great. Keep it up.
Welcome to the Blogosphere, Levar! It’s great to see the tech-savvy celebs representing on the Web. I hope you find it worthwhile and fun for a long time.
As I mentioned on Twitter, congratulations on starting up your new blog. I’m looking forward to reading more of your already great writing. Take care!
I completely agree LeVar. Support for the world’s community is the best thing we can give.
Aww, tweeple. My heart is warmed! I do like twitter just because it feels as though we are closer as people. And to feel closer to some of my childhood idols is so much fun! <3
Very nice start Levar, thanks for giving your opinion. I may have the first comment here. I am happy to be one of your Tweeple. If you’d like, we’d love for you to be a special guest at our charity event in LA, http://la.twestival.com send me an e-mail or Tweet if you’d like @cloud79
Awesome blog post!
Love following you on Twitter!
That deliberate highlighting of the word tribe has me to assume you’ve read Seth Godin’s Tribes book. I didn’t know somebody claimed your identity but awesome job in stepping up and claiming yourself.
I have high hopes for 2009
I look forward to checking your blog on a regular basis.
“May you live in interesting times” is bizarrely also a traditional Scottish curse.
LeVar. I have really enjoyed the positive energy you bring to twitter. Keep it up! (@zebtron on twitter)
Well done you for taking control of the “impersonator” situation. There are plenty of people out there in the public eye who don’t think enough of their fans to intercede when this goes on. And of course, the faker’s behaviour could end up ruining your reputation.
The fake is frozen out. Hahahaha.
Layni.
It’s great to see you with a blog now, Wil’s blog has been a great read and I hope you have many funny stories to tell!
This is wonderful to be able to connect to you this way! Be sure to add a twitter plugin to your wordpress blog so people can put in their tweet address, too!
Very well spoken my friend. I joined Twitter to be more social as I spend countless hours on my writing, just to take the monotony out of my day, and what has happened is, I have gained a specific circle of friends in the Tech community that have made a difference in my life. Understanding and getting “Twitter” is all up to us individually. As in life, we take from those that offer us what we seek, and what we seek in life, is ultimately what and who we are. I’m happy to have the community I have been introduced to, and if I can shamelessly plug, I’m extremely happy to be one of the organizers of http://la.twestival.com which is really an extension of the Twitter community I belong to and proves that organized social media can band together to do anything!
For those curious about Twitter, give it a chance, invest in it, and it will be anything you want it to be. Levar, it was a great pleasure to meet you and I hope we meet again soon, hopefully at the Charity Water Twestival event. You have already been an asset to the Twitter community!
-Jim
Welcome to the world of blogs! Glad to hear you regained your Twidentity!
Shayla
Glad to be one of your Tweeps. I wish you much success with your new online venture!
Welcome to the ‘verse LeVar. I’m so glad you decided to start blogging regularly
“Will the real LeVar Burton please stand up?”
My friend, you are absolutely right on about the importance of Community–online or neighborhood–in life today. We have a tremendous opportunity now to be the leading force in change. The difference is that today, instead of leadership being forced from the top down, we are being asked to shape the world from the grassroots up.
I’m thrilled to see how all our social media–Twitter, blogs, FB, you name it–are driving conversation, thought and community action. When you can reach your President through his Blackberry, you know the world has changed in a fundamental way.
Keep engaged, keep it “interesting” and keep connected; that’s my mantra, too.
Regards–
Ed
that was a great first post! welcome to the blogging community and good choice of going with wordpress!
Very eloquent, LeVar.
I recently joined the twitterverse for the common ground, for the thread of humanity and humor which runs through us.
Ultimately, that which is defined in the meaning of Namaste.
I continue to remind myself that fear is false expectations appearing real.
Thanks for sharing your insightful thoughts.
It makes me giddy to see your Reading Rainbow tags being used.
thanks levar. we’re a village.
It makes me giddy to see you using your tags from Reading Rainbow.
Thanks so much for being apart of my family’s life. From Reading Rainbow to Star Trek to posing for a photo with my children. You wrote so eloquently in you blog above that your words have truly touch my heart in that we need to help our families, friends & neighbors in what ever ways we can during these trying times. I’ve been a fan of yours for a long time and following you on Twitter. Looking forward to hearing more from you. Blessing and peace to you!
Hello LeVar,
I share your optimist view of the future, despite these being trying times.
I’ve found, the key to solving seemingly unsolvable problems is perspective (that, and chopping a problem into small parts, which is how you eat an elephant). When seen from high above, even the most insurmountable tasks ahead of us seem insignificant. Looking at the big picture, this world is moving forward. We’re certainly in a better place than we were a hundred years ago. Sure, the betterment of civilization is like a dance, two steps forward one step back, but if you graph the progress the graph goes steadily upwards.
I believe firmly that communication and knowledge is the next big frontier. Websites such as Wikipedia and Twitter encourage discussion and promotes knowledge, leaving a wake of dispatched ignorance. Glad to have you be part of it.
Welcome to the intarwebs. This can only mean that intergalactic mtravel is next.
LeVar — I wish you the best in your endeavours!! It is nice to have nice people around the interwebs.
Welcome to Twitter! I just started to follow you on Twitter and had no idea you’d been impersonated. All’s well. I’m addicted to Twitter.
What a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing it… I have a ‘Tribe’ of my own, and they are both virtual and real life.
We are not alone… nice.
Love and stuff,
Michy
Anxiously looking forward to what this site has to come. “Twitter celebrities” have long since left the list of people I follow as they leave this alienating sense that they just aren’t listening. Like looking into a one-way window.
You are just the opposite. As you’ve said in this post, twittering with LeVar Burton has a sense of community. I love it! Look forward to getting to know Kunta just a little better in the time to come!
Straight from the year of the Ox,
CJKW
Welcome to the blogosphere. It’s nice to have (the real) you.
Signed,
One of your Tweeple
Hi LeVar! I found Twitter through Wil, and you via his tweets. I’m happy to see that you’ve got a blog up & running, and I look forward to seeing what you’ve got to say.
No obligation, of course, but if you’d like to follow me back on Twitter, I’m AliciaWag. I’ve tweeted you, but I don’t know if you saw them, so I’d like to tell you here that I’m a huge ST:TNG fan, and I love Reading Rainbow!
-Alicia
allywag67@aol.com
http://www.thewagband.com <– My band’s site- check it out!
Wow, great first post Levar. You know, you talk about the community on Twitter being a community of people with common interests and ideals. I find that to be sweetly ironic, because I have had a few conversations about you and RR with friends on Twitter since you joined. Many of us attribute a lot of our ideals and values as adults to things we learned from you & from books on RR as kids. So many of my views on life and the world came form the endless hours watching RR, and then spent in the library rereading the books again. I just thought you might like to know that a least a part of the good things you see in people on Twitter is a result of the amazing impact you had on a generation of kids like me. Kids who are now adults raising children and trying to survive these difficult times. Adults who saw Barack Obama and looked past the color of his skin to see him for who he was on the inside, and elected him President. And who helped teach us how to do that Levar? You. So, thanks for all you’ve done, and continue to do. I look forward to being a regular reader of this website.
-@meghan1018
Bravo…and welcome to the blogosphere!
(michlin22 on Twitter)
Been following you on twitter since day 1. Glad you have you aboard. Your TwiT appearance was one of the best episodes yet, and I can’t wait to listen to you, Wilw, and BrentSpiner all talk tech one day. What a fun day that will be. Being almost 30, I watched reading rainbow when I was younger, and TNG is what brought me into SciFi. I’m a fan for sure, and I appreciate all the comments, humor and general good will you project on your twitter posts. Good luck with this new blog, twitter, and all else you do. We, your faithful fans, will always be around.
Whatever you don’t DON’T wish any Chinese a “Happy Niu Year”. Seriously. “Niu” is the Mandarin word for “ox” or “cow” and it seems that EVERY laowei (foreigner) in China thinks they’re the first to come up with this horrid pun.
What are your thoughts on seeing the first black president in our lifetime? I myself and excited at seeing such an event as this. From the end of Communist Russia to the Berlin Wall to the death of Saddam Hussein, there has been a great many events that have detailed my span of life in this world. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on this as well.
Not sure if this made it in the first time. If it did then I apologize for the duplicate post.
What are your thoughts on seeing the first black president in our lifetime? I myself and excited at seeing such an event as this. From the end of Communist Russia to the Berlin Wall to the death of Saddam Hussein, there has been a great many events that have detailed my span of life in this world. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on this as well.
Brilliantly written and in this single entry, you bring hope.
I absolutely agree that in these trying times, we have to join together and remind each other that we are not alone. You’ve done so very well with this entry.
By the way, I’m one of your “Tweeple”.
Stay you, man.
Well spoken, sir. That’s largely why I wound up on Twitter myself. Facebook was inevitable because I and my wife work with college students, but Twitter was a choice. Nice to see you there, too.
I’ve been a fan for years, though I was just past the age for “Reading Rainbow” when that first started. But I remember when “Roots” originally aired very well, and remember getting to stay up to watch it.
Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings…
LeVar,
Great post. May it be the first of many thoughtful posts on life.
The wonderful thing about Twitter is that it can be public without being intrusive. It can reach out to the world without opening up the twitterer (or tweetee perhaps?) to some of the more seedy sides of online exsitence. I’m sure that it will be used for good as well as bad, but right now it seems to be taking us in a wonderful new direction.
Here’s to the next online social revolution. May it help us to become better people. In fact, perhaps it may even help us reach that Utopia that the late great Gene dreamt of all those years ago.
Nikki.
( @aminorjourney )
Glad to be on board, Levar!
You sure got your act together online quick. By the time I stumbled into your “real” Twitter identity, you already had thousands of followers. As we move on through the 21st century, the sky will continue filling with stars and stardust, but real stars will always shine brightest.
Let’s see if this will work this time without errors.
What are your thoughts on seeing the first black president in our lifetime? I myself and excited at seeing such an event as this. From the end of Communist Russia to the Berlin Wall to the death of Saddam Hussein, there has been a great many events that have detailed my span of life in this world. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on this as well.
Very nice for a first blog post. I’m looking forward to seeing more.
I have to admit I’m curious as to what sort of posts the fake LeVar was making on Twitter before you reclaimed it….
Hi LeVar,
Just wanted to drop a note and say how much I enjoy your work and your Twitter feed. I learned to read because of Reading Rainbow, and have been an avid Star Trek nerd for many, many years.
Anyway, thanks for everything. Looking forward to some great blog posts!
-Jason
PS. I feel like you’re a Rock Band player. Do you play any RB?
You caused me to squee with fangirl glee not once but twice with this post. The first time was when I realized where I’d recently heard the alleged Chinese curse (I’ve been watching ST:V this week, and it was mentioned in an early episode by Harry Kim) and the second time was with your closing line, which inspired my best friend and I to start singing the theme song from Reading Rainbow.
It’s been so nice following your tweets, and I’m glad you’ve found a community you enjoy being a part of. I look forward to seeing more of this blog.
