All day yesterday kids and teacher’s came up to me in the hall asking if I had voted, who I was voting for, when I was going to vote. Sometimes I enjoy talking about politics with people. This year has been a good year for debate and discussion since it is in the forefront of so many people’s minds. Statistics are clear that this year has seen the largest ratings for debates, likely because people want to hear more from the candidates and less from the news reporters who put their own spin on subjects.
I love that people are actually caring about the government and the future of this nation.
But, I also love when people look into issues and learn what people really believe.
Young people in the school, typically, do not do any sort of research on candidates. This can be seen even as little as 5 years old. Little kids say they support so-and-so just because they have heard their parents spew their views on that person. Older kids are the same way. They tend to like a candidate because a celebrity, a teacher, a friend, a parent likes that person. Or it could be the opposite.
Most people in this country do not look into the character and the issues that a candidate supports.
I don’t want to influence a student to like someone without looking into issues. I don’t even like discussing the candidates with a student unless they have done some searching on their own and have a solid reason for why they are backing a person running for office.
I know it is my job to help influence students, but I don’t want to do it by making up their minds about candidates for them. I want to influence them by having them learn to make decisions on their own, based on sound evidence.
Also, this whole voting thing kind of sucks. I feel as though I have to vote for certain people just because they are the front runners even though the people who have my wants and needs in mind are on the ballot. A man like Kucinich is really more of a person that EVERYONE should be voting for. But because he does not have the money or the public backing, no one is listing to him. No one is paying attention to the issues and concerns that he is bringing up – issues and concerns that affect all people in this country. Questions about how the country will work, solutions as to how to make sure that all people benefit from living here, solutions to make the environment better, and more.
But I can’t vote for him.
I have to chose the second best choice in order to make sure that the third best choice does not get the party nomination.
The whole process sucks.
But yeah for people caring.
If you are voting without knowing the issues check out these sites (thanks to KBOs link to Jaelithe)
* Electoral Compass
* Candidate Match Game
06 February 2008
02 February 2008
Phil saw his shadow
Never really understood the idea of Ground Hog's Day.
What the hell. Who decided that a stupid, ugly little animal could predict weather?
And is it really predicting anything? From what I remember, if he sees his shadow, there are 6 more weeks of winter. And if he doesn't see his shadow, then spring will start in 6 weeks.
Someone help me understand the difference.
KBO went with some friends to see Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania. There are some big festivities involved. The partying sounds like fun, but I cannot support the whole idea of this day.
And if we are relying on a hog, why is the date for the start of spring always marked ahead of time on the calendar?
I cannot fully understand how it all could have even started. Seriously.
Who got together during the winter, sat around their home-brewed moonshine and decided that to figure out the weather and know when they could start to plant their seeds in the ground all they had to do was find this animal in his den and see if he saw his shadow when he popped out of the whole early on the morning of February 2nd? And why would they pick that day? And why that animal?
Maybe they were on more than moonshine. Opiates, perhaps.
What the hell. Who decided that a stupid, ugly little animal could predict weather?
And is it really predicting anything? From what I remember, if he sees his shadow, there are 6 more weeks of winter. And if he doesn't see his shadow, then spring will start in 6 weeks.
Someone help me understand the difference.
KBO went with some friends to see Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania. There are some big festivities involved. The partying sounds like fun, but I cannot support the whole idea of this day.
And if we are relying on a hog, why is the date for the start of spring always marked ahead of time on the calendar?
I cannot fully understand how it all could have even started. Seriously.
Who got together during the winter, sat around their home-brewed moonshine and decided that to figure out the weather and know when they could start to plant their seeds in the ground all they had to do was find this animal in his den and see if he saw his shadow when he popped out of the whole early on the morning of February 2nd? And why would they pick that day? And why that animal?
Maybe they were on more than moonshine. Opiates, perhaps.
A future (and present) leader
Some days I am really discouraged by high school aged people. They just don't seem to have a focus, or a care about anything.
Thursday at school, though, I experienced a glimmer of hope that really brightened my day.
Thursday was "I'm so hood" Day. Even when I first heard of the name for that day, I was appalled and confused. What the hell does that mean? And what does that say we are trying to promote among the students? Why do we constantly tell them to pull their pants up and not show us their grimy underwear every day, and yet suddenly allow them to dress in that manner with no repercussions? Why do we perpetuate a stereotype of black people and suddenly allow all the races to feed into, and satirize that stereotype? A stereotype that for some is not seen as such, but as the truth. Why is it ok for them to have a "I'm so hood" day, but it is considered offensive to have a black-face day, or a mammy day?
