February 17, 2005
Today is Octidi, 28 Pluviôse CCXIII according to this handy French Revolutionary Calendar utility. For more on the calendar, see this discussion, including the day-names and leap years.
Why yes, we are going to be talking about Jacobins and Robespierre today. I like teaching the French Revolution.
I intend to write the day's date at the top of the online outline and use it as a springboard into the Jacobin attempt to remake society, remake tradition, and build a new world and a new civil religion as part of building a new republic and a better future.
If only I remembered enough French to feel confident teaching the class in that language. But my accent sucks and my vocabulary is almost as bad.
I remember just enough French to be able to rattle it off at times I want to say... just something inexplicable. Can't remember how to write it in the actual French, but what I say at these times is:
"I don't know why I always have to do it."
This comes in handy more often than you would think.