1/ I like the title of this article - "We've only got America A", i.e. at this point there is no Plan B. Thomas Friedman says we are under threat from China and also individuals with access to information, e.g. Wikileaks, and with the US weakened the world has become more unstable......
There is no America B, so we’d better make this one work a lot better than we’ve been doing, and not only for our sake. When Britain went into decline as the globe’s stabilizing power, America was right there, ready to pick up the role. Even with all our imperfections and mistakes, the world has been a better place for it. If America goes weak, though, and cannot project power the way it has, your kids won’t just grow up in a different America. They will grow up in a different world. You will not like who picks up the pieces. Just glance at a few recent headlines.
The world system is currently being challenged by two new forces: a rising superpower, called China, and a rising collection of superempowered individuals, as represented by the WikiLeakers, among others. What globalization, technological integration and the general flattening of the world have done is to superempower individuals to such a degree that they can actually challenge any hierarchy — from a global bank to a nation state — as individuals.
2/ Rick Scott and Florida's schools
A follow-up on Thursday's story on the school voucher system, with a detailed story from the Bradenton Times on how this might work in real life....and that's very badly......
As with any political movement, I tend to look at who is pushing it, how it fits into their core ideology and what stands to be gained. In this spirit, the most troubling part about vouchers is that they seem to be most strongly favored by those who do not really believe in government funding of education in the first place. That's not to say that all supporters of such programs wish to abolish public education. Nonetheless, I still think that it is instructive to examine why those who do wish public education to suffer such a fate view vouchers as a vehicle toward that end.
Superficially, vouchers can be seen as a tool to level the playing field. If I am poor, I likely live in a less than desirable school district because of the ways schools are funded. A voucher, it would seem, might allow me the opportunity to pay for a private school alternative that is otherwise out of reach. The argument is that if my school is failing me, rather than sending that school my share of the funding, give my family the vote of confidence to decide whether I stay there (and they continue to get the money) or enroll me in a private school and use it toward the tuition.
While that might seem fair enough, one only need contemplate the broader impact of such a policy to understand why it is flawed. By giving students and their parents a chance to "opt out" of their district (and take funding with them), vouchers put already struggling schools on life support.
Superficially, vouchers can be seen as a tool to level the playing field. If I am poor, I likely live in a less than desirable school district because of the ways schools are funded. A voucher, it would seem, might allow me the opportunity to pay for a private school alternative that is otherwise out of reach. The argument is that if my school is failing me, rather than sending that school my share of the funding, give my family the vote of confidence to decide whether I stay there (and they continue to get the money) or enroll me in a private school and use it toward the tuition.
While that might seem fair enough, one only need contemplate the broader impact of such a policy to understand why it is flawed. By giving students and their parents a chance to "opt out" of their district (and take funding with them), vouchers put already struggling schools on life support.
This is more on Scott himself and how he got elected, as well as how bad this plan is.....
And his opponents’ campaigns — and the media coverage — focused so much on his business dealings that no one paid much attention to some important policy issues. Like his radical views of public education.
So when Scott eked out a win, we ended up with a governor-elect who is trying to rip apart public education.
Vouchers for everyone, barkeep.
“There goes public education,” Pinellas County School Board member Janet Clark told the St. Petersburg Times.
The Times article pointed out that Scott put together an 18-person educational transition team. And there was only one teacher – from an online school, at that – on the panel.
That disdain for teachers is evident throughout the plan, which calls for a push toward online schooling (as the parent of a child who is now taking an online class, I can tell you that is one vile idea), and to cut and restructure teacher pay.
And then there’s the vouchers-for-everyone idea, which would effectively move massive amounts of money from public to private and religious schools. Schools that don’t have to comply with any government mandates or offer programs for special populations (such as special education or English as a second language). It would be the end of public education.
Note that neither story mentions or hints at the potential for fraud and abuse of this system.....they just make the case on the merits of the plan....so add in the abuse factor and it will be a disaster.
3/ Isn't this the cycle of life - the banks give you an easy mortgage and you default on it....very profitable for the bank by the way as they sold your mortgage long ago so they get tons of fees when you walk away, then after the foreclosure they offer you more credit but at higher fees because your credit score is damaged.... bastards.....
