Dana Does It

Guess who’s back?

Sat, 04 May 2013 15:51:45 -0400

Guess who’s back?

cuddlesandrage: Seal of Disapproval THIS.

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:01:36 -0400

cuddlesandrage:

Seal of Disapproval

THIS.

jameshance: This is the single most ‘80’s thing I’ve ever...

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 11:51:28 -0400

jameshance:

This is the single most ‘80’s thing I’ve ever heard, ever. It’s like the theme from Duck Tales and Flashdance spent the weekend on a houseboat and nine months later an audioegg hatched and ate them both.

Here is the sound of that infant, bellowing into the night. You’re welcome.

x

THIS WAS A TV SPECIAL THAT I WATCHED AT LEAST 1000X, as my parents had illegally recorded it on VHS. The program also featured a rendition of “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart” featuring Elton John and Minnie.

neveralovelysoreal: hiphopeducation: HOW HIP-HOP CAN HELP...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:22:25 -0400

neveralovelysoreal:

hiphopeducation:

HOW HIP-HOP CAN HELP UNLOCK A PASSION FOR SCIENCE

How can a teacher engage a classroom full of high school students in a morning biology class? As it turns out, a little music can make the difference at inner-city high schools in New York.

Professor Chris Emdin of the Columbia University Teachers College pioneered Science Genius, a program that uses hip-hop to help students get hooked on science, particularly urban and minority students who are often left behind.

Emdin insists the program is more than a gimmick.

“The basic concept is, they love hip-hop, don’t love science, let’s find a way to figure it out,” he says.

Emdin believes the program works because outside of learning science concepts, students also have to practice revision, vocabulary, research, presentation and creativity.

The program has star appeal as well. Rapper GZA, member of the Wu-Tang Clan, was once a grade 10 dropout, but has turned himself into a science geek and helped co-found Science Genius. He recently made a surprise appearance at Bronx Compasss High in New York City, one of the Science Genius sites, to rap about gravity and the cosmos.

But are students actually learning more science with hip-hop? Student Keegan Dillion thinks so. “I lost my passion for science…but now that they’re mixing it up with music, I feel like I can get like an A+.”

Create your own science rap to win a shout out from GZA

Enter your own science rap or hip-hop verse for a chance to win a personal video shout-out from GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan along with a PBS NewsHour mug signed by the rap legend himself. Our contest is modeled after the Science Genius competition, a partnership between GZA, Emdin and Rap Genius. Entries will be judged by Emdin and two of his Columbia University Teachers College graduate students.

Click here for instructions on how to submit your video

Oh my God, I love GZA so much.

LETS BEGIN DRAFTING OUR RAPS IMMEDIATELY!

Literally a HOT MESS.

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 01:39:33 -0400

Literally a HOT MESS.

"everything is fat free during exam week"

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:18:16 -0400

“everything is fat free during exam week”

- TRUTH.

i love a good gimmick. cuddlesandrage: thecakebar: Pinata...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:32:45 -0400

i love a good gimmick.

cuddlesandrage:

thecakebar:

Pinata Cookies Tutorial {click link for more pics and full tutorial}

Yesssss it’s a mexican pinata cookie! There is real candy hiding in these colorful cookies just like a real pinata?!

Sometimes, the Universe puts you where you are supposed to be.

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:44:51 -0500

2013 has been frightfully, manically busy. This is largely because I spend 4 days a week running a research project nee afterschool program at Emmet Elementary. Emmet is located at Madison and Central Park. The sample population we are working with are kids from the school who have been selected by teachers and staff as the most disruptive, disobedient, and otherwise challenging.

…and that they are. Most days there are fights, there are things thrown, there is outrageous language and disrespect of people and property. It is hard work. But, as I told the parents of two boys who had to be expelled for a week after numerous acts of defiant and dangerous behaviors, “I have seen greatness in these young men.” Some days, the days when staff can shower them in positive attention and re-direct them when they are losing focus they can tear through their homework with success, play cooperatively, have fun, and even be helpful to staff and classroom procedures.

But today was not that kind of day. Today, children threw books and pencils and cans of food at one another. They punched, they kicked, they cursed. And as much as we tried to contain the violence, it felt like we never could stop it from happening again.

Eventually, the day ended. I drove home. Today the ride east and north was particularly long, with Friday traffic making my long afternoon stretch on into the evening. At 7pm, as I sat on 90/94W, This American Life came on. This week and next week’s episodes are devoted to looking at life inside Harper High School, a high school south and slightly east of Emmet, and the feeder school for one of my Girl Scout 5th graders.

And as I sat trapped in the memory of a rough afternoon and the reality of traffic, I listened. I listened to stories about children all too similar to those I see, albeit mine a bit younger. I listened as (SPOILER ALERT) the school’s social worker broke down, realizing that she could not protect all of these children in the face of an unclear, but very present danger.

I could not cry with her, though my sadness was, and is, very real. I almost felt vindicated, as though having their be a professional mental health worker feeling what I feel many days made it more ok. Then I felt grateful. Grateful that This American Life would do this kind of story. Grateful that the woman let NPR air her vulnerabilities without censorship. Grateful that somehow, I wound up driving my car this day with this traffic and keeping my radio on 91.5.

My catharsis is not so complete. I still had leftover pie for dinner. I will probably still dream about these children and how to make them safer, happier, and more in control of themselves and their choices while under my supervision. But my gratitude led me to the keyboard for the first time in 2013, with the hopes that maybe, by writing it down, it might all make more sense.

Perhaps there is no sense to be made of it. Maybe, at least for now, I’ll stick with grateful.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/

thelifeguardlibrarian: At last, a cat meme I can get...

