Sometimes I miss living in the south, not this last week when the heat and humidity have been oppressive in Virginia, other than the weather there are things I miss, more people than things. My wonderful wife and I are down here visiting my parents, and are fixin’ to head home soon. Before embarking on a trip, I like to check the fluid levels on my car, and with this being a new-to-us car, I wanted to be sure. Everything looked good, but the brake fluid was a bit low, so I thought I would head on over to the Wal-Mart and pick some up.
Folks, let me tell you, their ain’t nuthin’ like workin’ on a car in a Wal-Mart parking lot in the south. Having that I have not lived below the Mason-Dixon line for about 15 years, I forgot. I think there are guys that hang around in their pick-up trucks waiting for a hood to open, so they can help out. That has got to be the answer. Not really, lots of guys tend to sit in their cars, havin’ a smoke with the air conditioning on while the wife goes in to pick up some things. Just happens their car tends to be a pick-up. (Further south it is referred to as a pick-’em-up truck.) Anyway.
So I wandered out of the store with my brake fluid, and popped open the hood. In the time it took me to break the seal on the fluid, a guy had moseyed on up. “Havin’ problems?”, “No sir, just adding some brake fluid.” “Brake problems eh? Don’t want to mess with that, they makin funny noises?”, “Nope, just need to add this here fluid.”
A side note to the the designers of the 2003 Ford Windstar, why the heck did you put the brake fluid reservoir in such a spot that you cannot get to it without making a mess, much less able to pour anything into it, can’t even see a way to put a funnel there. I mean, this is perhaps the first car I have owned that I can get to the transmission fluid stick without burning my hand, and the brake reservoir is under the dashboard?
Back to the story.
As flies are attracted to certain things, guys are attracted to other things.
Guy 2: Need a jump? I got my cables in the truck
Guy 1: Naw, he’s havin’ brake problems.
Guy 2: I don’t like workin’ on these new cars with all the computers and stuff on ‘em.
Guy 1: Yeah, it’s gettin’ so that ya can’t do nuthin’ to your car.
Me: yup
Guy 2: yup
By now I filled the reservoir, and was trying to close the hood.
Guy 3: Problem?
Me: Well...
Guy 3: Usually the problem is that the terminals on the battery are dirty, just need to take a wire brush to up and clean it right up, got a brush right over there in my truck.
Guy 2: Naw, his brakes are ruint. (ruined, as it tiir runit- your tire is flat)
Guy 3: I got a guy that works on Fords, does I good job, want me to give him a call?
Guy 1: Really who?
Guy 3: Jimmy..uh..can’t remember his name, used to work down to the Midas down over
Guy 2: Smitty?
Guy 3: He opened his own place where the old BP used to be..
Guy 1: Yeah, Smitty
Guy 3: I can get you his number if you need, might need a tow over there if your brakes are bad.
Me: No, just topping off my brake fluid, not a problem really. But thanks for your help.
Guy 3: hey your battery terminals look good, you should be all set to go, give it a try.
Me: Uh, thanks guys. I appreciate your help.
I put down the hood, started up and eased away from the conversation.
Where as usually in my neck of the woods, you can have your hood open, holding onto jumper cables, and you still have to ask for help, or just call AAA.
One day I helped a guy get his car started, and someone came sheepishly over and asked if I could help her with her car, spent a fair amount of time that day in the parking lot.
Hey Audi designers- Why the heck is the battery hidden? Had to get her owner’s manual to figure out where it was.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Diigo bookmarks for today 07/01/2010
45 Minute Program Successfully Preventing Sexting and Cyber Bullying
Tonight was very, very powerful and informative. Both kids thanked me for taking them after complaining beforehand that they already knew all that stuff. Thanks IROC.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of educators group favorite links are here.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Diigo bookmarks for today 06/30/2010
Teachers Report Educational Benefits of Frequent Technology Use
Teachers who use technology frequently in their classrooms perceive greater benefits to student learning--particularly learning 21st century skills--than teachers who are less frequent users. That's one of the major findings from a K-12 technology study released Monday by researchers out of the Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Minnesota's Walden University.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of educators group favorite links are here.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Diigo bookmarks for today 06/29/2010
Another location based site. To use it on a handheld - install the device. It does work on wifi devices. (My itouch works.)
‘Generation V’ Defies Traditional Demographics
"Generation V is not defined by age, gender, social class or geography. Instead, it is based on achievement, accomplishments and an increasing preference for the use of digital media channels to discover information, build knowledge and share insights."
Additionally the percentages that create content, contribute, etc. affects classroom and project planning. Do we allow students to "lurk"
Findings about these Generation V segments:
* Up to 3% will be creators, providing original content. They can be advocates that promote products and services.
* Between 3% and 10% will be contributors who add to the conversation, but don’t initiate it. They can recommend products and services as customers move through a buying process, looking for purchasing advice.
* Between 10% and 20% will be opportunists, who can further contributions regarding purchasing decisions. Opportunists can add value to a conversation that’s taking place while walking through a considered purchase.
* Approximately 80% will be lurkers, essentially spectators, who reap the rewards of online community input but absorb only what is being communicated. They can still implicitly contribute and indirectly validate value from the rest of the community. All users start out as lurkers."Discovery Education: Web 2.0 Tools
Lots of incredible tools from Discovery education.
Nice overview of Twitter and how it can be used as educators both personally and in the classroom
Online Learning (Rowman & Littlefield Education)
I've known Leslie Bowman for over a decade. She's a great online teacher. Her book is filled with the wisdom of experience. Check it out! ~ Dennis
"Online education programs at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels represent one of the fastest growing trends in education today. However, online classes are completely different from any other educational endeavor and require a new set of skills. Bowman, who currently teaches online undergraduate and graduate courses, and her fellow contributors provide an excellent down-to-earth guide for anyone who is thinking about or participating in an online education program. This well-written and understandable book covers some theories of learning styles but focuses on the nuts-and-bolts skills needed to be successful. Each chapter explores a particular aspect of learning online and gives practical advice about how to participate successfully in an online learning environment. Verdict: Bowman and the other contributors have several years' experience helping students learn online, and their perspectives make this a practical and helpful guide to a prevalent and growing practice."— June 2010, Library Journal Starred Review "YouTube - TEDxLaguna - John Moravec - Leapfrogging toward knowmad society
John Morvec's excellent presentation about future of society and education!
Posted from Diigo. The rest of educators group favorite links are here.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Diigo bookmarks for today 06/28/2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Diigo bookmarks for today 06/27/2010
Charles Leadbeater: Education innovation in the slums | Video on TED.com
Why and How we need to reform education
Posted from Diigo. The rest of educators group favorite links are here.
Friday, June 25, 2010
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