The youngest Hanson brother is a daddy. They grow up so fast. I remember taking my kids shopping and Ben yelling excitedly at a store display, "Look Dad! It's the MMMBop girls!" His sister likes to remind him that he has Hanson-like hair these days.
Friday, May 30, 2008
United They Stand - On Darfur
SaveDarfur.org has a post called "Clinton, Mccain, Obama Joint Statement: ‘We Stand United On Sudan’" that's worth checking out...
This explains the odor in the cafeteria. . .
Oil prices got you down? Is that what's troubling you, Bunky? Maybe it's time to invest in restaurant fryer oil. . .
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Pledge to Hedley Lamarr
Tonight we say goodbye to Harvey Korman, who made us laugh when he couldn't keep from laughing at Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show, and here, as bad guy Hedley Lamarr in the Mel Brooks classic, Blazing Saddles.
APE Lang - Darfur Now
Watching the film is just the first step. The next is to take action. Visit savedarfur.org, takepart.com, or Amnesty International for starters. You might be ready for summer vacation, but the violence, the poverty, the genocide does not take time off. Act now.
Good news for test takers
If you suffer from test anxiety, there's reason to be hopeful. Some colleges are no longer requiring ACT or SAT scores as part of their admission process. They feel that standardized tests are no longer an accurate measurement of a student's potential in college. In addition, they find they're getting a more diverse group of students without skimping on academic rigor.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Step away from the Red Bull
Told you so. Suddenly my conspicuous Diet Coke consumption doesn't seem so bad.
Go Wings!
Two down, two to go! Valtteri Filppula did his best Bobby Orr move to give Detroit a 3-0 edge in the third period Monday night against the Penguins.Once
Ah, the little indie musical that could. My personal favorite from last year, and I can't wait to see Glen and Marketa live in Chicago next month. Here's a review of their recent gig in NYC.
I'm an English major - you do the math
Actually, I enjoyed math back in the days of the abacus and LED calculator. Still, I'm glad I don't have to meet the grad requirements for the Class of 2011 and beyond. Four years of math, four years of English - yikes. High expectations should be encouraged, but we've got to be prepared for an onslaught of dropouts or fifth-year seniors. In Macomb County, 28% of freshmen failed a semester of Algebra I.
But they aren't using trimesters, right? Trimesters will certainly save us, won't they?
But they aren't using trimesters, right? Trimesters will certainly save us, won't they?
1001 Books to Read Before You Die
Looking for some light summer reading? Don't start here. But I'm curious: What five books do you want to read but haven't yet?
APE Lit - Cormac McCarthy's The Road
It's coming to a theatre near you this November. Judging from this article, it looks just like I thought it would - shades of ash grey everywhere. If you haven't read it, you owe it to yourself to pick up this novel.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Pork and Beans
Weezer and a whole lotta YouTube faves in a likely nominee for MTV Video of the Year.
APE Language: Born Into Brothels - an update
Kids-With-Cameras is back online, and there's an update on the kids there. Avatji is now 19 and planning to attend university in the US this fall.
Now that you've seen the film, let me know what you thought of it. Go here if you'd like to see Auntie Zana's most recent work.
Friday, May 23, 2008
It's a gas gas gas
I topped off my tank this afternoon at $3.99/gallon. Saved a whopping $1.20. Here's what prices looked like county-by-county heading into Memorial Day weekend.
Confesssions of a News Junkie
I've been fascinated by world, national, state, and local news since childhood. At WJFM, I'd bolt from my copywriting desk anytime the UPI wire alarm went off. The Internet, obviously, has not helped curb my news/ADD tendencies.
The Newseum, adjacent to the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C., opened recently, and I can't wait to spend a day there.
The exterior’s unique architectural features include a 74-foot-high marble engraving of the First Amendment and an immense front wall of glass through which passers-by can watch the museum fulfill its mission of providing a forum where the media and the public can gain a better understanding of each other.
Field trip, anyone?
Let's Go Red Wings!
