Mark O'Meara

Great Buffy Episodes

mark — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:55:45 +0000

I want to show an episode of Buffy in English to demonstrate character archetypes. So I need something with Buffy being a her, Xander being the sidekick, Giles being the old man wizard and so forth.

I would love to show Hush but we lend it to people years ago and they never have it back (we’ve since lost contact).

Any suggestions?

The Stern Gaze

mark — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:49:38 +0000

Some kids were taking photos for class so, naturally, I offered to stop and pose. I decided to do my stern-gaze look. One of these boys told me later how well it turned out. He seemed really pleased and told me to track it down. So I did. Then I stole it.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-02-08

mark — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:00:00 +0000

@puppydeluxe I feel a bit the same myself today. in reply to puppydeluxe #
@puppydeluxe She's like the Craw. in reply to puppydeluxe #
Blink is waiting for me at the library. Given how interesting I found Outliers, I am looking forward to this. #
Watching: Scorsese interview on the The 7.30 Report – ABC http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/ #
With some help from Rad, I found a good Buffy episode to use for archetypes: Killed by Death http://bit.ly/dzn0to #

Happy Accident

mark — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:26:04 +0000

Serendipity is looking in a haystack for a needle and discovering a farmer’s daughter.

- Julius Comroe Jr.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-02-07

mark — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:00:00 +0000

@AddieGaines After seeing you questions, I wrote out my reaction in brief. http://markomeara.net/2010/02/07/outliers/ in reply to AddieGaines #
@sammarks where do you do your course? If it's Deakin, you'll be right no matter how far over you go. in reply to sammarks #
Extension resources for my keen English students. What else do folk think should be added? http://redspacerocket.com/extension/ #

Outliers

mark — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:04:24 +0000

I just finished reading Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers. It is about the factors in being successful and it much more interesting than that probably sounds. This is a short book and reads more like an extended magazine article than weighty academic tome.

Here are some of the key points.

1. Some people and populations are out-there different.
Fair enough.

2. It matters what time of year you are both.
Kids born just after cut-off dates gets to be the oldest and seemingly most capable in their age based cohort. They get picked as good and have more opportunities. This minor effect is cumulative.
I think I had some idea of this, but the coverage of this threw it into stark relief.

3. If matters what year you were born in. When you are part of a small generation and have better access to education and are more in demand when you enter the workforce. Another way that matters is when you are the right age to be part of the big new thing.
Again, I think that I was aware of this but it is amazing how many outliers were all born in particular years. I have no idea if 1970 was such a year. Even if it was, the next point would sink me.

4. Chance is a factor but so is hard work, and lots of it. People who are right out there have done lots of practice, ten thousand hours of it. This takes around ten years. No-one gets there without it and no-one does that much without achieving excellence.
That’s a lot of work, more than I’ll ever do on any one skill. Still, the ultimate message is liberating: if you want to be brilliant, it only takes ten years of serious work. I could be a genuinely amazing teacher by the time I am fifty. That’s not going to happen, but it could if I was serious enough.

5. Culture is a real thing and it makes a difference. This difference can spring from respect for authority to your number system. Some cultural baggage puts you on a steady path for some kids of success. Some aspects of your cultural baggage can be changed, but it is hard work.
Yet again, I knew this. But it now seems like a more substantial issue that it was.

6. The general vibe is that our rags to riches stories are about amazing individuals. In a small part this is true, it takes serious and sustained hard work. But that’s not enough; you also need other factors going your way. You need to be lucky as well. The good news is that we can manufacture some of this luck by changing some of the ways in which we do things.

So what’s the change is me as a person and as a teacher?

Work and application are still important, so I’ll keep hammering my students about that. But there is more to it. Specifically, we would be better of if we stopped treating the super-successful as born-with-super-talent aliens. Lots of us could do that, too. Equally, we need to recognise that hard work alone, while necessary, will make you really good but might not make you a superstar.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-02-07

mark — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000

@FionaBM That's great to hear. I've had a few kids give unsolicited feedback that they like it, possibly because it feels fresh against PP. in reply to FionaBM #
I love the way that cotton clothes feel after they have been blown dry but a strong breeze, so soft. #
'The People vs. George Lucas' Is Really a Twisted Love Letter http://goo.gl/tAy9 #
Just finished Gladwell's Outliers. More like a long magazine story and really interesting (especially reading it as a teacher). #

Words, Words, Words

mark — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:24:48 +0000

Another wordle, words from my blog.

