Curriculum

Most high school students here in California carry cell telephones

equipped with camera, calculator, GPS and flashlight. 

At present they are far more interested in these devices 

and skilled in their use than in traditional computers 

or traditional classroom activities.

 If they can read, send simple messages and understand simple arithmetic,

by using their cell phones, they can function successfully in today's society.

Athletic endeavors, operating appropriate machines, driving cars, 

getting along with others and feeling good about themselves 

are also very important features of contemporary education

 and schools, as they exist, are good places to learn and practice these skills.

Deeper learning, the sciences and humanities, of classical education, 

while enriching to human society and individuals,

are perhaps not so necessary for all and could be

undertaken as desired only by such persons 

who wish to follow such pursuits.

Deeper education could be understood as a lifelong process

not necessarily finished

in a specific four or five year make-or-break curriculum.

Unfortunately, cellphones transmit huge doses of radiation into the bodies of users
and will probably be the main cause of illness in the near future
as popular cigarette smoking was to an earlier generation..

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Salvador Lopez

 

A homemade memorial over the sidewalk

one block from our apartment..

Sometimes fresh flowers or a burned-out candle in a jar. 

Someone remembers,

Someone.

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Mountain

Was here

took this photograph.

Born lucky.

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Down Home

Relaxed, friendly, got cars, not too concerned with appearances.
Not Switzerland and not Ghana,
Me, I like it--but  probably wouldn't want to live here.

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Mop Cat

 

 Cat plus mop in Nogales, Arizona.

This is one of my all-time favorite cat photos.

I was going to write about the pressing need to create jobs for people--

especially young people who want to "earn a living" when there are so few

meaningful work opportunities--FDR's "Right to Work" as one of the 

basic rights, and a needed one, in this democracy, 

when I chanced on this photo

 made on a road trip a few years ago

which made me smile.

Maybe this cat has the right attitude to work after all!

And, just for fun, here is a photo Tanya took of me.

 Same day.  Same street.
(That sunny hill behind me is in Mexico.)

You-all have a nice day too!

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Gophers

Almost every day we walk a few blocks to a little park in a valley with a seasonal brook and oak trees.

This park (we call it a "parkito") may be there because it is in a rather abrupt and fairly deep valley--too steep for housing development though there are house lots all around it. There are no restrooms, playground or picnic tables--it is just a bit of common ground for dog walking and such urban activities.

What we like is that there is no traffic and usually no people or anything but natural features and inhabitants.

We have seen a land turtle, a family of deer, lots of birds including five or six wild ducks which stay the winter until the brook drys up  There are pollywogs in the spring and some minnows--though we don't see how they can survive since the brook is dry most of the year and a long way from any flowing water and there are several "towns" of gophers.

The gopher towns are very lively probably because there are few predators. The parkito is surrounded by busy streets and residences so we think no coyotes have made it into the animal mix and don't ask me how the deer managed to get in! Now and then a hawk flies around hopefully, but the gophers seem pretty wary of attack from the sky.

It is amusing to think that these little animals seem to enjoy life very much without grocery stores, schools or police. They are really on their own.

Tanya put her video of "our" gophers on the web for you

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Butterflies Video

We have a new video camera and Tanya

made this video on You Tube.

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