Avril vs. the textbook

Once again popular culture has proven to be a better teacher than the ones who make it their job to stand in front of classrooms full of students every day.

The typically unintelligible and extra-syllable laden speaking tests delivered to me by the students had a lone girl who stood out with nearly perfect pronunciation, however quite imperfect grammar.  

I was completely astonished.  Was she taking extra classes outside of school?  If so, why wasn’t she delivering the typically rhetorical machine-gun speech like most of the juku students?

We got to the last question on her test: “What do you like to do in your free time?”  She answered: “I often listen to music.  I like Avril.”

I have detested Avril Lavigne since she invaded my aural memory when I was in junior high.  And for the first time since Walmart forced me to listen to her, she has my gratitude.

black and White

Interesting how this article about lingering confederacy controversy from the almighty AP refers to blacks and Whites.  

“White” is capitalized, “black” isn’t.  

The word “black” appears 6 times, the words “slave” and “White” appear only once.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081104/ap_on_re_us/confederate_controversy