I just started reading this book last night in my hotel room. It was recommended at a computer conference I went to last year.
I have only read a couple of chapters so far, but I am already interested. It begins by talking about how things have changed since the early 1900's using the analogy of a time traveller. What differences or changes would someone from 1900 or 1950 discover in our modern world? Which traveller would be most shocked by the way our world operates now?
One might think that the traveller from 1900 would be most out of place. Surprisingly, the author did not think that would be the case. Certainly, there have been many inventions in the 20th century but these inventions haven't really changed that much. Think about TV, cars, the telephone...still all around although they've certainly developed. What has changed the most are people's values and attitudes and this has happened in today's society.
I'm excited to read more and to find out about the "creative class" that the author believes exists in our world today and how that is changing things.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Oct. 29, 2009 - The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
I read The Outliers over the past summer and since then have found myself referring to some of the concepts presented by Malcolm Gladwell in my teaching. A discussion with my strings class today revolved around practising to become "experts" on their instruments. My own children have been playing the violin since the age of four. My oldest, who has completed 12 years of instruction, is now working on the Mozart Violin Concerti in Books 9 & 10 of the Suzuki program.
Gladwell believes, based on research, that 10, 000 hours of practice are required before someone can become an expert in their field. He gives numerous examples of sports figures, businessmen, musicians and others who are successful due to acquiring these hours. Of course, other factors discussed in the book must be considered such as being in the right place at the right time.
I did the math for my daughters, who practise every day for an hour, faithfully - they would only acquire 365 hours after one year of practice and 3, 650 hours in ten years. They would have to practise an hour every day for 30 years to achieve this goal or 3 hours daily for the next ten years to become experts on their instruments. Given the discipline and time commitment it takes for daily practice to occur, this would be an awesome feat. No wonder goals such as these are difficult to accomplish!
On the weekend, my girls performed at a wedding on violin and cello. The priest complimented them on their playing and mentioned that many parents do not realize the commitment and dedication required to succeed. I felt very proud to sit back and listen to my girls play after all the years of faithful practice and hard work they have done.
Gladwell believes, based on research, that 10, 000 hours of practice are required before someone can become an expert in their field. He gives numerous examples of sports figures, businessmen, musicians and others who are successful due to acquiring these hours. Of course, other factors discussed in the book must be considered such as being in the right place at the right time.
I did the math for my daughters, who practise every day for an hour, faithfully - they would only acquire 365 hours after one year of practice and 3, 650 hours in ten years. They would have to practise an hour every day for 30 years to achieve this goal or 3 hours daily for the next ten years to become experts on their instruments. Given the discipline and time commitment it takes for daily practice to occur, this would be an awesome feat. No wonder goals such as these are difficult to accomplish!
On the weekend, my girls performed at a wedding on violin and cello. The priest complimented them on their playing and mentioned that many parents do not realize the commitment and dedication required to succeed. I felt very proud to sit back and listen to my girls play after all the years of faithful practice and hard work they have done.
Oct. 28, 2009 - An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
As I have mentioned previously, this latest addition to the series brings back many characters from Jamie and Claire's past including Dr. Rawlings. This doctor, who Claire meets after a battle, turns out to be the twin brother of the doctor who owned the medical bag and equipment that Claire has been using.
Unfortunately, there is only a brief mention of him and nothing comes of the meeting, other than Claire informing Dr. Rawlings of his brother's death. There is also an embarrassing discussion, that really serves no purpose, about a special medical tool and then he is gone.
I was hoping that Dr. Rawlings return would cause an interesting turn of events but was disappointed that he only made a drop-in appearance. Perhaps, he will return again as part of an exciting plotline before the end of the book.
Unfortunately, there is only a brief mention of him and nothing comes of the meeting, other than Claire informing Dr. Rawlings of his brother's death. There is also an embarrassing discussion, that really serves no purpose, about a special medical tool and then he is gone.
