G'Day Mates! The 26th is Australia Day and it's a great time to explore the Australian culture through tourism, inspirational stories, inspirational poetry, and through amazing Australia facts.

An interesting look at a city block in Atlanta from different scales with photographs generated by several satellites.

Please feel free to share this if you have a special needs child.  There needs to be more awareness of the disabilities children face today and the effect certain individuals have on them

You may also drop Fred a line and let him know how you feel even if you are not a resident of Volusia County.  

Special Need Parents:

My son worked for Fred Costello.  He suffers from General Anxiety Disorder (GAD).  It was a great milestone to join Fred and his team stretching his “comfort zone”.  Anyone that knows anyone with GAD knows they are hyper vigilant and strive for approval.  But sometimes bad things happen to decent people.

I normally don’t interfere with my son’s employment, but here was a candidate I planned to vote into office.  I certainly didn’t want a heartless individual in its place.  My son worked 3 days feeling self-assured and validated for Fred.  Each evening he came home with positive affirmations.  I happened to meet the campaign manager, Chris, and was informed my son was doing an excellent job.  On the second day, he texted this campaign manager who watched over “the grid” (numerous times) saying he is running late due to a family emergency (that would be me). On that third day, that same manager, recently full of approvals, told him his services were no longer needed.  There was no explanation; he was distant and aloof. 

I wrote to Fred because he is a Christian man.  I knew he would look into the situation due to the circumstance.  I also explained my son’s diagnosis noting he is hyper vigilant and always strives to do his best.  Something was definitely amiss here.  Fred replied with a letter from the mouth of his campaign manager (Chris) with no concessions.  Furthermore, he purported my son never checked in or texted. He felt due to the family emergency that he needed more “observation” and “training” stating Chris had to “follow up and check to see if he was fully following our directions”.  I guess Fred didn’t realize my son shared all his texts with me.  Fred also mentioned that the day of emergency held no justification.   He reported Chris had concocted a map that was in walking distance where he could knock on doors singing Fred’s praises.  This map contained five miles in both directions that would prohibit walking and talking to 80 houses in one day without a vehicle.  The bottom line is Fred didn’t care.  Fred didn’t want to hear the other side.  Fred was propelled more by his emotional justification than his values, ethics, and actions of his campaign manager. 

He expanded by saying, “There is no excuse to be late to work.”  His letter ended, “Hopefully this will be a great life lesson for your son.  I hope this experience has helped him learn that he must fully follow the directives of his boss in whatever job he has in the future or he won’t hold the job for a long time, he must be where he is expected to be…….. no excuses.”

Not even for an emergency, Fred?  Life lessons are apparently more important than the hearts and self-worth of the public for whom you represent. 

Fred Costello For Congress
http://www.electfredcostello.com/
fred@electfredcostello.com

Check out the map of United States of America and practice reducing fractions at the same time. To begin watch a video segment on how to play the game. Once the video is completed, click the button on the right to play. Students will identify the fractions using different designated colors of the states. Each state is assigned a color to represent various fractions in the game. Kids can play this game for hours, all while practicing where each state is located. You get double duty on this one: geography and math!