ipadio: Sample Essay Response

Android Tablets for 2011

For bonus points. Watch the video above, and then write a short paragraph (3 to 4 sentences) on whether you see this new Android software making these tablets attractive enough to compete with the iPad more successfully or not. Please be specific in your argument.

Another Ethan melt down

Today was rough. Ethan had another explosion at his therapist's office. It was so bad that for the third time they called the police. Because he also struck his head during his flailing, and then fell upon the pavement of the parking lot, they also called the fire department and paramedics. Luckily, Bonnie also called me. After the paramedic examined in him, and said that there was no head trauma, they quickly left. The police did not see an immediate threat or danger at that point, since I had calmed him, so after filling out some paperwork he too also left. Bonnie was distraught, lingered, hoping they would take into Loma Linda again. Personally, I am glad that they did not. I do not want to put my son in an institution. With Ethan and Aeron and I went and got new tires for the Toyota. While there, we played Angry Birds on the iPad and Ethan managed to stay calm. We then got Del taco and came home. After eating together, we decided to go to the park. Now, Ethan is sleeping in the backseat. Jonathan, is skateboarding. Steven is practicing his soccer moves. We will see what tomorrow brings, but for tonight we have survived.


- BlogPress from my iPhone

ipadio: A Sample

Too hard to follow my students!

I am frustrated by this aspect of blogger. It is too hard to follow my students so that I can see what they write and encourage them to write more often.

So...If you want me reading your stuff, use the comment tool below to tell me the web address of your blog. That seems to be the only way that I can see your blog and then follow it.

ipadio: Reading Test Due Tomorrow

The coolest example of HTML 5 I have ever seen!

As we have been reading in the article that you must take a test on by this Friday, HTML 5 is a far more interactive internet, where the user can actually DO things with the web  browser that they could never do before.

Arcade Fire, with the help of Chris Milk (a truly legendary music video mastermind) has made an amazing exhibition of HTML 5 that will render scenes from Google Maps and Street View for any address into the video.

Click here to check out a version that includes Colony High School and a simple thought from Mr. Gale.

Comment below for bonus points on what you think of this interactive music video.

ipadio: We Are Behind!

Bonus Assignment: the word "Gay"

Trying to be sensitive to my students over the years, I have repeatedly told them that I would rather have them say things like, "That is so gale" rather than have them say "that is so gay."

I read an interesting article at Good magazine that said several things about this word, including:

"The dislike of “gay” is an awful lot like the dislike of “retard”—both words, when used insultingly, are hated for reasons that are very compassionate. But language is an amoral beast that operates and evolves on its own, and “retard” is just one of many terms for someone of low intelligence—like “idiot” and “moron”—that moved from medicine to slang. You can’t stop language change, and I think that’s OK. It’s more important to take care of people who are retarded than to police every use of the word “retard”—even when it’s used by morons.

"Similarly, with so much real, horrible homophobia in the world, trying to censor the “lame” sense of gay is a waste of energy and a losing battle. Fighting losing battles is retarded. And kind of gay.
"

Your assignment: explore in a 1-page essay what the meanings of this word are and whether or not it is harmful. You must quote once from this article and either support or refute the quote. Use standard MLA, and be sure to include a proper works cited entry at the end. Due no later than than December 1st.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A Clever Sample: CA2 must comment

See the Volt at Chevrolet's web site.

No, I am not expecting you to be this detailed, but Wired magazine has once again given us a clever sample of what I am looking for from you.

I want you to create a 10 slide power point that tells HOW to do something. In this example, Wired has shown us the basics of HOW GM builds their new "extended range" electric car the Chevrolet Volt.

CA1 Students: Please at least check the article out to get the idea of a step by step process that has graphics to go with it.

CA2 Students: For 10 points (this is a big deal guys), please comment here with a short paragraph (3 to 4 sentences) stating specifically which step in their process most impressed you and why. Be sure to quote one sentence from the step in their article that most impressed you.

ipadio: Get To Work!

The evils of my addiction

Here at the courthouse, it was time for lunch. I went out to the car to get my food and had to come back in through the security checkpoint. Unfortunately, I dropped my headphones, and when I reached to grab them, I dropped my computer bag since it was just on the one shoulder. That is something that I never do, but since it was about to go through the security checkpoint, I figured it was okay to have it there. If only I had put it on the belt instead of reaching!