I was hoping that Dr. Rawlings return would cause an interesting turn of events but was disappointed that he only made a drop-in appearance. Perhaps, he will return again as part of an exciting plotline before the end of the book.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Oct. 27, 2009 - An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
Almost there...about 200 pages to go of the 820 in total. A common feature of the Outlander series is the juxtaposition of different characters and time periods through various historical time periods, settings and events. Dates given at the beginning of chapters help steer the reader to the correct time period, past or present.
The portrayal of General Benedict Arnold makes this figure from the past come to life. Other than recognizing the name of the famous historical traitor, I know very little about the actions or motives that led him to desert the American army and join the British. Through Diana Gabaldon's portrayal, some insights into his character hint at possible circumstances that may have caused him to change his allegiance. The conflict between him and General Gates, Arnold's impulsiveness and perhaps even alcoholism are suggested as factors. General Schuyler, Horatio Gates, Daniel Morgan, Fort Ticonderoga, Valley Forge and Saratoga are other familiar names and places woven into Claire and Jamie's experiences during the American Revolutionary war. Although they encounter these characters and have a general idea of the final outcome of events, Jamie and Claire are powerless to change the course of history.
One of the reasons I enjoy this genre is that I find history comes alive in a fictional context, especially when it is so well-researched. I am definitely inspired to expand my knowledge about this crucial period in American development.
The portrayal of General Benedict Arnold makes this figure from the past come to life. Other than recognizing the name of the famous historical traitor, I know very little about the actions or motives that led him to desert the American army and join the British. Through Diana Gabaldon's portrayal, some insights into his character hint at possible circumstances that may have caused him to change his allegiance. The conflict between him and General Gates, Arnold's impulsiveness and perhaps even alcoholism are suggested as factors. General Schuyler, Horatio Gates, Daniel Morgan, Fort Ticonderoga, Valley Forge and Saratoga are other familiar names and places woven into Claire and Jamie's experiences during the American Revolutionary war. Although they encounter these characters and have a general idea of the final outcome of events, Jamie and Claire are powerless to change the course of history.
One of the reasons I enjoy this genre is that I find history comes alive in a fictional context, especially when it is so well-researched. I am definitely inspired to expand my knowledge about this crucial period in American development.
Oct. 26, 2009 - An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
The detailed description of events, characters and places in Diana Gabaldon's novels helps the reader to visualize what is taking place - sometimes too effectively. I just finished reading a section describing Claire performing surgery on Jamie's hand. The vivid description of the joints, muscles, tendons and inner parts of the hand as well as the intricate surgical tools and techniques used during the surgery were so well depicted, I felt queasy just reading about it. "Detach the underlying muscle with as little damage as could be managed. Tie off the small digital artery and two other vessels that seemed large enough to bother with, sever the last few fibers and shreds of skin that held the finger, then lift it free, the dangling metacarpal surprisingly white and naked, like a rat's tail." This type of description of war and surgery and hunting, among other things, is typical of Diana Gabaldon's writing. Not a novel for the faint of heart or stomach.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Oct. 25, 2009 - An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
As I continue to read about Claire and Jamie's latest adventures, I find myself curious about the historical references to characters and events from 18th century, colonial America. The story takes place during the American rebellion of 1775 and includes historic figures such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, General Howe and Benedict Arnold. The Quakers, the Loyalists, the Mohawk Indians and other groups play their part in the unfolding battle.
Returning characters include Lord John Grey and his son, William, who is in reality Jamie's son raised by Lord John. I think this will make for an interesting conclusion to the story as it stands to reason that eventually William's paternity will be revealed. Ian and his faithful companion Rollo also figure prominently in the adventure.
Back in the twentieth century, Brianna, Roger and the children try to go on with their lives without their family, dealing with their loss by reading letters left by Claire and Jamie for them to find in the future. Through the reading of these letters, they realize that their future is intricately woven with the past. I'm looking forward to discovering what this means for them. Will they go back to the past to help their parents or are they powerless to do anything in the present? I can sense danger building for Brianna and her family. What the source of this danger will be, remains to be seen.
