...And salt the earth...
As you may have noticed, I've purged this blog of most of its content. AI Lounge may return when there is more time for this sort of thing, and I actually have something to say. This return to the blogosphere was spurned on as part of a class assignment, and now that the class is over I'm just not convinced I'm ready to spend much time here... yet. Get outside. It's a big world out there.
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
A side note on assigned reading...
Parents as teachers... or just the opposite...
In reading Turner and Patrick (2004) for a class, I happened across a related interesting article, Looking at Teacher Practices Through the Lens of Parenting Style (2008), in which Walker frames teaching styles and their resulting environments in the same terms often attributed to parenting styles. Can a classroom be classified as permissive, authoritarian, or authoritative (democratic)? Apparently, the answer is yes... but should we apply these labels? At first I thought the appropriateness of this comparison was hit-over-the-head obvious... and then I thought again. I think there is a real inherent danger in comparing parenting to teaching (Even at this perceptually "harmless" level), not just because I sense more and more parents relying on teachers to do the things they themselves are too incapable, overwhelmed, or simply lazy to do themselves, but because both the role of the parent and teacher are uniquely powerful because of their distinctness. When we create an overlap, literally or figuratively, it only serves to dilute the potential of the teacher and the parent. As Turner and Patrick attempt to address the complexities of participation in the classroom, in this vein I think we need to acknowledge the wildly complex nature of parenting and teaching. Ultimately, Walker's idea makes for an interesting article, and the case for being able to apply this shared framework is well made... but in the humble opinion of this blogger, it just shouldn't happen.
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
In reading Turner and Patrick (2004) for a class, I happened across a related interesting article, Looking at Teacher Practices Through the Lens of Parenting Style (2008), in which Walker frames teaching styles and their resulting environments in the same terms often attributed to parenting styles. Can a classroom be classified as permissive, authoritarian, or authoritative (democratic)? Apparently, the answer is yes... but should we apply these labels? At first I thought the appropriateness of this comparison was hit-over-the-head obvious... and then I thought again. I think there is a real inherent danger in comparing parenting to teaching (Even at this perceptually "harmless" level), not just because I sense more and more parents relying on teachers to do the things they themselves are too incapable, overwhelmed, or simply lazy to do themselves, but because both the role of the parent and teacher are uniquely powerful because of their distinctness. When we create an overlap, literally or figuratively, it only serves to dilute the potential of the teacher and the parent. As Turner and Patrick attempt to address the complexities of participation in the classroom, in this vein I think we need to acknowledge the wildly complex nature of parenting and teaching. Ultimately, Walker's idea makes for an interesting article, and the case for being able to apply this shared framework is well made... but in the humble opinion of this blogger, it just shouldn't happen.
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
PFP: Day Eight
The Dude Abides...
1) There is actually something called Lebowskifest that happens a mere 2.5 hours from here. I'm marking my calendar... shut the $#@! up, Donnie.
2) Hey, Jeff Lynne (That "other guy" from the Travelling Wilburys) was in ELO... somehow I missed the whole memo on that one. That, and a band with the lamest name in the world, Electric Light Orchestra, could have some fantastic songs... Hello, Mr. Blue Sky. I'm not sure how my musical education managed to skip these facts, but the music of the late '70's falls into that mid-generational backhole of "before my time" and after Mom and Dad's last vinyl purchase.
3) Today I struck up a conversation with a guy at the dollar movie rental kiosk... Are you seeing a trend towards normal socialization here?
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
1) There is actually something called Lebowskifest that happens a mere 2.5 hours from here. I'm marking my calendar... shut the $#@! up, Donnie.
2) Hey, Jeff Lynne (That "other guy" from the Travelling Wilburys) was in ELO... somehow I missed the whole memo on that one. That, and a band with the lamest name in the world, Electric Light Orchestra, could have some fantastic songs... Hello, Mr. Blue Sky. I'm not sure how my musical education managed to skip these facts, but the music of the late '70's falls into that mid-generational backhole of "before my time" and after Mom and Dad's last vinyl purchase.
