Monday, March 30, 2009
Map & Compass
While Andrew was in Boy Scouts, one of the things that I did was Map & Compass training. I did this about once per year mainly to cover some basic requirements at the earlier ranks. However, I did some more advanced training from time-to-time as well. I expanded this and covered Girl Scout requirements a couple of times too. However, right about the time that I organized it into a document laying out the details, the demand went away.
A few months ago, the troop tried to contact Andrew to help them with some Map and Compass training. Since Andrew is now living in Costa Mesa, has no car, and keeps himself very busy with other activities, he was not able to help. However, since I had the materials ready I signed up.
Last Saturday I did the class. I met the scouts at Riley Regional Park at 8am and kept them until a little after noon. We covered how to use a compass, how to read a map, and some other basic skills. I then gave each of them a topographical map of the park and had them trace a hike and profile the elevation changes. Finally, we used the map and compass to take a 1 mile hike.
They were a rowdy bunch: 17 boys in the 11 - 13 age range. Some of them really got into it, others were not interested at all. Pretty typical of past groups that I have trained (although a few more kids than I usually include). The leaders were really appreciative and I enjoyed getting the chance to use my materials again (and get out on a very nice day).
For the record, the Scouts completed these requirements:
* Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Explain what map symbols mean.
* Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass.
* Using a compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.)
The requirements have changed slightly from when I developed the course. However, I still cover the new requirements. This could be done in much less time than I spend, but I want to give them a chance to try out their skills and really learn it. Most of them will promptly forget everything, but for some it will stick. Maybe some basic land navigation will come in handy for some of them someday!
A few months ago, the troop tried to contact Andrew to help them with some Map and Compass training. Since Andrew is now living in Costa Mesa, has no car, and keeps himself very busy with other activities, he was not able to help. However, since I had the materials ready I signed up.
Last Saturday I did the class. I met the scouts at Riley Regional Park at 8am and kept them until a little after noon. We covered how to use a compass, how to read a map, and some other basic skills. I then gave each of them a topographical map of the park and had them trace a hike and profile the elevation changes. Finally, we used the map and compass to take a 1 mile hike.
They were a rowdy bunch: 17 boys in the 11 - 13 age range. Some of them really got into it, others were not interested at all. Pretty typical of past groups that I have trained (although a few more kids than I usually include). The leaders were really appreciative and I enjoyed getting the chance to use my materials again (and get out on a very nice day).
For the record, the Scouts completed these requirements:
* Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Explain what map symbols mean.
* Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass.
* Using a compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.)
The requirements have changed slightly from when I developed the course. However, I still cover the new requirements. This could be done in much less time than I spend, but I want to give them a chance to try out their skills and really learn it. Most of them will promptly forget everything, but for some it will stick. Maybe some basic land navigation will come in handy for some of them someday!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tests
Bethany and Hayley both have important tests going on today.
For Bethany, she (and the rest of the 10th grade) is taking the CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam) today. This is a test that all students must pass to get a diploma. From what I hear, it is a very low bar to leap. However, it is intended to avoid the embarrassment of my generation where there were jokes about students that could not read the diplomas that they received.
Hayley has a more intense situation. She was home sick with the flu all last week. Last Thursday and Friday were Trimester finals for her. She missed those. We have been helping her prepare for the 4 tests that she has to make up. She took History and Math tests yesterday. She has to complete Math today and take her English final. She may take her Science final today or it may push to tomorrow. In any case, she has to do this on top of keeping up with her regular work. I have re-learned a LOT about History, Science, Math, and English over the past week or so. We were even studying over the weekend while we were out selling Girl Scout cookies at the grocery store.
Good luck to the test takers.
For Bethany, she (and the rest of the 10th grade) is taking the CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam) today. This is a test that all students must pass to get a diploma. From what I hear, it is a very low bar to leap. However, it is intended to avoid the embarrassment of my generation where there were jokes about students that could not read the diplomas that they received.
Hayley has a more intense situation. She was home sick with the flu all last week. Last Thursday and Friday were Trimester finals for her. She missed those. We have been helping her prepare for the 4 tests that she has to make up. She took History and Math tests yesterday. She has to complete Math today and take her English final. She may take her Science final today or it may push to tomorrow. In any case, she has to do this on top of keeping up with her regular work. I have re-learned a LOT about History, Science, Math, and English over the past week or so. We were even studying over the weekend while we were out selling Girl Scout cookies at the grocery store.
Good luck to the test takers.
