The No Kool Aid Zone » A Good Laugh

Underline the Number “20″

Byron — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:23:01 +0000

From my father-in-law; a good laugh for your Wednesday:

Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried. Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s:

1. Teaching Math In 1950s
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit ?

2. Teaching Math In 1960s
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

3… Teaching Math In 1970s
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?

4. Teaching Math In 1980s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

5. Teaching Math In 1990s
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers, and if you feel like crying, it’s OK. )

6. Teaching Math In 2010
Un hachero vende una carretada de madera para $100. El costo de las producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?

Pants on the Ground, Y’all…

Byron — Sat, 29 May 2010 20:40:44 +0000

My old friend Kerri Linto Smith with her cornfed interpretation of a new American classic…

Scrabble, Episode 3

Byron — Wed, 19 May 2010 00:28:48 +0000

OK, so on the first show, I won big, and then in the second show, I should have lost in the first round, then had a cakewalk in the second, and got impatient and blew a decent shot at the 5 grand in the Jackpot round. That show was the last taping of the day, and so having won $12 grand, I went to spend the night with friends on CCC staff in San Bernardino, and I said to myself, “all right, Harvey, you’ve made out better than you ever dreamed; now let’s go back tomorrow and break the bank.” As you’ll see in this first half of the third episode, I played better than either of the first two shows. I was on a roll:

Yep, blew the girl away in the first round, and then set my best second-round score of my time on the show.

And then, I ran into Joel from MIT:

Gotta tell you, the whole thing was an absolute blast, one of those things that was at least as much fun as I anticipated it being. I highly recommend it…

Scrabble, Episode 2, Part 2

Byron — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:03:32 +0000

In which I make a dumb mistake and maybe blow 5 grand. Of course, if you think it’s easy, you try it…

Marian the Librarian

Byron — Thu, 13 May 2010 22:10:35 +0000

Perhaps the most challenging number I had to do, mainly because of the difficulty of getting the timing of the first stanza down. But my exceptionally-talented leading lady, Katrina Scoggins, pulled me through, and at least on this night, we hit it dead-on. Sorry that you’ve probably got to crank your speakers full-blast, but we had a microphone malfunction that evening. Enjoy—if you can—Marian, the Librarian!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB0El_IZTbY