They've just announced that Georgia eighth graders need to choose a career path by the end of the school year. What are they thinking?
Let me back track for a minute. Arkansas enacted some sort of academic plan in sixth grade. The difference is it was much more flexible and general. Basically college prep or not. In my opinion that is general enough to accommodate anything a person my choose to do.
I have a major problem with the Georgia plan. Granted, I don't have kids in school that young, but I think it's ridiculous. First, students get to choose from seventeen career paths. They didn't detail these seventeen paths. Second, students can change their career path until the end of their ninth grade year. What? Are these people crazy? There are students in college and grad school who don't know which career path they want to take.
How general are these seventeen paths? If a student makes a change at the end of ninth grade, how much of the work will be transferred to another path? How many of these paths will prepare graduates for acceptance in most colleges and universities? Will students be pigeon holed and stuck all their lives with choices they made in eighth or ninth grade?
What happened to competently teaching a variety of subjects? If teachers were left alone to teach content and concepts instead of teaching to standardized tests students would be better prepared for life.
Parents have got to take a more active role in decisions made by so called educators. Subjects and content have been made impossible to learn through Common Core. Don't get me started on political correctness. Andrea's history teacher was talking about Native Americans and then said the Plains Indians. Come on, make them all Native Americans or all Indians.
If I could name my school Andrea would graduate from Horizons High School and we'd do straight home schooling next term. If time travel were possible she'd graduate from ASB in the 1970's.
I'm sick of this bureaucratic nonsense.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Potpourri
It saddens me every time I think of this. I haven't brought it up to Holiday because I don't know if she even remembers. But I think it's time I acknowledged it.
I have a vague memory of getting potpourri for Christmas one year. I don't remember opening it but I do remember searching for it when I put my gifts away. I didn't find it at that time. I found it much later; months or years later.
I said something about finding a bag of potpourri I didn't know I had. Holiday told me she had given it to me for Christmas. She said I didn't show much interest in it at the time. She said I opened it and put it aside.
What was goiing on with me? Holiday was still a young girl when I found it. I would have thanked her for the gift and ooed and aahhed over it. This was really nice potpourri. I remember it had dried, sliced oranges, whole leaves of various types, and other quality items, it even had some fragrance left. It had come from Dillards which is a big deal for us. Do this day I don't know how I treated such a gift so lightly. I am truly sorry for that.
I immediately poured the potpourri into a bowl and arranged it so those beautiful slices of orange could be seen.
I have a vague memory of getting potpourri for Christmas one year. I don't remember opening it but I do remember searching for it when I put my gifts away. I didn't find it at that time. I found it much later; months or years later.
I said something about finding a bag of potpourri I didn't know I had. Holiday told me she had given it to me for Christmas. She said I didn't show much interest in it at the time. She said I opened it and put it aside.
What was goiing on with me? Holiday was still a young girl when I found it. I would have thanked her for the gift and ooed and aahhed over it. This was really nice potpourri. I remember it had dried, sliced oranges, whole leaves of various types, and other quality items, it even had some fragrance left. It had come from Dillards which is a big deal for us. Do this day I don't know how I treated such a gift so lightly. I am truly sorry for that.
I immediately poured the potpourri into a bowl and arranged it so those beautiful slices of orange could be seen.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Fast Food Workers
You're out there protesting today for respect, the right to organize, and fifteen dollars an hour. I agree you should have two of the three. The other one will hurt you, as well as those on fixed incomes. As you read this keep in mind that I also worked in the fast food industry for several years.
Because of my experience in fast food I know workers don't get much respect. Much of the general public think fast food workers are dumb. Fast food workers are looked upon as the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to jobs. If a person is out there doing a job they should be givin respect no matter what the jom happens to be.
If fast food workers want to organize go ahead. If you can find enough people who have worked the job long enough to be concerned about organizing gather them up and go for it. If you want to take union dues out of your pay check along with federal taxes, State taxes, Social Security, and Medicare, go ahead; just make it an open shop. With the high turnover in fast food workers are there really enough people to see this one through?
Also because I worked fast food, I know the skills needed to work a fast food job don't warrant fifteen dollars an hour. Computers in the cash registers add order amounts and tell how much change to give back. No basic math skills required. The little bit of food preparation is nothing more complicatated than what you do at home. Workers may have to add milk or water to biscuit biscuit mix, bread chicken, or make salads. Cooked foods are times so there's no guess work. Just put the food in, hit the timer, remove the food when the timer goes off. No rocket science here. Burger King's burgers and buns are even simpler, just place the raw hamburger patties or untoasted buns on their respective conveyer belts and they come out the other end cooked and toasted. Yes you work hard, especially at lunch and dinner rush. Yes cleaning is a pain, and yes your pay is low to start. After working at Hardee's for a few months I was given a raise; after a few more months another raise, and so on. After I had more experience I was able to get a job at Olive Garden which pays significantly more than Hardee's. I didn't stay at Burger King long enough o get a raise.
Fifteen dollars an hour is out of line for basic fast food work is many ways.
A soundbite of a lady who works at Churches is being played on the news today because of the fast food walk out. She says she would like a nice home and car. She shouldn't have to take the bus to work. They didn't delve into her circumstances: education, if she has children and her age when the first one was born, cellphone plan, other part time jobs, etc. So she wants to add the stress of wondering if she will keep the job she has if fast food workers are paid fifteen dollars an hour.
To me the disabled are of more concern that these able bodied whiners. There are people with disabilities out there who can't do as well, forget better, than fast food. The few employers who take a chance on a disable worker find they have hired a good worker who is hard working and dependable. It's a shame more employers don't take that chance now. They won't when or if they have to pay fifteen dollars an hour to find out disabled workers are good workers.
Because of my experience in fast food I know workers don't get much respect. Much of the general public think fast food workers are dumb. Fast food workers are looked upon as the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to jobs. If a person is out there doing a job they should be givin respect no matter what the jom happens to be.
If fast food workers want to organize go ahead. If you can find enough people who have worked the job long enough to be concerned about organizing gather them up and go for it. If you want to take union dues out of your pay check along with federal taxes, State taxes, Social Security, and Medicare, go ahead; just make it an open shop. With the high turnover in fast food workers are there really enough people to see this one through?
Also because I worked fast food, I know the skills needed to work a fast food job don't warrant fifteen dollars an hour. Computers in the cash registers add order amounts and tell how much change to give back. No basic math skills required. The little bit of food preparation is nothing more complicatated than what you do at home. Workers may have to add milk or water to biscuit biscuit mix, bread chicken, or make salads. Cooked foods are times so there's no guess work. Just put the food in, hit the timer, remove the food when the timer goes off. No rocket science here. Burger King's burgers and buns are even simpler, just place the raw hamburger patties or untoasted buns on their respective conveyer belts and they come out the other end cooked and toasted. Yes you work hard, especially at lunch and dinner rush. Yes cleaning is a pain, and yes your pay is low to start. After working at Hardee's for a few months I was given a raise; after a few more months another raise, and so on. After I had more experience I was able to get a job at Olive Garden which pays significantly more than Hardee's. I didn't stay at Burger King long enough o get a raise.
Fifteen dollars an hour is out of line for basic fast food work is many ways.
- The first two reasons are a bit self serving but it's my blog. Who is going to pay my inexperienced teenaged daughter fifteen dollars an hour when they can hire an experienced worker who will be, by virtue of experience, more productive than a newbie. Teenagers aren't the only group in jeopardy of fewer employment chances. The disabled have enough trouble finding jobs as it is. Employers don't want to take a chance on us. If they have to pay fifteen dollars an hour for fast food positions they will definitely look past the disabled.
- Companies will pass the cost of doing business on to their customers. How much will menu items rise if the newest crew member is getting fifteen dollars and hour? With fast food wages doubled, how many people on fixed incomes will stop patronizing these businesses? How many coupons will be made available to the general puplic after these increased labor costs?
- Companies will do all they can to maintain their bottom line. If wages double the easiest way to maintain the bottom line is to cut staff by half. If you're in the half let go that old wage starts looking better.
- Back to lack of respect. As mentioned earlier the perception of fast food workers isn't all that positive. Now if fast food workers get fifteen dollars and hour all other workers will want more for what they do. They aren't going to sit by as fast food workers make more than they do when they think they deserve more. And if they have a skill they do deserve more.
- My friend and neighbor is an EXPERIENCED and CERTIFIED forklift operator. She recently got a job that pays less than fifteen dollars an hour. She immediately started looking for another position. Her last offer was for the graveyard shift paying just over minimum wage. So if she can't get fifteen dollars and hours a fast food worker doesn't deserve that much. My sister is another example; she is a highly educated lady. Her salary from her recent case management job doesn't equal fifteen dollars an hour. If a position that requires a Masters Degree doesn't command fifteen dollars an hour then fast food definitely doesn't.
A soundbite of a lady who works at Churches is being played on the news today because of the fast food walk out. She says she would like a nice home and car. She shouldn't have to take the bus to work. They didn't delve into her circumstances: education, if she has children and her age when the first one was born, cellphone plan, other part time jobs, etc. So she wants to add the stress of wondering if she will keep the job she has if fast food workers are paid fifteen dollars an hour.
To me the disabled are of more concern that these able bodied whiners. There are people with disabilities out there who can't do as well, forget better, than fast food. The few employers who take a chance on a disable worker find they have hired a good worker who is hard working and dependable. It's a shame more employers don't take that chance now. They won't when or if they have to pay fifteen dollars an hour to find out disabled workers are good workers.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Healthcare Exemption
I stumbled upon this while on the obamacare website. It tells how a person can be exempt from the fine for not having health insurance. https://www.healthcare.gov/exemptions/.
I qualify for a couple reasons right off the bat; I bet our creative minds could come up with several ways to qualify for exemptions. Lets see.
The death of a close family member can be an exemption. Well that man them mentioned in the news last night was like a brother to me.
Wait until you receive a shut-off notice before you pay your utility bills. Getting a shut-off notice will exempt you.
Call you doctors to make sure you didn't forget to pay a bill in the last two years. If you have medical bils you can't pay from no longer than two years ago, you can get an exemption.
Become Amish.
If you're incarsarated you're exempt.
And my favorite....You're not lawfully present in the U.S. And who says crime, no matter how small doesn't pay?
In my opinion health insurgence is a scam. I've held this opinion for as long as I can remember. It's the biggest buggy man scare tactic to ever take on a life of its own. Those fears have led us to the disaster we're faced with today.
After listening to radio hosts and callers complain about obamacare I decided I'd probably end up paying the fine. The fine works out to be more cost effective than the reports I heard on premium costs.
I did my research. First I called Blue Cross Blue Shield for a quote. Ouch, sticker shock even with subsidy. $5??.?? without subsidy and $3??.?? with subsidy. They didn't have any information about coverage or deductibles. Along the was the Feds revamped everything. The Blue Cross agent tells me they now have all the information and things have changed. They sure did. Premium now between $185 and $195 depending on plan. The Deductible is $750 for medical and $750 for prescriptions. Co-payments are between $20 and $35 depending on plan. Not terrible but still expensive for me considering I wouldn't meet my deductibles. This was the first week in October so the website was impossible to use. "You can't get it yet, " the agent informed me, "The website is still down." I asked couldn't I get it through him. He said no. Even though it's a Blue Cross plan you've got to go through the exchanges.
After a few tries I finally was able to get through the website all the way. That was today, December2, 2013; two months after the Anointed one said it would be up and running. I did two applications because I didn't like the outcome of the first one. The first one gave me no subsidies with premiums between $322 a month and somewhere in the high $500's. The lowest deductable was in the mid $4000's. Year right. My results also said I may qualify for medicaid. I filled out the form again, this time saying I plan to file a tax return in 2014. This time it said I could be elegable for Medicaid and that was it; no plans, nothing else.
So I go back to my Blue Cross Emails curious to see what will happen. Nothing happened, nada, not a thing. I click on "Apply Now" beside the plan I want, directed to the Blue Cross site, create another profile, put in PIN from my email, click submit. My plans comes up but the "Apply now on the Exchange button is grayed out. Yep another whoop to jumpthrough later; the reason I'm more than likely going to be exempt.
I qualify for a couple reasons right off the bat; I bet our creative minds could come up with several ways to qualify for exemptions. Lets see.
The death of a close family member can be an exemption. Well that man them mentioned in the news last night was like a brother to me.
Wait until you receive a shut-off notice before you pay your utility bills. Getting a shut-off notice will exempt you.
Call you doctors to make sure you didn't forget to pay a bill in the last two years. If you have medical bils you can't pay from no longer than two years ago, you can get an exemption.
Become Amish.
If you're incarsarated you're exempt.
And my favorite....You're not lawfully present in the U.S. And who says crime, no matter how small doesn't pay?
In my opinion health insurgence is a scam. I've held this opinion for as long as I can remember. It's the biggest buggy man scare tactic to ever take on a life of its own. Those fears have led us to the disaster we're faced with today.
After listening to radio hosts and callers complain about obamacare I decided I'd probably end up paying the fine. The fine works out to be more cost effective than the reports I heard on premium costs.
I did my research. First I called Blue Cross Blue Shield for a quote. Ouch, sticker shock even with subsidy. $5??.?? without subsidy and $3??.?? with subsidy. They didn't have any information about coverage or deductibles. Along the was the Feds revamped everything. The Blue Cross agent tells me they now have all the information and things have changed. They sure did. Premium now between $185 and $195 depending on plan. The Deductible is $750 for medical and $750 for prescriptions. Co-payments are between $20 and $35 depending on plan. Not terrible but still expensive for me considering I wouldn't meet my deductibles. This was the first week in October so the website was impossible to use. "You can't get it yet, " the agent informed me, "The website is still down." I asked couldn't I get it through him. He said no. Even though it's a Blue Cross plan you've got to go through the exchanges.
After a few tries I finally was able to get through the website all the way. That was today, December2, 2013; two months after the Anointed one said it would be up and running. I did two applications because I didn't like the outcome of the first one. The first one gave me no subsidies with premiums between $322 a month and somewhere in the high $500's. The lowest deductable was in the mid $4000's. Year right. My results also said I may qualify for medicaid. I filled out the form again, this time saying I plan to file a tax return in 2014. This time it said I could be elegable for Medicaid and that was it; no plans, nothing else.
So I go back to my Blue Cross Emails curious to see what will happen. Nothing happened, nada, not a thing. I click on "Apply Now" beside the plan I want, directed to the Blue Cross site, create another profile, put in PIN from my email, click submit. My plans comes up but the "Apply now on the Exchange button is grayed out. Yep another whoop to jumpthrough later; the reason I'm more than likely going to be exempt.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Time Marches On
Remember those cousins who were older than you but still young enough to be fun? Remember when they hired a "Young" teacher? Remember when retirement seemed a lifetime away? I do.
