Many students come to me frustrated with my standing extra credit offer or unacceptable material. Here's an easy way to find some: Keep up with the news. E.g. (exempla gratis just in case you were curious) It's no secret that National Public Radio is my chosen news source, but you do not need to be an info junkie like me. Here are two blog posts/articles posted to my Facebook feed in the last two weeks. I didn't even have to listen!
Boo! Chinese and European Monsters...
Linnaeus Shlinnaeus!
So, you could follow Fox, CNN, NBC, Reuters or any other reputable news source and find stuff. Even if you don't use Facebook, you could just check every day for a news item. Another hint I'll give you is that these kinds of articles will be small, and usually off to the side instead of being the big splashy article you see when you first load the page.
Closer to home is the free weekly Independent. Here is the political cartoon from this week, oh look! A reference to Hannibal crossing the Alps. So, believe me, it's out there.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Homework for 2 November, 2010
Latin 1--Design your own Roman style tomb and remember to flip the Death figure with the Trickster figure on your project.
Latin 2--Scale wall cheat sheet.
Latin 2--Scale wall cheat sheet.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Homework for 1 November, 2010
Latin 1--Organize your notes on the fourteen dii consentes!
Also, flip the due dates for the Trickster and Death figures in your project outlines.
Latin 2--What would you have for a cheat-sheet on the wall? Third period has nouns, fifth has verbs.
Remember, you have one week from quiz passback to turn in corrections... This could save a lot of grief later on for some.
Also, flip the due dates for the Trickster and Death figures in your project outlines.
Latin 2--What would you have for a cheat-sheet on the wall? Third period has nouns, fifth has verbs.
Remember, you have one week from quiz passback to turn in corrections... This could save a lot of grief later on for some.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Homework for 26 October, 2010
First things first, the homework for tonight:
~Latin 1--Work on your second draft and make sure your notes are ready to present tomorrow
~Latin 2--Have a tentative title in mind
~Latin 3--
And now to two questions from the afternoon Latin 2s. First, Dante's question about 'How can we really know what the chicken-fried-steak is really going on in history if half the stuff doesn't exist anymore and the other half is potentially miss-copied. To wit, I present a blog entry dated 10 November, 2007 when I was still in Scotland.
"Last night I was talking to the Gypsy [my then soon-to-be fiancee] and I was complaining about how hard it is to find the sources I want. She asked a simple, innocuous question and it got me thinking; roughly it was "what is it, exactly, that you do when you are working?"
And NPR came to my rescue. Couple days back, there was an interesting story on Morning Edition where David Greene went back to a two people who had encounters with Democratic candidates in Iowa. One was a waitress and met Hillary Clinton while on shift; she mentioned that Clinton's campaign people had not left a tip that day. Fast forward through the hyper-inflated importance of the blogosphere and other pundits and you've the brewings of a fairly acrimonious story. Bear with me, this background is important. Yesterday, after watching the story take on a life of it's own, Morning Edition brought David Greene back on to try and iron out the kinks in the story. Bottom line is that the Clinton campaign said they had left a tip, $100.00 via credit card, and produced the receipts to prove it.
Now, let us say you are looking to write a chapter or article on this and it's some hundred plus years from now. But through negligence at NPR, the original story has been deleted; you've only the second story. You may or may not have access to some of the internet chatter but what you really want are the statements made by the Clinton campaign and those receipts as well as, if possible, corresponding receipts from the restaurant. What you have to do is, first, read as much of the secondary lit you can find on the Democratic primary elections of 2007/08 and see if anyone has identified these documents or other documents you've not thought of. If they have, great! You can go to that library, archive, whatever and look at them yourself. If not... Well, if it wasn't hairy enough we're about to move into Mammoth territory.
Let's just take the receipts produced by the Clinton campaign. They produced photocopies for NPR. Right there, you've two possible and identical documents. You also know that, receipts in this period, being what they are and how they are made, were not designed to be archived and will fade over time so you can be pretty confident you're not going to be looking for the originals. The photocopies then. Were they faxed? If so, there will be a copy with NPR and with the Clinton campaign. NPR’s archive was destroyed in the great Zombie Uprising of 2082 and there is little chance that document survived. Now, where are the Clinton records?
It is irrelevant whether or not Clinton actually won her bid here, it does not really change how you’re looking. If she did, it’ll probably be in her presidential library, if not, it’ll be lodged with the rest of her campaign documents. Right? No.
Library of Congress, Bill Clinton Presidential Library, some of her documents are held by her alma mater Wellesley College which, I might add, is notorious for its hard to access archives. Could they be in Iowa’s state archives, some archive of American elections established later.