Anyway, one of the cans of Mountain Dew that was in my computer bag exploded.

I didn't realize this, of course, so it had plenty of time to soak up into my library book and a multitude of papers that I had kept in my bag. Luckinly, my iPad and wireless keyboard were both snugly in a separate pocket. But, oh the joy, I got to spend about 35 minutes using more than my share of napkins to try and mop it up from the interior of my bag. I don't know if it is technically machine washable or not, but I am either going to have to do that or else embark on the attack of the wet wipes.

I have been selected for the jury, so my students will have to do without me for the next few days, but hopefully they will buck up and push themselves to do what is right even if they don't have me in their face trying to push them to do what is right. Well, lunch break is over so I am headed back into the courtroom now.

Project 2: How To

Read the assignment guide for what the project requires:

Then, post a comment below where you claim your topic. No two people in the same class period may do the same topic. Be sure to be specific as to what you are going to teach us how to do. If you really want to impress me, take the time to to describe at least two of your graphics you are going to use.

For example:

I am going to show the class how to properly shine shoes in the military style. One of my graphics will be of how to wrap the cloth tightly around my fingers. Another of my graphics will show just how much shoe polish to put on the cloth. A third graphic might show me actually rubbing the polish into the shoe using a circular motion. For that third graphic, I will probably even use Power Point to put an arrow on top of the picture to demonstrate that I am rubbing in a circular motion.

ipadio: Reading Quiz 11-4

Reading Assignment: Thursday, 11-4

I apologize, but I had to take today off for family medical issues. The video below is a T Mobile ad that is mocking the iPhone 4 (the guy on the left) who is forced to carry the burden of the "slow" AT&T network on his back. The girl in pink represents T-Mobile, who claims that they can make video chats from pretty much everywhere, not just on WiFi.

Your assignment today is to read this article.  Keep in mind that AT&T had this response to this add yesterday:  "T-Mobile’s claims about 4G are based on the same HSPA+ technology we have deployed to 180 million people today, more than T-Mobile’s reported 140 million, and we’ll have it rolled out to 250 million people by the end of this month, substantially more than the 200 million T-Mobile says it will have by year-end." What does this basically mean? Nobody has a 4G network right now. 


BGR claims that the the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has defined 4G as "for a service to qualify as 4G, it must deliver peak download speeds of approximately 100Mbps in high-mobility environments (cell phones)." Personally, from my cruddy link at home, my iPhone only gets .6 Mbps; not 6, certainly not 60, but "point" 6. 


On WiFi, on the other hand, my iPad gets 10.6 Mbps. My home computer, on a WIRED cable network gets 29, and here at Colony High School this morning, again on a WIRED connection, my computer managed to get 85 Mbps, which is the fastest I have ever personally seen.


Obviously, no cell phone connection anywhere in the country is anywhere near 100 Mbps (Mega bits per second).


Then, take this quiz based on the reading. 


If you wish, you may comment below for bonus points. Please make your comments specific and relevant to the topic.

Are these simulations effective?

After you have experienced BOTH the laptop and desktop simulation, comment below on your experience. Was it effective as a learning tool? Why or why not?

These comments will be graded, and better comments will receive a higher score. You may reply to each other's comments for bonus points.

ipadio: Mail Merge And Simulationd

ipadio: Google Voice

ipadio: Vocab Quiz Monday

ipadio: Flash Cards

ipadio: Galpin Sample Letter

Is Profanity a Problem?

This is an assignment: Use the commenting tools here to post at least one comment. You may also comment on other's comments. For each cogently relevant comment you make, you will earn points.

Is profanity a problem? Is society hurt by it? Are we dragging ourselves downward with how we verbally express ourselves?

Last night, as I was coming down the hall to put my 3 year old back into bed, he saw me coming and said, "Oh crap!" as he dove back onto his bed.

Talking to my wife about it, she admitted that "Oh crap" is a phrase that she uses regularly and he probably heard it from her.

At the park.

I was going to let Ethan stay home from Steven's soccer game, but he hit Aeron again so I didn't want to leave both kids with Bekkah. So, here we are at the park. Ethan has calmed down and is having fun. Steven's game is about to start, and I hope we don't get rained on.


- BlogPress from my iPhone

Searching for Normalcy

This has been a very difficult couple of weeks. I am stunned and amazed that my son Ethan has now been taken to Loma Linda Mental Health Hospital twice and he is only 5 years old. He has, supposedly, Intermittent Explosive Disorder. What does that mean? He gets extremely angry very easily.