Beazle is eighty-one years old. She and her neighbor started sharing the newspaper when the price went up. Mom and her neighbor go with each other to doctor's appointments. The neighbor has gotten to the point that she decided not to cook anymore. She uses her late husband's pension to buy take out. I say good for her.
It's sad to hear when a favorite teacher passes away. We mention nice things about them on FaceBook. It doesn't sink in yet because these particular teachers were up in age back when we were in school.
Beazle and my in-laws don't drive out of town anymore. They make sure they get home before dark. This is understandable because after all they are elderly.
My cool cousins are thinking about retirement. They're considering if they'll retire this year or next. When did they get old enough to retire? These same cousins said they don't like to drive after dark these days. They say it's getting difficult.
One of my "Young" teachers found me on FaceBook a few days ago. She said she retired two years ago. What? How can this lady be old enough to retire?
A school mate recently retired. No, she hasn't reached retirement age. But she has worked for the State for over twenty years. She retired so she can stay home to care for her husband who has cancer. People our age with over twenty years at one job. People our age with serious health issure. What.
Just the other day I was walking in my neighborhood when this guy pulls alongside me in his car. He asked me if I needed a ride to the bus stop. I declined because I didn't know him. He said he is a nice, loving person and I remind him of his grandmother. Yes, I'm old enough to have grand kids, (none yet), little grand kids, but not grand kids old enough to drive.
I'm still looking for the rewind button.
I read a book talking about in the near future people will live for centuries or even forever. The author discussed slowing the aging process or reversing it. He was saying old people would live like vibrant fifty year olds. How would it be?
Beazle is eighty-one years old. She and her neighbor started sharing the newspaper when the price went up. Mom and her neighbor go with each other to doctor's appointments. The neighbor has gotten to the point that she decided not to cook anymore. She uses her late husband's pension to buy take out. I say good for her.
It's sad to hear when a favorite teacher passes away. We mention nice things about them on FaceBook. It doesn't sink in yet because these particular teachers were up in age back when we were in school.
Beazle and my in-laws don't drive out of town anymore. They make sure they get home before dark. This is understandable because after all they are elderly.
My cool cousins are thinking about retirement. They're considering if they'll retire this year or next. When did they get old enough to retire? These same cousins said they don't like to drive after dark these days. They say it's getting difficult.
One of my "Young" teachers found me on FaceBook a few days ago. She said she retired two years ago. What? How can this lady be old enough to retire?
A school mate recently retired. No, she hasn't reached retirement age. But she has worked for the State for over twenty years. She retired so she can stay home to care for her husband who has cancer. People our age with over twenty years at one job. People our age with serious health issure. What.
Just the other day I was walking in my neighborhood when this guy pulls alongside me in his car. He asked me if I needed a ride to the bus stop. I declined because I didn't know him. He said he is a nice, loving person and I remind him of his grandmother. Yes, I'm old enough to have grand kids, (none yet), little grand kids, but not grand kids old enough to drive.
I'm still looking for the rewind button.
I read a book talking about in the near future people will live for centuries or even forever. The author discussed slowing the aging process or reversing it. He was saying old people would live like vibrant fifty year olds. How would it be?
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Stop Selling Yourself Short.....
.....and stop expecting something for nothing. I see both these trends on Craigslist and it's got to change. There are so many of us out ther competing for the same dollar that pricing has gotten to be ridiculous. As independent contractors we've got to stop selling ourselves short. We need to stick together and educate the public about the worth of our craft.
Go to the Services/Creative section on Craigslist and you'll see what I'm railing against.
Now lets break this down to see how or if this photographer is making any money. She will spend more than thirty minutes with this client, especially if the client brings two changes of clothes. Pouring over the photos to choose five will take another five to ten minutes. Editing five images will take another half hour or so depending on what needs to be done. Printing the 8 by 10 and burning the CD will take a few minutes too. Now comes payment and more pleasantries when the client leaves. This photographer has invested at least ninety minutes in the photoshoot.
Because she decided to print photographs herself she has the added expense of a quality printer and the right inks. High quality 8 by 10s take a lot of ink. (I don't print my own photos because of the high cost to get good looking prints at home. When I did try home printing in years gone by, the ink took a few minutes to dry.) The cost of photo paper and CD has to be considered.
She had examples of her work on the Craigslist ad and it is quite good. This lady is selling herself short in price and getting no residual effects. She is giving away full resolution images so her client can print them at Heaven know where, put them on Facebook and share them with all his friends, and all the photographer got was $25.
True, pictures of you aren't like stock images and lots of people will want them, but the client wanted them. Maybe close loved ones of the client will want some. But she just gave any potential future business from this client away. I think she should have put the five edited images on an online gallery so he and/or loved ones could order them from her. You may think the client will look up this photographer when he needs more pictures taken. He might, but he won't find her. She'll be out of business by then.
Another trend is to shoot and give the client all the pictures straight out of the camera. I don't like to do that because some ordinary images can look amazing with a bit of tweaking. Do you really want your clients to see your test shots, your bracketed shots, the one with Aunt Millie sneezing, or the one where the sun is glaring off Grandpa's glasses? Everybody and their brother shows pictures straight out of the camera. Why would a photographer want to show the same kind of thing. My new camera over exposes by a full stop. I've adjusted the settings but I wouldn't want clients to see those images in their unedited state.
Freelancers of all kinds; lets price our work fairly so we all can make a decent living.
There are also posters on Craigslist that want us to work for free. They place ads for inturns or for TFP work. These posters like to say they're starting out and want you to work for free or trade. They say you can use their gig to build your portfolio. Yeah right. I build my portfolia on objects and Andrea. I shop one wedding for my portfolio but the bride payed me something. I've got my portfolia, thank you very much. If there are no clients there is always stock.
I call posts like this ads with audacity. Look under Gigs/Creative.
.
Go to the Services/Creative section on Craigslist and you'll see what I'm railing against.
With the digital age of photography and the convenience of having my own studio, I'm offering headshots for only $25. Included is one free 8x10 and high resolution digitally edited copies of the shoot on a CD/DVD at no additional cost. No gimmicks, no crazy sales, nada. Just great pictures at a reasonable price. (Mon - Fri only, sorry.)
For an confusion about this, I'll break it down like this. For $25, you set up an appointment for a 30 minute headshot session at my studio. Bring an outfit change or two if you like because we can take A LOT of photos in just 30 minutes. Once done, we review the photos. You pick five that you like, I edit them immediately, and print one 8x10 while I burn a DVD of the photos. You walk out with an 8x10 print, a DVD of all images of the shoot including the chosen (edited) and unchosen images. All photos are in high resolution large enough for a billboard.
Now lets break this down to see how or if this photographer is making any money. She will spend more than thirty minutes with this client, especially if the client brings two changes of clothes. Pouring over the photos to choose five will take another five to ten minutes. Editing five images will take another half hour or so depending on what needs to be done. Printing the 8 by 10 and burning the CD will take a few minutes too. Now comes payment and more pleasantries when the client leaves. This photographer has invested at least ninety minutes in the photoshoot.
Because she decided to print photographs herself she has the added expense of a quality printer and the right inks. High quality 8 by 10s take a lot of ink. (I don't print my own photos because of the high cost to get good looking prints at home. When I did try home printing in years gone by, the ink took a few minutes to dry.) The cost of photo paper and CD has to be considered.
She had examples of her work on the Craigslist ad and it is quite good. This lady is selling herself short in price and getting no residual effects. She is giving away full resolution images so her client can print them at Heaven know where, put them on Facebook and share them with all his friends, and all the photographer got was $25.
True, pictures of you aren't like stock images and lots of people will want them, but the client wanted them. Maybe close loved ones of the client will want some. But she just gave any potential future business from this client away. I think she should have put the five edited images on an online gallery so he and/or loved ones could order them from her. You may think the client will look up this photographer when he needs more pictures taken. He might, but he won't find her. She'll be out of business by then.
Another trend is to shoot and give the client all the pictures straight out of the camera. I don't like to do that because some ordinary images can look amazing with a bit of tweaking. Do you really want your clients to see your test shots, your bracketed shots, the one with Aunt Millie sneezing, or the one where the sun is glaring off Grandpa's glasses? Everybody and their brother shows pictures straight out of the camera. Why would a photographer want to show the same kind of thing. My new camera over exposes by a full stop. I've adjusted the settings but I wouldn't want clients to see those images in their unedited state.
Freelancers of all kinds; lets price our work fairly so we all can make a decent living.
There are also posters on Craigslist that want us to work for free. They place ads for inturns or for TFP work. These posters like to say they're starting out and want you to work for free or trade. They say you can use their gig to build your portfolio. Yeah right. I build my portfolia on objects and Andrea. I shop one wedding for my portfolio but the bride payed me something. I've got my portfolia, thank you very much. If there are no clients there is always stock.
I call posts like this ads with audacity. Look under Gigs/Creative.
We are a label on the southside of Atlanta looking to build a team of up and coming camera operators, directors, producers and photo and video editors. We are a rising label with clients both major and indie who are looking to work with new talent. THIS IS A NON-PAYING INTERNSHIP however, there are ways to make an honest dollar and gain exposure for your works. You will be assigned to projects and partnered with clients that need our services. If you are serious and interested, then please leave your name, contact number and links to your work. Photoshoppers are welcome and so are students. We are looking for the best of the best so be competitive! **Full studio will be provided for your works**
A new web series is launching in Atlanta.
It will take everyday people and transform the way they live, dress and act in relationships.
We are looking for videographers and cinematographers for this project.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please send us an email and include your equipment (camera type(s), mic(s), lighting, etc.) and years of experience.
This project is unpaid, but your work will gain exposure and will be a great addition to your portfolio.
.
Friday, November 22, 2013
YouTube compared to Peer to Peer
Back in he early 2000's a lot of us were downloading music from places like Audio Galaxy and WMX. Now we add songs, movies, and television episodes to our Favorites on YouTube. Why was Peer to Peer illegal while YouTube is acceptable?
A decade ago artists complained about their losing money due to people downloading music from the internet. They took legal actions to stop it. Many people don't buy CDs anymore, they download a rights managed copy of an artists work onto their iTunes account. Once on their iTunes account it can be loaded onto mobile devices.
These same musicians along with new artists upload their creations to YouTube so millions will see their work. These multitudes will see or hear the artists' work for free; just like on the radio. Unlike with radio, people can add songs, movies, and TV shows to their favorites list. Now the general public has instant access to these artists' work on demand and for free. Why aren't the artists complaining about this. Why do they knowingly and deliberately put their work out there for the world to enjoy for free? Will those fined for downloading music for free in the 2000's get a refund?
A decade ago artists complained about their losing money due to people downloading music from the internet. They took legal actions to stop it. Many people don't buy CDs anymore, they download a rights managed copy of an artists work onto their iTunes account. Once on their iTunes account it can be loaded onto mobile devices.
These same musicians along with new artists upload their creations to YouTube so millions will see their work. These multitudes will see or hear the artists' work for free; just like on the radio. Unlike with radio, people can add songs, movies, and TV shows to their favorites list. Now the general public has instant access to these artists' work on demand and for free. Why aren't the artists complaining about this. Why do they knowingly and deliberately put their work out there for the world to enjoy for free? Will those fined for downloading music for free in the 2000's get a refund?
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Holiday Plans
The tree is up. I put it up over a week ago. I wanted to get our Christmas pictures done. I'm also trying to get some portrait business for the holidays. We don't enjoy the tree yet. It just stands there waiting to be a backdrop for somebody's photo shoot.
I've ordered the cards and they're waiting to be stuffed and sent. I've collected a few gift cards to give to rides and such. I've asked my offspring what they want for Christmas this year, and gotten a few replies.
With all this, I have no plans for the Holidays. Do I want to cook a big Thanksgiving dinner just for the two of us? Do I want to go to someone's house? Remember how picky of an eater I am. Do I want to eat restaurant fare on Thanksgiving? Same questions for Christmas. Plus, who can I invite here? Will they enjoy themselves?
This may be the first year I volunteer at a soup kitchen or hospital. Don't hold me to that; I'm just brainstorming.
I've ordered the cards and they're waiting to be stuffed and sent. I've collected a few gift cards to give to rides and such. I've asked my offspring what they want for Christmas this year, and gotten a few replies.
With all this, I have no plans for the Holidays. Do I want to cook a big Thanksgiving dinner just for the two of us? Do I want to go to someone's house? Remember how picky of an eater I am. Do I want to eat restaurant fare on Thanksgiving? Same questions for Christmas. Plus, who can I invite here? Will they enjoy themselves?
This may be the first year I volunteer at a soup kitchen or hospital. Don't hold me to that; I'm just brainstorming.
Where I've Lived
The other day I was thinking about all the places I've lived in my adult life. I wish I could take the best parts of each place and combine them into an ideal neighborhood. Money Magazine runs a best places article each year. I read this article looking for the best place to live each time I plan to move. I'm still looking for that wonderful location that has affordable housing, excellent public transportation, stores, restaurants, and services nearby, friendly neighbors, a good ward, politics similar to mine, low crime, and a stable economy.
My first apartment had two things to recommend it in the beginning. It was my first place and I had good neighbors. I had gone to school with many of them. Later when I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was in a very good ward. Public transportation came close by and necessary to ge anywhere. This apartment complex was in the middle of nowhere.
My next few apartments had pretty good public transportation but in walking distance of a few businesses. Neighbors and ward not so hot.
The Sandy, Utah house had almost everything. By walking less than a quarter mile I was not only at the bus stop but at other places I wanted to be. Three different bus route ran nearby; four, if you count the express buses that ran during rush hour. The last bus left downtown at 11:20 p.m. but no buses ran on Sunday in my area. I could walk to both fast food and sit down restaurants, the grocery store, discount store, dollar store, bank, dry cleaners, dentist, fabric store, work, church, and even the karate school where I earned my orange belt in Kempo Karate. Sandy had tow drawbacks; few friendly neighbors which results in a not so wonderful ward. That said, if I got the chance I'd move back into that house and make friends elsewhere. The advantages of living there far out weigh the disadvantages. The Wasatch Front has light rail now, I'm thinking the public transportation is even better. Utah is the only place I lived with good brick and mortor schools. Students could get a decent education there.
