Veterans Day

As we come out of celebrating USMC's 233rd birthday, we migrate into Veterans Day. To all of my fellow veterans...Enjoy your Veterans Day! There are many things we can do to celebrate Veterans Day throughout the year.

iCasualties - Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
iCasualties.org - Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)

Take a moment and send an email, provide pet foster care, send a care package, donate blood, donate frequent flyer miles, pray, or volunteer in your community.

eMom (e mail our military)

America Supports You

US Department of Veterans Affairs

US Army

US Marines

US Air Force

US Navy

Operation Military Pride

Xerox provides a Let's Say Thanks campaign badge, grab one for your space

Armed Forces Network (AFN)

History Channel's Take a Veteran to School Day

Most of the links provide supplemental information for teachers and parents to teach children more about the day and how to say, "Thank you" to the many veterans they see everyday

A few more ways to honor our heroes this Veterans Day:

• Write a veteran a thank-you note, or send a letter to an entire VFW or American Legion post.

• Write a letter/Send an email to a Soldier currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

• Talk to your children about who veterans are, what they do and what their service means to our country.

Thank you Veterans! We will never forget.

What special way do you remember your veterans?

David Warlick's Big Ideas - Bring Education back into Focus

David Warlick is collecting your ideas...so gather your thoughts, whittle the characters down to 140, and submit your action statements.

From the site: Big Ideas - Bring Education Back into Focus

The project features four phases.

Phase 1 (Starts 11/9/08)
Instructions - Think about the basic priority actions that might be taken by a new Department of Education that would promote shifts in education that are relevant to today´s students and their future.

Scroll down the page to see statements already posted.

Compose a statement that succinctly describes that action using no more than 140 characters. Be clear and to the point.

Type or paste your statement in the textbox to the left, no more than 140 characters. Type your name and click [Submit]

Spend about two-and-a-half days composing and posting clear and succinct (140 character limit) priority actions for a U.S. Ed Department aimed at promoting and empowering a system that better prepares today’s children for their future.

Phase 2
The Big Ideas web site will change, consisting of a list of the items that were posted. We, will collectively match up similar items into the basic foundation topics. Nothing will be deleted, only linked.

Phase 3
The basic topics that emerge will be listed, with associated items linked in, with a request that education bloggers and micro-bloggers post their insights about specific topics of interest.

Phase 4
Finally, the main topics will be listed, with links to an aggregation of associated blogs and micro-blogs. Educators will then be asked to visit the list and prioritize the list by order of importance and logical sequence.

Visit David Warlick's blog to pick up the badge and post it on your site. Spread the word.

A full circle event-generational digital knowledge sharing

Today, I took my mother to the library. The lady who took introduced me to reading and libraries throughout my young life. She is still an avid printed book reader although she is reading more digitally because it was part of the deal. Part of the deal when she moved in with us. She was going to have to incorporate digital gadgets or sit on the curb.

A few months ago, my mother moved in with me, which put me in the Sandwich generation. People who have a student/child still at home and take in an aging parent for whatever reason. I am somewhat lucky in that my mother still works, full time at that and life has been full of learning and teachable moments for all of us.

I introduced her to the library director, some of the students who participated in the scholarship and Google workshops at the library, and she checked out 6 books, computer and some recreational reading. Computer workshops are full for November and December, so she opted for January.

I am extremely glad that my mother has the desire and ability to adapt, implement, and overcome. Sometimes...my Drill Sergeant / US Army side comes out, but in a positive way. Set the standards/parameters, be the guide on the side, and at times let the children, or even grandchildren be the teachers. OK...sometimes pushups encourage a learning point...LOL

I can say that I am proud of my mother for adapting to the digital lifestyle, one chunk at a time. Since she has been here, she has learned to text on her cell phone, subscribes to blogs and news using an RSS reader, played with at least one new Google product each week, downloaded from iTunesU, listens to podcasts, uses the Wii Fit, and keeps in touch with grandchildren and other family members through MySpace.

So wish us luck as she "Skype"s with her grandson this weekend.