Just returned from Walmart. Yes, on Halloween. Stoopid, stoopid, stoopid decision. The aisles were packed. People wore costumes. Walmart is scary enough without costumes.
Speaking of costumes, yesterday I had to take Jorge to the doctor because he was about to expire, or so it seemed.
Wouldn't ya know, the entire office staff wore costumes. There was an Amazon pirate woman who must've been 6'3", witches, Raggedy Ann, Bart Simpson ... on and on.
It was a regular old party in there, except for the people wearing masks in the waiting room or having blood drawn or other unmentionable procedures.
So the nurse who took us back into a room was a vampiress, complete with long black wig, terrible makeup and a general overall look that made the Goth look seem sorta cute.
They kept Jorge somewhere for a few minutes and took me back to the room, and while Vampira was asking me questions, in jumps a small man in a rubber mask like "Chuckie" the spooky doll, holding a chainsaw prop. He kind of growled at me, but I just looked up from the People Mag and said, "Nice."
He shrugged his shoulders and walked away.
That was the doctor.
After the exam, the doc said Jorge needed to have blood drawn, and so a girl in a skin-tight black cat suit did that.
Now he can die happy, I suppose.
Once we get him cured of this kidney infection.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Lost Posters
Drawn By Jerry Garcia
An integral part of any music scene is the promotional posters that are created to advertise the shows. All the cool posters you see around Northampton are some of the strongest evidence of what a vibrant music scene there is in this area.
Many people collect music posters, and the ultimate collectibles are the old posters from the 1960's psychedelic scene in San Franciso. The rarest of the rare are the Acid Test posters, those that were used to promote the "happenings" where author Ken Kesey and his house band the Grateful Dead performed at dancehalls where LSD was served to the sometimes unsuspecting audience, as part of Kesey's belief that if a significant perentage of the population had the LSD experience then revolutionary changes would begin to occur in society as a whole.
It had long been believed that Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, who painted and drew throughout his entire life, had drawn some of the earliest Acid Test flyers, but none were known to have survived. However, last year a mysterious old vinyl Grateful Dead album surfaced at a record swap that had stuffed inside it nine never before seen posters from the earliest years of the Kesey/Dead scene. After extensive research, the posters were identified as the long lost Jerry Garcia Acid Test posters. The collector who discovered the first poster on eBay tells the tale:
Around the time period of April 2008, a very strange, very amateurish-looking Acid Test handbill for the Fillmore on Jan 8, 1966, appeared on E-Bay and was sitting up for several days before I noticed it. I looked at it carefully. Nobody had ever seen one like this before. Every day I scan E-Bay for Acid Test related items and on this day, there was some "energy" about the piece because I was scanning down through the page and it literally jumped out at me as being something interesting.
I contacted the seller and asked if he was interested in selling me the item for $400, and he agreed, removed it and mailed me the item. The next week, I took it in to Dennis King and had it authenticated, and Dennis concluded he believed it was real, and not faked. Dennis said he believed it was printed on Day-Glo green paper which had faded. This gave me a boost of confidence in the item, and likewise, confidence in the seller.
At the same time I contacted the seller to acquire it, I also asked where the item came from, and how he happened upon it. The seller was very nice, and responded that he got it from a record swapmeet where it was inside an old Grateful Dead mono version of the first album.
To read the whole story behind the discovery of these historic handbills drawn by Jerry Garcia click here.
The Poe Down
In case you didn't notice, this is the 200th anniversary year of the birth of Edgar Allen Poe in Boston, Massachusetts. UMass is holding a Halloween weekend symposium in honor of the event.
It's mostly for Poe scholars from around the country, but I strolled past to check out the scene. There were Poe t-shirts for sale.
Also posters were on display from the many cheesey Hollywood movies made from Poe's work.
The father of the modern detective story and a pioneer of fantasy and science-fiction, Edgar Allen Poe is indeed worthy of having his birthday celebrated.
By the way, there's a big party at Sam's in Northampton tonight.
Evil pumpkins haunt a porch in Hamp.
Today's Video
An integral part of any music scene is the promotional posters that are created to advertise the shows. All the cool posters you see around Northampton are some of the strongest evidence of what a vibrant music scene there is in this area.