The Pine Bluff, Arkansas house was challenging. Build in 1889, it had no insulation in the walls, original windows, some of the underground plumbing had clay pipes, and all the other issues that come with an old house. Here we were close to family and businesses I had grown up with. Our neighbors were diverse, some kept to themselves while others were outgoing and friendly. Andrea learned to do all kinds of things from our neighbors, the Campbells. She learned everything from carpentry to how to play hand bells. The campbells were very good neighbors. When we moved to Pine Bluff a bus ran right in front of our house. That helped with the inconvenience of the limited routes and times the buses ran. As time went on Saturday service had stopped altogether. By the time we left, Pine Bluff Transit ran from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Transprtation wasn't the only decline; when we moved to Pine Bluff there were quite a few fast food restaurants we could walk to. When we left even McDonald's had relocated, leaving us with Wendy's which I don't care for, and Long John Silvers which was a longer walk.
Members of the Pine Bluff ward were friendly, caring, and nice to be around. That ward had a real sense of community.
Arkansas Virtual Academy was a very good online charter school. I was very impressed and once I got started talking about it I could go on for a long time. When we had trouble with math we could call the teacher and meet in an Eluminate room. She showed us how to do the problems and we worked problems together until Andrea or I, or both of us understood how to do them.
I liked how laid back Pine Bluff could be but I didn't like having to be home before six or get a ride.
Good neighbors, fair ward, but the transportation, what can I say. Quite a bit actually. I moved to Metro Atlanta for the transportation. MARTA starts running early and stops late. MARTA runs trains as well as buses. MARTA goes lots of places. But it takes half of forever to get anywhere on MARTA. Just to get started I have a .61 mile walk just to get to the bus stop. When I get there, there is nothing, just a gas station. I can go to the grocery store without having to transfer. My favorite WalMart takes a bus, a train, and another bus. Now don't forget, after going out I've got to again walk that .61 miles to get home. Why did I choose such a place? Because walkability neighborhoods are too expensive and the suburbs are set up for people with cars. The houses are here, on winding road. The businesses are over there, some also set up on winding roads. Georgia Cyber Academy is better than the brick and mortar schools but it's no Arkansas Virtual Academy. GCA places too much emphasis on Study Island and YouTube videos to do the teaching. The only reason I haven't pulled her out is because I want her to get a diploma from somewhere, not just a GED.
In a perfect world I'd live in Sandy, Utah in the house pictured above. The Utah Transit Authority would run on MARTA's schedule. Andrea would take Math and Science at Jordan High and everything else Through Arkansas Virtual Academy. My neighbors would be those from my first apartment, Pine Bluff, and Decatur, where I live now. I'd go to church in the Little Rock Second Ward building with those members and the members of the Pine Bluff Ward. Now that would be Utopia.
My first apartment had two things to recommend it in the beginning. It was my first place and I had good neighbors. I had gone to school with many of them. Later when I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was in a very good ward. Public transportation came close by and necessary to ge anywhere. This apartment complex was in the middle of nowhere.
My next few apartments had pretty good public transportation but in walking distance of a few businesses. Neighbors and ward not so hot.
The Pine Bluff, Arkansas house was challenging. Build in 1889, it had no insulation in the walls, original windows, some of the underground plumbing had clay pipes, and all the other issues that come with an old house. Here we were close to family and businesses I had grown up with. Our neighbors were diverse, some kept to themselves while others were outgoing and friendly. Andrea learned to do all kinds of things from our neighbors, the Campbells. She learned everything from carpentry to how to play hand bells. The campbells were very good neighbors. When we moved to Pine Bluff a bus ran right in front of our house. That helped with the inconvenience of the limited routes and times the buses ran. As time went on Saturday service had stopped altogether. By the time we left, Pine Bluff Transit ran from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Transprtation wasn't the only decline; when we moved to Pine Bluff there were quite a few fast food restaurants we could walk to. When we left even McDonald's had relocated, leaving us with Wendy's which I don't care for, and Long John Silvers which was a longer walk. Members of the Pine Bluff ward were friendly, caring, and nice to be around. That ward had a real sense of community.
Arkansas Virtual Academy was a very good online charter school. I was very impressed and once I got started talking about it I could go on for a long time. When we had trouble with math we could call the teacher and meet in an Eluminate room. She showed us how to do the problems and we worked problems together until Andrea or I, or both of us understood how to do them.
I liked how laid back Pine Bluff could be but I didn't like having to be home before six or get a ride.
In a perfect world I'd live in Sandy, Utah in the house pictured above. The Utah Transit Authority would run on MARTA's schedule. Andrea would take Math and Science at Jordan High and everything else Through Arkansas Virtual Academy. My neighbors would be those from my first apartment, Pine Bluff, and Decatur, where I live now. I'd go to church in the Little Rock Second Ward building with those members and the members of the Pine Bluff Ward. Now that would be Utopia.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Countdown
Learners permit, college information appearing out of the blue, encouraged to take duel enrollment, ACT registration, narrowing college choices, but it didn't sink in until Andrea said, "I'm going to be seventeen in a little over two months". Then it hit me like a ton of bricks' my baby will be leaving in less than two years.
What am I supposed to think? I want her to get her license so we can be more mobile. I'm looking forward to the road trip we have planned for next summer. But these events will hasten her leaving. How to enjoy this time looking forward while holding on?
Have I taught her everything she needs to know? What else do I need to teach her? If she ends up going to the University of either Dakota she can't run home for a chat. I don't text and she prefers not to talk on the phone.
It would be nice if she decides to stay in state for college. Then she can live at home or visit often. Her first choice is University of South Dakota, she wants to play on their volleyball team. Their out of state tuition is about the same as most states in state tuition. Room and board is in line with most other schools. If she wants to go, there's no reason to stop her.
What am I supposed to think? I want her to get her license so we can be more mobile. I'm looking forward to the road trip we have planned for next summer. But these events will hasten her leaving. How to enjoy this time looking forward while holding on?
Have I taught her everything she needs to know? What else do I need to teach her? If she ends up going to the University of either Dakota she can't run home for a chat. I don't text and she prefers not to talk on the phone.
It would be nice if she decides to stay in state for college. Then she can live at home or visit often. Her first choice is University of South Dakota, she wants to play on their volleyball team. Their out of state tuition is about the same as most states in state tuition. Room and board is in line with most other schools. If she wants to go, there's no reason to stop her.
Brief Comment About the Government
You all know where I stand, as a Tea Party Republican. The past two weeks has been an exercise in futility. Mainstream Republicans gave the Democrats all their leverage on a silver platter. If mainstream Republicans were going to cave under media pressure why wait two weeks? Why not just give in at the beginning and save all these back and forth proposals? What did we get after all this? Another stop gap budget. A budget for three months. We'll be back in the same mess in January. The difference next time is the Democrats will know all they have to do is stick to their guns and mainstream Republicans will give them what they want. I think if the Republicans would have stuck to their platform long enough the Democrats would have come to the negotiating table. Now, what intensive do the Democrats have to negotiate? All they have to do is what the Republicans should have done.
People say Republicans should come more to the middle. I could say the same about Democrats but what good is that. Why do we want two parties that are identical? People need choice. Republicans shouldn't come to the middle any more than Democrats should. A party shouldn't change just because one side of an issue is promoted more in the media than another. I get so sick of candidates for Federal office being asked how they feel about abortion, and gay marriage. Why aren't these issue state issues? If both parties have the same view what distinguishes them. I know there are other issues to consider but these are the main two the media harps on.
I've been hearing talk of a third party. This party would be formed by splitting the Republicans. Haven't we learned from history; split the party and the other one wins. Moderate Republicans should become democrats so people will have two clear parties.
I've even heard a small group of malcontents speak of secession. History repeating itself again. Unlike now most people in each region had similar ideologies. If we were split by region I'd be considering secession myself. Unfortunately we are scattered and there's no western frontier we can gather to. We're got to get it together or fall.
People say Republicans should come more to the middle. I could say the same about Democrats but what good is that. Why do we want two parties that are identical? People need choice. Republicans shouldn't come to the middle any more than Democrats should. A party shouldn't change just because one side of an issue is promoted more in the media than another. I get so sick of candidates for Federal office being asked how they feel about abortion, and gay marriage. Why aren't these issue state issues? If both parties have the same view what distinguishes them. I know there are other issues to consider but these are the main two the media harps on.
I've been hearing talk of a third party. This party would be formed by splitting the Republicans. Haven't we learned from history; split the party and the other one wins. Moderate Republicans should become democrats so people will have two clear parties.
I've even heard a small group of malcontents speak of secession. History repeating itself again. Unlike now most people in each region had similar ideologies. If we were split by region I'd be considering secession myself. Unfortunately we are scattered and there's no western frontier we can gather to. We're got to get it together or fall.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Government Shut Down
First, I like to say IT'S ABOUT TIME. I was so sick of the threats to do what we want or we'll shut down the government. Well, finally, for once they didn't cave and the government shut down. Good. Well they call it a shut down but this is a joke. So you can't visit a national park, visit a Presidential library, or you get to stay home because you're an unessential federal employee. If there's a disaster FEMA is still there, the mails will run, and you'll get your checks and food stamps.
The parties are blaming each other. Democrats are so used to Republicans giving in when they threaten to shut down the government. I'm glad the Republications stood their ground for a change. Hopefully when the American people see a government shut down is no big deal, just a ploy, they'll contact their representatives and tell them what they think about the issues at hand.
What puzzles me is how they decided which websites to disable during the shut down. That stupid health care exchange's site is up but the BARD site to order talking books is down. Both sites can run themselves so why is one down? I can understand their not adding any new books but why not allow downloads of books already there? Politics. That's life. I'm willing for the government to be shut down for as long as it takes to get a YEARLY budget. I'm tired of these temporary budgets. Leave it shut down until they vote to put in a debt sealing in place. Let green energy fund itself through private funding. Keep our soldiers out of every other country's skirmishes. Postpone and iron out this healthcare mess if they insist on not defunding it.
The parties are blaming each other. Democrats are so used to Republicans giving in when they threaten to shut down the government. I'm glad the Republications stood their ground for a change. Hopefully when the American people see a government shut down is no big deal, just a ploy, they'll contact their representatives and tell them what they think about the issues at hand.
What puzzles me is how they decided which websites to disable during the shut down. That stupid health care exchange's site is up but the BARD site to order talking books is down. Both sites can run themselves so why is one down? I can understand their not adding any new books but why not allow downloads of books already there? Politics. That's life. I'm willing for the government to be shut down for as long as it takes to get a YEARLY budget. I'm tired of these temporary budgets. Leave it shut down until they vote to put in a debt sealing in place. Let green energy fund itself through private funding. Keep our soldiers out of every other country's skirmishes. Postpone and iron out this healthcare mess if they insist on not defunding it.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Way Too Early
When Andrea was in seventh grade we had to catch the bus at 6:00 a.m. to get her to school. We did this by choice. I had exercised the School Choice option and chose to send her to Watson Chapel Junior High, a school out of our home district. With school choice you could attend an out of district school but the school bus didn't transport. So we found ourselves waiting for the city bus early every morning. We took the bus to Beazle's House where my daughter caught the bus with the neighborhood kids. Shame on us. What I'm complaining about is public schools requiring little kids in their own districts to be up and out so early. These parents have little or no choice.
Last Wednesday morning I was out early. I knew school buses ran early to pick up elementary school students. I had no idea how early. A mother with a little boy, maybe first grade, pass me on the street. I heard her say, "Hurry up, son, we don't want to miss the school bus." I was shocked. It was black dark. I say, "What time is it?" as I pull out my phone to look at the time. The lady said it was 6:30, my phone said 6.28. Either way, too early to be picking up such little kids. This is made more ridiculous when middle schoolers are picked up after 8:00. High School students are the only ones picked up at a reasonable 7:15.
By the time the little kid's mother finished telling him to
hurry I hear the bus. Unbelievable. I had to take a picture. This may not be the greatest shot but I had to get it; high ISO, hand held, black dark.
True, the little kids get home from school really early, around 2:30 p.m. but I'd rather see them get home a bit later than having to be at the school bus stop at 6:30 in the morning.
IMO this is part of why kids are performing so poorly in school these days. What time do these kids get up in order to be on time for the school bus? Did they eat breakfast at home or do they go to school hungry and scarf down a school breakfast before class? If they get up at 4:30 or 5, do they go to bed at 8:30 or 9?
I tell you, if I had small children and they had to be at the school bus stip by 6:30, we'd be homeschooling for sure.
Last Wednesday morning I was out early. I knew school buses ran early to pick up elementary school students. I had no idea how early. A mother with a little boy, maybe first grade, pass me on the street. I heard her say, "Hurry up, son, we don't want to miss the school bus." I was shocked. It was black dark. I say, "What time is it?" as I pull out my phone to look at the time. The lady said it was 6:30, my phone said 6.28. Either way, too early to be picking up such little kids. This is made more ridiculous when middle schoolers are picked up after 8:00. High School students are the only ones picked up at a reasonable 7:15.
By the time the little kid's mother finished telling him tohurry I hear the bus. Unbelievable. I had to take a picture. This may not be the greatest shot but I had to get it; high ISO, hand held, black dark.
True, the little kids get home from school really early, around 2:30 p.m. but I'd rather see them get home a bit later than having to be at the school bus stop at 6:30 in the morning.
IMO this is part of why kids are performing so poorly in school these days. What time do these kids get up in order to be on time for the school bus? Did they eat breakfast at home or do they go to school hungry and scarf down a school breakfast before class? If they get up at 4:30 or 5, do they go to bed at 8:30 or 9?
I tell you, if I had small children and they had to be at the school bus stip by 6:30, we'd be homeschooling for sure.
Homework
An assignment for Andrea's music appreciation classes states they must attend a concert and write a report about it. If the attend a live concert and attach the program to their report they will get extra credit. Straight forward in theory buy oh, so frustrating in practice.
We decide extra credit is the was to go. I have Andrea find a free concert held before the due date of the report. She finds a string quartet holding a performance at the Emory University Planetarium. The Marta map says no bus goes by there so I call para-transit. I tell the MARTA rep where we're going and that the concert starts at 7:00 p.m. I had already called Emory to find out what time the concert ends and they didn't know. I was told to call back tomorrow and they will have found out by then. The man said concerts usually last an hour and a half to two hours. I told MARTA to pick us up at 9:15 for the trip home. I was told we'd be picked up at 5:30 from home. This seemed reasonable. I was dead wrong.
So we get ready and 5:30 comes and goes. At 6:00 I call to see where the van is. I'm told he's dropping somebody off in Lithonia and will be picking us up in about twenty minutes. After we get on the van we suffer through a pick up and drop off of another person. It is after 7:30 before we get to the Emory Planetarium.
