Ruth and Band Camp

If I had a daughter
who was headed off to band camp
for the first time, I would
read her the story of Ruth that summer:

15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
16 And let fall some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, and rebuke her not.

Academic Foci

"Overuse [of the word 'saccarine'] probably helped
to cheapen the word's power on the tongue,
but I think the advent of cheap sugar in Europe,
and perhapds especially cane sugar produced by the slaves,
is what did the most to discount sweetness,
both as experience and metaphor.
(The final insult came
with the invention of synthetic sweetners.)"

--Michael Pollan (2001)

And there you have it: class / race / technology.

Last Night's Reading:

"Now that you are a homeowner [or may soon be], you can't afford to sit back and wait for something to break before you fix it."

Go Stanley Fish!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/opinion/23fish.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=ed83a53b32783208&ex=1154318400&emc=eta1

Aiya--Typing the Habitat News Letter Report on the Women's Build (Trying to keep the language and spirit without committing harikari on grammar)

Quote:

The women’s build is off to a good start and pretty close to finishing as well. We just recently constructed the front porch with the help of a couple of handy guys and we are looking forward to the shingling of said porch (not really–it’s so hot!). After the roofing is completed we can finish the rest of our siding, sofit, and fascia on the front of the house and gutters too.
We are waiting on a wall cabinet for the kitchen (back order) and the counter top to be delivered. The rest of the kitchen cabinets were installed two weeks ago. Great ceremony was taken by the future home owner, Donny, when the refrigerator was pushed into place. It was his “favorite piece of furniture “ in the house so far.
The floors in both baths need to be leveled before the vinyl can be installed. We are currently working on them. After that, the rest of the bathroom fixtures can be finished and all of the plumbing hooked up to be tested for any possible leaks.
All painting is 90% finished, other than touch up in a couple of rooms and the hall leading to the basement. Base boards and trim have been completed. All doors (with the exception of storm doors) are in place, complete with knobs.
Carpet has been measured and is waiting for installation.
We are not moving quite as fast on this year’s build due to the fact that we are not working every day, but a few of the lady volunteers manage at least two or three days a week with the help of the occasional male helper.
Marilyn will get the measurements of the flag we were told would be donated and presented to the home owners so that she can determine the size of the flag pole. Once that is accomplished, we hope to install the flag pole prior to the dedication of the house so that the flag can be raised at that time (keep your fingers crossed).
All in all it’s been a very enjoyable and non-stressful build this year. Hope to complete this special house and move the new owners in soon.


Suggestions???

Albertine Gaur's _A History of Writing_

Gaur explains that up until the last thirty
or so years, people who study the history of writing
have done so through a Platonic lens; that is,
these scholors have priveleged oral language
over written and have studied writing
as a by product of speech.

"If the aim of writing is the reproduction of language
then the most satisfactory, and by implication the most advanced,
form of writing,[sic] is the one which reproduces language most accurately, in the most economic manner--which inevitably leads to the alphabet" (Preface).

Gaur takes issue with this notably western preconception
and, instead, begins to reevaluate writing under a different notion:
"All writing is information storage" (14).
He compares early civilization hieroglyphics with today's street signs
and further argues that technology, specifically the process by which
we program our computers, forces us to reconsider the "history" of writing.

Sabbath: The Day of Rest

16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more so, if ought but death part thee and me.

And You were There, And You . . .

But Auntie Em, it was so real!

MC Etcher was the Tin Man . . .

Ok, so I just dreamed this morning that
I was blogging these very words.
What does it all mean?

I'm caught in some sick cycle today--
it has got to be my sinus and the air conditioning--you think?

I'm reading Amy Tan's _Secret Senses_ and I'm in love
with her words, wit, and sense of humor.
Sinking into this fictious world has been delightful.

Anyone seeing M. Night's _Lady in Water_ tonight? Ooooo,
I adore his work!

Hitherto, I promise you won't hear any personal drama
for a while (unless I leave tracks on your own blogs);
I had forgotten what was needed--
academic insights from my world, of course.

As I work the next few weeks,
I'll post tid bits from what I read.

Toddles.

Why Didn't You People Tell Me?

http://9.yahoo.com/

What am I paying you for?

I Want It:

www.harvestmyorgans.com

why does no one own this??

Pizza on Wheels

My Partner swears he thought of this idea first--
I do hate those tics--the tics that say we have power
when we do not.

