CINXE.COM

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Blue Skunk Blog</title><link>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/</link><description>Doug Johnson's thoughts on libraries, technology and life.</description><lastBuildDate>Sat, 02 Nov 2024 15:14:58 +0000</lastBuildDate><copyright></copyright><language>en-US</language><generator>Squarespace V5 Site Server v5.13.594-SNAPSHOT-1 (http://www.squarespace.com)</generator><item><title>Still in my dreams after all these years</title><dc:creator>Doug Johnson</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 02 Nov 2024 15:13:46 +0000</pubDate><link>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2024/11/2/still-in-my-dreams-after-all-these-years.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">40946:348998:36482142</guid><description><![CDATA[ <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe-1Ofv1jIDitKGJ5QBqWsq3ofW_FKDne3LTG_kqBUapJFVF0cUiS2Nx94Z01pyU6vGAwAn16CjuQaSgj_rZUn8Nk_z0Pqq8Rp1zV1MLj3tDJtBs17nS3piiqBOVA1VmWuH54cFDu2iTgvhQck0F_YL87_8?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="260" height="183" /> On entering a small roadside cafe in rural Missouri last month, I noticed a familiar odor which I could not immediately identify. After eating a modest lunch served by a friendly waitress in a booth near the front door, I headed back to the restroom. It was only on returning to my booth that I noticed something on the tables at the rear of the cafe - ash trays. This small diner actually had a smoking section, something not permitted in Minnesota since 2007. (Smoking in restaurants seating fewer than 50 people is legal in Missouri.) Like many people I knew, including my parents, I smoked cigarettes when I was younger. I started in high school, stealing my dad’s unfiltered Camels, and not quitting until my son was born in 1986. While I’ve had a few minor lapses, I’ve not smoked since - for 38 years. Thankfully. That I ever started is one of the true regrets I have. Yet every now and then I find myself smoking in my dreams. The cigarette is usually very weak and I am trying to hide it from others around me, obviously ashamed of the act. One wonders how the human mind works. One sign of an improving society, I believe, is the dramatic decrease in smoking: <blockquote> Cigarette smoking in the U.S. is at a low point, according to eight decades of Gallup trends. Currently, 11% of U.S. adults say they have smoked cigarettes in the past week, matching the historical low measured in 2022 (and nearly matched at 12% in 2023). When Gallup first asked about cigarette smoking in 1944, 41% of U.S. adults said they smoked. The current smoking rate is about half as large as it was a decade ago and one-third as large as it was in the late 1980s. <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/648521/cigarette-smoking-rate-ties-year-low.aspx#:~:text=Line%20graph%20showing%20percentage%20of,in%202001%20through%202003%20surveys.">Gallup, August 13, 2024</a> </blockquote> Yeah, gas stations still house whole shelves full of cigarette packs (along with chewing tobacco) and one still sees the occasional cigarette butt on sidewalks and in parking lots. The smokers I see are mostly senior citizens sitting outside their senior living facilities - some ironically in wheelchairs and with oxygen tanks in inclement weather. But it is rare that in my day to day activity that I see or smell smoking and I have no relatives or close friends who indulge. Vaping, of course, is the new smoking which the young and stupid have substituted for cigarettes when I was young and stupid. I suspect one day we will see a movement to reduce that habit as well for the benefit of both individuals and society. One can hope. At least I cannot smell the vapers. Tomorrow I get on a jet for a long flight to Amsterdam and on to Casablanca, knowing smoking is banned on both the plane and in the airport. In the 80s, before smoking was banned on flights, I would request seating in the non-smoking section, a request that was usually granted. Of course my non-smoking row was directly behind the last smoking section row. At least in the 80s we had more legroom! Less smoking gives me some hope for mankind. What might give you hope?  ]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/rss-comments-entry-36482142.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>News burnout</title><dc:creator>Doug Johnson</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 22 Oct 2024 13:55:11 +0000</pubDate><link>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2024/10/22/news-burnout.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">40946:348998:36481276</guid><description><![CDATA[ <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcikBmk8pQCw3TdO6yj2lfsbbTMzKfdMPhyp8hw7-tJ5eMWAO_Wi6KMAIGcxW7Bj0vKhPQeb18645_LNytpZ_ZpOgYAE_0ERbxdXErkWrryV_bTAsvUoOtbX98lfivRT-2qVeYLJaR9H6WXWcnEKNeSII7o?