The first semester course, “Words without Borders,” focuses on non-Western writers’ novels, short stories, plays, poems, and critical essays that capture a global perspective on universal themes such as “justice, exile, censorship, isolation, war, nation building, etc.”

Ms. Frick plans to use the text, Axis of Evil: Writing from Iran, Iraq, North Korea and Other Enemy Nations. You can read reviews and preview the text here.

This course intends to raise contemporary, unexplored questions that history classes are often unable to fit into their own curriculums, questions such as, “What effect has 9/11 had on the American Idea? How does the threat of terrorism affect Western Identity? Has Globalization led to a more or less fluid notion of identity?”

The other course to be offered in second semester is “Writing Nonfiction.” This course, structured as a writers’ workshop, will gear students towards writing clearer, more vigorous prose on topics of their interest.

Ms. Frick also added that, “…this course will be to engage students in writing in a variety of prose styles toward eventual and possible publication.”

In the case that enough students sign up for either one or both of these courses, the English Department will have to replace pre-existing courses that show a lack of interest with the higher-demanding electives.

Other questions surrounding the courses can be addressed to Ms. Frick.

Despite this horrifying predicament, Polley tactfully avoids melodrama. This film never overbears the viewer with dramatic confrontations and lugubriousness. It follows two characters who handle personal crises with grace and dignity. At a time when even the best Hollywood filmmakers (the Coen brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, Tim Burton) have become obsessed with the depths which humanity can sink to, it is refreshing to see a film about characters rising, honorably and realistically, to tolerate a nearly intolerable situation. Not to mention that Anderson and Christie invigorate with performances that are, respectively, touching, refined, and honest.

The Pats released safety Wilson while veteran safety R Harrison might not be returning next season as he is considering retirement. Not only have the New England Patriots lost their two starting safeties, but also their two starting cornerbacks. Star CB Samuel is leaving after completing his one-year franchise deal (gets paid the average of the three highest paid players on the team, the contract is only for one year). Starting on the other side, CB Randall Gay has also been released.

This means the Patriots have 5 starting spots on defense to fill before the start of the 2008-2009 season. The team also faces great expectations, as the Pats managed to go 18-1 last season, only losing their final game. As Free Agency started friday, the Patriots have a major priority to shop defense players, unlike last off season, where they added key offensive players to Tom Brady’s arsenal.

Not only was Desmond transported back in time, the quality of the writing was a blast from the past seasons with intensity normally only seen on the season finales. I mentioned in an earlier blog post that Lost has really redeemed itself after the pathetic third season, and I now I think it really has potential to be better than ever before.

The fourth season of Lost, however, is addictive and intense in a different kind of way than the first two seasons. The show used to have so many undertones and subplots of religion and philosophy, but it seems that the writers are abandoning much of that to go deeper into the sci-fi aspects of the island than before. Daniel the physicist seems to be a character that’s going to help us understand more about the island, and so far I really like him. By “like him” I mean “trust him.” Don’t get me started on Charlotte and Miles. They creep me out.

I’m glad that the new science-heavy Lost isn’t losing the humanness that made the earlier seasons so good. The flashbacks were such a great way to get to know characters, and the connections between the characters that were shown were always fun—especially because the characters themselves didn’t know the connections exist (ex. Clare and Jack are half-siblings, but don’t know it). Anyway, bringing Penny back as Desmond’s “constant” was a great way to keep the personal, emotional touch.

I’m so glad that Penny was back, even though we probably won’t see her again for a while. Her storyline drives me crazy because it has the most holes in it. Why was the communications room on the ship sabotaged and who did it? Why aren’t the people on the ship allowed to take Penny’s calls? And HOW DID SHE FIND OUT ABOUT THE ISLAND IN THE FIRST PLACE?

I can’t wait for next week’s episode.

The beginning was good. The president was assassinated at a conference in Spain, and there are about five different viewpoints of the assassination. The end of each viewpoint was left on a cliffhanger, and at the end of each I was wondering how the heck they were all going to tie back together.

They did. But not well. The motives of the assassination were unclear even after the credits were rolling. I thought the producers could have done a better job with that.

Despite my opinion, the movie is currently at the top of the box office.

Oh, and one other thing. Do presidents actually have body doubles?

PS-interview coming soon….after technical difficulties are sorted out.

For the girl’s basketball team, they were able to win their first tournament game last night, at home against Duxbury and will face Whitman-Hanson Saturday afternoon, at home as well. The boy’s hockey team, which has been a big story this winter, with their extremely successful season, is playing in their first tournament game Sunday in Bourne, against Milton High School, who the boy’s beat twice this season, both times by big margins.

The final team that made the tournament this winter is girl’s hockey. Unfortunately, their tournament life was short lived as they fell to Newton North in a game that came down to the final seconds. The girl’s though, should feel good that they were able to get into the tournament by winning their last couple of games during the regular season. Both teams that remain from the school in the tourney have a chance to bring home a state championship trophy, and hopefully one of those teams will finish the job and get that trophy.

Although I enjoy being able to watch TV for the first time in my high school career, I do feel a sense of guilt when my teachers ask questions about the past night’s homework, because it is clear I’m not the only one in my classes who have adopted this life of indifference to academics. It must be hard to be a senior year teacher during the second semester, they see us slacking off. They know we do. But the way I see it is, I’ve worked my life away at this school, and the next four years of college will be filled with all-nighters at the library, I need these last months of school to enjoy being a teenager!

So I suppose what I’m trying to say is, work hard now as underclassmen because second semester of your senior year can be used as a time to enjoy high school like they do on television and in the movies.