Bird-Brain: A compliment, really.

1. Speaking gives humans a means for communication.
2. Alex, the most famous African Grey in America, proved the truth about avian thinking.
3. Processing his environment provided him fodder for chatting with his human.
4. My birds could achieve the same, with 30 years of training.

 

This bird is rather smarter than most three-year olds I know! *giggle*



Here's a clip of Alex's "research colleague" upon his death.
 

I have not put as much time in as Dr. Pepperburg. 
 
Parts of Speech & Grammar
This is how you find the subject of a sentence.
This is how you find the verb.
This is how you find the direct object.
This is what a predicate nominative is.
This is what an implied subject is.
This is the adjective scale of intensity. 
This is an appositive. 
These are prepositional phrases 
This is the passive voice. Fix it, it's all Rule of Five now.
This is a gerund, which is a verbal.

Punctuation
Here is where you find the seven rules for commas. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.

Literary Terms
This is the definition of irony
This is the definition of 'schools of criticism.'
This is the definition of satire
This is the definition of plot structure.
This is the definition of symbolism

Bullying Still Sucks

1. A story from Philadelphia highlights bullying as a non-group-specific problem.
2. In the CNN video, Wei Chen speaks to America about fixing the problem.
3. At Mountain View, bullying freshmen seems like the preferred target.
4. Bullying any group is completely unacceptable.

Look up GERUNDS and GERUND PHRASES as SUBJECT for today's diagram. Chapter 19 starts on pg 488.






 Parts of Speech & Grammar
This is how you find the subject of a sentence.
This is how you find the verb.
This is how you find the direct object.
This is what a predicate nominative is.
This is what an implied subject is.
This is the adjective scale of intensity. 
This is an appositive. 
These are prepositional phrases 
This is the passive voice. Fix it, it's all Rule of Five now.

Punctuation
Here is where you find the seven rules for commas. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.

Literary Terms
This is the definition of irony
This is the definition of 'schools of criticism.'
This is the definition of satire
This is the definition of plot structure.
This is the definition of symbolism

Halloween is on the way...

1. With Halloween on the way, Salem, Massachusetts finds itself with no available rooms at its hotels.
2. The Salem Witch Trials of the 18th century show hysterical behavior on the part of the populace.
3. One theory about the witch trials sees mid-wives as the target of doctors.
4. They may not have wanted the competition from women in the medical field.

For more information on the Salem Witch trials, click here.



 Parts of Speech & Grammar
This is how you find the subject of a sentence.
This is how you find the verb.
This is how you find the direct object.
This is what a predicate nominative is.
This is what an implied subject is.
This is the adjective scale of intensity. 
This is an appositive. 
These are prepositional phrases 
This is the passive voice. Fix it, it's all Rule of Five now.

Punctuation
Here is where you find the seven rules for commas. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.

Literary Terms
This is the definition of irony
This is the definition of 'schools of criticism.'
This is the definition of satire
This is the definition of plot structure.
This is the definition of symbolism 

The Best Moustache Besides My Dad's

1. The New York State gubernatorial debate
provided information on each candidate, with a break-out performance by one third-party representative.
2. The probable governor-elect, Andrew Cuomo, agreed with one of those third-party candidates during the debate.
3. This candidate, Jimmy McMillan, started the "The Rent Is Too Damn High" party in New York City.
4. The average rent for a non-doorman studio apartment in Manhattan ranges from $1300 in Harlem to over four grand in TriBeCa.



Parts of Speech & Grammar
This is how you find the subject of a sentence.
This is how you find the verb.
This is how you find the direct object.
This is what a predicate nominative is.
This is what an implied subject is.
This is the adjective scale of intensity. 
This is an appositive. 
These are prepositional phrases 
This is the passive voice. Fix it, it's all Rule of Five now.

Punctuation
Here is where you find the seven rules for commas. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.

Literary Terms
This is the definition of irony
This is the definition of 'schools of criticism.'
This is the definition of satire
This is the definition of plot structure.
This is the definition of symbolism 

I tried to resist, really I did.