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="387" height="282" /> Can’t we just get this election over? Please? The campaigns have been ugly, disparaging, and overwhelming. And I’ve voted already already. I will admit to being something of a news junkie. I read two daily newspapers and subscribe to the NYT for its columnists. I watch the local and national news nearly every night. The only radio station I have a preset for in my car is NPR. I check my GoogleNews feed daily and read Heather Cox RIchardson’s newsletter (or most of it anyway). In my own little echo chamber, I don’t watch Fox news or read any political posts in my Facebook feed nor do I subscribe to Twitter (now known as X).  After only a few dozen viewings, the ads by all candidates regardless of political party don’t just bore me, but almost nauseate me. (But not as much as the emu in the Liberty Mutual Ads.) I only glance at the postcards that arrive daily in my mail before pitching them into the recycling bin in my garage - the poor things don’t even make it into the house. I am not a fan of lawn signs - with the prevalence of one party sending shivers down my spine.  As I mentioned, I have already voted early. I sense it is not the undecided, but the indifferent, who have not or will note vote in this critical election. I suspect, like most citizens, there is no party that totally reflects my values, my hopes, my concerns. (Is ANYBODY but me concerned about the national debt?) I don’t think one more diatribe about the deficiencies of one’s political rival is going to make much of a difference on November 5, 2024. And I am afraid I am not just getting burned out on political coverage. Stories of ecological disasters, forecasts of “existential” climate change, both endangered and invasive creatures, and energy policies now get a quick read of the headlines and maybe a paragraph or two. Do I really need to see photos of one more bombing and its victims in Israel or Gaza or Lebanon? How many more shootings in downtown Minneapolis do I really need to hear about? I do understand that “when it bleeds, it leads” has been a long time principle that news publishers have adhered to for many, many years, but sheesh! The biggest problem I see with news-overload is that it may be desensitizing me to important issues I should be more knowledgeable about. I wish I had a strategy or guidelines that would allow me to stay informed, but not be burned out. Suggestions, readers? Oh, please vote. Our grandchildren’s futures will hinge on this election. ]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/rss-comments-entry-36481276.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Another one launched…</title><dc:creator>Doug Johnson</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 16 Oct 2024 14:34:15 +0000</pubDate><link>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2024/10/16/another-one-launched.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">40946:348998:36480843</guid><description><![CDATA[ <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfPY8i5qm3y49Opg1lTh2O7cJdvLO8mjjoDCJIW6cjF0E_aAvXBAAU-70cSweT2XrDPumPefLHDibe_TEPidJ35DzWAcsjW5S2E7fwRhVM8wCZPQX93slpm_zlgjBwDoNUIFjDgeI00xR7MAiAnX3Gxp8E?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="268" height="358" /> Perhaps I should be used to the feeling by now. That sense of loss, of concern, of hope, of happiness as a loved one starts their first year of college. Their first year away from home. Their first year on their own. The year that will determine how good a job the parents and grandparents and teachers and Scout masters, and coaches have done in instilling good decision-making skills and values. At his invitation, I visited my grandson Miles at his school, Missouri State University of Science and Technology, where he is now two months into his freshman year. The visit included a walking tour of the campus, a visit to his dorm room, drives through the town of Rolla, a hike in a local park, and several meals at local restaurants, including Randy’s Roadkill BBQ and Grill. And we managed to squeak in a matinee showing of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.  