way more than luck

Dude said something today, & it sounded weird

I heard "I love you, too"

He said "I love U2."

Because this was playing:




















U2, The Unforgettable Fire.

For my money, the best the band ever did (2nd place: War).

One of the simple pleasures at my job is the look on a student's face when she or he

(a) recognizes

& better yet

(b) likes the daily selection.

Today ranks up there w/ the best of receptions.

You can thank Tony for the request, & big ups to Sebastian & Leanna for their U2-related discussions.

By the way, the song that truly got me into the band is "Pride (In the Name of Love), which is on this album.

But the one that absolutely, 100% sold me is "Bad."

In fact, the top 3 U2 songs, in order, simply must be

(1) "Bad"
(2) "One"
(3) "Walk On"

These are the spine-tingling, shiver-inducing tracks that make you wanna live inside the music.

Oh, & big ups also to Bono, for transitioning form pompous, angst-ridden pseudo-intellectual rock star to a pretty durn important humanitarian.


Juniors:
"This Is Water."

Enough said.

But, yeah, I'll say more.

Actually, I'll let DFW do the speaking, down below.

You all shared some great words of wisdom, from parents & grandparents, siblings & friends, songs & films. Many of them had a genuine carpe diem feel, living in the present, being yourself &/or selfless, caring for others, maximizing your potential & such.

Thanks for that; we have to put these all together somewhere, not just on a "Do Now" page.

The goal was to analyze the style of the piece, get a little encouragement, & bridge the gap between hilariously sardonic satire & mind-altering despondent poetry.

(&, of course, spread the word of DFW.)

I hope it worked.

Sophomores:
We cherry-picked from the juniors & gave some great advice of our own.

Days like these make me confident in the future.

Antigone, however, should not be so confident.

Neither should Creon.

You turned in your vocabulary review, & we will go over the answers tomorrow to prep for the exam MONDAY.

Also, remember . . .

FORWARD!!!

to Friday . . .

Oh, &

"HERE HE GOES AGAIN W/ THE DAVID FOSTER WALLACE STUFF" ALERT

Courtesy of DFW, some things for all y'all to contemplate:

" . . . the really significant education in thinking that we're supposed to get in a place like this isn't really about the capacity to think, but rather about the choice of what to think about."

"The point here is that I think this is one part of what teaching me how to think is really supposed to mean. To be just a little less arrogant. To have just a little critical awareness about myself and my certainties. Because a huge percentage of the stuff that I tend to be automatically certain of is, it turns out, totally wrong and deluded."

" learning how to think really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience. "

"The thing is that, of course, there are totally different ways to think about these kinds of situations."

"Because here's something else that's weird but true: in the day-to day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And the compelling reason for maybe choosing some sort of god or spiritual-type thing to worship -- be it JC or Allah, bet it YHWH or the Wiccan Mother Goddess, or the Four Noble Truths, or some inviolable set of ethical principles -- is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things, if they are where you tap real meaning in life, then you will never have enough, never feel you have enough. It's the truth. Worship your body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly. And when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally grieve you. On one level, we all know this stuff already. It's been codified as myths, proverbs, clichés, epigrams, parables; the skeleton of every great story. The whole trick is keeping the truth up front in daily consciousness."

"Worship power, you will end up feeling weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to numb you to your own fear. Worship your intellect, being seen as smart, you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out. But the insidious thing about these forms of worship is not that they're evil or sinful, it's that they're unconscious. They are default settings.

They're the kind of worship you just gradually slip into, day after day, getting more and more selective about what you see and how you measure value without ever being fully aware that that's what you're doing."

"The capital-T Truth is about life BEFORE death."

"I wish you way more than luck."


McB SIGN-OFF ALERT

be cool

because it has Bucket, Bootsy, Bernie, & Brain

Praxis, Transmutation (Mutatis Mutandis)

Bill Laswell got these guys together, & Buckethead, Bootsy, Bernie, & Brain (along w/ some turntable guy) provide the electro-funk-rock-metal groove.