Sigh of relief; we can finally hear the music. Not so. the lady at the door informs us that the planetarium is filled to capacity. I'm dumbfounded but persistant. "Is there some place we can listen?" I ask. I don't know why I asked that because not a peep could be heard from where we were. She said there wasn't. I ask about a program, I explain about the extra credit for a live concert. I hoping Andrea's teacher will give her the extra credit if she knows Andrea tried so hard to go to a live concert. The lady at the door said they were all out of programs but she'd write a note explaining the situation. The lady wrote the note and I took a picture of Andrea outside the building with the name displayed so her teacher will know we tried. We stayed close to the entrance in case someone left early. Everyone stayed to the end around 8:00 p.m.
Now we have a long wait until we're picked up. What a waste. I told Andrea to go on Youtube and find a concert to report on.
We decide extra credit is the was to go. I have Andrea find a free concert held before the due date of the report. She finds a string quartet holding a performance at the Emory University Planetarium. The Marta map says no bus goes by there so I call para-transit. I tell the MARTA rep where we're going and that the concert starts at 7:00 p.m. I had already called Emory to find out what time the concert ends and they didn't know. I was told to call back tomorrow and they will have found out by then. The man said concerts usually last an hour and a half to two hours. I told MARTA to pick us up at 9:15 for the trip home. I was told we'd be picked up at 5:30 from home. This seemed reasonable. I was dead wrong.
So we get ready and 5:30 comes and goes. At 6:00 I call to see where the van is. I'm told he's dropping somebody off in Lithonia and will be picking us up in about twenty minutes. After we get on the van we suffer through a pick up and drop off of another person. It is after 7:30 before we get to the Emory Planetarium.
Sigh of relief; we can finally hear the music. Not so. the lady at the door informs us that the planetarium is filled to capacity. I'm dumbfounded but persistant. "Is there some place we can listen?" I ask. I don't know why I asked that because not a peep could be heard from where we were. She said there wasn't. I ask about a program, I explain about the extra credit for a live concert. I hoping Andrea's teacher will give her the extra credit if she knows Andrea tried so hard to go to a live concert. The lady at the door said they were all out of programs but she'd write a note explaining the situation. The lady wrote the note and I took a picture of Andrea outside the building with the name displayed so her teacher will know we tried. We stayed close to the entrance in case someone left early. Everyone stayed to the end around 8:00 p.m.
Now we have a long wait until we're picked up. What a waste. I told Andrea to go on Youtube and find a concert to report on.
I'm Sick of It
Is there anywhere in these United States that has fully accessible transportation for those of us who don't drive? Fully accessible means more than getting us to the doctor, work, and school, with maybe a shopping center nearby. The sooner public transit and paratransit systems realize this the better for all of us. Next Tuesday there's yet another event we can't independently attend.
Georgia Cyber Academy has gone all out for their Stone Mountain meet and greet. We're to "We will be meeting for fun, games, music, crafts, bounce houses, competitions, student performers and more!" To add to that Stone Mountains has lots of things for visitors to see and do. Andrea and I were looking forward to it until I called MARTA's para-transit for a ride.
The MARTA representative said the van will let us out at the west gate to Stone Mountain Park but she didn't know how far that is from the Fireside Pavilion, where I need to be. She said, "It's a big place. You should call them to find out. She was nice enough to give me the number to Stone Mountain park.
I call the park and get disappointing news. According to the lady at the park the Fireside Pavilion is two and a half miles from the west gate where the para-transit will be letting us off. I ask if there's a shuttle and she says the shuttle only runs on weekends.
We already got volleyball practice moved because of this event. More than likely we'll stay home and do schoolwork. There are roads running through this park. GCA sent out directions for parking near the pavillion. I don't understand why the para-transit can't travel these same roads.
I don't want to ask for a ride because I want to leave on my own schedule. I don't know how many of the GCA activities we'll participate in. We're mainly going to take pictures and may want to stay longer than a ride may. I'll have to thing about the pros and cons of asking a neighbor or another GCA family. Sometimes I want to do things with just us.
I flet Pine Bluff because I wanted Andrea and myself to be able to do more things. We missed out in pine Bluff because the busses were very limited in range and hours. Here we have both for the most part and I know I should be grateful. But as they say the more you have the more you want. I want more. I want to decide not to go someplace because of my own reasons, not because I can't get there without involving somebody else, their schedule, and desires. I am so looking forward to a year of freedom between when Andrea gets her license and when she leaves for college.
Georgia Cyber Academy has gone all out for their Stone Mountain meet and greet. We're to "We will be meeting for fun, games, music, crafts, bounce houses, competitions, student performers and more!" To add to that Stone Mountains has lots of things for visitors to see and do. Andrea and I were looking forward to it until I called MARTA's para-transit for a ride.
The MARTA representative said the van will let us out at the west gate to Stone Mountain Park but she didn't know how far that is from the Fireside Pavilion, where I need to be. She said, "It's a big place. You should call them to find out. She was nice enough to give me the number to Stone Mountain park.
I call the park and get disappointing news. According to the lady at the park the Fireside Pavilion is two and a half miles from the west gate where the para-transit will be letting us off. I ask if there's a shuttle and she says the shuttle only runs on weekends.
We already got volleyball practice moved because of this event. More than likely we'll stay home and do schoolwork. There are roads running through this park. GCA sent out directions for parking near the pavillion. I don't understand why the para-transit can't travel these same roads.
I don't want to ask for a ride because I want to leave on my own schedule. I don't know how many of the GCA activities we'll participate in. We're mainly going to take pictures and may want to stay longer than a ride may. I'll have to thing about the pros and cons of asking a neighbor or another GCA family. Sometimes I want to do things with just us.
I flet Pine Bluff because I wanted Andrea and myself to be able to do more things. We missed out in pine Bluff because the busses were very limited in range and hours. Here we have both for the most part and I know I should be grateful. But as they say the more you have the more you want. I want more. I want to decide not to go someplace because of my own reasons, not because I can't get there without involving somebody else, their schedule, and desires. I am so looking forward to a year of freedom between when Andrea gets her license and when she leaves for college.
Friday, September 20, 2013
You're So Vain.....
.....You probably think this post is about you. Don't you? It's probably not. Those who this is about are two specific people who will remain nameless for obvious reasons. If you think it is you and you did ALL these things; it is about you. If you did some of these things, shame on you, but this post is NOT about you. Maybe next time.
I met this mother and daughter at my daughter's volleyball practice. Because we live relatively close I thought it would be a good idea if we car pooled. Good in theory, bad in practice. She'd drive her van one day and ours the next time with Andrea driving home for the practice.
We couldn't do anything right (correctly) from the first time we took our van. Andrea hadn't backed our van out yet so she could park in the driveway. She didn't want to park on the street because someone might come down that hill and hit her van. She had a point on that but what's the hurry? It was only 8:15 and we had until 10:00 to go thirty-five miles.
Andrea's not knowing the freeways, or where she is most of the time makes Andrea Special according to this woman and her daughter. After all her daughter knows these things. My saying kids don't learn these things because we take them everywhere is just an excuse to let the mom tell it. Her daughter knows these things and she's not exceptional. She can't think outside the box because who is it that would have taught Andrea these things? I get onto Andrea for not paying attention to her surroundings because I was taught to know where you are. But it's not up to random people to judge her for being out of it in the georgaphy department.
How many of you have gone to a new walmart? Do you remember the traffic a new Walmart generates? My neighbor across the street was brave enough to ride with Andrea to the new Walmart at night. To me it looked like a sea of headlights and break lights. Andrea decides to scare me some more by making a left turn in all this and heading for a McDonald's drive threw. She did it. I was on pens and needles, but that's my job. When I told the carpool mom about this she said, "Is being scared a hobby for you"? No anybody who knows me would never ask such a question. People who know me accuse me of being too brave or too independent.
This is the same woman I mentioned in Tribute to ASB Teachers from the 70's. (In this Month's edition)
Sprayberry High School is still undefeated. We lost the matches but they didn't skunk us. Frist match 15 to 25 Sprayberry. Second match 24 to 25 Sprayberry.
On the way back the driver asked Andrea if she was going to drive back from Marietta on Thursday? Andrea said she wasn't going to drive back. She said she didn't want to. I was both surprised and not surprised. Andrea loves to drive but she already has three different people telling her three different things when she drives. I can definitely understand not wanting a fourth.
"You can't hack it." She tells Andrea.
"I just don't want to drive." Andrea replies.
Digression. We've already been told and shown how her daughter, age thirteen can already drive. She had her daughter back their van out of our driveway when we got back the first time we took our van.
When it's time to drive our van I get some CDs for entertainment. They didn't like that at all. The daughter was making faces because she didn't like the music. The mother had the audacity to say, "I thought the driver got to choose the music." I acted like I didn't hear her. The driver may usually get to choose the music because...........IT IS USUALLY THEIR VEHICLE. When I ride in somebody's car, truck, van, etc and they have music or the radio on I keep my mouth shut about it. It doesn't matter one whit if I like the genre, it's their vehicle, they choose.
How did we handle the radio situation when Beazle sent some church members to get us from Georgia in her car and bring us to Arkansas? The driver changed the station until somebody, I don't remember who, said, "Leave it there." It stayed there until that person said, "Find something else." And so it went.
So Andrea decides she wants to drive back after all. Andrea tells the mom that she, Andrea, will need directing, because she doesn't know the way back. No response but we head out. "You should have got in the right lane to get on 75." Andrea keeps driving and we end up in the middle of some town. "I thought you saw that sign for 75 over there, but I guess you didn't." Andrea keeps driving, sees a sign, presumably for 75, and asks, "Do I want Marietta or Atlanta?" No response from the mother. Snide response from the daughter, "Marietta is , N o r t h of us." True, this is something Andrea should know but this is not the time for a geography lesson.
I deliberately keep my cool. I'm upset with Andrea for not using the GPS on her phone from the beginning. I'm upset with the daughter for opening her mouth with unhelpful info. I'm really upset with the mother for sitting there mute like a bump on a log. At the next stop light I tell Andrea to get her phone out and use the GPS.
When Andrea starts getting directions from the GPS the mother decides to talk. Once she said somethink like get in the right lane so you can get off at the next exit. By the time she finished saying it the exit was there. Andrea did the right thing in my opinion and kept driving. The GPS hadn't told her to get off, and if it had it would have given more time. She pulls this again but this time Andrea had time to make the exit. When we're right at the exit she tells Andrea to,"Stay on 285." (Don't ask me when 75 became 285 or when she changed highways.) Andrea stays on the exit ramp. Again she says, "Stay on 285." Were there two ways to get back on 285? Andrea made a left, drove a little bit and merged back on. The mom said Andrea should have gone right but, "It's your gas."
I ask where are we? I like to know such things. They make fun of Andrea because she doesn't know where she is most of the time but don't answer me when I ask. Andrea's unhelpful, but existent reply is mile marker such and such. Everybody else is quiet as mice. I ask another question. What mile marker do we need to get to? Andrea doesn't know and no answer from the peanut gallery.
So we keep driving along in silence. Out of nowhere the daughter snaps, "Why did you go by the Covington Highway exit? We always get off on the Covington Highway exit." The mother remained mute; the GPS was quiet. Where is a gag and duct tape when you need it? I was fed up, I was going to take Andrea's side unless she came out with something totally off the wall. I asked Andrea why she didn't take the Covington Highway exit. She could have responded with all kinds of good answers, and she did. "I'm going to get off at the Glenwood Exit." Andrea said. I back her up by saying, "That is the exit we take when we go places with Tammy and them." She could have also said the GPS didn't tell me to get off there. The Covington Highway exit puts you off right on Covington Highway and you drive on city streets longer. You stay on the freeway longer if you take the Glenwood exit and have to turn off Glenwood onto Covington Highway. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
How can people be such know it alls and be so rigid? When you know everything shouldn't you know there's more than one way to skin a cat and all roads lead to Rome? It was like they were hoping Andrea would fail and they were bent on helping her fail. If Andrea would have given up or got and stayed lost they would have had something to gloat about. When she exercised some self help with the GPS they decided to open their mouths and give bogus directions.
When we got home they get out of the van. They don't say, bye, have a nice day, kiss my butt, nothing. They just got in their van and left.
I told Andrea I thought she did a good job. I told her how proud I was of her for not changing lanes when she didn't know if it was safe, and for staying calm under such stressful conditions. I told her she should have had her GPS ready from the beginning. If she had, we would have avoided the trip through that town.
The whole episode kept bugging me. I called Tammy to see if she was home; I needed to vent. I thought she'd tell me I shouldn't let all this bother me. Like a good friend and neighbor she took my side. We agreed that the daughter acted like that because she'd heard her mother talking. I told Tammy that is why I came to her house. I didn't want Andrea to hear me down grading those people and get an attitude in front of them. Tammy said I probably wouldn't hear from them again after that. I thought she was right.
Later the same day, I get a call from the mother, "I forgot to say goodbye this afternoon. I was in such a hurry to get to my next appointment, I forgot to say goodbye. I'll see you Tuesday." I said ok. I thought to myself she probably went to the service station to fill up her van and got reminded of how expensive it is to drive alone twice a week.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Tammy is willing to drive but I'm not found of fueling my van for all the trips either. I'm going to make a point to get phone numbers for more of the team members who live close.
In my opinion they think they're better than Andrea and me; possibly other people as well. At volleyball practice the mother can't seem to understand why her daughter doesn't play as well as the best players. It's a no brainer; those girls have been in volleyball clubs, teams, and camps for at least three years. Who'd pay for all that if those girls had no potential? This woman's daughter just started playing Volleyball on September 3rd. Does she really have to be told there's no way her daughter is going to be anywhere near as good a player as the girls with at least three years of training under their belts>
I met this mother and daughter at my daughter's volleyball practice. Because we live relatively close I thought it would be a good idea if we car pooled. Good in theory, bad in practice. She'd drive her van one day and ours the next time with Andrea driving home for the practice.
We couldn't do anything right (correctly) from the first time we took our van. Andrea hadn't backed our van out yet so she could park in the driveway. She didn't want to park on the street because someone might come down that hill and hit her van. She had a point on that but what's the hurry? It was only 8:15 and we had until 10:00 to go thirty-five miles.
Andrea's not knowing the freeways, or where she is most of the time makes Andrea Special according to this woman and her daughter. After all her daughter knows these things. My saying kids don't learn these things because we take them everywhere is just an excuse to let the mom tell it. Her daughter knows these things and she's not exceptional. She can't think outside the box because who is it that would have taught Andrea these things? I get onto Andrea for not paying attention to her surroundings because I was taught to know where you are. But it's not up to random people to judge her for being out of it in the georgaphy department.
How many of you have gone to a new walmart? Do you remember the traffic a new Walmart generates? My neighbor across the street was brave enough to ride with Andrea to the new Walmart at night. To me it looked like a sea of headlights and break lights. Andrea decides to scare me some more by making a left turn in all this and heading for a McDonald's drive threw. She did it. I was on pens and needles, but that's my job. When I told the carpool mom about this she said, "Is being scared a hobby for you"? No anybody who knows me would never ask such a question. People who know me accuse me of being too brave or too independent.
