Weird, Wild and Wooly

Things have been weird and wild and wooly these past ten days or so. These things (the weird, wild and wooly ones) have kept me off the computer and thus (or thusly? I never know the correct placement of adverbs) from blogging (I'm going to stick with thus).

A week ago I had oral surgery for the third time in two and a half years. This one sounded the most gruesome...but actually has been a breeze so far. A breeze unless I sneeze...more on that later.

So I needed three tooth implants. One was fine. But there was a place where two were needed where the bone had atrophied (common when teeth are missing) that implants were impossible unless a bone graft was performed on the area. But to accomplish this a sinus lift was needed.

I was a bit nervous but they put me out fast. I was getting dizzy soon as the IV drip begain dripping. Apparently when they made the initial incision they discovered that the bone they were planning to graft the new bone on was non-existent. They had expected to find a small layer of bone...but there was none to be found. So they got all excited and whipped out their cameras and began taking pictures because they felt this was an event publishable in a medical journal. They were going to have to come up with a new grafting procedure. It appears to have initially worked...but they really won't know for months.

If I do get published in a medical journal can I put that in my own curriculum vitae as having a work published?

Only downer is that they weren't able to complete what they were expecting to because they need to see if my system accepts the graft. This means that I will probably have a second graft (bone taken from my jaw) in about six months. Then once that solidifies they can go in and put implants. We'll have to let that heal for a couple of months. Then they'll put in the actually crowns. So I have at least a year before this whole mouth thing is "complete."

Strange side-note: It seems I was flopping around during the surgery...waving my arm around and stuff. The doctor actually had to bring me back to some sort of consciousness and ask for my cooperation and assistance. They then put me back out. It worked and I have no memory of it at all. So even when unconscious I cause problems.

I'm wearing these uncomfortable transparent retainers which cause me to lisp a bit although it's getting better. Hopefully in a few weeks I'll have a permanent retainer "installed" on the lower teeth and that will make things easier. Yes, I was excited at the outset on having my braces taken off two weeks ago...but that was not nearly the end of the road as I orginally expected.

There's also a possible root canal in the near future.

But the surgery's aftermath has been surprisingly painless. There truthfully has been no pain...not even an ache. I'm off the prescribed narcotics and still no ache. I'm on a decongestant for a month because if I sneeze with my mouth closed I could dislodge the graft and tear the sinus membrane. So the fear of a sneeze hangs over my head like the fear of an atomic bomb over Kansas City in the movie The Day After.

Infection is also a possible worry so I'm on antibiodics that make me feel strange. Also my system could reject the bone graft. I still have a lot of hurdles to clear but so far it seems good. I was zoned out for a few days then I was back to work in less than a week. Easy work week too since we are giving semester exams and end the semester with three early release days.

I have my own final exam this evening. Not as prepared as I should be with all this other stuff going on. But I got a 99 on the first exam and an A on the 10 page research paper this semester. So my chances are good for an A even if I do average on tonight's three-essay test. Supposedly tonight's exam revolves around analyzing poetry. I can do that...I think.

So that and the holiday festivities have made for an interesting run of weeks. But tomorrow is Friday...and then it's Christmas Break! I can really use it.

Catch up time. (or ketchup)

Yeah I know...I haven't been blogging as much lately. Lots of things keeping me busy.

Grad school. Going great so far. Twelve page papers...how I've missed you...actually not really.

Braces came off today. Ate crunchy tacos for lunch. I forgot how easy it is to eat for humans unimpeded by wires, brackets and rubber bands.

Surgery next week. Bone graft and sinus lift to make ready for two implants in six months. That will be a lot of fun. Hydrocodone vegetates me...helps me understand what my students must feel like every day in my class.

I am now the voice of Kaufman Lion soccer. Start in January. Yes...I will play Weezer after every goal. Just kidding...I think.

Can't decide what class to take next semester at SMU. Can't take the one I really wanted because it conflicts with soccer. The other one that somewhat interests me requires three three-page papers and a 25 page paper and I'm not sure I want to subject myself to that. But again...it is a Masters Program...not a slackers program.

Once again nominated for KHS teacher of the year. This is the third time. I am the Susan Lucci of KHS...always nominated...never wins. I'm sure I won't win. I don't hang out enough in the teacher's lounge. I hang out in my bat cave. My classroom is decked out with a microwave, fridge, tv, dvd player, computer, captain's chair, cantina lighting...why would I ever want to leave?

Thanksgiving was fun. Went to the Inner Space Caverns near Austin. There were bats. It was awesome. JDW loved it. Pics on Flickr.

OU-Nebraska one last time this Saturday. Another reason to hate the longhorns...driving the Huskers out of the conference. Growing up...this was the one OU game that mattered most every year.

Barcelona beats the scummy fascists of Real Madrid 5-0 earlier this week in one of the nicest games in history. So sweet to see the look on Christiano and Jose's face on the Madrid bench.

FC Dallas got shafted in the MLS cup. Ref swallowed his whistle and allowed the Rapids to murder our players. Made the beautiful game turn ugly. This isn't the NFL. Oh well.

Julian Assange has a creepy look about him. Have mixed feelings about wikileaks. So far I don't see any lives in danger...but I do see corrupt bureaucrats (Hillary) exposed for what they truly are.

Qatar...Russia...seriously? U.S.A. and England got hosed. Petrodollars can by anything. FIFA is as corrupt as the IOC.

Still debating about whether I should ask for a Kindle for Christmas. Dunno dunno dunno dunno. What a dilemma.

The doctor who is doing my surgery once skiied on the National Ski Patrol. He's my age. My orthodontist is my age. They're all my age. I'm getting old.

Okay...I guess we're caught up now. I will try to be more viligant. Peace, Love and Joy...

photo: JDW ready to go spelunkin'!

Presidential Names

Interesting fact (at least I find it interesting): Since 1893 there have only been three presidents whose first name was a Biblical name. And even more interesting, all three were Democrats...

John F. Kennedy
James (Jimmy) Carter
Barack Obama.

Barack you say? Yes Barack. Barack (sometimes translated as Barak) was the military commander who led Deborah's armies to victory in the book of Judges. The book of Hebrews mentions Barak as one of the heroes of the faith.