Does anyone out there know how to work a wand?

I so desperately need some magic.

Tics

If you've been out in the wetlands today,
please check for tics.

Otherwise, I meant to tell you:
I'm not in a/the house.

What am I being punished for???

XXX: Shake Your Booty

Can't Stop--Red Hot Chili Peppers




Yeah?

World War III? Better Get This Grammar Down Fast!

ENG 150
Quiz #3–100 Points
13 July 2006

Skill Unit #1: Writing Simple Sentences
[12pts.] Divide the following sentences into two parts, complete subject and complete predicate; then underline the simple subject and simple predicate.

Daria sang with the entire group.

The dog with the black collar is delightfully trained.

Plant Biology and Animal Biology are both taught by the same professor.

We cleaned and organized the entire office by ourselves.

[9pts.] Remember, verbals are verb forms that are used as other parts of speech. Identify how the following verbals are made and how they function in sentences. Give an example of each.
Participles

Function as

Are formed

Example:

Gerunds

Function as

Are formed

Example:

Infinitives

Function as

Are formed

Example:

[6pts.] Subjects and verbs must agree. In the following sentences, mark “C” for correct or “IC” for incorrect; then correct all sentences that need to be corrected.

___ My cat likes to purr when I open can food.
___ They have been working alone on the project for days.
___ The flock of dangerous birds migrates to Mexico every year.
___ None of the students ever walk to school.
___ The train, which has twenty loaded cars, is on its way to New Orleans.
___ Traditionally, faith is the substance of things hoped for.

Skill Unit #2: Writing Compound Sentences[2pts.] Compound sentences are made from two or more __________________ .
[6pts.] There are three ways to construct a compound sentence:

#1]

#2]

#3]


[12pts.] Revise the following run-on sentences using the three methods above.

I forgot the sun screen
my children were burnt.

#1]
#2]
#3]

We picked the biggest pumpkins in the field
dad dropped them before the finish line.

#1]
#2]
#3]
They left the Christmas lights up all year
the house never sold.

#1]
#2]
#3]

She cleared a space for the flower garden
her cats used it for a litter box.

#1]
#2]
#3]


Skill Unit #3: Writing Complex Sentences
[3pts.] Complex sentences contain an independent clause and a __________________, which is _____________________________________________.

[6pts.] We studied three types of clauses: Adjective, which modify __________________; Adverb, which modify ___________________; and Noun clauses that function as _________________.

[12pts.] In the following sentences, underline the subordinate clause and identify what type of clause it is.

______ The book that had all the notes in it sold quickly.

______ After we visit the zoo, we’ll try Six Flags.

______ Whoever lit the fireworks this year forgot to wait until dusk.

______ He cannot find who hid the treasure.

______ She swam to the other side because the fish weren’t biting there.

______ The plant drinks bottled water, which becomes rather expensive after a while.

Skill Unit #4: Using Sentence Punctuation
[10pts.] Correct any misused punctuation in the following paragraph (excerpted from Hacker 53).

This progressive proposal to build a ski resort in the state park has been carefully researched by Western Trust the largest bank in the state; furthermore it is favored by a majority of the local merchants. The only opposition comes from narrow-minded, do-gooder environmentalists who care more about trees than they do about people; one of their leaders was actually arrested for disturbing the peace several years ago

[6pts.] Quotation marks. In the following sentences, mark “C” for correct or “IC” for incorrect; then correct all sentences that need to be corrected.

____ My daughter asked if “she and her friends” could go to the movies.

____ “Don’t pour the bubble solution down my back”! he shouted at his children.

____ “Fine,” she said absentmindedly, “just get it to me by noon”.


Skill Unit #5: More Sentence Punctuation[16pts.] Write a paragraph (minimum of 10 sentences) describing your worst driving experience. Within this paragraph meet at least eight of the following criteria and label your choices.

Simple Sentence 2 Commas Colon
Compound Sentence Quotation Marks Parentheses
Complex Sentence Semicolon Dash

Ok, So It's Time to Post

Red harvest moon;
I crossed my arms over my chest,
fell back into the corn.

Flashlight beams darted across the field,
bounced between stalks.
I heard giggles.

Who knows why we remember?

