News for today's 2018

The show must go on!

2:27 PM Tukiyooo 0

I went to see <a href="http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/arts/dublin-theatre-festival-review-the-talk-of-the-town-3249484.html">"The talk of the town"</a> today with my sister and  cousin.  When I went to collect the tickets from the box office it was explained that the main actress had been in an accident and had a fractured skull.  A new actress stepped in to the role but given the short notice (5 hours!) she would be reading the script.   <div> </div><div>The play its self was very good but unfortunately the reading of the script was highly distracting and somewhat amateurish.  At the end of the hour and 45 minute show the look of relief on all of the actors faces was palpable when they realised that they had got through the show (particularly the actress who played Maeve Brennan). This was the last day of the run so there was only one evening performance left.  I have never heard of this being done before and I wonder why there was no understudy.  Quite strange!</div><div> </div><div>Afterwards we enjoyed a cocktail in the Mint Bar in the Westin Hotel - my twin sister and I swear by their cocktails, we think they are the best in Dublin! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRP490GjOIjUHJ9Df3KcpMIH_li9rRfT3QlYxU6rBuO-IGOL-4MIS0gCuFhdpx8du_omcaYym8T3Bi8b0WezU41bsO6tnakeCS7q2j0Xp5tMk8UvGpe4ig-bjpwWUPnGtCR4jbd7gdcgx/s1600/IMG_2233%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRP490GjOIjUHJ9Df3KcpMIH_li9rRfT3QlYxU6rBuO-IGOL-4MIS0gCuFhdpx8du_omcaYym8T3Bi8b0WezU41bsO6tnakeCS7q2j0Xp5tMk8UvGpe4ig-bjpwWUPnGtCR4jbd7gdcgx/s320/IMG_2233%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>                          Here I am enjoying a caipiroska - Cheers! BTW, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.443350055701336.88409.122333021136376&type=1">here</a> are lots of picture of the house, if you are interested! </div>

The show must go on!

I went to see "The talk of the town" today with my sister and cousin. When I went to collect the tickets from the box office it...

The SodaBIB Project

6:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://www.sodabib.org/">The SodaBIB Project</a> is "a prototype project to reuse plastic water bottles to form a thatch roof -- to help people to create shelter from discarded materials." The design of SodaBIB (Soda-Bottle Interface Bracket), developed by professors and students at New York Institute of Technology (<a href="http://iris.nyit.edu/architecture/">NYIT</a>), consists of a custom shipping pallet that breaks down to serve as an armature for mounting empty water bottles. Therefore water bottles can be shipped to people and places in need, and then everything can be reused for shelter. <img alt="sodabib.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/sodabib.jpg" title="The SodaBIB Project" /> The NYIT folks have already created a 5-foot-square prototype, but now they're aiming to build a barrel-vaulted mock-up on the Old Westbury campus. As is becoming the norm, Kickstarter is being used to help <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jasonvannest/the-sodabib-project">fund the project</a>. A short video on the project is below, but much more information on SodaBIB can be found on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.kickstarter.com/projects/jasonvannest/the-sodabib-project">its Kickstarter page</a>. <iframe frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jasonvannest/the-sodabib-project/widget/video.html" width="640"> </iframe>

The SodaBIB Project

The SodaBIB Project is "a prototype project to reuse plastic water bottles to form a thatch roof -- to help people to create shelter f...

Chobani's Golden Deliciousness

4:27 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF1FTAnWvkJu4xRXjbPHycl-DwosvBCh6yKpCsag4425uOjO0PbuOIZtzpdXP4VrOqpYAC6BbhPRKv2U1ZOH61U8EOKtib577bEZpfEe05F1MniPZo4DjvDF4UMahP9nwX6-TXEqEdBE/s1600/pineapple+chobani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF1FTAnWvkJu4xRXjbPHycl-DwosvBCh6yKpCsag4425uOjO0PbuOIZtzpdXP4VrOqpYAC6BbhPRKv2U1ZOH61U8EOKtib577bEZpfEe05F1MniPZo4DjvDF4UMahP9nwX6-TXEqEdBE/s320/pineapple+chobani.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> My favorite fruit is Pineapple,so I figured I would give Chobani's Greek Pineapple yogurt a try. I am so glad that I did! From the first bite I fell in love with it. Ever since then I buy it all of the time! It's not too sweet, not watery and runny, thick,creamy, chunks on pineapple throughout the yogurt and it's not high in fat! It's high in protein for a quick snack after a workout and only 2.5 grams of fat, not bad at all for a healthy and affordable yogurt! I give them an A+! <a href="http://www.chobani.com"></a>

Chobani's Golden Deliciousness

My favorite fruit is Pineapple,so I figured I would give Chobani's Greek Pineapple yogurt a try. I am so glad that I did! From the firs...

Matt Said, Jay Said: _VMCMLXIX

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Matt blathers, Jay blathers, You listen intently. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3nsccdq5EAlE0DBIw6oLqnQuo-dBq3ZlFv38L0On1Od8QJa-YuCM0Sy08g91hlAVE8VnapAK-AsHuIfNYcl52VXe3_6RxT5Ema9tWl7oDi3_D3uoNr1MFvGsrIcLcniX9MvL2v6xyHk/s1600/Branson-Missouri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3nsccdq5EAlE0DBIw6oLqnQuo-dBq3ZlFv38L0On1Od8QJa-YuCM0Sy08g91hlAVE8VnapAK-AsHuIfNYcl52VXe3_6RxT5Ema9tWl7oDi3_D3uoNr1MFvGsrIcLcniX9MvL2v6xyHk/s320/Branson-Missouri.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Matt: Good evening how may I direct your call? Jay: May I speak to the decision maker of the house? Matt: Oh that would be me. Totally. Jay: Great! I’m calling on behalf of Branson Weekends. Matt: I love Branson Missouri! Jay: Well, we would like to offer you a great deal on a weekend there! Matt: Do we get to look at timeshare condos? Jay: Absolutely! Matt: Cooooooooool! Jay: And, you’ll get to stay in a lovely suite overlooking Lake Taneycomo. Matt: Lake Perry Como? Jay: No, TANEY-como. Matt: Is Perry Como performing there? Or is he dead? Or was that Andy Williams. Jay: Well, they’re both dead, but Clink Black is headlining the Andy Williams Theater. Matt: Eh. We were hoping for Pam Tillis, so no thanks. Jay: Okie Dokie. Jay: Have you seen how many listens we got for the <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2012/10/14/man-crush-show" target="_blank">Man Crush</a> show? Matt: It’s actually a little scary. Jay: Who are these people? Matt: Shut-ins, I suppose. Jay: Sad, lonely people. Matt: They just “get” us. Jay: We speak to them. Matt: They know we’re one of them. Jay: People who masturbate then cry themselves to sleep at night. Matt: Boy do we know how that is. Jay: Totally. Matt: *typing* Jay: Who are you communicating with? Matt: My brother. Jay: What’s he doing? Matt: Riding around in a golf cart. Jay: Why? Matt: Because he can’t find a caddie? Hey-OOOOO Jay: I walked right into that one. Matt: I’m way too quick for you. Jay: Obviously. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrIeO4KIwNR0EmX1Ap0FlqHOzQmRi3DcxHKUkgTNgWlPne_cZvBUfuDB9Rtx4V0LlArVzbUrqW9J5dYcTTEkyzQ3-eqmOOjTWwoA36vqptoF8OqyiNcikeyc6_lKTdFyf14s-7EJqUmw/s1600/sexy-graduate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrIeO4KIwNR0EmX1Ap0FlqHOzQmRi3DcxHKUkgTNgWlPne_cZvBUfuDB9Rtx4V0LlArVzbUrqW9J5dYcTTEkyzQ3-eqmOOjTWwoA36vqptoF8OqyiNcikeyc6_lKTdFyf14s-7EJqUmw/s320/sexy-graduate.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>Jay: Got any ideas for Sunday? Matt: Many! Jay: Do you want to share them? Matt: You promise not to tell anyone? Jay: Of course! Matt: Well, Ryno turns 18 next week. Jay: That’s exciting. Matt: So I thought we could talk about when WE were 18? Jay: I like it! Matt: I’m sure we both have plenty of stories. Jay: Absolutely. And that’s when we both had hope for our futures. Matt: Exactly! We were graduating high school and heading to college. Jay: Lots of great experiences. Matt: It’ll be HUGE! Jay: Another MONSTER show coming up! Matt: I can’t wait! Jay: Me either! Alright, there you go. A little insight into how a couple of brilliant guys put together the NUMBER ONE comedy show on BTR! Tune in Sunday at 12 Noon ET for “<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2012/10/21/when-we-were-18" target="_blank">When We Were 18</a>.” And then call in with your great memories. </div>

