Because I am a great humanitarian, I volunteer twice a week (two hours total) at a 766 residential school that I once oversaw. I am not nor have I ever been a teacher. I still don't "get" how our granddaughter Lilli learned how to read. I don't "get" how the neurology or the biology or whatever works in a way that allows learning to take place. I go to Barbara for all that stuff. But twice a week, I help out in a classroom of 8 little kids (12 and under). I help with math and with reading. I love the kids but am getting more and more frustrated with the adults who seem to forget that it is not a prison but a learning environment. Let's take today as an example--ok, Alan, let's. Head Teacher out. Assistant Teacher was in charge and totally unprepared. Two child care counsellors were in the class room and then there was me. So 4 adults for 8 kids. Nothing unmanageable occurred during my hour there. The teacher took 25 minutes to set up the morning activities--meanwhile the longer he went, the more "itchy" the kids got. Movement increased--these kids are there for a reason and its not because they can manage all their behavior on their own.They started touching each other, they started yapping, they started making noises.In all he took too long and somehow did not get it. The two child care workers sat and manged behavior with voices without getting off their butts. I usually wait for direction but finally I got so pissed I got up and plopped myself between two of the kids who were getting the most "hyper". Not brain surgery but come on. Child care workers did not move. Teacher went on and finally read a story and gave them a reasonable assignment (according to my criteria). Then as they proceeded to complete the work, he did all the scissoring and the stapling and I did not see him "teach" for one minute. And the counsellors continued to sit--except for a bathroom break and use of their cell phones. I helped one of the kids who wrote his small "m's" upside down so they were "w's" and had no clue what an "n" was. I am not deluding myself into believing I taught him anything though I wish I could have. I did occupy him and get him through the assignment. Bummed out when I left and as per usual, I leave wondering where this kid and the others will end up educationally.
Onto bicyclists--another favorite topic. I am driving to the school this morning on Centre Street, go by the fire station, and obeying the lane set aside for cyclists. I quickly realize the fire trucks are rolling, the traffic is thick, and I got the bikers on the right of me--none of whom stop but all of whom keep on pedalling. I pull over; theydont. The Trucks go by and bam, one of the bikers decides to draft the truck as if he were in a NASCAR race at Daytona and he does his drafting right down the middle of the road. Please someone tell me why I should not get up close to this guy and scream. The guy by the way had a helmet and had his yoga mat strapped to his back. Must need a lot of relaxing after his speedway ride.
So the Herminator is gone and Jon Stewart continues to anguish over his comedic loss. But he apparently is feeling fairly confident Newt will help him get back on his comedy track. The Newt/Romney clash is hilarious--they are both scary men of the highest order and half as smart as they think they are--especially Newt who fancies himself a scholar on top of everything else.
Unemployment is down again and I know it does not mean much in and of itself but it sure must make Barack and the folks feel a bit optimistic. Can someone please tell me why the Brits are so married to their fucking Pound and out of all the countries in the Union, they were the only hold out and submitting budgets to some sort of central management. Ahh--among other things, the Brits have their own version of Ron Paul and Tea Partiers who want less of anything with government not more.
Been reading novels set in Glasgow--the folks there by the way are called Glaswegians which is kind of cute. Denise Mina is the author and Ilove her not as much as Rankin but close. I really am into European based mysteries. Have another Norwegian novel coming up and am taking an Icelandic novel to Cuba. I am missing Finland--so if you know a Finnish mystery writer, let me know.
Jess, Steffen, and the kids were here for 4 days over the past weekend. they are all great and we got to spend a lot of time with the kids who are growing and thriving down in there in Philly land. Anna got herself a car and loves just having it. Complained that she had to scrape off frost the other morning--poor baby. The next day it was 70
Have had Dominican, Mexican, and Italian food in 3 different neighborhoods of the city over the last 3 weeks. Kind of neat and feel kind of glad I live where I live.
SPORTS TALK
Don't know anymore what to say about the Pats and their defense. Both the Colts and Skins with mediocre (at best ) QB's could have beaten them. Brady was way off against the Skins and they seem to back off when they get ahead. I hate that religious zealot tebow yet am worried about the game itself. It is possible Brady and company will really run it up but it is worrisome. Also this weekend might be the last possible chance for either or both the Steelers and Ravens to lose.
