I guess rigorous science and real medicine still matter. If only this breakthrough had occurred before my Dad died of pancreatic cancer, a horrible disease. Support research and ignore kooks, some of whom are now in high office.
Elon Musk is about to become the first trillionaire.
The reason poverty exists in the wealthiest country on earth isn't because we can't feed the poor — it's because we can't satisfy the rich.
We should tax trillionaires out of existence.
Columnist Frank Carini says we're turning the third rock from the sun into a plastic globe: "We’ve plasticized the planet for alleged convenience and sophomoric amusement. A wasteful society built on petroleum waste." https://t.co/TBJbkTgdvD
So, I'm teaching Fahrenheit 451 to 7th graders right now.
No screens. They read every night and are required to write 1 note per page assigned. I teach them right off they should look for "what happened" (plot development), or "something we learn about a character" or, if they spy one, a literary element like a simile, allusion or symbol.
We start class with a homework check (I walk by, check in to see if they have notes -- I'm not super picky about whether or not they have exactly one note per page, it's really just a trick to help them focus attention to the text while they read and help remind them of what they read when they get into class) and while I'm checking in on them and complimenting their work and asking questions about their day so far, they are highlighting three things from the reading that they want to discuss during class. THEY guide the discussion. As a group, they will hone in on the most important parts of the reading, which gives me an opportunity to offer nuance to what Bradbury is trying to accomplish.
I run socratic dialogues in class and they are shaking their hands to get my attention because they want to talk about Clarisse and what's-wrong-with-Mildred and that's-not-true-about-Ben-Franklin! and who-was-master-ridley? so badly.
I save "right there" questions for the shyest kids who I cold call. I have already seen the payoff in their confidence increasing and their willingness to ask clarifying questions and bring up things they notice.
They are all doing their homework. They talk about Fahrenheit in the halls. They argue about whether Clarisse is alive or dead (we're on page 45). A young man who I thought was going to be a quiet one brought up something brilliant yesterday -- he said that Montag is realizing that everything is upside down and backward in his world and it's destabilizing.
These kids are 12.
Give them great books and teach them to ask questions.
American greatness is real.
It is time for the press to honestly report Biden is on top of things in a way Trump is not and will never be. “No matter what I did you wouldn’t be satisfied. “ He should do more of these
“I care deeply that the American people have an entire picture of what is at stake in this election. And where we are right now, after that debate, is not giving us that picture,” says historian @HC_Richardson.
“It is my expectation, following the Supreme Court’s recent decisions, that that balance may be restored. But if it isn’t restored from the higher reaches of our government and from the media, the American people sure better do it themselves.
“Because we have five months to make sure that we get to the 250th anniversary of the American republic. And if we don’t come out right in November, we’re not going to make it.”
Watch our full conversation here.
Please sign on to the letter urging Gov. Bill Lee and our TN General Assembly NOT to put our students and schools at risk by arming teachers. https://t.co/XqW3suVRF9
COPIED FROM JOE BECIGNEUL: THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO TICK SOME PEOPLE OFF, AND I HOPE IT DOES. BUT I’M GOING TO KEEP ON SHARING IT AND SAYING IT. AND ONCE AGAIN, I AM NOT A SWIFTIE, BUT I AM A HUMAN BEING, A DAD AND, A MONSTROUS FOOTBALL FAN.
I am extremely disappointed in so many of you who think that "not being a fan" of someone means you're entitled to shit all over them.
I want to remind you of something.
Your children are watching you complain about Taylor Swift sitting at a football game, being happy, and cheering for a man she loves in what appears to be a very loving, respectful relationship.
Your Children are watching you judge a woman for literally just EXISTING and taking up space happily.
And you know what? Ms. Swift has won 324 awards? How many do you have?
She brought $5 BILLION dollars in consumer spending and boosted the U. S. economy so significantly, that leaders from other countries actually beg for her to play there?
Did you know that there are over 20 college courses about her skills as an artist, lyricist, and musician - including at places like Harvard, Stanford & UC Berkeley?
Did you know that Taylor Swift quietly donates mass amounts of money to local food banks in every city she performs in?
AND DID YOU KNOW …
That Taylor Swift was sexually assaulted by a radio DJ, and she got him fired? When he sued HER for over $3 million for defamation, she counter sued for a symbolic $1 in a court case that took 2 YEARS for her to win. And, she did that just to show women that fighting for what's right has no price tag & to never be silent in the face of oppression.
WELL IF YOU DON’T CARE BY NOW, YOU SHOULD.
Because your daughters, nieces, and your nephews are watching you run your mouth. And they are seeing the world hate a woman who does so much good, simply because she exists in their line of sight.
DO BETTER PEOPLE.
Teach your boys to respect women. Teach your girls that as women - they are ALLOWED to take up space.
Fix it. Become aware of your words. Because we all have the ability and the obligation to fight for the future of our children with simple moments. And we need to consciously choose to be better for them.
A bit of magic, wonder, and joy brought to you by the talented tappers of Dorrance Dance, performing their playful interpretation of The Nutcracker Suite.
Enjoy! 💕
🔥 VIRGINIA BEACH: “You’re never going to find a right way to do the wrong thing… be the good guys, while you still can.”
A local dad speaks up against anti-LGBTQ student policies.