More Funniness

Yikes.

Reality Check and Music Review

Haven't written about much non-fictional lately, (unless you count reality TV, which I don't) so I'm writing a list of stuff I actually did lately to make me feel better. Cause that's what matters, me feeling better.

1. I started reading a lot of books about education, and recently a book and material about ESL. I still give others/myself a hard time when they say I'm going to study ESL ("Study 'teaching ESL!'" I speak English good), but the truth is I love it, and God's used some good books to reinforce its value. I might have to work on my bar tending skills while I save up some cash for my classes, but whatever it takes, it's nice to know it's toward something worthwhile. Unless I start to like bar tending, which is possible. Or Barnes and Noble. Or whatever.

2. I had a student get so loud he set off his own hearing aid. He hollered, it rang, then he said "Oh" and adjusted it accordingly. He settled down a bit after that.

3. I bought fair trade coffee again. It's expensive even for fair trade, but isn't showing everyone at the cashier counter you're a good person worth it? I think so.

4. I realized I'm a bad, bad man. Those of you who know me well may think I'm being sarcastic, but behind this calm exterior lies a boiling pot of rage. I made it a goal to never yell, which I usually do quite well with. But the result is like that movie character who congratulates himself for walking into a bar, fighting, and not drinking anything. Sure, he didn't get drunk, but that wasn't the problem. That's me and cynicism. Or verbal knives in any shape and form. But I don't yell.

However it reveals itself, my default emotion is anger. I admitted it's a problem and made apologies where necessary. That may be skipping a few steps here and there, but oh well. I'm not sure I'll ever know what that verse about calling someone fool and being in danger of hellfire really means, but I know angry words have hurt a hell of a lot of people and that at least is motivation enough. It'll stop.

5. I had a great weekend going on a series of dates with my wife. We need to do this more often. Married couples out there, do this more often. If you don't, bad things will happen. Or you'll get bored, which is actually one of those bad things. Enjoy (your beverage of choice) together.

6. I also met up with good, like minded friends around that time. I feel clique-ish saying words like like-minded, but in the midst of diverse friendships I do enjoy having friends who understand what I'm talking about. Thanks, friends.

7. We're packing up boxes and thinking about reverse culture shock. US, please be kind.

8. I made something delicious using mushrooms, rice, cut up garlic and butter. Yes, I'm bragging. It was good.

9. I got a couple of CDs after I thought of how much I enjoyed select songs from them. Marvin Gaye's What's Going On was definitely worth more than just the title song. A few of the songs in places blended together like one long song, which made for a good effect in driving home his themes. It sounds good without being shallow or gimmicky. This is pop I can listen to.

I also got a greatest hits CD of David Bowie from the late 70s, or pre-Labyrinth era. I could still hear the Goblin King in some of the songs growing up in the 80s, but the original version of "Heroes" was worth it. I've talked about how that defines a lot of my feelings this year in a previous post, so I won't blabber about it now. But it's still reminding me of a lot of good things, and that's needed as ever.

Are Bowie's other songs worth it? "Golden Years" is still fun, as are a few others, like "Fame" (if you listen to it every once and a while) but dated numbers like 1984 (Disco? Worse. Wannabe disco. Yikes) make one cringe if one isn't a disco-loving cartoon character. Or maybe especially if one is. One of those.

Whatever the case, my wife and I are following Him towards a gradual goal and the rest is just soundtrack.

The Oscar Grouch

The Academy Awards usually make me cranky or at least disappointed, but this time while some of their nominations seemed insanely weak, the winners make sense. I haven't seen the Hurt Locker, but I know it has its reputation for a reason and look forward to seeing it. I think Up should have won because Pixar movies (with one or two exceptions) are that good, but the US hasn't reached that level of security yet. Yes, in the age of Simpsons people still see cartoons as kids stuff. Still, a nomination says a lot; this is a great victory for animated rights. Maybe in a decade or so we'll see Buzz Lightyear stepping up to recieve a big kids award. Or even get invited. Baby steps, though. (poignant pause) Baby steps.

Actually, I want to see most of the movies on the list,The Blind Side included. Stupid work. Why do you have to be so important?

Fun with Plagerism

Shame on you, James Cameron. So, does Disney's Pocahontas win a retro Oscar? Is there no justice?

http://failblog.org/2010/01/10/avatar-plot-fail/

Fiction Rocks (When the Songs Aren't Crappy)

I may be biased, not being the biggest fan of reality television or CD deals produced by them, but I think I have good reason to say the following--Glee is better than American Idol. Glee is funny most of the time, and consistently so, and actually tries to develop its characters as it goes. AI has a snarky British guy and people chanting near gibberish not unlike crazy people I've heard on the subway. Sure, Glee picked some crappy pop music almost half the time, but they do a great job with the classics and incite a laugh or two. Which brings me to the tie breaker.

Glee had a rendition of "Gold Digger", a song I never would have sought out on my own, that turned out to be entertaining. Dang it, I have it stuck in my head now. And it still makes me smile and almost think I can rap. Of course I can't, but let me dream.

American Idol forced people to watch as a young man butchered "American Woman" by making it sound even less like rock and or roll (as Rev Lovejoy from the Simpons would say) than Lenny Kravitz did. And that takes a lot of butchering.

Humming and trying to rap vs. ruined classic. Point: Glee. Victory: Glee.

Note: This may sound pretty shallow, talking about TV shows. But I've given the concept of music and singing a lot of thought lately, and there's an element of honesty and/or fun to a well-done song that either makes one love or hate it. I just haven't sensed that element in any reality show I've seen. Maybe it's the cynic in me, but the contestants seem more concerned with winning than enjoying themselves. Not to say acting is any different, but at least then there's a story to enjoy.

Of course this is 100% opinion. What makes music enjoyable?

Darwin's Manners

It's the end of the school day and I'm watching my assigned bus to make sure no one kills each other or eats on the bus. One student, to avoid doing the latter,eats oranges outside the bus. I remind her that the peels would have to come home with her before being thrown out, since once you're on the bus bla bla bla. She grins and looks around the playground with upraised arm, stops at my urging and then looks around for good hiding places on the bus.I encourage with a "Don't even think about it". The student responds by silently returning to her seat and placing the peels in an older student's hand. I see this, and the following exchange occurs.

Me: You're too nice.
Older student: Is that a bad thing?
(Crickets)
Me: I don't think I want to answer that.

Part of me says yes, it can be. Yet another part tells the former part to shut up because it doesn't know what it's talking about. Yes, both parts are mean,or at least one is open to meanness and I realize that may not be a good thing. In my defense, I'm from New York.

However it's said, I think people like the older student may be stronger than we give them credit for. Some may see kindness as weakness, but I'm not so sure. And if you disagree,you can shut up. Sorry. New York.

Music Theory

So, I posted a musical-type theory on my twitter account. My theory is that bands with food names correlate somehow with their namesakes. I use Cranberries (acquired taste) and Meatloaf (comfort food but easy to get sick of)as examples. Any comments or (constructive) criticisms are welcome.