CBS Exposes Hillary Clinton Bosnia Trip.

I love it!

Two Million Minutes - A Global Examination

Once again, I have to admit my nerdy addiction to C-Span. Early yesterday morning, I caught an interview with the Executive Producer of this documentary. Fascinating!

Please take a minute to watch. It will likely raise questions for you as it did for me. I wish you could have seen the interview which answerered some of the major ones like:

1. Weren't there other American students that could have been selected for this?

2. The ending of the film (not shown in this trailer) seems to justify the American system. Why?

I'm not an instructional design expert nor a public education administrator. However, I do have my own opinion on principles that are needed in education reform. Mainly:

a. At least as much staff and resource support should be given to gifted and talented students as remedial ones. I think we hold a lot of students from reaching their potential by setting the bar and not seeing how far they can reach beyond it.

b. Something has to change with discipline. Teachers and administrators can't be motivated by what will or won't get them sued. Right and wrong exist. Let's bring them back to our schools.

c. Teachers need competition. I support performance pay for exceptional teachers and think tenure and the teacher's unions (in some degree) are aiding the decline of education while substandard or unhappy teachers stay for 20 years just to collect a paycheck.

The funny thing is.. I do still see myself in education ultimately. I should probably start thinking about how to be part of the solution.

Purging the Digital Camera

Finally making a debut... a few random shots that have been accumulating on my digital camera. (Complete with commentary). You can click on any to enlarge them.

1. Stonewall Jackson's home in Lexington, VA - fast becoming one of my favorite places and considerations for a place to settle someday. (the town, not the house) - These first few shots are dedicated to Amanda T.

2. If I remember correctly, these are called "Walking Cabbages". This one resides in Stonewall Jackson's kitchen garden. I took this shot for the past occupants of Club 2010. We once tried to plant these, thinking they were going to stay close to the ground. Much to our dismay, they grew on tall stalks and we thought we were back patio gardening failures. This shot redeems us.

3. Stonewall Jackson Monument in the Stonewall Jackson Cemetary, Lexington, VA. I believe he was once buried on this spot, but moved to the next photo spot, or vice versa.

4. Stonewall Jackson burial site in the family plot (see note above) - Also in the Stonewall Jackson (formerly Presbyterian) Cemetary.

5. Robert E. Lee's home while President of Washington & Lee University, Lexington VA

6. Lee Chapel, Washington & Lee Campus, Lexington VA - Lee, along with his family, are buried in the crypt below the Chapel. A fantastic museum is on the lower level. His beloved horse, Traveller is also buried on the property.

7. Just a really cool brick facade in downtown Lexington. I wanted to know more about the history of the building, but settled for taking a picture. I've never seen such an intricate brick pattern. What workmanship!

8. MY DREAM HOUSE!!! - Lexington, VA. I've often thought about different architectural features I would love in a house someday. While simply driving out of town, I noticed this gem in the downtown area and had to stop to take a picture. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the copper roof, large side bay window, whitewashed redbrick look, front porch and little dormer window. How hard do you think it would be to keep track of it and own it someday?



9. A view of the Lynchburg 9th Street Corridor, taken at last spring's Lynch's Ferry Festival.

10. The Williamsburg Fife and Drum crew that came to the Ferry Festival.

Heck Yeah!

I first got a cell phone in 2001. My first ring tone was "take me out to the ballgame". Not too long after that it became the familiar notes of John Williams found here. It was just last week that I graduated to a "grownup" tone, after 7 years of Indie.

Even better this time around is that much of the movie was filmed in my home town of Deming, NM! You can catch some great scenic glimpses at seconds 32-33 and 39.

This is one I must see on opening night. Who's in?

Gifts and Burdens (a repeat)

This was originally written exactly a year ago on 2/28/07. I'm reposting because a new comment just got submitted to the old site, and I wanted Robert to have a chance to let his memories be heard ;-)

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Today I partook in an ongoing and generally personally unpleasant experience. Yet, it still leaves me feeling good about myself – Donating Blood.

For those familiar with my former donation antics, today was typical. Despite my giving up Diet Dr. Pepper and now consuming mass quantities of water all the time, and my fairly consistent exercise schedule, my veins were hard to find, and half way through,… I became light-headed. The first time this happened, along with today, I found myself wondering if the sudden intense feelings of heat, slight sensation of nausea and fading vision were what it feels like when you’re about to pass out. I’ve never actually passed out, but I have concluded that it is indeed. If you’ve ever passed out and can remember what it felt like, I’d welcome your confirmation or correction of my hypotheis.

I’m growing accustomed to having 4 phlebotomists suddenly at my side, a magically appearing Styrofoam cup of Sprite with a bendy straw slyly inserted between my lips, my foot rest shooting up, my head coming quickly down and droves of volunteers for 30 minutes after that asking if I’m ok or need more to drink. I’m not fond of the attention. Maybe I’d feel better if I witnessed someone else go through this, to know I’m not alone.

Why do I continue to subject myself to this?

Because I feel socially obligated. It’s not comfortable, it’s not fun for me, but knowing that it could help someone on the other end is satisfying enough for me. I possess healthy blood, and in someone else’s tragedy or emergency – it will come in handy.

This did make me think, largely because of preparing an upcoming lesson for young women’s, about other gifts and talents we each have. In large part, I think the personal innate strengths we possess were given us to benefit someone else. It may not be comfortable to share them and giving service can sometimes feel awkward. Gifts can be burdens. But, ultimately, they do no good when we’re selfish with them.

Oh… and as a footnote, perhaps if any of you out there who don’t donate blood could start, the supply would stay at high enough levels that those of us who struggle through it can cut back a little Just a thought…

Extreme Makeover - Blog Edition

Tada!



After months of admiring other bloggers' creations, I finally stumbled on how some of them ended up so cute and what amount of html programming has to be braved. Here's to becoming a little more unique than the blogger template!

The Health Science Major makes Healthy Attempts

Ok, so I already mentioned by abandonment of Diet Dr. Pepper and carbonation in general. I've also picked up a few other good habits of late. Specifically, avoiding the following:

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup - I remember a guest at Elizabeth's bridal shower mentioning she didn't want the leftover jam from crepes because she tries not to feed her little girl any high fructose corn syrup. Hmm... That must have gotten me thinking. It's amazing, once you start looking, at how many items have it in there. I had to change the salsa I usually buy, along with yogurt, bread, some beverages (Vitamin Waters have it in them) and ketchup. I have a visual reminder of that commercial with a school play and the kids are dressed like food additives. I think of the drippy chemically altered child standing on the stage. It's motivating.


2. Partially Hydrogenized Anything - The source of most transfats. I haven't had to make many changes for this one. But, instead of the visual reminder while shopping, I have a little voice in my head that sounds like Heidi Klum on an episode of Project Runway. As I scan down the list of ingredients, I hear, "you are OUT" or conversely, "you are IN".


3. Biting my nails - I've had acrylics for several years to combat my bad habit of biting my nails. It was the only way i could keep presentable hands. During the last 2 months on the campaign trail, there was no time to get them filled. I just couldn't justify leaving the office while everyone was feverishly busy to get my nails done. The product of that time was some really horrid looking fingers as I bit the acrylics off and proceeded on to my own nails and cuticles. MAGICALLY when the campaign ended, I realized I had a hint of nails growing back in. Since then, I have been able to avoid them. They actually look great and natural. I'll just have to make sure I keep myself in check when my stress level goes up again.