Tanning on the Fat Tuesday OPEN thread
Shot by Dan in Vinton
“My mother is Irish, my father is black and Venezuelan, and me – I’m tan, I guess.”
Mariah Carey
February 12, 2013 - 10:00 AM
February 12, 2013 - 10:00 AM
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Thursday, May 23, 2013
THE ROANOKE TIMES
Obamaphone Fraud. $2.2 billion for Welfare phones! 41% of Obamaphone recipients couldn’t prove they were eligible.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323511804578296001368122888.html
The Welfare President strikes again.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/11/christopher-dorner-buys-scuba-gear_n_2665904.html
You don’t dive with O2. If he filled those tanks with oxygen, he’s got something else in mind.
LAPD has their hands full, no mistake.
Finally, someone in Virginia government shows some courage.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/320234
I was glad to see that, Ron, but there’s still the house to go. Repubs are finally admitting out loud that transportation needs more money, and the house bill does indeed raise taxes overall (although the right-wing cowards are hoping to disguise that by claiming they eliminated a “tax”). Really the only sensible thing to do is raise the road user fee (gas tax).
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/11/navy-seal-osama-bin-laden_n_2661971.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
What is up with the SEALS this year? Is there anyone on the planet who doesn’t know you need to serve 20 years in the military to get retirement benefits? Bronstein seems under the impression the US government should be paying this guy a bounty for Bin Laden’s head.
Previews of Obama’s STOTU address tonight indicate he will propose more Keynesian spending policies, labeled as “investments.” The Keynesian model does call for deficit spending in troubled times, but the other part of the Keynesian model requires that this deficit spending be repaid during times of expansion. Our brilliant powers-that-be always seem to forget that part. I suppose we will have to tune-in to find out.
I scheduled a root canal tonight at 9PM because I thought it would be a better alternative than listening to Barry O lie to us tonight, but my denist cancelled. So, I might choose watch our Savior speak.
Lehigh student sues college for getting a C+ in one of her classes. Link: http://news.yahoo.com/lehigh-university-student-got-c-now-seeks-1-124956605.html
I wonder if she is related to Sandra Fluke? Perhaps she thought she was entitled to a FREE A.
Ron May, as a college President, what is your take on this one?
Make sense as it’s supported by those who drive in and through the commonwealth.
Actually, Henry, the “Welfare President” appears to have significantly cleaned up past abuse. If you read your own link you’d know that:
“Until last year, FCC rules didn’t require carriers to certify to the FCC that subscribers were eligible. Consumers could self-certify, and in many states documentation wasn’t required.”
That change, to a program launched in 1984 by President Reagan, happened under Obama.
Seriously Henry, it works better when your link actually makes Obama look bad instead of confirming the FCC under his administration is the one who is finally adding some accountability to the program. Did you miss this one too? How is it an “Obamaphone” if the program started in 1984 and “some states required the company to provide Lifeline service to people enrolled in certain state assistance programs“? Your brilliance remains intact.
You don’t dive with O2. If he filled those tanks with oxygen, he’s got something else in mind.
LAPD has their hands full, no mistake.
Comment by Kristen — February 12, 2013 @ 10:55 am
Yeah, something’s up with that. Pure O2 doesn’t make for a pleasant dive, unless he’s making a homemade re-breather. Two tanks filled with O2 and a third tank he didn’t fill there. I’d wager a guess that he’ll fill the other with acetylene. He’s likely planning to do some steel work.
Is Killdozer Redux on the horizon? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZbG9i1oGPA
Mercy sakes Dan, I thought you were full of chile when you posted that article about VA striking it’s own currency. Then I Googled it. All I can say, is Lord have mercy!
Ron May, as a college President, what is your take on this one?
Comment by Another Chuck — February 12, 2013 @ 11:49 am
AC,
It is difficult for me to comment on this particular case. What I will say is that every college I know of has a grade appeals process which students may use when such issues arise. I did not see in the article whether this student used any such process which Lehigh would have had in place at the time. If this student failed to use whatever appeals process was available at the time the grade was received, the student likely has no leg to stand on and the judge will likely dismiss the complaint.