Lots of questions. Lots of animosity. Lots of just feeling sick to my stomach from the moment I walked into school at 7:15.
I talked with a few students about the whole day and what it meant to them. One of them was truly offended. And the fact that he was so appalled really touched me and helped me to understand him and appreciate him more. I've worked with him through track and in class since he was a freshman, yet never got the impression that he cared about anything like this. Granted, he never wears his clothes too big, and throughout the end of last year and all of this year, he has been carrying himself differently, but it was still awesome to hear him voice his concerns.
We talked. I let him vent. Then I explained how I felt about it all. How it is all something continually perpetuated in the society in which we live.
I saw him questioning people about how they were dressed that day. I loved it. Hopefully he will continue to spread his messages to the other youth he encounters.
I look forward to more intelligent conversations with this person and with other young people at the school.
Thursday at school, though, I experienced a glimmer of hope that really brightened my day.
Thursday was "I'm so hood" Day. Even when I first heard of the name for that day, I was appalled and confused. What the hell does that mean? And what does that say we are trying to promote among the students? Why do we constantly tell them to pull their pants up and not show us their grimy underwear every day, and yet suddenly allow them to dress in that manner with no repercussions? Why do we perpetuate a stereotype of black people and suddenly allow all the races to feed into, and satirize that stereotype? A stereotype that for some is not seen as such, but as the truth. Why is it ok for them to have a "I'm so hood" day, but it is considered offensive to have a black-face day, or a mammy day?
Lots of questions. Lots of animosity. Lots of just feeling sick to my stomach from the moment I walked into school at 7:15.
I talked with a few students about the whole day and what it meant to them. One of them was truly offended. And the fact that he was so appalled really touched me and helped me to understand him and appreciate him more. I've worked with him through track and in class since he was a freshman, yet never got the impression that he cared about anything like this. Granted, he never wears his clothes too big, and throughout the end of last year and all of this year, he has been carrying himself differently, but it was still awesome to hear him voice his concerns.
We talked. I let him vent. Then I explained how I felt about it all. How it is all something continually perpetuated in the society in which we live.
I saw him questioning people about how they were dressed that day. I loved it. Hopefully he will continue to spread his messages to the other youth he encounters.
I look forward to more intelligent conversations with this person and with other young people at the school.
29 January 2008
Fact check?
I tried to listen to the State of the Union Address last night. Unfortunately, when I hear his voice I cringe and have to change the channel. Merely the sound annoys me. I did however toast to this being the last one.
This morning on the way to school I caught up with the BS he spewed over some NPR.
Check out their Fact Checking of the Speech. The big guy said a lot of stuff that a lot of people will believe unless they look at the facts. List list of topics is down a bit but includes the areas he touted as doing really well in this nation -- such as education, the economy, and climate change.
I know, just hearing those words would not lead someone to believe that they were applauded as currently doing well, but we aren't the ones giving the speech, right. His writers can really make anything look good. Especially when they have him talk without giving data or without talking about the negative things.
This morning on the way to school I caught up with the BS he spewed over some NPR.
Check out their Fact Checking of the Speech. The big guy said a lot of stuff that a lot of people will believe unless they look at the facts. List list of topics is down a bit but includes the areas he touted as doing really well in this nation -- such as education, the economy, and climate change.
I know, just hearing those words would not lead someone to believe that they were applauded as currently doing well, but we aren't the ones giving the speech, right. His writers can really make anything look good. Especially when they have him talk without giving data or without talking about the negative things.
23 January 2008
Amazing!!!
Just finished Weeds Season Two. Awesome. Crazy cliff hanger. Can't wait for season three to come out. You really have to love a show that has a lady pull up next to a jeep, in a hoopty, and blasts The World, from PRI. By the way you should listen to the weather in Yakutsk that they talked about yesterday on the show. Gets down lower than -49F. So cold that your medal glasses frames could pull of the skin on your cheeks and ears.
Now I can hopefully get to bed earlier. And maybe be more productive in the night time.
At least until the latest season of Curb Your Enthusiasm comes out next week. There's just something about that show that makes me laugh. Perhaps it is his super sloppy way of dress, or his super dry humor, or his ability to get himself into some really crazy situations.
Now I can hopefully get to bed earlier. And maybe be more productive in the night time.
At least until the latest season of Curb Your Enthusiasm comes out next week. There's just something about that show that makes me laugh. Perhaps it is his super sloppy way of dress, or his super dry humor, or his ability to get himself into some really crazy situations.
