iPod morning commute music: America, Here and Now (disc 1); 2007
For years, I have been trashing the band America, primarily because of the lyrical content of their (in)famous song A Horse with No Name. I have refused to even consider that I might be wrong. I have quoted Rolling Stone Album Guide's pans of ALL their albums. Then this album rolled in, highlighted in my All Music Guide weekly e-mail of new releases.
All Music Guide's basic view is that this band has been treated unfairly by critics and people like me, and they wrote a compelling review of this release, produced by James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) and Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne). Included as a bonus disc is a live performance from 2005 covering all the songs on their 1975 greatest hits release Hits.
Well, I guess I was wrong. The new stuff is good, and the old stuff is good. It is, of course, soft rock, not my favorite genre, but one that I certainly listen to often enough. I'm even considering picking up Rhino's 2006 double CD greatest hits collection The Definitive Pop Collection.
That said, A Horse with No Name still suffers from insipid lyrics.
This has been a bad week for me. Last Thursday, I came down with severe stomach cramps, coupled with a fever. I ended up taking Friday off work and going to the doctor, who had no real idea why I had the cramps since I had none of the other classic accompanying symptoms (vomiting or diarrhea). The medicine he prescribed did take care of the cramps, but not completely: They are still there, lingering like lechers in alleyways. Awful.
Yesterday was our annual high school choral contest. This is a choral competition between the classes in each year group. Each year group is given a hymn which each class must perform, and then the students choose one other, popular song. The students choose conductors and pianists, and practice completely on their own, before and after school, during lunch breaks, and any other time they can find to work together. It actually is a cool competition, one of three between classes in year groups. The first is Sports Day, where classes compete in various races and games against each other. The second is the Cultural Festival, where students create performances. My memory is we didn't have these types of in-school competitions between classes, not individuals.
Tomorrow, we teachers find out which year group we'll be attached to. I should also find out if I will be escorting to England this year. Hopefully, there will be no unpleasant surprises.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Residency
iPod morning commute music: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium (disc 1); 2006
This is new music for me. I confess to not really having paid attention to this band, but from what I've heard, I like this double CD. Rolling Stone put it at #2 on their top 50 albums of 2006, after Dylan's Modern Times, but allmusic.com pretty much pans it. This will require further study on my part.
The big news is that my son, Tatsu, was finally granted Washington State residency by The Evergreen State College (where I graduated from back in 1977). We've known since last summer that he would probably be granted residency since I had maintained my Washington State Drivers License and Voter Registration during all the years I've lived in Japan. This meant that I'm considered a Washington State resident, living temporarily abroad (a bit of a stretch, maybe, but thank God I maintained my ties to the state), and therefore my residency passes to my children. However, until yesterday Tatsu's residency status was still labeled "Disputed". No more.
Now he can move forward in his plans to enroll Fall term. Supposidly, the school will be waiving a lot of credits due to his IB Diploma (up to 45), and he's been granted an academic scholarship towards his first year tuition, so things are working out nicely. I'm just sorry we couldn't have resolved the residency problem in time for Fall 2006.
This is new music for me. I confess to not really having paid attention to this band, but from what I've heard, I like this double CD. Rolling Stone put it at #2 on their top 50 albums of 2006, after Dylan's Modern Times, but allmusic.com pretty much pans it. This will require further study on my part.
The big news is that my son, Tatsu, was finally granted Washington State residency by The Evergreen State College (where I graduated from back in 1977). We've known since last summer that he would probably be granted residency since I had maintained my Washington State Drivers License and Voter Registration during all the years I've lived in Japan. This meant that I'm considered a Washington State resident, living temporarily abroad (a bit of a stretch, maybe, but thank God I maintained my ties to the state), and therefore my residency passes to my children. However, until yesterday Tatsu's residency status was still labeled "Disputed". No more.
Now he can move forward in his plans to enroll Fall term. Supposidly, the school will be waiving a lot of credits due to his IB Diploma (up to 45), and he's been granted an academic scholarship towards his first year tuition, so things are working out nicely. I'm just sorry we couldn't have resolved the residency problem in time for Fall 2006.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
iPod morning commute music: Lucinda Williams (1988)
Technically not commute music, since I don't commute on Sunday, but I did listen to it in the wee hours after midnight (see below), and played a couple of songs for my daughter this morning. This great album is essential if for no other reason than Passionate Kisses, my all time favorite Lucinda Williams song. I suppose Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998) is a stronger album (and certainly the one which propelled her, finally, into stardom), but this self-titled second album is the one I tend to put on most (I have 5 of her studio CD's). Also a highlight on the disc: Changed the Locks.
