Take a good song, redo it. It happens a lot. I always thought the idea was to make the song better or at least unique. Hendrix did it with Dylan's All Along the Watchtower. Alien Ant Farm did a pretty decent version of ol' MJ's Smooth Criminal (from back when he still had it). But what's up with all of these current remakes groups are releasing that absolutely degrade the integrity of songs that were much better before the remake? And why is Matt Pinfield still on TV?
I got to thinking about it this morning. I was chilling in the living room, reading a book. I like background noise so I turned on VH1 because they actually show videos for a small segment of their available programming time, mostly in the early morning. Like right now. So they start showing a U2 video, the song One. A great U2 song, I'll have to admit. So I actually start to watch it. Right before the first verse, Mary J Blige appears. Huh?! Then she does all of the singing while the band plays the music. It seems like the current trend in voice stars is to embellish to the extent that you can't really tell that they're crappy (okay, mediocre at best) because they're all over the place notewise. It's hard to be off key when you sing in every key for each phrase. Ewwy, ewwy, ooh.
Notable Cover Tunes
Respect - Aretha Franklin (did you know this was originally by Otis Redding?)
All Along the Watchtower - Hendrix (Dylan)
Hard to Handle - The Black Crowes (Redding again)
Killing Me Softly - The Fugees (Roberta Flack)
Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Stevie Wonder)
Hurt - Johnny Cash (NIN)
I Will Survive - Cake (Gloria Gaynor)
Tainted Love - Soft Cell (Gloria Jones)
Mr Bojangles - Nina Simone (Jerry Jeff Walker)
Total Ass Covers
Sweet Child O' Mine - Sheryl Crow (Guns n Roses)
One - U2 w/ MJ Blige (U2, ruined their own song. sad)
Stairway to Heaven - Dolly Parton (Led Zeppelin)
American Pie - Madonna (Don McLean)
Turn the Page - Metallica (Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band)
Tuesday's Gone - Metallica (Lynryd Skynyrd)
Big Yellow Taxi - Counting Crows (Joni Mitchell)
These lists could go on and on.
What's your favorite/least favorite cover tune?
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
Drilling for Dollars
What are you supposed to look at when you're in the dentist's chair? Looking at the light is too bright. Looking at the ceiling is boring. Looking at the tools is sort of scary. Looking at the dentist's or the hygenist's face is just too weird (too close for comfort). Closing your eyes (necessary during drilling and stuff, but otherwise...) just makes me feel like I'm having a weird make out session.
A question to you, what do you look at?
A question to you, what do you look at?
Thursday, June 22, 2006
there's my next nightmare
I like to leave the TV on when I read. Mostly so there's background noise in an otherwise empty house. (the wife travels for work quite a bit) Now I know that the commercials get a bit naughtier after any reasonable parent would have sent their child to bed. You've all seen them. Commercials for "dating" services. "Pick up the phone." Don't tell me what to do, devil woman! Commercials for Girls Gone Wild. Do you get paid to show your tits on tape? Hell, it beats the old way. You know, having to wait until the guy falls asleep after you blow him so you can roll him. I can't count how many $10's I lost that way in college. But tonight's commercial was a new one for me. Guys Gone Wild. My first thought was "oh, well they have nekkid girls for us guys, might as well have nekkid boys for the girls." Then I realized that it wasn't for the girls.
I feel dirty.
I feel dirty.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Buck Futters!
I hate having to take classes during the summer.
Especially when it's a total waste of time. I could be working on my tan, working for money, working for the weekend. But no, I'm doing some god awful busy work that we sort of already did in the first 2 modules of the 3 part course. And all of this (200 seat hours they say) for a gifted endorsement on my teaching certificate. Fuck you, you fucking repeating pieces of shit. We've done this stuff before. Everybody is saying it and you get mad at us when we point it out. There'd be an all-out riot if I tried pulling this kind of shit with my students.
Stop wasting my fucking time. I've worked my ass off for 9 hard months to get to this point, the only justification I can make for the cut in pay that I'm taking for not getting a real fucking job.
Am I pissed? You bet. And probably will be every day for the next 5 business days.
