BS: Studying in Guam

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 07:29 AM

Best laid plans and all that. I was scheduled for a morning class on Saturday and an evening class on Monday. The professor was having trouble getting students to stay for the Saturday class so he just took some of us and put us where he needed us. Now I am in class from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM every Saturday from today to March 12.

And now that we're in our second term they are taking the gloves off. A lot more homework and tighter deadlines. I don't know how my working classmates will be able to do it all. I have doubts about my own abilities.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Jan 11 - 06:11 AM

It is Wednesday and I have just shocked myself with the realization that my homework is done! Probably the only time this term.

Today they closed and evacuated the entire downtown area of Hagatna, including Our Lady of Academy high school, when a construction crew uncovered a 350 pound unexploded bomb from WWII. The first I heard of it was when I tried to make a left and found the road blocked by police cars and flashing lights way down the street. Apparently it took two attempts to get the fuse out of it. They finished up around 2:30, just in time for the heavy traffic.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Jan 11 - 08:43 AM

Wow! It's been a long time since we had such excitement in Maine.

Actually we did used to sneak into Reid State Park (known as Mile Beach prior to being designated as a park) after World War 2. The Beach had been used for target practice by planes from the Brunswick Naval Air Station and the dunes were festooned with all sorts of interesting hardware such as "dud" rockets, machine gun and cannon shells, and bombs. What fun we had sneaking in and collecting them!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Jan 11 - 01:10 AM

No duds here! This stuff was fired, and dropped, with malice aforethought back in July 1944.

One of Wakana's students asked her if she thought the bomb was Japanese. She told them that the Japanese only bombed Guam on December 8, 1941, and that was only out at Sumay. They had no reason after that. It was the Americans who blasted Guam with one of the largest bombardments of the Pacific war. It was the Americans who turned the largest town into a clutter of broken bits.

I just printed out some forms I will need for classroom observations. Mika jumped up on my desk when the printer began working. He is a very curious cat. After I was done I set the papers aside to do something else and when I turned back to them he had chosen that spot for his bed. He looks very comfortable.

"Teacher! I couldn't do my homework because the cat was lying on it."

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Jan 11 - 08:14 AM

It's funny to realize our luck in so many ways. I was just sending a friend a message. She'd commented on missing out on a trip to South America. Here's part of my reply.

"It's funny about missing out on the chances of lifetimes. My grandfather had the chance to go to Mongolia with Roy Chapman Andrews in search of dinosaur fossils. He stayed home and met my grandmother instead. If he'd gone none of the Burnhams you know would be here."

On that expedition Andrews found the first dinosaur eggs. It was a momentous occasion. And my grandfather decided not to go. Because of that decision, and probably hundreds more, my father was around to meet my mother.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Jan 11 - 09:32 AM

But how was the dinosaur omelette?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 08:14 AM

OK gang, here's where I could use some help. I need to research the impact of social networking sites on teens for my Adolescent Psychology class. Some of you are teens. Others have not been a teen in a while.

What I am looking for are articles on the various social networking sources out there. This would include Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Email, Texting, etc.

Also, I would like to hear your take on social networking as follows:
What systems do you use?
How often do you use it?
What is the main purpose of these systems for you?
What would you do if they were to disappear overnight?
How often do you check your page/source?
Does it interrupt your classes/workday?

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 08:31 AM

Brett-

I haven't been a teen since 1960.

But I can be a great help when you're researching how people born in the Pleistocen are now using social networking website.

Good luck with this project, and be discrete about what images of yourself you send out to people you do not know well, in the interest of furthering your research!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 08:48 AM

some australian sites

Social Networks Laboratory University of Melbourne Research in the social networks laboratory concentrates on the analysis of social networks, and in particular the development of exponential random graph models for social networks (p* models). These models assume that a large-scale network emerges from combinations of local patterns of interaction among small overlapping subsets of people. Such patterns can often be interpreted as the result of a localized social process, a set of behaviours within each subset of individuals. As a result, these models provide ways to examine large scale network structures (the macro- or global level) as the ramification of overlapping and intersecting localized behavioural patterns (the micro- or local level).


Social Networks Adapting Pedagogical Practice: - University of Wollongong


Social networks and the end of privacy

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 05:17 PM

Charlie, I am also interested in hearing from adults so I can compare with the teens who answer. As for pictures, I doubt anyone other than family is interested in seeing an old gray haired fat man.

Thanks for the links, Sandra. I'll check them out.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 06:22 PM

Mudcat is the only social network I use!

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 05:47 PM

Kelli just sent me a newspaper story from Bath about a group of Morse High School students building a replica shallop. I must know more. How on Earth could someone get a bunch of teens to put down their cellphones and video games long enough to build something so complicated? Where did they get funding? How did they get parents to let their kids work in a shop with lots of razor-sharp tools?

