Well, I haven't been really sick in a long time. I got the flu last year while I was subbing at Saline, and prior to that I think the last time I got the Semester Plague was in December of 2009 right before I started my student teaching.
At the end of every semester I used to get this plague where I'd cough, feel tired, and have have a feeling of unease. The last time it struck I didn't get over it for six weeks and it was quite irritating.
Well, I've been sick all week with the plague. I'm not amuse. I'm sick of it and I wish it'd go away.
Not much going on today. Watched crappy old movies and then had a rehearsal today. That is all.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Uneducated
I often talk about my belief that people don't care about education. It's handy when examples decide to just pop up to reinforce my belief. This time it comes in the form of Rep. Paul Ryan's budget that would strip back pell grants, increase student loan interest rates, and take away subsidies for interest while in school.
How does any of that make sense? First, that's going to hit the lower groups the hardest. No only will the pool of pell grants dry up a bit, students will also lose some benefits to keep the accrual of interest down while still in school. Now, I'm not sure if you've been in college recently, but it's friggin' expensive! I pay more in student loans per month than I do on the principle and interest on my HOUSE! Yes, my house costs less than my loans. And I didn't even go to school for a strangely long time. I spent my first few years at WCC, and EMU isn't exactly the most expensive school in the state.
The point is, that education is the true equalizer in this country. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from, if you can get to college and get an education you have a far better likelihood of having a better life. It is that hand that reaches out to help pull you up when you're down. Restricting access to education is shutting the door on the American dream. The dream that you will do better than your parents, that hard work will pay off in the end, that you can do anything if you go for it. I don't believe that dream is dead, but I believe that when I see things like that it's being put so far out of reach that it's becoming hard for some to every even imagine reaching it.
Additionally, the available jobs out there for the uneducated are dwindling away. In Michigan you can't expect to walk out of high school and into a Ford plan where you'll get a decent wage, benefits, and a career. The divide is becoming service industry, and high tech type jobs that require more education. This plan will no doubt discourage many from ever reaching higher, and will lead to many other negative consequences that comes with poverty, unemployment, and hopelessness.
So, no, I don't believe the people of this country value education. And here is a perfect reason why.
How does any of that make sense? First, that's going to hit the lower groups the hardest. No only will the pool of pell grants dry up a bit, students will also lose some benefits to keep the accrual of interest down while still in school. Now, I'm not sure if you've been in college recently, but it's friggin' expensive! I pay more in student loans per month than I do on the principle and interest on my HOUSE! Yes, my house costs less than my loans. And I didn't even go to school for a strangely long time. I spent my first few years at WCC, and EMU isn't exactly the most expensive school in the state.
The point is, that education is the true equalizer in this country. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from, if you can get to college and get an education you have a far better likelihood of having a better life. It is that hand that reaches out to help pull you up when you're down. Restricting access to education is shutting the door on the American dream. The dream that you will do better than your parents, that hard work will pay off in the end, that you can do anything if you go for it. I don't believe that dream is dead, but I believe that when I see things like that it's being put so far out of reach that it's becoming hard for some to every even imagine reaching it.
Additionally, the available jobs out there for the uneducated are dwindling away. In Michigan you can't expect to walk out of high school and into a Ford plan where you'll get a decent wage, benefits, and a career. The divide is becoming service industry, and high tech type jobs that require more education. This plan will no doubt discourage many from ever reaching higher, and will lead to many other negative consequences that comes with poverty, unemployment, and hopelessness.
So, no, I don't believe the people of this country value education. And here is a perfect reason why.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
I'm on the verge of addressing the school board, because it's about time they put their money where their mouths are.
Here's the deal, I go to just about every school board meeting. I go as a representative of the arts, and I do it because it's my community and I want the students in my community to get the education that they need in order to succeed. Additionally, it's not impossible to think that someday my children could go to Lincoln (though not if they keep on the same path).
Now, at these board meetings I hear a lot about the state of the schools, the efforts to reform, change opinions, and do better. I also hear things like "when we talk about good things that are happening at Lincoln, the arts are one of those things we're talking about." Ok, well then prove it, and fund the arts.
Here's my issue, the district budgeted to spend $546,708 on athletics in the 2010-2011 school year(incidentally, athletics brought in $144,823! We barely pull in $10,000 a year, which is supposed to make vibrant department with 5 productions a year). I don't care that athletics are funded. Quite the contrary, I believe there should be more physical activity in schools. My issue is the great divide between the money spend on things like athletics versus what is spend on the arts.
Drama received no funding expect for pay for the coaches in the 2010-2011 school year. The choir is trying to fund raise to purchase music. The band is soliciting donations to purchase new drums. Art classes can't afford to hold their art show. And these situations aren't a huge amount we're talking about. The drums are under $1,000 (actually I think they're under $500). Sheet music isn't a $100,000 expense. Drama productions cost maybe $3,000 for the rights. We aren't talking about a half a million dollar budget, we're talking about small change. Surely there must be some wiggle room to throw a couple thousand dollars at each group. Hell, they spent a quarter of a million dollars just on community services. Yet, the arts remain terribly under funded.
How can one say that the arts are something valued and one of the "good things" happening, when in fact we see that there is no money allocated to help build the arts. Instead we are forced to panhandle, beg, solicit donations, ask for sponsors, and sell, sell, sell to try and keep activities funded. I'm not amused, and something needs to change.
Put your money where your mouth is.
Here's the deal, I go to just about every school board meeting. I go as a representative of the arts, and I do it because it's my community and I want the students in my community to get the education that they need in order to succeed. Additionally, it's not impossible to think that someday my children could go to Lincoln (though not if they keep on the same path).
Now, at these board meetings I hear a lot about the state of the schools, the efforts to reform, change opinions, and do better. I also hear things like "when we talk about good things that are happening at Lincoln, the arts are one of those things we're talking about." Ok, well then prove it, and fund the arts.
Here's my issue, the district budgeted to spend $546,708 on athletics in the 2010-2011 school year(incidentally, athletics brought in $144,823! We barely pull in $10,000 a year, which is supposed to make vibrant department with 5 productions a year). I don't care that athletics are funded. Quite the contrary, I believe there should be more physical activity in schools. My issue is the great divide between the money spend on things like athletics versus what is spend on the arts.
Drama received no funding expect for pay for the coaches in the 2010-2011 school year. The choir is trying to fund raise to purchase music. The band is soliciting donations to purchase new drums. Art classes can't afford to hold their art show. And these situations aren't a huge amount we're talking about. The drums are under $1,000 (actually I think they're under $500). Sheet music isn't a $100,000 expense. Drama productions cost maybe $3,000 for the rights. We aren't talking about a half a million dollar budget, we're talking about small change. Surely there must be some wiggle room to throw a couple thousand dollars at each group. Hell, they spent a quarter of a million dollars just on community services. Yet, the arts remain terribly under funded.
How can one say that the arts are something valued and one of the "good things" happening, when in fact we see that there is no money allocated to help build the arts. Instead we are forced to panhandle, beg, solicit donations, ask for sponsors, and sell, sell, sell to try and keep activities funded. I'm not amused, and something needs to change.
Put your money where your mouth is.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
No Excuses
I'm sick of the excuses, and I'm sick of the current narrative. Anytime a suggestion is made, or a plan is proposed there is always a reason why it won't work. But I'm done with the excuses, and it is no longer a valid argument to hide behind.
Here's my problem, I work with Lincoln, and I have for a number of years. The district isn't a in great shape, with terrible test scores, poor morale, and I think the majority of it is an issue in the mindset than any other actual barrier. Now, most of my work deals with extracurricular activities, however I think the attitudes I see are crossover from classroom attitudes, though that's not what I'm going to talk about right now.
Regardless, the issue I have is that when I see something that isn't working, I have the desire to fix it. To fix it I try to find examples that work, and then see what that example does and determine if it is a reasonable expectation to try and implement it. For example when reforming the NPO I looked at other peer groups and took their best ideas and merged it with our needs to come up with a policy that makes sense.
Like wise, when I look at the district and the problems I compare it to the top in the area and see what can be done. In this case the top district in my opinion would be Saline (and with the recent recognition seems like a good one to look at). However, time and time again I hear things like "Saline isn't Lincoln" or "Lincoln has a much different demographic." Pretty much the argument is that Lincoln is too poor and Saline is too affluent to compare the schools to. Well, I'm sorry but that doesn't work for me, and here are a few reasons why.
