Dinner with Friends

We had a terrific evening of dinner with friends. It’s really nice to be able to get together and learn about new people.

Weather

We get the weather for the entire state. This fascinates me as in my previous neighborhood, we got hyperlocalized weather.

Open Source

Coco Material. I found this site this week and I like it – a lot. Open source, hand drawn cartoons and resources that you (or kids) can modify easily. Free to use – even commercially.

Dine and Discuss

I’ve been invited to a conference called Dine and Discuss. I love this idea.

Crypto

I have some cryptocurrency.

MOOSE

Maine Opportunities for Online Sustained Education
I’ve worked more on MOOSE this week. I’ve got the Data Collection piece much closer to done. It was surprisingly hard to find good ideas for Data Collection. Most of the models that I found were focused on whole-class instruction. Since this has to be available for individual use as well as whole-class, I needed to create something that could be done individually.

I have also finished up the Food Waste section.

I’m getting used to the workflow for Drupal. It still takes a bit of thinking, but at least now I pretty much have the workflow down.

Chasing People Out

One of the side effects (and it’s intentional) of several of the laws that we are now seeing passed in certain parts of the country is to drive people out. The Washington Post posted an article about a Florida teacher who is leaving teaching. See the teacher is gay and married. She’s afraid to talk about her life and/or her marriage. Teachers have been encouraged to talk about their life in general. Teachers talk about their spouse (unless of course that spouse is the same sex).

Keep in mind, we have a teacher shortage. Keep in mind that kids need to see the real world. Having a teacher married to someone of the same sex is not going to change anything about the life partner choice that kid will make. However, it might just make that kid kinder, more respectful, more understanding, and more compassionate.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry

By Fredrik Backman

WOW. Fredrik Backman has done it again. Meet Elsa, a different almost eight-year-old. Elsa’s Grandmother is truly a character (and avid defender of Elsa). When Elsa’s Grandmother dies, she sends Elsa on a journey to learn about those around her. That journey involves delivering letters to tell those around that the Grandmother is sorry about things that she has or hasn’t done. The story is couched in the fairy tales that the Grandmother has told Elsa (some of which Elsa knows has been “lifted” from other writers). The fairy tales feature a wurse, drunks, monsters, and more. This is a powerful book that fills your heart and head. The story is extremely week crafted. Elsa may be different, but she is present in all of us. (I looked this up on Wikipedia, so I know it’s true – a reference to Elsa).

I’ve read several of Fredrik Backman’s books now, including A Man Called Ove, and Anxious People (both of which I loved). I’ll be reading the rest of his books soon. He has risen to be one of my favorite authors.

MOOSE

I’ve started working on converting some resources to MOOSE. I’ve been adding in Data Collection activities for kids to learn about Data Collection. I hope to work on converting this to MoodleNet as well.

I’ve also worked on a creating the Food Waste materials.

Board Meeting

This was a Board Meeting week as well. That means that Tuesday was a long day. However, the Board Meetings are very focused, productive, and timely.

Audiology Appointment

I had a disappointing audiology appointment. I wear hearing aids, kids, watch that level of music that you are pumping into your ears, and with the move needed to find a new audiologist. Unfortunately, all this turned out to be was a quick clean and sanitize. The audiologist didn’t take any readings or check anything at all. I may be finding a different audiologist.

Principal Conversation

I had a chance to have a conversation with the High School Principal. I really like him a lot. He’s got great ideas, is realistic, and looking out for the kids. I wish that we weren’t dealing with COVID so that I could have had more conversations with him.

Hostas

Thanks to NextDoor, I’ve picked up some Hostas from a neighbor. This also means that I met another neighbor. The Hostas are slated in part for behind the bench on the deck. I’ve cleaned out most of the area behind the bench, still have a bit of knotweed left to remove, and planted a couple of new flowers back there.

School Year

In many ways I can’t believe how close to the end of the year that it is. There is so much that I wanted to do but haven’t been able. Hopefully, COVID will be more manageable next school year. Currently, our elementary school is back to mandated masking. We’re really hoping to avoid returning to remote.

Outside step

This week I tackled the step outside. In our backyard, there had been an inground pool. There is a path with pavers and two steps to the still existing pool deck on the ground. However, the step was incredibly narrow. This made it dangerous to walk with anything in your hands. I had to figure out how to square up the step and then elongate the step. Turns out the two steps were poured in place and heavy.

Fortunately, I was able to get the steps in place. I then added pavers as supports and used the pavers to create a step that is 16 additional inches wide.

Break

This last week was break week. I didn’t do hardly any work at all. Rather, I did get some things done around the house. Rm was off to Michigan for a shower for a friend.

