spring break, spring break, kicking down on spring break...

Hey everyone:

Have a great break!

(Drama folks: memorize your scripts!!!)

And here is today's "Friday" parody:



And if that is not enough:



And here is Rebecca sans autotune:

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all i ever wanted

Vacation, all I ever wanted...vacation, got to get away...

Sorry...

E3H: um...there are these portfolios due tomorrow...you probably hadn't heard...

E2CP:  we will be finishing Catcher tomorrow.  Journals are due!

Drama: reading through the play...

I am told that, once the spring break is over, all the Prom Drama begins.  So if any guy out there feels like composing a love song as part of his ultra-fantastic prom request, here is the Axis of Awesome to show you how to do it:

The Axis of Awesome: How to Write a Love Song - watch more funny videos

And here's a wish for us all:

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loose ends before spring break

Two more day before vacation...draggggggging on...

E3H: Deeper into Anouilh.  Unless you are in first period.  Then you are probably asking: WHO?  Portfolios due Friday.

E2CP: Getting ready to finish up with Catcher.  Nice discussion today.  Journals due before break!

Drama: Stan is the man.  4.2 for tomorrow.  Amy where is your journal?????

I don't usually post movie trailers, but this one looks like it should be pretty funny:



And speaking of things that look sort of good...



:-)

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feelin' tuesday (though conan is feelin' thursday)

Not much to say.

Get your work done.  I'm working on my own.  :-)

E3H:  Read the play!


E2CP: The journals are due before you leave.


Drama:  Exercise 4.1.


Conan does some stuff including a parody of Friday:

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hope your weekend was fun fun fun fun

OK.  Enough now.  Leave Rebecca Black alone.  She is just a 13-year-old kid who somehow managed to get caught in the middle of the worst music video ever; how would you like to be in her shoes?

Here is what she told The Daily Beast about the haters:

“Those hurtful comments really shocked me,” Black said yesterday in her first interview since the song came to dominate a certain quadrant of popular culture and crack the iTunes Top 100 singles chart this week, besting the likes of Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber. “At times, it feels like I’m being cyberbullied.”

More from that article:

Things, of course, got ugly with an outpouring of YouTube commenter Haterade that stunned Black and Ark Music gave her the choice to strike “Friday” from the site. Instead, she stuck to her guns. “I decided not to give the haters the satisfaction that they got me so bad I gave up,” Black said.

 As to the ridiculous song itself:

Acing a casting-call audition, Black was invited to record one of two songs label heads had written for her. And, as part of a $2,000 package her mother paid for, they offered to produce an accompanying video in a bid to make a splash on YouTube. The song she picked: “Friday.”

“I didn’t write it at all,” Black said, clearing up a major misconception. “The other song was about adult love–I haven’t experienced that yet. ‘Friday’ is about hanging out with friends, having fun. I felt like it was my personality in that song.”  

Black says she is donating the proceeds to Japan relief funds.  You've gotta like that.  As to her mom, for what it's worth:

“A few times, when I heard some of the lyrics, I was like, ‘That doesn’t make sense,’” Kelly (her mother) recalled. “Rebecca said, ‘I sang it as they wrote it, Mom.’ So I didn’t micromanage it."

Maybe if she had known what was about to happen to her daughter, she might have gone for a whole lot of micromanaging, but who could have expected such a thing?

Meanwhile, back here in LF...

E3H:  Some of you have portfolios due on Friday (and the rest will bring goodies!); Anouilh's Antigone is due tomorrow; ESC papers should have had at least two conferenced drafts by now, preferably three.

E2CP:  Hey everyone: if things are missing, get me them tonight!!!  Most missing assignments:  DOAS mini-essays, Catcher 1 (What do we learn about H from conversations with Spencer and Mrs. Morrow?), Catcher 2 (What do we learn about H from the Sally Hayes scene?), Finals review.