On Wednesday, I had taken the day off due to a throat infection. He was with me all morning. He seemed fine. We spent a fair amount of the morning coloring his homework and talking about counting and such. Then, just before noon he goes in for counseling and therapy. He didn't want to go, but willingly enough went and seemed to really enjoy himself and behave appropriately. However, when he was told that it was time to go, he became irrational and extremely violent. Bonnie had to call the police because it was deemed no longer safe to even drive with him in the car. He then proceeded, once they arrived at Loma Linda, to pull off all his clothing and even started peeing on a chair in the hallway. They had to put him in the quiet room.

Yesterday, the orderly there at Loma Linda said that he was rational and was just choosing to use anger as a way to get his attention and get what he wants. Although we believe that the teachers and aids at Frost Elementary have been ignoring his outbursts the past two years, and basically catering to his every whim rather than help him develop some skills of self awareness and awareness of others, we do not believe that this orderly is correct. Something is seriously wrong with this child. He is not himself.

We desperately need to find some viable solutions to help him. We want him in our home. We want him to receive an education, we want to find the ways to communicate to him and with him that are effective and humane. The school district, insurance, and county Health office are not helping. We may be headed to legal counsel to see if there is any recourse in forcing them to do what they are legally required to do to help us help this child we so desperately love. We are bewildered, and it is difficult. But that is enough for today.

A visit from the Superintendent

Today I had a surprise visit from Mat Holton, our Superintendent, and Michelle Boyette, our principal here at Colony High School. Although a surprise, I was glad to see them. I shared what we were doing in class and also demonstrated some things I am doing with my iPad. That includes using it as a VNC viewer to remotely control my Mac with my iPad. This is particularly nice because I use Easy Grade Pro which is not available on the iPad as a standalone app for grading. My favorite feature of that program is that I can enter grades using the seating chart view. This way I can get out among my students more directly and not having to be tied behind my desk as much or having to print out a lot of paper for seating charts and such. Anyway, the main reason why I am writing about this is that Mr. Holton asked me to try to find an innovative way to use cell phones in the classroom. That is an interesting challenge. Obviously, I have my website that students use to access our daily learning activities anyway, but the problem is that we do not have ubiquitous WiFi here on campus. That is a pretty big deterrent. Well, the thing I want to research in this direction is how well I could offer online polls or something that would let them text in a response to a given question. That way, if it works, other teachers could use it to have their students respond to polls in class and quickly tabulate the data to check for learning. Now, I just have to find a free service that would let us do text messaging and tabulation. I know of paid services, but not any free services. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Did not realize this at first, but having Ethan evaluated means that he is there for 3 to 7 days at Loma Linda. Very emotional. Hard to realize that we really need this much help. I hope that he is okay. We will go see him later today. Congrats, Titan football! - BlogPress from my iPhone

Melt Down

Ethan had a melt down for the second day in a row at school. He was sent home both times. New IEP meeting Monday. Now at Loma Linda having him evaluated for Bi-Polar. Going to have to miss ALHS vs Colony football game tonight. I hope Colony obliterates them! - BlogPress from my iPhone

Twitter

It's ironic, but I think that I am a convert to twitter! I have mocked it for years without really giving it a try, but it really is pretty cool and I think I may need to start using it more than I use facebook. The difference is how clean the twitter interface is. In facebook, too many friends post all kinds of silly stuff, like what their high score to a given game is. I really don't care about that. I like the fact that twitter keeps you to a limit in how much you can say, and it allows you to so quickly and easily expunge the stuff that you are no longer interested in. For example, I thought I would want to follow tech Blogger Jon Gruber, but he is really foul in a lot of what he says, so realizing that I could very easily STOP following him. Quite convenient.

While my students type

Perhaps it is a silly desire, but I do wish to share my thoughts on occasion with my students. I love that some of them today chose to take typing a little more seriously. I love it when someone blurts out, "I am getting better at this." I love that most of them are actively engaged in doing what they have been asked to do. I hope that more of them in the future choose to make the most of their time, and I really hope that today's activity is one that they enjoy.

Excited, but tired.

As you can see, it is now nearly 1 in the morning. I am tired. But, I have thrown out my entire website and started over fresh and clean with a new page. I really do want to use this blog to do most of my personal writing, and I believe that my www.mrgale.info page will be kept very simple and that way allow me to keep up with it.

