Wisdom Never Ages: The Ten Cannots

In these times, it is interesting to hear wise insight from a voice of the 19th century: that of William J.H. Boetcker. A German immigrant, he became a Presbyterian minister in the U.S. and became known for his eloquent and motivating speeches and writings.

He is best known for "The Ten Cannots," frequently falsely attributed to Abraham Lincoln:

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.

You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.

You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence.

And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.

[Hmmmm ... maybe if we hand this to Obama, telling him that Lincoln wrote it, maybe Obama might consider some of these principles ... Just hopin' for change, you know.]

Office Dynamics: The Triple Talker

Gradually, I've come to realize that there are some individuals who use up way too much oxygen, time and others' patience in expressing their opinions. It's not their opinion per se that I have a problem with, but rather how they have to express the same idea three different ways. There is no list of points and counterpoints used to make a person's case. Instead, it's basically a thesaurus-like answer, expounding on the same thought ad nauseum.

The "Triple Talker" seems to be one of these individuals that, first of all, is really into feelings and has the need to make sure you know about his or her feelings. I guess you could say they're a bit of an "emo" to begin with. Or, as a fellow teacher calls them, they're a bit of a "LAM" -- "Look At Me! Look At Me!"

I have a colleague who has said on several occasions that "feelings are real." This is true, but one must also be careful to not allow emotions to get the best of us. They must be balanced with reason. My colleague is a prime example upon whom I have based my impromptu "study" of Triple Talkers. She is a hypochondriac who is also easily offended and frightened. So, her feelings are frequently aired. Based on her and other "triple talkers" I know, my "study" shows that being a bit of a hypochondriac and/or a Drama Queen seems to go hand-in-hand with the Triple Talker's quirkiness.

Allow me to give you a sample discourse of a Triple Talker. Picture a department meeting where a simple point is up for discussion. For example, here's a fairly harmless and non-controversial topic -- "Shall we switch from regular to decaf coffee?" The average person will simply state his preference, maybe following up with a quick reason why. However, the Triple Talker will give an opinion, and then belabor the point. Let's contrast them:

Boss: "Shall we switch from regular to decaf coffee?"

Efficient Talker: "I vote for decaf. I've been rather stressed lately, so it might help me calm down."

Triple Talker: "If we truly need to change the type of coffee we're presently using, assuming that's OK with everyone, because we don't want anyone feeling left out of this decision-making process, because we're a democracy, you know ... It's just that, personally ... now, I'm saying anyone else has to feel the same way I do ... it's just that I feel as if switching to decaf could open us up to some other potential problems. They say that decaf coffee uses a process that could contain carcinogenic chemicals, and that's very scary. There are so many things in our environment these days that it makes you wonder if there's a connection. I mean, if I drink decaf coffee, will I die? Will I get cancer? Could I possibly pass on cancer to my children? Cancer -- that's scary. I dunno. That's what I feel. Will we be opening ourselves up to cancer? I just don't know if I can make that decision for everyone else ...."

And, of course, the Triple Talker continues on a bit longer, perhaps giving an actual opinion or decision, but belaboring the point so pitbull-like that the rest of the department members are reduced to immature eye-rolling and sighing, worrying that they might get cancer just from Triple Talker's never-ending, inane diatribe, silently screaming inside "Just make your friggin' point and move on!!! Gaaaawwd!!!"

So, what can a person do when caught up in the vortex of a Triple Talker's "LAM discourse?" I would suggest executing a quick, smooth interruption into TT's stream of conscientiousness with a quick validation of TT's feelings (that should give them a momentary rush of glee), and stealthily swerve the conversation back to its original point and focus. For example: "Gee, TT, I know what you mean about that cancer scary part about decaf coffee, but maybe if we look at it from the idea of ..." AND JUST KEEP GOING! Steer that car back onto the road, maybe deftly throwing the discussion ball back into Efficient Talker's court. Hopefully, he'll pick up on the pass as sharply as the best high school forward and run like mad towards the discussion's basket and slam dunk a point that will force the department decision -- no overtime required!!

St. Louis Tea Party! Taxpayers Starting to Revolt Against Stimulus

KMOV Channel 4 here in St. Louis is reporting about a Tea Party protest this Friday at the foot of the St. Louis Arch at 11:00.

From the station's website (click on above link for video of the story):

(KMOV)-- Those upset with the stimulus bill are preparing a Boston Tea Party of sorts.

The taxpayer 'Revolt' is set for Friday at 11 a.m. on the steps to the Arch on Wharf Street.

This St. Louis Tea Party is one of many planned around the country and it all started with an anchor's rant on the business network CNBC.

Check out Hennessy's View, the blogger who has organized this.

I think we need to have Tea Parties nationwide ... and then start pushing for recalling our politicians!!!!

The American Form of Government: A Necessary Review

A lesson we and our "leaders" would be smart to review ... political ideologies, such as a monarchy, oligarchy, democracy, republic, or anarchy. Our founding fathers made us a republic and not a democracy. A republic limits government power and leaves the people alone. With limited government, the people are free to produce and allowed to keep the fruits of their labor.

"The Founders did everything thing they could to keep us from having a Democracy."

"The essence of freedom is the proper limitation of government."

"When government grows, people's freedom recede."

"Thus democracy itself is not a stable form of government. Instead it is the gradual transition from limited government to the unlimited rule of an oligarchy."

