A modern re-telling of the Antigone story, "echoBOOM" uses the tragedy of a high school shooting to excavate the many factors in today's society that feed the violence of terrorism. Controversial subject matter relevant to politics, religion, and justice ignite the echoing commentary on how we relate to our society through the media.
Brandy Austin directs Caitlin Parrish's script, which integrates the experiences of student-actors to create a personalized production. Nathan Wasson portrays Brody Greyson, "a boy born for poetry" and the shooter in the rampage, while Rachael Lee Magill takes on the role of Ash Greyson, who wants her brother to be remembered as one of the lives lost in the tragedy rather than as a terrorist. Even the people closest to her — her sister Callie (Joey Wooden) and her boyfriend Damian Walter (Scott Gibbs) — distance themselves from her cause as Damian's politician father, Edward Walter (Stephen Scarlato), capitalizes on the tragedy.
The media, constantly in pursuit of someone to blame, is fed by a student photographer, Fiona (Rachel Havird). The Chorus (Jacob Bates, Cameron Bradford, Lorna Dopson, David Fitzgibbons, Kari Kennon, and Carolyn Lucas) embodies the dead students, media, and the echoBOOM generation that begs questions beyond faith, questions that even the second coming of Jesus Christ (Destin Bass) cannot answer.
The Marjorie Lyons Playhouse cautions audiences to consider the controversial subject matter, adult language, and violence in this production; this material is not appropriate for children. The cast and crew take seriously the show's content and hope to provide a forum for community dialogue following each performance.
"echoBOOM" opens April 10 at 8pm and runs April 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. as well as April 13 at 2 p.m. Contact the Marjorie Lyons Playhouse Box Office at 318-869-5242 for ticket information.
$10 adults, $5 students.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Hazel nuts and cocoa equal one of the world's favorite spreads: Nutella?
Born in 1946 when Italians were bankrupt from the devastation of WWII, Nutella was originally a spread meant to substitute for chocolate.
For decades it has been a Euro treat highly appreciated in France, Germany and many nations.
Try some!
The Ferrero family still makes it outside of Turin, Italy.
For decades it has been a Euro treat highly appreciated in France, Germany and many nations.
Try some!
The Ferrero family still makes it outside of Turin, Italy.
The Shroud of Turin, the world's most mysterious relic
The Shroud of Turin is a centuries old linen cloth that bears the image of a crucified man. A man that millions believe to be Jesus of Nazareth. Is it really the cloth that wrapped his crucified body, or is it simply a medieval forgery, a hoax perpetrated by some clever artist? Modern science has completed hundreds of thousands of hours of detailed study and intense research on the Shroud. It is, in fact, the single most studied artifact in human history, and we know more about it today than we ever have before, says shroud.com.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Thursday: hand-sketched map quiz and open-notes test on material at MondoTrudeau
Map of Italy quiz:
- 12 items
- must include 2 bordering nations, such as France and Switzerland.
- must include Tunisia and Sicily.
Open notes:
Much of this material we have not discussed in class but you must know the basics, regardless. Such as whether the region of Tuscany is in the north or south of L'Italy.
- 12 items
- must include 2 bordering nations, such as France and Switzerland.
- must include Tunisia and Sicily.
Open notes:
Much of this material we have not discussed in class but you must know the basics, regardless. Such as whether the region of Tuscany is in the north or south of L'Italy.
You may try this at home and amaze your family
Combining some of the best ingredients from the Italian table:
Roma tomatoes (now you know why they're called Roma).
Mozzarella cheese, or provolone, which is somewhat smokier in flavor.
Basil (a package of fresh basil leaves males a killer addition to sandwiches, etc)
Olive oil (expensive but worth every drop, imho).
Balsamic Vinegar (buy a bottle of this and you'll find many times to use it, such as an appetizer of olive oil and balsamic vinegar into which you dip bread or crackers).
Roma tomatoes (now you know why they're called Roma).
Mozzarella cheese, or provolone, which is somewhat smokier in flavor.
Basil (a package of fresh basil leaves males a killer addition to sandwiches, etc)
Olive oil (expensive but worth every drop, imho).
Balsamic Vinegar (buy a bottle of this and you'll find many times to use it, such as an appetizer of olive oil and balsamic vinegar into which you dip bread or crackers).
Reminders for students in day two of reports on L'Italia
The body of your report should be rendered as 8 to 10 bulleted items. That means you must edit, or choose the best material, in these items.
Favor the factual material, of course, over generalities and opinion.
Fonting? Arial type face, 12 pt, is what I prefer.
For speed in my scoring: Titling at the top, documentation at the bottom. You may add documentation internally, as well.
This is all cut-and-paste work and the idea is to quickly finish the two reports and spend time reading about things Italian.
Topics for those looking for something out of the ordinary?
- Dr Maria Montessori, physician and educator.
- Leonardo Fibonacci, the greatest mathematician of the Middle Ages.
- Nicolo Macchiavelli, advisor to political leaders.
- Enrico fermi, physicist who helped develop nuclear reactors, quantum physics and more.
- Guglielmo Marconi, pioneer in radio and wireless technology.
- Miuccia Prada, brainy fashion designer.
Indie Work -
- Got an outstanding paper on a wild combination: comparing the Lost Boys of Sudan to Lawrence of Arabia. Congrats to Jay Meyers.
- Research and compare the vivid regions of Tuscany and Sicily.
- The Roman Catholic church and the Sicilian mafia.
- Parmesan cheese and Modena's balsamic vinegar.
-
Favor the factual material, of course, over generalities and opinion.