Seems the Pittsburgh Penguins fans are paranoid about Red Wings fans tossing cephalopods on their ice during the Stanley Cup Finals. They're asking for ID and listening for Midwestern accents at the local fish market.
Go Wings! My prediction: Detroit wins in six.
(photo by Carlos Orsoio/AP)
We're Number 1154!
Newsweek released its annual list of the top high schools in the US this week. If you look here, you'll see that LHS isn't on the list. Fear not, dedicated AP student. After contacting Newsweek and presenting them with our stats, I received confirmation that we'll be included in an updated version of the list.
For the record, we had 334 tests taken at LHS last year and 277 members of the Class of 2007, for a ratio of 1.205:1. That places us 1154th on the list, and 24th in Michigan. Last year, we were 1221st on the list - that's an impressive jump!
It's a tribute to your hard work and the commitment from the Lowell community to increased academic rigor.
For the record, we had 334 tests taken at LHS last year and 277 members of the Class of 2007, for a ratio of 1.205:1. That places us 1154th on the list, and 24th in Michigan. Last year, we were 1221st on the list - that's an impressive jump!
It's a tribute to your hard work and the commitment from the Lowell community to increased academic rigor.
Trying to find truth in a week of highs and lows
One friend received the highest award in the state for our profession, the other has become the most vilified in the area. One look at the forums attached to each story tells me plenty about how a vocal minority feel about teachers.
Somewhere, in a place hard to pin down, lies the truth. Roseanne Cash, daughter of Johnny, wrote this about truth this week in her songwriting blog:
Somewhere, in a place hard to pin down, lies the truth. Roseanne Cash, daughter of Johnny, wrote this about truth this week in her songwriting blog:
The “truth” (or “honesty”) and the “facts” are not necessarily the same, they are not necessarily equal and one often requires the suspension of the other. This may not be the case in higher math or on Wall Street (or, actually, it may work there as well, but I’m clueless about that) but it is an immutable “truth” in art and music that facts are not necessarily the best indicators of the deepest human experience.
I know this: I am thrilled for one friend, and saddened for another. I know both worked hard to do the best they could. I don't think any of us will ever know the truth regarding why both flew high, and what allowed one to soar while the other came too close to the sun. All I can do is offer prayers of thanks for Jen, and prayers of forgiveness for Jim.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Final Installment of the Three-Year Plan
One more day. Best wishes to the Class of 2008 - here's hoping you don't end up with the same prof for three of your four years in college. It's been an honor to work with you.
Guilty Pleasure - Hall & Oates
Finally, they're getting the credit they deserve. About time. "Rich Girl", "Sara Smile", "She's Gone", and all of the Big Bam Boom disc are pop classics.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Advice for the Class of 2008
Let the commencement addresses begin! Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough and political satirist P.J. O'Rourke offer two very different takes on life beyond school. From McCullough's speech at Boston College:
"With dismay, McCullough cited a survey finding that one-third of college-educated Americans had not read a single novel in the past year, and he called on graduates to "read, read, read!"
"Read the classics of American literature that you've never opened. Read your country's history. . . . Read about the great turning points in the history of science and medicine and ideas."
He also pleaded with graduates to rid the vernacular of a "verbal virus": the rampant use of "like," "you know," "awesome," and "actually."
"With dismay, McCullough cited a survey finding that one-third of college-educated Americans had not read a single novel in the past year, and he called on graduates to "read, read, read!"
"Read the classics of American literature that you've never opened. Read your country's history. . . . Read about the great turning points in the history of science and medicine and ideas."
He also pleaded with graduates to rid the vernacular of a "verbal virus": the rampant use of "like," "you know," "awesome," and "actually."
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
"Evil" - Interpol
This vid was part of an exhibition of rock and roll art at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art last fall. Like the car accident it depicts, I found it hard to look away. . .
Keep it simple, stupid
How many of you could give up your stuff and live an unplugged life? Seems there's a number of folks doing just that these days to achieve their utopian vision.
I'd survive without most everything, except this laptop and a wi-fi connection. And my MP3 player. And this Thermos. That's all I need.
Riiiiight.
