Second blog post about the Twilight Talk. It's now up and available on iTunes. You just have to run a search with my name and it will come up. I uploaded it on my account and have emailed iTunes to get Sikata Banerjee and Tai Alfred's names included in the directory.

I have been fielding emails and Facebook messages and the like from people who were there or who want to get more information. We definitely are riding the wave of interest of the Twilight series, but offered our thoughts and some discussion.

I am definitely not a "hater" of the series. They've actually provided lots of teachable moments for me and my eldest daughter. The series has also been useful as a paper topic in some of my courses.

Knock on my door.

What a great turnout to tonight's Twilight Talk! There were approximately 125 people in the room...many who spilled out onto the aisles and floor. We definitely needed a larger rooom.

I started the talk with introductions of my colleagues: Dr. Sikata Banerjee and Dr. Tai Alfred and then really set up what is the Twilight Zone, and moved to discussing slides of Jacob, his body, and the commodification of the characters, etc.

Sikata moved into a discussion of colonialism, imperial anxiety, and masculinity.

Then, Tai rounded it out with a discussion of indigenity and a reflecting on his thoughts of the first two books/movies.

We fielded wonderful responses from the community--both campus and off campus. The event was a success and we each were approached and asked to do a similar talk. Up next--discussion about Avatar!

Dear Democratic Party: Hopefully the Coakley loss has caused you to wake up. Right now you're finger pointing and watching the dust settle from last night's loss in Mass. But, my dear friends, how could you not see this coming?
1. The economy is in the can
2. Off year's the party of the President is usually punished
3. Coakley's campaign could have been run better
4. Brown spoke to an angry segment of the crowd
5. The Party at large did not respond well to the campaign.

Need to get to class.

Letter Writing. Letters of Reference. Recommendations letters. Professors get the requests several times a year and I'm swimming, no drowning, with requests. And, I know that next week's looming deadline for the international exchange will mean that last minute requests will stream in, as well.

Request--please be organized and give me everything I need (resume, forms, information, SASE, and a cover note with the information and deadlines). All of these things help a busy professor focus on writing the letter and not the organization information.

Good luck!

Avatar. I saw Avatar last week with my SO and DD. SP, of the TC, was right--it is a spectacle. The special effects were amazing and unlike other movies it didn't feel overly "CGI."

Now to think about the story--it wasn't original. And, I understand why so many of my friends and colleagues have issue with the movie. Here you have a white guy coming in to save the natives. Granted he was a human saving the indigenous peoples on another planet. Of course, the Naavi (spelling) were in touch with the animals, plants and one another. Yet another trope of indigenous people being one with nature.

My friend noted that her husband referred to the movie as "Dancing with Wolves for Aliens." I agree. Overall, worth seeing, but the movie should give you pause to think about the pervasive metaphors and messages.

A new term! I love new terms. Usually they are filled with the anticipation of tons of new students and just a fresh beginning. From scanning my enrollment lists, I see that I have lots of repeaters. I'm thrilled and looking forward to good conversation in class. Typically with repeaters participation is that much easier. They feel more comfortable with one another.

I'm going to try something different this term, too. So, it should be interesting. To a fresh start for all my colleagues and students!