A Case for MATH!

Whoa!

Check out this NPR story about former Navy lawyer leaking names of Gitmo detainees to a human rights group (he just got out of the Brig)... http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89538109
If you want a really good personal primer on the Gitmo detainees, I recommend This American Life's award winning "Habeas Schmabeas" episode: http://thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1185

Spring break 08!
Grimy Styles ripped open Wednesday night at Oshea's, looking forward to seeing them tonight @ Bostons in Delray.
This dispatch, by the way, comes from the Nak.. not the cave.

Moving into Steve's house in about 2 weeks. Things to change: address, checks, license, voter registration, billing address... yikes!

Visited Grandpa in Homestead today... my newest joke to make him laugh: "Did you know that it's usually the MALE birds that sing? It's true. The male birds sing, the female birds just shake their heads and mutter 'why don't you just shut up already?' " I know, it's terrible, but it got a laugh, ok?

This just in: 3 kick ass events on deck. 1: Towntek Grand Opening, May 8. 2: Yo Mama's Big Fat Poetry Party @ Les Beans, May 16 (for my birthday!). 3: Yo Mama's Big Fat Going Away Party @ Soma, June 7.

Also, I just bought tickets for the Erykah Badu w/ the Roots show @ Mizner, May 20 (2nd row, what?!?!), very exciting. The Roots have a new album "Rising Down" coming out April 28, and Erykah Badu's "New Amerykah, Pt. 1 (4th World War)" (released in Feb) is my new favorite disc (I'm sorry to the Resolvers to have to say this... I just want MORE!).

Oh, and school begins again on Monday, but until then... well, don't stop til you get enuf!

Good Music Calendar April, cont.

By the way: First Fridays Drum Circle at Kevro's Art Bar in Delray... WOW!
Wednesday, 4.9- Grimy Styles @ OShea's, West Palm $0?
Thursday, 4.10- Grimy Styles @ Bostons on the Beach, Delray Beach, $0?
Friday, 4.11- Dubconscious with Spred the Dub, City Limits, Delray Beach, $10? (I think I'm doing a Vinyasa class in Wellington before this show?)
Saturday & Sunday- Reggae Fest, Lake Worth, $3 (ALL DAY!)
Heard a rumor about Beat Bombers on Saturday @ the Orange Door?
Friday, 4.18- Suenalo! At City Limits....also, the Louder Than Life Youth Poetry Slam Finals in Broward County.

And... coming up!
Resolvers CD Release Party April 20
Showtel April 26
Sunfest, featuring: Michael Franti & Spearhead, John Legend, Steel Pulse, Stephan Marley, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Ozomatli and Matisyahu, among others... April 30-May 4
Radiohead, May 5
Towntek Grand Opening May 8
Erykah Badu with the Roots, May 20

New developments

I wish I could be forthright about my plans for next year, but I just need to keep it bottled up a little longer! I'm definitely looking forward to my summer adventures, however! Looks like I'll fly into New York City on June 22 or 23 and then take the train to Albany on the 26th.

I'm also compiling a reading list for the summer- I'd like to get as many titles through the FAU library as possible while I'm still a legit student. As an alum, I'd have to use a different card to check out books, and I don't have the alum card, and it costs something, and the hassle just seems unreasonable. As it comes together, I'll post the reading list here.

We're watching Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room in Economics this week, working on WWII projects in US History, and developing topics for the final weeks of Sociology. All in all, a VERY easy week for me and all my students- after all, we do have Spring Break next week. I think the worst of the year is definitely behind me! We'll do Personal Finance, then Business Organizations and finish with Globalization in Economics, (by the way, the films I use in these sections are, respectively: Fun with Dick & Jane, Maxed Out, The Corporation, and Darwin's Revenge). US History is SMOOTH SAILING after WWII (Cold War, HOORAY!), and the Sociology students will get to 'choose their own adventure' to close out their high school career. Nice!

Still reading "How to Grow a School"- had a couple of fascinating insights today, one from the book, and another through a conversation that started because someone saw the cover of the book and asked why I was reading it. I love serendipitous meetings in public places!

Then, there's the rest of the world chiming in: third graders plot to hurt teacher, student sues teacher... etc. And my continuing dialogue with Mr. Berger. Sigh. I suppose I've got to take the good with the bad and call it balance.

Tomorrow: training at The Farm (oooh! mysterious!) and then Friday- I'm looking to put together an old-fashioned 'Teachers' Conference' after school on Friday, perhaps downtown LW or WPB.

Good Music Calendar March 24-April 4, 2008

Tuesday, 3.25- Medicine Hat @ Bamboo Room, Lake Worth $0
Thursday, 3.27- Soulphonics @ City Limits, Delray Beach $0 ?
Saturday, 3.29- G-Star Auction... then Brother Bean @ Bamboo Room, Lake Worth $15
Thursday, 4.3- Garaj Mahal @ Bamboo Room, Lake Worth $15
Friday, 4.4- Soulive @ Culture Room, Ft Lauderdale $ ?

And... coming up!
Grimy Styles, April 9-10
Dubconscious, April 11
Reggae Fest Lake Worth, April 12-13
Suenalo! April 18
Resolvers CD Release Party April 20
Showtel April 26
Sunfest, featuring: Michael Franti & Spearhead, John Legend, Steel Pulse, Stephan Marley, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Ozomatli and Matisyahu, among others... April 30-May 4
Radiohead, May 5

Going Live...

I'm about to place the link for this blog on my email signature, which means, effectively, I'm going live. This is slightly daunting, as it will undoubtably increase the number of people who may be inclined to read these varied scribblings. An audience could mean some responsibility.... I just can't worry about this now.