Matt Said, Jay Said: _VMCMLXIX

Matt blathers, Jay blathers, You listen intently. Matt: Good evening how may I direct your call? Jay: May I speak to the decision maker of...

Today's archidose #628

5:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

Today I snapped some photos of the <a href="http://www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org/">FDR Four Freedoms Park</a> on Roosevelt Island during its <a href="http://cfa.aiany.org/index.php?section=calendar&evtid=4867">Archtober Open House</a>. The park, designed by Louis I. Kahn and completed four decades after his death by <a href="http://www.mitchellgiurgola.com/">Mitchell/Giurgola Architects</a>, opens to the public on October 24. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103998134/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8103998134_83f23b394a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103981903/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8103981903_b05563e06f_c.jpg" width="600" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103982461/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8336/8103982461_c4966dd2c6_c.jpg" width="600" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103995934/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8103995934_f0a007eaf5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103981129/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8103981129_e94acd8770_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103995110/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8333/8103995110_0e183aeb3d_c.jpg" width="551" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103980219/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8103980219_b145b08c3c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103979175/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8103979175_dc1c9fc4c0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103994260/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8103994260_37bb28c592_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103993140/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8103993140_13f2b15a48_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103977213/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8193/8103977213_c429370803_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103992730/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8195/8103992730_f7903f46bd_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103992276/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8103992276_daba818705_c.jpg" width="600" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103992028/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8190/8103992028_1ffb90819a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103976647/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8103976647_568b341e48_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8103990860/" title="FDR Four Freedoms Park by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="FDR Four Freedoms Park" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8103990860_b8a2626b93_c.jpg" width="600" /></a> To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just: <blockquote>:: Join and add photos to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/archi-dose/">archidose pool</a>, and/or :: Tag your photos <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/archidose/">archidose</a></blockquote>

Today's archidose #628

Today I snapped some photos of the FDR Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island during its Archtober Open House . The park, designed by Louis...

Software Engineer (C++, .Net, Object Oriented, UML, Mathematical Modeling/Analytical) (#108747)

4:07 PM Anonymous 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="LTR">Position:  Software Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Full time Job Description: The Wafer Inspection Division (WIN) of KLA-Tencor designs and manufactures systems that are used for capturing yield-impacting defects at the front-end-of-line (FEOL) and the back-end-of-line (BEOL). A successful candidate will be joining a world leader in wafer inspection products and technologies designing and manufacturing the next generation of products. The Wafer Inspection Division (WIN) is seeking a Software Engineer in our Milpitas, California campus. Responsibilities: 1) You will be a key member of our global, highly integrated multi-disciplinary team of engineers responsible for maintaining and evolving a software subsystem designed to provide real-time data analysis capability to inspection tools and data analysis applications. 2) You will work with marketing and applications to innovate competitive software analysis solutions designed to address specific customer needs. 3) You will have responsibility for all aspects of software design from requirement analysis to optimization and characterization to field deployment and support. 4) You will also be responsible for integrating multiple software sub-systems to solve some the most advanced technical challenges facing the semiconductor chip industry. Preferred Qualifications: a) Must have programming experience in one of the following languages: C++, COM or .NET b) Experience with mathematical modeling and strong knowledge of statistics desired. c) Must have demonstrated experience with creative problem solving. d) Semiconductor equipment industry experience and/or Image/data processing experience a plus. e) Knowledge of large scale storage technologies a plus. f) Experience with Object-Oriented software analysis and design using UML (Unified Modeling Language) modeling. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 3 years of experience. OR Master's Level Degree with at least 2 years of experience. OR Doctorate (Academic). Kindly send your resumes to <a href="mailto:sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com">sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</a></div></div>

Software Engineer (C++, .Net, Object Oriented, UML, Mathematical Modeling/Analytical) (#108747)

Position : Software Engineer Location : Milpitas, CA Duration : Full time Job Description : The Wafer Inspection Division (WIN) of ...

