Joanne

...what path one takes to become an astronaut? My seven year old is
VERY interested in knowing. She's got big plans and wants to start
now. :-)

Thanks!

~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (7), Shawna (10) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 30, 2003
http://anunschoolinglife.blogspot.com/
http://foreverparents.com

Sandra Dodd

On May 16, 2006, at 8:38 AM, Joanne wrote:

> what path one takes to become an astronaut? My seven year old is
> VERY interested in knowing. She's got big plans and wants to start
> now. :-)


Have good eyes, be strong and healthy, join the air force and become
a test pilot.
Be nice so others feel they can get along with you in a cramped space.
Like engineering-related things, or some useful science.


(Note I'm not saying "study" science, because if someone has to study
something they're not interested in, that should cancel out the
apparent desire. It would be like when people aren't interested in
anatomy or health, but they want to become doctors, or someone says
he wants to be a veterinarian but doesn't want to volunteer to take
care of animals. The basic interests need to be real and present,
not just the desire for the eventual "completion.")

They're building a space port in southern New Mexico, for eventual
non-military non-government (i.e. non-NASA) use.

Sandra

nellebelle

...what path one takes to become an astronaut?=-=-=-=-=-=-=

I'm reading (listening via mp3 player, actually) to an old Robert Heinlein novel, "Have Space Suit, Will Travel". The main characters are a teen boy and a pre-teen girl.

Not that this book will help someone become an astronaut, but may be of interest to them.

Mary Ellen

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Joyce Fetteroll

On May 16, 2006, at 10:38 AM, Joanne wrote:

> ...what path one takes to become an astronaut? My seven year old is
> VERY interested in knowing. She's got big plans and wants to start
> now. :-)


You go to the NASA website to the page that says "How Do You Become
an Astronaut?" ;-)

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/outreach/jobsinfo/astronaut.html

Joyce

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Joanne

Thanks Joyce but you want to know something weird? Everytime she
goes to that site, our speakers stop working. LOL! I have no idea
why.

~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (7), Shawna (10) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 30, 2003
http://anunschoolinglife.blogspot.com/
http://foreverparents.com




--- In [email protected], Joyce Fetteroll
<fetteroll@...> wrote:
>
>
> On May 16, 2006, at 10:38 AM, Joanne wrote:
>
> > ...what path one takes to become an astronaut? My seven year old
is
> > VERY interested in knowing. She's got big plans and wants to
start
> > now. :-)
>
>
> You go to the NASA website to the page that says "How Do You
Become
> an Astronaut?" ;-)
>
> http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/outreach/jobsinfo/astronaut.html
>
> Joyce
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Joanne

--- In [email protected], Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...>
wrote:
>>>> join the air force and become a test pilot.>>>>>>

She wants to join the Civic Air Patrol when she's 12 and then go
right into the Air Force.
She's got big plans for herself.

~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (7), Shawna (10) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 30, 2003
http://anunschoolinglife.blogspot.com/
http://foreverparents.com





> Be nice so others feel they can get along with you in a cramped
space.
> Like engineering-related things, or some useful science.
>
>
> (Note I'm not saying "study" science, because if someone has to
study
> something they're not interested in, that should cancel out the
> apparent desire. It would be like when people aren't interested
in
> anatomy or health, but they want to become doctors, or someone
says
> he wants to be a veterinarian but doesn't want to volunteer to
take
> care of animals. The basic interests need to be real and
present,
> not just the desire for the eventual "completion.")
>
> They're building a space port in southern New Mexico, for
eventual
> non-military non-government (i.e. non-NASA) use.
>
> Sandra
>

Sandra Dodd

On May 16, 2006, at 12:28 PM, Joanne wrote:

> She wants to join the Civic Air Patrol when she's 12 and then go
> right into the Air Force.
> She's got big plans for herself.


Civil Air Patrol
http://www.cap.gov/

That organization has a really interesting history.


The problem with a very specific plan like "become an astronaut" is
that the odds of failure rise hugely.

If someone wants to be president or a professional basketball player
(substitute the regional political and professional-athletic
equivalents where applicable), and nothing else, a lifetime of
perceived failure can arrive.

