Tracing the Footnotes

Preface

The phrase "tracing the footnotes," or something very much like it, was first introduced to me by Ted Smith. Ted is the director of the Theology and Practice program at Vanderbilt University. But before that he was one of the best professors I had during my time at the Candler School of Theology. (Ted received his doctorate from Emory not too long before I met him but his punk rock mentality precludes him from allowing any of his students to call him "Dr. Smith.) Tracing the footnotes means actually paying attention to all those books and articles that are cited within a piece of academic writing, and then actually committing some time and energy toward exploring those other materials yourself.

So, for example, if you were tracing the footnotes in a book written by R.C. Sproul, you'd likely be sticking your nose in the works of Martin Luther, W.G.T. Shedd, or James Montgomery Boice. And if you were tracing the footnotes of Jacques Derrida, this masochistic exercise would plunge you into a world occupied by Emmanuel Levinas, Martin Heidegger, and no doubt a goodly number of continental literary scholars whose names I couldn't even begin to tell you. Wherever a particular author's footnotes take you, her or his footnotes are a means by which s/he may publicly identify whose works s/he values most highly and counts as significant influences.

Where I Start Getting to the Point

Within the blogosphere, I have identified a phenomenon which parallels that of tracing footnotes. I call it "perusing the links." When a link is placed in the sidebar of a blog, it serves as a means by which the author of the blog may publicly identify the blogs that s/he enjoys reading and recommend them to the author's own readers. As someone who keeps a blog, I find that there are often brief periods where I spend more time authoring comments on other people's blogs than I do updating my own little corner of cyberspace. Now is such a period. So, if for some reason my readers are presently eager to read my most recent reflections, they will need to peruse my links to find them.

In the last week, I have been commenting on other people's blogs more often than usual. I have joined discussions about the best holiday movies, the use of creepy clowns in evangelism, and the relative "Christian-ness" of the U.S., both yesterday and today. I've made some especially substantial contributions on this last matter. My comments on "What's Wrong with the World?" have been the type of serious minded fair I have only rarely penned here in The Kingdom.

At the end of the day, this blog entry is really supposed to be a signpost with arrows pointing multiple directions. (The Jesus pictures are strictly for entertainment.) Go check out some other quality blogs!

...except for Mark's Blog because Mr. Schwartzkopf hasn't updated the damn thing in nine months.

The Week in Sub-Land

Beth recently asked me if I had any more cute stories about the school kids I've worked with since the last time I shared. I thought others might be intrestest in the tales I just e-mailed to her so I'm posting them here. Whether or not they truly constitue "cute stories" will be up to you to decide. I haven't proof read what follows so, to Erin and anyone else annoyed by typos, I apologize in advance for those that may appear below.



-On Wednesday, I was with a class of 1st graders. In the afternoon, they were becoming particularly unruly and I had to start using my "mean voice." Apparently this voice is a fair bit more intense for 6 year-olds than it is for the 10 or 11 year-olds I work with most of the time. After one stern admonishment to be quiet while the teacher is giving a lesson, one girl named Daija raised here hand immediately afterwards. With great trepidation she said, "Mr. Scott...When you said that your voice was really loud." My response was, "If you children would be more quiet I wouldn't have to be so loud." For the rest of the day, every time I raised my voice, Daija would immediately cup her hands over her ears.

-On Friday, I was working with a class of 3rd graders. One boy named Carlos approached me at my desk and asked, "Mr. Scott, may I go get some aqua?" "Aqua, huh?" I replied. "Yeah, sometimes I speak Spanish. I'm half Mexican. Alan uses Spanish words sometimes too. He's also half Mexican."

In the same class, a kid named Noah (who apparently has a ridiculous amount of access to automatic weapons and other highly deadly firearms) asked, "Do you have any kids, Mr. Scott?" "Nope, no kids." "We are you at least married?" I showed him my ring-free left hand. "Nope, no wife either." His response made me laugh out loud: "Maaaaaan, you need to get married." Apparently a girl in the class named Jessica also thought I needed a female companion. She kept asking if she could walk next to me in the halls and when we went out to the buses she put her hand in the bend of my arm like we were prom dates or something. Before another teacher saw this and mistook me for a sexual predator I had to say, "Excuse me, Jessica but I need to be at the front of the line so I can make sure everyone's behaving."

-On Monday I was with a 5th grade class. Our last order of business for the day was to read an issue of Time Magazine for Kids as a group. One article was about Pope Benedict XVI praying in a mosque in Istanbul and meeting with several of the local Muslim leaders. As I attempted to explain the full historical significance of the head of Catholic Church a) praying in a mosque that b) is in Istanbul, I realized these kids couldn't have cared less about what I was telling them. But then a girl named Amberly raised her hand. "Finally! Student interest!" I thought. "Yes, Amberly. You have a question about this article?" "Yah, I do. What's a muslim?" What I wanted to say in the moment was, "Are you fucking kidding me?" Instead, I did my best to explain that it was another religion that many people in the world practice as they worship God and try to show love to other people.

Those are the past week's highlights.

