The Ships Social

Little Gretta( LG) was shopping with Rexy in the ships's mall.
Rexy are you and GrrrJr going to the Summer Ships Social?
Yes. Said Rexy. Jr has not asked me yet but he has been hinting around you know how shy boys are. I want to go too. LG said.
I hope Andy asks me. Do you think that he will? I hope he will.
Have you been to a social with Andy yet? Rexy asked?
No. LG replied just a game or a zombie movie.
Just say in passing that me and Rexy are going to the Social.
Rexy advised.
Give him a minute to ask if you are going with someone then smile and say "Not Yet" as a question. What if he does not ask? LG said.
Next time you see him ..talk about our shopping trip and tell him how nice your new outfit looks. If that does not work, I will get Jr. who Andy follows everywhere, to bring Andy to the social and we will "pack hunt". Rexy said with a grin.

rocks for brains

By the way, Bill, thanks for helping out my rocks for brains kid.
Yeah, what happened with Jr.? Bob asked.
Well, Jr and Rexy were standing by the rear of the ship watching the Gorgos swim
and Rexy said that young Gorgo was “cool” when he dived off the ship.
Let me guess. Bob said . Jr dived off.
Yep. Grrr said. He dd not stop to think that Gorgo is a Sea dino and T-Rex’s are Land dinos.
Would not have mattered. said Bill. Nope.   said Grrr and Bob.
Captain had to heave-to and lower a boat to pick him up.
Lucky for him Mrs. Gorgo was swimming alongside and grabbed him till the boat got there.
Captain was mad and going to confine Jr to the cabin for the rest of the Cruise.
Bill saved his butt. He used your trick. He indentured him for a week. Grrr said.
Let the kid move cargo, hot and dirty in the hole. After a week, he gets his cruise back. Bill said
.Honest kid told the truth. The skipper did not want to ruin his cruise.
Good kid just young and dumb. Sorta like us at that age. Bill said.
That is the truth. said Grrr . Sure is. said Bob.

Bob and Grrr were visiting with the head of ship's security in his office down and in back of the ship. Chief Bill Smith was an old marine who loved dino movies. 
The three guys were sitting around the office watching "LOST WORLD' on the 80In HDSSTV and enjoying rootbeer and coffee.
Good coffee Bill. Fine Root Beer as well. Grrr said taking a big happy drink. 
Thanks fellas. Bill replied.
Hey, Grrr. What time were we supposed to meet the girls and go to the ship' mall and shop for cruise wear? Bob asked.
I seem to have left my watch in the cabin. Said Grrr.
That's funny. I seemed to have done the same. Bob said.
Me too.said Bill.
Have another drink fellas and try these animal crackers.
The big fight part is coming up. said Bill. That is the best part.
Yep.Said Bob...Yep. Said Grrr. Yep. Said Bill.

As Grrr hurried into the Captain's office, he saw Grrr Jr. in his swim suit dripping on the captain's rug, a rather large crewdino standing behind Jr. and a very angry and unhappy looking captain.
Thank you for coming Mr. Rex. 
Your welcome Captain. What is the problem?
Your son, sir, was diving..diving off the fantail of my ship!!
Why, except for the good offices of Mrs. Gorgo, who was swimming beside the ship and rescued him, he would now be 20 miles astern and feeding the fish!!!!
Thank you. Captain said Grrr.
Jr. said Grrr. Why were you in the sea????
That is Not all sir, an angry captain interjected.
I had to heave-to and put boats in the water. I shall have to file a report with the Coast Guard and the Insurance people.
Thank you Captain. Grrr answered, I see that this a serious matter. But the boy still has a right to speak.
Son???

Freedom and the brave new world

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TQZ-2iMUR0&feature=related

This can be a bit hard to follow but well worth the effort.
Keep in mind that it was first aired over 50 years ago.

Health Care

Health Care.
We are going to end up with some sort of national health plan.
This is not the 1950s, people have come to expect dental care and health care. 
Most got it as part of the job..once a job was for life. In my father's time or even mine, you would go to work stay 40 years and retire with health care from the job as part of retirement.
That has not been the norm since the 70's.

The jobs have been shipped over seas and the benefits with them.
Fine ...good for the stock..the CEO gets another 10 million.

As Jefferson said a merchant has no country..his loyalty is to the spot that most profits him at the moment.

The Americans want or rather demand basic health care and if they cannot get it from their job, which being a hardworking and Godly people they would much prefer, they will get it from the state.

