A Riveting Analysis of the Chemistry of Sports

While aimlessly killing time before work virtuously keeping up on news, I found this fascinating explanation of the chemistry of blood testing in sports. It's in response to the story about Floyd Landis.

I have no personal feelings about the situation, but, if it's true that he added boosters, it will ruin the jokes - "Why did the French think Landis cheated? They've never seen detectable levels of testerone in a man before."

Found via Instapundit's Megan McArdle.

Mid-Summer Update

I've been rather busy the last few months - end of year testing, clearing up for summer break, and now, traveling extensively this summer. I've only spent about 2 weeks at home since school let out.

I've accomplished a few things this summer. I attended a workshop for the Physical Science teachers in SC, gotten 3 credits in science, was given a PASCO GLX (a data collection device, with multiple probes included). I'm currently in Syracuse, NY, working with the PTRA's Summer Institute. I plan to work with a teacher in northern SC to bring in some workshops, hopefully next year.

I'm starting to drag, so I'll have to close and post more later. If I get a chance tomorrow, I'll post pictures to the web in the afternoon.

Summer Activities

I'm at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC this week and next week. I'm taking a course related to the Physical Science classes I'll be teaching in the fall.

It's a beautiful campus. All the buildings are absolutely chilly, which necessitates bringing a heavy sweater to class.

I'll be getting a PASCO GLX to take home with me. I'm looking forward to learning how to use them.

I'll add some pictures later this week.

More than a little truth to this

I found a really funny, if somewhat snide reflection on the mania to ensure that all students will feel really, really special and smart.

To be candid, I feel that most teachers, myself included, grade students more leniently than a realistic appraisal of their learning would mandate. In part, that is because most districts no longer officially separate students by ability. With all students taking college prep coursework, the teacher either has to be overly generous with grades, or risk failing large segments of the class.

Elementary, my dear Watson!

I found this on Science and Politics

# It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It biases the judgment.
# I never guess. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.

It was prompted by Google's celebration of the anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's birthday.

Hooray for technology!

I had a relatively pleasant time getting my final grades in today. It was simple to add in the score for the Finals - I did the test in Quizdom, and didn't have to manually score anything. I plan to use United Streaming quizzes next year, as well. I understand they can be done online.

Next year's Physical Science students are already excited about taking the class. They kept on seeing the neat equipment I had set up for the other classes (they were in Applied Biology this year), and wanted to know how to use it. They were particularly interested in the PASCO motion detectors.

Today, I went to a training session on United Streaming. I already used it, so wasn't sure I would benefit. It was worth the time I took, as I learned about new features, and features I wasn't currently using. I also found out about the Discovery Educators Network, which I plan to join. It seems worth the time.

Free at Last - Almost!

I'm down to the last week and 1/2. I have to finish the grading this weekend, and enter the grades in the computer. Next week, other than working with a few kids who need to make up an assignment, I only have my finals. Finals finish on the following Monday.

That's basically it. I'll use those last two half days to use unpaid labor cooperative, fine youngsters to clean, organize, and run errands. Assuming they'll show up, when the attendance won't be taken.

HQ - At Last!

It was the last, long day of a VERY long week - the upperclassmen were testing, in SC's version of an exit exam. Which meant, for the 9th grade, extra time in some of their classes, with no ability to let loose some steam roaming the halls.

Yesterday, it came to head - about 20 girls cut loose with a water balloon fight just after lunch. Today, the 9th grade is on punishment - escorted to lunch like toddlers, no privileges.

So, when I checked onto the state certification site, I fully expected to see that I'd still not been approved for a full professional certificate in science.

And I really needed it. The deadline for applying for National Boards is Monday. Without a change from temporary permit to certificate status, I couldn't apply.

Whoopee!! Hot diggity dog!!! It was approved, and I'd been marked an HQ - a Highly Qualified teacher. Which also made my principal and district very happy.

I got online as soon as the kids left, and finished the application. Then, I filled out the paperwork for the state payment of the processing fees.

Right after I left, it was off to the bank to get the papers notarized, and then to the post office to have them postmarked in time.

Sometimes, life is good. Very good.

Web Word Processor

I found an interesting new application. It's one of the first web applications that has the potential to be a Microsoft Killer.