Especially when it's a total waste of time. I could be working on my tan, working for money, working for the weekend. But no, I'm doing some god awful busy work that we sort of already did in the first 2 modules of the 3 part course. And all of this (200 seat hours they say) for a gifted endorsement on my teaching certificate. Fuck you, you fucking repeating pieces of shit. We've done this stuff before. Everybody is saying it and you get mad at us when we point it out. There'd be an all-out riot if I tried pulling this kind of shit with my students.
Stop wasting my fucking time. I've worked my ass off for 9 hard months to get to this point, the only justification I can make for the cut in pay that I'm taking for not getting a real fucking job.
Am I pissed? You bet. And probably will be every day for the next 5 business days.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Dang!
What do you have to do to get written up at work?
My latest "stunt" was less of a stunt, but it required all sorts of meetings. It all started with the requirement for me to turn in a copy of my final exam to my department head (insert the word 'bone' and it still works perfectly). I refused. To be an asshole? Partially, but not really. Mostly, for test security.
See, when you're really masochistic and in the education industry, you do crazy weird shit like agree to create a new course. Such as Advanced Physics Principles / Robotics. And when you do stuff like that from scratch, you find that there aren't a whole heck of a lot of resources for teaching such a course as an advanced high school level science class. There are plenty of resources for the technology and programming aspect, but not a whole lot for the science/engineering principles, especially the real science application part. So, you make a lot of the shit up from scratch. To make a long story somewhat shorter, it takes a hella lot of time and effort. So, you tend to be pretty protective of your shit. No, not 'pretty protective'. We're talking get your ass attacked by a pack of fat ladies because you want the last cookie on the buffet line kind of protective.
So, when asked to hand over a copy of my final exams to my department (meat)head? I reply with a simple 'no.' Well, you have to understand that there is a perception of a power struggle that has been going on all year long with me. I say perception because it's not authority I defy, it's stupid. Somehow, you can be an ineffective teacher and have all of the kids and faculty like you a lot, to the point where you get Teacher of the Year honors. But those of us that get the kids afterwards know better. Not only are these kids dumb with regard to basic physics principles after an AP Physics class, but they're typically the classroom management issues. Perhaps poor behavior was overlooked in prior classes? Of course, I have been accused of expecting too much with regard to high school student behavior. I've also been accused of being 'elitist.' I don't remember refuting the statement.
Anyhow, it all ended up with him having a real hissy fit. We're talking along the lines of writing e-mails to the assistant principal and telling me that I would have to take it up with her because he wasn't signing off on my sheet as turning them in. It was fun to watch him squirm, but it wasn't an issue of me vs. him as he wants so badly to think. It's just an overprotective, rabid wolverine protecting her cubs. Or whatever you call a baby wolverine. But with intellectual property, not real cubs. And not a real wolverine, just me. Fuck, it was just an analogy.
Fortunately, he's leaving for the new school with the old principal. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
My latest "stunt" was less of a stunt, but it required all sorts of meetings. It all started with the requirement for me to turn in a copy of my final exam to my department head (insert the word 'bone' and it still works perfectly). I refused. To be an asshole? Partially, but not really. Mostly, for test security.
See, when you're really masochistic and in the education industry, you do crazy weird shit like agree to create a new course. Such as Advanced Physics Principles / Robotics. And when you do stuff like that from scratch, you find that there aren't a whole heck of a lot of resources for teaching such a course as an advanced high school level science class. There are plenty of resources for the technology and programming aspect, but not a whole lot for the science/engineering principles, especially the real science application part. So, you make a lot of the shit up from scratch. To make a long story somewhat shorter, it takes a hella lot of time and effort. So, you tend to be pretty protective of your shit. No, not 'pretty protective'. We're talking get your ass attacked by a pack of fat ladies because you want the last cookie on the buffet line kind of protective.