"We can keep our Republic, or we will inevitably end up with an Oligarchy: a tyranny of the elite." -- Benjamin Franklin

Obama: Already The "Worst President Ever?"

Flopping Aces has a great post about Obama being 'the worst president ever,' assering that Obama has accomplished in 4 weeks what took Bush 8 years to do.

He takes Bush’s position on warrantless wiretaps
He hires cronies for political appointments
He increases the deficit by a trillion or more (and that’s just his first month!)
He stops giving detainees trials
He hasn’t closed Gitmo (issued an order to try, but Bush tried too)
He will still do renditions
He wrote caveats into his own Exec Orders to still allow for torture like water-boarding
He put a guy in charge at CIA who admits to doing 60-80 renditions HIMSELF
He sent 17,000 Americans to Afghanistan with no plan and no timeline for withdrawal
He has not ordered the withdrawal from Iraq in 16 months (cause its not possible to speed up the withdrawal Bush started)
He ignored millions of Americans devastated by an ice storm in Tennesee, W Virginia, and Kentucky
He has NOT HELPED the economy one bit
He has no plan to solve even a single challenge facing his admin

Oh well, at least he has a D next to his name and can read a teleprompter

WORST PRESIDENT EVER

Now, I will say Flopping Aces' criticism of Obama on not helping the economy one bit is lame -- he's only been in office for a month. No one can effect change that quickly, and it seems like things will remain tough for some time. But, Obama's and the Dems' crazy "stimulus package" will have such far-reaching consequences ... it's mind-staggering!

Obama: ShamWow!!

Found this over at Babalu Blog ...

Gitmo & Bagram: Sanity Prevails and Bush Upheld

There were two interesting developments over the weekend that shows Obama is beginning to see the light with regards to the War On Terror and Bush's position on prisoners of war: namely those of Gitmo and Bagram.

First, the Obama administration is siding with Bush's with regards to the prisoners held at Bagram Airforce Base in Afghanistan. Obama agrees that these detainees do not have any constitutional rights. Here's the AP story from Friday (emphasis added):

Obama Backs Bush Stance on Bagram Prisoners

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama sided with the Bush administration Friday, saying detainees in Afghanistan have no constitutional rights.

In a two-sentence court filing, the Justice Department said it agreed that detainees at Bagram Airfield cannot use U.S. courts to challenge their detention. The filing shocked human rights attorneys.

"The hope we all had in President Obama to lead us on a different path has not turned out as we'd hoped," said Tina Monshipour Foster, a human rights attorney representing a detainee at the Bagram Airfield. "We all expected better."

The Supreme Court last summer gave al-Qaida and Taliban suspects held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the right to challenge their detention. With about 600 detainees at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and thousands more held in Iraq, courts are grappling with whether they, too, can sue to be released.

After Obama took office, a federal judge in Washington gave the new administration a month to decide whether it wanted to stand by Bush's legal argument. Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd says the filing speaks for itself.

"They've now embraced the Bush policy that you can create prisons outside the law," said Jonathan Hafetz, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who has represented several detainees.

The Justice Department argues that Bagram is different from Guantanamo Bay because it is in an overseas war zone and the prisoners there are being held as part of an ongoing military action. The government argues that releasing enemy combatants into the Afghan war zone, or even diverting U.S. personnel there to consider their legal cases, could threaten security.

Then, on Saturday The Washington Post reported that a Pentagon committee reviewed the treatment of the Guantanamo prisoners and found that the conditions and treatment met within the guidelines of the Geneva Convention. Here is the story from reporters Peter Finn and Del Quentin Wilber (emphasis added):

Pentagon Review Finds Guantanamo Detainees' Treatment Legal

A Pentagon review of conditions at the Guantanamo Bay military prison has concluded that the treatment of detainees meets the requirements of the Geneva Conventions but that prisoners in the highest-security camps should be allowed more religious and social interaction, according to a government official who has read the 85-page document.

The report, which President Obama ordered, was prepared by Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, the vice chief of naval operations, and has been delivered to the White House. Obama requested the review as part of an executive order on the planned closure of the prison at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, on the southeastern tip of Cuba.

Another aspect of the closure -- what to do with the approximately 245 detainees -- will be considered by an interagency task force, and yesterday the Justice Department announced the head of that group: Matthew G. Olsen, a 12-year career prosecutor and acting assistant attorney general for national security.

Review teams will examine each detainee's case and report to Olsen, who will make recommendations to senior officials from Justice and other agencies, including the departments of State and Defense and the CIA. Those officials will make the final decision on each prisoner.

"The Task Force will consider whether it is possible to transfer or release detained individuals consistent with the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States; evaluate whether the government should seek to prosecute detained individuals for crimes they may have committed; and, if none of those options are possible, the Task Force will recommend other lawful means for disposition of the detained individuals," the Justice Department said in a statement.

Defense attorneys for the detainees have complained bitterly about the isolation of some prisoners. They allege that over several years, it has led to mental problems for some detainees. The lawyers also have criticized the force-feeding of prisoners on hunger strike. About 40 prisoners are now on hunger strike, according to Pentagon officials.

Walsh concluded that force-feeding, which involves strapping detainees to special chairs and inserting a tube through one nostril and into their stomachs, is in compliance with the Geneva Conventions' mandate that the lives of prisoners be preserved, according to the government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the report publicly.

