Yes, I’m going to pop my colla just a smidget.
I never really guest-posted before. So what did I do? I asked Nezua what’s up with his guest-posting. He hollers back, letting some of us give our perspective. Check it:
The Forever After:
“Barack Obama isn’t just a man in isolation or the man who’ll lead this country for the next four to eight years, but also a mass movement for that future, a bright one. Barack has overtly galvanized the country in his favor and has built a formidable youth movement that should keep this generation’s voice heard, but its soul intact.”
No, I’m not just saying it’s good because I wrote it. Please go read it. I mean right after you read this. edit: So good in fact that Vivir Latino linked me as well.
Then, Racalicious posted about the lack of racial diversity in the New York 40. A valid point, but don’t they mean New York 41? Didn’t get the memo? Gosh!
And not that you haven’t figured this out already by the big “EDUCATION” tag on the left side of my blog, but maybe someday, I’ll be tagged for Secretary of Education, or at least part of the Transition Team. At least one person seems to think I fit. (Thanks for including me, Rob and Core Knowledge Blog).
Oh, and before I forget … I used my SmartBoard for the first time this year. It was alright, I guess.
Jose, who needs to be capitalizing his name more often …
p.s. – OK, you can go read that blog now. HA! Comment, too.
A few links:
- Problogger has the most comments I’ve ever seen for one post. Awesome on all ends.
- Electronic Village presents a video on Barack, Curtis, and the perception of manhood in the Black community.
- Cute babies at Boing Boing plead their innocence. They swear they’re not terrorists. You be the judge.
- The families of Brandon McClellan (Black man who was dragged to death) and Jennifer Hudson (mother and brother killed, nephew missing), I send my deepest condolences.
- Yeah, I know you don’t like getting stats about the drop-out rate in this country, but it’s not going away (Thanks, LeaderTalk).
A point to make:
Early on in my career (yes, it’s a career now), we were told that there’ll be tough moments that’ll test our mettle, but we should always appreciate the small moments and inflate them as much as possible. That moment for this blog came at this comment:
Before that comment, there were only 8 comments on that post, 2 of them from me. And there were good points made, but I just kept writing, not thinking much about what I wrote. I posted this in January, and that’s where most of the comments ended. Seven months later, a young men somewhere out there puts that thought out there. I was so awed, I couldn’t even reply. I just kinda nodded in silence as I read it over again.
When I read comments like that, it’s not so much about how many comments I get, but about what they say.
I’ll get into that tomorrow. For now, comment as you please. I’ll be reading and nodding along.
jose, who is always halfway between the moon and New York City …
Guy Kawasaki recently put me onto this website called Alltop.com, a magazine type of site, that aggregates some of the great websites / blogs out there … and now I’m included in that list. Pretty cool all things considered. The concept for the site itself is pretty cool as well. For a demo on what I mean, check this out. At first, I thought I’d just find obscure edublogs that I never read, but to the contrary, 1/2 my education blogroll’s on there. When you get a chance, drop by the site. No, I’m not getting paid to say any of it, just needed to share things I run into on the ‘net, along with:
The Unapologetic Mexican, who highlights how even Paris Hilton makes John McCain look like he’s got a couple of screws loose;
Carmen D., who highlights how big corporations just swindled 5100 digital channels for free;
Clay Burell, who gives the other side of the soldier student argument;
Liza Sabater, who highlights people’s misgivings about real grassroots movements;
Tracy Rosen, who understands how kids learn through technologies and not just buzz words;
Brooks of Sheffield, who calls out the morons who cut lines, throw cigarettes on the ground, and don’t get up for senior citizens and pregnant women;
Amiri Baraka for writing a retort to those who see Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader as viable candidates instead of Barack Obama (courtesy of Christina Springer);
And Frumteacher, who clocked in as my top commenter (as far as number of comments) …
jose, who edited a few things here and there on his blog page …
p.s. – Carnival of Education hosted by Pass the Torch, right here!
