tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71201162011-12-29T08:50:18.680-07:00...shall be bright at last. The road goes on, ever toward that place. Walk a bit with me.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.comBlogger8721100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-26576178971192579042011-12-10T07:09:00.001-07:002011-12-10T07:10:27.771-07:00

I’m not a big fan of the BCS and never have been, but this year’s so-called championship game--a rematch of one of the more lackluster regular-season games of the year featuring one team that didn’t even win its division, never mind its conference--is too much. If we’re going to have a ‘championship game’ in the top level of NCAA football, let’s do what every other sport in the entire world (

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-60455066115837589142011-07-27T10:57:00.000-06:002011-07-27T10:58:01.253-06:00

"The tax which will be paid for the purpose of education is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests, and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance." -Thomas Jefferson

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-76408058118678847452011-07-01T06:20:00.001-06:002011-07-01T06:23:16.412-06:00

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for tenants to separate themselves from their landlord or landlady and assume other living arrangements for the benefit of their family, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.We hold these truths to be self-evident: that tenants and landlords are created

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-64460140106302887432011-06-28T16:47:00.002-06:002011-06-28T16:55:24.063-06:00

Recent events have reminded me of these three pieces of wisdom:"Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." -attributed to Mark Twain"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig, you get dirty; and besides, the pig likes it." -George Bernard Shaw"I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to." -Wendy DonnahooSo, I'll try to be the adult and let it go.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-80827974950883171502011-06-16T18:41:00.005-06:002011-06-16T18:52:06.219-06:00

I just tried to update Hero Designer v3 (a program used to create Champions characters). Alas, HDv3 uses Fifth Edition rules. Hero Games has now moved on to a Sixth Edition, so Fifth Edition is no longer supported. So when I tried to update, I was taken to an error message on the company web site. This is the error message it spelled out, letter by letter and line by line, over the course of 2-3

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-81677916647405326432011-06-09T08:05:00.000-06:002011-06-09T08:06:33.050-06:00

School has been out for less than a week, and already the e-mails have started to appear. The verbiage is different in each case, but the message is pretty much the same:Dear Mr. M,I was just checking my final grades and I saw that I got an A- in your class. I am only x% away from an A. I worked really hard in your class/I know that other teachers will round up if the grade is this close/I feel

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-6294695919136856152011-05-19T18:41:00.001-06:002011-05-19T18:44:06.028-06:00

I realized over the weekend that my driver's license was going to expire on Tuesday. I was planning to go over and get my new license Monday after school, when I discovered that I wouldn't be able to. I had forgotten about a law the state legislature passed a couple of years ago, designed to pander to the right-wing nutjobs who sometimes run things in this state protect us all from the scourge of

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-39549258124768076772011-01-30T07:29:00.001-07:002011-01-30T07:31:08.270-07:00

Last night, I dreamed that we were at the airport waiting in line for our security check. Nancy had gone to the restroom, so I was holding Sophia. I noticed that J. Michael Straczynski was standing in line next to us. He introduced himself, and we chatted for a few minutes. Like most strangers we seem to meet, he commented on how cute Sophia was, and I thanked him. Then he asked permission to

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-91064692321883334852010-10-31T21:08:00.000-06:002010-10-31T21:09:07.398-06:00

This past Tuesday morning, I picked up my glasses and prepared to clean the lenses before leaving for school. I noticed that the left lens, which has displayed a propensity for falling out of late, was missing. I looked around for a few moments to see if I could find it, without luck. Having no more time for the search if I were to arrive at school on time, I went to school without my glasses.(

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-82867827824962160702010-10-15T17:17:00.002-06:002010-10-15T17:21:40.966-06:00

I heard this Wednesday in my AP Chemistry class.Q: How many mathematicians does it take to change a light bulb?A: -eπiHey, I told you it was nerdy.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-60047779990064296362010-10-05T18:30:00.002-06:002010-10-05T18:39:47.034-06:00

Last year, Frito-Lay announced that it would be selling SunChips in environmentally-friendly packaging. The new bags, they said, were biodegradable and could be composted rather than just thrown away. Personally, I found the idea pretty cool.It was announced today, however, that the company is discontinuing the innovative packaging:Frito-Lay sends noisy, 'green' SunChips bag to the dumpThe

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-35458534496959936642010-10-03T08:40:00.001-06:002010-10-03T08:40:56.551-06:00

Q: Why are Latter-day Saints encouraged to attend General Conference every six months?A: Because we forget.Last night reminded me of something I'd not thought about for a long time. The choir performing at last night's Priesthood session was composed of new missionaries from the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo. As I watched the closing hymn, I began thinking about my days in the MTC,

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-74591573267868147852010-08-16T10:27:00.001-06:002010-08-16T10:29:00.218-06:00

"An extraterrestrial being, newly arrived on Earth - scrutinizing what we mainly present to our children in television, radio, movies, newspapers, magazines, the comics, and many books - might easily conclude that we are intent on teaching them murder, rape, cruelty, superstition, credulity, and consumerism. "We keep at it, and through constant repetition many of them finally get it. "What kind

