Dr. Phil has his pants up!

Today's (January 28th) Dr. Phil show featured the topic of sagging pants and whether or not it's ok to legislate what you wear. This "debate" got out of control with guests talking over each other several times.

Guests on the show said that the fad started inside the prisons because convicts cannot wear belts and then hip-hop artists picked up on it. Al Sharpton, rap group Ying Yang Twins, as well as three parents were on stage. Two of the parents (mothers) were against the sagging pants and the other parent, a father, supports it and even wears his pants in the same fashion.

Concerning the media...the debate took a turn in this direction during the show: how responsible are entertainers for influencing fashion?

Personally, I think clothing is such a minor issue compared to what is in the music lyrically as well as what is shown in videos. However, I don't care for the trend.

Spinning Plates

In checking out the various spots in this world, I want to send out a big "HELLO" to whoever is stopping by from Canton, Ohio, Evansville, Indiana, Gainesville, Florida, Edmonton, Alberta Canada, and Hudson, Ohio...Thank you for stopping by. Please feel free to leave a comment. It's good to have you.

The video below was produced by one of the most talented kids I've ever had. Ryan Koppelman is a Beachwood High School graduate and is getting ready to graduate from Columbia Film School in Chicago. Ryan is very detail-oriented. It's a big part of what makes him great. He also plans out his videos very carefully.

It Happens Everytime

Did you ever hear someone sing and think, "That couldn't be their voice"???? This is a funny video "cover" of a song by a group called "Dreamstreet." It was done by a group of guys in my first period class (Brian, Trent, Tim, and Thomas).



This next song was done by a group of broadcast students who love the band Chiodos. I'm not wild about the whole fast-paced metal music but their video made me "appreciate" the song more.

New video

I apologize. I spent all afternoon trying to upload video projects to YouTube with little success due to choppy playback. However, I was able to get this great video up by one of my first graduates from Solon, Mike Monacco. Mike did this video as part of a diversity assignment.



Mike was one of the best students I've ever had. He attacked each assignment with a lot of dedication and creativity. He comes from a great family as well.

Check these out!

Ok, as promised, here are more class video projects. Can you tell these kids really liked these projects? Seeing this kind of creativity come from the students is one of the best parts of my job. Please watch all of the videos and leave comments. Thank you!

I never expected students to pick a Beatles song to do a video to. This one, "Taxman," is incredible. The "taxmen" in this video are Rondre and Andy.


Up next is "Ready or Not" as performed by the Fugees professionally. Lauren stars in this video version with the help of Michelle, Rebecca, and Brittany.




The video below is a duet called "The Boy Is Mine" as sung by Monica and Brandy. Here, it's Myra and Randi.

Do you think this is fair?

The news item below is from WKYC.com. Readers of this blog who are parents, would you think this is fair if this was your child who did this? Would you as a parent require more of a punishment? Or would you ask for less?

Readers of this blog who are students, do you think this is fair? Just out of my curiosity, what benefit or benefits do you think the students are getting by showing support on a Facebook page? Exactly how is this serving their cause?

Keep in mind that the story does not reveal the following details:
-whether or not the videos were shot and/or edited on school grounds.
-what exactly was the content of the videos. But I believe a ten day suspension is the strongest suspension a student can receive so I'm speculating the videos were pretty damaging.



Summit County high school students suspended over videos posted on YouTube

GREEN -- Nine Green high school juniors have received 10 day suspension for videos they posted on the web site, YouTube.

The students produced, acted and posted the videos parodying students and teachers.

The district took offense to the videos, although many students said they felt they were of good nature and humorous.

The school's superintendent met with students and parents Tuesday afternoon at the school.

Students are showing support for their suspended classmates on a Facebook page.

Coming soon.

A couple of my former students have posted comments on here. Look for some of their work to be posted on here sometime around January 18th.

Paris Hilton

Following up on the post below about the best and worst commercials of 2007, which seemed to touch off a good discussion about the use of sex in advertising...The following article excerpt is from Yahoo! News today. It seems Italian winemakers are upset that Paris Hilton's sexiness is promoting their product, like it tarnishes the class of their fine wine.

Winemakers say Paris Hilton unfit for Prosecco
By Mathias Wildt

MILAN (Reuters Life!) - Hotel heiress Paris Hilton dressed provocatively in a skimpy leopard print outfit and showing off her bare legs is not an image Italian winemakers feel is fitting for their Prosecco white sparkling wine. Yet Hilton, in various high-heeled stages of undress, graces the ads of Rich Prosecco, an Austrian company selling the bubbly in 27 countries. What's worse, in the eyes of Prosecco producers, Rich Prosecco also comes in cans and in two fruit varieties. "Hilton hotels are a sign of quality; Paris Hilton is not," said Fulvio Brunetta, president of the wine growers association of Treviso, the northern Italian city in the Veneto region where Prosecco is made.

Suggestions for Improvement.

Today, I held a Video Broadcasting Advisory Committee meeting. I have one of these every semester. A parent, student, administrator, college professor, and guidance counselor are on the committee. We discuss things we do now, our needs for the future, and we also use the time to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done.

As community members and readers of this blog, I am open to your input. Help me and the committee educate the students.

What are some things that you think are important that this generation of filmmakers and broadcasters should know?

Please leave your thoughts and I will share them with the class and post their reactions here on this blog.

Thank you!

Class act.

The photo on the left was taken in my classroom. On the left is math instructor Mrs. Simmerman. In the middle is Mark "Munch" Bishop of ESPN 850 AM WKNR and on the right is physics/chemistry teacher Dr. Dave Munson. Our high school, Aurora, raised $3,500 total for three different charitable causes. One of those was the St. Augustine's hunger center on Cleveland's west side, which Munch talks about a lot on the air. Munch is a quality guy who has come in to talk to my class and really enjoys giving back to the community. Here, Munch is being presented with a "check" for $1,100. The actual amount he received was higher due to a $1 admission students paid to see the faculty at Aurora whip the students' butts in a game of basketball. The final score was something like 25-9. We played four 5 minute quarters with a running clock.

We don't hear enough stories about guys like Mr. Bishop getting involved locally. I want to make sure they get some publicity...at least on this little space in the virtual world.

On a different note but somewhat related...major props to Coach Doc Munson and the Aurora boys basketball team as they defeated the University School Preppers 53-52 January 2nd at Quicken Loans Arena. The Greenmen were down 24-7 in the first half and played composed and gutty basketball to take the game in the second half. Joe Taylor hit a game winning layup with less than a minute to play.

2007 Best Commercials

In the December 31st, 2007 edition of USA TODAY, they published what they said were the best commercials in different categories of 2007.

They said the best ad was this for Doritos.

This Doritos ad is interesting especially since it was created by an amateur.


USA TODAY said the most annoying commercial was......drumroll please...

You know it's bad when even the Elvis Presley estate gets fired up because it's a ripoff of "Viva Las Vegas."

One of my current least liked commercials is this from Beyonce for Direct TV.


I don't really get how Beyonce is "selling" Direct TV in this commercial.