Many people collect music posters, and the ultimate collectibles are the old posters from the 1960's psychedelic scene in San Franciso. The rarest of the rare are the Acid Test posters, those that were used to promote the "happenings" where author Ken Kesey and his house band the Grateful Dead performed at dancehalls where LSD was served to the sometimes unsuspecting audience, as part of Kesey's belief that if a significant perentage of the population had the LSD experience then revolutionary changes would begin to occur in society as a whole.
It had long been believed that Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, who painted and drew throughout his entire life, had drawn some of the earliest Acid Test flyers, but none were known to have survived. However, last year a mysterious old vinyl Grateful Dead album surfaced at a record swap that had stuffed inside it nine never before seen posters from the earliest years of the Kesey/Dead scene. After extensive research, the posters were identified as the long lost Jerry Garcia Acid Test posters. The collector who discovered the first poster on eBay tells the tale:
Around the time period of April 2008, a very strange, very amateurish-looking Acid Test handbill for the Fillmore on Jan 8, 1966, appeared on E-Bay and was sitting up for several days before I noticed it. I looked at it carefully. Nobody had ever seen one like this before. Every day I scan E-Bay for Acid Test related items and on this day, there was some "energy" about the piece because I was scanning down through the page and it literally jumped out at me as being something interesting.
I contacted the seller and asked if he was interested in selling me the item for $400, and he agreed, removed it and mailed me the item. The next week, I took it in to Dennis King and had it authenticated, and Dennis concluded he believed it was real, and not faked. Dennis said he believed it was printed on Day-Glo green paper which had faded. This gave me a boost of confidence in the item, and likewise, confidence in the seller.
At the same time I contacted the seller to acquire it, I also asked where the item came from, and how he happened upon it. The seller was very nice, and responded that he got it from a record swapmeet where it was inside an old Grateful Dead mono version of the first album.
To read the whole story behind the discovery of these historic handbills drawn by Jerry Garcia click here.
The Poe Down
In case you didn't notice, this is the 200th anniversary year of the birth of Edgar Allen Poe in Boston, Massachusetts. UMass is holding a Halloween weekend symposium in honor of the event.
It's mostly for Poe scholars from around the country, but I strolled past to check out the scene. There were Poe t-shirts for sale.
Also posters were on display from the many cheesey Hollywood movies made from Poe's work.
The father of the modern detective story and a pioneer of fantasy and science-fiction, Edgar Allen Poe is indeed worthy of having his birthday celebrated.
By the way, there's a big party at Sam's in Northampton tonight.
Evil pumpkins haunt a porch in Hamp.
Today's Video
Timelines
Putting events on a timeline gives you a sense of how much time goes by in between each event. It also helps you remember just when those important things happened. It is an easy way for students to understand events in the Bible in the correct order and they can also be a lot of fun to make.
Once you have decided that your students would gain tremendous benefit from seeing the progression of events of the Bible in the form of a timeline, the first obstacle that crops up is, “How do we start?” Some of the questions that arise when constructing a timeline are from not knowing what the date increments should be, how far apart they should be spaced, what format should be used and what exactly should go on it.
ehow.com- How to Make a Timeline for Kids
While adult supervision may be required, elementary age kids are capable of doing all the work themselves.
squidoo.com- Timelines for Homeschool
Lots of types of timelines examples that you can use.
creation.com- Parents and grandparents: A big-picture worldview project with your kids with complete directions and suggestion on how to create the timeline
sundayschoolresources.com- How To Make A Simple Timeline
Biblical Timelines:
bibletimelines.org- 23 timelines to print out for your classroom
sundayschoolresources.com- Timeline of the Bible
A complete Bible timeline that you can print out. (Click on Detailed Timeline: Print Version)
psscentral.com- For Preschoolers (Genesis to Revelations)
This 9-page timeline is great for showing preschoolers just how the major events of the Bible unfolded. It makes a great classroom addition, or a take-home project for the family.
sundayschoolresources.com- How do I use a timeline in class? (lesson with activities)
swartzentrover.com- Old & New Testament Timelines
Several timelines you can print out.
