Note the headline on this article, "When did government regain competence?" Read the entire column, recommended, here: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081229/OPINION03/812290324/1008/OPINION01
Of course, the question is facetious. Government hasn't "regain[ed] competence." The same old people (and, yes, that includes the "Messiah," BO--note how his wife wants some of the gov't largesse, that is, our money to pay her for being First Lady, and his same old lame appointments) are still there. Read the quotes from Barney Frank, you know, the watchdog over Fannie and Freddie...I guess I should have written "the competent watchdog...." Ha! And this guy is determining the direction of the US????
Will is great at slamming the failed policies of FDR, LBJ, et al. We don't know our history. We like people giving us things that cost us nothing (at least we don't think they cost us anything--but wait, just wait!). We are more interested in voting (texting our votes?) for American Idol and Dancing with the Stars and you name it than electing really competent government officials.
Note, too, how he drags in the education establishment as an example of incompetence. One word he uses is "delusional." Naming the new US Dept of Ed bldg after LBJ is almost, not quite, but almost as hypocritical as givng Yassir "That's My Baby" Arafat the Nobel Prize for Peace. The guy was a crook--note how he directed the Surgeon General as the "Egg Czar." And some of us know how he played politics with the 1967 Detroit riots, while more people on the streets were getting killed, just so he could make a potential Rep Pres'l opponent (Romney) look bad--yep, trading lives for votes. W is a joke on education, No Child Left Behind. All these people with fake degrees from fake curricula....
For shame....
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Oh, C'mon....
Check this out:
"If people like Ray LaHood and others aren't able to earmark dollars, that money will be spent by some bureaucrat in Washington, D.C. And who knows better how to spend money on worthwhile projects than a community and an individual congressman [sic]?" Author of this malarkey? Congressman Ray LaHood--Ill., BO's nominee for Sec of Transportation. Oh, and this guy's a Republican (in name only, of course)!
Just read it carefully. The arrogance runs off this like slime! "...who knows better...?" That is the attitude among those arrogant hypocrites on Capitol Hill.
Reminds me of the attitude in the schools. "We have to spend this money!" But what if we don't need anything? "We have to spend it or they'll give it to someone else and we won't get as much next year." How utterly brilliant! Of course, it's easy to be "brilliant" with other people's money. There are flaws (dare I say stupidity!?!?) on both sides. First, maybe "someone else" needs the money more. Second, it's not "their" money, despite what Gov Jennie has stated. Third, maybe if the case can be made that we don't need the money now, but might need it next year, funds can be found for "next year."
How about this? Instead of "earmark[ed] dollars," what about a tax cut, a big one, instead of
wasting more and more money, with no end in sight? "...who knows better..." my ass--I wonder if this ding-a-ling even knows the national debt is approaching 11 trillion dollars. If he does, he obviously doesn't care. How do we keep electing these fools????
See what happens when a "Leviathan" is created and allowed to grow without restrictions and limits. We can thank most Presidents from FDR up to the present for this mess. But what do (or did) they care? One, it was always other people's money and, two, they're dead now. And, apparently, we don't care either, at least we don't care about the huge debt we are leaving our children and grandchildren. In fact, maybe it's not the "debt." Maybe we don't care about our children and grandchildren. Maybe it's all about us. Shame on us, double shame on us.
"If people like Ray LaHood and others aren't able to earmark dollars, that money will be spent by some bureaucrat in Washington, D.C. And who knows better how to spend money on worthwhile projects than a community and an individual congressman [sic]?" Author of this malarkey? Congressman Ray LaHood--Ill., BO's nominee for Sec of Transportation. Oh, and this guy's a Republican (in name only, of course)!
Just read it carefully. The arrogance runs off this like slime! "...who knows better...?" That is the attitude among those arrogant hypocrites on Capitol Hill.
Reminds me of the attitude in the schools. "We have to spend this money!" But what if we don't need anything? "We have to spend it or they'll give it to someone else and we won't get as much next year." How utterly brilliant! Of course, it's easy to be "brilliant" with other people's money. There are flaws (dare I say stupidity!?!?) on both sides. First, maybe "someone else" needs the money more. Second, it's not "their" money, despite what Gov Jennie has stated. Third, maybe if the case can be made that we don't need the money now, but might need it next year, funds can be found for "next year."
How about this? Instead of "earmark[ed] dollars," what about a tax cut, a big one, instead of
wasting more and more money, with no end in sight? "...who knows better..." my ass--I wonder if this ding-a-ling even knows the national debt is approaching 11 trillion dollars. If he does, he obviously doesn't care. How do we keep electing these fools????
See what happens when a "Leviathan" is created and allowed to grow without restrictions and limits. We can thank most Presidents from FDR up to the present for this mess. But what do (or did) they care? One, it was always other people's money and, two, they're dead now. And, apparently, we don't care either, at least we don't care about the huge debt we are leaving our children and grandchildren. In fact, maybe it's not the "debt." Maybe we don't care about our children and grandchildren. Maybe it's all about us. Shame on us, double shame on us.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Learning
I was reminded of the malfeasance among educators today. Now, it's all about "technology." That is the magic word. Anyone who questions, rightly or wrongly, "technology" is immediately dismissed as some sort of Neanderthal. Hardly, but I digress.
Science and math are also near the top of the list, as they should be. I'm not sure where English, or whatever they're calling it today ("Language Arts???") is. If it is an emphasis there's something missing. Have you seen your newspaper lately? Just today I read, "I had drank..." and "Snow and ice vexes travelers...." A recent college test reveal community college students' proficiency in writing: 19% were proficient--64% were not proficient and 17% were marginally proficient. We might well ask why these students are in college instead of high school--or junior high. But, again, I digress.
Where is history? The study of history has been relegated to an afterthought. One the Michigan state exams, what was the last subject to be included? And, once it was, was it ever really "counted" as part of the tests' scores? Nope. How many art or language teachers, lacking a full load in their fields, and coaches are called upon to teach history, with little training in history. (By this I mean a degree in history, not some fake thing like "history education" or "social studies.") There are lots of reasons for the study of history and good history teachers can make a difference. Our ignorance of history has allowed politicians to play us for fools. If these pols themselves know any history, they must be laughing at us until their sides hurt.
The December issue of Hillsdale College's Imprimis, found here http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis.asp , addresses this, in part. Hillsdale pres Larry Arn writes, ""we must recover the art of constitutional government...because we have lost sight of it." That's because we no longer study history or, if we do, it is taught by people who don't understand history.
Imagine having an American History teacher who says of the Civil War, the seminal event in US History, "It was a war. A lot of people died. Get over it. Now on to the Gilded Age." It has happened.
As Arnn notes, learning history "beckon(s) to a road" toward virtue and character. He cites this in discussing the "greed" of the recent financial crises.
Also from Arnn, "...the two qualifications to be a successful student: they [sic] must be willing and they [sic] must be able." A bit earlier in his essay/speech, he notes, "Students cannot be taught except when they work hard at learning..." and "...the hundreds of pages of unreadable rules that are promulgated and elaborated year after year by the Dept of Edu seem like so much foolishness." No kidding!!!! This has been the modus operandi for several decades. One of my more intelligent former colleagues said this for years about parents at conferences, "Give my kid an A, but don't make him work for it." If students cannot write (see above), how can they be getting (note I refrained from saying "earning!") Bs in college???? And who is running the education establishment today? You guessed it. And merit pay? Based on what? Some silly administrator's evaluation? Results from some deeply flawed tests?
Arnn, and others, have written some worthwhile things in Imprimus. You can read some good stuff at the Web site or even subscribe for free. Check it out.
Science and math are also near the top of the list, as they should be. I'm not sure where English, or whatever they're calling it today ("Language Arts???") is. If it is an emphasis there's something missing. Have you seen your newspaper lately? Just today I read, "I had drank..." and "Snow and ice vexes travelers...." A recent college test reveal community college students' proficiency in writing: 19% were proficient--64% were not proficient and 17% were marginally proficient. We might well ask why these students are in college instead of high school--or junior high. But, again, I digress.
Where is history? The study of history has been relegated to an afterthought. One the Michigan state exams, what was the last subject to be included? And, once it was, was it ever really "counted" as part of the tests' scores? Nope. How many art or language teachers, lacking a full load in their fields, and coaches are called upon to teach history, with little training in history. (By this I mean a degree in history, not some fake thing like "history education" or "social studies.") There are lots of reasons for the study of history and good history teachers can make a difference. Our ignorance of history has allowed politicians to play us for fools. If these pols themselves know any history, they must be laughing at us until their sides hurt.
The December issue of Hillsdale College's Imprimis, found here http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis.asp , addresses this, in part. Hillsdale pres Larry Arn writes, ""we must recover the art of constitutional government...because we have lost sight of it." That's because we no longer study history or, if we do, it is taught by people who don't understand history.
Imagine having an American History teacher who says of the Civil War, the seminal event in US History, "It was a war. A lot of people died. Get over it. Now on to the Gilded Age." It has happened.
As Arnn notes, learning history "beckon(s) to a road" toward virtue and character. He cites this in discussing the "greed" of the recent financial crises.
Also from Arnn, "...the two qualifications to be a successful student: they [sic] must be willing and they [sic] must be able." A bit earlier in his essay/speech, he notes, "Students cannot be taught except when they work hard at learning..." and "...the hundreds of pages of unreadable rules that are promulgated and elaborated year after year by the Dept of Edu seem like so much foolishness." No kidding!!!! This has been the modus operandi for several decades. One of my more intelligent former colleagues said this for years about parents at conferences, "Give my kid an A, but don't make him work for it." If students cannot write (see above), how can they be getting (note I refrained from saying "earning!") Bs in college???? And who is running the education establishment today? You guessed it. And merit pay? Based on what? Some silly administrator's evaluation? Results from some deeply flawed tests?
Arnn, and others, have written some worthwhile things in Imprimus. You can read some good stuff at the Web site or even subscribe for free. Check it out.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Are We Rome?
Good insights by Cullen Murphy:
He likens the "insularity" of Rome at the end of the Empire to Washington, DC "inside the Beltway." Both lost any comprehension of what common people's lives were like. Each seemed to think they knew what was best for people they no longer understood (although they certainly wouldn't admit they no longer understood them). How very true! Although this book was written a couple years ago, if you followed the bailouts, esp the auto hearings, it rings true, as clear as a bell.
He notes the loss of what the Romans originally called, "virtu." It was a sense of duty, of responsibility to do what was right. People acted in the best interests of others, not selfishly. Of course, the last decades (centuries?) of the Empire saw a collapse of this sense of "virtu." The early Americans, esp the Founding Fathers, had a similar sense. Rather than a sense of duty, Americans have come to be selfish, to look to the government for its duty to take care of us.
He writes of "the privatization of government," both in Rome and the recent US. This "condition has left government responsive to particular interests, but deaf to the popular will." Again, this was written a while ago, before the recent fiascos--both in DC and Lansing.
Other similarities (I'm not quite done with the book), including remarkable ones in the military, are clearly exposed.
Yet, who cares? Even if some people did read this book, who would care? Most would still vote for BO or McC, Jennie, Kwame, or others of their ilk. Of course, most think these people and the government are going to save us. (See above.)
The subtitle of the book is "The Fall of an Empire and the Fate of America." Hmmmm.
He likens the "insularity" of Rome at the end of the Empire to Washington, DC "inside the Beltway." Both lost any comprehension of what common people's lives were like. Each seemed to think they knew what was best for people they no longer understood (although they certainly wouldn't admit they no longer understood them). How very true! Although this book was written a couple years ago, if you followed the bailouts, esp the auto hearings, it rings true, as clear as a bell.
He notes the loss of what the Romans originally called, "virtu." It was a sense of duty, of responsibility to do what was right. People acted in the best interests of others, not selfishly. Of course, the last decades (centuries?) of the Empire saw a collapse of this sense of "virtu." The early Americans, esp the Founding Fathers, had a similar sense. Rather than a sense of duty, Americans have come to be selfish, to look to the government for its duty to take care of us.
He writes of "the privatization of government," both in Rome and the recent US. This "condition has left government responsive to particular interests, but deaf to the popular will." Again, this was written a while ago, before the recent fiascos--both in DC and Lansing.
Other similarities (I'm not quite done with the book), including remarkable ones in the military, are clearly exposed.
Yet, who cares? Even if some people did read this book, who would care? Most would still vote for BO or McC, Jennie, Kwame, or others of their ilk. Of course, most think these people and the government are going to save us. (See above.)
The subtitle of the book is "The Fall of an Empire and the Fate of America." Hmmmm.
I Don't Understand
Why is there no outrage over the $2 billion of the financial bailout money (remember, this was not a loan, but a Chris present and doesn't need to be repaid!) going to exec bonuses? Where is the Congressional oversight? Where is Paulsen (and he was going to be the auto "czar?")? And the autos had to crawl to Canossa?
And where is the anger at BO's stimulus program (now there's a nice euphemism)? How much? Right now it's $1 trillion and counting. Hmmm...I wonder where that money is coming from. And I wonder, who's going to get it?
I hate to say it (because I get it, too), but we deserve what we get. If you haven't picked up a copy of Cullen Murphy's Are We Rome?, do so. It's not a comprehensive history of the Roman Empire (or Republic) nor a polemic diatribe with what's wrong with us. But it is a thoughtful, insightful look at where we are, how we got here, and, if we care about the future, what to do. No, No...I'm sorry. American Idol is on.... Repeat the first sentence of this paragraph.
And where is the anger at BO's stimulus program (now there's a nice euphemism)? How much? Right now it's $1 trillion and counting. Hmmm...I wonder where that money is coming from. And I wonder, who's going to get it?
I hate to say it (because I get it, too), but we deserve what we get. If you haven't picked up a copy of Cullen Murphy's Are We Rome?, do so. It's not a comprehensive history of the Roman Empire (or Republic) nor a polemic diatribe with what's wrong with us. But it is a thoughtful, insightful look at where we are, how we got here, and, if we care about the future, what to do. No, No...I'm sorry. American Idol is on.... Repeat the first sentence of this paragraph.
