Customer service

 In an attempt to get healthier, I have started the diet and workout routine.

I am going to a Crossfit gym every morning.  Since I am older and I have never been athletic, it has been a challenge.  Sometimes I do not finish the workout.  Usually I am the last one to finish.  But I am there every morning and have for the past five weeks.

Another goal is to follow the martial arts.  Our local college offers Akido, lessons are free but I pay in providing food for the blessing box for students.

I ordered a Gi from an online company.  I sent a message in for advice on the sizing.  I had made complete measurements of myself for a sewing project.  They sent me back a recommendation.  I went and ordered it.  It was too small.

They were very nice about instructions for a replacement.  I am waiting for it to arrive.  Their response was "we size on height and weight."  Okay.

So let me understand this, you do not know enough about your product that you do not know the  specific measurements of your product?  Should you not know them for chest hips, etc?

New Uniforms

 I saw our Junior ROTC First Sergeant in the new Army uniform.

Like many changes, there are things he likes about it and things not so much.

I am not sure about the slouch of the hat.  That was done by the Air Corps then so that they could have the headsets over the hats.

It is creativity.

 

There is a scholarship of 2000 dollars for writing a piece on Zombie Apocalypse.  The writing must be less than 250 words.  One winner wrote a filk using a tune from Hamilton.

More at the link

https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships/zombie-apocalypse-scholarship

How do contact you?

 Yesterday was our ACT testing.  In our state it is the standardized test for Juniors to rate our school.

I was proctoring a pair who had accommodations.  Bright  young people just needing more time.  One could not bubble in his address because he had just moved.  The other could not remember how to spell the street. 

After a slight blinking moment I realized, "it is no as important now, it is all Digital."

JROTC

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/11/us/jrotc-schools-mandatory-automatic-enrollment.html

"Thousands of youths are compelled to join military’s Junior ROTC"

I am not seeing how this is a bad thing.

The story starts with a student who has been enrolled in JROTC.

 

 "In the class, students had to wear military uniforms and obey orders from an instructor who was often yelling, Thomas said, but when several of them pleaded to be allowed to drop the class, school administrators refused.

“They told us it was mandatory,” Thomas said."

Our school has JROTC.  I have never heard our JROTC instructors yell.  Well, not anymore than any other teacher. Though I am sure they would like to.  And assign PT as a punishment.

It is not like boot camp with Drill Sergants frothing at the mouth from screaming.  It is not "military uniforms," it is "military style uniforms."  These students are not in the military.  

As far as mandatory, it is more likely "you have to be somewhere."  When I would talk to new JROTC instructors, I would be asked "Why is he/she in ROTC?'  

My réponse would be "He has to be somewhere."

Isn't this sexist

 In preparing for the senior award ceremony, the school counselor came to my class of 11th graders.

"I apologize for interrupting your class, I need two boys to help move stuff."  For the ceremony.

I choke back, "isn't that sexist."

Instead, I say, "you mean you need two willing students.  I have many girls that may want to help."

Two boys did volunteer, my borderline hyper ones who bounced up.  

administrative tests

My daughter and friends of mine are getting their administrator certification.
We were talking about the types of situations that come up in the real world.

1.  You are told by a student that there is a raccoon in the choir room and that it is probably nesting in the ceiling.  Do you 
    a.  announce a new school mascot
    b.  let the cafeteria workers deal with it
    c.  notify animal control

2.  as you walk by you notice that a teacher is swearing at the copier machine that it is out of toner. Your best choice of action is
   a.  walk by pretending not to notice\
   b.  let the secretary deal with it
   c.  offer to help

problems

I am working on fixing the Friden calculator.  I have cleaned much.,  I got it spinning and moving I got a power cord that works.

The motor was sparking.  I was not sure if the problem was dirt and oil or if something was grounding.  Then as I am checking and seeing if it is working and experimenting, it jams and a tooth on the gear work.  I call my husband in who tells me that if I can remove the gear I can probably order another one.  Oh well its not working, what have a got to loose.  I'm  going to take it apart to see if I can loosen that gear and look at the motor better.  Maybe I can rewire it.

The first part is to remove the carriage.  Then I can get a better view.  I'm taking pictures so I can see what is happening and put it back together.

Removing two bolt heads can help me get it off I hope.  Then just take apart to learn.

either I will fix this or get another while having a prototype.  But only after I get a bunch of other jobs done.

new project

Here is a STW10 Friden calculator

The same as here in Katherine Johnson's (true life Hidden Figures character)

I started liking the idea of Manual typewriters, but considering my job, the calculator works better.  It does not work yet, I do not have a cord.  It needs a lot of cleaning.

I have found many helpful links, including the Service Manual from the Internet Archive.

This video has a hand crank that you can use for checking at 5:06. 