If someone's goal can be recast as "learn about flight" or "become
involved in local politics" or "play basketball as much as possible,"
then success can nearly be assured.

It's not discouraging for a child if you help them look into their
interests, but I think (and have some experience with others'
frustrations and longterm disappointments) if you treat it like a
goal that CAN be reached if only the kid does the right things,
that's helping set up for a possible failure.

http://sandradodd.com/president

In an unschooling article someone linked on another list (or maybe
here, I don't know, it gets all a-swirl), a girl being interviewed
said "I can become president." (Or maybe "I could," but still...)

Yeah, SOMEONE will be president at any given moment, but not even all
of those who are likely millionaire candidates will become
president. Fewer than half of those who actually RUN become
president. <g> And I think of those who did become president, few
grew up intending to do so.

Sandra

nellebelle

=-=-=-=-She wants to join the Civic Air Patrol when she's 12 and then go
right into the Air Force.
She's got big plans for herself.
=-=-=-=-=

It's nice that she has plans, but don't let her get caught in a trap.

I had a number of interests as a child that my parents took way too seriously. That caused me to feel bad when I changed my mind about those plans. It made me feel like a quitter or a failure, rather than an adventurer changing paths.

Help her keep her options open. She is only 7!

Mary Ellen

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Joanne

No, I wouldn't do what your parents did. Being seven, she'll
probably change her mind about a career a million times but even
though, I don't want to brush her off. She also wants to be a writer
and "maybe a lawyer" but she asked me to find out about what's
needed to become an astronaut and I told her I would.
I actually found two sites online that had the information I needed.

Joanne



--- In [email protected], "nellebelle" <nellebelle@...>
wrote:
>
> =-=-=-=-She wants to join the Civic Air Patrol when she's 12 and
then go
> right into the Air Force.
> She's got big plans for herself.
> =-=-=-=-=
>
> It's nice that she has plans, but don't let her get caught in a
trap.
>
> I had a number of interests as a child that my parents took way
too seriously. That caused me to feel bad when I changed my mind
about those plans. It made me feel like a quitter or a failure,
rather than an adventurer changing paths.
>
> Help her keep her options open. She is only 7!
>
> Mary Ellen
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Nancy Wooton

On May 16, 2006, at 9:31 PM, Joanne wrote:

> No, I wouldn't do what your parents did. Being seven, she'll
> probably change her mind about a career a million times but even
> though, I don't want to brush her off. She also wants to be a writer
> and "maybe a lawyer" but she asked me to find out about what's
> needed to become an astronaut and I told her I would.
> I actually found two sites online that had the information I needed.
>
> Joanne
>

Is there still such a job as "astronaut"? I thought they were all
specialists of one kind or another.

Nancy (whose dh wanted to be an astronaut, too.)

Sandra Dodd

On May 16, 2006, at 10:31 PM, Joanne wrote:

> Being seven, she'll
> probably change her mind about a career a million times but even
> though, I don't want to brush her off.

She might or might not change her mind a time or two, but if she
feels like she failed by changing her mind, that's not optimal.

There's a world of options between declaring that she is going to be
something and "brushing her off."

Sandra

Sandra Dodd

On May 17, 2006, at 1:21 AM, Nancy Wooton wrote:

> Is there still such a job as "astronaut"? I thought they were all
> specialists of one kind or another.
>
> Nancy (whose dh wanted to be an astronaut, too.)


Keith too, after he was grown especially. He hoped the program would
be big enough that he'd become a specialist in something they really
needed fixed or maintained in person. <g>

When I was little I wanted to go into space. I read lots about it,
and then it passed in favor of wanting to become a teacher, or a
missionary, or a writer. The last three urges have been satisfied
in one way or another.

