Podcast stuff - Episode 10 of Radio EPLT!

We're back!

It's been a month, but we've now posted the 10th episode of Radio EPLT, the podcast I do for work.

In this episode, we discuss "Skype in the Classroom," a new program put on by Skype that allows teachers to find and develop educational projects using Skype, which makes it a truly international program. Want to help your students learn Spanish by talking to kids in a Spanish classroom?

Also, we have information on the M.Ed cohort programs that we do.

Personally, I think it's the best episode yet, as far as how comfortable Jenny and I feel. We had a lot of fun.

So take a listen!

One Hit Wonders of the 2000s (Part 21)

Spring is in the air! And so are the pigeons.

Yes, the bane of every urbanite's existence is starting to cloud our balcony

Some have suggested plastic owls to scare them away.

But I prefer something else plastic.

It would work like a charm, and she'd work cheap, I'm sure!

Though we'd probably have to hear her talk, so maybe we'll just go with the owls.

It's time for this week's one-hit wonders of the 2000s post! That idol of inanity, the prism of pointlessness, all with a jug of jocularity to wash it down. Just don't overdose on that last part (as if that's ever a problem here).

As usual, you can see the list that I'm taking these from here, but don't jump ahead of me.

Or some of my interns will "take care of you."

*sigh* That's *not* what I meant.

Here we go!

1) Taylor Hicks: "Do I Make You Proud" (#1) (July 1, 2006)



Another American Idol guy, which means there's no video for the song.

You know, they're just trying to make my life hard, aren't they?

So I guess they do any kind of presentation on Idol? Even involving backup singers? I didn't know that! Can they bring in laser lights, bad dancing, and weird costumes as well?

Yes! I want to see an 80s American Idol, where they all dress up like this.

You'd get one more viewer, guys. Let's do it!

Ok, you'd probably lose millions more, but you know that my desires are more important than that. So get with the program.

2) Paris Hilton: "Stars are Blind" (#18) (July 8, 2006)



Oh no! Another Paris Hilton sex tape's been leaked!

Oh, wait. It's just a music video. Never mind.

Even over-processed like this song is, the fact that Hilton can't sing still manages to sneak its way through. God, this is awful. Four excruciating minutes of not just listening to her "sing" but also watching her try and "act" (though I guess they made that easier for her by making her do things she's used to anyway).

This song reached #18? What is wrong with people in this country? Did their brains (and their musical tastes) take a vacation?

That's the only excuse I can think of.

I really want to sue her for my missing four minutes when I blacked out there.

3) LeToya: "Torn" (#31) (July 8, 2006)



(Yay, Vevo!)

LeToya tries to follow the path of her fellow Destiny's Child alumnus, Beyonce, but isn't quite as successful at it. Which is sad, because this song isn't too bad overall.

I really hate those hard decisions like what LeToya's talking about. I agonize with those decisions every day.

I mean, do I continue to run away from all the hot women who are after me, or should I occasionally let one catch me?

Of course, as soon as I do, I'll wake up.

4) Gnarls Barkley: "Crazy" (#2) (July 22, 2006)



(can't find an embeddable copy of the actual video)

I actually *really* like this song. With an awesome beat, a distinctive voice and pretty good lyrics too.

Not sure exactly what these guys are singing about, but what else is crazy?

Royal Wedding hoopla?

Trying to fit a square peg in a round hole?

Charlie...no, sorry, too easy.

5) Cassie: "Me & U" (#3) (July 22, 2006)



I'm sure this is *not* the intention of the video, but isn't admiring yourself in the mirror, then making out with yourself, a pretty good narcissism sign? You love yourself quite a lot, don't you?

Then again, you can't go wrong with a scantily-clad hot woman dancing in front of a mirror for your video. Two for the price of one! I think she needs to take this act out on the street, though. You know, actually talk to *the guy* she's singing about? It's all well and good that you can say it all to yourself in the mirror, but it won't do you any good that way.

Unless the mirror is the true intent of it all, and it's not about a guy in the first place.

