Kulkas and others,
I am avoiding my accounting homework and it made me wonder, what is the worst class you have ever taken and why?
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
The Large Hadron Collider
Well, time for another monologue...
I recently stumbled across a rather interesting new topic: THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER. It's the world's most expensive experiment, and could very well be the end of it. Doom and Gloom yes, but freakin cool!
The Large Hardon Collider is a giant particle accelerator: a 17-mile-long tunnel beneath Switzerland and France. With it, scientists hope to isolate the Higgs boson, the particle that could explain mass. Some worry that the Hardon Collider is too big and could create a black hole that would destroy Earth.
follow this link to a short film by Seed Magazine (no, it has nothing to do with smoking pot - its a prominent science culture publication):
http://www.seedmagazine.com/media/video/lordslow.mov
Although I do warn you, I could only watch it once for fear my head would explode from nerd-language overload...proceed with caution.
I recently stumbled across a rather interesting new topic: THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER. It's the world's most expensive experiment, and could very well be the end of it. Doom and Gloom yes, but freakin cool!
The Large Hardon Collider is a giant particle accelerator: a 17-mile-long tunnel beneath Switzerland and France. With it, scientists hope to isolate the Higgs boson, the particle that could explain mass. Some worry that the Hardon Collider is too big and could create a black hole that would destroy Earth.
follow this link to a short film by Seed Magazine (no, it has nothing to do with smoking pot - its a prominent science culture publication):
http://www.seedmagazine.com/media/video/lordslow.mov
Although I do warn you, I could only watch it once for fear my head would explode from nerd-language overload...proceed with caution.
Life's lighter moments
A story eesmall e mailed me started me thinking about funny things that happened when I was teaching. I know that the family is not composed entirely of teachers, but many of you have been involved in teaching as in Sunday School, helping someone learn a new skill, teaching someone to drive, etc. I wonder if any of you will be reminded of something unexpected that happened to you.
Here's one of my stories:
For some years, I was a substitute teacher. I often worked in the schools where I had been on staff as a music teacher, in Kentfield and Greenbrae. One day I was asked to escort a first grade class to a nearby school. They were to be shifted from their present school assignment beginning the next semester. The administration wanted to get them acquainted with Wolfe Grade, their new school.
We walked together to the school, keeping the mood light. The sun was shining and it was a pleasant walk. We arrived at the grounds of Wolfe Grade School, and I began pointing out its features. "This will be your playground. Here's the classroom you will be in next year. This is the library. We call this lady the librarian." We had been serious just about long enough. So I pointed and said "We call this a book shelf." Laying my hand down, I offered "This is a table".
We walked out of the library into the quad. I waved my arm around, indicating the quad, and began "We call this a .."
But before I could finish my sentence, a little girl did it for me. "Hand", she said. It made my day.
Here's one of my stories:
For some years, I was a substitute teacher. I often worked in the schools where I had been on staff as a music teacher, in Kentfield and Greenbrae. One day I was asked to escort a first grade class to a nearby school. They were to be shifted from their present school assignment beginning the next semester. The administration wanted to get them acquainted with Wolfe Grade, their new school.
We walked together to the school, keeping the mood light. The sun was shining and it was a pleasant walk. We arrived at the grounds of Wolfe Grade School, and I began pointing out its features. "This will be your playground. Here's the classroom you will be in next year. This is the library. We call this lady the librarian." We had been serious just about long enough. So I pointed and said "We call this a book shelf." Laying my hand down, I offered "This is a table".
We walked out of the library into the quad. I waved my arm around, indicating the quad, and began "We call this a .."
But before I could finish my sentence, a little girl did it for me. "Hand", she said. It made my day.
Friday, January 26, 2007
New and old blood
Hey, Uncle Matt, how about finding some time to contact the other Kulkas? As Eesmall told them they would be hearing from you, they must be waiting with bated breath, whatever that is.
Hey Cody
Uncle Matt and I were discussing exactly what it was you did for a living. He thought you were a model, while I was sure it was something in the super hero business. I have a trip to Aruba riding on this, don't let me down.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Funny dining stories
I am suggesting a new topic - stories about unusual eating incidents. Here's mine:
Felix and I were having lunch in a restaurant. It was crowded, so we had taken two seats at the counter. We ordered our food, and it was soon served to us. Mine was something that had spinach in it.
As I was eating, I stuck my fork down and somehow part of what I was cutting into disappeared. I didn't know what had happened until I heard a customer 3 stools down complaining loudly to the man behind the counter that he had been given a fork that had spinach on it. I calmly went on eating, not wanting to stick my nose into other people's business.