I am going to try out podcasting again, but I think that I need to keep the videos shorter. Soon, I will be relinquishing administrative control over my Mac at Colony, but hope that this leads to my being brought on the domain, given my teacher tools, and having an effective virtual environment using either VMWare or else Oracle's Virtual Box software.

Yes, I am a ridiculous Mac fanatic, but at least I do try to include as much other relevant stuff about the tech world around us in the realm of information management. I do hope that my students feel that I am pushing them to increase their skills while at the same time keeping them immersed in interesting trends that are happening all around us. I hope that by sharing with them media that is relevant to information management, some of the quality of the production will rub off on them and they will seek to produce relevant media someday themselves in the professional world.

Well, I am tired and should try to get at least a little sleep before I get up again at 4 am to conquer the world of Thursday.

A good day

Today was a pretty good day at church. Jonathan gave the scripture in primary, and Stephen I got to sit together and learn about the new duty to God program. Later, we spent some time the kitchen table and worked on scouts and Cub Scouts. Even getting his second class badge this upcoming Wednesday and soon to be done with the first-class apartments as well. Overall, what are the best parts today is going to the Berkeley household and sharing a meal. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lockdown

In class today, we had a lock down. Supposedly, there was an intruder on campus. Ontario PD came to check things out. Because of that, we miss all of first period! The students have to come to school late for second. And several did not show up. You're in class. I'm trying quick demonstration of the Dragon voice recognition software. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Browning House

Today, at the Browning house, we had a nice will talk about computers. They're trying to decide themselves what is the best choice. Their Mac is done. Curse you Apple! The realization comes with knowing what is best way to meet their needs, which is why we're having a good blogging demonstration.

Korie really wants to blog and do her photos. While the iPad is a great photo tool, it may not meet her needs if she really wants to go all out. Unless of course she were to subscribe to some kind of online repository to back them all up and share them with everyone.

They will likely get an iMac or something a little more robust, regardless, it was fun to show them what the iPad can do for bloggers who really want to post without all the typing.

Blogging

Colony high school, we had a great lesson on blogging! It was really fun to show the children my blog. It is fun to explain how Google makes their money. It was fun to also talk about the amazing way that they too could be a successful blogger someday. Now since this is just a test, I am not going to shut up! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The above is a slightly edited version of what I created using Dragon Dictation on my iPhone and then copying that text it generates to my Blogpress iPhone app.

I Love my Job

Bonnie has been very good to me and given me a great deal of time this week to get ready for school to start next Tuesday. She is wonderful! Colony has also been extremely good to me. It helps that it is a newer school with a small business department. It is amazing to have so many toys, ahem, I mean tools, to use to make my job so effective.

I have a very large room with wonderful student workstations where the computers are off the desks and out of the way so that I can see the students more. They also are faced toward me with a huge mirror at the back of the room to allow me to see what is going on with their screens if I must. Also, the computers are taken care of by the district office. This means that I don't have to create users and that I have very powerful tools for classroom management, file distribution, etc.

It is amazing to have so many things working so well. I will get to spend much more time teaching and less time solving problems. My department chair, Randy Wormdahl, has also been amazingly supportive. For example, I am typing this on an ergonomic wireless keyboard that he provided for me. It is so good that I am almost tempted to get one for my Mac at home. Perhaps I will just have to do all my heavy typing while here at school instead of worrying about things at home. I also have a sheet fed scanner that lets me make amazing PDF files on the fly from large stacks of paper documents. Can you say heaven? To a teacher who loves to go digital, this is a godsend.

Well, it is that time of day again, time to hang up my hat and head home. I just feel very blessed right now to be working here. Also, everyone that I have met has been amazingly kind, friendly, and helpful too. Life is good and I truly feel blessed by my Father in Heaven.

We Are Each Other's Angels

I really need to blog more often if I want this to be a meaningful journal of any kind. Last Wednesday, we had a tremendous spiritual experience. Our dear friend Maryann Bingham was struggling with some personal sorrow and we had her over for a meal together. Talking and testifying together of our faith in God and his plan, we managed to get through the meal okay with more smiles than we had before.

