Today's title is in honour of editors, one of whom would likely change my titling to "Does Anyone Know Anything?" — sadly, quite different in intent than my original.
Apparently today, on the eve of the solstice, we are enjoying the halcyon days. Michael Quinion provides an explanation:
The story goes back to a Greek legend that the kingfisher nested in
the sea at the time of the winter solstice and that its floating
nest brought calm to wind and water, what we now call the halcyon
days, "halcyon" being from the Greek name for the kingfisher,
alkuon. A romantic version of the legend was told by the Roman poet
Ovid about Ceyx and Alcyone. She was the daughter of Aeolus, the
god of the winds, and he was the son of the morning star. Ceyx was
lost at sea and Alcyone was inconsolable. The gods took pity on
them, turning them into kingfishers so that they might continue to
live together. When they mated each year at the winter solstice the
gods calmed the winds and seas so Alcyone might brood her eggs
safely. Alcyone's name became "halcyon" in Latin, because of a mistaken
belief that its real source was two Greek words meaning "conceiving
on the sea."
It's difficult to imagine a seascape populated with kingfishers this morning, with the air temperature at -29 and the wind chill equivalent to -33. Still halcyon, meaning peaceful, calm, carefree, is an emotional tone we should all strive for this weekend. The sun is about to begin its return journey: the light is coming back.
Too bad there are only five more shopping days until Christmas. Perhaps that's why truly halcyon days seem so remote and fantastic.
Soon to emerge from under a pile of marking...
L
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Shakespeare was a Wild Thing
My online grammar students are required to do a style analysis exercise in which they must recast a piece of contemporary writing in an older idiom. Their choices are Middle English, Renaissance English, Enlightenment English, and Victorian English. The students protested that they had no idea what I was asking them to do — did I really expect them to learn Middle English in a week? — and could I please post a sample of the task.
Normally I am reluctant to provide well-developed models of assignments in class because students tend to do what I've shown them rather than developing their own, likely much more creative, solutions. However, I decided that because we are meeting in an online environment and they have much less contact with me than they would in a face-to-face setting, I would relent. Hence the following excerpt from Maurice Sendak's classic children's book Where the Wild Things Are, recast in Renaissance-style English. Enjoy! — L
***
The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind
and another
his mother called him "WILD THING!" and Max said "I'LL EAT YOU UP!" so he was sent to bed without eating anything.
That very night in Max's room a forest grew
and grew ——
and grew until his ceiling hung with vines and the walls became the world all around
and an ocean tumbled by with a private boat for Max and he sailed off through night and day
and in and out of weeks and almost over a year to where the wild things are.
And when he came to the place where the wild things are they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth
and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws
till Max said "BE STILL!" and tamed them with the magic trick of staring into all their yellow eyes without blinking once and they were frightened and called him the most wild thing of all
and made him king of all wild things.
Lo, upon that eve, when upon his person did Max array the suit in the likeness of the Wolf, and did make mischief of such a kind and of another such;
his Mother, the very Hera of his being, him appelled "WILD THING!"; the while sayeth Max, "I'LL EAT YOU UP!" and so, thus was he returned to his chamber lacking entirely in victual and sustenance.
Lo upon that same eve'n, in that fast foreboding chamber, did grow a wood and a wild, the which unfurled
and increased ——
and expanded vitally until the firmament was wreathed with tendrils and tenerumen, and the ramparts gave way to a Universe new-emerged;
and there upon the waves of fair Okeanos did tumble a sailing vessel bold, for the express conveyance of Max alone; and so he did voyage, tracing the pathways of fair Diana and bright Apollo both,
through the reckoning of a seven-day and beyond a fortnight, nigh upon one turning of the stars, to discover the place of the Wilde Things.
Whereupon encountering the horde of these Creatures Beastly, did they bellow, their shouts a clatter upon the Heavens; and did they grind their beastly dentures, a boisterous and disorderly shewing;
They did roll their eyen frightful upon themselves, and did brandish their talons and their pincers set to maul and mangle;
And then, of a sudden did Max proclaim "BE STILL!" and brought these beasts of wildest mantle under his own sway and suasion, using that charm magick, the enchantment of staring but fierce into their orbs aureal and not to break the thread he had made with those fearsome orisons; and they were afeared and did cower and quake, and unto him did apply the title of that one most wild of any,
And so did they make him Ruler and King of all their kind.
