Melva Gifford

I was brainstorming on what might make useful father’s day gifts separate from a tie etc. Here are some ideas. Too late for this year but maybe good for next.

1. A gift certificate to stores father/grandfather visits.
2. subscription of a newsletter on a topic that they like political/subject matter.
3. buy items for their hobbies for example if they do woodwork new sandpaper etc.
4. Favorite new movie/documentary.
5. Night out to an entertainment they enjoy (shooting range etc)
6. Restock inventory of supplies they use a lot.
7. Professional cleaning of car/ truck.
8. Professional back messages or feet massage
9. Professional service on yard (lawn/trimming) for Dad to take a break.
10. 10.If something is broken or not working well, get a replacement.

Have something to add? Please do so in the comment section of this blog.

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Just as object lessons and humor can teach values so can personal stories. What better examples are there to tap into than real people who made a big influence upon the world. Depending upon the time allotment of the class you could either watch the movie or give homework for the movie to be seen away from class.

Here are a few suggestions to consider.

Sully:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sully_(film)

A plane flying out of NY hits a flock of geese. It requires captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s years of experience to land the plane into the Hudson River rather than return back to the airport. The resulting investigation shows how the skills of a pilot can save his entire crew.

Walking tall:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking_Tall_(1973_film)

A military vet, Chris Vaughn, returns home to find his town is being controlled by villains who were his friends in the past. He stands up for what is right.

Gandhi :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi_(film )

Mohandas Gandhi decides to set up nonviolent resistance against British rule. He starts a fast.

Lean on Me:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_on_Me_(film)

Joe Clark becomes a principal at a declining school. He has tog et rid of gangs and drugs before he can improve the test scores of the students.

Michael Jordan: An American Hero:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jordan:_An_American_Hero

An American Hero is a biographical story of Michael Jordan from him as a kid to becoming a great basketball star.

Code Talkers:  https://www.google.com/search?q=code+talkers+wikipedia&oq=Code+Talkers+wicp&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0.7286j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Code talkers are a group of Navajos, Cherokee and Choctaw speakers who use their language to communicate between units during War World Two.

Boys in the Boat:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boys_in_the_Boat

Boys from the state of Washington, who are from the middle class, compete against a lot of capable teams until they win the right to participate in the Olympics occurring in Germany. It is an intense race and they win though the German crowd and Hitler are both clearly in favor of a German victory.

A League of Their Own:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_League_of_Their_Own

During World War II with all the men away to war, a Woman’s league of baseball is created. This is a tale of a phenomenal team of lady players.

Stand and Deliver:

A high school teacher, Jaime Escalante, prepares a class of Hispanic students currently performing below their grade level excel and take the AP calculus test in their senior year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_and_Deliver

Rudy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_(film)

Rudy Ruettiger has always had the dream to play football at the universe of Notre Dame. He works as a custodian at the school and fights toward his goal.

Schindler’s List:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schindler%27s_List

Oskar Schindler, a businessman, is using Jewish labor during World War II to run his factory. When Jews are getting killed he takes steps to save their lives.

Apollo 13:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13_(film)

An oxygen tank explodes during a mission to the moon. The astronauts and the scientists at Nasa work together to find ways to keep the crew alive until they can return safely to earth.

Miracle:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_(2004_film)

Coach Herb Brooks works with his hot-headed team to get them ready to compete in the Olympics against the heavily-favored Soviet team.

Take the Lead:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_the_Lead

An international famed dancer, Pierre Dulaine, takes up a teaching job in a New York school. Students scoff about the usefulness of learning ballroom dancing. When Dulaine includes hip hop movies with the classic style, the students accept him and his mentorship.

Gifted Hands:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gifted_Hands:_The_Ben_Carson_Story

Ben Carson goes to medical school while facing a lot of challenges. Through perseverance, he becomes a very gifted and accomplished brain surgeon. He is the first to separate twins who were connected at the head.

The Iron Lady:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Iron_Lady_(film)

This movie touches upon the political career of Margaret Thatcher. She broke the paned glass ceiling of class and gender and led Britain during a challenging time.

