Robert X. Cringely writes an interesting piece about the role technology plays in the K-12 classrooms of today and tomorrow. He makes an interesting point: the technology we take for granted today was likely considered superfluous by those before us, and the same will hold true. Will we consider tomorrow’s tech as unnecessary, since we were able to get by without it? It’s an interesting idea. Think about it - our parents managed to get through high school without TI-85s and computers. Our generation was probably at the forefront of actively using the Internet in school, using graphic calculator for calculus, and revising papers in MS Word. Do kids even still write first drafts in long hand any more?
Cringely points out how in today’s classroom schools are actively trying to block out cell phones, text messages, instant messengers, and Internet access during exams. But as a generation that has grown up with these things as second nature, like writing with a pencil, are we holding students back by not embracing new technologies? It got me thinking….just this past weekend we were at an event where we witnessed two young girls, they couldn’t have been more than 10 years old. They had a cell phone, and were busy passing it back and forth talking on it. I remember thinking to myself that when I had kids, they wouldn’t be getting any sort of cell phone until they were much older, if they needed it, and only then it would be limited for emergency use. Why not, I made it through life without one for quite awhile and everything turned out fine.
But this got me thinking. Even if I was relatively late to the game, I’ve used my personal cell phone as my primary “contact” number for quite awhile now. Jen and I each have our own phones, and have no intention really of getting a traditional landline phone. Why pay for that extra line if we’re already paying for a mobile line that is infinitely more convenient? I admit that I’ve started to take for granted that most contact numbers I have for people are their personal numbers - if I call that line I expect to get that person.
So our children will probably grow up in an environment where each person has their own personal phone number. Instant message (via computer or text message) will be even more universal. Internet access will be everywhere and tied to everything. Rather than warily look to whatever advances happen, should we instead try and learn about and embrace everything new as much as we can? Are we only holding ourselves back by the “damn kids, get off my lawn!” attitude? Definitely check out the main article.
They Took Our Jbbs
I wanted to pass along another editorial I recently read in InformationWeek. The subject of foreign outsourcing has been a hot topic lately in the tech magazines I follow. Job loss and outsourcing has also been a close to home point in the local Michigan economy, as well. Everyone seems to be asking the powers-that-be, be it presidential candidates or the governor, “how will you bring jobs back to Michigan?”. This quote struck me, though:
In the end, job creation is a byproduct of smart investments, technology and otherwise. It can’t be the goal in itself.
You can’t just magically create new jobs in the state. There’s got to be something here for industries, whether it’s tech or manufacturing. It seems like we hear the politicos preach that they’ll fix things (I promise!), but we never hear how.
T-shirts and St. Patrick’s Day
Another site I’ve seen floating around viral-style is StuffWhitePeopleLike. Ha! Just off the front page, check out St. Patrick’s Day and T-Shirts.
A quick thought on the prospect of Michigan’s aim to re-do the Democratic primary, this time for reals: how in the heck are they going to come up with a decent fix?
Chesney said it also remains unclear what — if any — mechanism might be included to prevent those who voted in the GOP primary on Jan. 15 from voting in the second Democratic primary.
I assume that there were a number of people who, in the original primary, wanted to vote for Obama but didn’t because he wasn’t on the ballot and didn’t want to take the time to throw a worthless “undecided” vote. Or, there probably were people who were uncomitted to either party, and since the Democratic primary didn’t look like it mattered voted in the Republican primary. If the Dem roster was full, might they have voted in that one instead? How do you make this fair to everyone? Do you allow anyone to vote in the new and improved Democratic primary, regardless of what they might have done before? That’s hardly fair to both parties. But I have a feeling that no matter what they come up with, there’s no good way to have everyone in the state truely voice their opinion anymore. Heh, maybe both parties could just do it over. Good job, Michigan. Why can’t there be a national primary day again??
On a better note, check out another great comic from xkcd:
If you got a big keyspace, let me search it.
