Month: May 2013

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NAACP’s police interaction guide: The 411 on the 5-0

411 on the 5-0 pamphlet

411 on the 5-0 pamphletThe NAACP advises that the “war on crime” fought by police, sometimes results in innocent people needlessly surrendering constitutional and civil rights which they are not aware they have. The NAACP and its members support just and effective law enforcement, and also believes that people must learn how to exercise our constitutional rights to ensure that law enforcement, and law officers, work as they should: to protect all United States citizens and visitors regardless of race, ethnicity, immigration or economic status. read more

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Why fire trucks (used to be) red

old red fire truck

When I was a girl, my father taught me why fire trucks are red. Of course, now that fire trucks come in yellow and white colors too, this story will eventually need an upgrade.

old red fire truckFire trucks are red because:
They have 4 wheels.
4 x 3 is 12.
12 inches is a ruler.
Queen Mary was a ruler.
Queen Mary was a ship.
Ships sail the seas.
There are fish in the seas.
Fish have fins.
The Finns fought the Russians.
Russians are Red.
And fire trucks are always rushin’;
That’s why fire trucks are red. read more

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PBS & TED review the state of education today

Malcolm London at TED

Malcolm London at TEDThe Chicago Tribune has a fabulous article on PBS’ TED Talks Education hour long show on May 8 2013, which brought

… together a diverse group of teachers and education advocates delivering short, high-impact talks on the theme of teaching and learning. You’ll also see Chicago’s Malcolm Xavier London performing a spoken word poem about the racial and class tensions he experienced … London, who just turned 20, is a terrific fit for TED — which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. The nonprofit organization bills itself as being devoted to ideas worth spreading and often features people who have taken unorthodox paths giving talks about what they’ve learned read more

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Principal Kafele shares inspiring thoughts on mission and passion

Principal Kafele

Principal KafeleI love Principal Kafele‘s positive approach to solving today’s educational issues. He also shares great advice on personal achievement. This 11 minute video is an excellent sample of his practical approach for achievement and success.

Principal Kafele counsels:

If you see in your mind’s eye what you’re striving to achieve, the chances increase exponentially that your vision will become your reality … Everything starts with an idea. From the idea we create a goal – we devise a plan – we become firm in our purpose – we embark on a mission – a mission that is vision oriented. What we are going to achieve … (is) already locked into our mind’s eye … read more

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Don’t want to be replaced by video lecturers? Up your game.

MOOC Wordle

MOOC cowPhilosophy professors at a public California University have spurned an offer to be replaced by online courses which are part of the edX initiative to offer lectures from Harvard, MIT and other top-level colleges to students at other universities in the form of video clips delivered on line. The San Jose State University professors point out in a public letter that the drive to cut education costs by replacing hands-on teaching with film clips constitutes a gross degradation of the educational experience their students will receive; that video teaching isn’t half as good mind fodder as reading a textbook is; and that it would be crazy for them to passively agree that a video lecture can teach students better than themselves, as real life professors, can. read more

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Whale Rider is so worth watching

Whale Rider the movie

Whale Rider the movieWhale Rider is a lovely story of a native New Zealand girl coming of age in a dichotomized society in which the role of native women is being redefined. It’s a beautiful and exciting story, and the girl both rides a whale and is transformed by the experience … This is a movie you will find enchanting, mystical and thought-provoking.

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Racist Mountain Dew goat series commercial pulled

Racist Mountain Dew commercial


Racist Mountain Dew commercialFriend of a friend Sandi Baronvonsassypants Snipe summed this disgusting series of Mountain Dew commercial up much better than I can:

Uggg. I could go on and on about the many fuckeries this commercial promotes but then I would just cry.

Our mutual friend @bryanalexander posted this on Facebook with this note, “Here’s the full Mountain Dew goat commercial series. #3 is the killer. Wow.” And yeah, I found it not only racist, but quite unsettling.

What do you think?