I'M MOVING. . .TO ANOTHER SITE. . .

. . .for various reasons that I will discuss later, I have decided to move to another web site. The new site will give me more flexibility, and will be my very own blog. I'm still going to post lots of pictures of the Class of 2008, Europe, silly time wasting items, useful information, and things that I find interesting. It will have a new name. . .more for myself. . .than specifically for my past students.

I hope you will continue to follow my adventures, because I have found that I LOVE TO BLOG. Writing daily has become a big part of my life lately, and that's thanks to the Class of 2008.

This site will still be on-line, but new entries will be at my new web address.

So click on the link, and don't forget to check back often, because every day there will be at least one new entry.

ALWAYS A PROM QUEEN

NO EASY LESSONS FOR TEACHERS. . .

Being a teacher can be a daunting experience, especially working in a low-performing high school. There are few moments of success, but many moments of complete frustration. With that said, I want all of you to know that I feel blessed to work at IDEA, and my success comes from watching my students become successful. The successes can be far and few between, but when they come, they make everything worth the effort.

As I begin to move toward my 31st year of teaching, I, once again, feel the urgency of my challenges, and want this year to be even better than my previous years. For new teachers, I know how difficult the challenges will be, and clearly remember my feelings of inadequacy.

I treasure my relationships with my students, especially those kids that don't think they will ever like me, or value me as a teacher and friend. I feel blessed to have students that consider me as a friend, especially when I can be unrelenting, and at times, nasty. Saying the truth, which is my way of teaching, can be harsh, but it is the only way to be true to myself, and to you.

In the end, most kids realize that I only want them to be successful, but it takes a whole lot of effort to make it through a school year, especially this past one. The Class of 2008 wasn't an easy group to work with. They fought with me every step of the way. We had a LOVE/HATE relationship, but we made great strides, with many of you achieving your goals and dreams.

Saying all of this now is a result of reading an article in today's USA Today. Below are comments made by a former Newsweek writer, Donna Foote, who has written a book called Relentless Pursuit, after following participants in Teach For America, an elite teacher preparation program. The program recruits top college graduates for two-year teaching assignments in the Los Angeles area. Foote decided to write about "how we teach our most impoverished students through the eyes and experiences of our most privileged." Her book follows four beginning teachers during their first year at Locke High School. Here are some of the comments that she made in the article.

I'm not sure that any first-year teacher assigned to teach in a low-performing school is ever fully prepared. The job is all-consuming and incredibly demanding. Certainly, all of the Locke teachers struggled mightily, especially during the first few months of teaching. But the students of the teachers that I followed all ended up making significant academic gains.

At one point or another, each one of the teachers I came to know experienced moments of self-doubt and feeling of futility. 12% of the teachers in the Teach For America program failed to complete their two-year assignment.

Teachers, regardless of the path they take into the classroom, are leaving in droves. Some 14% of all new teachers quit after their first year; almost 50% are gone within five years. Teacher retention in low-performing schools is particularly difficult. At Locke, roughly 30% of the staff exit annually. Of the four teachers I followed, only one expected to remain in teaching after the two-year commitment was up.

EDITING MY PHOTOS. . .USING PICNIK. . .

I love all the possibilities available using PICNIK, a Yahoo editing web site. Once I've done my adjustments, I can send my photo to Photobucket or Flickr with a simple little click of my mouse. I recommend checking out PICNIK, asap. Here are a few of my pictures from my time with Brandon in Prague and Budapest.

WHAT DOES YOUR SCORE SAY ABOUT YOU???

OVER 60 POINTS : Others see you as someone they should "handle with care." You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant.. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you

51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement! you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust In your friends, but equally that it takes y o u a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would! really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions & who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. So me people think you're boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

DR. PHIL'S TEST. . .TRY IT. . .

Below is Dr Phil's test. (Dr. Phil scored 55; he did this test on Oprah - she got a 38.) Some folks pay a lot of money to find this stuff out!

