Monday, June 22, 2009

acer aspire one - crikey!

I just bought a very teeny netbook for travels and for home use next year. My Aspire One is ten inches diameter and white. I spent a good thirty hours looking at all the different types of netbooks and nearly went crazy with all of the what ifs. The bottom line is that the Aspire One was stocked in stores so that I could actually try it out. Dear computer manufacturers: You will move more stock if people believe your product exists. (I had my heart set on this Sylvania g Netbook Meso in yellow, mostly for how awesome it looks, but couldn't bring myself to buy a computer without at least trying the keyboard. Especially an eight inch keyboard.) Anyhoo, the Aspire keyboard is totally typeable, the screen big enough to view webpages without horizontal scrolling, and the price was right.

The most sucky thing about it is it comes with Windows, UGH.

I have become such a Mac snob; it is hard to believe that just over two years ago, I myself was using Windows Millenium AND WAS FINE WITH IT. (Had no idea how much better my life could have been.)

The Sylvania reviews gave me the idea to reboot my little toy with Linux Ubuntu, which just came out with a new Netbook Remix just for little guys like mine. The Ubuntu website is awesome and their help section is ginormous. I look at learning Linux like learning a new interface for your cell phone. You sit around with it for a couple of hours and try every single button and eventually get to know the system.

Ubuntu makes it really easy to download their OS onto a USB, since netbooks come with USB drives but no CD drives. NOT SO WITH WINDOWS. As soon as I booted up the netbook, I was prompted to quickly create a backup recovery CD. This makes total sense, especially if I am planning to wipe my hard drive clean. HOWEVER, Windows will only create my recovery CD with a CD drive. NOT on a flash drive. Ironic, since the computer didn't come with a CD drive. Acer loses several points here for not including a recovery disc in their packaging.

I frantically searched the web for USB solutions, purchaseable CDs, shortcuts around the problem. Nothing. I called several people but no one owns an external CD drive. I talked to two different computery friends but neither could think of a solution. FOUR HOURS LATER, I got the bright idea to call Acer and ask for help. Though it took a good twenty minutes to find their phone number (of course none of their three official websites listed a single phone line). I called, (800.571.2237), was connected to a live person within five minutes, and voila! CD is in the mail!

I hope this helps anyone else who has the same problem and is googling Acer Aspire One eRecovery restore Windows CD backup disc. There you go.


ps: Meet Crikey.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

itinerary, version two

  • Fly into Sydney. Hang out in Sydney. Wait for Naomi to arrive. Walk around to see fancy buildings, historic houses, botanical gardens, Jewish Museum, parliament, Manly Scenic Walkaway, Bondi to Coogee Clifftop trail, football or rugby game, home hospitality, Royal National Park. (4 days)
  • Train/bus (Country Link) up to Byron Bay. Enjoy the beach and possibly the Splendour in the Grass music festival (British spelling). Nevermind, that is happening July 25. (2 days.)
  • Bus/train (Country Link) to Brisbane. See City Hall, Museum of Brisbane, more fancy buildings, Commissariat Stores Building which offers "thorough insight into Brisbane's gruesome penal history," botanical gardens, more museums, biking in the South Bank Parklands, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (the world's first and largest), bicycling, lawn bowling, rugby or AFL game, Moreton Bay. (3 days)
  • Gold Coast. Lamington National Park. (2 days)
  • Slowly meander up the Sunshine Coast, Capricorn Coast, Whitsunday Coast, and the rest of the coastline up to Townsville. Australia Zoo, surf lessons, Great Sandy National Park (Cooloola), Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island camping (UNESCO), Dunk Island. Great Barrier Reef. Islands, beaching, snorkling, drinking, reading, koala spotting. Undara Volcanic National Park. Gondwana Rain Forest? (UNESCO) Stoney Creek Farmstay? Pick bananas? (7 days)
  • Cairns. Botanical gardens, Crystal Cascade waterfalls, Scenic Railway and Skyrail to Kuranda, Wooroonooran Safari day trek, Cape Tribulation Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. (3 days)
  • Fly to Darwin. Or fly to Jabiru because Darwin isn't that exciting. Kakadu National Park backpacking. (3 days)
  • Take the Ghan train to Alice Springs. (Get Great Southern Railways Pass which allows for unlimited travel on this line?) Kings Canyon and Uluru. (3 days)
  • Ghan train to Adelaide. (1+2 days)
  • Train to Melbourne on Southern Railway train. World Exhibition Building (UNESCO). Not sure what else there is to do here yet. (2 days)
  • Back to Sydney. (14 hour train ride) Take the train through the Blue Mountains (UNESCO), Katoomba. See Red Hands Cave, Echo Point, Three Sisters Rock Formation, lots of waterfalls, Jenolan Caves. (Beware/yay Yulefest celebrations in Blue Mountains.) Shop for souvenirs. (3 days.) Fly out of Sydney.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

two rock star moments

Number one:
I dyed my hair bright red last week, after some serious talking me into it from Haley. We were first going to do a dark red vampire-ish color, which is what I had pictured in my head, but I freaked out. So we chose an auburn color, which turned out bright red anyways. The next day was the school picnic and I arrived halfway through and very quietly filled out a name tag and that's when I heard SHRIEKING. My favorite girl kids all ran up to me exclaiming about my hair and how much they loved it. On and on and on, like it was the biggest deal in their lives. That made me feel good.

