Thursday 21 April 2011

The Course of True Love...

...never did run smooth, said a certain Bill.


Love does not constitute paradise... I guess.
;) Shine!
D

Wednesday 20 April 2011

High up



We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. (Oscar Wilde)

Sunday 17 April 2011

TED

These are two TED talks I discovered today and liked. I added TED rss feed to my Google Reader and am very happy with that decision. 

This is Dave Meslin on "The antidote to apathy":

I haven't decided yet if I agree or not.

This is a talk by Morgan Spurlock (he speaks about advertising and a new project of his) which I dedicate to a friend of mine (this is a little piece of inspiration from me to you;) ). I've loved it, I hope every one else will to.

Ten-four,

D


Wednesday 13 April 2011

Music to my heart

The Power of the Pentatonic scale by Bobby (Don't worry, be happy) McFerrin:



and if that's not enough good spirits for you: 

And remember - Those who want to sing will always find a tune. 

Love, 

D

Thursday 7 April 2011

What Teachers Make

or
Objection Overruled, or
If things don't work out, you can always go to law school


By Taylor Mali

He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn 
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about
teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.

Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.

"I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor," he says.
"Be honest. What do you make?"

And I wish he hadn't done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won't I let you get a drink of water?
Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why.

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:

I make a goddamn difference! What about you?

...or I keep telling myself so...

Tuesday 5 April 2011

Jardim dos sonhos

The blogger behind these words is in love with a movie called "Wasteland". She thinks it's beautiful beyond words and inspiring, which is surprising considering the movie is about possibly the most disgusting place in the world. One day the blogger will own a copy of the photo of a woman called Magna made of trash by Vik Muniz and other catadores. It's a dream.