Mark Cuban called...

He wants his TV show back. Today you were assigned the latest and greatest Humanities project for this six weeks; if you were absent today, make sure to get a group when you come back. We're excited to see your creative marketing skills shine as you persuade us to invest in your product or revolution. If you need a little help with your sales pitch, Jimmy Kimmel made an appearance on Shark Tank to solve a problem that I know has been on the forefront of American minds: the absence of pants for horses. Watch and be inspired.

In case this wasn't enough brilliance and you need more ideas, this girl thinks she has the formula for how to pitch an idea to the billionares on Shark Tank. See if it works on your Humanities teachers.

Everyone knows that Parks and Rec is the greatest show ever. Take this quiz to see if you are Leslie Knope or Ron Swanson (you know who each of the Humanities teachers would be). Now get back to Chapter 28, cause that's due tomorrow.

For today's photo, we are going to travel to the Tian Shan mountains in China...the wind and water erode the mountain range, which turns the land these stunning colors. PRETTY.

Texas, why are you so flat...why you no look like this?!?

Peace out girl scouts. Have a wonderful rest of your day! 

-Virdin

"Brick killed a guy"

Everything is still going crazy up in France. We ALMOST made it through the Revolution today...so much beheading, so little time!

Her face is terrifying.

One of the things I always have found fascinating about the French Revolution is how multiple social classes are furious for various reasons. The bourgeoisie is mad, the lower class is hungry AND mad, everybody's mad. Moral of today: don't make the moms upset, especially when they're hungry (I learned that with Mrs. Paddington many times growing up). I hope you also enjoyed our shoutout to Anchorman, one of the most quoted movies of all time, with our beloved Will Ferrell and Romeo+Juliet's Paul Rudd...sophomores, remember this gem?

I love lamp.

In case you need a little break from Chapter 28, here's an article about an artist who Photoshopped his cat into famous works of art, including Wood's painting of Napoleon that we looked at today. I'm surprised Ms. Siddiqui hasn't already tried this with her cat.

I'm also going to be posting a photo each day from somewhere cool around the globe (hopefully a place you've never seen before)! In honor of today's topic...here's Bastille Day in Paris.

Now go enjoy this perfect weather. Seriously. Go outside. I'm pretty sure this is what heaven feels like.

-Virdin over and out.

Pardon my French

Welcome to the third six weeks...I can think of no better way to start anew than by discussing the French Revolution, oui? Lots of blood and gore over the next two days, but for Liberty! For Justice! For the People! I LOVE the French Revolution. There are many misconceptions surrounding the French Revolution, but we hope to clear them up for you. Today we went over the causes of the French Revolution, including the monarchy of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the spreading of Enlightenment ideas, the middle class (bourgeoisie...say that three times fast), and a LOT of debt and famine. History is frequently a dramatic mess, but this particular topic takes the cake (get it?)

Marie Antoinette: Most misquoted award. 

The French Revolution is one of the multiple revolutions we are going to study as we move into the Modern Age. As you should be seeing in your reading, different regions across the globe will be inspired by Enlightenment ideas (and a myriad of other factors) to change their existing government, for better or for worse! 

Today we also gave you some time to practice analyzing documents, POV for sophomores and HIPPOs for freshmen. We'll spend more time going over strategies and tips for working with documents in the future, as well as working with you on your DBQs. Don't forget your double CE tomorrow! And map check Monday! And chapter 28 due Thursday!

Don't be this guy. And don't be fooled! Desks are not comfortable for napping; we've tried. 

I leave you with my favorite song from Les Mis (different French revolution, but I don't care. I love this movie, and I feel no shame). 

Was that an earthquake or did you just rock my world?

It's funny 'cause it's true...

How about that sweet line in the blog title? I'm telling you; I got MAD GAME.
How did your speed dating go? Did you make a philosophical love connection? If not, we hope you go to talk to some interesting people - the historical figures, not the actual students!

The great thing about today is how much it actually mirrored some of the real interaction that these figures had with each other. Thanks to the printing press and the rise of an educated, professional middle class, many of these great thinkers actually spent time with each other. They met at coffeehouses and bars in great cities like Paris or Vienna. They were invited to salons (we'll get to those soon) where they were encouraged to share, discuss and argue about many of their ideas with one another. Make note of how vibrant the intellectual life of Europe is becoming. Think about this is relation to say... Post-Classical Europe! Bit of a difference, eh?

