Monthly Archives: January 2015

Requiem for a Camry

Posted on January 30, 2015 by jyourist

Today, my son, who has been driving our 2000 Camry for the past 2 or 3 years (first purchased 15 years ago, in part, to accommodate his long legs) sold it to the auto shop where it has been taken … Continue reading →

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“Resume” by Dorothy Parker

Posted on January 28, 2015 by jyourist
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“Hell’s vengeance boils in my heart” for Mozart’s 259th

Posted on January 27, 2015 by jyourist

In honor of Mozart’s 259th birthday, a little “Der Holle Rache,” the Queen of the Night’s second aria from The Magic Flute, an incredibly difficult aria to sing needing a range of two octaves. In this aria the Queen of the … Continue reading →

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Silver Maple

Posted on January 26, 2015 by jyourist

The 125 year old silver maple in our backyard just got a trim. Long overhanging branches hovering over our house and over the neighbors’ yards were cut off relieving some of the weight on the crotch of the tree. This old … Continue reading →

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World peace is declared

Posted on January 22, 2015 by jyourist

Each year before we start our unit on Reconstruction, I have the students do a timeline of their lives, intersecting it with global events. I share a portion of my own timeline with them and point out that around my middle … Continue reading →

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“Solidarity Forever”

Posted on January 19, 2015 by jyourist

This is the 100th anniversary of the song “Solidarity Forever,” first written in 1915 by Ralph Chaplin, who was a writer and artist for the IWW publication Solidarity. It was first sung at an enthusiastic labor rally of workers and immigrants … Continue reading →

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Tsukemono

Posted on January 18, 2015 by jyourist

Part of every traditional Japanese meal includes Tsukemono, Japanese pickles (literally “pickled things”). They add a piquant flavor to the meal and are perfect digestives. They usually are brightly colored so they contribute aesthetically to the plate as well. It is … Continue reading →

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Woman taking a stereoscopic photograph

Posted on January 17, 2015 by jyourist

This is a photo of a woman taking a photo with a stereographic camera, c 1910. I love this image. All the circles— buttons, lenses, eyes, fingernails perceptible of the hands in the gloves, the rim of the hat all … Continue reading →

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Diversity Day

Posted on January 16, 2015 by jyourist

Today was Diversity Day at school. All the teachers and staff prepared and taught workshops on issues of diversity that are of interest to them. There were workshops on the Chinese Immigration to the United States, Inclusion and Disability, Urban Planning and … Continue reading →

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Internet down

Posted on January 14, 2015 by jyourist

Since Sunday, our internet has been down. It’s not the first time that we have had trouble with Comcast and have finally decided to change providers. Our new provider, AT&T Uverse, will not be activated until Friday. Indeed we all know about … Continue reading →

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