CA has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, so receiving the stimulus money to put currently unemployed workers back into the workforce is important. However, there is a disconnect between the theory and the application of the economic stimulus program.
Joshua Tree National Park is up the hill. A contract was approved to repave the roads throughout the park using stimulus money. The contract was awarded to an Arizona paving company.
If I were running the economic stimulus program, here are two changes I would make:(1) award the contract to a contractor in the state where the work is to be done; (2) hire unemployed individuals to work on the project.
With these 2 minor changes, we'd have both economic stimulus in a state that needs it and unemployed workers working again!
What good is an economic stimulus program for unemployed CA workers if it imports AZ workers who live in and will spend the money in AZ?
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Talkin' the Talk
In public education it is required that educators do not simply make a list of what needs to be done to pass a class, post it on the classroom door, and leave campus. Educators also provide the method and accountability strategies for accomplishing educational objectives -- and then show up to teach the students who enroll in the course.
I cannot give the "you have an opportunity to improve your writing" speech, then walk out of the room and let the students figure it out for themselves. I cannot blame the students for their failure to reach the goal to "write well" if I don't know what it is, how to teach it, how to measure progress toward that goal, and/or how to make course corrections to assure that everyone has an opportunity to achieve that goal. Assuring that the students learn to "write well" means that I engage in the developmental process with the students, monitor progress, adjust strategies, provide feedback and encouragement, and actively perform my part of the writing well process.
I cannot just talk the talk: I have to walk the walk.
Last night, the networks broadcast the President's message: it's not my fault that nothing I promised the American people is getting done! I've told the House, I've told the Senate, I've told the Supreme Court, I've told the media, I've told the public what I want, but no one is getting it done! If anyone has any ideas how to turn this train wreck around, let me know because ... it's obvious that I don't have a clue.
I promise we'll stop spending ... next year. I promise to let the public see all the pork projects added to the bills via an internet website, but I am not going to risk my job by actually vetoing them myself. I would close Gitmo, but I can't find anyone who wants the detainees in their state. I promise to deal with the issue of gays in the military because I really don't want to discuss the decision to try terrorists and enemy combatants in civilian courts. Every time I tell the public we're going to draw down, the terrorists ramp up their attacks on our military personnel, and nothing lowers poll numbers like increased military casualities. I'm not going to discuss health care reform because I've already said what I want done in that arena, but because Bush was in the White House for 8 years ... . I will create another commission to look at the problems facing Americans because if we're talking about it, the public will think we're doing something about it. The bottom line is that I'm going to continue to obfuscate with verbiage because let's face it: I just read what's on the teleprompter!
There's a slang saying for where the President is after one year in office: suck it up! It is your job, so do it or hand off the keys to the building.
I cannot give the "you have an opportunity to improve your writing" speech, then walk out of the room and let the students figure it out for themselves. I cannot blame the students for their failure to reach the goal to "write well" if I don't know what it is, how to teach it, how to measure progress toward that goal, and/or how to make course corrections to assure that everyone has an opportunity to achieve that goal. Assuring that the students learn to "write well" means that I engage in the developmental process with the students, monitor progress, adjust strategies, provide feedback and encouragement, and actively perform my part of the writing well process.
I cannot just talk the talk: I have to walk the walk.
Last night, the networks broadcast the President's message: it's not my fault that nothing I promised the American people is getting done! I've told the House, I've told the Senate, I've told the Supreme Court, I've told the media, I've told the public what I want, but no one is getting it done! If anyone has any ideas how to turn this train wreck around, let me know because ... it's obvious that I don't have a clue.
I promise we'll stop spending ... next year. I promise to let the public see all the pork projects added to the bills via an internet website, but I am not going to risk my job by actually vetoing them myself. I would close Gitmo, but I can't find anyone who wants the detainees in their state. I promise to deal with the issue of gays in the military because I really don't want to discuss the decision to try terrorists and enemy combatants in civilian courts. Every time I tell the public we're going to draw down, the terrorists ramp up their attacks on our military personnel, and nothing lowers poll numbers like increased military casualities. I'm not going to discuss health care reform because I've already said what I want done in that arena, but because Bush was in the White House for 8 years ... . I will create another commission to look at the problems facing Americans because if we're talking about it, the public will think we're doing something about it. The bottom line is that I'm going to continue to obfuscate with verbiage because let's face it: I just read what's on the teleprompter!
There's a slang saying for where the President is after one year in office: suck it up! It is your job, so do it or hand off the keys to the building.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Football Movies and Games
My movie buddy and I saw Blind Side, along with many, many other seniors, and thoroughly enjoyed it as one of those movies that you can sit back and watch, no surprises, good story, nice moral. Acting is so-so, which surprised me as Sandra Bullock has received a couple of awards for her portrayal of LeAnn. This is a great movie to rent when it's raining and all you want to do is snuggle on the couch.
In the prelude to the Super Bowl, it's hard to root for a team as all 4 play-off teams are well-deserved winners this year. However, my favorite is Minnesota because I want Bret Favre to go out on top. He's been the butt of bad press and worse jokes, so let's vindicate a guy who didn't deserve the trash talk he's lived with for the past few years.
Football movie, football games: it doesn't get much better than this!
In the prelude to the Super Bowl, it's hard to root for a team as all 4 play-off teams are well-deserved winners this year. However, my favorite is Minnesota because I want Bret Favre to go out on top. He's been the butt of bad press and worse jokes, so let's vindicate a guy who didn't deserve the trash talk he's lived with for the past few years.
Football movie, football games: it doesn't get much better than this!
Friday, January 22, 2010
A Study in Contrast
The snow on the nearby mountaintop; brilliant fire cactus in the front yard loves all this rain; looking west toward Big Bear; and the tram mountain under several feet of new snow.When I left the house for my classes up the hill Thursday, it didn't take too much thought on my part to turn around while I could still return home. My timing was impeccable: classes were canceled by the college as road conditions continued to deteriorate and the grade between YV and MV was closed intermittently. By Friday, the weather was totally in command of the hi-desert, which resulted in no one going anywhere for the day.
It's not just the rain (and Lord knows we have had RAIN), but the debris fields created by the rushing water across the roadways that make driving dangerous. Because the water cannot soak into the ground as fast as it falls from the skies, it accumulates rocks, pieces of wood, and brush as it tumbles toward lower ground. Much of this accumulation is deposited when the water reaches either flat desert or a road in its path toward the lowest spot. Often, unfotunately, the lowest spot is a dip in the paved roadway that follows the natural contours of the land.
When it's too dangerous to be on the roads, it's time to stay off them. However, one marine in a hurry to get to his duty post decided full speed ahead yesterday morning. When he lost control of his vehicle, which was traveling a good 20 mph faster than anyone else on the dangerous drive to work, he not only caused himself major injuries, but interrupted the lives of the people in the other two vehicles he involved in his traffic accident. Nope, he didn't make it to work on time, nor did his victims. The good news is that there weren't more accidents caused by the drivers who have never heard the term hydroplane.
This morning, Saturday, the winds are blowing, but the rain has moved eastward. We're scheduled to have a good weekend, but more storms are heading our way Monday. Yep, we need the rain, but not much of it has had a chance to seep into the aquifer as there's been too much in too short a span for that to happen. We will, however, have Spring flowers this year and lots and lots of weeding to do once the weather warms in March.
Hear and Heed
What a difference 24 hours make in the political world: from Nancy's I will ram health care through game plan to the sudden need to "hear and heed" the concerns of the American people. Pelosi's been turning a deaf ear to the majority of Americans since she crowned herself Queen of the Political Scene and began doing things her way. It's nice to hear the listening words, even if she's only going for a great soundbite.
Do I hear a chorus of "absolute power absolutely corrupts those who are easily corrupted" being sung on the media airwaves? The self-proclaimed super majority finally understands the significance of polls that show 2/3 of the American people are AGAINST the legislation they are ramming down their throats? One can only hope, but authenticity occurs over time. The democratic epiphany seems a bit Gosselin in nature: mandated by a court/presidential gag order. Let's see if it stands the test of time -- say, an entire weekend?
Obama said he's going to hold accountable the banks who are paying off their bad financial policies and practices on the backs of the people who use their services. It's obvious that the financial industries don't understand that they, too, need to rethink their arrogance and disdain for the "little guy" who trusts them with his savings.
Again, step out in front and lead the way, Mr. President. It's not just the right thing to do: it's what we, the people, want you to do.
UPDATING: Now that the rest of the world is awake, my local morning news tells me that the President has begun his "listening" tour, a new tactic to hear what the people have to say, rather than telling the people what he wants them to hear. Way to go, Mr. Obama, and thanks for reading my blog.
