Hats off to the late Bob Talbert, quite a writer......
As I tossed my empty bag of weed 'n' feed in the trash--recyclables--yesterday, I had a good chuckle. Boldly printed across its front was "Kills More Than 250 Varieties of Weeds." I guess I found three or four "varieties" it doesn't kill. And, it's a brand name......
Is Cabrera on a tear? What's he had in the last 4 or 5 games, about 15 RBIs? I don't know for sure, but he is rocking the ball. Porcello, in today's newspaper, revealed that he's a pretty intelligent guy, saying, "I'd walk Cabrera every time up." Yep.
Has Apple Computers broken the law? Apparently, our pompous, know-everything US Senators is launching an investigation into why Apple pays little or no federal taxes. Hey, if Apple has broken the law, toss some folks in jail. If Apple is merely playing by the rules established by Congress and the US by legally taking deductions, exemptions, credits, leave Apple alone. Gee, I wonder how many jobs the sanctimonius, look-down-over-his-glasses Carl Levin has created. I wonder if Levin and his fellow Senators of arrogance take deductions, exemptions, credits when filing their taxes. And, I wonder why they aren't more concerned with the direction our federal government seems to be headed.
If there's any more reason to vote against Gary Peters in '14 for the US Senate than the endorsement of Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, I can't think of many. For good measure, toss in the fact that he's a current member of the House of Representatives, that is, yet another one responsible for the mess emanating from DC.
The Common Core standards are yet another wasted and misguided attempt at school reform. That private companies and their lobbyists are at the root of Common Core should be enough of a warning. After all, check most of the so-called innovations in education over the past three or four decades. Who has benefitted from them? Yep, private companies who have sold unwitting administrators, school boards, and government officials bills of goods after bills of goods. That's what happens when people, in the schools, who shouldn't be allowed to make decisions are allowed to make decisions. Instead of choosing from those who have experienced quality, rigorous education to lead, we select from the other end, those who have no idea that quality education requires rigor. I know I offend some people, but many of those education degrees are, to me, fake degrees. A number of studies and books have demonstrated how these are so. And some of my more forthwith former colleagues have fully agreed with that assessment, just about laughing all the way to the bank as the school district paid more money for taking these easy courses and fake degrees. I guess a tried-and-true dictum would be a wise one concerning Common Core, "Follow the money......"
Isn't Michigan great?!?!?! I know we grouse about the weather, but it's always interesting. Two weeks ago, I ran on a 28-degree AM. Two AMs later, it was 66 degrees. Last Mon eve, I tossed about 45 mins of BP when it was 92; Wed's BP of 30 mins was in the lower 80s. I ran yesterday AM and it was 67 and very, very humid--"schweaty" as Matt used to call it--while it was 44 when I picked up Bopper from school. This AM's run was in 38 degrees, with some frost on the cars. One think I have noticed is that it sure seems to have been windy around here, since about Thanks or Chris, maybe as windy as it's ever been, long-term. Matt says it's in the 90s in Las Vegas. By the time we get there in about a month or so, it'll be in the 100s, maybe pushing 110 or 112 or higher.
Busy day--out to do coups, grocery shop, grade papers, do attendance, mow the front, and, with luck, write a review that's due June 1.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Two Quick Matters
First, (and remember I know "Bush lied!," although he really didn't) I can't imagine there isn't a greater outcry about the executive department bombshells--IRS, Justice Department, State Department. That our government has so behaved is, frankly, chilling, very chilling. I don't think that's a new strain of paranoia overcoming me.
Imagine the IRS targeting groups, then intimidating them by asking questions such as, "About what do you pray?" What business is that of government? Where, BTW, is our US Senator Carl Levin with this? I ask only because some have--quite erroneously--labeled him "the Conscience of the Senate." (As I've written before, Phil Hart must be spinning in his grave!) How about asking anti-abortion groups if they will promise not to demonstrate against Planned Parenthood? (See my previous post about "the low value we place on human lives." C'mon! That some in the Obama administration knew about such actions, but didn't tell him--yeah, I'm going to believe that. Even if I did, my next question would be, "Doesn't this guy have any control over his administration?" Of course, we can wait a few minutes and get a newer version, like the 15 or so that have come out about Benghazi.
