December 31, 2004
Board Game Reviews
Now that we've played the Christmas board games a time or two...
Apples to Apples - Even our 8 year old understood this game in 45 seconds. However, the simplicity is not indicative of the fun factor. This is a blast. it's a lot of fun to play with the family, and it would probably be even more fun with 6-10 intoxicated adults. And thank you to Michele for the recommendation.
Memoir '44 - - A turn based war game that allows you to replay the key battles in Europe. However, the game play is simple enough that 10 year olds will get it without a problem. Also, games take 20-40 minutes, unlike the week long affairs that some war games can be. This a great intro to war gaming and strategy, and a history lesson too.
Ticket To Ride - Another great family game. Challenging for all ages, yet easy enough that the kids will have a fair chance to win.
Permalink | Comments (5)December 30, 2004
Happy Web Anniversary
Ryan notes that this month marks his 10th year on the Web. Tomorrow (12/31/2004) marks the beginning of the 9th year online for O'DonnellWeb.
It was a cold and windy one, that night of Dec 31, 1995. OK, actually I have no idea if it was cold or windy. What I do remember is that my wife was 7+ months pregnant with out daughter, so we weren't going anywhere to celebrate the passing of the year. She retired to bed well before midnight, leaving me alone with a computer and a lot of beer. That is never a safe thing to do.
Being the geek that I am, building a web page seemed to be a great way to spend the night. In fact, I decided that I wanted a page online that year. Obviously, I foresaw that I would be writing this missive 9 years later ;) Armed with nothing more than Notepad and Netscape 1.0 on a Windows 95 machine, I set off the figure out how to build a web page. It really wasn't that difficult. The number of HTML tags back then was very limited, and I was able to look at the code on IBM.com and a few other sites to figure out how it all worked. Several hours later it was nearing midnight and I was ready to launch my first site. I read the scarce documentation available and deduced where exactly on the server I needed to FTP my file.
It didn't work. The file was there, but I got a You are not authorized error where trying to access the page on my 14.4 modem. It was about 3 AM when I finally figured out the arcane syntax of the Unix CHMOD command and made the site available to the world. However, technically I was online by midnight. This would not be the last time I spent 3+ hours figuring out one silly computer command.
The URL for that site was http://www.america.net/~greenegg. That page has been lost to the mists of time, or something. However, it did look a lot like this.
I bought the ODonnellWeb domain in 1998. I'm not the digital pack rat that Ryan appears to be. I don't have copies of all the old sites.If you are interested, Archive.org seems to have me covered from early 1999.
Here is my very first blog post.
That first silly web page is directly connected to my decision to find a job in technology. In many ways, that night sitting up alone drinking homebrew and learning HTML has had a very significant impact on my life. If it wasn't for the Internet, I never would have met my wife moved to Virginia. I'd probably still be in GA in the printing trade.
Animals escape harm in Sri Lanka
This is fascinating. Sri Lankian officials are reporting that the island's wildlife escaped harm from the flood. They seem to have moved in mass to higher ground just before the wave hit.
Final proof that dolphins and mice really are in charge?
Permalink | Comments (0)Tsunami pictures - before and after
A commercial satellite happened to be right over Sri Lanka on the 26th.
The Sri Lanka coast before, during, and after the initial hit.
Here is Banda Aceh before and after.
I don't know what to say, other than it sort of puts my petty pesonal problems in perspective.
Yikes! There have been 167 earthquakes on the planet in December.
Permalink | Comments (0)December 29, 2004
She's a flight risk
Is she even real? Fascinating blog from a uber rich heiress who went into hiding to avoid an arranged marriage.
Either that , or it's very well done fiction. My original take was that it is a hoax, but after reading the Esquire article I'm not so sure.
Actually, I'm not sure it really matters. A good story is a good story.
Permalink | Comments (2)December 28, 2004
Wordpress Warning
There is a bug in Wordpress 1.2.1 and earlier that allows losers with nothing better to do to hack into your Wordpress web site. Horseshues.com got hit on the 24th and I didn't notice until about 30 minutes ago. Luckily, the fine folks at Digital Space were able to restore the site from a backup in about 5 minutes.
