Currency

Cleaning up today I ran across a box with a foreign currency from past travels out of the United States. Thought it would be fun to scan some of the bills and post pictures of the scans.

United Arab Emirates

Oman

Kuwait

Italy


India

Haiti

Canada

Belgium

To All The Kids Who Survived The 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!!

To Those Who Survived

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took asprin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risk we took hitchhiking.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank koolade made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because:

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day.

And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phoes, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms.....

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, and made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.

They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned

HOW TO

DEAL WITH IT ALL!!

IF YOU ARE ONE OF THEM...

CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives

for our own good

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

SUPERBOWL 2008...

I was pulling for the Green Bay Packers to win this weeks NFC Championships.

But alas is was not be, so the 2008 Superbowl will be...

New York

GIANTS

VS

New England

PATRIOTS

I will be rooting for the Giants.

Peoples Choice Award - Stargate Atlantis...

This years People's Choice Awards had a new category SciFi. Nominees were Battlestar Galactica, Dr Who and Stargate Atlantis. Congratulations to the cast and crew of Stargate Atlantis for winning the 2008 People's Choice Award.

Stargate Atlantis is on SciFi Channel on Friday nights at 10:00 pm. They are currently in airing their 4th season and have been picked up for a 5th season. Even though there is currently a writers strike in LA because SGA is primarily written by Canadian writers they are in production for Season 5 which will start filming in early Feb. They were able to film a full 20 episode 4th season 11 of which have aired to date.

NFL Playoffs...

Next weeks games

Saturday January 12, 2008
4:30 PM on FOX
Packers vs Seahawks

8:00 PM on CBS
Jags vs Patriots

Sunday January 13, 2008
1:00 PM on CBS
Colts vs Chargers

4:30 PM on FOX
Giants vs Cowboys

Me I will be cheering for the Jags and Packers on Saturday. The Colts and Giants on Sunday.

Round 1 to the JAGS...

JAGS 31 - STEELERS 29

It was a hard fought game but in the end the Jacksonville Jaguars pulled out a win. We will have to wait and see what the out come of tomorrows games are before knowing where they will play next week. But tonight I'm just happy that they won round one of the play offs. Go JAGS!

Chicago Pictures Part II...

Below you will find more pictures from my recent time in Chicago, Il.

Navy Pier at Night

Statue of Bob Newhart near Navy Pier Entrance

Out on the town at "Howl At The Moon"

Michigan Ave Bridge at Night

Clock outside Macy's

Christmas Decorations inside Macy's

Horses and Buggy outside Macy's

Marshall Field Sign outside what is now Macy's

Another Horse and Buggy outside Macy's

Michigan Ave

Santa on Ice

Zamboni prepping Outdoor Ice Rink

During the summer months these are waterfalls in

a park next to the Chicago Institute of Art. They have pictures on

them year round. I found them to be very interesting looking

and would love to go back and see them during the summer with

water falling down them.

Chicago Institute of Art

Chicago Pictures....

Here are some pictures taken outside the Chicago Hilton on Michigan Avenue when I was at the Midwest Clinic last week.

Midwest Banner hanging outside the Hilton

Doormen for the Hilton

(love the coats and hats)

Across Michigan Avenue from the Hilton

Trolley on Michigan

The Merle Reskin Theatre (DePaul University)

Close up of Blackstone Theatre above the Merle Reskin Sign

Side view of DePaul Blackstone Theatre

Stairs on side of theater

Harold's Chicken Shack #62

If you are ever near the Hilton and looking for

a quick place to eat I recommend stopping in Harold's.

Next Door to Harold's

Chicago Train

Hey NOLA, we didn't forget you!

Last week I was in Chicago for the 61st Annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.


The Midwest Clinic exists for educational purposes exclusively; to raise the standards of music education; to develop new teaching techniques; to disseminate to school music teachers, directors and supervisors and others interested in music education, information to assist in their professional work; to examine, analyze and appraise literature dealing with music; to hold clinics, lectures and demonstrations for the betterment of music education; and in general to assist teachers and others interested in music education in better pursuing their profession.


By The Numbers:

Annual attendance is 13,000

350 Exhibitors

560 Booths

40 Concerts

100 Clinics

All 50 states represented with more than 30 other countries represented


One of the most impressive bands performing in concert last week was the New Trier High School Jazz Ensemble I and Jazz Guitar Ensemble from Winnetka, Illinois. The Midwest web site has several video highlights of their concert online at http://www.midwestclinic.org/videos/band_archive.asp

I would like to point out a special project that the band is currently conducting. Please check out the links to the bands web site to see how you can help.

About The Project:

The New Trier High School Jazz Ensemble program is committed to helping the students and professional musicians of New Orleans in a year-long project called "Hey NOLA, we didn't forget you!" The ensemble will be collecting playable used instruments for Tipitina's Foundation (http://tipitinasfoundation.org/) hand-delivering all donations to New Orleans during New Trier's Spring Break. While in the Crescent City, the jazz ensemble will perform a free concert at a local high school as well as concerts for local residents and volunteer workers from around the world. Finally, the ensemble will build a new home in or near Habitat for Humanity's "Musicians' Village," a housing project for professional musicians, so that those who lost their homes and were displaced by Hurricane Katrina can return to NOLA to continue to make music.