You have to rely on your own body of knowledge, the knowledge of colleagues, advisers and maybe even someone you don't actually know but met at a conference and have been corresponding with professionally. Maybe, if you're very lucky, some of these archives have been indexed well, or not, and there is a list of what is there. More often than not, however, these lists will contain entries like "Documents; Clinton primary campaign; March 2007-November 2007." Are they in there? Who knows, no one has touched it in thirty years and you've got to go and find out unless you've built a rapport with that library, or a single archivist within it, who will go and check for you.
(gasp, pant wheeze) And that's just for one, single, blessedly damned piece of paper! And the above also assumes the document is A) Intact, B) Undamaged and C) Legible.
So, the long and the short of it is that I spend quite a bit of time in the library very, very frustrated. ;)"
Ok, so that was Dante's question and to answer Ian's question on 'Why six minutes and forty seconds?' An article on pecha-kucha.
~Latin 1--Work on your second draft and make sure your notes are ready to present tomorrow
~Latin 2--Have a tentative title in mind
~Latin 3--
And now to two questions from the afternoon Latin 2s. First, Dante's question about 'How can we really know what the chicken-fried-steak is really going on in history if half the stuff doesn't exist anymore and the other half is potentially miss-copied. To wit, I present a blog entry dated 10 November, 2007 when I was still in Scotland.
"Last night I was talking to the Gypsy [my then soon-to-be fiancee] and I was complaining about how hard it is to find the sources I want. She asked a simple, innocuous question and it got me thinking; roughly it was "what is it, exactly, that you do when you are working?"
And NPR came to my rescue. Couple days back, there was an interesting story on Morning Edition where David Greene went back to a two people who had encounters with Democratic candidates in Iowa. One was a waitress and met Hillary Clinton while on shift; she mentioned that Clinton's campaign people had not left a tip that day. Fast forward through the hyper-inflated importance of the blogosphere and other pundits and you've the brewings of a fairly acrimonious story. Bear with me, this background is important. Yesterday, after watching the story take on a life of it's own, Morning Edition brought David Greene back on to try and iron out the kinks in the story. Bottom line is that the Clinton campaign said they had left a tip, $100.00 via credit card, and produced the receipts to prove it.
Now, let us say you are looking to write a chapter or article on this and it's some hundred plus years from now. But through negligence at NPR, the original story has been deleted; you've only the second story. You may or may not have access to some of the internet chatter but what you really want are the statements made by the Clinton campaign and those receipts as well as, if possible, corresponding receipts from the restaurant. What you have to do is, first, read as much of the secondary lit you can find on the Democratic primary elections of 2007/08 and see if anyone has identified these documents or other documents you've not thought of. If they have, great! You can go to that library, archive, whatever and look at them yourself. If not... Well, if it wasn't hairy enough we're about to move into Mammoth territory.
Let's just take the receipts produced by the Clinton campaign. They produced photocopies for NPR. Right there, you've two possible and identical documents. You also know that, receipts in this period, being what they are and how they are made, were not designed to be archived and will fade over time so you can be pretty confident you're not going to be looking for the originals. The photocopies then. Were they faxed? If so, there will be a copy with NPR and with the Clinton campaign. NPR’s archive was destroyed in the great Zombie Uprising of 2082 and there is little chance that document survived. Now, where are the Clinton records?
It is irrelevant whether or not Clinton actually won her bid here, it does not really change how you’re looking. If she did, it’ll probably be in her presidential library, if not, it’ll be lodged with the rest of her campaign documents. Right? No.
Library of Congress, Bill Clinton Presidential Library, some of her documents are held by her alma mater Wellesley College which, I might add, is notorious for its hard to access archives. Could they be in Iowa’s state archives, some archive of American elections established later.
You have to rely on your own body of knowledge, the knowledge of colleagues, advisers and maybe even someone you don't actually know but met at a conference and have been corresponding with professionally. Maybe, if you're very lucky, some of these archives have been indexed well, or not, and there is a list of what is there. More often than not, however, these lists will contain entries like "Documents; Clinton primary campaign; March 2007-November 2007." Are they in there? Who knows, no one has touched it in thirty years and you've got to go and find out unless you've built a rapport with that library, or a single archivist within it, who will go and check for you.
(gasp, pant wheeze) And that's just for one, single, blessedly damned piece of paper! And the above also assumes the document is A) Intact, B) Undamaged and C) Legible.
So, the long and the short of it is that I spend quite a bit of time in the library very, very frustrated. ;)"
Ok, so that was Dante's question and to answer Ian's question on 'Why six minutes and forty seconds?' An article on pecha-kucha.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Trying again
So, I'd given up on John Banville's The Infinities over the summer. Very dense, very British... Very much in need of an English prof to stand over you as you read it. As a Latin teacher, I'm only catching the Classical references (e.g. the young wife pursued by Zeus is an actress playing Alcemene in a play called Amphitrion)... But I am trying it again now that Fall Break has given me the time.
