The Road Less Traveled

I’ve done it again.  This method may only work for people who love movies and who love to read.  That’s me.  WARNING:  This post might just be the result of desperation for something to write about.

I know how much some people love to watch political debates.  I personally hate them.  Too often, the conversation steers away from the topics and onto how much the candidates hate each other.  So, how to get my healthy dose of debating and arguing?  Movie reviews.

Think about it.  The reviews are almost always on topic and if you read enough reviews of the same movie, you get a nice argument between people who love the movie and people who hate it.

For example, I was browsing reviews for the movie Surf’s Up (It was on, I was bored).  A lot of the reviews complimented the movie’s script and its creative mockumentary style.  There were also some rave reviews from people who loved penguins, surfing, and John Heder.  However, I stumbled onto this hilarious little gem from flixster.com that just made my day:

“HORRIBLE. Lets put together two things I am sick of: Reality TV and Penguins…F. ME. CAn I give it 0 stars?”

Not that I agree with his review, but it was just really funny to me that it followed one that said, “The mockumentary stuff is really very well done,” and right above one that says, “incorporating the mockumentary film style with the animation genre was just brilliant.”

This just reminds me of going to see a movie with a big group of friends.  Inevitably, someone in your group is going to hate it when everyone else loves it, or vice versa.  The car trip home is unforgettable because no one stops talking (or arguing) about the movie.  That’s why I love movies so much.  I just don’t think I’m at that stage in my life where I can argue about politics without getting a headache and wanting to scream until my lungs explode.  But movies, I could go on and on.

Try it some time.  Go see a movie with some friends and argue about it as long as possible.  You’ll feel better and I’ll bet your appreciation of the movie will skyrocket.

Until later — “There’s no turning back now that you opened up to your mind.”

Another clever video.  This one is really similar to The Connected Classroom, with some slightly more catchy background music.

Download Video: Posted by bionicteaching at TeacherTube.com.

This is a very similar video to Did You Know 2.0 but is more focused for teachers.  Before watching this video, I had my room set up in rows because I was taught in college that it was the best set up for maintaining classroom management.  After, though, my desks are arranged in clusters of five.

Download Video: Posted by khokanson at TeacherTube.com.

I think I may start a series of videos on education and technology to post on this blog for anyone who has not seen them yet.  I’m not as frightened of the 21st century as many others are but I am also a fast learner when it comes to technology.  I think, though, one of the reasons so many people are worried is because now we have no choice but to learn and grow.

In The World is Flat:  A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, Thomas Friedman interviewed Nandan Nilekani, CEO for Infosyst Technologies Limited.  Nadan said, “The playing field is being leveled” and that America is going to be challenged but “… the challenge would be good for America because we are always at our best when we are being challenged” (Friedman, 7).

I love a challenge.  I don’t always rise to the occasion, but I do believe that people are at their best when being challenged.  That is an important thing to understand as a teacher.  Increase expectations, challenge students, and you will see the best in them.  They may not all meet the expectations, but they will be amazed by how hard they worked to try.

Until later– “There’s no turning back now that you opened up to your mind.”

This is a great video.  I showed it to my students and they were amazed.  The end of the video is an special message for parents on how to prepare their child for the 21st century.  This video may change the way you view the future.

Download Video: Posted by mcleod at TeacherTube.com.

Let me know what you think, your reactions to the video.

I found this video on teachertube.com (a school accepted video site for teachers).  It is a brief history of the United States of America set to the tune of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”

Download Video: Posted by mrallsop at TeacherTube.com.

I love finding amazing things like this.  This is funny, informative, catchy.  I love the South Park inspired Civil Rights Movement animations at the beginning.

For my next post, I’ll put up a video that a lot of you may have already seen:  “Did You Know 2.0″  It is essential viewing for anyone who wants to know what is up with our world right now and what all the big fuss is about for 21st century learning.

Someone once said to me, “You’re lucky if you never have to live through war time.” I wasn’t sure how to take this because I was maybe eight years old at the time. The more I think about it, the more I’m not sure how true that is.

Let me explain. I hate war, hate the impact that it has on families all over the world, hate the effect it has on all countries involved and some that are not. But there are a few things I am thankful for during these trying times.

The summer before my sixth grade year, The Gulf War had just started. I was never a news watcher, but August 1990 I remember my parents calling me into the living room to sit and watch President Bush as he spoke about Saddam Hussein and Iraqi forces taking control of Kuwait and how something needed to be done immediately. I didn’t understand everything he was saying, but I was glued. This was my first real exposure to global issues. My curiosity about other countries and important events grew out of this first experience.

And now here we are again, for almost eight years, at war again. I don’t remember a time in which there were so many charity groups spreading word about their impact and urging others to join in. When I was young, war was talked about mostly out of the history books or by veterans of previous wars. Now, though, war comes up several times a day as a topic on television, news, radio, and even around the water cooler. And it is talked about as a serious subject of concern, not just something that is “going on overseas.”

I have also been impressed with the rise in protest rock songs, speaking out against war and (especially) President Bush. Pearl Jam, Kanye West, Audioslave, Green Day, Neil Young, and many more have dusted off tradition and written some really good protest songs that, to me, should be on the list of songs that have changed the world.

Do you hate me yet? I’m sorry if you do. As I said, I hate war, its destruction, but war changes people both for the worst and for the best. I am thankful for the best. This war has increased American’s ability to care about other and their awareness of the culture and needs of other countries.

For this, I am thankful. I hope you see my point.

Due to one of the hottest political issues in our state’s history, traveling through Kanawha County has now become a silent debate.  An afternoon drive results in passing signs that announce “Vote NO on August 11″ or “Vote YES for Kanawha County on August 11.”  It is an issue that has sparked heated debates and even a few serious disputes.  On August 11th, the public of Kanawha County will vote on whether or not our nearby gambling facility should be allowed to include table games.

I’m not going to take the time to discuss my feelings on this matter.  Politics usually make my head and heart hurt because of the amount of animosity that usually follows political issues and I may not be able to discuss it without going on for quite a few paragraphs.  I will say that my answer does not come from an economic issue or a moralistic one.

I just returned from a rally where one of the presenters asked a question you don’t usually expect at a political rally:  How would God vote on August 11th?  Good question.  His answer is my answer.  Enough said.