NCAA

Does this organization try to make itself foolish on purpose?

So, the OSU guys get suspended, not now, but for next season? They won't miss a bowl game, but the first five games of 2011? I guess money talks. The irony is that people would still watch the OSU bowl game and the five players will return next year, after sitting the games, fresh for the end of the season. Now, if they were also banned from practices, spring and fall up to the fifth game, that'd be something different, though still not what should have been done.

"Should" is the key word. I guess there's an NCAA rule that prohibits players from selling items they get from being athletes. Is that a joke? Is the focus that players get things other students don't get? If so, ha ha ah! Let's see...scholarships, training facilities, better meals, etc. I suppose those are all open to all students? Let's see...not going to classes or made up phys ed courses, lower SATs/ACTs, hmmmm. What hypocrites run the NCAA! It must be fun to be able to pick and choose which "principles" are to be followed or abandoned.

Instead of NCAA, maybe the name should be changed to MCAA, Monetary Collegiate Athletic Association.

Cool!

I received, from Bryan, two ties emblazoned (and I mean emblazoned!) with images of Abraham Lincoln! How cool! Yes, I will certainly wear them. Immediately, I think of Lincoln's Birthday and the Civil War lectures in class as very appropriate times. And, no doubt, when the mood strikes me, I'll just wear one of them when we go out--maybe even next week to the New Year's Eve bash!

How coincidental, considering my earlier post! I must have been giving a Lincoln lecture last week during the funeral days.

How cool!

DuBois on Lincoln

In this time of maddening desperation toward our fools-for-representatives, this quotation of W.E.B. DuBois about Abraham Lincoln bears repeating. It is doubly appropriate in this season which brings the hope of birth.

"Abraham Lincoln was perhaps the greatest figure of the nineteenth century. Certainly of the five masters--Napoleon, Bismarck, Victoria, Browning, and Lincoln--Lincoln is to me the most human and lovable. And I love him not because he was perfect, but because he was not and yet triumphed. The world is full of illegitimate children. The world is full of folk whose taste was educated in the gutter. The world is full of people born hating and despising their fellows. To these I love to say: See this man. He was one of you and yet became Abraham Lincoln."

Wow...I still get chills having read and recited this hundreds of times. "He was one of you and yet became Abraham Lincoln." After his Cooper Union Address, he was handed his payment of $200 and was told, "Had we paid you $200,000 it would not have been enough." Leaving Cooper Union, one man related, "When I cam out of the hall...a friend, his eyes aglow, asked me what I thought of Abraham Lincoln, the Railsplitter. I said, 'He's the greatest man since St. Paul...."

Fri Musings

I don't often agree with former state superintendent Tom Watkins, but he had a great column in today's newspaper. In essence, he wrote that, if Americans want to continue to have the country they have, with its freedoms, wealth, etc., they're going to have to work for it. It won't come easy. I believe he described too many Americans as "fat and comfortable." Good for Mr. Watkins!

And, in the spirit of the Christmas season, here's this gem. (No, I don't make up this stuff!) Apparently an Oklahoma bank, a private bank, had some Chris display, "Merry Chris" or something like that. The Federal Reserve, overseeing its duty (read that facetiously!), told the bank to remove it, citing some regulations. First, whose stupid "regulations" were these? Second, what ding-a-ling at the Fed was stupid enough to apply/enforce them? Such an innocuous matter, yet other religions, e.g., Islam, are left unfettered, e.g., women wearing burkhas so their identities are hidden, say, in courts of law. Fortunately, enough people were aroused to contact their US Sen and Congressman, who stepped in and got the Fed to rescind its silly directive. But, the question remains, how did any of this get anywhere? Stupid people making stupid regulations that other stupid people blindly enforce. BTW, to whom, really, is the Fed responsible?

Also, while I'm at it.... How about that Cal pilot who demonstrated the folly of some TSA regulations? Apparently, flight personnel undergo rigorous TSA scrutiny, while mechanics, baggage loaders, etc. merely need to swipe a card, forgoing any similar scruting, to get access to planes. Again, your federal gov't at work.

It's nice to see that John Conyers is going to reimburse for the inappropriate use of a gov't-funded SUV. Yet, two big questions remain. Why is the gov't paying over $12oo a month for a Congressman's wheels? Can't he drive what the rest of us drive? Hey, does he still own his Ford dealership?!?! Does anyone think he's paying for any reason other than he/his son was caught?

