Hi Stephen,
Eventually those folks would find employment in more productive segments of the economy. There's no denying there will be some pain felt, but better to get it out of the way early, rather than having society subsidize a non-productive group of companies for who knows how many years. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, BMW and others aren't looking for a handout. Your company and my company aren't getting one, and as taxpayers we'd ultimately be footing the bill (the Ontario government here in Canada announced they'll spend up to $3.4 billion, conditional on the US doing the same).
If money is to be spent, I'd rather see it go for skills upgrading and retraining of the unemployed, so that they can fill the new types of jobs that are being created. That's an investment in "human capital"that will mean higher wages (and higher taxes for the government over their lifetime), because employees can better compete internationally and are more productive. Instead, politics is leading to a misallocation of precious resources.
The economy as a whole can't simply magically do better by throwing taxpayer money at the problem. The fundamentals that determine how well an economy performs are 1) the skills and education of its labour force and 2) the productiveness of its infrastructure (machinery,etc.). If they're going to give money to those automakers, they better have firm commitments on #1 and #2 (e.g. improving technology in cars,making them more fuel efficient, raising CAFE standards, etc.). But,frankly, they've been so mismanaged that it might just be better to let them face bankruptcy so that more productive companies (Japanese,Koreans, Germans, etc.) buy up their assets and redeploy them more effectively. In the past 10 years, people have been buying bigger houses (i.e. consumption goods), whereas others have been investing in productive capital goods (machinery, technology, factories, etc.).It's no surprise that the latter are now doing well (e.g. China),whereas the US has massive deficits that are paid for by foreign bondholders.
Happy holidays,
George
______________________________________________________________
Sometimes people are rejected not because of what they did, but because of what they might do or fail to do.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Solar minimum is ending,
On Lessonplans.com's homepage is a link to SpaceWeather.com. It is important and interesting to know what our Sun is doing. You can know by visiting SpaceWeather every time you visit Lessonplans.com. I do it.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
It's too late now to study for the exam.
That is what I heard a teacher say she told all of her students before and exam. I never said that to my students. I expected them to study for my exams.
When I was a student, I always studied for my exams. Beginning a few days before the exam I would review my notes. They contained what the teacher had stressed was important. Some times the teacher said that you should know this because it's going to be on the exam. If that was said, then I would make a note of it and know before the exam what I was expected to know. I also high-lighted what was important in my text books. Before the exam I reviewed all high-lighted text. Consequently, I was on the Dean's list and Presidents list many times because I studied. I was also in class even if I was sick.
It is never too late to study for an exam.
When I was a student, I always studied for my exams. Beginning a few days before the exam I would review my notes. They contained what the teacher had stressed was important. Some times the teacher said that you should know this because it's going to be on the exam. If that was said, then I would make a note of it and know before the exam what I was expected to know. I also high-lighted what was important in my text books. Before the exam I reviewed all high-lighted text. Consequently, I was on the Dean's list and Presidents list many times because I studied. I was also in class even if I was sick.
It is never too late to study for an exam.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Disney accused by Catholic cleric of corrupting children's minds
Disney accused by Catholic cleric of corrupting children's minds. Yes! Yes! Yes!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/3534960/Disney-accused-by-Catholic-cleric-of-corrupting-childrens-minds.html
A leading Catholic cleric has launched a fierce attack on Disney, claiming it has corrupted children and encouraged greed.
By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent
I witnessed several time when visitors from Michigan would be here. My effort to persuade them to go to MOSI [Museum of Science and Industry] was always superseded by Disney World. The person that made the decision to go to Disney World at the time was the director of Math for the Traverse City school system. Her husband was a member of the school board.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/3534960/Disney-accused-by-Catholic-cleric-of-corrupting-childrens-minds.html
A leading Catholic cleric has launched a fierce attack on Disney, claiming it has corrupted children and encouraged greed.