Prior to the meal, while just visiting, Rebekkah’s new seminary teacher came over to give her the lowdown and buttress her up a bit.This remarkable woman, sister Hudrlick, has been teaching the “zero” period seminary class for years. She is amazing. She puts so much devotion and dedication into her calling that it is truly amazing, using her upbeat personality and constant smile while keeping them with high standards. In case you are unaware, LDS youth attend seminary before school here in Southern California. The “zero” period class starts even earlier for those who already have a zero period class at the high school. So, Seminary starts at 5:30 AM. Yes, it is really that early.

While she was here visiting, it was fun not only to watch Rebekkah’s interaction with her, and my silly shaking of my head when she didn’t know answers to some questions that we have been studying for forever (like who members of the first presidency of the church are), but it was also fun to watch Maryann’s interaction with it all. She told me not to worry, that she has been there and done that with her son Jay during his confirmation classes when he seemed to know nothing too. I guess it is just what kids are like in these teenage years and I need to be more patient as a parent.

After the meal, our wonderful home teacher came over. His name is brother Demke. He has truly been there for us for years, performing blessings in our home over sick children, always visiting each month, and constantly showing a great deal of patience with our children. His lesson was taken from the first presidency’s message about Charity: the Pure love of Christ.

It was a powerful lesson where he brought in extra material and unabashedly shared his testimony despite the fact that Maryann is not a member of our church. The spirit of God was very strong in the room. After the lesson, she thanked him as well since that was something we really all needed to hear. She commented that she has been involved in service sorority in college and has always felt very strongly about the need to serve other people.

Even though we had given him no advance warning, I asked brother Demke to then help me in administering to Maryann a blessing of comfort. The spirit was strong then too and I know that some of the words that I said were truly directly from the Lord and not just the feeble mind of Pete. She ended up staying with us until nearly 11 pm visiting and sharing in our love for each other and just having a friend to talk to about life and all of its ups and downs.

Then, this past Sunday during Fast and Testimony meeting, I shared with the congregation this experience and testified how I know that we are all meant to be here for each other and to help each other in every way that we can. I truly love the Lord and am so grateful he doesn’t make life something where you are expected to wander through it alone.

Journey from Anger to Peace

After spending a week or so with Grandpa George, it was time to come home. I have wanted for several years to go and visit 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino CA. Do you know what is located there? That’s right, Apple Inc.

The thing is that I rarely take time for myself because I feel guilty about the cost in time and money. Bonnie insisted that we go ahead and do it this time since we are not under a huge time crunch and it is something I have wanted to do for so long. Navigating through the foothills between Sacramento and San Jose went well, and we arrived to find the Apple logo on all sorts of buildings. It seems that they have really expanded beyond their original campus of years ago.

On their campus they have a company store for visitors to buy Apple merchandise if they want to. They also have the unique opportunity of buying clothing that is Apple branded. They don’t have a huge selection, but these are somewhat unique items that cannot be found at their regular Apple stores. True, I could have easily shopped online with many of the knock off companies and bought some Apple clothing, but I really wanted to see their campus, or as much of it as security would let me see.

Upon arrival, both of our younger kids were grumpy, of course. I ended up having to lug Ethan around and Bonnie was carrying Aeron. At the store, she encouraged me to spend $100. I didn’t want to spend that much because she wanted me to get clothing and such and I still really want a wireless keyboard to use with my iPad. In the end, I found a shirt that I can wear to work, a wallet (it’s really supposed to be for business cards) and an Apple keychain. We also ended up getting Rebekkah a T-shirt for her birthday that is coming up. Bonnie wanted me to buy another t-shirt that reads “I visited the mothership,” but I chose not to do that.

We then went into the front lobby, but they don’t let visitors in without an appointment. They do have this really cool multi-display just past the lobby, however, that shows in real-time the apps being downloaded around the world from the iTunes app store. Bonnie had to use the restroom and the kids were having a meltdown, so we waited outside for her.

She came out to the car grinning like the chesire cat and whispered in my ear that she had something extra special for me. After buckling up Aeron in his car seat she showed me a sticker that demonstrated the proper washing of one’s hands after one has used the facilities. She had stolen the sticker from the restroom for my classroom because she felt that the phrase “employees must debug” was pretty funny and corny enough that I would appreciate it. I did appreciate it, once I had read it twice and finally understood what it said.

As we were leaving in the car, we had a choice to make. Get back on the road like good little boys and girls, or follow Bonnie’s desire and head to San Francisco. As usual, I caved in to her desire hating myself as I was doing it.