July 9th, 1992

Beautiful. Especially the 8am feed.
When I first met her, I couldn't believe
they wouldn't just let me sleep.
Now? To be back in that moment would be so dreamy . . .


2006
I bought two window fans tonight
because I'm tired of having the air on--
always closed up, both winter and summer . . .
tonight is lovely and I won't miss it.

The house situation? Haven't heard anything since Monday.
Monday. Unbelievable.
If we go with Bunting?
I'll have 5 rooms to paint before September!
Do you remember last summer's basement project?!?
Shiver.

So this weekend has been utterly unproductive:
films and movies galore.
Instead of _Pirates_, I had to, groan, see _Click_
with Adam Sandler. But it turned out to be a decent flick.
Every film I dread seems ok once I'm in the midst of a dark theater.
Then, after _Pink_ and _SG_ (see previous post),
we rented _Chumscrubber_ and _Everything's Illuminated_.

Why is Elijah Wood's neck so big?

Anyway, Ebert was right on target with his review of Click;
Glenn Close was freaky in Chum; and I close my eyes to sunflowers.
All 3 films deserve a few more words . . .
but where would I begin? and why?

I'm off to read _The Botany of Desire_--ever hear tell of it?

You'll Never Guess My Secret Password. Never.

Perhaps I ought not mix
Steve Martin's _Pink Panther_
with _Shop Girl_ all in the same evening?


If I had a daughter,
she'd be 14 this weekend, no doubt.
An ice cream cake would be lovely.

QUIZ #2--I Must Hate Myself

ENG 150
Quiz #2–100 Points
06 July 2006

Skill Unit #6: Identifying and Using Adjectives
[2pts.] Adjectives modify ____________ and/or ____________ .

[8pts.] Circle all adjectives you find in the following paragraph.

Ants are so much like human beings as to be an embarrassment. They farm fungi, raise aphids as livestock, launch armies into wars, use chemical sprays to alarm and confuse enemies, capture slaves. The families of weaver ants engage in child labor, holding their larvae like shuttles to spin out the thread that sews the leaves together for their fungus gardens. They exchange information ceaselessly. They do everything but watch television. [–Lewis Thomas, “On Societies as Organisms” (excerpt from Hacker 29)]

[10pts.] Write a descriptive paragraph (8-10 sentences) in which you describe a favorite sport or board game. Use at least 6 adjectives answering the questions “What kind?”, “Which one?”, or “How many?’; circle those adjectives. [+2 Bonus points for using and identifying either a comparative or superlative adjective.]

Skill Unit #7: Identifying and Using Adverbs
[3pts.] Adverbs modify ____________ , ____________ and/or ____________ .

[7pts.] Circle all adverbs you find in the following paragraph.

Plots hatched by several servants to run away together occurred mostly in the plantation colonies, and the few recorded servant uprisings were entirely limited to those colonies. Virginia had been forced from its earliest years to take stringent steps against mutinous plots, and severe punishments for such behavior were recorded. Most servant plots occurred in the seventeenth century: a contemplated uprising was nipped in the bud in New York County in 1661 apparently led by some left-wing offshoots of the Great Rebellion, servants plotted an insurrection in Gloucester County in 1663, and four leaders were condemned and executed; some discontented servants apparently joined Bacon’s Rebellion in the 1670's. In the 1680's , the planters became newly apprehensive of discontent among the servants “owing to their great necessities and want of clothes,” and it was feared that they would rise up and plunder the storehouses and ships; in 1682 there were plantcutting riots in which servants and laborers, as well as some planters, took part. [–Richard Hofstader, America at 1750 (excerpt from Hacker 32)]
[8pts.] Use the following adjective/adverb forms correctly in a sentence of your choice.

Really

Real

Well

Good

Bad

Badly

Anyway

Nothing


Skill Unit #8: Prepositional Phrases as Modifiers
[2pts.] Prepositional phrases are modifiers that can function both as ____________ and/or ____________.
[10pts.] Underline all prepositional phrases and circle each preposition you find in the following paragraph.

The fantastic water clarity of the Mount Gambier sinkholes results from several factors. The holes are fed from aquifers holding rainwater that fell decades–even centuries–ago, and that has been filtered through miles of limestone. The high level of calcium that limestones adds causes the silty detritus from dead plants and animals to cling together and settle quickly to the bottom. Abundant bottom vegetation in the shallow sinkholes also helps build the silt. And the rapid turnover of water prohibits stagnation. [–Hillary Hauser, “Exploring a Sunken Realm in Australia” (excerpt from Hacker 29)]

[8pts.] Write a sentence for each of the prepositions listed below; circle the object of the preposition in each phrase you use.

