Category: Blog

When I first got the agenda, I was very disappointed. 

There is a SIG meeting that includes Tech Apps (not too disappointed about that, since I am also certified in Tech Apps, but do wish they were separate SIGs.  I find teaching Tech Apps very different than Computer Science.

However, Tuesdays’ Tech App Network day has half a days worth of sessions dedicated to Computer Science – all morning in one room.

Microsoft is also having several side sessions that are not on the schedule that are dedicated to Computer Science.

There are several sessions on Robotics, especially Legal Mindstorms, but unfortunately that is something I can’t afford to do.  I will probably attend some of those though.

There is a session at 3:45 on Wednesday that is specifically labelled CS.  There is another one on Thursdays morning at 10:00 and one that is probably CS related at 11:30. 

Video game design is on Friday morning and so is a attracting Girls to STEM.

There is lots of stuff for the other half of my brain – tech apps, so it isn’t too bad.

I bought a Kodak Easyshare M550 from Woot not long ago, and it ended up being an extra camera – I thought I was replacing one my husband broke.

Now, I love Kodak cameras and have never had problems with one.  This one, however drives me nuts.  And the combination of this particular computer, I think.

The Share Button and Share function work well, but I want more out of cameras, I want to be able to edit.  Well, and actually view the movie on the computer itself.

I finally had to break down and download QuickTime and iTunes as this computer has a 64 bit operating system, and down loading QuickTime alone wouldn’t do it.

Finally I could view the movies, but couldn’t edit them.  VLC would also let me view them,but still not edit or output them in a format I could use.

Couldn’t find a Codec that would work with Windows Movie Maker.

What finally worked?  Breaking down and buying the Pro version of QuickTime and exporting to AVI.

ARGH!

Been with DISD for 18 years and we haven’t been of school this many days ever. We are on day 3. I dont think we have been out 2 days in a roaw though we have used all our weather days.

However, we haven’t been this cold this long before and there is ice on the streets. I am lucky, we corner a major road, we pay high property taxes and get good services. Can’t say that forsure the school district as I neither work there or parent a child.

Had this conversation with husband last night:

When did you put winter tires on the car?

Didn’t

Where are the tire chains?

Don’t know.

So there you go, can’t really blame the powers that be, we haven’t done any more prep than they did.

And yes, I am bored.
Posted with BloghuB for Windows Phone 7

Haven’t taught it yet, want to though.  Was going to this year but got to many web kids, and then they don’t want to write web sites.  Go figure.

I’ll probably teach multimedia and they won’t want to make movies.  <sigh>

So here’s why I hate multimedia.  Kid wanted to put a DVD on YouTube. Took me two hours to figure out I didn’t have the tools.  I’m convinced that the video wasn’t Finalized.  Whatever that means.

So I bought a camera from Woot!  (Love them).  Ended up being an extra camera – I do that – everyone knows you can’t have too many cameras.

So I thought I’d put it in our guest room/study/dog room.  Where I am now, why I don’t know because I’m sitting next to a cold window.

I’ve literally spent hours trying to silly thing to upload a video I can watch and edit on this particular computers.  Why did I have problems?   Kodak is married to Quicktime, and Quicktime hates 64 bits.  Especially Windows 7 64 bits. 

Finally had to grit my teeth and download Quicktime.  Still can’t edit it with Windows Movie maker down here, but oh well.

We’re out our second day of school.  I will be honest, I have gone out once, yesterday, and made it 5 blocks from the house before coming back.

And I JUST figured it out.  It’s all because of the state legislature is in session in Texas.  For those of you who aren’t Texans, it only meets every other year, and when it does, every special interest group has their hands out.

Here’s the deal.  Our street is black and has good drainage.  It’s dry and clear.  The major 2 lane street that we corner on is a complete mess.  There is one lane clear, and that because of traffic.  Yesterday I saw no signs of and or chemical.  I turned around when the one lane got almost impassable and I realized I couldn’t turn and I had to go under an over pass to get to the next city.

