- It really sucks for kids when they are drug from pillar to post because the adults in their lives can't get the mess together. (Thanks Susan for this one.)
- As I get older, the more comfort I take in routines. Even having to get up just a half hour earlier can throw my whole day off kilter.
- That you can make a deal with your boss that can become null and void by factors beyond either persons control.
- Finding ways to encourage more kids to read is quite a challenge, but can pay huge dividends.
- The only way I can tolerate a college basketball game being called by Dick Vitale is to turn the sound off completely.
- That I am now at the age where buying a snow blower is more important than a flat screen TV.
- That American political parties are more concerned about being in power and "right" than doing what is necessary for the country. "Right = Whatever the Leadership Tells them."
- Codicil to the previous comment, this blind loyalty to party over state is similar to what we have seen in one party nations.
- No matter how crazy and strange we think our families are, there is always someone whose family makes yours look normal.
- I am happy that I don't live in the America that is obsessed by superficiality. Substance is always more interesting.
- I am so happy that Donald Trump is now talking running for President as an Independent. He will provide us all with comic gold throughout 2012.
- The BCS is a racket. BCS Bowl games require each school to buy a set number of tickets at face value which guarantees them a tidy income stream. (In the case of the Sugar Bowl, Michigan and VT will provide a minimum of $5,250,000.) These tickets are at a minimum price of $120. While the Universities were asking their alums and booster to pay that price, tickets were available on StubHub at $51. The cheapest tickets as of 12-27 could be gotten for $18.
Friday, December 16, 2011
2011 - What I Think I've Learned
This an idea I borrowed from a friend last year, and it is time put together a list of what I think I have learned this year. The list is not all inclusive and will be compiled over several sittings, so check back between now and the end of the year.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
So This is Christmas
Here we are again at the holidays and again we hear the hue and cry from some camps about the war on Christmas. To my way of thinking, that war was long ago lost. Now Christmas consumerism runs amok, with ostentatious displays and needless focus.
We have come to the point in this country that Christmas purchases are what make or break many businesses. In short, that translates to "your excessive purchases of stuff that may not be needed is what keeps our economy afloat." My question is why. To what end does this serve us.
To hear those who decry the war on Christmas, you would think people were being persecuted for celebrating the holiday. Now I have not seen anything of the sort. In the last decade, I have seen more Christmas commercials, more decorations and less of Christ.
We seem to have lost in our haste to spend and decorate and party the importance of Christ's birth. It is the fact that God became flesh for us and was willing to sacrifice his life for us that is the greatest gift we could have been given. Instead of worrying about what what we are going to buy for Uncle Fudd and Aunt Pootie, or hoping that we get that big screen TV, we should be following the practice of our Lord and Savior. We should focus on sacrificing and living the way he has taught us to live; humbly and simply.
We have come to the point in this country that Christmas purchases are what make or break many businesses. In short, that translates to "your excessive purchases of stuff that may not be needed is what keeps our economy afloat." My question is why. To what end does this serve us.
To hear those who decry the war on Christmas, you would think people were being persecuted for celebrating the holiday. Now I have not seen anything of the sort. In the last decade, I have seen more Christmas commercials, more decorations and less of Christ.
We seem to have lost in our haste to spend and decorate and party the importance of Christ's birth. It is the fact that God became flesh for us and was willing to sacrifice his life for us that is the greatest gift we could have been given. Instead of worrying about what what we are going to buy for Uncle Fudd and Aunt Pootie, or hoping that we get that big screen TV, we should be following the practice of our Lord and Savior. We should focus on sacrificing and living the way he has taught us to live; humbly and simply.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
"The world's going crazy and no one gives a damn anymore." So wrote Ray Davies way back in 1980s. Oh if he thought that then, what he must think today. Just a sampling of the things that are crazy in just the recent weeks. We have a Presidential candidate who is being assailed about possible sexual harassment settlements. A proud university community is being rocked by a child sex abuse scandal.
I can not speak for whether these acts are as they are portrayed in the media, because they are the only sources of information we have. What troubles me is the situation of those who are the victims. What I see are two patterns emerging.
In the former scandal, the alleged victims are stifled from make statements as to the details by settlement agreements that were made with the employer in question. For them to speak out one of two things must happen. Either the other party to the settlement agreement must agree to allow the terms to be discussed, or the victim must violate a legally binding agreement and face legal sanctions. This situation leaves the alleged attacker and his supporters free to take shots at the victims their mental state, their moral character and anything else to make them look unstable, or greedy or venal.
In the latter scandal, the alleged victims are children and do not speak since the system is set up to protect their privacy. They are reported to be 10 - 12 years of age and have suffered an unimaginable physical and emotional trauma at the hands of someone who appears to have been insulated and harbored by a great institution. (We have heard this story before haven't we.) Instead of looking out for the well being of the young, the institution appears to have gone into CYA mode and looked to only protect the brand of the institution and the millions of dollars it generates annually.
The common threads that I find troubling are that institutions covering themselves and their names at the expense of those who are the victims. I also find it troubling that so far no one is speaking for the victims. The victims themselves are constrained by legal agreements or the need to protect their privacy. Luckily the accused have shown little or no ability to cast themselves in a sympathetic light.
I await the outcome of both scandals and will hope that truth comes out and those who have been responsible end up facing the appropriate punishment. The one thing that I find reassuring is that none are able to hide the truth from God and will thus be paying for their sins in eternity.
I can not speak for whether these acts are as they are portrayed in the media, because they are the only sources of information we have. What troubles me is the situation of those who are the victims. What I see are two patterns emerging.
