OS usually doesn't listen to talking heads, but Pat Condell is no ordinary talking head.
What he's describing about Ireland sounds eerily like what has been happening in the US.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Tennessee Legislature Ousts The Teacher's Union: Bill On it's Way To The Governor's Desk
Summary of the bill as passed is here. There is a bit to read through in detail, but the gist of it is: The TEA is de-certified, teachers can choose who will represent them (or do without any affiliation if they wish), anyone who strikes can be fired, and there is no union dues checkoff via payroll. That means TEA or any other organization will have to solicit prospective members to actually write a check for membership. This will change the dynamic of things greatly. Expect some retirements, layoffs and resignations at TEA in the coming year.
Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey sent an announcement around via email, noting 'It matters who governs.' Indeed it does. The vote was not even close in either house.
Gov. Haslam is expected to sign the bill.
Since 1978, TEA has ruled the roost, and things went from bad to worse.
Now, beginning Monday morning, once the bill is law, the union can no longer be blamed.
The schools still suck. It is now up to the school boards, and the parents, and the teachers and the students themselves to right the ship.
The schools of Tennessee are a disgrace. This is a once-in-a-century opportunity to get things right, and the conservatives who brought this about are now firmly in the driver's seat.
They better produce results, and quickly. No more raging about the unions, etc.
Time to govern, ya'll.
Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey sent an announcement around via email, noting 'It matters who governs.' Indeed it does. The vote was not even close in either house.
Gov. Haslam is expected to sign the bill.
Since 1978, TEA has ruled the roost, and things went from bad to worse.
Now, beginning Monday morning, once the bill is law, the union can no longer be blamed.
The schools still suck. It is now up to the school boards, and the parents, and the teachers and the students themselves to right the ship.
The schools of Tennessee are a disgrace. This is a once-in-a-century opportunity to get things right, and the conservatives who brought this about are now firmly in the driver's seat.
They better produce results, and quickly. No more raging about the unions, etc.
Time to govern, ya'll.
Friday, May 20, 2011
So, If Time Has An End, And It's Tomorrow...
...OS will celebrate with one final visit to his golf club, and watch the sun set over the treeline behind the second fairway, grateful to the Almighty for that sun, those trees, and the privilege of getting to play golf one last time.
If, for some reason, Duh Reverend Camping is correct in his calculations, well then ya'll--It's been real.
If for some reason OS's readers just must-must-must view Duh Reverend's numerological reasonings, click here. But, really, you should get a life. OS chuckled at the numerous misspellings in the table of contents.
Enjoy the weekend, and live like time really is short. Cuz' in any case, given our mortality vs the length of Eternity, it is.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream flies at the break of day.
If, for some reason, Duh Reverend Camping is correct in his calculations, well then ya'll--It's been real.
If for some reason OS's readers just must-must-must view Duh Reverend's numerological reasonings, click here. But, really, you should get a life. OS chuckled at the numerous misspellings in the table of contents.
Enjoy the weekend, and live like time really is short. Cuz' in any case, given our mortality vs the length of Eternity, it is.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream flies at the break of day.
Rachmaninov Plays Handel
Calling England digs up the best musical offerings to share. This found on his page, and shared with you.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The New Rules Of Golf, Edited By Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Holder and Geithner
OS ran across this, which undoubtedly has made the rounds of cyberspace a few times.
But, since we all need a grin, OS passes this uncredited bit of humor along to his readers.
President Obama has recently appointed a Golf Czar and major rule changes in the game of golf will become effective in May 2011. This is only a preview as the complete rule book (expect 2000 pages) is being rewritten as we speak. Here are a few of the changes.
Golfers with handicaps:
• below 10 will have their green fees increased by 35%.
• between 11 and 18 will see no increase in green fees.
• above 18 will get a $20 check each time they play.
The term “gimmie” will be changed to “entitlement” and will be used as follows:
• handicaps below 10, no entitlements.
• handicaps from 11 to 17, entitlements for putter length putts.
• handicaps above 18, if your ball is on green, no need to putt, just pick it up.
These entitlements are intended to bring about fairness and, most importantly, equality in scoring.
In addition, a player will be limited to a maximum of one birdie or six pars in any given 18-hole round.
Any excess must be given to those fellow players who have not yet scored a birdie or par.