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 01:26:25 -0500

thelifeguardlibrarian:

At last, a cat meme I can get behind.

Indeed.

Merry Christmas from DMX.

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:58:21 -0500

Merry Christmas from DMX.

Richard Simmons: Man, Myth, Mystery...IDOL.

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 21:43:54 -0500

Richard Simmons: Man, Myth, Mystery...IDOL. :

“Does being known as the clown prince of fitness diminish what he does? I wondered. “Absolutely not,” he replied. “When the king is upset, he doesn’t call for the chef. He doesn’t call for the wife. He calls for the little man in the pointed hat. I love comedy. I love having a sense of humor. I had to use that as a child not to get beat up every day because I wasn’t Mr. Masculine. That comedy was my sword and my shield. Still is. There is nobody I’m afraid of.”

“He starts to cry. “Whether they laugh at me or with me, it doesn’t matter. Let them laugh loud.”

Steven’s Bar Mitzvah Havdallah. #mishkan

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 01:26:46 -0500

Steven’s Bar Mitzvah Havdallah. #mishkan

barackobama: Joe goes to Costco. Buying a pie, I get. Books,...

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:54:45 -0500

barackobama:

Joe goes to Costco.

Buying a pie, I get. Books, obvi. But the duraflame logs? C’mon Joe, who are you kidding?

Still, nothing hits home like realizing that if we go over the financial cliff, all that Costco impulse buying will end. Even *if* those granola bars price out to a nickel apiece.

beatonna: Small Fat and MIGHTY Get em while they’re...

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:28:20 -0500

beatonna:

Small Fat and MIGHTY

Get em while they’re HAWT

…2 outta 3, and the third seems inevitable.

I was given a giant Scooby Doo (4ft) and casually carried him on...

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 23:04:29 -0500

I was given a giant Scooby Doo (4ft) and casually carried him on the train home with me.

(Scooby’s not leash trained)

The Sem Co-Op is Having a Book Parade.

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:53:58 -0500

After 51 years at its University Avenue location, the Seminary Co-op Bookstore is moving to a new store at 5751 S. Woodlawn Ave. With help from the authors of some recent Co-op favorites, we will be moving the renowned Front Table to the store’s new location. Join us on this symbolic journey from our old location to our new home.

The procession, complete with bagpipes, begins at 11 a.m. Please gather outside the entry to the old location, at 5757 S. University Ave. Afterward, warm up with hot chocolate, hot cider, cookies, and popcorn and take a sneak-peak at the new store before it officially opens on Wednesday, November 21st.

https://www.facebook.com/events/139162259564638

…of course they are.

"Should a ground war actually start in Gaza, a large number of volunteers will be needed in December,..."

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 21:52:33 -0500

“Should a ground war actually start in Gaza, a large number of volunteers will be needed in December, January, and February 2013.”

- Volunteers for Israel Newsletter, 11.18.2012

millionpuppetmarch: If you love NPR’s Fresh Air and you love...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:58:51 -0500

millionpuppetmarch:

If you love NPR’s Fresh Air and you love Terry Gross, you’re wrong, because we love her more.

Casual Young Italians wrote this song in support of the Million Puppet March and in support of public broadcasting.

Do you know what inspired the album cover art?

Download the song.

ITS ACTUALLY A PRETTY GOOD SONG.

Home Sweet Home

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:51:35 -0500

I got back late Monday night. It was unexpected.

Around 5pm Sunday evening, the power came on at the school. People danced. In the next few hours, many people rejoiced to hear power was on at their homes, too. Day shift left around 8:30, and it seemed people were on their way out.

When I returned to the shelter at 8am, there were 11 people left. Compared to 80 the night before, and 350 at capacity, we now danced, too. We packed up the supplies whilst case workers helped the remaining folks find a place to stay. When the last client left, we did too, and headed to HQ for our next mission.

Instead of a new address and new clients, HQ said “go home.” I called the travel service (you can’t book a plane ticket home until officially dismissed) and they had a flight for me 4 hours later, nonstop from Newark to Ohare.

I grabbed my bags from the hotel and a dozen NJ bagels, turned in my spaceship prius and staff phone and went home.

I called Eleanor from the airport. She thinks I may be the first person who has ever said, “I’m great! I’m at Newark airport!”

Sleeping in my bed has been great.

Looking back on the time (10/31/12- 11/12/12) it was a lot of long hours and frustrations, but so much good was done. I am delighted I could be a part of this.

It's Transgender awareness week! Get informed!

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:40:42 -0500

Transgender Awareness Week Infographic: Health Disparities Faced by the Transgender Community

Also, if you’re in Chicago and in healthcare:

The College of Nursing Fall Cultural Workshop presents:

Healthcare Equity for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (GLBTQI) patient populations: An Awareness of Health Disparities and what Health Professionals should know in providing care to youth and people of color.

Thursday, November 15, 2012, 4-6 p.m.

College of Nursing, 3rd Floor Event Center

845 S. Damen

Chicago, Illinois 60612

Featuring:

Femmily Robison, Health Educator for Sexuality Health Education to End Rape (SHEER)

Sara Wall, Manager of Adolescent Health and RN for the Broadway Youth Center

Shannon Smith, LCSW, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Presenters will be addressing:

GBLTQI adolescents and youth: health risks (mental health) and association with street living/homelessness.

Health inequities related to being an underrepresented minority who identifies as GLBQTI: Discrimination in receiving healthcare (based on patient’s perception).

Our very own…

Nina Metsovara, GEP-FNP student will be providing an overview these disparities.