Next

Well, I hope what's next is a sharp improvement in attendance and participation. Again: that's half your grade. We're a small class, we can't afford to have more than a third of us out on any given day. Nobody's posted a thing here this week but me, and that simply won't do.

For tomorrow:

Th 6 CH 5-9

Everybody, go ahead and post your thoughts on Russell. Don't wait for your nominal group leader. I look forward to posts from all of you, and to the happy return to class of Sloane, Anais, Eric J., Connor, Trey, Jason, and Josh.

We're going to give the group format a fair trial in October, with a couple of new reforms, before revisiting the question of whether to continue with it. There are three groups, as organized last week: Group #1 is Jason, Claire, Josh, Eric S., Trey, Jonathan, and Alexandra. Group #2 is Sloane, Connor, Anais, Christopher, and Marie. Group #3 is Colton, Bonnie, Brian, Eric J, and Erik M. (Rebekah can choose between 2 or 3).

Here's what's new:

• From now on group #1 will focus on the first 3d of each day's assigned reading, group #2 on the second 3d, and group #3 on the last. We'll implement this retroactively to the beginning of Conquest for Happiness, so to catch up today each group needs to post its factual & discussion questions from Tuesday (CH  thru ch4) and for today (CH 5-9). 
• From now on, every group member should post directly to the blog and not in "comment" responding to the group leader's post, and every group member post a factual and discussion question prior to class, pertaining to their group's focus material for that day's class. Every student should be posting every class day.  

So: every student should be posting to the class blog prior to each class. I encourage you all to continue (or begin) to comment on classmates' posts as well.

Also, note Marie's comment on our November text selection:

I know I had said How to See Yourself as You Really Are was the shorter title, but it is hard to say. For the Benefit of All Beings is only 125 pages vs How to See Yourself As You Really Are at 270 pages. It is a smaller book; however, there are fewer pages in For the Benefit of All Beings, and after revisiting each I sort of feel the content is more relevant and applicable in the latter title. Just a thought.

Amazon has it for $10.74. Or, we could try to hunt up something online. What are your thoughts?

Finally, are any of you planning to "Occupy Nashville" today? If so, please let me know in advance of class Thursday.