By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent
I witnessed several time when visitors from Michigan would be here. My effort to persuade them to go to MOSI [Museum of Science and Industry] was always superseded by Disney World. The person that made the decision to go to Disney World at the time was the director of Math for the Traverse City school system. Her husband was a member of the school board.
Art Appreciation and Social Class Assignment
Thesis: The appreciation of art or the lock of it is another indication of an individual’s social class.
Sociologist assign individuals to a social group based upon the individual’s characteristics: age, sex, race, education level obtained, University alma mater, profession, and income attainment method. Art appreciation could also be used to assign an individual to a social class.
Both George Inness and George Innes Jr. lived near me in the the winter. I appreciate and respect what they have created and would like to follow in their footsteps. Leepa also lives here and has one of his painting displayed at the Lime-N-Coconut here in Tarpon Springs. I think the painting looks like someone had given a monkey paint and a brush to splash on a board. Then Leepa sign it. It says alot about Leepa and also about the people that appreciate what he did.
Sociologist assign individuals to a social group based upon the individual’s characteristics: age, sex, race, education level obtained, University alma mater, profession, and income attainment method. Art appreciation could also be used to assign an individual to a social class.
Both George Inness and George Innes Jr. lived near me in the the winter. I appreciate and respect what they have created and would like to follow in their footsteps. Leepa also lives here and has one of his painting displayed at the Lime-N-Coconut here in Tarpon Springs. I think the painting looks like someone had given a monkey paint and a brush to splash on a board. Then Leepa sign it. It says alot about Leepa and also about the people that appreciate what he did.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
SOHO - Solar and Heliopheric Observatory
http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/
1. When are there many sun spots?
2. When are there few or no sun spots?
3. What is solar minimum?
4, What is solar maximum?
5. What effect does the Sun have on our weather?
6. Why is the Sun called a variable star?
These questions and their answers are important to all of us because they give us insight into the effect our star has on us. We are now frequently told about global warming and they want us to think that the primary cause is human activity. I'm not one to cause you to think that our human activities do not have a global effect. I'm sure that they do. However the effect of the Sun has a greater effect.
The lack of sunspots over many months or years indicate that we are in solar minimum. You cannot count sunspots without expensive technology, but you do have SOLO and you can get to SOLO quickly from Lessonplans.com. From there, you can safely see the Sun and count sunspots. I suggest that you and your students do it frequently and answer the about questions. These questions lead to other valuable insights.
1. When are there many sun spots?
2. When are there few or no sun spots?
3. What is solar minimum?
4, What is solar maximum?
5. What effect does the Sun have on our weather?
6. Why is the Sun called a variable star?
These questions and their answers are important to all of us because they give us insight into the effect our star has on us. We are now frequently told about global warming and they want us to think that the primary cause is human activity. I'm not one to cause you to think that our human activities do not have a global effect. I'm sure that they do. However the effect of the Sun has a greater effect.
The lack of sunspots over many months or years indicate that we are in solar minimum. You cannot count sunspots without expensive technology, but you do have SOLO and you can get to SOLO quickly from Lessonplans.com. From there, you can safely see the Sun and count sunspots. I suggest that you and your students do it frequently and answer the about questions. These questions lead to other valuable insights.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
I just saw it again.
I just saw a 10-12 year-old boy walk by my house with his parents following. "No problem" you would say until you know what I know about this situation. The boy is normal in his behavior and build. The problem is that the boy lives in Chicago and should be going to school in Chicago. Which he would be if his father valued being in Florida more than his son's education.
The father looks like someone in his 50's. However, he has the demeanor of a city street thug. He reminds me of a school bully. Making is stranger is the fact that he was the service manager in a Cadillac dealership. He may not be now considering his age and state of the auto industry unless he earned lots of time off from his job to travel to Florida.
The bottom line is this. The boy is not being educated and my school system doesn't care because the boy is considered to be a citizen of Illinois.
I'm not going any further then writing about this situation one time. To do any more would risk being told that it's none of my business.
