What Last Week's Events Mean for American Progressives

The events of last week have some pundits and political analysts wondering whether the progressive movement in America has died along with Sen. Kennedy. This is absolutely not the case. Progressivism is more alive than ever before. In fact, it's more than likely going to get bigger than it ever was. As dutiful progressives, we must be proactive-- something I cannot reiterate enough-- and be the ones who are willing to stand up and light a candle as opposed to curse the darkness. Negativity is useless and detrimental in times such as these. It is imperative that we are solution minded and do not cave to the politics of fear. In short, we have to dare to ask: 'Why not?'. This is the only way real change we can believe in can happen.

Reflections on Kennedy Funeral Coverage and the Hurricane Katrina Anniversary

I've been watching all the coverage of Ted Kennedy's funeral this weekend. There have been some excellent documentaries on PBS and MSNBC, primarily episodes of PBS' American Experience and MSNBC's Headliners & Legends. I found the PBS documentary particularly interesting, especially the part about the 1968 Democratic primaries. RFK wasn't very fond of LBJ on account of LBJ's escalation of the Vietnam War.
This weekend also marks the fourth aniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which battered the U.S. Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005. NOLA is trying to make a comeback, but prgress has been slow. Much of the city, especially the Ninth Ward, is still submerged in an economical sense. However, the spirit of this great American city seems to have been salvaged.
Oh, BTW, there was another anniversary I missed in all the craziness-- the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment-- which granted women the right to vote. This glorious event took place on Aug. 26, 1920. Maybe one of these days we'll go all the way and have a female president. Trust me, y'all, it will happen.

Live from New York...

Hello, everybody! Since it's Saturday, I'm going to share my feelings on either music, movies, or TV, as I often do on weekends. Today I'm going to discuss some of my favorite episodes off my vintage Saturday Night Live (read: Seasons 1 & 2) DVDs.
First off, two episodes from SNL's premier season (1975-6) really stand out to me-- the premier (originally aired October 11, 1975) and the season finale (dated July 31, 1976). The very first episode is hosted by late comedian/social commentator George Carlin. I love his football/baseball bit. It's so true: America is "Europe Junior." In terms of sketches, they are very experimental and raw. Back in the day, the "Not-Ready-For-Primetime Players" actually tackled the serious issues of the day through comedy. For example, one skit, "New Dad," starring Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase, comments on the changing definition of the American family. Of course the premier's opening sketch gave viewers insight into the crazy comedic genius that was John Belushi and added classic lines to our pop-culture vernacular, like: "I want to feed your fingertips to the wolverines." I was equally intrigued by the first season finale, hosted by Kris Kristofferson. A lot of good stuff here, especially Kristofferson's "Talk Country" Weekend Update commercial. There's also a great Jimmy Carter/Andy Young skit, featuring Aykroyd and Garrett Morris, respectively. I also had a giggle at Kristofferson and Chase in "Waiting for Pardo." Love the philosophical references! In addition, Jane Curtain and Kristofferson's awkward blind date sketch is pretty dang funny. By far, the highlight of the Season 1 finale is another Chase/Kristofferson collaboration. This time, Chase plays then-President Gerald Ford, and Kristofferson shines as Mississippi state rep Frank Wade. The two are discussing the 1976 presidential election, and Chase makes all kinds of signature clumsy, Ford-esque gaffes (e.g. serving "Mr. Wade" a mint tulip as opposed to a mint julip).
As for the sophomore season, I can't gush about the November 20, 1976, episode enough. This is the episode in which host Paul Simon, reluctantly dressed in a turkey costume, performs a hilarious rendition of "Still Crazy After All These Years." This is also the episode in which musical guest George Harrison picks up the check promised to the Beatles by producer Lorne Micheals if the Fab Four reunites on the show. Of course, the music is wonderful, and the sketches, particularly "Billy Paul," are quite good (and poignant!), too. I also rather enjoyed the February 26, 1977, episode. Here, host Steve Martin takes shots from cast members, mainly Gilda Radner, for supposedly having a swelled head after guest-hosting The Tonight Show. The best skit, IMHO, is definitely "The Coneheads" in which the otherworldly family deals with a curious IRS agent, played by Martin.