Returning characters include Lord John Grey and his son, William, who is in reality Jamie's son raised by Lord John. I think this will make for an interesting conclusion to the story as it stands to reason that eventually William's paternity will be revealed. Ian and his faithful companion Rollo also figure prominently in the adventure.
Back in the twentieth century, Brianna, Roger and the children try to go on with their lives without their family, dealing with their loss by reading letters left by Claire and Jamie for them to find in the future. Through the reading of these letters, they realize that their future is intricately woven with the past. I'm looking forward to discovering what this means for them. Will they go back to the past to help their parents or are they powerless to do anything in the present? I can sense danger building for Brianna and her family. What the source of this danger will be, remains to be seen.
Oct. 24, 2009 - What is the Best Book Your Book Club Has Read?
This article, from Real Simple magazine, September 2008, reveals the books that were either favourites of book clubs or provoked the most discussion. The list includes both fiction and non-fiction as well as some children's books like The BFG by Roald Dahl. Each recommendation includes a short synopsis and gives a reason why the book was effective in the book club setting. From reading the summaries, some of the books sound very appealing. I'm going to put them on my reading list for the future. So many good books...so little time!
Here are some of the titles, in no particular order:
Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen - a story set in a circus
The Secret History by Donna Tartt - murder mystery
The Road by Cormac McCarthy - nuclear devastation
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin - changing the world by educating girls
Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore - a couple befriends a homeless man
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris - adapting to a foreign country
Ghost Story by Peter Straub - a fast, can't-put-it-down, no-dinner-tonight read
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn - apparently reveals some shocking discoveries
The Quality of Life Report by Meghan Daum - fast-paced vs slow-paced life
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer - a boy loses his father during 911
Maus by Art Speigelman - the Holocaust
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - friendship develops during a hostage crisis
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Blindness by Jose Saramago
Perhaps one of the books listed above sounds interesting to you? I'm going to check the local library. Happy reading.
Here are some of the titles, in no particular order:
Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen - a story set in a circus
The Secret History by Donna Tartt - murder mystery
The Road by Cormac McCarthy - nuclear devastation
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin - changing the world by educating girls
Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore - a couple befriends a homeless man
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris - adapting to a foreign country
Ghost Story by Peter Straub - a fast, can't-put-it-down, no-dinner-tonight read
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn - apparently reveals some shocking discoveries
The Quality of Life Report by Meghan Daum - fast-paced vs slow-paced life
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer - a boy loses his father during 911
Maus by Art Speigelman - the Holocaust
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - friendship develops during a hostage crisis
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Blindness by Jose Saramago
Perhaps one of the books listed above sounds interesting to you? I'm going to check the local library. Happy reading.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Oct. 23, 2009 - The Composer is Dead
Released in 2009, this murder mystery by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) with music brilliantly composed by Nathaniel Stookey introduces readers to the instruments of the orchestra using a fun and humorous approach. The text is written in the style of A Series of Unfortunate Events. For example, definitions are used to explain important terms in the story. The score enhances the text while providing an overview of the different instruments and sections of the orchestra. The finale, a funeral march for the dead, incorporates musical themes from well-known compositions while the composers are mentioned in the text. Humour, mystery and suspense interweave with an intricate musical score to set the stage for a wonderful learning experience. This is a great resource for teaching about music.
It comes with a CD of the San Francisco Orchestra (conducted by Edwin Outwater, currently with the K-W Symphony) performing the work in the venue where it first premiered. The KW Symphony performed "The Composer is Dead" at a concert in 2008 with Daniel Handler narrating and Edwin Outwater conducting. Nathaniel Stookey was also present and spoke about the features of the music he composed. I was fortunate enough to be in the audience for this performance. At intermission, I met Daniel Handler and purchased an autographed copy of one of "The Series of Unfortunate Events" books.
The book has been released and is currently available at most bookstores. Check out this video on Amazon about the book The Composer is Dead.