They have a few albums, but this is probably my favorite.

I got my wife into Buckethead many years ago, & we have seen all his area shows since about 2002. Love seeing him at Downtown Disney's House of Blues. (You probably know not much about Big B, but he has a Disneyland fixation--if you're ever there &  see a crazy-tall crazy-skinny longhaired dude, let me know).

Bootsy Collins may be the coolest bass player ever (just wait until you hear his Christmas album in 2 months).

Bernie Worrel is a living legend.

& Brain is my favorite drummer not named "Chris Adler."

Super-fantastic album, but one warning: only a few vocals.

Standout tracks: "Crash Victim/Black Science Navigator," "Animal Behavior" (Bootsy vocal), "Seven Laws of Woo."

& everything else on the album.


Wednesday:

Juniors:
Socratic seminar wrap.

I love these days, when you all vote for MVPs & share your thoughts on the seminars & the level-2 & level-3 questions asked in the "wrap."

Also, You wrote a "timed" paragraph of your choice, related to Gulliver's Travels & including a topic, some CDs & some CMs.

I cannot stress how important assignments like this will be in your future, especially those of you who will major in the liberal arts.

As I said, I was blown away the 1st time I had a choice in the matter.

At 1st glance, many of the paragraphs look pretty good, covering them, character, incident, symbol, & all other kinds of fun stuff.

My faith in the future is again recharged!!

Oh, & if you didn't see it in the comments, I had mentioned that the seminar & the comments had made me decide to throw in "This Is Water" Thursday & head back to The Waste Land a day later.



Sophomores:
Antigone.

Ismene.

God's law.

Man's law.

2 women enter the prologue, & only 1 will arise victorious.

Tune in tomorrow for Creon's speech.

(Also, vocabulary, as we went over in class, examples on the TVs, the past 2 days.)

be cool

from the comments . . .

I'm tired & busy, & the following conversation didn't get the love it deserved down in the comments.

Big ups to Noah for starting it & to David (former student) & The Fox (wife) for great truth-related argumentation.

Scroll to the bottom for today's music, which was--on the day we begin Antigone, the band Antigone Rising.

See what I did there? 

Pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Noah Angel said...

First of all, I cannot be honest with myself, him I trust least of all; if I learn my greatest weaknesses I shall exploit them to destroy myself (yes, this paranoia is boredom-induced, but no less valid because of it).

Paranoia and slight insanity aside, I thought the article was hilarious, but see Blanton as a bit arbitrary, trying to dictate how or when we should lie. I do not see it as black and white, and honestly do not know where I will draw the line, as I have yet to really encounter it. Yes, I lie, but I consider myself a somewhat honest person (as far as us "yahoos" go anyways...) and I guess what it boils down to is what one considers honesty is, be it religiously inspired, personally inspired, modeled after an admired figure, etc.

Also, I think this pretty much encapsulates yours and Rubel's classes: http://www.cafepress.com/+theres_no_crying_english_class_decal_sticker,260551344

Well, back to my Swiftian-styled Socratic questions... See ya, McBride!

fox said...

Your post reminded me of when we watched 'the Invention of Lying" and although I enjoyed the movie, I couldn't figure out why not being able to lie meant that people had no ability to filter what they said. Although, again, a wise guy once told me that withholding the truth was essentially lying.

Does honesty come from intention? Does the meaning behind the lie matter, to where it can be justified?

I know a LOT of people who lie on a regular basis. A few -- odd ones at that-- lie simply to better themselves. Perhaps delusional, but they don't lie out of being malicious, however these fibs are pretty easily disproved. Others lie simply to stir stuff up, to cause ruckus and dismay, but maybe these people are clinically mentally ill, or just jerkheads. People tell lies to spare feelings, to build up esteem, to soften the emotional blows of life.

I think most relationships would completely fail if honesty were used in an unpolished, blunt manner. Because most people can't listen to complaint without taking some sort of offense.

