A Tribute to the Bee Gees and the Disco Era

On May 20, 2012,  headlines announced the death of Robin Gibb, 62  and his long struggle with cancer. The death of Maurice in 2003 and Andy in 1998 makes Barry Gibb, the last of the ‘Brothers Gibb’ known as the Bee Gees. Andy Gibb was the youngest brother, although not one of the Bee Gees, he performed with them in many concerts. 

Additionally, with the recent death of the 'disco queen' Donna Summer, it seems the disco era  is slowly slipping onto the dusty shelves of memory.    

Mention disco and the first three things that come to mind are the Bee Gees, “Saturday Night Fever”, and John Travolta. However, the Bee Gees wrote and produced for many well-known artists. Robin Gibb became a solo artist twice, briefly in the late 60’s and years later, after Maurice’s death. Maurice was the ‘techno’ person of the group. Robin was a driving force in the early years with his vibrato tone. Later, when the group evolved into an R&B style, Barry’s falsetto voice became their signature. Nevertheless, the three-part harmony was always present. The brothers blended their unique talents to become icons in the music world. 
             

The Bee Gees hold the honor of ushering in the disco era. They had some early success in the 60's and were considered a 'Beatle' type band. The song "I Started A Joke" was a success and anything but a joke, utilizing Robin's amazing vibrato. The Bee Gees later released "How Can You Mend A broken Heart." (a memorable love ballad). I must admit that I did not know the group at this time, heavy metal and guitar rock, was the thing.

The 70's was a chaotic time, and people needed an outlet. Dancing was the answer. The Bee Gees, along with the movie "Saturday Night Fever," jump started an era were disco music reigned supreme and spread across continents. John Travolta danced his way to fame. But, could he do the 'mechanical man' (robot)? 

This was the epitome of their success. Songs such as "How Deep Is Your Love," "Stayin' Alive," "Jive Talkin," and "Night Fever" become overnight successes.  Many, including myself, wanted to be a John Travolta. Their music made the movie a reality. It had a rhythm that made one feel good, and motivated my decision to join the dance craze.

We can look at the younger generation and think they act crazy. However, take a moment and remember the times of strobe lights, spinning disco balls and people bouncing, cavorting madly to a hard-driving beat, such as "Disco Inferno",  twirling insanely to "The Hustle" or a romantic dance to "How Deep is Your Love". Ah Yes, those were the days. An era when memories were made.

Some Simple Car Care Tips

Well, I am changing my focus again. My years of experience as a mechanic, has found that most car problems could have been prevented with some simple maintenance. The owners just didn't know or realize that a problem was in the making. 



Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain) 





For most people a car is a major investment and an important part of their life. Technology and innovation have made vehicles very dependable. Nevertheless, things break or just wear out, and many who have had road breakdowns, know the hassle and expense it brings. It seems to happen at the worst possible time and place. Is it some cruel twist of fate? How many times have you asked yourself, why did this happen to me? My years as an ASE certified mechanic, has shown that many times a vehicle gives warning signs of potential failure.

 

Know your car:

According to the Car Care Council, proper maintenance begins with knowing your car (2008). Recently, I stopped at a gas station and noticed a driver preparing to remove the radiator cap. Running over to warn of the danger; the driver gave me an odd look and remarked, "What are you talking about? My last car died because of no oil, and I am checking the oil." This may seem unbelievable, but I have experienced many similar cases. Therefore, a great start is the owner's manual. It contains information on what to check, the location of components, and a brief description of how to do it. 

  

Trust your senses:

People naturally become familiar with their vehicle without realizing it consciously. Be aware of your senses, sight, smell, hearing, and touch. I cannot count the times; cars were towed in because the serpentine belt failed. When the customer was asked if they heard a squealing sound, their reply was, "Yes, but it always stopped after a few minutes" Here are a few more common examples;   

• · You smell a sweet musty odor in the car.  (leaking heater core)  
• · The brake pedal goes close to the floor or vibrates.  (brake problems)   
• · Tires look nearly flat or no tread on one side. (increased chance of flat)    
• · Starting the car, you hear a click and a moment of hesitation before it starts. (starter, battery or charging problems)                             

Look for warning signs:

While you are under the hood checking fluid levels, take a moment and visually check the engine and components. The idea here is to spot a potential problem before it becomes one. I noticed a stranded couple and someone trying to give them a jump-start, without success. The battery terminals resembled fluffy green snowballs and after cleaning them, jump-starting the battery worked. Therefore, a few minutes of inspection, can save hours of frustration later.   

• · Hoses that have a bulge spot, swollen near clamps, cracking, or leaking.(future hose problems)  
• · Belts that are frayed, torn, or missing chunks of rubber.  (future broken belt)  
• ·The battery terminals show signs of corrosion (green or white build-up) or are loose.  (starting, charging,and/or battery problems) 

 Are these problems that happen to others?   Too often drivers notice these warning signs and choose to ignore them. Later, to be caught in a difficult position and a large bill. Although, these are basic tips, the Car Care Council offers a free informative guide that can help to develop a better understanding of your vehicle.

Source: Car Care Council

ASE certified mechanic and experience 

                                                    

The  Education Debate Continues 

It seems the debate on education reform continues and my blog has focused on education. A news article recently reported Obama's rebuke to Santorum's charge of educational snobbery by the President. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-rebukes-santorum-education-snob-charge-points-policy-235651619.html This happens to relate to my previous posts. 