Imagine, too, the IRS supervisor who was in charge while all this was going on is now going to run the IRS operations involving ObamaCare--yet another intrusive, unconstitutionl government power-grab. (Usually, I side with the Supremes, even when I disagree, but not this time.)
Not to make light of the multiple tragedies the US has experience over the past month or so, but perhaps it's fortuitous, for the Obama administration, that they occurred when they did. I know, I know, "But Bush lied!"
Equally troubling for me is the current thread going around, "Is college worth it?" "It," of course, is the cost of a college education. I'm not sure where this started, but Bill Bennett has co-authored a book of the same or similar title. Now, I shouldn't grouse since Amherst was one of the 43 colleges and, I think, only one of a dozen private schools to be deemed "worth it." (It's disappointing to me that Bennett would suggest this.) The implication, maybe even it's stronger than an implication, is that a college education is "worth it" only if it leads directly to a job. What a misguided idea!!!!!! Jefferson disagreed with Hamilton on the ability of people to rule themselves, but he had a caveat. People needed to be educated. (When Jefferson was asked what he wanted on his tombstone, his purported reply was that he was the author of the Declaration of Independence, that he wrote the Virginia religious freedom statutes, and that he was the founder of the University of Virginia. Note, he didn't mention being President of the US!) To be "worth it," a college education must be focused primarily on jobs. Again, what a misguided idea!!!!!! What about civic responsibility? What about quality of life? What about the ability to think, to engage in dialogue!?!?!? "Is love of learning no longer enough?" Now, I would agree that many, likely most jobs, do not require a college education. Therefore, if one believes college is merely to "get a job," then it might not be "worth it."
Perhaps I rely too much on my own experiences. They have influenced my life in more ways than I can imagine and I often discover new ways. I've written many times about that, so there's no reason to rehash it. Maybe I've just been very lucky/fortunate in having the college experience I've had. My next question then would be, "Why aren't others getting the same or a similar experience?"
Imagine the IRS targeting groups, then intimidating them by asking questions such as, "About what do you pray?" What business is that of government? Where, BTW, is our US Senator Carl Levin with this? I ask only because some have--quite erroneously--labeled him "the Conscience of the Senate." (As I've written before, Phil Hart must be spinning in his grave!) How about asking anti-abortion groups if they will promise not to demonstrate against Planned Parenthood? (See my previous post about "the low value we place on human lives." C'mon! That some in the Obama administration knew about such actions, but didn't tell him--yeah, I'm going to believe that. Even if I did, my next question would be, "Doesn't this guy have any control over his administration?" Of course, we can wait a few minutes and get a newer version, like the 15 or so that have come out about Benghazi.
Imagine, too, the IRS supervisor who was in charge while all this was going on is now going to run the IRS operations involving ObamaCare--yet another intrusive, unconstitutionl government power-grab. (Usually, I side with the Supremes, even when I disagree, but not this time.)
Not to make light of the multiple tragedies the US has experience over the past month or so, but perhaps it's fortuitous, for the Obama administration, that they occurred when they did. I know, I know, "But Bush lied!"
