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Literacy Learning Is

In Childrens' Literacy, K-12 Education, Music, Popular Culture, Television, ThatOne WORD, Thats' Life on May 10, 2011 at 6:09 PM

ThatOne, here! The world’s bulldog Champion Fur Children’s Literacy! I’m here today as a public service to promote children’s literacy. Not only do I want everybully to be able to read and write, I want everybully to be whole, literate, thinking People all the time. ‘Cause I’m the Champion Fur Children’s Literacy!

People should be thinking all the time
Thinking all the time
Thinking all the time

Thanks, Eddie.

What'choo talkin' 'bout, That?

Well, Literacy is the ability to read and write.

Dictionary.comdefines literacy as:  

So is simply knowing how to read and write enough to make one a literate Person?

With reference to textbooks, an ancient writer once wrote:

“To the making of many books there is no end, and much devotion [to them] is wearisome to the flesh.” Eccl 12:12

Even way back then, there were way too many cooks– uhp– I mean books. Yes, textbooks contain a wealth of important information. They’re useful. I love them! But really, with the vast array of subjects and topics and interesting things to do and know today, how much time could you reasonably devote to reading them all?

Visited the library lately? Just look at all the books on the shelves there already. Do you think reading just one book on any one subject would be enough?

And what about your schools and teachers? Can they be expected to provide all the knowledge and information you need to help you become a successful, contributing member of today’s rapidly changing, increasingly integrated, global society? 

No.

That’s why literacy learning is so important. Literacy, in all its aspects, involves Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking and Thinking. Literacy learning completely integrates the whole Person and the totality of  life’s experiences.

Being a literate Person involves more than mastery of the conventions of reading and writing. It’s more than merely being able to read and write. Literacy is the ability, together with a strong, compelling desire, to learn how to learn.

A literate Person is, in a WORD, a thinking person. They not only know where to get answers to their own questions, they know how to get them as well. They have learned how to learn. They also appreciate learning is a lifelong phenomenon. It quite literally is the never ending story. But it doesn’t have to be all work. Opportunities fur learning are ubiquitous. That means everywhere present!

Don’t believe me?  Okay, so what are you looking at right now? Now think about it– Everything has a beginning. That shirt you’re wearing has a maker. Every building has an architect. Every book has an author. Every word has a meaning. Every answer brings up another question. That’s being a literate Person.

Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Pedagogy of Oppressd Ppr)

Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire forcefully articulated that genuine learning can only occur within a context that is meaningful and relevant to the learner. Literacy, he insisted, is an active phenomenon, deeply linked to personal and cultural identity.

Its power lies not in a skill based ability to read and write, but rather in an individual’s capacity to put those skills to work to make meaning fur his or her self in the world. 

Literacy involves Reading. Writing. Listening. Thinking. And Speaking. I’m always modeling literacy behaviors. Each are grrreat and fun to do. Here. Take a look at what I just wrote! Umma call this

Literacy Seuss!

You can do them all alone.
You can do them in a group.
You can do them while at school,
When at work or on the stoop.
You can only just do this
or you can just do that
Read and Write combine the pair
It doesn’t matter Let them stare
You are thinking “I don’t care!”
You can Listen, Think and Speak all the time
and any where!

Did I sound like Dr. Seuss? Maybe just a little bit? BOL! See? Literacy rocks!

That’s why I am your enthusiastic and tireless Champion fur Children’s Literacy! And why I’m always sniffing out interesting and fun ways to encourage Reading, Writing, Listening, Thinking and Speaking.

WORD dogRead my blog. Click on the highlighted links and read some more about the People, places and things I blogged about! Read what others are saying about what they’ve read.

WORD dogWrite a comment on my blog. Shoot me an e-mail. Follow me on. Friend me on Look! Four fun avenues fur you to write. And the best part–I lub to read what you write!

WORD dogListen to the music and the videos I link or actually include in my blog, and to what others are saying about my blog or the content.