I had to make a threshold for the living room to dining room transition as that is an unusual length. I got the steps done (see above). I also painted the curtain holder (we have a window that goes all the wall to a wall, so we had to be creative with installing the curtain rod) and patched and painted where I had installed a screw for a picture.

I’ve started working on building a cabinet for the kitchen. This is turning out to be a learning experience.

Running

After over a year away from running, for a variety of reasons, I’m trying to re-establish the running habit. Turns out that hills make things that much harder. It’s a slow start, but I’m working on building up my endurance again.

Hazel – Ninja Dog

I was doing some work outside and had Hazel outside with me. I just saw her on the bench, as usual, a spot she likes. I went back to working. A couple minutes later, I went to check on her. Not on the bench. Not on the stairs. Not running around. I checked the garage, not there.

Panic ensues. I start calling her and looking for her. The gates are still closed. I check the cemetery, figuring that is where she usually goes for a walk. No Hazel. Now I’m really panicking. I look around where we usually walk her. I’m stuck as I’m afraid to look too far in case she comes home (I’m the only one home). Yet, I also know that time is of the essence. The longer she is gone, the further she could go.

In looking, I see a police officer (alright, the police officer). He says that he will look for her.

I call Rm to let her know. As soon as I make that call and start explaining, who comes running up the street? That’s right – Hazel. Thankfully safe and sound.

The rest of the day is spent purchasing some additional fencing, checking all areas of the fencing where she could’ve gotten out, and installing said purchased fencing so that she can’t go under gaps.

Pimorini Keybow2040

A great gift from my daughter, the pimorni keybow2040 is essentially a wonderful keyboard extension. It is completely programmable.

I’m still researching exactly how I want to use this. It is a fun, wonderful addition though.

French Braid

Anne Tyler released a new book: French Braid. It is wonderful! I think that this is one of her best books of late, and that’s saying something. Anne Tyler writes about interesting characters. French Braid is more so about a family. This book has all the wonderful characters and imagery that one comes to expect from Anne Tyler. The reader is drawn into their world. It was especially easy for me to relate the Garrett family. Across the generations, the idea of family and how that plays out is fascinating. I can’t recommend this one highly enough. Go read it now.

Easter

The kids weren’t able to join us, but we had a wonderful dinner.

Live Update

Maine is doing a live stream of a bridge construction project. This impacts my drive to work (and from work). It’s pretty cool that the project is being streamed. Essentially, they have built a replacement bridge and will be moving it into place over a few days. This replaces months of closures and construction.

Podcast

Shawn and I had a terrific podcast this week. One of the things I was interested in was the Florida Department of Education’s latest Press Release Florida Rejects Publisher’s Attempts to Indoctrinate Students. This doesn’t sound like a Department of Education Press Release, but a listicle. With a title like that, it isn’t about education, but political positioning. We also talked about citizen science, schedules, and much more.

I’ve also been wondering about advertising. On one hand, it would be nice to mitigate some of the costs of running the podcast, but we don’t have a huge following either (maybe you could help out with that).

Barn 8

I’ve finished Barn 8. I can’t say that this one had me absolutely enthralled, but I did find it interesting. This is not a mystery. The plot of the story is pretty well explained and laid out. The story is dependent upon the character of Janey. Janey is a teenager who finds out that her father is actually alive. She goes to visit him and her mother is killed in an accident prior to returning home. Janey then becomes a chicken auditor and develops a plan to save a million chickens.

The story then introduces a couple of different characters who make up the story. I would’ve like a bit more focus and development of these characters. They feel fundamental but underdevelope.

ClipMenu

I’ve been using ClipMenu as my clipboard manager for years and years. It has been discontinued. The download link doesn’t resolve anywhere. However, since I have the application, I’ve been able to move it from computer to computer. It works. Except that it works slightly different on one computer than the other. Using the keyboard shortcut of Command | Shift | V, I get a menu pop up allowing me to pick from recently copied items. On one computer, my selection automatically pastes (this is the desired effect). On the other, that item is moved to the top of the list, but nothing is actually pasted. So, I have to hit Command | V again. Not a big deal, but a bit annoying.

So, I went to see if there was an update. Nope. However, I did find Clipy (this is a Japanese website) (Github version) which is based upon ClipMenu. When I say based, it is almost an exact replica. This is one of the beauties of open source. Since ClipMenu was open source, Clipy is allowed to exist.

So far, I’m grooving on Clipy. It is exactly what ClipMenu was but updated.

MOOSE

My MOOSE partner and I have met and begun the work on our middle school computer science project. It is very early, but we have at least begun the process.

Anne Tyler

Yea! Anne Tyler has released a new book: French Braid. This one has arrived and has been bumped up to “NEXT”.

