Sunday, 11 April 2010
Masterchef
Just watched the final of Matserchef - yes four days late - and I love this programme especially the final rounds because of the experiences that they put the contestants through, the constructive criticism that is given to the contestants but mostly they expect you to change your life and previous winners have. The winners so far own many of their own restaurants and another is head chef for Rich Stein. The programme takes a raw talents and guides them into an excellent chefs in the top ranks of the profession. Read more here.
Friday, 9 April 2010
The Blind side
A film starring Sandra Bullock about the raising of poor black kid in her white privileged rich family and in doing so turning him into a famous sports star. When it started and they started showing Laurence Taylor ending Joe Thiesmnann career in a famous tackle during an American Football game I was strangely heartened and some of the sports footage was well done. A good understanding of the way American education system works and more particularly the way that academic scholarships to university for sport helped fill in a bit more detail to the plot than others around me. The story was very uplifting and feel good and if a 5yr $13.8 million contract to play American football is to be considered a success.
I like some bits of the film such as the cameos from real life University coaches (lost on most of the rest of the audience) and the passion with which people support their alma mater. The involvement of the NCAA was good but I felt that it was probably only because it was dealt with in real life that it was included in the movie. I think that a far more interesting film could have been made using an investigator from the NCAA looking at Michael's story from a critical point of view posing the question "Did this family take in a large, gifted sports kid and pay for his education to a certain academic level only because they wanted him to star for the university that they went to and helped support financially?"
I was disappointed by the educational stereotypes in the film. The teachers who equate lack of formal education with stupidity, lack of differentiation in class and the way to improve education is more text books. If that had been one of my students and they had represented my teaching that way I would have been very upset. It was very clear that he was a visual learner (in his football practices) yet no lessons/ learning were geared to this mode of learning. The character of Michael was not very convincing as a person shown to be verbally bright took a long time to pick up simple footballing moves and concepts such as blocking.
The acting performances were not great. Sandy Bullock got an Oscar from her journey from loud, brash, confident mother to loud, brash, confident mother who realises that she can't control all of her children's decisions. She was ok but to me that was not the best acting performance of the year.
The movies was ok, could have been better but did make me laugh out loud on a number of occasions.
I like some bits of the film such as the cameos from real life University coaches (lost on most of the rest of the audience) and the passion with which people support their alma mater. The involvement of the NCAA was good but I felt that it was probably only because it was dealt with in real life that it was included in the movie. I think that a far more interesting film could have been made using an investigator from the NCAA looking at Michael's story from a critical point of view posing the question "Did this family take in a large, gifted sports kid and pay for his education to a certain academic level only because they wanted him to star for the university that they went to and helped support financially?"
I was disappointed by the educational stereotypes in the film. The teachers who equate lack of formal education with stupidity, lack of differentiation in class and the way to improve education is more text books. If that had been one of my students and they had represented my teaching that way I would have been very upset. It was very clear that he was a visual learner (in his football practices) yet no lessons/ learning were geared to this mode of learning. The character of Michael was not very convincing as a person shown to be verbally bright took a long time to pick up simple footballing moves and concepts such as blocking.
The acting performances were not great. Sandy Bullock got an Oscar from her journey from loud, brash, confident mother to loud, brash, confident mother who realises that she can't control all of her children's decisions. She was ok but to me that was not the best acting performance of the year.
The movies was ok, could have been better but did make me laugh out loud on a number of occasions.
Thursday, 8 April 2010
An excellent telling off
Billy Payne was openly critical of Tiger Woods
"Our hero did not live up to his expectations of the role model we saw for our children," he said.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Payne described Woods as a "very special player" who had proved himself one of the greats of the sport, but one who had let himself down.
"As he ascended in our rankings of the world's great golfers he became an example to our kids that success is directly attributable to hard work and effort.
"But, as he now says himself, he forgot the process to remember that with fame and fortune comes responsibility, not invisibility.
"It is not simply the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here. It is the fact that he disappointed all of us and, more importantly, our kids and our grandkids," he said.
"Is there a way forward? I hope yes, I think yes. But certainly his future will never again be measured only by his performance against par, but measured by the sincerity of his efforts to change.
"I hope he now realises that every kid he passes on the course wants his swing, but would settle for his smile.
"I hope he can come to understand that life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who bring joy to the lives of other people."
Payne added: "We at Augusta hope and pray that our great champion will begin his new life here tomorrow in a positive, hopeful and constructive manner, but this time with a significant difference from the past.
"This year it will not be just for him, but for all of us who believe in second chances."
"Our hero did not live up to his expectations of the role model we saw for our children," he said.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Payne described Woods as a "very special player" who had proved himself one of the greats of the sport, but one who had let himself down.
