Saturday, December 31, 2011

Quote of the week

I got a simple rule about everybody. If you don't treat me right / shame on you! - Louis Armstrong

So this is what it was like...

Back in October, the 50th anniversary of West Side Story came about. Certain theaters had a special screening of the film and the little woman and I went for a viewing. Well, I should say that I dragged her along with me, since she is no fan...lol

I won't go into a review of the movie. If you want that, then you have to track it down in my movie blog.

I do want to talk about the atmosphere of the theater.

As most of you know, I am a fan of yesteryear. There just seemed something more...how you say...classy about back then.

The theater we went to is one of those that brings back the look and feel of old Hollywood. Posters of classic films (and of course the current advertisements), mixed with the look of a classic theater.

I have to say that the whole experience made me feel like I was really seeing the film for the first time. Almost as if I was there when it was initially released, which was years nearly 2 decades before I was even born.

As great as this experience was, it was only a once in a lifetime event. I do think, though, that, given the retro feel of the place, they should consider maybe having a day where they show classic movies or something. Just an idea...

Now, if only they could go with retro prices...lol

Well, thanks for reading!

Friday, December 30, 2011

America's sweetheart? Since when?!?

I think it can be assumed that almost everyone, including some of those in Hollywood are more than fed up with the Kardashians. While I think Kim is quite the attractive girl, that's all she is, a pretty face.

It actually seems that the only people that have any kind of affection for them are the E! network. No one I know wastes their time watching that filth, including my students (thought the do watch similar crap on MTV involving orange guido people...lol)!

I bring this up because I was reading an article the other day that said that Kim is "America's sweeheart". Top top that, the guy she divorced is not the "most hated man in America". They even booed him when he returned to the NY/NJ Nets.

Now, would someone please tell me when Kim became American's sweetheart, and what exactly she did to get that title? The girl has no discernible talent, except for making a sex tape, and yet she and her vapid family are shoved down our throats as if they're Hollywood royalty!

As far as her ex-husband, if I'm not mistaken, she divorced him. So, why is he getting all the hate? On top of that, there are more worthy "most hated" people in the NBA. This guy isn't even that great palyer, and yet they booed him, all because of her?!? WTF?!?

I guess this is all just a wonder of the world. Truth be told, I don't think there is an official American sweetheart, but if there was, I'm sure it is not Kim Kardashian!

What do you think, dear readers? Are you part of team Kardashian, or with those of us that have good sense and avoid that black hole of media whores altogether?

Aftermath

Watch this...



Isn't that eerily creepy? It turns out that the park was set to have been demolished back in January. Last I heard, that never happened. What is worse, is the fact that Six Flags won't sell the property back to New Orleans and refuses to make the repairs. In essence there is all that land and those attractions just sitting there.

It also appears a few filmmakers have tried to buy the property and offer to fix it up for movies. Zombieland was originally supposed to have been filmed there, from what I hear. Of course, some kind of weird city permits are keeping that from ever happening. Yet another sad story having to deal with Katrina.

As much as the city has recovered since then, this shows that some things will never be he same. Or is this more of Six Flags not wanting to lose money (as if they don't get enough of it with their overpriced tickets and such)?

What say you, dear readers?

Do you remember...

Retro Commerical Friday

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday everyone! I hope you all enjoyed your holidays! Now that we're all ready to seriously hurt the next person that plays any kind of holiday tunage, let's rock out a bit with a couple of tunes I've selected. Please enjoy The Darkness' "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" and AC/DC's "Thunderstruck"






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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Pictures, Images and Photos

Saturday, December 24, 2011

An article about the hazing

A friend of mine wrote this about the Florida A & M hazing death situation, and I thought I'd share...

Marching Bands come alive at parades, competitions, and of course, half time! You can feel the excitement when the drums start booming, but you probably won’t feel the impact of a young student getting hazed, at least not directly.

It’s a sad fact that some marching band members will meet the same fate as Robert Champion, whom was a 26-year-old drum major. Robert was discovered to be dead on the band’s bus after a football game performance.

The hazing that is believe to have caused his early death was contributed to the “walk through a wall fists” that Police and former band members have stated that Champion was most-likely forced to go through as part of a hazing event. Police have followed up by saying that Robert Champion was witnessed by a few who saw him vomit, and he later complained that he “couldn’t breathe” a short time before he collapsed and eventually died.

Stepping aside from all of the political discussion and misinformation being pushed by many universities, hazing is a long-established practice that is less prevalent than before, but still happens today. How would I know? I’m a proud member of a national fraternity (name withheld for obvious reasons) and I was hazed… but I survived and I’m discussing this with you today.

I’m not sure who would stand up before us all and admit this kind of thing, but it does exist and to ignore this is just a shame. Robert and others have died, how long does this have to go on. When one school (this time Florida A & M / FAMU), next time it will be another large university. Each time a marching band experiences a tragic loss like this, marching bands everywhere get a black eye. This kind of modern-day social practice needs to be changed or limited to just a mental game, rather than the physical acts that took Robert’s life.

Sure, the President of FAMU has fired Dr. Julian White (the band’s director), and everyone is acting like they are all shocked about this. Let’s all take a deep breath and have a real discussion about it, and make some real changes to keep the honor and the feeling of excitement alive, because to me that’s what the marching band is all about.