If the student used the institutional process and didn’t obtain the result desired the judge would likely look at the documentation from the appeals process to ascertain whether the institution followed the process as outlined. The student, in my view, would have to show clear evidence in that appeals process that the faculty member and the department chair engaged in the actions the student claims. If such evidence was not provided or it was not convincing to the appeals committee and any other decision makers in the institutional appeals process the decision would likely have gone against the student. The courts, historically, have averse to overturning institutional appeals decisions as long as the published process was used and compelling evidence showed the faculty member & department chair did make serious errors.
If the student followed the process and didn’t get the decision desired but cannot show errors in the process I’m surprised the case hasn’t already been dismissed. Assuming the case was filed in 2012, that’s 3 years after the alledged offense. Unfortunately, a lesson I have learned in nearly 30 years service as a Dean, VP or college president, you can’t stop people from suing you. You just to make sure the institution follows it policies and procedures as published and distributed and you dot all “i’s” and cross all “t’s.”
“The courts, historically, have averse to overturning institutional appeals decisions as long as the published process was used and compelling evidence showed the faculty member & department chair did make serious errors.”
Sorry, that statement should read as follows-”The courts, historically, have been averse to overturning institutional appeals decisions as long as the published policies & process were used and their was no compelling evidence showing the faculty member & department chair made errors.”
I’ll keep trying to do better.
Attached is a critical warning from a retired high school teacher to college professors about the students schools are producing today. Perhaps his comments explain why the student mentioned above in AC’s link sued her former college.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/09/a-warning-to-college-profs-from-a-high-school-teacher/
Food Stamps up 50% under Obama. He’s also the Food Stamp President.
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/food-stamp-rolls-america-now-surpass-population-spain
Attached is a critical warning from a retired high school teacher to college professors about the students schools are producing today. Perhaps his comments explain why the student mentioned above in AC’s link sued her former college.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/09/a-warning-to-college-profs-from-a-high-school-teacher/
Comment by Ron May — February 12, 2013 @ 2:47 pm
Interesting article. The NCLB legislation was strongly bi-partisan, with obvious unintended consequences. Ron, what do you see as a solution to reverse our math and science free fall in terms of world ranking?
Kristen, re: 11:33am
Maybe the SEALS understand they are underpaid and underappreciated by certain folk.
Hasn’t this administration offered tens of millions in bounties? http://news.yahoo.com/al-qaeda-offshoot-offers-camels-obamas-head-hens-165924543–abc-news-topstories.html
This guy is not asking for something “special” (from what I have heard thus far), only the same consideration that most lib’s want to give to people who haven’t worked a day in their lives…
I find it sad when people don’t appreciate the sacrifice of those who protect their freedom’s.
Re: SOTU I think Dan should do a contest to guess how many times obama uses the word “I” vs the word “we”.
Historically, in his narcissism the “I’s” have it.
Maybe this time will be different.
Our country can only hope…
AC,
Dr Carson gave a dynamic talk about education in the presence of obama recently.
An interesting question is…, once one gets voted into office, do they instantly become “experts” in “all things” and therefore take no consideration of others opinions. One great example is “Al Franken, one day he is an abusive comedian, the next day a liberal stalwart genius on foreign affairs.
Does that define him or those “intelligent” voters that elected him?
Carson’s speech:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Benjamin+Carson+&mid=6781DC50F93C37ACE12B6781DC50F93C37ACE12B&view=detail&FORM=VIRE3
Mike O, I watched the Dr. Carson speech over the weekend. It was a fantastic speech…not because he spoke in front of Obama, but because he spoke using common sense. I suggest everyone watch the entire speech…Michelle Obama was smiling and clapping throughout.
Henry, food stamp usage is up because of Bush’s economic crash. You keep blaming Obama for problems created by Republican presidents. What’s up with that?
Henry, food stamp usage is up because of Bush’s economic crash. You keep blaming Obama for problems created by Republican presidents. What’s up with that?
When Democrats, including Senator obama took over in 2007, the economy was roaring. Within a year, everything was in the toilet. Fannie Mae was the Democrats private little cesspool, and their politics-based decision making destroyed the economy.