A Somewhat Brief Synopsis of My Very Interesting Day

Yesterday was a very interesting day, to say the least. First, I taught my communications class in Olney-- at 8 a.m. (yawn!). Then, a few hours later, I headed up to Charleston for my first fall class at EIU. It's a drama class. Yeah, this is going to be one tough semester! It's a strange (in a good way) juxtaposition to be a teacher and student simultaneously. Afterward, I met up with my BFF, Jenn, for some Mexican food and margaritas. Finally, we went to the JAC, where I read Samuel Taylor Coleridge's " The Ballad of the Dark Ladie"-- a poem about a lovesick brunette looking for her knight in shining armor-- which is in no way autobiographical. I got an amazing response (mostly from guys, interestingly enough) for my reading. I made it home at around 11 p.m. It was a long day, but it was some of the most fun I've ever had in my life. I'm looking forward to the rest of the fall-- and reading more love poems.

The Dawn of a New Era in the Ashleyverse

Yes, I'm embarking on a whole new phase. It's the "dawn of a new era." LOL! My fall class starts tonight at EIU. It feels like everything's happening all at once. I'm having those vibes that this fall will indeed be an interesting one in the Ashleyverse. Of course, I'll discuss these recent developments in tomorrow's post. (Did that make sense?) Anyway, there's a lot of exciting happenings going on right now.

Another Death in the Family

Well, we've lost another one of our own today. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) lost his 15-month battle with brain cancer. Needless to say, he will be seriously missed by we progressives. Speaking of progressivism, Kennedy was the main person in Congress who pushed for universal health care legislation. On this morning's edition of The Today Show, Chris Matthews said that President Obama needs to take an LBJ-style approach to this issue in order to fulfill Kennedy's legacy. I can't say that I disagree with that. Anyway, many pundits have referred to the president as the "heir to Camelot" and/or "the last surviving Kennedy brother." I believe the president will honor his supporter's legacy and make universal health care a reality-- just as LBJ did so with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 following JFK's assassination. Once again, history is repeating itself in a major (and hopefully positive!) way. Interesting how things come full circle.

Breaking News (And a Little Side Note)

Alright, faithful readers, here's the breaking news: In addition to teaching communications, I've also been asked to teach as opposed to merely tutor the remedial reading and English classes. For some reason, I'm feeling responsibility encroaching upon me. LOL! Seriously, though, I'm really excited about this.
Now for the little side note: I was cruising the pages of IMDb.com (the coolest site ever!) and discovered that today is the 60th birthday of John Savage-- whom I and many others consider to be one of the most underrated actors on the planet. I think I'm going to honor this "occasion" tonight by watching The Deer Hunter (1978) and Inside Moves (1980)-- Savage's two best-known films, which I've previously discussed in the Ashleyverse and cannot recommend highly enough.

President Obama, Afghanistan, and the 2009 Miss Universe Pageant

In addition to the health care debacle, President Obama must now deal with Afghanistan. (BTW, did y'all hear that Glenn Beck has lost backing from advertisers on account of a particularly controversial dig about the president? Hmm... I think this one warrants further exploration.) Anyway, I'm certain the president and his cabinet will not only facilitate timely, honorable withdrawal from Iraq, but they will also handle Afghanistan effectively. Of course, only time will tell.
As for the Miss Universe 2009 pageant, Miss Venezuela won for the second year in a row. Nineteen-year-old Stefania Fernandez secured herself the "peace" crown by being beautiful as well as decidedly brainy, astutely answering a tough interview competition question about whether women still face barriers in society. She said they really don't. I like her! LOL! Anyway, the entertainment left much to be desired-- IMHO. Ex-Destiny's Child wingwoman Kelly Rowland performed with some DJ guy. I'm sure Ms. Rowland is a perfectly fine individual, but Beyonce she ain't. The other big news is that Hills "star" Heidi Montag-Pratt (we're into hyphens now, are we?) "performed" her latest "single." Um, no comment there.

