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....
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
How Refreshing!
I'm not a big fan of former Sec of Def Robt McNamara, but what a refreshing bit he did on C-Span today. He admitted that he might have been wrong on some things back in the '60s. He exhibited none of the arrogance I saw yesterday--or see coming out of our politicians, diplomats, bureaucrats, or media today. I may have to pick up McN's recent book.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Arrogance
I was watching C-Span 3 last night (Shh! Don't tell anyone!) and there was a panel discussion. Included were three media folks, political correspondents/analysts, and two of JFK's advisers. I enjoyed the panel, until....
Some of the insider stories were good ones, funny, insightful, etc. Then, each of them, to a man, exhibited their arrogance, that they are smarter than everyone else, that they know what's best, that their ideas, not those of others, are the right ones. It was very disconcerting, disappointing. So much so, that I turned off the channel, the whole tube.
They made fun of, mocked today's voters, those who exhibited their displeasure with how gov't is being run. And these guys, part of the establishment, have no idea that what they were part of has fouled things up so. They are, not the solution, but the problem--and they are so arrogant they don't even know it.
Some of the insider stories were good ones, funny, insightful, etc. Then, each of them, to a man, exhibited their arrogance, that they are smarter than everyone else, that they know what's best, that their ideas, not those of others, are the right ones. It was very disconcerting, disappointing. So much so, that I turned off the channel, the whole tube.
They made fun of, mocked today's voters, those who exhibited their displeasure with how gov't is being run. And these guys, part of the establishment, have no idea that what they were part of has fouled things up so. They are, not the solution, but the problem--and they are so arrogant they don't even know it.
?????
OK, I know, having been one once myself, that youths are sometimes a bit, well, weird. But what's with this bumpersticker some kid in the neighborhood has on his car? It reads, "Kill Yo Self." What???? That's just a bit, well weird, isn't it?
I'm curious to see if there will be any letters-to-the-editor or any comments about "greed" concerning the Tigers giving $50 million dollars, over four years, to one player. Actually, I'll be surprised if there are any, not if there aren't.
Who ever told people like Mick Jagger and Bruce Springstein they could sing? If they did, they lied to the two men. Now, I enjoy hearing some (certainly not all) of their songs and even have bought some of them. OK, I like them, some of them. But they can't sing, not at all. Their voices are hardly melodic. It leads me to wonder if some other guy, just Joe Blow, had sung the same songs, would they be equally successful? After all, they couldn't sing any worse, coud they? I then think of the Supremes. It was held that Mary Wilson, even Florence Ballard, had a better voice(s) than Diana Ross. But, Berry Gordy knew what he was doing in giving Ross the lead of the group. I guess there's more to it than "better." Still, listen, as I did out shopping today, to Springstein sing "Sanat Claus Is Comin' to Town." Can you make the whole song without turning it off or putting your hands on your ears?
"Kill Yo Self?" What kind of bumpersticker is tha????
I'm curious to see if there will be any letters-to-the-editor or any comments about "greed" concerning the Tigers giving $50 million dollars, over four years, to one player. Actually, I'll be surprised if there are any, not if there aren't.
Who ever told people like Mick Jagger and Bruce Springstein they could sing? If they did, they lied to the two men. Now, I enjoy hearing some (certainly not all) of their songs and even have bought some of them. OK, I like them, some of them. But they can't sing, not at all. Their voices are hardly melodic. It leads me to wonder if some other guy, just Joe Blow, had sung the same songs, would they be equally successful? After all, they couldn't sing any worse, coud they? I then think of the Supremes. It was held that Mary Wilson, even Florence Ballard, had a better voice(s) than Diana Ross. But, Berry Gordy knew what he was doing in giving Ross the lead of the group. I guess there's more to it than "better." Still, listen, as I did out shopping today, to Springstein sing "Sanat Claus Is Comin' to Town." Can you make the whole song without turning it off or putting your hands on your ears?
"Kill Yo Self?" What kind of bumpersticker is tha????
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time for reflection. Wasn't it Socrates (or his student Plato?) who said, "The unexamined life isn't worth living?" I think that is so.
Now, I don't have a Pollyannish life, not by any standard, but it's pretty darn good. That doesn't mean I don't have any regrets (I have surprisingly many of them!), but I am grateful for all that I do have. Life is, well, pretty darn good.