Walsh also found that prisoners should be allowed more communal recreation and prayer time. Prisoners in Camp 6 and the highly secret Camp 7 -- which holds such high-value detainees as Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed organizer of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks -- can be held in windowless cells for up to 22 hours a day.

Walsh said the most isolated prisoners, including those in Camp 7, should be allowed to pray and have recess together in rotating groups of at least three for more extended periods of time.

Walsh's report was a broad endorsement of the Pentagon's management of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, and it urged prison authorities to continue efforts across the system to maximize the ability of the detainees to socialize and practice their religion, according to the government official. "Continue to avoid actions that are disrespectful to the detainees," Walsh wrote.

Civil liberties groups, including the Center for Constitutional Rights, which is about to issue a report on conditions at the prison, challenged Walsh's findings.

"We do think conditions are in violation of U.S. obligations to treat prisoners humanely, and prisoners are at a physical and mental breaking point," said Pardiss Kebriaei, a staff lawyer at the center. "These are not the conclusions we had hoped for under Obama. It's very disappointing."

The article continues with the civil liberties groups' concerns and arguments, as well as an explanation about the different "camps" or security levels for the prisoners.

One question that keeps running from my mind: How do Bagram and Guantanamo truly differ? Neither prison is on U.S. soil. They both hold "enemy combatants." I wonder how much longer before it is decided that the Guantanamo needs to stay as it is.

Tiger Woods' Speech At Inauguration: Praise For Our Military

Here is Tiger Woods' two-minute tribute to our military at President Obama's inauguration. (Interestingly, he makes no mention of Obama ...)

"I grew up in a military family - and my role models in life were my Mom and Dad, Lt. Colonel Earl Woods. My dad was a Special Forces operator and many nights friends would visit our home. They represented every branch of the service, and every rank. In my Dad, and in those guests, I saw first hand the dedication and commitment of those who serve. They come from every walk of life.

"From every part of our country. Time and again, across generations, they have defended our safety in the dark of night and far from home. Each day -- and particularly on this historic day -- we honor the men and women in uniform who serve our country and protect our freedom. They travel to the dangerous corners of the world, and we must remember that for every person who is in uniform, there are families who wait for them to come home safely.I am honored that the military is such an important part, not just of my personal life, but of my professional one as well. The golf tournament we do each year here in Washington is a testament to those unsung heroes. I am the son of a man who dedicated his life to his country, family and the military, and I am a better person for it.

"In the summer of 1864, Abraham Lincoln, the man at whose memorial we stand, spoke to the 164th Ohio Regiment and said: 'I am greatly obliged to you, and to all who have come forward at the call of their country.' Just as they have stood tall for our country - we must always stand by and support the men and women in uniform and their families.

Thank you, and it is now my pleasure to introduce the US Naval Glee Club."

No words of praise for Obamessiah? Interesting ... But, what a wonderful tribute Woods paid to our armed forces. How great that he did not allow them to be forgotten, because they make our democracy possible.

Democrats Cause Dependence

The photo captures a disturbing trend that is beginning to affect U.S. wildlife.

Animals that were formerly self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democratic Party, as they have apparently learned to just sit and wait for the government to step in and provide for their care and sustenance.

The 11 Most Expensive Catastrophes in History

[I can't really vouch for the accuracy of these figures nor the piece's author, but the overall message is quite compelling ... and scary! Thanks, M!]

# 11. Titanic - $150 Million

The sinking of the Titanic is possibly the most famous accident in the world. But it barely makes our list of top 10 most expensive. On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage and was considered to be the most luxurious ocean liner ever built. Over 1,500 people lost their lives when the ship ran into an iceberg and sunk in frigid waters. The ship cost $7 million to build ($150 million in today ' s dollars).

# 10. Tanker Truck vs Bridge - $358 Million

On August 26, 2004, a car collided with a tanker truck containing 32,000 liters of fuel on the Wiehltal Bridge in Germany . The tanker crashed through the guardrail and fell 90 feet off the A4 Autobahn resulting in a huge explosion and fire which destroyed the load-bearing ability of the bridge. Temporary repairs cost $40 million and the cost to replace the bridge is estimated at $318 Million.

# 9. MetroLink Crash - $500 Million

On September 12, 2008, in what was one of the worst train crashes in California history, 25 people were killed when a Metrolink commuter train crashed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train in Los Angeles . It is thought that the Metrolink train may have run through a red signal while the conductor was busy text messaging.. Wrongful death lawsuits are expected to cause $500 million in losses for Metrolink.

# 8. B-2 Bomber Crash - $1.4 Billion

Here we have our first billion dollar accident (and we ' re only #7 on the list). This B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after taking off from an air base in Guam on February 23, 2008. Investigators blamed distorted data in the flight control computers caused by moisture in the system. This resulted in the aircraft making a sudden nose-up move which made the B-2 stall and crash. This was 1 of only 21 ever built and was the most expensive aviation accident in history. Both pilots were able to eject to safety.

# 7. Exxon Valdez - $2.5 Billion

The Exxon Valdez oil spill was not a large one in relation to the world ' s biggest oil spills, but it was a costly one due to the remote location of Prince William Sound (accessible only by helicopter and boat). On March 24, 1989, 10.8 million gallons of oil was spilled when the ship ' s master, Joseph Hazelwood, left the controls and the ship crashed into a Reef. The cleanup cost Exxon $2.5 billion.