I think there are ways to encourage interests without funneling a kid
toward a single point. Balancing information with parallel, related
fields she might not have considered might be one way. Marty has
considered police work, and is always aware of it out of the corner
of his eye. I don't discourage him at all (though Keith wishes I
would) but when things come up, that interest is a factor. Hard to
explain. When he was talking about maybe going to the university for
a while, but still applying to the police academy when he's 21, we
talked about what kinds of things might be helpful to take in two or
three years even without a degree. We talked about chemistry and
physics, if he was interested in forensics; about sports and P.E.
just for general strength and stamina, to know more about how not to
get hurt being physical, and in case he wanted to be involved in the
Police Athletic League. But I've kept the big door open to the
possibility that he'll do something altogether different that he
hasn't even considered yet. And he has noticed that the police cars
are parked in neighborhoods where the houses aren't very expensive
(city police take their cars home with them at night here), so they
apparently don't make much money. But those factors are neither
"deciders" nor paths he would have to back out of. He wouldn't be
wasting time or going down the wrong track or failing.

In the article about becoming president, there's this: "So what IS a
worthy goal for us to set for our children? I heard about a family
with a chart on the wall culminating in a scholarship to Notre Dame.
It worked backwards into the present, so that if the child met all
the lower-level goals, the scholarship was a done deal. The kid was
only nine years old or so, and the parents had made the chart
themselves, but hey! People need GOALS!! (In our collective defense,
these people weren�t homeschooling.) What are their odds of failure?
A scholarship to Harvard would be a failure."

And years back, when the AOL homeschooling forum was wildly active,
someone told a similar story, of a timeline in a child's room that
went along two walls, and was a set of goals for a sport. I think it
was swimming, but it could've been gymnastics (Nancy do you remember
this story?) and it had the dates by which she needed to win regional
and state and national titles to go to the olympics or some such.
The kid was youngish. I really wish I had kept it.

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Rod Thomas

You could come visit us here in Cape Canaveral !
Or how about space camp:
www.kennedy
<http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/educatorsParents/camp.asp>
spacecenter.com/educatorsParents/camp.asp




-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Joanne
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 9:38 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] Would anyone happen to know..

...what path one takes to become an astronaut? My seven year old is
VERY interested in knowing. She's got big plans and wants to start
now. :-)

Thanks!

~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (7), Shawna (10) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 30, 2003
http://anunschoolinglife.blogspot.com/
http://foreverparents.com







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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Cindy Fox

I think there's isn't just ONE way, but many ways you can be an
astronaut. Being very good at one thing that is space related is one
way - not every astronaut needs to be a pilot anymore. Get her
books on other astronauts and how they have succeeded, especially
Sally Ride. She was never in the military, nor was she a pilot:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ride-sk.html

But she was in good, physical condition, smart and had a techical
degree (Physics) as well as non-tech (English) which may have help
her be selected as more well rounded (I don't know, just a guess.)

Sally Ride Science offers summer programs, contests and festivals.

http://www.sallyridescience.com/

I met her at ASU two years ago when I volunteered with the toy
challenge competition and the whole program was excellent!

Here's Sally Ride Science Club:

http://www.sallyrideclub.com/member_home.do

I think you should fully help your daughter and support her in her
dreams. They may change, but believing in her and supporting her
won't change. And in learning all you can about astronauts, she
might find something else that is interesting, astrophysics,
engineering, flight, on and on! :) What 'isn't' part of space! :)

My 6 year old wanted to be an astronaut, pizza maker and rock star,
all three, and of course those careers are completely compatible, so
we talked about how he could work as a pizza maker in his teens and
do his music at the same time he's learning about space. But then 6
months later he said he didn't think he wanted to be an
astronaut. :) And now that his 14 year old brother has a band, he's
learning of the hard work it takes to be a musician and that it
doesn't just come natually. :) We still make pizzas here, but he
might be reconsidering that as well. :)

I think part of finding out who you are is the putting on of a job
like a suit of clothes and finding out if it fits.

c.