Wow, that was deep.

Let's explore other aspects of being a woman.



I think Cassie may be able to help out there.

6) Panic! at the Disco: "I Write Sins, Not Tragedies" (#7) (August 26, 2006)



I am literally sitting here with my mouth open. I have never heard this song (though I have heard the music, as I'll show you later), and I can't say that I'm upset about that. Good lord! A song about closing the goddamn door! Oh, and the bride being, shall we say, less than virtuous, but that seems beside the point compared to all the other crazy stuff going on in this video.

Then again, at least for once the video fits the song.

They're both nuts (those with allergies stay far away).

I was first introduced to this music via Palette Swap Ninja (consisting of Activision's Dan Americh and a friend of his), who did a parody of this song about the Xbox video game console. It's called "Padding Your Gamerscore," and unfortunately I can't find an embeddable version. For the longest time, I was wondering what song was being parodied. I can now rest easy.

7) Young Dro: "Shoulder Lean" (#10) (August 26, 2006)



And what a way to end the week (I kept typing that "weak," and that would be appropriate too).

Ironically enough, doing a Youtube search for this song (the official video is "embedding disabled") came up with a few "erotic women" plugging their web site. Does that mean something?

I think it means it's time to wrap up! Before I go insane.

And there you have it! Week 3 of 2006. We're in the home stretch of the year, and with the exception of that horrible ending (and, of course, we'll always have Paris), it's actually not too bad! At least it wasn't enough to drive my readers away.

The bad jokes are more than enough for that. I don't need any help!

Now it's time to go get some fresh air.

And keep my eye on the ball.

And have some fun!



And after that, I fell into the ocean.



One Hit Wonders of the 2000s
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19
Part 20
Part 21
Part 22
Part 23
Part 24
Part 25
Part 26
Part 27
Part 28
Part 29
Part 30
Part 31

Kung Fu Fighting is now illegal?

In a move that will have karaoke bar owners everywhere shivering in fear and tears of potential lost profits, evidently it's now illegal to sing that old stand-by, "Kung Fu Fighting", in public.

Or at least that's the case in Britain, depending on who happens to be walking by.

Yes, that strange country with mixed-up laws is at it again.

According to the Daily Mail (h/t: Hot Air), pub singer Simon Ledger was arrested for singing the legendary kitschy song, "Kung Fu Fighting." Ledger regularly plays the song, originally by disco favourite Carl Douglas, and has never had any trouble.

But not this time.

Apparently, two Chinese people were walking outside the pub where Ledger was singing, and they were offended by it.

They later reported him to police, and he was arrested on suspicion of "racially aggravated harassment."

The police later called him while he was eating at a Chinese restaurant (there's irony!) and set up a meeting, where they promptly arrested him.

Even the police officers were a bit iffy on this, but they did what the law says they have to do.

Is this nuts, or what?

"A Hampshire police spokesman last night said a 32-year-old man of Chinese origin had claimed he was subjected to racial abuse.

He added: 'If a victim believes that an alleged crime is racially aggravated, the police will treat it seriously. Investigations into this incident are continuing.'"

Apparently, this need to take everything that may even potentially be considered racial seriously means that they can't employ common sense.

This is almost worse than the Zero Tolerance policies that I wrote about a while back. These policies make it so that authorities don't even have to think. Instead, they can just quote the "letter of the law" and go about their merry way, meanwhile making life hell for the rest of the sane people on the planet.

(Keep in mind that I'm not talking about the police officers here, since they have to do their duty. Instead, I mean the fact that this wasn't thrown out as soon as it was heard by any kind of magistrate)

Where does this end?

According to the BBC, Ledger was released because there "wasn't enough evidence" to conclude that he had racial motivations in singing the song. That could have been cleared up in 10 minutes, not in forcing Ledger to go to the police station.

But don't discount the chilling effect. How many karaoke bars might remove this from the playlist because of the even remote possibility that something similar may happen?

Remove it because it's a horrible (though, admittedly, kinda fun) song. Not because it's racist.

