pictures

Sorting pictures, send them as they come . They are varied I no idea what you will end up with !well that is all you get for now,if that gets through for some reason it won't accept pictures, and computer froze. Apologies. Will try again
rh

It's about time Pictures only.

I am headed out birding, but when I get back I will start sorting my pictures and clearing up my troglodytic hovel from which I type. I find that instead of the boring tile, a scattering of LPs, bird books , VHS tapes,
cd cases without the correct cd in them, Album covers without albums in them, notes to myself which I never followed through on 2 hats a shirt, the Gandalf staff I never finished a Blackthorn cane from SW Ireland, optical equipment an old Canon Film camera I am messing with trying to figure out how to use the lenses on my digital, maybe duct tape, a stuffed chicken(dog toy) and 2 sleeping dogs. and a cat. I do not have a clue what is in that Xmas light stable and farm box, but I know it is not that. SWMBO has that in her Witch room, surrounded by horse figurines. Some kind of curse causing alter methinks.I look around A cowboy hat that does not fit me on the lamp, and my CORRECTLY folded by a registered Harley Hells Angel american flag bandana, which I wore with complete leathers when I rode "Bitch" on a Harley with others. One of the most exciting days of my life ! Among the nicest folk I ever met.
I find it quite attractive and homely.
I look around and realise there is not enough time to relate the next five shelves. How to explain the radio controlled mouse I built, the wireless rain gauge and the cricket cabin.Amongst other stuff!!
Gone birding. Pics later
Roger

Birds are good parents !

My last teaching blog was most depressing !
So on a cheerful note note, here is the entire family of Verminousillian Flycs that nested in the Cemetery. As you can see one was a daddies boy and went everywhere with him ,and the other two chased Mom around. Light was working against me a bit at first light that sunday but you takes what you can get !
Enjoy
Roger

Todays teaching, sorry if the truth bothers you.

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Not for the faint of heart. Warned you. Part one test results

Thought I would start off with a bird having more luck than humans at teaching their young.
Classrooms are now basicly jungles, there is no respect for authority, there is no concistent administration. 8 principals in 10 years. All of whom have a different philosophy, and want classroom procedures to change. No consistency. The state changes the rules every year. We teach to a test, because of that criminal Bush. The rules change every year. The staff changes every year. As people bail. People get laid off because of budgets and notification deadlines. They find they have the money and have to go find new teachers.Bluthe recruits teachers from the Phillipines. Nice people sure, but whats wrong with Riverside. Answer . They get them at minimum wage, more than back home , wait for their visa to run out and go get more. No Joke..
Earth science was a Lab Science, max 28 students, 5 sections equalled 140 students. Good. New classrooms designed for that.Policy change, Earth science now a text book class. Went to 6 sections and shortened the classroom time. I started the year with 215 students,all 9th grade, retreads, and recidovists.You do he classroom numbers.Not enough chairs and tables.Periods are 50 minutes, so by the time you have them calmed down sat and taken attendence, you have 40 if you are lucky. Peridically you have to take away i-pods and collect text messengers equipment and fill out the paper work, another 5 minutes. Guaranteed another 5 minutes putting wanderes back in their seats. Then there is the inevitable 'You go fuck yourself you nigger fucking ho" outburst.Then you have the "Mr Higson can I go to the bathroom interruption" ie they just got a text message and wish to reply in the bathroom or the text is from the other half to meet outside. Then you have to explain why when you say NO, you mean it ! Then after you explain the assignment which is written on the board you have to find pencils for kids who have sat there 10 minutes for doing nothing. Then you ask Jorge why aren't you doing anything ? "Oh what are we doing" This leaves for a good quality 10 minutes. Do not get me wrong I have some great students, but there should be some way of putting them together, and letting me have a fun couple of periods. And just stick the dregs in another class, where I can baby sit them.I had one class with 6 of the brightest students in. Polite and willing to learn. All got 100%, not by my efforts but theirs. Same class 3 students 0%, they came to school to socialize and disrupt. Yes thats right 0%. Not a pencil touched paper. Two others where in and out of Juvy Hall, plus one was a halfed stoned sniggerer, and her totally stoned sidekick. Getting the picture.
"Why don't you just fucking shut up asshole nobody gives a fucking shit about school anyway" Greeted one of my lectures !
About 30% live on the move, different house every week or in cars. Probably 70% one parent, the other in the local prison. the list goes on.
People just seem to savour their schhol days but society is crumbling.
Hell you cry, you are just a shitty teacher. I think not, I was head of the Science department, at one school mentor teacher at this school and got some Presidential thing for my "I love me wall" , signed with his own rubber stamp somewhere. May have tossed it. New teachers come to me for advice, and in tears. You would be frightened in some classes, I have gone in and broken up. Teachers should not be scared to go into their rooms
I have 3 simple classrooms. Every year we get a motivational speaker who explains how to write up our classroom rules by working with the students input, and discussing what they think will make for a calm learning environment you can work in with mutual respect. Where do they find these nutters?
My rules written for all to see.
RULE 1. Do not screw with anyone or anything in this room, or I will screw with you. And I have had years of practice and I am good.
RULE 2. There is no rule 2.
RULE 3 Reread rule one.
Participation in classroom policy my butt.
Due to budget cuts I may have 210 students this next year. Boy California sure loves education.
Enough for one day.
A person can only absorb so much doom and gloom.
A student asked me just how old was I?
My answer "Old enough to be dead before you guys take over"
And I mean it.
rh

Sam I am , pets and birds.

There is no point in bitching about the weather any more. If you have not caught on to the fact that Blythe in July is not good.You are obviously not sentient.I found out way back that when I leave the store where I buy crickets for my classroom reptiles , I have 8 minutes to get them to school otherwise they quite literally melt. Hence, my invention, the "Cricket Cooler". Soon to be available from the shopping channel ! "$1;00 each"
If you buy three, you get an extra one, and you only pay shipping and handling. Of only ( an undisclosed number to be decided by me !)
Pets ? Sat looking at Samuel H Adams, back up to my pal Guinness. What a dedicated mess.We go with "Sam I am", as he looks like Dr Seuss designed him after several beers ! None of the bits match. I am thinking Chihuahua x Dachsund x Rhodesian Ridgeback x Golden Retriever x whatever male dog was passing by at the time. After the enormous fun I had describing my last pound hound as a Dublin Terrier, I am pondering something a bit more American. His front legs go in the wrong direction which would make climbing trees easy, by cluthching them, and he has a powerful back end, and is a fabulous retriever. Thinking Cameron County Squirrel Hound, you only find them in the swamps of Loooeasy-anna ! Any way his picture is posted !So if you meet him you will know his name.How do you get good pets, after you have lost a best one ? Go to the pound, on a whim,like I did with Guinness and you will know the moment. Walk down death row and look in their eyes. When that set of eyes clicks, get it. I assure you it does not matter what the Hell it looks like. It is yours. Sam was a just caught stray, a ghetto rat,was filthy and infested with matted hair. SWMBO said"Look at this beautiful Spaniel" "What are you holding". "My god". I waited the required 5 days, took him to the beautification parlour. And his pic is above ! It is strange looking back over 40 years of pet ownership, and there have been many from snakes to horses . The only pets I have had problems with have been ones I have said "We are buying a...." Only done it twice both disasters
. But everything else has found us.
"I paid $300 for this Siamese cat and it bites" this officious lady was saying,( I felt I needed a Siamese cat to replace my previous George for some reason),as I walked in the Devore pound. Damn thing is still bugging me 12 years later. My horses, swmbo had to put down her beloved Hawkwind, a Hunter horse out of Northern Dancer. I told her wait, something will happen. Month later, she crossed paths with a coastel chap with too many horses, and a major recession lack of funds, who had a beautiful 3 year old gelding I looked at. He paid $14000 for it off the track. I have the papers here, from the seller and the Jockey Club. It is out of Secretariat , Seattle Slew some other stupid one toed cow, those who know drool about.
I did not pay anything close to that, knock a zero off. Cash flow. So I used up my medical funds. I did not need another camera anyway !
Net result, stunning looking Race Horse, and the coven leader out of the house all day polishing it, and boasting to the rest of the Horse bitches from Hell. Hopefully they will get sick of it, and turn her into a Newt ! Worth every damn penny..
I guess I need a conclusion !
My point is if you need a pet do not go to a puppy mill/pet store/ breeder, check out the pound first. Or hang until some one says. I am sick of this pet, you will probably find it is the pet sick of the owner.
Of course there are exceptions to that rule, my ringed parrot Gus would tear my eyes out in a second, unless I am clutching an apple slice in trembling hands. You can't show fear with that one !
Birds essentially none, they moved on from the sewage plant over night. And barely anything replaced them. But a nice Yellowlegs, and a Pied Billed Grebe, getting orientated for tomorrow night. The space shuttle will be visible after it leaves the Space Station, and both will pass as seperate bright lights in The North tomorrow night. And a twitter bird, of the desert variety.
Stay out of the heat. Roger

Aphorisms

Good morrow. I love aphorisms. Some adult people recognise them, kinda , but not really and the youth of today won't hear you as they have their i-pods in their ears.
I just finished a most splendid scathing letter to the paper ending with "You can't make a silk purse etc " It was fun. My father used to love to mix them up. His favourite was "It's like water off a ducks back, in one ear and out the other" Sage nodding. He did actually chuckle and approve my effort "Nevr mind.It's all just spilt milk under the bridge" Yes it is 4 am and the system is in motion. It will probably grind to a halt around noon.Why?
Too hot, and a dear chum dropped off 5 boxes of VHS tapes from an estate sale. Ancient TV shows, assorted movies, and tons of bootlegged stuff from the BBC, early second city live and SNL. Tuna fishing, Nat geog you name it. I did come across a naughty one, in part. Played it 127 times, my response "Gosh is she agile or what " and a deep sense of envy ! Such is age !!!
One set is the entire "I claudius " BBC suite it appears. Have to dig into that. I remember years ago when it was on BBC tv, my little brother coming to dinner and saying he was watching , enunciation "I Klav-divs " Stunned silence. My father caught on as the titles where writtin in stone at the beginning in Roman writing. "I CLAVDIVS " Roman stone masons not making U's, but they did invent the seriph. Sorry Paul !
Will attach some pics from yesterday.
Go Tom Watson.
rh