Conversation With Lucas

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

L: Are you 20?
M: (thinking, I wish! ha!) No, I'm a higher number than that.
(Lucas counting through the twenties...)
L: Are you 30?
M: Almost, but a little bit higher.
L: (counting... ) are you 36?
M: Add 2 more. 36...37..38.
L: That's a high number! (thanks kid!) How many is Dad?
M: 37.
L: Your number is higher! (Again, thanks kid!)
L: Is your head bigger than Dad's?
M: No! Dad has a bigger head.
L: Are you bigger than Dad?
M: No, he's taller than me.
L: How come? Your number is higher than his.
M: Because his bones grew longer than mine.

And next month Joe will finally join me in being the 'same number' ... for 2.5 months anyway.

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Messengers (1999) (JMovie) (local server)

AKA: Messengers
Year: (1999)
Directed: Yasuo Baba
Genre: Action / Drama / Romance / Comedy
Runtime: 118 Min.
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English (softsubs)
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215993/

Cast
Produced by Fuji Television Network
Naoko Iijima ... Naomi Shimizu
Tsuyoshi Kusanagi(SMAPxSMAP)... Hironori Suzuki
Hiroyuki Yabe ... Shigekazu Yokota
Kotomi Kyono ... Yumiko Abe
Tetsuya Bessho ... Hiroshi Okano
Shigemitsu Ogi ... Yoshihisa Ota
Shinsuke Kyo ... Takayuki Hoaokawa
Shinsuke Aoki ... Noriyuki Hattori
Yuko Ito ... Mamiko Maekawa
Yuzo Kayama ... Makoto Shimano
Tatsuyoshi Ehara... Bartender

The Messengers adalah film lama asal negeri bunga sakura yang menceritakan tentang kehidupan kurir sepeda dan persaingannya dengan kurir sepeda motor. Film ini ber-genre drama yang penuh dengan unsur komedi, romantisme dan aksi tapi bukan aksi laga yang fighting. Kemudian oleh karena one thing lead to another, cewe tsb harus bekerja menjadi seorang kurir (messenger) dengan mengendarai sepeda (jidensha). Bayangin aja, seorang wanita karier dengan kehidupan yang kaya raya dan glamor berubah nasibnya 180 derajat menjadi seorang pengenjot sepeda yang mesti keliling seatero kota Tokyo untuk jasa kurirnya. Nah, banyak kejadian2 konyol, lucu dan ngakak abis selama dia menjadi kurir sepeda, mulai dari jatuh dari sepeda, kehujanan, jalan2 tanjakan yang mesti dilalui, hingga dimarahi karena antaran tidak nyampe2 ke tempat tujuan. Alur cerita dalam film ini semakin seru ketika para kurir2 sepeda ini harus berkompetisi dengan kurir motor untuk membuktikan siapa yang paling tercepat dalam mengantar barang.

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ENGLISH SUBTITLE

INDO SUBTITLE

shared by : neo079

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Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Sunday, 15 April 2012

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors students in middle and high school for outstanding volunteer service to their communities.

102 Honorees and 234 Distinguished Finalists are from each state and the District of Columbia.

This years State Honorees includes students whose volunteer service was devoted to special needs. A few of these students are:

Hope Reis, 18, organized a day of downhill skiing for children with special needs. Visually impaired herself, Hope came up with the idea for “A Day on the Hill for Kids with Special Needs” when she was working with the local ski patrol to complete her Girl Scout Gold Award. “I wanted to give people with all different kinds of disabilities a chance to do something they did not think they would be able to do.”  Seven children with disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy to blindness arrived at the mountain for a day of fun on the ski slopes. “I would like to see this event happen every year, and hope that it will grow to include more participants each time,” she said.

Taytum Jones, 13, has been volunteering with students with disabilities since she was in third grade. She missed an hour of class every other day to work in the autistic room. “I thought that was the greatest thing,” she said. She helped them with sensory activities, worked on physical coordination skills and assisted with homework. Taytum also volunteered with an organization called “Dream Catchers” that teaches children with disabilities to play baseball. She continues to work with disabled students at her middle school by playing games and assisting with learning activities. Taytum wants to be a special education teacher when she grows up

Calista Pierce, 12, raised nearly $12,000 so local Special Olympics athletes can continue to take part in regional and state competitions, and more than $8,000 to grant wishes to two gravely ill children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She makes and sells crafts, hosts bake sales and organizes raffles and other fundraisers. She recruits family, friends and even Special Olympics athletes to help with her endeavors. In addition, Calista works as a Special Olympics volunteer.

