Three Beautiful Things 02/04/08: Bye Bye Bobby, Blood, It's Official!

1. I only bring up the fact that this is my 796th post as a way of saying I'm 106 posts shy of Bob Knight's number of victories as a basketball coach. Knight won't stockpile any more wins: he resigned today. I heard the news and threw Snug across the living room and went next door and choked Tyler in honor of "The General".

2. I really enjoyed helping my World Literature students discuss The Odyssey in terms of the four elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. Then we looked at how these elements are combined in blood, the governing reality of the whole book, as far as I'm concerned.

3. My wife, Debbie, The Deke, is officially a licensed public school teacher in the state of Oregon and on tomorrow, Tuesday, February 5th, she starts her new library job at Edison Elementary school and will soon be on the district's substitute list. I've already booked a flight for Myrtle Beach to see Wucky (I wish). We'll be rolling in cash ;).

Three Beautiful Things 01/23/07: Knight, Tech, the Dancing Machine

1. When Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight feels secure and isn't under (perceived) attack, he is a pleasure to listen to. Driving home from school today, I listened to Dan Patrick talk with him and enjoyed it. At his best, Knight is an engaging, perceptive, intelligent, self-depracating guy and the dark side recedes.

2. Slowly, patiently, and, I think, surely the tech. dimension is taking shape in our production of Othello. I love seeing the props, sound cues, movement of props and other tech things fall into place. It's as if a play has a triple spine or backbone: script, acting, tech. When all three click together it's genuinely awesome.

3. Starr Kelso posted a video of Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine from the Gong Show at his blog. Watching it before I left for school today got me revved up for work. Man. I loved the Gong Show!