Normally I am reluctant to provide well-developed models of assignments in class because students tend to do what I've shown them rather than developing their own, likely much more creative, solutions. However, I decided that because we are meeting in an online environment and they have much less contact with me than they would in a face-to-face setting, I would relent. Hence the following excerpt from Maurice Sendak's classic children's book Where the Wild Things Are, recast in Renaissance-style English. Enjoy! — L
***
The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind
and another
his mother called him "WILD THING!" and Max said "I'LL EAT YOU UP!" so he was sent to bed without eating anything.
That very night in Max's room a forest grew
and grew ——
and grew until his ceiling hung with vines and the walls became the world all around
and an ocean tumbled by with a private boat for Max and he sailed off through night and day
and in and out of weeks and almost over a year to where the wild things are.
And when he came to the place where the wild things are they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth
and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws
till Max said "BE STILL!" and tamed them with the magic trick of staring into all their yellow eyes without blinking once and they were frightened and called him the most wild thing of all
and made him king of all wild things.
Lo, upon that eve, when upon his person did Max array the suit in the likeness of the Wolf, and did make mischief of such a kind and of another such;
his Mother, the very Hera of his being, him appelled "WILD THING!"; the while sayeth Max, "I'LL EAT YOU UP!" and so, thus was he returned to his chamber lacking entirely in victual and sustenance.
Lo upon that same eve'n, in that fast foreboding chamber, did grow a wood and a wild, the which unfurled
and increased ——
and expanded vitally until the firmament was wreathed with tendrils and tenerumen, and the ramparts gave way to a Universe new-emerged;
and there upon the waves of fair Okeanos did tumble a sailing vessel bold, for the express conveyance of Max alone; and so he did voyage, tracing the pathways of fair Diana and bright Apollo both,
through the reckoning of a seven-day and beyond a fortnight, nigh upon one turning of the stars, to discover the place of the Wilde Things.
Whereupon encountering the horde of these Creatures Beastly, did they bellow, their shouts a clatter upon the Heavens; and did they grind their beastly dentures, a boisterous and disorderly shewing;
They did roll their eyen frightful upon themselves, and did brandish their talons and their pincers set to maul and mangle;
And then, of a sudden did Max proclaim "BE STILL!" and brought these beasts of wildest mantle under his own sway and suasion, using that charm magick, the enchantment of staring but fierce into their orbs aureal and not to break the thread he had made with those fearsome orisons; and they were afeared and did cower and quake, and unto him did apply the title of that one most wild of any,
And so did they make him Ruler and King of all their kind.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Why proofreading matters
How different life can be plus or minus a consonant:
timelines or timeliness?
deadlines or deadliness?
This week I can't tell the difference.
L
timelines or timeliness?
deadlines or deadliness?
This week I can't tell the difference.
L
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Thursday: Not the end of the week
Here are my thoughts for today.
1) Est virgo hec penna, meretrix eat stompificata. (The pen is a virgin, the printing press a whore.)
2) "The red penis your friend." (From my favourite slam poet, Taylor Mali.)
L
1) Est virgo hec penna, meretrix eat stompificata. (The pen is a virgin, the printing press a whore.)
2) "The red penis your friend." (From my favourite slam poet, Taylor Mali.)
L
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tuesday: Back to work
... I run off where the drifts get deeper
Sleeping Beauty trips me with a frown
I hear a voice: "You must learn to stand up for yourself
'cause I can't always be around."
When are you going to make up your mind?
— Tori Amos, "Winter"
Sleeping Beauty trips me with a frown
I hear a voice: "You must learn to stand up for yourself
'cause I can't always be around."
When are you going to make up your mind?
— Tori Amos, "Winter"
Sunday, October 12, 2008
For Thanksgiving
My political compass outcome: no surprises here.
