so long,

Pardon my french.  But now I hear I will have to wait until April 2008 for the new season of Battlestar Galactica.    You canNOT tell me that Col. Tigh is a cylon and then wait a YEAR before I get more??? And don’t try to “tide me over” with a measly two hour flash-back movie (not that I won’t be watching it intently anyway).  Okay, so I need to get a life.  A real one, anyway. 

Just a disclaimer here–I am not a Trekkie, nor have I ever been to or will probably ever go to a sci fi convention.  I am a reasonably normal person with friends and family.  I do leave my house on occasion and manage to hold down a socially acceptable job. I may even be your next door neighbor.  But this show is so intriguing and well-done, I am certifiably hooked. One season to go before I can kick my BSG habit.

Okay.  So I’m turning into my mother. 

Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy the humor of Shrek, Chicken Little, and Happy Feet.  It’s clever. 

But is it really necessary to have two heart-warming, endearing characters doing karoake to the Spice Girls “If you want to be my lover”?  Does the sweet heartsong of a penguin really have to include the words “I’ll make love to you like you want me to”?

I guess I just wish we didn’t rush our children to become acclimated to such concepts.  Movies that are marketed for children (even though adults enjoy them too, they ARE marketed for children–that’s what the happy meal toy is for) are becoming more and more “street” in an effort to reach children who are becoming more and more so, I suppose.  But who really cares which came first, the chicken or the egg?  The societal “development” or the marketing strategy?  The marketers are making conscious decisions to perpetuate the cycle.  Check out the Frontline documentary Merchants of Cool to get smacked in the face by the marketing world and it’s relentless manipulation of youth in the name of making a buck.  (By the way, you can watch this doc and many others at freedocumentaries.org)

When I was teaching third grade and began to notice the heavy makeup, short skirts (I don’t care if they’ve got shorts attached underneath…), and big hoop earrings dangling from the ears of 8 year olds, I began to look more closely at what they were watching and being influenced by.  Not that the makers of movies like Shrek are solely responsible, but they do offer enough evidence of the societal values that are changing children.  Thanks MTV.  Goodbye, Never-Never Land.  Cartoons aren’t for kids anymore. 

I hate that the innocence of childhood is nearly extinct nowdays.  Listen to a room of kids sing to themselves while they work intently… you’ll hear “My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard” and “My lovely lady lumps” and “You can lick my lollipop”.  I’ve heard kids, kindergartners included, singing all these songs at some point in my teaching career.  Seriously.

Parents have never been more important than they are today.  Their competition is stronger and greedier than ever.

Now I’m going to return to my DVR and watch a documentary about eating disorders.  Wonder where THAT came from.

I may be a little late on the bandwagon with this, but in case you haven’t seen it, take a minute to check out the newest vid on my vodpod–Paul sings opera.  It is such an amazing example of power, grace, and beauty that resides in every human being, regardless of how we feel about ourselves or are seen by others.  Tim’s blog, which I suggest you take a moment to read (go to Oct 25th post), puts flawless words to the significance of this performance.  And watch the audience closely… the effect that this man, this awkward seemingly-mediocre phone salesman, has on the people in the room.  Wow.  What a breathtaking materialization of what it means to be made in God’s image.

(by the way, thanks lil bro for sending it to me!)

Okay, so I renamed my blog, in reference to one of my favorite overheards (check my Overheard page).  I’m not sure why I love it so much; you kind of have to know  the student as I did.  It’s just so simple and truthful and matter of fact.  It makes me smile everytime I think of it.

Attic fan is on right now… I LOVE autumn!!!!!!