I have been listening to an audio tape of the book The World Is Flat for a global technology class I teach. The author, Thomas Friedman, talks about the effect that google and other search engines have on our personal lives. Friedman cautions the listener to “Be Good.”

Live your life honestly, because whatever you do, whatever mistakes you make, will be searchable one day.

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Live your life like an open book and you will have nothing to hide.

The catch is that we can never know for sure who will read the story of our life or peer in for a sneak peak. So, best to make it appropriate for all ages. Meet the standards of the most advanced reader you could imagine, while still catering to the hearts of the youngest ones.

I had the pleasure of seeing the new Harry Potter movie, The Order of the Phoenix, yesterday. I have not read the books, but have enjoyed the movies. I tend to enjoy films that depict the epic battles of good versus evil, light versus dark.

Without giving away too much of the plot, this film has a theme wherein Harry struggles with the reality that he has deep connection with the dark lord, Voldemort. Harry feels a deep swelling of anger within him and fears that Voldemort’s evil influence is slowly taking over Harry’s good nature.

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The other night I had a very insightful discussion with two gentlemen in the community. One of these men shared a quote with me that he had heard from Ralph Nader. One day when young Ralph came home from school his father asked Ralph whether that day at school he had learned to believe or to think.

Well Ralph, what did you learn in school today? Did you learn how to believe, or did you learn how to think?

It struck me as interesting that this deeply religious man (and a father of a high school aged daughter) felt that a teacher had the responsibility to teach students how to think, not just to believe.

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I am about to complete my last class for my Masters in Education program. After months of studying academic inquiry and the importance of content in the education process I have appreciated the reflective and interpersonal focus of my current and final class.

The instructor, Principal Dr. Garran (@Walter Johnson HS), chose Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence as one of our two required readings. I first heard about Emotional Intelligence about a year ago. It came up in discussion of what businesses look for in an employee.

Someone can be super talented, but if they can’t stay cool in chaotic situations or interact well with other people, no one wants them on their team.

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