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“Good job, sycophants.” Hee!
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Woobie boys are woobie!!! (see uschickens for a good, nuanced description of the woobie) also I still love that they start with a vid! AC/DC vid! And other stuff too, but basically episode made me happy :)
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I just saw that Reading Rainbow ended Friday after 26 years on PBS. As a child of the 80s, Reading Rainbow played at least a part in my love of reading and books.
This NPR article discusses why the show ended.
Grant says the funding crunch is partially to blame, but the decision to end Reading Rainbow can also be traced to a shift in the philosophy of educational television programming. The change started with the Department of Education under the Bush administration, he explains, which wanted to see a much heavier focus on the basic tools of reading — like phonics and spelling.
Grant says that PBS, CPB and the Department of Education put significant funding toward programming that would teach kids how to read — but that's not what Reading Rainbow was trying to do.
"Reading Rainbow taught kids why to read," Grant says. "You know, the love of reading — [the show] encouraged kids to pick up a book and to read."
This NPR article discusses why the show ended.
Grant says the funding crunch is partially to blame, but the decision to end Reading Rainbow can also be traced to a shift in the philosophy of educational television programming. The change started with the Department of Education under the Bush administration, he explains, which wanted to see a much heavier focus on the basic tools of reading — like phonics and spelling.
Grant says that PBS, CPB and the Department of Education put significant funding toward programming that would teach kids how to read — but that's not what Reading Rainbow was trying to do.
"Reading Rainbow taught kids why to read," Grant says. "You know, the love of reading — [the show] encouraged kids to pick up a book and to read."
How did I miss that Tim Gunn will be a Marvel superhero? They talked about it on the Daily Show tonight. This makes me happy. (A sweet moment was when Tim Gunn said it was too emotional for him to watch the Bravo Project Runway rip-off show, and Jon Stewart told him he didn't need to see it because it sucked.)
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Is anyone else watching Warehouse 13 (on stupidly re-named network, I think). I just saw the first episode (on iTunes, looks like some are on hulu too).
It's like cheesy (not scary) X-files with museum curators (or archivists)!
Things I found charming:
-the ferret
-the purple stuff
-the steampunk aesthetic
-the use of Renaissance art
-the mysterious b&b proprietor
Things I found annoying:
-how sterotypically the characters are presented initially, but maybe that's the first episode and they develop? There seem to be some movements toward better development later in the episode.
-the interpretation of the painting was utter bullshit (also the style wasn't Italian, Northern Renaissance/Baroque, even though the story was also popular in Italy at that time and it showed an interest in Italy by the Northern artists. I know, but you math and science people get irritated by your field-specific stuff too.)
-the cheesiness (but when has that stopped me before), cool that it seems self-conscious, but just not self-conscious enough (the vibe reminds me of Eureka).
Basically Middleman could have taken this plot and done it better, but I think show has potential. I'm up for another episode or two.
eta: bonus Dartmouth sweatshirt on main dude (which I'm assuming means alum)
It's like cheesy (not scary) X-files with museum curators (or archivists)!
Things I found charming:
-the ferret
-the purple stuff
-the steampunk aesthetic
-the use of Renaissance art
-the mysterious b&b proprietor
Things I found annoying:
-how sterotypically the characters are presented initially, but maybe that's the first episode and they develop? There seem to be some movements toward better development later in the episode.
-the interpretation of the painting was utter bullshit (also the style wasn't Italian, Northern Renaissance/Baroque, even though the story was also popular in Italy at that time and it showed an interest in Italy by the Northern artists. I know, but you math and science people get irritated by your field-specific stuff too.)
-the cheesiness (but when has that stopped me before), cool that it seems self-conscious, but just not self-conscious enough (the vibe reminds me of Eureka).
Basically Middleman could have taken this plot and done it better, but I think show has potential. I'm up for another episode or two.
eta: bonus Dartmouth sweatshirt on main dude (which I'm assuming means alum)
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Just back from my BIL's apartment. We spent a lazy Sunday afternoon there. Jasna made lunch with fried chicken, cevapi (croatian spiced meat thing kind of like sausages), tomatoes, roasted potatoes, and cucumber and sour cream salad. Then we hung out and played computer games (Bruno on WoW, Slavica on several things, Minka played poker), and watched the last 2/3 of the 1st season of Flashpoint that my BIL had downloaded. They have the computer hooked up to a huge tv in their bedroom so we hung out on the bed and the kids (and dog) wandered in and out. It was awesome. I'm torn between missing Denis and being a little homesick for all my friends in DC, and wishing my in-laws lived around the corner.
eta: oh and I briefly talked on the phone to my other two nieces Lena (short for Magdalena, we have the same birthday, she's 12), and Katerina (the youngest, she's 8) who are still at the seaside. Slavica informed Lena that she had to translate for me because I can't understand it when they talk fast (which I understood), :) Lena's English is excellent, she said she got a 4 (guess that's like an A). Can't wait to see them in person next week.
eta: oh and I briefly talked on the phone to my other two nieces Lena (short for Magdalena, we have the same birthday, she's 12), and Katerina (the youngest, she's 8) who are still at the seaside. Slavica informed Lena that she had to translate for me because I can't understand it when they talk fast (which I understood), :) Lena's English is excellent, she said she got a 4 (guess that's like an A). Can't wait to see them in person next week.
This should be trapeze 3, but my last class got rained out in Baltimore. Then there was moving week so it's been 2 weeks. This was my first class in downtown DC. The rig is in the parking lot at 9th and H St. NW so if you're local check it out. It was really hot today (but no rain!). I forgot my socks, but a very nice woman (Anita I think) lent me hers. I also chatted with Amy who I met in Beantown back in March. I worked on split (again). Got close to making it catchable but not quite so caught knee hang catch again. I need to go more regularly so I can get the darn split.
There was a tv crew there (I stayed late to watch the reporter try it, hilarious, but points for being a good sport). They did a brief interview with me (sweaty, chalky, and babbling, awesome) as well as a few other people, so I might be on tv. But even if it's not me there will be a story about the school on ABC News 7 WJLA tomorrow (Tuesday) at 5pm EST. He said it will also be posted on the website, if that's the case I'll link to it here.
There was a tv crew there (I stayed late to watch the reporter try it, hilarious, but points for being a good sport). They did a brief interview with me (sweaty, chalky, and babbling, awesome) as well as a few other people, so I might be on tv. But even if it's not me there will be a story about the school on ABC News 7 WJLA tomorrow (Tuesday) at 5pm EST. He said it will also be posted on the website, if that's the case I'll link to it here.
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