Working?
u rock kunta! er i mean lavar.
LeVar, your blog today was fabulous…love the way you write and express yourself. Enjoy all your tweets, and wish you all blessings in this new endevour.
Lynda
It’s a treat for those of us who follow you (and the friends you’ve brought with you) on Twitter. We’ve spent so much time with you, over the years, we felt like we knew all of you already — and you’re not doing anything to make us feel we were wrong. One of these days when you holler “tweetup!” I hope, very much, to be within range.
It’s really wonderful to see this kind of online connection happening to the people I’ve grown up admiring. Major props, LeVar.
Welcome to the Interwebs, LeVar. Glad to see the real you.
My 21-year-old daughter and I had an interesting exchange the other day. She came home early to pick up her 3-year-old daughter, my granddaughter. Reading Rainbow was airing for the moment on PBS.
3 yr-old: That’s LeVar BurTon. [Enunciating the T quite distinctly]
Mom: [Amazed] The baby knows LeVar Burton by name?
3 yr-old: I am not a baby!
Grandma MacSmiley Of course, she does. He’s on Twitter.
When you first reclaimed your identity on Twitter, my granddaughter recognized your portrait on her grandma’s Mac. Meanwhile, her mother is a step behind, making due with the fake LBs on Facebook and MySpace.
LeVar, Happy New Year to you! Wishing you success, happiness, and good fortune in this new year!
We’re all really happy and inspired that you joined us on Twitter. It’s been amazing watching you at CES, Diggnation, and Twitlive within the last month!
You’ve been a great part of the Twitter community, and we’d love to have you as a special guest at Twestival LA! It’s a charity tweetup that will help raise money for charity:water. http://la.twestival.com Come out and party with us geeks.
Awesome post
I had my husband read it because he admires and respects you, yet feels that social networking is pointless and unnecessary.
I’m grateful for all the compassion that you share and your heart to teach our children - yes, my kids have also watched Reading Rainbow. Keep up the good work!
Very, very nice post Mr. Burton. Having grown up watching you on RR, and then later on STNG, it is incredibly refreshing to find a caring, well spoken human being behind the personas shown on those shows.
I, like may others here, wait with bated breath to see what else you plan on sharing with us, your “tweeple”.
Can’t wait to read more of your insights. Thank you for all that you do.
Peace, Love, and Laughter,
-A-
LeVar,
You are so right! it’s great to see you on twitter and always a pleasure to be able to know who’s legit and who’s not…
It’s interesting to see what you’re doing nowadays, and glad to see that you’re keeping busy and wholly involved with making this world a better place. Whereas we miss you from where we’ve known you the longest (Geordi LaForge on Star Trek, Kunta Kinte on Roots, LeVar on Reading Rainbow…wait), it’s always good to know what the people you care about are up to.
Feel free to hit me back on twitter (yeah, I know, out of the other 30,000 people that ping you? Yeah right…), and goot to know you’ve gotten on the blogginl circuit like me and our mutual friend, Wil. He actually gave me the confidence to actually start writing down my thoughts into coherent mini-essays, and…well…it hasn’t worked out very well for me, but Kudos to you and best of luck to your new blog!
Sincerely,
Jay
Welcome to the blogo- and twittospheres, LeVar! Great sentiment, and I look forward to your posts, of the 140-character variety or whatever you’d like.
Are you going to talk Spiner into starting up a blog too?
Hello LeVar,
I share your optimist view of the future, despite these being trying times.
I’ve found, the key to solving seemingly unsolvable problems is perspective (that, and chopping a problem into small parts, which is how you eat an elephant). When seen from high above, even the most insurmountable tasks ahead of us seem insignificant. Looking at the big picture, this world is moving forward. We’re certainly in a better place than we were a hundred years ago. Sure, the betterment of civilization is like a dance, two steps forward one step back, but if you graph the progress the graph goes steadily upwards.
I believe firmly that communication and knowledge is the next big frontier. Websites such as Wikipedia and Twitter encourage discussion and promotes knowledge, leaving a wake of dispatched ignorance. Glad to have you be part of it.
While not a Reading Rainbow viewer (I’m too old), I was aware of it. Roots may well have been the best miniseries to ever grace the glass (tv). But my biggest inspiration of all came from a little tv show that I was first exposed to in 1969 called Star Trek. Every incarnation that Gene Roddenberry was involved with, I cared for like words cannot describe. Later versions lost his vision, but his vision did not die. It is well and alive in me, and other people who know and live the heart of Star Trek.
Now I work for a major aerospace company, helping to pave the way to Gene’s reality. Thanks for inspiring the Next Generation.
Glad to see you were able to get control of a situation with some idiot acting like they were you. Big fan of your work and love following you on Twitter.
Blessings to you and yours…
Well, cool - I’m glad you went online and cleared that up. I was following him, too - which was funny in an ironic kind of way. I heard you on TWIT a few weeks ago - it was great.
Brent’s site is better….haha…just kidding…when’s that book club coming???
You’re awesome, LeVar. I’m glad that in these small ways, I get to share in your experiences. It’s an honor.
Welcome to the blogging community! Glad you chose WordPress. =)
And yet you only follow a small handful of people compared to the thousands that follow you so you really aren’t participating in the “community” you claim to have so fondly embraced, are you?
VERY well said, and I’m glad you made it to the Twitterverse. I do wish it had been under better circumstances, but I’m thrilled to see you there regardless.
Take care!
I am so glad you joined Twitter. I have followed your career through it’s many phases (including Reading Rainbow - I used to make the kids I babysat watch it) and it is nice to get a view of the “real” LeVar Burton.
Happy Tweeting! And Blogging - There’s nothing quite like either one!
crossstitcher
Love it
I’m so glad you do this blog now. I watched Reading Rainbow, then I grew up some and you were on Star Trek which I also watched. Then I grew up and didn’t see you for awhile then I grew up some more and you were on The Soup a couple weeks ago and I thought it was hilarious. Then I found out about your twitter somehow and started following and it is very well written, insightful, and entertaining. Now, the blog. You have been there every step of the way Mr. Burton and it does not go unappreciated. I’ll be reading the awesomeness!
ps. You are one of the reasons I am becoming a teacher!
What a beautiful, generous soul you have! Your thoughts have certainly brightened the day for many, including me. Thank you for being willing to share them with the rest of us.
Kel
I think it’s great you are up and blogging, even if it came via twitter which came via an accident. You are doing the perfect thing by counteracting the fake with your own presence. Not to mention, as I told you on Twitter, you are partially responsible for this poor little girl’s interest in reading and education. I am happy I have been able to (soft) connect with you after all these years. I am even happier to know that you are in fact a nice person in real life, and not just someone who plays nice on TV
- @calinative
Thanks a ton Levar!
Great post. It’s always amusing to see who gets sucked into the Twitterverse.
Humanity is a funny thing. We can be our own worst enemy, or our greatest ally. When we work together, we can find fulfillment, or something like it. (Parenthetically, I’d just be happy if I could find my remote control, but that’s beside the point.)
Good luck on the blog. I’ll add it to my blogroll and check back to see what grows out of this. As an aside, I fell apart laughing with the reading rainbow closing. Great way to close the first post!
because 140 isn’t always enough.. that’s what’s so great about you.. so out spoken and real; genuine and honest.. i’ll be sure to follow both on here and twitter.. thanks for lettin’ us be a part of your universe
Congratulations on the website and the twitter account, I’m subscribed to both and can’t wait to hear what you have to say on any topic.
I’m quite confident that both the blog and twitter will serve you well as you continue to be an inspiration and example to others. Hopefully they will also help you see the positive impact you have on the people who see the work that you do.
Me I was inspired to become an engineer, fixing broken things for years. And after having children of my own I was inspired again as I introduced my own children to Reading Rainbow, to go back to school and I hope to start as an Elementary School Librarian in the fall.
I can’t thank you enough for making both engineering and children’s literacy cool things to be doing.
Hi, LeVar! You’re good to have in the tribe.
Glad to see you on twitter and, now, on your own blog too. I look forward to seeing what you do with it in the future!
What can I say Le Var? You rock.
Wonderful post. I look forward to sharing this interesting time with you and your fellow fans. I’m ever the optomist and expect the best, even when faced with the worse.
Take care,
Mary
Mr. B., had your imitator demonstrated more genuine wit than cheap snark, I might have had more of a reason to pay attention to him.
I prefer your more-direct, unironic enthusiasm and genuine charm. You’re a gentleman.
Well said LeVar. I enjoy your tweets and Twitter is lucky to have you. Up until now I never thought about the support aspect of Twitter but you are so right.. from tech advice to a good cheer-me-up response from someone.. or better yet, TO someone!
Thanks man.
I Love Following you!!
LeVar, I’ve really enjoyed following you on Twitter, and I’m looking forward to reading your insights on this website. It’s so nice to be able to form a community with like-minded people who we may have admired when we were younger (I’m talking about you and Wil Wheaton, by the way!).
Thanks for all the great memories, and I can’t wait to see what you’ll be doing in the future.
Great to see your site. Enjoy following you on Twitter. Keep it up and I look forward to hearing from you in more than 140 characters at a time.
Well said, though would we expect anything less. Thanks for sharing yourself with us.
As I watch my nine year old daughter making sense of todays world, coming to terms with mans inhumanity to his fellow men, it reminds me of how your stunning portrayal of the young Kunta Kinte changed my life at the same age. I firmly believe that the impact your work had on an ignorant world at the time helped pave the way for the first black president.
Bless you Levar.
I look forward to reading more of your posts, sir!
You sir, are a true believer of the human spirit and it is my honor and privilege to be part of your tribe, and to have you as part of mine. We are not in this alone, and we must work together and share our compassion. Look forward to hearing more from you.
Hey LeVar I’m glad to see such a great and respected icon of education and intellect from my childhood reappear with this blog and in twitter.
Hey LeVar! You were one of the coolest guys on Star Trek TNG, and now you’re one of the coolest guys online! I’m glad to see you twittering and blogging!
Glad to see you blogging. I follow you on Twitter, and of course respect and enjoy your work. I really like what you had to say about the value of social networking. Before I joined Twitter, I admit to wondering what the point behind it could be, but my “tweeple” are also members of my professional learning community, and they share insights and information that I have found valuable to my growth as an individual and as a teacher. May your tweeple do the same.
As Alex Haley once said “I found you Kunta Kinte”. Now I say “I found you Levar Burton”.
I’ve enjoyed your real tweets so much in the past weeks. I really look forward to reading what you write here. Also, I think it’s great that, in a way, I can continue to interact with a person who was an incredibly important part of my childhood, both from an educational and entertainment standpoint. I’m glad to follow you online!
Thank you for all your work so far and I look forward to all that is to come.
Cheers!
Beautifully written by a beautiful man.
That was very touching. I always enjoy reading your tweets, and your blog was no different! I’m very excited to continue to read and support in these tough times. I’m @hadak on twitter.
Now all you need is you’re own Podcast and you are all set. Power to the geeks.