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-25820629410647021142010-08-16T10:22:00.003-06:002010-08-16T10:25:35.593-06:00

Of necessity we share these waters.My frequent companion -ShimmeringGracefulBeautifulSerene in motion,Undisturbed by turbulent currents.I look on your diaphanous formAnd I see strengthTranquilityPotential.All of it an illusion.Threatened,You puff yourself upTo become threatening.Touched,You lash outAnd sting.Jagged menaceBeneath the smooth and placid surface.Harsh realityHas rendered you harsh as

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-87322827783403341292010-06-15T07:21:00.002-06:002010-06-15T07:25:08.209-06:00

Written for the Science Teaching Methods course, USOE, summer 2010.--What is science? Science is not simply a subject in school; it is a way for us to understand the universe around us. We human beings are both observant and inquisitive. We will often see something happening and ask ourselves, "How does that work? Why does it happen that way?" Science gives us a process for answering such

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-70762230471294425982010-05-29T06:53:00.001-06:002010-05-29T06:55:12.132-06:00

From one of my classes this past week (the last full week of classes in my district):Student: Hey, is this the last test we have in here?Me: Yes. That's why it's called a Final.It's bad enough that the student in question is in one of my Honors classes, but it's even worse that one of his classmates asked me the exact same question not 30 seconds later.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-21835463306791563762010-04-17T06:48:00.002-06:002010-04-17T06:49:40.138-06:00

One of my students drew this the other day:It's a Van Diagram! :)

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-15925013098927517252010-04-09T05:47:00.002-06:002010-04-09T05:53:42.955-06:00

It's Student Body Officer elections season at my high school. Outside my classroom the other day, I found a poster for one of the candidates. It showed him dressed as a Jedi and carried the caption, "He's one with the Force!" Just for laughs, I put a sticky note with the following message at the bottom of the poster:'Force' is a concept of Physics, which is taught across the hall in room 202. We

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-45733867533689072992010-04-06T19:42:00.001-06:002010-04-06T19:44:04.321-06:00

Last night, mid-major Butler was one shot away from beating Duke and winning the NCAA men’s basketball championship.Last January, mid-majors TCU and Boise State had no shot at all of winning the NCAA football championship.The Butler-Duke game was one of the best basketball games I’ve ever seen. Everyone was talking about it this morning. The media are calling it an instant classic.Meanwhile,

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-27586836672432203592010-03-31T07:21:00.003-06:002010-03-31T07:24:29.559-06:00

It's now been two months without a post. That's got to be a record. Being a first-year teacher and a new dad keeps one busy!Anyway, today is the last day of the third academic quarter at my school. There are no students in school today; it's just a day for teachers to wrap things up. I had this brilliant plan about how I was going to get a lot of grading done in advance so that I wouldn't have

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-34978348363281642862010-01-31T09:49:00.002-07:002010-01-31T09:51:42.135-07:00

From this morning's episode of Music and the Spoken Word:"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."-Theodore Roosevelt

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-68547201102044048422010-01-22T18:10:00.000-07:002010-01-22T18:11:30.351-07:00

I stopped at the local Red Box on the way to the hospital the other night to return a movie that Nancy had rented. When I arrived, there was a guy at the Box with his son picking out a movie. As I got out of the car, this SUV flew off the street into the parking lot and came to a sudden stop across rather than in the nearest available parking spot. The driver leapt from his seat, leaving the car

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-14678402833347318762010-01-17T12:52:00.000-07:002010-01-17T12:53:13.522-07:00

Last night I was in the bathroom at the hospital when I heard someone come in and use the stall next to mine. I didn't hear him flush--or wash his hands. I sure hope he wasn't somebody who's taking care of our baby.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-6466204066248817152010-01-03T22:15:00.001-07:002010-01-04T05:37:30.380-07:00

Sophia is three weeks old today!Alas, she's still in the hospital—the third hospital, actually. She started having seizures about 12 hours after she was born. At first the doctors and nurses thought it was a reflux reaction, but overnight observation after her second day led them to transfer her to a bigger hospital for more thorough tests. They had her on antibiotics and phenobarbital (an

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-3962799513941078652009-12-31T23:26:00.002-07:002009-12-31T23:30:37.560-07:00

We had hoped to have Sophia home by now, but it looks like she'll be in the NICU until at least Monday, the day I go back to school. I'm working on a summary of our experiences so far in this regard; I hope to have it posted in the next day or two.Until then, let me wish you a Happy New Year, loyal reader(s). I hope that 2009 treated you well, and I hope that 2010 will be even better!

