Saturday Night Fever

I wish I could dance like John Travolta.

Super Cool Guy

After Davidson made it into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, Stephen Curry, their amazing superstar player, got 18,000 friend requests on Facebook. OMG! I love this story.

By the way, my sophomores were featured on the WBNG broadcast on Friday night 3/28/08. It made me happy. I'm going to send them all sorts of stuff now.

YouNews TV

I am going to start uploading pictures and stories from the classroom onto YouNews TV. If you're shy, let me know. I think it will be fun; I wonder if they'll feature any of our stuff on their news broadcasts. I posted my first story this morning--it's my soophomores killing Caesar.

Smartboards

I was at a meeting last night and a suggestion was made that all classrooms at U-E should have a Smartboard. I wonder if this would be a good thing. I wonder if all teachers would use the boards. I wonder if the boards are necessary. Would it make our schools like the Jetsons? Hmmm.

Hillary and Barack

It's funny to watch Hillary and Barack pick at each other. They're like crabby 13-year-old girls spreading rumors about each other. They are certainly making things easy for McCain. In case you haven't been watching the news, Barack's longtime pastor has a problem with white people and Hillary has been mis-remembering (aka lying about) her trip to Bosnia.

Power Rangers

I watched an episode of Power Rangers recently. I didn't like it. I long for the old days with Jason, Kimberly, Zach, Trini, Billy and evil Tommy. Pudgy the Pig and Guitardo were the best villains. The original episodes have a campy quality that reminds me of old Godzilla movies. I love the blatant symbolism too. A giant pig consuming things; Green representing evil and anger; A mystical disembodied entity (Zordon) guiding children. Good stuff.

Freaky Japanese Movies

I saw Shutter yesterday afternoon. Possible morals: what goes around comes around, or don't date crazy people. I love this type of movie, not sure why. I also love zombie movies. I think I'll rent that one where all those people are stuck in a mall and the zombies are roaming around outside.

The Vestal Apocalypse

The power went out across Vestal yesterday afternoon and chaos ensued. Stores shut down; movies stopped; traffic snarled. People also got stupid. I was about to exit the Vestal Plaza when suddenly the two cars in front of me stopped. A woman got out of the first car and decided to chat with the person in the second car. As a result, the rest of us couldn't get out. People, honestly, deal with it. A little stress and all common sense goes out the window.

Anti-War Protestors

Have you seen the BU anti-war protestors on the news this week? They filed a complaint yesterday against the Vestal Police Department for using excessive and/or unnecessary force. Always remember, having the right to speak is not the same thing as having the right to be heard.

Trivia

OK. So we lost everything on the last question again last night. No biggie. That's how we play. Go big, or go home. It's the riskiest thing in my life. I don't drink; I don't smoke; I don't drive fast. I just bet everything on the last question at trivia. Woo Hoo!

Easter Boys

We don't have any special Easter traditions at our house; however, we do have some after-Easter traditions. For instance, we usually don't eat our Easter eggs. Instead, the boys huck them into the forest with their lacrosse sticks. It's so easy to make boys happy.

When Mrs. Finkelman's Mother Was Young

When Mrs. Finkelman's mother was young, you could get a live chick dyed the same color as your shoes for your Easter outfit. Upside: You looked great. Downside: The dye was toxic, and the chick died. Bummer.

March Madness

Basketball time! Woo Hoo! Go Memphis! In case you didn't know, I finished my undergraduate work at the University of Memphis. I started my undergraduate work at the University of Alaska. This is what happens when you marry the military.

Doomsday

I saw Doomsday Saturday night. My review: "Stupid, but entertaining."

The girl looks like Kate Beckinsale, but she's not. The soundtrack is a 1980's funfest: Siouxsie and The Banshees, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Fine Young Cannibals and more. The whacked out vehicles and weirdos remind me of Mad Max. The plot is nothing new. Government betrays its people; plague survivors rise from the ashes; new "tribes" behave like savages (aka "survival of the fittest"); government gets its come-uppance in the end.

I Miss My Dog

I have been dogless for nearly 3 years now. We used to have an English bulldog; his name was Oscar. This isn't Oscar, but it looks just like him. Toward the end of his life he was like an old car that just kept breaking down. He got sores on his skin; he had trouble with his hip; he couldn't walk. It was rough. I am excited about getting our new dog this spring--a newfie.

What I Know About My New Governor

He is legally blind, and he is black. I wonder if he is anything else, like, a good leader for instance.

100 Days

Only 100 days until the official start of summer (June 21, 2008)

When the Mighty Fall

Elliot Spitzer is definitely not my hero, but I'm still sad about recent events. Of course I'm sad for his wife and children as well as for the citizens of New York, but I'm also sad for me. I'm sad because I'm tired of people in positions of trust not doing the right thing. Where have all the good guys gone?

Media and Reality

What do you think about this picture?

Funny Word

I like funny sounding words. Here's one for you to incorporate into your vocabulary:

Schadenfreude (noun) - the satisfaction felt at the misfortune of others. Poor Spitzer.

Grammar #4-Subordinate Clauses

A clause is a group of words that contains a verb and its subject and is used as part of a sentence. An independent clause can stand alone. The italicized clauses in the sentence below are both independent and can stand alone.
Miss J. went to nursing school at BU, and she graduated at the top of her class.

A subordinate or dependent clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone. The italicized clauses in the sentences below are subordinate and cannot stand alone. In addition, sentence #1 has an adverbial clause and sentence #2 has an adjectival clause. Look closely at what the clauses are modifying.