On this subject, then, let me offer some foreshadowing of next quarter's coached project for the Latin 2 students: Read a book. Yup. That's all you'll have to do... Really. ;)
On this subject, then, let me offer some foreshadowing of next quarter's coached project for the Latin 2 students: Read a book. Yup. That's all you'll have to do... Really. ;)
Monday, October 18, 2010
Free advertising
My wife and I were out driving yesterday and we say a sign in front of Red Robin advertising the, and I'm really not kidding here, Mt. Olympus Burger. Yea.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Homework for 12 October, 2010
Latin 1--Fully decline "Puer"
Latin 2--Fully conjugate and translate "cogitare" in the passive voice
Remember, while we do not have a quiz on Friday, I will be checking composition books one more time before the end of the quarter. Friday is also the last day you can turn in extra credit!
Latin 2--Fully conjugate and translate "cogitare" in the passive voice
Remember, while we do not have a quiz on Friday, I will be checking composition books one more time before the end of the quarter. Friday is also the last day you can turn in extra credit!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Homework for 11 October, 2010
Latin 1--Fully decline "Animus"
Latin 2--Fully conjugate and translate "dolere" in the passive voice
Latin 3--Solve the problem of the first two lines...
And for Andrew, here is the question I sent my sister: "So, a student asked me a question: do any languages actually "speak backwards?" He thought Japanese might and I don't know... But I do have a sister fluent in it! ;)" And her response: "I'm not so sure it's backwards. If you say "I'm going to the store" you say: "store going" so the verb is at the end of the sentence, but it doesn't seem very backwards to me... In English you could also say: To the store, I go! or go I. So English is the weird one."
Latin 2--Fully conjugate and translate "dolere" in the passive voice
Latin 3--Solve the problem of the first two lines...
And for Andrew, here is the question I sent my sister: "So, a student asked me a question: do any languages actually "speak backwards?" He thought Japanese might and I don't know... But I do have a sister fluent in it! ;)" And her response: "I'm not so sure it's backwards. If you say "I'm going to the store" you say: "store going" so the verb is at the end of the sentence, but it doesn't seem very backwards to me... In English you could also say: To the store, I go! or go I. So English is the weird one."
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Homework for 7 October, 2010
Latin 1--Quiz! Comosition books due and ruler myth second draft.
Latin 2 and 3--Bring your composition books, I will be grading them as you use your notes on the quiz! Yes, your quiz is open note and, no, you may not look at the book beforehand.
Latin 2 and 3--Bring your composition books, I will be grading them as you use your notes on the quiz! Yes, your quiz is open note and, no, you may not look at the book beforehand.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Homework for 5 October, 2010
Latin 1--Fully conjugate and translate the verb "Videre"
Latin 2--Fully decline and translate the noun "Venenum"
Latin 3--Clean up what translation you have and prep it for tomorrow.
And speaking of Latin 3, here is the world premier of their translation for the opening lines of Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat:
"Sol non luxit,
Erat ludere uvidior.
Sic casa sedimus
Totum illud dies algor."
Monday, October 4, 2010
Homework for 4 October, 2010
Latin 1--Quiz corrections
Latin 2--Study the new neuter nouns
Latin 3--Take it easy, we're only halfway done with that page...
A reminder to you all as we come up to the end of the quarter: All missing work can still be turned in for some credit!
Latin 2--Study the new neuter nouns
Latin 3--Take it easy, we're only halfway done with that page...
A reminder to you all as we come up to the end of the quarter: All missing work can still be turned in for some credit!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Homework for 29 September, 2010
Latin 1--"Quodmodo te vocant?" Be prepared to answer in Latin.
Latin 2--Compare the two Lucillae. Which do you think is more accurate to the historical woman?
Latin 3--Compare the two Commodii with specific focus on morality. Does Commodus fulfill any of our Roman virtues? Or does he, as he says in Gladiator, have "other virtues."
Latin 2--Compare the two Lucillae. Which do you think is more accurate to the historical woman?
Latin 3--Compare the two Commodii with specific focus on morality. Does Commodus fulfill any of our Roman virtues? Or does he, as he says in Gladiator, have "other virtues."
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Homework 28 September 2010
Latin 1--Conjugate "Habere" and translate.
Latin 2--Compare the two Marci Aurilii from Fall and Gladiator, or, to quote Chloe, "compare the stuff and yea."
