In the Race

Did You Drive Your College Student Back To School?

2008-08-28T16:47:32Z

I bet you want a reason to say “Hello, how are you doing?”

Here’s one…

Send them a link to this blog post:

Back to School: 10 Great Web Apps for College Students

For a lot of college students, the new semester is just around the corner. Last year, we created a long list of great Web 2.0 tools that we thought would be helpful for college students.

But given how fast things develop on the web, we thought we would revisit this topic again this year and look at some of the most useful Web 2.0 tools that have the potential to help students do better in school, collaborate with their fellow students, and save them time.

From Read Write Web

Continued HERE

Who Will It Be? McCain Says Find Out At 11:00 a.m. Friday

2008-08-28T11:35:00Z

McCain's decision is known only to his small inner circle of advisers, no more than three or four people, who have refused all public discussion on the matter. Republicans close to the campaign said that the top contenders remained the same three men who have been the source of speculation for weeks: former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and, possibly, Senator Joseph Lieberman, independent of Connecticut.

Lieberman?

Romney?

~~Pawlenty~~?

Hutchison?

None of the above?

Out of this list...I like Lieberman, but to help McCain get elected, I think it's best to go with Romney.

But I really miss Rudy.

Still...Anybody else out there??????

We'll find out Friday.

Read the article HERE

Friends, Romans, Countrymen...Lend Me Your Ears

2008-08-27T22:00:31Z

Reuters

I don’t know…Is it Julius Caesar with Brutus (Hillary) lurking in the background?

Or more like Zeus with something Herculean about to happen?

A Toga party goin' on?

Whatever it is...it's peculiar.

Maybe Al Gore(acle) had something to do with it.

From ABC NEWS:

The stage, similar to structures used for rock concerts, has been set up at the 50-yard-line, the midpoint of Invesco Field, the stadium where the Denver Broncos' National Football League team plays.

Some 80,000 supporters will see Obama appear from between plywood columns painted off-white, reminiscent of Washington's Capitol building or even the White House, to accept the party's nomination for president.

He will stride out to a raised platform to a podium that can be raised from beneath the floor.

The show should provide a striking image for the millions of Americans watching on television as Obama delivers a speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination.

Read the article HERE

"A sneak peek at Invesco Field at Mile High as it is prepared for the final night of the Democratic National Convention. See the technology, see the set design."

I Wonder What Babe Ruth Or Roy Campanella Would Have To Say About It?

2008-08-27T16:47:46Z

Major League Baseball changes as we know it tomorrow.

It’s called Instant Replay….

Granted, it will be used on a limited basis, and that’s a good thing.

Baseball is not quite the same as other sports that use instant replay.

The umpire is making his call at the plate.

And yes, he has made some bad calls.

What’s a baseball game without a few boos and catcalls aimed at the ump, anyway?

It’s the American way at a baseball game…as American as apple pie.

The Boston Globe’s Nick Carardo has this to say…

“An old major league umpire friend feels that, with instant replay off and running in Major League Baseball as of tomorrow, momentum will mount so that everything in dispute eventually is reviewed. He thinks that once this thing starts, it's going to be a runaway freight train. The first time a bad call is made in a World Series game on a bang-bang play at the plate, what do you think will happen?

Manager X will cry, "We have the technology; why didn't we review it and get the call right?"

And he'd be correct.

It's like saying we have a cure for the common cold, but we're only going to use part of it on sniffles. Coughs and sore throats will not be cured. Fact of the matter is, none of this should have been introduced in the first place. Have umpires done that poor a job in the history of baseball that we have to introduce technology to do part of their jobs? And why does it have to be introduced in late August? Was there a hue and cry for replay that I missed somewhere?”

With the announcement by commissioner Bud Selig yesterday that a replay system will be implemented - for "boundary calls" only - all of a sudden the game is dramatically changing with a little more than a month of the regular season left.

Technology is a wonderful thing, but not all aspects of life and sport are better off with it.Pretty soon robots will replace umpires.

The ball will have a device in it that beeps when it's thrown out of the strike zone. The strike zone will be defined by lasers that paint a box for the pitcher. Runners will have tracking devices on their uniforms to detect whether they've reached the base before the ball.

