OF MONSTERS AND MEN

There's nothing like living with about fifty 18-22 year-olds to catch up a bit with youth culture.  For example, this old fellow had never heard of One Direction, apparently one of the largest stars in an ever-expanding music universe.  One ditty that I enjoyed hearing Sam and other students play and sing is below - again - had never heard of the song or the group, but as you will note, the video has had over 83 million views. 

"Little Talks"

Hey! Hey! Hey!
I don't like walking around this old and empty house
So hold my hand, I'll walk with you, my dear
[Video version:] The stairs creak as you sleep, it's keeping me awake
[Live version:] The stairs creak as I sleep, it's keeping me awake
It's the house telling you to close your eyes

And some days I can't even trust myself
It's killing me to see you this way

'Cause though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Hey! Hey! Hey!

There's an old voice in my head that's holding me back
Well tell her that I miss our little talks
Soon it will be over and buried with our past
We used to play outside when we were young
And full of life and full of love.

[Video version:] Some days I don't know if I am wrong or right
[Live version:] Some days I feel like I'm wrong when I'm right
Your mind is playing tricks on you, my dear

'Cause though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Hey!
Don't listen to a word I say
Hey!
The screams all sound the same
Hey!

Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Hey!
Hey!

You're gone, gone, gone away
I watched you disappear
All that's left is the ghost of you.
Now we're torn, torn, torn apart,
There's nothing we can do
Just let me go we'll meet again soon
Now wait, wait, wait for me
Please hang around
I'll see you when I fall asleep

Hey!
Don't listen to a word I say
Hey!
The screams all sound the same
Hey!
Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Don't listen to a word I say
Hey!
The screams all sound the same
Hey!

Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

h/t  dom

GLÜHWEIN

 

Last Christmastime in Heidelberg, I learned of Glühwein, and quickly became a fan, finding it particularly enjoyable on a cold, snowy evening.  

Recipe from Food.com, and having given it a try, I recommend it highly!

Ingredients:

Units: US | Metric

3/4 cup water (or orange juice)
3/4 cup white sugar (or less to taste)
1 cinnamon stick
1 orange
10 whole cloves
1 (750 ml) bottle red wine

Directions:

1  In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer.
2  Cut the orange in half, and squeeze the juice into the simmering water. Push the cloves into the outside of the orange peel, and place peel in the simmering water. Continue simmering for 30 minutes, until thick and syrupy.
3  Pour in the wine, and heat until steaming but not simmering. Remove the clove-studded orange halves.
4  Serve hot in mugs or glasses that have been preheated in warm water (cold glasses may break.).

 

This Year's Heidelberger Weihnachtsmarkt Mug

FACE A CAPELLA

FACE is a local a capella group that recently spent several hours in the DFW airport due to a weather delay.

From the Boulder Camera:

This was no regular day at the airport -- much less during one of the busiest travel months of the year. Boulder County's a cappella group, Face, was among the travelers stuck for hours at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, due to ice storms on Saturday.

The six singers were headed back to Denver after performing for the Fort Worth Arts Council's 50th anniversary celebration. And now stuck for six hours.

So they decided to sing Christmas carols.

It was partially out of boredom. Partially, just to pass time. "But that all changed in a hurry," says Mark Megibow, the beatboxer in the band.

A traveler caught this true example of a flash mob on film, uploaded it to YouTube and it quickly went viral. Within 24 hours, the clip had more than 20,000 hits -- more than anything the band had posted online before. It garnered national media attention.

At first, Megibow says some travelers gave them funny looks, but most people's frustration with the delays quickly melted into smiles. Face began walking from gate to gate, trying to lighten the mood and spread holiday cheer, Megibow says. Everywhere they went, he says camera phones followed and people thanked them.

He said they weren't prepared for the outpouring of gratitude.

"Singing to a bunch of people -- that's something we do all the time, and it seemed like such a simple thing to do Saturday at the airport just to pass the time," Megibow says. "It turned out to be so much more than that."

You can listen to more songs here.

CU WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

 

In a previous post, I wrote about the PAC 12 Championship of the CU Mens Cross Country team.  As a follow, the men proceeded to win the National Championship held in Terre Haute.  

TERRA HAUTE, Ind. — Through cold, windy and muddy conditions, the No. 3 ranked University of Colorado men’s cross country team once again proved to be the top team in the land as they claimed the 2013 NCAA Cross Country team title here today at the La Vern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.

This marks the fourth team title for the Buffs since 2001 and is their first since 2006. They also won in 2004. The Buffs now have six overall cross country titles along with two women’s titles, all coming under Coach Mark Wetmore. On top of being the fourth men’s cross country national championship and sixth overall cross country title, it’s the 26th in CU history and 460th in Pac-12 history.

 

The Buffs soundly defeated runner-up and current No. 1 Northern Arizona (149-169) for the team crown after losing to NAU just eight days ago at the regional meet by eight points. Oklahoma State, ranked second overall, was an overwhelming favorite heading into the race and placed third with 230 points. BYU was fourth (267) and Oregon took fifth overall (274).

Full article here.

MARCH OF THE EMPORER [PENGUINS?]

Movies Are Made To Be Seen!!

POWERS OF 10

In some of the courses that I teach, it is important for students to have a reasonable understanding of scale - how big things are and how small things are - and the Powers of 10 videos below are good tools for introducing the subject and to begin discussions.

I also like this website - you can control the speed of the "tour"
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/