The weekend is packed with work and travel, so one parting thought before the journey begins.
This today from Jesse:
Freedom is not a place to visit, or a thing to be achieved. Freedom is a commitment, a way of life, that will endure only as long as men love it for themselves and their children, more than their weariness, or their fear, or vain comforts.
Amen.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Vote Early, Vote Often!
That's an old gag line, which may actually be sourced in Chicago politics.
But there is some truth to jokes that endure. That's why they endure.
So, how does one vote early and often?
Ten bucks at a time, donated to the brave souls who decide to run against the Pelosis, Reids, and Barney Franks of this world.
Here's one for starters: John Dennis, seeking to unseat Miss Nancy.
It's Miss Nancy's birthday today, especially apropo to contribute the fund that may just initiate her retirement from the House.
Vote early, vote often.
HT to Junior Deputy Accountant. What would we do without her?
But there is some truth to jokes that endure. That's why they endure.
So, how does one vote early and often?
Ten bucks at a time, donated to the brave souls who decide to run against the Pelosis, Reids, and Barney Franks of this world.
Here's one for starters: John Dennis, seeking to unseat Miss Nancy.
It's Miss Nancy's birthday today, especially apropo to contribute the fund that may just initiate her retirement from the House.
Vote early, vote often.
HT to Junior Deputy Accountant. What would we do without her?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Jimmy Carter's Rehabilitation: Funny Billboard Of The Month
You know Our Beloved Leader is in over his head in fecal material when these sorts of billboards begin to appear. This is at least as funny as Frozen Gore.
Comic Relief: The Arnold Schoenberg Greatest Hits Infomercial
It's too funny not to share: A spoof infomercial offering the greatest hits of the Second Viennese School of musical composition.
These were the people who completely destroyed the idea of 'tonal center' as an idea in classical music. For laymen, that means any sense of the harmony of a piece of music having a 'home base' where the ear can rest was obliterated.
Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern: Their names were treated with reverence, their music analyzed, re-analyzed, performed, recorded, re-analyzed... Their music also helped empty concert halls across the world. They were succeeded by Boulez, Stockhausen, Cage, and a host of disciples, many of whom nestled into universities across the fruited plain, writing music no one ever wishes to perform or hear, often at taxpayer expense. Some of their techniques, to be fair, did enter the general vocabulary, and you will hear echoes of their work in film scores.
But, in general, The Viennese imperial personage astride the four-legged equestrian conveyance suffers from both exposure and sunburn after a century of lording it over large parts of high culture.
Hope you enjoy!
These were the people who completely destroyed the idea of 'tonal center' as an idea in classical music. For laymen, that means any sense of the harmony of a piece of music having a 'home base' where the ear can rest was obliterated.
Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern: Their names were treated with reverence, their music analyzed, re-analyzed, performed, recorded, re-analyzed... Their music also helped empty concert halls across the world. They were succeeded by Boulez, Stockhausen, Cage, and a host of disciples, many of whom nestled into universities across the fruited plain, writing music no one ever wishes to perform or hear, often at taxpayer expense. Some of their techniques, to be fair, did enter the general vocabulary, and you will hear echoes of their work in film scores.
But, in general, The Viennese imperial personage astride the four-legged equestrian conveyance suffers from both exposure and sunburn after a century of lording it over large parts of high culture.
Hope you enjoy!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Bob Herbert Leads The Charge: Yoh! If Yoh' Ah Republican, Yoh' Ah Racist/Bigot!
It didn't take long for the drumbeat to begin.
If you oppose ObamaCare, you're a racist or a bigot.
If you oppose Obama, you're a racist or a bigot.
If someone 500 miles away acts badly, and you don't swear on a stack of Bibles that you'll disavow your principles for life, you're a racist.
If you're a Republican, you are a Neanderthal racist/bigot/mouthbreather, and it's high time we silenced you and yours.
Bob Herbert leads the invective charge in the Yew Nork Times. Channel surfing and pausing at MSNBC, two earnest-looking young journalists looking all worried about all those racists and anti-Semites in the crowds. At least they had a viewer for that ten seconds of their day. Next.
The pressure begins in earnest, and will only ratchet up.