bibletimelines.org- Bible Timelines Online
Contains a series of over 20 free timelines (charts). Even though the typical timeline shows when an event took place these timelines were designed to help in understanding the reasons "Why?" an event happened rather than to show exactly when it happened.
abiblestudy.com- A chronological Bible timeline
teachinghearts.org- Time Lines and Chronology (Prophecy and History)
biblestudy.org- Bible Timelines (scroll down about halfway for this)
wordsight.org- Bible Time-Line
home.ccil.org- 4100 B.C.- Present (Also note timeline is a ISMAP and can be clicked on to see in more detail.)
biblestoryprintables.com- Bible Timeline Printables
Creation, Adam & Eve, The Resurrection. These printable cards are just the right size for making a Bible Timeline. Children can draw in their own pictures or use the ones provided. Then write a short description on the front of each card, and longer descriptions on the back. Print on Heavy Cardstock Paper, Cut out and Tape across the top of the card. These make wonderful Classroom sized bible timelines for children to enjoy. Additionally, you can use each set separately as a game for children to put them in the correct order.
livingwaterbiblegames.com- Bible Timeline Card Game
Print and play (2 different versions)
thatresourcesiteblogspot.com- This resource includes the timeline lines, the pieces for the timeline and a references sheet. A unique feature of this timeline is that we have included the scripture references for each of the events highlighted. Younger students may simply just put the timeline up and add the pieces in order. Older learners may want to look up the passages for discussion. Some events require a bit of reading - say a chapter or so, while other passages are quite short.
Timeline Templates:
office.microsoft.com- Timeline (Word template)
spreadsheets.about.com- Excel Timeline Template
ehow.com- How to Make a Timeline Template With Microsoft Word
enchantedlearning.com- Make Your Own Timeline
teachers.teach-nology.com- Timeline Generator
Horizontal or vertical timelines (only up to 6 events). Great to review events in a story.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Story Sequencing Activities
Most students have a hard time keeping their thoughts organized when writing. Their sentences tend to run on and paragraphs do not flow well. Students also have a hard time remembering what came first, second, and so on. So what can a parent/teacher do to help? Here are a few activities that might help.
1. Encourage your child/student to use a story map or other graphic organizer to brainstorm ideas for his/her writing.
Graphic Organizers for you to print out:
eduplace.com
edhelper.com
enchantedlearning.com
region15.org
freelogy.com
educationoasis.com
teach-nology.com- Make graphic organizers by filling out a simple form. The materials are made instantly and can be printed directly from your computer.
2. Use the five-finger method for brainstorming events: Who, what, when, where, why.
3. Help your child/student create a family/classroom newsletter. As chief reporter, he/she might gather news, conduct interviews, give a calendar of events, and include a page of funny jokes or quotations. They can email these out or even post them on a blog for family and friends to read. They can also put them on the church bulletin board or flier.
4. Create story sequencing cards- How to make story sequencing cards with children.
5. Use these story sequencing activities to help organize what happened first, second, etc.
Story Sequencing Activities- Arrange a series of picture cards into the logical order to create the story from beginning to end. This gives the children the chance to demonstrate and reinforce their recollection of the story.
Story Sequencing- This multi-faceted lesson teaches students how to sequence stories. It reinforces the following concepts: first, last, before, after, left, right. This lesson can also focus on carryover of articulation skills to answering questions as well as story telling.
6. To remember the events in Bible stories or in order that they appear in the Bible, students can make it into a song or rhyme.
7. Use Acronyms- If you have a set of things to remember try making up an acronym from the initial letters of the items in the list. One example comes from learning how to shoot a rifle: 'breath, relax, aim, sight, squeeze' becomes BRASS. For another example where order is not important, consider the items ' nuts, apples, bananas, carrots, oranges' which could be re-arranged to 'bananas, apples, carrots, oranges, nuts' and remembered with the acronym BACON.
8. Use Mnemonics- Mnemonics are where the initial letters of a memorable sentence stand for the initial letters of pieces of information in a particular order. Lots of classroom information can be encoded in mnemonics: the order of the planets from the sun with "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas” (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto)
9. Use the Link System- The link or linking or chaining system is used for remembering a list of random thinks in the exact order in which you wish to recall them. The essence of the system is to create a mental picture of the two adjacent items in the list that links them memorably. This is most likely if the picture or image is vivid and unusual and incorporates genuine interaction.