Yesterday's teacher's meeting didn't start until after 9:00 p.m., and finished around 11:00. I could get trains most of the way home, but had to take a taxi from Kawanishi to Nissei Chuo, where my car was parked. Fortunately, the school will pay the fare, around $35. I got home, finally, at 1:00 a.m., pretty much shattered.
Today we went to see Scorsese's The Departed, which opened yesterday here in Japan. I saw the film, unedited, on my flight back from Seattle on the 4th, but knew at the time I had to see it on the big screen. What a film! The acting is great, the directing even better, but probably the most impressive aspect of the film for me is the editing; just superb. Leonardo DiCaprio has grown exponentially with each appearance in a Scorsese film (Gangs of New York and The Aviator before), with this performance cementing his reputation as Scorsese's new DiNero. Matt Damon is also great, and Jack Nicholsan is just awesome as the villain. Vera Farmiga, an actor I wasn't familiar with, also does a fine job in this highly recommended film.
Tomorrow is the second round of the junior high entrance exam, but hopefully the meeting will be a LOT shorter.
Technically not commute music, since I don't commute on Sunday, but I did listen to it in the wee hours after midnight (see below), and played a couple of songs for my daughter this morning. This great album is essential if for no other reason than Passionate Kisses, my all time favorite Lucinda Williams song. I suppose Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998) is a stronger album (and certainly the one which propelled her, finally, into stardom), but this self-titled second album is the one I tend to put on most (I have 5 of her studio CD's). Also a highlight on the disc: Changed the Locks.
Yesterday's teacher's meeting didn't start until after 9:00 p.m., and finished around 11:00. I could get trains most of the way home, but had to take a taxi from Kawanishi to Nissei Chuo, where my car was parked. Fortunately, the school will pay the fare, around $35. I got home, finally, at 1:00 a.m., pretty much shattered.
Today we went to see Scorsese's The Departed, which opened yesterday here in Japan. I saw the film, unedited, on my flight back from Seattle on the 4th, but knew at the time I had to see it on the big screen. What a film! The acting is great, the directing even better, but probably the most impressive aspect of the film for me is the editing; just superb. Leonardo DiCaprio has grown exponentially with each appearance in a Scorsese film (Gangs of New York and The Aviator before), with this performance cementing his reputation as Scorsese's new DiNero. Matt Damon is also great, and Jack Nicholsan is just awesome as the villain. Vera Farmiga, an actor I wasn't familiar with, also does a fine job in this highly recommended film.
Tomorrow is the second round of the junior high entrance exam, but hopefully the meeting will be a LOT shorter.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Into the Night
iPod morning commute music: Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006)
I'm not big on world music (a shame, since I live in Asia), but I am big on great guitar playing. This duo met in a metal band in Mexico City, but ended up going acoustic and busking in, of all places, Ireland. Rodrigo plays lead, Gabriela rhythm. Flamenco is the obvious influence, but they really defy categorization. The video clips on their website rodgab.com (found under 'media' on their menu bar at the top of the site) are probably the best introduction to their music. You will then be searching for the CD. Exciting stuff. Also, see the review at allmusic.com, linked below:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ltcibkd9fakz
Today is my school's junior high entrance exam. It is really hard to explain this aspect of the Japanese school system, but basically you have two groups of students who take the test. The first group are students who say our school is their first choice, and they are given special treatment, meaning they can enter with lower test scores (tests subjects are Japanese, Math, Science and Social Studies) than those in the second group, who are taking the exam as a back-up in case they fail the exam for their preferred school. The second group usually represents the better students, who are hoping to get into a high level public school (as opposed to private schools like mine). The tests are administered in the morning, marked and the data entered into the computer in the afternoon, after which the administration examines the results and determine which students from both groups will be invited to attend our school. Determining how many of the first group will accept our invitation is not so hard, since almost all of them really do want to come here. The problem is determining how many of the better students applying here as a back-up will actually end up here: maybe 10% of those invited, say, so if you want 10 students from this group, you have to invite 100. Then we have a teachers meeting to decide if we will accept the administration's recommendations. We are waiting for that meeting to start. It is now 8:00 p.m. We had to be here by 7:50 a.m. for our morning service (Christian school). It's been a long day, extending into the night.
