I saw a new mag at Costco that lists the games and rates them for people like me interested in added this dimension to their Iphones.
As there are over 10,000 apps for the Iphone its hard to know which ones are good and which ones are not even worth the 99 cents.
Looking through this mag/book I found a few that look pretty promising. Each one is a real winner.
There is one called ipingpong. Its a very neat 3d program that lets you play ping pong with an imaginary player. You can select the level of competence of the player that you play. There are practice choices and game choices. You finger moves the paddle on the sceeen. Its cool its worth it.
I found an interesting game shooting ducks as in a carnival for the second game. The directions were not too intuitive.. but tilting the iphone around and taping the screen when the circle was over the ducks seemed to work just fine. Its a winner.
The third one is called Removem. The book recommended the free one..but for a very small fee you lose the adds and the constant do you want to purchase the paid one reminders. So do it you will like it. It is one of those games that you try to pick the dots that are continuously the same color and double clicking on them eliminates them and allow the next rank or color drop into place, There is a tote for accumlated scores and other cool features.
All three of these are winners. There are somewhat in the roll the bb around the dots kind of game that you get at the 5 and 10 cent store.. but still.. maybe thats really what you want when you are killing time with your iphone.
Best wishes for a great holiday season.
Pat
A written expression of a 65year old plus retired Speech and Language Specialist in the Central Valley of California.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Setting up a New Iphone is Daunting
Sue got a new Iphone.
There were certain requirements that she had to have.
It had to be red.
It had to retain the photo of fassie.. or Maffsa the cat we lost two years ago. A photo on her flip phone was the last remaining daily photo.
It took the people at ATnT, (3) of them, 30 minutes to do it. The phone that Sue had been using was one of the first "pink" flip phones. It was rather unique because it was made half of one run that had one color of pink and the start of another that used another color of pink.
Its day was over since we are now more into texting. Having to sort through the triad of letters to pick out the best one was slowing her down.. and limiting her responses. She has also wanted to have wiki power in her pocket. So.. she was playing the martyr, mom is always the last to get the cools stuff.. Yeah but mom is the first to say.. I like it the way it is.. plain food! Ha!
The problem was that the photo was not contained in the sim or memory chip. It resided deep within the memory of the phone itself.
It was accomplished.
As for the red portion.. the cover for the phone was much more to her liking with a slim pink one. So she was happy with the hot pink cover that was silicon based.
Then the battle began to get this phone come capability.
All of my ITunes purchases and choices sync right over to her phone as we were use the same Itunes account. The facebook account was anothe matter.
As I registered her up for facebook, They needed a unique email account for her registration.
I signed her up for a g mail account through google. That worked out rather quickly. The only problem then was to get the Iphone to recognize the email for gmail and not the mail from the pac bell account. That had to come from eliminating my email account from her phone and selecting the banner with google as the supplier and then it worked.
So after a little bit of configuration, Sue is has her own email account and her own facebook account. I have been recommending many of you to her as friendss,
: ) Pat
There were certain requirements that she had to have.
It had to be red.
It had to retain the photo of fassie.. or Maffsa the cat we lost two years ago. A photo on her flip phone was the last remaining daily photo.
It took the people at ATnT, (3) of them, 30 minutes to do it. The phone that Sue had been using was one of the first "pink" flip phones. It was rather unique because it was made half of one run that had one color of pink and the start of another that used another color of pink.
Its day was over since we are now more into texting. Having to sort through the triad of letters to pick out the best one was slowing her down.. and limiting her responses. She has also wanted to have wiki power in her pocket. So.. she was playing the martyr, mom is always the last to get the cools stuff.. Yeah but mom is the first to say.. I like it the way it is.. plain food! Ha!
The problem was that the photo was not contained in the sim or memory chip. It resided deep within the memory of the phone itself.
It was accomplished.
As for the red portion.. the cover for the phone was much more to her liking with a slim pink one. So she was happy with the hot pink cover that was silicon based.
Then the battle began to get this phone come capability.
All of my ITunes purchases and choices sync right over to her phone as we were use the same Itunes account. The facebook account was anothe matter.
As I registered her up for facebook, They needed a unique email account for her registration.
I signed her up for a g mail account through google. That worked out rather quickly. The only problem then was to get the Iphone to recognize the email for gmail and not the mail from the pac bell account. That had to come from eliminating my email account from her phone and selecting the banner with google as the supplier and then it worked.
So after a little bit of configuration, Sue is has her own email account and her own facebook account. I have been recommending many of you to her as friendss,
: ) Pat
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
A Story that left us Rolling on the Floor at Lunch
We have a crazy lunch time group and sometimes we are really out of control. We are loud and we have too much fun for a therapy session.
Today's topic took us out. We read the story in our local Sun Star and the implications just drove us over the edge.
Now you have a chance to do the same:
Merced County Main Jail inmate's stashed 'shank' is surgically removed
Prisoner had hidden the weapon inside his body cavity.
By VICTOR A. PATTON
vpatton@mercedsun-star.com
Don't try this at home -- or in jail.
An inmate at the Merced County Main Jail had a homemade knife surgically removed from his body cavity last month, according to Merced county Sheriff's officials.
He now faces concealed weapons charges.
This 5-inch plastic weapon was recovered from Rance Johnson, a prisoner at the Merced County Main Jail, after surgery at a Modesto hospital.
The inmate, 19-year-old Rance Johnson, approached corrections officials Nov. 18, complaining about an item stuck inside his rectum, causing pain, according to Deputy Tom MacKenzie.
Even worse, Johnson told deputies the improvised weapon -- known in jailhouse slang as a "shank" -- had been inside his body for three weeks.
He was taken to an emergency room in Modesto, and the 5-inch-long plastic shank was surgically removed, MacKenzie said.
"The taxpayer money does cover actual stupidity; hence this guy did have to have this surgically removed," said Sheriff Mark Pazin. "It's unfortunate, but it's a mandated surgery."
MacKenzie said Johnson told investigators he had no idea what the item was, that he'd found it in an interview room and tried smuggling the weapon by inserting it into his rectum. The item was wrapped inside tissue paper and placed in a sandwich bag before it was inserted, MacKenzie said.
Johnson is being held at the jail on suspicion of shooting a 17-year-old male near Castle Airport in September.
In addition to the concealed weapons charges, Johnson is facing an enhancement for allegedly committing a crime while participating in a criminal street gang.
My additions:
Yes the poor Dr, that took it out.. he didn't know sh
The defense attorney. " He didn't know..."
The jury.. Listening to the details
The judge.. trying to keep a straight face
Today's topic took us out. We read the story in our local Sun Star and the implications just drove us over the edge.
Now you have a chance to do the same:
Merced County Main Jail inmate's stashed 'shank' is surgically removed
Prisoner had hidden the weapon inside his body cavity.
By VICTOR A. PATTON
vpatton@mercedsun-star.com
Don't try this at home -- or in jail.
An inmate at the Merced County Main Jail had a homemade knife surgically removed from his body cavity last month, according to Merced county Sheriff's officials.
He now faces concealed weapons charges.
This 5-inch plastic weapon was recovered from Rance Johnson, a prisoner at the Merced County Main Jail, after surgery at a Modesto hospital.
The inmate, 19-year-old Rance Johnson, approached corrections officials Nov. 18, complaining about an item stuck inside his rectum, causing pain, according to Deputy Tom MacKenzie.
Even worse, Johnson told deputies the improvised weapon -- known in jailhouse slang as a "shank" -- had been inside his body for three weeks.
He was taken to an emergency room in Modesto, and the 5-inch-long plastic shank was surgically removed, MacKenzie said.
"The taxpayer money does cover actual stupidity; hence this guy did have to have this surgically removed," said Sheriff Mark Pazin. "It's unfortunate, but it's a mandated surgery."
MacKenzie said Johnson told investigators he had no idea what the item was, that he'd found it in an interview room and tried smuggling the weapon by inserting it into his rectum. The item was wrapped inside tissue paper and placed in a sandwich bag before it was inserted, MacKenzie said.
Johnson is being held at the jail on suspicion of shooting a 17-year-old male near Castle Airport in September.
In addition to the concealed weapons charges, Johnson is facing an enhancement for allegedly committing a crime while participating in a criminal street gang.
My additions:
Yes the poor Dr, that took it out.. he didn't know sh
The defense attorney. " He didn't know..."
The jury.. Listening to the details
The judge.. trying to keep a straight face
Sunday, November 29, 2009
New Situations for Dialog Day
Dialog day for my students is Thursday.
Here is a list of situations that could be used as a content piece for some of these days. I have borrowed heavily from Warm up Exercises Calisthenics for the Brain by Rita Kisner and Brooke Knowles Book 2.
You are about to have the last piece of pie when three friends drop by.
Someone keeps copying your paper
Your at the check stand at the supermarket and you realize that you left your money at home
You have invited to a pool party and it starts to rain
You loaned someone your ipod but you can’t remember who
You are doing your homework but you don’t understand the assignment
Your friend has borrowed some money from you and he hasn’t paid it back
A friend invites you to a party and you don’t want to go
A friend asks to borrow something that you don’t want to loan.
A date wants to see a movie that you’ve seen and didn’t like
You just got your hair cut and you don’t like it.
Ask a friend for a ride home from school
Ask a friend if you could join the group for lunch
Ask where he got the new jacket
You need a pencil for the next class, ask your classmate
Ask directions to a party from a person who is also going
You meet your teacher at the mall
You have to break an important date that you made weeks ago.
You need someone to help you move furniture.
Here is a list of situations that could be used as a content piece for some of these days. I have borrowed heavily from Warm up Exercises Calisthenics for the Brain by Rita Kisner and Brooke Knowles Book 2.
You are about to have the last piece of pie when three friends drop by.
Someone keeps copying your paper
Your at the check stand at the supermarket and you realize that you left your money at home
You have invited to a pool party and it starts to rain
You loaned someone your ipod but you can’t remember who
You are doing your homework but you don’t understand the assignment
Your friend has borrowed some money from you and he hasn’t paid it back
A friend invites you to a party and you don’t want to go
A friend asks to borrow something that you don’t want to loan.
A date wants to see a movie that you’ve seen and didn’t like
You just got your hair cut and you don’t like it.
Ask a friend for a ride home from school
Ask a friend if you could join the group for lunch
Ask where he got the new jacket
You need a pencil for the next class, ask your classmate
Ask directions to a party from a person who is also going
You meet your teacher at the mall
You have to break an important date that you made weeks ago.
You need someone to help you move furniture.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
New Word- Eponyous
In reading a review for Sin Nombre a movie made in 2009 regarding a group of people making the move into the US from Honduras on the top of a train, the reviewer mentioned the next project for the producer of this movie was going to be Jane Eyre.
The reference here is that the movie will be named after the character. It is therefore an eponymous work.
officially:
eponymous
adj [ɪˈpɒnɪməs]
adj
1. (of a person) being the person after whom a literary work, film, etc., is named the eponymous heroine in the film of Jane Eyre
2. (of a literary work, film, etc.) named after its central character or creator The Stooges' eponymous debut album
eponymously adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 6th Edition 2003. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
The reference here is that the movie will be named after the character. It is therefore an eponymous work.
officially:
eponymous
adj [ɪˈpɒnɪməs]
adj
1. (of a person) being the person after whom a literary work, film, etc., is named the eponymous heroine in the film of Jane Eyre
2. (of a literary work, film, etc.) named after its central character or creator The Stooges' eponymous debut album
eponymously adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 6th Edition 2003. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Fall Music
New Music for the Walk each morning:
Eva Cassidy- Somewhere- Eva was known for her technical ability to sing in any genre and make it distinctively hers. What a voice! She died in the 80's of melanoma. She was in her 20's. I heard her songs being played in the local Starbucks and used shazam on the Iphone to find out who she was. My emusic only has her paired with others in albums. I looked her up on the Wiki because someone commented in the Emusic review how when she recorded one song.. songbird she was already losing it.. or rather was almost gone. Her local familiarity was in the DC area. After her death she was very popular in the UK.
Norah Jones, the daughter of with some musical linage has issued a new album for the fall. On ITunes it comes with about 5 bonus tracks. She plays the piano and comes in rather understated.
I downloaded the soundtrack from Sleepless in Seattle. Its been a good companion on the trail. Its got some Jimmy D and some Louis Armstrong. It even has one by Joe Cocker, a new friend of Francisco's in Rome. He took him around the sights last week.
I down loaded a selection from the sound stage that commemorates the chick films. It had 50 songs not from the original artists that came from various "chick"films. On those they charge off 12 of your monthly selections for the actual download of 52 cuts.
Blaine Larson has been downloaded for the country fans. He has some interesting songs.
I ran into the group "Train". There new songs have several that reference the Bay Area. Its nice to hear some contemporary that is not rap. They have a very nice full sound.
These songs and songlists are hitting the road with me each morning. If I start early I can hear the songs the entire way. If I wait a littel and do not hit my 5:30 wakeup and and the road mark, they have to accompany me on the quiet residential side of the trip.. the last half.
I thought that I would share my playlist with you! In this forum.
Have a great weekend!
Pat
Eva Cassidy- Somewhere- Eva was known for her technical ability to sing in any genre and make it distinctively hers. What a voice! She died in the 80's of melanoma. She was in her 20's. I heard her songs being played in the local Starbucks and used shazam on the Iphone to find out who she was. My emusic only has her paired with others in albums. I looked her up on the Wiki because someone commented in the Emusic review how when she recorded one song.. songbird she was already losing it.. or rather was almost gone. Her local familiarity was in the DC area. After her death she was very popular in the UK.
Norah Jones, the daughter of with some musical linage has issued a new album for the fall. On ITunes it comes with about 5 bonus tracks. She plays the piano and comes in rather understated.
I downloaded the soundtrack from Sleepless in Seattle. Its been a good companion on the trail. Its got some Jimmy D and some Louis Armstrong. It even has one by Joe Cocker, a new friend of Francisco's in Rome. He took him around the sights last week.
I down loaded a selection from the sound stage that commemorates the chick films. It had 50 songs not from the original artists that came from various "chick"films. On those they charge off 12 of your monthly selections for the actual download of 52 cuts.
Blaine Larson has been downloaded for the country fans. He has some interesting songs.
I ran into the group "Train". There new songs have several that reference the Bay Area. Its nice to hear some contemporary that is not rap. They have a very nice full sound.
These songs and songlists are hitting the road with me each morning. If I start early I can hear the songs the entire way. If I wait a littel and do not hit my 5:30 wakeup and and the road mark, they have to accompany me on the quiet residential side of the trip.. the last half.
I thought that I would share my playlist with you! In this forum.
Have a great weekend!
Pat
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Vets Day 2009
Its veteran's day 2009.
Again we are at war.
Someone that graduated from one of my high School's was killed this week in Iraq. His Humvee flipped. He was sitting on top.
It seems such a waste to put our military at risk for every pot shotting cook to try to take them out. So we run humvees up and down the territory.
Our mission in Afghanistan started out to get Osama Bin Laden. Now we are there to seems to be a change in the mission. We are after the Taliban, their drug trade and rebuilding a country with infrastructure that doesn't want it. Again we think know best.. I hate that attitude.
In the US we are having to deal with our own fundamentalists. Will it ever end? Captured by the grip of an entire TV network these folks do not listen to reason because they heard it from Rush. They spew out crap that they are sure is true but was mainly designed to get people to fear and by extension hate.
We really do not need to waste our resources and the blood of our strongest in a far away land. We need to think of our military as part of the agency they serve.. the department of DEFENSE. I don't think the military is the proper agency to give countries new governances. We should not be training the world's policemen or training the world's armies.
Love to All.. Pat
Again we are at war.
Someone that graduated from one of my high School's was killed this week in Iraq. His Humvee flipped. He was sitting on top.
It seems such a waste to put our military at risk for every pot shotting cook to try to take them out. So we run humvees up and down the territory.
Our mission in Afghanistan started out to get Osama Bin Laden. Now we are there to seems to be a change in the mission. We are after the Taliban, their drug trade and rebuilding a country with infrastructure that doesn't want it. Again we think know best.. I hate that attitude.
In the US we are having to deal with our own fundamentalists. Will it ever end? Captured by the grip of an entire TV network these folks do not listen to reason because they heard it from Rush. They spew out crap that they are sure is true but was mainly designed to get people to fear and by extension hate.
We really do not need to waste our resources and the blood of our strongest in a far away land. We need to think of our military as part of the agency they serve.. the department of DEFENSE. I don't think the military is the proper agency to give countries new governances. We should not be training the world's policemen or training the world's armies.
Love to All.. Pat
Friday, November 6, 2009
Clover at Starbucks!
In Foster City.. I took my walk this morning. The old mall that used to be covered with a fiberglass tent is no more. The Ice Challet is there. No food court but there are a few restaurants that have taken their places.
In this outdoor "mall" was the only business outside of Verison that was doing any business. Starbucks. Inside there was line that almost reached the door. Signs touted their one year anniversary of their clover machine. If you go back through my blog archieves you will find an article I copied and pasted that talked about the innovations of the clover machine. (November 24th 2007) Each cup is individually brewed. It takes a little longer and that some places were charging a premium for this treatment. Heather has a nice report on what she thinks of it in response to the Clover aticle.
I did not think that I would find one of these machines in a Starbucks with their fast turnover and their carmel machiado lattes. But here it was.
I ordered one up... no significant surcharge. 2.95 for a tall. The robot like machine sprung to life after the barista individually ground the Guatemalin Medin Antiqua... yada yada yada.
It brewed a beautiful cup of coffee that I compared to the regular "Thanksgiving" blend coming off the boil system. It was a little brighter and less watery. It did not have the punch of an espresso but it did have a soft after taste that you may get when the espresso is so bitter that it sweetens out.