AjaxWrite. I've been playing around with it, and come to a few conclusions:

• It's still in the early development stages. I tried using it to create a sign for my door, but I had difficulty getting it to print in the enlarged font correctly. The font displayed correctly, but the text ran off the edge of the page. I finally added some hard returns, and it printed fine. So, it's not fully WYSIWYG yet.
  
• I can see the utility, particularly when you're not at your home machine, but need to work on something. You save your work either to a website or a jump drive, and can theoretically work on it whenever, whereever.
  
• At the moment, it's a stripped-down version of the old Microsoft Works. Some of the "functions" are greyed-out, indicating that they're not available. Not sure why.
  
• It only works in Firefox, version 1.5 or higher. Fine for me, I prefer Firefox.
  
• No spell-checker at the moment. No way to change page layout. No insertion of images, yet. So, it's still a VERY baby version. Ajaxwrite needs to ramp up, soon, if they don't want to get clobbered by The Evil Empire.

I'll probably continue using it for a few months. I'll be traveling part of the summer, and it would be nice to have compatibility with my Open Office files. In addition to a word processor, there are other applications shown. Don't know how good they might be, I couldn't get the Image editor to load. It may have been a network thing. The Spreadsheet Viewer is just that. It only allows you to see, not edit.

My evaluation? Not ready for prime time. But promising. I'll check back at the end of summer.

Web Word Processor

I found an interesting new application. It's one of the first web applications that has the potential to be a Microsoft Killer.

AjaxWrite. I've been playing around with it, and come to a few conclusions:

• It's still in the early development stages. I tried using it to create a sign for my door, but I had difficulty getting it to print in the enlarged font correctly. The font displayed correctly, but the text ran off the edge of the page. I finally added some hard returns, and it printed fine. So, it's not fully WYSIWYG yet.
  
• I can see the utility, particularly when you're not at your home machine, but need to work on something. You save your work either to a website or a jump drive, and can theoretically work on it whenever, whereever.
  
• At the moment, it's a stripped-down version of the old Microsoft Works. Some of the "functions" are greyed-out, indicating that they're not available. Not sure why.
  
• It only works in Firefox, version 1.5 or higher. Fine for me, I prefer Firefox.
  
• No spell-checker at the moment. No way to change page layout. No insertion of images, yet. So, it's still a VERY baby version. Ajaxwrite needs to ramp up, soon, if they don't want to get clobbered by The Evil Empire.

I'll probably continue using it for a few months. I'll be traveling part of the summer, and it would be nice to have compatibility with my Open Office files. In addition to a word processor, there are other applications shown. Don't know how good they might be, I couldn't get the Image editor to load. It may have been a network thing. The Spreadsheet Viewer is just that. It only allows you to see, not edit.

My evaluation? Not ready for prime time. But promising. I'll check back at the end of summer.

One thing that Americans excel at

I was reading Watching America, a site where you can get translations of foreign news. I highly recommend it, as it's always neat to see yourself (and your countrymen) from the perspective of non-natives.

Today, I found an interesting article that lauds the way Americans teach their children about money and personal responsibility. It particularly mentions the Girl Scout cookie selling program:

The Girl Scouts Web site [RealVideo] flatly states that many successful American entrepreneurs got their start selling Samoas and Tagalongs [cookies]. Each box of cookies costs four dollars, which is at least 30% higher than the store price. Such a way to teach a child to make money! Isn't it a little too much? But as soon as we tried to sell our first box, I saw that no one was put off by the price.

The American experience is contrasted with the Chinese way of raising children.

American children are truly very practical, and begin to make and calculate money from childhood. They all realize the value of money early on, and don't neglect even a penny.

The article additionally mentions that American children are more conscious of others' needs, and spontaneously give to others in need, without parental prodding.

Emergency in Project-Land!

I just got off the phone with my daughter. Her son had a last-minute crisis with a project due - you could see this coming - tomorrow!

Fortunately, it was a science research project, and I was able to clarify the terms that were causing confusion - habitat, community, niche, and population.

That's why I seldom assign projects. It seems to cause more work for the parents than for the kids. When I do hand out projects, I try to assign them so there are points where I check the progress, and can assist in re-directing effort in more productive channels. One of the few I think worthy are science fair projects. But, only if I have the kids bring in their work-in-progress to make sure they stay on task.

