The Heart Of Teaching

I never get tired of hearing this teacher's story. His name is Walter Lewin and his a physics professor at MIT. His love, passion, and enthusiasm for science and physics is great, but his love and desire for his students is even great. Here is a link to recent article on him. The video is great to with some visuals as to what he pulls off in class to communicate the concepts. Here are a couple of lines that stick out:

• What is it about physics (teaching/preaching/facilitating/presenting/etc.) that makes you feel alive? Lewin replies, "It's the audience that makes me feel alive!" This guy loves the people more than the principles.
• "It took me decades to come to the realization that really what counts is not what you cover, but what counts is what you uncover." That's good. That's really good. And that takes time, passion, and preparation.
• What he teaches is this concept: find out what is really important. Find out what is really at the heart of what you are trying to communicate.
• The takeaway: "I want them to takeaway that they love physics, that they love science, that they see the beauty of the world around them."

Just google the guy's name and you'll get a ton of other articles and videos about who he is, what he does, and more importantly what he loves!

Battle Of The Sexes

Wild commercial marketing and selling some sort of newspaper or newspaper with a Braveheart/Gladiator theme. Could be a great teaching tool to talk about the differences between guys/girls, men/women, and/or what could possibly bring some understanding to the long standing differences between the two genders. I love it when the guys roll out RC trucks and the women drop open lipstick tubes into their purses. Classic!

What other gender specific gadgets and toys could have been used in the commercial as weaponry? Just curious.



(bu to Hemmy)

Lost Madness

March Madness might have found its rival (for at least one year anyways): Lost Madness. Vote for your favorite Lost characters in a bracket style format (click either link).

The first round is complete, but you still have time to vote for those pairings that are in the second round (March 11-12).

(bu to Charlie)

Prayer Of The Weak

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Now That's A Tree House

And you thought your tree house was cool!

I know what Kelly would say, but all I know is that I would totally live in one of these if I could. I think it speaks the "adventure to live for" in me. Something wild and creative that speaks to my heart. Funny thing is I can't remember if I ever built a tree house as a kid. I loved climbing trees (still do as a matter of fact), but don't think I ever built one. Kelly's family had a tree house when she was growing up.

Did you have one growing up? Did you build it? Did your dad? Did your friends? Have you built one for you kids? Or have your kids built one?

Click here to view some other really cool and interesting abodes found in the tree tops.

Chess Geeks Drooling Everywhere

I tried to play chess once in college and my buddy John Chapman beat me in like 10 moves. With that being said, I couldn't even imagine trying to tackle this. Insane! Click here to see how the pieces move and play. Pretty cool and I bet pretty fun for those that love chess and maybe have wondered what the next phase might look like.



(bu Hemmy)

Iron Man Trailer

I'm such a sucker for comic books remade for the big screen. Iron Man looks no different: tons of fun!

Midterm Madness Over

Whew...midterms are over! Yes! Lots of studying. Lots of prep. Lots of hard work. I think it paid off. Though I don't know the results of the exams (interesting when we get into college/grad school we call them exams and not tests...like we are SO above tests...goofy), I do feel really good about them.

It all started with a long weekend class (Friday night/all day Saturday): Ethics. Then I had my Career Development midterm on Tuesday and School Counselor as Leader class on Thursday. It was a wild couple of weeks of hunkering down and prepping like a mother. We'll just have to wait and see how they turn out.

Now I can turn my attention towards prepping for March Madness Bracetology class!

What Were They Thinking?

This maybe one of the funniest videos I've seen in a long, long time. Wow...I think I have to pee now!

Prayer Of The Weak

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Ouch! That Hurts

I don't subscribe to much online. I hate that stuff getting my inbox all junked up. However, the best thing I've signed up for is Calvin and Hobbes emails. You can sign up here. That are a riot. However, this week as been more to the heart for me. Less laugh and more hhhmmm.

It's funny what God uses to speak to us. Burning bush. An ass. Creation. My kids. My wife. His still small voice. A comic strip? Yup, even that.

I realize that the humbling act of owning up to the pain we inflict and words that we wound with is so very hard to do. It's personal and painful...painful for us and painful for those we've wounded. But it's huge for our hearts and cleansing for our souls. It's personal because we have to wade through our shit to figure out why it's so hard for us to do - at least I know I do. It's personal because I make myself vulnerable by dying to self so that I can communicate that this is not about me saving face, but doing what is right and loving for your sake, for our sake. Isn't the strip below so true of the difficulty reality of owning our crap?