Do I hear a chorus of "absolute power absolutely corrupts those who are easily corrupted" being sung on the media airwaves? The self-proclaimed super majority finally understands the significance of polls that show 2/3 of the American people are AGAINST the legislation they are ramming down their throats? One can only hope, but authenticity occurs over time. The democratic epiphany seems a bit Gosselin in nature: mandated by a court/presidential gag order. Let's see if it stands the test of time -- say, an entire weekend?
Obama said he's going to hold accountable the banks who are paying off their bad financial policies and practices on the backs of the people who use their services. It's obvious that the financial industries don't understand that they, too, need to rethink their arrogance and disdain for the "little guy" who trusts them with his savings.
Again, step out in front and lead the way, Mr. President. It's not just the right thing to do: it's what we, the people, want you to do.
UPDATING: Now that the rest of the world is awake, my local morning news tells me that the President has begun his "listening" tour, a new tactic to hear what the people have to say, rather than telling the people what he wants them to hear. Way to go, Mr. Obama, and thanks for reading my blog.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Comfort Food
So, here's the deal: with extra free time this afternoon, I read a couple of magazines while watching two shows I DVR'd last week when I came across 3 recipes for mac 'n cheese. When it's rainy weather, I like to bake -- but my tolerance for sugar has decreased significantly, while my taste for mac 'n cheese has skyrocketed. I will make a pan of mac 'n cheese from the ground up: grating cheese, making white sauce, the whole from scratch thing.
I stopped at the page of recipes and started reading ingredients. The mac can be spiral pasta pieces, elbow or flat noodles, the cheese cheddar or Jack, with parmesan, Velveeta, cream cheese, mozzarella and Gorgonzola welcome taste additions. Some recipes use ranch salad dressing mix, while another adds Worcestershire and a third likes onion powder and garlic powder for zip. One adds crushed saltines for crunch, while the other one adds bread crumbs. My tummy was responding favorably and I started formulating a plan to make each of the recipes, one at a time, a week apart.
My brain wandered back to mac 'n cheese with tuna, frozen peas, cream of mushroom soup, and crunchy bread crumb topping, past variations of an old favorite. I remembered that I never liked any variation as well as the old standard my mom set: elbow mac, homemade white sauce with the cheese melted in, made in layers with heaping extra cheese on top. When that recipe was browned on top and bubbling throughout, it was ready and I was always willing.
The magazine is no longer open to the variations on mac 'n cheese recipes. The same old thing is what I want when I want mac 'n cheese, my favorite comfort food, and I always have those basics in the kitchen cupboard.
I stopped at the page of recipes and started reading ingredients. The mac can be spiral pasta pieces, elbow or flat noodles, the cheese cheddar or Jack, with parmesan, Velveeta, cream cheese, mozzarella and Gorgonzola welcome taste additions. Some recipes use ranch salad dressing mix, while another adds Worcestershire and a third likes onion powder and garlic powder for zip. One adds crushed saltines for crunch, while the other one adds bread crumbs. My tummy was responding favorably and I started formulating a plan to make each of the recipes, one at a time, a week apart.
My brain wandered back to mac 'n cheese with tuna, frozen peas, cream of mushroom soup, and crunchy bread crumb topping, past variations of an old favorite. I remembered that I never liked any variation as well as the old standard my mom set: elbow mac, homemade white sauce with the cheese melted in, made in layers with heaping extra cheese on top. When that recipe was browned on top and bubbling throughout, it was ready and I was always willing.
The magazine is no longer open to the variations on mac 'n cheese recipes. The same old thing is what I want when I want mac 'n cheese, my favorite comfort food, and I always have those basics in the kitchen cupboard.
...the Old Man is Snoring
It's raining; it's pouring ... and it's snowing. What a difference a quick 20 miles makes in the weather.
I left the house to drive up the hill for classes, fording rivers running across the road, picking my way through debris fields, and ducking out of the way of the big 4-wheel drive pick-ups that don't slow down for anything! I made it to the center of YV before I pulled over and packed it in. There's snow everywhere, ice on the roadways, wash-outs, lakes across intersections, debris -- and pounding rain falling relentlessly. I called to cancel classes and headed back home just in time for the rain to turn to yet more snow all the way down the grade to MV.
As I came back into my neck of the woods, I was cautious crossing the water streaming across the roadways, as well as filling the many, many dips. Not so the asshole behind me, who literally passed me in a water-filled dip with a car coming head-on!! I'm not proud, but I flipped him off with both hands once I made it across the water hazard and up the other side. I was completely immersed in water from his little stunt and not at all amused.
I'm back home, changed into casual clothes, and ready for a cup of hot chocolate and a look at what's on the DVR. The worst of the storm is supposed to arrive after 4 pm, so my plan is to snuggle in, rather than worry about it.
I left the house to drive up the hill for classes, fording rivers running across the road, picking my way through debris fields, and ducking out of the way of the big 4-wheel drive pick-ups that don't slow down for anything! I made it to the center of YV before I pulled over and packed it in. There's snow everywhere, ice on the roadways, wash-outs, lakes across intersections, debris -- and pounding rain falling relentlessly. I called to cancel classes and headed back home just in time for the rain to turn to yet more snow all the way down the grade to MV.
As I came back into my neck of the woods, I was cautious crossing the water streaming across the roadways, as well as filling the many, many dips. Not so the asshole behind me, who literally passed me in a water-filled dip with a car coming head-on!! I'm not proud, but I flipped him off with both hands once I made it across the water hazard and up the other side. I was completely immersed in water from his little stunt and not at all amused.
I'm back home, changed into casual clothes, and ready for a cup of hot chocolate and a look at what's on the DVR. The worst of the storm is supposed to arrive after 4 pm, so my plan is to snuggle in, rather than worry about it.
Perception is NOT Reality: It's Just One Person's Way of Spinning What Other People Believe
Octo-Mom lost all that weight by exercising 90 minutes a night and eating a high protein diet. Yeah, and anyone is going to believe that! Ever see the after pictures from K8? Stretching the skin to accommodate either gross obesity or multiple babies results in loss of elasticity that has to be repaired surgically. Ditto those who have the stomach staples and/or bypass surgeries: the worst part of the weight loss is not being able to afford to have all the excess, flacid skin removed by surgeons who specialize in this kind of reconstructive surgery.
She would be a good match for John “that is not my baby” Edwards, who is today admitting paternity of a child who is a dead ringer for his own face. Seems that the man who tried to take the fall for Edwards during the campaign by claiming he was the one having an affair with the other woman has written a book that is chocked full of interesting little facts, including the fact that Edwards was banging his side piece as his wife, Elizabeth, went public with the fact that her cancer was back, untreatable, inoperable, and, by the way, terminal. That had to upset her husband beyond coping as he fled to Rielle’s arms for consolation and, oh, yeah, sex that resulted in a baby 9 months later. Oops.
Obama is singing another chorus of the same ole song: the reason for the Earth being round is 8 years of Bush, which made the people so angry that they … elected a non-democrat to occupy the historically democratic Kennedy seat in democratic Massachusetts. Some of us are smart enough to take that cause/effect link with the same grain of salt we believe the Octo-Mom’s bikini body is the sole product of diet and exercise – and that John Edwards is “truly sorry” for the relationship with Ms. Hunter that continues to this day!
In the age of instant communication and gross public exposure (bikini-clad Octo-Mom on the cover of a magazine????), people have to realize that they are their pasts. Wishing it would go away is not enough, and the genie left the bottle a long time ago. Obama says he needs more direct communication with the public as he has not said what needs to be said so the American people get it. On the other hand, he may want to consider that he’s said far too much, far too often, with too few results. Obama tells the people what HE wants them to believe because it's what HE believes, not what the people need to improve the quality of their lives. When the people say, "uh, that would be a no," rather than stopping to listen, rather than discussing the concerns that the people express, Obama dismisses both the questions and the concerns, distances himself from the rowdy riff-raff, and plows ahead with HIS agenda. The people's job is to tell the President what THEY want, what THEY need, and it is the President's job to put it in place, to make it happen. HE serves at MY pleasure, not the other way around.
I’m beginning to think that Obama doesn’t have a clue either to his actual job performance or the expectations of the citizens of the United States of America. “WE” want a voice in the policies and practices that become our lives. WE don’t want to be told by Nancy Pelosi that she will get health care reform one way or another!! Who the hell does she think she is? She is MY representative, not the decision-making dictator who is going to tell the citizens of this country that we will get what she decides we will get. What the people at the top of the pyramid forget is that remaining at the top depends on the strength of those who form the pyramid: if the people under them aren’t performing, aren’t selling the product line, the whole thing collapses!
T-I-M-B-E-R!
