You never realize what you had until it is gone.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Again!? Really?
Just finished reading this story about the 11th grade Texas honor roll student who is working two jobs being thrown in jail because she has missed too much school.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/27/diane-tran-honors-student-jailed-texas-high-school-truancy_n_1549160.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009
Un-friken-believable! This poor kid is working 2 jobs, taking dual credit classes (classes that count for both college and high school credit) and college level Algebra and is thrown in jail because there are days she is just too tired to actually physically show up at school? All her hard work will be for naught if she gets a criminal record for working too hard, and that is basically what it is about. The kid is working harder than most adults in this country and is now being punished for it by a court system that lacks common sense, justice, fairness or compassion.
They also seem to be lacking in the ability to understand cases brought before them. When the reporter approached the Judge it appears as if it was the first time he was hearing about this girls issues. Really? I know Justice is supposed to be blind but deaf, dumb and stupid too? Seriously? AND the girl is working two jobs because of financial hardships so on top of everything else the Judge imposes a monetary fine.
The Judge states in an interview that if he lets her get away with this then others will try it too. OMG! A group of kids working their butts off. We certainly can't have that in this country! Who would go on welfare? Who would flunk out of school for poor grades? God forbid that we have a nation of children with work ethic and study habits. Personally I had trouble with a couple of my kids getting them to get one job let alone two!
Not to mention that if a child misses more than 10 days of school then it is up to the discretion?!? of the school to turn it over to a truancy officer. So it appears that the school may be lacking sense also?
Jail for slackers might be a better option. THAT might set an example. This example leaves the impression that working hard gets you a kick in the teeth so why bother.
Smart thinking Judge.
I am done with the phrase "common sense". We all know that is an almost non-existent commodity today. Now sense of any kind seems to be in short supply.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/27/diane-tran-honors-student-jailed-texas-high-school-truancy_n_1549160.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009
Un-friken-believable! This poor kid is working 2 jobs, taking dual credit classes (classes that count for both college and high school credit) and college level Algebra and is thrown in jail because there are days she is just too tired to actually physically show up at school? All her hard work will be for naught if she gets a criminal record for working too hard, and that is basically what it is about. The kid is working harder than most adults in this country and is now being punished for it by a court system that lacks common sense, justice, fairness or compassion.
They also seem to be lacking in the ability to understand cases brought before them. When the reporter approached the Judge it appears as if it was the first time he was hearing about this girls issues. Really? I know Justice is supposed to be blind but deaf, dumb and stupid too? Seriously? AND the girl is working two jobs because of financial hardships so on top of everything else the Judge imposes a monetary fine.
The Judge states in an interview that if he lets her get away with this then others will try it too. OMG! A group of kids working their butts off. We certainly can't have that in this country! Who would go on welfare? Who would flunk out of school for poor grades? God forbid that we have a nation of children with work ethic and study habits. Personally I had trouble with a couple of my kids getting them to get one job let alone two!
Not to mention that if a child misses more than 10 days of school then it is up to the discretion?!? of the school to turn it over to a truancy officer. So it appears that the school may be lacking sense also?
Jail for slackers might be a better option. THAT might set an example. This example leaves the impression that working hard gets you a kick in the teeth so why bother.
Smart thinking Judge.
I am done with the phrase "common sense". We all know that is an almost non-existent commodity today. Now sense of any kind seems to be in short supply.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
LGBT and The President
I've been reading today about the big hoopla caused by our President coming out publicly supporting humans with particular mention of the LGBT community. And hoopla there is.
The question of this big announcement being a political ploy is being bandied about rather a lot. I am having a very hard time understanding how this could have been a political ploy unless The President just woke up one day a decided that he wanted to make the re-election process harder for himself.
