StumbleUpon | Ardashir's blog posts

http://Ardashir.stumbleupon.com/review/37453440/

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:38:26 -0800

W e o n l y w or k w h e n w e n e e d t h e m o n e y

http://Ardashir.stumbleupon.com/review/37374085/

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:21 -0800

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http://Ardashir.stumbleupon.com/review/37263954/

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:33:10 -0700

Coffee served chez Dawn

Sigh.

http://Ardashir.stumbleupon.com/review/37235167/

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:23:15 -0700

Via Dawn: What do you mean there was a Visual Editor in V3? Why didn't anyone tell me?

This certainly looks handy: techie visual editor thingy.

Not that I need one anymore. I am a coding whizz.*

Meanwhile, tags in alphabetical order would be nice. It takes me forever to find a link.

No, not really. As another, eminently more witty stumbler once quipped: I just copy&paste

http://Ardashir.stumbleupon.com/review/37206167/

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:56:38 -0700

(Post revised since yesterday morning)

It seems to be finished enough now to warrant a considered opinion.

Some quick thoughts:

1) I love the new minimalist, non-cluttered layout.

2) It is easier to navigate because of that, so a vast improvement on V3

3) Because of that it would be even better if one could switch between different default settings. It would be great to be able to choose whatever default setting I want. (Apparently this will be remedied - see update below)

4) The new subscriber thing makes so much more semantic sense. But on that note it would be great to have a) slightly larger icons for mutuals (it's easy to forget sometimes who is and isn't and sometimes there have been cinks in the system when mutual status appeared to be simply erased) b)) some symbolisation akin to the forest hippy script to see if a visitor is subsribed to you, but you are not to them. I always find that a great way to seek out new subscriptions.

5) As others have said "Add a site" should be renamed: add a blog or post may be better, although once you know what it's for and where to find it it's clear enough.

Other than that, great work.

UPDATE: Thanks Serina for sending this helpful overview of current and to-be-implemented changes.

http://Ardashir.stumbleupon.com/review/37082058/

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:55:25 -0700

By the way, the world is nuts.

***

http://Ardashir.stumbleupon.com/review/36879584/

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:39:31 -0700

I'm going to have to deinstall the toolbar and go AWOL for a bit.

Gorram work is a-calling.

Might pop by again if it gets too boring, mind.

Dragonfly from dawn with many thanks.

http://Ardashir.stumbleupon.com/review/36640035/

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:52:24 -0700

Further to the comment concerning auxiliary verbs Janine asks: uh? how on earth does anyone ever learn to speak?

Which is exactly the point: this is the type of meta-language language nerds such as myself like to get off on (we lead very sad and deprived lives and for our sins are condemned to eat a lot of olives to keep us functioning). Unfortunately, language teaching - at least currently in Germany to which my experience is limited - actually focusses on instilling parts of that meta-language in children. So, a child of twelve might be perfectly able to tell you the theoretical difference between the present simple and the present progressive, but not apply this in practice, i.e. have a basic conversation with you about what you do and what you are up to at the moment.

There is a lot of theory that underpins a language which is good because it is important to reflect upon what we do and how we do it and blah blah blah. But language learning isn't about reflection, it is about speaking. Everyone can learn to speak a language. It is one of the first skills we pick up as children. All that meta-crap just gets in the way.

Personally I think nothing less than a revolution is needed in the classsroom: I'd like to see tests and exercise books thrown out of the window and I'd like the language teacher to introduce new language orally and practice language that is wholly in line with the other subjects (geography, biology, mathematics, history, etc) pupils are taught at school. This is nothing new - if I remember rightly, educationalists and language teachers have been banging on about this for years - someone just has to be brave enough to upend current methodology.

In the end, language is picked up best in a stress-free, experimental environment where the use of it confers some benefit to the speaker. Mistakes and errors should be allowed and not punished. Experimentation and exploration encouraged and facilitated and guided by the teacher.

The theoretical interference inside your mind should be kept to a minimum. It's hard enough trying to formulate what you think already without having to worry about whether this noun is countable or uncountable, this time frame finished or unfinished or that verb a gerund or an infinitive.

http://Ardashir.stumbleupon.com/review/36575615/

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:10:55 -0700

From one poet to another

http://Ardashir.stumbleupon.com/review/35428172/

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:17:27 -0700

I was only disengaged for a week.