“I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Very glad I got my son interested in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Now he wants to read the book.

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Starting my “Writing about Literature” class by having students react to a John Donne sonnet.

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Picture of an actor posing as Shakespeare.

The case for puns as the most elevated display of wit

Geary admits that he often makes pun in his head—but he mostly keeps them to himself. He can’t explain why the wordplay’s not appreciated. “In poetry, words rhyme; in puns, ideas rhyme,” he writes. “This is the ultimate test of wittiness, keeping your balance even when you’re of two minds. To Geary, puns represent wisdom. …

West Side Story Maria Montage

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Carolyn as Maria in West Side Story

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FULL BLOOM (Aug 31-Sep 2)

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Student journalist experiences the ‘trickle down’ of hostility toward the press

My own students haven’t described encounters like this, but I have encountered students who enter the classroom with the idea that there is a fairly consistent, uniform, organized entity called “the media” that it’s fashionable to distrust. It’s fair to point to specific news stories that got specific facts wrong or that showed bias, but…

College Seniors Confident about Their Work Ethic, Written & Oral Skills; Employers Disagree

According to the NACE 2018 Job Outlook, college seniors are very confident about their professionalism, work ethic, and writing skills. Employers are not so happy with those skills among the applicants they see. The biggest divide was around students’ professionalism and work ethic. Almost 90 percent of seniors thought they were competent in that area, but only…

C.S. Lewis: “On the Reading of Old Books”

Gearing up for teaching a new “American Lit 1776-Present” course. I’ll be at the office, sitting at my desk all day, wearing long pants instead of shorts. Not a screw gun or a stage platform or a digital camera within reach. This essay offers some well-phrased arguments for reading classic literature. Nothing strikes me more…

Overheard: “This is the best show I’ve ever seen at the Geyer” and “Who IS that girl playing Maria?”

Gasps from the audience, shouts of “No!” during a climactic scene. The woman two seats from me sobbing into her hands. Overheard: “This is the best show I’ve ever seen at the Geyer” and “Who IS that girl playing Maria?” Similar:APNews.com Photo Still Says Sam Smith "declared his pronouns 'they/them'" a Week LaterThe Associated Press…

West Side Story (One-Minute Preview)

From Mrs. Lovett two weeks ago to Maria this weekend, I am so proud of this girl. Support the arts in your community! West Side Story #tonight #GeyerPAC A post shared by Dennis G. Jerz (@dennis.jerz) on Aug 9, 2018 at 8:21am PDT Similar:How Star Wars was saved in the editI learned a lot while…

Iconic ‘West Side Story’ still resonates today

Carolyn Jerz of Greensburg will be playing Maria opposite Logan Williams of Pittsburgh as Tony in the production. She describes her character as a playful, naive teenage girl who just wants to take part in life. “She has just moved to New York City from Puerto Rico and is attending her first school dance with…

Here's how Maria amuses herself on the ride home from dress rehearsal. #WestSideStory

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Christopher Robin made for a pleasant family outing.

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This weekend! GeyerPAC.com

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A day may come when the strength of the girl fails and she must make more than one trip to bring in the groceries, BUT IT IS NOT THIS DAY!!!

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Picture of the Pevensie children arriving in Narnia, from the 2005 movie.

Why the British Tell Better Children’s Stories

If Harry Potter and Huckleberry Finn were each to represent British versus American children’s literature, a curious dynamic would emerge: In a literary duel for the hearts and minds of children, one is a wizard-in-training at a boarding school in the Scottish Highlands, while the other is a barefoot boy drifting down the Mississippi, beset…

She feels pretty at the dress rehearsal (opens Thursday)

On the ride home, in the middle of a spirited story about something that happened backstage during the run, the girl stops, stares into space, and says, “Line.” Similar:How Not To Make Professional ContactsTowards the end of my year-long radio ne…AmusingIn the Hands of the Prophets (#StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch, Season 1, Episode 19) Keiko's scienc…Rewatching…

Is this stripe appearing or disappearing? FULL BLOOM (Aug 30 to Sep 2)

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I am slightly ahead of the boy. Rare.

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