So, when asked to hand over a copy of my final exams to my department (meat)head? I reply with a simple 'no.' Well, you have to understand that there is a perception of a power struggle that has been going on all year long with me. I say perception because it's not authority I defy, it's stupid. Somehow, you can be an ineffective teacher and have all of the kids and faculty like you a lot, to the point where you get Teacher of the Year honors. But those of us that get the kids afterwards know better. Not only are these kids dumb with regard to basic physics principles after an AP Physics class, but they're typically the classroom management issues. Perhaps poor behavior was overlooked in prior classes? Of course, I have been accused of expecting too much with regard to high school student behavior. I've also been accused of being 'elitist.' I don't remember refuting the statement.
Anyhow, it all ended up with him having a real hissy fit. We're talking along the lines of writing e-mails to the assistant principal and telling me that I would have to take it up with her because he wasn't signing off on my sheet as turning them in. It was fun to watch him squirm, but it wasn't an issue of me vs. him as he wants so badly to think. It's just an overprotective, rabid wolverine protecting her cubs. Or whatever you call a baby wolverine. But with intellectual property, not real cubs. And not a real wolverine, just me. Fuck, it was just an analogy.
Fortunately, he's leaving for the new school with the old principal. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Total BS
Remember that whole rant about not getting a decent raise? Well, turns out it was total hogwash. But let's not forget how the political spin machine works. Not to sound too much like a conspiracy theorist, but I think that there are deeper issues at hand here.
See, once the superintendent's plan went to the board (in a private meeting no less), they put the smack down on it and are supposedly reinstating the full 3.4% raise as opposed to his paltry proposal of 1.7%. Oh, thank you! 3.4%! Hey, it's another $900 bucks in my pocket. Still have to work on the $250 furlough day, but hey, the big part is back. Or was the plan to make the furlough day more acceptable?
To be honest, I think that the real impetus was two-fold.
First task: make the governor take the heat. Oh woe is us, budget cuts. We can't find a single source of fat to cut and you're making us hire more teachers with less funding. So, let's take it out on the teachers and convince them that it's that nasty, evil governor!
Second task: lest we forget that it's board election year. The super can't lose his myrmidons! That'd just be cause for him to train a whole new race of blame swappers and a whole new slew of executive retreats to learn useful skills such as responsibility avoidance and the importance of hiring a good spin doctor.
Screw it. Seriously. I'm getting awfully tired of assisting in Marx's ten step program anyhow.
See, once the superintendent's plan went to the board (in a private meeting no less), they put the smack down on it and are supposedly reinstating the full 3.4% raise as opposed to his paltry proposal of 1.7%. Oh, thank you! 3.4%! Hey, it's another $900 bucks in my pocket. Still have to work on the $250 furlough day, but hey, the big part is back. Or was the plan to make the furlough day more acceptable?
To be honest, I think that the real impetus was two-fold.
First task: make the governor take the heat. Oh woe is us, budget cuts. We can't find a single source of fat to cut and you're making us hire more teachers with less funding. So, let's take it out on the teachers and convince them that it's that nasty, evil governor!
Second task: lest we forget that it's board election year. The super can't lose his myrmidons! That'd just be cause for him to train a whole new race of blame swappers and a whole new slew of executive retreats to learn useful skills such as responsibility avoidance and the importance of hiring a good spin doctor.
Screw it. Seriously. I'm getting awfully tired of assisting in Marx's ten step program anyhow.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Fuck The Man!
The Man. The proverbial Man. Capital M Man. Oh, he's real. And he can go fuck himself.
So the Governor of Georgia proposes new legislation and it gets written and approved. (I say it's not really his law because I understand how government works. The Governor doesn't make laws, he just signs off on them which is really sort of symbolic anyhow because a Congressional vote can override the veto. Surprisingly, I'm a graduate of a government school and I understand that.) Anyhow, the legislation is about how school systems can spend money. The part that the upper level admin are concerned about is that it states explicitly that class sizes have to meet a required minimum (no averaging anymore) and 65% of education funding must be spent on or in the classrooms. That includes teacher salaries, building maintenance, supplies, books, etc. from what I understand. That leaves almost 1/3 for upper level admin duties. Obviously not enough, surprisingly, if you judge by the roars from the county superintendents (mostly the ones in suburban Atlanta).
So, the superintendent in our county has a wonderful solution to the hits to the budget for next year. How much do you want to wager on the fact that it's cuts at the top-heavy county admin level? Ha ha, you lose!