Most Common Words Recently on Red Space Rocket

mark — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:56:34 +0000

There are no revelations here, but it’s interesting for a moment or two.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-02-06

mark — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000

For Joanna (and anyone interested in a different kind of presentation0 http://prezi.com/ #
Really tired after a very late night. Still, I'd better get dressed and head off to work for the last day of the school week. #
He said, "Looks like Fat Boy Cosmo is in business". She said, "Sound good". #

Undergraduate Perspective

mark — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:00:32 +0000

In the course of my life, I have spent too much time kvetching. I try to do it less now. I’d like to reduce it to nothing.

With this in mind, I particularly enjoyed a poem that I heard on the Writer’s Almanac podcast, At the University College of North Wales at Bangor. Have a look; you might like it, too.

He Mean A Lexus

mark — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:56:37 +0000

Something I saw that might appeal to fans of The Wire.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-02-05

mark — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Reading: New Monopoly Board: Credit Cards Replace Money, Boards Get Circular In 'Revolutions' http://bit.ly/dtwssM #
Reading: Adults-only Lego : Diary of an Average Australian http://www.danielbowen.com/2010/02/04/adults-only-lego/ #
@puppydeluxe sounds like an excellent idea. in reply to puppydeluxe #
@puppydeluxe perhaps you should have another quick shower. I am sure the universe would understand. in reply to puppydeluxe #
talking about the interwebs and social media with Deborah and Willy. #

Random Information

mark — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:40:22 +0000

I have been working on some presentation for school.

First of all, I started at the very beginning, but then I was past being tense.

Miso Soup

mark — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:09:03 +0000

I heard a new mondegreen today which is so good that I feel compelled to share.

In Bernard Fanning’s “Wish You Well“, “why’d you give up on miso soup?”

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-02-03

mark — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:00:00 +0000

Looking at: Zygier-ettes – Deborah Conway at Fitzroy Gardens. Fantastic! http://bit.ly/b2IbYW #

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-02-02

mark — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:00:00 +0000

Finn in the news (really): Sorting pollies from puppets: pupils and teachers hold their first Q&A http://bit.ly/aL1AXr #
@puppydeluxe the steady business of staying in house and home. That's what money is for. in reply to puppydeluxe #

First Day of School

mark — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:40:38 +0000

Well, this is the start of my forth year of teaching. I taught my first class for the year today and I really enjoyed it. It was a big class but they played nicely. Much as I’d like to tell you something interesting, it is time for bed.

Capital Idea

mark — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:32:59 +0000

This is something deliberately simple to work a class discussion around. Can anything thing of anything substantial that I have missed?

[First of all, I missed embedding the correct presentation. All fixed now.]

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-02-01

mark — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:00:00 +0000

We are up and running. The day sure goes quickly. #
A really good day at school. Due to first-day jitters, I am tired and somewhat overwrought. #
Read: Gladwell's Outliers. It's not very deep but it is possibly profound. #
@FionaBM That's just what you want to hear from a kid at school! in reply to FionaBM #

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-02-01

mark — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

My English: In praise of silly http://goo.gl/eCh8 #
Did I mention that I now have a professional facebook page? http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Mr-OMeara/276272966309?ref=ts #
Nicky has a migrane and is sleeping it off. The kids and I are watching the Wiggles in concert. #
I had thought of taking the kids to Tooth Fairy today. Now that we are the end of the day, I wish I had actually done this. #
I got eight strikes in a row on Wii Sports bowling and a new personal record of 254. Dumb luck. #

School’s In

mark — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:26:52 +0000

Tomorrow the new Year 10s arrive for their first day. I met them briefly last year and, as a group, they seem nice enough. Still, it is hard not to feel a bit anxious before the first day. The summer break is a long time, plenty of time to forget how to do this teaching thing. It feels like something that someone else knows how to do.

Of course, I will be fine. In two weeks, I’ll know most of my students names. In four, I will have quite a productive routine going with them.

Lesson for the day – I’d rather be up and moving than waiting.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-01-31

mark — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Going as a family to see Deborah Conway play in the Fitzroy gardens at 6.30. #
Back from the Deborah Conway show at the Fitzroy gardens. We all had a ball, kids included. Can't wait for the new record. #
doppelgänger has that doover over the a. Who knew? #

Scorsese Tribute

mark — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:56:56 +0000

I heard about this on the Cultural Gabfest and, luckily, it was on YouTube. So I thought I’d share it some more.

Word for Monday: Skedaddle

mark — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:30:07 +0000

One of the things that I have been thinking is that I would like to get back into doing activities to expand my students’ vocabularies. In the past, I have done a word of the day and that has worked well, so I’ll give that another go.