If you want the state out of this demand tariffs and bring the jobs home. End foreign aid. If people want to support Italy or Israel or Spain, let they send THEIR money back to the old country, Get out of NATO let Europe defend itself. Get out of the WTO and the UN.
We would have plenty of money to take care of Americans and fix up the place.
What? You say free enterprise.. capitalism transnational corporations..what of them?
Simple..ya pay ya money and yer takes yer chances. If you want to invest in a firm in Tibet..Fine your money. Hope things go well.
Just don't expect the American people to bail you out if things gowrong. You get the profit..you get the risk.
You want to avoid government health care? Remove the need for it.
America First.

Handing Bob a fresh coffee and popping a cold rootbeer Grrr settled back in his deck chair.
You remember those old dino movies Bob? Grrr asked.
Sure, "The Lost World", "Prof. Challenger", "King Kong".  I rooted for the Rex. Bob said.
Knew there was something I liked about ya. Grrr said with a grin.
Well, I loved them. Since I was younger than Jr, I wanted to be in pictures.
I had that fight with King Kong a thousand times in my dreams and always beat his furry butt.
So, as soon as I could, I set out for Hollywood.
Hollywood is a strange place.
 Either everyone wants you and you are "hot"  or it is mostly a case of "don't call us we will call you".
I was going the rounds getting  small walk on parts in C pictures, even had to wear the rubber dino costume."Gotta give the people what they expect kid." one director told me.
Anyway, I decided to take a day off from answering casting calls and go to the beach.
Venice Beach is another  even stranger place, so many odd creatures there that no-one pays attention to a young T-Rex and you can relax.
 As I was soaking up some rays, I hear ..."HELP..HELP leave me alone".
So I look up and there are some drunk humans dragging a shark out of boat.
Now there were 15 or 20 of them and only one shark and that did not seem fair so I went over and roared at them to let him go  in my "enraged dino voice'.
Which they did and than they  ran off the beach screaming.
There is something to be said for acting class.
 I helped the shark out of the net, got him a cup of tea and back into the sea.
I figured that was the end of it.
A few months latter I was at the studio for a cattle call.
"Cattle call"  what's that? Bob asked
A Cattle call, said Grrr.  is when all the wanna be or has been actors show up the mob shoots in movies hoping for a bit of face time to get noticed.
Sort of like buying a lotto ticket,with the same odds of winning , except you stand around in the heat or rain get yelled at,  and if you are lucky, you might get a cheap box lunch.
 If you are VERY lucky, you might get a small roaring walk on .
As I was waiting in the sun, a long white stretch limo comes by stops, a blacked out window slides down and the creature in the back seat called.."Kid..You..the T-Rex..yeah you..come here."
Now Bob, in Hollywood, ONLY the "A" list  has a car like that and ONLY the very top of the "A" list  can stop a "Shoot" like that to talk to someone.
I looked at the director and she said go--go..don't you know WHO that is??  GO!
The big shot  producer, who a minute before was acting like god, looks like he  is ready to wash the guy's windshield .
 I walked over to the car and inside is this big tank with the shark who I had helped inside. 
The shark sticks up his head and holds out a fin and says  "I never got to say thank you kid".
The Shark turns to the human sitting next to him in the limo and says.
Stevie , boy-chick, that movie about the island and the dinos, this kid would be perfect, a personal favor to me, give him a shot. You won"t be sorry such a roar I never heard.
Five minutes later I am on the set of JP.

Testing Part V.

The test is not something to be used in isolation.
In other words the test is NOT an end in its self but a learning tool for both the student and teacher and operates on several levels.

Level 1, The learner of course is interested in HIS/HER grade.
This tells the student how well her/his methods of study are working. 

Level II, The teacher is interested in Billy or Mary's grade as well but also in the grade of the class. It is the class average of the test that tells the teacher how well the class as a whole learned the lesson and how well his or her teaching approach is reaching the class.

In order for the test to analyzed by both the teacher and the student it MUST be graded and returned as soon as possible.
At my old school, this was made far easier by the noble efforts of our Computer teacher, a very learned gentleman, who acquired a computer grading machine and the answer sheets for us. Thanks Pete.

(I am speaking here of the multiple choice or True or False formats.)

This made it possible to return a morning test after lunch and discuses it with the class.

Use what method works best for you.
Remember You must get those tests back into the students hands within a day or two, if at all possible, if the test is to have value as a learning tool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb8Rj5xkDPk

JAWS..Old friends. Part II.