Homeowners who are hopelessly underwater on their mortgages are often warned of the perils of walking away. Their credit will be destroyed. They will never be able to borrow money again.
That is what the banks say.
But they do something else.
In his front-page article on the extension of credit cards to people with blemished credit records, Eric Dash writes:
Industry consultants, in their attempt to feed the demand for finer classifications of borrowers, have coined new labels to describe different borrowers with similar credit scores.One is “strategic defaulters,” whose credit scores were damaged because they walked away from a home when its value dropped below what was owed on the mortgage. These borrowers made a bad bet on real estate but may otherwise be prudent risks because they make a good living.
And so the banks will give credit cards to those people. They can often get higher fees and interest rates from such people, and therefore higher profits.
In other words, let bygones be bygones.
Well, not completely. Eric tells me that most banks won’t give credit cards to people who defaulted on mortgages issued by that bank. But if the loser was some other bank, why hold a grudge?
4/ And this is the next big profit center for the banks....your kids.....from Tom Tomorrow......
5/ John Boehner, the new Speaker of the House, is a weeper. He weeps a lot, on the House floor, in TV interviews and who knows on the toilet maybe.....
Very strange, but if you accept he's a drunk it all falls into place. Boehner is an alcoholic.......
Anyway Gail Collins with a funny column about this asshole.....
Boehner is a gravel-voiced Ohioan who wears snazzy suits and hangs out a lot with lobbyists. One of the few cheery prospects the new year holds for Democrats is his upcoming demonization, since there is no such thing in 21st-century America as a loveable leader of the House of Representatives. Unless America is totally won over by the idea of a Sobbing Speaker.
“I think people are going to like him,” said Lesley Stahl, who interviewed Boehner for a “60 Minutes” segment shown last Sunday, during which he broke down several times.
6/ A compilation video of clips from a lot of the movies screened in 2010......see how many you recognise.....but fair warning - it's exhausting to watch! Five minutes.....
7/ I remember reading about this case years ago, the murder of a man in the center of a busy town, and noone would admit to seeing the killer.....fascinating....
SKIDMORE, Mo. — The murder of Ken Rex McElroy took place in plain view of dozens of residents of this small farm town, under the glare of the morning sun. But in a dramatic act of solidarity with the gunman, every witness, save the dead man’s wife, denied seeing who had pulled the trigger.
8/ Made in China?
This article from the Wall Street Journal argues that although the I-Phone is perceived to be made in China, it's only assembled there.....so the trade balance we think is all attributed to the Chinese is actually many other countries as well......
Hmmm....this may be true, but no matter how you cut it's still a trade imbalance to the US, and are the other countries manufacturing the parts to the I-Phone as subcontractors to Chinese companies? No answers from the WSJ, so this could be a "spin machine" story to defuse any actions against China.....
The WSJ is, of course, a Rupert Murdoch paper and a voice for the oligarchs.....
"A distorted picture" is the result, they say, one that exaggerates trade imbalances between nations.
Trade statistics in both countries consider the iPhone a Chinese export to the U.S., even though it is entirely designed and owned by a U.S. company, and is made largely of parts produced in several Asian and European countries. China's contribution is the last step—assembling and shipping the phones.
So the entire $178.96 estimated wholesale cost of the shipped phone is credited to China, even though the value of the work performed by the Chinese workers at Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. accounts for just 3.6%, or $6.50, of the total, the researchers calculated in a report published this month.
A spokeswoman for Apple said the company declined to comment on the research.
9/ France - surprising story about their civil union law which was brought in so that gay couples could get into a legal relationship. Now 95% of all civil unions are male/female relationships, and civil unions are 40% of all marriages in France. Interesting.
Whatever their reasons, and they vary widely, French couples are increasingly shunning traditional marriages and opting instead for civil unions, to the point that there are now two civil unions for every three marriages.
