My dear, dear friend Housego, who I miss terribly, always manages to make (of all things!) middle school band cool enough to make me wish I was 13 again. He knows how to make kids feel really, really important in a world that constantly tries to tell them otherwise. That's magic.
Honestly, show of hands-- how many of you ever got to do something this cool in middle school?
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The UnDiet
If anyone ever tries to sell you on a diet that involves eating as much peanut-butter, chocolate, bread, ice cream, and cheese and drinking as much wine and coffee with 10% cream and sugar as you want, don't buy it. That's pretty much been my diet for the past 2 months and it definitely does not help weight loss...
Friday, October 23, 2009
Ask and Ye Shall Receive
Here is a fine example of thoughtful, respectful, and persuasive argument, written by a librarian in response to a patron who had hoped to have the book Uncle Bobby's Wedding removed from the Children's section.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Delightful Consquences: Why the Art of Persuasion Needs Our Attention
This made me cry this morning.
It also forced me to type out this post that has been brewing in my mind for a while now. As you watch the video, please notice, there is no anger in his voice. He is not spitting vile in the face of those who disagree. He is not calling names or being accusatory. He is stating his case... very persuasively.
The issue I am going to touch on now is one that I am guilty of, and thus will be employing the term "we" when discussing those who have committed this crime against the art of argument.
I can't say whether this is a new issue or a growing issue because I only know the times in which I have lived (a mere 28 years) and the internet has existed for the majority of those years. I believe that sometimesnew technologies can make certain behaviours appear to be more prevalent than in years past, when they are actually just more visible and have been there all along. That being said, I believe the increased visibility can also cause the behaviours to become more prevalent.
Get to the point, Sleeves.
It seems to me that the art of argument and, particularly, persuasion is a dying one. In this cyber world, everyone can have an opinion, and we do. We can share them with the click of a mouse. Little or no time is spent in the writing process-- outlining, drafting, revision, etc. (and I recognize that what that is looks different for everyone, but just writing willy-nilly and hitting "Publish" at the end is not what I would consider a process). True, there are those out there who, as aspiring writers, allow their ideas to marinade before firing up the grill, but for too many of us, we turn on the heat before the meat is even out of the freezer and proceed to burn our ideas and opinions to a crisp with our anger and rage. I don't care how good the cut of meat, if you char its outside, leave it cold in the middle and huck it on a plate without any care for presentation, no one is going to want to eat it. My apologies to the vegetarians for my metaphor.
Our writing, though subject-centered in our own minds (I am going to write a post about *insert controversial topic here*), becomes writer centered when we put our hands to the keyboard. It becomes about us... being right. We make it personal and so we are immediately on the defensive rather than the offensive. This defensive stance summarily turns off anyone who does not already agree with us and it becomes a case of preaching to the choir. And what is the point of that?
I teach a class that focuses on rhetoric and the art of expository writing. The first year I taught it, I was learning right along side the students because even though I had taken Expository and Persuasive Writing in university, there was so much that I was never taught. The growth that I saw, not only in my students' writing, but also in their thinking and their abilities to discuss and debate in mature and respectful ways convinced me of the value of this skill. Too bad the only students who take the class are our Advanced Placement kids (read: 15 out of 200). Too bad that when students head off to university, they are forced to sit through English 100 classes that focus on the prof's favourite literature selections rather than actually teaching students how to think and write critically for real life purposes. Yes, contrary to popular discourse, the skills learned through essay writing are necessary for real life.
Formulating an argument is something each and every person does every day, whether they have learned the skills associated with it or not. It is a damn shame that these skills are often ignored and kids are left to either get it tacitly or not at all.
Watch The View, read the Letters to the Editor, blog search any hot topic, visit any forum discussion and you will find that so much time and energy is dedicated to Right Fighting. "I am right. You are wrong. End of discussion." It helps no one to grow. It brings us no closer to common ground. In fact, it is totally divisive.
This attitude of "I know best and if you disagree with me you can go to hell" completely ignores the audience and if we're not writing for an audience, what is the point of using a public medium for your message? Even if you are simply "sharing" your story, "sharing" implies someone will share in it. Do we want to limit those who will receive our message with our self-righteousness? Or do we want to reach those who have not yet been reached?
