wiggolation

Good bye, Mr. Rogers. Thanks for the moments!

Treating myself to a day off from teaching on this, my 31st birthday (well, it's Thursday, the 27th anyway). I feel officially old. As I never have before. Not in a bad sense or with a bad feeling. Just.

I'll be spending it writing a paper for Discourse Analysis, which meets tonight. I'll also be following live Internet streaming race updates of Omloop Het Volk, the first big race of the pro-cycling season in Euroland. Belgium to be exact. My picks are Friere or Hincapie but no one really expects the Belgians or Dutch to lose without a fight so it'll be exciting, as it always is. With a little luck the predicted snow will hold off and I'll get to go for a spin too.

Otherwise my old PC buddy Jim sent me a copy of his new collection of poetry called Learning to Lessen the Pain. Jim's a good friend whom I have traveled with and shared many a story, here and abroad. I'm going to post some of his poems here, starting with this one:

Inside My Office

Before she came I could close the door,
make the room secure, my own--ignore
any knocks, ignore the phone. Uninterrupted bliss.
Ufurl my layers like Plath's Lazarus,
let the underside breathe. Let insanity rule
if I please. There was a pleasure in knowing
no one could come in. For two years, a safe
and certain retreat. But now she has a key--
assigned to this office. I have nothing against
her. She could be anyone--man, woman,
young, old. I know most of my hours here
will still be spent alone. And I can handle
her expected visits. But the possibility exists...
of her walking in, unexpected, seeing me
naked, so many veins and nerves exposed.

--James Wacket

I retract whatever negative first response I had to 100th Window. I've had several amazing sessions now where I've listened to the album straight through. Now it 'makes sense' to me. With the right lighting and sound system and volume and mood setters this album is amazing. 'Everywhen' is the real breakthrough track, not 'What Your Soul Sings' as I'd first thought. This album's very private and dark but also very powerful and uplifting in the idiosyncratic way the Massive is. Top notch stuff!

Saw The Pianist Friday night. A very good film that reminded me of Life is Beautiful, except the former has a lot less humor.

Brian, Marc, Susan, Tom, David, and Himself:

It's all about time.

Another day in suburbia. Rather funny being back in the old 'hood, seeing some old friends, driving past the houses I grew up in.

Got a replacement phone with the same old number. Life's a little easier again, but it's still pathetic that we (I) can get so hooked on gadgets.

Tuesday flight has been cancelled because of bad weather in NYC. So I rescheduled my flight for Thursday at the same time (1:10 P.M.). Looks as if I'll get to see some more folk here in Chicago and maybe get a replacement mobile phone. Being here another couple days is OK with me as NYC is pretty packed with snow presently. I should be able to make Thursday's class anyway.

In Chicago for the weekend. Went out Friday with the gang and same again last night. I managed to lose my cell phone Friday. That sucked. I'm now questioning my dependence on such things. Right after I lost it I actually got pissed off. But I realized it was stupid to react that way. I suppose I was pissed because I am now without friends' phone numbers and such. I'll have to get a new phone and get in touch with people before I go.

Anyway, it's freezing in Chicago so I have been completely indoors. I was hoping to go downtown and walk around but it's too cold for such nonsense. I miss walking down there and down by the lake though so I was hoping to get out for at least a short while. When I get back in May for graduation (NIU) I'll have to come for more than a weekend, if possible.

Everyone keeps asking about NYC and it's weird when they ask because I don't exactly know what to say. I have mixed reactions to the city these days I guess. Maybe it's just the winter blues or something. I do like it there, and I don't really miss living in Chicago in a major way. I am looking forward to spring and summer and we'll see how things go next year there.

Off now to some greasyspoon for breakfast Brian was talking about. It's sunny out so I should get moving.

I'm off to Chicago tomorrow. Looking forward to some R 'n' R away from Terrorist Alert Central.

Music and words by 3D, but sung by Sinead, 'what your soul sings' is arguably the strongest track on the Massive's new 100th Window. Unfortunately the rest of the album is pretty weak. There are a lot of tracks that just suck. There are a few that are interesting. But overall I think this album is a bit of a dud. I think Massive fans are missing Daddy G. At least that's what is being said on the message boards I've read. And I have to agree. 3D might have been better off releasing an EP or something with just the better tracks. Maybe it needs time to settle in. I like a lot of Massive fans had perhaps just figured the album after Mezzanine would be even better. But let's face it: that was a rare fucking album among albums of any genre. Bowie, for one, has called it one of the best electronic albums ever made. Anywho, it's great that 3D still has a strong sense of being an artist true unto himself. He hasn't caved in to the industry unlike so many 'artists' out there today.

'what your soul sings'

don't be afraid
open your mouth and say
say what your soul sings to you
your mind can never change
unless you ask it to
lovingly re-arrange
the thoughts that make you blue
the things that bring you down
only do harm to you
and so make your choice joy
the joy belongs to you
and when you do
you'll find the one you love is you
you'll find you love you
don't be ashamed, no
to open your heart and pray
say what your soul sings to you
so no longer pretend
that you can't feel it near
that tickle on your head
that tingle in your ear
oh ask it anything
because it loves you dear
it's your most precious king
if only you could hear
and when you do
you'll find the one you need is you
you'll find you love you

It's early yet but as much as I immediately took to Massive Attack's new album 100th Window (that is, about seven hours ago) I don't think it nearly as good as their 1998 release Mezzanine. The drawback with new the album seems to be one of depth, or something like depth (I'm not that knowledgeable about music). 100th Window just doesn't seem to go below the surface the way Mezzanine does. There is a great sense of mood or atmosphere on the new tracks but you can almost hear the electronicness of the music, something you don't get on Mezzanine. I give thumbs up to 3D and Sinead on track two, which seems to be the strongest track on the album so far. It needs at least a dozen more listens before I can make heads or tails of the rest. Nonetheless 100th Window is a good album, better than many or most albums out now, for sure. It's definitely exciting music. [Note: See my updated review and change of opinion of this great album.]

