I have been doing some Spring cleaning around the apartment and around my computer. I always seem to end up with folders named “Stuff” inside of folders named “Stuff” or “More Stuff” and those are usually inside folders called “Stuff.” Anyway, you get the idea. I have trashed a bunch on stuff, moved files to my external hard drive, and I think my computer is now a much happier camper. I even cleaned up my account in Entourage, backing up and then deleting a ton of old emails.

I joined a gym yesterday and go for a training session today. I need to lose about 30 pounds and need to get in better shape overall. Now is the time!

I have had a chance over the last couple of months to really do a lot of organizing at school. I set up checklists for each Credit Recovery course we offer. That will make keeping track of student progress this summer so much easier. I used GoogleSpreadsheets so I can even share viewing access with the student / parent for those who have chosen to give me their email address. I also reorganized our Course Recovery lab, re-imaged all the eMacs, and hung a bunch of new posters. The room is much more homey now. I am glad I get to stay there at least one more year and hope I will get to stay for many more years past that.

Off the personal stuff now. Here are a few new sites I have stumbled upon:

Beat spam with the best disposable e-mail service.

I just love his stuff!

I love looking at historical stuff.

Finally, here is a YouTube video I came across. I can’t get MY cats to do any of these tricks but I am trying.

]]> http://www.cloverworks.com/b/?feed=rss2&p=363 http://www.cloverworks.com/b/?p=349 http://www.cloverworks.com/b/?p=349#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:30:23 +0000 Wanda http://www.cloverworks.com/b/?p=349 I came across this website while Stumbling - toxel.com. It is just amazing how creative people can be. Here are a few of my favorites.

3M Security Glass Bus Stop Advertisement

3M was so sure their Security Glass was unbreakable, they put a large stack of cash behind it and shoved it in a bus stop.

Headhunting Agency Shopping Bag

Slow motion video of lightning

I have been spending most of my time on a new web design project but I think I will start looking at crafting again. I can start now making items to give as Christmas presents without feeling rushed as the end of the year approaches.

As I come across neat crafting projects, I will share them here. Maybe they will be of use to others.

I came across this neat project for etching glass. I think I will give it a try after I come up with some thoughtful words to etch. I think this would be cool to do with pictures of pets. I have many friends who share their lives with animals, as do I. Maybe a picture of a pet with a pet-friendly quote would be a good gift.

Maybe I will order this embroidered shirt.

This widget won’t be of much use to anyone not at MCHS but I just felt like sharing. It is available for downloading in a zipped file for anyone who wants it.

When you thought I wasn’t looking:

I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

I saw you feed a stray cat and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust God.

I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to take care of each other.

I saw you give your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who had something should give to those who don’t.

I felt you kiss me good night and I felt loved and safe.

I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we were given.

I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s alright to cry.

I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

I looked at you and wanted to say, “Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.”

Each of us, parent, grandparent, relative or friend, influence the life of a child.

How will you touch the life of someone today?

- Author Unknown

Wordle

1. Students can use it to monitor the frequency of word usage in their own writings. a. How often do they use the same adjectives or nouns? b. Are they overusing words?

7. Self Reflection; If you where to write a story about yourself, what would your Wordle say?

Here is an example from the site - George Washington’s Inaugural Address:

Here is an example I did - Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address:

This story is the first in a three part series:

The Net’s Mid-Life Crisis (March 13, 2009)

The basic architecture of the Internet hasn’t changed since it was conceived 40 years ago. But what was once the playground of wonks is now the main staging area for the global economy and open to an array of security vulnerabilities. Brooke talks with Internet experts who ponder a vexing conundrum: adjustments that increase security simultaneously hamper innovation.

I won’t try to give you the exact words but the one section that really stuck out to me was when they were talking about security and the Internet. A comparison was made to the Interstate system. A person said does it make sense to say we are going to modify the Interstate system to stop criminals from committing crimes? It makes just as much sense to say we are going to modify the Internet (the global superhighway) to stop cyber-criminals. I am looking forward to the next two shows in the series and will post links to them when they come online.