Read on, this is very interesting!

Do not be overly sensitive! The following is pretty accurate and it only takes 2 minutes.

Don't peek, but begin the test as you scroll down and answer. Answers are for who you are now...... not who you were in the past. Have pen or pencil and paper ready.

This is a real test given by the Human Relations Dept. at many of the major corporations today. It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and prospective employees.

It's only 10 Simple questions, so...grab a pencil and paper, keeping track of your letter answers to each question.

Ready?? Begin...

1. When do you feel your best?
a) in the morning
b) during the afternoon &and early evening
c) late at night

2. You usually walk. .
a) fairly fast, with long steps
b) fairly fast, with little steps
c) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
d) less fast, head down
e) very slowly

3. When talking to people you.
a) stand with your arms folded
b) have your hands clasped
c) have one or both your hands on your hips
d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
e) play with your ear, ! touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with..
a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
b) your legs crossed
c) your legs stretched out or straight
d) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with...
a) big appreciated laugh
b) a laugh, but not a loud one
c) a quiet chuckle
d) a sheepish smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering you..
a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
b) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
c) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed

7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're
interrupted...
a) welcome the break
b) feel extremely irritated
c) vary between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most?
a) Red or orange
b) black
c) yellow or light blue
d) green
e) dark blue or purple
f) white
g) brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before
going to sleep you are..
a) stretched out on your back
b) stretched out face down on your stomach
c) on your side, slightly curled
d) with your head on one arm
e) with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are...
a) falling
b) fighting or struggling
c) searching for something or somebody
d) flying or floating
e) you usually have dreamless sleep
f) your dreams are always pleasant

POINTS:
1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1

Come back tomorrow and I will tell you what your score means about you.

By the way, I scored a 51.

AXEL AND MELANIE TRAVEL. . .

. . .ACROSS AMERICA on the beginning of their one year journey. Their e-mail, and pictures are amazing. Their pictures can be seen on Kodak Gallery. Click on the link and enjoy.

E-mail from AXEL:

We thought we would trade off writing the updates we send you all. Since our internet access has either been spotty or expensive, we haven’t been able to send out one about our drive across the States. So here are Axel’s thoughts on that trip. Melanie wrote a good one about our life in Florence so far, and that will follow this one into your inbox.

Without boring you all with the details of our trip across the country I’ll leave you with some highlights and observations:

1) I still love San Francisco.
2) If you’re going to get a flat tire in northern Nevada, at least do it where there is already a tow truck helping someone else.
3) Jack’s in Idaho Falls is a good place to buy tires.
4) If you have not been to Yellowstone National Park, the Bighorns, or northern Wyoming in general, go.
5) Same for South Dakota, especially the Black Hills in the southwestern part.
6) Mount Rushmore is cool, but the Crazy Horse Memorial is much cooler. See them both, in that order.
7) Good eats can be found at 112 Eatery, in downtown Minneapolis.
8) We have lost our connection with the land, both in the wilderness and the agricultural sense. My aunt and uncle, Ann and Sig, have not. If you want to know what birds are chirping outside, when to harvest raspberries, how to grow any kind of plant or tree, how to can tomatoes, and any other skill that seems be vanishing in the technological “advancement” of our society, go visit Ann and Sig.
9) Sitting through a rainy Cubs game at Wrigley Field, then enjoying a nice meal and a good sleep at the W Hotel in downtown Chicago, is worth getting up at four in the morning to drive from Okoboji, Iowa.
10) Family reunions are always special, even more so with really good food.
11) If you go to Cracker Barrel, loosen your belt and order the Country Boy Breakfast.
12) My parents’ farm is the perfect place to end a road trip across the country.
13) We have a beautiful country with wonderful people all along the way. Everyone should drive across it at some point in his or her life.

