Figments of Imagination
chaoticutopia | November 11, 2007I wrote this one over a year ago. I wasn’t weirding out about educational choices, as I described in a recent post, but aging. Even though the circumstances are different, however, I’m still in a similar mindset. So, while terms like "yesterday" and "this week" are irrelevant here, I think it will fit in well. So, let’s all feel like a bug.
I’m in a Kafkaesque mood, thinking of transformations, the helplessness of watching such change through a unique and uninterpretable perception. Perhaps this is because I’m turning 30 this week, and I haven’t quite come to terms with that fact. (It was…
chaoticutopia | July 20, 2007Is there hope for our children’s education? Last week, I questioned the direction our public schools were heading, expressing quite a bit of frustration. Yet, while I’ve been frustrated, along with many others (judging by the response to that post) we might be missing a possible solution, sitting right under our noses:
The computer.
Depending on who you talk to, the computer may represent the best or the worst of our futures. In a child’s hand, the computer can be a distraction or a frustration... or it can be a source of fun and knowledge. It is up to us, as parents and teachers, to show our…
chaoticutopia | March 11, 2007So many wonderful books! I was surprised. As much as I love science fiction, I've only read about a quarter of books on this "most significant science fiction" list that's been floating around. No bother, though... that's just more that I get to read at some later date. Here's the list, with ones I've read in bold:
The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
The Foundation Trilogy, Isaac Asimov
Dune, Frank Herbert
Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert A. Heinlein
A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin
Neuromancer, William Gibson
Childhood's End, Arthur C. Clarke
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep…
chaoticutopia | July 31, 2006The drums pounded and oars stirred the water in perfect rhythm--the experience was both invigorating and calming at the same time. This weekend, the Dragon Boat races came to Sloan's Lake in Denver. Despite soaring temperatures, hundreds of metro residents came out to join the festivities. Just watching the boats glide across the water was enough to provide some relief from the heat:
The tents were filled with a beautiful assortment of local handmade gifts, imports, and foods. The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District had one of the shadiest tents, along with brochures about…
chaoticutopia | July 29, 2006If you're in the Denver area this weekend, consider checking out the
Colorado Dragonboat Festival. It will run today and tomorrow at Sloan's Lake park, from 10am to 7pm. There will be food, music, shopping (my favorite) and, of course, the Dragonboat races.
chaoticutopia | July 19, 2006As both a mom and a kid at heart, I couldn't resist joining in Children's Book week (month?) started by the World's Fair.
Behind every child is a budding scientist. They approach the world with an unrelenting curiosity, testing hypothesis at every corner. They like to experiment hands-on, and they like to make a mess--and how. (For instance, I once tried to make my own paper, with pulp and bright green dye. I just didn't know you had to keep the lid on Mom's blender closed.) While some experiments might make mom mad, there is always hope--in the form of books.
Since my Dad was a chemist, many…
chaoticutopia | June 21, 2006Today, the sun is rising to its highest point over the northern hemisphere. It is the longest day of the year--the summer solstice. But do we notice? Outside of a glance at the calendar, marking the official start of summer, it's just another day. Did the residents of Rochester Creek notice the solstice 2000 years ago?
When they carved these elaborate images into the face of the rock, were they considering the passage of time and the rotation of seasons? Were they librarians, recording useful information, such as astronomical or biological details?
Or were they shamans, performing religious…