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-22315237475063749252009-12-29T10:32:00.002-07:002009-12-29T10:33:57.358-07:00

For this year's Christmas season, I offered my students an opportunity to earn a little extra credit. The assignment was Chemistry Carols—in other words, some chemistry-related lyrics set to a recognizable holiday tune. Oh, and to get full credit, they had to perform it in front of the class. I got a lot of interesting submissions, but this one, from one of my AP students, was the best.The Twelve

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-40815605591034607002009-12-27T20:48:00.002-07:002009-12-27T20:51:31.792-07:00

This was a meme quiz that Lord Mhoram did on Facebook. So I decided to do it too...and then I decided to re-post it here.If You Could, Would You:Throw a chair at Barack Obama?No. And anyone who answered "Yes" should have a chair thrown at them. Even if you don't like him, have a little respect for the office...and for a fellow human being.Cancel NASA?No. I'd actually increase their budget. I

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-60178985939313475602009-12-18T06:13:00.002-07:002009-12-18T06:18:00.372-07:00

Here are some pictures of the new arrival, Sophia Rose. These are cell phone pics, so they're not the greatest quality, but you get the idea.First, little Sophia with her daddy:Another pic of father and daughter:Crouching tiger, hidden baby:Isn't she cute?These are all three days old or so, which means she doesn't really look very much like this anymore. More updated pics will follow as time

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-23784322730083838172009-12-13T20:37:00.000-07:002009-12-13T20:38:55.351-07:00

IT'S A GIRL!Sophia Rose arrived tonight at 7:41 p.m. MST. She weighed 6 pounds 5 ounces and measured 19 inches in length. She's gorgeous.Pictures to follow!

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-1795210103901345752009-12-13T06:26:00.000-07:002009-12-13T06:27:07.159-07:00

Nancy woke me up at 5:00 this morning with the words, "I'm pretty sure my water just broke." More details as they become available....

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-14296373350869661422009-11-21T22:27:00.001-07:002009-11-21T22:27:48.594-07:00

On the Seventh Day of Thanksgiving:I am thankful for good music. My musical tastes are both broad and eclectic, reflecting the many influences to which I've been exposed. Whether it was my parents (ABBA, John Denver, Dr. Hook, Beethoven), my friends (Rush, Yes, No Doubt, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers), my teachers (Holst & Vaughan Williams, Glenn Miller), my brother (Cross Canadian Ragweed,

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-1988208486476918292009-11-20T22:15:00.001-07:002009-11-20T22:15:24.435-07:00

On the Sixth Day of Thanksgiving:I am grateful for laughter. I had an interesting day today. During the day, I went with a bunch of fellow teachers (and a few administrators) to tour two recently-built schools to get ideas for our upcoming rebuild. We took a school bus on the trip, which gave the lot of us some quality time to share experiences, jokes, and funny stories. After that was over, my

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-81756229708082006302009-11-19T21:54:00.001-07:002009-11-19T21:54:30.530-07:00

On the Fifth Day of Thanksgiving:I am thankful for the beauty of nature. Rugged mountains and rushing rivers, blue skies and glittering stars, and the deep red-orange sunsets over the Great Salt Lake and the Oquirrh Mountains . . . I live in a beautiful place. We all do. The universe is truly amazing. I sometimes forget to look around and be amazed.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-82235361512349727722009-11-18T21:01:00.000-07:002009-11-18T21:02:44.685-07:00

On the Fourth Day of Thanksgiving:I am thankful for my education. I went to a small high school—so small that we didn't have AP classes, in fact—but I had some really great teachers. My parents always placed a big emphasis on education and on doing well in school. I've always had a lot of encouragement to learn all that I could. I'm glad to live in a country and in a culture that places such

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-24349723012904082772009-11-17T19:57:00.001-07:002009-11-17T19:57:44.657-07:00

On the Third Day of Thanksgiving:I am thankful for our little apartment. We live in a great neighborhood. We love our neighbors, and we're close to so many neat things. There will come a time when we buy a house, and I don't think there's much chance we'll be able to afford to buy one here. But until then, I love where we live.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-74195070246468910522009-11-16T22:09:00.001-07:002009-11-16T22:09:47.614-07:00

On the Second Day of Thanksgiving:I am thankful for modern medicine. We are expecting our first child in just over a month, and the medical care my wife and the offspring have received is amazing. Ultrasound technology, blood tests to screen for possible diseases (especially important since my wife's oldest sister had Down Syndrome), intravenous fluids to fight dehydration, anti-nausea medication

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-75269866935223907752009-11-15T21:44:00.001-07:002009-11-15T21:46:07.474-07:00

One of my personal pet peeves is how little attention Thanksgiving gets compared to Christmas (or other December holiday of your choice). With all the attention given to Halloween and then to the holiday gift season, it seems like Thanksgiving gets passed over.So this year I wanted to start a new personal celebration: The Twelve Days of Thanksgiving.Each day between now and November 26th, which

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-8302955126462727972009-11-12T22:22:00.000-07:002009-11-12T22:23:34.432-07:00

During one of my classes today, one of my back-row students came up to me with his report card and said, "Mr. M, I think there's been a mistake." Knowing what was coming, I asked him what the problem was. He showed me his report card, on which he had a grade of A- (92.68%) for my Honors Chemistry class. He was, of course, wondering why he hadn't got an A, and asked if I'd be willing round up and