If you are running Wordpress you need to either upgrade to 1.2.2, or apply the simple fix outlined here.
Permalink | Comments (1)Singing for science
The MASSIVE database (last updated on 12-7-04) contains information on over 1700 science and math songs.
Permalink | Comments (0)December 27, 2004
The state vs home education
Alice in Texas asks, So, which best is better for the children- the best of parents, or the best of state educational authorities?
I would argue the average of parents is better than the best of the state.
Permalink | Comments (0)December 24, 2004
Merry Christmas
From all of us at ODonnellWeb
Yankee or Dixie?
I scored 78% Dixie.
Permalink | Comments (1)Have a very metal Christmas
Famous James has loaded up his streaming radio station with metal versions of your favorite Christmas classics.
Permalink | Comments (0)December 23, 2004
Merry, merry, merry frickin Christmas
Sample lyrics..
Schools out Christmas break
Back to Boston, the Red Sox in four straight
First the Yankees then St. Louis
The curse, reversed, the Bambino really blew it
Derek Jeter's lost his mind
Trippin' on a broom stick, better luck next time
Have a Merry, Merry, Merry Frickin' Christmas
All you New York Yankees fans can kiss this
The tree the gifts the mistletoe kiss
Swing, a miss, Steinbrenner's really pissed
Have a Merry, Merry, Merry Frickin' Christmas
Free Shoes Free Shoes!
My wife ordered LL Bean slippers for both her sisters, gift wrapped, free shipping. She noticed a couple of days later that LL Bean had shipped two pairs to sister #1 and none to sister #2. So she called the company.
The next day they shipped a 3rd pair to sister #1.
Another call, another shipment, This time they got it right and delivered a pair of slippers to sister #2. Since the first shipment, sister #2 has received two more pairs of slippers. We only paid for 2 pairs. My sister-in-laws can either keep six feet warm at a time, or put the extra pairs in reserve and never need for slippers again.
LL Bean slippers are wicked good, even if their distribution department is having some issues. I've got an old pair that contrary to my wife's opinion, are nowhere near needing replacement.
Permalink | Comments (0)Edward Cossette writes again
The author of Bambino's Curse (best baseball blog ever) has resurfaced with an essay over at Bronx Banter.
The Red Sox fan I was is no more. The Red Sox fan whose relationship with the team was built upon a memory of the past, of loss and sorrow, has been transfigured and delivered into a new realm.
Red Sox fans everywhere are now living in what Dante called il punto a cui tutti li tempi son presenti, "the point at which all time is present" (Paradiso, xvii).
And this is why I had to end the Bambino’s Curse weblog. Why I had to let it go to dust and ashes. The blog represented a past I/We have been delivered from.
Permalink | Comments (0)Happy Festivus
You did remember that December 23rd is Festivus, right?
The NYT tries to read some deep meaning into it, but I think they are missing the point. It's just another excuse to get party and drink too much, and it requires much less preparation than a Christmas party.
Feel free to use the comments for your annual airing of grievances. You are on your own for the feats of strength though.
Permalink | Comments (0)Homeschool troubles in the UK
Daryl has the contact details on a situation in the UK. A homeschooled 8 year old chess prodigy is being harassed by the local educrats. I doubt local officials will care much about we think in the US, but if I have any UK readers please follow the link for contact information.
Permalink | Comments (0)December 22, 2004
NeoLibertarians
It's a new term that I hadn't heard before....
- When given a set of policy choices,
- The choice that maximizes personal liberty is the best choice.
- The policy choice that offers the least amount of necessary government intervention or regulation is the best choice.
- The policy choice that provides rational, market-based incentives is the best choice.
- In foreign policy, neolibertartianism would be characterized by,
- A policy of diplomacy that promotes consensual government and human rights and opposes dictatorship.
- A policy of using US military force solely at the discretion of the US, but only in circumstances where American interests are directly affected.
Hmm, that sort of sounds like me.