What's your story?
Felix and I were having lunch in a restaurant. It was crowded, so we had taken two seats at the counter. We ordered our food, and it was soon served to us. Mine was something that had spinach in it.
As I was eating, I stuck my fork down and somehow part of what I was cutting into disappeared. I didn't know what had happened until I heard a customer 3 stools down complaining loudly to the man behind the counter that he had been given a fork that had spinach on it. I calmly went on eating, not wanting to stick my nose into other people's business.
What's your story?
Monday, January 15, 2007
Wild Predictions for 2007...
I'm a subscriber to Wired Magazine. It's quite an impressive wealth of information ranging everything from technology to culture themes to politics. Every time I sit down to browse over each month's issue, I'm astounded at the knowledge they compile. They literally are tapped in "wired" to this day and age...and even what we should be seeing in the future. I find it inspiring and sometimes altogether dumbfounding. Anyways, I stumbled on Wired's "Wild Predictions for 2007" and I wanted to share. I realize allot of these predictions are improbable and some altogether silly, but there are some that you may find quite haunting, and that may in fact, be closer to becoming reality than we think. Check it out:
The Predictions
Which ones you guys think are possible?
My choice is the one that predicts a big tele network releasing the first sitcom to be exclusively viewed on the internet. Watch for it, it's totally going to happen.
The Predictions
Which ones you guys think are possible?
My choice is the one that predicts a big tele network releasing the first sitcom to be exclusively viewed on the internet. Watch for it, it's totally going to happen.
New Blogger?
So, Uncle Matt, I think I followed directions to get onto a "new blogger" thingy, I even signed in with my google gmail account. However, it says something about the original maker of the blog needing to switch over or something like that. Then whenever it signs me in I have a big exclamation mark and a note about how this blog still hasn't been swtiched over. Does this mean anything? Should I be alarmed? Do I have a virus? Oh wait - I have a Mac :) But seriously, have I done the right thing or screwed something up?
Potential problem
Help! I can't comment! It says I am currently signed in as EESmall, who is not a part of the team!
Hey, Cyclops54
Kulkas
So you are planning a 500 mile bike trip this year. I imagine there are several parts of you which will be sore as a result. Maybe Uncle Matt will share some of his experiences on his bike trips. Lord only knows what motivates you two.
So you are planning a 500 mile bike trip this year. I imagine there are several parts of you which will be sore as a result. Maybe Uncle Matt will share some of his experiences on his bike trips. Lord only knows what motivates you two.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Kulkas
Kulkas
Sage,
It was 37 this morning and there is still snow on the ground from a couple of days ago. This makes morning practice even more fun. Since you slothful bunch of Kulkas can't get the ball rolling on conversation and this family is known for our heckling, I say we call out a certain person to start up some conversation. As I was the one to suggest this, I am volunteering myself. Heckle away.
Sage,
It was 37 this morning and there is still snow on the ground from a couple of days ago. This makes morning practice even more fun. Since you slothful bunch of Kulkas can't get the ball rolling on conversation and this family is known for our heckling, I say we call out a certain person to start up some conversation. As I was the one to suggest this, I am volunteering myself. Heckle away.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Shhhh
Kulkas
What is this - the silence of the lambs? All you hip people, and no new comments for what seems like days since AKulka chimed in again. Good to hear from you, A.
At least tell us how the weather is where you are, or something.
Here it is cold and forecast to be colder than ever. We have been covering our rhododendron and our Meyer lemon every night for what seems like over two weeks. Neill is, that is. Lord knows what we will use to keep them warm the next few nights, with temps in the 20's expected. Thank God for a warm house.
What is this - the silence of the lambs? All you hip people, and no new comments for what seems like days since AKulka chimed in again. Good to hear from you, A.
At least tell us how the weather is where you are, or something.
Here it is cold and forecast to be colder than ever. We have been covering our rhododendron and our Meyer lemon every night for what seems like over two weeks. Neill is, that is. Lord knows what we will use to keep them warm the next few nights, with temps in the 20's expected. Thank God for a warm house.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
One More Thing
Kulkas
Do we have a topic or is everyone discussing distant family and making cheap shots at each other? Not that I would expect anything less from this family.
Do we have a topic or is everyone discussing distant family and making cheap shots at each other? Not that I would expect anything less from this family.
Technical Difficulties
What's one thing you don't like about this Blogger software? For me, it's that it doesn't have a way to tell me where there are new comments. I have to go find them myself.
