Matt Falduto

We’ll all be watching to see what the accreditor does next. Do they push back and maintain their independence? Or do they allow a corrupt regime to use them in their attack on higher education?

Columbia failed to meet accreditation standards, US government says The U.S. Department of Education said on Wednesday it has notified a university accreditation body that Columbia University had violated federal anti-discrimination laws by its alleged failure to protect Jewish students on its campus.

This could be really bad. Dept of (ED) approves accreditors who independently review colleges and accredit them. To get access to financial aid, a college must be accredited. So this is basically Trump using an accreditor to attack a college he hates. (cont) www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

Well, Thunderbolts* is probably the best Marvel movie since Endgame.

Wasn't the guy who did in his 20s? I don't think he was a teenager.

Let's hope so!

There's a follow up video??? (I also had no idea they dated in real life.)

This song doesn't have deep meanings to fill my soul. It was just fun and we enjoyed singing it. What we could remember/understand anyway. (No googling lyrics back then...) The "In a day or two" line doesn't really fit and is kind of impossible to sing and be understood. But that's part of the fun.

But of course, he's fine and the live happily ever after. The best part of the video was the end when the guy was throwing himself against the walls and it's shifting back and forth between comic book world and real life.

The story was fun - girl pulled into a comic book world by the hero, who is running from guys with... crowbars, maybe? I don't remember. She escapes the comic book world, but it appears her beau is dead. (spoiler ahead)

One of the most influential early music videos, a-ha's Take on Me grabbed you with the pencil drawing animation. Everyone was talking about it. I believe it won some awards. Honestly I think the video was the only reason the song became so popular.

Songs of my youth #4: Take On Me, a-ha. 1985. Is there a more 80s song? I don't think I ever really learned all the words to this one. But it wasn't really about the words - it was the synth pop music and, of course, the music video.

Oh I think both can true. The conspiracy theories are right AND they're colossally stupid. For the record, I am 100% sure about the stupid part.

It’s not an either/or proposition, Mr. Mellencamp. I’m holding onto 16 til I’m 100.

But here’s the thing-you can hold onto 16 long after you’ve become a woman or a man. I still do the things I loved when I was 16. Is that my whole life? Hell no. I also love all that comes with being an adult-a loving marriage, kids, a fulfilling career, the opportunity to mentor kids.

I remember my daughter's coming of age b-day party when she was 13. There were speeches and congrats and then one of her friends was crying in the bathroom. Then all of her friends were crying together. Because at that moment they realized their childhood was fading away and that was terrifying.

When I was a teenager, I felt that so much. Particularly when I hit 16 and my friends and I could drive. Being on the cusp of adulthood is a tough road-you want to be there but at the same time you’re terrified of losing your childhood.

This song has the immortal line:
“Hold onto 16 as long as you can.
Changes come around real soon,
Make us women and men.”

Songs of my youth #3: Jack & Diane, John Cougar. 1982. This was before he decided to use his actual name. I used to think it was because he thought Cougar was cooler. I’d’ve done the same thing. Turns out the record company turned him into John Cougar. He always preferred Mellencamp.

I ... I don't even know what to say.

Anyway it was a powerful anthem of my teenage years. Along with Won’t Get Fooled Again and Behind Blue Eyes, Baba O’Riley gave voice to my youth.

But one of things I'm struggling with these days is fighting against all the crazy that's happening in our country. As I enter the last 30 or so years of my life, I really wanted to not fight anymore. But I probably don't get to do that.

These days these lyrics speak to me:

I don’t need to fight
To prove I’m right
I don’t need to be forgiven

As someone who used to fight - with words and deeds, not fists - all the time in my youth (and if I'm being real a lot of my adult years too), I have become a bit of a pacifist recently.

Anyway, the lyrics didn't matter as much to me as the driving power of the music. It feels operatic - it forces you to pay attention. A headbanger. The words teenage wasteland I’m sure spoke to my nihilistic teenage side. The song feels angry and frustrated and I felt like that a lot back then.

A lot of people still think it’s called Teenage Wasteland. I’m pretty sure I did way back way when. I didn't learn why it was called Baba O’Riley until years and years later. (Google it.)

Songs of my youth, #2: Baba O’Riley, The Who. 1971. Released the year I was born, I didn’t really get into The Who until 1985 or so when my friend recommended them. Then I discovered the whole album-one of my brothers must have bought it-languishing in our stereo cabinet. It was vinyl of course.

I have not! But I will now.

Am I stuck in the 80s era of music? Yes. But songs during our formative years stick with us, right? I skipped most of the 90s and the early 00s music. Only caught back up when my children entered their formative years in 2010 or so. (5 of 5)

Much later, I wrote a play called Pop Tart Hero that, well, wasn't inspired by the song, but I did play it during the pre-show music. (4 of 5)

I went on a Foreigner deep dive after that and found many songs I loved - Hot Blooded, Waiting for a Girl Like You, I Want to Know What Love Is, and Cold as Ice. But Juke Box Hero is still the best Foreigner song. (3 of 5)

Standing in the rain, with his head hung low
Couldn't get a ticket, it was a sold out show
Heard the roar of the crowd, he could picture the scene
Put his ear to the wall, then like a distant scream
He heard one guitar, just blew him away (2 of 5)