TU Tuesday. Local

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Troubling-issues-at-Guilderland-nursing-home-3533412.php

We have all heard stories, jokes and references about the same problem. But i never thought that it coupld be happening right behind out school. "State inspectors have cited the Guilderland Center Nursing Home for 52 deficiencies over the past three years, more than double the statewide average." This is bad news and advertising for nursing homes, who in this country at least seem to get a bad reputation. Also its grim news for a place that many of us could be heading, hopefully much later in life. The article states to prove its point that "The average nursing home in New York has been cited for 24 deficiencies,.." While this news could be worse i dont find it all that comforting. Unfortunatly other offenses have taken place at the nursing home, one employee at the nursing home was "...accused of grabbing the breast of a 95-year-old resident in 2010, leaving a sizable bruise..." Not only thins but neglect and a lack of safety has also taken place inside the establishment. SOmeone from a inspection group stated "'Clearly you have staffing problems here,..'" Although I think that this maybe a large part of the problem the underlying problem is within our culture. As stated before the average number of Nursing Home deficiencies in New Yrok State is 24. I dont know about you but when i'm old and fragile-which i hope never happens- i do not want to live in a place with any number of observable deficiencies. I think that our culture frankly treats our elderly like crap, with disrespect. Think about it. other cultures do not. i remember in my History class last year we were begin taught by a woman in her older years. She started one lesson telling us about  cultures in Africa who hold their elders in high regards. They have barley to life a finger and what they require is at their fingertips. People value them for their wisdom and what they have to offer to a community. I understand that America is a youth worshiping nation. It always has been and always will be. Its a great part of being an American. But we should try to improve the way we lok at the elderly, because in truth they are our most valuable educators, and frankly were all headed that way.

Prompt Number 48

When i think about war now there isn't much emotion. There isn't much patriotism. There isn't a clear or defiant cause. For most of the years of my life america has been at war. I have forgotten what it is like to live in a county that isn't at war. Is it really that much different? You tell me i have no idea. Things would be different if it was WWII or WWI, the Civil war, The Revolution. All those wars, i would describe as necessary evils. The cause of them is pretty obvious. All the same no matter what war it is we all need to remember people who willingly risk their lives for their friends, family, and country

What isCrippling Us?

I do believe that the author is making a good point. I believe that there is, something wrong with the way kids are taught in America and more importantly the way teachers teach. Dont get me wrong i love all my teachers and most of them challenge me a fair amount but too many time shave i seen teachers who have NO CLUE on what they are doing. Its not enough that they just know the material, they have to be taught on how to convey it to kids in an understanding manner that everyone can absorb not JUST the advanced students. As Gatto says about school teachers "Boardroom is a common condition of school teachers." I think that this is true. I will say this though, for the most part guilderland high school does a great job of hiring quality teachers. Not everybody of course, but i haven't ever had an unenthusiastic teacher at GHS. But there is something that i would like to point out about the article. When Gatto says "...a considerable number of well-known Americans never went through the twelve-year wringer our kids currently go through, and they turned out all right. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln?.." I just want to point out that all those people lived more than 100 years ago. They didn't have public education. They had one roomschool houses for rich white boys and that was it. I'd also like to point out that the author did not include one accomplished female in his list. Anyway  I do agree with him that much can be learned-most in-fact- out side of a classroom. That what summer vacation is about. 

          Anyway, there are several ways to connect this to Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. One way is that Bradbury describes through the character Clarisse McClellan, that the children of her generation are irresponsible. Similar to the way in which Gatto describes children of this generation as being board and unmotivated. Talking about a past generation Clarisse says "...they believed in responsibility..." and later she says "Do you know, i'm responsible. I was spanked when I needed it, years ago..." Bradbury made some accurate predictions on the futre of our nation, as good science fiction authors do. And Gatto, pointed out some of the weaker points in our system, they seem to tie into Bradbury's predictions pretty well. 

Tried And True

I would choose a knight. I would choose this one simply because i feel like the middle ages would have been a fun time if you were healthy. My daily life? Well i think that everyday i would wake up, go shoot the breeze with the king cause i would make sure that i was his favorite, I would aim to make myself popular among the towns people as well as the royal family. I would work my way up through the ranks with my 21 century intelligence. Then after acquiring very close friends i would go off with them and have an adventure of some kind. Ive always wanted to do that, just walk off on an adventure, not knowing where your going, maybe the town was just ransacked by bad people and we had to run away. Yeah that'd be cool. Of course i would enjoy it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r36wikH36JM

