Temperatures reached 117 degrees here in Las Vegas this afternoon. This follows a record-tying 115 yesterday. At 10 PM last night, when we checked into the Monte Carlo, it was still 107 degrees! Tomorrow is a repeat of today. Things cool off, I guess, next weekend, when we leave. "Cool off" takes a new meaning when the temperatures will still reach 107 or so.
That said, we really weren't uncomfortable out there this afternoon for four hours or so at a water park. We took the kids, at Uncle Matt's and Linda's suggestion (and they joined us), to Wet 'n' Wild.
As Karen said, "It really was more uncomfortable" back in Michigan last week at 85 degrees and 90 percent humididity.
I know that's all hard to believe. I guess this is one of those situations where, "You have to be there."
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Major Sports at Major Colleges
There's a lawsuit agains the NCAA, an athlete trying to get paid for playing a college sport. This NY Times blogger posted this:
For instance, the N.C.A.A.’s legal arguments in the O’Bannon case are almost laughably weak. It argues that if the players were paid, then college sports would lose its appeal. Says who? It claims that college athletes must continue to be amateurs because, well, that’s the way it’s always been. It even argues that if O’Bannon wins, schools like Michigan, with its 110,000-seat football stadium, would downgrade its athletic status to that of, say, Amherst. I’m told that there were times on Thursday when people were openly chortling at some of the N.C.A.A.’s oral arguments.
I will disregard the poor writing. But this is offensive not to mention sloppy thinking. Pay athletes, like this blogger obviously wants--but don't do it through the colleges. Develop some sort of "farm system," a semi-pro league, etc. Don't make a mockery of the term "student-athlete." I know credibility and principles are out of vogue--perhaps never to return--but why hide behind the college athletic programs?
In many instances, esp at the big schools, but not exclusively, and in the big-time sports, athletes are anything but students. They don't pay tuition or room and board. They get tutors not available to most students. They have facilities, such as weight rooms, not available to most students. They eat food not available to most students. You get the picture. Oh, many of these so-called "student-athletes" don't go to class, yet still, miraculously, pass all of them. With all of this, barely half of them graduate. I'd be curious to see how many of them who do get degrees actually did the work!
What is most offensive to me, of course, is this piece of arrogance, "downgrade it's athletic status to that of, say, Amherst." "Downgrade," eh? Yeah, let's perpetuate a system that mocks education, cheats, fosters corruption, and worse. Can you say "Penn State?" Hey, I actually had to go to class, do the work (and lots and lots of it!), and more. Oh, we, back then at least, also played Div I schools (Boston College, Holy Cross, Purdue, Northwestern--the Big Ten!--Rutgers, UMass, Western Michigan, Navy, etc.) and, as often as not, beat them!
I know, I know...even the alumni at these big schools don't want to make "student-athletes" students. They apparently don't care that their own degrees are diminished by this mockery. Oh, they might even argue their degrees aren't diminished. I guess I would disagree.... There's something to be said with the adage, "You're known by the company you keep."
For instance, the N.C.A.A.’s legal arguments in the O’Bannon case are almost laughably weak. It argues that if the players were paid, then college sports would lose its appeal. Says who? It claims that college athletes must continue to be amateurs because, well, that’s the way it’s always been. It even argues that if O’Bannon wins, schools like Michigan, with its 110,000-seat football stadium, would downgrade its athletic status to that of, say, Amherst. I’m told that there were times on Thursday when people were openly chortling at some of the N.C.A.A.’s oral arguments.
I will disregard the poor writing. But this is offensive not to mention sloppy thinking. Pay athletes, like this blogger obviously wants--but don't do it through the colleges. Develop some sort of "farm system," a semi-pro league, etc. Don't make a mockery of the term "student-athlete." I know credibility and principles are out of vogue--perhaps never to return--but why hide behind the college athletic programs?
In many instances, esp at the big schools, but not exclusively, and in the big-time sports, athletes are anything but students. They don't pay tuition or room and board. They get tutors not available to most students. They have facilities, such as weight rooms, not available to most students. They eat food not available to most students. You get the picture. Oh, many of these so-called "student-athletes" don't go to class, yet still, miraculously, pass all of them. With all of this, barely half of them graduate. I'd be curious to see how many of them who do get degrees actually did the work!