Drama:  Your HW for vacation is to memorize your parts for the play.  Your HW for tonight is Exercise 3.5.

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just one more week

One week until spring break.  [insert Barenaked Ladies comment here.]

Now I am sure that we are all ready to get on with our weekends (weekends) so we can have fun fun fun fun, but let me just remind you all of a few things.  First, there are some friends in the front seat and other friends in the back seat.  Remember that.  It is important.  Second, tomorrow will be Saturday and Sunday will come afterward.  Third, if you forget either of the above points you have probably had way too much to drink.

Oh, BTW: watch out for the random adult dude in the creepy car stalking you on your way to that party you were heading to...

Just looking out for you.  Have a good weekend.

But first...

E3H:  WW Monday.  (That comes after Sunday.)  Anouilh's Antigone (yesterday's link) Tuesday. Portfolios Friday!

E2CP:  WW Monday.  Finish Catcher by Tuesday,  (That comes after Monday.)  BTW: Sorry if anyone if confused about grades on DOAS stuff or Catcher essays.  I meant to return graded things today but we got...um...sidetracked.  You'll get them all back with comments on Monday.

Drama:  Seems as if we've lost a bunch of days.  So here is an assignment for Monday's class.  Do Exercise 3.5 for Monday.  Be ready to do it in class.  Take it seriously.  Answer all questions in your journal.


Thanks to Sarah B, here is what has to be the single worst Friday Song (if not the single worst song, period) in the history of music:



Now, to get rid of the aftertaste of that piece of tripe, here's a good Friday song:



Link to the official video--what's behind the lyrics here :-)

And here's a word from Hitler about Rebecca Black:



A fantastic parody:



Another parody worth noting:

And finally, this guy really gets it.  Watch him all the way through, as he manages, with a straight face, to poetically declaim the profound lyrics to Black's latest opus:

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top o'the mornin'!

Ah, 'tis St. Paddy's Day!  And, as the journal topic declared, everyone's Irish today (or so they say, anyway).  So where does all of this leave us?

Let's see...

8 days from spring break/junior portfolios.

45/23 days from sophomore portfolios.

80 days until summer vacation.

OK...maybe it's a tad early to start on that one...

How about 1 day from a weekend?  :-)

(It also happens to be the end of third quarter.  Just thought I'd mention that.)

E3H: I told you there was something more.  Here it is.  This is the text of a modern (1942) interpretation of Antigone by the French playwright Jean Anouilh (Ahn-wee').  Anouilh was writing this play as a means of delivering a message to the French resistance during WWII.  I think you will find it very interesting.  To read it, either print it out or open it with a PDF reader like Acrobat and change the page orientation 90 degrees.  (You'll probably want a copy for class anyway.)

E2CP:  Read through Chapter 23.

Drama:  We'll be doing Stanislavski stuff tomorrow.

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it's already wednesday? i should sleep through monday eEVERY week!

I'm sort of depressed this afternoon.  Couldn't possibly have anything to do with spending the day thinking about the horror going on in Japan, could it?  Nah, not possible.  Must be a coincidence.

E3H:  and the magic number is 9.  single digits.  oy!  today we discussed antigone and her similarities to her dad; tomorrow we discuss creon.  is he like his bro-in-law?

E2CP:  your magic portfolio numbers are 46/24.  (days/schools days remaining until it is due.)  as the wicked witch says: "it isn't long, my pretty; it isn't long!"  tonight: what do we learn about holden from the sally hayes scene?  (one page)


Drama:  as they say in Les Miz: one scene more!  and on to Stan the man...

Once again, Jimmy Kimmel gets it right.  Here he comes up with a sure-fire way to help us all lose those unwanted pounds!

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something about something or other

Beware the Ides of March.
Don't know why.  They were a pretty rocking band if you ask me.

If I were you and I were a junior, I might beware the double ides minus a halfth of March.
But that's just me.  :-)

(10)

Do you know where your portfolio is?