In the former scandal, the alleged victims are stifled from make statements as to the details by settlement agreements that were made with the employer in question. For them to speak out one of two things must happen. Either the other party to the settlement agreement must agree to allow the terms to be discussed, or the victim must violate a legally binding agreement and face legal sanctions. This situation leaves the alleged attacker and his supporters free to take shots at the victims their mental state, their moral character and anything else to make them look unstable, or greedy or venal.
In the latter scandal, the alleged victims are children and do not speak since the system is set up to protect their privacy. They are reported to be 10 - 12 years of age and have suffered an unimaginable physical and emotional trauma at the hands of someone who appears to have been insulated and harbored by a great institution. (We have heard this story before haven't we.) Instead of looking out for the well being of the young, the institution appears to have gone into CYA mode and looked to only protect the brand of the institution and the millions of dollars it generates annually.
The common threads that I find troubling are that institutions covering themselves and their names at the expense of those who are the victims. I also find it troubling that so far no one is speaking for the victims. The victims themselves are constrained by legal agreements or the need to protect their privacy. Luckily the accused have shown little or no ability to cast themselves in a sympathetic light.
I await the outcome of both scandals and will hope that truth comes out and those who have been responsible end up facing the appropriate punishment. The one thing that I find reassuring is that none are able to hide the truth from God and will thus be paying for their sins in eternity.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Random Thoughts
I haven't written in a while, and just feel the need to put some ideas down. Since the blog is for me mostly, I am going to do an old fashioned brain dump. When I do this it involves just jotting down random thoughts. Their may be no common thread, and then again it just may not be visible to me right now.
- The MAC game between Toledo and Northern Illinois looks like a game where the coaches are playing the starters against the walk-ons. Great offense on both sides and no defense. 63-60, it sounds like a hoops score where both teams are playing zone and not hitting threes. But it was a football game.
- I am enjoying the Scott Westerfeld Leviathan trilogy. Good storytelling, plus an interesting premise using alternative history.
- I find political ads for the General Assembly that are premised on issues that state officials have no involvement in or control over incredibly ironic.
- It is also funny to see the prepackaged ads coming out of the Republican party that are using the exact same graphics and language to attack opponents in neighboring districts.
- All of these ad fliers don't even get read at my house, I just can them.
- I am glad that Tony LaRussa retired. He always struck me as someone who is convinced that he is the smartest person in the room. You may be, but acting like you are just makes you seem like a dick.
- LaRussa's strategy of using 112 pitchers in a game makes the game
- This fall in Southwest Virginia was possibly the most beautiful that I have ever seen. There were just tons of wow moments going up and down the road.
- It is really a treat to go someplace and observe how other people in your profession go about their business. Today I saw male teachers without ties, teachers hugging and being hugged by students, classroom doors that were not locked, buildings that anyone can walk into without having to be buzzed in by the office. None of which happens where I work.
- My recent weight loss has seemed to give me more energy.
- Playing golf for the first time in three years has whetted my appetite to play again. Even though I am still horrid.
- Is it strange that I now have a Twitter account but do not Tweet?
- Is this a compliment or an insult; a co-worker commented that we have colleagues who don't like each other, then says "I can work with you."
- Albert Pujols should just be given a minority share of the team to keep him in St. Louis.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
How 9-11 changed America
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/an-america-that-no-longer-knows-itself/2011/09/09/gIQA3ju5FK_story.html
First off, let me say that it is not my intention to re-post other folks opinions as my own. This is something I have been thinking about for the past week and I know that it will alienate some folks. So when I read Kathleen Parker's column and saw that I am not the only one who sees the impact of 9-11 in what is not a great patriotic way I decided to use it as a jumping off point for this post.
Let me say upfront that the acts of heroism that occurred on that day are never to be questioned or challenged. Selfless people stepped up that day and in the aftermath to reaffirm what makes our country great. What gave me pause then and continues to do so today is the bile and vitriol that has plagued our country since then.
As Parker states; "Simply put, it damaged our collective soul and seems to have released a free-ranging hysteria that has contaminated our interactions ever since." The hysteria and the anger we now see in our public discourse has done and continues to do more damage to America than any act Osama bin Lauden and all the twisted terrorists could have imagined.
I would never in my wildest dreams have imagined a time when what have historically been fringe opinions and tactics would litter the mainstream. In the last ten years rather than seeing America united in a common cause and working together, we have fallen into the gutter where it is de rigor to bash our President personally because you disagree with him politically. It is fashionable for political leaders to practice the politics of obstruction rather than leadership. We watch leaders and pundits playing b.s. games while we watch the rich get rich beyond the wildest dreams of Midas while the great American Middle Class is shrinking. Neither political party is without blame in this.
Much of this madness began to flourish in the aftermath of 9-11. So while I will honor those innocent souls who perished in the attack and those selfless heroes who freely walk into harms way, I will not look at the event or its aftermath as anything but a tragedy. Lives were lost that day, but more importantly dangerous forces were unleashed on our country that if not checked could lead us to further ruin.
I would only ask readers to take a moment and think about the events of the last decade before they react to what I have written. Be objective, and try to set your own bias to the side before you comment.
First off, let me say that it is not my intention to re-post other folks opinions as my own. This is something I have been thinking about for the past week and I know that it will alienate some folks. So when I read Kathleen Parker's column and saw that I am not the only one who sees the impact of 9-11 in what is not a great patriotic way I decided to use it as a jumping off point for this post.
Let me say upfront that the acts of heroism that occurred on that day are never to be questioned or challenged. Selfless people stepped up that day and in the aftermath to reaffirm what makes our country great. What gave me pause then and continues to do so today is the bile and vitriol that has plagued our country since then.
As Parker states; "Simply put, it damaged our collective soul and seems to have released a free-ranging hysteria that has contaminated our interactions ever since." The hysteria and the anger we now see in our public discourse has done and continues to do more damage to America than any act Osama bin Lauden and all the twisted terrorists could have imagined.
