Renewable Energy, Exploration, what to do

You have to wonder what people are thinking. I mean it’s all fine and dandy to research and begin to implement renewable energy resources,but not at the expense of those we already have explored, are exploring, and/or have in place.  Think about it, we already have powerplants, drilling rigs, exploration in progress, but the so-called ‘Green’ movement would have you stop all of that an immediately go solar, turn to wind power, or use only green energy.  These all take years to put in place on a wide scale, in the meantime what are you supposed to do?

Look at what’s happening in Europe today, http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100110904/chicken-little-jumps-the-shark/, it’s happening all over, a huge movement, but at what cost?

“The Government faces demands to tear up or delay plans to force through a £200billion shift to wind turbines, wave power and new nuclear power stations.

Energy industry analyst Martin Brough, of Deutsche Bank, warned that a quarter of households could be driven into fuel poverty by 2015.”

That’s just one example of how crazy things are getting.  I’m not opposed to ‘Green’ energy mind you, but it has to be implemented after it is proven effective, not on a whim.

SAT reading scores fall to lowest level on record

Is anyone really surprised about this? We have dumbed down education so much that’s it’s no surprise to any educator, I’ll tell you that much. We have to be so careful not to hurt anyone’s feelings anymore that kids are passing classes they should be failing.

SAT reading scores fall to lowest level on record – http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44519433/ns/us_news-life/#.TpBNOHLqJBl

Case in point: at a school I was employed at the following scenario took place…An AP Chem teacher had over half of his class failing on semester due to lack of participation, not turning in homework, and failing quizzes and tests. He was told he couldn’t fail these students even though he, the students, and parents had all signed a contact clearly stating what was expected of the student in the class. This is just one example

An Opinion Piece for the Los Angeles Daily News September 30th, 2010

Opinionated Question of the Week

opinionated@dailynews.com

There are many underlying problems with education today, just as there were when I was going through the LAUSD system.

Teachers are only partially to blame for the current state of affairs in our system.  Today’s parents don’t seem to take the time they used to in order to assure that “Little Johnny” can not only read but understand the meaning behind what they read.  When it is found that “Little Johnny” is failing a class, parents often blame the teacher instead of finding out if “Little Johnny” has been paying attention in class, doing his assignments, participating, asking questions, or even attending.  Teachers on the other hand need to find ways to make material relevant to their students.

Poor teaching is one of those problems that have been around as long as there have been schools. It’s hard to get a student interested in the Industrial Revolution if they have nothing to correlate it to in today’s world.  Teachers also need to stop teaching to the test, and instead present material that challenges the student.  If a student works hard on something, no matter what the outcome is, there is a sense of accomplishment in getting the assignment done.

Value-added analysis is a useful tool in seeing how effective a teacher is in helping a student, but it is underused like most tools these days.  It should be used to help both student and teacher and it should be reviewed yearly.  Educators need to know now if they need to change something, five years from now is a bit late to change something that is wrong today.  Teachers should also be evaluated as to how much they increase a students understanding of things outside the test.  Can the student read better than they did, are they reading more, is the shy student more social?  Parents need to get involved in the process as well.  You cannot complain about a teacher if you don’t know what your child is learning in the classroom.  My parents both knew what all three of their children were learning in school, as well as what we were reading.  There was no playing or watching TV until after lessons were done.

Test scores and teacher evaluation scores should be accessible to parents and administrators only, and then only when a child is to be placed in that particular class.  The effectiveness of teachers should be published or available to any tax payer though.  If we pay into a system the system should have some form of accountability.  If we can take the time to do it for a Doctor or First Responder or even the soldier who is protecting us overseas, it should be done for the person educating our youth.

Finally, there should be a method to remove ineffectual teachers.  As with any job, not everyone is cut out for teaching.  If a person cannot teach they do not belong in the classroom.

Something a bit haunting…..

“Quoth The Raven (Kinda)”

http://cheesemetal.com/?p=2309&cpage=1#comment-517

The two authors of this blog have been very active, blogging about music, sharing thoughts and anecdotes with friends, and in general, increasing our understanding of music.

Don’t let the blog title fool you, there is a lot to be heard from this blog, take this one about “Allan Parsons Project” Nevermore. This is quite the song, and though I don’t agree totally with the author at all points, it is a worth a listen!

The Best Cookie Book Ever!

I have used lots of cookbooks over the years. Betty Crocker, my families recipe cards, Holiday Cookie Books, you name it. This one tops them all! The ingredient lists are perfect and easy to read,the directions easy to follow,from Novice to Master, you couldn’t ask for more! There is a great section in the beginning about ingredients, and each section opens with methods to make those type of cookies. The color photo inserts are a real added bonus, just beautiful. There is a section for problems,such as if your cookies are too dry,along with solutions. There is a supply section and even the index is pristine. I would recommend this book for bakers of all ages, and I know it will become the most treasured resource in your library!

