...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...
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