Before you know it, Colin will be handing out tickets to speeders. (ex. adverbial clause)

The students who took Communications were the smartest in the school. (ex. adjectival clause)

If you feel confident that you know what's going on, then go ahead and respond to this post by giving me examples of subordinate adjectival clauses and subordinate adverbial clauses. I will be giving a mini lesson today in class so you can wait until later to post if you wish.

College

My baby got his official acceptance letter to USC on Saturday, March 8, 2008. He will be entering as a double major in computer science and business administration. He received a full academic scholarship; he is number 9 in his class at Vestal High School. I like to brag about him, but I like to brag about my students too. It's strange, but every single year I get the best students. (Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour).

Shakespeare

Did you know that Shakespeare uses the eagle as a symbol of strength and patriotism more than 30 times in his various dramas? For instance, in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar the mighty eagles abandon Brutus and Cassius as they journey toward their evil deeds. And, when the two conspirators die on the battlefield, the eagles live on. Despite the evil that overpowers certain mortals in Shakespeare's plays, the power of the human spirit always rises again.

Math and science make us smart; literature makes us wise.

Real Leaders

No grammar post today. Instead, I'm just going to think out loud about people who are in positions of power. It would be nice if people got to these positions because of talent, expertise, experience, and intellect. Sadly, there are many domains where this is simply not the case. The result is bumbling managers making agenda-driven decisions with unfortunate results. I don't want managers; I want leaders. Leaders inspire others to follow.

They're, There, and Their

While it's completely understandable if you never memorize the exact past participle or the present progressive form of "lie" or "lay," it's imperative to your happy life that you understand and internalize the meanings and uses of "there," "their," and "they're."

Their is a possessive pronoun that indicates ownership. Why did the Stellas bring their hippo to the picnic?

There is an adverb indicating location. What is B-Shaves doing over there?

They're is a contraction of they are. They're going to be surprised when they find out that Dr. Gonzo plans on removing their heads during today's surgeries in order to start a brain farm in the empty field. You know, the one over there.

*Please respond to me by using all 3 forms of the title words at least 3 times each in a lovely and exciting paragraph. I encourage exaggeration.

Stumble Upon

Check out StumbleUpon. You might get hooked. I found three crazy sites in just the last 15 minutes.

Book Mooch allows me to swap books online.
Dear Future Me allows me to send a note to myself at some future date.
Guerilla Mail allows me to get an email address that is only good for 15 minutes.

Grammar Post is below.

Lie vs. Lay

The easiest way to remember the difference is to think:

Lie=recline / After school today I am going to lie down.

Lay=set or place / Lay the book on the table.

You can also think, "People lie down; chickens lay eggs."

__________________________
*The Crazy Technical Stuff*
Tenses:



__________________________
Additional Information to Make You Extra Smart

Lie is an intransitive verb; in other words, it does not take an object.

She lies on the beach.
He lay down after school yesterday.
Have you lain down in the sun?

Lay is a transitive verb; it takes an object.

The chicken lays eggs.
The chicken laid an egg yesterday.
The chicken has laid fifteen eggs this week.

Respond to me using "lay" and "lie" in multiple tenses and forms.

Trever

Trever has a crazy fun thingy on his blog. It's in the top right corner. I did Mars Attacks.

Today is the last official day of our blogging project. You will not be required to blog beyond this point; however, you will be expected to respond to all grammar blogs. In addition, I plan on continuing my blog through the end of the year. If you plan on continuing your blog, let me know so that I can put an asterick next to your blog name on my blog page so that everybody else knows that you are still active. *Grammar blogs will continue tomorrow. Each of my postings will be worth 10 points to you. You do not necessarily have to respond on the exact day of my posting, but I expect you to keep a reasonable pace. __________________________


Final Official Posting:
I saw an ad last night for a new television show called Miss Guided. It's about a woman who becomes a guidance counselor in the same high school that she attended. She wasn't very popular in high school so now she is trying to re-live all of the things that went wrong while she was a teenager. The show is produced by Ashton Kutcher so of course it will be funny, but the premise is sad. I think there are many teachers, etc. who are guilty of this very thing. For your last post, write about high school. You can write about whatever you want. What's good. What's bad. The students. The teachers. The classes. The effect.

Good vs. Well

Good is an adjective which means that it modifies nouns.
She is a good student. (Good modifies students).
That is a good idea. (Good modifies idea).
*Good can also be used with verbs of being.
The story is good.

Well is an adverb which means that it modifies verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.
You speak English well. (Well modifies speak).
The idea went over well at the board meeting. (Well modifies went)
*Well can also be used as an adjective to mean in good health.
Are you feeling well?

*Please respond by using "good" and "well" in a sentence. By the way, I am having so much fun with grammar blogs that I have decided to do a Grammar Blog series in which you will get points for each response. I'll give you more details on Monday. Also, I have had your speech grades done for over a week. Somebody please remind me to hand them back to you.

Soldier Reminder

Sometimes it's best to have an exact strategy so that people know exactly what we need to accomplish. To that end, I have put together a list with specific items and numbers for our adopted servicemembers. I'll have it in class on Monday, but you can go ahead and commit to an item or items via this posting if you wish.

Items include: (10) Gillette Mach 3 razors, (20) Deodorant, (10) Icy Hot patches, (5) bandages, (30) travel size wet wipes, (20) toothbrushes, (20) toothpaste, (30) chapstick, (25) travel size lotion, (5) boxes ziploc bags, (any) games, (any) toys, magazines, (any) DVD's, (any) books, (10) bags beef jerkey, (30) packs gum, (40) packs candy, (10) boxes drink mix, (any) packaged snacks, (5) boxes stationery, (8) pairs girl socks, (8) facial cleansers, (8) travel size lotion for girls, (8) pairs flip flops for girls M/L, (any) beanie babies.