When everything becomes racist, then the word really loses its meaning.

We're heading down that slope.

Really fast.

Book Review - Aunt Dimity & the Family Tree by Nancy Atherton

Some people really like cozy, extremely light-weight books. They like some quirky characters and a nice, sleepy English village.

If you're that type of reader, then you'll love the Aunt Dimity series.

After last year's atrocious Aunt Dimity Down Under, this year's Dimity book is a breath of fresh air.

Aunt Dimity & the Family Tree is so much better, though I'm not sure if it's because the previous one was so terrible or if it's because it's actually not that bad. Either way, I really enjoyed this, at least as much as I can enjoy this type of book.

From my review on Curled Up With a Good Book:

"The most eligible bachelor in the sleepy English village of Finch, William Willis Sr, happens to also be the father-in-law of one Lori Shepherd. Recently returned from New Zealand, she is helping her father-in-law renovate and move in to one of the more storied (yet rundown) estates in the village. No end of elderly widows and spinsters would gladly help him as well (it sounds life-shortening to be a man in Finch). Part of the renovations includes restoring a soot-covered painting that looks to be a family tree of some sort. What secrets about the estate might it contain? The matter becomes even more intriguing when the piece is stolen from the local art restorer's house. With William and his newly hired staff, Declan and Deirdre Donovan, fending off the widows, it falls to Lori to figure out what's going on."

The conceit of the series is that Aunt Dimity is an old family friend of Lori's mother. She died a while back, leaving her estate in Finch to Lori, even though Lori had never met her. But Dimity's a lively dead person, communicating with Lori through ghostly writing in a particular diary, and Lori always spends at least a few minutes every night filling Dimity in on what's going on.

This is a very pleasant book, though if you like any sort of real conflict, then you'll have to look elsewhere.

Check out my review for more.

One Hit Wonders of the 2000s (Part 20)

Today's a special day. You know what it is I'm sure. It's that day we anxiously await every year. Kids love it so much that they skip around the yard looking for the little guys.

(Thanks to Hoboken411)

Precious little tykes, aren't they?

Yes, it's the day that you can save even more on your car insurance than usual.

What, you were expecting some other kind of saving? (and I don't think he's going to fit in those baskets, kids)

Whoops! Looks like I pissed somebody off with that joke.

And...moving on.

Welcome to this week's addition of the one-hit wonders of the 2000s! This week, we'll try to avoid burning in Hell, though given the quality of music we've seen lately, that may be preferable! We'll see.

As usual, you can find the list I'm taking these from here. Don't let me catch you looking ahead, though. If you do, fire and brimstone await.

If I can get this stupid match lit.

Here we go!

1) Nick Lachey: "What's Left of Me" (#6) (May 13, 2006)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Would this song have been popular if it wasn't for his show with Jessica Simpson? I can see who brought the talent to the family.

"We had plenty of food in the fridge, but you had to go and look at it and now it's all gone!" No wonder she's leaving him.

This video is really deep, in ways that they probably didn't even consider. First, the fact that there's a camera crew recording the whole thing between him and his girl just highlights the fact that nobody cared about him other than the reality show. Secondly, when everything fades away, including the girl, and finally the camera crew, the house is left as bare as his career.

Since I seriously doubt he's that self-aware, this all has to be by accident.

But it still works!

2) Teddy Geiger: "For You, I Will (Confidence)" (#29) (May 13, 2006)



(Yay, Vevo!)

What a sweet song! And Geiger gives hope to the geeky young guys all over that hey, even you can get the hot girl to fall for you.

If you play the guitar, and have a music studio behind you, and pay the actress well (ok, I don't know how well music videos pay, but you get the idea).

But there's still hope!!!!

Unless you're this guy.

But even then, for some reason, girls will fall for you. Is it the glasses? Because I had glasses.

Nah, it's gotta be the stapler.

3) Saving Jane: "Girl Next Door" (#31) (May 20, 2006)


Saving Jane - Girl Next Door by UniversalMusicGroup

You know, I was going to say that this video is lame.