Equally troubling for me is the current thread going around, "Is college worth it?" "It," of course, is the cost of a college education. I'm not sure where this started, but Bill Bennett has co-authored a book of the same or similar title. Now, I shouldn't grouse since Amherst was one of the 43 colleges and, I think, only one of a dozen private schools to be deemed "worth it." (It's disappointing to me that Bennett would suggest this.) The implication, maybe even it's stronger than an implication, is that a college education is "worth it" only if it leads directly to a job. What a misguided idea!!!!!! Jefferson disagreed with Hamilton on the ability of people to rule themselves, but he had a caveat. People needed to be educated. (When Jefferson was asked what he wanted on his tombstone, his purported reply was that he was the author of the Declaration of Independence, that he wrote the Virginia religious freedom statutes, and that he was the founder of the University of Virginia. Note, he didn't mention being President of the US!) To be "worth it," a college education must be focused primarily on jobs. Again, what a misguided idea!!!!!! What about civic responsibility? What about quality of life? What about the ability to think, to engage in dialogue!?!?!? "Is love of learning no longer enough?" Now, I would agree that many, likely most jobs, do not require a college education. Therefore, if one believes college is merely to "get a job," then it might not be "worth it."
Perhaps I rely too much on my own experiences. They have influenced my life in more ways than I can imagine and I often discover new ways. I've written many times about that, so there's no reason to rehash it. Maybe I've just been very lucky/fortunate in having the college experience I've had. My next question then would be, "Why aren't others getting the same or a similar experience?"
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Punishing for Excellence
I noted the past week that maybe half a dozen MLB batters tried to bunt. Now, this is significant in that I really don't watch the Tigers very often. Some bunters were trying to sacrifice and others were trying to bunt for hits. I thought this was unusual in that I don't see Major League batters bunting very much. (I also see them play deep in the outfield, far too deep in my view. I have always been a believer in playing more shallow. More hits can be taken away by doing that than playing so darn deep. And, many of the balls hit over the outfielders' heads are over the fences anyway. But, perhaps they aren't very good defensively and certainly playing deeper does cover for defensive weaknesses.)
First, I was, as usual not at all surprised at the poor sacrifice bunt technique of MLB players. They, frankly, can't bunt very well. It's a shame because bunting is a useful tool and, when executed properly, fun to watch. It puts pressure on the defense and I wonder, if more teams were threats to bunt, if more batted balls would scoot through the infield with infielders just a couple of steps in.
Second, some of the batters, in fact all of them, who were trying to bunt for hits did it all wrong. Each one was thrown out, if they even got the ball down in fair territory. In large part that was because they had rotten technique. In most instances, they merely used sacrifice bunt techniques.
I guess a logical question is, Don't they practice this? My guess is they don't, at least not very much. If they do, I'll bet their hearts aren't in it. After all, who makes the big bucks, the bunter or the home run hitter? And managers seem to eschew bunting, likely harkening back to the Earl Weaver theory of offense--a couple of three-run homers will win the game.
Back when, we'd practice bunting much more religiously. Our coach would put his hat or a glove down the third base line, oh, maybe 40-50 down, about five feet inside the foul line. We'd aim for it. And, some of us never practiced sacrifice bunts, but bunting for hits. Even in games, sacrifice situations were, for a couple of us, bunt-for-hit situations. (I always thought that was a big, big mistake by MLB scorers, not giving a batter a sacrifice and no time-at-bat and hence not hurting his batting average who moved up a runner when he bunted for a hit instead of using the sacrifice technique. The logic, if it can be called that, is that the batter wasn't giving himself up, not sacrificing himself to move up the runner(s). But the other side of the coin is that these guys, bunting for hits in sacrifice situations, have perfected a more difficult technique. They have convinced their coaches/managers of their skill. So, by doing this--achieving, if not excellence, at least a higher degree of skill, they are punished by being given a time at bat. It seems quite foolish to me.)
OK, I could bunt for a hit pretty darn well. Yep, I could hit my coach's hat or glove more often than not. He once told me, "With my [his] wheels, if could have bunted like you I could have made the majors." Unfortunately, I had "wheels" like, well, me! I have frequently wondered what I might have batted--average-wise--my senior year had I bunted for hits a few more times. I was hitting clean-up and, well, clean-up hitters usually aren't in bunt situations. (Hey, isn't that a sacrifice, too? Nah, I'm kidding.) I didn't have a bunt hit all year, none that I remember, and don't remember even trying.
Bunting, a lost art......