I would never in my wildest dreams have imagined a time when what have historically been fringe opinions and tactics would litter the mainstream. In the last ten years rather than seeing America united in a common cause and working together, we have fallen into the gutter where it is de rigor to bash our President personally because you disagree with him politically. It is fashionable for political leaders to practice the politics of obstruction rather than leadership. We watch leaders and pundits playing b.s. games while we watch the rich get rich beyond the wildest dreams of Midas while the great American Middle Class is shrinking. Neither political party is without blame in this.
Much of this madness began to flourish in the aftermath of 9-11. So while I will honor those innocent souls who perished in the attack and those selfless heroes who freely walk into harms way, I will not look at the event or its aftermath as anything but a tragedy. Lives were lost that day, but more importantly dangerous forces were unleashed on our country that if not checked could lead us to further ruin.
I would only ask readers to take a moment and think about the events of the last decade before they react to what I have written. Be objective, and try to set your own bias to the side before you comment.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Man, You Suck
Dang, it has gotten ugly in DC. Depending on which poll you look at, Congressional approval has sunk to 6 - 12 percent of Americans. Put another way, it means that 88 to 96 percent of Americans think our elected officials a doing a crappy job.
How did this sink so low? What has gone so horribly wrong? Well that is a very long story and there are no innocent parties. We have special interest groups that draft legislation that benefits them and don't address true needs of the country. We have elected officials who spend their time in DC and lose touch with their states and districts. You have officials and candidates who must kowtow to their party in order to get the funds to be a serious candidate. We have special interest groups also serving as the cash cows that fund campaigns. The mess has become a fetid swamp where everyone who enters immediately is covered with a disgusting slime that taints everything they touch.
Yeah, I know that this is ground that I have plowed before. But guess what boys and girls. I will come back to it again and again. Why? It is just that important. So you ask, OK wise guy do you have any suggestions? Yeah, I do.
Our founders never envisioned a time when Congress would be in year round session and that our "representatives" would be permanent residents of a Capital City. This circumstance has put our "representative" out of touch and out of reach from those they are supposed to serve.
We live in a technological age where major corporations, schools and individuals conduct their business without the need for in person meetings. We use electronic tools to buy, sell and trade. We go to school with people from all over the world from the comfort of our dens. So why can't Congress do the same thing.
Lets have Congress meet electronically. Each representative could have a digital studio they could go to for debate and legislative action. Committees could meet the same way. These meetings could be fed to CSPAN to be broadcast nationally.
The advantages are simple. First, representatives would once again live in the communities they serve and be more accessible to those they serve. Second, they would be away from the lobbyists and party leaders who do so much to taint the well of government.
Even though Congress does suck, and they have almost no credibility in the nation, they are necessary for solving many of the problems the nation faces. But the first thing they must do in order to play their role is to stop being part of the problem.
Confidence in our elected officials. Why we don't have any, and what can be done about it. (Less special interest, more time in State and District.) Too much adherence to party line orthodoxy.
How did this sink so low? What has gone so horribly wrong? Well that is a very long story and there are no innocent parties. We have special interest groups that draft legislation that benefits them and don't address true needs of the country. We have elected officials who spend their time in DC and lose touch with their states and districts. You have officials and candidates who must kowtow to their party in order to get the funds to be a serious candidate. We have special interest groups also serving as the cash cows that fund campaigns. The mess has become a fetid swamp where everyone who enters immediately is covered with a disgusting slime that taints everything they touch.
Yeah, I know that this is ground that I have plowed before. But guess what boys and girls. I will come back to it again and again. Why? It is just that important. So you ask, OK wise guy do you have any suggestions? Yeah, I do.
Our founders never envisioned a time when Congress would be in year round session and that our "representatives" would be permanent residents of a Capital City. This circumstance has put our "representative" out of touch and out of reach from those they are supposed to serve.
We live in a technological age where major corporations, schools and individuals conduct their business without the need for in person meetings. We use electronic tools to buy, sell and trade. We go to school with people from all over the world from the comfort of our dens. So why can't Congress do the same thing.
Lets have Congress meet electronically. Each representative could have a digital studio they could go to for debate and legislative action. Committees could meet the same way. These meetings could be fed to CSPAN to be broadcast nationally.
The advantages are simple. First, representatives would once again live in the communities they serve and be more accessible to those they serve. Second, they would be away from the lobbyists and party leaders who do so much to taint the well of government.
Even though Congress does suck, and they have almost no credibility in the nation, they are necessary for solving many of the problems the nation faces. But the first thing they must do in order to play their role is to stop being part of the problem.
Confidence in our elected officials. Why we don't have any, and what can be done about it. (Less special interest, more time in State and District.) Too much adherence to party line orthodoxy.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Passion of The Fall
I miss the show Friday Night Lights and how it showed football interwoven into the life of a small Texas town. Growing up, high school football was a big part of our fall. I can remember back to elementary school going to the games on Friday nights watching our high school heroes put on the Black and Gold and defend the honor of our town. In those days the teams weren't great, but excitement was always high. In my neighborhood we were lucky in that Gerald Turner, one of these very same heroes, lived around the corner. GT as he was known would quarterback our sandlot games. To a 10, 11, 12 year old kid this was cool beyond cool.
By the time we got to high school, our football fortunes had improved, no longer were we a 5-5 program. By my Junior year, we were a powerhouse. Not only that, but our marching band was marching 200 strong and was one of the best in the land. The combination made Fridays even more special. It all culminated in a State Championship in 1974. In those days Friday was the greatest night of the week.
