Digitally speaking...

Earth Day Quiz

2009-04-21T08:56:00.003-05:00

Earth Day is April 22. What began in America in 1970 as a day to promote environmental awareness has become a year-round global campaign to protect and conserve the Earth and its resources. How much do you know about conservation? Take this quiz and find out.

1. On average, what is the approximate daily home water use for each person in the U.S.?
A. 25 gallons
B. 50 gallons
C. 100 gallons
D. 200 gallons

2. On average, what percentage of household water is used outdoors for watering lawns and gardens?
A. 10-30 percent
B. 30-50 percent
C. 50-70 percent
D. 70-90 percent

3. Approximately what percentage of the water in the world can be used to meet the agricultural, residential, manufacturing, community and personal needs of humans?
A. 1 percent
B. 5 percent
C. 25 percent
D. 40 percent

4. Approximately how many sheets of 100% virgin copy paper can be made from one tree that is roughly 40 feet tall and 6-8 inches in diameter?
A. 2,000 sheets
B. 8,000 sheets
C. 20,000 sheets
D. 50,000 sheets

5. In the average home, which of the following uses the most water?
A. Flushing the toilet
B. Filling the bathtub
C. Taking a 10-minute shower
D. Washing one load of clothes

6. For approximately how long can a person live without water?
A. Two days
B. Four days
C. One week
D. Two weeks

7. Which of the following takes the longest time to break down or disintegrate?
A. Disposable diaper
B. Hard plastic container
C. Aluminum can
D. Plastic 6-pack holder

8. Which of the following accounts for the greatest percentage of total waste in the U.S.?
A. Yard trimmings
B. Paper
C. Plastics
D. Glass

9. In the same amount of time, which of the following home appliances consumes the most electricity?
A. Space heater
B. Hair dryer
C. Computer and monitor
D. Water heater

10. Which of the following accounts for the greatest percentage of a typical home energy bill?
A. Heating and cooling
B. Clothes washer and dryer
C. Computer and monitor
D. Refrigerator

11. Which of the following is NOT a renewable resource?
A. Ethanol
B. Natural gas
C. Hydrogen
D. Methanol

12. What substance is released into the atmosphere when solid waste, fossil fuels and wood products are burned?
A. Hydrogen peroxide
B. Sodium chloride
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Calcium sulfate

13. Which of the following U.S. government environmental acts was NOT a result of the first Earth Day demonstrations?
A. Endangered Species Act
B. Clean Water Act
C. Clean Air Act
D. National Wash-Your-Car Day

Find out what your carbon footprint is? http://www.myfootprint.org/en/

Amazing Fact

2009-03-20T14:05:00.002-05:00

Just thought you would like to know...

At five minutes and six seconds after 4 AM on the 8th of July this year, the time and date will be :

04:05:06 07/08/09

This will never happen again.

Funny stuff..There are people like that

2009-03-20T13:21:00.001-05:00

March Madness

2009-03-16T07:18:00.001-05:00

You are invited to join my on-line NCAA March Madness bracket group! To accept this invitation and join the group, click the link below (or cut and paste the link into your browser's address bar). You'll be asked to enter the group's password before you can join. The group password is included below.

Register with your actual name. It's free and just for fun.

http://brucew.mayhem.cbssports.com/e?referrer=MKTG_BM_INVITE

Our Group password is: room117

CMYK vs RGB

2009-03-02T07:52:00.003-06:00

DG - Please read the following sources describing the difference between RGB color and CMYK color. Also, what is Pantone?

http://www.printernational.org/rgb-versus-cmyk.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwM792cba-U

http://fonts-typography.suite101.com/article.cfm/choosing_cmyk_or_rgb

http://www.planetpdf.com/creative/article.asp?ContentID=rgb_versus_cmyk

http://www.colorguides.net/pantone.html

11-11-08 Veterans Day

2008-11-11T02:00:00.002-06:00

Don't forget to honor the veterans in your family today. We live in peace at a great price, thanks to all of those who serve and sacrifice for our country.

DG - Create your own logotype (26 letter alphabet) using 3 colors. Layer the colors, then 'merge down' the layers. Try to be original as you shape each letter. Make your letters a little larger than normal so that you can put in more detail. Save as personal logotype.

Video - Click on the 2nd link on yesterday's blog and read all of the information. When you finish, I want you to begin your research on your issue for your C-Span video. This is just like a research paper in that you must site each place you get your information. The information must be accurate and supportable. I will be checking your sources. Create your research document in Word and save as cspan.