“An interesting question is…, once one gets voted into office, do they instantly become “experts” in “all things” and therefore take no consideration of others opinions”?
–mikeO
What even ask this question? What’s so interesting about it? It’s not at all serious and the point it seems to attempt to make is lame as a broken down quarter horse.
Politicians are elected and its up to them to figure out which experts they should listen to and which know-nothings they should not. They’re careerd may depend on this (just ask Rep. Joe Walsh about that).
There is no law that says politicians must seriously consider everything some idiot says. If fact they are best off paying idiots little attention.
And everybody knows this. So why raise the question?
Suzie, does the God you claim to serve condone the lie you just know you told?
Another Chuck,
I’m not going to pretend to have all the answers needed to improve K12 education in the U.S. The approach of teaching to pass a test hasn’t worked in my view. The students coming directly from high school into college do not express themselves well in written or oral communication. They are not particularly good at problem solving. They don’t work particularly well with others or in groups. Those are skills that employers want, in addition to work based knowledge is required for the job being performed. An approach I think we need to consider in K12 & postsecondary education today involves project based learning. It’s more hands on and permits students to discover the connection between the subject and real life applications.
As a freshman in college, long, long ago, I had to take a basic speech class. I was attending the junior college near the farm on which I was reared. Among the many speeches I had to give that semester was a demostration speech. In short, I had to speak about and demostrate some process to the rest of the students in the class. The class was at 8 in the morning. I really wasn’t a good speaker in those days so I was really scared about doing this assignment. I talked with my dad about it while milking a cow early one morning and he said, I’m betting that none of those kids has ever seen a cow milked. Why don’t you take one of our cows in and show the class how to milk a cow? We both had a good laugh about that suggestion. But the next day I sat down with my instructor and asked is she was okay with me bringing one of our dairy cows in and milking it as my demonstration speech. My instructor knew how difficult public speaking was for me and understood that was likely the only way I could complete the assignment. She agreed. The next week I drove to campus with the gentlest Guernsey cow we had on the farm, introduced her to the class and proceeded to demonstrate to the other 20 students in the class how to milk a cow. I did the demonstration in the parking lot next to the classroom building. Then I loaded her back into the trailer and took her back to the farm. I got an A on the assignment. It was the only A I got on any assignment in that class during the semester. What completing that assignment in that way did for me was give me confidence in my ability to communicate with others. What we have lost in our educational system is helping students understand what gifts they have been blessed with and how to apply those gifts in productive ways. We have to recapture that, in my view, to improve our educational system.
Our teachers don’t want to do certain things in the classroom or permit students to learn things outside the box because doing so is not going to show up on whatever test is in vogue at the time. We have to get back to focusing on educating our children to write effectively, solve problems, think, interact effectively with one another and last but not least develop confidence in their abilities to do all those things. We also have to help them learn that each person has different gifts and that being blessed with different gifts is okay.
That’s probably more than you wanted or expected Another Chuck. Perhaps you were seeking just a half thought out, brief response. While occasionally that’s how I respond, but not on issues like this one. It’s too important.
An interesting question is, if one has never been voted into office, never had to please an uninformed, partisan, apathetic, yet also informed, non-partisan, involved electorate or work with supposed partners who are anything but, what would make one an “expert” in “all things” or in anything? Hint: Not a darned thing.
What “consideration of others opinions” did Dr. Carson offer in his speech? One great example was his anecdote about his illiterate mother and the TV and book reports she enforced. What manner of government can force all mothers to do that?
America, one day you are hardly even known and the next you are the new GOTP darling. All for making one of the very few non-partisan, non-political events in this nation into both.
Yeah, way to go Dr. Carson. Nothing else has EVER had me agreeing with Cal Thomas. Way to go!
What crap, mikeo. The SEALs are no different than the rest of the military. Oh…except for the bonuses they get when they extend. If their sensitive feelings are hurt and they feel “unappreciated” they can always go work for Blackwater and make the big bucks.
No one in this country is “entitled” to health insurance. Even SEALs. Embrace it.