Friday, December 19, 2008
The Blame Game
One of the most egregious (there are so few opportunities to use that word, I just had to get it in here) pieces of foolishness I encountered in the public schools was "Let's not cast blame" when things went poorly. How stupid! I suppose it goes along with no accountability, no shame, everybody goes to college, etc. And, at the very least, if nobody gets blamed, what is to prevent letting the same fools make future stupid decisions????
Now the auto bailout has taken on finger-pointing. No doubt there is enough blame to go around for the current mess. (BTW, if the recent spike in gasoline prices was due to world-wide demand increases, how can there be a world-wide crisis in car purchasing???) Yep, the execs at the Big Three have made mistakes. The UAW acted irresponsibly (namely with work rules, jobs bank, etc.). The government (which can't get much, if anything, right) tried to dictate to the auto
industry. (Of course, the arrogant, hypocritical imbeciles will never admit that. See, "no blame" isn't just in the schools.) Yes, fingers should be pointed. People should be held accountable (no, not with multi-million dollar golden parachutes!).
But several things have irked me more than anything. One, it is the arrogance, hypocrisy, and stupidity of our elected and appointed officials. I've ragged on this before, but it needs to be repeated again and again. You see, nobody listens--the same arrogant, hypocritical, stupid people (or others just like them) keep getting elected and re-elected.
Two, I hear and read about the UAW and the money its members earned in wages. (This doesn't excuse the jobs bank and work rules.) "Oh, they make so much, too much...." Blah, Blah, Blah. Well, first, what makes some pencil pusher worth any more than a guy on the line? Filling out forms instead of welding a joint? Second, and more important, I'll bet these critics of UAW wages weren't complaining when UAW members were buying their goods, purchasing their services, were they? I didn't hear any of them say, "Hey, you UAW guys make too much money. Stop frequenting my business/industry?" What do these critics think became of the money? And, those not in the union--do they think their high wages weren't influenced by what the UAW was receiving?
Three, I've learned a lot (but not enough!) about economics. One thing to remember is that it's an inexact science. Bernacke and Paulson are only making reasonable guesses (and, I think, bad ones) as to what to do. How, then, to explain economics scientifically in light of the profitability of, say, "pet rocks?" Think about this when considering the current situation.
Four, where are Sens Levin and Stabenow? Hey, where were they when the likes of Gore (what a hypocritical blowhard; the Nobel committee should be drawn and quartered for giving him--and Yassir, that's my baby, Arafat, Peace Prizes!), Boxer, etc. were dumping, often ignorantly, but with the self-righteous pompousness of zealots (wasn't Hitler a zealot?) all over the auto industry? Why weren't Levin and Stabenow standing up to the zealots? For that matter, where were the Porta-Johns, Conyers and Dingell? Oh, all of our Sens and Cong were working behind the scenes--yeah, right. Oh, Cong McCotter is an exception and look how he's been ostracized. Isn't that odd--stand up for what's right and get ostracized? Is that what we've become? Shame on us.
Now the auto bailout has taken on finger-pointing. No doubt there is enough blame to go around for the current mess. (BTW, if the recent spike in gasoline prices was due to world-wide demand increases, how can there be a world-wide crisis in car purchasing???) Yep, the execs at the Big Three have made mistakes. The UAW acted irresponsibly (namely with work rules, jobs bank, etc.). The government (which can't get much, if anything, right) tried to dictate to the auto
industry. (Of course, the arrogant, hypocritical imbeciles will never admit that. See, "no blame" isn't just in the schools.) Yes, fingers should be pointed. People should be held accountable (no, not with multi-million dollar golden parachutes!).
But several things have irked me more than anything. One, it is the arrogance, hypocrisy, and stupidity of our elected and appointed officials. I've ragged on this before, but it needs to be repeated again and again. You see, nobody listens--the same arrogant, hypocritical, stupid people (or others just like them) keep getting elected and re-elected.
Two, I hear and read about the UAW and the money its members earned in wages. (This doesn't excuse the jobs bank and work rules.) "Oh, they make so much, too much...." Blah, Blah, Blah. Well, first, what makes some pencil pusher worth any more than a guy on the line? Filling out forms instead of welding a joint? Second, and more important, I'll bet these critics of UAW wages weren't complaining when UAW members were buying their goods, purchasing their services, were they? I didn't hear any of them say, "Hey, you UAW guys make too much money. Stop frequenting my business/industry?" What do these critics think became of the money? And, those not in the union--do they think their high wages weren't influenced by what the UAW was receiving?
Three, I've learned a lot (but not enough!) about economics. One thing to remember is that it's an inexact science. Bernacke and Paulson are only making reasonable guesses (and, I think, bad ones) as to what to do. How, then, to explain economics scientifically in light of the profitability of, say, "pet rocks?" Think about this when considering the current situation.
Four, where are Sens Levin and Stabenow? Hey, where were they when the likes of Gore (what a hypocritical blowhard; the Nobel committee should be drawn and quartered for giving him--and Yassir, that's my baby, Arafat, Peace Prizes!), Boxer, etc. were dumping, often ignorantly, but with the self-righteous pompousness of zealots (wasn't Hitler a zealot?) all over the auto industry? Why weren't Levin and Stabenow standing up to the zealots? For that matter, where were the Porta-Johns, Conyers and Dingell? Oh, all of our Sens and Cong were working behind the scenes--yeah, right. Oh, Cong McCotter is an exception and look how he's been ostracized. Isn't that odd--stand up for what's right and get ostracized? Is that what we've become? Shame on us.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
I've Finally Figured It Out!
I think I got a pretty good view of what's wrong with us yesterday. First, driving along I 696 in some pretty lousy conditions yesterday AM, cars were passing those of us who are sane. We had slowed to 50-55, fairly reasonable with the glaze on the roads. More than half of the ding-a-lings passing were in "monster trucks" or SUVs, doing well over 70, probably over 80, I'd guess. Almost invariably, these drivers had cell phones in their hands. Who knows, they might have had cigarettes, cups of coffee, etc. in the others? All these guys are/were concerned with was themselves. They had to get somewhere. The safety--consider their speed, the driving conditions--of others be damned; they had to get somewhere. MPG at 80 is about 30% less than at 55-60 (reasonable surely under the conditions). The future--our kids and grandkids--be damned; they had to get somewhere. Cell phones aplenty. That numerous studies show cell phone usage while driving to be as dangerous, if not more so, than drunk driving be damned--they had to get somewhere. And it dawned on me: It's all about us! Greed must be contagious, reaching down to most people. Now I think people should be free to do things. But just because they can do something, doesn't mean they should do it. (And, of course, I was reminded of the soccer mom in her SUV last fall, speeding along at 80+ mph on I 696, with her trendy "No blood for oil" bumper sticker.
Second, the interchange at Wixom and I 696 has been open for a month or more now. I had occasion (the misfortune?) to use it twice yesterday. Yep, had to wait each time. Karen said, "There weren't backups like this before." No, no! This is the product of "technology." We can't argue against "technology." I think I've waited to get onto I 696 more in the past month than I have in the previous 30+ years out here. And, that's it--it matters not if there is improvement. It's "technology." Apparently nobody learned that technology isn't a synonym for better. I am reminded of the dimwads at the hs, with their new "technology" for taking attendance. First, sometimes students were marked absent on the screen before they even showed up for class--and when they did, they couldn't be marked present. Second, sometimes an absent student couldn't be marked absent; the system wouldn't accept the mark. And to underscore how efficient and wonderful this "technology," we had to take attendance not once, not twice, but three times. Once, it was on the computer. Twice, it had to be taken in the little brown books, you know, like it used to be taken. Thrice, at the end of each week, printouts had to be made and rechecked, filed in a looseleaf binder. Technology!!!! What a waste of time, of money, of resources! But try explaining that to the dimwits--they'll merely look at you like you are a Neanderthal.
Not everyone must be like Mother Teresa, not at all. I'm not Mother Teresa, will never be like her, don't want to be like her. But we must consider a greater good, within the context of individual freedoms. At the very least, everyone should have to read the first part of The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk (although the reading is a bit tough).
Out to write....
Second, the interchange at Wixom and I 696 has been open for a month or more now. I had occasion (the misfortune?) to use it twice yesterday. Yep, had to wait each time. Karen said, "There weren't backups like this before." No, no! This is the product of "technology." We can't argue against "technology." I think I've waited to get onto I 696 more in the past month than I have in the previous 30+ years out here. And, that's it--it matters not if there is improvement. It's "technology." Apparently nobody learned that technology isn't a synonym for better. I am reminded of the dimwads at the hs, with their new "technology" for taking attendance. First, sometimes students were marked absent on the screen before they even showed up for class--and when they did, they couldn't be marked present. Second, sometimes an absent student couldn't be marked absent; the system wouldn't accept the mark. And to underscore how efficient and wonderful this "technology," we had to take attendance not once, not twice, but three times. Once, it was on the computer. Twice, it had to be taken in the little brown books, you know, like it used to be taken. Thrice, at the end of each week, printouts had to be made and rechecked, filed in a looseleaf binder. Technology!!!! What a waste of time, of money, of resources! But try explaining that to the dimwits--they'll merely look at you like you are a Neanderthal.
Not everyone must be like Mother Teresa, not at all. I'm not Mother Teresa, will never be like her, don't want to be like her. But we must consider a greater good, within the context of individual freedoms. At the very least, everyone should have to read the first part of The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk (although the reading is a bit tough).
Out to write....
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Thurs Thoughts
Is anything simpler than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Yet, at the right time, that simple PB and J is better than a steak, seafood, or other dish. Sometimes simple is good, maybe best.
And what is better than reheated spaghetti? Note I didn't say the pretentious "pasta." Yep, it's great!
How about a 5K through Greenfield Village? Any time of the year would be good. I bet it would attract a good crowd. With enough publicity, maybe a thousand would show up. What a cool race that would be!
Remember Thomas Jefferson's words: A government strong enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything away, too. Think about that as we look to Washington to solve all of our problems, giving the ding-a-lings more and more power.
And what is better than reheated spaghetti? Note I didn't say the pretentious "pasta." Yep, it's great!
How about a 5K through Greenfield Village? Any time of the year would be good. I bet it would attract a good crowd. With enough publicity, maybe a thousand would show up. What a cool race that would be!
Remember Thomas Jefferson's words: A government strong enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything away, too. Think about that as we look to Washington to solve all of our problems, giving the ding-a-lings more and more power.
Czar, Tsar, Tzar?
Which reminds me, what is this "auto czar?" From the same folks who brought us Social Security, Medicare, No Child Left Behind, Fannie and Freddie, and the $9 billion national debt? What makes anyone, excepting themselves, believe Congress can appoint a "czar" who will be any more effective in oversight than, say, Barney Frank or Chris Dodd? Yeah, it's a joke, a sad joke that you and I (and our kids and grandkids) will pay for dearly (note I didn't end the sentence with a preposition!).
And, speaking of a "czar," where is the "czar" for the financials? They received, what 40 times?, yes, that's right (I used my calculator!) 40 times as much money, yet are answerable to nobody. By the way, was the financials bailout a "loan" or a "present?" Hmmm. And they know they are answerable to nobody--note how much looser the credit market has become in the past month or so (not at all); note the money being "earmarked" for executive bonuses (and why not? the financial execs played Congress for incredible fools--you could write this stuff in a novel and people would think you were being preposterous); note the healthy financials (who also received $$$ although they didn't need it) who used the $$$ to buy out other financials. Perhaps the Congressmen and Senators didn't want the financial grilled in committees like the Big Three CEOs. Maybe some things would have come out that the Congs and Sens didn't want to come out? (BTW, great nickname I heard for Chris Dodd today, "PACman!") Did I ever mention a joke, a sad joke?
And where are Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow? Hmmm. Great leadership, huh? Maybe they are working "behind the scenes," but what good does that do to convince the American people that a bridge loan was necessary, that is, to pressure their Senators and Congressmen into approving a package? They should have been all over the media; we should have been sick of seeing their faces, hearing their voices...unless they are opposed to a loan? But, then, why did they vote for the financials bailout????? Just speculating...after all, you, not me, elected them.
I'm still not convinced a bailout is good, that it is necessary. Government involvement is the kiss of death (see above and, frankly, history). The only hedge I have is that gov't created much of this mess and maybe should have to fix it--or, I guess, get out of the way before it messes up again?
And, speaking of a "czar," where is the "czar" for the financials? They received, what 40 times?, yes, that's right (I used my calculator!) 40 times as much money, yet are answerable to nobody. By the way, was the financials bailout a "loan" or a "present?" Hmmm. And they know they are answerable to nobody--note how much looser the credit market has become in the past month or so (not at all); note the money being "earmarked" for executive bonuses (and why not? the financial execs played Congress for incredible fools--you could write this stuff in a novel and people would think you were being preposterous); note the healthy financials (who also received $$$ although they didn't need it) who used the $$$ to buy out other financials. Perhaps the Congressmen and Senators didn't want the financial grilled in committees like the Big Three CEOs. Maybe some things would have come out that the Congs and Sens didn't want to come out? (BTW, great nickname I heard for Chris Dodd today, "PACman!") Did I ever mention a joke, a sad joke?
And where are Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow? Hmmm. Great leadership, huh? Maybe they are working "behind the scenes," but what good does that do to convince the American people that a bridge loan was necessary, that is, to pressure their Senators and Congressmen into approving a package? They should have been all over the media; we should have been sick of seeing their faces, hearing their voices...unless they are opposed to a loan? But, then, why did they vote for the financials bailout????? Just speculating...after all, you, not me, elected them.
I'm still not convinced a bailout is good, that it is necessary. Government involvement is the kiss of death (see above and, frankly, history). The only hedge I have is that gov't created much of this mess and maybe should have to fix it--or, I guess, get out of the way before it messes up again?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Addendum
I forgot to add this. Nick reminded me, but I think I wrote of it earlier. Citi, which wants billions in bailout $$$, spent $450million to get its name on the Mets' new stadium. Hmmm. and how many did Citi lay off in the last year, 50,000+, enough to sell out the 45,000-seat stadium!!!! Oh, they can't afford tickets.