But how can a video be lame when it has a Matrix-inspired girl fight???

I don't know. I think my ideal prom date would be having nachos with the girl next door in the back of a limo.

But that just may be me.

This is your typical "high school angst" song, but it's actually not too bad. It's very inoffensive, sort of like cheddar cheese.

Unless you're French, which means you probably are offended by cheddar cheese.

How can you not be when there's so much other good cheese out there?

Ok, why are they selling soccer balls at the Cheese Shoppe?

4) Fort Minor (Featuring Jonah Matranga): "Where'd You Go?" (#4) (June 10, 2006)



(language warning)

This isn't too bad of a song, and it's kind of poignant. Sometimes we forget about how much time people in a travelling career spend away from their families.

What I don't get is why all the comments talk about the song reminding them of loved ones who have passed away. That doesn't seem to be what the song is talking about at all.

I guess we're all affected by songs differently.

I prefer songs that have this affect on me, though.



5) AFI: "Miss Murder" (#24) (June 24, 2006)



(Yay, Vevo!)

I see he's going for the pseudo Marilyn Manson look, without the make-up.

Looks like we're getting one rock and roll song per week, which I guess isn't too bad. Too bad there was more shouting in this one than actual singing, but you can't have everything.

I once had my lips pierced like this guy does, but I wasn't a wimp like he was. I went all out, with rings lining my lips both top and bottom. I was a true metalhead.

But then my girlfriend at the time got into Magnet Therapy.

The results were, shall we say, unfortunate.

I had a crick in my neck for years.

6) The Wreckers: "Leave the Pieces" (#34) (June 24, 2006)

I had no idea Michelle Branch was in a duo before going solo. You learn something new every day! And it's even a country duo!

This is a nice song, as most country songs are. The ladies have great voices and all. Of course, the song is about a break-up.

Who would have thought?

The only one who would have been surprised by that is this guy.

He's into Rap.

And there you have it! Week 2 of 2006, and it wasn't too bad this time. See? Didn't I promise better songs this week? You know I deliver on my promises!

Though not if it's raining. And not in those shorts!

We'll be back next week, and since it won't be a holiday, I can also promise no jokes that will offend any religious sensibilities.

Just those with humorous sensibilities.

But I'd better get out of here before they come and get me.

See you next week! Maybe.



One Hit Wonders of the 2000s
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19
Part 20
Part 21
Part 22
Part 23
Part 24
Part 25
Part 26
Part 27
Part 28
Part 29
Part 30
Part 31

"Attractive" women less likely to be interviewed for jobs?

It's a day that ends in a "y", so there must be a new study out!

This time, instead of who should pay for a date, the study is about gender, pictures, and jobs.

But first, the most burning question: why do these studies always show up in the Daily Mail?

Yes, it's true. The Daily Mail has written about this one too.

Basically, it says that attractive women who attach photos to their CVs in the job application process are less likely to get an interview. (Of course, attractive men who attach their photos are more likely).

And it's all out of jealousy, baby. (Can I call you baby? Well, you didn't have to give me a black eye. You could have just said "no")

You read correctly.

The study blames:

"young, single and ‘jealous’ women in personnel departments who screen which jobseekers should be invited in.

But in an example of the ‘double standards’ that the researchers said these staff employed, attractive men who attach a photograph are more likely to get an interview than plain ones."

Apparently, the research showed that HR departments are overwhelmingly staffed with 29-year-old single women. (Ok, they may have used the word "average" in there rather than "overwhelmingly)

(I'll bet she's turning down a beautiful woman right now)

The research was published by the Royal Economic Society, and here's the methodology. Evidently researchers sent out "more than 5,300 CVs for 2,650 job vacancies. For each job, two applications were sent. One contained a photograph of an attractive man or woman, or a plain-looking man or woman. The other CV was identical, but did not contain a photograph."

Wait, were the CVs the same, except for the pictures? To the same job? Wouldn't the HR people figure something was up if they get the same two CVs, but one has a picture? And once they realized they were the same, the picture-less CV would be ignored anyway.