WORD dogThink about the things you’ve read about on my blog. What have you learned? What have you learned about what you already know? Any questions? Think about the answers to your questions. Need more information? How would you go about finding it?

WORD dogSpeak talk about what you read with others. Each one Teach one. Teach someone else what you’ve learned. Speak about what you think with your parents, teachers, and friends. Even your furriends! BOL! You just might have your very own personal WORD Reader dog sittin’ right there next to you. Or lyin’ there. BOL!

Reading, Writing, Listening, Thinking, and Speaking. So much better than just knowing how to read and write!

Goodwill energies I project
Upon each and ever one of you
Each and every day

“And there came to be evening and there came to be morning..”

That’s life today!

The Best Laid Plans

In Popular Culture, Television, ThatOne On TV, ThatOne WORD, Thats' Life on May 6, 2011 at 3:53 PM

If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't) by Betty White: Book CoverA couple weeks ago She learned Betty White was going to be hosting a book signing at Barnes and Noble to promote her new book

Tickets were to be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis at 9am. Unless of course, you were a BN employee which means they got distributed to you first. But you didn’t hear that from me.

The plan was to get to the mall at 6am. Correctly, She had anticipated there would be those who would camp out overnight to secure the coveted tickets, but you know what they say about the best laid plans. We didn’t get there until 8am.

This was the back of the line where we were at 8am.

Needless to say we did not get event tickets. Instead we were given “stand by” ticket numbers 565 and 566. Our chances of getting to actually meet the beloved star was, as Jeannie in I Dream of Jeannie once put it “Vetch and vetch natchie.” As an aside, there was a noticeable and puzzling lack of diversity present as well.

At any rate, the weather, at least, was grrrreat– pawfect bulldog weather, cool and breezy. She parked the Thatmobile in the sun fur my comfort but honestly, the warmth from all the Goodwill Energy we engendered was more than enough to make up fur the temporary chill factor.

As usual we met some grrreat folks, namely the beautiful Abby, her beautiful daughter, Kim, and Judy, who were ahead of us on line. Ahead of them on line was a particularly chatty fellow who kept us abreast of what to expect almost every step of the way to the Barns and Noble entrance door. Kim’s step daughter has a new EBD puppy!

Stay tuned!

Truth be told, Her head would probably eXplode if we got to meet Betty White. After all, She’s been an appreciative and enthusiastic fan fur years.

She grew up especially enjoying her many, frequent appearances on her third husband’s popular TV game show, Password. Password was the Jeopardy! of the 1960’s back in the day.

She was also one of the very first women in television to have her own regularly scheduled show, The Betty White Show, in 1954.

Ms. White has won seven Emmy awards and her work has been honored with 20 Emmy nominations over the course of a career that has spanned virtually uninterrupted and untarnished by the stain of scandal for over 70 years!

Betty White Ludden was born 89 years ago on January 17, 1922 in Oak Park, Illinois. She’s managed to maintain a perennial, dignified presence in show business since 1939! She is an actress, comedian, author, and former game show host best known for her television roles as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls, not to mention those regular, recurring roles on Mama’s Family, Boston Legal, even the popular CBS daytime TV drama, The Bold and the Beautiful.

These days, the seemingly irrepressible Betty White is starring as Elka Ostrovsky in the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland with co-stars Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick.

Next to Tina Fey, She thinks Betty White is probably the most fortunate, the most admired woman in show business!

In May 2010, Betty White once again made television history when she became the most senior person ever to guest-host Saturday Night Live! The broadcast was a ratings juggernaut and garnered the nation’s most beloved octogenarian a Primetime Emmy Award.

Betty Bucks for Balls Spay Neuter Campaign! GET MORE INFO!

Betty White is revered, respected and recognized the world over as a tireless champion fur animals and animal rights through her affiliation with animal charities such as Actors and Others for Animals and the Morris Animal Foundation. She would have gotten a big kick outta seein’ me at her book signing, I am so sure.

With the death of Rue McClanahan in June 2010, White is the last surviving Golden Girl.