Overall there are seventeen American presidents who have had a Biblical first name.

Here they are...(James wins with six instances)

John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, John Tyler, James Polk, Zachary Taylor, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, John Kennedy, James Carter and Barack Obama.

Flickr Update

More photos added to the Flickr site. Pics from the State Fair, Tom's birthday and me and Kim's trek to the Trinity Audubon Center.

Another Kiva Loan

This past weekend I made my fourth microloan through the microlending site Kiva. I've blogged in the past about Kiva and how microloans can really make the difference in elevating someone from poverty in a third-world nation to the middle class. My part of the loan only amounts to $25. I've always had the money credited back to my account when the loan has been repaid. So I've only given $25 one time and yet have been able to provide four loans.

You can check out the profile of my current borrower here. Her name is Inoyat Ayubova. She runs a clothing sales business in Tajikistan.

Hiking along the Trinity

Saturday, Kimberly and I went to the Trinity River Audubon Center for naturefest 2010. Naturefest gives free admittance to the center and provides how-to lessons on everything from kayaking, canoeing, making your own beehive, building rainbarrels and on and on. Free stuff is given away (we snagged a free live oak sapling).

But the best part is the hiking. We got to hike all over the 150 acre site. The Trinity River Audubon Center opened two years ago as a way to transform a wetland eight miles south of downtown Dallas from an illegal dump site back to it's native state. And the result is amazing.

The center itself is a stunning piece of modern architecture that is also 100% LEED certified according to strict environmental sustainability standards. There are a ton of great exhibits for both adults and kids about the flora, fauna and animal life of the area around the Trinity River. There's miles of hiking trails. The trails wind through wetlands, ponds, the banks of the Trinity River and prairie land. The scenery is fantastic.

Austin usually gets all the outdoor awards from the nature mags but this place helps place Dallas right there in the conversation for outdoor activities. And it was very easy to get to. If you live around DFW you should definitely check it out.

Dancing to Weezer

Jackson dancing to Weezer.

Sad Keanu

Our last post of Keanu dogsledding after a BP toddler reminded me of the internet frenzy caused by this photo of Keanu sitting on a bench eating a sandwich. The blogosphere went crazy with speculation on why Keanu was so sad. This pic, btw, is not photoshopped. Entire blogs and websites were created to debate why Reeves looked so depressed and to offer the encouragment. Just another example of how strangely the internet has affected our national discourse.

Get Her Keanu!

This has to be one of the greatest photos ever taken! It begs the question...what in the world his going on in this picture.

Well apparently Keanu Reeves was filming a scene for a Tim Burton movie. Then some clever photoshoppers went to work and changed it to an anti- BP statement...notice the BP logo on the toddler's jacket. This is photoshopping genius. The absurdist vibe is freakin' awesome! What do you think?

Kansas State Bowling

I saw this handy mnemonic device the other day to help people remember all the current justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. No offense Grandpa!

Kansas State Bowling Stinks. Kansas Recruits All The Best Guys.

Here are the justices (in order of the above mnemonic: Kennedy, Scalia, Breyer, Sotomayer, Kagen, Roberts, Alito, Thomas, Bader Ginsburg

Scientific Miracles

Scientists now agree that based on computer simulations that a Red Sea crossing on dry land was possible. Click on the following article from Wired Magazine to see a short video that simulates how sustained winds could have parted the waters to allow a crossing. What would be even cooler is if they did underwater excavations and found the remains of Egyptian chariots.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/09/red-sea-parting/

Me and My Pumas

So I was attending the UIL Superconference at Tyler Junior College in beautiful Tyler, Texas last week. The campus is lined with these massive trees with twisting branches. I wish I could tell you what kind of trees they were but I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to botany. They look like some kind of live oak or post oak.

Anyway, I was walking through the campus when I find my way blocked by a tribe of high school UIL participants from another school. It had been raining so I didn't want to circumvent this crowd by walking on the grass. So I simply said "excuse me" and they apologized and made a path for me.

As I passed them I heard a girl say "I like your shoes." I assumed they were referring to someone else so I kept walking. She, however, was insistent that I know that she liked my footwear and said louder, "I said I like your shoes!" The shoes I was wearing are awfully cool...black puma sneakers with a white stripe. I turned around and acknowledged the compliment with a brief thanks and kept walking. Right then, one of my students saw me walking from the opposite path and shouted "Mr. White!" in order to get my attention.

I heard someone behind me in my shoe complimenting crowd say "dude, he's a teacher!"

Yep, that's right...I, at age 37, was mistaken for a student...I'm assuming they thought I was a college student. I guess hipness never ages...

yawn.

Red River Karma

I love this week of the year. OU-texas week. As I watched the shortcows get bruised by the Bruins I had mixed emotions (like watching Sarah Palin going over a cliff in your new Ferrari). I'm supposed to hope ut goes undefeated going into the Red River Shootout (the name change to rivalry is so lame) in order to create more interest in the game and hopefully help OU's title hopes in defeating a highly ranked opponent.

But I can never root for texas...even if it's in the supposed best interest of OU. Rooting for your most hated rival comes back to haunt you in dangerous ways (Siddhartha Gautama would have called it bad karma). For example...in 2008...OU lost to texas (bad calls by the refs)...ut lost to Texas Tech. ut fans began to openly root for OU to beat Tech thinking that would help their title chances. I warned my shortcow friends that they were playing with mystic fire. You should never root for your rival...no matter what.

Sure enough...OU doesn't just beat Tech...they smash them completely. The victory was so impressive OU bypassed ut in the polls and got to play in the National Title game.

So yeah, I'm happy ut got smashed by UCLA. texas needs to quit scheduling the Bruins...especially for home games.

Note: Check out the Kansas City Chiefs. 3-0! Who woulda thunk? The playoffs may not be so ridiculous to think about. I know they still have a long way to go and others have had great starts and missed the playoffs (last year's Broncos)...but I'm enjoying the ride as long as I can.

NO EVIL FAIRIES

I saw a student entering my classroom with a book. This shocked me. A student with a book…and not a book assigned by any class. This student is actually reading…get this…wait for it…FOR FUN!?! Unbelievable.

Anyway, I snidely asked the student if her book was about vampires. Seems most of the books my students are reading these days are about vampires…grim, dark-humored emo pansy vampires.