Across

After

By

During

Except

Like

Since

With

Skill Unit #9: Identifying Simple Sentence patterns
[5pts.] Complete the two action verb sentence patterns:
Subject + Action Verb + ____________
Subject + Action Verb + ____________ + ____________
Complete the two linking verb sentence patterns:
Subject + Linking Verb + ____________
Subject + Linking Verb + ____________

[10pts.] Mark the patterns you see in the following sentences (use the abbreviations your text uses to mark above the words). [Excerpts from Hacker 454-7.]

The purity of a revolution usually lasts about two weeks.

Historical books that contain no lies are extremely tedious.

In every country, the sun rises in the morning.

Much industry and little conscience make us rich.

Hitch your wagon to a star.

The is no substitute for victory.

Happy is the nation.

Why is the first step so difficult?

The little snake studies the ways of the big serpent.

I will write you a tragedy.

Skill Unit #10: Identifying and Using Pronouns
[10pts.] Fill in the Personal Pronoun Charts.

Subject Pronouns Object Pronouns
Singular Plural Singular Plural
1st Person 1st Person
2nd Person 2nd Person
3rd Person 3rd Person
[7pts] Mark “C” for correct or “IC” for incorrect; then correct all sentences that need to be corrected.

___ The doctor finished her rounds.

___ When someone has been drinking, they are more likely to speed.

___ The committee put their signatures on the document.

___ Sylvia and he shared the award.

___ The reporter interviewed only two witnesses, the shopkeeper and I.

___ The prize goes to the runner that collects the most points.

___ The tutor that I was assigned to was very supportive.

[6pts.] Write a sentence using each form of pronoun listed below.

Interrogative:

Relative:

Demonstrative:

Reflexive/Intensive:

Possessive:

Indefinite:


[4pts.] Explain how to make pronouns agree with their antecedents. Give an example.

Happy 5th

The seller's realtor has called back;
they want to make a deal.

Also

I think we should all be monitoring this:

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/

Thunder--this'll be quick.

we had to walk away from the bargaining--
the Seller's realtor was getting a bit nasty:
"My client told me not to call him back
with anything [a bid] lower--he said he'd
rather rent it out than give it away."

#1] I'm not convinced the realtor was passing along
our information to the seller (ie. I think she is lieing).
Not only is she the franchise owner of Century 21 in this area,
with 30 years experience and nothing to loose by having this
house wait on the market for another year while she sells others,
but we have also caught her in 3, count them, 3 other lies.
The last exchange happened over the phone, without
an official bid being written up,
in fact, we've never received anything (rejection or otherwise)
signed from the sellers at all . . .

Meanwhile, our own realtor is so sincere and honest,
she doesn't ever find anything suspicious!

Sigh.

Oh, I guess there's no #2.

Except house #2. Bunting Ct. Suburb-city. Yuk.
I mean, a willow tree. Yes. "Sunrush" community? No.
The enire kitchen needs redone. The whole upstairs.
Did I tell you there's a sh*tty intercom system through out?
I don't know why.

Nothing else is suitable in this area . . .


How were your fireworks? Saturday night
we went to a small village that sets off the most
amazing show -- there seemed to be several new varieties
this year:

1] Everyone in my group claimed that this banal
sparkler that had delayed offshoots was new, but I didn't think so.
2] I argued that the orange smoker was new -- a huge flash of
absolute blinding light (like a nuclear flash or sci-fi war-of-the-worlds
stunt) followed by a glimps of a thick orange smoke bomb followed
by an incredible boom.
3] A dancing caterpillar fell from the sky, swirling and whirling
to the ground . . . only the wind seemed to blow it into the parking lot
and perhaps on a couple cars . . .
4] For the first time, we were hit by ash--in our eyes, down our blouces,
huge chunks falling, burning from the sky, raining on the cars . . .
5] The grand finale made me feel as if I were in the middle of a war zone;
perhaps a couple of michieveous hobbits found their way into the tent
and let off everything at once . . . the sight was blinding, we couldn't hear,
and, again, ash rained

another show Tuesday.

Hope you are all having fun.