Sophs:  Here's your number: 47.  Time to start thinking about this.  That number in school days is: 25.


E3H:  Besides working on those portfolios, perfecting your ESC papers, and starting on your capstones, you should be reading Antigone, which we will be discussing tomorrow.  (Who says we do too much in here?  Not me!)

E2CP: Catcher through Chapter 20!  (And don't forget about those journals!  We're getting close to the end.)

Drama: We will finish the scenes one of these days.  We will finish the scenes one of these days.  We will finish the scenes one of these days.

And here's something for fans of the Ides of March...a reunion concert over 30 years after their huge hit 1970 single "Vehicle":



**wile e coyote stars in 127 hours:



**and jimmy fallon shows us the truth behind the president's facial expressions:

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sorry i was sick

I should be back tomorrow.  And E3H will have a second consecutive Writing Workshop so that we can have in-class conferences to make up what we missed today.

'Cause those portfolios are a-comin'.

(11)

E3H: As just noted: WW tomorrow; Antigone postponed until Wednesday.

E2CP: Back to Catcher tomorrow.  Check Friday's post for assignment.

Drama:  More scenes tomorrow.  Also Book stuff.  Also play stuff.  Gosh, we're a busy crew.

Looks as if John Hughes invented the hipster dramedy.  Take a look:

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streaking into the weekend

So we stand at two weeks before spring break.  Remember October 1st when I told you how the school year was almost over and I said that "after spring break it's pretty much all downhill"?  Well, here it comes!

(Oh, BTW: juniors, do you know where your portfolio is?)

Didn't think I wasn't going to ask that, did you?  :-)

Anyway...

E3H: Read Antigone (pronounced "Ant-ig'-on-ee"; her sister is "Is-may'-knee") for Tuesday. ESC Draft Two for Monday! (Ayone who has not gotten D1 back: let me know!!!)

E2CP: Read Catcher 15-18 for Tuesday.

Drama: Exercises 2.2, 2.3 for Monday in journals.  Read Ch. 4 up to the point where it starts specifying Stanislavki's theory.

Here's today's silly 70's song for y'all:



And more of those crazy kids:



And finally, a little something from Danny Pudi of Community and friends:

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and it just gets closer

What does?  The portfolio deadline, of course.  If you're a junior.  And you have a March 25 Portfolio.  (Which most of you do.)

Are you nervous yet?


Do you know where YOUR portfolio is?


As for the rest of us:

E3H: We'll finish discussing Oedipus tomorrow and then you'll have a RW.

E2CP:  Catcher 12-14 + journals for tomorrow.

Drama:  More scene(s) tomorrow and bring your books.


Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Here's even more from those darned kids:

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late start silliness

AH, the final late start of the year.  How we will miss these odd little weird schedules.  And this one came equipped with scruffy little smudges on everyone's heads...

E3H: Don't forget PORTFOLIOS (due in 17 days; do you know where yours is?), ESC, and CAPSTONES.  But tonight you should review Oedipus so we can have concrete and specific discussions tomorrow.  :-)

E2CP: Read Catcher 9-11 (and journal).

Drama: We will (I hope) finish the scenes tomorrow.

This has GOT to be the Most Sexist Product of All Time:

And because I wish to get that out of your, um, heads...here's another of those darned cute "Kids React" vids:

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FAT tuesday

Hi, all.

No rant today.  Not much of anything actually.  Good videos though.

Oh, and a late start tomorrow.

E3H: Start reading Antigone.

E2CP: One page essay: In the conversations with Spencer and Mrs. Morrow, what do we learn about Holden Caulfield?


Drama: We're performing for grades tomorrow.  Really.

And now a very special report from Katie Couric:

Katie Couric Investigates the Sillies from Katie Couric

Oh, yes, and there's this (yes, more adorability!):

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writing workshop? what writing workshop?