Tuesday Musings
Can the picture become any bleaker? Now, as a condition for the auto bailout, Congress gets to appoint a "car czar." Brilliant! Just freakin' brilliant! Has anyone recently looked at Congress's ability to run anything? Social Security? Freddie and Fannie? Medicare? Homeland Security? FEMA? Let's just go right to the budget...what is it now, a $9 trillion dollar national debt? And the fools continue to spend and bailout and.... Maybe it's not the Congressmen and Senators who are the fools. Maybe the fools are looking at us in the mirror.
After all, how can anyone with a straight face say Nancy Pelosi should be Speaker, let along a member of the House? Ditto for Barney and Chris Dodd. Yep, our two Senators can be added in there, too. It shows more than I can write how much clout Levin and Stabenow have in the Senate--where are they? why aren't they all over the news, every darn talk show they can find? where are their defenses of the auto industry? At least Congressman McCotter is speaking up and, in my view, making sense.
I am opposed to bailouts (or loans or whatever euphemism is passing for "bailouts" these days) in principle. When government gets involved, look out, things are bound to get worse. But, several things. First, much of the auto problem is due to government ineptness, be it the mandates on what to produce (why can't the US auto makers make the cars Americans want to and will buy?), the largely government-created credit crunch, or whatever else. Since gov't created this mess, shouldn't gov't fix it? Of course not, don't be silly. Second, our gov't turns a blind eye to the unfair advantages foreign makers have (other gov'ts subsidize, manipulate currencies, etc.) and then tells the Big Three, "Compete!" (This isn't ignore the unbelievably stupid contracts the Big Three agreed to with the UAW over the years. I don't blame the UAW, but the auto cos. How can anyone defend, let alone agree to/with, the silly "work rules," the "jobs bank," etc.? I think the money and benefits the UAW hammered out are perfectly fine. Workers deserve them. Their higher pay created more prosperity and jobs for more Americans in a number of ways. But this is fodder for another blog....) Third, where does it end? First the financial and investment cos, then the Big Three, who's next? Can I wait in line, too? (Just kidding...I don't want to wait in line. I just want government to get out of the picture.)
And, I am furious at the blatant hypocrisy, dishonesty, ignorance, and you can toss in a few more epithets of Congress. What gall, hubris! But what do Senators and Congressmen care? We don't, obviously. We keep sending Ted Kennedy (apparently about to be deified, a God among us; I wonder what Mary Jo Kopechne thinks about this. Oh, she doesn't think about anything!), Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, et all back to Congress. Oh, OK, I won't forget that bastion of the Republican Party, Richard Shelby. What a genius! He must have to work at being as ignorant as he is. And, again, he keeps getting re-elected. What do they care? We don't, obviously.
How can so many Americans overlook the unconditional $700 billion given to the credit and investment firms? "Unconditional?" The CEOs didn't even have to go to DC--let alone drive there in hybrids! (Really, our representatives in Congress are stupid!) How can so many overlook that there was little or no oversight of Freddie and Fannie by, get this, Frank and Dodd, who just happened to be the recipients of the two largest campaign contributions of Fannie and Freddie? (The public record of their lack of oversight, their ineptness, is right out there for all to see.) How can so few Americans see that $700 billion would give us all, if Congress had any fortitude and intelligence, a 6-month vacation from federal income taxes and Social Security and Medicare taxes? (Now, that isn't a shortfall of 6-months' of income; Congress can either give the money to Wall Street or to us. The amount of federal monies doesn't change.) How can so few Americans see that the hundreds of billions are not being used to ease the credit crunch? (Of course, gov't is responsible for it, too, along with the stupidity and greed of the lenders--dare I say borrowers, too?) I could go on, but let's sum up with how can so few Americans care????
I'm very worried about the lives my grandchildren will live in this United States of the immediate future. This is not going to be a nice place to live. Things will be difficult and we are and have been breeding citizens who are not equipped to handle difficult times. We give everything to them--they don't have to work for them. They are "entitled" to things. Most of all, government will provide all they need. Government will "do something." Yep, we see what happened to the other countries where government, not people themselves, "did something." But, nobody cares.
I am, perhaps, even more upset with Americans. How can they allow all of this to happen?
After all, how can anyone with a straight face say Nancy Pelosi should be Speaker, let along a member of the House? Ditto for Barney and Chris Dodd. Yep, our two Senators can be added in there, too. It shows more than I can write how much clout Levin and Stabenow have in the Senate--where are they? why aren't they all over the news, every darn talk show they can find? where are their defenses of the auto industry? At least Congressman McCotter is speaking up and, in my view, making sense.
I am opposed to bailouts (or loans or whatever euphemism is passing for "bailouts" these days) in principle. When government gets involved, look out, things are bound to get worse. But, several things. First, much of the auto problem is due to government ineptness, be it the mandates on what to produce (why can't the US auto makers make the cars Americans want to and will buy?), the largely government-created credit crunch, or whatever else. Since gov't created this mess, shouldn't gov't fix it? Of course not, don't be silly. Second, our gov't turns a blind eye to the unfair advantages foreign makers have (other gov'ts subsidize, manipulate currencies, etc.) and then tells the Big Three, "Compete!" (This isn't ignore the unbelievably stupid contracts the Big Three agreed to with the UAW over the years. I don't blame the UAW, but the auto cos. How can anyone defend, let alone agree to/with, the silly "work rules," the "jobs bank," etc.? I think the money and benefits the UAW hammered out are perfectly fine. Workers deserve them. Their higher pay created more prosperity and jobs for more Americans in a number of ways. But this is fodder for another blog....) Third, where does it end? First the financial and investment cos, then the Big Three, who's next? Can I wait in line, too? (Just kidding...I don't want to wait in line. I just want government to get out of the picture.)
And, I am furious at the blatant hypocrisy, dishonesty, ignorance, and you can toss in a few more epithets of Congress. What gall, hubris! But what do Senators and Congressmen care? We don't, obviously. We keep sending Ted Kennedy (apparently about to be deified, a God among us; I wonder what Mary Jo Kopechne thinks about this. Oh, she doesn't think about anything!), Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, et all back to Congress. Oh, OK, I won't forget that bastion of the Republican Party, Richard Shelby. What a genius! He must have to work at being as ignorant as he is. And, again, he keeps getting re-elected. What do they care? We don't, obviously.
How can so many Americans overlook the unconditional $700 billion given to the credit and investment firms? "Unconditional?" The CEOs didn't even have to go to DC--let alone drive there in hybrids! (Really, our representatives in Congress are stupid!) How can so many overlook that there was little or no oversight of Freddie and Fannie by, get this, Frank and Dodd, who just happened to be the recipients of the two largest campaign contributions of Fannie and Freddie? (The public record of their lack of oversight, their ineptness, is right out there for all to see.) How can so few Americans see that $700 billion would give us all, if Congress had any fortitude and intelligence, a 6-month vacation from federal income taxes and Social Security and Medicare taxes? (Now, that isn't a shortfall of 6-months' of income; Congress can either give the money to Wall Street or to us. The amount of federal monies doesn't change.) How can so few Americans see that the hundreds of billions are not being used to ease the credit crunch? (Of course, gov't is responsible for it, too, along with the stupidity and greed of the lenders--dare I say borrowers, too?) I could go on, but let's sum up with how can so few Americans care????
I'm very worried about the lives my grandchildren will live in this United States of the immediate future. This is not going to be a nice place to live. Things will be difficult and we are and have been breeding citizens who are not equipped to handle difficult times. We give everything to them--they don't have to work for them. They are "entitled" to things. Most of all, government will provide all they need. Government will "do something." Yep, we see what happened to the other countries where government, not people themselves, "did something." But, nobody cares.
I am, perhaps, even more upset with Americans. How can they allow all of this to happen?
Saturday, November 29, 2008
And...
I repeat, "It's great to talk to myself." In more than 100 blog posts, two people (and, to their credit, more than once each) responded.
I wouldn't even mind a "Go jump in the lake" from someone.
I wouldn't even mind a "Go jump in the lake" from someone.
CitiBank?
Is this true? Citibank, the one crying for government (that is, taxpayer) money laid off 52,000 workers (seems high to me, but...), yet has forked over several hundred million dollars (maybe $400 million?) for the rights to name the New York Mets new stadium after Citibank. Where is the Congressional oversight on this, the grilling of the Citibank execs? I'd really like to see the campaign contributions of Citi. So, the Big 3 execs were taken to task for flying to DC, but the Citi guys haven't even been asked their shoe size?
When are Americans going to tell Congress, "ENOUGH!"? Oh, never...OK. I was just asking.
When are Americans going to tell Congress, "ENOUGH!"? Oh, never...OK. I was just asking.
Friday, November 28, 2008
"What kind of a people...."
Winston Churchill, speaking of the Axis, once asked, "What kind of a people do they think we are? Can it be they do not realize that we will never cease to persevere against them until they are taught a lesson that they and the world shall never forget?"
I was thinking of this today as I heard a radio jock ask that same question in another context. He noted the "Black Friday" rushes (who came up with that terrible name, "Black Friday?") that not only exhibited the worse of manners and behavior, but also apparently killed several people in stampedes in a couple of places across the country. I saw some of this, too. The lady who flew around a corner blindly, so she could park her SUV ("No blood for oil," no doubt) in a spot for which I was waiting patiently. Maybe it was the lady who nearly ran over a mother and her daughter (I assume) backing out of a parking spot while on the cell phone--and still doesn't even know how close she came. Maybe it was the cell-phone jockey who decided the red light didn't apply to her, narrowly missing me as I picked up a carry-out dinner. Can we mention the many standing in the middle of aisles, yakking away on cell phones? No, none of these were what occupied my thinking today.
Can you imagine BO's call for some sort of "civilian defense organization?" After all, that's what made him qualified for the Presidency, he was a "community organizer." He made a speech saying that's what he'd create, with a budget as big as that of the US military! Where was/is the outrage, the protests? To paraphrase, "What kind of a people does he think we are?" Well, obviously, he doesn't think we're willing to teach anyone a lesson about anything. Maybe he even thinks we're dumb. And, I think he's right.
Can you say "Red Guard," as in Lenin and Trotsky, and "Brown Shirts," as in Hitler? "Oh, c'mon Ron. Get serious...." How do we not know our history? Oh, I forgot. We were too busy teaching about diversity, that all people and all cultures are deserving of respect and acceptance. Apparently, that includes the Commies and Nazis...after all, if we could have just sat down and talked with Stalin and Hitler. (There was an idiot British Member of Parliament who actually said that! Jimmy Carter, are you listening?) I'm not making this up--it's history, READ IT! When Lenin was smuggled into Russia by the Germans to stir up trouble in the teetering Provisional Government, people laughed at him, even his own party members laughed and walked out. Who was laughing a few years later? Certainly not the 6 million he murdered. And can we mention Stalin? When Hitler was appointed Chancellor, many thought he was just doing what Germany finally deserved as a member of the family of nations. He was restoring pride and whatnot to the Germans. He was a political lightweight who would be easily manipulated when necessary. Right...I see how he was manipulated a couple years later. Don't take my word for it--READ THE HISTORY!
Would you like to start with BO's support for the Fairness Doctrine, which eliminates "fairness." He and the Dems favor a re-enactment of the old Fairness Doctrine, repealed 20 years ago. (Don't take my word for it--READ THE OLD DOCTRINE!) Yeah, a fairness doctrine that attacks "fairness." Have you read 1984 and Animal Farm? What was it Pastor Niemoeller said, "First they came after the Jews and I wasn't a Jew, so I said nothing. Then they came after the Commies and I wasn't a Commie, so I said nothing. Then they came after the trade unionists and I wasn't a trade unionist, so I said nothing. Then they came after the Gypsies.... Then they came after me and there was no one left to say anything." Are you aware of the Missouri lawsuit BO's campaign filed to silence the opposition there? Are you aware of the pressures BO's campaign brought on newspapers, radio stations, etc. to silence the opposition?
I was sent a survey from one of the survey companies I do surveys for (when was the last time you saw the word "survey" this many times in a single sentence?). The first half of it was about BO. Responding to the questions, I was as "negative" as the responses would allow, adding with the comment that "I am worried because I think BO could be very dangerous to the principles that made this country what it is." Certainly, nobody cares what Ron says and why would BO, even in light of the attempts to shut up opposing views. I wonder how many "nobodies" were among the 25+ million Hitler or 30+ million Stalin killed????
No, I'm not paranoid, just concerned over what kind of lackadaisical, apathetic people we have become. I wonder what Winston Churchill would say today.
Out.
I was thinking of this today as I heard a radio jock ask that same question in another context. He noted the "Black Friday" rushes (who came up with that terrible name, "Black Friday?") that not only exhibited the worse of manners and behavior, but also apparently killed several people in stampedes in a couple of places across the country. I saw some of this, too. The lady who flew around a corner blindly, so she could park her SUV ("No blood for oil," no doubt) in a spot for which I was waiting patiently. Maybe it was the lady who nearly ran over a mother and her daughter (I assume) backing out of a parking spot while on the cell phone--and still doesn't even know how close she came. Maybe it was the cell-phone jockey who decided the red light didn't apply to her, narrowly missing me as I picked up a carry-out dinner. Can we mention the many standing in the middle of aisles, yakking away on cell phones? No, none of these were what occupied my thinking today.
Can you imagine BO's call for some sort of "civilian defense organization?" After all, that's what made him qualified for the Presidency, he was a "community organizer." He made a speech saying that's what he'd create, with a budget as big as that of the US military! Where was/is the outrage, the protests? To paraphrase, "What kind of a people does he think we are?" Well, obviously, he doesn't think we're willing to teach anyone a lesson about anything. Maybe he even thinks we're dumb. And, I think he's right.