What is most offensive to me, of course, is this piece of arrogance, "downgrade it's athletic status to that of, say, Amherst." "Downgrade," eh? Yeah, let's perpetuate a system that mocks education, cheats, fosters corruption, and worse. Can you say "Penn State?" Hey, I actually had to go to class, do the work (and lots and lots of it!), and more. Oh, we, back then at least, also played Div I schools (Boston College, Holy Cross, Purdue, Northwestern--the Big Ten!--Rutgers, UMass, Western Michigan, Navy, etc.) and, as often as not, beat them!
I know, I know...even the alumni at these big schools don't want to make "student-athletes" students. They apparently don't care that their own degrees are diminished by this mockery. Oh, they might even argue their degrees aren't diminished. I guess I would disagree.... There's something to be said with the adage, "You're known by the company you keep."
Equal Time
Congressman Sander Levin, quite the liberal, was cited in an article in today's newspaper that "liberals were targeted" by the IRS, too. As if that justifies any such "targeting" by the IRS. More so, he was right, but only to an extent, a very, very small extent. House hearings revealed that, yes, liberal groups were also "targeted". Yep, six of them! And there were 292 conservative groups that were singled out by the IRS. Hmmm...... 6 vs 292? That's about equal, isn't it? With the new math? With the Common Core Curriculum standards? I would just like to ask Congessman Levin one question about this: Are your comments designed to smooth over all this? "See, we were targets, too!" Levin certainly displays the qualifications to be a multi-term Congressman (and that's not at all a compliment!). I think it was John Arbuckle who said more than a century ago, "You get what you pay for." And, citizens get what they vote for.
I see conservatives are up in arms over the Supreme Court ruling in the Defense of Marriage Act case. In this, conservatives are wrong, wrong, wrong. The Supremes too a step in the right direction. It is blatantly unconstitutional to single out one group and deny it 14th Amendment rights: equal protection of the law. It took us a while, but we finally figured it out and extended those rights to blacks (former slaves), women, Indians--and now gays. Conservatives cite "traditional" definitions of marriage, as if that justifies denial of rights. They, who often seem so intent on using history in their arguments, forget that "traditional" views, even using the Bible, were employed in perpetuating slavery and second-class citizenship for women. They often continue to cite the Bible--picking and choosing as use of the Bible frequently requires--to "bolster" their argument. They are entitled to their religious beliefs about traditional marriage. They are not entitled to impose their religious beliefs on other people. Nonsequiturs all over the place. They can approve or disapprove of gay marriages or unions or whatever the newest descriptor. That is their right. But they can't force their views on others, in contradistinction of the Constitution. They can, if they really want to walk the walk not just talk the talk, take actions. They can boycott businesses, companies, even media outlets that support gay marriage. That's their right to do so, as wrong-headed as it may be. I even heard or read a pro-DOMA advocate claim that gays raising kids is deleterious. That's really laughable. What can be more deleterious to raising kids than what many people are doing now--fatherless families, single-parent families (that so many have done outstanding jobs is a marvel to me!), indulgent parenting, etc. It's not gays who are raising kids who shoot others out on the streets. It's not gays who are raising kids not interested in education. It's not gays who are raising drug addicts. It's not gays who are doing any of these any more than so-called "straight" parents. Several decried the judicial activism of the Court, that the Court undid what voters and legislatures/Congress did. That's really pretty laughable. What do these people think of, say, Brown v Board of Education? Was that judicial activism, too? Hadn't, for decades if not centuries, even with the imprimatur of the Supreme Court (of Dred Scott, of Plessy), voters and legislaures/Congress denied "equal protection of the law" to another group, blacks/slaves? So, if I follow this reasoning, the Supremes under Warren should have just let the status quo continue until Congress, state legislatures, and voters finally decided that blacks were also guaranteed "equal protection?" As my professors wrote on a number of my papers, "No sloppy thinking allowed."
Just to repeat from a previous post of a few days ago, I wonder what those friends of China are thinking now--still "friends" I bet--with the anti-American actions of the past week. And these weren't the openly anti-US hostilities of the Chinese commie government, but the people (who may or may not have been following orders). Why US companies continue to "exploit" the exploding Chinese market in search of profits (at the expense of giving away our technology) is beyond me. Why American shills continue to laud their "friends" the Chinese is beyond me. V.I. Lenin used a term to describe such American companies and shills: "useful idiots." Oh, I keep forgetting: History isn't important.