The bruins are in a slight rut thought they have won 3 in a row. i worry about the top line. Lucic and Horton just are not scoring enough. Their depth and their goal tending are keeping them ahead of the field.
Bobby Valentine is not the cure folks--you got holes in right, behind the plate, shortstops who dont hit,pap is gone (boo hoo--he was overrated anyhow) and you better hope crawford's last year was an aberration. otherwise consider him Theo's real parting shot.
That's about it. to Cuba in a month.
Adios
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
I JUST FUCKING DELETED EVERYTHING
I cannot believe I hit some stupid key and everything went poof. Just sucks since I was really on a roll. but I'm thinking you have been spared a bit too much about Harvard.
Lets try again. Each major Harvard teaching hospital has its own training program. Mt. Auburn, Cambridge, MGH, Brigham and Women's,Children's, and Beth Israel/Deaconess--they each have interns, residents, and fellows. Additionally, they each have (for example) Departments of Psychiatry with a Chief Psychiatrist. This chief person by the way has a Harvard academic appointment which usually is at the full professor level. Know what all that shit costs and know where the costs end up? I don't know the exact numbers but I do know they are built into hospital rates. I also know the following--MGH and the Brigham are part of Partners. Yet both have now begun doing both face and hand transplants. Can someone please tell me why we need two hospitals (both in the same corporate structure)doing the same thing?
During my second year at BU, I lived at Myles Standish hall in Kenmore Square (former home of Willy Loman). I lived on the top (9th)floor in a room overlooking the river and Cambridge. Just gorgeous. Very often I would try to locate Harvard Square and get my righteous indignation worked up about the future masters of the universe living nearby. Prepared me very well for my thoughts on their hospitals.
No further thoughts from me about Penn State though I am surprised that another school had more of the same--Syracuse seemed to deal with it better in terms of its reaction. But really, none of us should be surprised.
Barney is retiring. He sounded kind of infantile complaining about his new district. On the other hand, he is 71 and who can deal with that DC shit for so long. I did love it when he basically told the press he could now talk even more freely and then went ahead and decimated Gingrich.
Speaking of which, Gingrich is flying high and tromping on the Mitter. I will say this--he is much more formidable that Mitt but he also has some ugly hstory that he will have to deal with. Still 11 months away though those primaries are just around the corner.
I drove back from NJ by myself this past Saturday and spent a lot of time listening to Bruce VERY LOUD. Loved it but found myself wondering what he will do without Clarence and his sax--never mind the lose of his friend. What does it do to the music?
In NJ, I experienced the following. My niece is a cheerleader and we went to her Turkey day game--her team got stomped by the way. But that was not what interested me. Tess' school is virtually 50/50 black/white. The team they played was all African American. Tess' team had no white players though 6 of 8 cheerleaders were white. On the other hand her education has been seriously and positively affected by the racial composition of her school. I really wonder what that does to her and her fellow students in the long run. For that matter, what does it do to the other school which has no white kids. Then I think: I went to segregated schools my whole life and still wonder how it affected me.
Breaking Bad and Homeland--my two new tv faves. You gotta see them even though I am worried that homeland is really a cover for right wing nuts who want us all to be quite paranoid about any Muslim we see.
SPORTS TALK
Michigan finally kicked Ohio State's ass though Dennard Robinson is still very erratic. If he were a bit stronger as a passer, they would have gone undefeated. But when he is on, he is very very good.
The NBA lock out is over and I don't care. Loving the Bruins though. I really love Lucic and Seguin--kind of like Mutt and Jeff. Watch how well they hold onto the puck and then hold on some more and some more--until you think they cannot possibly hold it any longer. But they do and then make the play.
Dan Shaughnessy and Mike Felger are the two angriest sports guys I have ever in my life experienced. They really need some professional help--no joke. Plus, they are often on TV together and it is impossible to turn down the volume enough.
Mr. Brady and the boys dismantled the Eagles but it is now clear the Eagles stink (sorry Steffen). The Patriots are no worse than a 12-4 team and more likely a 13-3 team. They don't give up much on the ground. However, they are giving up tons in the air and the question in the playoffs will be can they score 30 and win and yet give up 350 yards in the air? I am looking forward to the Bronco game if only to see what they do with Mr. Religion--that would be Tebow who makes me puke and not because of his skill.
