links for 2007-02-28
| Category: General | 1 Comment
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Kenny— We can’t watch this show… it has no plot, no movement, no reality.
Oh wait, we were watching Studio 60– second verse, same as the first
Feb 28
2007
Feb 25
2007
Stop Talking About Cribbage!
| Category: General, Entertainment Tonight, WTF? | 3 Comments
Sorry folks, just can’t quite seem to shake the fact that I really do enjoy this game, and I know there are others out there that do as well. Also, there are plenty of people around here that could learn, if they wanted to… Anyway, I’ve been doing some reading at the ACC website (no, not that ACC) and found out that it really doesn’t take much to start a cribbage club. And, they have a convention. In Vegas Jr. (Reno). Next weekend is the Illinois Open in Crystal Lake, but I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of dedication yet. I need to start slow and accrue some points. I smell a good summer project for me, when I’ll be free of the beast that keeps me chained from my freedom, otherwise known as my thesis. What I need to know; is there anyone else interested in trekking with me to one of the clubs that have regular meetings to see what it’s about? Woodstock and Crystal Lake (sorry DaveJo) may be a little too far for a weekly commute, so I’m wondering if there would be interest in eventually (read: this summer) starting a local club. And by local, I mean closer than an hour away in Thursday night traffic. 
Anyway, feedback for this would be appreciated. I included some links with my del.icio.us post yesterday– check them out and tell me what you think!
Feb 25
2007
links for 2007-02-25
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There’s a club in Woodstock! We should join!
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Seriously, we need to get this organized
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And one more because I really need to start playing more cribbage
Feb 24
2007
links for 2007-02-24
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This will be the first stop on our trip. It’s located pretty centrally from some of the place I think we’ll be visiting. Fun times ahead!
Feb 13
2007
links for 2007-02-13
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For Waj— is this what you’re looking for? — I know I’ve been looking for something like this.
Feb 12
2007
links for 2007-02-12
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Enjoy. Using it for my thesis. Child psych, anyone?
Feb 10
2007
Why Being a Male Teacher will NEVER be the Same as Being a Female Teacher…
| Category: General, School Daze, Unfortunately Serious, In the Reflecting Pool | 0 Comments
Despite the looming thesis that takes up free moments in my life, I needed to take a moment to respond to this article. First and foremost, this article hits home because, 1) I’m a second-grade teacher, 2) I student taught at Thomas Paine (back in the day) and 3) I hate the fact that there are sickos out there that take advantage of children like that.
On a broader scale, there is something wrong with our investigative system when the alleged perv was dismissed from another school district for inappropriate behavior, but was able to find a job almost right away. I’m not a big-brother loving, Patriot Act, wire-tapping advocate, but I do think that if you send pictures of semi-nude actresses to CHILDREN, you should not be in teaching. Being a teacher means you need to get students to trust you and understand that you are on their side. When things like this happen, especially in the classroom, it makes that bond so much harder to establish. Because of things like this, there are several things I cannot and will not ever do as a teacher:
1) No student can ever be alone with me in a classroom, unless I’m standing in the doorway, with the door wide open. It’s also why I usually do any disciplining in the hallway, where others can see and hear, while keeping it private from the other students in the classroom. Female teachers rarely have to think about these things.
2) Kids that I teach are very affectionate; they’re young, they love school, and they want to show it. However, we give handshakes, fist-bumps, and high fives in my classroom. Hugs are a rarity, because I don’t initiate them. If a child (male, or female) offers me one, it’s always a side hug. Despite my emotional involvement with my students (6 hrs a day x 170 days= over a thousand hours with each child… wouldn’t you have some investment?), I will not be seen as overly-touchy, because it can come back to haunt you, no matter how innocuous it is. Female teachers, in contrast, have children hugging them all the time, and I’ve even seen teachers give children a kiss on the cheek on multiple occasions. Not that I would ever want to do that, but if another male teacher did, he would be strung up and kicked out faster than you can say ‘investigation.”
3) This makes things awfully hard to console an upset child. Whether it’s a scrape, an insult, or being sad about something else in their life, as a teacher, I’m supposed to be there for them. I’m sure I’m come off as cold sometimes because I have to keep my distance from students.
I hope the guy gets a huge sentence, and is never allowed near children for a long time, but I’m constantly aware of the fishbowl that male teachers live in.