Latin 3--Compare Lucilla in the two films and compare to this general description of her from Wikipedia.
And photos from the creation of the values wall are up on Facebook, thank you Chaira!
Latin 2--Compare the two Marci Aurilii from Fall and Gladiator, or, to quote Chloe, "compare the stuff and yea."
Latin 3--Compare Lucilla in the two films and compare to this general description of her from Wikipedia.
And photos from the creation of the values wall are up on Facebook, thank you Chaira!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Homework 27 September 2010
Homework for Latin 1 is to work on your rough draft, homework for Latin 2 is to work on your Latin name and Latin 3 needs to consider the three Marci Aurilii.
The Return of Odysseus by George Bilgere
When Odysseus finally does get home
he is understandably upset about the suitors,
who have been mooching off his wife for twenty years,
drinking his wine, eating his mutton, etc.
In a similar situation today he would seek legal counsel.
But those were different times. With the help
of his son Telemachus he slaughters roughly
one hundred and ten suitors
and quite a number of young ladies,
although in view of their behavior
I use the term loosely. Rivers of blood
course across the palace floor.
I too have come home in a bad mood.
Yesterday, for instance, after the department meeting,
when I ended up losing my choice parking spot
behind the library to the new provost.
I slammed the door. I threw down my book bag
in this particular way I have perfected over the years
that lets my wife understand
the contempt I have for my enemies,
which is prodigious. And then with great skill
she built a gin and tonic
that would have pleased the very gods,
and with epic patience she listened
as I told her of my wrath, and of what I intended to do
to so-and-so, and also to what's-his-name.
And then there was another gin and tonic
and presently my wrath abated and was forgotten,
and peace came to reign once more
in the great halls and courtyards of my house.
From today's Writer's Almanac.
he is understandably upset about the suitors,
who have been mooching off his wife for twenty years,
drinking his wine, eating his mutton, etc.
In a similar situation today he would seek legal counsel.
But those were different times. With the help
of his son Telemachus he slaughters roughly
one hundred and ten suitors
and quite a number of young ladies,
although in view of their behavior
I use the term loosely. Rivers of blood
course across the palace floor.
I too have come home in a bad mood.
Yesterday, for instance, after the department meeting,
when I ended up losing my choice parking spot
behind the library to the new provost.
I slammed the door. I threw down my book bag
in this particular way I have perfected over the years
that lets my wife understand
the contempt I have for my enemies,
which is prodigious. And then with great skill
she built a gin and tonic
that would have pleased the very gods,
and with epic patience she listened
as I told her of my wrath, and of what I intended to do
to so-and-so, and also to what's-his-name.
And then there was another gin and tonic
and presently my wrath abated and was forgotten,
and peace came to reign once more
in the great halls and courtyards of my house.
From today's Writer's Almanac.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Homework 23 September 2010
Latin 1: Composition notebooks and your second drafts (with rough drafts for comparison).
Latin 2: Consider what happened today... And be ready to discuss.
Latin 3: Quiz!
Latin 2: Consider what happened today... And be ready to discuss.
Latin 3: Quiz!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Homework 22 September 2010
Latin 1 and Latin 2 have their weekly quiz tomorrow but composition books are still not due until Friday. And speaking of Friday, Latin 1 has the Creation Myth second draft due. Latin 3 needs to be ready to draw on the wall...
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Homework 21 September 2010
Latin 1: Formulate a complete Latin sentence.
Latin 2: Select one reason for the fall of Rome and prepare to defend. If you need to reference more information in preparation, you can start with the Wikipedia entry I adapted the reading from.
And here's the quote just for Robert: "Give me an underground lair, half a dozen atom smashers and a beautiful girl in a diaphanous veil willing to be transformed into a chimpanzee and I care not who writes the nations laws."--S.J. Pearlman
Also, remember the quiz is coming sooner than usual this week due to seminar. Thursday, not Friday, for Latin 1 and 2.
Apropos of nothing, Ms. Richardson (remember her?) has asked me to share her blog so that those of you interested may follow her ongoing adventures in progressive belly enhancement.
Latin 2: Select one reason for the fall of Rome and prepare to defend. If you need to reference more information in preparation, you can start with the Wikipedia entry I adapted the reading from.
And here's the quote just for Robert: "Give me an underground lair, half a dozen atom smashers and a beautiful girl in a diaphanous veil willing to be transformed into a chimpanzee and I care not who writes the nations laws."--S.J. Pearlman
Also, remember the quiz is coming sooner than usual this week due to seminar. Thursday, not Friday, for Latin 1 and 2.
