Today is Opening Day for the Chicago Cubs. Please make sure that you either watch, listen or monitor the game starting at 1:20 p.m. Central Standard Time. The game will be broadcast on WGN Channel 9 in Chicago and on WGN Superstation for people outside of the Chicagoland area. You can listen to the game on WGN 720 AM if you want to hear living legend Ron Santo and his counter part Pat Hughes.
Please keep the Cubs in your thoughts and prayers throughout the season as they march towards the World Series.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Still Startin' Something
As most of us know, I am a HUGE music fan, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of a seminal album, Michael Jackson's Thriller. Even though I was three at the time of it's release, I have heard it's influence on popular music my entire life. As a matter of fact, I can remember being scared senseless of the epic video that accompanied the album's title track. But, it's not only the title track that is a stand out on this masterpiece.
For those of you that may be asking,"Why Christopher, what made you decide to discuss this topic?", the credit goes to my students. I was in my classroom and one of my students read about the anniversary of the release in the newspaper. The reaction to the article by my student was, "Who the hell cares about Michael Jackson? He is a total freak."
My colleagues and I all shared a little laugh and started to explain the significance of the album. While it is true that Michael may no longer be the King of Pop, the streak of albums he had in the 1980's was nothing short of spectacular. Let's not forget that Thriller is still the best selling album of all time. On top of that, the album contained nine tracks, seven of which were top ten singles in the United States. That was an unprecedented amount then and now. Imagine if one of today's pop stars, say Justin Timberlake or Pink, released an album that saw 77% of it's singles reach the top ten in the singles charts. It simply wouldn't happen.
Personally, my favorite tracks would have to be "Wanna Be Sartin' Somethin'" and "Human Nature." They are both perfect examples of pop songs and along with "Billie Jean", "Beat It", "Thriller", "Girl Is Mine" and "Pretty Young Thing", which formed the seven top ten singles. Let's not forget that the video for "Billie Jean" was the first song by and African American artist to get heavy rotation on MTV. The video for "Billie Jean" proved to be just an appetizer for Jackson's next film endeavor.
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" proved to be a full fledged cultural phenomenon. The video was directed by Jon Landis, the master behind Trading Places, Animal House and The Blues Brothers, who collaborated with Jackson to create an original short length film. "Thriller" also featured makeup work by legendary effects artist Rick Baker. It was a smashing success and changed the way that music videos are made.
So, there you have it, my feelings on the album Thriller. While it my not be in my regular album rotation, I cannot deny it's ingenuity and staying power. So, if anyone wants a to listen to a blast from the past in pop music, you will not find a better listening experience.
For those of you that may be asking,"Why Christopher, what made you decide to discuss this topic?", the credit goes to my students. I was in my classroom and one of my students read about the anniversary of the release in the newspaper. The reaction to the article by my student was, "Who the hell cares about Michael Jackson? He is a total freak."
My colleagues and I all shared a little laugh and started to explain the significance of the album. While it is true that Michael may no longer be the King of Pop, the streak of albums he had in the 1980's was nothing short of spectacular. Let's not forget that Thriller is still the best selling album of all time. On top of that, the album contained nine tracks, seven of which were top ten singles in the United States. That was an unprecedented amount then and now. Imagine if one of today's pop stars, say Justin Timberlake or Pink, released an album that saw 77% of it's singles reach the top ten in the singles charts. It simply wouldn't happen.
Personally, my favorite tracks would have to be "Wanna Be Sartin' Somethin'" and "Human Nature." They are both perfect examples of pop songs and along with "Billie Jean", "Beat It", "Thriller", "Girl Is Mine" and "Pretty Young Thing", which formed the seven top ten singles. Let's not forget that the video for "Billie Jean" was the first song by and African American artist to get heavy rotation on MTV. The video for "Billie Jean" proved to be just an appetizer for Jackson's next film endeavor.
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" proved to be a full fledged cultural phenomenon. The video was directed by Jon Landis, the master behind Trading Places, Animal House and The Blues Brothers, who collaborated with Jackson to create an original short length film. "Thriller" also featured makeup work by legendary effects artist Rick Baker. It was a smashing success and changed the way that music videos are made.
So, there you have it, my feelings on the album Thriller. While it my not be in my regular album rotation, I cannot deny it's ingenuity and staying power. So, if anyone wants a to listen to a blast from the past in pop music, you will not find a better listening experience.
Can We?
I fully expect to be lambasted by this entry, but I would like to ask everyone this question: Are the ideas of hope and change audacious enough? Of course this question is in regards to the Obama campaign and two of his overriding themes. Please keep in mind that I am in Obama's corner, but I feel that I have the civic responsibility to ask these questions.
