I love to tinker on many things. I find great solace in trying to solve the secrets of the universe… like how to make the perfect Biscotti? I have found using vanilla extract makes a biscotti have a ‘funny’ after taste… while using an entire vanilla bean — or two — is wonderful, but indulgent.I really don’t like plain Biscottis and those dipped in various chocolates are more of a dessert than something light with coffee. My preference is for nuts and Pistachios and Brazil nuts seems the most fun.
Everyone in my family loves technology, especially something new. Each generation of technology was fun for us to explore. We all joke about the days when updating an Apple meant knowing how to use a soldering iron! I remember cutting into a case to add the first floppy disk, then the 3 1/4, cd and dvd and all the recording versions. If you are old enough, you’ll remember when a floppy handled a whopping 10k of memory and buying a computer without a hard disk. We’ve even beta tested a few items which was fun, especially new video game systems. We smile back at those times. We may never meet any of the geniuses associated with these great devices, but we are grateful for the sense of awe they bring, their usefulness and practicality…. and yes, for the envy it causes in others! 😉
So one day, we are all on the conference phone discussing Apple’s latest mobile devise called the iPad and ‘wondering’ which iPad — if any — is worthy of purchase? After much discussion, we agreed that we each would buy the WiFi 6G 64GB as it had virtually everything. They’ll be shipped at the end of the month and the only question remains is who will get theirs first?
Yes, I have heard from a few friends that we are once again being mislead on the quest for truth and enlightenment.We have heard that the iPad is justa fad and this too will pass. They said the same thing about the personal computer thirty years ago. However, I am reminded of Mark Twain’s famous remark,”denial is not just a river in Egypt!.”
My daughter Karen told me that a friend from Puerto Rico loves this common and delicious snack of salted ‘twice-fried’ Plantains. They are called “Tostones.” I thought I’d try it myself and I am glad I did.
Slicing Plantains can be a little tricky for those who expect to be pealing a version of a banana. The fact is that Plantains are often referred to as a vegetable and prepared in much a similar fashion. Plantains are roughly 97% carbohydrate, 2% protein and 1 % fat.
The ‘twice fried” Tostones is a simple process: 1) peal the plantain, 2) slice the plantain 3) fry the slices 4) remove the slices and mash them 5) fry again and 6) remove, place on a paper towel and salt!
I can’t think of hardly a subject more debated today by the general population that the current state of our public schools. There appears to be recognition from all political perspectives that our schools are a disaster, yet a profound hopelessness exists in how to treat the problem. More is known about the workings and ways of our world and yet, far less is taught or expected from our students in our schools than is possible. Unfortunately, what schools proclaim as ‘good enough’ really isn’t.
I think George Washington summarized the dream of public education best:
“Promote then as an object of primary importance, Institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”
– George Washington in his farewell address
Clearly, we have failed in developing institutions that adequately disseminate what we know, with the minor exception of questionable political indoctrination. In any case, what was education like say in the early years of the young Republic? Grabbing a book or two of ‘Goodrich’s School History’ gives some insight into what was expected from students in the early 1800’s.
Here are some thought provoking questions from the ancillary book of questions that would not likely be found in textbooks today:
1) How does the study of history affect the imagination?
2) What is the first reason why the history of the United States be studied?
3) With what pictures does history present us?
The questions in the text are exacting and many require the student to exercise a deal of critical thinking ( as above) which is something lacking in today’s texts. Some of the questions will also bring a smile:
1) How many brothers and sisters had he? (Christopher Columbus)
2) What privileges did his mother-in-law allow him? (Christopher Columbus)
3) Where is West Point? How far from N. York? Who obtained command of this fortress in 1780? With whom did Arnold enter into negotiations to deliver it up? Who was the British agent in this negotiation? What became of him? What became of Arnold? ( few today know the story of Benedict Arnold)
So, you are wondering if there is a moral to my story? Only that for a young person to be broadly educated today requires far more than is offered thinly by a public education.
