Is America a failure?

Is this noble experiment that commenced in the late 1700's in danger of failing?  I say no.  Every country has its highs and lows.  I believe in President Obama.  I don't agree with every policy decision he has made,but I do feel that he has the back of the heart of America.  Has he neglected to poor as Tavis Smiley and Cornel West say?  To some degree, the poor people have historically gotten the raw end of the deal, especially in tough economic times. 

Has Obama forsaken the heart of the country, while trying to negotiate with the right-as Bill Mahr and Michael Moore would say?  Yes, the president has tried to negotiate with the right.  To some degree they are correct.  He started out his presidency with one economic crisis after the next and yes, he tried something novel- he tried to involve everyone in the decision making process.  Perhaps he should have just been a prick and took everything he could get his hands on - after all he had a majority in both houses for the first two years. 

People forget that even though he bailed out the baok and the auto industry- they paid the money back in a very short period of time. The problem is that the bat shit tea party has held up any real decision making policy to the point where there is absolutely no compromise.  They may all be on the same kickball team but they are using a medicine ball that will just prevent any one from getting anywhere.

Believe me, things look bleak right now, but if the indecision in congress continues the next 14 months, the American public will realize who is at true fault.  The tea party members have a lot of nerve holding this county in a vice grip and they will pay at the polls if they keep this going.

How do we get out of this?  Remind the bankers who bailed them out when they were in dire straights.  They need to make it possible for people to purchase houses.  People should not purchase homes that they can not afford. They have to do this in order for the recession to be over.  We need more home sales, more construction, more jobs available to the average citizens.

 We need to have serious education standards and require more from our children.  Parents need to value their children's education and actually be involved in the process.  We need to realize that college is not for every child.  Way too much money is loaned out ( and never fully repaid) to students that are not serious about college.  If a child has not made above a b average in high school-do you really think that they are going to be more successful in college?

Finally, lets try to support our president.  He is very intelligent and he has introduced a jobs plan. Historically it has taken at least five years to fully recover from big dips in the economy.  Let us give him our support.  Have you wondered why there are no excellent candidates on the Republican side?  That is because we are in serious trouble and there are very few intelligent candidates that have the balls to take on this mess.  Let us back Obama and I believe we will be able to come back from this mess.

Buy a house, car, wardrobe that you can afford.  Stop charging everything without thinking about the long term consequences. Don't go to college just because everyone else does- have a life plan.  And stop Whining!!!!!

Best lines of the Summer

There was some great television on this summer.  True Blood was especially enjoyable.  I have already commented on Curb you Enthusiasm a few times.  I also have enjoyed Weeds.  Here are a few of my favorite moments:  I apologize if I don't get them exactly verbatim-

1. "Fuck Sookie and her fairy vagina and her incredibly stupid name! "  as stated by Pam who had a curse put on her this season and was walking around with her face falling off for half of the season.  This was very funny because of her intense narcissistic behavior.  I think Pam is my favorite character on True Blood.  Jason is also a hoot-considering he is really British and plays a dumb -yet lovable Southern hick.

2. "What a sewing machine- for a seven year old boy? Are you trying to turn him gay?" 
  "I think he he is gay."  Larry David with his girlfriend after giving her son a sewing machine for his 7th birthday.  The son was screaming with delight and immediately left to make a Dorothy costume for Halloween.

                                                                     

3. "That shaking shit might come in handy- you and Michael J. Fox- that would be a fair fight"-  Leon to Larry about confronting their upstairs neighbor Michel J. Fox.6nbsp; Later in the episode Mayor Bloomberg throws Larry out of New York for giving Micheal J. Fox a hard time.

                                                                


4. "Babe these are cops, I am a drug dealer, you are a murderer -  We can't all play on the same kick ball team."  Nancy Botwin to her son Shane upon finding out he has an internship in the NYC police department in order to get inside info about a competing drug ring.

OK- yes I watch way too much TV.  I am totally OK with it.  I grade my papers while I am watching and I am very good at multi-tasking.  Hope you enjoy!

                                                              

The invention of Lying/ Idiocracy

These two films are two of my favorite comedies.  They both made very little money at the box office.  I always watch them when I come upon them on TV.  I think the premise of each film is unique.  They are satirically funny in a much deeper way than probably even the authors intended. 

The Invention of Lying stars Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner.  The idea is that no one has ever lied in the world and Ricky's character discovers he can steal and pay the bills by just not telling the truth.  He then lies to his mother on her death bed to prevent her from being so scared about dying and ends up being the modern day Moses with his "Ten Commandments" written on Pizza boxes.  I am certain that religious zealots hated this movie-but I thought it was really clever and funny.

Idiocracy takes Luke Wilson into the future 500 years from now due to a hibernation experiment.  The world has encouraged commercial beauty and wealth and discouraged intellectual ability.  Therefore Luke Wilson is the smartest person in the world.  I found this movie hysterical.  As an educator, I am aware of the "dumbing down" process.  Many may think this is just one of those dumb smell my farts movie-but I found the premise really on target.

I have been teaching for the past thirty years.  People ask me - what is the difference in the students?  The truth is there isn't really that much difference in the maturity level.  Ninth graders are still basically very immature with a huge difference in the boys and the girls. The real difference is that the overall attention span has decreased.  The students require a lot more variety of stimulation to get them interested in the topics.  The parents protect their children and believe every word they are told. There is less money allotted for education and teachers have to spend a lot of their own money in order to have exciting and stimulating lessons.  I can go on and on.

