Sorry, I just love science...don't f'ing love it.

I love Science. I just don’t have to swear to love it. A heads up that this post uses some foul language…not something I normally do in public forums.

Something has been really disturbing me lately. I open up Facebook and see cool science related pics and stories only to see it from a page called “I F***ing Love Science.” 

Now, I am not some guy that shrinks from the gratuitous use of swear words…especially my ‘beloved’ F word. I love it…apparently as much as some people love science. The difference is I don’t use it in public places and I especially don’t use it when kids might hear it. To use the F word is trashy, low class, and shows a serious lack of vocabulary. Yup, I own that. Just love it too much to stop using it. Turns “moron” and “jackass” into something truly special when I am driving. So what’s the problem? Problem is that people on Facebook, over 18 million of them, are f'ing loving science on their Facebook pages in view of children. Of my over 20 friends on Facebook that f'ing love science enough to like the page, most of them have children (even grandchildren for some), most of those have children on Facebook…and about half are educators. Yikes.

I don’t blame the creator of the site. Is a cool idea to make science hip and something people talk about and share. I find the language objectionable, but I don’t fault Elise Andrew, the 20-something that made it. I do fault the people that are making it mainstream and making it okay to use the F word in polite society. I wanted to find out why this is a "thing" so looked it up. It became clear to me when I read a Mashable article why this is so great for some people. An example is the Museum of Natural Science for holding a “I F***ing Love Science” event where people got to meet Ms. Andrew. The article mentions a high school science teacher that was screaming “I f***ing love science!” while lined up at the museum. Seriously? Would she say that in her classroom? No. But the popularity of the site allowed her to break the rules…something that this high school science teacher might not be used to doing. When is the last time she screamed “f'ing” (or any variation of the F word) in public? But this was science! It’s okay if its educational, right? I am sure people walking by that had nothing to do with the event loved hearing some lady screaming the F word. Is like going to a professional wrestling match instead of a museum. What's next? Will the Museum of Natural History hold the “I F***ing Love Dinosaurs” event if it becomes popular on Facebook? Perhaps the Smithsonian can follow up with a new push for interest in aerospace with “Airplanes are the S***!” event.Then more educators can feel cool and edgy by "liking" it on Facebook, too.

What is really sad to me is the Facebook page of “I F***ing Love Science” has 18 million followers and the companion site “Science is Awesome” has 10,000. Guess it is not cool to love science unless you get to drop f bombs.

Travel Blog: Part 1, The Computer Bag

I travel a lot. LOT. Usually well over 150,000 airline miles a year…and usually to places that don’t have a Best Buy or Walmart near by…so I have gotten pretty good at packing stuff. I am also a “carry-on” guy for a couple of reasons, too. #1, I really like rolling on & rolling off and not waiting for my luggage. #2, I fly enough to know that my bags don’t always come with me. Some friends asked me to put together a list of things and show them all that I take with me, so here it is...

Here is a pic of my travel setup. 

I will go 3 weeks at a time with this (actually typing this on the plane returning from Saipan after almost 3 weeks). Of course, that is not 3 weeks of clothes, but it is 3 pairs of pants, 5 shirts, undergarments, socks, 2 pairs of shorts, flip flops, running shoes, and toiletries (find drop off laundry places when you travel, too). It is also my computer bag (top) and that is where this blog focuses.

I am an instructional technologist, meaning I get to do a lot of cool educational technology things. It also means that I have to carry a lot technology stuff. Technology stuff is heavy. So, I got a pretty good bag to carry it all in, plus with room for a change of clothes & toiletries when I am on puddle jumpers that make me check my luggage that is normally carry-on or gate check. My favorite bag for this is the North Face Surge II. 

It has a padded laptop sleeve with integrated tablet sleeve. Fits my 15” Macbook Pro and iPad with no problem. There is also a LARGE middle section where I keep my technology cube, computer speaker, a plastic file folder (to hold travel receipts) and a magazine if flying out of the U.S. (so I read something at take off and landing). It will easily accommodate my toiletry kit and a change of clothes with no problem. The front section is great. Zippered pockets to hold my travel documents, pen holders, key holder, and room for my sunglasses, camera, stuff I like to grab quickly. The front is awesome, too. Two zippered pockets: one I put in Cliff Bars & Special K protein bars for the flights with no (or crappy food), layovers/delays in airports with no restaurants, etc. The other one is my computer charger and iPhone/iPad charger…easy to grab and  put away. One side of the pack has a bottle holder and the other side a zippered pocket where I carry a ultralight jacket for cold airports & planes, as well as weather situations.