Thanks to all the people who hosted us for a meal or a night or both: Melanie’s Auntie Corinne and Uncle Ron (and cousin Cherie!), Mel and Linda Dunn, Bill and Linda Holmes (Ryan’s folks for those in the know), my cousin Holly, Aunt Ann and Uncle Sig, Aunt Julie, Cousin Hal, the Twells, and of course my mom and dad. Our trip was much more special with your generosity

THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. . .AND FLICKR. . .

This is an amazing collection of photographs that have become available to the public. The Library of Congress, and several other organizations, have posted their public photography archives. Since the photos have been seen, information about 500 photos have been provided by Flickr users that make the photos even more valuable and interesting. Name of people and places in the photographs have been identified. The library began with two major collections: 1,500 black-and-white photos taken from 1910 to 1920 by the Bain News Service, and 1,600 color shots from the Farm Service Administration/Office of War Information that were taken in the 1940s. The photos were chosen for their popularity with library visitors, and because they had no copyright restrictions. Since being uploaded on Flickr, there have been 8.2 million views and 5,000 comments. The photos are very impressive, and the comments are extremely insightful. Here are a few from the collection. The project is called "The Commons," and can be seen at www.flickr.com/commons.

Uniformed Letter Carrier with Child in Mailbag: This city letter carrier posed for a humorous photograph with a young boy in his mailbag. After parcel post service was introduced in 1913, at least two children were sent by the service. With stamps attached to their clothing, the children rode with railway and city carriers to their destination. The Postmaster General quickly issued a regulation forbidding the sending of children in the mail after hearing of those examples.

Louis & Lola?- TITANIC Survivors: Photo taken before the 'orphans' of the Titanic were correctly identified and returned to their mother. The boys are French brothers Michel (age 4) and Edmond Navratil (age 2). To board the ship, their father assumed the name Louis Hoffman and used their nicknames, Lolo and Mamon. Their father died in the disaster of the RMS TITANIC, which struck an iceberg in April 1912 and sank, killing more than 1,500 people.

Operating a hand drill at Vultee-Nashville, woman is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber, Tennessee. Photo taken February 1943

Trick photo, decapitated man with bloody knife, holding his head. Circa 1875

SHE KNEW HOW TO WORK A CAMERA. . .

. . .MARILYN MONROE. REMEMBERING AN ICON, A TRUE BEAUTY.

Born June 1, 1926, died August 5, 1962, 46 years ago today.

Grafitti in Berlin. . .

FOODS TO KEEP YOU HEALTHY. . .

1. Coffee - Among its remarkable benefits, new research shows. coffee may reduce the risk of diabetes, heart attack, gallstones, Parkinsons's disease, kidney stones, and cirrhosis (disease of the liver). Black coffee may lead to thinner bones, especially in women, so add milk to your coffee.

2. Chocolate - Dark chocolate, which contains at least 70% cocoa, has proven health benefits. It contains less sugar than white or milk chocolate, and is a rich source of health-promoting compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoid antioxidants (similar to those found in green tea). Studies show that even a small intake of dark chocolate may reduce the risk of blood clots that cause heart attack or stroke and may lower blood pressure. Chocolate also can life your mood and give you a boost of energy. Chocolate is high in calories and contains saturated fat, so enjoy it in moderation - no more than 2-1/2 ounces a day.
3. Pizza - Pizza isn't exactly a health food, but it certainly is a food with healthy ingredients. Tomato sauce is rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Recent studies suggest that lycopene may have a range of benefits including reducing the risk of cancer and lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. Adding veggies to pizza further improves its health benefits. But stay away from sausage, pepperoni, and other toppings rich in saturated fat - you already get that with the cheese. The biggest concern about pizza is calories and what they can do to your waistline, so order by the slice.

4. Eggs - Eggs get a bad rap. Their negative reputation started because egg yolks are a source of cholesterol. But studies have not shown that the risk of cardiovascular disease increases in egg eaters. In a study of more than 115,000 men and women, there was no association between egg intake and the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke over an eight-year period, except among those with diabetes. Women who ate more than one egg a day actually had the lowest risk of coronary heart disease. Eggs also are a great source of protein, and many organic eggs are now rich in omega-3 fatty acids, thanks to a change in chicken feed.