Today’s word a dictionary.com is skedaddle, which seems like a good place to start. It’s a word I like. So I used their information and created a basic presentation to use in class.

I’d be interested in some feedback about this style of presentation. When viewed too quickly, it can induce a bit of motion sickness, but I won’t be flying through it in class. So, other than that, what do people think?

Son of a Teacher Man

mark — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:44:00 +0000

When we were in Borders in Carlton the other day, I overheard a youngish man asking where the books about teaching were. He explained that he was about to start teaching. After the assistant had directed him to the small selection of such books, I bowled over and basically ranted to him about what an exciting and rewarding job it was. He expressed concern about handling the students and I happily offered my opinions on how to do this: it’s all about respect and momentum. And, since he was going to be teaching English, I recommended some good grammar books that I like.

He seemed to take this well which was nice.

Afterwards, I was left thinking about my plan to teach for only ten years. This still might be the case. After all, this is only the start of year four and the average life of a teacher is five whole years. But it did strike me as possible, just possible that I might do this for longer than the ten. Maybe not for ever – that’s a long time – but for a good while yet.

Lesson for the day – your own enthusiasm can tell you something.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-01-30

mark — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Top schools lagging on reading, writing http://goo.gl/2Y66 #

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-01-29

mark — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Looking at: Apple – iPad. I know this is just what was expected, but it does look very groovy. http://www.apple.com/ipad/features/ #
Out for real pizza for our special girl's birthday. #
@sammarks even better, a shop on Lygon Street. Sadly, the one we chose didn't do pizza but the pasta was delicious. in reply to sammarks #

Analogue

mark — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:37:35 +0000

Back at work, I took notes for much of the day in my pristine 2010 diary. The loops and idiosyncratic shapes of the letters, sometimes joined and sometimes not, were pleasing on the page. The light blue curves against the crisp horizontal lines just created a vibe that I rarely see in the digital world.

Lesson for the day – lots of ideas are good, but the physical has a pleasure all of its own.

Happy Birthday, Nicky

mark — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:34:41 +0000

Today’s is Nicky’s birthday, which I always find a bit exciting. She may well prefer that it just slides on by, but I think that a fuss is always appropriate for someone you love and adore.

She asked for some specific craft books so we ordered them from the interwebs. The kids and I also picked out a bound notebook with a swish cover that she might use as a “artist’s diary” type thing to collect good ideas and information for various projects.

Happy birthday, Nicky. You don’t look at all like a monkey and you smell lovely.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-01-28

mark — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Having real trouble getting to sleep. In good news, I got three below par over 9 holes in the golf on Wii Sports tonight, a personal best. #
@puppydeluxe I was actually just checking to see how things are going. Sorry to hear they are not going well. in reply to puppydeluxe #
@FionaBM sounds like an excellent plan. Especially since Nicky is one her own for another couple of hours. in reply to FionaBM #
@puppydeluxe good to hear. in reply to puppydeluxe #
Really tired after my first day back at school. Still, nice to be back and busy. #

Ride

mark — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:26:03 +0000

By my best estimation, I put the bike computer on my Zen bike at the end of March last year. Today as I was out riding, it finally clocked over 2,000 kilometres. My first thought was that this sounds pretty impressive for ten months.

That’s 200km a month which, when I say it like that, isn’t all that much. It’s almost seven kilometres each day, which sounds pretty mild. All the same, it’s probably the most consistent exercise that I’ve done in a long time and that can only help. Quite aside from the exercise angel, I’ve really enjoyed riding and have a heap of enjoyment out of a $400 bike.

Lesson for the day – keep moving.

Science Experiment

mark — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:14:12 +0000

Science Experiment.

Finn has been keen to make potions and do some science experiments for a while, I must confess that I have bee fobbing him off, since this often involves just making a lot of mess. Today, we finally did a little experiment that he made up.

I told Finn that experiments were to test questions so he made up a question and we took it from there. As much as possible, I tried to stick to what I remember of basic scientific method at the same time as just having fun with Finn.

If you happen to be interested, you can read the report of his experiment on the link above.

Two Things

mark — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:38:09 +0000

One thing I love to see is people being kind, supportive and interested in other people.

One thing that annoys me is people banging on about their pet dislikes/hates in regard to any stimulus. It seems that the comments section of newspapers are full of this sort of thing.