Put on your WHAPPY pants because you've got a big, bad chapter (28) in your book next Thursday.

Isn't this pretty much how you all feel after reading the WHAP book? 

Alright, that should about do it. We hope you have a great weekend, and don't you even spend a minute of your time thinking about your poor, exhausted teacher slaving over a stack of DBQs this weekend. 

Here's your shockingly appropriate soundtrack for a Friday... enjoy:

COOKIES > 17th CENTURY POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

It's just so true...

In case you weren't around this afternoon, there was a delivery of Tiff's Treats cookies that slightly derailed our afternoon classes. The application of natural law to the affairs of society is pretty much the best, but... WARM, FRESH COOKIES.

Anyway, back to our program... so, did you figure out the ideal organization for modern government? Really? No? Hmmm... that's surprising.
We hope you enjoyed your conversations today about some pretty substantial ideas. Sure, you're in a classroom doing teacher assigned work, but this is good stuff.

• Why do we need governments? (or do we?)
• What responsibility does a government have to those it governs? 
• Which do you value more - security or freedom?
• What should a society do in response to an ineffective or abusive government? 
• How many times am I going ot have to hear that new Adele song before I stab steak knives into my ears?

THESE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS!

Again, we know these are things we're assigning you to read in class. But, that doesn't mean they aren't significant questions that have a direct impact or how we live our lives and see our place in the world. As we move closer and closer to the 2016 presidential election, look and listen for these very concepts in the speeches and commentary coming from the candidates and the media. This isn't just stuff from a bunch of dead guys. And, as we move forward, things will get even more fun as new ideas are thrown in, and we even get to hear from a woman or two! 

We are not actually going to hear from this particular woman.

Don't forget that we've got our last CE of the six weeks tomorrow as well as a brief reading assignment in the WHAP book. Six weeks ends tomorrow! One more left in the semester... HOLLA!

Given the slightly pessimistic tone of today's subject matter, I think we'll wallow in the angst for today's musical selection. Here's your soundtrack for a misanthropic Wednesday:

She blinded me with science!

We didn't choose the thug life... the thug life chose us. 

I am positively giddy right now. I loves loves loves me some Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment. So much thinking and stuff!
It is my sincerest hope that you are starting to see our modern world come in to view. I know that many of these discoveries and theories that we're discussing in class don't see like a big deal, but that's because we live in their shadow. The world that these thinkers are discovering and inventing is our world! I love to think about how miraculous these revelations must have felt. And, what will be the next paradigm shifts that change our view of ourselves and our relationship to the universe?

As much as we accept these thinkers as "correct", keep in mind how jarring and frightening these new ideas must have been to people of the time. People don't like change. We freak out when our phone operating system updates and changes the font of our text. Can you imagine how it feels to have your entire view of the cosmos altered? Or, having your understanding of human life questioned? That'd freak me out just a wee bit. You can also understand why people like Galileo ran into such trouble...

Tomorrow you need to have read from a couple of my favorite homies, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. As you read, think about the relationship between the governing and the governed. This is important stuff. Also, you've got some brief reading from your WHAP book due Thursday.

For today's throwback soundtrack, I think we'll go with something topical.
One of the greatest rock songs of all time + one of the greatest openings to a movie ever + a reference to Galileo = PURE AWESOME!

"Ewer" kinda off on your exploration of Asian art today...

Whoa bro... maybe you should switch to decaf...

How'd you like that sweet, sweet Asian art today? Good stuff, huh?
We'll be coming back to exploring creative expression from East Asia during this semester and the next. Both China and Japan (as well as Korea, Taiwan, etc.) have incredibly rich creative traditions in so many of the creative arts. Hopefully, by the time we're done you will recognize more than just this...

which is pretty much the only piece of Asian art anyone can ever recognize. Well, and probably this too:

Don't really understand what's going on here.

Tomorrow, we officially move into the Modern Age! Ahhh, flying cars, lasers, and colonies on Saturn... the Modern Age!

Wait, I don't think it's that kind of "modern age". Yes, it will not include robots and space ships, but it will be where our current worldview comes in to being. As we move along, make sure you notice the increasing role and importance that science and technology are starting to play in history. This is no coincidence. 

Don't forget that you've got a double CE tomorrow as well as an online reading due on Wednesday. 

This week, I think we'll explore some older music. How about we go back to golden age of independent music? Sound good? Excellent! Of course, we must start with the best. Here's your moody soundtrack for an Autumn Monday: