Its Kevin

Category: Meditations

  • How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

    This question is one of the imponderables that will never die. The answers here represent almost any dog. Is your pet represented on the list? I know some of the dogs I’ve known in my life have attitudes that fit at least one or two of these. Thanks to Gina, @Nightdrake on Twitter, for this. It was my laugh of the day.

    • Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, we’ve got our whole lives ahead of us, and you’re inside worrying about a stupid burned-out light bulb?
    • Border Collie: Just one. And I’ll replace any wiring that’s not up to code.
    • Dachshund: I can’t reach the stupid lamp!
    • Toy Poodle: I’ll just blow in the Border Collie’s ear and he’ll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.
    • Rottweiler: Go Ahead! Make me!
    • Shih Tzu: Please, darling. Let the servants …
    • Lab: Oh, me, me!!! Please let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Can I?
    • Malamute: Let the Border Collie do it. You can feed me while he’s busy.
    • Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.
    • Doberman Pinscher: While it’s dark, I’m going to sleep on the couch.
    • Mastiff: Mastiffs are NOT afraid of the dark.
    • Hound Dog: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ­­­ZZZZZZZ …
    • Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb.
    • Irish Wolfhound: Can somebody else do it? I’ve got a hangover.
    • Pointer: I see it, there it is, right there…
    • Greyhound: It isn’t moving. Who cares?
    • Australian Shepherd: Put all the light bulbs in a little circle …
    • Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? Light bulb? That thing I just ate was a light bulb?

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  • Who is Teaching Whom

    I read an article in the Wall Street Journal over the weekend reporting on a study finding “effective teachers can boost the test scores of students.”  Now I’m no student of pedagogy, but this tory just states the obvious.  My personal opinion is that if you don’t know the information, there is no way in the world that you will be able to teach it to someone else in an effective way.   

     

    The three-year study by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, published Tuesday Jan 8, is the first large-scale research to show, using random student assignment, that some teachers can produce test-scoregains regardless of the past performance of their students, according to foundation officials.

     

    As a lifelong student of social sciences, I see this study as flawed as it assumes that test scores are a reasonable measurement of teacher effectiveness.  In my opinion, they are only a measure of academic knowledge retention and that only within one’s short-term memory.  The most ineffective teacher can look good if a student decides to place some effort into the process and study the material prior to the test. 

     

    Measuring a teacher’s effectiveness can be performed via test score examination, but only as an element of a full-scale analysis.  Such elements as voluntary class participation, and student engagement in class discussion is much more effective when attempting to see whether a teacher is effective, rather than the quantitative score from an exam. 

     

    Read more from the Wall Street Journal’s Blog: Good Teachers Linked to Test Success, and follow them on Twitter @WSJ. 

     

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  • The Marble

    A Boy and a Girl were Playing Together at a local park. The Boy had a Collection of Marbles and The Girl had some Sweets with Her! The Boy told the Girl that he would give her all of His Marbles in Exchange for Her Sweets. Liking marbles, The Girl Agreed.

    The Boy kept the biggest and the most Beautiful Marble aside for himself and gave the Rest to the Girl.
    The girl, on the other hand, gave Him all Her Sweets as she had promised.

    That Night, the Girl Slept Peacefully, satisfied that she had made a good trade. The Boy, on the other hand, could not Sleep as He was constantly Wondering whether the Girl had Hidden some Sweets from him in the same manner in which He had Hidden His best Marble.

    -Moral of the Story:

    If you don’t give your 100% in a Relationship, you’ll always keep Doubting; If the Other Person has Given His or her 100% !! This applies to all relationships. Regardless of how old you may be or what level of secret you keep, if you hide something you will always wonder about those around you. Give up your marble, for the sweetness of peace.

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  • What’s in Your Satchel

    Whenever I travel, I always carry a few key items with me. These items are designed to make sure that I have all of what is necessary, in a small place, in order to be productive, while traveling or between connections. My “Go-Bag” is not unique, but it does have my requirements.