LeVar,
I appreciate your message of working together and supporting one another. I work in the Internet Industry, and the “social” aspect that is usually accentuated is how to make money off the community, not the proper aspect of community…love, support, sharing of ideas, and the bonding from which movements begin. I’m glad to see you here and on twitter, and I look forwartd to reading future posts.
On the matter of Tribe…like many of the other folks here, I know exactly what you mean. I’m part of a loose group of podcasters, writers, artists, and, yes, even codemonkeys who refer to one another as Our Tribe. We only see one another at conventions or the odd business trip, but thanks to things like twitter, we keep in touch and manage to remain important an relevant to one another. It’s a great feeling, and one I would not trade to for the world.
Be well, man. Look forward to seeing you around…
Chris
I came along late in my parents’ life - it’s rare for someone my age (40’s) to have had parents who had strong memories of the Great Depression and World War II. People did indeed support, and share, and the common challenge led to people bonding with each other. I have to wonder how some people today would react to having to deal with the kind of rationing that was necessary during that war….
Your point about taking what good we can find in the current tribulations is well taken; I’m tempted to go TrekGeek on you, but I’ll restrain myself. *grin*
Great to see you blogging and on Twitter; I’ve only known you from your work, it’s wonderful that you’re sharing some of the rest of yourself with us.
I think you are a very articulate and eloquent writer. I follow you on twitter and followed you here. I love your idea of recording your Blog. You could publish your blog posts in a book format in a year or two as well. That would be wonderful to read I am sure! I do feel sad for the people who feel the need to pretend to be you or other public figures. They truly need to find themselves. Best of luck in the twitter and blog world. I am 44 and just found both myself this past year. I love following people who truly have something to say. I will follow your blog with anticipation. Sorry I’m so wordy, I am a speech pathologist and it’s a hazard of the profession!
LeVar,
Just wanted to take a moment and thank you for everything you’ve done, particularly Kunta-related. I’ve been showing Roots to my 8th grade classes in rural New Hampshire for eight years now and they are always HOOKED! (As a result, I’ve now seen the series about 35 times. Surprisingly, there is ALWAYS something new that I pick up.)
Thought you might be interested in their latest project - blogging as characters from each episode:
http://kuntakinte.edublogs.org/
Thanks again,
John Fladd
Deerfield, NH
And another blog I’ll be following regularly.
Looking forward to seeing what you have to say!
^_^
~J
Hi LeVar,
Welcome to the Blog Club! I’d love to get the story on that picture you’re using on the site here. Where was it taken? What is the painting in the background?
Cheers!
My wife just pointed me to your blog.. very nice! And you certainly write well. I’m definitely subscribing.
I’m following you and Brent on Twitter as well.
A quick, funny story that has nothing to do with your post but is relevant to you (sort of), so I hope you enjoy it.
I kicked around in Hollywood for a while as an extra, usually booking through Central Casting. One time I got booked on a movie Jonathan Frakes was directing called “Clockstoppers”. A bunch of us were airline passengers bound for Tahiti, so they set the scene by having us standing in line wearing typical tourist clothes.. shorts, floral shirts, sandals.. etc.
During a reset he was just sort of wandering around, and he wandered up to me. He looked me over and said, “Well, you look as if you’re headed to Tahiti!”
I was nervous. I don’t know why. I’d been around. I’d done a bunch of stuff. I’d met many an actor/director/celebrity before. But this man was iconic to me.. this was NUMBER ONE! (”Number one, in my ready room!”)
I blurted out, “That’s right Mr. Flakes.”
MR. FLAKES? Oh my GOD.
He grinned, shook his head a bit, then wandered off to torment someone else with kindness.
If you keep in touch, please let him know the middle-aged guy in the khaki shorts and black socks is not a TOTAL dork. Just partially.
Thanks.
Only the real Levar would use Thesis!
From my perspective as a lifelong pessimist, it is nothing short of inspiring to see such constructive, introspective, and realistic “community” optimism coming from a gentleman of your standing.
I’m glad you have a blog, too. I got pointed at your Twitter account by @wilw so I know I found the “real” Levar Burton. And Twittering links to new entries will keep me coming back (and probably others). Nice first post. I’m going to point people at this one. See you around the blogosphere!
well put
I’m a long-time fan and love your passion for both Twitter and literature. Would you be interested in discussing both (Twitterature?) on my Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast? We’re a Top 10 (UK) and Top 20 (US) Performing Arts Podcast on iTunes, and I’m based here in LA. Forgive the possible breach of netiquette — I can only get in touch via publicist if you prefer, but I didn’t see such a link on here.
Oh, and I vote ‘aye’ for blog readings!
Greetings
I like your blog. I also like the Reading Rainbow Segments you did as well as your star trek role. I am wondering and hoping that the people of Reading Rainbow would produce dvds of shows. I would buy them for my little one to watch, because it sparked a good interest in me. Helped me get into reading and I became a fan of James Patterson, who is also trying to help get people to read. like readkiddoread and stuff.
So many do not know how much book reading, etc., helps. I know it’s much more and better than any game that I’ve played. it sparks the mind to use imagination and to really think, even consider things.
Thank you for your good inspiration.
Hope you continue to do well.
Mr. Burton,
Big fan of your work, esp. Reading Rainbow. Please stay on this track into Web 2.0 and keep building your presence in the tech world.
As an aside, if you have any kind of pull with Bill Nye (I’m sure all PBS children’s hosts get together for a weekly game of volley ball or something), tell him his fans would like to see him be more active on his Twitter account, I’m sure his connections with the beginnings of the green movements and alternative energy, he’d be able to tweet a lot of cool information.
First, I must say that i will look forward to, and enjoy reading this blog. It is quite eloquent, without being too lengthy. Granted this is only a first post, but between this and Twitter, I get the feeling that I can expect more of the same.
You have embraced Twitter, and the idea of online community in what seems to me to be the best, and most genuine way possible. Too often with any “Hollywood types” something like Twitter or even a blog would simply be seen and used as a cheap promotional tool. Clearly this is not the case with you. You will undoubtedly find the rewards of that honesty and sincerity to be far greater than any minor, and temporary boost to any sort of box office sales.
As was indicated by the initial rush of traffic to this site when you mentioned it on Twitter, I see great things in the future right here. I would fully embrace any video postings, or possibly an audio podcast(hint), as well as the recently mentioned book club “Reading Rainbow for adults” with great enthusiasm. Than you for all that you are doing and please keep it up!
Thanks for the comment.
Welcome, LeVar. It’s good to see you around and better to see you taking ownership of your online identity. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do next.
We’re so happy to have you join us on Twitter! And I’m so glad to read your blog as well. I wrote an article on Reading Rainbow recently, http://www.mamapop.com/mamapop/2009/01/butterfly-in-th.html and it brought back wonderful memories. Thank you for your online presence, LeVar!
It’s been great following you on Twitter, LeVar–you continue to be an encouragement and inspiration, as you have since I was little!
We’ll see you next time….
Right?
I really enjoyed the audio version. I did read it at first but then I followed along as you were speaking and it made the experience that more intriguing. Keep it up, you have a great thing going on here! Looking forward to the next time!
The Audio Link doesn’t work with Windows / Firefox. We use Wordpress Audio Player - http://www.1pixelout.net/code/audio-player-wordpress-plugin/
Firefox really hates trying to open new programs.
Just wanted to say loved the audio of your blog. Keep up the good work.
Also definitely took me back in time and watching “Reading Rainbow” when I was younger. That show really got me into reading and reading and reading. In fact, it’s still my favorite passion to date.
Thank you.
Love the “Reading Rainbow” touch. Feels like story time all over again, and I’m excited to be along for the ride of what you’ll be sharing!
Ah, you made me remember how much I miss seeing you on t.v. Looking forward to hearing you again soon.
Mary
Dear LeVar,
I recently joined the Twitter community as well and was happy to see your profile and follow your tweets. It is refreshing to hear from a celebrity who cares about what is going on in the world and our struggle to find peace.
I would like to suggest that the “currency of compassion” must be extended to other species as well as human beings. We cannot go on as a society that sanctions violence against animals, and still expect to become peaceful and compassionate toward each other. The two are inextricably linked. It would be nice to hear your thoughts on this.
As a side note, I like the audio. You have an excellent voice for narrative.
peace
Like Reading Rainbow for adults… Come up with a way I can subscribe to the audio and I’ll be hooked!
As I mentioned on twitter (I’m @ginnedupdame), the audio it totally made of WIN! I do hope you continue to make audio recordings of your blog entries.
That is very nicely said. Your words are written so eloquently and honest. Thank you for your speaking from your heart.
Fantastic! As I said on Twitter: oh my happy heart - LeVar is reading to me again! THANK YOU! there is nothing quite so wonderful as hearing your comforting voice reading to me. Watching Reading Rainbow made me the avid reader I am today - I can’t wait to hear your posts!
Really nice blog. I’m glad you took control of your identity. I find myself enjoying twitter quite a bit as well, and I’m glad you’re there and look forward to more of your tweets (I still feel a little silly saying/writing that, but I’m sure that will pass). The audio version of your blog entry sounds *great* and it’s nice to hear ya. Take care!
Wonderfully executed. Not any blogger can write as well as you have here, and definatly not any of them have could have read it so well. Listening to the audio version is great because the emotion of what you’ve written really comes across to the listener.
You should have the audio integrated into the page so listeners don’t have to open the audio in a new page to read along.
Keep up the great work!
LeVar this post was great! Its kinda awesome to hear voice again after years of watching Reading Rainbow. Is it possible that you can make your audio posts into a Podcast feed? That way people can just download them automatically from iTunes when you post.
I just listened to the audio version of the blog, that is such a fantastic idea! I hope you’ll keep doing that in the future.
Mr. Burton,
I really love your writing style, and the fact that you’ve started your own blog is just awesome.
However, I would REALLY love your blog if you would add some RSS options. I follow you on Twitter, but I don’t always have access to your Tweets. I do, however, keep a keen eye on my feed reader.
Thanks,
Blake
The audio reading was terrific.
Nice post, LeVar.
I thought you might be interested in an online app called username check. It’s appropriately at usernamecheck.com. It has a whole list of sites from facebook to flickr to picasa and vox and the such and is useful for checking if you can have the name you’re known as on various sites. There’s quite a few that show your name as the username, but as you mentioned on Twitter, it’s always possible those ones that aren’t you, could be someone with the same name.
Excellent job, sir! Glad to hear your voice again!
Glad that you’ve decided to blog, audio blog and tweet. I’ll definitely be following along.
You will always be an exciting man to me, Levar! Have been since I saw “ROOTS” then through your many other personnae in your successful career. Hope you enjoy blogging and tweeting!
BIG BEARHUGS
George
Interesting thoughts, and I enjoyed the audio version. Was able to listen and follow some links at the same time, allowing me to completely explore the site without having to sit and read it myself. Perhaps this will start a trend?
LeVarr,
I’m very glad to see that you are back in business as yourself, your influence (mostly through Reading Rainbow) is part of why I became an author.