Desktop - Write your FireWire stories for the week. BE CREATIVE!

Hurricane season -humor

2008-09-01T11:34:00.000-05:00

We're about to enter the peak of the hurricane season.
Any day now, you're going to turn on the TV and see a weather person pointing to some radar blob out in the Gulf of Mexico and making two basic meteorological points:
(1) There is no need to panic.
(2) We could all be killed.

Yes, hurricane season is an exciting time to be in Texas or Louisiana. If you're new to the area, you're probably wondering what you need to do to prepare for the possibility that we'll get hit by "the big one.''

Based on our experiences, we recommend that you follow this simple three-step hurricane preparedness plan:

STEP 1.
Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least three days.
STEP 2.
Put these supplies into your car.
STEP 3.
Drive to Nebraska and remain there until Halloween.

Unfortunately, statistics show that most people will not follow this sensible plan. Most people will foolishly stay here in Texas or Louisiana.

We'll start with one of the most important hurricane preparedness items:

HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE:
If you own a home, you must have hurricane insurance. Fortunately, this insurance is cheap and easy to get, as long as your home meets two basic requirements:
(1) It is reasonably well-built, and
(2) It is located in Nebraska.
Unfortunately, if your home is located in Texas or Louisiana, or any other area that might actually be hit by a hurricane, most insurance companies would prefer not to sell you hurricane insurance, because then they might be required to pay YOU money, and that is certainly not why they got into the insurance business in the first place.

So you'll have to scrounge around for an insurance company, which will charge you an annual premium roughly equal to the replacement value of your house. At any moment, this company can drop you like used dental floss.

Since Hurricane George, I have had an estimated 27 different home-insurance companies. This week, I'm covered by the Bob and Big Stan Insurance Company, under a policy which states that, in addition to my premium, Bob and Big Stan are entitled, on demand, to my kidneys.

SHUTTERS:
Your house should have hurricane shutters on all the windows, all the doors, and -- if it's a major hurricane -- all the toilets. There are several types of shutters, with advantages and disadvantages:

Plywood shutters:
The advantage is that, because you make them yourself, they're cheap. The disadvantage is that, because you make them yourself, they will fall off.

Sheet-metal shutters:
The advantage is that these work well, once you get them all up. The disadvantage is that once you get them all up, your hands will be useless bleeding stumps, and it will be December.

Roll-down shutters:
The advantages are that they're very easy to use, and will definitely protect your house. The disadvantage is that you will have to sell your house to pay for them.

"Hurricane-proof'' windows:
These are the newest wrinkle in hurricane protection: They look like ordinary windows, but they can withstand hurricane winds! You can be sure of this, because the salesman says so.
He lives in Nebraska.

"Hurricane Proofing Your Property:
As the hurricane approaches, check your yard for movable objects like barbecue grills, planters, patio furniture, visiting relatives, etc.. You should, as a precaution, throw these items into your swimming pool (if you don't have a swimming pool, you should have one built immediately).
Otherwise, the hurricane winds will turn these objects into deadly missiles.

EVACUATION ROUTE:
If you live in a low-lying area, you should have an evacuation route planned out. (To determine whether you live in a low-lying area, look at your driver's license; if it says ``Louisiana,'' or, “Texas,” you live in a low-lying area.)

The purpose of having an evacuation route is to avoid being trapped in your home when a major storm hits. Instead, you will be trapped in a gigantic traffic jam several miles from your home, along with two hundred thousand other evacuees. So, as a bonus, you will not be lonely.

HURRICANE SUPPLIES:
If you don't evacuate, you will need a mess of supplies. Do not buy them now! Texas and Louisiana tradition requires that you wait until the last possible minute, then go to the supermarket and get into vicious fights with strangers over who gets the last can of SPAM.
In addition to food and water, you will need the following supplies:
23 flashlights
At least $167 worth of batteries that turn out, when the power goes off, to be the wrong size for the flashlights.
Bleach. (No, I don't know what the bleach is for. NOBODY knows what the bleach is for, but it's traditional, so GET some!)
A 55-gallon drum of underarm deodorant.
A big knife that you can strap to your leg. (This will be useless in a hurricane, but it looks cool.)
A large quantity of raw chicken, to placate the alligators. (Ask anybody who went through Camille; after the hurricane, there WILL be irate alligators.)
$35,000 in cash or diamonds so that, after the hurricane passes, you can buy a generator from a man with no discernible teeth.

Of course these are just basic precautions. As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the ocean and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the ocean.

Good luck, and remember: It's great living in Paradise!

This article was written by Dave Barry, I think

Nuclear posibilities

2008-06-26T07:51:00.001-05:00

What is the history of nuclear weapons worldwide? When have the been used and by whom?

Why is it important for Iran and North Korea not to have this capability?

Why is it ok for France , Great Britian and the United States to have nuclear weapons but not others?

What is the fate of the nuclear weapons in the former Soviet Union not that the Soviet Union has divided into many different states?

Hollywood

2008-06-20T07:58:00.002-05:00

Comment on the following article:

It seems that every single opportunity that celebrities have, they use it to voice their political beliefs. Overwhelming images of Hollywood protesters dominate the media. I am very supportive of free speech rights in this country. I understand that it is usually the extreme opinions that need protecting, not the majority ones.

The problem that I wish to address is the very idea that the media in concert with the Hollywood elite try their hardest to convince the world, policy makers, and the American public that they represent the majority, mainstream American viewpoint. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Oscar awards program this year is proof of this fact. Celebrities leave their plush homes from Beverly Hills, Malibu, Palm Springs or the Hamptons in a limousine to be whisked away to a private airplane that takes them to the city where the event is to occur.
Streets are then blocked so that these special folks don’t have to encounter the “real” public. They squabble over who arrives when and in what order. Much to do is made of how big the limo is and who they arrive with along with what they are wearing. Not much is said explaining that these folks don’t pay for these garments and jewelry. They are given to the stars in hopes of driving fashion trends and publicity.

After arrival, they walk on a red carpet so that their feet won’t have to touch the sidewalk where the rest of the commoners walk. Then they attend the show where they pat themselves on the back and bestow awards on each other for working in the world of pretend. As the awards are given, each celebrity gets the rare privilege of saying anything they want on any topic and having it beamed to literally millions of people. The only reason that they are given this rare privilege is because they are good pretenders, good musicians or one of the “pretty people”.

During their tirades, the majority uses this rare opportunity to turn on the very country that provides them a more than adequate living and berate our leaders for a war that they do not understand. If they were privy to the classified information gathered by executive agencies and were given briefings by military intelligence and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the State Department, then I would consider what they had to say an informed view. But to bow down to their views simply because they are celebrities and they say so is ridiculous.

When their moment in the spotlight ends, they fade off into a commercial. Notice that they are never questioned publicly about their assertions, they never have to stand and answer questions from the real press concerning their biased views. Contrast that with the President, State Department and Military who must account to the press after every statement, misstatement, or off-camera remark made by every junior official. Where is their accountability? More notably, where is my opportunity to respond that reaches the same vast audience?

After the show, they are whisked back into their gated, security-laden, palatial compounds where they continue to live in the pretend world they are so accustomed to. Please remind me again why their views represent mainstream America?

Sports

2008-06-18T07:31:00.002-05:00

What is your favorite sport? Why do you watch? Who are the sport's stars? Is there any meaning to the sport? Why is the sport popular? What teams are always good, always bad? Where is it played and at what time of the year? What is World Cup Soccer? What about the Olympics?

Read the movie summary below and add this to your discussion of 'sport'.

Movie Rollerball (1975)
In a futuristic society where corporations have replaced countries, the violent game of Rollerball is used to control the populace by demonstrating the futility of individuality. However, one player, Jonathan E., rises to the top, and fights for his personal freedom and threatens the corporate control. Written byJeff Hansen. The year is 2018. There is no crime and there are no more wars. Corporations are now the leaders of the world, as well as the controllers of the people. A violent futuristic game known as Rollerball is now the recreational sport of the world, with teams representing various areas competing for the title of champion. The defending championship team, the Houston team led by the determined ten-year veteran Johnathan E., are looking to repeat as champions. However, Bartholomew, the sinister corporate head, wants Johnathan to retire, even though he is the most respected athlete of his time. Johnathan's rebellious quest will not come out with complications, both for him and his teammates, after he decides to continue playing despite Bartholomew's threats.