It used to be called public service, but for the past year it’s been sheer arrogance, topped yesterday with the “whatever” attitude I heard on the media as democrats defended their attitude and their actions with a paternalistic approach that assures the American people that they know what’s best for ALL of us and are not just protecting themselves and their job security. The people on the streets are angry that the banks that took our life savings and our retirement funds are still handing out huge, multiple million dollar bonuses to their top executives – and the people in the White House and Congress fail to realize the strength of that anger, much less the direction it is being focused. If it is to be, it is up to me, and the only weapon I have at my disposal is my vote. It may not seem that the people can defeat a democratic candidate vying for an historically democratic seat held for almost half a century by a democratic icon, but you piss off the people who are in charge of who occupies that seat, we, the people, we, the voters, and watch what happens.
She would be a good match for John “that is not my baby” Edwards, who is today admitting paternity of a child who is a dead ringer for his own face. Seems that the man who tried to take the fall for Edwards during the campaign by claiming he was the one having an affair with the other woman has written a book that is chocked full of interesting little facts, including the fact that Edwards was banging his side piece as his wife, Elizabeth, went public with the fact that her cancer was back, untreatable, inoperable, and, by the way, terminal. That had to upset her husband beyond coping as he fled to Rielle’s arms for consolation and, oh, yeah, sex that resulted in a baby 9 months later. Oops.
Obama is singing another chorus of the same ole song: the reason for the Earth being round is 8 years of Bush, which made the people so angry that they … elected a non-democrat to occupy the historically democratic Kennedy seat in democratic Massachusetts. Some of us are smart enough to take that cause/effect link with the same grain of salt we believe the Octo-Mom’s bikini body is the sole product of diet and exercise – and that John Edwards is “truly sorry” for the relationship with Ms. Hunter that continues to this day!
In the age of instant communication and gross public exposure (bikini-clad Octo-Mom on the cover of a magazine????), people have to realize that they are their pasts. Wishing it would go away is not enough, and the genie left the bottle a long time ago. Obama says he needs more direct communication with the public as he has not said what needs to be said so the American people get it. On the other hand, he may want to consider that he’s said far too much, far too often, with too few results. Obama tells the people what HE wants them to believe because it's what HE believes, not what the people need to improve the quality of their lives. When the people say, "uh, that would be a no," rather than stopping to listen, rather than discussing the concerns that the people express, Obama dismisses both the questions and the concerns, distances himself from the rowdy riff-raff, and plows ahead with HIS agenda. The people's job is to tell the President what THEY want, what THEY need, and it is the President's job to put it in place, to make it happen. HE serves at MY pleasure, not the other way around.
I’m beginning to think that Obama doesn’t have a clue either to his actual job performance or the expectations of the citizens of the United States of America. “WE” want a voice in the policies and practices that become our lives. WE don’t want to be told by Nancy Pelosi that she will get health care reform one way or another!! Who the hell does she think she is? She is MY representative, not the decision-making dictator who is going to tell the citizens of this country that we will get what she decides we will get. What the people at the top of the pyramid forget is that remaining at the top depends on the strength of those who form the pyramid: if the people under them aren’t performing, aren’t selling the product line, the whole thing collapses!
T-I-M-B-E-R!
It used to be called public service, but for the past year it’s been sheer arrogance, topped yesterday with the “whatever” attitude I heard on the media as democrats defended their attitude and their actions with a paternalistic approach that assures the American people that they know what’s best for ALL of us and are not just protecting themselves and their job security. The people on the streets are angry that the banks that took our life savings and our retirement funds are still handing out huge, multiple million dollar bonuses to their top executives – and the people in the White House and Congress fail to realize the strength of that anger, much less the direction it is being focused. If it is to be, it is up to me, and the only weapon I have at my disposal is my vote. It may not seem that the people can defeat a democratic candidate vying for an historically democratic seat held for almost half a century by a democratic icon, but you piss off the people who are in charge of who occupies that seat, we, the people, we, the voters, and watch what happens.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Singing the Same Song for a Change
I wake up early, grab a cup of hot tea, and turn on the talking heads so they can tell me not just what to think, but why I should share their perspectives. It's good for starting the day with a smile, but this morning, for the first time in just about a year, everyone is on the same page: a non-democrat won the Massachusettes' senate seat left vacant since the death of Senator Ted Kennedy.
Wow: how did that happen? If anyone other than the Fox News Network had been listening for the past 6 months or so, no one would have to ask that question. The President cannot promise change we can believe in -- and then do business as usual. People VOTED for CHANGE, not for the continuation of what has been standard practice in Washington. We were almost fooled by the promise of health care reform, but when Nebraska got a goodie no other state was offered -- unlimited FREE health care for all of its citizens -- we got the message: this isn't change and we friggin' cannot believe this!
Obama came across during his meteroic candidacy as an intelligent, articulate man with a plan -- and even I chose him as the lesser of two evils when Sarah Palin was abruptly added to the Republican ticket. However, Obama has not shown me one single instance in which he has a plan, a concrete vision that he can articulate to the citizens of this country and that will make a difference. He talks, and he talks, and he talks, and he asks me to believe in him, but he's nailed one foot to the ground and is going around and around in circles and calling it progress.
He wasn't going to do business as usual when he came to Washington a year ago, but who did he bail out??? The same old same old big business corporations. He had a plan to reform health care in this country, but rather than either presenting a concrete, specific plan or a bill I could believe in, he handed the task to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Are you f-ing kidding me??? He said that "his" economic stimulus program would provide jobs for Americans who are out of work, but unemployment has steadily continued to rise. He said we'd be out of the Middle East, taking care of our own, but we're sending more troops and expanding our circle of military deployment daily.
When Martin Luther King, Jr said he had a dream, he led the march. King had the charisma and the chatter, too, but he didn't just talk the talk: he walked the walk, leading his believers to the promised land, not just telling them about it!
This election in Massachusettes is NOT a Republican victory: it's a Democratic defeat. People are not drinking the Kool-Aid, and they aren't going to drink it unless it tastes good and quenches our thirst. We're in tough times and we want a President who LEADS, not just talks about it. Come to the front of the line, Mr. President, and show us the way. Give us change we can believe in or you're going to be out of a job much sooner than you thought when you took the oath of office a year ago.
Wow: how did that happen? If anyone other than the Fox News Network had been listening for the past 6 months or so, no one would have to ask that question. The President cannot promise change we can believe in -- and then do business as usual. People VOTED for CHANGE, not for the continuation of what has been standard practice in Washington. We were almost fooled by the promise of health care reform, but when Nebraska got a goodie no other state was offered -- unlimited FREE health care for all of its citizens -- we got the message: this isn't change and we friggin' cannot believe this!
Obama came across during his meteroic candidacy as an intelligent, articulate man with a plan -- and even I chose him as the lesser of two evils when Sarah Palin was abruptly added to the Republican ticket. However, Obama has not shown me one single instance in which he has a plan, a concrete vision that he can articulate to the citizens of this country and that will make a difference. He talks, and he talks, and he talks, and he asks me to believe in him, but he's nailed one foot to the ground and is going around and around in circles and calling it progress.
He wasn't going to do business as usual when he came to Washington a year ago, but who did he bail out??? The same old same old big business corporations. He had a plan to reform health care in this country, but rather than either presenting a concrete, specific plan or a bill I could believe in, he handed the task to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Are you f-ing kidding me??? He said that "his" economic stimulus program would provide jobs for Americans who are out of work, but unemployment has steadily continued to rise. He said we'd be out of the Middle East, taking care of our own, but we're sending more troops and expanding our circle of military deployment daily.
When Martin Luther King, Jr said he had a dream, he led the march. King had the charisma and the chatter, too, but he didn't just talk the talk: he walked the walk, leading his believers to the promised land, not just telling them about it!
This election in Massachusettes is NOT a Republican victory: it's a Democratic defeat. People are not drinking the Kool-Aid, and they aren't going to drink it unless it tastes good and quenches our thirst. We're in tough times and we want a President who LEADS, not just talks about it. Come to the front of the line, Mr. President, and show us the way. Give us change we can believe in or you're going to be out of a job much sooner than you thought when you took the oath of office a year ago.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Counting Unhatched Chickens
George Stepsinitalot, in his new role as a morning host, blathered this morning about how the Dems had the late Senator Kennedy's seat sewn up, especially after the President made the confirmation trip Sunday to Mass. A salacious photo of the male candidate posing for a revealing magazine spread sans clothing showed just what kind of person this man is ... back when he was in his early 20s, attending college, and posed for the sexy spread. Pitching dirt from one's past has become the answer to the failure to address the issues of the present, but this time, it didn't work, perhaps because the Dems became complacent about the "always a Demo seat" and dug the dirt too late to do this election any good.