This student recoiled in horror and said, “NO…this book is not about vampires (she said with great indignation). It’s about evil fairies.”

Evil Fairies. I have never heard of evil fairies. And the thought of them scares me. And then I realized I don’t have a class rule against evil fairies. So here you go…another addendum to my class rules…

NO EVIL FAIRIES.

I hope that clears up any ambiguity about evil fairies in my classroom.

Thanks,

Mr. White

picture: yes...I, Mr. White, created the graphic on this post using microsoft paint. I am awesome. I am a graphic-design master...I am, oh nevermind.

What Happens In La Brea Tar Pits...

Love this t-shirt from McSweeneys

Rest in Peace Milburn/Antioch

I was reading my old hometown newspaper's website (kcstar.com) when I ran across a story about my old school district. I clicked on the story and was horrified to discover that the Shawnee Mission School District will be closing down my old middle school next year. Antioch Middle School will be murdered as an entity due to budgetary contraints resulting from declining enrollment. When I attended AMS we had about 750 students. Today there is less than 450. This decline in enrollment is district wide. In 1970 the SMSD had 45,000 students. Today the SMSD has around 23,000 students district wide. Not quite sure what's going on in Johnson County...I've been in Texas the last 12 years.

Antioch Middle School was originally built in 1955 as Milburn Junior High on land domained from the Milburn Country Club. It was a beautiful setting for a school and I often allowed my gaze to wander out the window during math class to watch the bourgeosie play golf. I even caddied at the club for a brief time. I was a proud Milburn Trojan my 7th Grade year. But the next summer they shut down nearby (an early foreshadowing of Milburn's fate) Old Mission Junior High, brought their students to us and converted all the junior highs in the district to middle schools. All 9th Graders moved to the high schools and the middle schools housed only 7th and 8th graders.

They changed the name of Milburn to the boring name of Antioch Middle School (Nancy Kassabaum Middle School was also in the running). They changed the mascot and all the old traditions. They took off a giant Trojan Soldier sculpture off the front wall and ripped out the Trojan Warrior embedded in the front lobby tiles...the one that if you stepped on you would be beaten up by older students. Milburn was dead and Antioch born...until now when they plan to kill it off completely next year.

To add insult to injury all those Antioch students will now be shipped to our hated arch rivals...Hocker (as in hocking a loogie) Grove Middle School. Hocker...the dump that got to keep their school's name in 1986 because of the rabid parent protests. That's like shutting down OU and sending all the students to ut if not actually a million times worse.

The news of this closing depressed me more than I would have guessed. Schools house a lot of memories. There is nothing sadder than an empty classroom or an empty school building. Think about the millions of stories that took place in those rooms. At least we'll have the memories. The last time I saw the building was seven years ago...and then we only passed by on the road. I'm thinking I may have to make one last pilgrimage before the end comes. At least my 8th Grade Record in the 440 meter four-man relay will now be frozen forever never to be broken.


R.I.P. Milburn Junior High 1955-1986
R.I.P. Antioch Middle School 1986-2011

Weezer Day #8

Today Weezer released their 8th album "Hurley" named after a character on one of my favorite (and recently ended) shows LOST. Hugo "Hurley" Ramos appears on the cover...aka Jorge Garcia.

Great album...closer to Pinkerton than anything they've done in a long long time.

Singh is King

Pulled out of Walmart behind a man in a small pickup truck this evening. The driver was apparently South Asian in ethnicity...I'm guessing India. He had the coolest back window decal ever.

Singh is King.

A Heathen Love Story

So the other night a tornado touched down in Seagoville. The news warned that it was heading to Forney. Channel 8’s Pete Delkus helpfully advised that if you had children in Forney to put their bicycle helmets on. We were at the dinner table eating salmon and steamed broccoli and couldn’t be bothered with such trivialities. We sat, ate and watched the rain with a window open to let out smoke from a burning piece of fish in the broiler.

Then it got darker and darker…and there it was.

About 300 yards east of us…past the goat farm…in direct sight of our dining room window, full rotation of a tornado in the sky. Hooks and fingers of clouds swirling with malign intent like a witch’s hand over her cauldron.

Kim said “Is that a tornado?” I said “I think it is.” But I spoke with great uncertainty because there were no sirens blaring as usual in such events in Forney. I didn’t know then that they were malfunctioning (I bet the football scoreboard works great!) and would remain silent.

Kim asked if we should take cover. I had already cleared out our one and only interior closet ready to dive in. The cats were closed up in the study. But the lack of sirens and wind convinced us to finish the wonderful salmon. It was eerily calm and I figured we could shelter within seconds if things started getting crazy.

So the three of us ate in silence and followed the stirring whirlpool in the clouds that minutes earlier had destroyed a Seagoville man’s classic red ‘vette. It moved left to right heading slowly north and soon the sun peeked through the trailing clouds.

Meanwhile the vast and ancient gulf between urbanity and rurality reared it’s ugly head as another tornado hit Dallas proper. All news outlets immediately and swiftly forgot about Kaufman County. Kicked to the curb we were! Not a mention of points east for over 30 minutes despite the still threatening tornado in the clouds over downtown Forney. It was an apalling lack of concern about our welfare. It was if we had been erased from existence. Surely they could have utilized split screens or something.

But as the tornado headed north toward Rockwall it also passed over the small hamlet of Heath…ironic since the word heathen comes from heath. Heathen…a term which ancient town dwellers used to prejoratively label those outside the town’s influence and who lived on the heath ground cover. These ”outsiders” were viewed as barbaric, Godless and uncivilized.

I guess that’s how “civilized” Dallas feels about us heathen eastsiders in the year C.E. 2010. Ah, us heathens are accustomed to the prejudice of our fickle neighbors to the west.

Televangelist or Dental Product?

"Lists" is a regular feature on the online literary journal McSweeney's Internet Tendency. Here is a recent list for your reading entertainment...


Televangelist or Dental Product?

BY MIKE HARDING

1. Popoff
2. Orajel
3. Osteen
4. Duplantis
5. Elmex
6. Biotene
7. Paulk
8. Clinpro
9. Dr. Collins
10. Quiboloy


Televangelists: 1, 3, 4, 7, 10
Dental Products: 2, 5, 6, 8, 9

Killer Pencils

Love this picture I saw on Boing Boing. These are Woody Guthrie inspired pencils. He had this phrase engraved on his guitar...Oh yeah, Woody was from Oklahoma.

