Busy times

My posts and reading have both slowed a bit recently. The end of the year is always very busy. Add the preparation for a cross country move and things get very busy. Each day seems to be crazy in its own way. Here is today
-Wake up
-Wake up kids
-Drop off kids
-Meeting about a student
-Wear pink pony outfit in Beauty in the Beast presented in French
-Teach class
-Meet with student/dean
-Judicial commitee
-Go home for the 4 year old's forgotten backpack/lunch
-Lunch
-Class
-Check final exam
-Class
-Class
-After school review with students
-Advisory meeting
-Go home for diet coke
-Advisory meeting
-Decide to miss 5:30 meeting (don't feel too guilty because I'll be gone in two weeks anyway....sorry)
-Out for dinner and errands with the kids
-Put kids to bed
-Install window air conditioner (first hot humid day)
-Finally some time to catch up on email, reading, cleaning, etc...

Reading Greek Aloud

Although I am not nearly as consistent as I would like to be, one of my favorite parts of the day is reading aloud to my children. It tends to go in streaks as we get into a good book then finish it and go for a while without reading. I enjoy reading books aloud even if it slows down the pace a bit. A recent editorial piece did a wonderful job describing the value of reading out loud. I sometimes get frustrated that I can't read faster but Klinkenborg's article reminded me as do my children "that our idea of reading is incomplete, impoverished, unless we are also taking the time to read aloud."

The book we just finished was "The Lightning Thief." Recommenced by a colleague and her children, we have truly enjoyed this book and look forward to the rest of the series and the upcoming film. I have always felt a major gap in my cultural literacy when it comes to Greek mythology. This book does a wonderful job of introducing classical ideas and characters in a modern setting that makes them fun, memorable, and true to the original. I especially love the idea of the Greek gods following the migration of Western Civilization from Greece, to Rome, then England, and eventually to the United States. I'll look a bit closer for Mt. Olympus floating in the clouds above the Empire State building next time I'm on 34th street. The book also has some great fun with Los Angeles. It won't take much of a nudge from the kids to start book #2 tomorrow.

Where is your soul?

I remember making a clear stand as a middle school student that there were a number of bands I loved to listen to but refused to "worship" as people or individuals. I'd buy their tapes but not their posters. This was a wonderful stand to take as a middle school student who wanted to act and speak like an adult despite the many flaws and contradictions behind my argument. I did struggle to maintain this stance with one band: U2. I remember going to the late viewing of "Rattle an Hum" before the midnight release of "Achtung Baby." When first dating my wife she blew me away by getting her hands on tickets for a U2 concert (the band was impressed with the giant 2 that had been added to the giant U on mountain that overlooks the stadium at the University of Utah). My ipod is red, part of the line of Product Red that raises money for AIDS medication, an organization started in part by Bono. So, my interest was definitely piqued a few weeks ago when I came across this Op-Ed column written by Bono.

The article was both inspiring and thought provoking. I decided to show it to my elective class on global issues. The underlying question about our souls and what really matters most in our lives became a writing option for my students' final papers. As a few papers have trickled in over the last day it has been exciting and uplifting to see how they view themselves and their purpose. Like my middle school opinion on music personalities, there is a bit of posturing in attempt to show maturity but overall I was impressed by the outstanding responses. Their souls are found in every place from the center of mom's lasagna, through journeys found in interactions with other, to the front line of fighting a chronic disease on a very public stage.

I think there are very few people that can completely find their souls at any age. I wouldn't argue that my students have achieved this either. What does impress me though is the sincere effort they have made to seek their passions, interests, and meaning in life. I think about myself at that age, preparing to graduate from high school. I don't' know what surprises me more, how much I didn't know about myself and the world or how much I actually did? I'll probably feel the same way about my current place when I look back in 20 years. I guess that's the real value in soul searching. Not the you could ever really pin it down but, as my students who are lucky enough to be in a place that values self reflection and service, searching for one's soul from time to time helps makes life meaningful and enjoyable.

Anger Response

People react differently when angry. Some are quick to anger while others can stay calm and cool in the worst situation. When angry everyone seems to have their own signature response even if they seem to be pretty collected on the surface. I had a friend from high school that would never lose his temper even when his face had turned fire engine red. I know somebody else that starts writing things down furiously when angered or frustrated. I tend to go for silence in many situations unless it seems others are relying on me to be angry for them. Some people curse and throw things. Others punch holes in walls, slam doors, or commit similiar acts of violent physical response. People sometimes do silly things when angry; I'm thinking of the videos of angry drivers recorded by police dashboard cameras or the viral video of the woman who broke down in the airport after missing a flight.

Even with the most extreme cases in mind I hadn't seen anything that made me chuckle quite as much as the goalie's response to being scored on in this clip. It is a beautuful move by the attacker to get the ball back onto his right foot and then send it home but I never would have guessed the goalie would respond with such anger by.....pulling up his shorts in such an indignant way. Really, he gives the most expressive garment adjustment I've ever seen.

Actually, wouldn't the world be a better place if this is how we all expressed anger. No more cursing, hitting, shouting, or holes in the wall. Just yank on your belt a bit and everyone would know that you need some space.

Henning Mankell's Wallander on PBS

I just read a very promising New York Times review of the PBS Masterpiece Mystery production of Wallander. I am very excited to watch the first episode tonight. I have only read a couple of the Henning Mankell books which introduce the detective, played in this series by Kenneth Branagh, but have loved what I read. A gritty, troubled, and thoughtful detective.....yes, it sounds like you've heard this before... but Wallander lives and works in rural Sweden. Great stuff!!!

Of course, I have to DVR it so I can watch the finale of the Amazing Race. I'll be happy with any of the final teams winning at this point. I just hope it is an exciting finish.

Nerd on the Run

Exercise is not a part of my routine. I played a lot of basketball, soccer, and other physical games when I was young but as an adult have become relatively, uhm....sedate. I enjoyed playing soccer every Friday night this winter and by the end of the season found my muscle recovery time decreased from three days to three hours. Yes, I was actually limping around on Monday's after my first few sessions of Friday night soccer. What I really need though is to get into a good running routine. I have had some success in the past but never a sustained effort. Running has done much more to increase my array of ipod accessories than it has to decrease my belt size.