Overall, it just makes me sad, and it makes my job harder. I’m in teaching because I care about children, and I will continue to make sure that I respect those children, whatever it takes, so that they can learn. I hope our education system does the same. If you’re interested in the rest of this saga, you can go here for the latest updates from the News-Gazette.
Feb 08
2007
links for 2007-02-08
| Category: General | 1 Comment
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I’m a man, and sometimes I get teary. No worries. Also, the call on “Two Cathedrals” is absolutely RIGHT on target. Go read it, demographic, and deny me. I dare you. The comments are good too!
Feb 06
2007
links for 2007-02-06
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We’re finally going over to Word after years of fighting about Appleworks. Personally, I’m as pleased as punch, but now I’ve got figure out how to get everything converted easily…
Feb 05
2007
ESPN.com - RECRUITING: Zook brewing more recruiting magic at Illinois
| Category: General, Sports and Wine | Comments Off
ESPN.com - RECRUITING - Schlabach: Zook brewing more recruiting magic at Illinois
Yes, but can he coach? ESPN is hyping Zook a lot here… let’s see if he can actually turn all that potential into something this year. Remember, the Illini were in almost every game last year, a marked improvement over the 2005 campaign. GO ILLINI!
Feb 05
2007
Are We Bringing Rexy Back? Ask Again Later…
| Category: General, Sports and Wine | 1 Comment
Yikes.
Last night could have gone better for so, so, so many reasons. Let’s start with the play-calling:
1) Yes, Cedric hurt himself very early. But that also prevented him from making more fumbles. We do have some guy named Adrian Peterson as well at the running back position, and I seem to remember him doing pretty well as a fill-in earlier in the year. The Bears abandoned the running game in the second half when they could have taken their time and used the ball control in their favor. In the weather, with the Colts seeming to revert back to their regular season sieve-like defense, I think the run should have been used more.
2) The defensive game plan wasn’t much better. They got to P-e-y-t-o-n early, and then seemed to abandon their plans when they got burnt on the Wayne touchdown. Everyone then started playing way too tight. Did they not realize that the Colts actually had an offense? (BTW, where the hell were the safeties on that play? Hadn’t Phil Simms just finished telling us about how the safeties were 30,000 yards off the ball?)
I know the weather was a factor, but the game was sloppier than it needed to be, and most of the fault lies with our for-better-or-for-worse QB, the Rex Cannon. I thought Rex was actually doing alright until he started slipping and sliding. The fumbles were part nerves, part weather, part inattention to detail, and they drove me crazy. Nothing like killing a drive when you fall down and stay in the fetal position. The first interception was a bad decision. The second interception, however, was the right decision. It was a poorly thrown ball. Rex is so used to Berrian bailing him out that he forgot what it was like to try to hit someone in stride. Berrian was open, and the timing was right. If that ball is thrown 2-3 yards further down the field or gets there a little faster, the Bears are in business. The game was way too much of a rollercoaster for me.
Next year will bring some changes for the Bears. They need to put the franchise tag on Lance Briggs, and resign Lovie to a nice deal. He’s earned it. I don’t have the free agents in front of me currently– I’m sure we’ll talk about it down the road.
And then there’s Rex. There’s already talk that he won’t be the starting quarterback next year. I think an open competition in camp would be a good idea. I also think that he actually did a nice job with the intermediate routes yesterday, something the national talking heads are more than willing to point to on the case of Bad Rex. I have a hard time believing that Angelo and Smith will just drop him– there were plenty of other mistakes made yesterday on both sides of the ball. Rex is just good at killing any momentum. I think next year will bring some changes, but I will not be surprised if #8 is running the show once again. (”Rex is our quarterback. He was 13-4 last year as our quarterback.”)
I thought the game would be closer. I was surprised at how passionate I was at the game. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to actually be there. Frank the Tank and I were a little dazed by the end of it.
On a lighter note, I had a wonderful time at Marc and Beth’s party yesterday. It was a fun time, despite sub-zero weather and the loss. Also, because of wind chills, I have no school today, and you get to read this wonderful (and slightly foggy) post. Enjoy!
How many days ’til pitchers and catchers?
Feb 01
2007
links for 2007-02-01
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Take that, Frank! No more pretty pictures. (Secretly, I kinda like them)