I could not have had a nicer time. Miles was a very good guide and his good spirits did much to allay my (unwarranted) concerns about his new life. Thanks to good parenting and good schooling, he seems to be thriving in this new environment. At least he looked clean, well-fed and I could detect no needle-tracks on his arms. He feels his decision to get a degree in chemical engineering (in possibly just three years) is a good one. It seems a bit strange to me that, like some birds, many human families kick their children out of the nest around age 18. Happily, most kids don’t just survive, but thrive when given their independence. Many of us could not wait to get out from under our parents’ thumb and live a life of our own. (I was one of them.) Miles seemed happy at home, but he also seems happy in college. I guess he is just the happy kid he always has been. Colleges do help cushion that fall from the nest. Housing, meals, student medical service, and financial aid allow kids to focus on classes rather than their bank balance. Sports, fraternities and sororities, clubs, and other activities provide opportunities to build friendships. And today, technology allows these newbies to stay connected with their family back home as well as with friends in other schools. I have no doubt whatsoever that Miles will make the most of his undergraduate years. This honor student, Eagle Scout, entrepreneur will stay on a positive path. At least I expect so. After all, he and his brother promised that when they became billionaires, they would buy a penthouse apartment in Manhattan where I could live. But no pressure, Miles.  I am not packing my bags just yet.  ]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/rss-comments-entry-36480843.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>A forgotten poem rediscovered</title><dc:creator>Doug Johnson</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 04 Oct 2024 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate><link>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2024/10/4/a-forgotten-poem-rediscovered.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">40946:348998:36479890</guid><description><![CDATA[   <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcBpdMj_uXFK9Q1Z1ASKvIlKZm4L3onQsgWezLoXJJJDnnXBZVmQiSOt54O-ldQuIoRBk_dK-NIg8AlEKcSNV-qBQaIWySDdJOc5v_2v3X8S1GufP4hgPmqIXgGLVcqDkubXbpAASHWCLuMhLjTSrrFgKh0?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="624" height="380" /> I’ve found that having an achy knee means a lot of time in my recliner - and therefore, time to work on a neglected project. Over the course of nearly 20 years and almost 3500 posts, this blog often contained comments and observations related to my travels. Observations about countries, activities, and “travel tips” were fairly frequent - as they are now in my post-retirement ramblings. So I am collecting them into a single document - Travels with the Blue Skunk. One of the delights of doing such a project is running across materials I’d shared before such as this poem I discovered while in Ireland. Enjoy… Pangur Ban I and Pangur Ban my cat, 'Tis a like task we are at: Hunting mice is his delight, Hunting words I sit all night. 'Tis a merry thing to see At our tasks how glad are we, When at home we sit and find Entertainment to our mind. 'Gainst the wall he sets his eye, Full and fierce and sharp and sly; 'Gainst the wall of knowledge I All my little wisdom try. So in peace our task we ply, Pangur Ban my cat and I; In our arts we find out bliss, I have mine and he has his. written by a 9th century Irish scholar-monk <div> </div>  ]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/rss-comments-entry-36479890.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Thoughts while folding laundry…</title><dc:creator>Doug Johnson</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 01 Oct 2024 13:57:20 +0000</pubDate><link>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2024/10/1/thoughts-while-folding-laundry.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">40946:348998:36479654</guid><description><![CDATA[ <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd4tol6S_9eUe8HxWsAFhdSSCZpZ2gygmr1yVb07PyW5F5hexZ4b3tYmIvStfQD6_dzOnHviO16cUnK8dXvTRmQ3HJ_gHic-KswyLcHLp1hMZKxGn5cJQCmqp-yz2a-qryEd7QQBigUxuM_RXHcz1YV8wPL?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="443" height="277" />   <a href="https://tutandgroan.com/lifes-too-short/">Image source</a>   A strained knee, limiting my ability to hike and bike, has gotten me contemplating my own mortality (again).  Life’s too short to: <ol> <li> Fold fitted sheets</li> <li>Fuss about splitting a restaurant check</li> <li>Use coupons</li> <li>Hold a grudge and harbor regrets</li> <li>Finish reading a book you are not enjoying</li> <li>Read newspaper articles that are irrelevant</li> <li>Drive ten miles to save a dollar</li> <li>Worry if one’s socks match</li> <li>Watch stupid television shows</li> <li>Live unconsciously</li> </ol> Life’s plenty long enough to: <ol> <li> Stop at yellow lights</li> <li>Take a trip</li> <li>Take a nap</li> <li>Play a few games</li> <li>Contact a friend</li> <li>Go for a walk</li> <li>Cook a meal</li> <li>Write a bit</li> <li>Send a thank you </li> <li>Brush twice a day</li> </ol> And on your lists? Off to the Y to soak my knee in the whirlpool.  ]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/rss-comments-entry-36479654.