Honestly, I did try several different weblog hosts before I settled on this one. The others either had obvious shortcomings or were difficult to navigate. Blogger.com seemed pretty reasonable among the choices. There's probably something better out there, but I'm not an expert on this and I didn't find it.
Anyway, now here we are -- a dozen or so of us have created accounts and figured out how to work this thing and I'm realizing it has that one pretty serious shortcoming. One of us keeps a notepad with the number of comments on each topic so they can figure out which have new comments. Computers are supposed to be smart enough to keep track of that for us.
The good news is that Blogger has upgraded itself. I can convert this blog to the new format which uses RSS/Atom.xml. We can get free RSS readers which will poll the site and notify us when and where a new topic or comment shows up. It's just like an email reader. (Fret not, you don't have to know what RSS or Atom.xml is. I can help the Windows people set up an RSS reader and hopefully David and Cholada can help the Mac people.)
But in order to access the new version of weblogs, you have to have a "new" Google account (as opposed to an "old" Blogger account). I hope that when all of you signed up for this, that you created the new Google account.
How will you know?
When you log into Blogger from the main page, which link do you click: Old Blogger or New Blogger? If you aren't sure, go to www.blogger.com and give it a try.
Honestly, I did try several different weblog hosts before I settled on this one. The others either had obvious shortcomings or were difficult to navigate. Blogger.com seemed pretty reasonable among the choices. There's probably something better out there, but I'm not an expert on this and I didn't find it.
Anyway, now here we are -- a dozen or so of us have created accounts and figured out how to work this thing and I'm realizing it has that one pretty serious shortcoming. One of us keeps a notepad with the number of comments on each topic so they can figure out which have new comments. Computers are supposed to be smart enough to keep track of that for us.
The good news is that Blogger has upgraded itself. I can convert this blog to the new format which uses RSS/Atom.xml. We can get free RSS readers which will poll the site and notify us when and where a new topic or comment shows up. It's just like an email reader. (Fret not, you don't have to know what RSS or Atom.xml is. I can help the Windows people set up an RSS reader and hopefully David and Cholada can help the Mac people.)
But in order to access the new version of weblogs, you have to have a "new" Google account (as opposed to an "old" Blogger account). I hope that when all of you signed up for this, that you created the new Google account.
How will you know?
When you log into Blogger from the main page, which link do you click: Old Blogger or New Blogger? If you aren't sure, go to www.blogger.com and give it a try.Please drop a comment in this topic and let me know which account each of you have. Hopefully most of you are on New Blogger. If so, I can convert the blog and we'll be in better shape. If not, your old account can be converted to the new style. But we'll want to get everyone's done before the blog is converted.
Thanks for your patience and understanding.
MK
More Kulkas
Ok I have looked up some addresses - Uncle Matt I nominate you to do the asking as far as inviting more people to this wonderful site (mainly because I haven't the slightest idea how to)
Vit Kulka (Prague) - vkulka@mac.com
Aunt Licy Rosenberg (Arizona) - rosenbergalice@yahoo.com
Kristof Kulka (Prague) - xkrtecek@gmail.com
Filip Kulka (Prague) - Filip.Kulka@seznam.cz
Alright thats all I can find for now!!
Vit Kulka (Prague) - vkulka@mac.com
Aunt Licy Rosenberg (Arizona) - rosenbergalice@yahoo.com
Kristof Kulka (Prague) - xkrtecek@gmail.com
Filip Kulka (Prague) - Filip.Kulka@seznam.cz
Alright thats all I can find for now!!
Friday, January 05, 2007
Patrolling the Border
Kulkas
Our visit in Czechoslovakia about over, we began to drive toward the border to Germany. As I remember, the road paralleled the border quite a distance before arriving at the border crossing point. The sentry boxes spaced out one after another made it easy to know exactly where the border was.
It was a lovely day, and we were in no hurry. We had gone some distance before we saw another vehicle on the road. It was ahead of us, moving at a steady pace. As we came closer, we could see that it was an ambulance. It was not signalling with its light, nor using a siren. Its steady pace continued as we drove behind it. This seemed very strange. What would an ambulance be doing just cruising along the narrow highway for miles like that?
I was really curious, and interested in learning more about it.
Felix, on the other hand, was uneasy.
After some miles, there was a wide place in the road, and the ambulance pulled over to let us pass. I didn’t want to, but Felix left no room for doubt. We dutifully passed the vehicle and went on our way ahead of it, leaving it behind.
