My Least Disappointing Albums list of 2014

2014 is coming to a bitter end, finally. Let me be the first to say “Good riddance” to this year that took some of our most infamous comedians musicians and actors, Hollywood provided us nothing but bad remakes and sequels we didn’t ask for, and our music culture is getting worse. I did come across some great music this year, however so here’s my year end review on my favorite albums that came out in 2014, in no order.

Glen Campbell’s ‘I’m Still Here’ makes the list even though it isn’t an album. This song highlights his battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The overwhelmingly emotional single came out with the documentary following the heartbreaking story he and his family are currently facing.

Bad Suns’ ‘Language & Perspective’ was a refreshing alternative rock album from a relatively new, unheard of band. I had the chance to watch this band live at the Mo-POP Festival in Michigan this past summer and their energy on stage pushed me to purchase the album. Odds are this will become another radio band with repetitive catchy hooks but their first big single “Cardiac Arrest” was enough for me to be interested in following them.

Damien Rice’s ‘My Favourite Faded Fantasy’ was this year’s most depressing singer songwriter albums and I loved it. It soothes you into each track and never feels stale. We may be hearing Damien at the peak of his career here.

Sun Kil Moon’s Benji was an album I was surprised by. Over the past decade I have tried to like Sun Kil Moon without luck, so when this album came out I didn’t give it much chance at first. Then I heard a few live recordings and decided to give the album another listen. I was pleased by the passion, sadness and mourning in the voice of Mark Kozelek leads me to believe this man has been through some tragedies.

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross did the soundtrack for this year’s film Gone Girl and much like their work on the Social Network soundtrack it felt eerily dark and ghostly relaxing. Not an album I would leave on repeat but it was one to put on in a shuffle.

Schoolboy Q’s Oxymoron was a brilliant hip hop album that stayed focus throughout and gave us a look into the pride Q takes in his craft. It was refreshing to not listen to this and here about all the money he has in the bank, the cars he drives and let’s be honest, that’s what hip hop has become. His take on these popular subjects kept me curious what the next track brought.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, ‘Hypnotic Eye.’ What is there to say that has not already been said? Seeing this release brought a major smile to my face and to see it go number 1 was a bonus, I have never heard the Heartbreakers sound so tight and well produced as they are here.

Against Me!, ‘Transgender Dysphoria Blues’ was one of very few hard hitting, melodic, albums that came with an amazing story. The Transgender fronted band has been a staple in punk rock for many years but this album showed the fragile heart that was poured into it. I expect the bands best days are still ahead of them.

St. Vincent ‘St. Vincent’ can’t get easier than that title. I have been a fan of hers for a few years now but this album allowed for the rare instance of being enjoyable by my metal head friends, rocker friends and in the background of any party I had at my house. I worried it would be a little campy or fall into a very repetitive haze but the production was on point and we avoided all that with great tracks.

That’s all I have for you this time, I am sure I upset some of you because I left out Taylor Swift or some new Hip Hop artist who invented a new dance but this is just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions….. Force them on everyone you know,
But then again, I’m just some guy on the internet.

Rain, Rain, Go Away. R.I.P Robin Williams.

Monday, August 11th. I’m sitting in my board meeting, we have but 3 or 4 people in the audience. I’m assuming it’s because of the rain. The twitter hash tags were calling it the #DetroitFlood and they weren’t kidding. highway overpasses around 14 feet were flooded to the top, sewers in some neighborhoods were geysers, shooting 15 feet up. It was wild. The roof in our board office began to leak. Reports from my friends and family about their basements being flooded out and losing music equipment and photos were coming through.

This is when I got the first text message. “Actor Robin Williams dead, apparent suicide.” I thought to myself, this is a pretty shitty joke, since the rain caused some of my Facebook friends to mention the downpour of rain from Jumanji, a film starring Williams. Then another, and another and when my wife sent over the news report from Fox News, I knew it was real. I was shocked, “How could someone who makes so many people laugh, smile and happy, be struggling so bad? How could someone close to him not see this? An array of feelings went through me, and my feelings on suicide were shook. This is yet another example of mental illness winning. An issue I still believe we as Americans don’t spend enough time trying to fix, cure or help.