To Sir, With Love:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Sir,_with_Love

E.R. Braithwaite accepts a job as a teacher at a British school until he can get a job in his career. He is instrumental in helping his students excel.

I get these two words mixed up:

Inevitable     =unable to be stopped. Here’s a way to maybe remember this. EVIdence show that this is definitely                        going to happen thus inEVItable

Inedible        =unsuitable to be eaten. The base word inETItable which can be eaten but un means it can’t. Both                          share EDI.

Do you have a better suggestion on keeping these separate? If so, please share.

I listened to a presentation about homelessness at toastmasters and thought I’d share what I learned.

• Why people wear clothes because they have to place to put them.
• 564,708 may be homeless on any given a night about 9 football stadiums.
• An organization called Greendors, says 25% of the homeless struggle with some mental condition. Others are chronically homeless.
• The homeless may be disoriented.
• 13% suffer from domestic violence.
• Safe Horizon says 1/3 all families who use public services fall into this category.
• Family violence is the 3^rd most common cause of homeless.

What can we do?

• We can encourage mainstream sources to align together.
• When families are quickly rehoused they are more likely to be in that home for 12
• Help homeless people increase their confidence.
• You could mentor someone who is homeless or help big brothers or sister.
• There are jobs in the country that people won’t do and homeless could be trained.
• Remember, homeless people, are people too.

Do you have something to add? Please do so in the comment section of this blog.

This section is dedicated to presenting some jokes to support a theme.  This is a continuation from last week.  I found these jokes on the internet. I couldn’t find any authors of these jokes. A joke can be used to support a stereotype or to break one.

Theme: Don’t underestimate the elderly

An older lady gets pulled over for speeding.

Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?

Officer: Ma’am, you were speeding.

Older Woman: Oh, I see.

Officer: Can I see your license, please?

Older Woman: I’d give it to you but I don’t have one.

Officer: Don’t have one?

Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.

Officer: I see…Can I see your vehicle registration papers, please.

Older Woman: I can’t do that.

Officer: Why not?

Older Woman: I stole this car.

Officer: Stole it?

Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.

Officer: You what?

Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see

The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for backup. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.

Officer 2: Ma’am, could you step out of your vehicle, please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.

Older woman: Is there a problem sir?

Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.

Older Woman: Murdered the owner?

Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.

The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.

Officer 2: Is this your car, ma’am?

Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.

The officer is quite stunned.

Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.

The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.

The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.

Officer 2: Thank you ma’am, one of my officers told me you didn’t have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.

Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too!!!!

Don’t Mess With Old Ladies

What can this joke teach? One route could be how truly difficult a police officer’s job can be. When a police officer pulls over a car, they risk their lives every time, dependent upon the type of person they are pulling over.

I want to take a different slant on this joke. Many times people, especially many youths, with show disrespect for the elderly.  People only see the elderly in their current state and don’t realize all the things they contributed to throughout their lives.  They invented new technologies, created companies, raised families, and fought wars. They’ve contributed to the success of the community through living their daily lives.

I remember hearing a story once, I can’t find it on Google (drats). I think President Reagan was being interviewed. He was asked something like, how can older people relate to young people today? We have the internet, cell phones and video games and a whole slew of inventions that didn’t’ exist two decades ago. I think President Reagan said. The old people today were those who invented the internet, cell phones, and video games.

By beginning with this joke, you could teach a youth class or audience the value of the smarts of the elderly. Then you might be able to give a personal experience of different mentors who added such a positive influence in your life. Be specific of what they taught you and how their lives and experience that gave them those perceptions which in turn widened your mindset.

Who has had more experience, an 80 yr old or a 20 yr old? Invite your students to take advantage of that experience.

Theme: Honesty

A business owner had just finished his new budget and realized he could hire a new employee. He only had to choose if he wanted to hire an accountant, an HR person or a lawyer. To help him decide hr asked each the following questions. What is 2×2?

The accountant did some calculations and spreadsheets and she finally said “3.9999.”

The HR person answered,” Well, it depends upon what 2 #1 and 2#2 are thinking at the current time. Depending upon the cohesiveness of the team and their home life the consensus may result in four.”

