Hurt Locker

I saw "The Hurt Locker" yesterday and it was predictably awesome. Given everything I had heard about it, the pump was definitely primed going in, but it did not fail to live up to my expectations. In fact, it was a much more enjoyable movie than I was expecting ... which is not to say that my shoulders aren't still sore from being tensed for two hours straight.

Aside from that, Rachel is gone for the weekend for her Jessup competition, and I have a lot of reading to get done. Kozol, charming though he is, isn't lighting me up and keeping me glued to "Letters to a Young Teacher," but I'm hoping to finish it this weekend and get started on "Pedagogy of the Oppressed." Eventually I'll probably have to start reading actual TFA books, but I haven't been able to bring myself to start on them yet ... though they actually look pretty interesting/readable.

Lastly before heading off to a little more time with Mr. Kozol and (likely in quick succession) sleepiness, I just came across this article on Slate.com about the search for the rare Hainan gibbon. Thought it was rather well written and kind of awesome.

Shaun White for Prez?

Speaking of Presidents Day (or week), I may have to start campaigning for Shaun White, one American who really seems to be able to get something done. Another great American (fictional though he may be) is Bill Pullman's POTUS from "Independence Day," with one of my favorite guilty-pleasure movie speeches. Maybe other than "Newsies" this may be the only time I've really liked Pullman (who ranks just behind Bill Paxton on my least favorite actors of all time list ... which I may have to actually compile some day).

The President of Dudeness

The first great presidential moment to highlight this week comes from the Dude, Bad Blake himself in a movie that I really should probably watch again. I remember this being the best part of the flick but also definitely saw it before any kind of political maturation had taken place in my own life.

Drag Me To Bed!

Okay, last post for tonight -- seriously. Just wanted to say that I just watched "Drag Me To Hell" and thought it was awesome. Though it was definitely more funny than scary and I didn't love the end all that much, I dug all the gross-out crap (like the embalming chemicals (I think?) coming out of the dead body into the girl's mouth?? or the fire hose nosebleed?? (see pic) or the maggot upchuck!!), the super-spooky gypsy lady, and the classic dialogue ("I beat ya, y'ole bitch!"). Mmmhmmm!

Two links

To defy the expectation that all posts will be as ridiculously long as the last one, here are two links to check out:

This video was made by a TFA corps member working in a charter school in Gary, IN (part of the Chicago corps).

And el presidente is back in the news with more "sweeping changes" (why are they always "sweeping?) proposed to the "No Child Left Behind" law.

PS: Just watched "The Pianist" on my day off. It was amazing ... but seriously? On your day off??? Ugh.