And again, despite the fact that I am a graduate of a fine government school, I am surprisingly good at math.
The governor approved a 4% pay raise for teachers for next year. That's for the state salary schedule. See, some (most) counties offer an additional stipend on top of the state pay, especially those in areas where the cost of living is higher (aka metro Atlanta). Our county does this. So, a 4% raise on the state pay makes the raise come out to about 3.5% for us, assuming the county retains the same level of additional pay.
If you read the linked article, you find out that 3.5% is too high compared to what we will get. See, the net raise will only work out to be 1.77%. They want to add the extra significant figure to make it more attractive than 1.7% but not lead people to expect 1.8%. So, figuring on what I expected to make next year, instead of gaining $1713 dollars based solely on state contributions, I end up with $844 extra dollars. A loss of $869. Basically, they're lowering the county contribution by $869.
They cite having to hire more teachers to make class sizes smaller as their justification. I find it particularly interesting that not a single cut was made for county positions (much higher paid than lowly teachers, as in the very close to if not 6-figure range) or for their particularly ridiculous legal expenses. "Nah, let's stick it to the guys who are actually doing the grunt work. We'll make those teachers pay for someone else's decision to try to help teachers out with a little extra folding cash. Literally, make them pay!"
But it's not over yet.
They're also making us take a furlough day. I didn't even know what that was until today. But basically, I signed a contract for 191 days just a few weeks ago. They will be changing the contract to 190 days, thus changing the contract however they wish at any time. Ok, they're the employer. But we had an agreement. Yeah, an agreement that puts pretty much everything in their favor, like the ability to change contracts at will. I wish I could do that, but I'm not the employer, I'm the employee, I understand that. So back to the furlough day. The one less day is an unpaid day. For me that will be roughly a $254 loss.
So to add up all of my losses, the pay that I expected next year will end up being $1123 less than I expected it to be. "Oh, bitch bitch bitch, you're still getting a 1.77% raise." Did you notice the percentage that energy costs have gone up? I think it was a bit more than that just in the last month here just for fuel. And how does that affect the prices of goods? "It makes them cheaper, right?" If you think that, you obviously didn't have me as your teacher.
Oh, and I really enjoyed how we got the notice of this news from the county after I found out from the local newspaper. Apparently, we're not worthy of being the first to know.
So the Governor of Georgia proposes new legislation and it gets written and approved. (I say it's not really his law because I understand how government works. The Governor doesn't make laws, he just signs off on them which is really sort of symbolic anyhow because a Congressional vote can override the veto. Surprisingly, I'm a graduate of a government school and I understand that.) Anyhow, the legislation is about how school systems can spend money. The part that the upper level admin are concerned about is that it states explicitly that class sizes have to meet a required minimum (no averaging anymore) and 65% of education funding must be spent on or in the classrooms. That includes teacher salaries, building maintenance, supplies, books, etc. from what I understand. That leaves almost 1/3 for upper level admin duties. Obviously not enough, surprisingly, if you judge by the roars from the county superintendents (mostly the ones in suburban Atlanta).
So, the superintendent in our county has a wonderful solution to the hits to the budget for next year. How much do you want to wager on the fact that it's cuts at the top-heavy county admin level? Ha ha, you lose!
And again, despite the fact that I am a graduate of a fine government school, I am surprisingly good at math.
The governor approved a 4% pay raise for teachers for next year. That's for the state salary schedule. See, some (most) counties offer an additional stipend on top of the state pay, especially those in areas where the cost of living is higher (aka metro Atlanta). Our county does this. So, a 4% raise on the state pay makes the raise come out to about 3.5% for us, assuming the county retains the same level of additional pay.
If you read the linked article, you find out that 3.5% is too high compared to what we will get. See, the net raise will only work out to be 1.77%. They want to add the extra significant figure to make it more attractive than 1.7% but not lead people to expect 1.8%. So, figuring on what I expected to make next year, instead of gaining $1713 dollars based solely on state contributions, I end up with $844 extra dollars. A loss of $869. Basically, they're lowering the county contribution by $869.
