I’m told that the 3rd graders are planning a "secret" pizza party for their high school friends. Wouldn’t it be nice if we returned the favor?  I’m reaching out to you all for ideas.  Something knitted for our friends might be cool; I’ll talk to Ms. C about that.  Please remember that there will be no reading this coming week, so we should have plenty of time to plan and create.  If inspiration hits, post it below.

I’ve been very impressed with all of you who have stuck with it this semester.  It may seem like a simple activity, but it makes an immeasurable difference in the kids’ lives.  For them to have interaction with someone, if only for an hour each week, someone who is interested in their lives and their development, is a very big deal.  You each have made a difference in the life of another.  For that, much respect.  The world needs more people like you.

Just one today. 

Scott Tobias of The Onion AV Club reviews Harold and Maude—thirty years after it came out.  This statement caught my eye, and inspired me to share the article:

As I said, the film is the birth of modern indie quirk, full of elements and attitudes that have become cliché: Heroes who are more whimsical conceits than real-life, flesh-and-blood creations; an offbeat and slightly twee pop soundtrack (here by Cat Stevens); authority figures painted as stiff, clueless, and completely devoid of humanity; and some vague leftist political references thrown in for good measure…. For me, the litmus test for quirkfests is whether there’s some genuine insight and depth of feeling behind all that willful eccentricity.

An interesting point, which begs the question: Why quirkiness?  I love Wes Anderson’s films very much, listen to Devendra Banhart, Johanna Newsome, Vetiver, read Salinger and Chip Kidd [everything’s connected], but why?  Why not jocularity?  Why not stoicism? 

What do you all think of this “quirkiness”?  Did it arise out of the post-Vietnam era only to become apropos again, thirty years later?  Is it true, as the author alludes, that we cannot find this type of sincerity anymore?

[Note the author says “twee,” then three of the responders follow.  Stickiness, anyone?]

Here is a link to the previous post, How to Write an Article.  If you ever have trouble finding a post, use the calendar on the side, the "Tags" section, or the search box at the top of the screen.

If you read nothing else from this post, read this article from In These Times.  Author Mike Levy discusses Kurt Vonnegut’s works with a small group of students in China.  As a rare insight into how a very different culture views our own, it may be fitting that their lens was crafted by America’s most insightful absurdist.  In These Times article

Because everyone loves Jackie Chan.  NPR story

Fathom this: MSNBC Story

Here are two questions to choose from, based on the books we’ve read so far.  This is not a book report.  Write on something that affects your life, or a topic you would like pursue further.

We covered the impact of popular culture on our everyday lives when reading Everything Bad is Good for You by Steven Johnson.  Our discussions centered on the impact of video games and television, and the cognitive effects of our consumption of these materials. 

Edit: I have received a few messages from you, suggesting possible topics for an EBIGFY essay.  If you have an idea, run it by me and then begin work.  The essay should follow the ideas in the book, either in support or refutation of, or using Johnson’s ideas in a new application.  Again, run your idea by me before you begin, but I want you to make this essay your own.

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell explains how information (and fads) can spread through a population like a cold.  We’ve talked about the people that begin these fads (The Few),  and how a message’s "Stickiness" can allow or prevent ideas(or fads) from spreading.  My challenge to you is to come up with a plan based on Gladwell’s theories that would create a Tipping Point of your own.  Who would be your "Few"?  How would you make your message "Sticky"?  In what context (i.e. time, place, population, medium) would you seed your idea?  Remember, Gladwell’s examples range from Paul Revere’s ride to Sesame Street to shoes and crime. 

Before you begin planning, think about something that you’d like to happen.  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Which candidate would you like to win?
• How you could improve the quality of life for people around our city?
• How can you get students to read/do their homework?
• How can you make a product the next "big thing"?
• How could you change people’s ideas about something (a minority, a religion, NAFTA, comic books, video games, school, volunteering…)?
• If you have another idea, please let me know.

After you’ve come up with your topic, review Gladwell’s explanations and my questions above.  We’ll discuss this (and Chapter Four up to page 163) tomorrow.  Comment below if you have any questions.  (We will discuss format, length, due date, etc tomorrow, so no worries about that.)