1. School Funding
Guess what excuse making whiners? Lincoln and Saline get nearly the same amount of funding per pupil, the difference is $327. Yes that's right, Saline receives $7,473 per student, Lincoln receives $7,142 per student. A difference of about 4% in funding, that's right, they receive about 4% more per student than we do. Yes, that adds up to $1,497,006 in total funding lost, however, in the big scheme of things, that's not a huge amount.
Now, of course one might point to the fact that they're a bigger district so the difference is greater. ($1.725 Million), however you also have to consider they have more student to have to provide services for, thus they need more space, more supplies, etc. etc. So, I don't see this as a valuable marker as to why we can't be more like a school like Saline. I mean if you look at say Ann Arbor with an additional $2,174 per student, you might have an argument as it's a 30% increase in funding. 4% does not a big difference make. While that money would be helpful, it's also not so damaging to explain why that doesn't work. See the graph from this article regarding school of choice on districts.
2. Poor Students On Free Lunch
This next argument instead decides to claim that the students in the school are all poor, and thus we can't compete because our students are so different from Saline and therefore it's comparing apples to oranges. Well, that must mean that we have a huge portion of are students on the free lunch program, so much more so than a school like Saline. I will concede that we have twice as many students on Free Lunch as Saline. However, the actual numbers aren't impressive. According to GreatSchools.org Lincoln has 10% of student on free lunch, while Saline has 5%.
Yes, that's a difference, however it still means that 90% are NOT on free lunch. So I don't think the argument holds that Saline is in so much of a better position because they have 5% difference in the total population. Again, the argument that we can't compare to a great school because of who are students are don't necessarily hold up.
3. Ahh, but the people in Saline are so much better off.
I will give you that the upper earners in Saline are more plentiful than they are at Lincoln, but lets look at those numbers a little more closely. According to data from the 2009 American Community Survey (in conjunction with the Census) Saline and Lincoln have some differences, but in reality I don't think it's as large as some argue.
I won't argue that the mean income for families is higher in Saline than it is for Lincoln, Saline has a median family income of $102,000, while Lincoln's mean family income is $73,000 (though both are well over the national median income of $49,445 according to the 2010 census). However, it's important to look at how those numbers. The median is all well and good, but you have to look at how these families are distributed.
Looking at the data we can see that the distribution has a heaver load of poor and working class at Lincoln, with higher upper class in Saline, but the numbers are not compelling enough to convince me that the problem is demographic. Looking at the lowest group, those making under $15,000 a year, Lincoln does carry a heavier load with 7.8% of families in the district earning this amount. In comparison, Saline has only 3.1% with the same income. However, when you look at all households, the number shrinks to 7.6% at Lincoln and 5.8% in Saline.
Moving on to what is considered to be working class families (or those making less thank $35,000), you again have a heaver representation in Lincoln than Saline, with 12% of Lincoln families falling under this classification, and only 6.1% of Saline families earning similar amounts. However, again this number shrinks when you look at the community as a hole to 15% at Lincoln and 10.5% in Saline
Likewise, you see a similar shift when looking at what would be considered upper class families making over $150,000 where Saline has a much higher rate of 22.1% of families in this bracket, while Lincoln kicks in with only 6.9%.
However, that leaves us with the last group, the middle class, the class that most Americans would identify themselves as (correctly or not). This consists of the groups that make over $35,000 a year, but less than $150,000 a year. And in this Lincoln surpasses Saline, with 73.2% to 68.6%. (further dividing it, to upper middle class you end up with 48% of Saline in this category and 42% of Lincoln.)
So, what these numbers tell me is yes, indeed Lincoln does have a lower wage, however the vast majority of students fall into the same social category. While Saline has a higher upper class representation, and Lincoln a higher lower class representation, most the student fall into the same brackets. 90% of Saline students are considered middle class or higher, while 80% of Lincoln meets the same category.
These are not huge divides. Yes, there is a difference as there are more at the top for Saline and more at the bottom for Lincoln, but that group int he middle is very close together. So what are the real issues at play?
1. Mindset
The problem isn't the issues laid out, the problem is that there are too many people walking around saying "It's just Lincoln." If you keep setting the bar so low, you can never expect people to reach their full potential. If you expect everything to be shitty, and then make excuses when things ARE shitty, then you can never expect them to get better.
I don't buy this load of crap. There's no good reason I've heard that can't be overcome with some hard work, determination, and raising the level of expectations. It will be difficult for a while as people adjust, but if you don't raise the bar, no one will try to reach it.
2. Lack of vision
Everyone is so blinded by their mindset, and so discouraged by constantly being told that you can't expect more, that no one has come up with a vision except for small insignificant steps. Suggestions are shot down before they're even attempted. Expectations are so low that anything higher is said to be impossible. With that kind of negativitiy who would possible go up against the massive institution and machine when it will just crush them?
If you have no vision of what you want to be, how can you ever try to do better? It's like being blindfolded in the woods. You can't see where you are, and therefore can't make a plan of where you'd like to go to get out of the woods. You need someone to be bold enough to paint a grand picture and pull everyone along the way.
3. Laziness
I hate to say it, but I think the biggest problem is people aren't willing to put the work in to make it a great place. You see, sometimes you're called upon to go above and beyond. When the status quo is terrible, you're going to have to put more into it to get it up to snuff. However, I hear things like "I'm not paid for that" or "That's not in my contract". I'm sorry, but schools are the pillar of a community, and while I expect fair pay for a job, at the same time this is YOUR community! You have to believe in it, be willing to work at it, and build it to the level you expect.
I'm not one to compare myself to others because I know I'm a nut that will fill every last minute in my day. However, at the same time there are things that don't require as much work, and yet they are resisted. Yes, the occasional extra hour, or, perhaps some time planning. Many people do this, but at the same time, it's going to take a bit more and from EVERYONE if you want to change things. Sadly I'm just not seeing that.
In the end, I'm done with the excuses. I have a grand vision, and I will put that ambition plan out for all to see. Either you're on the bus with us, or there's no room for you. It's going to be difficult to transition, but the bar has to be raised.
Here's my problem, I work with Lincoln, and I have for a number of years. The district isn't a in great shape, with terrible test scores, poor morale, and I think the majority of it is an issue in the mindset than any other actual barrier. Now, most of my work deals with extracurricular activities, however I think the attitudes I see are crossover from classroom attitudes, though that's not what I'm going to talk about right now.
Regardless, the issue I have is that when I see something that isn't working, I have the desire to fix it. To fix it I try to find examples that work, and then see what that example does and determine if it is a reasonable expectation to try and implement it. For example when reforming the NPO I looked at other peer groups and took their best ideas and merged it with our needs to come up with a policy that makes sense.
Like wise, when I look at the district and the problems I compare it to the top in the area and see what can be done. In this case the top district in my opinion would be Saline (and with the recent recognition seems like a good one to look at). However, time and time again I hear things like "Saline isn't Lincoln" or "Lincoln has a much different demographic." Pretty much the argument is that Lincoln is too poor and Saline is too affluent to compare the schools to. Well, I'm sorry but that doesn't work for me, and here are a few reasons why.
1. School Funding
Guess what excuse making whiners? Lincoln and Saline get nearly the same amount of funding per pupil, the difference is $327. Yes that's right, Saline receives $7,473 per student, Lincoln receives $7,142 per student. A difference of about 4% in funding, that's right, they receive about 4% more per student than we do. Yes, that adds up to $1,497,006 in total funding lost, however, in the big scheme of things, that's not a huge amount.
Now, of course one might point to the fact that they're a bigger district so the difference is greater. ($1.725 Million), however you also have to consider they have more student to have to provide services for, thus they need more space, more supplies, etc. etc. So, I don't see this as a valuable marker as to why we can't be more like a school like Saline. I mean if you look at say Ann Arbor with an additional $2,174 per student, you might have an argument as it's a 30% increase in funding. 4% does not a big difference make. While that money would be helpful, it's also not so damaging to explain why that doesn't work. See the graph from this article regarding school of choice on districts.
This next argument instead decides to claim that the students in the school are all poor, and thus we can't compete because our students are so different from Saline and therefore it's comparing apples to oranges. Well, that must mean that we have a huge portion of are students on the free lunch program, so much more so than a school like Saline. I will concede that we have twice as many students on Free Lunch as Saline. However, the actual numbers aren't impressive. According to GreatSchools.org Lincoln has 10% of student on free lunch, while Saline has 5%.
