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August 30, 2004

bleary eyed hackerboy

Don't know how I manage to do bleary eyed hacking on my friend's top secret pet project after coding all day some days is beyond me. Makes me tired but volunteer work keeps me sane.

I taught a little web development class at a cool little place called the QCafe, and I'm doing another one in late September. If you live in Seattle and want to learn a little web development from step zero, you should come. Lemme know.

August 25, 2004

no bird left behind

strictly_frontcover.jpg
My smart and smart-ass friend Beth and her dad finally released their excellent new allegorical book about the No Child Left Behind Act (but with funny anthropomorphic birds), called Strictly For the Birds.

Increased accountability for results! More freedom for states and communities! Encouraging proven education methods! More choices for parents!

Sounds pretty good right? Except it's a lot like the Clear Skies Act, a strategically corrupt set of legislation with a pretty name and a pretty face.

The problems with the act are complicated, and this book is a good exploration in story form of the ins and outs of what the legislation means to actual teachers and students.

My favorite part of the book is the fictional Bushisms...they're all too real! Plus, Loverzan did the cover illustration.

Check it out, you can pick up a print copy or super cheap .pdf over at lulu.com.

August 18, 2004

i have a prepared statement

While unpacking, I just came across a note card in my handwriting that I have no memory of writing.

I have a prepared statement:
I was hungry for spaghetti, but I went to sleep instead. I knew that the person who woke up would not be the person who went to sleep, so I jotted a note to remember to tell you all the things I know I can't tell you.

August 12, 2004

get the chick of your dreams monsieur arthritis

Best Email subject line ever!

Monsieur Arthritis actually sounds like a good band name.

I'm doing fine, just spending a lot of time on computer projects for other people and wandering about like a lost soul. Often I don't know what I'd say here.