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>The pleasure of being published</title><dc:creator>Doug Johnson</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 23 Sep 2024 14:45:56 +0000</pubDate><link>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2024/9/23/the-pleasure-of-being-published.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">40946:348998:36479076</guid><description><![CDATA[ <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfVzLVsH_L3gBS7-ncK5SPt2WmxtHcUFuFXCKDeEr8ZMfVB3sqzMaU9-N7NmRTT-1txhm7UI5y4u9gx_B-hionvHbBYkMJZGDOKvzPwWlwiCWpAFTzAeVD1TBS6EpeIPaXXMoma-knmO6F0gdcLy3epMzcu?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="346" height="340" /> I am a has-been. My days of being recognized in the library and educational technology field passed when my day-to-day involvement with schools passed on my retirement five years ago. But as they say, “Better a has-been than a never-was.” When the Minnesota Star Tribune published <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1upU4YnGX5KfFTSD1gB2n74zwwTCIXUKdUgxQZ3-4i8U/edit?usp=sharing">one of my submissions for its opinion page</a>, I was tickled. This was not a letter to the editor but a genuine commentary. The piece has since generated a couple letters and references in other editorials. Somebody actually read it. “Influencers” have increasingly moved to social media platforms to share their thoughts and opinions. I am not one of those. I share links to blog posts on Facebook’s Blue Skunk page and on LinkedIn. But no Twitter (now known as X) or Instagram or TikTok. I write, mostly in complete sentences. I don’t dance, sing, or share selfies of me or any body parts. (Lucky you.) Not too long ago, those of us who appeared in print may have been called the influencers. While the <a href="http://www.lm-net.info/about.html">LM_Net listserve</a> (formed in 1992) foreshadowed today’s unedited, conversational, more spontaneous communications, most librarians and tech directors depended on professional journals and books to stay up-to-date on trends and philosophies. From approximately 1990 to 2015, I published a lot of edited columns, articles, and books. In a fairly wide range of print journals. As I count them:   <ul> <li><a href="https://sites.google.com/view/dougjohnsonweb/articles">149 articles</a></li> <li><a href="https://sites.google.com/view/dougjohnsonweb/columns">246 columns</a></li> <li><a href="https://sites.google.com/view/dougjohnsonweb/books">7 books, 2 second editions</a></li> <li>Oh, along with 3200 blog posts</li> </ul>   So I was perhaps a bit jaded when that School Library Journal or Kappan came in the mail with my name in the table of contents. But no longer. My view of publishing reflects my generational values. That column in Library Media Connection didn’t just appear instantaneously. It underwent editorial scrutiny first. At times, quite critical. And I’ve always felt that two (or more) sets of eyes on a piece of writing generally improve it. So not only did I have to feel the piece was worthy of sharing, so did one or more of my colleagues or a professional editor. I seriously doubt I will ever develop a level of post-retirement expertise in any field that allows me to write with confidence. But it sure is fun to see my occasional diatribe in actual print. I am jaded no more.   ]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/rss-comments-entry-36479076.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Road tripping</title><dc:creator>Doug Johnson</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Sep 2024 14:50:36 +0000</pubDate><link>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2024/9/18/road-tripping.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">40946:348998:36478717</guid><description><![CDATA[   <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdQ-eBM0NEai6PFv-MR235TCaV0UtAsMfzOm5sQIIUYtfII4UM7cOcIqCEPOuis6iSyOS5F9OOneMJHrUllxFlgKNLXf4Xa8M6nJuDbBBBNAIJKKzVpeEIbvUYpaDZtW2HSE14jou1JYJKnHj8Nuk9GXB8?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="624" height="468" /> Other worldly view at sunrise from Hidden Lake Trail, Glacier National Park Bags unpacked. Laundry done. Groceries resupplied. Email answered. It takes a couple days to recover from a trip. Especially one that involved driving over 3800 miles. Heidi and I set off from the Twin Cities on September 4th and got home last Sunday, September 15. We drove across Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and Alberta to wind up in Banff, then took a slightly different route home. Below are some observations/advice from some of the road trips I’ve taken. <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXczv54mNh5WeBTdcgcvSp47sr74wIWZYXviwk0pvQp_YuvzfsExVJAubB1P3DwWhH7WuRxg1c8mK-g_UQRvRAkS3APWdZtokp7Q3GCzrbVtWAYZGE-t95ka7ZPrOFYQ5SSUOxhvNhnOywZXw6CrWGfjTA13?