Photo from B&N Signing / Upcoming Radio Interviews

In a stark contrast to my NYC rubber room story above...

Thank you to Sharon and Shoppers - a great day at B&N!

On the life of an author: "When the bookstore gave me Reindeer ears, I knew I was in trouble."

In this photo, the Lawyer-turned-Teacher is flanked by two readers - a lawyer and a teacher.

Upcoming: Thursday, December 17, 4:00pm-5:00pm EST - A Closer Look Radio with Pam Atherton (Clovis, NM)http://www.achieveradio.com/closer-look

Thursday, January 21, 2010, 3:00pm-4:00pm EST - Dare to Be Remarkable with Kandee G (Miami, FL) - 880AM http://www.880thebiz.com/

TBA - Tell Me Your Story (Santa Barbara, CA) - 1290AM

After 60 years of teaching, substitute is still at the head of the class

Substitute teacher Martin Carole has seen just about everything a room full of students has to offer.

By Joshua Garner The Gazette

Continue reading:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/02/AR2009120202117.html?wprss=rss_education

The 10 Best Teachers in Movie History

I found this list from filmcritic.com - http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/The-10-Best-Teachers-in-Movie-History

Clearly missing from the list is Alex Jurel (Nick Nolte) in Teachers (1984), dealing with the ultra cool Eddie Pilikian (Ralph Macchio) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088242/ . Also, how can you leave off Professor Terguson (Sam Kinison) in Back to School (1986) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090685/ The list was compiled in 2006, so we need to add Erin Gruwell (Hillary Swank) in Freedom Writers (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463998/ Hey, what about Dewey Finn (Jack Black) in The School of Rock (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332379/

If we can sneak in some principals, I'd vote for Crazy Joe Clark (Morgan Freeman) in Lean on Me (1989) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097722/ and The Principal (1987) with Rick Latimer (Jim Belushi) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093780/

The 10 Best Teachers in Movie History - filmcritic.com
10. Terry Corrigan (Class of 1984)
9. Mr. Chips (Goodbye, Mr. Chips)
8. Miss Shields (A Christmas Story)
7. Dave Jennings (Animal House) - Dean Wormer was more interesting
6. Glenn Holland (Mr. Holland's Opus) - tear jerker movie
5. Mr. Hand (Fast Times at Ridgemont High) - that's my pizza, dude!
4. Mark Thackeray (To Sir, With Love)
3. John Keating (Dead Poets Society) -all star performance
2. Jaime Escalante (Stand and Deliver) -all star performance
1. Georges Lopez (To Be and To Have)

Book Discussion/Signing for Teachers, Dec. 5

Saturday December 05, 2009

11:00 AM- 1:00 PM

Barnes & Noble@ The Avenue Forsyth

410 Peachtree Pkwy; Cumming, GA 30041, 770-781-0867

This event will feature a discussion with Forsyth County public school teachers at 11:00am, followed by a signing for all thereafter. From Barnes & Noble ...

Holiday Stress getting you down? Come join us as we welcome Author Perry Binder to our store. Perry is the Author of Unlocking your Rubber Room. In his book you will discover off-the-wall lessons to help you lighten and transform your life.

His book makes the perfect holiday gift!

Margaret Pepperdene, 89: Teacher and scholar

In my continuing effort to celebrate the brightest teaching stars, please read about Professor Margaret Pepperdene:

Dr. Margaret Jane Pepperdene had retired from Agnes Scott College after a 31-year career. The Paideia School called. They wanted her to teach junior and senior English. ...

Dr. Pepperdene taught at Agnes Scott from 1954 to 1985. She was Agnes' first Ellen Douglass Leyburn professor of English. For years, the Navy veteran, who served from 1943-1946, directed the college's Writers' Festival.
After retiring from Agnes Scott, she taught 22 years at the Paideia School. She retired in 2008, at the age of 88. ...

An only child, she had no family. Her mother died when she was a toddler; her father died when she was in grad school. A cousin and aunt have also passed away. So her family, Mr. Bianchi said, are the students she taught more than 50 years.

Continue reading:

http://www.ajc.com/news/margaret-pepperdene-89-teacher-210771.html

Lessons from the Field: Interview with Perry Binder

This interview was in http://certificationmap.com/lessons-from-the-field-interview-with-perry-binder/

Posted on November 23rd, 2009

This post is part of the Teachers Certification Map’s “lessons from the field”, a series of posts featuring passionate, inspiring educators from across the country discussing some of the lessons that they have learned over the years that would help young teachers as they embark on their careers.

Perry Binder teaches business law for undergrads and MBA students at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and is the author of Unlocking Your Rubber Room: 44 Off-the-Wall Lessons to Lighten and Transform Everyday Life. He has been teaching for two decades.