Problem is, Herbert has his history backwards--the Republican Party was founded in great part for the cause of the elimination of slavery. The 'Solid South' was solidly Democrat, solidly racist and Jim Crow, until Republicans stepped up to vote for the civil rights measures of the 1960's.
But then again, the Yew Nork Times never let the facts get in the way of their view of the world...
And while this is written, the Senate debate drones on. The Republicans quietly point out that the costs are unsustainable, and Tom Coburn describes his life as a physician treating Medicaid patients, unable to find a specialist to whom he can refer his high-risk patients, because the cost of treating them far outstrips the compensation. All of it quiet, dignified, patient. Democrat Barabara Mikulski then launches into an angry feminist rant. Back to Judd Gregg, followed by another Democrat Senator who accuses him of lying. On it goes.
Of course, the Republicans are racist and hysterical. But it's a good exercise, because it creates a record: on this day, this was said by this Senator. Today could come back to haunt someone.
Moh' latuh, while it's still possible to speak.
If you oppose ObamaCare, you're a racist or a bigot.
If you oppose Obama, you're a racist or a bigot.
If someone 500 miles away acts badly, and you don't swear on a stack of Bibles that you'll disavow your principles for life, you're a racist.
If you're a Republican, you are a Neanderthal racist/bigot/mouthbreather, and it's high time we silenced you and yours.
Bob Herbert leads the invective charge in the Yew Nork Times. Channel surfing and pausing at MSNBC, two earnest-looking young journalists looking all worried about all those racists and anti-Semites in the crowds. At least they had a viewer for that ten seconds of their day. Next.
The pressure begins in earnest, and will only ratchet up.
Problem is, Herbert has his history backwards--the Republican Party was founded in great part for the cause of the elimination of slavery. The 'Solid South' was solidly Democrat, solidly racist and Jim Crow, until Republicans stepped up to vote for the civil rights measures of the 1960's.
But then again, the Yew Nork Times never let the facts get in the way of their view of the world...
And while this is written, the Senate debate drones on. The Republicans quietly point out that the costs are unsustainable, and Tom Coburn describes his life as a physician treating Medicaid patients, unable to find a specialist to whom he can refer his high-risk patients, because the cost of treating them far outstrips the compensation. All of it quiet, dignified, patient. Democrat Barabara Mikulski then launches into an angry feminist rant. Back to Judd Gregg, followed by another Democrat Senator who accuses him of lying. On it goes.
Of course, the Republicans are racist and hysterical. But it's a good exercise, because it creates a record: on this day, this was said by this Senator. Today could come back to haunt someone.
Moh' latuh, while it's still possible to speak.
Teaching Science, Scientifically
Inside Higher Ed shares a ray of hope about the education system.
A Nobel-winning physicist has been appointed to help shape the teaching of sciences in the US.
The best approach to teaching science is to understand not education, but the scientific method, according to Carl Wieman. In a speech on this idea Friday night, he began with a hypothesis: “We should approach teaching like a scientist,” he said. The outcome will rely on data, not anecdote. “Teaching can be rigorous just like doing physics research."
He contends, with some authority, that the 'lecture/notes/test' system is flawed, because students don't retain what the teachers attempt to teach. He proposes an approach that improves retention, and teaches students how to think using the scientific process.
[The] problem with the current structure of science education is that teachers try to get students to learn “key concepts” from physics. “We think that physics has a few ideas that can be widely applied,” he said. “So people test for those few ideas.” Wieman says that students really only retain about 30 percent of those key concepts, so this approach simply does not work.
This is the approach of 'teach-to-the-test' now so prevalent in schools. Principals and faculties need those good scores, which are published, on upon which reputations are based. The temptation is huge to simply program children to perform for those standardized tests.
Here's wishing him well.
We need scientists, and lay people who understand what they do and how they do it.
Who knows, we may eventually be able to lower the temperature at local school board meetings when the teaching of sciences is discussed.
A Nobel-winning physicist has been appointed to help shape the teaching of sciences in the US.
The best approach to teaching science is to understand not education, but the scientific method, according to Carl Wieman. In a speech on this idea Friday night, he began with a hypothesis: “We should approach teaching like a scientist,” he said. The outcome will rely on data, not anecdote. “Teaching can be rigorous just like doing physics research."
He contends, with some authority, that the 'lecture/notes/test' system is flawed, because students don't retain what the teachers attempt to teach. He proposes an approach that improves retention, and teaches students how to think using the scientific process.