I want to say thank you for being so open with the community and influencing so many lives
Peace
Beautifully written. Good for you, taking your name back. I look forward to following your blog!
Good Job LeVar, The audio version is really appreciated..I love that.
Following you on twitter is great.
Hope your podcast idea is still alive…
Anyway thanks for sharing your insightful thoughts and opinions with us
I like the audio version. Thanks for creating this blog and for being a member of Twitter. Reading Rainbow was my fav show growing up. So hearing from you again is great!
That blog post was SO SWEET! Having an audio version really helps you connect with your readers on a new level… and it’s especially nice for your blind “readers”. Awesome. Glad you joined Twitter.
Great job!
Hello LeVar! There’s a cool Wordpress plugin that allows you to embed the mp3 file as a nifty widget that one can play, and pause, right within the blog entry. And it won’t navigate you away from this page. In any case, this is a terrific blog post and it’s great that you did an audio version!
Wow… Just have to say, I heard you (LeVar) on This Week In Tech the other week, but actually getting to listen to a monologue is astounding.
That voice… It’s hypnotic.
Keep tweeting, keep blogging, and for the love of pete, please keep reading your blogs. Loved it. Simply loved it. Thank you so much. BTW, Twitter is a great way to connect to media such as NPR. Those folks will tweet right back at ya. I especially like the Planet Money blog/site/Twitter feed. I really feel like those are some of my “tweeple” for sure.
I think this is such a cool idea. I can’t think of the number of times that I have stopped short of reading a complete blog post because I got distracted or followed a link in it. Audio is such a novel idea. Please, keep up the good work. I cannot wait to see where this journey will take us.
Mentioning the Chinese New Year reminds me that the first episode of Reading Rainbow I saw years ago was when you visited ChinaTown in New York City.
Absolutely loved the way you read your blog! Have you thought about turning your audioblog into a podcast?
Looking forward to more
See you on Twitter
I recently came across your account on twitter, which lead me to your website. I was pleasantly surprised by the scope of the work that you do. I think adding an audio feature to your blog is a great idea. I’ll definitely be one oft he many checking back to see how it turns out.
Love the audio
muchly so.
You seem to have grasped the medium, and I look forward to seeing how you develop your claimed corner! I do like the audio style: more meaning comes across from the unpunctuated hesitations and measured intonation than could be communicated by words alone, and it is a compliment to you that I have only (in my limited experience) heard that done as well in one other place: Spider Robinson’s reading of his own (from Heinlein) Variable Star.
As such, I think your reading of classics would be a good idea, and provide a useful resource. Done well, it could (meaning this in the best way) last long, and be a ‘legacy’. Just one caveat: I don’t know how your pace of reading would suit a longer passage. I guess the only way of knowing would be to try, and then seek impartial test subjects!
There’s something very refreshing about Twitter: it crosses traditional barriers of formality, and enables celebs (who are real people, let’s not forget!) to interact directly with the public (more real people) on their own terms. We don’t - although I’m sure there are exceptions - have the agents pouring over every saccharine public utterance, controlling every in and out, nor do we have secretaries writing polite and cold replies to hordes of fans on behalf of their too-busy employer. You get the real thing, in small and manageable chunks. Provided all take part in good spirit, then long may it continue!
J.
Thanks for these inspiring thoughts and comments. I too have enjoyed following you on twitter and being part of your community. I admire your work and appreciate your support of teachers and education. This post made me want to share with you my post from inauguration day because our sentiments so reflect each others. Sorry it is so long.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Experiencing History
I felt a heavy responsibility today as a teacher. History was made as Barrack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president. We began the day with an assembly. All Class III classes had to prepare and recite poetry. Since it was inauguration day we chose poetry from JFK and Clinton’s inaugurations. We’ve been practicing, preparing and discussing these poems for weeks. Talking about the inauguration and its importance. I’ve carefully researched. I’ve been passionate. I’ve questioned and encouraged thinking; I just don’t know if they really understand that they are experiencing history. History was made today at noon and they were a part of it.
We watched Barrack Obama being sworn in and listened to his speech. When we returned to class I asked my students to do this:
Write three things you remember from President Obama’s speech. Tell me why you remember it or why it is important.
I was surprised by their responses. Here is some of what they wrote.
The most remembered quote was “It’s time to get up and brush off the dust and rebuild America.” Several students wrote this. When I asked them what this meant and why it was important they respond “There’s a lot of problems in America right now, pollution, the economy, gas. We need to get up and work together to fix them.”
Other students remembered him talking about, “the men and women who worked to make you and me have a better life.” They wrote that we should remember this part of the speech because we should appreciate what we have.
One student thoughtfully wrote, “Our enemies will be met. I remembered thinking he has so much hope and faith.”
Another was impressed because, “He always said ‘I can.’ I loved it.”
Two themes were mentioned by almost every student. The first was that we have to face our challenges together. They recalled and in a variety of ways summarized the idea that the various problems we must solve as a country (some mentioned the economy, others healthcare) can only be solve if every citizen is working on them. I thought this was interesting because several times throughout Barrack Obama’s speech I was reminded of my favorite quote by Gordon B. Hinckley, “I believe in the principle that I can make a difference in the world. It may be ever so small. But it will count for the greater good. The goodness of the world in which we live is the accumulated goodness of many small and seemingly inconsequential acts.” I have to agree with my students on this theme being memorable from the speech.
The last idea that the majority of my class wrote about had to do with pollution, gas and finding new energy resources. This is a theme they’ve studied carefully in science, so it stuck out to them. However, what was most interesting and frankly made me proudest as a teacher, was the connections they made to their own lives from the speech.
“He said he would help with pollution. I remembered that because we didn’t have recess today because of pollution.”
“He said that we are going to help him with pollution and not use as much gas. Today we didn’t have recess because of bad air. (pollution)”
“He said he would stop pollution. I remembered that because we didn’t have recess because of it.”
“He said we will harvest the sun, the soil, anything to make our world cleaner. It’s important to care about our earth.”
I imagine that years from now when these students are recounting this day in history to their children; staying in from recess due to poor air quality will be strongly connected. I imagine them starting, “I’ll never forget the day Barrack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States. I was only in the third grade. We started the day reciting inauguration poetry in an assembly. Then we had to stay in from recess because of the poor air quality outside. The smog was too thick and unhealthy for us to play in. I remember that because the new president talked about stopping pollution in his speech.”
So, did my students learn anything today? Do they grasp the importance of what is happening? I don’t know. I think there is a glimmer of understanding in some, while others have a deeper grasp. I know today will always stick with me and part of it is because I got to spend it in this classroom, with these students, sharing, observing, discussing. The pressure and feelings of responsibility have only made this day better.
doing a great job! love the new blog. keep the tweets coming.
Excellent post, especially liked listening to you as I read it. I will be back to see whats next.
This is wonderful! Adding the audio of your blog posts is, I think, a great decision. Look at all the comments you’ve gotten already! And I know that for those of us who grew up watching Reading Rainbow, or at least for myself, there is a real sense of calm and even safety in hearing your voice. I felt that when watching Next Gen as well, and is one part of why I wished more episodes had been Geordi centric (besides the character being very interesting anyway).
But I’m getting off track. To return to my previous point, there is a real connection for me between hearing your voice and happy memories of my childhood (I have always loved to read, so Reading Rainbow was always a joy to watch). The fact that you are so willing to connect with your fans speaks volumes about you. Thank you very much for everything you have done, are doing, and will do. Thank you for reading to me again after all these years!
~Maurie (”sherlockfreak” on Twitter)
Glad to be one of your tweeple and look forward to having the opportunity to not only read your blog and thoughts but listen to you speaking them as well.
Well LeVar, you can be sure that I too seek the same in the Twitterdom, which I am finding, feeling better “connected” with more and more Tweeple, I am proud and happy to be a part of the same online community you are.
As a sidenote: Kudos and a sincere and heartfelt thank you, for helping make my childhood better, I’m referring to “Reading Rainbow” how great to be able to thank you personally (well, online anyway)
See you around!
And how awesome that you’ve decided to add audio to your blog! Great touch, adds SO much more to it with that!
Oh, do keep us posted on your progress of public domain classics, I hope that comes to fruition.
Glad you decided to stick with Twitter! Real content by real people standing up to the small number of trolls and spammers who would ruin it for all.
Loved the audio post by the way
Very nice. And glad to be a Tweeple.
I can’t tell you how excited I am to follow you on Twitter…and my wife got a big kick listening to your post.
Awesome! You’ve embedded the audio, that’s great! I love listening to your thoughts. It was great reading it as it is, but it was elevated to somewhere else when I heard you actually saying it. Read your twit about reading Public Domain books and I’m very much looking forward to that. All the best to you, LeVar! You’re officially one of the coolest guys online!
A friend of mine (who is also a fan) said that when he was reading your tweets, he could always hear them as if they were read in your voice. I laughed at him, and we went on with things. Now you do this. Now I’m going to be hearing all of your tweets read to me.
Also, Congratulations on stepping into the digital era and hitting the ground running. If this is any indication of what’s to come, I look forward to seeing more from you. You are an icon.
It’s so nice to read something so well thought out by a celebrity. It certainly beats the celebrity fluff I’ve become used to reading. I have to say, between this and Twitter, you have become more than just an actor whose work I enjoy. You have become a person with something to say. I know that maybe that doesn’t sound quite right but I can’t think of another way to explain what I mean. Maybe I’d better quit before this hole gets deeper.
Thanks for being who you are. Keep it real, and keep tweeting!
BTW, I *love* the audio version!!!
I really enjoyed listening to the audio version of your post and I’ve loved following you on Twitter. I’ve been a fan of yours since I was young and as a kindergarten teacher now I have to tell you how much I appreciate all you’ve done to support literacy.
I’ve been a fan of yours since I was a kid, watching you on Reading Rainbow (props for using the tag line!). Hope that doesn’t make you feel old! Anyway, you always seemed to be a well-spoken, intelligent, and humorous guy, and I look forward to hearing more from you!
Adding the voice is a nice touch and is another dimension of that ‘connected’ feeling. It’s been fun to read your Tweets and I’m looking forward to seeing more of you and your work via Twitter and the new blog.
Mr. Burton,
I’m so excited to become a regular reader of your blog, and what a wonderful message of hope and togetherness you’ve given us in your first post! I read it first before I realized there was an audio option. It was a great touch and I hope you keep recording your blogs. My wife says she would listen to you speak if you were just reading the phone book.
I’m such a big fan of yours. I grew up on Reading Rainbow, and I give that show as much credit as anything in my life for turning me into the avid reader I am today. I’m also a huge Star Trek fan, so following your Twitter page (as well as Brent Spiner’s and Wil Wheaton’s) has been a real thrill for me. I had the chance to meet you at a convention in Valley Forge, PA a few years ago, and it was a great experience. All of the main TNG cast members save Patrick Stewart were there, and you were all very gracious and friendly, and the camaraderie amongst the cast was evident for everyone to see. It was a blast.
