Further evidence that the Apocalypse is nearly upon us:
On a sign promoting an upcoming event--"Coming Dec 5-6, Christmas Bizarre." Now, isn't that bazaar, I mean, "bizarre?"
Friday, November 27, 2009
Modern Colleges
Here we go again, insisting that college educations are crucial to the coming generations. But, then, we try so very hard to make getting a college education so very easy. Let's do a four-year degree in three years--or two or even one, say some radio ads. Let's do online "virtual" courses. Let's let high school kids get college credit. And on and on....
Now there might well be some good online courses. But it seems to me that, although students should be able to take some of them, overall, they need to have personal confrontation with a professor/instructor. I keep going back to teachers in my bldg all taking the same online course and, meeting several times a week, then doing their work together.
If a college education is being "dumbed down" (and I can't imagine anyone, anywhere arguing it isn't), why is it so important, vital? Instead of colleges and universities, shouldn't we just expand high schools for another couple of years? It would be cheaper (a much more important factor than "it's for the kids") and colleges/universities wouldn't be further degraded (dumbed down).
Surely, no one will listen to that. After all, the "education-types" are in charge.
Now there might well be some good online courses. But it seems to me that, although students should be able to take some of them, overall, they need to have personal confrontation with a professor/instructor. I keep going back to teachers in my bldg all taking the same online course and, meeting several times a week, then doing their work together.
If a college education is being "dumbed down" (and I can't imagine anyone, anywhere arguing it isn't), why is it so important, vital? Instead of colleges and universities, shouldn't we just expand high schools for another couple of years? It would be cheaper (a much more important factor than "it's for the kids") and colleges/universities wouldn't be further degraded (dumbed down).
Surely, no one will listen to that. After all, the "education-types" are in charge.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A Couple Items
First, did you hear the interview with a US Senator, I think she's from Fla, with Stephanopoulos over the weekend? He asked her a question about the Senate health bill and she pooh-poohed it, saying no, that's not true, that's not the case. But, he said, holding up a copy of he bill, he was reading directly from the bill. No, she insisted, that's not true. But it's in the bill!?!?! I guess if you lie and deny enough, it becomes the truth? And, of course, we have now turned callling someone a "liar" into a politically incorrect no-no.
Second, did you hear BO talk about Geitner and the work at the Treasury Dept? If it wasn't so serious, it would be laughable, very laughable. BO said he, Geitner, and the Treas Dept couldn't and wouldn't sit back on their laurels, that there was still work to be done. Huh? What laurels? What has been accomplished? What jobs have been saved, with the unemployment rate up to 11% or more nationally and, in Michigan, almost dbld since BO took office? Of course, the White House just makes up numbers and the dutiful media just fall into place, lapping up the information, accurate or not. Sort of like the local newspapers just accepting the word of school districts that everything is just great, that students are learning, etc, despite the fact that student don't know very much (again, have you counted your change at McD's lately?).
Third, I'm just wondering, from out of nowhere, how many more BO appts are tax cheats. No, no, I don't want to hear, "But Bush...." That's one of the stupidest things someone can say to back/support BO and his inept "czars" and other appts. It's like saying, in response to Hitler's numbers of mass murders, "But Stalin and Mao...."
Fourth, in class today, I noted the Detroit Women's League, an org founded in 1930 to help promote doing business with Depression Era black business. The women, started by a handful of Detroiters and spreading to a number of US cities, advocated and promoted buying from businesses that were black-owned, hired black youths, etc. It saved a number of black businesses from bankruptcy in the '30s. One of my students stuttered, something about "racism." I didn't hear the whole thing, but he said "just helping black businesses" was racist. I merely said, "But, then, what whites were going to help the blacks?" He was nonplussed and I was able to move on.
Fifth, a WB org is trying to get people to donate $1 a day to help WB schools keep programs being cut due to state aid reductions. Fine and good, but isn't this a voluntary tax? What pressures are being put on people to give? I guess I don't have a problem with this since it is voluntary except isn't this a band-aid on a gash? What happens next year? The temporary fix allows the schools to avoid the structural changes needed. And, my guess is any reasonable person, not associated with the schools, could walk in and find numerous cost savings, savings that would reach into the 6- and 7-figures. Oh, "but it's for the kids." Yeah, right..... Say something long enough and loud enough and people fall for it as the truth.
Sixth, along the same lines, how about "Climategate?" The purloined or whistle-blower e-mails and memos do a great deal to blow holes in the man-made warming arguments. Who can we trust any more???