My Curriculum Leadership class @ FAU just ended yesterday- hooray! I'm working on somehow posting the "Homeschooling and the Law" presentation somewhere linkable for curious peeps. It's pretty and clear.

As soon as class ended I hopped into Yeehaw (my car) and peeled up the Turnpike for Kellie's wedding (to childhood friend Steve, by the way). It was, quite possibly, the fastest wedding I have ever seen. They came in, they said their vows, they kissed, they walked off. Yet another moment for me to reflect on my own future... NOT ROMANTICALLY! I've been pondering the role of a notary/justice of the peace for a few years, and think it's a direction I should move in. I happen to think it will be a new joyful endeavor, if I ever get around to it.

Just registered for the Alternative Education Resource Organization Conference in Troy, NY this summer. Perhaps I'll drive to New York and spend some time with Kate & Megan before I attend-I'll have about 4-5 days to get there after the HoopDance Teacher Workshop in St Pete.

Haiku 3.17.08
I so want to cry
But instead, I turn the page
And start my homework.

Haiku 3.18.08
A soft companion
Whistles quiet melodies
Outside my window.

Haiku 3.19.08
Full moon rising soon
Grey slack clad, broad glad grin, see?
A fertile woman.

After the storm...

Langerado was very good (langerado.com)... nearly amazing.  I only managed to attend Friday evening and night, and all-day Saturday.  Favorite two shows: Thievery Corporation and Antibalas.  BOTH were amazing, and I highly recommend their music.  I also fell in love with Bassnectar.  My current favorite track is "Indictment" off of Antibalas' "Who is This America?"

By the way, my current favorite local band is the Resolvers (theresolvers.com)

 

Checking into a business called wordpress.com, recommended by Rahb in a conversation we had this evening.  Rahb is a genius, thanks for existing.  Nuff respect to the player.

I've been having technical difficulties with my Applied Educational Technology class at FAU, and timing difficulties with my Curriculum Leadership class.  Irony? Luckily, last weekend was spring break, so I have a partially cleaned slate to work with, starting today!

I think things are starting to coalesce in a very nice, lilting rhythm.  February was rough, but... Spring is here, daylight savings have begun.  I'm saving daylight to light my path for the next two years; how about you?  Maybe poetry will grow back this spring as it did last year... wait, did I write last year?  Here's to forgetting!

Mom is here in the cave this week, cleaning things when I'm not looking.  Little does she know, as clutter is my muse, no good deed goes unpunished!

Obsessed?

What a week.  Happy Wednesday!

First: heard a few things on NPR today that I really appreciated.

One economic feature from ATC... hmm, can't remember that one right now. 

The second, in News & Notes, an interview of Columbia University Sociology professor and author of "Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets", Sudhir Venkatesh. Find it here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=67830288

I will definitely play this for my sociology class on Friday, in association with a reading on field research in sociology.

My free will horoscope for the week warns me to be aware that people are changing around me, and I shouldn't necessarily expect them to be the same person I remember them to be.  WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Also listening to scientists tickle rats and chimpanzees on RadioLAb from WNYC (episode: Laughter).

I'm trying desperately to catch up on my grading.  I feel as though I am walking very slowly up a long, steep incline that slides and crumbles away under each step.  Whew!  At least I'm no longer sick.

Two VERY encouraging conversations today: one, with the new teacher, regarding the importance of teaching, and of trust in the classroom; the other, with a former student who is considering a career in education.  I feel very motivated to spread the joy of teaching, even as I attempt to stay afloat amidst the grading deluge (which I acknowledge having brought upon myself).

Laugh a little, even if you have to imagine a really silly moment to do so.  And get some sleep! I'm standing on the soapbox, now: SLEEP IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER, so says many medical studies.

First Draft

There will be changes... oh yes.  Changes are coming.  I'd like to leave them quiet until they're solid...

But first: I'm posting this blog from my current HQ: a mostly vacant house in Boynton Beach affectionately called "the cave."  I'm going on week two in the cave, and I just finished dinner.  Yum.  Trying to kick the sinus infection, still a little woozy and sniffly.

I'm WAY behind on grading, and will return to that the moment I complete this minor distraction/post.

This being my third year at the film/tv/theatre arts charter school, I'm beginning to come in closer contact with my educational philosophy.  Some will call it existentialist (certainly, the little exercise we did in my curriculum class @FAU led to that designation).  I'd like to spend more time with both Free Skool and UnSchool theory before I cast my lot.  Knowing me, I'll never fully cast my lot, but I'm willing to lean!  At least I have some friends... meeting on Friday regarding plans/guiding questions for the human care center(?).  I invited Sarah Goff, NC alum I re-met at Katheryn's B-Day Brunch on Sunday, hope Dawn and Daniel find that cool.

Fascinating research by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life published today: http://religions.pewforum.org

Also fascinating editorial by Charles Handy on NPR's Marketplace regarding growth management for organizations... http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/02/25/bonsai_business

Three new students in my 5th block class.  It was a bit crazy today, and I'm sure they think I'm a total fruitcake.  At least my longtime students can handle my antics.  The new teacher has no idea how weird I am.  Her cheeriness is quaint.  I hope she feels comfortable enough to show her teeth.

Currently listening to This American Life's "Testosterone" episode... again.  I don't think I've ever listened to the whole episode.  I'd like to have desert, but I don't really have 'desert'... I always forget that when I'm shopping.  Maybe some fruit.

OK back to grading. Ta!