What inspired you to teach?

I was practicing law full-time and was looking for something fun to do part-time. When I taught my first class, I said “I gotta somehow do this full-time!”

What classroom methods are most helpful in pushing students towards their goals?
I. Attempts at humor through “exaggerated example,” detailed in an Op-Ed I wrote, Making a case for Classroom Humor, in the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
“Exaggerate to illustrate. Paint an implausible mental picture to reinforce a topic. When we study “self-defense,” a limping crazy man wields a lumberman’s ax and approaches a student track star limbering up for a run. If the crazy man is 200 feet away, does the student have a duty to retreat, or can she pick up and use a submachine gun conveniently left on a park bench?”

II. I try to get students aware of the world around them them. For example, in my legal studies class, we study the following case:

“In a small town in West Virginia, an elementary school called Marsh Fork exists. It is downriver from a massive coal mining operation, and toxins in the air and water are making the students extremely sick. The West Virginia government has refused to build a new elementary school in a safer location. The community, afraid for its children’s lives, began the organization Pennies of Promise to raise the funds themselves.”
http://www.penniesofpromise.org/

My class project includes:
Visit the web site http://www.penniesofpromise.org/ – this web site gives news on the efforts to move Marsh Fork Elementary School in West Virginia out of harm’s way. Contact any of the following people: someone from Pennies of Promise or any other West Virginia organization with knowledge of the issues involved, a West Virginia journalist, a West Virginia legislator, a staff member in the West Virginia governor’s office, etc. Conduct a telephone or e-mail interview with this person. What did you learn from this interview about Marsh Fork, the legal system, and the coal industry.

The above project is suited for college or high school aged students. It would also be a good project for 4th or 5th graders to somehow reach out to the students at Marsh Fork Elementary.

III. I believe that if you show learners that you have a sincere stake in their futures, you have the ability to inspire them on a daily basis, and spark a “light bulb moment.” For every class, I try to live up to my own expectations through an acronym mentioned in my book:

Perry’s L. I. G. H. T. B. U. L. B. Moment for Teacher
L. isten to all learners
I. nspire them with real world discussions
G. ive hope to everyone
H. eap compliments on students for quality work
T. each to your strengths
B. e available at all times
U. nderstand that students lack your life experience or knowledge
L. earn from your learners
B. e willing to walk in anyone’s shoes

What is the one thing you wish you’d known when you started in the classroom?
How to write fair and objective exams.

What skills could more developed if you were to enroll in a teacher training program?
Writing better learning objectives and outcomes.

What would you like to improve about your teaching?
With 200 students this semester, trying to figure out a way to remember everyone’s name!

Making a Case for Classroom Humor

I never dreamed of being a college professor. Does anybody?

When my third-grade teacher asked us about our dream job, Molly said, “Astronaut.” Evan, “An actor.” Perry: “Obtain a terminal degree and lecture on legal morasses.”

Whether you teach third grade or nuclear physics, every student wants a good laugh. As teacher accountability objectives collide with shorter attention spans, laughter is the secret ingredient to keep everyone on task.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (and Maureen Downey in particular) was kind enough to publish my article as an Op-Ed piece. Click below to continue reading...

Making a case for classroom humor
By Perry Binder
8:52 a.m. Monday, November 16, 2009

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/making-a-case-for-199536.html

Spell Check doesn't work - Old School Proofing needed

Sample student typos (the reason computer Spell Check doesn’t work)

A faulty (faculty) member – maybe s/he got this one right
File a mew (new) motion
Filed on the mourning (morning) of
Going to trail (trial)
Lead (led) to believe
Singing (Signing) an Agreement
The Compliant (Complaint)
Tired (Tried) to flee the scene
Breech (breach) of contract
Break (breach) of contract
Stature (statute) of limitations
Statue (statute) of limitations

And my favorite: The plaintiff assed (assessed) her need

II. Phrases they just got wrong

Tenant (tenet) of law
Woe (whim) of the court
Legal principals (principles)
The principle point (principal)
Recover principle (principal), court costs, and interest

III. I try to get students to economize on words:

Student version: The attorney briefly insinuated the relationship of two of the board members and made it seem like they had previously made a pact with each other.

My version: The attorney insinuated that two of the board members previously made a pact.

Best Movies & Books for my Classes

A lot of my classroom references come from the big screen. Here’s a list of movies which have had the most influence on my teaching style, for various reasons. These are not necessarily my all-time favorites, just those which affected me in some way or another.