Although there is plenty of the latter online, I find it touching and reassuring to find rich veins of the former, too.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-01-26

mark — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:00:00 +0000

Looks like a great morning for a bike ride: almost no wind and still a little overcast. #
Trying to make sense then effective use of the presentation software at Prezi.com #
@FionaBM I am not sure if it is a one-trick-pony or actually something different. And the interface is both simple and tricky. in reply to FionaBM #
My first, and very basic presentation using the Prezi model. http://prezi.com/gazrllipak3d/ #
Looking at: How to use a semicolon – The Oatmeal: Sheer Genuis http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon #
Where are you on the social technographics ladder? http://goo.gl/8g89 #

Close to the End

mark — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:00:53 +0000

Tomorrow is both Australia Day, a public holiday, and the last day of my lengthy summer holidays. For the longest time this year, these holidays felt really long. Not long in an insufferable way. More like an endless summer of taking it easy with Nicky, the kids, and with friends. It’s been really nice.

Then, all of a sudden it seems, it is over. This is fine. I think being back at work and busy will do me good. I am not a new teacher any more, and I need to focus my attentions on doing this job as well as I can. It might not the absolutely the most important job on the planet, but it deserves my full work-life attention.

Lesson for the day – the end gets here in its own time.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-01-25

mark — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:00:00 +0000

UP at half past six for a bike ride this morning. Trying to get back into the workday routine before I go back to work on Wednesday. #
Another day, another English quiz. http://apps.facebook.com/o-meara-qui-defxxbh/ #
Fixed the quiz. Should be possible to get a perfect score now. http://apps.facebook.com/o-meara-qui-defxxbh/ #
Watching an episode from season three of The Wire. #

Dog of a Different Colour

mark — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:05:39 +0000

Since depression is sometimes known as the black dog, is there a type of animal that represents an episode of anxiety? The terrier, perhaps?

Facebook Quiz

mark — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:29:32 +0000

I am thinking about producing short quizzes on Facebook about various grammar and English topics during the year. The won’t be part of the formal assessment, obviously. But they might get students spending another three minutes thinking about the current topic at home.

This is my first quiz, about apostrophes. If you haven’t seen it already and are signed up for Facebook, give it a go and let me now what you think.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-01-24

mark — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 02:00:00 +0000

I fairly dull quiz about commas that I created on Facebook. http://apps.facebook.com/apostophe-q-dedciif/ Will do better next time. #
@FionaBM Is this the stuff you mean? http://www.slideshare.net/momeara in reply to FionaBM #
Just put the missing "r" into the title of my apostrophe quiz. Embarrassing thing for an English teacher to miss. #
Puzzle #4 pale; three letters. #
@FionaBM I am making these too easy, aren't I? in reply to FionaBM #
@FionaBM Was that link I posted to resources what you were after? http://www.slideshare.net/momeara in reply to FionaBM #

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-01-24

mark — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

The wind is 28kph, gusting to 48. That is far too windy for a pleasant bike ride. #
I realised that my blog entry from this morning, Snap Decisions, was unclear and worse. I have fixed it up now. http://wp.me/p52J1-4u #
After rain at the Zoo and a pretty warm afternoon, it has turned into a lovely evening. #

Rapid Release

mark — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:06:54 +0000

Yesterday as I was out for a short ride, I heard a considerable hiss from the back of the bike and, sure enough, the rear tire was entirely flat. At home, I took the tube out and looked for the puncture, but the light outside was failing so I left it for the morning. When I finally found the problem this morning, it was more like a small tear than I puncture. Either way, I fixed it up and put it back on the bike. There must have been more to it. When I checked just now, the tire was completely flat again.

I’ll have another look tomorrow, when the light is new and I am fresh.

Snap Decisions

mark — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:31:30 +0000

I hereby declare the next seven days to be the Week of Snap Decisions.

I decided this, quite quickly, this morning. I was reading the paper and there was a headline: “Too Much Choice: Variety the Strife of Life“. I only read the first two paragraphs, but I am familiar with this arguments. There is so much to choose from in our daily lives. There are about ten free-to-air television channels, dozens of channels on pay TV, perhaps a dozen choices of peanut butter on the shelves at the supermarket, and so on and so forth, seemingly ad infinitum. This standard argument would have it that all this choice paralyses some people.

Normally, I don’t buy this argument. I don’t actually choose from all the available options; I just do what I am in the habit of doing. Every now and then, I will have to consider something new, and then there is choices all over the shop, but that’s only every now and then.

And then a larger truth occurred to me. I do spend a lot of mental and emotion effort deciding on all sorts of things in my daily life. Some options are more sensible than others, although this is quickly reckoned. Still, I spent a lot of my time and energy considering and choosing between things. Perhaps, now that I think of it, even more than I realise.

Hence the Week of Snap Decision. Stay home or go out, just decide. What is for dinner tonight? Just decide. Perhaps I mean two minute decisions rather than instant. But quick decisions and be done with it.

