somehow it must be true...

Prove that the crocodile is longer than it is wide.

Lemma 1. The crocodile is longer than it is green: Let's look at the crocodile. It is long on the top and on the bottom, but it is green only on the top. Therefore, the crocodile is longer than it is green.

Lemma 2. The crocodile is greener than it is wide: Let's look at the crocodile. It is green along its length and width, but it is wide only along its width. Therefore, the crocodile is greener than it is wide.

From Lemma 1 and Lemma 2 we conclude that the crocodile is longer than it is wide.

eats, shoots, & leaves

Are you a grammar goddess? Or a grammar guru? Play the game
and find out!

And for those of you who really love your commas, semicolons, and apostrophes, check out the Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing.

one hundred

This is my 100th post! I've seen on other people's blogs that the 100th post seems to be something to celebrate. In my world, the only "100" thing we celebrate is the 100th Day of School. However, I suppose 100 is a lot, so, in the spirit of celebrating my 100th post, I thought I'd share some pictures of past 100th Day of School festivities with my students in Shanghai.

have to share

I saw this yesterday, and I knew I should share it with you. You may have seen the clip on the news, but it's worth watching again. It reduces me to tears each time I see it, and it reminds me to be thankful for my dad, for little children, and for the all sacrifices of our nation's troops.

twits

If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face... A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.

from Roald Dahl's Twits

chinese new year

Happy Chinese New Year!

Sunday was the first day of the Lunar New Year festivities. Pigs everywhere are snortin' and celebratin'! (And I'm celebrating that next year I'll have a week off for Chinese New Year!)

Piglet Years are:1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Piggy personality traits are: Intellectually curious, honest and tolerant.

People born in the Year of the Pig are known for loyalty and their ability to make lifetime friends.

wish list

I just found a cool site that takes you through a quiz about yourself and then creates a Christmas wishlist for you. Based on my answers to the quiz, this is what the site determined about me:

Your choice of colour signifies a sense of physical courage, strength, warmth, energy, and excitement. You are probably a person that can express many personality traits such as being passionate, full of energy and may even be someone that is good at making money. You are also likely to be quick witted, very focused and extremely determined when you want to be.

Spare time is spent doing the little things in life that keep you going. You like the predictability of routine - but also the random nature of escaping the day to day and dreaming of somewhere else.

You love to be able to relax and unwind - a real treat is being able to switch off from the pressures of modern life.

Your style is fuss free but modern - you appreciate good, timeless design.
When you have extra time you like to have it all to yourself. You know exactly how relax and rejuvenate. Some see your lux lifestyle as indulgent, but for you pampering is so essential!
You like your holidays to be relaxing, and exotic. Although you are not adverse to a little luxury, you want the basics - your own hut, a balcony and a view of the sea. You are probably a bit of a romantic when you travel.

What matters to you most is your family, you see them as the backbone of your life.
Giving means something more than gifts - time is the most valuable thing that people have. You love to give your time and advice to those that you love. You have a mature and caring approach to all your relationships in life.

I'd say that's pretty spot-on. And the list of gifts it generated for me looked pretty good, too! The only odd thing that I'd be perplexed to receive is a plaster Hermes Food Cast. But the recommended gift books, candles, bath sets, wine and cheese sets, cotton bathrobe, kitchen items, and good causes the site selected would all suite me well. Let me know if you want me to e-mail the list to you. Or try it yourself and send your list to me! (http://www.imagini.net/) Of course, if you want to know what's on the Christmas list I came up with myself, feel free to ask for that, too!

how good are you?

I always new I was gooder at grammer then other's! :-)

Your Language Arts Grade: 100%

Way to go! You know not to trust the MS Grammar Check and you know "no" from "know." Now, go forth and spread the good word (or at least, the proper use of apostrophes).

Are You Gooder at Grammar?
Make a Quiz

(Click on the box to test you're self!)

happy veterans day

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.

GOD BLESS THE VETERANS!

random

On a billboard:

"Tobacco kills enough people in two weeks to fill all the hotel rooms in Times Square."

What kind of weird, contrived fact is that?