About eight months ago, on October 29, 2008, I became a father. It has been both more wonderful and more difficult than I had ever thought.
I mean, I'd heard tons of other people describe the awe and joy that came with parenthood, but I couldn't seem to take them seriously. "There's no way it's that fantastic," I'd think when hearing other new parents gush about how their child changed their life. Don't get me wrong, I thought it would be great and all, I just didn't think it would be as crazily, abjectly mind-blowing as others did.
I was wrong.
Lucian is a fantastically, awesomely wonderful little dude. I teared up and couldn't speak when he was born, and still do when I think about it. Since then, I know that all those other new parents were right. The most life-changing thing ever...Incomparably wonderful...and all those other seemingly cheesy things you hear to describe becoming a parent - turns out, they're true.
Not that it's all roses and Sonic blasts, mind you. Between his nursing problems, food intolerances, and sleeping issues, we've had more than our fair share of difficulties. But, the joy of shepherding (and being shepherded by) a life you and your wife created more than makes up for it. Even at 6:15 am, when I started writing this after the little one woke up (after a night not really sleeping, seems like it's growth spurt time), I am just continually amazed by him.
I told Ali multiple times yesterday "Thank you for making me a father." I have an awesome family, a great life, and the best Father's Day ever...because I am one.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Alt med = crap? I'm so surprised,
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090610/ap_on_he_me/us_med_unproven_remedies_research
BETHESDA, Md. – Ten years ago the government set out to test herbal and other alternative health remedies to find the ones that work. After spending $2.5 billion, the disappointing answer seems to be that almost none of them do.
To paraphrase the great James Randi (randi.org), I could have told them that for $2.50. I mean, 2.5 BILLION dollars? They could have just given every person in the US $8 and told them to go to a movie or buy a good hamburger.
This reminds me of the SRI studies in the 1970s and 80s that spent $20 million to see if "remote viewing" was real (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SRI_International#Clairvoyance_and_ESP). Guess what? It wasn't (http://www.skepdic.com/remotevw.html).
Maybe Obama's White House will cut some of this crap out, but given that he wants to play nice, I don't see that happening.
BETHESDA, Md. – Ten years ago the government set out to test herbal and other alternative health remedies to find the ones that work. After spending $2.5 billion, the disappointing answer seems to be that almost none of them do.
To paraphrase the great James Randi (randi.org), I could have told them that for $2.50. I mean, 2.5 BILLION dollars? They could have just given every person in the US $8 and told them to go to a movie or buy a good hamburger.
This reminds me of the SRI studies in the 1970s and 80s that spent $20 million to see if "remote viewing" was real (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SRI_International#Clairvoyance_and_ESP). Guess what? It wasn't (http://www.skepdic.com/remotevw.html).
Maybe Obama's White House will cut some of this crap out, but given that he wants to play nice, I don't see that happening.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Paying for grades - good or bad?
Well, in terms of poorer schools, it seems to be paying off pretty well - to the tune of a huge increase in scores (http://www.nypost.com/seven/06082009/news/regionalnews/learn__earn_plan_pays_off_173099.htm).
Thoughts? Personally, I'm a bigger fan of creating high expectations (http://thedefendersonline.com/2009/05/22/kipp-the-power-of-high-expectations/) and encouraging a learning-oriented environment and mindset (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-secret-to-raising-smart-kids).
But, results are results, and getting paid for performance is what almost all jobs are about (academic administration notwithstanding). Is there really anything wrong with this, other than us feeling a little odd about it?
Thoughts? Personally, I'm a bigger fan of creating high expectations (http://thedefendersonline.com/2009/05/22/kipp-the-power-of-high-expectations/) and encouraging a learning-oriented environment and mindset (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-secret-to-raising-smart-kids).
But, results are results, and getting paid for performance is what almost all jobs are about (academic administration notwithstanding). Is there really anything wrong with this, other than us feeling a little odd about it?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
What, the media exagerates?
They sure do, and reason.com has a nice list of the "Top 10 Most Absurd Time Covers." Great reading, and just one more reason not to buy into the "news."
http://reason.com/news/show/134038.html
http://reason.com/news/show/134038.html
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
DRM + content = ordinary people becoming "pirates"
The term "pirates" becomes all the more ridiculous when we have actual Somali pirates on the seas, but even so this article shows just how asinine DRM is and how it curbs people's rights:
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/05/landmark-study-drm-truly-does-make-pirates-out-of-us-all.ars
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/05/landmark-study-drm-truly-does-make-pirates-out-of-us-all.ars
Copyright for students
Great resource from the EFF to help teachers show students what copyright is and is not.
http://www.teachingcopyright.org/
http://www.teachingcopyright.org/
But, aren't all photographers terrorist?
Um, no, actually. Of course, something like this fake DOHS "license" will probably help you get by the dumbasses who think they are:
http://www.matthewwilliamsdesign.com/weblog/index.php/site/comments/muni_dont_take_my_kodachrome/
http://www.matthewwilliamsdesign.com/weblog/index.php/site/comments/muni_dont_take_my_kodachrome/
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