I hope more and more people have reasons to be thankful today. I hope more and more people reflect. I hope that reflection isn't just on themselves and today, but the future of our children and grandchildren. I hope that they are thankful for what they are leaving behind, too. And, if they aren't, that they work to make their legacies something good.
Happy Thanksgiving! (What time do the Lions and Packers play?)
Now, I don't have a Pollyannish life, not by any standard, but it's pretty darn good. That doesn't mean I don't have any regrets (I have surprisingly many of them!), but I am grateful for all that I do have. Life is, well, pretty darn good.
I hope more and more people have reasons to be thankful today. I hope more and more people reflect. I hope that reflection isn't just on themselves and today, but the future of our children and grandchildren. I hope that they are thankful for what they are leaving behind, too. And, if they aren't, that they work to make their legacies something good.
Happy Thanksgiving! (What time do the Lions and Packers play?)
Thoughts on a Thur AM
In this time of economic woes, how can the Detroit Tigers (or anyone?) give a player $50 million dollars, even if it is over four years? And, of course, people will continue to support them, esp if they win. I don't blame the player, whoever he is, or even the Tigers. I think it's the whole game, the system, that is very wrong and misguided. C'mon...$12-13 million a year to play baseball????
Talking about systems or games that are broken, what about college football? It's all about money now, isn't it? I'm certainly in a minority here, but that is discouraging to me. A former UM player was interviewed in today's newspaper (he now has cancer and the story is good one, with his attitude, spirit) and said something that people need to hear, but won't, "Nebraska doesn't belong in the Big Ten any more than Arizona does." Nope, it doesn't. It's not a question, he suggested, of being opposed to change, of being "a fuddy-duddy." I think it's a matter of doing the right things, always. This goes to the BCS system (and does anyone know what it really is?), to the clamors for a playoff, to those who get hired as coaches. In a personal way, it's a shame, because I used to watch a lot of college games, years ago, but rarely watch them now, not even the local teams. Too bad for me....
Good article in Thurs paper from last week (yep, I'm very behind in my reading; things are just zooming by me--I have three or four deadlines of next Wed, too!). The guy, a college prof, decries the lack of "preparedness" (I'd never use that word) high school students are for college. Well, HELLO! Of course they aren't prepared and it's getting worse. I've seen it in the 16 years I've taught in the colleges--and many of the high school students I saw who were accepted and went on to colleges astounded me. Of course, this guy's article will be ignored--by practically everyone. Who's going to pay attention? Students? Parents? High schools, both administrators and teachers? College instructors? College administrators? None of them, not a one. This system is broken, too. A college degree, now, is about equivalent to a high school diploma of mayb 30 years ago. Not only have the high schools watered down everything (curricula, standards, etc.), but so have the colleges. High schools are too concerned with their images, mostly false ones, of improving and their test scores. "Teach to the test" is the mantra. Teachers often have not been through rigorous, quality education programs themselves (and that's not the education schools, but colleges/universities in general!); they don't know their subjects nor the effort required for quality. They have been the most mediocre of students themselves and therefore are cowed/intimidated by the latest silly, counterproductive claptrap coming from administrators, who are often chose from the weakest of teachers. (Add that one up!) Colleges, with their massive construction and expansion projects, have mortgages to pay; they need the tuition. Professors, burdened with political correctness (and most of them fully buy into that, having created much of it) such as self-esteem, affirmative action, etc., rarely give out the grades deserved, the poor grades. (I recall reading Patrick Allitt's I'm the Teacher; You're the Student. It was a good book in describing his class, what he does, his assignments, etc. What was distressing, very much so, was when he admitting that 7 or 8 of his students fully deserved to fail the course, but he wrote, "They'll get the B-minuses." Oh, he rationalized that, but not at all convincingly to me. He's a wimp, pure and simple.) Why would students be concerned? They've been handed grades with little or no effort in high school, come very much unprepared for college work (although they don't think so), and why wouldn't they expect more of the same--good grades for no effort or achievement? In a way, I can't blame them, well, at least not fully. So, when I hear people like our soon-to-be ex-governor loudly exclaim, "Everyone goes to college!" and the subsequent, equally loud cheers, I just shake my head.