Counting chickens that are not yet hatched can lead to eating a lot of crow, George. Wonder how you are going to spin the win? Oh, that's right: Tea Party Fanatics. I'm not sure it was just the health care debaucle that made the voters elect the new guy on the block. I think it was his comment, aired repeatedly on the news programs, that "it's NOT a Democratic seat, it's the PEOPLE'S seat" that sold his candidacy. Partisan politics for the sake of partisanship is tearing this country down the middle, and there is bound to be a backlash.
If I am conservative in my views and lifestyle, that does NOT mean that I am against progress or some kind of health care reform. What it does mean is that I'm not easily sold on a government-run health care plan that begins with the assumption that this economy needs a one-size-fits-all health care system. I was in favor of the transparency the public was promised, but have been upset by the machinations and manuevering of the Democratic Party, including the huge piles of pork added here and there to make the bill into a travesty of reform. If it's the US health reform, then let all of us in on it!
I may tune in tomorrow to see how George spins this "Republican" win. It'll have something to do with the failure to have health care reform NOW blamed on the Republicans, rather than on a bill that should not be passed in its current iteration.
Counting chickens that are not yet hatched can lead to eating a lot of crow, George. Wonder how you are going to spin the win? Oh, that's right: Tea Party Fanatics. I'm not sure it was just the health care debaucle that made the voters elect the new guy on the block. I think it was his comment, aired repeatedly on the news programs, that "it's NOT a Democratic seat, it's the PEOPLE'S seat" that sold his candidacy. Partisan politics for the sake of partisanship is tearing this country down the middle, and there is bound to be a backlash.
If I am conservative in my views and lifestyle, that does NOT mean that I am against progress or some kind of health care reform. What it does mean is that I'm not easily sold on a government-run health care plan that begins with the assumption that this economy needs a one-size-fits-all health care system. I was in favor of the transparency the public was promised, but have been upset by the machinations and manuevering of the Democratic Party, including the huge piles of pork added here and there to make the bill into a travesty of reform. If it's the US health reform, then let all of us in on it!
I may tune in tomorrow to see how George spins this "Republican" win. It'll have something to do with the failure to have health care reform NOW blamed on the Republicans, rather than on a bill that should not be passed in its current iteration.
DONE With Doctors!!
For the past couple of years, something goes awry with my body, I try to self-medicate, the symptoms worsen, so I make an appointment for medical advice and, hopefully, treatment. Hah! I'm better off staying at home doing whatever I can to allow enough time for the cure to develop on its own.
When I had on-going chest pains for a week, strong enough that I could not stand up and/or breathe, I called my doctor, who directed me to call 9-1-1. No, I told him, I just need a check-up to see what's wrong. Go to the ER; go to the ER; go to the ER. Three days later, ongoing chest pains that required nitro tables under my tongue to quell and a probe of my femoral artery, as well as my carotids, and a 24-hour heart monitor, there was "nothing wrong," just some premature ventricular contractions -- and that's no big deal. No treatment because my arteries are good, my heart is strong, my blood pressure is fine, but if it happens again, go to the ER. Huh, I thought, how will I ever know if/when I have a heart attack because ... all my symptoms led me to believe that I WAS having a heart attack!!
When my left hand seized up about a year after shattering my shoulder and cracking my collar bone, I massaged, I iced, I immobilized, I dealt with the pain until I couldn't, then called for medical help. It was nothing because the x-rays showed it was nothing. Oh, yeah, the symptoms and the pain and the loss of function were real, but it was nothing. No diagnosis; no treatment; no relief. It took about about six months for the pain to subside and, believe it or not, that happened when a psychic grasped my hand in hers. I felt warmth, blessed healing heat seeping into the area, and after about 10 minutes, my hand was healed. Yeah, I didn't believe it either, but it's true.
More recently, when a hard lump in my back was causing me constant pain and literally making me sick to my stomach, I used hot compresses and took lots of aspirin. When I finally went to the doctor about a week after the symptoms began because I was getting no relief, she agreed that there was a "mass" that needed an MRI. After 2 hours in the tunnel, it was "nothing." No diagnosis; no treatment; no relief. The lump is still in my back; it's still sore to the touch; and I'm still pissed.
Yesterday, same thing. I hurt my right knee at Thanksgiving when the edge of my knee snapped against the metal ridge of the closet door track. It hurt like hell when it happened, but ice, staying off it, et cetera, seemed to be doing the healing job, until recently. When I bent down to check my mailbox at the post office last week, my knee wouldn't bend and the action was painful. There has been a heavy feeling in it, as well as heat and a sudden feeling of liquid, as if it were bleeding inside. Sometimes, just the touch of the denim of my trousers across it sends a sharp, shooting pain up my leg. I may be stubborn, but I'm not obstinate, so I again called for a medical opinion.
Hah: if the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result, I'm insane. Called last week, made the appointment for "early afternoon," knowing how hard it is to come back across the freeway from 4 pm on. Arrived on time; filled out a new set of paperwork as a "new" patient, although I've been a patient at the world-renowned ortho clinic since the 1980s, then joined at least 50 other patients waiting for the next step. I made it to the next waiting room, then through the x-ray process, and then into the doctor's waiting area before being seen, a full 2 hours after arriving at the facility.
As I waited behind the closed door, I could hear the doctor sharing personal conversation with his office staff that began with a query of how many more patients he had to get through before the end of day, followed with a power-walk as he came down the hallway seeing patients. I timed him: 3 minutes per opening door and exiting. My turn came, the door opened, he greeted me, asked me how I was, checked the x-rays, told me there is nothing wrong with my knee. I briefly described the accident, as well as the symptomology, but he repeated that there's nothing wrong. His advice? Continue doing what you've been doing, as that seems to be working, and if the knee isn't better in a month or so, reschedule and we'll take another look.
I laughed and told him, "that's so not going to happen," picked up my things and left probably within the 3 minutes all the other patients shared with him. My vow is to stay the hell away from doctors as they don't make a difference: they just make more appointments.
My frustration was aggravated with pounding rain pouring from the dense cloud covering. I drove home in heavy rain and traffic, sometimes encountering intersections that should have been closed, as well as raging rivers running along the curbsides that made driving in the right lanes dangerous. I pulled over several times for emergency vehicles, but got home before all the road closings began. We're due for more rain today, and perhaps some snow, so of course it's the first day of classes -- and the parking lot refurbish is not completed, so we all have to take to the dirt lots and make a long hike to our classrooms. Snow is predicted in the local mountains, which means the mountains between here and there, so that may be problematic before I drive back home after 8 pm.
At this point in time, whatever.
When I had on-going chest pains for a week, strong enough that I could not stand up and/or breathe, I called my doctor, who directed me to call 9-1-1. No, I told him, I just need a check-up to see what's wrong. Go to the ER; go to the ER; go to the ER. Three days later, ongoing chest pains that required nitro tables under my tongue to quell and a probe of my femoral artery, as well as my carotids, and a 24-hour heart monitor, there was "nothing wrong," just some premature ventricular contractions -- and that's no big deal. No treatment because my arteries are good, my heart is strong, my blood pressure is fine, but if it happens again, go to the ER. Huh, I thought, how will I ever know if/when I have a heart attack because ... all my symptoms led me to believe that I WAS having a heart attack!!
When my left hand seized up about a year after shattering my shoulder and cracking my collar bone, I massaged, I iced, I immobilized, I dealt with the pain until I couldn't, then called for medical help. It was nothing because the x-rays showed it was nothing. Oh, yeah, the symptoms and the pain and the loss of function were real, but it was nothing. No diagnosis; no treatment; no relief. It took about about six months for the pain to subside and, believe it or not, that happened when a psychic grasped my hand in hers. I felt warmth, blessed healing heat seeping into the area, and after about 10 minutes, my hand was healed. Yeah, I didn't believe it either, but it's true.
More recently, when a hard lump in my back was causing me constant pain and literally making me sick to my stomach, I used hot compresses and took lots of aspirin. When I finally went to the doctor about a week after the symptoms began because I was getting no relief, she agreed that there was a "mass" that needed an MRI. After 2 hours in the tunnel, it was "nothing." No diagnosis; no treatment; no relief. The lump is still in my back; it's still sore to the touch; and I'm still pissed.
Yesterday, same thing. I hurt my right knee at Thanksgiving when the edge of my knee snapped against the metal ridge of the closet door track. It hurt like hell when it happened, but ice, staying off it, et cetera, seemed to be doing the healing job, until recently. When I bent down to check my mailbox at the post office last week, my knee wouldn't bend and the action was painful. There has been a heavy feeling in it, as well as heat and a sudden feeling of liquid, as if it were bleeding inside. Sometimes, just the touch of the denim of my trousers across it sends a sharp, shooting pain up my leg. I may be stubborn, but I'm not obstinate, so I again called for a medical opinion.
