Napolean Dynamite 2

Once again my students watched Napoleon Dynamite today since it was the last day before Christmas Vacation. To pay tribute to the movie I decided to re-post an old blogg from my friend Jesse.

Canned Heat by: Jesse Houser
I'm convinced that the struggle and triumph of humanity can be summed up in one event. That is when Napoleon Dynamite overcomes the adversity that has seemingly engulfed his life and does one thing - dance.

Nothing left for me to do but dance
Off these bad times
I’m going through just dance
I got canned heat in my heels tonight
BabyYou know know know
I’m gonna dance yeah
Off the nasty things that people say
Dance yeah but I’m gonna make it anyway
Dance yeah got canned heat
Up my heels tonight baby
You know I’ve got canned heat in my heels
Jamiroquai - "Canned Heat"

A Couple Interesting Comics I Found Online

Social Security (Click on comic to enlarge)

The Bias of Polls (click on picture to enlarge)

Where Is Christmas Going?

I really enjoyed this article on Christmas.

12/14/2005 1:56:00 AM
Good grief! What are they doing to Christmas?By Ron GilmanHoward County Republican Party treasurer
“Good grief, Charlie Brown! What are they doing to Christmas?” You can almost hear Linus utter these words as you observe all the controversy surrounding Christmas and its traditional celebrations and expressions. It is enough to cause the merriest among us to become a Scrooge, and say, “Bah, Humbug!” to the whole thing!Is it a Christmas tree or a holiday tree? Do we wish a merry Christmas or happy holidays? Can a nativity scene be displayed? Is it a Christmas vacation or a winter break? It is hard for me to believe we actually have these questions asked.I was elated when the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), requested the Capitol tree be called a Christmas tree. Can you believe it? A U.S. congressman had to officially request that a Christmas tree be called a Christmas tree. It is about time somebody at his level spoke out in favor of tradition.Many people argue that public displays of Christmas are offensive to people who do not celebrate the season or have a different religious belief. I have a suggestion for those who are offended by Christmas: Don’t celebrate it.I do not celebrate Hanukkah, but I am not offended by a menorah. I do not celebrate Kwanzaa, but I am not offended by those who do. Unfortunately, Christmas is not afforded the same tolerance as other celebrations.Why does Christmas seem so offensive to some people? For years, many Christian conservatives have suggested that Christianity is under attack. I would submit that an all-out war has been declared. Anything that remotely acknowledges God or His son, Jesus Christ, is subject to attack.Just a few weeks ago the U.S. district judge for the Southern District of Indiana, David Hamilton, ruled that ministers who open Indiana legislative sessions with prayer must refrain from praying “in the name of Jesus,” and from using Christ's name. Is it not ironic that a judge basically outlaws Jesus’ name just a few weeks away from the worldwide celebration of His birth? Unbelievable.Folks, let’s get real; this is Christmastime. It is a time when we stop to acknowledge that God sent His only son Jesus Christ into this world. If it were not for Christ, there would be no Christmas. We decorate Christmas trees, send Christmas cards, shop Christmas sales and wrap Christmas presents! We eat Christmas dinner, watch Christmas specials and shop after-Christmas sales! School children receive a Christmas break, and parents save money in Christmas club accounts. Yet, in all of this, Christ is still acknowledged, if only in name. Let’s not lose that.From the Gilman family to yours, we would like to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. And this year say “phooey” to the political correctors. Wish them a merry Christmas too! (Ron Gilman is the Howard County Republican Party treasurer, writing monthly as a columnist for the Kokomo Perspective.)

Crazy Mountain Bike Discovery

Today I came across the most extreme mountain bike I have ever seen. A company called Christini, is now making All-wheel drive mountain bikes. http://www.christini.com/index2.php
Jeep contracted for them to produce a line of mountain bikes called the Jeep Rubicon Classic AWD Mountain Bike. I spent a little bit of time researching into it and the bike is quite a piece of work. The rear tire is driven conventionally by a chain from the pedal, but a shaft is connected to the rear hub by a gear and then that shaft runs up through the tubing of the bicycle to the handlebars where it meets another shaft that runs down to the forks of the bike. That shaft then connects to a gear on the hub of the front tire which drives it. If the rider does not always wish to be in 2-wheel drive the front tire can be disengaged by a lever on the handlebars. This is quite a bike, with a pricey sticker too, anywhere from 2-3 grand depending on where you look. I guess if you’re climbing a lot of gravel or mud it might come in handy, but at 2-3k I think I'll stick with my $700 1 – wheel drive Schwinn Moab.

The Last Full Week of School

Today began the last full week of school before Christmas Vacation. It is hard to believe that the first semester has almost come to a close. I know this week will probably fly by fairly fast since I will be finishing up chapters with my students and preparing them for finals next week. Also, Today was a shortened day because of fog. It is always nice to sleep in, even if it is only until 8.

On a completely different subject, my nephew Drake was dedicated yesterday at my sister and her husband’s church. My brother and his wife drove down Saturday night stayed with my wife and I. Many of our other relatives also showed for the occasion. My great aunt and uncle even flew up from Florida, which was a great surprise. I don’t know when I saw them last. Afterwards we all went to Bob Evans for lunch, where my brother-in-law treated us.

Our New Family Blog

Lisa and I started a blog to follow things that are going on with our family. It is
http://adamlisalong.blogspot.com

Thought Provoking Words by: Daniel Defoe

I am currently reading Robinson Crusoe with my students at school. A particular quote from the book struck me today as I was reading it. There is so much truth in what the author Daniel Defoe said.

As to going home, shame opposed the best motions that offered to my thoughts; and it immediately occured to me how I should be laughed at among neighbors, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and mother only, but even everybody else; from whence I have since often observed how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth, to that reason which ought to guide them in such cases, namely, that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; nor ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning which only can make them be esteemed wise men

I found these words to be very thought provoking, I'm not going to say anymore, just let every reader ponder the words for themselves.