I see conservatives are up in arms over the Supreme Court ruling in the Defense of Marriage Act case. In this, conservatives are wrong, wrong, wrong. The Supremes too a step in the right direction. It is blatantly unconstitutional to single out one group and deny it 14th Amendment rights: equal protection of the law. It took us a while, but we finally figured it out and extended those rights to blacks (former slaves), women, Indians--and now gays. Conservatives cite "traditional" definitions of marriage, as if that justifies denial of rights. They, who often seem so intent on using history in their arguments, forget that "traditional" views, even using the Bible, were employed in perpetuating slavery and second-class citizenship for women. They often continue to cite the Bible--picking and choosing as use of the Bible frequently requires--to "bolster" their argument. They are entitled to their religious beliefs about traditional marriage. They are not entitled to impose their religious beliefs on other people. Nonsequiturs all over the place. They can approve or disapprove of gay marriages or unions or whatever the newest descriptor. That is their right. But they can't force their views on others, in contradistinction of the Constitution. They can, if they really want to walk the walk not just talk the talk, take actions. They can boycott businesses, companies, even media outlets that support gay marriage. That's their right to do so, as wrong-headed as it may be. I even heard or read a pro-DOMA advocate claim that gays raising kids is deleterious. That's really laughable. What can be more deleterious to raising kids than what many people are doing now--fatherless families, single-parent families (that so many have done outstanding jobs is a marvel to me!), indulgent parenting, etc. It's not gays who are raising kids who shoot others out on the streets. It's not gays who are raising kids not interested in education. It's not gays who are raising drug addicts. It's not gays who are doing any of these any more than so-called "straight" parents. Several decried the judicial activism of the Court, that the Court undid what voters and legislatures/Congress did. That's really pretty laughable. What do these people think of, say, Brown v Board of Education? Was that judicial activism, too? Hadn't, for decades if not centuries, even with the imprimatur of the Supreme Court (of Dred Scott, of Plessy), voters and legislaures/Congress denied "equal protection of the law" to another group, blacks/slaves? So, if I follow this reasoning, the Supremes under Warren should have just let the status quo continue until Congress, state legislatures, and voters finally decided that blacks were also guaranteed "equal protection?" As my professors wrote on a number of my papers, "No sloppy thinking allowed."
Just to repeat from a previous post of a few days ago, I wonder what those friends of China are thinking now--still "friends" I bet--with the anti-American actions of the past week. And these weren't the openly anti-US hostilities of the Chinese commie government, but the people (who may or may not have been following orders). Why US companies continue to "exploit" the exploding Chinese market in search of profits (at the expense of giving away our technology) is beyond me. Why American shills continue to laud their "friends" the Chinese is beyond me. V.I. Lenin used a term to describe such American companies and shills: "useful idiots." Oh, I keep forgetting: History isn't important.
A Feel-Good Day
Today was one of those really "feel-good" days. I had two great workouts--a long run in the humididity (OK, that part wasn't so great) and then hard rain and a long bike ride later in the afternoon.
My grades for my spring class were pretty good, esp some of the essays on the final exam. And I received a few nice notes from students--they were flattering and, as always, appreciated! I thank them.
I also received an e-mail from on of my Amherst professors. He informed me we won't be able to meet in October during Homecoming Weekend since he and his wife are moving to Kansas City (her home?). "I'm always glad to hear from you," he wrote. Talk about making one feel good! But, esp in light of the previous paragraph, such notes from my professors serve to keep me from getting a big head. In their presence, even Internet presence, still, after all these years, I am humbled. He was a great teacher and person.
About the only downer today was Ashley's game was stormed out. I was bummed as it is the Iron Pigs' penultimate game. But, in keeping with the "feel-good" nature of the day, I was informed that the game will be made up tomorrow eve. I'd better get my pitching arm ready! And, in lieu of the washout, I took the kids to Dairy Queen for Blizzards. I kidded Ash and the Codester that they were going to buy "Smelly Socks-flavored" Blizzards. When that idea didn't go over too well, I suggested "Tuna-flavored" Blizzards. Nope, they settled for chocolate chip cookie dough--good choices.
