The Education Highway

This Weeks Attack Dawg Bite Award Goes To Jerry Jones

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:50:00 +0000

This Week’s Attack Dawg Bite Goes To Jerry Jones
Well Jerry, hopefully you see what I’m barking about from the dawg bite I gave T. O. last week. Losing 44 to 6! The Cowboys looked like a second-string high school football team this past Sunday in Philly. Truly pathetic! All because of too much talking and finger pointing amongst your players, and a weak coach. I’m sure by now you have eaten your thoughtless words about Bill Parcells and Jimmy Johnson. Take it from the Dawg: get rid of Wade Phillips. He’s a bum! (no pun intended) Get rid of that worthless, incorrigible Pacman Jones; shut Owens’s mouth or put your boot in it; Roy Williams obviously needs a tune up and your offensive line sucks. Romo chokes when needed most and you should retire as GM. You’re too incompetent!

Maybe You Never Cry Again written and read by Bernie Mac

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

c.2008, HarperAudio$14.95 / $16.25 Canada 4-1/2 hours / 4 CDs

George Carlin.

Arthur C. Clarke.

Bo Diddley. Estelle Getty, Isaac Hayes, Paul Newman, Odetta, Sydney Pollack, Larry Smith.

We, as a nation, lost a lot of talented people in 2008, and the names above are but a few. They were actors who made us laugh or cry, athletes who amazed us, writers who took us to another world with their words. These are the names we’ll remember because of the legacies they left.

One of those talents gone is comedian Bernie Mac. In the audio version of his autobiography “Maybe You Never Cry Again”, you get a real treat: you’ll hear Mac’s story from the man himself.

Born in the Blackstone area of Chicago in October of 1957, Bernie Mac says he knew before he started school that he wanted to make people laugh. It started when he found his mother crying and he started clowning. Like the title of this book, he hoped she never cried again.

But she did. When Bernie (or “Beanie”, as his mother called him) was a young teen, Mary McCullough was diagnosed with cancer. She died when Bernie was just 16 years old. Mac’s beloved grandmother died soon afterward.

Mac says that he knew he had to pay the bills once he was on his own – particularly after his girlfriend got pregnant and he suddenly became a husband and father – so he took a series of jobs as a delivery man, an UPS driver, and more. Still, he had his sights set on becoming a comedian by doing stand-up in Chicago and the Midwest, and eventually going so far as to leave his family temporarily to try comedy in California.

Though he was known as being fall-down funny and had performed onstage often, Mac’s career didn’t take off nationally until he was in his early 30s. He was soon seen on cable TV, in the movies, and opening for big-name entertainers, the latter job because of his chutzpah: when Mac went backstage to introduce himself to Redd Foxx, the elder comedian put Mac onstage that very night.

“Life was sweet”, says Mac in the beginning of his story, and so is this audiobook. I love when authors read their own works, because nobody can tell a man’s story better than himself.

It’s curiously soothing to hear Mac’s voice, especially knowing that he died this past summer. In this audiobook, he tells about his childhood and the unconditional love and support he got from his mother and grandmother. He remembers how he took complete responsibility for his family while keeping an eye on his ultimate dream. And in a way, he gives encouragement through memories of his once-stuttering career.

On the flip side, listening to Mac is chilling, especially when he talks about his own funeral. He dismisses the hoopla of the rite, but a reported 7000 people showed up nonetheless when Bernie Mac died.

If you missed this biography – published several years ago – pick it up now that it’s been released in audio. “Maybe You Never Cry Again” is definite enjoyment.

