OK, I need help.

Myrna wrote: I downloaded some .jpg files sent by the county, and also three .jpg photos sent by Kimberly (for the newsletter), to my desktop. Now I cannot get them 
off and I can't open them, either. For some strange reason, as they are downloaded they lose the period before the .jpg. Instead a %2e and no period appears before the .jpg. Then the photo file has the "e" icon used by Explorer as the file front (usually you can see the photo as an icon). The computer tells me that they are being used by another task, Explorer, and they cannot be deleted until the task is over. Of course, it will never end because they are on the desktop and not on Explorer where they came from.  The files must be locked but I have no idea how to go about unlocking them.  I have downloaded tons of photo files just like these in the past and had no 
problem. Maybe it is my email provider. The photos no longer just automatically open as they used to do before MSN decided to cut back on the service to MAC users. I have to double click on the photo icon and then drag the opened photo to the desktop. Do you have any idea what I can do to get rid of the unwanted photo icons?


Shawn wrote: I would perhaps restart the computer (since it thinks another task is using them), then I would select and change the name on each file to show as the .jpg that you are expecting. That should allow you to open it, delete it, or whatever. I am not sure how the "%2e" would have gotten in there. Let me know if you are still having trouble.

-Shawn


Myrna wrote: I tried that and it still thinks another program is using it. I also changed the names on the files. I even went into the program so the spot where it, usually, lets you change ownership of a file. It won't let me do that either.

Love, M

Todd wrote: The %2e is an HTML translation of the period. Something is wrong with the
way your downloads are happening. Have you tried changing the file association from Explorer to word, or notepad? When you click on the file, is there a "properties" or something like that on the menu that opens? Sorry, my MAC knowledge of the desktop is limited. 

The I Can't Funeral

Thanks to the Trauntveins for this one. As an old (that is very old) school teacher and administrator I thought this one was great!

Thanks again,

Gordon

The I Can't Funeral

Donna's fourth grade classroom looked like many others I had seen in the past. The teacher's desk was in front and faced the students. The bulletin board featured student work. In most respects it appeared to be a typically traditional elementary classroom. Yet something seemed different that day when I entered it for the first time.

My job was to make classroom visitations and encourage implementation of
a training program that focused on language arts ideas that would empower students to feel good about themselves and take charge of their lives.

Donna was one of the volunteer teachers who participated in this project.  I took an empty seat in the back of the room and watched. All the
students were working on a task, filling a sheet of notebook paper with thoughts
and ideas. The ten-year-old student next to me was filling her page with "I Can'ts." "I can't kick the soccer ball past second base." "I can't do long division with more than three numerals." "I can't get Debbie to like me."  Her page was half full and she showed no signs of letting up. She worked on with determination and persistence. I walked down the row glancing at students' papers. Everyone was writing sentences, describing things they couldn't do.

By this time the activity engaged my curiosity, so I decided to check with the teacher to see what was going on but I noticed she too was busy writing. I felt it best not to interrupt. "I can't get John's mother to come for a teacher conference." "I can't get my daughter to put gas in the car." "I can't get Alan to use words instead of fists."

Thwarted in my efforts to determine why students and teacher were dwelling on the negative instead of writing the more positive "I Can" statements, I returned to my seat and continued my observations.

 Students wrote for another ten minutes. They were then instructed to fold the papers in half and bring them to the front. They placed their "I Can't" statements into an empty shoe box. Then Donna added hers. She put the lid on the box, tucked it under her arm and headed out the door and down the hall.

Students followed the teacher. I followed the students. Halfway down the hallway Donna entered the custodian's room, rummaged around and came out with a shovel. Shovel in one hand, shoe box in the other, Donna marched the students out to the school to the farthest corner of the playground.

There they began to dig. They were going to bury their "I Can'ts!" The digging took over ten minutes because most of the fourth graders wanted a turn. The box of "I Can'ts" was placed in a position at the bottom of the hole and then quickly covered with dirt. Thirty-one 10 and 11 year-olds stood around the freshly dug grave site. At this point, Donna announced,  "Boys and girls, please join hands and bow your heads." They quickly formed a circle around the grave, creating a bond with their hands. They lowered their heads and waited. Donna delivered the eulogy.

"Friends, we are gathered here today to honor the memory of 'I Can't.' While he was with us here on Earth, he touched the lives or everyone, some more than others. We have provided 'I Can't' with a final resting place and a headstone that contains his epitaph. He is survived by his brothers and sisters, 'I Can', 'I Will', and 'I'm Going to Right Away.' They are not as well known as their famous relative and are certainly not as strong and powerful yet. Perhaps some day, with your help, they will make an even bigger mark on the world. May 'I Can't' rest in peace and may everyone present pick up their lives and move forward in his absence. Amen." As I listened, I realized that these students would never forget this day. 

Writing "I Can'ts," burying them and hearing the eulogy. That was a major effort on this part of the teacher. And she wasn't done yet. She turned the students around, marched them back into the classroom and held a wake. They celebrated the passing of "I Can't" with cookies, popcorn and fruit juices. As part of the celebration, Donna cut a large tombstone from butcher paper. She wrote the words "I Can't" at the top and put RIP in the middle. The date was added at the bottom. The paper tombstone hung in Donna's classroom for the remainder of the year.

On those rare occasions when a student forgot and said, "I Can't," Donna simply pointed to the RIP sign. The student then remembered that "I Can't"  was dead and chose to rephrase the statement. I wasn't one of Donna's students. She was one of mine. Yet that day, I learned an enduring lesson from her as years later, I still envision that fourth grade class laying to rest, "I Can't."

Else's Address

Else Knudsen (eee@knudsen.mail.dk)

Her Myrne
I am glad you wrote your email-adress, I lost all my adresses, because my computer vent down. Will you ask Strates to send my their adres and also Ross Brown and his wife, they are also working at the Manti temple. They are from Monroe

The Flyn' Utes

January 2006
We're all still here. Brigitta turned 14 this month and had a fun
girl-friend party. She's at the age where she bought mostly clothes with her
birthday money. She has a love of Broadway Musical music. Which is so much
better than other kinds of music she could be enjoying--Phantom is blaring
in our house quite often lately. Dane went on his first Scout campout and
decided that it was cold. We got snow just in time for the campout. He has
used his birthday money to buy himself a tent and backpack for Scouts.
Toren also bought himself a tent. Dane and Toren spent a lot of time trying
to master an X-Box Star Wars game over their last break. They also spent
time playing in the snow, when we got snow, or sliding on the grass on
sleds, when we didn't get snow. Sorina is completely potty trained. She
really did it mostly all by herself. She is still having so much fun
playing "tea party" and with her dollhouse and books.