While Obama is an overpowering orator, I cannot get past the ambiguity of what hope and change mean. Yes, I agree that we need a change at the top, but is blind support of Obama any better than the blind supporters of President Bush? I am in no way insinuating that Obama will be another version of Bush, but I think that questioning a candidates platform is very important. Once again, I support Obama, and consider him to be a better option than Clinton, albeit an option with less certainty of what will be brought to the table. The Blueprint that he proposes is inspiring and fresh and I can only hope that this game plan will truly convince the people that he will need in his corner to make the ideas work.
Now I try to keep myself abreast of the campaign race as much as I can, but I would by no means consider myself to be an expert on all of the issues. I like the idea of what change can bring, but is there enough substance to back his rhetoric?
While Obama is an overpowering orator, I cannot get past the ambiguity of what hope and change mean. Yes, I agree that we need a change at the top, but is blind support of Obama any better than the blind supporters of President Bush? I am in no way insinuating that Obama will be another version of Bush, but I think that questioning a candidates platform is very important. Once again, I support Obama, and consider him to be a better option than Clinton, albeit an option with less certainty of what will be brought to the table. The Blueprint that he proposes is inspiring and fresh and I can only hope that this game plan will truly convince the people that he will need in his corner to make the ideas work.
Now I try to keep myself abreast of the campaign race as much as I can, but I would by no means consider myself to be an expert on all of the issues. I like the idea of what change can bring, but is there enough substance to back his rhetoric?
Friday, March 28, 2008
Madness
As we approach the crowning of this year's NCAA men's basketball champion, it is time to reminisce about the magical year of 2005 , when the University of Illinois made there madcap run to the final game of the NCAA tournament. Although I attended Illinois State University and support my Redbirds to the fullest, I have a soft spot in the Illini. The 2005 season was one to remember for Illini fans, and as luck would have it, I was witness to part of that years madness.
That year, the Midwest Regional Final was in Chicago at the Allstate Arena. My dad had scored me a couple of tickets nearly a year before the games without knowing that Illinois would go on the roll that they did. My dad's former office mate held season tickets to Depaul, who plays their home games at the Allstate. He offered my dad the opportunity to land a pair of tickets, and my father took him up on the offer with me in mind. Well, this foresight is what afforded me the opportunity to bear witness to one of the greatest games in college basketball history.
Anyways, Illinois earned a number one seed and made it's way through the first two rounds with no particular problems. Their game in the round of 16 was against Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which they promptly won. I attended that game with my brother, which was a total blast. It was the first time that either of us had the opportunity to go to an NCAA tournament game and we both loved it. On top of that, the coach of UWM at the time was Bruce Pearl, who is a mortal enemy of the Illini nation. The second game we saw, Arizona vs. Oklahoma State, was a beauty. The game was back and forth the whole time and ended in a last second one point victory that sent Arizona to the Elite Eight.
I think everyone knew that the Illinois-Arizona match up was going to be great, but I don't think anyone could have guessed that it would be an all-time classic. My guest for this round was none other than my great friend Brian J., who is an Illinois alum and Illini fanatic. Tickets to this game were supposedly going for up to $1500 apiece, so they were definitely in high demand. I actually toyed with selling the tickets, but decided that this would be a once in a lifetime experience and attending it with one of my best friends made it all that much better.
The atmosphere in the Allstate Arena was totally electric. Even though games in the Tournament are supposed to be held at neutral sites, there was no doubt whose corner the crowd was behind. The Arena looked like a sea of orange as crowd expressed total adoration for the home state team. It was the hottest ticket in town, and the anticipation for the tip off was like nothing I have experienced at a sporting event.
Well, once the game began, there were multiple lead changes going into halftime. The crowd held their breath with every Illinois shot and cheered wildly with every steal. At the start of the second half, Arizona seized control of the game and put Illinois in a double digit hole. The crowd's enthusiasm started to fizzle as it appeared there was no hope for a victory. Little did we know, the show had just begun.
With four minutes left and mired in a 15-point hole, the Illini went on a run for the ages. The last four minutes of regulation saw Illinois score an unbelievable 20 points to tie the game and force overtime. Luther head and Deron Williams each scored 8 points, with Dee Brown contributing 4 pts. This onslaught, coupled with suffocating defense, allowed the Illini to stage this most improbable of comebacks. The crowd was going crazy, and I can honestly say that I have never experienced that sort of energy at a sporting event.