First, I was, as usual not at all surprised at the poor sacrifice bunt technique of MLB players. They, frankly, can't bunt very well. It's a shame because bunting is a useful tool and, when executed properly, fun to watch. It puts pressure on the defense and I wonder, if more teams were threats to bunt, if more batted balls would scoot through the infield with infielders just a couple of steps in.
Second, some of the batters, in fact all of them, who were trying to bunt for hits did it all wrong. Each one was thrown out, if they even got the ball down in fair territory. In large part that was because they had rotten technique. In most instances, they merely used sacrifice bunt techniques.
I guess a logical question is, Don't they practice this? My guess is they don't, at least not very much. If they do, I'll bet their hearts aren't in it. After all, who makes the big bucks, the bunter or the home run hitter? And managers seem to eschew bunting, likely harkening back to the Earl Weaver theory of offense--a couple of three-run homers will win the game.
Back when, we'd practice bunting much more religiously. Our coach would put his hat or a glove down the third base line, oh, maybe 40-50 down, about five feet inside the foul line. We'd aim for it. And, some of us never practiced sacrifice bunts, but bunting for hits. Even in games, sacrifice situations were, for a couple of us, bunt-for-hit situations. (I always thought that was a big, big mistake by MLB scorers, not giving a batter a sacrifice and no time-at-bat and hence not hurting his batting average who moved up a runner when he bunted for a hit instead of using the sacrifice technique. The logic, if it can be called that, is that the batter wasn't giving himself up, not sacrificing himself to move up the runner(s). But the other side of the coin is that these guys, bunting for hits in sacrifice situations, have perfected a more difficult technique. They have convinced their coaches/managers of their skill. So, by doing this--achieving, if not excellence, at least a higher degree of skill, they are punished by being given a time at bat. It seems quite foolish to me.)
OK, I could bunt for a hit pretty darn well. Yep, I could hit my coach's hat or glove more often than not. He once told me, "With my [his] wheels, if could have bunted like you I could have made the majors." Unfortunately, I had "wheels" like, well, me! I have frequently wondered what I might have batted--average-wise--my senior year had I bunted for hits a few more times. I was hitting clean-up and, well, clean-up hitters usually aren't in bunt situations. (Hey, isn't that a sacrifice, too? Nah, I'm kidding.) I didn't have a bunt hit all year, none that I remember, and don't remember even trying.
Bunting, a lost art......
Friday, May 17, 2013
"...the low value we place on human life."
Grant, in a comment he made to one of my posts a couple weeks ago, had this insightful note, "...the low value we place on human life." Yep, he's nailed that one.
Can we pick up a daily newspaper and not see a story about yet another shooting, often resulting in a murder or murders? Imagine the society we've created where so many people think it's fine to pick up a gun and start shooting people?
And the Philadelphia case against the abortionist has highlighted how cavalierly (OK, perhaps I'm being a bit harsh) we kill our babies. I'm not saying that the decision to have an abortion is an easy one; not at all. Yet, far too often killing a baby takes precedence over career, other inconveniences in life, etc.
Perhaps in light of this, I can amend Grant's insight to this, the low value we place on human life of others.
Can we pick up a daily newspaper and not see a story about yet another shooting, often resulting in a murder or murders? Imagine the society we've created where so many people think it's fine to pick up a gun and start shooting people?
And the Philadelphia case against the abortionist has highlighted how cavalierly (OK, perhaps I'm being a bit harsh) we kill our babies. I'm not saying that the decision to have an abortion is an easy one; not at all. Yet, far too often killing a baby takes precedence over career, other inconveniences in life, etc.
Perhaps in light of this, I can amend Grant's insight to this, the low value we place on human life of others.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Science!
I have been thinking a lot of science lately, namely how it seems to dominate our lives. No, I'm not talking specifics, in chemistry or biology. But, in general, how science or at least terms that science has defined make the world go 'round.
