quotes

It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities ~ J. K. Rowling


Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage ~ Lao Tzu

State of the Union

Just reading the State of the Union speech on my snow day and it's quite inspiring.   Some thoughts:

• I agree that we need to focus on clean energy and support research in that area because that will create jobs, reduce the amount of CO2 in the air and help us reduce pollution (and make people healthier).  
• I agree that we need to support education more, and I liked that parental support was mentioned, but what about early child care to help students before they get to 1st grade?  
• I agree that we need to rebuild our infrastructure and I would love to see trains running across America more so than they are now, not only for industry (goods moving more than 100 miles should be on trains, not trucks) but for passengers.  I wish I could take a train from Harrisonburg to DC.  How about putting rail lines in the I-81 median?
• I agree that we need to work on decreasing the deficit and I hope that they are able to simplify the tax code and tax our wealthiest 2%. "It's not about their success, it's about America's success." [paraphrased] which makes me think of JFK's speech: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I'll be hanging that in my classroom tomorrow.
• I agree that we need to restructure the government, and found it quite amusing that salmon are regulated by three different departments.
• Nice call out on the Afghan government to do a better job.

Overall good speech. Time to see if people will actually get stuff done.

quote of the day

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” -a.h.

MLK 50+ years later

We were all involved in the death of John Kennedy.  We tolerated hate; we tolerated the sick stimulation of violence in all walks of life; and we tolerated the differential application of law, which said that a man's life was sacred only if we agreed with his views.  ~Martin Luther King, Jr., Why We Can't Wait, 1963


Change "death" to "shooting" and "John Kennedy" to Congresswoman Giffords, and MLK Jr is still applicable today, 50 years later.

Sudan

This is so beautiful: "For freedom," she said. "I am very happy to vote, it's my first time, I am old and I can't see much, but I voted for my children." (CNN, Southern Sudan Referendum, thanks Lindsay)

Oh Middle School

Just a quick thought before I head out to school, and yes it is 6:15am.  Ugggg.  I learned yesterday that middle schoolers will give you attitude when they get mad at themselves for doing something stupid.  For example, students were given 15 minutes yesterday to correct mistakes on their exams.  Most used the time wisely, listened to the directions and gained a lot of points back.  One girl in the last class had chosen not to listen to the directions (just write the number and the answer, not the entire question) and had been writing the entire question out.  When I came around to collect the tests and the corrections, she tried to keep writing long after everyone else had turned theirs in.  Being the student teacher in her 3rd day, I wasn't going to grab the paper from her because I expected a backlash from that.  Finally, midway through the next activity my cooperating teacher (CT) came over and took the paper from her.  The girl slumped in her seat, crumpled papers and had a bad attitude the rest of the class.  Lovely.  I love 8th grade.

Happy Belated Holidays

The highlights from the 2010 holiday season:
-Seeing my friend Sean who is posted in Ukraine with the Peace Corps
-Seeing my friend McKenzie and getting to catch up
-Being woken up at 7:30am by my cousin's kids Patrick (4 yrs) and Logan (8 mo) as they climb into bed to watch cartoons
-Snow on Christmas morning
-Sledding every day after Christmas while we were stuck on top of the mountain
-Hot tub in 15º weather
-Finishing a couple books
-Outlet shopping
-Seeing friends in DC for New Years plus making new friends ;o)
-Having the best New Years I could have asked for!
-Deep tissue massages that actually get the knots out

How was your Holiday Season?