In Receiving Mode

I'm very low on output these days.

That's not to say I've been especially lazy or inactive in recent weeks. I just find myself more inclined toward reception, consumption, and digestion than I am creation, production, or construction.

My blog testifies to this fact. Other than a short run of daily activity at the end of last week, the kingdom has been relatively quiet in the past month. I simply haven't had as much to share. It's not that I've ceased thinking "share worthy" thoughts or lost passion for the usual hobbies and interests I tend to ramble on about. I simply haven't felt compelled to log on and post those things. I'm confident this is a spell and I'll move out of it sooner than later.

That all being said, I'm going to resume the model of sharing a few random thoughts to keep you at least a smidge up-to-date on what's been happening in my interior and exterior life.

1) What's Wrong with the World? This is the name of my buddy's new blog. Those of you who read the comments on my blog may have noticed the username "Indy Rider" before. This handle belongs to Mr. Nick Tranbarger, one of my dearest friends in the world. It appears that his blog will serve as a message board of sorts where Nick will regularly prompt us to approach the title question from various different directions. After I publish this post, I will add his blog to my links. So, please, check it out.

2) Ph.D. applications. I really need to start finishing these things up. I finally narrowed my list down to two candidates: the Graduate Departement of Religion at Vanderbilt University and a joint doctoral program offered by the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology. I spent a sizeable chunk of the weekend trying to decide on a third and final school to pursue, but couldn't decide on one I was genuinely interested in. I need to push myself out of receiving mode because I need to right a statement of purpose for these applications quite soon. I just find it highly intimidating to write a short essay about where I think I'm going in my education and, eventually, my career.

3) The UFC is adding some big time talent. If the reports are true, "Rampage" Jackson and Mirko "Cro Cop" are both going to be signed to the UFC roster very, very soon. That would be like the Colts signing Ray Lewis and Troy Polamalu at the same time, if not better. These are exciting times for the MMA fan, and things keep getting more and more intriguing.

TTFN, MF!

Assessing My Quirk Factor

Thanks for sharing this page, Beth. The quiz was quick and fun. Although, it seemed to me that some of the multiple choice answers did not quite fit the question to which they ostensibly corresponded. (Think: "Have you ever tried sugar...or P.C.P.?")

Your Quirk Factor: 63%

You're so quirky, it's hard for you to tell the difference between quirky and normal. No doubt about it, there's little about you that's "normal" or "average."

How Quirky Are You?

Early Thoughts on the Grammys

This year's batch of Grammy nominations were just released. I'm glad to say that I don't find them to be nearly so nauseating as I did last year's. Here are some brief notes I made while browsing the full list of nominees:

+ This could be the year of Rick Rubin. This producer has been a major force in the careers of a wide variety of artists, including Run DMC, Slayer, and Johnny Cash. Two of the albums he produced in 2006 are up for Album of the Year- the latest releases from The Dixie Chicks and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

+ Gnarls Barkley, James Blunt, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, and John Mayer all received an ample number of nods.

+ Even though U2 didn't release an album or a single this year, they still managed to get nominated. An updated version of "One" with Mary J. Blige on lead vocals was released on her latest album. The Grammy's sure love the fuck out of Bono, don't they? I bet a member of the nominations committee gives him a rusty trombone every day just because they appreciate the fact he's still alive. At least if they win this year, it'll be for a time tested song that's worth a damn.

+ On a similar note, Paul McCartney had a song nominated. Has anyone even heard it?

+ Nick, you'll love this one...."My Humps" has been nominated for Best Pop Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal.

+ Apparently the powers that be no longer recongize Tool or System of a Down as metal bands. Both acts have been nominated under the Best Hard Rock Performance category. If Buck Cherry beats them both out, I very truly might kill someone.

+ As for Best Metal Performance, Mastodon, Slayer, and Lamb of God are all nominated. These quality bands are in, and there's no sign of wannabes like Slipknot or Mudvayne? Thank you, Jesus!

+ Peter Frampton is nominated for an instrumental rock track entitled "Black Hole Sun." This simly has to be a cover of the Soundgarden radio hit of yesteryear. First, Johnny Cash covers Soundgarden and now Peter Frampton. I guess they're a band so good even established legends want in on their action.

More Random Stuff

1) "Those are not for eating! Those are weapons of death."

I wish I could say that I came up with the above quote. However, my honest bones compel me to confess that its author is none other than Mr. Aaron Homoya. Usually a subdued personality, Aaron still has a healthy sense of humor. He crafted this gem during a conversation we had at church a couple of weeks ago.

The church we attend, Redeemer Presbyterian, shares its facilities with the Harrison Center for the Arts. In fact, the time of donuts and fellowship that follows each morning service takes place in one of the Center's galleries. One display that has been up for many weeks now is comprised of 6-8 grenades made of sugar. They essentially look like giant grenade-shaped gumdrops. Because they are equally as colorful as gumdrops, children are often drawn to the pedastel on which they are displayed. Aaron and I facetiously say that one day a kid's going to reach up, pluck a candied grenade from the cluster and attempt to take a bite out of it. This is the context that gave birth to Aaron's hilarious utterance.


