Escalators Have A Mind of Their Own on the East Coast

I don't know about you all, but I've never seen an escalator in the West get pissed off and just start throwing people around.  (Not to mention one of the busiest days the DC Metro has seen--the day of The Colbert/Stewart Rally).

Weekend Update: My Falls Were Not This Bad

(Neither were yours)

First Post-Surgery Ride

Great times this weekend in Clear Spring, MD, enjoy my first ride since knee surgery last year.  Only two things could get in the way of having an epic weekend:  1.  No data service.  2.  No beer at the ski area.  Good thing it was made up for.  Click here for the album.

To The Aquarium!

Finally!  I have been waiting for.ev.er to go to the aquarium.  So Monday I dropped the cash for two passes and off we went.  I have to say, this is a pretty radical aquarium.

Click here for pics.

Escalators are More Chaotic on the East Coast

I Really Just Want to See a Player Wearing Montana on the Front and Back

Don't really care about the position...but I'll probably need one of those jerseys.

From the Missoulian.com

Montana's coming to Montana

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By MICHAEL HEINBACH of the Missoulian | Posted: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 6:15 am | (12) Comments

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Nate Montana, Courtesy photo

University of Montana athletic director Jim O'Day confirmed to the Missoulian on Monday evening that Nate Montana, son of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, has enrolled at the University of Montana.

"He's admitted as a student, and he started classes today," O'Day said. "Then I would assume he's a walk-on, because we have no aid as of this semester."

O'Day said Montana enrolled on Friday, the last day to do so for the current semester at UM.

The 21-year old junior quarterback and his father met with athletic department officials Monday, just six days after Joe Montana and his wife had an informal meeting with Grizzly football head coach Robin Pflugrad.

Nate Montana walked on at his father's alma mater, Notre Dame, as a freshman before transferring to Pasadena (Calif.) Community College in 2009. There, he was 31 of 88 in the air for 324 yards with a pair of touchdowns and five interceptions.

This past fall, Nate Montana returned to South Bend, Ind., to play at Notre Dame and was listed as the third quarterback on the depth chart behind junior Dayne Crist and freshman Tommy Rees. He saw action in three games last season and completed nine of 18 passes for 116 yards with an interception and no touchdowns.

The Grizzlies' 2011 recruiting class, announced earlier this month, did not include a headline quarterback. But Pflugrad hinted at the time that a transfer could join the program in the spring. UM was spurned by Michigan transfer Tate Forcier, who chose to play at the University of Miami.

Nate Montana would join a stable of UM quarterbacks that includes true sophomore Jordan Johnston, redshirt freshman Shay Smithwick-Hann and junior Gerald Kemp.

Pflugrad had no comment.

Things Are More Life/Death on the East Coast

One big adjustment you have to know about if you are planning on moving from West to East is that you will need to know how to respond to people who seem to not have any variance in their understanding of the urgency of a situation.  For example:

Is pretty much the same reaction you get to this:

What Are You Going to Do?

That was the theme of the Teach For America 20th Anniversary Alumni Summit in DC this weekend.  So, before I know what to do, I really need to reflect on the good times with old and new friends, the ideas that drove me to join TFA almost a decade ago, the work that was done before me, the work that continues, and the ideas that are still a part of the original mission, that "One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education."

Thanks for a great time TFA... you are my second family.

Let's start with Wendy.  You've come a long way, baby.  Way to up the public speaking!



Question of the day on Sunday:  Who were your three favorite speakers?

1.  Michael Johnston--Never, have I ever been so enthralled with a speech about a state law being passed.



2. Joel Klein


3. I was really torn on this one. I love Jeremy Beard... love him. However, I have seen him speak at countless Summer Institute events, and a new person blew me away, Ms. Camika Royal.

Reflections: Camika Royal (Baltimore '99) from TFA 20th Anniversary Summit on Vimeo.

I have a highlights video on the way.  Until then... here are some of the pics!

In Honor of the TFA Alumni Summit, A Malcolm Gladwell Book Cover Generator

This weekend is the big TFA 20th Anniversary Alumni Summit in D.C.  I am super excited.  The last one in 2005 was one of the most moving experiences of my life and now we are about to see double the attendance, and double the action.  I am can't wait to hear what the esteemed guests and speakers have to say about education.  I see Malcolm Gladwell, who was once on this list is off, so I don't feel a bit a bad about posting or laughing at the Malcolm Gladwell Book Cover Generator.

Speaker(s)

• Walter Isaacson - President and CEO, Aspen Institute
• Wendy Kopp - Founder and CEO, Teach For America
• Elisa Villanueva Beard - Chief Operating Officer, Teach For America
• Kaya Henderson - Interim Chancellor, D.C. Public Schools
• Michelle Rhee - Founder and CEO, StudentsFirst, Former Chancellor, D.C. Public Schools
• Joel Klein - CEO, Educational Division and Executive Vice President, Office of the Chairman, News Corporation, Former Chancellor, New York City Department of Education
• John Deasy - Superintendent Elect, Los Angeles Unified School District
• Geoffrey Canada - Founder and CEO, Harlem Children’s Zone
• Arne Duncan - Secretary of Education, U.S. Department of Education
• John Legend - Performing Artist, Board Member, Teach For America
• Jeremy Beard - Apollo 20 School Improvement Officer, Houston Independent School District
• Michael Johnston - State Senator, Colorado - 33rd District.

Our Names Are Close, Our Workout Habits Are Not

I am getting really excited for the Warrior Dash . In fact, one could even say that I am in training for it. I usually find an excuse to omit running from my exercise, but have stuck with a 3-5 day per week routine for the last 6 weeks. Yesterday was tough. I was really sore from a hard run the day before and for the first time I had to break my run and walk the last few minutes. Then I go and read about this ahole.
From bbc.com
Belgian Stefaan Engels completes record 365th marathon

Engels averaged about four hours to complete his marathons

A Belgian runner has set a new world record by completing 365 marathon races in a year.

Stefaan Engels, dubbed "Marathon Man", began his challenge in Belgium a year ago and has since run a marathon every day across seven countries.

He crossed the finish line in the Spanish city of Barcelona after running 15,000km (9,569 miles) in a year.

"I don't regard my marathon year as torture. It is more like a regular job," the 49-year-old said.

He averaged about four hours to complete a marathon. He said his best time was 2 hours and 56 minutes.

Engels suffered from asthma as a child and had been told by doctors to avoid sport.

Before Engels, the record marathon man was Akinori Kusuda of Japan - who ran 52 races in a row at the age of 65 in 2009.