10. Learn a few Bible stories in order. Recite them in your head until you have them down for a few days. Add a few more and recite them in your head again for a few more days. Keep adding more after a few days.
11. Make Story Sequencing Puzzles- You can make these for just a story or to learn Bible stories in order.
Instructions:
Make a long single line puzzle that fits together in only one way out of various colors of cardstock. Make sure the puzzle runs from left to right (hooks together like a train). Write the parts of the story in order on each puzzle piece. Distribute the individual pieces to students and have them sequence the events of the story or put Bible stories in the correct order as they appear in the Bible.
12. After you read a Bible story and do the lesson, have the story written out in short sentences on index cards. Shuffle the cards and read them to the students. Give the cards to the students and have them work together and put the Bible story in order.
New number buttons
This was a little bit of a challenge but got to say I like. These can be used for scrapbooking or
making advent calenders. click on the pictures to go to my shop
I have to get more shawl pins made as Christmas is fast aproaching and they make fun gifts to go with those hand knitted and crochet scarves and shawls
No tricks....just treats!
Happy Halloween! No tricks here....just wanted to share some pics of my fall/Halloween decor....AND a recipe for some yummy pumpkin cookies I found last night! Below are some "faux" mini pumpkins I painted white and stained.
Here's a fun little trick-or-treater I found at the Paris Streetmarket in Colorado last fall.
White Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup solid pack pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 cups white chocolate chunks or chips
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, pumpkin pie spice & soda.
In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in pumpkin puree. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add in the flour mixture until combined. Stir in the white chocolate and pecans. Drop by rounded tablespoons (2 inches apart) on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 20-22 minutes until set.
Don't forget daylight savings time ends this weekend! Set your clocks back an hour! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
My Current Favorite Song And Random Dozen Feedback
Random Dozen Feedback:
I'm spending my blogging time today catching up with the last 25 of you. I'm enjoying this meme immensely, but it's wearing me out!
Here are some observations I've noted while reading:
The English teacher is by far the most influential/favorite.
You guys are so funny about how to tell when you're getting older. I should compile these and start a stand-up routine.
But most of you show your age by replying that you do not text, or if you do, it takes you a week to send a message, and even then it's not guaranteed to get where it needs to be. Funny!
Yellow appears to be the most-cited favorite color.
Most of you do celebrate Halloween, with the reservation of no evil stuff.
You all want to be a "suburban mouse," even though that wasn't an option.
Apparently, you are all the life of the party. Can you imagine if I got you all in one room? Party central!
The naming of the star thing is similar, I think, to adopting a highway. Your money goes toward funding (probably sending Koalas into space or something like that) but you get the "romance" of the notion. You either get this, or you don't, it would seem.
So have a great weekend--if I haven't been around to see you, I'm on my way!
Favorite current song:
If you have not heard "Say Hey, I Love You," then it is time. WARNING: It will stick. All day.
I'm spending my blogging time today catching up with the last 25 of you. I'm enjoying this meme immensely, but it's wearing me out!
Here are some observations I've noted while reading:
The English teacher is by far the most influential/favorite.
You guys are so funny about how to tell when you're getting older. I should compile these and start a stand-up routine.
But most of you show your age by replying that you do not text, or if you do, it takes you a week to send a message, and even then it's not guaranteed to get where it needs to be. Funny!
Yellow appears to be the most-cited favorite color.
Most of you do celebrate Halloween, with the reservation of no evil stuff.
You all want to be a "suburban mouse," even though that wasn't an option.
Apparently, you are all the life of the party. Can you imagine if I got you all in one room? Party central!
The naming of the star thing is similar, I think, to adopting a highway. Your money goes toward funding (probably sending Koalas into space or something like that) but you get the "romance" of the notion. You either get this, or you don't, it would seem.
So have a great weekend--if I haven't been around to see you, I'm on my way!
Favorite current song:
If you have not heard "Say Hey, I Love You," then it is time. WARNING: It will stick. All day.
From Creation to Joseph Cards
This activity is free, however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit.
From Creation to Joseph Cards: Use these cards for Memory, Go Fish, or sequencing.
