D@mn Kids!

More video for you, today.
As much as I struggle at my job to try to make this world just a little better, I forget to stop and smell the roses. I was reminded that I need to do that, by an email from a student, today.

Witness the sweetness of the video below, created by one of my most excellent students, named Stephen. It is certainly good to be appreciated, and when I am, I'm usually taken aback. The feeling is as though the object of the affection isn't really me, but someone else. An out-of-body experience, if you will. If you watch, you'll see that the video isn't about me, or Stephen, in particular, but about all of us in our class experience.

Life is good, when it turns out right. And humbling, too.

Thanks, Stephen.

I Read The News Today, Oh Boy

Sometimes one comes across something so brilliant and of the moment, he feels he must post it. A video of that brilliance is below.

Paul McCartney has a few live concert dates set for America (with more to come!), and he decided to join Neil Young in London's Hyde Park on Saturday (6/27) for their rendition of the classic Beatles song, "A Day In The Life." It was a very surprising appearance, to say the least, even though the two had previously joined up at a benefit concert once in 2004.

Paulie joins about 2-1/2 minutes in, just in time to sing his verse of the song. Young has closed his shows many times with the number, but never with one of the guys who wrote it! The performance is especially nice as it is completely off-the-cuff, the most unscripted thing I have ever seen McCartney do! (Macca is infamous for his very rigid performances and often canned interviews.) Perhaps coolest of all, if not musically brilliant, is the impromptu vibraphone solo at the end. Only Neil Young (since John Lennon is no longer with us) could bring this out of Paul McCartney, and I could only hope we see more collaborations from them! Enjoy for yourselves!

Everything Must Go!

The last of New York's mega-music stores has closed. The Virgin Megastore in Union Square sold off the last of its stock this past Sunday, marking the end of an era that's frankly been a long time coming. The NY Times quoted a former employee thusly: “It does matter because it was also a social gathering space, and that’s one thing that buying music online lacks.”

OK, but as real-world record shops are all but extinct, that's not all we're missing. In the old, old days, I could go to my favorite local indie record shop and get personalized service. I would walk in on my weekly visit and typically say, "Hey, Scott, ya got anything for me?" And Scott would dig out a stash of Beatles, or heavy metal, or import records saved under the counter, just for me. He and I became friends that way.

Gone too are the midnight madness release parties, where I could crowd into a store at an insane hour all because getting a copy of the Beatles' Anthology just couldn't wait till tomorrow. And I could pick up things like promo giveaway buttons, to boot. What a great excuse that was to head over to Whataburger, and then sit in the parking lot with my brother, in our own makeshift listening party with a burger and fries, and fresh, new music turned up loud on the car stereo.

Upcoming artists with a new release used to make what were called "in-store appearances," where fans could meet them and get an up-close and personal impromptu performance.

Sigh. I-Tunes and Amazon just ain't the same.

You might care to watch the video below, of Steve Earle, doing an in-store at one of my favorite shops, Waterloo Records, in Austin, Texas. Austin is such a music capitol, I reckon I may have to move there, one day.

The State of Education

Way back when W (must stand for witty) declared himself the "Education Governor," (see this PBS Frontline story) and later, the "Education President," his plan was to strenghten education in the state of Texas, and later, the USA, as a whole. Yeah, well, we know how that worked out. Check out how the new Texas gov, Rick "if at first you don't secede, try, try again" Perry is doing.

From USA Today:

Dismayed that students are slipping further behind their international peers, 46 states have agreed in principle to develop a set of rigorous criteria — the Common Core State Standards Initiative — designed to prepare high school graduates for college and the workforce. Kids who are taking algebra I, for example, would be expected to learn the same material whether they're in Massachusetts or Mississippi.

The four yet to sign up: Alaska, Missouri, South Carolina and Texas.

This announcement came June 1, from the National Governors Association, so it's clear our governor isn't on board to set any such rigorous standards in math and English for Texas children. Note also that Texas and South Carolina also said earlier they would reject President Obama's stimulus money, objecting to conditions put on it. (See this other USA Today story.) Are ya starting to notice a pattern, here?

A little peeking behind the curtain reveals something more, as put forth by the The American Prospect:

The caveat here is that once the coalition develops the standards, each state will be able to choose whether or not it will actually adhere to them. Unless the federal government provides some sticks and carrots, there will be little incentive for politicians from low-performing states, like Mississippi, to enact the standards. After all, doing so would reveal just how little those states' school children are actually learning, and to what a pitifully low standard they've been held.

Yeah, Gov, maybe we really should secede, and keep our ignorance all to ourselves.

Welcome Back, Pavel

Detroit Red Wings superstar Pavel Datsyuk returned Saturday to the Stanley Cup finals just in time, after missing 7 games and 18 days with an injured foot. In game 5, he was only the number two star, winning face-offs, setting up two goals, dumping a much bigger Evgeni Malkin on his britches, and helping his team to a 5-nothing rout of the Pittiful-burgh Playpens.

The media made these observations, that tell all you need to know about his performance.

Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press:
"Pavel Datsyuk took the ice to a thunderous ovation — after 2 1/2 weeks out with a mysteriously guarded injury. He skated to a ringing chorus of “DAT-SOOK! DAT-SOOK!” And 13:32 into Game 5, he flipped the puck to Dan Cleary, who fired it past Fleury for the first goal of the night — and the first 1-0 lead for Detroit all series."

Don Cherry, Hockey Night in Canada:
"Now I ask you the question, did a fairy godmother touch his foot two days ago?"

NBC's Ed Olczyk:
"That man can stickhandle in a phone booth and never be interrupted!"

His teammates had something to say, too.

Kirk Maltby:
"Even a 75% Pavel is better than most guys."

Kris Draper:
"Anytime you can add a player like Pav, it's exciting for everybody."

Dan Cleary:
"If you watched him all season, you know how much he means to our club. Tonight was no different -- he came back and he was great. He played unbelievable."

The Wings lead the series 3 games to 2, in a best of 7, and play game six on Tuesday.