Stephen@lessonplans.com
The father looks like someone in his 50's. However, he has the demeanor of a city street thug. He reminds me of a school bully. Making is stranger is the fact that he was the service manager in a Cadillac dealership. He may not be now considering his age and state of the auto industry unless he earned lots of time off from his job to travel to Florida.
The bottom line is this. The boy is not being educated and my school system doesn't care because the boy is considered to be a citizen of Illinois.
I'm not going any further then writing about this situation one time. To do any more would risk being told that it's none of my business.
Stephen@lessonplans.com
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
George Kirikos wrote this.
I agree, there are lots of terrible role models out there. I prefer the role model of Warren Buffett, who is very humble and not flashy.Paul Newman was wonderful too. I used to have a bunch of clients in the banking industry (as that's what my first company and my own academic training were focused), and indeed they didn't deserve any bailout -- they had only their own greed to blame for their downfall, and the taxpayers shouldn't pay for any part of their foibles.
Take care,
George
Take care,
George
Monday, November 03, 2008
Your pants are falling down!
What to you say to your student who's pants are falling down? I saw a high school girl wear pants several sizes too large wear bright under wear under them. When she responds to your admonition to pull up your pant, will likely respond quickly by pulling up her pants. You know what gravity does moments later.
The most significant thing about this event was not that the student's pants were too large and likely to fall unexpectedly. It was that it was a girl copying boys behavior. Another part of this is that this was the second inadvertent observation of the same girl. Yesterday she and a friend were playing in the street. A pick-up passed. At that moment the girl yelled, "I want a baby." Add these two events together and what do you get?
The most significant thing about this event was not that the student's pants were too large and likely to fall unexpectedly. It was that it was a girl copying boys behavior. Another part of this is that this was the second inadvertent observation of the same girl. Yesterday she and a friend were playing in the street. A pick-up passed. At that moment the girl yelled, "I want a baby." Add these two events together and what do you get?
Sunday, November 02, 2008
The Nazis: A Warning from History
RE: The Nazis: A Warning from History, DVD, on 2 disks.
I learned from watching The Nazis: A Warning from History that Hitler mandated that Jews be prohibited from having a public school education. The purpose was to disenfranchise Jews from German society destined to become the under-class and then exterminated.
Here in America students exercise their free will and dropout of school. The rate is higher in different parts of America, exceeding 50% of the students that begin their public education path dropout before graduating. Yes, this set of citizens has inadvertently chosen to be disenfranchised and a member of the under-class, consequences for the individual and American society abound.
I learned from watching The Nazis: A Warning from History that Hitler mandated that Jews be prohibited from having a public school education. The purpose was to disenfranchise Jews from German society destined to become the under-class and then exterminated.
Here in America students exercise their free will and dropout of school. The rate is higher in different parts of America, exceeding 50% of the students that begin their public education path dropout before graduating. Yes, this set of citizens has inadvertently chosen to be disenfranchised and a member of the under-class, consequences for the individual and American society abound.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Yes, this is a somber time.
Stephen,
Yes, this is a somber time. Just in the past two weeks, I have been
told by my advertising agency contact that most of their clients have cut
back between 20%-75% of their spending on advertising. I guess companies
figure the consumer won't buy any products or services now, so why waste
money on advertising to an unwilling audience. Google is likely seeing the
same kind of cutbacks. With this will come more layoffs, more unemployed,
less consumer confidence, lower home prices and fewer people who can afford
anything? I saw a story on the news last night about dozens of workers in
Ohio who actually have a job, go to work each day, but then spend the night
in the street/camping as they can't afford housing!
I hope I'm wrong, but I believe no matter who gets elected President next
week; it will take many years to get the economy back to health!