Lesson for the day – not all thinking is productive.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-01-22

mark — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:00:00 +0000

@danielbowen I just call things Spencer Street, Museum Station and the South Eastern Freeway. It means I am getting older and grumpier. in reply to danielbowen #
Help! Ideas for using the interwebs to sell a new album. What good ideas do you have? http://bit.ly/5iJaq3 #
A few new photos of us at the Zoos and on the train. http://www.flickr.com/photos/markomeara/sets/72157623258328476/detail/ #
I'd like it if DVDs routinely had a commentary track for English teachers explaining the subtleties of the themes and story. It would help. #
Good Wii Deal: Wii Console + Wii Sports Resort + Wii Cricket + Wii Sport $398 http://bit.ly/7EeNCb #
@bgaensler presumable gods, rather than mere mortals in reply to bgaensler #
@sammarks that is a great scene. in reply to sammarks #

Two of Us

mark — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:44:49 +0000

Two of Us by MarkOMeara

Finn took this photo of us on the train. It’s not brilliant, but it’s recent and nice enough. So I thought I’d share it.

Nicky’s New Glasses

mark — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:18:36 +0000

My new glasses by Nicky P

Nicky has new glasses and they look terrific, as she does, too.

Marketing A Record Online

mark — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:59:53 +0000

Friends of our are releasing a new record soon, and I thought that I’d like to offer some suggestions about how they could drum up some interest in this record on the interwebs. They are an Australian acts with a number of previous records. They have had radio exposure and so forth, but it was a few years ago now.

1. Establish and maintain a Twitter account. Talk about the album and other stuff. Post at least one thing a day. Follow other people you know, other musicians you like, and most people who follow you. This will get some people paying attention to you and this album.

2. Set up Facebook page as an artist. This will allow people to become a fan of yours. When they do this, their friends will see this. You might get know to some new people and some people who already know of you will be reminded or you.

3. Repeat step 2 for the album itself. This provides a place for people to talk about the album and become fans. When people love this album, they have a place to promote it themselves.

4. Release one or two songs in MP3 format on your website. Release the entire song. Perhaps, if you don’t want to just give away the album version, make a stripped-down version for free.

5. Release a video-clip or two on YouTube. Alternatively, run a competition with the singles for people to create their own video-clip and put them on YouTube. You could choose a winner and offer copies of the album as a prize. You could even try and get media teachers involved and have students doing this. Perhaps they would win a performance for their class.

6. Get the album on iTunes. I don’t know how easy this is to do or how the financials work. I do know that every record that I have bought in the past two years has been from iTunes.

What do other people think are ideas worth trying? Remember, the idea is not to spend too much time, or to simply garner attention. It is, ultimately, to sell records.

The Old Ways

mark — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:23:49 +0000

I still call the stations Spencer Street and Museum Station, even though I know that’s not their names any more. I still call it the South Eastern Freeway.

I know better. I am just choosing to be stuck in the past.

Which “old” names do you still use?

Paying For It

mark — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:18:08 +0000

I like getting quality stuff for free on the internet. It’s always been part of the appeal of the interwebs, and the quality of the top end has only increased over time. Being realistic, this quality material cost money to produce and that money has to come from somewhere. I am thinking specifically about podcasts, news and music. All of these are labour intensive and pretty costly to produce at the highest professional quality, even today. Some of that money might come from advertising but that only brings in so much. So, by this reasoning, if I want stuff, I am going to have to pay for some of it.

Of course, I’d prefer it were free. But I’d rather pay than not have it. So I pay for music on iTunes. And if Slate were to start charging a modest fee for podcasts, I’d probably pay that, too. I suspect I’d also pay a modest fee, perhaps ten or fifteen dollars a month, to access all of The Age’s content.

Anyhow, with all of this in mind, I was interested to read some of the questions and answers on the New York Times about the charging model they are about to introduce.

Lesson for the day – value what you appreciate.

My Twaddle on Twitter for 2010-01-22

mark — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Had a night of extremely strange dreams, not distressing at all, but very strange. #
Puzzle #3 feeling flat. five letters. #
Finally finished: Rhetorical Devices presentation (including pop culture references with videos) http://bit.ly/76QEqH #
Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo… #
@jojoeffe Puzzle #3 Clue #2 feeling flat, five letters, starts with e. in reply to jojoeffe #
Puzzle #3 Clue #2 feeling flat, five letters, starts with e. #
Yes, Rad. The word in ennui. Well done. #
@sammarks as far as I know. There a good video clip on my blog from the Gilmore Girls with it that you might like. in reply to sammarks #