I'm an honest person, but like most people, I struggle in being honest with myself, because I don't always like what I have to say to myself. Or hear. Depends on which myself I mean. And I absolutely get miffed when someone is completely honest with me, and it's something I don't particularly like the sound of.

Michael said...

To fox:

To paraphrase, you stated that you thought that most relationships would fail if people were always honest to each other, (blunt, unpolished)

I would argue that if this “”relationship” is built on people lying to each other, only showing their good sides, building each other up on lies to boost esteem, telling lies to get someone ot appreciate you,

I wouldn’t call that a relationship, I’d call that a nice big plate of lies that smile at each other.

I’d argue that unless you are being honest with others, then you won’t actually build any real relationships.

Also, if a relationship is killed over one person one time possibly insinuating that maybe so-and-so doesn’t look nice in their new dress, then the individuals involved should reconsider their lifestyles, if they mean that much to themselves.

Forgive and forget people? Its called showing grace.

Now, I understand that you were referring to the use of blunt honesty, and I’d say that that is where courtesy comes in.

You don’t have to say, “Wow, yah you’re fat, nuff said”.

There are other ways to say something.

Think on it….

To people in general.

I think that Mr. Kelley summed this up well. “The key to being honest is to live a life you don’t have to lie about” (Kelley, APUSH).

Honestly (heh, irony?) I live life in all honesty. This helps because I am not asked pointed questions a lot, and if I am backed into a corner, remember that there is a reason for the fifth amendment! Its there, plead it.

As for lying to myself, I gave that up when the other voices came in. I had a hard time moving Bob, and he didn’t want to leave his bed, said he had been there first, but the others wanted to stay too. Believe me, it gets irritating having to listen to them while trying to do a timed writing assignment. But, I digress. (yay, I used the word digress)

I’d say that in a world where people are so unstable in their self-image, where everyone is trying to make themselves a path, and their only foundation is themselves, that radical honesty will offend a lot of people, because they perceive anything that isn’t boosting them as a possible attack to their ego, which is all they have to live for.

Good luck to all.

(I personally only lie when people ask me how I’m doing.)

--Dave

(I tell them I’m okay.)

fox said...

Ah ha, to Michael . . . excellent point about the "plate of lies" -- as a sometimes cook, I like the illusion.

However, take into account the lies that start the entire courting process. Let's start with the physical lies.

* Take note, please, I am speaking in general terms only, I'm not saying every person in current existence has done this *

Women, in particular, spend an awful lot of time making themselves look like someone else in order to impress. They lie about the color of the skin on their face, how short and sparse their eyelashes are, how frizzy or thin or dull their hair is. Men and women might lie about their height by wearing high shoes, and attempt many means to hide their true weight. Heck, both will even lie about the way they smell. And both sides usually like to be lied to here, it makes them feel appreciated.

Eventually when, or if, the relationship gets to the point where they aren't afraid to show their true face ( literally ) , or smell ( eeeeew) they have already learned who they are in the relationship and it's ok. When you truly love someone, you see them for who they really are . . . faults included, blemishes and all. All those fabrications, are just part of the memories.

People might hide the fact they are a slob, that they hate dogs, that they can't stand your best friend. They might hide that they can't comprehend British humor or Japanese art. They might fail to mention they hate your haircut, or they think that you aren't quite as talented dancer as you'd like to believe you are. These things usually don't affect the relationship, they usually only come to light when the ship is sinking and everything is getting tossed overboard out of frustration and desperation. These aren't the fibs that destroy a relationship. These are the fears we want to hide about ourselves because we don't have the confidence to share them.

They might lie by trying to get more knowledgeable about a subject that interests the other. If they were honest with themselves and the other person, they would say " I don't care, it doesn't interest me," but people function in a relationship by considering the other person's feelings. Instead they tell themselves "Sure, I'll do it for him/her because it's important to them."