"As he ascended in our rankings of the world's great golfers he became an example to our kids that success is directly attributable to hard work and effort.
"But, as he now says himself, he forgot the process to remember that with fame and fortune comes responsibility, not invisibility.
"It is not simply the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here. It is the fact that he disappointed all of us and, more importantly, our kids and our grandkids," he said.
"Is there a way forward? I hope yes, I think yes. But certainly his future will never again be measured only by his performance against par, but measured by the sincerity of his efforts to change.
"I hope he now realises that every kid he passes on the course wants his swing, but would settle for his smile.
"I hope he can come to understand that life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who bring joy to the lives of other people."
Payne added: "We at Augusta hope and pray that our great champion will begin his new life here tomorrow in a positive, hopeful and constructive manner, but this time with a significant difference from the past.
"This year it will not be just for him, but for all of us who believe in second chances."
Attempt 3
A pamphlet from John Cook, the prospective Labour candidate for Norwich North.
Positives - he is a local man and has served on Parish, District councils and as a school govenor. There are a lot of positive comments about what Labour have done especially SureStart.
Negatives - Lots of concepts for the future but not much in the way of how they are to be achieved, it was sent by Labour and Co-operative and apart from the shop I don't know who they are.
Positives - he is a local man and has served on Parish, District councils and as a school govenor. There are a lot of positive comments about what Labour have done especially SureStart.
Negatives - Lots of concepts for the future but not much in the way of how they are to be achieved, it was sent by Labour and Co-operative and apart from the shop I don't know who they are.
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Attempt 2
A letter from the Conservatives telling me how they will change/ deal with civil liberties.
Positives
They want to scrap ID cards, it tells me what the Conservatives will do and is not negative campaigning, it uses the word illiberal twice
Negatives - They got my name in the address but the letter is addressed to Dear Elector - can't they Mail Merge, they want to scrap some of the rules about people working with children, it seems to lay the blame for HM Revenue and Customs losing data on the government when it would have been individual error, it was posted on the 1st April
Positives
They want to scrap ID cards, it tells me what the Conservatives will do and is not negative campaigning, it uses the word illiberal twice
Negatives - They got my name in the address but the letter is addressed to Dear Elector - can't they Mail Merge, they want to scrap some of the rules about people working with children, it seems to lay the blame for HM Revenue and Customs losing data on the government when it would have been individual error, it was posted on the 1st April
Attempt 1
Newspaper from the Labour party. It features all of the achievements Labour believe that they have masterminded from crime, education, investment and the economy. There are also some celebrities (Doctor Who and Jo Brand) telling me to vote Labour as well as some local people telling me why they would be voting Labour. It tells me that a Liberal vote would be a waste and only a few boxes attacking the Conservatives.
Positives - local examples, builds on previous achievements, not to negative about others
Negatives - does tell me what they are going to do in future
Positives - local examples, builds on previous achievements, not to negative about others
Negatives - does tell me what they are going to do in future
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Election: May 6th
I am a floating voter. | have some tendencies but nothing is set in stone so I will chronicle the attempts by each party to woo we and it won't be easy as I have some tricky questions.
I am not sure if Norwich North counts as a marginal technically as Chloe Smith (Conservative) has a majority of over 7000 but that was in a by-election at the height of the expenses scandal after Ian Gibson had been forced to resign by the Labour party - before that there was a Labour majority of about 7000. There was also the fact that the Labour candidate got swine flu and did no campaigning in the two week in the lead up to the election.
There is also a reshuffle of which wards are in which constituency. With two Taverham wards and two Drayton wards moving - both slightly posher areas if that is a factor.
There are also less parties currently registered with the "Put an Honest Man into Parliament" - 953 votes, BNP - 941 votes, Monster Raving Looney - 144 votes, None of the Above Party - 59 votes and Libertarian - 36 votes currently up to be claimed.
I am not sure if Norwich North counts as a marginal technically as Chloe Smith (Conservative) has a majority of over 7000 but that was in a by-election at the height of the expenses scandal after Ian Gibson had been forced to resign by the Labour party - before that there was a Labour majority of about 7000. There was also the fact that the Labour candidate got swine flu and did no campaigning in the two week in the lead up to the election.
There is also a reshuffle of which wards are in which constituency. With two Taverham wards and two Drayton wards moving - both slightly posher areas if that is a factor.
There are also less parties currently registered with the "Put an Honest Man into Parliament" - 953 votes, BNP - 941 votes, Monster Raving Looney - 144 votes, None of the Above Party - 59 votes and Libertarian - 36 votes currently up to be claimed.
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