Can you say "Red Guard," as in Lenin and Trotsky, and "Brown Shirts," as in Hitler? "Oh, c'mon Ron. Get serious...." How do we not know our history? Oh, I forgot. We were too busy teaching about diversity, that all people and all cultures are deserving of respect and acceptance. Apparently, that includes the Commies and Nazis...after all, if we could have just sat down and talked with Stalin and Hitler. (There was an idiot British Member of Parliament who actually said that! Jimmy Carter, are you listening?) I'm not making this up--it's history, READ IT! When Lenin was smuggled into Russia by the Germans to stir up trouble in the teetering Provisional Government, people laughed at him, even his own party members laughed and walked out. Who was laughing a few years later? Certainly not the 6 million he murdered. And can we mention Stalin? When Hitler was appointed Chancellor, many thought he was just doing what Germany finally deserved as a member of the family of nations. He was restoring pride and whatnot to the Germans. He was a political lightweight who would be easily manipulated when necessary. Right...I see how he was manipulated a couple years later. Don't take my word for it--READ THE HISTORY!
Would you like to start with BO's support for the Fairness Doctrine, which eliminates "fairness." He and the Dems favor a re-enactment of the old Fairness Doctrine, repealed 20 years ago. (Don't take my word for it--READ THE OLD DOCTRINE!) Yeah, a fairness doctrine that attacks "fairness." Have you read 1984 and Animal Farm? What was it Pastor Niemoeller said, "First they came after the Jews and I wasn't a Jew, so I said nothing. Then they came after the Commies and I wasn't a Commie, so I said nothing. Then they came after the trade unionists and I wasn't a trade unionist, so I said nothing. Then they came after the Gypsies.... Then they came after me and there was no one left to say anything." Are you aware of the Missouri lawsuit BO's campaign filed to silence the opposition there? Are you aware of the pressures BO's campaign brought on newspapers, radio stations, etc. to silence the opposition?
I was sent a survey from one of the survey companies I do surveys for (when was the last time you saw the word "survey" this many times in a single sentence?). The first half of it was about BO. Responding to the questions, I was as "negative" as the responses would allow, adding with the comment that "I am worried because I think BO could be very dangerous to the principles that made this country what it is." Certainly, nobody cares what Ron says and why would BO, even in light of the attempts to shut up opposing views. I wonder how many "nobodies" were among the 25+ million Hitler or 30+ million Stalin killed????
No, I'm not paranoid, just concerned over what kind of lackadaisical, apathetic people we have become. I wonder what Winston Churchill would say today.
Out.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Wondering???
Just wondering....
I know I had wonderful college professors. They had immense knowledge of their specific subjects. The more I learn now, the more in awe I am of what they know/knew. But, I am wondering, are/were they specialists? That is, did my US History profs know enough (care enough?) to teach world or European history? Would my Russian or British history profs be able to effectively teach US history? Hmmm. Could the "specialists" (thanks to one of my students for coming up with that, "specialists," as opposed to generalists) run a course on, say, the classical ancient civilizations, Greece and Rome? Hmmmm.... My guess? Yep, they could.
I heard some shill for the Dems on the radio this AM. He masquerades as an impartial political reporter, but reading his stuff in the newspaper and listening to him unmasks him pretty easily. He was running down McC's choice of VP nominee. Now, granted, I don't know a whole lot about this choice. Likely, outside of Alaska, nobody knows much about her. But, this guy was rambling like an idiot. He said she has "no experience" running government, having been gov of Alaska for less than a full term. Wait a minute!?!? What "experience" does BO have at running anything? This isn't a stab at BO--I've already explained why he isn't getting my vote for President (and, likely, neither is McC). But if this Alaska gov is to be criticized because she is inexperienced and isn't likely to be able to run the government if something happens to McC, why is BO not equally criticized? And, nothing needs to happen to someone else for him to try to run the gov't--he, if elected (and, unfortunately for the US, I think he will be--of course, if McC is elected I think it's unfortunate for the US), will be Pres. Then this shill of a reporter remarked something else. He thinks McC is wrong to believe women will vote for his ticket merely because there's a woman on it. Wait a minute! Why were many women supporting HRC? It's not like she has accomplished anything other than getting elected as a carpetbagger in NY. What are 90% of blacks voting for BO, despite his dearth of specific ideas? Could it be women supported HRC because she is a woman???? Could it be blacks support BO because he is black???? I'm not denigrated such support out of hand. I don't necessarily identify with it because I think so very, very little of either HRC or BO, but it must be a powerful feeling for women to nearly get a woman nominee and for blacks to actually get a black nominee.
I read somewhere that a union official claims racism will cause whites to vote against BO. I don't doubt there are still some who will vote against him for that reason. But I resent anyone who thinks I won't vote for him because he is black. I won't vote for BO because he shouldn't be President!
Bill Clinton is a marvelous speaker. But, just wondering, is that what's become of Democrats (did you hear the ovation!?!?) that Slick Willy is their ideal? As the recent book The Leaders We Deserved notes, character does matter in the quality of a President. Clinton had/has no shred of it. Objective history (emphasis on "objective") will record him as a very mediocre if not worse President. One of the reasons for James Buchanan's poor record and ranking/rating as President was that he feel asleep on the job. He allowed things to happened that exacerbated future events. WJC, again, if history views him objectively, did the same thing. And, to keep with the theme of the current election, I think very little of the character of either of the two major party candidates. Our nation and, especially, our children and grandchildren will suffer because we were too busy watching Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, rooting for our teams, etc. to care, to pay attention. Shame on us....
Out to put Ashley down for a nap.
I know I had wonderful college professors. They had immense knowledge of their specific subjects. The more I learn now, the more in awe I am of what they know/knew. But, I am wondering, are/were they specialists? That is, did my US History profs know enough (care enough?) to teach world or European history? Would my Russian or British history profs be able to effectively teach US history? Hmmm. Could the "specialists" (thanks to one of my students for coming up with that, "specialists," as opposed to generalists) run a course on, say, the classical ancient civilizations, Greece and Rome? Hmmmm.... My guess? Yep, they could.
I heard some shill for the Dems on the radio this AM. He masquerades as an impartial political reporter, but reading his stuff in the newspaper and listening to him unmasks him pretty easily. He was running down McC's choice of VP nominee. Now, granted, I don't know a whole lot about this choice. Likely, outside of Alaska, nobody knows much about her. But, this guy was rambling like an idiot. He said she has "no experience" running government, having been gov of Alaska for less than a full term. Wait a minute!?!? What "experience" does BO have at running anything? This isn't a stab at BO--I've already explained why he isn't getting my vote for President (and, likely, neither is McC). But if this Alaska gov is to be criticized because she is inexperienced and isn't likely to be able to run the government if something happens to McC, why is BO not equally criticized? And, nothing needs to happen to someone else for him to try to run the gov't--he, if elected (and, unfortunately for the US, I think he will be--of course, if McC is elected I think it's unfortunate for the US), will be Pres. Then this shill of a reporter remarked something else. He thinks McC is wrong to believe women will vote for his ticket merely because there's a woman on it. Wait a minute! Why were many women supporting HRC? It's not like she has accomplished anything other than getting elected as a carpetbagger in NY. What are 90% of blacks voting for BO, despite his dearth of specific ideas? Could it be women supported HRC because she is a woman???? Could it be blacks support BO because he is black???? I'm not denigrated such support out of hand. I don't necessarily identify with it because I think so very, very little of either HRC or BO, but it must be a powerful feeling for women to nearly get a woman nominee and for blacks to actually get a black nominee.
I read somewhere that a union official claims racism will cause whites to vote against BO. I don't doubt there are still some who will vote against him for that reason. But I resent anyone who thinks I won't vote for him because he is black. I won't vote for BO because he shouldn't be President!
Bill Clinton is a marvelous speaker. But, just wondering, is that what's become of Democrats (did you hear the ovation!?!?) that Slick Willy is their ideal? As the recent book The Leaders We Deserved notes, character does matter in the quality of a President. Clinton had/has no shred of it. Objective history (emphasis on "objective") will record him as a very mediocre if not worse President. One of the reasons for James Buchanan's poor record and ranking/rating as President was that he feel asleep on the job. He allowed things to happened that exacerbated future events. WJC, again, if history views him objectively, did the same thing. And, to keep with the theme of the current election, I think very little of the character of either of the two major party candidates. Our nation and, especially, our children and grandchildren will suffer because we were too busy watching Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, rooting for our teams, etc. to care, to pay attention. Shame on us....
Out to put Ashley down for a nap.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
"Negativity?"
I just wrote an article and noted how I rarely, if ever, use the word "boring." I certainly don't apply it to anything I do. Most people, I believe, don't know what "boring" means. If they don't like doing something, if something is difficult, if it is not what they want to do, well, they label it "boring." That is not what "boring" means.
Another word that attracted my attention over the past few days is "negative." I received an e-mail from a college classmate who remarked he enjoyed hearing from me because I am "so positive" about life. Within the past few months or so, I have received a number of similar comments (by e-mail, in person) about my writing about running. One dentist said, "You are always so upbeat, so positive." This was echoed by a woman I ran into at a race, a woman who has run more than 100 marathons. At the colleges where I teach, I hear very similar comments. I bring it up because, when I was teaching full-time, I had the reputation of being "negative," of harboring "negativity," of being "a bitcher."
Of course, the people who said such things fall into the same category as those who don't know what "boring" means. The people who said such things were public school administrators, so they can be forgiven for not being on the ball. It's in the nature of the being. (I've always maintained that administrators go to "dumb school.") They mistook "criticism" for "negativity." They, I guess, didn't understand that a person who really cares (Yes, I had two administrators tell me over the years, both the exact words, "Ron, you care too much." Isn't that a hell of a thing to say about a teacher? But, consider, they were administrators.) can only stand so much stupidity, so much lack of integrity, so much duplicity. And, they rarely, if ever, could defend what they were doing in light of the criticism (not "negativity") I offered.
I find it interesting to have received all of these comments about "so positive," "so upbeat," etc. I have always received them--outside of the public schools. These came from coaching (both at the high school level and in little leagues and YMCA), from writing (some say I gush too much!), from my teaching at the colleges, from being Dad and Grandpa, from everything, everything, that is, away from the public schools. Maybe, just maybe, someone should have been paying attention. Of course, they weren't. But, consider, they were public school administrators.
First, I just finished a book, The Leaders We Deserved. It's about Presidents and their qualifications and characters. But the generalizations can and should apply to all people in positions of leadership. What does the author note? Hmmm. Willingness to accept criticism. Willingness to concede others have ideas better than yours. Integrity and honesty. Humility. Vision. I could go on, but you get the idea. Rather than exhibit these characteristics, it was easier for school administrators to throw out labels, "negative," "bitcher," etc. Shame on them, each and every one of them, and shame on the other teachers, each and every one of them, who sat by and saw this happen, sat by and let this happen without a peep.
Second, Henry Steele Commager, one of the History professors at Amherst, wrote a piece that the most valuable members of a society are its critics. I copied the piece and sent it to a number of people who had labeled me "negative," "bitcher," etc. Of course, it did no good. But, consider that these were public school administrators. Professor Commager's essay was certainly over their heads.
Third, I make no claims to brilliance. I am hardly God's gift to intelligence. The older I get, the more I learn, the more I learn I don't know very much. That said, I was lucky enough to have received the best of all educations at Amherst. My professors, for the most part, were brilliant. They knew their subjects. They knew the right questions to ask. We had prodigious amounts of reading and writing. One AC grad, a bit ahead of me in years, went to Harvard Law and admitted it wasn't as demanding as AC. I once met a PhD in Psych from Notre Dame (no mean school itself) and he told me, "I know you worked harder for your BA than I did for my PhD." Maybe; maybe not. This isn't bragging, not at all. But it's just an indication that I know what quality education is, what it requires from both instructors and students. That is, perhaps public school administrators should, at least, listen to me instead of calling me names???? (Of course, even my wife doesn't quite get this one.) One of the best books I have ever read is Teaching: What We Do. It was written by a group of AC professors, yes, some of mine! They outline how they prepare--teaching, assignments, etc. It is fascinating and should be required reading for all teachers, regardless of level or subject. But, what do I know? (As I have maintained for years, I'm just a piece of mung.)
OK, am a bit misleading here. Stories coming home from my wife the past two weeks (she works in a public school district) and from employees of public schools (at social gatherings) reinforce one of my major concerns--that people making decisions in the public schools are people who should never be allowed to make them. I worked for four principals over the years. None of them, NONE, should have been principals. They didn't have the characteristics demonstrated in The Leaders We Deserve, no integrity, no courage, no willingness to listen to opposing views, no ability to surround themselves with people of strong ideas (of course, remember, they are public school administrators), etc. Use that and consider the assistant principals! Board office administrators, including superintendents, were worse because they had learned to "play the game" better than others--and I've maintained for years that education is a serious business, not "a game."
OK, enough for now. Out to make dinner.
Another word that attracted my attention over the past few days is "negative." I received an e-mail from a college classmate who remarked he enjoyed hearing from me because I am "so positive" about life. Within the past few months or so, I have received a number of similar comments (by e-mail, in person) about my writing about running. One dentist said, "You are always so upbeat, so positive." This was echoed by a woman I ran into at a race, a woman who has run more than 100 marathons. At the colleges where I teach, I hear very similar comments. I bring it up because, when I was teaching full-time, I had the reputation of being "negative," of harboring "negativity," of being "a bitcher."
Of course, the people who said such things fall into the same category as those who don't know what "boring" means. The people who said such things were public school administrators, so they can be forgiven for not being on the ball. It's in the nature of the being. (I've always maintained that administrators go to "dumb school.") They mistook "criticism" for "negativity." They, I guess, didn't understand that a person who really cares (Yes, I had two administrators tell me over the years, both the exact words, "Ron, you care too much." Isn't that a hell of a thing to say about a teacher? But, consider, they were administrators.) can only stand so much stupidity, so much lack of integrity, so much duplicity. And, they rarely, if ever, could defend what they were doing in light of the criticism (not "negativity") I offered.
I find it interesting to have received all of these comments about "so positive," "so upbeat," etc. I have always received them--outside of the public schools. These came from coaching (both at the high school level and in little leagues and YMCA), from writing (some say I gush too much!), from my teaching at the colleges, from being Dad and Grandpa, from everything, everything, that is, away from the public schools. Maybe, just maybe, someone should have been paying attention. Of course, they weren't. But, consider, they were public school administrators.
