December 2004

Cool story

Anyone with an interest in Math, hacking, programming, or the history of Apple computers might find this story amusing. I know I did.

What, sick again?

In what seems to have become an annual tradition, I've come down with a cold just in time for Christmas. I was careful to wash my hands before, but now I'll be extra careful. I don't want Kelli getting sick again.

I'm waiting until it's almost time to go home, then transporting art supplies to the next building in my rotation and going home. I feel like crap, but I can't complain too much - I remember feeling much, much worse.

Scapegoats on isle 5

Ok, suicide is a terrible thing. I have a friend who commited suicide. But when medical records are confidential, you can't sue the company that sold the gun to the suicide victem!

Oh, wait. Apparently, you can.

Look, lady, it's a horrible thing that your daughter died, but let me fill you in on a little secret: People who commit suicide don't limit themselves to one method only. Prevent them from getting guns and they'll use pills, slit their wrists, drown themselves, jump in front of trains, or any one of countless methods. Add to this the fact that those who sold your daughter the gun SIMPLY HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING the gun's intended purpose, and your lawsuit is nothing more than finding a scapegoat.

I know you're greiving, and this is a way to cope (I've had to cope with many things myself over the years) - but when you actually spend money in your attempt to blame innocent people, then you have to find a better way.

Cheap laptop doesn't do Windows.

Ok, I think I'll still stick to Macintosh products that cost twice as much, but even people who dislike Walmart with a passion have to admit that a $500 laptop is a good deal.

True, it's not the most powerful laptop on the market by a long shot, but for the casual or business user it's a more than adequate machine, especially wen you think about the added security feature -it's not Windows.

Let down.

Well we only had a 2 hour delay, which sucks because it throws my whole teaching schedule out of wack. (It wasn't even a decent snow, just ice.) I'm going to end up taking a personal day on Wednesday to set up displays and do paperwork, but my ulterior motive is to push the schedule around so I don't have to teach on our half day on the 23rd. I wouldn't mind teaching that day, just not as my first day in the next building of my rotation. Instead the 23rd will be a "travel day," where I transport my supplies to that building and finalize all scheduling concerns.

If memory serves, there were a lot of scheduling problems last time. I expect more of the same this time around.

White Gold

It's snowing, it's snowing, IT'S SNOWING!!!! If we have a snow day tomorrow (I doubt it, but a man can dream...) I'll be out taking pictures of the winter wonderland.

Prince George's County Public Schools Survey!

The PGCPS Board of Education has placed a survey online. Anyone may take the survey, although I think they would prefer people who live or work in the area.

Three things that annoy Art teachers.

I warn you, the following is a rant of the three most common mistakes seen in an Art class. Humor me, it's been a while since I did a true rant.

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These are three things that drove me batty when I taught high school. As such, I am trying to stamp these things out in elementary.

1. Stick figures are evil. Never draw them when there is ANY viable alternative. If you have no alternative, then learn one.

2.Say it with me: "Sky is blue, clouds are white." Would you want the windows of your car painted while the metal remains bare? No? Then don't mess with the laws of physics.

3. On a related note, a blue stripe at the top of your paper is a blue stripe. When you were five a blue stripe made a wonderful sky, because you used the right color. You're older now, so look out the window. Do you see a white space between the sky and ground? I didn't think so, so don't leave that space empty

Water! Water!

Mother nature owes me $1.50. We had a water main break somewhere right in the middle of the load of laundry I was doing. Since our laundry room is coin operated, I'm a little annoyed.

"Mom, I need an iPod for school!"

"No, really!" At least that what some students get to say.

Now, I'll grant the size, power, and aesthetics of the iPod (original or extra fruity) make it a very desirable product. Put one in someone's hands for five minutes and they'll want one too, it's just that good. I'll even grant that I've been an Apple fan since the Apple IIc came out.

However, there are plenty of less expensive alternatives out there with comperable storage capacities. I think it's cool that schools are integrating technology on an increasing basis, but when brand loyalty is stressed over best bang for the buck, it's the students that loose. (Even if Mom and Dad bought them an iPod.)

Simple Spider

This cute little animation is interactive, but not for those with irrational fear of spiders.

Or maybe it is for them, since you can shake the spider around. It's good clean fun, for maybe a minute or so.