So while this reads as a review of the North Face Surge II, my point is find a pack that will hold your stuff, is comfortable to carry, and works for you. I reviewed a bunch of packs online, but actually went to an REI store and tried a bunch on and checked them out in person. I went in to buy something else I liked online and walked out with the North Face Surge II from REI.

So here it is…opened up in all its glory on my hotel bed. Pens, a flashlight (always carry at least one…I carry 3), Eagle Creek padded packing cube, REI toiletry kit (I use as a medical kit), Computer speaker, camera, headphones, energy bars, & tissues.

Here is another one with the bag & jacket laid out on the bed.

The piece of equipment I take with me EVERYWHERE is the RoadTools Podium Pad.

Is just two pieces of plastic that keep my computer elevated enough to type comfortable, keep it from heating up on a bed or couch, and I don’t worry about spilled coffees or sodas on tables. Oddly enough, with all my gadgets, this is what people seem to think is really cool. I use it in the office, as well as on the road.

See how thin it is! I guess it is pretty cool. Was $12 bucks, too…and that is cool :D

Oh…buy a can opener/bottle opener and take it with you everywhere. I have been stuck places with the options of really, really, really crappy restaurant food or canned food, but had no can opener.
Even worse is buying bottled beer and not having an opener (of course didn’t stop me from drinking the beer, but the opening process delayed it enough to really annoy me.

Back to real stuff. The Eagle Creek packing cube is pretty awesome.
Holds all my adapters, camera charger, 1 of the 3 flashlights (power is out many places I go), extra flashlight batteries (not kidding), business cards, spare computer charger, and even a mini-surge projector with multiple plugs. See those strips at the bottom of the cube? Velcro. Love the packing cube as the Velcro stick to it, as well as keeping my cables nice and neat. I carry extra as I am always forgetting one or giving one away (messy cables annoy me). Mine is an older version, but here is what I think the updated version is from REI.

Okay…med kit.  Very important if you travel a lot, especially without access to a Walgreens. I carry a variety of over the counter meds like pain meds, cold & flu, sinus, allergy, diarrhea, etc. A mini medicine cabinet. I also carry a prescription medication for travelers diarrhea. In almost of 20 years of biz-related travel and more than my fair share of street food in sketchy places, I have only needed it for myself once. I also carry antibiotic cream, Band-Aids, gauze, medical tape, etc for any scrapes or cuts (I am outdoorsy, too). Here it is from REI.

Lastly is my travel wallet that has RFID protection built in (scammers can’t scan me and get my card & passport info). Here it is from REI...says it is a woman's wallet. Argh, but I didn't care. Is too good to let a label stop me from using it. I do have a TON of travel related cards...and is packed in my backpack most of the time.
More importantly than that, it holds all my travel info, rewards cards, passport, money, etc. Fits nicely in one of the zippered internal pockets in the backpack, too. This one is from PacSafe (bought it...yes, at

That’s pretty much it! This setup gets me through professional developments, meetings, hotel work sessions, etc on an every day basis and also on major long hauls. Yes, is a North Face, REI, & Eagle Creek ad in a way...but all good stuff. The only thing missing for me is a USB battery for long flights to keep my iPad going…and my very thoughtful daughter got me one for my birthday! (don’t have it yet, so no pic, but here it is: EasyAcc® Ultra Slim Dual USB Portable Power Bank)

Does the barbed wire on your school's firewall face in or out?

I am in the IT field. Before you stop reading, my IT is the good kind. Instructional Technology. The other kind…the more common kind…Information Technology is the necessary evil for my job. We exist in a sort of an intertwined Ying & Yang of technology...except most of the time there is no balance. The Ying of information technology overwhelms the Yang of instructional technology. More often than naught I see IT departments locking systems to a point that the barbed wire on the networks faces in, not out. I envision the sad avatars of teachers & students clinging to fences topped with razor wire trying to peek at what lies on the outside...beyond the all encompassing firewall.

Why? Why do they do this? I think nefarious reasons are part of it for some of them...power and control. But I believe most the time they are managed by people that just don't understand technology. If my job is to ensure network security and there is no oversight, I am going to lock everything down. So who is to blame? Leadership. I see it in schools a LOT. Leader doesn't understand technology so relies on IT Director for all recommendations. The result is a technology system that resembles NSA level security. So unless your school requires Top Secret security clearance, you might want to ask some questions (of your leadership, as IT will most likely say 'no').

