Displaying 181 To 210 Of 280 Comments Wisconsin, what does it really mean? It’s been to my great misfortune to be one of those rare humans who dislikes beer in any form. I have no clue why. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 20, 2011 @ 5:33 pm That’s another very important thread isn’t it? How do we turn around a society which has become so degraded with neglect and apathy there doesn’t seem to be enough concern or urgency among the majority to find the means to turn it around? We need some kind of tools for change rather than just continue to acknowledge it’s a problem don’t we? » Posted By cyrano1 On February 20, 2011 @ 5:15 pm Wow!! Fascinating article! And given that your school district encompasses a very wealthy area, I would assume correctly that the bulk of voters are conservative – but I’ve also often heard that your area staunchly supports a first rate school system. Your link to the April 2010 post proves it! Thanks! » Posted By cyrano1 On February 20, 2011 @ 4:50 pm How wonderful that you were able to be involved in turning your school system around! If enough parents are able to do this, you’ve proven it will make all the difference. Wouldn’t that kind of involvement also spread as a form of positive pressure to involve other parents who have been previously disengaged? » Posted By cyrano1 On February 20, 2011 @ 4:41 pm I’ve lived both here in the US (all over it) and in Canada (a year in Edmonton Alberta), and you’re spot on in my view! I think it’s difficult for Canadians to even begin to grasp how Darwinian our system is down here. Even the words used by our Gopers as pejoratives here are accepted vocabulary by the majority of Canadians. “Socialism” for example. I still remember my astonishment at having to pay only 26 dollars for the medical attention and follow up needed to reset a dislocated shoulder. (skiing accident) I was dinged that insignificant amount simply because I was a foreigner. A friend of mine with dual citizenship moved down to Southern California from Vancouver BC about 16 years ago. She had a comfortable retirement in Canada guaranteed but she lost it all in the crash down here and is now facing bankruptcy in her early 70’s. California is filling up with newly created bag ladies from all over the world who came to spend their golden years in the golden state. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 20, 2011 @ 4:29 pm Interesting article on how people actually feel about teacher’s unions: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/111723144.html “An Associated Press-Stanford University Poll on education found that 68 percent of adults believe parents deserve heavy blame for what’s wrong with the U.S. education system – more than teachers, school administrators, the government or teachers unions.” “Only 35 percent of those surveyed agreed that teachers deserve a great deal or a lot of the blame. Moms were more likely than dads – 72 percent versus 61 percent – to say parents are at fault. Conservatives were more likely than moderates or liberals to blame parents.” It would appear that Wisconsin’s governor and GOP legislators are out of step with the actual views of voters, including those of their own party. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 20, 2011 @ 3:50 pm Isn’t that the truth!!! I almost threw a mug through my TV when CNN was reporting that both sides of the issue were heavily represented by the crowds, and then gave them even talking points. And of course, they won’t report the facts. They just listen to content free crowd spin and report the same. Every time some of us try to move from our heavily polarized positions, our media jams us back into our corners where we hyperventilate and prepare for the next round. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 20, 2011 @ 3:24 pm @ snoskier: Agreed! The furlough options are being implemented and considered in many states now. In my State of Washington, reducing the school year for students by about a week in addition to staff reductions are being discussed for school year 2011-12. So we’ll be facing even more over-crowding again along with shorter contact time. All of this when the education of our children becomes even more critical and the need to stem our downwards decline needs to be reversed. A perfect storm – ignorance skewing priorities. I’d really rather pay more taxes myself, but I guess those who feel the way I do are in short supply. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 20, 2011 @ 3:14 pm The ability to organize and negotiate seems to be the best alternative for us imperfect human beings, but we’ll never really get it right will we? Especially in a period of declining revenue, issues become far more critical when trying to determine who is entitled to how much compensation, and perceptions of what others contribute without a full understanding play a huge role. My brother, a painting contractor is now in the process of breaking up a 40 year partnership with his head foreman who did much of the brawn on site work, painting, and delegating tasks to the other painters. My brother, the brains and brawn, did all of the time consuming process of bidding (and currently winning only about 1 out of 7 bids), measuring, arranging colors and textures with the buyers, picking up and delivering all supplies, keeping track of hours, filling out business forms for the state and the IRS, arranging health coverage, etc. – and in addition, worked on site as a painter himself, along with keeping the equipment clean and working, hauling ladders, et al. It worked, sort of, for four decades – but the current economic climate has made times tough for all of them and the blame game began with my brother’s partner complaint that the work load was unfairly compensated by hours claimed. Basically: a disagreement between two men who worked together for forty years came to a head primarily due to an economy of scarcity. Our unions are under attack particularly now for the same reasons. And the only way people will understand the contribution state workers make is to actually walk in their shoes for a week. Unions are vital for all of those employees who would otherwise be poorly compensated through the whims of too many biased, uninformed, ill educated legislators. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 20, 2011 @ 2:41 pm Thanks for sharing your own experience which provides some balance to the union debate. I would only add that all unions are not alike in their power or ability to provide benefits, despite the fact that the GOP paints them all with the same broad brush. The showdown in Wisconsin, of course, is being closely watched since it’s being held up as the keystone of union survival across the nation. I share your hopes that the self re-located dems hold out, the governor finally caves in and the GOP agrees to take out the union busting provisions in their budget proposal. The dems who fled for Illinois are heroes in my view, and Ed Schultz who I sometimes find too abrasively hyperbolic, is now my current favorite activist. Polarization: The fascinating process of ideological excess extinguishing reason. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 20, 2011 @ 10:26 am I truly mourn the loss of mine. I had a huge pile of them which served as the source of many laughs when I used them as drinks coasters at gatherings – and sadly they became ruined as the true collector items they probably are now since they had been removed from their original jackets and ended up with multiple moisture ring stains on them. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 19, 2011 @ 9:27 pm Another great article! Thanks so much. I’ll add to the kitchen sink of “what’s wrong with our schools” with another issue which I find very alarming: the already disturbing trend towards privatization of our schools. With de-funding of public schools increasing due to state cut-backs, more and more parents who can afford it will move their kids to elite private schools. Those who can’t afford those may find religious schools to be a better bargain and more to their liking. Which leaves our poorly funded and staffed public school system as the only option left for the have-nots or the don’t cares. This trend will lead to the acceleration of our already increased class divisions and lack of diversity: racial diversity, economic diversity, and the all important diversity of thought, the very glue which gives us commonality. Won’t our claims of providing an even playing field for all take another severe blow through increased economic segregation? Our race to the bottom seems to be getting fresh wind. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 18, 2011 @ 7:08 pm Thanks for writing about our Av choices! I chose mine using a photo of my macaw Cyrano, who has been a member of the household for over 30 years, and who runs the joint. The pun quality, in being able to have my long nosed beaked one speak for me, was irresistible. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 19, 2011 @ 10:17 am Love Zilla! I drive over there from the west side at least once a year just to get a taco at the taco factory and get a sagebrush fix. Originally a Nevadan. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 17, 2011 @ 7:46 pm Seems to some of us that tenderfoot badge is long overdue! [img]http://www.troop75memphis.org/images/Tenderfoot.jpg[/img] » Posted By cyrano1 On February 17, 2011 @ 4:50 pm @ Cher: We are definitely not alone are we? That you’re able to brilliantly analyze our sense of existence and give voice to it through the works of different philosophers is more unique – at least in my experience. I have so many friends in my age group who express their angst through humor in so many different ways – from Maxine jokes, the avalanche of truly funny “old people” email jokes, “remember when?” emails, to discussions about our own failing, sagging bodies and assorted replacement parts. And then we make fun of ourselves about our own discussions of medical issues which we’d promised ourselves earlier in life we’d never indulge in, having been inflicted with those same boring decades old discussions by our long dead elders. We take bucket list trips together, have fun together, read books together, yet have a shared growing sense of our own mortality, including joking discussions of “offing” ourselves with poison-laced pints of double chocolate fudge Haggan Daz before age related dementia sets in to the irreversible point that we forget to do it. I think, though, that we’re all past the stage in life where we still want to prove to ourselves that our lives have had meaning and that we’ve squeezed everything of our own potential we could give or take out of it. We simply enjoy the reality that we value others and we’re valued in return – the most basic stuff which gives life meaning. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 17, 2011 @ 11:23 am @Cher: A fabulous, very dense, and thoughtful post! Now I need to read the first installment! Impulsively I’ll respond to the self-actualization piece in this by stating that in my early life I was more reactive (filling open slots yawning in my direction)in making life-changing decisions – which finally led to more proactive decisions as self confidence increased. This, with full confidence that my earlier reactive decisions, in retrospect, were based on sound internally based principles which led me through the winding paths of reinvention towards a more satisfying actual principled existence (one which has been more in alignment with my core values). I’m sure luck has played as much a role in this as my own self determination since economic times make life altering decisions easier or more difficult to accomplish. I had the luck of economy going my way at the time. As life continues, we all waver between treading water, shrinking, or expanding. Now in old age I face the challenges of being increasingly physically unable to do the work I’ve previously found so satisfying, and realize the need to simultaneously pare down and find new outlets which require enough physical energy to slow down