I also realize that as much I we as people have been indoctrinated into the thought that "sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me", well, it's just a big fat lie. We are only fooling ourselves. Oh, how I've hurt those near and far from me with my words (and sometimes lack there of). And, oh, how I've been hurt with words (or lack there of) is so evident, too. And what's crazy is that titles those words have been spoken by - in the name of Jesus, truth, rights, justification, and keeping it real. That's why I love this strip.



Who are the people in my world that I need to seek forgiveness? Who do I need to forgive? What about you?

Last Lecture Of A Dying Professor

This is pretty powerful stuff given the context and story of this man's life. Simple. Real. True. Inspiring. This professor is living that out in real life, not in some hypothetical situation. There is nothing new in this lecture. You've heard it all before. But given his life circumstances, it's like these principles are given new life.

If you want to see the whole lecture click here. If you want the Oprah version, watch below. Both are excellent.



What would your last lecture be if you new you were dying tomorrow, next week, or next month?

(bu to Siri B. via email)

U23D

Kelly and I had a quick little date night last evening. Those are fewer and farther between than we'd like so we take them when we can get them. My mom came over and put the kids down so we could head to the movies. However, this wasn't your typical movie. We went to a rock concert in the comfort of the theater: U23D.

And what a show it was. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, but for those that dig U2: go see it. It's a blast! You see everything that makes U2 great...passion, showmanship, creativity, and the music. A great set list (except for maybe Miss Sarajevo - not my favorite U2 song), amazing visuals, and the cool 3D effects makes this fun to go see.

So if you have some extra cash lying around and love to rock out to U2, get to the theater, put on the glasses, and try and keep your voice down for Pete sake!

Prayer Of The Weak

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Squirrel Relocator

I'm not gonna lie...this is pretty funny. I wonder if the squirrel ever came back?



(bu to my dad via email)

The Manga Bible Graphic Novel

Manga comics have been around awhile, but have recently exploded in popularity in the U.S. Some Christian book publishers have recently gotten into the act by working out there own version of Manga story lines. My friend, Marko, shared about that on his blog here.

Now comes an edgy version that puts a new twist to the re-telling of the Bible's story: The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation. There is a good article here in the New York Times about this biblical rendition. Here is a snippet from the article:

Ajinbayo Akinsiku wants the world to know Jesus Christ, just not the gentle, blue-eyed Christ of old Hollywood movies and illustrated Bibles. Mr. Akinsiku says his Son of God is “a samurai stranger who’s come to town, in silhouette,” here to shake things up in a new, much-abridged version of the Bible rooted in manga, the Japanese form of graphic novels.

“We present things in a very brazen way,” said Mr. Akinsiku, who hopes to become an Anglican priest and who is the author of “The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation.” “Christ is a hard guy, seeking revolution and revolt, a tough guy.”

Though I'm not a manga enthusiast, this would at least be interesting to flip through in the local book store or library.

(bu to Boing Boing)

Dwight Howard a.k.a. Superman

I had become bored with the NBA Slam Dunk contest. In fact, I can't remember the last time I watched one. But for some reason I wanted to watch this year's competition. I am so glad I did! It was awesome and won by a good kid, with crazy hops and mad skillz: Dwight Howard.

The dunk below is what sealed the deal...amazing! Click here and here to see some more of his incredible dunking ability.

Where I Stand On The Global Rich List

The Global Rich List is a pretty nifty little site to put our wealth (especially in the US and other first world countries) in a global perspective. The site also comes with some other fun facts about what you can buy given what you make. It also gives ways to help the poor with the monetary resources you have.

This is my rank on the list based on what I submitted to the IRS for 2007. I then put the numbers in when I was at my richest (based on annual income) and I was in the top 1.42%! How nuts is that!

So the question is: Where do you rank on the Global Rich List? Click on the link, be amazed, and think about it.


(bu to Matt via email)

Prayer Of The Weak

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Inspirational Political Video No Matter Your Party

No matter who you vote for, I think you have to admit, this is pretty cool piece by Will.I. Am, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, and others as they put a Barack Obama speech into a music video. Very inspirational. Very hip.

And what's cool about it, it comes on the heels of finding out that James Dobson has said that he will not vote in this years election if John McCain get the Republican nomination. That's akin to the kid at the playground who takes his ball and goes home because he didn't get his first pick. Infuriating. Sad. Incomprehensible. Irresponsible. Click here and here and here for the Dobson admission.

It is a right and a privilege to vote: anytime and anywhere for anybody!



(bu to Dave via Facebook)