They cite having to hire more teachers to make class sizes smaller as their justification. I find it particularly interesting that not a single cut was made for county positions (much higher paid than lowly teachers, as in the very close to if not 6-figure range) or for their particularly ridiculous legal expenses. "Nah, let's stick it to the guys who are actually doing the grunt work. We'll make those teachers pay for someone else's decision to try to help teachers out with a little extra folding cash. Literally, make them pay!"
But it's not over yet.
They're also making us take a furlough day. I didn't even know what that was until today. But basically, I signed a contract for 191 days just a few weeks ago. They will be changing the contract to 190 days, thus changing the contract however they wish at any time. Ok, they're the employer. But we had an agreement. Yeah, an agreement that puts pretty much everything in their favor, like the ability to change contracts at will. I wish I could do that, but I'm not the employer, I'm the employee, I understand that. So back to the furlough day. The one less day is an unpaid day. For me that will be roughly a $254 loss.
So to add up all of my losses, the pay that I expected next year will end up being $1123 less than I expected it to be. "Oh, bitch bitch bitch, you're still getting a 1.77% raise." Did you notice the percentage that energy costs have gone up? I think it was a bit more than that just in the last month here just for fuel. And how does that affect the prices of goods? "It makes them cheaper, right?" If you think that, you obviously didn't have me as your teacher.
Oh, and I really enjoyed how we got the notice of this news from the county after I found out from the local newspaper. Apparently, we're not worthy of being the first to know.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Highest Standards
From an e-mail about signing up for classes to get additional certification for Special Ed:
That's sure a tough bar to reach.
Eligibility
Open to all Cobb County employees who have:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher
- A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Passing scores on the PRAXIS I, unless the candidate holds a clear renewable teaching certificate or those who obtained exemption composite score on the SAT, GRE, or ACT Examinations. (SAT minimum required score is 1000; ACT minimum required score is 43; GRE minimum required score is 1030.
That's sure a tough bar to reach.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
State of the Unions
We're not unionized in Georgia, but the same principles apply here as in this article.
I can't think of much to add.
I can't think of much to add.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
The Great Demotivators
I used to enjoy working. No, really, I did. I think that most of us are driven by some internal motivation to be productive. Whether that's through making stuff, making it easier to make stuff, selling stuff, etc., I think that a majority of us are interested in doing something other than sitting around watching 'the stories.' And I was. My product is completely intangible. Education is not easily quantified or counted or measured, despite popular belief. I always had to take those standardized test scores with a grain of salt to judge my effectiveness. But that wasn't my motivation. I was interested in making the next step easier for these kids. Whether that be a job, college, or whatever, I just wanted them to take away enough to make it a bit easier. And I'll do whatever it takes. 70 hour work week? Okay! Pile on some high-maintenance extra-curricular activity advisement, especially on weekends? Why not? Something made me want to keep pushing forward, no matter what kind of absolute shit they decided to throw my way.
Now I'm just fucking sick of it.
I hate to be so blunt about it, but it's really gotten old. And so quickly, too.
Exhibit A
"Boo hoo! If I'd have gotten one more point on one of my labs I didn't resubmit after you let me have the opportunity to rewrite it, I'd have had an 89.54% which is somehow magically an A."
So let's see... It didn't seem to matter to you last semester. Why the fuck does it matter now? Do you have any evidence? No. Do you have anything other than some vague recollection about something I kind of said? No.
I tried to be understanding. Maybe I miscommunicated something. I don't know. But when I went to fill out the form to change the grade so he could have his bullshit A, I just couldn't sign the paper. I kind of feel badly because I said I would. But I'd feel worse if I actually changed it.
Exhibit B
The W-2.
How can it be justified that 23.56% of my check is missing before I even get a chance to hack away at it more with insurance premiums and retirement contributions? Let's not even mention the fact that I'm still going to be paying property taxes, ad valorem taxes and sales tax on every item I buy. If they could figure out a way to do it, I'm sure they'd start assessing an oxygen tax. Respirate slower or pay the price!
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!?
