Most college students, once they learn which river and which sea and what that chant, “from the river to the sea” would require…. well, read this WSJ article. It is remarkable, but not all that surprising, since it seems that most chanters and protesters for most causes don’t really understand what they are chanting for or fighting against.
From which river to which sea? Read More »
By John Gardner
When I asked my high school Valedictorian son why he had chosen a particular top-tier university and why he was tired of being the geek.
I’m tired of being the geek. I’m tired of ruining the curve. I’m tired of people getting mad at me because I do the extra credit anyway. I want to go somewhere I can be normal; where it is okay to be an achiever.
Parents push them to do better. Teachers need performance data in the ever-increasing “prove-you’re-teaching-and-they-are-learning” world of government schools. The strongest pressure, however, can come from peers.
In handing out a “pre-test”, a beginning of a semester assessment to find out where students are on a subject, a teacher was explaining to the class.
“This is NOT for a grade. This is to help me find out where to start. If you already know most of what is on this pre-test, I’ll be able to give you higher-level work.”
A student in the class spoke up,
“Fail it!”
The message was clear.
“If we look like we know stuff, they will give us more. If we all fail the pre-test, we’ll get easy stuff to do. LET’S GO!”
10 Anti-Excellence HS Peer Pressure Standards Read More »
Read carefully before you assume Gaza
Read carefully before you assume Gaza Read More »
2 days of jury duty in the books. With 6 felonies and one habitual offender conviction, this one out-of-town drug thug who made the mistake of bringing his stuff to our town, will be off our streets for the next several decades.
Kudos to the observant patrol officer who pulled him over before he reached his destination. He was significantly and specifically trained, prepared and a well-spoken witness and, along with the detective who did a deep-dive on a device and the state police lab technician who tested everything — wow.
The prosecutor organized it all for us. What a case. I hope I don’t have to pass a quiz on drug jargon.
I was also impressed with the judge (husband is the sheriff), pleasant and soft-spoken but totally in control, including communicating well with the jury — and spending time with us after the case to express thanks and answer questions.
The bailiff was helpful with my mobility challenges.
There was a surprise (and very short) second trial. The jury was surprised as we were told to bring our jury notebooks with us back into the courtroom as we were delivering the verdict. Once the verdict was pronounced, the judge informed us that, we couldn’t be told in advance, but now must make a determination whether the defendant is a habitual offender. That didn’t take long.
Hopefully, by the next time I’m called for jury duty, the county will ensure ADA compliance in its courthouse, as it took steps to get into the jury box and even into the two restrooms I used on the 3rd floor. I may be contacting some county politicians.
ps…. some of the excuses used to be excused from duty:
No, I don’t like the police. I’ve been in trouble with them before.
No, I won’t consider circumstantial evidence.
I know a hopelessly addicted addict.
My medication makes things go blurry and also makes my hearing come and go.
‘Maybe’ I can consider circumstantial evidence. ‘Maybe’ I don’t have a problem with the police. ‘Maybe’ I can presume innocence.
Of those who stayed, I was not the oldest. At least one was missing work w/o pay, others who will pay more in child care for the day than they will get from jury pay….
It is not worth the pay, is inconvenient and all that….but if you get called, say YES. You’ll learn a lot.
2 days of Jury Duty Read More »
During three of my years at the University of Kentucky, I was one of five guys renting rooms on the third floor of this Civil War-era home, used as a hospital during the war.
Our rent was especially cheap, but part of it included one “errand” per month with Miss Iva Dagley, a nearly blind New York Opera Singer who came back to KY when the Great Depression ended her career.
By having five guys, each owing an errand, she could get out at least five times monthly. Sometimes our errand was giving a tour of her amazing house; the “Teak Room” where all furniture was hand carved under water, or the “Sun Room” with a marble table that took seven men to carry in, or the “Silver Room” that had shelves and shelves of silver.
Follow the link below for some of the comical stories of her in public, like the time she had me hand a bank teller a note asking for $10,000 to be placed in the money bag I was holding. Can you say “security detail”? Or the time she was inspecting wood-burning stoves with her long-sleeved white gloves.