During the time that I was in the store I was the only one to order a "clover" everyone else seemed in such a hurry that that took their drinks and ran to get back in their cars and head for work.
Would I do a clover again... sure.
: ) Pat
In this outdoor "mall" was the only business outside of Verison that was doing any business. Starbucks. Inside there was line that almost reached the door. Signs touted their one year anniversary of their clover machine. If you go back through my blog archieves you will find an article I copied and pasted that talked about the innovations of the clover machine. (November 24th 2007) Each cup is individually brewed. It takes a little longer and that some places were charging a premium for this treatment. Heather has a nice report on what she thinks of it in response to the Clover aticle.
I did not think that I would find one of these machines in a Starbucks with their fast turnover and their carmel machiado lattes. But here it was.
I ordered one up... no significant surcharge. 2.95 for a tall. The robot like machine sprung to life after the barista individually ground the Guatemalin Medin Antiqua... yada yada yada.
It brewed a beautiful cup of coffee that I compared to the regular "Thanksgiving" blend coming off the boil system. It was a little brighter and less watery. It did not have the punch of an espresso but it did have a soft after taste that you may get when the espresso is so bitter that it sweetens out.
During the time that I was in the store I was the only one to order a "clover" everyone else seemed in such a hurry that that took their drinks and ran to get back in their cars and head for work.
Would I do a clover again... sure.
: ) Pat
Waking up in the Crowne
This morning we wake up in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City.
Its Friday and we are taking the day off to do a little touristing. Sue's brother has flown in this week to do some training or be trained on the the latest compliance issues for banks and credit unions. He has some time so here we are.
I conjured this place up off of Hotwire. It is one of the Hotwire exclusive suppliers. A four star in the Bay Area for 68 dollars. Thats pretty good. We are on the fourth floor.
The last time we were here I was in a lot of pain. We had booked this place as the landing area for the retreat night 6 years ago. I had a huge blistery area on my stomach from spilled coffee at a 49er game. We left early from the reunion to get some recovery time at the hotel.
The industry has changed somewhat and so has this hotel. Its still pretty bland in terms of design.. business tan. The beds have been changed to their comfort set. They are pretty nice. The Tvs are now flat screens and bigger.. all the better to show you HD movies that you may buy off the box. Its a bigger TV too.
What is really interesting is there is free network access to the internet and free access to the wifi connection for my Iphone. There is even a cmputer in the room that is free to use (no printer of course) and it has a DVD in it. The monitor is not a mac monitor but it fooled Sue when she walked in. Oh there is an IMac. Well no the tower is just mounted uner the desk.
The had a nonsmoking handicapped room for us at 9:30 pm when we arrived. The fitness area looks cool. The location is great.. just off the San Mateo bridge.. now if I had only remembered to pack my Iphone charger.. there is always something.
Love Pat
Its Friday and we are taking the day off to do a little touristing. Sue's brother has flown in this week to do some training or be trained on the the latest compliance issues for banks and credit unions. He has some time so here we are.
I conjured this place up off of Hotwire. It is one of the Hotwire exclusive suppliers. A four star in the Bay Area for 68 dollars. Thats pretty good. We are on the fourth floor.
The last time we were here I was in a lot of pain. We had booked this place as the landing area for the retreat night 6 years ago. I had a huge blistery area on my stomach from spilled coffee at a 49er game. We left early from the reunion to get some recovery time at the hotel.
The industry has changed somewhat and so has this hotel. Its still pretty bland in terms of design.. business tan. The beds have been changed to their comfort set. They are pretty nice. The Tvs are now flat screens and bigger.. all the better to show you HD movies that you may buy off the box. Its a bigger TV too.
What is really interesting is there is free network access to the internet and free access to the wifi connection for my Iphone. There is even a cmputer in the room that is free to use (no printer of course) and it has a DVD in it. The monitor is not a mac monitor but it fooled Sue when she walked in. Oh there is an IMac. Well no the tower is just mounted uner the desk.
The had a nonsmoking handicapped room for us at 9:30 pm when we arrived. The fitness area looks cool. The location is great.. just off the San Mateo bridge.. now if I had only remembered to pack my Iphone charger.. there is always something.
Love Pat
Monday, November 2, 2009
Halloween is Over
There is such anticipation at school over Halloween.
The students plot their schemes to do their year "crawl" for candy. One would think that they never get candy during the rest of the year. Success is measured by the bags of candy they drag home.
Almost all of my students still participate in the yearly ritual. They all have an idea of what they will dress "as." Some dress up to help their brother and sister experience the event. There is no sense of danger that once accompanied trick or treating.
In the students eyes they expect teachers to "seed" their quest before they make the rounds. Handfuls of candy are often distributed and we are asked who we are going to be for Halloween. I refrained from such a practice.
Its over now. There a tales the students want to share.. thats a good thing if you are a speech teacher.
There is also a sort of stillness in that the really hot weather is over and sense that it is time to get down to business.
The class is still crawling through the "Rookie" and every little non verbal nuance is getting examined. We are working the state standards in literature except its not in reading but understanding. New words this week will be some of the "academic words." like sort, describe, explain, select.. you know the ones that always show up in the test maker's arsenal.
Forge on.. Christmas is not that far away.
: ) Pat
The students plot their schemes to do their year "crawl" for candy. One would think that they never get candy during the rest of the year. Success is measured by the bags of candy they drag home.
Almost all of my students still participate in the yearly ritual. They all have an idea of what they will dress "as." Some dress up to help their brother and sister experience the event. There is no sense of danger that once accompanied trick or treating.
In the students eyes they expect teachers to "seed" their quest before they make the rounds. Handfuls of candy are often distributed and we are asked who we are going to be for Halloween. I refrained from such a practice.
Its over now. There a tales the students want to share.. thats a good thing if you are a speech teacher.
There is also a sort of stillness in that the really hot weather is over and sense that it is time to get down to business.
The class is still crawling through the "Rookie" and every little non verbal nuance is getting examined. We are working the state standards in literature except its not in reading but understanding. New words this week will be some of the "academic words." like sort, describe, explain, select.. you know the ones that always show up in the test maker's arsenal.
Forge on.. Christmas is not that far away.
: ) Pat
Friday, October 23, 2009
Dialog Day and a New Idea
Thursday is my dialog day. Its a chance to do some role playing and to work on real life scripts. Some students of mine like to be "funny" on this day and say some pretty cazy things in the situation. Thats okay because they often come back with the serious dialog after.
This was particularly interesting this week. My class was intercepted by a favor that I did for the sectretary of the school. One of the substitute teachers for the afternoon resource math class decided not to come. The secretary needed a place with a credentialed teacher to house the three students that were left. They had a para helper but of course that is not good enough. She asked me if I could take them into my class. Sure I said. They came with their math work. It was hard for them to concentrate on their math class as we were going into the scripts.... sooo I decided to included them in. They joined in with the scripts and had a great time.
One female student specifically wanted one of the scripts that had the mother talking in the problem.
That got me thinking...
Maybe I need a whole batch of "Mother" scripts for the students to try out.
On my walk today I got to thinking about it and came up with three categories:
Momma says.. in the present tense.. Momma will actually be a character in these scripts.
Momma said, Moma will be a source of guidence in these scripts
And then Momma said, will repesent a reporting of what momma actually said in a remembered situation.
Draw the card do the dialog.. it should be fun to work on this project>
Anyone out there in bogland have a scenario that would fit any of these situations>
Post a response and I will add it to the frey.
Thanks
Pat
This was particularly interesting this week. My class was intercepted by a favor that I did for the sectretary of the school. One of the substitute teachers for the afternoon resource math class decided not to come. The secretary needed a place with a credentialed teacher to house the three students that were left. They had a para helper but of course that is not good enough. She asked me if I could take them into my class. Sure I said. They came with their math work. It was hard for them to concentrate on their math class as we were going into the scripts.... sooo I decided to included them in. They joined in with the scripts and had a great time.
One female student specifically wanted one of the scripts that had the mother talking in the problem.
That got me thinking...
Maybe I need a whole batch of "Mother" scripts for the students to try out.
On my walk today I got to thinking about it and came up with three categories:
Momma says.. in the present tense.. Momma will actually be a character in these scripts.
Momma said, Moma will be a source of guidence in these scripts
And then Momma said, will repesent a reporting of what momma actually said in a remembered situation.
Draw the card do the dialog.. it should be fun to work on this project>
Anyone out there in bogland have a scenario that would fit any of these situations>
Post a response and I will add it to the frey.
Thanks
Pat
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Therapy is Therapy
When I do small group therapy, the first thing that I do is allow them to talk with me. I had a student talk to me about finding her birth mother and then the birthmother rejected meeting her today. She is Autistic.. wanted to know whether the Autism was caused by her birth mother dropping her on her head.. well no... So I had to pull out the psych tools. Look ahead not back.. You love your adapted mother and your birth mother probably didn't deserve you. That changed the picture and the tears dried up. I could have consumed the whole period. One of the other girls who "hates her" picked up a tissue and handed it to her.
That is the stuff that keeps you in this business.
A couple of boys are stinking up the place pretty bad. They became the "winners" of Mr. Brown's wierd contest. Each of four winners received a box of Irish Spring soap. What a prize.
Sometimes its just the little things. Every try to buy soap with food stamps.. it doesn't happen.
: ) Pat
That is the stuff that keeps you in this business.
A couple of boys are stinking up the place pretty bad. They became the "winners" of Mr. Brown's wierd contest. Each of four winners received a box of Irish Spring soap. What a prize.
Sometimes its just the little things. Every try to buy soap with food stamps.. it doesn't happen.
: ) Pat
Saturday, October 10, 2009
The Band's Visit
This is a great movie.. put it on your netflix que or see it instantly if you can.
Imagine an Egyptian Police Band sent over to Israel to do a "hands across the country lines" kind of thing and then be abandoned in a far off outpost.
This movie strikes some familiar chords with those of us that have been sort of stuck in a foreign country that kind of speaks our language. That is one side of it. There is a great generational sequence with an inventive hostess. What do people in abandon like cities do.. they imagine their park.
This movie has great development of character. The actors are pretty real. There is a little response a Egyptian hostility from a younger person. Most of the movie was how based on how these fish out of water interacted with the hosts and how did they survive.
The younger Egyptian member shows an inept town member how to comfort a depressed girl at the roller rink. Its a great sequence.
There is a very soft rhythm to this movie.
I have been trying to track down this movie since it came out on Redbox last spring. This movie has won several awards and most of it is in English. This seems to be the language that transcends the plot. It would be interesting to watch this movie with Reza or his family to find out what the Egyptians are really saying.
So there is one for you.. The Band's Visit. You won't recognize the actors but you will relate to their struggles. : ) Pat
Imagine an Egyptian Police Band sent over to Israel to do a "hands across the country lines" kind of thing and then be abandoned in a far off outpost.
This movie strikes some familiar chords with those of us that have been sort of stuck in a foreign country that kind of speaks our language. That is one side of it. There is a great generational sequence with an inventive hostess. What do people in abandon like cities do.. they imagine their park.
This movie has great development of character. The actors are pretty real. There is a little response a Egyptian hostility from a younger person. Most of the movie was how based on how these fish out of water interacted with the hosts and how did they survive.
The younger Egyptian member shows an inept town member how to comfort a depressed girl at the roller rink. Its a great sequence.
There is a very soft rhythm to this movie.
I have been trying to track down this movie since it came out on Redbox last spring. This movie has won several awards and most of it is in English. This seems to be the language that transcends the plot. It would be interesting to watch this movie with Reza or his family to find out what the Egyptians are really saying.
So there is one for you.. The Band's Visit. You won't recognize the actors but you will relate to their struggles. : ) Pat
Monday, September 28, 2009
Merced's Hidden Cottage Industry
It was a very slow night in the local restaurant business.
Sue didn't want to go out to eat.. but I did. I headed for a place that she is not really too fond of.. Hometown Buffet.
Out in front were two rather new looking "Arrow" brand buses. Inside were two bus loads of French tourists delicately and selectively eating at the buffet restaurant. This happens quite often in Merced. The manager knows when they are coming and ropes off a section for their group. They really seem to enjoy the chance to talk to each other as much as eat.
I always think of my friend Fransico in Italy when I see these groups. He has lead many of these groups throughout Europe and landed in foreign places like Home Town Buffet must seem to these visitors.
Merced must make a good profit from these groups. There are at least 50 people in each bus. Tonight there were 100 people eating. at 11 dollars a crack it surely adds up.
Interesting observations to the cultural differences follow.. Many of these observations may need to be tempered by the fact that it was 8pm and these people have been on the road for a good bit of the day. Where? Maybe Yosemite.. maybe running from the South to the North or the North to the South on the quintessential (I love my spell checker in this blog) California trip.
They were a little astounded by the soda machine. The females would come up and look it over and maybe try to get some water out of it. Only one male was successful getting the machine to vend some coke. He took a "shot full" and wrinkled up his nose. One could only believe that the recipe for Coke was completely different in France.
No one seemed to be going after the salad. One female member headed for the fruit for desert (cut up) but most took a long and hard look at the deserts and finally picked up a little soft serve and a think slice of cheese cake. No one went after the coconut cream pie.
The big station for the French was the slicing station. One bold member found out that the roast beef they were slicing was brisket. That pleased her. She told the carver that the brisket looked good and that she wanted a piece. Most were after the steak. None of them wanted the ham. A few picked up some french fies and one went after a little fried fish.
Overall I really don't think that they got their money's worth. But considering the exchange rate, they probablly felt they had.
: ) Pat
Sue didn't want to go out to eat.. but I did. I headed for a place that she is not really too fond of.. Hometown Buffet.
Out in front were two rather new looking "Arrow" brand buses. Inside were two bus loads of French tourists delicately and selectively eating at the buffet restaurant. This happens quite often in Merced. The manager knows when they are coming and ropes off a section for their group. They really seem to enjoy the chance to talk to each other as much as eat.
I always think of my friend Fransico in Italy when I see these groups. He has lead many of these groups throughout Europe and landed in foreign places like Home Town Buffet must seem to these visitors.
Merced must make a good profit from these groups. There are at least 50 people in each bus. Tonight there were 100 people eating. at 11 dollars a crack it surely adds up.
Interesting observations to the cultural differences follow.. Many of these observations may need to be tempered by the fact that it was 8pm and these people have been on the road for a good bit of the day. Where? Maybe Yosemite.. maybe running from the South to the North or the North to the South on the quintessential (I love my spell checker in this blog) California trip.
They were a little astounded by the soda machine. The females would come up and look it over and maybe try to get some water out of it. Only one male was successful getting the machine to vend some coke. He took a "shot full" and wrinkled up his nose. One could only believe that the recipe for Coke was completely different in France.
No one seemed to be going after the salad. One female member headed for the fruit for desert (cut up) but most took a long and hard look at the deserts and finally picked up a little soft serve and a think slice of cheese cake. No one went after the coconut cream pie.
The big station for the French was the slicing station. One bold member found out that the roast beef they were slicing was brisket. That pleased her. She told the carver that the brisket looked good and that she wanted a piece. Most were after the steak. None of them wanted the ham. A few picked up some french fies and one went after a little fried fish.
Overall I really don't think that they got their money's worth. But considering the exchange rate, they probablly felt they had.
: ) Pat
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Recently Hit with Dr.s and Dentists
One day off to see the dr.. to establish a new service.
We are switching to a Dr. group. It has about 35 Docs in the practice along with the other support folks.
We will get appointments with the dietitian. Sue with the pain specialist. I am following up with my breathing dr.
I just had my teeth cleaning and so did Sue. We established a patient realationship with a rheumatologist in Modesto.
Last week we got the chair back from the body shop. Sue is pretty happy with the work that he did. There was a lot of gusseting that had to be done to accommodate the new hardwood platform the the chair is mounted upon.
So we have been busy running around.
Classes have settled down and they are ready for their first tests of the new words in my construction oriented curriculum.
No one in my classes could related enamel to paint. A couple of the students recognized it as a dental word. Its been a pretty rocky start. Most students at the end of last year were certain that they would not have me on their schedule for this year. For some of them it was a misplacement when they discovered that they once again had "Mr. Brown." So finally we have all of the kids off that needed to be off and we can finally focus the climate of the class to cooperative learning.
And so it goes.. only a few more weeks and the first reportcards go out... or rather in. The are held hostage as the parents come in to get them and talk to the teachers about the basis for the grades.
Have a great week... : ) Pat
We are switching to a Dr. group. It has about 35 Docs in the practice along with the other support folks.
We will get appointments with the dietitian. Sue with the pain specialist. I am following up with my breathing dr.
I just had my teeth cleaning and so did Sue. We established a patient realationship with a rheumatologist in Modesto.
Last week we got the chair back from the body shop. Sue is pretty happy with the work that he did. There was a lot of gusseting that had to be done to accommodate the new hardwood platform the the chair is mounted upon.
So we have been busy running around.
Classes have settled down and they are ready for their first tests of the new words in my construction oriented curriculum.
No one in my classes could related enamel to paint. A couple of the students recognized it as a dental word. Its been a pretty rocky start. Most students at the end of last year were certain that they would not have me on their schedule for this year. For some of them it was a misplacement when they discovered that they once again had "Mr. Brown." So finally we have all of the kids off that needed to be off and we can finally focus the climate of the class to cooperative learning.
And so it goes.. only a few more weeks and the first reportcards go out... or rather in. The are held hostage as the parents come in to get them and talk to the teachers about the basis for the grades.
Have a great week... : ) Pat
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Finally a break in the weather
This weekend was gift
Some worry about thunder and lightning. It was wonderful to see it come and change the weather pattern here.
