Category Archives: Education

Friday, December 16, 2016 – Par Tee Time and Blue Norther

Friday, December 16, 2016 – Par Tee Time and Blue Norther

Our word for the day is Blue Norther. It is a meteorological term used in the South to indicate an extreme change of weather bringing in cold, frigid, Artic air. Long before forecasting and computer models one could look north and see a battleship blue gray sky stretching across the horizon. The bluer the sky became, the closer the bone chilling air was. What it really indicated was that your petunias were about to freeze and it was about to get colder than a well-digger’s butt in Montana.

I have a tee time tomorrow at 9:00 am. Since the temperatures will be in the upper 60’s rising to a balmy 79, I will wear shorts and layer the top with a couple of light weight shirts. In addition to the usual golfing needs of water and protein snacks, I will pack a large duffle bag that contains the following:

Down filled parka

Fleeced lined shirts

Flannel lined pants

Thermal gloves

Ear muffs

Hand warmers

Foot warmers

Ski masks

Wind pants

Wind shirts.

These items will be needed should I be unable to complete the round before the blue norther promises to drop temperatures into the upper 20’s.

Notice there is no plans to stop playing. It’s a golfer thing, right? Stay warm and be thankful you are.

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Wednesday, December 14, 2016 – Boon Moon Pointillism

Wednesday, December 14, 2016 – Boon Moon Pointillism

I painted this using the methods of the pointillism artists. This technique is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to from an image.

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Yeah right. I rolled down the window of the car, held my phone out the window and took this last evening from the parking lot of Kroger’s on Boonville Road. Pretend you are in a museum looking at the pointillism artists. Look them up. Do I have to do everything for you?

Have a super mooning day!

Tuesday, December 13, 2016 – Sociology 101- Memes and Emoticons

Tuesday, December 13, 2016 – Sociology 101- Memes and Emoticons

Good morning, Class,

Today is Sociology 101. We will be looking at two forms of so called communication. Memes and Emoticons. Spoiler alert: This is one of the HWIT where you think you know where it is going, but you do not.

What is a meme? An internet meme (/miːm/ MEEM) is defined as an activity, concept, catchphrase or piece of media which spreads, often as mimicry, from person to person via the Internet.

Meme sounds like something you call your grandmother. However, it usually involves a video of someone saying or doing something stupid, outrageous and often in a drunken or otherwise enhanced state of mind. It is then immediately and without thought posted to Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat or other social media. Think of it as STD – socially transmitted demonstration.

A meme is not to be confused with an emoticon. Aside from sounding like a laxative, here is a very fancy definition of emoticon to use at the next cocktail party, bar gathering or just to show off to strangers.

An emoticon is a metacommunicative pictorial representation of a facial expression which in the absence of body language and prosody serves to draw a receiver’s attention to the tenor or temper of a sender’s nominal verbal communication, changing and improving its interpretation. It expresses – often by means of punctuation marks – a person’s feelings or mood and can include numbers and letters, as well.

Allow me to translate some big words. Pictorial representation – a picture, somewhat cartoonish in nature. Metacommuncative – multiple means of communications that means different things to different people and to their brains and is dependent upon multiple factors such as current mood, emotional state of mind, alcohol intake, time of day/night, proper parental upbringing, and other social factors.

Prosody is a linguistic term (I like to say linguistic b/c it sound dirty, but isn’t) that means nonverbal cues. You do not hear what the person is saying.

Bottom line emoticons use those symbols and characters on a keyboard that are seldom used in normal communications or they are happy faces on steroids invented by the Japanese.

They all represent the transference of culture among people via technology. Reread that sentence remembering they mean “different things to different people and impact their brains in different ways and they are nonverbal.” Which part of communication am I missing?

In either case I do not use memes or emoticons because I have no idea what the hell they mean. I have no idea what you are saying to me when you use one. I am not learning these hieroglyphics that are device independent and often differ from social media to social media.

For example – do you know what this symbol means? (@_@)

It means socked or confused. http://www.symbols.com/symbol/1149

It is also the look in my eyes every morning to a new cabinet post. What is the meme or emoticon for FUBAR?

Class dismissed.

socked-and-confused

Monday, December 12, 2016 – One College Football Award and Your Monday Assignments

Monday, December 12, 2016 – One College Football Award and Your Monday Assignments

The only award today for college football goes to Sam Houston State University. While alumni are still proud of you, I must award you the Wait Until Next Year Award. It was either that one or the one to James Madison for “A Good Old Fashioned Big Thicket Bearkats’ Butt Kicking.”

Moving onward through the fog…

This just in from the William Robert Bagachips News Bureau. http://www.billybobbagachips.fakenews.com

The finalists for head of the Drug Enforcement Agency in President Elect Twitter’s Cabinet are Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin and Walter White with Mr. White having the inside track according to SNL.

Keep moving through the Worm Hole.