Quote of the week

What does Santa get if he gets stuck in a chimney?
Claustrophobic!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Speed bump

In college, especially the first couple of years before I had a car, I always walked across the parking lot to get to class and what have you. There were speed bumps all across campus, and usually, students would crawl over them like a snail.

In this crappy apartment complex we're living in now, people will go out of their way to avoid driving over the speed bump.

Now, there are a couple of things that I've noticed. First, the people with the nicer, newer cars...the ones you would think wouldn't want to drive over the bump, are the ones that actually use said bump.

Those that have cars held together by spit and bubble gum also don't seem to have issues driving over the bumps.

However, it is the ones with average age cars that seem to be scared of what will happen to them if they go over the bumps.

This happened a few minutes ago when I was taking the trash out. A guy in is his car was so determined to not drive over the bump that he would have preferred to run me over!

WTF?!?

I just had to get that out of my system. Thanks for listening/reading!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The bigger villain is....?

I've been doing my best to keep up with the hazing death story at Florida A & M and the child molestation scandal at Penn State.

It seems as if everyday there is some new at Florida A & M, but nothing that just makes you sit up and take notice the way that some of the things are taking shape up there in Pennsylvania.

I say thins because the guy that molested those boys in the shower has been arrested like 3 or 4 times sice the story broke, on different occasion for various things (not sure the exact number or reasons). Each time, though, he has been released on bail.

So, the guy pays for his freedom and can't really leve his house. That is part of my problem, but think back a couple years ago when NY Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was arrested for shooting himself in the leg (on accident, nonethless).

This guy was denied any kind of freedom, not to mention he didn't get an early release. He had no priors, and yet they treated him almost as if he had shot and killed someone.

Top top that off, a few years prior to that, Michael Vick, who went to jail for that dog fighting ring was all but crucified because, heaven forbid, he killed some dogs.

Congress and the feds even got involved in making sure he went to jail as soon as possible and got a severe sentence.

These two men have served their time and are back on the field. Now, I ask you, are a man who shot himself and another who ran a dog fighting ring that much of a threat to society than one who molests children (and appears to be getting away with it)?

Something just seems to be off here, don't you think?

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Faculty activities

Yay for Xmas break!

Officially, we got out Friday, but teacher had to come back in today for what they call "faculty activities". What are these, you may ask?

Well, I was wondering that myself, but it turns out that it is nothing more than a "surprise" Xmas party that we all had to take a day away from our break or make plans around.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting to spend time with my coworkers and whatnot, but to be forced to be there just seems a bit excessive, if you ask me.

That being said, I did enjoy myself today (and got a couple of nice presents), so it isn't like it was a loss or something like that. It's just the principle of the thing, y'know?

Well, thanks for reading!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, I figured we could enjoy some funkiness from the Jackson 5. Please enjoy "I Want You Back"





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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Quote of the week

When modern vampires bite you, do you become a vampire, or just a brooding androgenous metrosexual?

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! I hope that this post find you well. This week, I bring you a taste of Lady Gaga. Please enjoy "Edge of Glory"





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Saturday, December 10, 2011

Quote of the week

Perfect people aren't real and real people aren't perfect

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, I bring you a little Joss Stone to get you through the week. Please enjoy "Whatever Happened to the Heroes"!





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Saturday, December 3, 2011

Quote of the week

What's so wonderful about being 6'3". What is this mythical edge tall men have over average and short men? - Regis Philbin

Monday, November 28, 2011

What is going on at colleges all of sudden?

The past few weeks, if you've been keeping up with the news, but you might have noticed that a few universities are enthralled in controversy.

First off, we have Penn State, where an assistant coach apparently molested a boy in the shower. Coach Paterno and one other assistant apparently either saw this or told them to stop or something, I can't remember the exact details, but the fallout has resulted in many heads rolling, including the chancellor, or was it the president, of the school and Coach Paterno being fired, and the guy who actually did the molesting headed to court. The whole situation has many people up in arms, whether it is about the child molesting, or the fact that nothing was done or said for 10 yrs, or the fact that Paterno was fired, but the other assistant who was there got to keep his job. For me this is just one of those situations where you just shake your head, y'know?

Last week, or the week before, it came out that a drum major at Florida A & M died. It turns out that this was the result of hazing. This is a little close to home for me, because I was in band in school (hell, i teach it now...lol), and in my fraternity days, went through a bit of hazing, but nothing this extreme. As more details have been coming out, it turns out that the band director, who lost his job over this, was not entirely at fault here and that hazing has been some sort of underground thing here. I'm no condoning hazing in any shape, form, or fashion, but if you're going to do this, then one would think that when the guy starts throwing up, you need to stop. What ever happened to the simple paddling? Why must they punch now a days? Really, what does this prove? Ugh! Anyway, before this happened, it turns out that since school started 30 members of the band had been kicked out for hazing, and I'm sure more than a few more are soon to join that number. The governor of Florida is calling for an extensive search into this situation. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this as time goes by. It really sucks that it takes such a negative thing to get a band in the news, though, especially one that is as good as Florida A & M.

To go along with both of these incidents, it appears that something is going on with Syracuse and one of their assistant coaches and some sort of scandal that will have more and more details sure to come out in the next few days. *SIGH*

So, what in tarnation is going on with the universities around here all of a sudden? It really makes you wonder how man things are being covered up, or have been covered up. Doesn't it just make you sick?