Grrr? Said Bruce the shark.
Hold on. Hold on. Where are my glasses??? 
Grrr kid, it is you! So how’s by you?
You still seeing that cute raptor?
Great, Buddy. Great. Hold on. I want to meet Bob, my best human friend.
Bob !Bob!Jump in. Meet Bruce. A happy Grrr called.
Ahh, I have not met too many sharks. Bob said.
Naw. Nothing to worry about . Bruce is a pal. He got me my big break in Hollywood.
OK. Any friend of Grrr’s. said Bob. Jumping into the pool.
Say, are you “THE BRUCE THE SHARK” from “JAWS”? Bob asked.
That’s me sonny. I played the star in all 3.
The first was the only one worth watching. Bruce said.
No..No..Grrr and Bob said. You were great in all three.
So what are you doing here? Grrr asked.
Taking a vacation and working part time. You see the Cruise line gives me free fish and I get my own pool as long as I swim out once or twice a day and give the tourists a scare.
Such a job. “Gone with the Wind” its not. But it keep me in fish. Bruce said.
You have gotta meet Gretta and the kids. Grrr said.
And Stef my wife. Bob said. She loves Hollywood and movie stars.
My pleasure guys. Bruce said. Come by my pool for lunch. I have to get back to work.
The pool on Deck A by the Captain’s cabin. I will leave word to let you guys in.
Gotta swim. later. Bruce said.Wow. Grrr. Bob said, I knew that you were big in Hollywood but I never knew that you knew Bruce the Shark from Jaws.
Pull up a chair and a coffee Bob. Grrr said as they climbed out of the pool and I will tell you a story.

JAWS>>> Old Friends

Grrr was sitting by the ship's pool in a dino sized deck chair.
When he heard screams of horror and saw people jumping out of the pool.
Alter a minute of looking..he saw a large gray fin cutting the water of the pool.
Walking over to the pool, Grrr gave a fearsome ROAR and jumped into the pool.
Grabbing the monstrous shark in his powerful claws.
Grrr opened his mightly jaws....and......
Said "Bruce, buddy, LONG time no see how are you.. you ole finny bum?"

I was thinking about this immigration problem.
How about this:
If you have been in the Marines or ok even the other services and been to the wars, you are in. If you are willing to die for the flag, that is proof enough we need you as an American.

As for the other folks, as long as you have not committed a felony, you get 2 years to apply and complete all requirements for US citizenship and yes, you gotta pass a Constitution, American History and English test, then if you do that and have a job, Welcome to the family.

Teaching Idea of the day. Part lll
The test bank.
Now that we have the computer it is simple to create a bank of tests with several different copies of each test.
You will almost always have several students absent on a test day.
For some there is a good reason. 
Others have chronic "testittis" that is they are "SICK" every test day.
It is not fair to the other students to give the same test several days later to the absent kid.
More.. some absent kids will ask their friends what was on the test and in 90% of cases their friends WILL tell them.
Yeah, I know. They are not supposed to do that.
Question? If you were 12 or 13 and a person who had been YOUR friend since K asked YOU what was on the test, what would YOU say?????? HUMMMMMM
So spare everyone the temptation.
Let the students and the parents KNOW that there are several different copies of all tests and the questions are NOT all the same or in the same order, and that an absent student will get a different test.

Be sure to save your test bank to a flash drive or disk...and check that it did save. Your HD will die when you least expect it.

As Bob was walking back from the ship's shooting range, he heard two young dinos yell a happy "Hello sir."
Rexy ...Andy, good to see you kids but what are you doing here? Bob asked in surprise.
 Oh. Miss Stef invited us...She wanted us to have fun. Rexy said.
Have you seen Jr and Little G?. Asked Andy.
Uh..yes kids, they are in the game room on deck 4. 
"Thank you sir" the two young dinos said running off to meet their friends.
Grrr is gonna love this..Bob said to himself.

Teaching Idea of the day. Creating fair tests.
Don't be a lazy educator..be a fair TEACHER and write your own tests.
This way you can be sure that work the student covered is what is on the test. 
Sure, it is easier print out a canned test.
But it is not fair.
Canned tests often stress different points.
For example, a teacher who had a focus on social history would make a different Civil War test than a teacher who had a focus on political history. 
The person who made that canned test may not have had the same focus you gave the students.
You can make your tests as hard as you want. 
As long as you focus them on work YOU have covered with the kids.

