We had to invent ADD to account for adult slowness at getting to the point

PowerPoint presentations are so yesterday. And that’s because technology keeps moving and improving. Salvage yards now have an entire section devoted to space junk like obsolete 386 computers and laser printers. Some years back I had a student who went to Fitzgerald’s in Lincoln hoping to scab parts and make his own robot. But he was afraid that a warehouse of junk was going to meld together and attack him. I tell young people all the time: “Be smart and know as much as you can about everything you can. Use the technology but don’t forget to add depth of understanding and learn how to make informed decisions or at least intelligent guesses.” I inhabit NFL and college press boxes and it is all about technology. So is the medical field and legal stuff or running the register at Happy Harry’s or any other job. Teaching today is not shadow animals on a movie screen and it’s not PowerPoint; it’s about equipping kids for jobs in the future and that includes green technology and auto mechanics - even fishing, as the compass has become an artifact.

We had to invent ADD to account for adult slowness at getting around to the point. Today’s learners are quick and smart and it’s a real challenge to keep them engaged.

Technology has to be integrated into school life just like a sensible diet that is second nature is the only real way to prevent the deleterious effects of obesity and alcoholism and smoking and all those other bad things that show up on scanning machines soon to be available in supermarkets as self scanners in the next generation. Personally, I will vote yes for the technology referendum Tuesday, Feb. 24, then walk over to the Little Big House for the Caesar Rodney at Cape basketball game. I am not a Cape cheerleader - I would be cut - but I love the diversity of talent in the district and I want students to have the best and ride the wave of positive energy they generate for the community for those privileged enough to teach and coach them.

BOZ WIDDOES - Boz passed away Monday, Feb. 16, at the age of 57, and all I can say is across the pantheon of tough guys with big hearts Boz is the undisputed No. 1 all-time champion; retire the trophy! I couldn’t have a face-to-face conversation with Boz without thinking, “I’d hate to get into a contact showdown with this guy because I don’t think he can be hurt.” Anyone who ever coached his kids, especially the girls, always knew the whereabouts of Boz Widdoes. He was a tough critic, I’m sure at times unreasonable, but what did I care; I was his friend. Those girls of his and Maryellen’s are athletic and beautiful, but you knew Boz was a part of their personalities, so none of the Widdoes children were people to trifle with. I can remember at a football game years ago Boz talking about his liver problems. “Some of my friends have offered to be live donors,” he said. “Jesus, most of them are in worse shape than I am.” I also know Boz had that intense loyalty for all kids connected to his own children or former Cape athletes who were possibly making bad decisions. I knew this because we often talked about it.

A FRIEND OF BOZ - This was written to me from Jerry McNesby, a friend of Boz Widdoes since grade school:

“Boz Widdoes passed away earlier this week after a long illness. He leaves a beautiful - and devoted - wife and a slew of kids (seven, I think) and grandkids. First and foremost he was a family man.

“I’ve known him since grade school and played against him in high school when he played for Sallies. He later played for Piane’s in the touch football league in Wilmington when ‘touch’ was simply a different form of tackle - now it’s the softer version of flag.

“Loved to watch him box at Delaware Park. Boz was one of those tough guys with a soft heart. When he was your friend, he was your friend for life. If a war broke out, you wanted Boz on your side. I played against him in the 1970 Blue-Gold game when we had a two-week camp at UDEL. You could always find Boz in our dorm and we ultimately dubbed him the ‘blue boy with a heart of gold.’ Not sure if his teammates appreciated it, but he played an outstanding game. Scotty Reihm, Herky Billings and Bill Collick can all attest to this classic human being.

“Hopefully you got a chance to meet him. He was simply a good husband, brother, father and friend.”

SNIPPETS - Advice to high school kids: “Don’t pay attention to rumors.” Instincts of a journalist: “Always chase down rumors.” Sussex County is the rumor capital of the solar system. Maybe you missed it, but Delaware State University football will play Michigan at Ann Arbor Oct. 17. Delaware State is coached by Al Lavan, a former Eastern Michigan assistant who was 2-1 as the Eagles’ interim coach in 2003. And there are other connections linking the two staffs. So what about Delaware and its Michigan helmets and the Dave Nelson-Tubby Raymond connection? My peeps tell me that Delaware never spoke to Michigan about a game but since Delaware State grabbed the date, now Delaware wants to play Delaware State. Delaware has an open date Sept. 19 and it goes on from there as the ball is on Delaware State’s end of the field. Wagner University has a date at Delaware State Sept. 19 on its “tentative schedule.” To employ a technique used by Jim Rome, all of this is followed by the word “allegedly.” This baby’s got legs!