I think people should just make their own dancing videos like that. In their own home town. And then upload them together. As great as Matt is, why can’t we do it without him?

What do you think?  Upload ‘em all as replies to Matt’s videos on youtube.

APOD: 2008 July 22 - Happy People Dancing on Planet Earth

Dancing Matt made Astronomy Picture of the Day.

I want to know, here, what makes you happy.  One thing. More, if you want, but I want to see a big huge thread of people, even strangers, telling me what makes them happy. I want a happy blog. I want happy people. I want to see what makes people all over the world happy.

Pass this on, if you will, to me this is better than sending me money via Paypal, or clicking on ads I don’t have or whatever.  As much as I would like people to click on photos and go OOO and AAHHH or comment and other things that boost my virtual ego,  I think having a post of people from all over telling me what makes them happy would be something I can always look back upon to make me smile when I need it.

Bookmark this, if you want, if there are good happy thoughts here.  You can use it for a boost, too.

I just did a bio of sorts to catch up people I haven’t seen in years who are on facebook, classmates, myspace, and so on.  If you’re interested in filling in some blanks, there they are.

Having compassion for people you agree with and share the same culture and values as is easy.

The mayor is always spouting about how green our city is.  There’s all sorts of little initiatives that they’ve done to make it green, and most seem to be construction related, or dealing with government buildings.

They neglect one of the biggest things that would make a city green.

Public transportation.

Because of school, I REALLY need to do some shopping tomorrow.   The busses? Not running. But then, the buses don’t run early enough for me to go to clinicals, don’t run late enough for people to go out after school, or work (realistically you’re in deep doo-doo after 4pm).  No one can take a bus to church unless they are a Seventh Day Adventist, since they don’t run on Sundays.  They give free rides to the pool but stop running before the pool closes!

Furthermore, the people who need the buses the most, the elderly, the disabled, and kids, are the ones who are getting slighted.  Sometimes the elderly and disabled can get the door to door service, if they pass the application process, but even that is limited, just like the regular service.

The only thing that has decent service is the trolley. The one set up for tourists. Longer hours, more days.

So I am proud of my city for trying to be green, but disappointed that this is one of many ways they neglect the really powerful ways of making an impact for so many.  Coupled with how their traffic lights are timed in dangerous and deadly ways to make it difficult to cross some streets, they’re catering to those driving in private cars.  They should be encouraging people to walk, take public transportation, or ride bikes.  They aren’t doing any of that, sadly.

Let’s hope Dubuque makes an honest commitment to being green, and beefs up its public transit. If they want to continue to draw business here, they’re going to need to understand that businesses care about their workers and need to know their workers can get around. Businesses that are coming from places with adequate public transportation will be disappointed in the wholely inadequate transit we have here.

Yes, I’d love a train to Chicago, which gets so much ink in the Telegraph Herald. That would be great! But maybe the paper should look into how we’re not truly green if we keep ignoring our public transit needs.  They say not enough people ride but who wants to ride if it takes an hour to get to the west end to shop, and then you have to wait up to an hour to go home when you are done?  Or if you know you can’t use it after work?

Mayor Buol? Reevaluate your green pledge.  Do something for the environment, the city, and those who don’t drive.  I know there is a lot of focus on the richer part of town, but I think improved bus service can improve the lives of people all over Dubuque.  Telling people ‘replace one ride a month’ is MEANINGLESS if you can’t back it up with adequate public transportation.

This week, I start a clinical component of my education, in a nursing home.  So, to prepare us, the school had us watch a 20 minute or so video put out by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.  It was about psychiatric issues in residential care facilities, including dementia.  It was very thorough, blunt, and educational.  (I will admit it was also similar to life with an autistic child.)

Anyways, we had a pop verbal quiz by our instructor, which was as enlightening as the lecture we had, as well as the video.  It was just one question.

“What was the name of the four residents highlighted in the video?”

And this is why I want to stay here. I’ve run into more compassionate people here, than anywhere else.

flower macros and pink boids 005

Originally uploaded by Kibbles

These things are ALL OVER IOWA.

It’s beautiful, it’s wonderous, it is GLORIOUS.  Best thing I’ve come across on the internet in a LONG time.

sunset 002

Originally uploaded by Kibbles

Ted finally got his very own Chatbox 40! We started off with just 24 symbols for now.

At first, he just kept pressing ‘pizza’ over and over. But after one session with his speech therapist, he got back into the swing of things. His therapy sessions, he used it effectively to communicate the few words we put on.

But the real trial was out on the street. We went running our errands and he used it well, even improvising if he didn’t have the right word! He asked to go to the bathroom, get a snack, asked for ice cream specifically, and when sick of a line that was too long, he kept asking me to ’stop’! And in case I didn’t understand THAT, he asked for a break too!

He even uses two word combos, such as “want” and the item, instead of just the item. (Although he asks for that too.)

He’s also started babbling again, more consonants. Less humming and noises. (I also upped the omegas, which always seemed to have a positive effect on using verbal communication.)

Such good results in such short time. I’m not expecting him to use all 400 words right away, but I think we made a GREAT start!

fireworks 001

Originally uploaded by Kibbles

Tomorrow he gets his chatbox! We’re so excited!