22 January 2008
Immunity, hens, and sisters
I have a good immune system. I rarely get sick. Even with all the nasty, stank kids I am around all the time, I manage to wash my hands often, turn my head away from their sneezes, and straight arm them away if they get to close when they are ill. But I have been sick before. In college I had mono. But I guess it wasn't too bad; I managed to continue running track the whole time - even had some of the best times of that indoor season - of course the coach was not too happy to find out I had been running the whole time, but she didn't find out until I was fully recovered and knew she would not sit me out. I had to stay home from school a couple years ago due to major migraines. I think I even left early one of those days, and missed track practice, which many times in the spring, is the highlight of the day -- standing outside in the sun, often having a lot of laughs with coaches and athletes.
But no time when I have been sick have my parents come to visit me with bags full of food.
Sunday the parents went down to Cape to see Kid Sis III. She was sick with some kind of cold a large part of last week. Missed her track meet on Saturday.
A cold. Maybe the flu.
The parents packed up their stuff, my other sister, some good, home cooked food and went down there.
I must admit, that for the better part of the morning, when I thought about it, I was a bit peeved about the whole situation. It always seems that the parents are more into stuff going on with the younger kiddos. Rarely bothers me, since I really don't need any one all in my non-platinum grill, but it's the thought that counts.
Well, all changed when I talked with the non-sick sister as she was sitting in the apartment of sick-sister. I was a bit upset that she wouldn't be back in time to see The Kite Runner movie with me, though maybe it was a sign that another mad man would have attacked us in the lot, or in the stairway on the way to the lot. But then she said that the parents had stopped off at Wal-Mart on the way down and picked up a ton of frozen stewing hens.
Let me tell you about my mother and her hens. Once a year my parents head to the Lake for a week long vacation. They fill the entire back of the car with stewing hens on the way back. She has bought an extra freezer (totaling three refrigerating devices in their house) for the basement because of the stewing hens. I don't know when the last time there has been adequate room for some ice cream or the old school freeze pops in the freezer because of some stewing hens. For whatever reason, they can never find those birds in the surrounding area, and therefore it is a once-a-year mad rush to get as many as possible. They even have to call in about a week in advance to make sure the store in the area has enough for her to fill her yearly binge.
I guess it might be a bit terrible that I was happy to hear that the trip to Cape was not just to see the ailing sister. Perhaps it's that old school sibling rivalry picking back up in me. But it really made me happy that perhaps there was an ulterior motive; that maybe it wasn't all compassion for the youngest sibling - their little baby, the cause of their empty-nesting.
I laughed out loud. I got said sis on the phone and made sure she understood what was really going on. I called other sister to make sure she knew as well. All the well sisters enjoyed a good laugh at the little one's expense. Fortunately, she also found the situation funny.
But no time when I have been sick have my parents come to visit me with bags full of food.
Sunday the parents went down to Cape to see Kid Sis III. She was sick with some kind of cold a large part of last week. Missed her track meet on Saturday.
A cold. Maybe the flu.
The parents packed up their stuff, my other sister, some good, home cooked food and went down there.
I must admit, that for the better part of the morning, when I thought about it, I was a bit peeved about the whole situation. It always seems that the parents are more into stuff going on with the younger kiddos. Rarely bothers me, since I really don't need any one all in my non-platinum grill, but it's the thought that counts.
Well, all changed when I talked with the non-sick sister as she was sitting in the apartment of sick-sister. I was a bit upset that she wouldn't be back in time to see The Kite Runner movie with me, though maybe it was a sign that another mad man would have attacked us in the lot, or in the stairway on the way to the lot. But then she said that the parents had stopped off at Wal-Mart on the way down and picked up a ton of frozen stewing hens.
Let me tell you about my mother and her hens. Once a year my parents head to the Lake for a week long vacation. They fill the entire back of the car with stewing hens on the way back. She has bought an extra freezer (totaling three refrigerating devices in their house) for the basement because of the stewing hens. I don't know when the last time there has been adequate room for some ice cream or the old school freeze pops in the freezer because of some stewing hens. For whatever reason, they can never find those birds in the surrounding area, and therefore it is a once-a-year mad rush to get as many as possible. They even have to call in about a week in advance to make sure the store in the area has enough for her to fill her yearly binge.
I guess it might be a bit terrible that I was happy to hear that the trip to Cape was not just to see the ailing sister. Perhaps it's that old school sibling rivalry picking back up in me. But it really made me happy that perhaps there was an ulterior motive; that maybe it wasn't all compassion for the youngest sibling - their little baby, the cause of their empty-nesting.
I laughed out loud. I got said sis on the phone and made sure she understood what was really going on. I called other sister to make sure she knew as well. All the well sisters enjoyed a good laugh at the little one's expense. Fortunately, she also found the situation funny.
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