Random Neuron Firings
~ Why is there such blatant disregard for the Golden Rule nowadays? Maybe it’s always been that way. Here’s a guy who has apparently spent a lot of time thinking about it.
~ We expect 18-year-olds to have a plan for their lives by graduation. They can vote, be prosecuted as adults, and take a bullet in Afghanistan. They can buy tobacco, a lottery ticket and a rifle. But they can’t buy a glass of wine at a restaurant.
~ This is funny, and pretty much true:
~ In my BU class (Have I mentioned that this is the last graduate course I will ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever take?), we’re discussing democratic education — you know, the “pedagogy of the oppressed”: letting students basically take over their school experience, questioning authority and raging against the educational machine. For the first time, I feel really, truly old fashioned and out-of-date. But I don’t care. I said the other day in class that I think this particular aspect of education, among other things, is what helped start the downward spiral in the first place. But that isn’t a very popular viewpoint nowadays. (I’ve used the word “nowadays” twice in this post so far…now I know I’m old. Soon I’ll be ordering gimlets with dinner.)
~ Even in a world where violence and war are all around us every day, to the point where the whole thing becomes somewhat routine and we are no longer horrified, I still marvel at man’s inhumanity to man.
~ Sometimes, I just want to write for a living. Sometimes. Don’t get me wrong; I love my students. It’s, well…those other people. I know: those other people are everywhere.
~ I saw this on a friend’s Facebook profile. Made me laugh, especially starting at about 1:57. I didn’t know this comedian’s stuff at all. He rather puts things in perspective, no? (Notice his play-in is “Kids” from Birdie)
~
~ The Thriller and I are going to see the Broadway touring production of Young Frankenstein this afternoon in Cleveland. How fun will this be? I will report back.
Until then, my fiends,
Fink out (of ideas on how to start the thesis — it’s only 24 pages; could it be that bad?)
I have two recommendations for you, my fiend.
One is to check out a play called ‘The Fantasticks’. It’s a musical love story as seen through the eyes of the kids’ fathers. I especially like the song ‘Never Say NO’.
“Why did the kids put jam on the cat?
Strawberry jam all over the cat!
Why would the kids do something like that?
They did it ’cause we said NO.”
Secondly is a book called “Complete your Dissertation or Thesis in Two Semesters or Less” by Evelyn Hunt Ogden. She helps you plan it all out step by step as well as offering insight into the committees that judge and accept/reject them.
E-mail me your address and I’ll send you mine. God knows I don’t need it.
PK
Hey! I have seen Fantastiks – good point!
I also have Evelyn Ogden’s book…guess I should blow the dust off it, eh?
Oh, you saw it alright….
HAA — I wondered if you’d comment on it! LOL
All I gotta say is: AMEN on that video clip!! Ain’t it the truth??!! I think we get so busy with all this amazing stuff that we definitely do lose sight & perspective on things.
I guess this is the current version of what we heard from our parents/grandparents about how they had to write on chalkboards, share books (if there were any) and walk to school 5 miles in the snow with no shoes on…
I’ll have a gimlet, please….
My grandparents had to walk to school 5 miles in the snow with no shoes, and it was UPHILL. BOTH WAYS…..
Right on, Boom Boom. And admittedly, I find myself in that situation with my students — having to refrain from launching into “Now, when I was in school…”
(I’m not always successful, ha)
Remember typewriter correction tape? I thought it was the coolest thing *ever*, especially after using the big fat erasers with the brushes on them.
Psh. I love rotary phones! They’re awesome. I was tempted to play with the one on the stage, but just my luck I’d break it…. -.- Hope you had fun in Cleveland. I get to see Wicked there in November.
I’m excited.
Saw the signage for it in the lobby — I might have to get up there as well, depending on how the thesis is going…
Signage? Ha. My english professor was talking about that word… do you hang out at Borders much? /:)
Huh? Would hanging at Borders make me smart? If so, I’m there!
Louis C.K. Amazing comic. I’ve seen several of his stand up specials. Quite a foul mouth, but still very funny.