Here's an extra credit opportunity for you:  

Go to the Third Annual Millennium High School Film Festival, watch the films (there are nine, each approximately six minutes in length), and write a page on which one should have won the Jade Tiger (Best Picture) award.  

The film festival is in the Auditorium on Friday, April 27th, from 6:30-9:00p.m.  Admission is $5.

Be there!
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Big extra credit opportunity.  National Public Radio (NPR) has a recurring contest called Three-minute Fiction, and you can earn extra credit by writing a story to submit to the contest.  Your story, part of Round 8, will be judged by Luis Alberto Urrea, Pulitzer Prize-nominated non-fiction writer.  Rules:

1.  It must contain fewer than 600 words.
2.  It must start with this sentence:  "She closed the book, placed it on the 
      table, and finally, decided to walk through the door."  

To earn extra credit, you must write the story, submit it to NPR, and give me both a paper copy of your story and printed confirmation of your submission to NPR.
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Check-in! 01/09/2012
 
Please fill out this form.  It's your first homework assignment!  Well, one of them.  The other two are to get your syllabus signed and to bring in a notebook or binder.  All of this is due on Friday.
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What Annoys Us. 05/19/2011
 
Have you ever been annoyed by something -- even something that you know, intellectually, you shouldn't be annoyed by -- and not known why?  Well, some people did some studies and figured it out, at least in some cases.  It's a cliche, but I'm going to use it:  The results may surprise you! Just read this article from NPR and answer the following questions:

Questions:
1.  What surprised you in this article about why we supposedly find 
     things -- like people talking on their cell phones or nails on a 
     chalkboard -- annoying?  
2.  What kinds of things are you particularly annoyed by?  Why do you feel 
     like those things are so annoying to you?
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This was the song that got them their start in the early 1990s.  It's from the point-of-view of Brian Wilson, the lead singer of the popular 60s group The Beach Boys.  It's called, unsurprisingly then, "Brian Wilson."

Drove downtown in the rain nine-thirty on a Tuesday night,
just to check out the late-night record shop.
Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane;
but when I'm surrounded I just can't stop.

It's a matter of instinct, it's a matter of conditioning,
It's a matter of fact.
You can call me Pavlov's dog
Ring a bell and I'll salivate- how'd you like that?
Dr. Landy tell me you're not just a pedagogue,
cause right now I'm 
Lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did
Well I'm lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did.

So I'm lying here, just staring at the ceiling tiles.
and I'm thinking about what to think about.
Just listening and relistening to Smiley Smile,
and I'm wondering if this is some kind of creative drought
because I am

Lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did
Well I'm lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did.

And if you want to find me I'll be out in the sandbox,
wondering where the hell all the love has gone.
Playing my guitar and building castles in the sun,
and singing "Fun, Fun, Fun."

Lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did
Well I'm lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did.

I had a dream that I was three hundred pounds
and though I was very heavy, 
I floated 'til I couldn't see the ground
I floated 'til I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me, I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me, I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me because I'm

Lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did
Well I'm lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did.

Drove downtown in the rain nine-thirty on a Tuesday night.
Just to check out the late-night record shop.
Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane;
but when I'm surrounded I just can't stop.

Questions:
1.  What do you think of this one?
2.  What does Brian Wilson seem to struggling with here?  How can you 
     tell?  
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This one's vintage Barenaked Ladies:  It's about a break-up, from the point-of-view of the person doing the breaking-up.  I've given you a live version (as I did with the last song) since the emotion comes through much better in it.  Again, lyrics and questions, followed by video:

The bravest thing I've ever done
Was to run away and hide
But not this time, not this time
And the weakest thing I've ever done
Was to stay right by your side
Just like this time, and every time
I couldn't tell you I was happy when you were gone
So I lied and said that I missed you when we were apart
I couldn't tell you, so I had to lead you on
But I didn't mean to break your heart

And if I always seem distracted
Like my minds somewhere else
That's because it's true, yes it's true
it's this stupid pride that makes me feel
Like I have to follow through
Even half-assedly loving you
Why must I always speak in terms of cowardice?
When I guess I should have just come out and told you right from the start
Why must I always tell you all I want is this?
I guess 'cause I didn't want to break your heart

And you said
What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Curl up and die just because of you?
I'm not that weak, you know
What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Try to make you love me as much as I love you?
How could you be so low?
You arrogant man,
What do you think that I am?
My heart will be fine
Just stop wasting my time