It comes with a CD of the San Francisco Orchestra (conducted by Edwin Outwater, currently with the K-W Symphony) performing the work in the venue where it first premiered. The KW Symphony performed "The Composer is Dead" at a concert in 2008 with Daniel Handler narrating and Edwin Outwater conducting. Nathaniel Stookey was also present and spoke about the features of the music he composed. I was fortunate enough to be in the audience for this performance. At intermission, I met Daniel Handler and purchased an autographed copy of one of "The Series of Unfortunate Events" books.
The book has been released and is currently available at most bookstores. Check out this video on Amazon about the book The Composer is Dead.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Oct. 22, 2009 - Our Iceberg is Melting
Our Iceberg is Melting is a business book written as a fable about a group of penguins who finds that their colony is in danger due to a melting iceberg. The penguins need to make a lifestyle change in order to save their lives.
The characters in the book resemble different personality types in the workforce. In fact, after reading another business book, I Hate People, I recognized some of these personalities; for example, the Nay Sayer or Stop Sign is NoNo, the penguin. The penguin characters all need to combine their talents as they work together, one step at a time, to embrace the change needed to survive.
Today's world is changing more rapidly than ever before and in this type of society we need to be flexible and more open to changing circumstances. And yet, I sometimes feel that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I don't believe that our underlying motives, desires and principles are any different than in the past but the tools and resources available to us have definitely advanced.
I'm not convinced that change for the sake of change is beneficial either. If something is working, does it necessarily need to be modified? At school, curriculum and teaching methods have changed drastically over the years but in a very cyclical fashion. Focussing on reading, writing and arithmetic was considered old-fashioned for a time. Now, EQAO testing involves exactly those subjects and therefore, with the need to improve school test scores, boards are giving more time to the "3 R's" once again. News reports about school boards experimenting with "all boys schools" is also reminiscent of days gone by.
However, students still learn in the same basic way. Bloom's taxonomy of skills from 1956 continues to be a reference in current professional development sessions for teachers. We value the arts - music, visual arts, drama - for a time, then remove it from the curriculum only to bring it back again. In short, "everything old is new again."
Although adjusting to change is a necessary part of our lives, reflection and analysis are necessary before jumping off the proverbial melting iceberg.
The characters in the book resemble different personality types in the workforce. In fact, after reading another business book, I Hate People, I recognized some of these personalities; for example, the Nay Sayer or Stop Sign is NoNo, the penguin. The penguin characters all need to combine their talents as they work together, one step at a time, to embrace the change needed to survive.
Today's world is changing more rapidly than ever before and in this type of society we need to be flexible and more open to changing circumstances. And yet, I sometimes feel that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I don't believe that our underlying motives, desires and principles are any different than in the past but the tools and resources available to us have definitely advanced.
I'm not convinced that change for the sake of change is beneficial either. If something is working, does it necessarily need to be modified? At school, curriculum and teaching methods have changed drastically over the years but in a very cyclical fashion. Focussing on reading, writing and arithmetic was considered old-fashioned for a time. Now, EQAO testing involves exactly those subjects and therefore, with the need to improve school test scores, boards are giving more time to the "3 R's" once again. News reports about school boards experimenting with "all boys schools" is also reminiscent of days gone by.
However, students still learn in the same basic way. Bloom's taxonomy of skills from 1956 continues to be a reference in current professional development sessions for teachers. We value the arts - music, visual arts, drama - for a time, then remove it from the curriculum only to bring it back again. In short, "everything old is new again."
Although adjusting to change is a necessary part of our lives, reflection and analysis are necessary before jumping off the proverbial melting iceberg.
Oct. 21, 2009 - Vampire Diairies
This series of books which includes The Awakening, The Struggle, The Fury and Dark Reunion was first published in 1991, before the Twilight hysteria began. Yet, as I started reading the first book, there were immediate connections to the Twilight series. The style of writing, the vampire lore, the teenage angst, all contributed to this.
The main character, Elena, is torn between two brothers, both vampires, one good and one evil. They see her as a reincarnation of a woman they both loved in the past who died.