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-42514719569286907632009-11-12T19:55:00.003-07:002009-11-13T21:23:12.708-07:00

Cartoon from Cowbirds in Love.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-21875131679331603002009-10-30T17:33:00.000-06:002009-10-30T17:34:06.515-06:00

Today was a non-student day at school. That's because the last day of the first quarter was yesterday, and today was a day for teachers to finalize grades and get everything entered into the system. I got to school around 8:00 this morning (I got to sleep in!) and by 4:15, I was done. All scores are entered, all final grades are tabulated, recorded, and saved to the school's I: drive.In other

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-78122785413881418402009-10-24T05:48:00.001-06:002009-10-24T05:50:58.695-06:00

I have two pics to share today, both taken by yours truly.This first one was on a sign in a Jamba Juice store earlier this summer. Given that we had found out only a couple of months earlier that we were expecting, it really made us laugh.I'm convinced to this day that this is the entire reason my Dad decided having kids would be a good thing.This second pic comes from my chemistry class this

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-37207510594123799752009-10-09T14:44:00.003-06:002009-10-09T14:47:14.140-06:00

Having closely followed the first four weeks of the young NFL season, I hereby nominate Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton for the NFL's Most Valuable Player award.The offseason for the Broncos was tumultuous, with a new head coach and the resulting soap opera that led to Pro Bowler Jay Cutler being traded to Chicago. In came Orton, along with expectations of a rebuilding year in the Mile High

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-29317160937304531592009-09-30T17:38:00.002-06:002009-09-30T17:42:23.145-06:00

Yesterday it was sunny and warm in Salt Lake City, with high temperatures around 85º F (29º C).Today the high temperature was around 55º F (13º C) and it rained all day. There's snow in the mountains, literally five miles from my house.It must be autumn in Utah.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-67041565335205054702009-09-23T05:41:00.002-06:002009-09-23T05:43:47.244-06:00

From my AP Chemistry class on Monday:Student: (in a false whine) Mr. M, why do we always have so much homework?Me: Because that which does not kill you will help you pass the AP Exam.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-76077281213926261242009-09-13T08:14:00.002-06:002009-09-13T08:15:16.393-06:00

As some of you may have noticed, I haven't posted here very often of late. There are two reasons for this.The first is my new job. I am the new AP Chemistry and Honors Chemistry teacher at a suburban high school here in Salt Lake City. Having grown up with a teacher (my Mom) in the house, I always knew that being a teacher was hard work. I had no idea how hard, though, until the past three

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-57121795053230446022009-09-01T21:12:00.003-06:002009-09-01T21:13:55.615-06:00

Sorry I haven't blogged lately. One of these days I'll have to tell you all the stories of my first week (or two) of teaching. When I get caught up, that is.Until then, here's a funny picture I found.I always knew that Firefox was the superior browser.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-32947991514823696822009-08-20T06:36:00.002-06:002009-08-20T06:39:24.911-06:00

I need to go down to the district media center today or tomorrow and see if I can get a large, poster quality print of this for my room:Sorry I haven't posted more recently. My first inservice (or 'professional development', or 'staff development') day was yesterday, and I have two more days to get my classroom in order and my lesson plans done.Busy busy busy!

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-60637789059696685032009-08-10T08:00:00.003-06:002009-08-10T08:03:21.700-06:00

"Even if you sing it in sweet, soothing tones, 'Enter Sandman' is not an appropriate lullaby for a newborn."I can't remember where I read this recently, but I will definitely keep it in mind.--(Oh dear, I've just admitted to having heard a Metallica song without buying the album first. I expect Lars and the boys will have their lawyers beating down my door soon.)

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-63892693847284896502009-08-06T22:24:00.001-06:002009-08-06T22:24:43.779-06:00

My Mom and Dad had three children. They were all boys.Of the three of us, A got married first. He and his wife had two girls before, by mutual agreement, he took himself out of the gene pool.S&K, who got married last June, are expecting. They're about two weeks ahead of us, in fact. They had their big ultrasound last week. They're having a girl.Nancy and I had our big ultrasound earlier today.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-16489818723150650342009-08-06T13:29:00.002-06:002009-08-06T13:32:55.059-06:00

I first read this a long time ago. I had no idea at the time just how true it was. -MJesus took his disciples up the mountain and, gathering them around him, He taught them saying:Blessed are the poor in spirit.Blessed are those who mourn.Blessed are the meek.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.Blessed are the merciful.Blessed are the pure in heart.Blessed are the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-84270100784244798122009-08-05T08:08:00.002-06:002009-08-05T15:47:39.027-06:00

As many of you may know, Nancy has been on IV Therapy for the last ten (not four†) weeks or so. She receives two liters of fluid each day via IV to combat dehydration and to get some glucose, electrolytes, and vitamins into her system. We have all the equipment to do the IV drips here at home, but she has to go into a clinic twice a week to have her shunt changed. I typically go with her, at