Permalink | Comments (1)Hitchhiker's Guide - The Movie
The movie is due on screen May 8, 2005
Hitchhiker's Guide, , Star Wars Episode III, and the new Harry Potter book, all due within 90 days of each other. It's going to be nerd nivana. I can hardly wait!
Permalink | Comments (0)Killing the magic of Christmas
Here is a jolly essay from some economist on the cost-benefit ratio of preaching 'Santaism" to your kids, and why you shouldn't do it. Something about exploiting the trust of your kids....
BTW, that is SANTAism, not SATANism, which is how I read it initially!
I remember figuring it our around age 8. It was the around the world in 24 hours with a sleigh that carried billions of toys that sort of sparked the obvious for me. Being an Air Force brat, I knew how long it took to fly across the Atlantic in a jet, and I knew reindeer weren't quite that fast!
I agree with some of the commenters on the post. Childhood is no time to worry about rational behavior, and I do think it's sort of cool for kids to figure it out and "join the club," while they pretend otherwise.
Permalink | Comments (1)December 21, 2004
Merry Christmas, My Friend
Twas The Night Before Christmas, US Marine style....
Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine...
Read The Whole Thing. It was not penned in Korea in 1993, nor was it penned in Afghanistan in 2002.
Permalink | Comments (0)New Harry Potter Book
The word on the street is that Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince will hit the bookstores on July 16.
Permalink | Comments (0)December 20, 2004
Last Minute Gift Idea
I'm done shopping, are you? If not, I found the perfect last minute gift. It's the Time Tracker, a device whose purpose is to help children improve their performances on the standardized tests that have become unavoidable in education. Recommended ages: 4 and up.
I'll take two......not!
I'd be real surprised if homeschoolers are the parents buying these.
Permalink | Comments (0)December 19, 2004
A Very Unfortunate Movie
I'm here to relate the tale of a very unfortunate movie, in which three smart orphans are forced to endure the most nefarious, villainous Count Olaf as he schemes to secure his claim to their inheritance.
Not having a read any of the books, it took me a little while to get into the flow of the film. The kids have read all 11, and they were laughing out loud throughout the movie. It was a much darker movie than I would have expected for a kids film, however the kids and Michelle insist it was actually quite a bit more lighthearted than the books. At dinner after the movie, the kids reviewed all the parts that were different than the books.
The resident Snicket aficionados give the movie a very enthusiastic two thumbs up.
Permalink | Comments (2)It's All In The Cards
I'm not about to bitch about last nights poker at Tom's, because I did walk out with more cash than I walked in with. So it was a very good night. However, when we were down to head to head Texas Hold Em action, I did manage to lose about half my chips when I lost with pocket kings. My opponent Adam had a pocket queen and got two more on the flop.
So I've now pulled pocket kings twice playing poker with Tom, and managed to lose a large pot both times. Grrr...
Overall the cards were definitely in my favor last night. It certainly wasn't any great skill in the game that caused me to win. It was all in the cards. (I came in second overall, Adam ended up with all the chips.)
We are off to see the new Lemony Snicket movie this afternoon. The kids have read all the books. The movie tickets and dinner afterward will more than exhaust my winnings from last night.
Permalink | Comments (0)We are a homeschooling family
A comment in this post at Daryl's site has really raised by hackles.
The Dad who is a breadwinner while the Mom stays home with babies doesn't call himself a 'stay at home Dad' (but the Mom is a "SAHM") - the Dad who is a breadwinner while the Mom homeschools the kids should have a different 'term' other than homeschooler.
Does that sound just like a public school teacher that complains that only certified teachers can truly be called teachers? Please, get over yourself, you are not that special.
I have yet to meet a homeschooling family that is successful at it without the total support and involvement of both parents. Education does not just happen at the kitchen table while Mom is hovering over the math workbooks. And quite frankly, if the education in your home is limited to the kitchen table time, I would suggest you are failing miserably as a homeschooler.
Homeschooling goes far beyond just an education choice. It is a lifestyle choice, It is a decision to put your children's intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual growth first. Of course, most parents think they are putting those issues first, and many do. The difference is that homeschoolers take personal responsibility for it. If our kids fail to learn, or grow into social deliquents, we can't blame the school system. As I've said here on many occasions, even if the kids academic achievement were just average, we'd still homeschool. The benefits to the family far outweigh my kids scores on the annual achievement tests. (We have to test yearly in VA.)