An hour later and after a few minor irritations with traffic and such, we parked near fisherman’s wharf. We then headed over to pier 39 where the sea lions come and bask on the floating platforms that the city has decided to set up for them years ago. It was cold and the kids were still complaining, but I was trying to make the best of it and counting the minutes until we could leave. We almost ate a restaurant there that overlooked the sea lions, but decided that their service was to slow and their prices too high. Before leaving, we did manage to stumble across this amazing photography gallery where the artist has been taking nature shots for years with a custom old fashioned camera that shoots with film on an 8 x 10 negative. Yes, I am not kidding, 8 x 10. I don’t even know what would be the equivalent in megapixels if it were digital, but the prints were beyond amazing. We loved several of them but certainly could not afford any of them. They also had a beautiful picture book with all of his work bound in coffee table format, but it was also $200 and not something we can afford.

Then it came time to find our way out of the city. Bonnie bought some clam chowder and sourdough bread for us to enjoy as we searched for a restaurant. We decided it was best to just get out of the city and get back over the bridge into Oakland so that we could more easily find a restaurant and get back on the road for home. Unfortunately, Bonnie and maps are not friends. This is not the first time that the restaurant she chooses is nowhere near the freeway and I am afraid that her impatient husband was really beginning to let his anger and frustration show. After finding that the restaurant she chose was closed, we went across the street to Church’s Chicken and had a nice meal together. By this point it was 9 pm however.

Since I was angry (although I didn’t cuss or flip out) I managed to contain my comment to something like, “It’s my fault too. I caved in to you just like I always do.” Talk about a hateful comment for me to make! Bonnie got really quiet and decided to put her headphones on and listen to her audiobook so that the kids could have the Rear Seat Entertainment system playing the sound to their Harry Potter movie that they had brought along. Because I don’t know Oakland, and my iPhone’s compass doesn’t work well in our car for some reason, I got turned around twice and wasted 20 more minutes before I figured out which street, direction, and freeway entrance to use. By this point, I was positively seething inside. Anger is a really terrible thing that can truly feed on itself while the person who chooses to feed it feels sorry for himself.

Anyway, I stayed angry for far too long (probably an hour and a half, which is for me an eternity) and was finally only able to let go of my anger by thinking about the temple. I realized that if my dear sweet wife and I were in the temple right now, I could not worthily go and stand in the prayer circle with her because I had way too much anger in my heart.

Thoughts of the temple led me to mentally sing inside my mind the lyrics to “A poor wayfaring man of grief.” I only know the words to the first verse, but still it helped me to open my heart to the holy ghost once again. Then, I mentally sang to myself the words to “I Stand All Amazed.” This hymn has always managed to get my heart in the right place and it didn’t fail me again tonight. The chorus has always been dear to my heart. “Oh it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me. Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me.”

After that, I mentally recited all thirteen Articles of Faith, making sure I recited the thirteenth at least three times. It teaches that “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” Yes, there is a cost for choosing to go to San Francisco when we have so much further to travel. It is not Midnight as I write this, and we will likely not be home until 5 AM, but that is okay. The artwork was beautiful, the scenery was also, and it made Bonnie happy. The kids enjoyed seeing the Sea Lions and also going over the Bay bridge.

When we stopped for gas and Bonnie took a turn, at last my heart was healed once again by the Prince of Peace. His Holy Ghost, the comforter, was able to help me let my anger go and I embraced my wife near the gas pump and apologized for my anger. We are whole once more.

Cell Phones and Teenagers

Rebekkah is at it again. I just got my new cell phone bill yesterday and discovered that 21/30 days she has stayed up late at night to text her friends. Sometimes it's just a simple one or two messages, but on several occasions she has stayed up past 2 in the morning sending messages back and forth. On one notable day, she sent and received a total of 72 messages past 10 PM. Anyone And have some good advice for how to deal with this? I have confiscated her phone for now, but we'll see what's next. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

