bug sunglasses

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.

Longer school year coming?

Education chief favors longer school days, weeks and years

"It doesn't matter how poor, how tough the family background, socioeconomic challenges," Duncan said. "Where students have longer days, longer weeks, longer years -- that's making a difference."

Do you agree?

This reminds me of the documentary 2 Million Minutes.

Obama - "The AntiChrist?"

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Unusual Suspect

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Funny Political News
Joke of the Day

thank you granda fran! aidan got a Batman vs. Alien toy. he loves it.

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.

i love u bike!

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.

Washington on $85 a Day

This is brilliant: Washington on $85 a Day

This hockey awesome-ness.

Chapter 17 - Scientific Revolution - Notes

Chapter 17

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Academic Work the enlightenment World History

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.

luck of the irish

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.

Spring!

How do I know it's spring? 4 words: "Pitchers and Catchers Report."

Astros Report to Kissimmee, Florida.

KISSIMMEE, FLA. — For most of the winter, manager Cecil Cooper envisioned countless scenarios as he pondered the pitching and catching questions the Astros face this spring.

Those two areas are littered with unresolved issues, and the club likely will need all seven weeks of spring training and some of the season to figure them out.

Cooper starts the quest for answers today when the Astros open their 25th camp at Osceola County Stadium with workouts for pitchers and catchers.

“You hope this and you hope that, but you got to see them,” Cooper said. “That gets you feeling good when you see them (and) when you hear the mitt popping and all that stuff. I can’t wait.”

So it begins again. Baseball. :)

A long day...

Some days you just have to say, "It just didn't go as planned." That was today.

Oh well.

Tomorrow is Friday.

FRIDAY the 13th!

Hopefully I won't go "Jason" on anyone. I was a bit frustrated today. Ahhh, the life of a teacher.


I did show a pretty cool video to my 2nd period class today, it's a Jordan commercial from way back. It really explains life. Some days don't go as well as others... but you keep working:

Maddow's mouth hurts from smiling...

This is pretty ridiculously funny...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

"Starbucks Saved My Life"

Don't I know this to be true...

When I was in the middle of the corporate world I found it an intoxicating blend of fast moving work that was a never-ending swirl of excitement. But, you don't realize what that does to you. Although it can be exciting and ego-boosting, it can also turn you into a person that has less appreciation for the little things in life.

I tell people all the time, if you are looking up at the clock on the wall and hoping time speeds up to end your work day... you are in trouble. I hope it slows down. Sure, I want to come home and see Aidan and enjoy the rest of the day with him and Norma. But, I love my job. Trying to squeeze every bit of learning into a period and helping students improve is very fulfilling.

Believe me, I sleep soundly each night. That's the mark of a life spent in the right way.

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.

playin at the park.

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.

Just Do It - Correcting Papers... ouch.

I have spent the weekend correcting Human Rights Project essays. Although it is a part of the job, it never seems to end. Paper work. But, I enjoy seeing progress. Many of my students are starting to really understand the writing process. A few may even have figured out what a thesis statement is!

This project has been wonderful this year. The basis for it is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the UN created in 1948. The students each get one of the 30 articles of the declaration. They must research it's meaning and determine how the United States does with that human right. They also must research one other country and find out how they do. Many pick Cuba, China, or an African country. The main thing is for them to understand how there is a difference between these guidelines (the UDHR) and the actual laws of the countries around the world. Even in America we sometimes struggle with this issue! Really!?! Yes.

The students also create a poster. The poster will graphically depict the article without using words. They can use the # of their article and highlight it in that way. You can see examples from the past here: Human Rights Posters

This year one of the students even drew me in their poster. It was done with pencil on a poster board and she depicted Article 16 - "Marriage." Mr. D flies down to explain that a couple has the right to marry and "saves the day." Pretty funny and well done.


Pretty clever. Cracked me up. The kids loved it.

Steelers Win

Super Bowl XLIII

Who's gonna win? Well that's easy. Black 'n Gold. But, how will it shake down?

In the most offense-filled season since 1965 — teams averaged 22 points a game this season; in 1976, it was 19.2 — the Steelers allowed just 13.9 points a game. They also did not allow a rusher to go over 100 yards or a quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards. And that was playing the hardest schedule in the N.F.L.

Defense wins championships. Will Warner throw for over 300 yards. It's possible. Because that's all Arizona is going to do - throw. I do not believe they will be able to run the ball against the new Steel Curtain. So Warner may pick up enough yardage.
Look for these two things to happen, first I think the Cardinals will get off to a fast start. They have all playoff season long. But, also look for the Steelers to go ahead just before half time and to DOMINATE the third quarter. They have been AMAZING just after the half all year.
The key to the game is absolutely - the Steelers running game. I think the Cards will get their yards and points against the Steelers defense because they are just that good. But, the Steelers offense must be able to control the football with the run, not turn it over and get their points. Tight End Heath Miller is a huge part of the game (especially if Hines Ward is not his usual self - which would be hard to believe). Miller is a massive plus in the run game and often is the most responsible blocker for big outside runs when he cuts down the corner of the opposing defenses. But, Miller may be clutch around the goal line and during short yardage situations.
Look for Warner to have a fantastic first half and then slip up as the sun goes down and day turns to night. It won't be all his fault. With turnover machine Troy Palamalu back there... #43 will make his big plays. Just like in the AFC Championship Game, that defense will have it's say before it's all over. Steeler defensive co-ordinator Dick LeBeau is the master and this will be his most impressive moment in a long and storied career.
Final score:
Pittsburgh Steelers 31
Arizona Cardinals 23

MVP: Ben Roethlisberger
Why Big Ben? I don't think there will be a clear MVP. This will be a team effort. But, Big Ben will not turn the ball over. He won't have a ton of completions, but the ones he does get may just go long distance. So I think he'll throw for 280+ yards and get the job done. But, in the end people will be arguing for a number of defensive players that could easily have won the award. Turnovers will be a huge key. So will sacks. Who goes down more? Big Ben or "Thank You Jesus" Kurt? It is my opinion that Ben is tougher in the pocket and has be elusiveness. Plus, Kurt Warner has to play against one of the best defenses this league has ever seen. After the season they have had... they should go down in history as one of the best units ever. Facing the schedule that they did, they still were #1 overall in just about every single defensive category. Amazing.