What is a Quafaie?


Quafaie (pronounced: kwa FAY) are fantasy creatures that exist in the fantasy writing of Hugh Kemeny, and are created by him. They are primarily in Hugh Kemeny’s Black Phoenix short stories...

To learn more, read this post: What is a Quafaie?

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Warriors take chances. Like everyone else, they fear failing, but they refuse to let fear control them. 
- Ancient Samurai Saying
inspire daily calendar Thu 31 May 2012 


Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
- James 3:1
Teachers daily calendar Mon 29 Jun 2009

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Breath. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.
- Oprah Winfrey
inspire daily calendar Wed 30 May 2012 


My class plan or today was to build this, a flying machine mad of cypress reeds and sheep bladders. But the school board feels it's too edgy; so instead, we shall spit in the eye of divine inspiration and construct . . . a birdhouse.  
- Daedalus (David Hyde Pierce) in Hercules
Teachers daily calendar Sat/Sun 27/28 Jun 2009

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Daily Inspiration

In all realms of life it takes courage to stretch your limits, express your power, and fulfill your potential . . . it's no different in the financial realm.
- Suze Orman
inspire daily calendar Tue 29 May 2012 


Not to know is bad; not to wish to know is worse.
- African proverb
Teachers daily calendar Fri 26 Jun 2009

Monday, May 28, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Coming together is a beginning, staying together is a progress, and working together is success.
- Henry Ford
inspire daily calendar Mon 28 May 2012 


Only through education does one come to be dissatisfied with his own knowledge, and only through teaching others does one come to realize the uncomfortable inadequacy of his knowledge. Being dissatisfied with his own knowledge, one then realizes that the trouble lies with himself, and realizing the uncomfortable inadequacy of his knowledge one then feels stimulated to improve himself. Therefore, it is said, "the processes of teaching and learning stimulate one another."
- Confucius
Teachers daily calendar Thu 25 Jun 2009

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Laugh with a vast and inextinguishable laughter.
- Percy Bysshe Shelly
Teachers daily calendar Tue 23 Jun 2009


One day in my third-grade classroom, a girl blurted out, "He just said the g word!" I called her over and asked her privately what the word was. She replied, "You know - jerk."
- Paige Kennedy on www.teachernet.com
Teachers daily calendar Wed 24 Jun 2009

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Play consists of whatever a body is not obligated to do. 
- Mark Twain
inspire daily calendar Sat/Sun 26/27 May 2012 


The average student spends 90 minutes per night on homework assignments. The time is broken down as follows:
  • 15 minutes looking for assignment
  • 11 minutes calling a friend for the assignment
  • 23 minutes explaining why the teacher is mean and does not like children
  • 8 minutes in the bathroom
  • 10 minutes getting a snack
  • 7 minutes checking the TV schedule
  • 6 minutes telling parents that the teacher never explained the assignment
  • 10 minutes sitting at the kitchen table waiting for Mom or Dad to do the assignment
Teachers daily calendar Mon 22 Jun 2009

Friday, May 25, 2012

Daily Inspiration

The Miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water; but to walk on the earth. 
- Chinese Proverb
inspire daily calendar Fri 25 May 2012 


Life's most persistent and urgent question is, "What are you doing for others?"
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Teachers daily calendar Sat/Sun 20/21 Jun 2009

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Nothing gives a person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances. 
- Thomas Jefferson
inspire daily calendar Thu 24 May 2012 


The World's Easiest Quiz, Part II
6) The Canary Islands in the Atlantic are named after what animal?
7) What was King George VI's first name?
8) What color is a purple finch?
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
10) How long did the Thirty Years War last?

Highlight below for answers:
6) Dogs
7) Albert
8) Crimson
9) New Zealand
10) Thirty Years
Teachers daily calendar Fri 19 Jun 2009

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
- Dale Carnegie
inspire daily calendar Wed 23 May 2012 


The World's Easiest Quiz, Part I
1) How long did the Hundred Years War Last?
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
3) From what animal do we get catgut?
4) In which month do Russians celebrate their October Revolution?
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?

