Stephen's Journal

First day of school: done.

Me? Pumped. I'm gonna be awesome this year. *giggle*

I also have an audition for the Atlanta GLBT mixed chorus, OurSong, tonight. Because this was the first day of school, my mind was keyed up last night and I got very little sleep. I hope I don't sound like Harvey Fierstein.

Never fall asleep around friends with cameras.

Yeah, that's in a pool. Sure glad I don't toss and turn too much in my sleep....heh...

(Weird how my hand is holding on to the side, even though I'm asleep...)

I am SOOOOO excited about the coming school year.

I wish it would start already.

And I've put up my first bulletin board EVER this year! (Yeah, that's right...ten years, first bulletin board. I'm just not gifted that way.)

Weird to think that I've been here a decade now. It just doesn't seem that long. Of course, I still hope to retire from this place. Unless someone comes along and, well, fucks it up, it fits my personality and teaching style perfectly...

*squee* for the new year!

Two things from NPR's Morning Edition this morning:

1) First of all, a subtle thing. During a story about the cancer-caused death of former Crip and gangbanger activist Darren "Bo" Taylor, a member of L.A.'s corrections department used the following curious non-parallel structure: "He could talk to anyone -- Latinos, African-Americans, Asians, policemen..."

Subtly racist? You betcha. If I were a member of one of those groups mentioned, I think I would have been a tad peeved.

(If a context had been set that she was previously talking about prisoners, I could understand, but she either didn't set that context or it was edited out of the story.)

2) I had a driveway moment (you know, where you sit in the driveway of your destination to hear the end of a story) learning of the success of DivertCourt, a program in Texas(!) which is designed to keep drug offenders out of jail through group meetings with a judge and appropriate monitoring of addiction therapy. Great story -- it warmed me up to know such a program existed, especially in the hang-'em-high Long Horn State. (I wonder if Georgia has anything similar or might be considering it...I hope so.)

I *love* NPR's news programs. I think The World is one of the most interesting programs on the radio today anywhere -- but that's a subject for a different post.

*groan*

A couple notes to the presenter on "Creating a Safe School Environment" this morning:

1. Please, under no circumstances, EVER ask us the question "You've heard of YouTube, right?" again. Same rule with the word "blog." (I thought my eyes would unscrew from the amount of rolling they did.)

2. When a student misses school a lot, that student does NOT have "many absentees," unless, of course, they earn a personal truant slave every time. I'm relatively certain you mean "absences."

3. I beg of you to proofread your slides a little more carefully. Correct capitalization is important, especially when addressing a room full of teachers. (Well, ok -- maybe just when addressing *me* in a professional setting....)

The presentation really wasn't that bad but those things, as my parents would say, really stick in my craw.

I'm in the middle of training today, so this will be short.

Lifted from an article which suggests accepting misspelled words as variant spellings:

Playwright George Bernard Shaw was fond of pointing out that the word "ghoti" could just as well be pronounced "fish" if you followed common pronunciation: 'gh' as in "tough," 'o' as in "women" and 'ti' as in "nation."

Heh...I hadn't heard this one before, but it made me giggle.

( Article behind cut )

And still she steams.

It was a great trip. I'll post more pics if I can ever pull myself together.

Flying a red-eye then going to an eight-hour software training session will wear you flat out.

More bed, please.

I am the Angel of Death -- or, at least, House Destruction.

A few years ago, whilst taking a shower at Mike and Bryon's home, I turned the water control and *pop*! -- it broke, spinning uselessly on its handle, water still running in the shower. They assured me that it was well on its way to falling apart and that I only served to -- ahem -- *hasten* the process.

This morning, I'm taking a shower in Brian's bathroom (maybe it's something to do with people named Br(y)i(o)an) when, in the midst of turning the hot water on, the handle snaps off in my hand, clean and clear. Twenty minutes, a set of pliers and several runs around the hot water heater and every spigot in the house later, I *still* can't get the water turned off, and a friend of Brian's is on his way. Again, Brian assures me this was in the offing, that I simply *hastened* the process.

Moral of the story: if you have something in your home that you know needs replacing -- especially if it's water-related -- and inertia prevents you from replacing it until it's actually broken, invite me over. I'll *hasten* that process right up for you.

*sigh* Good thing I have some good qualities to counteract my aquaklutziness.

First of all -- ya know that piece of art I bought?

( I now own the accompanying piece. )

Now, to Washington State drivers:

Seriously. The signs along the side of the expressway tell you. I'm sure your driver's manual tells you, too.

Please stay right except to pass.

I've never been in a place where so many drivers are going the speed limit and below in the passing lanes. And we're not talking one or two, here, either -- we're talking, on a 200-mile trip, in the half-century area. Sheesh.

It has helped me realize this much, though: I am an aggressive driver. In Atlanta, I'm actually far less aggressive than is average -- but take the same driving habits and place them here, and I'm Mr. Death Race 3000. In fact, if you're from Washington state, and you decide to visit Atlanta, might I humbly suggest that you may want to stay off the roads for your protection? We will run your apple-eating asses down....*grin*

Oh, and lest I forget:
( Photographic evidence of LJer interaction behind cut )

And, of course, ( the ubiquitous, mis-aimed, flattering-to-none hand-held self-portrait: )

Yayz!