This is the same woman I mentioned in Tribute to ASB Teachers from the 70's. (In this Month's edition)
I told the group how we had played a version of volleyball, that they probably wouldn't call volleyball, at ASB. I explained how the ball could stay on a side as long as it didn't go out of bounds, get hit into or under the net, or stop bouncing. I told how each player was allowed a certain number of bounces depending on how well they could see. All the parents thought this was interesting except one. The one that didn't find this interesting wasn't a club mom; it was the mom of a player who had never played. "That must have been some neighborhood thing," she sneered. I reminded her that I had already said they probably wouldn't call it volleyball.The team's first scrimmage was September 16th. My neighbor from farther up the road wanted to go. She had played on her high school's volleyball team back in the day. Since we'd be going in the other van I told My neighbor I'd find out if it was alright. Talk about unsociable; I was surprised. After I introduced everybody and they said something like nice to meet you that was it. Would my neighbor liked to gotten to know the people she was riding with? Who Knows. Our carpool driver put in a CD, turns it up loud, and starts singing; all the way to Marietta.
Sprayberry High School is still undefeated. We lost the matches but they didn't skunk us. Frist match 15 to 25 Sprayberry. Second match 24 to 25 Sprayberry.
On the way back the driver asked Andrea if she was going to drive back from Marietta on Thursday? Andrea said she wasn't going to drive back. She said she didn't want to. I was both surprised and not surprised. Andrea loves to drive but she already has three different people telling her three different things when she drives. I can definitely understand not wanting a fourth.
"You can't hack it." She tells Andrea.
"I just don't want to drive." Andrea replies.
Digression. We've already been told and shown how her daughter, age thirteen can already drive. She had her daughter back their van out of our driveway when we got back the first time we took our van.
When it's time to drive our van I get some CDs for entertainment. They didn't like that at all. The daughter was making faces because she didn't like the music. The mother had the audacity to say, "I thought the driver got to choose the music." I acted like I didn't hear her. The driver may usually get to choose the music because...........IT IS USUALLY THEIR VEHICLE. When I ride in somebody's car, truck, van, etc and they have music or the radio on I keep my mouth shut about it. It doesn't matter one whit if I like the genre, it's their vehicle, they choose.
How did we handle the radio situation when Beazle sent some church members to get us from Georgia in her car and bring us to Arkansas? The driver changed the station until somebody, I don't remember who, said, "Leave it there." It stayed there until that person said, "Find something else." And so it went.
So Andrea decides she wants to drive back after all. Andrea tells the mom that she, Andrea, will need directing, because she doesn't know the way back. No response but we head out. "You should have got in the right lane to get on 75." Andrea keeps driving and we end up in the middle of some town. "I thought you saw that sign for 75 over there, but I guess you didn't." Andrea keeps driving, sees a sign, presumably for 75, and asks, "Do I want Marietta or Atlanta?" No response from the mother. Snide response from the daughter, "Marietta is , N o r t h of us." True, this is something Andrea should know but this is not the time for a geography lesson.
I deliberately keep my cool. I'm upset with Andrea for not using the GPS on her phone from the beginning. I'm upset with the daughter for opening her mouth with unhelpful info. I'm really upset with the mother for sitting there mute like a bump on a log. At the next stop light I tell Andrea to get her phone out and use the GPS.
When Andrea starts getting directions from the GPS the mother decides to talk. Once she said somethink like get in the right lane so you can get off at the next exit. By the time she finished saying it the exit was there. Andrea did the right thing in my opinion and kept driving. The GPS hadn't told her to get off, and if it had it would have given more time. She pulls this again but this time Andrea had time to make the exit. When we're right at the exit she tells Andrea to,"Stay on 285." (Don't ask me when 75 became 285 or when she changed highways.) Andrea stays on the exit ramp. Again she says, "Stay on 285." Were there two ways to get back on 285? Andrea made a left, drove a little bit and merged back on. The mom said Andrea should have gone right but, "It's your gas."
I ask where are we? I like to know such things. They make fun of Andrea because she doesn't know where she is most of the time but don't answer me when I ask. Andrea's unhelpful, but existent reply is mile marker such and such. Everybody else is quiet as mice. I ask another question. What mile marker do we need to get to? Andrea doesn't know and no answer from the peanut gallery.
So we keep driving along in silence. Out of nowhere the daughter snaps, "Why did you go by the Covington Highway exit? We always get off on the Covington Highway exit." The mother remained mute; the GPS was quiet. Where is a gag and duct tape when you need it? I was fed up, I was going to take Andrea's side unless she came out with something totally off the wall. I asked Andrea why she didn't take the Covington Highway exit. She could have responded with all kinds of good answers, and she did. "I'm going to get off at the Glenwood Exit." Andrea said. I back her up by saying, "That is the exit we take when we go places with Tammy and them." She could have also said the GPS didn't tell me to get off there. The Covington Highway exit puts you off right on Covington Highway and you drive on city streets longer. You stay on the freeway longer if you take the Glenwood exit and have to turn off Glenwood onto Covington Highway. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
How can people be such know it alls and be so rigid? When you know everything shouldn't you know there's more than one way to skin a cat and all roads lead to Rome? It was like they were hoping Andrea would fail and they were bent on helping her fail. If Andrea would have given up or got and stayed lost they would have had something to gloat about. When she exercised some self help with the GPS they decided to open their mouths and give bogus directions.
When we got home they get out of the van. They don't say, bye, have a nice day, kiss my butt, nothing. They just got in their van and left.
I told Andrea I thought she did a good job. I told her how proud I was of her for not changing lanes when she didn't know if it was safe, and for staying calm under such stressful conditions. I told her she should have had her GPS ready from the beginning. If she had, we would have avoided the trip through that town.
The whole episode kept bugging me. I called Tammy to see if she was home; I needed to vent. I thought she'd tell me I shouldn't let all this bother me. Like a good friend and neighbor she took my side. We agreed that the daughter acted like that because she'd heard her mother talking. I told Tammy that is why I came to her house. I didn't want Andrea to hear me down grading those people and get an attitude in front of them. Tammy said I probably wouldn't hear from them again after that. I thought she was right.
Later the same day, I get a call from the mother, "I forgot to say goodbye this afternoon. I was in such a hurry to get to my next appointment, I forgot to say goodbye. I'll see you Tuesday." I said ok. I thought to myself she probably went to the service station to fill up her van and got reminded of how expensive it is to drive alone twice a week.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Tammy is willing to drive but I'm not found of fueling my van for all the trips either. I'm going to make a point to get phone numbers for more of the team members who live close.
In my opinion they think they're better than Andrea and me; possibly other people as well. At volleyball practice the mother can't seem to understand why her daughter doesn't play as well as the best players. It's a no brainer; those girls have been in volleyball clubs, teams, and camps for at least three years. Who'd pay for all that if those girls had no potential? This woman's daughter just started playing Volleyball on September 3rd. Does she really have to be told there's no way her daughter is going to be anywhere near as good a player as the girls with at least three years of training under their belts>
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Tribute to ASB Teachers from the '70's
You guys were awesome. As a student I thought you were just like any and all other teachers. You were much more, I just didn't realize it. Beazle used to say, "They really learn 'em at the blind school." I've come to know how right her point was. Because of these exceptional teachers and because I've substitute taught in special education classes in schools where kids are mainstreamed I am all for the special schools.
Because of the wonderful education you gave me I felt comfortable pulling my daughter out of regular school and teaching her at home. I was always bad at math but she has online teachers to help her when she needs it there. I can help with her other subjects even though she is in eleventh grade now. I owe that all to you teachers.
I enjoyed P. E. only when we had folk and square dancing, or played volleyball. The running track, fist ball, swimming, and exercising I could live without. It is volleyball that prompted me to write this tribute.
As I said my daughter is home schooled for the most part through Georgia Cyber Academy, GCA. Someone thought it would be nice to get up a girls volleyball team. My daughter tried out and made the team. Some of the girls played in clubs, some, like my daughter, played for fun at church, while others have never played. A club mom explained the rotations and positions to us as we watched practice. I didn't know each position had certain roles.
I told the group how we had played a version of volleyball, that they probably wouldn't call volleyball, at ASB. I explained how the ball could stay on a side as long as it didn't go out of bounds, get hit into or under the net, or stop bouncing. I told how each player was allowed a certain number of bounces depending on how well they could see. All the parents thought this was interesting except one. The one that didn't find this interesting wasn't a club mom; it was the mom of a player who had never played. "That must have been some neighborhood thing," she sneered. I reminded her that I had already said they probably wouldn't call it volleyball.
This exchange caused me to think about the teachers at ASB. Was there a book out there telling how to teach blind kids how to play volleyball? I don't know, maybe. But I think the P. E. teachers sat down and brainstormed how to make it happen. Unlike in college where we could take a crafts class and have it count toward physical education, these teachers came up with adaptive ways to play standard sports.
Thank you so much teachers at ASB of the 1970's. You rock! You did a bang up job, and I'm so very grateful for your dedication to teaching us. You were more than warm bodies; you were excellent teachers.
Wanda Merritt
Anthony
Because of the wonderful education you gave me I felt comfortable pulling my daughter out of regular school and teaching her at home. I was always bad at math but she has online teachers to help her when she needs it there. I can help with her other subjects even though she is in eleventh grade now. I owe that all to you teachers.
I enjoyed P. E. only when we had folk and square dancing, or played volleyball. The running track, fist ball, swimming, and exercising I could live without. It is volleyball that prompted me to write this tribute.
As I said my daughter is home schooled for the most part through Georgia Cyber Academy, GCA. Someone thought it would be nice to get up a girls volleyball team. My daughter tried out and made the team. Some of the girls played in clubs, some, like my daughter, played for fun at church, while others have never played. A club mom explained the rotations and positions to us as we watched practice. I didn't know each position had certain roles.
I told the group how we had played a version of volleyball, that they probably wouldn't call volleyball, at ASB. I explained how the ball could stay on a side as long as it didn't go out of bounds, get hit into or under the net, or stop bouncing. I told how each player was allowed a certain number of bounces depending on how well they could see. All the parents thought this was interesting except one. The one that didn't find this interesting wasn't a club mom; it was the mom of a player who had never played. "That must have been some neighborhood thing," she sneered. I reminded her that I had already said they probably wouldn't call it volleyball.
This exchange caused me to think about the teachers at ASB. Was there a book out there telling how to teach blind kids how to play volleyball? I don't know, maybe. But I think the P. E. teachers sat down and brainstormed how to make it happen. Unlike in college where we could take a crafts class and have it count toward physical education, these teachers came up with adaptive ways to play standard sports.
Thank you so much teachers at ASB of the 1970's. You rock! You did a bang up job, and I'm so very grateful for your dedication to teaching us. You were more than warm bodies; you were excellent teachers.
Wanda Merritt
Anthony
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Volleyball Team
I get an email saying Georgia Cyber Academy is getting up a volleyball team. They will practice twice a week in Marietta, about forty miles northwest of us. There will be twelve spots on the team and tryouts are September 3rd at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $150.
I had read somewhere how there must be equal dollar amounts for girls college athletic scholarships as for boys. And since there are far fewer girls on high school teams a girl is a shoe in for an athletic scholarship. With this in mind I show Andrea the email and asked her if she wanted to try out. She said she did and told all her friends she was going to try out for the volleyball team.
The neighborhood teens took this as an oppertunity to torture her. They set out to whip Andrea into shape. Like all good coaches they made her run laps around our part of the neighborhood.
I did my part by getting us a ride to practices and games. Yay me! Our neighbor across the street said she would drive there and Andrea will drive back.
So we head out. We thought we were prepared. GPS said 42 minutes to get there. We allowed an hour. With rush hour Atlanta traffic we were late. We should have allowed an hour and a half.
There were some really good players and others who'd move out of the way when the ball came near them. Some played all over the court, trying to keep the ball from hitting the floor. I saw one girl let the ball bounce right by her. Like most, Andrea was in the middle when it came to skill and aggression. I didn't know how it would go until they called her name.
She is so excited. "I'm on a sports team!" she enthused.
I had read somewhere how there must be equal dollar amounts for girls college athletic scholarships as for boys. And since there are far fewer girls on high school teams a girl is a shoe in for an athletic scholarship. With this in mind I show Andrea the email and asked her if she wanted to try out. She said she did and told all her friends she was going to try out for the volleyball team.
The neighborhood teens took this as an oppertunity to torture her. They set out to whip Andrea into shape. Like all good coaches they made her run laps around our part of the neighborhood.
I did my part by getting us a ride to practices and games. Yay me! Our neighbor across the street said she would drive there and Andrea will drive back.
So we head out. We thought we were prepared. GPS said 42 minutes to get there. We allowed an hour. With rush hour Atlanta traffic we were late. We should have allowed an hour and a half.
There were some really good players and others who'd move out of the way when the ball came near them. Some played all over the court, trying to keep the ball from hitting the floor. I saw one girl let the ball bounce right by her. Like most, Andrea was in the middle when it came to skill and aggression. I didn't know how it would go until they called her name.
She is so excited. "I'm on a sports team!" she enthused.
Breaking News
We here that phrase a lot in Atlanta. WSB Radio has breaking news all the time. Before I moved to the Atlanta Area breaking news meant, first and foremost, important news; and to a slightly less extent, happening now.
I've lived here three years and still expect to hear something terrible when WSB says breaking news. It brings up memories of President Reagan getting shot, Columbine, September eleventh, the earthquake in Haiti, the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. Something that will keep you glued to the TV or radio all day.
Not so with WSB. This morning the breaking news was a few fire fighters slipped in some water while putting out an escalator fire at the airport. I am not making this up. The fire fighters had already fallen and been taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Where is the new here? WSB concentrated on the fire fighters falling in some water. Fire fighters are around water all the time. If these particular ones fell in water presumable others have done the same. We never heard how the escalator fire got started. The photographer in me would have loved to see pictures of a burning escalator.
The most common breaking news around here is traffic. A traffic jam may have materialized out of nowhere but this is not news; this is a traffic report. I wish they'd learn the difference.
Another type of non breaking news misnamed as breaking is looking for suspects. As in we're looking for the person or persons who smashed the window of the Smith Jones Jewelry store and made off with an undetermined amount of diamond and gold jewelry. We think the incident occurred around three a.m. this morning.
WSB, save the breaking news terminology for news that is important, effects our safety, effects us historically, or is information we need to know NOW. Traffic jams happen every day. It doesn't matter if burlgars are cough before breakfast of after lunch. Report more responsibly, please.