Betty White has no children.

It would have been a super sensation fur Her to have visited with Betty White. It probably would have been a thrill fur Ms. White as well. After all, it’s not every day one gets to be endorphinated by The Endorphinator! In his Thatmobile.

Oh well. So much fur best laid plans…

Goodwill Energies I project
Upon each and every one of you
Each and every day!

“…and there came to be evening and there came to be morning…”

That’s life. Today.

The History Of The Thatmobile

In Animals and Pets, Brachycephalic Breeds, Bulldog Health, English bulldogs, ThatOne WORD, Thats' Health, Thats' Life on April 19, 2011 at 5:30 PM

Over and over I get inquiries about my Thatmobile. The one I have now is actually my third Thatmobile. The first one She got at a yard sale fur $5.00. It was a regular, used, baby People stroller.

As you can plainly see, I got a lot of use out of this stroller. A lot! But as you know, I like to go to the beach where there is sand and parks where there’s rough terrain. So in July, 2009 fur my second birthday, She got me this:

Suspension motion on the Back Trail Pet StrollerI simply cannot effuse enough in praise of this stroller. I lubbed lubbed Lubbed it! All my most favorite, fondest and happiest times took place with me in this stroller!

The Back Trail Pet Stroller had a “thick and sturdy steel collapsing/folding frame, two leashes and a removable/washable comfort pad. Rugged and beefy rubber pneumatic tires that really negotiated sand and nature trails well, a specially designed spring-assisted rear suspension that performed like shock absorbers and rear brakes” that effectively prevented the 3-wheel stroller from rolling when unattended.Handle and cup holder/tray features

Rear features of the back trail strollerFront features of the all-terrain strollerThe nylon fabric with white, implemented mesh kept me protected from the sun and afforded me some privacy when I needed to be concealed from pupperazzi. She lubbed the super thick, cushioned ergonomic handle that made pushing the stroller easy and comfortable as well as the convenient dual cup holder and storage compartment that was great fur our iBone.

The all-terrain pet stroller also featured a bottom storage compartment, a rear zippered opening with a small window and a front step and front retractable awning/opening so I could get in or out of the stroller either way and mostly by myself! That was bully cool!

The minuses:  It was a bit difficult to immediately fold. Sometimes you had to try a couple times, and you couldn’t easily put anything in or take things out of the basket underneath once I was in the stroller. The tires needed to be inflated often which was a chore, especially after the stroller languished in the hot car after several days. But it folded flat in the car and was not especially heavy.

The Back Trail all-terrain pet stroller was cool to look at, with a compact, square shape She found appealing, and the reflector racing strips added safety value in the daytime and at night. They looked cool. We especially lubbed the blue color, too!

This stroller was manufactured in China and the model has been discontinued. I learned all of this after my stroller was stolen on June 21, 2010 just shy of my having it one year. Otherwise, I would have reordered this one again. I still highly recommend it!

I needed a new Thatmobile right away to continue my therapy and Pet Ambassador work. I’m especially heat intolerant due to the fact that I am a brachycephalic breed. Heat exhaustion is a real concern, neither can I keep up a brisk pace fur minutes and minutes on end, so the stroller is really necessary equipment fur the active bulldog who is always on the go. Like me!

So She quickly got me this:

The good things about this stroller is that it is larger and longer, and the tires don’t need air. The front wheel can be fixed or swivels. However, you cannot fix it in the more useful outward position as shown below. It can only be fixed in the inward facing position pictured above.

Also, if you fix the front wheel like this it will not fold flat fur storage.

The Pet Gear stroller boasts a 60 lb capacity but I weigh 44 lbs and there is just enough room fur me. Two small dogs, like silky terriers could fit comfortably; two bulldog puppies, maybe, but not two adult bulldogs.

It collapses quite easily, however a design flaw is that the lock latch does not reach the latch extension, so your stroller will open and not stay flat if you store it on its side in the car like She does. She secures mine in the car with a bungee cord.

