Tueday, January 22, 2008

A few weeks ago, in a burst of unprecedented zeal, I created an Academic Calendar for the month of January. Well-intentioned, as in all of my side projects, but ultimately fruitless, the Calendar is now being updated and will be redistributed ASAP. So. . .fourth period, Le Guinea Pigs of the Academic Calendar Experiment (hereafter known as ACE). . .get ready to recycle a now-defunct schedule and move forward to new, exciting BETTER DAYS!!!

APees: Are you aware of a real-life Heart of Darkness taking place in Liberia, Africa right now, led by a formerly homicidal and clothing-free warrior general? Sadly, this is just one example of what Conrad was trying to expose--and today's Big Question in class has to do with the nature of megalomania. What happens when a cult of personality is allowed to reign in a consequence-free environment, and what are the costs? Oh, and you have a miniature focus paper due Friday night--www.turnitin.com and no hard copy. I'll explain in class.

Sophys: You will have the week to construct a brief essay on Julius Caesar while we watch the film. Third period is already well into Act II, but sixth needs to catch up. Feel free to bring popcorn; I will provide the lollies. This is FCAT month and we need to do a TW this week to prepare; registration is pending so check this space for updates and planning sessions.

After school today, for any and all interested parties: I will be hosting my first "Italian lesson" for those traveling to Venice and Florence with me this spring, or for the merely curious. Some of you have traveled abroad before (some with me, actually) but this first session may be helpful since we are going over The Euro and How to Walk in an Italian City and Not Get Smacked by a SmartCar. Also, you will learn five or six handy phrases! Next week's session: Ordering Food in a Restaurant. All info was neatly lifted from a guidebook I wrote with a partner in 2004 that went absolutely nowhere, so revel in the fruits of my failure!

This Saturday night we are ushering for As You Like It at the Shakespeare festival. Earn six community service hours, see a classic Shakespearean comedy, and get out of the house for a bit! Sign up sheet will be on the board.