There are all sorts of possibilities, I suppose. But before this technology was introduced, those crazy things weren't remotely possible. Now who knows?”

Me?

I’m still miffed about instant replay being allowed in the Little League World Series, whether it was used or not.

I don’t want to see it in Major League Baseball.

But I’m not the one making the calls.

Read the Boston Globe article HERE

Maybe You Should Keep A Short List

2008-08-27T11:42:00Z

Remember that book/travel guide, “100 things You Should Do Before You Die?” Well, perhaps the title should have been:

~~100~~ 50 Things You Should Do Before You Die

Why?

Because the author, Dave Freeman, died this month at the age of 47, and he only got halfway through his list.

"This life is a short journey," the book says. "How can you make sure you fill it with the most fun and that you visit all the coolest places on earth before you pack those bags for the very last time?" that, according to Freeman, before he checked his baggage and lost his claim ticket...if you will.

Actually, he fell and hit his head while in his home in a freak accident. You may wonder why I'm being flippant about it. It's just that maybe it was meant to be, and he sure lived a more fulfilled life than most people.

It just goes to show you, if there's something you really want to do, and you are able to do it..go for it. You never know what crazy thing may happen to you when you least expect it.

Read the article HERE

A Day of Beginnings

2008-08-27T01:58:12Z

1978: John Paul I elected new Pope

Cardinal Albino Luciani was elected by the papal conclave to the papacy today. Luciani became the first Pope to choose a double name, that of John Paul I. “They are the names of his two immediate predecessors, Paul VI and John XXIII, and were taken by the 65-year-old Luciani after his election by the 111 cardinals voting in a secret conclave in the Sistine Chapel. His choice indicated he plans to follow in the footsteps of Paul and John and their reform policies,” explained the Syracuse Herald Journal on August 27, 1978.

The new Pope’s reign was cut short however. “Pope John Paul I was found dead of an apparent heart attack in his Vatican apartment today, leaving the throne of St. Peter vacant for the second time in less than five weeks,” informed The Chronicle Telegram on September 29, 1978, “The end of his 34-day reign—the briefest in four centuries—stunned his 700 million Roman Catholic followers, still grieving the death of Pope Paul VI on August 6.

”NOTE: During his brief stint as Pope, John Paul I was known for his gentle demeanor and kindness. He was succeeded by Karol Józef Wojtyla, or John Paul II, on October 16, 1978.

Papacy began	August 26, 1978
Papacy ended	September 28, 1978
Predecessor	Paul VI
Successor	John Paul II

John Paul I New Pope.pdf

Tidings of Great Joy.pdf

Heart Attack Kills Pope John Paul.pdf

AND

1920: Women gain right to vote

With the passing of the 19th amendment through Congress today, women gain the right to vote. “Today is a red-letter day for the woman suffrage advocates of this country, for it marks the fulfillment of their long cherished hope for the full enfranchisement of all qualified women as voters,” informed The Daily Northwestern on August 26, 1920.

NOTE: Tennessee was the 36th state to ratify the amendment on August 18, securing the required number to pass the bill into law.

Suffrage Ratification proclaimed.pdf

*****************

I found the last paragraph of the news article of much interest:

“The opponents of woman suffrage seem to be bad losers. Even after they have been beaten, they insist on keeping up a fight to delay the women from votingas long as possible.”

Oh...Boo, Hoo, Biden...

2008-08-26T23:58:00Z

‘Nuf Said å

I Am So Lost...Hello...Anyone Out There?

2008-08-26T21:05:00Z

Hello, Lost fans…
It’s been awhile.
But there is some news.

First, the title of the season premiere of Season 5 of Lost.

''BECAUSE YOU LEFT''

Jeff (Doc) Jensen of EW.com says :

"Reminds me of what Jack told Ben that Locke-as-Bentham told him before kicking the bucket."

You can read about his LOST Season 5 Premiere Scoop HERE although the title is basically all you need to know from that. O.K., I ruined his article for you by telling you the title...Sorry. I don't usually do that...I just thought it was a rambling article and it's old news.

But other news came out today.

Ana Lucia (Michelle Rodriguez) who was shot dead by Michael, is rumored to be returning for one episode this season; possibly in episode two. The question is why? Something to do with Jack's dad?