Number two:
I submitted a bunch of song proposals to our choir director because I will be out of the country during song selection. I received this email in reply.
...these are cool. I am so sorry you won't be here in July. You are the best finder of songs in the group. as a matter of fact you and I could just be the committee as far as I'm concerned. Heard the event went great at your school. I would have liked to have participated more. Hope to see you soon. THANK YOU for your wonderful spirit and insight. Love sue got more?
I AM AWESOME.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

that was not "passive aggressive," this is not "confrontational"

Yesterday my co-teacher (that one) sat down next to me and started complaining about having to grade workbooks. We went back and forth a few times with me explaining why and him complaining, so I finally said, "Then don't grade them."

He shook his head at me and said, "Why do you always have to be so confrontational?"


...Wha?
Am I missing something?
This was the least confrontational I have ever been, being that I was sitting and typing on my computer when HE approached me. Completely flabbergasted, I countered that I wasn't being confrontational, just observing that since he REALLY didn't want to grade stuff, don't do it. He then argued that I "always do this" and it makes it impossible to have a conversation about work with me. And he said, "I was just making an observation and you are starting an argument." Again, blown away by the shit he pulls out of his ass, I retorted that I was simply making an observation.

The Out To Get Me attitude is ridiculous.

texts that make me smile

He's going to teach me how to make chicken shnitzel. Literally.
Nice! I would have thought it was a euphemism. You dirty slut!

F nick! Be a little crazy... Does he feed u junk food over the computer?

This is the second time we've pulled up to our house and luke has asked if you're at the house...and says he wants u.

Luke offered me a kiss in exchange for you! He's on a big Deens kick! Seriously! He is kinda obsessed and it's so cute because he keeps bringing u up out of the blue...like when I ask for a kiss.

Fab. Let's watch tv and eat junk food.
Dan says that's an invitation to bone.

In light of not making out, I really do like spending time with you.
Yeah me too. Sweet dreams.

I got 3 shots of novacaine and am drooling like a stroke victim. Parking was great.

RIDICULOUS. Benja has over $7000 worth of shoes. I carried them while rolling my eyes.
You leave them at the business center?

I love that domino just sent a card that says I will will now be receiving glamour and it is addressed to haley bojangles shmorgan & says dear haley shmorgan...

Maybe the underwear thing was a test, and i failed.
For the record, I think HE failed that test.
Boxer briefs tonight thank god.

Hello hope you are feeling better anyone who doesn't want to spend 24/7 with you is a shmuck you can tell him your doda said so Have a great week N

Sigh. I'm having a small boobs day.

Just got a cool new sweatshirt from the lost and found. Score!

Your long hair won't help you, pretty boy Paris! this iliad is hilarious.

Rebecca and I were doing kiegels while waiting. Those are silent.
Those will pay off when you're older.
It pays off NOW. HA HA SEX JOKE.
Stop it, you're turning me on. LOL
Ironic dirty jokes in church. Klassy.
Jesus is very forgiving and has a great sense of humor
It's too bad we can't be back up phone buddies anymore. It's like I may as well delete you from my phone.

No no, I was texting Deens is cool

Guitar lady now has antlers and is shooting a laser out of her guitar.

Hope the earthquake didn't drop your marriage license on your head.

I just fell off of my poposan chair holding a bowl of cereal. Hilarious!

Actually, we should go first to the orthodox candy store. THEN jacuzzi.

Omigod, was so flustered w work stuff, we forgot to talk about poop! Next time.

Friday, June 12, 2009

the clouds have parted, rain is easing up, sun in shining, thank god I am not a crazy bitch!

I had a talk with the principal today in which he told me that there was absolutely NOTHING wrong with the email I wrote, that he was disgusted with my co-worker's response (and reprimanded him for it), and most important of all, was sad and angry about the culture of secrecy and bullying that has developed within the team. We are figuring out a way to air dirty laundry and identify misconduct before we leave for summer break. It can't appear as though he is scolding them in front of me, and it shouldn't in any way strengthen the me-them dichotomy.

I am going to need some serious therapy after this year. I have been told so many falsehoods about the way I "am" and the ways "things should be" that my perception of self and my ideas about the workplace are completely fucked up. It will be a while before I can dig through the crap and trust my instincts again.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

shit storm

I've been having a crap day at work. I suppose you could say that the whole month has been crap, and if I really think about it, I can be convinced that the crap started back in September. I'm talking about the supposed teamwork and respect that my co-teachers (don't) possess.

I could write a really long list of all the bizarre accusations against me this year, but that would just make me sad and put me to bed with red-rimmed eyes for the second night in a row. I'll just replay the latest incident. By now, I've spoken with my mom and three level-headed friends who have all assured me that I did nothing wrong yesterday or today, but the contempt is so thick in the air that it's hard to think rationally.