We shall overcome — as arranged by Pete Seeger
We shall overcome,
We shall overcome,
We shall overcome, some day.
Oh, deep in my heart,
I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.
We’ll walk hand in hand,
We’ll walk hand in hand,
We’ll walk hand in hand, some day.
Oh, deep in my heart,
We shall live in peace,
We shall live in peace,
We shall live in peace, some day.
Oh, deep in my heart,
We shall all be free,
We shall all be free,
We shall all be free, some day.
Oh, deep in my heart,
We are not afraid,
We are not afraid,
We are not afraid, today
Oh, deep in my heart,
We shall overcome,
We shall overcome,
We shall overcome, some day.
Oh, deep in my heart,
I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Staff Meetings et al.
Sitting at work in a staff meeting. Woot. This is the umpteenth meeting this week. I hate meetings. It seems I am not much of a team player.
Why is it that a "democratic" system seems to me synonymous with "having to listen to the idiot"? I have always believed in the benevolent dictator system and this past week just reinforces it for me. I would rather suffer under unfair decision making processes then waste so much time pursuing the unattainable concensus. You never make everyone happy, so why do we try so hard?
So I waffle between "We gotta get out of this place" and "Que sera, sera"
Sigh.
Mobile Blogging from here.
Why is it that a "democratic" system seems to me synonymous with "having to listen to the idiot"? I have always believed in the benevolent dictator system and this past week just reinforces it for me. I would rather suffer under unfair decision making processes then waste so much time pursuing the unattainable concensus. You never make everyone happy, so why do we try so hard?
So I waffle between "We gotta get out of this place" and "Que sera, sera"
Sigh.
Mobile Blogging from here.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Thought for Friday
Jennifer Beals was born on December 19, 1963.
Do you think I can finish my dissertation before I turn forty?
L
Do you think I can finish my dissertation before I turn forty?
L
Thursday, October 02, 2008
iBlogger
Yet another blogging pckg for my touch. This one has potential but no images for blogspot and no redirected urls for wordpress.
Kinda leaves me out.
Kinda leaves me out.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Test Two
Simultaneous posts to two blogs with pic:
Zak in a kimono whilst in Japan
Posted From My iPod
Zak in a kimono whilst in Japan
Posted From My iPod
Testing Technology Takes Time
So here is a new tool to blog with. I am using BlogPress on my Touch to post here and macblaze.hopto.org Let's see what happens when I add a pic..
L and C getting literary in Paris
--Post From My iPhone
L and C getting literary in Paris
--Post From My iPhone
Thought for the Day
"All slang is metaphor, and all metaphor is poetry." — G.K. Chesterton
It's a gorgeous September Sunday and there are still raspberries in the garden.
Lots of work to do — I'd better get at it.
L
...later that same day...
Done most of what I'd hoped to accomplish today, although never everything. Tried to post the outline to my online course, resulting in this kind of experience.
It's a gorgeous September Sunday and there are still raspberries in the garden.
Lots of work to do — I'd better get at it.
L
...later that same day...
Done most of what I'd hoped to accomplish today, although never everything. Tried to post the outline to my online course, resulting in this kind of experience.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Happy New Year
For so long my life has been organized around the academic calendar that Labour Day has come to represent the real new year to me. This is the weekend I make my resolutions for better behaviour, change, improvement, etc. (Already several of my resolutions/changes have been tossed aside, but that's another story.) Wonderfully, this year Labour Day has fallen on September 1, creating a rather polished beginning to the school year ahead.
I did some necessary work at the office yesterday and finished some more earlier today. Another student has been launched as a graduate — hooray! Another is starting her second workplace term, while a few others are just beginning workplace study officially today. And I moved offices over the weekend, too. Can't wait to see what response that elicits tomorrow.
I am teaching second-year grammar again this year — yay! — and my print culture history class is running too. Unfortunately, I may also be teaching a third course, research skills. I was supposed to have course release this term, but it looks like my release is going to be snatched away. But the class doesn't start for another week, so if I can find someone else to teach it before September 8 I'll get to keep my release time and my scheduled Mondays off. I remain hopeful (although there's no reason on record that I should).
