The Things We Do For... PIZZA!

PIZZA!

So, how far would you drive for pizza? When I finish here, I will twitter that I met a friend for pizza. That's plain enough, but I wouldn't be writing this if there weren't a story behind the story, and there is.

My friend who joined me rode his motorcycle through rain and snow flakes for over four hours to join me for a pizza in Lincoln, NH. He came down from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, to have pizza. That's 233 miles each way (approximately374.977 152 kilometers in Canadian measurement). We spent about an hour and a half eating and talking before he remounted his bike and headed back north as he wanted to be home before 6 PM (that's 6 PM in Canadian time). Fortunately, the weather for him was better on the way back than on the way down. He said he was coming down for pizza, and that's what he did.

One thing I hadn't factored in was the fact that there was foliage, which brought out the leaf peepers from all over - we saw license plates from Texas, Georgia, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and, of course, Massachusetts (many of whom I was glad I saw before they ran into me). Once I saw and approached the exit (maybe 1/3-mile away), it took me longer to get off the highway and to the pizzeria (maybe a mile) than the whole rest of the trip getting there (it's usually about 35 or 40 minutes for me). Cars waiting to exit queued up in the breakdown lane as the stop light on the main street let through five or six cars at a time before changing. It reminded me a lot of heading to the Weirs during Motorcycle Week.

Anyhow, it was great to see him, and we may do it again before year's end. I think next time he'll drive his car and maybe stay a bit longer. Of course, if I ever get my special card that allows me to travel in and out of Canada, maybe one of these months I can try some Canadian food.

So tired, tired of wating...

("Well, there you go again," spoken in a Ronald Reagan voice.)

("You often end up buying the salesperson not just the product!" spoken in a Dave Berman voice.)

So here I am having a house rehabbed, and as we are progressing, it's getting to be time for new appliances for the new kitchen. Whenever I have a sizable expenditure, I shop around a bit. In this case, I was looking for a refrigerator, stove and hood, and small under-counter dishwasher. About a month ago, I asked for and got bids from three area stores: Sears, Home Depot, and a place called Major Brands. All things considered, I decided on the latter. I had shopped there some years ago and vowed I'd never go back because of the amount of time I stood and waited without even being acknowledged, but that was years ago. This time, the store was empty and the saleslady came right over, spent time with me, helped me narrow, printed out spec sheets, etc. She won my business.

Well, when it was time to buy, I called and asked the saleslady if the information was still in the computer (it was) and if the products were readily available (she'd find out), so I said I'd be down in a couple of hours. I eventually got to the store (maybe 40 minutes away) and it was again empty... except for one couple talking to my saleslady, so I waited and looked around. After about five minutes, a man who had been on the phone asked if I needed any help (I am sure my friends will have some comment here). I said I had spoken to the lady before; he told me since I had already spoken to her, I should stick with her - she would just be a few more minutes. She wasn't. When she wasn't talking to the couple, instead of coming over to me to get the ball rolling, she went over to her computer and stood there concentrating on something there (probably was playing a Madden game). The couple kept coming back to her with more and more questions. After about fifteen minutes of standing there, I started getting edgy. When I had been waiting a full half hour, I finally gave up and walked out. I know, I know. She gives her customers (of the moment) her full attention. However, my time (and money) should be worth something. There wasn't even a look or an, "I'm sorry - I'll be with you as soon as I can." That might have tipped the scales and kept me there.)

Anyhow, I ended up checking out Lowe's on a whim. The store and salesman totally clicked with me! It all fell into place - quickly. I was (somewhat) happy to give them my money. They earned it!

Much ado over nothing? I don't know. Maybe. My brother always told me you need three things for a successful business: selection, price, and service but you can only have two of the three. Price is nice (especially these days), but I'll take the other two.

Oh, and by the way, I saved $400! Not too shabby! Not too shabby at all. Maybe I did get all three.

More Random Ramblings and Recurring Themes...

*Last night, my wife called me outside to watch bats flitting about. Pretty neat especially considering all the insects they eat.

