Thought Provoking Article: Please Don't Help My Kids

An article that was an interesting read as I approach parenthood. Check out the article "Please Don't Help My Kids."

Quotes: Dr Seuss Words of Wisdom

Sometimes we need a little Dr. Seuss in our lives

Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

Article: Following ‘Game of Thrones’ to Belfast and Beyond

My favorite TV show is Game of Thrones. This article examines the places the amazing show is filmed. Check out the article "Following ‘Game of Thrones’ to Belfast and Beyond"

Thought Provoking Article: Back to the future: What if the ‘mass media’ era was just an accident of history?

This Thought Provoking Article: "Back to the future: What if the ‘mass media’ era was just an accident of history?" is a fun read. The author asks questions that make you wonder what if ... I recommend checking out the article here.

Interesting Article: In France, A Renewed Push To Return Art Looted By Nazis

I recommend checking ou this Interesting Article: In France, A Renewed Push To Return Art Looted By Nazis.

My class investigates the Holocaust and this article illustrates how the event continues to impact our society today.

Article: Book News: 'Winnie-The-Pooh' Author Wrote WWI Propaganda

Check out this quick blurb from the Article: Book News: 'Winnie-The-Pooh' Author Wrote WWI Propaganda - it is interesting to see the influence of propaganda a common concept discussed in my class.

Article: Smart Pirates addressed in "Burning Question - Does reading in dim light hurt your eyes?"

Within the article: Smart Pirates addressed in "Burning Question - Does reading in dim light hurt your eyes?"

The excerpt from the article:
"Ever wonder why a pirate wears patches? It's not because he was wounded in a sword fight," says Dr. Sheedy. Seamen must constantly move between the pitch black of below decks and the bright sunshine above. Smart pirates "wore a patch over one eye to keep it dark-adapted outside."

Should a battle break out and the pirate had to shimmy below, he would simply switch the patch to the outdoor eye and he could see in the dark right away—saving him 25 minutes of flailing his cutlass about in near blindness."

Thought Provoking Article: Teaching About Thinking; Thinking About Teaching: Why Teaching "Facts" Is Not Enough

Too often I reflect - trying to understand my teaching and life philosophy. I am asked why I write this blog - I realize and understand very few actually read the posts. Many of these posts range from completely silly, to student nominated videos that make you ask really why did I waste my click, to occasionally self indulgent rants - but these posts help organize my thoughts and make me a better thinker, educator, and person.

This Thought Provoking Article: "Teaching About Thinking; Thinking About Teaching:  Why Teaching "Facts" Is Not Enough" - examines the key concept I harp on continuously in education - the need to help students read, write, and think critically and independently.

As the article states in an excerpt:
"It is also important to recognize that fostering understanding is not something to be done only for high school students, only for affluent suburban school students, or only for students who have already learned all their facts or who have received good grades in fact-memorizing courses. Fostering understanding can be done, and needs to be done, from the earliest possible ages, with students from almost any background. Teaching for understanding works with young children as well as older children, for students with poor grades as well as students with good grades, for inner city or rural students as well as those in the suburbs. Kindergarten students can figure out all kinds of interesting things for themselves if they are asked the right questions. I have taught philosophy courses to students at the University of Michigan, which is an academically highly selective school, and I have taught it at a rural community college in Alabama and an inner city community college in Alabama. The students in both community schools were every bit as good as the students in the Michigan courses; the inner city black students were superior, in doing introductory philosophy, to the Michigan students. The ability to think and reason well is not relegated to just students who can get good grades in typical school courses or who can memorize material. One of my inner city students had terrible grades in his career up to that point but was, I thought, extremely perceptive, intelligent, reasonable, and knowledgeable. I sent him over to interview with professors from a regionally prestigious and selective university and asked them to ignore his transcripts and just talk with him to see whether they would let him attend. They called back and said he was the most impressive student they had ever met. They accepted him."

Thought Provoking Article: Electoral College Reform

During the election unit this year many of my students did not understand the Electoral College - they could define the process and articulate how the concept worked but struggled to understand why something that appeared to be out of date was continually used in what they believed was the most important election of their lives - (to date - this is the only election they were truly understanding thus far).

Courtesy of Fake is the New Real

The Thought Provoking Article: "Electoral College Reform (fifty states with equal population)" provides a great examination to the question of how we can fix the Electoral College - while the solution is crazy and radically different than the status quo - it is logical from a specific point of view.

As Neil Freeman explains on his blog The Fake is the New Real "The largest state is 66 times as populous as the smallest and has 18 times as many electoral votes. This allows for Electoral College results that don't match the popular vote."

Freeman continues to highlight the advantages, disadvantages, and methodology used. I highly recommend reading this article.

Thought Provoking Article: Why Disney might want to 'Escape From Tomorrow'

I highly recommend checking out this Thought Provoking Article: "Why Disney might want to 'Escape From Tomorrow'"

As the article explains "In "Escape From Tomorrow," the most buzzed-about movie out of this year's Sundance Film Festival, director Randall Moore presents Disney World as a dystopian hellscape and uses it as the backdrop for a descent into madness. Jim White (Roy Abramsohn) is on holiday with his wife and two children when he learns he's been fired from his job. As he reels from that news, his mental state progressively worsens as he and his family navigate the park. Shot in black and white, Disney's "attractions" become nightmarish specters as perceived by White's unstable mind. Now The Walt Disney Co. is weighing whether to quash the film or to let it slide..."