Ah...the fun, I mean, the evil, never stops....

Liking the Massive's latest effort, 100th Window, which came out today. 3D, Horace Anday, and even Sinead get a go at vocals....

Waxing eloquent....

Are we being Bushwhacked? He don't do education, he don't do economy.

Check out the real situation
Nation war against nation
Where did it all begin, when will it end
Well it seems like the total destruction
The only solution
And there ain't no use
No one can stop them now
Ain't no use nobody can stop them now

Give them an inch they take a yard
Give them a yard they take a mile
Once a man and twice a child
And everything is just for a while
It seems like total destruction
The only solution
And there ain't no use
No one can stop them now
Ain't no use no one can stop them now
Ain't no use no one can stop them now
Ain't no use no one can stop them now

Check in the real situation
Check it out, check it out
Nation fight against nation
Where did it all begin, where will it end
Well it seems like the total destruction
The only solution
No use can't stop them
Ain't no use can't stop them
Ain't no use no one can't stop them now
Can't stop them now
Ain't no use no one can't stop them now
Ain't no use you even try
Ain't no use got to say bye bye
Ain't no use no one can stop them now
No one can stop them now

--Bob Marley

Ya'll gotta check dis out--up the volume.

...so you watch out for yourself alone
and you don't think about the other man....

--BM

Greg and Dara:



With Risa:

So Havel has stepped down as president. If I had a favorite politician it'd be him. As a writer and playwright he never lost his nerve and always acted in accord with his conscience. As for the rest no one can replace him, literally--the current bozos in Prague can't agree on who the next president should be....

And what do Czechs think of the post-secondary education here?

It's butt cold in the big apple. Today was spent doing laundry, eating, sleeping, and cleaning the flat and the bikes. Things I'd put off far too long. During the week things go undone all too easily and often.

An author on C-SPAN's BookTV was talking about his book called The Education of Lieutenant Kerrey, which is about the Senator's part in a massacre in Viet Nam. It's also an agonizing tale of the power of remorse. The author, Vistica, spoke rather well on both topics. I'd like to read the book.

Beyond all this excitement Greg and Dara just rang; they're in the east village and I am to get there right away for mojitos. What else would you go out in below zero temps for?

Bush loathes education, a counterpart of peace, and praises war.

I suppose this article on hip hop in the classroom is a start.

Bush rocks on.... Remember his display of great erudition when he asked, "Is our children learning?" Maybe I could start my ESL class tomorrow with this sentence.

The first day of the second semester went off without a hitch and even though I have to teach music to mainstream, i.e. not ESL, students, I think this semester is going to be a lot better than the last. In my ESL double periods I have the same kids as last time, except that some of the other kids who were in the classes have moved on. I am to get some more kids after orientation is over a few weeks from now. In the music class only two of nineteen showed up this first day. This is potentially the only class that may give me grief, though I think that I will be able to make the class fairly interesting. Time will tell.

I'm booked to go to Chicago from Feb. 14-18. Should be a gas....

And so I am over the stress of last week's Regents. On with another term. So be it. I have decided to lay everything out in calendars which I'm going to pass out for the students, just to keep everybody up to date. Tomorrow I'm going to do intros and then go through the course plan and then give a quiz on the thing, just to make sure people are paying attention. Then we'll be out of time as it's a short day. If there's time I'll show my PowerPoint version of the course and ESL topics. If not, I'll leave it till Tuesday. I think this term will be better, easier, more fun, yet harder in that I am planning to do a much more intense study of English and test-taking skills. The "fun" lessons are more or less cancelled out because of what the higher-ups want--higher scores on the standarizied tests--but I will of course do my best to make whatever we do as interesting as possible. I could always talk about my Friday nights, which have been pretty weird lately.

Otherwise, it looks as if I'll be in the Chi from Feb. 14-18. David the Mad Irishman Cropera is going to be there too, so that should be mighty craic....

By the way, I'm going to sell the concert tix I won to some guy who found my blog and could not get tix otherwise. I realized I was not as interested in the band as I thought I was, though they are defintely a lot of fun and produce some incredible music. I'll see 'em another day I suppose. Viva le blog.

Otherwise I have already done my taxes this year. Feels good to know I'll be able to keep off the VISA hitmen another year. Whew.

...and for some good ole Yankee doodle fun: marclezer.com

On a 'lighter' note.... A fine image of my Agilis:

Regents have come and gone, and what a sucky week that was. The big test proved too much for most of the students. I guess I'll have to "teach to the test" all the time now. I'll have to cut down the number of lessons that do not deal directly with the test. It's all a big, complicated issue really--the Regents are just hell for the ESL kids and me as well. I can't see how ESL kids, save a few, can actually pass the Regents. The whole debate is really draining at this point and so I am just going to move on. In the second semester, which starts Monday, I'm essentially going work on writing and reading on a daily basis, whereas previously I tried to do a lot of interesting activities that aimed to build confidence in the ESL kids. I would approach the English language piecemeal and inch toward solid language skills; but now it seems I'm going to have to cram the English language down their throats without attention to grace or genuine communication and learning skills. If I had one wish right now it would be that the Regents exam did not exist so that I could get students really interested in literature, language, and communication. Teaching to the test, however, just doesn't allow for these things to happen. It's all about getting kids in and getting them out. A factory of rote learning. I found a bunch of articles on the Net about the problems with the Regents, especially for the ESL kids, but I just don't feel like dealing with the monster anymore than I have already.

Well, this is a depressing post. I guess it's just one of those weeks.

I look forward to the new semester.