What?! You mean it’s not a real place?

You just have to love a quote like this:

“In some online discussion groups, Avatar fans report feeling “suicidal” after realizing the 3-D world of Pandora doesn’t actually exist.”

Bummer, dude. So…gee, at what point do they realize this fictional, movie- screen, animated world isn’t real I wonder? Scary.

Another great quote from the same article is: “Personally, I was kind of “bummed out” after seeing it — but that was regret over “spending $20 on a film that contains the line ‘That’s the flux vortex.'”

I haven’t seen the movie yet, but our teen volunteer (the droll, sarcastic one who is 17 going on 40, kind of like Richard Lewis back when he was, ya know, funny) did and said that it was a waste of money and a remake of Dances With Wolves.

Fail Blog has a great photo showing how Avatar is really Disney’s movie Pocahontas:

For more fun, check out these video mash-ups 😉

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Will this be on the final?

What a bunch of bull…

Everyone’s gotta have their fingers in the pie. It seems like things are getting to the point where we can’t go forward with any decision because we are trying to please everyone. Here is a prime example from Texas over social studies.

Now, I won’t pretend I don’t have my own opinions on what should be included or emphasized but my point is that in the end it doesn’t matter.

Having been a Texas student all through grades K-7, I can tell you that I don’t remember diddly about what was or wasn’t included in our social studies curriculum or that it had any impact over how I turned out as a person. (Although I do remember having to lug around a huge tome just on Texas history, but aside from learning how to draw the shape of the state and develop strong biceps I can’t remember anything from it).

What did shape my social studies learning? My own life experiences, my family, my friends, my community and my library. If we are lucky, the school will spark an interest in an issue (any issue!) and the student will pursue more learning outside the classroom.

Why pretend that spending 20 minutes in the classroom talking about Chavez or Columbus or Mary Kay will impact a student meaningfully? Sadly, the real issue is that with today’s educational system focused only on testing, I don’t think it will make any difference.

A great teacher makes a difference. Someone who can teach students to evaluate where information comes from and what biases it may or may not have…teaching critical thinking. Clearly that matters, as this report indicates,  Where We Read from Matters, but it seems hard to find.

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So. Very. Wrong!!!

I found this from reading little red boat and then onto A Lard Off My Mind:

So, there’s a candy bar called Fling chocolate fingers, which in itself is disturbing…

“How many flavors and sizes of FLING™ are there?

Milk Chocolate is available in a Single Pack of two fingers and a Multi-pack of 10 individually-wrapped fingers. Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut are only available everyday in Multi-pack cartons with 10 individually-wrapped fingers.”

BUT THEN…

in what is possibly the worst combination of words (and you just know the marketing whiz who thought of it was all a-titter at how clever he was) comes this sentence:

“Then you can pleasure yourself with this chocolate sensation time and time again.”

Um.

No.

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Coming Soon: Actual Blogging!

But first…a nap!

I just arrived home from a wonderful vacation trip down to visit my father in Vero Beach, Florida. If all goes well, I will have some great photos and stories to share. But the shock of returning to 20 degree weather from 80 degrees is just too much for me right now. (I know, you weep for me, don’t you…).

So, please enjoy these 2 cool webcams in this link to one of the COOLEST places to visit when in Florida:

The Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce

(you will have to scroll down the page a bit)

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Stupid Is as Stupid Does

In an apparent effort to become finalists in the Darwin Awards, some local ice fisherman made national headlines.

While we did have quite a stretch of brutally cold weather for a number of weeks, the temps suddenly warmed up into the upper 40’s and it was sunny and very windy. I would think that it wouldn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that: warm weather=melting ice. PLUS, there was already a crack in the ice. But, no, according to the local paper:

“Authorities and fishermen said the ice-fishing enthusiasts had crossed a narrow crack in the ice on a plywood board about 1,000 yards from shore in the early morning, but warming air and brisk winds from the south caused the crack to widen by midmorning.”

175 of them had to be rescued by the Coast Guard and local rescue agencies (at a cost of somewhere around $20,000). Did they have to pay for this or were they fined? Heck, no.

In fact, the very next day they came back out to get the equipment they left behind! Said one fire chief:

“We can’t stop them permanently. They have the right to be stupid, I guess. But it’s disheartening for my guys to see them going right back out there.”

Good grief.

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Hodgepodge of Photos

Here are a bunch of photos that I was going to write a blog post around but never found the gumption to actually do so. Enjoy the randomness!

July 4th Sunset

It kept changing in intensity.

We were up high for a good view.

Pretty nice view, too.

Saw this young starling peeking out in our front yard tree.

Time for dinner.

We call our resident pigeon Barry White due to his soulfull sound.

My camera doesn't do justice to this isopod.

You can't tell in this photo, but the snail was blue with an almost translucent shell.

 

It's very flat here but it is beautiful in summer....sigh.

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C’mon Ride the Train (some settling may occur)

Something to cheer you up if you have to travel over the holidays:

Huh.

And I thought I had it tough sharing the backseat with my sister. 😉

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Never fear, the library is here!

Even though we have about four inches of ice coating the roads.

Even though all the schools are closed (along with the local museums).

Even though there are widespread power outages.

The library is open.

Because, God forbid, you should have to go one day without getting a DVD to watch. Especially an old chestnut like Ernest Saves Christmas…(know what I mean, Vern?).

===================================

So, after looking over a few of my recent posts, I see they are all pretty darn snarky. As this is the holiday season, perhaps I should tone down the snark factor a notch….

What do you think? Let’s use one of the new WordPress tools and try an anonymous poll:

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It’s a Major Award! (Fra-gil-e)

Sorry..this time of year I always channel bits from A Christmas Story (maybe it’s because I have to watch it over and over…yeah, I’m talkin’ to you, Mr. G!).

All kidding aside, I am honored to be listed for The Superior Scribbler Award by one of the finest bloggers around, Huckleberry Days (and I’d say that even if they didn’t list me…have you seen their photos?!).

Now, I have to list 5 blogs to pass on this award…which is asking a lot from someone who can’t even decide what to eat for lunch most days. So, in no particular order or rhyme or reason, I present to you 5 blogs you should take a gander at:

1. Bug Girl’s Blog, because I never would have started blogging if it weren’t for her and because she’s a damn fine writer about insects and science.
2. Endangered Ugly Things, for clever, witty science writing about non-photogenic fauna (and a source for Save the Wartyback Mussel shirts!). Give some love to the hard-working grad student in the form of comments.
3. Because they do not post too often, I am listing two of my favorite blogs by librarians as one: If This Be Method and Snaps North. Awesome photos, a wide variety of topics and these women always make me laugh!
4. Journey to the Center has many blogs and this is just her latest one. She is a naturalist on a cross-country trip and takes amazing photos.
5. Miss Information, a librarian blog that will have you laughing until you cry (or maybe you were crying and then you’ll be laughing…either way, she’s spot on).

Enjoy!

According to the award guidelines I must post these rules:

Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deservingBloggy Friends.

Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.

Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

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Like a Sippy Cup for Your Nose!

While browsing through the Sunday ads, I can across this very odd one:

Ewwwww!

WTF?! Do people really buy these things? And who can I give one to as a gag gift…hmmmm….

I love the inset picture of the woman puting that up her nose…complete with water dripping out the other nostril. Oh right, like she would be smiling with water shooting up her nose….wheeee!

Smile, though your nose is dripping...

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