Highlight below for answers:
1) 116 Years
2) Ecuador
3) Sheep or horses
4) November
5) Squirrel fur
Teachers daily calendar Thu 18 Jun 2009

Music Synthesizer


Google's search engine is recognizing Robert Moog, who was the first to commercialize the electronic music synthesizer, in about 1965. He was not the first to invent it. In fact, in about 1945 a friend of my family built what has been "recognized to have been the first synthesizer" (http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/hugh-le-caine). One of his more interesting compositions was done by changing the pitch and tone of a drop of water, he called it Dripsody:


Although I never met Hugh LeCaine - he was in a motorcycle accident a 3 months after my sister was born and was in a coma for nearly a year... passing away about 2 months before I was born.

Below is a photo (from 2001) of me on the motorcycle he was riding when he had the accident. My father rode the motorcycle for many years. 



The stories I heard about him from his widow Trudi LeCaine, and Trudi herself, inspired a fair bit of my life. Trudi was a teacher, and highly influential in the arts community in Ottawa, as well as getting the Rideau Canal system to become a public skating rink in the winter - the world's longest skating rink (http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/celebrate/winterlude/skating-rideau-canal).

Trudi was a friend of my paternal grandparents. Living in the third floor of the house my Dad grew up in. It was through my grandparents she met Hugh LeCaine, as my grandfather and Hugh both worked at the National Research Council (NRC), and my grandparents often had people over for dinner. Trudi was always part of the family, since my Dad was young.

My interest in music (piano lessons), engineering, and into the field of acoustical engineering was driven by the stories of Hugh LeCaine.
My interest in the arts (theatre, art galleries, museums, etc), and teaching came from Trudi LeCaine. She also taught me, at a young age, how to be a gentleman (holding the door for others, offering my arm to people who require assistance, etc). I was one of the last of those she considered family to see her before she passed away in 1999. I still remember parts of that day: Talking to her in her bed, and although not understanding all her words, understanding the context - she was born in central Europe, and English was not her first, or second, language, so she was drifting between languages. I knew the moment I arrived at the house it would be the last time I would see her. I treasure that time with her, and fondly remember the times with her.


If you are interested in learning more about Hugh LeCaine, check out these:



http://www.hughlecaine.com/ (photo of Hugh LeCaine, top left, came from this site)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_LeCaine


Light Day


Sunday 20 May was a busy light day for me.....

Part of the reason I have not posted much in the past couple weeks has been that I was running the lights at Walterdale Playhouse for their "Cradle to Stage: One Acts" (new work). Most of the week was operating the lights for two of the one acts.
The first one was about 3 retirees in small town Saskatchewan thinking there is a zombie apocalypse. It had one part where I had to watch for the actors to turn on and off a light switch. One night they missed that part - that was I think the most difficult thing I encountered.
The second one was about..... hmmm, I never actually fully understood it. I think it was about carrying one's past and having to let go of one's baggage.... but not sure. I tended to explain it as 'experimental theatre with some interpretive dance' as there was a couple interpretive dance routines.
Sunday, however, was tech'd readings of 4 other plays, so I still had to run the lights. It was a matinee, which meant I was out of the theatre (including having to help strike) by 5:30pm....

At 6:01pm, a partial solar eclipse started. I made it to the science centre, and the observatory next to it, just in time to watch the eclipse. I met up with a few friends.
One, Kevin Buie, took the photo on the top right of this post. That photo and others can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/two8five
The photo of the stage lights I got from a Google search (http://www.thecoast.ca/ArtAttack/archives/2012/04/25/theatre-arts-guilds-free-workshops)

Watching the eclipse (with proper eye-ware) was cool. The weather was also perfect for such an activity. Unfortunately I couldn't stay to watch the whole thing, which ended around 8:30pm. I left around 8pm.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Daily Inspiration

When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.
- Seneca
inspire daily calendar Tue 22 May 2012 


In the high school classroom, respect and trust travel a two-way street between teacher and student - and have everything to do with learning. Students say that if a teacher sets a steady example of fairness and respect, they respond positively whether or not they like a teacher personally. If they trust a teacher to do the job with competence and without bias, they are willing to fulfill their part of the deal: to pay attention, do the work, and play by the rules.
- Kathleen Cushman, Fires in the Bathroom
Teachers daily calendar Wed 17 Jun 2009

Monday, May 21, 2012

Daily Inspiration

When I've heard all I need to make a decision, I don't take a vote. I make a decision.
- Ronald Reagan
inspire daily calendar Mon 21 May 2012 


If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
- Albert Einstein
Teachers daily calendar Tue 16 Jun 2009