The Forum is up and running...

School started back up this past week. So my school blog, The Forum, is now back up and running. This year I'm envisioning the blog as more of an online literary journal focusing on the humanities in general. Students will be encouraged to submit anything from opinion pieces, short fiction, poetry, photographs, drawings, thoughts on history, etc...

I'm focusing a lot on the Humanities because that is now my area of study. My Masters will be a Masters of Liberal Studies concentrating on the Humanities. If I do indeed go on to doctoral work most likely I'll pursue a PhD in Humanities at The University of Texas Dallas. That of course could change with the wind. First things first...let's get the Masters done...and that may take awhile.

Anyway, Dave Egger's online literary journal, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, is serving as the current muse for such online meanderings.


photo: The new Wyly Theatre in Dallas. I snapped this photo a few months back while I wandering the streets of Dallas while Kimberly was attending a nearby convention.

The Bull's Revenge

Speaking of Spain...this is real video of a bull leaping into the stands in a Northern Spain bullring last week. Catalunya just recently outlawed bullfighting. As someone who has witnessed a bull fight in person...it was about time. It is unbelievably cruel. This video is amazing...I'm rooting for the bull.

The Bird's Revenge

This alternate ending to Hitchcock's The Birds was filmed at the Placa Catalunya in Barcelona where I used to hang out a lot in 1996-1997. Hitchcock I think would approve.

current iPod stuff

I always find the playlist "Top 25 Most Played" on my iPod fascinating. Many of the songs I don't remember listening to that often. A few aren't even favorites of mine. Of course the list changes just about every time I play the thing. The list is just a snapshot. Here is the current Top 25. Weezer heavy as usual but an unusual amount of Buddy Holly and Ry Cooder. Newest discoveries are Surfer Blood and Kirsty MacColl (who died in 2000...I'm slow to discovering the good stuff sometimes.).


Everyday - Buddy Holly
Dearest - Buddy Holly
3 Cool Cats - Ry Cooder
I'm Your Daddy - Weezer
Trippin' Down the Freeway -Weezer
Love is the Answer - Weezer
D'yer Maker - Sheryl Crow
(If You're Wondering if I Want You to) I want you to - Weezer
Girl On My Mind - Buddy Holly
The Girl Got Hot - Weezer
I Melt With You - Modern English
Onda Callejera - Ry Cooder
Let it All Hang Out - Weezer
Besame Mucho (Live) - Raul Malo
Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads
Can't Stop Partying - Weezer
Island Girl - The Beach Boys
Got You (Where I Want You) - They Flys
Blue Turns to Grey - The Rolling Stones
Time Is On My Side - The Rolling Stones
Los Chucos Suaves - Ry Cooder
Beverly Hills - Weezer
Tighten Up - The Black Keys
In These Shoes - Kristy MacColl
Catholic Pagans - Surfer Blood

The Sked

So I got my sked for this school year. It's exactly the same as last year's which is beyond wonderful. Notice how my lunch backs into my conference period...meaning there's an hour and half block in the early afternoon. Most of my day is in the morning which is when I function best in the classroom. This makes me very happy. The only thing that would have been better would be closing the day with a WHAP class. A few years ago I had a 7th Period WHAP and it was a great way to end the school day. But this is almost perfect...no complaints at all.

1st Period: World History
2nd Period: World History
3rd Period: AP World History
4th Period: AP World History

D Lunch (12:16-12:46)

5th Period: Conference
6th Period: AP European History
7th Period: World History.

The Grind

Back to work today. Didn't blog much this summer...believe it or not I kept too busy this summer...and when I had computer time I wasn't motivated to type...I just wanted to browse.

This school year will be slam-bang busy. Busier than ever. Added to the usual grind is grad school. I haven't done real homework in fourteen years. Plus the Lion-Lamb Fellowship, the Kaufman Center for Human Rights, family and work...life will roll by in a blink. But I'm actually looking forward to it.

Grad school. Felt weird when the clerk at student services called me a student. I'm usually the teacher. It will be nice to be on the other side of the equation. And those student I.D. discounts will be nice at the movie theater.

Book Cheating

Often I'm in the middle of a book but then I either get another one or two as a gift or I buy them. And I'm really anxious to start them. But I only read one at a time...a hard fast fule of mine. So I put the new books aside and begin obsessively reading the old book simply in order to finish it so I can ge to the new ones despite the fact that the book may be decent or even great. The new ones were bought in an inspired moment and are shrouded in mystery...which usually disappoints. I feel like I'm using the old book...that I'm only spending time with it...not for its own sake but so I can move on to the chimera of bigger and better things. That's how I am with Sedaris right now with Mitchell and Eggers on the nightstand. Sorry man. Nothing personal.

Three-Year Old Requests

This week Jackson is a member of the Green Apples Class (3 and 4 year olds) at our church's Vacation Bible School. Kimberly is their teacher. Last night the three kids in the class shared their very specific prayer requests during prayer time.

Emily - To keep her family from getting sick

Alex - To learn how to drive

Jackson - To roar louder.

photo: JDW and his cousins Jackie and Avery in Indiana

Video from Clearwater Beach

Here's a video of Jackson on the balcony of our hotel in Clearwater Beach, Florida. I took the camera directly from our air-conditioned room into the humidity of Florida. You can see the camera fogging up.

USA! Goal! We're in!

Now this is what I call waiting until the last minute! Actually...waiting until AFTER the last minute...the 91st minute to be exact. You can't wait much later to score a goal. I was depressed. I thought the Yanks were done. Then came this amazing sequence and one of the greatest goals scored by the United States. Great Great Stuff! Landon Donovan!

Webless Living

So I was reading THIS article about a new book coming out that looks at the effect that the internet has on our brains. I was intrigued by the topic because I was in Colorado at the time for the AP World History grading. Without my laptop and internet access my nights would be almost unbearable. After the grading I'd hang out with the crew and go to other activities. But when the sun went down I usually headed to my room and browsed the net for a couple of hours. I would watch TED talks and lectures or youtube videos. I would catch up with friends on facebook or whatever. I'd send video emails to my wife and son. The idea of not having internet access the nine days I was in Colorado just seemed unthinkable. What would I do differently if I didn't have a web connection was the question I asked myself.