accelerating rot; so I think we are all continually “deciding” our next steps in our ever-changing existences and battling within our heads whether or not it’s still possible or worth the effort. Logging on here, though, is a choice – and exchanging thoughts with people with beautiful minds is truly a joy! Thanks!! » Posted By cyrano1 On February 16, 2011 @ 6:04 pm Worth sharing….”The Disease called ‘Perfection’ “ Hah! The GOP wants to throw us back into the pre civil war era don’t they? Don’t we all feel like we’re trying to continually plug a dam that’s about to burst and drown us all? They’re relentless! » Posted By cyrano1 On February 16, 2011 @ 7:52 pm Absolutely agree! We never lose our idealism in trying to get it right – and it’s a battle between accepting what we have weighed against what should be. I’m just always hung up on the belief that if there were more of us, we’d be getting more justice and the badly needed reforms we need. And the loud voices from the left – mine included, are needed to help move us there. What worries me are the lefties who want to either sit it out or vote third party. I voted for Nader in 2000. Not going to repeat that mistake ever again! In my view we need to fix what’s broken in our party, not resort to unrealistic alternatives which don’t yield results. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 16, 2011 @ 7:43 pm Absolutely spot on agree with you! From both outer wings of both parties we have impatient, short-sighted, short term “thinking” which substitutes for recognizing the reality that all changes which take place within a representative democracy are excruciatingly slow and involve compromise – especially now given our right of center voting population. That Obama has accomplished so much given that reality is still astonishing to me. Much of it is watered down, but gives us a foundation for improvement, especially if we can get off our duffs and get some more un-bought-off progressive dems elected to office. Then we can go after the thugs who got us into this mess!! 🙂 Grass roots!! » Posted By cyrano1 On February 16, 2011 @ 6:45 pm @ escribacat: Great post! I’d like to ascribe some of the blame of these high expectations (sense of entitlement) to parents who try to satisfy every desire their children express while simultaneously conveying the message that actual performance and content doesn’t matter as much as grades – and equally important, told their children that life should always be fair. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 16, 2011 @ 4:16 pm Hah!! You are so spot on!! And as we age and finally get past the point of denial, we finally accept the reality of our sagging frames and faces when we look in those mirrors and see the faces of our grandparents. Not welcome it, but sort of accept it – since it’s better than the alternative of not being at all. And we oldsters still have old photos as proof that we didn’t always look the way we do now. Always a shock to grandchildren. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 16, 2011 @ 3:26 pm Absolutely!!! » Posted By cyrano1 On February 16, 2011 @ 3:10 pm Seems if you’re healthy, active, and dislike sugar, you’ll probably outlive your doctor and his/her advice. 🙂 » Posted By cyrano1 On February 16, 2011 @ 2:36 pm In reflecting back on my own experience decades ago, I remember the water shed moment when all of the floating elusive thoughts came together and I realized that shedding the need for self-projected perfection of myself was only the first step in accepting imperfection in others – which led to a deeper understanding that there is absolutely nothing that is perfect (except maybe chocolate). The need for perfection is a scream for validation from others and really does isolate and separate us from our fellow humans which prevents us from feeling full membership with the family of man. Seems to be something that develops with age? At my 10th high school graduation reunion, the room was bristling with competition as attendees delivered proof of their rising success levels. I didn’t attend any other reunions until I was roped into doing some planning work for the 50th. (not many of us with computer graphics skills at our age) At that one we were all were happily re-acquainting ourselves with each other, competition was almost absent, and we were all united in our relief that we weren’t yet on the rapidly growing list of deceased class members. Isn’t our life a road trip from culturally imposed perfection – which finally ends up with the simple joy of survival with good friends and family? » Posted By cyrano1 On February 16, 2011 @ 2:19 pm Beautiful comment! I think, if we’re successful humans, we continue to grow in a positive direction until we’re dust. And we’ll NEVER get it right because there is no such thing. 🙂 » Posted By cyrano1 On February 16, 2011 @ 2:18 pm One of my faves also and for the same reasons. And the increased right wing determination in de-funding of education along with its privatization will accelerate the process. Another example of divide, conquer, and destroy. » Posted By cyrano1 On February 16, 2011 @ 3:46 pm The Deficit of Truth About Obama’s Budget @ Chern: Great post!! And for those who can’t tolerate reading more than what will fit on a bumper sticker, the fact that Obama has proposed increasing the education budget by 11 billion, and that much of it goes towards Pell grants might suffice? » Posted By cyrano1 On February 14, 2011 @ 4:08 pm @ AdLib: Yep! A re-elected Obama with 2012 behind him will definitely be “interesting”. Thanks for posting the article! » Posted By cyrano1 On February 14, 2011 @ 4:03 pm @Pocket Watch: Thanks for your old rant! Suspect most of us here are on the same page, believing that we not only NEED to stand together, but we all WANT to stand together. Wish more of us humans agreed on that. Wisdom is too often wasted by reaching only those wise enough to seek it isn’t it? » Posted By cyrano1 On February 14, 2011 @ 3:51 pmComments Posted By cyrano1
Enjoy!! 🙂
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