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="624" height="468" /> Bison encounter while hiking the north section of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li style="text-align: left;">Choose your vehicle wisely. We took Heidi’s hybrid Prius that gets around 55mpg. At 100,000 miles, she had it checked over before the trip - new battery, tire inspection, etc. It served us well. We did get a tire pressure warning off and on and once nearly ran out of gas (inattention by the driver - me), but other than that the car did well. (I do wish the car came with a spare tire instead of just some sealant and a pump.) Worrying about automotive failure is a great way to ruin what should be an enjoyable experience.</li> </ul> <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcggzzivoc-OpIMpIphcsVNU8hEYVSu8mBctMbdxK4-_6rhU9WeXAQsYjsnwl2SsrmfhzkBeiGtxVeTtIhJ68qsq-9ZVuFuVLhGBRhDusRv_vybfrDaF1OwWfss_1DY8znroL4Bw35kI0wJMomO9B967T4?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="624" height="468" /> North Dakota Badlands <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li style="text-align: left;">Pre-plan. We reserved our hotel rooms well in advance. Despite not traveling during “high season”, places were booked, parking lots and trails full, and roads very busy (Canmore was a hot mess.) I’m beginning to think high season should include September despite some attractions shutting down. Oh, we also booked our Road to the Sun Pass early, although it was not needed when we arrived at Glacier NP before 6 each morning.</li> </ul> <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXc6WSriUbUNM45_yhXpVgDs_gKE3x_uslBlcF9clVrNTWpLPZhFDALg4oHelCODrpLWvWR13ewTNFgBR0R_y3M2q5ekvV6Jsl6NRIi5vUvb88RbKxZ-0phQYtDkfBsh6ysAqzRQlPGbxpv5ghfDa7AU5Qrr?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="624" height="831" /> Crowded trail at Johnston Creek near Banff <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li style="text-align: left;">Avoid the crowds by getting an early start. In order to get a parking spot at Logan’s Pass in Glacier NP so we could hike the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail, we found we needed to be there by 6:30 (after arriving at 8:30 the day before). That meant leaving our hotel room in Kalispell by about 5am. But it was worth it - see photo at the beginning of this post.) Whether DisneyWorld or Venice, we early risers have a less crowded experience. And sometimes time for an afternoon nap.</li> </ul> <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdiTqRZ6qMHj099uLArtPswJ76Vx2PastOcsmK0IfLIDM8AlDt-apykPurLjvCsEW9BZfqb6-ZBrJcMKilBdbyhqg_RnMTVjdwBwbGZwn1kxxPGuvOdYqJkA0rr6DRhuHPMfcgAOYY3sVr61PhymQnEnh8a?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="624" height="468" /> On the way to St Mary Falls in Glacier National Park <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li style="text-align: left;">Eat local. While we could not always do so, we tried to find local restaurants for our meals. We especially like small town cafes at lunch time. We also brought a cooler with fruit, crackers, and other munchies to eat in place of a meal when finding a restaurant was difficult. Oh, stay in hotels that offer a complimentary breakfast. Love those waffles you save $30 or so in buying a restaurant breakfast.</li> </ul> <ol style="text-align: left;"> </ol> <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfhgsurdIJAO3Ky_C_6i03paQiC71Hb-5y6q5rzg992nfTiePHXpauaukGewqUtdgwreVkTbq-XXRzULWSbeoWKltg85CnROLtn3NhETC4NCRPIP7GH3jmoomtGlw85dqLBp2iqjb916mxiFwBnf5dQrlW5?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="624" height="468" /> Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site near Medicine Hat Ft Mcleod, Alberta <ul> <li>Be open to unexpected pleasures. While our primary goal of this trip was to visit Glacier and Banff, the highlights may have been Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in Alberta. Loved the bison and great hiking trails in TRNP and the museum and trail at Head-Smashed-In. </li> </ul> <ol style="text-align: left;"> </ol> <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf9BJzWhp4_x22w7tPyLOolJWvgSCPVBynivo7HiDegFrJHG60xON75qtOO5kYAVHCEqxyoDKxd2Fsj332zWkhvGzgGTsNYxkFoCYv0-Pit_Em_6Oa5qw4X_9gYd8h_sd3b139yhClzc8GpRW2LpU8Dbk8?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="624" height="831" /> Quick stop on the long drive home <ul> <li>Be economical but don’t be cheap. I tend to eat cheap, sleep cheap, dress cheap, etc, but I am loosening up a bit. If another $20 gets you a nicer hotel, why not spend it. The $50 I spent for a gondola ride and lunch at Lake Louise made a good experience and nice break from hiking. Good hiking shoes, even if costly, are money well spent.  Oh, and buy yourself dessert now and then.