Second, did you hear BO talk about Geitner and the work at the Treasury Dept? If it wasn't so serious, it would be laughable, very laughable. BO said he, Geitner, and the Treas Dept couldn't and wouldn't sit back on their laurels, that there was still work to be done. Huh? What laurels? What has been accomplished? What jobs have been saved, with the unemployment rate up to 11% or more nationally and, in Michigan, almost dbld since BO took office? Of course, the White House just makes up numbers and the dutiful media just fall into place, lapping up the information, accurate or not. Sort of like the local newspapers just accepting the word of school districts that everything is just great, that students are learning, etc, despite the fact that student don't know very much (again, have you counted your change at McD's lately?).
Third, I'm just wondering, from out of nowhere, how many more BO appts are tax cheats. No, no, I don't want to hear, "But Bush...." That's one of the stupidest things someone can say to back/support BO and his inept "czars" and other appts. It's like saying, in response to Hitler's numbers of mass murders, "But Stalin and Mao...."
Fourth, in class today, I noted the Detroit Women's League, an org founded in 1930 to help promote doing business with Depression Era black business. The women, started by a handful of Detroiters and spreading to a number of US cities, advocated and promoted buying from businesses that were black-owned, hired black youths, etc. It saved a number of black businesses from bankruptcy in the '30s. One of my students stuttered, something about "racism." I didn't hear the whole thing, but he said "just helping black businesses" was racist. I merely said, "But, then, what whites were going to help the blacks?" He was nonplussed and I was able to move on.
Fifth, a WB org is trying to get people to donate $1 a day to help WB schools keep programs being cut due to state aid reductions. Fine and good, but isn't this a voluntary tax? What pressures are being put on people to give? I guess I don't have a problem with this since it is voluntary except isn't this a band-aid on a gash? What happens next year? The temporary fix allows the schools to avoid the structural changes needed. And, my guess is any reasonable person, not associated with the schools, could walk in and find numerous cost savings, savings that would reach into the 6- and 7-figures. Oh, "but it's for the kids." Yeah, right..... Say something long enough and loud enough and people fall for it as the truth.
Sixth, along the same lines, how about "Climategate?" The purloined or whistle-blower e-mails and memos do a great deal to blow holes in the man-made warming arguments. Who can we trust any more???
Monday, November 23, 2009
US Senators
I wrote to the two US Senators from Michigan, Levin and Stabenow, last week. I voiced my extreme opposition to the Senate health care bill, urging their no votes. I indicated that I was exasperated with the current Congress and Administration and their frenzied pace of deleterious legislation. I noted I would vote against them and urge others to do so if they voted aye. Let this be step one on my promise to actively oppose their re-election.
To the two or three of you who might actually read this, I urge you to strong oppose the re-election of the two US Senators from Michigan, Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, in their bids for re-election (although they are several years up the road). I won't forget their inane actions and blind support for the craziness coming out of Washington and I hope you don't either. Let's take back "government of the people, by the people, and for the people" by voting them out of office, replacing them with those who will respect the Constitution and the principle of limited government.
To the two or three of you who might actually read this, I urge you to strong oppose the re-election of the two US Senators from Michigan, Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, in their bids for re-election (although they are several years up the road). I won't forget their inane actions and blind support for the craziness coming out of Washington and I hope you don't either. Let's take back "government of the people, by the people, and for the people" by voting them out of office, replacing them with those who will respect the Constitution and the principle of limited government.
KSM
Some thoughts on moving KSM's trial to NYC. I'm not so concerned about the safety of citizens of NYC; if there are dangers, there are dangers. That's not to say there might not be legitimate concerns. I just don't think moving the trial there heightens them.
But I am concerned with several other things. First, the Attorney-General, Eric Holder (who appears to me to be out of his league, but that's just me), said KSM will be tried, convicted, and be given the death sentence. Now, is this typical prosecutor's bravado? Or, does this make a sham out of the legal system, the one we are holding up as a paragon by trying KSM in it rather than a military tribunal? Doesn't this make the presumption of innocence a bit suspicious here? And why should KSM be presumed innocent when, in the face of the IRS, I (and other US citizens) am presumed guilty--and can't win in court?
Second, will there be defense motions for all sorts of documents, including classified ones, that might aid and abet terrorists? The 1993 WTC bombing resulted in a couple hundred names on a list, names our intelligence agencies had identified with terrorist groups, a list that was made public and, without doubt, found its way into the hands of terrorist groups. Surely that helped the terrorists.
Third, a local columnist likened the KSM trial to those in Nuremburg in WW2. He noted that those trials didn't seem to rock the world, continue to give voice to Nazi propaganda, etc. Well, I think he missed out a bit on HIS 152--the Nuremburg Trials weren't civilian trials, not at all. Hmmm.... No need to emphasize history in the schools, nope.