Only after all players have received a birdie or par from the player actually making the birdie or par, can that player begin to count his pars and birdies again. The current USGA handicap system will be used for the above purposes, but the term “net score” will be available only for scoring those players with handicaps of 18 and above.
This is intended to “re-distribute” the success of winning by making sure that in every competition, the above 18 handicap players will post only “net score” against every other player’s gross score.
These new Rules are intended to CHANGE the game of golf.
Golf must be about Fairness. It should have nothing to do with ability, hard work, practice, and responsibility. This is the “right thing to do.”
But, since we all need a grin, OS passes this uncredited bit of humor along to his readers.
President Obama has recently appointed a Golf Czar and major rule changes in the game of golf will become effective in May 2011. This is only a preview as the complete rule book (expect 2000 pages) is being rewritten as we speak. Here are a few of the changes.
Golfers with handicaps:
• below 10 will have their green fees increased by 35%.
• between 11 and 18 will see no increase in green fees.
• above 18 will get a $20 check each time they play.
The term “gimmie” will be changed to “entitlement” and will be used as follows:
• handicaps below 10, no entitlements.
• handicaps from 11 to 17, entitlements for putter length putts.
• handicaps above 18, if your ball is on green, no need to putt, just pick it up.
These entitlements are intended to bring about fairness and, most importantly, equality in scoring.
In addition, a player will be limited to a maximum of one birdie or six pars in any given 18-hole round.
Any excess must be given to those fellow players who have not yet scored a birdie or par.
Only after all players have received a birdie or par from the player actually making the birdie or par, can that player begin to count his pars and birdies again. The current USGA handicap system will be used for the above purposes, but the term “net score” will be available only for scoring those players with handicaps of 18 and above.
This is intended to “re-distribute” the success of winning by making sure that in every competition, the above 18 handicap players will post only “net score” against every other player’s gross score.
These new Rules are intended to CHANGE the game of golf.
Golf must be about Fairness. It should have nothing to do with ability, hard work, practice, and responsibility. This is the “right thing to do.”
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Mississippi River Flood Updates
The Times-Picayune website seems to be a good source for calm news.
What is striking about all this is the contrast between today and 2005. Some lessons seem to have been learned and applied.
Kudos to all working under difficult circumstances.
What is striking about all this is the contrast between today and 2005. Some lessons seem to have been learned and applied.
Kudos to all working under difficult circumstances.
Missa Jimmy Carter Sez: Jest Cause The North Koreans Are Shelling Civilians, Building Nukes, And Creating Havoc...
....we should send them food, anyway.
Really, he said that...
And to think...people are nostalgic for him, compared to Himself.
Really, he said that...
And to think...people are nostalgic for him, compared to Himself.
Vaughan-Williams' 'Linden Lea': A Reminder Of Beauty
Dear God, it has been an ugly year. We were not created for lives of desperate violence, greed, bitterness, and lust for power. We can be better than that.
Pieces of music like Ralph Vaughan-Williams' Linden Lea remind us of this.
OS hopes you will stop for a bit over three minutes, and take this in.
The shining grass-blades, timber-shaded,
Now do quiver under foot;
And birds do whistle overhead,
And water's bubbling in its bed,
And there for me the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.
When leaves that lately were a-springing
Now do fade within the copse,
And painted birds do hush their singing
Up upon the timber tops;
And brown-leaved fruit's a-turning red,
In cloudless sunshine, overhead,
With fruit for me, the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.
Let other folk make money faster
In the air of dark-roomed towns,
I don't dread a peevish master;
Though no man do heed my frowns,
I be free to go abroad,
Or take again my homeward road
To where, for me, the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.
(William Barnes)
HT: Calling England
Pieces of music like Ralph Vaughan-Williams' Linden Lea remind us of this.
OS hopes you will stop for a bit over three minutes, and take this in.
The shining grass-blades, timber-shaded,
Now do quiver under foot;
And birds do whistle overhead,
And water's bubbling in its bed,
And there for me the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.
When leaves that lately were a-springing
Now do fade within the copse,
And painted birds do hush their singing
Up upon the timber tops;
And brown-leaved fruit's a-turning red,
In cloudless sunshine, overhead,
With fruit for me, the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.
Let other folk make money faster
In the air of dark-roomed towns,
I don't dread a peevish master;
Though no man do heed my frowns,
I be free to go abroad,
Or take again my homeward road
To where, for me, the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.