5. Fish - Eating fish twice a week may cut your risk of heart attack, stroke, and sudden cardiovascular death. Fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may reduce the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and inflammation. The best for your health are oily and small fish such as sardines, herrings, anchovies, salmon (organic or wild), and mackerel (except king mackerel). Large fish such as swordfish, tuna, tilefish, and shark live at the top of the marine food chain and accumulate many contaminants. In general, canned chunk light tuna - lower in such contaminants as mercury than albacore or sushi tuna - is also a good choice.


From: The Parade Magazine, July 27

GOTTA LOVE MARTHA STEWART. . .

. . .PAPER TOPS

In minutes, you can make tiny tops that are durable and compulsively twirlable. Since they're made of paper strips wound around a toothpick, you can shape them to the silhouette you like. You'll need toothpicks, some thin strips of paper (quilling paper works well since it's already cut into long, thin strips), and glue. You will want to make several since some are sure to find their way into friends' pockets.

Paint toothpicks with paint pens if you like; let dry. Glue one end of a 24-inch-long strip of paper just above the toothpick's tip. Roll tightly, and secure the end with glue. Glue on another strip and continue rolling; repeat about six times to make a disc 1 1/4 inches across. To decorate, glue on thinner strips in other colors. Press the coiled paper between thumb and fingers to shape the top.

WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT. . .

. . .that sugarless gummy bears can prevent cavities????? According to an article, researchers have found a way to reduce cavity-causing bacteria on young children's teeth. Read the article if you don't believe me!

NEW YORK (July 31) - Gummy bears containing a sugar substitute called xylitol seem to reduce cavity-causing bacteria on young children's teeth suggesting, researchers say, that candy could be turned into a weapon against tooth decay.

Xylitol is a natural sweetener found in various berries, corn, birch and other plant sources. Research has shown that the sugar substitute reduces levels of mutans streptococci (MS) bacteria, which are known to cause cavities.

This is because xylitol differs from others sugars, like table sugar and glucose, which MS bacteria use for energy. MS bacteria "take in" xylitol, but can not break it down to use for fuel, explained lead investigator Dr. Kiet A. Ly of the University of Washington in Seattle.

"So in the process of trying to break down xylitol, they expend energy and don't get any in return," Ly told Reuters Health. "That reduces their ability to reproduce and multiply and leads to a reduction in number."

Xylitol-containing chewing gum is available, but it's not considered suitable for young children. So Ly and his colleagues tested the effects of xylitol-sweetened gummy bears in 154 elementary school children.

Each child was given four gummy bears, three times per day, during school hours. Some children received xylitol-containing gummy bears, while the rest were given candies sweetened with maltitol, another sugar substitute.

At the beginning of the study and six weeks later, the researchers measured the amount of bacteria in plaque samples from the children's teeth.

In the end, both the xylitol and maltitol gummy bears reduced levels of MS bacteria in the children's mouths, the researchers report in the online journal BMC Oral Health.

According to Ly, the findings suggest that gummy bears containing either sugar substitute could benefit children's oral health. But, he added, there has been little research on maltitol, and more study is needed to confirm the current findings.

The next step is to show that xylitol gummy bears actually prevent cavities in young children.

Ly said he and his colleagues are collaborating on just such a study with researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

He noted that the xylitol gummy bears were created for the current study and are not yet on the market.

RETRO ADVERTISEMENT. . .

. . .while surfing the net I came upon this old-school poster. It's a good reminder for all of us to buckle up for safety. From Smashing Magazine.

OMG. . .IT'S AUGUST. . .AND TIME FOR ANOTHER CALENDAR. . .

Once again, SMASHING MAGAZINE has some truly awesome desktop calendars available. So many kewl calendars to choose from that I'm having trouble picking just one. Guess I will have to change my calendar 5 or 6 times this month.