I just finished a PowerPoint for a presentation I need to do tomorrow for that big project that everyone / no one knows about. Even on vacay, I can’t go on vacay. It’s just not possible. However, I’ve been listening to some excellent music, drinking some quality beer, and learning and interacting with more people every single day.
With that said, I can’t quit this blogging shit. I’m approaching 250, and I usually write quality posts every day, not just random bulletins, so I found it imperative to just keep it light and simple. Besides, what good is my Google Reader if I can’t share everything I read? Check it out:
Tracy Rosen knows what good teaching is all about. Damian and I, though, have different ideas (it’s funny, honest).
My brother from another mother, Carl Cowan, shows us how Feist counts to 4 with the help of Sesame Street.
Andy Park still amazes me with his photo skills. If you need hot photos like that, feel free to holla at him.
Gotham Schools seems to be a good new resource for teachers to read. Nice and simple. And they like me apparently. Thanks, JD.
A Carnival of Education hosted by my people at A Voice in the Wilderness!
Me on the cover of Essence Magazine? Over Obama? I think I know why I wouldn’t make it on there, but Zack seems to think I deserve it. More power to my man, Zack.
Christina, I’ma tell you what another writer told me: find your voice.
Necole, Necole, anyone who ever says you’re not fair and balanced needs to check this post. (for the fellas … and some of my ladies, too.)
I added a few new cats to my sidebar, mainly Xicano Power, New Millenium Negro, Mike Parent, The Bowery Boys, and The Black Lounge. When you visit them, tell them I said hi. No really. It’s how I roll.
Alright, I’m going to leave you with this:
How is McCain accusing Obama of playing the RACE CARD?! BWWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Mr. McCain to you I say, good night and good luck!
jose, who is excited to mentor at least one more Teaching Fellow this coming year (congrats to those who got in)
A few notes:
1. I’m back to health mostly. It feels good, especially after taking the day off on Friday to handle that. I needed a little breather to finish out the year strong, and I wasn’t coming into work to spread my cold on anyone. Thankfully I think I’m ready for tomorrow’s challenges.
2. A pretty heated discussion popped off in that last post about the Holocaust and the Maafa. In turn, that post alone received 600+ hits. I know, I’m surprised. Before that, I’ve never gotten over 300 hits in a day.
3. I went to one of (2) regular barbershops, and there was this new guy there. Of course, everyone’s nervous about the new guy, but I said, “F*k it, what’s the worst that could happen?” Why did this man take 45 minutes to hook me up (where it should only take me 20, 30 tops)? 3 people at a different barber finished before I did. After a while, I said, “Alright, let me go!” I mean, I was literally there teaching him how to cut. And he kept making mistakes, so he kept trying to fix them. I’m surprised my hairline isn’t behind my ears after that experience.
4. To all the past and present mothers, soon-to-be-mothers, and future hot moms, Happy Mother’s Day. To everyone else, wish your mothers wherever they may be a happy and joyous one (unless you and her don’t really get along like that, then my bad). They’re the center of our universe, and there’s no way we can pay them back, but the plan is to show ‘em that we understand … you are appreciated.
I’m keeping it short today. I gotta prepare my mom a little something. In the meantime, enjoy these tidbits:
- Pandagon reports on a teacher who lost his job in Florida because he’s a wizard. No, really.
- The Free Slave puts down some interesting points of view about our current system.
- Did Edward Carson really bring up Public Enemy in a classroom effectively? Why I believe he did.
- Eva at Sassy Women Online discusses the latest You-Tube phenomena of bullying online and why it’s not cool to almost kill a girl on camera.
- NYC Educator writes another informative posts on another think tank telling teachers how terrible they are.
jose, who’s concurrently excited about glowing in the dark with Kanye, NERD, Lupe, and Rihanna on Tuesday :-) …
p.s. – Yes, I have “Dear Mama” as a ringtone whenever my mom calls.