MOVIES
(in no particular order)

The Verdict with Paul Newman – slow movie, but a killer closing argument. I play about 20 minutes of this movie in my Intro to Law class
Reservoir Dogs – directed by Quentin Taurentino. Great movie. To me, a good classroom prof needs to master the art of storytelling. This movie has several good scenes with the undercover cop learning how to tell a story, details and all.
Goodfellas – One of my all-time favorites from the early 1990’s. Martin Scorsese is a master storyteller, and knows how to mix music with theme better than any director.
My Cousin Vinny – I can’t resist playing the “Yutes” scene, largely because of my heavy New York accent.
The Insider – based on a true story, a tobacco executive (Russell Crowe) blows the whistle on unethical company practices to a 60 Minutes producer (Al Pacino). I e-mailed the real life executive, Jeffrey Wigand, who had some interesting things to say about legal ethics.
Napoleon Dynamite – Huh? This movie reminds me that a lot of my students are not too many years removed from the awkward high school years. I need to constantly remind myself that they are dealing with issues which are far different from those in my life. Oh yeah, and Vote for Pedro.
Rocky I – Rocky is a survivor. He is a reminder that hard work, determination, and a will to win, are attributes which serve as a good example for my students. Say what you will about Sly Stallone, but consider this: He was a struggling working actor with a baby on the way when he wrote the script. Hollywood loved it and offered him a ton of cash, with Ryan O’Neil in mind to play Rocky. Sly had the vision to know that this character was his dream role, so he wouldn’t sell the script unless he got the part. He accepted much less money and a piece of the movie’s profits to make his dream a reality. Good decision?
Capturing the Friedmans – This documentary is about my high school chemistry teacher, who is mentioned prominently in my book.
Forest Gump – Wow. It takes writing, directing, and acting talent to pull off a movie like this. Forest reminds me that each of us is special in some way, and that we need to appreciate and respect everyone.
The Rainmaker – A movie which exaggerates the lack of ethics in law firms, starring Matt Damon and Danny DeVito. After watching this movie, my mom called me and said she understood why I like teaching and don't practice law. I got a good laugh from that.
Dead Poet’s Society – An incredible portrayal of how passionate someone can be in the classroom. Also highlights that teachers sometimes have so much influence over the direction of young adults. A huge responsibility.
Mr. Holland’s Opus – A must-rent for every aspiring or stale teacher, starring Richard Dreyfuss
Lean on Me – An inspirational high school movie starring Morgan Freeman
Teachers – A wacky and inspirational high school movie starring Nick Nolte

* * *
Here is a collection of books which have had an influence over my teaching and writing styles:

BOOKS
(in no particular order)

The Pre-Historic History of the Far Side by Gary Larsen – funniest book I’ve ever read
Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe- best written book I’ve ever read
People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn – historical perspective written about those who never get to write the history books
Buffalo Creek Disaster by Gerald Stern – best book on corporate negligence and a lawyer’s effort to hold a mining company accountable for the deaths of several miners and family members. I use this book in the Intro to Law class. Before A Civil Action, there was Buffalo Creek Disaster.
Ted Williams by Leigh Monteville & Rod Serling by Joel Engel – I love reading biographies of people who are no longer alive, so you get a perspective of their vibrancy in youth and the fragility of life toward the end.
Bright Lights Big City by Jay McInerney- a wild and dizzying book written from the hip
Fire in the Streets: America in the 1960’s – by Milton Viorst – This book discusses a lot of the volatile issues facing America in a turbulent decade.
The Fifties – by David Halberstam – This massive book offers political parallels to today, much like the movie, Good Night and Good Luck
The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne – A short story which reminds me to appreciate what you’ve got, and not obsess over trying to make a good thing perfect.
Heaven is a Playground by Rick Telander – The best sports book ever written. I had the opportunity to interview this writer about the book.
On Writing by Stephen King – The word master offers up an honest memoir and a lot of insight into his writing madness.
How to Write a Screenplay in 21 Days by Vicky King & Four Screenplays by Syd Field – Any writer can learn a lot about structure from these studies on the screenwriting process.

Motorized La-Z-Boy? DUI, e-Bay, Lawyers

ACT I - Need for Speed

Maybe you saw the story last week about the guy taking his Reclining Chair out for a spin? Motorized by a lawn mower engine, equipped with a stereo and cup holder, the guy allegedly went from zero to twenty with beer in tow.


The Star Tribune described the chair:
The chair runs on a converted gasoline-powered lawnmower engine and has a steering wheel, headlights, rear roll bars, a power antenna, stereo and cup holders. It can top out at 15 to 20 miles per hour. Stickers on the back include a National Hot Rod Association logo and one that reads, "Hell yeah it's fast."


