Davis Guggenheim takes on the public education system in the United States, in much the same way he took on global warming in his 2006 An Inconvenient Truth. But the villains here are not so clear. Waiting for Superman has attracted the attention of both Time magazine and Oprah, and the education problem certainly merits the attention. This documentary has plenty of drama and shocking information, but Guggenheim grossly oversimplifies this complex problem. In spite of this, it is a film well worth seeing. [Read more →]

Tags: Gail sees a movie by Gail D. Rosen
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So I was walking down the street on Saturday, leaving a voice message on my friend’s cell phone when something I saw stopped me in my tracks, mid-sentence: The advertisement for A&E’s new show “Teach: Tony Danza.” Apparently, it’s his toughest role yet. If you’ve seen this ad you might have assumed, as I did, that this is some lame prime time drama series starring Tony Danza as a teacher but no! You’re wrong. You’re so wrong! It’s – guys, I’m so excited to share this with you that I can barely type – a reality show about Tony Danza actually teaching! Yes! Teaching people’s children! If you didn’t see the first episode, I’ll sum up what you need to know: Tony Danza has a degree in history and always wanted to be a teacher. And since we Americans give celebrities anything they want, the administrators of Northeast High School in Philadelphia said “Sure, what’s the worst that could happen?” Allow me to stop writing while I finish laughing.

Ok, I’m back. Now, I could spend my time with you this week commenting on how unfair it is that while Philly is struggling to find the funds necessary to keep their best educators from being laid off, someone who lists “tap dancing” in the skills section of his resume is just handed a job teaching tenth grade English. But I remember well the baptism-by-fire that is your first year as an educator so Tony, I’m going to take pity on you and give you ten golden nuggets of advice, from one former teacher to a future former teacher. [Read more →]

Tags: Meg gives advice to famous people, television by Meg Boyle
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Last week Yuri Luzhkov, Moscow’s mayor of 18 years, was fired by President Medvedev. The news scored lots of column inches in the Huffington Post, Reuters and all the major papers, which is a rare honor for a regional politician in a faraway country of which we know little (and we do know little).  Partly this was because Medvedev fired him, and thus the story fits into the lazy trope so beloved of the world’s kerrrrap Russia correspondents, who otherwise might have to learn something about the country they purport to report upon: is this a sign that Medvedev is his own man, or does he still have Putin’s hand up his ass? [Read more →]

Tags: politics & government, travel & foreign lands, trusted media & news by Daniel Kalder
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Complaining about the cruel, insensitive world is a norm for creative artists. So is blaming that world for their own obscurity. The thing is, about 98.34% of artists who complain about their plight have no right to. If you want to whine about why you didn’t “make it” and be free of my judgment (and who doesn’t?), you will need to meet certain standards. Otherwise, stop flapping your artsy-fartsy gums and get back to creating. [Read more →]

Tags: advice, artistic unknowns by Chris Matarazzo by Chris Matarazzo
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The other day I came upon a reference to a statement that, when first uttered, immediately became notorious: “I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”

This was, of course, part of Barry Goldwater’s speech accepting the Republican nomination for President in 1964. [Read more →]

Tags: politics & government, that's what he said, by Frank Wilson by Frank Wilson
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Sometimes when I sit down to blog about a certain album I am enjoying, I have to really catch myself. Does my opinion count?  I mean, how hip can a 5’7 pudgy white guy be? I spent the past Friday night getting Chili’s Chips and Salsa take out and watching Die Hard 2. But I do try to keep my finger on the energy drink fueled pulse of our nation’s youth.  [Read more →]

Tags: Marty digs, music, television by Marty O'Connor
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Sunday, Donovan McNabb returned to Philadelphia. If you are a football fan, you are well aware of this, as it has been the main point of discussion on sports shows all week. The new quarterback of the Washington Redskins was making his first visit to the city where he had played for eleven seasons, and the sports world was fascinated. The big question was whether or not the Philadelphia fans, a popular target for derision by commentators everywhere, would boo McNabb. [Read more →]

Tags: bad sports, good sports by Alan Spoll
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10. Has pictures of Barry Bonds all over his bedroom

9. During gym class rope climb, he yanked down half the ceiling

8. He’s always Googling “the best way to get around urine tests”

7. His personal trainer: Alex Rodriguez’s cousin

6. This year he’s a starting fullback; last year he was an oboist in the school band

5. Buys all his clothes at Big, Tall & ’Roidy

4. Makes Lou Ferrigno look like Justin Bieber

3. He shaves twice a day, and he’s in the fifth grade

2. His right arm is enormous, and he doesn’t masturbate

1. He doesn’t masturbate, because there’s nothing to hold onto
 

Bob Sullivan’s Top Ten Everything appears every Monday.

Tags: advice, Bob Sullivan's top ten everything, drugs & alcohol, sports by Bob Sullivan
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For those born and raised here, on the fringes of the high Chihuahuan Desert, it’s hard to imagine just how big “a little rain” can get. Sure, we see floods following a downburst, narrow and rapid, especially during the late-summer ‘monsoon’ season. But those come, and then go, very quickly … and the dry heat takes over once again.

But I have lived up-north, back-east. And I know how big a little rain can get. In 1972, Tropical Storm Agnes headed inland. I was one of thousands lining the banks of the Susquehanna, desperately adding sandbags to the dikes along Kingston, and Wilkes-Barre. In the end, our efforts were for nought, and the Wyoming Valley was flooded.

Which is why my thoughts and my prayers are with my dang-Yankee, back-east friends as they cope with “a little rain” from Tropical Storm Nicole … God bless.

Tags: environment & nature by Jeff McDonald
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Oh my God. This is it. Jim, have you seen this thing? It looks just like him! Can you run this Dr. Evil costume back to the rack? I don’t need it anymore. This is the one. I’ll go as Obama!

You know who this guy is, right? Yeah, the President… black guy…yeah you get it. Can you imagine? Should I wear a suit with it? No…no…not a suit. I’ll wear a Hawaiian shirt. Oh man, that would be too good. Obama in a Hawaiian shirt, just hanging out. So funny. [Read more →]

Tags: creative writing, mostly kidding by Matt Scottoline, politics & government by Matt Scottoline
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