A.O.T.M. 19 - Harbor Night 4

Name: Harbor Night 4
Where: Baltimore, Maryland
When: 2004
Print Available?: Yes

Kelli's home now, but when she was in the hospital I took many a walk around the harbor after dark.

When I saw this scene I just had to take a picture. The combination of contrast and one point perspective really called out to me, like one of those night time street scenes usually reserved for film noir detective stories.

I can almost picture some guy in a brown overcoat hanging out on a nearby bench, waiting for his snitch to slink over and give him the dirt on the local mob boss.

Of course, sometimes I have an overactive imagination.

Power, or lack thereof

Woke up yesterday morning to a very dark room. Normally there's a little light cast by our two alarm clocks, but apparently the storm from the previous night had knocked down a bunch of power lines.

On a premonition, I made sure to place a 9-volt battery in one of the clocks in case the power went out. It's something I'd been meaning to do for ... well ... two years now. Lucky me, I did it the night before I needed to.

Incidentally, it's not fun to take a shower in the dark when the knob that turns off the shower feels the same as the knob that ONLY turns off the cold water. Grr.

A.T.O.M. 18 - Looking Up 1

Name: Looking Up 1
Where: Glen Burnie, Maryland
When: 2004
Print Available?: Yes

I wanted my 4th grade classes to do a lesson on perspective with an unusual point of view, so I decided straight up would be good for that. I had them drawing trees instead of buildings (the traditional subject mater for a beginner's perspective lesson) because they were also studying national parks and natural resources.

Of course I needed an example of trees from that point of view, so one day after school I walked out into my front yard, looked up, and took a couple of snapshots. This is the best of those, and in fact the only one I kept.

A.O.T.M. 17 - Lights 1

Name: Lights 1
Where: Glen Burnie, Maryland
When: 2004
Print Available?: Yes

I set up the Christmas lights last Friday, and this is what they look like through our curtains. I was so taken by the translucent shapes that I immediately set up the tripod and snapped the center pic. In a moment of inspiration I rotated the camera to the left and right on the tripod and took the left and right pics.

A quick photoshopping later, and ta da!

At the time I'm writing this I think this image has gotten more comments on DeviantART than any of my other submissions. That's not saying much, but it's still saying something.

My favorite Podcasting sites

I think these all deserve a plug, so here it goes:

The Laporte Report and The Tech Guy on KFI
Both of these are run by Leo Laporte, one of my favorite tech gurus on the net. If you used to watch TechTV before G4 ripped out it's heart out and sold it's soul, then you may have seen Leo before.

The Laporte Report provides tech news summaries while the KFI page posts Leo's radio show.

Engadget

Another tech news site, but NOT just another tech news site. The podcasts here are hosted by a guy named Phillip Torrone and while I don't always agree with all of his opinions, he's one of those people who actually THINKS about his opinions before he just talks and puts his foot in his mouth. I can respect that.

The Webmaster Cookbook

Father and son team ChefTD and Jowl broadcast their show live every Friday, then stream it and post it on their site. The ongoing plot revolves around Jowl's development of his site, Orting.com. ChefTD offers Jowl his expert advice with coding, images, and tons of free stuff to which you can subscribe.

lookANDsee and Will Simpson

Both of these sites are combination text/photo/audio blogs, with lookANDsee updating every day as a sort of photo diary and Will Simpson updating less frequently but with more attention paid to technique. If you're into photography, these are great places to go.

Central Lutheran Church

Ok, they don't exactly support RSS feeds, but they record their sermons and post the mp3s every Sunday. They're other Lutheran Churches that post ther sermons, but they're all Missouri Synod. This one's ELCA, just like me.

Shopping Chart of DOOM!

Kelli = 50% done


Mom = 75% done


Dad = 90% done


Gretchen = 50% done


Beka = 90% done


Kelli's Dad = 0% done


Uncle Terry = 90% done


Chris = 100% done


Suzie = 100% done


Alexandria = 100% done


Other = 0% done

Kelli, Counter, Cam, Calendar

Ok, so it's been a while. Can you blame me? Kelli's been home since the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and I've been more interested in spending time with her than posting here.

But now I'm making a comeback, slowly but surely. You may notice a small change on the front page of the blog - I've now added a small webcounter courtesy of Bravenet.

Also, I may soon be moving my "webcam" to the blog pages as well. Webcam is in quotes because it's updated less often than the blog and it's not really a web cam, just pictures taken with my regular camera.

Also also, anyone wanna buy a calendar?