Taxes

Taxes were tough this year. Selling stock meant a “pay” instead of refund. However, taxes are done and submitted.

D&D

Last weekend I had the chance for my first D&D experience. This was arranged and run by my daughter. It was an interesting and fun activity.

Hazel

Hazel’s been a bit under the weather lately. She’s been on some medication (pink eye and probably a virus). Just like a toddler, send her to “school” and she comes home with the crud.
She’s also working on walking without being afraid of noises and activities. Rm is doing a terrific job with her.

Beers with(out) Beards

Saturday was a chance to experience Beers With(out) Beards via an invitation from my eldest daughter and a friend of hers. This was a neat experience revolving around, well, Beers. Essentially, this is an event that celebrates Women in Beer. There were a wide variety of Beers to sample. There were breweries from around the country in attendance.

Being the driver meant prudence with the number of beers sampled. However, I was able to try quite a few. It was the first real event that I’ve attended without a mask in a while. I had a wonderful time and would surely go again.

Sea Dogs

Rm and I also went to our first Portland Sea Dogs game on Sunday. Although it was not a winning day for the home team, the weather was beautiful. The stadium is interesting (as are most AA stadiums). We’ll definitely be going back (and hope that the team learns to catch pop-ups).

Podcast

No show this week as I was off with my daughter.

Book

I’m continuing to read Barn 8. I didn’t get as much reading time this week. I’ve had some mixed feelings about the book, but the story is picking up. I’m concerned about it becoming too “preachy” without enough story to hold my interest.

Podcast

Once again, Shawn was terrific on our podcast (Middle School Matters). We chatted about PD and how much of that will be in person.

RmMade

Rosemarie had a wonderful show at the Vault in Manchester. Lots of Friends found lovely new homes., There were lots of positive vibes and wonderful feedback. So many people had the same reaction, “Wow, they each have their own personality”.

If you are looking for a special gift, she makes custom orders as well.

Video Editing

I’ve been editing some videos for work. I kind of enjoy that.

Summer Training

I had a discussion (or two) about offering summer training. This led me to think about past summer trainings. We hosted several Moodle Moots in the summer.

One additional thing was the food. Fatoush salads, hummus, and chicken shawarma sandwiches (from Sahara). Now I really want a good chicken shawarma sandwich from Sahara (and, yes, I’ll fight anyone who says lettuce and tomato belong on the sandwich). Wonderful food.

Mud Season

Interestingly, Mud Season seems to be a thing here in Maine. I’ve gotten several emails about dealing with the mud (e.g. from our trash service about if you don’t want them going on your driveway during mud season) and it’s been in the papers. I have to admit, I never worried about Mud Season when I lived in Dearborn.

Power of the Dog

Rm and I watched “The Power of the Dog”. I’m not seeing why this was in the running for Best Picture. It wasn’t bad, but I didn’t feel that it was a great movie either. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil. He is a very enigmatic character. Benedict Cumberbatch does an excellent job of bringing Phil to life. However, the full story leaves me unfulfilled.

Toby Price

One of the things that I’ve been following is the saga of Toby Price. Basically, he was fired for reading “I Need a New Butt” to second graders. When I first heard the story, via Twitter, it seemed too fantastical to be true. The district is limited in what it can say. So, we get one side of the story. Thus, I wondered what the “rest of the story” (hat tip to Paul Harvey). It seems now though that there is no “rest of the story”. It’s seeming like Toby Price really was fired for reading “I Need a New Butt”. Let that sink in.

This is potentially a canary in the coal mine of restriction, control, book banning, information control, and suppression. This will not be the last example of this type of control.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is in the news for two reasons:

1. The nomination of Judge Jackson
2. Clarence Thomas’ voting and his wife’s tweets

Ketanji Brown Jackson hs been nominated to be the next Supreme Court Justice (replacing Justice Breyer). Judge Jackson is the first black woman to be nominated for the Supreme Court. The hearings have been an example of political partisianship pandering for “TV”. She has handled many inane questions with such grace and skill. Several Republicans have announced that they won’t support her (even though they supported her in the past). Republicans are constantly throwing up the false flag of CRT (Critical Race Theory).

The other Supreme Court news revolves around a bunch of text messages from Ginni Thomas (Virginia Thomas), who is the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Ginni Thomas sent a variety of text messages to Mark Meadows (who was the White House Chief of Staff). Let’s take a look at a few of the text messages:

Biden crime family & ballot fraud co-conspirators (elected officials, bureaucrats, social media censorship mongers, fake stream media reporters, etc) are being arrested & detained for ballot fraud right now & over coming days, & will be living in barges off GITMO to face military tribunals for sedition.

