I just finished An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green and, in the spirit of April May's lists, it:
1. Pissed me off that I did not write it.
2. Is truly an inventive and wonderful allegory for MAGA vs. everyone else (or any hate cult vs everyone else), as well as a lot of social commentary about selfishness and the pursuit of fame.
3. Was not banned. I thought it was banned and I wanted to read banned books I hadn't read yet, and it's not been banned.
4. Has a sequel I must buy tomorrow.
It's been a long time since I ate a book. I am clearly very hungry as my stupid progressive lenses make it impossible to read, I just ripped them off and forced myself to sit in very uncomfortable positions so that I could read. That speaks volumes, dude.
I read instead of binge watching Brooklyn 99.
I read instead of watching the end of Emergency followed by MASH when I got home from school.
I read on the toilet instead of scrolling on my phone.
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Like autism, narcissism has spiked in this country. The difference is that autistic people present as narcissistic due to the way their brain signals, and narcissists know they believe they are godlike and untouchable. Autistic folks just don't always understand that other people have thoughts and feelings. Narcissists know and they do not care.
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Title 1 students are not devoid of talent. Their performing arts programs are always on the ropes, fledgling, fractured. Here are some guidelines for strong HS PA
1. Adhere to deadlines, always.
2. Attend all rehearsals.
3. Be willing to fail.
Those top three reasons are why Title 1 schools struggle with PA.
1. The bar has been lowered by "the quiet racism of lowered expectations" (Bush said that), school districts and buildings with "diverse" populations remove hard deadlines so that kids can graduate. Kids can turn in an assignment due in January in May for full credit because they are being allowed to. They cannot receive lower than a 50% in a class they never attended. There are no deadlines in their core classes, why would they understand a deadline in theatre?
2. One obstacle is that they have jobs after school, or they must babysit siblings. Second is they have a club they like to attend, or are already in other extra curriculars. But the biggest obstacles is, they don't attend class. They arrive late and are given credit for attending, leave early and the same because schools are paid per student, so they have to be counted present even when they arrive 20 minutes late. They spent Covid turning work in late and online from home, without leaving their phone or room, they are not accustomed to staying after school for anything. This is not just a PA problem, sports also see this, particularly when it comes to Saturday football practices. They expect to play but didn't practice, and then get baby bummed when they suck. They want to be the star of the show, but can't bother to attend rehearsals, learn songs or choreography, or take any of it seriously.
3. Speaking in public is a #1 fear. I imagine if there was a spot higher than #1, post covid would have pushed this fear to that number. Kids are afraid to be seen and heard in Title 1's, in part because their families tell them to keep low due to ICE, in part because they're being raised by social media on their phones. But also, those who might want to give it a shot crash and burn after their first perceived "failure". Usually this "failure" is due to lack of focus during rehearsals, lack of dedication to learning lines or stepping up to become the character. The first time they step on stage they cover their face and laugh. "Miss, I can't I feel stupid." They fail before they can even fail. There is no attempt, they stop before they can fail, that's how deep the fear is. They fail at failing, and therefore learn nothing.
Regular schools:
1. Parents read to kids from day one, giving them the confidence to explore new ideas and a baseline for reading. The deadlines are also set : bedtime is welcomed with reading, lights off when finished reading. Chores assigned "Take the trash out every Tuesday", and if they don't, there is a consequence. Misbehave in public: consequence. This is on parents not following through with consequences, which are attached to deadlines. If you don't know your lines when the curtain opens, the consequence is you look like an idiot.
2. Kids have already been to camps, music camps, theatre camps, soccer camp, piano lessons, voice lessons, tutoring. Parents give space and support for homework, even independent thinking and exploration. They've learned that continues work IE rehearsal is the key to success.
3. Not every kid is a great soccer player. At some point they've lost -didn't get the choir solo, the starting position on the team, the blue ribbon at field day. At the end of this wave of unearned "participation trophies" we see the damage that has inflicted on kids. Well, it hurt performing arts as well. If they're not willing to jump in and be vulnerable and make big choices and possibly fail and learn from the failure, they are locked into a mindset that crushes growth. Pure and simple. And if you cannot grow, you cannot think or explore or develop a character outside of yourself and learn that failing in the process of creating art is an expectation, not a detraction.
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We blew it.
We had the chance to change the way we do everything during Covid and we chose to keep on keepin' on: the definition of insanity. Keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.
We blew it.
Twice.
We had the chance to keep evolving. Our Trans folx and women and homosexuals and black folx were all on a track to full American Rights.
And you people supported the Fuck Twat, and it all got destroyed. Literally years----YEARS of work and protests and female engineers and delightful drag queens and trans folx able to work real jobs and women allowed to pursue anything they wish and black folx stepping up in law enforcement and politics---BLIP GONE.
Because of course the government is corrupt and fuck the feds and why was I punished by the IRS for taking out my retirement early so I could save my house during the recession but none of y'all thought it through. None of y'all even suspected that HE had not thought it through. So here we are, Federal employees now unemployed, teachers, federally funded programs shuttered, food rotting on the docks because he cut USAID funding fucking farmers here and Americans overseas because....because none of y'all studied. Or ever heard the phrase "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater."
Or the word "Oligarchy" . Or believe fascists exist.
It does. And it is evil. And the men who support it are evil.
So here we are. De-evolving so fast we wish we could catch a ride with the dolphins and say "So long and thanks for all the fish."
And you don't know that reference, do you?
Look it up.
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