*Former "Manson Family" member Susan Atkins, who stabbed actress Sharon Tate to death more than 40 years ago and is now terminally ill with brain cancer, has been denied parole. Atkins was 21 when she and other followers of Charles Manson participated in a two-night rampage that left seven people dead in August 1969. This is in contrast to the compassionate release of the "man" who was convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988, killing all 259 people on the plane and 11 people on the ground below in Lockerbie, Scotland. The difference? There are allegations that a deal was made in the latter case involving OIL!

*Interesting debate I have been having online about Ted Kennedy. Is he to be defined solely by Chappaquiddick, or should people consider all else he did? In a posthumous memoir, Kennedy says his actions on Chappaquiddick on July 18, 1969, were "inexcusable." He says he was afraid and "made terrible decisions" and had to live with the guilt for more than four decades. Too bad he couldn't say so while he was alive.

* Federal prosecutors hit Pfizer Inc. with a record-breaking $2.3 billion in fines this week and called the world's largest drugmaker a repeating corporate cheat for illegal drug promotions that plied doctors with free golf, massages, and resort junkets. Terrible... but how is that any different from what happens with politicians and their special interest groups and lobbyists?

*Acting on our impulses. A Georgia man allegedly slapped a toddler at a Walmart store because she wouldn't stop crying, authorities said. The man was arrested and charged with first-degree cruelty to children. According to the arresting officer, the child's mother said her daughter was crying as they walked down one of the aisles. The mother said a stranger later identified as Stephens approached them and said, "If you don't shut the baby up, I will shut her up for you."

*This offereing is sounding a lot like my weekly column (www.bermansbits.com)

*About that "person" who kidnapped the 11-year-old girl and held her for 18 years.... In 1976, he kidnapped a woman and raped her in a specially created chamber in Nevada not unlike the backyard warren he set up for Dugard. He was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. Yet, incredibly, a parole board set him free after just 11 years! Take the small criminals out of prison and keep those in who should be there!

*I have 58 available channels, and for the umpteenth time, this morning contained an hour in which there was nothing I wanted on in the background! There are two movies coming on at 8AM I have to choose between.

*Speaking of movies, I decided on "Something Beneath," a horror movie. I love a good horror movie and can watch almost anything. However, in the news over the past couple of days, there was a story and video I couldn't watch. Chicago-based Mercy for Animals says its undercover videotape at Hy-Line North America's hatchery in Spencer, Iowa, "exposes one of the industry's best-kept secrets — that the egg industry tears male chicks' bodies apart in grinding machines while they are still alive." According to Mercy for Animals, male chicks are of no use to the industry because they can't lay eggs and don't grow large or quickly enough to be raised profitably for meat. That results in the killing of 200 million male chicks a year. The full story and lots of interesting comments can be found at: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/09/01/eggs-hatchery-male-chicks-grinder-killed.html

*Later.

Random Ramblings and Recurring Themes....

Any time we enjoy wasting is not wasted time! (Mafia Wars, Bejeweled Blitz, Chain Rxn)
The only James Bond to me is Sean Connery. Probably the one I least see as 007 is Roger Moore.
How much do drug manufacturers spend on TV and other advertising? What could drug prices be without all that advertising?
It's nice to be old enough to remember what good customer service is and should be, so when I don't get it, I can spend my money elsewhere. More people should and not adhere to blind obedience.
I think as a country the US has lost its way (or is at least off the path). I also think politics is too important to be left in the hands of the politicians. They owe too much to too many special interests. The philosophy should be People First.
I am going to miss "Monk," one of my favorite (yet sometimes irritating) characters.
One sign I am getting (or already am) old - I don't understand the lure of texting. I also can't understand why some people can't understand the concept of "Don't text and drive!"
I was a bit dismayed when I saw in these tough times that someone made a 1,224-pound triple vanilla cupcake with pink frosting to set a record as the world's largest - woo-hoo! Then I saw that slices of the cupcake were served in exchange for donations to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer organization. It's all good!
Boy, it's hazy, hot, and humid - it's an official heat wave, but it comes with the territory.
I am wondering if I should seriously run for office - I am disgusted with who we have for politicians. My basic credo would be to support what's best for the most people.
Comedy that is vulgar and in-your-face isn't comedy to me.
I wish I had been able to meet Jerry Orbach.
It's naive, but wouldn't it be nice if country A could say to Country B, "Look, we have something you need. You have something we need. Let's talk. We're all passengers on the spaceship Earth."
If you can count all your true, dear friends on your en fingers, you are doing very well (good food and good friends make me very wealthy indeed)!
I miss Peter Jennings and Elizabeth Vargas (and Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley). They don't make 'em like they used to (ABC's Charles G. and George S. are up there, though.)
I am getting closer to cleaning out my study area! (I've said that for years.)
That's it for now.