From Pre-Election Jitters to Health Care Reform Hullaballoo: How a Year Has Changed Us

I watched part of the president's Thurs., Aug. 20 health care reform forum speech on C-SPAN earlier today. Listen, folks, things are getting better. Furthermore, the public option is a good thing. And, no, hard-earned taxpayer dollars will not be used to fund abortions. As President Obama pointed out to a diverse audience of concerned citizens, when FDR and JFK tried to propose progressive legislation, they were labelled as "socialist" as well. Personally, I believe the media has portrayed the division of America as being worse than it actually is. There are many on both sides of the aisle in Congress who promote bi-partisan solutions to the problems we are facing. One of these is DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, the governor of Virginia and a moderate-to-conservative Democrat, whom I believe is a unifying force in American politics. Most importantly, the president reminded the audience that real people are the true force for positive social change and that this change is definitely happening right now because of real people. According to the commander-in-chief, we have more power and credibility than big-shot media outlets.
That brings me to my second point: President Obama jokingly referenced the events of one year ago this week. A year ago, both parties were gearing up for their national conventions. In addition, each presidential candidate chose a running mate. The president and the audience erupted in laughter-- as did I-- when Obama mentioned the selection of Sen. McCain's running mate. (Quite honestly, I think I laughed harder at that moment than I probably have in a year.) Obama also remarked how there's just something about the transition from August to September that gets people worked up. (I couldn't resist applauding that remark; the August-to-September transition is always an edgy time for me for some strange reason.) Anyway, joking aside, we still have a long way to go, but progress has been made in the past year.

Natural Progressions

Yesterday I discussed what I'm going to be doing this fall. I think everything's moving along as it should in the Ashleyverse. Sometimes I get anxious about stepping outside my "comfort zones" and making changes, but I realize that's all just part of natural progress and that a little discomfort is necessary. So, progress is what's currently happening in the Ashleyverse

Reality Round-Up

Well, folks, it appears that Octomom is at it again. She has a new "reality" TV series on FOX. Why am I not surprised? Of course, Octomom had to criticize Jon and Kate Gosselin. (I won't even touch that one!) That's a messed up scene, to say the least. On a positive note, life in the Ashleyverse is about to get crazy in a good way. I learned just a couple hours ago that I will indeed be teaching communications on Tuesday and Thursday mornings this fall. Of course, my class at EIU is on Thursday evenings. I'm also going to be doing some tutoring and-- hopefully-- radio station work on the side. And, since all work and no play makes Ashley a dull girl, I plan on resuming my Thursday night coffeeshop performances at open-mic nights after class on Thursdays. I'll be sure to alert y'all to any new material as concepts develop.

The Next Phase

I'm getting ready to head off to the first day of class for fall '09. I'm sensing that I'm embarking upon a new phase. While doing research, I came across an inspirational quote about creating positive social change. It was spoken by none other than positive change agent Robert F. Kennedy on June 6, 1966, in Capetown, South Africa. Here goes:

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

Couldn't have said it better myself, Bobby!

Stages of Life

I'm starting back to work for the fall semester tomorrow. I found out that my colleague is going to be a first-time grandpa, as his daughter in Tennessee has just announced that she is expecting. It got me thinking: Marriage and motherhood are more than likely just around the corner (read: within a couple years) in the Ashleyverse. (I'm getting that distinct vibe that I will meet Mr. Right sometime in the very near future.) Anywho, I occasionally indulge in fantasies of being "married with children." (Yes, even we liberal/progressive gals have those fantasies!) I've actually gone so far as to think of potential baby names. Right now, my favorite girls' names are Harper and Zoe. For boys, I think Dylan and Oliver are just nifty. I don't know why I have those vibes. Must be a Southern thing! Perhaps my intuition will prove to be right, and my pink-and-blue fantasies will indeed become a reality.

Feelings About My Final Grade and Academia in General

Okay, I logged onto eiu.edu (the university Web site-- duh!) last night to check my final grade. I made a B. Based on what I've heard and observed about Dr. K, I'm very pleased with that. (I swear, that man doesn't believe in handing out As! Oh, well-- builds character. lol! Truth be told, I'd actually rather have to work hard and put forth effort for accolades as opposed to simply having things handed to me.) Honestly and ironically, I've gotten to where I really don't believe in giving students grades. I think subjective evaluations of progress would be a much more effective-- not to mention self-esteem-building-- way to assess pupils. Too bad that logic probably wouldn't fly with my supervisors! Anyway, I guess I'm making satisfactory progress in all areas of this life.