I sent an email to the teacher named in the article. The article is HERE.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 08:19 PM

Brett-

Pretty neat that some kids are still making history.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 05:09 AM

The teacher, Eric Varney, was quick to respond. He seems to have the idea that I want to start my own project. I do not have the time. But I sent the emails off to Larry and Gordon and they forwarded them to others in the canoe club.

This is Saturday evening. I spent all day in classes. I'm tired but today was different. The classes were fun! Am I changing or is the change happening with the instructors?

Anyway, I sent some pictures of our canoes off to them. I hope they like them.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 12:19 PM

Nice to have a teacher who at least shows some interest in his students.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 11:12 PM

Morse has always been good for that. When my kids were there I never had a complaint with any of the teachers.

Kelli's first Christmas concert a bunch of the teachers used handbells to play a song for the kids!

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 07:08 AM

Today we stopped at the Mobil station in Ipan. As I prepared to fill the tank a pickup pulled into the other side of my pump. As he got out of the truck I heard Joan Baez on his stereo. I asked if it was the radio but he said it was a CD. Turns out he is a huge fan of folk music from that era of the Kingston Trio, Peter Paul & Mary, the Highwaymen, etc. We talked for quite a while. He lives here in the village of Talofofo. We're going to have to get together someday. I still have a few Roll & Go CDs. I guess I'll give him one.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 10:47 AM

Brett-

Did I ever send you the new Roll & Go CD titled Watch Out!? I'm losing track of who I sent what in my old age.

Hey, the temperature here in Maine may reach 40 F today!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: gnu
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 01:24 PM

40 F Charley? Send some up this way eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 02:03 PM

gnu-

Sorry, haven't got the time. Got to make it down to the beach for surfing before the tide turns.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 03:32 AM

There is a new video on the military buildup. Tomorrow there will be a court hearing on a lawsuit intended to stop the movement of the Marines onto the island.

See it here!

Here is a video I stumbled across showing some of the sites in the southwest quadrant of the island. The restaurant, Jan Z's is a place Wakana and I go to quite often.

An afternoon in Guam...

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 03:43 AM

I don't have that one yet Charlie.

I went out to drop some letters today. That means I visited some of the local high schools with my letter of introduction begging them to allow me to come into their school t make some observations. I went to Okkodo, Simon Sanchez and Saint John. Simon Sanchez took the letter and said they would call me back. Okkodo actually tracked down a couple of teachers and made an appointment on the spot. Saint John sent me right down to observe the pottery class that had just started.

I didn't expect that. It was very interesting. The kids were working on a range of projects. At one end were the newbies making built up pots. At the other table were the more experienced students making some rather interesting stuff. Two boys were trying to replicate Roman sculpture and doing a good job of it. Two girls were trying to decide what to do with their clay cubes. There were examples of the work around the studio including one that was cut in a tricky step pattern with a series of mazes inside. A marble dropped in the top had to work its way down through the mazes until it dropped out the bottom. Other work in the place was amazingly delicate and beautiful.

Good first day of observations.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 11 - 01:01 AM

Pottery is really hard! I tried it in New York while I was living there and it's all about the upper body strength and arm muscles, that and getting the lump of clay centred on the wheel. Fun though!
Kelli

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 02:49 AM

I went out to check the mail today and found... the new Roll & Go CD!

Thank you Charlie! You guys sound great. I can't wait to hear the whole thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 10:18 AM

Brett-

Wow! That shipping crate arrived fast.

I think you'll particularly enjoy the Ballad of John Silver.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 12:08 PM

Thanks for the links, Brett. It is unimaginable what the DO wants to do a Pagat. It is so beautiful and pristine. They always seem to take over indigenous places. I hope they can be stopped in the instance, esp.

You asked:
What systems do you use? I have facebook and twitter accts.

How often do you use it? FB maybe once per week, twitter hardly ever

What is the main purpose of these systems for you? FB to see what family and friends are doing and some marketing of a small shop I have had to suspend for now. that is what I twittered about and some about my novel I was writing

What would you do if they were to disappear overnight? I would not miss them. Having just spent six days in hospital, it became clear to me I don't really miss much about the internet except Mudcat and email.

How often do you check your page/source?Not sure what you mean unless it's FB etc. Of course, I check Mudcat several times per day.

Does it interrupt your classes/workday? Yes, sometimes.:-)

Hope that helps!

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 06:03 PM

While looking for ship pictures to compare to one on the Georgetown, Maine, Facebook page I found a page of wallpaper pictures which includes some very nice photos of sailing ships. You can find it HERE!