The problem is that I get much more of an adreniline rush from finishing a book, article, or other such task than I do for getting to 30 minutes of running, hitting a certain mile mark, or beating my time. After I move I might try to get into some sort of competitive sport where I thrive a bit more like soccer, racquetball, and I've always wanted to try curling (really, I love watching curling and can't wait to try it someday...another reason for the title of this post). But for now I have tried to invigorate my running effort with a new arsenal of podcasts that will provide a bit of the exhileration of reading with the boredome of running. Here is what I am enjoying:

-Wait, wait, don't tell me (funniest thing on the radio)

-NPR education podcast (good stuff, I just listened to an interview with Arne Duncan)

-Stuff you should know (How do credit default swaps work? How Deja Vu works?, etc....)

-Stuff you missed in history class (podcasts on Joan of Arc, Manhattan traded for nutmeg, etc...)

This aproach is a bit unorthodox, a bit like the growing sport of chess boxing. If I'm not fitter, faster, or slimmer next time you see me at least I'll be a bit smarter. I consider it my mind-body exercise insurance policy.

Bliss

Am I happy?

That's a tough question. Not because I'm unhappy but because it can mean so many things. I finished "The Geography of Bliss" today. The same day as Michael J Fox's television special on optimism and the appearance of a New York Times article about Bhutan's policy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). Both remind me of a recent presentation at school on positive psychology and another school I've been working with that is implementing this type of research into their program.

Even without the fact that happiness seems to be chasing me today, Eric Weiner's journey around the world has got me thinking about happiness, joy, bliss, or whatever else you want to call it. Weiner travelled the world examining happiness. He chose his destinations in part by hitting the highs and lows on a list of countries' perceived levels of happiness. These ratings are based primarily on surveys given in each country. At first it seems a bit unreliable judge a country's happiness by just asking someone to pick a number on scale. But if doctors can trust patients to judge the severity of pain by picking a number on a scale with a happy face on one side and a frowny face on the other maybe this works too. I'm also reminded of Transparency International, an organization that measures corruption in various countries with surveys of perceived corruption. Seems a bit unreliable at first until you consider the alternative, "excuse me senator, could you tell me how many bribes you accepted last year?"

Weiner is careful not to prescribe a specific path to achieving bliss or pinpoint its location but his travels do offer some good advice. In short, I think he would agree that happiness is a lot more about people than places. Countries that provided a society where people know and trust their neighbors seem to be a lot happier, regardless of many other factors. In fact, these other factors can vary significantly. Weiner would probably challenge Tolstoy's suggestion that all happy families are alike. They exist in the dark cold winter of Iceland, the straight faces of the Swiss, the humblest hovels of India, the mountains of Bhutan, the desert of Qatar, and even a few in the "unhappiest" country of all: Moldova.


Back to my initial question. I have a daughter who begs me to read with her, another who smiles on cue, and a son with an imagination vibrant enough to put Dr. Henry Jones in the cockpit of a TIE Fighter. My wife is supportive, creative, and beautiful an every way. My students laugh at my stupid jokes and my colleagues trust my opinions. I have neighbors who tell us when we've left the car windows up in the rain and gather spontaneously at the smell of charcoal from any one's porch. So, despite the fact that it has rained every day for two weeks, I sometimes have to check the bank account before buying groceries, and I am trying not to panic about a new job and cross country move, yes, I'm happy. Very happy.

Update: Not more than two hours after posting this I came across an interview with Phil Keoghan, host of the Amazing Race who has travelled the world seeking adreniline pulsing adventure. When asked about his favorite place on earth he responded with "anywhere I'm with the people I love." Nice confirmation from the host of my favorite show.

"I never said she stole my money"

Depending on how you emphasize the words in this sentence it can have 7 different meanings! Cool. I came across this little tidbit when reading a NYT article about the challenges IBM faces in preparing a computer to compete against a human opponent in Jeopardy. Accessing information is one thing but understanding the complex relationships between information and the nuances of language make this quite a task. Look out Ken Jennings!

Music

A friend (thanks Eve) posted this on facebook the other day. It pretty much speaks for itself.


This is a testament to great teaching and the value of music education. A little research led me to the groups blog: PS22 Chorus.

Gun Scare

I was delighted that my schedule last Wednesday gave me a large block of free time to drive into the city and have lunch with Dominic and Rekha. Dominic is the head of another independent school whom Rekha and I worked with for our final project for graduate school. However, while I was enjoying a crab sandwich, coleslaw, and conversation surrounded by the highest of brows at New York City's Harvard Club problems were brewing back at school.

I was unaware of the rolling storm but felt stressed anyway to work my way back to the midtown tunnel and tested my patience on the crowded Long Island Expressway. I arrived late to class and was immediately told of the day's commotion. We are studying transnational crime in my Global Issues elective course and I have assigned pairs to create lessons on various topics. The requirement includes a lecture, discussion, and homework assignment. The group presenting on the illegal trafficking of weapons asked students to investigate how easily one can buy firearms online and print out their evidence for class.

As a teacher I have learned that no more than 80% of my students will ever have a working printer at one time. In addition, replacing missing ink for most students requires an alignment of circumstances involving parent schedules, ink cartridge availability, and student initiative that occurs only slightly more frequently or predictably than high-magnitude earthquakes on the San Andreas fault. So it was no surprise that two students found themselves doing their "homework" in the library that morning.

It was a surprise to the librarian who noticed purchase procedures for semi automatic assault rifles, with detailed pictures, rolling off the printer.

In this day and age any educator should take a second glance at anything that seems out of the ordinary. This was harmless, but certainly out of the ordinary. Strike one. It doesn't help that my school believes strongly in non-violent resolution of conflict (weapons, camouflage, and even super hero capes are on the list of prohibited costume apparel for Halloween). Strike two. So, with print outs in hand the Dean of Students and Director of Technology were immediately summoned.