And now I'm over you, I'll be OK,
and that I've got what I want,
and that's rid of you
Goodbye
And it's not 'cause I'll be missing you
That makes me fall apart
It's just that I didn't mean to break
No I didn't mean to break
No I didn't mean to break
Your heart 

Questions:
1.  What do you think of this one?
2.  Usually, we're meant to empathize with the person singing the song.  
     Do you empathize with the singer in this case?  Why (not)?  (Use a lyric 
     from the song to back up your answer for this one.)
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I'm sitting at home, grading, and feeling nostalgic.  See, my favorite band used to be Barenaked Ladies (they're actually how my wife and I met, so I'll always have something of a soft spot for them).  They used to be good, but now they're getting a little old and are, with their most recent album, completing their slide into the Adult Contemporary genre.  In addition, they lost their talent, brilliant lyricist and best-voice-in-rock Steven Page, who jumped ship before they were lost beneath the waves.  Either way, since you need some extra credit, here's the first in a series -- which I'm calling "The End-of-Year Extra Credit Dump" -- of three songs, all by the aforementioned band.  It's called "Call and Answer."  Lyrics and questions below, followed by the song.

I think it's getting to the point where I can be myself again
I think it's getting to the point where we have almost made amends
I think it's the getting to the point that is the hardest part

And if you call, I will answer
And if you fall, I'll pick you up
And if you court this disaster
I'll point you home
I'll point you home

You think I only think about you when we're both in the same room
You think I'm only here to witness the remains of love exhumed
You think we're here to play a game of who loves more than whom

And if you call, I will answer
And if you fall, I'll pick you up
And if you court this disaster...

You think it's only fair to do what's best for you and you alone
You think it's only fair to do the same to me when you're not home
I think it's time to make this something that is more than only fair

So if you call, I will answer
And if you fall, I'll pick you up
And if you court this disaster
I'll point you home

But I'm warning you
Don't ever do
Those crazy messed up things that you do
If you ever do, I promise you
I'll be the first to crucify you
Now, it's time to prove
That you've come back here
To rebuild
Rebuild
Rebuild...

Questions:  
1.  What do you think of it?  
2.  The song on its surface seems to be about forgiveness.  In what way(s) 
     is it more complicated than that?  
3.  Is this a realistic depiction of a relationship?  Why (not)?

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Picture
Meet Freeway Rick.  He used to be one of L.A.'s wealthiest and most active drug dealers.  He was very good at his job, at one point having $3 million pass through his hands on a single day.

According to several new studies, several positive things -- mostly crime would go down -- would happen if we legalized drugs.  NPR sat down with Freeway Rick to run these studies' findings past him, and they all jibe perfectly with his experience.  

Questions:
1.  What does Freeway Rick say about why he (and others) would want to 
     deal drugs?  What do you think about this?  Why?
2.  What positive things would happen if we were to legalize drugs?  What 
     negative things would happen?  
3.  Considering both the positive and the negative effects, do you think we 
     should legalize drugs?  Why or why not?
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*The above is not rhetorical question.  I want to know, actually, if it matters that we know about Civics.  Clearly, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), we don't know, and we're not apparently doing a very good job at learning (since 1998, 12th graders have shown no measurable improvement in performance).  

Questions:
1.  Take a sample quiz (only 5 questions) here.  How did you do?  (Be sure
     to check your performance relative to others' using the graph on your 
     results page.)
2.  Do you think it is important for students (and since students become 
     voters, let's say voters, too) to have this knowledge?  Why or why not?
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This is my favorite song from what might be my favorite band.  My wife and I heard them play it at their concert last week, and it takes on a kind of anthemic quality when performed live.  The video below gives you a pretty good idea.  

Questions:
1.  What do you think this song is about?  What, specifically, does it have to say about childhood?  
2.  Do you agree with it?  Why or why not?


Somethin' filled up
my heart with nothin',
someone told me not to cry.

But now that I'm older,
my heart's colder,
and I can see that it's a lie.

Children wake up,
hold your mistake up,
before they turn the summer into dust.

If the children don't grow up,
our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up.
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms turnin' every good thing to rust.

I guess we'll just have to adjust.

With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin' to be
when the reaper he reaches and touches my hand.

With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin’
With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am, go-go, where I am

You'd better look out below
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