"I don't like Spam!"

Any Monty Python fan will recognize today's topic. In the class I'm teaching, we're having song presentations this week. Remember during the summer the "transvestite" song? Well, I have an even better one.

One of my students chose "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," to present. Pretty cool, I thought. Until his MP3 player couldn't be hooked up to the computer and we had to search on YouTube for a version that the class could hear.

The first hit that came up had a screen shot from the movie this song is taken from, 1979's "Life of Brian." I hesitated to continue because I instantly remembered this scene has gentlemen singing while nailed on crosses basically telling the audience, "Don't worry, be happy." I decided to follow through and roll with the punches.

Some students looked horrified. The less pious laughed. Ever seen this flick? It skewers religion in the best way, and is a great satire of all things Christian. For any ESL teacher who has tried to present humor in the classroom, you know it's an uphill battle. What makes people laugh is extremely bound by culture, and this was an example of something that just didn't translate.

In the meantime...I'm waiting for any complaints to roll in.

Today's wish: That my trip to Costco later today will be filled with lots of samples.