Teacher MarHire the Goats!
"Hire The Goats!"
Goats are being hired to do the work of men in a neighborhood just outside of San Diego. The fires that occurred in Hillborough four years ago destroyed thirty homes, most of which have been rebuilt. While contractors were rebuilding the homes, nature was regrowing the grasses, bushes, and shrubs. The area is now so overgrown in brush that it again poses a major fire hazard.
The city council asked for bids to remove the brush. The lowest bid they received was $50,000. And that was if the city provided breakfast and lunch for the work crews for the six weeks it would take to clear the overgrown area. The city countered, offering unlimited coffee (black only) and a doughnut a day for each crew member. When that offer was rejected, the city asked for help on its website.
A sheepherder in Montana and a goatherder in San Bernardino read about the city’s plight while surfing the web on their laptops. They both offered to do the job for $25,000. The council chose the goatherder because he lived closer. When told that the city dump was overflowing, the goatherder said, “No problem. My goats will eat everything in your dump. Except for the automobile engines, of course.” So, for another $5,000, the city killed two birds with one stone. If all goes well, they will invite the goatherder and his “family” back every three years. The goatherder said he will probably visit San Diego while his goats are in the dump. “I want to take one of those hang-glider rides. I just hope we don’t crash. My goats would miss me a lot,” he said.
Word Power!
> contractor (noun) - a person who contracts to furnish supplies or perform work at a certain price or rate.
> shrub (noun) - a woody plant smaller than a tree.
> bid (verb) - to offer (a certain sum) as the price one will pay or charge.
> dump (noun) - a place where garbage, refuse, etc., is deposited.
> reject (verb) - to refuse to have or to take.
Problem Solving
1. You are eating at a restaurant one night. After you finish the meal, you discover that you left your wallet at home. You also discover that your cell phone is dead. You cannot remember any of your friends’ numbers. The restaurant tells you that you MUST pay or they will call the police. If you cannot ask a friend to bring you money, how do you solve this problem?
2. Your best friend is perfect except for the fact that she ALWAYS has bad breath. You don’t want to hurt her feelings by telling her that her breath stinks but you know that she needs to find out somehow. How can you solve this problem?