The First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
 
The Issue Before the Court:

Does the ... use of a government-composed,[...] prayer in the public schools violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution?

Supreme Court Ruling: Official prayer in public schools is a violation of the Constitution which states "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion..."

http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/enlight/prayer.htm 

1. With all of this information, the legal opinion of the Supreme Court makes logical sense.
2. A religious student organization may still meet on school grounds. 
3. The Constitution of the United States of America clearly delineates the separation of church and state, even without the specific phrase "separation of church and state."
4. Neither teachers nor students may proselytize other teachers or students about religion at school. *Make sure you look up compound subjects and compound direct objects in chapter 19 of the grammar book.* 

 


Parts of Speech & Grammar
This is how you find the subject of a sentence.
This is how you find the verb.
This is how you find the direct object.
This is what a predicate nominative is.
This is what an implied subject is.
This is the adjective scale of intensity. 
This is an appositive. 
These are prepositional phrases 
This is the passive voice. Fix it, it's all Rule of Five now.

Punctuation
Here is where you find the seven rules for commas. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.

Literary Terms
This is the definition of irony
This is the definition of 'schools of criticism.'
This is the definition of satire
This is the definition of plot structure.
This is the definition of symbolism 

In Fairness to Rand Paul

1. Rand Paul, candidate for the US Senate from Kentucky, has many extreme opinions.
2. He is running as a Republican, and his opponent, Jack Conway, is running as a Democrat.
3. Conway used classic attack-ad tactics on Paul, and they backfired a little.
4. The Young Turks, a liberal-leaning Internet analysis group, decried the attack ad as "silly."

Much fun has been poked at Rand Paul's hair, I will admit.

Extra Credit Opportunity: Post a comment to this blog entry explaining something about either candidate's positions, or a definition of libertarianism and your opinion of it. Provide a link to your source in your comment by cutting and pasting the web address. Make sure your name is on it, as well as which period you're in. 5% extra credit coupon for the assignment of your choice.
Parts of Speech & Grammar
This is how you find the subject of a sentence.
This is how you find the verb.
This is how you find the direct object.
This is what a predicate nominative is.
This is what an implied subject is.
This is the adjective scale of intensity. 
This is an appositive. 
These are prepositional phrases 
This is the passive voice. Fix it, it's all Rule of Five now.

Punctuation
Here is where you find the seven rules for commas. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.

Literary Terms
This is the definition of irony
This is the definition of 'schools of criticism.'
This is the definition of satire
This is the definition of plot structure.
This is the definition of symbolism

Introducing North Korea

1. North Korea, a Communist state, combines monarchist aspects to its political structure.
2. The presidency is hereditary, and goes to the current president's son.
3. There is no communication with the outside world, and no internet access like we have.
4. Kim Jong-il, the current ruler of North Korea, oozes insanity.


Parts of Speech & Grammar
This is how you find the subject of a sentence.
This is how you find the verb.
This is how you find the direct object.
This is what a predicate nominative is.
This is what an implied subject is.
This is the adjective scale of intensity. 
This is an appositive. 
These are prepositional phrases 
This is the passive voice. Fix it, it's all Rule of Five now.

Punctuation
Here is where you find the seven rules for commas. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.

Literary Terms
This is the definition of irony
This is the definition of 'schools of criticism.'
This is the definition of satire
This is the definition of plot structure.
This is the definition of symbolism

Vacation POPmoment- The Atlanta Braves Deserve Nothing

To celebrate Atlanta's defeat last night, I thought I'd remind my readers about one of the many reasons they should be consigned to the deepest circle of baseball hell.


(Courtesy of Cashill Newsletter - February 19, 2000)
By Jack Cashill

As has become apparent to the world, Atlanta Braves relief pitcher, John Rocker, does not like riding the New York City subway. As he confided to a Sports Illustrated writer, he finds it "depressing" to share so confined a space with "some kid with purple hair" or "some queer with AIDS" or "some dude who just got out of jail" or a "20-year-old mom with four kids."