Labels: Bethany, Hayley, Health, School
Monday, March 16, 2009
America's Funniest Videos
Ina wanted to get a chance to see the taping of a TV show. We finally got around to that last weekend and joined the audience of an episode of America's Funniest Videos. We ended up towards the back of the room, but we had a couple of intros recorded with host Tom Bergeron in front of us. We might show up a few rows back. We also were behind him (several rows back) when he had to re-do a segment from a prior show.
So, Ina and I will potentially be on TV in the audience for a short segment of a showing on March 22nd. We are in the audience for the full showing of the episode that will be on March 29th. We may show up in the background at some point.
Part of the reason that we waited until now is that the show has a minimum age of 18 for audience members. Due to that, Hayley and Bethany did not go with us. However, once we got there the audience included several younger kids and a BUNCH of high school kids. I need to figure out how they got in when it was claimed that we would not be able to.
Anyway, attending the taping was a lot of fun. Tom Bergeron is funny between takes and was very personable with the audience. We actually watched the videos in the order that they will appear on the show and we got to vote. I can't publish who won. I can say that Ina and I voted for different videos and we both picked wrong.
So, Ina and I will potentially be on TV in the audience for a short segment of a showing on March 22nd. We are in the audience for the full showing of the episode that will be on March 29th. We may show up in the background at some point.
Part of the reason that we waited until now is that the show has a minimum age of 18 for audience members. Due to that, Hayley and Bethany did not go with us. However, once we got there the audience included several younger kids and a BUNCH of high school kids. I need to figure out how they got in when it was claimed that we would not be able to.
Anyway, attending the taping was a lot of fun. Tom Bergeron is funny between takes and was very personable with the audience. We actually watched the videos in the order that they will appear on the show and we got to vote. I can't publish who won. I can say that Ina and I voted for different videos and we both picked wrong.
Labels: Ina
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Tango in Finland
In my last posting, FlyingVan asked if the Tango is still popular in Finland. I had not heard anything about it, so I asked. The answer was a resounding yes! They consider themselves second only to Argentina (and some claim first) when it comes to passion for the Tango. I have now done a little more research into this and have more of an understanding on the topic.
Thanks for the question - it helps to understand my customer's culture and have another topic to discuss with them.
Thanks for the question - it helps to understand my customer's culture and have another topic to discuss with them.
Labels: Travel
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Way back in October, I promised to write a blog entry about my visit to Suomenlinna Sea Fortress which is on a series of islands just off the coast of Helsinki. I spent a day there visiting. I wrote about my near-failure with geocaching last October, but not about the rest of the photos that I took. Since I don't have a camera to take pictures on this trip, I will share some from my prior trip.
For those not familiar with my prior post, Suomenlinna was built by Sweden (which controlled Finland at the time) to keep the Russian navy in check in the mid-1700s. It was considered second only to Gilbraltar in strength. One of my activities was a walking tour and the history was very interesting to learn. After the tour, I wandered on my own for the rest of the afternoon. The pictures below were from my ferry ride over and the visit on the island.
Here is the ferry that I took over to the island. It can carry two cars in the center. There was one car on my trip over. The ride takes about 20 minutes.
I did some experiments with the timer on my phone's camera so that I could be in more pictures. In this shot, cannons have been used as fence posts with chain going around a church. The camera is sitting on the steps on the church.
... and here is the church. It is the only church in the world that also serves as a working lighthouse. The top of the church has the rotating light. This was a naval fortress and it is at the entrance to Helsinki's harbor, so using the tallest building for a lighthouse made sense.
The pictures below show one of the most popular beaches in the Helsinki area. Not much space by California standards, but they make do with what they get.
There were lots of old cannons around the islands. Some in museums. Some out in the open placed in their historical positions.
I wondered what this cannon could see from its point of view.
With the help of my timer, I found out.
The afternoon was much sunnier than the morning. While the air was still chilly, it turned into a very nice day.
Finally, there is the tale of the boat channel that runs right by the farthest of the fortress islands. The channel is fairly narrow -- or at least I thought so when I watched this guy go through.
I couldn't believe it when I saw this ship coming a few minutes later!
But it made it through!
Wow, what an overload of pictures. Good thing that I didn't post them ALL in this message! It was a nice, long walk around the islands.
For those not familiar with my prior post, Suomenlinna was built by Sweden (which controlled Finland at the time) to keep the Russian navy in check in the mid-1700s. It was considered second only to Gilbraltar in strength. One of my activities was a walking tour and the history was very interesting to learn. After the tour, I wandered on my own for the rest of the afternoon. The pictures below were from my ferry ride over and the visit on the island.
