"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?