1. I think I crushed one of my students' spirit a little bit when I told the class that Braveheart was mostly made up. 2. Prayers for the Holy Father, who sounds like he's on his way out. Whether immediately or in another year, all accounts are that he won't be here much longer. Now, … Continue reading Saturday Flotsam: Prayers for the Pope and Tycoons
Poetry – “She Was a Phantom of Delight”
She was a Phantom of delightWhen first she gleamed upon my sight;A lovely Apparition, sentTo be a moment's ornament;Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair;Like Twilight's, too, her dusky hair;But all things else about her drawnFrom May-time and the cheerful Dawn;A dancing Shape, an Image gay,To haunt, to startle, and way-lay. I saw her upon … Continue reading Poetry – “She Was a Phantom of Delight”
Sunday Flotsam: Mostly ‘West Side Story’
1. Today was the week of the school play, and I've basically been working non-stop all week up until last night. The good news is that the kids pulled it out and really did a great job with the show. The bad news is that I now have to try to make up all the … Continue reading Sunday Flotsam: Mostly ‘West Side Story’
Bowser vs. Dr. Eggman
Death Battle is a web-show pitting fictional characters against each other in death matches. It's generally pretty entertaining, though it's sometimes a little uncomfortable seeing beloved characters getting eliminated (even if it's all meant to be hypothetical). The funny part is how much effort is put into the analysis, with extensive engineering calculations trying to … Continue reading Bowser vs. Dr. Eggman
Poetry – “Casey at the Bat”
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day;the score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,a sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game. A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The restclung to … Continue reading Poetry – “Casey at the Bat”
Sunday Flotsam: Reconstruction Narratives and More
1. My illness has mostly recovered, leaving me only extremely tired, hence I've been spending most of the weekend resting. 2. My US history class has reached the period of Reconstruction. In trying to research it, I spotted what I think is a narrative in progress. See, I was trying to look up specifics on … Continue reading Sunday Flotsam: Reconstruction Narratives and More
Poem – “The Rainy Day”
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;It rains, and the wind is never weary;The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,But at every gust the dead leaves fall,And the day is dark and dreary. My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;It rains, and the wind is never weary;My thoughts still cling to the … Continue reading Poem – “The Rainy Day”
Football Game
Friday Flotsam: Miscellaneous
1. I ended up missing three whole days of school this week due to my illness. I kept thinking I was coming out of it, then another symptom flared up. 2. I had happened to hear Miley Cyrus's Party in the USA recently, and I was thinking to myself "You know, Weird Al's version is … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Miscellaneous
Poem – “The Naming of Cats”
The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,It isn't just one of your holiday games;You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatterWhen I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,Such as Victor or Jonathan, … Continue reading Poem – “The Naming of Cats”
Serpent's Den 