--- In [email protected], Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...>
wrote:
>
>
> On May 16, 2006, at 12:28 PM, Joanne wrote:
>
> > She wants to join the Civic Air Patrol when she's 12 and then go
> > right into the Air Force.
> > She's got big plans for herself.
>
>
> Civil Air Patrol
> http://www.cap.gov/
>
> That organization has a really interesting history.
>
>
> The problem with a very specific plan like "become an astronaut"
is
> that the odds of failure rise hugely.
>
> If someone wants to be president or a professional basketball
player
> (substitute the regional political and professional-athletic
> equivalents where applicable), and nothing else, a lifetime of
> perceived failure can arrive.
>
> If someone's goal can be recast as "learn about flight"
or "become
> involved in local politics" or "play basketball as much as
possible,"
> then success can nearly be assured.
>
> It's not discouraging for a child if you help them look into
their
> interests, but I think (and have some experience with others'
> frustrations and longterm disappointments) if you treat it like a
> goal that CAN be reached if only the kid does the right things,
> that's helping set up for a possible failure.
>
> http://sandradodd.com/president
>
> In an unschooling article someone linked on another list (or
maybe
> here, I don't know, it gets all a-swirl), a girl being
interviewed
> said "I can become president." (Or maybe "I could," but still...)
>
> Yeah, SOMEONE will be president at any given moment, but not even
all
> of those who are likely millionaire candidates will become
> president. Fewer than half of those who actually RUN become
> president. <g> And I think of those who did become president,
few
> grew up intending to do so.
>
> Sandra
>

Cindy Fox

My older son is now 14 and when he was 7 was ready to join the CAP.
Well, he did grow up to be 12 and join the CAP and he did awesome!

He excelled in every area and rose in rank. He did this weekly for
almost two years. Then he was done.

As a mom, I gave an internal sigh of relief since I would worry had
he joined the real military simply because of the danger, but I
would fully support his decision there, just as we did this.

Again, I think he was trying this on and while he liked it for a
while (even considering going to a military high school), I think
once he succeeded, he had answered whatever he was trying to ask to
himself and has moved on to other things.

Oh, yes, also he wanted to grow his hair long and that is
imcompatible with being in the CAP. :) He was pushing the limit for
the last month or so, but now, it's a band and long hair. :)

c.

--- In [email protected], "nellebelle" <nellebelle@...>
wrote:
>
> =-=-=-=-She wants to join the Civic Air Patrol when she's 12 and
then go
> right into the Air Force.
> She's got big plans for herself.
> =-=-=-=-=
>
> It's nice that she has plans, but don't let her get caught in a
trap.
>
> I had a number of interests as a child that my parents took way
too seriously. That caused me to feel bad when I changed my mind
about those plans. It made me feel like a quitter or a failure,
rather than an adventurer changing paths.
>
> Help her keep her options open. She is only 7!
>
> Mary Ellen
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Cindy Fox

--- In [email protected], Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:
> And years back, when the AOL homeschooling forum was wildly active,
> someone told a similar story, of a timeline in a child's room that
> went along two walls, and was a set of goals for a sport.

This is great! As long as it is written in pencil! :) Or you can
paint over it every few months to put up the new goal!

As Sandra said before - world of options between setting in stone and
ignoring! I like penciling it all in so they can see what it takes
and when they take a left turn, say great, let's take all this off the
list then and now we have room for something else! :)

There's so much to do in life! Never enough room to do it all! It's
good to really sit with a thought and see how it feels!

Richie was just saying that he wanted to do something himself last
night because it's hard, even though he doesn't like to do other
things that are hard and we were talking about how fun it is to set
goals and achieve them, which is a different kind of hard than to do
what others tell you.

c.

Pamela Sorooshian

On May 17, 2006, at 8:16 AM, Cindy Fox wrote:

> I think you should fully help your daughter and support her in her
> dreams. They may change, but believing in her and supporting her
> won't change.

Rosie has said she wants to be a librarian - she's 15 now, but she
started saying this about 4 years ago. So, when she's asked about it,
or when it comes up, I've said, "Right now Rosie's thinking that
being a librarian sounds great," or "Librarian is at the top of the
list, right now." She ALSO is interested in engineering - and she's
especially interested in traffic (gee, Southern California girl <G>).
She wants to understand how the traffic engineers decide things like:
How many lanes and how wide the lanes should be on freeways; how long
the red and green lights should be, when to put a stop sign up and
when to make it four-way versus two-way, when to put a signal instead
of a stop sign, and on and on.