Apropos of nothing, Ms. Richardson (remember her?) has asked me to share her blog so that those of you interested may follow her ongoing adventures in progressive belly enhancement.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Homework 20 September 2010
Latin 1: Work on turning your rough draft into a second draft for Friday.
Latin 2: Prepare an answer to the question "Why did the Roman Empire fall?"
Latin 2: Prepare an answer to the question "Why did the Roman Empire fall?"
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Catching up
So, I was out sick yesterday (hence the lack of updates) but I was able to catch up on my podcasts. Heard a nifty bit on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me about how Chicagoans should just re-name the position of mayor "the Daley" like "Caesar" and that the Daley might be elected by all the political bosses, gangsters, etc. like the Pope is elected. "Habemus mayor!" so it was said. ;)
Anyway, homework for tonight is relatively simple. Latin 1 has to fully conjugate "portare" and translate each resulting form. Latin 2 has presentations tomorrow.
Anyway, homework for tonight is relatively simple. Latin 1 has to fully conjugate "portare" and translate each resulting form. Latin 2 has presentations tomorrow.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Homework: 8 September, 2010
Homework for Latin 1: Practice greetings for tomorrow
Homework for Latin 2: Translate "The brown dog swims in the blues waves" for tomorrow. If you need a dictionary, please reference William Whitaker's Words. But be careful. You will still need to morph the word to the sentence's needs.
Homework for Latin 3: Select a song and bring the lyrics for translation tomorrow.
And finally, a link to editorial we read/listen to in class. Y'know. In case you have a mighty need to read it again.
Homework for Latin 2: Translate "The brown dog swims in the blues waves" for tomorrow. If you need a dictionary, please reference William Whitaker's Words. But be careful. You will still need to morph the word to the sentence's needs.
Homework for Latin 3: Select a song and bring the lyrics for translation tomorrow.
And finally, a link to editorial we read/listen to in class. Y'know. In case you have a mighty need to read it again.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Homework: 7 September, 2010
Homework for Latin 1: What does your name mean and where does it come from?
Homework for Latin 2: Fully decline "Lupus, lupi" (m).
Homework from Latin 3: Recover from Winnie ille Pu.
Homework for Latin 2: Fully decline "Lupus, lupi" (m).
Homework from Latin 3: Recover from Winnie ille Pu.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Old is the new new
So, I've been reading the latest book by Frances Mayes (she of the Tuscan Sun) and she frequently mentions the Etruscan and Roman infrastructure she and other Tuscan residents still utilize. Can you imagine, for example, people still traveling down the quaint old road of I-40 in some thousand years?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Fencing club info
Several fencing students were asking me about getting their own gear... I didn't have a catalog handy, so the next best thing is to shamelessly post it here. I have always gone with Triplette Competition Arms out of Elkin NC but feel free to do your own searching.
Homework: 1 September, 2010
All Latin levels need to review their vocabulary to date.
Also, I will NOT be in for tutoring tomorrow (Thursday) after school. If you need some help with the Friday quiz or quiz corrections, please make a point of seeing me at lunch.
Also, I will NOT be in for tutoring tomorrow (Thursday) after school. If you need some help with the Friday quiz or quiz corrections, please make a point of seeing me at lunch.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Homework: 30 August, 2010
Only homework for tonight is to get your contact form filled out. Siblings may turn in one for both.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Quiz and composition reminder
Remember, tomorrow is Friday. All Latin classes have a quiz and your composition-notes-homework-book is due!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Homework: 25 August, 2010
Homework for Latin 1: Brainstorm as many Greek and Roman deities and/or Titans as you can.
Homework for Latin 2 and 3: Plug in figures such as the censors into the social hierarchy.
Tomorrow, we will review for Friday's quiz. I will be available at lunch and after school for extra help should you need it.
Homework for Latin 2 and 3: Plug in figures such as the censors into the social hierarchy.
Tomorrow, we will review for Friday's quiz. I will be available at lunch and after school for extra help should you need it.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Homework: 24 August, 2010
Homework for Latin 1: Review timeline
Homework for Latin 2: Prepare the turkey translation which we did not get to today
Homework for Latin 3: Check out the following two dictionaries: Lewis and Short and William Whitaker's Words
Homework for Latin 2: Prepare the turkey translation which we did not get to today
Homework for Latin 3: Check out the following two dictionaries: Lewis and Short and William Whitaker's Words
Monday, August 23, 2010
Homework: 23 August, 2010
Homework for Latin 1: Review pronunciation.
Homework for Latin 2: Work over turkey translation for first thing tomorrow.
Homework for Latin 3: Work over 3:1-7 translation for tomorrow.
Homework for Latin 2: Work over turkey translation for first thing tomorrow.
Homework for Latin 3: Work over 3:1-7 translation for tomorrow.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
New room!