An education editorial
After teaching at GRCC for five years, I'm not entirely convinced that college is for everyone, yet some believe it's the only way to achieve a middle-class existence. From Bob Herbert's column in today's NY Times: "Four years of college is becoming a prerequisite for a middle-class quality of life." However, one-third of American students drop out of high school.
An article in The Atlantic Monthly, written by an anonymous community college professor, puts it quite bluntly: some students just don't belong in the ivory tower because they haven't acquired the necessary skills to succeed at that level.
It's time to change our high schools - our students need to know more about the world they're entering into. When more countries are part of the global economy, it's no longer acceptable to maintain the status quo in public education.
This means long term education reform, something more than No Child Left Behind and constant testing. We're raising a generation of test takers who won't pass the most important test of all - being able to apply acquired knowledge in real situations.
An article in The Atlantic Monthly, written by an anonymous community college professor, puts it quite bluntly: some students just don't belong in the ivory tower because they haven't acquired the necessary skills to succeed at that level.
It's time to change our high schools - our students need to know more about the world they're entering into. When more countries are part of the global economy, it's no longer acceptable to maintain the status quo in public education.
This means long term education reform, something more than No Child Left Behind and constant testing. We're raising a generation of test takers who won't pass the most important test of all - being able to apply acquired knowledge in real situations.
Two down. . .
What can Big Brown do for you? Better yet, can he win the Triple Crown and become the first to do so in 30 years? The horse named after UPS (really) scorched the rest of the field at today's running of The Preakness. Next up, The Belmont Stakes, in three weeks.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Pop Quiz!
Just for fun. . . The Grass Roots had a handful of hits in the 60s and 70s, such as "Let's Live for Today" and "Temptation Eyes". I remember playing those tracks as a DJ on WJFM ("The New JOY FM"), but I didn't know that one of the original members is part of one of my favorite TV shows right now. He's the one in the lower right - can you guess who he is?
UPDATE: Dang! Somebody's actually reading this, and one of you has the correct answer. Bravo, Tony Bag-O-Donuts! (By the way, "Tony" looks quite a bit like Josh Ritter in the video posted earlier this week.)
No longer a temp
He's gone from sympathetic temp to annoying supervisor, and Ryan will probably have a key part in the season finale of The Office Thursday night. Here's a link to an NPR interview with B.J. Novak, actor, writer, and producer of the show.
APE Literature - Fences on NPR
I heard this yesterday on NPR, part of their In Character series. It's a captivating interview with James Earl Jones and others who've acted in August Wilson's Fences. Watch the video clip, and check out the audio with Jones.
The Science of Literature?
Seems that those of us who study literature are a dying breed. One solution, found here, suggests treating literary analysis like science. Read on.
Monday, May 12, 2008
A little perspective
A 7.9 earthquake in China kills at least 10,000, and the deaths in Myanmar are expected to climb above 100,000. Kind of makes whining about gas prices seem irrelevant.
(Pictured above top: An injured man whose leg is trapped receives care on the debris of a collapsed building at Juyuan Middle School after an earthquake in Dujiangyan, Sichuan province, May 12, 2008. At bottom: a young Cyclone Nargis survivor eats at a makeshift refugee center outside Yangon May 12, 2008. As many as 100,000 people are feared to have died and the U.N. humanitarian agency said in a new assessment that between 1.2 million and 1.9 million people were struggling to survive in the aftermath of the cyclone.)
Barack to rock Van Andel Wednesday
I didn't see this coming: Barack Obama will be in GR Wednesday night for a rally at the Van Andel Arena. I wouldn't be suprised to see a full house, and that's saying something for a town that's a GOP stronghold.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
A little good news
Nick Kristof's column highlights some amazing teens and their efforts to change their world. If you like what you read here, you might want to see his Facebook page.
Happy Mother's Day
Do something nice for Mom today. You could send her this column, for instance. (At right: the blogger's mom with grandson Ben, enjoying last year's Crowded House concert at the Meijer Gardens. Happy Mother's Day, Mom!)
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Rock Star Studies Star Dust
As one of the members of Queen, Brian May wrote such classics as "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Will Rock You". Now he has a doctorate in astrophysics. Cool.