Well, I lived a year in Spain without a laptop, internet access of any kind and no iPod. This was back in 1996-1997...in the tech dark ages. I didn't even have a phone at my flat. I had to use a phone booth down the street if I wanted to make a call. And you know what? Life was great.

Not having any entertainment in my flat (no TV even!) forced me out into the city to explore. I read a whole heck of a lot more. I finished a Tolstoy, Turgenev and a Dostoeyevsky. I journaled a ton and wrote real letters to friends and family back home. I listened to Barcelona radio. I didn't even know what I was missing.

If I made that trip today...my experience would be a lot different. I'd have my iPod, laptop, cell phone and what have you. I would probably miss out on much of the experience of being out in a foreign city.

Fortunately that experience encouraged me to head out most nights in Fort Collins. I either hung out with friends, walked around the town or enjoyed just looking at the mountains. But it was tempting just to go back and play on the computer. I really wonder what the long term effects of our internet addiction will have on future generations.

TBK on Fallon

On May 30th the Black Keys performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon the night after they performed on Letterman. They played a few songs but only two aired on the show. This song was only made available online. Great tune from their new album which is wicked cool.

More Creative Talk

A few days ago I directed you to a TED talk link of Sir Ken Robinson speaking about the need for a revolution in our education system. That talk was a follow-up to this legendary talk a few years ago. Check out this video...only 20 minutes long and very inspiring.

The Rules of Powerpoint

I was speaking to colleagues in Colorado about the proper use of powerpoint in the classroom. When done correctly powerpoint presentations can greatly enhance your discussion. I don't know how I ever lived without it. Unfortunately most of the powerpoints that you see are boring, lame and take away from the presentation.

The New York Times recently published an article about how the U.S. Army is now eschewing powerpoint because they think over reliance on the platform muddies thinking and confuses issues. An infamous slide (shown above) from an army briefing in Afghanistan reportedly had our commanding General saying "when we understand that slide, we'll have won the war."

I follow several rules in my presentations. I borrowed some of these rules from the 10/20/30 rule of powerpoint. No more than 10 slides, 20 minutes and no less than 30 font. Every one of my slides has a picture, photograph, chart or map...some type of helpful graphic. I use very little special effects...no machine gun bulleting letters on the screen or whirling titles. I keep the bullets short and simple...they're simply to spark discussion.

Unfortunately, even many of the university lectures I've attended in the recent past violate most of these rules...and their ppts come off lame. Here are two good articles about good powerpoint presentations...

The 10/20/30 Rule of Powerpoint

Presentation Zen

Hunting Modern Day Benedict Arnolds

Today the Yanks play England in the World Cup. Hoping that some of that 1950 mojo finds it way to the current squad. During the reading I saw several guys throughout the week wearing England soccer jerseys. Finally I got fed up and began to call them on it. I told three different guys "Dude...any other time of the year that would be a cool jersey to wear...but we are playing those guys in a week. You gotta represent the USA...otherwise you're just a Benedict Arnold."

Most responded that come game day they'd be sporting an American kit. Except for the last guy...as soon as he talked I knew this was a different story...He was an actual Brit. I said "that's cool...you're an authentic...but I still hope we kick your rears just like we did in 1783." Only at a WHAP reading would you trashtalk using historical references from 200 years ago.

Cultivating Creativity

I love TED Talks. Each speaker only has 18 minutes to blow your mind. Sir Ken Robinson blew away the TED conference several years ago with his call for education reform. It was an extremely informative and inspiring talk. Earlier this year he came back to the TED conference and blew away the crowd again with a call for a revolution in education and cultivating creativity. I'm currently reading his book The Element. Check out this video if you want to be inspired. His talk lasts about 17 minutes.

Darth Vader and Personality Disorder

Turns out Anakin Skywalker had borderline personality disorder...that's what turned him into Darth Vader. Interesting article at CNN.com HERE.

Wrapping up in Fort Collins

Things are about done here at Colorado State University. I've had a great eight days. The reading went much smoother this year. The weather was perfect. The 850 readers are reading at a superfast pace and we expect to be done early...around noon...compared to 5:00 pm last year on the last day.

I won't be able to fly out early so I'll just enjoy my last afternoon in the mountains loungin' in the sun and hanging with the crew (some who are pictured above).

I added a few pics to my flickr account HERE. There are few photos of the pack of foxes that live next to Summit Hall where I stayed.

I also blogged on my school blog throughout the past week HERE.

Feeling pretty good. Got word today that I've been accepted to Southern Methodist University's graduate program. I will be working on a Masters in Humanities with a concentration in history. Been a long time since I've been a student. Hey...I'll get a student ID! Cheaper tix at the movies! I guess grad school tuition is worth it!

Back in Colo

So I'm back in Fort Collins, Colorado to grade AP World History exams. I will be blogging daily for my students on my school blog HERE. So click on the link to see how the reading is going.

The Black Keys on Letterman

Last night one of my favorite bands, The Black Keys, played on Letterman. Jackson loves this song. He calls it "The Dinosaur Song" because the original preview video featured a dinosaur puppet. Great band.

Already LOST

The final episode of LOST was an epic end to an epic series. I've had a lot of shows that I greatly enjoyed and was saddened when they finally came to an end. But the passing of LOST saddens me a bit more than the passing of any other show...and it wasn't even my favorite show of all time.

The show although not perfect in it's six year run...was amazing. When LOST was on top of its game...which was most of the time...it was breathtaking. We'll never see a show of its like again.

There are also people who I work with with whom I have nothing in common but a love of the show LOST. Now that it is over...I'm not sure what we'll talk about when I bump into them in the teacher's lounge.

I will also miss the network of blogs, websites and columnists devoted to exploring all the dimensions of LOST. All the forums and debates will peter out in the next few weeks now that the show has wrapped. Sure, we can all watch LOST on DVD...but the MOMENT is gone. The zietgeist moves on.