Fortunately the latter was able to point out the one of the print outs was an ebay listing for 1/12 scale models of guns: toys guns....for dolls. Ball one. The other print outs, while still a mystery to the group, showed only pictures of weapons and their prices. Nobody was ordering weapons. Ball two. The group decided to go "Mission Impossible" and start scanning active desktop images of various computers in the library to determine which computer summoned the offending images and who was sitting in front of it: two senior girls, one of which recently hit the other in the face with a bat. Fortunately this occured in softball practice and the only real trouble either had seen in their upper school careers was not more serious than a citation for being late to class. Ball three. A confrontation with the girls led to an explanation of the assignment and a polite apology for any fuss they may have caused. Ball four. Both girls walk... freely from the library.

The girls were still a little uneasy about whether or not they were in trouble (they weren't) when I arrived and their concern had spread to others in the class. I checked in with the librarian and any concern had already been well smoothed over, although they were still a little confused about the assignment. Our fine librarian felt a little silly for making such a big fuss but was she wrong?

Little things like this have become the unnoticed warning signs of some of our greatest tragedies. We have been urged to notice the dots of concern before a very troubled student connects them into a massacre. The images of Columbine remain surprisingly clear for many educators and I work on a campus where we smelled the acrid smoke of burning rubble when the winds changed in our direction on 9/13. While it's easy to think an investigation in this case was an overreaction I also feel that we need to be brave about following our suspicions. Our world encourages us to report lonely bags, odd activity, and even the slightest hunch of danger. However, I can only commit to doing so if we are also willing to keep packing our travel bags, not shy away from activities that some may deem as odd, and follow our instincts to see the best in peoples intentions. Maintaining such a world means we may need to blow the whistle to keep others safe from time to time but also provide others the respect deserved by a simple benefit of the doubt. Balancing these two concerns will be one of the greatest challenges my students face in the future. At least bigger than refilling their ink cartridges.

Me and you do do the blogging to quickly learn what is up.

As much as I am proud that a facebook quiz declared me an expert in English grammar, John McWhorter essentially debunks the value of such knowledge in his recent history of the English language.

I first came across McWhorter a number of years ago when entertaining an interest in linguistics. I read his basic history of language, "The Power of Babel," which provides a broad understanding of language evolution in world history. He doesn't just explain what changed but why languages go through such evolutions with multiple interesting examples. While primarily a linguist, he has written a few books that deal more with black culture in America, particularly social and educational issues. I haven't read these books but know they enter realms that some consider "touchy." I can't vouch for his thoughts and opinions about race issues, however I was glad to see another McWhorter book on the shelf that was purely about language (I say shelf but I actually found the book in my kindle store).

McWhorter's history of English is a bit more technical than I hoped. It is certainly more pedantic than Bill Bryson's "The Mother Tongue" on the same subject. I recommend Bryson's book for entertainment value and even a broader understanding of the cultural importance of English but also appreciate the implications of McWhorters overarching themes as well. His ideas are explained clearly and I enjoyed the great historical analysis that came between very detailed and thoroughly explained linguist examples that I often found myself skimming.

So what's my real take away here? McWhorter strikes a wonderful balance of emphasis between the importance of using English properly and suggesting that there is no "proper" English. Any language is alive and constantly changing such that grammar and usage deemed incorrect in one era may become the standard in another. He derides those that insist we don't end our sentences with prepositions and other such usage. At the same time he also reminds us that if language changes like fashion it often pays off to be aware of the latest trends. It "ain't" a problem to wear sweatpants and a t-shirt at home bit it "isn't" a good idea to do so at work where a tie is expected (even if a tie is just a left-over obsession of Parisians impressed with the dress of their Croatian mercenaries in war that happened nearly four hundred years ago).

I amn't (why not, they use it in Scotland) suggesting that we turn off grammar and spell checks on Casual Friday but there are times when I don't need to be told to stop splitting my infinitives and others when I should make the extra effort to reconnect them. Anyone that insists we always follow the highest conventions of our ever-evolving language is eventually going to find themselves embarrassingly overdressed but failing to learn the them could leave you in front of the class in your underwear.

So its time for another quick rundown on my recent reads. Can you see a theme? Me neither. Two books both set in Russia but that's about it.

Special Assignments: The Further Adventures of Erast Fandorin

I don't remember how I came across Boris Akunin and this series but it is one of my favorites. I recommend the "Winter Queen" if you are going to start the series from the beginning. Set in Russia during the late 1800's, Erast Fandorin is a wonderfully brilliant and hilarious detective. One part Sherlock Holmes, a dash of the Pink Panther, a pinch of Crime and Punishment, and then something else that I can't quite get my finger on. Whatever the secret ingredient, it allows this clever, quirky, lucky, and genius of an inspector to find himself at the heart of shocking crimes in a surprisingly believable way.

"Brain Rules"
As much as we have learned about the brain through an extensive amount of neuroscience in recent years there are still many mysteries. Medina fully acknowledges that the wizard of the brain is still mostly behind the curtain but there are a few concrete and helpful things we do know. He writes specifically about 12 brain rules such as the benefit of exercise, the trumping power of vision, and the importance of sleep. Some of these are no-brainers (no pun intended) but he explains the neurological background and benefits in a detailed, fun, and understandable way. I also like the way he finishes the description of each rule and its scientific background with some practical advice on how to implement this knowledge of the brain into the environments of school and work. Some of his suggestions are a bit far fetched (treadmill working desks) but others suggest some simple changes that could make quite a difference (don't clutter your powerpoint with words). Learn more and watch some fun videos about each "Brain Rule" on his website.