StewartColbertBooks.com - Books from the Daily Show and the Colbert Report
I finally found it! An actual updated list (even with RSS!) of the books featured on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report!
Flat panel LCD TVs in hotels are great and all as a selling point. But what’s the point of having that great high definition set if you’re still gonna have crappy analog cable hooked up to it? And the thing is, standard definition analog cable looks worse on that widescreen LCD than it would on a regular tube TV!
You’ve seen the commercials lately for the Rhapsody/Tivo tie-in with Sara Bareilles, right? The one with that highly overplayed “gonna write you a love sooong” bit? What happened to the original where she shared time with the Cool Kids?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bXXxx1HeWk[/youtube]
Why are the current ones playing both songs by her? Wasn’t the whole point that you had a jukebox through your Tivo that catered to you, no matter how eclectic your tastes were? What the heck is the point of just switching to another song by the same artist? Bah!
Thank, you Daily Show, for showing that you’re the best thing on TV lately until the writers get their thumbs out of their assess and write some more predictable rehashed story lines we’ve probably already seen, but at least it will be new. I never would have expected to see a graphic of the state of Michigan used this way, but it’s awesome:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs5fxMT-PdA[/youtube]
If the YouTube link doesn’t work, the original can be found here, at about the 2:49 mark into the video. Good job on exposing what a clusterf- of politics this state is. Why can’t we just have a national primary day and be done with the mess?
Hubbub over Izzo’s Big Ten Network comments, transcript - MSU Spartans Insider - MLive.com
Here’s a nice commentary on Izzo’s comments regarding the Big Ten Network, plus a transcript of what he actually said. Check it out - it’s a good read.
Come on, Internet. Where’s my archive of SNL cheerleader skits? YouTube, you fail.
The Lansing State Journal is running a story today about a case of neglected animals found in Eaton County. What is unique, or possibly not-so-unique (which is why the whole ordeal is so depressing) is how the county has handled these pets.
To summarize the article, five weeks ago an elderly woman was forced to leave her home. The house is in BFE Charlotte, described as “squalid”, and was reported to not have any running water or working electricity when she left. She left two dogs and five cats to fend for themselves; the dogs were chained outside in the backyard. Anyone who’s in the area knows what the weather has been like for the past month.
The main issue is that while the county tried to search out a next-of-kin or relative or somebody to claim the abandoned animals, they were still outside uncared for. Some neighbors took pity on the animals and fed and watered them, while other neighbors reported the case to the county sheriff’s office and animal control. But the county officials said that if the animals were technically being “cared for”, they couldn’t remove them from the home. Hence the local paper became involved and you have the link above. It explains it much better than I can.
What I don’t get is how something like this could happen in the first place. It’s obviously a case of neglect, and obvious that proper authorities needed to be involved. Mostly it sounds like the people running the Sheriff’s office and animal control in Eaton County are f-ing retards, inept at best. If there were children still living in an abandoned derelict home with no food, water, or heat, would they be left like that for five weeks while trying to find distant family? Come on!
They’ve posted an update, where the animals are now at the Capital Area Humane Society. There’s still mention of waiting for the animals to be “signed over”, which hopefully means signed over from the Eaton County people and NOT that they’re still looking for the deadbeat asshole family that caused the problem in the first place.
I don’t really know what to do; mainly I just want to spread the word. Judging by the comments attached to the main article others are calling and writing both the paper and the agencies involved expressing concerns. The whole situation is disgusting…s- like this shouldn’t happen. I understand there are rules and regulations and protection for property rights and all that - but come on, people need some common sense, too.
I remember hearing something awhile back about a Where the Wild Are movie being made, and I was skeptical of how a live action adaptation would work. Today I saw floating through the Internets this leaked clip, and you need to check it out. Even if it is a pre-production, the special effects are great. This could be fun!
Michigan. Mid-February. Temperatures in the teens, with an average of about 20F for the past week. And the Dairy Queen in Charlotte has opened. Yeeaaaaah.