2) 24 is one of the best shows in the entire history of television!

When I was a kid, about 10-12 years old, I thought Kiefer Sutherland was one of the coolest actors on the face of the planet. I was a particularly big fan of Flatliners and The Lost Boys. For some reason, I grew out of my infatuation with the younger Sutherland soon thereafter. And I apparently wasn't the only one. Kiefer didn't get many big ticket roles throughout the 90's, doing primarily small, cult films like Freeway and Truth or Consequences, NM.

But Kiefer returned to mainstream glory via TV in the innovative action/drama series 24. I must confess, I never watched an episode of the program until last year's Season 5. Because I knew one season equalled one mammoth adventure, I was always reluctant to just jump into a season already in progress. But thanks to some 24 loyalists from Kentucky, I was urged to watch last season from the premiere and I caught nearly every single episode after that.

And, as you can tell, I'm so happy I've rediscovered the Son of Donald. Counter-Terrorism agent Jack Bauer epitomizes the kick-ass, man's man action hero that the supersensitivity of politicial correctness had all but killed off. (Will this American patriot negotiate with terrorists? Hell no, bitches!) I am presently two-thirds of the way through the DVD set for Season Three, and I'm loving it just as much as Seasons One and Five. In the near future, I'll have to watch the even numbered seasons as well.

3) A sore throat and teaching grade school is a bad combination. After spending the weekend feeling like my throat tissue had magically converted to sand paper, I though I was well enough yesterday to go back to work. I was mostly right. When the kids were good, I felt fine. But after these 10 and 11 year-old brats flipped out on me in the afternoon, all the yelling at them I had to do did a number on my still recovering throat. I spent the morning hacking up the bloodiest mucous I have ever seen come out of my physical person.

I'm feeling much better now, thank God.

...I'm off to watch a few more episodes of Season 3 before bed. Adios.

Ending an Extended Absence

Hello friends,

I apologize that it's been so long since my last update. The primary reason you haven't heard from me in so long is that I was without internet access from Thanksgiving day until Wednesday evening. Since my return to cyberspace, I've simply been negligent to post something new. Here's a few written snapshots of what I've been up to in the last ten or so days:

+Over the past six workdays, I substituted for a developmental kindergarten teacher. DK was a interesting place to be. It's my understanding that this class was originally created to give those kids with lower IQs or other learning disabilities an extra amount of care and attention to get them ready for first grade. However, this developmental kindergarten class is a disparate mix of these types of children with those most often labeled as "special." Three of the seven children are just that little bit slower than your typical kindergartener. The other four children consist of two autistic children (one of which truly does live in his own little world), a Hispanic boy who's essentially mute speaking neither English nor Spanish, and a little boy named Kyle who has Downs Syndrome and leukemia.

The classes went fairly smooth. I had much more fun than I had headaches. The only real problems I had were with Carl, a boy with an IQ so low he consistently confuses circles and squares and struggles to trace dotted lines. Carl decided on our second day together that he was really going to test his limits by yelling at me and then hitting me several times after I put him in time out. His actions landed him the distinction of being the first "special" student I've sent to the principal's office.

I also have several interesting Kyle stories. Unfortunately, most of them require me to act out his maneurisms so they can't be told here. One that can be shared happened just yesterday. Kyle had a rough day on Thursday. He was out of school the entire day receiving various treatements, including chemo and a spinal tap. The pain medication he was given Friday morning led him to act out quite a bit, whereas he is usually one of the best behaved students.

One thing that always amuses Kyle is to go limp like a noodle and force his caretakers to pick him up off the floor. And though the smile he gives you as you lift him is adorable, the whole affair can become annoying after his fourth or fifth straight refusal to stand. The truth of the matter is he knows better, so the regular teacher and the paraprofessional of the classroom will put him in time out every now and again. After Kyle had staged his limp noodle act for the second time on Friday, I felt compelled to send him to the time out chair. That gave him the distinction of being the first terminally ill student I've ever punished.

+A week ago Tuesday, the latest Killswitch Engage album came out. This band is definitely one of my favorite "new" bands on the scence today. I put new in quotation marks because the band has been around for nearly a decade although they've only emerged into the mainstream over the past three years. I also picked up their concert/documentary DVD last weekend, so I have been enjoying all manner of KsE material the past couple of weeks. I'd recommend the purchase of their albums, but I don't know that most readers of this blog would even entertain such a purchase. So I'm content just to testify that I love this band.

+Starting late Thursday night, I began feeling a bit under the weather. My energy continued to flag throughout the school day yesterday. And now I'm in a situation where it hurts to swallow anything. The silver lining here is that I have no fever, nausea, or body aches so I think I can rule out strep throat or mono. Whatever I've got, it's been kicking my butt the last thirty-six hours and all I've really done is sleep poorly, drink many fluids, chew food into a fine paste, and watch most of 24, Season One on DVD. I can only hope I'll be back in good health before Monday morning when the new workweek arrives.

That's all I have for now, friends. Again, I apologize for taking so long to update this blog. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.