Before I start, science is often at the forefront of my thoughts. I still think that, although I was a history major at AC, two of my very best instructors were my physics professors, Professors Romer and Dempesy. That's not to deny the outstanding instruction of my history and other teachers such as Professor Havighurst, Petropoulous, Starr, Czap, and many, many more. (Yes, I had some dogs, too, but not many.) To this day, I still think of them and their influence on my life.
Relativity..... Now there's a term Einstein would like. More and more I have come to realize the significance of relativity. Relativity depends on frames of reference. Here are two examples from daily life. There can be no doubt that as one age, time speeds up. Where younger folks complain of "boredom" and the like, oldsters find that time never drags. What "takes forever" for a young person, zips by for a senior citizen. Didn't I just visit my son in Las Vegas? Yep--way back in March! It wasn't last week? Nope. Remember a couple of weeks ago, the fun we had at the New Year's Eve Party--the food, the music, the dancing? Wait, New Year's Eve, a couple of weeks ago?
Inertia..... I sometimes am entirely convinced that much of the world operates on inertia. How can some businesses run by some people ever succeed? But they do and the only explanation I can think of is inertia. How can our federal government, esp, continue to operate, so big, so dysfunctional, so impersonal? It must be inertia. The wheels start turning and they don't stop, but keep rolling.
Margin.... OK, so that's an economics term, a social science, but I'll include it because, well, this is my blog! In effect, margin suggests that advance or regression occurs by increments--they are not all or nothng. A little change can produce different effects, a little more change even more different effects, and so on. That's a good lesson for, at least, me. Things aren't always black and white. There are gray (or is it grey?) areas. Things don't always have to be all or nothing, but can increase or decrease incrementally, a bit at a time. "Margin," then, might be the key to compromise.
I do have to make one paid political comment. It's about Marco Rubio (as opposed to that Irish politician, Mark O'Rubio). Now, hasn't this guy been in the US Senate for two or three years? Is he a slow learner? With this immigration bill (The Gang of Eight, boy doesn't that smack of the commies in China!), it appears Rubio was snookered by Chuck Schumer. How did that happen?????? I guess Rubio didn't ever really read the immigration bill offered by the Gang; he merely took Schumer at his word when Schumer explained what was in it. And, apparently, Schumer didn't exactly explain the whole thing very clearly. Rubio, I guess, blindly accepted what Schumer said was in it. Can there be any other explanation? I would then think that anyone looking at Rubio as a possible candidate for President might want to rethink that.
Off to tee ball game number two--great fun will be had by all!
Before I start, science is often at the forefront of my thoughts. I still think that, although I was a history major at AC, two of my very best instructors were my physics professors, Professors Romer and Dempesy. That's not to deny the outstanding instruction of my history and other teachers such as Professor Havighurst, Petropoulous, Starr, Czap, and many, many more. (Yes, I had some dogs, too, but not many.) To this day, I still think of them and their influence on my life.
Relativity..... Now there's a term Einstein would like. More and more I have come to realize the significance of relativity. Relativity depends on frames of reference. Here are two examples from daily life. There can be no doubt that as one age, time speeds up. Where younger folks complain of "boredom" and the like, oldsters find that time never drags. What "takes forever" for a young person, zips by for a senior citizen. Didn't I just visit my son in Las Vegas? Yep--way back in March! It wasn't last week? Nope. Remember a couple of weeks ago, the fun we had at the New Year's Eve Party--the food, the music, the dancing? Wait, New Year's Eve, a couple of weeks ago?
Inertia..... I sometimes am entirely convinced that much of the world operates on inertia. How can some businesses run by some people ever succeed? But they do and the only explanation I can think of is inertia. How can our federal government, esp, continue to operate, so big, so dysfunctional, so impersonal? It must be inertia. The wheels start turning and they don't stop, but keep rolling.