College is different from HS but YOU can do it.
Step 1. See an advisor. When he or she tells you what classes to take, get it in writing and SAVE that document. Check off classes or requirements as you complete them. That is important ascolleges, CAL State, have been known to say..oh no-one told you? you need 3 MORE classes before you get your degree.
Step 2. Are you going to work while going to school? If so, take a light classload, say 10 credits a term for the first year till you get used to school. IF you are not going to work, still take no more than 15 the first year. I know that they say 30 per year but most people do better if they start slow to get used to college.
Step 3. Buy the books...you can get used ones to save money but buy the books.
Step 4. You can change profs. Say that you sign up for English 101 and 5 different profs are teaching it at different times. Go to EACH class and sit in. They will give you a class outline that lists their requirements, and talk to the other kids. Pick the prof you like best. If you make a mistake and the teacher stinks...uh..is professionally incompatible with your learning needs, you have a few days or weeks, depends on the school, to change or drop the class and clear your transcript.
Step 5. Make sure that you have a good computer and printer...it does not have to be expensive Walmart..Big Lots, Geeks.com have them and printers that are cheap but good.
Step 6. Get a few flash drives and save...SAVE SAVE copies of reports and papers. That way WHEN the computer dies, not if but when, you have copies of all of your work.
Step 7. Keep track of time.
Step 8. Ask questions,. If the prof will not answer them, get the heck out of that class as he or she does NOT know how to teach.
Step 9. Have someone proofread your work. You will make errors and not see them.
Step 10. This is hard for a young man; I found out the hard way... Party AFTER the work is done.

Go get them...remember GRRR is watching.

Teaching Idea of the day:
Before you can teach it, you have to know it.
There is a lot to be said for the ability to "reach the learner" and many ways to do that. 
But first you have to have SOMETHING, that you KNOW is worth reaching them with. 
You are NOT going to fool the kids. If you don't believe in what you teach they won't.
If you cannot or will not do that get the heck out of the classroom.
Go become a pogue.

Teaching Idea of the day:
All students start anew in Sept. 
Kids get "reps" in school.
"Oh..that Billy or Mary..!!!"
Be aware of this but DON'T let it fool you into prejudging the kid.

http://suite101.com/article/women-and-children-first-as-hms-birkenhead-died-a386619

Grrr, old dino pal...may I have a word with you? Bob asked.

Now, Bob it is not my fault I...   a nervous Grrr replied.

Old reptile, I just had a little talk with Stef and she told me that we as in her and I were going on a “nice cruise” with you and Gretta?  Seems that you and Gretta were kind enough to arrange first class on the ocean cabins? 

Bob. Grrr said. I just heard about this yesterday. I told her No but she started to cry.

You know how that goes.

Grrrr. You know I hate cruises and gad with Rodan ???

How many times do I have to see his movie with the little plastic tanks???

I know  I know. Grrr said.  But look, if Stef started to cry what would you have done?

Picking up a cup of coffee and  handing Grrr a rootbeer. Bob and Grrr exchanged looks.   

Guess we are going on a cruise. Bob said.

The Cruise.

Now Grrry. It is almost my birthday and a cruise...after Flower's wedding... I was so disappointed...a nice trip. The Gorgos and Rodans and Godzillas and everybody is going. Gretta said.
Babe, what about the kids? We..  Grrr said
Oh, they can come too and Stef said that Bob would go and we just got that tax return.
Bob? Bob hates cruises. Grrr  said.
Stef said she would ask him. Gretta  said.
Ok. Babe.  Grrr said. But no home movies. I.
Of course not dear. Gretta said with a smile.

Hey, Grrr. Bob said.
Hey, Bob. Grrr replied. What's up ole fella?
Nothing much...been following the elections. Bob said.
You know, I have been meaning to ask you about that. Grrr said.
Seems that you humans have these "elections"... you run around roar and claw at each other yet nothing seem to change. 

"Gerry". Gretta said. "The Rodans are going on a nice cruse and It would be nice.."
"Babe. You know what a pain in the tail that guy is..."your movies are very nice Grrr. Lots of special affects, but in MY day....."
"The best part of a vacation with that guy is seeing the part of his movie, and he always has the dvd with him, where the volcano gets him!" Grrr said with a roar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5jfCb6-2RA

“Grrr, I see you met Uncle Angus.” Al Gator said. “Uncle, the human aiming  in on you with that Mauser is Bob. They are the new friends I wrote to you about. Pals, this is my Uncle Angus MacGator.”
 Grrr backed up and Bob put the Mauser down.
“Any friend of Al’s is welcome. ” Grrr said. “That goes for me too. “ Bob said.
“Laddies, tis goode to met ye. Al has told me many fine things of ye both.” Uncle Angus said.
“Forgive me temper...was a long dry swim  an I no had my tea and the tee time was bad.”
“Well, we can fix some of  that.”Grrr said handing  Angus a cup. But we are not into golf.”
“I did not know that Gators played golf?" Bob said pouring a cup of coffee.
Boyo , you are in a retirement village in Fl.
Golf is THE sport and as for me,well, golf was invented in Scotland.”

