The Campaign to Make "Thrice" A Cool Word

Conan O'Brien is correct.  Some words may have ebbed in American usage but that does not diminish the quality of those words.  And the nonsense with which they are being replaced? Gadzooks!  We do not need strangely compounded words like ginormous (it even looks weird) when we already have gigantic and enormous. 

As for thrice, I'm not sure why it has waned.  We use once and twice regularly, and the number three is otherwise popular.  "Three's a crowd," "third times a charm," and "three strikes and you're out" immediately come to mind.  Perhaps the adjective thrice has no colloquialism to keep it in the minds and mouths of the populace.

As Conan has stated, thrice is a perfectly good word and is worth our dedicated attention to restore to its rightful place in our language.  For his part, Conan has aired several sketches that present occasions when the word thrice is an appropriate choice.  Do your part and use thrice as often as you find occasion to count to three.

Thank the wily crafters at deadcraft.com for the this custom* little Conan you see here.  Yet another way to welcome Conan into your home.

*Note: I used the word custom, not custom-made. The adjective custom means made specially for individual customers. (My contribution to the Campaign Against Wasted Words; more to come in future posts.)

Math, Craft, and Literacy

Ever see stripes that seem off or weird? That almost make you uncomfortable?
I have and, in crocheting a striped scarf I have been careful not to replicate that off-putting stripeyness (my Colbertesque word). To remain safely in comfortland, I've crocheted even patterns, 3 rows of green, 3 rows of black, etc. whenever I've gone with stripes. Now I'm ready to stretch myself and create a beautiful, more complex striped pattern, maybe even the one pictured above.
Beauty is well-acknowledged as in the eye of the beholder and there is evidence that the eye appreciates symmetry, even when it appears in less than obvious forms.
Mathematical constructs like the Fibonacci sequence is one such form that can be followed to make eye-catching stripes.
( http://www.crochetcabana.com/specialty/fibonacci_and_crochet.htm )
By the way, it seems to me that this author, Sandra Petit, embraces distractions, or tangents in writing as a natural part of the thought process and unabashedly shares them. I Love it!
See my post, "The Distracted Person's Dilemma."
So math has its uses in daily life after all!

Mathematical sequences can also serve as a great entry into language and math literacy through craft. A teacher or facilitator in a math or crafting class can discuss the craft (or clothing or blankets, etc.) with the students, focusing on the topic of creating eye-catching stripes.
S/he can transition to mathematical sequences, their origins, and how to use them to create stripes and other patterns (especially for afghans and other items crafted in the square and for spirals).
Students can then plot and or create (crochet, knit, sew, etc.) an item using a mathematical construct to determine the striping. To facilitate metacognition, language development,  and integration of this new material into their knowledge base,  students can write about the class discussion and their creative exploration of mathematical sequences.  As a closing activity, students can present their writing and craft to the class.

This mosaic was constructed by Jim Bumgardner.

Whether they intend to or not, participants are bound to learn about the interesting intersection of math and design and to experience the resonance of mathematical concepts in our daily lives.

Graffiti Needs Help

I'm as urban as the cool, headnodding to (insert favorite music genre) person sitting next to me on the subway. I know that graffiti can be art.  Graffiti is a form of artistic expression that, at its best, compels one to contemplate one's viewpoints and place in the world and instigates other profound thought. I've seen Basquiat's extensive work, viewed Five Pointz from the number 7 train, and was raised in BedStuy, home of some of the most awesome graf murals on the planet. I have also seen the much denigrated other side: graffiti littering neighborhood walls, serving as evidence of adolescent boredom, acknowledgments of gang members, turf, and the like. But what is this?

It is not art and it ain't gangsta.

Granted using a USPS Priority Mail sticker for tagging is a waste of tax-payer money and is also annoying to remove but fiscal irresponsibility isn't hardcore. Neither is the writing of the friend or foe who chose to violate the January 2008 stamped sticker by scribbling over the thick sharpie strokes with an ink pen.
Are the days of interesting, (semi-) legible graffiti in NYC gone? This blogger hopes the answer is a definitive no. Help me believe in great graf again. Post your favorite graf "finds" in the comment section.

Paper Star Wars

Any true Star Wars fan will appreciate this reenactment featuring paper-made characters by Eric Powers.  Jeremy Messersmith's song "Tatooine" is a fitting score for this brief version of the legendary tale. At about 2 and 1/2 minutes, it's cohesion with the film in pace and feel are admirable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_3xbcJBUxY&feature=player_embedded

I couldn't help but think, this is multi-modal literary construction in the "flesh."  I can imagine this as half of a presentation, the other half being the written component that explains and connects the Star Wars story to the presentation. The film garners its full credit in my assessment; I appreciate and applaud the ingenuity of paper repurposed as physical objects, music that bleeds emotion, succinct lyrics that wrench multiple meanings from metaphor.  My favorite moment: "Solos are fine but duets are romantic."  Watch it and enjoy the wit of this line for yourself.

Knit and Crochet to Save the World!

Apparently, I'm a "craftivist."  I create (mostly) crochet items for family and friends and, whenever a charity event comes along, I do my best to participate.  While perusing my overflowing inbox today, I read about an opportunity to contribute my skills to society via the Caps for Good Campaign.  The gist of it is that "Save the Children and the Warm Up America! Foundation will again ask Americans to pick up their knitting needles and crochet hooks to help save the lives of nearly four million newborn babies in the developing world." We're making caps for newborns!
While I'm sure I can whip up a few dozen myself between now and February 2011 when this season's campaign ends, together we can give a great deal more.  Free patterns are available at http://www.goodgoes.org/caps.  Full details are on Save the Children's website. For those pros out there who dare not use another's pattern, all caps are to have a 12" circumference.
Get stitching!