Jobs

2008-06-16T08:11:00.003-05:00

1.What do you think of entry level jobs? What is their purpose? What are some of the negative issues about entry level jobs?

http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/justforstudents/a/parttimejob.htm

2. What is important for a person to accomplish during a job interview? What should an applicant look like during the interview?

http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco20045.htm

3. What is a fair time to be employed at an entry level job? How long should someone stay there before moving to a new one?

http://www.vault.com/nr/newsmain.jsp?nr_page=3&ch_id=421&article_id=12098236&cat_id=81

4. What are the fields (jobs) that have the brightest outlook for potential careers?

http://www.degreeselect.com/degreeSelectLogin.do?articleId=26

http://www.jobweb.com/studentarticles.aspx?id=1219

5. What is the difference between a job and a career?

6. What should students keep in mind when working during the school year?

What is the result of TV shows on individual character?

2008-06-12T07:29:00.000-05:00

Find some links that discuss this issue. Does TV influence the culture or the other way around? Who is most vulnerable? What is the role of TV and what should the role of TV be?

Opponents carry injured home-run hitter around bases

2008-05-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - With two runners on base and a strike against her, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University uncorked her best swing and did something she had never done, in high school or college. Her first home run cleared the center-field fence. But it appeared to be the shortest of dreams come true when she missed first base, started back to tag it and collapsed with a knee injury.

She crawled back to first but could do no more. The first-base coach said she would be called out if her teammates tried to help her. Or, the umpire said, a pinch runner could be called in, and the homer would count as a single.
Then, members of the Central Washington University softball team stunned spectators by carrying Tucholsky around the bases Saturday so the three-run homer would count - an act that contributed to their own elimination from the playoffs. Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the career home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Tucholsky. The umpire said there was no rule against it. So Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky's legs, and she put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the base paths, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her good leg.
"The only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt," Tucholsky said. "I told her it was my right leg and she said, 'OK, we're going to drop you down gently and you need to touch it with your left leg,' and I said 'OK, thank you very much."' "She said, 'You deserve it, you hit it over the fence,' and we all kind of just laughed." "We started laughing when we touched second base," Holtman said. "I said, 'I wonder what this must look like to other people."'
"We didn't know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run," Wallace said Wednesday. "That makes the story more touching than it was. We just wanted to help her." Holtman said she and Wallace weren't thinking about the playoff spot, and didn't consider the gesture something others wouldn't do. As for Tucholsky, the 5-foot-2 right fielder was focused on her pain. "I really didn't say too much. I was trying to breathe," she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday. "I didn't realize what was going on until I had time to sit down and let the pain relax a little bit," she said. "Then I realized the extent of what I actually did." "I hope I would do the same for her in the same situation," Tucholsky added.
As the trio reached home plate, Tucholsky said, the entire Western Oregon team was in tears. Central Washington coach Gary Frederick, a 14-year coaching veteran, called the act of sportsmanship "unbelievable." For Western Oregon coach Pam Knox, the gesture resolved the dilemma Tucholsky's injury presented. "She was going to kill me if we sub and take (the home run) away. But at the same time I was concerned for her. I didn't know what to do," Knox said. Tucholsky's injury is a possible torn ligament that will sideline her for the rest of the season, and she plans to graduate in the spring with a degree in business. Her home run sent Western Oregon to a 4-2 victory, ending Central Washington's chances of winning the conference and advancing to the playoffs. "In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much," Holtman said. "It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run."

Geography challenge

2008-03-25T08:09:00.003-05:00

All -
Go to http://sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/brackets/viewable_men

On a word document, find what state each school is in. Group the schools in 4 regions south, east, midwest and west. List all 64 teams by region.

Region Map

Then look at the sweet 16 teams still playing which region is the most powerful.

Reign Of Fire

2008-01-23T08:11:00.001-06:00

Answer the following questions based on the film, Reign of Fire. Not all can be answered on the first day. Wait and watch for yourself. Don’t ask your neighbor for help. This will be for a grade. Copy and paste this in a Word document and answer the questions completely. Spelling and grammar counts!

1. What is the setting of the movie?
2. What is the predominant mood of the movie? What is the director trying to make you feel?
3. How is this mood achieved?
4. What is the predominant color of the movie?
5. Is there a representation of good and evil? Who are they characterized by?
6. Why do you think the sequence of Quinn going into the subway in the beginning is scary?
7. What effects were used to enhance this movie and why were they used?
8. Do you think there was any symbolism in the fact that people were “of the earth” or housed underground while the beasts were “of the air”?
9. What effects were digital graphics? Were they effective and why were they created and not filmed?
10. How were the Americans viewed by the Quinn group? Is there any parallel to history?
11. Was patriotism a strand in this movie? Elaborate!
12. What was the role of technology in the film?
13. Were there references to any other films in the movie?
14. One of the Quinn group decides to go out on their own. What kind of challenge did that create to Quinn?
15. During the siege of the castle scene, how many camera shots (changes in angle) per minute were there?
16. What turned out to be the role of Matthew McConaughey? What was his significance?
17. Parallel this movie with World War II.