Out and about in Dublin City

3:14 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We took a few days off work this week to celebrate Ciaran's birthday (it was a big one but I won't say what age he is!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thursday was a lovely day.  We cycled to the Fumbally Cafe for breakfast - really delicious scrambled eggs on homemade bread topped with fresh tomatoes.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We stopped off on the way to the cafe to look at St. Patrick's Cathedral which is nearby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9amrsznNEV4MXak1WXNZpcNE1XfMojeKqxXjuj2XnEZRbOOylBQAr9JxXukj8DgMLlUh7YnKU60XMcqQtQQoR_gDhRru6usAhfQl1CX22Y8ENrfhXdmoZQEVs-sR0jY_r-6UQaX96syP/s1600/IMG_2218%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9amrsznNEV4MXak1WXNZpcNE1XfMojeKqxXjuj2XnEZRbOOylBQAr9JxXukj8DgMLlUh7YnKU60XMcqQtQQoR_gDhRru6usAhfQl1CX22Y8ENrfhXdmoZQEVs-sR0jY_r-6UQaX96syP/s320/IMG_2218%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div> As we were cycling along the canal I saw these ballerinas.  They were there for a photo call and there was a group of photographers on the other side of the canal waiting to take their picture. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOfVPnXZmWe8HhmjzF9enHTvBs1pLFEQTGlw5V8RZUh-hj-DiFc6u7yNN3M3JC4AWuGaY9u4Y2lNK_nRhd8D0Vy_0nxm44hBizPhCInM-J7zur0IKdpj0v2BfWBNMAe4dkGreQLD4pTSL/s1600/IMG_2217%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOfVPnXZmWe8HhmjzF9enHTvBs1pLFEQTGlw5V8RZUh-hj-DiFc6u7yNN3M3JC4AWuGaY9u4Y2lNK_nRhd8D0Vy_0nxm44hBizPhCInM-J7zur0IKdpj0v2BfWBNMAe4dkGreQLD4pTSL/s320/IMG_2217%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After breakfast we walked along Francis Street and called in to some antique shops.  Our house is from the Victorian era but this is not a style of furniture that we would like to own. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Among all of the antique stores we found a shop that sold mid-century modern furniture, it was <a href="http://www.michaelmortell.ie/">XXc Antiques</a>. We both loved this <a href="http://www.designaddict.com/design_radar/index.cfm/Willy_Rizzo">Willy Rizzo</a> designed table from the 1960's.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the centre of the table is a cut out tray for setting up liquor bottles when having a party.  Very cool!! </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZqOpRHapU4HAeVBkdjYU-76YKuROSYY6FLH3eJ5DrKO4aMjEIOXIdihxuRfjtrmfsiiX9qduXg2jb73seXZ3MgJ4Vf5PfOkbHcTd2G56ErgdNH-BhiMMmKGGCyfzndkOqod-JREyjBNy/s1600/IMG_2220%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZqOpRHapU4HAeVBkdjYU-76YKuROSYY6FLH3eJ5DrKO4aMjEIOXIdihxuRfjtrmfsiiX9qduXg2jb73seXZ3MgJ4Vf5PfOkbHcTd2G56ErgdNH-BhiMMmKGGCyfzndkOqod-JREyjBNy/s320/IMG_2220%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We continued up to Thomas Street where Ciaran needed to call to an art supply shop.  We also found the "Ferocious Mingle Market" which was a bizarre type of bazaar market.  It was a long market with lots of little cafes and stalls.  In the middle was a large screen showing a film with cinema seats.  All very strange.  At night time it then turns into a live music venue.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaT8eKz4eEfC4e9zZJ54TDEYy1vcRiqrEilnJ_jg4f58orekeh5fBRBzIoROliQbNaJm-GL-uNfinKF0O5ZdAGxYU1nEcQ1ylFjHVTFFtru0Fda63yfOawX30Pt2Y8sRlhS7A89tk3toFQ/s1600/IMG_2223%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaT8eKz4eEfC4e9zZJ54TDEYy1vcRiqrEilnJ_jg4f58orekeh5fBRBzIoROliQbNaJm-GL-uNfinKF0O5ZdAGxYU1nEcQ1ylFjHVTFFtru0Fda63yfOawX30Pt2Y8sRlhS7A89tk3toFQ/s320/IMG_2223%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we got Bones home after a long day he collapsed on the couch!  It was a busy day for a little pup.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwsNH_CT8foGyhPZv8ZPhbB931Nu8FnWTtTjRZXSGMDk3ofSkvEONI0tomjZbgZyVwW1zQO1OoL5gyFt6M6nd7TkjPgIFfq-kLB1d_oo3WUAQYD7-BhydBoWPYotVVl4JKAy5kzSsMhCj/s1600/IMG_2215%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwsNH_CT8foGyhPZv8ZPhbB931Nu8FnWTtTjRZXSGMDk3ofSkvEONI0tomjZbgZyVwW1zQO1OoL5gyFt6M6nd7TkjPgIFfq-kLB1d_oo3WUAQYD7-BhydBoWPYotVVl4JKAy5kzSsMhCj/s320/IMG_2215%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div> Today we had breakfast in Door 51 and then visited the <a href="http://www.esb.ie/main/about-esb/numbertwentynine/virtual_tour/hall.htm">Georgian House Museum</a> at Number 29 Fitzwilliam Street.  We had visited this house a few years ago and it was well worth viewing again.  If you are in Dublin, Ireland I recommend you visit this museum!

Out and about in Dublin City

We took a few days off work this week to celebrate Ciaran's birthday (it was a big one but I won't say what age he is!) Thursday was...

Free Purex Coupons up for Grabs!

1:39 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Winner's have already been selected!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFe77JA3xWptOyQi6TVPsGE0lfH8SPlH-q1EY5BdS7tl7xKx0niAciwDfZluQ9YUmcIjWctOoyun3spzc1IHAb54-4NXtZCESOQZFHnGY4L75UN7drbmJEBUzcY2D0PVTUZp1luLT9E8/s1600/purex+oxi+detergent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFe77JA3xWptOyQi6TVPsGE0lfH8SPlH-q1EY5BdS7tl7xKx0niAciwDfZluQ9YUmcIjWctOoyun3spzc1IHAb54-4NXtZCESOQZFHnGY4L75UN7drbmJEBUzcY2D0PVTUZp1luLT9E8/s320/purex+oxi+detergent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have to admit I've used many detergents in my life but never found one that I loved until now! I'm a Purex Insider and was selected to test this great detergent! I love using new Purex Oxi Clean Detergent. This is a great product because the laundry has never been fresher,cleaner or whiter than before! Fight tough stains with Purex Oxi today! Best thing is you can because I will be giving away a coupon for a free bottle by simply posting my name of the blog, and a short message saying Kelli Bliss sent me for a chance to win a bottle of free Purex Oxi!

Free Purex Coupons up for Grabs!

The Winner's have already been selected! I have to admit I've used many detergents in my life but never found one that I loved until...

BIC Mark-It Permanent Markers

11:07 AM Tukiyooo 0

BIC Mark-It Permanent Markers

BIC Mark-It Permanent Markers : Thx 4 the free #bicmarkit permanent markers. Enter the 36 Days of Color Sweepstakes http://bit.ly/UTtHSs NoP...