There are always those that don't like it. Our farmers with the raisins on the ground are not too happy about rain this time of the year. The almonds are still being brushed up off the ground and the farmers are concerned with the mold that may develop.
It made for great weather to be outside. It thundered and carried on all weekend. Monday was too rainy in the morning to walk. Today it was just right.
The last of the pluots are still on the tree. They are the Queens. They stay on the tree ripe from the middle of August until now. When they are picked now, they are still very crisp. The queen pluot is a cross that includes the green gage plum. They are great when they are green and they are great when they are yellow. As with all of the pluots here this year the crop was significantly smaller. The nectarine crop was much smaller too.
Its been a pretty hot return to school this year. We are on our 6th week already. Deficiency notices have already been prepared. The RSP teachers are digging into their caseloads and trying to help the kids who thought that they were doing great without a lot of support. Its always a big surprise to them that teachers follow up on them and will make sure that everything is in place to get them to pass.
Some worry about thunder and lightning. It was wonderful to see it come and change the weather pattern here.
There are always those that don't like it. Our farmers with the raisins on the ground are not too happy about rain this time of the year. The almonds are still being brushed up off the ground and the farmers are concerned with the mold that may develop.
It made for great weather to be outside. It thundered and carried on all weekend. Monday was too rainy in the morning to walk. Today it was just right.
The last of the pluots are still on the tree. They are the Queens. They stay on the tree ripe from the middle of August until now. When they are picked now, they are still very crisp. The queen pluot is a cross that includes the green gage plum. They are great when they are green and they are great when they are yellow. As with all of the pluots here this year the crop was significantly smaller. The nectarine crop was much smaller too.
Its been a pretty hot return to school this year. We are on our 6th week already. Deficiency notices have already been prepared. The RSP teachers are digging into their caseloads and trying to help the kids who thought that they were doing great without a lot of support. Its always a big surprise to them that teachers follow up on them and will make sure that everything is in place to get them to pass.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Another Back to School Night
Last night the ritual was again enacted.
The second "Back to School Night." I had two students show (one briefly) and the no parents.
Other parents came. I could not find a parking space so my little escape had to generate one.
My classes are 5th and 6th period... most everyone had gone home at that point of the "follow you student's schedule." format.
It started at 6:10 and was over at 8:00. Another 2 hours.
Very few special ed parents showed up to any of the classes.
The school grounds are really torn up and not very safe at night. The paving company has ripped up all the infrastructure and putting down huge cement causeways and school must go on as though nothing has changed. Students in this very crowded 2800 student high school are braving the 90 degree temperatures and are funneled into narrow walkways as the construction continues.
At night.. not enough light to keep even the outdoor lockers safe. I saw one student using her cell phone to light up her combination and open her locker for her parents who were curious.. as most parents are of this other life their students are living.
I zen approach is called for here. You cannot change it. But it worth the contemplation as to why they didn't start and finish all of this heavy construction work in the summer.
: ) Pat
The second "Back to School Night." I had two students show (one briefly) and the no parents.
Other parents came. I could not find a parking space so my little escape had to generate one.
My classes are 5th and 6th period... most everyone had gone home at that point of the "follow you student's schedule." format.
It started at 6:10 and was over at 8:00. Another 2 hours.
Very few special ed parents showed up to any of the classes.
The school grounds are really torn up and not very safe at night. The paving company has ripped up all the infrastructure and putting down huge cement causeways and school must go on as though nothing has changed. Students in this very crowded 2800 student high school are braving the 90 degree temperatures and are funneled into narrow walkways as the construction continues.
At night.. not enough light to keep even the outdoor lockers safe. I saw one student using her cell phone to light up her combination and open her locker for her parents who were curious.. as most parents are of this other life their students are living.
I zen approach is called for here. You cannot change it. But it worth the contemplation as to why they didn't start and finish all of this heavy construction work in the summer.
: ) Pat
Monday, September 7, 2009
Target Date
Traditionally this was the date.
The day, Labor Day, was the day that we had to be back home form our summer trip.
Growing up in my family we traveled extensively every summer. Growing up in the Bay Area my parents longed to reconnect and to help with grandma Nellie's and grandpa Bayard's peach farm. My parents also discovered that the world out there was less expensive to live in than summer in the city.
We camped as we traveled. I grumbled but enjoyed the sights. There were always new people to meet as we traveled. We enjoyed the campfire nights in the national parks and the fireside chats at the state parks. When we are stopped at a KOA or some obscure park we camped and set up a family sing a long that invited others with kids to come by and join in. We traveled with guitars and sometimes dad would pull out his harmonica. In the early days I had to practice my trumpet and a certain amount of embarrasment went along with that as at least on hour of practice was required.
Dad imposed the no write no eat law on me early on. I had to produce a page of writing before I could eat dinner in the evening. I was responsible for cleaning and folding the tent to just the right shape so that it would fit directly into the Ford Falcon in just the right place. It had to be that small so that the camping stove and the fuel and the legs to the camping stove would fit there also. I am not sure where our clothes went when we were in the Falcon days.
As I grew up my mom was in a terrible accident. We were smashed into from a stop sign on a rainy day going up the hill to our house. The result of this was several weeks in the hospital for her and a new kind of car that we could carry her around lying down in a cot. It was an International Harvester Travel All. Dad had always wanted a truck. This was the ultimate station wagon truck.
It also became our puller for a trailer that mom and dad bought. Dad romanced it all winter down in San Carlos. Finally he bought it. It could only sleep two. The travelal became the bedroom for my sisters and I pitched the old family tent (8 x8 exterior tent poles) wherever we went.
Tonight would be the night that we had to be home. Mom would be washing the white shirts furiously and dad would be looking over what he needed to do. All white shirts has to be pressed and of course they had to have a hankie to go in the pocket.
The first month of school is always tough on school families. There are enormous things to adjust to. Schedules, new teachers for the kids and lunch boxes. Teachers kids generally don't get new clothes until October.. the first real payday.
Times have changed. Our first day with students was quite awhile ago. August17. Teacher were paid the end of August. And white shirts are no longer the required dress at our school. We are lucky to get the teachers in long pants and polo shirts.
Love to all
Pat
The day, Labor Day, was the day that we had to be back home form our summer trip.
Growing up in my family we traveled extensively every summer. Growing up in the Bay Area my parents longed to reconnect and to help with grandma Nellie's and grandpa Bayard's peach farm. My parents also discovered that the world out there was less expensive to live in than summer in the city.
We camped as we traveled. I grumbled but enjoyed the sights. There were always new people to meet as we traveled. We enjoyed the campfire nights in the national parks and the fireside chats at the state parks. When we are stopped at a KOA or some obscure park we camped and set up a family sing a long that invited others with kids to come by and join in. We traveled with guitars and sometimes dad would pull out his harmonica. In the early days I had to practice my trumpet and a certain amount of embarrasment went along with that as at least on hour of practice was required.
Dad imposed the no write no eat law on me early on. I had to produce a page of writing before I could eat dinner in the evening. I was responsible for cleaning and folding the tent to just the right shape so that it would fit directly into the Ford Falcon in just the right place. It had to be that small so that the camping stove and the fuel and the legs to the camping stove would fit there also. I am not sure where our clothes went when we were in the Falcon days.
As I grew up my mom was in a terrible accident. We were smashed into from a stop sign on a rainy day going up the hill to our house. The result of this was several weeks in the hospital for her and a new kind of car that we could carry her around lying down in a cot. It was an International Harvester Travel All. Dad had always wanted a truck. This was the ultimate station wagon truck.
It also became our puller for a trailer that mom and dad bought. Dad romanced it all winter down in San Carlos. Finally he bought it. It could only sleep two. The travelal became the bedroom for my sisters and I pitched the old family tent (8 x8 exterior tent poles) wherever we went.
Tonight would be the night that we had to be home. Mom would be washing the white shirts furiously and dad would be looking over what he needed to do. All white shirts has to be pressed and of course they had to have a hankie to go in the pocket.
The first month of school is always tough on school families. There are enormous things to adjust to. Schedules, new teachers for the kids and lunch boxes. Teachers kids generally don't get new clothes until October.. the first real payday.
Times have changed. Our first day with students was quite awhile ago. August17. Teacher were paid the end of August. And white shirts are no longer the required dress at our school. We are lucky to get the teachers in long pants and polo shirts.
Love to all
Pat
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Going out of my Mind
Just a degree over normal and we are reduced to craziness.
Its amazing that the our personal comfort is so tied to human body temperature.
I have the flu. They took the ubiquitous nose sample. And then every person that came in contact with me had a mask on.. including me.. check the grim photo in facebook.
So I am home a couple of days. I don't really feel like being home. I don't really feel like doing anything.. but doing nothing is not comfortable either.. so here I am adding to this blog.
I see my sister has added a facebook "badge" to her blog and I have done the same too. We both use this medium to write a little longer communication than the little facebook updates.
The Iphone has changed the communication ideas and modes of my life. I didn't know that it would be easier to check the stuff that I usually check with my computer right from my bed before I wake up or at Starbucks when I am halfway through my walk.
I know what a lose Cammie is going through when her Iphone took a swim in a bucket of red squirt. I hope Apple cuts her a deal.
Its still hot over there. I don't know what I was expecting.. after the first days of September we would really have fall? Silly boy.
Take care
Pat
Its amazing that the our personal comfort is so tied to human body temperature.
I have the flu. They took the ubiquitous nose sample. And then every person that came in contact with me had a mask on.. including me.. check the grim photo in facebook.
So I am home a couple of days. I don't really feel like being home. I don't really feel like doing anything.. but doing nothing is not comfortable either.. so here I am adding to this blog.
I see my sister has added a facebook "badge" to her blog and I have done the same too. We both use this medium to write a little longer communication than the little facebook updates.
The Iphone has changed the communication ideas and modes of my life. I didn't know that it would be easier to check the stuff that I usually check with my computer right from my bed before I wake up or at Starbucks when I am halfway through my walk.
I know what a lose Cammie is going through when her Iphone took a swim in a bucket of red squirt. I hope Apple cuts her a deal.
Its still hot over there. I don't know what I was expecting.. after the first days of September we would really have fall? Silly boy.
Take care
Pat
Monday, August 17, 2009
First Day Back August, 2009, Water issues
It looked to be a miserable day.
I was pushed in to classrooms at both schools that I wasn't sure the teachers that usually occupy the room knew I was coming.
In the morning I had envisioned the varsity basketball coach arriving with an gigantic load of new basketball shoes that needed to be distributed.. no it didn't happen. The students all went to the old classroom and we walked all together to the new one. Everything worked okay. That happened in the 2nd period as well.
At the other school, I had not met the teacher that I was sharing the room with. I had envisioned "pushing in" with my class to a full class. That didn't happen. She taught a 0 period class and was on a shortened schedule, so she was out of their by 4th peiod when I would consider starting my pull out schedule. So that is going to work too.
The afternoon class is impeccably clean. I found out later that she is the daughter of the HR director. So all it well. The room has a smart board and a overhead LcD projector. It is way back by the football field but that won't be in issue once I am there.
The big problem arrived when I got home.
Their was a leak somewhere in the water supply coming into the house and it has continued to pour. There is a moat of 3 inches around our house and the neighbors are concerned that it might take out their carpeting. I call the plumber at 4:30 today and they will be out at 9:30 tomorrow. I hope they can find the issue. In the mean time we are again without water. : ( Pat
I was pushed in to classrooms at both schools that I wasn't sure the teachers that usually occupy the room knew I was coming.
In the morning I had envisioned the varsity basketball coach arriving with an gigantic load of new basketball shoes that needed to be distributed.. no it didn't happen. The students all went to the old classroom and we walked all together to the new one. Everything worked okay. That happened in the 2nd period as well.
At the other school, I had not met the teacher that I was sharing the room with. I had envisioned "pushing in" with my class to a full class. That didn't happen. She taught a 0 period class and was on a shortened schedule, so she was out of their by 4th peiod when I would consider starting my pull out schedule. So that is going to work too.
The afternoon class is impeccably clean. I found out later that she is the daughter of the HR director. So all it well. The room has a smart board and a overhead LcD projector. It is way back by the football field but that won't be in issue once I am there.
The big problem arrived when I got home.
Their was a leak somewhere in the water supply coming into the house and it has continued to pour. There is a moat of 3 inches around our house and the neighbors are concerned that it might take out their carpeting. I call the plumber at 4:30 today and they will be out at 9:30 tomorrow. I hope they can find the issue. In the mean time we are again without water. : ( Pat
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Outsourced !
I just watched a great romantic comedy on Netfix instant.
Judging from the title of this expose.. its Outsourced.
The plot is simple: A call center worker saves his job and his "stock options" by leaving the US and traveling to India to train the Indian call center the nuances of American culture. The central figure falls in love with a smart aleck Indian girl who is promised in an arranged marriage to someone else.
The beauty of this film is in the minor details. The ironic twists. Watch for the boat scene where she speaks "American" and he speaks "Indian." Its a laugh out loud sequence. Sue was wondering what was making me laugh. it is priceless.
The cinematography is wonderful. The acting is authentic. The plot is shallow but it moves right along.
If you don't have instant "play it on your TV" put it on your cue.. This is the one romantic comedy of the Summer that really hits its target.
: ) Pat
Judging from the title of this expose.. its Outsourced.
The plot is simple: A call center worker saves his job and his "stock options" by leaving the US and traveling to India to train the Indian call center the nuances of American culture. The central figure falls in love with a smart aleck Indian girl who is promised in an arranged marriage to someone else.
The beauty of this film is in the minor details. The ironic twists. Watch for the boat scene where she speaks "American" and he speaks "Indian." Its a laugh out loud sequence. Sue was wondering what was making me laugh. it is priceless.
The cinematography is wonderful. The acting is authentic. The plot is shallow but it moves right along.
If you don't have instant "play it on your TV" put it on your cue.. This is the one romantic comedy of the Summer that really hits its target.
: ) Pat
Friday, August 7, 2009
Incentives for Good Kid Work
This comes from Smalldog.com. Their email info had this gem in it:
“I’ve been teaching 1st grade for 31 years… love technology and LOVE Apple! Last year, one of my students was autistic, and difficult to motivate. None of my usual rewards would work and get him to complete his work or improve his behavior. That is, until I offered to let him use my iPhone as a reward!
Once I realized THAT using the iPhone was an ultimate reward for him, I added some games to the iPhone. He also LOVED music and was quite the singer, so I added an entire playlist on it for him, too. (Silly me—I added the bowling game app on it and it quickly became one of his favorite games to use—until my iPhone was sent flying across the room when he accidentally ‘let go’ of it while bowling.) It was then I realized I cold no longer let him use the iPhone and I wrote a grant for an iPod touch. He never knew the difference!
He was allowed to earn the reward 2x/day, and for the last 6 months of the school year, he worked hard on his school work and behavior in order to use the touch. After I added a few 2-player games on the touch, I allowed him to choose a friend to play with him during his reward time with the touch and I started to notice his social interactions with classmates improved tremendously, too!”
It might be time to get out the grant writing stick and look for some Itouches.
: ) Pat
“I’ve been teaching 1st grade for 31 years… love technology and LOVE Apple! Last year, one of my students was autistic, and difficult to motivate. None of my usual rewards would work and get him to complete his work or improve his behavior. That is, until I offered to let him use my iPhone as a reward!
Once I realized THAT using the iPhone was an ultimate reward for him, I added some games to the iPhone. He also LOVED music and was quite the singer, so I added an entire playlist on it for him, too. (Silly me—I added the bowling game app on it and it quickly became one of his favorite games to use—until my iPhone was sent flying across the room when he accidentally ‘let go’ of it while bowling.) It was then I realized I cold no longer let him use the iPhone and I wrote a grant for an iPod touch. He never knew the difference!
He was allowed to earn the reward 2x/day, and for the last 6 months of the school year, he worked hard on his school work and behavior in order to use the touch. After I added a few 2-player games on the touch, I allowed him to choose a friend to play with him during his reward time with the touch and I started to notice his social interactions with classmates improved tremendously, too!”
It might be time to get out the grant writing stick and look for some Itouches.
: ) Pat
Monday, August 3, 2009
It all Starts Again Tomorrow
The break is over.. well almost.
This year instead of heading down to UCLA for some CTA training, I am doing roundup at Buhach Colony High School tomorrow. Roundup is the only time that speech and language people have a chance at earning some comp time credits. Tomorrow we will start at 8 and finish at 10. Which really translates into 7:30 to set up and catch some early hearing folks and then 10:30 to catch the stragglers coming in. Its a mad scene and pretty intense in some high school venues. At other times the students just don't come in and we wait and wait.
The four main schools have over 2000 students each attending. All 10th graders are required to be screened for hearing. So at best we have 5 audiometers humming as we quickly seat students, drop on earphones, test through 3 frequencies at screening level and get appropriate responses. A form is checked off and earphones are removed and the next student is ready to sit down and the procedure continues one after another. A good prodution audiometrist can see 30- 40 in an hour. So with five going.. that means 200 students can get their hearing screened in an hour.
For students it is often a social time. The herds of girls come in together and have to be admonished not to talk during the testing. Guys come in a try to blow off the event. We catch the ones that have been trap shooting and not using ear protection.
The tough ones are the mohawlk hair styles and the huge hoops. We spend time cleaning the hair goop off our earphones and try to keep the lines moving. We pray for cool days and rooms that are cool without air con (sound distrations).
So there is no doubt that it is work. But it is interesting work none the less and our bodies and their bodies are not used to doing chairs and production and crowd control.
So think of me Tues morning and the job that starts the year.