3) Today I struck up a conversation with a guy at the dollar movie rental kiosk... Are you seeing a trend towards normal socialization here?
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Monday, March 16, 2009
PFP: Day Seven
Gone, Baby, Gone...
1) If you're wondering why the craigslist link on yesterday's post leads you to a deleted listing, and I'm sure droves of you are, that's because the tub is GONE! Huzzah! Less than seventeen hours after I listed it... if that's not a sign that the economy is a little less than stellar, then I don't what is.
2) Having rented "The Ruins" and "Transporter 3" last night (Both movies my wife would have found appalling... see yesterday's post), I am struck by two points: 1) Most horror movies are quite entertaining up until "the reveal" (When you find out what's making those scary noises or picking off your friends one by one), but really drop off from there... so why do we even need the reveal in the first place?... the whole "in the shadows" concept made early X-Files a classic, and 2) There are few series so absolutely mindless yet undeniably entertaining as the Transporter movies (Where else can you see Jason Statham take on twenty guys using a firehose... or his necktie?).
3) I bought I baseball glove (Kinda' anti-climactic, but surprising none the less).
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
1) If you're wondering why the craigslist link on yesterday's post leads you to a deleted listing, and I'm sure droves of you are, that's because the tub is GONE! Huzzah! Less than seventeen hours after I listed it... if that's not a sign that the economy is a little less than stellar, then I don't what is.
2) Having rented "The Ruins" and "Transporter 3" last night (Both movies my wife would have found appalling... see yesterday's post), I am struck by two points: 1) Most horror movies are quite entertaining up until "the reveal" (When you find out what's making those scary noises or picking off your friends one by one), but really drop off from there... so why do we even need the reveal in the first place?... the whole "in the shadows" concept made early X-Files a classic, and 2) There are few series so absolutely mindless yet undeniably entertaining as the Transporter movies (Where else can you see Jason Statham take on twenty guys using a firehose... or his necktie?).
3) I bought I baseball glove (Kinda' anti-climactic, but surprising none the less).
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Sunday, March 15, 2009
PFP: Special Weekend Edition
Heavy Metal and Home Alone...
I know, I know, so I said weekends were blog-free, but after spending the day tearing out ceramic tile in an attempt to remodel the bathroom, pretty much all I want to do is sit in front of the computer...
1) Cast iron tubs are HEAVY. I'm pretty sure that baby's been in there since the 1940's... it's kinda' a shame to replace it with a fiberglass one that I can lift with one hand, but someday somebody's back will thank me. Check it out... it's posted on craigslist and sitting pretty in the front yard (I'm sure the neighbors love that).
2) The house is unnaturally quiet with the missus and kids gone for the week... it's amazing what one can accomplish given a little space and quiet (Yes, honey, if you are reading, I miss you... of course).
3) I cooked a pot roast marinated in rum and served with mashed potatoes and cooked carrots... a feast fit for a king, but a king alone in the castle. What am I going to do with all this food? Or, dishes?
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
I know, I know, so I said weekends were blog-free, but after spending the day tearing out ceramic tile in an attempt to remodel the bathroom, pretty much all I want to do is sit in front of the computer...
1) Cast iron tubs are HEAVY. I'm pretty sure that baby's been in there since the 1940's... it's kinda' a shame to replace it with a fiberglass one that I can lift with one hand, but someday somebody's back will thank me. Check it out... it's posted on craigslist and sitting pretty in the front yard (I'm sure the neighbors love that).
2) The house is unnaturally quiet with the missus and kids gone for the week... it's amazing what one can accomplish given a little space and quiet (Yes, honey, if you are reading, I miss you... of course).
3) I cooked a pot roast marinated in rum and served with mashed potatoes and cooked carrots... a feast fit for a king, but a king alone in the castle. What am I going to do with all this food? Or, dishes?
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Friday, March 13, 2009
PFP: Day Six?
Growing apart...