I am not minimizing the importance of having a father/husband as a member of the homeschooling family! They do play a crucial role, no question about that. I am, however, wishing men in this role would be more clear about who is doing the heavy lifting work of homeschooling the kids, and quit talking like they know what it is to do the day-in and day-out job of homeschooling.
Yes, let's all bow down and worship at the foot of the homeschooling goddess. (I thought I did that every day already?) Heavy lifting? Get over yourself. Maybe we should have a state certification program for homeschoolers. That way, we can have "certified" homeschoolers and there will be no doubt about who is doing the heavy lifting. After all, it works so well for the public education system.
Let's not lose sight of the goal here. The goal is to raise our kids into productive members of society so we can enjoy our retirement without them still in the house :) It's not about who gets credit for doing the heavy lifting. I don't know any homeschooling fathers that are totally out of the education loop. Their contributions may come more on the weekends, out in the woods or on the baseball diamond, but that stuff is important too.
Homeschooling is a family commitment. It's a team effort. And there is no I in family team.
December 16, 2004
Seen at the grocery store
The older lady in front of me in line was wearing a surgical mask, in Food Lion.
She bought 4 cartons of cigarettes and then wasted 5 minutes of my life as she dug through her wallet looking for cancer stick coupons.
If your respiratory system is so sensitive that you feel the need to wear a surgical mask in public....maybe you shouldn't be smoking.
Also, the tab for 4 cartons of smokies was over $120.00. Even if I wanted to smoke, the price alone would keep me from doing it. How does anybody afford that habit?
Permalink | Comments (4)Boomer Nostalgia Alert
Throughout 2005, Basic Hip Digital Oddio will be transferring old 78 RPM kiddie records to MP3 and posting one a week for download.
Here is the lineup for January
- Story of Robin Hood
- The Adventures of Tom Thumb
- Little Black Sambo's Jungle Band
- Tales of Uncle Remus
- Gossamer Wump
The first song I have any memory of in life is Ozzy the Ostrich. I have no idea who sang it, where it came from, or even what the tune sound like. I just have the damn song title stuck in my head from way back. It would be very cool if that song turns up next year.
My first rock song memory is Joy To The World by 3 Dog Night. My parents had it on reel to reel and I remember playing it over and over.
What is your first musical memory?
Permalink | Comments (5)December 15, 2004
How does she do it?
Hannah Keeley homeschools six kids, wrote a book, publishes a magazine, and runs a couple of online businesses.
I consider it an accomplishment just to get something posted here on a daily basis.
Maybe I should read her book.
Permalink | Comments (3)December 14, 2004
A Nation of Wimps
Summary: Parents are going to ludicrous lengths to take the bumps out of life for their children. However, parental hyperconcern has the net effect of making kids more fragile; that may be why they're breaking down in record numbers.
Of course, in classic psycho-babble fashion, the article doesn't actually provide any evidence to support the above statement. It does, however, provide several moments of brilliant unintentional comedy.
"There is a ritual every university administrator has come to fear," reports John Portmann, professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia. "Every fall, parents drop off their well-groomed freshmen and within two or three days many have consumed a dangerous amount of alcohol and placed themselves in harm's way. These kids have been controlled for so long, they just go crazy."
College students drink? Who knew? Is this a new thing?
Next, we get a few paragraphs on the cell phone as the Eternal Umbilicus. I guess we should give them some style points for that one. Did you know that calling somebody on your cell phone to arrange a meeting place is not considerate? It's actually a sign of poor advance planning, brought on by parents that were too controlling when you were growing up. Really, it's in the article. I'm not making this up.
Parental hovering is why so many teenagers are so ironic, he notes. It's a kind of detachment, "a way of hiding in plain sight. They just don't want to be exposed to any more scrutiny."
That must have been James Dean's problem in Rebel Without a Cause. His parents didn't give him enough free playtime when he was a child. Oh wait, I'm sorry. Ironic teenagers are a new thing. Never mind.
