Spell check on exams

The Oregon Department of Education is going to allow test takers to use spell check on state exams.  This is a dumb idea.1

I remember when I had to take a big exam after grad school – I handwrote the exam because I didn’t want to be one of those victims of a sudden power outage.  There were times when I would have liked to have used a longer more high-falutin’ word, but I am a profoundly terrible speller.  If you can’t spell a word, don’t use it.  It’s a simple as that.  Yes, I suppose your students won’t have to concentrate on spelling so they can theoretically focus on content.

Grr.

  1. I’m hoping to increase their SEO mojo for the keywords “dumb ideas” [↩]

What is SyFy without SciFi?

Seriously, ask you.

  • Destination Truth, Ghost Hunters.  Are these supposed to be pseudo-science shows?  I don’t think they purport to be fiction or entertainment.  The people on those shows seem to take themselves pretty seriously.  Perhaps they would be better suited to the “SuFy” channel.
  • I refuse to watch “professional” wrestling on the SyFy channel.  Let’s not even go there.
  • Caprica1 , Dresden Files, Stargate Universe, Stargate Atlantis…  what are they doing?
  • I can’t watch Doctor Who on SyFy and instead tune into BBC America

When the SyFy channel doesn’t show any science fiction shows left…  what is it’s reason for existing?

  1. Which I did not like [↩]

It’s alive!

I’ve got my Thing-O-Matic operational.  There were some initial hiccups, but it seems to be working.  However, I definitely need to calibrate Skeinforge and the “end.txt” cool down settings for this machine.  More on those details over at the MakerBot blog.  My initial print, a mini mug1 , turned out reasonably well – but is a little too sparse for actual toasting.

  1. Natch [↩]

Math videos and math puzzle sculptures

While at Botacon 0 I had the singular pleasure of attending George Hart‘s presentation on “Cool Geometric Forms” and then actually meeting him afterward.  His mathematical and geometrical sculptures and puzzles are spectacular.  If you haven’t seen them, you really need to check out his website.  In any case, earlier this week I learned of a web video/blog series from someone named Vi Hart where the author would post videos of math doodles, puzzles, games, accompanied by whimsical and informative narration.

It wasn’t until I read her post about using a MakerBot for the second time, just this afternoon, that I realized that the father she referred to was none other than the George Hart I had met at Botacon.

I can only hope, that if I am a very very good father, teacher, role model, and example that one day someone will meet my daughter and then tell me what a wonderful/intelligent/witty person they think she is.  George, if you read this – you should feel as proud as I one day hope to be.

I still think it’s a good idea

A few weeks ago, I forget when or where, I was someplace where someone was talking and then finished with, “Any questions?”

I said, “Yes!  Why hasn’t anyone else invented a papasan / beanbag chair?”  No one answered, just cold stares. 123

Seriously, wouldn’t that be cool?

  1. I suppose more people might take my questions seriously if I were actually part of the initial conversation. [↩]
  2. Or fully clothed. [↩]
  3. Or not covered in rubber ducky stickers. [↩]

Happy Birthday to me!

On December 15, 2009 I purchased this domain name and started blogging about my MakerBot, “Bender.” 1

It has been a fun, wild year of blogging.  I started off pelting everyone on the MakerBot Operators’ group with questions, then started posting here a bit, then started posting here A LOT.

As I’ve mentioned, I don’t have any tech background at all.  I just try to make up for that with enthusiasm and a willingness to (let’s say, aptitude for) making a fool of myself.  I was gushing about 3D printing the other day and one of my co-workers asked why I don’t work in some some kind of tech field.  My response was that my real dream job would be to get paid to make and do cool, awesome, and clever things all the time.  2

I’ve had a really great time blogging here for the last year and over at MakerBot for the last three and a half months. 3  I get to write about all the stupid things I’ve done (and warn people how not to ) and the all awesome and cool things other people are doing.  The comments have been especially awesome – with people offering insight, advice, and <cringe> corrections. 4

So!  Thank you for your advice and suggestions and encouragement!  With a little luck, we’ll see another post like this next year!

  1. You may notice a few posts from just before that date.  That happened because I had originally purchased a different domain name and blogged there before settling on MakerBlock.com. [↩]
  2. Mind, doing clever things is my dream job.  In reality, I’d try to do clever things and end up doing silly entertaining things. [↩]
  3. I hope you’ve enjoyed it too! [↩]
  4. It’s basically been my dream job.  :) [↩]