Bah, Hum Bug....

What?.... no holiday spirit, or are you just tired of thinking of new and different things to give those special people in your lives.
I always get bummed out during the holidays because I never have enough money to get the things I want.... or that I think others want for Christmas. Many times I have thought about simply giving gift cards or cash.  Then again, is that too generic, lacking thought and creativity in providing a personalized gift?  Some might call it lazy, but I'm thinking that it's becoming a more practical gift, especially in these hard economic times.

While the federal government debates tax cuts or tax increases, the general public gets caught in the cross-fire. Economic uncertainty looms as a threat of diminished pay and lay-offs.  Good jobs are non-existent and other jobs are only offering minimum wage. Money is tight and sources of income are drying up. Therefore, to quote a phrase from Dave Ramsey, "... cash is king and and the paid off home mortgage is replacing the BMW as the status symbol of choice."

So get those gift cards, give some cash and let your loved ones do with it however they wish. Be creative with the wrapping. One year my brother-in-law wrapped my gift in several different layers of duct taped boxes... half the fun was trying to unwrap it. If you know your friend, spouse, sibling, or significant other enjoys reading, a Barnes & Noble gift card is just the ticket. I can spend hours in Barnes & Noble, browsing through magazines, reading books, and sipping hot chocolate to my heart's content.

Who knows, the person receiving that money may have been praying for a way to pay off a bill or debt. You never know when a person might need that "little extra cash" to make it through. So, don't be bummed, give from the heart and be glad you have enough to give.

What have you learned so far?

So, to gauge where you are in my classes, please reply honestly to this post and tell me what you have learned, if anything, in your class.

C'mon, you had to have learned something so far. When you post, write which class you are in and the period. Before you start typing, take a few minutes and reflect on what you are about to write. You MUST be completely honest, for if you are not honest with yourself you are wasting your time and mine, in an effort to help you take advantage of the learning opportunities in class. BE HONEST.

Thursday September 30, 2010

Hi guys!

I hope you are all well and excited about learning the material in my classes!!!! I'm excited to help you learn!!!

For my Computer Tech students, hang in there.... remember, you can have fun while doing the assignments... compare notes with your classmates and ask them how they do whatever you don't know.

For my Video Production classes, make sure that you analyze whatever movie, TV show, or youtube video you watch. Check for cool camera angles. Always remember that the story is EVERYTHING!!!! If you don't know what the video was about, it failed.

For my Multimedia classes; isn't Photoshop the coolest program you have ever used?!?! Be sure to visit planetphotoshop.com and check out the tutorials.You should be working on your Sadie Hawkins posters.

Well, that's it for now. Have a great weekend!!!

Mr. Erickson