Lorenzo
Yes, this is a somber time. Just in the past two weeks, I have been
told by my advertising agency contact that most of their clients have cut
back between 20%-75% of their spending on advertising. I guess companies
figure the consumer won't buy any products or services now, so why waste
money on advertising to an unwilling audience. Google is likely seeing the
same kind of cutbacks. With this will come more layoffs, more unemployed,
less consumer confidence, lower home prices and fewer people who can afford
anything? I saw a story on the news last night about dozens of workers in
Ohio who actually have a job, go to work each day, but then spend the night
in the street/camping as they can't afford housing!
I hope I'm wrong, but I believe no matter who gets elected President next
week; it will take many years to get the economy back to health!
Lorenzo
Monday, October 27, 2008
Give a special Christmas gift to a teenager.
The book should have a hardcover and be one that the teenager should read. Somewhere in the back 2/3 of the book tape a check for at least $20. Give the Christmas present and then wait for the check to clear. In the mean time, ask questions about their reading experience. Say nothing about the check to anyone.
When Christmas comes around next year and the check still hasn’t cleared, ask them if you can see the book. Tell them about the check if they can’t find the book. Christmas can be fun for you too.
When Christmas comes around next year and the check still hasn’t cleared, ask them if you can see the book. Tell them about the check if they can’t find the book. Christmas can be fun for you too.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Mike wrote this too.
It has come to pass. America marches forward.
Many years ago. I think it was 1965 in the Spring. A google search would tell me because it was the year of the civil rights march in Selma, Alabama. I was a freshman in college that year; that is how I personally remember the year. My American Literature professor was gone for a week to march in the voter registration drive in Selma, Alabama that has become a monumental time
in the coming of age of this great nation.
When he returned, he told us of the Right Wing resistance encountered by the Freedom Crusaders by the All American cretins they encountered. One story sticks in my mind. He said he needed to use a restroom as they marched through the area. He went into a bar where he was refused service (he was White, but Rednecks didn't like him helping to "rile up the N-gg-r") He needed to use the bathroom, so he lied and said he was with the FBI. The bartender let him use the bathroom. As he walked past, he heard a Redneck Southern American with a drawl say "Shit!!! Now they even have Jews in the FBI"
The American backwards thinking was that if you gave "N-gg-r" the right to vote, (as the Rednecks throwing rocks at the marchers yelled) "...we'll have N-gg-r mayors,
N-gg-r judges, N-gg-r Governors, etc." Well, now you backwards people can REALLY shove it up your asses.
We are about to have our first N-gg-r President. Somehow, I see the Freedom Marchers
that have left us smiling up there in Heaven.
by Mike Mirra
Many years ago. I think it was 1965 in the Spring. A google search would tell me because it was the year of the civil rights march in Selma, Alabama. I was a freshman in college that year; that is how I personally remember the year. My American Literature professor was gone for a week to march in the voter registration drive in Selma, Alabama that has become a monumental time
in the coming of age of this great nation.
When he returned, he told us of the Right Wing resistance encountered by the Freedom Crusaders by the All American cretins they encountered. One story sticks in my mind. He said he needed to use a restroom as they marched through the area. He went into a bar where he was refused service (he was White, but Rednecks didn't like him helping to "rile up the N-gg-r") He needed to use the bathroom, so he lied and said he was with the FBI. The bartender let him use the bathroom. As he walked past, he heard a Redneck Southern American with a drawl say "Shit!!! Now they even have Jews in the FBI"
The American backwards thinking was that if you gave "N-gg-r" the right to vote, (as the Rednecks throwing rocks at the marchers yelled) "...we'll have N-gg-r mayors,
N-gg-r judges, N-gg-r Governors, etc." Well, now you backwards people can REALLY shove it up your asses.
We are about to have our first N-gg-r President. Somehow, I see the Freedom Marchers
that have left us smiling up there in Heaven.
by Mike Mirra
Mike, math teacher, voted early.
I am proud to say that this morning I exercised my
right as an American to cast my vote to move America
forward, to end the War Crime in Iraq, to resume the
War on Terror, to eliminate tax breaks for the wealthy,
to help insure that there is no extra drilling for oil
& destruction of what is left of Earth's natural treasures.
