Using Memes to Clean Up the World One Idea at a Timenoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Mon, 16 Mar 2026 02:39:26 -0500Blogger http://www.blogger.com89125http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/en-usnoUsing Memes to Clean Up the World One Idea at a TimeUsing Memes to Clean Up the World One Idea at a Timenoreply@blogger.comhttp://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2021/05/watching-thunderheart-again.htmlAmerican Indian reservationattitudes of 2021Graham GreeneNative AmericansSam SheppardSheila TouseySiouxThunderheartVal KilmerVal Kilmer in 2005noreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Sun, 2 May 2021 22:56:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-4741548536705935543&nbsp;Thunderheart as Seen in 2021&nbsp;What is Thunderheart?Val Kilmer in London, England, 2005&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staring Val Kilmer and Sam Shepard, among other wonderful actors, Thunderheart is a 1992 movie about a murder that occurred on an Sioux Indian reservation and therefore investigated by the FBI. Being part Sioux, Kilmer's character is the junior FBI agent sent to 0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2020/12/quick-guide-to-home-learning.htmlCOVID-19 school helphomeschoolingonline learningonline learning resourcesquarantine academic helpstudent helpnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Fri, 4 Dec 2020 14:15:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-4396800245654902082 &nbsp;Guest Article by Emily Graham of Mighty Moms&nbsp;*with some additional formatting and comments by Valerie Image via Pexels<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> 0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2020/11/memes-of-quarantine.htmlpandemic quarantinequarantine emotionssong playlistsnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Sun, 15 Nov 2020 14:09:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-1317667577909492112Hi folks,You know I have a love of memes and a belief that songs are poems that beautifully represent memes of our culture. Here is a post from my other blog that contains a list of songs for the emotions of the quarantine. I invite you to help me grow the playlist for the songs about the memes we are all living with today.0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-post-on-seattle-for-my-readers.htmlKnee Jerk Reactions postmy other blogsSeattle WAnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Sat, 10 Oct 2020 14:20:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-7871498897461146949&nbsp;I have several blogs, so I find myself having to ask my readers to take a look at another blog post. This is one of those times. Please, read my post here on Knee Jerk Reactions. It talks about the Native American John T. Williams and the repercussions of his death.&nbsp; There are pictures. Here are a few more to whet you appetite. Both are Seattle, WA, at sunset.Seattle at sunset&nbsp; 0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2020/01/3139990html.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Sat, 25 Jan 2020 14:53:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-5981280647424856261 0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2019/02/some-days-you-just-have-to-laugh.htmlAIalien sociologycoming of age novelsdragonsFM FonerRFFscience fictionSTSYA sci fiyoung adult science fictionnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Sat, 23 Feb 2019 13:00:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-1683807015488811078 What Do You Read When You Just Need Cheering Up? Some science fiction is read for the laughs. This series is one: EarthCentAmbassador. Currently the 16 books are listed with Kindle Unlimited.The stories are based on the adventures of an Earth ambassador to Union Station where the sentient planets send their ambassadors. The first in the series is Date Night on Union Station, rated 5 star on 0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2019/01/designing-spaceships-for-games.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Wed, 23 Jan 2019 18:56:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-975011200032915238 Space Engineers -- a Game that Encourages Design My adolescent grandson plays Space Engineers. He has designed two spaceships for the the game. He has generously allowed me to share the pictures with you. I believe he began the designs with a template. It does offer the young a way to do computer graphics.&nbsp; Needless to say, I am proud of him. The photos are of the laptop with the 0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2018/12/17-equations-that-changed-world.htmlbooksPlastics Problemscience theoriesnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Wed, 12 Dec 2018 12:42:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-4161747883683363308 &nbsp;The Equations OK. So I took this title from Facebook. It was shared by a friend, David. From Fotolia, which is now part of Adobe Stock However, as one who sides with science in the culture wars, I hope an audience will take note of the ongoing effectiveness of science and math in society. Can you name the 17 highly influential equations without reading the book? Or going to Facebook?0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-new-set-of-military-space-operas-to.htmlcoming of age novelsmilitary space operasscience fictionYAnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Tue, 11 Dec 2018 21:48:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-3941573988185000818 Ok, so actually they were new to me because I recently discovered them. I read the first one and got hooked on the series in each case. So I am telling you about them. (Click on the books to go to Amazon for more info and to get your copy.) (Updated 2020) My Favorites You might remember from past posts that my favorite space opera authors are these, although not in this order: David Weber 0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2018/10/hii-m-back.