Review and Discussion of The Monstrous Regiment of Women, Pt. 2

In this installment of my series of mini-reviews of The Monstrous Regiment of Women, I'm going to discuss the logic-- or my perceived lack thereof-- presented by the documentary's commentators. To begin with, I really have bone to pick with one Jennie Chancey. Mrs. Chancey, according to her anti-feminist Web site-- which I won't name here in order not to give credence to the ideology-- is a big fan of Jane Austen and even runs a company called Sense & Sensibility, through which she sells Romantic Period-style dress patterns. That's funny, because Jane Austen's heroines were actually quite liberated and outspoken (hello, Lizzy Bennet from Pride and Prejudice?!). Being somewhat well versed in the study of Jane Austen's England, I think Mrs. Chancey would be shocked if she actually studied the in and outs of this era. (BTW, Ms. Austen herself died in her 40s, childless and never married. Just thought that would be an interesting point to bring up here.)
This leads to the next point I want to discuss. Young women in the movement are basically forbidden from pursuing college educations and careers. Two more commentators-- Carmon Friedrich and Dana Feliciano-- outline their reasons for their opposition to higher education for girls. Friedrich, for example, cites her belief that young ladies are fed "garbage" at liberal arts colleges. Yeah, well, I took a philosophy class once at EIU, and I had to listen to how all these supposedly great male thinkers supported slavery, oppressed women, and believed that education was the privilege of the social elite. Maybe I'm totally insane, but that's my idea of being spoonfed "garbage" in school. She also ridicules the feminist interpretation of the biblical story of Deborah, a woman who became her nation's leader after the men of that nation had all become incapable of doing so by "asserting" that it was a sad day when this happened. Whoa! Let me get this straight-- the men weren't doing their jobs, so a woman had to step in to save the day. That's supposed to be a bad thing? Hmm... I think I have a new literary role model. lol! Also, there's such a thing as gender-based limitations in the educational, political, and business worlds? Wow, I must not have gotten that memo. Apparently, Mrs. Friedrich & Co. believe that the fairer sex is emotionally and intellectually incapable of leadership and self-suffiency. Needless to say, the gals in this movie aren't really big fans of the Nineteenth Amendment. Later, Friedrich explains how young women can find fulfillment in the home. Here, narrator Emily Gunn rips on feminist pioneer Betty Friedan by mocking a quote from Friedan about how housework produces nothing meaningful and arrests girls' development. (My feelings exactly, Betty!) As for Feliciano, her beliefs stem from a personal experience, which I'll more than likely discuss in a later post. Yes, folks, this is a segway into the next installment.

Silver Linings

Okay, I'm trying this new thing where I'm trying to put a positive spin on everything. I think "reality" is largely the result of individual perception and perspective. Take, for example, the brouhaha that has ensued over the president's health care plan. I think that problem is starting to resolve itself. I heard on the news a few minutes ago that President Obama is considering dropping the public option altogether. I think this could possibly quell the protests (which, ironically, have been staged at these townhall meetings by insurance companies and Big Pharma) and help the president compromise with and silence critics of his proposed health care policies. (Trust me, y'all, this ain't my final word on this issue!) On a personal note, things have been less than ideal in the Ashleyverse jobwise, but there's a silver lining there, too. I believe that the reason this is happening is that it's simply time for me to move on. Everyone's life has its share of rainstorms, but by trying to weather them vis-a-vis a positive outlook, we can often find the proverbial silver lining of our personal clouds.
In totally non-sequitur news, continuing on the musical anniversary theme, today is the 32nd anniversary of the death of the King of Rock 'n' Roll-- Elvis Presley. Presley died on August 16, 1977, at his Memphis mansion-- Graceland. I can't say that I'm a huge Elvis fan, but I do like his later songs-- especially "In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds."
Also, legendary guitarist Les Paul passed away Thursday at age 94. Paul inspired countless musicians, including Eric Clapton, B.B. King, the Rolling Stones' uber-eccentric (in a good way) lead guitarist Keith Richards, Queen's Brian May, U2's Dave Evans a.k.a. The Edge, and former Guns 'n' Roses axeslinger Saul "Slash" Hudson. Adieu, Les!