I voted to put science back into the schools. I voted to
have someone putting open minded judges with some
brains on the Supreme Court. I voted to help everyone
get adequate health care. I voted to help stamp out
the Godless nature of Conservatism with it's small
minded fanaticism against blacks, Arabs, Hispanics, gays,
people that think, etc.
I voted to bring America out of the dark ages.
I voted to move America into the 21st Century.
I voted to pass the torch to a new generation of
Americans.
I cast my vote this morning, proudly, for Barack Hussain Obama.
right as an American to cast my vote to move America
forward, to end the War Crime in Iraq, to resume the
War on Terror, to eliminate tax breaks for the wealthy,
to help insure that there is no extra drilling for oil
& destruction of what is left of Earth's natural treasures.
I voted to put science back into the schools. I voted to
have someone putting open minded judges with some
brains on the Supreme Court. I voted to help everyone
get adequate health care. I voted to help stamp out
the Godless nature of Conservatism with it's small
minded fanaticism against blacks, Arabs, Hispanics, gays,
people that think, etc.
I voted to bring America out of the dark ages.
I voted to move America into the 21st Century.
I voted to pass the torch to a new generation of
Americans.
I cast my vote this morning, proudly, for Barack Hussain Obama.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
The financial crisis is not the student's fault.
The source of the financial crisis is adult decisions. They are adults who where educated by the American education system. A system that was evolving in the 70’s into a system that created the current adults that made the decisions that caused this massive problem. We thought we were creating a better education citizenry that would thrive during the 21 century. We didn’t.
What we created is a generation of religious effected adults who place a high priority on recreation. For many, religion is their highest priority. CNN reported: Maybe We Should Blame God for the Subprime Mess.
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1847053,00.html?cnn=yes
Then there is the set of adults that give organized religion a low priority, but still believe in God. You can see them setting in the stands on Saturday and Sunday. There millions of Joe six-packs can be seen with their friends. If not there, then they are home or in a bar with friends watching and drinking beer. It is the value system and decisions of these people that have caused this financial mess. And, it is professional eduators that failed to have a positive effect on their student’s value system that could have prevent the decisions that caused this crisis. Now that it has happened, the solution is the responsibility of the American education system to correct it.
I did my part. I brought it to your attention. I think very few educators will read this, fewer will discuss it with fellow members of the Eduation profession, and still fewer will do anything effective to correct this.
What we created is a generation of religious effected adults who place a high priority on recreation. For many, religion is their highest priority. CNN reported: Maybe We Should Blame God for the Subprime Mess.
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1847053,00.html?cnn=yes
Then there is the set of adults that give organized religion a low priority, but still believe in God. You can see them setting in the stands on Saturday and Sunday. There millions of Joe six-packs can be seen with their friends. If not there, then they are home or in a bar with friends watching and drinking beer. It is the value system and decisions of these people that have caused this financial mess. And, it is professional eduators that failed to have a positive effect on their student’s value system that could have prevent the decisions that caused this crisis. Now that it has happened, the solution is the responsibility of the American education system to correct it.
I did my part. I brought it to your attention. I think very few educators will read this, fewer will discuss it with fellow members of the Eduation profession, and still fewer will do anything effective to correct this.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
SOHO - Solar and Heliopheric Observatory
A link to SOHO from LessonPlans.com was added because of the importance that the Sun is to our existence. We would not be here without the Sun. Most of us are in denial mode regarding the Sun’s importance and its impact on us. That doesn’t work. Ignorance is not a solution however understanding based on scientific research is what we need.
To mention just one factor, each of us has a reflex that prevents us from looking directly at the Sun. Even a baby will look away or shut its eyes rather than look directly at the Sun and for good reason. Looking directly at the Sun for only a short time will damage the retina.
I’m not going into the importance of the Sun and its impact on us any further. It’s enough for me to reference its importance and to put a link to SOHO on LessonPlans.com. You do the rest.
