Linguistics as (not so) Hidden Racism?

In the past, I’d never really thought of linguistics as an inherently political field of study. Yet as we see in the readings, our understanding and privileging of certain linguistic habits is tightly intertwined with our perceptions of what is “right” and “correct” - and these perceptions are themselves built upon cultural hierarchies.  The result, I think, could be that the longstanding forms of structural discrimination that we've been fighting for many years may actually be continuing (at least at a cultural level) through the marginalization of dialects.

ENG 540 - Global Englishes and Popular Culture

For my first post for English 540 at Illinois State, I'll be responding to readings by Pennycook, Gee, Bamgbose, Bolton, and Matsuda.  Mostly, these readings represent an introduction to what it means to study English from a descriptive cultural perspective rather than simply a prescriptive or "language-focused" approach to what English "is" or "should be."

Aliens Angry About Destruction of Wildlife Preserve "Earth"

Earth is a very fertile planet for life.  Really the ultimate "Goldilocks Planet."  So why haven't aliens colonized the place in the past 65 million years or so?  Maybe because they set it aside as a nature preserve.  Their thinking is that the diversity of life here would allow them to harvest all kinds of pharmaceuticals while learning all kinds of solutions to environments ranging from extreme cold to extreme heat and everything in-between.

But then we humans evolve, and we start wiping out all kinds of other interesting forms of life...hmmm...

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The Crosslands: Where Dragon Meets Lightsaber

It was a rumored place, a hidden place.  Parents would tell their children that, in the darkness, the wicked sons and daughters were spirited away to this place.  In flight school, the star guides did their best to quell speculation.  "It's a myth," they said.  "A nowhere place."

They were right, of course.  It is a myth.  A nowhere place.  But that doesn't mean it isn't real.

The Crosslands.  It would be a great meeting place - but you can never be sure you'll ever go home.

Batman vs Superheroes - the Dark Knight Wins

So who would win in a fight?  Superman?  Wolverine?  Dr. Horrible?

Heck no - Batman's the one you gotta call.  And if you have any doubts about that, then you best find yourself a good hospital, cause Batman don't knock twice...

The Ultimate Pirate Ship

I was watching "Last Exile" yesterday, and it occurred to me that all these great and massive pirate ships (e.g. The Black Pearl) suffer a complete lack of logistical support.  I mean, seriously - who on Earth builds a ginormous pirate ship?  Do the pirates go up to the dockyards and trade in some gold and buy themselves a ship?  I don't think so...

God vs Darwin - the Card Game of Evolution and Intelligent Design

Okay, so this idea came to me of a card game with cards for Intelligent Design and cards for Evolution, and the two (or more) players would duke it out in kind of the same way that you would in Magic: The Gathering.