Can you believe the TSA patdowns? If those You Tube videos are real...? OK, I understand the need for security. I also understand that a very small percentage of people/travelers undergo the patdowns. But, that's not the point. It's the invasion of our rights, our individual rights. I heard a radio announcer yesterday defend the patdowns, saying they were OK if they ensure our safety. Nope, I don't think so. First, he's supposedly one of those guys who believes in the "founding principles," you know, what the Founding Fathers of the US professed. Well, apparently he forgot this one from Jefferson: "Those willing to give up a little of their freedom to get a little security deserve neither one." And he has overlooked the reason for the founding of this nation, the constant usurpation of rights of colonists by Britain. Oh, we hear in the textbooks and teachers (who don't know any better) about "No Taxation Without Representation." OK, taxes were an issue, but just one, and, by itself, not even the most important one. The Americans were hardly taxed, a very small percentage (about the same as the number being patted down by the TSA!) compared to their fellow British citizens "across the pond." But it wasn't just taxes. It was the quartering of soldiers, usurpation of the right to trial by jury, writs of assistance (open-ended search warrants), etc. You'll get an idea by reading the Bill of Rights. They were witnessing a gradual loss of their freedoms, liberties, a little by little. There was nothing egregious, just small increments. Look at us today. The federal government has mandated we purchase health insurance, wear seat belts, what to use to cook our foods, etc. Little by little....
Ah, but there's still football and isn't American Idol coming soon?????
Talking about systems or games that are broken, what about college football? It's all about money now, isn't it? I'm certainly in a minority here, but that is discouraging to me. A former UM player was interviewed in today's newspaper (he now has cancer and the story is good one, with his attitude, spirit) and said something that people need to hear, but won't, "Nebraska doesn't belong in the Big Ten any more than Arizona does." Nope, it doesn't. It's not a question, he suggested, of being opposed to change, of being "a fuddy-duddy." I think it's a matter of doing the right things, always. This goes to the BCS system (and does anyone know what it really is?), to the clamors for a playoff, to those who get hired as coaches. In a personal way, it's a shame, because I used to watch a lot of college games, years ago, but rarely watch them now, not even the local teams. Too bad for me....
Good article in Thurs paper from last week (yep, I'm very behind in my reading; things are just zooming by me--I have three or four deadlines of next Wed, too!). The guy, a college prof, decries the lack of "preparedness" (I'd never use that word) high school students are for college. Well, HELLO! Of course they aren't prepared and it's getting worse. I've seen it in the 16 years I've taught in the colleges--and many of the high school students I saw who were accepted and went on to colleges astounded me. Of course, this guy's article will be ignored--by practically everyone. Who's going to pay attention? Students? Parents? High schools, both administrators and teachers? College instructors? College administrators? None of them, not a one. This system is broken, too. A college degree, now, is about equivalent to a high school diploma of mayb 30 years ago. Not only have the high schools watered down everything (curricula, standards, etc.), but so have the colleges. High schools are too concerned with their images, mostly false ones, of improving and their test scores. "Teach to the test" is the mantra. Teachers often have not been through rigorous, quality education programs themselves (and that's not the education schools, but colleges/universities in general!); they don't know their subjects nor the effort required for quality. They have been the most mediocre of students themselves and therefore are cowed/intimidated by the latest silly, counterproductive claptrap coming from administrators, who are often chose from the weakest of teachers. (Add that one up!) Colleges, with their massive construction and expansion projects, have mortgages to pay; they need the tuition. Professors, burdened with political correctness (and most of them fully buy into that, having created much of it) such as self-esteem, affirmative action, etc., rarely give out the grades deserved, the poor grades. (I recall reading Patrick Allitt's I'm the Teacher; You're the Student. It was a good book in describing his class, what he does, his assignments, etc. What was distressing, very much so, was when he admitting that 7 or 8 of his students fully deserved to fail the course, but he wrote, "They'll get the B-minuses." Oh, he rationalized that, but not at all convincingly to me. He's a wimp, pure and simple.) Why would students be concerned? They've been handed grades with little or no effort in high school, come very much unprepared for college work (although they don't think so), and why wouldn't they expect more of the same--good grades for no effort or achievement? In a way, I can't blame them, well, at least not fully. So, when I hear people like our soon-to-be ex-governor loudly exclaim, "Everyone goes to college!" and the subsequent, equally loud cheers, I just shake my head.
