One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.
Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.
It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.
That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.
On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments.
No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.
Several years later, one of the students was killed in
Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.
The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.
As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.'
After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.
'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.'
Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.
'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.'
All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.'
Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.'
'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary'
Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists'
That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.
The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Comcast, Delaware Forge Partnership To Bring Computers And Internet To Low Income Children
Comcast and the state of Delaware announced a partnership to bring computers and state-of-the-art Internet service to children from low-income families at low prices during a press conference held Thursday at the Wilmington PAL Center off North Market Street.
Comcast and state officials spoke of how the Internet is the great equalizer for these children, as about a dozen kids worked on computers on the second floor of the Police Athletic League Center.
BATTLE FOR MIDDLE EARTH
Futures Surge Overnight Following Accelerating Central Planning Takeover Of Global Capital Markets
The status quo are going to make their last stand today. The battle will be bloody. The existing social order will be swept away. Will it be today? I don’t know. But it will happen and it will be soon. They have lost control. The debt is strangling the world. There is no way out. It’s us versus them.Anyone just waking up and noticing futures trading just barely below the closing print may get the impression that things are fine. They are not. Here is what has happened overnight as the global central planning cartel does everything in its power to prevent the global market rout, which has so far wiped out $7.8 trillion in market value around the world, from morphing into the catalyst that end the status quo. To wit: ECB resumes buying Italian and Spanish bonds (UniCredit says the bank is losing a “game of chicken” with lawmakers by not holding out for budget cuts and higher taxes, and may eventually need to print money), the G-20 is prepared to take joint measures to stem a global crisis, Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said. Greece’s securities regulator banned all short-selling on the Athens exchange for two months starting today. Taiwan’s government bought stocks yesterday and this morning through four funds it controls. South Korea’s regulator asked pension funds, brokerages and asset-management companies to step up efforts to stabilize the market. South Korea also bans short selling for three months starting August 10. And lastly, rumors of an emergency Fed announcement are ripe. So… after all this global cartel intervention, is it any wonder that futures staged a near vertical move up overnight?
Source
US Offers Deal On School Reform
Delaware might be among the states that ask to forgo rules of the federal No Child Left Behind Act under a policy announced Monday by U.S. Department of Education.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY 8-9-11
“It is true that liberty is not free, nor is it easy. But tyranny – even varying degrees of it – is much more difficult, and much more expensive. The time has come to rein in the federal government, put it on a crash diet, and let the people keep their money and their liberty.”
Bradley Building Demolition Waiting On State Case
Owners allow Caswell to demolish buildings
LEWES — Tearing down the offices of convicted rapist Earl Bradley has turned into a waiting game.
All the pieces are in place for the former BayBees Pediatrics to be torn down. Attorney Robert Gibbs represents Fulton Bank, which after foreclosing on the property has agreed to sell it to an unnamed third party. The buyers have said they intend to demolish Bradley's former office complex.
Community Health Fair Aug. 20 To Include School Supply Give-Aways
EASTON- The Kappa Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. is sponsoring its 4th annual Community Health Fair and School Supply Give-Away 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Idlewild Park Pavilion in Easton. The event is open to the public, free of charge.Probation Officers Are Stretched Too Thin, Union Head Says
The state’s probation officers are overworked and stretched too thin, making their vital public safety role more difficult to fulfill, says the head of the union for parole and probation workers.
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Body Recovered Near Bay Bridge
SANDY POINT The body of an Anne Arundel County man was recovered Monday from the water near the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Bay) Bridge. The man's car was earlier found abandoned on the bridge, authorities said.
Sgt. Jonathan Green of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police said the body of John Field Tooles, 64, of Severna Park, was recovered around 5 p.m.
If You Want To Lose Money, Sell Your Stocks Now
The plunges in the past week in the stock market are gut-wrenching but those who panic and sell off right now are going to be kicking themselves later, says legendary economist and former director of The Vanguard Group Burton Malkiel. The most you should do is rebalance your portfolio.
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Free Packs Of Expo Washable Markers @ Walgreens
Coupons just released a hot coupon good for $2/2 Expo Markers. Click here to visit the coupon site and if needed use the zip code 55555 and click the “Office Supplies” category to find it faster. You can use the coupon to score some pretty sweet deal @ Walgreens:
Buy 2 Expo Washable Markers (2-Pack) @ $.99 each
Click here to print the $2/2 Expo Markers coupon (If needed use the zip code 55555 and click the “Office Supplies” category to find it faster.)