To mention just one factor, each of us has a reflex that prevents us from looking directly at the Sun. Even a baby will look away or shut its eyes rather than look directly at the Sun and for good reason. Looking directly at the Sun for only a short time will damage the retina.
I’m not going into the importance of the Sun and its impact on us any further. It’s enough for me to reference its importance and to put a link to SOHO on LessonPlans.com. You do the rest.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Pornography on the Internet
Hi Stephen,
The way I understand it is this:
Porno sites want to get traffic and be found on search engines. In an attempt to increase their traffic they build links to respectable sites such as LessonPlans.com. When search engines index their sites, they find legitimate links and this helps them to get better rankings and therefore more traffic and revenue. Unfortunately search engines like Google still haven't implemented any time of full block on porn (although they do have some parental control preferences); I guess that would be a question of censorship. Even with parental filters, my kids occasionally end up finding inappropriate images. I remember a few years ago my daughter was doing a project and movies at school and she was looking for a picture of "Babe" (the family movie about a pig) - well you can imagine the type of images that came up under the term "babe".
You may be right about pornography though; in most European countries, regular TV has porno channels and they have a completely different view than most North Americans.
Regards,
Lorenzo
----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Lyons
To: The Educators Network
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 9:31 AM
Subject: Re: Lessonplans.com's Weekly Statistics For Previous Week
Hi Lorenzo,
I did a Google search using keywords: anti-pornography. The only large institution taking a position against it is the Mormon church. That surprised me. Perhaps my first look at this has given me the wrong impression. I'm thinking that there isn't much social pressure against pornographers. I always thought there was until now.
Many years ago gambling was illegal in Florida. People were even being arrested for social gambling in their homes. Then gambling was legalized. Florida now has a lottery and a small percentage of the revenue is used to support education.
Do I understand this correctly? The porn referrers are directing visitors to Lessonplans.com. This doesn't seem like something they would do. It is more logical to me that they would be using Lessonplans.com to expose their sites to students, parents and educators. What do you think they are doing that causes them to be listed as a referrer?
Stephen@lessonplans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: The Educators Network
To: Stephen Lyons
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:14 PM
Subject: Re: Lessonplans.com's Weekly Statistics For Previous Week
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for sending over the updates yesterday and today; I have spoken to a few of my contacts and their opinions are not overly positive. My one friend who works for a Broadband ISP company says that it is very difficult to track where the traffic is coming from if it is outside of Canada or the USA. Most of these sites are actually hosted in Asia and Africa, so that they are immune from the law. Even if you could track the location, they usually change servers every few months and relocate as well. Another contact involved in police work says that the FBI or Interpol would have to be involved, but they only do so at the request of local police and usually only if it involves Child Pornography. Finally, a lawyer friend of mine said that he knows of no lawyer that would take on this type of work, or would only do so once the police arrested someone and they could file a civil or business lawsuit.
I'll keep looking for options; a few years ago this happened to brampton.com, and it took about 18 months for it to stop. Since then, there have been no further attacks, so it could be they randomly pick sites that are legitimate to obtain traffic and profit for their illegal businesses.
Let me know if you have further suggestions.
Thanks,
Lorenzo
----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Lyons
To: Lorenzo Salvalaggio
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 9:45 AM
Subject: Lessonplans.com's Weekly Statistics For Previous Week
Hi Lorenzo,
The visitor count is continuing to increase.
The negative referrals are going to persist for a long time. I made two contacts here for legal service. One was with a legal referral service. There hasn't been a positive response yet. If I cannot find assistance here and you fail to find someone, then I'll present this situation to the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations). However, if I do that, all punitive damages that we might receive will be forfeited.
I'm thinking that the nefarious referrals are having a negative effect on the visitor count and consequently advertising revenue. I'm also wonder what the nefarious referrer's motives might be.
We don't know if this is just annoying students, adults or organizations with an agenda: possible a combination representing many motives.
If we handle this correctly, this could be a financial windfall.
