I have some exciting news for everyone: I have successfully secured a position at the college radio station doing a weekly talk show.

You can consider this the return of Meet Someone New, but with much more content stretched over the course of an hour.  The format of the show will be changing a little, but the show itself should simply be an amusing hour involving funny stories, amusing personalities, weather forecasts and more.

That’s about the entirety of my endeavor. I should have the first airing posted for you soon after.

Despite the “failing” economy, I am pleased to announce that things are still pretty good in the United States of America.  Notice I didn’t say America, because, as all my former geography students know, that includes two continents and technically we’re all Americans on this side of the world.

Students in our school district are having an opportunity of a lifetime getting to know some wonderful students in Uganda.  The Ugandan students play soccer, football, with a grass ball.  This was the first thing to amaze our US students.  A ball is a ball mind you, and I don’t want to get caught up in technicalities; however, that made a huge impression on our students.  They quickly went into action and gathered funds to purchase “real” soccer balls, a pump, and needles to send off to Uganda.  The Ugandan students lined up, over two hundred students, to take turns using the American footballs:  soccer balls (probably made in China!).

We worry about a lot of things here in the good old USA, but much of that has to do with the batteries running out in our wireless keyboards, or an iPod Touch not syncing just right.  We have a hard time deciding where exactly we should eat out, or what movie would be best to see.  Tough choices in an actual simple world.

A complex world includes a place where one is not sure where the next meal will come from, who is going to take care of you now both of your parents have died from the ravages of AIDS, or wondering what your school mates are doing on holiday while you stay at the school because that is your home.

Light shines forth in magnificant ways sometimes, and I saw some of that light as I watched Ugandan students speak, sing, and dance with every last ounce of pride, dignity, and honor as they shared their lives and culture in a video that was sent to our students.  I was touched like never before, and that heart warming feeling continues, and this was just from the students who had to stay at the school during holiday because they had no where else to go, but they came to us, on video, here in the USA. Thank you!

Amazingly, one of the first things our students wanted to do, after seeing their counterparts from Uganda, was figure out how to make a grass soccer ball.  A prized possession to now be had here in the Heartland of America:  The United States of America.

If you are feeling down a bit because you didn’t do so well on a test, or if the Cubs lost, or if you’re not quite sure if the paycheck is going to cover all the bills, add a dose of perspective to the mix and go out and make a grass soccer ball.  I’m serious!  Send your pictures this way so we can see and share them and don’t worry about adding a made in America tag on it:  I mean made in the USA.  Make them for our students, OUR students here, in Uganda, and everywhere in between.  That is all.

Peace!

It’s that time of year again and it will be back to school for some of us. Here are 5 items you should have in your learning arsenal:

1. A “thumb drive” at least 1 GB and you can find them for under $10!

2. A good, durable backpack. Many have great compartments for water bottles and mp3 players. My daughter got an awesome princess one!

3. An iPod Touch. I am typing this post on one!!! With the new app store this has become an even more powerful tool. It is a better value than an iPhone IMHO.

4. If you will be in a dorm: mini fridge. Keep some cold ones on hand and preserve a biology lab experiment for class or daring snack!

5. Some pens, pencils, and paper for when the power goes out!

So, there you have it. Add your 5 things in the comments section, now!

Sorry everyone, but it’s late! I do, however, have the Calculus Test (final) 4 note card done.

Click the card or click here to download.

Julie Approved!

Update! RSVP on Facebook!

Who: Anyone who wants to come.
What: An improv comedy event. Everyone freezes in place for a specified period of time, thaws, then leaves.
When: April fools day… Briefing starts at 6:30PM
Where: Thriftway in Afton
Why: For fun.

For anyone who cares, I stole this hilarious idea from the genii in charge at improveverywhere.com.

How

Execution of this shenanigan will be crucial. Everyone must be in the Thriftway parking lot on time at 6:30 for briefing. The briefing will let you know of any important changes to the plan.