It Was 40 Years Ago Today (Again)...

Yes, folks, today marks the 40th anniversary of the original Woodstock Music & Arts Festival, a generation-defining celebration of peace, love, and culture. From August 15-18, 1969, thousands of hippies gathered at Max Yasgur's Upstate New York dairy farm and were treated to the sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Santana, The Who, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, and CSNY, among many other great acts. This afternoon, I had a little inter-generational communication about the issues and culture of the 60s and today with my dad. He called to remind me about VH1's Woodstock-themed programming and to reminisce. (He wasn't physically at Woodstock, but he was "there" mentally and spiritually.) I think everything that took place back then has resulted in what's happening now. For instance, the Civil Rights Movement made the outcome of the last presidential election possible. I've concluded that historical events occur in a cyclical pattern. That is, every 40 years or so, history tends to repeat itself. One negative repetition is war. Just like with Vietnam, there's been a lot of protest against U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fortunately for today's progressives, we actually like our president (now), and there is at least some inkling of an exit strategy from the conflicts we are currently enduring. Y'know, a lot of us were getting kinda worried a year ago. I think it's safe to say that Dubya actually made Nixon look good by comparison. lol! Yeah, Dad and I have some really interesting dialogue. I'm so grateful for the values I was imbued with. (BTW, Dad, if you're reading this, I didn't have "a little help from my friends" writing it.) Incidentally, I got my Volkswagen back today, so things are uber-groovy in the Ashleyverse.

Stranded for a Good Cause

Well, folks, I've been stranded for the past few days. Let me clarify: My car is in a repair shop. (There was an issue with the timing belt (whatever that is--lol!), and the engine was overheating (yikes!).) Actually, I'm rather grateful that this is the case. First of all, it's created an opportunity for me to incorporate a little extra exercise into my daily routine, courtesy of walks to the local grocery store, which is just a few blocks from my house. Secondly, this situation has forced me to slow down a bit and reflect, something I admittedly haven't done a whole lot of during the past eight weeks in my quest for higher education. In addition, I've had to bum rides off friends and family, which has helped me foster the spirit of interconnectedness that is so vital to our existence. Also, I'm being eco-friendly, since I'm not emitting toxins into the atmosphere, not to mention the fact that I didn't have to spend money on gas this week. (The timing couldn't have been better, because I don't have to go to Charleston again until the 27th.) Thus, I suppose I've upped my universal karma rating a tad by going green. Finally, this minor "inconvenience" has made me more appreciative of what I have in this life-- health and a strong support network. In other words, everything one needs to make it and then some. Basically, this has made me realize that merely having material possessions isn't where it's at. Still, I'm looking forward to getting my baby, er, car back.

Review and Discussion of The Monstrous Regiment of Women, Pt. 1

Alright, for the past week or so, I've been talking about this movie I watched recently that's called The Monstrous Regiment of Women, based on a 1558 essay by Scottish Protestant minister John Knox, who decried leadership by women in the wake of Mary I (a.k.a. Mary, Queen of Scots or "Bloody Mary"), a fervent Catholic who ordered the mass murder of recalcitrant Protestants. (And we all know that men from Knox's part of the world are renowned for their even temperaments!) Today, I'm going to discuss it. There were many aspects of this doumentary that I found disturbing, so I'll try to keep this as brief and succinct as possible. (Note: I have so much to say about this film that I will write this review in several weekly installments.)
For starters, the film featured a panel of commentators who subscribe to the Christian patriarchy lifestyle. These women claim to be anti-feminists and professional mommies and homemakers and denounce women who who work outside the home and hold positions of power. (The term "monstrous regiment" is used here to refer to today's feminists.) The problem I have with this is that most of the commentators, including Texan (sigh) narrator Emily Gunn-- whose husband, Colin (a Scotsman, incidentally), produced and directed the film-- actually profit from this lifestyle. Another prominent voice featured on the film is that of the undisputed queen of the anti-feminist movement-- Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly. Mrs. Schlafly was once a high-paid lawyer who profits greatly from her work with the GOP, Religious Right, and the Eagle Forum, rendering her a hypocrite deluxe. Also, two of the other women featured-- Jennie Chancey and Stacy MacDonald-- have written numerous books, run Websites, and conduct conferences about being "Godly women." Of course, all the commentators take turns ridiculing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. For example, one major bone of contention is that Hillary only has one child. Does the number of children a woman has automatically determine how good or bad a mother she is? I think not. This leads to my next point: The opinions expressed throughout the documentary are basically illogical. I will discuss this matter further sometime next week.