Funny Moon 4.9.16 2016-04-09 007 (800x530)

Our word for the day is thransonical. It is an adjective meaning boastful; vainglorious. His humour is lofty, his discourse peremptory, his tongue filed, his eye ambitious, his gait majestical, and his general behaviour vain, ridiculous, and thrasonical. — William Shakespeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost, 1598

For the Shakespearean challenged Love’s Labour’s Lost is a comedy with a theme of reality versus fantasy.

Assignment: Use thransonical in a sentence at your next Christmas party to describe President Elect Trump. Take a survey to determine how many people believe it to be complimentary.

Thought question for the day – How many millions did the Cabinet Post picks contribute to the Trump campaign? Within a couple of million will be close enough for government work.

Assignment: Select a potential Cabinet member and write an essay titled “Why _____ is qualified to hold the position of ______ .”

Questions?

How long does the essay have to be? Long enough to cover the subject, so yes handing in a blank piece of paper with just the title will be sufficient. Yes, for extra credit you may address the entire cabinet and still turn in a tabla rasa for qualifications.

Class dismissed. I must see if my Rosetta Stone for learning Russian and Chinese has arrived.

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Friday, December 9, 2016 – How Bout Them Applewhites? Or Good Things Come to He that Waits and Sammy Bearkat!!!

Friday, December 9, 2016 – How Bout Them Applewhites? Or Good Things Come to He that Waits and Sammy Bearkat!!!

What is the mascot of James Madison University? Happy Snarky Friday. Congratulations to Major Applewhite! The University of Houston announced the Offensive Coordinator will now be the Head Coach of the Cougars. Good move, Coogs!

However, tonight on ESPN2 at 6:00 pm the best football team in Texas will play  James Madison University in the quarter finals of the FCS playoffs.

SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY!!! GOOOO BEARKATS!

http://www.gobearkats.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=11345&SPSID=92955

This promises to be an aerial attack with both teams averaging around 50 points per game. Sam Houston is the lone unbeaten team remaining in the FCS and is joined by Western Michigan (13-0) and Alabama (13-0) as the only unblemished teams in all of Division I football.

The mascot of James Madison University is Dukes Dog or just Dukes. I do not know why. You can Google on your own. See you in Frisco, Texas, Kats!

Buddy Glasses

Buddy T. Cat – (T. stands for The.) Photo by me.

Thursday, December 8, 2016 – Aunt Bureaucrat’s Words of Wisdom.

Thursday, December 8, 2016 – Aunt Bureaucrat’s Words of Wisdom.

“When you’re up to your a$$ in alligators, you forget that your initial objective was to drain the swamp.”

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Tuesday, December 6, 2016 – Merry Christmas and Manseutude

Tuesday, December 6, 2016 – Merry Christmas and Manseutude

Good Morning Boys and Girls,

Please note: I will sue your happy butt if you do not let me express my freedoms expressed in the greeting. Besides, I am rethinking law school.  With the new administration and President Elect Twitter, the most jobs he will create will be in the field of lawyering up along both sides.

Our vocabulary word for the day is: Mansuetude. Is a noun that means mildness, gentleness, the mansuetude of Christian love.

“I know there are people who do not love one another and I hate people like that.” Tom Lehrer.

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Friday, December 2, 2016 – Conference Championship Weekend and the Way Way Back Machine!

Friday, December 2, 2016 – Conference Championship Weekend and the Way Way Back Machine!

Before we begin, let us review (Saint Madeline, Patron Saint of Education). It is Snarky Friday. I only write about college football teams I like and/or play teams that I like. However, it is the “Be nice, not naughty” season so I am trying reel in the Snark. Please stop laughing.

The Conference Championship for the conference formerly known as The Big 12 will play their faux conference championship in Oklahoma when Bedlam breaks out between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Cowboys are coached by the man voted “Best Mullet in College Football,” Mike Gundy. Let’s go Cowboys! “Hell is coming and we’re coming with ‘Em.” Go Pokes!

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The Southeast Conference Championship is between # 1 Alabama and Florida. DROWN THE GATORS! DRAIN THE SWAMP! TASTE LIKE CHICKEN! STOMP! STOMP! STOMP! ROOOOOLLLLLL TIDE! Go Jalen. At least you can make Texas football proud.

I am sure I would look cute in an Alabama championship shirt of some kind. It’s not like Bama Fans don’t have a zillion of them. A nice hound’s tooth hat would look cute on me too. Just saying. I would have posted a pic.

But before college there is high school. The Way Back Machine was in action yesterday. In fact it was in way, way back mode. Check out what Magnolia history I uncovered in the family storage. Magnolia High School yearbooks. These are from 1946-1952.