Are Doctors Too Wary of Drug Companies? - NYTimes.com

5:22 AM Tukiyooo 0

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><div id="well" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div align="left"><div class="entry-content"><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">Not long ago, I asked a colleague for advice on a patient. He offered up a couple of treatment options, then stopped to show me a <a href="http://www.lexi.com/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">new medical app</a> on his electronic tablet. With a few swipes of his finger, he summoned a compilation of research articles, synopses and even entire textbooks that, printed and bound, would have filled shelves in a library.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">"But do you know what the best part is?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye. I thought of the exhaustive reference material and the seemingly endless scroll of diagnoses that were all so easy to access on the small screen balanced on his knees.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">"The best part is that none of this is sponsored by Pharma!" he said with a broad smile. "There's no bias."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">My colleague is not the only doctor who feels that way, according to a <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1202397" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine</a>.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">For years, most doctors have had a predictable, if not close, <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa064508" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">relationship with the pharmaceutical industry.</a> Companies handed out office tchotchkes, paid for staff lunches and distributed drug samples for patients. More significantly, drug companies were important sources of biomedical research money, particularly <a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=185198" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">during periods when federal support wavered</a>. It was understood that the companies providing funding would <a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=182478" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">leave the researchers alone</a> to design and conduct the study, analyze the data and write up the results.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">That understanding began to fray about a decade ago when doctors, and patients, began to realize that drug companies were <a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=182478" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">becoming too involved with the research</a> they were supporting. For example, one major pharmaceutical firm manipulated data and underestimated the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths in a large study of a drug for arthritis. The drug was eventually withdrawn from the market, but not before <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp048286" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">80 million patients had used it, with annual sales topping $2.5 billion</a>.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">The case highlighted the dangers of industry sponsorship of research into new drugs, and the public became eager to expose any potential conflict of interest, particularly for doctors. Within a few years, a new standard of transparency in medicine emerged. Brightly labeled drug company pens became an embarrassment; lunches on the drug company tab and sponsored conferences turned suspect; and editors at numerous medical journals <a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=185138" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">published lengthy screeds detailing their disclosure requirements</a>.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">The new skepticism and transparency were no doubt good for patients and doctors, but this recent study reveals that in our zeal to single out the pharmaceutical industry's biases, we may have become blind to our own.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">The researchers created several hypothetical drug studies, then asked a group of practicing physicians to rate the "studies" and the likelihood they would prescribe the new "drug." The researchers purposefully varied the quality of the studies and the disclosures - some of the made-up studies disclosed that they had received pharmaceutical company funding, others said they'd received support from the National Institutes of Health, and the rest listed no funding disclosures at all.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">Most of the doctors were able to assess the quality of the research pretty accurately. After reading the less rigorous studies, the ones that weren't designed, conducted or analyzed well, the doctors were hesitant to prescribe the new drugs under study; seeing the more rigorous studies, they were more willing to do so.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">But the researchers also found that the doctors were also unduly swayed by any mention of industry funding. Regardless of the quality, if a study was supported by a pharmaceutical company, doctors were less willing to consider prescribing the studied drug and less likely to assess the quality of the research with accuracy.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">"Some amount of skepticism is warranted," said Dr. Aaron S. Kesselheim, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of medicine in the division of pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "But ultimately it should be the quality of the study and the impact of the results that determine your confidence about using a new drug, not who was funding it."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">Being overly skeptical has serious implications for patient care. The pharmaceutical industry, along with medical device and biotechnology firms, <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1202397" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">continues to finance a majority of current research</a>. In 2007, for example, <a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=185198" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">industry was responsible for nearly 60 percent</a> of the more than $100 billion spent on research. Much industry-supported research focuses on the side effects of new drugs. By writing off such research, doctors risk overlooking findings that may have important treatment implications for their patients, like a new cholesterol-lowering drug that is found to have less of an effect on energy and blood sugar levels than other similar medications.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">Dr. Kesselheim and his collaborators believe what is needed in biomedical research is even greater transparency. Such openness would include more independent third-party statistical reviews to ensure that data is not being manipulated or misleading and wider use of public Web sites like <a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">ClinicalTrials.gov</a>, regardless of the source of funding.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; "><a href="http://ClinicalTrials.gov">ClinicalTrials.gov</a> lists study details like objectives, design and data gathered, providing doctors and patients alike with a way to confirm that no data is being selectively reported or distorted. But participation on the site is voluntary, and pharmaceutical, medical device and biomedical companies are often hesitant to share what they consider proprietary data, choosing instead to list only selective details, or no information at all.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">Until full transparency is achieved and such details are available to all on the Web or for independent statistical reviews, Dr. Kesselheim and his collaborators suggest that both doctors and patients remain alert to potential biases - Big Pharma's, and also their own.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; ">"Excessive skepticism," Dr. Kesselheim observed, "is as much a bad thing as naïveté."</div></div></div></div></div><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/are-doctors-too-wary-of-drug-companies/?pagewanted=print">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/are-doctors-too-wary-of-drug-companies/?pagewanted=print</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "> </div>

Are Doctors Too Wary of Drug Companies? - NYTimes.com

Not long ago, I asked a colleague for advice on a patient. He offered up a couple of treatment options, then stopped to show me a new medic...

Celebration Time is Over.

9:32 PM Tukiyooo 0

So here we are again. Back to another World Series, six years after we experienced an eerily similar situation. Survived an ALDS, swept the ALCS...and a little under one week before the first World Series game. I remember having a week of glee, of giddiness. The Tigers are going to the World Series! Just the fact that they were going was enough to make the city of Detroit beside itself with joy. The team had just endured over a decade of bottom-of-the-barrel failures, including the infamous 2003 season that saw them nearly break the record for most losses in a season. So the fact that 2006 brought so much joy in the first two postseason series was enough to lift the spirits of the city (and the fans all over) for another few years. The Tigers were finally relevant again. Comerica Park wasn't a sellout for just Opening Day anymore. The summer once again revolved around the Tigers. I printed out the Tigers' season schedule so I could keep track of where they were (and what time they were playing). Going downtown for a game was an event. But do you really remember the 2006 World Series? I sure don't. I remember watching the first game and feeling down, then watching the second game and still feeling down because Kenny Rodgers got caught with pine tar on his hand (even though the Tigers won that game). I don't even think I tuned in for the final three games at all. I simply heard the Cardinals won, sighed, and went on with life. All this postseason, I have been determined NOT to be content with just going to the World Series. Whenever I think about it, I just utter one phrase: I want to win the World Series! What the Tigers did in the past week has been nothing short of amazing. No one really gave the Tigers too much of a chance against the Yankees, fresh off the best regular season record in the American League, an Eastern Division championship, and a solid drubbing of the Baltimore Orioles in game 5 of the ALDS. Plus, they opened the ALCS in New York, while Detroit had to take two flights in two days: one from Oakland to Detroit, and another from Detroit to New York. But that was just the ALCS. What we need to figure out is that there is more. The team celebrated with the fans, and gave all the credit to all the right people, and said all the right things. But there's still more to come! The Tigers have only become the champion of one league. I think the team has realized that there is more to strive for. Jim Leyland said as much in his postgame interview with Matt Weiner of TBS. He mentioned that they wouldn't be sitting on their butts like they had to last time they had a week-long break between series. Justin Verlander was talking about Game 1 of the World Series...after Game 3 of the ALCS. Veterans of the 2006 squad - which I just realized are few - will tell teammates that the ALCS is great and all, but it can be better. Compare this ALCS to a Red-Wings/Avalanche series in that rivalry's heyday (between 1995 and 2005). The two teams couldn't meet in the Stanley Cup Final - the highest playoff series where they could compete against each other was the Western Conference Finals. But the Red Wings knew full well that the momentum had to keep going after the exhausting, yet exhilarating defeat of Colorado. There was more to play for. The Tigers need to remind the fans of that. I want to win the World Series! Getting to a World Series is a huge accomplishment. There are so many teams in Major League Baseball that haven't sniffed a World Series in 20, 30, 40, maybe even 50 years (or more!) - which are long periods of time in fan years. The Tigers have done it for the second time in six years. Wouldn't it just be fair to celebrate the accomplishment, even if they lose? NO! NONONO!! Getting there isn't acceptable anymore. This team has had a solid core for quite a few years. Who's the ace? Justin Verlander. Who's the slugger? Miguel Cabrera. Who have climbed the ranks to be valuable assets? Alex Avila and Austin Jackson. More than that, much of the front office and managerial staff has stuck around, aside from some minor shakeups. In a few more years, some of those players and coaches might be gone. The Tigers may have to start from scratch - have a few subpar years - the fans might waver and even leave. The time to strike is now. Solid pitching has held up the Tigers - solid pitching that not many teams have. Take advantage of the amazing talent on this team and WIN. I want to win the World Series! The St. Louis Cardinals are up 3-1 in their series, with Game 5 in St. Louis. Our opponent in 2006 was St. Louis. (We lost.) Our opponent in the 1968 World Series was St. Louis. (We won.) Our opponent in 1935 was St. Louis! (We lost.) If there was ever a National League team who had a lot of history against an American League team (and didn't share a city), it might be St. Louis and Detroit. It is a classic series, and it might happen again. St. Louis played Detroit in interleague play in June (I should know - I was there.) Detroit fans know what St. Louis has done to us in the past, and they don't like it. Detroit has less experience with San Francisco, but the mere fact that we'd have to do one or two more West Coast trips is fear enough. But their lineup and pitching is also something to fear. Whoever is on the mound in Game 1, Detroit has time to prepare. The Tigers can watch film, stay conditioned, maybe throw some virtual games to keep the arm in shape in order to be ready. We as fans need to get ready too. Don't spend too much time celebrating this pennant win. Feel free to celebrate the season in two weeks. But right now the "three million Detroit fans" have to get mentally prepared for a World Series that has the potential of having a lot of low-scoring games with role players getting a chance to shine. We can't be hungover come October 27. They need us to come out with intensity - towels waving, cheering reaching unsafe decibels, and encouraging our boys to the win. If we choose to sit in our chairs with our hands under our butts, the team will reflect the discouragement or frustration. We don't want to act like New Yorkers now, do we? We have gotten commendations today for being great fans. The Tigers organization has been commended today for its family atmosphere and positive attitudes - something the media must have noticed due to the contrasting atmosphere of the opposing team's locker room. Keep it going. I want to win the World Series! The season is far from over. The Tigers are getting ready for their toughest series yet. Don't buy the American League Championship shirts and hats. Delete the Game 4 clincher from your DVRs. It's time to focus. Watch the final game(s) of the NLCS, do your research, and get ready to cheer hard for your Detroit Tigers. The will to win is vital. I want to win the World Series! Just keep saying that to yourself. Beating the Yankees in the ALCS is great, but for a fan born after 1984, I need to see for myself that a World Series celebration is the biggest and best celebration of all. Now let's say it together: I want to win the World Series!!

