Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori

YEA I AM DONE WITH LECTURES FOR 30 DAYS!!!!!
I made with through my sophomore semester as The Person From the Other Side of the Desk! Without a doubt this was one of the most challenging goals I've ever achieved. To give you some sort of perspective, my first class was only a handful of kids who were very nice, came to class, and didn't complain. This semester I taught two different classes and couldn't have had a more difficult time (OK, this is an exaggeration). To wit:
The Banshees.
These girls were in my morning class. If they were flavors of ice cream, they'd be Bitter, Fat, and Ugly with Sarcasm sauce. Ugh, these girls.
My Wardrobe.
Inexplicably my clothing failed me on several occasions throughout the semester. Once, my wrap dress became unwrapped. Wow.
The Text
I composed the body of information for my Art class, so understandably I'm quite fond of it. However, I did not have that luxury with my Humanities class. The text for this class is, in my opinion, out of date and embarrassingly offensive. Africans are primitive animists, Mesoamericans are bloodthirsty, the Christians have never made a false step. I spent two weeks on the Greeks and only half of that time on the Romans because the Romans were thieves, and the Chinese and Japanese haven't changed at all in the history of time. Oh, and humans are not related to apes. On and on and on this list goes.

But it's all over now. My students have their presentations to give (I'm big on the presentation, if only to get people unafraid to speak up), I've got a couple of study guides to make up, and then the finals. Still, next semester I shall return a changed bee.

Of Eating and Indians

Oh, Thanksgiving. The splendors of cream cheese, the dance macabre of salt and sugar. Actually I really like Thanksgiving. I like the idea of doing nothing but eating, and nowadays, shopping as well. I suppose it's what people have always done around this time of year. The native Americans don't celebrate Thanksgiving and why should they? I grew up with Indian kids; I love their cultures and sympathize with their misgivings. The Indians are so wild and lovely and intelligent and the European immigrants have treated them unfairly. These peoples continue to share what little possessions they have, they give their time and effort to anyone who asks, they are honest. I wish our mutual histories could have been different.

Contextualizing Context

I'm enjoying George Trow's Within the Context of No Context although it is not the walk in the park I thought it would be. I do like the way he creeps up on the subject as though it was a wild animal, which is fitting. American culture can be so difficult to pin down. It's not as though we as Americans are invited to consider ourselves to be joined in a unified identity. The institution of rights or freedom begs disparateness. There are exceptions, of course. War unifies Americans very quickly if only for a moment. Joy in triumph, because Americans like to win. But our culture? Trow is either right or wrong on this one, but I can't judge him just yet.
Some favorite quotes thus far:
The most successful celebrities are products. Consider the real role in American life of Coca Cola. Is any man as well loved as this soft drink is?

The message of many things in America is "Like this or die". It is a strain.

Pho Bo

I am in love with this soup. I literally want to carry a cup of it around with me all day long and sip, sip, sip. After one minute of research, however, I was disheartened to find that the secret ingredient is "labor". The good people of Howstuffworks.com have an easy version of this recipe that I'll try tonight.

Vietnamese Beef Soup

by the Editors of Easy Home Cooking Magazine

Vietnamese Beef Soup

Yield: Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

3/4 pound boneless beef top sirloin or top round steak

3 cups water

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) beef broth

1 can (10-1/2 ounces) condensed consommé, undiluted

2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger

1 cinnamon stick (3 inches long)

4 ounces rice noodles (rice sticks), about 1/8 inch wide

1/2 cup thinly sliced or julienned carrots

2 cups fresh bean sprouts

1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

2 jalapeño peppers,* minced or 1 to 3 teaspoons Chinese chili sauce or paste

Preparation:

1.

Place beef in freezer 45 minutes or until firm. Meanwhile, combine water, beef broth, consommé, soy sauce, ginger and cinnamon stick in large saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer, covered, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick; discard. Meanwhile, place rice noodles in large bowl and cover with warm water; let stand until softened, about 20 minutes.

2.

Slice beef lengthwise in half, then crosswise into very thin strips. Drain noodles. Place noodles and carrots in simmering broth; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until noodles are tender. Add beef and bean sprouts; cook 1 minute or until beef is no longer pink.

3.

Remove from heat; stir in red onion, cilantro, basil and jalapeño peppers. To serve, lift noodles from soup with fork and place in bowls. Ladle remaining ingredients and broth over noodles.
Note: After trying this recipe I would try the following the next time I make it: less noodles, a better stock and consumme

The Internet

This internet thing is like everything else; it is good, it is bad, it is nothing at all. But I need to write more so I thought to myself, if they can do it with a picture why can't I do it with a bar of chocolate?