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By Kyle, June 30, 2009 4:19 pm

A few weeks ago, I was asked by one of my blog readers why on earth I “tweet” (a verb referring to the stream of consciousness micro-blogging on upstart social network Twitter). Truth be told, I didn’t have a great reason, other than it was the newest technology fad (this was pre-Iranian election solidarity-tweeting). And yet yesterday, Twitter literally allowed me to not spend $50 I had otherwise planned on spending!

Here it goes. Last night I returned from vacation in Costa Rica, and was scheduled to arrive at LAX at 12:30….A.M! I didn’t want to burden anyone with the responsibility of picking me up that late (it would have been about 1:30am after going through customs, etc…), and so I had simply planned on taking a taxi home. Yet as our plane descended into LAX, I had a thought…how about a low-pressure, non-invasive, mass shout out to everyone I know in LA! And best yet, no one would get woken up over it!

As the plane touched down, I whipped out my cell-phone, which mind you, doesn’t even have a data plan, and sent a simple text message to my Twitter account that went exactly like this:

Just landed at LAX! If anyone wants to give me a lift home, text or call by 1am or so. If not, no worries….I’ll cab it. See ya soon!

Now’s where it get’s cool! That simple message instantly updated my Facebook page as well, which during any given minute, is being used by 10-30 of my actual friends and acquaintances here in L.A. Seriously, within about 90 seconds (and while still taxiing) I received a phone call from my buddy Alex, who volunteered to pick me up from the airport! Thanks Alex! And thanks Twitter!

(As a post script, I should also mention that I subsequently had to turn down two more offers for a late night pickup from people who saw my post)..

Anyway, enough geeking out for now on technology. Here are my Costa Rica pics! Enjoy!

Trip to Costa Rica! from Kyle Hunsberger on Vimeo.

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By Kyle, June 23, 2009 10:39 am

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Yes, today I slept in until 9am and it was wonderful. Tomorrow, I get on an airplane and head down to Costa Rica for a few days of vacation! I’m looking forward immensely to simply getting out of the city.

The last time I was out of the country was during Thanksgiving of 2005, when I traveled to Ecuador on the same pretext as I do tomorrow, visiting my sister, for whom international travel seems to be a foundation of existence.

School ended on a very positive note, and this year the graduation ceremony took place in a much larger space (Trinity Baptist Church) than ceremonies in previous years. There were actually some empty seats in the balcony during the ceremony. This was a far cry from the packed Methodist church of previous graduation ceremonies, during which near-fights would break out in the “overflow room” designed to accommodate parents who could simply not fit in the sanctuary. Anyway, like I said, graduation was very chill, if not very boring, due to the fact that I didn’t know any of the graduating students (one of the effects of “looping” is that when I re-start with 7th graders, I literally skip an entire class of students, i.e. this year’s graduates).

In related news, the three students who, two years ago, studied, interviewed, and were placed in three of the top private schools in L.A., had a follow-up piece written about them in the L.A. Times (hmmm….the link seems to not be working right now). It’s cool to see the progress they’ve made and think about how well they’ll continue to do in the future.

Anyway, I’ve got to go pack, and get ready for the trip! I’ll be sure to post some photos and experiences when I return early next week! Until then, Sayonara!!!!

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By Kyle, June 20, 2009 9:59 am

Joe Satriani – Summer Song

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Yes! Finally. After a seemingly interminable spring (maybe it wasn’t that long), summer is finally here, with our last day of classes yesterday!

This summer will be remarkably different than all of my previous summers up until this point. Essentially, I am giving myself a two-week vacation (like most  folks who work normal jobs), and then heading back to school for most of July and all of August to create and develop 6th grade intervention curriculum for next year. But I’m not even going to think  about that until after I get back from my vacation, a trip I am super excited about which will take me to Costa Rica, to visit my sister and brother in law. I’m not exactly sure what’s on the agenda for those days, but I’m looking forward to it immensely.

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By Kyle, June 16, 2009 8:30 am

The Beatles – Paperback Writer

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One of the hallmarks of summers growing up was the opportunity to spend time reading some great books. Much in the same manner, I look forward to doing the same this summer.