[The] problem with the current structure of science education is that teachers try to get students to learn “key concepts” from physics. “We think that physics has a few ideas that can be widely applied,” he said. “So people test for those few ideas.” Wieman says that students really only retain about 30 percent of those key concepts, so this approach simply does not work.
This is the approach of 'teach-to-the-test' now so prevalent in schools. Principals and faculties need those good scores, which are published, on upon which reputations are based. The temptation is huge to simply program children to perform for those standardized tests.
Here's wishing him well.
We need scientists, and lay people who understand what they do and how they do it.
Who knows, we may eventually be able to lower the temperature at local school board meetings when the teaching of sciences is discussed.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Charts Tell Their Stories
It's an ugly, dark secret, but OS has a Facebook account. He does not live there, like some he knows, but he checks in about every other day.
He has a friend who is so very excited about last week's events, and shared a link the to BBC's announcement.
It has a nifty chart embedded, showing the growth in medical costs in the US, and then comparing them to other nations' stats. Very nifty, very informative, very seducing to someone who doesn't have a grasp of history.
(You'll have to hit the link to see it, it won't lift out directly.)
It shows health care spending (and inflation) on a moon shot since about 1970. Things happen for a reason. So, what happened shortly before the moon shot?
Well, Lyndon Johnson, that paragon of statesmanship, signed a bill into law establishing Medicare, promising it wouldn't cost very much, and that it would save us money over time. At about the same time, Medicaid was mandated at the state level, with the same promises. Anyone who objected was heartless and stupid. Lawyers discovered that there was money to be made in medical malpractice litigation. The doctors' insurers started charging premiums to reflect the new realities. Then, as a result of deficits run up by Washington, trying to run a welfare state, a war in Vietnam, and keeping the lid on in places like Europe and Korea, there was a run on the US Treasury's gold supply. Nixon felt obliged to abandon the gold standard, and we went to a fiat currency. A general inflation, lasting for over a decade, erupted. No restraints ever were placed upon either government spending or medical litigation. Inflation abated in other sectors, never in the health-care sector, because that part of the economy was now effectively under the sway of Congresses and White Houses, all looking toward the next election.
Moon shot!!
Of course, none of that info is in the BBC chart.
Here's another chart, courtesy of Karl Denninger:
Another, more serious moon shot. And, in reality, the first one helped in great part create the second.
My Facebook friend is young and idealistic. He would have loved last week's pep rally at George Mason University. He's not old enough to understand the tragic inevitability of the math that awaits him in his lifetime, and that of the children he hopes to raise. He can't, he's not old enough.
He can't connect the dots between this generation's expansions of spending and entitlements, and the moon shot to come.
Sadly, the dots will connect for him and his children.
He has a friend who is so very excited about last week's events, and shared a link the to BBC's announcement.
It has a nifty chart embedded, showing the growth in medical costs in the US, and then comparing them to other nations' stats. Very nifty, very informative, very seducing to someone who doesn't have a grasp of history.
(You'll have to hit the link to see it, it won't lift out directly.)
It shows health care spending (and inflation) on a moon shot since about 1970. Things happen for a reason. So, what happened shortly before the moon shot?
Well, Lyndon Johnson, that paragon of statesmanship, signed a bill into law establishing Medicare, promising it wouldn't cost very much, and that it would save us money over time. At about the same time, Medicaid was mandated at the state level, with the same promises. Anyone who objected was heartless and stupid. Lawyers discovered that there was money to be made in medical malpractice litigation. The doctors' insurers started charging premiums to reflect the new realities. Then, as a result of deficits run up by Washington, trying to run a welfare state, a war in Vietnam, and keeping the lid on in places like Europe and Korea, there was a run on the US Treasury's gold supply. Nixon felt obliged to abandon the gold standard, and we went to a fiat currency. A general inflation, lasting for over a decade, erupted. No restraints ever were placed upon either government spending or medical litigation. Inflation abated in other sectors, never in the health-care sector, because that part of the economy was now effectively under the sway of Congresses and White Houses, all looking toward the next election.
Moon shot!!
Of course, none of that info is in the BBC chart.
Here's another chart, courtesy of Karl Denninger:
Another, more serious moon shot. And, in reality, the first one helped in great part create the second.