Where is my profit motive? How can you tax me on my productivity? Let me get this straight. I don't do a damn thing, I don't pay any taxes. I start to become a benefit to society and OH!... I getting taxed! Huh?!? Somehow, that other 75% is supposed to be an incentive? Wha? It's absolutely criminal. I'd be locked up if I took 5% of someone's stuff, even if I were doing something nice in return like paving their driveway, mowing their lawn, shooting intruders, housing evacuees, etc.
Hell, I understand that we have to pay for roads, courts, law enforcement, and all that. But do I really have to put Sharnequa, her 5 babies, and a baby daddy or two up in the hotel for 6 months or more? A week or two? Maybe. Hell, it'd be nice if someone helped me a little if it turned out that it really wasn't a good idea to set up shop several feet below sea-level right by the sea. Wouldn't it be nice if the helpers had a choice? Especially between a few weeks and a few months? It seems like there are tons of lawyers willing to go to bat for the hotel dwelling folk. Where are the ones stepping up for the people footing the bill?
Two words. Fair Tax.
Somehow, I think I got off of my main point there. But where is my incentive to do better? Especially as an educator. Wait, I mean teacher. Did you know that pay is based solely on highest degree obtained and years of service? I do a good job, I get paid. I do a horrific job, I get paid. The same amount. The same amount! I'd get paid the same amount to watch kids walk around a track that I do teaching Advanced Placement Chemistry. Wow, I could get paid $20 something an hour to babysit? Sadly, yes. But I don't.
Damn that part of me that still wants to do a good job!
Now I'm just fucking sick of it.
I hate to be so blunt about it, but it's really gotten old. And so quickly, too.
Exhibit A
"Boo hoo! If I'd have gotten one more point on one of my labs I didn't resubmit after you let me have the opportunity to rewrite it, I'd have had an 89.54% which is somehow magically an A."
So let's see... It didn't seem to matter to you last semester. Why the fuck does it matter now? Do you have any evidence? No. Do you have anything other than some vague recollection about something I kind of said? No.
I tried to be understanding. Maybe I miscommunicated something. I don't know. But when I went to fill out the form to change the grade so he could have his bullshit A, I just couldn't sign the paper. I kind of feel badly because I said I would. But I'd feel worse if I actually changed it.
Exhibit B
The W-2.
How can it be justified that 23.56% of my check is missing before I even get a chance to hack away at it more with insurance premiums and retirement contributions? Let's not even mention the fact that I'm still going to be paying property taxes, ad valorem taxes and sales tax on every item I buy. If they could figure out a way to do it, I'm sure they'd start assessing an oxygen tax. Respirate slower or pay the price!
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!?
Where is my profit motive? How can you tax me on my productivity? Let me get this straight. I don't do a damn thing, I don't pay any taxes. I start to become a benefit to society and OH!... I getting taxed! Huh?!? Somehow, that other 75% is supposed to be an incentive? Wha? It's absolutely criminal. I'd be locked up if I took 5% of someone's stuff, even if I were doing something nice in return like paving their driveway, mowing their lawn, shooting intruders, housing evacuees, etc.
Hell, I understand that we have to pay for roads, courts, law enforcement, and all that. But do I really have to put Sharnequa, her 5 babies, and a baby daddy or two up in the hotel for 6 months or more? A week or two? Maybe. Hell, it'd be nice if someone helped me a little if it turned out that it really wasn't a good idea to set up shop several feet below sea-level right by the sea. Wouldn't it be nice if the helpers had a choice? Especially between a few weeks and a few months? It seems like there are tons of lawyers willing to go to bat for the hotel dwelling folk. Where are the ones stepping up for the people footing the bill?
Two words. Fair Tax.
Somehow, I think I got off of my main point there. But where is my incentive to do better? Especially as an educator. Wait, I mean teacher. Did you know that pay is based solely on highest degree obtained and years of service? I do a good job, I get paid. I do a horrific job, I get paid. The same amount. The same amount! I'd get paid the same amount to watch kids walk around a track that I do teaching Advanced Placement Chemistry. Wow, I could get paid $20 something an hour to babysit? Sadly, yes. But I don't.
Damn that part of me that still wants to do a good job!
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