</li> </ul> <ol style="text-align: left;"> </ol> <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd1piA6GHbdfyTu7o9IBocn1IwiUCdgwuyN6MX_ZJjMBknbvvurzbDZfTtlfEkE2p21i-WHrDvWxiNzOK7fx5A4E6DSyyMXjS-IVVg4mU4MlR1u0OxtUKA-kZR42wcz0_sNspWbMjrCdZhpbhQdK9TVkIoZ?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="624" height="831" /> 3800 miles and 11 days - still speaking to each other <ul> <li>Enjoy the drive itself. Montana is a very, very wide state. From Glendive in the east to Kalispell in the west, it is nearly 600 miles and over a 9 hour drive. Despite long distances, set your GoogleMaps on “Avoid highways” and take secondary roads when possible. A road trip is, after all, about being on the road. Oh, and out west, never let your gas tank get much below half full! Stop often for breaks to stretch the legs. </li> </ul> I hope I can continue to take a good road trip now and then. Whether the destination is Acadia or Arches or Anaheim, I’ve enjoyed this form of travel since I was a kid. And I am still learning how to make it even better. <a href="https://dougj.smugmug.com/Travel/2024/Roosevelt-Glacier-Banff">All photos from the trip</a>    ]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/rss-comments-entry-36478717.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Student cell phone bans: never make a rule you can’t enforce</title><dc:creator>Doug Johnson</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 03 Sep 2024 20:20:50 +0000</pubDate><link>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2024/9/3/student-cell-phone-bans-never-make-a-rule-you-cant-enforce.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">40946:348998:36477620</guid><description><![CDATA[ <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXewJmpuq2t2EEymlaP9kYObeavkp0huOqWZm2ExWEhDGX__JzshPfGUMBPOU_jCI-YtPkRe2cg6V0FXxco0-K8UUmFgPiHTyQmWBQOXggJaatcCj7lcnKxtLC6NNxuoYPubcVzqy_TBZD8n8IcphbRumrw?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="255" height="340" /> <blockquote> Almost no one could do their jobs or get an education today without the brain extenders that we use on an all-day, every-day basis—smartphones that can access almost all human knowledge or harness huge computational power with a single tap. It is therefore not an exaggeration to say that our devices have become parts of us. Ray Kurzweil, The Singularity is Nearer </blockquote> The news lately has been filled with stories about schools banning student-owned smartphones in the classroom. Or attempting to, anyway. A new state law here in Minnesota requires schools to have a student phone “policy” in place by March.  I am once again glad to be retired from education. School boards and administrators should be very careful about the content of such policies. One lesson that has held true all during my 43-year career in education is something I learned as a student teacher from my supervisor. She advised, “Never make a rule you can’t enforce.” Not only are such rules worthless, but they give the sense that the authority who made such a rule cannot enforce any rules. Schools and teachers have been trying to enforce the no-phone rule for some time. Students are asked to place their phones in a basket on the teacher’s desk. They may be required to leave them in their lockers. Lately, a bag (pouch) with a lock only a teacher or administrator can unlock is being supplied to students so they are no longer able to use their phones. Not all bags, however, block the signals to phones so I am guessing they still will make noises if called.  As one of those sneaky kids who hid comic books behind his textbook and doodled instead of taking notes, I automatically started thinking about ways I could somehow skirt the requirement to give up my electronic buddy were I a student today. Maybe I’d get a dummy phone and put it in the pouch or basket and leave the real one in my pants. Would a small enough phone be able to be hidden in my bookbag? Might my smartwatch allow me to do most of the things I like to do with my phone? When are those glasses coming out that allow me to see a virtual screen? Could I hide my phone behind a book like I hid comic books back in the day? Banning student phone use during the school day feels like an exercise in futility, much like getting adults to stop looking at their phones when driving. And while restricting phone use may be initially a poor disciplinary move, in the long run it may well be a poor educational choice as well. As the quote that leads this piece states, our cell phones have become “brain extenders.” I know that my phone gives me access to information that makes me a more informed thinker. I think. Shouldn’t educators with the help of AI now figure out how to make these beloved devices tutors and tools to improve student learning? A long sought but elusive goal of many in education has been the individualization of the learning process, customizing activities to each ability