Cheezmo SapFest - This Week's October Road

You've all heard me rave about this show before - but not tonight.

The ONLY thing that saved this week's episode for me was the inclusion of the following songs:

"Epic" by Faith No More

"Coming Home" by Cinderella

and

"I Remember You" by Skid Row (yeah - still gives me goosebumps, must be memories of the good old Snowball Skate or something)

The ep was completely non-sequitur. Did we forget that we had an hour to fill this week or something? It was so surface - "Hey Guys, a childhood friend (who happens to be a girl) you haven't thought of or seen in 18 years passed away - let's turn that in to a lesson about why you're having problems with current girlfriends."

It just didn't add up. What a disappointment.

Thank God E. taught me how to crochet today at our weekly after-school knitting gig, so I had something of some value on which to concentrate.

Committed to the future of print? Uh...

So, there's a little piece in Editor and Publisher that says Mark Zieman has been named president and publisher of the Star. He's been editor for a while now, and was interim publisher since the last publisher left in late January.

Here's a quote from the story:

"Mark understands both the challenges and opportunities facing newspapers today," Gary Pruitt, chairman and CEO of the McClatchy (which owns the Kansas City Star) said in a statement. "He is deeply committed to quality journalism and a future that includes print, digital, and niche publications. He is a wonderful fit to lead the Kansas City Star."

I'm sure he'll be great, that part I don't disagree with. The problem I have with that statement is that I don't think the Star is committed to the future of PRINT publications. Based on a couple of decisions they've made in the past few months that directly affect me as a classroom teacher, it seems like they think the demise of print newspapers is inevitable.

First: Before the end of first semester, I received a letter from the Newspapers in Education director at the Star saying they were discontinuing the NIE program for local schools, but GEE, I can SUBSCRIBE to "eStar in Education."

Really? Great.

First of all, I don't need to subscribe to their website. Secondly, let me think about how in the heck I'm going to teach newspaper design using an online newspaper (and one that is hard to navigate, as well). Third - I'd much rather have my students read the "paper" paper for 10 minutes in the morning instead of turning them loose on the internet. I'd walk holes in the carpet making sure they were actually on the Star's site.

At my school, we're lucky to have enough computers for every student to have their own to use during class - but what about schools that have one, two or three computers per classroom? It's completely ridiculous to expect a teacher in that situation to use an online version of the paper as a teaching tool.

I know when I was at Derby, our papers were paid for by a corporate sponsor, and subscribers also donate their vacation papers to NIE. The Star kept running the "Going out of town? Donate your paper" ad even AFTER they discontinued the program. Surely corporate sponsors were also donating papers in KC?

Longtime blog readers might remember last September, when I wrote about my students' views of print vs. online media.

Here's a little bit of that post:

Take note, those in charge of big online pushes:
“Print for me is better, I like it because it’s delivered to my house everyday. I already know how to use it and know where everything is. It’s (print) easier to read and has better headlines.”

“I probably like the print version better because it’s easier to read and I feel more grown up reading an actual newspaper. I also like all of the color and organization of the print newspaper.”

“I like newspapers. I think the website has a lot more stuff to look at, but the newspaper is more fun. The huge headlines get my attention a lot more than those on the web.”

“I like the feeling of actual newspapers. Newspapers smell good. I think it’s also easier to find what you want in the print newspaper.”

“The internet is not organized in a way that makes me want to read it. Too many ads, too hard to find what I’m interested in.”

And, my favorite:
“I like the newspaper better because you can take it anywhere, touch it, burn it, eat it if you need to do so. Also, you can doodle on the pictures of people you don’t like.”

Obviously, I’ve only given you one side of the story, but the just over half of the students preferred print to online. What I think is interesting about this is that many of them said they find the paper version easier to navigate, and find what you want.

The other decision that just kills me (and will speed the eventual death of their newspaper) is that there no longer is a TeenStar. The weekly section written by and for teens has been discontinued, taking away a wonderful opportunity for local teens to showcase their writing, as well as taking away a part of the newspaper that drew youngsters in. I know it's not a money maker, but for one thing, they don't pay the kids to produce it. (I know there are staff members who work on it, so, yes, it does cost some money...)

People who read the paper now do so because someone set the example for them when they were younger, and they started doing it at a young age. It's a habit you have to build. Kids today will not wake up when they turn 40 and decide to read the paper out of the blue. If I were a newspaper publisher, I'd be doing everything humanly and fiscally possible to get papers into the hands of teens.

I mean, jeez, have you seen the statistics on how much disposable income most teens have? They'll patronize advertisers, for pete's sake.

Does this view make me a dinosaur of sorts? Do I have a romanticized view of the daily newspaper?

Blog jinx similar to SI curse?

Uh oh. I hope my writing about the girls basketball team last night didn't cause the jinx. BV was seeded No. 2 going in, and Lawrence knocked them off this afternoon in Emporia.

One thing I love about our school is that when something big happens for kids, they make a big deal out of it. We had a send-off assembly today, just before the team boarded the bus for the tournament. All of the girls, coaches and managers were introduced, and they played a season highlights video on the big screen.

I think I've said before, but just so you don't forget - our mascot is the Tigers, so every time we do the pep thing, they play "Eye of The Tiger" about seven times. AND I FREAKIN' LOVE IT. I'm sorry, you can call that song total cheeseball all you want, I know it is. But when you actually are the Tigers, and you want to get pumped up, it's pretty darn perfect for that. Seriously, it gives me goosebumps.