My husband looked at it and determined that a 1/4 inch bolt with 28 turns per inch would fit into the slot and possibly turn it with the help of a socket wrench.  The carriage is not moving and I am working slowly.  Tonight is cleanser and Qtips.

chemistry notejournal

I have my students keep a notejournal for chemistry class.  One of my students goes above and beyond just writing things off the board.

gaffer tape

Like many teachers, my classroom is painted cinder block.  It is hard to put things on it.  Hot glue can work.  But I need to change things with our Standards Based Education.  Duct tape and packing tape work, but Duct tape has a residue.  I have found that gaffer tape works well.  Since it is cloth, t tears easily and feels nicer on the hands. With the colors, I can color code things.  Coding things the students use is good.  I made holders for the tape using the 3 D printer.  The Neon green and pink I like are in constant danger of being scarfed by students.  But if they want to be creative, so be it.

It turns out I had bought a good quality gaffer tape.

writes like butter

I am not sure where I heard of Blackwing.  I knew of them when I went to a art store that carried them.  I have had a box I went throw.  Although the claims of the lead carry, the best is the fact that the erasers can be replaced. 

I rarely saw a pencil that wore out before the eraser was gone.  I bought, at a pen show, a sampler set.  There are three kinds of Blackwing.  I am not sure about the cover for the end.  I bought some clips so I could put them into my pocket.  They do feel different.  The price is about 2 dollars each.  The sharpener is strange.  There are two sections one for the wood and one for the lead to make a point.

Domestic bliss

We purchased some cloth bags for gardening.  This is so we can move things around as needed instead of in the soil.  The local transfer station (landfill area) has free compost.  All you need is an appointment and a truck or trailer.  We put some fertilizer and ammonia mix to break it down.  The bags are ready to go.  The squash look like they took the transplant well.  I have pepper plants for the empty ones.  I will be getting flowers for the front garden after I throw some of the compost into them.

Glue

Super Glue is needed sometime in life.  But I ran into a problem that the tubes would not work.  Locktite is better.  The amount can be controlled by squeezing the sides of the bottle to prevent over use.  The secure cap helps to prevent drying out.

3D printer

I have finally started using the 3d Printer.  Students may do projects with it, but I am offering them the opportunity to make one item for themselves.

If you can get a 3D printer for your class, do so.
They learn to use the technology and I have something to show administrators. I use a flashforge dreamer.  The two nozzles lets me print the supports and rafts in one color while the project is another.  It makes it easier to clean the project when finished.  Then I can print several things in different colors.




It was acting up because I am ham fisted when working on it.  I even had it duct taped for a time.

Advice for people.

Watch the youtube videos that show operations.  Check the real people, the troubleshooting guide is of little help.  This "is part broken?"  "replace it".  I know that.  How do I figure out if it is broken.
Do not be afraid to work on it.  Every part can be replaced.  It is hard to break the whole thing.
You can even reprogram it with a scan disk.
Make any tools needed for it.  Check out the internets.  I used Thingiverse for ideas. I needed an alignment block for the dual nozzles.  Thingiverse had one and I used one for another printer also.
Do not troubleshoot when you are tired or frustrated.
Check out the tools you need for it and get them.  Trying to fix the machine with makeshift tools does not work.  I even got some acupuncture style needles to clear clogs.
Check out educational things.  Even things not specific to your class can get students excited.
They play constantly with the clamps I made.  The moon model I made had cracks and needs to be redone.  They cannot wait for me to do that.  Since it takes over 23 hours to print they have to wait.
If you have problems it is probably a clogged nozzle.  Check you settings for the plastic you have.  Check the leveling.  Make sure the platform is cleaned.
I use a lot of alcohol, paper towels to clean.  And stick glue to make it stick to the platform.

Sharpie marker holder

Models of electron orientation

Fractal pyramid

gears.  They can be reset.  I need to make more backs and pegs

two men enter

Years ago I got a grant to purchase toys to teach physics.  Part of it was wind up robots to show potential and kinetic energy.  It was slow Friday after the pep rally there was no way to get them to work.  So I got out seven of the robots.

Usually kids just wind them up and play.  My knuckleheads had a stack of books and was doing Robot Thunderdome.

It is how you phrase it

So I'm writing my first draft of a letter to my administrators asking them to fix the surface of the lab stations in my chem lab. I really signed the first draft, "I remain, respectfully..."

I read waaaaay to much historical fiction

passover

I use this for teaching my students about calendars.  and courage.

I'm in a weird place as an atheist in a bible belt, with friends and family who are devout christians and Jews.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_RmVJLfRoM

top gun

  I have a set of "micky mouse" headset that aircraft carrier crews have.  I get a colored jumpsuit and flashlight with cones. A student has a speaker system in his car has agreed to let me use it with the music.

Morning parking lot duty will never be the same again.

humbled by students

I cannot relay this story well since it was more of feeling than what happened.  We have a severly autistic student who needs an aid with her.

The student was in the hall and another student was talking to her.  "beth" was assuring the autistic one that she would help autistic student to the class.  "beth" kept repeating assurances, her name and what she would do.

patience, love and caring.

(aid was coming up the rear then stopped when scene was in motion and watched)