To Grandpa's House

Yesterday was a long day. We awoke to find ants come through the southwest corner of our home. There were trails everywhere. It's not tons of food to feast on or unwashed dishes or anything like that. It's just that with five kids, chips and sugar bits end up under the couches or wherever. It took 3 hours to clean it all up. I think part of it is that the weather has been so hot, it drives them inside the house. Well, after that was over we had to sort through all the clothing and get packed to go on a trip to grandpa's George's house. While I was vacuuming the car and mounting the roof rack, Bonnie was the laundry Queen. As usual we did not leave the house until 7 PM. We each take turns driving at night. It may be kind of silly, but I like to use the trip-meter. The total journey is about 430 miles. I like focusing on what I have achieved, and how much farther I have to go. I drove 110 miles, then Bonnie drove over 100 miles, then I drove 120 miles, and she finished up. With frequent stops, we arrived safely. Rebecca was very helpful this time and I'm going with car at 3 AM. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The excitement of the New

It is almost that time of year again. School will soon begin. Yes, I'm a nerd but I love it. I am so excited to move into my new classroom, meet my new students and work hard to earn their trust. I desperately want to push them, and myself, harder than I ever have before to ensure that real learning is going on each and every day.

Last year was as bit of a learning year for me. I religiously followed a rather uninspiring book in order to be on the same page as the other teachers in the department. As such, I let my students down. I did not adhere to pushing them to learn all the extra standards that go along with the Tech Ed standards. By this, I mean that I didn't really push them to do all the content standards that presents valid opportunities to truly think and not just merely click. I guess my main thing is that this year I want to push them at least to do the English content standards that the state has decided to include as a part of the CTE standards for Information Technology. Considering my background, I don't really have any valid reason why not to do this.

I also really look forward to meeting the other members of my department, and working together with them to make the department strong. I know that they have far more experience than I do in this area and I hope that they will share successful strategies and projects with me. I also hope to quickly learn the new culture of Colony High and to positively add to it in any way that I can.

Well, it is getting late and I stayed up ridiculously late last night starting with all this blogging stuff, so I suppose I really should try to get some rest. Tomorrow, we are going to visit Bonnie's Grandpa George in Sacramento. It should be a fun week away.

Teenage Rap

Rebekkah likes Will Smith. Of all the rap stars out there, I'm glad she liked him. As she puts it, at least he doesn't cuss, he just raps! Sometimes I have to try very hard to watch my mouth when sharing her musical tastes. But I would much rather be in the know than out of the loop. Maybe someday, I can learn even like some of it. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Court results

After court was over I was so excited! The judge said I was only have to pay a fee of $70. Then, I find out at the clerk's window, the state of California, charges a fee of $26 for every $10 of your infraction costs. In plainer words, after traffic school fee has been added to the State's pillaging of my pocket, I'm still stuck with $396 in total costs. The only advantage is that I got a continuance for payment and I got to see some people who really have it bad. For example, one woman came to surrender herself to County Jail to serve her 60 or 90 days sentence. The judge even joked with her, saying that she would be in the same prison as Lindsay Lohan! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Santa Clarita Courthouse

As the scripture says in 2 Nephi 2:13, there are laws and punishment when you break them. A month ago or so, I was caught speeding coming from Sacramento to visit Grandpa. So, here I am in line to plead for leniency. It's a long line and then I'm headed for traffic school. So fun, so fun. I'll let you know how it goes later.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

It's all about purpose.

I firmly believe that "men are that they might have joy." What then gives us joy? That is the ultimate question to each person must ask himself. It is as crucial to know the answer to this question as it is to keep on breathing. Otherwise we find ourselves lost, adrift, alone within the walls of our own mind. We wander, flitting from one occupation to another, never finding the solace that we seek.

Lately, I have found myself at a crossroads. When the school year is in motion, I am happy. I am focused on doing my task as a teacher. Interacting with the students gives me a great deal of joy. However, this summer as we have struggled financially to make ends meet, as we have tried desperately to find additional work to bring in additional income, as I have found myself repeatedly wondering how much value do I have, it has been hard.

So, it is with renewed vigor that I attempt to leap back into my real calling. I am a teacher. I must do a better job, in order to not only provide a better education for the students, but in order to enlighten my own mind. I have gone back to standards and spent a great deal of time looking at what the state requires for information technology. The CTE standards are demanding. They involve huge section of economic standards, some mass, so science, some history, and a huge section of English.

As an English teacher. I am obviously excited about the latter standards. It includes a lot of writing, reading, and oral presentations. I guess my only real concern, is working effectively with the new members of my department. I dearly hope that they will find me agreeable and we can share ideas so that there is some degree of standardization with our efforts.

Well, it is rather late. I guess I should call it a night. I do hope that I can find some solace and meaning in this blog and it is not a complete waste of time.