So, dear readers, what say you?

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week's selection needs no intro, just enjoy Johnny Cash's "Ain't No Grave"





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Saturday, November 26, 2011

Quote of the week

Even the word hopeless has hope in it

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday everyone! This week, let's slow it down with a gorgeous song from The Temptations. Please enjoy "Just My Imagination"





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Saturday, November 19, 2011

Quote of the week

The say 5 out of 4 people have a problem with fractions

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, how about a little taste of Radiohead, huh? Please enjoy "Creep".




Also, last week, we lost one of the few rappers I can listen to without wanting to puncture my eardrums. R.I.P. Heavy D! Please enjoy what may have been his biggest hit, "Now That We've Found Love"





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Saturday, November 12, 2011

Quote of the week

I think popular music in this country is one of the few things in the twentieth century that have made giant strides in reverse. - Bing Crosby

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! I meant to post this for a sort of Halloween edition of MM, but it slipped my mind. So, here it is this week. A little bit of break from the norm, but please enjoy the dark, classic(al) tones of Hector Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique mvt.5: Dream of a Witches' Sabbath".





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Saturday, November 5, 2011

Quote of the week

Remember, remember the fifth of November... - Guy Fawkes

Monday, October 31, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! I'm celebrating finally having a free weekend this coming weekend by sharing with you an old rock standard from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Please enjoy "Free Bird"





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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Quote of the week

When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car. - Anonymous

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, I bring you some old 60s rock courtesy of The Kinks. Please enjoy "You Really Got Me"




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Saturday, October 22, 2011

Quote of the week

10 years ago we had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope, and Johnny Cash. Now we have no Jobs, no Hope, and no Cash

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, let's take a trip back in time with The Temptations' hit "Ain't Too Proud to Beg". Please enjoy!





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Saturday, October 15, 2011

Quote of the week

A woman's dress should be like a barbed-wire fence: serving its purpose without obstructing the view. - Sophia Loren

Friday, October 14, 2011

Skynet...it's coming

A while back, I made a post about how dependent we have become on cell phones. Some of you agreed and some didn't. Isn't it amazing how independent all of our thought processes are?

Well, I've noticed a disturbing trend in automotive technology of late. It all started this summer when I saw a car commercial and the thing was parallel parking itself. At first, I thought nothing of it. I figured the people that developed it are like me and can only parallel park good enough to have passed their driving test.

Then, a few weeks later, there was a commercial where this woman started her can while up in a plane. Now, tell me, what do you need to start you car for from that distance, seriously?!?

Now, I hear talk that cars will be be made with the technology to read minds. i''m not sure about all the detail, but it something to with knowing when to take a right turn or left turn from what I heard last night.

To me, this screams one of two things. Someone is trying to get inside our heads and know everything about us, or this is the beginning of Skynet (if you don't know what that is, go watch The Terminator).

Maybe I'm just too big of a sci-fi geek, but I'm just waiting for the day when these cars, cell phones, lap/desktops, and all other technology just revolt and enslave us humans. Search your feeling, you know it to be true! lol

Seriously, though, isn't this a bit too invasive with the way technology is going, especially the mind reading car. I'm sorry, but I don't want anyone in my brain, but me. It is truly a scary place in there, lemme tell ya!

So, what do you think, dear readers? Thoughts? Opinions? Two cents? Leave them all on the comment page!

Thanks for reading!

Do you remember...

Retro Commerical Friday

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Comments...or lack thereof

Hello, dear readers!

I must apologize to you all, well those of you that leave comments, anyway. I've been extremely busy this school year, and it had taken its toll on my blogging activities.

What does this mean? Well, for one thing, I haven't really had the chance to blog as much as I would like to, simply because of the fact that I just don't have the time/energy to do so.

Also, I have long prided myself on responding to comments. I figure if you take the time to leave one, the least I can do is reply to you. It is just common courtesy, y'know? Well, as with my posting activity, comment replies have fallen a bit lax, as well.

Fret not, though, my friends! The next 3 weeks are going to be a non-stop road trip to hell for me...ok, not quite that extreme, but it will be a span of time where I won't know whether to scratch my watch or wind my butt!

After all this is through, though, I hope to return to a normal blogging schedule. In the meantime, I will try ti post and reply to comments the best that I can. So, please don't stop leaving comments. I greatly appreciate them. Don't hesitate to leave some on my other blog, either!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, I bring you some newer music. Please enjoy "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera!





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Saturday, October 8, 2011

Quote of the week

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. - Judy Garland

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, let's get some old 70s rock in our systems, shall we? Please enjoy "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin.




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Saturday, October 1, 2011

Quote of the week

When something happens people tell you to grow a pair of balls. WHY?!? Balls are squishy and when they get hit its awfully painful. They should say....grow a vagina, it takes a pounding and goes back for more.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Infuriating!!!!

When I go to New Orleans, one of my favorite places to go is actually not Bourbon Street (though I do end up there, eventually), but I can be found in the park named for my idol, Louis Armstrong.

Now, since Hurricane Katrina, the park has been open off and on, partially due to construction and whatnot. I think I read somewhere that it is in a high crime area, and that a woman was recently raped and killed there.