I've lived here three years and still expect to hear something terrible when WSB says breaking news. It brings up memories of President Reagan getting shot, Columbine, September eleventh, the earthquake in Haiti, the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. Something that will keep you glued to the TV or radio all day.
Not so with WSB. This morning the breaking news was a few fire fighters slipped in some water while putting out an escalator fire at the airport. I am not making this up. The fire fighters had already fallen and been taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Where is the new here? WSB concentrated on the fire fighters falling in some water. Fire fighters are around water all the time. If these particular ones fell in water presumable others have done the same. We never heard how the escalator fire got started. The photographer in me would have loved to see pictures of a burning escalator.
The most common breaking news around here is traffic. A traffic jam may have materialized out of nowhere but this is not news; this is a traffic report. I wish they'd learn the difference.
Another type of non breaking news misnamed as breaking is looking for suspects. As in we're looking for the person or persons who smashed the window of the Smith Jones Jewelry store and made off with an undetermined amount of diamond and gold jewelry. We think the incident occurred around three a.m. this morning.
WSB, save the breaking news terminology for news that is important, effects our safety, effects us historically, or is information we need to know NOW. Traffic jams happen every day. It doesn't matter if burlgars are cough before breakfast of after lunch. Report more responsibly, please.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Mormon Wedding Jackets
If you're LDS you know exactly what I'm talking about. These have got to be the ugliest thing on Earth. Do I blame the brides who wear them or the wedding dress industry? I'll spread the blame around and call them both to account. When I got married in the mid 1980's dress manufacturers still made bridal gowns with sleeves and even high necklines. A Mormon bride could find a dress she liked without too much trouble. Skip ahead to now; what 99% of wedding dresses are strapless. LDS brides have turned to the dreaded ugly jacket. This looks almost like the long rectangles they sell with prom dresses to keep them modest. Both ruin the look of the dress. In researching this post I found a blog, http://ldsbrideblog.com/adding-sleeves-jackets-vs-build-ups/ that talks about how to make a strapless gown modest. I also got the pictures from there. One suggestion was to make the jacket out of lace. I'm glad that was mentioned because just last week my daughter, Holiday, and I were saying lace would be an improvement. We also came up with the idea of some sort of lace blouse to go under the dress. If the bride can't have a dress made a lace jacket is a much better alternative to the solid fabric jacket. I like the jacket with the cascades, don't get me wrong, but not on top of a wedding dress; come on people. Make it fuzzy and throw it on to keep yourself warm in early fall. 
LDS brides should make a stink about the lack of modest wedding gowns. Maybe more manufacturers will go back to making a selection of dresses with sleeves and modest necklines. I'm tired of seeing these ugly jackets over beautiful wedding gowns. I'm not the only one. I looked through my Facebook friends' photos and I found only one with a jacket over dress number. Surprisingly hers was plain and looked nice. Most of my friends must have made their dresses or had them made. My Last Camera, or Maybe Not
I look through the viewfinder and what do I see,
Something that's there, or may not be.
I click the shutter and the picture comes up,
Do I say nope or smile cause it's yep?
This hit and miss exercise had gone on long enough. thank goodness I'm not shooting film. At least I can delete the sub-par images and be none the less for wear. The Viewfinder on my Canon Digital Rebel XTi is fine for outdoor shooting. I found myself having to shoot wide and crop indoors, leading to more computer time. My video camera has no viewfinder. It just has a live view screen. I have trouble shooting outside because I can't see the screen very well in bright sunlight.
Technology is still helping me keep up my hobby/business. I decided I needed a DSLR with video and live view. I didn't have much research to do. The new camera had to be a Canon. I have a lot of money invested in Canon lenses. It couldn't be a full frame because again I already have all these lenses. So my choices were narrowed to the Canon Rebel T3, T3i, and T5i. The T3 was out because it's not much of an upgrade from my XTi. The other two are similar but I choose the T5i comes with a lense that focuses quietly. No strange noise when shooting video.
Now I have spare cameras and not at a disadvantage where ever I am. Andrea is going to be my apprentice so all cameras will be put to use. I'll use my new camera as a crutch when I need it and my old tried and trues when I don't.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Driving Rules for Youngsters
"They're stupid in Georgia," Beazle is fond of saying. She has had many chances to say it lately when I tell her about Georgia's driving rules for teens. Thou many state are tightening their rules for teens driving, Georgia is the one we have to deal with.
When Merritt and Holiday got their licenses in Arkansas they could take the road test whenever they thought they were ready. If they passed they got their regular, unrestricted license. Not so for Andrea in Georgia. She has to keep her permit for a year and a day no matter how competent she becomes during that time. Because she is under eighteen there is a lot of Joshua's Law rigamarole she has to go through: thirty hours of classroom instruction, six hours of behind the wheel instruction from a driving school, fourth hours of driving with at least six hours being at night. OR the teen can take the class online, print out this umpteen page driving lesson book, go through them and have a parent witness that they were done, plus the forty hours of driving with at least six hours at night. Needless to say we're doing the latter.
We're enjoying a measure of freedom with Andrea driving. We have some neighbors who ride with us while she drives. She still have to work around other people's schedule but it's better than being strictly on MARTA.
When the weed eater broke it was nice to be able to take it into Sears instead of finding someone to come to the house to fix it. Andrea put the address of the service center in her phone's GPS and off she went. Our neighbor thought we were taking it to the Sears in the nearby mall but we went all the way to Chamblee to the service center. She got on the freeway, drove, exited, made a wrong turn, turned around, found Sears service center, parked away from other cars, and was proud of herself.
Going back the way she came wasn't in her wheel house. Our neighbor told her she was heading back toward Chamblee. Andrea pulled off the freeway and parked at a gas station. she put our address into her GPS and off we went. I told her to program HOME in the GPS so she won't have to put it in every time.
I decided to persue Andrea getting her license early because I'm visually impaired. I figured Services for the Blind may be able to point me in the right direction. My counselor and I did a three way call with the DMV. Here is where more of Georgia's stupid rules come in. At fourteen Andrea could have gotten her permit early. Then she could have driven around with just me in the car because I'm visually impaired. I asked the lady from the DMV is Andrea can drive with just me in the car now that she is sixteen and has her permit. The lady said no, because the law is for fourteen-year-olds to get their permits early if a parent is visually impaired. Since Andrea was sixteen when she got her permit she has to have a licensed driver ride in the front seat with her. I couldn't wrap my brain around this at all. I called her back the next day so she could explain it to me again. I just knew she didn't understand the question or I didn't understand the answer. We went over it all over again and the way I explained it here is how she explained it both times I spoke with her. She didn't even sound like this was strange while explaining it. It's obvious nobody proof read this when they wrote or passed it. If you have a visually impaired parent why is there a cut off when you can drive the car without a licensed driver? Either a licensed driver is needed or not; but why not if you start at fourteen put so if you wait until sixteen? Shake my head.
When Merritt and Holiday got their licenses in Arkansas they could take the road test whenever they thought they were ready. If they passed they got their regular, unrestricted license. Not so for Andrea in Georgia. She has to keep her permit for a year and a day no matter how competent she becomes during that time. Because she is under eighteen there is a lot of Joshua's Law rigamarole she has to go through: thirty hours of classroom instruction, six hours of behind the wheel instruction from a driving school, fourth hours of driving with at least six hours being at night. OR the teen can take the class online, print out this umpteen page driving lesson book, go through them and have a parent witness that they were done, plus the forty hours of driving with at least six hours at night. Needless to say we're doing the latter.
We're enjoying a measure of freedom with Andrea driving. We have some neighbors who ride with us while she drives. She still have to work around other people's schedule but it's better than being strictly on MARTA.
When the weed eater broke it was nice to be able to take it into Sears instead of finding someone to come to the house to fix it. Andrea put the address of the service center in her phone's GPS and off she went. Our neighbor thought we were taking it to the Sears in the nearby mall but we went all the way to Chamblee to the service center. She got on the freeway, drove, exited, made a wrong turn, turned around, found Sears service center, parked away from other cars, and was proud of herself.
Going back the way she came wasn't in her wheel house. Our neighbor told her she was heading back toward Chamblee. Andrea pulled off the freeway and parked at a gas station. she put our address into her GPS and off we went. I told her to program HOME in the GPS so she won't have to put it in every time.
I decided to persue Andrea getting her license early because I'm visually impaired. I figured Services for the Blind may be able to point me in the right direction. My counselor and I did a three way call with the DMV. Here is where more of Georgia's stupid rules come in. At fourteen Andrea could have gotten her permit early. Then she could have driven around with just me in the car because I'm visually impaired. I asked the lady from the DMV is Andrea can drive with just me in the car now that she is sixteen and has her permit. The lady said no, because the law is for fourteen-year-olds to get their permits early if a parent is visually impaired. Since Andrea was sixteen when she got her permit she has to have a licensed driver ride in the front seat with her. I couldn't wrap my brain around this at all. I called her back the next day so she could explain it to me again. I just knew she didn't understand the question or I didn't understand the answer. We went over it all over again and the way I explained it here is how she explained it both times I spoke with her. She didn't even sound like this was strange while explaining it. It's obvious nobody proof read this when they wrote or passed it. If you have a visually impaired parent why is there a cut off when you can drive the car without a licensed driver? Either a licensed driver is needed or not; but why not if you start at fourteen put so if you wait until sixteen? Shake my head.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
If it Ain't Broke......
When will they learn? Do they need to keep tweeking their sites to keep their jobs? Get a good site and they change it. Never fails.
Most of you know how FaceBook just can't leave their site alone. I check my page daily but I'm not a power user. The only difference I noticed on the last change was notifications was moved from the left side of the page to the right side and the little icons looked a little different.
Pond5 spent months developing it's new version. I tried the new version but preferred the old except for one feature. Luckily they kept both versions runing so we can switch back and forth.
Yesterday Smugmug announced the unveiling of its new site. I must have been under a rock; I didn't even know a change was in the works. The new site was touted to be fully customizable and the customization much easier than the old version. I was excited to get started but couldn't last night. Smugmug had to first import my images and settings into the new site and that took half of forever. I went to bed with it still transferring.
Today I found the new site just as difficult to customize as the old site had been. On top of that they renamed the photo organization. The old version had Categories with Galleries in each category. The new version calls Categories, folders. It put all my pictures in folders and left the gallery section empty. Why do they have both? One of the other unless I'm missing something.
People on FaceBook talking about the troubles they're having with the new Smugmug. Once we get used to it there will be no real difference between the old version and the new.
People wish for new features. We want better functionality. We want to keep up with technology. Most of all we want it to work properly without a lot of effort or learning curve. I believe developers can integrate our wants and needs into their tried and true platform. Why revamp everything so you'll have bugs to fix.
Most of you know how FaceBook just can't leave their site alone. I check my page daily but I'm not a power user. The only difference I noticed on the last change was notifications was moved from the left side of the page to the right side and the little icons looked a little different.
Pond5 spent months developing it's new version. I tried the new version but preferred the old except for one feature. Luckily they kept both versions runing so we can switch back and forth.
Yesterday Smugmug announced the unveiling of its new site. I must have been under a rock; I didn't even know a change was in the works. The new site was touted to be fully customizable and the customization much easier than the old version. I was excited to get started but couldn't last night. Smugmug had to first import my images and settings into the new site and that took half of forever. I went to bed with it still transferring.
Today I found the new site just as difficult to customize as the old site had been. On top of that they renamed the photo organization. The old version had Categories with Galleries in each category. The new version calls Categories, folders. It put all my pictures in folders and left the gallery section empty. Why do they have both? One of the other unless I'm missing something.
People on FaceBook talking about the troubles they're having with the new Smugmug. Once we get used to it there will be no real difference between the old version and the new.
People wish for new features. We want better functionality. We want to keep up with technology. Most of all we want it to work properly without a lot of effort or learning curve. I believe developers can integrate our wants and needs into their tried and true platform. Why revamp everything so you'll have bugs to fix.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
No Contract
Andrea and I have had our ups and down when it comes to cell phones. She doesn't like the phone I provide, she has it on silent, the screen cracks, she gets it stolen, always something. Just over a year ago I threw up my hands in frustration and said forget it, I'm done, you'll get a phone when you buy one yourself. Between Andrea not answering the phone I'd paid for and Sprint not standing behind a phone that was still under warranty I was Threw. I had no contract so I took over hers and made her go without a phone.
I get free of her Sprint contract on July 17th. A few days later Andrea pops up talking about wanting a phone. She tells me how I can add a line for $9.99 or something. I tell her I don't want another contract. I check prices of phones that will work with Spring and found them too expensive.
Andrea calls Sprint to see if she can get a phone on her own account. She can't. They tell her if I get the phone for her she'll be able to transfer it to her own name after she turns eighteen. Andrea even shows me a phone they said she could get for free. I say no because I don't want a contract, you'll have to qualify and possible pay a deposit when you do turn eighteen to get the account in your name. She's dissapointed but that's life.
I called A. T. & T. to see what they had. It was even worse; even if you buy the phone you've got to sign a contract. They've got to be kidding.
We were at the mall yesterday and I noticed a Best Buy Mobile store. I suggested we go in. I was up front about what I wanted. It must work on Sprint. It must have no contract. It must be cheap. The lady said phones like that start at $200 and go up to $800. How about a prepaid phone? Andrea was reluctant to look at them because she thinks the ones at WalMart are made of cheap plastic. We took a look at them since we were already there. Andrea found a phone she liked and can afford. She got an LG Optimus Elite for $69. It's a smart phone that runs on the Android system. She got the $35 a month service plan. It has unlimited date and messaging on a 3 or 4 z network through Virgin Moble. Because she talks very little she got the 300 minute plan.
I'm happy because I still don't have a contract. Andrea is happy because she has a phone she likes and to look at it you can't tell the difference between it and a several hundred dollar phone. She can text and surf to her hearts content. She has a bill now to learn responsibility.
I surprised myself by suggesting she get the Best Buy warranty. Usually I don't buy these things but she's hard on phones and the screen on her Sprint phone cracked before a year was over. So I had her spring for the $11.99 a year Warranty. I had to call Best Buy today to clarify. Virgin Mobile's computer said she had two weeks to get insurance on her phone. I speak to their customer service wondering what's going on. The rep said the phone didn't have insurance and insurance is $5.99 a month. I double check the receipt and call Best Buy. Best Buy said we have insurance through Best Buy, not Virgin Mobile.
I get free of her Sprint contract on July 17th. A few days later Andrea pops up talking about wanting a phone. She tells me how I can add a line for $9.99 or something. I tell her I don't want another contract. I check prices of phones that will work with Spring and found them too expensive.