Adulthood no longer begins when adolescence ends, according to a recent report by University of Pennsylvania sociologist Frank F. Furstenberg and colleagues. There is, instead, a growing no-man's-land of postadolescence from 20 to 30, which they dub "early adulthood." Those in it look like adults but "haven't become fully adult yet--traditionally defined as finishing school, landing a job with benefits, marrying and parenting--because they are not ready or perhaps not permitted to do so."
I thought getting married later was a good thing? Didn't these same people tell us previously that getting married young was bad for women? They shouldn't be submitting to the dominion of men and all that. So now that people wait, it's a bad thing brought on by over protective parents. Us normal, non PhD folks just can't win, can we?
There is more, but it's mostly sad, not funny. Sad that this stuff passes for science these days.
via Julie Leung
Permalink | Comments (4)December 13, 2004
Open Source Math Software
Discussion thread at Slashdot on open source math software. Just in case your into that sort of thing.
Permalink | Comments (1)"The Beg Post" - how not to do it
It's that time of year where bloggers across the world try to figure out how to make a buck from their blogs. I'm a free enterprise kind of guy, so that doesn't bothers me. However, the guilt trip approach is unseemly, especially on a blog that is somewhat professional, or at least connected directly to the blogger's line of work.
There is one little fact of blogging that all of us need to understand.
YOUR READERS OWE YOU NOTHING.
We have provided fresh posts every single day since we started the blog.
The fact that you have provided fresh content daily means nothing. You chose to do it, we didn't ask.
No one pays us to blog.
Very few us are getting paid to blog. Why should that make you special?
Blogging does not count toward academic pay raises.
Even Scoble doesn't get job credit for blogging (not officially anyway). Again, that doesn't make you special.
We incur expenses of numerous magazine and newspaper subscriptions and book purchases. Review copies of books are few and far between.
Ah, so you actually get the occasional review copy? That already puts you way ahead of 99% of the blogging community who will never see a review copy. Of course, most of us (economists included), are reviewing books and reading periodicals that we'd read even if our blogs didn't exist. Heck, I'd probably read more if I didn't spend time writing here!
We do not expect to make money off the blog, but we would prefer that it does not cost us either.
You're looking for a free lunch? Shouldn't economists know that TANSTAAFL?
The currency of the blogosphere is not cash, it's reputation. The Bloglines feed I subscribe to shows 735 subscriptions for Marginal Revolution. I have 10 Bloglines subscribers for ODonnellWeb and I had 50,000 visitors last month. If their ratio is anywhere in that same neighborhood that is a lot of people. I wonder how many readers bought one of their books after discovering the blog? I wonder what kind of effect all those readers have on the academic and professional reputation of the authors? If they can get more speaking engagements from the increased visibility is that not making money on the blog? Hell, I suspect one extra speaking engagement a year easily makes the blog profitable on a cash accounting basis.
They then go on to offer up a few rewards for generous donations. This should have been the focus of the post. They should have laid out their expertise for us, summarized by links to previous posts where they were right about issues of economic importance, and then offered their readers the opportunity to buy that expertise for their personal or business needs.
For donations of $100 or more: an autographed copy of one of our books, your choice.
For donations of $1000 or more: A two-hour conference call with the two of us, on issues of your choice, including consulting problems if you so choose.
For donations of $5000 or more: A day of time from either of us, in the continental United States.
Those aren't outrageous consulting rates for top quality advice. If a blog can enhance your professional or academic career, by all means take advantage of it. But please don't try and make us feel guilty about reading free content you chose to put on the Internet.
Permalink | Comments (8)December 11, 2004
Interview with the official score keeper at Fenway
This is an absolutely fascinating interview with the official scorer at Fenway Park. I had no idea that players go the official scorer after a game to try and get errors reversed. He also lists Clemens as one of the most unselfish players he's seen. That too is a surprise.
Permalink | Comments (0)Blame Parents for Eminem's Popularity
This essay takes on the issue why the violent and often foul lyrics of Eminem, Snoop Dog and others are so popular with kids today.