I can just picture that thought process. The President awakes and is laying there in bed organizing his thoughts before he gets out of bed to start his day. He thinks ~ Hmmm, there is a lot of criticism of my policies and the way things are going in the country right now. People keep saying I'm not doing anything. I need to come up with something really fast that will get everybody behind me so I can have a decent shot of winning this re-election. What, oh what can I do?? OMG! I've got it! What is one of the most hotly debated topics of this century? Why it's LGBT! If I come out publicly in support of this group of people this should help my re-election campaign tremendously! I can't imagine anybody in this country or any other country being against the LGBT community. Yep! That's the ticket! I'll come out in support of the LGBT community!
I also have a very hard time picturing the old school political advisers getting behind a move like this because they would surely know that this could spell political suicide. But ........oh never mind. To me the whole concept of this being a political ploy rather than something genuine is ludicrous.
For those that think this is a good political strategy I am recommending that you use this same strategy in your own personal lives. Want an advancement at work or a raise? Go to work tomorrow and announce to everyone that you are gay or a lesbian or a transgender or bisexual or all four and then ask for a raise.
Come back and let us all know how that worked out for you as a career booster.
The question of this big announcement being a political ploy is being bandied about rather a lot. I am having a very hard time understanding how this could have been a political ploy unless The President just woke up one day a decided that he wanted to make the re-election process harder for himself.
I can just picture that thought process. The President awakes and is laying there in bed organizing his thoughts before he gets out of bed to start his day. He thinks ~ Hmmm, there is a lot of criticism of my policies and the way things are going in the country right now. People keep saying I'm not doing anything. I need to come up with something really fast that will get everybody behind me so I can have a decent shot of winning this re-election. What, oh what can I do?? OMG! I've got it! What is one of the most hotly debated topics of this century? Why it's LGBT! If I come out publicly in support of this group of people this should help my re-election campaign tremendously! I can't imagine anybody in this country or any other country being against the LGBT community. Yep! That's the ticket! I'll come out in support of the LGBT community!
I also have a very hard time picturing the old school political advisers getting behind a move like this because they would surely know that this could spell political suicide. But ........oh never mind. To me the whole concept of this being a political ploy rather than something genuine is ludicrous.
For those that think this is a good political strategy I am recommending that you use this same strategy in your own personal lives. Want an advancement at work or a raise? Go to work tomorrow and announce to everyone that you are gay or a lesbian or a transgender or bisexual or all four and then ask for a raise.
Come back and let us all know how that worked out for you as a career booster.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Kids today..........
So...can anyone tell me what is going on with kids today?
Wait, what I actually mean is can anyone tell me why in recent years adults have this compulsion to treat small children like adults? The fact is that kids really haven't changed. What has changed is adults attitude towards kids.
Don't get me wrong here. I am as irritated as the next person is with the crying, tantrum producing, snotty nosed little heathens running around in public places as the next guy or gal. However.............
There is this story of a 6 year old boy sexually harassing a 6 year old girl. Say What!?!
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/6-year-old-boy-accused-of-sexual-harassment-for-repeating-pop-song-lyric/
Fortunately there are some laws in place that will prevent this 6 year old from getting the Pedophile label (since he IS a prepubescent child himself and by definition the victim must be at least 5 years younger before it could be considered a pedophelic.) So, what are we left with here.
A 6 year old boy quotes a song line (albeit an inappropriate song line) to a 6 year old girl who what? - feels sexually harassed? Do either of these children know what sexual harassment is or means? The first thought that popped into my head when I read these articles (besides WTH, are you kidding me!?!, etc ... see Wednesday Rant) is did the girl feel sexually harassed? If the 6 year old girl felt sexually harassed how did she know or understand what sexual was? Has anyone checked into her home life if this is the case? The other thing that crossed my mind was why was the school deeming this sexual harassment? Shouldn't this just have been a case of inappropriate behavior in general. You know...the kind that used to get you sent to the office with detention or something? Someone else gets to determine if something is sexually harassing to you or just plain harassing?
