Post Campaign Hello and update #6
over 5 years ago – Wed, Sep 02, 2020 at 05:36:01 PM

Hello Everybody, how’s life?

All is well here in very sunny LA. Birds are literally singing.

So, I wanted to break the silence with a little note about what is going on.

I am currently awaiting proofs. Thus far, all card production was handled stateside, but switching to overseas production recommended seeing a set of proofs to ensure that the colors and print was on par with what I am imagining. I could have saved a couple of weeks if I chose to bypass this process, but I have done in the past and the odds are  always against that choice working out the way one hopes.

I am have no updates on when the cards will start shipping at this point, but I do bug  my manufacturing rep as often as I can without being annoying. Seems to be working so far. I do hope the cards leave the plant in China by mid November, in time to start shipping to you in December. That said, please remember, Covid is real and it's effect on shipping is also real.

In a couple of months I will send out a questionnaire from Backerkit asking for your shipping address and and you will also be able to address any add ons you may be interested in.

In the mean time, in the spirit of sharing, here is the final look for the cards and packaging. I am waiting to get this proofs via postal service, so that I can approve and then get into production.

Remain Alert,

Cooper

Update 4. Design update. Shipping rates and one question survey
over 5 years ago – Tue, Aug 18, 2020 at 07:04:02 PM

Hey “I Think Therefore I Question” Family! First of all, thank you all again for helping us not only reach our $15,000 goal, but surpassing it by over $3,000 and we still have four days to go. 

At this point, I want to give a little update on what is going on.

 The face of the cards have different colored borders. Before the game starts, ask players to choose one of the colors. Place the entire deck face down on the table. Draw one card at a time. If the card drawn has a blue border, for example, only the players who chose the color blue will answer that question. To accommodate those with color blindness, we have incorporated shapes in addition to color.  See example:

* This question has been modified. 

I have changed the action cards. There are now four and I am very happy with them. The intent for the action cards is to bring a more fulfilling and expanded experience.
 

I am including between 2-4 blank cards so that you can add your own brilliant questions to the deck with a permanent marker. If you come across a question that you like and want to send it to me, we can add it to our website and give you credit or we can print it in the next deck and give you credit. 

 
We have found a fulfillment center to handle the bulk of the shipping and handling labor and thus have determined the following shipping costs as “Ballpark” numbers.  I will do me best to insure reasonable rates.

      United States. 9.00 + 2.50 per additional deck
      Canada $12.00 +$2.50 per additional deck
      Europe $13.00 $2.50 per additional deck
      Asia $13.00 $2.50 per additional deck
      Australia $13.00 $2.50 per additional deck
 

  It’s a little early for survey's, but I am curious about something and time is of the essence. So…
 

Question

1. I would like to NOT use shrink wrap for the decks. I HATE plastic and thus wanted to use a sicker on each side of the box. Stickers will not damage the box color. or leave any residue.  Do you have a preference? I will go with majority opinion. I will bring this question back up after campaign closes.

Thank you all so much.

Stay Inspired,

Cooper

Break Out The Champagne
over 5 years ago – Tue, Aug 18, 2020 at 07:03:08 PM

What does a person say at this point?  Just, "thank you," again? 

I stopped writing to actually think about that for a moment. What came up was that this experience was many shades different from what I expected. I had no idea the community was going to be as warm and generous. Completely unaware at how much fun the process of communicating with some of you would be.  The journey was bliss. 

I am humbled by you all. Grateful for your time, pledges and company and look forward to you having this deck in your hands to utilize how you envisioned. I am confident that your conversations will be richer and that you will keep me abreast of how it all goes.

Keep an eye our for the follow up survey and other bits of pertinent info.

Peace Deep. Remain Alert,

Cooper

We Did It!
over 5 years ago – Fri, Aug 07, 2020 at 09:48:10 PM

                             THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH! 

We hit our goal a few days back! Please excuse me, my tardy announcement is not a reflection of my appreciation and excitement.
This has been an amazing journey, and I am so honored and proud. To all the new backers, WELCOME!  To those who backed us mid-stride, thank you. To the backers that supported us from day one, "Cheers!" You know not how much I appreciate you. You guys got the ball rolling and filled me with hope from the start.

An update or two:
Now that we hit our goal I am going to add a stretch goal. Stay tuned. 

Just to recap:

We were funded in about two weeks with around 250 backers in 17 countries. I love thinking about that.  We will be having conversations with people from China, France, Spain, Australia, Germany, Canada and Brazil, to name a few, from the same source material. That's pretty special.

At the end of week one, we got a notice that kickstarter selected us as a project THEY LOVE. That was a great surprise and so satisfying. 

Please continue to help spread the word! Please pledge and get yourself a deck or for a friend or family member if you have not yet done so. 

Let’s make the world a better place by spreading good conversation.

In the meantime, a few backers and future backers have asked if this deck can be played with kids. I became curious about that myself, so I zoomed with my friend Carolina to ask if her daughter, Olivia (who is also my friend), would be interested in doing a zoom call with me to have an I Think Therefore I Question session? Olivia is a seven-year-old delight. I was told she got very excited by the idea as she wants to be a performer and the thought of being in a video made her happy.  Also, apparently, she is invested in this project emotionally. Her mother sent me a text right before we funded: "I just told Olivia you were close to your goal and she said, "Mom, that is great. If Cooper's project happens, then miracles can happen and Black Lives Matter and now Cooper is going to be famous."  Love!

Just remember, whoever said talk was cheap was not conversing with you.