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-65811164243609900072009-07-29T08:24:00.004-06:002009-08-12T11:26:27.402-06:00

We stopped by the Fort Union location of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches for lunch the other day. Besides great sandwiches, the restaurant features fun signs on the walls. One of these had the following, which I am almost certainly going to post in my classroom next month.--* Food for Thought *Here's some awesome advice once offered to high school students by the founder of a ridiculously

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-62204505879169060282009-07-28T13:05:00.003-06:002009-07-28T13:12:46.891-06:00

In a recent Hero Games Discussion Boards thread about the Harry Potter books and movies, the conversation turned to Dolores Umbridge. The question was raised as to whether she was ever actually a Death Eater, or whether she just sympathized with their goals (and methods). A poster named garou made this comment:"I've always operated under the presumption that the Death Eaters thought about

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-19339241421538046212009-07-23T23:18:00.002-06:002009-07-23T23:20:17.013-06:00

That's right: I got the job!Details tomorrow.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-75588703379171145582009-07-22T11:17:00.001-06:002009-07-22T11:18:19.207-06:00

If you receive an e-mail from the Department of Health telling you not to eat canned pork because of swine flu............Ignore it.It's just Spam.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-50868543471069970622009-07-21T05:16:00.000-06:002009-07-21T05:17:50.858-06:00

Brought to you, as always, by The Music Memoirs.It's time for another word association episode of Tuesday Tunes!Remember, tell us the first song/band/artist/album that comes to mind when you see these words:School: "School Boy Heart" by Jimmy BuffettI got a school boy heart, a novelist eyeStout sailor's legs and a license to flyEnd: "At the End of the Day" by Spock's BeardAt the end of the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-11304955886059062612009-07-19T21:28:00.001-06:002009-07-21T05:20:38.099-06:00

Note: If you haven't read Part I of the story, you'll obviously want to do that first. -M--So now I had a mission: To submit the paperwork for the Alternative Route to Licensure (ARL) and begin seeking a job in education in earnest. It took a couple of weeks to get everything together. It wasn't a difficult process, but the expense was nontrivial, considering I'm effectively unemployed. I had to

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-30774169460474821302009-07-18T08:05:00.001-06:002009-07-18T08:06:46.325-06:00

As I mentioned in January, our Ward met in three different chapels in 2008. The first of these, the venerable Texas Street chapel, has long since been demolished. The second of the three, affectionately known as the Dilworth chapel (named for the school across the street from it, Dilworth Elementary) was demolished within the last month. Unlike the Texas Street building, we managed to get some

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-35318386171357339152009-07-17T23:10:00.003-06:002009-07-19T21:31:06.500-06:00

Most readers will probably remember when I got a job teaching math at a local tutoring service a few months ago. Most of you won't know what has happened since then, though. That's what today's post is all about.The tutoring job I started in April went really well for about five weeks. At the end of May, beginning of June, some of my students started to discontinue their visits. This was not

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-25284134598729937702009-07-12T06:44:00.001-06:002009-07-12T06:47:04.353-06:00

Compliments of Lord Mhoram.Several university students in a Logic & Reasoning class are given the assignment to prove that all odd numbers are prime. Their responses are as follows:Mathematics major: 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, and the rest by induction.Physics major: 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, 9 is an experimental error, 11 is prime...Chemistry major: 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-81931889901842142432009-07-10T07:01:00.002-06:002009-07-10T07:02:27.204-06:00

Brought to you, as always, by The Music Memoirs.Top 5 Rock Couples (In this case where both parts of a couple are in the music industry)5. Paul & Linda McCartneyThere had to be a Beatles couple on my list, and it wasn't going to be John and Yoko.4. Amy Grant & Vince GillAmy and Vince worked together on a video in 1994. Amy divorced her husband in 1999 and married Vince the next year. The

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-44403332164131551842009-07-03T18:43:00.001-06:002009-07-03T18:47:09.393-06:00

From The Music Memoirs.There's been so many celebrity deaths lately which brings me to the top 5:Top 5 songs or albums from "The Dead Rockers Society" (that means albums or songs by dead people)As usual, I'm going to go with albums.5. Enjoy Every Sandwich: The Songs of Warren ZevonTo be honest, I didn't even know who Warren Zevon was until I stumbled across this album at the library. I was amazed

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-44163357571809240632009-06-30T21:09:00.001-06:002009-07-02T18:52:02.529-06:00

While we're on the subject, let me name something else I don't care about: Twitter. I confess, it's something of a conundrum.I don't care about Twitter because I don't know anything about it.I don't know anything about it because I've never actually used it.I've never used it because, as stated above, I don't care about it.It's a paradox of apathy on the order of the chicken and the egg. One

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-24007736974749770772009-06-28T08:23:00.003-06:002009-06-28T08:31:03.170-06:00