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Sun, 21 Oct 2018 15:31:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-5685577394610746610 I was able to enjoy this view of nature often during my blogging hiatus. It is hard to believe that I haven't blogged here since 2014. The last few years have been eventful for me. I blogged my best ideas for a client instead of myself. I spent time taking care of my dad, who recently died. He was 91. I have resettled back into my house after spending years at my dad's. I have fretted over0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-poem-about-chimeras-and-gmo-foods.htmlBt corngenetic engineeringGMOscience poemscience poetrynoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Wed, 10 Sep 2014 17:09:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-7027384086011773053 Homage to Bt Corn Valerie Coskrey © 2014 Oh, Chimera, You're fated to be Reviled for your Lack of purity. Your grandmothers 3 Are surprised to see The offspring Of your continuity Since traits All behold That ancestors gave Through descent Of grandparents 5 unfold. Last line modified 8/11/15. a cornfield in Texas © Valerie Coskrey A science poem on GMO corn produced by 0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2014/09/teachable-moments-while-reading-books.html"teaching sciencebook reviewbookseducationk-12mother's lovepreK-3teachable momentteaching readingteaching self-esteemtutoringnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Mon, 8 Sep 2014 07:54:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-5914946492480676710 A First Grader Reads No. David! The Richness of the Experience was to me an Awesome Surprise! I recently had a tutoring experience that illustrated the power of books and imagination. A first-grader was reading a beginners book about David who always gets in trouble but his Mom always loves him anyway. In having the child explain what had happened and what story the pictures were 0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2014/07/more-about-tom-tierney-and-his-paper.htmlfashion historyhistorical fashionspaper dollsTom Tierneynoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Sun, 13 Jul 2014 16:44:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-1500090644517327021 &nbsp;A few years back I wrote about Tom Tierney and his paper doll booklets. Today I received this notice from my sister. To: LPAA &lt;lostpinesartisansalliance@gmail.com&gt; Dear friends, With great sadness I must tell you that our dear friend and long time Spoken Word member, Tom Tierney, died yesterday, July 12.&nbsp; He was 86, but wouldn’t want that spread around. Tom was famous0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2014/06/2-poems-on-discovering-nature.htmldiscovery gardenphotos by Coskrey Bizpoemsscience poetryWest Columbia TXnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Wed, 11 Jun 2014 11:22:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-6400305918828827372 Mere weeks after the Discovery Garden was planted, a few bushes bloomed. Go&nbsp; to poems; bypass intro. On a Visit to a Discovery Garden The city of West Columbia, TX, recently planted a Discovery Garden funded by a grant from TNMP (Texas New Mexico Power), the local provider of power lines and electric meters along with the electricity it carries. I volunteered to write some of the web 2http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2014/01/ebooks-make-it-as-school-textbooks.htmlebooksk-12tablet computerstextbooksnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Wed, 29 Jan 2014 10:58:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-2426383018171526062 Tablets for School Use A few years back I predicted that all students would have access to artist conception of image on a tablet computer ©Valerie Coskrey computers. The idea of having rented chapters of textbooks and whole ebooks of textbooks would, to me, have done 2 needed services for kids in junior and senior high schools: reduced the weight of backpacks and given the students a 0http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2013/10/2-artists-in-brazoria-county-tx.htmlartartistcartoonchildren's artJessica PhillipsJosh Pittserstudent motivationteachable momentvisual memesnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Thu, 24 Oct 2013 21:47:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-8438405678441606731 Two Styles of Art Suitable for both Children and Adults Children's art is so variable. There is the gentleness of the illustrations in Winnie the Pooh and the sharpness of the superhero comics. Each artist seems to have an identifiable style no matter what the images. © Jessica Phillips, The Inchworm I have long admired the wall murals painted in children's bedrooms by Jessie Phillips. 