OrganizeFISH

Bike Signs Are Important

May 31st, 2009

I made such a ridiculously long comment at What’s Going Down(town) that I figured I should put it on my own blog. Posted a comment of such length there so more would read it, since other than family/friends, few read my blog.

As seen at “A Look at Possible Bike Route Signs”:

As Scott has mentioned, these signs are no finished product. They were only briefly shown as a head’s up they’ll be discussed at a later date.

Michael, warning. I originally commented because I did have an issue with these beta signs. I understand you feel this is a drapery discussion, but I consider it to be a part of the windows discussion.

Earlier this spring I visited Seattle where biking as a form of transportation is a serious thing. (Those folks are dedicated. The hills out there are killer.) I felt safe getting around town via their bike routes, because their regulation signs made the rules of how to interact with bicyclists and bike routes clear to drivers. As bike routes are put onto roads where right turn lanes for cars and straight lanes for bikes exist, the fact bike lanes are official lanes of traffic must be clear. (See the animation under “Bike lane laws”: http://www.sfbike.org/?bikelane_right_turns for clarification of lane situation.)

I disagree that different signs will stick out to drivers. We are trained to look at the regulation signs. You can only take so much information as you’re traveling down the road at a high speed. Customized signs run the risk of being read second to signs providing information for the task at hand.

Having said this, I would have no problem customizing the already regulated bike route sign. (Bike routes are different than dedicated bike lanes.) This has been standardized in California. The federal sign is M1-8 at http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part9/fig9b-04_longdesc.htm. The customization for Oakland can be seen at http://www.oaklandpw.com/Page122.aspx#define and the customization for San Francisco can be seen on page 3 of http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tpp/offices/bike/sites_files/Bike_Bklt_3-03_view.pdf.

I feel there is a need for official signs due to Fort Wayne drivers being used to an infrastructure that favors driving. Last summer I biked to work in Indy/Carmel mostly via their Monon Greenway, but near my work I was required to ride with traffic. Last Friday I rode to work in Fort Wayne and was shocked by the general disregard for both pedestrians and bicyclists. Multiple times I witnessed motorists make right and left turns as people were attempting to cross intersections when their sign said “WALK.” This is something I only rarely encountered as drivers generally yielded. Yes, Carmel and Indy have more pedestrians/cyclists, but they also have the infrastructure and signs to support and encourage considerate driver behavior.

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A Rant on Musician Elitists

February 25th, 2009

This is a hard one for me. Both my parents were music majors, one of my best friends from high school is a music major, and my sister is a music major. I am also decently involved in my university’s School of Music. I see how busy the music majors are, running from rehearsal to rehearsal, doing tons of work for each of their half-credit courses. I get from a purely academic standpoint, more is required out of a music major.

What angers me is when music majors imply they do more “work” than others, since their official school schedules have more activities (class and rehearsals) on them.

The issue is these music majors think less of the activities non-music majors are involved in outside of their academic requirements. And that really angers me.

Free time, hah. The culture of my campus is one of over involved students. Sure there are the kids who go to classes, go back to their room, get their homework done, and spend the rest of the night chilling (outside of when big assignments are due). (Or procrastinate and chill before cramming homework in, whichever scenario you feel is more realistic.) But no one I know. Or at least no one I know that doesn’t irritate me.

My days are filled with back-to-back classes, activities, homework, and meetings. A day that I have nothing to do or free time to actually choose when I want to do homework, does not exist except for that short beginning of semester. You know, the first half of the first week.

The things I have committed to, I devote a lot of time and energy. So when music majors get stressed and say things that imply they work harder than other students…it is greatly irritating.

I did take Musicianship and Theory last semester, which are two separate courses but are half-credit courses. And this semester I’m taking Jazz History, which is a half-credit course. Something does need to be done to remedy the fact the profs teach these as though they’re a full credit course. Only difference is they meet two hours/week instead of three. Which means you actually gain an hour of class for every two half-credit courses you take.

I feel better. Wrote this cause of something my sister said. I know she knows better, but it just came across really badly. Her statement was in fact in regards to one individual, not all non-music majors in general.

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Wanting to Blog

November 7th, 2008

It’s been a while. A long while. So long in fact, that I’m rather intimidated to write a post.

However, I need to write. It gives me some control over my thoughts. For almost a year now, I’ve had the urge to do…something. But I haven’t written a word about any of it!

First of all, at the beginning of 2008 (this year), I spent three weeks in El Salvador which was a DePauw Winter Term In-Service trip. Reflection is something stressed on these In-Service trips, and I have a journal as a result. In future posts (though no promise on exactly when), I’d like to revisit those entries.