Ana Lucia Cortez Lostpedia

It’s a long time until the show starts but once in a while I’ll throw something I find up here - just so we don't forget.

Until then, think about your theories for the title of the first show and....

Read the article from EW.com:

Exclusive: 'Lost' Resurrects Michelle Rodriguez!

Franklin...Future Shock: $9,700,000

2008-08-26T11:56:49Z

"Future Shock," a great book I read back in high school. We may have a little of our own future shock to deal with monetarily regarding maintenance and improvements in our school district:

What’s that dollar amount?

That’s the Grand Total of the Future Long Range Maintenance and Remodeling Plan for Franklin Public Schools dated 5/15/08 (revised). I received a copy of the Status of Ongoing Buildings and Grounds Projects (2007/08) and 2008/09 Buildings and Grounds Projects back at a Building and Grounds Committee meeting on May 21st. I was pretty impressed by how most of the projects over the years had been allocated funds and then came in under budget. The last two pages of the large packet were Future Long Range plans.

That doesn’t mean everything on the “wish list” will be implemented. The district has running lists for each school and they are still working on projects from prior school years.

Some of the larger items on the packed two page list include the following:

Ben Franklin	Grounds	Create drive for loop by receiving area and dumpster enclosure	$100,000
	Grounds	Additional athletic field	$250,000

Country Dale	School Bldg	Replace Classroom Doors	$70,000
	School Bldg	Replace coat strips with lockers	$50,000
	School Bldg	Remodel Center restrooms	$15,000
	School Bldg	Remodel East restrooms	$30,000
	School Bldg	Remodel West restrooms	$30,000
	NW Exit	Replace one door w/two	$25,000

Forest Park	FACE	Divide FACE into two rooms, not three	$120,000
	School Bldg	Replace all lockers @12" to achieve 850 total	$107,000
	School bldg	Replace lockers in girls locker rooom	$225,000
	Interior	Retrofit lighting system to T8	$150,000

High School	Parking area	Add drop off loop and widen access	$180,000
	Parking lot	expand student parking areas to the west and add visitor stalls	$250,000
	Pool locker rooms	Replace lockers	$60,000
	Grounds	Renovate stadium w/8 lane track	$2,750,000
	Grounds	Add roads and develop practice fields	$300,000
	Grounds	Add tennis courts	200,000
	Back hall classrooms	Replace tile and base	$50,000
	Pool	Renovate and allow for use of starting blocks/replace deck coating	$200,000
	Gym	Replace air handling units and add A/C	$250,000
	Science rooms	Upgrade and add sinks and safety equpiment	$500,000
	Near Cafeteria	Add a Senior commons area	$25,000

Pleasant View	Grass Playground	improve drainage to expand play area	$180,000
	Playground	Resurface and extend play area to playstructures	$205,000

Robinwood	Playground	Renovate pavement & improve drainage	$159,000
	Interior	Renovate lighting system to T8	$110,000

SW Glen	Boiler Room	Replace Boilers	$100,000
	School bldg	Carpet multi-year replace all	$200,000
	Exterior	Replace asphalt, address drainage & expand playground	$250,000

Long Range Maintenance & Remodeling Plan - Page One.pdf

Long range Maintenance & Remodeling Plan - Page Two.pdf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2008-09 Project Status

Country Dale	School Bldg	Run New TV cable to all classrooms	7,000
High School	Roof section 4	Replace	$55,250
High School	Parking Area	Widen egress lanes	$26,000
Pleasant View	Section B	Replace HVAC systen (1st flr remaining north half classrooms)	$199,000
Robinwood	Pod H	replace hall floor tile	$20,800
Robinwood	C-pod	Abandon and replace underground ductwork to overhead	$30,000
SW Glenn	Interior	Retrofit lighting system to T8	$85,100

		Sub-total	423,150	$0
		Contingency	$76,850	$76,850
		Total	500,000

Love That Almanac...Even When It Says The "F" Word

2008-08-26T01:34:00Z

The predictions are usually correct….

I’m speaking of the Farmers' Almanac. Actually, I think when I first put my blog up I had a link to Farmers' Almanac.