Those are topics for a different post, but I want to focus on this

With Louis Armstrong's birthday festival less than a month away, jazz fans and art lovers were distraught to hear that a careless contractor had damaged his statue in Armstrong Park.

Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneRutted mud and puddles lead from the promenade to the park's iconic statue of Louis Armstrong, which had been fronted by a newly poured plaza for the garden's unveiling in April.
"I'm so disturbed, I can't tell you, " said Phoebe Jacobs, vice president of the Louis Armstrong Foundation and a close friend of the Armstrong family.
Jacobs said that when she helped raise money for the statue during the mid-1970s, the largest donation came from Armstrong friend and fellow singer Bing Crosby, who turned over the proceeds of an all-star concert he gave in San Francisco.

Since then, Jacobs and others from the foundation have organized park cleanups and made sure the statue is cared for.

"This is like our baby, " she said. "How could this happen?"

Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced Thursday that he has ordered contractor A.M.E. Disaster Recovery Services off the job after the city found that, in addition to the countless other mishaps, A.M.E. crews had cracked part of the Armstrong statue. Observers said workers continued to lift the bronze even though crooked bolts set in its base were stuck, stretching the bronze and separating Armstrong's left shoe from the statue's base.

Sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, 95, lives in Mexico and couldn't be reached for comment.

But New Orleans gallery owner Stella Jones, who represents Catlett's work, said she believes Catlett would be quite unhappy, as she was when a man twisted off the statue's trumpet in 1988.

"I know she was upset that it had been disfigured, " said Jones, noting that Catlett quickly recast the damaged part of the trumpet, which was cracked in five places and missing its mouthpiece. Three weeks after the incident, a photo in The Times-Picayune showed two men welding a new 80-pound horn into Armstrong's left hand.

This time, that sort of swift response by the artist herself is nearly impossible, given her age and distance from New Orleans, Jones said.

Catlett felt a bond with Louis Armstrong, said Catlett biographer Samella Lewis, who was Catlett's student when they first met in the 1940s at Dillard University, where Catlett founded the art department. The sculptor loved New Orleans and its music, was a good singer herself and was a friend to many jazz musicians here and in New York, Lewis said.

Lewis said black residents weren't allowed in City Park at the time but Catlett was determined that her students see a Pablo Picasso show at what was then the Delgado Art Museum.

Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneArmstrong Park's Rampart Street entrance arch overlooks a muddy mess. Brand-new concrete walkways began cracking last month, days after Mayor Ray Nagin's grand unveiling of the park's sculpture garden.

"So she rented a bus with her own money and drove us to the steps of the museum, who let us in, " said Lewis, a New Orleans native. "I had never seen anyone act like that in New Orleans, to defend their rights."

Over the years, Lewis said, Catlett turned down many artistic commissions but always wanted to create a bronze of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, which the city commissioned last year for Armstrong Park's new Roots of Music sculpture garden. Her only other public work is a 2003 commission in Manhattan's Riverside Park that honors writer Ralph Ellison, a Harlem Renaissance contemporary of Catlett's, Lewis said.

City officials are now consulting with art-restoration specialists to decide what should be done about the Armstrong statue, said mayoral spokesman Ryan Berni. "Obviously after what this park's been through, we're committed to restoring the statue using qualified art experts and expert art movers, " he said.

New Orleans sculptor Sheleen Jones-Adenle said she's seen the damage and it can be repaired. "That area down by the shoe is the weakest part: It's mostly decorative and not as thick as the piece itself, so it gave before any other piece did, " said Jones-Adenle, who often works with bronze and created the Rev. Avery Alexander statue in Duncan Plaza and two works for the new Armstrong Park sculpture garden, a statue of Tootie Montana and another of a New Orleans brass band.

Jones-Adenle said anyone repairing the damage will likely heat the bronze to make it malleable, gently push the shoe back into place and then finish the area in a way that the repair can't be seen. The hardest part will be getting the finish right, "the way Ms. Catlett wanted it to look, " she said.

In early August, during SatchmoFest, crowds typically second-line from the statue to the grounds of the Old U.S. Mint, where the festival is held. Jacobs predicted that ardent jazz fans will be in disbelief at the damage to Armstrong's statue.

"Louis Armstrong put New Orleans on the map and sang about it every place he went, " Jacobs said. "How could the city do such a thing?"





Isn't that depressing to see? You should see it in person!

I was last there for Satchmo Summerfest back in August and the park was closed. Granted, it was past the hours, but it looked as if it hadn't been open in years.

I ask you....what kind of way is this to treat one of the city's greatest citizens who helped put it on the map? On top of that, when the place isn't a dilapidated shell of its former self, it is really quite beautiful. If I lived in NOLA, I'd be sure to make my way there every chance I got.

This is very disconcerting, though, especially considering how these pictures were taken last year, and nothing has really changed.

I guess it should be mentioned that somewhere during the park's restoration, the statue was severely damaged by incompetent contractors hired by the former mayor of New Orleans (the same guy that was in charge during the hurricanes).

He apparently hired some second rate contractors and they screwed everything up. I'm not sure of the damage exactly, but as you can see, it is enough that no one is allowed near it until further notice.

The new mayor and former Lt. Governor has since fired those contractors and, last I heard, things were moving along to get things back open. As a matter of fact, it is quite possible that the park will be back open in time for next year's Satchmo Summerfest (which I actually think should be held there instead of the old U.S. Mint, but that's just me).

