1 After watching U-Verse commercials during the entire baseball season, they told millions of customers that the Giants’ game was on channel 1112 last night. It wasn’t, even though it said it was.
2 The Yankees were on. Are ya KIDDIN’ me?
3 After an entire day of grading papers and sports, I wanted me some Giants’ playoffs.
4 I thought of calling U-Verse, which was already on my list for masquerading as a professional company, when I decided I would probably get ridiculous service. I hit Facebook instead and got instant results. So a big thanks and shout out to everybody who informed me that where it said Law and Order in the U-Verse channel directory, it was actually the Giants’ game. Makes perfect sense to me. I missed almost two innings.
5 If you are a baseball fan, you probably have certain superstitions. They’re ridiculous, I’m quite sure, but you have them. You don’t want your “chi” interrupted, because you know that if you send particles and thoughts to your team, they will pick up on it and do magic.
6 I am thoroughly convinced that it wasn’t the Reds’ pitching keeping our hitters down, but the lack of public chi. Millions of viewers didn’t see the first couple of innings of an intense playoff series.
7 Okay so I’m overreacting. I was all pumped up in my orange and black, and it was like a blackout. That company has already been ridiculous, disabling both my desktop AND my wireless printer.
8 And now this.
9 If you are thinking of going U-Verse, think twice. Bottom line. We’re sort of stuck with it for a while. I’m hoping someone does a class-action against them. We already had to call them to come out and re-hook up our bedroom.
10 Go to any other company. I swear dudes.
11 It’s all good. The Giants are gonna come back.
12 But U-Verse.
13 Major fail.
14 Moving On, Part the First: Okay, I’m off my rant.
15 You just don’t mess with people’s sports.
16 I claim it’s “The Man.”
17 Probably knew that watching this grand old movie called Good Bye, My Fancy inspired me to go back into the Kennedy case.
18 The title is from this really lousy poem by Walt Whitman. I know nothing about the poem except that it is not one of Ol’ Walt’s better efforts. Pretty sappy. Same guy who wrote Leaves of Grass, which I love.
19 This one, not so good. I’d print it, but some of you might run screaming, and we don’t want that.
20 The movie is good though. I won’t go into all the details, but it’s theme is about how colleges can control thought, and about how brave a teacher must be to bring up really controversial issues, and how people at the top are under pressure not to bring up controversial issues.
21 The movie brings up the issues of how Fascism and Communism have gone where angels fear to tread. I’m thoroughly convinced that Fascism was the great unspoken in the film, which was made in 1951. Either way, the control of the education of the people by the State was a definite theme.
22 We don’t need no thought control.
23 That sort of thing.
24 Issues that are glaring in education to this day under the guise of “standards.”
25 It also brings up the issue of how professors who were more radical in their younger days tend to sell out and do what they are told as they continue their careers.
26 Sound familiar?
27 As an older teacher, I see it glaring at me every day. If we stay busy and in fear of our jobs, then we must do whatever the State dictates.
28 And there is no shortage of politicos who would like nothing more than to have a nation that is ignorant of its past, or of how easily entire countries have been controlled from the top. Very powerful people know this. So evidently did some Occupy
Oakland people this morning. This does tend to attract Marshal Law. Scary stuff all wrapped up in this little movie.
29 It is called Good-Bye, My Fancy. It stars Joan Crawford and Robert Young, among others. It is based on a 1948 play by Fay Kanin.
30 The major theme is not of a rekindled love story, as Wiki tries to put it, but is truly about the restriction of academic freedom, and it’s ominous danger. Wiki wants nothing to do with giving any of the plot info out, as it is clearly a warning to the world about the dangers of controlling education. Here is a somewhat convoluted plot summary, but I was into the 4 a.m. and didn’t have a lot of time to dig up a better one:
31 Unfortunately I was grading papers while trying to watch the film, so I coasted over the love story. What I enjoyed was much of the dialogue, which discussed the outrage of a college trying to keep a controversial film from being shown.
32 To people in 1951, who watched how easily Hitler rose to power, it was probably a tacit thing. Tacit means “understood without a word being said.” The implications of people in power controlling thought, especially at the university level, were instant, and ominous.
33 In the 2012 version of education, we are being told without being told to stay busy, and that we must teach what we are told to teach. If we don’t teach what we are told to teach, the State could take us over. We are told that.