We must consider that someone may oppose our stance for a reason other than ignorance, idiocy, or douchebaggery (yes, douchebaggery-- blog search it and you will see that it has become a pandemic. I wonder if there is a vaccine for it...). It takes time and critical thinking, but if we take the time to figure out why on earth someone might think differently, we will be one step closer to writing a thoughtful, respectful, persuasive piece that might convince them otherwise. Of course, there is always the danger of discovering that *gasp* WE were wrong or not entirely correct in our initial assumptions and then WE might have to qualify what WE say or change how WE act or GROW for goodness sake! We might become better in our quest to better the world. The consequences could be... delightful.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
CrossFit Workout of the Day: Grindy
This is what my noon hour looked like:
35 lb Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk... Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk... Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk.
Ring-row*, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up*, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
35 lb Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
35 lb Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk.
Except some of the commas were more like ellipses... looooooooong ellipses.............................................................
It took one guy 15 minutes to complete. It took me 40 minutes. And 52 seconds. I'm going to be sore tomorrow.
*The prescribed workout was actually 10 Clean and Jerks with 65 lbs, plus 5 pull-ups, 10 standard push-ups, 15 squats (5 rounds), Repeat, and add one more round of C&Js.
35 lb Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk... Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk... Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk.
Ring-row*, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up*, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
35 lb Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row, Ring-row.
Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up, Modified push-up.
Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat, Squat.
35 lb Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Jerk.
Except some of the commas were more like ellipses... looooooooong ellipses.............................................................
It took one guy 15 minutes to complete. It took me 40 minutes. And 52 seconds. I'm going to be sore tomorrow.
*The prescribed workout was actually 10 Clean and Jerks with 65 lbs, plus 5 pull-ups, 10 standard push-ups, 15 squats (5 rounds), Repeat, and add one more round of C&Js.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Baby Survives Being Run Over By Train
The baby is okay. I don't know that I would be if that happened to N...
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Stranger Than Fiction
Once upon a time, there was a family building an experimental helium flying device in their backyard. As children are prone to be, the son of the family was curious and had a vivid imagination. One day, he climbed into the device and untied the ropes that secured it to the ground. Now he is floating over Colorado, thousands of feet in the air and no one can get him down.
You can't make this shit up.
Let's hope he lands safely and lives happily ever after.
***UPDATE***
There was no child in the aircraft when it crashed. No word on whether he was never in it or if he fell out.
***UPDATE 2***
We live in a disgusting world. We don't even know if the kid is dead or alive, but you can get a "commemorative" t-shirt.
And this is a video featuring the family who were apparently participants on Wife Swap.
***FINAL UPDATE***
They did it for attention. They should go to jail and the kids should be taken away.
You can't make this shit up.
Let's hope he lands safely and lives happily ever after.
***UPDATE***
There was no child in the aircraft when it crashed. No word on whether he was never in it or if he fell out.
***UPDATE 2***
We live in a disgusting world. We don't even know if the kid is dead or alive, but you can get a "commemorative" t-shirt.
And this is a video featuring the family who were apparently participants on Wife Swap.
***FINAL UPDATE***
They did it for attention. They should go to jail and the kids should be taken away.
Look at Me!
I'm trying to decide if these new fangled cameras with the viewing screen on both sides indicate a new level of narcissism or if they are just enabling us to be as narcissistic as we have always been. Personally, I love the self-photo, in fact, our monthly family portraits are always taken by C's left hand. The key to a good self photo is not taking yourself seriously in them I HATE those facebook profile pics where it is obvious that the individual has just spent hours in front of their webcam taking 6000 pics, adjusting each strand of hair and trying to ensure that their eyes are smizing and their lips are pouting just so.It makes me so embarrassed for them. HEY! YOUR PRETENSION IS SHOWING!
I thought I would have more to write here, but turns out not. Maybe more will come to me later...
I thought I would have more to write here, but turns out not. Maybe more will come to me later...
Sunday, October 11, 2009
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