Am listening to good music this weekend, thanks to kind friends. Am reading good books, too. Now if only I were doing some good writing. Sigh.
Enjoyed a handful of late raspberries this morning, and may enjoy more over the next few days if we avoid a frost. There are also hundreds and hundreds of apples in the garden — if you want some apples, please let me know!
Oh, and since no-one else has said it, France was amazing and fantastic and marvellous — and I'd love to go back right now. Squamish was also super, especially climbing Dierdre. Wow!
I hope the new year treats you well. Cheers!
L
I did some necessary work at the office yesterday and finished some more earlier today. Another student has been launched as a graduate — hooray! Another is starting her second workplace term, while a few others are just beginning workplace study officially today. And I moved offices over the weekend, too. Can't wait to see what response that elicits tomorrow.
I am teaching second-year grammar again this year — yay! — and my print culture history class is running too. Unfortunately, I may also be teaching a third course, research skills. I was supposed to have course release this term, but it looks like my release is going to be snatched away. But the class doesn't start for another week, so if I can find someone else to teach it before September 8 I'll get to keep my release time and my scheduled Mondays off. I remain hopeful (although there's no reason on record that I should).
Am listening to good music this weekend, thanks to kind friends. Am reading good books, too. Now if only I were doing some good writing. Sigh.
Enjoyed a handful of late raspberries this morning, and may enjoy more over the next few days if we avoid a frost. There are also hundreds and hundreds of apples in the garden — if you want some apples, please let me know!
Oh, and since no-one else has said it, France was amazing and fantastic and marvellous — and I'd love to go back right now. Squamish was also super, especially climbing Dierdre. Wow!
I hope the new year treats you well. Cheers!
L
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Looking back to understand the present
According to Naomi S. Baron, "in the medieval English scriptorium, punctuation was generally added not by scribes but by proofreaders, who were the most learned monks in the monastery. Sometimes the abbots themselves filled this role."
Does this historical fact provide a greater understanding of the cast of contemporary editors? Hmm.
From Banff in the rain,
Leslie
Does this historical fact provide a greater understanding of the cast of contemporary editors? Hmm.
From Banff in the rain,
Leslie
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Talent or practice?
According to neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin, "ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert — in anything. In study after study, of composers, basketball players, fiction writers, ice skaters, concert pianists, chess players, master criminals, and what have you, this number comes up again and again. Ten thousand hours is equivalent to roughly three hours a day, or twenty hours a week, of practice over ten years."
Hmm. Here I am at the Congress of Learned Societies with some ten thousand other people, most of whom are exceptionally well educated and highly intelligent; and yet of these ten thousand, only a very small number are truly "world-class" in their field. So perhaps the ten-thousand hour thesis does not apply to intellectual pursuits?
It's interesting that ten years is roughly the duration of an undergraduate degree plus graduate studies that typically churns out a PhD — assuming the student studied full time (which would be at least twenty hours per week of reading, writing, researching, discussing, and thinking). Does the diversity of tasks involved in becoming an academic preclude true expertise except rarely? (How many academic writers spend at least twenty hours a week only reading or only writing, for instance?) Because simply getting the PhD, while a great accomplishment, is insufficient to put one on the world stage, as the many, many underemployed graduates here will attest.
But then again, many of you reading this blog are inveterate readers who likely do spend some twenty hours of an average week reading. (I do, on average.) Does that make us world-class readers? (Levitin would argue that it would not, because reading is not a socially valued activity.) How would one evaluate world-class achievement in reading anyway?
Such strange thoughts ... but such is my brain early on a Sunday morning.
L
Hmm. Here I am at the Congress of Learned Societies with some ten thousand other people, most of whom are exceptionally well educated and highly intelligent; and yet of these ten thousand, only a very small number are truly "world-class" in their field. So perhaps the ten-thousand hour thesis does not apply to intellectual pursuits?