My Facebook friend is young and idealistic. He would have loved last week's pep rally at George Mason University. He's not old enough to understand the tragic inevitability of the math that awaits him in his lifetime, and that of the children he hopes to raise. He can't, he's not old enough.
He can't connect the dots between this generation's expansions of spending and entitlements, and the moon shot to come.
Sadly, the dots will connect for him and his children.
Lunch With Good People: Habitat For Humanity
OldSouth doesn't generally 'do' fund-raiser events. Bad food, bad company, manipulative presentation by people he doesn't have any reason to trust.
But he made an exception yesterday for a luncheon for Habitat for Humanity, which is successfully building some local houses and placing candidates in them.
A small local bank footed the bill for the luncheon, and every table sponsor filled his table. A few old friends were on hand. The local Democrat State Legislator was there, as was the mayor, who looked worried and needed to lose about a hundred pounds. Stress. I would guess most of the attendees would not have voted for the Democrat State Legislator, but no one seemed to care. The attendees were greeted by two recipients of houses, who had graduated from the arduous life-skills program. One mom with a ten-year old boy let the boy write the speech and do the delivery. He was nervous, but the kid can ByGod write English. One was a lifelong polio victim, now sixty-three, in safe housing for the first time in a quarter-century. Short, sweet, to the point. You did this, I did that, and this good resulted.
In the buffet line, I met one of the bankers, and asked the impolite question: 'How many of these folks use these as step-up houses until they can move on to something bigger?' He paused and said, 'I'd have to look it up, but my experience is that they tend to stay in them. They're good houses, in good neighborhoods.'
It was a good antidote to the sleaze parade of the previous week. The checkbook came out. The ten-year old kid with a passion for words sold me. He's likely to make a really good life, because all those lumpy-looking 'church people' that people like Rahm Emanuel despise so heartily give their time and resources.
It might be tougher to do, and OS isn't the guy to do it, but seems like this could be a good model for some other societal challenges, like affordable provision of health care and education. Cooperative, ground-level, efficient, voluntary, accountable, non-political...
But he made an exception yesterday for a luncheon for Habitat for Humanity, which is successfully building some local houses and placing candidates in them.
A small local bank footed the bill for the luncheon, and every table sponsor filled his table. A few old friends were on hand. The local Democrat State Legislator was there, as was the mayor, who looked worried and needed to lose about a hundred pounds. Stress. I would guess most of the attendees would not have voted for the Democrat State Legislator, but no one seemed to care. The attendees were greeted by two recipients of houses, who had graduated from the arduous life-skills program. One mom with a ten-year old boy let the boy write the speech and do the delivery. He was nervous, but the kid can ByGod write English. One was a lifelong polio victim, now sixty-three, in safe housing for the first time in a quarter-century. Short, sweet, to the point. You did this, I did that, and this good resulted.
In the buffet line, I met one of the bankers, and asked the impolite question: 'How many of these folks use these as step-up houses until they can move on to something bigger?' He paused and said, 'I'd have to look it up, but my experience is that they tend to stay in them. They're good houses, in good neighborhoods.'
It was a good antidote to the sleaze parade of the previous week. The checkbook came out. The ten-year old kid with a passion for words sold me. He's likely to make a really good life, because all those lumpy-looking 'church people' that people like Rahm Emanuel despise so heartily give their time and resources.
It might be tougher to do, and OS isn't the guy to do it, but seems like this could be a good model for some other societal challenges, like affordable provision of health care and education. Cooperative, ground-level, efficient, voluntary, accountable, non-political...
Monday, March 22, 2010
A Glimpse Of Good News: Tanner (TN-8) Voted No
Well, whaddaya know.
He actually voted against this turkey.
Here's the tally of ayes and nays, which will be a good reference doc for the fall.
HT to all those who screamed bloody murder about the attempt to avoid an up-and-down vote.
Tanner knew the numbers were bogus, and that anyone running as a Dem in his district would be doomed if he voted 'aye'.
In any case, a word of thanks to Rep. Tanner.
He actually voted against this turkey.
Here's the tally of ayes and nays, which will be a good reference doc for the fall.
HT to all those who screamed bloody murder about the attempt to avoid an up-and-down vote.
Tanner knew the numbers were bogus, and that anyone running as a Dem in his district would be doomed if he voted 'aye'.