Celebration Time is Over.

So here we are again. Back to another World Series, six years after we experienced an eerily similar situation. Survived an ALDS, swept the ...

Liberals

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div>You can’t make this up folks…I was going to half-heartedly type about one thing, and then BAM…something else happened. I was Facebooked. Yeah, I just invented that word, so? And by Facebooked, I mean that someone other than a friend posted something to my timeline, which was this… <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wPyICZYcHoC2PXgib8P4CSbCTqPxRKBEGxr6gzs9dLNYgP8f_cVjLORO-pWYN3bYSUV4fR_DDx9duPx6FWU4qrBpkfmZLwe9Vo1AARlkmVhE826b9dHukTmKh_qdsFnzQrgCaEaqGgQ/s1600/Obama+World+Will+End.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wPyICZYcHoC2PXgib8P4CSbCTqPxRKBEGxr6gzs9dLNYgP8f_cVjLORO-pWYN3bYSUV4fR_DDx9duPx6FWU4qrBpkfmZLwe9Vo1AARlkmVhE826b9dHukTmKh_qdsFnzQrgCaEaqGgQ/s320/Obama+World+Will+End.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>Anyhoo… I was Facebooked last night by one <a href="http://www.facebook.com/jastewart65?fref=ts" target="_blank">Jim Stewart</a>. Oh the horror. He thought it was funny, and expected me to retort by laughing and saying, “Ha.” Well, as for those of you who know me, I don’t play that way. I have to engage whether the perpetrator be a friend, a moron, or a dickhead. And well, since he met the latter two of those three criteria, I had to respond. And the funny thing is, it’s not because I am a big fan of President Obama. Which my friends, drives him and his ilk, crazy, because, as they say… “If you’re not for the Republican, you’re for the Democrat Muslim guy.” Because I am more than left of center and make no bones about it, I am labeled a, “Liberal.” What those who label me a “Liberal” don’t understand, is that I while I love peace and harmony in the world, I am a military nut, and want this country to have the biggest and baddest armed forces in the world. I also love Natural Gas. This country is the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. I just want to make sure fracking to get said gas doesn’t destroy water supplies and farm fields. If it doesn’t? Frack Away America!! Frack Away!! You know what else I like? Lower taxes. Who doesn’t like lower taxes, however… Why can’t the government lower the rate on those making less than a million, and yes, I said a million in order to compensate for high cost areas, and raise it a few percentage points on guys like President Obama and Willard Romney? It’s not going to hurt those folks, and it would certainly help us…well you guys anyway…for me personally, I am wealthy and need not a tax break, because I am independently rich and AWESOME!! Can I get a shout out from the choir!!? Sorry, I digressed. Anyhoo… Abortion. Yes, as a “Liberal”, I sit around all day thinking about new and exciting ways to kill babies. Well, that is what some on the right think. I am actually anti-abortion, however… If a chick gets pregnant, and cannot or will not support the zygote, or was otherwise raped, pillaged, and/or deforested by an overpowering old, gray, white guy, no overpowering, old, gray, white guy should tell her that she must have his baby…er…her baby. See how the Libertarian in me is coming out!? There’s plenty of other things that make me a Liberaltarian as well… Oh your coffee was too hot and you want to sue? Denied!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQAFezi5mwsdzi_uc44ZWt7rx8bolOqW0w7U7eXc24uar_dJzKikdAtuN-3GwuLv8BUIKEDv1OxxZ0t5l7Qpt0VdWYbrjctgiYuGtOC6uhV73gqI-iF9DIBJcOORCbPFuJuO4EIazf3M/s1600/Matt+Rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQAFezi5mwsdzi_uc44ZWt7rx8bolOqW0w7U7eXc24uar_dJzKikdAtuN-3GwuLv8BUIKEDv1OxxZ0t5l7Qpt0VdWYbrjctgiYuGtOC6uhV73gqI-iF9DIBJcOORCbPFuJuO4EIazf3M/s320/Matt+Rain.jpg" width="320" /></a>You fell off your bike and crushed your skull due to no helmet? Tough Luck!! You smoked all these years and didn’t know it could give you cancer? Are you new!? Why didn’t my son get a trophy? Because your son sucks and throws like a girl!! See? I want everyone taken care of. I want reproductive rights protected. I want the uber-rich to pay a little more, but… On the same hand, I want folks to stand up for themselves. I want them to quit being pussies. I want them to say, “I’m gonna grow up and take life by the horns, and at least try to live the American dream.” And if they fail, I want us as a country to be there to pick up the pieces, and if that is what being a Liberal is? So be it. Cheers!! Matt-Man <a href="mailto:mattman@ymail.com">mattman@ymail.com</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank">@MattMan_IWS</a></div>

Liberals

You can’t make this up folks…I was going to half-heartedly type about one thing, and then BAM…something else happened. I was Facebooked. Ye...

What a privilege to attend IT Design Week report back to parents at Micklefield Primary