Farmers' Almanac 2009 goes on sale tomorrow and they have some nasty predictions for winter in our area. They start with the letter “F.” That would be FRIGID. They end with the letter “B.” That would be BRRRR.

It’s going to be cold this winter.

Read about it HERE

In the meantime, until you get your copy of Farmers' Almanac, you can check out the online version HERE or the original New Hampshire-based Old Farmers' Almanac (1792) :

Old Farmers' Almanac

In Denver, A "Change" in Education?

2008-08-25T17:02:55Z

With the Democrats gathered in Denver, there has been a call from educators to seek changes, too.

The likes of Rev. Al Sharpton (Education Equality Project), Michelle Rhee (Chancellor, D.C. Public Schools), Delia Pompa (National Council of La Raza), and John Merrow ( PSB) have some requests….

Such as accountability:

Improved accountability measures. In order to close the achievement gap, we must set high standards and demand accountability from not just teachers, but also students and parents, principals, education schools and researchers, and policymakers.

And, extended school days:

Extended school days and school years. Research has proven that more time in the classroom is essential to helping children who are falling behind to catch up and become proficient. We must make a commitment to providing extended school days and school years for students who need it and parents who choose it.

Actually their list of what they term “reforms” for the "Obama Administration" includes some good points. But much of this, such as extended school days, would cost a pretty penny.

No mention of No Child Left Behind, though....

Read the article HERE

North versus South Revisited

2008-08-25T11:40:00Z

I knew the South was more interested in glorifying war than fighting it to win.

And I knew the North was far superior in leadership and just plain common sense.

I've lived in New England and in the Deep South. I had a teacher who kept a Confederate flag hung front and center in his school office when I was in high school.

I think the Civil War is a unique study...and while we think there were only two sides to the conflict, it was really filled with many layers of controversy.

I
mage: AJC.com

"Generations of students have been taught that the South lost the Civil War because of the North’s superior industry and population. A new book suggests another reason: Southerners were largely responsible for defeating the Confederacy.

In “Bitterly Divided: The South’s Inner Civil War, historian David Williams of Valdosta State University lays out some tradition-upsetting arguments that might make the granite brow of Jefferson Davis crack on Stone Mountain.

“With this book,” wrote Publishers Weekly, “the history of the Civil War will never be the same again.”

Actually, historians have long fallen into two camps in explaining the Confederacy’s demise — one stressing the Union’s advantages, the other the South’s divisions. Williams gives vivid expression to the latter view, drawing on state and local studies done primarily in the past two decades."

Read William's interview HERE

Senator Lazich...You're All Wet

2008-08-24T22:21:46Z

It was Senator Lazich who tipped us off that she was available to be"dunked" today at the Muskego Community Festival.

If you have ever wanted to dunk a State Senator

I thought if I was in the area...I would stop by.

Senator Mary Lazich observes the dunk tank prior to her turn in the seat.
For some reason there was a 15 minute delay.

Not soon after she got her butt in the hot seat, a big, burly man couldn't wait to purchase some balls and get her wet. He warned her he would do so, and he did just that.

Was he a Republican who had read Fred Keller's blog post on TABOR? A Democrat? Or just someone aware of his elected officials (he did know who Senator Lazich was). Maybe I should have asked him.

Senator Lazich just before the first ball hits the target…notice she is
hanging on. She didn’t want to get her hair wet.

Keep that head above water! Just like in politics

Back in the seat. Actually the Senator's family did their share of dunking
and she was a good sport and eventually her hair got wet.

I, on the other hand, was not as lucky as Big Burly Man. For the cause I took three shots and came close...and frustrated, because I like to get things done, I bought six more shots..but, I'm not one for throwing a ball, and while I came close a couple times, it just wasn't my day.

Or was it? I did get to post these pictures : )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's an idea...maybe we can help with Franklin's budget shorfall by putting some of our Common Council in a dunk tank to raise funds. Any contributions would be beneficial about now.

Sneak Preview of Olympic Closing Ceremony

2008-08-24T15:09:17Z

Interior view of the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, capital of China. Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony will begin at the stadium at 8 p.m. sharp on Sunday. (Xinhua)

There are some pictures out of the Beijing Olympic closing ceremony if you want a sneak peak. The one on this page is from last night, as they began to prepare.

