1. What’s one thing on your to-do list that you want-need-must get done before the year ends? 

Hmm, good question. I guess I want to make videos for my online class, as noted in a previous post (more generalized ones), as well as get beer cans logged. These two tasks have been hanging over me for a while and I have simply not had time.

2.  December 17th is National Maple Syrup Day…are you a fan? Do you like maple flavor in other food items such as candy, cookies, donuts, oatmeal, hot toddies, coffee? 

I guess yes, I do. I made a mead with maple syrup and blueberries and it turned out pretty good. It was a bit young in October but I want to try it again soon. I think maple donuts are good as well, though I never eat them. If I ever have pancakes, which is rare, I enjoy syrup. My favorite used to be a brand called Alaga, an Alabama staple.

3. Time magazine names a person of the year every year.  The tradition started back in 1927 with a ‘man of the year’ but has since changed to recognize not only an individual, but also to consider the impact of a group, movement, or idea that most influenced the year. The selection is not always someone or something good (think Hitler in 1938 and Stalin twice). 

This year they’ve named The AI Architects as their ‘person of the year’. What say you? Is this a good choice, an obvious choice, a logical choice? Who do you think should have been named person of the year? 

I mean, that’s pretty insane. Sure, AI can be used for good, but in my realm, it’s a negative. Too many people outsourcing their thinking to it and I cannot see any way that humanity doesn’t lose, its, well, humanity, if we don’t stop allowing things to do our thinking for us.

4. What’s a city, state, or country you’ve visited that you never care to visit again? Tell us why. 

Hmm, the first thing that came to mind was Albuquerque, New Mexico. Though it wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t great either. Montgomery, Alabama was a pretty crappy place I’d be happy to avoid as well. Just run down and…empty.

5. Next Sunday (December 21st) marks the first day of winter (or the opposite if you’re living down under). What’s one thing you love about this new season? 

The sooner it starts, the sooner it can be over! I like how clean the winter air feels but really dislike being cold. I do like sitting under a heated blanket but again, hate feeling cold. And ok, I’ll give you that winter usually yields some awesome sunrises. (Like this one)

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Midterms week is weird. These kids have about 90 minutes (with 15 to get situated) to take their tests and two per day, leaving by noon. Yesterday, when exams were done, I went to lunch with a couple other teachers then left to run errands. There was no clear position on if we could leave or had to stay all day. I will be playing today by ear as well, since I don’t have a fourth period exam, as it is an elective I teach. Sure, I have plenty to grade. I already graded first period but I have 2nd and 3rd waiting on me, and they include quite a bit of writing to go through.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel though and am excited for my long break soon. Thursday is trivia, we might do a rucking thing Friday, we have another party Saturday, and then my parents come into town for a few days on Sunday. Meanwhile, I have got to finish shopping!