T. Relth

In the end:
The 2013 Yearbook is graphically beautiful, well-written, very integrated and looks like one person made it woohooo! and the staffers were very good (great), although sometimes require a bit more pressure from the "ogre" (Mister. R)

New EIC1 Senior Leah Mc. - (she published her own book 2013 now on Amazon)Every single paragraph on every page was either written, rewritten or at least checked by Leah. In the last days, she was still inventing captions.

EIC2 Sabrina F. (a Junior yet with a way amazing work ethic) Sabrina came in every day and extra days to work, work, work, work, well you get the idea.

Graphic Editor, Zineb M. (wow all of the backgrounds with illustrator converted into pdf and dropped in a bkg layer) This scientist of an artist made months-worth of backgrounds and theme ideas...before landing on the final illustrator files and as I say wow.

Senior Amalya B. and the never-ending Senior section - built the 48 page senior section with 470 column inches of story about the class of 2013, plus senior spotlight stories on each and mug-shot plus two portraits and 6 facebook type photos for each... Lotsa work. Collection of anything from Seniors with Senioritis = Herding Cats!

Others who were there: ...drum-roll please:

"The New Kid", Junior from SoCal, Spencer C. - odd sense of humor and great graphic sense, a bit "ADD" etc quote: "I'm not prejudiced, I pretty much hate everyone" -MS and K sections very nice work.

Editor, Rania T. (Junior) sweet as pie and worked very hard.. entire ES section and all transitions. She picked up a lot of slack at the end!! Yahoo. Rania, did YB while juggling several extracurriculars. We thought she might explode ... but she always charged ahead.

Then... there were these two crazy Sophomores: Yasmine B.and Salma B. who were veeerrrryyy creative (almost tttooo much) Yasmine built the whole MS and HS sport section. And Salma made all of the major events "dance" with seriously "pro" level graphics. Did I say dance? I guess that is what they almost did everyday in the lab. (grin)

I miss these guys!

If I missed anything?? .. write to me.

... Oh yeah I spent almost another full year of time on this year's book.... vacations, weekends...but who is complaining?   Ask my wife.

Originally written to a 2009-10 former student at the school:

I can tell you that using Indesign for 5 years (and for 3 years on YB), I am now a "mini-power" indesign user/teacher.

I found out how to automatically merge the 900+ photos by grade, alpha and place correct names below... a major help using excel database. This saved an incredible amount of time ..after it was set-up.
 
Set Limits: 
Also style sheets and limitations on "creativity" were helpful. Otherwise the students tend to wander off in all directions and make a disjointed mess. The other big deal was to use a wire-framing concept in only B/W in Indesign at the beginning to force all of the students to face the limitations of design: space and page layout. 

Wire-framing/black white and greys:
The entire book was laid-out using wire-framing and was formatted with character, type style and paragraph styles along with borders and drop-shadows; all this showed from the beginning. We were able to kill (or revise)the really bad stuff early. Note: Color really gets in the way at first so B/W was the key. With this we were much more likely to see design that did not follow the main thrust of the book.

Layers:
I also insisted on using layers and we started with 4 but later had 6-7 layers in nearly every section. 

File-naming convention-less headaches:
Another help was to use special file names and save "as new" every single time you work ... it also told me when the students worked and I could go back (if needed)....also if a file crashed, we only lost a day. 
For example: 
20130423_77-89_Seniors_Amalya.indd 
(this way files listed in date-order in the file-folder: later we changed to 
77-89_Seniors_Amalya_20130602.indd so that all of the final pages listed in page-order. It was easy to see which files we finalized.

A fast server a MUST:
We were able to get IT to give us a new server ..(the old PC based "M_nr_e" became a slug ...maybe it always was a slug). We received a mac-mini and the art department students and Yearbook team were the only ones on it. The total GB when done ...99.7 GB!! of photos from staff and students and the total other graphics files was 175 GB +/-. It worked like water ...instead of sludge. 

Photos from everywhere - More file naming:
Another help was that I taught the Digital Photo Class with required DSLRs and used Adobe's Bridge Batch naming ... so we had lotsa properly labeled photos from which to draw. example:
20121209_JVSoccer_Sophia_DSC009.jpg


End Notes:
I am thinking of starting a club "International Yearbook Survivors Club" You have to have made more than 3 books to be accepted into membership. The only problem is that by the time you have completed year third year you are so wiped out that you would never let anyone know you did it. One, because someone might want to hire you to do it again and two, someone might ask you to advise.

All in all the best ever if I say so and many others say so too. TR

As I was walking across campus from the art room to the computer lab four years ago, I asked Nahla and Khnata: “Can you walk any slower? You two are doing the Moroccan Stroll”.  Nahla responded casually, “But, we are enjoying the moments on the way there Mister.  We’ll get there, there’s really no rush”.  All the while I was thinking about my agenda and what I wanted them to accomplish in the “C” lab today.  I suppose that I completely discounted what she said. 