More Viewpoints on Change and Success

I attended another workshop this morning. The subject matter for this one was change and success. I've been trying to alter my views on what constitutes success. That is, success should not be viewed in solely monetary terms. There was a great quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson-- one of my all-time favorite writers-- on one of today's handouts regarding the true meaning of success. According to Emerson: "What is success? To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; That is to have succeeded." Well said, Ralph! As for the whole change thing, well, the workshop speaker emphasized the fact that that's often a lot easier said than done. She also intimated that one of the keys to creating positive change is proactivity. Appropriately enough, she used a JFK quote-- "We must use time as a tool, not as a crutch." In other words, we must seize upon the moment that an opportunity to make a change presents itself and not squander it. It's sort of, like, "Carpe Diem!" or "Seize the Day!" Most importantly, we must listen to our inner voices to give ourselves a sense of direction in terms of our career and life paths. Therefore, I'm applying all these change-making/true-success-creating tips in order to find my way in this life.

A Death in the Family

Eunice Kennedy Shriver-- the fifth of nine siblings, including JFK and RFK-- died at approximately 2 a.m. on August 11, 2009, at age 88. Shriver was the mother of five children. Daughter Maria is the First Lady of California. During her lifetime, Shriver contributed to society in a number of ways. She is best known as the founder of the Special Olympics, a program she started in honor of sister Rosemary, who had developmental disabilities. This great humanitarian will be greatly missed. Like many other members of the Kennedy family (and the countless Americans they inspired), Eunice lived by her mother, Rose's, credo: "To whom much has been given, much is to be expected."-- as well as her brother's 1961 presidential inauguration hookline: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

Mindless Monday

Well, folks, I'm enjoying my little respite from work and school quite a bit. It's allowing me to focus on "working from home" via this blog. To be honest, though, I'll be really happy to get back into the Real World next week. I can drop off the face of the earth for about a week, then I have to reconnect with civilization. Anywho, I'll have some interesting material for y'all to peruse over the next few days, thanks to this "spare time." For the time being, I'm revelling in this Mindless Monday.

The Greatest John Hughes Movies and Quotes of All Time

As everyone probably already knows, writer/producer/director/filmmaker John Hughes died suddenly of a heart attack this past week. He was 59. During his lifetime and amazing career, Hughes helped create some wonderful (and now classic) films: the National Lampoon's Vacation franchise, Mr. Mom, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, Uncle Buck, The Great Outdoors, Trains, Planes, and Automobiles, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, just to name a few. These films also launched the careers of the likes of Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Matthew Broderick, Judd Nelson, et. al. In addition to containing memorable music and characters (Cousin Eddie from Vacation (Randy Quaid) and Duckman (John Cryer) from Pretty in Pink, anyone?), Hughes' films (imho) contain some of the greatest quotes in cinematic history. Among my faves are: "Can I borrow your underpants for ten minutes?"-- spoken by The Geek (Anthony Michael Hall) in Sixteen Candles (1984) and "Kids, when we get home, your father will be 'going away' for a little while."-- a great line from Ellen Griswold (Beverly D'Angelo) in Vacation (1983) that she delivers after hubby Clark (Chevy Chase) loses it in the middle of his "quest for fun." (Actually, according to many of my relatives, my dad is Clark Griswold.) For more awesomely hilarious Hughes quotes, log onto various sites, including: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/entertainment/celebrity/The_Greatest_John_Hughes_Movie_Quotes_of_All_Time-52670477.html and http://www.premiumhollywood.com/2009/08106/john-hughes-1950-2009/. (I may have to compile a list of all my fave quotes at a later date. Stay tuned!)

It was 40 years ago today...