Seven Pounds

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:00:00 +0000

Tim Thomas (Will Smith), once a gifted aerospace engineer, now an IRS agent, set out to atone for the seven lives he took by giving new life to seven new people. His plan? He assumes his brother, Ben Thomas’, identity and uses his IRS ID to investigate the 7 lives worthy of his gifts by using the IRS database. He then decides to end the life he can no longer bear, for the benefit of others who truly value their own lives. A life for a life, or rather a life for seven lives, he donates his organs to those who will truly benefit, such as Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson), Ezra Turner (Woody Harrelson), Holly Apelgren (Judyann Elder), and Connie Tepos (Elpidia Carrillo). He enlists the help of his best friend, Dan (Barry Pepper) to carry out his wishes, once his plan has been carried out. However, as the events begin to unroll, his once perfect plan begins to go wrong because he falls in love with one of his beneficiaries, Emily Posa.
This movie opens Decemember 19, 2008. Starring Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, and Barry Pepper. This film could easily be described as a must see, unless you are looking for a happy, romantic movie for the holidays, then this movie may not be for you. I found this movie to be emotionally intense and richly rewarding. Will Smith gives another legendary performance as a heart-broken, yet driven man whose soul purpose is to create a better life for others. Sound familiar? Yes, you probably remember such moments in other Will Smith movies, like Hancock and I Am Legend. It puts me in mind of Passion of the Christ, Pay It Forward, and Momento. The movie begins fragmented and confusing, and the only way to understand is by watching to the end. All questions will be answered, which no longer leaves you confused but dedicated to living a better life for yourself, if not others. So with emotion, a terrific cast, Seven Pounds leaves you feeling warm (not fuzzy), and fulfilled.

Soul Men

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:50:00 +0000

After over 20 years of not speaking to one another and even longer since they performed together, two backup singers Louis (Samuel L. Jackson) and Floyd (Bernie Mac) come together for a road trip to sing together at a reunion concert for their deceased lead singer Marcus Hooks (John Legend). Mischief and mayhem ensue along the way which leads them to find a long lost daughter, but whose daughter is she?
This movie opens November 7, 2008. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac, and Sharon Leal. The movie was hilarious, but I find anything with Bernie Mac to be funny. Samuel L. Jackson is another great actor who can play whatever roll is given to him. In the movie a reference is made to Samuel L. Jackson’s character “pulling a Chuck Berry.” If you don’t know what that is, you may want to watch the movie Cadillac Records. The movie will make you laugh and then suddenly you’ll wonder, “How strange is that Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes, two entertainers in the same movie, have recently passed only a day a part from one another?” Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson played off one another very well, which goes to show these guys can act with just anyone on any script; however, the storyline can become predictable which may be disappointing for those who are not easily entertained. At the end the director made a very touching tribute to both Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.

The Secret Life of Bees

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:30:00 +0000

The movie is set in 1964 South Carolina, where racial tension is high. The Civil Rights Act has passed and blacks are given the right to vote. Many townspeople do not appreciate this forward move.
Dakota Fanning is the daughter of an abusive father and a murdered mother and they live on a farm. The story unfolds only after Lill y (Dakota Fanning) and the hired help Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) leave the farm. The daughter and the help find themselves in the home of bee keeper August Boatwright(Queen Latifah) who helps Lilly find more than just a place to sleep. She helps Lilly find out the truth about her mother’s death and love for her.
Opens October 17, 2008, starring Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, and Sophie Okonedo.
Although I have not read the book, I found the movie to be rewarding, heartwarming and uplifting. It makes you want to believe in a high power that guides. The two (Lily and Rosleen) face their own perils, but that does not stop them from pushing onward and upward. And although they faced life together, helping one another as friends do, you could sense the barriers between them that were placed by society, which could have tainted their friendship, but the friendship blossomed regardless. It proved the females of any race can be strong both mentally and physically. The actors interacted perfectly, as if Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, and Sophie Okonedo were born siblings. The movie was indeed beautiful, and inspirational for anyone, especially women, to see.

This Weeks Attack Dawg Bite Award Goes To Terrell Owens

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 04:40:00 +0000

T.O., the only thing that counts in professional football are “Ws” not crying, ranting and raving and dogging your team mates out. Over the years you have managed to minimize your true talent as a receiver because you let your lips flap when you should only be worried with catching the pigskin. I appreciate your hard work ethic and zest for winning; afterall, you had a great mentor in Jerry Rice when in San Francisco. But controversy follows you everywhere. The Cowboys need work, not banter! Shut your mouth, play the game and accept this Attack Dawg Bite Award.

