Quite the ride, Mr.Schmoe. The video technology nowadays is quite impressive as well and thanks again for covering for Mac.
Physical therapy is never fun, Mac, but something that needs to be done. Grit your teeth and do the best you can with--you and Mrs Mac will be encouraging to each other as you both go through it at the same time.
The Kings got schlonged and bounced out of the playoffs by the Sharks last night. Ducks still in it.
You looked and sounded good in that video, Mac, and the story that Titan tells is inspiring. Can’t wait to show it to Mrs Sven when she gets up this morning.
Question: how difficult of a decision was it for you to invest with Titan? You took a huge risk that paid off not just financially, but…what’s the word here…morally? That’s not quite right but the only thing that pops into my mind right now. You did good.
I’m feeling very old fashioned in thinking that men and woman, boys and girls, ought to have separate public bathrooms. But then I guess it’s worse than quaint and more in the hater-racist-sexist-you-should-just-die camp to believe that gender is not as malleable and fluid as my betters tell me.
Sven, thanks. It was a hard decision as it really was everything we had and I well know the risks of a VERY underfunded startup. It was harder for Elena and her family as they did not know Titan as I did and the move was very unpopular with them. I had worked with Titan for several years and had come to respect him when he had absolutely no reason to impress me. We were very different of course but I had no question of character. If we failed it would be for business reasons or bad luck, not his character or integrity.
Part of my willingness to take a risk and what I tried to explain to Elena was that I was a manual machinist in a shrinking field and my ability was degrading from memory loss and arthritis in my hands. We were doing alright at the time but I feared in five years or so I would not be able to make enough to pay the house payment and I saw no other way out. The one investment I had planned to help the situation fell apart when my older brother stole about 15k from us. This was what I thought was our best chance, risky as it was. I had planned to work with him for 5 or 6 years but it was soon clear this would be too hard so we agreed on two years. Of course I got less but it worked out well. We never had anything on paper until I left and we had to formalize everything to handle the transfer of my share to Titan. I knew he was a gifted programmer but he surprised me with his business ability as well. He did change our deal a couple of times but always in my favor. He is a good guy and has used his resources and platform to do some really good things helping young people, women’s shelters, and veterans. His faith is very real and while I don’t share it I have always respected his devotion to it. He was on a very dark path and turned himself around. He now tries to help many others to turn around.
Sven -- the job is…interesting. I plan what amounts to 1-2 30 minute lessons a week that I’ll teach to 8 classes. There will be anywhere from 1-4 students who show up in any given class (out of 30 or so who should be showing up). I can usually count on two students showing up to multiple classes. I’m not really addressing their individual goals from their Individual Education Plan (IEP), because I don’t have those goals memorized, I don’t know who will show up, and it is difficult to teach three different things to three different kids in an online setting.
Work is on a year-to-year basis. As a sub in Special Ed, I know I have work through the end of the semester, but what about next year? They may not need a sub at the beginning of the year. They may not have an opening for a chemistry teacher next year. I don’t know what the turnover is in that department, but I know that they have a need for Special Ed teachers. The school has put together a pilot program with National University to offer an Education Specialist credential (allows you to teach Special Ed) and I was asked to attend the information session. Since I already have a credential, it would mean only 8 courses, plus 4 internship classes. The school (company) will pay for tuition, but they want a four year commitment. If you don’t meet the commitment, you’re on the hook for the tuition -- pro-rated. I really don’t want to deal with the hassle of writing papers and putting together portfolios, but it guarantees me four years of employment (with the possibility of moving up into a leadership position). I really think I’ve been black-balled, locally, and have serious doubts that I’ll ever be able to get a job at a traditional school again.
Paddy, are these live online courses then that you are doing, or on-demand types of courses? I apologize for not remembering as I think you explained this before.
Kind of funny. Mrs Sven was looking at the yearly fire abatement notices from the county/fire department and noticed that the lot they say we have to clear by June 1 is about 15 miles west of us. She contacted the county and they said, oops, we sent out about 15,000 notices with wrong information--we’ll be correcting that right away.
Sven -- the courses I teach are live, but not recorded. General Ed courses are recorded to allow students to access them at any time, but because of FERPA (Federal Education Right to Privacy Act), mine can’t be recorded.
Happy Caturday, GN!
Mac --
Thanks so much for putting up the segment with you and Titan; you’re teh Mac cat in teh black hat!
Glad to read that you and Elena are both healing; hope you find a great doc (there are still a few out there).
Good morning and happy Saturday!
Catching up.
Quite the ride, Mr.Schmoe. The video technology nowadays is quite impressive as well and thanks again for covering for Mac.