I haven't read the study, but that's what the article says, and that methodology just sounds weird.

But here's my favourite line in the article. About all of those women in the HR departments?

"When they see an application from a pretty woman, researchers said, many of these staff feel extremely ‘jealous’ of their potential colleague and often reject her instantly."

The suggestion is that they feel less-attractive women are the "underdog" and they want to support them over the attractive ones who could "find a job elsewhere." (which kind of goes against the suggestion that they're "jealous," doesn't it?)

Anyway, for some reason, this study just doesn't pass my smell test.

On the other hand, I've had some women tell me that, in the workplace game, one reason women have so much trouble compared to men is that men band together in mutual support. All too often, women are competitive,with the knives coming out, instead of supportive, and thus they don't have that network that men do.

Maybe there is something there?

So what do you think? Is this study full of it? Or is there something to this, do you think? Ladies, chime in! Especially if you're attractive.

Ok, scratch that last part. That was uncalled for.

Finally, I should mention this, in case you don't read the article.

The research was performed by researchers in the Department of Economics at Ben-Gurion University, as well as the Ariel University Centre in the West Bank (nice to see them cooperating!).

The reason this study was conducted in Israel rather than Britain is that it's more common for pictures to be attached to CVs in Israel than it is in Britain. I've been in a few hiring sessions for people at our office, and I've never seen a picture attached, so this study was news to me in more ways than one.

RIP - Elisabeth Sladen: Doctor Who is missing something today

The Doctor Who world, as well as British television, were rocked yesterday by the news that Elisabeth Sladen had passed away.

Sladen played Sarah Jane Smith, one of the most popular Doctor Who companions ever. She was loved by millions of Who fans around the world. For many of us, she was the first companion we were familiar with, much as Tom Baker was our first Doctor.

Sarah was my first companion, and yes, I admired her good looks (I was 12 when I first discovered the show, keep in mind). But I also admired the intelligence she was written with, for the most part. The role of the companion in the old Doctor Who series was mainly to look good and to be the Doctor's sounding board, taking the audience's place by asking "What is that, Doctor?" so he could explain what was going on. Somehow, Sarah rose above that. She had a mind of her own, and she very rarely screamed. When she did, you knew it was something scream-worthy, too. Towards the end of her tenure, the writers got away from this a bit, and I think that might be why she left.

Companions came and went, but very often I compared them to Sarah to see if they stacked up. While there were good companions after Sarah, none of them ultimately reached Sarah's high level.

I tried to find a couple of videos to post on here, but they were all too long or they were tribute videos and not actually videos of her on Doctor Who. But in that search, I saw the love that she engendered in fans. There are so many fan-made tributes, some of them put up yesterday after news of her death broke. Others have been made over the years. We Who fans have cherished her memory even as the Doctor moved on.

She was so popular that the producer of the new Doctor Who series, Russell T. Davies, decided to bring her back in a marvelous episode (at least as far as Sarah and the Doctor goes, as the story itself was a bit weak) called "School Reunion."

Just as beautiful now as she was back in the mid-70s, the Who fanbase loved it. They always say that you can't go home again. While that's true, that doesn't mean you can't revisit the past and take the best things about it, modify them slightly, and come up with something else wonderful.

Sarah's return was so popular that Davies decided to create another show for her, called The Sarah Jane Adventures. This was more of a children's show, but it definitely had plenty of older adults watching, those fans who just wanted to see more of Sarah Jane.

There was always some doubt about whether this show would return for a 5th season. Perhaps that was because of Sladen's health problems? I don't know.

I do know that it's fitting for the last episode ever to be named "Good-bye, Sarah Jane Smith".

I hope Ms. Sladen knew how much love we Who fans had for her. I like to think she did.

This is my favourite picture from the new Who series. I cried during this entire scene in "School Reunion."

At the end of her final episode back in 1976, she tells the Doctor "don't forget me."

Like we ever could.

Rest in peace, Sarah Jane.

Rest in peace, Elisabeth Sladen.

You will be missed.