You probably missed it.
On some obscure CBS alternate university channel there was the championship game between Carlton and Florida State. The game.. a football sort of spectacular non contact (most of the time) Frisbee. Both teams lined up and there were "faceups" but no tackles per say unless going for a particular Frisbee in the air. There were some "inadvertent tackles were two or three players were trying to leap for the flying disc and some players got their feet knocked out from under them but overall a very pass oriented dance similar to soccer without the contact with unbelievable passes from one end of the football field to the other. The players had to depend on the flight of the floating Frisbee to gauge their running and catching.
Here is a link that explains the game"
With some sponsorship this could be a pretty interesting sport. At least as interesting as arena football...
: ) Pat
Monday, June 28, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Mapping at 180 dpi
My new camera is a canon elph 780is. It boosts 12.1 mg pixels. Almost all of the new point and shoot cameras have this level of image attainment. Sadly most do not map at 180 dpi. Most map at 72 dpi.
This translates into a very different photo when it comes to do some digital photos. Realize that when photos are not used on the web or made into email snaps the dpi that a photo is collected makes a huge difference. Most of the point and shoots uses this collection number to make huge 72 dpi prints. Most of the time, most people are not going to get a 5 foot by 3 foot size photo yet this is the size that is collected.
The canon collects its 12+ mg pixels into a 180 setting. The collection size is 16 by 22. When making a 13X19 photo this fits into the framework with a little bit of editing. Trying to find this in the specs fora camera is impossible.
I reduced the photos for better loads on the web before I loaded them up for Fickr. This is easily done in photoshop.. but at least I have that option and the density to take any photo that I have shot and make it a print that will print on my printer without too much reduction... yeah!
This translates into a very different photo when it comes to do some digital photos. Realize that when photos are not used on the web or made into email snaps the dpi that a photo is collected makes a huge difference. Most of the point and shoots uses this collection number to make huge 72 dpi prints. Most of the time, most people are not going to get a 5 foot by 3 foot size photo yet this is the size that is collected.
The canon collects its 12+ mg pixels into a 180 setting. The collection size is 16 by 22. When making a 13X19 photo this fits into the framework with a little bit of editing. Trying to find this in the specs fora camera is impossible.
I reduced the photos for better loads on the web before I loaded them up for Fickr. This is easily done in photoshop.. but at least I have that option and the density to take any photo that I have shot and make it a print that will print on my printer without too much reduction... yeah!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Unsanitized Breakfast
The slamized breakfast made famous by Denny's and adapted by chains everywhere is not the diner breakfast experience.
The hash browns are about the size of a silver dollar. The pancakes come for a plastic sack or worse a mix that bites your tongue while the preservatives so common in pancakes become part of the "flavor"component. Thus is the state of affairs of the Denny's. the IHOPs and around here the Perkos. Sure they are clean. The sizes are regulated. They might as well have run them through the banana smelling cleaning fluid they us to clean the bathrooms.
Then lets talk about price. A breakfast should cost not more than 6 bucks. I was watching the food channel... another form of domestic porn.. and they were highlighting a couple of pancakes with a little rocotta cheese in them and a handful of blueberries.. cost 13 dollars.
Try to get out of one of these chain places for under 10 dollars. I just won't happen. I know I could chock it up to inflation. And it does cost more to get the materials to the stores with the cost of fuel.. but 10 bucks for a mini portioned breakfast. Its no wonder that Subway is getting into the market.
Don't think you are getting away cheap if you get a pastry where you get your coffee. You will pay mightily for that privilege. My starbucks charges $1.65 for a single donut. Don't get stuck buying coffee and donuts for your office and not make the extra step to the donut shop. Donuts are 65 cents apiece there. That is pretty outrageous. Back in the day they were 15 cents each.
A couple of places I have discovered in the environs still produce a breakfast of thunderous proportions and charge around 5 to 6.50 per person. That means you can get of the place with change to tip the waitress for under a ten spot.