I woke up today and began helping my friends and family, bringing shop vacs to suck out water, fans to dry up basements and old bar towels to soak up flooded cars, when I noticed, most everyone was in fairly good spirits, understanding that someone got it worse. This positive attitude was uplifting, however I couldn’t help but think, “Yeah, someone DID get it worse.” Now I know the two topics aren’t related, but that mind set that someone has it worse, and to be grateful for what you have is powerful, Because someone is suffering, and there are so many ways we could help. We just might not know how.

In 2003 we lost someone else pretty close the the Good Will Hunting film, Elliott Smith. A very talented musician who created the soundtrack for most the movie. Also a suicide victim. Smith had already attempted suicide before his fatal night.  I’m sure everyone reading has been affected in one way or another by suicide. How do we help? How do we stop this from happening?

The problem is most suicidal people won’t come right out and ask for help. This doesn’t mean they don’t want it. I have to believe most suicidal people don’t want to die, but want the hurting to go away. There are some warning signs and recognizing them could save someones life.

So I propose this. We start with our high school students, making suicide prevention a part of the health class, give each student a few days to go over the warning signs. We may not like to talk about death, but it’s a real issue. With the teacher having some training of suicide prevention and awareness, and passing it on to each student, we could potentially have a new generation of more aware people and even if it saves one life, it’s worth it. That one life could be your father, brother, aunt, best friend or even yours.

Making sure, for our youth, that suicide hotline numbers are readily available and posted is important too. I myself will be on a quest this coming school year to see that all our local high schools and junior highs have the number somewhere the students can see.

1-800-273-TALK (8255) or for someone more local, Call me. 313-408-3313

I’m always here to listen.

R.I.P. Robin,

–Norm

Whats Harder For A Child Of Poverty Than Facing Other Students With All The Latest Gadgets? Summer Time Hunger.

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It wasn’t until recently, with my involvement in the school system and joining the local school board, that I even thought about what happens to kids on free lunch in the summer time. The shocking facts tug at my heart strings. 1 in 5 kids are facing hunger. Parents who can afford only so many items come grocery shopping day are now faced with a problem. The breakfast and lunch meal the school provided five days a week is now gone for 2 and a half- 3 months.

I’m not looking to get into the “Free handouts ” debate with anyone. I get it, you don’t want anyone to get anything if you can’t have it too. These are children, small, scared, insecure beings that are just wanting three meals. With a quick Google search I found many organizations and programs to help with this in one way or another. In fact we have one right here in our backyard in Taylor, MI.

The Taylor Reading Corp. A non-profit organization that I have the pleasure of working with by sitting on their board of directors is right here intertwining in the community. This marvelous non-profit is now in its 3rd year and has so many success stories and positive feedback that we plan to be around many years to come. The idea of the Reading Corp. is to assist the classroom learning with one on one reading exercises. However, it’s the summer program that is making a big difference right now. Three days a week we have the privilege of spending hours with these students, and one of the best parts, we get to feed them breakfast and lunch.  Now a family worrying about having meals to feed their children, can worry 3 days less.

 

But the Reading Corp can’t operate without help. Help from people like you, people like your neighbors, your friends, family business owners etc. We have been lucky to gain so many supporters but that support has to continue. We need to see donations and volunteering continue. What started as a small idea to bring up the reading ability of our local children, is now much bigger. It’s become a way to survive for some. A child who grows up unable to read and goes to sleep hungry isn’t going to perform to their full potential. We know poverty stricken children are more likely to stay in poverty as adults. If we can give them a chance now, why wouldn’t we at least try? So as I have given you some facts and information to think about, I ask you to think about how you can help. These are our children, our neighbor’s children, your nieces and nephews and we have the ability to help.

-Norm Stachulski

 

The Taylor Reading Corp. Website

Knowing If Your Expectations Are Too High.

Knowing If Your Expectations Are Too High.