The students hope to raise $75,000 for the project, which is the entire cost of a house. Contributions are being accepted online at http://www.ntjazz.com/NOLA/default.htm. If you enjoy good jazz check out the bands web site above and consider purchasing their CD "25 Years and counting: Celebrating the Silver Anniversary of The Frank Mantooth Jazz Festival at New Trier High School" a double CD featuring world famous guest artists performing with the Jazz Ensemble 1 for $20 with profits going to Habitat for Humanity's "Musician Village."

Oscar Peterson...

Oscar Peterson

1925 - 2007

Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson has died at the age of 82.

Peterson began playing the piano and trumpet as a young boy under the stern tutelage of his father, Daniel Peterson, a West Indian immigrant who worked as a railway porter. He continued with his piano studies under the watch of his older sister Daisy after tuberculosis damaged his lungs at age six. At 14, Peterson earned his first break, winning the CBC's national amateur contest.

For more information on Oscar Peterson check out his offical web site at http://oscarpeterson.com/news/

What Happens When Teachers Die...

What happens when teachers die?

A teacher dies and goes to Heaven. When she gets there, she meets Peter at the pearly white gates.

Peter says to her, "Welcome to Heaven. Let me give you an orientation first." So, Peter takes her to some beautiful mansions.

The teacher asks, "Who lives here in these beautiful houses?"

"These are for doctors. They did a lot of good on Earth so they get a nice mansion," replied Peter.

Peter takes the teacher to some more mansions. These were more magnificent than the first. "Wow, who lives here?"

"These mansions are for social workers. They did a lot of good on Earth but didn't make a lot of money so they get a better house.

"Peter took the teacher to some more mansions. These were the most gorgeous homes she had ever seen. They had huge columns,well-manicured lawns, beautiful stained glass windows; the works!

"These are the most beautiful homes I have ever seen,"exclaimed the teacher, "who lives here?!"

"Teachers live here." said Peter, "They did much good on Earth and received very little money so they get the best houses in all of Heaven."

"But where are all of the teachers?" inquired the teacher.

Peter answered, "Oh, they'll be back soon. They're all in Hell at an in-service."

B.L.A.Z.E.R.S GO BLAZERS GO....

VSU BLAZERS NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPS!!!

Division I football once again this year will not have an undisputed National Champion in football again this year. But in Division II where they have a play off system in place once again the Valdosta State University Blazers, National Champion team, won it on the field. In a nail bitter close game against NW Missouri St the VSU Blazers pulled out a 25 -20 Victory.

Going into the play offs Valdosta was ranked #8 and NW Missouri State was ranked #5. But in the end Valdosta won the title on the field. One can only hope that one day Division I football will have a play off system so there can be an undisputed National Championship team.

Tim "Superman" Tebow...

Heisman just the beginning of Tebow's bright future


In October of 2005, Meyer was in his first season as the Gators head coach when he sent a text message to a highly coveted high school quarterback. That player, Tim Tebow, was then a senior at Ponte Vedra Beach (Fla.) Nease High School. One Monday, as Tebow was waiting to be introduced as the featured speaker at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, his cell phone beeped. A text message reportedly appeared on the screen:



TT: If we were scoring 50 points a game, we wouldn't need you. Obviously we need an athlete that's the right fit. National championship, Heisman, it's all waiting for you. Urban Meyer.



Tim Tebow became the 73rd winner of the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night. No player has ever needed fewer semesters in school to do it. No sophomore had ever won the Heisman.



To read the full article by John WaltersNBCSports.com click HERE






I am one HAPPY GATOR fan to see Tim get the recognition he deserves.

Tagged...

Visalia Christmas Parade - Tag

Last Monday we went to Visalia for the "Candycane Lane Parade" with the middle school band.

While the band was marching down Main Street and the bus drivers were out watching the parade our bus was tagged by some local gang member. Fortunately they used a black marker (maybe a sharpie) to tag the bus and the bus garage was able to remove the tagged material the next day.

It is events like this that start to make one think how safe our the streets for our kids? Do I want to keep living and teaching here or is it time to look into moving some place else?

Has the gang problem really gotten out of control? - At times it sure feels that way.

Are all gang kids trouble makers and worthless? - To this I can definitely say NO - Just last night we had our local Christmas parade and after wards I ran into a former student that is a member of one of the local gangs. We talked for a few minutes during which I reminded him that he is a bright young man and needs to make good choices in life because he has great potential. Before he walked off he stopped and gave me a hug and said Thanks.

I don't completely understand the gang culture. It just breaks my heart that some really great, smart students end up throwing away their lives because of gang involvement. I wish had a way to help get more of these students out of this destructive pattern. Some of these kids could be such an asset to society, they are not all just worthless thugs.