Learning Aloud

I have commented previously that our son works as an editor for a television program called Dragonfly TV. It is middle-school science program based in Minneapolis and sponsored by PBS. If you listen to podcasts, download a few episodes from the Dragonfly site.

Todd called today to let us know Dragonfly was being considered for an Emmy. It took me a long time to locate the announcement online because all of the press for the day time competitions seem focused on the “soaps” and Google had the announcement a few pages of links into the page rank. I did manage to locate the complete list of categories.

Way to go son. This technology stuff your mom told you about may work out yet.

This from the Washington Post – an article about teachers and the things they post to their Facebook pages. Another version of the “do you know your boss might look” theme. Obviously, the answer is “I didn’t think of that?” What, you didn’t think your students or the parents of your students might check to see if you have a Facebook account? While you were sleeping, this technology thing has caught on and you aren’t the only one who knows how to use it.

I know that some folks assume they can do and say what they want outside of school (at least learn how to limit access), but according to sources cited in the article:

Teachers caught with inappropriate Web sites could get a suspension for a first-time offense, said Michael Simpson, assistant general counsel for the National Education Association, a teachers union with more than 3 million members. If they can prove that no one at school complained about the page, then they might prevail in a personnel dispute “because there would be no evidence of any real or potential harm to the students or school,” he said.

If teachers claim free speech protection under the First Amendment, Simpson said, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that governments can fire employees if their speech harmed the workplace’s mission and function.

The weekend was scheduled to involve a nice trip to Minneapolis to see our kids and granddaughters. Things do not always work out as planned. We had intended to make this trip two weeks ago, but did not leave town because of a late season blizzard. This time we made it out of town and were caught in another blizzard. Now, North Dakota / Minnesota is the region of the country that is prone to winter storms, but we are now in the last week of April.

Anyway, we were lucky to make into a town – Fergus Falls – and find a hotel. Might have spent the night in the ditch or at a Salvation Army shelter. The total snowfall was 18 inches.

The interstate was closed until late this afternoon and the trucks were lined up trying to get going again. The view from the overpass revealed the problem.

We have spent a little time driving around Fergus Falls for something to do. Check out this greenhouse “closed for the day” in the Kmart parking log.

I tend not to provide very much profile information when I enroll for web 2.0 services. I admit to being a male, but that is about it. I seldom reveal my age.

My world has just expanded. I have just discovered the world of older bloggers and sites devoted to their interests. I encountered a a request to complete an elderblogger survey on a site entitled “Time goes by: What it’s really like to get old.” It was kind of like learning I now qualify for less expensive coffee at Hardees.

No, I did not fill out the survey. Us old folks are cranky.

BTW – no disrespect intended by this post. I do care about health care. I also think your blog role as a whole offers much more creative titles than are contained on the ed type blogs list I mostly follow. If I cannot look forwarded to getting smarter, maybe at least I will become more creative.

Blog on my brothers and sisters.