What do you think Disney should do?

Thought Provoking Article: Why IBM's Watson supercomputer can't speak slang

I found this article thought provoking and fascinating: "Why IBM's Watson supercomputer can't speak slang." The article investigates why "A supposedly sophisticated computer failed to correctly use the risque terms in Urban Dictionary. So is slang the last frontier for artificial intelligence?"

Thought Provoking Article: Political Language "Gun safety" versus "gun control"

I often try to teach my students the importance of word choice. Words carry meanings and power. Every word can slightly sway the overall message of a paper or argument. This article does an amazing job of provoking that debate - how when changing the concept from gun safety to control we completely alter the conversation.

I recommend checking out the Thought Provoking Article: "Political Language "Gun safety" versus "gun control""

Thought Provoking Video: Motivating Speech

One of the components that is most difficult about teaching is motivating. And as a basketball coach and as a teacher it is impossible to impart the drive and motivation students needs day in and day out - students must discover this within themselves; players must crave this in themselves. This video overlays an interesting and motivating speech.

Commitment and drive can be power tools that require sacrifice. What do you think of this speech?

I have told those who listen to me - that to be the best at something is not a balanced pursuit. To truly be the best golfer, basketball player, scientist, requires dedication and sacrifice that does not allow a balanced life. Listening to Kobe Bryant's preparation for this NBA season can provide a glimmer into that world - working out in the weight room, in the gym, hiring a personal chef, paying attention to sleep patterns, and nap patterns; dedicating every moment to improving his game and enabling him to be the best he can be - results in a tunnel visioned approach to life. Finding the balance between laziness and this type of commitment.

Article: 'V for Vendetta' author pens essay on the socio-political role of comics

My favorite movie is "V for Vendetta." I wish I could have my students analyze the many amazing concepts highlighted in the movie.

The article: "'V for Vendetta' author pens essay on the socio-political role of comics" in my opinion is a must read - the actual article "Alan Moore’s Essay for the Activist Occupy Comics Anthology" is here.

Fun Article: Essex VT Taxi Driver Lets Passengers Pick Their Own Prices

This Fun Article: Essex VT "Taxi Driver Lets Passengers Pick Their Own Prices" - in this story "a Vermont man struck upon a bright idea by offering a "pay what you want" taxi service. Since launching the service, he's always been rewarded with a good fare."

I travel to Vermont every year - and it is a different place than Chicago. I found the article a fun read into the efforts of one man. Check out This Fun Article: Essex VT "Taxi Driver Lets Passengers Pick Their Own Prices"

Thought Provoking Article: What if?

The blog dives into what if's and the latest question they investigate is: "Every now and then we have to insert a leap second because the Earth’s rotation is slowing down. Could we speed up Earth’s rotation, so that we do not need Leap Seconds?"Every now and then we have to insert a leap second because the Earth’s rotation is slowing down. Could we speed up Earth’s rotation, so that we do not need Leap Seconds?"

It is a fun hypothetical read for those interested in going down the rabbit hole.

Thought Provoking Article: Marijuana Legalization and States Rights

Nate Silver's latest article examines "Marijuana Legalization and States Rights" - I found this article well written and researched. The concept of the role of states rights is an interesting concept that needs to be further discussed.

As the article quotes "The CBS News survey pinpointed the same conflict. According to the poll, 59 percent of adults said the question of legalization should be left to the states, rather than the federal government, including 49 percent of respondents who oppose legalization."

Thought Provoking: Three Lessons From The Nate Silver Controversy

Nate Silver's final projections

As I stated in an earlier post "My favorite element of this years federal election was the rise of numerical data analysis thanks in large part to Nate Silver. As a political science major numbers were always connected with history - but Nate Silver was able to take baseball saber-metrics to the political world and create analysis that was accurate and number informed."

The article "Three Lessons From The Nate Silver Controversy" looks at the impact and implications of Nate Silver on the past and future election. The articles three take aways: "1. The modelers are here to stay. 2. Elections are less surprising than most of us think. 3. Political expertise must – and will – be redefined." To read expanding points and reasoning I recommend checking out the article here.

Thought Provoking Article: Obama's Not-So-Secret Weapon: Will He Use It to Help Power His New Mandate?

Forbes' article explaining "Organizing for America" power during the election and its potential to impact legislation during Obama's presidency.

As the Forbes' article states: "I also came away thinking about the network that the Obama campaign has now successfully assembled twice – a network built through digital technology and sophisticated database management … and a network that has only ever been asked to accomplish one thing: get people to vote for Barack Obama. And amidst the usual day-after blather about gridlock in Washington, systemic partisanship, and our “broken government” I started thinking about how that network (and its supporting technology) could be used to break that logjam in ways both authentic and effective."

Thought Provoking Article: Lessons from the 2012 election

I found this a great article to read - as the article opens "Wisdom can be found in many places. Whenever I encounter some momentous event with winners and losers, I try to discern broader lessons to apply elsewhere. The 2012 presidential election was no different, with lessons that can be applied to investing and business."

I highly recommend this article for both sides of the political aisle.