Out of the mouths of “babes”

Ed sends me stuff from his online newspaper reading all the time.  A lot of times, I could take it or leave it.
This time, it made me cry.  I’ve pasted the original below (it’s relatively short) as well as a link.
http://www.365gay.com/blog/111309-arkanas-lad-makes-a-stand-for-gay-rights/
Withers: Arkansas lad makes a stand for gay rights
By James Withers, contributing editor, 365Gay Blog 11.13.2009 [...]

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How we learn – Designer’s viewpoint

Interesting view on how/why children learn and where talents come from:
Why Stevie Wonder doesn’t learn by reading
I have heard it said “All children say they can draw when they begin formal schooling, but by about 4th grade, most of them will tell you they can’t draw.”
And I’ve heard adults say “I can’t sing.” – and yet every [...]

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Soapbox: Technology and writing – a modern era

Those of us who write, or have taught writing, know that the most critical step to better writing is, well, to WRITE.  If you don’t write, you can’t improve.  (Same goes for reading as well – and the two are interrelated, but that’s another soapbox for a later post.)
I, like everyone else, have heard LOTS about [...]

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Save…Please?

From over on Robert Peters web site – my favorite of a collection of advertisements to save the planet (by guardian.co.uk – here):

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Doing my part for the economy

UT economists released a study today on the economic impact of the University-Knoxville on the TN state economy.
According to this study, because I am employed at UT, 1.8 other persons have a job, and $140,000 of income has been generated for others in the state.
And that doesn’t count the long-term impact of what I DO (support [...]

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New Link – Robert L. Peters

Ok yesterday’s sudden post was actually found on someone else’s blog.
Robert L Peters is a designer whose blog follows his whims and thoughts.  Most of what he posts to his blog is cool stuff that he has found elsewhere.  WAY cool stuff.  He seems to have a good sense of humor, international contacts, and a [...]

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Old Words in Trouble – Can you spare some time?

I am totally overwhelmed at work.  No time for ANYthing.
So what does it take to get me to write a blog post?
This: Save the Words (by Oxford – the dictionary folks)
Oh man.  Oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man.
I had to tear myself away.  “Pick me” indeed.

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I re-read…do you?

I am a voracious reader.  I read to relax, to escape, to be entertained, to consider new ideas, and, occasionally, to learn.  Even with an under-2 year old child, I still read at least 3-4 books per week.  They put me to sleep at night, relax me when I am too wound to rest, and [...]

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Laws of collective organization (math geek stuff)

I have recently been made aware that my “math geek” side has been understimulated. I ‘get’ many math jokes, and am really enjoying the math online course development work I am currently doing.
So this NYT article sent by Ed was fascinating to me:  Math and the City
In particular, I am fascinated by these 2 concepts:
1) That [...]

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Reading aloud vs “listening” to books

Ed snet me this NYT article on “The lost art of reading.”  It’s short – take a moment and read (aloud is optional).
I had 3 thoughts upon reading it:
1) I just can’t seem to get into audio books. I tried in the last 5 years, but I alwasy seem to get annoyed by how long [...]

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