First, I just finished a book, The Leaders We Deserved. It's about Presidents and their qualifications and characters. But the generalizations can and should apply to all people in positions of leadership. What does the author note? Hmmm. Willingness to accept criticism. Willingness to concede others have ideas better than yours. Integrity and honesty. Humility. Vision. I could go on, but you get the idea. Rather than exhibit these characteristics, it was easier for school administrators to throw out labels, "negative," "bitcher," etc. Shame on them, each and every one of them, and shame on the other teachers, each and every one of them, who sat by and saw this happen, sat by and let this happen without a peep.
Second, Henry Steele Commager, one of the History professors at Amherst, wrote a piece that the most valuable members of a society are its critics. I copied the piece and sent it to a number of people who had labeled me "negative," "bitcher," etc. Of course, it did no good. But, consider that these were public school administrators. Professor Commager's essay was certainly over their heads.
Third, I make no claims to brilliance. I am hardly God's gift to intelligence. The older I get, the more I learn, the more I learn I don't know very much. That said, I was lucky enough to have received the best of all educations at Amherst. My professors, for the most part, were brilliant. They knew their subjects. They knew the right questions to ask. We had prodigious amounts of reading and writing. One AC grad, a bit ahead of me in years, went to Harvard Law and admitted it wasn't as demanding as AC. I once met a PhD in Psych from Notre Dame (no mean school itself) and he told me, "I know you worked harder for your BA than I did for my PhD." Maybe; maybe not. This isn't bragging, not at all. But it's just an indication that I know what quality education is, what it requires from both instructors and students. That is, perhaps public school administrators should, at least, listen to me instead of calling me names???? (Of course, even my wife doesn't quite get this one.) One of the best books I have ever read is Teaching: What We Do. It was written by a group of AC professors, yes, some of mine! They outline how they prepare--teaching, assignments, etc. It is fascinating and should be required reading for all teachers, regardless of level or subject. But, what do I know? (As I have maintained for years, I'm just a piece of mung.)
OK, am a bit misleading here. Stories coming home from my wife the past two weeks (she works in a public school district) and from employees of public schools (at social gatherings) reinforce one of my major concerns--that people making decisions in the public schools are people who should never be allowed to make them. I worked for four principals over the years. None of them, NONE, should have been principals. They didn't have the characteristics demonstrated in The Leaders We Deserve, no integrity, no courage, no willingness to listen to opposing views, no ability to surround themselves with people of strong ideas (of course, remember, they are public school administrators), etc. Use that and consider the assistant principals! Board office administrators, including superintendents, were worse because they had learned to "play the game" better than others--and I've maintained for years that education is a serious business, not "a game."
OK, enough for now. Out to make dinner.
Apocalypse
Yet another sign that the Apocalypse is nearly upon us:
Riding down the street on his bike was a kid, maybe 11-12 years old, in that range. Holding the handle bar with one hand, he had a cell phone in the other. 11-12 years old?!?!
Riding down the street on his bike was a kid, maybe 11-12 years old, in that range. Holding the handle bar with one hand, he had a cell phone in the other. 11-12 years old?!?!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Politicians/Elected Officials
Watching Kwame Kilpatrick's circus this afternoon reminded me that most politicians and elected officials are arrogant and shameless. How can this guy do this to himself and, more important, to his family? Where is his shame? About the only thing I can figure is that holding on the the mayoralty is his last playing card, the last holding he has to make a deal.
Shame? As I've blogged before, there is none. Look at the professional athletes, the so-called "stars of entertainment," and, of course, the politicians. Check out John Edwards today, too. Hey, I'm sometimes very embarrassed to admit I'm the father of....at least in certain situations and/or company. Yet, these guys...?
Arrogance? They have as much of that as they have none of shame. They all know better than you--how to spend your money, what laws you ought to obey, where you can smoke cigarettes, how many fast food outlets can open up where, etc. I hope Chucky Fried Chicken and McDonald's know I don't buy some of their products now because of the change in taste thanks to no trans-fats in their frying. I know trans-fats are not healthy and I didn't eat KFC or McD's daily or even weekly. But it was my choice to buy and eat them and now, frankly, I don't because I don't like the taste as much.
All of these blowhards ought to be forced to take in studies of people who preceded them, those folks like Washington, Lincoln, and even the Roman emperor Augustus. Civic responsibility comes first. Once they are elected today, they think they've become Mensa members. Ha! Far from it.
I sent a letter to each of the local school board members in June. How many responses did I receive? Good guess--NONE! I guess these jokers think they know more about quality education than the rest of us. I guess, too, maybe they didn't like my suggestion that they think about getting rid of some of the people they hired to run the schools--because the people they hired are incompetent. But, since they are elected representatives, at least they should reply, if even to say, "Go jump in the lake!"
In this specific case, I remember the words of Mark Twain: "In the first place, God made idiots; that was for practice. Then he made school boards." I think that thought can be expanded.
Shame? As I've blogged before, there is none. Look at the professional athletes, the so-called "stars of entertainment," and, of course, the politicians. Check out John Edwards today, too. Hey, I'm sometimes very embarrassed to admit I'm the father of....at least in certain situations and/or company. Yet, these guys...?
Arrogance? They have as much of that as they have none of shame. They all know better than you--how to spend your money, what laws you ought to obey, where you can smoke cigarettes, how many fast food outlets can open up where, etc. I hope Chucky Fried Chicken and McDonald's know I don't buy some of their products now because of the change in taste thanks to no trans-fats in their frying. I know trans-fats are not healthy and I didn't eat KFC or McD's daily or even weekly. But it was my choice to buy and eat them and now, frankly, I don't because I don't like the taste as much.
All of these blowhards ought to be forced to take in studies of people who preceded them, those folks like Washington, Lincoln, and even the Roman emperor Augustus. Civic responsibility comes first. Once they are elected today, they think they've become Mensa members. Ha! Far from it.
I sent a letter to each of the local school board members in June. How many responses did I receive? Good guess--NONE! I guess these jokers think they know more about quality education than the rest of us. I guess, too, maybe they didn't like my suggestion that they think about getting rid of some of the people they hired to run the schools--because the people they hired are incompetent. But, since they are elected representatives, at least they should reply, if even to say, "Go jump in the lake!"
In this specific case, I remember the words of Mark Twain: "In the first place, God made idiots; that was for practice. Then he made school boards." I think that thought can be expanded.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Musings
I love writing for myself.... And, I love beer!
Leonard Pitts had a wonderful column this week on the "stupidification of America," esp the young. He was, as he often is, right on the money. I don't always agree with Pitts, but he is always thoughtful, insightful, and reasoned. He wrote, "I am less concerned with what they think than 'that' they think." "They" referred to a commencement audience he addressed recently. He continued, "Because we are losing that skill." Yes, we are. And, we are concerned that the young people don't vote?!?!? Why?
Why is it that Congress receives a 10% approval rating, yet 90+% of them are returned election after election after election? Can it be H.L. Mencken was correct: "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." I think so. Good book out now, The Leaders We Deserved. Do we "deserve" Kwame, Jennie, and W., not to mention the entire Congress? I think so. Far too many people are not paying attention. Blame, in large part, the schools, which have dumbed down education so far that this is the result.
OK, enough for now....
Leonard Pitts had a wonderful column this week on the "stupidification of America," esp the young. He was, as he often is, right on the money. I don't always agree with Pitts, but he is always thoughtful, insightful, and reasoned. He wrote, "I am less concerned with what they think than 'that' they think." "They" referred to a commencement audience he addressed recently. He continued, "Because we are losing that skill." Yes, we are. And, we are concerned that the young people don't vote?!?!? Why?
Why is it that Congress receives a 10% approval rating, yet 90+% of them are returned election after election after election? Can it be H.L. Mencken was correct: "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." I think so. Good book out now, The Leaders We Deserved. Do we "deserve" Kwame, Jennie, and W., not to mention the entire Congress? I think so. Far too many people are not paying attention. Blame, in large part, the schools, which have dumbed down education so far that this is the result.
OK, enough for now....
Monday, July 21, 2008
Election 2008: "Wasting a Vote?"
Vote for Obama? Nope, I can't do that. Ah, that leaves McCain.... Nope, I can't vote for him either. Hmmmm.
Neither candidate possesses what I want in a President; neither is remotely close. So, what to do? One of my college classmates, not jokingly, says, "Hold your nose and cast your ballot for McCain." I don't think I can do that.
What about a write-in or a third party candidate? Of course, a third party candidate worth a vote must first be found. But that's another matter.
Some have suggested that a write-in or third party vote is "throwing away a vote." Is it? Is it wasting the precious vote (and I'm not being facetious)? Right now, I think voting for Obama or McCain is "wasting," "throwing away" my vote. Neither is worth my vote for President. I think a vote for Gore or W was also a "wasted" vote; same for Kerry or W.
Perhaps if enough people thought a write-in or third party vote didn't think it was "wasted" or "thrown away" a difference could be made. Elect a third party candidate? Not likely. It's never happened, at least not for President. But a minor party candidacy has influenced the outcomes of a number of elections from 1824 right up to 1992 (and maybe 2000). T Roosevelt, running not as a Rep, but as a Bull Mooser in 1912, finished second, ahead of Big Bill Taft. I guess there's a first for everything. Maybe soon? More likely, if enough folks voted write-in or for a minor candidate, maybe (I know, a big stretch), just maybe a major party would give us a candidate worth voting for, worth the Presidency.
Others may be right. I might be wasting, throwing away my vote by not choosing BO or McC. I have thought about it often and hard. I still think voting for either of them is a waste.
Neither candidate possesses what I want in a President; neither is remotely close. So, what to do? One of my college classmates, not jokingly, says, "Hold your nose and cast your ballot for McCain." I don't think I can do that.
What about a write-in or a third party candidate? Of course, a third party candidate worth a vote must first be found. But that's another matter.
Some have suggested that a write-in or third party vote is "throwing away a vote." Is it? Is it wasting the precious vote (and I'm not being facetious)? Right now, I think voting for Obama or McCain is "wasting," "throwing away" my vote. Neither is worth my vote for President. I think a vote for Gore or W was also a "wasted" vote; same for Kerry or W.
Perhaps if enough people thought a write-in or third party vote didn't think it was "wasted" or "thrown away" a difference could be made. Elect a third party candidate? Not likely. It's never happened, at least not for President. But a minor party candidacy has influenced the outcomes of a number of elections from 1824 right up to 1992 (and maybe 2000). T Roosevelt, running not as a Rep, but as a Bull Mooser in 1912, finished second, ahead of Big Bill Taft. I guess there's a first for everything. Maybe soon? More likely, if enough folks voted write-in or for a minor candidate, maybe (I know, a big stretch), just maybe a major party would give us a candidate worth voting for, worth the Presidency.
Others may be right. I might be wasting, throwing away my vote by not choosing BO or McC. I have thought about it often and hard. I still think voting for either of them is a waste.
Ramblings
Can it really be almost two weeks since my last post???? But, I see, I am writing to myself--zero comments. It's like when I was working. I'm almost ashamed of it, but often I deliberately tried to insult people, to question their motives, etc. just to try to get them to say something, even "Shut up, Ron!" But, nope, rarely, very, very rarely, over 33 years did anyone speak up and, when he/she did, more often than not spoke from a position of ignorance.
Is global warming behind our numerous and thunderous storms of late spring and early summer? If so, how does that mesh with the 25,000 physicists who recently joined the skeptics that global warming is caused by man-made activities? I wonder what the hairy mammoths and wooly mastodons called the end of the Ice Ages?
What constitutes art, as opposed to crafts? For instance, the Ann Arbor Art Fair has both. Which is which? Some, oil or pastel paintings to name one item, are obvious. What about painting on rocks? If it hangs inside, on a wall, is it art? If it hangs outside, in the garden, is it a craft? Beats me.... What was it Supreme Potter Stewart said about pornography? "I can't define it. But I know it when I see it."
Kenneth Davis of the Don't Know Much about... books has a pretty good new one, Hidden American History. Some is new, but not much. But it's entertaining and he offers some good perspectives. It's worth reading. It ends at the Constitutional Convention/Ratification, so my guess is there's a sequel or two or three in the making.
Is global warming behind our numerous and thunderous storms of late spring and early summer? If so, how does that mesh with the 25,000 physicists who recently joined the skeptics that global warming is caused by man-made activities? I wonder what the hairy mammoths and wooly mastodons called the end of the Ice Ages?
What constitutes art, as opposed to crafts? For instance, the Ann Arbor Art Fair has both. Which is which? Some, oil or pastel paintings to name one item, are obvious. What about painting on rocks? If it hangs inside, on a wall, is it art? If it hangs outside, in the garden, is it a craft? Beats me.... What was it Supreme Potter Stewart said about pornography? "I can't define it. But I know it when I see it."
Kenneth Davis of the Don't Know Much about... books has a pretty good new one, Hidden American History. Some is new, but not much. But it's entertaining and he offers some good perspectives. It's worth reading. It ends at the Constitutional Convention/Ratification, so my guess is there's a sequel or two or three in the making.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Edu
William Brock is the former Labor Secretary and, I believe, Trade Secretary. He currently is the head of some education think tank. He has some good, sensible views. And, he won't get listened to because what is says, although true, will be rejected by those who run the show.
First, Brock notes that "we recruit new teachers from the bottom 30%" of students entering college. Then, we turn them loose in the schools and say, "Educate!" Right. Consider this, seriously consider this. Is there any part of this that makes sense? Of course, this won't change, not at all. But why not? Because guess who is running education, the administrators, the supers, the teachers--yep, the "bottom 30%...."
He is off base in saying "they have no voice in their schools" (I'm impressed he didn't say "no say!"). And, for the most part, why should they? Remember, they are the "bottom 30%." Do NFL teams send the "bottom 30%" out there as their starting line-ups? Perhaps only two places do we find the "bottom 30%" in such roles--education and politics.