1) I realize that it has been over a week since my last post. I guess since my last blog adventure a couple years ago, I have recognized the value/necessity of living in the real world... sick kids, camping trips, birthdays, and youth baseball "spring training" all take precedent over the blogosphere, as they should. "Ah, perspective... what a wonderful thing." Does that count as a surprise?
2) I caught the last showing of a one-week run of the movie "Fanboys" last night (See banner on left). One week?... at least the local theater monopoly brought it at all (I was planning on driving to Indianapolis if needed). I guess they need to make room for classics like "Fastiest and most Furiouster IV." In reality, I a can't complain, as the movie had been somehow bumped to the five-dollar category. If you are counting that's three surprises in one so far. I was very excited by the premise for this movie (A group of obsessed fans travel cross-country to steal a print of Episode I from Skywalker Ranch), but went in expecting nothing more than an entertaining hour and a half of Star Wars inside jokes... One of the many reasons I went by myself, as explaining all of these jokes and references seemed less than appealing after a rough midterm week. In the end I was surprisingly struck by this comedic tale of friendships renewed, decisions concerning whether or not to join the adult world, and the importance of the Star Wars films beyond the horrid dialogue and eyecandy special effects. They aptly captured the feel of 1998, which was a pivotal year for me personally (One reason I found the story more moving than I should?), and the general excitement of that first midnight showing. Is it a classic? Far from it. But, it does help explain why I uncontrollably and audibly groaned when I recognized the Star Trek preview before Watchmen the other night.
3) I purchased tickets to two World Cup qualifying matches.
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
1) I realize that it has been over a week since my last post. I guess since my last blog adventure a couple years ago, I have recognized the value/necessity of living in the real world... sick kids, camping trips, birthdays, and youth baseball "spring training" all take precedent over the blogosphere, as they should. "Ah, perspective... what a wonderful thing." Does that count as a surprise?
2) I caught the last showing of a one-week run of the movie "Fanboys" last night (See banner on left). One week?... at least the local theater monopoly brought it at all (I was planning on driving to Indianapolis if needed). I guess they need to make room for classics like "Fastiest and most Furiouster IV." In reality, I a can't complain, as the movie had been somehow bumped to the five-dollar category. If you are counting that's three surprises in one so far. I was very excited by the premise for this movie (A group of obsessed fans travel cross-country to steal a print of Episode I from Skywalker Ranch), but went in expecting nothing more than an entertaining hour and a half of Star Wars inside jokes... One of the many reasons I went by myself, as explaining all of these jokes and references seemed less than appealing after a rough midterm week. In the end I was surprisingly struck by this comedic tale of friendships renewed, decisions concerning whether or not to join the adult world, and the importance of the Star Wars films beyond the horrid dialogue and eyecandy special effects. They aptly captured the feel of 1998, which was a pivotal year for me personally (One reason I found the story more moving than I should?), and the general excitement of that first midnight showing. Is it a classic? Far from it. But, it does help explain why I uncontrollably and audibly groaned when I recognized the Star Trek preview before Watchmen the other night.
3) I purchased tickets to two World Cup qualifying matches.
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
PFP: Day Five
Bluegrass on the brain...
1) I have a new distraction. Archive.org has a substantial number (especially if you like folk and bluegrass) of band-sanctioned, free downloads of live performances. I am surprised that these bands' recording contracts allow this.
2) My good friend's mother is in a bluegrass band (And the closest I ever came was touring with the church's handbell choir).
3) Practiced hitting and catching with the boys today for over two hours of "spring training"... and I was cut from my childhood tee-ball team (You've come a long way, baby).
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
1) I have a new distraction. Archive.org has a substantial number (especially if you like folk and bluegrass) of band-sanctioned, free downloads of live performances. I am surprised that these bands' recording contracts allow this.
2) My good friend's mother is in a bluegrass band (And the closest I ever came was touring with the church's handbell choir).
3) Practiced hitting and catching with the boys today for over two hours of "spring training"... and I was cut from my childhood tee-ball team (You've come a long way, baby).
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
PFP: Day Four
Catching Up...