My grades for my spring class were pretty good, esp some of the essays on the final exam. And I received a few nice notes from students--they were flattering and, as always, appreciated! I thank them.
I also received an e-mail from on of my Amherst professors. He informed me we won't be able to meet in October during Homecoming Weekend since he and his wife are moving to Kansas City (her home?). "I'm always glad to hear from you," he wrote. Talk about making one feel good! But, esp in light of the previous paragraph, such notes from my professors serve to keep me from getting a big head. In their presence, even Internet presence, still, after all these years, I am humbled. He was a great teacher and person.
About the only downer today was Ashley's game was stormed out. I was bummed as it is the Iron Pigs' penultimate game. But, in keeping with the "feel-good" nature of the day, I was informed that the game will be made up tomorrow eve. I'd better get my pitching arm ready! And, in lieu of the washout, I took the kids to Dairy Queen for Blizzards. I kidded Ash and the Codester that they were going to buy "Smelly Socks-flavored" Blizzards. When that idea didn't go over too well, I suggested "Tuna-flavored" Blizzards. Nope, they settled for chocolate chip cookie dough--good choices.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Sometimes...
...I just sits. Sometimes I sits and thinks.
Great column in the newspaper the other day about the lack of quality candidates, from both parties, in the Congressional elections next year. The best part involved columnist Dale McFeatters insisting that "no skills to speak of" are required for "a job program of sorts" created by Congress. The jobs, of course, are US Senator and US Congressman/woman. It's "a career," he goes on, "but one that's not too demanding." It includes $174,000 for "33 weeks of work, a 'week...' generally being only four days."
Getting the job might require one "to grovel, beg, and pander, but these are easily learnable skills." A key is "getting over the hump" of realizing "having no apparent qualifications for this or any other job." Once in the seat, "as long as you begin your speech with 'My fellow Americans' and end it with "God bless you and God bless the united States of America," you can get away with any amount of nonsense." And, "If you're ever at a loss for words, look a donor in the eye and give him a heartfelt 'God Bless America. It works!"
Can there be much more of a slam on Congress?
Is it true the Calgary, Canada public schools are going to eliminate grades until high school? Ostensibly, the move is to prevent students from seeing themselves as failures. I think there's another way for students to avoid seeing themselves as "failures."
And, I heard, in it's infinite wisdom, the state of Michigan Dept of Ed is going to begin testing first and second grade students on their computer skills, along with whatever else they are tested on. But, I guess students don't start getting real computer teaching until 3rd grade. Huh?
Michigan high school student scores on the ACT and the other state test went up this year. I suppose that's cause for applause. But, maybe not. There are still far too many "not prepared for college," almost 80% of high school graduates. More significantly, to an anti-test person like me, this "improvement" assumes the tests are worthwhile. I refuse to make that concession. And, with all of the emphasis on the tests--the tests themselves, test-taking, teaching to the tests (and we all know it is going on, esp with so much of teacher and school evaluation depending on test scores)--it doesn't seem like the improvement is such a big deal.
I was reminded of a quotation from the Roman Cato the other day. It brought memories of various halls of fame, teachers-of-the-year awards, etc. The quotation is, ""After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one." Quite fitting.
I see Gov Snyder is upset with the state senate for going on vacation instead of voting on his Medicare bill. I think it would have been defeated, but at least we'd have had a record of how our representatives voted. I still think Snyder is a big hypocrite and that his support of this bill strongly reflects that. It reminds me of the stupid position in the schools. There'd be money left over in the budget at the end of a year. The rush was then on to spend it on anything, even something not at all needed. Why? Because if there was a surplus, that is not spending all of the money in one year's budget, the next one might be cut. So, go ahead--spend it all, whether it's useful or not. Snyder's view seems to be, "We contibuted to Medicare, we should spend it."
Walter Williams points out this piece of ridiculousness. Exxon was fined in 2009 a total of $600,000 for the deaths of birds which had contacted some of Exxon's pollutants. Yet, this nation's "wind farms" kill about 573,000 bird every year. Why doesn't the Justice Dept go after the wind farms? In fact, why has the wind farm industry been legally shielded from prosecution in this? And, why have the media been so silent on the wind farm "murders," when it was headlining the Exxon "murders?"