Dress Codes - Good or Bad?

The school I work at has a new push to enforce the dress code. It mandates some overly stringent rules:

• Shirts must be tucked in
  
• Pants must be worn at the natural waist
  
• No flip-flops
  
• No hats

Which, of course, are an INCREDIBLE violation of human rights! Call Amnesty International!

OK, I'm a little sarcastic today. But, I just sat in a meeting about the dress code, and, from my perspective, it's a very reasonable set of rules. But some of the teachers were up in arms. They said that they would have to spend too much time enforcing it (come on, maybe 10 minutes the first day, less thereafter). They claimed it would take away from time they needed to prepare for the End of Course Tests (mandated by the state). After a few teachers voiced their opinions, I noticed something - most of the teachers who were anti-dress code enforcement weren't the snappiest dressers on the faculty.

I've had to abide by a dress code before. The teachers had to follow one, as well as the kids. It was not a problem. I got used to wearing dress shoes instead of athletic shoes. Other than that, my wardrobe needed little polishing. But, I used to work for businesses, and there, I assure you, I had to dress according to the dictates of my employers.

Many teachers began working just as the custom of dressing up to go to work was ending. Many of them got used to dressing very casually. I've known teachers (yes, certified teachers) to wear:

• rubber flip-flops
  
• T-shirts that were clearly too small - not covering the no-longer flat tummy
  
• dirty, torn jeans
  
• house slippers - not for a temporary foot injury, but regularly
  
• stretch leggings (not a pretty sight on a size 16+)
  
• tired flannel shirts
  
• mini-skirts and low-cut shirts (think Boston Public clothes on a less-than perfect body)
  
• and, of course, the ubiquitous denim shirt and pants

I realize that a hot climate might mean dressing for comfort some days. That's a good time for the polo shirt and cotton pants. Maybe even sandals.

But not flip-flops.

Have you ever wanted the last word?

Go see the other possibilities for the last chance to speak your mind.

One of the 2 Palmettos

 

This one is a little stressed, it seems. I have to talk to the locals, to find out what kind of care it needs. 

The new house - front view

 

Here's a shot of the front of the new house. The weather this week was spectacular earlier this week. This was taken in the late afternoon. 

Classroom crime scene

 

I can't wait until next year - I'll need some time to get all the materials together, but I'm planning to set up my classroom just like the picture above. 

Alas, poor Yorick...

 

Dr. Bruce Latimer has a Shakespearean moment at a Forensic Science workshop. 

Fake blood splatters

 

I had great fun investigating how crime scene investigators determined the sequence of events in gory deaths. 

Update on Gabriela Ocampo.

She knew she would face another day of confusion, another day of pretending to follow along. She could hardly do long division, let alone solve for x.

So, the REAL problem is that she is innumerate, not Algebra-phobic.

Why are students having difficulties with math? According to one teacher:

Shane Sauby, who worked as an attorney and stockbroker before becoming a teacher, volunteered to teach the students confronting first-year algebra for a second, third or fourth time. He thought he could reach them.

But, Sauby said, many of his students ignored homework, rarely studied for tests and often skipped class.

Nah, I'm sure THAT wasn't the problem. It must have been the mysterious Algebra block.

Another teacher found similar problems among the multiply-enrolled failing students:

George Seidel, devoted a class this fall to reviewing equations with a single variable, such as x -- 1 = 36. It's the type of lesson students were supposed to have mastered in fourth grade.

Only seven of 39 students brought their textbooks. Several had no paper or pencils. One sat for the entire period with his backpack on his shoulders, tapping his desk with a finger.

Another doodled an eagle in red ink in his notebook. Others gossiped as Seidel, a second-year teacher, jotted problems on the front board.

Look, guys, it isn't rocket science. If you don't put the effort in, you won't take the reward out.

Siedel was Gabriela's teacher - so why did she fail?

Seidel did not appear to make a difference with Gabriela Ocampo. She failed his class in the fall of 2004 — her sixth and final semester of Fs in algebra.

But Gabriela didn't give Seidel much of a chance; she skipped 62 of 93 days that semester.

Ya' think that might have made a difference?