Thursday, January 31, 2013
Children, today we are going to practice division
My first thought was to share this picture on Facebook. Thanks, Janet Murtha. But I would just stir up a hornets' nest with few, if any, cogent comments. So I am posting here and anyone who is on Facebook can look here if they want.
THE FIVE POSTS BELOW THIS ARE PREVIOUS FACEBOOK POSTS.
Thought about the nostalgia of teaching. Then I thought about all the paperwork that would be required every time there was a problem in this classroom. I imagine a bullet proof vest is not comfortable either.
Maybe it is better to be retired.
Was talking with a flight attendant and trying to imagine what it is like to be on a plane so often, with the concern over some malfunction always being possible. Then it dawned on me that statistically it must be more probable to to get killed working as a teacher than being part of a flight crew. Don't get a teaching certificate, Loretta.
Janet also posted this:
I thought the highest gun death rate would be in states with large urban areas. Turns out the highest gun death rates are in the rural states where I would have assumed guns would be used primarily for hunting. I thought gun related deaths would be in the urban ghettos.
As a country, if the trends continue, we soon will have more people dying from the use of firearms than getting killed in car crashes.
Support the legalization of tactical nuclear weapons. Remember nukes don't kill people, people kill people.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Washington Summer
from December 3, 2012
While in the Costco parking lot today, I learned I should "Say NO to negativity." The picture is in Snoqualmie Pass on Election Day
Labels: negativity, Snoqualmie Pass, Source Lake
Snowshoeing
From Monday, January 21, 2013
On the trail. Why did this trek seem steeper today than it did four years ago?
We checked out the claims that Mt. Rainier is warmer than Puyallup. Puyallup: foggy and low 30s. Narada Falls: sunny and mid to upper 40s. There was babble about 60 at Paradise. Don't know if it made it. Unequivocally warmer as you went up Mt. Rainier. Guess it is a temperature inversion that is trapping all the stagnant air.
The picture is from Paradise at a flat point.
Labels: Mt. Rainier, Narada Falls, Paradise, snowshoeing, temperature inversion
Learning from Grandchildren
from Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Sometimes our children or grandchildren need to teach us how things are done.
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Sometimes our children or grandchildren need to teach us how things are done.
Labels: Erin, learning from grandchildren
50 Years of Progress
Comments originally posted Friday, January 25, 2013
While watching grandson Adam at the Brouillet Elementary School MLK Day program, several thoughts grabbed my attention.
1. This was the first student assembly in years where I wasn’t working to insure appropriate student behavior. I got to just sit back and enjoy. I wanted to post pictures of the teachers working and the students presenting, but then I didn’t know who might get upset about showing up on FB.
2. In a mere 50 years since “I Have a Dream” we have come a long way in recognizing the person and his/her character are far more important than race or ethnicity. Not everything in the “good old days“ was good. Laws helped make that transition, but surely there were many other things at work as well. We are still in need of those intangibles that have gotten us this far.
While watching grandson Adam at the Brouillet Elementary School MLK Day program, several thoughts grabbed my attention.
1. This was the first student assembly in years where I wasn’t working to insure appropriate student behavior. I got to just sit back and enjoy. I wanted to post pictures of the teachers working and the students presenting, but then I didn’t know who might get upset about showing up on FB.
2. In a mere 50 years since “I Have a Dream” we have come a long way in recognizing the person and his/her character are far more important than race or ethnicity. Not everything in the “good old days“ was good. Laws helped make that transition, but surely there were many other things at work as well. We are still in need of those intangibles that have gotten us this far.
Labels: intangibles for good, Martin Luther King
Entitlements for the "Not Poor"
Sometimes I actually think about things and sometimes I try to analyze beyond what the popular media throws out there. Since I post some of those thoughts on Facebook, Erik suggested I put them in my blog as well. Makes sense to me. If you don't like my using my blog for that, tell me so. At least for now, I might blog occasionally.
