Since the layers of ridiculousness in this tune are near impenetrable, you have to be exceptionally focused and intentional in how this song is presented, or you’ll be at it for the whole period or longer. […] Our purpose, I tell them, is to use figurative language to determine why this is the worst song on the planet.

The documentary was filmed over three years. Among those interviewed were his two ex-wives, Kris Kristofferson and Robert Duvall.

[via Jeff Weintraub]

2011 Sep 18: “We invited the strippers, JFK and Stalin.”

Download high quality here. See the pilot for instructions.

BTW: Cool stuff in the comments, but I like Mr. H’s suggestions the best, spanning passive voice and inference. (Not that I teach this stuff, of course, so help yourself to that salt lick in the corner.)

“Create two piles,” I said. “Which ones passed and which ones did not? There will be three paragraphs in each pile.”

Great conversations ensued, both in the small groups and as a class. Some shocking revelations occurred (“That one didn’t pass!?”). This was worth my time.

Once again, great teaching and free weekends prove mutually exclusive.

Glorious. Makes you want to convert to teaching English so you can read the Onion in class. I’ll pass it on.

At the end of a strong list he writes:

These things take time — time to plan, time to gather realia, time out of lessons and periods that we sometimes feel is slipping away, time when either folks who don’t get it or our own internal clocks yell at us to get on with it already. This time is more than paid back in increased student interest and understanding, more than paid back when kids start getting far more out of text than before.

Which is absolutely true. There is no substitute for imaginative, thoughtful planning – no manipulative, no incentive, and no web app that will work as well as when someone sits, agonizes, and finally devises engaging activities for it.

Swagga Talk is a track off Cam’ron’s new Public Enemy mixtape. It’s profane, crude, misogynistic – standard issue Cam’ron – and, for any language enthusiasts undeterred by those descriptors, totally irresistible.

With assistance from Hell Rell and 40 Cal, Cam’ron rhymes up a comprehensive dissertation of New York’s street slang.

I know you miss us.
We back New York.
You wanna talk like us
here goes some swagga talk.

It’s authoritative. And awesome.

a kilo is a bird
500 grams is a half a wing
Snow cone on my finger
that’s my ring.
Tweeties is yellow diamonds
smurfs is blue diamonds.
Everybody eatin’
that mean the whole crew shinin’.
If you don’t gang bang
that mean you 550 and neutral.

A diamond ring is a “snow cone”!? Oh, man, that’s great.

(NSFW)

Resources

1. high-res jpeg: master your speech
2. layered psd: master your speech
3. google large images search: talib kweli
4. lyrics sheet: “holy moly,” talib kweli
5. photoshop tutorial: “using light and shade to bring text to life“
6. free font: blackletter
7. great conversation: rap for english