Tag Archives: Memes

Six-Word Memoirs

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I just noticed a couple of links referring to the book Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. “Everyone has a story. Can you tell yours in six words?”

Here’s the book preview from Vimeo:


Six-Word Memoir book preview from SMITHmag on Vimeo.

NPR also has set up a related gallery of images.

Great idea. I am not sure how original it is, but I would love to see what students could produce related to their own young lives or referring to other individuals (famous others, or family & friends). This could be a wonderful exercise.

Let Milo Open The Door

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I put this on Youtube a couple of weeks ago, but others have asked me to share this on my blog. To make a long story short, we have a cat name Milo. My three year-old daughter Raine misheard the lyrics to a classic song, and has been singing it “her way” ever since.

8 Random Facts Meme

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I was tagged by Dean, here my 8 random facts (right after I explain the meme itself).

1. Post these rules before you give your facts
2. List 8 random facts about yourself
3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 people and list their names, linking to them
4. Leave a comment on their blog, letting them know they’ve been tagged

So here they are:

1) I used to be a talented percussionist and pianist … then one day I just stopped playing. Big regret.
2) My B.Ed focused on English and Social Studies instruction, however as the young guy on staff at my first school, I was expected to teach “computer class”. I’ve now never left this subject-area/field.
3) My first car was a 1977 Propane-powered Ford Granada, and I drove it like it was an off-road vehicle. Looking back, I’m lucky I never blew myself up.
4) I’ve been in in two vehicle rollovers and one major accident (just last year) involving a fatality and serious injuries. In all three cases, I wasn’t driving and I walked away unharmed. Seatbelts work.
5) I invested months of work on one PhD topic related to preservice teacher professional development and technology integration. However, after watching one presentation re: open source culture I radically shifted gears … no regrets.
6) I’ve been a very successful blackjack card counter since about 2000. Luckily, it’s acceptable where I play. I just love applied mathematics/statistics.
7) My parents ran a successful Greek restaurant called Mario’s in Humboldt, Saskatchewan for several decades. It’s no longer there, but it’s amazing how many people still share their fond memories of the place.
8) I plan to retire young from an academic career and run a small restaurant on a Greek island somewhere. Maybe I’ll see you there.

I agree with Dean, I won’t go commenting on people’s blogs to let them know about this. If they use technorati, they’ll likely find it.

I tag the following:
- Rob Wall
- Richard Schwier
- Cyril Kesten
- Heather Ross
- Miguel Guhlin
- Brian Crosby
- Bud Hunt
- Doug Belshaw

I look forward to reading those that respond.

Ben Takes A Photo Of Himself Everyday

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I enjoy this take on the “take a photo of yourself everyday” meme that has recently been popular.

Great stuff. And I think this could be an easy-to-model assignment (digital story-telling through stop-frame animation) for the K-12 classroom. Of course, the drugs, cheating and drinking may not be the most suitable context.

Facial Recognition Software?

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I’ve experimented with a web-based facial recognition application, and a couple of the results are described below. The application compares your uploaded photo to a celebrity photo database and produces several possible matches. Maybe this will end up becoming a meme.

After several attempts, it seems that I have facial characteristics similar to … Robin Williams?

Robin Williams vs. Alec Couros

Ummmm … I don’t think so.

And, as I scroll down the list, it produces an even more amazing comparison … it seems I also look much like Lindsay Lohan!

Lindsay Lohan vs. Alec Couros

Yea … I have my doubts. The only thing I seem to have in common with Ms. Lohan is that we are both staring to the right in these photos.

Well it’s a neat technology, but obviously, still pretty buggy (at least in this particular case). Or maybe there’s just no one like me. “I’m good enough, smart enough … and gosh darnit, people like me.”

Have a try, and let me know what your results are.

He’s Henry … Oh Henry …

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So I guess I am most like “Henry the Explorer”.

I am…
HENRY THE EXPLORER by MARK TAYLOR.

When I get fed up
with my life, I run away for just a little while. You know, I do that in
life, too – whenever things get tough, I get a change of perspective.

Find
out what Children’s Book You Are!

Well I don’t know about the running away part … but who doesn’t like a new change of perspective from time to time?

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The Great Playlist Meme ’04: Yet Another Playlist

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I’m taking my cue from D’Arcy Norman who just introduced me to The Great Playlist Meme ’04. You can check out the details at D’Arcy’s blog, At the time of this of this writing, here are the next 10 songs on my digital music player as selected by my random shuffler … no embarrassing tunes excluded. This could be scary!

1) Slow Burning Fire: The Skydiggers (not a bad place to start)

2) Don’t Walk on Past: Blue Peter (ahhh the 80′s)

3) Gansta Gangsta: NWA (WOW, is that really on my list?)

4) Arm Yourself – Filmmaker (good Saskatchewan band … unfortunately now dismantled)

5) Tennessee Flat Top Box – Johnny Cash (R.I.P Johnny)

6) Cool It Now – New Edition (uhhhh … my brother must have downloaded that one … yikes)

7) Say It Ain’t So – Weezer (much cooler than the last one)

8) Scared – The Tragically Hip (now we’re getting somewhere)

9) Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode (80′s classic turned Gap marketing ploy)

10) 323 – Chixdiggit (Calgary punk band, which coincidentally brings this post back to D’Arcy)

Well I guess that wasn’t too bad.

If you are interested in another similar playlist type game, check out the A-Z Song Game … another interesting one I saw a short while ago.

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