Now I am sitting here at Sidi Rahal in an old blue camping chair, looking out over the grand blue-green Atlantic.  One hundred-plus high school students gather clique by clique: fraternity, sorority. Some of us observe and some chat, but mostly we hang out because that’s what we do.

Safiyyah (Moroccan-American) approaches. She has been here at the school for only 3 years, but she has made a great adjustment to our special hybrid American- School-in-Morocco social style. I ask her if she can describe what it is that we (the students) do best. “Just hanging out” she says without hesitation.

Today I sit for the fifth time at Sidi Rahal.  At least 30 of our students have their cameras, capturing the moments of the day for the annual Beach Day Photo Contest.   The fifteen winners will have their photos displayed in the Multi Purpose Room later this year, and will enjoy a big Pizza Bash.  Their work will be included in this year’s Yearbook.  

The high school math teacher Mr. Smith and I compare notes on students as we lounge on the beach observing the procession below: soccer, American football, soccer, swimming and volleyball games engage the majority, while at least forty share in our favorite activity: “Hanging out.” 

I see Paul walking and chatting with ….((( read in here  Adam L))) 

A group of students strolls past, shoulder to shoulder.  Lina, Amalya, Nada, Nizar, Dakir, Medhi, Maisson, Ibrahim, Waleed, Hajouji, Sofia and  Paul form a volleyball circle – no competition, just keep it going, hangin’ (white, pink, tan and almond skin in the sun.)

Later on, "FZ" sits with the dozen seniors as I approach “And so what’s the story of the day FZ?” “Today people are having fun - playing volleyball, swimming…. Everyone is interacting – no one is alone.  For example, these two.  (Referring to Amalya and Ghali , lying on towels next to hers)  They are not alone.  Only me, I’m alone .... talking with you  - Oh, ha ha” (as she realizes what she just said).

Hamza, FZ , Amalya and a few others walk to the cafe.  On the way I ask Hamza “what’s the story of the day?” “I haven’t discovered it yet”, he says. 

We order Sprite, Lavazza and Sidi Ali , and  park ourselves at the standing tables.  The proprietor is playing "Only You (And You Alone)" from 1955 by the Platters.  Leah (a new American student) lags behind.  The color changes.  It becomes more blue.  We talk about (God’s calling?)for 5 minutes as she finishes her Sprite. And then walk back to the group on the beach.

In my first year I could barely care who was who or what they were doing.  Today, I notice that most of the obnoxious, the entitled and the loud bunch has graduated or stayed home.  The day is tranquil, soft, sweet; the light is clear.  I know them, each one.  Nearly all have been in my classes since middle school.  It is a different time.  There is less discipline required; there is sweetness present. It is less complicated.

It was noon when I noticed there were now only four playing volleyball. Everyone else was sitting on towels in informal “salons.” Everyone was again talking, listening.  We were doing what we do best ...interacting, hangin’. Soon the freshmen would get to have their lunch.  

http://trelth.blogspot.com/

I still have to write the story about buying enough wine for a month (not enough, by the way) on the last day before Ramaden and will eventually write that story for the eager consumer...but everyday I am crowded. And, the wine story needs more quality time.

CROWDED....
Some easy issues were noun adjective order. But in some places he still used French terms and were more difficult to translate; particularly given that my French is K3. The word for Lavatory and basin were still in French and it was in Marble.. I wasn't sure what to say.

I finished just in time to start the next adventure.

So, afterward I spent almost 3-1/2 hours in town driving, with Local Mr. Computer-friend as navigator, between the petit taxis, the Citroëns, Peugeots, Hyundais Mercedes-Benz, baby-mopeds... and the donkey carts with assorted veggies, to get satellite supplies.

We drove to the outdoor market on the other side of town to get all of the pieces needed to install satellite TV for Mom (that's the excuse but its for Leslie and I too) although I am not a big TV fan ..it seems it could be fun, as we be able to get about 1500 worldwide channels. (another type of crowded).

Anyway we went to a really big outdoor market (Dar Bralif) which is a 2 km square souk (outdoor market) The stalls are semi-permanent; the gutter runs between them and is nicely filled with trash and mucky water. There was everything there: new, almost-new, used, and "black". It is super crowded with elbow to elbow people. (and quite fragrant both good and no so good) By the way its cash only here.

Satellite TV is not controlled other than you have to buy a dish and receiver and other misc parts to install it, all about $200.00 and then use you ol' TV or get a new one. There are no monthly fees but you can buy some chips for special channels that are encrypted. With about 50% free I am not too interested, since TV is pretty low on the list for me.

It was a circus. After we got the parts for the system, my friend decided to go (way too quickly) to see about a mini-iPod, and I followed, but he left me in the dust. I finally climbed up on a high-ground area and found him searching the crowd from about 30 meters up the way...he waited. And then I matched his steps, like a shadow.

Later he said in French "faite attention" as we returned to the satellite booth. I walked in his footsteps once again. I suppose that he is way too comfortable in that environment... and I was being way too polite...finally I just bumped in to people with little "pardon" and kept up.