: ) Pat
This year instead of heading down to UCLA for some CTA training, I am doing roundup at Buhach Colony High School tomorrow. Roundup is the only time that speech and language people have a chance at earning some comp time credits. Tomorrow we will start at 8 and finish at 10. Which really translates into 7:30 to set up and catch some early hearing folks and then 10:30 to catch the stragglers coming in. Its a mad scene and pretty intense in some high school venues. At other times the students just don't come in and we wait and wait.
The four main schools have over 2000 students each attending. All 10th graders are required to be screened for hearing. So at best we have 5 audiometers humming as we quickly seat students, drop on earphones, test through 3 frequencies at screening level and get appropriate responses. A form is checked off and earphones are removed and the next student is ready to sit down and the procedure continues one after another. A good prodution audiometrist can see 30- 40 in an hour. So with five going.. that means 200 students can get their hearing screened in an hour.
For students it is often a social time. The herds of girls come in together and have to be admonished not to talk during the testing. Guys come in a try to blow off the event. We catch the ones that have been trap shooting and not using ear protection.
The tough ones are the mohawlk hair styles and the huge hoops. We spend time cleaning the hair goop off our earphones and try to keep the lines moving. We pray for cool days and rooms that are cool without air con (sound distrations).
So there is no doubt that it is work. But it is interesting work none the less and our bodies and their bodies are not used to doing chairs and production and crowd control.
So think of me Tues morning and the job that starts the year.
: ) Pat
Sunday, August 2, 2009
When the Minority controls the Destiny
We are in serious times.
It seems to me that at the national level and at the state level the minority is calling the shots.
Its predictable that our state, with its 2/3 requirement to pass a budget that the minority would carry such unpredictable power. The point of a super majority is that you have bipartisan support for any serious expenditure. With the Republican minority holding to no new taxation, and the state in dire need, the predicted results follow. Still a minority should not have that kind of power.
The same thing is happening at the national scene. Health care reform is being held up by a minority with little support. It is still championing its conservative causes through this important legislation. Our survival as an economic force is controlled by a few that want to limit any possible support at the federal level for women's health. This is not fair. The voters voted this kind of thinking out when they elected Obama and congress people in the last major election.
How can we not afford the health care that we have to have? The minority voices should be heard but the majority voices should rule.
: ) Pat
It seems to me that at the national level and at the state level the minority is calling the shots.
Its predictable that our state, with its 2/3 requirement to pass a budget that the minority would carry such unpredictable power. The point of a super majority is that you have bipartisan support for any serious expenditure. With the Republican minority holding to no new taxation, and the state in dire need, the predicted results follow. Still a minority should not have that kind of power.
The same thing is happening at the national scene. Health care reform is being held up by a minority with little support. It is still championing its conservative causes through this important legislation. Our survival as an economic force is controlled by a few that want to limit any possible support at the federal level for women's health. This is not fair. The voters voted this kind of thinking out when they elected Obama and congress people in the last major election.
How can we not afford the health care that we have to have? The minority voices should be heard but the majority voices should rule.
: ) Pat
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Doctor Side of the Healthcare issue
Dr. Nelson is a well respected family Dr. in Merced. Linzi went to school with her sons. She was there to help Sue along when Dr. O was recovering from arm surgery during Sue's pregnancy with Linzi. The following was published in our local paper the Sun Star on Tuesday.
Lorraine K. Nelson, M.D.: How to fix health care
When I first started private practice, my partner and I employed two full-time employees who easily handled all the office services from nursing through billing.
Now, for the two doctors in my current practice we employ almost five full-time employees for the same services. This increase was not due to government programs. It stemmed from private insurance industry changes making it more and more complicated to see the patients and provide the appropriate care.
Patients I had been seeing for years were told by their insurance companies to see someone else with whom they had a better contract. Specific procedures and referrals were delayed while authorizations were sought, denied, and appealed.
Quantcast
The paperwork inside the office and the frustration for patients, staff and doctors increased, all the while as reimbursement declined for the doctors and profits increased for insurance companies.
Contrary to the assertions of health insurance industry lobbyists, the biggest risk (and cost) for a bureaucrat interfering with your appropriate care is the insurance bureaucracy itself, not your government.
In the current system approximately 31 percent of every health-care dollar is spent on advertising, public relations (lobbying), paperwork, administrative overhead, related salaries and profit for the insurance corporations.
These insurance companies are currently spending more than $1 million per day in lobbying and PR to oppose and delay any meaningful health-care reform that would cut into their jobs and profits.
For every dollar of private health insurance premium, only 83 cents goes to actual health care. Contrast that with the 97 cents on the dollar of patient-care benefits Medicare (our government funded program) provides.
Many Americans cringe when they hear the "R" word -- rationing. Please be aware, we already ration. We ration on the basis of whether the patient has money or insurance and whether the care results in a profit for the insurance company instead of need for service.
Furthermore, the current system actually rewards over-utilization rather than appropriate utilization of services and procedures.
Your doctor, nurse, hospital and pharmacies get paid a fee for service. More "service," needed or not, means more profit. Why else would you be seeing advertisements for costly nongeneric drugs on television.
We need to change the way we reimburse for services to get the most for our money.
There are more than 46 million Americans without health insurance. More than 14,000 people per day lose health-care coverage as they lose their jobs or their employer decides to no longer provide an expensive health plan.
Despite the fact that we pay an average of more than $7,000 for every man, woman and child for health care, our country performs poorly compared to other industrialized countries which provide universal access to care at about half that cost.
Unanticipated health expenses is the single most common reason for bankruptcy in our country.
Our system is broken. We are all at risk. It is time for change. You can help. The answer is universal access to health care for all using a single-payer delivery system. It can be done. The example is Medicare: our government provided tax-based universal health access program for seniors.
This Thursday, California Central Valley Journey for Justice is sponsoring a 40-year birthday party for Medicare with a rally and information picket on the corner of M and 21st streets starting at 3 p.m.
Following the rally, we will march to Rep. Dennis Cardoza's office to show our support for a single-payer system. Please join us and let your voice be heard.
If you can't be there, tell a friend and or call or write Cardoza and ask him to support HR 676, which would extend Medicare-type coverage to all Americans. We can afford this cure. We cannot afford to let the current system fester. We all suffer from this illness and we must all work together to heal it by providing basic health care for all.
Lorraine K. Nelson, M.D., has practiced family medicine in Merced for 30 years.
Lorraine K. Nelson, M.D.: How to fix health care
When I first started private practice, my partner and I employed two full-time employees who easily handled all the office services from nursing through billing.
Now, for the two doctors in my current practice we employ almost five full-time employees for the same services. This increase was not due to government programs. It stemmed from private insurance industry changes making it more and more complicated to see the patients and provide the appropriate care.
Patients I had been seeing for years were told by their insurance companies to see someone else with whom they had a better contract. Specific procedures and referrals were delayed while authorizations were sought, denied, and appealed.
Quantcast
The paperwork inside the office and the frustration for patients, staff and doctors increased, all the while as reimbursement declined for the doctors and profits increased for insurance companies.
Contrary to the assertions of health insurance industry lobbyists, the biggest risk (and cost) for a bureaucrat interfering with your appropriate care is the insurance bureaucracy itself, not your government.
In the current system approximately 31 percent of every health-care dollar is spent on advertising, public relations (lobbying), paperwork, administrative overhead, related salaries and profit for the insurance corporations.
These insurance companies are currently spending more than $1 million per day in lobbying and PR to oppose and delay any meaningful health-care reform that would cut into their jobs and profits.
For every dollar of private health insurance premium, only 83 cents goes to actual health care. Contrast that with the 97 cents on the dollar of patient-care benefits Medicare (our government funded program) provides.
Many Americans cringe when they hear the "R" word -- rationing. Please be aware, we already ration. We ration on the basis of whether the patient has money or insurance and whether the care results in a profit for the insurance company instead of need for service.
Furthermore, the current system actually rewards over-utilization rather than appropriate utilization of services and procedures.
Your doctor, nurse, hospital and pharmacies get paid a fee for service. More "service," needed or not, means more profit. Why else would you be seeing advertisements for costly nongeneric drugs on television.
We need to change the way we reimburse for services to get the most for our money.
There are more than 46 million Americans without health insurance. More than 14,000 people per day lose health-care coverage as they lose their jobs or their employer decides to no longer provide an expensive health plan.
Despite the fact that we pay an average of more than $7,000 for every man, woman and child for health care, our country performs poorly compared to other industrialized countries which provide universal access to care at about half that cost.
Unanticipated health expenses is the single most common reason for bankruptcy in our country.
Our system is broken. We are all at risk. It is time for change. You can help. The answer is universal access to health care for all using a single-payer delivery system. It can be done. The example is Medicare: our government provided tax-based universal health access program for seniors.
This Thursday, California Central Valley Journey for Justice is sponsoring a 40-year birthday party for Medicare with a rally and information picket on the corner of M and 21st streets starting at 3 p.m.
Following the rally, we will march to Rep. Dennis Cardoza's office to show our support for a single-payer system. Please join us and let your voice be heard.
If you can't be there, tell a friend and or call or write Cardoza and ask him to support HR 676, which would extend Medicare-type coverage to all Americans. We can afford this cure. We cannot afford to let the current system fester. We all suffer from this illness and we must all work together to heal it by providing basic health care for all.
Lorraine K. Nelson, M.D., has practiced family medicine in Merced for 30 years.
Monday, July 27, 2009
My involvement in the Healthcare Issue
So what is it to you? People ask. I am a negotiator for our local teacher's union. Every year for the past 8 years there were two big questions that faced us at the table. What is the state going to provide to the district in the way of support. Also what was our Health Care plan going to charge us in the form of an increase for our health care and who was going to pay for it.
In the past 5 or 6 years the healthcare cost has significantly increased beyond the cost of living. The cost of living is the amount the state can reasonably collect in state taxes to support the cost of education.
Two years ago there was a significant jump of our costs compared to other members of the healthcare pool. We went to the source and discovered that we were cut out of the experience pool of the larger group because our costs had risen higher than others in the pool. We were in our own pool. With a little digging we discovered that the main reason was that our county pool was not shopping wisely. Our members were headed north and were getting services in the with the Sutter Health Care providers that were costing the plan much more than the providers south in the Fresno area. As much as 1/3 difference.. with much better results across the board.
We have been working to advertise this difference among our members. This cost savings has led to one hospital withdrawing from our choices in the North. Turlock's Emmanual Hospital is no longer serving our members.
Would this happen with single payer.. probablly not.
Our district support for every employee is 9200 dollars a year. That should buy the health plan.. shouldn't it.. well no.. It takes another 4000 dollars to get the standard plan with some co pays and limits.
We pay another 525 so that we don't have co pays and don't have to fight with the pharmacy about formulary.. etc. Also who is covered with a co pay and who is not..
The pharmacy techs are always amazed at our insurance.. maybe they wouldn't if they were paying out of pocket 6k for the priviledge... and their employer were kicking in 9.2K a year.
You could say I am pretty passionate.
: ) Pat
In the past 5 or 6 years the healthcare cost has significantly increased beyond the cost of living. The cost of living is the amount the state can reasonably collect in state taxes to support the cost of education.
Two years ago there was a significant jump of our costs compared to other members of the healthcare pool. We went to the source and discovered that we were cut out of the experience pool of the larger group because our costs had risen higher than others in the pool. We were in our own pool. With a little digging we discovered that the main reason was that our county pool was not shopping wisely. Our members were headed north and were getting services in the with the Sutter Health Care providers that were costing the plan much more than the providers south in the Fresno area. As much as 1/3 difference.. with much better results across the board.
We have been working to advertise this difference among our members. This cost savings has led to one hospital withdrawing from our choices in the North. Turlock's Emmanual Hospital is no longer serving our members.
Would this happen with single payer.. probablly not.
Our district support for every employee is 9200 dollars a year. That should buy the health plan.. shouldn't it.. well no.. It takes another 4000 dollars to get the standard plan with some co pays and limits.
We pay another 525 so that we don't have co pays and don't have to fight with the pharmacy about formulary.. etc. Also who is covered with a co pay and who is not..
The pharmacy techs are always amazed at our insurance.. maybe they wouldn't if they were paying out of pocket 6k for the priviledge... and their employer were kicking in 9.2K a year.
You could say I am pretty passionate.
: ) Pat
Thanks Kelly!
Kelly offered up two more tracks for the new ethereal mix. Jackson Browne and Jennifer Warnes's Golden Slumbers.. a standard in this genre. Also the Water is Wide by James Taylor. I acquired the Golden Slumbers through Itunes. The Water is Wide became one of my last downloads for the month through E-music. Both are very appropriate and add to the mix. Thanks Kelly!
I was particularly worried that the two songs would push the overall lengh past CD pressing length. What is good about this kind of song is that they are a little shorter than others. I was able to get all 20 tracks on one CD.
Then comes the mix part.. and I am open to suggestion. Where do the new songs go in the line up. This was the fun part that Linzi and Heather and I had fun with when we assembled the 4th of July mix in 2000 off of Napster and 2004 when we made an Americana Rock album included the Jimmy Hendricks Stars Spangled Banner.
Write me a comment and tell me if there is a better order. Right now they are at the end.
Have fun.. I will send you a copy if you like it.
: ) Pat
I was particularly worried that the two songs would push the overall lengh past CD pressing length. What is good about this kind of song is that they are a little shorter than others. I was able to get all 20 tracks on one CD.
Then comes the mix part.. and I am open to suggestion. Where do the new songs go in the line up. This was the fun part that Linzi and Heather and I had fun with when we assembled the 4th of July mix in 2000 off of Napster and 2004 when we made an Americana Rock album included the Jimmy Hendricks Stars Spangled Banner.
Write me a comment and tell me if there is a better order. Right now they are at the end.
Have fun.. I will send you a copy if you like it.
: ) Pat
LInzi forces withdrawal.. rightly so
In a message this morning.. Linzi denies and says that she would never have me not include my political views in the blog.. So I got it wrong. again.. sorry for the misquote and intention,
: ) Pat
: ) Pat
Sorry Linzi One More
Linzi told me at the celebration that I should be less "political" in my blog entries.. I saw this in the Ny times today and could not resist:
Paul Krugman - New York Times Blog
July 25, 2009, 5:07 pm
Why markets can’t cure healthcare
Judging both from comments on this blog and from some of my mail, a significant number of Americans believe that the answer to our health care problems — indeed, the only answer — is to rely on the free market. Quite a few seem to believe that this view reflects the lessons of economic theory.
Not so. One of the most influential economic papers of the postwar era was Kenneth Arrow’s Uncertainty and the welfare economics of health care, which demonstrated — decisively, I and many others believe — that health care can’t be marketed like bread or TVs. Let me offer my own version of Arrow’s argument.
There are two strongly distinctive aspects of health care. One is that you don’t know when or whether you’ll need care — but if you do, the care can be extremely expensive. The big bucks are in triple coronary bypass surgery, not routine visits to the doctor’s office; and very, very few people can afford to pay major medical costs out of pocket.
This tells you right away that health care can’t be sold like bread. It must be largely paid for by some kind of insurance. And this in turn means that someone other than the patient ends up making decisions about what to buy. Consumer choice is nonsense when it comes to health care. And you can’t just trust insurance companies either — they’re not in business for their health, or yours.
This problem is made worse by the fact that actually paying for your health care is a loss from an insurers’ point of view — they actually refer to it as “medical costs.” This means both that insurers try to deny as many claims as possible, and that they try to avoid covering people who are actually likely to need care. Both of these strategies use a lot of resources, which is why private insurance has much higher administrative costs than single-payer systems. And since there’s a widespread sense that our fellow citizens should get the care we need — not everyone agrees, but most do — this means that private insurance basically spends a lot of money on socially destructive activities.
The second thing about health care is that it’s complicated, and you can’t rely on experience or comparison shopping. (“I hear they’ve got a real deal on stents over at St. Mary’s!”) That’s why doctors are supposed to follow an ethical code, why we expect more from them than from bakers or grocery store owners.
You could rely on a health maintenance organization to make the hard choices and do the cost management, and to some extent we do. But HMOs have been highly limited in their ability to achieve cost-effectiveness because people don’t trust them — they’re profit-making institutions, and your treatment is their cost.
Between those two factors, health care just doesn’t work as a standard market story.
All of this doesn’t necessarily mean that socialized medicine, or even single-payer, is the only way to go. There are a number of successful health-care systems, at least as measured by pretty good care much cheaper than here, and they are quite different from each other. There are, however, no examples of successful health care based on the principles of the free market, for one simple reason: in health care, the free market just doesn’t work. And people who say that the market is the answer are flying in the face of both theory and overwhelming evidence.
I hope you find this article interesting.. I will try to make this blog a little less political in future.. It gets people kind of fired up in the morning.. and what can they really do? For most of my readers I am preaching to the choir.
My only justifcation is that there is such a full force pressure coming from the medical insurance/ Phama businesses now that we need to have our own "talking" points.
Take care
Pat
Paul Krugman - New York Times Blog
July 25, 2009, 5:07 pm
Why markets can’t cure healthcare
Judging both from comments on this blog and from some of my mail, a significant number of Americans believe that the answer to our health care problems — indeed, the only answer — is to rely on the free market. Quite a few seem to believe that this view reflects the lessons of economic theory.
Not so. One of the most influential economic papers of the postwar era was Kenneth Arrow’s Uncertainty and the welfare economics of health care, which demonstrated — decisively, I and many others believe — that health care can’t be marketed like bread or TVs. Let me offer my own version of Arrow’s argument.
There are two strongly distinctive aspects of health care. One is that you don’t know when or whether you’ll need care — but if you do, the care can be extremely expensive. The big bucks are in triple coronary bypass surgery, not routine visits to the doctor’s office; and very, very few people can afford to pay major medical costs out of pocket.