1) Amazon.com has U2's new album download-able for $3.99... how cool is that (Yes, that counts as a genuine surprise and not free advertising as it must seem)?
2) "Scientism"... I'm not sure how I could get this far in academia without ever coming across this notion. Knowledge is power, and I am now more powerful.
3) Resisted buying that coke with the dollar "found" in my pocket (Part of another wacky self-discipline exercise)... My hands are now shaking from withdraw.
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
1) Amazon.com has U2's new album download-able for $3.99... how cool is that (Yes, that counts as a genuine surprise and not free advertising as it must seem)?
2) "Scientism"... I'm not sure how I could get this far in academia without ever coming across this notion. Knowledge is power, and I am now more powerful.
3) Resisted buying that coke with the dollar "found" in my pocket (Part of another wacky self-discipline exercise)... My hands are now shaking from withdraw.
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Monday, March 2, 2009
PFP: Day Three
By the way, I don't do weekends...
1) In backing up files on a new external hard-drive, I was surprised to find that someone (who shall remain unnamed) in our family had over 13,500 pictures on the hard-drive... no wonder it took three days to restart the computer. Really two surprises in one: Additionally, how can someone find 13,500 things to take pictures of?
2) Eye injuries stink. To say we are dependent on those peepers is an understatement, but having eye trouble (even for just a couple days), reinforces the point.
3) Paid for parking today... and I AM the world's cheapest person. I'd rather walk a mile than pay someone to use their measly patch of concrete. Argh!
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
1) In backing up files on a new external hard-drive, I was surprised to find that someone (who shall remain unnamed) in our family had over 13,500 pictures on the hard-drive... no wonder it took three days to restart the computer. Really two surprises in one: Additionally, how can someone find 13,500 things to take pictures of?
2) Eye injuries stink. To say we are dependent on those peepers is an understatement, but having eye trouble (even for just a couple days), reinforces the point.
3) Paid for parking today... and I AM the world's cheapest person. I'd rather walk a mile than pay someone to use their measly patch of concrete. Argh!
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Thursday, February 26, 2009
PFP: Day Two
In the moment
Check out the connection between these seemingly random thoughts by reading the description of the "Project Flow" Project below...
1) Came across while reading for class: "We are not seeking a science of people that only predicts behavior; if things are not good today, there is little use for a science that simply tells us that they will be the same tomorrow. Science should not assume that people are dead; nor should it help to choke them to death with categories that do not reveal the rich lives and struggles of all who appear left behind." (Gramsci 1971)
2) One of major drawbacks of modern architecture is the lack of fine wood trimming (We visited my daughter's art on display in the Waldron Arts Center, a wonderful place with no lack of stunning wood work).
3) Complimented a stranger on the quality of frosting job on the cake she made for her instructor's birthday (Unfortunately, it was the class after mine).
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Check out the connection between these seemingly random thoughts by reading the description of the "Project Flow" Project below...
1) Came across while reading for class: "We are not seeking a science of people that only predicts behavior; if things are not good today, there is little use for a science that simply tells us that they will be the same tomorrow. Science should not assume that people are dead; nor should it help to choke them to death with categories that do not reveal the rich lives and struggles of all who appear left behind." (Gramsci 1971)
2) One of major drawbacks of modern architecture is the lack of fine wood trimming (We visited my daughter's art on display in the Waldron Arts Center, a wonderful place with no lack of stunning wood work).
3) Complimented a stranger on the quality of frosting job on the cake she made for her instructor's birthday (Unfortunately, it was the class after mine).
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Day One: PFP Begins
And so it begins...
If this three-point bulleted list does not make any sense to you, please see the description of the "Project Flow" Project in yesterday's post...
1) There is a beautiful, but menacing, ancient tree outside the Union (Here's where having a digital camera would be helpful... special thanks to Heisheui's flickr stream for the beautiful shot)... its larger branches are literally skewered with hundreds of smaller branches sticking out at unusual angles, like the hide of a porcupine.
2) It takes much longer to acclimate when the weather changes hot-to-cold than vice-versa.