Watch carefully, if you are absent one of the days, TOUGH! Go rent the movie.

The Legal drug problem

2007-10-24T07:52:00.000-05:00

Read this link (discussion to follow):
http://www.family.samhsa.gov/get/otcdrugs.aspx

Marijuana: Misconceptions

2007-10-23T07:50:00.000-05:00

Try this site for good information: Article

DG and Desktop: Make a poster (8 x 10) with the top 3 misconceptions you had about marijuana. Title the poster "Did You Know"

Red Ribbon Week

2007-10-22T14:09:00.000-05:00

Please read the following article and comment on the blog. Go to www.i-dineout.com and read the following article:

Passenger Ejected and Killed in One-Vehicle Accident DAYTON, October 21, 2007

Nobel Ipod

2007-10-10T07:57:00.000-05:00

All students - Read this article about the creators of the Ipod technology. I thought it was cool.

Finish assignments from yesterday and we shall have a talk today on a very "heady" topic.

10-9-07

2007-10-08T22:48:00.001-05:00

DG - In Photoshop, design and make a flyer that advertizes a Halloween party or Fall festival. Use multiple layers and as many tricks and effects as we have studied so far. Make the work 4"x 6" and name it "halloween".

Video - Do some research on the internet on what a "storyboard" is. Print out a copy of a sample storyboard and add your captions to it explaining what the parts of a storyboard are. Turn it in by the end of the period.

Desktop - Continue work on yesterday's assignment and be COMPLETELY finish at the end of the period today! No extensions

10-8-07

2007-10-08T02:40:00.000-05:00

DG - This Photoshop tutorial will show you how to create a cheese style text effect. Work on it and create your name using the tutorial. Save it in your folder as cheesetext.

Video - Work on stafford football video. Help Amie get caught up. Make sure you have Title slides, caption slide, and credit roll at the end

Desktop - In publisher, create a poster advertizing your favorite musical group's next concert. Make the concert in Houston at one of the concert venues. Pick a date, bring in a photo of the band, create a large headline, and describe what songs have made them famous. Save as concert in your second folder.

RIAA wins key victory, accused file sharer must pay $220,000

2007-10-05T07:04:00.000-05:00

Read this article and post under comments. Include your name for credit. And you thought file sharing wasn't a big deal...

Once you are finished, today is Friday photoshop fun day, you choose the topic.

Marijuana Myths & Facts

2006-10-26T08:10:00.000-05:00

Today's focus is on marijuana. There are many misconceptions and myths concerning usage of this drug. Find out the real information from the White House Office of Drug Policy.

Marijuana Myths and Facts

Illegal Use of Legal Drugs

2006-10-25T06:58:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it not the illegal drugs that worry us. People can abuse legal drugs. The effects of OTC drug abuse are significant. My example for today is nose spray.

http://www.family.samhsa.gov/get/otcdrugs.aspx

DXM

DG- Create a Project that commemorates Red Ribbon Week at LHS. Put information on it that you learned this week. Be creative and precise in your project.

Video- Create a filming/creative schedule for WIR

Desktop- All articles due today for people who didn't volunteer...no excuses!

Today's focus: Smoking

2006-10-24T07:12:00.000-05:00

The links below are very informative. Check out the ACS site and scroll down to see what happens when a person quits smoking. I was amazed.

American Cancer Society

Centers for Disease Control

Kid's Health

Red Ribbon Week

2006-10-23T07:49:00.000-05:00

We will have a pause this week to consider living a Drug-Free life. I hope you will consider all of the time and effort that Mrs. Kattner and many others have dedicted to raising your awareness level for Red-Ribbon week. Come to class with an open mind and a willingness to change your destiny. I'm not kidding!

It will be a great week.

http://www.radford.edu/~kcastleb/toc.html

Border Fence

2006-10-05T08:32:00.000-05:00

I agree that all people in our country, and in every country, should only be there if they are legal and in the country with proper documentation. However, notice where the $2.2 billion to $9 billion fence will be and where it won't be. So really, how good is a fence with holes in it?