The basket is longer than the Back Trail stroller but it is also more shallow and positioned too close to the front wheel, so if you put anything in it, it causes the basket to rub against the front wheel while the stroller is in motion. My basket has a hole where it’s been worn through by the front wheel.

The Back Trails had a steel safety rail in front which was also convenient fur resting my heavy head. Pet Gear does not so do not use this stroller without leashing your dog in. Also this stroller is completely unsuitable fur excitable dogs who cannot be relied on to sit still. They can tumble out or even jump out of this stroller.

This stroller can be ordered online through an independent dealer who contracts with . We did have issues which was a bit of a frustration, but the dealer was quick about resolving them.

Many furriends travel in folding canvas wagons. They’re useful. I like them. But my Thatmobile is welcomed at the mall, in bookstores, in schools and hospitals, on the sidewalks– The Thatmobile stroller is more practical fur my lifestyle. The canvas wagon may work best fur yours.Fold It & Go Wagon with Canopy - Blue

So there you have it and now you know the history of the Thatmobile! BOL!

Goodwill Energies I direct
Toward each and every one of you
Each and every day.

❝And there came to be evening and there came to be morning…❞

That’s life today.

Verses In English Bulldog On World Peace

In ThatOne WORD on April 18, 2011 at 6:34 PM

“And That Bulldog will actually reside for a while with the male lamb..,

and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down..,

…and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together;

and a mere young Person will be leader over them.” Isaiah 65:6

Goodwill Energies I project
On each and every one of you
Each and every day!

“And there came to be evening and there came to be morning…”

That’s life today!

♫♪♫When I’m Not Lickin’ My Two Feet..!

In Bulldog Health, Childrens' Literacy, English bulldogs, K-12 Education, Thats' Life on April 6, 2011 at 8:20 AM

A few months ago, a concerned bully brought this observation to the NATION:

How about a bully who licks too much? Bubs licks her paws constantly.

Ahh, foot lickin’. I do it. You do it. Bullys all do it. Foot lickin’.  I do it so much, I wrote a song about it. Like’ta hear it?  Here it go:

I’m— a— Bulldog with a first name it’s T * H * A * T  –That!
I’m a bulldog with a second name it’s One O * N * E — One!
Oh.., I like to eat and sleep and Tweet
When I’m not lickin’ my two feet—
And there you have it. Plain to see
I’m T * H * A * T *O * N * E

Granted, foot licking looks pawsitively awful to People, especially People who don’t know us very well and even the who do live with and love us. It sounds pretty nasty, too. People wonder why we do it. What are we doing?  Is there something wrong with us or worse, is it harmful?

Yes. And could be!

Foot licking is a sign. It’s your body tryin’ ta tell you somethin’ and you need to pay attention! It’s a symptom. And it’s a symptom that may take you in many directions. But first, let me share a little of my own story. *Cue violins*

Hi.  I’m ThatOne, and I am– a foot licker.

Hi, That.

sites/default/files/bulldog_1.jpg

I was an obsessive, noisy, sloppy  foot licker, presenting with throaty umphings, wet, slobbery sounding slurping, fly biting behavior and tongue flicking, and then almost manic, obsessive attention to my feet and one foot in pawticular.

I could go on maniacally licking my feet for hours if She’d ever let me. Which She NEVER did! She knew right away when I started presenting these behaviors something serious was going on up in here but She didn’t panic and She didn’t go running off to the vet.  She always does a few things in this order first:

  • The benign wait-and-see
  • Internet/Research
  • Common sense at home, OTC (over-the-counter) remedy
  • Vet.

At first, She decided I was maybe not intellectually stimulated enough. So whenever I started with the foot licking, She would leash me up and we’d go out fur a vigorous walk. She’d also let me wander about and sniff fur as long as I wanted. When I came back in, I never returned to the behavior.  Hypothesis: Foot licking is a symptom of boredom. The Solution: Go fur a walk when you start with the behavior. Get some exercise.