This tells you right away that health care can’t be sold like bread. It must be largely paid for by some kind of insurance. And this in turn means that someone other than the patient ends up making decisions about what to buy. Consumer choice is nonsense when it comes to health care. And you can’t just trust insurance companies either — they’re not in business for their health, or yours.
This problem is made worse by the fact that actually paying for your health care is a loss from an insurers’ point of view — they actually refer to it as “medical costs.” This means both that insurers try to deny as many claims as possible, and that they try to avoid covering people who are actually likely to need care. Both of these strategies use a lot of resources, which is why private insurance has much higher administrative costs than single-payer systems. And since there’s a widespread sense that our fellow citizens should get the care we need — not everyone agrees, but most do — this means that private insurance basically spends a lot of money on socially destructive activities.
The second thing about health care is that it’s complicated, and you can’t rely on experience or comparison shopping. (“I hear they’ve got a real deal on stents over at St. Mary’s!”) That’s why doctors are supposed to follow an ethical code, why we expect more from them than from bakers or grocery store owners.
You could rely on a health maintenance organization to make the hard choices and do the cost management, and to some extent we do. But HMOs have been highly limited in their ability to achieve cost-effectiveness because people don’t trust them — they’re profit-making institutions, and your treatment is their cost.
Between those two factors, health care just doesn’t work as a standard market story.
All of this doesn’t necessarily mean that socialized medicine, or even single-payer, is the only way to go. There are a number of successful health-care systems, at least as measured by pretty good care much cheaper than here, and they are quite different from each other. There are, however, no examples of successful health care based on the principles of the free market, for one simple reason: in health care, the free market just doesn’t work. And people who say that the market is the answer are flying in the face of both theory and overwhelming evidence.
I hope you find this article interesting.. I will try to make this blog a little less political in future.. It gets people kind of fired up in the morning.. and what can they really do? For most of my readers I am preaching to the choir.
My only justifcation is that there is such a full force pressure coming from the medical insurance/ Phama businesses now that we need to have our own "talking" points.
Take care
Pat
Saturday, July 25, 2009
An Etheirial Mix
This morning I was jamming around my Music collection and decided to make an ethereal mix.
What is etherial?
ethereal (comparative more ethereal, superlative most ethereal)
Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere; celestial; otherworldly; as, ethereal space; ethereal regions.
1667: Milton, Paradise Lost, book VII
Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger.
1862: Thoreau, Walking.
I trust that we shall be more imaginative, that our thoughts will be clearer, fresher, and more ethereal, as our sky,...
Consisting of ether; hence, exceedingly light or airy; tenuous; spiritlike; characterized by extreme delicacy, as form, manner, thought, etc.
1733: Pope, An Essay on Man
Vast chain of being, which from God began, Natures ethereal, human, angel, man.
Delicate, light and airy.
This is the collection that I made this Morning..
My only reaction by Sue.. what is that horrible music you are playing.. Oh well.
Pat.
The ethereal collection:
Believe 4:18 Josh Groban
The River Of Dreams 4:08 Billy Joel
Pearls ft. Carlos Santana & Josh GrobanAngelique Kidjo
Hallelujah 4:39 Leonard Cohen
Unchained Melody 3:50 Il Divo
Wish Me a Rainbow 2:25 Astrud Gilberto
Goodbye Sadness 3:32 Astrud Gilberto & Walter Wanderley Trio
The Music Of The Night 5:38 Michael Crawford & Barbra Streisand
Somewhere 2:48 Charlotte Church
Amapola 3:45 Andrea Bocelli
The river sings Enya Amarantine
Suzanne 4:24 Judy Collins Forever
On A Clear Day 3:22 Frank Sinatra
Reach, Olympic 3:49 Gloria Estefan
Both Sides Now 3:44 Hayley Westenra
Pie Jesu 3:31 Lesley Garrett, Samuel Burkey
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) 3:34 Billy Joel
Amazing Grace 4:07 Judy Collins
What is etherial?
ethereal (comparative more ethereal, superlative most ethereal)
Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere; celestial; otherworldly; as, ethereal space; ethereal regions.
1667: Milton, Paradise Lost, book VII
Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger.
1862: Thoreau, Walking.
I trust that we shall be more imaginative, that our thoughts will be clearer, fresher, and more ethereal, as our sky,...
Consisting of ether; hence, exceedingly light or airy; tenuous; spiritlike; characterized by extreme delicacy, as form, manner, thought, etc.
1733: Pope, An Essay on Man
Vast chain of being, which from God began, Natures ethereal, human, angel, man.
Delicate, light and airy.
This is the collection that I made this Morning..
My only reaction by Sue.. what is that horrible music you are playing.. Oh well.
Pat.
The ethereal collection:
Believe 4:18 Josh Groban
The River Of Dreams 4:08 Billy Joel
Pearls ft. Carlos Santana & Josh GrobanAngelique Kidjo
Hallelujah 4:39 Leonard Cohen
Unchained Melody 3:50 Il Divo
Wish Me a Rainbow 2:25 Astrud Gilberto
Goodbye Sadness 3:32 Astrud Gilberto & Walter Wanderley Trio
The Music Of The Night 5:38 Michael Crawford & Barbra Streisand
Somewhere 2:48 Charlotte Church
Amapola 3:45 Andrea Bocelli
The river sings Enya Amarantine
Suzanne 4:24 Judy Collins Forever
On A Clear Day 3:22 Frank Sinatra
Reach, Olympic 3:49 Gloria Estefan
Both Sides Now 3:44 Hayley Westenra
Pie Jesu 3:31 Lesley Garrett, Samuel Burkey
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) 3:34 Billy Joel
Amazing Grace 4:07 Judy Collins
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Soapbox to Fox or not to Fox
A salient feature occurred recently on Facebook. There was a chance to indicate whether Sara Palin would be your pick for president of the US in 2112. Some of our family members.. somewhat distant were shocked that I choose a no vote. Also a yes vote for a public plan for health care.
It is interesting when voting a comment section was provided. There was one member who was extolling the facts as she knew them from Fox news. She couldn't understand how any one could not see her position. If they would just watach Fox they would certainly understand that Sara was the best choice and the only way to get out of the steam roller that was in the current government.
I guess you are a Fox or you are not. I think that in their small way they cannot say that the media has a liberal bias. I know, they always put their mainstream in front of media. Still.. Rush Limbough?
Those folks in the East were licking their chops to sink their teeth into my liberal a... so its just as well we are not going.
They can keep reassuring themselves that they have the right idea.. truly the right idea.
Friends don't let Friends do Fox.
: ) pat
It is interesting when voting a comment section was provided. There was one member who was extolling the facts as she knew them from Fox news. She couldn't understand how any one could not see her position. If they would just watach Fox they would certainly understand that Sara was the best choice and the only way to get out of the steam roller that was in the current government.
I guess you are a Fox or you are not. I think that in their small way they cannot say that the media has a liberal bias. I know, they always put their mainstream in front of media. Still.. Rush Limbough?
Those folks in the East were licking their chops to sink their teeth into my liberal a... so its just as well we are not going.
They can keep reassuring themselves that they have the right idea.. truly the right idea.
Friends don't let Friends do Fox.
: ) pat
Monday, July 20, 2009
Developing Customer Service at Starbucks
I was sitting in Starbucks this morning and trying to figure how to tap into their song grouping with my Iphone. I have done it once and only once. I typing in Starbucks into my search field in ITunes and something cool arrived. It is a series of employee training podcasts for Starbucks employees. Its called the Starbucks Experience. The segments are audio. Each is about 4 1/2 minutes. They are made by Dr. Michelli an elegant clear spoken presenter.
This is the perfect medium for inservice. All small business and people that are working with people should listen and glean some very important information on the customer interface.
I think that people that are so involved with the complexity of their jobs that they forget that the job would not exist without the customer interface. I am particularly fond of the podcast segment of Get off the Phone. It describes a situation where Dr. Michelli was a customer and was trying to get a transaction completed while the clerk was answering a personal call.
These times require more customer service not less. I look around at the big box stores around here that have closed their doors. Circuit City lost out because their employees were working for that mighty commission. They are on you at every glance. They had little knowledge of their product but they were going after that commission.
The opposite is true with Mervyn's. Its closed its doors because they did not analyze their customer base and reduced the customer interface into a kiosk format. Then they reduced the number of kiosks. You had to hunt down a place to pay for an item.
Khols which is replacing Mervyn's has a central checkout system so it doesn't mix the metaphor of buying something with the metaphor of customer service. Maybe it will do better at the Mall.. at least I hope that the accessibilty for Wheel chair will be better.
So go have a listen at the Starbucks employee training podcasts..
Have a great day..
Pat
This is the perfect medium for inservice. All small business and people that are working with people should listen and glean some very important information on the customer interface.
I think that people that are so involved with the complexity of their jobs that they forget that the job would not exist without the customer interface. I am particularly fond of the podcast segment of Get off the Phone. It describes a situation where Dr. Michelli was a customer and was trying to get a transaction completed while the clerk was answering a personal call.
These times require more customer service not less. I look around at the big box stores around here that have closed their doors. Circuit City lost out because their employees were working for that mighty commission. They are on you at every glance. They had little knowledge of their product but they were going after that commission.
The opposite is true with Mervyn's. Its closed its doors because they did not analyze their customer base and reduced the customer interface into a kiosk format. Then they reduced the number of kiosks. You had to hunt down a place to pay for an item.
Khols which is replacing Mervyn's has a central checkout system so it doesn't mix the metaphor of buying something with the metaphor of customer service. Maybe it will do better at the Mall.. at least I hope that the accessibilty for Wheel chair will be better.
So go have a listen at the Starbucks employee training podcasts..
Have a great day..
Pat
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Carly and Sally
One of my favorite recorded performers is Carly Simon. I was looking over my collections to make sure that I have some access to her albums.
This all started when my new Ipod blitzed out and Apple supplied me a new one sans all the assets on it. So it provided my a good chance prioritize what I really need to carry. The 120 gb space allows the ipod user plenty of space to stretch. And then there is the new Iphone.
The 32 gbs on the phone for songs and other stuff makes the big ipod somewhat redundant.. don't tell Sue. You really only need to carry 20 gbs with you at the most at anytime. Still what needs to be on it?
Surely I need a Carly Simon album with all the greatest hits. Looking over my collection on the computer, I realized that I did not have a "Greatest Hits' sort of collection. I have the Anthology which has them all..Really too many to listen to in one sitting.I decided to make a "short" list of the songs that should be brought along. In the process I checked into ITunes and discovered that there was a new to me album "Into White" that has a number of really good classic covers on them. So downloaded they came to my computer. Her tonal range has dropped to lower registers. This makes some songs not as predictable as they used to be. The orchestration is just wonderful. The tone is great too.
Then I checked on e-music.. and son of a gun they had it. I just paid to get it from Itunes.. I didn't have many downloads left at emiuic anyway..
Then I saw a reference to her daughter, Sally Taylor, and after sampling through her songs on emusic.. I just had to add a couple of albums of hers to my collection. So there I was buying the supplemental pack. My 100 downloads turnover again the first of August.. so not so long to wait.
Sally Taylor, the daughter of Carly and James Taylor has a different kind of sound than her mothers. She does not have the orchestration behimd her melodies but they are nicely made in a more indie manner.
Take care : ) Pat
This all started when my new Ipod blitzed out and Apple supplied me a new one sans all the assets on it. So it provided my a good chance prioritize what I really need to carry. The 120 gb space allows the ipod user plenty of space to stretch. And then there is the new Iphone.
The 32 gbs on the phone for songs and other stuff makes the big ipod somewhat redundant.. don't tell Sue. You really only need to carry 20 gbs with you at the most at anytime. Still what needs to be on it?
Surely I need a Carly Simon album with all the greatest hits. Looking over my collection on the computer, I realized that I did not have a "Greatest Hits' sort of collection. I have the Anthology which has them all..Really too many to listen to in one sitting.I decided to make a "short" list of the songs that should be brought along. In the process I checked into ITunes and discovered that there was a new to me album "Into White" that has a number of really good classic covers on them. So downloaded they came to my computer. Her tonal range has dropped to lower registers. This makes some songs not as predictable as they used to be. The orchestration is just wonderful. The tone is great too.
Then I checked on e-music.. and son of a gun they had it. I just paid to get it from Itunes.. I didn't have many downloads left at emiuic anyway..
Then I saw a reference to her daughter, Sally Taylor, and after sampling through her songs on emusic.. I just had to add a couple of albums of hers to my collection. So there I was buying the supplemental pack. My 100 downloads turnover again the first of August.. so not so long to wait.
Sally Taylor, the daughter of Carly and James Taylor has a different kind of sound than her mothers. She does not have the orchestration behimd her melodies but they are nicely made in a more indie manner.
Take care : ) Pat
Staying Cool in the Heat
We always traveled in the summer.
My parents missed the season "summer" when we lived in South City. Mom had to reconnect with the mother mother ship her mom and dad. Dad loved to get back to his fishing schedule up on the Mesa in the afternoon and early evening. all of that was in Grand Junction Colorado. We lived 1200 miles from that world.
Grandpa and Grandma had 40 acres of peaches on the fabled western slope of Colorado. The town that the peaches were shipped from was Palisade.
If was hot back there. Sometimes it would be in the middle 90's. People always worked hard in the morning and had an afternoon siesta. They Worked up until dark in the fields and then had dinner. Dad would get his work done early so that there would be some "fishing" time. As basically a "volunteer" he was cast some tolerance.
It was quite a shock to come out of the cool foggy Bay Area to a land of mid day heat without air conditioning. We adapted. Peach season was in August with the early July Elbertas the first peaches around my birthday, August 14th. The whole season was over the week after labor day. The days were hot in July and August. When the crop was not harvested, the kids had chores to do. I got to pull weeds in the iris garden and sweep the enormous cement patio and walks. The girls got to stumble through the chicken coop with its poop and collect eggs and fold and distribute laundry. We all loved the chance to watch a little TV at noon. The show of interest was Art Linkletter's chhildren say the funniest things." We had no TV in South city. That will be a another day's topic.
Getting to Colorado was always somewhat difficult. We had basically a day and a three quarters of Nevada and Utah desert. Our 1960 Ford Falcon had no air conditioning. Dad always thought that it was a modified model T in its simplicity. 5 people headed across the desert in a model T probably was no picnic either. We always carried a cooler and camped for every overnight stop. We got to know the KOAs along the way. Much to dad's chagrin we also knew the out of the way Stuckies with their bright orange roofs and the forbidden pecan candies as well. They were the home to the 5 dollar coffee breaks. By the time the driver had a cup of coffee, and we all had sodas, it amounted to a 5 dollar bill... outrageous at the time.
We tried to stay cool in the car by hanging clean white cloth diapers from the window. Just a crack in the window allowed for evaporation and a little cooler cab. We drank a little shasta and the safeway brand of soda. No diet anything existed at that time.
Lets hear it for the new Fords that have an air conditioner that can produce enough cool to.. as one of my fellow teachers from whom we bought our used Aerostar.. "cold enough to hand meat in it."
We are headed to one of our hottest days of the year.. projected to be 107. There were some Sirus clouds passing by eariler this morning on my walk.. so I doubt that it will really get that hot. Hope you are in a place to stay cool.
Love
Pat
My parents missed the season "summer" when we lived in South City. Mom had to reconnect with the mother mother ship her mom and dad. Dad loved to get back to his fishing schedule up on the Mesa in the afternoon and early evening. all of that was in Grand Junction Colorado. We lived 1200 miles from that world.
Grandpa and Grandma had 40 acres of peaches on the fabled western slope of Colorado. The town that the peaches were shipped from was Palisade.
If was hot back there. Sometimes it would be in the middle 90's. People always worked hard in the morning and had an afternoon siesta. They Worked up until dark in the fields and then had dinner. Dad would get his work done early so that there would be some "fishing" time. As basically a "volunteer" he was cast some tolerance.
It was quite a shock to come out of the cool foggy Bay Area to a land of mid day heat without air conditioning. We adapted. Peach season was in August with the early July Elbertas the first peaches around my birthday, August 14th. The whole season was over the week after labor day. The days were hot in July and August. When the crop was not harvested, the kids had chores to do. I got to pull weeds in the iris garden and sweep the enormous cement patio and walks. The girls got to stumble through the chicken coop with its poop and collect eggs and fold and distribute laundry. We all loved the chance to watch a little TV at noon. The show of interest was Art Linkletter's chhildren say the funniest things." We had no TV in South city. That will be a another day's topic.
Getting to Colorado was always somewhat difficult. We had basically a day and a three quarters of Nevada and Utah desert. Our 1960 Ford Falcon had no air conditioning. Dad always thought that it was a modified model T in its simplicity. 5 people headed across the desert in a model T probably was no picnic either. We always carried a cooler and camped for every overnight stop. We got to know the KOAs along the way. Much to dad's chagrin we also knew the out of the way Stuckies with their bright orange roofs and the forbidden pecan candies as well. They were the home to the 5 dollar coffee breaks. By the time the driver had a cup of coffee, and we all had sodas, it amounted to a 5 dollar bill... outrageous at the time.
We tried to stay cool in the car by hanging clean white cloth diapers from the window. Just a crack in the window allowed for evaporation and a little cooler cab. We drank a little shasta and the safeway brand of soda. No diet anything existed at that time.
Lets hear it for the new Fords that have an air conditioner that can produce enough cool to.. as one of my fellow teachers from whom we bought our used Aerostar.. "cold enough to hand meat in it."
We are headed to one of our hottest days of the year.. projected to be 107. There were some Sirus clouds passing by eariler this morning on my walk.. so I doubt that it will really get that hot. Hope you are in a place to stay cool.