But this time of year, one of those errands might be helping her send and reply to Christmas Cards. As I was going through MY list, I remember this conversation
Me: “Here’s a card from [whoever]. Shall I address one to them?”
Dagley: “Did they send me a card last year?”
Me: “Yes ma’am.”
Dagley: “What about two years ago?”
Me: “Doesn’t look like it.”
Dagley: “Then we shall wait until next year. Next?”
We’ll be mailing/distributing ours for this year over the next few days. If you haven’t received a card and/or family letter from the Gardner house in the last few years, check to see when the last time was you sent one to us. Hope to hear from you soon….and Merry Christmas.
Click here to read more of my stories living with an opera singer.
One of my college errands – sending Christmas Cards Read More »
The first time this came up, I was working with a group of 9th grade clarinet students on finger dexterity and breath control. To do that, we were using a simple, one-octave scale they could all play. I didn’t often model my clarinet but had it with me for this rehearsal. We were working together, but I was also having them play individually. The progression of instruction:
Play the scale up and down, one octave – in one breath.
Good.
Go one octave, two times in one breath.
Got it.
One octave, three times, one breath.
After a couple times – good.
Now, let’s go two octaves, one time, in one breath.
Not too hard.
Two octaves, two times, one breath.
Two octaves, three times, one breath.
“But Mr. Gardner, we’re going to have to go faster to do that.”
Ok. Your choice. Go faster and/or breathe deeper.
Here we go….
Two octaves, four times, in one breath.
“Mr. G, a clarinet can’t go that fast.” (I loved hearing that).
I took my clarinet, played a THREE-octave scale up and down about 6-7 times in one breathe.
“How did you do that?”
Without any pause, I answered,
“My clarinet has a speed button.”
I expected them to laugh, or to ask more questions, but every one of them took that answer at face value as in, ‘Oh….well, that explains it.’
I could not let them get away with that acceptance. I ripped off a 3 octave (or so) chromatic scale up and down multiple times, and then we talked about how I did that.
Did it look like I had to stop and think about what the next note was? Why not?
Did you see how close my fingers stay to the keys?
We discussed how we took that simple scale and worked on speed. Using that technique, and breaking runs into smaller groups, I was trying to help them grasp the concept of “Play Every Note.”
How’d you do that, Mr. G? Read More »
By John Gardner
There is a sales technique called the “Puppy Dog” close. It gets is name from the puppy dog at the pet shop scenario:
A mother and young child go into a pet store to buy a dog. They find one, but mamma says it is too expensive.
The wise sales clerk invites the mother and child to take the puppy home for the night….with the offer to bring it back the next day if they don’t think it is worth the price.
They will NOT likely bring the puppy back.
I fell for that sales close with a car once. My wife wasn’t with me when I stopped on the lot (intentional, so I had a way out of a pressure sales situation). The smart salesperson invited me to drive the car home to show her. SOLD!
I used the “Puppy Dog” approach with a clarinet student (I will call her Sally). The first time I heard her play was in a middle school concert. I didn’t know Sally, but I noticed her. It was 2-3 yrs later when I convinced her parents to let her study privately with me. She had incredible musicianship but was hindered by a mediocre instrument.
When I would ask about a step up instrument, she always responded about how busy her parents were. Knowing her father’s occupation, I knew PRICE was NOT the issue.
The music dealer let me borrow a top of the line clarinet for a day, with return privilege that I was not expecting to utilize.
I took the clarinet to Sally’s band rehearsal at the high school, instructing her to play it in the rehearsal and then to take it home that night to practice with at home and either return the clarinet or payment the next day. She handed me the check for payment in full.
Puppy Dogs and Clarinets Read More »
I was impressed. Israel has the only all-female tank crews … and this video is about how three of those crews fought on 10/7 as they are just realizing what is going on. There is no graphic video, but graphic descriptions of some of their fighting. These impressive, strong, “no fear” women made history and to hear them speak of it is …. well, you decide.