We can spend hours and hours, arguing about some of the greatest leaders in history. Abe Lincoln, Margret Thatcher, Washington, Sitting Bull, heck, even Jesus. We can argue about which ones of them were better, purer and with the best intentions. But I believe that the best leaders are those who have been thrust into a position of leadership, and have accepted the challenge for the good of others not for themselves. Great leaders are not given their place. Sir Winston Churchill is a great example of a leader, who was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and never once faltered. In his speech to Harrow University in 1941, during Great Brittians 3rd year in the Second World War he said the following "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never! In nothing great or small. large or petty, Never give in." This is a perfect quote of his, perseverance, his determination to bring his country up from the ruins and fight the Nazis. He is proud of what he has done to the country also, in the speech he also says "...the great improvement in the position of our country..." he knows that he has helped this country out of one of its darkest times and, he knows there is further to go.  "Why when I was here last time we were all alone, desperately alone."but later in the speech he says "We are not poorly armed to-day". All these quotes show his attitude, it was positive, it was a positive "lets go kick some butt" attitude.
           Churchill succeeded Neville Chamberlain, constantly opposing his, and most of Europe's policy of appeasement "Churchill took the lead in warning about Nazi Germany and in campaigning for rearmament." In his first several years of office he had to deal with the constant Air Raids on Brittian during the Battle Of brittian in 1940. After Brittian successfully defended themselves with the help of the shelter of their subway system and anti- aircraft fire the Nazis backed off. Brittian continues to fight on mainland europe and had a hard war infront of them until 1945 when the nazis were defeated.
          I think believe that many lessons can be taken from Sir Winston Churchill, his quotes, his speeches and his actions. Too many times in life do people give in to intimidation and fatigue, the only person- usually- who is standing in our way is ourselves. One of my favorite quotes of all time, helps me to keep on going when all seems lost and never give in.
"When your going through hell, keep going"
                                                       -Sir Winston Churchill

4 A Community I Love

A Community i love has to be Altamont. My house rests on the boundary between Guilderland and Altamont. I grew up in the woods of altamont. I made a lot of friends in the village from a very young age. It was like growing up in a movie, we would go hiking up waterfalls or swimming in ponds, trespassing, playing football at the park, eating ice cream and going to the Altamont fair every year. I love that town because its so relaxed. Its like a picture out of the 1950's

Love to Know Slideshow

How do you feel when you walk though freshly fallen snow?

I love all the seasons. Really i do, the change they bring always seems to come right in time and its always the right thing. But i think i get most excited when winter rolls around and it snows for the first time. I love walking through the snow for the first time in the woods with the moonlight reflecting off the snow and making it into day. Its the strangest feeling, its an adventurous feeling and it makes me excited. It makes me want to be with my best friend and go sledding or go explore or just see all that i can see when this beautiful snow is on it.

Creative Contest III

This is how legends are made.

Philosophy Blog

Buddhism- Founded in the Indian subcontinent it stresses the detachment from worldly possessions, hate, greed, and all worldly emotions. Founded by Siddartha Gautama in the 5th century in continues to live on today. Buddhists follow the laws of the Four Noble Truths and the Way of Life that is the Eight Fold Path.  Buddhists neither attempt to prove or deny the existence of  a god or higher power but believe that we should worry about our time on earth. The goal of all buddhists is to reach Nirvana, or enlightenment in which they are truly happy and truly disconnected from worldly possessions.

Do i agree with buddhism? Some aspects of it i do agree with. I agree that humans should worry about being happy on earth rather than obsess about what will happen to us when we die. I think that being miserable all of your life is not worth whatever someone may or may not promise what will happen to you when you die. I don't think that we should have no morals to carry us throughout or lives. We should have a moral compass and to be faithful is also important to me, but lets enjoy our lives as much as we can.
Buddhists tend to attempt to reconnect from all worldly possessions. I think that this is a good goal to an extent. People shouldn't be obsessed with their possessions, they are distracting from what is really important in life. However we are humans, we are animals and we want things, of course we do. We want to be comfortable and happy. You cannot strip people of their instincts no matter how hard you try.
       About Nirvana, do not ask me if i agree with it or not. I have not experienced nirvana so i could not say. You would have to ask a buddhist monk.

Tu tuesday classified

http://timesunion.kaango.com/ad-antique-estate-auction-saturday-april/20545988

It was, i suppose about the time to put up the add. I mean we had to get rid a lot of that stuff. We have been meaning to do it for a long time. It had been taking up space in the Attic and basement for years and years. They were nice wedding presents and inheritances, but now they had to go. Jim and i mutually agree, this fall seemed like a good time to get rid of this stuff. My grandmothers  old paintings, My grandfathers furniture, that pottery, and that damn Steinway Piano.

That Piano has been in the family for years and years, and-not to sound to superstitious- but the thing has caused nothing but trouble. My great great grandfather- according to family legend- bought the Piano on his crossing from France. He was a rich man, and had a manor waiting for him on the other side of the ocean as soon as he got to America. For years he and his wife entertained guests with this piano, for 40 years that piano was played in that house and made beautiful music.

When my great great grandparents passed away, the house was sold and the piano passed down to my great grandfather. Now when the piano was moved it had to be moved from the third story of the house to the ground story. It was lowered out the window, anyone could have guessed what was going to happen next-well its not totally expected. As my great great grandmothers favorite chandler was being moved out of the house, keep in mind this thing was so expensive, so rare. made of real diamond and gold, from the palace of Versaille in France. The ropes hauling the piano snapped and fell on the chandler, not to mention one of the movers. He only broke his leg but the chandler was totaled. 1 and a half million dollars down the pooper. The piano, survived.

My great grandparents- who inherited the piano- left candles burning on it which commenced to burn down their New England home. Everything was destroyed, but the piano. My mothers sister inherited the Piano when she became of age, she tried to sell in on account that nobody could play. A man walked up to her one day saying he would buy it. She gave him a price and he said he would drop buy later and pick it up. An hour later he showed up on the threshold, as soon as the door was opened the man fell a crossed the threshold. He had died of a heart attack. My aunt freaked out and gave the piano to my mother. I hated this thing. At night i would stay up and listen to it crack and groan, some nights i would hear notes play from it, this was just my imagination i assumed.