Locked Up Abroad

I don't watch a lot of TV, but the National Geographic Channel has a show on Wednesday nights called "Locked Up Abroad." It's a documentary/reality TV show that details the stories of American citizens who end up getting put in foreign prisons. The episodes that I've seen typically involve someone who, desperate for money, agrees to help smuggle drugs across international borders. To be honest, this show is becoming somewhat of an obsession for me.

I went through the same thing a few years ago with a show on A&E called "Intervention". Missesmagette thinks that I'm drawn to these shows because I like to be reminded of how relatively simple and easy my life is. I'm not entirely sure she's wrong.

Things I like

The house is quiet, Littlemagette's sleeping peacefully in the next room, I've got the taste of salt on my lips from a really nice evening run, the window's open next to me and a cool spring breeze is blowing in, and Bailey the Wonder Dog is curled up on the floor beside me. She just started woofing in her sleep...perhaps she's dreaming about chasing robins... And with the last day of school being tomorrow I have a deep sense of accomplishment. Missesmagette is healthy and happy and carrying Babymagette inside of her...the expectation of new life to accompany this spring feeling.

Deep breath...exhale...things are good in this moment.

200th Post!

Don't look now, but the last post was the 200th to this blog! If you're wondering what to get your favorite science-teacher-blogger-guy on such an occasion, I'll offer you this suggestion (although I'd prefer the V8 model):

Blizzard of the Month

I almost forgot...it's the last day of March. Only one more day to get a "mint oreo" blizzard at Dairy Queen. Very good...very good.

If you decide to go and try one for yourself, make sure you tell them that you heard about it here. It won't get you anything...but maybe if enough people do it they'll hook me up with free ice cream...

Things I Like...

If anyone's wondering what to get that special biology teacher in your life, let me offer you a suggestion:

Pandemic

In anatomy class today we read a selection from John Barry's outstanding book The Great Influenza, which chronicled the global flu pandemic of 1918. Thanks to Chelsea, one of my students, for pointing out this game to me, in which you get to play the part of a disease-causing pathogen. The goal of the game is, obviously, to wipe out humanity.

Pretty cool. Just make sure you're not playing it when you should be doing school work. And if you figure out how to infect Madigascar, please let me know.

My Favorite Web Things

1. Google: Love it. Love it. Love it. I had a conversation with another teacher one day, and decided that a) Google was going to take over the world one day, and b) we would both gladly submit to its' rule.

2. iGoogle: If Google is the ice-cream sundae, then iGoogle is the cherry on top. Everytime I start up my browser I'm greated with my favorite search engine, customized weather, current news headlines, e-mail, favorite bookmarks, and a variety of customizable tickers, games, newsfeeds and other widgets. So not only can set back and let the Internet make me lazy, but now I actually don't have to take the time and energy to navigate through different pages and sites.

3. Digg: If you're not "Digging", then you should check it out. It allows you to submit websites, stories, blogs, videos, flickr photos, etc. to a social site where others can view them. By establishing networks of friends and fans, you can see what other people are reading. It's a lot of fun, and a great way to find content that doesn't always make the front pages. (By the way, if you're registered with Digg, feel free to click the "Digg" button on any of my posts to submit them.)

4. Facebook: Okay, I admit that at 30-something I'm not really the target demographic for the king of all social networking sites. But for people my age this site is a great way to re-establish contact with, and keep in touch with, old friends. BTW...I don't accept friend requests from students.

5. Google Reader: Another part of the Google Universe. Google reader allows you to subscribe to RSS feeds from frequently updated websites. What this means, in simple terms, is that when your favorite websites or blogs are updated, the new information is sent directly to your Google Reader page. This makes it possible to keep track of dozens of websites without constantly clicking through a list of bookmarks. And, if you have an iGoogle start page, your Google reader updates can be read directly from there!

Things I Like: 24

This Sunday begins a new season of the Fox television program "24". I started watching this show during its 5th season and have been hooked since. The four hour season premier that begins Sunday night is especially important to the fans of the show, since last year's entire season was canceled due to the Hollywood writer's strike. I can't wait.

This morning, NPR's Morning Edition aired an interview with the Kiefer Suthlerland, who plays the Jack Bauer, the show's protagonist.

Here's the trailer:

Things I Can't Help But Like

I can't help it. I've had Toby Keith's new song in my head all day.