Margin.... OK, so that's an economics term, a social science, but I'll include it because, well, this is my blog! In effect, margin suggests that advance or regression occurs by increments--they are not all or nothng. A little change can produce different effects, a little more change even more different effects, and so on. That's a good lesson for, at least, me. Things aren't always black and white. There are gray (or is it grey?) areas. Things don't always have to be all or nothing, but can increase or decrease incrementally, a bit at a time. "Margin," then, might be the key to compromise.
I do have to make one paid political comment. It's about Marco Rubio (as opposed to that Irish politician, Mark O'Rubio). Now, hasn't this guy been in the US Senate for two or three years? Is he a slow learner? With this immigration bill (The Gang of Eight, boy doesn't that smack of the commies in China!), it appears Rubio was snookered by Chuck Schumer. How did that happen?????? I guess Rubio didn't ever really read the immigration bill offered by the Gang; he merely took Schumer at his word when Schumer explained what was in it. And, apparently, Schumer didn't exactly explain the whole thing very clearly. Rubio, I guess, blindly accepted what Schumer said was in it. Can there be any other explanation? I would then think that anyone looking at Rubio as a possible candidate for President might want to rethink that.
Off to tee ball game number two--great fun will be had by all!
Friday, May 10, 2013
Tired Friday Thoughts
Ugh! I must be getting old. The legs were tough to crank up for my run this AM; dead, just dead they were. But once I started rolling, it ended up a nice jaunt--in the rain. I had fun with Bopper as he headed to school, asking for "a big hug for Grandpa." Grandpa was still wearing his sweat- and rain-soaked clothes. No, Bopper didn't give Grandpa "a big hug." Instead he ran giggling all the way to Grandma's car. He did think, from the car, that Grandpa should give Grandma "a big hug" good-bye. Grandma didn't agree.
Sometimes I wonder what to believe. Some of the stuff I read is almost beyond credence. There was an article in the newspaper several days ago about how some school districts (I have forgotten which) "wasted" federal food intended for student lunches. But, then, over the next couple of days something else emerged. Apparently, to save money, the school districts purchase surplus government food. That's OK. My mom used to buy the surplus stuff when I was a kid and we survived just fine. But then the schools find they can't serve the surplus government food because it doesn't meet government nutrition guidelines. Huh? Is this yet another instance of government being far too big? Yet again one hand doesn't know what the other is doing? It's hard to blame the schools in this. It's a legitimate question to ask why the federal government is selling to schools surplus food that doesn't meet nutrition standards for serving in schools. It reminds me of the story of the doo-gooder (and I do mean doo) who saw a man drowning. The doo-gooder rushed to throw the drowning guy a life ring, holding on to the attached line. Once the flailing swimmer grabbed the life ring, the doo-gooder let go of the line and moved on to do another good deed.
I read a defense of a woman's right to an abortion based on a majority of voters approving the current state law (some state out east) protecting "a woman's right to do with her body...." (Now, remember, I find that argument specious at best.) But this line of reasoning resonates with my recollections of Ante-Bellum slavery in the South and the principle of popular sovereignty that was prominent then. Yes, voters approved of slavery, but it seems nobody asked the slaves what they thought. With abortions, the fetuses aren't asked what they think of being killed.
There's a lot to this Benghazi scandal. Where were Obama and Clinton on this? Who gave the orders to "stand down?" Was it Obama? If so, why? If not, why did he abdicate his duty? Why was Clinton in absentia for so long afterward? Why were deliberate lies told? (If they weren't, Susan Rice is an incredible simpleton!) And there's more. But I don't think Benghazi is going anywhere. Can anyone imagine, 40 years ago, the LameStream Media ignoring Nixon's role in Watergate? Nope. The question(s) asked then is (are) the same question(s) that should be asked now. "What did the President know and when did he know it?" I guess I have forgotten how many Americans died because of the Watergate scandal; I know how many died in Benghazi, not to mention the beatings and torture. I forgot who said it, but it goes something like this. It's not necessary to lie to the people; they just have to be distracted. Yep..."breaking news" in Cleveland, in Phoenix.... They are compelling stories (although I admit the other day K had to explain the one trial in Phoenix; I had no knowledge of it), but one might well ask why them and not Benghazi. I don't think we really have to ask that of our LameStreams, do we?