There are other pictures there, some quite funny. I like the one of the star destroyer over San Francisco Bay.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 09:50 PM

Last night Wakana and I went to the Phoenix Center at Father Duenas Memorial School to see Beauty and the Beast. It was phenomenal. Ostensibly it was a high school musical but there was a number of college kids in it and some very capable adults working on the set and choreography. There was a live orchestra with a conductor who, at one point in his career, played Carnegie Hall in NYC.

The hit of the show were the kids. FD is a boys school so they need to import girls for the female parts. The two girls who played Belle were both former students of mine. The Belle from last night was one of my favorites. She is a stunningly beautiful young woman with a magical voice. I couldn't be prouder of her if I was her father.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 10:56 PM

Today I am on vacation for two weeks. I have finished the second term and the third term starts on March 19.

I have been receiving emails from somebody who thinks Democrats are the spawn of Satan. I finally wrote back pointing out that there is blame to be pointed at both parties but that the Republicans have been in the White House for 34 of the last 47 years. The Democrats have only been in charge for 13 years with terms scattered here and there.

Those Democrats must be pretty special to be able to do so much bad in such a short time.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 09:15 AM

Brett-

Are you trying to confuse "somebody" with facts?

Play fair!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 04:26 AM

Bad news! A huge earthquake has struck Japan. Tsunamis and fire are destroying Miyagi Prefecture. Wakana's home prefecture felt it at magnitude 6 on the Japanese scale which only goes to 7. We have not been able to contact her parents. Her brother is in Tokyo so he and his family should be fine.

Wish them luck.

By the way, the tsunami will be here in a few minutes. We live on high ground and the authorities are evacuating the low lying areas.

Wish Guam luck.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 08:02 AM

Brett-

This is truly a terrifying earthquake and tsunami, and we certainly hope all the folks you know and we know (not to mention everyone else!) in and around Japan are able to avoid the worst of its impact. I'm also worried about our entire West Coast.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 08:11 AM

fingers crossed for Wakana's family -

I spend Friday mornings teaching at a Craft group run by members of a Japanese church & I've just sent an email to the minister asking if he has any news from family/friends

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 08:22 AM

Stay safe, Brett. The west coast here is getting ready as well as Hawaii. Even Australia has warnings.
Wakana must be worried about her family. It make take days to get in touch. Try to stay calm.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 09:15 AM

Guam's tsunami warning has been lifted. Some good news anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 10:15 AM

Brett, thanks for letting us know you and Wakana are safe. I thought of you two and her parents when I heard the news. I am giving thanks her family is well and able to contact her as soon as possible. This or something better for the highest good of all concerned.

Take good care and be safe,

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 06:40 PM

Yes, we are safe. The tsunami was a washout. Saipan, and island north of us, reported a 2.6 foot rise in water levels and here in Guam the Pago Bay buoy registered a 6 inch rise.

I have heard that Guam is relatively safe from tsunamis due to the shape of the island and how it sticks up out of the ocean. There are very few places that have the gradual rise of the seafloor that a tsunami needs to rush inland.

In Japan everyone is safe though Wakana's parents had no power until this morning. In Japan that is very unusual but then the circumstances were unusual. They never lost gas or water so they were able to cook. They have kerosene heaters so they were able to keep warm. Poor Aunt Sachiko spent the night in a neighbor's car because she was too nervous about aftershocks. Today starts the cleanup.

Oh, one tragedy. My brother-in-law lost his Martin in the 'quake. He reports that it is "broken."

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 07:22 PM

I received a reply from Dom saying that everyone he knows is fine, tho one parishoner's mother is still in a refuge. As his email was sent 6 hours ago, she might be with family or friends now.

he also said -

Thank you so much for concerning with Japan.
Please pray for Japan continually as many people are hurting who I don't know.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 06:41 AM

This afternoon Wakana managed to get in touch with her parents. They are fine. They suffered very little damage and were without power for a while. When the power came on at 4:00 AM they quickly cooked some food both to use up what might thaw in the freezer and to prepare for the next power outage.

Aunt Sachiko joined them today and will stay with them for a few days. She didn't sleep at all last night in the car but had a good nap today at her brother's house.

Charlie, you were right. Japan is one of the safest nuclear power generators in the world and now they have lost control of one plant and may lose the other. All of their redundant safety systems failed. The Fukushima plant has one reactor that has blown its containment building apart and they are worried about the other five reactors on site. They've evacuated people for 20 kilometers around the northern plant and 10 kilometers around the southern plant in Fukushima.

Damn! I wish you and the Clamshell Alliance could have been wrong on this one.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 11:52 PM

Thanks for letting us know, Brett. I am so glad to hear they are alright. What a scary tragedy.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 11:55 AM

Brett-

There are times when I'd rather not be right, and this is certainly one of them.

