The Case of the Hovering Bust

Okay, so my question about "The Twinkie Defense" was too easy. (Can you say Google?) Here's one that might actually require you to "leave the building," as Tom Wolfe says.  My guess is that you won't have to literally leave the building, just walk away from your laptop for a couple of minutes and talk to a few people. 

If you want to solve this little mystery, I'd like you to write up your response as a short feature story.  I'll even accept it in place of one of your news stories. Here's the catch: Only one person can complete this challenge.  The first person to email me the correct response to the questions below gains the exclusive right to cover the story.

Who exactly does the bust that hovers over our classroom represent? Why is he there? How did it get there? What were they thinking? How long has he been spying on students? Is there a camera connected to his eyes? You get the idea. Tell me all about that crazy bust in FL 302. Oh yes, I'd like to have some quotes from your sources as well...

Doggone Blogs

It seems that now even dogs have their own blogs. CNN ran a story on its website today about people who have started blogs to imaginatively give voice to their pets. Apparently, these would-be humorists adopt the point of view of their four-legged friends in their postings. 

Does this trend hint at a new kind of psychosis? The article includes analysis by psychologist Larina Kase, who says that canine blogging is just a harmless way to share interests and relieve stress. Kase describes doglogging as "21rst century dog-walking." If that's the case, I guess dogs are destined to be as overweight as their human friends.

Nevertheless, I'm not sure how you should react if my dog Skip starts making posts here...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/03/21/dog.blog/index.html

http://maxthegoldenretriever.com

http://wimseysplace.blogspot.com/

A Reminder

Please remember to get to the library and read (or better still, make a photocopy and read) Tom Wolfe's introduction to The New Journalism. The book is on reserve, so ask for it at the front desk. You will need to turn in a 1-2 page reader's response to the essay on Tuesday, March 25. You should also be prepared to discuss the essay in class.

Another important date is Thursday, March 27. Your engaging, brilliantly written, completely error-free profiles are due then. I encourage you to arrange a time to discuss a draft of your profile well in advance of that date. I will also be happy to comment on any drafts you email me in advance. Don't wait until the last day or even the last week. Writers need time to revise. 

Vixens Gone Wild (in 1491, no less)

I love the cover art on old pulp fiction books. I found this one, published in 1954, at an antique store in Lynchburg for a dollar. At that price, how could I resist? 

Here are some highlights from the dust jacket copy: "Men called her a witch and a wanton. Certainly the Lady Janet Kennedy, nicknamed Flaming Janet, bewitched King James of Scotland no less than her first lover, the Lord of Lochinvar. Ambitious, willful and as fiery as her nickname—here is a romantic heroine in the grand manner... When for a wager she bathed nude in the Black Loch in the dark of the moon, there were those who said she had sold herself to the devil; her family in haste betrothed her to Gordon of Lochinvar, slow of wit, heavy of body."

So it goes.

The Twinkie Defense

The results of our poll to determine the most suitable refreshments for our class party show that most of you favor pizza, salad, and home-baked cookies. The distant runner-up was the primary school "dream lunch" of grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and Hostess Twinkies. 

At least now no one will be tempted to employ the "Twinkie Defense" to justify poor performance on final exams...

Here's a little research problem for our legal department. Who can tell me exactly what the "Twinkie Defense" means and how did the term originate?

Other SBC blogs

In addition to the wonderful blogs all of you have been publishing, here's a list of some of my other favorite SBC blogs.

Lynn Rainville's fascinating local history blog.

http://locohisotry.org/blog/albemarle/

Librarian Liz Kent's helpful guide to databases and research.

http://sbclibrarynews.blogspot.com

English professor Dave Griffith's blog about his terrific book and related subjects.

http://www.goodwar.blogspot.com

A terrific blog by a former student who did a wine-making internship.

http://kj-internship-spring07.blogspot.com

Strange and funny observations...

http://chaistrulybadfilms.blogspot.com

A visiting fellow at VCCA kept this blog during her residency.

http://www.cfortiervcca.blogspot.com

 

Why I Want a Husband?

In our class discussion of "Why I Want a Wife" some students expressed weariness with what they view as the lingering attitudes born of the strident feminism of the 70s. This morning I read an Associated Press story online with the following headline: "Men Who do Housework Get More Sex." According to the AP story, The Council on Contemporary Families has released a report that suggests men now do twice as much housework as they did four decades ago. In the story, psychologist Joshua Coleman, author of The Lazy Husband: How to Get Men to do More Parenting and Housework, says that sharing household chores can even lead to a richer sex life.

http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/general/2008/03/06/Sharing.Chores/

 

Sidecars

Sidecars, on the other hand, are those funny outriggers with wheels that allow a passenger to ride alongside a motorcycle. A sidecar is apparently also the name of a cocktail, the contents of which you'll have to research yourselves.

Sidebars

Sidebars are used to provide additional in-depth information related to a main story. For example, a story about a murder trial might feature a capsule profile of the judge, prosecutor, or defense attorney as a sidebar. In the example here, taken from USA Today, the part of the page layout circled in blue ink is a sidebar feature (though physically located beneath the photo caption and surrounded by the type of the main story) which relates specific concerns of everyday Americans to the main story about the president's State of the Union address.