Ephemera

Finally, if you have a chance, view the great work that my AP students have contributed to the wiki that I built for them as my research project: http://hispanismo.pbworks.com/
They have surpassed my expectations in writing in Spanish on three different pages: Trucos, Canciones and Forum, about focused topics that matter to them. Relevant, practical communication is the whole point of taking a world language until you get into college lit classes. You will eventually be able to see their video projects on the Telenovelas section too. It is obviously a work in progress that will see ongoing refinements.

Why did I call this last entry "Ephemera"? We are all here on earth for such a short time. Let's make it count by focusing on what matters most for each of us, whatever that may be. Among those whom I have known and loved are some very special people who have taught me the importance of balance in life--and the essence of taking the long view:
-a D-Day survivor (Utah Beach, Bronze Star, Purple Heart--saw comrades blown to bits), at 89, he is still one of my best friends;
-a German artist whose conscripted father disappeared on the Eastern Front, never to return, when he was 14 years old;
-Survivors of Nazi persecution who were my esteemed professors and friends;
-another of my oldest friends, who lost her father at a young age to a Stalinist labor camp in Siberia while she and her mother endured a harsh Soviet lifestyle alone--they ultimately left Russia with a young child in tow and started a new life here;
These people all have been (or were) wary of totalitarianism and thought control emerging in new guises. Sexy technology and information-handling will never supplant our own critical faculties (unless we let them). You are aware, of course, that Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google was the son of Soviet emigres who came to the U.S, claiming persecution despite having received professional educations at state expense. We still do not know how much our every move on Google is tracked and recorded. Ironic? Coincidence?

Everyone needs to have and to express a point of view. Life would be boring otherwise. But we must never forget that there is very little that is new under the sun (in the great scheme of things).

It's been fun--thanks for the wonderful Media Specialists who have helped to make this Blog possible, and thanks for reading!