Generosity

It's a good thing. When you receive it, be thankful, and be sure to pass it on to someone else at some time.

I Think I'm Going Slightly Mad

I'm having one of those days . . . 

IMEA Concert

My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the IMEA concert at EIU on Saturday. The weather was bitterly cold, but the high quality of the music performance was worth the effort. Congratulations to all the IMEA participants, especially those from NHS!

Speeches, Speeches, Speeches!!!

English IA students are wrapping up their Personal Experience speeches today, and Intro to Speech students will be wrapping up their Persuasive speeches next week. Four hours a day . . . speeches, speeches, speeches!

Guest Speaker

Thanks to Greg Powers from Lake Land College's Radio/TV department for coming to speak to students in Media Studies today. The presentation was informative, and he gave away t-shirts and pens!

Midterm

Last Friday was midterm for Quarter 2. Students and parents, please check grades online and feel free to contact me regarding any concerns you may have.

Home Gym

Thanks to my friend Mario, I'm getting a home gym tonight. Three questions come to mind.

1. Will I be able to put it together?

2. Where will I put it?

3. Will I actually use it?

Vacuum Tubes

Where would be without them? Don't get me wrong, transistors and computer chips are cool, but tubes? Remember how they'd light up the back of your TV, and how we'd have to wait for them to warm up before the picture appeared? Do you remember that smell they'd make after warming up? I always liked that smell.

Sub Days

Mrs. Anderson did a good job filling in for me the past two days, and the students did a good job of cooperating with her. Thank you!

It's Cold!

I don't like it.

I know it will get worse.

I wish I could hibernate through the winter like a bear.

A New Record

85 views of this blog on November 4th! I'm not sure how it happened, but it's kinda cool!

School Improvement Essays

Students in English II are working on their second essay for me. This time, it's a persuasive essay regarding areas of improvement for NHS. As a member of the school improvement committee, I'll be sharing their finished essays with the committee and exploring possible solutions to some of the issues the students share.

Indie Music

If you're interested in some REAL, anti-Nashville, anti-corporate, alt-country music, and you're not afraid to step across the line into hardcore redneck territory, check out Trent Summar and The New Row Mob. I especially recommend the song "Paint Your Name In Purple."

Possible Skype Session

I'm waiting for confirmation, but Media Studies may be having another Skype guest speaker. Steve Haggard is the owner of Wild Oats Records in Nashville, the label that my former band was on. He's an excellent musician, songwriter, producer, and label owner, as well as a decent human. I look forward to having him speak with my students.

Recording Industry

Teaching this unit is my favorite part of my favorite class. In addition to the wealth of information in our textbook, I have extensive experience in the music industry. I am sharing with the students various nuggets of knowledge I've acquired from my Nashville experience, as well as some amazing pics from the photo shoot for my unreleased solo album, and numerous stellar (and not so stellar) examples of indie music.  Most of the students seem to appreciate these efforts. Now, if I could get those select few to TRY TO STAY AWAKE, I would be pleased.