Fonting? Arial type face, 12 pt, is what I prefer.
For speed in my scoring: Titling at the top, documentation at the bottom. You may add documentation internally, as well.
This is all cut-and-paste work and the idea is to quickly finish the two reports and spend time reading about things Italian.
Topics for those looking for something out of the ordinary?
- Dr Maria Montessori, physician and educator.
- Leonardo Fibonacci, the greatest mathematician of the Middle Ages.
- Nicolo Macchiavelli, advisor to political leaders.
- Enrico fermi, physicist who helped develop nuclear reactors, quantum physics and more.
- Guglielmo Marconi, pioneer in radio and wireless technology.
- Miuccia Prada, brainy fashion designer.
Indie Work -
- Got an outstanding paper on a wild combination: comparing the Lost Boys of Sudan to Lawrence of Arabia. Congrats to Jay Meyers.
- Research and compare the vivid regions of Tuscany and Sicily.
- The Roman Catholic church and the Sicilian mafia.
- Parmesan cheese and Modena's balsamic vinegar.
-
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Chefs in Italian restaurants increasingly from India and the continent of Africa
ROME — Last month, Gambero Rosso, the prestigious reviewer of restaurants and wine, sought out Rome’s best carbonara, says the NY Times. Carbonara is a dish of pasta, eggs, pecorino cheese and guanciale (cured pig cheek; for the aficionados, pancetta is not done) that defines tradition here.
Chef Nabil Haj-Hassan shows his award-winning carbonara pasta in the kitchen of the Roscioli Restaurant in Rome.
In second place was L’Arcangelo, a restaurant with a head chef from India. The winner: Antico Forno Roscioli, a bakery and innovative restaurant whose chef, Nabil Hadj Hassen, arrived from Tunisia at 17 and washed dishes for a year and a half before he cooked his first pot of pasta.
“To cook is a passion,” said Mr. Hassen, now 43, who went on to train with some of Italy’s top chefs. “Food is a beautiful thing.”
Twelve years ago, Abu Markhyyeh, a young Jordanian, finished an apprenticeship with a Neapolitan pizza maker, borrowed money from his Italian mother-in-law, then opened his own pizzeria in Milan, Da Willy, after his nickname here.
He did well, in part because he made the pizzas bigger but kept the prices low. Now Mr. Markhyyeh, 41, presides over an untraditional pizza empire. He has 11 restaurants in Milan, 4 in Jordan, 2 in Cyprus and franchises in Dubai, Beirut, Sharm el Sheik in Egypt and now in Shanghai.
Chef Nabil Haj-Hassan shows his award-winning carbonara pasta in the kitchen of the Roscioli Restaurant in Rome.
In second place was L’Arcangelo, a restaurant with a head chef from India. The winner: Antico Forno Roscioli, a bakery and innovative restaurant whose chef, Nabil Hadj Hassen, arrived from Tunisia at 17 and washed dishes for a year and a half before he cooked his first pot of pasta.
“To cook is a passion,” said Mr. Hassen, now 43, who went on to train with some of Italy’s top chefs. “Food is a beautiful thing.”
Twelve years ago, Abu Markhyyeh, a young Jordanian, finished an apprenticeship with a Neapolitan pizza maker, borrowed money from his Italian mother-in-law, then opened his own pizzeria in Milan, Da Willy, after his nickname here.
He did well, in part because he made the pizzas bigger but kept the prices low. Now Mr. Markhyyeh, 41, presides over an untraditional pizza empire. He has 11 restaurants in Milan, 4 in Jordan, 2 in Cyprus and franchises in Dubai, Beirut, Sharm el Sheik in Egypt and now in Shanghai.
Vitruvian Man or the Canon of Man, Leonardo da Vinci, about 1500
Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man (1492). Pen and ink with wash over metalpoint on paper, 344 × 245 mm, acc to wikipedia.
The Vitruvian Man is a world-renowned drawing with accompanying notes created by Leonardo da Vinci around the year 1492 as recorded in one of his journals. It depicts a nude male figure in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and simultaneously inscribed in a circle and square. The drawing and text are sometimes called the Canon of Proportions or, less often, Proportions of Man. It is stored in the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, Italy, but is only displayed on special occasions.[1][2]
This image exemplifies the blend of art and science during the Renaissance and provides the perfect example of Leonardo's keen interest in proportion. In addition, this picture represents a cornerstone of Leonardo's attempts to relate man to nature.
Reports on L'Italia during Tues & Wed sessions in B3 computer lab
Students in the computer lab Tues and Wed will pursue two brief digital projects that meet this description -
- Single-page reports that will comprise -
- One illustration (or up to 3) and explanatory note.
- Map of Italy and / or the region of Italy germane to your topic.
- Eight to ten bulleted information items.
- Two sources (or more) listed at bottom of page.
- Snappy title and explantory subtitle at top of page.
- Student name in upper right corner.
- Credit of up to 8 pts per report.
- Deadline Friday.
Map quiz and open-notes quiz on Thursday!
Indie work -
Research and compare an African nation and a Mediterranean European nation.
- Single-page reports that will comprise -
- One illustration (or up to 3) and explanatory note.
- Map of Italy and / or the region of Italy germane to your topic.
- Eight to ten bulleted information items.
- Two sources (or more) listed at bottom of page.
- Snappy title and explantory subtitle at top of page.
- Student name in upper right corner.
- Credit of up to 8 pts per report.
- Deadline Friday.
Map quiz and open-notes quiz on Thursday!