The wonderful thing about Mr. Computer-friend is that if he says he'll arrive at 13:00, he is there at 12:55 and always has a wonderful smile. Although we communicate in mini-Arabic, mini-French and mini-English and lot of hand signals, it is affirming that we are making new friends.

Mr. Computer-friend and I returned to the house to unload. Voila!
After, this day, I settled for one of those "story" reds and spent the evening in the kitchen.

I am writing this the next day and before he will return ....in 10 minutes so I am off....

but then you knew that.
T


DAD! Write in this fashion more often! That was a very enjoyable read. Great story and I totally understand how your title relates to everything in your story. 
Love you, hope you got your power situation fixed!

SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 2:46 PM

Prior to May 8, 2008 go to this site: http://trelthmission.blogspot.com/

E-Z OUT BOLT AND STUD EXTRACTOR: A tool, ten times harder than any known drill bit, that snaps neatly off in bolt holes thereby ending any possible future use.

This one actually happened to me in 1977, when trying to remove a waterpump on a 1935 Classic LaSalle (a slightly smaller version of the ultra-long hooded Cadillac) …this vehicle had the straight 8 motor and “suicide doors”  The back seat area of this vehicle was so large that you could camp out.

Speaking of suicide doors; I nearly wanted to commit suicide after I got the final bill on this easy D-I-Y home-auto repair.

So Easy… The job: repair or replace the leaky waterpump. …step by step

Simply remove the “over the top-and-down-and-both-sides-hood” to allow one to release the tensions on the radiator shroud, and body-metal and then tip it forward.  (about one hour)

Use normal Inch box wrenches and a little penetrating oil. (remember this was a 1935 LaSalle … and small amounts of rust may be expected)

Now,  loosen the lower mounting bolt at the radiator base, at the frame, loosen the screws and clamps that secure the upper radiator return hose, and tip radiator forward just enough so as to allow working room to access the waterpump from the right and left side of the vehicle.

Loosen the large strap bolt on the generator to remove tension on the fan belt.

Loosen and Remove the bolts that hold the fan blade assembly from the shaft end-plate. Remove the fan. Set aside.

Remove each of the 4 nuts that secure the water-pump to the front face of the engine block.. 

One, uaahhhh-ung. OK, Two uaahhhh-ung. OK, Three uaahhhh-ung. OK, Four uaahhhh-snap!!  Opps

!!! Yikes !! The entire nut and stud snapped off right below the forward-most face of the waterpump.  OK.  That’s cool, all of the other nuts are removed ..It’ll come off.

But wait.  Can’t get the waterpump out of there.  The radiator is actually completely in the way anyway.  OK, remove the radiator.  Which I did.  Maybe I should have it flushed out? Ok …maybe later.

Ok, now pull the waterpump straight off, Done. OK hummmmm. 

The leak has caused a kind of corrosion around each of the four studs and even a new gasket will likely leak.  The correct answer will be to remove all 4 studs face off the port and face off the metal on the front plane of the motor-block.  I can do this.

Remove studs 1, 2, AND 3. Now, for the broken stud. Humm.  Oh yeah, this is where we use the vise grips.

Vise grips….hum let’s see…OK, seriously over-pressure the clamp, bite down on the stud, and turn counterclockwise. O, uaahhhh-snap!!  Opps.

Now there is a totally flush broken-off piece of stud in the block.  Well at least I can face off the front plane with a hand grinder.  I am thinking I might just face it off…and put the waterpump assembly back with just 3 studs and it’ll be good enough.

I call my friend (a pro) No, he says it will just leak again …maybe worse.

So this is where I remember the “Easy-out” technology.  I have used these before.

Seems good.  So, I buy a decent drill bit, drill the proper sized hole.  I insert the easy out and grab the appropriate small handle tool to use for the easy-out. Carefully, exerting the correct amount of exacting rotating pressure to turn the easy-out without any side torque, I turn. Of course it almost immediately snaps off!

OK.  I can do this.  I’ll just remove that easy-out and get a bigger one. Yeah Right.

So I drive (the other car) back to the auto supply shop and buy a one size larger hard-carbon drill bit.

Returning to the home garage shop, I carefully drill down the center of the first easy-out.  Of course by now, it is just after noon and the sweat is pouring off my head into my eyes and I don’t notice that I have drilled right past the easy-out, past the water-jacket, until the drill gives way and charges inward about one inch. What has happened? Well, unbelievable! I have drilled right into the number-one cylinder chamber.

Called my “Pro” friend once again.

So, on Monday, I had the LaSalle towed over to the “pro” shop; they pulled the top-end off of the engine, pulled the pan and removed the #1 piston.  They mounted A VERY LARGE BORING MILL on top of the motor, while the motor is still in the frame of the car.  They bored-out the #1 cylinder 0.100” oversize, sleeved it and re-bored to size. They refitted the #1 piston, replaced all of the upper components, and the pan, and 1 week and $821.00 later, I had it towed home. I replaced all of the remaining parts I had removed, drove it around the block, and sold it the next month for a $500.00 loss.

Thomas Relth © 2007