Pre Game Joke

This morning a Gary, Indiana kindergarten teacher explains to her class
that she is an Indianapolis Colts fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they are Colts fans, too. Not really knowing what a Colts fan was, but wanting to be liked by their teacher, their hands flew into the air.

There is, however, one exception. Susie has not gone
along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be
different. "Because I'm not a Colts fan" she reports.

"Then," asks the teacher, "what are you?"

"I'm a Chicago Bears fan," boasts the little girl.

The teacher asks Susie why she is a Bears fan. "Well, my Dad and Mom
are
Bears fans, so I'm a Bears fan, too" she responds.

"That's no reason," the teacher says. "What if your mom
was a moron, and your dad was an idiot. What would you be then?"

Susie smiles and says, "Then I'd be a Colts fan."

Creative Fractions

One of my 5th grade boys wrote this number story on a homework assignment.

I jumped off a cliff and was 3/4 down when a bird chopped off 3/8 of me. 1/8 more [I think he means falling] and I hit a rock sticking out of the cliff, and 1/4 fell off of me. How much of me got chopped off?

Before you get the wrong idea, he's actually a very well adjusted boy, who just happens to be very creative and reads a lot of fantasy. Sure makes reading number stories a lot more entertaining!

Addendum: In the rest of the class's number stories, ninety percent of the students used the name Bob. What's up with that?

Being a Science Celebrity is Tough

(Via XKCD)

Nobility

I turned 30 today and decided it was time to become an aristocrat. My full title is:

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: The Very Reverend Cameron the Cosmopolitan of Chignall Duntisbourne Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

(Via Pharyngula)

Celebrating Christmas

Not being a Christian I sometimes feel guilty about celebrating Christmas. I love the holiday cheer, Santa Clause, evergreen trees in your living room, and the overall sense of warmth and compassion that most people exude. Turns out, I've been worrying unnecessarily. Massimo Pigliucci has straightened me out. There are many pre-Christian traditions that are a cause for celebration. To find out what they are, you'll have to read his blog.

Uh Oh

Good thing I'm also an Irish citizen in case I get deported for lacking patriotism. What do you rate?

Your 'Do You Want the Terrorists to Win' Score: 100%

You are a terrorist-loving, Bush-bashing, "blame America first"-crowd traitor. You are in league with evil-doers who hate our freedoms. By all counts you are a liberal, and as such cleary desire the terrorists to succeed and impose their harsh theocratic restrictions on us all. You are fit to be hung for treason! Luckily George Bush is tapping your internet connection and is now aware of your thought-crime. Have a nice day.... in Guantanamo!

Do You Want the Terrorists to Win?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

(Via Sandwalk)

Zelda

Nintendo has put together a six-part video chronicling the history of Zelda. I don't think I've played the game since the original Nintendo, but watching the video brought back a lot of good memories. Makes me wish I'd kept my Nintendo so I could play again for old times sake. Have a look if you're feeling nostalgic. I've embedded Part 1 below.

NSTA Bought By Big Oil?

I learned today that the National Science Teachers Association, of whom I'm a member, recently turned down 50,000 free copies of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. Their reason was simple: they didn't want to risk the millions of dollars they get from Exxon-Mobil or the American Petroleum Institute. Doesn't exactly make me proud to be a member. I wrote them a letter today and if you would like to send them a comment, go here.