Yes, that's a difference, however it still means that 90% are NOT on free lunch. So I don't think the argument holds that Saline is in so much of a better position because they have 5% difference in the total population. Again, the argument that we can't compare to a great school because of who are students are don't necessarily hold up.
3. Ahh, but the people in Saline are so much better off.
I will give you that the upper earners in Saline are more plentiful than they are at Lincoln, but lets look at those numbers a little more closely. According to data from the 2009 American Community Survey (in conjunction with the Census) Saline and Lincoln have some differences, but in reality I don't think it's as large as some argue.
I won't argue that the mean income for families is higher in Saline than it is for Lincoln, Saline has a median family income of $102,000, while Lincoln's mean family income is $73,000 (though both are well over the national median income of $49,445 according to the 2010 census). However, it's important to look at how those numbers. The median is all well and good, but you have to look at how these families are distributed.
Looking at the data we can see that the distribution has a heaver load of poor and working class at Lincoln, with higher upper class in Saline, but the numbers are not compelling enough to convince me that the problem is demographic. Looking at the lowest group, those making under $15,000 a year, Lincoln does carry a heavier load with 7.8% of families in the district earning this amount. In comparison, Saline has only 3.1% with the same income. However, when you look at all households, the number shrinks to 7.6% at Lincoln and 5.8% in Saline.
Moving on to what is considered to be working class families (or those making less thank $35,000), you again have a heaver representation in Lincoln than Saline, with 12% of Lincoln families falling under this classification, and only 6.1% of Saline families earning similar amounts. However, again this number shrinks when you look at the community as a hole to 15% at Lincoln and 10.5% in Saline
Likewise, you see a similar shift when looking at what would be considered upper class families making over $150,000 where Saline has a much higher rate of 22.1% of families in this bracket, while Lincoln kicks in with only 6.9%.
However, that leaves us with the last group, the middle class, the class that most Americans would identify themselves as (correctly or not). This consists of the groups that make over $35,000 a year, but less than $150,000 a year. And in this Lincoln surpasses Saline, with 73.2% to 68.6%. (further dividing it, to upper middle class you end up with 48% of Saline in this category and 42% of Lincoln.)
So, what these numbers tell me is yes, indeed Lincoln does have a lower wage, however the vast majority of students fall into the same social category. While Saline has a higher upper class representation, and Lincoln a higher lower class representation, most the student fall into the same brackets. 90% of Saline students are considered middle class or higher, while 80% of Lincoln meets the same category.
These are not huge divides. Yes, there is a difference as there are more at the top for Saline and more at the bottom for Lincoln, but that group int he middle is very close together. So what are the real issues at play?
1. Mindset
The problem isn't the issues laid out, the problem is that there are too many people walking around saying "It's just Lincoln." If you keep setting the bar so low, you can never expect people to reach their full potential. If you expect everything to be shitty, and then make excuses when things ARE shitty, then you can never expect them to get better.
I don't buy this load of crap. There's no good reason I've heard that can't be overcome with some hard work, determination, and raising the level of expectations. It will be difficult for a while as people adjust, but if you don't raise the bar, no one will try to reach it.
2. Lack of vision
Everyone is so blinded by their mindset, and so discouraged by constantly being told that you can't expect more, that no one has come up with a vision except for small insignificant steps. Suggestions are shot down before they're even attempted. Expectations are so low that anything higher is said to be impossible. With that kind of negativitiy who would possible go up against the massive institution and machine when it will just crush them?
If you have no vision of what you want to be, how can you ever try to do better? It's like being blindfolded in the woods. You can't see where you are, and therefore can't make a plan of where you'd like to go to get out of the woods. You need someone to be bold enough to paint a grand picture and pull everyone along the way.
3. Laziness
I hate to say it, but I think the biggest problem is people aren't willing to put the work in to make it a great place. You see, sometimes you're called upon to go above and beyond. When the status quo is terrible, you're going to have to put more into it to get it up to snuff. However, I hear things like "I'm not paid for that" or "That's not in my contract". I'm sorry, but schools are the pillar of a community, and while I expect fair pay for a job, at the same time this is YOUR community! You have to believe in it, be willing to work at it, and build it to the level you expect.
I'm not one to compare myself to others because I know I'm a nut that will fill every last minute in my day. However, at the same time there are things that don't require as much work, and yet they are resisted. Yes, the occasional extra hour, or, perhaps some time planning. Many people do this, but at the same time, it's going to take a bit more and from EVERYONE if you want to change things. Sadly I'm just not seeing that.
In the end, I'm done with the excuses. I have a grand vision, and I will put that ambition plan out for all to see. Either you're on the bus with us, or there's no room for you. It's going to be difficult to transition, but the bar has to be raised.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
I Weep More For Humanity
Continuing my weeping thread, a Facebook friend posted a link to this Tumblr that made me both amused and disgusted all at once. You see, apparently in the hasty reading of the Hunger Games books, some people missed a few key details about characters, and then were shocked (and in some cases annoyed that certain characters were being played by black actors, specifically Rue the cute little girl that Katniss befriends in the arena and is totally broken up about when she is killed.
So I should probably explain why this amused me. You see, I find it amusing when people are dumbasses. And this has been a parade of dumassitude of mega proportions. I also enjoy when people *think* they know what they're talking about, get all stupid, and then are proved to be incorrect. So, that part of this really amused me because it's just so insane and stupid.
However, I am also very disgusted by what these morons are saying. Let's just ignore the entire issue of the book specifically saying "dark brown skin" and look at it from the point of "what if they didn't even say". What if no mention to Rue's skin tone was ever seen in the books? Even keeping in the fact that Rue remined Katniss of her sister. So even given all that, why does it matter that Amandla Stenberg was cast as Rue? 1. She's adorable. 2.Why does her skin tone matter in any way? It's all completely absurd.
However, I think this is a wonderful moment because it shines a huge light into the fact that racism isn't some thing in the past. The "well Obama is president so obviously racism doesn't exist anymore," is clearly a load of crap. It's very much alive and well in the hearts of many. What's more disturbing is the fact that these are coming from tweets, from those who have read the books, and many whom are younger. So, that is saying the racism is there in the young, not just the old people who are "set in their ways" which often is the argument. The truth is that it's still going strong, it's just been pushed into the private conversations (expect online and in online games where racial slurs are still very common place).
So, in the end this is disgusting and exposed in ways that can't be argued away, that racism is still a relevant issue. I mean any person who's been paying attention could tell you that, but sadly a large portion of the public doesn't pay attention. Anyhow, that's just my thoughts on the issue.
So I should probably explain why this amused me. You see, I find it amusing when people are dumbasses. And this has been a parade of dumassitude of mega proportions. I also enjoy when people *think* they know what they're talking about, get all stupid, and then are proved to be incorrect. So, that part of this really amused me because it's just so insane and stupid.
However, I am also very disgusted by what these morons are saying. Let's just ignore the entire issue of the book specifically saying "dark brown skin" and look at it from the point of "what if they didn't even say". What if no mention to Rue's skin tone was ever seen in the books? Even keeping in the fact that Rue remined Katniss of her sister. So even given all that, why does it matter that Amandla Stenberg was cast as Rue? 1. She's adorable. 2.Why does her skin tone matter in any way? It's all completely absurd.
However, I think this is a wonderful moment because it shines a huge light into the fact that racism isn't some thing in the past. The "well Obama is president so obviously racism doesn't exist anymore," is clearly a load of crap. It's very much alive and well in the hearts of many. What's more disturbing is the fact that these are coming from tweets, from those who have read the books, and many whom are younger. So, that is saying the racism is there in the young, not just the old people who are "set in their ways" which often is the argument. The truth is that it's still going strong, it's just been pushed into the private conversations (expect online and in online games where racial slurs are still very common place).
So, in the end this is disgusting and exposed in ways that can't be argued away, that racism is still a relevant issue. I mean any person who's been paying attention could tell you that, but sadly a large portion of the public doesn't pay attention. Anyhow, that's just my thoughts on the issue.
Monday, March 26, 2012
I Weep For Humanity
I forgot to mention in my blog yesterday about my despair at humanity.
You see, the previews... sweet lord the previews.
