Platform Gaming

Wow think I have taught more so far this year than all last year, well at least it seems that way. For the past 2 weeks me and the game design students have been working on platform gaming. We used Patrick's jumping tutorial as a stepping stone. After we finished his tutorial which includes movement and jumping we continued on into unknown territory. Not all went smoothly but I have worked my butt off trying different bits of code to get our new features to work, and success. We now have enemies that kill the hero, scoring that is dependent on pickups placed along the level, and scoring that moves with our characters throughout the game. Next step who knows but it has been fun and the students seem to be enjoying it.

My Favorite Beetle

So I have to chose my favorite beetle, I mean really this is a hard subject. Technically speaking I have as high as 100 million choices that I would really have to consider. So after narrowing down my search to 4 I did manage to choose a winner. But first let me talk about the 3 close calls.
I really thought about choosing the Hercules beetle, a type of Rhino beetle, why because for its size it’s the strongest freaking animal on the planet. However I realized this feat wasn’t so great considering I could step on it and show it just how strong it is.
Next I thought about choosing the Madagascar Hissing cockroach, then remembering my Invertebrate Biology classes I realized it wasn’t a beetle and hissing although comical and creepy wasn’t really that interesting.
Then I thought about what most of our neighbors across the pond refer to as May bugs, however their real name is Cockchafers. Okay I really don’t think I have to explain my choice here except to say “Hehe he said ……”.
So that brings me to my grand selection. Folks I decided to chose our old friend the Dung Beetle. I know I know your thinking why the dung beetle, I mean it is named after poo. Well that’s why I like it. I mean anything that can own up to the fact that it is named after feces really is a remarkable creature. Not only does it own up to that fact, it also eats poo, in fact that is all it eats it doesn’t even drink water it drinks poo juice, sounds yummy to me. The dung beetle is so proud of poo it rolls it up in a ball and roles it around. Why it does this I’m not really sure but I would say it wants to show all its friends the fact that its poo ball is bigger than his, I think technically it might just be the male beetles who share this fascination. Because apparently the female beetle chases down a male beetle that has a big poo ball and decides she wants to mate with him. Not really sure what that says about the females but I think its typical for most females, the more poo the male has the more attractive he becomes.

Globaloria Academy

Hey we are in charleston and there are like 50 people here I don't know. Feeling kinda old even though I am one of the youngest in the room.

A Van of Motivation

Life as a teacher is challenging at times and you can get consumed in the moment or become distracted and easily off task. At these times I remember my one motivation in life, Matt Foley. At hard times in my life Matt comes over and reminds me if it wasn't for my job I could be "LIVING IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER". Now guaranteed not having a job wouldn't necessarily mean I had to "LIVE IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER", but Matt sure seems to think that way. Its not so much what Matt does say that motivates me its more his situation and looks that really motivate me. Sitting around not doing much could turn me into a enormously overweight man, and "LIVING IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER" could lead to poor personally hygiene. Sure he some how gets clean going to a Gas Station restroom and sponging himself with a wet towel or using a Cab Drivers Pine Scent air freshener as deodorant. Somehow the pine scent doesn't always cover up the smell of rat feces and swamp water bathing that occur from "LIVING IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER". However that I can deal with, most of Matt's problem is he is always destroying my furniture when he comes to my house, I have literally had to replace my coffee table at least 15 times. Matt's life disturbs me to the bottom pits of my soul. So as long as I stay on task and keep trudging on throughout my life I won't end up like Matt "LIVING IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER".

Long time no Bloggy

Me no work long time no schools, me is happy. Idit is here should behaves probables wont she be mads all well such is lives of Republicans in a world of Democrrats.

December

Okay a month of madness has set upon us, yea December. Sometimes I wish people would act like they weren't a bunch of madmen. I almost despise this month because of other people and their non-holiday actions. I believe that Christmas time should be a time for showing goodwill towards others, but apparently I am a minority on this one ideal. Anyways the best part is definitely watching my kids open their presents on Christmas morning it kind of makes up for the crap I have to endure the rest of the month.

Thanksgiving

Yummy I love a holiday dedicated to food. You don't have to worry about buying stuff for people, you don't have to even go out and search your community for sweet treats. You just get to show up somewhere and stuff your fat face with random goodness. Awesome.

Illness

To be sick is such a joy in my life. Not having the ability to breath from my nose makes me feel like some inbreed hillbilly mouth breather. Constant pain to my forehead, so pleasant, as if a monkey is inside my head throwing poo against the walls of my skull. Hacking up some yellowish-green bile like substance from the depths of my lungs is ever so enjoyable. As I spit this substance out I wonder how many vile mucous creatures I kill off from my body, the answer not enough because I am sure a few minutes from now more of their family will be joining them. Yes I love being sick.

