My Initial Podcasts

I am taking a class on how to create my own Podcasts and have made a couple of small Podcasts that sampled a variety of technology.

The first one is a short narrative about the view outside my front window, the second one is a interview with a person who served in the Peace Corps.

Here is the Interview with a Peace Corp Volunteer

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Are you Überglücklich ?

Find a technique to move yourself forward.

I was reading a friend's blog who is teaching English in Honduras. She hadn't posted in a while which made me worried. After some time she replied to my email saying things were going well, its just she hadn't gotten around to posting. It reminded me of my blog which hadn't received a post in a long while. What is the solution to maintaining regular posts? Maybe this is it... have a "key", mine being this great list of German words and their meanings explained. [NO -THIS DIDN'T WORK. I ADDED ENTRIES FOR THREE SESSIONS, THEN STOPPED. THE SEARCH CONTINUES. I THINK ITS ABOUT HAVING SOMETHING TO SAY -THAT YOU THINK OTHERS WILL BE INTERESTED IN.] So the plan is to regularly post once or more a week using the 250 + words, from a list of DW.de's http://www.dw-world.de/ list of 250+ words that explain a bit of Germany. Here we go, the first word:

Über

The German language certainly has a history with the "über" in its vocabulary - with some positive concepts of the word in combination with others having gone awry, like Nietzsche's philosophical idea of the "Übermensch" - or prime example of a human being - being used for Nazi propaganda. Then there's "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles" - the opening words from the "Deutschlandlied," composed by Joseph Haydn, which has been used wholly or in part as Germany's national anthem since 1922. But then, there are the much more pleasant "über" words, like "überglücklich." Überglücklich means really, really, really happy - or beyond happiness!

( From http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_imagegallery/0,,2235205_page_1_lang_2,00.htmlüberglücklich )

Learn About a Website (and Similar Ones) via serversiders.com

How popular is a given website? What web site Domains are similar in size to the one you are interested in? What web site Domains are linked to the web site?

The answers are easily out there. Merely go to http://serversiders.com and enter the website you are interested in. Here is an example. After reading below, try it on your own. This could be very useful whether you are working for a company and want to see what products your competitor's are using, you want to invest, or you just want to learn more about the web.

For example, today, (May 14 2010), searching for the Oracle.com web site yields this partial list of information:

"Oracle.com is the 810:th largest site within .COM. The programming language used on the site is Java and the main language used for the site's textual content is English. Oracle is using the javascript library Prototype. The server that hosts oracle.com is located in Englewood, United States. The server is located on the NTT America, Inc network.

Webserver: Oracle-Application-Server-11g Oracle-Web-Cache-11g/11.1.1.2.0 That's a good sign: They are using their own product (11G) to host their site as opposed to a competitor's product.

Domains with reciprocal linking with oracle.com

• Traffic rank 650. sun.com
• Traffic rank 710. java.com
• Traffic rank 781. mysql.com
• Traffic rank 61266. javafx.com

Domains hosted on the same IP-address as oracle.com (207.152.124.10)

• Traffic rank 169. hulu.com
• Traffic rank 807. nypost.com
• Traffic rank 1267. oracle.com
• Traffic rank 1413. theage.com.au
• Traffic rank 1477. edmunds.com
• Traffic rank 7107. pvrcinemas.com
• Traffic rank 9556. etonline.com
• Traffic rank 10807. brisbanetimes.com.au
• Traffic rank 19289. smartsource.com
• Traffic rank 127527. ati.com

Domains similar to oracle.com

• Traffic rank 21. microsoft.com
• Traffic rank 3749. sap.com
• Traffic rank 265146. cognos.com
• Complete list of sites similar to oracle.com

Domains being linked from oracle.com

• Traffic rank 2. facebook.com
• Traffic rank 11. twitter.com
• Traffic rank 6321. on24.com
• Traffic rank 6523. netbeans.org

"

Started an additional Blog

My other blog is http://steveksdsenglishskills.blogspot.com/ and is designed to aid in English Pedagogy (how to teach English). it will also have information on how to learn English on ones own. At least that's the plan.

I plan to start adding more content to this steveksds blog soon on the lines of its earlier posts.

Here's to an improving 2009.

So you think you know the countries of Europe? How about Kalmykia?

The news had an article about it. http://www.russiatoday.com/features/news/32683

or see http://www.answers.com/topic/kalmykia

What is interesting is this is the only mainly Buddhist country in Europe. They've had a mainly harsh life yet seem to be making a comeback. And they have their own language and script http://www.answers.com/topic/clear-script Maybe National Geographic will have a TV program on them. Fiction is ok, but the real world can outdo fiction any day of the week.