4:46 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iSqMCGeJ4-cAiluj_4eopCrKY18ZbAshVXqAjDN_0rSnpoDGZGA-YF8_89371DKMK36wJ6ypZdpMLt8CmotjztqFC26K96_InkYfo67LYI1s_oHAknxWzLzAOJxT_uMgKzpXvnbyxEg/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSyhJ6S-NP1deTznpKMCgR6fTMXyFregKQHIAMy9rlhW-gA9RHwXHNvbffWxDuMETqYjjsFhBPDgICZSUriOEFsrsvouHapuBuBFQ8g0oXVlzBKCAC0d6GXDyQwMe6vce1gPLYZln9nw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div> Submitted by Fiona Beal SchoolNet has been offering to its premium members short free online courses in various web applications relevant to teachers since November last year, and every now and then one has the very pleasant opportunity of meeting some of the participants face to face. This happened to me at the Apple Leadership Tour Day last term when I met three such educators from Mickelfield Primary - namely, two teachers who have done quite a few of the courses and their principal Jeanette Welgemoed (who did the Google Docs course). I was absolutely delighted when they told me of the next technology function that was happening at their school and invited me to attend! Micklefield Primary is a small, beautiful girls' primary school situated right in the heart of Rondebosch in Cape Town. I was soon to discover that this is no ordinary school but rather one that is ALIVE with ideas and possibilities – and a school that is making great strides in showing a focus on technology integration.  <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxeY6rq_1bNdm55FK7MrzpVI9Tua_kux9qGwAXgA6ICrRLDecjpyGjbNxW3kNTYNYhJ039KKGkfs6gksfFxS9SPbvPRWdXm6Gt-G4dsESYp3Fv_ikIDMHnRTkGaMiQ_-kfp7xf0D54IA/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjH6rHW42lhgtgVnrMl4JJ3jez9YF0ubnNcxt5SvkpDy3Wd8IB1TNYVaZn9xcP-7BWbBRpNcyRUzkqV8JZ2nuKLdd70shizjwOyimhdkWQb2-iteWJHJfTV7ENkhPN3DiaHjWvC_O3Fs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="483" /></a></div> The Invitation The invite was to their Design Week report back to the parents. This was the culmination of doing many exciting things involving technology. In fact, two days before the event Judi Francisco, their very go-ahead and absolutely dynamic ICT integrator wrote and said: “Today we had movies being finished, a Twitter lesson for literature, filming of 5 year olds learning poetry, Grade 4s showing their themed movies, Grade 5s making vokis, Grade 2’s creating quizzes for their parents in Obami, Grade 1’s designing the front covers for their CDs of their stories and me making a movies of our webcam interviews with Grade 1 about their creative writing stories! Busy day…just 2 more to go….”   Can you wonder that I was very excited to be attending such a report back to the parents.  The teachers on the online courses What I loved about having the Micklefield teachers on the various online courses is the way they regularly shared how they were putting into practice what they had learned on the courses in their lessons. The principal is very keen to promote technology and that is where it starts really...at the top!  In a newsletter to the parents she said, “The girls are the technology leaders of the future and we should be helping to prepare them for that and the skills that they will need in the market place.”  So now to show the amazing stuff they did culminating in the Design Week report back.   Preprimary Ipads During IT Design week, the Pre Primary Girls invited their Moms and Dads to bring along iPads and iPhones etc for learning and sharing sessions! I wonder who taught who! These were some of the apps they used: Mouth Off, Kaleidoscope, Swampy’s Where’s my Water, Angry Birds, Lego App4+, Drawing Carl, Paper Toss 2, Fruit Ninja, Barbie Fashionistas, Tap-a-lot, Wet Paint, Fashion Dress Up, Temple Run, Barbie “I can be”, TP-Shapes, ABC…Touch, Curious George at the zoo. What fun! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQeqbEdxguf1qvS13C10q1M9_PAE6xs19bkKof4SeBUFj_4cB0fDIvuvfSXAmic9JlX5_cxn3zREIBAIu228I-6hcpnD1KM-6opq015zCIcocqJJobRcjfW9f3HoxUiXTPjqJq5TitCE/s1600-h/image%25255B20%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiildO0ERSMpWbXDVQQ_l2W-ZwZks5NngDBEJTs-Egu6oYkMxKr0VrU30azATDS1XSpKuO6ftfXJvvGDPprKuIvbQ_HJ-51A6ns7aeRdo6UGecC_lRbmKDC1rZ8lDSJWNgFhg7B-dt6bhI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="390" /></a></div>, Grade R Kaleidescope The beautiful Grade R  iPad art was on display when I went to the report back to the parents. Simply gorgeous! Their teacher reports that on one of the days “We recorded our poem, ‘My teacher took my Ipod’. We had workshopped this poem in groups and each child had their own line and we opted for a call and response style…'” <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8OXDpq3V2PlLVfkUFqS0AYWVNBaAzSIcf-f4ik2M_wQTJpZynl1C_gx7-kPhn6pjgHnlIdlRDSPE_d174b67mHEwiz2H3A6U2MGspFqvEOBjI1ntMfRrZUjQum8NT8yl10fIgLPiYAs/s1600-h/image%25255B23%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmyYFxY70S_O-lNv8Kpiq3zZFyBI8lyDtKNMDDNePx3vRKz-2g7Uat9IHdDgwCIctcoxhbJ1uoowiSKMgV8bwLuJiEhVHktPRpevX-VJqne9aiu6Vsopwoz93tK_Z0mjy8VznghjbiIg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div> Grade 1 recording stories Their teacher said, “The Grade One girls wrote and recorded their very own stories for IT week. It all started weeks before in the classroom when we wrote our own stories. We then practiced reading them to each other and finally recorded them with Ms Whizz. After a few attempts we managed to get a clear recording using speaker microphones. Ms Whizz recorded them using sound recorder. It was very exciting!!  She also interviewed us about our stories and the reason behind choosing the characters. Ms Whizz did this using webcams and a programme called Windows Live Movie Maker. We each got our own CD with all the stories on it to take home as well as a CD with all the interviews on it. This will be a wonderful keepsake for us to remember our very first stories from when we were young.” Fantastic idea! Grade 2 Obami <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pRWyx0nOicsjZUkjPETpGouRChdCf2RvqSEmW5h8DjW2qWOA8MLQosJ3Eoqti5ErnEXEGjxU55IGPdB4AOVJHNykIbr9w2i1RsIYTHo9D_LbcJKsMByNS_uJWVVz1tO2Nq_TZCTomBk/s1600-h/image%25255B32%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCknXkMWKMrgj_CJDxE36p5EMEhsDCmWUGdelTbqofvb1GzbxRvAjKcynP8og18y_pehrzoyisyrzbconC-ZTSxp0aHH_SOIqV5zaD3EMBayEdXAp24VW4kpI2NIZhfdmwP2J002Okl8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div> This is what the Grade 2s learned about Obami: *Learnt to log into a secure website using a password *Added and changed profile pictures *Made status updates *Made positive comments on their friends status updates *Sent messages and replied to messages *Connected with their parents *Wrote simple blogs *Used class “portals” to view videos, pictures and information about their theme work *Completed assignments/quizzes set by their teacher *Learnt how to make their own assignments and set them for their parents *Used the online ‘chat’ feature What a good time they had! They have great plans for what they are still going to do in Obami this year. Grade 3 explored with Photofunia and Wordle The Grade 3 class explored and learnt about two different visual web-based applications on the computer, namely Photofunia and Wordle. With Photofunia