Fourth, what if, just if, KSM is found not guilty or has the trial dismissed on some legal technicality? (Let's not consider if, during war, Miranda rights, for instance, must be given.) Would KSM be allowed to go free? Highly unlikely that he would. What does that say about a "fair trial?" And what would Americans think about their judicial system, already one that is raising doubts?
Fifth, why does KSM get a civilian trial, yet one of the masterminds of the USS Cole attack remain with a military tribunal? What is the difference?
Sixth, if, as Holder says, KSM is to be convicted and executed, where are the opponents of capital punishment? Why are they so silent? Are they waiting for a trial, conviction, and sentence? They don't wait in other instances....
As the Doobies sang, "I ain't blind and I don't like what I think I see."
But I am concerned with several other things. First, the Attorney-General, Eric Holder (who appears to me to be out of his league, but that's just me), said KSM will be tried, convicted, and be given the death sentence. Now, is this typical prosecutor's bravado? Or, does this make a sham out of the legal system, the one we are holding up as a paragon by trying KSM in it rather than a military tribunal? Doesn't this make the presumption of innocence a bit suspicious here? And why should KSM be presumed innocent when, in the face of the IRS, I (and other US citizens) am presumed guilty--and can't win in court?
Second, will there be defense motions for all sorts of documents, including classified ones, that might aid and abet terrorists? The 1993 WTC bombing resulted in a couple hundred names on a list, names our intelligence agencies had identified with terrorist groups, a list that was made public and, without doubt, found its way into the hands of terrorist groups. Surely that helped the terrorists.
Third, a local columnist likened the KSM trial to those in Nuremburg in WW2. He noted that those trials didn't seem to rock the world, continue to give voice to Nazi propaganda, etc. Well, I think he missed out a bit on HIS 152--the Nuremburg Trials weren't civilian trials, not at all. Hmmm.... No need to emphasize history in the schools, nope.
Fourth, what if, just if, KSM is found not guilty or has the trial dismissed on some legal technicality? (Let's not consider if, during war, Miranda rights, for instance, must be given.) Would KSM be allowed to go free? Highly unlikely that he would. What does that say about a "fair trial?" And what would Americans think about their judicial system, already one that is raising doubts?
Fifth, why does KSM get a civilian trial, yet one of the masterminds of the USS Cole attack remain with a military tribunal? What is the difference?
Sixth, if, as Holder says, KSM is to be convicted and executed, where are the opponents of capital punishment? Why are they so silent? Are they waiting for a trial, conviction, and sentence? They don't wait in other instances....
As the Doobies sang, "I ain't blind and I don't like what I think I see."
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Oops! Hip or Knee Replacement?
Talk about a slip, Freudian or otherwise!
A federal gov't task force this week announced that mammograms weren't really necessary until age 50, that they were either a waste of time and money or, worse, could have debilitating effects on recipients. Yeah, sure.
The number of women between 50 and 60 who are saved is 1 of every 1300 or so mammograms. Those between 40 and 40 are only, ha, only, 1 of every 1900. Tell that to the women whose lives were saved.
Of course, the foolishness of that had to be countered. K Sibelius (with the personality and charisma of a small soap dish, how did she get so far in politics?) quickly said, well, that's not the official gov't position. Could she have said this with less emotion, less conviction? I think that small soap dish could have shown a bit more life.
More important, this slip lets something else out. What if the single-payer, fed gov't health care becomes law? Will this gov't panels findings then allow the fed gov't to deny mammograms to women under 50? Don't chuckle and say, "How ridiculous!?!? That won't ever happen." No? Do some research, say, in Washington state. A similar panel makes decisions for Medicaid holders. Hip replacement surgery, arthroscopic knee surgery, among other procedures are no longer covered as being "too expensive," "not worthwhile," etc. Want to do some more research? Check similar situtations in Massachusetts, Kentucky....
Yet, we are going to allow our elected officials to pass a federal health care bill, one by the way, if similar state plans are any indication will not substantially increase the number of those covered. Oh, and the cost will skyrocket, esp after 10 years.
But that's OK. Our gov't talking heads, exec, legis, whatever dept, talk about the 12 trillion dollar national debt. Ha! There are four sets of accounting books. If an accurate picture is taken, I think we should include "unfunded" programs, you know, the ones that go on and aren't paid for, but aren't counted as "debt." If we do, the current amount is about 10 times that, yep, about 118 trillion dollars.
Yeah, let's trust these people. Yeah, let's make things secure and good for us, our children and grandchildren be damned. Those CEOs sure were selfish, weren't they????