A Cute Project. . .If You Have Extra Time To Spare. . .

This little project would have great decorations at a party in a bowl of fruit, or finger food. Speaking about party, I'm SERIOUSLY thinking about having a bar-b-que/potluck at my house in a couple of weeks. More information to come, and any suggestions for a possible date, would be great. Hard to believe, but I miss all of you. So get busy, and start making some of these toothpick cuties for our PARTY!

Click on the link and have fun. MINI-KOINOBORI

CONGRESS CONSIDERING BAN ON MYSPACE AND FACEBOOK IN LIBRARIES. . .

This was an article from the USAToday yesterday. For those of you going to college in the fall without a computer and hoping to log on to a library computer and check your MySpace and/or Facebook, this might not be possible if Congress has its say. Unfortunately, kids, of all ages, will find a way to access information using their creative, skillful imagination. Read on for information. . .


Poor libraries -- they just want to fill our kids' heads with porn and violence. Is that so wrong? First, libraries were forced to start filtering out obscene content in 2000. Then came the Patriot Act, which granted the government the right to examine the books you checked out and the sites you visited on a library's public computers. Now, lawmakers are trying to ban children from accessing MySpace and Facebook on library PCs in order to keep the kids safe from sexual predators. The heavy-handed legislation -- a bill introduced by Representative Mark Steven Kirk of Illinois -- is, of course, being fought by the American Library Association. The library wants to protect people's privacy saying that it is essential if a community is to utilize the library for intellectual pursuits. Library officials agree with the goal of the bill, but they say that educating kids and parents about the dangers of such sites is the only comprehensive solution to the problem, which is a more than fair point. Kids are crafty and aren't only signing on to MySpace at the library. Heck, any kid with a Sidekick could spend all day talking to predators and there would be no way to know. We think a strong education program and some decent parenting can keep kids safe online, regardless of where they sign on from and what sites they use.

GOT AN E-MAIL. . .FROM FLORENCE, ITALY. . .

I thought you might be interested in reading the e-mail I recently received from Ms. Dunn. Did I ever tell you that I truly believe that in a previous life I lived in Florence, Italy? Yup, it's not just a belief, but a feeling that sweeps over me whenever I stand in front of the beautiful church, the Duomo. Ok, so you think I'm crazy, but the feeling happens EVERY TIME I'm there. . .and who should live nearby now (?????), but Ms. Dunn and Mr. Schwarz. Since I don't have a picture of the two of them, I'm going to show you a few pictures of the Duomo from my vacation last November. What a sight to behold! And to think that Dunn/Schwarz will be seeing it EVERY DAY FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR! I'm so envious!

First the pictures, then the e-mail.

THE E-MAIL:

Thanks for your email Karen. I'm glad you returned safely from your travels to Europe. Axel and I have been in Florence for a week now. We rented an apartment a few blocks east of the Duomo. It is in an 800 year old building, but inside it's nice and modern thanks to IKEA. We have begun the process of looking for teaching jobs, but all of Europe apparently goes on vacation during the month of August, so we have been told we probably won't hear anything until the end of August. So mostly we are trying to transition to life here and trying to avoid the heat and tourists.We'll email periodically to share our experiences. Ciao, m.

AN ARTIST. . .OR AN APE. . .

Take a fun little quiz to see if you can tell whether each painting was created by man or monkey. My score. . .67% correct.

ARTIST OR APE

If this is art, then maybe I have found my next career. So many careers to choose from, but no, I decided to become a teacher, but it's never too late to become an artist. Grandma Moses began painting in her late 70's.

