Best Throwing Videos I could find

I am now coaching track at the school I work at.

I work mostly with the throwers, and like anything else I get involved in, I am a little obsessed.

So I did my normal youtube searching and found these SWEET videos.

One is a awesome discus compliation and the other is the bomb.com shotput vid.

It is fun to watch these guys who just train and live to throw heavy objects. Field events are so pure and simple. To see the world's best is really a trip.

Enjoy!


I love the music with this discus video. The author did a great job of matching the music with the throws.

I wanted my MTV

I was hearing the other day that Mtv is struggling in the ratings. (Link to the New York Post Article)

According to the article, the ratings are down almost 7%. This comes as a bit of a surprise to me.

I know that MTV not only pioneered what we consider reality television ( Real World was a precursor to all of the shows around now. Why don't any reality houses ever have tvs? It is because Real World Boston had them and it turned into a show of watching people watching tv.)

However, more recently MTV hass branched out into pseudo reality shows ( The Hills, Laguna Beach, next, Room Raiders, etc) and holding up extreme teen behavior ( SuperSweetSixteen, Made, etc). These shows, where you can't really tell what is scripted and what is real, have really just exaggerated what a lot of reality shows have been doing for years.

In fact, the phrase "reality" before tv often now means that just the opposite is about to happen.
(I can't remember the last time I was stranded on an island with the lovable but strict Jeff Probst)


However, the real reason that MTV is failing is that they have totally abandoned the music that out the "m" there in the 1st place.

In a 24 hr day, you used to be able to get metal, rap, hair bands, and a little debbie gibson.

In the world of youTube and "American Idol," is there any need for mTV anymore?

The answer is yes, but I fear the end may be near.



The point of this is that I found a sweet video by the band "Wolfmother." It is a song called "Woman" and I spent an afternoon looking for it after I heard it on the VERY sweet guitar hero II ad.

I know that I about a million yrs behind here, but this song has been rocking my face off all afternoon and I just had to share it.

Let me know what you think.

PS- Plus the video dominates.





Oh man..... That rocked!

Supersize Me

We are now watching the movie "Supersize Me" in class.

I know that it has nothing to do with Earth Science and very little to do with Life Science, but I definitely try to show this movie every year. And every year it goes a little something like this.


1st day- (Sees mc donalds food)-"MMMMMMMMMMMM that looks great! I am starving!"

2nd Day- "Ughh how can he eat that much McDonalds? Gross"

3rd Day- "I am never going to McDonalds again."

Being a person of large stature, I love to show this and talk about how easy it is to let the weight pile on and how hard it is to come off. Morgan Spurlock (star of this documentary) decides to eat McDonalds everyday for everymeal for one month.

That is 90 straight meals at McDos!

It takes him one month to gain an incredible amount of weight and it took hime about 13 monthes to lose it!

Although this movie comes off as straight up McDonalds bashing, let me tell you, it is much more intricate than that. McDonalds is just a simple target that Morgan Spurlock shows as an example of what he calls the "toxic environment" that America is becoming.

What he means is that it is becoming easier and easier for children to buy food that is fatty, sugary, and not good for them. And not only that, the portions that the food comes in is, at the same time, ridiculous and insulting.

Although my students do not like it when I talk about what THEY should eat, I put in the context of this question. "What are you going to say to your child when they say 'I want a happymeal toy/ movie sized popcorn/ candy bar at the gas station'? "

The movie also gets into the many health risks that are associated with obesity at a young age. The list is endless and the sheer time devoted to this in the movie really grabs the attention of the kids.

Pair this with a full scene devoted to a gastric bypass surgery and students tend to grasp the weight of the issue.


Along with all of this, it is a fun movie that has some of the worlds greatest music and it moves along at a lightning quick pace (unless you have a teacher who wants to pause it every 30 sec to discuss the points.)


I highly recommend this movie to all 5 of you who read this blog. If you haven't seen it, go see it ASAP.

And take it from someone who has watched it about 30 times in class; you can watch it more than once and still get more and more out of it.

Parents: If you get a chance, ask your kids about the movie and what they got out of it. You can also ask them about the comparisons that were made in class between smokers and over eaters.

A bad night for Mr. Ward....

RIP Sanjaya and your career that was at the same time too short and much, much, much too long.

Your songs were terrible and when you had to sing loudly, it really brought out the fact that you are the worst singer ever.

And on top of it all..... you were really kind of a jerk.

However, the fact that you made some more talented people be voted off one week earlier ( Haley who?) you will be missed.

And forgotten forever until you are dragged out of your disappointing life and brought back on a reality TV show for Z list celebrities.

Goodbye dear friend.



In other news.... The bacteria lab will be pushed back to next week. I have decided that autoclaving the petri dishes is a good idea. We will be starting monday. Instead we will be watching a bit of March of the Penguins and tying that in with ecology and the affect of humans on the world.

Pizza Anyone?

What does this really have to do with science?


Nothing!