Then there is the who is going to explain to these two kids and probably the rest of the school now that a 6 year has been expelled, what sexual harassment is and why this was sexual harassment. And what the difference is and how to recognize the difference between feeling uncomfortable with a behavior or feeling sexual about a behavior. Who is going to be answering all their questions about this? Is this the schools job? Should the school be held accountable for the situation they have now caused with their over-reaction (yeah, that is my opinion) to this situation?
Yes, I also agree that this song is probably not the best song for a 6 year old to be listening to but stuff happens. Kids hear things when they are out and about. I had the dickens of a time trying to explain to my four year old son why the gyrations along with the verbiage of "body language" of the evil octopus Sea witch Ursula, in Disney's Little Mermaid was not an appropriate action to be performed in the middle of a mall. If you don't know what I'm talking about - watch the movie "Body Language" is pretty graphic and took me by surprise coming from a Disney G rated movie that I was watching with my 3 toddlers back in the day.
Then there is the out of control 6 year old who was hauled out of school in handcuffs. Say what?
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/police-handcuffing-a-child-is-our-last-alternative-when-theyre-putting-others-in-danger-mre
Yes, 100% I agree that this child was out of control. Was this the very first time this kid acted like this? This happened well into the school year so everyone in the school would have had plenty of time to know if this were an ongoing behavioral issue. If this was the first time this child acted like this it should have been red flags, alarms, bells and whistles going off. Did something happen at school or at home that would cause a sudden violent outburst like this? Was being hauled off in handcuffs to the police station appropriate or even necessary? Don't teachers have training on how to deal with children?
The case of the 6 year old going berserk in school brought this story to mind: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/25/11389266-dad-wires-up-autistic-son-10-to-expose-bullying-by-teaching-staff?lite
The point of this rambling rant I guess would be basically outrage that along with zero tolerance there is zero common sense or actually sense of any kind. Outrage also about there fact that the stupid behaviors we did as a kid that used to be chalked up to "just being kids" (t'ping trees, ringing door bells, etc.) are now offenses that will get a kid a juvenile criminal record. Yes, bad behavior should be corrected but is it really up to the court system to do the parents job? Zero tolerance I fear will soon mean that 90% of kids will be classified as criminals and juvenile offenders. I am not talking about gun toting, drug dealing, shoot somebody in the head kids here either.
I'm in my mid sixties and I can remember what it was like to be a kid. Is it really that easy for people to forget?
Wait, what I actually mean is can anyone tell me why in recent years adults have this compulsion to treat small children like adults? The fact is that kids really haven't changed. What has changed is adults attitude towards kids.
Don't get me wrong here. I am as irritated as the next person is with the crying, tantrum producing, snotty nosed little heathens running around in public places as the next guy or gal. However.............
There is this story of a 6 year old boy sexually harassing a 6 year old girl. Say What!?!
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/6-year-old-boy-accused-of-sexual-harassment-for-repeating-pop-song-lyric/
Fortunately there are some laws in place that will prevent this 6 year old from getting the Pedophile label (since he IS a prepubescent child himself and by definition the victim must be at least 5 years younger before it could be considered a pedophelic.) So, what are we left with here.
A 6 year old boy quotes a song line (albeit an inappropriate song line) to a 6 year old girl who what? - feels sexually harassed? Do either of these children know what sexual harassment is or means? The first thought that popped into my head when I read these articles (besides WTH, are you kidding me!?!, etc ... see Wednesday Rant) is did the girl feel sexually harassed? If the 6 year old girl felt sexually harassed how did she know or understand what sexual was? Has anyone checked into her home life if this is the case? The other thing that crossed my mind was why was the school deeming this sexual harassment? Shouldn't this just have been a case of inappropriate behavior in general. You know...the kind that used to get you sent to the office with detention or something? Someone else gets to determine if something is sexually harassing to you or just plain harassing?
Then there is the who is going to explain to these two kids and probably the rest of the school now that a 6 year has been expelled, what sexual harassment is and why this was sexual harassment. And what the difference is and how to recognize the difference between feeling uncomfortable with a behavior or feeling sexual about a behavior. Who is going to be answering all their questions about this? Is this the schools job? Should the school be held accountable for the situation they have now caused with their over-reaction (yeah, that is my opinion) to this situation?