Fall Friday nights still hold excitement for me. I love going to a high school game and watch the rituals I grew up with being played out communities all across America. It is a great feeling to watch young men you have known for years work hard and strive to be the best they can for the honor of their school and community. It is wonderful to know that a tradition continues and provides a thread that ties together generations and gives them all a touchstone.
So tomorrow night I will be out with 10,000+ of my friends and neighbors watching the renewal of our border rivalry. Between then and early December, I will see as many games in person as I can and watch others on TV. The bottom line for me is that high school football is part of the continuing renewal of America and the American spirit.
By the time we got to high school, our football fortunes had improved, no longer were we a 5-5 program. By my Junior year, we were a powerhouse. Not only that, but our marching band was marching 200 strong and was one of the best in the land. The combination made Fridays even more special. It all culminated in a State Championship in 1974. In those days Friday was the greatest night of the week.
Fall Friday nights still hold excitement for me. I love going to a high school game and watch the rituals I grew up with being played out communities all across America. It is a great feeling to watch young men you have known for years work hard and strive to be the best they can for the honor of their school and community. It is wonderful to know that a tradition continues and provides a thread that ties together generations and gives them all a touchstone.
So tomorrow night I will be out with 10,000+ of my friends and neighbors watching the renewal of our border rivalry. Between then and early December, I will see as many games in person as I can and watch others on TV. The bottom line for me is that high school football is part of the continuing renewal of America and the American spirit.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Music
This week two great song writers have passed away. Jerry Leiber and Nick Ashford wrote from very different places and very different styles. Leiber was the New York songsmith and a master of the pop song. Ashford wrote great Motown classics with his wife Valery Simpson. The fact that I love Leiber's "Is That All There Is?" as sung by Miss Peggy Lee, and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell is just one of the things that strikes me about my ear for music.
I have never been one of those people who just listened to a single type of music. Now that I am part of the iPod generation, this diversity of interests jumps up anytime I am in shuffle mode. Today on the way to work and back I bounced from Owl City, to Pete Townsend, to Broken Bells, to The Clash in the space of 20 minutes. I feel sure anyone riding with me might suffer from musical whiplash.
Why I became this way is something I don't know. It seems it is always been that way. I can remember in high school listening to Michael Murphy, UFO, Black Sabbath, and Emmylou Harris. To me listening to music and explaining what I like is akin to trying to explain why we like certain kinds of food. Music feeds and nourishes me in different ways just like different foods appeal to us at different times. I can no more imagine listening to the same music all the time any more than I could imagine eating fried chicken every day.
I have never been one of those people who just listened to a single type of music. Now that I am part of the iPod generation, this diversity of interests jumps up anytime I am in shuffle mode. Today on the way to work and back I bounced from Owl City, to Pete Townsend, to Broken Bells, to The Clash in the space of 20 minutes. I feel sure anyone riding with me might suffer from musical whiplash.
Why I became this way is something I don't know. It seems it is always been that way. I can remember in high school listening to Michael Murphy, UFO, Black Sabbath, and Emmylou Harris. To me listening to music and explaining what I like is akin to trying to explain why we like certain kinds of food. Music feeds and nourishes me in different ways just like different foods appeal to us at different times. I can no more imagine listening to the same music all the time any more than I could imagine eating fried chicken every day.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Showtime
Let me preface this by saying that in another life I had a job where everything you did was part of a constant process. Many times you would never see the beginning of something, or stay around long enough to see things come to a conclusion. Work was a twelve month routine, and at times you would feel like it was Groundhog Day. Oh how my current career is different.
As a teacher, you work with a group of students for 180 days to achieve goals and make sure they are ready for their next step. There is a clear beginning and a clear end of your time with those kids. It is challenging, rewarding and on most days a blast. Now don't get me wrong, I am not a Pollyanna, and this profession like others has its pitfalls and downsides, but I am not here to discuss the merits of the total profession.
Tonight, I just want to share something about the excitement that is the first days of school. First, teachers have been doing things they don't like to just get ready. That means sitting in meetings. We have oriented, we hope, our 6th graders so they can get off to a fast start. These are the necessary evils of starting the year.
Today will be different. We will have the excitement, worry and dread that can come with a new year. The kids are excited to see their friends, find out who they have classes with, and which teachers they will be stuck with for the year. The 6th graders are also facing coming to a new school and meeting new kids from other schools and facing an entirely different world.
For me, I see the day through a different lens. I see it as the start of a journey for me and the kids. My goal is to get them off to a good start. This comes from a lifetime where I have been either the new kid at school, or the new man on the job. I know that starting something new can be a scary thing, so I try to make it less so.
The other exciting thing for me is a get to meet and get to know 80 or so kids in class, and 170+ in all. It means learning likes and dislike, and finding ways to help them grow and develop as both students and people.
So in 8 hours, it is showtime and I am pumped for a new adventure. Maybe I should get some sleep.
As a teacher, you work with a group of students for 180 days to achieve goals and make sure they are ready for their next step. There is a clear beginning and a clear end of your time with those kids. It is challenging, rewarding and on most days a blast. Now don't get me wrong, I am not a Pollyanna, and this profession like others has its pitfalls and downsides, but I am not here to discuss the merits of the total profession.
Tonight, I just want to share something about the excitement that is the first days of school. First, teachers have been doing things they don't like to just get ready. That means sitting in meetings. We have oriented, we hope, our 6th graders so they can get off to a fast start. These are the necessary evils of starting the year.
Today will be different. We will have the excitement, worry and dread that can come with a new year. The kids are excited to see their friends, find out who they have classes with, and which teachers they will be stuck with for the year. The 6th graders are also facing coming to a new school and meeting new kids from other schools and facing an entirely different world.