they superimposed their own portrait photographs onto various backgrounds. The girls created their own visual pages. They invited all the girls’ parents to attend two computer sessions in which they taught their own parents how to create and use these applications. <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 396px;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="256"></td><td valign="top" width="138"> </td></tr></tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccwihITh3xFijc4rA5OOImegJHdxpk9__ej0LsI8co8NZ6mSFGykiAttjgZZFpf6YEPDGUzw819ytxT6vXEjEn0dM4tEUnaNTt4kWV6eDsqKheATQegaIGbjki7J4-OHOdH9fp6TnR3k/s1600-h/image%25255B108%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7dgaPMkSgu_UFhSAdY9DoAz0p5L-1WoMb4uaSoqCBcUXqfcnMR-0w1DM9t5VmJrQqOPkJvCbBWry2PBYQ1aRpBQpMVYQMOtxRSxjdccs54-gQ7VK5b6T5Uk99Z2XJTGF8bzWaqxYLas/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="188" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="25"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0d3DKHtNP5__BZIWECgl8_9hcaaVehhPMJ5wmdaaEcM0cE4NJ35No2pFh6rIuqO97YqyoKOIiCJrU8wE6vqHckZVAAHOtA_TkYEKlQxZN-1qWoixdYyXLZ3bgcs7jSJskoVJ2F1XZnF8/s1600-h/image%25255B109%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8ZxvKf91AoYHdLfEORaFCkHKEJ2KUOsShhtLnCfI9M6_170xcDK7fms4ntYKAHsq2GoQjGSraFtTRJXmChW67jYNPG9UPlc2JKeCYbk9GcCzWjsFxwzO2O5ccoyGLvc7zZKJfQMgBBY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="124" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="241"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYY__2uzSKgO7wC7nE5zdPza19WuIfLlYEtKkr2tdqEWo3K3ny6QwlmVNXAuoYzJTEo_6Qmu8D6tMthZxDC42Wm4J-tE49GQZFxEzs1t9Mg_2PRDEwKybAyX1Qzu9JS1laXF72C8PeJXw/s1600-h/image%25255B110%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2TKp3tRfl9N9hZANjxJZ-82KDu9Sx9q8BQdgkRu6v-GbtRT16XTXyNvo6wtwl_TuRVV-OBqrpf8MFJERO8apIl7eAYJha9eMcLHyUvG4u4rWymlEbwD-WWmdB2C5ngKAzKYPc0AgbaU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="138" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVePznBaGmaZCyjGgpsVDqiaPJDL5IzqCI4X4c9LBkvUr61SVf5XByVO3KpnYFezB6tIS3h1ClxNz3V0iixFsuimMTDw8ZRvG3T_ZuC_xHI7klJHVMloWrWnQANmhTyMVe8bdbmOKD4JY/s1600-h/image%25255B55%25255D.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFcRpVGIKISq6UKgk0ouDgK2JmVvth5eXzRvDpIW5vvHk7j-obYA3iiXayXFFY-_6eUk2M5Z-kdhECHmYQ2kObvdzjOx1eYngice-FAzSD2iP1tLM9-s4wbrbCh-NVsh6Uwde9MnHNpc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="123" /></a>With Wordle the girls created their own individual word clouds using words based on their own personal theme. Then they learnt to change the font, back-ground and orientation of the words using different colours and back-grounds. Finally they chose different picture displays and shapes that they arranged these word clouds into. The girls thoroughly enjoyed this particular application and taught their parents how to use it, some getting so excited they emailed their creations home via email and to parents away on business. </div> The Grade 3 girls also presented technology orals in which they shared games and ideas and also taught each other about the inventors of the iPad, apple computers and debated different branded cell phones and computers. The report back to the parents The report back that I attended in the evening was the Grades 4-7 report back. What I LOVED about this is they did it in the form of a show run by the girls with a huge screen. They showed every step of everything they did so you knew they had grasped the process thoroughly. It was very cleverly done with music and choreography included for effect! I loved every minute of it. Grade 4 Garage Band The Grade 4s used music to enhance a story or theme. They were divided into pairs and brainstormed possible story lines or themes that could be enhanced using music. They then visited the Sound House in Observatory to record their music using software called Garage Band to create music that would convey their message. The program allowed for many different choices of sound effects, instruments and percussion. They then came back to school and used PowerPoint to put together their stories using pictures they found on the Internet. They learnt how to layer and manipulate pictures, ensuring that they remembered to use scale. They then inserted their music as a .wav to play across all slides. They also inserted animations and motion paths, added transitions and did rehearsed timings. <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKPYcJEHDb5g5AvQkYknVbMO9uncWrEEk9DXP7NxHjte4B7KgVMJO2oj6-tDIf_8LQDJ0Bt39tm8aZFjwQVqMWro0YRdRwTx2UN6npnHqOTqUR9El3A8PevznVCaLubLIr7CjqQEjzdA/s1600-h/image%25255B66%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVWLHS5u3fKOZQwAqk1O-A2qCMgtlB76zVvXKtbz6QSBlZrugytLo5jN9E34W312HRaAV7MhAHudJhpIb8V_fhtxd0NWbI-MGr6JOmp-ZM1gz1WfQEH3yYOiTG_ErN8cFFTszbth1VYk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="235" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgbt7JKBb0kd1Cln7Cyp7zAzGZ04KVgtuIOBpH1Xvb6heAhH3HUWWbYkRgFE8ZI9sFHm2V4FznkpaNQk52m6QvmSj2oYV8yAMY7SVIsEYe1m_FrO6sz-0qXCXRc_KA2oNoD41UDfMHWQ/s1600-h/image%25255B65%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyt2pqBcILfToeW6IMQ3niDrBdevZnnOyM4NfMBTqtXl4G1VBV90ohtRc_J0AmfgZGY0J3s-eNIip1rVP1xsCA8NglyuF6Y14MYzC4Jjpt76DVvSFEIvnT3sSXyktXn_KNCP7tGecO54/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="133"></td></tr></tbody></table>During the week the girls also used iPads in the classroom and used iMovie to make movie trailers. They also used iPads to create lessons and storyboards using an app called Educreations. They presented these trailers at the Report Back and they were outstanding!  <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebNetFgstIcCxOLoVk5YTRxLzmKmNMJQfmqsPmHrksiEkFQhnjUJKjE9WtXfTy65K6ebgBNQ2DLNQswKWZeHzfolOd4qhDv1wgoeqNBq4_Mymeh1iGqltHqUlK9u6WeN33GcLMe3WZlc/s1600-h/image%25255B96%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZXunEabN5rG4iJJj6yLp-QsxbfDkwtPm-lZzyEn1uuFvOLSuof_A5WoRPWLXq7grgx4c_Y-iGDogXsQQoMO3RJ4f1kM6KGAqAmmPU_211zp-mn62w9A4l11RLyRNZ-yN9477UdUIu3g/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div> Grade 5 wikis <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="200"></td> <td valign="top" width="200"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrTfYmMVQKD2FTls0hT4vJRrM5dYvUP276VMM857QWzfWiPxxVMDsh3sssCzvxd0BJTYlj6QMeCM6K9meGM4ht4j1kScWcntuFl8gLZTAy0VlKp_JDGK3Y5_s_QdJ1Ng8xlkBgWYcOnA/s1600-h/image%25255B74%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZq6987NE30LbDVdDWVXyIcILpBJO1oIbi1I3JiUZfF-BeXDEoelDvLnCI_pMJOFUUSiRvPVZAIwpVGaGYUhOLuB_6HfrmUtTc5FkjcyvcSICOqgkbOYDg0FLIkuv09OcKSWUa95zZICI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div>One of the Grade 5 teachers, Kathryn Gomes, participated in the free online SchoolNet wiki course and I was delighted to see how well she had passed on every step to her students. The Grade 5s created an exciting and interactive class Wiki for IT week. On the Wiki the girls displayed different areas of their work i.e. poetry, artwork, music, orals, written texts, videos and photos. The skills learned included: *writing on a Wiki page *uploading pictures and sound clips  *uploading videos and widgets   You can visit their wiki and see their brilliance at: <a