Yesterday and Today

Monday:

- Biology: Read AP Biology text pp37-47. Do Quiz.
- Science readings: SparkNotes Frankenstein pp 9-11.
- Math: Daily Saxon Math sections (2).
- French: Read Bernard Werber's Les Thanatonautes sections 1-4 in the first chapter.
- Crew.

Tuesday:

- Read AP Biology pp 89-100 -- Cell Reproduction. Do not take quiz!
- Science readings: Essay.

In Frankenstein, does the monster's eloquence and persuasiveness make it easier for the reader to sympathize with him? Why do you think film versions of the story present the monster as mute or inarticulate?

[Note to self: make sure we have Mary Shelley's Frankenstein next up in our Netflix queue, with a "Hollywood" version of the same.]

- Math: Daily Saxon Math sections (2).
- French: Bernard Werber's Les Thanatonautes sections 5-6 in the first chapter.

There will be more. It's too early in our school week to overwhelm the student.

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Why did I choose Frankenstein as part of our science readings? While a pre-med in college, I took a Writing for Science Majors course. We read Shelley's book, among other writings. I learned that ethics and philosophical dilemmas are tied to science, whether we like it or not; if we are to be scientists, we ought to be thoughtful ones. To that end, I am thinking to add Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go to our reading list.

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Yesterday was also the five-year anniversary of 9/11. Everyone seemed somewhat nervous on my train going to work. It did not help that the conductor said the train was being stalled (for 20 minutes) because "of an incident on the tracks ahead." It is also Fashion Week in NYC. Here is the Sartorialist's take on Remembering 9/11.