Happy Birthday Mac!

fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck

According to the Toronto Star, there are fewer jobs for newly graduated teachers. Damn it.

What does this keep happening to me?

Considering some of my all-time favourite shows (Firefly, Adventures of Brisco County Jr., Freaks and Geeks, Sports Night, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Arrested Development) appear on this list, things do not look good for my current favourite, Veronica Mars. Oddly enough, Family Guy isn’t on this list…

NOTE: I should have called my last post “free love on the free love freeway” as an ode to the Office (UK)

Also, Chuck Norris is still kickin’ ass!

Today’s dose of Jackson – Not Here, Not Now... and I don’t want to cry

The Freeway Theory of Relationships

Everyone and their mother has a theory about relationships. This one, taken from a popular sitcom, involves using the metaphor of a freeway. According to this theory, there are only some many “exits” that one can take in a relationship time line. Trying to exit at any other points would end up with serious consequences. Here are seven points in time which one can exit a relationship:

1. 6 hours [into the relationship]
2. after 4 days
3. 3 weeks later
4. 7 months after the first date
5. 1.5 years (18 months)
6. 18 years
7. when someone dies

I don’t know if I agree with this completely, but there seems to be some truth to it.

Today’s Joe Jackson selection – Happy Loving Couples. This, in high school, was my theme song. I don’t really want to say anymore but I’d love to hear people’s comments…

UPDATE: Fools in Love, & a live version of Is She Really Going Out With Him? I forgot I only have I’m the Man on vinyl so you’ll just have to wait a bit for that one.

good times, bad times you know I’ve had my share

I’m taking a moment this weekend to relax and enjoy the fact that at this moment the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the playoffs. This could change tomorrow if the New York Islanders win. The hopes and dreams of millions of young Leafs fans rest with New Jersey Devils… fuck… this isn’t going to end well.

Which brings us today’s Joe Jackson selection, Fools in Love. A cover of this song appeared on the hit television show Grey’s Anatomy, which also put me in contact with the musical detective of the west coast. My reason for today’s song is A) it’s absolutely fantastic song that mixes a hint of reggae, jazz and a hint of dry wit about love in the modern age, and B) only a fool falls for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I’ve already put them on notice but that hasn’t seemed to work. What else is a boy to do?

I apologize for not posting the actual songs themselves. I’m home for the weekend and away from my CDs. When I get back to Windsor I’ll upload a couple of albums so everyone can enjoy some Joe Jackson.

don’t call me late for dinner

The past three days have been a whirlwind. I finished up my placement, almost got all my marking done, and came home for Easter.

Today’s Joe Jackson song is Kinda Kute from his second album. After marking several high school history papers I realize that students really do need to be remind that “kinda” and “sucks” aren’t appropriate for formal papers. But I enjoy it.

I find it lacking something

On a semi-regular basis I get these grand ideas for a series of blog posts. Often times they’re just variations on something I’ve seen on another person’s blog. Today’s grand scheme is no different. For the month of April, every time I post I am going to write something about one of my favourite songs by Joe Jackson. Why have I chosen Joe Jackson, a mildly famous eighties new wave/soft rock pianist from the UK, as the subject of my musings? To be honest, I’ve been inspired by my students who have bared their musical soul to the class in the name of my semi-awesome assignment. When I was their age, Joe Jackson’s Look Sharp! was my favourite album. It held that distinction for a variety of reasons, chief among them was that Jackson sounded like Elvis Costello but not nearly as popular, therefore that much cooler. Costello was, during my high school years, in the midst of his recent come back therefore many of my classmates knew of him (thanks to Austin Powers) while almost no one knew of Joe Jackson. Plus, the angst ridden lyrics of that first “angry man” album totally fit into my teenage persona.

So I begin with probably one of his most popular songs, Is She Really Going Out With Him? Used for comic effect in There’s Something about Mary, covered by Goldfinger, this was Jackson’s “big” single (recently ripoff by the Raconteurs as mentioned here). This song encapsulated how I believe my dating life was in high school. It seemed I never got the girl I wanted, but in reality I just didn’t notice was right in front of my face. This has been my major failing ever since. Ask Mac. She’s heard me go on enough about she could probably write a book about my whining on this subject. I always thought this other boys had something else to offer the girls that I couldn’t. I realize now that I was just living out my fantasy of being the “emo” boy before it was cool, but that’s how I felt.

Biography through song – is there anything better?

I know you’re strong

I had forgotten until this afternoon how much music defines a teenager’s public persona. I’m currently teaching a grade ten civics course. This course teaches students about the ins and outs of political life in Ontario, from the basics (what is government) to the more proactive (how to get involved). As a part of the “active citizenship” unit I having the students present what they believe to an important political song to them. This, to me, is the single greatest assignment I’ve ever given. I’m going to use this one, with some modification, for years to come ’cause it’s what I like. It gives the students a chance to show off something personal/important to them while also getting them to think a little bit more about how politics interacts with popular culture, one of my favourite topics to discuss. I’m not going to list the song until everyone has present but I will list what a sixteen year old believes to be political. It’s totally awesome.

This American Life

and now I want to go to the Golden Apple in Chicago… damn you good radio! DAMN YOU!!!

Ontario, Quebec & Me

Why didn’t anyone tell me that teaching was so much fun… but at the same time so difficult. Leaves little time for blogging. This makes me sad. I’ve already spent my winnings on more books. Seriously, what is wrong with me.

At least I know my stuff about Canadian history and politics.

And for the record, it seems no one can really explain to me why Quebec should remain apart of Canada. I know why I think they should remain in the dominion but most other people I’ve talked to seem to be like, “let ‘em separate!” That isn’t a good nationalistic attitude but then again regionalism doesn’t make sense either.