One of my favorite pleasures is listening to the rich baritone notes of Levi Stubbs, the late lead singer of the Four Tops. I never put the Tops in the same category as the Temptations or Smokey, although my mother did. Their music/songs just didn't quite seem to be pure Motown. That might just be my tastes. But as far as a voice, Levi (esp on several selected tunes) ranks right there with Smokey and the Temptations Paul Williams (how smokey was his voice!) and David Ruffin. He can really evoke emotions.
I often wonder if crossword puzzle creators collaborate--or its the same person masquerading as several. That's because it seems uncanny that unusual clues/answers show up in different crosswords at about the same time, say, a weekend. That's OK with me; I just wonder. Now, why I wonder such things is a different matter, one I don't think I want to explore!
Sometimes I wonder what to believe. Some of the stuff I read is almost beyond credence. There was an article in the newspaper several days ago about how some school districts (I have forgotten which) "wasted" federal food intended for student lunches. But, then, over the next couple of days something else emerged. Apparently, to save money, the school districts purchase surplus government food. That's OK. My mom used to buy the surplus stuff when I was a kid and we survived just fine. But then the schools find they can't serve the surplus government food because it doesn't meet government nutrition guidelines. Huh? Is this yet another instance of government being far too big? Yet again one hand doesn't know what the other is doing? It's hard to blame the schools in this. It's a legitimate question to ask why the federal government is selling to schools surplus food that doesn't meet nutrition standards for serving in schools. It reminds me of the story of the doo-gooder (and I do mean doo) who saw a man drowning. The doo-gooder rushed to throw the drowning guy a life ring, holding on to the attached line. Once the flailing swimmer grabbed the life ring, the doo-gooder let go of the line and moved on to do another good deed.
I read a defense of a woman's right to an abortion based on a majority of voters approving the current state law (some state out east) protecting "a woman's right to do with her body...." (Now, remember, I find that argument specious at best.) But this line of reasoning resonates with my recollections of Ante-Bellum slavery in the South and the principle of popular sovereignty that was prominent then. Yes, voters approved of slavery, but it seems nobody asked the slaves what they thought. With abortions, the fetuses aren't asked what they think of being killed.
There's a lot to this Benghazi scandal. Where were Obama and Clinton on this? Who gave the orders to "stand down?" Was it Obama? If so, why? If not, why did he abdicate his duty? Why was Clinton in absentia for so long afterward? Why were deliberate lies told? (If they weren't, Susan Rice is an incredible simpleton!) And there's more. But I don't think Benghazi is going anywhere. Can anyone imagine, 40 years ago, the LameStream Media ignoring Nixon's role in Watergate? Nope. The question(s) asked then is (are) the same question(s) that should be asked now. "What did the President know and when did he know it?" I guess I have forgotten how many Americans died because of the Watergate scandal; I know how many died in Benghazi, not to mention the beatings and torture. I forgot who said it, but it goes something like this. It's not necessary to lie to the people; they just have to be distracted. Yep..."breaking news" in Cleveland, in Phoenix.... They are compelling stories (although I admit the other day K had to explain the one trial in Phoenix; I had no knowledge of it), but one might well ask why them and not Benghazi. I don't think we really have to ask that of our LameStreams, do we?
One of my favorite pleasures is listening to the rich baritone notes of Levi Stubbs, the late lead singer of the Four Tops. I never put the Tops in the same category as the Temptations or Smokey, although my mother did. Their music/songs just didn't quite seem to be pure Motown. That might just be my tastes. But as far as a voice, Levi (esp on several selected tunes) ranks right there with Smokey and the Temptations Paul Williams (how smokey was his voice!) and David Ruffin. He can really evoke emotions.
