Cities: Turin, Genoa, Milan, Verona, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, Palermo.
Friday, April 16
Friday, April 2.
That's right, at the Nova Auction, you will have the opportunity to stump Mr. Gacek. Parents will have the chance to bid on the opportunity to ask Mr. Gacek one trivia question. If Mr. Gacek misses the question, he is "stumped" and the winning question asker wins a limited edition "I Stumped Mr. Gacek" t-shirt. These will obviously become valuable collector's items. Parents will be able to choose a t-shirt either for themselves or for their Nova student.
If Mr. Gacek answers the question correctly, the question asker still gets a prize: an "I Failed To Stump Mr. Gacek" t-shirt.
Zeitoun, by Dave EggersThe story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun is quite a story. Zeitoun was born in Syria and spent his twenties traveling the world working aboard ships. In his thirties he chose to give up this life, and he chose to settle in New Orleans, Louisiana. He would eventually marry a Louisiana native who had converted to Islam in her twenties. Zeitoun started up a painting company in New Orleans and became a successful small business owner.
When Katrina struck, Zeitoun decided to ride out the storm. After the levees failed and New Orleans flooded, Zeitoun paddled around the city helping neighbors and animals. There are some beutiful passages in the book describing Zeitoun exploring this surreal and at times serene environment.
The reverie is broken, however. Zeitoun and three other men are arrested. They are not ever actually accused of a crime, but they are suspected of suspicious behavior. The experience of their incarceration is beyond horrible. Though there is no evidence linking Zeitoun or any of the other three men to terrorism, it is clear that the government agencies responsible for their detainment considered them possible terrorists.
The story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun is a great story because it is an inspiring story. Zeitoun built his painting and contracting business through good, honest hard work. He loves the architecture of the city of New Orleans and has worked tirelessly to restore it, both before and after the storm. Immediately after the storm, he selflessly gave aid to many in need. He suffered great indignities due to the incompetence of government agencies. His wife and family suffered terrific mental anguish due to his incarceration. It was a terrible, terrible experience for the Zeitoun family. The story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun and his family underscores the failure of the governmental response to Hurricane Katrina.
Dave Eggers tells the story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun in a very straight-forward manner. It is a very accessible book. I would recommend it to adults and students about age 13 and up. The subject matter in the latter half of the book is a bit unsettling. It is quite a story. I recommend this book highly. It is unbelievable that the events in this book happened. But they did happen, and it is valuable to know of them. Read this book.
Friday, March 26.
Friday, March 12.
Friday, February 26.
Bill Watterson, creator of 'Calvin and Hobbes,' never grants interviews. He's tried to avoid all publicity as much as possible. He recently granted a tiny interview to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, his hometown newspaper. I've always admired Watterson, because he's always wanted the comic strip to speak for itself. It's now been 15 years since 'Calvin' appeared in newspapers. I loved 'Calvin and Hobbes' as a kid and I think it's fantastic that new generations of readers love the comics just as much as I did. Thank you, Bill Watterson. Thank you.