Print cards out on card stock. Cut out cards. Laminate or cover with clear contact paper to make them last. (Text is in Tahoma font.)
Cards 1
Cards 2
Cards 3
Cards 4
Cards 5
*Print out only the cards that you want to use.
If you want to play Bible Timeline Card Game, make sure you print out the action cards and follow the directions below:
Bible Timeline Card Game- Directions
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
My RD and the Winner of "I Won ... You Win!"
Well, what do you think??
Just messin' with ya. It's a wig from Kristin's hip hop dance.
Don't worry; I will never, EVER do this for realsies.
My 9th grade English teacher inspired me to get a teaching degree. I saw the way she "did teaching" and thought, "I would love to be a teacher if I could be one like her." I did earn that degree (BS in English, 1985, Ball State University) but never taught because I married three weeks after college and began a family the next year. There were a few other good teachers, but she was stellar. She certainly outshone all my professors at BSU. And it is because of her that I use "outshone" and pronounce "when" as "hwen" and not "wen." My kids think it's hilarious. But I don't care because I am correct. I do break some rules here on the blog that she taught us, though, such as not beginning sentences with conjunctions and writing fragments.
2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life.
Going back to BSU for this one. Jorge had broken up with me (I know, readers, but you must forgive him. That was a long time ago, and I have made him pay for 24 years, so it's all good.) and I was bereft of any desire to go on in life. It was at that point, though, that I really decided, as an adult, that come what may in life, I would not turn bitter against God but follow Him more intently, not just because I was reared in a Christian home but because I wanted to. I have not always done this to the best of my ability, but it is my goal in life.
And I can thank my 9th grade English teacher for "bereft" and for "reared" instead of "raised." Hogs are "raised." Children are "reared."
3. About favorite colors--a lot of people will ask you what it is, but I want to know why it is. What feeling or memory does it evoke?
I love a shade of lavender that some might call orchid. When I see it, it takes me back to early childhood, looking at the light coming through the stained glass windows in our little church. It's one of the few early memories I have.
4. What's a sure sign that you're getting older?
Good night, Nellie, what a question. I heard once that you can always tell a woman's age by her elbows and upper arms, and I would agree, generally speaking. But I could start from head to toe and describe from experience the mudslide called middle age. The effect I'm hating most right now is the sagging jawline. Check back tomorrow, and it might be nose hair. Friday's answer might be the stupid gray hair around the temple area that is so resistant to color.
Also, I'd like to thank my English teacher because I just edited that last section to exchange the phrase "to tell you about" for "describe" and the nondescriptive "one" for "effect."
5. Please don't sermonize, but Halloween--is it a yes or no for you? Nope, in spite of the black wig..
6. What's your favorite musical?
What? Is this another set-up by myself to stump myself in this meme? Yes, yes it is. I don't have a favorite because I don't like musicals. I started to link to a post or two about this subject but decided I couldn't choose from the 35 posts or so on the topic, so I'll just leave it at that.
But if you tied me down and yanked out my middle aged nose hairs one by one until I chose one, I'd say Oklahoma.
7. Are you more of a city mouse or country mouse?
No "suburban mouse?" I'm a country mouse who likes space and a view with all the amenities of a city at least nearby. I was just thinking last night that I'll never get tired of looking across a field and seeing a barn on the other side. That is my Midwest perspective of beautiful America. But I'm not into well water or gravel roads. It's a fine line for me.
8. Did you know that it is possible, for a small fee, to name a real star after someone? (It's true! Google it!) If someone were to name a star for you, would you appreciate it for its whimsy and romance, or would you say, "Are you kidding me? For $19.95 we could have gone to the movie and actually bought popcorn."
My first response would be the one about popcorn. But as I thought about it, it might depend on who it was and the occasion and how serious the person was about the gesture. After all, a gift is a gift, and one should be gracious even when taken aback by the gift, right Ann Landers?
This question comes from Paula at His Ways Are Not Our Ways.
9. What's the craziest thing you've ever been doing and texted during it? I only thought of this b/c I was about to try to text during my walking video but I didn't.
Paula, you do know that this blog is rated G, right?
I don't text a lot, but once I was stuck on a plane and gave my closest friends and family the play by play in case I never made it out alive. It was terrible!
