makes a man want to speak spanish

[melannen]

This weekend, I need to write an essay for my Latin America class, on some topic related to changes in Latin American life as a result of the coming of Europeans, and then make a judgement as to whether those changes were beneficial or not.

My teacher in that class is an authentic Latin American doctoral student (from I believe Bolivia, although the fact that he shares his name with a Harry Potter 'ship makes him rather hard to google.) He is also a soccer fanatic, who has been publically counting down the days until the World Cup starts.

As for me, I don't even know the difference between a red card and a penalty box. However, I *do* happen to think that Hunahpu and Xbalenque are the awesomest ball-playing twins who ever shot out a macaw's false teeth.*

So now I'm thinking about ignoring all the actual important issues, and writing this paper on the decline of the Mesoamerican ball game (ulama/tlachtli/pokolpok) and the concomitant rise of European sports, particularly soccer.

[Poll #745173]

*also, apparently, by way of incestuous genderswitch mpreg, parents of the entire human race. How did I not know that before?

ETA: Somebody, make me stop reading Word Cup coverage before I start to actually care! Please!

Comments

[siegeofangels.livejournal.com]

*loves on the Hero Twins*

My shitty integrating paper for my grad program was about the Mesoamerican ballcourt; I can send you the bibliography if you want. (I'd offer to send the paper itself, but a) see above re: shitty; and b) I'm not sure which of the, like, six different versions was the good one.)

In some places they still play the old ballgame (or did in the seventies)--there are some really cool photos of modern guys who look just like the Maya ballgame pictures.

Cool, cool topic. I'd love to read it when you're done.

[melannen.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that would be great.

I'll let you read mine if you let me read yours! He gave us four days to write this, so even if I *don't* procrastinate as hard as usual, it's going to be no masterpiece. (Actually, I haven't let anybody read any of my papers for about eight years, because I'm convinced they *all* suck, even if they do get good grades.)

There was actually an article only a couple months ago in - either Smithsonian or National Geographic, I think it was Smithsonian - about modern Ulama players in Sinaloa. Actually it's really relevant for this essay, because a big problem is that since colonization, all the rubber production has moved to Asia to make room for sugar and bananas from Africa, so they're having a major rubber ball shortage in Mexico - synthetics don't work. (Also stellar_dust's boyfriend on Digging for the Truth played the Ball Game a couple months ago, too, which was hot, although I don't remember him elaborating on the intricacies of globalization.)

[stellar-dust.livejournal.com]

http://www.nukees.com/comics/nukees20060609.gif

So, when are we going camping?

[melannen.livejournal.com]

I would say this weekend, except that we're having a yard sale tomorrow and I said I'd go to the zoo with Mom on Sunday.

I have four-day weekends all summer! Name a date! Except not Father's Day weekend.

(Out of curiousity- Do the camping, the Nukees, and the soccer have any connection? 'Cause I'm not seeing it.)

[stellar-dust.livejournal.com]

This weekend I have an eye doctor appointment.

Next weekend - I need to call you guys, I guess - I think I'll be home because Sarah and her mom are having a joint birthday party Saturday.

The weekend after that Mom and I are going to Texas, and you're going to a book sale (It might not be too late to come along, though! Four-day weekend is what I'm taking!).

And I still want to take a gaggle to Six Flags some weekend.

(None whatsover! d-: (You don't read webcomics anymore and I thought you'd appreciate that one, and the camping question would more properly have fit with an earlier post, but oh well.))