 

 

“We tend to get what we expect” – Norman Vincent Peale

 

I’m often told my expectations are way too high. How I feel about family, friends, and co-workers changes weekly based on their life choices. I’m aware that’s sort of an unfair way to go about things, but I also hold myself to a very high standard. If you don’t meet and exceed my standard then I feel like you’re not trying hard enough. In some cases this is true, but not all.

 

Recently a good friend told me that another friend said I take myself and job too seriously. This came about when I didn’t want to go to a shady bar that’s known for some negative things and that I didn’t want to ride around with people who may be carrying marijuana. Not that I care if they smoke, I just didn’t want to be around it. Well, of course I take myself seriously. I’ve worked hard for what I have. I help working families and children. I take that very serious. The funny thing is that I had a conversation just before this about this friend not taking his life serious enough.

 

But is this really a “problem?” I expect a lot from my son. I wish my parents pushed me harder and expected more. I know academically I want him to do his best, for his future. I want him to be 100% more successful than I will ever be. I believe I do a good job at being a father. It’s the best job I have.

 

High expectations have had an amazing effect on my life. Moving out at 16, sleeping on park benches, working full time jobs while in high school, sleeping lakefront in Kentucky. While this aged me and taught me what I could go through, I never wanted to be in a position like this again. I link my attitude to a day I woke up on Lake Cumberland,  It was dawn, I sat up dirty, in need of a shower and I was debating brushing my teeth with lake water. I thought “What the hell am I doing?” I knew I needed to do something and I wanted to make sure I put myself in a position to help other teens later who may be homeless or are in a rough spot. Now I sit on a School Board.

 

At the end of the day “taking myself too serious” isn’t a problem to me. I set goals. I feel like everyone needs to have goals, never be content and always work to better yourself, and those around you. Short term goals and long term. I have them, I expect to make all my goals and set new ones as I go. I mean come on, I’m 27. I’ve been a union rep, and V.P., I’m a published writer, I’ve met some of the coolest actors and been able to sing with some great musicians, I’ve climbed a mountain, I’ve done a tough mudder 13 mile run, I have marched and been pepper sprayed with Jesse Jackson, became a School Board member, I’ve traveled all over the US and out of the country a few times  I’ve been on local and national TV, newspapers and hosted a web series.

 

So, my best words of advice?  GO! Go do something. Try something, Help something, and expect those around you to do the same.

If we all expected a little more out of each other, who knows what might get done. But then again what do I know? I’m only 27.

Michigan Education Needs Our Help!!

Norm's World

When we talk about education in Michigan it cannot be a partisan issue anymore. Balancing a budget on the backs of our children is an issue that everybody should have a problem with.

The tenth Amendment states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or the people. THE PEOPLE!!!

So what do we, the people, need to do?

Start with electing the right people. Uneducated voters are moredangerous to our community than most realize. Voting simply to vote, or voting who your friend says to vote, is a wasted vote. With today’s easy access to news media, and knowing around 40% of Americans are sitting on Facebook everyday at any given time, there’s no excuse to not better educate yourself.

We need to restructure our system of funding for public education at the…

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Michigan Education Needs Our Help!!

 

When we talk about education in Michigan it cannot be a partisan issue anymore. Balancing a budget on the backs of our children is an issue that everybody should have a problem with.

The tenth Amendment states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or the people. THE PEOPLE!!!

So what do we, the people, need to do?

Start with electing the right people. Uneducated voters are moredangerous to our community than most realize. Voting simply to vote, or voting who your friend says to vote, is a wasted vote. With today’s easy access to news media, and knowing around 40% of Americans are sitting on Facebook everyday at any given time, there’s no excuse to not better educate yourself.

We need to restructure our system of funding for public education at the K-12 level. I’m sure we need it at college level, but I’m focusing on K-12 right now. The cause for poor performance from our students is not due solely to “bad teachers” and it would be ridiculous to say so.

Funding to public schools can easily determine the learning availability, this has been proven, in turn affecting the child’s performance. It’s no secret, low income areas produce lower test scores. Lower funded schools produce lower scores as well. Most school districts see that within their own system, one school in the lower income area of the city is riddled with bad test scores, less active parents, more drop outs, etc.

