Find a literary look into public school transformation, a top-notch realtor and a spot-on art clock in this week's list of recommendable things.
"Inside School Turnarounds: Urgent Hopes, Unfolding Stories" by Laura Pappano (Harvard Education Press) -- Public school turnarounds and transformations can work, as I'm learning from reading this book, which follows a number of successful public school turnarounds in Hartford, Conn., and Cincinnati. What successful turnaround takes -- among other things -- according to Pappano, is dedicated and passionate leadership that views the school as an entrepreneurial enterprise, teachers fueled by the fire to make a difference and strategic partnerships with corporate and non-profit organizations, who can help build struggling students' social capital and show them what they can attain. The book is especially relevant in Milwaukee right now, where MPS recently announced that six schools will enter turnaround and transformation in fall. -- Bobby Tanzilo
Shorewest realtor Toni Spott -- I was randomly connected to Toni via the Internet but she turned out to be hard-working, fun and well-informed. Toni has won multiple awards and handles a lot of expensive properties, but even though I was buying a low-dollar, foreclosed property, she was prompt and attentive to my needs. She also has a great sense of humor, which resonated throughout the experience, right up to the closing when she presented me with a congratulatory plunger. There were a lot of hoops to jump through considering the current wacky real estate market -- not to mention all of the issues related to buying a bank-owned home -- but I credit Toni for making it happen. I move in on Tuesday. -- Molly Snyder
Cascadian Farm organic cereals -- I'm an oatmeal guy during the winter months, but switch to cereal a few days per week come spring. I found Cascadian Farm cereals on sale recently and picked up the brand's Multi Grain Squares and Cinnamon Crunch. Both are very good. Crunchy, no odd after tastes and fairly "healthy" with low sugar content. Check out this brand here.
Melting Clock on ThinkGeek -- Recognizable to art nerds as a timepiece from Surrealist artist Salvador Dali's "The Persistence of Memory," this clock is an awesome real-life replica of the mustachioed master artist's depiction. It's angled and balanced to hang off a shelf, and keeps accurate time while looking ridiculously cool. If that weren't good enough, it's only $15. The only downside is not having a companion piece to drape over a banister nearby. -- Renee Lorenz
StraightCashHomey.net -- If you've ever been to a sporting event, you've probably seen it before: some example of Darwinism at its best, clad in the outdated jersey of some obscure underperformer. If only there was a way to find a collection of these shining examples of humanity. Oh, but there is. StraightCashHomey.net, along the same lines as PeopleOfWalmart.com and AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com, takes user-submitted photos of jersey lovers and posts the best of the best (or worst) on a daily basis. Need a little laugh? Check it out. -- Andrew Wagner
