Pun Power

Dear English Answer Man:
What is a pun?
-Curious in Costa Mesa

Dear Curious:
A pun is simply a play on words that helps someone appear clever, cheesy, or both. When you come up with a clever pun, be prepared to hear groans of exasperation, and perhaps even a few cruel words of disdain. However, Pun of the Day website accurately informs us that many people groan when they hear a pun because they are jealous that they didn't think of it first. Yes, my pun-worthy friend, those naysayers are little more than linguistic losers who can't understand that the pun is mightier than the sword.

What are some of the best puns you have ever heard or created?  Leave one in the comments section.

Here's an assignment for each of your blogs:

Newspaper headlines are usually a gold mine for puns.  Find a clever pun in a newspaper headline, and post it to your blog. Include any explanation or commentary you feel is necessary. If you find your head line in an online newspaper, include a link to the title.

Here are some examples from Saturday's Los Angeles Times:

• "At Least the Price is Right in Left" (an article about the cost of a player who will be playing left field)
• "High Expectations for Really Low Snow" (an article about people expecting the snow levels to drop this weekend)
• "Heads Told the Tale in Upset" (A play on the idea of head and tails in a coin flip, and telling a story [the tale]).

Student Blog Recommendations

I don't necessarily recommend any or all of these--but here's the list, with descriptions courtesy of 35 student bloggers:

Antoinnette recommends this blog for candy lovers, while Sydney insists on linking to a blog about--rainbows?

Chau!, AskingAiden, and Marissa all point to this music blog, so there must be something to it.

Speaking of music, Hillary seems to like My Chemical Romance, Michael isn't far off with "shrednews," Cassandra goes for guitars, Tori links to new music, Yareni shows us winners, and Saire rounds out the list with rap.

For those interested in sports, CJ shows us where to get the shoes, Osbaldo clues us in on soccer, Patrick chooses to focus on US football, and Cynthia and Trevor link to blogs on baseball. Of course we can't leave out the Lakers, so Jacoby saves the day on that one.

Alec adds some levity with a jokes blog, Tori takes us off-road, and Talisa offers life lessons.

Wow. This is a lot. But we can't leave off without a personal touch. Daniel hits the books, Daniel #2 points the way to recipes (I'm checking out this one first) and don't forget cakes (thanks relytnosredna). Shalese adds a feminine accent, Clayton turns us on to technology,  and Tatum takes us out with a touch of style.

Let me know if I missed anyone!

The Stereotypes Are True--An Invitation

All stereotypes start from a kernel of truth--the problem is application of the stereotype to any and all individuals in a given group. Unfortunately stereotypes have a way of changing the way people behave. Most of my students, for example, say they believe poetry is "for" guys or girls. But a guy admitting he enjoys or writes poetry is socially risky. Most guys, in my opinion, are afraid of being labeled as feminine, wimpy, or soft--so they steer clear of poetry. And I understand that. Adolescence is already complicated--why add to the trials and difficulties of middle and high school.  This is what I see in action: the vast majority of students who write poetry for fun are female.

It's easy to tell a teacher what he wants to hear, but it's another thing to shatter a stereotype. There was a time when female voices in literature were an extreme minority, but women have been shattering stereotypes for awhile. There are guys and girls discovering a joy in reading, writing, and poetry in spite of the fact that it's not necessarily "culturally cool" to read and write for enjoyment. (I find it almost vomit-inducing to hear some folks claim lack of literacy as "cool"). There are athletes killing the competition both in the classroom and on the field. Kids who are popular AND friendly to outsiders and the less fortunate. Snowboarders and skateboarders who don't do drugs, respect others, AND possess a functional vocabulary.

These anomalies are out there, and I think some of the walls are beginning to crumble in my own classroom. 

Which stereotypes will you shatter?