My co-worker Bob and I brought DVDs and munchies in anticipation of all this. We watched one of the classics that Bob brought, The Naked Gun, and a Sheryl Crow video DVD. Good stuff. Ate potato chips, cheese, crackers, along with the food provided by the school.
In the hours when we weren't working, eating, or watching TV, I got some serious work done on the TOEIC reading book, which made me feel good. Meanwhile, it 8:10, with no meeting in sight. It's going to be one long, long night.
I'm not big on world music (a shame, since I live in Asia), but I am big on great guitar playing. This duo met in a metal band in Mexico City, but ended up going acoustic and busking in, of all places, Ireland. Rodrigo plays lead, Gabriela rhythm. Flamenco is the obvious influence, but they really defy categorization. The video clips on their website rodgab.com (found under 'media' on their menu bar at the top of the site) are probably the best introduction to their music. You will then be searching for the CD. Exciting stuff. Also, see the review at allmusic.com, linked below:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ltcibkd9fakz
Today is my school's junior high entrance exam. It is really hard to explain this aspect of the Japanese school system, but basically you have two groups of students who take the test. The first group are students who say our school is their first choice, and they are given special treatment, meaning they can enter with lower test scores (tests subjects are Japanese, Math, Science and Social Studies) than those in the second group, who are taking the exam as a back-up in case they fail the exam for their preferred school. The second group usually represents the better students, who are hoping to get into a high level public school (as opposed to private schools like mine). The tests are administered in the morning, marked and the data entered into the computer in the afternoon, after which the administration examines the results and determine which students from both groups will be invited to attend our school. Determining how many of the first group will accept our invitation is not so hard, since almost all of them really do want to come here. The problem is determining how many of the better students applying here as a back-up will actually end up here: maybe 10% of those invited, say, so if you want 10 students from this group, you have to invite 100. Then we have a teachers meeting to decide if we will accept the administration's recommendations. We are waiting for that meeting to start. It is now 8:00 p.m. We had to be here by 7:50 a.m. for our morning service (Christian school). It's been a long day, extending into the night.
My co-worker Bob and I brought DVDs and munchies in anticipation of all this. We watched one of the classics that Bob brought, The Naked Gun, and a Sheryl Crow video DVD. Good stuff. Ate potato chips, cheese, crackers, along with the food provided by the school.
In the hours when we weren't working, eating, or watching TV, I got some serious work done on the TOEIC reading book, which made me feel good. Meanwhile, it 8:10, with no meeting in sight. It's going to be one long, long night.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Just Another Tuesday
iPod morning commute music: Oasis, Stop the Clocks (disc 1); 2006
It was interesting when I went back to Seattle for Christmas and showed my brother, the rock musician in the family, this double-CD greatest hits package. He asked if they really had that many hits. Granted, this 18-song set includes B-sides and album tracks, but the answer is that, yes, Oasis had that many hits. I don't know if it's just my brother, or if Americans in general missed how good Oasis was, and continues to be: Their last release, 2005's Don't Believe the Truth, is the best new album they've put out since 1995's masterpiece (What's the Story) Morning Glory? The bottom line is that this is a great overview of the band. Recommended.
This past weekend was lazy in the mornings, productive in the afternoons. On Saturday, I met with my TOEIC series co-author, who's elderly father has been ill. We've really fallen behind on our schedule, but who can fault her with what she's been through over the last couple of months, and I didn't help anything by going back to the States over the holidays. Fortunately, we both recognize what we need to do (work really, really hard, sacrificing all our free time to finishing the book) which begs an answer to the question: So what are doing writing your blog?
Sunday afternoon, my wife and I went to Costco as we needed to change over to our snow tires and make important food purchases like, er, pepperoni pizza and cheesecake.
Monday was back to work. Our Language Laboratory assistant/saviour, Sae, noticed that I had scheduled one too many lessons for one of my seventh grade classes as I somehow overlooked a minor thing like A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.... Another week off to a brilliant start.
And today, Tuesday, was back into the heart of teaching, four sophomore classes, two advanced (smart) and two standard (not).
I'm still working through the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. As Gib commented on my last post, these ratings are really arbitrary. I've noticed the tendency which he also pointed out towards newer releases surpassing classic releases (fair enough, if done in a rational way). The book itself is a fun read, and I'm actually learning things (example: Dusty Springfield never sang a note in Memphis on her seminal album Dusty in Memphis: all her vocals were recorded in New York and added to the instrumental tracks. I guess she was too much in awe to actually record in the Memphis studio!).