The case is very different for some of my students who, in an online survey that is currently still open, have responded to the question “Which book are you looking forward to reading this summer?” with the following responses:

• “None”
• “I don’t like reading”
• “dont plan to read”
• “i dont read”
• “noting”
• “no book”

Nice.

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By Kyle, June 13, 2009 9:45 am

Dave Brubeck Quartet – Blue Rondo a la Turk

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Last night was sort of fun. With one week of school to go, a bunch of us got together for happy hour to simultaneously celebrate the end of the week, watch the Stanley Cup final, the Mets/Yankees game, and play trivia to raise money for ISSS-LA, a non-profit started by a few coworkers to help some of our best and brightest earn scholarships to some of the most prestigious private schools in Los Angeles.

Good news: The night was tons of fun. Bad news: I had to do it all whilst wearing a Phillies t-shirt (having lost a bet with one of my other colleagues).

Good news: We got to watch the Phillies lose. Bad news: We got to watch the Mets lose in the most horrific fashion I’ve seen in years, a dropped fly ball that would have ended the game, instead, allowed the tying and winning run to score for the hated Yankees. Silver Lining: Being a Mets fan is certainly building my character.

Good news: Our team won the trivia! Bad news: I didn’t get the prize I desired…..to transfer one of my students into the trivia organizer’s class for the remainder of the year. Oh well, it was worth a try.

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By Kyle, June 10, 2009 11:54 am

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Seen on the front page of today’s L.A. times website.

I never knew that LAPD actually fought ire! And I never knew it was such a dangerous job, although one could certainly imagine! Sign me up!

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By Kyle, June 10, 2009 9:41 am

Simon and Garfunkel – The Only Living Boy in New York

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One of the things that sucks about my school is that there is such a high turnover rate among the teachers. Every year we lose roughly 15% of our staff. The silver lining in this dark cloud is that for the past five years, the staff here has been relatively young and enthusiastic, and there is an incredibly strong sense of camaraderie!

One of the ways this gets strongly played out is through sports affiliations. We have huge baseball fans here at the school, the most outspoken of which roots for the Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals, Dodgers, Phillies, and of course, the Mets!

Since the Phils are playing my Mets this week, things have been pretty vocal between myself and Ms. Konnight, the resident Jersey-ite, who chooses to very vociferously root for her Phillies.

However, yesterday morning, I arrived at school to see that Ms. Konnight had her kids plaster my door, my desks, and my whiteboard with Phillies propaganda, I mean, paraphernalia.

Wow. Right now I’m figuring out how to get her back. Submissions are appreciated!

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By Kyle, June 6, 2009 5:44 pm

Great Northern – Home

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It’s a completely gray day here in Los Angeles, and as such is keeping me completely inside. Luckily I have the company of good music. Great Northern, who I heard live two weeks ago with some friends has been on repeat on my iPod ever since the show. I guess that’s a good thing, although I never really liked synths very much! This evening i get to head out to play some Cranium with at least two colleagues (possibly more)! Yay!

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By Kyle, June 3, 2009 11:42 am

The Beatles: Happiness Is A Warm Gun

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Today I’m at the third of three days of textbook training. If you’ve been following my Twitter updates, you know just how exciting these sessions have been!

The best part is that these trainings have been at the downtown Belmont High School, whose mascot is the sentinels. I love the slogan…. “FIGHT TOBACCO USE”. I just wonder what the underlying message is…. “If you see someone smoking, shoot them?!?”

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By Kyle, June 1, 2009 8:00 am

The Jackson 5: Rockin’ Robin

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So, it’s official. After much hesitancy, I’ve joined the social network called Twitter. “What’s Twitter?” Well, other than another excuse to waste time online, it’s essentially a micro-blogging site in which I can do basically the same thing I do on this blog, with the advantage that I can post updates, directly from my cell phone! Boring meeting? Tweet! Great movie? Tweet! (after the credits roll of course!) Want to interrupt a silent walk in nature with a technological invasion? Tweet!

And I have no intention of quitting.