Except for the fact that it is one of the funnier videos that I have ever seen. It reminds me of my younger days. At the ballpark, wearing my Starter Jacket, and taking in the game.


It just makes me laugh that anyone would care that much that someone dropped a fly ball.



PLus.... How does one really THROW a piece of pizza? Like a frisbee? Like a baseball?

Flash Flood Video

Happy Earth Day!

Bacteria are bad after all

It is true that I mentioned a lot of good things that bacteria can do. (Yogurt and soy sauce being the two I use most). However, no one wants to hear all that kind of stuff!


Lets talk about the problems! Besides little things like anthrax, malaria, the new superbugs going around, and the everpresent bird flu!

Luckily, the chances of you getting any of these in Minnesota is quite rare. In 2004, though, there were about 1,023 cases (source) of lyme disease in the state of the loon. Lyme disease is spread by tiny deer ticks. (Hence, the closing around Minnesota of many deer farms where you could go pet deer!)

This causes a small rash that looks like a bullseye and can be fatal if left untreated. 15-20% fatality rate if left untreated and 4% with treatment.

So anyway! Here is a cool video of the actual bacteria that causes this disease. Does this cancel out yogurt? Maybe......

But it sure doesn't cancel out sauerkraut and cheese!
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.





Lyme Disease Causing Bacteria (Lyme Bacteria)

I (heart) the summer. Reason #1: Ping Pong

Whether you call it ping pong or if you are really snooty and you call it table tennis, the game is the same. Ping pong is so deceptive. On the surface there seems to be nothing that should elicit the emotions that it does. It is a plastic ball hit on a table. Simple right?

Wrong!

Many a rainy day at the cabin have been filled with a post-nap ping pong game. It is the perfect predinner activity. It is athletic enough to feel like you did something but casual enough where crosstraining for it would seem truly foolish.

It also is summercentric. I have an ongoing tournament going with my cousin Benton Ward. For June, July, and August it is on like donkey kong. But if we meet during the winter, a little ping pong seems almost foolish. Like sledding in the summer.

It just seems stupid.

But when it is a rainy summer day, ping pong is the sport of princes and peons alike. The ball and the table are not elitest, inshapest, or sexist. Hence, the frustrating fact that my mom can still regularly beat us all like a drum.

Oh ping pong. How I am looking forward to being under your spell for the three months when I should probably be outside in Minnesota. Hitting a ball back and forth and back and forth and back and forth until I get in the "zone". Then its all over but the crying.

Here's a sweet video of two elite players facing each other in a friendly match on the blue rectangular battlefield in the middle of a packed gymnasium.

Robert Ward vs. Jackie Chan
Teacher Superstar Martial Arts Superstar

I gotta get me some of those sweet ping pong shorts!!
PS- Write in with what YOU (heart) about the summer!! Mr. Ward wants to here from you!

Giant Dog!

This is an email that I received from a friend and I thought that this reallly fit in with the class. This is aperfect example of how mutations can affect certain species.

If Hercules here is able to spread his DNA, you are looking at a new species of superdog!

According to answers.com, the mastiff was originally used for the Roman "sports" of bullbaiting and bearbaiting. It was essentially a fight in an arena that pitted a dog vs. another animal. The size and courage of the mastiff was also complemented by Ceaser when he invaded Britain.

Imagine being in the army and seeing this dog running at you! In only a couple of thousand years, humans have developed this dog through selective artificial breeding! Imagine what could be made if you gave it a couple (4.6) billion years!

Hercules

Hercules was recently awarded the honourable distinction of Worlds Biggest Dog by Guinness World Records. Hercules is an English Mastiff and has a 38 inch neck and weighs 282 pounds.

With "paws the size of softballs" (reports the Boston Herald), the three-year-old monster is far larger and heavier than his breed's standard 200lb. limit. Hercules owner Mr. Flynn says that Hercules weight is natural and not induced by a bizarre diet: "I fed him normal food and he just grew".... and grew... and grew... and grew.

Of course, the two people could be little people and it could be a minature pony.............

A late night post!

Hey

Why am I up so late.

It is because I just installed a couple of cool things from answers.com

Double click any word on the blog and it will automatically be defined for you!!!

A great thing for all of this science vocabulary!



I also included the answers.com search box above my standard google one. Try it out and see what you think!!

Rob

Post-Conferences

It was great to see so many parents at conferences! I always love doing those. It gives me a chance to meet the people behind the people that I work with. I really want to thank all those who took the time on the gorgeous day to come see me and have a conversation about science and teaching. Thank you!


Earth Science

Today we played a little CLOUD bingo. There was a number of big winners! Thanks to all that played and those who decided to put the bingo sheets on their head as a hat instead.

Due:

Friday

• Test on clouds
• Test review

Feel free to check out www.robmward.com to take the practice cloud quiz. The answers are in the notes section.