Indie work -
Research and compare an African nation and a Mediterranean European nation.
L'Italia, an overview
Tuscany is arguably Italy's best-known region. The history and beauty of the hilly farmland is legendary. Interestingly, Toyota has named its minivan the Sienna, for a Tuscan town, and Porsche has long had a model called the Carrera, another city of Tuscany. Also in the region: Pisa and Firenze.
My overview of what's important in L'italia:
In the heart of Rome is the temple called the Pantheon, still functioning after some 2000 years.
Ciao! means "hello!" or "bye!" in Italian slang.
From Chianti, a vino of Northern Italy, to chiaroscuro, an artist's term which refers to portrayal through light and shadow, the Italians have an enormous impact on the refined life.
On the other hand there's the Sicilian mafia, the cosa nostra.
The map
* Roma and, within it, the Vatican City. The Vatican is one of the tiniest nations and home to il Pape.
* Napoli / Naples / Neapolis (Gk) Neapolitan ice cream! Home of pizza!
* On the Bay of Naples is the Isle of Capri (goats), one of the most ancient resorts. One of Rome's emperors capriciously used Capri as his capital. *
* Looming above Naples bay is Mt. Vesuvius and nearby is the ancient resort called Pompeii.
* Florence / Firenze / "flower" is the center of the region called Tuscany. The Ponte Vecchio is a bridge over the River Arno which features shops built into the structure. "Florentine" indicates high quality in jewelry, in cooking, in crafts.
* The River Arno flows to the sea through Pisa, famous for its bell tower.
* Venetia / Venizia / Venice, is called the "Queen of the Adriatic." Is this where Venetian blinds originated?
* Milano is a center of the fashion industry and city of fine foods and complex recipes. That's why Pepperidge Farms named their light but fine and imperially slim cookie the Milano.
Why study Italy?
* Natural beauty: the Appenino range, the sea, the fertile fields of the Po River valley.
* History: the eras of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance were periods of extraordinary creativity.
* Cuccina, or cooking. From Fettucine Alfredo to Cannoli.
* Foods such as sausages (salami), olive oil and cheeses (ricotta, parmesan, provolone, mozzarella).
* Textiles and fashionable clothing, shoes and bags: Armani, Gucci, Dolce & Gabana, Prada, Versace, etc.
* Manufactured goods such as the Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia and Fiat.
* Art by Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello and numerous others.
* Vatican City: the tiny nation that is the center of power of the Roman Catholic church.
* The origins of musical art such as opera, ballet and instrument making. See the pianoforte and violincello.
**
Classroom music ...
"Carmina Burana:" secular Medieval tunes in an opera-like choral production (opera means a "work").
**
Tuscany: a region known for its history, landscapes, vineyards, flowers, fine cooking, art and historic towns such as Pisa, Siena and Lucca. Florence is Tuscany's capital.
Sienna, the orangish-red or brownish-yellow color, takes its name from the soil in Tuscany. See Terra di Siena and Terra Cotta ("baked earth") clay. Remember Roman tiles made of terra cotta?
What American region compares to Tuscany?
Napa Valley, California, above San Francisco bay. It is known for vineyards (Gallo, Almaden), fine cooking and hilly beauty.
Mortar & pestle - used by apothecary or chef to grind and blend herbs or medicines. Gives its name to Sauce Pesto.
Pesto sauce includes basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts (pignoli)and garlic. Pesto is herbally greenish and sweet. It is traditionally eaten over pasta.
Pasta: dough.
Did pasta come to Italy from Germany or China? Marco Polo was the likely importer of a recipe for the food, made simply of wheat (one type being semolina) and water.
Here are selected examples:
canelloni: stuffed tube.
capelletti: "little hats;" stuffed.
farfallette: ribbon/bow-shaped.
fettucine: long egg noodles.
lasagna: widest of the flat noodles.
linguini: "little tongues;" narrow.
macaroni: in tubes.
pastina: disks of pasta.
ravioli: filled squares.
rigatoni: ribbed, tubular.
tortellini: ring-shaped and filled.
vermicelli: "little worms;" thin.
**
Sicilian pastry: cannoli. Like ice cream in a tube.
Balsamic vinegar: tart, sweet, dark vinegar, usually combined with olive oil. Used in salads and over pasta.
Calamari: fried baby squid.
**
Italy in WWII
Benito Mussolini was the dictator of Italy who became a partner - creating the Axis powers - to Adolph Hitler. Both espoused Fascism:
a) totalitarian government b) militarism c) anti-Communist d) anti-intellectual. "Fascism" comes from the term for the bundle of rods used as a symbol of power by the Romans.
Italy was liberated in 1944 by the Allies: US, GB, France, Canada, Australia.
**
pianoforte "soft / loud"
* developed about 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori of Cremona, Italy.
* harpsichord plucks strings and has only one volume; piano hammers strings and can play loudly or softly.
violin
* Antonio Stradivari and the Guarneri family are the luthiers who develop the 4-string, advanced violin about 1700.
Most notable historic composers:
Giuseppi Verdi
Antonio Corelli
Giacomo Puccini
Antonio Vivaldi
Nicolo Paganini
Harmony Illus. Encyc. of Classical Music
According to Italian language student Chelsea Norden:
bella donna, "beautiful woman"
bell'uomo, "handsome man"
casa, "house"
Salve! "hello"
Buon giornio! "good day!"
Io amore tu, "I love you."
Scusi! "Excuse me!"