I think both of us began speculating that this “ambulance” was actually a border patrol,. There was no way of knowing what was actually inside it. Of course they would not want to be observed by anyone, especially foreigners. Who knows what they would have suspected us of, had there been someone trying to escape across the border?
In hind sight I can see that my reaction was so American. I had been raised in a country where the authorities gave me nothing to fear. It never occurred to me that there could be any danger in the situation.
Felix, on the other hand, grew up in a country which had suddently been overrun by Nazis. He could remember walking along the sidewalk with a friend, seeing a Nazi soldier come toward them, and suddenly having his friend’s face smashed by the butt of the soldier’s gun. He and his sister had lived through an afternoon where there was a sudden commotion on the street as they were walking together, and in fear, they ducked into a movie theater for the rest of the afternoon to stay out of harm’s way.
Felix knew better than to challenge anyone in a situation like the one we were in that day on our way out of Czxechoslovakia, and we drove on to Germany without any further incident.
Our visit in Czechoslovakia about over, we began to drive toward the border to Germany. As I remember, the road paralleled the border quite a distance before arriving at the border crossing point. The sentry boxes spaced out one after another made it easy to know exactly where the border was.
It was a lovely day, and we were in no hurry. We had gone some distance before we saw another vehicle on the road. It was ahead of us, moving at a steady pace. As we came closer, we could see that it was an ambulance. It was not signalling with its light, nor using a siren. Its steady pace continued as we drove behind it. This seemed very strange. What would an ambulance be doing just cruising along the narrow highway for miles like that?
I was really curious, and interested in learning more about it.
Felix, on the other hand, was uneasy.
After some miles, there was a wide place in the road, and the ambulance pulled over to let us pass. I didn’t want to, but Felix left no room for doubt. We dutifully passed the vehicle and went on our way ahead of it, leaving it behind.
I think both of us began speculating that this “ambulance” was actually a border patrol,. There was no way of knowing what was actually inside it. Of course they would not want to be observed by anyone, especially foreigners. Who knows what they would have suspected us of, had there been someone trying to escape across the border?
In hind sight I can see that my reaction was so American. I had been raised in a country where the authorities gave me nothing to fear. It never occurred to me that there could be any danger in the situation.
Felix, on the other hand, grew up in a country which had suddently been overrun by Nazis. He could remember walking along the sidewalk with a friend, seeing a Nazi soldier come toward them, and suddenly having his friend’s face smashed by the butt of the soldier’s gun. He and his sister had lived through an afternoon where there was a sudden commotion on the street as they were walking together, and in fear, they ducked into a movie theater for the rest of the afternoon to stay out of harm’s way.
Felix knew better than to challenge anyone in a situation like the one we were in that day on our way out of Czxechoslovakia, and we drove on to Germany without any further incident.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Nevermind Uncle Matt
Nevermind, I discovered the problem, please disregard my last comment to you Uncle Matt
Kulkas
Kulkas
I just wanted to say Thank You to Uncle David for the link to Leo Kulka information. Being the age that I am I can remember him, although not enough to really feel as though I knew him. It was very interesting to read the information Uncle David had posted, and to those of you who haven't gone to that site I would highly reccomend it. I think I remember his daughters - Claire and Lily? Did I get that right? I actually only remember them from when Grandpa Felix died - Pete and I ran around that mansion with them. (Hey Pete - I believe in Spooks. I Believe in Spooks!)
I just wanted to say Thank You to Uncle David for the link to Leo Kulka information. Being the age that I am I can remember him, although not enough to really feel as though I knew him. It was very interesting to read the information Uncle David had posted, and to those of you who haven't gone to that site I would highly reccomend it. I think I remember his daughters - Claire and Lily? Did I get that right? I actually only remember them from when Grandpa Felix died - Pete and I ran around that mansion with them. (Hey Pete - I believe in Spooks. I Believe in Spooks!)
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The linguist
Kulkas
Hey Uncle Matt. I've been wondering how on earth you became so familiar with Yiddish terms, and even German ones. I suppose you owe it all to your refrigerator. In any case, clue us in.
Hey Uncle Matt. I've been wondering how on earth you became so familiar with Yiddish terms, and even German ones. I suppose you owe it all to your refrigerator. In any case, clue us in.
Where is stinky homeless?
Kulkas
Hello out there. We haven't heard from you in a while. Is it something we said? Actually, I would be interested in your opinion of the concert you and David went to. I doubt that you grew up with the music of Chuck Berry. So it would be good to get your impression of the show. Thanks.