It's interesting that ten years is roughly the duration of an undergraduate degree plus graduate studies that typically churns out a PhD — assuming the student studied full time (which would be at least twenty hours per week of reading, writing, researching, discussing, and thinking). Does the diversity of tasks involved in becoming an academic preclude true expertise except rarely? (How many academic writers spend at least twenty hours a week only reading or only writing, for instance?) Because simply getting the PhD, while a great accomplishment, is insufficient to put one on the world stage, as the many, many underemployed graduates here will attest.
But then again, many of you reading this blog are inveterate readers who likely do spend some twenty hours of an average week reading. (I do, on average.) Does that make us world-class readers? (Levitin would argue that it would not, because reading is not a socially valued activity.) How would one evaluate world-class achievement in reading anyway?
Such strange thoughts ... but such is my brain early on a Sunday morning.
L
Friday, May 30, 2008
Live from Vancouver...
... and finally awake, c'est moi!
Here in my favourite city, the temperature is currently lower than it is at home. Seems I'm missing the best weather of the spring in Alberta. Sigh. But the sky is finally clearing here and I am watching the early evening sun from the east tower in the Gage residence. The prediction for tomorrow is not very good, but then again I'm supposed to be in sessions all day so it really shouldn't matter.
But I am very lonely! Would love to have e-mail from any of you -- or find me on Facebook. That's good too.
The room I'm staying is "modest" but not quite as spartan as the U of T residence I stayed in a couple of years ago. No tv (but there is tv in the common room if I want to watch something). No bathroom -- it's down the hall and better organized than the shower situation at St Mary's. (And fortunately, here's one place where my habit of waking up in the night will be valuable -- no need to fight for a shower if you take it at 4 in the morning!) Had no internet until about 6 pm local time -- sigh sigh sigh... -- but I have it now, finally!
I have my session book at last and am now planning my attendance for the next few days. There's a great plenary tomorrow with Severn Cullis-Suzuki that I'm hoping to attend (although it's at one of the more inaccessible locations on campus). There's also a breakfast talk on Monday with a young publisher and professor from SFU -- must try to get to that.
Today I had planned to get out and explore the city, but my body had other ideas. I worked for a few hours on my computer and then fell asleep for several hours. Oh well -- there will be time for sight-seeing, etc., tomorrow and next week.
Breakfast is included with our accommodation fees -- except not today. I hope there's something I can eat...
I hope you're well. See you on Wednesday!
L
Here in my favourite city, the temperature is currently lower than it is at home. Seems I'm missing the best weather of the spring in Alberta. Sigh. But the sky is finally clearing here and I am watching the early evening sun from the east tower in the Gage residence. The prediction for tomorrow is not very good, but then again I'm supposed to be in sessions all day so it really shouldn't matter.
But I am very lonely! Would love to have e-mail from any of you -- or find me on Facebook. That's good too.
The room I'm staying is "modest" but not quite as spartan as the U of T residence I stayed in a couple of years ago. No tv (but there is tv in the common room if I want to watch something). No bathroom -- it's down the hall and better organized than the shower situation at St Mary's. (And fortunately, here's one place where my habit of waking up in the night will be valuable -- no need to fight for a shower if you take it at 4 in the morning!) Had no internet until about 6 pm local time -- sigh sigh sigh... -- but I have it now, finally!
I have my session book at last and am now planning my attendance for the next few days. There's a great plenary tomorrow with Severn Cullis-Suzuki that I'm hoping to attend (although it's at one of the more inaccessible locations on campus). There's also a breakfast talk on Monday with a young publisher and professor from SFU -- must try to get to that.
Today I had planned to get out and explore the city, but my body had other ideas. I worked for a few hours on my computer and then fell asleep for several hours. Oh well -- there will be time for sight-seeing, etc., tomorrow and next week.
Breakfast is included with our accommodation fees -- except not today. I hope there's something I can eat...
I hope you're well. See you on Wednesday!
L
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Summer days
We're going to France! We're going to France!
That's right: our summer holiday involves a quick trip to France to drive a canal boat through Burgundy.
Then we're headed to Squamish for another week of climbing, hiking, jet-boating, and other miscellaneous fun.