Since documentation will be so crucial, we’ll have a few people filming the whole event. Melanie Robinson will be there with her purse/video camera. We need more hidden camera videographers. If you have a small digital camera or something, please bring it and hide it! Hide it on a shopping cart and drive around. Place it between some Macaroni and Cheese on a shelf and leave it. Just make sure its in a good spot.

1. 6:30pm: Briefing.  This won’t take too long, but it’s super important!  I’ll go over final details and changes.  Be there or don’t participate!
2. 6:45pm: Everyone will enter the store inconspicuously (in a way that isn’t obvious). You might enter with a group of friends, but we won’t herd in together. Everybody should be in the store ready at 6:50
3. Shop… browse… do whatever—just act natural.
4. When 7:00 hits, listen to the intercom system.
5. When you hear the first intercom after 7:00 (if it’s not happening, Mel will get a bag boy paged), FREEZE!
6. Wait for five more intercom announcements, and then unfreeze after the last announcement finishes.  (Emergency plan: if it’s been about 5 minutes without an announcement, Mel will have a bag boy paged to help her.  At that point, leave.)
7. Act like nothing happened. Leave. It’s as simple as cake.

If you’re still confused, watch this video (it opens in a new window): Frozen Grand Central.

In summary

We’re freezing in Thriftway on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 for the duration of 5 intercom announcements (subject to change).

Be at the briefing in the Thriftway parking lot for final details.
Briefing: 6:30 PM
Everybody in the store by 6:50 PM
Freeze: the first announcement after 7:00PM

If you can, bring a camera or something so we can document this feat.

It’s time for another calculus exam! So I’ve made another note card. Enjoy

Download the card!

Okay, so this kid comes up to me and admires my original Powerbook G4 on the first day of school. I mention that it is my own personal machine, and I can tell this guy is really into computers and technology and anything with a circuit board inside of it. He asks if I have ever installed Linux on a computer and if I had considered installing it on one of the Clamshell iBooks. I’m thinking, you know that would be worth a try. Time marches on and we install Mandrake Linux (Remember that distro?), and we can’t quite seem to get it to work, but at least we tried just to say we did. We used Claris Home Page like it was the best thing since html, and shoveled snow in our spare time. That was the world when TechTV ruled, Buddy Hackett and Bob Hope died, and Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl. These were the salad days if you will, and they are but a distant memory to BK and his followers, readers, compatriots, cronies, entourage, etc. At the heart of it all was this guy, who was just trying to make a living, and carving his place on the web for the kids. Does anyone else remember 7th grade that year? Time flies Class of 2008, time flies. I remember you all well. Peace! NH

I’ve done it again with my handy reference cards. I introduce the card that will help you pass calculus*. It comes loaded with all of the limit laws, differentiation methods, and proper usage of differentiation. There’s also a little jot space at the bottom and you can also draw on the back!

Download and print (or just look)

*I can’t guarantee that. You might not even be in calculus. Don’t sue me.

I added new videos to the videos section. Gummy Bear Trap does have some bleeped profanity. If you have sensitive ears, perhaps you shouldn’t watch it…

 

 Village Sniper: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Gummy Bear Trap [Profanity: Bleeps of F, GD]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

College planning days are coming up at the high school. Usually these are a good time to review regional colleges and remember JUST why you don’t want to go into the military (If you do, enjoy your signing bonuses).

Let’s make it fun this year. There will be 35 schools/agencies there this year. And that will make a lot of fun.

We all know that colleges give away free stuff. The point of the College Planning Game is to take the colleges/military for all they’ve got. Including pens, lanyards, CDs, Bags, Signs, Banners, Cars, etc.

How to play

1. Tell your friends to play
2. Get a score card
3. Goto the planning days at SVHS on Monday, September 24 at 6:00 PM.
4. Gather as much stuff as you possibly can. You may have to be exceptionally sucky-uppy.
5. Count your loot.
6. Hand your card in to Brad.

Grand Prize: Gift Certificate of your choice.

Get The College Planning Game Score Card