href="http://micklefieldgrade52012.wikispaces.com/">http://micklefieldgrade52012.wikispaces.com/</a> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Kszt_5TgxkMsDUgMfQuL2HcNuMXq8WOsFMmv5DnZQM4utmf4jJNdq9txV2lZ2KOI9TXiyjR5C-_sq10FBr6K8cwaf9bpTeaFn5R28zPhfJjI_ZbHNyP_GFCWXCR1dhS_91dNT_9UIXo/s1600-h/image%25255B106%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfylOGprYXYp1CdbyKZvHFo6JdhAQ658f_Nd4BYfUcL5AjBdSZetdo8qNszyi4XtjyosQLW_dULuVnAPzVigcIalIbnKYAtQTV0UMbiyX1MyDyuSycMVaOi3lRGXPuokor_HmYWTE7sUo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="176" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-raq00OK05KEiujS4cQcQCTj2hLNZ6OXSjSgXymXRz7pmIFqVKXiQVlOJc-HbRRBttBhqImrRp7EDVUzuR8sHAT4uG1NhRAHlLYtcvq426Sf6HlEOvkBACruyCVQ8N3sBBbWOOqkOIk/s1600-h/image%25255B107%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1q2WLdYtSzRPLEGurVlzDtg9Zm_GA3aK7_zSpvKI6DP6s0Vh_bHs8yTMzZ0fVBBWmSdUFIYmfTLr6YhTjkrECEG7rmyMiVVYl2JPk_aB7K51B2Rf-MNfRYniSqgEgJ4w7Pd-dh3X8XgM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table> The Grade 6 Spoken History Online Project This is a project involved with capturing personal history and sharing it with others, especially future generations. It focused on events or stories that shape one's history. It gave the girls the opportunity to make history ‘come alive’ and realise the importance of their heritage. The girls learnt the interview process: how to ask questions, what to ask, how to come up with a theme or topic, how to channel the interviewee’s attention, how to take notes, how to select a photograph etc. The technical skills needed to film/record an interview were taught. Tips about lighting, voice, camera position, zooming etc were promoted. Lisa Chait, well-known radio and TV presenter, producer of ‘I am Women Leap of Faith’ and project director of ‘Life Stories’, came in to teach these interviewing skills. She also shared examples from her Life Stories projects. <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcQGKYLeFSXDpGwYdeWKlPgGTqsShv1dWWlzkUFYdCdwiDnXTSRk-Ids6I2YTyKN4wPl8mSSrinTqMyfDglpwZAkXdXSL-4T2klKjGkQXXiY__2XD2T8Z8F_WxVf24-MkwuACWmtn6kE/s1600-h/image%25255B84%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbLha-oi5yYHKvQ9i7c476jTFFW22UGkIsR4_ceNVp9cKku0euGiV_b2whXSyF2_YlVBw5tChzefqSNw_6T1NBBM9wDjK8uHSGO6R6MyTg_o7j8g95wI2IhfGHWFwYasXBnapxJvDOSY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-vpfbX0LXH4v6cPz3Q6JEhHZmb8_Q9-44zbS3leeN_QdSRuYxAE7GcTI0Witbn-qC4KUZPGSPVAgisDCvLzBczOGqI60BlmI2u5fwIIn_cb1xZEGAYMb8LLy74YeZP-RaC4b1M_NWHg/s1600-h/image%25255B87%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZur9b6uAMpXpcBgAs-1a551El7Akv6D71BwkFhwlmZjxh7B3ToRVgxHuMcuYVMDxYPhBWERO23u7e4YOpoNJ5pPVME7MacK0-_n6xYzX_9aSJtkgax6ZodH_4b-k0ujnPwa8uZxmtlM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table> The footage was brought to school and the editing process began using using Windows Live Movie Maker. The final videos were uploaded on to YouTube. (Micklefieldgirls You Tube). These movies, shown on the night, were very moving and VERY inspiring.  <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6Nt3iP_XJT1qpkphcBVASyH2hftAmX95RFDYAyLmNJjX8hu998i008_9q6K_7mOtdj_u3ApqyuuU5tgoGUya1RASRC90t3kcXyogjF_Nxfs40bnthacgnjy9sTwYota6d6Dt7sxmFZs/s1600-h/image%25255B92%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u1qTBTDi8QljWvY7kxZ8qsfljLAAmAvukpsMuuf_mNJytt3gPlL0SVDChJ14NNbGBgrpPrfvmK1HcrkAvwZYsVDfuMRkAdwFzoMTaEVoU0WNFd-lp2HQBM7rH22II6UcIQRJTRfMv8c/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div> Grade 7 Prezi / Google Fusion Tables / Twitter The Grade 7s demonstrated their use of Prezi, Google Fusion Tables and Twitter. Prezi is a cloud-based software for exploring and sharing ideas on a virtual canvas. The girls used Prezi to give a presentation to their peers on Man’s Impact on the Environment. Each was given a different topic to present to the rest of the class using this presentation tool. Many girls felt it was a tool that will definitely help them in the future. ‘What is the origin, weight and distance travelled of goods purchased in the households of the Grade 7 class at Micklefield School? Analyse the results and report your findings.’ This was the task that was presented to the girls and to carry this out they had to collect, record, amend and categorise data using Google Fusion Tables. The results were analysed in different formats and graphs. The findings were written in a report which was then posted into an online Blog. This project was facilitated by March Turnbull, a Grade 7 Dad who is an expert in this area. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjPZM1ymh7tBMiSx0waN2_MgHdPzbnFY6H06yqKz_-w5UYHqn7V8sfSPDNd44q8TpJSvVkAT2v8gis566_894xmFHr0I4-_oaT6ppo3zfOvAH0H437YAKyKU1-po-qnTb_A5lkrvaabY/s1600-h/image%25255B118%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHy4GLHBVm1yt8EKeMRtTw3BOFzchqcV-cUHgWvIlDloPsMr-dLZh6RBs_HQZUuEkhzTizGhBsM5t7nYCYJHJBkNg5bB1d-uli_wIrpFNd2ArC-zvo5u1yW8Zn3SMUlR2-WuJ8IoTQNfo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div> Can you Tweet? Commenting and discussing aspects of a short story in literature was done on Twitter. Mrs Peters kept the class engaged in a lively and thought provoking analysis of the story with each person being ‘heard’ through their Tweets. The girls brought in their own mobile phones, laptops or iPads for the exercise. This was really a classroom of the future! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52X1tc9S04KMutcnmXn75y6B_1zvMxy1WYOaDBmia1JbJCMPHWjS9n22jbdJsXf-oLwYHhhIJtbQ0m3lvNsfrH0TXpZQm0n9pbh1IJTSIiy2RkoOw6Sm4bMP9sy7rMeH3CCTSZiiUs0I/s1600-h/image%25255B121%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDoMMZv72o7MePjcQhrG7wVkVCoquYJUG5TZpHAn3rP78nHrbYiIGKbZNTQxyjhLt1YHJRNR95S_3hGoUpd8sAMpeBBdCGWJSb1LQsK-rviruuT0c1FcgNFDrcvZePJstq66xoJRDuzc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div> Conclusion Can you wonder that the parents cheered and clapped and were over-exuberant about what they were shown by the girls. I was quite flabbergasted to be honest.  To think that this little school in the heart of Rondebosch was producing such amazing technology creations! Not too long after this the school held their very exciting  iThink Conference for Foundation Phase teachers (<a href="http://www.ithinkfirst.co.za/">http://www.ithinkfirst.co.za/</a>) focusing on thinking skills and the use of Information Technology in Foundation Phase Education.  I was invited to give a breakaway session on webtools. There again I saw the value of the free online courses being demonstrated and the knowledge spread and shared. For example Kathryn, the teacher who attended the Wiki course (she and her girls presented such a dazzling show of their wiki at the Report Back), presented on wikis and she in turn had an invite to go and present at another school.  I can only be very grateful to have been invited to this great Design Week report back. Thank you to Micklefield! Thank you, too, to Judi Francisco, for allowing me to use snippets from her newsletter to provide all these details. </div>

news What a privilege to attend IT Design Week report back to parents at Micklefield Primary

Submitted by Fiona Beal SchoolNet has been offering to its premium members short free online courses in various web applications relevant to...