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Afterimage: Funny, Gatsby doesn't look Jewish
As one who hales from the Midwest, grew up in Minnesota and has relatives who still farm in North Dakota, I would have to say that the "Gatz" name is likely to refer to someone from any of the German-speaking parts of Europe. There are many people who are descended from Germans, Austrians, "Bohemians" (yes, and it isn't a reference to an artsy lifestyle!), etc. Rather than his character Jay Gatsby being a Jew who wants to assimilate, I think that Fitzgerald was drawing upon his own dreams of wealth and success. Transferring those dreams to the son of homesteaders, who remade himself, as Fitzgerald remade himself from the Midwestern boy into the world traveler and author, at home in the most glamorous of surroundings. There are many English names (possibly originating in the Dane Law areas) that end in the '-by', as there are Scandinavian names, as it designates a dwelling place, probably from Old Norse. Overby/Overboe, Nordby, take my word for it, that suffix is fairly common in the upper Midwest. All of which Fitzgerald would be familiar with, having grown up in St. Paul, Minnesota. Fitzgerald had a great ear for lyricism, the ability to almost undersell a scene or concept, so that it just seems like a good read, when it is quite a bit beyond that. His elegance in syntax and word choice is phenomenal. His ability to create worlds the reader comes to know is a great gift. Fitzgerald the writer becomes almost without ego in "The Great Gatsby". Cerebral immediacy of story line. Not that easy to do. Which brings me to Lurman's film, which I enjoyed very much. However, I must mention that the depiction of the North Dakota farm was ludicrous in the extreme. (Lurman may have taken that concept from footage of the Oklahoma dustbowl in the twenties...it is very unlike what a North Dakota homestead would have been around the turn of the previous century.) Far too flimsy and ramshackle, as no one would have survived winter in anything like that! Lurman could have shown a sod house and it would have made sense, as homesteaders did live in them until they could afford to build a house. The wooden barn would be built before the house, as that was critical for the work at hand and the completion of the claim. At any rate, that's my small quibble with a pretty good version of Fitzgerald's work. Overall, Lurman does go big and splashy. Fitzgerald's book has great subtlety and sweetness, which Toby Maguire captured. Leonardo DiCaprio did a fine job.— May 16, 2013 10:15 p.m.
Sweetwater school district to team with Alliant University?
Students would take the Alliant route if they were swayed by the school counselors who have been strong-armed by Ed Brand. Or if they were really desperate...but who would be that desperate. If, for example, a student really needed to raise their GPA, I have heard that sometimes it is recommended they take any class with a guaranteed A. So if they do that on top of the classes they are taking in high school, the A grades they get from outside classes can boost them enough to get into some schools... That kind of scenario. What kind of makes me wonder is the Sweetwater U/Alliant coordination with CIF section 11. That just seems to convoluted for words. Can anyone figure that one out?— May 16, 2013 8:32 p.m.
Chancellor University tried to recruit homeless
Well, in the interest of keeping track, it looks like when it comes to GCU, all bets are off!! It looks like heat from the community may have caused Brand and his Loyal Voting Block to go in another direction, because we are now hearing zippo about GCU, but *much* about Alliant University. So--Fast Eddy is ducking and weaving, but I think we may have him on the run--or maybe a skedaddle.— May 15, 2013 11:56 a.m.
Sweetwater school district to team with Alliant University?
Lower case timtim, so close to timid, don't you think?— May 15, 2013 11:47 a.m.
Sweetwater school district to team with Alliant University?
Well put. They are beneath contempt. And to think that I heard McCann still thinks he should run for mayor of Chula Vista?! How completely deluded and out of touch he must be! I always knew he had a 'tin ear' for politics--which isn't good, considering he keeps putting himself out there--but this would take us into other realms entirely. Wooden ear? Blocked ear? Ear for Ed Brand only?— May 15, 2013 11:46 a.m.
Sweetwater school district to team with Alliant University?
More obfuscations and lies, from the Behemoth of Bloat, Ed Brand.— May 15, 2013 10:20 a.m.
Sweetwater school district to team with Alliant University?
Ok, finally found that link: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/investigations/Sweetwa… Reminder--if the link appears "broken", then try typing the rest in.— May 14, 2013 2:01 p.m.
Sweetwater school district to team with Alliant University?
Do you suppose there is some scrambling at the District Office right about now? Fast Eddy is probably salivating over 'his' share. So now what--the district will try to cobble together what they have been disassembling for the past 3 months?— May 14, 2013 1:31 p.m.
Sweetwater school district to team with Alliant University?
So maybe Alliant isn't doing all that well, wants fresh capital, so will sell the property and move south where rent is free and the living is easy!! And with Brand's "guarantee" of students, they must be thinking they are set! Hmm. Maybe Brand's "interest" has to do with a percentage of the real estate sales...?— May 14, 2013 1:28 p.m.
Sweetwater school district to team with Alliant University?
Is there a link to any news reports about this credit card issue? Because I haven't been able to find one. More deception and lies! More arrogance and disregard. More's the shame that these are the people who represent this school district.— May 14, 2013 10:14 a.m.