Hypothesis: You may have an allergy. It may be an environmental allergy or it could be a food allergy. The Solution: You may need to change the brand of food you’re eating or eliminate that favorite dried chicken jerky treat. Or you may have an environmental allergy– plant mites, or pollen or mold. She had to change Her detergent to a dye free, perfume free brand and that made an enormous difference fur me!

You may have yeast in your ears. I recommend the 50/50 vinegar and water solution to flush the ears. Foot licking is not to be ignored. Something is at the root of your excessive foot licking. And the operative word here is excessive.

If  you are not biting yourself or your saliva output is not so excessive so as to stain your fur or you have not licked until you made a bald spot or made your skin raw– (you see where I’m goin’ with this?), I highly recommend you get in the habit of maybe once a week standing in a tub of warm water with Epsom salt. Make sure the crystals are thoroughly dissolved. And try not to drink the water.

She uses Epsom salt in my bath water. She will usually fill the tub to a level where the water completely covers my feet with hot water, pour the Epsom salt in, stir, and then allow the water to cool to tepid. Tepid means warm, not  room temperature, not cool or cold. There needs to be warmth! Then I stand in the water anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes depending upon whether I’m taking a full bath or not.

I’m a working TripleA Therapy dog. I work four days a week, so I have to bathe every week. The #bullDogNATION! is not recommending  or endorsing weekly bathing, just a weekly foot soak with the salts. Just like bleach is bleach, Epsom salts are Epsom salts. You do not have to look fur a name brand. There is no “special” epsom salt. Store variety is no less effective than the spa variety.

CVS Epsom Salt Lavender ScentedEpsom salts or magnesium sulfate are made up of a naturally occurring mineral found in water. Epsom salts derives its popular name from the town of Epsom, England, where the compound was first distilled from water. The chemical formula for Epsom salts is a rather simplistic one: MgS04-7H2O.

Epsom salts are easily obtained at any drug store or supermarket. Inexpensive and versatile, the salts can be used for a number of different applications around the home. Many of the applications have to do with expediting healing, as well as improving the quality of the skin and helping with basic grooming. Even People love it!

If there is itching and scratching and foot licking, do a full body salts soak. You should realize some diminution of the foot licking behavior, and especially the obsessive component of the foot licking behavior should fade completely. Epsom salts makes you smell nice, too. I especially lub the lavender scented Epsom salts. Great fur me. Aroma therapy fur Her. And the lavender scent deters drinking the water which I used to do.

It’s my responsibility to advise if your foot licking is obsessive and is resulting in self mutilation or injury:  GET THEE TO YOUR VET! You may have a skin allergy, atopic dermatitis, flea allergy, food allergy, inhalant allergy, contact allergy, or bacterial allergy.

I’m especially sensitive to mold, jade ground cover, ant venom, and I may never suddenly change my diet or introduce a new and novel food to my diet otherwise it’s back to the noisy, slurping, obsessive, fly biting, foot licking  obsessive behavior fur me.

If  you are biting, chewing, scraping, knawing on yourself; if your skin is red, scaly and raw or your saliva output is so excessive as to stain your fur or you have licked and chewed a bald spot or have hurt yourself, this is serious and you need immediate medical intervention. GET THEE TO YOUR VETERINARIAN! Immediately!  If not sooner!

OK, NATION, to recap, foot licking is a sign you may have an allergy or yeast in the ears.

Try the Epsom salts bath and soak,  flush the ears with the 50/50 vinegar and water solution, (common sense home remedies), do the benign wait-and-see. If there is no change to the behavior, GET THEE TO YOUR VETERINARIAN!

I am still a foot licker. It relaxes me. But my behavior is completely under control with diet, exercise and the Epsom salts spa bath that I frequently write about in my blog. It’s a good thing! Now you try it!

Good luck Mr. Phelps. BOL!

Goodwill Energies I project
On each and every one of you
Each and every day!

“And there came to be evening and there came to be morning…”


That’s life today!