10. "It's not a party unless _______."
Oh, this question is so loaded. There are a handful of people (tiny people? ha) in my life who are walking parties. The party is wherever they are.
I guess my real answer is "It's not a party unless everybody's laughing." The food and drinks, music, place and reason for being together are all secondary.
11. When you're stuck in traffic or a waiting room, what do you do to pass the time? PS: There are no magazines available.
Well, I usually have something in my purse to entertain me. It's like an adult diaper bag. If nothing else, I'll start writing on a scrap piece of paper. Sometimes I write in my head. (And sometimes I wrong in my head. HA!) For instance, I'll think of questions for this meme. Or I might strike up a conversation or just sit there quietly and count things. I love to count. It's soothing. Why am I sorry I told you that?
12. If you weren't yourself, would you be friends with you?
I've been thinking this question over, and I have come to the conclusion, and I say this in my best Bill Cosby voice in my head: "Theo, that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
But my answer is "yes" because I would give myself space to be alone (not clingy) and because I like to laugh. If I delve too deeply, though, my answer is probably no because I don't work at relationships, and I'm pretty selfish. So I would like me as a superficial friend, I guess. Ouch, that hurts. So here I am with myself just doing superficial stuff like going for a bike ride.
The winner of the "I Won ... You Win!" is:
Dana at Bug's Eye View
Holy Week Memory Game
This game is free, however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit.
Holy Week Memory Game: Play Memory, Go Fish, or Sequencing with these cards.
Print cards out on card stock. Cut out cards. Laminate or cover with clear contact paper to make them last. (Text is in Tahoma font.)
Cards 1
Cards 2
Cards 3
*Print out only the cards that you want to use.
If you want to play Bible Timeline Card Game, make sure you print out the action cards and follow the directions below:
Bible Timeline Card Game- Directions
Action Cards
False Promise
Can the Government Save Money?
I'm shocked that I continue to hear people say on TV and in the papers that one of the main goals of the so-called health care reform efforts in Congress is to control spending. Huh? When the hell has that ever happened? On the contrary I strain in vain to think of any area in which the government getting involved in providing any service has resulted in cost savings.
If anything, government involvement is an invitation to waste and fraud, as the TV show 60 Minutes so eloquently showed on Sunday. I urge you to watch the video below of that 60 Minutes segment, and then I dare you to talk about government savings in the health care field with a straight face.
If Congress were really interested in controlling costs, they would not model their program, as they have, on what increasingly appears to be the failing model of universal health care here in Massachusetts. Columnist Jacob Sullivan explains:
Since 2006, Michael Cannon notes in a recent Cato Institute paper, health insurance premiums in Massachusetts have risen by 8 percent to 12 percent a year, almost double the national average. During the same period, total medical spending has increased by 28 percent. The cost of subsidizing coverage through the state’s Commonwealth Care program is expected to hit $880 million next year, 20 percent more than originally projected.
Second, despite stricter penalties, Massachusetts seems to be experiencing adverse selection. Cannon notes that, while the share of residents without insurance has shrunk from about 10 percent to about 5 percent, the proportion of uninsured people in the 18-to-25 age group has increased from 30 percent to 35 percent, indicating that “the young (and presumably more healthy) are less likely to comply with the mandate.”
Third, requiring people to buy insurance entails defining the minimum level of coverage, which necessarily makes insurance more expensive than it would otherwise be. In effect, the government prohibits the cheapest insurance plans, the ones with the highest deductibles and the least generous benefits.
The upshot is a phenomenon we have seen many times before: Instead of protecting us from big business, big government buys it off with our money.
Canadian High
With Grace Slick in poor health the Jefferson Starship is today primarily a Paul Kantner solo band. Currently touring Canada, a review from a Canadian paper yesterday describes the 68 year old Kantner as still overseeing a realm of stoned chaos.
Kantner sang and played mostly rhythm guitar. Here’s one dude who’s still living the dream. He spoke several times on the quality of Vancouver Island drugs, which apparently, pale to his usual toot.
“Some of the stuff I had from your local dispensary is pretty good,” declared Kantner sagely. “But it’s not as good as San Francisco.”
To read the whole concert review click here.
