THE ELF ON THE SHELF: AN ENDORSEMENT

THIS IS THE TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN PEOPLE CIRCULATE HOT TAKERY ABOUT THE EVIL WEIRDNESS OF THE ELF ON THE SHELF. LISTEN UP, EVERYBODY. AND YOU KNOW THIS IS SERIOUS BECAUSE I'M TYPING IN ALL CAPS. I'M SERVING UP THIS ALL CAPS TAKE TO COMPETE IN THE ATTENTION ECONOMY. PAY ATTENTION, ELF ON THE SHELF HATERS. PLEASE CONSIDER MY LUKEWARM TAKE, ELF ON THE SHELF DOUBTERS. I TRIED TO TELL YOU ALL IN NICE TERMS LAST YEAR (CLICK HERE CLICK HERE CLICK HERE) THAT THE ELF ON THE SHELF IS, OVERALL, A HARMLESS PRACTICE. MY FAMILY IS DOING THE ELF ON THE SHELF AGAIN THIS YEAR. AGAIN I TELL YOU! JUST LIKE LAST YEAR, I'M TRYING TO GET AN EDGE ON MY KIDS. THEY ARE GREAT. THEY ARE WONDERFUL. THEY ARE THE BEST KIDS I HAVE. I LOVE MY KIDS. AND IF ELF ON THE SHELF HELPS KEEP MY KIDS IN CHECK JUST A LITTLE BIT THEN THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. MY  WIFE IS PROBABLY LESS CONCERNED WITH KEEPING OUR KIDS IN CHECK AND MORE CONCERNED WITH ESTABLISHING A FUN FAMILY TRADITION WHILE THE KIDS ARE YOUNG AND THINK IT'S FUN THAT AN ELF MOVES AROUND THE HOUSE. YOU SEE, THEY'RE AGES 8 AND 5 AND THEY GET A KICK OUT OF IT WHEN THE ELF MOVES AROUND THE HOUSE. IT MAKES THEM SAY "LOOK THE ELF MOVED!!!!!" THEY LIKE IT. IT WORKS FOR US. MY WIFE LIKES TRADITION. SHE LIKES FUN. I'M A GRUMP AND A GRINCH AND I HAVEN'T HAD FUN SINCE 1985 (OKAY I'M LYING I HAD FUN AT A LOLLAPALOOZA CONCERT IN THE EARLY 90S AND I HAD FUN LAST WEEK AT A STEVIE WONDER CONCERT) BUT I DON'T HAVE MUCH FUN SO I'M NOT REALLY ABOUT THE FUN. OH CRUD I LOST MYSELF IN THIS TAKE AND CAN'T SEE MY WAY OUT SO LET ME GET OUT OF HERE SOON BY SAYING IT'S COMBINATION FUN AND TRADITION AND HOPING THE KIDS WILL LISTEN SOMETIMES AND THAT'S WHAT THE ELF REPRESENTS TO US. THEY CAN MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS IN DUE TIME ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT A SURVEILLANCE SOCIETY. LET'S NOT ASSUME THE ELF ON THE SHELF TRAINS PEOPLE TO LIVE IN A SURVEILLANCE SOCIETY. I LEAVE YOU WITH A PICTURE. LOOK AT ME TAKING A PICTURE OF OUR ELF ON THE SHELF. OMG SEE WHAT I DID THERE I MADE IT INTO A SELFIE! YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE GET ALL WORKED UP ABOUT SELFIES. SELFIES ARE BAD, SOME PEOPLE SAY. I SAY LET THE PEOPLE TAKE SELFIES. I SAY LET THE PEOPLE PUT ELVES ON SHELVES IF THEY WANT. AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY I'M WEARING A WINTER HAT IN THE HOUSE I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU. SO LISTEN UP MEDIA: PLEASE DIRECT ALL YOUR INQUIRIES TO ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ELF ON THE SHELF. I AM A SELF-PROCLAIMED EXPERT ON THE ELF ON THE SHELF. MY ALL CAPS RANT IS PROOF THAT I'M AN EXPERT. AND ONE MORE MESSAGE TO ELF ON THE SHELF DETRACTORS: CONSIDER YOURSELF SERVED!!!!!

Grading Grading Grading Grading and a First Try at Sheperd's Pie

Most of my weekend was spent grading papers. Today, on one of my breaks from grading, I made Sheperd's Pie for the first time. I don't recall ever eating Sheperd's Pie before today. I remember my best friend Ron ordering it at a diner a long time ago and having no clue what he ordered. I came across this recipe and wanted to give it a try. I followed the recipe most of the way and was pleased with how it turned out. Since I'm in grading mode, I'll give it a B. I don't have a rubric for Sheperd's Pie. My thinking is it tasted good but not great. It was more than satisfactory but not outstanding. It wasn't enough of a pie, as the picture reveals. So a B sounds about right. I don't know if the picture is Instagram worthy but I'll share it here anyway. If I had Instagram and posted it there, it certainly wouldn't generate Instagram Envy.

Cooking is fun and a stress relief for me. I like cooking big meals on Sunday so my wife and I have leftovers for lunch on Monday. I cook simple things that don't cost a lot of money. I think I actually have a dream to write a cookbook. Publishers, get at me. Click here for the recipe. I didn't use fresh thyme or fresh rosemary like the recipe suggested. I used a spice mix instead.

David Beckham is the Sexiest Man Alive. Plus, He Vacuums!

The cover celebrates David Beckham style masculinity. He's tough and tender. He's a romantic husband and devoted dad--on top of all that, he vacuums! So here's a question that will blow your mind. Is he the sexiest man alive and it's a bonus that he vacuums? Or, is he the sexiest man alive because he vacuums? Mind blown? On a petty note, I'm jealous of his hair.

Stevie Wonder's Timeless Message of Love

I'm a huge Stevie Wonder fan. I've liked his music since I was a child. I have distinct memories of my mom's best friend playing Stevie Wonder songs when I was growing up. Songs in the Key of Life is one of my favorite all-time albums. Stevie came to Buffalo this week for a concert. He and his incredible band played the songs from that album and tossed in additional songs as a bonus. It was amazing. Stevie preaches love. It's a timeless message. Stevie's voice remains amazing and his harmonica skills are incredible to me. I'm so happy and lucky that I had a chance to see him in person.

Here's a few videos I took at the concert. First we have "Sir Duke." Love love love this song.


Next we have "Knocks Me Off My Feet" which was probably the highlight of the concert. This song sounds so beautiful to me every time I hear it. I'm a fool for not recording the entire song. Here's another one of my favorites, "All Day Sucker." And here's an example of Stevie venturing away from the album, with a cover of "People Get Ready." Awesome.

Brief Coverage and Discussion of Events at University of Missouri (Video)

This is a helpful resource for instructors who want to talk with students about what's happening at University of Missouri. Dr. Scott Brooks, a sociologist at University of Missouri, appears in the video.

Source: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/student-revolt-ferguson-ousted-mizzoup/

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Pretty happy with my quick run to the grocery store today. Here we have the makings for a pizza (use Naan for pizza crust, I'm telling you!), some beautiful flowers, and tasty beer. Please disregard the frosted tiles in the background. 1977 wants its back-splash back, right?! Have a great weekend everyone! You know what they say: everybody's working for the weekend. True that.