Yes, I also agree that this song is probably not the best song for a 6 year old to be listening to but stuff happens. Kids hear things when they are out and about. I had the dickens of a time trying to explain to my four year old son why the gyrations along with the verbiage of "body language" of the evil octopus Sea witch Ursula, in Disney's Little Mermaid was not an appropriate action to be performed in the middle of a mall. If you don't know what I'm talking about - watch the movie "Body Language" is pretty graphic and took me by surprise coming from a Disney G rated movie that I was watching with my 3 toddlers back in the day.
Then there is the out of control 6 year old who was hauled out of school in handcuffs. Say what?
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/police-handcuffing-a-child-is-our-last-alternative-when-theyre-putting-others-in-danger-mre
Yes, 100% I agree that this child was out of control. Was this the very first time this kid acted like this? This happened well into the school year so everyone in the school would have had plenty of time to know if this were an ongoing behavioral issue. If this was the first time this child acted like this it should have been red flags, alarms, bells and whistles going off. Did something happen at school or at home that would cause a sudden violent outburst like this? Was being hauled off in handcuffs to the police station appropriate or even necessary? Don't teachers have training on how to deal with children?
The case of the 6 year old going berserk in school brought this story to mind: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/25/11389266-dad-wires-up-autistic-son-10-to-expose-bullying-by-teaching-staff?lite
The point of this rambling rant I guess would be basically outrage that along with zero tolerance there is zero common sense or actually sense of any kind. Outrage also about there fact that the stupid behaviors we did as a kid that used to be chalked up to "just being kids" (t'ping trees, ringing door bells, etc.) are now offenses that will get a kid a juvenile criminal record. Yes, bad behavior should be corrected but is it really up to the court system to do the parents job? Zero tolerance I fear will soon mean that 90% of kids will be classified as criminals and juvenile offenders. I am not talking about gun toting, drug dealing, shoot somebody in the head kids here either.
I'm in my mid sixties and I can remember what it was like to be a kid. Is it really that easy for people to forget?
Wednesday Rant
Are you kidding me? I read a lot. I also am on the Internet a lot. Combine those two things and I find myself reading a lot of crap on the Internet on a daily basis. Hence the phrase "are you kidding me?!?" comes out of my mouth or runs through my head at least 200 times a day.
It took me a while to realize that there has not been an epidemic of dumbing down in America and the world in general. What has happened is that we now have access to people we normally wouldn't come in contact with in huge numbers.
Before I realized this I was kind of depressed thinking that there were a lot of people out there losing their minds - or rational thinking capabilities. I now realize that this overload of instant information that is available to us on the Internet comes with a price. The price being getting to read opinions and thoughts of everyone who has an Internet connection.
If you haven't experienced what I'm talking about just go and pick 5 "news" articles from someplace like ... say...Yahoo. Read the 5 articles. Then go back and read the comments on those same articles. See if you can get through just one article with a comment section without saying or thinking at least one time something like "OMG!", "WTH?", "Are you kidding me?", "Seriously?" or any combination of those phrases.
It took me a while to realize that there has not been an epidemic of dumbing down in America and the world in general. What has happened is that we now have access to people we normally wouldn't come in contact with in huge numbers.
Before I realized this I was kind of depressed thinking that there were a lot of people out there losing their minds - or rational thinking capabilities. I now realize that this overload of instant information that is available to us on the Internet comes with a price. The price being getting to read opinions and thoughts of everyone who has an Internet connection.
If you haven't experienced what I'm talking about just go and pick 5 "news" articles from someplace like ... say...Yahoo. Read the 5 articles. Then go back and read the comments on those same articles. See if you can get through just one article with a comment section without saying or thinking at least one time something like "OMG!", "WTH?", "Are you kidding me?", "Seriously?" or any combination of those phrases.
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