Support the Arts in Jacksonville: Go See a Play

Sure, you can watch the family-friendly stuff at the Alhambra Theater or venture into downtown for a highbrow experience. And you should. However, for my money, I've always enjoyed high school plays. And since the actual money is $6 and free parking, it's worth every penny compared to Alhambra's $70 plus drinks and tip or $50 plus parking for a downtown experience. If you're looking for live entertainment on a budget, check out a local high school play. 

The preceding link is to the Fletcher High School GoFan Performing Arts site, but you can probably find a list of local schools and their plays. I know the performing arts school got into some hot water recently with its choice of a play dealing with sexuality, but you're mostly going to get the same fodder at local high schools as the big theaters, meaning stuff you've seen before or based on something you've seen before.

My kid will be in all of Fletcher's productions from 2023 until 2026 because he has fun acting. Even if your kids aren't in high school, however, seeing a high school play is a good way to see some local talent before they get too talented.

January 13th and 14th 2023 - Romeo, You Idiot

Chromebooks Post-Coronavirus

Chromebooks work as well as any other solution at combating the spread of Covid-19, especially when it comes to schools. Have students work from home using their Chromebooks. Teachers can find lessons online to use with the kids, and the students can stay at home to get work done.

If you're a teacher who has never taught online, it might be a good idea to check out the Teachers Pay Teachers link above, and you can also use this link to Google folders instructions to help with setting up your classroom.

Basically, keep things simple and expect students to work slower than you might imagine, unless you can monitor their work time. Which you mostly can't. The best news when it comes to Chromebooks is that they are cheap enough that everyone can have one or get one for this time of social distancing.

An Old Cell Phone and a Chromebook

My daughter was working on a video for school. She wanted me to help with the editing, but I knew my PC editing options were kind of limited, since I haven't invested in video software. This means I'm stuck with the free Windows Movie Maker, along with a very capable free version of Lightworks. This was a music video, and I know how to make them in Windows Movie Maker, but I wanted the higher resolution of a Lightworks, which didn't work for me.

A Bad Investment in Windows Lappies

A local private school made a bad investment. Since it's a private school, there might be a reason for the poor expenditure. Perhaps a parent of several enrolled children was selling the PCs. Maybe there was a fund that needed to get used up. Perchance, someone in administration got a kickback. But the result was, nevertheless, more money spent, even if the only reason was dinosaur-teachers who wanted their Windows security blanket. Let's look at the damage.

99.9% Improvement

We've heard, not surprisingly, that a new customer reached out to the makers of the Cranium Chromebook Cover to acknowledge 99.9% fewer problems. While the math may not hold up to statistical analysis, the point is well taken. 

Any Chromebook case or cover will limit the breakage rate. Maybe some won't work as well as the Cranium, but all of them add a little more protection. When you think about the total price, even after added protection, the Chromebooks still end up being a good value. If it can be 99.9% breakage free, then these little lappies are way better than the competition.

Still Nothing Besting My Cranium

I'm at a convention as I write this. Several people have their devices. Though not all of these are Chromebooks, I see basically the same use of protection in schools. I have my Cranium, but the other people here seem to have other ideas about what protects their devices the  best.

Curry High’s Beta Club Ready to Fix Problems

Everyone was all smiles in the photos at Curry High School in Alabama. And for good reason. The Curry High Beta Club helped raise money to purchase 50 more Chromebooks and carts. These Chromebooks will be put to good use in the classrooms.

Colonial Heights Public Schools - Chromebooks Are Almost Disposable?

Diapers are disposable, and for good reason. Once used, they stink. And they don't serve another purpose. Colonial Heights Public Schools in Virginia will soon be getting Chromebooks, which are cheap compared to other devices. However, the following statement should make taxpayers worry just a bit:

"The computers are only $185 per device, which is another reason we’re doing this, because they’re inexpensive,” Tillman said. “It’s easy to replace them, it’s easy to insure them, and if they break, they’re almost disposable."

Bainbridge Island Got The Chromebooks Half Right

I just talked to a tech guy from a school district in Kansas that said he was most interested in the Cranium covers because his school district didn't want full cases. Cases can be cumbersome, and kids take the Chromebooks out all the time. We've recommended a sleeve and cover system here before, and that's what we'd tell anyone who asks. Bainbridge Island recently got this half right in their distribution of Chromebooks.

Exact Fit, Always On Chromebook Covers and Cases

This is not about a single always-on Chromebook cover. I just wanted to address the concept of exact-fit and whether it's right for you.