Hmmm. I’ve been thinking a bit more about your podcast, past first impressions. I think I would enjoy your narrative even more if it were spoken at a quicker, more conversational pace.
I echo the sentiments of many other responders here. Loved the blog post!! And my family, too, grew up with you on Star Trek and Reading Rainbow. I will be following you on Twitter from now on.
Much love Levar. I love you on twitter and wish you all the best. Keep on doing what you’re doing. More power to you.
Really enjoyed your first post. Enjoyed you reading of the post even more. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Can I tell you how thrilled I am with the last sentence of your blog? It makes me smile. I’ve been reading about Science of Peace and it is some extremely interesting stuff. Who knew that I’d continue reading about and, hopefully, interacting with the man that read to me (and whom I watched as Geordi!) when I was but a wee little one! I look forward to reading more in the future.
Hi Levar,
Being an accessible celebrity is a great idea. Keeping in touch with your people (or tweeple in my case) is a selfless act that brings us all closer together. The world is changing and when we can contact people we admire, or even send the President a message on his Blackberry, that makes the whole planet seem not as big and as frightening. It makes me think I have a change to be heard!.
Luv ya!
KayFour
By the way, recording classics is a great idea. I listen to audio books quite often and the reader definitely makes a difference in my enjoyment level.
Great blog, I found you on Twitter. It nice to see that there are still real people in the world.
I would like to help you in your project with recording audio books. I have a studio in the New York area, and I’d love to help out anyway I can.
http://www.twitter.com/kilroy4prez
Levar, glad to see you have regained control of your online Twitter ID theft. I stumbled on your Tweets by accident last night and immediately joined your growing group of Tweeple, not a big leap for me as I have been a long time TNG fan and all around geek for years. Having also been a fan of Reading Rainbow I am jumping on that bandwagon with the rest of them in saying that I like the idea of your reading your blog to us and agree that you should lend your voice to more audio books. Thanks for giving your fans a place to “chat” with you. I know I’ll be back.
Great work!!! I really enjoy reading your twitter and this blog will be just a wonderful.
So I just had to sign up… Unfortunately public figures have no choice but to get involved in some way. Anyone with a net connection can post what ever they want, laws are just now catching up. I used my first apple in 82 I’ve been online 89 the www about to be born. A few smartypants figured the DNS and procured lots of names, of course some companies had to shell out the big clams.
LB and I went to school together and of course I would from time to time would look him up online. When myspace came along I had to see who I could find and found the LB fakers. I also found my step nice (13) trying to play grown up.
The net can bring us a lot closer together for better or worse. Now being in the public eye is a snap. A simple posting on utube can get you recognized anywhere in the world… or even in space! It worried me to see people be misrepresented on the net.
I can tell all of LeVars fans that, as a friend growing up, he was a special person and talent had a lot of impact on the people around him. Even back then he knew who he was and where he was going. He was a teacher to everyone. If LB had never acquired and fame or notoriety I would never have forgotten the skits he wrote and directed (I played the slave owner) or band (he and JB played percussion, I played trumpet) or how he was not afraid to have your back in a fight!
I can say I have enjoyed my anonymous life, I do my thing not much money but more then I need, lots of love though more then I deserve. Now I paint, play music and work in the sciences. As you might imagine there are lots of STNG fans that come through my lab/shop. (I’m an old school ST fan) I always get a kick to brag about my best friend for a short time (@least) in grade school.
I have had both the blessing and the curse of only living in interesting times, both positive and negative… trust me when I say the simple act of trying to surmount the problems of such times is surmounting them. Also you must continue to do so one the problem has changed or is no longer there or you really havent gotten past it at all.
Welcome to the ranks of Twitterers and thank you for bringing other people in, thereby making it better.
Now if they could only make the service itself better.
I really like the audio version of your blog post - I listened while reading and it is a much richer experience! Also, it’s great to see you on twitter!
I just want to let you know that when Star Trek: TNG first aired I was about seven years old, and I immediately latched on to Geordi as the coolest character. Maybe it’s because I had loved Reading Rainbow so much - but as a little girl I ADORED Geordi and really grew to like and respect that character even more into adulthood.
I wish you all the best with your blog and I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts!
Mr. Burton,
I haven’t written to a celebrity since I was a teenie bopper swooning over Donny Osmond, but I just wanted to let you know that your ides of science and peace are a hope for our future. I also wanted to let you know that my 5 year old loves Reading Rainbow as much as her older sibblings and I’ve used the books to read to her and talk about issues such as slavery, civil rights, persecution, and other wonderful subjects. If I was to home school her, the books from the series would be used as a launch pad into the subjects. Thanks for being contributing so much to my family’s world, and best wishes on all your endeavors.
Wonderful, LeVar! I especially love the audio version and I hope that is something you continue to do! It adds something personal and unique to have your voice saying the words you wrote. Anyway, just as with twitter, I’m with you here on levarburton.com 100%!!!
Love the audio post. You’ve definitely got a knack for this!
Sent you an email (to the contact address for this site) with a couple of questions, look forward to (hopefully) getting a response!
CJKW
That part about compassion really resonated with me. When you see stories about people killing themselves and their families out of desperation, or stories of the elderly freezing to death in their homes because the heat was turned off, you begin to wonder if the word “compassion” ever existed or, even if it did, does anyone actually know the meaning? Thank you for putting it out there so we can all think on that a bit….
I loved reading what you wrote. Listening to it. . . It seemed like you were reading someone else’s work. Do you really talk with your friends that way? blogging is, to me, getting a glimpse of who the blogger is.
Oh my, 195+ comments on your first Blog post… I don’t think very many people have that many total comments on their whole site!
I’m following your Feed, and I hope future posts are just as popular.
HEY man great job on the blog. Big fan, you are the man. The audio post was really cool and its really nice to see you on twitter. Hope to hear and see a lot more of you in the future.
- Tyler aka CrazyCommie
Love this! And really love that you added the audio. From one of your tweeps.
I never thought I would get the chance to say this, so I’ll take it now that it’s in front of me:
Mr. Burton, you were a huge part of my childhood and part of what made me the man I am today. Reading Rainbow fostered a lifetime love of reading that has only grown over my lifetime, and Geordie La Forge made it OK for me to be a geek. So THANK YOU for YOU! You’ve been a blessing!
With deepest respect,
Matt Shaw
Tweeple… I like that.
Look forward to keeping up with you in the future. I wish Reading Rainbow was on DVD… my 5 year old daughter may not be verbal but she does like being read to and likes TV. I’d love to have GOOD TV for her to watch and listen to!
I too believe I have found my tribe… my people, on twitter. Great to meet you and take your picture at the Digg L.A. meetup. All the best.
This is most excellent. The idea of being able to listen to your blog entries while continuing my efforts at work is fantastic. I can not wait to hear/read more.
So, I’m not impersonating anyone…that’s my real name. Honest, I don’t lie.
I’m glad to see more and more actors get into the social arena on the net. I think that because actors like yourself are accepting the online social model, it will help to influence and spearhead many, many great things in the near future. Instant communication is worthless if the messages aren’t worth the keyboard they’re typed on.
Great looking blog LeVar, I’m looking forward to seeing your tweets.
Cheers!
Wayne
Welcome! This is a great blog post and a wonderful start. I have been watching you ever since the first days of Reading Rainbow and continued through STTNG. I am still impressed with your performance on “The Weakest Link”. Keep up the good work and I will definitely follow this site!
LeVar,
I have to admit, I was cracking up at that last line! I remember “Reading Rainbow” very well, and even sing the tune from time to time for a good laugh with my peers. And, of course, the most memorable line, “But don’t take my word for it”
Classic.
Excellent blog, I look forward to reading (and hearing) more.
-Dan
Levar,
You were great on the soup!! That’s the best show to get a summary of oops on weekly TV.
and…
Keep up the positive momentum…
LeVar, I have been a fan of yours since I read my first book, you’ve so deeply impacted my life. It’s so great to see you on Twitter, and I was blown away when I was watching the soup the other week and got a shot of LeVar!
All my best to you,
Rebekah
I noticed Levar was the only one who didn’t put the cig to his lips…Que te pasa?
I am Fake Levar Burton. While I have kept my true identity secret for obvious reasons, what you’ve said here has inspired me to set aside my ridiculous and extreme Twitter message for the greater good. I am truly proud that I was the catalyst that inspired you to get involved in Twitter, because although I don’t personally follow you (3-5 tweets a day man, seriously!), I believe that everyone’s message is worthwhile, and clearly yours is to many people. The fact that I indirectly got Brent Spiner involved is just another feather in my cap.
So, I apologize for any hard feelings, as I realize I did not portray you in the best light, but this was for purely comedic reasons. I have always loved you in all of your work, and look forward to continuing to do so.
Sincerely,
LeVarBurton, LeVarB, FAKELeVar, FakeLeVarB, @Hewdiddy, and Alex.
Having the fake LeVar getting kicked off Twitter seems a bit like overkill to me. As one of his(her?) followers I wasn’t convinced it was you…just like I follow “butter” but I’m pretty sure a slab of butter isn’t sitting in front of a mac somewhere. I just find the tweets amusing. Guess I’ll just have to stick with @wilw. At least he can take a joke.
Love your work, love your tweets, but love your blog more - especially the audio version.
Thank you for all you do.
I follow you on Twitter and have kept blogs for years. Welcome to the blog world.
LeVar,
Way to keep up with the times. I am thrilled you reclaimed your name. The tweets from Fake LeVar made you look like a real twit.
It is awesome to see that you are a man of integrity. Yes, we expect so much of those in the public eye. Just look at the case of Michael Phelps. He is not unlike our President in his experimentation and yet his actions are held under great scrutiny. I suppose the difference is when Obama was making his youthful excursions, he was not in the limelight and receiving royalties. So yes, I still hold Phelps in high regard for his achievements, but he will miss out on cashing in on his “role model” status. As for Obama, now that he is in the spotlight, you can bet he is watching every step he makes.
With the light comes the glare…..
I’m looking forward to future posts by the real LeVar.
Peace,
Chris
When I followed the fake LeVar, I was shocked by the rhetoric but amused at the same time. LeVar as a bad boy! Happy that you were able to resolve this issue though. Twitter is a great place!
Tafari
The audio version of the blog was amazing. It reminded me so much of watching Reading Rainbow as a kid. I hope you continue to make audio versions of all of your blog entries. It was really fun to listen to.
Looking forward to future posts and tweets!
Jeremy
\m/
Welcome to our world. ;-P
I hope when someone starts a twitter account with my name I can get his account disabled too. Or maybe you’re just special.
Too bad he was way more amusing that you will ever be.
I just stopped by to thank you for having an online presence that your fans can relate to. I think too many celebrities don’t take the time to give back to those who put them where they are today.
You sound like a wonderful man. Good luck with your blog and twitter. BTW I’m one of your followers on twitter as well.
http://twitter.com/TiannaXander
Welcome to Twitter, man. I’m one of your billion followers!
