”I wasn’t afraid to be sensual and romantic. But I wanted to still hit you hard and make your body move. I just think that being honest is the most gangsta thing you could ever do.” –Sean “Puffy”/”P-Diddy”/”Diddy” Combs A New Sound For Old What’s-His-Name By SIA MICHEL New York Times September 10, 2006
Category Archives: Culture
I’m Back!
I guess I took the summer off. I didn’t mean to, but teaching summer school wiped out 8 weeks, then I had 4 weeks to do 12 weeks worth of other work. A couple of brief points by way of getting back into things: 1. I (heart) Montreal. Spent a week up there with myContinueContinue reading “I’m Back!”
To the Class of 2006
On the occasion of graduation, an excerpt from Alan Lightman’s novel, Reunion (in which the narrator attends his 30th college graduation reunion): “Young people explode with their discovery of the world and the newness of life. They sleep and sleep in their tiny cocoons, and suddenly one day, perhaps in one moment, as in theContinueContinue reading “To the Class of 2006”
5 Reasons I Like “Laguna Beach”
(In honor of D-Nice on his graduation) By “Laguna Beach,” I mean the MTV “reality” series, not the town itself. 1. The show is very easy to watch! There is only about 10 minutes of content per half hour show, none of which is at all significant. 2. The show is not only heavily edited,ContinueContinue reading “5 Reasons I Like “Laguna Beach””
Chicago Shore Leave/Spring Break
I spent half of the spring break in the Chi and have two “shout outs” to those I observed on the bar scene there: (1) To the men of Chicago: here’s to you, with your untucked striped shirts (open two buttons down) and jeans, your spiked hair and gold chains, and your Bud Lights. That’sContinueContinue reading “Chicago Shore Leave/Spring Break”
Not a big fan of tattoos
Given my advancing age, I’m not a big fan of tattoos generally, so I appreciated receiving the following “New Rule” for 2006 by George Carlin from a student. Thanks Juliet. New Rule: Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn’t make you spiritual. It’s right above the crack of your ass. And itContinueContinue reading “Not a big fan of tattoos”
Student (Dis)Engagement?
From “A Very Long Disengagement” by Mark Bauerlein, Chronicle of Higher Education (6 January 2006): “Last spring Nielsen Media Research reported that the average college student watches 3 hours 41 minutes of television each day. . . . Last year the National Survey of Student Engagement found that 44 percent of first-year students never discussContinueContinue reading “Student (Dis)Engagement?”
Another Reason Not to Like 50 Cent
In addition to being an average talent, here is what 50 Cent had to say about George W. Bush: “I think he’s incredible. I think George Bush is a gangsta. That’s what I think. I wanna meet George Bush, just shake his hand and tell him how much of me I see in him. DoContinueContinue reading “Another Reason Not to Like 50 Cent”
Classroom Dynamics
“Any questions?” asked Howard. The answer to this never changed. Silence. But it was an interesting breed of silence particular to upscale liberal arts colleges. It was not silent because nobody had anything to say — quite the opposite. You could feel it, Howard could feel it, millions of things to say brewing in thisContinueContinue reading “Classroom Dynamics”
Kids are Funny, Part Deux
More conversations in the household — 10 Year Old Son: There are too many girls in my Sunday school class. Father: How can that be? That’s like saying there are too many flowers. 5 Year Old Son: Boys and girls are enemies. Father: What?! 5 Year Old Son: Like England and France. I don’t knowContinueContinue reading “Kids are Funny, Part Deux”