The languages are on the move! Both Spanish and Latin are moving to the Annex. Bigger room I am told... If anyone cares to help me move le stuff tomorrow, I would appreciate it.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
30 Rock
So, I don't watch 30 Rock but when I've seen it, I've liked it. My wife and I were on the plane from Portland to Atlanta last night and an episode comes on after the movie... And there's an exchange where two character speak Latin to each other. :)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Beeware
So, we had another couple over tonight and in the chit-chat about gardening the subject of beekeeping came up. Why do I bother telling you this? Because one member of this couple is another Latin teacher and he told us that we need to watch out for rhododendrons. Why? Well, apparently, when bees make honey from rhododendrons it is poisonous. And how does he know this?
Because that was a guerrilla tactic used against the Romans. ;)
Because that was a guerrilla tactic used against the Romans. ;)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Cotidianus Ostendus cum Joanne Cellario
That's the Daily Show with John Stewart (in case you were curious). So, believe it or not, I am telling you to go watch television. Tonight's guest on the Daily Show will be the historian Robert O'Connell who (aside from having the Irish version of my own last name) has recently published a book on Hannibal's campaign in Italy. I've mentioned this book before since he popped up on NPR a few weeks back, but I can't wait to see Stewart discuss Roman history. Yea. I'm a geek.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
What do you think?
I was listening to the radio this morning and they were talking about Comic Con. The interviewee stated that the likes of Batman, Superman, Capt. America, Et-Menera are the "Herculeses and King Arthurs"of modern America. I am curious what y'all think about this statement. Espetially interested if you were in 7th grade at Kestrel and had to do Mr. Wong's comic book project.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Agamemnon in Abergavenny
A Facebook album of a production of Agamemnon at the castle grounds in Abergavenny, Wales. Friend of mine took the pictures and I think the stage/costumes are really well done for a Greek-style play. Don't worry, there's no image of the scene with Clytemnestra and the labrys...
Oh no! I posted this onto the Facebook wall, but forgot to crosspost it here. Ah well, here is the promised link to the York Archeological Trust's website on the skeletons. Do you remember? Yea, last week of classes, I understand.
They found these skeletons and there's some dispute about what happened... Gladiators? Executed? Military? The Trust is soliciting opinions from the public and providing as much information as they can. It's up to you.
They found these skeletons and there's some dispute about what happened... Gladiators? Executed? Military? The Trust is soliciting opinions from the public and providing as much information as they can. It's up to you.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Elephants in the underground
So, I listen to the radio a lot during the summer and there were two interesting reports on WUNC today.
First was on NPR's Talk of the Nation, about a new book on Hannibal and the war with Rome. The author has a good turn of phrase ("the problem with panzer pachyderms") and he made some really elegant points about why this is relevant to us today. He pointed out that because Rome all but abandoned the survivors of the first clash with Hannibal, the Roman legions became more and more distrustful of the Republic in favor of their own generals. Find a charismatic general like Caesar and... Say hello to my little empire.
Second, was on PRI/BBC's the World and covered the Catacombs of Paris... Yea, ok, it's not strictly about the Roman aspects... But, still, it's a really cool report.
First was on NPR's Talk of the Nation, about a new book on Hannibal and the war with Rome. The author has a good turn of phrase ("the problem with panzer pachyderms") and he made some really elegant points about why this is relevant to us today. He pointed out that because Rome all but abandoned the survivors of the first clash with Hannibal, the Roman legions became more and more distrustful of the Republic in favor of their own generals. Find a charismatic general like Caesar and... Say hello to my little empire.
Second, was on PRI/BBC's the World and covered the Catacombs of Paris... Yea, ok, it's not strictly about the Roman aspects... But, still, it's a really cool report.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Happy birthday...
... to Julius Caesar. From the Writer's Almanac: "...born in Rome around 100 B.C. He came from an aristocratic family that traced its lineage back to the goddess Venus, but by the time he was born, his parents weren't rich or even distinguished. And so it was rather ambitious of him to try to become a Roman politician, at a time when it was almost a requirement for all politicians to come from powerful families.
In the last years of his life, Caesar was appointed absolute dictator of Rome. He had ambitious plans to redistribute wealth and land, and he began planning public works and an invasion of Germany. But a group of senators, led by Brutus and Cassius, wanted to bring back the old republic. So they organized an assassination on the steps of the Senate. Caesar died from over 20 stab wounds.
Julius Caesar said, "Which death is preferably to every other? The unexpected.""