The Winton cafe in downtown Winton on Walnut is a discovery Linzi and I made. I couple of my friends were raving about it and we took the plunge since we were up their by our favorite strawberry stand. She had Denver omelette with the the pancake and I had the chicken fried steak with the biscuits.. would you like some gravy on that too? You betcha... no charge.
I had the home fries (option green peppers and onions) and she had the hash browns (size of two palms). Coffee kept a coming and was helped out by the owner/chef's 8 year old kids. The interior is nothing to write home about.. a couple of Rock and Roll 45s with photos around them. and you sit on sturdy folding chairs or the benches in the front. We snagged enough leftovers in the a white clam shell for mom to have a meal when we got home.
I little less opulent is the spot at the end of main with the pig in the front. Its been repainted a coke theme and the folks that left because of food handling are back. The old sinks are waiting to be hauled away in the parking lot. It continues to have the best biscuits and gravy short of my place in town. Prices are off of the chains and service is quick and attentive. Its the Barbecue Pit.
Of the two the trip to Winton (about 8 miles) is probably worth it. Both pull off an unsanitized portion control and breakfast the way it used to be and should continue to be.
: ) Pat
The hash browns are about the size of a silver dollar. The pancakes come for a plastic sack or worse a mix that bites your tongue while the preservatives so common in pancakes become part of the "flavor"component. Thus is the state of affairs of the Denny's. the IHOPs and around here the Perkos. Sure they are clean. The sizes are regulated. They might as well have run them through the banana smelling cleaning fluid they us to clean the bathrooms.
Then lets talk about price. A breakfast should cost not more than 6 bucks. I was watching the food channel... another form of domestic porn.. and they were highlighting a couple of pancakes with a little rocotta cheese in them and a handful of blueberries.. cost 13 dollars.
Try to get out of one of these chain places for under 10 dollars. I just won't happen. I know I could chock it up to inflation. And it does cost more to get the materials to the stores with the cost of fuel.. but 10 bucks for a mini portioned breakfast. Its no wonder that Subway is getting into the market.
Don't think you are getting away cheap if you get a pastry where you get your coffee. You will pay mightily for that privilege. My starbucks charges $1.65 for a single donut. Don't get stuck buying coffee and donuts for your office and not make the extra step to the donut shop. Donuts are 65 cents apiece there. That is pretty outrageous. Back in the day they were 15 cents each.
A couple of places I have discovered in the environs still produce a breakfast of thunderous proportions and charge around 5 to 6.50 per person. That means you can get of the place with change to tip the waitress for under a ten spot.
The Winton cafe in downtown Winton on Walnut is a discovery Linzi and I made. I couple of my friends were raving about it and we took the plunge since we were up their by our favorite strawberry stand. She had Denver omelette with the the pancake and I had the chicken fried steak with the biscuits.. would you like some gravy on that too? You betcha... no charge.
I had the home fries (option green peppers and onions) and she had the hash browns (size of two palms). Coffee kept a coming and was helped out by the owner/chef's 8 year old kids. The interior is nothing to write home about.. a couple of Rock and Roll 45s with photos around them. and you sit on sturdy folding chairs or the benches in the front. We snagged enough leftovers in the a white clam shell for mom to have a meal when we got home.
I little less opulent is the spot at the end of main with the pig in the front. Its been repainted a coke theme and the folks that left because of food handling are back. The old sinks are waiting to be hauled away in the parking lot. It continues to have the best biscuits and gravy short of my place in town. Prices are off of the chains and service is quick and attentive. Its the Barbecue Pit.
Of the two the trip to Winton (about 8 miles) is probably worth it. Both pull off an unsanitized portion control and breakfast the way it used to be and should continue to be.
: ) Pat
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The Evolution of two Retirement parties
Its over, that is true.
With the finality of school and my retirement came the prospect of the end of the year/ retirement celebrations.
Both of my High Schools used last Thursday to do the honors. Both had very different approaches.
At the new school, (15 years old) the party is a mandatory last faculty meeting where the classified are also invited.