There are wonderful students out there that have been raised to be very honest and helpful.  These are just unfortunately out shown by the few super obnoxious ones that require all of the teachers attention in classrooms that are overcrowded. 

If you want to improve this problem look at towards the future. We need to invest in our children. We need to stop the shameless worship of movie and sports stars.  We need to have rich people pay their fair share of taxes and save our school.  Otherwise Idiocracy may end up being a reality instead of a comedy.

Why I hate Dekalb County School System

I was going to the gym the other day and I passed some protesters that were holding signs that said Dekalb county Sux!  I must admit I waved and beeped my horn in agreement.  Every year the teachers and students suffer while waiting to get enough teachers to bring the classroom sizes down to normal.  The students suffer because they have been put into the wrong level class or the class sizes are not leveled. One poor student in my class has been to 4 different biology classes in 4 weeks.

A teacher I know has 51 students in her class and I have off that period.  I have offered to teach extended day which means I lose a planning period.  I really don't want to, but I know she needs me to so I will.  The county will not give the OK for me to teach extended day.  So that teacher just has to suffer.

I know of another teacher that is already teaching extended day.  She never signed any contract for this extra class and the system is planning to get a new teacher for the  math department.  Believe me- they will give the new teacher this class and they will not pay this brand new teacher for teaching this extra class for the past 4 weeks.  That sucks and there is nothing we as teachers can do about it.

This is just one of my grips about our county.  Some lazy asshole sits in the county office and decides what hoops the teacher will jump through this year. And by the way- when they want something done it has a deadline.  There is never a dead line when the students and teachers are suffering.

I know of several teachers that haven't had air conditioning since the beginning of August.  We are in a big, beautiful new building- the window do not open. It is just plain criminal to put 40 students in a room with no air when the temp. outside is over 90.  Nobody ( in authority) gives a shit. 

Teachers are constantly reminded about being professional.  Would a law firm stay open if they had no air?  Would lawyers  be given 25 minute lunches?  Would they be expected to dress professionally when they had to work in 95 degree court rooms?  Think about it.  If you want America to come back as a world leader- we need students to learn.  We need classroom sizes of less than 36.  We need to allow teachers the time to actually be successful at their jobs.

Yes- every school has it lemons- fire them!!!!  If someone is cursing in class, being flirtatious with the students, not teaching the curriculum or not trying to be an innovative teacher- fire the bastards!  Talk to them as individuals.  Don't blame the whole staff for 3 fuck ups!

Yes I am mad and I am not going to take it anymore! So Dekalb county- grow a pair please!

Buckner's redemption

For those of you that didn't understand last nights episode of Curb your Enthusiasm- Let me explain.  In 1986 the Mets were in the World Series with the Boston Red Sox.  The Mets were down 3-2 and had come back  and were in the sixth game, tied in extra innings.  Mookie Wilson from the Mets hit a give me dribbler down the first base line and Bill Buckner made an error and the Mets won game six.  They came back and won the seventh game and won the World series.  I watched every game of the World series that year.  The Miracle Mets were the reason I was up at one every night and very tired at school.  My roommates were New York Met fans and if you loved the Mets- that was the most exciting time ever!

For those of you that didn't know the background- you may have been confused by the story line last night.  Bill Buckner was a terrific baseball player and he had one big error and that is what he will always be remembered for and that is a shame.  Also remember that at that time the Red Sox had not won a world series in a very long time.

Thanks Larry- I laughed throughout the whole show last night- Hysterical!

Guns don't kill people- people kill people-Really?

Well we just had another instance where a six year child was killed while playing with his mother's gun. I hate guns.  I understand that people want to defend themselves, but seriously is there ever a situation where a criminal is planning to attack you and they really don't have the upper hand.  Unless you are walking down the street with your gun drawn you really do not have the ability to be on the offensive.  Women with a gun in their purse aren't going to be able to get it out without a mugger realizing what they are up to.  If you have a gun in your glove compartment of your car or the nightstand in your bedroom- do you really have the upper hand?  If you have children- they are going to be very curious about this magic weapon you hide in the drawer and this just is a recipe for disaster.

Don't even get me started on assault weapons and hunting. 

Chris Rock has it right when he says- charge $5000 per bullet.  That will put an end to drive by shootings and reckless gun owners.  Then if you want to kill someone- you are only going to get one shot.  No innocent bystanders will get hurt. 

How many murders are there in the UK?  Canada?  They have gun legislation there.  The right to bear arms was written at a very different period in our history.  I understand that I am really stepping on some toes with this one-too fucking bad.  Let's not kill any more innocents!  Momma T

Lady Gaga- Fashole or Fashicon?

I admire Lady Gaga.  I think she is a genius.  She is constantly reinventing herself.  She has become the role model for a generation of young people that are "outcasts" and teaching them to love themselves.  I always loved Madonna in the 80's.  I think they are both very intelligent performers.  I watched the Fashion police this morning and there was a controversy whether to put her in the best or worst dressed of the week.  Katy Perry had a block of cheddar on her head- trying to compete with Lady Gaga the woman.  Lady Gaga outfoxed them all. I really enjoyed watching her HBO concert special this summer.  She is definitely for real and very talented. If you haven't watched it- check it out on HBO.  Go Lady Go!

I also just was reminded of her early performance on the view this summer.  They replayed it this morning. She wore her Chanel even on her piano!