Three all-women tank crews make history on 10/7 Read More »
On Thanksgiving Day, 2023, I received the following note from a student I had over 40 yrs ago. We are both now retired teachers. I print his note, unedited, and with permission. Name withheld. This husband/wife team were both in my band at that time.
Hi John, (Mr. Gardner, it’s hard to address a former teacher by his first name.)
I’ve been meaning to write this for a while now, and today is the day. I just want to let you know how much I appreciate the years we had as teacher and student. I can remember the many times a couple of students would stay after school and you would get out your instrument and play with us for a few minutes. I could never get enough of making music! Also, I wasn’t in a hurry to get home.
My parents started divorce proceedings during the spring of my Senior year, and the stability of band class helped me through that. You felt more like an older brother or friend than a teacher. I appreciate you putting up with my immaturity and craziness. I’m still crazy, but your former trumpet player has to deal with it now. Of course, I have to deal with the ego of a 1st trumpet player.
I truly believe that for me, music is one of the greatest gifts God gave us. You did so much to help me love music even more. Thanks again for everything you have done for me and thousands of other students. God bless you and Joan. Happy Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Thank you from a student of 40+ years ago Read More »
Most who use it receive dozens of emails daily, but most email services allow you to filter or select and delete multiple messages at a time.
But what about those increasing annoying texts?
Especially because some texts could be coming from a family member, I ALWAYS stop and look.
I originally wrote to Kim Komando (komando.com), a tech expert who claims to personally read every message.
Listen to the slightly edited conversation that was broadcast on 11/22/23 on the Kim Komando Today Podcast and Radio Show.
I had two questions:
- Is there a way to stop unwanted texts
- Can I assign unique sounds to individual text senders so I know it is them
I found the answer to the second question on my own. If an iPhone,
Select messages
Select an individual message
Tap the name
Tap “Info”
Go to “Ringtone” and/or “Text Tone” and make a selection that will only be for that sender
To my surprise, I received an email from someone at the Kim Komando show telling me Kim wanted to call me and put my call on her show. After I agreed, she told me I’d get a confirmation the following day and my call would be during a 1.5hr window the day after that.
The confirmation email included the number that would show when I got the call and instructions to put that number in my phone so it would be sure to receive the call. Also, to not use a speakerphone and to talk to Kim as if she were a friend……
At the beginning of the call window, I received a call from the show. It was another assistant who detected I was on speaker phone (I was having the call go into my bluetooth hearing aids) and she asked if I could just use the phone on my ear. She said she would call back with a 5 minute hold and a 45 second warning. Then, I would hear the show…. and Kim say, “And now we have John from Fort Wayne”…. and we were connected.
The call lasted under a minute. I received the following in an email after the show with the details of what we discussed. I hope you find it interesting and helpful.
I did not ask for or receive permission to post the assistant’s phone and email info, so that is blanked, but the rest is an exact copy/paste.
Getting increasingly annoying political and fundraising texts. Is there a way (other than replying ‘stop’) to make them at,
Do Not Call Registry:
Register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. While this is more effective for unsolicited calls, it can sometimes help with texts as well.
Visit DoNotCall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register.
Use Your Phone’s Built-In Features:
Most smartphones have features to block numbers or filter messages from unknown senders.
For iPhone: Go to Settings > Messages, and under ‘Message Filtering’, enable ‘Filter Unknown Senders’.
For Android: The process varies by model, but you can typically block numbers and manage spam through the messaging app’s settings.
Third-Party Apps:
Consider using third-party apps that specialize in blocking spam texts and calls, such as RoboKiller, Hiya, or Truecaller. These apps have features to identify and block spam.
Contact Your Service Provider:
Many cell phone carriers offer services or advice for blocking unwanted texts. Contact your provider to see what options they have available.
Report Spam Texts:
Report spam texts to your carrier by forwarding the message to 7726 (which spells “SPAM” on the keypad). This helps carriers track and block spam number.
Amber Barnett
Director of Finance and Human Resources
cell:
ofc:
6135 N 7th Street, Phoenix AZ 85014www.komando.com
On the go? Download the free Komando App!
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