In the past its been a huge potluck kind of thing with the FFA supplying the tri tip food, beans, salasa, salad and rolls. They are adept at this and do many meals in the community with just this sort of formula. It also becomes an instant fund raiser for the club. Over the years some faculty members objected to the 5-6 dollar charge for this and still showed up and ate. The faculty club also charges 20 a year to cover sunshine expenses and provide sodas and paper goods to other events throughout the year. There are also two scholarships awarded to students who claim they will be teachers when they finish. Each of these scholarships are $250. It might buy a book or two in today's collegiate environ.
Only 43% of our teachers actually pay their dues
The classified who most do not have this kind of money going into the summer without pay often did not attend because they couldn't. Over the years our faculty club paid this and invited them as guests. This worked out until sub groups of ethnic origin decided that they could do it for less. We had Mexican fiesta, and barbeque pork from the Philippines, Hmong egg rolls. Last year they decided to have it catered again. The restaurant near the school and wonderful all you can eat Mexican place brought in food for a hundred. The coaches and the eaters should have been counted as two or three as the line finished with people that paid money had nothing put crumbs to show for their 5 dollars. This year's started out with "There will be nothing but cake and sodas at this event." Knowing that it is a minimum day and the kids are out at 1pm and the meeting starts at 1:30 faculty members will be starved.
A solution came down that if you wanted a sandwich from the independent sandwich store in Atwater they would take orders and supply a sandwich, a soda and a bag of chips for 5 dollars. It had to be ordered by the Friday before. I ordered one for me and one for Sue. When the day arrived, Sue went with me to my morning classes to help be a scribe for the final. After two classes she was pooped and had to go home. The event started and there was a sandwich for all that ordered one. No one ordered one for the kid that made the video honoring the retireees. I told the principal who was overseeing the distribution that he could have Sue's. He was very relieved. The meeting- party progressed and the retirees were part of a "To Tell the Truth sequence" The audience held up photos supplied at the tables of the retirees that they felt matched to unknown facts. It was really fun and engaging with the audience. Their was a video produced by a student in the school with a faculty member introducing and saying a lot of nice things about the retiree. The principal made the presentation of the flowers and the gifts. Each retiree got a dozen roses/carnation mix in a vase. I also received a very nice watch in the process. Each retiree had a chance to say a few words. I loved the chance to say some nice things about my career with this school. I talked about taking the tour and trying to figure out with the cement forms in place where everything was going.
The older school traditionally has made their retirement fete a picnic. They often would have it at a real estate wealthy teacher's backyard that would accommodate 50-100 people. Those wealthy teachers do not exist in our teaching corp now. They mostly came from the officers that flew the jets in the Viet Nam war and education was their second or third professions. They had houses with an acre around them. The remnants of the that generation left the teaching ranks in the last golden hand shake round about 5 years ago.
This year the retirement party was held in the group section of a local park. This school's tradition goes back many years. The retired teachers are all invited to this park every year. Most of them by their own admission look forward to seeing who is left and to socialize with their friends as well. They hired the FFa to do their catering (see above). It was a much smaller event. About 50 in total arrived. They had a little roast and of the retirees based on a movie theme. In the heyday their were skits and all kinds of wild stuff. A teacher and a student put together some black and white posters with our heads photo-shopped in. A saying was added. I was "shopped" into a Steve Jobs photo holding the first mac laptop. It was a photo of me in 1986 with the big black glasses...the quote was.. "It may be a fairly lengthy adjustment period."
It was a great party. The wood shop with laser carving tools made us each a wonderful wooden paque highlighting our years of service. Each retiree got card and a crisp 100 dollar bill. All 8 of us had a chance to say something. Teachers are seldom at a loss for words.
Friday was the last day of working with students at this district. The students took their finals and I brought them a little snack and something to drink as they worked. The last 30 mins. we opened up the wii and all kids took a swing around the race track with Mario Kart.
33 years doing Speech. 25 years with the High School district doing Speech. It was good run.
: ) Pat
With the finality of school and my retirement came the prospect of the end of the year/ retirement celebrations.
Both of my High Schools used last Thursday to do the honors. Both had very different approaches.