Life Science

Today we talked about the benefits of bacteria while reviewing the ways that humans have stopped bacteria from growing on food. It is interesting to think that humans have evolved to hate the smell of rotten food. Avoiding the rotten food helps them live, pass their DNA, and thus, those that genetically despise that smell will live longer. Think about it !

Due:

Friday

• Bacteria Definitions

Monday

• Bacteria Test
• Bacteria review sheet
• Bacteria coloring sheet

Bacteria and Cloud Stuff Posted!

I posted the Bacteria definitions (due Friday) and bacteria study guide (due Monday) for the life science classes.

I also posted the bingo words for earth science and the cloud quiz!



MEOW MEOW!

Splotchy helping me work!

Hail animation

How hail is formed animation

I have been looking for a better hail video than the one I have but I haven't found any. I think I picked out the best one.

However, feel free to search youtube yourself!


In other news I have posted the cloud quiz online. Check here if you want to practice.
Be sure to get a little studying in tonight for the quiz tomorrow!

Cool food rotting video

Rotting fruit salad


This is a video dealing with rotting food like we talked about.

You can also search online to see how to make things like vinegar and yogurt!

Let me know if you find anything good!








Buttermilk! Nice and thick!

Cloud Test Review and Bacteria Definitions

I have posted the cloud test review
and the bacteria definitions sheet.

Enjoy!

Cloud Video

A gorgeous and relaxing video watching clouds cruise by overhead. This was taken on one afternoon.

Such a peaceful way to spend five minutes in a world where it seems you need to search out relaxation.

Black Smoker

This is a GREAT video about underwater deep ocean vents.

These vents spew out minerals which feed the Archeabacteria that feeds other organisms.

You can see here in the video that there are lots of crabs and bigger animals all based on the vents.

This ecosystem is the only one that does not rely on sunlight. If the sun winked out tomorrow this would be the only life left on the planet.

( True deep water ecosystems depend on dead fish falling from above and fish swimming up to shallower areas to feed at night. In any case, the deep water ecosystems are not nearly as high in biomass as these vents are. However, the area that these vents affects is somewhat localized to the vents)

Some scientists think that it is POSSIBLE that life may have started in this type of environment.


In any case, enjoy one of the bigger scientific discoveries in the last century.

My classes 4/10

Life Science
Today in class we talked about the break and the problems with eating chocolate before a big run. We then talked about the difference between eubacteria and archeabacteria.

The big connection that I want made here is that archeabacteria are believed to have been the first living thing on earth and that it only lives in extreme temperatures and environments. So that tells us that the environment on early earth was harsh and anaerobic.

Remember the ket words here.

Autotroph
Heterotroph
Chemotroph
Aerobic
Anerobic
Archeabacteria

Test is on Monday! Review guide will be out on Thurs and will also be due Monday.

The coloring sheet and vocab sheet is also due Monday.

Earth Science

Today we reviewed our types of clouds and talked about the difference.

Basically it is a combination of height (cirrus, alto) and shape (cumulus, stratus) and what it does ( nimbus).

We also talked about the types of precipitation (hail, rain, sleet, frozen rain, and snow)

Remember, sleet freezes in the air and frozen rain freezes when it hits the ground.

Great Olde Tyme Video

This is a reminder to some and a history lesson for others.

I am just linking to a video on youtube (to big to post here).

The video is about a science lab where they look at bacteria. It is an old educational film about the benefits and non-benefits of bacteria.

This makes me appreciate the movies that I show in my class now!

Bacteria Movie at Youtube.com

Video About Antibiotics and Bacteria

Bacteria Video


Click on the link above to see a neat video by Newton's Apple. It deals with antobiotics and resistance.

The video is a little long but extremely informative.

Spirilla Bacteria

You can see Spirilla shaped bacteria. ( They are the clearish squiggly things)

The bigger green things are protista.

Enjoy and try not to get too grossed out.

Have a good break

ON wed we will be taking a quiz in life science

Covered:

Classifications
Linneaus
Eukaryotic vs. Prokaryotic
Binominal Nomenclature

When we come back from break, we will start a lab involving growing bacteria!

In earth science we will be observing and drawing snowflakes whilst we still can. We will also talk about precipitation.

Hope you all have a great break and feel free to join track!

Mr. Ward

Lok me sangiovite!

I am sure this has to do with science!

It is great to have a hobby that you love.

And I think it is even more impressive how many people are really into this guy doing this....

My wife used to come to my softball games ( and a few bowling leagues) but she usually read a book.

Maybe if I was in a basketball trampoline jumping league!!

Tornado destroys house

This is why you take tornado warnings seriously


Uh oh...

I might be addicted to putting up videos from you tube!!

If you see any sweet science related ones.. let me know.

(I know... All science videos are automatically sweet!)

Massive Hail Storm in Texas

There are some REALLY cool movies on youtube for weather. They are pretty sweet.


I like this video about giant hail.

They really openly mock the person in the ambulance at the end (which seems a little heartless).

Like none of us have ever run outside in a giant hailstorm!