"City of Thieves" I had to read this book after reading a review. It takes place during the siege of Leningrad/St. Petersburg during WWII. This is quite an episode in history and a wonderfully bleak setting for a novel. The Germans essentially surrounded the city while the inhabitants burned every last bit of wood for heat and ate whatever they could find. Benioff includes descriptions of candy made from book glue, ration bread filled with sawdust, and instances of cannibalism. In addition to the daily struggle of survival each night brought bombings. When I was in St. Petersburg a few years ago I took a picture of myself next to a war pocked building with the warning sign: "Citizens! This side of the street is more dangerous during artillery attacks." Benioff's story is of two young men who fall into trouble with the Red Army, one for desertion and the other for breaking curfew and taking goods from a dead German soldier. A military official holds their ration cards and potential acquittal hostage in exchange for completing the impossible task of returning a dozen eggs to bake his daughters wedding cake. It's a poignant and jarring coming of age story that made me grateful to be living in a time of peace and comfort.

"Firesong" On a much lighter note, this is the final book in Nicholson's "Wind on Fire" trilogy. This was my least favorite of the series as a stand alone book but did wrap up the story well. I think Nicholson fell into a common adolescent literature trap. A first book is often written with a clear sense of the adolescent audience and remembers that in addition to creating great characters and an overarching theme to carry the series forward there should be a pace and development of more immediate events fast enough to entertain the reader. But who am I to complain, I've never written a book. I have probably read each book at least 12 months apart from the others so I don't remember a lot of the smaller details but do have vivid images of the huge villages on wheels propelled by sails and the zombie-like Zars slowly but relentlessly en masse seeking the death of their master's enemies.

Reflections On My Journeys to New Jersey

As I have become a loyal Real Salt Lake soccer fan over the last three years I look forward with great eagerness for their yearly road match up with the New York Red Bulls. I put on an RSL t-shirt, hat, and prepare to cheer for my team. Of course the New York team plays in New Jersey so the drive from Long Island has become a bit of a pilgrimage: Long Island Expressway, Cross Island Parkway, Throgs Neck Bridge ($4) , Cross Bronx Expressway, George Washington Bridge ($8), I-95 to the Jersey Turnpike ($1), and finally the bright lights of Giants Stadium. I know I have lived here too long because I do this all without consulting a map. Mapquest tells me that it takes less than an hour (link). They clearly don't include toll lines, random construction, and typical New York traffic in their equations.

The first year I took my two oldest children to the game. We actually made a trip of it by staying in a hotel with a swimming pool for the night (a reasonable splurge since my wife was with our youngest on a trip to New Zealand). As we approached the stadium for the game a fluorescent vested employee called us, somewhat gruffly, from behind the gate. "Do you have tickets?" I explained that we didn't but would gladly purchase some before trying to pass her sacred threshold. She continued, "the kids, do they have tickets?" Sheesh, take it easy lady we'll buy tickets. At this point she finally made herself more clear and stuck out her hand with some tickets. She gave us three free seats! I missed the best goal of the game when I had to go change Harry's diaper.

Year two. No free tickets but plenty of scalpers. I tried to simplify the evening by bringing only my oldest child. She begged for ice cream, popcorn, drinks, trips to the bathroom, and cheered for the Red Bulls with a smirk on her face.

Year three comes with a bit of nostalgia. This was my last trip as we will be moving back to Utah this summer. I didn't take any children; they didn't want to do the drive. It was the most beautiful day of spring yet. The pleasant weather was most evident on the Cross Island Parkway that runs along Little Neck Bay. I had never seen the bay side walkway so packed: roller-bladers, bikers, couples holding hands, rubber-booted fishermen, and lots of families. All of this tightly nestled between the quaint shore of the bay and 6 lanes of crowded parkway. The choppy Long Island sound and its smattering of boats looked beautiful from the bridge. Of course it's followed by the dark tunnels, worn cement, and sooty masonry of the Cross Bronx. New York certainly has some wonderful spots of nature (I would put the Hudson River view from the Cloisters on the top of my list), however I often wonder if its worth all the trouble it takes to live here. I feel the same way about grapefruit; a delicious treat but enough of task to eat that I haven't had one in years. I give my blessings to both New Yorkers and consumers of grapefruit but will gladly move back to my Utah mountains and eat apples.

I finally made it to the game ($10 for parking). The Red Bulls scored in the fourth minute. Real Salt Lake lost to NY. Again. It took me three hours to get home.

I can't wait to attend multiple home games at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy for the latter half of the season. A quick trip on I-15 and no tolls. I'll have plenty of friends wearing the same shirt, it will be a soccer specific stadium, and people won't look at me funny when I cheer for an opponents red card. I do wonder though, how I'll feel next year when the team heads for New York. A Salt Lake to Newark flight is only a little over 4 hours. Grapefruit anyone?

Updates

I've got some catching up to do and will try to update my reading and a few other thoughts soon. For now I just want to add a few updates to previous posts.

1-Thanks to Jeff and his comment on a previous post for convincing me to go get my eyes checked. I am now wearing glasses and seeing the world much more comfortably. Plus, wearing glasses seems to be quite appropriate for a new Head of School.

2-I broke down and bought the amazon kindle. It's awesome. I will admit that it has caused a bit of family neglect but I absolutely love having the New York Times each day. Reading books feels natural and easy. I will miss having some of my new books on the shelf but that is a small price to pay for such a wonderful device.

Nudge

There are a number of books out there about the psychology of decisions. This one had been on my radar and I picked it up while in New York City with a group of students for Model United Nations.

The book is essentially divided into two halves. The first section is about the psychological research of choice and the concept of simple structures and influences in our decision making processes that can "nudge" is to making particular decisions. The book is full of entertaining examples and studies that apply to decision making. The second half of the book takes on a number of specific areas where we could improve our lives by providing appropriate nudges in our decision making structures. These suggestions range in scale from personal health and finance to changes in government tax policy and health care.

In a sense this blog is a great example of a nudge. Even though I know that nobody really reads this but me, having a forum to record and list a few thoughts about my books has helped me keep some decent momentum in reading.

Perhaps I should start an exercise blog?

Pillars of the Earth and Kindle

So I haven't updated for a while. Between the end of a grading period at school, preparing for a three day Model United Nations student trip, and picking up the 900+ page "Pillars of the Earth" I havent' had much time or content to contribute.