Here is the ferry that I took over to the island. It can carry two cars in the center. There was one car on my trip over. The ride takes about 20 minutes.
I did some experiments with the timer on my phone's camera so that I could be in more pictures. In this shot, cannons have been used as fence posts with chain going around a church. The camera is sitting on the steps on the church.
... and here is the church. It is the only church in the world that also serves as a working lighthouse. The top of the church has the rotating light. This was a naval fortress and it is at the entrance to Helsinki's harbor, so using the tallest building for a lighthouse made sense.
The pictures below show one of the most popular beaches in the Helsinki area. Not much space by California standards, but they make do with what they get.
There were lots of old cannons around the islands. Some in museums. Some out in the open placed in their historical positions.
I wondered what this cannon could see from its point of view.
With the help of my timer, I found out.
The afternoon was much sunnier than the morning. While the air was still chilly, it turned into a very nice day.
Finally, there is the tale of the boat channel that runs right by the farthest of the fortress islands. The channel is fairly narrow -- or at least I thought so when I watched this guy go through.
I couldn't believe it when I saw this ship coming a few minutes later!
But it made it through!
Wow, what an overload of pictures. Good thing that I didn't post them ALL in this message! It was a nice, long walk around the islands.
Labels: Travel
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Finland Update
I was not able to get a camera from the hotel concierge as was suggested. Instead, here are some updates and some pictures that I found on the internet.
My hotel room overlooks the Natural History Museum. This picture shows the museum. The building on the right side of the picture is the corner of my hotel. My window actually looks down the street to the right of the museum as you face it. I see the museum as I look slightly to my left and the Finnish Parliament building as I look out my window to the right.
It snowed here yesterday. Not a heavy snow, but it was constant all day long. So the picture above is nice, but it doesn't look like that right now. The picture below (taken from some random Helsinki visitor's photos) is more typical of what it looks like now.
Finally, as Keeka requested I helped Felix the bunny send a postcard to Cole's school. I must say that Felix is a very good writer. I took him on a walk past the Parliament building to a local tourist shop to pick out a postcard and a stamp. I also did a little tourist shopping of my own for the family. Who knows, I might have just spent the Euro that will tilt the Finnish economy upwards and thus allowing them to lead the world to an economic recovery. It could happen!
OK, off to dinner now. Nothing Finnish -- probably either a burger or a Chinese place.
My hotel room overlooks the Natural History Museum. This picture shows the museum. The building on the right side of the picture is the corner of my hotel. My window actually looks down the street to the right of the museum as you face it. I see the museum as I look slightly to my left and the Finnish Parliament building as I look out my window to the right.
It snowed here yesterday. Not a heavy snow, but it was constant all day long. So the picture above is nice, but it doesn't look like that right now. The picture below (taken from some random Helsinki visitor's photos) is more typical of what it looks like now.
Finally, as Keeka requested I helped Felix the bunny send a postcard to Cole's school. I must say that Felix is a very good writer. I took him on a walk past the Parliament building to a local tourist shop to pick out a postcard and a stamp. I also did a little tourist shopping of my own for the family. Who knows, I might have just spent the Euro that will tilt the Finnish economy upwards and thus allowing them to lead the world to an economic recovery. It could happen!
OK, off to dinner now. Nothing Finnish -- probably either a burger or a Chinese place.
Labels: Travel
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Finland Mar 2009
I am back in Finland to visit my customer here. However, I do not have a camera with me this time. I borrow a cell phone that works in Europe when I travel here, but I usually bring my regular cell phone too so that I can use it as a camera. However, at the last minute my regular cell phone was left behind at the office to see if I can get an upgrade. Long story, but this may be my last chance to do that on the company's dime.
Anyway, I will be here for the next week. Temperatures look to be right around freezing (32F, 0C). There is some snow on the ground, but not a lot. I am the same hotel from two of my other three visits. This time my room overlooks the Natural History museum and to the right the Parliament building.
Finland is 10 hours ahead of California, so I had a chance to call and say good night to the family a few minutes ago. Now I am off to work on my Monday morning.
Anyway, I will be here for the next week. Temperatures look to be right around freezing (32F, 0C). There is some snow on the ground, but not a lot. I am the same hotel from two of my other three visits. This time my room overlooks the Natural History museum and to the right the Parliament building.
Finland is 10 hours ahead of California, so I had a chance to call and say good night to the family a few minutes ago. Now I am off to work on my Monday morning.