# 6. Piper Alpha Oil Rig - $3.4 Billion

The world ' s worst off-shore oil disaster. At one time, it was the world ' s single largest oil producer, spewing out 317,000 barrels of oil per day. On July 6, 1988, as part of routine maintenance, technicians removed and checked safety valves which were essential in preventing dangerous build-up of liquid gas. There were 100 identical safety valves which were checked. Unfortunately, the technicians made a mistake and forgot to replace one of them. At 10 PM that same night, a technician pressed a start button for the liquid gas pumps and the world ' s most expensive oil rig accident was set in motion.

Within 2 hours, the 300 foot platform was engulfed in flames. It eventually collapsed, killing 167 workers and resulting in $3.4 Billion in damages.

# 5. Challenger Explosion - $5.5 Billion

The Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed 73 seconds after takeoff due on January 28, 1986 due to a faulty O-ring. It failed to seal one of the joints, allowing pressurized gas to reach the outside. This in turn caused the external tank to dump its payload of liquid hydrogen causing a massive explosion. The cost of replacing the Space Shuttle was $2 billion in 1986 ($4.5 billion in today ' s dollars). The cost of investigation, problem correction, and replacement of lost equipment cost $450 million from 1986-1987 ($1 Billion in today ' s dollars).

# 4. Prestige Oil Spill - $12 Billion

On November 13, 2002, the Prestige oil tanker was carrying 77,000 tons of heavy fuel oil when one of its twelve tanks burst during a storm off Galicia , Spain . Fearing that the ship would sink, the captain called for help from Spanish rescue workers, expecting them to take the ship into harbour. However, pressure from local authorities forced the captain to steer the ship away from the coast. The captain tried to get help from the French and Portuguese authorities, but they too ordered the ship away from their shores. The storm eventually took its toll on the ship resulting in the tanker splitting in half and releasing 20 million gallons oil into the sea.

According to a report by the Pontevedra Economist Board, the total cleanup cost $12 billion.

# 3. Space Shuttle Columbia - $13 Billion

The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space worthy shuttle in NASA ' s orbital fleet. It was destroyed during re-entry over Texas on February 1, 2003 after a hole was punctured in one of the wings during launch 16 days earlier. The original cost of the shuttle was $2 Billion in 1978. That comes out to $6.3 Billion in today ' s dollars. $500 million was spent on the investigation, making it the costliest aircraft accident investigation in history. The search and recovery of debris cost $300 million.

In the end, the total cost of the accident (not including replacement of the shuttle) came out to $13 Billion according to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics..

# 2. Chernobyl - $200 Billion

On April 26, 1986, the world witnessed the costliest accident in history. The Chernobyl disaster has been called the biggest socio-economic catastrophe in peacetime history. 50% of the area of Ukraine is in some way contaminated. Over 200,000 people had to be evacuated and resettled while 1.7 million people were directly affected by the disaster. The death toll attributed to Chernobyl , including people who died from cancer years later, is estimated at 125,000. The total costs including cleanup, resettlement, and compensation to victims has been estimated to be roughly $200 Billion. The cost of a new steel shelter for the Chernobyl nuclear plant will cost $2 billion alone. The accident was officially attributed to power plant operators who violated plant procedures and were ignorant of the safety requirements needed.

# 1. 2008 Presidential Election- $800 Billion in the first two months………..

Driver's License: A Milestone for Teens

Lately, I have a number of my students gleefully announce that they are turning 16. The beams on their faces are precious ... and I'm sure the anxiety level of their parents has skyrocketed. As they boasted about what day they'll be taking their driving test, I recalled a funny news story about the following Korean lady who has failed her driver's test 771 times! [From FoxNews]

South Korean Woman Fails
Driving Test 771 Times

SEOUL, South Korea — A woman in South Korea who has taken the written exam required for a driver's license nearly every day since 2005 has failed again — but is hoping attempt No. 772 will be the charm.

The aspiring driver took her first test in April 2005, according to Choi Young-chul, an official at the North Jeolla Province driver's license agency in Jeonju, 150 miles south of Seoul.

She has taken the test a record 771 times, most recently on Monday, but has yet to pass. She said she plans to take the test again but did not say when, he said Thursday.

The 68-year-old has spent $3,000 on fees for the test, he said. Applicants must score at least 60 on the written exam before they can get behind the wheel for a driving test. Choi says she's scored as high as 50.

"I feel sorry every time I see Cha fail. When she passes, I'll make a memorial tablet myself and give it to her," Park Jung-seok, a traffic police officer at the agency, told the Korea Times newspaper.

No other details about her identity were released other than her family name, Cha.

Maybe I should share this story with my students ...

Comet Comin' This Week! -- And It's A GREEN One!

Starting Monday, keep your eyes peeled for a green comet in the skies! Check out this article from FoxNews (emphasis added):

Strange Green Comet Passing By
Earth Next Week

WASHINGTON — An odd, greenish backward-flying comet is zipping by Earth this month, as it takes its only trip toward the sun from the farthest edges of the solar system.

The comet is called Lulin, and there's a chance it can be seen with the naked eye — far from city lights, astronomers say. But you'll most likely need a telescope, or at least binoculars, to spot it.

The best opportunity is just before dawn one-third of the way up the southern sky. It should be near Saturn and two bright stars, Spica and Regula.

On Monday at 10:43 p.m. EST, it will be 38 million miles from Earth, the closest it will ever get, according to Donald Yeomans, manager of NASA's Near Earth Object program.