Prego, "please"
**
"Pinocchio," classic folk tale
**
Espresso & cappucino
The Italians make il caffe' by forcing steam through the grounds; it is called espresso. Drunk in a tiny cup called a demi-tasse, it is a strong brew. When you make a "cap" of whipped cream and grated chocolate to put atop the espresso it becomes cappucino.
Latte refers to the added milk. Frappe' means frozen or iced. Dip a hard biscuit, called biscotti, into it.
**
Can you name the Western European nations that were part of the Roman Empire? Espana, Gaul & Briton.
Our goal is to know the names of all the nations of the empire that were on the Mediterranean rim.
**
More basic Italian ...
Tu sei cortese! "You are so nice/courteous!"
Grazie! "Thank you!"
Dove 'e il bagno? "Where is the bathroom?"
Catherine d Medici, of the powerful family of Florence (think Rockefellers), married Henri II of France about 1500. She traveled to France with her Florentine cooks - with marvelous recipes - and the controversial custom of using a fork (furca).
In ancient times which class of people would've used all 5 fingers in eating? Which class ate with 3 fingers?
**
In what Roman facility would we see the caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium? It was a Thermae, or public bathhouse.
The pools above were "hot," "tepid," or "lukewarm," and "cold." What could you do in a bathhouse besides wash and relax in the pools?
Exercise, hear the news, get a snack, have a massage and leave your laundry.
A Roman feast, according to Petronius and the World Atlas of Food: asparagus, truffles, eggs, olives, sausages, oysters and lobsters, for openers. Main dishes were stuffed geese and chickens and pigs, goose-liver pate' and stewed flamingo's tongues and peacock's brains.
Who is David Macaulay? A contemporary
illustrator/author responsible for books such as Cathedral (how they were built), Castle and the popular How Things Work.
This week we're watching a video called "Roman City," based on his book City. It's about the engineering (bridges, aqueducts, etc.), planning (city grid first) and functions (forum, bathhouses, etc.) of a Roman urbis.
**
The Roman Empire lay upon 3 continents. Which ones?
Romulus & Remus: who were they?
What plastic building material was developed by the Romans?
Concrete.
Intersection of the temples, market and government buildings? Place to disseminate news and opinion? The Forum.
Roman villa
A roof opening that allowed the sun and rain to enter the interior of the house? The atrium. The pool in the atrium was the impluvium.
The garden and vineyard flourished under the peristyle, or arbor.
Cave canem: Latin, "Beware the dog."
Cave emtor: "Let the buyer beware."
Roman apartment buildings: Insulae ("islands"). Multi-story buildings of concrete.
My overview of what's important in L'italia:
In the heart of Rome is the temple called the Pantheon, still functioning after some 2000 years.
Ciao! means "hello!" or "bye!" in Italian slang.
From Chianti, a vino of Northern Italy, to chiaroscuro, an artist's term which refers to portrayal through light and shadow, the Italians have an enormous impact on the refined life.
On the other hand there's the Sicilian mafia, the cosa nostra.
The map
* Roma and, within it, the Vatican City. The Vatican is one of the tiniest nations and home to il Pape.
* Napoli / Naples / Neapolis (Gk) Neapolitan ice cream! Home of pizza!
* On the Bay of Naples is the Isle of Capri (goats), one of the most ancient resorts. One of Rome's emperors capriciously used Capri as his capital. *
* Looming above Naples bay is Mt. Vesuvius and nearby is the ancient resort called Pompeii.
* Florence / Firenze / "flower" is the center of the region called Tuscany. The Ponte Vecchio is a bridge over the River Arno which features shops built into the structure. "Florentine" indicates high quality in jewelry, in cooking, in crafts.
* The River Arno flows to the sea through Pisa, famous for its bell tower.
* Venetia / Venizia / Venice, is called the "Queen of the Adriatic." Is this where Venetian blinds originated?
* Milano is a center of the fashion industry and city of fine foods and complex recipes. That's why Pepperidge Farms named their light but fine and imperially slim cookie the Milano.
Why study Italy?
* Natural beauty: the Appenino range, the sea, the fertile fields of the Po River valley.
* History: the eras of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance were periods of extraordinary creativity.
* Cuccina, or cooking. From Fettucine Alfredo to Cannoli.
* Foods such as sausages (salami), olive oil and cheeses (ricotta, parmesan, provolone, mozzarella).
* Textiles and fashionable clothing, shoes and bags: Armani, Gucci, Dolce & Gabana, Prada, Versace, etc.
* Manufactured goods such as the Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia and Fiat.
* Art by Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello and numerous others.
* Vatican City: the tiny nation that is the center of power of the Roman Catholic church.
* The origins of musical art such as opera, ballet and instrument making. See the pianoforte and violincello.
**
Classroom music ...
"Carmina Burana:" secular Medieval tunes in an opera-like choral production (opera means a "work").
**
Tuscany: a region known for its history, landscapes, vineyards, flowers, fine cooking, art and historic towns such as Pisa, Siena and Lucca. Florence is Tuscany's capital.
Sienna, the orangish-red or brownish-yellow color, takes its name from the soil in Tuscany. See Terra di Siena and Terra Cotta ("baked earth") clay. Remember Roman tiles made of terra cotta?
What American region compares to Tuscany?
Napa Valley, California, above San Francisco bay. It is known for vineyards (Gallo, Almaden), fine cooking and hilly beauty.
Mortar & pestle - used by apothecary or chef to grind and blend herbs or medicines. Gives its name to Sauce Pesto.
Pesto sauce includes basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts (pignoli)and garlic. Pesto is herbally greenish and sweet. It is traditionally eaten over pasta.