As Rocker also notes candidly, "I'm not a very big fan of foreigners." It depresses him too that New York is rife with "Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people" who don't speak English. No doubt about it, Rocker's remarks are crude, insensitive, and xenophobic. But they are not exactly racist, nor particularly novel coming from an unschooled 25-year-old. Truth be told, you can regularly hear this kind of talk not only in the sports bars of Rocker's Macon, Georgia but in those of Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, even Harlem. 

Whole blog entry if you're interested- it's not that long.

Daily Show's take on the whole story:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
7 Train to Queens
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

I will now admit to my "Glee" obsession.

1. Journey always takes me back to the 8th grade dances.
2. To the credit of the cast of Glee, they work their fannies off on this show.
3. For the first season, they received a salary of $10, 000 per episode, a pittance in my book.
4. The cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester, occasionally reminds me of me. :)

Parts of Speech & Grammar
This is how you find the subject of a sentence.
This is how you find the verb.
This is how you find the direct object.
This is what a predicate nominative is.
This is what an implied subject is.
This is the adjective scale of intensity. 
This is an appositive. 
These are prepositional phrases 
This is the passive voice. Fix it, it's all Rule of Five now.

Punctuation
Here is where you find the seven rules for commas. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.

Literary Terms
This is the definition of irony
This is the definition of 'schools of criticism.'
This is the definition of satire
This is the definition of plot structure.
This is the definition of symbolism

A Brave New World Indeed

1. Dr. Robert Edwards, developer of in vitro fertilization, received the Nobel Prize for his work.
2. The first test tube baby, Louise Brown, is now thirty-two years old.
3. Over four million people live today due to  Dr. Edwards' procedure.
4. Many ethical conundrums, like the Octo-Mom, have arisen out of this scientific achievement.




Parts of Speech & Grammar
This is how you find the subject of a sentence.
This is how you find the verb.
This is how you find the direct object.
This is what a predicate nominative is.
This is what an implied subject is.
This is the adjective scale of intensity. 
This is an appositive. 
These are prepositional phrases 
This is the passive voice. Fix it, it's all Rule of Five now.

Punctuation
Here is where you find the seven rules for commas. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.

Literary Terms
This is the definition of irony
This is the definition of 'schools of criticism.'
This is the definition of satire
This is the definition of plot structure.
This is the definition of symbolism

Attack of the Giant Jellyfish!

1. In the Sea of Japan, the Nomura Jellyfish is invading the fishing waters off the coast.

2. Japanese fishermen struggle to make a living in monster-infested waters.

3. Japan, long a victim of monsters invading their land, draws on their experiences with Godzilla and the like.

4. A swim with a 400-pound jellyfish sounds like no fun under any circumstances.




Parts of Speech & Grammar
This is how you find the subject of a sentence.
This is how you find the verb.
This is how you find the direct object.
This is what a predicate nominative is.
This is what an implied subject is.
This is the adjective scale of intensity. 
This is an appositive. 
These are prepositional phrases 
This is the passive voice. Fix it, it's all Rule of Five now.

Punctuation
Here is where you find the seven rules for commas. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.

Literary Terms
This is the definition of irony
This is the definition of 'schools of criticism.'
This is the definition of satire
This is the definition of plot structure.
This is the definition of symbolism

Some DO Like It Hot

1. Tony Curtis, father of Jamie Lee Curtis, passed away on Wednesday night.
2. Mr. Curtis starred with Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot.
3. This classic movie, a cross-dressing comedy, also features Marilyn Monroe, immortal diva icon.
4. On the silver screen, Tony Curtis will live forever and bring joy to audiences until the end of time.




Parts of Speech & Grammar
This is how you find the subject of a sentence.
This is how you find the verb.
This is how you find the direct object.
This is what a predicate nominative is.
This is what an implied subject is.
This is the adjective scale of intensity. 
This is an appositive. 
These are prepositional phrases 
This is the passive voice. Fix it, it's all Rule of Five now.

Punctuation
Here is where you find the seven rules for commas. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.

Literary Terms
This is the definition of irony
This is the definition of 'schools of criticism.'
This is the definition of satire
This is the definition of plot structure.
This is the definition of symbolism