Now, it would probably be a good time to start at least thinking about the TOEIC book!
It was interesting when I went back to Seattle for Christmas and showed my brother, the rock musician in the family, this double-CD greatest hits package. He asked if they really had that many hits. Granted, this 18-song set includes B-sides and album tracks, but the answer is that, yes, Oasis had that many hits. I don't know if it's just my brother, or if Americans in general missed how good Oasis was, and continues to be: Their last release, 2005's Don't Believe the Truth, is the best new album they've put out since 1995's masterpiece (What's the Story) Morning Glory? The bottom line is that this is a great overview of the band. Recommended.
This past weekend was lazy in the mornings, productive in the afternoons. On Saturday, I met with my TOEIC series co-author, who's elderly father has been ill. We've really fallen behind on our schedule, but who can fault her with what she's been through over the last couple of months, and I didn't help anything by going back to the States over the holidays. Fortunately, we both recognize what we need to do (work really, really hard, sacrificing all our free time to finishing the book) which begs an answer to the question: So what are doing writing your blog?
Sunday afternoon, my wife and I went to Costco as we needed to change over to our snow tires and make important food purchases like, er, pepperoni pizza and cheesecake.
Monday was back to work. Our Language Laboratory assistant/saviour, Sae, noticed that I had scheduled one too many lessons for one of my seventh grade classes as I somehow overlooked a minor thing like A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.... Another week off to a brilliant start.
And today, Tuesday, was back into the heart of teaching, four sophomore classes, two advanced (smart) and two standard (not).
I'm still working through the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. As Gib commented on my last post, these ratings are really arbitrary. I've noticed the tendency which he also pointed out towards newer releases surpassing classic releases (fair enough, if done in a rational way). The book itself is a fun read, and I'm actually learning things (example: Dusty Springfield never sang a note in Memphis on her seminal album Dusty in Memphis: all her vocals were recorded in New York and added to the instrumental tracks. I guess she was too much in awe to actually record in the Memphis studio!).
Now, it would probably be a good time to start at least thinking about the TOEIC book!
Friday, January 12, 2007
Old Friends
iPod evening commute music: The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
One of my Christmas gifts from my brother was Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (or something like that). #1 was Sgt. Pepper's, and no true rock fan can deny that it is a great album. It was the first Beatles' album that I bought with my own money (a paper route). It is not my favorite album by the band: I think I listen to Rubber Soul and Revolver more often. However, the importance of the album lies in the direction it moved music, the multi-tracking, the psychedelia, the idea of a group recording without performing live. Rock became art.
Last Monday, I searched around and found the phone number of one of my old college roomates, a great friend, and the person who recruited me to Japan all those years ago. Eric and I have been out of touch for several years, and he wrote to one of our mutual friends in Japan asking about me and asking him to pass on his current address to me. Hence, my phone call.
Eric and I have one of those friendships that are like a pair of really comfortable, well-worn slippers that always feel good when you slip them on. Though much of our conversation was catch-up, none of it sounded as though we hadn't talked for years, but rather that we had just talked last week. I know it is not an original thought, but I've always felt that to be a test of true friendship: Easy conversation after long absences.
It was a great conversation, and I know we'll work hard to ensure the absences are fewer, and shorter in length.
One of my Christmas gifts from my brother was Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (or something like that). #1 was Sgt. Pepper's, and no true rock fan can deny that it is a great album. It was the first Beatles' album that I bought with my own money (a paper route). It is not my favorite album by the band: I think I listen to Rubber Soul and Revolver more often. However, the importance of the album lies in the direction it moved music, the multi-tracking, the psychedelia, the idea of a group recording without performing live. Rock became art.
Last Monday, I searched around and found the phone number of one of my old college roomates, a great friend, and the person who recruited me to Japan all those years ago. Eric and I have been out of touch for several years, and he wrote to one of our mutual friends in Japan asking about me and asking him to pass on his current address to me. Hence, my phone call.
Eric and I have one of those friendships that are like a pair of really comfortable, well-worn slippers that always feel good when you slip them on. Though much of our conversation was catch-up, none of it sounded as though we hadn't talked for years, but rather that we had just talked last week. I know it is not an original thought, but I've always felt that to be a test of true friendship: Easy conversation after long absences.
