Two Links

First is Joshua Samuel Brown's new blog, Stinky Tufu. I found him while trying to find a picture of the Shenzhen subway map. Awesome writing and a great description of our subways here. He writes for Lonely Planet. His blog basically has my theme, but it's set in Taiwan.... and he's more interesting 'cause he's being paid to, ya know, go see cool shit and write about it. And he's funnier. And he speaks Chinese fluently... ya know what, don't click that link. Please? Stay with me? Honey?

Second, I present you with The Six-Lesson Schoolteacher, a dark essay by John Taylor Gatto after receiving his third New York Teacher of the Year Award. He succinctly and clearly puts into words the thoughts that have been in my head for a long time and were confirmed while teaching last year. It almost reads as an intro to Foucault without ever name-dropping him and begs the question... just what are we trying to accomplish in the classroom? I'd love to hear a good rebuttal. Inspired by this MetaFilter thread.