Hah: if the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result, I'm insane. Called last week, made the appointment for "early afternoon," knowing how hard it is to come back across the freeway from 4 pm on. Arrived on time; filled out a new set of paperwork as a "new" patient, although I've been a patient at the world-renowned ortho clinic since the 1980s, then joined at least 50 other patients waiting for the next step. I made it to the next waiting room, then through the x-ray process, and then into the doctor's waiting area before being seen, a full 2 hours after arriving at the facility.
As I waited behind the closed door, I could hear the doctor sharing personal conversation with his office staff that began with a query of how many more patients he had to get through before the end of day, followed with a power-walk as he came down the hallway seeing patients. I timed him: 3 minutes per opening door and exiting. My turn came, the door opened, he greeted me, asked me how I was, checked the x-rays, told me there is nothing wrong with my knee. I briefly described the accident, as well as the symptomology, but he repeated that there's nothing wrong. His advice? Continue doing what you've been doing, as that seems to be working, and if the knee isn't better in a month or so, reschedule and we'll take another look.
I laughed and told him, "that's so not going to happen," picked up my things and left probably within the 3 minutes all the other patients shared with him. My vow is to stay the hell away from doctors as they don't make a difference: they just make more appointments.
My frustration was aggravated with pounding rain pouring from the dense cloud covering. I drove home in heavy rain and traffic, sometimes encountering intersections that should have been closed, as well as raging rivers running along the curbsides that made driving in the right lanes dangerous. I pulled over several times for emergency vehicles, but got home before all the road closings began. We're due for more rain today, and perhaps some snow, so of course it's the first day of classes -- and the parking lot refurbish is not completed, so we all have to take to the dirt lots and make a long hike to our classrooms. Snow is predicted in the local mountains, which means the mountains between here and there, so that may be problematic before I drive back home after 8 pm.
At this point in time, whatever.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
World Shake-Up
This morning, the 4.3 earthquake centered less than 20 miles from my doorstep woke me at 4:00 am. I counted slowly 1-2-3-4-5 before it stopped its gentle shaking, then went back to sleep.
At breakfast Friday morning, the group got into it about the aid reponse in Haiti, with one of the gals railing at the failure of the USA to be freeing, feeding, and rebuilding within the first 24 hours of the event. When I explained that, after listening to Anderson Cooper on the ground explain his experience in getting to the core of the quake-devastated area, the response is probably better than it could have been, although not as perfect as everyone wants it to be. The air traffic is being directed by 2 military men standing on the tarmac, using field phones and line of sight to get planes in and out. The trip overland from the neighboring country is taking 12-15 hours by car; although there is no actual damage to either roads or bridges, the roads are narrow, rutted routes, not CA freeways!
We have an aircraft carrier off the coast, filled with medical supplies, water purification facilities, and helicopters; we have palettes filled with food, water, and medical supplies off-loaded from the planes landing at the airport; however, getting what is needed to where it is needed is hampered by the piles of rubble. Survivors and bodies cover every available open space, the same spaces that vehicles, rescue personnel, and relief supplies need to be. Throngs of people ramping up to full-blown panic rush anyone who has access to medical services, food, or water. The threat of full-blown riots means that troops carrying weapons have to maintain law and order and be willing to shoot if conditions warrant that response. There are no quick answers, but it's easier to criticize from the living room than it is to be the one standing with a rifle aimed toward the victims of such a horrific natural disaster.
I understand my friend's frustration, her disdain for what should be done, but is not being done in what she has decided is a timely manner -- but I do not understand her response to the thousands of USA military personnel, rescue volunteers, and medical personnel, as well as world citizens who have arrived and are doing their best to provide assistance in spite of overwhelming odds against them. There is no Haitian government providing organization, directing personnel where to go, what to do. Haitians walk past the dead bodies decaying on their roadways, but scream at the news media that they cannot breathe because of the stench. The people scream "Do something to help us," but they make no effort to help themselves. The people can organize themselves and remove the bodies for burial -- and open the roadways so emergency personnel and supplies could get through -- but they wait for someone else to do it for them. The hands reach toward the USA to "do something," but the people of Haiti now accuse those very volunteers of taking care of their own at the expense of Haitians, while doing little to help themselves.
The Three Presidents spoke at a special news conference this morning, the message of which is "send money" now and forever because "we" have to rebuild Haiti. "We" still haven't rebuilt New Orleans, and I think I can count on one hand the number of foreign governments who came to our aid, who put boots on the ground and food into the victims' mouths. We must help -- humanity helps humanity -- but expecting the USA to be there first and the last to leave is an unrealistic expectation that becomes a huge financial burden on a country trying to recover its own economic footing.
ADDING: It is Monday and there are still rescuers finding people alive, but hope is rapidly dimming, so the news coverage has shifted to the failure of the US military to set up hospitals and save lives. The broadcasters lament that survivors are dying from gangrene, crush injuries that need surgery, and rampant infections -- as if it's the failure of the USA to care for ALL of the victims in a timely, miraculous manner. The accusations have escalated because the military cannot get food/water/medical services to all people at the same time.
NO HAITIAN OFFICIAL has been seen -- anywhere -- offering to do anything! The assumption remains that the USA has to get the job done, provide food, water, medical care -- and money for the rebuilding efforts. Really?? How about the Haitians pointing the finger at someone other than the USA or hauling off the bodies for burial or removing debris from the roadways -- doing something other than complaining about how the USA is failing to help them during this disaster?
At breakfast Friday morning, the group got into it about the aid reponse in Haiti, with one of the gals railing at the failure of the USA to be freeing, feeding, and rebuilding within the first 24 hours of the event. When I explained that, after listening to Anderson Cooper on the ground explain his experience in getting to the core of the quake-devastated area, the response is probably better than it could have been, although not as perfect as everyone wants it to be. The air traffic is being directed by 2 military men standing on the tarmac, using field phones and line of sight to get planes in and out. The trip overland from the neighboring country is taking 12-15 hours by car; although there is no actual damage to either roads or bridges, the roads are narrow, rutted routes, not CA freeways!
We have an aircraft carrier off the coast, filled with medical supplies, water purification facilities, and helicopters; we have palettes filled with food, water, and medical supplies off-loaded from the planes landing at the airport; however, getting what is needed to where it is needed is hampered by the piles of rubble. Survivors and bodies cover every available open space, the same spaces that vehicles, rescue personnel, and relief supplies need to be. Throngs of people ramping up to full-blown panic rush anyone who has access to medical services, food, or water. The threat of full-blown riots means that troops carrying weapons have to maintain law and order and be willing to shoot if conditions warrant that response. There are no quick answers, but it's easier to criticize from the living room than it is to be the one standing with a rifle aimed toward the victims of such a horrific natural disaster.
I understand my friend's frustration, her disdain for what should be done, but is not being done in what she has decided is a timely manner -- but I do not understand her response to the thousands of USA military personnel, rescue volunteers, and medical personnel, as well as world citizens who have arrived and are doing their best to provide assistance in spite of overwhelming odds against them. There is no Haitian government providing organization, directing personnel where to go, what to do. Haitians walk past the dead bodies decaying on their roadways, but scream at the news media that they cannot breathe because of the stench. The people scream "Do something to help us," but they make no effort to help themselves. The people can organize themselves and remove the bodies for burial -- and open the roadways so emergency personnel and supplies could get through -- but they wait for someone else to do it for them. The hands reach toward the USA to "do something," but the people of Haiti now accuse those very volunteers of taking care of their own at the expense of Haitians, while doing little to help themselves.
The Three Presidents spoke at a special news conference this morning, the message of which is "send money" now and forever because "we" have to rebuild Haiti. "We" still haven't rebuilt New Orleans, and I think I can count on one hand the number of foreign governments who came to our aid, who put boots on the ground and food into the victims' mouths. We must help -- humanity helps humanity -- but expecting the USA to be there first and the last to leave is an unrealistic expectation that becomes a huge financial burden on a country trying to recover its own economic footing.
ADDING: It is Monday and there are still rescuers finding people alive, but hope is rapidly dimming, so the news coverage has shifted to the failure of the US military to set up hospitals and save lives. The broadcasters lament that survivors are dying from gangrene, crush injuries that need surgery, and rampant infections -- as if it's the failure of the USA to care for ALL of the victims in a timely, miraculous manner. The accusations have escalated because the military cannot get food/water/medical services to all people at the same time.
NO HAITIAN OFFICIAL has been seen -- anywhere -- offering to do anything! The assumption remains that the USA has to get the job done, provide food, water, medical care -- and money for the rebuilding efforts. Really?? How about the Haitians pointing the finger at someone other than the USA or hauling off the bodies for burial or removing debris from the roadways -- doing something other than complaining about how the USA is failing to help them during this disaster?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Break Me Off a Piece
Californians are used to the subtle shiftings that indicate another earthquake as the earth is always moving one way or another. Yesterday, I felt 3 earthquakes that originated about 20 miles away, little 3.5 or so temblors that are common in my corner of the country.