I don't necessarily expect that she'll end up as either a librarian
OR as an engineer, but I keep those interests in mind and helped her
think of library-related activities when she was trying to figure out
what to do for a Girl Scout project and took her to an engineering
open house at a local university and so on.

I never say, "Rosie is going to be a librarian," or even "Rosie plans
to be a librarian," though. I don't want her to feel embarrassed or
weird about changing her mind.

She's worked at the library once a week for almost two years - still
really likes it and is their favorite volunteer and now gets all
their "special projects" to do. So she's getting a really good
insight into the inner workings of libraries.

I haven't really come up with a way for her to learn more about
traffic - other than a lot of conversation as we spend a lot of time
IN traffic every day!

-pam

Unschooling shirts, cups, bumper stickers, bags...
Live Love Learn
UNSCHOOL!
<http://www.cafepress.com/livelovelearn>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Joanne

Thanks for all the links! I'm going to show them to her after I post
this.

She took a book out about Sally Ride from the library and everytime
we go back she reads about another astronaut. She also very
interested in the people who discovered things about space. Her main
interest right now is Galileo. She tells me facts about him all the
time.
I've learned quite a bit from her, never having had an interest in
space myself. I posted on my blog that she helped me with a space
question in a crossword puzzle.

Let me be clear that this is not *my* goal and I *don't* give her
the impression that if she does all the right things she'll become
an astronaut. She asked me what it takes to become an astronaut
because she's interested in all things space related.

Joanne



--- In [email protected], "Cindy Fox" <cindyfox@...>
wrote:
>
> I think there's isn't just ONE way, but many ways you can be an
> astronaut. Being very good at one thing that is space related is
one
> way - not every astronaut needs to be a pilot anymore. Get her
> books on other astronauts and how they have succeeded, especially
> Sally Ride. She was never in the military, nor was she a pilot:
>
> http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ride-sk.html
>
> But she was in good, physical condition, smart and had a techical
> degree (Physics) as well as non-tech (English) which may have help
> her be selected as more well rounded (I don't know, just a guess.)
>
> Sally Ride Science offers summer programs, contests and festivals.
>
> http://www.sallyridescience.com/
>
> I met her at ASU two years ago when I volunteered with the toy
> challenge competition and the whole program was excellent!
>
> Here's Sally Ride Science Club:
>
> http://www.sallyrideclub.com/member_home.do
>
> I think you should fully help your daughter and support her in her
> dreams. They may change, but believing in her and supporting her
> won't change. And in learning all you can about astronauts, she
> might find something else that is interesting, astrophysics,
> engineering, flight, on and on! :) What 'isn't' part of space! :)
>
> My 6 year old wanted to be an astronaut, pizza maker and rock
star,
> all three, and of course those careers are completely compatible,
so
> we talked about how he could work as a pizza maker in his teens
and
> do his music at the same time he's learning about space. But then
6
> months later he said he didn't think he wanted to be an
> astronaut. :) And now that his 14 year old brother has a band,
he's
> learning of the hard work it takes to be a musician and that it
> doesn't just come natually. :) We still make pizzas here, but he
> might be reconsidering that as well. :)
>
> I think part of finding out who you are is the putting on of a job
> like a suit of clothes and finding out if it fits.
>
> c.
>
> --- In [email protected], Sandra Dodd <Sandra@>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > On May 16, 2006, at 12:28 PM, Joanne wrote:
> >
> > > She wants to join the Civic Air Patrol when she's 12 and then
go
> > > right into the Air Force.
> > > She's got big plans for herself.
> >
> >
> > Civil Air Patrol
> > http://www.cap.gov/
> >
> > That organization has a really interesting history.
> >
> >
> > The problem with a very specific plan like "become an astronaut"
> is
> > that the odds of failure rise hugely.
> >
> > If someone wants to be president or a professional basketball
> player
> > (substitute the regional political and professional-athletic
> > equivalents where applicable), and nothing else, a lifetime of
> > perceived failure can arrive.
> >
> > If someone's goal can be recast as "learn about flight"
> or "become
> > involved in local politics" or "play basketball as much as
> possible,"
> > then success can nearly be assured.
> >
> > It's not discouraging for a child if you help them look into
> their
> > interests, but I think (and have some experience with others'
> > frustrations and longterm disappointments) if you treat it like
a
> > goal that CAN be reached if only the kid does the right things,
> > that's helping set up for a possible failure.
> >
> > http://sandradodd.com/president
> >
> > In an unschooling article someone linked on another list (or
> maybe
> > here, I don't know, it gets all a-swirl), a girl being
> interviewed
> > said "I can become president." (Or maybe "I could," but
still...)
> >
> > Yeah, SOMEONE will be president at any given moment, but not
even
> all
> > of those who are likely millionaire candidates will become
> > president. Fewer than half of those who actually RUN become
> > president. <g> And I think of those who did become president,
> few
> > grew up intending to do so.
> >
> > Sandra
> >
>