So, what are your thoughts on this, dear readers? Can you believe that they let such a beautiful place fall into such disarray? What about the fact that the statue honoring one of the greatest musicians of all time was damaged by incompetent contractors?

Retro Commerical Friday

Do you remember...

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Quote of the day

Money is no object...I have a credit card!!!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Doesn't this just warm your heart?

First off, watch this...

Check out this great MSN video: Marching band serenades teen’s dying grandma

Doesn't that just warm your heart? I know it did mine, especially since my grandfather passed away without ever having the opportunity to see my marching band.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, let's go back to the early 2000s with one of Maroon 5's first hits. Please enjoy "This Love"





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Saturday, September 24, 2011

Quote of the week

In a thousand years, archaeologists will dig up tanning beds and think we fried people as punishment - Olivia Wilde

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, I figured we could do a current hit. So, please enjoy "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO.




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Saturday, September 17, 2011

Quote of the week

The severity of the itch is proportional to the reach

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Too dependent

This weekend was one of the best ones I've had in quite some time. Why, you may ask? Well, it was my first time going to a game at (LSU) Tiger Stadium. The reason for my caving in and going to a game was that they were playing my alma mater.

Even though they whupped us pretty good, it was still a great time, despite the overabundance of drunken frat boys and sorority girls and bumper to bumper to traffic. It was good to see friends from college, former professors, and of course students (past and present).

Speaking of which, it warmed my heart to know that both drum majors for my alma mater are former students of mine. Guess I did something right, huh?

So, anyway, in an effort to save gas and whatnot, I had the little woman drop me off on campus and I'd call her when the game was over to come get me. Little do I know after a couple of texts from some friends, my phone was dead.

Now, you may be asking yourself, why didn't I use a friend's phone. I would have more than happy to, except for my seat wasn't anywhere near anyone I knew. As a matter of fact, I was forced to sit on the LSU side. I guess I really shouldn't complain about that, though, since it was a free ticket.

Back to what I was saying, before my phone died, I texted her to say pick me up where she dropped me off. It was just a matter of how long that would be, especially since she doesn't watch football.

Ok, so, we all know how dependent we are on cell phones these days. I know some people who depend more on their cell phone than they do food and water! I remember when I was in college, there were pay phones, but these days, since almost everyone has a cell phone....well, they are nearly impossible to find. Lord knows I could have used one instead of having to sit around for a couple of hours.

Of course, there was some nice eye candy to be seen while i was waiting...lol

So, that was my weekend! Thanks for reading!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, we're gonna slow it down with a nice little hit by Anita Baker that you can often here on those soft soul station, you know the "Quiet Storm" types? Please enjoy "Sweet Love".




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Saturday, September 10, 2011

Swing on by

For those of you interested, over on my other blog, I've posted what I think have been the top 10 movies (that I've seen) for the year. Swing on by and check it out. Comments are requested, but not required.

http://thankyounetflix.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/the-best-of-2011-so-far/

Quote of the week

98% of the people who get the magazine say they read the cartoons first - and the other 2% are lying.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday (and Labor Day) everyone! This week I bring you a hit from the funk band Cameo. Please enjoy "Talking Out the Side of Your Neck"




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Saturday, September 3, 2011

Quote of the week

You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese, the Swiss hold the America's Cup, France is accusing the U.S. of arrogance, Germany doesn't want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are named, "Bush," "Dick," and "Colon." Need I say more? - Chris Rock

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Weather channel stupidity

Apparently, we are set for some bad weather down this way...or at least some heavy rain. With a football game tomorrow night, I was keeping my eye on the Weather Channel to see what the weather would be doing.

Much to my surprise, they were handing out nuggets of knowledge, courtesy of Jim Cantore. For instance, did you know that a drought in Texas is what's keeping them dry. Did you know that?

Oh, and how about this one...New Orleans is under sea level (common knowledge for those of us that live in La, and the south for that matter), but did you know that a few years back there were a couple of hurricanes that nearly destroyed the entire city? That's news to me...lol

These are just a couple of things he mentioned. Ugh! Sometimes I wonder how stupid these people think we are.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

DJ go home

Last week, we had our first football game. Everything came off without a hitch, except for the fact that the principal hired a DJ to play at the game.

Now, before you jump on his case, it is important to know that he's the kind of guy that will say yes to anyone just to keep from conflict, not to mention his daughter is in band.

speaking of which, it seemed like everytime we got ready to play something, the DJ would crank something, including during halftime!

Now, some may think that the crowd would be more into hearing "popular" music and rappers cussing rather than a high school band, which is the reason a DJ was hired, but the fact is, the crowd (who rarely react to anything) actually got up, danced, and cheered when we played as opposed to when the DJ played.

Keeping on that note, the mass outrage about the DJ has been more than surprising. I don't need to tell you that band isn't exactly the most popular "club" down here, but people (including those that have nothing to do with us) were highly offended that the school board, Principal, and whoever would hire a DJ and that they tried to play over us, especially during out halftime performance!!!

The only people supporting the DJ are the people that wanted to hear that type of music and the ones that wanted to hire him, which is like maybe 10 people from my understanding.