Thinking of an entitlement mentality, I went back to see if the execs of bankrupt Hostess were given their proposed $1.8 million in bonuses. They were allowed. Of course they are so short on cash that they may default on payments to retirees. Wish the media criticized execs the same way they demonize unions. I need to hit the enter key and end this. I find the whole thing obscene and would just rant and rave from this point on.
Thinking of an entitlement mentality, I went back to see if the execs of bankrupt Hostess were given their proposed $1.8 million in bonuses. They were allowed. Of course they are so short on cash that they may default on payments to retirees. Wish the media criticized execs the same way they demonize unions. I need to hit the enter key and end this. I find the whole thing obscene and would just rant and rave from this point on.
Labels: entitlements, executive compensation, Hostess
Saturday, December 08, 2012
2012 Christmas letter - short version
2012 is rapidly winding down and it has been a good year. There are many events to note and celebrate.
BYRNA started the year by moving to a different hospital when the micro lab at Good Samaritan closed and the work moved to Tacoma General. So Byrna’s work moved as well. Learning new methods and protocols with a high work load resulted in a lot of stress. With time the stress has diminished. Hiking and the Native Plant Society are her primary interests.
BOB decided that he would retire at the end of the school rather than teaching one more year. The additional time creates many new opportunities and positive things to do. He is trying to get caught up with a backlog of unfinished projects and put more time into his hobby of photography. He now has more time to visit his Dad in Pullman and was there to help him celebrate turning 93.
We had a great trip to Joshua Tree National Park in California. In September, following our niece Kari’s joyful wedding near Antelope, Oregon, we also discovered there are some great places to explore in Eastern Oregon. We had never heard of Smith Rock State Park. It was great. The Hood River area had a lot of interesting places, also. We ended our trip with a fun visit to the Prosser hot air balloon festival. A lot of hiking in the Cascade Mountains and Mt. Rainier National Park helped fill in the time in between trips.
Family has been a source of excitement, as well. Niece Nashesha Rowberg is spending her 9th grade school year with Rick and Sarah. This is quite a change from Tanzania. Sonja Schaeffer, another niece, came as a freshman to PLU from Indiana. Granddaughter Erin Ruth Hennebert was born in July to be the third new arrival in our immediate area. She is an endless source of amusement and pleasure.
SARAH AND RICK LIEU live close by and their boys, Adam (7) and Brandon (5) frequently add excitement and interesting events to our schedule.
DIANE AND BEN HENNEBERT live about 40 minutes away. A very large fibroid caused Diane to spend most of her pregnancy on bed rest. Now with the arrival of Erin, we find our way up to Covington frequently.
JAMEY AND MONICA KLAVANO live across town. Jamey is hard working and resourceful, and has helped out a lot around our house.
The picture is at Thanksgiving with Sarah and Diane and their families. Our extended narrative of the year along with a lot of pictures is at http://bobseye.blogspot.com/ . Bob is starting a website displaying some of his pictures at http://bobs-eye.smugmug.com/ . Email for Byrna is byrna@comcast.net and for Bob at bklavano@comcast.net .
Best wishes for Christmas and for 2013.
BYRNA started the year by moving to a different hospital when the micro lab at Good Samaritan closed and the work moved to Tacoma General. So Byrna’s work moved as well. Learning new methods and protocols with a high work load resulted in a lot of stress. With time the stress has diminished. Hiking and the Native Plant Society are her primary interests.
BOB decided that he would retire at the end of the school rather than teaching one more year. The additional time creates many new opportunities and positive things to do. He is trying to get caught up with a backlog of unfinished projects and put more time into his hobby of photography. He now has more time to visit his Dad in Pullman and was there to help him celebrate turning 93.