I read one other Follett book, "Eye of the Needle," last fall. Set in the world of espionage and civilian survival in England during WWII the setting was very different than the story of the construction of a middle age cathedral in England. Despite the differences both books employed similar methods. Various story lines or characters interacted in ways that were somewhat predictable by the time they came together but interesting, complex, and believable enough to make them delightfully frustrating and suspensful. I recommend both both books highly.

I decided to pick this book at such a busy time because I am preparing to teach this time period in my 9th grade history classes. I wish I could make my students read it. From a historical perspective I really liked how it represented the feudal system of land use and social classes. It had vivid depictions of monarchial intrigue, the power of the church, not so noble knights, forest outlaws, and most importantly a broad and descriptive portrayal of the peasants, millers, stonemasons, other craftsmen, and traders. All of this was done without neglecting the important role of women in all of these professions (plus one of their own). However, as my wife points out, his "bedroom scenes" are clearly written by a man. I suspect she would say the same if she read "Eye of the Needle."

One of the greatest experience I had reading this book was trying out the amazon kindle. I was about 600 pages in when I had to pack for my U.N. trip and didn't want to lug around a monster sized book just to read the last 300 pages. Enter kindle. My school library has one available and they allowed me to purchase one book. Every time a person buys a book it's added to their kindle library so that selections for future readers are increased. Anyway, I loved carrying around the light little kindle. Never had battery problems. The digitial ink has no brightness or glare like a computer screen. I have wanted to have a kindle since they came out. I held out for the second version but it's place on the wish list has dropped to #3 for now (#1 new laptop, #2 iphone). The only trouble I had was finding my spot in the book without remembering which chapter I was in when I left the real book behind.

A Dose of Science

Full disclosure: I did not finish this book. I think I will come back to it, perhaps more as reference than as a read for pleasure. Angier is taking on a difficult task in trying to summarize all the basics of science in one simple book. While this seems like an incredibly difficult task my problem was that she was spending too much time an particular concepts and ideas when I was ready to move on.

Of course, it's hard to match the balance of history, science, and humor that Bill Bryson exhibits in his similar effort with A Short History of Nearly Everything. I knew that this book wouldn't be able to match Bryson's but was hoping to get a bit more focus on the actual science than an the history of the discoveries and the people behind them. I guess it's just too much for one read as I look ahead at the topics of the next chapters with enthusiasm....but just can't read it now. In short, I recommend this book with dosing instructions: 1 chapter a month. Perhaps this is also why I like the Best American Science and Nature Writing series as well. Small doses that I can pick up and enjoy without having to feel that I need to read the book cover to cover right away.

I think my former science teachers would be satisfied to know I'm still interested in their discipline, even if its just an occasional chapter's length at a time.

Glasses

I don't consider myself a prolific reader but have been on a great pace since the holidays. Having graduate school finished has been very helpful. A few flights without wrestling children has also helped. But the biggest difference has been the glasses.

I am not one to cringe about my age or dread the approach of a birthday. Not that I necessarily feel young. My attempts to play soccer over the last few months have been evidence enough that my body is not what it used to be (the mirror tells the same story). I guess I'm just not that sensitive to my own mortality and signs that I am inching closer to death's door. So it wasn't much of a blow to my ego when I decided to give reading glasses a try.

I can see fine without the glasses but my eyes get tired after reading for 15 minutes. Now I can read for much longer and much more comfortably. A pleasing result. At least I can hold off looking at canes and dentures for the immediate future. Knock on wood.

Heroes of the Valley

After a long streak of non-fiction it was nice to read some simple adolescent fantasy. I have long been looking for a story in this genre with a Viking theme. I ran across this book in target and was pleasantly surprised to find that it seemed fit the bill. Of course, it really got my attention because it was written by Jonathan Stroud. He is the author of the Bartimaeus Trilogy. That series didn't end as strongly as it started but I would reread the first book again just to laugh at the footnotes.

I loved the darkness of the trows, evil creatures living and attacking from under the ground who had been banished to live beyond the rock cairn borders of the valley. They were described with a good balance of horrific detail and unknown mystery to make them very creepy. It was fun to follow the progression of the main character, Halle, from awe and revernce of the mythical heroes of the past to becoming a hero in his own right but in a much more realistic and meaningful way. The book is up for a Book Video Award in the UK. I don't know much about this award but this link has a nice video clip that sets up the legend behind the story and finishes with a glimpse of Halle and his uncle.

Historically, there was a lot less Viking in the book than I was hoping for but the setting and many parts of the story fit the general theme well. It's a little less Viking than Megan Whalen Turner's series,"The Queen's Thief" is Greek. Turner's geography is based on ancient Greece and the story is full of tales of the gods and conflicts between rival city-states that mirror Greek history in a very interesting way.

Boardgames

One of my greatest intersests over the last few years has been my growing collection of boardgames. It has grown from a shelf in the closet to a full fledged game closet. I don't dare count how many games I now have for fear of considering the money I have spent. I justify myself by considering others I know who have even more games.

So why can't I stop?

1-I loved playing games as a kid and perhaps this just takes me back
2-The themes of "eurogames" are so unique. I have very few games about war and many with abstract themes or topics ranging from building postal routes, fighting outbreaks of disease, to growing beans. That's just a start.
3-I love the bits....those detailed little plastic and wooden pieces are just cool.
4-Playing games: the strategy, laughs, victories, and other experiences with friends and family are priceless
5-I have to collect something

Book Review

This a book review. Review in the sense that I am going to rehash, summarize, or simply revisit my briefest thoughts on some of the books I have recently read. As a critical reviewer I am no good. I tend to like things too easily. Hey, if you can write a book, get it published, and have a topic, title, or cover interesting enough to get me to read I am rarely going to give you a hard time. So, here we go.