Usually I enjoy the previews, I like seeing what will be coming out. I love movies and love previews sometimes more than movies. I like watching how they make you interested, tell a short story, give you glimpses of what is to come. It's exciting. That's part of the reason I made a trailer for Nevermore last year, because I'm so interested in previews.
Well, seeing the previews yesterday made me fear that our society and culture is nearing the end. I present to you: GI Joe 2, Twilight 5, Host (the other bullshit by Stephanie Meyer - and yes I know I spelled her name 'wrong' because she's a moron), and ABE LINCOLN VAMPIRE HUNTER!
Seriously? I am not making this shit up.
First I have to say at least Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunger is a somewhat original idea. It's terrible, but original. Rather than the rehashes and crap that is coming out lately. Movies based on rides, games, old tv shows, retellings of old movies, unnecessary sequels. We need more original content. However, at the same time, WTF! ABE LINCOLN VAMPIRE HUNTER?!
I weep. My tears of sorrow will hopefully drown me before the end comes.
p.s. Ninja Turtle Aliens? Please die Michael Bay. Though it's clear that there will be tons of explosions if Michael Bay is involved.
You see, the previews... sweet lord the previews.
Usually I enjoy the previews, I like seeing what will be coming out. I love movies and love previews sometimes more than movies. I like watching how they make you interested, tell a short story, give you glimpses of what is to come. It's exciting. That's part of the reason I made a trailer for Nevermore last year, because I'm so interested in previews.
Well, seeing the previews yesterday made me fear that our society and culture is nearing the end. I present to you: GI Joe 2, Twilight 5, Host (the other bullshit by Stephanie Meyer - and yes I know I spelled her name 'wrong' because she's a moron), and ABE LINCOLN VAMPIRE HUNTER!
Seriously? I am not making this shit up.
First I have to say at least Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunger is a somewhat original idea. It's terrible, but original. Rather than the rehashes and crap that is coming out lately. Movies based on rides, games, old tv shows, retellings of old movies, unnecessary sequels. We need more original content. However, at the same time, WTF! ABE LINCOLN VAMPIRE HUNTER?!
I weep. My tears of sorrow will hopefully drown me before the end comes.
p.s. Ninja Turtle Aliens? Please die Michael Bay. Though it's clear that there will be tons of explosions if Michael Bay is involved.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The Hunger Games
Today we finally made it to the theater to see The Hunger Games. When I read the books back in November and December I wrote what I thought of Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay (in two parts). So, as you know I clearly liked the Hunger Games far better than Catching Fire and Mockingjay.Well, I have to say that I thought the movie was really well done. When I look at the way they adapted the book to movie form I have to say they were probably the most true to the original content than most other adaptations. Does that mean it was 100% the book? No, of course not. A book has far more time to develop things, more room for details, and a just more opportunities to flesh things out. A movie on the other hand needs to make sure it doesn't drag ass, and keeps the interest of the viewers in a way that a book doesn't.
So the good first. As I said it was an adaptation that I found really good by comparisons. They added a few things, but I felt they helped propel the story along in a way that didn't distract. For example you didn't have a pointless dragon chase in the middle of the movie like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire did. Or, strange details like weird Jamaican talking heads. Instead they were additions that made sense in the scheme of story telling and getting information to the audience that they couldn't get otherwise. For example, you had added commentary during the games where they explained things like the Tracker Jackers, or conversations between Snow and Seneca, or Seneca and Haymitch that logically could have happened, and explained why certain plot points took place.
On the opposite end, I didn't feel the cuts that were made were detrimental to the story either. You had unnecessary characters cut, such as the mayor's daughter, the fashion crew, or the avox. While these were nice stories in the book, the movie doesn't need them to take the plot along. In fact, from a movie standpoint they slow down the story and add extra unnecessary people. While the characters were nice touches to the world of the book, in a movie they weren't needed.
I enjoyed the feel. I think that district 12 looked exactly as I pictured it. A kind of mid-Atlantic state, with the hills and that kind of depression era look to things. People weren't happy, things weren't nice. It served as a wonderful juxtaposition with the clean modern plentiful world of the capital that we see when Katniss is taken from her district by a luxurious train filled with all the food one could want.
There were some minor issues that I didn't enjoy. For one, I felt that Haymitch wasn't quite fleshed out enough. You had one main drunk scene but other than that he seemed a bit too likable and a bit to ready to get down to work. You didn't get to see that switch that flips where he goes from drunken ass to helpful mentor. While that's probably not necessary for the story, I think it would have been more helpful since in the opening scene it's not clear why he's a drunkard or what it is that sobers him up.
I also felt the relationships between Katniss and Rue, and Katniss and Peeta weren't developed enough either. They were kind of flat and lacked the growth needed. However the books much of the narrative of what's going on takes place in Katniss' head, so it's hard to transpose that to a movie as it's kind of campy to have her constantly saying her thoughts. They weren't bad, but I think they could have done a better job.
Casting, I didn't like the choices of Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz or Liam Hemsworth. Woody didn't quite have the look or demeanor that I pictured, Lenny seemed kind of aloof and unconcerned by anything, and Liam was too much the eye candy to propel the BS love triangle (which as I mentioned in my book blog, should have been cut entirely). Perhaps I'm bias because I hate Gale so much. Character wise he was a disappointment, plot wise he made things unnecessarily complicated, and really someone should have cut him out of the final story. I feel they were trying to pull a Twilight by adding unnecessary drama do a situation that could have been far more compelling in other ways.
Overall, I liked the movie and walked away happy. I think they stayed true to the original text while making a movie that is going to appeal to many. I'm interested to see what the final take is on the box office for the opening weekend. Mostly I hope it beats Twilight. I like it when anything beats Twilight because it's a festering bot of boiling shit.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
See-Saw
That is what I'm on. A see-saw of quit-throttle up. Quit-Throttle Up.
It's irritating. My nature pushes me to throw even more into it. However my irritations tells me to leave it.
Ahh well.
It's irritating. My nature pushes me to throw even more into it. However my irritations tells me to leave it.
Ahh well.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Rehearsals
Well, we decided to cut rehearsals for the rest of the week, a little break if you will. So far they're going quite well, and I greatly enjoy the interactions that we are seeing develop. I also like that they are so easily finding the humor in the situations. They laugh at the same parts every time so I'm feeling good about that. The worst thought is that no one will laugh, but this makes me optimistic.
P.S. It's almost too hot out.
P.S. It's almost too hot out.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Two Weeks
I've got two weeks left until I'm officially out of my 'probation' period at work. Stupid six month period where you are under review every few months until the first six months is over...
But two weeks from today I'll be past that point, and then have the freedom to move around the university. So, that is good news.
Other than that, not much is going on.
But two weeks from today I'll be past that point, and then have the freedom to move around the university. So, that is good news.
Other than that, not much is going on.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Happy Spring!
Welcome to Spring. I mean, it's hard to tell it was winter, what with the high temps lately, and the tornado, and the summer like storms.
No matter, it is now officially spring and that makes me happy. The last half of winter I find terribly boring. I love spring, and I'm sick of cold weather by early January. I know this year was very light, and I only had to shovel snow once. But, I'm still happy that winter is now behind us and we're moving into spring! WOO HOO!
So, happy first day of spring. "The weather still continues charming."
No matter, it is now officially spring and that makes me happy. The last half of winter I find terribly boring. I love spring, and I'm sick of cold weather by early January. I know this year was very light, and I only had to shovel snow once. But, I'm still happy that winter is now behind us and we're moving into spring! WOO HOO!
So, happy first day of spring. "The weather still continues charming."
Monday, March 19, 2012
Today
No real topic for today. It's just, today. I don't know why but I was feeling quite pessimistic, disappointed, and down today. I have no idea what was creating this storm of blah, but it was here, and it was bothersome. Just immense disappointment and saddness. Meh.
I will say that my mood was definitely brightened when I stopped by the school, it was nice to see everyone, and to be back even for a short period.
I continued my fitness challenge for March. Last week I pretty much did nothing as it's hard to do many of the things I do with a bum toe. Ronan tripped me and it was difficult to walk or put weight on that foot. So last week I took off, and instead will make up for it over the first week of April. I will say I am seeing an improvement in flexibility as I have been doing the same yoga routine 3 times a week for three weeks now. I'm not a pretzel or anything, but I'm able to more easily bend and stretch than I was before, so that's kind of cool. The dogs also are enjoying the longer more frequent walks, so that's good. I'm considering layering in some short runs. Just the mile around the block, but now that it's warm, it'd probably be nice.