Keep me advised of your progress.
Stephen@lessonplan.com
The way I understand it is this:
Porno sites want to get traffic and be found on search engines. In an attempt to increase their traffic they build links to respectable sites such as LessonPlans.com. When search engines index their sites, they find legitimate links and this helps them to get better rankings and therefore more traffic and revenue. Unfortunately search engines like Google still haven't implemented any time of full block on porn (although they do have some parental control preferences); I guess that would be a question of censorship. Even with parental filters, my kids occasionally end up finding inappropriate images. I remember a few years ago my daughter was doing a project and movies at school and she was looking for a picture of "Babe" (the family movie about a pig) - well you can imagine the type of images that came up under the term "babe".
You may be right about pornography though; in most European countries, regular TV has porno channels and they have a completely different view than most North Americans.
Regards,
Lorenzo
----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Lyons
To: The Educators Network
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 9:31 AM
Subject: Re: Lessonplans.com's Weekly Statistics For Previous Week
Hi Lorenzo,
I did a Google search using keywords: anti-pornography. The only large institution taking a position against it is the Mormon church. That surprised me. Perhaps my first look at this has given me the wrong impression. I'm thinking that there isn't much social pressure against pornographers. I always thought there was until now.
Many years ago gambling was illegal in Florida. People were even being arrested for social gambling in their homes. Then gambling was legalized. Florida now has a lottery and a small percentage of the revenue is used to support education.
Do I understand this correctly? The porn referrers are directing visitors to Lessonplans.com. This doesn't seem like something they would do. It is more logical to me that they would be using Lessonplans.com to expose their sites to students, parents and educators. What do you think they are doing that causes them to be listed as a referrer?
Stephen@lessonplans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: The Educators Network
To: Stephen Lyons
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:14 PM
Subject: Re: Lessonplans.com's Weekly Statistics For Previous Week
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for sending over the updates yesterday and today; I have spoken to a few of my contacts and their opinions are not overly positive. My one friend who works for a Broadband ISP company says that it is very difficult to track where the traffic is coming from if it is outside of Canada or the USA. Most of these sites are actually hosted in Asia and Africa, so that they are immune from the law. Even if you could track the location, they usually change servers every few months and relocate as well. Another contact involved in police work says that the FBI or Interpol would have to be involved, but they only do so at the request of local police and usually only if it involves Child Pornography. Finally, a lawyer friend of mine said that he knows of no lawyer that would take on this type of work, or would only do so once the police arrested someone and they could file a civil or business lawsuit.
I'll keep looking for options; a few years ago this happened to brampton.com, and it took about 18 months for it to stop. Since then, there have been no further attacks, so it could be they randomly pick sites that are legitimate to obtain traffic and profit for their illegal businesses.
Let me know if you have further suggestions.
Thanks,
Lorenzo
----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Lyons
To: Lorenzo Salvalaggio
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 9:45 AM
Subject: Lessonplans.com's Weekly Statistics For Previous Week
Hi Lorenzo,
The visitor count is continuing to increase.
The negative referrals are going to persist for a long time. I made two contacts here for legal service. One was with a legal referral service. There hasn't been a positive response yet. If I cannot find assistance here and you fail to find someone, then I'll present this situation to the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations). However, if I do that, all punitive damages that we might receive will be forfeited.
I'm thinking that the nefarious referrals are having a negative effect on the visitor count and consequently advertising revenue. I'm also wonder what the nefarious referrer's motives might be.
We don't know if this is just annoying students, adults or organizations with an agenda: possible a combination representing many motives.
If we handle this correctly, this could be a financial windfall.
Keep me advised of your progress.
Stephen@lessonplan.com
Monday, September 01, 2008
Nefarious Referrals to LessonPlans.com
It has been brought to my attention that there are links that appear to be to LessonPlans.com from websites and email that contain a virus or pornography. You should not click on these links. If you want to go to Lessonplans.com, then go directly there using http//www.lessonplans.com or use any other trusted path.