These are the BANG quakes, the ones that have a sudden loud noise, a jolt, and then are done. Imagine that an 18-wheeler hits the side of the house and you have an approximation of the feeling and the noise. It only lasts a second or two, and seldom has a lot of shaking associated with it. It's as if someone were snapping off a piece of a Kit Kat bar.
In NoCal, there was a 6.5 the other day just off the coast, which is pretty strong and felt far and wide. Last week, there was a cluster of strong quakes south of us, just over the border with Mexico. Our little bangers are localized, but often indicate that there will be a bigger quake coming ... soon. Soon in geological time, however, can be a decade from now, so there's little need to get all worked up about the Big One. When it comes, it comes.
As a native SoCal dweller, I am somewhat complacent about quakes because there is no foretelling, no warning, no safe place to hide, and pretty much nothing anyone can do except deal with the aftermath. I always keep bottled water and hope on hand, my emergency kit for when, because there is no "if."
UPDATE: I doubt that I was prescient in predicting what happened in Haiti late yesterday! Earthquakes happen, especially in communities that are built on a faultline, such as mine and Port Au Prince. The damage and the loss of life are overwhelming in Haiti and it may be months before anyone knows the full extent of the earthquake damage to the country and its people. Meanwhile, we all need to send what we can to help with rescue, recovery, and rebuilding.
These are the BANG quakes, the ones that have a sudden loud noise, a jolt, and then are done. Imagine that an 18-wheeler hits the side of the house and you have an approximation of the feeling and the noise. It only lasts a second or two, and seldom has a lot of shaking associated with it. It's as if someone were snapping off a piece of a Kit Kat bar.
In NoCal, there was a 6.5 the other day just off the coast, which is pretty strong and felt far and wide. Last week, there was a cluster of strong quakes south of us, just over the border with Mexico. Our little bangers are localized, but often indicate that there will be a bigger quake coming ... soon. Soon in geological time, however, can be a decade from now, so there's little need to get all worked up about the Big One. When it comes, it comes.
As a native SoCal dweller, I am somewhat complacent about quakes because there is no foretelling, no warning, no safe place to hide, and pretty much nothing anyone can do except deal with the aftermath. I always keep bottled water and hope on hand, my emergency kit for when, because there is no "if."
UPDATE: I doubt that I was prescient in predicting what happened in Haiti late yesterday! Earthquakes happen, especially in communities that are built on a faultline, such as mine and Port Au Prince. The damage and the loss of life are overwhelming in Haiti and it may be months before anyone knows the full extent of the earthquake damage to the country and its people. Meanwhile, we all need to send what we can to help with rescue, recovery, and rebuilding.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Picking Nits
I received new course materials for 2 different courses, but rather than assume that the new replaces the old, I cross-checked. In 1 of the workbooks for one course, of a possible 300 quiz questions, only 3 questions were changed, but the answer is the same; in the other workbook, of a possible 300 questions, only 2 questions were changed, but the answer is the same. Thus, for a person who does not cross-check, the assumption would be made that the materials across the board have been changed -- and toss out any old materials. I check first, having first-hand knowledge of a recent textbook edition that cost $15 more than the previous semester -- but the only change was in the illustrations, NOT the actual content. Happily, my current files do not have to be completely replaced, a task that would have been quite a time-intensive project.
As refers to Harry Reid, for whom I have nothing but disdain for the disdain he shows to anyone who is not a Democrat, he's getting a bad rap -- the same way that anyone else who speaks openly and frankly about race in this country gets a bad rap. I heard it described that "race is the Great American trip wire," a description I find apt. No matter what one says/means when it comes to race, it's the old "are you still beating your wife" conundrum for which there is no right answer. My glee in all of this is that it's finally one of the Big Demo's getting hammered, rather than one of those crazy right-wingers who are ALWAYS making racist remarks (said tongue-in-cheek).
About Sarah Palin signing on with the Fox News Network: it's a mistake. If you listen to BO'R (notice his last name phonetically is "bore"?), Fox is the happening place. The problem is that one can only listen to BO'R about once a week or so as he's hard to take on one of his good days, and those are few and far between. It's all about him and he's always right, and man, does that get old in a big hurry. He asks good questions and sometimes makes good points, but it's obfuscated by his obnoxious bloviating, overt self-promotion, and constant marketing of his books! Palin loses all credibility (sure, I assume she had some) just by signing on the dotted line and there is no going back -- or forward from that point.
Jay Leno didn't work out at his new time slot? Uh, wasn't that point made YEARS before that change was made? There are intuitive people in our land who can make the leap mentally between what is and what will happen when changes are made, but we tend not to listen to them, especially if they are really old -- like in their 40s or 50s. I'm not age-banging young people (well, maybe a little), but there is something to be said about age and experience expanding one's perspective (in the military, this is called "time in grade"). As my mother always said, "You cannot put an old head onto young shoulders," but as I have learned, young people ignore the wisdom of their elders because that's what young people do.
My final nit for the day is the new campaign to assure the public that savings accounts are a bad use of one's financial resources. Going back to my youth, we believed in "saving for a rainy day," and we lined up to open our Christmas accounts every January to save the money we needed to buy presents for holiday gift-giving. Of course, back then there were NO credit cards, which meant everyone had to use REAL money to pay for purchases. I also remember clutching my savings passport in my hand every 3 months and waiting in line at the bank to see how much interest I had earned during the quarter. But, ya know, we also picked pennies off the pavement, rather than tossing our coins away as I've seen so many teens do. If it isn't your money, it's easier to throw it away, but when it's MY hard-earned coins, they become more precious. And, believe it or not, those pennies do add up into real dollars.
Off to work next week, 3 days a week, 3 classes this semester. I love having something to do, I love banking my paycheck to pay for all these things in life that take REAL money, and I love that I have an education, as well as a good job, and take care of the business of taking care of myself and those I love. May be old-fashioned values, but they still work for some of us.
As refers to Harry Reid, for whom I have nothing but disdain for the disdain he shows to anyone who is not a Democrat, he's getting a bad rap -- the same way that anyone else who speaks openly and frankly about race in this country gets a bad rap. I heard it described that "race is the Great American trip wire," a description I find apt. No matter what one says/means when it comes to race, it's the old "are you still beating your wife" conundrum for which there is no right answer. My glee in all of this is that it's finally one of the Big Demo's getting hammered, rather than one of those crazy right-wingers who are ALWAYS making racist remarks (said tongue-in-cheek).
About Sarah Palin signing on with the Fox News Network: it's a mistake. If you listen to BO'R (notice his last name phonetically is "bore"?), Fox is the happening place. The problem is that one can only listen to BO'R about once a week or so as he's hard to take on one of his good days, and those are few and far between. It's all about him and he's always right, and man, does that get old in a big hurry. He asks good questions and sometimes makes good points, but it's obfuscated by his obnoxious bloviating, overt self-promotion, and constant marketing of his books! Palin loses all credibility (sure, I assume she had some) just by signing on the dotted line and there is no going back -- or forward from that point.
Jay Leno didn't work out at his new time slot? Uh, wasn't that point made YEARS before that change was made? There are intuitive people in our land who can make the leap mentally between what is and what will happen when changes are made, but we tend not to listen to them, especially if they are really old -- like in their 40s or 50s. I'm not age-banging young people (well, maybe a little), but there is something to be said about age and experience expanding one's perspective (in the military, this is called "time in grade"). As my mother always said, "You cannot put an old head onto young shoulders," but as I have learned, young people ignore the wisdom of their elders because that's what young people do.
My final nit for the day is the new campaign to assure the public that savings accounts are a bad use of one's financial resources. Going back to my youth, we believed in "saving for a rainy day," and we lined up to open our Christmas accounts every January to save the money we needed to buy presents for holiday gift-giving. Of course, back then there were NO credit cards, which meant everyone had to use REAL money to pay for purchases. I also remember clutching my savings passport in my hand every 3 months and waiting in line at the bank to see how much interest I had earned during the quarter. But, ya know, we also picked pennies off the pavement, rather than tossing our coins away as I've seen so many teens do. If it isn't your money, it's easier to throw it away, but when it's MY hard-earned coins, they become more precious. And, believe it or not, those pennies do add up into real dollars.