The city and/or county should have cleared that road.  It’s a major one, and one that people use when I-35 goes out.  The road that parallels I-635 was also in the same shape.  I suspect the city is responsible, but we’re pouring all of our money into fighting an immigration legal battle we’ve been losing.

We have also had three “rotating power outages”  –> now four, it hit while I was writing this, and Microsoft was kind enough to save it.

Being the state legislature conspiracy theorist I am, I am quite sure whoever is in charge of this wants more money from Austin.  It’s ALWAYS about money.

And the cities and counties are also screwing the citizens and especially the children so they can have their hands out too.

Next week is #TCEA and I am going for the full day workshop on technology apps and staying through Friday.

I am going to Wednesdays SIG for tech apps and CS. Planning to go to Techsmith's reception after.

Hoping to run into @Alfredtwo and go to @unklar 's presentation.

Everything else I am playing by ear.

Shuttle is supposed to leave from the parking lot at the hotel I am staying at which was really nice if it is like the last time I was there. Wish I was staying closer but oh well. Will need my truck Wednesday and plan to leave mid- afternoon and get it. Both events are off site and the reception is after the shuttles run.

I have downloaded an iPod / Apple app and bookmarked a web based app that should help. Links from the main #tcea page.

Driving as flying is a huge hassle and will have truck there when needed.

Sent from my Windows Phone

So today a sub stopped me in the hall and said, ‘”Hey, remember me, I was in your class?”  I looked at his badge (and name) and blankly said – you subbed for me Wednesday?

No, I was in your class – in 1994.  Oh, by the way he was OLD!  It helped get over the teaching sometimes sucks feeling, and it helped me prove that another teacher had NOT been at Hillcrest as long as I have.  Irritating.

Moral:  If you ever get a chance to look up one of your teachers – DO IT.  It does make our day.

Michael A. Zellner, 57, of Dallas faces charges of having an improper relationship with a student and indecency with a child.

Errant text message led to Plano teacher’s arrest on felony charges of improper relationship with student | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

Argh – this is SO wrong in so many ways.  Do any of really think this is the first one?  I hope so, but think not.

Though the gal at diet gourmet made a nasty remark the day I started this. She thought my Samsung focus is too big. But that is the beauty. ATT has three different devices. She could probably find one she wants.

I love the predictive typing and using it now.

I have gotten used to the onscreen keyboard and don't miss my slider. I have managed to keep myself entertained with it and only it.

I can manage my email and respond to it. I can listen to my music and play games with it. Keep up with Facebook and Twitter. Basically all the functions I want when I am out and about.

Oh, I can make phone calls • though I am not much into that.

Here is what I still miss:

Audible Books
Kindle
A blog client for Typepad
Client for myfitnesspal

I am sure all of the above will come soon or I will find an adequate substitute.

So i

Sent from my Windows Phone

The plight of the high school homeless

This article really ticks me off because this is NOT a new problem.  It’s been going on in my school’s neighborhood for years.  I think the first case I knew of, was about 15 years ago.  Kiddio in my class was not doing well at all that year, and someone at school discovered that his mother had disappeared, father had been gone for at least a year, and he was living along in the apartment with no income.  I think the neighbors came to school and let us know, but not really sure.  It has been a long time.

But we’re always coming up with the odd student who is homeless.  Sometimes they choose to live home – usually due to family difficulties and sometimes the family leaves them.  We’ve all kinds of social services at our disposal to help – group homes, etc. 

Why?

Well, partly we care, but Texas learned long ago, the longer you keep a kid in school, the more income they make in later life, and the less money we have to spend on social services.   That’s one reason we get paid for each student in school, each day they are in school.

But keeping them in longer, and that goes for the homeless teen, the pregnant teen and the teen father is just going to benefit everyone in the long run.  Better yet if we can get them through college.