Why '30 Rock' is Worth Your Time

Words cannot express my gratitude for all of this hard work from Eric Voss, but this graphic can help:

And why not close with one of the best tongue-in-cheek outros I've seen on network television as of late?

Most Articulate Student Petition Ever Conceived

I love students like this; we've taught them how to think for themselves!

Amazing:

Take a Break from the Interwebs...

..Ironic how I posted this on a blog...

Mini Golf Shot of the Year

If you've ever been mini golfing with me, you'll know I like to attempt unnecessarily ridiculous shots:



This, however, is the best shot I've ever seen:

A Case for Testing...

So, anyone think we're testing our students too much?

Me too.

This research, however, seems to suggest that testing (when correctly implemented and not overused) might actually be a powerful method to help students retain information.

Check this out:

Un Tour de Manege

Thanks to Walbridge for this one. Brilliant, beautiful, and captivating. I'm no artist, nor am I any type of art critic, but I'm going to go with Jesus Diaz on this one:

"In a world where every film studio is striving to make the most realistic 3D animation, I love to see that somebody is actually playing with texture and color and shape, getting closer to traditional media instead of chasing the absolute perfection of hyperrealism."

Enjoy:

UN TOUR DE MANEGE from alexis liddell on Vimeo.

Coming out of hibernation...

I think I may try to resurrect this blog.

More things to post!

Here we go...

EduBlog Nom-Nom-Noms!

As December and the EduBlog Awards rolls around again, it's time to give credit once more to MC Pop and Mr. Ryan Goble!

Best Resource Sharing Blog: Making Curriculum Pop

As a brilliant innovator, Ms, Goble has again found a way to amass not only an excellent collection of pop culture references that educators can actually use easily in class, he has harnessed the communicative angle of social networking to get educators talking about resources, planning ideas, and even more pop culture connections.

With the help from some publicity in the New York Times, Mr. Goble and Making Curriculum Pop is gaining ground as a strong resource blog.

Down for the count, but not out.

As a Detroiter at heart, I appreciate Blow's silver-lined thoughts on an unspeakable tragedy in a city already battling the corruption of the human spirit.

Well put:

Detroit is "...filled with indomitable spirits of gritty, determined Americans. They’re fierce, proud and unbreakable. They believe in that city."

Amen.

Foundations Worth Your Time

...and money (if you have some to spare).

In light of summer racing season and looking for foundations to raise money for, I've discovered three very worthwhile organizations. All have been cleared by IdeaList.org, a very careful vetting organization.

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of these organizations, let me know and I'll share the research I have on their philosophies, financials, reputations, etc.

Magic Bus

Vittana

Developments in Literacy

College During High School?

Some high schools in New York are combining high school classes with two-year Associates programs in hybrid high school/college careers.

Imagine how well these students will be prepared for a four-year university...

Best line in the world:

When you look at the variety of public schools that have worked well in the U.S. — in cities big and small, and in suburban and rural areas — you wonder why anyone thought it was a good idea to throw a stultifying blanket of standardization over the education of millions of kids of different aptitudes, interests and levels of maturity.

A Very Bright Idea

Best Birthday Present. Ever.

Are you having a hard day?

Do you want a wonderful pick-me-up?

Watch this Danish bus driver receive the best birthday present in the history of everything:

D.C. Douglas Hits Back at Freedom Works

So, in case you missed it, Geico's voice-over guy, D.C Douglas (no, not the gecko, but the voice that says, "15 minutes could save you 15 percent on your car insurance!"), had some drinks, picked up his phone, and drunk dialed Freedom Works.

Even though he used an alias, he accidentally left his real phone number.

After a back and forth on YouTube and Fox News, Douglas finally produced this video conveniently summarizing everything hilarious, hypocritical, and bass-akwards about the Tea Party:

Geocities - A Flashback!

Remember making tacky websites in middle school? We were all sooooooo-fisticated!

Want to make any website look like your seventh grade side project?

Enjoy!

Make Any Website Look Like a Geocities Website

The Tea Party and Intolerance: A Study

Naturally, this confirms a lot of assumptions, but the scientific methodology is interesting.

Are all Tea Party supporters racist? Of course not! Do many Tea Party supporters tend to be socially intolerant? Judge for yourself:

2010 Multi-State Survey on Race and Politics

Lewis Black on Glenn Beck's...Hypocrisy?

No way!

...way.

Although as Jess aptly said, "Looks like Lewis Black is about to have a stroke," he still nails the point home so damn well.

Best line:

Here's what you do, and take it from me, my people have been through this before. First, you gotta find an attic. Then, hide there for the next three years, and whatever you do, don't make a sound! We'll let you know when it's safe to come out!

Nostalgia Lane: Childhood Board Games

Looking to waste 15 minutes? Here, let me help!

Oh, to be young again...

Green Airplanes

Hey, as long as it stays in the air, I'll book a flight:

Everyone Can Always Use a Little Dowd

One of Joe Biden's latest emails...didn't particularly defend Elena Kagan. In a number of ways.

Luckily, through fantastic sarcastic humor, Maureen Dowd made sure this "Big F*cking Deal" wasn't inaudible:

Supremely Girly Girl

Waiting for 'Superman'

I'm not sure how I feel about merit pay, unions, seniority-based tenure, and standardized testing, but I sure as hell know we need reform.

This is why:

AZ Education Doing Something Wrong!

So, after Arizona decided to launch a new immigration policy, they decided to turn to their teachers and launch a similar offensive.

To my friends teaching in Arizona: I'm sorry your state sucks.

Grading Teachers on Fluency

AZ Education Doing Something Right!

Did anyone out there ever have the chance to research that last minute information they needed from Grolier before your first period World History project was due?

...on the bus ride to school?

Study Hall on Wheels

Deconstructing Girl Talk

Very cool link from Ryan.

Fans of Girl Talk/mashups/remixes, follow along:

Repost: Avatar = Pocahontas in Space

This has already been reposted 49,508 times, so why not do it again?

It's funny, I was thinking the same myself when I was watching the film...

Album Rec: Ben Folds' University A Capella

I have tremendous respect for anyone with vocal talent, and simply gape in awe when a capella groups strike a chord.

And as any drummer/musician out there, I love Ben Folds.

Bring the two together and you have an amazing result:

It's a-me, Mario, pulling at your heartstrings!

Or maybe that's Sigur Ros. Either way, a heartwarming little homage to one of the most beloved video game characters:

Summing up the year that was in pop music

DJ Earworm has a knack for splicing together catchy remixes of Billboard's top songs of the year.

2009 was no different.

Enjoy:

Incredible Stop-Motion

No legs? No problem: professional skier, photographer, and skateboarder...at 24 years old.

Kevin Connolly (not Erik from "Entourage") has created a thoughtful gallery of artwork: taking pictures from (almost) ground-level of people all around the world...staring at the man with no legs.

Check this out:

The Rolling Exhibition

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