Super Deep Gratitude,

Peace Deep,

Stay Inspired,

Cooper

Personal Share and Idea
over 5 years ago – Tue, Aug 04, 2020 at 12:38:05 PM

,Hey Everybody, How's life?Still excited. Seems like I might feel this way the rest of my life. Wouldn’t that be something? Wonder if it would get old? As I compose this update we are sitting at 14,333K. My two daughters are just as excited as I am. They have helped so much with this project, It was really important for me to bring them into this process so they could see what it’s like to bring a project form concept to creation. My new college graduate drew the ‘Thinker’ and created the graphs at the bottom of the kickstarter page. My younger daughter edited the video, and conducted a lot of the sourcing. They both have approved, vetoed, and edited hundreds of questions. So, this project and its success has that kind of meaning in it for me too.

 With this update I wanted to share some personal stuff. I hope it’s clear that I love conversation. Be it one on one, or in a group. So, when we host dinner parties I work really hard to create activities that will inspire the collective conversation around the table. We’ve had upwards of 50 people showing up for Thanksgiving dinners. The collective conversation is always the best, despite its size. Two of past favorites are shared here.

 The first activity is called, Professor. When people walked in through the door my daughters handed each guest an index card and a pen and just asked them to write down what they would like to know more about. Anything. Male pattern baldness, what is the state of Artificial Intelliengce, photosynthesis or how the federal reserve works? About a third of the way through dinner we brought the box to the table with all the cards in it, passed it around and invited everyone at the table to pull a card. Then each person took turns standing up with their card, reading it and then, as if they were a Professor on the subject, answered the question. The dinner audience gave their opinion on whether or not they sounded like they knew what they were talking about. Amazing fun.

 My 2nd favorite took place on my birthday. I gave everyone at the dinner party a card and a pen and told them to please give me three gift suggestions that I could do in their honor over the course of the next couple of years. Below is a partial list and yes, I am on it. I have worked through more than half of it. I never imagined I would spend a month in India before it was suggested. Just saying.


 I could create activities day and night. If you need a suggestion hit me up. In the mean time, Keep sharing, keep those fingers crossed to cross that goal line. It would be nice to smash that goal. Who does not like a smashing success!!!!!!!? Thank you all!

 Have a great rest of your week and weekend. Here is my birthday activity list. Haha, I had an urge to list everybody on this list’s website. I am really blessed to have such interesting people in my life. Something I was thinking about the other day. "If you are over 30 do you still make friends and cultivate the deep closeness with them the way you created depth with others when you were under 30? “

 Nirvan
 * Cooper, Interview Your Family
 * Read: The Idiot By dostovsky
 * Watch: The look of Silence By Joshua
 * Go See: Say Something Bunny in NY. InSay Something Bunny!,Alison S.M. Kobayashisolved the mystery of two antiquated voice recorder reels that she found by accident, transporting her audience through time to investigate a long-ago dinner party and it’s guests. Using incomplete clues suggesting family relationships and emotional complexities, Ms. Kobayashi embarked on a deeply empathic journey to fill in the blanks. She found humanity in the ordinariness of the past with an enchanting blend of documentary and compassionate storytelling.
 * Listen: to the Podcast 'S Town


 Sandra
 * Cooper Bates, you simply must listen to or read Nelson Mandela´s Book: “Long Walk To Freedom.” You will be moved by his resilience, adoptability, empathy, patience and his energy, it’s so powerful and his intellect is so inspiring. All leading to the transformation of a Nation.

 Marcin
 Keep performing your show, “Black When I Was A Boy.” Until you get to the Public Theatre in NY. and then lets go to Your home town, Hill City and film it.

 Grace
 Watch Twin Peaks, but first, go back and watch the first season..

 Sue:
 Sit in meditation for At last 4 Hours, you should work up to 8 hours.

 Julia -
 Watch: I Am Cuba
 Real: Howard Zinn - People's History Of United States
 Plant a Tree for each of Your loved ones unique to their Special essence.
 Music Jamie Woon

 Harley
 * Perform Your show, Black When I Was A Boy, every week until you are at the “Public Theatre” in NY
 * Speed a month in India

 Alice - “Thank you for your warm, beautiful Soul”
 * Take a Clown Class. It will change your life and awaken a new playful part in you. Virginia Scott is the teacher you must study with.
 * Crucial Conversations -very annoying butchanhed my undressing of communication and people

 Grace “I have more, Coop”
 Create a Just cause Day and invite 5 of your friends to Join along with you.
 Read: Americana

 Anonymous
 Book - The Artist Way
 Movie - Sorry, I just can’t think of anything that you may not have seen already.
 Music - Spirituals in Concert. Jessye Norman, beautiful Opera Singer. + Kathleen Deanna Battle* One small project update: a couple of you have emailed me and eother asked if this deck can play to kids or you have told me you are planning to use it with kids. I just want to stress that even though the deck is in good taste there are a lot of questioins that might go over the head of somebody really young. But then again, I would have gone through this deck with my daughters where they were younger when my daughters were younger. So, I guess it depends on the child. That said, I have a friend who has a pretty shrarp Seven year old so I decided to let her answer a random question from the deck. I am going to remove the obvious bad candidates and then i will present what is left of the cards to her and let her pick in that "Pick a card any card," style. I am going to record her answer and I will post that.  I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes.


*One Small "Project" Update: 

A couple of you have emailed me to asked if this deck can play to kids or  you have informed me you are planning to use this deck with kids. I just want to stress that even though the deck is in good taste there are a lot of questioins that might go over the head of somebody really young. But then again,  I guess it depends on the child. That said, I have a friend who has a pretty sharp seven year old so I asked her parents if they would  let her answer a random question from the deck? I am going to remove the obvious non contenders ( cards) and then I will present what is left of the cards to her and let her pick a question in that "Pick a card any card," style. I am going to record and share her answer.  I'm looking forward to sharing it with you.