I came upon this quotation the other day, from the Roman Cato: "After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one." I immediately thought of all of the trivial halls or walls of fame, the teachers-of-the-year awards, etc. I don't know why, but that was the first thing I thought of when I saw Cato's words.
How about if the kids and I have a dish of ice cream??????
Great column in the newspaper the other day about the lack of quality candidates, from both parties, in the Congressional elections next year. The best part involved columnist Dale McFeatters insisting that "no skills to speak of" are required for "a job program of sorts" created by Congress. The jobs, of course, are US Senator and US Congressman/woman. It's "a career," he goes on, "but one that's not too demanding." It includes $174,000 for "33 weeks of work, a 'week...' generally being only four days."
Getting the job might require one "to grovel, beg, and pander, but these are easily learnable skills." A key is "getting over the hump" of realizing "having no apparent qualifications for this or any other job." Once in the seat, "as long as you begin your speech with 'My fellow Americans' and end it with "God bless you and God bless the united States of America," you can get away with any amount of nonsense." And, "If you're ever at a loss for words, look a donor in the eye and give him a heartfelt 'God Bless America. It works!"
Can there be much more of a slam on Congress?
Is it true the Calgary, Canada public schools are going to eliminate grades until high school? Ostensibly, the move is to prevent students from seeing themselves as failures. I think there's another way for students to avoid seeing themselves as "failures."
And, I heard, in it's infinite wisdom, the state of Michigan Dept of Ed is going to begin testing first and second grade students on their computer skills, along with whatever else they are tested on. But, I guess students don't start getting real computer teaching until 3rd grade. Huh?
Michigan high school student scores on the ACT and the other state test went up this year. I suppose that's cause for applause. But, maybe not. There are still far too many "not prepared for college," almost 80% of high school graduates. More significantly, to an anti-test person like me, this "improvement" assumes the tests are worthwhile. I refuse to make that concession. And, with all of the emphasis on the tests--the tests themselves, test-taking, teaching to the tests (and we all know it is going on, esp with so much of teacher and school evaluation depending on test scores)--it doesn't seem like the improvement is such a big deal.
I was reminded of a quotation from the Roman Cato the other day. It brought memories of various halls of fame, teachers-of-the-year awards, etc. The quotation is, ""After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one." Quite fitting.
I see Gov Snyder is upset with the state senate for going on vacation instead of voting on his Medicare bill. I think it would have been defeated, but at least we'd have had a record of how our representatives voted. I still think Snyder is a big hypocrite and that his support of this bill strongly reflects that. It reminds me of the stupid position in the schools. There'd be money left over in the budget at the end of a year. The rush was then on to spend it on anything, even something not at all needed. Why? Because if there was a surplus, that is not spending all of the money in one year's budget, the next one might be cut. So, go ahead--spend it all, whether it's useful or not. Snyder's view seems to be, "We contibuted to Medicare, we should spend it."
Walter Williams points out this piece of ridiculousness. Exxon was fined in 2009 a total of $600,000 for the deaths of birds which had contacted some of Exxon's pollutants. Yet, this nation's "wind farms" kill about 573,000 bird every year. Why doesn't the Justice Dept go after the wind farms? In fact, why has the wind farm industry been legally shielded from prosecution in this? And, why have the media been so silent on the wind farm "murders," when it was headlining the Exxon "murders?"
I came upon this quotation the other day, from the Roman Cato: "After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one." I immediately thought of all of the trivial halls or walls of fame, the teachers-of-the-year awards, etc. I don't know why, but that was the first thing I thought of when I saw Cato's words.
How about if the kids and I have a dish of ice cream??????
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Principles
Ah, principles.... How often do they get in the way? The Detroit News has, forever I'd guess, railed against judicial activism, that is, "judge-made law." Judges are to interpret, not make, the law. Yet, last week a Wayne County judged ruled that Mike Duggan did not meet the residency requirements of the Detroit City Charter to run for mayor of Detroit. Duggan filed early, before his one-year residence in the city had transpired. The charter is clear and Duggan didn't meet the requirements. But the News, claiming among other things that the charter is a mess (regardless that it was approved by the voters of Detroit), thinks an appeals court should overturn the initial ruling, making Duggan eligible again. In other words, an appellate decision should, in this case, rule on what the law should say, not what it does say. Ordinarily, the News would be opposed, on principle, to its own views, but not this time. I guess it's whose ox is being gored. Partisanship should take precedence over principles. Darn principles, getting in the way again....