ACT II - Need for Greed

La-Z-Boy Puts Brakes on DUI Chair Auction
Posted Nov 2nd 2009 7:00PM by TMZ Staff
Mere hours before bidding was scheduled to end on the infamous DUI La-Z-Boy-Mobile, the motorized recliner suddenly vanished from the auction -- and TMZ has learned it's all because of a battle over its name.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/11/02/la-z-boy-ebay-dui-chair-auction-canceled/#ixzz0W4Yoeh8B


With the price at $43,100 and rising, eBay received a demand letter from the most unlikely of parties -- the La-Z-Boy corporation itself. We're told La-Z-Boy played the trademark card due to the title of the auction "La-Z-Boy DWI Chair" and eBay was forced to pull the auction.Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/11/02/la-z-boy-ebay-dui-chair-auction-canceled/#ixzz0W4Z4B9LN


ACT III - "Braking" News: It's not a La-Z-Boy!

Correction: Lounge Chair-Drunk Driving story
(AP)
DULUTH, Minn. — In stories Oct. 22 and Oct. 29 about a motorized recliner in which a man was arrested in Proctor, Minn., for driving drunk, The Associated Press erroneously described the recliner as a La-Z-Boy. Police in Proctor, where the recliner will be auctioned, say the brand is not La-Z-Boy.


ACT IV - Ebay Auction of DUI Chair Reposted!

View the YouTube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc67TWWBDf0



ACT V - Everyone's getting in on the act









Posted on ebay:




ARMCHAIR CRUISERS MOTORIZED RECLINER LAZYBOY NOT DUI

Time left:
4 days 17 hours (Nov 10, 200920:15:49 PST)
Bid history:
23 bids[Refresh]
Current bid:
US $700.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ARMCHAIR-CRUISERS-MOTORIZED-RECLINER-LAZYBOY-NOT-DUI_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c51817176QQitemZ190345998710QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f100

Also on ebay: Autographed Photo Famous DWI Chair, Motorized Chair

http://tinyurl.com/yer7r53



Also on ebay: DWICHAIR.COM domain name DWI CHAIR LIVES ON FOREVER

http://tinyurl.com/yb2dyqu

How is this not front page news?

NOV. 12 UPDATE: http://www.proctormn.com/placed/story/11-12-2009honor.html

Chair buyer will not honor bid
Proctor Journal
Payment on the $10,000 bid for a motorized chair made famous by being involved in a DWI accident did not materialize.
The winning bidder for the motorized lounge chair e-mailed the Proctor Police to say he was not going to buy it. Clayton Adler wrote: “I apologize, but there seems to be a mistake. I did not mean to bid this amount, as well as I cannot afford this. I am truly sorry for the mix up and the wasted time.”
His bid was $10,099.99.

.... the chair to the next highest bidder. That bid was for $9,999.99. http://www.proctormn.com/placed/story/11-12-2009honor.html

The Final Act - Would it be DUI in Georgia?

Riding mower a motor vehicle? Ga. Supreme Court says no
By Larry Hartstein
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
12:19 p.m. Monday, November 23, 2009
Toro might be the "next level of lawn care," as its Web site claims, but a riding mower does not rise to the level of a motor vehicle, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Monday.
At least when it comes to the motor vehicle theft law.
In a 4-3 opinion, the court reversed the conviction of a man sentenced to 10 years for stealing a lawnmower.
"To be sure, a riding lawnmower is capable of transporting people or property and of driving the street for short stretches, but that is not what the machine is designed for or how it is normally used -- there being little grass to mow on streets, and there being faster and less noisy ways of moving people and property around," Justice David Nahmias wrote for the majority.
In 2006, Franklin Lloyd Harris and two others stole a Toro riding mower worth more than $500 from a Home Depot in Dalton, drove it to Athens, Tenn., and sold it, court documents state.
As a repeat offender, Harris received 10 years in prison under the motor vehicle theft law and the Georgia Court of Appeals upheld the sentence.
While that conviction was thrown out Monday, Harris also had been convicted of theft by taking. He will be resentenced in Whitfield County on that charge alone.
Dissenting Justice Harold Melton pointed out that in the state's "chop shop" law, the term motor vehicle includes any devices "which are self-propelled but which are not designed for use upon a highway, including, but not limited to, farm machinery and construction equipment."
"This definition of ‘motor vehicle' is obviously broad enough to encompass a riding lawnmower," he continued. "Thus, if a riding lawnmower were stolen and taken to a ‘chop shop,' it would be a ‘motor vehicle' for purposes of its theft and storage and dismantling at a chop shop."

Find this article at:
http://www.ajc.com/news/riding-mower-a-motor-210291.html