R Kelly Worlds Greatest

Riverside grads urged to make a difference

TAYLOR - Before of a packed auditorium Friday night, the class of 2011 bade farewell to Riverside High School - but not before they were issued a few challenges.

Principal Joseph Moceyunas tasked the 106 graduates to take the education they received at Riverside and use it in the real world.

"You will have to determine what is right, instead of who is right," Mr. Moceyunas said. "You will have to stand alone. What's popular is not always right, but what's right is not always popular."

Mr. Moceyunas encouraged the students to heed the words of Russell Crowe's character in the movie, "Gladiator." " 'What we do in life, will echo in eternity,' " he said.

Salutatorian Matthew Plishka echoed the principal's sentiment, telling his classmates that each one of them has the potential to make a difference, but that it is up to them to do it.

"Over the last 13 years, we have lost a planet, in Pluto, and gained more knowledge than we will ever want to know about each other with the development of Facebook," Mr. Plishka said.

Mr. Plishka then challenged his classmates by quoting New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman: "'Get off Facebook, and get in someone's face if you want to make a difference in the world.'"

Some members of the Riverside class will go on to college, and others will go into the workforce or enlist in the military, Mr. Moceyunas said, adding that the class of 2011 was, academically, one of the best in the school's history. Forty-four of the students carried averages of 90 or higher.

"I believe the class of 2011 can, and will, use their time to make a difference in the world," Mr. Plishka said. "It only takes one person. Why can't it be one of us?"

The graduates are:

Thomas George Armillay, Bethany Darian Baranski, Cody Harold Black, William Thomas Bochicchio, Jillian Iva Bohenek, Oscar E. Bonilla-Lopez, Dylan John Bonitz, Matthew Ryan Briskie, Lindsay Alyssa Brode, Lawrence David Bueche, Nicole Lynn Capp, Kayla Ann Cavanaugh, Tommy Chompranouvong, Charles Robert Clark, Markishala Alis Coleman, Kayla Marie Connolly, Nicole Alexandria Dalbo, Jenelle Elizabeth Davis, Joseph John Davis, Heather Nicole Derenick, Bernard Thomas Dougherty III, Samantha Brady Eiden, Melissa Lauren Evans, Kelly Evanusa, Brittany Rae Fenner, Benjamin Michael Fortuna, Matthew John Gleason, Alejandro Gomez, Jonathan Bruce Gorlesky, Jason Michael Gotsch, Matthew Charles Gudaitis, Morgann Ashley Haduck, William John Halfpenny, Brian Kevin Handy Jr., Richard Robert Hebden, Mario Hernandez, Alana Adrianne Hronich, Austin James Hurley, Riley Ellen Jackson, Leah Rosetta Johnson, Rebekah Lyn Kavulich, Melinda Keoonela, Kevin John Klima, Sean Michael Krieg, Paul T. Lassiter III, Michael James Laureda, Skylar Michael Lavage, Melinda Lynn Lewis, Destiny Rose Longworth, William Edward Loughney, Taryn Marie Lucas, Stanley Anthony Maros III, Justin John Martin, Kyle Francis McKeel, Andrew James Mickavicz, Samantha Mickavicz, Ashleigh Renee Mulea, Vanessa Ann Munley, Jessica Marie Nelson, Joanna Lynn Novotka, Michael Rodney Osterstrom, Taylor Edward Ott, Jordan Andrew Panek, Jason Daniel Parfitt, Fernando Pena, Robert James Petras, Dominic R. Pica, Matthew Robert Plishka, Alexander James Pucilowski, Samantha Leigh Rachko, Sarah Regula, Anthony Edward Rempe, Adam Joseph Rhodes, Jolon William Richardson, Brandon Alan Romey, Jessica Rae Rosati, Nicholas Dominick Rossi, Joseph Kenneth Rowe IV, Randy Jay Royce, Michael Scarnato II, Erik Stanley Schab, Danielle Elizabeth Segelia, Caine Vincent Seidel, Lisa Ann Sochovka, Maura Elizabeth Speicher, Erik Daniel Stengline, Myriah Ann Syrylo, Corey Michael Talerico, Michael J. Tatulli, Kathryn Elizabeth Taylor, Kristen Marie Thomas, John George Thubborn, Randi Marie Tilberry, Emily Mae Tisdel, Jorge Luis Ariza Tlatelpa, Angela Marie Torba, Andrew Martin Tremko, Amanda Rose Turoni, Karli Michelle Urban, Branden Michael Vail, Nicole Taylor Wagner, Kyle Timothy Walsh, Autumn Leigh Werner, Matthew John Williams, Rebecca Rose Woloszyn and Alyssa Marie Zelsnack.

Aquarium Drunkard » Bonnie 'Prince' Billy :: The World's Greatest ...

) And better yet a peek inside the life of arguably the king of contemporary R&B. Without giving anything away, I will say that if you ever find yourself invited to a party at Kelly’s private home, do attend. Oh, that and “Sam Cooke.”

In other Oldham news, the bard has a new 10″ set for release later this month with the Cairo Gang. All proceeds go to EDGE Outreach to assist the people of Haiti.

MP3: Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy :: The World’s Greatest (R. Kelly)

I’ve always found Billy’s devotion to the song’s lyrics, specifically in pronouncing “asks” as “acks” the way Kelly does in the original, really interesting. I’ve often been troubled by it as well, unsure whether I felt it came across as just recreating the original performer’s particular cultural English or as mocking it in some vague way. My perspective on this is probably, undoubtedly shaped by being completely unused to hearing white people recreate/mimic Black English pronunciation in any way approaching respectfully outside of the confines of hip-hop.

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