Yes, Michael Jackson is dead. I don't care.Though I've largely managed to avoid it myself, I've heard plenty about the frenzy surrounding his death. Mourners (the vast majority of whom never personally knew or even met the man) flooding Facebook and Twitter with their lamentations. Pop psychologists analyzing his life. Media outlets providing round-the-clock coverage of the unfolding details of

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-17552435382858279352009-06-21T06:55:00.002-06:002009-06-21T06:58:22.389-06:00

I was in the mood for homemade bread yesterday, and after a little internet searching, I found the following recipe (ultimately from All Recipes):Amish White BreadINGREDIENTS* 2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)* 2/3 cup white sugar* 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt* 1/4 cup vegetable oil* 6 cups bread flourDIRECTIONS1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-1465217859844378292009-06-20T22:14:00.001-06:002009-06-20T22:14:55.164-06:00

He who knows not that he knows not is a fool. Shun him.He who knows that he knows not is a child. Teach him.He who knows not that he knows is asleep. Wake him.He who knows that he knows is a wise man. Follow him.Attributed to Omar Khayam

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-67046437543556686202009-06-19T08:29:00.001-06:002009-06-19T08:31:45.198-06:00

These were not taken with my cell phone camera. Nancy had them taken yesterday.Very cool.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-25711421179041186262009-06-19T05:54:00.000-06:002009-06-19T05:56:05.626-06:00

From The Music MemoirsTop 5 songs you'd be happy to never hear again.5. "Give It Away" by The Red Hot Chili PeppersUninteresting and overplayed. The only redeeming quality of this song is that it made for a nice Weird Al cover ("Bedrock Anthem").4. "I Knew I Loved You" by Savage GardenThis one's on my list mostly by association. Hearing it reminds me of a certain individual, and of a part of my

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-9412485412375621412009-06-15T15:03:00.002-06:002009-06-15T15:10:20.272-06:00

Stupid Lakers.(At least the Red Wings lost. That's more important anyway.)

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-39242030900708935132009-06-13T17:52:00.002-06:002009-06-13T17:58:10.549-06:00

These two bits were shamelessly stolen from Laughing Out Loud and The Life of a Design Goddess, respectively.--The top ten indicators that the economy is bad:10. CEO's are now playing miniature golf.9. I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.8. I went to buy a toaster oven and they gave me a bank.7. Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are now trading higher than GM in the stock market.6.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-21324397174954193852009-06-13T07:06:00.001-06:002009-06-13T07:06:33.323-06:00

Quotes, as usual, from A.Word.A.Day."He who postpones the hour of living is like the rustic who waits for the river to run out before he crosses." -Horace, poet and satirist (65-8 B.C.)"Perfect valor is to behave, without witnesses, as one would act were all the world watching." -Francois, duc de La Rochefoucauld"He who sees a need and waits to be asked for help is as unkind as if he had refused

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-23245571831284622392009-06-09T07:25:00.002-06:002009-06-09T07:28:59.002-06:00

I picked up some bananas last week, some yellow ones to eat now (er, then) and some green ones to eat later. When I had put them all on the holder, for a moment I thought it looked like someone with really colorful dreadlocks. I don't know why I found that so amusing. But I did and I took a pic, and here it is.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-139548101874170622009-06-09T07:17:00.000-06:002009-06-09T07:18:02.369-06:00

Brought to you by The Music Memoirs.The weather's heating up so lets do a little "hot" related word association. Songs/Bands/Artists/Albums you think of when you see these words:Steamy: "You're The Boss" by Brian Setzer Orchestra with Gwen StefaniHeat: "Heat of the Moment" by AsiaHot: "Hell" by Squirrel Nut Zippers (from the album Hot)Summer: "Summertime Blues" by Eddie Cochran (among others)Dry:

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-82543712049802775812009-06-08T16:55:00.001-06:002009-06-08T16:56:26.318-06:00

I went to a career-building seminar this morning. One of the things that all participants did was to write a brief self-introductory statement and then present it before the group (which was around a hundred people). Here is my "Me in 30 seconds" statement:My name is Michael, and I am an educator. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, and I am pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching. I

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-89432870041222940612009-06-05T09:55:00.000-06:002009-06-05T09:56:54.729-06:00

Nancy and I got new cell phones a couple of weeks ago. My new phone is the first one I've ever had with a camera. I've often asked Nancy to take a picture of something as we were out and about on our daily adventures. Now I can do it myself.I thought one way that I could use my new toy tool was to record moments and images from my daily life. I share the first of them today.This is a picture of

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-32152845024599970742009-05-30T10:42:00.004-06:002009-05-30T10:46:12.874-06:00

I have an almost pathological fear of needles. I can't stand the sight of them, whether they're intended for me or for someone else. I don't know where or when I developed this phobia, but they make me cringe. Once, when I had surgery on my ankle back in 1998, the nurse put an IV in me...and left the needle uncovered! I had to ask her to put a bandage or something over it, because the sight of

