:: Dillondesk -- the blog of LCD ::

:: Monday, January 23, 2006 ::

:: Calvin 7:08 PM [+] ::

I don't think I have ever been so happy to find no news online about an event.

The group WBC (Westboro Baptist Church), the same group that has been picketing the funerals of gays, soldiers, and even the miners who just died, planned a protest at Newsome High School, where parents started a petition to eliminate the school's GSA. The "church" does have a website, which is a little disturbing just from its title. It is kinda scary to think there are people out there who think like that. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has classified them as a hate group for some time now.

I was a little worried that they would get press and attention, which is all that Phelps and his crew seem to want (there is no way they actually think they are going to convert anyone with messages like "Thank God for Sept.11" and "God Hates You.")

I think we are finally learning that the power these hate groups has comes from the attention we give them. It is sad to me that there are that many people out there with hate in their hearts and no real love in their lives.

There...I hope that is all the press they get today.

I have ridden my exercise bike regularly (for three days in a row!) and I feel pretty good. My metabolism had slowed to a glacieresque velocity, and it will be nice to burn some of the few thousand calories I have stored in my midsection.

No other real news, other than I am almost caught up grading papers, and I am managing to read some good books in the meantime.

I just finished Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and Shattering Glass by Gail Giles.

The kids LOVE Wallflower, and I can see why -- it is very accessible, and rolls together every possible trial and tribulation a kid can face when not in front of the computer or doing homework. I like that Charlie reads, and that his teacher has a good relationship with him. I like that he doesn't really enjoy the drugs he happens to let himself get talked into taking. I like that he makes human mistakes and that he is flawed. I DON'T like the trite nature of so much that happens in the book. His voice, though maudlin, is realistic, but the events that unfold are some idealized second-generation John Hughes kind of high school experience. It is worth reading for the narrative structure, but it is not the masterpiece the kids want it to be.

Shattering Glass is a better book. There are too many characters, and some folks won't be able to deal with the straightforward foreshadowing that telegraphs the ending, but the characters are real and flawed, they act like kids, and mistakes do not go unpunished. She has a great ear for dialogue, and the words she gives the characters don't sound strained or like they went through a focus group for angst-ridden teens who listen to too much Taking Back Sunday.

It is extremely violent at the end, but no more so than and S.E> Hinton novel, and the lessons are just as good to learn. It is taut and well-paced, and doesn't try to do too much. Anyone who enjoyed Alex Flinn or Marcus Zusak's work would like it.

In other news:

Underworld Tops the Box Office

Blackberry is in serious trouble

Kobe is a Ball Hog!

Clooney tries to be funny

Good night all.

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New! Leave a comment with the blogger comment tag: 1 comments 1 Comments:

I always thought that was a fake site...my sister stumbled across that a year ago, completely astonished, im not sure where, but i think we found a part of it that says that it isnt ligit. I hope so, we should find out. "Perks of being a Wallflower" Is an AWESOME book

By  Steph, at 11:37 AM  

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