Eddie Vedder (lead singer for Pearl Jam) puts it this way,
“Think about it, man,” he says. “Any generation that would pick Kurt [Cobain] or me as its spokesman — that must be a pretty f— up generation, don’t you think?”
(Editorial note - IMO, Pearl Jam and Nirvana were the two most over rated bands of the 90s)
The author connects the divorce rate of 50% and the pain many kids feel growing up abandoned by one parent to the popularity. It turns out most of these artists grew up in dysfunctional homes and much of their writing reflects that pain, from the POV of the kid.
She may have a point, for some kids. Although I maintain my standard position that most teenagers aren't that deep, and they really have no idea what their favorite artists are singing about. That is probably even more true today. I at least had liner notes, and could lay on my bed with the headphones on reading the lyrics while I contemplated the deep issues of teenager hood. You don't get liner notes when you download the song, either legally or illegally.
The author draws an interesting comparison,
Baby boomers and their music rebelled against parents because they were parents — nurturing, attentive, and overly present (as those teenagers often saw it) authority figures. Today’s teenagers and their music rebel against parents because they are not parents — not nurturing, not attentive, and often not even there.
Of course, we grew up to be authority figures we used to detest, sort of a self correcting process in a way. If today's kids grow up to be better parents, will we look back at Eminem and Snoop Dog is a better light?
The final paragraph pretty much says it all,
Meanwhile, a small number of emotionally damaged former children, embraced and adored by millions of teenagers like them, rage on in every commercial medium available about the multiple damages of the disappearance of loving, protective, attentive adults — and they reap a fortune for it. If this spectacle alone doesn’t tell us something about the ongoing emotional costs of parent-child separation on today’s outsize scale, it’s hard to see what could.
via Joanne Jacobs
Permalink | Comments (5)December 09, 2004
CD Review: The Wall Against Our Back
Hailing from Columbus, OH - Two Cow Garage really puts the punk in country punk, or maybe they put the country in punk country.
Either way, this CD rocks.
Permalink | Comments (0)Best of The Blogs - Personal Edition
It's an award for those of us that can't actually make a living at this.
Note that this is not a beg to nominate me. I've had a website since 12/31/1995 and haven't won an award yet. No reason to break that streak now!
Permalink | Comments (6)December 08, 2004
One lawyer we won't kill :)
Check out this story of a young district attorney who was homeschooled through age 16, then skipped college and went straight to law school. He also started several businesses along the way. It's a great story.
BTW - I got this from a press release sent to me by the Oak Brook College of Law PR department. First of all, I think a school actively promoting the success of it's graduates is a great thing. Something all schools should be doing. It's also the first time anybody has ever sent me a press release like I'm a member of the media :)
White Trash Christmas
Any resemblance to my family members in GA is purely coincidental.
As far as you know.
Permalink | Comments (0)Teachers are bored
According to this article, teachers and educrats got bored with tried and true methods like phonics and invented new and less successful ways to teach reading primarily to entertain themselves.
That might be true, but I think the author misses the bigger point.
If you can't find joy in seeing a young child discover the magic of the written world, you have absolutely no business in the teaching profession. Teaching isn't about the teacher, just as parenting isn't about the parent. We parents intuitively get this, which is probably a primary reason why homeschooling works so well for so many. We are better teachers than the trained professional because we don't lose sight of the goal.
Calvin & Hobbes do LOTR
via Steph
Permalink | Comments (0)December 07, 2004
Family Game Night
This Slashdot entry on board games as gifts led me to Board Game Geek, Days of Wonder, and ultimately Cardhaus.com, where I added Memoir 44 and Ticket To Ride to the stash under the Christmas tree. I'm going to My son will greatly enjoy Memoir 44, and Ticket to Ride comes highly recommended as a family game. Family games that strike the right balance between challenging play for adults, simple enough for kids, and game play under an hour, are hard to find.
Feel free to leave recommendations in the comments. I'm always looking to add new games to the game night rotation. (Game night in our house is 3 or 4 nights a week).