Ruh-roh, Raggy! We're in real trouble now!

`

The following news article means trouble! The short of it is that students are now going to be graded on their ability to demonstrate certain skills and abilities (competencies) rather than just on a numerical average and their ability to take tests (or freeze up during them). The article below explains the details. Can you imagine that... students passing because they are competent! What a novel concept.


New Gilford (NH) grading system intended to raise the bar

By HARRISON HAAS hhaas@citizen.com

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Students at Gilford (NH) High School will be graded a little differently than years past. Rather than being graded strictly on averages, every student will now need to demonstrate certain skills and abilities before receiving credit for classes (what a novel concept).

Earlier this year, GHS Principal Ken Wiswell approached both the Gilmanton and Gilford School Boards explaining the new grading that will start in the fall of the upcoming school year.

"What we're trying to do is tell the students this is important," said Wiswell at the June meeting. "It's not about just what [students] can produce and do while in the classroom."

Traditionally students in high school have been graded on a point scale and by the end of the year have an average with a letter grade corresponding with that number. With the new system, there is no overall average to be factored in, which will require all students to complete all items of work (another novel idea). Each subject will have a list of competencies, or list of skills and abilities, in which students will be given a number grade for each competency (we've written and rewritten them for years and years - no one ever really tested them). Students will be evaluated based on their ability is to perform a specific task, their work related skills in each subject along with behavior during classroom sessions. The average of those totals would then be taken and that would be the ending grade.

"There will be no more blowing off a test, having students say, 'If I fail this, I still pass the class'," Wiswell said. (Right, and if 30 percent don't make it under the new program, then what?)

Each department will have a list of standard abilities and skills, ranging from a list of three in basic courses and up to possibly six or seven in more advanced. GHS will be writing their own list of skills and abilities required for courses since every school is different (why? I still say we need a national Core Curriculum with local supplementation) that has this grading system, making each school write their own.

There are four different tiers mapped out in the mission competency rubric (buzz words), which explains the grading and what is expected of each student. The four tiers are similar to the state's standardized testing formats: advanced, proficient, partially proficient and below proficient (it sounds to me like only the top two tiers matter).

"Not asking students to have their hand up all day," said Wiswell. "We're going to evaluate students every two weeks." (Teachers have nothing else to do.)

Wiswell said that if the rubric is read over completely, there is nothing that any student can't do (so everyone passes? Is that raising or lowering the bar?). Minimum grade that a student can earn with be 59, which differs only one point from the previous 60. In order to receive credit for classes, students must master each one of the competencies per class (so now every student will be a good hire). Students not fulfilling all skills and abilities in a required course, will have to attend "competency recovery" classes after school or over the summer (but it was said there is nothing that any student can't do). Any student unfulfilling (must be admin-talk) more than one item on the skills and ability list will not receive credit for the course and will have to repeat the course. The additional time needed for competency recovery will be provided by the faculty who will be paid in a stipend based system.

Teachers will need to actively evaluate students every five days throughout the year. One of the purpose of the delayed opening Wednesdays for next year will help teachers adjust to the new grading system and provide them with education development time (if meeting after meeting isn't scheduled instead).

"This is setting all the students up to being better citizens, " said Derek Tomlinson in the June meeting. "I really like this, and I'm glad we're bring this in." (I really would like to hear the results after the first year.)

