For my 200th post at Eatmorecords.com, I thought that I would write down some of my thoughts after reading Janet Steffenhagen’s article in the Vancouver Sun titled ‘B.C. announces plans to modernize education system’.

And I quote, “British Columbia is promising more choice for students, speedier assistance for those who struggle and policies that allow them to bring smartphones,tablets and other electronic devices into the classroom”.

I encouraged by Steffenhagen’s opening paragraph summary of (dis)honourable Minister of Education Abbott’s plans. It means that he is willing to give the education system more money to implement these lofty goals. That means that he willing to give school boards the money to create school wide wireless networks so that smart phones and tablets are useful. That means that means that he is going to give under privledge students said tablets and smartphones so that they have any equal chance to be success in this picture of the new education world.

Abbott does not want us to “lose students in Grade 9, 10 or 11 because somehow we don’t connect with them on what their real passions are.” That means that all of the support workers that have been laid off will be re-hired and that Abbott will give more money to the education system to hire specialist and resource teacheres to help identify those students that are being lost and “pushed down too few pathways without understanding their interests and talents”. That means Abbott will give money to re-open all the auto shops and wood shops that have been closed due to budget cuts. And most importantly he will be giving the education system money to help reduce the class size so that teachers will be able to have more one on one conversations will all the students in their classes.

Like all politicians, George Abbott is announcing plans to change the education system. He is doing his best to created headlines that make it seem like he and his ministry are doing their utmost best to be the leaders of change. Lets us not forget that one of their most revolutionary ideas, BCeSIS, has been a waste of millions of dollars, and that funding for the public education system is being reduced annually while private education funding is rising.

As with any opinion there are bias but I really question whether the people in charge of the Ministry of Education have the puclic students best interest at heart. I wonder the last time any of them were a classroom teacher (if they ever were!). I wonder if there are lobby or special interest groups promising people in the ministry perks if they help to implement ‘change’ (Don’t pretend that these kinds of things do not happen. It is no coincidence that the creator of BCeSIS sold the company right after the province fully adopted the program and the new owners said that there will be no updates or support for the system.)

George Abbott used to be a teacher. He taught at a college where it is a pay to learn system. Maybe that is his vision for the public education system. Maybe he wants those who can afford tablets and smartphones to have the choices and those who can not afford such luxuries to have their talents and interests determine for them. Becuase that is what happening to our public education system.

I welcome change. I welcome digitized learning. But at who’s expense? Is the goal virtual class rooms? If it’s not because if that is the case, we will have a generation of really computer and internet savvy students with too few social and behaviour skills. It’s already beginning to happen. Believe me, change has already started.

Here is a link to the original article.

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Foo Fighters Rogers Arena October 25

I just got back from the Foo Fighters show at Rogers Arena and man oh man did it rock. They played for almost 3 hours and they played every song like it was going to be the last one of the show! It was amazing to see them put that much energy into the show and I thought that the crowd did a great job showing their love back. Dave Grohl is a certified rock star and knows how to work the crowd! They even covered Pink Floyd and Tom Petty. Loved the show and can not say enough great stuff about the Foo’s. Also check out their new album, its amazing and even better live.

Set List

Bridge Burning
Rope
The Pretender
My Hero
Learn to Fly
White Limo
Arlandria
Breakout
Cold Day in the Sun
Stacked Actors
Walk
Monkey Wrench
Let It Die
These Days
This is a Call
In the Flesh?
(Pink Floyd cover)
All My Life
Encore:
Wheels
(Dave Grohl solo acoustic)
Best of You
(Dave Grohl solo acoustic)
Times Like These
(Dave Grohl solo acoustic into full band)
Dear Rosemary
Breakdown
(Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers cover)
Everlong

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Well my love for Pearl Jam continued last night. Pearl Jam played at the Pacific Colosseum for the first time since 1998 and it seemed like an old school show. A lot of old songs were played and it was great for the real enthusiastic fans. My favorite part of the show was when Ed Ved was bashing on Seattle fans. Again!

Here is the setlist and a few photos that I took.

01. Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
02. Hail Hail
03. Save You
04. Animal
05. Got Some
06. Given To Fly
07. Pilate
08. Unthought Known
09. Garden
10. Evenflow
11. World Wide Suicide
12. Setting Forth
13. Corduory
14. Unemployable
15. Present Tense {“dedicated to Olivia and her mom”}
16. Wishlist
17. Glorified G
18. Lukin
19. Porch

ENCORE BREAK 1
20. Bee Girl
21. Just Breathe
22. Off He Goes
23. Mankind
24. State Of Love And Trust
25. Olé
{Ed asks for a show of hands of those from Seattle. He mentions some people in the front few rows that are just standing there and wishes he could give those seats to the folks in the back “losing their minds”. He takes note of sign that says ‘Zagreb Remembers’}
26. Alive

Encore Break 2
27. Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns-(Mother Love Bone, A. Wood) {dedicated to Andy Wood and Mother Love Bone}
{After the song Ed brings Bruce Fairweather (of Green River and Mother Love Bone onstage. Then the band brings out George, their long time head technician, and sing happy birthday to him.}
28. Smile
29. Search And Destroy w/ Mark Arm & Steve Turner of Mudhoney-(Pop, Williamson)
30. Rockin’ In The Free World w/ Bruce Fairweather & Tim DeJulio-(Young)
31. Yellow Ledbetter
32. Little Wing-(Hendrix) {band plays the song not just a tag at the end of ‘Yellow Ledbetter’}

Pearl Jam - Ole

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Since people are going crazy and always searching for Pearl Jam vids about PJ20, here is another sneak peak at the upcoming movie!

Watch the full episode. See more American Masters.

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If you love PJ, then you know that they have been on a roll with giving us info about the upcoming movie!

Here is another teaser trailer for the movie in the form of Betterman live at MSG, NY, NY! Enjoy

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Ali & Nathan’s Wedding from Union Photographers on Vimeo.

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Pearl Jam is celebrating its 20th year of existence with the release of a Cameron Crowe movie apptly called ‘PJ20′. Pearl Jam is also celebrating by releasing a 20th anniversary book, soundtrack to the film, touring Canada and South America and finally a dvd of the film. Its going to be shown on PBS as part of the American Masters series on Friday OCt 21 at 9pm and it will also be shown on the big screen on Wednesday, Sept.20th. Awesome!

Pearl Jam Twenty from Pearl Jam on Vimeo.

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hey everyone,

i dont know if you would believe it but i was featured on a style blog. okay, it is the blog of the lady who cuts my hair but cool none the less no? okay the photo is not of me but of the place…

check out her blog: lindsey rose hair

hope things are going well!!!

here is a sweet song that inspired the blog title

groove armada-superstylin’

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its been a really long time. over half a year. that means a few things. i have been lazy, i havent been to a show and i am losing years of my life watching the canucks play in the playoffs.

also i have been busy trying to build my new site, hockey gear review
please come and check it out and tell all of your friends.

i need your help to make this site grow!

many thanks and much appreciation!

also pearl jam have a movie coming out in the fall. here is the trailer for it!

Mookie>>>PJ from Pearl Jam on Vimeo.

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okay you have to check out the new arcade fire video. basically you enter in your address and the website uses google maps and street view to incorporate your address into the video. and its not the traditional music video. it has pop up and an interactive part as well. its quite entertaining, please try it your self.

the wilderness downtown

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