The story behind the comet is more intriguing than its appearance — the greenish tinge may be hard for many to discern. The color comes from a type of carbon and cyanogen, a poisonous gas.

Lulin was discovered by a Chinese teenager two years ago. It still has many of its original gases — gases that are usually stripped away as comets near the sun. Unlike most comets viewable from Earth, this one hasn't been this close to the sun before, Yeomans said.

While all the planets and most of the other objects in the solar system circle the sun counterclockwise, Lulin circles clockwise, said NASA astronomer Stephen Edberg.

Thanks to an optical illusion, from Earth it appears as if the comet's tail is in the front as the comet approaches Earth and the sun.

"It essentially is going backwards through the solar system," he said.

It came from the outskirts of the solar system, 18 trillion miles away. Once it's made the journey around the sun, Lulin will gain enough speed to escape the solar system, Edberg said.

"If you are interested in comets, make sure you see it," he said. "But it's not going to be a real great blast for the general public."

Hmmmm ... a green comet ... looks as if it's going backwards ... only recently discovered ... cyanogen gas ... I hope there's not some wacko group out there thinking it's a god or a space ship. Remember Heaven's Gate back in 1997?

Or, maybe I could start up some kind of cult. Hmmmmmmm ... the main ritual would have to involve eating mass quantities of Doritos and drinking wine. Wearing comfy sweat pants would be required, accessorised by slippers with memory foam that make you say "Aaaaaaaaaah!" when you put them on ... Suicide would not be required, but rather naps and puppy dogs would be.

Gee, can you tell I'm ready for the weekend? Sweatpants and slippers, here I come!

Swimsuits for Spring Break

YIKES! While checking out the line-up for this Spring's fashionable swimsuits, I couldn't believe this outfit. I wonder if we will actually see some guys wearing this lovely little ensemble. Kind of like a wrestling singlet, isn't it? Then again, it makes me think of the olden days when guys wore such swimsuits ... say in the 20s and 30s ... although I don't recall the cutouts on the sides.

I could envision lifeguards finding the security it offers to be a bonus: the diminished possibility of not losing their swimsuit when diving from a tower to rescue someone.

Let's see if any they make appear at beaches and pools this summer ... not that I'm eager to see them. Seeing a guy in one of these will probably result in me hurting myself ... busting a gut trying not to laugh ... biting the inside of my cheek too hard and causing serious lacerations ... rupturing a vein or two in my face when trying to hold in the laughter.

[Source]

Obama's Stimulus Strategy

The Stimulus Bill: WTF?!?

[Thanks, R!]

HOW TO EXPLAIN THE STIMULUS
BILL TO A DEMOCRAT

Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his economics professor and says,

"I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you explain it to me?"

The professor replied, "I don't have any time to explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I'll be glad to explain it to you." The student agreed.

At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the professor's house. The professor stated that the weekend project involved his backyard pool.

They both went out back to the pool, and the professor handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor said, "First, go over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much water as you can." The student did as he was instructed.

The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the shallow end, and then dump all the water from your bucket into it." The student was naturally confused, but did as he was told.

The professor then explained they were going to do this many more times, and began walking back to the deep end of the pool.

The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we doing this?"

The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to make the shallow end much deeper.

The student didn't think the economics professor was serious, but figured that he would find out the real story soon enough.

However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the deep end, the student began to become worried that his economics professor had gone mad. The student finally replied, "All we're doing is wasting valuable time and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this process is all over, everything will be at the same level it was before, so all you'll really have accomplished is the destruction of what could have been truly productive action!"

The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile, "Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill."

Heart Disease: A Sexist Issue?

Earlier this week, I was at my local Jiffy Lube for an oil change and tire rotation. Throughout the facilities, in the waiting room, and especially at the check-out, there were posters everywhere promoting the American Heart Association's Red Dress campaign -- heart disease awareness for women. It boldly announced that heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America. This campaign has been around for a couple of years, and it has always puzzled me: Why the big push for this awareness among women and not men?

Heart disease (or "cardiovascular disease" -- a bigger umbrella term) is the #1 killer of both men and women. Why is it being made into a women's issue? I considered these possible answers:

• the old notion that women are to be protected and men not
• do women's health issues raise more money than men's?
• our society cares more for women than men?
• women take better care of themselves and are more likely to act?

Those are some rather cynical thoughts from. Perhaps there is a noble reason behind focusing this bi-gender issue solely on women: Women still tend to think that heart disease strikes men more often than women. Could it also be that only recently have doctors and other health experts discovered that women's symptoms of heart attack can vary from men's? We women tend to focus more on cancer -- specifically, breast cancer. But, cancer is the #3 killer of women.

But, here's the low-down folks: Since the early 1900's, cardiovascular disease has been the #1 killer of both genders and claims more lives than the next four leading causes combined! (Those other leading killers are cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, accidents, and diabetes mellitus.) [Sources: here and here.] I clearly recall in a CPR class I took a couple of years ago, our instructor telling us that, not only was cardiovascular disease the #1 killer, but half of the deaths were preventable. It's a lifestyle issue as well as a genetic one.

We know our nation has way too many overweight, inactive people eating very unhealthy diets. THAT is what needs to be promoted -- for both genders! This is a public health issue. We miss out on getting this life-saving information out to half of population when we make it into a gender-only issue. Why make heart disease a sexist issue?