Isn't revision wonderful? The gov is engaged in it right now. Granted, she was dealt a difficult hand; but, she knew that going in. To claim that things are better because of her two terms is preposterous, maybe worse.

I just love (yep, read more sarcasm into that) how people say things like "Let's not blame anyhone" or "Let's not dwell on the mistakes of the past and move ahead from there." How absolutely silly! Where is the accountability if we don't cast blame? If we don't recognize the mistakes others made, how can we move ahead? Shouldn't we stop people who made poor decisions in the past from making more decisions?

Time to leave....

Sometimes I Sits and Thinks...

...and sometimes I just sits.

Today I just "sits." When I saw and read the article about MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo's suspension I just had to laugh--and laugh hard. Who are these NCAA clowns? All the crap going on, payoffs, illegal recruiting, payoffs (did I already say that?), false attendance/grades in classes, training meals, tutors (for free), etc. and this guy gets a one game suspension for paying a guy to work at one of his clinics. Did the guy actually work the clinic/camp? Was he there? Then, he deserved to get paid, didn't he? Who was supposed to be hired, some Bozo of a high school coach who doesn't know any basketball? But, in the end, that's not the point. The point is that the NCAA just looks the other way, ignores, doesn't want to know, etc. major problems--e.g., admission of players who don't deserve to be in college. If people want to keep paying attention to college sports, good for them. The hypocrisy, dishonesty, lack of courage and integrity, etc. have pretty much driven me away.

Joys, Redux

Earlier this week I posted a list of joyful things. One was shooting stars/meteors. Two nights ago I viewed a "big one," (Can you say that on television?), a long, wide streaking meteor. It might well have been part of the Perseids or Leonids, whichever meteor shower is visible this week. And, to make it cooler, Bopper, in another car a couple miles away, heading home, too, saw it!

Wed AM, out running, a deer crossed my path, maybe only 20-30 yards in front of me. I kept running, smile on my face. Following the first was a second, then a third, then.... There were nine of them, all leaping through the snow, over and down a hill, across the road and up and over a hill. How cool! But, as a note of interest, they are not at all "cute." In fact, up close they are pretty ugly, fur all matted, not particularly bright/shiny, etc. But, still, cool to see so many.

Fri AM Thoughts

Ah, back to some semblance of normalcy (a word invented by Warren Harding or his campaign writers--look before 1920 and you'll not find it in a dictionary; you'll final norm, normal, normality, normalness, but not normalcy--but it's a nice word), hectic normalcy as usual (is that redundant?).

Bopper and Ash are asleep, as is Matt. The Codester will be over in a few hours (it's early). Lots to catch up on.

The funeral is over--what a week! I understand the need for different people to grieve in different ways. I'll never understand why they need to grieve they way they do at funerals. And, despite understanding, I don't have to like it. I detest funerals, even more so as mine is closing in, I guess. And I still don't like hugs and handshakes, not at all. Yuck.

I guess there are only a few explanations for the ways our DC legislators have been acting in recent weeks. They could be stupid, not understanding the clear message sent to them in Nov. That's a strong possibility. They could be ideological, with the arrogance that comes from knowing they are right and we are wrong. They could be vengeful, getting us for what we did in Nov. My guess it's one of the first two, maybe a combination. Whenever I hear the words "bipartisan" or "compromise," I cringe. I immediately think of "sell-out." One never compromises on one's principals. For instance...

Have you seen the contents of this "tax cut extension bill?" Even the title is misleading, very misleading. What part of "no more spending" has so soon been forgotten? What part of "quit borrowing" against the future has so soon been forgotten? It's a terrible bill in many ways and, no, that neither party is happy with it doesn't mean it's good. It stinks, adding to the deficit, encouraging undesirable behaviors, etc.

Why the "tax the inheritance of the rich" screaming, esp from Pelosi? Talk about a hypocrite! The inheritance tax isn't on income, but on wealth. There's a difference. Consider a family farm or business that has been handed down from father to son, father to son, father to son...perhaps for generations. Take a farm, just to take something. Do you know how much farm equipment costs? Several pieces of it, tractors, harvesters, balers, etc. can run into millions of dollars. Toss in the price/value of land and, if say a dairy ranch, the animals like cows. If a son inherits this from his father, after working it with dad for decades, he's received no money, none, just the farm that has been in his family, where he's worked. The ding-a-lings in DC want to tax that farm--its equipment, land, animals, etc. So, to pay the tax, for which the inheritor has received no money, the farmer has to sell some of his stuff (isn't that a great word, too!?!?). It's utterly ridiculous, if not worse.