Pasta: dough.
Did pasta come to Italy from Germany or China? Marco Polo was the likely importer of a recipe for the food, made simply of wheat (one type being semolina) and water.
Here are selected examples:
canelloni: stuffed tube.
capelletti: "little hats;" stuffed.
farfallette: ribbon/bow-shaped.
fettucine: long egg noodles.
lasagna: widest of the flat noodles.
linguini: "little tongues;" narrow.
macaroni: in tubes.
pastina: disks of pasta.
ravioli: filled squares.
rigatoni: ribbed, tubular.
tortellini: ring-shaped and filled.
vermicelli: "little worms;" thin.
**
Sicilian pastry: cannoli. Like ice cream in a tube.
Balsamic vinegar: tart, sweet, dark vinegar, usually combined with olive oil. Used in salads and over pasta.
Calamari: fried baby squid.
**
Italy in WWII
Benito Mussolini was the dictator of Italy who became a partner - creating the Axis powers - to Adolph Hitler. Both espoused Fascism:
a) totalitarian government b) militarism c) anti-Communist d) anti-intellectual. "Fascism" comes from the term for the bundle of rods used as a symbol of power by the Romans.
Italy was liberated in 1944 by the Allies: US, GB, France, Canada, Australia.
**
pianoforte "soft / loud"
* developed about 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori of Cremona, Italy.
* harpsichord plucks strings and has only one volume; piano hammers strings and can play loudly or softly.
violin
* Antonio Stradivari and the Guarneri family are the luthiers who develop the 4-string, advanced violin about 1700.
Most notable historic composers:
Giuseppi Verdi
Antonio Corelli
Giacomo Puccini
Antonio Vivaldi
Nicolo Paganini
Harmony Illus. Encyc. of Classical Music
According to Italian language student Chelsea Norden:
bella donna, "beautiful woman"
bell'uomo, "handsome man"
casa, "house"
Salve! "hello"
Buon giornio! "good day!"
Io amore tu, "I love you."
Scusi! "Excuse me!"
Prego, "please"
**
"Pinocchio," classic folk tale
**
Espresso & cappucino
The Italians make il caffe' by forcing steam through the grounds; it is called espresso. Drunk in a tiny cup called a demi-tasse, it is a strong brew. When you make a "cap" of whipped cream and grated chocolate to put atop the espresso it becomes cappucino.
Latte refers to the added milk. Frappe' means frozen or iced. Dip a hard biscuit, called biscotti, into it.
**
Can you name the Western European nations that were part of the Roman Empire? Espana, Gaul & Briton.
Our goal is to know the names of all the nations of the empire that were on the Mediterranean rim.
**
More basic Italian ...
Tu sei cortese! "You are so nice/courteous!"
Grazie! "Thank you!"
Dove 'e il bagno? "Where is the bathroom?"
Catherine d Medici, of the powerful family of Florence (think Rockefellers), married Henri II of France about 1500. She traveled to France with her Florentine cooks - with marvelous recipes - and the controversial custom of using a fork (furca).
In ancient times which class of people would've used all 5 fingers in eating? Which class ate with 3 fingers?
**
In what Roman facility would we see the caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium? It was a Thermae, or public bathhouse.
The pools above were "hot," "tepid," or "lukewarm," and "cold." What could you do in a bathhouse besides wash and relax in the pools?
Exercise, hear the news, get a snack, have a massage and leave your laundry.
A Roman feast, according to Petronius and the World Atlas of Food: asparagus, truffles, eggs, olives, sausages, oysters and lobsters, for openers. Main dishes were stuffed geese and chickens and pigs, goose-liver pate' and stewed flamingo's tongues and peacock's brains.
Who is David Macaulay? A contemporary
illustrator/author responsible for books such as Cathedral (how they were built), Castle and the popular How Things Work.
This week we're watching a video called "Roman City," based on his book City. It's about the engineering (bridges, aqueducts, etc.), planning (city grid first) and functions (forum, bathhouses, etc.) of a Roman urbis.
**
The Roman Empire lay upon 3 continents. Which ones?
Romulus & Remus: who were they?
What plastic building material was developed by the Romans?
Concrete.
Intersection of the temples, market and government buildings? Place to disseminate news and opinion? The Forum.
Roman villa
A roof opening that allowed the sun and rain to enter the interior of the house? The atrium. The pool in the atrium was the impluvium.
The garden and vineyard flourished under the peristyle, or arbor.
Cave canem: Latin, "Beware the dog."
Cave emtor: "Let the buyer beware."
Roman apartment buildings: Insulae ("islands"). Multi-story buildings of concrete.
L'Italia: research projects to be produced in B3 on Tues and Wed
Students in the computer lab Tues and Wed will pursue two brief digital projects that meet this description -
- Single-page reports that will comprise -
- One illustration (or up to 3) and explanatory note.
- Eight to ten bulleted information items.
- Two sources (or more) listed at bottom of page.
- Snappy title and explantory subtitle at top of page.
- Student name in upper right corner.
- Credit of up to 8 pts per report.
- Deadline Friday.
Map quiz and open-notes quiz on Thursday!
Indie work -
Research and compare an African nation and a Mediterranean European nation.
- Single-page reports that will comprise -
- One illustration (or up to 3) and explanatory note.
- Eight to ten bulleted information items.
- Two sources (or more) listed at bottom of page.
- Snappy title and explantory subtitle at top of page.
- Student name in upper right corner.
- Credit of up to 8 pts per report.
- Deadline Friday.