One Building

Okay again I seem to have some magical powers and can travel back in time to see any building, in the world at any era of time. As many wonderful buildings as there are out there in time to visit one pops into my head immediately, The Coliseum of Rome. Yes its not the prettiest building out there but it was and still is an engineering feat that is amazing. It would be amazing to be there at the height of its use to see not just the gore of gladiator battles(that would be pretty cool though), but to see the building being truly used by the Romans. The thing has lifts (old word for elevators for you younglings), a retractable roof to shade the spectators, bathrooms (remember this was BC), and an egress system more efficient than today's modern stadiums. However the best thing about it and one thing I would love to be there for was when they flooded the Coliseum. There was, and still is, a network of underground pipes that could be turned on to flood the floor of the Coliseum for naval battles. Whoever came up with this idea really had an ambition to see some death in the coliseum. Anyways to be a spectator in one of the worlds most recognized buildings would be something amazing and something that unfortunately will just be a dream.

BLOG WEEK

BLOG WEEK is here again oh happy times again, okay I really am an idiot.

Slacker

Yes I am a Blog Slacker. I have still found it difficult to do my blogs in class as the students complete their blogs. Hopefully looking for a change in that this week.

Blog Week Wrapup

So last week we did BLOG WEEK at SVHS. Went very well I encourage all you Globaloria peeps to check out some of the student blogs. I have some verrrry creative students.

Three Wishes

Okay wish number one would definitely have to be a cure for cancer. Would have thought that being in the 21st century this medical problem would be solved but no it still plagues human culture. Wish number 2 would be to have all the powers of superman. Okay silly but who doesn't want to be able to fly, have dreamed about it almost every night my entire life. Plus the invincibility thing, x-ray vision, super-fast thing, and space travel capabilities are amazing. Pretty much would knock out anything I would want to do or have dreamed of doing. Third wish would be saved, don't really need to wish for money when I can use my x-ray vision to find gold in the earth.

Time Travel

Okay so somehow I magically have a time travel device, and can go to any era where do I go....I think I would choose the haydays of the Greek empire. To be able to be around for the creation of architecture standards that are still relied on today would be a pretty cool thing. It would be neat to actually see things built, and how they were built instead of hearing speculations and guesses from textbooks.

What animal I would be

Okay so I kind of left this question open ended for the students and did not say it has to be a real animal. On that basis pretty sure its okay if I pick a dragon. Really why would you not want to be a dragon. They can talk just like humans, so pretty sure that's a huge advantage over other animals, you don't have to squeak, chirp, or grunt to get your point across to your buddies. Another big thing dragons live pretty much forever. In which time you get to collect a big hord of treasure, eat the locals, humans probably are tasty to dragons, and pretty much be the bad-a of the neighborhood.

Day 1 Blog Week-yea I'm a day behind deal with it

Drafting Classes: What is your favorite building?
Okay this question is insanely complex for me, being an Architectural Engineer, its truly really hard to differentiate between different building eras and styles. I mean how can you compare the Eiffel tower to the Parthenon, you can't. Both of them are amazing creations for their time in human history. So I am going to break it down into eras and probably into civilizations.
Pre-history:Stonehenge-okay any culture with nooo technology that is willing to drag stones over 20 miles is pretty amazing.
Egyptians:Pyramids are cool but their temples architecture and art was mind blowing
Greeks:Lets seee oh yea the Parthenon and Acropolis
Romans:Pantheon and Coliseum its kind of a toss up the Pantheon was the first domed building pretty cool but the Coliseum could be flooded for naval battles
The Renaissance: Notre Dame cathedral, huge stained glass windows, flying butresses, a hunchback, plus still have the 3D puzzle and still play with it.
Early America:Monticello okay it even amazed me when I went there
Steel Construction Era:Anything built in Dubai, got to be nice to have a client with limitless money when you are designing a building

Blog Week

Okay for all those reading and paying close attention to all my students blogs, I know you all have the time, they are participating in a Blog Week. Different topics, some class specific some off the wall, usually turns out good if anyone is reading this post.

New Year

Students starting out strong, good participation. Seniors are sooooo much stronger at this class than their lower classmates, easier to teach, follow closer, don't need as much help, will willingly help their classmates. I guess I will be wearing senior colors on spirit day.

Okay I am a slacker

Have been so busy dealing with updating computers, teaching students and other daily routines that I have become a real slacker myself at blogging. So I am hoping and trying to rectify the situation.

Class

WE NEED MORE COWBELL