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-49070364710186803112009-05-28T11:11:00.001-06:002009-05-28T11:13:04.645-06:00

Regular readers may remember that I had a Big Scary Test about a month ago. It was the Praxis II Chemistry Content Knowledge test. It's a standardized test designed to demonstrate to my school (and to any potential employers) that I actually know something about chemistry. At the time that I took it, I wrote the following:"Anyway, I took the Praxis II last Saturday. And I did well. I won’t know

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-41751213101192914252009-05-19T09:02:00.000-06:002009-05-19T09:04:14.384-06:00

Brought to you by The Music MemoirsIt's time for a fun little game of 5 and 10:Pick 10 of your favorite artists and list 5 songs they do that you like.Here are my five and ten:I. Asia1. Time Again2. Sole Survivor3. Who Will Stop the Rain4. Free5. Parallel Worlds / Vortex / DéyàII. Boston1. More Than a Feeling2. Foreplay / Long Time3. A Man I'll Never Be4. Amanda5. I Need Your LoveIII. Cross

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-197749596749115322009-05-17T13:05:00.005-06:002009-05-17T13:35:05.951-06:00

I came across this statement today as I was looking at the Sunday School lesson I'm teaching next week. This lesson is about the Plan of Salvation. This statement is taken from an address by President Boyd K. Packer called The Play and The Plan. It compares the progress of the soul through the premortal, mortal, and eternal worlds to a three-act play. I found this excerpt very thought-provoking:

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-76955917807965203122009-05-15T05:25:00.001-06:002009-05-15T05:26:44.524-06:00

From The Music MemoirsTop 5 "Unique" VoicesVideos are included for your listening/viewing pleasure.Geddy Lee of RushJon Anderson of YesMatthew Bellamy of MuseMark Knopfler of Dire StraitsGwen Stefani of No DoubtEmbedding disabled; Click here to see the video.--(I was also going to nominate Steve Perry of Journey, but have you heard Arnel Pineda? Uncanny, I thought.)

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-84467334889060791042009-05-13T12:14:00.000-06:002009-05-13T12:15:19.010-06:00

This is in regard to Question #32 in the previous post. -M--I am quite proficient in the use of chopsticks. While I initially learned to use them as a child (there was a Chinese restaurant in Greeley my family attended from time to time), I really became an expert on my mission. That's not all that unusual; lots of Latter-day Saints learn to use chopsticks on their missions. Only my mission

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-83731301890013250062009-05-05T15:30:00.000-06:002009-05-05T15:32:14.463-06:00

1. First thing you wash in the shower?My hair2. What color is your favorite hoodie?Blue, although calling it 'my' hoodie is a bit of a misnomer, since Nancy wears it as much as (or more than) I do.3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?Considering that's my wife, I'd better say yes!4. Do you plan outfits?Not really, although I often have a reason for wearing something specific. That's

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-33539047616584733182009-05-02T12:55:00.002-06:002009-05-02T13:12:22.536-06:00

Back in July 2002 I took a job as a telephone interviewer with a local market research company. It wasn’t a great job, admittedly, but it was a job, and I needed one at the time. I’d been working for the now-defunct Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Utah, and I’d gone back to school to finish up my degree at long, long last. At first, CCCS (not to be confused with CCCP) was pretty

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-46729123433139537002009-04-30T20:54:00.002-06:002009-04-30T20:55:55.592-06:00

For the past school three years, I’ve been working as a substitute teacher in the Granite and Salt Lake school districts. I’ve taught at no fewer than five high schools and six junior high schools. I’ve taught subjects as diverse as English, Utah History, Physics, Math (lots and lots of Math), Engineering, Shop, Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology, Dental Assisting, Food Service, and

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-92057181660151673802009-04-25T23:24:00.002-06:002009-04-25T23:29:42.721-06:00

I was in the grocery store this afternoon, and I came around a corner and found myself face to face with something unexpected. There was a woman standing there, dressed mostly in black. She was tallish and kind of thin. She had long, stringy white hair and way too much makeup, to the point that her skin looked white--not Caucasian, but actually white.And as I looked at her momentarily, the first

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-26603611949610807762009-04-18T08:49:00.003-06:002009-04-18T08:51:00.989-06:00

If any of you are fans of the old Muppet Show like I am, you'll probably like this.This is the funniest thing I've seen in a long, long time.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-18638750401608006722009-04-15T18:10:00.001-06:002009-04-15T18:10:30.657-06:00

I got rained on this morning on the way to school, and the rain turned to snow sometime during third period. I mention this only because it is tangentially related to the rest of the post. Or, as Bill Cosby once said, "I told you that story so I could tell you this one."After teaching today, I took my car in to get it inspected and registered. In Utah, we not only have the annual emissions test

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-68565224615633544002009-04-14T19:55:00.001-06:002009-04-14T19:55:46.787-06:00