Map quiz and open-notes quiz on Thursday!
Indie work -
Research and compare an African nation and a Mediterranean European nation.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Quiz on Thurs: map and notes on L'Italia
Mediterranean Europe includes Italy and all the nations once a part of the Roman Empire.
1. Make a map of the Roman Empire at its peak. Include all the nations on the coast of the Med.
2. One of the gifts of Italy and the Mediterranean world is healthy menus:
olive oil, citrus fruits, vegetables, vino, garlic, etc. Medical research is very positive about the diet Med.
3. Cultural gifts from Italy in regards music are overwhelmingly numerous. Let's start with -
- Bartolomeo Cristofori, developer of the pianoforte (about 1700).
- Antonio Stradivari - most famous maker of high-quality violins, about 1700.
- Terminology of music, such as legato, glissando, piano, forte, fortissimo, etc.
A quiz based on a review of the textbook, pp. 332 - 346.
All things Italian:
1. Two mountain ranges: __, __ .
2. Are Italians seismic? Explain.
3. Climate type?
4. Deforestation?
5. 58 million: enough?
6. Differences between N and S?
7. An example of creativity in Italian products?
8. Did the Christian religion spread before, during or after the Roman Empire?
9. Italy finally became a nation about the year __.
a) 1661 b) 1761 c) 1861
10. In which alliance was Italy in WWI? In WWII?
11. What is the great, rich river valley of Italy?
12. Because of this river’s fertility and profitability, what enterprises developed there?
13. What is subsidence? Name the famous city threatened by subsidence.
14. Name the greatest of the Italian cities in the medieval period. This city was a trading center for goods from the Middle East.
15. What is the Forum?
16. Two most famous buildings in the Vatican City?
17. Which city is associated with the art created during the Renaissance?
18. Why is it not a surprise that the textbook calls Naples one of the poorest cities in Europe?
Answers in another post.
1. Make a map of the Roman Empire at its peak. Include all the nations on the coast of the Med.
2. One of the gifts of Italy and the Mediterranean world is healthy menus:
olive oil, citrus fruits, vegetables, vino, garlic, etc. Medical research is very positive about the diet Med.
3. Cultural gifts from Italy in regards music are overwhelmingly numerous. Let's start with -
- Bartolomeo Cristofori, developer of the pianoforte (about 1700).
- Antonio Stradivari - most famous maker of high-quality violins, about 1700.
- Terminology of music, such as legato, glissando, piano, forte, fortissimo, etc.
A quiz based on a review of the textbook, pp. 332 - 346.
All things Italian:
1. Two mountain ranges: __, __ .
2. Are Italians seismic? Explain.
3. Climate type?
4. Deforestation?
5. 58 million: enough?
6. Differences between N and S?
7. An example of creativity in Italian products?
8. Did the Christian religion spread before, during or after the Roman Empire?
9. Italy finally became a nation about the year __.
a) 1661 b) 1761 c) 1861
10. In which alliance was Italy in WWI? In WWII?
11. What is the great, rich river valley of Italy?
12. Because of this river’s fertility and profitability, what enterprises developed there?
13. What is subsidence? Name the famous city threatened by subsidence.
14. Name the greatest of the Italian cities in the medieval period. This city was a trading center for goods from the Middle East.
15. What is the Forum?
16. Two most famous buildings in the Vatican City?
17. Which city is associated with the art created during the Renaissance?
18. Why is it not a surprise that the textbook calls Naples one of the poorest cities in Europe?
Answers in another post.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Comparing 2 essays for improvement in your writing
Let's take a look at 2 essays and how to make the most of the guidelines -
The prompt: * Why does Santino say, "If I were a bird I would fly back to Africa to the place where refugees going to the US are having orientation and say - 'Lies; it's all lies.'"
Lost!
These boys landed in a US that they thought would be warm and welcoming. There were happy moments, yes, as they became accustomed to their new environment. But there were so many conflicts - many of them minor, to be sure - that they grew frustrated. Even though they knew where they were on a map, in their minds they were largely and often lost.
Lost!
A view of the documentary “Lost Boys of Sudan”
When Sudanese refugees Peter and Santino arrived in Houston, Tx, to begin a new phase of their life, they were optimistic. Yet in the documentary "Lost Boys of Sudan" we watch them grow frustrated with language (though they know some English before they arrived), work ($7 an hour does not equal a decent life) and socialization (“I’m so black; I’m odd,” says Santino) issues.
Finally, Santino says, “If I could go back to orientation in Sudan - like a bird - I would tell the refugees ‘They’re telling you lies.’” But he is tough enough to overcome his disappointments and take up a class in electrical work as he toils at a basic factory job in his new land.
The first one sounds OK for a moment - then you realize it's full of generalities. The second essay is full of detail and examples.
The prompt: * Why does Santino say, "If I were a bird I would fly back to Africa to the place where refugees going to the US are having orientation and say - 'Lies; it's all lies.'"
Lost!
These boys landed in a US that they thought would be warm and welcoming. There were happy moments, yes, as they became accustomed to their new environment. But there were so many conflicts - many of them minor, to be sure - that they grew frustrated. Even though they knew where they were on a map, in their minds they were largely and often lost.
Lost!
A view of the documentary “Lost Boys of Sudan”
When Sudanese refugees Peter and Santino arrived in Houston, Tx, to begin a new phase of their life, they were optimistic. Yet in the documentary "Lost Boys of Sudan" we watch them grow frustrated with language (though they know some English before they arrived), work ($7 an hour does not equal a decent life) and socialization (“I’m so black; I’m odd,” says Santino) issues.
