Lakers in Guatemala

Dear Parents and students,
Last Saturday the local newspaper published an article about tourism in Guatemala. The newspaper used a picture of four lakers walking from the Central Park to the bank or MacDonald
http://www.elquetzalteco.com.gt/24.07.2010/?q=locales/disponen_q4_millones_para_impulsar_turismo
It was a wonderful experience to have your children here in Xelaju. They got 100+ and they deserve five pounds of ICE CREAM.
GO Lakers.
Julio E. Batres

Education importance

August is now the month of the primary election. This is important always but especially when the Governor position is at stake.

What is the importance of education to the candidates. Perhaps more important - how important is education to the people of Minnesota.

The vast majority of the population wont to a free public school. In most cases is because that Is what our families could afford. We went to learn about this country and the heritage of a free people. We went to learn the language and how to figure out numbest. We went to be better informed through reading and thinking.

Where is pre-k through college education in the matters of importance for our candidates. You decide the party or non-party, but ask the questions. Will we be a better state, be a better people if that person is elected. Free public education must return as the number one priority of it's people for this state.

At the moment it would appear that none - regardless of party or independent have clearly addressed the needs of the future of education in Minnesota. They have not done so because w. An informed, educated populace have not asked the question nor placed it before the politicians.

We frequently get what we deserve.

Optional readings-thoughts and possibilities

Moving through July rapidly. No doubt many have exhausted the reading list at this point and looking for some other options. I would like to offer a few. I encourage others to add to the list.

Devil in the White City by Eric Larson
A true story with fictional additions about a serial killer and the building of the World's Exhibition in Chicago. A story of mystery and marvel.
A murder mystery and a story of the creation of the Ferris Wheel. Good read and definitely worth the time.

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
A non fiction that you want to believe is fiction about the aftermath in New Orleans after the Katrina hurricane. At points a feel good read and many times sad and shameful. This is not a book about a faraway country but here in our country in purr time.

Coal Black Horse by Robert Olmstead
Civil war novel about a boy's search for his father. In some ways a "war is hell" book and others of a boy coming of age and times of the bad and good of people. Violence is a part of it because of what is the subject matter.

Happy reading. May your visits to the library create dreams.

Men, Mission and Machines -- Five Skies a Novel

Five Skies by Ron Carlson is a story about work, personal worth and heart break. Three men on a useless construction project to satisfy a reality TV show try to resolve their lives and get back to the next thing.

Carlson's fame is of a short story rider. Many of his chapters in this book could easily be a complete short story with some minor modifications. He loves the mountains and the skies and so does his characters.

The story moves along well. The majority of the writing is about the lives, thoughts and hurts of three men -- One older, one in the middle and the young one. It is a man's story of power tools and big machinery and few words. It is written from the male point of view.

Interesting to have read After River (female point of view) and then Five Skies (male point of view). Could be an interesting paper just from those two books (both written in last couple years). Yes, one could find the differences but one could also find how alike the sexes are in pain and heart break and how each deals with it.

The other interesting paper could be considering a female (or male) author writing fiction trying to "feel" the other sex. As a male is it possible to completing understand being a mother? As a female is it possible to feel that sense of responsibility society has dumped on the male role? In both books the main characters are of the same sex as the author but there other characters who have a role in the story.

Good summer read - a bit on the depressing side but not horrible. The good guys win the long run and life moves through its struggles and then moves to the next thing.

Have fun and visit a library or museum today.

School Supplies

One of the questions from many new families is about school supplies for high school. Well, the simple response is - none.

But that really is not the complete answer. Every course will have its own requirements for class work and turn-in material. Some may have journals in spiral notebooks or composition books. Others may requirements for ink or may accept computer emails and attachments. Math classes have their own equipment requirements.

Improved technology continues to be an interesting problem. Notebooks and computers can do most of the duties needed for class and normally even more. The best suggestion is to talk with the teacher with what is allowed in the class and particularly during tests. This is an area of challenge for all of us.

Look for the sales. Very quickly, retail stores are going to attempt to attract your back-to-school dollars. Go for the sales. If you start early you can pick up the various notebooks, pens and papers as they are on sale at the different stores.

There are lots of goodies for lockers. New students may want to talk with older students about what is the most necessary. The student may want to wait until the first few days to check out what is really needed. Some of those that appear the "coolest" may not have any function except to get in the road.

Back to school shopping can be fun.

Don't forget to use your red Target card. Southwest does receive a percentage rebate on all your purchases - everything, not just school supplies. Office Depot also provides a rebate to Southwest. School codes are available at the point of sale. At Office Depot you have to declare your school and wish to credit the school at the cash register.

Have fun. Shop early. Take advantage of the sales.

For the Civil War reader

No Certain Rest: a Novel by Jim Lehrer is a modern day adventure story about the Civil Was and very specifically about the battle at Antietam. Jim Lehrer in the host of PBS Newshour and has written several books.

Set in the present day, two history relic hunters field the skeletal remains of what appears to be a Union Officer. And the mystery begins. It is a human story about dedication, determination and "the hunt." The main character is a fictitious archaeologist from the National Park Service out of Washington D.C. The modern day characters and the specific story is the creative work of Lehrer. The Civil War battle for Antietam (the bloodiest battle of America) and the battle for what is now known as Burnside Bridge are factual.

The book traces the events of the battle and tries to discover the mystery of the remains. A good back stage look at the world of forensic science and people trying to do a good job. It honors the memories of men who fought there and tries to provide some understanding of how wars are fought by ordinary people.

Good adventure story - lots of opportunity for discussions about the consequences of decisions and should we really "correct" history. If you like a good mystery - but not the scary in your face kind - or you like the Civil War books - you should enjoy this one. A good summer read.

Don't forget we are in the Middle of July, get those readings done. And have some summer fun.

Tragic family story & Mother Daughter book

After River is the first book by author Donna Milner. The book is set is Canada and is necessary for some of the plot but the story could have been anywhere. It is the late sixty's. There is Vietnam, the death of both of the Kennedy's and Civil Rights.

The book is not about those historical events but about that time which was about all those events.

It is a book about family and secrets. It is the growing up of a daughter in a loving and kind farm family. The book needed a simple setting for all the complications that arrived.

I guess we will continue to see more and more books using the 60's as the backdrop. First it was an interesting and important point in our history, second it the time of our grandparents and the youth of our parents. In many cases it was at that point that many young people stepped outside the family traditions and went to college or moved to other parts of the country. America became mobile.

The book Help is about a young writer returning home trying to find herself among the stories and her childhood. After River is about a young writer returning home trying to find forgiveness and finds truth.

A great summer read and study in characters. The book could generate lots of discussion and would be a natural for a book club or class assignment. Strong female characters and I think women can identify with both Mother and Daughter. Children, babies, family, life choices, what if's are all part of the plot and the discoveries. Good book, several twist along the way.