34 I made a career out of bringing controversial things into the classroom, and of not sticking to teaching just the verbs and gerunds and stuff. I would use the murder of John F. Kennedy as a grand mystery that brings into question the entire issue of fiction v. non-fiction. It also gives a brief glimpse into why we are facing the issues that we are facing today. It’s a powerful unit filled with lots of facts, AND with lots of fiction.
35 It isn’t that verbs and stuff like that is unimportant, but it should certainly not be to the exclusion of opening students’ eyes to the real world, and the world that they and their children and grandchildren will inherit.
36 The irony of my discovery of this Goodbye, My Fancy on a Sunday morning is that I was WAY too busy with doing what I was told, and keeping all my grades and stuff in order. I didn’t hear nor see too much of the actual sub-plots, but I did see and hear the issue of the fierce dangers of thought control.
37 It’s out there. Trust me. And a lot of younger teachers are being controlled through propaganda and gentle lies. We older, and yes, sometimes wiser sorts see through the control and see it as a lot of poppycock, but dangerous poppycock.
38 How leftist of me.
39 Or rightist. Paint me what you will.
40 I just think that issues are important, and that students are aching to argue and debate. They almost sense it.
41 And that people at the top understand that need, and allow it in small portions.
42 But if someone tries to push the envelope, he or she can be muzzled pretty quickly.
43 All of that came through as I graded papers and gave a listen to some of the dialogue of that interesting film.
44 Okay, I went there.
45 Moving On, Part the Second: I always felt that overusing the term “film” was sort of a stodgy thing. It is SO much better to those in the business, or who study the business than is the term “movies.” I never really understood why.
46 I always thought the term “movie” was sort of charming and un-stodgy.
47 I also could never call a movie, or film a “picture.” That is clearly a term for people who actually make the things, and who have been around, I suppose.
48 I’m into the 4 a.m. already. I guess I’m ready to re-group.
49 Hope you enjoyed this rant. It needed a LOT more research, but sorry.
50 I don’t have time to research AND provide truth at the same time.
51 Too busy grading papers and wondering what the next thing they are going to want us to teach will be.
52 I’m thinking of doing a fiction unit.
53 I think I’ll begin with the Warren Report.
54 See you again.
55 Peace.
~H~
www.xanga.com/bharrington
The Daily News1 After watching U-Verse commercials during the entire baseball season, they told millions of customers that the Giants’ game was on channel 1112 last night. It wasn’t, even though it said it was.2 The Yankees were on. Are ya KIDDIN’ me?3 After an entire day of grading papers and sports, I wanted me some Giants’ playoffs.4 I thought of calling U-Verse, which was already on my list for masquerading as a professional company, when I decided I would probably get ridiculous service. I hit Facebook instead and got instant results. So a big thanks and shout out to everybody who informed me that where it said Law and Order in the U-Verse channel directory, it was actually the Giants’ game. Makes perfect sense to me. I missed almost two innings.5 If you are a baseball fan, you probably have certain superstitions. They’re ridiculous, I’m quite sure, but you have them. You don’t want your “chi” interrupted, because you know that if you send particles and thoughts to your team, they will pick up on it and do magic.6 I am thoroughly convinced that it wasn’t the Reds’ pitching keeping our hitters down, but the lack of public chi. Millions of viewers didn’t see the first couple of innings of an intense playoff series.7 Okay so I’m overreacting. I was all pumped up in my orange and black, and it was like a blackout. That company has already been ridiculous, disabling both my desktop AND my wireless printer.8 And now this.9 If you are thinking of going U-Verse, think twice. Bottom line. We’re sort of stuck with it for a while. I’m hoping someone does a class-action against them. We already had to call them to come out and re-hook up our bedroom.10 Go to any other company. I swear dudes.11 It’s all good. The Giants are gonna come back.12 But U-Verse.13 Major fail.14 Moving On, Part the First: Okay, I’m off my rant.15 You just don’t mess with people’s sports.16 I claim it’s “The Man.”17 Probably knew that watching this grand old movie called Good Bye, My Fancy inspired me to go back into the Kennedy case.18 The title is from this really lousy poem by Walt Whitman. I know nothing about the poem except that it is not one of Ol’ Walt’s better efforts. Pretty sappy. Same guy who wrote Leaves of Grass, which I love.19 This one, not so good. I’d print it, but some of you might run screaming, and we don’t want that.20 The movie is good though. I won’t go into all the details, but it’s theme is about how colleges can control thought, and about how brave a teacher must be to bring