Finally, Santino says, “If I could go back to orientation in Sudan - like a bird - I would tell the refugees ‘They’re telling you lies.’” But he is tough enough to overcome his disappointments and take up a class in electrical work as he toils at a basic factory job in his new land.
The first one sounds OK for a moment - then you realize it's full of generalities. The second essay is full of detail and examples.
One of the world's most ancient bridges: Ponte Vecchio, Firenze
Map #2 of L'Italia -
- The neighbors:
Monaco,
France,
Switzerland,
Austria,
Slovenia,
Tunisia.
- Venezia: palazzo (palaces)
- Bologna: Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati factories are nearby.
Also, one of Europe's oldest universities.
- Firenze: Ponte Vecchio (bridge, old)
- Vatican City: il Pape ("father")
- Roma
- Napoli: home of pizza.
- Sicily: Mt Etna, volcanic peak.
- Tunisia: Arabic, Muslim-dominated culture.
More engineering achievements:
autos - Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati
cycles - Ducati, Benelli, Moto Guzzi
bicycles: Camponoglo
scooters - Vespa ("wasp")
Gross streotypes -
The North: industry, wealth, business energy.
The South: poverty, fun, corruption.
casino: "little house," like a summer house or a gambling house.
- The neighbors:
Monaco,
France,
Switzerland,
Austria,
Slovenia,
Tunisia.
- Venezia: palazzo (palaces)
- Bologna: Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati factories are nearby.
Also, one of Europe's oldest universities.
- Firenze: Ponte Vecchio (bridge, old)
- Vatican City: il Pape ("father")
- Roma
- Napoli: home of pizza.
- Sicily: Mt Etna, volcanic peak.
- Tunisia: Arabic, Muslim-dominated culture.
More engineering achievements:
autos - Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati
cycles - Ducati, Benelli, Moto Guzzi
bicycles: Camponoglo
scooters - Vespa ("wasp")
Gross streotypes -
The North: industry, wealth, business energy.
The South: poverty, fun, corruption.
casino: "little house," like a summer house or a gambling house.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Land of espresso, pasta, vino, fine wollen suits and al fresco dining: L'Italia
First map:
a) Milano
b) Venezia
c) Bologna
d) Firenze
e) Roma
f) Vesuvio and Pompeii
g) Napoli
h) Palermo
Recommended: pasta and sauce pesto (you can make it in a food processor or purchase it at the store.
a) Milano
b) Venezia
c) Bologna
d) Firenze
e) Roma
f) Vesuvio and Pompeii
g) Napoli
h) Palermo
Recommended: pasta and sauce pesto (you can make it in a food processor or purchase it at the store.
Where, might I ask, do we get the name of the month of April?
April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, and one of four months with a length of 30 days, says Wikipedia. April was originally the second month of the Roman calendar, before January and February were added by King Numa Pompilius about 700 BC.
The derivation of the name (Latin Aprilis) is uncertain. The traditional etymology from the Latin aperire, "to open," in allusion to its being the season when trees and flowers begin to "open," is supported by comparison with the modern Greek use of ἁνοιξις (opening) for spring. Since most of the Roman months were named in honor of divinities, and as April was sacred to Venus, the Festum Veneris et Fortunae Virilis being held on the first day, it has been suggested that Aprilis was originally her month Aphrilis, from her Greek name Aphrodite (Aphros), or from the Etruscan name Apru. Jacob Grimm suggests the name of a hypothetical god or hero, Aper or Aprus.[1]
The Anglo-Saxons called April Oster-monath or Eostur-monath, the period sacred to Eostre or Ostara, the pagan Saxon goddess of spring, from whose name is derived the modern Easter.
The derivation of the name (Latin Aprilis) is uncertain. The traditional etymology from the Latin aperire, "to open," in allusion to its being the season when trees and flowers begin to "open," is supported by comparison with the modern Greek use of ἁνοιξις (opening) for spring. Since most of the Roman months were named in honor of divinities, and as April was sacred to Venus, the Festum Veneris et Fortunae Virilis being held on the first day, it has been suggested that Aprilis was originally her month Aphrilis, from her Greek name Aphrodite (Aphros), or from the Etruscan name Apru. Jacob Grimm suggests the name of a hypothetical god or hero, Aper or Aprus.[1]
The Anglo-Saxons called April Oster-monath or Eostur-monath, the period sacred to Eostre or Ostara, the pagan Saxon goddess of spring, from whose name is derived the modern Easter.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Indie work / comparison essay guidelines
The rubric (required elements) that will guide essay writing in geo class includes:
1. Colorful opening. There are 3 recommended ways to create an interest-getting opening: a) use a quote b) ask a question c) write with vivid description.
2. Blend the topics continually in the paper. Do not write a block of material about one topic and then write a separate block about the other topic. Integrate the topics as you offer insight and evidence.
3) Use comparison terms:
* different from,
* the same,
* Both,
* similar to,
* Neither, ... nor,
* like X is (adjective),
* ... than X is (adverb) than.
* both, ...
* either...or
* likewise
* similarly
* although,
* but neither...
* nor
* however
* on the other hand
4. Specific examples must be used to support generalities. An example: generality - The Incredibles was an awesome movie. specific - The Incredibles appealed to me because the characters (especially the mom and the teen sister) were believeable. They sounded like people I know.
