Culture
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What’s Hot in Southern California: The Flower Fields
The Flower Fields in Carlsbad: Have you ever dreamed of running through a field of flowers? Now through early May, you just might be able to at The Flower Fields in Carlsbad. For over sixty years, Mother Nature has transformed the rolling hills of North San Diego County into one of the most beautiful displays of natural color and beauty anywhere in the world. The nearly fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers that make up The Flower Fields® at Carlsbad Ranch, in Carlsbad, California, are in bloom for approximately six to eight weeks each year – from early March through early May – literally bringing the famous fields back…
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Celebrating the Meaning of Passover
The Meaning of Passover: Every year we gather as a family and people to retell the story of Passover. The Jewish people were slaves in Egypt. The Pharaohs used the Jews as slave labor to build the pyramids. Their quest for eventual freedom began when the Pharaoh Rames was told by an astrologer that the the Jews would revolt against his rule. He then declared that all Jewish baby boys were to be killed. A Jewish mother, Miriam, and her daughter decided to hide their new born boy to spare his life. He was placed in a basket, and put him in the river…
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Parenting: Ashoka’s Start Empathy Program
Over the past few years, we have heard more and more about the damage and even life-threatening effects that bullying has had on our youth. I think most of us experienced some form of bullying as a kid – but the difference today is the ability for bullying to reach much farther and in some situations more intensely via the Internet. That is why programs like the Ashoka’s Start Empathy initiative are so important to help parents and educators teach children the importance of empathy. I had a chance to speak to the organization about the program and what parents can do to help teach empathy. Tell us about Start Empathy and what its…
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Reflections: The Need to Understand
The Art of Communicating Well: As always is the case, writing a reflections piece for this site with a theme of love or relationships comes out of my personal experience. I teach, and teaching is how I learn. Similar to this reciprocal exchange, writing has long been the tool that I use to teach myself. Today’s idea has been floating around for a while, and I will address it today as means of pinning it down to explore it a little better. Last month I had an ugly breakdown in communication with someone that I respect a great deal. I can count on one hand the amount of times that something like…
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In the Spotlight with The Kratt Brothers
Christopher F. “Chris” Kratt and his older brother Martin Kratt grew up in Warren Township, New Jersey. Together they host the television programs Kratts’ Creatures, Zoboomafoo, and Be the Creature (which airs on the National Geographic Channel), and Wild Kratts (which airs on PBS Kids and TVOKids). I had a chance to speak to these energetic brothers who have a real passion for educating kids about wild and sea life. My daughter is quite obsessed with their new show Wild Kratts and had a question of her own to ask the brothers. You have such great enthusiasm for animal and plant life. Have you two always been interested in nature since…
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Travel: Australia – Your Dream Holiday Down Under
If you’ve ever had Australia on your wish list of places to visit, here’s a taste of some of the amazing things you can see and experience when you visit the Great Southern Land. Harbour Bridge Drive on it, climb up it, walk over it or sail under it, the Harbour Bridge links North Sydney to the city and is affectionately known as the “coathanger”. You can even go on a guided tour and climb up the bridge and enjoy stunning vistas of the city, harbour and beyond. Sydney Opera House You probably recognize this building – Australia’s most famous icon. Perched right on the harbour’s edge, with a magnificent…