The majority knows Biden and the Left is attempting the greatest Heist of our History.

Sounds like Sidney and her team are getting inundated with evidence of fraud. Make a plan. Release the Kraken and save us from the left taking America down.

Help This Great President stand firm, Mark!!!…You are the leader, with him, who is standing for America’s constitutional governance at the precipice. The majority knows Biden and the Left is attempting the greatest Heist of our History,

Evil always looks like the victor until the King of Kings triumphs. Do not grow weary in well doing. The fight continues. I have staked my career on it. Well at least my time in DC on it.

“Make a plan,Release the Kraken and save us from the left taking America down.”

Now spouses can certainly have their own opinions. They can have their own job, beliefs, etc. What makes this troubling is Justice Thomas ruling on anything around the attempted insurrection on January 6th, 2021. Justice Thomas had the lone dissenting opinion on releasing material to the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. Given the revelation of the texts from his wife to those who tried to overthrow the United States Government, at the very least he should’ve recused himself.

Those messages aren’t just crazy, those are beyond “bat shit crazy”. Yet, many hold similar beliefs right now. Most of those aren’t married to a Supreme Court Justice who can rule in a way to protect them.

The weather has been mostly beautiful. Spring has sprung (and officially on Sunday).

MOOSE

I’ve been doing some work for MOOSE. This is the open-source project through Maine. I’ve participated in three of the training sessions and completed several of the training resources courses. I’m excited to be participating in the project. I’m on the Computer Science track, so there will be some learning for me. I’m excited to get the opportunity to create some materials. I hope to “cross-create” as well.

Baseball

Baseball is back. I’ve renewed my MLB subscription. I’ve watched at least parts of a couple of spring training games.

I also picked up some tickets to the Portland Sea Dogs game in April.

Book

I’ve started reading Barn 8.
The book so far focuses on a “what if” scenario. A young, adopted girl decides that she wants to visit her dad (she just found out that she is adopted and her father is alive). It doesn’t go well. Before she can return home, her mother is killed in a car crash. She meets up with a woman who knew her mother. Together, they start hatching a plan.

Tech Integrators

Podcast

The Podcast last week, Sap Risin’ Time, was a bit shorter than usual; under an hour. It’s always great to chat with Shawn.

Hazel

Our new puppy went off to daycare for the first time. Of course, she was put in “time out”. Apparently, she was basically herding many of the other dogs.
She continues to do well.

Events

World events continue to be frustrating. Russia is trying to take over Ukraine but is being met with heroic resistance. Frustrating that these conditions are still going on throughout the world. Make no mistake, this is not the only place with so much strife, but it is the one getting the news cycles.

Some of the January 6th traitors are now in the judicial system. I hate to say it, but the penalties seem really small for trying to overthrow the government.

Judge Jackson has been nominated for the Supreme Court. It is frustrating to listen to politicians who pushed through the nomination of another Judge (Amy Coney Barrett) push against the nomination of Judge Jackson. Instead of being a country of ideals, partisanship is obviously present. Now, I know that has always been the case. And I’m optimistic enough to hope that we shall rise above that partisanship in the end.

Social Studies is so important to our country. We’ve abused and lessened that importance in school and are now paying the price. We need rational, critical thinkers. This is more important than ever as corporations have gotten even better at manipulation.

Well, once again, I’ve fallen off the Weekly Note wagon. Let’s jump back on, shall we?

Week of Feb 21, 2022

Last week was a break from work. With the week off, I did some work around the house. Specifically, this week was the dining room.

I cut and installed some beadboard. The girls helped do the actual installation part. The beadboard and trim has been painted (white), while the top of the walls are Tostada (kind of a cafe au lait color). I still need to do a second color coat and paint the inside of the bookcases. Oh, and the beadboard cap will be installed after the second color coat.

Rm and I did take a day to head over to Norway, Maine. With Hazel in tow, it was a wonderful day. We visited Fiber and Vine and several other shops.

Week of Feb 28, 2022

Back to work. Lots to do and catch up on. One of the meetings was on changing from required masks to masks being optional. There was lots of discussion and perspectives on this.

Finished up much of the dining room. Everything was put back in place (with the exception of things on the bookshelf). Sunday was bookshelf painting day. One coat paint was actually one coat paint. Now to let it dry for a few days and then replace the treasures. (Only one bookshelf was painted.)

Also got a permanent crown installed. The procedure was quick and easy. I think of the generation of my parents. Both of my parents had dentures by this point in their life. Glad to not have to deal with that (at least yet).

My wife has been hard at work preparing for a vendor show at the end of March. She does such wonderful work. The things that she creates are truly unique and special.