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Daily Inspiration

If we're serious about education in this country, we need to start giving teachers a living wage for their inspiring and tough work. If we're not serious about education in this country, we need to get serious.
- Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket
Teachers daily calendar Sat/Sun 13/14 Jun 2009 


Teacher: Sarah, what did you write your report on?
Sarah: A piece of paper.
Teachers daily calendar Mon 15 Jun 2009

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.
- Stephen A. Brennan
inspire daily calendar Sat/Sun 19/20 May 2012 


Teaching is the most noble profession. I can leave here, even on the worst day, knowing I have done my best to engage kids. Every day is different, every day a kid makes a comment you haven't heard before, or a kid who hasn't made any comment suddenly connects to something. And I'm thinking, "Wow, I had some part in that."
- Former Massachusetts Teacher of the Year David Lussier
Teachers daily calendar Fri 12 Jun 2009

Friday, May 18, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Above all challenge yourself. You may well surprise yourself of what strengths you have, what you can accomplish.
- Cecile Springer
inspire daily calendar Fri 18 May 2012 


For many teachers, summer vacation comes as a welcome relief from the intensity of the school year. A few months off helps teachers return to the classroom in September with renewed energy and a fresh perspective. But not everyone is in favor of this long respite. Some argue that summertime is lost time for education. Proponents of year-round school, with vacations dotted throughout the calendar year, contend that the absence of a long break promotes student achievement and allows for greater flexibility when it comes to teaching and learning. According to the National Association for Year-Round Education, more than two million students in the United States are enrolled in year-round schools.
- www.edutopia.org
Teachers daily calendar Thu 11 Jun 2009

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Daily Inspiration

The price of success id hard work, dedication to the job at hand and the determination that whether we tin or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.
- Vince Lombardi
inspire daily calendar Thu 17 May 2012 

Q: Why can't chickens go to school?
A: Teachers don't like their fowl language.
Teachers daily calendar Wed 10 Jun 2009

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Daily Inspiration

It's not necessary , in order to be a complete person, that I have a man. It's not the end-all, be-all of my life.
- Cher
inspire daily calendar Wed 16 May 2012 


I can remember when I was in school that it was awfully hard to daydream while staring at the teacher. Therefore, I make sure to have all eyes on me at all times. That way, as I'm teaching I can see the looks on the students' faces and can tell if they are confused and lost or entertained and attentive.
-  Ron Clark, The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child
Teachers daily calendar Tue 9 Jun 2009

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Daily Inspiration

You must be on top of change or change will be on top of you.
- Mark Victor Hansen
inspire daily calendar Tue 15 May 2012 


I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message.
- Steve Irwin
Teachers daily calendar Mon 8 Jun 2009

Monday, May 14, 2012

Daily Inspiration

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
- Mother Teresa
inspire daily calendar Mon 14 May 2012 


Fun Facts: Geography
The principality of Monaco is about the size of New York City's Central Park.
Angel Falls in Venezuela, the world's highest waterfall, can only be fully seen from the air.
The Black Sea gets its name from its stormy character and not from any particular color scheme.
- Kenneth C. Davis, Don't Know Much About Geography
Teachers daily calendar Sat/Sun 6/7 Jun 2009

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Daily Inspiration

 Every Student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.
- George Evans
 Teachers daily calendar Thu 4 Jun 2009


I was sitting with my friend Cindy and some of her classmates when they began discussing a written report they had been assigned. Cindy, who had already chosen a topic and begun to research it, was upset that their instructor wanted them to pork in pairs. She voiced strong opinions about what a liability a partner could be. "What topic did you choose?" I asked. "The importance of teamwork," she admitted sheepishly.
- Suzie Sharp in Reader's Digest
Teachers daily calendar Fri 5 Jun 2009

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Daily Inspiration

A lost battle is a battle one thinks has lost.
- Ferdinand Foch
inspire daily calendar Sat/Sun 12/13 May 2012 


Teacher Tip
My students love "Pop Your Top and Read Day." Each student brings a soda or juice drink and a book to class. We all find a comfortable reading spot around the room and on the count of three everyone "pops their tops" and enjoys a thirty-minute recreational reading period. We have also done "Reading Is a Hole Lot of Fun" and eat donut holes while we read. When we do "Reading Ic Cool" we have a Popsicle while we're reading and when we do "Pop Open a Great Book" we chew gum while we read.
- Mary Perry, Benvenue Elementary School, Rocky Mount, North Carolina; Works4Me on www.nea.org
Teachers daily calendar Wed 3 Jun 2009

Submitted



Today at 2pm I submitted the tech forms that the Edmonton Fringe wanted by 5pm. Above is the image I submitted. Here is the (revised) description I submitted:

How far would you go have healthy offspring of your own?
When an ethics committee starts investigating Dr. Greg Van der Hauk, Carlos is faced with having to reveal Greg’s true involvement in his daughter Maria's birth, to not only her but his husband Joseph.