Oh, well, off to run and blow off some of this steam--it's about 20 degrees warmer this AM that several other AMs this week.

Out...

Joys

1. Watching a rising Venus out of the east in the wee hours of the AM.
2. For that matter, seeing a meteor shower light up the skies.
3. That special cup of tea with honey that doesn't seem to come every morning.
4. Picking nose hairs.
5. Watching my grandkids intensity at work or play.
6. Reading a newspaper, not on the computer, but spread out on the dining room table every AM.
7. Finding a good glob of belly button lint.
8. Seeing more beauty in more women than I ever have before.
9. Riding my bike, not like the racers, but like a kid.
10. Giving a lecture on Lincoln.
11. Eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, dunking it in milk.
12. Recalling my kids' athletic contests and games.
13. Just sitting and holding my grandkids, especially when they lay their heads on my chest.
14. Shoveling snow in the dark and quiet of an evening or early AM.
15. Hearing from old friends who seem to have disappeared for a while.
16. Watching hypocrites squirm when caught in their own hypocrisy.
17. Seeing smiles on kids' faces.
18. Finishing a difficult puzzle: crossword, Kakuro, Soduku, etc.
19. Having leisurely lunches with good friends.20. Listening to long time favorite recording artists do their things.
21. Finding a new joy.
22. Coming across a song that brings back memories.
23. Chuckling at numbers 4 and 7 and not being embarrassed.

Round One

Fri AM and this AM were prelims; they don't count.

But the 2010-11 Snow Shoveling Season has officially started. Round One was this evening. I think I won the first round, but by a close decision. I did shovel about an inch of sloppy, slushy stuff this AM before heading into Dearborn. I was a bit worried that, when we'd get home, that we'd have a lot more sloppy stuff. But, the temps dipped and only a few places, at the bottom of the 5-6", were slushy. The rest was pretty fluffy.

The wind was blowing and temps have dropped into the teens, but, until near the end, it was quiet and peaceful. Only one car interrupted the solitude--the kid next door returning from a Sun eve basketball practice. (What coach would have his high school kids out driving in stuff like this--with police requests to stay home unless unavoidable--for a single practice? Just asking.) Then, the guy next door fired up his put-put snow blower, ruining the peace and quiet. It might have been worth the 10 minutes of noise since he had his wife utilizing the shovel while he had the machine!

So, in all, it took about an hour. I was pretty "schweaty" upon entering the house, but not as tired/wiped out as I might have been or expected to be. All in all, it was a good evening of shoveling, reminding me why I enjoy it so much.

I'm looking forward to Round Two!

A New DC?

It sure doesn't look like it. This tax bill to extend the current tax rates (it's not a tax cut!) symbolizes that those in DC still don't get it. We only hear from the Lamestream media about the extension of current income rates and unemployment benefits, the death tax (hey, hasn't that money already been taxed once or twice or...?), and the small cut in payroll taxes.

Why isn't there more about the continued earmarks, such as the de facto financial aid given NASCAR? How about some notice of the help given to Puerto Rican rum? Yep, the DC bobbleheads are still stuck on spending. After all, it's not their money!

I got a kick out of a lib reporter's column the other day. The name escapes me right now. But she was harping on the negativity, the anger in DC now--you know, after the election! So, Americans let their voices be known in Nov and now it's all about vitriol. But, when they voiced their opinion in the election in 2008, it was all "kumbaya?" What a fool! Do these writers have relatives who hire them?

Out for a LaBatts.

Education

Does the news on the state of education in the US ever get better?

Yesterday results from yet another study were published. US students, of 34 nations studied, finished in the middle of the pack. They did their worst in math and science, but were also pretty pathetic in writing/reading. As usual, history isn't important enough to be tested, but I'd assume American students would do poorly in that, too. Oh, everyone, even the Sec of Ed (yet another bomb of an appointee by Obama), chimed in on the deplorability, the dangers, etc. of the results. And, yes, we hear the same old cries for "reform!" "We need to change our ways about learning and teaching!" It seems to me we did "change our ways," about 35 years ago--and the results are still looking us in the face. "Change our ways" in education has become a profitable industry, but it has been counterproductive. Maybe it's time to finally listen to people who haven't captured anyone's ear yet, those whose ideas are "old-fashioned," "anachronistic," "out-of-date," etc.