El Salvador is a country that is attempting to recover from a civil war that took place from 1980-1992. Wikipedia has an article that gives a decent general overview. In case you were unaware, this is one of those cases where the US sent aid to the Salvadoran government, and then the Salvadoran government harmed civilians. In one story we heard from the citizens of Santa Marta, the Salvadoran government attacked the women, children, and elderly of the resistance fighters in an attempt to weaken the support for the resistance fighters.

If I took anything away from that experience, it’s that civic involvement is vital. The young adults of Santa Marta we met with couldn’t even comprehend how young Americans could possibly not be involved. There are so many things that can be improved!

I don’t even know where to begin with how excited I am about the election of Obama. I mean, man, just look at his transition website, Change.gov! The fact he’s just opening things right up, encouraging people to get themselves involved. His entire campaign was an absolutely incredible demonstration of massive grassroots organization. That’s a ridiculous sentence, but it’s true. Think of how many volunteers were involved, and how well the Obama campaign did in comparison to McCain’s in getting someone from the Obama camp to contact voters.

The whole thing has got me pumped. And that’s where I’m currently at. I’ve got a few pet issues (women & technology) as well as some general stuff (gay rights), which is probably where I’ll go from here.

I’m just glad I finally got a post up. There’s a ton of stuff all jumbled up in my mind. But this is at least a start.

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For A Better America

February 18th, 2008

ForABetterAmerica.org’s basic tagline:

By asking a question that every person in this country has at least one answer for (”What would you do to make America better?”), our site challenges users to think about the problems in this country and work collectively — both online and in their communities — to find solutions to those problems.

This site is a Web 2.0 attempt to combat the seemingly growing lack of civic responsibility American’s in general possess. Users suggest ideas and people vote either yes, no, or undecided to whether the idea will make for a better America.

On the page of an idea, the usual can be found: You can discuss, debate, and comment on the topic in the “Thoughts” (as opposed to comments); you can tag the topic to help organize the masses of ideas; you can share and publicize the idea using one or more of the many shortcuts (Del.icio.us, Digg, Facebook, email, etc).

The one new, and in my opinion, most vital feature, is the abillity to add an action. It’s sort of like a status on Facebook, except it’s a (relatively) permanent action that you are taking in real life to support the idea. The prompt is, “I am,” and examples include “using canvas bags instead of plastic,” “vegan,” “writing letters,” “turning the water off while I brush my teeth,” etc, etc.

On a user’s profile page, one can find the issues they are for, against, or undecided, and view their actions and thoughts (comments). Your stance on an idea is there for the public to see. Which I think is important. This way you are accountable for your opinion and must have reason for your choice.

Story of how I found the site: I received an Facebook invite to the site’s launch. After being blown away by the idea and implementation, I discovered I know one of the founders (know as in he came to my duplex a time or two this summer). Whom I immediately made my chum (yeah, no friending here).

So, check it out. And if you like it, please make plans to participate in their Digg-a-thon on Thursday at 6pm EST/5pm CT. Just visit their home page around that time, and there will be a link for you.

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Valentine’s Day and Politics

February 15th, 2008

From The York Times article Party Valentines, by Ariel Alexovich on February 14:

“This Valentine’s Day, Americans should ask themselves if they really want to give their loved ones a president who is willing to abandon his principles just to win an election,” said Stacie Paxton, the D.N.C. press secretary, in a statement.

Both parties took advantage of what has become cynically known as a commercial holiday. At the R.N.C.’s Web site, you could choose from six cards, three with Hillary and three with Barack, with such things as, “Three years in the U.S. Senate qualify me to wish you happy Valentine’s Day,” and “Roses are red, violets are blue, I’ll raise your taxes, and there’s nothing you can do.”

Politics. Ugh. Amusing, yes, but please go back to politics.

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Education: Government influence and lack of funding

February 11th, 2008

Government Influence
This is one of those times when I’m reminded just how much athletes and entertainers salaries rub me the wrong way.

February 11, 2008 editorial in The Journal Gazette:

Don’t put blame solely on teachers

After reading the article, “FWCS teaching methods faulted: Officials say tools in place to improve ISTEP+ scores” (Jan. 29), I was sickened. These officials are putting teachers in an unwinnable situation. They talk about teachers being too soft on kids who come from a tough home. These same officials are the ones who force teachers to go to sensitivity seminars and scold them if they do not give special consideration to “special kids.”

They say teachers need to put in more time. Most teachers (my wife and best friend among them) are at school no later than 7 a.m. and do not come home until 5 p.m. every night. They both do grading and planning on the weekends, cutting into the little family time they have left. Tell me one other profession that requires a degree where the workers put in 50 to 60 hours every week for $32,000 a year.

Why do we not put the blame where it needs to be: on the students who are too lazy to even try; on the administrators who keep adding standards and more curriculum to cover without taking away outdated standards, leaving more to teach with less time; and on the parents who are not helping their children with their homework.