Now all I have to do is sit back, finish the script, confirm/find actors, find a master builder or finish designing the set myself, and wait to hear if I'm off the waiting list.

Luckily I do have a stage manager, and a few people interested in acting (though not enough for a full cast), and a lead on a master building (however for the submission today I did submit my draft design - shown below).


Friday, May 11, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.
- Anonymous
inspire daily calendar Fri 11 May 2012 


Most Memorable Teachers
Mr.Tucker has never forgotten what he has in common with his students . . . which is that he was a kid once, therefore he will always be able to be heard by his students, who feel 100 percent respected and validated.
 - Actor Wilmer Valderrama regarding teacher Edwin Tucker of Taft High School, Los Angeles, California, on www.nea.org
Teachers daily calendar Tue 2 Jun 2009

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Daily Inspiration

If you focus on results,
you will never change.
If you focus on change,
you will get results.
- Jack Dixon.
inspire daily calendar Thu 10 May 2012 


Education can - and will - break the cycle of poverty. Ti's the key to making sure that every single child has the chance to realize the American dream.
- Margaret Spellings
Teachers daily calendar Mon 1 Jun 2009

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

25 Years of Loonies

Yesterday was the 25th birthday of the Canadian $1 coin. There is a lovely story on the opening of Q about how it became affectionately known as the loonie. 

The full episode of Q is here: http://www.cbc.ca/q/episodes/ Look for episode May 8, 2012

Here is just the story of the Loonie:



Since I could not find how to upload just audio, I added a pic of the original Loonie to the audio.


My favourite line:
"A coin that went from nerdy un-cool to, somewhat nerdy un-cool cool."

Daily Inspiration

Follow what you are genuinely passionate about and let that guide you to your destination.
- Diane Sawyer
inspire daily calendar Wed 9 May 2012 


Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.
- Haim Ginott
Teachers daily calendar Sat/Sun 30/31 May 2009

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit.
- Conrad Hilton
inspire daily calendar Tue 8 May 2012 


A single grain of rice can tip the scale. 
- The Emperor (Pat Morita) in Mulan
Teachers daily calendar Fri 29 May 2009

The Question


The other day/post (I Can't Do It Alone) I mentioned I'm working on a play. What I don't think I mentioned in that post was that there is a deadline this coming Friday for me to have a bunch of technical stuff submitted to the Edmonton Fringe.

One of the things is an image. Since I don't have a full cast, a photo is kind of out of the question (no pun intended).

With out giving too much away (especially since I'm still revising the most recent draft), an idea struck me (while I had writers block), which resulted in the above image I am thinking of submitting (perhaps better drawn).

To give some idea of the play, here is the show description (also to be submitted on Friday):


How far would you go to ensure your own child is free from genetic disease?
When Dr. Van der Hauk is brought in front of an ethical committee, Carlos is faced with having to reveal the secrets of his daughter Maria's birth, to not only her but his husband Joseph.

If anyone has any comments, please do comment.... 

Monday, May 7, 2012

Daily Inspiration

If you don't like something change it. 
If you can't change it, change your attitude. 
Don't complain.
- Maya Angelou
inspire daily calendar Mon 7 May 2012 


"Cyberbullying" is when a child or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed, or otherwise targeted by another child or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, or mobile phones.
When schools try and get involved by disciplining a student for cyberbullying actions that took place off-campus and outside of school hours, they are often sued for exceeding their authority and violating the student's free speech rights. But schools can be very effective brokers in working with parents to stop and remedy cyberbullying situations. They can also educate students on cyberethics and the law. If schools are creative, they can somethimes avoid the claim that their actions exceeded their legal authority for off-campus cyberbullying actions. A provision can be added to the school's acceptable use policy reserving the right to discipline the student for actions taken off-campus if they are intended to have an effect on another student or they adversely affect the safety and well-being of students while in school. This makes it a contractual, not a constitutional, issue.
- www.stopcyberbullying.org
Teachers daily calendar Thu 28 May 2009

Sunday, May 6, 2012

I Can't Do It Alone

I have always been a shy, somewhat reclusive person. Over the years I have learned to overcome most of this (thanks in part to my older sister).