On August 8, 1969, Scottish photographer Iain MacMillan snapped the famous photo of John, Paul, George, and Ringo (a.k.a. The Beatles) walking single file down a pedestrian zebra crossing outside the Fab Four's London recording studio-- Abbey Road. The pic, which shows the group depicting a "funeral procession," was used for the cover of the album Abbey Road, released in October of '69. Abbey Road is probably my favourite Beatles album. It contains two of the Fab Four's best (imho) songs-- "Here Comes the Sun" and "Something"-- both sung by the grossly underrated George. (In case y'all didn't notice, I spelled "favourite" the British way. Couldn't resist a little English teacher humor. lol!) This past week, thousands of fans from all walks of life descended upon the famed location to commemorate the anniversary. Wish I could've been there! (I suppose I was "there" in spirit.)

More About The Monstrous Regiment of Women

Howdy, folks! I just viewed The Monstrous Regiment of Women (the anti-feminist, pro-"Christian" patriarchy documentary I mentioned a few days ago) once again. I must say that I found it even more disturbing this time around. I know I promised y'all a lengthy post about this film, and I will deliver on that promise sometime next week. I am now recommending this DVD to all my female friends and family members. Those of us who value our basic rights and dignity must watch it and beware of the social and political implications of the ideology espoused therein.

Thoughtless Thursday 2

Sometime ago, I discussed an occasion known in the Ashleyverse as "Thoughtless Thursday." Well, I'm having another one today. In light of the past eight weeks, I've imposed a temporary moratorium on thinking. It's nice to not have to think critically once in awhile. School will start back up in a couple weeks, and everything will be insane again. So, I'm kicking back and simply enjoying this lovely "Thoughtless Thursday."

"Final" Celebration

Well, folks, I had my Romanticism final this evening. It was so nervewracking! It was a two-part deal: half trivia (which I'm pretty sure I aced) and half passage/quote identification (jury's still out on that one), respectively. I'm a little ticked at Dr. K right now. You see, he only gave us an hour and 15 mins. (half a normal class period) to complete the sucker. That's why I'm feeling a little iffy about the second part of the test. Dr. K is going to grade it on a Bell curve, though. All things considered, this was a successful endeavor. I think I'm going to end up with a B for my final grade. There's a remote chance I could pull an A, but I'll settle for a B. After all, this is grad school. Anyway, I'm celebrating the occasion by nuking a Stouffer's lasagna in the microwave. Yum! Yum! I also bought a bottle of Jacob's Creek Merlot-- Vintage 2007. For dessert, I've got my fave guilty pleasure-- Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream. Overall, I'm proud of myself. I deserve a little bit of pure, Bacchanellian happiness.

Terrific Tuesday!

Okay, folks, I had a slightly better today. Actually, I didn't (technically) have to do anything-- a rarity in the Ashleyverse. My best friend called me this afternoon, and she's also going through an existential crisis. She and I are both ready to move on with our lives. I celebrate the fact that I have such a strong support network, especially in these "times that try men's (and women's) souls"-- to paraphrase Tom Paine. Someone else who's celebrating is President Obama. The prez turned 48 today. According to this one article I read today, he's trying to celebrate amid everything that's going on now. Of course he was on the campaign trail last year at this time. What a difference a year makes! Incidentally, he shares a b'day with senior reporter Helen Thomas-- who's one of my idols. Ms. Thomas is 89 years young. So, happy birthday, Mr. President (and Ms. Thomas)! All things considered, I had a basically terrific Tuesday.

My "Bad Case of the Mondays"

To quote that lady on Office Space, I had a "bad case of the Mondays" today. First, I had to wake up super-early this morning in order to go to yet another all-day workshop at the college. (We have a lot of those suckers this time of year.) Anyway, as usual it pertained to disabilities. It's a little mindnumbing and soulsucking, to be perfectly honest. Then, I had to stay an extra 45 minutes in order to discuss the fate of our tutoring program with my boss and co-workers. I seriously hope that I'll be moving on to the greener pastures of higher academia come the first of next year. Finally, I had to drive all the way to Charleston for my second-to-last Romanticism class. I was wiped out by the time it was all said and done. I just got home from school about an hour ago. (It's actually about 10:30 p.m. here in Illinois, and I've been up since 4 a.m., so do the math.) Oh, well, I guess I should be grateful that I'm able to live a full life, no matter how crazy it gets sometimes. Besides, tomorrow's a new day-- Terrific Tuesday!