Love
Pat
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Wendy and Lucy
This movie on netfix instant has a real gritty feel.
It has a Bard college connection.. at least in the credits.
Its a bout a girl headed with a miserable Honda Accord to the fisheries of Alaska.. Ketchican in particular. She needs a job. She has a sweet gold dog.
Its gets kind of heartbreaking as she arrives in a town outside of Portland. She came from Indiana. Her parents cannot help her out. She sleeps in her car but that doesn't work when the car needs repair. I think the point of this story is that the human spirit can take a lot bad situations. She stays strong throughout the tragedies that follow her.
The critics were correct when they mention that the character is more important than the plot. It is nice to see this for a change.
Its has a very believable set of characters in this movie.
If you can get the instant play it is worth the time to watch.
: ) Pat
It has a Bard college connection.. at least in the credits.
Its a bout a girl headed with a miserable Honda Accord to the fisheries of Alaska.. Ketchican in particular. She needs a job. She has a sweet gold dog.
Its gets kind of heartbreaking as she arrives in a town outside of Portland. She came from Indiana. Her parents cannot help her out. She sleeps in her car but that doesn't work when the car needs repair. I think the point of this story is that the human spirit can take a lot bad situations. She stays strong throughout the tragedies that follow her.
The critics were correct when they mention that the character is more important than the plot. It is nice to see this for a change.
Its has a very believable set of characters in this movie.
If you can get the instant play it is worth the time to watch.
: ) Pat
Overcoming Some Fears
To overcome your unreasonable fears.
I bring you today dear readers a piece from a blog of a person that has a fear of heights. After watching his You Tubemovie on a mad walk of the kings.. I am not so sure that his fears are not justified.
Take a look at this hike.
The High Hike made Lad in Spain.
I got sweaty palms just watching it.
Have a great Saturday.
Get out their and conquer you reasonable fears.
: ) Pat
I bring you today dear readers a piece from a blog of a person that has a fear of heights. After watching his You Tubemovie on a mad walk of the kings.. I am not so sure that his fears are not justified.
Take a look at this hike.
The High Hike made Lad in Spain.
I got sweaty palms just watching it.
Have a great Saturday.
Get out their and conquer you reasonable fears.
: ) Pat
Friday, July 17, 2009
Health Care from Kibbles and Bytes
A very socially conscience Vermont company that incidentally sells Macs and Mac products and has for many years completely lays it the public plan for health care. Its got to be... or our American small businesses will dry up. Here is a soapbox statement that came from small dog:
Don't be tricked by the current media blitz. We simply have to have this.
Pat
START SOAPBOX
Yes, I can’t help it. I noticed that there are now TV commercials from special interest groups that are once again trying to scare people about health care reform. President Obama is correct in saying that without real health care reform there cannot be a true economic recovery. While the car companies may have failed because they were making the wrong cars, they also had the enormous burden of health care for their current and retired employees. So great was this burden that health care expense represented more in the price of a car than steel.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was passed unanimously by the UN stated that health care was a basic human right:
Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
I truly believe that health care is a basic human right. Of the 27 industrialized nations in the world, 26 provide universal health care for its citizens. The one that does not? Yes, that’s right, the USA. While we have the most expensive health care system in the world, we lag behind other countries in areas such as infant mortality, breast cancer screening, childhood leukemia and heart attack survival rates.
We pay over twice what other countries with universal health care pay and yet, we do not get our money’s worth. Worse yet, millions have no insurance or coverage in our country and many millions more are “under insured.” These under insured are often ignored in the system. The natural result of the rapidly escalating cost of health insurance is the flight to very high deductible plans or health care savings accounts, both of which provide a disincentive to seek preventative care and screenings.
We are setting ourselves up for a more costly health care time bomb when unscreened individuals discover the hard way that they have diabetes, high blood pressure or other chronic diseases.
The payer of last resort has always been employee-sponsored health insurance. Our surveys show that this fragile leg of the system we call health care in our country is crumbling as employers drop coverage, move more costs to their employees or go to very high deductibles and co-pays.
This has been a slow train coming for decades. The rate of increase of health insurance has made employer-sponsored health care unsustainable. When I first started in business, I could buy health insurance for a family for about $1500; now it costs $15,000. No longer are decisions about hiring new employees solely made by opportunity and business plans—if you are an employer that does the right thing by providing this benefit for your workers, you must also consider the astronomical cost of health insurance.
These employers are also put between a rock and a hard place as they have a competitive disadvantage in bidding for business when providing this benefit is voluntary and the competitor has a lower overhead structure by not providing health insurance to their employees in the race to the bottom.
This is why I am an advocate for a publicly-financed universal health care system. You may call that a “single-payer” system, but I really do not care if there is one payer or ten payers—I want the burden of health care lifted from employers and recognized as the “common good” that it truly is. I want us to put the sentiment that our country voted for in the UN into law—access to health care is a human right!
Don't be tricked by the current media blitz. We simply have to have this.
Pat
Mantras and Scripts
Mantras and scripts are what keeps us going.
I work with a population that still encounters many threats and prejudges. As high school students throughout their educational career adults have told them to ignore the bully,the taunter, and the tormentor. This works well for those that are in power positions. If you have power you can ignore the fly than lands upon you. However, If you are the hiker that comes across a bear that is going to tear you apart, ignoring the crisis will not make it go away.
For many of our students a script is needed. Words to say. Answers to give. If there is a script for those that do not have spontaneous language, then the difficult tasks of life will also work with a script. Each week in my practice last year we devoted a day to working on scripts in "dialog day."
To make this work for you, you must think of at least 2 different things to say for a difficult situation. Work on thinking about not just the words but also where your eyes are when you say them. Saying the words without eye contact does not promote feelings of the sentiment being genuine. Practice your scripts and the scripts will set you free.
Mantras are another thing. They are the mission statement that so many institutions and their leaders are imposing to keep the ship on course. Your personal Mantras.. statements that inspire you to do your plan may make a huge difference in your personal well being. The cold and icy night I learned to ski at Lake Eldora outside of Boulder, Colorada had a ski school coach that developed a mantra of "WE ARE HAVING FUN." Despite the cold wet jeans and the icy fingers.. the mantra took over the experence. Before long I was not concentrating on my physical condition but "having fun"
We need to find some personal mantras to get us be these tough times. Life is hard. Focus on what you want to do in life not on what others think you should do. You know what your mission statement. Decide a set of mantras that you can say to yourself when life or others want to push you to keep you head off of going where you need to go.
Our president is great at doing this.
We must decide what is important to what need to do and show the world through strength and grace that we are the best. It is often seen from the outside as "inner strength". I have yet to see anyone that is perceived to have inner strength that did not have a mantra.
We need scripts to meet our daily life. Mantras to push us in the right direction.
: ) Pat
I work with a population that still encounters many threats and prejudges. As high school students throughout their educational career adults have told them to ignore the bully,the taunter, and the tormentor. This works well for those that are in power positions. If you have power you can ignore the fly than lands upon you. However, If you are the hiker that comes across a bear that is going to tear you apart, ignoring the crisis will not make it go away.
For many of our students a script is needed. Words to say. Answers to give. If there is a script for those that do not have spontaneous language, then the difficult tasks of life will also work with a script. Each week in my practice last year we devoted a day to working on scripts in "dialog day."
To make this work for you, you must think of at least 2 different things to say for a difficult situation. Work on thinking about not just the words but also where your eyes are when you say them. Saying the words without eye contact does not promote feelings of the sentiment being genuine. Practice your scripts and the scripts will set you free.
Mantras are another thing. They are the mission statement that so many institutions and their leaders are imposing to keep the ship on course. Your personal Mantras.. statements that inspire you to do your plan may make a huge difference in your personal well being. The cold and icy night I learned to ski at Lake Eldora outside of Boulder, Colorada had a ski school coach that developed a mantra of "WE ARE HAVING FUN." Despite the cold wet jeans and the icy fingers.. the mantra took over the experence. Before long I was not concentrating on my physical condition but "having fun"
We need to find some personal mantras to get us be these tough times. Life is hard. Focus on what you want to do in life not on what others think you should do. You know what your mission statement. Decide a set of mantras that you can say to yourself when life or others want to push you to keep you head off of going where you need to go.
Our president is great at doing this.
We must decide what is important to what need to do and show the world through strength and grace that we are the best. It is often seen from the outside as "inner strength". I have yet to see anyone that is perceived to have inner strength that did not have a mantra.
We need scripts to meet our daily life. Mantras to push us in the right direction.
: ) Pat
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Start Today with a Triumphant Visualization
You know that you are a good person.
There are many things that you do well and that you care about others. You show this in many ways.
Start today by thinking about how you were successful.
It might be just a little success.
Then think of another..
You can build on a couple of these successes today!
The only one that can put you down is you.
You are way too successful to let anyone but yourself put you down.. and you are successful, so you are not going to let them do it to you today.
Successful people are confident people.
You are confident.. remember the successes?
Go forth in the world and be succcessful.
: ) Pat
There are many things that you do well and that you care about others. You show this in many ways.
Start today by thinking about how you were successful.
It might be just a little success.
Then think of another..
You can build on a couple of these successes today!
The only one that can put you down is you.
You are way too successful to let anyone but yourself put you down.. and you are successful, so you are not going to let them do it to you today.
Successful people are confident people.
You are confident.. remember the successes?
Go forth in the world and be succcessful.
: ) Pat
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Sun Star Has Ideas About Furloughs
In an opinion piece the Sun Star weighs in with a furlough (forced or contracted non paid time off). If furloughs have to be considered.. and certainly not unless required, the following philosophy makes sense. This was published today in our local paper,, The Merced Sun Star.
UC's plan eases pain of furloughs
Multiple-tiered system ought to be used in other branches of state government.
California's gargantuan $26 billion budget deficit means that even its most vulnerable state workers must share in the pain.
But even in these extraordinary times, the red ink shouldn't forestall creative action.
At the University of California, President Mark Yudof has proposed a tiered system of furloughs for employees, based on their level of pay. It's an approach that other branches of state government should seriously consider.
Under the plan, the lowest-paid of the plan's seven categories of workers -- those making up to $40,000 a year -- would take 11 annual furlough days, equivalent to 4 percent of their salary.
Midlevel workers, who make between $60,000 and $90,000, would take 18 days, equal to 7 percent of their salaries.
The best-compensated workers, those who pull down more than $240,000, would have to take 26 unpaid days off a year, the equivalent of 10 percent of their salaries.
Contrast that with the state's approach toward most other state workers. To cut spending, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered them to take three furlough days a month, the equivalent of 14 percent of their pay.
He's pushing for an additional 5 percent reduction. State workers at the bottom of the pay scale would take the same percentage cut as those at the top.
Anyone receiving a state paycheck suffers under these cuts. But they will devastate the lowest-paid workers -- people who are already struggling to pay rent, mortgages and other bills.
Lack of imagination is one reason that no other part of government -- with the exception of the Legislature -- has taken the same course as UC.
Leaders of the California State University system have given all its employees the same choice, regardless of salary: 24 annual furlough days, which is a little less than 10 percent of their pay, or layoffs whose numbers are unspecified but are presumed to be harsh.
In addition, most state agencies must cut salaries by the 14 percent the governor has ordered, which is more than UC (or CSU). Spreading the salary-cut pain is harder when there's more pain to pass around.
But it's not impossible, as UC, whose regents are expected to approve the plan today, has demonstrated. The Legislature and even the governor claim to be troubled by the pain that state worker furloughs will cause. This could be a chance to make a little of that pain go away.
UC's plan eases pain of furloughs
Multiple-tiered system ought to be used in other branches of state government.
California's gargantuan $26 billion budget deficit means that even its most vulnerable state workers must share in the pain.
But even in these extraordinary times, the red ink shouldn't forestall creative action.
At the University of California, President Mark Yudof has proposed a tiered system of furloughs for employees, based on their level of pay. It's an approach that other branches of state government should seriously consider.
Under the plan, the lowest-paid of the plan's seven categories of workers -- those making up to $40,000 a year -- would take 11 annual furlough days, equivalent to 4 percent of their salary.
Midlevel workers, who make between $60,000 and $90,000, would take 18 days, equal to 7 percent of their salaries.
The best-compensated workers, those who pull down more than $240,000, would have to take 26 unpaid days off a year, the equivalent of 10 percent of their salaries.
Contrast that with the state's approach toward most other state workers. To cut spending, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered them to take three furlough days a month, the equivalent of 14 percent of their pay.
He's pushing for an additional 5 percent reduction. State workers at the bottom of the pay scale would take the same percentage cut as those at the top.
Anyone receiving a state paycheck suffers under these cuts. But they will devastate the lowest-paid workers -- people who are already struggling to pay rent, mortgages and other bills.
Lack of imagination is one reason that no other part of government -- with the exception of the Legislature -- has taken the same course as UC.
Leaders of the California State University system have given all its employees the same choice, regardless of salary: 24 annual furlough days, which is a little less than 10 percent of their pay, or layoffs whose numbers are unspecified but are presumed to be harsh.
In addition, most state agencies must cut salaries by the 14 percent the governor has ordered, which is more than UC (or CSU). Spreading the salary-cut pain is harder when there's more pain to pass around.
But it's not impossible, as UC, whose regents are expected to approve the plan today, has demonstrated. The Legislature and even the governor claim to be troubled by the pain that state worker furloughs will cause. This could be a chance to make a little of that pain go away.
Monday, July 13, 2009
A tree that is in severe stress
My apricot tree is going berserk. I can I jam I do everything and still there are many beautiful fruit handing from the tree.
Dad has a theory that when some fruit is picked it allows the other fruit on the tree to get bigger and fill in the gaps.
Last year was sort of a disaster. Only 6 quarts of apricots could be canned. I have heard that apricot trees tend to be cyclical. One year they have a great crop and the next year they rest. This is probably what is going on with this tree. My neighbor has an apricot tree in his front yard. It is young tree. It is a Blenheim. Their fruit ripens eariler than the Tilton that I have. He had just a couple of quarts this year. Last year the crop almost broke down its branches.
My poor Bonanza peach put on so many peaches this year that a third of the branches broke. I worked hard to thin the peaches out. The next year that such a crop is on, I will be more careful to thin for branch strength.
The little PeeZee peach in the front yard had a banner year. People that usually "share" my nectarine were more inclined to help themselves (with my permission) to the big peaches that are on the tree closest to the curb. Most of the peaches were huge. As dad would say.. 40's.
The nectarines were sort of disasterous. The earwigs got them. and the pollination was not so good. That means that next year it will be nectarine heaven. Something to look forward to.. right Linzi?
There is a moderate crop on the white peaches that Sue dispises. An early Elberta has been saving my bacon over these. I can float a few of these peaches in (yellow) when I make a cobbler and it is okay.
The biggest innovation to the canning process this year has been the use of my lemon juice ice cubes from last january. I just drop a couple of them in to the cooking fruit and no squeezing of fruit is needed or rinds or any of that stuff.
I found a website this year that talked about jarring up some pie filling. It is an interesting process as corn starch is used and each quart of pie filling is made individually. Corn starch is combined with sugar and lemon juice and sugar. When this is boiling, and the corn starch is disolved in it, the fresh quartered apricots (5 cups) are introduced and cooked for 5 minutes. Then hot processed into the glass jars and put under 3 inches of boiling water for 30 minutes.
Some mean looking apricot pie filling is made. I am hoping that the new jars of pie filling will result in some "out of season" apricot pie or cobbler.. And it won't take up my freezer space.
: ) Pat
Dad has a theory that when some fruit is picked it allows the other fruit on the tree to get bigger and fill in the gaps.
Last year was sort of a disaster. Only 6 quarts of apricots could be canned. I have heard that apricot trees tend to be cyclical. One year they have a great crop and the next year they rest. This is probably what is going on with this tree. My neighbor has an apricot tree in his front yard. It is young tree. It is a Blenheim. Their fruit ripens eariler than the Tilton that I have. He had just a couple of quarts this year. Last year the crop almost broke down its branches.
My poor Bonanza peach put on so many peaches this year that a third of the branches broke. I worked hard to thin the peaches out. The next year that such a crop is on, I will be more careful to thin for branch strength.
The little PeeZee peach in the front yard had a banner year. People that usually "share" my nectarine were more inclined to help themselves (with my permission) to the big peaches that are on the tree closest to the curb. Most of the peaches were huge. As dad would say.. 40's.
The nectarines were sort of disasterous. The earwigs got them. and the pollination was not so good. That means that next year it will be nectarine heaven. Something to look forward to.. right Linzi?
There is a moderate crop on the white peaches that Sue dispises. An early Elberta has been saving my bacon over these. I can float a few of these peaches in (yellow) when I make a cobbler and it is okay.
The biggest innovation to the canning process this year has been the use of my lemon juice ice cubes from last january. I just drop a couple of them in to the cooking fruit and no squeezing of fruit is needed or rinds or any of that stuff.
I found a website this year that talked about jarring up some pie filling. It is an interesting process as corn starch is used and each quart of pie filling is made individually. Corn starch is combined with sugar and lemon juice and sugar. When this is boiling, and the corn starch is disolved in it, the fresh quartered apricots (5 cups) are introduced and cooked for 5 minutes. Then hot processed into the glass jars and put under 3 inches of boiling water for 30 minutes.
Some mean looking apricot pie filling is made. I am hoping that the new jars of pie filling will result in some "out of season" apricot pie or cobbler.. And it won't take up my freezer space.
: ) Pat
Emergency Starbucks
The appoint was at 2:30. And the malaise of summer has set in.
