All I want for Christmas is....

I know that I can't effortlessly count in binary, the language of this clock, but I want one.

Amazon has a really good idea. They organized their gift suggestions by magazine - each editor has a clickable picture of the magazine that leads to gift ideas for the readers. I checked it out, and it's nice. Good idea for that hard-to-buy-for person - as long as you know what magazines he/she reads.



Tsunami X Blaster Motorized Water Gun

Or, even better:



The Robo Raptor - hey, it's only $99.00! I was playing around with it last Friday, and it is a pretty good toy.

The above available at Radio Shack.

Fun definition

Found on One Cosmos

Bilingual education involves the difficult achievement of learning nothing in two languages.

Nearly done!

I just found the information about a course I took through the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the 90s, that puts me over the top for getting my full certification status. They're issuing me a temporary certificate, with a permit to teach out of field. Once they receive the last 3 credits, I'm in for the full certificate.

At last!

If there is a lesson for all of us, it's keep the paperwork together. It took me months to pull all the information from my fast-fading memory cells. I've been attending classes and workshops for the last 17 years, since I first was certified. I never had to scramble for credits to renew. Usually, I had all the credits in the first year to renew four years later. Often, I was too cheap to pay for the credit, and just by-passed the chance.

Never more. It was a tight squeak, but I made it. Credits, Praxis, and all.

Christmas is going to be VERY, VERY good this year.

The most important scientific discoveries

On Viking Pundit, Eric posted a list of the most important scientific discoveries of the 20 century. Read the list, and see if you agree with Physicist Alan Lightman.

New Picture from Thanksgiving

 
 

Virtue may be its own reward, but...

I've been a very good girl today, spend a good portion of the day grading and planning for the semester mid-term, so I could indulge myself with some free time blogging.

Which I am enjoying right now.

New Blogger for Word

I’m trying out the new Blogger for Word.

It’s a quick add-on, that has features that make it work well for me.  But the biggest advantage is that I can write my posts, then upload them at one time when I have a connection.  That means I’ll be able to do more blogging in my free time during the day, instead of trying to compose at night, when I’m more tired.

We should be getting a faster connection this week, probably cable.  That will make working on projects MUCH easier, not to mention the ease of keeping up on news.

The Weather Rock

 

I found this on the Web, and thought it was cute.
 

Adult Science Fair Project

As we head into the Science Fair project season, I thought you'd like this link, which might be useful to contemplate after you've come home, late in the evening, after the final judging. You might actually conduct the experiment, if you're really fried.

Update - amost forgot to mention where I got the link. The Vodkapundit, of course.

Even Einstein agrees!

This is S-O-O-O cool! You click on the link, and you can write whatever message you want on the blackboard. The picture is then saved, and you can use is to give the Ultimate Nerd Imprimatur to your favorite person.

How cool is that?

 
 

In my excitement about finding this new toy, I totally forgot to credit the blogger who directed me to the site - Kevin McGehee. Sorry, Kev.

Another update on the SCSC

This is the last day of the South Carolina Science Council conference. As usual, I'm tired and just about ready to get home and get back to my regular life, and yet...

This was a very productive conference. I came with my department head, and another teacher in the building. Together, we planned out our days to maximize our time. We made sure that no workshop went uncovered if we needed to find out more about the topic. We were at workshops on content, labs, and the new science standards from the state. We also took time to check out the exhibits, and find out what's new in the technology.

I had new responsibilities, as I will be issued my certification soon for Chemistry & Physics, and need to touch base with the professional organizations, expand my knowledge base, and, frankly, get all the help that I can before I start teaching those subjects next year.

Last night, as you can see from the photos below, we also took the time to relax and enjoy the local sights. While I was there, I had an interesting conversation with Dr. Jeff Goldstein, the Center Director, National Center for Space, Earth, and Flight Science Education. He and I discussed Bill Nye's Keynote address, which touched on the need to teach students the difference between science, which is testable, and theories in religion and philosophy, which are not. We spent some time wrestling with how to approach the subject, and the role of the professional organizations in addressing the issue, admittedly a touchy and polarizing subject in many communities.



Dr. Goldstein will be the featured speaker today at the closing meeting of the conference. I'll take some notes, and post when I return home.

A blurry Bill Nye cutting cake. His talk was riveting, and he spent considerable time after posing for pictures. 

Some of the past presidents of the Council. Behind the woman in red is Bill Nye. 

The Diamond Jubilee cake. 

Believe it or not, this is a type of seahorse. 

Jellyfish are so beautiful. Just don't touch them. 

A hands-on experience with one of the critters at the Aquarium. 

Bill Nye, the Keynote Speaker at the South Carolina Science Council conference. 

A lighthearted moment outside the Myrtle Beach Aquarium 

New Link on the Blogroll

I've a new link, WulfTheTeacher, a thoughtful Physics teacher with some interesting observations on the practice of teaching. He's another southern teacher, from Richmond, VA. I've heard about the Standards of Learning in VA (sometimes the teachers use the abbreviation a little ironically) from workshop participants in the PTRA program.

Welcome to the list, Wulf.