See the main thread on Nuclear Meltdown for my latest update, and particularly what I have to say about when to take iodide tablets (conferring of course with appropriate medical authorities).

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 03:31 AM

Earlier today I saw a chart showing elevated radiation levels. The chart included the prefecture where Wakana's parents and aunt live. I am watching NHK World which is Japanese news and programming in English. Check it out for up-to-the-minute news on the tragedy.

NHK World

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 10:30 AM

Thanks for the link, Brett. I just had my first lesson in Japanese.:-) Are Wakana's parents safe from radiation?

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Maryrrf
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 03:30 PM

Even though her parents are safe, this must be agonizing for Wakana. It's horrifying for everyone to see the devastation, but Japan is her home.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 06:47 PM

I told Wakana when she came home last night that she should ask her parents and aunt to join us in Guam until things settle down in Japan. I'd heard earlier that they had higher then normal radiation levels in Utsunomiya which is about 30 miles south of where they live.

She called them and extended the invitation but they want to stay where they are.

It has been very tough for Wakana. Smaller Japanese disasters have affected her. After one earthquake there was quite a drama where the rescue teams were trying to free a woman and her child from a car that had been buried by a landslide. We watched it on TV when we were in Japan. They got the kid out but the mother died of her injuries before they could free her. Wakana cried for quite a while on that one.

According to NHK World the rule of thumb used by rescuers is after 96 hours you are only going to find bodies. However they are still finding living survivors in the wreckage. There have been a number of "miracle rescues" shown on TV.

But the numbers are staggering. According to NHK one town had 24,000 residents and at this point they've only been able to account for 5,000 of them. Whole towns have been literally swept away.

And then there is the nuclear power plant leaking radiation all over the place. Wakana's parents appreciate our offer and will take us up on it if things get too hairy.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 07:17 PM

It leaves me speechless with tears. I hope her parents will come to you.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 07:22 PM

I can understand Wakana's feelings. I've heard stories about things that happened to people I didn't know, in places I didn't know that haunted me for weeks after. The horrors of my imagination were probably greater than reality. This is her homeland and these are her people, and everything is so much more real. I don't know how much worse it must be, but she, and you, have my support.

There are people who volunteered to stay in the Fukushima plant to try to get the situation under control. They're being called heroes. I have no doubt in my mind that heroes are exactly what they are.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 07:29 PM

This situation has to be incredibly stressful for you both. I wish we lived closer to you and could be of more help.

Charlie and Judy

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Mar 11 - 07:27 PM

Jeri, there are a lot of heroes right now but I have to agree that those working at the nuclear plant rank very high.

Trust me, you are helping by being wherever you are. My only disappointment is Donuel who is running scared of the threat. I'm glad Wakana does not read the Mudcat because his posts would really bother her. He should leave scare-mongering to the Republicans. They are professionals and do it right.

It's important to remember what has happened. Japan is the most quake ready nation on earth. They have been visited by devastating quakes over and over. They have also been victimized by tsunamis. I read a story yesterday about a woman who lived in a town where they had annual tsunami drills. They had safe zones on high ground. When the sirens went off she went straight to the high ground and on to the higher ground beyond, turned and watched the wave sweep over the supposedly safe zone.

This disaster is unparalleled. Japan's earthquake measurement system only goes to 7. This measured 9! They prepared for the types of tsunamis they had seen in the past. These washed hospital patients out of the fourth floor of the hospital. The building stood but only those on the fifth floor survived!

The point is that you can prepare for the reasonable event but this goes beyond reasonable. The nuclear power station was protected from tsunamis and built to withstand earthquakes. It would have been safe from anything. But this was far and away much more than you could plan for.

As of this morning the death toll has hit 13,500 people and they expect it to keep climbing. This is the worst disaster to hit Japan since the Allies firebombed the Japanese cities. In terms of physical destruction (not loss of life) it is worse than Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined with the added horror of nuclear fallout.

There is no way to understate the level of the disaster.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 08:30 AM

Tonight Wakana came home and announced she'd been invited to someone's home for a gathering in support of Japan. We mounted up and arrived in time for a Baha'i prayer meeting.

Another new experience. I have been in Baptist churches and Catholic churches, I've seen Unitarians gathered in... whatever they do. But this was my first experience with Baha'i.

They started with music on the stereo, then we read prayers from sheets given to us when we entered and ended with more (kind of middle eastern) music. A couple of people read from a prayer book and one woman sang something that might have been in Arabic. It sounded pretty good.

Afterward we ate and drank the refreshments and talked. The group was mostly European-Americans (you know, white people). There were only two Japanese in the group but some of the European-Americans had lived in Japan and loved the country and culture. It was fun and new.