The lawyer thought upon the question. Then she went about the room, closed all the windows and draperies. She made sure the main door was secured. She walked over to the interviewer and quietly asked? What do you want it to be?”

Obedience to the law or a moral code can begin when we are young and last until we are old. You can teach about the benefit of honesty ranging from one’s reputation to being consistent and reliable.

These are only a few ideas to share on how to use a joke to teach a theme. There is a whole range of jokes.

Here is a homework assignment. Find your favorite joke and then define the hidden message that’s within it. Humor can be an invaluable asset in providing variety, entertainment and a deeper understanding to the themes you wish to share with your class or audience. You may ask what makes the joke funny? What truth or what is the universal thread/truth in the telling that so many people can relate to? Those answers can help you determine what theme you can teach through the sharing of that joke.

Do you have something to add, either humor or technique? If so please do so in the comment section of this blog. Thanks.

Good: squirrels

Bad:   squirls

Since the word is in the plural, think of the Rs looking like the fluffy tails of the squirrels.  The little e that can look like a cute face of one of those squiRRels.

Do you have a better idea? If you do, please share in the comment section of this blog.

These are notes from the Emergency Preparedness / Book of Mormon conference I attend this year.

• Sprouting your wheat will multiple your food.
• Red wheat does not sprout.
• There are four levels of general preparation 1. For base bone needs, have 1 4000 lbs. of grains/ legumes, milk, sugar/honey, oil, salt (iodinated.)
• Sprouting increases nutritional and protein content from 400% -600 %. And clean water
• Clean water
• For variety, add different types of beans, white rice etc. Pinto beans, red beans, and white beans.
• Peanut butter, jams, baking powder, yeast.
• Have a variety of sprouting seeds.
• Hand tools and fuel.
• Problems with food storage; ground wheat, 50% nutritional value lost in 24 hours. White four keep it in its natural container as long as possible
• 50-75 % loss of nutrition after grinding within weeks.
• Bread from scratch, wheat is not easy to grind, bake in emergencies.
• Check the taste of food storage items.
• Your body is not used to eating food storage items, it can make you sick.
• Sometimes professional purchased food packets, the servings are too small. Purchased food storage often provides too small packets. The 2000 calories are created by adding sugar.
• Dehydrate is twice as nutritional as freeze dried. Heat and moisture can destroy dehydrate and freeze dried foods.
• Most canned meat last 2-3 yrs.
• What food can you grab when you leave your house? (include water and preparation)
• You need to have a place to go
• Need a 4 season tent.
• Need portable cooking and heating
• Clean water
• Sanitation
• Become a resource: Learn a skill. Midwife, military, herbalist. Look up super bowl babies. One learned how to be a blacksmith. You need to have materials. To do your skill.
• You need to help others prepare.
• What will kill you fastest in an emergency?
• The most important preparation you can make: attitude. If you think you can’t do it. You can’t. if you think you can or you can’t .. your right.
• The antozi program teaches kids to persevere.
• Need mindset you can do attitude.
• Need to have physical stuff.
• Need skills how to
• Knowledge is the basis of all preparation.
• Normalcy bias: Not comprehending that there is an emergency and action must be taken. (Deer in the highlights.) plane landed without landing gear. One passenger tried to get everyone else to get out of the plane. They wouldn’t move. He was the only one who escaped.
• Remember the three Ps: Prepare, Plan and Practice (what if)
• You need to reed to recognize short term and long term problems that could occur. Emergencies can range from 1. It’s a life changing but not necessarily life ending. To 2. The end of the world as we know it.
• Yoyo: you’re on your own.
• There are still people who live in a trailer from the Katrina flood waiting for help.
• EMP: is the most devastating event for the United States. It will remove electricity> there will be no help coming.
• All water is pumped using electricity.
• Odds of EMP: 100 to 200 % it’s just a matter of time.
• Prepare for the worst. Hope/pray/work for the best.
• If you have you prepare for an emergency can be an adventure. If you are unprepared, you can die

Do you have something to add? Please do so in the comment section of this blog.