Second, Brock notes that "standardized tests of rote knowledge [shouldn't] drive education away from the very things that have made America special...." And, what are we doing? And who is afraid to stand up and say "NO!?" Yep, the "bottom 30%." What "drives" the curricula? The tests, of course--standards ("benchmarks," as nauseating to me as "biofeedback") are geared, not to creativity, to thinking, to innovation, nope, but to "the test." Now, that might not be a bad thing if, a very big IF, the tests were any good. But, as anyone who wants to go look at one can tell, they aren't any good.
I think Brock does miss the boat again somewhat in saying that "education is the key to better jobs, higher incomes, and greater growth in...an extremely competitive global economy." He adds, "Nothing is more important than education. Absolutely nothing." ("Hunh! Good God!") Yes, jobs are important, but edu is more important for another thing--the ability of people to rule themselves, the very existence of self-government. That was a keystone of Jeffersonian principles, that, with time and education, people were indeed capable of democratic government. And the US provided "the last best chance" to prove that despotism, tyranny in the form of emperors, dictators, monarchs was not the inevitable outcome of history.
Again, who will listen? Nobody. It's the "other" schools that are failing, not ours. Remember, as long as it's "give my kid an A, but don't make him work for it," then schools are wonderful successes. Note the inflated GPAs, not only of K-12, but also the colleges. (I never had an A as an undergraduate and, from the talk on my class's List Serve, not many did get As--note the colleges of education GPAs are often 4.0, Stanford's average grade is A-, etc.) So, the "bottom 30%" only know one thing--good grades without regard to standards and rigor.
Can you say, "Doomed?"
First, Brock notes that "we recruit new teachers from the bottom 30%" of students entering college. Then, we turn them loose in the schools and say, "Educate!" Right. Consider this, seriously consider this. Is there any part of this that makes sense? Of course, this won't change, not at all. But why not? Because guess who is running education, the administrators, the supers, the teachers--yep, the "bottom 30%...."
He is off base in saying "they have no voice in their schools" (I'm impressed he didn't say "no say!"). And, for the most part, why should they? Remember, they are the "bottom 30%." Do NFL teams send the "bottom 30%" out there as their starting line-ups? Perhaps only two places do we find the "bottom 30%" in such roles--education and politics.
Second, Brock notes that "standardized tests of rote knowledge [shouldn't] drive education away from the very things that have made America special...." And, what are we doing? And who is afraid to stand up and say "NO!?" Yep, the "bottom 30%." What "drives" the curricula? The tests, of course--standards ("benchmarks," as nauseating to me as "biofeedback") are geared, not to creativity, to thinking, to innovation, nope, but to "the test." Now, that might not be a bad thing if, a very big IF, the tests were any good. But, as anyone who wants to go look at one can tell, they aren't any good.
I think Brock does miss the boat again somewhat in saying that "education is the key to better jobs, higher incomes, and greater growth in...an extremely competitive global economy." He adds, "Nothing is more important than education. Absolutely nothing." ("Hunh! Good God!") Yes, jobs are important, but edu is more important for another thing--the ability of people to rule themselves, the very existence of self-government. That was a keystone of Jeffersonian principles, that, with time and education, people were indeed capable of democratic government. And the US provided "the last best chance" to prove that despotism, tyranny in the form of emperors, dictators, monarchs was not the inevitable outcome of history.
Again, who will listen? Nobody. It's the "other" schools that are failing, not ours. Remember, as long as it's "give my kid an A, but don't make him work for it," then schools are wonderful successes. Note the inflated GPAs, not only of K-12, but also the colleges. (I never had an A as an undergraduate and, from the talk on my class's List Serve, not many did get As--note the colleges of education GPAs are often 4.0, Stanford's average grade is A-, etc.) So, the "bottom 30%" only know one thing--good grades without regard to standards and rigor.
Can you say, "Doomed?"
Monday, July 7, 2008
Ramblings
Interesting article from Newsweek, Darwin v Lincoln. A good analysis, it is insightful and thought-provoking. You may, early on, figure out what the author admits later. One of those who commented was way off base. He claimed Darwin was much greater in that Lincoln was involved in saving "only one country." What this guy ignores is that this "only one country" is the world's "last best hope." You can find it at http://www.newsweek.com/id/143742.
One would think, with all of the bells and whistles that are put on cars, standard equipment mind you, that one of the things would be turn signals. When did those become passe, no longer put on cars? Obviously, they are not on newer model cars since the vast number of lane changers I saw over 5 hours yesterday didn't signal!!!! And, need I mention the cars, trucks, SUVs doing in excess of 80 mph--with $4.20 a gallon gasoline????
Guest column in today's (?) newspaper ripping on state super of schools M. Flanagan. Even more to the point, though somewhat lost in the rest of the article, was the bit about "fake teachers." Yep, but nobody listens. To people today, a degree is a degree is a degree...they are all equal. Little do they know....
Is there anything better than working outside? I've spent the last 4-5 days out there, about 4-5 hours each day--mowing the lawn, hauling dirt and shredded bark, etc. I enjoy the physical nature of that work, but also just being outside is cool. And, what better break than to stop and watch my grandkids play on the trampoline, in the sandbox (that Grandma turned into a pool), and just running the yard.
Good book coming out in Sept, a photo bio of Lincoln. Very poignant pix, great quotations from Abe, with good text. I zipped through my review copy. I'm about halfway through Ellis's Passionate Sage, the John Adams bio. It, too, is very good--but what else might one expect from Ellis? I remain impressed with the research these guys (I know they have researchers, but they have to do it, too) do. Where do they find the time?
One would think, with all of the bells and whistles that are put on cars, standard equipment mind you, that one of the things would be turn signals. When did those become passe, no longer put on cars? Obviously, they are not on newer model cars since the vast number of lane changers I saw over 5 hours yesterday didn't signal!!!! And, need I mention the cars, trucks, SUVs doing in excess of 80 mph--with $4.20 a gallon gasoline????
Guest column in today's (?) newspaper ripping on state super of schools M. Flanagan. Even more to the point, though somewhat lost in the rest of the article, was the bit about "fake teachers." Yep, but nobody listens. To people today, a degree is a degree is a degree...they are all equal. Little do they know....
Is there anything better than working outside? I've spent the last 4-5 days out there, about 4-5 hours each day--mowing the lawn, hauling dirt and shredded bark, etc. I enjoy the physical nature of that work, but also just being outside is cool. And, what better break than to stop and watch my grandkids play on the trampoline, in the sandbox (that Grandma turned into a pool), and just running the yard.
Good book coming out in Sept, a photo bio of Lincoln. Very poignant pix, great quotations from Abe, with good text. I zipped through my review copy. I'm about halfway through Ellis's Passionate Sage, the John Adams bio. It, too, is very good--but what else might one expect from Ellis? I remain impressed with the research these guys (I know they have researchers, but they have to do it, too) do. Where do they find the time?
Friday, July 4, 2008
Independence Day
On this Independence Day, we should remember, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1825, fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Adams purportedly said on his deathbed, "The Union is safe; Jefferson lives." He had no way of knowing, in Massachusetts, that Jefferson had died a few hours before in faraway Virginia. James Monroe died the next year--on Independence Day.
Also, I'm wondering and have been for quite a while: Why aren't there many schools--none around here--named after Abraham Lincoln? In fact, in the Detroit Metro area, two high schools are named after Adlai Stevenson! Now, he may or may not merit having such honor, but doesn't Lincoln at least merit it as much? Of course, I'm being facetious. Is this yet another instance of our incredible ignorance of history?
Speaking of ignorant: A Detroit sports columnist wrote this about an NHLer who signed with the Red Wings for both less money and a shorter term--that he was "...shunning guaranteed financial security." Huh? The guy signed for $7.5 million!!!!! Maybe someone isn't thinking properly, if at all. How many of us have made $7.5 million, not in a year, but in our lifetimes? I'm not bemoaning this guy his money; I don't care what he makes. But, "shunning guaranteed financial security?" Maybe his contract says he must spend it all in one year, that he can't save or invest any of it? See why I rarely read the sports columns!?!?
I'm reading yet another book on Lincoln and continue to be amazed at the man, his words, his ideas, his actions. Why don't we study him and his types more and more? Why do we focus on, well, "A-Rod and Madonna?" I think I know why....
Happy Independence Day!
Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1825, fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Adams purportedly said on his deathbed, "The Union is safe; Jefferson lives." He had no way of knowing, in Massachusetts, that Jefferson had died a few hours before in faraway Virginia. James Monroe died the next year--on Independence Day.
Also, I'm wondering and have been for quite a while: Why aren't there many schools--none around here--named after Abraham Lincoln? In fact, in the Detroit Metro area, two high schools are named after Adlai Stevenson! Now, he may or may not merit having such honor, but doesn't Lincoln at least merit it as much? Of course, I'm being facetious. Is this yet another instance of our incredible ignorance of history?
Speaking of ignorant: A Detroit sports columnist wrote this about an NHLer who signed with the Red Wings for both less money and a shorter term--that he was "...shunning guaranteed financial security." Huh? The guy signed for $7.5 million!!!!! Maybe someone isn't thinking properly, if at all. How many of us have made $7.5 million, not in a year, but in our lifetimes? I'm not bemoaning this guy his money; I don't care what he makes. But, "shunning guaranteed financial security?" Maybe his contract says he must spend it all in one year, that he can't save or invest any of it? See why I rarely read the sports columns!?!?
I'm reading yet another book on Lincoln and continue to be amazed at the man, his words, his ideas, his actions. Why don't we study him and his types more and more? Why do we focus on, well, "A-Rod and Madonna?" I think I know why....
Happy Independence Day!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Back in Business
Whew! Hard to believe that it's been since March since I have talked to myself on this blog. Lots has happened.
I was listening to a Christian radio station this AM (yep, it's true!). The guest was Charles Colson, of Watergate fame. He was saying things that were right on the money. One was how our sense of values has declined over the past 40-50 years. Our sense of right and wrong has become warped. In part, it is because of "moral relativism," that wonderful (of course I'm being very facetious) "diversity" movement. We have been taught that there is no right and wrong, that people who do terrible things (can you say terrorists?) do them for legitimate reasons, that the good guys are really at fault. Another reason is that we recruit people to be members, not to be disciples/apostles. He was speaking of Chris churches, but that could be easily translated to mean America. We are not interested if people we allow into the US are committed to the values upon which this country was founded--notably freedoms.
It's frightening that I often find myself nodding when the conservative radio jocks say things--but rarely Limbaugh or Hannity. Bill Bennett, Phil Valentine are really good. Mark Levin, I find myself agreeing with, but dislike his tone. Michael Savage is, well, Savage and is sometimes outrageous, but often on the mark. Along with Bennett and Valentine, Frank Beckmann, locally, seems to be a voice of reason and intellect.
How cool to get a rebate check from the IRS! Not! I wouldn't mind it if I knew Congress was just going to spend less money. But, no, it will merely borrow more money from, hmmm, the Commie Chinese?, to pay for it. And, get a load of this. What did we get a couple letters telling us it was coming? The check itself? So each person had more than $1 postage.... How many millions of letters went out? How much for those 3 or 4 envelopes, sheets of paper? How much for the people who sent them out? And, two days after our check arrive, we were told that ours was short because the IRS took out $170 we owed due to 2007 taxes. The next day, we received another letter telling us that another 13 cents was taken out for interest on the $170! Yes, 13 cents!!!!! Our government in action. And people want government to run health care?!?! Hasn't government already messed up the schools enough? Thanks to FDR, LBJ, and subsequent Dems, more and more people look to government to bail them out--can you say homeowners, lenders, etc.? Nobody seems to recognize that when gov't gets its hands on things, they almost always worsen.
Just one man's lonely opinions.
I was listening to a Christian radio station this AM (yep, it's true!). The guest was Charles Colson, of Watergate fame. He was saying things that were right on the money. One was how our sense of values has declined over the past 40-50 years. Our sense of right and wrong has become warped. In part, it is because of "moral relativism," that wonderful (of course I'm being very facetious) "diversity" movement. We have been taught that there is no right and wrong, that people who do terrible things (can you say terrorists?) do them for legitimate reasons, that the good guys are really at fault. Another reason is that we recruit people to be members, not to be disciples/apostles. He was speaking of Chris churches, but that could be easily translated to mean America. We are not interested if people we allow into the US are committed to the values upon which this country was founded--notably freedoms.
It's frightening that I often find myself nodding when the conservative radio jocks say things--but rarely Limbaugh or Hannity. Bill Bennett, Phil Valentine are really good. Mark Levin, I find myself agreeing with, but dislike his tone. Michael Savage is, well, Savage and is sometimes outrageous, but often on the mark. Along with Bennett and Valentine, Frank Beckmann, locally, seems to be a voice of reason and intellect.
How cool to get a rebate check from the IRS! Not! I wouldn't mind it if I knew Congress was just going to spend less money. But, no, it will merely borrow more money from, hmmm, the Commie Chinese?, to pay for it. And, get a load of this. What did we get a couple letters telling us it was coming? The check itself? So each person had more than $1 postage.... How many millions of letters went out? How much for those 3 or 4 envelopes, sheets of paper? How much for the people who sent them out? And, two days after our check arrive, we were told that ours was short because the IRS took out $170 we owed due to 2007 taxes. The next day, we received another letter telling us that another 13 cents was taken out for interest on the $170! Yes, 13 cents!!!!! Our government in action. And people want government to run health care?!?! Hasn't government already messed up the schools enough? Thanks to FDR, LBJ, and subsequent Dems, more and more people look to government to bail them out--can you say homeowners, lenders, etc.? Nobody seems to recognize that when gov't gets its hands on things, they almost always worsen.
Just one man's lonely opinions.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Kids' Boots
Aren't those kids' boots (and shoes) that have the lights just cool? I got a big kick several times watching Ashley's. I even kicked them a couple of times myself just to watch again when she wasn't wearing them. I wonder if there are similar shoes/boots in my size. Nah, I'm just kidding. That would be silly, not like adult stuff like smoking cigarettes, being 100 lbs overweight, or talking on cell phones while driving. But, I do wear my pony tail hat, a baseball hat with a false pony tail. Matt hated when I'd wear it, but I loved the reactions from other drivers, etc.
Ah, what's wrong with acting like kids once in a while????
Ah, what's wrong with acting like kids once in a while????