In the last years of his life, Caesar was appointed absolute dictator of Rome. He had ambitious plans to redistribute wealth and land, and he began planning public works and an invasion of Germany. But a group of senators, led by Brutus and Cassius, wanted to bring back the old republic. So they organized an assassination on the steps of the Senate. Caesar died from over 20 stab wounds.
Julius Caesar said, "Which death is preferably to every other? The unexpected.""
Friday, July 9, 2010
52, 000 Roman coins
How would you like to be the guy who found this stash?
The time-lapse video gives you an impression of how freaking much there was to be found, but also the tedium of an archeological excavation.
The time-lapse video gives you an impression of how freaking much there was to be found, but also the tedium of an archeological excavation.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Rome is falling! Again!
A NYT article on how Rome is abusing its monuments... Timely, since we in NC have started to lose some of our own through neglect. And yet, there's an exhibit on at the NC History Museum about a black artisan named Thomas Day. This man worked for the great and the good before the Civil War AND made a good living at it AND was respected in the community--enough that they bought his shop when he went bankrupt--but they only have gotten around to restoring his shop and collecting some of his work now.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Um, excuse me waiter... There's music in my Plato.
I heard this NPR report from a few days ago while catching up on my podcasts, and I must confess that I am both impressed and suspicious. I am not a fan of finding hidden messages in ancient texts but this one seems on the up and up. Plato did have to hide things--even from his own students and followers--and was often on the run from the Athenian authorities for his teachings. It is not that far fetched to posit that he deliberately placed coded musical scales in his work.
Now, if they manage to pull off something similar with my boy Aristotle, I'll be impressed. ;)
Now, if they manage to pull off something similar with my boy Aristotle, I'll be impressed. ;)
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Gladiatrix
They, and by 'they' I mean a bunch of people up to their armpits in Hereford mud, have found a very interesting grave. Check it out.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
What's in a name?
Hey, been a few days, I hope that all of you are having an enjoyable summer. Wanted to share a tidbit with you; y'know how I'm always trying to caution against over reliance on spellcheckers? Well, it's got a name! Yes, the technical term for a spellchecker replacing a misspelt word with another (usually inappropriate). It's called "the Cupertino Effect" and it's got an interesting history.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Funny thing...
Carolina Theater has A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to the Forum listed in the coming soon... If you've not seen this, trust me, it captures more than any other movie, the bawdy and zany humor of Roman comedy.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Some World Cup fun...
Singular Plural
N. vuvuzela vuvuzelae
G. vuvuzelae vuvuzelarum
D. vuvuzelae vuvuzelis
Ac. vuvuzelam vuvuzelas
Ab. vuvuzela vuvuzelis
Summer has officially begun and I have officially gone off the deep end.
N. vuvuzela vuvuzelae
G. vuvuzelae vuvuzelarum
D. vuvuzelae vuvuzelis
Ac. vuvuzelam vuvuzelas
Ab. vuvuzela vuvuzelis
Summer has officially begun and I have officially gone off the deep end.
Friday, June 18, 2010
The End of (work)Days
We just wrapped up the last official workday of the year. Technically, I don't have to be back at Kestrel until August... But let's face it. I have no life. ;) So drop in and you may find me working the room over, hiding from the YMCA or actually planning for the Fall.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The Infinities by John Banville
I picked up The Infinities for a couple reasons: first, it might serve as a read-aloud or optional reading next year and second, I wanted to read something recreational dangit. In short, the story is set in an English manor house where the patriarch, a famous mathematician, lays dying. The wife and adult children deal with the implications, etc, while Hermes looks on (narrating) and Zeus pursues the oldest son's wife.
I'm about a quarter of the way through and... Well, there's some NSFW material. Nothing explicit, but let's face it. It's Zeus. :\ So, not a read-aloud. It's also very, very British. A lot of internal meanderings, slower pace, etc. As I read, I imagine the Masterpiece Theater rendering on PBS.
I'm about a quarter of the way through and... Well, there's some NSFW material. Nothing explicit, but let's face it. It's Zeus. :\ So, not a read-aloud. It's also very, very British. A lot of internal meanderings, slower pace, etc. As I read, I imagine the Masterpiece Theater rendering on PBS.
The Goddess Suite
The Goddess Suite is "an ode to the female experience and a celebration of the spirit of womanhood" using the voices of Greek goddesses. It was composed in 1986 but will be preformed four times this summer around Chapel Hill and Durham. You can find the official website, dates and locations here and if you want to listen to it, they have some free clips too. Also, the composer and one of the producers will be interviewed on WUNC at noon today.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Last minute extra credit
No, I am not done entering grades and, yes, I have been accepting some last minute extra credit. A couple of examples from my inbox this morning:
1. Mysterious altar found in Roman fort. Ooo... Spooky... Ok, not really, but pretty cool when you think that Gauls based in northern England were grooving to a deity from central Asia. It's easy to forget how cosmopolitan the Empire was.
