http://alex.dunns.org Thoughts, opinions, and the occasional cookie with a big glass of milk. Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:08:05 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Sorry about that huge delay in the posting, folks. I haven't been able to post for quite a while!  Ummmm.... er..... awkward..... If you are one of my friends at Byrd, could you comment here? Discussion topics? Anything?  How 'bout them Cowboys? ..... http://alex.dunns.org/2008/11/13/im-back/ I once saw this ad for Southwest Airlines in which the guy on the airplane has to pay to use the restroom, pay to recline the chair, pay to use the overhead storage... etc., etc., etc. But what's surprising is that that is sort of true nowadays. American Airlines is ... http://alex.dunns.org/2008/06/03/nickeled-and-dimed/ The Byrd Symphonic 1 Band (of which I am a member) recently competed in the Beach Within Reach band contest, and I am elated to say that we won the Grand Champion prize, meaning that out of every single band that the judges heard, we were the BEST!!! (And man, that trophy ... http://alex.dunns.org/2008/05/20/woohoo/ I am sure that we have all heard about the sad event that took place at the Kentucky Derby last week. Eight Belles, a filly, had to be euthanized after breaking her front two ankles. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) maintains that the death was caused by the ... http://alex.dunns.org/2008/05/12/eight-belless-death-at-the-kentucky-derby-peta-shut-up/ The last one was the absolute worst. The test itself was easy, but very shoddily put together. It looked like someone had just gone and cut-pasted it together. (This isn't a state test, mind you, the district made it.) There was nothing to do after the test, as usual.  I really should be glad to ... http://alex.dunns.org/2008/05/02/taks-commentary-part-four-texas-history/ This was the worst, as it was the quickest to be completed. We were sitting there for hours on end, not being able to talk (the 8th graders were taking their real tests), and by the time we left for fifth period, we were ready to explode with pure energy. ...I ... http://alex.dunns.org/2008/05/01/taks-commentary-part-three-science-benchmark/ Same deal as with the math portion... frustratingly boring, but really easy. I finished early, so I dawdled a bit before turning it in so it wouldn't look like I rushed. The questions were so easy, that I could have just done a quick scan of all the passages, and answered all ... http://alex.dunns.org/2008/04/30/taks-commentary-part-two-reading/ Today, we took the math portion of the TAKS tests. It was very easy, and most of the questions I could do in my head. (I'm not speaking for all people, just myself!) The worst part of it, though, was not the test itself, but what to do afterwards. The ... http://alex.dunns.org/2008/04/29/taks-commentary-part-one-mathematics/ It's that time again... In four days (from the date posted), the TAKS Math and Reading Tests will take place at schools across Texas. Now, I've already discussed the non-usefulness of TAKS (see post here) but still, I highly doubt that many students are looking forward to 4+ hours virtually chained ... http://alex.dunns.org/2008/04/26/taks-time-is-upon-us-hordes-of-screaming-people-run-away/ Things to do on Earth Day:  Save electricity. Drive as little as possible. Recycle. Hug a tree. Reduce your carbon footprint.Hey, wait a minute, we should do this stuff every day! Happy Earth Day!-Alex  http://alex.dunns.org/2008/04/22/happy-earth-day/