level and learning style. And as far as I could tell, we’ve never really gotten there. I’ve long asked teachers to reflect on the relevance and engagement of their curriculum and activities. Maybe it is impossible to compete with these evil little bots for kids’ attention. But we have to try. Even if we cannot figure out how to use phones as instructional tools, I believe we have the obligation to teach their appropriate use during the school day. What constitutes polite cellphone use? When is staring at the screen productive and when is it destructive? How does excessive cellphone use impact human relationships? Another lesson I learned about rules is that they are more accepted when there is constructive rationale behind them. Policy makers, are we paying attention to the “why” of banning phones and clearly communicating the reasons - and letting parents and students know we are doing so in their best interest? Enough for now - I gotta go look at Facebook.   <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1upU4YnGX5KfFTSD1gB2n74zwwTCIXUKdUgxQZ3-4i8U/edit?usp=sharing">(Published in the Minnesota Star Tribune opinion section, 9/6/24)</a>  ]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/rss-comments-entry-36477620.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>When I think of “labor”</title><dc:creator>Doug Johnson</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:26:56 +0000</pubDate><link>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2024/9/2/when-i-think-of-labor.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">40946:348998:36477532</guid><description><![CDATA[   <img style="width: 300px;" src="http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/storage/walking beans.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1725287441539" alt="" /> <a href="https://www.thelandonline.com/news/blast-from-the-past-making-hay-and-walking-beans/article_b9666c6a-8bea-11e6-a86d-378bb2af7656.html">Image source</a> Happy Labor Day - quite possibly my favorite holiday of the year. My family has always taken a few days at the end of August or in early September to get together. For many years this took place at a small resort in northern Minnesota called the Cry of the Loon, but we’ve also gathered in the Wisconsin Dells, Okoboji, Iowa, and various resorts in Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. This year we rented an AirBNB near Itasca State Park here in Minnesota - sort of a return to our original holiday. For those of us working in education, Labor Day has always felt like a beginning rather than an end. Or at least it has for me. As a classroom teacher it meant classes full of new faces, a chance to try new lessons, the possibility of successful sports and contests that we coached. As a technology director, a new year promised projects and challenges with the breeze of a fresh start pushing one forward. When I hear the term labor, I still generally think of physical labor. I grew up on a farm. Shoveling manure, hefting bales of hay, walking the beans, driving tractors and grain trucks all required muscle strength. My jobs during college were also physically demanding - stacking sacks of seed corn, working as a hod carrier for a mason, delivering furniture, and washing in a commercial laundry. Yet as a professional, I soon came to realize that jobs that require mental efforts can be as laborious as those where gloves are needed. In my first two years of teaching, I taught five high school classes with four different preps, coached speech and play contests, sponsored the school newspaper, and directed the class plays. And on weekends I worked at a gas station to make ends meet. I swore at the end of those two years that I wanted a job that did not require me to think - at all. And I got my wish. During graduate school I worked the 3-11 shift in “central sterilizing” at the university hospital. The eight hour, five day a week job primarily consisted of standing at a table making “three gown packs” used during surgeries. A cloth was placed on the table and then in careful arrangement, three surgical gowns and some towels were placed on the cloth. Wrap and tape the package, label it with a wax crayon, and place it on an autoclave cart. Repeat and repeat and repeat for eight hours. No wonder many of us smoked a little Iowajuana on our breaks. For the bulk of my career as a school librarian, technology director, writer, speaker and consultant, I found joy in my work. In most cases, the challenges were enough to be engaging but not so tough as to be frustrating. My work was one long sweet spot. So I would encourage having a very broad view of what can be considered “labor.” Muscles, brain cells, and the human spirit can all be exercised until exhausted - painfully or happily. I need to remember to honor all workers and the jobs they perform. I hope you do too.]