In any case, a word of thanks to Rep. Tanner.
Stating The Obvious In Sydney, Australia
It never ceases to amaze how closely the world watches how the United States acts. They scratch their collective heads in wonder at our self-absorbed folly, our refusal to take into account how our refusal to act responsibly impacts the entire world.
These words from Paul Sheehan in the Sydney Morning Herald express that concern well.
As I wrote this column, and as you read it, the United States had reached the climax of the most contentious and sweeping attempt at social engineering in more than 40 years, a process that has degenerated into the abattoir of politics: bribery, chicanery and bloody-mindedness.
A deeply divided Congress mirrors a divided nation. The majority of Americans are opposed to the changes. Bipartisanship has become roadkill.
In contrast to the soaring rhetoric and uplifting symbolism that carried him to the White House, Obama has engaged in old-school, bare-knuckle, divisive politics wrapped in an impossibly complex 2700-page bill loaded with accounting tricks and dirty deals.
If he can see it, why can't we?
We have long been the envy of the world, and at times its hero. OldSouth's departed father spoke with such affection of his time spent in New Zealand in the 1940's. The locals could not do enough to make 'The Yanks' feel welcomed. Twice within one hundred years, Americans were viewed as the liberators of Europe, the saviours of civilization.
If you read this from overseas, know this: The anger of the US populace toward the political leadership is palpable, and growing. This latest debacle has only stoked the fires. This week, the offices of members of Congress were flooded with people begging their representatives to vote 'no', just as they flooded their offices with calls in fall of 2008, begging them to oppose the TARP bailout. In each case, they were met with deaf ears. The TARP was history's largest bait-and-switch fraud. This latest measure is worse. Responsible conservative voices, including this one, increasingly feel compelled to remind one and all that violence is NOT NOT NOT an acceptable course of action, that the political process and ballot box are the only way to go.
It's beginning to be that bad. The economy is not recovering, even if the stock market is. And taxes on employers just rose, as of today.
If you're reading from within the US, it's time to act. Budget some small amount every month, if you can, and send it to conservative candidates who are taking on the Obama machine. Every ten dollars helps, and donation is now a simple process.
A good first target for removal from office is Bart Stupak, who sold his soul for a meaningless executive order, and 700,000 dollars in airport improvements.
These words from Paul Sheehan in the Sydney Morning Herald express that concern well.
As I wrote this column, and as you read it, the United States had reached the climax of the most contentious and sweeping attempt at social engineering in more than 40 years, a process that has degenerated into the abattoir of politics: bribery, chicanery and bloody-mindedness.
A deeply divided Congress mirrors a divided nation. The majority of Americans are opposed to the changes. Bipartisanship has become roadkill.
In contrast to the soaring rhetoric and uplifting symbolism that carried him to the White House, Obama has engaged in old-school, bare-knuckle, divisive politics wrapped in an impossibly complex 2700-page bill loaded with accounting tricks and dirty deals.
If he can see it, why can't we?
We have long been the envy of the world, and at times its hero. OldSouth's departed father spoke with such affection of his time spent in New Zealand in the 1940's. The locals could not do enough to make 'The Yanks' feel welcomed. Twice within one hundred years, Americans were viewed as the liberators of Europe, the saviours of civilization.
If you read this from overseas, know this: The anger of the US populace toward the political leadership is palpable, and growing. This latest debacle has only stoked the fires. This week, the offices of members of Congress were flooded with people begging their representatives to vote 'no', just as they flooded their offices with calls in fall of 2008, begging them to oppose the TARP bailout. In each case, they were met with deaf ears. The TARP was history's largest bait-and-switch fraud. This latest measure is worse. Responsible conservative voices, including this one, increasingly feel compelled to remind one and all that violence is NOT NOT NOT an acceptable course of action, that the political process and ballot box are the only way to go.
It's beginning to be that bad. The economy is not recovering, even if the stock market is. And taxes on employers just rose, as of today.
If you're reading from within the US, it's time to act. Budget some small amount every month, if you can, and send it to conservative candidates who are taking on the Obama machine. Every ten dollars helps, and donation is now a simple process.
A good first target for removal from office is Bart Stupak, who sold his soul for a meaningless executive order, and 700,000 dollars in airport improvements.
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