The battle is still ongoing, and I will keep you posted. The next home game is this week. I'm sure things will be resolved by then...well, they would in most places. I can only hope down here, though.

So, what do you think, dear readers. Do you think they were right in this hiring of the DJ, or do you have common sense and side with us? I'm curious to know what you have to say about this situation.

Thanks for reading!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Quote of the week

How do you get holy water??? You boil the HELL out of it!!!!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, let's close out August with a couple of birthday artists. Please enjoy "Vogue" by Madonna, "Jam" by Michael Jackson and, as a special treat, feast your ears on Adele's VMA performance of "Someone Like You"









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Saturday, August 27, 2011

Quote of the week

The sexual position 69 is now 96. Due to the poor economy in the US and Europe, the price of eating out has gone up

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

How can any university be so disorganized and incompetent?

The little woman has been going to school in an effort to get certified to become a teacher. Of course, she can only go at night, but that's not the point.

When I was in college, it seemed as if I was always complaining about how slow the financial aid line was or something along that line. Truth be told, though, I'd be in and out of there in 10 minutes top.

Well, at the school the little woman is going to (which is the only one in this part of the state that offers the program), they apparently don't know what they're doing. I say this because it looks as if the whole school was at the financial aid line, so much so that it was wrapped around a good portion of campus.

Top top that off, they were being Nazis about letting anyone in the door. Last week, I went there with the little woman and they wouldn't let me in, so I had to sit out in the lobby. Now, we got there at a little after 7 and it was about 8 when we got inside, but by the time she got done with everything it was 5!!!

Yes, it took that long, but why? Well, for one thing, they had an entire coliseum full of people and were hell-bent on seeing only 5 people at a time. The next thing that caused the lengthy wait was that they would go on breaks every 5 minutes. There also was the little thing about them being slow and the excuse of having a new system.

Ugh! Needless to say, here it is a week later and it still frustrates me to even think about how bad that was. If, when I go back to school, I have this many issues, I swear I'm gonna go postal or something!

anyway, thanks for reading!!!

Scheduling

So, another school year is in full swing now, but in my time as a teacher I've never had such a horrid schedule.

As a band director, one would think that I'd have mostly band/music classes, right? I mean, every other year I've had band, fine arts, music appreciation, etc. that I've been teaching.

Well, this year, when they first released the schedule in July, I was supposed to teach 4 hrs of Algebra...ALGEBRA!!! I was no good at that stuff in school, so that is one of the last things I should be teaching, not to mention what in the world possessed them to attempt to foist that upon me. Of course, they had the PE coaches teaching home ec, too, so I wonder if that was just some sort of cruel joke.Needless to say, I raised hell about that horrid schedule.

First day of school comes and they do change it, but now I have 2 hours of band/music classes. One of which is across town at the high school. The rest of the time, I'm trapped out back in a trailer "teaching" study hall! I'm seriously thinking of leaving after this year, but we'll see what happens between now and the end of the school year. We'll just call this strike one.

As bad as my schedule is, my fellow music teachers have it worse! For instance, the high school band director teaches 7 hrs, only one of them is band, and has no off hour! How do they get away with that? Well, supposedly, one is a class with teachers and it counts as a planning period. --rolls eyes--

As far as the only having 1 band class, his primary degree is in History, and they're too cheap to hire another teacher. Actually, let me take that back. 8 teachers left the high school this year (1 was fired for some illicit facebook pictures sent to a student...allegedly). It was said that they would hire the replacements, which they did, but they also threw in 6 other new faculty member. Did I mention all of them are coaches?!?

As far as the his schedule goes, he has the entire marching band crammed into last period (including flags, drumline, and dancers). Yeah, that'll be fun when the season is over. Oh, and no jazz band class...even though they've gotten superior ratings at jazz festivals the last 3 yrs. He's said that as soon as he finds something else, he's leaving, no hesitation!

I know this place isn't exactly high on the arts or anything that isn't football, but do they really have to screw with schedules like this? Ugh!!!!

Anyway, thanks for listening/reading!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, I bring you some good old fashioned 70s rock (and a hint of marching band music thrown in there). Please enjoy Fleetwood Mac (and the USC Trojan Marching Band)'s "Tusk"





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Saturday, August 20, 2011

Quote of the week

My mind doesn't wonder, it just leaves more often than not. - one of my students

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, I bring you a little hit from Janet Jackson. Please enjoy "Miss You Much"!





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Saturday, August 13, 2011

Quote of the week

If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail - a wise man

Friday, August 12, 2011

What's this?

I'm sure you've all noticed that I haven't posted an actual post since...I dunno...probably May. Yes, I did take a slight hiatus, partly because of the fire and partly because it was good to take some time and reboot, for lack of a better term.

Well, vacation is over (actually, it ended a couple weeks ago...i got the tan lines from band camp to prove it...lol). After enduring teacher meetings this week, the students returned this week....is is Xmas break yet? lol

Anyway, once I get into a routine, there will be actual blog posts here again, instead of random videos.

Thanks to all of you for your concern the past few months. Things are looking up, but would be better if the insurance company would stop giving us the runaround (post forthcoming about that)

Thanks for reading!

Do you remember...

