I read this article about how teens and college kids were upset that more and more older adults were using technologies that the young people considered their own, things like IM's, texting, My Space and Facebook. The kids felt that when an adult they knew sent them a text or had a My Space page, their privacy had been invaded. The kids, however, stay ahead of the adults by learning how to use new techs before the adults do.
For example, a couple of years ago, kids at the high school at which I coach would carry on texting conversations with each other during class. The teachers didn't know what was going on at first, but after awhile they figured it out and now cel phones aren't allowed in class during tests because some students were texting each other the answers to the test questions.
The students responded with the use of a seemingly harmless, low tech toy: the Nintendo DS.
DS's are allowed in class because it can be used as a calculator. What the teachers don't know is that the DS also has a feature called "Pictochat". Pictochat allows up to 16 people with DS's to chat with each other at the same time.
The cheating, if anything, has gotten worse. What's more is that when the students are bored, they can play games with each other, for the DS is networkable for game play too.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Wildlife revisited
There's something really calming about watching a stream of water. I stop to watch the creek on my way to or from school almost everyday and it always has a relaxing effect. The creek runs from downtown to the bay, yet it seems so peaceful.
Odd thing: a lot of birds that have usually flown to warmer climates are still around. I've been seeing three pairs of Mallards and a smaller bird, which I haven't identified, hanging around in the creek. I used to mark the beginning of spring with the arrival of a pair of mallards that used to hang out in my swimming pool at the beginning of March. Now, the mallards aren't even leaving for the winter. (Btw: mallards in the pool are not good. Cute until they start pooping everywhere. I used to have to chase them away by turning a hose on them).
You may notice as you drive by Tam High that a lot of Canada Geese (big grey birds with black necks) are still around, too. These birds usually migrate to Central and South America, but many of them don't anymore. You may think that this is due to global warming, but most experts don't think this is the reason. Instead, they believe the geese simply stop when they find a good food and water supply. As a result, you can find geese on athletic fields, which are watered regularly, and on golf courses, which, in addition to being watered all the time, have a lot of ponds which are full of stuff geese like to eat.
The geese have become such a problem at golf courses that many of have statues of coyotes and other hunters of geese scattered around the grounds to scare them away. This is only partially effective, for the geese avoid the statues simply by hanging out in places where there aren't any.
Odd thing: a lot of birds that have usually flown to warmer climates are still around. I've been seeing three pairs of Mallards and a smaller bird, which I haven't identified, hanging around in the creek. I used to mark the beginning of spring with the arrival of a pair of mallards that used to hang out in my swimming pool at the beginning of March. Now, the mallards aren't even leaving for the winter. (Btw: mallards in the pool are not good. Cute until they start pooping everywhere. I used to have to chase them away by turning a hose on them).
You may notice as you drive by Tam High that a lot of Canada Geese (big grey birds with black necks) are still around, too. These birds usually migrate to Central and South America, but many of them don't anymore. You may think that this is due to global warming, but most experts don't think this is the reason. Instead, they believe the geese simply stop when they find a good food and water supply. As a result, you can find geese on athletic fields, which are watered regularly, and on golf courses, which, in addition to being watered all the time, have a lot of ponds which are full of stuff geese like to eat.
The geese have become such a problem at golf courses that many of have statues of coyotes and other hunters of geese scattered around the grounds to scare them away. This is only partially effective, for the geese avoid the statues simply by hanging out in places where there aren't any.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The "Perfect Storm" of 2008
What a way to start a new year. The unusual event of three storms hitting us on consecutive days is what made the weather so nasty. Amazing number of trees down all over town, incredibly calm weather in between storms. Winds gusts of 70+ miles per hour on the Golden Gate bridge. 4 semi trucks blown over on the Richmond - San Rafael Bridge. 1,900,000 homes without electricity.
Still, this wasn't the worst I've seen. In 05, much of Miller Avenue, San Anselmo and San Rafael got flooded. Roads got washed away all along the Russian River and the town of Guernville was under water.
In 97, much of Mill Valley was out of power for 10 days. Safeway lost power for 5 days and had to throw out all the frozen and refrigerated food. In addition, it was very cold - temperatures in the 30's. Water pipes broke and icycles formed where the pipes leaked. Frost everywhere. Whole town dark at night.
After about 4 days without power, one of my tenants called me: "I'm calling to tell you that I haven't had electricity for 4 days, would you fix it?"
R.I.P. Trash Bag Tree
I'm going to miss that old tree. It kept a lot of balls from flying out of the yard, provided shade on hot days and was the source of an amusing story.
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