Its really not malaise in a traditional sense. It is stay up late and sleep in late and do something that you couldn't do during the school year. So. lunch was not eaten before the appointment. When I arrived in Modesto in the industrial part, the East side of Kansas Avenue, I saw numerous spots to have a bite while they worked on my car. The problem.. I had only two dollars in my pocket. Surely there must be an ATM around. Well.. no. The closest thing that resembles an ATM as in a grocery store where you bought something and got change back. So said the Viet pho restaurant and of course they don't take credit cards.. only cash.
A half a block a head was the familiar green circle with the lady in it. Starbucks. I have a card with some Starbucks credit on it. Wahooo!
I bought a chicken cobb sandwich and a iced passion fruit drink.. yum. I know that Pete's is better. But sometimes it pays to have a Starbuck card with a little dough on it..
Today it saved me. Later I discovered that the Cheveron station another block down had an ATM.. so much for the exotic.
: ) Pat
Its really not malaise in a traditional sense. It is stay up late and sleep in late and do something that you couldn't do during the school year. So. lunch was not eaten before the appointment. When I arrived in Modesto in the industrial part, the East side of Kansas Avenue, I saw numerous spots to have a bite while they worked on my car. The problem.. I had only two dollars in my pocket. Surely there must be an ATM around. Well.. no. The closest thing that resembles an ATM as in a grocery store where you bought something and got change back. So said the Viet pho restaurant and of course they don't take credit cards.. only cash.
A half a block a head was the familiar green circle with the lady in it. Starbucks. I have a card with some Starbucks credit on it. Wahooo!
I bought a chicken cobb sandwich and a iced passion fruit drink.. yum. I know that Pete's is better. But sometimes it pays to have a Starbuck card with a little dough on it..
Today it saved me. Later I discovered that the Cheveron station another block down had an ATM.. so much for the exotic.
: ) Pat
Friday, July 10, 2009
The outcome of the sauce
The Asian Plum sauce was an interesting success in canning.. well sort of.
After combining the materials for this sauce and bringing it to a boil before adding the plums the sauce had to cook in an non reactive pot. I had guessed right that a 6 quart pot would be just the thing.
The jalapanos (2) had a real kick to them. I had forgotten the the fresher they are the more powerful they could be. I cut into them without the precautions of gloves and blistering the skins. I knew that the hottest part of the chili was in the seeds and the veins. In removing them I choked I coughed and I forgot the most important thing.. don't touch any of the your soft tissues around your mouth or your nose. My nose started to run so I touched it.. I fet the burn for more than two hours.
As it cooked down for two hours at a simmer, the house filled with the smell of onions, garlic and especially 5 spice powder. By the time it was ready to get into the jars, it had boiled down to fill only 5 half pint containers. The sauce is tasty and has that piquant sweet and sour combination that is so hard to get without such steps.
Overall it was worth it. I think that remembering good pepper safety would have made the experience more comfortable.
Pat
After combining the materials for this sauce and bringing it to a boil before adding the plums the sauce had to cook in an non reactive pot. I had guessed right that a 6 quart pot would be just the thing.
The jalapanos (2) had a real kick to them. I had forgotten the the fresher they are the more powerful they could be. I cut into them without the precautions of gloves and blistering the skins. I knew that the hottest part of the chili was in the seeds and the veins. In removing them I choked I coughed and I forgot the most important thing.. don't touch any of the your soft tissues around your mouth or your nose. My nose started to run so I touched it.. I fet the burn for more than two hours.
As it cooked down for two hours at a simmer, the house filled with the smell of onions, garlic and especially 5 spice powder. By the time it was ready to get into the jars, it had boiled down to fill only 5 half pint containers. The sauce is tasty and has that piquant sweet and sour combination that is so hard to get without such steps.
Overall it was worth it. I think that remembering good pepper safety would have made the experience more comfortable.
Pat
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Asian Plum Sauce to Can or Jar
This is today's canning project.. the last of the plums.
ASIAN PLUM SAUCE
4 lbs of plums about 10 cupa
2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 Cup Cider Vinegar
3/4 finely chopped Onion
2 tbs of Mustard Seed
1 Tbs of 5 spice powder
4 TBS of Finely chopped chiles
1 TBS of Salt
3 Cloves of garlic minced fine
1 inch of fresh ginger diced fine
_____________
Pit and chop plums
combine sugars, vinegar mustard seed 5 spice powder, chile peppers, salt and garlic
Bring all but the plums to a rolling boil, add plums, cook simmering for two hours place in 6, 1/2 pint jars water bath boil with two inches of water over for 10 minutes.
use for dipping sauce, or last minute sauce on ribs.. etc.
Looks like fun?
: ) Pat
ASIAN PLUM SAUCE
4 lbs of plums about 10 cupa
2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 Cup Cider Vinegar
3/4 finely chopped Onion
2 tbs of Mustard Seed
1 Tbs of 5 spice powder
4 TBS of Finely chopped chiles
1 TBS of Salt
3 Cloves of garlic minced fine
1 inch of fresh ginger diced fine
_____________
Pit and chop plums
combine sugars, vinegar mustard seed 5 spice powder, chile peppers, salt and garlic
Bring all but the plums to a rolling boil, add plums, cook simmering for two hours place in 6, 1/2 pint jars water bath boil with two inches of water over for 10 minutes.
use for dipping sauce, or last minute sauce on ribs.. etc.
Looks like fun?
: ) Pat
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The New Apple Toy
My oh My
The new Iphone is hot.
What it is not.. it doesn't come with instructions. This is the one thing that drives Heather crazy.. and also me at the begining. The interface is supposed to be so complete that it is intuitive.. well not exactly.. as the old ad would say,
I left the Apple store with my new phone ready to work. I even made a call right out of the box.. almost. But for some odd reason, probably tied to my not completely understanding the interface, I got the new phone off to speaking DANISH. All the menu commands, all the program instructions.. almost everything was written in a language that I could not even begin to understand even with my Romantic language exposure. So how to fix it? I went on line and looked at how to solve it. Everywhere I went it said go to settings and choose international and from international choose the language. This left the the hanging question, "How do you say international in the language that this device is stuck in?
Eventually I came down to find something that was close to international in the settings panel and about half way down was able to change the language to US English and son of gun the thing worked! It was not going to be a fancy brick toy after all.
With this information I was able to get in my internet account and yahoo mail translated to and from pac bell dot net. And so the oddesy began. The interesting thing about the whole platform in the beginning was the disappearance of the barrier between mobile calls and the internet. Mobile calls are run on text messaging (with the new generations) and internet messaging is through email. The interesting concept is when a text messsage becomes an email pulled off the air and referenced with a web page that is collected with the cell phone (the Iphone is hardly a cell phone but from past understandings and usefulness it may serve this purpose). The metaphor changes when a device is able to do both. Throw in the abilty to be an Ipod (although limited by its size) The abilty to take credible photos and movies and to move them into an editting program such as Iphoto or Imovie.. you have really changed the concept.
I am very impressed with its abilty to pick up internet Wifis and use them when permitted. This would be pretty important to slower phones. It dosen't seem particularly slow in my environments becuase of the built in speed. I also am used to being in slower iternet environments having lived through 24K dial up.
It does facebook. It does flickr. It can even read my blog. I like the abilty to make pages bigger with a very sensitive keyboard. I learned the thumb and forefinger pinch move easily. I am still a little slow with when you tap and when you double tap. I like moving the pages the Tom Cruise.
I can see why people are spending their lives looking down and touch keyboarding.
Linzi recommeneded a couple of good "Apps" one is the Bart one for the Bay Area Rapid Transit schedule and Pandora that lets you set up an individual radio station. Both are great. I saw an add for the AAA discount App. It lets you know the merchants in any given area that will honor your AAA card for discounts. Its free too.
Its amazing how much more you can text with a decent keyboard. I was watching "THE" Wimbledon mens final today and the adds for the new Plam Pre looked cool. One problem, their keybord is limited to those darn little buttons. I like the abilty to turn it on its side and click away. I need to learn how to copy and paste.
The girls are learning from each other. One shared with the other about when the keys are shaking they can me re arranged. I have experienced that on the phone but did not know what precipitated the keys to start to shake.
I wish you all a new Iphone.. they are wonderful
: ) Pat
The new Iphone is hot.
What it is not.. it doesn't come with instructions. This is the one thing that drives Heather crazy.. and also me at the begining. The interface is supposed to be so complete that it is intuitive.. well not exactly.. as the old ad would say,
I left the Apple store with my new phone ready to work. I even made a call right out of the box.. almost. But for some odd reason, probably tied to my not completely understanding the interface, I got the new phone off to speaking DANISH. All the menu commands, all the program instructions.. almost everything was written in a language that I could not even begin to understand even with my Romantic language exposure. So how to fix it? I went on line and looked at how to solve it. Everywhere I went it said go to settings and choose international and from international choose the language. This left the the hanging question, "How do you say international in the language that this device is stuck in?
Eventually I came down to find something that was close to international in the settings panel and about half way down was able to change the language to US English and son of gun the thing worked! It was not going to be a fancy brick toy after all.
With this information I was able to get in my internet account and yahoo mail translated to and from pac bell dot net. And so the oddesy began. The interesting thing about the whole platform in the beginning was the disappearance of the barrier between mobile calls and the internet. Mobile calls are run on text messaging (with the new generations) and internet messaging is through email. The interesting concept is when a text messsage becomes an email pulled off the air and referenced with a web page that is collected with the cell phone (the Iphone is hardly a cell phone but from past understandings and usefulness it may serve this purpose). The metaphor changes when a device is able to do both. Throw in the abilty to be an Ipod (although limited by its size) The abilty to take credible photos and movies and to move them into an editting program such as Iphoto or Imovie.. you have really changed the concept.
I am very impressed with its abilty to pick up internet Wifis and use them when permitted. This would be pretty important to slower phones. It dosen't seem particularly slow in my environments becuase of the built in speed. I also am used to being in slower iternet environments having lived through 24K dial up.
It does facebook. It does flickr. It can even read my blog. I like the abilty to make pages bigger with a very sensitive keyboard. I learned the thumb and forefinger pinch move easily. I am still a little slow with when you tap and when you double tap. I like moving the pages the Tom Cruise.
I can see why people are spending their lives looking down and touch keyboarding.
Linzi recommeneded a couple of good "Apps" one is the Bart one for the Bay Area Rapid Transit schedule and Pandora that lets you set up an individual radio station. Both are great. I saw an add for the AAA discount App. It lets you know the merchants in any given area that will honor your AAA card for discounts. Its free too.
Its amazing how much more you can text with a decent keyboard. I was watching "THE" Wimbledon mens final today and the adds for the new Plam Pre looked cool. One problem, their keybord is limited to those darn little buttons. I like the abilty to turn it on its side and click away. I need to learn how to copy and paste.
The girls are learning from each other. One shared with the other about when the keys are shaking they can me re arranged. I have experienced that on the phone but did not know what precipitated the keys to start to shake.
I wish you all a new Iphone.. they are wonderful
: ) Pat
The new teenage Agnst with Royalty
My sister Kelly and I noticed at the fair a pretty interesting phenomenon.
Down in front of us three rows in a growingly impacted crowd a group of three 16 year old boys had saved a pretty large section of seats by "spreading out." Nothing too unusual about this until the female "royalty" arrived. You know the royalty.. that group of "popular" mostly blonde girls that float through their lives with every privilege and whose main preoccupation is the maintenance of their beauty. When these girls arrived.. all 7 of them in their identical blonde coiffures, the waves parted and suddenly their were plenty of seats in the "boy row." The girls lasted two songs of Charlie Daniels and they were off.. again moving over all the older audience members on their way to the aisle and out of the concert. I mentioned the royal status.. and Kelly confirmed.. she said you know why they are the royals? The size of the group and no attached boys to the arms or shoulders of the girls.
Last night Sue and I took the trip to Atwater for the fireworks scene. 5 dollars a car.. they turned the soccer field into the parking lot. The operative word is car.
We got out of the truck and headed for the bowl area of the parking lot. Their we joined a nice group of families with little kids stretched out in jammies and ready for the show. It was a perfect scene reminiscent of the family trip to the drive in shows in the summer when the double feature included Pollyanna and Summer Magic. The day was hot, but the night in Atwater was just right. The fireworks were wonderful but as expected it was a long wait to get out of the parking lot and on to the street to get home.
We sat in the car and watched the royalty in action next to our truck. A Honda civic with the requisite spoiler was parked next to us. The occupants were four tennage boys about 17. They were having a good time and staying out of trouble.. when along came the blonde royalty. Four damsels in distress.. or sort of.
They were determined and rightly so due to their status.. that they were going to go to a party or home with these boys. Four boys, four blonde girls all trying to get out of the fireworks show together in a honda civic. A Honda civic is not a 7 passenger car.
All of us real adults know that this really is not a possiblity. The VW never taveled when the half generation before ours crammed in. The telephone booth did not need to meeet the CHP with all its jammed occupants. So to get all of the royalty and the boys that brought the car could jam into the Honda civic but to move it down the road..
One royalty member started to organize the task. We can have the guys in the back have girls sit on their laps.. I don't want a guy sitting on my lap she said.. so it will have to be like that.
Then their was the problem of the purses. How will the girls organize their purses?
The guys who were the owners of the car were thinking about the problem in another way. Their can be people facing sideways that can sit with their knees up. Oh with that much more wait the car will be too low to get over the speed bumps.
Finally a solution was reached by the queen and her court. A guy that came would walk out and they would pick him up after they dropped off one of the queen's attendants nearby. So even though he came with the car, he agreed and the royalty had a ride out fo the parking lot.. or so it seemed.
It must suck to be royalty.. ha
: ) Pat
Down in front of us three rows in a growingly impacted crowd a group of three 16 year old boys had saved a pretty large section of seats by "spreading out." Nothing too unusual about this until the female "royalty" arrived. You know the royalty.. that group of "popular" mostly blonde girls that float through their lives with every privilege and whose main preoccupation is the maintenance of their beauty. When these girls arrived.. all 7 of them in their identical blonde coiffures, the waves parted and suddenly their were plenty of seats in the "boy row." The girls lasted two songs of Charlie Daniels and they were off.. again moving over all the older audience members on their way to the aisle and out of the concert. I mentioned the royal status.. and Kelly confirmed.. she said you know why they are the royals? The size of the group and no attached boys to the arms or shoulders of the girls.
Last night Sue and I took the trip to Atwater for the fireworks scene. 5 dollars a car.. they turned the soccer field into the parking lot. The operative word is car.
We got out of the truck and headed for the bowl area of the parking lot. Their we joined a nice group of families with little kids stretched out in jammies and ready for the show. It was a perfect scene reminiscent of the family trip to the drive in shows in the summer when the double feature included Pollyanna and Summer Magic. The day was hot, but the night in Atwater was just right. The fireworks were wonderful but as expected it was a long wait to get out of the parking lot and on to the street to get home.
We sat in the car and watched the royalty in action next to our truck. A Honda civic with the requisite spoiler was parked next to us. The occupants were four tennage boys about 17. They were having a good time and staying out of trouble.. when along came the blonde royalty. Four damsels in distress.. or sort of.
They were determined and rightly so due to their status.. that they were going to go to a party or home with these boys. Four boys, four blonde girls all trying to get out of the fireworks show together in a honda civic. A Honda civic is not a 7 passenger car.
All of us real adults know that this really is not a possiblity. The VW never taveled when the half generation before ours crammed in. The telephone booth did not need to meeet the CHP with all its jammed occupants. So to get all of the royalty and the boys that brought the car could jam into the Honda civic but to move it down the road..
One royalty member started to organize the task. We can have the guys in the back have girls sit on their laps.. I don't want a guy sitting on my lap she said.. so it will have to be like that.
Then their was the problem of the purses. How will the girls organize their purses?
The guys who were the owners of the car were thinking about the problem in another way. Their can be people facing sideways that can sit with their knees up. Oh with that much more wait the car will be too low to get over the speed bumps.
Finally a solution was reached by the queen and her court. A guy that came would walk out and they would pick him up after they dropped off one of the queen's attendants nearby. So even though he came with the car, he agreed and the royalty had a ride out fo the parking lot.. or so it seemed.
It must suck to be royalty.. ha
: ) Pat
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Red Jam Day
When I was growing up we always ended up at Grandma's house for a week or two in the Summer. My mom's mother was a prodigious canner. She made all kinds of perserves. Living on a 40 acre peach farm in Western Colorado, there was a bounty of veggies and many fruit from the peaches and the cherries and a couple of old gnarly plum trees.
It was always my job, along with my sister's, to pick the Santa Rosa plums for canning and jam making. It was kind of a layed back thing since the trees were pretty tall and the fruit was scattered. Its only care was the feeding from the chicken yard that it sat over. Little water, no pruning and they just grew.
At any rate, jam was made and so was jelly from the fruit of these trees. Although the prized jam came from the sour Damsen tree down by the canal.
So all summer long the major sweetness on the table was this plum jam and jelly. I really didn't like it so much then. It was always the same flavor.
Fast forward from the 12 year old kid to the 59 year old man. I have a plum tree that was a sport off the Santa Rosa plum. It was a remarkable plum in that it produced beautiful plums with wonderful flavor two to three weeks earlier than the Santa Rosa. My friend who had the sport, patented the tree and named it. When production began to make many more of these for sale a series of very unfortunate events occurred. Great rows of these trees were inadvertently plowed over. This farmer, teacher fought hard to get this tree out there. The industry fought to keep it off the market... or so it seemed.