AN E-MAIL OR TWO. . .FROM. . .ROSA GARCIA. . .

dated July 16, 2008

OMG MRS.ROGOFF I CAN'T BELIEVE NOBODY IS REPLAYING OR CHECKING OUT THE BLOG, THEY MUST BE OUT OF TOWN OR THEY DIDN'T PAY THEIR INTERNET ON TIME HAHAHAHAHA,BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE I THINK YOU ARE A GREAT TEACHER AND IM SO IMPRESSED ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR US,IT IS SO NICE THAT YOU ARE SHARING WITH US YOUR TRIP TO EUROPE.I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING AS THE OTHER TEACHERS THAT ONCE SCHOOL IS OVER THEY FORGET ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS AND WHEN THEY GO ON VACATION THEY DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THEM BUT YOU ARE SO DIFFERENT AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES YOU THE BEST TEACHER EVER.

I DO CHECK THE BLOG EVERY DAY TO SEE IF YOU POST MY PIX AND THE COMMENTS BUT I JUST REALIZED THAT YOU DON'T HAVE PIX OF ME SO IM GOING TO SEND YOU SOME.I TOOK A LOT OF PIX OF MYSELF IN GRADUATION AND I HAVE SOME OF PERLA AND DWEEN TOO.DO YOU WANT ME TO SEND THEM TO YOU TOO?

IM TAKING TWO ENGLISH CLASSES, ONE MATH AND ONE PERSONAL GROWTH OR CAREER PLANING AS THEY CALLED HERE AT CITY COLLEGE.

WELL MRS.ROGOFF I HOPE YOU KEEP HAVING FUN AND I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.

HUGS AND KISSES.

ROSE


dated July 18, 2008

Oh,thank you so much mrs.Rogoff, i really apreciate that you consider me a tenacious girl (persistent) but let me tell you that every time i feel stressed out i think about you and all the work you had to do for us and how you got it done and i say to myself, " If Mrs. Rogoff would to see you, she would laught at you Rosa because this is nothing comparing to all the work she has done." so i just get my lazy ass up and do the work. well Mrs. Rogoff keep having fun and i will talk to you later and don't worry about what the students think about you sooner or later they will realize how important you are and they will regret thet they didn't apreciate your help. love you Rose

ZULMA ESTUDILLO. . .

* Hey chorizona! Ur the best friend ever and u have the greatest smile ever. Love u. . .
* I still know what you did last summer.
*You are funny, cute, strong, talented, but most of all, a great friend. I am so glad that God let me meet you. Thanks for always staying strong, and helping me in the rough times. I will always treasure all the wonderful moments we spent together, and hopefully our friendship will stay strong no matter how many years pass. I wish you the best in life. I HEART U!
* Very nice and kind.
* Love your fashion sense.
* You’re cool.
* I really enjoyed our conversations in Mr. T’s class. You’re a great person. Good luck in the future.
* Very sweet and fashionable. Going to miss your great smile.
* You are really sweet. I wish you and Luis the best.
* I like ur big ass eyes!!! Jajaja You are like one of my BF forever. I love you like my little sister. . .Don’t ever forget about me or us. . .Thxs for being there 4 me.
* Loving, kind, and too bad not mine. Haha.
* Stay cool.
* Cool, fun gurl to be around.
* Very pretty and fun to be around.
* A good leader.
* I just want to let you know that you are one of the people that I enjoy being around. I am glad that you are a classmate of mine.
* Nice, quiet, and has a nice smile.
* You are the sweetest girl. You are truly a wonderful person and an amazing friend.
* You have a nice smile.
* Ay, mi Zulma!! Well, que te digo, you have been such, but such a great friend to me. From fooling around in Ms. Robinson’s class, to crying in each others arms. Thank you for that. You are a person with such a beautiful personality, besides being on of the prettiest girls on this campus. I hope we remain friends forever.

DID YOU FEEL IT?????

. . .The earthquake in Los Angeles. According to reports, it was the strongest earthquake to strike a populated are in Southern California in more than a decade. Late this morning the 5.4-magnitude quake — considered moderate — was felt from Los Angeles to San Diego, and as far east as Las Vegas, 230 miles away. Nearly 30 aftershocks quickly followed, the largest estimated at 3.8.