Ok...so I'm in Seattle, down at Pike Place Market, when I come across this piece of art:

It's made out of punched steel. I don't normally spend money on art, but this was SOO worth it....the decisicon was made easier by my host (bald-headed mother) Scott, who reminded me that life is too short to play it too close to the breast.

I can't wait to get this put up somewhere in my place -- it would make a good accompaniment to the found-object pieces I was considering making....

Pfeh.

Know what's going through my head right now?

"Going to a Town" by Rufus Wainwright. Not exactly the cheeriest of music, eh?

( Lyrics behind cut )

But life is good in spite of it.

It has been a good day of good friends, good phone conversation and good laughter -- and every day with lots of laughter is a great day indeed.

Hmm...if I believe that, then most of my days *are* great days.

Uh-oh. Might have to start believing that life is good. Watch out. *giggle*

EDIT: Oh! I ordered seasons 2-4 of Kids in the Hall off half.com today -- so when I get back from PorSea, I'll have lots of funnies to watch! Yayz!

Way number one to make my Friday better?

Purchasing a ticket to see Aimee Mann at Variety Playhouse September 5.

I feel the happy beginning to flow...

Anyone wanna go with me? I'm pretty sure there are still tix available...

Though if there isn't anyone else, I'll be happy to hit that show by me-own-self. :)

What's a better way to start a Friday morning than stepping in a pile of dog shit?

I'll tell you -- stepping in a pool of human vomit.

*sigh*

I really must learn to watch my step in the city.

Ah, well. The day can only get better from here.

OMG best lunch evar
One tomato fresh from

pdsexton's garden, sliced thin, then placed on toasted pieces of sourdough baguette with a little salt, pepper and parm and a very light drizzle of EVOO and balsamic vinegar.

OMGYum.

This tomato is friggin' awesome. I can see now why culinary snobs turn their noses up at the ethylene-blasted orbs of mealiness sold in grocery stores.

Brainstorming help
( All the stuff behind the cut leads to this question... )

For anyone who has mathematical druthers out there, is there something you'd like to understand about math, but never had a teacher explain to you? I'm definitely looking for ideas here...and if you know any math teachers or math folk, feel free to direct them to this post.

Interesting article on PUMAs ("Party Unity, My Ass!) -- disillusioned Hillary Clinton supporters -- and their efforts to organize on cnn.com today.

( Article behind cut )

My take on it? If you don't support Obama, don't vote for him. I'm fine with that -- there are good reasons to make that choice (though I, personally, don't agree with them).

But please -- enough with the Michigan and Florida crap, already! The DNC informed the two states' dem leaders what would happen if they moved their primaries earlier than allowed, and they did it anyway. Then, when the consequences hit and actually *mattered,* there were cries of disenfranchisement. That's like blaming fire for your burn when you are the one who sticks your hand in it.

I find it extraordinarily hard to believe in conspiracy theories in general and this one specifically.

What's it like living in Atlanta in July?

Yeah, that's about it.

(You know how some people sweat in patterns? I see a map of northern Europe on my back. Weird.)

The photo is courtesy

annoyinghandle, whom we officially welcome as a new Georjun.

And

mudcub, just remember -- you owe me a wrestling match now. ;)

Clearly, I can neither read nor count today. Sheesh.

Ah, well -- it's Friday. Woohoot!

I mean....it is Friday, isn't it?

*worries*

How big a geek am I?
Well, I've always loved geography since I was a kid...

And I teach math for a living...

And I love trivia...

So in my summer school boredom, I did some research on a whim and came up with a couple of interesting trivia pieces about state capitals.

1) Five states have capital cities which share their names with towns in over half the other states. What are those four?

2) Seven states have capital cities which share their names with no other towns in the U.S. What are those seven?

A couple of the answers to question one are obvious if ya think for a little but has a surprise or two. Question number two also has some obvious ones -- and one I considered a surprise.

I'll post the answer Monday...

EDIT: Apparently, even though I teach math, I can't count. Question one has been edited.

Correct answers earn an smooch or hug to be delivered upon in-person meeting.

Of course, this is probably the kind of thing that only interests me. LOL

Because it was a topic of discussion in

ruralrob's journal today, I noticed this in a news story about the passage of the new global AIDS funding bill just passed by the Senate:

Senate changes will have to be worked out with the House. Those include a measure added to the Senate bill by Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Gordon Smith, R-Ore., that would reverse a policy that has made it difficult for HIV-positive foreigners to visit or seek residency in the United States.

"For 20 years the United States has barred HIV-positive travelers from entering the country even for one day," said Rachel B. Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality. "Today the Senate said loud and clear that AIDS exceptionalism must come to an end."

Who knows if it will make the final cut, but at least here is a sign that someone is, indeed, close to making a change to ridiculously outdated policies.