Check It Out

Links to cool places or things.

There are 1,524 posts filed in Check It Out (this is page 131 of 153).

GPS Prof Rock Star

I came home to a surprise package in the mail from my favorite fifth-grade class, Mrs. Jarrett’s at Conn Elementary. In it was a big thank-you card from Mrs. Jarrett and her class as well as 14 handwritten papers from the kids saying what each learned from my GPS talk.

Here’s a sample letter:

Dear Mr. Turner,

Thanks for coming to my school. From what you taught us I learned that their are 4 satellite signals for a GPS to work. Another thing learned was in 1978 the first GPS satellite was launched. I also learned how the earth rotates 360 times a day. I didn’t know GPS couldn’t be used indoors. On more thing I learned was Sputnik was the world’s largest sat. in space. Thanks for coming!
Sincerely, C

Here’s another one:

Dear Mr. Turner,

Thank you for comeing to are school. I learned a lot from you like 1978 the first GPS satellite was lanched. I was glad that we saw you. I think your teachings will help me in the future. Please come back for the next qurter to show them what you know.
Sincerely, S

Getting a packet full of thank-you notes made me feel like a rock star! The talk sure was a blast, and the kids might actually have learned something. I’m pretty sure, though, that I described Sputnik as being basketball-sized. I’m amused to read how it’s become the world’s largest satellite!

I look forward to being invited back!

Jack In The Box outsourcing order taking

Apparently minimum wage is not low enough pay for San Diego based fast-food restaurant Jack In The Box. The chain is testing outsourcing its order-taking. The company claims it speeds ordering.

So if it wasn’t hard enough before to understand what the drive-through order-taker was saying, try adding 12,000 miles worth of latency and a foreign accent to the mix. I don’t see how it could speed anything if each party has to repeat what was said each time an order is taken. Want to speed up ordering? Try training (and paying) a bright person to run the register.

Kay Yow

I used to daydream that maybe one day Hallie might be coached by Kay Yow. News comes this morning that the legendary N.C. State women’s basketball basketball coach passed away after another bout with cancer. She was 66.

The thing I’ll remember about Coach Yow is how she could always be seen in the stands of an N.C. State athletic event. N.C. State wasn’t just a 9 to 5 job for Coach Yow, it was a passion.

Yet another update on jazz musician Mark Turner

I had a dream last night that I cut my fingers off. In my dream, reattaching them was as easy as sticking them back on my hand. Not so for jazz musician Mark Turner, who cut his fingers for real back in November.

Here’s an update from Aaron Parks on Mark’s fingers:

Saturday, December 20, 2008
Good News (update on Mark Turner)

Some very encouraging news regarding Mark Turner and his injury. It’s looking like his recuperation is going much faster than anticipated, and he may be back to playing gigs again sometime in the next couple of months. Much better than the six months of recovery time that was initially expected. Let’s all wish him continued healing through the rest of 2008 and into 2009…

Get well, Mark!