Second Take-Home Exam Questions and Answer Explanations

I completed my second take-home exam this evening. I wrote an essay on the themes of John Keats' poetry, namely death and mortality. There were two other essays I had to write as well. This time around, we had four sections to choose from and were required to select one essay prompt out of three of them. I chose to write a couple pages or so each about items from sections I, II, and IV. (I decided not to do anything with section III, which pertained to the writings of Mary Shelley. No disrespect to Ms. Shelley and her fine work, but analyses/interpretations of Frankenstein are a little trite and, well, done before.) Anyway, below are the questions that I did answer and my explanations of those answers.
I. Byron
b. "Glimpses of Julia." Analyze the character of Donna Julia in Don Juan, Canto I, emphasizing how different moments in the poem give us strikingly different views of her. Is the portrait ultimately a consistent one, or not?
For my answer to this question, I discussed the changes in Don Juan's perception of Donna Julia, his love interest. I said that in the beginning, Donna Julia, although a sexy, exotic beauty, was still quite chaste and innocent on the inside. In other words, her perceived sexuality was superficial. Later, Julia escapes an unsatisfying marriage to a much older man by having an affair with a very young Don Juan. At the end of the canto, Julia repents for her sinful deeds and becomes an older, wiser version of her earlier self. I argued that the portrait of her is consistent in that Julia basically changes by reverting to the chastity of her youth.
II. Percy Shelley
a. "Agnosticism in The Cenci." Paying close attention to key passages, show how the play undermines traditional religious faith, building a strong implicit case for agnosticism or atheism.
This play, based on a true story of the wicked 16th-century Italian count, Francesco Cenci, tackles the issue of hypocrisy within the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages. In one of the passages I cited, Cenci is trying to "buy" his way into Heaven by paying large sums of his sizeable fortune in order to avoid punishment for abusing his daughter, Beatrice, who helps devise a plan to assassinate her father in retaliation for his evil deeds. The other passage I allude to in the essay is a dialogue between Beatrice and stepmother Lucretia in which Beatrice decries the fact that history will probably view her father as a great ruler, while she will be forever punished if she goes through with killing him, even though he is a terrible person and abuses her horribly. I took Beatrice's side, arguing that the social conventions of her time and social status, not to mention her religion, dictated that she suffer in silence. Ultimately, I decided that the play was a definite case for atheism, since both earthly justice and traditional faith have failed Beatrice miserably. (Personally, I think the play is also an excellent argument for the separation of church and state, but that wasn't part of the question.)
IV. Keats
c. "Accepting Death." In an essay touching on at least two of the Odes, discuss ways that Keats comes to grips with death-- that is, with mortality in general, and perhaps specifically with the premonition of his own early death.
For starters, I discussed the aforementioned themes in Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale." For example, in one stanza, Keats uses the nightingale, an ancient bird species, as a symbol for longevity. Here, Keats exclaims that he wishes that he, like nightingales, will be able to create art that will be enjoyed by many generations. I concluded this portion of the essay by stating that even though Keats had premonitions of an early death, he found solace in that fact that he could write enduring poetry. (Incidentally, Mr. Keats' premonition proved to be right, for he died at age 25, two years after writing his "Great Odes" series.) Next, I discussed "Ode on a Grecian Urn." In this paragraph, I said that the poem's final stanza "says it all." More specifically, I argued that Keats is describing the true meaning of life-- creating beautiful things and contributing beautiful ideas to society. I really like this stanza! Finally, I stated that the two poems are in sharp contrast to one another in that Keats' attitude in the former is one of grappling with death and mortality, whereas the latter poem illustrates a man who has come to terms with his inevitable impending death. My ultimate assertion is that Keats does indeed live on through his words.

Religious Themes in World Literature

I just finished writing an essay about religious hypocrisy in Percy Shelley's The Cenci. I'm also currently watching this DVD called The Monstrous Regiment of Women, which is based on an essay entitled The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous of Regiment of Women, written by Scottish "reformer" John Knox in 1558. I'll discuss both essays and the DVD in next week's posts. Hmm... Perhaps this could serve as the basis for a class that I could design and teach in the future. I'll get back with y'all on that.