Hadley in the Rain
Today is another one of those gloomy, wet New England fall days. On the bus into Amherst this morning I took some pictures through the rain streaked windows of the farm fields of Hadley. Sometimes I captured a nice effect.
Other times I didn't. Those blurry light and dark blobs on the grass are white ducks and black hens.
This area is so rural you need a sign just to warn you of an approaching sign.
All the farmer's fields are dead, patiently waiting until next spring to be reborn.
Growth, harvest and rebirth, the unchanging cycle of hundreds of years.
Today's Video
Easthampton explores the bizarre.
I'm shocked that I continue to hear people say on TV and in the papers that one of the main goals of the so-called health care reform efforts in Congress is to control spending. Huh? When the hell has that ever happened? On the contrary I strain in vain to think of any area in which the government getting involved in providing any service has resulted in cost savings.
If anything, government involvement is an invitation to waste and fraud, as the TV show 60 Minutes so eloquently showed on Sunday. I urge you to watch the video below of that 60 Minutes segment, and then I dare you to talk about government savings in the health care field with a straight face.
If Congress were really interested in controlling costs, they would not model their program, as they have, on what increasingly appears to be the failing model of universal health care here in Massachusetts. Columnist Jacob Sullivan explains:
Since 2006, Michael Cannon notes in a recent Cato Institute paper, health insurance premiums in Massachusetts have risen by 8 percent to 12 percent a year, almost double the national average. During the same period, total medical spending has increased by 28 percent. The cost of subsidizing coverage through the state’s Commonwealth Care program is expected to hit $880 million next year, 20 percent more than originally projected.
Second, despite stricter penalties, Massachusetts seems to be experiencing adverse selection. Cannon notes that, while the share of residents without insurance has shrunk from about 10 percent to about 5 percent, the proportion of uninsured people in the 18-to-25 age group has increased from 30 percent to 35 percent, indicating that “the young (and presumably more healthy) are less likely to comply with the mandate.”
Third, requiring people to buy insurance entails defining the minimum level of coverage, which necessarily makes insurance more expensive than it would otherwise be. In effect, the government prohibits the cheapest insurance plans, the ones with the highest deductibles and the least generous benefits.
The upshot is a phenomenon we have seen many times before: Instead of protecting us from big business, big government buys it off with our money.
Canadian High
With Grace Slick in poor health the Jefferson Starship is today primarily a Paul Kantner solo band. Currently touring Canada, a review from a Canadian paper yesterday describes the 68 year old Kantner as still overseeing a realm of stoned chaos.
Kantner sang and played mostly rhythm guitar. Here’s one dude who’s still living the dream. He spoke several times on the quality of Vancouver Island drugs, which apparently, pale to his usual toot.
“Some of the stuff I had from your local dispensary is pretty good,” declared Kantner sagely. “But it’s not as good as San Francisco.”
To read the whole concert review click here.
Hadley in the Rain
Today is another one of those gloomy, wet New England fall days. On the bus into Amherst this morning I took some pictures through the rain streaked windows of the farm fields of Hadley. Sometimes I captured a nice effect.
Other times I didn't. Those blurry light and dark blobs on the grass are white ducks and black hens.
This area is so rural you need a sign just to warn you of an approaching sign.
All the farmer's fields are dead, patiently waiting until next spring to be reborn.
Growth, harvest and rebirth, the unchanging cycle of hundreds of years.
Today's Video
Easthampton explores the bizarre.
Free Avatar Wednesday
I have decided that each Wednesday I am going to make and post some avatars for free!!
just right click on the fairy you want and save to your pictures, You can then use them on Etsy, twitter etc. Today's avatars are Fairy's so enjoy!
Check out this amazing give away on christiecottage blog http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/
you could win 2 beautiful pendants from Etsy seller KanYoFuse
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Random Dozen #9
1. Tell me something about your favorite teacher.
2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life.
3. About favorite colors--a lot of people will ask you what it is, but I want to know why it is. What feeling or memory does it evoke?
