Alone on Thanksgiving 2020 - Not This Year - 2021!! HAWAII

November 2021,

What a difference a year makes! I made the trip back to Hawaii and visited my daughter's family for Thanksgiving. It sure beat last year's festivities (None) by a long shot - Great Time!!

We ran/walked the local Turkey Trot before having a great dinner. My son-in law has turned in to a great Turkey cook and this year he cooked up an 18 pounder.

We also went to see some Honolulu Christmas lights and,

had dinner at Tommy Bahama's.

 Celebrated J's 5 year old birthday at Hickman Beach!

November 2020,

As everyone knows the year 2020 has been one to remember or maybe to forget! The Pandemic has caused everything to be different from family gatherings to isolation and quarantines. This year I found myself alone because of various circumstances.

I was thinking back when to the last time I was alone on Thanksgiving and it was in 1972 when I had guard duty alone at a 30 mile away Ammo Dump. It was a strange day and night and I read the complete Lord of The Rings Trilogy. At night all I could hear was the coyotes. At least they weren't Orcs.

After my shift I treated myself to a Big Sam burger and chocolate Shake.

This year I will enjoy (Ha) a frozen turkey dinner and take my dog for a walk. 

1960's Subliminal Advertising versus 2020's Social Media

As an adolescence growing up in the 60s many companies used subliminal advertising to attract adolescents to cigarettes' and alcohol.

Sexual innuendos were also big. The one I remember most was the Swedish girl in the Noxzema Commercial slowly saying "Take it off, Take it all off." 

Today, Social Media Companies use algorithms and messaging to penetrate the brains of adolescents to become addicted to their web sites. Today's companies have far reaching (Billions) of customers and the outcomes are much more dangerous with the increase of suicides and addictions in our young people.

It's just not adolescents adults are affected too but the companies involved today want the younger audience so they have many years to change their thoughts and cultural thinking. This is dangerous and it needs to be stooped by strict regulation world wide. 

Start off a student with a greeting and a smile! And, What Makes a Great Teacher?

Updated August 2021,

School has already started in many school districts with the majority starting after Labor Day. I wanted to repost a few articles from the past that are so relevant now since the Covid Pandemic continues to affect our school aged children, especially the younger ones.

2015 - I work as an educational team leader for grades K-2. I chose those grade levels because it provides me the opportunity to help mold and create young students as they begin their educational journeys.  I have found how important and “simple” it is to start their day out with a smile/greeting. 

K-2 Educational Team Leader Credo

I believe it is very important to greet students with a smile and kind word first thing in the morning in the grade school cafeteria (This is where they get dropped off for school before the bell rings) as they start their school day. In many situations it might be the only greeting/smile they receive all day. Students appreciate and respond to settings where they feel welcome. Students who feel more welcome are more likely to seek out my help or others when needed (In today’s dysfunctional families this happens frequently). 

By greeting students (Added plus – learn their names) at the door, I can see and prevent potential problems. Correcting potential problems in the cafeteria before school starts may help a student enter their first class free of stress, or take out frustrated energy in the gym or even carry it all day to their home. Recognizing a potential problem and preventing it is critical to the overall success of the student, their teachers, fellow classmates and the school.

I'm very lucky to be working with some truly remarkable teachers. Their dedication and passion for what they do is outstanding. 

Note: To a “Systems Thinker” this is building/designing quality upfront in the process. It is where the potential for failure and defects are their most dangerous (If unchecked continue to grow) but they are almost always the easiest (Cheapest) way to prevent/fix problems.

Also...

Over the years I always try and observe and learn what makes a good teacher. One of the measures by which I make my conclusion is how well the class learns and just as important how well it behaves and respects all (Teacher, Students) within the room.

If I find that 95% of the students follow this conclusion I know there is a good teacher at the helm. I know when I have found a “Great” teacher when there is a substitute teacher and 90% of the students follow my conclusion because their regular teacher has instilled the pride and learning so that whoever is in the room they give their attention out of respect for their regular teacher.

Why I Still Like Girls Basketball and Girl's Softball !! - Tokyo Olympics - Chiddy!!

July 25th, 2021 - Tokyo Olympics - Chiddy!

So proud of our former star player and most valuable player in high school - Amanda Chidester, I started calling her Chiddy Chiddy Bang Bang (From the 1968 movie "Chitty" starring Dick Van Dyke) when she would drive me in to the bleachers during one of our drills (Duke Driving Drill) when going hard to the basket. More Pics of Amanda and team at bottom of the post from 2007-2008. See Side Bar.

qualityg says ...: Girls Basketball

Amanda could have played college basketball or volleyball but she went on to star for four years in women's softball at the University of Michigan. After college she has been playing for the USA National Team and coaching.

Allen Park Cabrini grad Amanda Chidester launches U.S. softball team into Olympic gold medal game – The News Herald

Softball Olympian Amanda Chidester receives hero’s welcome during visit to Allen Park – The News Herald

Amanda comes from a great family and she has always found time for her friends. She is truly and all star and Olympian in all facets or her life.  cc

Khan Academy - The Best

I am posting this link to Khan Academy because it is one of the best On-Line Learning tools available for Learners, Parents and Teachers. I have been promoting the site since it became available in 2008.

Khan Academy | Free Online Courses, Lessons & Practice

Khan Academy’s Sal Khan on the future of higher education and why it might include non-traditional methods (yahoo.com)

You can also obtain these sites through an App:

‎Khan Academy on the App Store (apple.com)

Khan Academy - Apps on Google Play

Free, fun educational app for young kids | Khan Academy Kids