I often wonder if crossword puzzle creators collaborate--or its the same person masquerading as several. That's because it seems uncanny that unusual clues/answers show up in different crosswords at about the same time, say, a weekend. That's OK with me; I just wonder. Now, why I wonder such things is a different matter, one I don't think I want to explore!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Random Thoughts
Some random thoughts on a beautiful Tue afternoon before mowing the lawn and heading out to tee ball practice:
Coming from one who still doesn't own a cell phone, I still can't quite figure out this FaceBook thing. Specifically, I get e-mails, mail inserts, even newspaper items asking me to "Like" somebody or something or some company on FB. What's the deal with that?????? Are we that insecure? Is it a marketing ploy for companies?
I can't imagine anyone, other than a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, voting for Gary Peters for the US Senate. First, I believe he's got big bucks, likely a millionaire; yet, he sides with the "99%ers," the "occupy" movements. I wonder why he doesn't forfeit his wealth, donating it or giving it away so he can live like his "99%ers" or the "occupiers." Is hypocrisy rearing its ugly head yet again?
I wonder if the supporters of the national Core Curriculum Standards think they are such a good thing, why the colleges and universities haven't made the slightest move toward adopting a similar core. The argument in favor of them is that we must be able to compare schools from state to state. Fine, let's have college cores so we can compare UCLA with UNC with U of M, etc. And, we could also institute cores for U of M, MSU, Central, Western, Oakland, and all the state schools so we can compare them, too. All this core stuff does is to engender more testing, deleterious on its own merits. It does nothing to ensure better teaching/teachers, which all research shows is the number one factor in producing quality education.
In baseball, there are some frustrating moments. I don't know which is more frustrating. Is it hitting a high foul pop-up and being forced to watch the fielder move over to catch it, knowing even if he drops it, there's no getting on base involved? Is it hitting a frozen rope right at a fielder, who makes, as my late father used to say, "a fielder's choice--catch it or get killed by it?" It wasn't frustrating to me, but the thing I hated the most about batting was striking out. Boy, I hated it! It was the worst, to me an event of complete failure. I think I remember my strikeouts as much or more than any big hits.
I wonder if more major leaguers had such a dislike of striking out instead of opting for one more swing for the fences (where the money is!~)......
Coming from one who still doesn't own a cell phone, I still can't quite figure out this FaceBook thing. Specifically, I get e-mails, mail inserts, even newspaper items asking me to "Like" somebody or something or some company on FB. What's the deal with that?????? Are we that insecure? Is it a marketing ploy for companies?
I can't imagine anyone, other than a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, voting for Gary Peters for the US Senate. First, I believe he's got big bucks, likely a millionaire; yet, he sides with the "99%ers," the "occupy" movements. I wonder why he doesn't forfeit his wealth, donating it or giving it away so he can live like his "99%ers" or the "occupiers." Is hypocrisy rearing its ugly head yet again?
I wonder if the supporters of the national Core Curriculum Standards think they are such a good thing, why the colleges and universities haven't made the slightest move toward adopting a similar core. The argument in favor of them is that we must be able to compare schools from state to state. Fine, let's have college cores so we can compare UCLA with UNC with U of M, etc. And, we could also institute cores for U of M, MSU, Central, Western, Oakland, and all the state schools so we can compare them, too. All this core stuff does is to engender more testing, deleterious on its own merits. It does nothing to ensure better teaching/teachers, which all research shows is the number one factor in producing quality education.
In baseball, there are some frustrating moments. I don't know which is more frustrating. Is it hitting a high foul pop-up and being forced to watch the fielder move over to catch it, knowing even if he drops it, there's no getting on base involved? Is it hitting a frozen rope right at a fielder, who makes, as my late father used to say, "a fielder's choice--catch it or get killed by it?" It wasn't frustrating to me, but the thing I hated the most about batting was striking out. Boy, I hated it! It was the worst, to me an event of complete failure. I think I remember my strikeouts as much or more than any big hits.
I wonder if more major leaguers had such a dislike of striking out instead of opting for one more swing for the fences (where the money is!~)......
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