-The Disciplined Mind.
I know Gardner's multiple intelligences have come under fire a bit in recent years but I still really like the concept of various learning styles and strengths. I can see many people whose educational experiences would have benefited from teachers seeking to teach to the strengths of students, even if they didn't try to define those needs specifically as one of Gardner's eight intelligences. I thought of my father when he briefly mentioned a possible ninth intelligence dealing with existential or "ultimate" issues.
All that being said, this book has almost nothing to do with intelligences. I found his descriptions of the purpose of education very helpful while trying to articulate for myself the value of independent schools. He speaks in depth about education serving to teach children about truth, beauty, and morals. I can identify clear experiences in each of these realms in my own independent school education and hope to provide such at my school in the years ahead.

-Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's
I picked this one up because I have taught a couple of students with Asperger's. I love the way that Robison embraces and loves his condition. His stories made me think of a number of other people in my life with similar behavior and personalities. Is it you?

-Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns
I was prepared to not like this one. My impression going in was that it suggested a future that would devalue the importance of outstanding teachers. That border is slightly breached in a few places but I think many of the ideas in this book are still important. Most significantly, the suggestion that technology placed in education has made very little impact thus far because it's usually just layered onto the existing structure and tradition of our schools. Finding unique and appropriate ways to implement technology that best suits a system that it can provide on its own may be more valuable than forcing it to conform to our existing structures. However, good teaching will always be needed to complete the essential pieces of education listed above in this post.

-The Master and Margarita
Thanks to Bulgakov I will always smile when I see a black cat...and then be a little scared. This is one of those books that could have only been written under the type of unfortunate circumstances that existed in Soviet Russia.

-Proust Was a Neuroscientist
I clearly enjoyed this book as Lehrer's blog is now listed on my own. The link between our discoveries about neuroscience and some of the great "artistic" thinking in modern times is made very clear and I learned a lot about both at the same time. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Cezanne. I look forward to reading "How We Decide."

-Man's Search For Meaning
Rarely do I find myself on the train without something to read. I bought this book one evening when I realized that I had nothing to read and had a train ride home ahead of me. I am sure this will require a rereading at some point but my first round confirmed all the praise I have heard about this book. I hope I never have to work so hard to find meaning in my life. Fortunately my sufferings are not nearly so severe and my blessings are abundant. Frankl helped me feel more grateful for the former and the latter.

Victory

The Freaky Pandas had a great come from behind victory on Thursday night at the weekly trivia challenge at Brown's Tavern.

After a perfect first round we had dropped a number of spots by the end of the third. The final question asked which U.S. city was the first to host the summer olympics. Logic only took back as for as Los Angeles in '84 and into the 60's when we couldn't name another U.S. host.

But the Freaky Panda tactics kicked in. We knew that if the answer was L.A. we didn't have a chance of catching up because too many people would get it. Instead, we went with a hunch on St. Louis and bet all 33 points.......and won!!! First place with 66 points followed by a second place with only 34; nobody else got the right answer.

We stayed around for autographs after the event but the only thing we were asked to sign was the credit card receipt.

Kazakhstan

As you may have noticed from the post below, I have interests in Central Asia. This is not new. Since living in Russia I have been fascinated with the people and cultures of both the Caucuses and Central Asia. Without being the home to any of the greatest empires of world history they are regions constantly in the crossroads of historical movements and change: silk road trade, Ghengis Khan, Alexander the Great, Tamerlane, Scythians, Russia and Britain's "Great Game," and now a center of focus in the war on terror. Among all of that is a collection of countries whose diversity of culture and geography is a mystery to much of the world. As Robbins describes in his book, he once heard a person give credit to "Borat" for creating Kazakhstan so as not to offend any real country with his satire.

Upon first glance "Apples Are From Kazakhstan" appears to be a simple travelogue but it is so much more. Robbins delves deep into the stories and legends of the country, including many that have impact around the world today. The title is based on the claim that apples are from Kazakhstan, a fact yet to be proven entirely but I was certainly hungry for some of the varieties described. I was also happy to get more information on a tidbit I had once heard about central Asian origins of the Arthurian legends. There is also great detail on many of the tragedies of Russian (especially Soviet) influence in the region which served as the home for numerous exiles.

What makes this book especially interesting is that the information is all provided through the lense of those who the author interviews. From tour guides and taxi drivers to the president and his pastoral peasants, Robbins allows each story to remain "Kazakh" in both its origin and telling. Most importantly, it only increased my desire to someday travel to central Asia and discover the place for myself. As for Borat, I am sure he intended to be viewed in good fun. I never got around to seeing the movie but now I think I'll make a point to refuse it.

Fun with email

So I got an interesting email from a student last night. It was sent to all students and teachers at the school from a senior who was obviously trying to have a little fun. I couldn't resist responding and the rest went from there as we wrote emails back and forth through the evening. Having a bit of creative fun like this is one of the many joys of teaching.

Hi Everyone,
I lost my tooth somewhere on the quad today when it came out of my mouth; its skinny and white and probably about one centimeter long. So if anyone sees a tooth laying in the middle of the quad and it looks like there's a chance it could be mine please give it to me or Mr. Regan; even though I have a replacement now that tooth still has a lot of sentimental value and it won't last long in this harsh climate. Also, I will be leading a search and rescue party onto the quad during A block if anyone would like to join.
Thanks,
Peter

Peter,
I noticed a scraping sound as I walked on the floor after arriving home today. Upon further inspection I found that there was a tooth stuck on the bottom of my shoe. While trying to pry it out with a butter knife the tooth popped out and made a direct trajectory for me eye. Luckily, I closed my eye just in time and it deflected off my eyelid into the sink where it tumbled down the drain. I removed the drain pipe, recovered the tooth, bathed it in mouthwash, and listed it on ebay as a "the cursed voodoo tooth of Gideon Frost." After 17 bids it is now up to 35.72 (2.99 for shipping which includes insurance and tracking). Feel free to bid! If you win I will just bring it to you in class and not charge you the shipping cost (but you won't get insurance or tracking for delivery). Sorry I didn't see your email earlier,
-Mr. Smith
That's quite a tale, I hope my tooth wasn't damaged in the process. I will bid, and I will put up two of my molars and my right canine tooth as collateral in case I am unable to pay. As long as you and your people are able to ensure the tooth will be delivered straight to me with a direct signature guarantee your terms are acceptable (you should know my tooth inspection specialist will be on hand to inspect said tooth, he's ex-KGB and knows my teeth well and will not take kindly to anyone attempting to make a quick profit on my "quad-tooth". just a heads up).