For me, I see the day through a different lens. I see it as the start of a journey for me and the kids. My goal is to get them off to a good start. This comes from a lifetime where I have been either the new kid at school, or the new man on the job. I know that starting something new can be a scary thing, so I try to make it less so.
The other exciting thing for me is a get to meet and get to know 80 or so kids in class, and 170+ in all. It means learning likes and dislike, and finding ways to help them grow and develop as both students and people.
So in 8 hours, it is showtime and I am pumped for a new adventure. Maybe I should get some sleep.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Man Up Golfers
Maybe I am just being the crotchety old guy, but I am getting tired of hearing highly paid golfers complain about the courses in major championships. This week it seems that the sand in the bunkers is too soft and the lies make it tough to spin the ball. Now let me see if I have this right, these guys are the best in the world at what they do, major championships are supposed to test their skill and complete mastery of their profession, and everyone of them is playing the same course under fairly similar conditions. This begs the question; what is the big deal.
Most of us have faced or know someone who has face inequitable conditions in the workplace. In the real world that means someone does not have the same conditions, or opportunities to prove the abilities as others. This is not the case for pro golfers.
These guys need to just suck it up and accept that if they expect to win a major, then it will be a complete test of their physical and mental make up. If it was easy, they would not be so highly prized, and any pro could win. Majors test the mettle of the best.
Most of us have faced or know someone who has face inequitable conditions in the workplace. In the real world that means someone does not have the same conditions, or opportunities to prove the abilities as others. This is not the case for pro golfers.
These guys need to just suck it up and accept that if they expect to win a major, then it will be a complete test of their physical and mental make up. If it was easy, they would not be so highly prized, and any pro could win. Majors test the mettle of the best.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
A Timing Thing
A friend told me years ago that love is a timing thing. As time has passed, I have learned that most everything is a timing thing. The Bible says that things happen in the "fullness of time."
Think back on you own life and think about relationships that didn't work due to poor timing. Think about jobs you thought you were perfect for that just didn't work out. All of those things that didn't work out have a way of sneaking into our minds in those quiet moments when we are having doubts.
We are best off it we don't dwell, on what could have been, yet never was. The path may look idyllic in hindsight, yet it could have led to pits and traps that would have dramatically altered you and your life.
Think back on you own life and think about relationships that didn't work due to poor timing. Think about jobs you thought you were perfect for that just didn't work out. All of those things that didn't work out have a way of sneaking into our minds in those quiet moments when we are having doubts.
We are best off it we don't dwell, on what could have been, yet never was. The path may look idyllic in hindsight, yet it could have led to pits and traps that would have dramatically altered you and your life.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Congressional Vacation
Should Congress long recesses for vacations and campaigning? I know that many are of the school of thought that they should be like the rest of America and get two weeks paid vacation every year. The rest of the time they should be hard at work cleaning up the train wreck that they have created.
My personal opinion is that any time they are not in session is time when they can not do any more harm. That is probably the best thing they can do for America.
My personal opinion is that any time they are not in session is time when they can not do any more harm. That is probably the best thing they can do for America.
Old Guy Stuff
Shall we wax nostalgic. You know life has this way of sneaking up on you and then boom all of a sudden you're remembering things that happened a long time ago. Well this has been a week for that kind of thing for me.
First I took my mother to the funeral of one of her dearest friends who passed away at 92. I knew the lady from my youth. At church service prior to the afternoon funeral, one of her grandsons came up to speak and asked me if I was my brother. As I do when that happens I said "I'm the older, smarter, better looking one." On the way home, I realized that I had not spoken to him or his wife in over 30 years.
Driving back to Virginia, I commented to my wife that during the visit at my mother's that I realized that my father had been dead for 30 years. Up until then, it had not occurred to me it had been that long. Time has a way of doing that to you.
I am not one who lives in the past, but reading the posts on Facebook reminiscing about things growing up where I did have served to remind me of what a great place Murray KY was to grow up and get an education. I know just like each grandchild at the funeral on Sunday said "I had the best grandmother," many of us would say that about our hometowns. Yes we look back on our youths fondly and gloss over the unpleasant things that happened, but we can never really leave that place behind.
Since our life experiences are part and parcel of who we are; our hometown is in many ways the foundation of who and what we become. I have said in the past that playing baseball as a kid is a core part of me. In those leagues on those hot summer afternoons, we learned how to play a game that required teamwork, thinking and athletic ability. We forged relationships with guys from different parts of the community and worked toward a common goal. Just like in the "Bad News Bears," in the end everyone on the team played a role.
Schools serve the same purpose. I still clearly recall a basketball game my freshman year in high school that taught me a great life lesson. Murray was playing our arch rivals Calloway. The schools are less than two miles apart physically but in those days light years apart culturally. Murray is the city school in a university town, and Calloway was the county school in a predominantly farming community. This particular year, Murray had the weaker team and Calloway was led by the 6'8" James Wells, who went on to play D-1 basketball at Hawaii. Murray's coach chose to start Joe Resig a 6'1" senior and give him the assignment of guarding Wells. This drama played out in front of 2,000+ people in Murray's cracker box of a gym. At the end of the night, Resig had held Wells below his average and Murray pulled off a huge upset. The lesson I learned that night was that if you worked hard and as a team you could pull off miracles.
For all of the ups and downs involved in growing up where and when I did, I would not trade it for the world. My hometown, no matter how much it has changed, or the fact that many have moved away will always hold a special place in my life.
First I took my mother to the funeral of one of her dearest friends who passed away at 92. I knew the lady from my youth. At church service prior to the afternoon funeral, one of her grandsons came up to speak and asked me if I was my brother. As I do when that happens I said "I'm the older, smarter, better looking one." On the way home, I realized that I had not spoken to him or his wife in over 30 years.