I will miss these characters. I will miss the grand scope of the show. I will miss the mythology. I will miss the spiritual, philosophical and literary allusions. Most of all I will miss the characters. A whole generation of t.v. watchers were connected by this show...and it's now time for us to walk out those church doors into the white light.

I already miss it.

Feel a Draft?

Three Sooners taken in the first four picks of the NFL Draft? Freakin' amazing. Congrats Sam on being taken number one. Guess going back to school wasn't such a bad move. The Rams aren't great...but I'd rather be there than in Detroit which is where he would have gone last year. Also...three Oklahoma natives are going in the first round. Oklahoma has 3% of the American population. Quality over quantity!

Urban Sprawl

According the Dallas Morning News, Kaufman County where I reside, was the fortieth fastest growing county in the entire United States. Our northern neighbor Rockwall County, about three miles north of our house, was the third fastest growing county in the United States last year.

Just in my town (Forney) alone we have seen amazing growth. When we moved to Forney in 2001 there were only 5,000 residents. In 2010 we now have 13,500 residents and the rate of growth is actually increasing. We opened a new second high school this year.

Good things that come from this growth are new amenities such as a new community park, new restaurants, movie theaters, stores and shops. The bad side...traffic headaches, road construction and infrastructure expansion. Our city is barely recognizable from the sleepy town that lived just outside the DFW monster. Now the monster has creeped up on us and we are a part of the sprawl.

photo: This hawk landed on our neighbors yard a few weeks back. Won't see many more hawks if the population keeps exploding!

The Tan Tax

One of the provisions I'm happiest about in the new health care bill is the tax on tanning. Starting soon tanning salons must charge a 10% tax on artificial tanning. This tax will go to help pay for key components of the overall health care bill.

This was a fantastic idea. As a high school teacher I have been preaching against artificial tanning for years. So many of my students, male and female, indulge in the practice regularily...but even moreso during the weeks leading up to prom. Tanning has been scientifically proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to have serious health implications...especially in regards to causing skin cancer.

Skin cancer and the other health issues associated with tanning pose a drain on our health care system and divert funds from other health research. Hopefully placing a 10% tax on these beds will serve as a nice deterrant to a practice that is entirely based on vanity and is extremely dangerous. I would expect millions of dollars to be raised from these taxes. And if the tanning business collapses...then that wouldn't be so bad either.

Unfortunately, my high school had their prom last month...too late to fall under the new tanning tax. Maybe the prom organizers knew something.

Ridin' the Boat

Over Spring Break we went to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to ski. It was Jackson's first ride on an airplane ("jetplane" if you ask him.) and he loved it. Both going and returning Jackson loved flying.

It was also his first ski trip. He was a bit too young for ski school so we just got him some equipment one morning and slid down the beginner's slope for an hour. He enjoyed it but we'll put him in ski school next year. He really enjoyed simply riding in the gondola on our last day there.

We did have the unusual experience of not being able to ski one day due to weather. Our second day there the mountain was shut down all day due to 80 mph winds. I was bummed about the lost opp to make tracks but it was a relaxing day. The two days we did get to hit the slopes...we hit it hard. The trails were a bit icy in the morning but softened up nicely by mid-morning. We cruised mainly blues and hit the Tomahawk moguls several times that last day. I'm really liking moguls. I've gotten to the point where I hate the easy narrow greens. They go on and on and on and the going is extremely slow. So we mainly hit the wide steep blues where you could really carve some nice turns.

Steamboat's a nice resort. After being bought out by Intrawest Resorts (who own Vail, Breck, Key, etc...) they've had a huge infusion of cash. Lots of improvements built in the last few years. Our lodge was about a five minute walk from the gondola. We usually took the free shuttle anyway. Storing the gear overnight at the base was very nice.

I will definately consider Steamboat again.

Classroom Management: Turf Management

I'm nine weeks away from completing my 11th year of teaching. The question I often I hear is "don't you get tired of the classroom discipline issues?" My response is that I rarely have discipline issues in my classes any more. My first year was a disaster as I was too lax. My second year was quite a bit better although I was a bit too strict. The third year was leaps and bound better...but it all came together in my fourth year.

Seriously...I average sending one to three students to the office a year. That's it. The classroom is the least stressful part of my job. Sure, some are more naturally adapted to classroom management than others. But a lot can be learned. It took me years to get to this place. Good classroom management requires experience and proactivity. You have to anticipate issues before they arise. You must be the one in control of the initiative...not the students.

There are many components to good classroom management. But I'll discuss one in detail today.

You must establish your turf.

Before the first day of school I number each one of my desks. Then on the first day of school I stand at my classroom door with a class roster which is already conveniently numbered by the office. I simply ask the student what their name is and send them to the desk that corresponds with their number.

This demonstrates immediately that you're in charge. Most students will go straight to their assigned desks and sit there until the bell rings because that's all they know to do. This keeps students from wandering around and getting into trouble before your first class of the year begins. When the bell rings there is no mad dash for desks and you can get started much more expediently.

By assigning desks on the first day you've already established your turf and the hierarchial structure. Yes, the chart is often alphabetical and you might have to make adjustments within a few class days. But usually my seating chart stays fairly intact for the entire school year.

The small effort of creating a seating chart reaps big dividends in terms of healthy classroom management. Psychologically you have already shown the initiative before the school year has begun and demonstrated to the students that the rule of law exists in this particular classroom.

The name is...

I used to watch this scene...from Dr. No before any event that I felt nervous about...prom, job interviews, first day of school...

It's the first time the legendary line was used. Classic.

Another Snow Video

Here's another vid from the snow day a couple of weeks ago...

Olympic Quick Hits

Some Winter Olympic Quickhits...

Very glad that Bode Miller won three medals at the Vancouver games. I'm a big fan of Miller and thought the media piled up on him a bit too gratuitously in Torino. Bode is undisputedly the greatest American alpine skiier of all time.

I was also glad that Julia Mancuso was able to win two silvers despite being overshadowed by the publicity seeking drama queen Lindsey Vonn.

Supercool that the South Korean gold medal winning figure skater skated her short skate to James Bond music.

Jackson's favorite Olympic sport by far was the ski-cross...which made it's Olympic debut this year.

I've finally come to accept snowboarding as a true Olympic sport...but I still can't stand short-track skating. I'm still up in the air (pun intended) about freestyle ski aerials and mogul skiing (with the jumps) as legit Olympic level sports.