Andrea calls Sprint to see if she can get a phone on her own account. She can't. They tell her if I get the phone for her she'll be able to transfer it to her own name after she turns eighteen. Andrea even shows me a phone they said she could get for free. I say no because I don't want a contract, you'll have to qualify and possible pay a deposit when you do turn eighteen to get the account in your name. She's dissapointed but that's life.
I called A. T. & T. to see what they had. It was even worse; even if you buy the phone you've got to sign a contract. They've got to be kidding.
We were at the mall yesterday and I noticed a Best Buy Mobile store. I suggested we go in. I was up front about what I wanted. It must work on Sprint. It must have no contract. It must be cheap. The lady said phones like that start at $200 and go up to $800. How about a prepaid phone? Andrea was reluctant to look at them because she thinks the ones at WalMart are made of cheap plastic. We took a look at them since we were already there. Andrea found a phone she liked and can afford. She got an LG Optimus Elite for $69. It's a smart phone that runs on the Android system. She got the $35 a month service plan. It has unlimited date and messaging on a 3 or 4 z network through Virgin Moble. Because she talks very little she got the 300 minute plan.
I'm happy because I still don't have a contract. Andrea is happy because she has a phone she likes and to look at it you can't tell the difference between it and a several hundred dollar phone. She can text and surf to her hearts content. She has a bill now to learn responsibility.
I surprised myself by suggesting she get the Best Buy warranty. Usually I don't buy these things but she's hard on phones and the screen on her Sprint phone cracked before a year was over. So I had her spring for the $11.99 a year Warranty. I had to call Best Buy today to clarify. Virgin Mobile's computer said she had two weeks to get insurance on her phone. I speak to their customer service wondering what's going on. The rep said the phone didn't have insurance and insurance is $5.99 a month. I double check the receipt and call Best Buy. Best Buy said we have insurance through Best Buy, not Virgin Mobile.
How To Overcome
I thought Andrea would be the last one to make a sterotypical comment about a blind person. Where did I go wrong. I thought she'd know better.
When baking cakes for a fundraiser Andrea's friends at church asked her, "Did your mom teach you how to cook before she went blind?" They were surprised to learn I was born legally blind and could still teach Andrea to cook. Andrea was surprised at the ignorance about blind people and their capabilities.
Yesterday we're on the train and andrea says, "There's a blind lady on the train. She's really well dressed too."
Thinking she would describe a knock out tailored suit or sexy dress I ask, "What is she wearing?"
"A pink T-shirt, white shorts and white shoes."
"What's so special about that?" I ask.
"It's not mismatched," Andrea says.
What! Just because she's blind doesn't automatically mean mismatched outfits. She should know better. I haven't done my job. No wonder employers think we can't do the job.
I'm taking her to the next GFB and GCB activities. She needs to see more blind people in action. Between me, her Aunt Constance, Cousin Harold, and grandfather she should know and expect more.
When baking cakes for a fundraiser Andrea's friends at church asked her, "Did your mom teach you how to cook before she went blind?" They were surprised to learn I was born legally blind and could still teach Andrea to cook. Andrea was surprised at the ignorance about blind people and their capabilities.
Yesterday we're on the train and andrea says, "There's a blind lady on the train. She's really well dressed too."
Thinking she would describe a knock out tailored suit or sexy dress I ask, "What is she wearing?"
"A pink T-shirt, white shorts and white shoes."
"What's so special about that?" I ask.
"It's not mismatched," Andrea says.
What! Just because she's blind doesn't automatically mean mismatched outfits. She should know better. I haven't done my job. No wonder employers think we can't do the job.
I'm taking her to the next GFB and GCB activities. She needs to see more blind people in action. Between me, her Aunt Constance, Cousin Harold, and grandfather she should know and expect more.
They'er All Alike
I've been a passenger in many a car and all the drivers have one thing in common. They yell at and complain about other drivers on the road. From Beazle to Andrea and everybody in between all have something to say about their fellow drivers. If you think the other drivers are scary, the drivers of the cars I've riden in can be even more so.
Beazle would honk at "fools" or say, "man!"
Merritt called idiot drivers, I'll use the 1990's substitute, "Richard heads." She also informed some drivers, "You don't need to stop to turn! Just turn"!
Utah drivers accused each other of speeding up when it snows.
Edwin simply said most people don't know how to drive.
Andrea, driven only a few times adds her cents worth to the chorus already, "It's called a signal, use it." I've heard the no signal use from so many drivers in so many states. Mormon Missionaries accuse Arkansas drivers of not using the turn signals. I've heard Edwin complain about drivers not signaling across the country.
As a passenger I've seen drivers do all kinds of things behind the wheel.
Beazle can eat anything while driving. Befor it was outlawed she could talk a blue streak on her phone while eating and driving.
Edwin's lane changes at the drip of a hat, cheese cutting, and speeding scared even a teenaged boy.
Holiday likes to relax while she drives. When we went to Savanna she layed her seat as far back as it would go to drive. I'd heard about that being done on the Autobon in Germany but that was the first time I'd seen it done.
When Merritt was learning to drive she slowed for nothing, and I mean nothing. She'd speak a warning, "railroad tracks". That meant hold on because you were in for a bumpy ride. I learned what G force felt like when we were on a particularly windy off ramp. To her credit she has learned to slow down at bumps and curves.
I didn't know what to think when Andrea was driving and our neighbor was supervising. We were on a crowded four lane highway and Andrea reaches in the overhead bin for her sunglasses. This was her third time driving in traffic. I want both her hands on the wheel. I also want her to be able to see. The sun goes behind a cloud and she takes the sun glasses off and puts them away. I'm in the same quandary.
While on this same four lane highway our neighbor says, "sometimes you've go to take your lane." We keep driving in the same lane a bit longer. He repeats, "sometimes you have to take your lane." Later Andrea said she put on her blinker, put the tire on the line, and someone let her it. Then she said, "Thank you".
This on parent said she and her daughter drives around their neighborhood. They will do that until she, the parent, feels confortable before the get on the road. On the surface that sounds good but I'll never feel comfortable. Let me explain; the thought of Andrea driving in the neighborhood was scary. The thought of her on the road is less scary than it was. Every time I think of the next step I'm not comfortable, I have to screw up my courage and let it happen; with her instructor or our neighbor.
I truly believe men are more relaxed in these things. Her driving instructor said, "we can't just drive around the neighborhood, that's not driving. You've got to get on the road". I'll never forget when Edwin let Merritt drive to church when she was fourteen. We took mostly back roads the first couple times then he let her take a busy street and next the freeway. Beazle was still at the Merritt's driving scares me stage.
I'm looking forward to June 20, 2014. Andrea can take her road test then.
Beazle would honk at "fools" or say, "man!"
Merritt called idiot drivers, I'll use the 1990's substitute, "Richard heads." She also informed some drivers, "You don't need to stop to turn! Just turn"!
Utah drivers accused each other of speeding up when it snows.
Edwin simply said most people don't know how to drive.
Andrea, driven only a few times adds her cents worth to the chorus already, "It's called a signal, use it." I've heard the no signal use from so many drivers in so many states. Mormon Missionaries accuse Arkansas drivers of not using the turn signals. I've heard Edwin complain about drivers not signaling across the country.
As a passenger I've seen drivers do all kinds of things behind the wheel.
Beazle can eat anything while driving. Befor it was outlawed she could talk a blue streak on her phone while eating and driving.
Edwin's lane changes at the drip of a hat, cheese cutting, and speeding scared even a teenaged boy.
Holiday likes to relax while she drives. When we went to Savanna she layed her seat as far back as it would go to drive. I'd heard about that being done on the Autobon in Germany but that was the first time I'd seen it done.
When Merritt was learning to drive she slowed for nothing, and I mean nothing. She'd speak a warning, "railroad tracks". That meant hold on because you were in for a bumpy ride. I learned what G force felt like when we were on a particularly windy off ramp. To her credit she has learned to slow down at bumps and curves.
I didn't know what to think when Andrea was driving and our neighbor was supervising. We were on a crowded four lane highway and Andrea reaches in the overhead bin for her sunglasses. This was her third time driving in traffic. I want both her hands on the wheel. I also want her to be able to see. The sun goes behind a cloud and she takes the sun glasses off and puts them away. I'm in the same quandary.
While on this same four lane highway our neighbor says, "sometimes you've go to take your lane." We keep driving in the same lane a bit longer. He repeats, "sometimes you have to take your lane." Later Andrea said she put on her blinker, put the tire on the line, and someone let her it. Then she said, "Thank you".
This on parent said she and her daughter drives around their neighborhood. They will do that until she, the parent, feels confortable before the get on the road. On the surface that sounds good but I'll never feel comfortable. Let me explain; the thought of Andrea driving in the neighborhood was scary. The thought of her on the road is less scary than it was. Every time I think of the next step I'm not comfortable, I have to screw up my courage and let it happen; with her instructor or our neighbor.
I truly believe men are more relaxed in these things. Her driving instructor said, "we can't just drive around the neighborhood, that's not driving. You've got to get on the road". I'll never forget when Edwin let Merritt drive to church when she was fourteen. We took mostly back roads the first couple times then he let her take a busy street and next the freeway. Beazle was still at the Merritt's driving scares me stage.
I'm looking forward to June 20, 2014. Andrea can take her road test then.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
In My Day
Andrea and I were reading Because I Said So by a good book about the science or bunk behind old wives tales. I had to stop the book and comment when we got to the part about a child being lost in a national park in Utah. The child had been lost for more than a day, tired, scraped up, and dehydrated. Rescuers learned the child had done things he was told to do, well almost. He stayed on the trail; except when he saw other people. Then he'd leave the trail and hide. The child didn't approach these people because they were "strangers". What are younger parents teaching their children? When does the insulation come off?
Things we see on old TV shows as normal were normal in real life. Kids spent much of their free time unsupervised. We walked to friend's houses and played games passed down from who know where; tag, red rover, hide and seek, jump rope games, kick ball. If things got routy a parent stuck his or head out the door and said, "Play fair." Grown folks didn't make a Federal case out of kids minor disputes. I remember on the first season on The Waltons one of the parents asked the older kids, "Where"s Elizabeth?" The older kids answered, "She went up the road." No berating the older kids for leting her go. No stressing over the fact she had gone.
I told Andrea about her Sister Merritt's kindergarten orientation in the early 1990's. I don't remember the exact reason but I remember the reason was more logistical than fearful. The principal said not to let our kindergarteners ride their bakes to school because there weren't enough bike racks or something like that. First graders on up can ride bikes to school but please not the kindergarteners.
I rode the Trailways bus home from school every Friday my whole blind school career. Nobody thought anything about it back then. Someone drove us to the bus station; I don't think they even waited with us. We listened for our bus to be called, proceeded to the correct door, gave the driver our ticket, and boarded the bus. I don't think any parents would do that with their high schoolers, let along kindergarteners now days. I wouldn't with little ones for sure and probably not Andrea but for many reasons.
I think I've written about fourth graders and above being allowed to roam the state fair unsupervised. Nobody got lost, hurt, or abducted. Everyone returned to the designated spot for lunch and when it was time to leave. Again, this wouldn't happen today with children so young.
When did, "Don't take candy from strangers," become, "Don't talk to strangers"? As a little kid I remember being told the former. As a parent I don't remember telling my children either but they picked but not talking to strangers somewhere. Andea doesn't even want to go up to someone to ask directions.
I don't know how Andrea, and I guess others her age, can be so uninterested in their surroundings. Even when we're on a bus rout we've never been on, Andrea will read a book. I study the map before the trip to get an idea where it goes. If I want to know what businesses we're passing I have to ask her. Then she can't remember how to get there again. I had to refresh her memory on how to get to Piedmont Park, somewhere we've been several times. I think our insulating these kids robs them of skills we picked up through osmosis. We learned to pay attention, to ask questions, to find our way. Take away their phones and I wonder how many of them could find their way to anything a mile away.
Andrea would like to visit Pine Bluff on the Bus. Will I let her? No way! Number one, her looks and there are too many weirdos on Greyhound buses. Number two, she doesn't pay attention to her surroundings. There's no telling where she may get off or which bus she may board. Number three, she may not even ask a ticket agent for instructions. and last but not least I think they have an age limit of 17. If I could afford plane fare I'd send her that way. Fewer weirdos, tighter controls so she's not going to get on the wrong plane or transfer at the wrong city.
Things we see on old TV shows as normal were normal in real life. Kids spent much of their free time unsupervised. We walked to friend's houses and played games passed down from who know where; tag, red rover, hide and seek, jump rope games, kick ball. If things got routy a parent stuck his or head out the door and said, "Play fair." Grown folks didn't make a Federal case out of kids minor disputes. I remember on the first season on The Waltons one of the parents asked the older kids, "Where"s Elizabeth?" The older kids answered, "She went up the road." No berating the older kids for leting her go. No stressing over the fact she had gone.
I told Andrea about her Sister Merritt's kindergarten orientation in the early 1990's. I don't remember the exact reason but I remember the reason was more logistical than fearful. The principal said not to let our kindergarteners ride their bakes to school because there weren't enough bike racks or something like that. First graders on up can ride bikes to school but please not the kindergarteners.
I rode the Trailways bus home from school every Friday my whole blind school career. Nobody thought anything about it back then. Someone drove us to the bus station; I don't think they even waited with us. We listened for our bus to be called, proceeded to the correct door, gave the driver our ticket, and boarded the bus. I don't think any parents would do that with their high schoolers, let along kindergarteners now days. I wouldn't with little ones for sure and probably not Andrea but for many reasons.
I think I've written about fourth graders and above being allowed to roam the state fair unsupervised. Nobody got lost, hurt, or abducted. Everyone returned to the designated spot for lunch and when it was time to leave. Again, this wouldn't happen today with children so young.
When did, "Don't take candy from strangers," become, "Don't talk to strangers"? As a little kid I remember being told the former. As a parent I don't remember telling my children either but they picked but not talking to strangers somewhere. Andea doesn't even want to go up to someone to ask directions.
I don't know how Andrea, and I guess others her age, can be so uninterested in their surroundings. Even when we're on a bus rout we've never been on, Andrea will read a book. I study the map before the trip to get an idea where it goes. If I want to know what businesses we're passing I have to ask her. Then she can't remember how to get there again. I had to refresh her memory on how to get to Piedmont Park, somewhere we've been several times. I think our insulating these kids robs them of skills we picked up through osmosis. We learned to pay attention, to ask questions, to find our way. Take away their phones and I wonder how many of them could find their way to anything a mile away.