3) Today I walked with some colleagues across campus while on their way to lunch, taking me several blocks out of my normal route, all the while making a conscious effort to listen to their stories instead of offering up some of my own. Talking must be an automatic skill, whereas listening a finely-honed art.
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
If this three-point bulleted list does not make any sense to you, please see the description of the "Project Flow" Project in yesterday's post...
1) There is a beautiful, but menacing, ancient tree outside the Union (Here's where having a digital camera would be helpful... special thanks to Heisheui's flickr stream for the beautiful shot)... its larger branches are literally skewered with hundreds of smaller branches sticking out at unusual angles, like the hide of a porcupine.
2) It takes much longer to acclimate when the weather changes hot-to-cold than vice-versa.
3) Today I walked with some colleagues across campus while on their way to lunch, taking me several blocks out of my normal route, all the while making a conscious effort to listen to their stories instead of offering up some of my own. Talking must be an automatic skill, whereas listening a finely-honed art.
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The "Project Flow" Project
Medias Res
Ever since I read Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention (1997) last semester, I have been fascinated by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's notions of the creative individual and flow. The author frames creativity as a form of cultural evolution, an idea which also got me hooked on discussions involving cultural entropy, groupness, and meme transmission... I keep waiting for a break in assigned reading so I can finish the copy of Susan Blackmore's The Meme Machine I started over Christmas break.
If all of this is not striking a bell and you can't get past the fact that there is indeed a person out there with eleven consonants in his last name; never fear, it's only expository set-up for the awesome car crashes and explosions that are soon to follow (Cue the sun!). Late in the text, Csikszentmihalyi develops a system to promote "openess" (A sort of self-help guide for the creatively challenged), in which he urges actors daily to identify two items which they find surprising and to perform one action which the actor finds surprising (You know, that "I can't believe I just did /said that" type of thing). I've tried doing this since I read about it, and I've found it a truly interesting exercise... uncomfortable, yes, but truly interesting nonetheless. What I haven't done is the next two steps: Record and later reflect on these surprises. But where would I do that?... hmmm.
Therefore, I propose to take this endeavor public. Everyday for the next couple weeks I am going to post two items I find surprising and one action undertaken that surprises me. Warning: Sometimes it's pretty astounding what surprises me (This might not be for the faint of heart, pregnant women, or those with bad backs). One day I was surprised by the way the cardboard folds came together on the bottom of a box, and I surprised myself by calling the mechanic working on my brakes by his first name... repeatedly (Thank God for shirts with nametags on them). Eh, I didn't say this was earth-shattering. However, I do invite you to participate in three ways: 1) Comment on my "surprises"... It will be interesting to see how this discourse shapes my reflections, 2) Post your own "surprises," and/or 3) Comment on someone else's surprises.
Like I said: Short, sweet, and distracting. The Official "Project Flow" Project (How cool is that name... two projects, double the flow?) begins tomorrow.
Stay sweet and have a great summer...
We're not in Kansas anymore...
Heeeelllllo, Wembley... Is this thing on?
You know times have changed when your higher ups ask you start a blog as part of an assignment. So much for having to convince the high schools' web-sitters to make a special exception for the wacky art teacher and let blogger.com slip through the filters. I'm not sure at this point what the overall emphasis of the new blog will be, as the days of having an hour and a half to dissect the events of the day or to wander down transcendental tangents are long gone (Ah, the days of planning periods bumping up against the twenty minute lunches), but I am starting by writing about an idea I ran across while reading for a class... and thought, that would be a cool idea for a blog (at least for awhile). Short. Sweet. Eh, we can use a new distraction. For all my old Teachers' Lounge readers (all three of you) who happen to stumble into my college years musings, I assume you'll run across an occasional TPA or even a Choose Your Own Adventure Friday before too long. Welcome new readers and old... put down that last minute reading for tomorrow's class, rub those bloodshot eyes, and promise yourself you'll get up early tomorrow to wrap up those last couple sentences on the midterm paper. Step into the lounge.
As always, stay sweet and have a great summer...
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