Currently, there is a popular TV show based on this series. Both my daughters and their teenage friends are crazy about it. My oldest even says its better than the Twilight movies. I have to admit, having read the Twilight books myself, I've been watching it too and I'm enjoying it.
The main character, Elena, is torn between two brothers, both vampires, one good and one evil. They see her as a reincarnation of a woman they both loved in the past who died.
Currently, there is a popular TV show based on this series. Both my daughters and their teenage friends are crazy about it. My oldest even says its better than the Twilight movies. I have to admit, having read the Twilight books myself, I've been watching it too and I'm enjoying it.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Oct. 20, 2009 - The Myth of Multitasking
I read this article in my Homemaker's magazine and it really got me thinking. As a teacher, I find I am often guilty of trying to do too many things at once. With 9 different classes each day of 30 or more adolescent students demanding my attention and assistance all at once, multitasking is a fact of life. Add to this work and home responsibilities (children and a husband) as well as attempting to find personal time and meet social commitments and you realize there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything - not doing one task at a time. But is this really true?
Sure we can do some simple, routine tasks simultaneously with good result, but trying to do important things like driving while texting are not only difficult but dangerous. Tasks that are mentally challenging especially require our full attention. In fact, the term multitasking is a "myth". The article suggests that "task switching" would be a more appropriate term, causing delays in the completion of a goal or project. Not to mention that the concept of focusing on one particular task is increasingly difficult for my students who do not have the practice required to maintain this level of singular focus.
I tried the simple task test mentioned in this article (writing the alphabet and the numbers to 26, alternating between the two lists until completed) and found, indeed, that it took me twice as long to complete the assigned activities. Imagine how much time could be saved doing one thing at a time?
Of course, as I write this, I'm also watching my soap opera on T.V. Which proves the theory entirely. It's taken three times as long to write my post today and I'm still working on finishing the soap opera.
Sure we can do some simple, routine tasks simultaneously with good result, but trying to do important things like driving while texting are not only difficult but dangerous. Tasks that are mentally challenging especially require our full attention. In fact, the term multitasking is a "myth". The article suggests that "task switching" would be a more appropriate term, causing delays in the completion of a goal or project. Not to mention that the concept of focusing on one particular task is increasingly difficult for my students who do not have the practice required to maintain this level of singular focus.
I tried the simple task test mentioned in this article (writing the alphabet and the numbers to 26, alternating between the two lists until completed) and found, indeed, that it took me twice as long to complete the assigned activities. Imagine how much time could be saved doing one thing at a time?
Of course, as I write this, I'm also watching my soap opera on T.V. Which proves the theory entirely. It's taken three times as long to write my post today and I'm still working on finishing the soap opera.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Oct. 19, 2009 - Slow Death By Rubber Duck by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie
This book has an odd title but I think it will be an interesting read. The subtitle gives an overview about the topic - How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health. More and more people are in poor health, physically, emotionally and mentally. Obesity, cancer, heart disease and many other illnesses are taking their toll on our population, young and old alike. I wonder if our environment plays a factor in this?
I am barely a few pages in and am already learning about things to avoid. For example, the inside of microwave popcorn bags are coated with chemicals that are toxic. That was a shocking discovery that made me realize I need to find an alternate way of enjoying popcorn - the good old-fashioned way of popping it on the stove. It will probably taste better anyways, you can control the salt content and I'm sure it's much cheaper in the long run.
Over the summer, I completed two other books with health and nutrition topics - Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser and Food Inc. - How Industrial Food is Making us Fatter, Sicker and Poorer. After reading these two books, I will never feel the same about eating at fast food restaurants. I am fortunate to enjoy excellent homemade meals, my husband being a fabulous chef. We rarely eat out anyways, which is a good thing based on the information in these books. I think the prepared and frozen foods such as those described are highly related to the topic of toxic chemistry.
I'll blog about further discoveries as I continue reading Slow Death by Rubber Duck.