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/rss-comments-entry-36477532.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Be a good hiking and biking leader</title><dc:creator>Doug Johnson</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 25 Aug 2024 19:47:23 +0000</pubDate><link>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2024/8/25/be-a-good-hiking-and-biking-leader.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">40946:348998:36477090</guid><description><![CDATA[   <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd77OISBEANIPRWKedPYal6DK0toSzAoCyV4geu7gu24YQBMjE0NPtFivzpjpZfZ9IYXaiyoRUIMGR0lt_8OXG0Ia2yYZQcwQsLdw94pzZ1ZH_qdybtu2xwl6vNSbC1EavdQtUmGsGCByn_NvAnUF0aUdg?key=sp2VQtQgUV_lIb9q0L9O7w" alt="" width="526" height="275" /> I generally enjoy group hikes and bicycle rides. New places, good conversations, and longer durations. But some are definitely better than others, often times due to the skills of the event leader. By following a few basic guidelines, you can be a well-regarded organizer and a good role model for those who may lead in the future. These are practices I try to keep in mind. Provide an accurate description. Most hiking and biking clubs and Meetup groups give the organizer of the event the opportunity to describe the activity. How long is the bike ride? How fast is the hiking pace? What will the surfaces be like and will there be hills? Anything special that one needs to bring? Any other activity (bird watching, stopping for ice cream, etc.)? Anticipated length of activity. Oh, and then do your best to conduct the activity as described! Scope out the route. The best organizers hike the trail or ride the route shortly before the group event. No surprises then with closed paths, muddy trails, or large carnivorous plants from which one needs protection. Oh, and it significantly decreases the likelihood of the leader getting lost themselves. Start on time. One of my major complaints about group activities is that there are often those participants who feel being ten minutes late qualifies for being on time. Here in Minnesota, especially in the winter, keeping people just standing around waiting in the cold is cruel. Being on time means not just being present, but being ready to go - tires filled, boots on, pack adjusted, bathroom visit completed. I make it clear that our event’s starting time is our starting time and that I do not wait for those coming late. Text me and I will let you know the route and perhaps you can catch up.  Use a sweep. There will always be faster and slower participants in a group hike. There will be those who may wish to stop and take a photo or retie their shoes or just walk/ride slowly. For a group of any more than about half a dozen, a sweep is a good idea. The sweep’s job is to monitor the stragglers and make sure no one gets left behind. If the leader can see the sweep, they know everyone in the group is accounted for. Walkie talkies are a good to use if you have them. Stop at junctions. Our family has a long standing hiking rule: You can go as fast as you want, but you must wait anytime there is a choice of paths or roads to follow. I like to share a map of the ride or hike I am leading, but stopping before others get lost is even more important. I am proud to say I have a participant survival rate of over 80% as a result. Remember that people join group activities to socialize and learn new places to recreate. Most of the group activities in which I participate start with introductions - first name, length of time with the club, etc. A little icebreaker is usually a good idea - Where is your favorite place to bike? What are you looking forward to this fall? What is your favorite dessert? (Stay away from religion and politics.) I suggest a place to gather for lunch after the ride or hike if people would like to eat lunch together.  In planning, I also try to select places that may not be terribly well-known. One of things I’ve liked best about the club and Meetup group activities is learning new bike trails and hiking paths myself. I live in a suburb of Minneapolis/St Paul so while I know parks and trails in the south metro area, I am always happy to try something new in the northern part of the metro (or out state) Look for training. Good bike clubs offer, and may require, training to those new to leading rides (partly out of  legal responsibility.) Know the rules of the organization (helmets required, for example). Good club rules result in a safer experience for all. Be a sport and lead a hike or ride. Repay the leadership others have shown you in the past. If you mess up, you will find participants quite forgiving. Do your good deed for the day.  ]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/rss-comments-entry-36477090.xml</wfw:commentRss></item></channel></rss>