Off to work next week, 3 days a week, 3 classes this semester. I love having something to do, I love banking my paycheck to pay for all these things in life that take REAL money, and I love that I have an education, as well as a good job, and take care of the business of taking care of myself and those I love. May be old-fashioned values, but they still work for some of us.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Meeting Expectations
The replacement of all existing windows with high-e windows seemed to go well for two days; however, the job is not finished and it’s been almost a month since the crew left with promises to return. Yes, I paid in full – part in cash (at his request) and the rest in a check that has been cashed. Yes, I know that the bill should never be paid until the job is finished, but it was the week before Christmas and the man in charge of the project, who lives within a mile of me, told me he’d be back Tuesday to finish the job. There is maybe a couple of hours of work left, just cutting and installing some moulding around the new door inside and out.
And then he’d be back the Monday after Christmas. And then he stopped by to tell me that he got hung up with another job and would not be able to finish until Monday, Jan 4. And then he stopped by the night of the 5th and told me he’d be here on the 7th. And here it is, Jan 9, and the job is still not finished. If he’d called each time he was not going to be able to keep his promise to finish the job, I wouldn’t be so angry, but he didn’t.
I’m tired of calling him and leaving messages that are not returned. He did stop by the house one evening (Jan 5), unannounced, after dark, to explain why he was (again) a bit behind. I told him that if I had to do it over, he would have received half the payment after the first two days of work and the other half when he actually finishes the job. He apologized, and that’s when I got the promise that he’d be here this past Thursday … and still have not heard from him.
I’m taking a year off from house projects that I cannot do myself as I am a really bad judge of character and keep getting taken by the people I hire to work for me. When I give my word, I keep it, even when it means that I have to make a personal sacrifice to do so. If I cannot keep a commitment, I at least call the person so they don’t sit and wait for me to show up!
And then he’d be back the Monday after Christmas. And then he stopped by to tell me that he got hung up with another job and would not be able to finish until Monday, Jan 4. And then he stopped by the night of the 5th and told me he’d be here on the 7th. And here it is, Jan 9, and the job is still not finished. If he’d called each time he was not going to be able to keep his promise to finish the job, I wouldn’t be so angry, but he didn’t.
I’m tired of calling him and leaving messages that are not returned. He did stop by the house one evening (Jan 5), unannounced, after dark, to explain why he was (again) a bit behind. I told him that if I had to do it over, he would have received half the payment after the first two days of work and the other half when he actually finishes the job. He apologized, and that’s when I got the promise that he’d be here this past Thursday … and still have not heard from him.
I’m taking a year off from house projects that I cannot do myself as I am a really bad judge of character and keep getting taken by the people I hire to work for me. When I give my word, I keep it, even when it means that I have to make a personal sacrifice to do so. If I cannot keep a commitment, I at least call the person so they don’t sit and wait for me to show up!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Public Service Announcement
Those of us who live in the Valley saw the whole Mariah Carey debaucle at the local film festival, not the edited version shown on the entertainment shows. Of all the actors starring in break-out film roles, Mariah was honored as the best. She should have come prepared to thank the festival, her fellow actors, and the public for the recognition. Instead, she made herself the "star" of the opening night event by standing in front of a microphone when she was obviously impaired and unable either to walk a straight line or speak a coherent thought.
Young people don't need another wealthy media diva showing them how to party; they need responsible adults modeling appropriate behavior, as least in public. Carey appeared to be under the influence of strong drugs that affected her ability to put words together in a coherent, meaningful manner. When she laughed about her condition while on stage, groping for an appropriate word to describe how far out of it she was, someone in the audience yelled out that she was "fucked up," a phrase that was bleeped in the footage leaked media wide. "Yeah," responded Carey, affirming that she should have stopped speaking, said thank you, and walked off the stage. However, Carey continued her acceptance speech for a full 5 minutes, rambling incoherently the whole time. She finally stumbled off stage when the audience applauded her into silence.
Yeah, she was "fucked up," but that is absolutely not an excuse for her conduct or her embarrassment of an international film festival and the people who work so hard each year to make it an event worthy of the international attention it receives.
The video clips didn't show her pointing her finger at and touching the face of the director who stood on stage with her, nor did it reveal her vulgar comment about the character she played in the film -- the reason for her recognition. She reminded the audience that Helen Mirren was offered the part for which Carey received the recognition. Mirren, who attended the event, must have cringed to be connected in even the most tangental way to Carey's incoherent acceptance speech. The film's director and Carey's on-stage escort should have pulled her off-stage, but he stood there, obviously uncomfortable and embarrassed, but seemingly unable to move.
I'd love to see a voice-over PSA featuring this footage, one of those with the message "driving buzzed is still drunk driving." Perhaps Helen Mirren's hubby, Taylor Hackford, a former schoolmate of mine, can direct it. Carey's actions speak louder than any words, but it would go a long way toward balancing her shameful public appearance with a message for young people that no matter how well you think you handle the substances you put into your body, you're still under the influence. At the end of the announcement, Mariah can apologize to her colleagues for her shameful conduct, as well as make a significant donation to the film festival organizers.
Young people don't need another wealthy media diva showing them how to party; they need responsible adults modeling appropriate behavior, as least in public. Carey appeared to be under the influence of strong drugs that affected her ability to put words together in a coherent, meaningful manner. When she laughed about her condition while on stage, groping for an appropriate word to describe how far out of it she was, someone in the audience yelled out that she was "fucked up," a phrase that was bleeped in the footage leaked media wide. "Yeah," responded Carey, affirming that she should have stopped speaking, said thank you, and walked off the stage. However, Carey continued her acceptance speech for a full 5 minutes, rambling incoherently the whole time. She finally stumbled off stage when the audience applauded her into silence.
Yeah, she was "fucked up," but that is absolutely not an excuse for her conduct or her embarrassment of an international film festival and the people who work so hard each year to make it an event worthy of the international attention it receives.
The video clips didn't show her pointing her finger at and touching the face of the director who stood on stage with her, nor did it reveal her vulgar comment about the character she played in the film -- the reason for her recognition. She reminded the audience that Helen Mirren was offered the part for which Carey received the recognition. Mirren, who attended the event, must have cringed to be connected in even the most tangental way to Carey's incoherent acceptance speech. The film's director and Carey's on-stage escort should have pulled her off-stage, but he stood there, obviously uncomfortable and embarrassed, but seemingly unable to move.
I'd love to see a voice-over PSA featuring this footage, one of those with the message "driving buzzed is still drunk driving." Perhaps Helen Mirren's hubby, Taylor Hackford, a former schoolmate of mine, can direct it. Carey's actions speak louder than any words, but it would go a long way toward balancing her shameful public appearance with a message for young people that no matter how well you think you handle the substances you put into your body, you're still under the influence. At the end of the announcement, Mariah can apologize to her colleagues for her shameful conduct, as well as make a significant donation to the film festival organizers.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
If You Aren't Part of the Solution, You ARE the Problem
I have blogged many times about the vicious, vituperative commentary on the local on-line newspaper site, making the point that the newspaper becomes liable for the commentary by not just promoting it, but allowing it to run amok without (adequate) oversight. The most flagrant bloggers were poofed, too little/too late, which caused a huge firestorm of protest from the bloggers, all of whom have a need to "O'Reilly" every article, every point, every headline, every reader comment, every blog. Methinks they all protest too much, but the hue and cry is always "my right" to write whatever I want under the guise of freedom of speech and/or freedom of the press.
I contacted the local newspaper and voiced my concern three separate times in the past six weeks, including my perspective that people from out of the area who read the blog postings get a skewed, racially inappropriate, homophobic, radically political picture of the Valley that ain't pretty, nor welcoming. Believe me, I was not the only one to register a protest, either in person or on-line. One new blogger began a petition last week to remove the offensive bloggers from the site, an idea that was laughed at by the more virulent bloggers who rule the blogosphere.
This afternoon, the following appeared where the blogs used to be:
We have removed the "Most Recent Reader Blogs" section on the front page of mydesert.com.
We have done this because the tone of our blogging community has become ugly and full of malicious attacks. Our intent was for readers to post links and thoughts to spur civil debate, but this is no longer happening.
We have therefore decided that we are not going to promote this kind of activity on mydesert.com. All bloggers may continue to use their blogs, and we will continue to monitor the blogs for abuse. But we will no longer help promote these types of attacks by placing them in a prominent spot on our front page or by having a specific page dedicated to bloggers. We are disappointed that we need to take these steps, but we see no better alternative.
The response from the bloggers to this information? Go to every single article posted on-line by the newspaper and write comments. Clog the website with what used to be posted on the blogs to make the point that the paper has "no right" to shut the bloggers down. One writer crowed that "we'll keep the staff so busy reading and deleting our comments" that they'll be glad to allow the blogs to return to the site!
