Blogging Workshop

Anne Davis at eSchool News Online has some good thoughts about blogging with students. Read the article and then comment on it in this blog.

"Could you explain to me how blogging may be used in the classroom?" Now that's a question that was asked of Tom that I would like to answer. First, I'd like to refer you to a couple of previous posts I've made on this topic. One was Ways to use weblogs in education and the other is Weblog think abouts. Perhaps those will help anyone thinking about blogging in the classroom. As I reread the posts, I kept thinking that I need to update them and then my next thought was how all this is still just in the process stage and who knows really where all this will lead.

I think there are many ways to use blogs in the classroom.No, there's not a right way and a wrong way but I do definitely have my own opinions about ways I would like to see them used. First and foremost, I would like to see them used with students in ways that help them better writers and thinkers. And just putting students on blogs does not make this happen. The teacher makes it happen. I've talked before about the conversations and the connections you can make with students. It's important to talk to the students about what is happening.That is crucial. I use my teacher blog with the elementary students to do that. I'd start each class off sort of touching base with what I was writing.Many times I would highlight what a student or another blogger wrote. We have to talk about what is going on with their blogs. Who have they heard from? Do they agree? Do they disagree? We talk about what they are learning. We make connections to how this affects them and our world. Are they excited about it? Do they understand it? What questions come to mind? Where might we go to find answers. Then after the discussions it's back to the blogging. I think maybe we need to spend more time talking about this aspect of blogging. The conversations motivate the students to see themselves as writers who have something to contribute. I also think we educators can learn a great deal from the students by observing and listening to what the students have to say.

Having the larger community a weblog provides does make a difference. We can't get that from other avenues. I often reads bits of other educator blogs to the students. It stretches them and I found that their writing and thinking improved as a result. I don't have all the answers but I'm still exploring and learning.

Another thing that makes a difference with weblogs is that the students are amazed when they realize that someone outside the classroom cares about what they are writing. It makes quite a difference. Again the teacher is the one here who needs to help that happen, if it doesn't of its own accord.

I love the process of building this type of learning together. We truly are guidingand learning right along with them, not just lecturing. So I encourage you to enter the world of blogging in your classroom but first spend some time really thinking about what your educational goals are.

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Imigration By The Numbers - Part 2

If you haven't watched part one of this video, please scroll down and watch it now.

Before you watch the video, allow me to rant just a bit. Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott made the most stupid, idiotic statement that I have ever heard come from the mouth of a so-called conservative senator. He said "Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem."

First of all, how can anyone be so stupid to think that something as insignificant as talk radio could run our country. Shoot, the entire three branches of the federal government can't even run the country. He has to be pretty simple minded to think a bunch of talk radio hosts could.

His problem is that talk raido hosts are mobilizing common, everyday Joe Citizens to bombard he and his ilk with emails, faxes, and phone calls demanding that they stop this amnesty insanity. And I have a problem with him having a problem. I sure thought that we had a reprentative democracy in America where the elected officials were supposed to represent the wishes and desires and best interests of the people who elected them.

So, talk raido has stirred up a bunch of "we the people" who oppose this insane bill and "we the people" are expressing our opinions, apparently in record numbers. Senator Lott doesn't like that, he has a problem with that. It is time that the people of Mississipi send him packing, along with any other senator and representative who refuse to listen to the people. If this government is no longer of the people, by the people, for the people, then there is no more America. That includes our beloved Kay Bailey and John Cornyn in Texas. John is holding fast so far but KB is supporting this insane, stupid bill that will do NOTHING to stem the flow of illegals into our homeland.

And by the way, the "something" that Lott and his ilk will do is called the fairness doctrine. I will rant about that another time, but just know this. There is nothing fair about the fairness doctrine.

OK, enough ranting. Here is the second part of the video.



'Til Next Time,
Chris the Crazy (and Angry) Conservative

Imigration By The Numbers - Part 1

This is WELL WORTH your time to watch. This guy, Roy Beck, has a website that you can subscribe to and get email notifications of what is going on in Congress related to the imigration debacle. He also provides a way to send faxes to your representatives and senators for free. I have sent more than a dozen faxes over the last couple of weeks.

Part 2 will follow soon.



'Til Next Time,
Chris the Crazy Conservative

Hillariarious

The title says it all.
Enjoy.