Friday, March 28, 2008
End of the Week Musings
Does anyone read these things? Don't people agree or get angry with others' opinions? I'm sure the same people who shake their heads, even laugh, at the 50% of Detroiters who would still vote for Kwame can't be bothered with reading someone else's views and offer their own. About a week ago, I sent a rather inflammatory e-mail to about two dozen people, maybe a few more, hoping to get something started. Some of my statements were merely to arouse people, to get a response, even "Shut up, you dumb f**k!" Nope, I had two or three replies. One was simply, "I agree with your views. Thanks for sending them. Keep them coming." Another actually had an idea. And we wonder why KK, Gov Jennie, W, and all of the other bums get elected and re-elected? There's no wonder. How many people did I hear a couple years ago say after KK's re-election, "Detroiters deserve what they get" from this? Well, these same people deserve what they get, too. Unfortunately, so do the rest of us. What was it Jackson said, "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance?" Well, we can be "vigilant" unless Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, Desperate Housewives, or whatever most important stuff is on the tube.
Speaking of the tube, my wife was watching some new show when I came in last night. Well, she wasn't actually watching it, but it was on. I asked what this was and she said, "Some new show, Eli something." Well, it took about five minutes, while I unpacked my stuff, took off my shoes, and made Bopper's lunch to figure out this wasn't any "new" show. Yep, you guessed it. Two of the characters were going to bed. One's boyfriend was going somewhere and the law partner of the two hopped in the sack with her. And, it was all so casual.... We wonder why our society is so messed up. We wonder why there is so much promiscuity. We wonder why there are so many unwed mothers. We wonder why there are so many teen-age parents. What, are we stupid? There's no wonder! What is it we glorify? Why isn't there a public outrage against this crap, this junk? What was it I said above, about "getting what we deserve?"
I heard the local school district fired one of its administrators! I'm shocked. This administrator must have really made enemies. After all, how many others have not been fired over the years, despite all kinds of malfeasance, incompetence, even financial, ahem, irregularities? The joke was always what does an administrator have to do to get fired in Huron Valley Schools--they can't do anything to get fired. Ha Ha. The worst, I guess, was to put them back in the classroom, a sort of prison sentence or purgatory. I could regale you with dozens, literally dozens, of stories of idiocy, dishonesty, incompetence, lack of courage, etc. I love the one with an ass't principal who said to a student, "I'm going to put you on a contract," to fix the bad behavior, yeah right. "I know this is your fifth one, but this time I mean it." I burst out laughing in front of the ass't prin, other teachers, and the kids parents. I think I still have a scar, more than 25 years later, from where a counselor sitting behind me kicked me in the back, ostensibly for being so rude. I also liked the time my supervisor, an ass't prin, called me into his office. I was a young teacher, only a few weeks on the job, and, understandably, a bit nervous about this abrupt demand to report to him. He questioned my teaching, something like, "I understand you have been teaching about the Catholic Church in class." Well, yes, I had. "About the popes, bishops, sacraments, and so on." Well, yes. "You admit it?" Well, yes, it's not a secret. Then, when I first knew adminstrators were dolts (as they have proven numerous times over the years), comes, "Don't you think you should give the other side?" "Other side?" What "other side?" "The Protestants...." I think even then, without tenure, only a few weeks on the job, I suppressed a laugh directed at this administrator, before saying, "There was no 'other side.' There were no Protestant Churches. They were about a thousand years away." It was a class in Medieval European History. Not even recognizing what he had displayed, it was "Fine, you're doing a good job. Keep it up." Yeah, right. I remember the time I went to see an ass't prin about some tardies I had written up. It was his policy, for which he received his board-approved several thousand dollar bonus (which, by the way, isn't included in salaries revealed to the public, so the district can say adminstrators really don't get much pay). Yet, I turned in a number of tardies, but received nothing from him--no word of detentions or suspension, no anything. I asked him about these and he said, "Well, the students said they really weren't tardy. You must have made a mistake." I guffawed, laughing right in the guy's face (no wonder they didn't like me, but they made it so easy), before saying, "You don't think these students would lie to avoid a detention or suspension, do you?" The look on his face told me he had never considered the possibility. Then, I went farther, suggesting he "get out of his office" and just stand at the end of the upstairs hallway, any day, any hour, to see the dozens, probably more than 100 tardies in just that small section of the school. Then he might be able to see if I was "making up tardies." To his credit, soon after, there he was--at the end of the hall. But to my knowledge, he never did anything about it. I also complained to the guy about the inordinate number of interruptions to my classes, hour after hour, day after day. He didn't believe me or didn't want to get involved, so I heard nothing. I began collecting just the passes coming from other teachers, coaches, counselors, even the office, and stapling them together and putting them in his mailbox. More days than not, I had well over 30 of these passes, yep, an average of more than 6 per hour! Nope, nothing was done other than an inoccuous e-mail to cut down on the passes. Oh, I'm getting a headache....
Back to Sean Dillon to relax me a bit....
As usual....
Speaking of the tube, my wife was watching some new show when I came in last night. Well, she wasn't actually watching it, but it was on. I asked what this was and she said, "Some new show, Eli something." Well, it took about five minutes, while I unpacked my stuff, took off my shoes, and made Bopper's lunch to figure out this wasn't any "new" show. Yep, you guessed it. Two of the characters were going to bed. One's boyfriend was going somewhere and the law partner of the two hopped in the sack with her. And, it was all so casual.... We wonder why our society is so messed up. We wonder why there is so much promiscuity. We wonder why there are so many unwed mothers. We wonder why there are so many teen-age parents. What, are we stupid? There's no wonder! What is it we glorify? Why isn't there a public outrage against this crap, this junk? What was it I said above, about "getting what we deserve?"
I heard the local school district fired one of its administrators! I'm shocked. This administrator must have really made enemies. After all, how many others have not been fired over the years, despite all kinds of malfeasance, incompetence, even financial, ahem, irregularities? The joke was always what does an administrator have to do to get fired in Huron Valley Schools--they can't do anything to get fired. Ha Ha. The worst, I guess, was to put them back in the classroom, a sort of prison sentence or purgatory. I could regale you with dozens, literally dozens, of stories of idiocy, dishonesty, incompetence, lack of courage, etc. I love the one with an ass't principal who said to a student, "I'm going to put you on a contract," to fix the bad behavior, yeah right. "I know this is your fifth one, but this time I mean it." I burst out laughing in front of the ass't prin, other teachers, and the kids parents. I think I still have a scar, more than 25 years later, from where a counselor sitting behind me kicked me in the back, ostensibly for being so rude. I also liked the time my supervisor, an ass't prin, called me into his office. I was a young teacher, only a few weeks on the job, and, understandably, a bit nervous about this abrupt demand to report to him. He questioned my teaching, something like, "I understand you have been teaching about the Catholic Church in class." Well, yes, I had. "About the popes, bishops, sacraments, and so on." Well, yes. "You admit it?" Well, yes, it's not a secret. Then, when I first knew adminstrators were dolts (as they have proven numerous times over the years), comes, "Don't you think you should give the other side?" "Other side?" What "other side?" "The Protestants...." I think even then, without tenure, only a few weeks on the job, I suppressed a laugh directed at this administrator, before saying, "There was no 'other side.' There were no Protestant Churches. They were about a thousand years away." It was a class in Medieval European History. Not even recognizing what he had displayed, it was "Fine, you're doing a good job. Keep it up." Yeah, right. I remember the time I went to see an ass't prin about some tardies I had written up. It was his policy, for which he received his board-approved several thousand dollar bonus (which, by the way, isn't included in salaries revealed to the public, so the district can say adminstrators really don't get much pay). Yet, I turned in a number of tardies, but received nothing from him--no word of detentions or suspension, no anything. I asked him about these and he said, "Well, the students said they really weren't tardy. You must have made a mistake." I guffawed, laughing right in the guy's face (no wonder they didn't like me, but they made it so easy), before saying, "You don't think these students would lie to avoid a detention or suspension, do you?" The look on his face told me he had never considered the possibility. Then, I went farther, suggesting he "get out of his office" and just stand at the end of the upstairs hallway, any day, any hour, to see the dozens, probably more than 100 tardies in just that small section of the school. Then he might be able to see if I was "making up tardies." To his credit, soon after, there he was--at the end of the hall. But to my knowledge, he never did anything about it. I also complained to the guy about the inordinate number of interruptions to my classes, hour after hour, day after day. He didn't believe me or didn't want to get involved, so I heard nothing. I began collecting just the passes coming from other teachers, coaches, counselors, even the office, and stapling them together and putting them in his mailbox. More days than not, I had well over 30 of these passes, yep, an average of more than 6 per hour! Nope, nothing was done other than an inoccuous e-mail to cut down on the passes. Oh, I'm getting a headache....
Back to Sean Dillon to relax me a bit....
As usual....
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Ramblings
Michigan is a beautful state. I love living here. The four distinct seasons, although sometimes seeming to drag on a bit, are wonderful. They offer bits and pieces of different parts of the US. What brings this on are several e-mails from people in Fla, Az, Cal, etc. or on cruises in sunny climes. I think each and every one of the senders said something like, "I know you don't want to hear this, but...." Then they describe the weather, invariably sunny with temperatures in the 70s or 80s. No, I don't mind hearing those weather reports. No, I don't envy those there. If they like their nice weather--GOOD! I like it here just fine, especially since another turn of the seasons is just around the corner.
One of my most insightful, intelligent buddies once noted that athletes, once they start reminiscing when they are older, "forget" wins and losses. Oh, they might really remember, but focus on other things, "I was all-league" or "I really hammered that all-stater" or something like that. Yep, we had a bit of a thread going this week that reminded me of my buddy's smarts. Nope, we never really talked about wins and losses. Oh, we did compare our much more competitive schedule (a D3 school that often, then, played D1 and D2, many of whom were nationally ranked) to the current schedule (mostly D3 schools, too). But no records came up. We did talk about some funny things, some rather incredible, if lucky, feats, etc. Yep, although I was lucky enough to play with three national championship teams, I rarely think about the championships. Mostly, over all the years, I remember and get the biggest kicks out of the guys, the funny stuff, the individual feats. Yep, I had a lot of fun.
What's with sending 15-year olds, any 15-year olds, to college? Oh, it's not quite that simple, but several school districts are implementing new plans to allow their high schools students to, concurrently, take community college classes. This will lead to high school diplomas and associate degrees upon completion. There are other guidelines and, I suppose, restrictions. I understand the school districts' falling for this--there's money in it!!!! It's another hare-brained scheme, without any deep thought, coming our of our governor's office. Many of our college students today can't or won't do college work. What leads anyone to think some 15-year old can or will? How many of these 15-year olds will not successfully complete the program? Of course, if many don't, the program will die--so....? Simply, they will complete the program so it won't die. We can't have a failed program, can we? Note the increases in college attendance over the past 20-25 years. What has happened to curriculum, to standards, etc.? Obviously, all have been watered down. If students who were once not able or not willing to do the rigorous work required of a (real) college degree are admitted (accompanied by the requisite expansion in building, staff, and bureaucracy), common sense tells us that some serious watering down of standards, etc. is required. After all, these students can't be failed. It will kill the program--oh, and not pay for the aforementioned expansion. As expected, the Free Press fell lockstep into this plan. Sometimes I just wonder.... Are these the people leading education? They don't listen to anything that criticizes the latest empty program/plans. Can you spell d-o-o-m-e-d?
I really got a kick out of the Detroit pastors' support for Kwame Kilpatrick. Hmmm..."pastors," sort of like "Christians?" "KK," sort of like "cheating," "lying," and worse, maybe even "murder?" Why is that? Is it because KK has done some good, positive things for Detroit? Well, Mussoline "made the trains run on time." Hitler eliminated unemployment and restored a nation's spirit. Is that what it's all about? And what about the congregants? Do they accept their pastors' support? Do they pull an Obama and lie about hearing, then fix the lie, or ignore the Christian message sent by their ministers? Yes, KK should resign or at least take a leave of absence. What other city employee (who pays KK's salary?) would be allowed to continue to work, drawing that pay check, if facing similar felony charges? Right, NONE! In fact, KK should resign and talk Gov Jennie into resigning, too. At least he has some success stories.
I enjoy listening to talk radio. Most of the guys are blowhards or really not very reasoned. But I listen anyway. I like hearing the different view points. I do get to keep up on issues, although often hearing just one side of them. I also enjoy listening to these guys, very well paid, often butcher up the English language (of course, they are fully in favor of immigrants having to speak English, but they themselves often have trouble with it!). The other day, one of them used the word "spinned," as in "they spinned the story...." That was a new one for me. And this guy must make six and likely seven figures. Two of the very best on the air are Detroit's Frank Beckmann, who's really very good on knowing the issues and all sides of them before taking a usually right position, and Phil Valentine. PV, I think, is out of Nashville, at least somewhere in Tennessee. He's folksy, down home, so his English faux pas are natural, intentional. He doesn't seem to take himself seriously as some self-anointed intellectual. Yet, the big names could take a few lessons from him. He is logical, down-to-earth, and sensible. Hey, can he be President?
As usual....
One of my most insightful, intelligent buddies once noted that athletes, once they start reminiscing when they are older, "forget" wins and losses. Oh, they might really remember, but focus on other things, "I was all-league" or "I really hammered that all-stater" or something like that. Yep, we had a bit of a thread going this week that reminded me of my buddy's smarts. Nope, we never really talked about wins and losses. Oh, we did compare our much more competitive schedule (a D3 school that often, then, played D1 and D2, many of whom were nationally ranked) to the current schedule (mostly D3 schools, too). But no records came up. We did talk about some funny things, some rather incredible, if lucky, feats, etc. Yep, although I was lucky enough to play with three national championship teams, I rarely think about the championships. Mostly, over all the years, I remember and get the biggest kicks out of the guys, the funny stuff, the individual feats. Yep, I had a lot of fun.