Hello out there. We haven't heard from you in a while. Is it something we said? Actually, I would be interested in your opinion of the concert you and David went to. I doubt that you grew up with the music of Chuck Berry. So it would be good to get your impression of the show. Thanks.
Atten: Older Kulkas, from the oldest one
Kulkas
One of the members of my church recently mentioned in passing an intern who had served the church some years ago, by the name of Warner. That certainly rang a bell with me. I wonder if any of you remember the Warners staying with you when Felix and I were off on one of our trips. I couldn't remember their first names - do you? I don't know if we mentioned it to you, but we always used to call the Seminary, which is right next to the church I now go to, when we wanted a couple we could trust. They recommended several different people at different times, but the Warners stick out in my memory as probably the best.
One of the members of my church recently mentioned in passing an intern who had served the church some years ago, by the name of Warner. That certainly rang a bell with me. I wonder if any of you remember the Warners staying with you when Felix and I were off on one of our trips. I couldn't remember their first names - do you? I don't know if we mentioned it to you, but we always used to call the Seminary, which is right next to the church I now go to, when we wanted a couple we could trust. They recommended several different people at different times, but the Warners stick out in my memory as probably the best.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Kulkas
Kulkas
How the Other Half Lives
It was the first time Felix had felt safe in visiting Czechoslovakia since he and his family had fled so many years ago. An international engineering conference was being held in Prague in the 1960’s. The country was under Communist control. Although Felix had done a lot of traveling as he advanced in his profession, he had never felt comfortable about going back to his home country while it was under Russian rule. He simply did not know if he could be detained there.
Attending an international conference as part of an American delegation seemed like a golden opportunity for him to safely return to visit the land of his birth. He made the arrangements and off we went.
Our plan was to go a few days early, rent a car and tour some of the country. Rather than going all the way into Prague for our last night before the conference started, we thought it would be nice to find a special place to stay, perhaps in the forested area outside the city. We checked our guide book and were delighted to find a lodge located right in the forest. Of course Felix spoke Czech, so he had no problem phoning and making reservations for us. We were all set for an lovely evening.
We found the accomodations to be quite as welcoming as described by the guide book. My guess is that it had originally been a hunting lodge belonging to some wealthy people. It was elegantly appointed, with a large gathering room on the main floor and a wide, curving staircase leading to the bedrooms upstairs.
We had a light supper downstairs, and retired to our room. Very comfortable it was, providing us with a restful night before the onslaught of the business of the convention.
The next morning I had gotten dressed and wandered to the stairs, ready to see what sort of breakfast was offered. To my surprise, there were several young ladies descending the stairs. They stopped, looking at me as I went past them. I felt I was being sized up.
I’m guessing that this lovely lodge was actually being used to provide a certain sort of recreation for gentlemen in the higher levels of the government. Felix and I had speculated about what life under communisim would be like. Somehow this was not the part we had pictured. Life does hold its surprises.
How the Other Half Lives
It was the first time Felix had felt safe in visiting Czechoslovakia since he and his family had fled so many years ago. An international engineering conference was being held in Prague in the 1960’s. The country was under Communist control. Although Felix had done a lot of traveling as he advanced in his profession, he had never felt comfortable about going back to his home country while it was under Russian rule. He simply did not know if he could be detained there.
Attending an international conference as part of an American delegation seemed like a golden opportunity for him to safely return to visit the land of his birth. He made the arrangements and off we went.
Our plan was to go a few days early, rent a car and tour some of the country. Rather than going all the way into Prague for our last night before the conference started, we thought it would be nice to find a special place to stay, perhaps in the forested area outside the city. We checked our guide book and were delighted to find a lodge located right in the forest. Of course Felix spoke Czech, so he had no problem phoning and making reservations for us. We were all set for an lovely evening.
We found the accomodations to be quite as welcoming as described by the guide book. My guess is that it had originally been a hunting lodge belonging to some wealthy people. It was elegantly appointed, with a large gathering room on the main floor and a wide, curving staircase leading to the bedrooms upstairs.
We had a light supper downstairs, and retired to our room. Very comfortable it was, providing us with a restful night before the onslaught of the business of the convention.
The next morning I had gotten dressed and wandered to the stairs, ready to see what sort of breakfast was offered. To my surprise, there were several young ladies descending the stairs. They stopped, looking at me as I went past them. I felt I was being sized up.
I’m guessing that this lovely lodge was actually being used to provide a certain sort of recreation for gentlemen in the higher levels of the government. Felix and I had speculated about what life under communisim would be like. Somehow this was not the part we had pictured. Life does hold its surprises.
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