Creed of the Modern Thinker

In the mornings as I prepare for my work day, most times I listen to various Christian podcasts that inform, educate and uplift me. It helps me to focus on things that really matter rather than allowing myself to start obsessing about things that are bothering me. (I call it my "Tasmanian Devil routine" when I start ruminating and fretting too much about piddly things. "Stop spinning! You're corkscrewing yourself into the ground!")

One of my favorite podcasters is Ravi Zacharias of RZIM Ministries, a brilliant Christian apologist who was born and raised in India and the Hindu religion. (You can download his podcasts from iTunes.) The other morning he offered a wonderful quote from an English journalist, Steve Turner. Turner's insights into today's society and its wriggling away from notions of right, wrong, and truth are spot on. The ideas he lists are very much like what I hear quite frequently ... especially in the PC world of education.

Creed of the Modern Thinker
Steve Turner

Here is the creed for the modern thinker:

We believe in Marx, Freud and Darwin.

We believe that everything is okay as long as you don’t hurt anyone, to the best of your definition of hurt and to the best of your definition of knowledge.

We believe in sex before, during and after marriage.

We believe in the therapy of sin; we believe that adultery is fun; we believe that sodomy is okay; we believe that taboos are taboo.

We believe that everything is getting better despite evidence to the contrary. The evidence must be investigated and you can prove anything with evidence.

We believe there is something in horoscopes, UFO’s and bent spoons. Jesus was a good man just like Buddha, Mohammad and ourselves. He was a good moral teacher although we think basically that his good morals were really bad.

We believe that all religions are basically the same; at least the ones we read were. They all believe in love and goodness, they only differ on matters of creation, sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation.

We believe that after death comes nothing, because when you ask the dead what happens, they say nothing. If death is not the end, and if the dead have lied then it’s compulsory heaven for all except perhaps Hitler, Stalin and Kahn.

We believe in Masters and Johnson - what’s selected is average, what’s average is normal and what’s normal is good.

We believe in total disarmament. We believe there are direct links between warfare and bloodshed. American’s should beat their guns into tractors and the Russians would be sure to follow.

We believe that man is essentially good, it’s only his behaviour that lets him down. This is the fault of society, society is the fault of conditions and conditions are the fault of society.

We believe that each man must find the truth that is right for him and reality will adapt accordingly. The universe will readjust; history will alter. We believe there is no absolute truth, except the truth that there is no absolute truth. We believe in the rejection of creeds and the flowering of individual thought.

If Chance be the Father of all flesh, disaster is His rainbow in the sky. And when you hear “State of Emergency”, “Sniper Kills Ten”, “Troops on Rampage”, “Youths Go Looting”, “Bomb Blasts School”, it is but the sound of man worshipping his maker.

Another Obama Cartoon ... And An Apology

.... an apology for having been so lax in posting lately!

Various reasons:
election burnout causing me to shun the news .... the news being so dismal that I choose to shun it .... (not that the news is ever super-uplifting or anything like that) ... super busy at work .... occasionally falling asleep in front of the TV .... maybe post-election funk?

Anyone else?

Stein Gets "Expelled" As Commencement Speaker

It appears that Ben Stein's comments and movie ("Expelled") have been too provocative for the likes of the Academic Elitists. The fallout from Stein's argument for intelligent design over Darwinism has lead to a backlash from such "open-minded" people. Stein was scheduled to give the commencement speech at the University of Vermont's graduation; but, the actor / lawyer / political analyst withdrew from the engagement after the university drew fire over his upcoming appearance. (University of Vermont -- go figure!)

Here's the news story today from FoxNews and the Associated Press (emphasis added):

Comedian Ben Stein Cancels Speech
Over Evolution Controversy

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Comedian Ben Stein has withdrawn as the University of Vermont's commencement speaker because of complaints about his critical views on evolution in favor of intelligent design.

UVM President Daniel Fogel said he chose Stein based on the warm response to a lecture he gave on campus last spring. Fogel said, however, he was deluged with e-mail messages from people offended by Stein's views of science.

When told about the criticism, Stein — who was to be paid $7,500 — backed out of the May 17 commencement, Fogel said.

"I did not ask him not to come," he said. "I was not going to let him be blind-sided by controversy."

The former host of Comedy Central's "Win Ben Stein's Money" quiz show, Stein has drawn fire previously for criticizing evolutionary theory and speaking in favor of intelligent design.

That view holds that life is too complex to have developed through evolution alone, implying that a higher power must have had a hand in creation.

Stein told the Burlington Free Press that he was not "anti-science" as some critics have labeled him.

"I am far more pro-science than the Darwinists," Stein wrote in an e-mail to the newspaper. "I want all scientific inquiry to happen not just what the ruling clique calls science."

He said the controversy over him as commencement choice was "laughable" and "pathetic."

Fogel said he was sorry that he did not anticipate the extent and intensity of the concerns expressed about Stein.

Stein, 64, a graduate of Yale Law School, worked as a Federal Trade Commission lawyer and wrote speeches for presidents Nixon and Ford. As an actor, he is best known by some as the droll teacher in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

In a 2008 documentary entitled "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," he asserted that scientists are afraid to challenge the theory of evolution because they fear they'll be ostracized or fired.

[Go here for my prior post about Stein's movie "Expelled."]

The French To Reject Obama-esque Stimulus?