As Grrr was sitting in his new swamp den, he saw a strange sight;
 An alligator  wearing a skirt and carrying golf clubs came by.
“Laddie, hav  ye no been told is ney polite ta stare?” the  Gator said.
“Hum, Sorry." said Grrr. " It is just that I never saw a gator carrying golf clubs  and wearing a skirt”
“It is a kilt, nay a skirt. Ya big ox and we kilt all who make fun of it.”
 Grrrs eyes started to turn red, never a good sign.
“We will just see who kills  who around here.” Grrr said with a roar.

"Dear, you have a letter from the EPA. Some about your new den in the swamp".Gretta told Grrr.
"Thanks Babe" Grrr said.
As Grrr began to read the letter and look a the  37 pages of forms, his tail twitched in anger.
"I gotta get an impact study and a wetlands evaluation report and submit them to the local government and then the state.....for a lousy den in the SWAMP????These humans have to be bug-house nuts to put up with this."

 Remember how he stood up for Rexy when they fell asleep in the movies?
Won't do that any more. Grrr said with an evil grin.
What?  Stand up for Rexy?
Nope. Fall asleep in the movies.
Perhaps not.  Bob said. But gluing an alarm watch to his tail while he was sleeping was evil.
True. Grrr replied. But funny. 
Yeah, I have to say it was. Did you see his face the first time it went off and you said "what time does the show start kid?"

Move over Grrr and pass the donuts.
Hey Bob. What are you doing here?
Gretta called Stef and told her about your bridesmaid’s dress joke and I said that it was funny.
Where are the girls now?
Having  tea  at the “Healthy Food". I figured that it was a nice day to join you in the swamp. How is the clubhouse going?
Not bad.  Al Gator said that it would done in about a week..asked if he could join..said he loved the Pipes.
OK. Al has my vote.
Thanks for talking to Jr. Sometimes..kids.. I don’t know.
Jr. is OK. Just think about the stuff we did. Kid will be fine. Remember how he stood up for Rexy when they fell asleep in the movies?

Gretta is highly..make that very highly annoyed!
Flower,her older sister,  and Dr. H ran away together.
Seems that Flower, being a hippy dino, did not want a big wedding alter all.
Dr. H being nuts over Flower wanted “Whatever makes her happy.”
A annoyed rapter is not a happy making thing. Grrr tried to make her feel better by making a joke.”Well babe.” Grrr said, “At least you don’t have to worry about fitting in that bridesmaid’s dress.” Gretta did Not see the humor.
She told Stef " How could he!!!"  and now Grrr is hiding in the  swamp till she cools off.

“OK. So why tell me? Tell your dad.” Bob said
 “I did. But can you speak to him? Mom said to ask you.”
 “Sit down son. Your dad is unhappy because you are taking part in  a lie, fooling the public, and being a honest Dino and a good father, he does not want you starting to walk on a path that leads straight to dishonor."
"But I am not hurting anyone" Grrr jr. said.
 "You are hurting yourself by saying something that is not true. That is what has your dad worried" Bob said
"But, I want the job...What do I do???" Grrr jr  said.
"Well, let's see." Bob said." Perhaps we can restructure the job making it honorable."

Grrr Jr. went over to see Bob.
“Hello kid, what is the matter? you look like you lost your last history book”
“Hello Sir.Nothing to do with school. its my dad.”
“What did you do now ?”
 “Why do adults always assume that a kid “did something?”
“Because we know kids.”
“It is my new job at the park, dad thinks that being a robot dino is bad and wants me to quit and I need the job and it’s not fair.”

GrrrJr. went to see his mom.
“Mom, you gotta talk to dad. He wants me to to give up my job at the park...I don’t care about a stupid wire.
 I get to see Rexy and make some money and it is honest and dad  won’t listen”
‘You know  how your father feels about show business, he takes keping one’s word very seriously and they lied to us.”
“I know mom. But Mr. Keller is a good human and uncle Al helped and .....”
“Son, go see Bob, he and Grrr go back a long way.”.
 “He won’t go against dad...”
No, and he should not,”Gretta said,” But perhaps he can help you work something out”.

Dad, I get lunch and if I work late, dinner. I did what you said and negotiated, Rexy got a job too and we get overtime and get to ride the rides for free." Gerrr jr said.

"Got it all figured out..do you?" Grrr

"Dad, I know how you and mom feel but this is better than working on the golf course and uncle Al said that we might even get our picture on the net".

"No son of mine is going on the net as as a dino bot..I will have something to say to Al about this." Grrr snarled.