The coach spoke, and the senior girls presented our principal with the 6A substate champions plaque. Then, as is BV tradition, everyone poured out of the stands, gathered on the court, formed a tunnel, and sent the team off. Basically, the team parted the crowd right down the middle, and those in the middle held up their hands, forming the arch of the tunnel. I've never seen anything like it. I guess they do it for all teams headed to state.

BUT, somehow I don't think a tunnel will be formed to send off the handful of kids we placed at our regional...

FINALLY got the results tonight - one first place (yearbook layout), one second place (theme development), one third place (infographics) and one HM (headlines). I was really surprised that we didn't have any photographers place - one of my kids had some nice swimming photos. Oh well.

Thank bejeesus for carry-ins, though, since nobody got to compete on site. At least this year wasn't a total loss.

Gotta go - I need to download my own version of "Eye of the Tiger" so I can play it tomorrow in Newspaper when we make the regionals announcement...Or, I could always dust off "The Final Countdown" from the Betty vs. Minnie video.

Big news always happens right AFTER deadline

So, our girls basketball team is substate champs - headed to Emporia Wednesday to continue play. If the girls win, they'll play in the state championship Saturday night. Exciting stuff.

The un-exciting stuff is that our paper is due to press at 1 p.m. FRIDAY. I'm working on trying to get the deadline extended for at least the cover and double truck so we can cover the weekend's events as well. It sounds like the boys team at West is also playing this weekend, so maybe extended it for two schools in the district will be okay? Who knows.

We're having a pep assembly tomorrow to send off the team. Then, the spirit bus leaves at 12:45. A yearbook photographer is riding the bus. Should be fun for her. At least she gets to ride it for no charge since she's working!

Then, on Thursday, we're supposed to have a spring recognition assembly. Yearbook and newspaper have the option of being announced - which would be wonderful IF we could get the results from our regional contest by then. The natives are getting restless and would like to know whether or not we had anyone place with carry ins. Everyone say a little prayer tonight that we'll get word by tomorrow so the kids can get the recognition they deserve.

•••

By the way, if you read Betsy's blog you saw her post about celebrity hair makeovers. It's addicting. I've picked out a few of my best. I'll post them over spring break when I have no other exciting news.

Spring Shopping Guide

Here are a few springy items to tickle your Etsy fancy:

Because everyone likes a little bubbly every once in a while -


Betsy's Champagne for Two earrings.

How about a nice bright and fizzy phone cozy:


It can be yours here for only $5!

For those of you with little ones (and there are a bunch of you!) check out this darling pillowcase dress from addyclairesboutique:


I love the colors and the pattern in that fabric!

Here's another pair of earrings. I love the blue beads - reminds me of crystal waters.

They're from VickyVK.

And last but not least, the springiest of them all: This tote bag from Beanhank.

Again, love the fabric!

That's enough shopping for me - it IS a school night after all.

Holy Flip Flops! March comes in like a lamb!

We went for a bike ride yesterday for about an hour and 10 minutes. It was pretty windy, but I suppose that just added to the "intensity" of the workout. Everyone else had the same idea we did - I lost count of all the folks out walking dogs, riding bikes, and playing with their kids on the playgrounds.

Temperatures in the 70s drew everyone out of their winter malaise. I even wore flip flops when I ran an errand a little bit later in the day. Of course, it looks like those temps aren't hanging around long. I guess it's supposed to get back down around 35 and rainy/snowy mix late tonight and into tomorrow. Blah.

Mitzi and Betsy came over last night. Betsy brought little Minners with her. After the initial shock of being in a new place, Minnie settled down and chilled with us. She's a good little dog. We watched the KU-KSU game. Um, not as happy about the outcome of this one as I was about the earlier one this season. Oh well. It happens. We watched Ellen Page on SNL. It was a pretty good episode. There were definitely some laugh-out-loud moments, but Weekend Update continues to be my favorite sketch.

Hopefully the warmer temps will inspire me to come up with some spring and summer knitwear projects. I don't think I'm going to be able to sell scarves and winter wear on Etsy this time of year...Any ideas? What would you buy this time of year? I'm working on a new version of this:


In different colors. I think I'll be done knitting it in just about a half an hour. I started yesterday afternoon, while watching "Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest."

I've got to go to school for at least a couple of hours today. I need to get caught up on some grading, and be ready for the next two weeks of classes.

Just a quick update from yesterday. I'll be posting some cool Etsy finds later tonight (after I get my WORK done...)

Sour Grapes

Yeah, I'm prepared for all of you to call me a sore loser.

We "celebrated" Leap Day by (GASP!) actually going out on a Friday night with Mitzi and Betsy, instead of staying in and playing GH or crafting...We played trivia at one of the Johnny's. I thought since it was a Friday night the place would be packed, but it was fairly quiet, only about seven teams playing, and there weren't a bunch of non-playing Loudy Loudersons like there always are a Tanners.

It's so much easier when you can hear the DJ's questions and you can hear the sound clips. Under the team name Adam and Eves, we hung right around second place most of the night. We did so with no internet on our phones and no laptop, and there were only four of us.

The winning team had about 15 people on it (much easier with the larger teams - more brains to mine for useless knowledge). BUT, they also had a guy who brought a freaking laptop so that they could look up the answers. They were Googling almost everything. What fun is that? Our team didn't have a chance against that, but we hung in pretty close most of the game.

Next week is the semi - finals. All these teams who have qualified by cheating for the last 10 weeks will be screwed when they get to the semis, because you can't take any sort of electronic device in with you. Bets decided that maybe the DJs encourage cheating in the early rounds so that the not-so-smart teams get weeded out right away in the semis. Could be.

I think we've already qualified as Adam and Eves at the Tanners location, so I need to check the website and find out. The winner of the whole she-bang gets a $1000 prize.