1: Issue: Social Media is blocked.

IT answer: time waster, clogs bandwidth, student safety concerns, and of course, network security

It is frustrating to travel to schools and see powerful learning tools like YouTube, Twitter, and even TeacherTube blocked! Of my beefs with IT, this one is in my opinion, is the only valid one they have for doing what they do...to a point. There are mean & nasty things out on the Internet...and we need to protect kids. Also, in schools with limited bandwidth, opening YouTube and other bandwidth-heavy sites can knock network speeds to a crawl. The answer, however, is not locking everything. Remember, most IT Departments will do what is easiest for them, not what is best for you.

Compromise: If your IT (Information Technology) is also your Instructional Technology...yikes. Instructional Technology should always be the driver and at the least have some input. If your instructional technology/C&I departments don't have input you might as well stop reading here and wait for next week's article on working around an obtuse IT Department. If you DO have some input...easy fix. EVERY Internet-capable device has what is called a MAC Address (no, not Apple). This is a unique number to just that one piece of hardware. On a closed network, teacher computers can be opened up! Imagine that...being able to use the tools your students use in the actual classroom! If a teacher can't be trusted to use the Internet in a responsible manner in the classroom, then there is a bigger issue here than access.

2: Issue Off-Campus Network Access

IT Answer: network security

After 9/11 airports & airlines would use 'it's a security issue, Sir' when they would tell me to comply with something that they could not answer with a set policy or procedure...it was a catch-all phrase that was meant to intimidate into compliance. The same is true with IT. Ask any question that they don't have a good answer for...or that they don't want to answer since it weakens their case and you will most likely hear, 'No way! That will comprise the network!' Really? Ask them specifics sometime and wait for the sputtering. The term 'information technology' has always bugged me for IT, too. Most are not information managers...experts in information management systems, but just network & hardware people. Hanging a hard drive off a server in 2014 is NOT information management...it is a shared hard drive (congratulations on your 1995 technology achievement). Teachers want to access information off campus. Period. Secure technologies...many that are free (like Google Education) have been around for a long, long time. Making a teacher sit in their classroom to upload grades, lesson plans, etc is ridiculous.

Compromise: There probably isn't a compromise for schools with leaders weak in technology and a dominant IT Department. Chances are if there are still site-based servers running your website, email, document storage, etc., your leadership doesn't know a whole lot about tech, and your IT Department is very good at maintaining job security. If this isn't the case, a migration to a cloud-based system might be possible. Google Education has been the bane of many bloated and controlling IT Departments that soon found many of their positions irrelevant.

3: Issue: No BYOD on the School Network

IT Answer: network security

Bring Your Own Device. Something that is quite common in the business world, but not so much in education. I know that my personal laptop was always WAY better than any school issued computer…plus, it has all my stuff and I am comfortable with it. Plus, add to that tablets, smart phones and other network devices that teachers have (and use)…why block these? Student data, organizational data, etc. are all important and for much of it there are legal considerations...but...wait for it...yes, it can be managed. I am not talking about access to financials, etc., but just allowing a computer on the dang network! That is what wearing the big boy or girl pants of being a network administrator should be about…giving safe access, not restricting it.

Compromise: If I am a teacher with some giant, ancient desktop anchored to my desk and I have some sleek new HP Tablet or MacBook Air...what do I want to use? What am I going to be productive with? Again, this is not working in a secure government agency...so this is just a pure power & control move on IT. If they can't secure the network by providing different channels to allow even 'guest' access, I would question the reasoning (& their competence).

The following paints IT in a rather bad light...and that has (unfortunately) been my experience . This is quite natural as the two ITs are like Window & Mac, Bears & Packers, Elves & Dwarves...not likely to see eye-to-eye. If you have a great IT Department in your school, count yourself lucky! (...just guessing you are an Apple or Google district) If not, take action! There are constructive ways to approach leadership around this...drafting a document with your colleagues on how the pros outweigh the cons. How does NOT doing what you need done impact student learning or business operations? Chances are the leadership just has never heard another side. However, if they dig in...no problem. Stand by for next week's article on IT workarounds...how to tunnel under the barbed wire to get out to the big wide world of information & resources.