Ron May, thanks for your thoughtful reply to the education situation. Your opinion is valued as you are an expert in education. It does seem as todays students are forced into a box, and not allowed to pursue their strenghts and passions as much as they should be. I imagine that the lack of the traditional family structure adds to the problem in the aggregate as well.
Suzie, does the God you claim to serve condone the lie you just know you told?
So you’re not even sure about the Christian God anymore, Sandi?
And no lie was told be me, sugar.
” I imagine that the lack of the traditional family structure adds to the problem in the aggregate as well.”
I’m sure you do “imagine”, AnotherChuck. Because it’s so much easier than having to get a genuine clue. Your definition of “original thought” seems to be pulling bull#^{€ out of thin air.
Sorry Suzie, but your hate clouds any site of God.
“When Democrats, including Senator obama took over in 2007, the economy was roaring. Within a year, everything was in the toilet. Fannie Mae was the Democrats private little cesspool, and their politics-based decision making destroyed the economy.”
That is a lie Suzie. A pure, partisan, not the truth, old-fashioned, lie.
I suppose that the “personal freedom” and “individual liberty” mantra has led too many women, but mostly men, to ignore any responsibility for a “traditional family structure”. But certainly the lack of economic power, ability to earn a living for yourself much less a family and the fact that the wisdom of power has decided that aid, both charitable and governmental penalizes the family that stays together, has a role as well.
I don’t think our teachers are free to do many things in the classroom, want to or not. Nor to permit students to explore things outside the scope of what is going to show up on whatever test the political winds can use to deny them raises, tenure, or autonomy of any kind. The name of the education game has been control, political control, for several decades now.
Until you put education back into the hands of educators and out of the hands of bean counters and politicians, the outcome is not going to change.
Dr. Carson, the new right wing superstar was raised without the “traditional family structure”. So was President Obama. God in Heaven only knows how Ted Nugent was raised. I personally suspect wolves.
Another Chuck,
You are correct the third leg of the stool that supports an effective education is the family. But the reality is that dysfunctional families are not just something that happened in the last 20 or 30 years. I went to school with a number of classmates who came from families headed by a single parent. Some of those parents were widows or widowers. Some were divorced. Many had parents who abused them.
I admit that I was tremendously blessed by the family into which I was born. Because I was reared on a farm, I saw, in everyday life practical applications to the lessons I was learning in school. Many students in today’s schools have strong support systems enabling them to learn, grow and develop. However, many do not. In my view, when you combine that lack of family support with an emphasis on passing a test rather than practically based approaches to learning you put ‘disadvantaged’ students into a more precarious situation. But even those who come from strong family units who experience an educational program founded on passing a test rather than a broad based curriculum which encourages the development of skills in written & oral communication, problem solving, working effectively with others are disadvantaged.
It’s not my intent to argue with Another Chuck. It is my intent to suggest that there is another path to take in order to better prepare the next generation of our children for the world of work ahead of us.
Thanks Ron, again… thoughtful!
And another gem from Kristen:
” I imagine that the lack of the traditional family structure adds to the problem in the aggregate as well.”
I’m sure you do “imagine”, AnotherChuck. Because it’s so much easier than having to get a genuine clue. Your definition of “original thought” seems to be pulling bull#^{€ out of thin air.
Comment by Kristen — February 12, 2013 @ 10:06 pm
Are you related to Sandi and Art Hill? Again, you added nothing to the conversation other than name calling. If you want to be effective, try to explain how the deterioration of the traditional family and the values that come with it, are not affecting education in our society, or society in general. Oh, I guess you can’t? So continue calling names and labeling people liars and fools. Your approach is very becoming to your personality and you wear it well.
Sandi, I’m not talking about individuals like Dr. Carson at all. Some of the best parents I know are single! It’s more of an aggregate issue.
Comment by Ron May — February 12, 2013 @ 8:31 pm
Ron that was a great answer. The one size fits all testing programs that have been promoted by politicians under the guise of accountability are stifling creativity and producing students who have as problem with thinking processes and original ideas. The ideas you propose are actually close to a classic Montessori school model. Of course there are some basic facts and minimum proficiencies that need to be instilled in all students but there are many creative ways to get those skills across other than rote learning and some multiple choice test.