Their language is shared with Western Mongolia even though they are far from Mongolia. Their written language has been written in multiple methods so its continuity has been disrupted and for a while the children weren't even taught their language. Here is a little more information on their language:
http://www.answers.com/topic/kalmyk-language As a Buddhist saying goes, "Life is so hard, how can we be anything but kind?"

Teaching the Language of the American Dream Jefferson Award Winner: Marcy Jackson

BE8 This story is from http://cbs5.com/jeffersonawards/Jefferson.Awards.Jackson.2.809237.html

The bottom line is there is a need for ESL teachers. People will be more successful and happy if they can speak English. You can learn how to teach it. Here is a great program in the SF Bay Area You can complete this program and teach in addition to your current job or you can make teaching ESL your new profession.

There is something energizing about improving people's live, doing something useful. This seems to be a normal human quality.

Could this be more rewarding that your current job?
Here is the text of the video:
OAKLAND (CBS 5) ―

"I would like to order chicken and Coke, please," Ru Chen told the server at a busy Oakland cafe.

Ordering lunch in English is second nature for her now. But when she immigrated to the Bay Area from China three years ago, she struggled to adapt.

"I call my friends every night," she explained tearfully. "And they said, 'Ok, if you don't feel comfortable, come back.'"

She said The English Center changed her outlook.

"I need to learn English, I need to start my new life right away," she said.

Marcy Jackson co-founded The English Center for Women 31 years ago with four colleagues. At the time, she was teaching English to foreign students.

"Women were underrepresented, so we thought, we were young and entrepreneurial, and thought, 'We could do something about this!'" Marcy said.

The English Center now teaches women and men, and trains new immigrants in reading, writing, American culture and job skills. It's outgrown its first home at Mills College.. and now holds classes at Oakland's Jack London Square.

Over the years, the English Center has taught five thousand students from more than 75 countries. Marcy says every year more than 80 percent of the graduates get jobs.

"I'm constantly surprised," said Marcy. "My own vision for what people can do is expanded."

Silvia San Miguel now works in the Oakland city administrator's office, linking new immigrants to city services. But when she arrived from Mexico in 1993, she felt paralyzed with fear.

"I just didn't want to go anywhere," Silvia said. "I didn't want anybody talking to me. Even on the phone. I didn't want to answer the phone because maybe someone spoke English. I didn't know what to say."

Silvia says the English Center made her feel like she wasn't alone.

She explained, "We all share that feeling, you know, we want to learn, it's not as easy as we thought it would be. But we're all trying really hard and support each other."

Yelena Glikman barely spoke English when she arrived from Russia in 1989, but she credits Marcy's nonprofit for giving her the confidence to pursue her dream to open a Russian language school in Berkeley.

"It's happened. Never think that it can happen like this," Yelena said.

Marcy added, "Giving someone the ability to see a future that'll benefit them and their families is very powerful. It's constantly inspiring."

For equipping thousands of immigrants for their new life in America, this week's Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to Marcy Jackson.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Andreas Beck: an example of living well

BE7 This story is from http://www.dw-world.de/)

This post is dedicated to Bill King, the great Bay Area Sports announcer.

Why Bill King? Bill King was a Renaissance man. He saw things like cars as objects to fulfill a task, nothing more. He had more important things to do like learn Russian so he could understand the Russian ballet.

Well if you read the text of this article, you'll learn about Andreas Beck. Andreas is an energetic, thoughtful, talented soccer player who makes about 4 million USD a year but has better things to do than care about the car he drives. (Read the text below for funny details on this point)

The real problem with "bling" it can be a distraction, and often an actual burden. Has anyone been better off flashing more "bling"? Andreas here is a thoughtful person who provides an example of a life being well lived. Reading about guys like him can provide needed motivation. Temporarily works for me anyway....

Here is the text of the TV interview with Andreas Beck:

Andreas Beck is a defender who feels right at home going forward. The national under-21 player was a choice pick of Hoffenheim coach Ralf Rangnick. Already, the young defender is key to the team's strategy.

DWTV:

"Congratulations, Andi – two games, two wins. You’re topping the table. It’s a dream start for a newly promoted team, isn’t it?"

Andreas Beck:

Definitely. Who would have believed it at the start of the season? We knew that we had some really good qualities, but now we also know that we haven’t discovered all of them yet. We’re looking forward to the next game, and enjoying being on top for the moment.

