Cool Week

I don't have a lot of time for a blog entry tonight. This week has been my week to go to Rice U. and do World History Pre-AP training. Tonight I need to drum up a presentation for the night school that I teach for Accelerated Teaching Certification Program in Humble. I teach that Thursday night. Boy is that going to be a long day. At Rice from 7:30-4:30 and teach at Humble from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Ouch.

Anyway, it has been a fascinating week. First we have learned a lot of methods and strategies for my world history class all week. What I have been most excited about has been the number of things that have been echo'd from my AVID training a few weeks ago. Namely, Cornell Notes. It has just piggy backed what I learned in San Diego and I am really ready to start teaching the note taking method this fall.

I have met a lot of great and inspirational teachers at the training. You just feel like a sponge around those kind of folks because sharing ideas on how to get things across to kids is really a magical thing.

This week we have also decided to buy a new tv! Yep, finally launching ourselves head first into the HD craze. After researching for about a week and a half and going to show rooms and researching some more, this is what I decided on:

This Samsung Beauty!

Samsung 50" DLP Rear Projection HDTV (HL-T5087S)

This 50" 1080p DLP television delivers a stunning picture both today and tomorrow. With it's LED light engine, you get a vibrant, colorful image that will last the life of the set. And it is only 13.4" deep, with a slim, glossy bezel that puts the emphasis on the picture. It also delivers 1080p resolution to make the most of today's digital sources as well as tomorrow's.

The Basics
Display type: DLP rear projection
Screen resolution: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Contrast ratio: 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio

I could type for days about the reasons I chose this tv, but it was a bit of a compromise. I didn't go "bleeding edge" and top of the line with Plasma or LCD flatscreens. Instead I went with a DLP (or projection HD) that uses an LED light engine. That means I will not have to replace a bulb in the tv. Which to me was important. Those bulbs can go out at any time.

I'll probably order it online because there is a 36-month no-interest deal online with this TV. That will give us plenty of time to pay it off.

I am really excited about getting it in time for football season and being able to sit back and enjoy some games. Plus, all the great HD programing on TV anymore. Wow. I swear TV shows are just as good as the movies any more. Shows like 24, Lost, BSG, Rome... just doesn't get any better. Now it will be awesome in HD for me.

Well, I need to get to work on my presentation. It will be fun delivering it on Thursday night because I have also worked with this group back in June. They were a great bunch of people and very attentive with lots of questions. I hope that continues Thursday. I have a lot to share with them.

Simpson's Movie

This morning at 10 am we went to see the Simpson's Movie. It was very good. I loved the beginning where Homer basically says, "What are you people doing here? Why are you paying to watch something that is free on TV?" Loved it.

Aidan had a good time, too. I had to buy two bags of pop corn, little bugger!

The Kind of Move the Astros Have to Make

Wheeler Shipped to Rays for 3B Wigginton

Although I hate to see Dan Wheeler go - he is a tremendous competitor and I will always have great memories of our World Series season with him - this is the kind of move my Astros have to make. They trade a setup guy for a starting third baseman. They have to gamble and make some moves like this to set things up for next year. But, Wigginton has to turn out to be an everyday starter for this deal to be a winner for the Astros. At this point that is a big "IF".

Another Pic from Galveston

Norma reminded me that I forgot this picture. It's a good one. So I thought I would post it. :)

Aidan (Joe) Cool

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Galveston Dino Exhibit

Aidan loved it... can't you tell?
View LARGE Slideshow

Aidan grabbed the camera as I pressed the button to take a picture. So this is in essence a 'self portrait.'

He really had a great time dumping sand. It was almost as if he thought he could clean off the beach and dump things back into the ocean. Of course, it just kept washing back up on shore. But, he didn't seem to mind.




We really had a great time. We went out on the beach a couple of times. The hotel was great. Another successful Galveston 2 day trip.

Glass is 1/2 Full

In a week dominated by terrible news in sports (and I'm not going to even mention the stories - they are horrible), it was great to see two GREAT stories in Houston.

Texans-sized gift makes mom a home owner

Grand Day All Around for Biggio
On the day he announces his retirement and just after a short video on the jumboscreen thanking the fans, Biggio hits a grand slam home run. Amazing.

Biggio Uses Astrosfans.mlblogs.com to Write and Open Letter Thanking the Fans of Houston

And for my wife, here is a video that you'll love:

Leaning 08BAMA

I have to say that I am leaning towards supporting and voting for Barack Obama. He is raising the most money. (Not that it matters, just remember what happened to Howard Dean) He is doing the best in the debates. (Not that it matters, just remember what happened to Al Gore v. W in debates in 2000) What I like more than any other thing about him (and there is a lot of other things to like) is that he is and WAS opposed to this war.

Nothing sums this up better than these two videos. The first is from the debate from this week. The second is a series of his comments showing his consistency. None of the other top Dems can say with conviction that they made the right decision on Iraq from the beginning. That means a lot to me as some having the kind of 'experience' and 'judgment' to be president.

2007:


2002:

Memories of a year ago

August 2006.

Tomorrow we'll make some new memories at the beach. :)

Aidan's Doctor Visit

Like I said in a previous post, Aidan's personality and verbal ability is skyrocketing. So are his reasoning skills.

This is a picture of Aidan at the doctor's office and his plan to keep the doctor from coming into the room. he pushed the chair in front of the door and sat in it. He was pretty proud of his smartness.

The doc did get in though. Aidan has strep throat. Which means that is probably what I have. I will probably get up early tomorrow and go into the doctor's office before we leave for Galveston and try to get my prescription filled - if I have it.

He is doing great though and is as normal as you can tell. I didn't think he needed to go to the doctor's office today - so I was wrong. Norma thought he did and she was right. Isn't that always how things work?

All Pro Football 2K8 - Texas T-Rex

These are pictures of my first created team in NFL2k8. The Texas T-Rex. Named after Aidan's favorite - dinos. Thought the uniforms were pretty sleek. I was going after a Texas Tech look combined with Astros colors. Brick Red, Black, and Sand.
LARGE Slideshow Here

Gold - (QB) Steve Young, (TE) Iron Mike Ditka

Silver - (WR) Charley Taylor, (CB) Lester Hayes, (SS) Dick Anderson

Bronze - (T) Joe Jacoby, (DE) Dexter Manley, (CB) Terry McDaniel, (HB) Barry Foster, (WR) Wesley Walker, (FS) Nolan Cromwell

It's been a nice team so far. Young really can run well. He's gotten me a lot of first downs on short yardage vs. man coverage. Ditka is a HORSE. He runs so well with the ball after catches. I went heavy on DBs with this team. I just want to keep the other team from lighting up the score board and give my squad a chance. If I could make a tweak, I might trade a DB or two for another lineman. But, still learning with this group. Have yet to use Anderson's play stealing ability. I will try that tomorrow.