Ex-KGB tooth inspector? Must be Yuri. Yuri and I go way back and I would just love to see him show his face in my classroom. Back in '93 he stole a sack of teeth that I had been collecting from one of the ancient burial sites, known as kurgans, on the Kazakh steppe. The teeth were used by animistic shaman to predict the direction of water for the nomadic herders who had once wondered in that territory. Yuri swapped the teeth for fakes made from a chemical compound sensitive to radiation. I hadn't noticed the switch until I went through the metal detector at the airport and the teeth crumbled to dust. Yuri even had the gall to show up at the airport and smiled with his own golden chompers from the other side of the security area; I couldn't go back without loosing my ticket. He used the teeth to find an enormous undiscovered well and opened the first water park in Kazakhstan. He spent his fortune to come to the United States and put his KGB training to work in the Dental Protection Agency. The DPA now considers him a "rogue agent" and I wouldn't trust him with your precious "quad-tooth" or even a measly little baby tooth. Don't give him the combination to your tooth safe!
Happy bidding.
Obviously you have not yet perused the most recent edition of the Times of Central Asia, where Yuri's death in a parachuting accident was front-page news. Seems somebody switched his normal parachute with a paper mache one, perhaps in an ironic form of revenge for a previous switch? You didn't happen to take a trip to Central Asia over the long weekend, did you?
I was well aware of Yuri's suspicious background when I first hired him, but as long as I continued to chip and break teeth I knew I would keep him loyal. However, with his death, I have been forced to bring in his brother Leonid. His friends call him "the tooth phantom of Moscow" for his exceptional tooth thieving skills, his foes call him "the tooth fairy" for his love of wearing short, frilly dresses as he steals teeth, perhaps you have heard him called by this name. With the death of Yuri, Leonid is now number two on the DPA's most wanted list, right behind Ludvig the Many-Toothed (who once stole j. edgar hoover's right lateral incisor and bottom left first molar while he was flossing them!!).
Trust me, nobody but me has the combination, or even knows the location, of my tooth safe, and that is knowledge I will take with me to the grave!

P.S- I am trusting you with this information with the understanding that you will never report my toothing activities to the DPA. I don't care how many root canals they threaten to perform on you, never reveal what I have told you!!! With your semi "retirement" from the toothing industry after the unfortunate incident at the burial ground, I am now the last great hope of toothophiles. It would be a shame if the DPA were to uncover my toothing activities.
As a responsible teacher (and with great fear that our correspondence may be monitored by the DPA) I hope you are also completing your homework with the same zeal with which you protect your dental heritage.
I refuse to report on any recent travels to Central Asia so as to protect my identity. However, I did once create a small hot air balloon out of crepe paper and glue iin sixth grade science class.
I do recommend the services of Leonid but advise that you do not dare offer him any teeth with even the slightest doubt in origin or trace of decay.
Wait! I just noticed something. The current high bidder on your tooth has the username.....”YAlive.” His location is listed as Uzbekistan.

Cylon attack!

So last summer in the midst of commuting to the city every day for 8 hours of graduate school and the accompanying reading, writing, and studying I got caught up in Battlestar Galactica. Fortunately, much of my work was done on the rails to and from the city. But even so, Nadia and Ellie (who stayed with us over the summer) would watch hawkishly as I finished my work each night so we could immediately put in the DVD for the next episode...and then just one more...and sometimes even a third. We worked through the first 4 and 1/2 seasons over the summer and have been waiting with great enthusiasm for the series final episodes to start.

The first of the final episodes aired last Friday and was not a dissapointment. A number of surprises. My biggest questions is how they are going to wrap everything up in 9 more episodes.

The real reason I am writing though is to share my pain with Battlestar's humans who were betrayed by the cylon technology they created. I've never had major computer problems but yesterday my computer got some sort of "infection" and now I can't even get back to my desktop. I backed up many of my files a few weeks ago and by chance printed a bunch of my completed Model U.N. registration documents last week. I will lose some work that I hadn't saved elsewhere but from a Battlestar Galactica perspective I guess I'm lucky: no attack on earth, no need to flee to a mythological planet of safety, no questioning the true identity of the people around me. Although, Maren was the last to use the computer before it crashed.

Is my daughter a cylon?

The Great Gatsby

This is one of the many classics that I'm sure slipped through my net during high school. Somehow I never had to read it. I picked it up over the winter break and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I would have liked the book regardless, but living in the exact area of Long Island that is the focus of Fitzgerald's book certainly made it more poignant.

Of course the story is really about Gatsby and his desperate love for Daisy but for me it was all about the narrator, Nick Carraway. Nothing new there; Fitzgerald's social conscious and commentary of the time is supposed to come through that character and he does it well. As much as Nick comes to be understand the shallow and dark side of the glamorous community in which he finds himself, he also wades deeper into it then he should. However, Nick does maintain his integrity by sticking to insisting on honesty whenever he was concerned.

While nothing so dramatic as this novel has occur ed in my own experiences here on "East Egg" I certainly see the same duality. It is mind boggling to think of some of the events and behavior that goes on among the elite of the Gold Coast. I'm not talking about murder and intrigue so much as the big parities, big spending, and big personalities that are clear echos of Gatsby's world. I must also add that among this I have found some of the most humble and generous people I know. In my own work I have to balance being a part of this world to enough to communicate and understand those around me but also maintain enough distance to make sure that I provide a true representation of my own experience and reality.

One of the greatest shocks about my time on Long Island is to see how quickly these two worlds diverge. The differerence between one small town and the next that nearly overlaps it couldn't be more stark. There is "another side of the tracks" more visible than any place I've seen. Crossing the LIE or going from "Old ____" to just plain"____" may as well be crossing an ocean as people only minutes away are living in worlds apart.