And, closely related, was the news coming out of Detroit that a Wayne Co judge ruled that Bob Bobb doesn't have much authority to enact needed reforms in the Detroit schools. She ruled in favor of the school board, which has done such a bang-up job (yes, that's sarcastic, to the nth degree!). Apparently, according to this judge, Bob Bobb is not qualified to run the schools, to instituted reforms such as more reading and writing, summer school, extended days, etc. I guess, as she noted, that's because he has a real college degree, not one in "education," like the "experts." This judge needs to start paying attention. She needs to get a reality check. It's the "experts" with their fake "education degrees" who have caused most of the deplorable state of education, in Detroit and elsewhere. I certainly would hate having to argue a case before a simple-minded judge like that. When will people learn that those with "education degrees" know the least about quality education and the rigor it requires? I guess, with what is going on in the schools now, the answer is "Never."

On a personal note, I have been taken aback the past few classes. I have had several students come after class and say, in effect, "Thank you," in those words or close to them. To each I replied, "Thanks for what?" And they say, "For today's lecture (or class)." It felt good to hear those words, but even more, I am humbled. Yet, I also know that, in my previous tenure as a teacher, I was treated by those who should have known better (administrators, who else?) as a "piece of mung." And, with some current inside info, the education circus around here continues unabated.

Why so often (and see above) am I reminded of Mark Twain's words? "In the first place God created idiots. That was for practice. Then he created school boards."

WikiLeaks

Like almost everyone, I was initially concerned over the WikiLeaks. How irresponsible! How devastating! How dangerous! Well, after reading an article by Vasko Kohlmayer I've had second thoughts. We should have been alerted when the self-anointed elites, namely Obama and H Clinton, took off after Assange and his "leaks."

What "dangers" are really posed by them? Can it be those with whom we negotiate are naive enough not to know what we really think of them? Can it be no diplomat thinks others of his kind are devious, dishonest even?

WikiLeaks reveals more about the incompetence, dishonesty, self-centeredness, and self-serving natures of our leaders. They are exposed for what they are, not much of it good.

Maybe it's time we all reconsidered both WikiLeaks and those we so blindly elect to lead us--and consider where they have and continue to lead us.

Wed AM Thoughts

Make that very early "Wed AM thoughts...."

What a rotten way to wake up, getting an e-mail that includes an article with reference to "Senator Al Franken." Talk about wanting to puke!

Which led me to consider a comment I heard on the radio driving home from class last night. The host of the show was talking about "fascinating people," who is and who isn't, etc. His co-host mentioned "Sarah Palin," to which the host audibly scoffed and said, "I'm not even going to go there." It's his show and he can do what he wants. But.... Why the reaction like that, so typical in the media, to Palin? I haven't been excited by Palin, at least, not like apparently so many others. She has some things to offer, but seems lacking in some things, too. Is she Presidential material? I wouldn't think so, but I don't think W. Bush or Obama are close to Presidential material either. Anyway, back to the reaction toward Palin.... Why isn't there similar reaction to say Joe Biden, Gov Jen Granholm, Sen Debbie Stabenow, or, OK, Al Franken? What have any of them done to warrant anything other than a scornful "I'm not even going to go there?" For that matter, what about Donna Brazile or EJ Dionne? I caught a bit of Brazile on C-Span (don't tell anyone!) over the weekend (and I've read some of her stuff) and she's a political consultant??? And Dionne? What claptrap in his article this weekend about the "unconstitutionality" of banning earmarks! Where is the scorn directed at these feeble efforts at intelligent discourse? No, I really do understand....

And I heard the reaction of the US Sen to Dodd's farewell on the Sen floor yesterday. It was disgusting...unless the cheers were because he was going?

Can you believe Obama's press man, Gibbs? He had the audacity to say that Obama believes in open, "transparent" operation of government, etc. Either the guy is a blatant liar or extremely delusional. Of course, if it's the latter, nothing can be done. Like all of the self-anointed elites, they are too arrogant to recognize any flaws. Remember, if by some chance the elites are caught in something, it's always, "Let's not assign blame. Let's focus on moving on."

"Blame." Now there's an interesting word. If we don't "blame" anyone, what does that do to individual responsibility? What about accountability? How can we trust anyone to do anything right? It's the same claptrap (I've used that word a lot this AM!) I heard for years in the schools. "Oh, let's not blame anyone. Let's focus on moving on." It's a great way to prevent the fools from being held responsible for their foolishness, their continuous foolishness.

Lots to do today and I've just got started, about two hours ago....