This friend of mine gave me a bare root of this tree early in production. He knew that I would be a willing backup if the industry froze him out and destroyed his discovery. So I planted it and it grew. Every year it produced very nice fruit, but what do you do with it besides eat the fresh plums? I could make some dreaded jam. I recently found out from my friend (I had not seen him in 10 years) that the tree was not consistent in commercial production because it required a pollinizer at a particular time of blossom. A pluot would do however since it is in bloom very early. Yep, I have a pluot and that is why it is a consistent producer.
Surprise.. I made some jam a year or two ago and believe it or not I sort of like it. Today was a canning day.. and I made 6 pints of it (two batches). Sue even likes it.. especially if it stays red.
Plum jam takes a bit more work. The plums do not come off their pits. So they have to be cut off the pits. They have to chopped. A batch takes 6 1/2 cups of chopped cooked plums. That is about 8 cups of fresh chopped off the pit stuff. Then it goes into the food processor. Everything is chopped really fine. They it is heated to boiling and simmered for 5 minutes with a 1/2 cup of water. Then its the standard low sugar mix of 6 1/2 cups of fruit to 4 1/2 cups of sugar. First the pectin is added with a quarter cup of sugar. As it cooks in, it has to boil for a minute. Then the just of the sugar is added along with a couple of lemon cubes that I saved from the Fall harvest. Everything heats to a point where you cannot stir down the boil and it must boil for a minute. Then it all goes in sterile jars. The lid surfaces are wiped and the threds of the outside of the glass jars are cleaned. lids are aligned and rings are installed, Each jar joins the others for a bath under 2 inches of water that is is brough up to boil. The jars are boiled for at least 15 minutes.
I learned today that while canning jars a tough, the temperature change can be brutal. They can make the jars crack. Dropping cooler jars with canned apricot halves into the boiling canner resulted in two quart jars cracking and dumping their sweet contents in the boiling water.. what a mess. So I am a little more careful about temperature changes. Jars are put into luke warm water and then heated with the water. Jars are also allowed to cool down to luke warm terperature before they are pulled out into the air. Live and learn.
At least now I can say that I finally appreciate plum jam. I have also learned about the physics of cold and hot water.
All is not lost today.
: ) Pat
It was always my job, along with my sister's, to pick the Santa Rosa plums for canning and jam making. It was kind of a layed back thing since the trees were pretty tall and the fruit was scattered. Its only care was the feeding from the chicken yard that it sat over. Little water, no pruning and they just grew.
At any rate, jam was made and so was jelly from the fruit of these trees. Although the prized jam came from the sour Damsen tree down by the canal.
So all summer long the major sweetness on the table was this plum jam and jelly. I really didn't like it so much then. It was always the same flavor.
Fast forward from the 12 year old kid to the 59 year old man. I have a plum tree that was a sport off the Santa Rosa plum. It was a remarkable plum in that it produced beautiful plums with wonderful flavor two to three weeks earlier than the Santa Rosa. My friend who had the sport, patented the tree and named it. When production began to make many more of these for sale a series of very unfortunate events occurred. Great rows of these trees were inadvertently plowed over. This farmer, teacher fought hard to get this tree out there. The industry fought to keep it off the market... or so it seemed.
This friend of mine gave me a bare root of this tree early in production. He knew that I would be a willing backup if the industry froze him out and destroyed his discovery. So I planted it and it grew. Every year it produced very nice fruit, but what do you do with it besides eat the fresh plums? I could make some dreaded jam. I recently found out from my friend (I had not seen him in 10 years) that the tree was not consistent in commercial production because it required a pollinizer at a particular time of blossom. A pluot would do however since it is in bloom very early. Yep, I have a pluot and that is why it is a consistent producer.
Surprise.. I made some jam a year or two ago and believe it or not I sort of like it. Today was a canning day.. and I made 6 pints of it (two batches). Sue even likes it.. especially if it stays red.
Plum jam takes a bit more work. The plums do not come off their pits. So they have to be cut off the pits. They have to chopped. A batch takes 6 1/2 cups of chopped cooked plums. That is about 8 cups of fresh chopped off the pit stuff. Then it goes into the food processor. Everything is chopped really fine. They it is heated to boiling and simmered for 5 minutes with a 1/2 cup of water. Then its the standard low sugar mix of 6 1/2 cups of fruit to 4 1/2 cups of sugar. First the pectin is added with a quarter cup of sugar. As it cooks in, it has to boil for a minute. Then the just of the sugar is added along with a couple of lemon cubes that I saved from the Fall harvest. Everything heats to a point where you cannot stir down the boil and it must boil for a minute. Then it all goes in sterile jars. The lid surfaces are wiped and the threds of the outside of the glass jars are cleaned. lids are aligned and rings are installed, Each jar joins the others for a bath under 2 inches of water that is is brough up to boil. The jars are boiled for at least 15 minutes.
I learned today that while canning jars a tough, the temperature change can be brutal. They can make the jars crack. Dropping cooler jars with canned apricot halves into the boiling canner resulted in two quart jars cracking and dumping their sweet contents in the boiling water.. what a mess. So I am a little more careful about temperature changes. Jars are put into luke warm water and then heated with the water. Jars are also allowed to cool down to luke warm terperature before they are pulled out into the air. Live and learn.
At least now I can say that I finally appreciate plum jam. I have also learned about the physics of cold and hot water.
All is not lost today.
: ) Pat
Friday, July 3, 2009
County Fair Was Great
It was last Wednesday.
It was hot here in the valley. it was 10 degrees cooler in the Livermore Valley. My sister Kelly and i try to scope out the best day to go with mom and dad to the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. Its a long time family tradition. The parents love to see good entertainment. If it is included in the price of admission, so much the better. There were only two viable options this year for them. One of them was Charlie Daniel's on the first day of the fair and the other one would be BJ Thomas later in the schedule.
Charlie and his band put on quite a show. An hour is not much time to cover the diversity of his music. There were two big bridge sets that took up a lot of time as well. Despite this, he came through with many of his hits that the savvy audience knew. A lot of redneck talk and some patriotic illusions as I expected from such a "Simple Man." He sang a gospel song as he always does.. "How Great Thou Art." and finished the set with a very hot rendition of the "Devil went Down to Georgia." We hydrated up and enjoyed the concert from under the shade of the big tree and the cloth spread above the audience.
Mom and dad seemed to enjoy it. Dad's only comment was that he couldn't make out the words of the first two songs and then he wished there was some banjo and mandolin playing in the group. I pointed out that they were a little ways away from bluegrass which would have those components.
I ate some barbeque pork sandwich when we first arrived. Sue had the tri tip dinner with the cole slaw and beans. Bubbas was pretty good.
Sue found a jewley salesman in the comerical exhibit and bought a copper bracelet and a pair of copper angels. She also found the "happy feet" sandal display and bought a great pair of black sandals with multicolored straps.
We got to tour the quilts and collections and the gardens. They were based on a Victorian theme this year. There were lots of delphiniums and hydrangea flowers displayed in garden settings by the pros.
Overall it was a great time.
: ) Pat
It was hot here in the valley. it was 10 degrees cooler in the Livermore Valley. My sister Kelly and i try to scope out the best day to go with mom and dad to the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. Its a long time family tradition. The parents love to see good entertainment. If it is included in the price of admission, so much the better. There were only two viable options this year for them. One of them was Charlie Daniel's on the first day of the fair and the other one would be BJ Thomas later in the schedule.
Charlie and his band put on quite a show. An hour is not much time to cover the diversity of his music. There were two big bridge sets that took up a lot of time as well. Despite this, he came through with many of his hits that the savvy audience knew. A lot of redneck talk and some patriotic illusions as I expected from such a "Simple Man." He sang a gospel song as he always does.. "How Great Thou Art." and finished the set with a very hot rendition of the "Devil went Down to Georgia." We hydrated up and enjoyed the concert from under the shade of the big tree and the cloth spread above the audience.
Mom and dad seemed to enjoy it. Dad's only comment was that he couldn't make out the words of the first two songs and then he wished there was some banjo and mandolin playing in the group. I pointed out that they were a little ways away from bluegrass which would have those components.
I ate some barbeque pork sandwich when we first arrived. Sue had the tri tip dinner with the cole slaw and beans. Bubbas was pretty good.
Sue found a jewley salesman in the comerical exhibit and bought a copper bracelet and a pair of copper angels. She also found the "happy feet" sandal display and bought a great pair of black sandals with multicolored straps.
We got to tour the quilts and collections and the gardens. They were based on a Victorian theme this year. There were lots of delphiniums and hydrangea flowers displayed in garden settings by the pros.
Overall it was a great time.
: ) Pat
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Canning Day
Last night I worked on getting the outside kitchen burners prepared.
The weeds are cleared around it.
I bought a couple of new inserts for the big blue enamel pots to that hold the quart jars.
The apricots are getting ripe. They are much smaller this year. Some ripen before others.
The peaches are breaking down the tree in front. The girls and I made 18 half pints of peach jam and one pint of peach jam a couple of days ago.
Yesterday it was very hot. By far the hottest day of the year. We were more than tripple digits. It makes the 99 degree forcast today seem like a cooling trend.
We are headed to Modest to investigate what needs to be done with my sick Ipod. Its got the dreaded red x with the circle around it. Some folks on the web say that all it needs is a fresh upload of ITunes. I have patiently worked through the steps to get it recognized through the disc modes but it will not go. Others on the web say that when you get that sign, you ipod is toast. They recommend you getting it to the nearest apple store for a replacement.
A replacement "allows" you the oppportunity to pick and choose your on board music and entertainment package. The Ipod is 120 gb.. so not a great amount of sorting snd sifting has had to be done. I like it, I have it, its on it.
Have a great day.
Pat
The weeds are cleared around it.
I bought a couple of new inserts for the big blue enamel pots to that hold the quart jars.
The apricots are getting ripe. They are much smaller this year. Some ripen before others.
The peaches are breaking down the tree in front. The girls and I made 18 half pints of peach jam and one pint of peach jam a couple of days ago.
Yesterday it was very hot. By far the hottest day of the year. We were more than tripple digits. It makes the 99 degree forcast today seem like a cooling trend.
We are headed to Modest to investigate what needs to be done with my sick Ipod. Its got the dreaded red x with the circle around it. Some folks on the web say that all it needs is a fresh upload of ITunes. I have patiently worked through the steps to get it recognized through the disc modes but it will not go. Others on the web say that when you get that sign, you ipod is toast. They recommend you getting it to the nearest apple store for a replacement.
A replacement "allows" you the oppportunity to pick and choose your on board music and entertainment package. The Ipod is 120 gb.. so not a great amount of sorting snd sifting has had to be done. I like it, I have it, its on it.
Have a great day.
Pat
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Mary Youngblood
I am listening this morning to the music of Mary Youngblood. She is a native american flutist that was born in Sacramento from parents that were Seminole and Aluete.
From her website: Mary Youngblood
Two-Time GRAMMY Winner and EMMY Nominee Mary Youngblood, is the first Native American woman to have received a Grammy Award for "Best Native American Music Album" and the first Native American person to have won two Grammy's which makes Mary one of the premiere Native American musicians in the country. Winner of numerous awards, Mary garnered the 2002 Grammy for Beneath the Raven Moon and the 2006 Grammy for Dance with the Wind.
When Mary performs, it takes only a moment to acknowledge the profound spirituality of the sacred Native American flute and its historical courtship and wooing attributes. Her haunting music is much more than a song... it's liquid poetry, a prayer. Mary takes little credit for the intense emotions people feel when they listen to her music.
She has a great integration Native American Flute with other instruments.
Its pretty interesting ambiance muisic.
Pat
From her website: Mary Youngblood
Two-Time GRAMMY Winner and EMMY Nominee Mary Youngblood, is the first Native American woman to have received a Grammy Award for "Best Native American Music Album" and the first Native American person to have won two Grammy's which makes Mary one of the premiere Native American musicians in the country. Winner of numerous awards, Mary garnered the 2002 Grammy for Beneath the Raven Moon and the 2006 Grammy for Dance with the Wind.
When Mary performs, it takes only a moment to acknowledge the profound spirituality of the sacred Native American flute and its historical courtship and wooing attributes. Her haunting music is much more than a song... it's liquid poetry, a prayer. Mary takes little credit for the intense emotions people feel when they listen to her music.
She has a great integration Native American Flute with other instruments.
Its pretty interesting ambiance muisic.
Pat
Ipod with Scrambled Brains
My Ipod is broken
I have gone to the Apple site and have worked to get the menu back. I have followed all of their resetting steps. I still get the three death tones and the x with the circle around it.
It was probably removed from its source too soon one time.. maybe. or it met with some metal influence like coins in my pocket. Or it got too hot or or or...
It needs to go to Modesto to the apple store. I am going to be in the line once again with a hapless problem. Won't happen today. We doing more cleaning of the house. I am starting the day with some serious canning.
The fruit on the trees has got me a little paniced. Its getting ripe all at once. Mom has provided me with all of her empty jars so they may be filled with apricots. This is the plus year.
I have some of those wonderful little boxes that turn your chopped up fruit into jam. So all is good.
The temperature is right. Its going to be 96 today. So the outdoor kitchen has to be prepared. Go Go Go!
Have a great day!
Pat
I have gone to the Apple site and have worked to get the menu back. I have followed all of their resetting steps. I still get the three death tones and the x with the circle around it.
It was probably removed from its source too soon one time.. maybe. or it met with some metal influence like coins in my pocket. Or it got too hot or or or...
It needs to go to Modesto to the apple store. I am going to be in the line once again with a hapless problem. Won't happen today. We doing more cleaning of the house. I am starting the day with some serious canning.
The fruit on the trees has got me a little paniced. Its getting ripe all at once. Mom has provided me with all of her empty jars so they may be filled with apricots. This is the plus year.
I have some of those wonderful little boxes that turn your chopped up fruit into jam. So all is good.
The temperature is right. Its going to be 96 today. So the outdoor kitchen has to be prepared. Go Go Go!
Have a great day!
Pat
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Data Memory Does it Again.. Great Service
I have been known to procrastinate
So once again it bites you in the butt to do that.
I bought new memory for my computer to max it out.. 4 gb.. which by the way is standard for new desktop macs similar to mine.
I bought the Ram chips before I got the computer.. thanks to the reminder of my sister to come through with the computer and my dad who graciously suggested that I upgrade to "one like his."
Its always a tough decision as the software upgrades are very close to the same cost as the computer (who would have thought that would be the case in 1990 when these animals started coming off the factory floor.
So I purchased Ram before I got the computer. Back when we were just talking about a computer upgrade.. And sure enough, Apple changed the type of memory before I got the new computer. So I contacted my memory company, Data Memory in New Hampshire and they exchanged it out.. well I didn't get the memory back to them and didn't add the memory when the computer came.. it was working great..
I tried to put in the new memory. The memory is connected to little pull tabs at the base of the screen. I tugged on them.. and then I got cold feet. It was a little harder a tug than I thought should be needed.
So I finally gathered up the Ram and took it up to Apple. The man at the genius bar said that he could not put in the Ram since it wasn't Apple's but I was welcome to do it in front of him if I had my own tools (a screwdriver) He went in the back and got out a very short handled screwdriver and sat it down and went to help another poor soul at the table. I think the message in retrospect was, give it a try and I will be there if you need it. I didn't get it, so he came back and said. Let me show you how to get the memory out. I watched. The real trick is to keep the plastic tab straight as you pull. The memory popped out.. and he demonstrated how stiffly the memory goes back in. He said, "Now you work on the other side." There are two slots that are acceible from the bottom.
I "practiced" and then did it when I got home. I received the three bongs of doom. When I installed the "new memory from January." The chips were bad. I put the old chips in and contacted data memory by email. After a couple of quick responses back and forth, they new chips are headed across the country via Ups ground. I checked last night and they had made it to Illinois. The chips were sent absolutely free and a prepaid return adress label was also included so that the old chips can be sent back to them with no hassle.
got to love it.. Datamemory Pat
So once again it bites you in the butt to do that.
I bought new memory for my computer to max it out.. 4 gb.. which by the way is standard for new desktop macs similar to mine.
I bought the Ram chips before I got the computer.. thanks to the reminder of my sister to come through with the computer and my dad who graciously suggested that I upgrade to "one like his."
Its always a tough decision as the software upgrades are very close to the same cost as the computer (who would have thought that would be the case in 1990 when these animals started coming off the factory floor.
So I purchased Ram before I got the computer. Back when we were just talking about a computer upgrade.. And sure enough, Apple changed the type of memory before I got the new computer. So I contacted my memory company, Data Memory in New Hampshire and they exchanged it out.. well I didn't get the memory back to them and didn't add the memory when the computer came.. it was working great..
I tried to put in the new memory. The memory is connected to little pull tabs at the base of the screen. I tugged on them.. and then I got cold feet. It was a little harder a tug than I thought should be needed.
So I finally gathered up the Ram and took it up to Apple. The man at the genius bar said that he could not put in the Ram since it wasn't Apple's but I was welcome to do it in front of him if I had my own tools (a screwdriver) He went in the back and got out a very short handled screwdriver and sat it down and went to help another poor soul at the table. I think the message in retrospect was, give it a try and I will be there if you need it. I didn't get it, so he came back and said. Let me show you how to get the memory out. I watched. The real trick is to keep the plastic tab straight as you pull. The memory popped out.. and he demonstrated how stiffly the memory goes back in. He said, "Now you work on the other side." There are two slots that are acceible from the bottom.
I "practiced" and then did it when I got home. I received the three bongs of doom. When I installed the "new memory from January." The chips were bad. I put the old chips in and contacted data memory by email. After a couple of quick responses back and forth, they new chips are headed across the country via Ups ground. I checked last night and they had made it to Illinois. The chips were sent absolutely free and a prepaid return adress label was also included so that the old chips can be sent back to them with no hassle.
got to love it.. Datamemory Pat