Anna bought herself a car and now can tool around southern Texas in style. She was missed in NJ but it was great to see Lilli, Oliver, and their parents. Had a very nice time with all the Weiss' and everyone got everywhere safely.
Cuba in 6 weeks.
Sayonara
Lets try again. Each major Harvard teaching hospital has its own training program. Mt. Auburn, Cambridge, MGH, Brigham and Women's,Children's, and Beth Israel/Deaconess--they each have interns, residents, and fellows. Additionally, they each have (for example) Departments of Psychiatry with a Chief Psychiatrist. This chief person by the way has a Harvard academic appointment which usually is at the full professor level. Know what all that shit costs and know where the costs end up? I don't know the exact numbers but I do know they are built into hospital rates. I also know the following--MGH and the Brigham are part of Partners. Yet both have now begun doing both face and hand transplants. Can someone please tell me why we need two hospitals (both in the same corporate structure)doing the same thing?
During my second year at BU, I lived at Myles Standish hall in Kenmore Square (former home of Willy Loman). I lived on the top (9th)floor in a room overlooking the river and Cambridge. Just gorgeous. Very often I would try to locate Harvard Square and get my righteous indignation worked up about the future masters of the universe living nearby. Prepared me very well for my thoughts on their hospitals.
No further thoughts from me about Penn State though I am surprised that another school had more of the same--Syracuse seemed to deal with it better in terms of its reaction. But really, none of us should be surprised.
Barney is retiring. He sounded kind of infantile complaining about his new district. On the other hand, he is 71 and who can deal with that DC shit for so long. I did love it when he basically told the press he could now talk even more freely and then went ahead and decimated Gingrich.
Speaking of which, Gingrich is flying high and tromping on the Mitter. I will say this--he is much more formidable that Mitt but he also has some ugly hstory that he will have to deal with. Still 11 months away though those primaries are just around the corner.
I drove back from NJ by myself this past Saturday and spent a lot of time listening to Bruce VERY LOUD. Loved it but found myself wondering what he will do without Clarence and his sax--never mind the lose of his friend. What does it do to the music?
In NJ, I experienced the following. My niece is a cheerleader and we went to her Turkey day game--her team got stomped by the way. But that was not what interested me. Tess' school is virtually 50/50 black/white. The team they played was all African American. Tess' team had no white players though 6 of 8 cheerleaders were white. On the other hand her education has been seriously and positively affected by the racial composition of her school. I really wonder what that does to her and her fellow students in the long run. For that matter, what does it do to the other school which has no white kids. Then I think: I went to segregated schools my whole life and still wonder how it affected me.
Breaking Bad and Homeland--my two new tv faves. You gotta see them even though I am worried that homeland is really a cover for right wing nuts who want us all to be quite paranoid about any Muslim we see.
SPORTS TALK
Michigan finally kicked Ohio State's ass though Dennard Robinson is still very erratic. If he were a bit stronger as a passer, they would have gone undefeated. But when he is on, he is very very good.
The NBA lock out is over and I don't care. Loving the Bruins though. I really love Lucic and Seguin--kind of like Mutt and Jeff. Watch how well they hold onto the puck and then hold on some more and some more--until you think they cannot possibly hold it any longer. But they do and then make the play.
Dan Shaughnessy and Mike Felger are the two angriest sports guys I have ever in my life experienced. They really need some professional help--no joke. Plus, they are often on TV together and it is impossible to turn down the volume enough.
Mr. Brady and the boys dismantled the Eagles but it is now clear the Eagles stink (sorry Steffen). The Patriots are no worse than a 12-4 team and more likely a 13-3 team. They don't give up much on the ground. However, they are giving up tons in the air and the question in the playoffs will be can they score 30 and win and yet give up 350 yards in the air? I am looking forward to the Bronco game if only to see what they do with Mr. Religion--that would be Tebow who makes me puke and not because of his skill.
Anna bought herself a car and now can tool around southern Texas in style. She was missed in NJ but it was great to see Lilli, Oliver, and their parents. Had a very nice time with all the Weiss' and everyone got everywhere safely.
Cuba in 6 weeks.
Sayonara
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