How do we start fixing our system? There are a few steps we can take.

First, if you want your child’s individual school to succeed, take action. Join the PTA or PTO. Volunteer if you can, come in once a month or so, help out. The more the neighbors are involved with the schools, the safer people feel. Work a 9-5 and can’t come in? There’s always something you can do to help the PTA raise money. Take part in mom to mom sales, work the concession stand at sporting events, or help with other fundraisers some schools have on weekends..

 

You want your child’s school to have new classes available, or how about have new technology brought in?  Go to the board meetings. Discuss that with with the people that make the decision. Get their emails, get their phone numbers. Share what you find.

You want your district to have better funding? (Don’t we all?) Start writing to legislators. Call your Senator, call your House members, call the Governor.

If you wait around for someone else to do it, you fail your child.

It’s not just this, there are many moving parts here. If your school system is in a city that is collapsing, can you expect the schools to thrive? Your city and schools walk hand in hand. They need each other. They should be working with each other as well. Do you know who your city council members are?  Could you identify your Mayor in a line up?

Remember when your child was born and you thought to yourself, “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you have the best life possible.” Are you still living up to this?

 

 

Norm Stachulski, Parent/School Board Member

Fan vs. Fan

Fan vs. Fan

By Norm Stachulski

 

 With the NHL Playoffs approaching fast, the bandwagon fans are coming out of every dark corner of the watering hole. The generic 21 year old blonde yelling for the home team at the bar has already begun. However, this isn’t about them. It’s about a different group of fans. The fans that believe there isn’t another good player in the league besides who currently plays for their team.

 I’ve been a Detroit Red Wings fan for as long as I can remember, but I own t-shirts to a dozen other teams. I’m a Hockey fan at heart. Sure I root for my team, but I root along with my friends when their home team plays their rival. I’m often referred to as “Not a real Wings fan” over the fact that I wore a Predators t-shirt, or that I went to a Blackhawks vs Colorado game.

So my question is this- Can you be a fan to a team and still be able to watch other games? As far as I can tell, the answer overwhelmingly comes out “No.”   This is why fantasy hockey leagues aren’t as popular. I joined a team this year with some friends but everyone picked players off their own roster.

 What gives, folks?? Where are the hockey fans? I’m going to assume here in an original 6 city, we are bound to be covered in Bandwagoners, but is it like this everywhere? Tampa? Edmonton? Dallas? Anyone have an answer?

At the end of the day, I stop arguing with the “ home team only” fans who try to put me down. Why bother? You can have a favorite team without having blinders on to any other team or player.

But then again, What do I know?

Aaron Paul’s Post Breaking Bad Performance in Need For Speed was Thrilling—Bitch!

A Need for Speed Movie Review, By Norm Stachulski.

This game adaptation made by DreamWorks pictures captures the real world setting of the most popular racing game to date. Hitting locations like New York, Detroit, Utah, and California, it’s as if you can pick and choose your racing location like in the game.

Much like the Fast and the Furious franchise, audience members who come here to see this film that are interested in cars will not leave disappointed. They will however probably have a dangerous ride home.

One noticeable thing about the film was that all of the actors were about the same height and same weight as if they had a premade mold for each actor to fill.

The storyline tugged at the heartstrings although it had a few holes. Adrenaline junkies and fans of the game will find this film everything they’re looking for. Loud noise. Engines revving, car chases, explosions. The only thing the typical male is going to miss in this film is female nudity.

At the end of the day it is a movie, the lack of police when there should be some, the convenience of clear roads, the convenience of helicopter and air-traffic all leads me to remember that this is in fact just a work of Hollywood.  And when thrown in the mix with blockbusters like, gone in 60 seconds and Fast and the Furious this film holds its spot, especially in 3-D.

So jump in your Mustang, I mean your Escort, and head down to your local theater. Bitch!

A Valentine’s Day I won’t soon forget.

 Valentine’s Day. For some, a Hallmark holiday. For others, a chance to shower your lover with gifts, but for others, it’s time for a little Bump and Grind! R. Kelly style.