Can you believe the TSA patdowns? If those You Tube videos are real...? OK, I understand the need for security. I also understand that a very small percentage of people/travelers undergo the patdowns. But, that's not the point. It's the invasion of our rights, our individual rights. I heard a radio announcer yesterday defend the patdowns, saying they were OK if they ensure our safety. Nope, I don't think so. First, he's supposedly one of those guys who believes in the "founding principles," you know, what the Founding Fathers of the US professed. Well, apparently he forgot this one from Jefferson: "Those willing to give up a little of their freedom to get a little security deserve neither one." And he has overlooked the reason for the founding of this nation, the constant usurpation of rights of colonists by Britain. Oh, we hear in the textbooks and teachers (who don't know any better) about "No Taxation Without Representation." OK, taxes were an issue, but just one, and, by itself, not even the most important one. The Americans were hardly taxed, a very small percentage (about the same as the number being patted down by the TSA!) compared to their fellow British citizens "across the pond." But it wasn't just taxes. It was the quartering of soldiers, usurpation of the right to trial by jury, writs of assistance (open-ended search warrants), etc. You'll get an idea by reading the Bill of Rights. They were witnessing a gradual loss of their freedoms, liberties, a little by little. There was nothing egregious, just small increments. Look at us today. The federal government has mandated we purchase health insurance, wear seat belts, what to use to cook our foods, etc. Little by little....
Ah, but there's still football and isn't American Idol coming soon?????
Monday, November 22, 2010
Caring?
Why don't people care? Oh, they say they do and, maybe in their heads they really do. But why do they let things happen? Is it because they have other things to do? Is it because "things" are happening to others, not to them--yet? Are they too comfortable in their lives? Or, do they just not care?
Do we think "caring" means putting a "Free Tibet" bumper sticker on our cars? (Yeah, the Chinese government is threatened by that!) Is it serving on committees that merely rubber stamp silliness handed down from on high? Is "caring" making sure we recycle while leaving on all the lights in the house, driving an SUV, etc.? (I got a great kick out of driving past an elementary school that proudly had a sign that it had been awarded some sort of "Green School" award, while the majority of vehicles in the staff parking lot were SUVs!) Is it favoring the gov't to "do something," namely taxing more and spending more of other people's money, while continuing on lengthy, expensive vacations, buying large flat screens, having cell phones with all the latest bells and whistles, driving luxurious cars, etc.?
Where to start? Speeding on the expressway? 80 mph or faster on the road is not uncommon; I saw it many times just yesterday. It's dangerous, consumes fuel, etc. Yet? Have you seen any of the videos of the TSA searches at airports in recent weeks? And then the smugness of the TSA agents afterward? (Watch some of the You Tubes out there and see if you aren't reminded of Animal Farm.) How about re-electing people who are on public record calling the public "stupid," among other similar things? Why do we let those who have few, if any, real credentials (note I said real!) run our schools and school districts? Oh, the list seems infinite....
Again, it's a question of caring.... What we say and what we do are most often quite different.
Do we think "caring" means putting a "Free Tibet" bumper sticker on our cars? (Yeah, the Chinese government is threatened by that!) Is it serving on committees that merely rubber stamp silliness handed down from on high? Is "caring" making sure we recycle while leaving on all the lights in the house, driving an SUV, etc.? (I got a great kick out of driving past an elementary school that proudly had a sign that it had been awarded some sort of "Green School" award, while the majority of vehicles in the staff parking lot were SUVs!) Is it favoring the gov't to "do something," namely taxing more and spending more of other people's money, while continuing on lengthy, expensive vacations, buying large flat screens, having cell phones with all the latest bells and whistles, driving luxurious cars, etc.?
Where to start? Speeding on the expressway? 80 mph or faster on the road is not uncommon; I saw it many times just yesterday. It's dangerous, consumes fuel, etc. Yet? Have you seen any of the videos of the TSA searches at airports in recent weeks? And then the smugness of the TSA agents afterward? (Watch some of the You Tubes out there and see if you aren't reminded of Animal Farm.) How about re-electing people who are on public record calling the public "stupid," among other similar things? Why do we let those who have few, if any, real credentials (note I said real!) run our schools and school districts? Oh, the list seems infinite....
Again, it's a question of caring.... What we say and what we do are most often quite different.
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