A federal gov't task force this week announced that mammograms weren't really necessary until age 50, that they were either a waste of time and money or, worse, could have debilitating effects on recipients. Yeah, sure.
The number of women between 50 and 60 who are saved is 1 of every 1300 or so mammograms. Those between 40 and 40 are only, ha, only, 1 of every 1900. Tell that to the women whose lives were saved.
Of course, the foolishness of that had to be countered. K Sibelius (with the personality and charisma of a small soap dish, how did she get so far in politics?) quickly said, well, that's not the official gov't position. Could she have said this with less emotion, less conviction? I think that small soap dish could have shown a bit more life.
More important, this slip lets something else out. What if the single-payer, fed gov't health care becomes law? Will this gov't panels findings then allow the fed gov't to deny mammograms to women under 50? Don't chuckle and say, "How ridiculous!?!? That won't ever happen." No? Do some research, say, in Washington state. A similar panel makes decisions for Medicaid holders. Hip replacement surgery, arthroscopic knee surgery, among other procedures are no longer covered as being "too expensive," "not worthwhile," etc. Want to do some more research? Check similar situtations in Massachusetts, Kentucky....
Yet, we are going to allow our elected officials to pass a federal health care bill, one by the way, if similar state plans are any indication will not substantially increase the number of those covered. Oh, and the cost will skyrocket, esp after 10 years.
But that's OK. Our gov't talking heads, exec, legis, whatever dept, talk about the 12 trillion dollar national debt. Ha! There are four sets of accounting books. If an accurate picture is taken, I think we should include "unfunded" programs, you know, the ones that go on and aren't paid for, but aren't counted as "debt." If we do, the current amount is about 10 times that, yep, about 118 trillion dollars.
Yeah, let's trust these people. Yeah, let's make things secure and good for us, our children and grandchildren be damned. Those CEOs sure were selfish, weren't they????
C'mon!
OK, when does the free pass end? This isn't about politics or W or any of that. Listen to this...not reported in our "unbiased" media (no, not "unbiased" at all--ha!).
Hundreds of millions of dollars of the so-called "stimulus" package (exactly what it has stimulated other than FOB--"Friends of Barak"--is hardly clear) has gone to states' Congressional districts which don't exist. Well, I suppose that there could be "clerical errors," as suggested by one government spokeman. Then, that just means there is an awful lot of stupidity running the government. Hawaii's 11th District, Arizona's 15th District, Connecticut's 42 District don't exist--none of them; there aren't any such districts. I could imagine, say, an error of CT's 3rd or 4th District, but 42nd!?!? CT has only 2!!!! Would those running our gov't fail a high school government course? It sure seems like it, since HI has only 2 and AZ only 8 districts. Now, would they also fail economics? One district, it is claimed, spend $17 million of stimulus money to create three, that's 3, jobs!
Can you imagine the media outcry if W was the President???? (Remember, I don't think W was a good President; in fact, I think he was a lousy one.) Why wasn't this on the front page of my Det News this AM? And the News is supposed to be a Rep/conservative rag!?!? I heard about all this Tue on some radio shows, but nothing in he paper, nothing on my computer news outlet (I haven't checked Web sites).
This isn't news? This isn't what the press (1st Amendement guarantees) is all about, to inform the citizenry? I guess it's all about being a shill for the President.
And some wonder why the newspapers and major television networks are losing money and going out of business??????
Hundreds of millions of dollars of the so-called "stimulus" package (exactly what it has stimulated other than FOB--"Friends of Barak"--is hardly clear) has gone to states' Congressional districts which don't exist. Well, I suppose that there could be "clerical errors," as suggested by one government spokeman. Then, that just means there is an awful lot of stupidity running the government. Hawaii's 11th District, Arizona's 15th District, Connecticut's 42 District don't exist--none of them; there aren't any such districts. I could imagine, say, an error of CT's 3rd or 4th District, but 42nd!?!? CT has only 2!!!! Would those running our gov't fail a high school government course? It sure seems like it, since HI has only 2 and AZ only 8 districts. Now, would they also fail economics? One district, it is claimed, spend $17 million of stimulus money to create three, that's 3, jobs!
Can you imagine the media outcry if W was the President???? (Remember, I don't think W was a good President; in fact, I think he was a lousy one.) Why wasn't this on the front page of my Det News this AM? And the News is supposed to be a Rep/conservative rag!?!? I heard about all this Tue on some radio shows, but nothing in he paper, nothing on my computer news outlet (I haven't checked Web sites).
This isn't news? This isn't what the press (1st Amendement guarantees) is all about, to inform the citizenry? I guess it's all about being a shill for the President.
And some wonder why the newspapers and major television networks are losing money and going out of business??????
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