American Buffalo by Steven Rinella

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 04:00:00 +0000

c.2008, Spiegel & Grau

$24.95 / $27.95 Canada278 pages, includes notes

Have you ever played the lottery?

If you have, you know the drill: plunk down cash, pick your numbers, and walk out with ticket in hand and the hope that you’ll hit paydirt. They say somebody has to win but realistically – statistically - it probably won’t be you.

It sure is fun dreaming, though.

Author Steven Rinella won a lottery of a different sort: in 2005, his application was chosen out of many, giving him a chance to hunt bison in remote Alaskan wilderness. In the new book “American Buffalo”, he writes about his adventure and the creature who led him there.

While on a hike nearly ten years ago, Steven Rinella stumbled over something unusual poking out of the soil. It was a buffalo skull, dirty and crumbly, but it piqued Rinella’s interest. A few years later, when his brother, who lived in Alaska, told him that the state had openings for limited buffalo hunting in the wilderness in order to cull a too-large herd, Rinella filled out the lottery application and was astounded get a letter saying that he was approved.

When most people think of buffalo, they think of great herds across the Great Plains, and of Indian hunts, and cowboy slaughter. The truth is that buffalo once roamed nearly the entire U.S. and Canada, from Alaska to Florida. It’s been suggested that they came over from Russia and were here thousands of years before the birth of Christ.

But that, of course, didn’t last. Though they’ve made a comeback and are no longer in danger of extinction, buffalo were widely slaughtered in the 1800s. Some eyewitnesses report seas of sun-bleached bones following buffalo massacres. A worried Teddy Roosevelt signed legislation to create the National Bison Range to protect the remnants of what was once a herd that measured in the tens of millions.

These were the things Rinella kept in mind as he rafted down icy rivers, past private land and into a brushy area where buffalo roam. He battled hypothermia and his own paranoia; he saw bears (who love to steal buffalo meat), and he tracked – and bagged - an animal that had fascinated him for so long.

Part archaeology, part story-of-the-hunt, and part history, “American Buffalo” is one of those satisfying books that you’ll want to savor, especially if you love adventures, western novels, or true cowpoke tales. This, despite that it contains (fair warning!) a quite graphic section that details a butchering, which won’t bother hunters but may make others squirm.

Author Steven Rinella eagerly takes readers on a winding, fascinating trip through buffalo biology and North America’s past, as well as popular culture, mythology, and a few personal anecdotes. This is all skillfully woven in the thrilling story of wilderness adventure and a once-in-a-lifetime buffalo hunt.

“American Buffalo”, which could just as easily have the word “North” in its title, is perfect for hunters, archaeologists, historians, and anybody who loves a good oater. If you’re on the hunt for a great read, this one is just the ticket.

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Renegade for Peace & Justice by Congresswoman Barbara Lee

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:20:00 +0000

c.2008, Rowman & Littlefield
$24.95
223 pages, includes index

By Terri Schlichenmeyer, Washington Informer contributor

No doubt, you were glued to the news for much of the fall.

Even if you never once paid attention to politics, this year’s election and all that went with it had you near-hypnotized. Though you don’t exactly have a warm feeling for politics-as-usual, you couldn’t get enough this year.Come March, though, you’ll probably slide back into that old familiar level of political indifference, just because you don’t feel like paying heed anymore.

Would it make any difference if you knew somebody in Washington had your back? Read the new book “Renegade for Peace & Justice” by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and you might breathe a puff of relief.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s story starts with racism: her mother, when giving birth to Lee, was nearly turned away at the hospital because of the color of her skin. Lee, therefore, was a victim of racism literally at birth and because of that and her many life experiences, she is a tireless champion of human causes.