This past year, the school was asking teachers to give information about students who did pass, but would have failed one of the competencies. That information will be evaluated before the start of the next school year.

"I think it makes for a better product over the long run," said Wiswell. "It's not your grandfather's high school." (Yeah, it was a lot more rigorous then.)

He said it can be overwhelming at times for our teachers changing over to the new system. (Gee, you think? Maybe there will be time left over to prepare and correct.)

"The more we talk about these things, the more we'll be successful in doing things," Wiswell said.

Superintendent Dr. Paul DeMinico commented at the meeting that this system "really personalizes every student and follows them through."

Complete information about the new grading system will be available online before the 2009-2010 school year and in the next year's school handbook.

Do You Think Maybe It's Time...

Do you think maybe it's time...?

The two stories below were in today's news. I hope there's a wake-up call here: (1) "Chastity Turner, 9, was sitting on her grandmother's porch washing her dog when someone opened fire from a van in the 7400 block of South Stewart Avenue on the South Side.

Chastity was shot in the back or neck and later died at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital. Three other people, including her father, were wounded in the shooting.

A 31-year-old man and 17-year-old boy were taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County with gunshot wounds to the back. The victim's grandmother, Tanya Turner, says that shootings happen constantly in the neighborhood.

"She told me this morning, she said, 'grandma, I'm going home, it's not safe around here,'" said Chastity's grandmother Tanya Turner. "I said, 'baby, it's not safe no place now.'" (http://cbs2chicago.com)

The grandmother was right, but some places are safer than others. Gangs are a scourge! The First Amendment includes "...the right of the people peaceably to assemble," which includes the word "peaceably." With the average lifespan of a gang member reaching something like 21 years old, maybe it's time to do away with them and take the cities back. If gang members see them as their family, maybe it's time to do something to get back the real concept of family - we should have real fathers and mothers instead of sperm donors and baby incubators. I get so #@!&*%# frustrated. That's a great goal in life - to flash finger symbols and kill someone on a perceived slight or whim. The movie "Logan's Run" offered a "perfect existence" until age 30, at which time people were "renewed" (executed). Very few of my former students would accept that, which in a way is almost exactly what gangs are offering (except many don't make it to 30).

(2) From the Columbus Dispatch: "A Columbus firefighter admits that he took his two dogs to the basement, tied them up and blasted them with a rifle so he and a girlfriend could vacation without paying to board the animals.

"I think it was the thrill of the kill for him. He has shown no remorse for this."

Firefighter David P. Santuomo, 43, pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of animal cruelty and one count of possession of a criminal tool -- for taping a 2-liter plastic bottle onto the gun as a makeshift silencer.

He was convicted of 'needlessly killing ... a companion animal" on Dec. 3, according to the charges filed 10 minutes before the hearing in Municipal Court. One dog was shot six times in the head.

Santuomo, who did not give a statement in court, will spend 90 days in jail, pay $4,500 to cover the cost of his investigation and serve five years' probation, Judge Harland H. Hale ruled.

'This is a travesty and abhorrent behavior to those in this community who work to save the lives of animals,' said Jodi Buckman, executive director of the Capital Area Humane Society."

And here we are, policemen for the world and we can't even tend to our own gardens! Interestingly, I don't see guns as the problem but "people"! Who in his right mind would do something as above?

I don't have the answers, but I sure have lots of questions....

Later.

"It's Company Policy...."

(SEE UPDATE FOLLOWING ENTRY)

"It's company policy!"

Those words go hand in hand with "zero tolerance" (which, in turn, goes hand in hand with zero common sense), and when there is no common sense, we're in big trouble! Anyone can do anything without thinking and excuse it by saying, "It's company policy" (or "I was just following orders.")