Congratulations to these 3 outstanding students, and all the honorees, for their contributions to volunteering and making a difference in their communities.

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Engaging Students With Learning Differences Early On

Saturday, 14 April 2012

PBS produced an excellent news piece on Engaging Students With Learning Differences Early On (you can read the full text of the story at that link). The story is about the William Henderson Inclusion Elementary School.

Watch Engaging Students With Learning Disabilities Early On on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

Studies have shown that students with learning disabilities drop out at more than twice the rate of their classmates.

This school practices early intervention by engaging students with technology and art to improve their chances of earning a diploma. All while being a fully inclusive school.

Interesting piece of information - Under federal law, a child identified with learning disabilities must receive a free and appropriate public education. Generally, the more the disabled a child is, the more money is allocated for his or her education. There are many places in the country that don't spend that money wisely by segregating L.D. kids in special education classrooms, which costs more than spreading it around in inclusive settings.


My favorite quote from the article is from Dr Bill Henderson: "If we want kids to graduate from high school, then having a strong foundation at the elementary level is critical. And for kids with significant learning disabilities and significant attention-deficit disorders, having technologies, providing accommodations for reading and writing are critical."

This school is held up as a national model for what early intervention can do for children with learning difficulties.

My thought is the same as this commenter, "How is it that in an urban district like Boston, one school can shine for so many students....and it does not seem to be able to be replicated across the system or the state or the nation?"

Exactly.


Kayla's school is already an arts-infused school, now they just need someone from the William Henderson Inclusion Elementary School to come here and transition the school to a fully inclusive school.

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"Vantage Point: Withering Roses"

Thursday, 12 April 2012

"Vantage Point: Withering Roses"

This long winded Word Smith
Uses long fingers and big hands.
Would stand on the block;
But I've got big plans.
No time to kick rocks.
I'm trying to pick the socks
That match the tie and vest
That rests upon my chest.

Would let my pants sag;
But I'm a grown man.
Can't judge your progress
If I'm not on, man.
Might not like the process;
But trust me. I understand.
Trying to do more with less
Has never been grand.

Would have taken advantage;
But I'm not that guy.
Lustful souls are deemed famished
When circumstances pass by.
Would be the other man,
But I'm not that petty.
People do what they can
When they know they aren't ready.

Would take part in your scheme,
But I'm moving already.
Never needed a team
To be balanced or steady.
That's no forceful resistance.
I've never been that stubborn.
I am not your dependent;
But I'm okay with being governed.

Would take part in gossip;
But I don't like to murmur.
We stretch the excess further.
That's why it leads to murder.
Would spend most of my time
Proving I'm better than you;
But I'll never be convinced
that there isn't more to do.

Would say "No Homo;"
But I don't tuck my balls.
I don't have to "Pause;"
I stand next to my flaws.
That bike chain and thermal
Will not make you eternal.
Expensive shoes and colored flags
Mean less than those jeans you drag.

Would rather remain solo
Than take part in the promo
And since legends last forever,
I may never say "YOLO."
Don't need to join the guild
To make me want to build.
Don't need to be objectified
In order to feel justified.

Would wax on my misfortunes;
But I welcome the adversity.
The brilliant are forever resilient.
Decide what your worth will be.
Those who talk about my limits
Will find themselves working for me.
No profit for useless critics.
They waste their time for free.

Would offer an apology;
But I must condemn atrocities.
Don't brag about life sentences.
I barely notice your apostrophes.
Why act as if being predicate
Is an unprecedented rarity?
It's not synonymous with celibate;
So stop reaching for charity.

Would withhold this clarity;
But pulled punches lend no credence.
You are living your own legacy.
Don't fall victim to impedance.

I won't excuse your age
And I can't contain your rage
And I would beg you to read this;
But you're free to turn the page.

Written By: Devin Joseph Metz

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