It's the old "give an inch, take a mile" philosophy of life that I just don't get. If I allow one person to hand in one paper late once, I have to allow every student to hand in every paper late always, an application of civil rights that astounds me. I now see that same extension of entitlement applied to the bloggers: shut down our inappropriate blogs and we'll crash your paper. We don't have to grow up, employ mature judgment, realize the consequences of our actions/words beyond our own use of the "submit" button: we're just exercising our right to freedom of speech. The most egregious explanation: yes, we read the Terms of Use and hit the accept button, but the Terms don't apply to our blogs because we are bigger than the media website!
It's this thinking, this kind of action/reaction that led to the decision to shut them down, so what part of this is NOT their fault?
These posters have done nothing to enhance the communication of the news media, but have done much to malign the communities and the people who live in the Valley. Stand tall and strong, TDS, and keep the bloggers off the website.
I contacted the local newspaper and voiced my concern three separate times in the past six weeks, including my perspective that people from out of the area who read the blog postings get a skewed, racially inappropriate, homophobic, radically political picture of the Valley that ain't pretty, nor welcoming. Believe me, I was not the only one to register a protest, either in person or on-line. One new blogger began a petition last week to remove the offensive bloggers from the site, an idea that was laughed at by the more virulent bloggers who rule the blogosphere.
This afternoon, the following appeared where the blogs used to be:
We have removed the "Most Recent Reader Blogs" section on the front page of mydesert.com.
We have done this because the tone of our blogging community has become ugly and full of malicious attacks. Our intent was for readers to post links and thoughts to spur civil debate, but this is no longer happening.
We have therefore decided that we are not going to promote this kind of activity on mydesert.com. All bloggers may continue to use their blogs, and we will continue to monitor the blogs for abuse. But we will no longer help promote these types of attacks by placing them in a prominent spot on our front page or by having a specific page dedicated to bloggers. We are disappointed that we need to take these steps, but we see no better alternative.
The response from the bloggers to this information? Go to every single article posted on-line by the newspaper and write comments. Clog the website with what used to be posted on the blogs to make the point that the paper has "no right" to shut the bloggers down. One writer crowed that "we'll keep the staff so busy reading and deleting our comments" that they'll be glad to allow the blogs to return to the site!
It's the old "give an inch, take a mile" philosophy of life that I just don't get. If I allow one person to hand in one paper late once, I have to allow every student to hand in every paper late always, an application of civil rights that astounds me. I now see that same extension of entitlement applied to the bloggers: shut down our inappropriate blogs and we'll crash your paper. We don't have to grow up, employ mature judgment, realize the consequences of our actions/words beyond our own use of the "submit" button: we're just exercising our right to freedom of speech. The most egregious explanation: yes, we read the Terms of Use and hit the accept button, but the Terms don't apply to our blogs because we are bigger than the media website!
It's this thinking, this kind of action/reaction that led to the decision to shut them down, so what part of this is NOT their fault?
These posters have done nothing to enhance the communication of the news media, but have done much to malign the communities and the people who live in the Valley. Stand tall and strong, TDS, and keep the bloggers off the website.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Starting Anew or Just Going Forward?
It takes a second listen to hear what the announcer actually says: it’s not “urine” furniture sale, with which I have some familiarity, but “year end.” There is a difference between pronunciation and enunciation; in this case, we needed the enunciation.
Watching the biography of Tom Selleck was a treat: his success is due to hard work and talent, rather than being the right person in the right place at the right time. As he says, “it’s the path you take,” not where you end up that you celebrate. Tom also understands and lives the necessity for camaraderie, the bonding that strengthens the individual into an ensemble, the very quality that is so lacking in the field of education. As a matter of fact, one of the worst things that former co-stars can say is that “Tom Selleck is just too nice.”
After being outed as gay, a false accusation that Tom took to court to fight, Selleck became associated with the Character Counts coalition, an organization that realizes that the future lies with the children, many of whom are not being given a good ethical foundation. Ironically, several years later, he agreed to play a gay reporter in the movie In and Out, a challenge that many advised him not to do. He says that something about every role he takes should scare him and cause him to know not just what he’s doing in the role, but why, a philosophy we all should apply to the decisions in our own lives.
Rewatching A Few Good Men, starring both Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise, reminds me what an excellent film is. There is actually good acting throughout the film, rather than spurts of talent here and there, which seems to characterize far too many films today. Getting to the punch line, “You can’t handle the truth,” the look in Nicholson’s eyes not just sells the message, but the character. This film also convinces the viewer of the power of the pause, the silence that allows the moment to build, that creates the depth to both the story and the character that cannot be achieved with constant chatter and movement. Comparing some of the excellent films with those that are on the market now shows how low our expectations are for plot, for character, for videography, for excellence.
It’s the new year; with all that’s going on in the world, the morning talk show hosts seem to be most concerned about whether it’s twenty-ten or two-oh-ten or two thousand ten, an artificial concern that obfuscates serious issues with silliness. The bottom line is “who cares”?
For me, the new year marks another one of those milestone birthdays and a decision-making time. I still love teaching, but there comes a time when the generation gap is actually a Grand Canyon, and we all know that you cannot jump the Grand Canyon, no matter how much preparation goes into the effort. My mother always reminded me that you cannot put an old head onto young shoulders, but my head is aging more rapidly than the young shoulders! I am amazed at the constant litany of why a student cannot attend class, cannot complete the assignments, cannot, cannot, cannot. It is time for focusing on how to get it done, rather than how to get out of it.
Students seem to relate to my teaching, have come to understand my methods, my style, my high expectations, and my fierce dedication to their learning. I am easily distracted by the students who make it all about themselves, rather than the learning, and attack me for their failure to do what has to be done to pass the class. It’s so easy to understand that you get out what you put in, and if you expect to make a withdrawal from an account that has nothing in it, you’re going to be unable to do so. Yes, it’s hard work, but some of the best parts of life are a result of hard work. Far too few people are amenable to hard work these days.
We are all flawed characters in our own ways, but part of the goal of living life is to overcome the flaws. The motto for the medical profession is to do no harm, wise words that could elevate all of our lives to a better plane. In the process, maybe we can also do some good.
Watching the biography of Tom Selleck was a treat: his success is due to hard work and talent, rather than being the right person in the right place at the right time. As he says, “it’s the path you take,” not where you end up that you celebrate. Tom also understands and lives the necessity for camaraderie, the bonding that strengthens the individual into an ensemble, the very quality that is so lacking in the field of education. As a matter of fact, one of the worst things that former co-stars can say is that “Tom Selleck is just too nice.”
After being outed as gay, a false accusation that Tom took to court to fight, Selleck became associated with the Character Counts coalition, an organization that realizes that the future lies with the children, many of whom are not being given a good ethical foundation. Ironically, several years later, he agreed to play a gay reporter in the movie In and Out, a challenge that many advised him not to do. He says that something about every role he takes should scare him and cause him to know not just what he’s doing in the role, but why, a philosophy we all should apply to the decisions in our own lives.
Rewatching A Few Good Men, starring both Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise, reminds me what an excellent film is. There is actually good acting throughout the film, rather than spurts of talent here and there, which seems to characterize far too many films today. Getting to the punch line, “You can’t handle the truth,” the look in Nicholson’s eyes not just sells the message, but the character. This film also convinces the viewer of the power of the pause, the silence that allows the moment to build, that creates the depth to both the story and the character that cannot be achieved with constant chatter and movement. Comparing some of the excellent films with those that are on the market now shows how low our expectations are for plot, for character, for videography, for excellence.
It’s the new year; with all that’s going on in the world, the morning talk show hosts seem to be most concerned about whether it’s twenty-ten or two-oh-ten or two thousand ten, an artificial concern that obfuscates serious issues with silliness. The bottom line is “who cares”?
For me, the new year marks another one of those milestone birthdays and a decision-making time. I still love teaching, but there comes a time when the generation gap is actually a Grand Canyon, and we all know that you cannot jump the Grand Canyon, no matter how much preparation goes into the effort. My mother always reminded me that you cannot put an old head onto young shoulders, but my head is aging more rapidly than the young shoulders! I am amazed at the constant litany of why a student cannot attend class, cannot complete the assignments, cannot, cannot, cannot. It is time for focusing on how to get it done, rather than how to get out of it.
Students seem to relate to my teaching, have come to understand my methods, my style, my high expectations, and my fierce dedication to their learning. I am easily distracted by the students who make it all about themselves, rather than the learning, and attack me for their failure to do what has to be done to pass the class. It’s so easy to understand that you get out what you put in, and if you expect to make a withdrawal from an account that has nothing in it, you’re going to be unable to do so. Yes, it’s hard work, but some of the best parts of life are a result of hard work. Far too few people are amenable to hard work these days.
We are all flawed characters in our own ways, but part of the goal of living life is to overcome the flaws. The motto for the medical profession is to do no harm, wise words that could elevate all of our lives to a better plane. In the process, maybe we can also do some good.
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