(William Barnes)
HT: Calling England
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Meanwhile, In Venezuela, Vanguard Of The Western Hemisphere
They're suffering shortages of electricity....
But seem to have a surplus of Iranians looking to build missile launch platforms...
Gee, one could, say, control the sea lanes to the Panama Canal with that capability.
Nahhh, never mind. Back to the ball game and new episodes of 'Celebrity Apprentice'...
But seem to have a surplus of Iranians looking to build missile launch platforms...
Gee, one could, say, control the sea lanes to the Panama Canal with that capability.
Nahhh, never mind. Back to the ball game and new episodes of 'Celebrity Apprentice'...
OldSouth's 'Hey-Lookie-Here Award' Nominee: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Q. What are the final words of a redneck before he dies?
A. Hey, yall! Lookie here!!
What makes a hard-core redneck what he is, is his utter lack of a modicum of sober judgment. These are the guys who think they can cook them up a bunch of methamphetamine in the trailer (with children present), and that nothing bad will happen--to them, the children, or the trailer. Trailer blows up, children end up dead or injured for life, and Billy-Bob (Bubbah's second cousin, twice removed by three divorces) is memorialized on camera saying, 'Sheeut-fahr! I tode him this might happen, but he tode me he knew whut hee'z doin', so thar'-ye-go!' Billy-Bob has a better idea--he goes to a local motel to cook up his meth, thus rendering the property uninhabitable for anyone, and forcing the owners into bankruptcy. The owners end up fleeing the state, and the local bank president is left with twenty homeless people (residents of the motel) to care for. Really, it just happened here locally, this year.
Or the guy who burns his house down Thanksgiving Day, attempting to deep-fry a turkey on his wooden-deck back porch, using one of those liquid propane gas burners/fryers. Call goes out the local fire department, who show up in a jiffy, only to find the house gone, and discover that the owner and failed chef is the recently retired chief of their city fire department. Really, it happened! Can't make this up, it's just too stupid not to be true.
OS used to believe that redneck-dom, the state of being a redneck, was only confined to the American South, and perhaps parts of the Midwest. He has since taken a more expansive view, given events of the past couple of decades. Rednecks come in all shapes, sizes, colors, ages, income and education levels. There are rednecks walking around with Oxbridge and Ivy League degrees, ya'll! It's downright chilling to contemplate.
So, in honor of the phenomenon, OS has decided to launch a new competition: The 'OldSouth Hey-Lookie-Here Award', for outstandingly stupid behaviour by people in places of high responsibility who have every reason to know better, and every incentive to act better (not the least because their decisions mean life or death, survival or starvation for so many people they never meet).
Of course, for the 1990's, Bill Clinton wins hands down. 'Nuff said there.
George Bush takes the 'oughts', for starting a war with Iraq without a clue as to what he might do if the US actually won. Tens of thousands of deaths later, it occurs that perhaps it would be good to come up with some sort of plan.
This year's nominee list could go on forever, but Dominique Strauss-Kahn enters as the first nominee. (He gets the 'EeeewGross!' ribbon, in any case.)
Second nominee, and it may be hard to beat him, is Ahnuld (I'll be back!)Schwarzenegger, the Styrian stud, da Gubbernator, etc. etc. Turns out he fathered a child thirteen years ago with the housekeeper, under wife Maria's nose, and maintained the fiction all along that the child was fathered by the housekeeper's husband, while paying for support of the child.
Sweet. This is televangelist Jim Bakker or Jimmy Swaggart sort of stuff. It's Jesse Jackson sort of stuff. It's an Eliot Spitzer moment, a Governor Paterson moment, it's a Ray Blanton episode (look it up, too long to detail). It's, it's, it's...well, words just fail after a while.
All this occurring while California was burning down, browning out, melting down, going broke, descending into fiscal and cultural chaos, with businesses fleeing the state to avoid the havoc. His wife was StandingByHerMan, and his legitimate children were being raised in the same house with the housekeeper who held the secret that could blow up their lives at any moment. This could be, well, a source of stress for someone attempting to govern Kuhlifornia. Why would one run for governor of one of the largest economies in the world with a skeleton like that in the closet? These things have a tendency to blow up on one's face. Just sayin'...
OS is not ranting about Ahnuld's sexual ethics, proclivities or misbehaviors. That stuff is just the tip of the iceberg, the symptoms of a deep, narcissistic stupidity, where the impact of one's behavior on the world around never occurs to a person like Ahnuld, or Dominique, or Bill, or George, or Jesse.