Final cost - $0
Buy 2 Expo Washable Dry Erase Markers (4-pack) @ $1.99
Click here to print the $2/2 Expo Markers coupon (If needed use the zip code 55555 and click the “Office Supplies” category to find it faster.)
Final Cost – $1.98
Starting 8/14 through 8/20, Walgreens will have their 6-Pack Expo Markers on sale for $3.99, which you can get for free after coupons.
Buy 2 Expo Washable Dry Erase Markers (6-Pack) @ $3.99 each
Buy 2 Expo Washable Markers (2-Pack) @ $.99 each
Click here to print the $2/2 Expo Markers coupon (If needed use the zip code 55555 and click the “Office Supplies” category to find it faster.)
Final cost - $0
Buy 2 Expo Washable Dry Erase Markers (4-pack) @ $1.99
Click here to print the $2/2 Expo Markers coupon (If needed use the zip code 55555 and click the “Office Supplies” category to find it faster.)
Final Cost – $1.98
Starting 8/14 through 8/20, Walgreens will have their 6-Pack Expo Markers on sale for $3.99, which you can get for free after coupons.
Buy 2 Expo Washable Dry Erase Markers (6-Pack) @ $3.99 each
- Click here to visit the coupon site and print the $2/2 Expo Markers coupon. If needed use the zip code 55555 and click the “Office Supplies” category to find it faster.
- Stack with the $3.00 off coupon found in the In-Store August Coupon Booklet (will deduct $6)
BREAKING NEWS: Maryland’s AAA Rating From S&P Is Unchanged
ANNAPOLIS (August 9, 2011) - Standard & Poor’s has issued a report dated August 8, 2011, State And Local Government Ratings Are Not Directly Constrained By That Of The U.S. Sovereign. A complete copy of the report is available at http://www.standardandpoors.com/ratings/articles/en/us/?assetID=1245316634562
Standard & Poor’s Maryland analyst stated, “There is no action on MD's rating.” In the report S&P indicates, “A minority of state and local obligors rated by Standard & Poor’s have achieved the highest long-term rating of ‘AAA’. We expect that many of these obligors, particularly those with relatively low levels of funding interdependencies with the federal government or those that, in our view, are likely to manage declines in federal funding without weakening their credit profile, should be able to retain ratings above the U.S. sovereign rating…”
The State Treasurer’s Office has been and will continue to be in contact with all three rating agencies to emphasize the qualitative evaluation factors that should be considered by the rating agencies (e.g., a history of prudent financial management, a highly educated workforce, a strong, diverse economy, a Constitutionally dedicated tax for bond debt service and a fiscal condition that is better than most states) while they assess the impact of federal government actions.
Treasurer Kopp stated, “We are pleased to see that Standard & Poor’s is looking at the states individually, and we believe that Maryland’s prudent fiscal management will be viewed positively by the rating agencies as they review the states.”
The State Treasurer has noted that there was very strong investor demand for Maryland’s general obligation bonds in the recent bond sale on July 27, 2011 as demonstrated by the fact that the true interest cost was among the lowest since 1988. These bonds closed on August 5, 2011. Series A, totaling $71.7 million, was purchased by retail investors, primarily Maryland citizens. Series B, totaling $418.3 million, was purchased by Banc of America Merrill Lynch who had the winning bid of 7 bids. The State also received 8 and 9 bids on Series C and Series D, respectively.
Standard & Poor’s Maryland analyst stated, “There is no action on MD's rating.” In the report S&P indicates, “A minority of state and local obligors rated by Standard & Poor’s have achieved the highest long-term rating of ‘AAA’. We expect that many of these obligors, particularly those with relatively low levels of funding interdependencies with the federal government or those that, in our view, are likely to manage declines in federal funding without weakening their credit profile, should be able to retain ratings above the U.S. sovereign rating…”
The State Treasurer’s Office has been and will continue to be in contact with all three rating agencies to emphasize the qualitative evaluation factors that should be considered by the rating agencies (e.g., a history of prudent financial management, a highly educated workforce, a strong, diverse economy, a Constitutionally dedicated tax for bond debt service and a fiscal condition that is better than most states) while they assess the impact of federal government actions.