Andrea would like to visit Pine Bluff on the Bus. Will I let her? No way! Number one, her looks and there are too many weirdos on Greyhound buses. Number two, she doesn't pay attention to her surroundings. There's no telling where she may get off or which bus she may board. Number three, she may not even ask a ticket agent for instructions. and last but not least I think they have an age limit of 17. If I could afford plane fare I'd send her that way. Fewer weirdos, tighter controls so she's not going to get on the wrong plane or transfer at the wrong city.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
For Those in the Know
If we ask you a question it is because we don't know, we need answers. And by that I mean good answers. Yesterday Andrea and I had a crash course in how unhelpful some people that should know better can be.
I've already ranted about Andrea's EOCT being at Kennesaw State University. I called Cobb Community Transit (CCT) for rout planning. I told the rep we'd be coming from MARTA and we need to be there by 8:30 a.m. After a brief pause she says, "I can get you there by 8:18." I said, "Great!"
She says to get on the #10 at the Art Center Station at 7:15. Transfer to the #45 at the Marietta Transfer Center at 7:30. And arrive at KSU at 8:18. Do you see anything wrong with these instructions? Neither did I. Because I didn't know the #10 takes forty-five minutes to get to the Marietta Transfer Center I didn't question her. I stuck the directions on the fridge until the following week.
So we get up at 4:00 to have a good breakfast. We catch the MARTA bus at 5:47. Next a series of transfers to a couple of trains. When we get to the Art Center Station we ask an attendant where to catch the #10 CCT bus. She asks "Ten A, B, C, or plain ten? because you catch ABC out this door and plain ten upstairs and around the corner." I opted for plain ten. It shows up on time and we think all is well. I had forgotten about the 7:30 departure of the #45. When we get to the Marietta Transfer Center it is eight o'clock. All kinds of buses are waiting but not the #45. We check our directions and see it left at 7:30. The next one is at 8:45. I ask a bus driver if another bus goes to KSU. He says only the #45.
Luckily Georgia Virtual School had sent a phone number to call in case we get lost. I called and told the person on the other end we'd be late. She said she'd have a proctor call me back. The proctor says they can't let Andrea start late. After the doors are closed they stay closed. I asked about another time today. I was told there's another test at noon and three. She went on to say they were full and the only way Andrea could test is if there's a no show. I was so angry because we had no way of know the CCT rep had given us wrong information until it was too late. I wanted to call and read them the riot act but it was too noisy.
The #45 shows up and off we go. We get to KSU around 9:35. The computer announces this is also a transfer point for the #40. I asked the driver if the #40 goes to the Marietta Transfer Center. She said it does. Why did that driver tell me only the #45 went to KSU? Andrea said she saw the #40 when we got off the #10. If we had known we would have had a better chance of getting there in time for the test.
Andrea takes a look at the campus map by the bus stop and pronounces it upside down. We go into the nearest building looking for people. We found empty halls and a class in session. Finally a man came along and Andrea asked him for directions to Kennesaw Hall. He gave directions, then apologized for them being bad. They weren't bad because we found the building easily. We were told to come back around 11:30 to see if Andrea would be able to test at noon. We got directions to the student center to have lunch.
Andrea was fascinated by the campus. She said she wants to go to school there. I reminded her this is the first campus she's been on that she probably remembers. I am glad she got excited about it; she will have more motivation to buckle down with her studies. I'm going to take her to other campuses so she can compare. After eating at their expensive Chick-Fil-A we visited the bookstore. She looked at the prices and was shocked. I told her only shop at the campus bookstore if it's due tomorrow and you're out of something. We visited the computer store and got some information on their packages. Andrea saw a record display and made a B line for it. "I'm all into vinyl," she states.
We head back over to Kennesaw Hall and they're still testing. A parent said they didn't get started until after 9:30. Andrea got to test. She was proud of herself because she had ID and could check herself in. Now, I'm threw, finished, Kaput, done,etc with Georgia Virtual School. As I said before NEVER AGAIN.
We're headed for the bus stop when a young lady stops us. She wants to know where some building another is. We tell her we're just visiting. She said her adviser told her to come on campus and look at a map to find the building he's in. She and Andrea walked over to another map and both pronounced it upside down. They were able to find building 4 but that wasn't the one she needed. Andrea points her to the student center to ask in there.
We settle down to wait for either the #40 or #45. The #45 comes first, here we go again. I step one foot on the bus and the driver says, "I'm going to the mall." I ask if I can get a bus that will take me to MARTA there. "I'm going to ...the mall," he patiently says again. His utterance wasn't any more helpful the second time. Either this bus would take me somewhere I can get a bus to MARTA or it won't. A passenger waiting to board the bus spoke up, "Yeah, you can take this and catch the #10C at the mall. It'll take you straight to the Art Center Station." And I thought some MARTA drivers were unhelpful.
We get off at Towncenter Mall and before long the #10C pulls up. Who'd a think it? It was a BUS; tall, plush seats, lots of leg room, like a nice tour bus. That helpful passenger said the #10C only runs during peak hours. We rode through Marietta to the transfer center where more people were waiting. We hit the freeway and were Atlanta bound.
I had to check our Breezecard balances to see how much they took out of our stored value for that #10C bus. I was surprised to learn nothing extra was taken out. We would have paid the same price if we'd taken the regular buses.
As for the riot act I decided against it. Andrea got to test and we never have to do that again. If I ever need to be somewhere in Cobb County at a certain time I will check after the agent myself.
I've already ranted about Andrea's EOCT being at Kennesaw State University. I called Cobb Community Transit (CCT) for rout planning. I told the rep we'd be coming from MARTA and we need to be there by 8:30 a.m. After a brief pause she says, "I can get you there by 8:18." I said, "Great!"
She says to get on the #10 at the Art Center Station at 7:15. Transfer to the #45 at the Marietta Transfer Center at 7:30. And arrive at KSU at 8:18. Do you see anything wrong with these instructions? Neither did I. Because I didn't know the #10 takes forty-five minutes to get to the Marietta Transfer Center I didn't question her. I stuck the directions on the fridge until the following week.
So we get up at 4:00 to have a good breakfast. We catch the MARTA bus at 5:47. Next a series of transfers to a couple of trains. When we get to the Art Center Station we ask an attendant where to catch the #10 CCT bus. She asks "Ten A, B, C, or plain ten? because you catch ABC out this door and plain ten upstairs and around the corner." I opted for plain ten. It shows up on time and we think all is well. I had forgotten about the 7:30 departure of the #45. When we get to the Marietta Transfer Center it is eight o'clock. All kinds of buses are waiting but not the #45. We check our directions and see it left at 7:30. The next one is at 8:45. I ask a bus driver if another bus goes to KSU. He says only the #45.
Luckily Georgia Virtual School had sent a phone number to call in case we get lost. I called and told the person on the other end we'd be late. She said she'd have a proctor call me back. The proctor says they can't let Andrea start late. After the doors are closed they stay closed. I asked about another time today. I was told there's another test at noon and three. She went on to say they were full and the only way Andrea could test is if there's a no show. I was so angry because we had no way of know the CCT rep had given us wrong information until it was too late. I wanted to call and read them the riot act but it was too noisy.
The #45 shows up and off we go. We get to KSU around 9:35. The computer announces this is also a transfer point for the #40. I asked the driver if the #40 goes to the Marietta Transfer Center. She said it does. Why did that driver tell me only the #45 went to KSU? Andrea said she saw the #40 when we got off the #10. If we had known we would have had a better chance of getting there in time for the test.
Andrea takes a look at the campus map by the bus stop and pronounces it upside down. We go into the nearest building looking for people. We found empty halls and a class in session. Finally a man came along and Andrea asked him for directions to Kennesaw Hall. He gave directions, then apologized for them being bad. They weren't bad because we found the building easily. We were told to come back around 11:30 to see if Andrea would be able to test at noon. We got directions to the student center to have lunch.
Andrea was fascinated by the campus. She said she wants to go to school there. I reminded her this is the first campus she's been on that she probably remembers. I am glad she got excited about it; she will have more motivation to buckle down with her studies. I'm going to take her to other campuses so she can compare. After eating at their expensive Chick-Fil-A we visited the bookstore. She looked at the prices and was shocked. I told her only shop at the campus bookstore if it's due tomorrow and you're out of something. We visited the computer store and got some information on their packages. Andrea saw a record display and made a B line for it. "I'm all into vinyl," she states.
We head back over to Kennesaw Hall and they're still testing. A parent said they didn't get started until after 9:30. Andrea got to test. She was proud of herself because she had ID and could check herself in. Now, I'm threw, finished, Kaput, done,etc with Georgia Virtual School. As I said before NEVER AGAIN.
We're headed for the bus stop when a young lady stops us. She wants to know where some building another is. We tell her we're just visiting. She said her adviser told her to come on campus and look at a map to find the building he's in. She and Andrea walked over to another map and both pronounced it upside down. They were able to find building 4 but that wasn't the one she needed. Andrea points her to the student center to ask in there.
We settle down to wait for either the #40 or #45. The #45 comes first, here we go again. I step one foot on the bus and the driver says, "I'm going to the mall." I ask if I can get a bus that will take me to MARTA there. "I'm going to ...the mall," he patiently says again. His utterance wasn't any more helpful the second time. Either this bus would take me somewhere I can get a bus to MARTA or it won't. A passenger waiting to board the bus spoke up, "Yeah, you can take this and catch the #10C at the mall. It'll take you straight to the Art Center Station." And I thought some MARTA drivers were unhelpful.
We get off at Towncenter Mall and before long the #10C pulls up. Who'd a think it? It was a BUS; tall, plush seats, lots of leg room, like a nice tour bus. That helpful passenger said the #10C only runs during peak hours. We rode through Marietta to the transfer center where more people were waiting. We hit the freeway and were Atlanta bound.
I had to check our Breezecard balances to see how much they took out of our stored value for that #10C bus. I was surprised to learn nothing extra was taken out. We would have paid the same price if we'd taken the regular buses.
As for the riot act I decided against it. Andrea got to test and we never have to do that again. If I ever need to be somewhere in Cobb County at a certain time I will check after the agent myself.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Never Again
...and I'd advise anyone considering it not to even bother. I'm talking about Georgia Virtual School. I thought about waiting until I had cooled down but decided the post would be more powerful if I wrote while fired up. I enrolled Andrea in Math 1 B at Georgia Virtual School this summer because she struggled with and eventually passed Math 1 A back when she went to Miller Grove High School. Andrea isn't the sharpest math pencil in the box and neither was I. Holiday who took calculous in high school and majored in math for a while was able to help, only after spending almost an hour researching how to do the problems. I'm not making excuses, Im stating a major frustration, one you should be aware of if you enroll in a course at Georgia Virtual School.
The system is limited. There are a few, and I do mean few online pages explaining each concept. There are even videos showing a teacher working through examples of the work. You Think you understand it. WRONG. The problems assigned for practice and for a grade have nothing do to with the examples the teacher in the video worked. The teacher's examples are much easier than the practice and graded work. To Andrea and Me, they had nothing in common. The teacher holds help sessions twice a week which is well and good for what it is. The bigger issue is assignments are due every day. If we call the teacher we get her voice mail, so we have to wait for a response. Same with email. YouTube videos do a much better job explaining the concepts than the videos from Georgia Virtual School. Her teacher explains things well in the help sessions. If they examples matched the problems we wouldn't need the help sessions.
Graphing calculators are another issue. We were told we wouldn't need one. Thank Goodness. There are problems best solved by using a graphing calculator and the teacher shows how to use an online version. I asked if graphing calculators will be provided at the end of course test. EOCT> She referrs me to a lady at the Georgia Department of Education. By the way the Georgia Department of Education is the owner of Georgia Virtual school. I contact this lade, from the Georgia Department of Education and this is her reply. Graphing calculators are not allowed. No calculator which stores information is permitted to be used on the EOCT. You may bring your own but it cannot be a graphing calculator. Excuse me, but what had they been studying? What had the teacher taught them how to use?
I am also angry about the location of the EOCT. This is supposed to be a statewide school and they only have a handful of testing locations. The closest to me is in a small town called Marietta, at Kennesaw State University. Now what kind of logic is that? With ATLANTA so close why in the world is there not a test site in ATLANTA? I was told about another test site at Chattahoochee Technical College. What, a site at a dinky place like that and not one in the Capitol? This is ridiculous. Andrea's regular school, Georgia Cyber Academy, had test sites all over the state. They even had one in Decatur.
With the cost of the classes so high at Georgia Virtual school and the way they do things I wonder if it's deliberately geared for students to fail. We were so frustrated after the first day of class I was looking for their refund policy. Unfortunately, even though this was her first day of classes she had access to the course more than three days. Made me mad. Never again. Take my advice, find another place to take classes.
The system is limited. There are a few, and I do mean few online pages explaining each concept. There are even videos showing a teacher working through examples of the work. You Think you understand it. WRONG. The problems assigned for practice and for a grade have nothing do to with the examples the teacher in the video worked. The teacher's examples are much easier than the practice and graded work. To Andrea and Me, they had nothing in common. The teacher holds help sessions twice a week which is well and good for what it is. The bigger issue is assignments are due every day. If we call the teacher we get her voice mail, so we have to wait for a response. Same with email. YouTube videos do a much better job explaining the concepts than the videos from Georgia Virtual School. Her teacher explains things well in the help sessions. If they examples matched the problems we wouldn't need the help sessions.
Graphing calculators are another issue. We were told we wouldn't need one. Thank Goodness. There are problems best solved by using a graphing calculator and the teacher shows how to use an online version. I asked if graphing calculators will be provided at the end of course test. EOCT> She referrs me to a lady at the Georgia Department of Education. By the way the Georgia Department of Education is the owner of Georgia Virtual school. I contact this lade, from the Georgia Department of Education and this is her reply. Graphing calculators are not allowed. No calculator which stores information is permitted to be used on the EOCT. You may bring your own but it cannot be a graphing calculator. Excuse me, but what had they been studying? What had the teacher taught them how to use?
I am also angry about the location of the EOCT. This is supposed to be a statewide school and they only have a handful of testing locations. The closest to me is in a small town called Marietta, at Kennesaw State University. Now what kind of logic is that? With ATLANTA so close why in the world is there not a test site in ATLANTA? I was told about another test site at Chattahoochee Technical College. What, a site at a dinky place like that and not one in the Capitol? This is ridiculous. Andrea's regular school, Georgia Cyber Academy, had test sites all over the state. They even had one in Decatur.
With the cost of the classes so high at Georgia Virtual school and the way they do things I wonder if it's deliberately geared for students to fail. We were so frustrated after the first day of class I was looking for their refund policy. Unfortunately, even though this was her first day of classes she had access to the course more than three days. Made me mad. Never again. Take my advice, find another place to take classes.
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