The link below shows actual pictures from the ceremony.

We, on the other side of the world, must wait until tonight until Prime Time for official viewing of the closing of the Beijing Olympics.

It has been said that these olympic games will be the most watched television event in history.

CLOSING CEREMONY PHOTOS BEIJING OLYMPICS

HKLUG Amazing Sports City

2008-08-24T12:05:00Z

Photo HKLUG

Hong Kong Lego User’s Group (HKLUG) is truly amazing.

They have made an unbelievable recreation of the 2008 Beijing Olympic setting, including mini-figures.

Using 300,000 Lego bricks, and 4,500 mini-figures, they have taken 24 square meters and constructed all of the Olympic structures from the Games. This includes The Birds’s Nest, The Cube, the equestrian grounds, and all sports and residential villages. So far 43,000 visitors have seen the display in Hong Kong. Will it come to a location near you?

Who doesn't love Lego's?

This is Legolympics!

Visit the HKLUG Lego Sport City

HERE

I found this comment on the site amusing:

RSS fabriek » Blog Archive » Lego Beijing Olympics Doesn’t Include Tibetan Monk Minifigs [Lego]
August 13th, 2008 at 2:44 am

Barack's Biden Bloviating Bore

2008-08-23T13:21:00Z

Barack Obama named Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice presidential running mate early Saturday, balancing his ticket with a seasoned congressional veteran well-versed in foreign policy and defense issues.

Obama announced the pick on his Web site with a photo of the two men and an appeal for donations. A text message went out shortly afterward that said, "Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee."

Biden, 65, has twice sought the White House, and is a Catholic with blue-collar roots, a generally liberal voting recordand a reputation as a long-winded orator.

Obama Selects Biden As Running Mate

My title says it all for me....

Senator Joe Biden - Delaware

Buckhorn Tavern in the News Again

2008-08-23T13:17:00Z

Franklin Police Reports

By CNI staff

Posted: Aug. 13, 2008

A 45-year-old woman was arrested for disorderly conduct for fighting with other patrons at Buckhorn Tavern, 9461 S. 27th St., at 11:50 a.m. Aug. 7.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let's hope the Police Chief informed the "special prosecutor" of this incident just in case any bartender or alcohol issues were involved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

According to my Alderman, Steve Taylor, he has notified the City Clerk's office to make sure this incident did not go unnoticed.

He said that every six months the clerk’s office runs an incident report on local bars and sends findings to License Committee. They automatically run a report if there may be issues with revoking a License.

HT: Thinnes

Why Does China Treat People So Badly?

2008-08-23T12:50:00Z

"In the annals of people who have struggled against Communist Party rule, Wu Dianyuan and Wang Xiuying are unlikely to merit even a footnote.The two women, both in their late 70s, have never spoken out against China’s authoritarian government. Both walk with the help of a cane, and Ms. Wang is blind in one eye. Their grievance, receiving insufficient compensation when their homes were seized for redevelopment, is perhaps the most common complaint among Chinese displaced during the country’s long streak of fast economic growth.But the Beijing police still sentenced the two women to an extrajudicial term of “re-education through labor” this week for applying to hold a legal protest in a designated area in Beijing, where officials promised that Chinese could hold demonstrations during the Olympic Games.
They became the most recent examples of people punished for submitting applications to protest. A few would-be demonstrators have simply disappeared, at least for the duration of the Games, squelching already diminished hopes that the influx of foreigners and the prestige of holding the Games would push China’s leaders to relax their tight grip on political expression."

Ng Han Guan/Associated Press
Wang Xiuying, left, and Wu Dianyuan have been ordered to undergo “re-education” for seeking a protest permit in Beijing.

Oh, it’s good to be an American…unless you are in China, outside the “Birds Nest,” protesting Human Rights. Even the most passive protest, as in standing there showing the peace sign is not tolerated.

We may look at these two old women and ask what they think they are doing? Why are they wasting their time when they could be resting in a garden somewhere?

Their country, who spent millions on the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics cheated them. They just want to speak up about it. And now they must be "re-educated."

Too Old and Frail To Re-Educate? Not In China