Retro Commerical Friday

Monday, August 8, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! Last week, two of America's greatest treasures had their posthumous birthdays, Louis Armstrong on Lucille Ball. In honor of my idol and favorite redhead, please enjoy "Skokiann" and Desi Arnaz singing the I Love Lucy theme.







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Saturday, August 6, 2011

Quote of the week

I think knowing what you cannot do is more important than knowing what you can. - Lucille Ball

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week I bring you a couple of versions of a pretty catchy song. One by Betty Everett and the other arguably better known version by Cher. Please enjoy "Shoop, Shoop, Shoop (It's in His Kiss)"





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Saturday, July 30, 2011

Quote of the Week

In 30 years, MTV has given us two of the worst shores, Jersey and Pauly.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Music Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, the music world was saddened by the loss of a true talent, Amy Winehouse. Say what you will about her outlandish hair and personal problems, talent is talent. Please enjoy "Back to Black"




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Saturday, July 23, 2011

Quote of the Week

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. - Berthold Auerbach

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Music Monday

Happy Music Monday, everyone! This week, I bring you a true, underrated classic from Elton John. Please enjoy "Crocodile Rock"!




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Saturday, July 16, 2011

Quote of the Week

Being president is like being a jackass in a hailstorm. There's nothing to do but to stand there and take it. - President Lyndon B. Johnson

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Music Monday, everyone! This week I bring you some good old 80s rock. This is my favorite song from Journey, so please enjoy "Separate Ways"




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Saturday, July 9, 2011

Quote of the Week

Early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday and 4th of July everyone! I hope that you have a great and safe holiday. Please enjoy "The Kids Aren't Alright" by The Offspring and "Shining Star" by Earth, Wind, and Fire.






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Saturday, July 2, 2011

Quote of the Week

If you don't pay your exorcist, you'll get repossessed

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! I have two real treats for you this week. The first is "Lady in My Life" by Michael Jackson. One of his lesser known songs, but a good way to honor his memory. Next, I have something more upbeat. Please enjoy Huey Lewis & the News' "Power of Love"






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Saturday, June 25, 2011

Quote of the Week

You gonna do somethin' or just stand there and bleed? - Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp in the movie Tombstone

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, I bring you a catchy, upbeat song from my future wife and mother of my children, Adele. Please enjoy "Rolling in the Deep"




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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Quote of the Week

A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
- Albert Einstein

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday everyone! This week I bring you a couple of icons. Please enjoy Santana's version of "She's Not There" and Whitney Houston's "I'm Your Baby Tonight"






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Saturday, June 11, 2011

Quote of the Week

Three wishes... and X, nay on wishing for more wishes! That's it! Three! Uno, dos, tres. No substitutions, exchanges or refunds!
- Robin Williams as Genie from Aladdin

Monday, June 6, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, let's get the party really going shall we? Please enjoy Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and Jennifer Lopez's "Let's Get Loud"






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Saturday, June 4, 2011

Quote of the Week

Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things. - Yoda from Empire Strikes Back

Thursday, June 2, 2011

What is wrong with Wonder Woman?

I'm a huge comic geek from back in the day. A fact that I'm not ashamed to divulge, especially in this day of comics being cool...something that they most definitely weren't when I was growing up.

With the success of Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Hulk, Fantastic Four, X-Men (I'll be reviewing the new movie on my other blog this weekend), and high hopes for Green Lantern, one has to wonder where the Amazon princess is amongst all this. Where is Wonder Woman? Why haven't we seen her on anything but direct to DVD feature films and cartoons such as Justice League and Justice League: Unlimited?

In the 70s, she had her own show, starring Lynda Carter, but afterwards, she seemed to have been forgotten and seems to have become almost as big a joke as Aquaman.

Once the comic book "renaissance" started (and also around the time Xena: Warrior Princess...who was the living embodiment of Wonder Woman, if you ask me), rumblings of bringing her to the big screen began, and up until about last summer, I believe, it looked like it was going to happen. Then, there were some creative differences and she was sent back to development hell or indefinitely shelved.

During this time, in the comics, she's undergone some weird transformation, that didn't sit well with the fans.I'll get to that in second.

Earlier this year, it was announced that NBC was going to bring her to the small screen. The problem with this was that NBC doesn't exactly have the best track record for new shows. The statistics don't lie. In the past 5 yrs, of all their new shows, maybe 2 have survived, and they cancel stuff before it can develop a fanbase, not to mention don't advertise anything that isn't Law & Order, but that's a topic for another post.

Fans of Wonder Woman were happy, though, that she was actually going to be in something other than the pages of the comics. Then, it was shows what the costume would look like...some kind of weird pantsuit that she was wearing when they decided to change it in the comics. Even worse, it was revealed that the plot of the show would have her with 3 different personalities. Strangely enough, she was to be played by Ali Larter, who's character on Heroes suffered from the same affliction/blessing.

Needless to say, I don't think this would have made it very far, even if NBC did pick it up.

It does bring to mind the question, though...why is it that every Wonder Woman project, with the exception of the animated DVD movie, seems to fail? Super man and Batman have no problem getting projects. Green Lantern is finally getting his due. Heck, The Flash even had a show in the early 90s!

As a fan of Wonder Woman, I do hope that one day, someone can come up with the right live-action project, but I fear that this failed pilot is going to further deter people from her.

