Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Actual Work? That's Crazy Talk



One of my all time favorite Dilbert punchlines.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Children speak 'universal language' with art - San Antonio Express-News

Children speak 'universal language' with art - San Antonio Express-News


A child's vision of living in a world united by diverse languages and cultures was showcased Monday in an art show sponsored by Catholic Charities Refugee Services.

More than 70 people attended the show, which featured art and essays by refugee and American students in honor of World Refugee Day.

Master of ceremonies Jennifer Yanez-Alaniz said the children were asked to create art showing how they could learn from each other.

Steve SaldaƱa, president of Catholic Charities, said the children spoke a “universal language” through “art that we can understand.”

Local artists Adan Hernandez, Lauren Browning, Seth Camm, Jacinto Guevara and Safa Al Rubaye judged the artwork and selected 18 paintings from 300 submissions to show at the event.

Paula Walker, Catholic Charities' director of refugee programs, said the day, sponsored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, encouraged the public to do one thing through the year. “It would change their lives and welcome them to our community,” Walker said.

Walker said Catholic Charities will auction the artwork at its gala in October, which benefits the refugee community.

“It's amazing how the schools adjusted to it,” Walker said. “There wasn't any red tape; just a beautiful thing, not just refugee children, but American children coming together.”

Slideshow images flashed on the front wall of creations from students in the Northside Independent School District. Drawings of foreign flags followed people wearing festive garb.

Bianca Bohne, 11, read her essay, which included a line that called the day an opportunity to “be in the shoes of a refugee.”

“I think it was pretty cool to write about World Refugee Day,” Bianca said. “I liked how everything came together and we shared everything.”

Jeddy Thang Val, 6, from Myanmar held one of the dozen certificates handed out to the young artists by refugee Lateef Mutleg, who fled his country to pursue his artwork.

Browning, one of the judges who picked the piece by second-grader Ernest Dusengimana, from Burundi, as Best in Show, said she was moved working with refugee children.

“Art has a power to heal,” Browning said, “and teach compassion and camaraderie. It's an amazing thing.”



Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/article/Refugee-American-children-create-art-for-World-1432603.php#ixzz1PvVKwYpG

Monday, June 13, 2011

Best book series: Grades 4-6 - Peter and the Starcatchers | GreatSchools

Best book series: Grades 4-6 - Peter and the Starcatchers | GreatSchools

Had this in my drafts for some reason, so it's probably incomplete. But still good, and since I don't remember why I didn't post it, here it is.

Peter and the Starcatchers By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Tells how Peter Pan became Peter Pan.

Cirque Du Freak By Darren Shan
Like the movie

Artemis Fowl By Eoin Colfer
12 year old Evil Genius

Goosebumps by R.L. Stine
Well-written scary stories for kids.
They made a few into shows. The scariest one to me was the one where on Halloween, everyone wearing a mask became whatever mask they were wearing. Creepy good fun! :-)

Maximum Ride By James Patterson
I remember reading the ARC edition of this that Victoria brought home. It was pretty good. Bought her the next in the series.
Also recently read the “adult” version that starts the series by Patterson. Ill Wind Blows or something.
Like three in the series. More mature kids could read the two starting novels, When the Ill Wind Blows and The Lake House.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid By Jeff Kinney
Grat book, good movie. Might as well read all 5.

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
The movie covered the first three books (you know, sort of). The books, of course, are even better.

Little House By Laura Ingalls Wilder
At some point, all kids should read these. They’re not hard reads, and are good historical fiction.

His Dark Materials Trilogy By Philip Pullman
The Golden Compass and the rest of the books. The movie was great, so the book is probably better.

The Chronicles of Narnia By C.S. Lewis
I re-read these every few years, because the stories are just that good.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Fund Comparision Website

You have to be a USAA member and you can get to the Morningstar Fund site through the USAA site, but it's really good for finding a mutual fund that meets your needs.

https://awrd.morningstar.com/SB/USAASB/USAAScreener.asp#