Whoooaaaa ... it's a bit scary to learn that the French Socialists -- even the French! -- reject Obama's style of stimulus programs. The Herald Tribune reports that Prime Minister François Fillon on Monday rejected demands that the French government seek to stimulate consumer spending. Fillon's plan instead calls for stimulating corporate and infrastructure investment in order to lift France out of its economic slump.

Here's more (emphasis added):

"It would be irresponsible to choose another policy, which would increase our country's indebtedness without having more infrastructure and increased competitiveness in the end," Fillon said in a speech in Lyon.

More than 1.1 million people took to the streets across France last Thursday, according to the Interior Ministry, with unions putting the number of protesters at 2.5 million, to call on President Nicolas Sarkozy to stop cutting government jobs, increase the minimum wage and spend more on households as the economy enters its first recession since 1993.

Opponents of the government have been calling for an "Obama-style" stimulus plan, one that puts money directly into the pockets of working people.

French unemployment rose by about 45,000 people in December, Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said Monday, taking the jobless ranks to the highest level in about two years.

The European Commission expects France's economy to contract 1.8 percent this year, the worst performance since World War II. Lagarde said the government would revise its economic forecast to project a contraction this year.

After the strike, Sarkozy adopted a conciliatory tone, noting that the public had "legitimate concerns," and he said he would meet with union leaders in February to explain his 2009 agenda and discuss how to best carry it out.

In December, Sarkozy announced a stimulus package worth €26 billion, or $33.4 billion, over 2009 and 2010, including €11.4 billion in early state reimbursement to companies, and about €10 billion in infrastructure investment by the government, local authorities and state-controlled companies.

Fillon said Monday that Électricité de France would increase investment this year by €2.5 billion to build and renovate new power plants and its grid. GDF Suez, the natural gas and water utility, would lift investment by €200 million.

The Paris transportation authority and the national railroad would increase investment on new trains and infrastructure by €1.35 billion.

The government would spend €400 million on road building and renovation, €300 million on railroads, and €170 million on ports and river infrastructure. It would spend €731 million on universities and research centers and €620 million to renovate prisons, courts and more than 70 monuments and 50 cathedrals.

Monuments? Cathedrals? Prisons? Stimulus packages for such aspirations? YIKES! Are they French or are they Democrats?!?

It seems like a stimulus package is still up for debate ... It will be interesting to see if, after finally realizing that their socialist programs have wound up being quite expensive (along with their 35-hour work week), the French wind up rejecting a stimulus package like our political geniuses are presently trying to forge.

Thousands Protest Global Warming!

The Chris Matthews Psalm

Tim Graham of Newsbusters.org penned a cute little tongue-in-cheek piece spoofing the MSM's idolization of Obama

Just for kicks, this would be what a Chris Matthews homage to Obama would sound like:

Barack is my shepherd, I shall not want

He makes me lay down my Hardball, he stills my dissent to quiet waters

He restores my Camelot soul. He guides me in paths of purple-state unity for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of partisan rancor, I will fear no obstructionist, for you are with me.

Your calm and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a studio before me, in the presence of the Ditto-heads.

You anoint my head with your charisma; my thrill overflows.

Surely, the audacity of hope and change will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house bought with Rezko forever.

Daschle Democrats and Limousine Liberals

Recycling: Could It Actually Add To Global Warming?

Ahhhhhh, my friends ... being Green continues to be a very tangled web of confusing and conflicting information -- even after weeding out the political crappola! The latest scuttlebutt is that recycling might actually contribute more the global warming (whatever you think about that issue ... and we know I am a global warming heretic) than simply burning trash to generate electricity.

Louise Gray and Gordon Rayner of the UK's Telegraph report on this notion coming from of their nation's key government advisers on waste management (emphasis added):

Peter Jones suggested that an "urgent" review of Labour's policy on recycling was needed to make sure the collection, transportation and processing of recyclable material was not causing a net increase in greenhouse gases.

Mr Jones, a former director of the waste firm Biffa and now an adviser to environment ministers and the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, also dismissed kerbside recycling collections in many areas as "stupid" because they mixed together different materials, rendering them useless for recycling.

He suggested that much of the country's waste should simply be burnt to generate electricity.

"It might be that the global warming impact of putting material through an incinerator five miles down the road is actually less than recycling it 3,000 miles away," he said.

"We've got to urgently get a grip on how this material is flowing through the system; whether we're actually adding to or reducing the overall impact in terms of global warming potential in this process."

Jones' suggestions are coming at a time when many of the UK's citizens are growing increasingly suspicious of recycling. Just last month, The Daily Telegraph reported that a number of towns in England and Wales had been dumping more than 200,000 tons of recyclable waste every year -- that's up to 10% of the glass, plastic, and paper that homeowners separate out of their trash. Additionally, thousands of tons of recyclable materials are shipped to China due to Britain's inability to meet demand.

In some parts of the country, residents have to sort their waste into as many as seven containers, including food waste bins, which has helped councils to justify the scrapping of weekly bin collections.

Some town halls have admitted using anti-terrorism legislation to snoop on householders who fail to recycle properly, but councils have so far refused to test the Government's bin taxes, under which people would be fined for throwing out too much rubbish.

But a collapse in the market value of recyclable waste as a result of the global recession means many waste disposal firms are having to stockpile paper, metals and plastics in vast warehouses because they are unable to sell it on.

Mr Jones's comments will add to the suspicion of many householders that the Government's recycling strategy is in chaos.

He said: "In overall terms we are reducing our carbon footprint by diverting material from landfill, but we are in danger of losing those reductions through the wrong policy decisions."