Yesterday afternoon, I sent this email. Keep in mind that I teach all afternoon in the cafe, which is where the cubbies are located, which is where the kids automatically come to hang out and play touch tag the minute they are dismissed from class.

Likewise, please, if you are going to let out your elective early or let the whole class get a drink, please go with them to the hallway/cafe. Today about half the school ran into the cafe yelling and screaming, and it was before 2:50 and disrupted the elective in the cafe, which meant I couldn't dismiss them orderly either. (Most of them don't even need to go to the cafe at this time; they just go because they have extra transition time.)

thanks

I was very conscious to keep my tone civil, to be polite (please/thanks), and to not name names. I sent this email to the three teachers and principal. Everyone I've showed this to has assured me that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

This is the response I got:

Lighten up. Can you just say things without being sooo passive aggressive. It's so annoying.

First of all, I am speechless. I cannot imagine sending such a rude and unprofessional email to a colleague. Second of all, there was nothing passive aggressive about my email. I stated the problem clearly and said exactly what I wanted. Third, in no way does this reply address the actual problem of students wandering the hallways unsupervised. Lastly, this teacher sent the email to Reply-All. For this I was grateful because I was hoping that the other teachers would be as appalled as I and help sort out the damage.

How wrong I was.

I approached the teacher this morning and restated my email reply that I didn't understand why he was so angry. Instead of apologizing / taking blame / addressing the problem / proposing a solution, he:
  1. Argued that I should have mentioned the issue while standing next to him in line for carpool that afternoon. I replied that I'd written the email an hour before and assumed he'd already read it. [Does not address student supervision.]
  2. Argued that I should have complained to him face to face. I replied that the last time I tried that, he got mad at me and walked away without hearing me out. [Does not address student supervision.]
  3. Argued that I shouldn't have included the principal in my email. Actually used the phrase, "Crying to Daddy." I replied that my intention was not to get anyone in trouble, and did not name names for this reason. [Does not address student supervision.] At this point I reiterated the original problem, that of unsupervised and disruptive kids in the hallways.
  4. Argued that he let his kids out at exactly the right time. Here, another teacher walks in and joins the conversation unbidden. I thought this was really rude. She chimes in that she, too, let the kids out at exactly the right time. I repeat several times that there were, in fact, MANY students clamoring to enter the cafe at least five minutes before class time had ended. I repeat several times that they were very disruptive. I repeat several times that they were unsupervised. I repeat several times that if one is to dismiss a class early or invite them all to get a drink, one needs to supervise them in the hallway or at the drinking fountain. They continue to insist that they were not at fault. We repeat this back-and-forth, the two of them maintaining their absolute innocence as an excuse for their non-response. [Does not address student supervision.]
  5. Annoyed with their complete lack of taking responsibility, I spelled it out for them. "You are not listening to me. Can you agree that if you let your class out early, you will supervise them in the hallway? And if you let your class go to the drinking fountain, you will go with them? Can we do that?"
  6. Pause.
    They stare at me like I'm throwing out a new idea.
    "Yeah, we can do that," they agree.

I'm planning to have a meeting with the principal about this type of behavior at our school. These besides-the-point arguments happen nearly every time I suggest a change or request improved logistical planning. I feel like I am constantly targeted for "saying things wrong," "undermining the team," "caring about every single little thing." None of these attacks ever addressed the actual PROBLEMS, like, NO ONE IS OUTSIDE ON CARPOOL, SHOULDN'T WE RECTIFY THAT? (Yes, a fellow teacher actually got mad at me because I suggested we work out a carpool rotation to ensure coverage. Her "rationale" was that we should just be able to work it out on our own instead of bringing the principal into mix, how dare I undermine the team by asking the principal to make decisions. As if the cie la vie program was working because NO ONE IS OUTSIDE ON CARPOOL.)

I have worked in many school environments and none of them were as toxic as this. At the Jew School, any teacher was liable to make complaints or suggestions in the staff meeting (without naming names, of course), and others would suggest a solution. The guilty stayed silent or took blame and apologized, like adults. No one proclaimed their innocence or attacked the complainer for daring to voice their opinion. The principal was present through this and tried to be supportive of both sides. After the meeting, the targeted behavior was changed, and no one thought of it again.

At the South LA school, we didn't interact much with the principal, but you can be sure that if someone had a problem with another teacher or a grade level, they let it be known. The offender would either say "Oops" or "Sorry" or "You're right" or "I don't remember that, but I'll keep it in mind next time" or "Wait, are you sure? Let's look at that again." Like, oh, LET'S SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I was never made to feel like my concerns were invalid or unfounded.

Good Tova, upon hearing my tale of woe, remarked that it sounded like my colleagues' idea of "teamwork" is to help hide each others' flaws and indiscretions from the boss. She's right; they seem to operate under the assumption that the principal should never know we mess up. That is not what I believe "teamwork" to be, and if this is truly the case, I don't want to be part of that team.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

wisdom from ed the bachelor, whom I love

Karaoke: it's not about being good, it's about thinking you're good.