Many have an experienced trying to find a job and discover that they need to pass a technical or community college offered training course, before being considered. Even with an Associate degree and related experience, it is becoming harder for people to aquire a job. The days of GED or high school diploma requirements for a job are becoming few. 

The economy has been enduring a long recession and many companies have resorted to fewer employees with more and diverse responsibilities. Requiring greater experience and/or education.  Obama made many good points, and Santorum remarked, that the President is a snob, intent on pushing people to college and is short sighted.   

 This ongoing debate proves that the old strandards of education have been sufficient. However, the rules and society have changed, and reform is needed.

Education Act Waivers; Is Obama Wrong?

                                                 
      I will sidetrack my marketing articles to post an opinion on Obama's education waiver. Since it does go along with my Febuary 1, post on education reform.

Source: Wikipedia commons, public domain

On February 9, the Associated Press announced President Barrack Obama would grant 10 states waivers from requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). This has stirred much controversy, and many question his decision. Will this destroy the education act? Was the president right in what he did? I ask myself, is all the controversy and opposition warranted? This is not what Obama needs in an election year.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) established standards, to hold states accountable for the quality of education for all students. The act sets increases on progress until 2014, when all students must pass the exams. Fortunately, it has made schools concentrate on their job, providing a quality education to all. On the other hand, the expectations are very rigid and hard to achieve. Many good schools are showing failing numbers. This has a tendency for schools to focus on the numbers, teaching students to memorize specific information for tests. Many parents will agree that knowing and understanding the material, means more than memorizing to pass a test.  Society has shown their concern for better education, enrolling their children in private schools that concentrate on the student learning environment and less on the numbers.

There is widespread agreement between politicians that the law is successful, but needs fixing. In 2007, the bill was up for renewal. Congress continues to show no signs of addressing this. The President is taking a bold step forward to improve the original program that Congress has ignored for too long and this is commendable. On the other hand, why did it take the president all these years and finally on an election year? This can only help the opposition. 

  

As a result, many have voiced concerns that  Obama has gone too far by dodging Congress. However, according to the Department of Education, to create flexibility they have the right to present waivers to focus on student learning. These waivers give state educators flexibility on some of the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. The main objective of the law does not change but evolves. Before a state receives a waiver it must present a comprehensive plan designed to improve education for all students, increase equality, and close achievement gaps. Barack Obama utilized the opportunity available to address an issue that politicians have ignored. Many people will view this as a desperate move for votes. The issue is important, but the timing is wrong. Addressing major issues during his term, presents a positive statement that the election year decisions lack.    

 Sources:

Ben Feller, Kimberly Hefling. Yahoo News. http://news.yahoo.com/apnewsbreak-official-10-states-ed-waiver-110202341.html

U.S. Department of Education. "No Child Left Behind." http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml

              

Education and the curriculum 

People naturally thirst for knowledge, wanting to know how things exist and why they happen. Knowledge and education have evolved with civilization. It may be accurate to say that this is a contributing factor to the advancement of society. For generations, education has remained divided between the deprived masses and select elite. Most of the disadvantaged went through an apprenticeship to acquire a certain skill. On the other hand, the elite had access to institutions or groups that taught higher order thinking skills and knowledge.

In the early twentieth century, a realization emerged; a change was needed from the 1800’s style of the one room schoolhouse education of basic reading, “riting”, and “rithmetic” (3 r’s), to a planned teaching system. This educational plan, or curriculum, emphasized minimum standards for a structured and test oriented learning environment. As a result, a student is considered an empty vessel and fed specific information supplied from a textbook.  Followed by, quizzes and tests continually given to evaluate the level of knowledge. For example, some schoolchildren can recall dates of America’s wars, or the Louisiana Purchase . However, ask the meaning of American  manifest destiny and most will be lost. Many agree the traditional curriculum promotes children to memorize basic facts for tests and their retention rate is low or non-existent. Despite this, the structured curriculum was adequate for many years. 

After the sixties, many studies were done to evaluate human learning processes and student development. From these studies came suggestions to change the accepted curriculum and facilitate novel learning techniques. At the same time, society was starting to realize the value of a superior education, and more high school graduates enrolled in colleges. A few of the prestigious colleges developed new curriculums to meet the demands of a changing environment and a graduate from an innovative college was highly respected. The majority of high school graduates found themselves poorly trained and ill prepared for college. Consequently, there have been changes over the years; by many schools, although most are small and minor adjustments.

In the mid 80’s companies, wanted skilled and adaptable workers and technology was growing rapidly. This created much controversy on the quality of education in America and confidence in school training. Many professionals agree that the American educational curriculum is inferior to the majority of European countries.

The early 90’s experienced a tremendous change in innovation. Technology, globalization, and new discoveries of our knowledge of the world have changed societies perception of what is needed in today’s students. Traditional education styles have not evolved enough to keep pace with a dynamic environment.

As a result, the core education (grades K-12) of individuals is not adequate for the unique global and technological environment and change is needed. Reform in education requires societies’ commitment to learning by creating a diverse and adaptable curriculum, blending traditional and new learning styles.