At the new school, (15 years old) the party is a mandatory last faculty meeting where the classified are also invited.
In the past its been a huge potluck kind of thing with the FFA supplying the tri tip food, beans, salasa, salad and rolls. They are adept at this and do many meals in the community with just this sort of formula. It also becomes an instant fund raiser for the club. Over the years some faculty members objected to the 5-6 dollar charge for this and still showed up and ate. The faculty club also charges 20 a year to cover sunshine expenses and provide sodas and paper goods to other events throughout the year. There are also two scholarships awarded to students who claim they will be teachers when they finish. Each of these scholarships are $250. It might buy a book or two in today's collegiate environ.
Only 43% of our teachers actually pay their dues
The classified who most do not have this kind of money going into the summer without pay often did not attend because they couldn't. Over the years our faculty club paid this and invited them as guests. This worked out until sub groups of ethnic origin decided that they could do it for less. We had Mexican fiesta, and barbeque pork from the Philippines, Hmong egg rolls. Last year they decided to have it catered again. The restaurant near the school and wonderful all you can eat Mexican place brought in food for a hundred. The coaches and the eaters should have been counted as two or three as the line finished with people that paid money had nothing put crumbs to show for their 5 dollars. This year's started out with "There will be nothing but cake and sodas at this event." Knowing that it is a minimum day and the kids are out at 1pm and the meeting starts at 1:30 faculty members will be starved.
A solution came down that if you wanted a sandwich from the independent sandwich store in Atwater they would take orders and supply a sandwich, a soda and a bag of chips for 5 dollars. It had to be ordered by the Friday before. I ordered one for me and one for Sue. When the day arrived, Sue went with me to my morning classes to help be a scribe for the final. After two classes she was pooped and had to go home. The event started and there was a sandwich for all that ordered one. No one ordered one for the kid that made the video honoring the retireees. I told the principal who was overseeing the distribution that he could have Sue's. He was very relieved. The meeting- party progressed and the retirees were part of a "To Tell the Truth sequence" The audience held up photos supplied at the tables of the retirees that they felt matched to unknown facts. It was really fun and engaging with the audience. Their was a video produced by a student in the school with a faculty member introducing and saying a lot of nice things about the retiree. The principal made the presentation of the flowers and the gifts. Each retiree got a dozen roses/carnation mix in a vase. I also received a very nice watch in the process. Each retiree had a chance to say a few words. I loved the chance to say some nice things about my career with this school. I talked about taking the tour and trying to figure out with the cement forms in place where everything was going.
The older school traditionally has made their retirement fete a picnic. They often would have it at a real estate wealthy teacher's backyard that would accommodate 50-100 people. Those wealthy teachers do not exist in our teaching corp now. They mostly came from the officers that flew the jets in the Viet Nam war and education was their second or third professions. They had houses with an acre around them. The remnants of the that generation left the teaching ranks in the last golden hand shake round about 5 years ago.
This year the retirement party was held in the group section of a local park. This school's tradition goes back many years. The retired teachers are all invited to this park every year. Most of them by their own admission look forward to seeing who is left and to socialize with their friends as well. They hired the FFa to do their catering (see above). It was a much smaller event. About 50 in total arrived. They had a little roast and of the retirees based on a movie theme. In the heyday their were skits and all kinds of wild stuff. A teacher and a student put together some black and white posters with our heads photo-shopped in. A saying was added. I was "shopped" into a Steve Jobs photo holding the first mac laptop. It was a photo of me in 1986 with the big black glasses...the quote was.. "It may be a fairly lengthy adjustment period."
It was a great party. The wood shop with laser carving tools made us each a wonderful wooden paque highlighting our years of service. Each retiree got card and a crisp 100 dollar bill. All 8 of us had a chance to say something. Teachers are seldom at a loss for words.
Friday was the last day of working with students at this district. The students took their finals and I brought them a little snack and something to drink as they worked. The last 30 mins. we opened up the wii and all kids took a swing around the race track with Mario Kart.
33 years doing Speech. 25 years with the High School district doing Speech. It was good run.
: ) Pat
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