Geek pride moment

I just finished writing a search engine from scratch for Fighting Bob that uses SQL Server full-text indexing, along with some fairly complex SQL and Cold Fusion code. I’m sure it’s not perfect, and I’m sure lots of other people could do the same thing in their sleep. But I’m still pleased.

I’ve been thinking a lot about teachers lately. Whether it’s Mrs. du Toit’s railing about evil public schools, or an absolutely gorgeous essay/poem by Taylor Mali, or the “60 Minutes” story on the inner-city debate team, it seems I’m fated to think about teachers and their impact this week.

Everyone has horror stories. Bob Scripture, the truly evil phy ed teacher, used to make kids sit in an imaginary chair against the wall for just about any offense, like making the wrong turn in square dancing. (Yes, we had square dancing in elementary school phy ed. And lots of other strange stuff.)

But what I remember most from my public (!) education were the people who challenged me, supported me, gave me the confidence to succeed. They taught me that questioning is the only way to learn, and they taught me that continually learning is the best way to live. These people are heroes, no question.

Two people who come immediately to mind are the now-infamous Bill Keys, and the (to me) legendary Patricia Lehman, both teachers at West High School in Madison back in the day. Keys had a wonderful anarchy about him, a twinkle in his eye that inspired me greatly. He was one of the people who made me realize how much words and writing matter.

Pat Lehman encouraged me both to try the school paper, and to apply to Northwestern University – these decisions shaped my life immensely. Just to give you an idea of how great a teacher she was, her class in linguistics and grammar was incredibly popular (and fun and challenging) among jaded and cynical teenagers. She had an intelligence, a warmth that was almost magic. I owe her more than I can say.

Finally, a quote from “Finite and Infinite Games,” a wonderful little book I’ll most likely write more about in the future.

“To be prepared against surprise is to be trained. To be prepared for surprise is to be educated…Training repeats a completed past in the future. Education continues an unfinished past into the future.”

Mrs. du Toit and her ilk want more training. I want more education.

I have an impulse to post a comment on Andrea’s site. Or three. My fingers are twitching. Isn’t there someone I can call who can talk me down? Anyone?

I need a sponsor.

UPDATE: Too late. I’ve already done it. Now I just need to stop at one.

UPDATE PART DEUX: Three. Stop at three.

John already linked to this, but it’s so beautifully written, passionate, and true, I had to “pass it on” here:

This is your story – the progressive story of America.

Please read this. We need to decide what we want our country to stand for – what we want it to be. That’s the struggle that matters.

Burnout 2 is the Halo of driving games.

Should it be considered odd that the thing I hate most about Michael Savage’s web site is the stupid flag, star and eagle repeating background that obscures the text? Even more than the hateful spewage that sits on top of it? I am such a web geek.

Question for comics fans

Exactly what are Bruce Banner’s pants made out of? (I’m not even going to comment on the pose in the linked image. Nope. No comment.)

Intacto

This clockwork toy of a movie, where gamblers absorb the luck of others in order to compete in strange games of chance, is brilliantly photographed and well acted. But I didn’t feel emotionally engaged at all. I kept thinking of “Talk to Her,” another high-concept Spanish movie. But “Talk to Her” is so much better, because it manages to sustain the high concept while still being mostly about the people in the story. The characters in “Intacto” are ciphers, and I think intentionally so, which makes it hard to care about what happens to them. I did like it better the more I thought about it, which is appropriate for a movie that primarily goes on in your own head.

For all its problems, I would so much rather watch a movie like “Intacto” that tries something different, that challenges rather than coddles, than the usual Hollywood junk. Even if they shoot for the moon and don’t quite make it.

“She represents everything I hate about women”

I’m doing it again. I can’t help myself. Maybe I need to join a support group or something. (Isn’t the first step admitting that I have a problem?)

One of my all-time favorite right-wing habitual statements is “I haven’t [seen/read/listened to/played] that [book/movie/art exhibit/song/game], and I don’t intend to. But I know it is trash, and against all I hold dear in this world.” They see no problem with this statement, or how funny it is. In fact, it’s almost a badge of honor – why would they lower themselves to Satan’s level, when they already know of his evil works?

My general assumption that the world is not dominated by pinheads is taking a beating these days.

COMMENT HIGHLIGHTS ON MDT:
“Read her book? I would rather throw-up for a day.”

BONUS QUESTION: Why does the right hate Hillary Clinton so much? If you had to boil it down to one thing, what would it be? Mrs. dT clearly won’t tell me, so I’m turning to you guys.

[CHANDLER BING]
Could TechTV *have* any more robot shows?
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