Figaro Figaro Fig-a-ro

Went to see the opera friday evening with Tisa for her birthday. It was my first experience at an opera, and it was amazing. We had the back row of the balcony seats, and the tops of the chairs in front of us were rubbing against our toes. In fact, walking to our seats, it felt like one misstep would send us tumbling over the railing and into the orchestra. But man, what an awesome experience. The opera was called Il Trittico (The Triptych), and had three different performances. The first was a love-affair-gone-wrong story, the second was a disgraced-woman-becomes-a-nun-because-she-had-an-illegitimate-child story, and the last was a farce about a rich Italian's death, directed by none other than Woody Allen.
I was surprised that they had a screen above the stage that translated most of the major lines. I was also surprised that two people saying they like to have a glass of wine after work (or some other trite statement) can sound like the most dramatic event in a lifetime. And, I was also surprised to enjoy it so much. The music was wonderful, and even sitting way up on the balcony, I felt like the seats were amazing.
Also, Woody Allen? Really funny director. The Italians were grossly following stereotypical "Italian" things. One couple kept making out on one side (his face was planted in between her bosoms), and another actor came on stage with a full mafia get-up. Really enjoyable performance all around.
One last thing I really liked about the performance was the audience's reaction. After every act, the audience would clap like it was the most amazing thing they had ever seen. It made me really glad to listen to a group of people so appreciative of an art form. For a brief moment, I was even glad to be living in L.A.

Where did my last post go?

I put up a huge post ranting and reflecting about my last week. Now it's gone. That's shitty. Shitty I google tool.

Economic Misgivings

Sort of crazy all the financial stuff in the news these last couple days. Don't really know what to make of it. AIG and Freddy Mac and Sally Mae all tanking and getting taken over by the government. Also crazy how much of it is caused by the sub-prime mortgage collapse. It freaks me out that three of the biggest private financial institutions were on the brink (or the beginning of the end) of bankruptcy. It makes me wonder if we're heading towards another depression. I'm not worried about my job or anything, but is the dollar going to just plummet as a ton of money is loaned by the government (who is just borrowing from China)? What about all that money I was saving for a down payment on a house? Perhaps I'll actually get to live my dream--scrooge mcduck's money pit, and a diving board. I think that despite the current crazyness in Iraq and all the hype over the political conventions, economic policy will be the most important issue for voters in november. Sorry to get so serious, just some thoughts. Freaky though, huh?

social darwinism, capitilism, and other bull

Was talking with Tisa today about how f'd up this country is. We have successfully developed a culture that ignores its infirm and does its damn best to sweep the elderly, the sick, and the mentally ill under the carpet. Homeless people? Not in my backyard.
Anyways, was getting pretty fired up about it and made some grandiose claims. Like it all stems from capitalism (which is pretty much an older version of the idea of social darwinism). Basically, we give individuals and companies the ability to make as much money as they want. Being fabulously, ludicrously wealthy is considered a "right" because of the "free" market. And, in order to stay on top, these same companies and individuals need to take advantage of the weak and infirm. Heck, in order to be successful, Walmart can't provide health care for their employees! Because success is measured in dollars: corporate profits and rich CEOs. What's interesting is what is not considered success in a corporation or an individual... kindness, compassion, and caring for humanity. Since we have a "right" to be rich, corporations are enabled to commit crimes against humanity... paying people less, not providing them benefits, and otherwise stiffing the working man.

Alright, call it a rant. But hey, if we really wanted our society to be socially just, why not make all companies non profits? Or even just start with the oil companies? He he he.

And while we're at it, why not do this... instead of falling for the semi-popular opinion that people are greedy, and if you give them too many opportunities, they'll just take advantage of others; why not err on the side of caring for the weak and the infirm. Provide possibilities and homes for the homeless, and help care for the poor and elderly. Sure, some people will take advantage of the system, but I'd rather see people cared for than see them left adrift by a society that views almost limitless individual or corporation wealth as success without realizing the necessity for a social contract of responsibility for the marginalized.

Was this Rousseu's idea? Locke? I don't remember. But if so, I agree with them.

F'ing Aple

Finally called my old financial aid office at LMU to discuss the application for the Aple grant -- a forgiveness program to help me pay off my loan because I teach at an urban high school. Fucking... shit. Found out that the only way to apply for the APLE grant is WHILE enrolled for the credential. So, because I didn't apply three years ago, I can't get my giant student loan forgiven at all. Really shitty. I'm really happy I decided to go to grad school at a private university, so that I could owe a bank 40 or more thousand dollars for the next thirty years of my life. Just to get a teaching credential. So, yeah, moral of the story... whoever my financial aid advisor was will be sore tomorrow.

Kelly Gallagher = Genius

Just had to say. Used some of his techniques for teaching writing today, and I'm excited by my students' work. Gave them a revision assignment, and EVERYONE got silent, totally "pimping" their writing (as I call it in class). Such a great practice, and so good for my students.

Just finished

Just finished reading David Mitchell's Number9Dream which is all one word like blood, water, and gasoline in a clearwater poem. Man, f'ing A, really good book, with only one or two parts that I was questioning as a reader. Not too into the ending, but overall really good.

It's basically about this 20 year old named Eiji in Tokyo who is searching for his father who he has never met. It blends dreams with the reality of the plot so seamlessly, at times I found myself trying to figure out if parts were just fantasy of the main character or the true story that he was living. It's fun reading such a play on reality, and every chapter has at least two "realities."

I've made my way through 3 of Mitchell's four books this year, and am really enjoying them. I'll probably read the first (last on my list), Ghostwritten at some point in the next few months. While I'm working my way in a backwards chronology of his works, I'm seeing the ideas he carried from book to book, and really digging it. Anyways, really good stuff, I highly recommend it.
I'm starting a book club at my high school for faculty; sending our the preliminary email tomorrow. I think we'll read The Book Theif, which came out sometime recently. Don't know the author, but it sounds pretty good.

Reading and Writing

So, just a quick vent for today. I spent the last few weeks reading Kelly Gallagher's Teaching Adolescent Writers. The author is pretty much THE english teacher that I wish I could be... he's really intelligent, and his books taught me more about teaching English than any of my Master's coursework. In any case, after completing the book, I am realizing one of the major faults with our system is the idea that reading and writing should both be taught in the subject called English. This is absolutely ludicrous. The two are completely different skills, and even though writing makes a person a better reader, and reading makes a person a better writer, there is no way to sufficiently teach both of these skills within a school year. I think that it would be far better to split the two, and instead of having a block class, have a different writing and reading class. Of course there would be overlap; students need to read models of what they are trying to write. And, students need to write to help process their thoughts about literature. But man, it would be phenomenal to actually divide up these skills and make them taught in separate classes in high school. Thoughts?