 This year, in an attempt to do something different for the holiday, my wife and I took to the internet to find out what was happening in the college city known as A2, or Ann Arbor. We struck gold! See, as a youtube addict, I have forced her to watch R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the closet” series.

 If you’re unfamiliar with the series, its a Hip Hop Opera, or a Hip Hopera. With at least 33 chapters of hilarity. Covering a wide range of points and people, from the Thug, Country woman, midget, nosey neighbors, gay preachers and deacons, dirty cops, aids and so much more.

 We arrived to the Michigan theater, and received our “goody bag” which might I add was a great touch. Toy guns, fake money, candy cigarettes, condoms, and a planned parenthood pamphlet. Took our seats and waited for the show to start. The flier mentioned a “Dance Party” to start the night off. So we began to loosen up, not knowing for sure what was to come.

 We were all surprised by the special guest. The Brother in Law to R Kelly’s character, Twan, who’s played by actor Eric Lane. He gave a thank you speech and the music videos started. Starting, of course with Bump and Grind. The crowd was great, filled with mostly college aged white kids, who couldn’t dance. No one cared. We all danced and sang along. It ended with The Remix to Ignition. My personal Favorite song in Kelly’s catalog. Then Trapped in the Closet started. The words on the screen were written in ebonics and sometimes didn’t even match what was being said. Words like “Troof” Axe” “Bafroom” and the inconsistent spelling of Cathy/Kathy, were minor details that these Valentine love birds looked over. It was essentially how I spend any other Friday night on Youtube, only this time it was with 400 people and on a big screen. I couldn’t be happier.

 Aside for the slight headache I had when it was over from the two girls screaming the words behind me, I left rejuvenated. I need to go to more Hip Hop Opera, Sing-a-longs like this. R Kelly, wherever you are, that was awesome!

Going toe to toe with a champ.

I was recently invited to Courageous MMA in Taylor Michigan, for GNC and Healthy Food Bank’s Q&A with a pro. They were all there to bring awareness to the foundation that helps feed homeless people, less fortunate, and needy people, as well as children and guide them to healthier food choices, vitamins, and habit changing information.

The foundation is one-of-a-kind and will only distribute smarter and healthier food choices to the people and have a goal of sending out 100,000 bags of healthier food and vitamins from now to the end of 2014.

The guest favorite was the Q&A with Matt Hughes, former UFC champion. He took time to wrestle with Some fighters, explain different techniques and talk about health.

Here are some of the questions:

Q: What are the most important things for a fighter?

A: Eat, sleep and train. You can’t slack on any of it. Wake up, train, eat, nap, train, eat, sleep. Everyday.

Q: What if you don’t have time to train as much as you want?

A: The number one thing I tell guys is that you need to find a good gym. Number one thing you need is a good gym with good manager and other fighters there that will help to push you.

Q: Why do you feel like you were so successful? Because not as many fighters had such a long career with such success.

A: I think it’s a combination of a lot of things you know, I just have good genes, was born with the genes and and I came in at a time when the UFC was still learning it’s footing and wrestling for me was my in. I don’t think today,if I were to come into the UFC, that I would have nearly the same amount of success as I have, guys have really taken the sport and made it 100 times better. Wrestling is about control and a good jiu jitsu guy can sense something coming and I was that way with wrestling. I was able to tell if there’s a punch coming in or there’s a foot coming and I was able to feel that so I think that was part it. It was good wrestling training.

Q: How much weight on average do you think you would cut to make weight for fights?

A: Anywhere from 8 to 12 pounds. Sometimes less sometimes more. One fight in Las Vegas, my wife wanted to go for a walk so I put on my sweats my sweatshirt, hoodie, beanie and we walked from the MGM to the Stratosphere, at which point I poured sweat off my finger tips. I woke up that day maybe 7-8 pounds still over and once sweats just pours off your fingers, you’re good, you know. I knew right there I lost the weight.

Of all the different MMA fighters I’ve met over the years, Matt has to be the most humble, down to earth. The kicker (pun intended) was how he took the students to the mat and taught them so many things is a short time, followed it up with an autograph session.