'Til Next Time,
Chris the Crazy Conservative

Rant #12,000,000 - The Raping of American Culture

12,000,000 new welfare recipients.
12,000,000 new food stamp recipients.
12,000,000 new citizens entitled to medical care that you and I working Joe have to pay through the nose for.
12,000,000 new citizens who will be added to the social security roles when they reach retirement age.
12,000,000 new citizens who won't be the same cheap labor that they are as illegals.
12,000,000 children children added to already crowded classrooms across America.
12,000,000 reasons that we may need another revolution.
12,000,000 reasons that we may need a viable third party.
12,000,000 reasons that I will actively campaign against any politician who supports this insanity.

The President and Congress of the United States of America are poised to preside over the raping of America and the destruction of our culture. Those are strong words, I know, but that is what this immigration amnesty bill is, the raping of the American culture. If this amnesty bill passes it will lead to the end of America as we know it. One only has to look south for a preview of what American will become within a few generations after this bill passes. Compare our culture now with the culture of America before the last amnesty bill in the 80's.

What is it going to do to our welfare system to add 12,000,000 + people to the welfare rolls? And don't think for a minute that that won't happen. It will. Why shouldn't it? These 12,000,000 people are currently working for peanuts. When they become citizens, they will qualify for all kinds of government entitlements. You think they aren't going to avail themselves of that? If you do, you are simply delusional. You need to take a trip to the border region of Texas or Arizona or California. Welfare, food stamps, CHIPS, WIC, the list is endless. Most of the 12,000,000 new citizens will qualify for many of these entitlements. And by the way, who will be paying for the entitlements for 12,000,000 + new citizens? You and I, working Joes.

What impact will this insanity have on our education system? I don't support bilingual education in the way that it is being done today. You may think that the purpose of bilingual ed is to teach children in their home language only long enough for them to become proficient in English. If you think that, you are sadly misinformed. (That is the subject of an upcoming rant.) Add the non-English speaking children of 12,000,000 new citizens to class rolls across America and you have a disaster in the making. More and more resources will have to be spent on educating these new citizens at the expense of... you guessed it, you and I working Joe's kids.

I can't even begin to imagine what 12,000,000 new citizens are going to do to our health care system and our already overcrowded hospital and clogged up emergency rooms.

"What about the workforce? We need the cheap labor. If we want to keep the American economy strong, we must have cheap labor." Have you heard that one? Well, if cheap labor equated to a strong economy, Mexico would be the strongest economy on the face of the planet. Have you been to Mexico lately?

"They are doing jobs that Americans won't do." HOGWASH. (Not my first word of choice but my mother reads this blog!) No workforce in any industry in America is made up of more than 13% illegals. That means that every workforce in every industry in America is comprised of at least 87% American citizens. But let's explore that argument just a bit more. Why do you think Americans won't take those jobs? (Which, according to statistic, they do.) How about this. They can eat better and live in nicer homes on welfare and other government entitlements than they can working at these low paying jobs. OK, I can accept that argument for the sake of argument. It doesn't take much of a brain to figure out that as soon as these 12,000,000 illegals become legal, they are going to realize that they can eat better and live in better homes on welfare and other government entitlements than they can at these jobs. Why would they keep working at those jobs? They won't.

There is no level at which this amnesty bill is a good idea. Our political leaders are rewarding illegal behavior. They are embracing invaders. They will create an America for my grandchildren that is nothing like the America that you and I live in. The American dream will become American nightmare. They are raping our culture.

But you know, as bad as all that is, it is not the worst thing about this amnesty travesty. This piece of garbage legislation does NOTHING to secure our borders. NOTHING!!!! There is nothing new in this bill that will make our borders less porous. Many in Washington are saying that we can't really do anything about border security. It is too big a problem. We just can't fix it. Homeland Security (what a joke) director Chertoff even said this week that this bill is good because it causes us a nation to face reality. The reality to which he refers is that we can't fix the borders. There is a sense in which that statement is true. We can't get control of the borders with this piece of garbage legislation. But make not mistake about it. The intent of this bill is amnesty, not border security. And for the life of me I can't figure out why people who claim to be conservative are supporting this bill. Even John Cornyn voted in support of it late this week.

Here's the deal. We can fix the border problem if we want to. Take a look at this video and see what I mean.

OK. I have ranted and raved and vented and spewed. I don't think I have done an adequate job of expressing how strongly I feel about granting amnesty to 12,000,000 illegal aliens. (Don't let the Washington spin fool you, this is an amnesty bill.) I am angry. I am incensed. I am fearful for the future of my country. Call your legislators and urge them not to support the raping of our American culture.

'Til Next Time,
Chris the Crazy Conservative

Republican Hall of Shame

These legislators are supporting the raping of America. There are others, but these are the leaders. And one of them wants you to make him the next President.