5. Grammar counts.
6. Spelling, too. When in doubt, see a dictionary or ask me.
7. Punctuation is paramount. Again, ask me or your Grammar Check software.
8. Include documentation via "according to ...". This means include your source - from World Book to your little brother - in the body of your writing. Usually you place it at the end of the first or second sentence, says Grammar For Today.
9. Write a snappy title. Ways to make a title fun are to tweak a song or movie title or use alliteration. Also, write an explanatory subtitle. Example: "Dinkas are Incredibles;" "Many refugees from the Sudanese Dinka tribe have moved from poverty in east Africa to comfort in the US."
10. Finally, please don't put quotation marks around your title - unless you are quoting someone.
Sudan and the refugees of the long and enormously bloody civil war
Questions re. The Lost Boys of Sudan -
* Why did the filmmakers include several scenes that referenced life in Kansas as influenced by the church?
* What is the relationship between refugees living in the US and their relatives in Africa?
* What was the chief bureaucratic roadblock to the refugees enrolling in school?
* Why does Santino say, "If I were a bird I would fly back to Africa to the place where refugees going to the US are having orientation and say - 'Lies; it's all lies.'"
* Why did the filmmakers include Sudanese remarks about the frictions between the refugees and Black Americans?
* How would you describe the differences between Peter, who goes to
Kansas, and Santino, who remains in Houston?
* What general ideas have you derived about immigrants and their life in America?
* What is a documentary film? Describe two moments in Lost Boys which you felt were well-chosen for their * ring of truth.* Were there any scenes which felt like they were fake or forced?
Indie Work -
Compare - using research, not from the cuff - the movies Lost Boys of Sudan with another movie we've seen this year. Among them: Ghandi, Lawrence of Arabia and Not One Less.
* Why did the filmmakers include several scenes that referenced life in Kansas as influenced by the church?
* What is the relationship between refugees living in the US and their relatives in Africa?
* What was the chief bureaucratic roadblock to the refugees enrolling in school?
* Why does Santino say, "If I were a bird I would fly back to Africa to the place where refugees going to the US are having orientation and say - 'Lies; it's all lies.'"
* Why did the filmmakers include Sudanese remarks about the frictions between the refugees and Black Americans?
* How would you describe the differences between Peter, who goes to
Kansas, and Santino, who remains in Houston?
* What general ideas have you derived about immigrants and their life in America?
* What is a documentary film? Describe two moments in Lost Boys which you felt were well-chosen for their * ring of truth.* Were there any scenes which felt like they were fake or forced?
Indie Work -
Compare - using research, not from the cuff - the movies Lost Boys of Sudan with another movie we've seen this year. Among them: Ghandi, Lawrence of Arabia and Not One Less.
Downtown Houston: glamor and immigrants
Named for Gen. Sam Houston during the brief Republic of Texas - which followed secession from Mexico. 1836.
2.1 million / 600 sq. miles area / US 4th largest city in pop.
Hoston-Sugar Land-Baytown metro area: 5.6 million
- Port of Houston / Houston Ship CHannel - from Galveston Island
- Tex Medical Center (world's largest) / MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Johnson Space Center (NASA)
- Petroleum / energy center
- multicultural population
- museum / theater district
- Rice U.
- U of Houston
- Texas Southern U
- St Thomas U
- Galleria
- China Town
-Vietnam Town
- architecture
- downtown tunnels connect big buildings
2.1 million / 600 sq. miles area / US 4th largest city in pop.
Hoston-Sugar Land-Baytown metro area: 5.6 million
- Port of Houston / Houston Ship CHannel - from Galveston Island
- Tex Medical Center (world's largest) / MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Johnson Space Center (NASA)
- Petroleum / energy center
- multicultural population
- museum / theater district
- Rice U.
- U of Houston
- Texas Southern U
- St Thomas U
- Galleria
- China Town
-Vietnam Town
- architecture
- downtown tunnels connect big buildings
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
The Trek of the Sudanese Refugees
One-page graphic summary of the journey of the Sudanese boys, completed in class Ap 1 -
- 3 pts
- your smart title.
- based on maps of Sudan and Houston.
- 10 key words in brief essay or bulleted notes.
- color
- show locations in their background.
vocab:
genocidal
Muslim fundamentalist
Arab-African
Christian Africans
tribal religions
Nairobi
Kakuma Camp
Peter Duit
Santino Chuor
Difference between conflicts in Darfur and Dinka-Nile region.
Dif between Baobab and Acacia trees.
Peter can speak Swahili, Arabic, Dinka and English.
White Nile (Mountain Nile) plus the Blue Nile eqauls what?
City of their confluence?
Issues -
No help from Americans in getting more education. Plenty of help regarding furniture.
Crime in Houston is daunting.
No appropriate mates.
Solutions -
Peter gets birth certificate that says he is 17. He enrolls in a good high school in Kansas.
- 3 pts
- your smart title.
- based on maps of Sudan and Houston.
- 10 key words in brief essay or bulleted notes.
- color
- show locations in their background.
vocab:
genocidal
Muslim fundamentalist
Arab-African
Christian Africans
tribal religions
Nairobi
Kakuma Camp
Peter Duit
Santino Chuor
Difference between conflicts in Darfur and Dinka-Nile region.
Dif between Baobab and Acacia trees.
Peter can speak Swahili, Arabic, Dinka and English.
White Nile (Mountain Nile) plus the Blue Nile eqauls what?
City of their confluence?
Issues -
No help from Americans in getting more education. Plenty of help regarding furniture.
Crime in Houston is daunting.
No appropriate mates.
Solutions -
Peter gets birth certificate that says he is 17. He enrolls in a good high school in Kansas.
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