Treasurer Kopp stated, “We are pleased to see that Standard & Poor’s is looking at the states individually, and we believe that Maryland’s prudent fiscal management will be viewed positively by the rating agencies as they review the states.”
The State Treasurer has noted that there was very strong investor demand for Maryland’s general obligation bonds in the recent bond sale on July 27, 2011 as demonstrated by the fact that the true interest cost was among the lowest since 1988. These bonds closed on August 5, 2011. Series A, totaling $71.7 million, was purchased by retail investors, primarily Maryland citizens. Series B, totaling $418.3 million, was purchased by Banc of America Merrill Lynch who had the winning bid of 7 bids. The State also received 8 and 9 bids on Series C and Series D, respectively.
"Foreclosure Factory" Draws Critics
It's a one-stop foreclosure shop. Under one roof is a law office, title company, and auction house. They act as their own notaries and can foreclose. Its owner and several of his top attorneys are even VPs at the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc (MERS) which gives them the ability to transfer mortgages from owner to the other. The Boston Globe profiles a local law firm that has attracted criticism from homeowners and consumer advocates for its vertically integrated approach to foreclosure that can speedily ride over homeowners who thought they were in the middle of working out a deal with the bank.
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Signs You're About To Be Laid Off
Layoffs are a sorrowful fact of life in this downsizing-obsessed economy, and the earlier you know you're on the outs, the more time you'll have to prepare. While it's counterproductive to over-analyze your work environment while waiting for the inevitable "Can you step into my office?" overture from your supervisor and the HR lady, keeping your eyes open for obvious tells is a good idea.
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A Letter To The Editor 8-9-11
WILL ERICK SAHLER BECOME RICK POLLIT’S CHIEF OF STAFF?
Wicomico County residents should be concerned about the notion – and it’s more than a rumor if not yet an open secret – that Mr. Pollitt plans to appoint Erick Sahler, (formerly-?) of the Daily Times, as his "chief of staff" to exercise the County Executive’s administrative duties if the County Council allows that position to come into being as Pollitt has requested. Altogether, Mr. Sahler’s qualifications (training and experience) for that position total zilch, but we understand that he is a long time personal pal and political supporter of Rick Pollitt.
He would not be the first denizen of the Daily Times to feed from the County’s trough, joining both the current "public information officer," Mr. Fineran, and a prior one, George Roach, whose actions are a matter of local legend, in that respect.
Stay tuned for more on this topic as the world turns.
Wicomico County residents should be concerned about the notion – and it’s more than a rumor if not yet an open secret – that Mr. Pollitt plans to appoint Erick Sahler, (formerly-?) of the Daily Times, as his "chief of staff" to exercise the County Executive’s administrative duties if the County Council allows that position to come into being as Pollitt has requested. Altogether, Mr. Sahler’s qualifications (training and experience) for that position total zilch, but we understand that he is a long time personal pal and political supporter of Rick Pollitt.
He would not be the first denizen of the Daily Times to feed from the County’s trough, joining both the current "public information officer," Mr. Fineran, and a prior one, George Roach, whose actions are a matter of local legend, in that respect.
Stay tuned for more on this topic as the world turns.
Breaking News
Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs, convicted on two counts of sexual assault of a child, sentenced to life in prison.
From CNN
From CNN
28 Get Rabies Shots After Apt Complex Infested With Bats
28 different people have had rabies shots as a precaution against the horde of bats that have infested a Baltimore-area apartment complex.
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16,000 Cops On London's Streets As Rioting Worsens; Violence Spreads To Other Cities
'Ordinary people have had their lives turned upside down by this mindless thuggery'; PM promises 'even more robust police action'
LONDON — A wave of violence and looting raged across London and spread to three other major British cities on Tuesday, as authorities struggled to contain the country's worst unrest since race riots set the capital ablaze in the 1980s.
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What Does the S&P Downgrade Mean, If France Is Rated Higher Than the U.S.?
The decision by credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s to downgrade the United States [1] after markets closed on Friday may have kicked up political [2] consternation [3] and triggered a market plunge [4], but it also raises important questions about the reliability of credit ratings and, for that matter, the firms that bestow them.
Just over a dozen countries currently have an AAA [5]—or lowest-risk—rating from each of the three main rating agencies: Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s. Until this weekend, the United States was among them. (It’s now roughly on par with Australia, which also has two AAAs and one AA+.)
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