    1. IPhone: Yes, it is for communication, but it also has my GPS, music, and serves as a mobile entertainment source. I think of it like the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy “but made for real-life situations.
    2. Laptop: Often when I am between connections, I like to work. The laptop gives me the chance to get serious work done and access my office from the cloud.
    3. Swiss-Army knife: you just never know what you will need, and the Boy Scout in me always wants to be prepared.
    4. Travel Towel: Every real traveler should know where his/her towel is.
    5. Spare cellphone: Yes, the iPhone makes and receives calls, but you never know when you will get in a situation where your phone will not work. The spare phone is on an alternative network and is prepaid. I’ve always found having one useful, and as it’s a dumb phone I don’t’ have to worry about a data connection.

    However, that is just me. What is in your satchel? Also, as my satchel is large, I also have food with me.

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  • Money or Revenge

    Revenge

    When it comes down to the question of money or revenge, I will take revenge any day. Money, once spent, cannot be treasured. The memory of revenge stays sweet forever.

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  • Moving Forward

    It seems that everyone wants an easy answer after a tragedy. My question, why are we not willing to do the hard work to prevent the tragedy from occuring in the first place? We must try to understand those who hurt simply because they are different. We should endeavor to love those who feel unloved. We should embrace those who feel that they are the untouchables amongst us.

    It is too offen that we find out after the event of a tragedy that the perpetrator was one who felt different or unacceptable, unloved and/or untouchable. Yes, I do realize that this will grant us no guarantees. However, if it might minimize or limit the events, why not give it a try? We might actually find that it is easier to be kind than to be hardhearted. Dr. Horace

    In my opinion, we need to look at the systems of support that are available in our nation. We are the United States. Let’s stand in unity to prevent tragedy, in stead of unity in promotion of greif. “In Unity there is strength,” Let is find tht strength as we move forward.

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  • Counting Your Blessings

    When I’m worried and I can’t sleep
    I count my blessings instead of sheep
    And I fall asleep
    Counting my blessings

    When my bankroll is getting small
    I think of when I had none at all
    And I fall asleep
    Counting my blessings

    I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
    And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

    If you’re worried and you can’t sleep
    Just count your blessings instead of sheep
    And you’ll fall asleep
    Counting your blessings

    (Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

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  • Falling Apart

    Sometimes We Need To Fall Apart. We don’t always have to be strong. Sometimes our strength is expressed in being vulnerable. And sometimes we need to fall apart to regroup and stay on track.

    We all have days when we cannot push any harder, cannot hold back self-doubt, cannot stop focusing on fear, cannot be strong. There are days when we cannot focus on being responsible.

    Sometimes we cry in front of people. We expose our tiredness, irritability, or anger.
    Those days are okay!

    Part of taking care of ourselves means we give ourselves permission to “fall apart” when we need to. We do not need to be perpetual towers of strength. We ARE strong. We have proven that our strength will continue if we allow us the courage to feel scared, weak, and vulnerable when we need to experience those feelings.

    Today, help me to know that it is okay to allow myself to be human. Help me not to feel guilty or punish myself when I need to “fall apart.”

    I do not know this person, but those words are powerful.

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  • What to give myself when I graduate.

    I was talking to a friend about a gift for myself after the third installment of education. They could not sway me to purchase an iPad when I already have an iPhone. I would purchase a Google Nexus 7 tablet for variety. Either way, I dont’ know what I want to get myself for a graduation gift, but I will be thinking of ideas. Hmmm, wonder if those self-driving cars will be available. *beep beep* LOL

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  • STFU, Conservatives: .::Of Course We’re Human, But::.

    unapologetically-black:

    …saying that race is a social construct & we should think of ourselves as humans doesn’t address racism/white supremacy. It enables it. It helps it to thrive, and it further decreases the visibility of our plights as minorities in this country and others that…

    STFU, Conservatives: .::Of Course We’re Human, But::.

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