You're to Know Your Audience

As a teacher, it's my job to be a grammar snob.

But this article really put my snobbery in perspective for me... 

It's all about your audience... who's reading what you're writing...

Know your audience (Especially, if you don't know your 'yours!')

The Thingz on TV!!

Check out our TV debut from last Friday, November 7!

Gotta admit: I felt a bit like Bobby Brady when the cameras started rolling!

The Bottled Spirits in LB Municipal Cemetery

 

Thanks, again to Kirk Dominguez for the awesome photo!

FANCY (Uniform Song)

 *UPDATED 12/7/14: 

As you may or may not know, LBUSD has a district-wide uniform policy.  While most of our students and parents understand the economic and safety implications of this policy and abide by it, some students (and parents) need encouragement...

To that end, I decided that I'd use the 2013 Song of Summer, "Fancy," to encourage compliance...

Here's my version:

First thing first: tuck your shirt in

Got this gotta go to school for working

And I’m still in the learning business

In my uniform I’m ready for my lessons

You should always come dressed for success

Don’t worry what to wear so you can do your best

Khaki pants, khaki skirt, khaki shorts,

Blue shirt or green – you know you’ve gotta choice!

Making sure my clothes look great, never sloppy

Clean top or I’ll put it in the laundry

Feet together, arms at your side

Can’t hide that Bulldog Pride!

I’m so fancy – you already know

I’m in uniform everyday I show

I’m so fancy – don’t you waste your dough

Remember every day – dress code!

In case you were wondering, the school I work at, Bret Harte, has a bulldog as a mascot, although I have (and will) change the lyrics for another school/mascot upon request.

Now, if I could only embed the audio somehow... *(FTFY)

Next up, "I'm all about the books, 'bout the books, no TV!" :)

The Bottled Spirits at LB Folk Fest

Thanks to everyone who came to the 2nd Annual Long Beach Folk Revival Festival!  We had a blast!!

Roald Dahl Quotes

To commemorate his 98th birthday last week, this website has compiled 13 Roald Dahl quotes*...

I especially like the ones about reading and books... Those'll probably end up in my classroom this year!

*Tip o' the energy dome to Moms for sending the link to me... love you!

e e cummings

Humanity I Love You

Humanity i love you
because you would rather black the boots of
success than enquire whose soul dangles from his
watch-chain which would be embarrassing for both

parties and because you
unflinchingly applaud all
songs containing the words country home and
mother when sung at the old howard

Humanity i love you because
when you’re hard up you pawn your
intelligence to buy a drink and when
you’re flush pride keeps

you from the pawn shop and
because you are continually committing
nuisances but more
especially in your own house

Humanity i love you because you
are perpetually putting the secret of
life in your pants and forgetting
it’s there and sitting down

on it
and because you are
forever making poems in the lap
of death Humanity

i hate you

Postmodern Jukebox

Yep!!

Advice from Bill Waterson

A few weeks old, but an excellent comic and article about the creator of Calvin and Hobbes, one of my favorite comic strips...

This quote hit pretty close to home...

to persist in the face of continual rejection requires a deep love of the work itself

Amen!

THINGZ on KXLU!

Last night The Thingz were invited on the "Stray Pop" show hosted by Stella on KXLU.  She interviewed us, then let us spin some of our favorite records, just like real DJs!  As you can see from the picture, we had a blast... thanks again, Stella!!

Bright Star

Edie and Steve have a new musical!

Time for a trip back to a Whale's Vagina! lol

A Daunting, Rewarding Task

I never thought I'd be quoting Andrew W.K. or know him for anything other than this:

But the other day, Brad Houser (whose bass guitar skills I will have the pleasure of listening to in-person, in Austin tomorrow, at what's apparently a one-night-only Critters Buggin reunion!) posted a surprisingly thoughtful Andrew W.K. article that addressed divisive politics in this country.