The quake was centered 29 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles near Chino Hills, a San Bernardino County city of 80,000 built mostly in the early 1990s with the latest in earthquake-resistant technology.

My daughter, who works in Washington, D.C., heard about the quake and immediately called to see if I was ok. I had just gotten out of the shower and was blowing my hair dry when the quake occurred, so I didn't feel a thing. I was totally clueless when she called.

Just when people forget that California has the potential for a really big quake, there's a reminder like today to be prepared. I guess Crawford will be doing a duck-and-cover drill sometime in the fall. Aren't you lucky that you won't be there to crawl under those little tables?

THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION. . .

. . .which hat did Eric buy in Innsbruck, posted way back HERE. And I bet you thought Eric bought that teeny tiny hat. . .NOPE. . .the one below. Doesn't he look like a true European. . .I mean tourist!!!!!

HOCKNEYIZED. . .MASQUERADE MASKS FROM VENICE. . .

Another fun thing to do with FLICKR, BIG HUGE LABS. This technique of photo-collage is based on David Hockney, a British artist, who now lives and works in Los Angeles. Hockney is an important contributor to the Pop Art movement of the 1960s, and is considered one of the most influential British artists of the twentieth century. I'm going back to FLICKR and play some more.

PAPER PLANES. . .ANOTHER FUN WASTE OF TIME. . .

. . .Using 3-D animation, this site will show you how to fold a variety of paper planes. Even if you don't want to make planes, this is a great little show to watch. Click on the link and have fun!


PAPER PLANES

THE BLOG READABILITY TEST. . .

. . .What level of education is required to understand MY blog? I found this web site today and thought you might find this very interesting. It scans the vocabulary used in my blog entries and quickly calculates the reading level required to understand the text. It sounds like the STAR testing that all of you took a few years back that tells you whether you are reading at grade level.


I'm feeling good about my blog now that I KNOW that all of you high school graduates should have the reading comprehension level required. So, with no further conversation, here is the result of the test. Drum roll please. . .

100 DAYS TO GO. . .

. . .Obama's Lead Over McCain Grows in Poll


Barack Obama now leads John McCain among national registered voters by a 49% to 40% margin in Gallup Poll Daily tracking conducted July 24-26.

Are YOU following the Presidential candidates as they move toward the November 4, 2008, election?

This blog is NOT a politial platform, and I am not trying to convince you to vote for the candidate of my choice, but my hope is that you become aware and knowledgeable so that you can use your constitutional rights to vote this year. In my Contemporary Voices and AVID classes this past year I encouraged my students to read the newspaper on a daily basis, listen to the news on television, and know the candidates and their positions on important world issues.

This will be your first opportunity to make decisions that will affect you, and me, for the next 4 years. 4 years from now you will be educated, either with a skill or a college degree, and you will be moving toward achieving your dreams of a strong future. The government believes in you, so much so, that it will give you money, FAFSA for example, to help finance your college education, or job training. Choose the candidate that will protect your rights.

Vote for either candidate, but be an informed voter. You have 100 days to make your decision.

Vote in November, and vote with confidence and understanding of the issues. YOU can make a difference. Each ONE of us can make a difference.

MY DESKTOP CALENDAR. . .

I realize that it's almost the end of the month (hey, I've been on vacation), so this morning, since I once again woke up at the crack of dawn, I realized that it was time to up-date my desktop calendar. Every month SMASHING MAGAZINE offers some very creative calendars, for free, so if you want something useful, and really KEWL, then check out their site. Of the many offered this month, I decided on this awesome blue and yellow beach calendar. Take a look by clicking on this SMASHING MAGAZINE link.

RECYCLING PAYS. . .

REMEMBER THESE 9 BAGS FROM MY LAST POST?????? THEY WERE WORTH A GRAND TOTAL OF. . . . .$76.20! Read it and weep!!!! Thank you, thank you, and thank you for helping me save bottles and cans.