While flat out deception is never acceptable in any relationship, I can't imagine a scenario where two people could be absolutely honest every moment because we as humans, are built to take offense and often be hurt by the truth.

Now, you can take this further into a whole other topic of the whole society has molded us to believe what's not real ( Hollywood-type things, the morbid grotesque fascination with what is a blown up lie ) and that no one knows how to tell the truth, because no one knows what the truth is . . . which could go into how technology has ruined the human ability to communicate intimately, but again . . .

but I don't feel like going there, mostly cause I've been yammering too much

Anyway, long ago I told our kids that you shouldn't ever say something about someone or something that you wouldn't be willing to 'fess up to.

I still believe that, and as I get older, I am trying to do that more myself, and teach other people I know --who really would simplify their lives by doing so-- to do the same. And I love your wording of 'grace' with forgiving and forgetting, because I agree, and I've been trying to get some people I know to do that for years, but my honesty caused them to shut me out of their lives.

Oh, and when my voices start yammering, I tell them to shut up because I don't want to hear it. Ok, that's one time where the blunt honesty totally works.

Michael said...

To fox:

That was exceptionally thought out and phrased, and your argument regarding the small “details” in a relationship that eventually come to light being insignificant, and I agree. (awkward phrasing there, sorry)

As for humans, I agree that the “natural” response is to take offense, or to feel hurt. I can sympathize in fact. But I would again say that in most instances, it is a choice to get worked up, or rather, to take it personally. People need to be willing to accept themselves for what they are, and not what they want to be. They may not be the most beautiful person on earth; they could have what they see as flaws. That’s okay! Its part of what makes you you. If everyone was beautiful, then no one would be. If all the characters in a book were stereotypical, then every story would seem the same (actually, most stories do that nowadays)

But, as I mentioned earlier, I agree with all that you have stated.

My foundational reasoning behind what I was saying was honesty in a totally exaggerated aspect, in regards to the discussions in class/handout. (Although, I’m recalling from a year ago, so it could have changed a bit)

I understand that complete honesty in every area of life with every person is not practical, and will probably shorten ones lifespan by ten years.

However, I would say that my main point is that people are making too much of themselves, and that there is a lot to be said for forgiving each other over conceived “ego bombings”.

Again though, I enjoyed reading your examples, and your well thought out argument. It’s a nice change from the average conversations at a high school lunch break.

(Oh, and i only listen to my voices when i have no one else to talk to, they have interesting views on things. Currently, they are arguing over the simularities between dark matter, and my socks =/)

--Dave

fox said...

Dave,

"If everyone was beautiful, no one would be"

Love it!

And about forgiving each other & "ego-bombings" . . .

Let's just say that if I were related to you instead of some of the people I share blood with, my life would be so much more pleasant. Heck, the world would be a much nicer place if everyone could do that.

Luckily I married an awesome dude and have incredibly awesome little dudes and read very interesting and insightful posts by awesome people.

& oh yeah . . . music:

Antigone Rising, From the Ground Up

Chosen today for the name, this band rocks in an acoustic way.

Highlights: "Waiting, Watching, Wishing," "Open Hearts and Doors," "She Lived Here," & "Broken."

be cool

another great day in the kingdom

I love arriving home from work & having a package waiting on the doorstep.

Usually they're for the kids, but one of the great joys in my life is watching my kids open presents.

Well, today it was Dad's turn.

Of course, any joy I feel is mitigated by my kids' disappointment when they know it's for me . . . but I let 'em tear it up.

So, today brought:

Paul Gilbert, Fuzz Universe.

You may remember him from my wall (east side of the room, between the big cabinet & the week's-agenda white board).

This guy flat-out gets it.

One of the most gifted guitar players who ever graced this planet, he can do it all.

& it's way too soon, after a few listens, but I will call this, his 3rd instrumental album, the best.

& to get that "free super-saver shipping," one must place an order for over $25, so to fill in that blank I also got this:



These 17 essays come from a DFW conference held last year in England.