DWTV:

Every 150th resident of Hoffenheim is a Bundesliga player. Pretty amazing, don’t you think?

Andreas Beck:

You could say that again. Hoffenheim really doesn’t have many residents, but the surrounding region is actually very densely populated. Lots of people are moving there, and fans are popping up all over the place.

Hoffenheim is the youngest side in Germany's top division. Andi Beck is just 21. Luiz Gustavo is also 21. Demba Ba is 23.... just a little older than the team average. And this is the man who helped make it all happen: Dietmar Hopp. The co-founder of German software giant S-A-P has invested tens of millions in the club.

DWTV:

You have a billionaire patron in Dietmar Hopp, and you’ve had to swallow a lot of criticism for that, haven’t you?

Andreas Beck:

Yes. I can’t really describe it. Promotion came incredibly fast. We went from from the regional leagues all the way to the top. And fans from other teams probably don’t want to accept that. But I’m just happy to be here. I’m enjoying it, and I really admire Dietmar Hopp, what he's accomplished, and will probably continue to accomplish. He has my deepest respect. And I really can’t understand why rival fans have a problem with it.

At their first home game last Saturday, Ralf Rangnick’s players beat Mönchengladbach to stay at the top of the table. And Beck kept Germany rep, Marco Marin, scoreless. The Hoffenheim defender had more possession than anyone else on the field.

DWTV:

You’re a right back, but you saw the ball more than anyone else on your team. Does the term ‘defender’ really describe what you do?

Andreas Beck:

Sure it does. My primary job is to keep the opponent from scoring a goal. But as a right wing back you also have to set up plays. This kind of model – this philosophy – also means that the left and right backs get involved, and in that sense it isn’t all that strange when they get loads of possession. I like to have the ball. I don’t have a problem with it. Though, this is the first I’ve heard that I had the ball most in the last game.

DWTV:

You have a light Swabian accent. You weren’t born in Germany, though, but in deepest Siberia...

Andreas Beck:

In western Siberia. Novosibirsk is the closest city. I was born in Kemerovo but I don't remember it. I was born there, and my parents both grew up there. In 1990, we emigrated to Germany. In that sense, there’s definitely a German-Russian identity divide, but I mostly feel very German.

DWTV:

Maybe it’s just a prejudice, but reading Nietzsche is not how you expect a young professional footballer to spend his free time. But you recommend books like that on your website.

Andreas Beck:

It isn’t like I carry around philosophy books or psychology books for a little light daily reading – Freud, Nietzsche or others. But I’m interested in topics like these, and I had a phase where I did some heavy reading. It isn’t like I do it every day, though, because it can be a pretty tough slog.

DWTV:

In the parking lot there are a lot of fairly new cars – some of them luxury cars. And in the midst of them...pardon my terminology....is a twenty-year-old rust-bucket!

Andreas Beck:

What can I say? I’ve been driving it for about three years now. It’s a Saab 900 Turbo that’s two years younger than I am. It was built in '89. I can’t just get rid of it. It does what it’s supposed to, and always gets me from A to B.

Sometimes it’s a little annoying because it doesn’t have a radio or an air conditioner. But I like to drive it. I’m keeping it for the time being.

Andi has his feet planted firmly on the ground. His career began in Stuttgart: twice champions in the juniors, and then went straight to the Bundesliga. Andreas Beck developed an early taste for victory.

Andreas Beck:

It was pretty crazy. I joined Stuttgart at 13. It was a dream come true. I had 8 great years there. Stuttgart will always have an important place in my heart, both the city and the club. Training in the juniors was terrific. In those successful years we won two junior championships, and then the German title in the pros.

In spite of that, I have to say that moving to Hoffenheim has been the right move to make in terms of development. And I’m really happy it’s worked out.

DWTV:

You’re the most expensive German player on the squad. Hoffenheim is paying you an estimated three million euros. What does it mean to a player to know they're worth 3 million?

Andreas Beck:

It’s an honor for the player. But over the course of time, you want to prove why you’re there, and why they chose you.

I just try to live up to my market value with good performances, by giving a hundred per cent and then some. I think I have a lot of potential and at some point I want to be worth even more.

DWTV:

You speak Russian. Do you know what they call a front-runner?

Andreas Beck:

Sorry ... nope.

DWTV:

What does that mean?

Andreas Beck:

I just apologized for my poor Russian, and said that Hoffenheim was in first place.

DWTV:

I wish you all the best.

Andreas Beck:

Thanks