Overtime was just as wild. Both teams fought tooth and nail for every point. In the end, Illinois scratched out a one-point victory to the pleasure of the raucous crowd. This win also propelled Illinois to the Final Four. Brian and I were beside ourselves with joy and elation. Neither of us could have hoped for a better game, and each other's company made it all the better. Although Illinois lost in the championship game, the experience of attending this game will be something that I will never forget.
That year, the Midwest Regional Final was in Chicago at the Allstate Arena. My dad had scored me a couple of tickets nearly a year before the games without knowing that Illinois would go on the roll that they did. My dad's former office mate held season tickets to Depaul, who plays their home games at the Allstate. He offered my dad the opportunity to land a pair of tickets, and my father took him up on the offer with me in mind. Well, this foresight is what afforded me the opportunity to bear witness to one of the greatest games in college basketball history.
Anyways, Illinois earned a number one seed and made it's way through the first two rounds with no particular problems. Their game in the round of 16 was against Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which they promptly won. I attended that game with my brother, which was a total blast. It was the first time that either of us had the opportunity to go to an NCAA tournament game and we both loved it. On top of that, the coach of UWM at the time was Bruce Pearl, who is a mortal enemy of the Illini nation. The second game we saw, Arizona vs. Oklahoma State, was a beauty. The game was back and forth the whole time and ended in a last second one point victory that sent Arizona to the Elite Eight.
I think everyone knew that the Illinois-Arizona match up was going to be great, but I don't think anyone could have guessed that it would be an all-time classic. My guest for this round was none other than my great friend Brian J., who is an Illinois alum and Illini fanatic. Tickets to this game were supposedly going for up to $1500 apiece, so they were definitely in high demand. I actually toyed with selling the tickets, but decided that this would be a once in a lifetime experience and attending it with one of my best friends made it all that much better.
The atmosphere in the Allstate Arena was totally electric. Even though games in the Tournament are supposed to be held at neutral sites, there was no doubt whose corner the crowd was behind. The Arena looked like a sea of orange as crowd expressed total adoration for the home state team. It was the hottest ticket in town, and the anticipation for the tip off was like nothing I have experienced at a sporting event.
Well, once the game began, there were multiple lead changes going into halftime. The crowd held their breath with every Illinois shot and cheered wildly with every steal. At the start of the second half, Arizona seized control of the game and put Illinois in a double digit hole. The crowd's enthusiasm started to fizzle as it appeared there was no hope for a victory. Little did we know, the show had just begun.
With four minutes left and mired in a 15-point hole, the Illini went on a run for the ages. The last four minutes of regulation saw Illinois score an unbelievable 20 points to tie the game and force overtime. Luther head and Deron Williams each scored 8 points, with Dee Brown contributing 4 pts. This onslaught, coupled with suffocating defense, allowed the Illini to stage this most improbable of comebacks. The crowd was going crazy, and I can honestly say that I have never experienced that sort of energy at a sporting event.
Overtime was just as wild. Both teams fought tooth and nail for every point. In the end, Illinois scratched out a one-point victory to the pleasure of the raucous crowd. This win also propelled Illinois to the Final Four. Brian and I were beside ourselves with joy and elation. Neither of us could have hoped for a better game, and each other's company made it all the better. Although Illinois lost in the championship game, the experience of attending this game will be something that I will never forget.
For Your Viewing Pleasure
Since most of us are not in th loop, I would like to inform everyone that the third and final season of Battlestar starts next Friday, April 4. Go ahead and laugh at me now, but I will not stop supporting this excellent hour of television. I must admit, that I still have a couple of episodes from season 3 to watch, but I have been purposely saving them with the intention of watching them over my spring break. Although I have not watched every episode, I know what the outcome will be, due to my inability to not snoop around on fansites. Even I know what will happen in some of the episodes, I have enough vested in the show to finish watching the last few episodes that I have not seen.
Now that I have given you my Battlestar viewing history, I want to let everyone know that the Sci Fi Channel is running a half hour retrospective of the show so far. Since I know that not everyone has over sixty hours to devote to a television show in the next week, the retrospective does a nice job of summing up the main plot points and characters. Anyone interested in watching Battlestar should give this a whirl. Once again, I cannot give this show enough praise, it is truly terrific. So, kick back, relax and enjoy one of the finest shows you will ever see.
Now that I have given you my Battlestar viewing history, I want to let everyone know that the Sci Fi Channel is running a half hour retrospective of the show so far. Since I know that not everyone has over sixty hours to devote to a television show in the next week, the retrospective does a nice job of summing up the main plot points and characters. Anyone interested in watching Battlestar should give this a whirl. Once again, I cannot give this show enough praise, it is truly terrific. So, kick back, relax and enjoy one of the finest shows you will ever see.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Book Review Time
As promised, here are the reviews of the books that I have read in the last few months.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury- Fabulous. I cannot shower this text with enough superlatives. This book was previously reviewed in the following post.