up really controversial issues, and how people at the top are under pressure not to bring up controversial issues.21 The movie brings up the issues of how Fascism and Communism have gone where angels fear to tread. I’m thoroughly convinced that Fascism was the great unspoken in the film, which was made in 1951. Either way, the control of the education of the people by the State was a definite theme.22 We don’t need no thought control.23 That sort of thing.24 Issues that are glaring in education to this day under the guise of “standards.”25 It also brings up the issue of how professors who were more radical in their younger days tend to sell out and do what they are told as they continue their careers.26 Sound familiar?27 As an older teacher, I see it glaring at me every day. If we stay busy and in fear of our jobs, then we must do whatever the State dictates.28 And there is no shortage of politicos who would like nothing more than to have a nation that is ignorant of its past, or of how easily entire countries have been controlled from the top. Very powerful people know this. So evidently did some OccupyOakland people this morning. This does tend to attract Marshal Law. Scary stuff all wrapped up in this little movie.29 It is called Good-Bye, My Fancy. It stars Joan Crawford and Robert Young, among others. It is based on a 1948 play by Fay Kanin.30 The major theme is not of a rekindled love story, as Wiki tries to put it, but is truly about the restriction of academic freedom, and it’s ominous danger. Wiki wants nothing to do with giving any of the plot info out, as it is clearly a warning to the world about the dangers of controlling education. Here is a somewhat convoluted plot summary, but I was into the 4 a.m. and didn’t have a lot of time to dig up a better one:31 Unfortunately I was grading papers while trying to watch the film, so I coasted over the love story. What I enjoyed was much of the dialogue, which discussed the outrage of a college trying to keep a controversial film from being shown.32 To people in 1951, who watched how easily Hitler rose to power, it was probably a tacit thing. Tacit means “understood without a word being said.” The implications of people in power controlling thought, especially at the university level, were instant, and ominous.33 In the 2012 version of education, we are being told without being told to stay busy, and that we must teach what we are told to teach. If we don’t teach what we are told to teach, the State could take us over. We are told that.34 I made a career out of bringing controversial things into the classroom, and of not sticking to teaching just the verbs and gerunds and stuff. I would use the murder of John F. Kennedy as a grand mystery that brings into question the entire issue of fiction v. non-fiction. It also gives a brief glimpse into why we are facing the issues that we are facing today. It’s a powerful unit filled with lots of facts, AND with lots of fiction.35 It isn’t that verbs and stuff like that is unimportant, but it should certainly not be to the exclusion of opening students’ eyes to the real world, and the world that they and their children and grandchildren will inherit.36 The irony of my discovery of this Goodbye, My Fancy on a Sunday morning is that I was WAY too busy with doing what I was told, and keeping all my grades and stuff in order. I didn’t hear nor see too much of the actual sub-plots, but I did see and hear the issue of the fierce dangers of thought control.37 It’s out there. Trust me. And a lot of younger teachers are being controlled through propaganda and gentle lies. We older, and yes, sometimes wiser sorts see through the control and see it as a lot of poppycock, but dangerous poppycock.38 How leftist of me.39 Or rightist. Paint me what you will.40 I just think that issues are important, and that students are aching to argue and debate. They almost sense it.41 And that people at the top understand that need, and allow it in small portions.42 But if someone tries to push the envelope, he or she can be muzzled pretty quickly.43 All of that came through as I graded papers and gave a listen to some of the dialogue of that interesting film.44 Okay, I went there.45 Moving On, Part the Second: I always felt that overusing the term “film” was sort of a stodgy thing. It is SO much better to those in the business, or who study the business than is the term “movies.” I never really understood why.46 I always thought the term “movie” was sort of charming and un-stodgy.47 I also could never call a movie, or film a “picture.” That is clearly a term for people who actually make the things, and who have been around, I suppose.48 I’m into the 4 a.m. already. I guess I’m ready to re-group.49 Hope you enjoyed this rant. It needed a LOT more research, but sorry.50 I don’t have time to research AND provide truth at the same time.51 Too busy grading papers and wondering what the next thing they are going to want us to teach will be.52 I’m thinking of doing a fiction unit.53 I think I’ll begin with the Warren Report.54 See you again.55 Peace.~H~
www.xanga.com/bharrington
