before we are nobody

I wonder how small we will get before we are nobodies? First off, it is amazing what a great tool and company Google/Blogger is, but there is so much it isn't --- that just isn't good for people. For example the thought that microsoft's word is the program we all have to use is counterproductive.

First that business gets so big, that what do they care about the individuals that use it. It's why the small companies actually are better, if they want to survive. It is the skewed wal*mart thinking, but sometimes it works. The theory (espoused by wal*mart) is the big companies don't put small businesses out of business, they just cut out the chaff. Or in other words if a wal*mart comes to your town and you have a good sporting good store, it will adapt and survive --- through customer service and good (niche) products. I don't agree, only because the wal*marts and microsoft don't compete fairly. They are predators. From the early days of computers it has been companies eating up good companies. There are many examples where a company stole an (copyrighted) idea from a software company. The thief was able to avoid the lawsuit by buying the company they took advantage of.. Computer companies I like:

• CopyPaste


• iKey


• MarsEdit


• NetNewsWire


• Nisus Writer Express


• the ability to have Widgets that small companies make.
  

I think in the big picture that relates to education. I tend to be harder on the students than a few. In a small school there is the temptation to coddle (at best) or accept lower standards (at worse). I've been in my school for about a year and a half. About 40 kids have done their best to make life miserable for me. Granted, some of this behavior is not on purpose. For example there is a girl on the softball team that has a horrible swing, I have made several attempts to correct this, her response is she is the best hitter on the team. Even if that is true {which it isn't}: 1) she could be twice as good as she is now; 2) lately she is not the best hitter when we need to score runs because we are behind; and 3) it is just rude the way she responds to my instructions.

I discussed this person with a colleague and she defending the girl. The colleague's attitude is something like: 'what if she listened to you, she did better, but still struck out?' I wanted to say, so she shouldn't try to do better in school because instead of C's she would bet B's, but that wouldn't be A's and she would frustrated. If we continue to allow B students to function at a C level, the wal*mart world will eat them up and they will be a little grunts on the side of the dream.
Technorati Tags: adirondacks, bibliotech, blogs, books, MarsEdit, Nisus Writer Express, Nisus, relationships, Google, MicroSoft

o well

I tend to write way less when I am frustrated with my job. When it is plain frustration, like confused at how my co-workers act.

In school I would write about the silly things I would witness. Things like how I never saw librarians at the gym. Or how the grad library was kind of pathetic, especially considering the school taught how to be a librarian. More pathetic was the professors seemed to agree that it was not efficient, but complacent in any attempt to change it.

Of course their complacency could be similar to my current frustration. As a new person in my district I have seen several things that seemingly could be better. I am at the point where I feel it is a waste of time to try and improve them. There doesn't seem to be any sense in bringing the topics up with the staff who ignore them, or ignore them and continue to talk about what they want to talk about.

An example: I brought up the fact that they HS was concern about the senioritist that our students have. After listening about them thinking about individual students, I asked, we had this problem last year, we will have it next year, unless we look at it in a more global aspect.

They agreed that it was it was more than just a few students problem THIS year, then started going on the list, like how the Valedictorian's average for some classes is 20 points low. I understand the local concern, but I asked them to think globally. It appeared they ignored the thought, but maybe their concern for individual students pushed them away from the big picture.

My suggestion would be to say, no senior trip, until you have enough credits to pass. this would mean changing the trip (often five days in a sunny place, like taking a cruise to Jamaica) from Easter Break to the end of the school year.

Sometimes it is just easier to give up. But I don't want to join the pack.

the benefit of a weekendwhen you do nothing

24 hours later and I feel better. I feel a little rested, if not lethargic from sitting around. I hope to move a little today and stretch.

I'm wondering, how do you change your path?

There is a girl. In my role at school I have seen her in many sectors: academics, athletics and performance. A couple weeks ago I thought, since her life will likely be performance, that she doesn't need to be the best athlete in the world or even best athlete on the team --- though it needs to be mentioned that she could be the best.

Since I never thought athletics were in her future, it didn't seem to matter if she just walks though that part of her life. Now I realize when it comes to her life, she is walking through everything, depending on raw talent.

In a school of 200 she can do that, in a world of 4 billion, might be a little harder. And what is obvious and I know, but have kind of been ignored by me: those who do well, tend to do well in all aspects of their life.

You get a good grade in science because you do the homework. You hit the ball because in practice and you make the best of our opportunities. Same with fielding. You become a better player from the bench by watching what those playing are doing to be successful. This includes watching your teammates and the other team.

What I don't know is, how do I convince the 'walk through girl' to pony up and work hard in all aspects of her life...?

And how does anyone make those changes.

Most all the girls seem to be afraid to steal, thus they never steal --- regardless of how many times I signal steal. By not stealing, then never get better at it.

hmmm maybe I should ride my bike today

My posting program, MarsEdit, has not been working. The problem is a Blogger (a Google product) problem, or so I have ascertained. But really, until it is fixed, it is my problem.

The error is:" java.lang.NullPointerException"

I think Google is great, but being Google means they are so big, you have no one to contact.

I wonder, when you are famous, do you use your access. If I was Kid Rock, when I am not picking up strippers, but taking my stripper to a party and there is Larry Page and Sergey Brin, do I say, "Hey doode my MarsEdit isn't working, could you get some of your tech guys to hump it up, o by the way, this is Bambi."

Fact is, you aren't finding e-mail for tech guys on Google, let aloneLarry Page and Sergey Brin!

Technorati Tags: MarsEdit, blogger, Google, java.lang.NullPointerException , fix it please