The part of this that surprised me, though, was that anyone… anyone… could believe the fake was you. Mind boggling. Those tweets were insanely over the top. I laughed at several of them.
But I guess there really are suckers born every minute, right? Twitter renaming him so he was an obvious fake was a great thing, though.
(Me? I love fake celebs. As long as nobody takes them seriously. But, of course, I like your REAL voice even more.)
I don’t know what I can add to the 220 people who have come before me (nor can I say that I actually read all 220 comments!)
I just wanted to say that I am a long time fan of your work and probably my most favourite place to watch you was on Reading Rainbow that I watched faithfully with my kids years ago.
I think the thing about Twitter and what makes it successful is the leveling of the playing field, where we all are voices out there waiting to be heard and engaged in conversation. So much good has come from the past year and a half that I have been in the Twitterverse, it is an amazing environment.
Good Luck with the Blog!
Stumbled upon your tweet….glad to see you online.
I have always wanted to let you know how much our children really love Reading Rainbow. We are Catholic homeschoolers and books are everywhere in our home, found one in the catbox (?)
Thanks for all that you do for the kids and us parents in turning us on to more and more great reads.
Fondly and God bless!
Ebeth
Very excited to see this take shape. Also, probably the 10 millionth person to think this, but hearing your voice brings back some great childhood memories for me. Even if you’ve reconciled yourself to it, still seems amazing to me to think that one man’s voice touched an entire generation in such a meaningful way. Glad to see it’s coming full circle now. Best!
This is amazing, and I am glad to be one of your tweeple
Also: thank you for bringing back my childhood just now with the Reading Rainbow signoff. That was definitely my favorite show of my early childhood (I kept watching it long past the time when it was socially acceptable, during the summer), although TNG runs a close second. Basically, you’re like half of my TV childhood.
Keep it up, please!
I remember listening to you when I was so small, I can hardly remember much. But it was the most exciting part of my day getting up and watching Reading Rainbow. Later in my early life, my parents introduced me to Star Trek. My mother remembers me making the connection: “Hey! He used to read books on TV!” You were my favorite person on TV. I was never able to write you a letter though, because I was too shy.
The other day, via ThinkGeek’s Twitter actually, I noticed your name and though “No, it couldn’t be! It’s got to be an impostor.” But it’s not. It’s you! And the little girl in me is finally able to thank you so much.
It’s thrilling to me to be able not only to connect with you, but to finally get a sense of who this great man from my childhood really is like.
Dear Levar/Kunta/Mr. Burton,
Thank you for so much, for all the amazing things you’ve done (it’s like you’ve been there being my buddy my whole darn life), but most of all, for getting me laid once! I was in a gym, alone, with a very pretty girl I’d always wanted to talk to, but she was always intensely working out with her headset on. I wanted to turn off the ESPN and made some vague hand motions at the TV, and she nodded. I started flipping channels, and up comes your smiling mug on Reading Rainbow. I looked at her, her eyes got big, and she took off the headset.
We worked out, watched R-R, and then got to know each other.
Thanks so much! You are full of win!
Hi LeVar. I am here just to leave my congrats about your decision to quit smoking. I quitted 1 year ago. It is hard, but worths a lot. Exercise a lot is good to handle the anxiety. Anyway, good luck with it and I hope you will never smoke again.
Hey LeVar, it’s so awesome to see you here, and to see you on twitter. As is true for many people, I’m sure, you were an integral part of my childhood, and it’s wonderful to once again be able to share in your insights and personality.
When you mentioned about fake LeVar on twitter, it made me think of a website that Leo Laporte mentioned a while back - claimid.com. It allows you to create a profile that lists sites/profiles/identities you keep online, as well as list the ones that are NOT yourself. I hope you find it handy in your dive into the digital community!
Thanks for being you. My former wife/ Mother of my children and I still speak of “Grits Dummy” We have admired you from Roots to PBS to StarT and other brief appearances. You have stood the test of time, and in that WE TAKE PRIDE. Continue being Levar.
ps I have resisted social networking, but because of you I may check you out on tweeter.
Good luck quitting smoking! My husband went “cold turkey” many years ago and it worked fine. He had one every so often at a friend’s house and it always reinforced his resolve because of how awful it made him feel. He hasn’t even done that in six or seven years! You’ll get there, I promise.
Thanks so much for Reading Rainbow. I wasn’t allowed much TV, but your show was always one I insisted on! To a kid who was already a bibliophile, Reading Rainbow was better than candy, but healthy! I think your show introduced me to lots of ideas I couldn’t come across in my little Connecticut town. It taught me to look for new ways to see the world, new words for what I found, and to never take just one person’s opinion when I could have many. Great, great work.
Anybody who can do THAT can certainly quit smoking. I’ll be sending positive thoughts your way!
Quiting smoking is ez… 163,500 do it every year. I am down to 3 cigs on band night jam…
Quitting smoking is ez… 163,500 do it every year. I am down to 3 cigs at Friday night jam band …
Favorite LRB saying “I thought you weren’t afraid…” some times everyone needs a little push.
FAV scene of LRB.. Driving in Grandma’s cad Bob describes exactly how the next 6 months will go… Damn if he wasn’t spot dead right on!
I gave out your url to the old hood I will apologize in advance:-)
You see LeVar, I KNEW that wax doppelganger would come back some day to haunt you! He even said it himself: “I’ll see YOU next time.”
All kidding aside, it’s pretty kick ass to see one of my childhood constants and mentors (television was my babysitter), as well as some of the cast from TNG, on the web and using the same technology that I am using.
Looking forward to more posts and especially audio posts.
Paul
Boston, MA
Levar - am following you on Twitter, know you are trying to stop smoking. Wanted to share a tip that helped me, and as it’s around Valentine’s day, it’s the perfect time! ONLY this time of the year, Tootsie Roll has bags with JUST cherry Tootsie Pops in them! I LOVE Cherry Tootsie pops, so I bought up a bunch of bags when I quit, and whenever I got the urge I would grab one. It really helped me kick the habit, and cherry tootsie pops make your lips this luscious deep pink color to boot! Hope this helps, I’m cheering for you - I’ve done it, I know you can too!
Denise
Way to go and I love the blogs. Keep them coming
Wow! Read first, listened second. In my head i heard that RRainbow cadence… how cool to hear it!!! Not cool to find my memory can’t keep accurate time, oh well. LeVar, RR saved me from pulling out handfuls of hair. I love Books and my daycare kids weren’t really ready to sit still… until we found RR. And then that’s all they’d want to do on a rainy day. They were much more open to my selections after a few weeks with you. Thank you Thank you Thank you. And the folks at PBS of course. It was an education for me as well. I learned to be a better reader to children.
Take good care of yourself. You are definately someone we want with us for a long time to come, so quit as often as you have to, celebrate your successes. As a matter of fact, have a Romulan Ale with Wheaton for all of us and get some color into his Pale Arrogant Bastard in honor of some really well writtne and insightful blogs. Oh… and because us Middle Americans never get to go anywhere [sighes rather than curses the convention gods] Boldly or otherwise. Harrumph.
I love your audio version. Not to be too critical, but I’ m a speech therapist and also a little ocd about things….your audio date is 2008 as well as the date on your blog post. The first date is correct, but later it is 2008. I just thought you might like to know. I wrote 2008 on a check last week. It’s hard to get used to a new date…and you are going through a challenge now..so you’re forgiven!!
more peoiple have live since 1776 the all the rest of the people in history
I realize I’m late to the party, but this is awesome! Happy birthday, best of luck with the not-smoking, and I can’t wait to hear more from you. Fantastic!
Congratulations on quitting smoking LeVar! I need to follow-suit and quit yet again too. I went for 45 days last year and the smell of coffee and cigarette smoke one day at the university, gave me pause, and I was back at it.
Hopefully, I will come to my senses and kick the habit! Thank you for the inspiration, I didn’t realize you smoked!
Oh, I wish you a very happy birthday and many happy returns!
Regards,
TC Jones
Trekwebmaster.com
Have just read this post and the next.
Very well written and honest.Yours is a blog i think i will very much enjoy reading.
AM
Levar.. congrats on your quit. I quit about six years ago… and it CAN be done. Smoked a pack-and-a-half a day. (As I’m from Canada… a pack at that time was about 9 bucks!)
Your “sage” advice was right. Don’t view a stumble as a failure… just get back on the horse and keep going. My wife had one “slip” during our quit… but she stuck with it.. and has also been a non-smoker for six years now.
Hang in there… you CAN do it.
Cheers,
T.
LeVar, I must say I am amazed (and thrilled!) to have found you on Twitter, and here. We seem to live in a society that is more interested in what celebrities are wearing/buying/eating then what’s actually in their minds, and where celebrities spend most of their time hiding from the “public eye”. It’s refreshing to see you doing the opposite, and I look forward to hearing more of what you have to say.
(if you find yourself at all strapped for blog subject matter at any point, I for one am an aspiring children’s television host/director, and would love to know how you got involved in Reading Rainbow, and any advice you may have!)
<3 Alison
LeVar,
I grew up on Reading Rainbow, been a Trekkie since Farpoint, and you just won me over on your blog on your paragraph about us as a community, going through trying times, being a resource for each other. I am now a fan of you and can not wait to follow along on your blog and on Twitter, which I also joined today.
I gave up on corporations, especially after going back for a business degree. I was the only one in class that fought every point. Profits and margins do not make for a better world. I moved from a city to a small town. I tell people I left a neighborhood and joined a community. I have seen first hand that people make the difference. This is the support we need in order to survive.
I wish you success in your effort to quit smoking. It will be the best thing you ever do for yourself. Next thing you’ll know, you’ll be doing something epic, like RAGBRAI.
Aloha LeVar Burton!
I saw you eating dinner at Swingers on Broadway in Santa Monica around the time of AFM/AFI. Even though I wanted to speak to you, I felt you were enjoying your moment and deserved your privacy. But I did write about you for Film Festival Today.
Love your blog. Meeshtastic turned me onto it.
Your Hip Hapa,
Yayoi
LeVar after reading you post I was truly touched and think I have finally learned and gain a more intimate relationship with you even though our paths have crossed on many times quietly. LeVar your mother introduced us some years ago hear in Sacramento at a book signing. I though to myself that I was just another person being introduced to you even though I had a close relationship with the woman that birthed you into this world and many of your friends hear in the Sacramento area. I now must apologize to you and stay there is more to you then the fame you have obtained and eared over the years. I extend to you a thanks and appreciation because you are truly a home boy that has represented in a good way over the years. Your Home Boy Howard from Sacrament area.