Nick Carraway was excited and enchanted by the life he suddenly saw before him. He always knew it wasn't really his but played along anyway. I think he was a bit relieved to have reason to leave it behind. It makes me wonder about Fitzgerald too. Apparently, the book has always had problems with proper editing because he was off gallivanting in France when it was published. He was knee deep (if not even deeper) in the very life he was criticizing. Some may say this is nothing more than hypocrisy but I also see it as offering a bit of hope. Even those people leading dramatically different lives can quickly find themselves understanding or even in place of the other. In fact, Gatsby's journey took him to both sides of the track. He had a hard time finding happiness in either place. Nick, who knew himself, seemed to be fine in both.

Funke

I'm still not exactly sure how to pronounce Cornelia Funke's surname. The "e" seems to imply that I can't simply rhyme with "punk." But I do. We have enough of her books in our home that I don't think she'll mind.

I am nearly finished reading "Igraine the Brave" to Maren (and Harry when he has enough patience to listen). The book seems to follow the theme of one of Maren's favorite picture books, "The Princess Knight." I love pausing at the end of a chapter to see Maren's eagerness for me to read just one more before bedtime (Harry has the same hope but mostly because he wants to stay up a little later).

I have also read "Dragon Rider," "The Thief Lord," and "Inkheart." The recent previews for the movie of the latter inspired me read the second book in the trilogy, "Inkspell."

It takes a lot of gumption to write a book that depends on a premise relying so heavily on the importance of good writing and fine story telling. She glorifies the world created by her characters when in fact the characters are only fictional and she created the world herself. I don't get caught up in this too much though because she has indeed created a beautiful story. The story seems to be growing up a bit for the younger readers targeted in the first book which unfortunatley means more and more emphasis is placed on adult characters rather than on the wonderful Meggie of the first book. Reviews of the third book indicate that Funke does these even more. Regardless, we will certainly track it down sometime and complete the trilogy.

Unfinished Business

Our bookshelves are one of our most prized possessions. Unfortunately, it also becomes an easy place to put something that has no place of its own. Right now our bookshelf is stuffed with a few extra including board games, a yellow roll of felt containing our Christmas puzzle, a super-glue-repaired glass light fixture waiting for replacement, and a hand me down fish and his (or her?) container of food.

It all spoils the view of our lovely books but the puzzle is particularly irksome. Rolled up in the felt puzzle holder is probably 100 connected pieces out of the 1000 piece puzzle. We completed most of the edges and a had a good start on various parts of the castle. We also sorted pieces into forest, sky, and mountains. We are by no means puzzle experts so our progress wasn't quick and always faced the threat of our one-year-old who loved to get her fingers on those little pieces and the run away as fast as possible. Since the end of the holidays we haven't unrolled it once. It just sits and the shelf and taunts us, unfinished. We'll soon have to make the important decision: pack it back into the box (probably never to be seen again) or wait until the kids are asleep and start hammering away at the puzzle again.

It gets me thinking about other bits of unfinished business. I know I am getting too deep when I start writing emails to myself with "to do" lists or decide to take on a major house cleaning project in order to avoid what I really need to get to (I think I was a lot more helpful around the house while in graduate school). It seems so easy to leave those loose ends dangling when there is nothing compelling me to tie them up. Yet, it's so satisfying to really wrap something up or even, if need be, to just let it go. So what other unfinished business do I need to get to?

Perhaps I'll start with the puzzle.

No passport

I have a gadget at the bottom of my blog that shows random pictures of places around the world. A great picture of Lake Bled in Slovenia just popped up. I visited there about 3 years ago and found quiet little Slovenia to be one of my favorite places. It was part of a 2-3 week vacation where we leased a car and drove around Europe.

Thinking about this sure gives me the travel bug. It's tough too because there are so many places I would love to go back to: Sochi, Slovenia, Castle on the Rhine.... and so many new places I would love to visit: Carpathians, Istanbul, Central Asia, the Great Wall...and the list could go on.

Unfortunatley I have no money, no time, and not even a valid passport.

Sigh......

Pandemic!!!

I spent the last few nights playing "Pandemic" by myself. Sounds sad but it's been very fun!

Pandemic is a cooperative board game. You work with other players to treat, cure, and hopefully annihilate diseases centered in four regions of the world. The game mechanic works such that cities that become infected are likely to outbreak into infections in surrounding cities which can end the game very quickly and lead to lots of suspense.

Not having other willing players around I simply lay out the cards for three players and work the game like a puzzle. Each game plays out differently. I have enjoyed finding different ways to work with the special roles of the various players and have unfortunately been defeated by the game in almost every scenario. Don't put me in charge when the bird flu arrives!

What's Your Mindset?

In my first summer of graduate school we looked at some of Carol Dweck's research about views on intelligence. She doesn't try to argue one way or another about whether our intelligence is fixed or malleable but does insist that whichever way we choose to percieve it can have profound influences. Since then I have thought a lot about how I percieve my own goals, how I speak to my children about their accomplishments (and failures), and how I work with students. I also find myself wondering if I see my talents and potential with a "fixed" or "growth" perspective.

So, I was thrilled when my friend Rekha told be that Dweck has written a "popular" version of her many years of research called "Mindset." I was already familiar with much of her research but it was interesting to see how she has combined it with the various areas of success in our modern life: relationships, sports, teaching, parenting, setting personal goals, learning, and others. It has urged me to think even more about my perceptions and encouraged me to be "purposefully engaged" in my goals and interests.

The book also led me to map out my own history in terms of fixed and/or growth attitudes. The times of my life that were most fulfilling were certainly filled with more experiences led by a growth oreinted mindset. I spent a lot of time playing basketball with friends and I alsways loved being on the "underdog" team. It meant I was more likely to lose but the game was always much more fun and a victory, when achieved, much sweeter. This also translated into some of the other decisions I made at that time such as switching schools and trying to be proactive about the social and academic opportunities that came along with that. I wouldn't want to relive my teenage years but also think that much of my fulfillment came from an attitude of growth and learning that can be achieved at any stage in life.