Why don't we abolish the IRS? Seriously. Why should there be an agency of the federal government, one that works for the people, be one that invokes fear, dread, and whatnot in citizens? Talk to someone who's faced an IRS audit. There's no reason for that. Besides, why not simplify the tax laws and code (Several thousand pages is a bit much, aren't they?)? Eliminate credits, deductions, and exemptions. Get rid of the "loopholes" and lower the tax rates. How about a flat rate? There'd be even less need for an IRS that strikes such fear and dread. How about a national sales tax?
I noted that All-Hall of Famer Lem Barney admitted in the newspaper that he tried to talk his son and grandson out of playing football. It's too dangerous, he said. It is too violent and the head injuries, not to mention others, are not worth the risk. He suggested that if something isn't done to minimize such injuries, football may be a thing of the past within 20 years. Hmmm......
Why has the Obama Administration sent aid to the rebels in Syria? No matter who wins over there--the ones we armed or the ones we didn't--the US will be hated and treated with scorn. Don't those supposedly intelligent people pay attention? How have Iraq, Afghanistan (And we're still there! What happens the instant we leave?), Egypt, Libya, and who knows where else worked out for us? Perhaps Clinton was right, "What difference does it make?"
Speaking of the Obama Administration, who can possibly trust it or defend it, except perhaps for the most devoted sycophants/bobbleheads? Justice Dept scandals, IRS targeting, State Dept blatant lies and incompetence--wiretaps, e-mail snooping, who knows what else? Where are the LameStream Media? They were all over Nixon, rightfully so. Where are our 21st Century Woodwards and Bernsteins? Oh, everyone is on break or vacation? OK. And I forgot, "But Bush lied......"
I think that church sign of a few weeks ago lied. "It will all make sense some day." I don't think so.
Why don't we abolish the IRS? Seriously. Why should there be an agency of the federal government, one that works for the people, be one that invokes fear, dread, and whatnot in citizens? Talk to someone who's faced an IRS audit. There's no reason for that. Besides, why not simplify the tax laws and code (Several thousand pages is a bit much, aren't they?)? Eliminate credits, deductions, and exemptions. Get rid of the "loopholes" and lower the tax rates. How about a flat rate? There'd be even less need for an IRS that strikes such fear and dread. How about a national sales tax?
I noted that All-Hall of Famer Lem Barney admitted in the newspaper that he tried to talk his son and grandson out of playing football. It's too dangerous, he said. It is too violent and the head injuries, not to mention others, are not worth the risk. He suggested that if something isn't done to minimize such injuries, football may be a thing of the past within 20 years. Hmmm......
Why has the Obama Administration sent aid to the rebels in Syria? No matter who wins over there--the ones we armed or the ones we didn't--the US will be hated and treated with scorn. Don't those supposedly intelligent people pay attention? How have Iraq, Afghanistan (And we're still there! What happens the instant we leave?), Egypt, Libya, and who knows where else worked out for us? Perhaps Clinton was right, "What difference does it make?"
Speaking of the Obama Administration, who can possibly trust it or defend it, except perhaps for the most devoted sycophants/bobbleheads? Justice Dept scandals, IRS targeting, State Dept blatant lies and incompetence--wiretaps, e-mail snooping, who knows what else? Where are the LameStream Media? They were all over Nixon, rightfully so. Where are our 21st Century Woodwards and Bernsteins? Oh, everyone is on break or vacation? OK. And I forgot, "But Bush lied......"
I think that church sign of a few weeks ago lied. "It will all make sense some day." I don't think so.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Jobs
No, not "Steve," but work.....
Still smarting over "just a secretary," I have thought of which of many jobs--full- and part-time--I've had that I've enjoyed the most--and least.
I think my favorite was my road construction job. It was physical and it was outside. I liked the work and the guys with whom I worked. Granted, the most I ever worked there was six or so months at a time since it was a summer job. But it, I think, was my favorite. I still can drive past places down in Detroit and say, "I helped to pave that road for the first time" or "We widened that one" or "That's where I was when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon."