Inherit the Wind- by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee- I really enjoyed reading this play that is a biting satire of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Hilarious and relevant in today's time as a reminder that freedom of speech is not always one of our inherent rights.
Into the Wild by John Krakauer- A harrowing true story about a young man, Chris McCandless, who goes on a journey in to the Alaskan wild, never to return. Don't worry, the fact that he did not survive is revealed on the first page, so I did not ruin anything. Krakauer was very diligent in his research and does a splendid job of retelling the story of a well-to-do kidB that wants to experience life at it's most basic level. Although McCandless comes to a heartbreaking end, it was fascinating reading about his journey.
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer- I read this before Into the Wild, and it is just as riveting. This story is a retelling of the deadliest group ascent of Mount Everest that was ever attempted. Krakauer was a member of this trip that went horribly wrong and provides devastating insight to the tragic event. You will remain breathless as the pages turn themselves. A terrific read.
Day of Tears by Julius Lester- Based on a true story, Mr. Lester retells the nightmare of the largest single auction of slaves in Unites States history. Lester retells the story from the point of view of several of the slaves as they deal with the fate of the sale. If there are any educators that happen to read this blog, I would highly recommend adding it to your curriculum as a way to show students the tragedy of the slave trade.
Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck- This tale about a friendship that is destined to end in tragedy is an American classic. George has been entrusted with taking care of Lennie, a gentle giant who has a low IQ. Both characters are Californian farm hands in the 1930's who travel where work will take them. The burden of taking care of Lennie, who literally does not realize his own strength, leads to an ending that tears are the readers emotions. While not on the epic scale of Grapes of Wrath or East of Eden, Steinbeck is able to catch the attention of the reader from the beginning we learn about Lenny and George's complex relationship.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury- Fabulous. I cannot shower this text with enough superlatives. This book was previously reviewed in the following post.
Inherit the Wind- by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee- I really enjoyed reading this play that is a biting satire of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Hilarious and relevant in today's time as a reminder that freedom of speech is not always one of our inherent rights.
Into the Wild by John Krakauer- A harrowing true story about a young man, Chris McCandless, who goes on a journey in to the Alaskan wild, never to return. Don't worry, the fact that he did not survive is revealed on the first page, so I did not ruin anything. Krakauer was very diligent in his research and does a splendid job of retelling the story of a well-to-do kidB that wants to experience life at it's most basic level. Although McCandless comes to a heartbreaking end, it was fascinating reading about his journey.
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer- I read this before Into the Wild, and it is just as riveting. This story is a retelling of the deadliest group ascent of Mount Everest that was ever attempted. Krakauer was a member of this trip that went horribly wrong and provides devastating insight to the tragic event. You will remain breathless as the pages turn themselves. A terrific read.
Day of Tears by Julius Lester- Based on a true story, Mr. Lester retells the nightmare of the largest single auction of slaves in Unites States history. Lester retells the story from the point of view of several of the slaves as they deal with the fate of the sale. If there are any educators that happen to read this blog, I would highly recommend adding it to your curriculum as a way to show students the tragedy of the slave trade.
Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck- This tale about a friendship that is destined to end in tragedy is an American classic. George has been entrusted with taking care of Lennie, a gentle giant who has a low IQ. Both characters are Californian farm hands in the 1930's who travel where work will take them. The burden of taking care of Lennie, who literally does not realize his own strength, leads to an ending that tears are the readers emotions. While not on the epic scale of Grapes of Wrath or East of Eden, Steinbeck is able to catch the attention of the reader from the beginning we learn about Lenny and George's complex relationship.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Deathly Funny
Everyone should drop what they are doing and rent the movie Death at a Funeral. We watched this flick a couple weeks back and it was absolutely hilarious. Directed by Frank Oz, better known as Master Yoda, this pitch perfect British comedy is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time. The plot revolves around a family funeral that goes haywire in unbelievable ways that induce consistent laughs. I do not want to say much more without giving away too much, so kick back and enjoy.
Starting To Catch Up
Time for me to give props where the are due. About a month ago I went on a tirade about the Board of Education's failure to accommodate English Language Learners for the just completed ISAT tests. Illinois has provided translations for several prominent languages for ELL students. I felt that it was only responsible of me to make mention of this change after going on a rather lengthy rant.
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My Simpsonization
Here is what I would look like in Springfield