two new things

Brittney Cooper is my favorite news commentator.

She spoke at the Y a few weeks ago, and they taped it, so I watched it.

Two (of the) things I learned from her:

(1) The sexual-abuse-to-prison pipeline.  I knew that many, many people who are incarcerated -- especially women --- are survivors of sexual abuse, but I'd never heard that term before, and I think it's a brilliant way of naming that reality.  Naming is so important.

(2) The critique of intersectionality coming from scholars arguing for assemblage as a more helpful construct.  I don't exactly understand the distinction, but now I want to.

Also, at 59:30, she gets asked about the 2016 election, and the way she responds is so YEAH YEAH EXACTLY YEAH.

An official said to one of my incarcerated colleagues at a hearing about his suitability for parole:

"You need to focus less on helping other people and more on helping yourself."

old folks' activism?

On my way to the prison a couple of weeks ago, when I came up from the BART, there was an elderly White couple sitting on folding chairs outside the station, facing those of us coming through the turn-styles; he was holding a sign that said "End the death penalty," and they seemed to be chatting idly.

one of my favorite scenes ever

In a TV show, a movie, a book, in life, wherever, like, seriously, ever.

a little adorable

I wake-up-call one of my students because he has a hard time getting to school on time. I want him to switch into my AP Prep class next semester, which is first hour, so I'm trying to get him in the habit of getting up early.

Anyway, usually the call goes:

"Morning, [student name]!"
"Morning, Ms. Dahlke."
"You up?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, the bus comes in forty minutes. I'll see you in sixth hour."

But today, it went:

"Morning, [student name]!"
"Morning, Ms. Dahlke."
"You up?"
"Yeah. What are we doing in school today? Can we just watch the election and talk about it?"

Surpriiiise! Surpriiiise! Surpriiiiise!

our school's mock election results:

Overall school turnout – 57% (639)

Champaign States Attorney
Janie-Miller Jones (R) 17% (108)
Julia Reitz (D) 83% (528)

Illinois House of Representatives
Frank Calabrese (R) 16% (111)
Naomi Jakobsson (D) 84 % (555)

U.S. Congress 15th District
Timothy Johnson (R) 30% (197)
Steve Cox (D) 70% (471)

U.S. Senate
Larry Stafford (L) 3% (21)
Steve Sauerberg (R) 11% (72)
Kathy Cummings (G) 11% (75)
Richard Durbin (D) 75% (504)

U.S. President
Bob Barr (L) (L) 2% (12)
Cynthia McKinney (G) 2% (16)
John McCain (R) 10% (62)
Barack Obama (D) 86% (606)

Do you support a constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Yes – 31% (211)
No – 69% (463)

Should the voting age be lowered from 18 to 17?
No - 42% (288)
Yes 58% (390)

Should intelligent design be taught as well as evolution in UHS science classrooms?
No - 49% (325)
Yes - 51% (338)

Should the U.S. President be elected by popular vote rather than by the Electoral College?
No - 24% (166)
Yes - 74% (513)

9th grade turnout – 41% (143/342)
10th grade turnout – 57% (177/309)
12th grade turnout – 66% (151/230)
11th grade turnout – 68% (168/248) Class of 2010 Rules!
Faculty Turnout – 55% (57/104)

The intelligent design results are interesting, although I do have this anecdote that could suggest that many students were confused by the question: As I was "election judging" during my lunch hour, one of my students started to walk away saying, "I quit!" I asked him if he needed help, and started explaining step-by-step how to use the ballot. When I explained to him what that question was asking, he remarked, "Nah, that sounds like more work for me!"

Here in Champaign County,

we operate on an eye-for-an-eye justice system. (Or ear-for-an-ear, I guess, in this case?)

An Illinois judge has sentenced a man to listen to 20 hours of classical music as punishment for playing hip-hop music too loudly out of his car stereo. The judge offered to reduce Andrew Vactor's $150 fine down to $35 if Vactor agreed to spend 20 hours listening to works by Brahms, Beethoven, Chopin and other classical composers.

Champaign County Municipal Court Judge Susan Fornof-Lippencott claimed that her decision did not imply that listening to classical music qualilfies as punishment, but by making Vactor to listen to music he might not prefer, he would feel the same way the public did when he blasted rap music from his car stereo.

Um, what. Say it ain't so.

Hilton/Damon '08!

Gene > Kasey?

The best thing about having friends that are skilled in inDesign? The letterhead. (For more information about the inner workings of The Board, see this earlier post.)

um, no

I did not like Dark Knight.


Now, I realize that I'm in the minority on this one, and I'm not just saying I didn't like it to be that annoying I'm-so-unique person. I just wanted to leave the whole time I was watching it. I found it to be a miserable experience. (Except for at the end when the Joker was done; I liked the anti-save-the-world message.)

If this makes sense, I think it was just too well done. Heath Ledger was too disturbing. That's the best acting I've ever seen, but I'm not impressed or entertained, I'm disgusted.

another Seinfield and another Johnny reference

Johnny has had many crazy/awesome ideas over the years, one of which was to have a news broadcast that only gave good news. For example, "On Main Street today, a young woman saw an old woman drop a ten dollar bill. That young woman picked up the money, and gave it to the old woman. : )"

This report, linked from the UIUC homepage, reminded me of that idea.

Also, the series-finale-of-Seinfield parallels seem too obvious to comment on.

Vote!