2. Making Ireland Roman. A book review blog post on a scholarly book. Granted, there are more exciting items out there for your summer reading, but consider this statistic the author cites, "Around 1,000 printed books in Latin were written by Irish authors between 1490 and 1750..." May not sound like a lot now but... Ven did Herr Gutenberg beginz hiz printingz? Ja. Iz veeery interesting.
1. Mysterious altar found in Roman fort. Ooo... Spooky... Ok, not really, but pretty cool when you think that Gauls based in northern England were grooving to a deity from central Asia. It's easy to forget how cosmopolitan the Empire was.
2. Making Ireland Roman. A book review blog post on a scholarly book. Granted, there are more exciting items out there for your summer reading, but consider this statistic the author cites, "Around 1,000 printed books in Latin were written by Irish authors between 1490 and 1750..." May not sound like a lot now but... Ven did Herr Gutenberg beginz hiz printingz? Ja. Iz veeery interesting.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Facebooking across the universe
I've been going back and forth about page versus group versus community page etcetera, etcetera, etcetera... But I opted for the generic page and, well, here it is. Any posts here will cross-post to the Facebook page, so you can like it there and just watch the feed through your Facebook account.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Sword and Sandals
Two reports from NPR (my weekends are very dull you know) which I heard; the first concerns the rash of movies this year from the so-called "sword and sandal" genre. They look back at the classics of the genre (Ben Hur and Spartacus) and have some fun with the not-so-classics (Son of Hercules). If you listen to the report or read the transcript, they also discuss a movie not mentioned in the write up, Agora, with Rachel Weisz.
The second, asks the provocative question: "Were Botticelli's Venus and Mars Stoned?" 'Nuff said really. I'm curious though, what do some of you think about the evidence Bellingham presents?
The second, asks the provocative question: "Were Botticelli's Venus and Mars Stoned?" 'Nuff said really. I'm curious though, what do some of you think about the evidence Bellingham presents?
Friday, June 11, 2010
Cleopatra’s Underwater Kingdom
So, while we wrap up the last day of the year, I wanted to share an extra-credit assignment which a student turned in. “Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt,” at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, reviewed by Edward Rothstine of the New York Times. If you find yourself traveling to Philadelphia this summer, you might want to check it out.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
"Amo, Amas" by John O'Keefe
Amo, Amas, I love a lass
As a cedar tall and slender;
Sweet cowslip's grace is her nominative case,
And she's of the feminine gender.
Rorum, Corum, sunt divorum,
Harum, Scarum divo;
Tag-rag, merry-derry, periwig and hat-band
Hic hoc horum genitivo.
Can I decline a Nymph divine?
Her voice as a flute is dulcis.
Her oculus bright, her manus white,
And soft, when I tacto, her pulse is.
Rorum, Corum, sunt divorum,
Harum, Scarum divo;
Tag-rag, merry-derry, periwig and hat-band
Hic hoc horum genitivo.
Oh, how bella my puella,
I'll kiss secula seculorum.
If I've luck, sir, she's my uxor,
O dies benedictorum.
Rorum, Corum, sunt divorum,
Harum, Scarum divo;
Tag-rag, merry-derry, periwig and hat-band
Hic hoc horum genitivo.
John O'Keefe (1747 – 1833). I heard this on the radio late last month and though I've shared it with a couple classes, I want to share it here.
As a cedar tall and slender;
Sweet cowslip's grace is her nominative case,
And she's of the feminine gender.
Rorum, Corum, sunt divorum,
Harum, Scarum divo;
Tag-rag, merry-derry, periwig and hat-band
Hic hoc horum genitivo.
Can I decline a Nymph divine?
Her voice as a flute is dulcis.
Her oculus bright, her manus white,
And soft, when I tacto, her pulse is.
Rorum, Corum, sunt divorum,
Harum, Scarum divo;
Tag-rag, merry-derry, periwig and hat-band
Hic hoc horum genitivo.
Oh, how bella my puella,
I'll kiss secula seculorum.
If I've luck, sir, she's my uxor,
O dies benedictorum.
Rorum, Corum, sunt divorum,
Harum, Scarum divo;
Tag-rag, merry-derry, periwig and hat-band
Hic hoc horum genitivo.
John O'Keefe (1747 – 1833). I heard this on the radio late last month and though I've shared it with a couple classes, I want to share it here.
First post!
Here it is ladies and gentle-Kestrels, the first post of the new KHS Latin blog. The year is almost over and I hope that you will come by from time to time and see what I'm planning (and what I'm posting).
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