I am barely a few pages in and am already learning about things to avoid. For example, the inside of microwave popcorn bags are coated with chemicals that are toxic. That was a shocking discovery that made me realize I need to find an alternate way of enjoying popcorn - the good old-fashioned way of popping it on the stove. It will probably taste better anyways, you can control the salt content and I'm sure it's much cheaper in the long run.
Over the summer, I completed two other books with health and nutrition topics - Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser and Food Inc. - How Industrial Food is Making us Fatter, Sicker and Poorer. After reading these two books, I will never feel the same about eating at fast food restaurants. I am fortunate to enjoy excellent homemade meals, my husband being a fabulous chef. We rarely eat out anyways, which is a good thing based on the information in these books. I think the prepared and frozen foods such as those described are highly related to the topic of toxic chemistry.
I'll blog about further discoveries as I continue reading Slow Death by Rubber Duck.
Oct. 18, 2009 - An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
As a fan of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books, I couldn't wait for the release of her newest addition to the series. I picked it up the day it came out and couldn't wait to get started.
Diana's books are full of detail so even as a fast reader, it takes me some time to get through them. My problem is that once I start a good book, I have a hard time putting it down. I'll often stay up well past midnight because I must know how it turns out. I've always had that problem. So, in order to save myself from being too tired to teach the next day, I sped read through the entire ending. I know what you're thinking - that's terrible. But I know myself as reader and I know I will still thoroughly enjoy the book and will complete it no matter what.
In a way, it's the best thing for me because now I can take my time reading the rest of the book. There are so many historical details to put into perspective and a lot of characters to remember from Claire and Jaime's past. I need to actually go back and read all of the books again in order to really understand everything that is happening.
I am currently halfway through the book (just finished Chpt. 35, June 12, 1777, Fort Ticonderoga) where Claire and her nephew Ian are having an interesting discussion about genetics.
Having read the ending, I will not spoil it for other readers. I will say that it left me frustrated with the turn of events. There will definitely be other books in this series. It's not over yet.
Diana's books are full of detail so even as a fast reader, it takes me some time to get through them. My problem is that once I start a good book, I have a hard time putting it down. I'll often stay up well past midnight because I must know how it turns out. I've always had that problem. So, in order to save myself from being too tired to teach the next day, I sped read through the entire ending. I know what you're thinking - that's terrible. But I know myself as reader and I know I will still thoroughly enjoy the book and will complete it no matter what.
In a way, it's the best thing for me because now I can take my time reading the rest of the book. There are so many historical details to put into perspective and a lot of characters to remember from Claire and Jaime's past. I need to actually go back and read all of the books again in order to really understand everything that is happening.
I am currently halfway through the book (just finished Chpt. 35, June 12, 1777, Fort Ticonderoga) where Claire and her nephew Ian are having an interesting discussion about genetics.
Having read the ending, I will not spoil it for other readers. I will say that it left me frustrated with the turn of events. There will definitely be other books in this series. It's not over yet.
Oct. 18, 2009 - Still Alice by Lisa Genova
This being my first post, I'll tell you about a book I recently finished reading before blogging about what I am reading today.
Upon hearing about this book, I placed a hold for it at my local library. The day I picked it up was a busy one so I decided to simply read the first few pages before getting to some other jobs I needed to do. Two hours later, I hadn't put the book down, tears were streaming down my face and my jobs were still waiting to be finished. What a wonderful, heartwrenching but inspiring story. It's hard to describe the feeling you get when you've just completed a great book. I felt...complete...tingling with emotion...bursting to tell others about this touching novel. I highly recommend reading Still Alice but only with a box of tissue beside you.
Upon hearing about this book, I placed a hold for it at my local library. The day I picked it up was a busy one so I decided to simply read the first few pages before getting to some other jobs I needed to do. Two hours later, I hadn't put the book down, tears were streaming down my face and my jobs were still waiting to be finished. What a wonderful, heartwrenching but inspiring story. It's hard to describe the feeling you get when you've just completed a great book. I felt...complete...tingling with emotion...bursting to tell others about this touching novel. I highly recommend reading Still Alice but only with a box of tissue beside you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)