The Forum is up and running...

School started back up this past week. So my school blog, The Forum, is now back up and running. This year I'm envisioning the blog as more of an online literary journal focusing on the humanities in general. Students will be encouraged to submit anything from opinion pieces, short fiction, poetry, photographs, drawings, thoughts on history, etc...

I'm focusing a lot on the Humanities because that is now my area of study. My Masters will be a Masters of Liberal Studies concentrating on the Humanities. If I do indeed go on to doctoral work most likely I'll pursue a PhD in Humanities at The University of Texas Dallas. That of course could change with the wind. First things first...let's get the Masters done...and that may take awhile.

Anyway, Dave Egger's online literary journal, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, is serving as the current muse for such online meanderings.


photo: The new Wyly Theatre in Dallas. I snapped this photo a few months back while I wandering the streets of Dallas while Kimberly was attending a nearby convention.

The Bull's Revenge

Speaking of Spain...this is real video of a bull leaping into the stands in a Northern Spain bullring last week. Catalunya just recently outlawed bullfighting. As someone who has witnessed a bull fight in person...it was about time. It is unbelievably cruel. This video is amazing...I'm rooting for the bull.

The Bird's Revenge

This alternate ending to Hitchcock's The Birds was filmed at the Placa Catalunya in Barcelona where I used to hang out a lot in 1996-1997. Hitchcock I think would approve.

current iPod stuff

I always find the playlist "Top 25 Most Played" on my iPod fascinating. Many of the songs I don't remember listening to that often. A few aren't even favorites of mine. Of course the list changes just about every time I play the thing. The list is just a snapshot. Here is the current Top 25. Weezer heavy as usual but an unusual amount of Buddy Holly and Ry Cooder. Newest discoveries are Surfer Blood and Kirsty MacColl (who died in 2000...I'm slow to discovering the good stuff sometimes.).


Everyday - Buddy Holly
Dearest - Buddy Holly
3 Cool Cats - Ry Cooder
I'm Your Daddy - Weezer
Trippin' Down the Freeway -Weezer
Love is the Answer - Weezer
D'yer Maker - Sheryl Crow
(If You're Wondering if I Want You to) I want you to - Weezer
Girl On My Mind - Buddy Holly
The Girl Got Hot - Weezer
I Melt With You - Modern English
Onda Callejera - Ry Cooder
Let it All Hang Out - Weezer
Besame Mucho (Live) - Raul Malo
Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads
Can't Stop Partying - Weezer
Island Girl - The Beach Boys
Got You (Where I Want You) - They Flys
Blue Turns to Grey - The Rolling Stones
Time Is On My Side - The Rolling Stones
Los Chucos Suaves - Ry Cooder
Beverly Hills - Weezer
Tighten Up - The Black Keys
In These Shoes - Kristy MacColl
Catholic Pagans - Surfer Blood

The Sked

So I got my sked for this school year. It's exactly the same as last year's which is beyond wonderful. Notice how my lunch backs into my conference period...meaning there's an hour and half block in the early afternoon. Most of my day is in the morning which is when I function best in the classroom. This makes me very happy. The only thing that would have been better would be closing the day with a WHAP class. A few years ago I had a 7th Period WHAP and it was a great way to end the school day. But this is almost perfect...no complaints at all.

1st Period: World History
2nd Period: World History
3rd Period: AP World History
4th Period: AP World History

D Lunch (12:16-12:46)

5th Period: Conference
6th Period: AP European History
7th Period: World History.

The Grind

Back to work today. Didn't blog much this summer...believe it or not I kept too busy this summer...and when I had computer time I wasn't motivated to type...I just wanted to browse.

This school year will be slam-bang busy. Busier than ever. Added to the usual grind is grad school. I haven't done real homework in fourteen years. Plus the Lion-Lamb Fellowship, the Kaufman Center for Human Rights, family and work...life will roll by in a blink. But I'm actually looking forward to it.

Grad school. Felt weird when the clerk at student services called me a student. I'm usually the teacher. It will be nice to be on the other side of the equation. And those student I.D. discounts will be nice at the movie theater.