My dad made me quit that job. Back then, guys listened to their fathers. After graduation, I was offered a full-time position with the construction crew. I jumped at it and when I told my parents, my father said, "No! I didn't send you to college to work construction" or something of that nature. So, there went my construction job. Would I have like it for 30 or 35 years, esp as I got older? I don't know, but I still have enjoyed physical labor, such as working in the yard.
I also enjoyed my college job--working in the dining hall. Of course, the work wasn't very demanding, physically or otherwise, except for Sun brunches after a tough Sat night! I was with many of my buddies, who also worked, and those who didn't usually came in to eat. My favorite part was working the large, industrial-size dishwasher. There was a "front-end" job and a "back-end" job. Sometimes, esp for that Sun brunch when some scheduled workers didn't show up, I'd work both. And, later during my senior year when I was the "headwaiter," sort of the boss, I'd work it, too, if needed. What a great day! Go to classes, then head to the dining hall for work (beginning at 85 cents an hour!). After, it was mosey down for rugby or baseball practice. Then, it was dinner, goofing around with the guys for an hour or two. Library time was next. If I was lucky, the cute girls were in the newspaper/magazine room and I could go in and shyly flirt. My day was made if they said "Hello" and talked a bit. Then, after about four hours of library time, it was back to the room. If hungry, it was pizza or a grinder from Mr. Bell's, while we listened to the campus radio sports show. We listened because M-Th there was a sports quiz and there were quite a few campus "teams" competing to see who'd win after whatever time it was.
I worked in the foundry at Ford's, but didn't like it at all. Oh, I made good money, great money in fact. Straight-time, with no OT, was more than 50% more than my first teaching job. That is, I took a sizable pay cut to teach. I foundry work was hard, but that wasn't the problem. I didn't mind the work. It was the conditions. It was dirty! Soot everywhere. I coudn't wear my contact lenses, even after work or on Sundays--we worked ten hours on Sat, too. I remember always seeming to have grit in my mouth; even mouthwash didn't get rid of it. Fortunately, I worked there only about three months. I remember because I just qualified for the health, eye, dental insurance plans and had full union dues taken from my paycheck. But I was offered my first teaching job and took it--let's just say with the strong recommendation that I do so from my father. He didn't have to push that one very hard, though.
I also enjoyed officiating basketball--most of the time. It was great to have two good teams, a lot of fun for me as well as the players. I most often worked with a good buddy of mine and we developed a system where we had a good idea of where each of us would be, what we'd call, etc. It was sort of ESPN between us. It didn't matter if it was two good teams in the state tournament or during the regular season or if it was two good jr high teams. Those games were fun. Now, lousy teams with lousy coaches weren't a lot of fun. The coaches were lousy, but didn't know it, and if they were losing (and being lousy coaches, what do you think their teams were doing?), they'd always blame us. "Call it tighter!" "You're calling too much." Well, "tighter" meant call it "tighter" on the other team, not his, and so on.
Coaching? As much as I enjoyed playing sports, from just goofing around as a kid to the pretty competitive levels later on, I never really liked coaching. I liked the guys I coached with. But the actual coaching? Let's just say I didn't live and die high school football and baseball. Friday nights in football, though, with the stands full, was a trip. I never got tired of that. But I didn't care much for practices. Baseball was different. I didn't care for the games, esp doubleheaders, but enjoyed most of the practices, where I could actually do something, I guess.
Writing? I have enjoyed it most of the time. Sometimes I take on too many assignments and don't care much for rushing to meet deadlines/due dates. But it's fun to put things on paper--in print or online. Funny, invariably, the columns and articles I've written that I think are the best, at least they are my favorites, get little response. The ones that I think are pretty mediocre, at best, often are the ones which gather more compliments. That happens a lot.
My ideal job?????? I'm not sure. Maybe a research librarian? Maybe a lawyer who maps strategies, but doesn't actually argue cases. The guy who names flavors of salad dressings, yogurts, etc.? Now, that might be a good one.
Still smarting over "just a secretary," I have thought of which of many jobs--full- and part-time--I've had that I've enjoyed the most--and least.