Physical therapy is never fun, Mac, but something that needs to be done. Grit your teeth and do the best you can with--you and Mrs Mac will be encouraging to each other as you both go through it at the same time.
The Kings got schlonged and bounced out of the playoffs by the Sharks last night. Ducks still in it.
You looked and sounded good in that video, Mac, and the story that Titan tells is inspiring. Can’t wait to show it to Mrs Sven when she gets up this morning.
Question: how difficult of a decision was it for you to invest with Titan? You took a huge risk that paid off not just financially, but…what’s the word here…morally? That’s not quite right but the only thing that pops into my mind right now. You did good.
How’s the job coming, Paddy? This must be your first venture into this type of teaching format--what do you think of it?
I’m feeling very old fashioned in thinking that men and woman, boys and girls, ought to have separate public bathrooms. But then I guess it’s worse than quaint and more in the hater-racist-sexist-you-should-just-die camp to believe that gender is not as malleable and fluid as my betters tell me.
Sven, thanks. It was a hard decision as it really was everything we had and I well know the risks of a VERY underfunded startup. It was harder for Elena and her family as they did not know Titan as I did and the move was very unpopular with them. I had worked with Titan for several years and had come to respect him when he had absolutely no reason to impress me. We were very different of course but I had no question of character. If we failed it would be for business reasons or bad luck, not his character or integrity.
Part of my willingness to take a risk and what I tried to explain to Elena was that I was a manual machinist in a shrinking field and my ability was degrading from memory loss and arthritis in my hands. We were doing alright at the time but I feared in five years or so I would not be able to make enough to pay the house payment and I saw no other way out. The one investment I had planned to help the situation fell apart when my older brother stole about 15k from us. This was what I thought was our best chance, risky as it was. I had planned to work with him for 5 or 6 years but it was soon clear this would be too hard so we agreed on two years. Of course I got less but it worked out well. We never had anything on paper until I left and we had to formalize everything to handle the transfer of my share to Titan. I knew he was a gifted programmer but he surprised me with his business ability as well. He did change our deal a couple of times but always in my favor. He is a good guy and has used his resources and platform to do some really good things helping young people, women’s shelters, and veterans. His faith is very real and while I don’t share it I have always respected his devotion to it. He was on a very dark path and turned himself around. He now tries to help many others to turn around.
I am proud of what he has done and is doing.
Happy Caturday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Fatwa, Sven, and Mac!
Joe -- thanks for the video!
Sven -- I’m glad Mrs. Sven is back. I hope her trip was not too much of a pain.
Mac -- great video and even better story!
Sven -- the job is…interesting. I plan what amounts to 1-2 30 minute lessons a week that I’ll teach to 8 classes. There will be anywhere from 1-4 students who show up in any given class (out of 30 or so who should be showing up). I can usually count on two students showing up to multiple classes. I’m not really addressing their individual goals from their Individual Education Plan (IEP), because I don’t have those goals memorized, I don’t know who will show up, and it is difficult to teach three different things to three different kids in an online setting.
Work is on a year-to-year basis. As a sub in Special Ed, I know I have work through the end of the semester, but what about next year? They may not need a sub at the beginning of the year. They may not have an opening for a chemistry teacher next year. I don’t know what the turnover is in that department, but I know that they have a need for Special Ed teachers. The school has put together a pilot program with National University to offer an Education Specialist credential (allows you to teach Special Ed) and I was asked to attend the information session. Since I already have a credential, it would mean only 8 courses, plus 4 internship classes. The school (company) will pay for tuition, but they want a four year commitment. If you don’t meet the commitment, you’re on the hook for the tuition -- pro-rated. I really don’t want to deal with the hassle of writing papers and putting together portfolios, but it guarantees me four years of employment (with the possibility of moving up into a leadership position). I really think I’ve been black-balled, locally, and have serious doubts that I’ll ever be able to get a job at a traditional school again.
Here’s a picture of what the rolling video setup looks like.
That’s quite the setup, Mr. Schmoe. The quality is stunning.
Paddy, are these live online courses then that you are doing, or on-demand types of courses? I apologize for not remembering as I think you explained this before.
Kind of funny. Mrs Sven was looking at the yearly fire abatement notices from the county/fire department and noticed that the lot they say we have to clear by June 1 is about 15 miles west of us. She contacted the county and they said, oops, we sent out about 15,000 notices with wrong information--we’ll be correcting that right away.
Sven -- the courses I teach are live, but not recorded. General Ed courses are recorded to allow students to access them at any time, but because of FERPA (Federal Education Right to Privacy Act), mine can’t be recorded.
Sven -- just keep reminding yourself: Top. Men.