This is just as stupid as the redneck cooking meth in the motel, or frying the turkey on the back porch. Problem is, as tragic as the motel closure is, or the embarrassment of the destroyed house, at least that damage is localized.
People like Ahnuld create damage that reaches into the lives of millions.
Hey, lookie-here!
A. Hey, yall! Lookie here!!
What makes a hard-core redneck what he is, is his utter lack of a modicum of sober judgment. These are the guys who think they can cook them up a bunch of methamphetamine in the trailer (with children present), and that nothing bad will happen--to them, the children, or the trailer. Trailer blows up, children end up dead or injured for life, and Billy-Bob (Bubbah's second cousin, twice removed by three divorces) is memorialized on camera saying, 'Sheeut-fahr! I tode him this might happen, but he tode me he knew whut hee'z doin', so thar'-ye-go!' Billy-Bob has a better idea--he goes to a local motel to cook up his meth, thus rendering the property uninhabitable for anyone, and forcing the owners into bankruptcy. The owners end up fleeing the state, and the local bank president is left with twenty homeless people (residents of the motel) to care for. Really, it just happened here locally, this year.
Or the guy who burns his house down Thanksgiving Day, attempting to deep-fry a turkey on his wooden-deck back porch, using one of those liquid propane gas burners/fryers. Call goes out the local fire department, who show up in a jiffy, only to find the house gone, and discover that the owner and failed chef is the recently retired chief of their city fire department. Really, it happened! Can't make this up, it's just too stupid not to be true.
OS used to believe that redneck-dom, the state of being a redneck, was only confined to the American South, and perhaps parts of the Midwest. He has since taken a more expansive view, given events of the past couple of decades. Rednecks come in all shapes, sizes, colors, ages, income and education levels. There are rednecks walking around with Oxbridge and Ivy League degrees, ya'll! It's downright chilling to contemplate.
So, in honor of the phenomenon, OS has decided to launch a new competition: The 'OldSouth Hey-Lookie-Here Award', for outstandingly stupid behaviour by people in places of high responsibility who have every reason to know better, and every incentive to act better (not the least because their decisions mean life or death, survival or starvation for so many people they never meet).
Of course, for the 1990's, Bill Clinton wins hands down. 'Nuff said there.
George Bush takes the 'oughts', for starting a war with Iraq without a clue as to what he might do if the US actually won. Tens of thousands of deaths later, it occurs that perhaps it would be good to come up with some sort of plan.
This year's nominee list could go on forever, but Dominique Strauss-Kahn enters as the first nominee. (He gets the 'EeeewGross!' ribbon, in any case.)
Second nominee, and it may be hard to beat him, is Ahnuld (I'll be back!)Schwarzenegger, the Styrian stud, da Gubbernator, etc. etc. Turns out he fathered a child thirteen years ago with the housekeeper, under wife Maria's nose, and maintained the fiction all along that the child was fathered by the housekeeper's husband, while paying for support of the child.
Sweet. This is televangelist Jim Bakker or Jimmy Swaggart sort of stuff. It's Jesse Jackson sort of stuff. It's an Eliot Spitzer moment, a Governor Paterson moment, it's a Ray Blanton episode (look it up, too long to detail). It's, it's, it's...well, words just fail after a while.
All this occurring while California was burning down, browning out, melting down, going broke, descending into fiscal and cultural chaos, with businesses fleeing the state to avoid the havoc. His wife was StandingByHerMan, and his legitimate children were being raised in the same house with the housekeeper who held the secret that could blow up their lives at any moment. This could be, well, a source of stress for someone attempting to govern Kuhlifornia. Why would one run for governor of one of the largest economies in the world with a skeleton like that in the closet? These things have a tendency to blow up on one's face. Just sayin'...
OS is not ranting about Ahnuld's sexual ethics, proclivities or misbehaviors. That stuff is just the tip of the iceberg, the symptoms of a deep, narcissistic stupidity, where the impact of one's behavior on the world around never occurs to a person like Ahnuld, or Dominique, or Bill, or George, or Jesse.
This is just as stupid as the redneck cooking meth in the motel, or frying the turkey on the back porch. Problem is, as tragic as the motel closure is, or the embarrassment of the destroyed house, at least that damage is localized.
People like Ahnuld create damage that reaches into the lives of millions.
Hey, lookie-here!
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