Top row, left to right: Sen. John McCain R-AZ, Sen. Jon Kyl R-AZ, Sen. Lindsey Graham R-SC, Sen. Arlen Specter R-PA,

Bottom Row, left to right: Sen. Mel Martinez R-FL, Rep. Jeff Flake, R-AZ, President Bush (I hope you knew that one!)

Rant # 7 - The Case of the Disappearing Polar Bears

I don't know about you, but I am genuinely concerned. I am wringing my hands, loosing sleep, worried and stressed out all the time now over this. What is the cause of all my anxiety? Polar bears are dying. You have all seen this picture of that poor, cuddly, cute little polar bear stuck out on that melting chunk of ice. Just look at him (or is it a her?). Look at the expression on his face. Can't you just see the worry, and concern, and dare I say, fear? This poor polar bear is afraid!

Now why would a polar bear be afraid? The answer is simple. Global warming. (You knew that was coming, didn't you?) Man made global warming is causing polar bear homelessness. We are melting the ancient home of his tribe. When you jump in your gas guzzling SUV and go to your air conditioned office tomorrow, realize that you are killing this majestic creature and his kin. YOU are robbing him of his ability to provide for his family with your evil, carbon spewing, air polluting, greenhouse gasing lifestyle.

Now I know that this is a bit of a contradiction to what I have written in the past, but hey, if politicians can change their minds, why can't I? It is, after all, science, isn't it? Let's take a look at some unbiased, scientific facts and you will see what I am talking about.

Mitchell Taylor is a Canadian biologist who has been studying polar bear populations in Canda for many years. He has just released the latest results of his ongoing study and you will be shocked and amazed at what he says. I know I was.

...the number of polar bears in the Davis Strait area of Canada's eastern Arctic – one of 19 polar bear populations worldwide – has grown to 2,100, up from 850 in the mid-1980s. "There aren't just a few more bears. There are a ... lot more bears," biologist Mitchell Taylor told the Nunatsiaq News of Iqaluit in the Arctic territory of Nunavut.

Earlier, in a long telephone conversation, Dr. Taylor explained his conviction that threats to polar bears from global warming are exaggerated and that their numbers are increasing. He has studied the animals for the Nunavut government for two decades.

Oh wait! That's not what I meant to quote. Just a minute. Let me find another one.

OK, read THIS...

Polar bears are the poster animals of global warming. The image of a polar bear floating on an ice floe is one of the most dramatic visual statements in the fight against rising temperatures in the Arctic. But global warming is not killing the polar bears of Canada's eastern Arctic, according to one ongoing study.

Dang! I did it again!

OK, OK, try this one...

The latest government survey of polar bears roaming the vast Arctic expanses of northern Quebec, Labrador and southern Baffin Island show the population of polar bears has jumped to 2,100 animals from around 800 in the mid-1980s. As recently as three years ago, a less official count placed the number at 1,400.

For those of you who are mathmatically challenged, that is a 150% increase in 20 years. Hmm....
Here is another quote for you to consider...

The Inuit have always insisted the bears' demise was greatly exaggerated by scientists doing projections based on fly-over counts, but their input was usually dismissed as the ramblings of self-interested hunters. As Nunavut government biologist Mitch Taylor observed in a front-page story in the Nunatsiaq News last month, "the Inuit were right. There aren't just a few more bears. There are a hell of a lot more bears." Their widely portrayed lurch toward extinction on a steadily melting ice cap is not supported by bear counts in other Arctic regions either.

Even the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service gets in on this act.

The service identifies six Arctic regions where data are insufficient to make a call on the population, including the aforementioned Baffin shores area. Another six areas are listed as having stable counts, three experienced reduced numbers and two have seen their bears increase.

But what about that poor, scared polar bear in the picture?

• Polar bears often travel on ice floes
• Polar bears can swim "easily" in open water for 60 miles
• Polar bears will often hang out on glacier ice or large pieces of multiyear ice
• The photographer who took the picture was obviously standing on something solid not too far away from the "stranded" bear.

If you believe the agenda driven pseudo-science that is being force fed to the American public in the name of news, (if you tell a lie often enough, it eventually becomes accepted as the truth...) we are in a downward, accelerating planetary death spiral that will lead to total global annihilation if we don't stop driving our cars, barbecuing hamburgers, making electricity, and using so many squares of toilet paper. I am not nearly as concerned about global warming causing planetary annihilation as I am about the increasing polar bear population. They are killing machines of the first order and they are on the increase. Our government has proven its total inability to control invasions of a foregin army. What if the polar bear population gets so large that they invade the US!! That is something to worry about!!!

Until next time,

Chris the Crazy Conservative