Board games have come a long way. Not that Monopoly or Clue aren't still fun, because they are. However, there are some amazing looking board games available. Anything but Yu-Gi-Oh, I am so sick of that game. And it has nothingeverything to do with the fact that my deck sucks and I have little chance of winning.
Nomah won't win the Series next year either
Nomar signed with the Cubs for a guaranteed $8 million for 1 year.
That's only $52 million less than the Red Sox guaranteed him over 4 years.
It must suck to be a big headed sports star and be that wrong about your market value. I'm sure Mia can make up the difference.
Permalink | Comments (0)Pearl Harbor Day
It's probably not PC to remember this - but today is December 7th, a day that will live in infamy.
It's also the day of the annual Let's Get Bombed party at the frat house in college. I don't remember much about those December 7th's :)
Dan Flynn inspired this post.
Michelle Malkin remembers too.
December 06, 2004
Computers are bad for kids?
This German study claims that too much exposure to computers is bad for kids. Well, too much exposure to water and you drown, so I guess it's possible, but I'm not buying it.
"It seems if you overuse computers and trade them for other [types of] teaching, it actually harms the student," says lead researcher Ludger Woessmann in a telephone interview from Munich
Well, yes. A computer is just a tool. Hand a shovel to a kid and the hole will not magically dig itself either. Computers are not a replacement for educators. It has nothing to do with exposure to computers. It's what you do with that exposure that counts.
Computers are just a tool. They are inert, the value of the raw materials is probably less than $10.00. They are not a panacea to make up for 30 years of bad educational policy in the US, nor are they a speaker phone to Satan.
It's simply a tool. Use it well and it makes life easier and more rewarding. Use it poorly and your wasting time and money.
Red Sox IT rocks too
Storage Area Network...check
Laptops to all the scouts.....check
VoIP, with softphones on the scout's laptops....check
WiFi in the press box...check
On demand video archives for in game scouting...check
Player salaries aren't the only place the Boston Red Sox are spending money.
Permalink | Comments (1)December 04, 2004
Women prefer sex to housework or commuting
Well, I'm glad we cleared that up. Did we really need a study to know this?
Permalink | Comments (1)December 02, 2004
Nov traffic Roundup
169,445 page views from 50,510 visitors. Wow.
Wow again, and thank you, whoever you are.
Just think - for only $10, all those people could have seen your ad!
Interestingly, the Ken Jennings posts continue to generate a lot of traffic. Funny how those Internets work. Also interesting, the Robert Scoble post got 761 page views, no comments, and only 9 of those page views came via a click on Robert's link to the post.
I would have expected him to generate more traffic than that. So who was reading that post? Odd...very odd.
I use a freeware offline log analyzer. I download the log file each month (40 MB this month!) and run the app locally. Kind of hard to screw that up - so I don't think I have a software issue.
I also had some significant referrer log spam this month. First time I've ever noticed that. Side benefit of the jump in traffic I guess.
Permalink | Comments (6)Recess down to 15 minutes per day
Recess for elementary school children is only 15 minutes per day, and in some cases it's at the end of the day. 6 year olds are essentially chained to their desks for six hours a day.
I thought public school was full of diverse learning activities and stimulating opportunities for "socialization." How much socialization can happen in 15 minutes?
I'm fairly certain I had an hour in elementary school. Maybe it was 30 minutes for lunch and then 30 minutes of play. Of course, we also had a huge blacktop full of unpadded, unsafe playground equipment, complete with a silver metal slide that doubled as a cook top in the summertime.
My kids get about 3 to 4 hours of recess each day, I think. It is sort of hard to tell where the learning stops and the playtime starts though. Funny how that works in a homeschooling home...
Permalink | Comments (4)December 01, 2004
Robodump
Just click it, because poop is always funny, no matter how old we get.
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via The Daily Ping
We should all Ping daily - it's good for your, err, health. Yeah, that's it.
Permalink | Comments (1)It sucks to be rich
[Ken] Jennings will probably owe about $1.04 million in federal and Utah taxes on the winnings, Byers said, citing preliminary calculations by H&R Block.Permalink | Comments (3)