Here are a few that I trust: Google, SavingTeachersMoney, TheEducatorsNetwork, AOL, MSN, Yahoo.
It is very important to have virus protection software. I use Norton and I keep it current.
Here are a few that I trust: Google, SavingTeachersMoney, TheEducatorsNetwork, AOL, MSN, Yahoo.
It is very important to have virus protection software. I use Norton and I keep it current.
Friday, August 29, 2008
A New School Year
Recently I was riding my bicycle near my home; coming toward me on a bicycle was a middle school boy. He was about 150 feet from me when this event happened. In a flash he kicked over a garbage can. I admonished him when he was next to me. Only about 2 seconds had pasted between the kick and my reaction. His response was, “What’s the problem?”
Boys like him are in your school, possible even in you classroom. Similar events will happen in your school and the only way you will be able to prove to a parent that it did happen is with a camera.
Such nefarious events that take only a fraction of a second will only be seen if you are looking and you cannot prove it happened without an image of the event. Such events have many factors. Here are some of them.
1. If you student is aware that you saw the event and you don’t respond then they may think that you are weak, you don’t care or they can get away with a similar event later regardless of your presence.
2. If you fail to respond, a similar event may follow.
3. If you do respond, then your must anticipate an escalation.
4. If the student’s behavior has been practiced by him for many years. He knows how to respond and can potentially be a major problem for you.
If the student is from your classroom, then be prepared to ask that the student be removed from your classroom. If you don’t, then potentially there will be further problems. A student should not be allowed to destroy your school year and possibly even your career.
Ask yourself this question. Why is this male behavior?
Boys like him are in your school, possible even in you classroom. Similar events will happen in your school and the only way you will be able to prove to a parent that it did happen is with a camera.
Such nefarious events that take only a fraction of a second will only be seen if you are looking and you cannot prove it happened without an image of the event. Such events have many factors. Here are some of them.
1. If you student is aware that you saw the event and you don’t respond then they may think that you are weak, you don’t care or they can get away with a similar event later regardless of your presence.
2. If you fail to respond, a similar event may follow.
3. If you do respond, then your must anticipate an escalation.
4. If the student’s behavior has been practiced by him for many years. He knows how to respond and can potentially be a major problem for you.
If the student is from your classroom, then be prepared to ask that the student be removed from your classroom. If you don’t, then potentially there will be further problems. A student should not be allowed to destroy your school year and possibly even your career.
Ask yourself this question. Why is this male behavior?
Friday, August 01, 2008
Children have lost touch with the natural world.
Children have lost touch with the natural world and are unable to identify common animals and plants, according to a survey.
Half of youngsters aged nine to 11 were unable to identify a daddy-long-legs, oak tree, blue tit or bluebell, in the poll by BBC Wildlife Magazine. The study also found that playing in the countryside was children's least popular way of spending their spare time, and that they would rather see friends or play on their computer than go for a walk or play outdoors.
The survey asked 700 children to identify pictured flora and fauna. Just over half could name bluebells, 54 per cent knew what blue tits were and 45 per cent could identify an oak. Less than two-thirds (62 per cent) identified frogs and 12 per cent knew what a primrose was.
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/attenborough-alarmed-as-children-are-left-flummoxed-by-test-on-the-natural-world-882624.html
Half of youngsters aged nine to 11 were unable to identify a daddy-long-legs, oak tree, blue tit or bluebell, in the poll by BBC Wildlife Magazine. The study also found that playing in the countryside was children's least popular way of spending their spare time, and that they would rather see friends or play on their computer than go for a walk or play outdoors.
The survey asked 700 children to identify pictured flora and fauna. Just over half could name bluebells, 54 per cent knew what blue tits were and 45 per cent could identify an oak. Less than two-thirds (62 per cent) identified frogs and 12 per cent knew what a primrose was.
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/attenborough-alarmed-as-children-are-left-flummoxed-by-test-on-the-natural-world-882624.html