psoeth

June 3, 2023June 3, 2023

People check their brains when the enter National Parks

People tend to check their brain when they enter a national park or forest. Frankly when ever they leave the city.

I have many experiences working in national forests and seeing how people are just stupid.

Take the recent event in Yellowstone National Park where a visitor picked up a baby elk and took it to the local police station.

Most likely the baby’s cow bedded down the elk as it ate and would come back for it. This is common and protects elk. I’ve seen baby bedded down. Just leave them alone.

This is one of the reasons why the parks and forests have rules keeping people back from animals. It’s to protect the animals but also to protect people. This isn’t a petting zoo.

If you are in a national park, forest or just in the outdoors. Let the animals be. They will be just fine.

April 26, 2023

US Open Cup – Rapids vs Hailstorm

The Colorado Rapids are playing the Northern Colorado Hailstorm in the third round. Let’s go Rapids!

August 30, 2021August 30, 2021

Keep your thoughts with South Lake Tahoe

The Caldor Fire is burning and could burn into South Lake Tahoe tomorrow. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Hope it stays safe

South Lake Tahoe from Tahoe Keys looking West

September 12, 2020

Youth sports are a mixed bag during the pandemic

It’s been a mixed bag during the pandemic for youth sports. Kids need to move and have exercise but for good reason youth sports were shut down this spring to protect them and the community from COVID-19.

However as adults, it’s been a mixed bag across the spectrum. Some haven’t been doing their job to ensure the safety of the kids during this crazy time.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel took a look at it in ‘I just want to play’: $19 billion youth sports industry powers ahead through the pandemic largely unregulated. For the most part, I have seen most of what they have described. But what they have described mirrors society and is not specific to youth sports.

I’ve been proud of what the youth soccer clubs have been doing in Colorado to ensure the safety. The proper protocols have been put in place and for the most part families have been following them to ensure safety and that the kids can continue to play.

However that can not be said for other sports. I have seen baseball teams practicing on fields that are closed by the local county and no one wearing masks when not playing. Coaches should be wearing masks the entire time.

Teams have been traveling out of Colorado to play in tournaments because they could not happen here. This only increases the danger and spread of the disease. This is not good if we want to keep our kids playing.

As parents and responsible adults we need to set the positive example for our kids. Follow the guidelines and the rules and not only will we keep the kids playing but we will eventually kick this pandemic so we can get back to as near to what normal was as possible.

September 8, 2020

September snow in Denver

Well we didn’t get what we expected but at least we got a little snow.

Timelapse of snowstorm in Denver today.

September 7, 2020

Should Colorado schools go to a four day week?

This article in today’s Denver Post raises an interesting question, will urban schools move towards a 4-day week instead of the traditional 5-day week.

I think it is time for a creative look at school in this country and COVID-19 is forcing schools to re-think how they teach our kids. Last spring did not go well for our kids despite the best effort. They liked the online non-synchronous learning as it allowed them to sleep in and work on their projects and work at their own pace and when they work the best.

But the synchronous learning that they are doing this fall is much more impactful on them and I think they are learning a lot more. They still can do their work when they feel they work best, but they are not missing a beat with the online learning. I think they are liking it better.

One thing that they are doing this fall on online learning is Wednesday is a non-teaching day. The students have work to do by a specific time, but there are no scheduled classes. If a student needs some extra help, the teachers have office hours available.

They were already on a shortened day on Wednesdays. The had a half a day and that allowed the teachers to have a day of planning. It would not be a big stretch for my kid’s school district to go to a 4-day school week. It is something that could be beneficial to the kids and save the district funding while trying to keep all the big buildings cool or warm 5-days a week.

What are your thoughts?

September 6, 2020September 6, 2020