The Executive (President)

2006-09-20T07:15:00.000-05:00

22nd Amendment

Get together in groups of two (2) and make a list of the qualifications for a teacher, a doctor, a preacher and a president. Next to each qualification, write the reason that qualification is included.

Type this in MS Word.

Lawmaking (The Legislative Branch)

2006-09-19T07:09:00.000-05:00

You and 3 friends have landed on an island that has a complete society but they have no government. People regard you and your group as special and they will follow your lead. You must create a government and spell out the duties of the 4 people of your group. (Hint: who makes the rules, what are a few of the most important rules, what happens if someone breaks the rules, how do you change the rules once you have them in place.)

In MS Word, have one of your group type out the details that your group discusses. Another member of the group should create a name for your new society and make a logo for it in Photoshop (DG classes only).

Quiz:
http://www.infoplease.com/quizzes/articles1/1.html

Link to U.S. Government Book
Magruder's American Government Book

Constitution Week Stuff

2006-09-18T10:01:00.000-05:00

http://www.texaslre.org/pne_lessonplancd.html

www.constitutioncenter.org

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Preamble

Photos for Class

2006-04-18T13:39:00.000-05:00

Remember: right click and copy; right click and paste!

How about those Astros?!

2005-10-10T15:45:00.000-05:00

I've been a sports fan for a long time and I've seen alot of amazing plays, games, and athletes but Sunday's game has to be one of the best I've seen. It is fitting that a relatively unknown player like Chris Burke comes through with the game winner. I am a great fan of team sports because of all of the seemingly insignificant things, people, or events that it takes to be successful.

I'm fairly sure that Burke didn't wake up Sunday morning thinking, "Today, I'm gonna be famous for hitting a home run in the longest playoff game ever played." But he did! Be honest, when he came to the plate, you didn't put you feet up and say, "He's the man. This game's over!" You probably thought as most people did that it would be Ensberg, Biggio, or Berkman with the heroics not Burke. But it was him!

Luke Scott thought that his just-foul homer in the 10th inning might have made the difference but it was his walk in the 8th inning that turned out to be the difference in the game! You see the next batter was Lance Berkman who hit a Grand Slam. Scott, being on base at the time, scored!

You may be trying very hard to make it in this world through academics, football, dance, band, choir, volleyball, or whatever. You may be discouraged that you don't play enough, or that nobody really cares whether you are on the team or not. I assure you that you are just as much a part of the success of the team as those who seem more important. Keep up the hard work. Live life and learn and when the time comes for you to do your small part, give it all you have.

Burke and Scott did... and check out where the team is now!

Infinite needs, finite resources!

2005-09-14T16:04:00.002-05:00

As I write this, I am thinking of two particular things: the government and my own personal time. I know they seem, at first, to be miles apart, but there is a common thread.

I can be lured into many, many worthy activities. There is never a shortage of what could be done and things that should be fixed; a list of organizations that are noble and need help or cash; or an unending stack of things to read or learn. I am but a juggler with a set number of hands . Hands which must delicately balance the myriad of acitivites I find myself involved in. Hands that must touch quickly, but not linger as to cause the whole to come crashing down around me.

I only have a set amount of energy :a limited amount of time in the day in which I must operate. Yet, people just keep trying to add more.

The government finds the same thing. Government must focus on what they can do with what they have. There is a point that we all say that's it. No more.

What is your advice for me? How should we approach this problem both personally and governmentally?

Thankful

2005-09-05T09:13:00.000-05:00

What a week this has been. Seven days ago hurricane Katrina devastated the central Gulf Coast. The images that we all have seen will be with us for a long time. Along with this great tragedy comes stories of heroism, inspiration, and hope. I choose to dwell on these.

Thankfulness comes to mind right now as I think of the first responders, the military, the medical response teams, the elected officials, and the list could go on. These folks put their own losses behind them in order to respond to the public's need.

The next group to be thankful for are those who took in these people who were displaced. Churches, cities, states, individual families saw the need and responded. It has truly been a national response to a great tragedy.

And lastly, but not at all insignificant, are the workers staging to rebuild when the time comes. Tree trimming crews, heavy machine operators, power transmission crews, and the list goes on. I choose to focus on greatness of a society like ours. In the days to come, let your support be heard and lift these people up in your prayer.