Weekly 5 #10

Been a while since I've done one of these, so let's get to work. See ya after the jump...

1. 52: Instead of talking about a particular issue, I'm going to cover a few things that have been on my mind lately. First, I really hope Ralph becomes the new Dr. Fate. I'll talk about why in a later post. I'm ready for things to start paying off. Everyone's got stuff up in the air currently with new balls being tossed up all the time (Hi, Super Chief! Welcome to the show!). Let's start seeing some payoff here. Actually, to be fair, we're starting to see some of that now. The latest issue, I think it was 23, showed Black Adam & Isis finally tracking down her brother (thanks to some help from Renee and The Question), so his story can move along now. Now let's see Renee's story keep moving. Or Batwoman. For all of the hoopla surrounding her arrival, we haven't seen a whole lot of her lately...

2. Walk the Line Soundtrack: I am a huge Johnny Cash fan. I've got a giant poster of Johnny up in my classroom (next to my Barenaked Ladies poster). I really enjoyed the movie, so I finally got around to buying the soundtrack, and it really holds up. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon do all of their own singing, and they do a bang-up job of it. Joaquin's performance of "Walk the Line" and "Cocaine Blues" both rock the house HARD, and Reese and Phoenix on "Going to Jackson" exhibit the drive and understanding of each other that normally comes only from spending A LOT of time together. I understand that both Joaquin and Reese were approved for their roles by Johnny and June before their deaths. I'm hard pressed to figure out who could have done the roles better. If you've got a few bucks, pick up the soundtrack. It is superlative.

3. M&M Peanuts: Nothing earth-shattering here. I just like 'em.

4. High School Confidential: A non-fiction book by Jeremy Iversen. Iversen goes "undercover" at a Southern California high school, passing as a second-semester senior and writing a book about the experience. Obviously, he has to "change the names to protect the innocent." This is the best book I've read all year. I teach for a living, and I really had my eyes opened. If my school is anything like this one, I'm glad I don't see all the things that go on here. One thing I found interesting: as I read through the book, I found myself "casting" some of my own students in the roles of students in the book. I'm not going to say who I cast as whom, and I certainly didn't do it intentionally, but it was interesting to read the book before bed each night and then face those kids in class the next day. Anyway, if you're looking for some insight into today's adolescent, here it is. But be warned: this is NOT for the faint of heart.

5. Josh Brown: I'm a Saints fan, and have been since high school (I graduated in 1990), but Josh Brown of the Seattle Seahawks may be the best kicker in the NFL not named "Vinatieri." His game-winner from 54 yards out in the final seconds against the Rams was a thing of beauty to behold. Seriously, I thought he had no chance, but it was right down the middle. And it turns out that that wasn't even the longest of his career! He's got a 58-yarder, too! One more reason the Seahawks are a pretty darn good team, I guess.