Between now and then, I'm going to spend a week in Vancouver, a week in Banff, and a weekend in Montreal.
Pretty fab, huh? Think I'll go rest now and get ready. Summer begins in just a few days. I can hardly wait.
L
Now reading: Dr Delicious: Memoirs of a Life in CanLit by Robert Lecker; You Know Where to Find Me by Rachel Cohn; and The Female Thing: Dirt, Sex, Envy, Vulnerability by Laura Kipnis
That's right: our summer holiday involves a quick trip to France to drive a canal boat through Burgundy.
Then we're headed to Squamish for another week of climbing, hiking, jet-boating, and other miscellaneous fun.
Between now and then, I'm going to spend a week in Vancouver, a week in Banff, and a weekend in Montreal.
Pretty fab, huh? Think I'll go rest now and get ready. Summer begins in just a few days. I can hardly wait.
L
Now reading: Dr Delicious: Memoirs of a Life in CanLit by Robert Lecker; You Know Where to Find Me by Rachel Cohn; and The Female Thing: Dirt, Sex, Envy, Vulnerability by Laura Kipnis
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Happy birthday, B!
Here's hoping your day was fabulous. And remember, in the words of the fine folks of Squamish:
Who needs big jugs when you've got a great crack?
love,
L
Who needs big jugs when you've got a great crack?
love,
L
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Because she did it first...
If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?
1. Open your music library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc.)
2. Put your player on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every scene, type in the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new scene, press the "advance" button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool - first songs only
The Life of Bruce
Opening Credits: "Please Mr Please" by Olivia Newton John
Waking Up: "Breathe" by Collective Soul
First Day of School: "I'll be There in a Minute" by Gowan
Falling in Love: "As Lovers Go" by Dashboard Confessional
Fight Song: "My Girl" by Chilliwack
Breaking Up: "Drive My Car" by The Beatles
Prom: "We are the Champions" by Queen
Life is Good: "The 59th Street Bridge song (Feeling Groovy)" by Simon and Garfunkle
Mental Breakdown: "Smoky Mountain Rain" by Ronnie Milsap
Driving: "Layin' Pipe" by David Wilcox
Flashback: "Hitch A Ride" by Boston
Getting Back Together: "Holding Out For a Hero" by Frou Frou
Wedding: "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels Band
Paying the Dues: "I'm Just a Kid" by Simple Plan
The Night Before the War: "Go Down Gamblin'" by Blood Sweat and Tears
Moment of Triumph: "Good Day Sunshine" by The Beatles
Death Scene: "Making Plans for Nigel" by XTC
Funeral Song: "Knocking On Your Backdoor" by Deep Purple
End Credits: "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette
*****
Hmmmmmmm....
1. Open your music library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc.)
2. Put your player on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every scene, type in the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new scene, press the "advance" button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool - first songs only
The Life of Bruce
Opening Credits: "Please Mr Please" by Olivia Newton John
Waking Up: "Breathe" by Collective Soul
First Day of School: "I'll be There in a Minute" by Gowan
Falling in Love: "As Lovers Go" by Dashboard Confessional
Fight Song: "My Girl" by Chilliwack
Breaking Up: "Drive My Car" by The Beatles
Prom: "We are the Champions" by Queen
Life is Good: "The 59th Street Bridge song (Feeling Groovy)" by Simon and Garfunkle
Mental Breakdown: "Smoky Mountain Rain" by Ronnie Milsap
Driving: "Layin' Pipe" by David Wilcox
Flashback: "Hitch A Ride" by Boston
Getting Back Together: "Holding Out For a Hero" by Frou Frou
Wedding: "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels Band
Paying the Dues: "I'm Just a Kid" by Simple Plan
The Night Before the War: "Go Down Gamblin'" by Blood Sweat and Tears
Moment of Triumph: "Good Day Sunshine" by The Beatles
Death Scene: "Making Plans for Nigel" by XTC
Funeral Song: "Knocking On Your Backdoor" by Deep Purple
End Credits: "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette
*****
Hmmmmmmm....
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