Failure is a step in reaching success.

A failure is not exactly an OOPSortunity because a failure in many instances is part of the process.  This video is a reminder of this. It's a promotion for Honda, but the message is worthwhile.

We can still win the battle of 9-11

On 9-11-2001 a group of fanatics shocked the world with an audacious and murderous crime. They did this to make a statement about their religion.  As the world responded to them by hunting them down and going to war with them, they have been winning.  They have managed to distort the way the world sees Islam. When we hate all of a people because of the doings of a small group of terrorists, the terrorists win.

The site of the crime is known as Ground Zero.  For many it is hallowed because of the murder of so many people at the site.

There is no way of turning back to the time before 9-11, but we can still decide what to take away from this.

The clamor and fighting over the plans to build Park51, the Islamic Center downtown, has been hijacked by people who agree with the criminal terrorist and want Islam to be at war with America and our values. These hijackers are saying that the Mosque will be a monument to the criminals.  The truth is that it will be a way for making even more Muslims 21st century Americans.
The oopsortunity is to turn the seeming victory of the fanatics into a victory for the modernizing and Americanizing of Muslims.

Here's the video of Michael Moore that got me thinking this.

OOPS - Had any?

That wasn't supposed to happen.

Mistakes happen all the time. That's why so many people agree with Murphy's Law, "what can go wrong, will go wrong at the worst possible time." And they say Murphy is an optimist.

Yeah, what if Murphy is an optimist. What would he think about all those things that went wrong and all those mistakes?

Hey, "Oopsortunity knocks by mistake. Make the most out of whatever happens."

If Murphy was in a musical he would burst into a song (to the melody of "Look for the silver lining")

Look for the Oops-or-tunity
You never know where it may show,

If you met Murphy sitting on a bench he'd tell you a story about a guy who lost his job so he started a business helping Realtors sell distressed houses by sprucing up the lawns with a coat of green paint. Does very well for himself.
You might chime in, to show you understand the concept, with how Columbus discovering America was a profitable oopsortunity, for the Spanish, but not the native Americans. And Murphy will point out that with the Casinos on Indian reservations, they might still not let this oopsortunity get away.
Have you ever had any oopsortunity?

(If you want to be a writer or editor for this blog please write to me (editor@oopsortunity.com).

POOPSortunity, Holy Shit!

Oops, all the livestock raised to feed us is adding to global warming.
If you have ever noticed that shit stinks, you might have guessed that a gas is released. It's methane, which is bad for the environment.

Oopsortunity, methane burns nice so it is harvested and converted into electricity.

Here's the poop scoop from today's NY Times:

• Science / Environment
  As More Eat Meat, a Bid to Cut Emissions
  By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
  Published: December 4, 2008
  Farm emissions are being discussed during international talks on a new treaty to combat global warming.

Here are Amazon items associated with this post. These are not endorsements. Don't stop the War On Consumerism.

Can't Afford College

The NY Times has an OOPSortunity story about going to college in another country. These students are getting international exposure as earn degrees and save money. That's getting the most of the situation.

• Here's the article:
  
  Global Classrooms
  Going Off to College for Less (Passport Required)
  By TAMAR LEWIN
  Published: December 1, 2008
  More American students are heading overseas not just for a semester abroad, but for their full degree program.
• 
  

After being deported, he starts dance school

Here is a NY Times oopsortunity story about a guy who had a hard life and bad luck, and now looks happy and successful teaching dance.

U.S. Deportee Brings Street Dance to Street Boys of Cambodia

By SETH MYDANS

Published: November 30, 2008

A former gang member deported from the United States teaches Cambodian street children break dancing, and lessons in life.

Oopsortunities in the Times

Here is a story about people who made the most of OOPSortunities, turning their art into business ideas. It must be working for them because here they are in an article in The Times.
Here's the link.

Shifting Careers

Transforming Art Into a More Lucrative Career Choice

By MARCI ALBOHER

Published: November 27, 2008

Aiming to end the notion that “starving” and “artist” are necessarily linked, some artists have begun to figure out ways to make art and money at the same time.

What mistake are U thankful for?

put it into the comments box.