Um, yeah...  You are supposed to be coming in for those scheduled and required conferences that, if you check out the conference schedule (just click that cute little link directly above this message) to oo and ah at all of the blue and green and yellow that have made their way onto the page, you might note that you have not been coming in for.

And, juniors, have I mentioned that most of you have a portfolio due in 18 days?

Oy!

And while I'm speaking to the juniors about required things, there was something about an ESC draft being DUE TODAY that I recall.  This is not just whistling in the dark, folks.  I explained that I wanted to have two drafts completed by next week; that really requires one by today. So why have I not received it from some of you?

Can't be senior slump; you don't qualify...

And sophomores...

When six of you have only one conference with me at this late date and only two of you have more than two, something is severely amiss.  You should ALL have about four or five.  At least.  This is just sad.

SO...

ALL SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS: 
CHECK THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE TONIGHT.  LOOK FOR HIGHLIGHTED VERSIONS OF YOUR NAME.  IF ANY ARE IN ERROR, I NEED TO KNOW ASAP.  FIRST QTR CONFERENCE GRADES ARE GOING OUT AFTER THIS WEEK.


BTW, juniors: the CAPSTONE blueprint/calendar was not a suggestion either, and it was due two weeks ago.

Other HW: 3H Oedipus; 2CP Catcher through Ch 8 w/journals; Drama scenes tomorrow.

and now, a Ron Burgundy/Charlie Sheen Nonsensical Outburst-Off!

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looking ahead to the weekend

Hey, don't look at me.  I have a college kid on break to pick up.  :-)

So...

See yesterday's post for very important information about your March assignments.


As for now...

E3H:  RW tomorrow.  WW Monday.  ESC dues to me on Monday.  Read all of Oedipus for Tuesday.  (It is not really all that long.)

E2CP:  RW tomorrow. WW Monday. Through Ch 8 for Tuesday.  Do journal entries.


Drama:  Scenes should be ready on Monday.

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if i were you

I would be thinking about the fact that there are only three weeks remaining until spring break and only two official weeks until the end of third quarter.  (Oy!  That one sneaked up on me, too!)  


So here is my semi-official checklist of things to consider as March rolls on...

1. Are you a junior?  If so, you might have a portfolio due by March 25!  (Do you know where it is?)
2. Sophomores and juniors have writing workshop issues that need to be taken care of: way too many of you have fallen very far behind in conferences, especially recently.  (Grades are about to reflect that.)
3. Are you a Drama student?  You have a scene next Monday to perform and then we'll be heavily into two types of acting focus this month: outside in and inside out.  You'll have a lot of exercises to do both written and in class.  Don't be absent.
4. Juniors need to dive in on their ESC papers: D1 is due Monday and D2 a week later.  Those putting it into their portfolios will need to rush things.  You also need to be starting on your capstones.
5. Sophomores will be reading Catcher in the Rye this month.  We'll be discussing the book over the next couple of weeks as you read it and write journal entries.  You will also have at least one or two 1-page essays, perhaps in class.  Busy month.

about tonight...

E3H:  Start reading King Oedipus. Get as far as you can.  (Be reasonable: that is way more than a few pages.)  What's going on here?  What do you think of this style?  NB: Reading Workshop on Friday.

E2CP: Read Ch. 4 (doing journals if they come up).  Be ready for any quiz I might come up with.  NB: Reading Workshop on Friday.

Drama:  Try to be fully memorized tomorrow.  We will be discussing blocking and character-building.  Friday you will be using the period to rehearse.

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MARCH!!!

Forgive me.  I'm just a bit happy.

:-)

E3H:  Bring your Theban Plays tomorrow.  If I have not seen your ESC topics, please email them.  Kirt, have I had a Capstone Conference with you???  It is March 1.  Do you know where your portfolio is?

E2CP: We'll finish DOAS scenes tomorrow.  Read 1-3 in Catcher.  (Do journals.)

Drama:  Memorize!!!

and more from Jimmy Kimmel:

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