Raised in part by her maternal Grandfather, a man who demanded excellence, Lee says she knew that education was the path toward a good future.

But long before college, two teen pregnancies gave Lee a keen understanding of women’s reproductive rights. Married at 16 because of an accidental pregnancy, Lee endured a miscarriage but was quickly pregnant again. Because of her youth and her Air Force husband’s recent departure, Lee made the difficult decision to get an abortion.

A few years later, Lee was a divorced, single mother of two young sons and was on welfare for a short time. She says she remembers what it’s like to get government assistance, and that memory spurs her to fight for the poor and disadvantaged. She also knows what it’s like to be abused, because her second husband was violent.

When she finally was able to go to college, Lee became politically active and joined the Black Panther Party, where she worked toward “righting the wrongs of our society”. As a Congresswoman, she’s introduced bills to help people with HIV and AIDS, and she’s championed the rights of women and children. And in the halls of Congress, Lee is known for standing strong in her beliefs, including one that says we need a Department of Peace in Washington.

Had enough politics for the year? Hold on. “Renegade for Peace & Justice” isn’t completely political in nature. Author and Congresswoman Barbara Lee also tells the story of her life: growing up with a large Latino population, in a Texas version of segregation; being the granddaughter, daughter, and wife of abusing men; getting to know Bobby Seale and Huey Newton, Rosa Parks and Shirley Chisholm; understanding at a young age that there was right and there was wrong, and that wrong could be changed.

If you enjoy a good biography or if you’re a political junkie, you’ll love this book. If can’t bear another minute of politics, pass on it – but you’ll be sorry. “Renegade for Peace & Justice” is a book to pay attention to.

This Weeks Attack Dawg Bite Award Goes To Governor Rod Blagojevich

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:00:00 +0000

Blagojevich, this is even low for Illinois politics! You are not fit to govern anyone. You can't even shut your wife’s big foul mouth. You were caught red-handed trying to pimp the senate seat vacated by the President-Elect, and now you are trying to lie your way out of it. If you had a shred of decency, you would stand down immediately and vanish into thin air. But not before you do time for corruption. Please accept the Attack Dawg Bite Award this week. It couldn’t go to a better idiot.

Cadillac Records

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:00:00 +0000

Based on a true story, Cadillac Records recounts the lives of instrumental players that brought Chess Records to life and gave America its Blues and Rock’n Roll music during the late 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. Chicago record producer Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) signs on talents such as Muddy Waters (Jeffery Wright), Little Walter (Columbus Short), Howlin’ Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), Etta James (Beyonce Knowles), and songwriter Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer), and makes them a part of his family. However, Chess takes the good (making money) with the bad (sex, drugs, and racial tensions).

Opens December 5, 2008, starring Adrien Brody, Jeffery Wright, Mos Def, Beyonce Knowles, and Gabrielle Union.

Born years later, after the stars were long past their peaks, I am not able to speak on the accuracy of the movie; however, I can say the movie was informative, and entertaining. Even though not knowing the timeline of the movie annoyed the heck out of me. In fact, it almost appeared to be a game during the movie in which I had to guess the timeline of the movie by listening to the song. The acting was good, the actors we re better. Finally, Jeffery Wright is a talented actor who has always played small parts. In this movies he was shown to be the star he really is. Beyonce shined as the spicy Etta James with strong provocative voice. But if the acting doesn’t grab you then the music will. The music will take you and guide you, and in fact, may actually give you the timeline you didn’t get from the movie lines. This movie made me think of other music chronicles such as Ray¸ What’s Love Got To Do With It, and Why Do Fools Fall In Love? The movie showed how music spoke the people’s mind and how it evolved with the people. And as the music changed so did the musicians. The movie ends as it began with a fresh start.

The Education Highway

This Weeks Attack Dawg Bite Award Goes To Jerry Jones

Maybe You Never Cry Again written and read by Bernie Mac