Anyhow, that's my today. I hope tomorrow is better than today.
I will say that my mood was definitely brightened when I stopped by the school, it was nice to see everyone, and to be back even for a short period.
I continued my fitness challenge for March. Last week I pretty much did nothing as it's hard to do many of the things I do with a bum toe. Ronan tripped me and it was difficult to walk or put weight on that foot. So last week I took off, and instead will make up for it over the first week of April. I will say I am seeing an improvement in flexibility as I have been doing the same yoga routine 3 times a week for three weeks now. I'm not a pretzel or anything, but I'm able to more easily bend and stretch than I was before, so that's kind of cool. The dogs also are enjoying the longer more frequent walks, so that's good. I'm considering layering in some short runs. Just the mile around the block, but now that it's warm, it'd probably be nice.
Anyhow, that's my today. I hope tomorrow is better than today.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Weather?
What is up with you? You've gone insane!!! You are aware that it is still technically winter, correct? I mean, we've still got two days till spring and you're acting like it's June! I mean, I'm not going to complain, but seriously, I'm worried about your state of mind!
P.S. Please don't change!
P.S. Please don't change!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
A Greenless St. Patrick
Today was St. Patrick's day. So what?
Yeah, we don't do that nonsense. I didn't even wear green. In fact I didn't even remember it was today until we wanted to go to the Arbor Brew Co. For lunch and Becky reminded me that it would be full of drunk hooligans at 11:30 am. Instead we ended up at Gratzi, which was tasty.
This evening we also went and saw Milan's production of Beauty and the Beast. They did a great job, and it was fun to see the show done on a small scale. I was impressed by some of their actors, though I'm beginning to see a pattern in their sets. Why is it that people fall into these ruts and have the same basic structure for all shows? I don't quite understand how a creative mind can become so lazy. But, no matter.
They had a great production, though their turnout was very small, which was odd to me. I'd love to work on that show, I quite enjoy it.
Yeah, we don't do that nonsense. I didn't even wear green. In fact I didn't even remember it was today until we wanted to go to the Arbor Brew Co. For lunch and Becky reminded me that it would be full of drunk hooligans at 11:30 am. Instead we ended up at Gratzi, which was tasty.
This evening we also went and saw Milan's production of Beauty and the Beast. They did a great job, and it was fun to see the show done on a small scale. I was impressed by some of their actors, though I'm beginning to see a pattern in their sets. Why is it that people fall into these ruts and have the same basic structure for all shows? I don't quite understand how a creative mind can become so lazy. But, no matter.
They had a great production, though their turnout was very small, which was odd to me. I'd love to work on that show, I quite enjoy it.
Friday, March 16, 2012
BUTTFACE
So, we were going to purchase a couch for theatre usage. They really needed one for MIFA this year (and actually could have used it in about 5 shows over the past few years. We found an excellent one online, contacted the seller, planned to pick it up tomorrow, canceled rehearsal so we could pick it up, reserved a u-haul, and what does this ass goblin do? Sells it to someone else, doesn't tell us and then cops an attitude.
What a jerk.
Back to square one.
What a jerk.
Back to square one.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Rehearsing
I'm really enjoying working on our current show. It's been a challenge to get people here at the same time, but it's a good show and they're all seeing the humor and working with it. So, that is exciting. It's a bit of a pain trying to get all the logistics of it, but then again we aren't the totally haphazard acting troupe for nothing.
Anyhow, things are coming along, and hopefully we're right on track for where we need to be.
Anyhow, things are coming along, and hopefully we're right on track for where we need to be.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Resistance Is Futile
This is what I feel like I'm always up against. This unstoppable collective that adapts, learns, and finds a way do win. There is no resistance. I mean, there is but you'll just end up getting crushed anyway. At least that is how I often feel lately. What is the point of fighting, it's an battle uphill that can never be won. Wouldn't it just be easier to find some quite corner of the galaxy and try to live a quite life and avoid all the battles?
This is a hard thing to deal with. I am at my core opposed to this idea. I have fought against this idea. However, now I'm not sure I can continue the fight, I've lost my steam and drive. I've had more regular stomach problems, my stress level is through the roof, I haven't slept well in ages. So, why should I keep trying to change something that doesn't want to change, and has no intention of changing?
This is all related to what we will call The Great BS of 2012. As many know we had our "official" meeting last night. I really just wanted to skip it because it was my opinion that nothing really would come out of it. Nothing we didn't already know, or suspect. Nothing would change. It would just reopen the wounds. Turns out, that was all true. Suspicious were confirmed. A story was given that contradicted itself and that I don't buy. Many things were said, but I doubt any action will come out of it.
So, where does that leave the situation? Well, to be honest completely unresolved. Statements were made in an effort to put the thing to rest, however nothing said has satisfied me. My issue isn't what was said. I really don't care what someone said about me, it doesn't bother me. I can't please everyone all the time, and if there is a problem well I'm sorry for them that they have that problem. I obviously would do what I could to resolve the problem, but I'm not the one with the problem. Additionally, whoever is making the complaint (and I'm about 99% sure I know all the people involved despite not being allowed to tell me) I really don't value their opinion. The reason for this is, Where are you?
Where are you?
Because I know who is there, and who sees what is going on, and who works in the environment, and has any credible opinion. And the complain wasn't coming from anyone credible. So, perhaps before complaining about what people who are sacrificing their time, energy, and money, you should get off your ass and pull some weight.
I don't recall seeing anyone other than the core group every weekend for entire football season working a concession stand.
I don't recall seeing anyone other than the core group working a bottle drive, or helping with props, costumes, and paint.
I don't recall seeing anyone other than the core group organizing meals, group sales, workshops.
I don't recall seeing anyone other than the core group stepping up to make sure these students are learning, getting all the resources they need, and doing everything they can; being completely selfless.
I have no patience for armchair coaches who think they have a right to stand on the sidelines and harass the coaches and players. So, I don't care what was said, what was complained about, or the opinion of people who have no legitimate voice in the matter.
What I do care about is honesty, transparency, loyalty, respect, and reasonableness. That is where the true issue is because none of this was given to people, who have upheld these values to them. I flat out believe I've been lied to. The discussion still is not transparent. No loyalty has been shown to me, when I have stood beside and sometimes in front of people when they have been criticized. I was not given the respect to not be blindsided. And not a single person took a reasonable response to the situation and instead inflated it and made it worse.
That is where my problem is, and that is where the fissure has formed that now seems like and insurmountable gulf.
So, what is one to do? Do I decide not to resist? Give up the fight and just walk away? I have a huge commitment to what I do. I believe in what I do. I love what I do. But has it become too much? I don't have answers. I don't know what I'll do.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Waiting For Superman
A few years back all the hype was around the movie Waiting For Superman and how Charter Schools were going to be the savior of the "broken" public school system. Now, right off the bat I have to say I don't by the "broke" public school argument. I 100% believe that there are drop out factories, and schools that are "broken" but the model of a free and public education is sound. Are there issues? Yes. But do the majority of student who leave school know how to read, write, and have a basic understanding of History, Math, and Science? Yes. And furthermore, most have enough to get by in life, so I can't say that the school system is failing the majority of students.
However, it is failing some student. However I don't feel charter schools are the answer. And I guess this article is exhibit A. You see, they don't do any better than your traditional school. So that superman isn't coming, because he isn't real. Now, I will note that they point out that charters seem to do better in areas most affected by the education gap (specifically poor and minority areas). So, I'm less critical of those area, but overall I don't agree with the charter idea.
This idea that you can just go and make another school to "save" students is BS. Focus on the school, because that student is now taking funding with them to the charter, and the home district is going to go into further financial trouble. It also takes some of the best students, who are the good citizens, the role models, and the peers that can help others out of the mix.
Are there problems with school systems? Absolutely. I see it all the time and it drives me insane, but you know what the real problem is. Involvement. You don't like how it's going, then get your asses up to the school board meetings. Find replacements for the school board members, petition, campaign, demand change. No one cares. They complain that the teachers aren't doing their jobs, well the COMMUNITY isn't doing their job in making sure we have good schools.
Anyway, this just drove me nuts and I needed discuss.