We had a great trip to Joshua Tree National Park in California. In September, following our niece Kari’s joyful wedding near Antelope, Oregon, we also discovered there are some great places to explore in Eastern Oregon. We had never heard of Smith Rock State Park. It was great. The Hood River area had a lot of interesting places, also. We ended our trip with a fun visit to the Prosser hot air balloon festival. A lot of hiking in the Cascade Mountains and Mt. Rainier National Park helped fill in the time in between trips.
Family has been a source of excitement, as well. Niece Nashesha Rowberg is spending her 9th grade school year with Rick and Sarah. This is quite a change from Tanzania. Sonja Schaeffer, another niece, came as a freshman to PLU from Indiana. Granddaughter Erin Ruth Hennebert was born in July to be the third new arrival in our immediate area. She is an endless source of amusement and pleasure.
SARAH AND RICK LIEU live close by and their boys, Adam (7) and Brandon (5) frequently add excitement and interesting events to our schedule.
DIANE AND BEN HENNEBERT live about 40 minutes away. A very large fibroid caused Diane to spend most of her pregnancy on bed rest. Now with the arrival of Erin, we find our way up to Covington frequently.
JAMEY AND MONICA KLAVANO live across town. Jamey is hard working and resourceful, and has helped out a lot around our house.
The picture is at Thanksgiving with Sarah and Diane and their families. Our extended narrative of the year along with a lot of pictures is at http://bobseye.blogspot.com/ . Bob is starting a website displaying some of his pictures at http://bobs-eye.smugmug.com/ . Email for Byrna is byrna@comcast.net and for Bob at bklavano@comcast.net .
Best wishes for Christmas and for 2013.
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Celebrating in Spanaway
I believe that Facebook is an abysmal way to present or think about anything of depth or consequence. I guess I really don't think much about topics in depth or of consequence, but I look forward to recording a few events or thoughts that go beyond Facebook style, even if I recorded that expression on Facebook anyway.
A generation ago, when we were the present age of our children, we participated at Spanawy Lutheran Church. This weekend Spanaway Lutheran Church celebrated 50 years as a congregation. Returning for that celebration connected me with a lot of people I had not seen for a long time. I was also moved by the impact on the church of the people there only in spirit.
The service this morning was, for me, stirring. I posted this comment on Facebook about one of the songs we sang:
I was introduced to Canticle of the Turning this morning while celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Spanaway Lutheran Church where my family was anchored a generation ago. I see little hope that justice and healing will happen as a result of human inspiration. Contrary to much church music I found this a stirring song. Take a listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trhxP6VAOuc
I could also have commented on the powerful music, the impact of the sermon, the timeless beauty of the sanctuary, and, of course, some of the stellar people in attendance Saturday or today.
A generation ago, when we were the present age of our children, we participated at Spanawy Lutheran Church. This weekend Spanaway Lutheran Church celebrated 50 years as a congregation. Returning for that celebration connected me with a lot of people I had not seen for a long time. I was also moved by the impact on the church of the people there only in spirit.
The service this morning was, for me, stirring. I posted this comment on Facebook about one of the songs we sang:
I was introduced to Canticle of the Turning this morning while celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Spanaway Lutheran Church where my family was anchored a generation ago. I see little hope that justice and healing will happen as a result of human inspiration. Contrary to much church music I found this a stirring song. Take a listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trhxP6VAOuc
I could also have commented on the powerful music, the impact of the sermon, the timeless beauty of the sanctuary, and, of course, some of the stellar people in attendance Saturday or today.
Labels: Canticle of the Turning, music, Spanaway Lutheran Church
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Saved by Politics ?
Politics is not about how we agree. Politics is a way to handle our disagreements without surrendering to our baser instincts and trying to kill each other.
I have studied politics, observed politics, and participated on the periphery of politics for since JFK. This is an interesting concept I had never heard before, and it may make me feel a little better about the abysmal state of American politics.
