An elementary school teacher with a background in music in Bennett, Colorado, decided to expose her students to opera. She got a video, entitled “Who’s Afraid of Opera,” and showed it to her classes of first, second, and third graders. The video contained scenes from Charles Gounod’s nineteenth-century opera “Faust.” Parents in this town outsideContinue reading “On Teaching Faust”
Category Archives: General
On Regrets
I regret ever saying anything about Anakin Skywalker’s parentage. Seven months onward, and I’m still getting replies. Sigh.
On a Fandom Meme–Batman
Kathy, in response to the fandom meme, asked for Batman. Here goes! The first character I first fell in love withBatman, obviously. The character I never expected to love as much as I do nowScarface. The first time I encountered Scarface in the comics, I thought this was perhaps the most pathetic excuse for aContinue reading “On a Fandom Meme–Batman”
On December Dreariness
Today’s miserable. It’s raining. It’s cold. If the temperature drops much more, the roads could get nasty, icy. North Carolinians don’t handle wintry conditions very well. No, not well at all. They panic. They raid grocery stores. The abandon cars on the highway. The city takes on the cast of a Balkan warzone. Me? IContinue reading “On December Dreariness”
On a Letter to Cthulhu
Earlier, I wrote a letter to Santa. Now, more holiday fun! Oh Great Cthulhu! I have been an extremely sedulous devotee this year. In January, I defiled the grave of that traitor, Lovecraft (90 points). In June, I wore an Elder Sign (-10 points). In September, I legally changed my name to Randolph Carter (-40Continue reading “On a Letter to Cthulhu”
On an Almost Year-In-Review
Yes, I stole this from Jon Polk, who stole it from a bunch of other people. 😉 Here’s what you do: Go to your Calendar View and copy/paste the first sentence of your first (or only) entry for the first day of each month for the year 2005. A year in review? Perhaps. I sawContinue reading “On an Almost Year-In-Review”
On a Letter to Santa Claus
Dear Santa… Dear Santa, This year I’ve been busy! Last Tuesday I had a shoot-out with rival gang lords on the 5 near LA (-76 points). Last month I didn’t flush (-1 points). Last Monday I helped Triggur see the light (8 points). In June I farted in an elevator (-6 points). Last week IContinue reading “On a Letter to Santa Claus”
On My Grandmother's Car
The battery in her car died. It’s winter, it’s cold, this is to be expected. She’s greatly upset by this. Let me explain what I’ve just spent the past hour doing, because I wouldn’t believe it myself otherwise. Take everything out of the car, she said–the car knows there’s stuff in it that’s not supposedContinue reading “On My Grandmother's Car”
On Christmas Wishes
People keep asking me, What do I want for Christmas? Well, the things I want–world peace, an end to hunger, President’s Bush impeachment, Vice President Cheney’s indictment for war crimes–no one can give me. These are unrealistic wishes. But for the sake of those having difficulty finding things that I might want, I humbly offerContinue reading “On Christmas Wishes”
More on Christmas Songs
As seen on several friends’ pages, most recently Todd‘s–Which Christmas song am I? You are ‘Jingle Bells’! Full of enthusiasm and good cheer, you are excited by the first appearances of Christmas decorations in shops and have been heard singing along to the piped music. Your attitude to Christmas is one of childlike delight –Continue reading “More on Christmas Songs”