Dear Levar,you ingratiated yourself with me the first time I watched Roots.Your acting was superb.I am trying to start an entreprenuer project by utilizing the skills of seniors to teach the young.The setting for this project is a farm.I haven`t incorporated yet(April),but,the farm I found in my searches is ideal.I subscribed to Mother Earth News for a decade,and most of my ideas were fueled by projects I studied in It.This farm will be the training camp for our boys and girls.Along with the farm I looked into prefab cottages and cabins.I`m going to have to raise at least $500,000.for this mission-I want to call it-Youth International,because importing and exporting`s part of the Program.Brick-making;Construction;Bath Fixtures;Furniture Making;Bedding;Generators;Greenhouse Organic Farming,Chickens for Egg Sales;Sewing;Weaving;Arts and Crafts.These skills will produce mini- corporations for them,as,all items will be market ready when finished.I`ve asked God to be my partner in this endeavor,because I live on Social Security.As soon as I incorporate this non-profit traing program,I`ll go the grant route.Please pray for my success,there`s lots of young people in this city anticipating seeing and living in the country.We will have our own buses(2)to transport them from Boston to Georgia where the farm`s located,with deer on the property-116 acres($290.000).Ask me any questions,feel free.Your Human Rights server,Syena
Dear LeVar,
I just wanted to say hi and let you know how much I enjoy Reading Rainbow. I remember back in 1990 when Reading Rainbow wanted to film my mother’s Flamenco Class at West Valley College . Unfortunately this did not work due to scheduling. Do you remember trying to schedule this?I think this was during the time when you were filming Kate Shelly and the Midnight Express. It would be nice for you to try and do a program on Flamenco Dance. It would be fun working with you on this and to meet one of my favorite TV Show Hosts.
My favorite show is Kate Shelly and the Midnight Express where you met Rosie Ellis. Iran into Rosie on a rail trip a few years back and mentioned how I enjoy riding Amtrak. I wanted to know how you got the song “Transcontinental Railroad” and who sings it.
One year I came up with the idea for our class to sing the theme song to Reading Rainbow since our teacher put on the show almost daily since we loved reading good books and writing review.
I even had the chance to watch the entire Roots Series 10 years ago. Your acting was phenomenal.
Please don’t hesitate to email me and keep in touch. As I stated before I think a show on Flamenco dancing would be interesting for the viewers learning about different dances from different cultures.
Best Wishes,
Daniel
Dear LeVar,
You can email me at theeaglesband@yahoo.com and I will give you my other email address as I do not want other people knowing my personal email address.
Thanks,
Daniel
Mr. Burton.
After seeing your interview on CBC’s “The Hour” last week,I was moved to share this with you.
We have someone in common,Bev Davenport from Reading Rainbow.She told me years ago how much you meant to that program and how much she valued your involvement.
When you landed your role on Star Trek,she told me part of her winced,thinking they would lose you.When this was not the case,your stock went up even further.
Patrick Stewart’s volunteering ,in addition,put her over the moon.
She understood completely when you were both called away to location and was almost shaking when she told me of the donation of Mr.Stewart’s copy of the script for the pilot episode,for program fund raising.
Bev is a special,giving person and you made her very happy.
Continued good fortune,
James McTaggart
Dude!,
You rock!
-=T=-
Congrats to you for quitting smoking!!
I quit myself 6 years ago, the first few days are the worst. I quit cold turkey. My mom told me to not smoke before I went to bed, and do not smoke when I get up the next morning. I did it and I have been smoke free for these 6 years now. I really regret ever smoking at all, possibly the worst habit I had.
It has now left me with COPD, so you hand in there, you can do it.
Linda
Levar
Thank-you for sharing yourself with us for as long as you have and as diversly as you have. You have amazing talents and gifts. I work with adults who are homeless, poor, disdvantaged some who are drug or alcohol addicted and those with mental illnessess, and I have used “reading rainbow” with some of them to help with their reading skills. Thank you for helping me do that for them. I also appriciate the work you did with Star Trek, you made the character your own and likable (cuz he wasn’t very likable to start with)
If you have the time I would like to corrospond with you.
P.S. I also quit smoking about a month ago (or 3 weeks if you count when I gave in and had one) and I had been smoking 30+ years. We can do it, we are in control of our addiction today, it does not control us
Hey. My dad tells me that you were in our Boy Scout troop in Sacramento? It was troop#258 in South Sacramento. Is this true?
an impersonator - wow, that’s so “Six Degrees of Separation”.
See you on twitter.
Hi LeVar,
I love your work. I also have a new show idea for you.
Wanda
All the Best!
Quitting smoking was about the hardest thing I ever did. It’s a roller coaster and it’s completely miserable to be honest.
But while it’s not easy, it is at least simple: just never smoke again (”not even one… especially not just one” to quote Joyce Harrington.)
It’s get better after a few months, and after 11 years I have to pause to try to remember how long it’s been or when I actually QUIT.
It took me years of trying to quit. Finally I just QUIT.
All the best,
Ken
Hi,
I am so glad I came across your blog.
Our oldest daughter, now 17, grew up watching “Reading Rainbow” while my wife & I watched you on TNG- AWESOME!
Glad to read that you now “tweet” on Twitter. It’s an amazing site. In fact, if you have a Facebook profile, you can add a Twitter application to it so that when you tweet, you also update your Facebook wall.
There is a book that just came out last month called “Twitter Power…” It was written by internet marketer Joel Comm. You should check it out!
Best,
-K
Hi Levar, former Christy castmember here! I was the girl you saved from the bees way back when. Really glad to see you online and to be following your Twitter!
You know LeVar, I’ve been a fan of your work ever since I was kid watching Reading Rainbow. Then over the years as I became an avid ST fan. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until recently I discovered the world of the tweet, that ultimately led me to find Mr. Spiner’s, and as well your own twitter page. It wasn’t until this very moment that I clicked on the link to your blog and began to read.
First… You sir are a gifted man. Gifted with a terrific voice for acting on all venues (theatre, TV, movies, audio), but you have a gift for words.
“It is, I believe, incumbent upon each of us to be willing to extend ourselves to those around us, to support one another through these interesting times
Beautifully said my friend. Before I was a fan of the actor. And its unfortunate that Im just now becoming an even bigger fan of the man that is LeVar Burton.
Also, I quit smoking about a year and three months ago. Stay strong in your choice to not smoke. Ultimately, its your willpower that will over come the desire.
Best of Wishes,
- Anthony
hmm… interesting ))
Dear Mr.Burton
My son is 15 and autistic. Yout are his favorite person in the world. He just loves watching you on reading rainbow and owns dozens of the shows and is always asking for more. Do you ever make personal appearances in the new york city area, maybe at Star Trek conventions. I would love to bring him to one where he could meet you.
Thank you very much
Hi Levar;
It’s been quite a few years since we’ve spoken. Your wife Stephanie and I worked together on WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP. I understand you’re directing the story of RUBY MCCOLLUM. I would love to Costume your film. Please give my best to Stephanie, I know she is still beautiful!
Warmest regards;
Francine T.
Hi LeVar,I loved watching Reading Rainbow when I was younger(which was only a couple of years ago, since I’m 11 years old now).When I found out my daddy was named after you,I started watching even more.As you might already know,my father was LeVar Batson of Reading Pennsylvania who passed away on April 17(a day before my mother’s birthday) because of something I feel terrible saying(not a heart attack or anything like that).My daddy was an awesome and great person just like you.
Best of luck with quitting smoking. I did in 1992, and never looked back - it’s all in the mind. You’ll pass a day when you see how much better you feel, and the rest just gets better. Believe me, the heart problems and related health problems far out weight the “pleasures” of having a smoke. But do it for you - not anyone else. Bob
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Welcome to the blogosphere!
compassion. It is, I believe, incumbent upon each of us to be willing to extend ourselves to those around us, to support one another through these interesting times. It seems to me that our willingness to engage one another on that level is as good a way as any, to bring a blessing from a curse.
Yes, this. It is wonderful to see blogs, social networking sites, Twitter et al. thinning the wall between ‘heroes’ and ‘fans’, reminding us that we are all human beings, all capable of both the best and the worst, of love and hate, of deep connection and utter isolation.
Thank you. ::runs off to friend you on Twitter::
Hey LeVar
I am so happy to have found your blog…honestly, it sounds so corny but I am a dyed in the wool Star Trek Fan as well as your Reading Rainbow..What a sweet time that was watching your show. My grand children think they are a bit old for watching now, but now and again I see my grandaughter who is 8 going on 30 watching!
LillyKate
I love it that you are trying to quit smoking.
I have tried so MANY times. I hope you make!
I watched you on Star Trek over and over again. I also watched Reading Rainbow with my grands. You are an awesome person. Enjoyed reading your tweets!
Levar,
I think that you are so sexy! I good looking guy with a good head on his shoulders. Keep up the good work!
LeVar, not sure how all this works but just wanted to say hello. We meet some 10 years ago in Bushmills. Hope you are well.
Leonard
I had no idea u smoked. Dude, that’s a total shocker. Congratulations on trying to quit. At least u know that the cancer stick is tryin to kill u. I know the best way to quit. The best way to quit is through the power of Jesus Christ. We can do all things through Christ Jesus our Lord. Not to mention there is no other name under the heavens given unto to men by which a man can be saved. By the way, i watched u as i was growing up :).
-Jessica
Hi Levar, my dad smoked for years two packs a day, when he quit he used thr patch and w/in two months time he was a true ex-smoker. One day at a time. Also, is your play the catier still playing and where?? I saw you on tv via web talking about it and i think the plot sounds dark. Thanks
-Rene
wow , i learned of twitter from a radio station…. got connected with a account, and i was only following levar because i watched him when i was a kid on reading rainbow and star trek, i just read some of his tweets and wow he’s actually one of us, kisses to you levar for being real
good luck on the smoking thing i have been debating on quitting for years and have three times…. maybe the fourth will be my charm
I was led to this site by mysterious happenings. Hello I am Anon. I would like to share this bit of information. I believe just as some of you out there believe that God moves in mysterious ways. The chinese curse that you have talked about “May you live in interesting times.” it was the nature of the wording that led me to look it up on wikipedia and as I read the history of this little phrase I came across the name Robert F. Kennedy and his “Day of Affirmation speech” I followed the link to read what the wiki said about him and I discovered RFK was a radical Catholic he was active in his faith he viewed the world through the spiritual eyes of a determined man. anyway as I was reading further about RFK I discovered this little jewel of wisdom. “He who learns must suffer. Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair and against our will, comes wisdom by the awful grace of God.” (Aeschylus) Kennedy said this when he announced the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Now here’s something I would like to add and, you can as they say “Quote me on it.” Tragedy is the mother of wisdom and peace the father of inaction. Be not at peace but be prepared, for the winter is bitter and the spring is not in sight. (Anon)
I quit smoking when I started STUDYING the bible and not just reading it.
wow what long discussion :)) Le Var Burton you have so many visitors here :)) Good for you :)) Congrats for the great blog
I want to listen good music!
This agitate leave illustrate how simulated statistics can be created next to rolling dice to beget accidental numbers. The details you forge in this exercise will be utilized in all of the subsequent manual simulation exercises. Over approximately some test or evaluation that you might like to rob on a society of individuals. You carry on the check-up and regard a unattached numerical score an eye to each person. This gouge authority be the mob of questions the man answered correctly or the ordinarily of their ratings on a fix of approach items, or something like that, depending on what you are tough to measure.