A - Age: 40+B - Bed size: Queen C - Chore you hate: Cleaning the bathroom. Fortunately, Nancy and I have a deal where she cleans the bathroom and I do the dishes.D - Dog's name: Manfred. That's the name of the dog I had growing up.E - Essential start your day item: Water and a multivitamin.F - Favorite color: Forest greenG - Gold or Silver: White goldH - Height: 190 cmI - Instruments you play:

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-71851683217573255642009-04-12T23:33:00.001-06:002009-04-12T23:33:52.341-06:00

Brought to you, as always, by the folks at A.Word.A.Day."Pride, like laudanum and other poisonous medicines, is beneficial in small, though injurious in large, quantities. No man who is not pleased with himself, even in a personal sense, can please others." -Frederick Saunders, librarian and essayist (1807-1902)"They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations." -Francis Bacon"We have

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-11386788140390974462009-04-05T20:43:00.002-06:002009-04-05T20:48:37.538-06:00

Hello, loyal reader(s)! I just wanted to make a couple of quick announcements. First, Nancy's blog has gone public! If you haven't checked it out, or haven't visited recently, click on over and take a look. Don't miss Carl Palmer's awesome drum solo!Second, my nephew Justin now has a blog, too: Sports-O-Rama! His, however, is open by invitation only. (It's understandable; he's 12.) But if you

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-67809733095419456022009-04-04T16:00:00.003-06:002009-04-04T16:10:38.672-06:00

Elder Russell M. Nelson quoted President Joseph F. Smith's closing remarks from the October 1912 General Conference in his talk this afternoon. (The parts Elder Nelson quoted are italicized.)"[T]here is such a thing as overdoing. A man may fast and pray till he kills himself; and there isn't any necessity for it; nor wisdom in it. I say to my brethren, when they are fasting, and praying for the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-28262304825433218162009-03-31T16:52:00.001-06:002009-03-31T16:54:14.319-06:00

Brought to you by The Music MemoirsA little word association again:10 words, you give the song/artist/album etc that come to mind.Egg: "I Am the Walrus" by The Beatles"I am the eggman, they are the eggmen..."Spring: "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" by Tom Lehrer"I think the loveliest time of the year is the spring, I do. Don't you? Of course you do."Friday: "Friday the 13th" by Royal Crown

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-74984802352402635452009-03-30T17:00:00.001-06:002009-03-30T17:00:24.843-06:00

I have to admit that I was troubled when I saw this headline the other day:GM CEO Wagoner to step down at White House requestIn other words, the head of one of America's largest and oldest private corporations was effectively just fired by the Federal government.I don't like this. I don't like this a lot.Agreed, GM is in a lot of trouble, and granted, changes needed to be made. And yes, GM is

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-54329660418880825032009-03-26T19:39:00.001-06:002009-03-26T19:39:52.662-06:00

Flash cards to study for a content area exam: $2.Criminal background check for the State Office of Education: $69.Content are exam necessary for certification: $130.Walking down a high school hallway and hearing "I Love Lucy" coming from the Spanish classroom: Priceless.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-86883815217262877842009-03-26T07:37:00.001-06:002009-03-26T07:37:41.196-06:00

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because some day in life you will have been all of these." –George Washington Carver

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-32165295262923608822009-03-23T08:39:00.001-06:002009-03-23T08:39:55.855-06:00

So I was supposed to start a long-term substituting assignment this morning. A chemistry teacher at one of the nearby high schools was going on six weeks' maternity leave starting over the weekend, and I was going to cover her classes while she was out. Six weeks of guaranteed work, doing what I'm best qualified to do—I was excited.We got home last night from the dedication of the Draper Temple

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-29900768419367145412009-03-20T19:22:00.003-06:002009-03-20T19:24:17.664-06:00

I saw this quote today over on the Hero Games Discussion Boards. I had to chuckle."There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-69854201579381733942009-03-19T22:18:00.001-06:002009-03-19T22:19:55.839-06:00

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me thrice...what the heck was I thinking?!Every year, when the NCAA brackets are announced, I fill one out. And every time I see BYU, I pick them to win at least their opening round game.And every year, it comes back to bite me.This year, BYU was the #8 seed in the West. That means, at least in theory, they should have been favored to

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-8533189218128858522009-03-15T14:09:00.001-06:002009-03-15T14:16:16.734-06:00

I had to do a double take on my way through the church parking lot this morning. On one of the cars, I saw the following three items: a Darwin fish, a Free Tibet bumper sticker, and an Ayn Rand Society license plate frame.Not necessarily what you'd expect to see on a car in a Mormon church parking lot....

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120116.post-72792989932491450142009-03-14T11:13:00.001-06:002009-03-14T11:13:53.394-06:00

I had to go deposit my paycheck (from the school district, so no problem with bouncing checks there) yesterday during my lunch break. As it turned out, the nearest branch of my credit union to where I was teaching was inside a Walmart store. So that's where I went.On my way in, I saw a man with a cardboard sign at the entrance to the parking lot. It had the usual "Homeless" "Please Help" "God

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517341958204409626noreply@blogger.com1