So, what do you think is wrong with her? Is it because she's female? Have Batman and Superman dominated so long, that any other character just can't seem to compete (for comic geeks...we're keeping this in the DC Universe)? I wonder what it is that seems to be jinxing her.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday (and Memorial Day), everyone! This week, I bring you a trio of fun music to get you through the week. Please enjoy "Rocksteady" by The Whispers, "Wild Boys" by Duran Duran, and "F-- You" by Cee Lo Green (if you're offended by strong language, I suggest you not play that one).







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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Quote of the Week

I know I'm only one human being and I'm only making one tiny contribution and it's nothing more than that. - Halle Berry

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Aren't band kids supposed to be smart?!?

So, I'm sure we all know about how the world was supposed to end this past Saturday at exactly 6 pm. I actually thought about blogging about this, but decided against it, as it is a touchy subject, as I've seen this week with many of my coworkers.

Having said that, whatever your belief is, one crackpot (who is probably just using the day the doctor's have told him he's going to die) isn't going to dictate when the world ends.

Now, the world is experiencing tornadoes, random rising river water (that I have to cross everyday to get to work), and other natural disasters, but if ever there was a sign of the Apocalypse, this it...8th grade band kids who can't pass a final.

Let me explain what the final was. The front office needed something on paper to say there was a final, so I figured, why not watch the movie Drumline during their final time and they had to put their name and the name of the movie on a piece of paper. Doesn't get much easier than that, does it?

On top of that, I left the DVD case out in plain view, wrote the title on the board, and there is a giant poster on the wall.

Somehow, though, 6 of them failed. Do you realize how pathetic it is to fail a band final?!? Don't even get me started on how easy this was.

Oy! Maybe I should've given them an actual final with music question and some playing tests and whatnot, but geesh!

6 failures?!? 2 of them didn't even turn anything in!

Aren't band kids supposed to be smart? Well, one way or the other, these kids won't be my problem next year. Except for seeing them when I'm helping at the high school, I'll have a new batch of 8th graders.

I'm still dumbfounded by this. Wouldn't you be?!?

Monday, May 23, 2011

Music Monday

Happy Music Monday, my friends! This week, I bring twice as many videos as last week...a total of 4!!!! Please enjoy "Everything She Wants" by Wham!, "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga, "I Get Around" by The Beach Boys, and "Creep" by TLC!











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Saturday, May 21, 2011

Quote of the week

The greatest music often comes from tragedy

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Finally, an update

So, now that things are a settling down a bit and are getting back into a routine (just in time for school to be over...lol), let me give you all an update.

For those of wondering what happened with the fire, rather than me explaining it, you can read about it here.

Now, in terms of damage and all that jazz. Sadly, we took the most damage. It was almost like it was targeting our house specifically. On top of that, the little woman was in there!

Luckily, she got out before the flames engulfed the place. Material things can be replaced, but I honestly don't know what I'd do if she would have been trapped in there. Keep in mind that I was on my way back from San Antonio on a bus trip, so that would have made it worse to come home and find out that she would have been burned to death...of course, she also was supposed to pick me up, so I might have noticed something, then...lol

So, all that aside...insurance is what we're waiting on now. In the meantime, we still have to pay mortgage for a place that may or may not even be standing much longer. Makes no sense to me, but then again, I actually have a heart.

Friends and coworkers have been nothing short of supportive and awesome while we've been going through this difficult time. A few have opened their homes to us, even if one kicked s out because he was working on his tenure and needed his office "to spread his papers" out.

I guess I can't really complain about that. I mean, it is his career and he did give us a place to stay for a few days.

Now, we're at another friend's house which reeks of uncleanliness, but, again...can't really complain.

Things are looking up, we have an apartment in the works, just a matter of paperwork (and hoping it doesn't fall thorough). It'll only be temporary, but its better than invading friends' houses.

As far as replacing possessions and whatnot, people have donated clothes, money, electronics and all that...not all of which was worth keeping...lol Some things can't be replaced (only existing copy of my senior recital tape...except the one in school archive, which they don't let anyone up there)

It is believed that the cats didn't make it out and my horn may or may not be up there precariously perched on the 2nd floor which could collapse at any minute. I haven't practiced in nearly a month and it is killing me! I guess I should just bite the bullet and get a new one, but I've had this one since high school, and its been through hell and back (like being run over by an instrument trailer and surviving), so there is a bit of emotional attachment there.

There are things that are going to take awhile to replace though...
-desktop...just under a year old *SIGH*

-DVD collection...thankfully, many of them can be found for cheap on amazon or ebay...except the Disney and new ones

-PS3..hadn't even had the chance to break it in and now its gone...ugh!!!

-big scren tv...same as above, and the warranty didn't cover fire

we've already started with the replacing of the dvds, but if anyone wants to donate anything, you are more than welcome to

Now, enough with this fire stuff. I'm tired of bringing you guys down with this morose news and whatnot.

As you saw this week, my Musical Monday posts returned this week. Hopefully, my other weekly features will, as well and I can get back to blogging on a regular basis, especially with school ending next week.

As far as Eye Candy goes, it will return in the fall, but between now and then will be special editions, so keep on the lookout, and yes Lin, you'll get some Dr. Drew soon...lol

So, that pretty much covers everything. Thanks for taking the time to read/listen! Don't forget to check out the movie blog...http://thankyounetflix.wordpress.com/