Driving back to Virginia, I commented to my wife that during the visit at my mother's that I realized that my father had been dead for 30 years. Up until then, it had not occurred to me it had been that long. Time has a way of doing that to you.
I am not one who lives in the past, but reading the posts on Facebook reminiscing about things growing up where I did have served to remind me of what a great place Murray KY was to grow up and get an education. I know just like each grandchild at the funeral on Sunday said "I had the best grandmother," many of us would say that about our hometowns. Yes we look back on our youths fondly and gloss over the unpleasant things that happened, but we can never really leave that place behind.
Since our life experiences are part and parcel of who we are; our hometown is in many ways the foundation of who and what we become. I have said in the past that playing baseball as a kid is a core part of me. In those leagues on those hot summer afternoons, we learned how to play a game that required teamwork, thinking and athletic ability. We forged relationships with guys from different parts of the community and worked toward a common goal. Just like in the "Bad News Bears," in the end everyone on the team played a role.
Schools serve the same purpose. I still clearly recall a basketball game my freshman year in high school that taught me a great life lesson. Murray was playing our arch rivals Calloway. The schools are less than two miles apart physically but in those days light years apart culturally. Murray is the city school in a university town, and Calloway was the county school in a predominantly farming community. This particular year, Murray had the weaker team and Calloway was led by the 6'8" James Wells, who went on to play D-1 basketball at Hawaii. Murray's coach chose to start Joe Resig a 6'1" senior and give him the assignment of guarding Wells. This drama played out in front of 2,000+ people in Murray's cracker box of a gym. At the end of the night, Resig had held Wells below his average and Murray pulled off a huge upset. The lesson I learned that night was that if you worked hard and as a team you could pull off miracles.
For all of the ups and downs involved in growing up where and when I did, I would not trade it for the world. My hometown, no matter how much it has changed, or the fact that many have moved away will always hold a special place in my life.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Ahh, the media
As I do regularly, I am watching John Stewart and he got me to thinking about our national media yet again. I am old enough that I remember the network newscasts of Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, and Walter Cronkite who let us know what was going on in the world using experienced reporters in the field bringing facts into our living rooms every night. Serious information given in an honest way.
When CNN came along, they upped the game by focusing only on news 24 hours a day, and bringing an international view to world issues. Then came Headline News, which I particularly enjoyed because I could get all of my news, sports and weather in a half-hour any time day or not.
Those days are gone forever. Time Warner has presided over the steady decline and marginalization of CNN. They turned Headline News to HLN, which panders to the lowest most puerile stories of death of the innocent. Now CNN tries to use Twitter to get commentary, and stoop to the silliest of stories. Yeah, at times they do great reporting, and most of it is international news. Witness how they covered the protests in Tunisia, and Egypt in the spring.
MSNBC, and Fox to not provide news coverage, they just throw out commentator after pundit after talking head to repeat the networks talking points. In my opinion, they do more harm to intelligent debate then they do to provide clear information.
The average American is intelligent enough that they can be given all the facts and they would reach informed decisions on the issues. Sadly what they get is falsehoods, innuendo and distortions, making it tough to get clear information.
Fortunately the advent of the Internet, people willing to make the effort and sift through the skewed information from the left and right are able to find information to make those informed decisions. But lord have mercy it is hard.
If you are reading my blog and you think that I have a bias, well you will be right. I will never tell you that I have all the facts. I am not always right in my opinions. What you will find is that I will read any comment you post and I may choose to respond to it. I am not looking for an ongoing debate, since I long ago learned that only facts can change minds, and even that seldom succeeds. If you don't agree with me and choose to comment, I hope to learn something and will not take it personally.
Now
When CNN came along, they upped the game by focusing only on news 24 hours a day, and bringing an international view to world issues. Then came Headline News, which I particularly enjoyed because I could get all of my news, sports and weather in a half-hour any time day or not.
Those days are gone forever. Time Warner has presided over the steady decline and marginalization of CNN. They turned Headline News to HLN, which panders to the lowest most puerile stories of death of the innocent. Now CNN tries to use Twitter to get commentary, and stoop to the silliest of stories. Yeah, at times they do great reporting, and most of it is international news. Witness how they covered the protests in Tunisia, and Egypt in the spring.
MSNBC, and Fox to not provide news coverage, they just throw out commentator after pundit after talking head to repeat the networks talking points. In my opinion, they do more harm to intelligent debate then they do to provide clear information.
The average American is intelligent enough that they can be given all the facts and they would reach informed decisions on the issues. Sadly what they get is falsehoods, innuendo and distortions, making it tough to get clear information.
Fortunately the advent of the Internet, people willing to make the effort and sift through the skewed information from the left and right are able to find information to make those informed decisions. But lord have mercy it is hard.
If you are reading my blog and you think that I have a bias, well you will be right. I will never tell you that I have all the facts. I am not always right in my opinions. What you will find is that I will read any comment you post and I may choose to respond to it. I am not looking for an ongoing debate, since I long ago learned that only facts can change minds, and even that seldom succeeds. If you don't agree with me and choose to comment, I hope to learn something and will not take it personally.
Now
Monday, July 25, 2011
New Blood
It has been an interesting spring and summer around my part of the world. Two critically important jobs have been open and the excitement over who would fill them has been palpable. No, it wasn't some political position, nor was the the president of a local bank. Even though my church got a new minister, that wasn't even the big news. No, it was the hiring of football coaches for the area high schools.
Okay, before I go any further let me give you a little background about myself and the area where I live. In the beautiful mountains I call home, football is king. Tremendous pride is felt in each community when our boys take the field on Friday night. Rivalries are strong and vocal. I live in a town that shares a state line with another community. The combined population is around 15,000 folks. On the first Friday of football season 10,000-12,000 of us gather to watch the two high schools renew their rivalry. Community pride and bragging rights are on the line.