ANDREW ACHENBACH Fort Wayne

It really gets to me when administration that is disconnected from the situation gets involved. A few examples:

Integrated Math - Math teachers in FWCS said this was a terrible idea. Yet, the textbooks were bought and such a teaching method was then set into place for the next six years. Thank you for impeding on my math skills. I’m not a natural math genius, and I definitely feel I could be in a much better position were it not for those classes. It should not have been necessary for my high school calculus teacher to have a two week session on algebra to insure we all knew the basics necessary for advanced math.

Block 4 - Fine arts teachers said NO to this scheduling system. Every year since its implementation they have had to fight with scheduling administrators to insure their students were able to take the fine arts classes they want while meeting class requirements. I’m glad to hear that this system is on its way out the door in the near-ish future.

For whomever is actually reading this, I’d appreciate if you set me straight on either of the above two examples. It has been 1.5+ years since I was around the constant chatter on such topics.

Lack of Funding
DonorsChoose.org
I really like this Web site. Like, really really like it. In a nutshell, teachers post supplies they need in order to fulfill a lesson plan they have in mind, and people can donate to that specific project. I think it’s really cool, because teachers do not receive enough money for the supplies they need. Especially new teachers. Much too often teachers have to cover expenses that are seen as superfluous or that should be funded by parents. In low income areas, these supplies are neglected.

Here’s an example:

Sharp Learners!
Mrs. M’s Classroom
95% low income
Indianapolis, IN
Level: Grades 3-5
Subject: Applied Sciences
Resource: Supplies

$181 Total Cost

Proposal: Through your generosity, my class and I can stop worrying over little things like sharpened pencils and focus on learning. My students need No. 2 pencils, erasers and 2 electric pencil sharpeners.

Ooh. Okay, yeah. I really do like this web site. You can even create a gift registry. Hooray for a backup when I never get around to putting a Christmas list together! (I’m notorious in my family for that.)

And for you Fort Wayne folk, schools with proposals listed include Adams Elem, Arlington Elem, Blackhawk MS, Brentwood Elem, Croninger Elem, Forest Park Elem, Glenwood Elem, Hickory Center Elem, Holland Elem, Lincoln Elem, Lindley Elem, Maplewood Elem, Nebraska Elem, Scott Elem, South Wayne Elem, Towles Intermediate (which I have a soft spot for, since it’s essentially my elementary school Bunche), Washington Center Elem, Waynedale Elem, Weisser Park Elem, etc, etc…

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This is when it sucks to be without money.

January 28th, 2007

I was looking for this thing called “Cereal on the Go”, and in the process stumbled upon this nifty site called DormBuys.com. Here I found a really nice alarm clock that allows you to set different alarms for the different days of the week (plus it has that awesome nap alarm) (and you can customize the snooze!): The Neverlate 7-Day Alarm Clock. However, if I were to ever save up the money to buy it, I’d wait for what they’re calling the Executive Edition that’ll have a line-in for MP3 players, digital FM/AM tuner w/presets, and hopefully the allowance of more than one alarm a day.

Another thing I found on the site was an idea of how to get my stupid laundry bags to stand upright: PVC Tubing Hamper. Too bad my Hogate sized dorm room won’t allow for it. Ah well, there’s always next year.

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This is too much, lol.

December 14th, 2006

So, while wasting time on MySpace, I came upon a quiz that identifies what football position a person is. For the unnamed person’s page I was looking at, the result was, “Linebacker: You are a tough guy. you like hitting anyone. you just want to hit someone in there mouth.”

The irony of the grammar error is just too much.

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My day has been made.

December 13th, 2006

At the risk of sounding…vain? Egotistical? Conceited? Whatever, check it out, I’m famous: 10 Most Fascinating People of Katie’s 2006. Check out number 6. (Okay, so I couldn’t have done it by myself, but it couldn’t have been done without me.) Thank you Katie!

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Microsoft is making an effort.

December 13th, 2006

So, I found this nifty template I wanted to use for my presentation on Friday. (Nifty as in I don’t have to do any work to make it look professional.) However, when I went to download it, I was informed that it only works with Office 2007. And then I’m informed that I can install a trial version. Well, I was bound and determined to use that template, so I went ahead and installed it. And oh my goodness have things changed. I guess the good ol’ standard menu bar is out of style. In a big way. Check it out: Wikipedia - MS Office Word 2007 screenshot.

Craziness. I think I like it.

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OrganizeFISH

Bike Signs Are Important

A Rant on Musician Elitists

Wanting to Blog

For A Better America

Valentine’s Day and Politics

Education: Government influence and lack of funding

This is when it sucks to be without money.

This is too much, lol.

My day has been made.

Microsoft is making an effort.

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