I just found your site and I must say, you’ve done a great job with it. It’s short, sweet and to the point. My 16 y/o daughter was the impetus that made me quit smoking last year, November 1. I decided that I wanted to see her grow up and possibly see her get married and hold those grandkids she just may end up with. So, I’m all for people quitting. I used Chantix for this for 2 1/2 months and then stopped the meds. Haven’t had much in the way of cravings since then and thank God every day for that. My health has gotten better and better. I hope for your sake that you can continue not smoking and that your health stays well.
I also wish you a speedy recovery from your car accident and congratulations on the recovery of your license plate. That was a great mini-series and I do remember seeing it when it originally aired those more than 30 years ago!!!
Best of luck always and I look forward to reading more of your tweets.
I see u alot on twitter but rarely speak to me,just look for me under cutedave2003,write me ok commander
I think your pic here on your blog looks great! I’ve been a fan of the show Reading Rainbow since the late 80s/early 90s when I was involved with preschool kids who loved the show. It had only been since the last year or so that it was still on one of the PBS channels where I live. So now I make it a point to watch it 5 days a week and I enjoy that one half hour of my day. I hope it stays in syndication for a long time.
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Levar,
I have never written to you before today. I am certainly a fan of your work with Star Trek as a child I loved Star Trek. I found your blog because my wife and I are beginning to get involved with building and helping as you say a “Tribe” of our own in Southern California. Your choice of Blog software led me to you.
As I read your posts your humanity shows clearly. Levar, you spoke about public accountability. Hopefully knowing that my 3 year old triplet girls see you often I’d like to pray for God to give you strenght so one of their hero’s (you) do not let them down with an unhealthy habit.
Know I know you share your thoughts online I’ll post again sometime.
GOD bless you Levar,
Cliff Jones - Daddy of the Jones Girls.
I’ll brave the concern that my comments will be lost in the whirlwind of voices equally as valid as my own. Such is the way of the (if I’m permitted to use a term which might seem antiquated…) cyber-world.
I urge those who find the curse that Levar Burton has put fourth here interesting, consider the second curse in this strain. “May you come to the attention of those in authority” - the second curse - is as disconcerting as the first. Yet, the reason why this troubles us is curious - is not the American dream embodied in our elected officials, those in positions of authority? Increasingly, we find ourselves troubled, rather than honored, at the prospect of coming to the attention of authorities. It’s funny how when reflecting on this ancient Chinese proverb, another one comes to mind - “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
been a fan of yours since the next gen. I’ve seen repeats of reading rainbow and wish they’d put it on the station “treehouse”. I read to my kids everyday and I think they’d benefit from reading rainbow. I came across you on twitter(don’t get it yet) and read your obama post and your quitting smoking post(how’s that going? my hubby quit 5 years ago after 3 tries, glad he did it and I hope it takes with you). Hugs, Marlene
had recently herpes virus found in my blood. what I haveto do??? I’m in panic…
9/24/2009
Hello LeVar;
I was surfing the net in search of information on WordPress blogging, and found your blog. I am trying to learn the marketing skills I need to get my “QUIT SMOKING” program out to the public, so you may understand why I was so surprised to find that you have recently stopped smoking.
My program is entitled “Smoke To Stop” because it focuses on learning the thinking and self control skills needed to live without smoking, before you start withdrawing from Nicotine. Withdrawal from Nicotine, as you know causes high levels of discomfort, which would interfere with learning new skills, and thus withdrawal is put off till the end of the program.
Actually, I believe that people will begin to decrease their smoking automatically shortly after they begin the program.
I would like to send you the internet address and a password where you can access my program information, and hopefully get some feed back from you.
If you email me at:
dulangx@yahoo.com we can communicate and I will give you the needed access information.
Thank you
Sincerely
Jeffrey Long
Hi again LeVar;
I forgot to mention in my previous comment that those people who tried to quit smoking Cold Turkey were 3 times more successful than those smokers who used a Nicotine supplement program.
(I lost the reference to the research that came up with the above statistic, and am still looking for it.)
I believe that the Cold Turkey group was more successful than the Nicotine supplement group because they relied on their own abilities to endure the discomfort and quit smoking, and the Nicotine supplement group relied on the doctor, or the Nicotine supplement, etc. Acupuncture was not researched in that article.
In either case it appears that you are going in the right direction.
Good luck
Sincerely
Jeffrey Long
Woof! Wish I could go to the GHR…
Levar, I am commenting on your post in “The Onion”,
I am so surprised that you didn’t see what your presence on that show did bring joy to so many, big kids included like me (turning 60). I watched your show as an adult. Having lived in the South during the unrest times between blacks and whites, and watching racism going on around me, I was always so happy to see a black person on TV. You know in that sense, you were a huge leader. I always thought the kids enjoyed you so much too. Also, after listening to your other video (core messae link from twitter) about authentic communication, I can understand. I think too many people are captives of their jobs and though you may have felt you lost some years of your life on reading rainbow, I am happy that you have now found a freer feeling in your life. I commend you on all you have done… I have always admired you. The adversity has made you decide to be more of who you are.
Thanks so much for expressing yourself.
Kathy
My comment was from this part of your article in the Onion:
After 26 long years, I can finally rest easy. Twenty-six years I spent standing in front of a camera, gritting my teeth, and shilling the latest works of every hack children’s book author imaginable. For 26 years, I’ve told kids they could open a magical door to another world just by reading a book, when the only door it ever opened for me led to a soul-sucking career in the horrifying abyss of public television.
But now, at last, it is over. I don’t have to lie anymore. I don’t have to live that nightmare.
When the news came that Reading Rainbow would be canceled due to a lack of funding, I felt—well, to use a cliché like you’d find in one of the hundreds of books I pimped endlessly—like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Every day I went to work hoping that maybe the studio had burned down, that maybe the program had been cut, that maybe PBS would finally stop squeezing the life from me drop by drop. Now that it’s over, I feel the relief a bruised and broken soldier must feel when he is rescued after rotting away for decades in some dank, forgotten POW camp.
May that godforsaken show burn in hell.
At long last, I can pick up a book and read for pleasure!
As for me, everything is fully satisfied.
I am so proud of you Levar. I met you many years ago when I lived in LA and we both attended a Kwanzaa event at Lorraine Toussaint. You looked so at peace with yourself. Now, I am even more pleased to learn that you have stopped smoking. Keep up the good work so that you can enjoy many more years of great storytelling and family. As we say in Jamaica, walk good.
Andrene
“I find no fault with the introductory clause, which is simply declaratory of what is written in the Constitution, that every human being BORN within the jurisdiction of the United States OF PARENTS NOT OWING ALLEGIANCE TO ANY FOREIGN SOVEREIGNTY IS, in the language of your Constitution itself, a natural born citizen; but, sir, I may be allowed to say further, that I deny that the Congress of the United States ever had the power or color of power to say that any man born within the jurisdiction of the United States, and not owing a foreign allegiance, is not and shall not be a citizen of the United States.” John A. Bingham,Architect of the 14th Amendment & abolisionist (R-Ohio) US Congressman, March 9, 1866 (MY CAPS)
Come on Levar,
You’re smarter than this. This charlatan usurping the office of U.S. President is embarrassing us all.
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Lavar I don’t know if you saw my Tweet but I would like to say I am happy you joined Twitter and I am glad you have this site too. Keep up the good work and keep Tweeting. I am a big fan since before Trek and I have a question. Have you read the books by Terry Goodkind if not you should pick up the Book called Wizard’s First Rule It is a great story and I hope you can find a copy somewhere check it out its really good.
Mr. Burton,
I want to say I just found you on Twitter and was so excited. I grew up watching RR and I’m pretty sure it was what fueled my need to be a writer. I was shocked and disappointed when they decided to take it off the air, because now my children will never know the importance of what your show did for the world. Children DO need to know how to read just as much as they need to know phonics.
Anyway, I don’t normally post comments, but I wanted to say something about RR, especially when I read the last line of your blog. It brought back SO many memories. Thanks for so many years of of entertainment.
Ok so people are believing the Onion
Now, which is a paper that was created a spoof of the news like weekend update in Saturday Night Live.
Ok neither of these are my websites but people need to understand that the Onion is fake news just like FOX NEWS
LaVar ,
Please let me begin by saying how happy I am to be able to express my thoughts about how I feel about you. I have admired you for many years . I remember watching you on Reading Rainbow and singing the theme song and how it helped me escape my world for alittle while. I love you and hope you had a Merry Christmas and in this New Year 2010 I pray you will be smoke free.
Your Biggest Fan,
Melissa
Hey Levar
Your Twits are funny… and your Blog here is very Entertaining… Im going to be doing How to be fat and famous and disabled on my radio show on Able Radio in January. Because I see you quitting the cancer stick (ciggerettes) this year coming, again… well, we all have tried to quit something or another… but my problem is with the UK and US, stamping out people who smoke… yet you dont see them advertising, BEING FAT KILLS… EATING TOO MUCH CLOGS YOU UP… BEING FATS UGLY… and recently, they have gone for the juglar, in the UK they are filming children to plead with moms and dads who smoke… once again, the governments of the world, just have to play BIG BROTHER… anyway, sorry for the rant… good luck with the quitting… and too all the FAKERS out there… GROW UP!!!!
Levar,
Just stumbled across this blog through your twitter, kudos on your work here. In my digital travels, I am more frequently an observer than a poster- but there was a thread I found in your first two posts here that drove me to offer something back- the value of the community that you mention in your first post is entirely dependent, in my view upon the sort of flexibility and forgiveness that you espouse in the second.
To understand and to improve the world around us, we need not only to apply the human awareness that enables us to forgive ourselves, our heroes and our communities, but also with those we might consider “other” to our causes and beliefs. While I share your optimism for the potential boon that this sort of technological community can provide to a nation aching so sorely for character/soul- I would also point to the darker side of this potential. It is all to easy to use the excesses of informational to stew in your own beliefs and use the tribe-like nature of the web to isolate and reinforce your own beliefs within whatever like-minded set you can find.
In this vain, I find the forums in which these sorts of “tribes” clash to be an informative, and for me, troubling picture of the heart of this country. Over and over threads over substantive issues arise and degenerate here. Arguments that are incredibly meaningful to the identity of this country- issues of wealth, race, politics, our future- become entirely centered on loud, fearful attacks, stagnating and stalemating over the same points- the same areas where people refuse to go deeper and try and relate and understand these opposing views they would rather belittle and insult.
I have faith that this country will prosper through these interesting times- not automatically, but through the genuine efforts of a proud citizenry who recognize the greatness of their country is not an absolute, but a living entity for which they are all accountable and must actively contribute. I agree that the enabling capacities of technology towards uniting are a great force to this end- but would be interested in a deeper discussion of how it can be effectively used as a tool to unify and realize the energies of a noisy democracy rather than a tool for tribalization and fragmentation and simply noise.