I am still learning. As I become more social, I am now feeling lonely more often. This is in part due to lack of refined social skills. I try and stay in contact with friends I make, but I sometime feel that my efforts go unrequited. I understand life can be busy - it is for me in spurts, which is why I sometimes may be out of contact with 'friends' for a month or two (in part is the feel that they aren't concerned with me).

Because of all this I tend to attempt projects on my own, feeling I have no one to call to for help.

Recently though I have been reminded that 'I Can't Do it Alone"!

Yesterday I took my car in to have the winter tires taken off (I know, it's May, and should have been done at least a month ago).
The place I took my car to was about a 20 minute walk to my Dad's, but luckily the people at the Tyre shop drove me to my Dad's (where I could borrow his car for the day).
Today I called a friend, who was luckily available, to help me pick up my car.

I am also looking at doing some house work, like replacing the basement nailed in ceiling tiles with a T-bar drop ceiling. I have a handyman who is going to help, but measuring the room, although I did it myself, would have been much easier with the help of a friend (or a housemate).

The big one, however, is a play that I am working on. First of all, it has 4 characters, and I don't feel like much of an actor.
Five years ago I produced my first (and to date only) play (at a Fringe Theatre Festival). I had a friend direct and stage manage the show. Which was great, because this year as I am learning that side of things, I realize the true importance of those roles. The last production was a huge leaning experience.

Note: I started writing the above on Friday and got distracted by actually doing something.... posting requests for assistance with my play (which is on the waiting list for the Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival in August).
Long story short. I now (possibly) have most of the support I was looking for. I have to confirm with people their involvement, but I feel less stressed over the situation.

However, I am still in need of at least one actress - to play a 14 year old girl.
More on the play in a later post (once I finish revising the script).

Daily Inspiration

Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then, by God, do something. Don't just stand there, make it happen.
- Lee Iacocca
 Teachers daily calendar Tue 26 May 2009 


Is summer break actually a break? Despite the oft-repeated consensus of the general public that, thanks to summer vacation, teachers have it easy, the fact remains that for many teachers, work never stops - summer is often filled with major projects, professional-development activities, preparation for the following school year, or even temporary jobs. Is pure relaxation possible, or is this extra work part of the job?
In an Edutopia online poll, 21 percent of voters said they spend summers relaxing and pursuing other interests; 28 percent participate in professional-development seminars, conferences, or classes; 5 percent work a second job; and 40 percent spend their summers in some combination of the rest, professional development, and other work. The remaining 6 percent work year-round without a summer break.
- www.edutopia.org
Teachers daily calendar Wed 27 May 2009

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.
- Langston Hughes
inspire daily calendar Sat/Sun 5/6 May 2012  


The ultimate is not to win, but to reach within the depths of your capabilities and to compete against yourself.
- Billy Mills
inspire daily calendar Mon 30 Apr 2012 

Friday, May 4, 2012

Daily Inspiration

My the Fourth Be With You.


If you have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention than to any other talent.
 - Isaac Newton
inspire daily calendar Fri 4 May 2012 


Determine what specific goal you want to achieve. Then dedicate yourself to its attainment with unswerving singleness of purpose, the trenchant zeal of a crusader.
- Paul J. Meyer
inspire daily calendar Sat/Sun 28/29 Apr 2012

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Do not pray for easy lives.
Pray to be stronger men!
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers.
Pray for power equal to your tasks.
- Phillips Brooks
inspire daily calendar Thu 3 May 2012 


It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.
- John Wooden
inspire daily calendar Fri 27 Apr 2012

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Daily Inspiration

Leaders think and talk about the solutions.
Followers think and talk about the problems.
- Brian Tracy
inspire daily calendar Wed 2 May 2012 


Often he who does too much does too little.
- Italian Proverb
inspire daily calendar Thu 26 Apr 2012

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Daily Inspiration

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. 
- Mahatma Gandhi
inspire daily calendar Tue 1 May 2012


Dreams seldom materialize on their own.
- Dian Fossey
inspire daily calendar Wed 25 Apr 2012