I think my favorite was my road construction job. It was physical and it was outside. I liked the work and the guys with whom I worked. Granted, the most I ever worked there was six or so months at a time since it was a summer job. But it, I think, was my favorite. I still can drive past places down in Detroit and say, "I helped to pave that road for the first time" or "We widened that one" or "That's where I was when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon."
My dad made me quit that job. Back then, guys listened to their fathers. After graduation, I was offered a full-time position with the construction crew. I jumped at it and when I told my parents, my father said, "No! I didn't send you to college to work construction" or something of that nature. So, there went my construction job. Would I have like it for 30 or 35 years, esp as I got older? I don't know, but I still have enjoyed physical labor, such as working in the yard.
I also enjoyed my college job--working in the dining hall. Of course, the work wasn't very demanding, physically or otherwise, except for Sun brunches after a tough Sat night! I was with many of my buddies, who also worked, and those who didn't usually came in to eat. My favorite part was working the large, industrial-size dishwasher. There was a "front-end" job and a "back-end" job. Sometimes, esp for that Sun brunch when some scheduled workers didn't show up, I'd work both. And, later during my senior year when I was the "headwaiter," sort of the boss, I'd work it, too, if needed. What a great day! Go to classes, then head to the dining hall for work (beginning at 85 cents an hour!). After, it was mosey down for rugby or baseball practice. Then, it was dinner, goofing around with the guys for an hour or two. Library time was next. If I was lucky, the cute girls were in the newspaper/magazine room and I could go in and shyly flirt. My day was made if they said "Hello" and talked a bit. Then, after about four hours of library time, it was back to the room. If hungry, it was pizza or a grinder from Mr. Bell's, while we listened to the campus radio sports show. We listened because M-Th there was a sports quiz and there were quite a few campus "teams" competing to see who'd win after whatever time it was.
I worked in the foundry at Ford's, but didn't like it at all. Oh, I made good money, great money in fact. Straight-time, with no OT, was more than 50% more than my first teaching job. That is, I took a sizable pay cut to teach. I foundry work was hard, but that wasn't the problem. I didn't mind the work. It was the conditions. It was dirty! Soot everywhere. I coudn't wear my contact lenses, even after work or on Sundays--we worked ten hours on Sat, too. I remember always seeming to have grit in my mouth; even mouthwash didn't get rid of it. Fortunately, I worked there only about three months. I remember because I just qualified for the health, eye, dental insurance plans and had full union dues taken from my paycheck. But I was offered my first teaching job and took it--let's just say with the strong recommendation that I do so from my father. He didn't have to push that one very hard, though.
I also enjoyed officiating basketball--most of the time. It was great to have two good teams, a lot of fun for me as well as the players. I most often worked with a good buddy of mine and we developed a system where we had a good idea of where each of us would be, what we'd call, etc. It was sort of ESPN between us. It didn't matter if it was two good teams in the state tournament or during the regular season or if it was two good jr high teams. Those games were fun. Now, lousy teams with lousy coaches weren't a lot of fun. The coaches were lousy, but didn't know it, and if they were losing (and being lousy coaches, what do you think their teams were doing?), they'd always blame us. "Call it tighter!" "You're calling too much." Well, "tighter" meant call it "tighter" on the other team, not his, and so on.
Coaching? As much as I enjoyed playing sports, from just goofing around as a kid to the pretty competitive levels later on, I never really liked coaching. I liked the guys I coached with. But the actual coaching? Let's just say I didn't live and die high school football and baseball. Friday nights in football, though, with the stands full, was a trip. I never got tired of that. But I didn't care much for practices. Baseball was different. I didn't care for the games, esp doubleheaders, but enjoyed most of the practices, where I could actually do something, I guess.
Writing? I have enjoyed it most of the time. Sometimes I take on too many assignments and don't care much for rushing to meet deadlines/due dates. But it's fun to put things on paper--in print or online. Funny, invariably, the columns and articles I've written that I think are the best, at least they are my favorites, get little response. The ones that I think are pretty mediocre, at best, often are the ones which gather more compliments. That happens a lot.
My ideal job?????? I'm not sure. Maybe a research librarian? Maybe a lawyer who maps strategies, but doesn't actually argue cases. The guy who names flavors of salad dressings, yogurts, etc.? Now, that might be a good one.
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