0Brazoria, TX, USA29.2131857 -95.47778110000001628.3262207 -96.768674600000011 30.1001507 -94.18688760000002http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2013/10/about-artisans-antiques-gifts.htmlantiquesartisancraftsfurniturefurniture refinishingthrift shopnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Sun, 20 Oct 2013 14:14:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-4200356243903773619 Mertie's Button icon on the local business directory of Coskrey Biz &nbsp;Visit my new blog Talking about This and That, the official blog of the resale/thrift shop Mertie's This and That in Brazoria, TX. Well, it isn't really my blog, but I am managing it and writing it. Donn's alternate Button icon based on his street sign One of my posts focused on renovating furniture. In this post0Coastal Texas, United States29.290235409984895 -96.1874914169311523.7682009099848948 -137.49608541693115 54.812269909984892 -54.878897416931153http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2013/09/book-review-haze-by-le-modesitt-jr.htmlbook reviewdemocracyfreedom of speechsci fiscience fictionYAYA sci fiyoung adult science fictionnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Wed, 18 Sep 2013 16:19:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-8206710879872778393 Haze by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. A Book Review by Valerie Cosrkey A book suitable for a YA audience in content--easy-going, but interspersed with lively action; implicitly deeply philosophical; no obscenities, overt sex, or pathological-character action; and mild violence--Haze gently leads the reader to question the authority of a successful government's control over the lives of its 2http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2011/08/coding-in-new-html5-and-css3.htmlcss3html5technologywebpage developmentnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:06:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-8539094943722811435I just posted another article in my Wyzant.com blog; read it now. I listed a set of very helpful sites that will get you started using the new HTML5. Since most browsers and many app engines and other media already are using HTML5, it will soon take over as the preferred basic website development code. It does not look hard to learn if you are already coding in XHTML. There are some new tags, 47http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2011/08/valeries-wyzant-tutoring-blog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Mon, 1 Aug 2011 20:15:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-7892955591775838937Valerie's WyzAnt Tutoring Blog I just wrote about tricks for teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten children to count and Kindergarten and first graders to begin to use simple fractions. Yep, I am tutoring a bit now. &nbsp; 5http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-if-you-could-control-flow-of-slime.html"science fair ideashomeschool sciencek-12k-12 lessonsphysical sciencescienceteaching sciencenoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Thu, 9 Jun 2011 16:48:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-5123882094769500868What if you could control the flow of slime across a table? What if your Silly Putty could curve toward, then stick to the side of the refrigerator? I just read about magnetic putty&nbsp;on Instructables, an online network for tinkerers and inventors. Looks like tons of fun. I thought that teachers might want to make some for demos and class activities. Also, the comments at Instructables offer 10http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2011/05/flash-mob-story-of-1947.htmlflash mobHank WilliamsJerry ClowerPlowshare BoysSouthwest Junior College of MSWWII vetsnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Fri, 20 May 2011 19:48:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-6536227872430928020Full Moon from Stock Vault, free. When I see the commercial of the fellow at the station that breaks into a cheer only to find out the the Flash Mob has been rescheduled, (*And who can forget the trouble between the gay couple on Modern Family when one joins a flash mob?) I am reminded of a story my Dad tells. He and at least 8 other WWII vets returned home to Mississippi to attend Southwest 3http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-teach-with-science-fiction.htmlhomeschool sciencek-12k-12 lessonssci fiteaching scienceYA sci fiyoung adult science fictionnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Wed, 2 Mar 2011 09:54:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-4734751802763782145I have posted 10 reasons for using science fiction to teach science to the blog Reading for the Future Reflections. The article is based on a paper I co-wrote years ago, but is still relevant today. There are many books on the value of Science Fiction. Of interest to school teachers are the works of Julie Czerneda that offer lessons on teaching with science fiction. Search Amazon.com for 6http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2010/12/looking-for-sci-fi-by-women-authors.htmlYA sci fiyoung adult science fictionnoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Sat, 18 Dec 2010 21:06:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-481228149920758169 This cat sculpture by Sue Lannen reflects the severalsci fi cats featured in the list. This book list of YA science fiction features women authors. The types of sci fi ranges from military to romance to coming-of-age to epic to mixed types. Although suitable for YA, many are stories good enough for adults to enjoy, too. Enjoy a good read. Then give the book to a teenager.3http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2010/12/courtesan-prince-by-lynda-williams-book.htmlAvim's OathLynda WilliamsOkal Rel Universerelationshipsscience fictionsexual orientationThe Courtesan Princenoreply@blogger.com (Valerie)Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:10:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25138357.post-3549075292754260467 I recently discovered a new science fiction universe to explore. The deftly built Okal Rel Universe is visited through the books of the Okal Rel Saga by Lynda Williams and her proteges. The central character of the saga is introduced in The Courtesan Prince as Von who is, well, a popular gigolo of the royal ladies of the court. He is also a young man who was stolen at birth and is just 2