However, it is failing some student. However I don't feel charter schools are the answer. And I guess this article is exhibit A. You see, they don't do any better than your traditional school. So that superman isn't coming, because he isn't real. Now, I will note that they point out that charters seem to do better in areas most affected by the education gap (specifically poor and minority areas). So, I'm less critical of those area, but overall I don't agree with the charter idea.
This idea that you can just go and make another school to "save" students is BS. Focus on the school, because that student is now taking funding with them to the charter, and the home district is going to go into further financial trouble. It also takes some of the best students, who are the good citizens, the role models, and the peers that can help others out of the mix.
Are there problems with school systems? Absolutely. I see it all the time and it drives me insane, but you know what the real problem is. Involvement. You don't like how it's going, then get your asses up to the school board meetings. Find replacements for the school board members, petition, campaign, demand change. No one cares. They complain that the teachers aren't doing their jobs, well the COMMUNITY isn't doing their job in making sure we have good schools.
Anyway, this just drove me nuts and I needed discuss.
Monday, March 12, 2012
The Sun Will Come Out...
Tomorrow.
I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. I'm not sure what I'm going to do.
We are not amused.
I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. I'm not sure what I'm going to do.
We are not amused.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Rehearsing Away
Today we had another rehearsal for our play we're trying to put together. It's fun, but stressful. It's really hard to find space, and get all the resources you need to put something together when you don't have a dedicated location, especially since we have to fundraiser for everything to pay for it as we haven't built up a cash reserve.
I'm optimistic about it all, though.
I'm optimistic about it all, though.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
MMMMMM. Cheesecake!
What is the best thing to do for dinner? Obviously drive to Cleveland and go to the Cheesecake Factory!
Today, we had nothing to do. It was actually rather boring. What in the world could we do? What was to be done? Well, Eric decided we drive to Cleveland and get dinner at the most glorious Cheesecake Factory. So, that is what we did.
All I can say is that I was SOOOO STUFFED that I couldn't even think of eating something else. It was wonderful.
Today, we had nothing to do. It was actually rather boring. What in the world could we do? What was to be done? Well, Eric decided we drive to Cleveland and get dinner at the most glorious Cheesecake Factory. So, that is what we did.
All I can say is that I was SOOOO STUFFED that I couldn't even think of eating something else. It was wonderful.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Friday
I hate that I look forward to Friday. But, I'm happy it's Friday. Not sure what the plans are for the weekend, but I'm glad it's the weekend. Someday I hope to have a job again that I don't just count down the days until Friday.
Someday.
Someday.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
AA.Com
You know, I'm getting bored reading Ann Arbor.com. All my favorite comment trolls have left. Where did they go? Why are they all of the sudden not posting any more? It makes me sad. The foolishness level has decreased greatly and that's no good for me. Why else should I even read it? I mean the stories are terrible, the quality is poor. All I had was the crazies in the comments. Now they're just your average crazy.
I miss the characters.
I miss the characters.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Kony 2012
There has been a lot of attention to a push to get Joseph Kony to become a household name. I had heard of him prior to today, but the release of a video by Invisible Children has increased the attention to the guy. For those who don't know or haven't seen anything, he's pretty much an African warlord, who sucks balls, kills people, kidnaps children to fight in his army, and is on the top of most wanted list for the international court.
Now, it seems the whole point of the film is to raise awareness to the situation, and urge people to pressure government decision makers to keep the pressure on Kony so that he can be brought to justice. However, once this came out people started bitching and moaning about how this is just a "scam" to raise money, that the NPO spends a lot of money on salaries, on travel and film making expenses, and they just want your money.
My thoughts on it is that a third goes to actual things like building schools, which is positive. Additionally, if the goal is to raise awareness, get the word out, and all of that then you're going to need to go there, film there, and distribute that film to people all over the place, that's not cheap. Furthermore, being someone that works for an NPO, it is a lot of work, and if it was possible to work at it full time it would be far more effective, however people can't work for free. So, I see no issue with the way they spend their funds.
Second, if the goal is to raise awareness and pressure people to take action, you don't have to donate anything other than your time. An e-mail, letter, or phone call to your representative doesn't cost much, if anything. Additionally, you don't have to go through the IC group to do those things. So, claiming it's a scam that wants money is kind of silly since you don't have to go through them to do what they want you do. You can, but you don't have to.
Third, there's the complaint that the government and army of Uganda isn't much better. However, that doesn't seem to me to be an argument for doing nothing regarding Kony. To be honest, the situation in many African countries isn't great. That is true of many places around the world. It's not much argument to say that other people are bad, or just as bad, and that they aren't being focused on. Everyone has their focus, for this group it's Kony. Additionally, the army of Uganda is hunting him, therefore, that's who you have to work with on the matter. Example: We worked with Stalin to defeat Hitler. Sometimes the real events of the world make strange bedfellows for short periods to complete a task. Remember, the goal is to bring a warlord to justice. Any other issues are secondary and can be dealt with separately
In the end, it seems that raising awareness and targeting letters to the people who can make a difference is worthwhile. When a public official is flooded with messages about a single issue they take notice. So regardless of what the NPO is doing, the message and tactics are still sound. Regardless of what the actual organization does has nothing to do with you being able to write a letter and make people aware of the situation and urge them to take some sort of action as well.
With that, below is the video. I'm not saying to donate to the organization, or to purchase the pack they mention. But be aware of what's going on, and take some time to learn about the situation and what you can do that helps with it. I regularly write to my senators and congressman, and it only takes a few moments as most have templates on their websites to send messages. Though in this case I believe there are specific people that letters should be directed to, since it's not something the full congress is dealing with.
Anyhow, the goal is good: Bring Kony to justice to be tried in the international courts. Regardless of your thoughts on IC, they are working toward a noble end, and spreading the word, raising awareness, and pressuring the right people are all easy, cheap, and effective tools.
Now, it seems the whole point of the film is to raise awareness to the situation, and urge people to pressure government decision makers to keep the pressure on Kony so that he can be brought to justice. However, once this came out people started bitching and moaning about how this is just a "scam" to raise money, that the NPO spends a lot of money on salaries, on travel and film making expenses, and they just want your money.
My thoughts on it is that a third goes to actual things like building schools, which is positive. Additionally, if the goal is to raise awareness, get the word out, and all of that then you're going to need to go there, film there, and distribute that film to people all over the place, that's not cheap. Furthermore, being someone that works for an NPO, it is a lot of work, and if it was possible to work at it full time it would be far more effective, however people can't work for free. So, I see no issue with the way they spend their funds.
Second, if the goal is to raise awareness and pressure people to take action, you don't have to donate anything other than your time. An e-mail, letter, or phone call to your representative doesn't cost much, if anything. Additionally, you don't have to go through the IC group to do those things. So, claiming it's a scam that wants money is kind of silly since you don't have to go through them to do what they want you do. You can, but you don't have to.
Third, there's the complaint that the government and army of Uganda isn't much better. However, that doesn't seem to me to be an argument for doing nothing regarding Kony. To be honest, the situation in many African countries isn't great. That is true of many places around the world. It's not much argument to say that other people are bad, or just as bad, and that they aren't being focused on. Everyone has their focus, for this group it's Kony. Additionally, the army of Uganda is hunting him, therefore, that's who you have to work with on the matter. Example: We worked with Stalin to defeat Hitler. Sometimes the real events of the world make strange bedfellows for short periods to complete a task. Remember, the goal is to bring a warlord to justice. Any other issues are secondary and can be dealt with separately
In the end, it seems that raising awareness and targeting letters to the people who can make a difference is worthwhile. When a public official is flooded with messages about a single issue they take notice. So regardless of what the NPO is doing, the message and tactics are still sound. Regardless of what the actual organization does has nothing to do with you being able to write a letter and make people aware of the situation and urge them to take some sort of action as well.
With that, below is the video. I'm not saying to donate to the organization, or to purchase the pack they mention. But be aware of what's going on, and take some time to learn about the situation and what you can do that helps with it. I regularly write to my senators and congressman, and it only takes a few moments as most have templates on their websites to send messages. Though in this case I believe there are specific people that letters should be directed to, since it's not something the full congress is dealing with.
Anyhow, the goal is good: Bring Kony to justice to be tried in the international courts. Regardless of your thoughts on IC, they are working toward a noble end, and spreading the word, raising awareness, and pressuring the right people are all easy, cheap, and effective tools.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Got Any Tide?