As for me, I am a self professed football junkie. I am at a high school game every Friday night and have season tickets to the nearby ACC power Virginia Tech. My wife says if East Podunk was playing West Podunk and it was on the tube I would be watching; and she is right. For the sake of clarity, I should note that I have ties to both towns where the coaching changes are taking place. I live in one and work in the other.
Both of the high school vacancies came about due to less than ideal situations. In one case the incumbent coach resigned in June after one season citing health reasons. In the other case the coach, who also served as athletic director, was not reappointed following an investigation by the school board of improprieties. That coach had been a long time assistant, and had been the head man for six years, including back to back 1-10 seasons.
Each school has a proud football past. Each has one a state championship, with one owning three. One school has had four coaches in 50+ years, the other has had 4 coaches in 10 years. Both communities have high expectations.
In small communities the question always arises will the new coach be someone already working in the school system or will they go outside and bring in new blood. The other question was would they be hiring an experienced coach or someone young an untested.
I what may have been a shock to both communities, the new coaches are coming from outside the system and both will have taken their first head coaching jobs. Both have coaching experience in college as graduate assistants. One has served as an assistant coach at a military school that has a strong post-graduate program.
It will be interesting to watch how the season progresses and watch these two new leaders as they mold and shape young men into winning teams. And yes boys and girls I will keep you updated.
Okay, before I go any further let me give you a little background about myself and the area where I live. In the beautiful mountains I call home, football is king. Tremendous pride is felt in each community when our boys take the field on Friday night. Rivalries are strong and vocal. I live in a town that shares a state line with another community. The combined population is around 15,000 folks. On the first Friday of football season 10,000-12,000 of us gather to watch the two high schools renew their rivalry. Community pride and bragging rights are on the line.
As for me, I am a self professed football junkie. I am at a high school game every Friday night and have season tickets to the nearby ACC power Virginia Tech. My wife says if East Podunk was playing West Podunk and it was on the tube I would be watching; and she is right. For the sake of clarity, I should note that I have ties to both towns where the coaching changes are taking place. I live in one and work in the other.
Both of the high school vacancies came about due to less than ideal situations. In one case the incumbent coach resigned in June after one season citing health reasons. In the other case the coach, who also served as athletic director, was not reappointed following an investigation by the school board of improprieties. That coach had been a long time assistant, and had been the head man for six years, including back to back 1-10 seasons.
Each school has a proud football past. Each has one a state championship, with one owning three. One school has had four coaches in 50+ years, the other has had 4 coaches in 10 years. Both communities have high expectations.
In small communities the question always arises will the new coach be someone already working in the school system or will they go outside and bring in new blood. The other question was would they be hiring an experienced coach or someone young an untested.
I what may have been a shock to both communities, the new coaches are coming from outside the system and both will have taken their first head coaching jobs. Both have coaching experience in college as graduate assistants. One has served as an assistant coach at a military school that has a strong post-graduate program.
It will be interesting to watch how the season progresses and watch these two new leaders as they mold and shape young men into winning teams. And yes boys and girls I will keep you updated.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Where is The Silent Majority?
In the late 1960's and early 1970'a Pres. Nixon spoke often of the Silent Majority. That was his name for those honest hard working folks who weren't in the streets letting their freak flags fly celebrating sex, drugs and rock and roll, or protesting the war in Vietnam. Nixon claimed that this constituency supported him and his administration. This group never gave Nixon control of Congress, but he did use the rhetoric to accomplish a great deal for the country; i.c. getting us out of an unpopular war, establishing diplomatic relations with China, and the easing of tensions with Russia. (Yes, I am giving this paranoiac man his props.) I leave the Watergate and all to others.
These days it seems that the only ones in the country who remain silent are those who are independent thinkers or those in our society who are voiceless. I read an interesting little story today that said that in Virginia incumbents receive 99.6% of their campaigns from business and corporate interests. That tells me who has a voice in my state.
The Supreme Court ruled that money equals speech so therefore we have all these interests pouring tons of money into every political discussion. The amount being spent on just the debt ceiling lobbying is obscene. Each interest group has huge organizations spending money to sway the electorate's opinions and those of the elected.
So my questions stands, where is the Silent Majority? I have to say, that I am a part of the Silent Majority and I am willing to bet you or others you know are too. We need to get off our duffs and make our voices heard. The solution to America's woes are not in the hands of ideologues, they are reasonable, and practical and they are found in the middle ground and not the extremes of left or right. We the Silent Majority need to step up and make our feelings known.
These days it seems that the only ones in the country who remain silent are those who are independent thinkers or those in our society who are voiceless. I read an interesting little story today that said that in Virginia incumbents receive 99.6% of their campaigns from business and corporate interests. That tells me who has a voice in my state.
The Supreme Court ruled that money equals speech so therefore we have all these interests pouring tons of money into every political discussion. The amount being spent on just the debt ceiling lobbying is obscene. Each interest group has huge organizations spending money to sway the electorate's opinions and those of the elected.
So my questions stands, where is the Silent Majority? I have to say, that I am a part of the Silent Majority and I am willing to bet you or others you know are too. We need to get off our duffs and make our voices heard. The solution to America's woes are not in the hands of ideologues, they are reasonable, and practical and they are found in the middle ground and not the extremes of left or right. We the Silent Majority need to step up and make our feelings known.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
An Old Dog Learning New Tricks
Ok, I admit that I am old. How old will remain one of life's mysteries, unless I decide to tell. Even at my age, I still enjoy learning. I hope to continue to learn until my mind gives out on me. Well, he is blathering again I hope he gets to the point, if there is one.