What's with sending 15-year olds, any 15-year olds, to college? Oh, it's not quite that simple, but several school districts are implementing new plans to allow their high schools students to, concurrently, take community college classes. This will lead to high school diplomas and associate degrees upon completion. There are other guidelines and, I suppose, restrictions. I understand the school districts' falling for this--there's money in it!!!! It's another hare-brained scheme, without any deep thought, coming our of our governor's office. Many of our college students today can't or won't do college work. What leads anyone to think some 15-year old can or will? How many of these 15-year olds will not successfully complete the program? Of course, if many don't, the program will die--so....? Simply, they will complete the program so it won't die. We can't have a failed program, can we? Note the increases in college attendance over the past 20-25 years. What has happened to curriculum, to standards, etc.? Obviously, all have been watered down. If students who were once not able or not willing to do the rigorous work required of a (real) college degree are admitted (accompanied by the requisite expansion in building, staff, and bureaucracy), common sense tells us that some serious watering down of standards, etc. is required. After all, these students can't be failed. It will kill the program--oh, and not pay for the aforementioned expansion. As expected, the Free Press fell lockstep into this plan. Sometimes I just wonder.... Are these the people leading education? They don't listen to anything that criticizes the latest empty program/plans. Can you spell d-o-o-m-e-d?
I really got a kick out of the Detroit pastors' support for Kwame Kilpatrick. Hmmm..."pastors," sort of like "Christians?" "KK," sort of like "cheating," "lying," and worse, maybe even "murder?" Why is that? Is it because KK has done some good, positive things for Detroit? Well, Mussoline "made the trains run on time." Hitler eliminated unemployment and restored a nation's spirit. Is that what it's all about? And what about the congregants? Do they accept their pastors' support? Do they pull an Obama and lie about hearing, then fix the lie, or ignore the Christian message sent by their ministers? Yes, KK should resign or at least take a leave of absence. What other city employee (who pays KK's salary?) would be allowed to continue to work, drawing that pay check, if facing similar felony charges? Right, NONE! In fact, KK should resign and talk Gov Jennie into resigning, too. At least he has some success stories.
I enjoy listening to talk radio. Most of the guys are blowhards or really not very reasoned. But I listen anyway. I like hearing the different view points. I do get to keep up on issues, although often hearing just one side of them. I also enjoy listening to these guys, very well paid, often butcher up the English language (of course, they are fully in favor of immigrants having to speak English, but they themselves often have trouble with it!). The other day, one of them used the word "spinned," as in "they spinned the story...." That was a new one for me. And this guy must make six and likely seven figures. Two of the very best on the air are Detroit's Frank Beckmann, who's really very good on knowing the issues and all sides of them before taking a usually right position, and Phil Valentine. PV, I think, is out of Nashville, at least somewhere in Tennessee. He's folksy, down home, so his English faux pas are natural, intentional. He doesn't seem to take himself seriously as some self-anointed intellectual. Yet, the big names could take a few lessons from him. He is logical, down-to-earth, and sensible. Hey, can he be President?
As usual....
Monday, March 17, 2008
Up and Ready Again
Lots to discuss this AM, while Ashley naps....
I see U of M athletics is in the news again. This time it wasn't the shady doings of hiring. Apparently there are allegations of grade coddling. Hello!?!?! Can anyone doubt this? Do you remember the reaction to Jim Harbaugh's concern with the lack of academic effort and achievement expected of UM athletes? As I wrote then, every, and I mean every, U of M grad should be furious if Harbaugh's allegations are remotely true. But then again, if the teams are winning, what U of M alums care? Such hypocrites! "The Harvard of the West" my eye--it's not even the Harvard of Michigan. Back to the current snafu. Does anyone doubt this grade padding isn't going on? Has anyone listened to any of the player interviews in recent years? Has anyone noted the police blotter in recent years? And, although I don't know for certain, consider tihs: some prof has hundreds of "independent study" courses, 86% of which go to athletes; the average grade point for these athletes in these IS courses is greater than 3.6!!!!! Now that's more than a full letter grade higher than their already inflated GPAs. C'mon, a 3.6 is an A-; are these athletes A- students, in a discipline like psychology? See above. Once again, U of M alums should be outraged at this--but, hypocritically again, they won't care.
Ethanol?!?! Our former earth saver is apparently not anywhere close to it. In fact, it uses more energy in its creation than it saves! It also has unintended consequences that Congress and the President never considered. Of course, would any of us ever think Congress and the President would ever consider possible unintended consequences? So, let's let the federal government solve all of our problems, you know, like global warming, the housing crisis, etc. And we just sit back watching American Idol or whatever shows they are..... Shame on them; even more shame on us.
And, finally, someone points out in the newspaper how school districts fudge their budget crises. Now there's a surprise, that school districts are duplicitous, disingenuous, even dishonest. They sit on their "rainy day funds" for what? Some "rainy day," of course. But what, to these people, is a "rainy day?" I know, I know--for one thing, interest rates on borrowing are lower if there's such a fund. Hmmmm. I wonder if the money were used to balance budgets, that is, to be more financially/fiscally responsible--not running a deficit?--lending institutions would consider that in determining lower borrowing rates. Nah, think about the housing/mortgage situation.
Yep, let's bail out those greedy people--both borrowers and lenders--who tried to get richer and richer, live well beyond their means. Let's take the money (you know, steal more of it in the form of taxes) from people who were more frugal (dare I say intelligent?) and saved, actually saved, money to buy houses and reward those who want it all right now. Let the lenders go bankrupt; let the buyers struggle. This might be a hard, but a good, lesson for everyone. By the way, remember buying your first house? I think my mother-in-law still harbors it against me for making her daughter eat "Chunky Soup on bulk white rice" two or three times a week for dinner while we were saving for the first house.
Let me leave on a positive note. My grandkids are great! I just love the heck out of both of them. Ashley is the cutest thing going--not that I'm prejudiced at all! She bawled like, well, a baby, when I left her yesterday afternoon; she motioned me with her cute little "come here" gesture. Yeah, it melted my heart. Michael and I had a great time earlier yesterday--and Sat eve. He helped me make dinner, preparing a lion's share of it himself. We went to Borders for books yesterday, with a detour to DQ for a blizzard on the way home. Ah, yes....life is good. Speaking of the devil (or angel), Ashley just woke up from her nap.
Gotta run; forgive any errors since I don't have time to proofread.
I see U of M athletics is in the news again. This time it wasn't the shady doings of hiring. Apparently there are allegations of grade coddling. Hello!?!?! Can anyone doubt this? Do you remember the reaction to Jim Harbaugh's concern with the lack of academic effort and achievement expected of UM athletes? As I wrote then, every, and I mean every, U of M grad should be furious if Harbaugh's allegations are remotely true. But then again, if the teams are winning, what U of M alums care? Such hypocrites! "The Harvard of the West" my eye--it's not even the Harvard of Michigan. Back to the current snafu. Does anyone doubt this grade padding isn't going on? Has anyone listened to any of the player interviews in recent years? Has anyone noted the police blotter in recent years? And, although I don't know for certain, consider tihs: some prof has hundreds of "independent study" courses, 86% of which go to athletes; the average grade point for these athletes in these IS courses is greater than 3.6!!!!! Now that's more than a full letter grade higher than their already inflated GPAs. C'mon, a 3.6 is an A-; are these athletes A- students, in a discipline like psychology? See above. Once again, U of M alums should be outraged at this--but, hypocritically again, they won't care.
Ethanol?!?! Our former earth saver is apparently not anywhere close to it. In fact, it uses more energy in its creation than it saves! It also has unintended consequences that Congress and the President never considered. Of course, would any of us ever think Congress and the President would ever consider possible unintended consequences? So, let's let the federal government solve all of our problems, you know, like global warming, the housing crisis, etc. And we just sit back watching American Idol or whatever shows they are..... Shame on them; even more shame on us.
And, finally, someone points out in the newspaper how school districts fudge their budget crises. Now there's a surprise, that school districts are duplicitous, disingenuous, even dishonest. They sit on their "rainy day funds" for what? Some "rainy day," of course. But what, to these people, is a "rainy day?" I know, I know--for one thing, interest rates on borrowing are lower if there's such a fund. Hmmmm. I wonder if the money were used to balance budgets, that is, to be more financially/fiscally responsible--not running a deficit?--lending institutions would consider that in determining lower borrowing rates. Nah, think about the housing/mortgage situation.
Yep, let's bail out those greedy people--both borrowers and lenders--who tried to get richer and richer, live well beyond their means. Let's take the money (you know, steal more of it in the form of taxes) from people who were more frugal (dare I say intelligent?) and saved, actually saved, money to buy houses and reward those who want it all right now. Let the lenders go bankrupt; let the buyers struggle. This might be a hard, but a good, lesson for everyone. By the way, remember buying your first house? I think my mother-in-law still harbors it against me for making her daughter eat "Chunky Soup on bulk white rice" two or three times a week for dinner while we were saving for the first house.
Let me leave on a positive note. My grandkids are great! I just love the heck out of both of them. Ashley is the cutest thing going--not that I'm prejudiced at all! She bawled like, well, a baby, when I left her yesterday afternoon; she motioned me with her cute little "come here" gesture. Yeah, it melted my heart. Michael and I had a great time earlier yesterday--and Sat eve. He helped me make dinner, preparing a lion's share of it himself. We went to Borders for books yesterday, with a detour to DQ for a blizzard on the way home. Ah, yes....life is good. Speaking of the devil (or angel), Ashley just woke up from her nap.
Gotta run; forgive any errors since I don't have time to proofread.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Islam?
OK, the so-called "moderate" or "mainstream" Muslims complain about discrimination, about poor attitudes toward them and their religion, Islam. Well, this latest suicide (more aptly described as homocide) bombing is a good excuse to explain why there are such hostile feelings against Islam.
(BTW, I have studied Islam and find it to be a legitimate religion, one worthy of inclusion. The problems are that Islam has been coopted by the fantics and that the so-called "moderate" or "mainstream" Muslims do nothing about it.)
Unless the American media is lying (and who would think so, after the apologies they make for the terrorists, as if the USA is responsible for the terrorist activities, merely reactions to US tyranny?), the latest bombings came as two adults with Downs Syndrome were strapped with bombs that were then detonated by remote control. If that is true.... Can you believe that?!?!?! Sure we can. Look what the Taliban did in that former soccer stadium.
Now, where are the Muslim protests about this, this inhumane action, beneath that of human beings, despicable beyond belief? After all, protesting is so very easy--against cartoons depicting the messenger, Muhammad; against "Tickle Me Muhammad" and the light sentence the teacher received (only 16 days in a filthy Sudanese jail), etc. Where are the protests? Or, does Islam condone this sort of behavior, using Downs Syndrome adults as bomb carriers?
The last whine job, by some prominent Detroit-area Muslim, was met with a number of letters-to-the-editor in the Free Press (yes, I had a lengthy one that was printed). They all explained pretty clearly why Muslims were "discriminated against," at least in the whiner's mind. So, after the explanations, where is this guy, this whiner? Why isn't he trying to take back his religion? Where are his outbursts against, not discriminators, but inhuman trash who perpetrate such bombings?
And Obama wants to sit down and talk with these people! Can you say "Chamberlain?"
(BTW, I have studied Islam and find it to be a legitimate religion, one worthy of inclusion. The problems are that Islam has been coopted by the fantics and that the so-called "moderate" or "mainstream" Muslims do nothing about it.)
Unless the American media is lying (and who would think so, after the apologies they make for the terrorists, as if the USA is responsible for the terrorist activities, merely reactions to US tyranny?), the latest bombings came as two adults with Downs Syndrome were strapped with bombs that were then detonated by remote control. If that is true.... Can you believe that?!?!?! Sure we can. Look what the Taliban did in that former soccer stadium.
Now, where are the Muslim protests about this, this inhumane action, beneath that of human beings, despicable beyond belief? After all, protesting is so very easy--against cartoons depicting the messenger, Muhammad; against "Tickle Me Muhammad" and the light sentence the teacher received (only 16 days in a filthy Sudanese jail), etc. Where are the protests? Or, does Islam condone this sort of behavior, using Downs Syndrome adults as bomb carriers?
The last whine job, by some prominent Detroit-area Muslim, was met with a number of letters-to-the-editor in the Free Press (yes, I had a lengthy one that was printed). They all explained pretty clearly why Muslims were "discriminated against," at least in the whiner's mind. So, after the explanations, where is this guy, this whiner? Why isn't he trying to take back his religion? Where are his outbursts against, not discriminators, but inhuman trash who perpetrate such bombings?
And Obama wants to sit down and talk with these people! Can you say "Chamberlain?"
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Shame?
Apparently there is no shame any longer....
The mayor of Detroit, amid all these shenanigans, has the temerity to speak to his constituents from a church--from a church! Then, his wife comes on to ask for support for Hizzoner--his wife!
And, yet again, I read in the Free Press, "The Morning Friendly," a family newspaper, curse words. I wrote to the reporter who used the direct quote, but harbor no illusions that anything will come of it. The past half dozen or more such protests met with no responses and, obviously, no change of policy. I said, yet again, that my rule might well be that I would write nothing, not even a direct quotation, in my column/story that I wouldn't say in front of my young children (or grandchildren) or my mother and father.
Apparently, in my older age, I have become a Victorian prude! Yet, look at all of the difficulties we are having socially in our culture. No, I'm not a member of the Christian right. But I think that there are standards of decency that shouldn't be "dumbed down."
Just one man's lonely opinion.
The mayor of Detroit, amid all these shenanigans, has the temerity to speak to his constituents from a church--from a church! Then, his wife comes on to ask for support for Hizzoner--his wife!
And, yet again, I read in the Free Press, "The Morning Friendly," a family newspaper, curse words. I wrote to the reporter who used the direct quote, but harbor no illusions that anything will come of it. The past half dozen or more such protests met with no responses and, obviously, no change of policy. I said, yet again, that my rule might well be that I would write nothing, not even a direct quotation, in my column/story that I wouldn't say in front of my young children (or grandchildren) or my mother and father.
Apparently, in my older age, I have become a Victorian prude! Yet, look at all of the difficulties we are having socially in our culture. No, I'm not a member of the Christian right. But I think that there are standards of decency that shouldn't be "dumbed down."
Just one man's lonely opinion.
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