Oct 20, 2004 | Informational, Personal
Things are still very busy here. With first quarter winding down, I’m pleased by what I’ve been able to accomplish with my students this year. Time away from school has been divided between my software project, a couple of computer hobbies, and a narrow social life. As the holidays approach, I expect the latter to ramp up.
I’m also trying to work on exactly what I need to get my dad’s notebook computer to wirelessly connect to his dialup Internet service. He needs to not be tethered to a cord, and broadband is not available where he lives. All I’ve come across on the web have been vague references to certain wireless routers with COM ports to hook up with certain external modems. All theory, no concrete brands and models. If you know something about this, please drop me a line.
Cassini continues to make fascinating observations of Saturn. Here’s one of many such stories.
Saturn’s Perfect Storms (Astrobiology Magazine) – Saturn is the windiest planet in the solar system, which is one mystery of the ringed giant. Imagine not what qualifies as a terrestrial hurricane with category five status assigned beyond one hundred miles-per-hour. On Saturn the superstorms can produce a thousand mph wind.
I wrote my Rathergate entry immediately after Dan Rather “apologized” for running his political attack piece. Since then, CBS seems to want to proceed as if nothing happened. I’ve chosen a couple of slightly different viewpoints that have appeared since my first story.
All eyes are on Rather’s future (Variety). Variety – NEW YORK — The morning after Dan Rather admitted the biggest mistake of his career, he agreed to go on Larry King’s primetime show and talk about the worst crisis ever to strike a network news anchor. (more…)
Sep 21, 2004 | Informational
So far, I’ve shied away from controversial political issues on this blog, but I have to warn you, I am feeling very harshly toward this story.
CBS News Concludes It Was Misled on National Guard Memos, Network Officials Say (New York Times) – After days of expressing confidence about the documents used in a “60 Minutes” report that raised new questions about President Bush’s National Guard service, CBS News officials have grave doubts about the authenticity of the material, network officials said last night.
CBS backs off Guard story (USATODAY.com). USATODAY.com – CBS News acknowledged Monday that it received disputed documents critical of President Bush’s service in the Texas Air National Guard from a former Texas Guard officer who now says he lied about where he got them and has doubts about their authenticity. [Yahoo! News – Reader Ratings]
I think the forged Killian documents are a much bigger deal than most people realize at this point. This scandal will have far-reaching consequences in the world of journalism regarding investigative reporting, bias, and the expectations we have for the news media. (more…)
Jul 1, 2004 | Educational, Informational
Spacecraft Cassini Enters Saturn’s Orbit (AP). AP – The international Cassini spacecraft threaded a gap between two of Saturn’s dazzling rings late Wednesday and entered orbit around the giant planet, completing one of the mission’s most critical maneuvers more than 900 million miles from Earth. [Yahoo! News – Reader Ratings]
Over the next four years I’m looking forward to many exciting discoveries from the Cassini probe. Cassini has already made observations that indicate to scientists that Saturn’s moon Phoebe is an ancient object formed at the beginning of the solar system like the Kuiper Belt objects, but, unlike them, Phoebe was captured by Saturn’s gravity rather than being swept out past the orbit of Pluto. Latest findings also reveal that the rotation of Saturn may be highly variable. Of course, I’ve always wondered how scientists could pin down the rotation period of a tiny ball of liquid hydrogen nested deep within a gigantic ball of gas.
Saturn’s moon Titan will get some special attention as Cassini will release the Huygens lander to take data from the surface. Scientists believe that the conditions on Titan represent those of the Earth of four and a half billion years ago.
Jun 22, 2004 | Educational, Informational
As a teacher, it can be easy to find yourself in “corrective mode” in your classroom, getting after students when they are misbehaving or not attending. The very best teachers I know are the ones who add “catching students being good” to the mix.
Children will seek out attention, and it’s often easier to get it by being bad. To many children, attention is attention. The students who really struggle in the school setting (the ones who teachers can make the most profound difference to) are most likely to go the easy route and get attention from bad behaviors because it is that much harder for them to get the positive attention.
Teachers who reinforce students when they observe appropriate behavior show students there is another way, and make it attainable for the children to get attention from positive behaviors – a habit which can stick with them for a long time.
Positive Rewards. When trying to change the inappropriate behaviors of children, it pays to ‘catch them behaving appropriately’. Inappropriate behaviors are a method of ‘getting attention’ so give the attention for the appropriate behavior and use this list of incentives to keep… [About Special Education]
Jun 9, 2004 | Informational, Miscellany, Personal
I was a teenager during the Reagan Revolution. I knew then that there was something extraordinary about our 40th president.His policies were straightforward and completely consistent with his belief that people knew better how to run their lives than career politicians in Washington. His successes, the greatest economic expansion in our history and bringing an end to the Cold War, are nothing less than stellar. As a president, Ronald Reagan belongs alongside our greatest leaders.
As a man, Ronald Reagan was every bit as great. His relationship with Nancy exemplifies what it means to have a life-long love affair with your partner. And anyone who has met him seems to have a story about his graciousness, his simple kindnesses, and his disarming humor. But what always struck me most about Ronald Reagan was his infectious optimism.
It is time for us to realize that we’re too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams…. Let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope…. The crisis we are facing today… [requires] our best effort and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds; to believe that together with God’s help we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us. And after all, why shouldn’t we beleve that? We are Americans.” – Ronald Reagan, First inagural address.
Thank you Ronald Reagan, for your terrific service to our country and for being a model of great character with your kindness and optimism.
Whatever else history may say about me when I’m gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty’s lamp guiding your steps and opportunity’s arm steadying your way.” – Ronald Reagan
May 31, 2004 | Educational, Informational, Miscellany, Personal, Recreational
How often is a novice chess player honored by having his analysis of an ongoing game published? As often as he likes … if he has a weblog….
The following are the opening moves of a game I’ve just started with an old college buddy who lives a long way away. We’re playing over email, allowing “infinite” time to play each move, and we’re allowed to consult computer chess programs to avoid blunders and generate some ideas. The game is not meant to be a masterpiece of strategy and tactics. The regular email moves are a conduit for us to pass along news and happenings to each other. It is a way for us to keep in touch.
Still, for anyone who might be interested, I submit the following analysis. By the way, should you come up with a great idea, that’s what the “comments” section is for. You should do the same for Bill. Oh yeah, that’s right. Bill doesn’t have a weblog. Too bad….
Bill
Alekhine’s Defence. Not an opening I’m very comfortable with. Let’s see how it develops.
| 2. e5 |
Nd5 |
| 3. d4 |
d6 |
| 4. c4 |
Nb6 |
| 5. Nf3 |
… |
(more…)
