When the Lit Lounge grows up, it wants to be. . .

. . . like Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish. Arguably the most informative political blog, Sullivan and company have discussed matters political, social, and non-sensical for ten years. Simply put, it is consistently the best reading on the web. A profile of Sullivan can be heard on NPR; see the Dish in all its glory here.

Admission Advice: Essays and Letters of Recommendation Matter!

In a continuing effort to help my seniors (and anyone else who stumbles upon this blog) get into the college of their choice, here are three links to recent blog posts on NYTimes.com.

As I've mentioned to the kids, writing an engaging application essay will help them stand out from the mass of "How the Big Game/Mission Trip Changed My Life" crowd. This entry by Dave Marcus examines why the mundane events make great essay subjects. If you'd like to see some great entries, check out these recent responses to Connecticut College's application prompts. Also, make sure your teachers aren't writing cookie-cutter letters of recommendation. Kiss. Of. Death.

Of course, visiting a school can be a major factor in deciding where you want to go. Key tip: Don't wear sweats from MSU when visiting U of M.

While you're "Waiting for Superman"

The much ballyhooed documentary on the crisis in/failure of public education hits our town next week. It will knock the NEA & AFT (as it should, to an extent) and argue for more charter schools. The Obama Administration's Race to the Top initiative will dole out cash for improved standardized test scores.

Neither "Waiting for Superman" or RTTF focuses on true educational reform. Take 11 minutes of your day to watch this animated lecture by Sir Ken Robinson:

Study Break II: Deep Thoughts From a Miner

A little levity after the rescue of the Chilean Miners. . .

Study Break! Mad Men Mashup

LOVE HIM!

It's that time of year, time when I force my AP Lit students to study Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens. Later, they'll read John Irving's Dickensian novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany. NPR interviewed Irving six years ago, and discovered why he fell in love with Great Expectations.

Rushdie's Haroun Sequel: Luka and The Fire of Life

Salman Rushdie's delightful Haroun and the Sea of Stories gets its very own sequel next month, Luka and the Fire of Life. Here's an interview with the writer, courtesy of BBC News:

Lewis Black on Education

It's that time of year, time to ask "What's wrong with our schools, and how can they be fixed?" NBC devoted an ENTIRE WEEK to education, so what more could we ask for?

Enter, Lewis Black:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Back in Black - Education Crisis
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

It Gets Better: A Local Angle

LZ Granderson once wrote for the GR Press and, if I'm not mistaken, performed in some local theater. He's now an award-winning writer for ESPN.com. Like many other LGBT teens, he was bullied in school (and beaten by his stepfather). LZ contributed a special column to CNN.com this week; in it, he refers to Dan Savage's It Gets Better project on YouTube:

(These) stories are universal and can offer comfort to any student who may be a victim of bullying. Remember, pain and isolation know no race, gender, socioeconomic status or sexual orientation.

Amen.

Fallon and Timberlake: A History of Hip Hop

A little levity for your Friday . . . enjoy.