“Are you related to Sandi and Art Hill?’
Yes! We’re all one big happy family! You’re a parrot Chuck, if I want your opinion I’ll ask Fox for it.
Colbert; “Reince Priebus is an anagram for penis rice-a-roni.” Ha!
“IfI you want to be effective, try to explain how the deterioration of the traditional family and the values that come with it, are not affecting education in our society, or society in general”
Newsflash. It’s the job of the one making ludicrous claims out of nowhere to substantiate their position. So why don’t you – ONE TIME maybe – give a passing attempt to supporting the blithering nonsense with which you litter the blog. And do stop whining.
Another Chuck, if you want to be effective, how about YOU explain how “the deterioration of the traditional family and the values that come with it”, ARE “affecting education in our society, or society in general”. YOU make the point, why do we need to explain it? I am not interested in being “effective” because nothing but agreeing with you is “effective” to you. All you can manage to give Ron is a tepid, “Thanks Ron, again… thoughtful!” Wow, that is really a deep discussion.
FWIW, your own approach is not very becoming either.
My point in mentioning Dr. Carson (aside from his right wing stardom) was that this problem is not new, and it is not something that one party, or one policy created. The failures in non-traditional families are countered by the successes in non-traditional families and the courts have BOTH in them daily as well.
There is no magic bullet and as important as a traditional family might be to you, it is not the solution either. The solution is opportunity and too many kids realize early on that it is not there for them. THAT is the problem if you need it in a nutshell.
Dan,
Re: “Politicians are elected and its up to them to figure out which experts they should listen to…”
This type of thinking is the core of the problem. I believe they are elected to “learn and understand issues” before they take action; you believe they should “listen” only to those with whom they might agree.
This is not a “right” or “left” issue; it is a lack of quality leadership issue. The Sen. Al example stands out because I remember his “antics” during the Sotomayor hearings. Less than a month of being elected he acted like he was an “expert” in judicial issues. I imagine there are similar examples on the other side…
Sadly, your posts exemplifies the same characteristics as current politics; we have people on both sides, only wanting to listen to “their own” and the “truth” becomes defined as such.
Kristen, re 9:17 pm
Quick search will find that obama disagrees with you; During the debates in 2008 obama stated “… I think “health care” should be a right for every American…”
That aside, I agree with you… I am sure you, therefore, agree that “No one in this country is “entitled”…” to free cell phones, years of unemployment benefits, taxpayer subsidized housing…etc… ad nausea….
Our agreements could solve the debt and deficit problems in no time at all.
“Dan,
Re: “Politicians are elected and its up to them to figure out which experts they should listen to…”
This type of thinking is the core of the problem. I believe they are elected to “learn and understand issues” before they take action; you believe they should “listen” only to those with whom they might agree.
This is not a “right” or “left” issue; it is a lack of quality leadership issue. The Sen. Al example stands out because I remember his “antics” during the Sotomayor hearings. Less than a month of being elected he acted like he was an “expert” in judicial issues. I imagine there are similar examples on the other side…
Sadly, your posts exemplifies the same characteristics as current politics; we have people on both sides, only wanting to listen to “their own” and the “truth” becomes defined as such.”
–mikeO
Sadly, you’re putting words in my mouth, mikeO. We both know that I never said they should listen only to those with whom they might agree. That’s your projection; and it’s part of your problem, not mine.
Try to understand it this way:
When you have a toothache, most people would go to a dentist. This is reasonable, because they are learned experts in such maladies. As such, they’re most suited to reasonably assess the situation and make a recommendation.
I bet that even you would not consider calling up your local septic pumping service and asking for an opinion on what you should do about that toothache. But that is within the realm of logic in the lazy way you framed your belief as to how politicians should gather information and make decisions.
Sadly, it is FOS, like a septic hauling truck.
Mike O, do you not know the difference between health care and health insurance? Kristen said “health insurance”, that is not the same thing as “health care”.