Because I need a soap box. You'll have to excuse me for a moment, I'm about to bash the right-wing nutjobs and tea bagger morons.
Recently there's been a lot of complaining about related to the rule that the Obama administration was all "Hey as a matter of public health, insurance must provide birth control to women." So, then you have fat faced Rush decide to call a woman who testified in front of Congress a slut or whore, and somehow tried to make a link that tax payer money was being used because an insurance company is forced to provide an item. Though I don't expect logic from a group of baboons who seem to think that "Obamacare" was a socialist government take over by making people BUY insurance FROM an INSURANCE COMPANY. So clearly they're not intelligent.
However, this goes further when I was reading an article on a plan to try and provide scholarships to Michigan seniors so that they can go to college. The very first comment out of the gate was about how "blah blah blah using my money, blah blah blah." And "If you want to go to college pay for it yourself and don't use my money, blah blah blah."
Ok, I'm sick of this narrative about using "my money" to do things. These people want a lot of things, but they don't want to pay for it. Additionally, are short sighted and are so busy looking at the line item they can't see the bigger picture. I would venture to guess that all of these "don't use my money" people wouldn't complain about something like funding police and prisons (though there is a growing group complaining about firefighters because they sit around waiting to be called, so why should they get paid to sit around. That is a completely different topic, but one I could at length discuss as it makes me want to explode).
So, how in the world, I'm sure you're asking, are you going to link police and public safety to college funding and birth control. Well, anyone with half a brain can connect those dots quite quickly. Because you see, poverty and crime are very closely related. Unwanted pregnancies, and low education are both linked very closely to poverty. Therefore, they are both a very easy line to crime.
Let's start with birth control. First, if men gave birth, birth control would have been free to all the second it developed. But furthermore, birth control, in addition to helping with public health, also keeps people from unwanted pregnancies. Now I know the goons on the right are already clenching their butt flaps about how people shouldn't be having sex before marriage blah blah blah. Well you know what, for THOUSANDS OF YEARS in the whole of human existence, people have been having sex before marriage. They will continue to do so. It won't stop. So, you are already starting off in the land of crazy dumbasses. The simple point is, that contraceptives allow people to ensure they don't have children until they are ready to. This means that you perhaps don't have more single mothers out there, or young couples not financially stable enough to support a child. Additionally, we know finances are a major cause for divorce, thus it could be easy to argue that the added stress of a child on the finances of a young couple is eliminated thus preventing divorce. The simple fact is that the link between poverty and crime is shown again and again, therefore bringing people into this world of poverty will increase the probability of criminal activity in future life. So there you go, contraceptives prevents crime. (Incidentally, there is similar research that links abortion to declines in the crime rate, but again that's another blog.)
Education plays the exact same role. The less educated are more likely to end up in jail. Yet, we spend on average around $9,000 a year per student to educate them, but around $35,000 a year per inmate to imprison them. Incidentally, there are also links between poverty and under achievement in schools, thus giving them a double whammy on the likelihood of future criminal activities. The more educated a person is, the less likely the criminal activity. Now, of course it's not a all or nothing deal. Well educated people do commit crime, however the types of crimes and the prevalence of it are greatly different. Furthermore, with the way the employment markets are changing, the likelihood of an undereducated person being able to provide enough is increasingly declining. A high school diploma or less is going to get you a job that pays very little. So, the need for a highly educated citizenry is import as the world changes.
The simple point is this, society and civilization means that you don't get to complain about the government "using your money". Your money is earned because society exists. If you don't like that, find some remote island and go off and hunt and forage for yourself. See how much you like that. Civilization has brought us everything we have today, and we wouldn't have done it if we hadn't banded together and build up a society. In exchange for security, health, paved roads, good schools, clean water, safe food, electricity, and all the other things that everyone wants to have, we have to give to the system. Everyone in the world can find something they "don't like paying for", but that is the cost of living in a society.
It isn't 'us' Vs. 'them' because THEY are us. WE THE PEOPLE... not "They the people" Everyone likes to go on about "American individualism" and how we are a nation about doing for yourself. But that's not really 100% true, it's a side of the coin, but the other side is 13 colonies who banded together to fight for the freedom to self govern. It is those 13 states that banded together to form a federal government. It is those states that banded together to fight off tyranny and oppression last century. It is those people of that nation that joined together and worked with one another when tragedy strikes. It is our collective money that helped us build dams bringing power to areas that were powerless, rockets that took the first humans to the moon, who funded technologies that brought us the Internet, and atomic power, it paid for a network of highways that allowed companies to grow and profit, and citizens to quickly get form place to place.
Americans may be individual in spirit, but we are also a collective that bands together to do great things. Education and public health ARE great things, and there is no reason why we shouldn't band together to achieve a higher standard of living for all our citizens.
I'm sick of this rhetoric. I gladly pay my taxes even if there are items I disagree with, but that's the beauty of democracy, we can influence it if we band together. If I disagree, I send my letters, and I let it be known in the voting booth. But I won't let politics tell me that I should hate and be envious of another person simply because they benefit from a program. In reality, the issues are so big that I will surly benefit in ways that you can't understand until you look below the surface and think about what it really means. So, I'm glad to use my tax dollars so people can have sex without having babies (that I'd have to pay for in medicare, school, prison, and crime rates), and I'm happy to pay to send a kid to college because a more educated society will prosper.
End rant.
Recently there's been a lot of complaining about related to the rule that the Obama administration was all "Hey as a matter of public health, insurance must provide birth control to women." So, then you have fat faced Rush decide to call a woman who testified in front of Congress a slut or whore, and somehow tried to make a link that tax payer money was being used because an insurance company is forced to provide an item. Though I don't expect logic from a group of baboons who seem to think that "Obamacare" was a socialist government take over by making people BUY insurance FROM an INSURANCE COMPANY. So clearly they're not intelligent.
However, this goes further when I was reading an article on a plan to try and provide scholarships to Michigan seniors so that they can go to college. The very first comment out of the gate was about how "blah blah blah using my money, blah blah blah." And "If you want to go to college pay for it yourself and don't use my money, blah blah blah."
Ok, I'm sick of this narrative about using "my money" to do things. These people want a lot of things, but they don't want to pay for it. Additionally, are short sighted and are so busy looking at the line item they can't see the bigger picture. I would venture to guess that all of these "don't use my money" people wouldn't complain about something like funding police and prisons (though there is a growing group complaining about firefighters because they sit around waiting to be called, so why should they get paid to sit around. That is a completely different topic, but one I could at length discuss as it makes me want to explode).
So, how in the world, I'm sure you're asking, are you going to link police and public safety to college funding and birth control. Well, anyone with half a brain can connect those dots quite quickly. Because you see, poverty and crime are very closely related. Unwanted pregnancies, and low education are both linked very closely to poverty. Therefore, they are both a very easy line to crime.
Let's start with birth control. First, if men gave birth, birth control would have been free to all the second it developed. But furthermore, birth control, in addition to helping with public health, also keeps people from unwanted pregnancies. Now I know the goons on the right are already clenching their butt flaps about how people shouldn't be having sex before marriage blah blah blah. Well you know what, for THOUSANDS OF YEARS in the whole of human existence, people have been having sex before marriage. They will continue to do so. It won't stop. So, you are already starting off in the land of crazy dumbasses. The simple point is, that contraceptives allow people to ensure they don't have children until they are ready to. This means that you perhaps don't have more single mothers out there, or young couples not financially stable enough to support a child. Additionally, we know finances are a major cause for divorce, thus it could be easy to argue that the added stress of a child on the finances of a young couple is eliminated thus preventing divorce. The simple fact is that the link between poverty and crime is shown again and again, therefore bringing people into this world of poverty will increase the probability of criminal activity in future life. So there you go, contraceptives prevents crime. (Incidentally, there is similar research that links abortion to declines in the crime rate, but again that's another blog.)
Education plays the exact same role. The less educated are more likely to end up in jail. Yet, we spend on average around $9,000 a year per student to educate them, but around $35,000 a year per inmate to imprison them. Incidentally, there are also links between poverty and under achievement in schools, thus giving them a double whammy on the likelihood of future criminal activities. The more educated a person is, the less likely the criminal activity. Now, of course it's not a all or nothing deal. Well educated people do commit crime, however the types of crimes and the prevalence of it are greatly different. Furthermore, with the way the employment markets are changing, the likelihood of an undereducated person being able to provide enough is increasingly declining. A high school diploma or less is going to get you a job that pays very little. So, the need for a highly educated citizenry is import as the world changes.
