I am in late night grading jail. Students who have not studied verb forms fully, but who have understood concepts, are deriving from what they do know the ways in which things would in fact have been said in Old Spanish or in the Renaissance. How did they figure out when the future subjunctive would … More In Which Grammar Makes Sense
A commentator said in part: “[When I was younger] racism was something I was terrified I would be accused of. To be racist was maybe the worst thing you could be, but it was (I thought) very easy to accidentally do something that would result in some black person calling you racist, and as a … More On Race and Racism
FANTASIES OF CASUALNESS – DISORDER – AND CONTROL So a new person in town complains because he wants a relationship leading to marriage and dates nice women he meets at Mass, but none is interested in any arrangement except “friends with benefits.” He is horrified and asked me about it. I said I was also … More Please Translate These Fragments
1. Here is an interesting short film and film site. 265,000 of 4,500,000 Louisianians speak French at home. 2. I am watching City of God. Have you seen it? I am finding it rather flat, but this is perhaps because I already know a lot about Rio de Janeiro slums, have seen other films on … More Un Film sur L’Acadie
As we know, it is economic crunch time. And the amount I am required to contribute to the retirement system is now 11% of my monthly check, as opposed to 8% heretofore. And this money goes directly to Wall Street. The cost of groceries has never been a serious factor in my economic problems, but … More Papaya Juice With Orange
Vicente Huidobro’s Poemas árticos, now set to music. V.H. is very amusing and offers an axiom for musicians: “Birds do not sing well.” A famous Arctic Poem is PAQUEBOT, where the mail boat (or boat mail) cuts the horizon in two. Axé.
A. Bibliographical Methods: A student preparing for his comprehensive examination asked about criticism on a writer. “I am looking in JSTOR,” said he. I said he should look in the MLA Bibilography. JSTOR is good, but it only has what it has, it does not give a complete panorama of what is. “I see,” said … More Bibliographical Methods, Puzzle, and Note
I could, but do not have the energy or time, to reproduce my spontaneous speech in class today but it was only the second time I have ever had students applaud and the first time was at the traditional time, at the end of class on the last day. It was in response to certain … More Professor Zero Discusses History
The election was only last week and it is as though years had passed, life seems so different. I was desperately nervous on Election Day despite all the predictions, and it has taken me days to thaw out. I have nationalist sentiments although they are not right wing ones. A student wrote on my Facebook … More Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: John McCain
All of these things are interrelated and if I had time I would explain to myself how, writing a nice little essay. Instead I will only put them together in the same post. 1. The key issue in Reeducation was the invalidation. You are not valid, your past is not valid, your present is not … More Non Random Bullets
coldhearted scientist وداد 