There is a point. This summer I started taking a series of online classes. A new experience for me. It is an asynchronous class so I work on the assignments when I want to and the way I want to. It has been a great experience for me in that I have not done this before, and the structure allows me to work when I want to, day or night.
Now for the rest of the story. The class is in preparation for completing a certification on using technology in teaching. Most of my peers would think, "no problem for him because he is so tech savvy." Or so I thought. It turns out that I am not as savvy as I can be. So I have had to work my tail off to get a handle on what I needed to do and what I need to learn to get better.
This has been an interesting experience and I have learned a great deal. It is more important as I noted in one of my class journal entries that, "I now know what I don't know, and more importantly I know where and how to learn it." As I remind my students regularly, "Ignorance can be fixed. Ignorance just means you don't know." All of us can be taught.
There is a point. This summer I started taking a series of online classes. A new experience for me. It is an asynchronous class so I work on the assignments when I want to and the way I want to. It has been a great experience for me in that I have not done this before, and the structure allows me to work when I want to, day or night.
Now for the rest of the story. The class is in preparation for completing a certification on using technology in teaching. Most of my peers would think, "no problem for him because he is so tech savvy." Or so I thought. It turns out that I am not as savvy as I can be. So I have had to work my tail off to get a handle on what I needed to do and what I need to learn to get better.
This has been an interesting experience and I have learned a great deal. It is more important as I noted in one of my class journal entries that, "I now know what I don't know, and more importantly I know where and how to learn it." As I remind my students regularly, "Ignorance can be fixed. Ignorance just means you don't know." All of us can be taught.
Where Are the Protectors of the Constitution?
I originally wrote this last fall, but after hearing Herman Cain espousing that Americans have the Constitutional right to stop a mosque from being built, I thought I would post it here.
As some of you know, I teach a little American History. The part that I teach to 6th graders deals with America's early days. As such, I know a bit about the subject. (hopefully more than the TV talking heads.) As the media driven anti-Muslim hysteria continues, I just have to speak my mind on the subject.
Many of America's first settlers truly came here to avoid religious persecution in their home lands. The Separatists (Pilgrims) came here to freely practice their faith without interference from the Puritans and the Church of England. The Puritans came seeking a place to freely practice their faith without the vestiges of the Catholic faith found in the Church of England. Their opposition led to them being persecuted in England as well.
French Huguenots came to America fleeing a religious war against them in Europe. The Quakers came to freely practice their faith, and in establishing Pennsylvania set the model for religious tolerance we find in our founding fathers. By the way, most of the founding fathers were Deists. A deist beliefs in God, but does not belong to a religious denomination.
The bottom line is that the Freedom of Religion established in the Constitution guarantees all Americans the right to freely practice their faith, and prohibits the Government from establishing a national religion.
As some of you know, I teach a little American History. The part that I teach to 6th graders deals with America's early days. As such, I know a bit about the subject. (hopefully more than the TV talking heads.) As the media driven anti-Muslim hysteria continues, I just have to speak my mind on the subject.
Many of America's first settlers truly came here to avoid religious persecution in their home lands. The Separatists (Pilgrims) came here to freely practice their faith without interference from the Puritans and the Church of England. The Puritans came seeking a place to freely practice their faith without the vestiges of the Catholic faith found in the Church of England. Their opposition led to them being persecuted in England as well.
French Huguenots came to America fleeing a religious war against them in Europe. The Quakers came to freely practice their faith, and in establishing Pennsylvania set the model for religious tolerance we find in our founding fathers. By the way, most of the founding fathers were Deists. A deist beliefs in God, but does not belong to a religious denomination.
The bottom line is that the Freedom of Religion established in the Constitution guarantees all Americans the right to freely practice their faith, and prohibits the Government from establishing a national religion.
What is a Debt Ceiling
I post this for my friends who are curious about what the Debt Ceiling does.
Maybe they need to go back to the old method where Congress approved the borrowing necessary to pay for each appropriation they make. Then they, and we would know what is being borrowed for and what is not. That boys and girls would bring accountability to each and every elected official.
"As the Government Accountability Office puts it in its useful primer on government debt:So basically the Debt Ceiling is nothing at all like a Credit Limit on a credit card which actually keeps you from buying more. Congress buys the stuff and authorizes debt when they appropriate the funds upon approval of a bill. Then when the debt ceiling is reached the Administration no longer is able to pay the bills.
“The debt limit does not control or limit the ability of the federal government to run deficits or incur obligations. Rather, it is a limit on the ability to pay obligations already incurred. While debates surrounding the debt limit may raise awareness about the federal government's current debt trajectory and may also provide Congress with an opportunity to debate the fiscal policy decisions driving that trajectory, the ability to have an immediate effect on debt levels is limited.” "
Maybe they need to go back to the old method where Congress approved the borrowing necessary to pay for each appropriation they make. Then they, and we would know what is being borrowed for and what is not. That boys and girls would bring accountability to each and every elected official.
Why Am I Doing This?
That is the question I have been asking myself as I start this. Is there an answer? I am not sure yet, check back and maybe we will all find out.
Writing is nothing new for me, I have always written. Most of my writing has been to just empty my mind and to clarify what I may be thinking on a subject. If you follow this the only promise I will make is that I will say what I think. I have not worried about what others may think for many years. Some things will be very personal. Some will just be random observations on this or that.
In the end, you may learn something or I will.
Writing is nothing new for me, I have always written. Most of my writing has been to just empty my mind and to clarify what I may be thinking on a subject. If you follow this the only promise I will make is that I will say what I think. I have not worried about what others may think for many years. Some things will be very personal. Some will just be random observations on this or that.
In the end, you may learn something or I will.
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