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I quickly glanced through them and saw names such as: Groves, Cronin, Flemings (both sets), Carraways, Smith (as in Toby and Cedric) Buckalew, Grogan, Wade, Sanders, Evans, Covingtons, Harpers, Hanks, Graves, Deans (all sets of them too,) Damuths, Ricketts, Davenports, Purvis, Lott and so many more. There are some great photos of the old school, including the old cafeteria. I cannot wait to start sharing. Nothing like a picture of ya’ll in elementary school.

The weather is supposed to turn chilly this weekend. Perhaps these letter jackets will keep you warm with Magnolia memories.

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Wednesday, November 30, 2016 – Aggie Ball

Wednesday, November 30, 2016 – Aggie Ball

It was elementary day at the Texas Aggie women’s game against USC. There were over 4000 screaming and hollering full of energy, towel waving baby Aggies.

Season tickets holders were moved from their regular seats to other seats. They also fed ticket holders breakfast. I would say I landed a pretty good seat – sweat slinging close. The only thing separating me from the team was the railing.

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The player on the left is Anriel Howard – aka Lashes.lashes3

Look closely just below the other player’s ear lobe. Those are Howard’s natural lashes. When she puts on the glam ones her lashes look like butterflies. She is such a great athlete and a beautiful and talented young lady. The one blowing the bubble, Danni Williams, Miss 3 Point Shooter, is no slouch either.

But alas, the former Queen of the Houston Comets, basketball coach extraordinare Cynthia Cooper-Dykes and her USC Trojans proved victorious, in a great game.

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Monday, November 21, 2016 -The Monday after Saturday College Football Awards and the Best College Team Football Team in Texas

Monday, November 21, 2016 -The Monday after Saturday College Football Awards and the Best College Team Football Team in Texas

Let’s begin with the UGLY Awards and there are many to be awarded.

First Place Ugly Award for really ugly is presented to THE University of Texas who somehow lost to a one (1) and nine (9) Kansas team in overtime no less. Perhaps it was those ugly blue bunting bird looking uniforms KU wore. (Thank you Dr. K.) The last time THE University of Texas lost to Kansas was 1938. Write that on your Rock Chalk, Jayhawk sidewalk.

The Star-Kist Tuna Award – Sorry, Charlie – is awarded to Head Coach Charlie Strong of The University of Texas. I sincerely thought and hoped it would be a good fit for all. The good news is that lots of coaches have FOR SALE signs in their front yards too with more coming soon.

With a possible FOR SALE sign in his yard, we have the Second Place Ugly Award presented to Texas Tech for losing to Iowa State 66 -10.Tech scored when the Iowa State women’s soccer team took over in the fourth quarter.

Third Place Ugly Award is presented to Baylor University losing to K-State 42-21.

Fourth Place Ugly Award is presented to the Texas Aggies for surviving 23-10 against The University of Texas @ San Antonio.

This presents a distinct possibility that Texas A&M and Baylor will meet in the We Suck Bowl to be played in a big high school stadium somewhere between Houston and Dallas.

In Other Awards

The Cat that Ate the Cardinal Award goes to The University of Houston Cougar(s) who ate the Cardinals of Louisville 36 to 10 spoiling all Louisville hopes for a big bowl and maybe Lamar’s Heisman hopes. Nice cat smile, Shasta.

The Snow Globe Game AwardSnow U/OU Award goes to OU vs. W.Va. – OU 56 West Virginia 28. I am glad OU wore red pants with their white jerseys; otherwise one would have lost them in the snow and on the field after it stopped snowing. West Virginia still was unable to find them on the field – red pants and all.

The Taste like Chicken Award goes Pistol Pete and the Cowboys of Oklahoma State as they dined on frog legs defeating TCU 31-6.

This sets up the Big 12 Conference Title to be determined at Bedlam next week. Notice: neither of the schools is in Texas.

Michigan and Ohio State both receive Poopy Undies Awards with Ohio State escaping Michigan State 17 to 16. Michigan had more difficulty than anticipated winning over Indiana 20 to 10.

This sets up The Big Ten Title game between Ohio State and Michigan next week. I am going with the team that wears ugly helmets.

The Thanks for Participating Awards go to Alabama and Auburn. Both teams won handily, but both should have against Cupcake We’ll Take the Gate Receipts schools. This sets up the Iron Bowl next week. Roll Tide.

The Longest Yard Award goes to Florida for stopping LSU on the goal line on fourth and one to defeat the tigers and win the SEC East. Score: Florida – 16 to LSU – 10. Yea. Guess who’s coming to College Station for Thanksgiving Dinner?

It was definitely a week of ugly in Texas football. But there is one bright orange spot coming out of Huntsville, Texas.

The best football school currently in the state of Texas is the #5 Sam Houston State University Bearkats. The Bearkats are undefeated for the second time in program history and will host the winner of Weber State and Chattanooga on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. from Bowers Stadium.

http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92955&SPID=11345&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211310989&DB_OEM_ID=19900

Perhaps there is National Champion Football Shirt from one of my alma maters in my future after all.

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