Tribalism seems to be the baseline across the world…whether it was Scottish clans, African tribal rivalries, Afghan warlords or American Indian tribes, these family/tribal groupings lacked a political system to resolve disputes among the tribes and constant warfare was/is the result. When national governments fall into disarray, the citizens quickly revert to tribalism like we have seen in places like Yugoslavia or Somalia, to name just two countries.
How did a few hundred settlers in Seattle survive with thousands of Native Americans frequently ready to go to war? When one tribe was ready to go to war, that meant its rival tribe immediately became allies of the settlers. In other words, the history of tribal warfare and the absence of an inter-tribal political system allowed the settlers to survive.
So, is American politics with all its messiness, the glue that holds the country together? Even though partisan talking points place perception ahead of truth and disinformation becomes a way of life, we might otherwise be shooting at each other to make our point.
Anyway, this concept of politics is new to me and worth thinking about. I welcome any of your thoughts.
Bob Klavano
September 12, 2010
I have studied politics, observed politics, and participated on the periphery of politics for since JFK. This is an interesting concept I had never heard before, and it may make me feel a little better about the abysmal state of American politics.
Tribalism seems to be the baseline across the world…whether it was Scottish clans, African tribal rivalries, Afghan warlords or American Indian tribes, these family/tribal groupings lacked a political system to resolve disputes among the tribes and constant warfare was/is the result. When national governments fall into disarray, the citizens quickly revert to tribalism like we have seen in places like Yugoslavia or Somalia, to name just two countries.
How did a few hundred settlers in Seattle survive with thousands of Native Americans frequently ready to go to war? When one tribe was ready to go to war, that meant its rival tribe immediately became allies of the settlers. In other words, the history of tribal warfare and the absence of an inter-tribal political system allowed the settlers to survive.
So, is American politics with all its messiness, the glue that holds the country together? Even though partisan talking points place perception ahead of truth and disinformation becomes a way of life, we might otherwise be shooting at each other to make our point.
Anyway, this concept of politics is new to me and worth thinking about. I welcome any of your thoughts.
Bob Klavano
September 12, 2010
Labels: politics, tribalism, war
Friday, December 11, 2009
Umtanum Ridge
Click on an image to see a bigger picture.
JUNE 6, 2009 SATURDAY
When Byrna got off work today we headed over to Ellensburg and drove up to Umtanum Ridge where in May we had hiked up the ridge and then walked along the ridge before hiking back down to the Yakima River.
Today we got to the ridge by car. We went up over one ridge, back down, forded a small creek and then back up to Umtanum Ridge. These two pictures show part of the road getting down one ridge before we crossed the creek. The road is also called Durr Road and is an old wagon road between Ellensburg and Yakima.
Labels: Durr Raod, Ellensburg, Umtanum Ridge
Thursday, January 01, 2009
CHINA AND THE SILVER SPOON
I have been diasppointed that George W. Bush, born with a golden spoon in his mouth, has used that advantage primarily to benefit other people like him. He looks out first for the wealthy.
Traveling through China I met many rural Chinese teachers who were as bright and industrious as I am. Yet they live in poverty and I have material wealth, relatively speaking, and can travel through China readily while they would rarely be able to travel beyond their immediate area.
The difference between us is primarily an accident of birth. So, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Can I say I have done any better than Bush? Do I look out primarily for people like myself? Or can I say I am using my material advantage in a way that benefits less fortunate people?
I have been diasppointed that George W. Bush, born with a golden spoon in his mouth, has used that advantage primarily to benefit other people like him. He looks out first for the wealthy.
Traveling through China I met many rural Chinese teachers who were as bright and industrious as I am. Yet they live in poverty and I have material wealth, relatively speaking, and can travel through China readily while they would rarely be able to travel beyond their immediate area.
The difference between us is primarily an accident of birth. So, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Can I say I have done any better than Bush? Do I look out primarily for people like myself? Or can I say I am using my material advantage in a way that benefits less fortunate people?
Labels: Bush, China, golden spoon, wealth