Please, Don't Let Them Play Prom
President Bush's daughter Jenna was married tonight in Crawford, TX. The only news about the event so far is what the hired band would be playing at the reception. . . Tyrone Smith, of the Tyrone Smith Revue, provided the following:
"It'll be a 'get down' party," Smith promised.
The band planned to do its usual show, which normally includes covers of "Proud Mary," "Play That Funky Music," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Crazy in Love," "Hey Ya!," "Brick House," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and others.
"If anyone's in sight, I'll get them up onstage," Smith said. Smith and his band have played at fraternity parties, nightclubs and weddings across the South for more than 20 years. He plays an average of two weddings a month.
Oh. My. Goodness. Add "Celebration" and "Love Shack" and you've got just about any wedding reception playlist of the past two decades. . .
"It'll be a 'get down' party," Smith promised.
The band planned to do its usual show, which normally includes covers of "Proud Mary," "Play That Funky Music," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Crazy in Love," "Hey Ya!," "Brick House," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and others.
"If anyone's in sight, I'll get them up onstage," Smith said. Smith and his band have played at fraternity parties, nightclubs and weddings across the South for more than 20 years. He plays an average of two weddings a month.
Oh. My. Goodness. Add "Celebration" and "Love Shack" and you've got just about any wedding reception playlist of the past two decades. . .
Weak in the knees?
Interesting article in The New York Times Magazine tomorrow on injuries to girls in sports. For instance, girls are five times more likely to injure their ACLs than boys.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Myanmar - before and after
These NASA photos should give you an idea of the devastation caused this week in Myanmar. 22,000+ are already confirmed dead, over 40,000 are missing, and the death toll could pass 100,000. You can help - go here for a list of relief agencies.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Robert Randolph - Ain't Nothing Wrong With That
This could be one of the best summer concerts in West Michigan - Robert Randolph's Revival at the Meijer Gardens. You'll clap your hands, shake your hips, and realize what it means to be alive!
Tragedy at the Derby
In a scene that brought back memories of Barbaro's injury at the 2006 Preakness, Eight Belles broke two ankles after finishing second at The Kentucky Derby and had to be put down. Jane Smiley, author of A Thousand Acres and a horse enthusiast, offers her take on the filly's valiant ride.
IRON MAN!
Great movie - grab a bucket of popcorn and enjoy. Robert Downey Jr. is perfect as Tony Stark, and Jeff Bridges makes a marvelous bad guy.
And there's good news for you Marvel fans: Iron Man 2 and Thor are in the works for 2010, and we can expect two additions to the family - Captain America and The Avengers - for 2011.
'Nuff said!
And there's good news for you Marvel fans: Iron Man 2 and Thor are in the works for 2010, and we can expect two additions to the family - Captain America and The Avengers - for 2011.
'Nuff said!
We're number 2!
What would the world look like if the USA was no longer the biggest kid on the block? It's this week's Newsweek cover story, and a must-read.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
The few, the proud, the test takers
Mad props to Alisha, Laura, Samantha, Rachel F., Linnea, Haley, Nick, Ian Bl., Dylan, Patrick, Tricia, Sydney, Ali, Brandon, Sarah, Morgan, Craig, Flynn, Katie R., Kathy, Heather, and Rob for spending 3+ hours of their weekend getting ready for the APE exams.
If you couldn't make it, pick up a practice test on Monday.
If you couldn't make it, pick up a practice test on Monday.
Derby Day!
It's the most exciting two minutes in sports: The Kentucky Derby. The 134th Run for the Roses takes place today in Louisville. Turn on the idiot box just before 6 PM and enjoy this majestic event.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
LHS in the news
Nice piece in today's GR Press about the trend in creative ways to ask out someone to prom. Not a bad way to promote our crew team, either.
Pigs fly!
The famous Pink Floyd pig went for an unexpected journey after its tethers snapped following a Roger Waters show at the Coachella Festival last weekend. It was recovered, but not before it had been sliced like so many strips of bacon.
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