Today, in the teen portion of the family group program, we had the teens write letters of appreciation to their parents. We will mail the letters for parents to receive in a month or so. The kids did a great job writing the letters. However, it became clear to me that the whole idea of sending a letter was quite foreign to them:
-A number of kids didn't know their full address.
-Few kids knew how to address a letter (what to write and where, i.e. "To Mom," won't get it to your house).
-Some didn't know where to put the stamp.
-Most stared at the sheet of paper and the legal-sized envelope and weren't sure how to get the letter into the envelope.
Maybe we should just have the kids send their parents a text message.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Are you sure that's what you want to say??
I can't stop laughing about an online profile where the person described himself as having a "self-defecating" sense of humor. Really? Isn't there a medication for that?? If you want to use big words, make sure you use the right ones! ;) (When you don't, your writing can be kind of shitty. Sorry. Couldn't resist!)
Quick Media Update
*Kung Fu Panda (movie)-- With movies like this, I try to picture the scene as the idea was pitched to studio executives. Yeah, I'm not quite sure why they went for this one. It's mildly entertaining, well-animated, but completely lacking in subtlety, layers or nuances in the plot. And I still don't know how the duck is the panda's dad.
*The Happening (movie)-- This movie is truly awful. So awful, it manages to be a bit funny (unintentionally). It is poorly acted, poorly filmed, poorly edited and poorly written. We get many close up shots of not-so-attractive actors making exaggerated expressions of shock, horror and dismay....along with excessive shots of malevolent plants, leaves moving threateningly in the breeze (yeah, don't ask). Just don't go see it....or wait until it's at The Loft for Mondo Mondays or something like that, where you can openly mock the story during the movie.
*Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America (Jonathan Kozol)-- Although I am familiar with Kozol's other books, the only one I'd actually read was Ordinary Resurrections, which was touted as his most uplifting book. Compared to Rachel and Her Children, I'd have to agree. This is definitely a depressing book. It was written in the 1980s and focuses on the stories of specific homeless families in NYC, as well as homelessness in the USA, in general. Kozol is an excellent writer and is particular adept at reflecting the speech of those he interviews. In addition, his work is always well-researched, and he is meticulous about noting discrepancies, additional factors and supporting evidence in his detailed footnotes. Further, he shows genuine compassion. Despite all that, this book was not all that impacting for me. I'm not entirely sure why. If I have more insight, I'll share it.
Quick Media Update
*Kung Fu Panda (movie)-- With movies like this, I try to picture the scene as the idea was pitched to studio executives. Yeah, I'm not quite sure why they went for this one. It's mildly entertaining, well-animated, but completely lacking in subtlety, layers or nuances in the plot. And I still don't know how the duck is the panda's dad.
*The Happening (movie)-- This movie is truly awful. So awful, it manages to be a bit funny (unintentionally). It is poorly acted, poorly filmed, poorly edited and poorly written. We get many close up shots of not-so-attractive actors making exaggerated expressions of shock, horror and dismay....along with excessive shots of malevolent plants, leaves moving threateningly in the breeze (yeah, don't ask). Just don't go see it....or wait until it's at The Loft for Mondo Mondays or something like that, where you can openly mock the story during the movie.
*Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America (Jonathan Kozol)-- Although I am familiar with Kozol's other books, the only one I'd actually read was Ordinary Resurrections, which was touted as his most uplifting book. Compared to Rachel and Her Children, I'd have to agree. This is definitely a depressing book. It was written in the 1980s and focuses on the stories of specific homeless families in NYC, as well as homelessness in the USA, in general. Kozol is an excellent writer and is particular adept at reflecting the speech of those he interviews. In addition, his work is always well-researched, and he is meticulous about noting discrepancies, additional factors and supporting evidence in his detailed footnotes. Further, he shows genuine compassion. Despite all that, this book was not all that impacting for me. I'm not entirely sure why. If I have more insight, I'll share it.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Misc
I have felt really "on-edge" this weekend. I guess that's the best way to explain it. I just feel very agitated in a somewhat energized sense. It's frustrating.
Anyway, various and sundry.....
*I recently re-re-stumbled upon this fic, Coping Mechanisms by svilleficrecs, which remains one of the best Prison Break fanfics that I have read. Of course, I haven't read anything Post-Season 2 (because the show doesn't really exist for me Post-S2), and for such an interesting and convoluted show, there seems to be a surprisingly sparse amount of fanfic. Be that as it may, this is a short, well-executed coda to the prison riot episodes of Season 1.
Well, I decided to skip the various and just give you the sundry for now.....
Anyway, various and sundry.....
*I recently re-re-stumbled upon this fic, Coping Mechanisms by svilleficrecs, which remains one of the best Prison Break fanfics that I have read. Of course, I haven't read anything Post-Season 2 (because the show doesn't really exist for me Post-S2), and for such an interesting and convoluted show, there seems to be a surprisingly sparse amount of fanfic. Be that as it may, this is a short, well-executed coda to the prison riot episodes of Season 1.
Well, I decided to skip the various and just give you the sundry for now.....
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