The simple point is this, society and civilization means that you don't get to complain about the government "using your money". Your money is earned because society exists. If you don't like that, find some remote island and go off and hunt and forage for yourself. See how much you like that. Civilization has brought us everything we have today, and we wouldn't have done it if we hadn't banded together and build up a society. In exchange for security, health, paved roads, good schools, clean water, safe food, electricity, and all the other things that everyone wants to have, we have to give to the system. Everyone in the world can find something they "don't like paying for", but that is the cost of living in a society.
It isn't 'us' Vs. 'them' because THEY are us. WE THE PEOPLE... not "They the people" Everyone likes to go on about "American individualism" and how we are a nation about doing for yourself. But that's not really 100% true, it's a side of the coin, but the other side is 13 colonies who banded together to fight for the freedom to self govern. It is those 13 states that banded together to form a federal government. It is those states that banded together to fight off tyranny and oppression last century. It is those people of that nation that joined together and worked with one another when tragedy strikes. It is our collective money that helped us build dams bringing power to areas that were powerless, rockets that took the first humans to the moon, who funded technologies that brought us the Internet, and atomic power, it paid for a network of highways that allowed companies to grow and profit, and citizens to quickly get form place to place.
Americans may be individual in spirit, but we are also a collective that bands together to do great things. Education and public health ARE great things, and there is no reason why we shouldn't band together to achieve a higher standard of living for all our citizens.
I'm sick of this rhetoric. I gladly pay my taxes even if there are items I disagree with, but that's the beauty of democracy, we can influence it if we band together. If I disagree, I send my letters, and I let it be known in the voting booth. But I won't let politics tell me that I should hate and be envious of another person simply because they benefit from a program. In reality, the issues are so big that I will surly benefit in ways that you can't understand until you look below the surface and think about what it really means. So, I'm glad to use my tax dollars so people can have sex without having babies (that I'd have to pay for in medicare, school, prison, and crime rates), and I'm happy to pay to send a kid to college because a more educated society will prosper.
End rant.
Monday, March 5, 2012
A Fitness Update
Not much going on today so I'll just post a little update on how my little March Challenge is going. Well, I'm no longer at 100%, but I've done well. I missed one of my yoga sessions last week and due to rain I didn't do our long walk on Friday, but then didn't do it on Saturday or Sunday either. So I feel bad about that. But other than that I've kept on. I took my Sunday off as I had planned, and started back up today on things. So far so good. One week down four more to go!'
p.s. I'll be happy when it warms up. Walking the dogs will be so much nicer. Also, skunks. I do not like smelling you, and you make me worry that one of our stupid dogs will see you chase you, and end up smelling like you.
p.s. I'll be happy when it warms up. Walking the dogs will be so much nicer. Also, skunks. I do not like smelling you, and you make me worry that one of our stupid dogs will see you chase you, and end up smelling like you.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Shrek
Tonight was our third group sale event for the year, and we got to go see Shrek The Musical at the Fisher Theatre! Now, I was really looking forward to this one because I love the soundtrack and thought it would be a great time. It was indeed a fun musical, they had tap dancing, and a well placed Mitt Romney joke they decided to throw in for kicks.I do have to say that I was a little disappointed that they did some changes. I didn't enjoy the replacement of the dragon song, and I was quite sad that they removed Build a Wall from the end of the show. It kind of loses something when they keep mentioning building a wall, but cut out the part where he decides that is what he's going to do. Then, I found that someone went and filmed the entire show and posted it on YouTube, and saw that there were a number of other things cut for the tour! WHAT?!
But, I can't complain too much because we got $85 tickets for $35, and it was still a fun and enjoyable evening!
However, note to parents: Yes, I understand that you believe this show is very kid friendly because it's based on a cartoon. And indeed, it is a fun production for the whole family. However if your kid decides they need to SCREAM constantly, perhaps you should, ohhh I don't know, GO TO THE LOBBY! Seriously! General public, meet me at paragraph five.
Here's the deal general public, you all need to get something straight. This world has a set of courtesies that must be obeyed. We all know that your rights to swing your fists ends at my nose. Well that's true of MANY things. You have no right to be rude and a general dickhole to those around you. Yes, bring your family, enjoy the theatre, but do not ruin it for everyone else. This is not some news message board that you can be terrible human beings and attempt to get away from it because it's "anonymous". You have a responsibility as a member of a civilized society to be respectful of others, and observe the common rules of polite society. There is no excuse for rudeness. So, take your kid to the lobby and if you're pissed that you a missing a show, then perhaps you should think twice about the ability of your spawn to sit still in an event that's costing you $85 a seat. Perhaps they aren't old enough yet to deal. Get a sitter.
Ok, anyway, Shrek was fun. One more group sale event left, Beauty and the Beast this April! WOO! It's been a fantastic season for Broadway in Detroit!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Return of the THAT!
Last year some alumni and friends asked if we wanted to help put together a show to do over the summer, so we talked, rounded up some people and put together a production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. It was a fantastic time, and we all had a lot of fun. We got to perform in the park, there were decent crowds, and we were almost killed by an insane storm.
Well, being bored and having little to do, we decided why not put together another show? So, today was the FIRST read through of our next That Theatre, Co. production! I'm not saying what it is yet so we can get all our things in order and I can post a logo/poster. But, it's going to be fantastic and we're getting some additional support that we didn't have last time. It's all quite exciting and we can't wait to get into another show!
So, save the date the second weekend in June, because you have a show to come see!
Well, being bored and having little to do, we decided why not put together another show? So, today was the FIRST read through of our next That Theatre, Co. production! I'm not saying what it is yet so we can get all our things in order and I can post a logo/poster. But, it's going to be fantastic and we're getting some additional support that we didn't have last time. It's all quite exciting and we can't wait to get into another show!
So, save the date the second weekend in June, because you have a show to come see!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Old Man River
Well, we had to take Simon to the vet today. He is 15 (best estimate), may be older, likely not younger as we've had him for 14 years and he was said to be "around a year old" when we got him. When you're that old, you know you don't have much time left, so when he started to act like Norbert did last year I expected terrible news.
Turns out he's got a bladder infection and needs some pills and should improve. Good news! So, hopefully this will help with his leaking around the house. Will provide updates as they become available.
Additionally, I didn't like the vet we saw. She's the one that we had before with Norbert and she's just a cranky old goat and one I don't find to be all that helpful. She was rude again. She's one of those vets that seem to be content in trying to make people feel guilty that they are somehow mistreating their animals and always speaks in a condescending tone. I don't feel guilty, Simon (as are all our animals) is very well treated. So, whatever, lady.
Turns out he's got a bladder infection and needs some pills and should improve. Good news! So, hopefully this will help with his leaking around the house. Will provide updates as they become available.
Additionally, I didn't like the vet we saw. She's the one that we had before with Norbert and she's just a cranky old goat and one I don't find to be all that helpful. She was rude again. She's one of those vets that seem to be content in trying to make people feel guilty that they are somehow mistreating their animals and always speaks in a condescending tone. I don't feel guilty, Simon (as are all our animals) is very well treated. So, whatever, lady.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Um, This Is Your Product...
Last night we had to take Becky's engagement ring into the shop because she noticed the prong was loose. I think this is the second time that we've had to fix this issue, but no matter, we still have to get it done otherwise the diamond will fall out.
So we go in they take a look at it and determine that they will send it out. They also note that they may need to "retip" the prongs. To me this sounds like they're trying to tack on some extra business, but whatever. Then the guy gets out his telescope glasses to look at the diamond and in an effort to perhaps earn a sale of a nice pretty new ring says "Ohhhh, there are some big flaws in this diamond..." Innocent look as he stands next to a case of brand new shiny diamonds.
Becky quickly responds, "We bought this here."
Awwwwwwwkward.
So we go in they take a look at it and determine that they will send it out. They also note that they may need to "retip" the prongs. To me this sounds like they're trying to tack on some extra business, but whatever. Then the guy gets out his telescope glasses to look at the diamond and in an effort to perhaps earn a sale of a nice pretty new ring says "Ohhhh, there are some big flaws in this diamond..." Innocent look as he stands next to a case of brand new shiny diamonds.
Becky quickly responds, "We bought this here."
Awwwwwwwkward.
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