A. wins 345-281
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
I won tonight, but the real story is th 20 minute fire alarm at Fusion Brew.
January 04, 2008
January 01, 2008
A. wins 385-318
A. wins 385-318
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
This game was closer than the score shows. I laid a bingo (uNaireD) to go out and R. had 5 tiles left in her rack. Until that point, she had been leading.
Star Power: the Washington Post interviews Neil Tyson
I got to see Neil Tyson give a talk at the American Association of Physics Teachers Summer meeting in Greensboro last year. He was really entertaining. He packed a room with over six hundred seats so there was standing room only and people hanging in the hallway trying to listen. He was really funny, even if some of his joke were unoriginal. (How intelligent is a design that puts a sewage treatment facility next to an entertainment system?? Ha ha...ha........ah.)
What was great, however, was that his whole talk was about how science educators have a responsibility to reach the public and bring science to them. I'll never forget when he asked the audience how many of them did not have a TV or how many of them only used their TV to watch DVDs. Somewhere between 15-20% of the people in the crowd raised a hand, many of them proudly. Tyson then said "Oh, so those of you that raised your hand have no idea who I am, then!" The person sitting to my right looked at me and said, "Yeah, I have no idea who this guy is and why AAPT is giving him an award." I could hear murmuring around me that indicated she was not alone in her opinion. Tyson pointed that he went on to TV shows like Conan O'brien and The Daily Show not to stroke his ego, but because that's where he can reach the widest audience. He then gave the example of watching the Superbowl, not because he particularly enjoys football, but that he wants to be able to relate to people around him the next day. His point was that if we, as science educators, want to reach out to the public and have a scientifically literate society, then the scientist should be culturally literate and be aware of what the public is tuned into and turned on by (e.g. Conan and The Daily Show.) I saw the light bulbs go on all around me as he explained this.
Anyway, I was thinking about this because one of the other stories that Tyson told during that talk he also told to a Washington Post reporter in a really good article. It's a little long, but well worth the read. The story Tyson told was about an interaction he had with movie director James Cameron.
Star Power (Washington Post)
What was great, however, was that his whole talk was about how science educators have a responsibility to reach the public and bring science to them. I'll never forget when he asked the audience how many of them did not have a TV or how many of them only used their TV to watch DVDs. Somewhere between 15-20% of the people in the crowd raised a hand, many of them proudly. Tyson then said "Oh, so those of you that raised your hand have no idea who I am, then!" The person sitting to my right looked at me and said, "Yeah, I have no idea who this guy is and why AAPT is giving him an award." I could hear murmuring around me that indicated she was not alone in her opinion. Tyson pointed that he went on to TV shows like Conan O'brien and The Daily Show not to stroke his ego, but because that's where he can reach the widest audience. He then gave the example of watching the Superbowl, not because he particularly enjoys football, but that he wants to be able to relate to people around him the next day. His point was that if we, as science educators, want to reach out to the public and have a scientifically literate society, then the scientist should be culturally literate and be aware of what the public is tuned into and turned on by (e.g. Conan and The Daily Show.) I saw the light bulbs go on all around me as he explained this.
Anyway, I was thinking about this because one of the other stories that Tyson told during that talk he also told to a Washington Post reporter in a really good article. It's a little long, but well worth the read. The story Tyson told was about an interaction he had with movie director James Cameron.
Star Power (Washington Post)
December 30, 2007
R. wins 381-342
R. wins 381-342
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
R. wins with the help of the only bingo in the game: oneness. I spilled my drink before we started playing
December 28, 2007
A wins 456-328
A wins 456-328
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
I started off this game with a bingo: cabinEd and had a second one later: misspend. The second one was my first ever double-double, good for 102 points. This game was my highest score yet.
December 22, 2007
After the Estimation game.
After the Estimation game.
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
We played a game of Estimation after afternoon dessert at the Houck Christmas. Jon won.
December 15, 2007
A. wins 338-269
A. wins 338-269
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
I started the game with a bingo (oKaying) but didn't really have anything great after that.
December 14, 2007
A. wins 417-257
A. wins 417-257
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
I hit 400+ points for the first time ever with the help of two bingos: roadies and training. Also had a four word combo with some, moss, lids and ones. That was only worth 21 points, but it was fun.
December 12, 2007
I finally found a great use for the function keys! Using xbindkeys and xbindkeys-config, I was able to easily map the F2, F3, and F4 keys to go directly to the post page for some of my blogs. I'll have to send the .xbindkeysrc file to myself so that I can load this on all the computers that I post from. I don't know if it will help me post more frequently, but it certainly can't hurt.
November 18, 2007
November 10, 2007
A. wins 370-289
A. wins 370-289
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
I had all the good tiles tonight. One bingo: ennoble.
November 09, 2007
November 03, 2007
A. wins 350-302
A. wins 350-302
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
Finally! I won, but it wasn't easy. At the start = had 'liquor' but did not have a place to play it. I passed several times and then missed seeing that I could play 'howl' and 'liquor' for 75 points. I made up for it later with 'snoozed' for 115.
R. wins 375-263
R. wins 375-263
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
Once again, R. destroyed me in a timed game. This makes six in a row that she has won, and has reminded me that I have been slacking on posting the game pics.
October 26, 2007
Job hunt woes #1
Today, I submitted my first of what will hopefully be a few applications for a permanent job.
Preparing my application package was a time-intensive process that has taken my attention away from day-to-day activities, like some research, some course prep, some exercise, and certainly re-organizing my office. On the other hand, I did find that it made me think seriously about my teaching philosophy and research goals. I think there is some value in keeping those ideas in mind.
October 25, 2007
I just remembered a random thing that has frequently annoyed me:
Watching home improvement shows on HGTV or TLC that show a renovation project that begins with a demolition where the renovator starts by swinging a sledge hammer willy nilly really drives me crazy. First of all, demolition in this manner creates a larger mess than necessary. It is far easier to clean up large chunks than the tiny pieces of shrapnel that the sledging creates. Secondly, anything that is constructed can be de-constructed. You can salvage material for scrap or reuse and you guarantee that base structures needed for rebuilding onto are not damaged. And finally, it takes more energy to swing the heavy hammer than is necessary. You get tired easily doing the demolition the way it is shown on TV. And lastly...I've never seen a pro do demolition with a sledge.
Watching home improvement shows on HGTV or TLC that show a renovation project that begins with a demolition where the renovator starts by swinging a sledge hammer willy nilly really drives me crazy. First of all, demolition in this manner creates a larger mess than necessary. It is far easier to clean up large chunks than the tiny pieces of shrapnel that the sledging creates. Secondly, anything that is constructed can be de-constructed. You can salvage material for scrap or reuse and you guarantee that base structures needed for rebuilding onto are not damaged. And finally, it takes more energy to swing the heavy hammer than is necessary. You get tired easily doing the demolition the way it is shown on TV. And lastly...I've never seen a pro do demolition with a sledge.
September 09, 2007
A. wins 316-252
A. wins 316-252
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
After a day trip to Allerton Park we stopped in at the Coffeehound in Bloomington for drinks and a game.
September 08, 2007
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