4. What's a sure sign that you're getting older?
5. Please don't sermonize, but Halloween--is it a yes or no for you?
6. What's your favorite musical?
7. Are you more of a city mouse or country mouse?
8. Did you know that it is possible, for a small fee, to name a real star after someone? (It's true! Google it!) If someone were to name a star for you, would you appreciate it for its whimsy and romance, or would you say, "Are you kidding me? For $19.95 we could have gone to the movie and actually bought popcorn."
This question comes from Paula at His Ways Are Not Our Ways.
9. What's the craziest thing you've ever been doing and texted during it? I only thought of this b/c I was about to try to text during my walking video but I didn't.
Paula, you do know that this blog is rated G, right?
10. "It's not a party unless _______."
11. When you're stuck in traffic or a waiting room, what do you do to pass the time? PS: There are no magazines available.
12. If you weren't yourself, would you be friends with you?
Go ahead and link up; I'll answer these tomorrow right here. Thanks for playing!
Tomorrow I'll announce the winner of yesterday's carnival.
Stolen Art Watch, Pebble Beach Art Heist, Messing With FBI Firepower, Fraught With Danger !!!
Pebble Beach art collectors seek FBI probe of Monterey County Sheriff's Officehttp://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13651455
Two men who say millions of dollars' worth of art were stolen from their rented Pebble Beach home have asked the FBI to investigate the Monterey County Sheriff's Office for possible "corruption, collusion and cronyism."
Nearly three weeks after a sheriff's spokesman declared that Angelo Benjamin Amadio and Dr. Ralph Kennaugh had become suspects in their own case, an attorney for the men is asking federal authorities to look into why the department's response to the theft was "to victimize the victim."
On Sept. 25, the men reported a break-in and theft of prints by Miro, Rembrandt and Matisse, as well as a painting by Jackson Pollock and a drawing by Vincent van Gogh. The collection has been valued at more than $27 million.
Days later, the men reported finding an extortion note that demanded $10 million and threatened to kill them.
The men's attorney, Vicki St. John, said she sent letters and documents by overnight courier Monday requesting meetings with the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco and an FBI supervisor in Washington. Copies of the letters, which include a chronology of events in the case, were provided to The Herald.
The request centers on allegations that investigation of the case was stonewalled because of a previous personal grudge against Amadio by a volunteer at the department who is close to Sheriff Mike Kanalakis.
Sheriff's spokesman Cmdr. Mike Richards said he had not seen the documents late
Monday, but called the allegations "just ludicrous."
He said his department is still looking into whether the men have committed some sort of fraud, allegations he announced at an Oct. 6 news conference.
The letter maintains that information about the missing art was given to deputies on "five separate occasions" while Richards complained that the men were not cooperating and accused them of involvement in a "possible criminal enterprise."
"The truly ridiculous thing about these accusations," reads St. John's letter, "is that all the art was uninsured and owned for the past 10 to 30 years by my clients."
However, at least until now, the victims have shown very little documentation of the art's authenticity. And it appears that at least some of the loss may be covered under a renters' insurance policy of up to $500,000.
Richards has said that at the very least, his department might file misdemeanor charges for allegedly lying to a law enforcement officer.
"We are absolutely still investigating (them)," Richards said Monday.
But one month after the art was reported stolen, no charges have been filed.
Julia Reynolds can be reached at 831-648-1187 or jreynolds@montereyherald.com.
Art Hostage Comments:
"Speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far"
(Roosevelt, Chicago 1903)
"He who hesitates is lost"
"You will catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"
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We are now in the proverb stage, next stop arrest-ville !!!!!
Joseph And His Coat Of Many Colors (card game)
This game is free, however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit.
Joseph And His Coat Of Many Colors (card game)
This is a variation on the popular game of UNO with cards depicting the colored coat of Joseph. Players are trying to empty their hands of cards by playing them to a common pile, matching cards by color, number, or action. The deck is made up of 4 sets of differently colored cards with numbers from 1 to 8. There are also 4 Wild cards, 4 Draw 2 cards, 4 Skip cards, and 4 Reverse. (I wanted to buy this game, but could not find it so I made one.)
Directions
Print 1 copy of each of the Game Cards out on card stock. Cut out Game Cards. Laminate or cover with clear contact paper to make them last.
Yellow Game Cards
Blue Game Cards
Red Game Cards
Green Game Cards
Special Cards 1
Special Cards 2
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