It was a great conversation, and I know we'll work hard to ensure the absences are fewer, and shorter in length.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Home From the Holidays and a New Years Resolution
iPod morning commute music: N/A
Flew back to Japan yesterday, and got home about 9:00 p.m. I had a good holiday, but it was also good to get back to the States. My goal for the visit was to ensure that my parents and son had the best Christmas and New Years possible, and I think I helped.
It was good to see how my son has adjusted to life in the States, and on Vashon Island in particular. He's well-liked at work, has made friends (including several with whom he can play music), and is continueing his art. Now we just need to clear up the residency questions before he starts school in the fall.
It is hard to watch my parents age. My mother has lost a lot of her vision, and tests have confirmed that, in the past, she has suffered one or more small strokes which affected her vision. I was able to go with my parents for my mother's doctor appointment, and got a much better picture of what's going on. My father's showing his age as well, slowing way down. My brother and I had a good chance to visit and talk about them, and what could be in store in the future. As always, I feel bad that the burden falls unfairly on his shoulders.
I was able to do some cooking for everyone, but I had to be careful not to try to dictate to my parents what to eat: they actually LIKE eating cereal for breakfast and dinner! Still, I managed, in part, a big batch of chilli, a turkey for Christmas day, a ham for the extended family's Christmas party, and spaghetti and meatballs from scratch. I also baked a pecan pie.
I also got to attend a couple of Sonics basketball games curtesy of my friends Nan and Will (one of which was on New Years Eve with my son). They won both games, and maybe were the only games they won while I was there! I also saw a lot of televised games, especially the Fiesta Bowl, probably the most exciting football game I've ever watched.
I also had some quality (drinking and visiting) time with my friend Craig B. I'm lucky to have such a long-time buddy living so near on Island. The fact that he looks in on both my parents and my son means so much to me.
But now it's back to work. Today I had to be in for a meeting at 10, and then found out we have a major student problem in my year group, so it looks like I'll be here until late this afternoon or early evening. Not the best news considering the jet lag, but what the hell! You play, you pay, and I have no real problem with that. I'll slog my way through the day, and will have tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday off. Life shifts back into low gear on Tuesday, and high gear (actual classes!) on Friday.
Finally, that resolution: I resolve to blog at least 3 times per week in 2007.
Happy New Years, everybody!
Flew back to Japan yesterday, and got home about 9:00 p.m. I had a good holiday, but it was also good to get back to the States. My goal for the visit was to ensure that my parents and son had the best Christmas and New Years possible, and I think I helped.
It was good to see how my son has adjusted to life in the States, and on Vashon Island in particular. He's well-liked at work, has made friends (including several with whom he can play music), and is continueing his art. Now we just need to clear up the residency questions before he starts school in the fall.
It is hard to watch my parents age. My mother has lost a lot of her vision, and tests have confirmed that, in the past, she has suffered one or more small strokes which affected her vision. I was able to go with my parents for my mother's doctor appointment, and got a much better picture of what's going on. My father's showing his age as well, slowing way down. My brother and I had a good chance to visit and talk about them, and what could be in store in the future. As always, I feel bad that the burden falls unfairly on his shoulders.
I was able to do some cooking for everyone, but I had to be careful not to try to dictate to my parents what to eat: they actually LIKE eating cereal for breakfast and dinner! Still, I managed, in part, a big batch of chilli, a turkey for Christmas day, a ham for the extended family's Christmas party, and spaghetti and meatballs from scratch. I also baked a pecan pie.
I also got to attend a couple of Sonics basketball games curtesy of my friends Nan and Will (one of which was on New Years Eve with my son). They won both games, and maybe were the only games they won while I was there! I also saw a lot of televised games, especially the Fiesta Bowl, probably the most exciting football game I've ever watched.
I also had some quality (drinking and visiting) time with my friend Craig B. I'm lucky to have such a long-time buddy living so near on Island. The fact that he looks in on both my parents and my son means so much to me.
But now it's back to work. Today I had to be in for a meeting at 10, and then found out we have a major student problem in my year group, so it looks like I'll be here until late this afternoon or early evening. Not the best news considering the jet lag, but what the hell! You play, you pay, and I have no real problem with that. I'll slog my way through the day, and will have tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday off. Life shifts back into low gear on Tuesday, and high gear (actual classes!) on Friday.
Finally, that resolution: I resolve to blog at least 3 times per week in 2007.
Happy New Years, everybody!
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