Word List of the Day – Soil

Soil – The upper stratum of the earth; the mold, or that compound substance which furnishes nutriment to plants, or which is particularly adapted to support and nourish them.

From: GNU Webster’s

Also, and here comes the word list:

earth

sand

material

land

dust

rock

surface

clay

This is just for fun, I was studying the porosity of rocks and got off on a tangent!

Latinos Outnumber Whites in the Valley: Report

This has got to be one of the stupidest articles ever published.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Latinos-Outnumber-Whites-in-the-Valley-80812897.html

If you live in the San Fernando Valley you can already tell, just listen to the conversations around you, mainly they are in Spanish.  You cannot get a job unless you speak Spanish, even though you are suppossedly in the United States, and as for any type of public assistance, well that’s pretty much gone as well.  No one is going to do anything about it though, in this era of political correctness there’s no need.  If anyone stands up for their right to be heard, unless they are a Latino they might just get shot, or sued.  If I was to go and visit any of the home Countries, mainly Mexico, I would certainly need to learn the language, and if I wanted a job there or to live there, I would have to emigrate legally or face time in a prison down there.

Tell me when this sounds fair…..

Who Moved My Cheese Metal?

A couple of the latest blogs, just too much fun to miss:
Pain. Real Pain…

http://cheesemetal.com/?p=735

and, Stalker Pop, Part 2: Into the ’60s

http://cheesemetal.com/?p=709

Enjoy!

Red Shirts

Red  Shirts

If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for a man.

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together.

After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who’d been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

No, he responded.
Heading out I asked?

No.  I’m escorting a soldier home.
Going to pick him up?

No. He is with me right now.  He was killed in Iraq , I’m taking him home to his family.

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn’t know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier’s family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign.”

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here’s a public! Thank Y ou to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

Red Fridays
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the “silent majority.”  We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday — and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that … Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women a far, will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, & TV — let’s make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once “silent” majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked “What can we do to make things better for you?” is. “We need your support and your prayers.” Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

Notes and Observation from the CMA Awards 11 November, 2009

Okay, growing up in Los Angeles I was alone with my Country Music, quite often, but I never lost my love for it.  What you see below are notes I took while watching the awards, just something to read, maybe enjoy, maybe argue with even.  The opinions below and observations are solely mine.

- Taylor Swift, what am I missing?  I really don’t care all that much for her vocals.

- Unlike most things today – you can actually thank God for things at the CMA Awards

- Miranda Lambert singing “White Liar” I really like her voice alot

- The set for the Zac Brown Band when the did “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” was incredible.  It was a fun rendition, I really enjoyed the fiddle player and am wondering if he is classically trained.

- Loved Carrie Underwood and “Cowboy Casanova” the costuming was awesome, the choreography was first rate, wuite the production

- New Artist of the Year – Darius Rucker – What a great acceptance speech.  Notice that at this particular awards show, they don’t go over their acceptable time limit!

- Daughtry and Vince Gill “Tennessee Line” Really like Daughtry a lot plus I love the song

- Loved the Kanye West/Taylor Swift references throughout the show, way too much fun!

- Keith Urban – love his vocals, haunting, simple, just really nice to listen to

- Tim McGraw “Southern Voice” what a fun song

-Sugarland – absolutely love them, their songs are so very believable

-Taylor Swift “Fearless” I do like this song and I loved her dress!

- Brooks and Dunn and ZZ Top – I’m blessed to have seen them play live at a County fair in Oregon (without ZZ Top of course)  It wasn’t as much of a stretch as I imagined it would be, it really worked well

- Jamey Johnson & Kid Rock, really liked Jamey Johnson, the look, the sound, the honesty, just great to see.  It worked well with Kid Rock too, very clever arrangement.

- A highpoint, the look at the Camero signed by the NASCAR Drivers and the Country Music Stars.  Julianne Huff and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. now that’s something you don’t see everyday

- Taylor Swift “Fifteen” Really didn’t like her vocals but the lyrics were really nice and watching the crowd of people all ages who were enthralled by it was fun

- Jason Aldean singing “Big Green Tractor” was fun.  It’s a fun song, not sure rather I like him or not yet though

- Billy Currington singing “People Are Crazy”  I love the song, his vocals and the lyrics.  They touch something in me, it’s nice to hear a story in a song, just a favorite of mine

- Taylor Swift wins Female Vocalist of the Year – it was worth it to hear her acceptance speech. (referring to the Kanye West incident again) and watching her when she got to hug Kris Kristofferson

- Dave Matthews and Kenny Chesney, what an interesting pairing.  They complimented each other well.  Best of the night so far and I enjoyed it immensely

- Faith Hill in my opinion looks like a fashion model

- Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift.  She did it, I’m not sure I agree with the choice but based on the reactions she deserved it.  I loved how she recognized her band, at that point she made my night.

Until next time, I hope you enjoy this and will leave comments and share this with your friends.