Mr Jones suggested generating electricity by burning waste instead. Alternatively, organic rubbish could be pulverised and stored in vats so that it releases methane, which could be captured and used to generate electricity.

Hitler Is My Name: UPDATE #2

[Pictured: Tattoos on the hand of Heath Campbell -- the father being investigated.]

Here is more information of a poor little kid's ongoing saga with his idiot parents who named him Adolf Hitler Campbell -- supposedly because nobody else would have that name. (You know -- that individuality thing ... snore!) The father is now claiming that the state took his children under false pretenses and that the children are being neglected. (Go here and here for earlier posts and more details.)

From FoxNews:

Father Who Named Son After Hitler Says
Children Removed Under 'False Pretenses'

NEWARK, N.J. — New allegations from the father of three New Jersey children who have names associated with Nazis.

Heath Campbell told The Associated Press yesterday that the state Division of Youth and Family Services took his children under false pretenses. He also claims his daughter appeared neglected when he saw them last week.

Campbell says he and wife Deborah have been allowed to see their children once since they were removed from the family's home Jan. 9.

Campbell says his 2-year-old daughter, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell, appeared sick and had a runny nose and dirty diaper when they visited with the children.

DYFS hasn't said why JoyceLynn and her siblings — 3-year-old Adolf Hitler Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, who'll be 1 in April — were removed.

A DYFS spokeswoman said yesterday that confidentiality laws prevent the agency from commenting on specific cases.

Green Guilt On The Rise

With the Earth Day messages and Goracle prognostications of gloom and doom, combined with various church denominations hopping on the Green Bandwagon, a person cannot help but feel some "green guilt" these days. Have you noticed when shopping all the special green designations on product labels? They are becoming as common as those reassuring labels about added calcium and Omega-3s.

Women, naturally, feel more green guilt than men. (Well, we do tend to be the sex that buys into all the Madison 5th Avenue marketing. We do it with our bodies ... why not our other products?) And, according to the second annual Green Guilt survey commissioned by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation, a non-profit that wants you to recycle batteries, we feel guiltier this year than last.

USAToday reports:

In 2007, some 20% of Americans surveyed said they were feeling green guilt. This year, that number jumped slightly to 22%. Men actually felt less guilty this year (18% last year vs. 17% this year), and women were carrying the burden of guilt more (22% vs. 26%).

But guilt aside, more Americans said they're stepping up their actions to make their lives a bit greener, the survey shows.

For instance, more people this year said they recycled cellphones and batteries: 41% said they recycled cellphones and 37% recycled rechargeable batteries, vs. 31% and 29% last year.

And a large majority — 89% — said they recycle something. Last year, the number was 87%.

The survey was based on phone interviews with 525 women and 481 men. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The primary motivation for people to be a little greener? The children. Some 17% say they'd do more if they had a child, the survey says.

...

But guilt can be a double-edged sword, says Chip Giller, president and founder of Grist.org, an environmental website written with a humorous twist.

"Green guilt certainly works for some people, but I have a concern that guilt ultimately is going to turn off more people than anything else," Giller says.

Plus, he adds, green "consumerism and frankly battery recycling are only going to get us so far. "

Instead, like many environmentalists, he says that to get big change, the United States needs to change big policies, including legislation aimed at major polluters.

So how guilty should you feel for choosing plastic over paper or keeping your baby's bottom wrapped in Pampers?

"What I like to say is focus on the big stuff and don't sweat the small stuff," Giller says.

While it's true that one person may not save the glaciers from melting with one diaper, Paige Rodgers, a Marin, Calif., mother who co-founded a business making cloth napkins for kids — instead of wasteful paper — says that every little thing really does help.

"I hear that echoed — this idea of feeling good about making small changes. Because it's something. We're doing something."

I do find it ironic that, when you look at the article on USAToday's website, the side margins are full of links to such green guilt-inducing activities such as quizzes and interactive graphics, green tour companies, green gatherings, a poll of attitudes not matching actions, etc.

Scuppies: A Culmination of Previous Groups?

We first started with hippies in the 60s. This group of young adults was followed by preppies, yuppies -- "young upwardly mobile persons", buppies -- for the Black middle class, .... and remember "dinks?" -- "double income no kids."

Now, we have "scuppies" -- socially conscious upwardly mobile persons. These are young adults who are philanthropic, eat organic and live green.

Chuck Failla of Scuppie.com, plans to officially launch the Scuppie movement on April 22nd -- Earth Day. In a take-off of the 1980s "The Official Preppie Handbook," Failla is publishing "The Scuppie Manifesto"

USAToday reports:

The world is ready for scuppies, Failla says, because the world has gone green. "Now even Wal-Mart has all kinds of green initiatives."

The goal is to make green the norm, not the expensive alternative.

"To be eco-friendly does not mean you have to wear a burlap sack when you can get beautiful, organically sourced clothing," he says. "Whatever you want, there's a greener alternative."

Every generation has its own -ppie acronym for describing groups of like-minded people. How come?

"Attaching this suffix to a word condenses a big idea into a small package so we're more effective in our speech," explains lexicographer Grant Barrett, co-host of the National Public Radio show A Way With Words. "Plus, it's an acronym, so that makes our speech more efficient."

Will the term "scuppie" last as long as, say, hippie?

"They almost never do," Barrett says. "Usually they die on the press release."