Apparently, the Village Voice has an "Ask Andrew W.K." column (or blog) and a "Son of a Right-Winger" wrote in to ask how he, a "liberal democrat with very progressive values" was supposed to "deal with" his father, a "super rightwing conservative."

W.K.'s response perfectly encapsulated feelings that I've had about partisanship for several years now.

It's rather long, but a few parts were especially remarkable.

First, his admonition to not reduce the complexities of life to black and white or "binary" systems reminded me of the dangers of tribalism and how the elite benefit from dividing us into two warring camps.

W.K. (8/6/14):  This is the fatal flaw of binary thinking in general. However, this flaw isn't just ignored, it's also embraced, amplified, and deliberately used as a weapon on the very people who think it's benefiting their way of thinking.

But he really hit it out of the park toward the end when he spoke of the daunting, but ultimately rewarding task of trying to understand people with different opinions.  In the end, we are all human, and we all (mostly) want to live.

WK (8/6/14):  So we must protect and respect each other, no matter how hard it feels. No matter how wrong someone else may seem to us, they are still human. No matter how bad someone may appear, they are truly no worse than us. Our beliefs and behavior don't make us fundamentally better than others, no matter how satisfying it is to believe otherwise. We must be tireless in our efforts to see things from the point of view we most disagree with. We must make endless efforts to try and understand the people we least relate to. And we must at all times force ourselves to love the people we dislike the most. Not because it's nice or because they deserve it, but because our own sanity and survival depends on it.

Indeed, our very existence depends on the Golden Rule, that exhausting task to love.

Criticizing with Kindness

this is actually a sound psychological strategy that accomplishes one key thing: It transforms your opponent into a more receptive audience for your criticism or dissent, which in turn helps advance the discussion.

As a liberal who likes to engage conservatives in policy discussions, this is extremely useful advise...

Read more about it here.

Live Mummies!!

If you've never seen this, stop what you're doing, and spend the next half hour* experiencing some of the greatest rock and roll ever recorded... seriously, this should be in the Smithsonian of Rock on infinite loop!

*or just FF to 22:32 for their cover of Devo's "Uncontrollable Urge!"

LA LA LAND

Pre-show view from the Redwood Bar & Grill, DTLA, 7/30/14

RIP Idris Muhammad

The first time I heard Grant Green, "Alive," I was blown away by his drumming... tight, melodic, and funky as all hell... Sad that I never got to see him perform live...

At least Idris and Grant can finally jam together again! 

Here's a nice article from his New Orleans hometown paper...

Aww, gee, shucks...

Lights Go Out Zine issue #28 . . .

"THE THINGZ - Red Future EP

Limited Edition of 200 12" vinyl with hand printed sleeves from Long Beach surf punks , the Thingz. I'm a fan of this band after hearing their last release 'Step Right Up' and their quirky sound and this release not only looks amazing, it sounds it too. Opener 'Down and Out' (reminds me of 'I Want Candy' by Bow Wow Wow) is a great start, catchy and right away gets you interested in this record. 11 tracks of garage inspired 50's sounding surf punk rock that's seriously infectious. The riffs are hugely catchy too, the lyrics are fun throughout and it can't help but put a smile on your face. With hints of UK band Chester too, this is always going to sit well with me. I admit it, I love this album, it's just pure fun and if all music was as happy as this (and wasn't ska) then this is very good thing."

Listen to it here.

Gospel of Bill

"Ultimately, the message in my material is a call for understanding rather than ignorance, peace rather than war, forgiveness rather than condemnation, and love rather than fear" - Hicks

Here ends the reading from the Gospel of Bill.

For the rest, go here.

Muisc = More Life

Every Wednesday, I have the privilege of singing and playing guitar with all the 5th graders at my school.  

This is why I do it. :)

Long Beach Folk Revival Festival 2014

Very honored and excited that The Bottled Spirits have been invited to perform at the 2nd Annual Long Beach Folk Revival Festival on Saturday, September 27! 

Look at that line-up!!  Frank Fairfield!  Tom Brosseau!!

Gonna be a good time!  Get tickets and more information here.