nellebelle

=-=-=-=-Let me be clear that this is not *my* goal and I *don't* give her
the impression that if she does all the right things she'll become
an astronaut.=-=-=-=-=

Sure. But remember that this list is about discussing *ideas*. Even though people have said things that may not apply to you, they may be just the things that someone else on the list needed to hear.

Mary Ellen

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Nancy Wooton

On May 17, 2006, at 10:12 AM, Joanne wrote:

> Thanks for all the links! I'm going to show them to her after I post
> this.
>
> She took a book out about Sally Ride from the library and everytime
> we go back she reads about another astronaut. She also very
> interested in the people who discovered things about space. Her main
> interest right now is Galileo. She tells me facts about him all the
> time.
> I've learned quite a bit from her, never having had an interest in
> space myself. I posted on my blog that she helped me with a space
> question in a crossword puzzle.
>
> Let me be clear that this is not *my* goal and I *don't* give her
> the impression that if she does all the right things she'll become
> an astronaut. She asked me what it takes to become an astronaut
> because she's interested in all things space related.
>

Check this out:
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0769228.html

Nancy

Joanne

I know this list is about discussing ideas but *my* post was quoted and
that's what I'm respinding to. It wasn't just a general topic that
someone bought up.

Joanne

--- In [email protected], "nellebelle" <nellebelle@...>
wrote:
>
> =-=-=-=-Let me be clear that this is not *my* goal and I *don't* give
her
> the impression that if she does all the right things she'll become
> an astronaut.=-=-=-=-=
>
> Sure. But remember that this list is about discussing *ideas*. Even
though people have said things that may not apply to you, they may be
just the things that someone else on the list needed to hear.
>
> Mary Ellen
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Sandra Dodd

On May 17, 2006, at 9:28 AM, Cindy Fox wrote:

> Again, I think he was trying this on and while he liked it for a
> while (even considering going to a military high school), I think
> once he succeeded, he had answered whatever he was trying to ask to
> himself and has moved on to other things.


That just gave me a thrill.

There's a military high school in Roswell, and few of the boys who
are there wanted to be there. Many are put in against their will as
a punishment because they got in trouble at school or at home.

How cool for someone to just kinda WANT to be there, and then to
think it through and to decide not to go. Freedom in all directions.

True about Sally Ride, but she wasn't training to be an astronaut.
And in the future there should be less demand for all the strenuous
physical tests, if space flight becomes in any degree more common.

So ANYthing could be preparation for going into space.

In 1960 if someone had said "What do I need to do to grow up to use a
computer?" the answer would have undoubtedly involved all KINDS of
stuff like "learn to use a slide rule." <bwg> But the answer in my
kids' lifetimes has been "Nothing." You don't even need to grow up
to use a computer.

Sandra

Sandra Dodd

On May 17, 2006, at 10:57 AM, Pamela Sorooshian wrote:

> I haven't really come up with a way for her to learn more about
> traffic - other than a lot of conversation as we spend a lot of time
> IN traffic every day!


Keith, for some reason, has a clear map in his head of wherever he
lives, and one piece of trivia he really knows is how the traffic
signals are set up. He would make a great cab driver.