ULTRA-NERDY LITERARY SCHOLARSHIP INFATUATION ALERT

Those of you who pay attention know that I have mentioned David Foster Wallace as my absolute favorite author, ever (he unseated the tie of Don DeLillo & Milan Kundera just last year).

I have read it all (except Broom, Lizzy--I'm holding out for a while, cuz after The Pale King next tax day there will be no more DFW).

This is what we literary scholars do--we read & re-read & then read what others have to say about their readings. I, like Rubel, live for this kind of stuff, & we try to impart the love of reading & thinking.

& sometimes, it works.

My latest goal: when I head back to grad school for my PhD, I'm going to study post-modernism & the late-20th-century novel, w/ a focus on David Foster Wallace's writing, fiction & non-fiction. (He would not agree w/ the "post-modern" label, but that's the closest we have now)

Which means a trip to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin to check out his archives.

Yep, I want to read the syllabi & writing assignments from his teaching days, some of which are available to sample online. I also feel the need to see the words he checked off in his dictionary as well as his annotations to books like The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe & The Silence of the Lambs.

In the coming years, I will re-read everything that he has written & all that has been written about him.

Seriously, you should see my bookmarks bar . . .

Please, take this time to consider an author or artist you'd like to study, to become an expert in his or her field. There just may be a bonus-point opportunity in the coming weeks. . .

END ULTRA-NERD PORTION OF OUR PROGRAMMING

. . .& as for class . . .

Today's music:

Pete Droge, Find a  Door

One of the most underrated roots-rocking singer-songwriters ever.

Also, extra-large pic because the cover os way cool.

Another one-hit-kinda wonder, you heard his song "If You Don't Love Me (I'll Kill Myself)"; it is cute & all (it's on his 1st record, somewhat-ironically titled Necktie Second).

& you heard it because it is in Dumb & Dumber, which you had to see, right?

This album is much better, & everything he does just simply works.

I implore you, check out some Peter Droge!!!

I even employ the exclamation points!!!

Juniors:
You engaged in a seminar.

Some of the time, thought occurred, followed by the careful articulation.

Some of the time, not so much.

Seminars provide wonderful opportunities to engage in argumentation, the kind on which I have created a 1st career & look toward another.

A seminar on Swift? Man, this could go for weeks.

But we'll do it in 2 days.

So, let's do this.

More tomorrow.

Sophomores:
You got your Antigone books (The Oedipus Cycle, to be precise).

You took the postponed vocab quiz, & I showed you the format for the review.

REMEMBER: definitions & antonyms due WEDNESDAY, & completing sentences & analogies due THURSDAY.

Also, no OR update for 2 weeks.

So, let's get our Greek mythology on!!!

be cool!!!

oops . . .

Pretend this is last Thursday:


















Jamiroquai, Travelling Without Moving

One-hit wonders, w/ "Virtual Insanity," which had one of those iconic videos like A-Ha's "Take on Me" or Dire Straits's "Money for Nothing."

Yeah, I'm old, but look at youtube & you'll see.

Anyway, this one had Jay Kay in  "room" in which all the furniture was moving around him, & you have to see it so I'll stop there.

My favorite song here is "Cosmic Girl," & the whole album is dance-y funky acid-y jazzy British fun.

& yep, dude wore a hat like you see silhouetted on the cover above.

Juniors:
Swift simply ruled & continues to do so.

You turned in your seminar prep, had it returned, & signed up for seminar or writing.

A handful of you chose to opt out of the seminar, & you will write one of those 3 prompts Monday, then observe Tuesday.

All of you will re-submit your prep for points next Wednesday, during the "wrap."

Sophomores:
Antigone, she is coming.

You got all the soap-opera details of the Oedipus story.

Vocab quiz postponed until Monday, when we will also get the Oedipus Cycle books. So, make sure to have the ID--the one you are supposed to carry whenever you are on campus--with you.

be cool