The Russians aren't trained in good sportsmanship...latest example...that blowhard Plushenko whining about not getting gold. Skating is not a one trick show. Sure, quads are great...but there's more to the sport than managing one trick.

The closing ceremonies were awful. I can't stand Michael Buble and his stage antics. And the Canucks reinforced every Canadian stereotype...giant moose, beavers, mounties and hockey players? Really? That's all you got to proud of? That and drunk cigar smoking female hockey players I guess. Guess you have to proud of something. I've been to Canada and think it's one of the most amazing places I've ever been. Canada deserved a better representation of their culture in the closing show.

Overall I enjoyed these games. Vancouver seems like a fantastic city. Despite some of the glitches I'd rather see an Olympics there than in Sochi, Russia.

Splits

This is an old joke. I recently saw it again on Doug Pagitt's blog. It always makes me laugh...


I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off.

So I ran over and said, “Stop! Don’t do it!”

“Why shouldn’t I?” he said.

I said, “Well, because there’s so much to live for!”

He said, “Like what?”

I said, “Well, are you religious or atheist?”

He said, “Religious.”

I said, “Me too! Are your Christian or Buddhist?”

He said, “Christian.”

I said, “Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?”

He said, “Protestant."

I said, Me too!

Are your Episcopalian or Baptist?

He said, “Baptist!”

I said, “Wow! Me too! Are your Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?

He said, Baptist Church of God!”

I said, “That’s great, me too! Are your Original Baptist Church of God or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?”

He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God!”

I said, “Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?”

He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915!”

I said, “Die, you heretic scum!” and then I pushed him off.

Snow Day!!!

We don't get snow days in Texas! Today we received 10 inches of snow...a Dallas record! School is cancelled tomorrow...which is Kimberly's birthday...what a nice gift from God. We played in the snow after school today. Made a snowman and had snowfights. More snow here than in Vancouver! Here is some video...

iPad? Really?

I have to admit I'm not too impressed with the new Apple iPad. I watched the video of Steve Job's presentation and was left underwhelmed. Part of this is due to the frenzied hype leading up to the announcement. Another factor is the horrible name for this new device. iPad? Really? Brings to mind more unpleasant technological devices. Somebody in Apple Marketing should be fired.

But I'm mainly underwhelmed because I was expecting a new type of computer. However, the largest amount of storage for this thing is 64 gigs. That's half the size of my iPod. It does not possess a DVD/CD drive. I haven't seen it up close so I don't know if it has a USB port or not. If it doesn't then it's pretty much worthless to me.

All the thing seems to do is to be a great web browser. Ebooks...don't like 'em. Music player? The thing's too big...I'll keep my iPod. Doesn't even have a camera for skypeing or video chats. It's basically a $600 web browser /videogame device/ video player.

Maybe it will set the template for cooler things to come. But right now? It's just a toy for the rich or gadget hounds.

Say No to Leno

I watched the Oprah interview of Jay Leno and came away with the following reaction: The guy really is a conniving, self-serving narcissict. He tries very hard to present the everyman persona...but in reality he is as slick as any other hollywood shark.

Despite Jay's protestations here's the reality: Back in 2004 Leno wanted to retire. He agreed to give the show up in 2009. NBC quickly signed up Conan to succeed him to avoid a repeat of the 1992 Letterman vs. Leno Late Shift Mess. But as 2009 approaches Leno gets cold feet. He decides he doesn't want to leave the television business. He even told Oprah that he can't imagine not being on the air and predicted that she won't retire in 2012 like she has announced. Of course he wrapped this up in the humanitarian desire to keep his staff employed. But Conan wisely had signed a succession contract. NBC was obligated to give Conan The Tonight Show.

So NBC gives Leno is own show in primetime. The show bombs. Conan's show is still in infancy and has yet to build an audience. Remember it took him a couple of years to build up his Late Night audience back in the early 90's. In fact he was almost cancelled within a month of going on the air. But NBC showed remarkable patience and Late Night gradually became a hit with Conan O'Brien at the helm.

So with The Tonight Show dropping off in ratings Leno played his hand and demanded his old job back. And he got it.

Now the story he's spinning is that NBC told him in 2004 that they wanted to replace him with Conan and basically strong armed him into the five year retirement plan. He said he told a "white lie" to his audience that he wanted to retire but he never really wanted to. He states that he felt betrayed by NBC for wanting him to replace with Conan. He felt that he was being fired despite being #1 for over a decade.

What a load of crock. There is NO way that NBC back in 2004 says to Leno they want him gone in favor of Conan. Late Night's ratings were good...but not at Tonight Show levels. Plus, Leno was the undisputed king of the ratings (more proof that America is stupid).

All Leno had to do was to say no to the (fictional) deal. ABC was looking to replace Nightline. They or FOX would have jumped at the chance to get Leno from NBC. There is NO way NBC would try to force out Leno in favor of Conan.

But Leno has been shocked at the backlash. So he is revising history. He's trying to now paint Conan as the usurper. He's now saying he wants to keep his job to save the jobs of his staff (despite decimating Conan's staff and the thousands of people who work in network dramas who lost their jobs when the Jay Leno Show took over their primetime slots). He's saying he's been cancelled twice...which is completely ridiculous since NBC has given him three shots now at a show.

He has proven (although this was proven back in 1992 as well) to be a hubris filled liar with a persecution complex. This has been rumored to be true for decades...now it's out in the open. What a bum. Either he's completely delusional or he's a machiavellian operator under the guise of a blue collar everyman (despite his $800 million dollar networth). Oh yeah, one more thing...he tried to gain pity from Oprah saying he lives off the income he makes as a stand-up comic. All the Tonight Show money goes to the bank or to some charitable foundations he runs. Cry me a freaking river.

R.I.P. J.D. Salinger

Got news that author J.D. Salinger died earlier today. Towering writer yet shunned all the fame. He lived the last several decades in seclusion outside of Cornish, New Hampshire.

I only read "Catcher in the Rye" and his collection of short stories "Nine Stories" But they had a huge impact on me. Part of the Salinger legend revolves around the idea that there are rooms full of manuscripts in his farm house. Be interesting to see if they ever see the light of day.