So when I'm going to go somewhere, if it's a really busy time, he'll
recommend a route that will get me there fastest. He knows which
streets have timed lights, and how fast to go to catch them (which is
sometimes—not always—slower than the speed limit). I'm lucky to
remember whether there's a light or not. I'll sit at a four way stop
waiting. I'm as awkward in that area as Keith is facile. He loves
the big, changing-lights pattern of it all.

I have been told that in Albuquerque if there are three accidents or
one fatal accidents at an intersection, that intersection goes next
in line to get a light. Kind of a triage of accident sites.

In England there's a mark they put where there are accidents.
Someone remind me what, please. A black something. There's a
symbol. We could use that here. It's not a black hole or a black
spot. Black something, though.

Sandra

Sandra Dodd

On May 17, 2006, at 1:44 PM, Joanne wrote:

> I know this list is about discussing ideas but *my* post was quoted
> and
> that's what I'm respinding to. It wasn't just a general topic that
> someone bought up.


Okay, but we don't want to talk about YOUR post or your feelings.
Really. Once you throw the ideas out there, they belong to the
readers. If you get benefit from the responses, great! If you
don't, no big deal.

Joyce wrote this wise thing about that concept:

=============================

The list is about ideas, not about people.

Think of ideas like balls and the list like a ball court. If someone
tosses an idea worth discussing into the court it's going to get
batted about. At that point what's going on is no longer about the
person who tossed the idea in. It's about the idea and how well and
cleanly it's being tossed about. (Unless the tosser keeps jumping in
and grabbing the idea ball saying "Mine!")

Joyce





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

nellebelle

=-=-=-but *my* post was quoted=-=-=-=-=

I don't consider it to be a quote, or even about a particular poster unless the quote is attributed.

If I said so and so@... said "this", then I'm quoting a person.

If I am just expounding on a few words in someone's post without the detail of who wrote it, my intention is to focus on the idea, not the person.

Mary Ellen

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Cindy Fox

--- In [email protected], Pamela Sorooshian
<pamsoroosh@...> wrote:
> I haven't really come up with a way for her to learn more about
> traffic - other than a lot of conversation as we spend a lot of
time
> IN traffic every day!

Lots of cool traffic stuff if you google! :)

http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist11/operations/

I don't know where you live, but this is cool and there might be
something similar for your area.

I get it! Library and Traffic sound awesome to me! :) I had those
interests when I was young too. Traffic is still intersting to
me! :)

c.

Cindy Fox

--- In [email protected], Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...>
wrote:
In 1960 if someone had said "What do I need to do to grow up to use a
computer?" the answer would have undoubtedly involved all KINDS of
stuff like "learn to use a slide rule." <bwg> But the answer in my
kids' lifetimes has been "Nothing." You don't even need to grow up
to use a computer.


I love this! :) You don't even need to grow up to do a lot of
things! When I hear kids talking about being a writer, I say,
write! Submit! No one will know your age unless you tell them! :)

There was a great story I read one time about a kid that was
extremely intelligent and while he was lonely in his day to day
life, he lived intellectually through the mail (this was before
computers) He played chess by mail, wrote articles and made an
income that his parents never knew about... My secret dream as
kid! :) I wish I could go back and tell myself!

But just in case, I still have my slide rule!

c.

Sandra Dodd

On May 19, 2006, at 10:29 AM, Cindy Fox wrote:

> I love this! :) You don't even need to grow up to do a lot of
> things!


And just as with "might want to be a librarian"—if that is tweaked to
"work in a library," a couple of things happen. Rosie's already done
that. <g>
And there are many adults who make their living in libraries who
aren't technically librarians.
Then there are librarians who make little to no money. And there
are unexpected kinds of "real librarians"—at hospitals, and
departments of universities or specialty libraries (engineering,
medicine), and at engineering firms (Honeywell, where Keith works,
has a library).

Sometimes the library urge might be satisfied by working in a book
store (new or used or special orders).

So if one of my kids said "Seems like being a librarian would be
fun," I'd probably suggest those other kinds of things—try to let
them see the range of book-sorting-and-maintenance-related pursuits.

Sandra