In what has to be any business's nightmare, a recent news story caught my eye, and I guarantee you that from the resulting negative publicity, amends will be made! I will let the article from The Grand Rapids Press speak for itself (bold areas are mine):

Family angry when paralyzed Marine Joshua Hoffman is denied free entrance to Michigan's Adventure

by Ted Roelofs | The Grand Rapids Press

Quadriplegic former Marine Joshua Hoffman waited in a van at Michigan's Adventure, hoping to see fiancee Heather Lovell in the park for an hour or two. Her father, Rockford resident Joel Lovell, explained to park staff that Hoffman is paralyzed and cannot talk. He assumed Hoffman would be admitted free.

But Lovell was told he would have to pay admission for Hoffman and the nurse tending to his medical needs. No exceptions.

"He went to Iraq for all of us and took a bullet in the neck. He sacrificed everything for his country," Joel Lovell said.

"I was just kind of stunned."

According to Heather Lovell, she and Hoffman planned to rendezvous from their home near Middleville on May 29 at the Muskegon County park, before heading to Reed City for the high school graduation of Hoffman's stepbrother.

Lovell had gone ahead to act as chaperone for a niece and others on a school outing. Joel Lovell picked up Hoffman and his nurse and headed for the park.

But Heather Lovell said she got a call from her father telling her to come to the park entrance.

"It was really just outrageous," she said. "He is not physically going on any rides. To me, this is very personal."

Hoffman, 27, was paralyzed from the chest down when he was hit by a sniper's bullet in Iraq in January 2007. He spent more than a year in a Virginia Veterans Administration hospital before coming home in March 2008.

He and Lovell, 22, share a specially equipped house with 24-hour nursing staff to assist Hoffman.

Camille Jourden-Mark, general manager of Michigan's Adventure, said park policy does not allow any non-participants in free.

"We just can't be in a position of picking and choosing. We have grandparents (who pay admission) that come in our park every day that have no intention of ever going on a ride.

"It's not based on the level of participation."

On Tuesday, Jourden-Mark offered complementary passes for Hoffman and a guest to Michigan's Adventure in response to the issue. Lovell said she has not decided whether she and Hoffman will use the passes.

"You want to be appreciative of it, but it took a lot of people complaining to them to realize what kind of mistake they had made," Lovell said. "We weren't looking for a free trip. It's just a problem with the policy."

Jourden-Mark said company policy is meant to shield employees from accusations of discrimination, but added "there are times when we make exceptions and this is definitely one of those times."

She noted the park offers one free admission with a paid admission for service members each Memorial Day. Jourden-Mark said park staff were unaware of Hoffman's condition.

"I don't think anybody was really aware that he was a veteran."

That's not what Joel Lovell, 54, recalled.

"I told (a park official) it is really a crummy policy. I explained that he is an Iraq veteran. He got shot in the neck and can't eat or talk. I thought they were joking."

Lovell said he initially was told he would have to pay the adult admission fee of $25 each for Hoffman and the nurse, then was offered a student discount.

Heather Lovell's sister, Belding resident Rebecca Lovell, said she contacted the park Friday to complain.

"I explained the extent of his injuries, that he was simply going for an hour or two.

"(A park official) said there was no proof of his injury. He could be faking it. She said if we let him come in for free, then we have to change our policy."

"I was absolutely blown away."

-- Press reporter Jacob Carpenter contributed to this story.

© 2009 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved.

UPDATE:

The following e-mail was received by me today

Dear Mr. Berman,

Thank you for taking the time to share your comments about the recent story of Marine Joshua Hoffman and Michigan’s Adventure.

I apologize for the situation that Marine Hoffman encountered when he attempted to visit the park on May 29. I was only made aware of his request two days ago. Once I learned of the situation that day, I offered him the opportunity for a complimentary visit to the park.

At no time would I ever tolerate disrespect to any member of our active or retired military. Our company is very proud of our military and their service to our country.

Our policies at Michigan ’s Adventure are in place to provide fair treatment to all our guests. At the same time, we do review special requests individually. In this case, we made a mistake. I definitely feel we could have handled the situation better.

Again, please accept my apologies for your disappointment, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

Sincerely,

Michigan ’s Adventure

Camille Jourden-Mark

Vice-President and General Manager