4 and 12

Well the Chiefs had a lousy 4 and 12 season. However, I'm actually feeling pretty good as a Chiefs fan. The poor season was not unexpected. There were many close games and they ended strong with a beat down of Denver. Two former Longhorns (cough) stood up and became stars...Jamaal Charles and Derrick Johnson.

But with the hiring of both Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennell as OC and DC...the Chiefs should be much improved next year. I didn't like Weis's hubris at Notre Dame but he was a heck of a coordinator. And Crennel was given a difficult job in Cleveland but still retains his defensive reputation. Both former head coaches will be able to help Haley as he continues to learn on the job.

There's also another top five draft pick this year. Super early prediction: 8 and 8 next year. That would be an amazing jump for this team as the Pioli-Haley era kicks off in earnest.


Photo: gotta love the old Chiefs logo used from 1963-1971. Unabashedly Politically Incorrect before people knew what that meant!

Movie Disappointments

For some reason yesterday I was thinking of the biggest movie disappointments during my lifetime. I'm speaking of movies in which I held high hopes and was let down immensely. Here are few that come to mind...

Goldeneye: The trailers looked amazing. It was the rebirth of 007 after a six year hiatus. But the plot was third grade and the final action set piece revolving around running over a big satellite dish was boring. The industrial flavored musical score was terrible. The trailers held showed so much promise that even now if I see one I think...I should give Goldeneye another look only to be disappointed again. And again. And again.


Hudson Hawk: This movie looked like it was going to combine the action DieHard Bruce Willis with the comedic genius Moonlighting Bruce Willis. Supercool James Coburn was cast as a badguy. But the movie fell completely flat. Unfunny jokes and stupid musical numbers equal lame flick.


Black Rain: Michael Douglas at the peak of the mid-80's Wall Street years and up and coming Andy Garcia fresh off The Untouchables in a Japanese Yakuza/Triad gangster flick set in Tokyo? On paper - awesome. On the screen...slow, ponderous and sleep inducing except for that cool scene when Garcia gets decapitated in a parking garage by a motorcycle riding Yakuza hood.
The Big Bounce: An Elmore Leonard book. Great cast with Owen Wilson, Morgan Freeman, Gary Sinese, Charlie Sheen and even freakin' Willie Nelson set in beautiful Hawaii! The screenplay botched both the story and Elmore dialogue.

The new Star Wars movies: Jar Jar Binks. Pansy Anakin. Bad acting. Terrible dialogue. I am still ticked at George Lucas for this disgusting missed opportunity. Could have been another Lord of the Rings. Ended up being Lord of the Crap.

The Pirates of the Caribbean sequels: Couldn't understand the creole and pirate accents. The F/X way overdone. Totally lost the charm of the original. I still have yet to pay to see the third one since the second one was so bad.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull: Lucas, Spielberg and Harrison Ford? How do you mess this up? Well you throw in stupid Shia LaBOOF, Kate's really bad haircut and bad Russian accent, monster fire ants and aliens from outer space? Aliens? Really!?! I almost cried to see Indiana Jones reduced to this tripe.

The Godfather Part III: Actually not too terrible...just pales considerably to the first two classics. Sophia Coppola, who's gone on to direct some awesome movies of her own, has been beaten down for years over her performance so I won't pile on. Okay, yes I will...her scenes make me puke (But I've forgiven her for her movie "Lost in Translation"). I don't understand why Pacino sounds like he's growling when he talks (very similar to Batman's voice in the new Christian Bale versions) and Bridget Fonda is just too light weight to be in a Godfather movie.

Have fun with Jesus!

Many of you know that my Grandfather White passed away last December. After much discussion we decided to take our three year old son to the funeral. Kimberly would keep him in the back of the sanctuary while I sat up front. We also wouldn't let him go up to the casket. We thought he was too young for that.

We did tell Jackson that his Great Grandpa White had gone to live with Jesus up in Heaven. That was about as far as we were willing to discuss it with him at this time in his life.

We also took him to the graveside service although Kimberly and Jackson stayed in the back of the crowd while I was closer to the front. As expected he got a bit squirmy and Kim began walking him back to the car so he wouldn't be a disturbance to others during the short grave site ceremony.

As they were walking off, my three year old son turns back and yells "GOODBYE GREAT GRANDPA...HAVE FUN WITH JESUS!"

I don't think most heard what he said. At first I cringed...but then thought no...that's a perfect sentiment for a believer in Christ. I couldn't have said it better myself.

I'm With Coco

Team Conan!

Once again Jay Leno is trying to screw The Tonight Show and ruin late night television. Leno likes to play the everyman persona but he is as ruthless and ambitious as the most machiavellian Medicis. He stole Letterman's rightful place as host of The Tonight Show. It was well known that Johnny Carson wanted Letterman to follow in his foot steps. After Carson died it was revealed that Carson had submitted jokes to be used in Letterman's dialogue on The Late Show. Although Carson never appeared on any show as an interviewed guest after his retirement he made many cameos on The Late Show. He never gave Leno his blessing.

But Leno used his backroom savvy to score the desk. The show devolved into lame humor and was aimed at the moronic jocularity I guess is popular with the proletarian masses. Jaywalking and the Dancing Itos strove for the lowest common denominator and proudly reached it.

Although I prefer Letterman to Conan, Conan is stratospherically more intelligent and witty in his humor than Leno. O'Brien's monologues are actually funnier in my opinion than even Letterman's. But they may be too surreally absurd for the literally minded. Leno is the Three Stooges, Letterman Ernie Kovacs and O'Brien The Marx Brothers. I hope I didn't offend Stooge fans.

Now intellegent America is being given the shaft again. Not only do we have to endure Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck on FOX we may have to endure Leno back at 10:30 (CST). I'm tired of smart America being ignored in favor of the ignorant masses. Fight back against Leno's America and join Team Conan! If I sound elitist...so freakin' be it! Conservatives deserve better than Palin and Beck and Liberals deserve better than Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. America deserves intelligent humor like O'Brien and Letterman. The time of stupid America is over!

Quote of the Week

Interesting quote by one of my students talking about hunting over the holidays...





"I like to shoot em, but I don't like to eat em."





Ansley
KHS class of 2012.