When France created its system of civil unions in 1999, it was heralded as a revolution in gay rights, a relationship almost like marriage, but not quite. No one, though, anticipated how many couples would make use of the new law. Nor was it predicted that by 2009, the overwhelming majority of civil unions would be between straight couples.
10/ A bit of history
An entire crew of a B-29 (12 aviators) was rescued by a US submarine after their plane was shot down in 1944/5, seventy miles off the coast of Japan. The rescue was filmed in color video but then sat in one of the submarine officers' closet until now. This is a story from a Denver TV station of one of those rescued aviators. Five minutes...... |
11/ Music - This is a video of street singers from around the world being recorded,
overlayed, and mixed with while singing the song "Stand By Me."
10 excellent minutes.....
Todays video - Streaker.....
Todays seniors joke
Since more and more Seniors are texting and tweeting there appears to be a need for a STC (Senior Texting Code). If you qualify for Senior Discounts this is the code for you.
ATD: At The Doctor's
BFF: Best Friend Farted
BTW: Bring The Wheelchair
BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth
CBM: Covered By Medicare
CUATSC: See You At The Senior Center
DWI: Driving While Incontinent
FWB: Friend With Beta Blockers
FWIW: Forgot Where I Was
FYI: Found Your Insulin
GGPBL: Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low!
GHA: Got Heartburn Again
HGBM: Had Good Bowel Movement
IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On?
LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out
LOL: Living On Lipitor
LWO: Lawrence Welk's On
OMMR: On My Massage Recliner
ROFL... CGU: Rolling On The Floor Laughing... And Can't Get Up
SGGP: Sorry, Gotta Go Poop
TTYL: Talk To You Louder
WAITT: Who Am I Talking To?
WTFA: Wet The Furniture Again
WTP: Where's The Prunes?
WWNO: Walker Wheels Need Oil
LMGA: Lost My Glasses Again
GLKI (Gotta Go, Laxative Kicking In)
Todays Hypnotist joke
*Hypnotism at the Senior Center**
It was entertainment night at the Senior Center. Claude the
hypnotist exclaimed: 'I'm here to put you all into a trance. I
intend to hypnotize each and every member of the audience.'
The excitement was almost electric as Claude withdrew a beautiful
antique pocket watch from his coat. The polished metal gleamed in
the light.
Claude the hypnotist said: 'I want you each to keep your eyes on
this antique watch. It's a very special watch. It's been in my
family for six generations.'
He began to swing the watch gently back and forth while quietly
chanting, 'Watch the watch, watch the watch, watch the watch.'
The crowd became mesmerized as the watch swayed back and forth, light shimmering off its polished surface. Hundreds of pairs of eyes followed the swaying watch until, suddenly, it slipped from the
hypnotist's fingers and fell to the floor, shattering into a hundred
pieces.
'SHIT!' said the hypnotist.
It took 3 days to clean up the Senior Center.*
It was entertainment night at the Senior Center. Claude the
hypnotist exclaimed: 'I'm here to put you all into a trance. I
intend to hypnotize each and every member of the audience.'
The excitement was almost electric as Claude withdrew a beautiful
antique pocket watch from his coat. The polished metal gleamed in
the light.
Claude the hypnotist said: 'I want you each to keep your eyes on
this antique watch. It's a very special watch. It's been in my
family for six generations.'
He began to swing the watch gently back and forth while quietly
chanting, 'Watch the watch, watch the watch, watch the watch.'
The crowd became mesmerized as the watch swayed back and forth, light shimmering off its polished surface. Hundreds of pairs of eyes followed the swaying watch until, suddenly, it slipped from the
hypnotist's fingers and fell to the floor, shattering into a hundred
pieces.
'SHIT!' said the hypnotist.
It took 3 days to clean up the Senior Center.*
Todays Swiss joke
Yodeling
Have you ever wondered where and how yodeling began?
Many years ago a man was traveling through the mountains of Switzerland.
Nightfall was rapidly approaching and he had nowhere to sleep. He went up to a farmhouse and asked the farmer if he could spend the night.
The farmer told him that he could sleep in th e barn.
As the story goes, the farmer's daughter asked her father, 'Who is that man going into the barn?'
'That fellow is traveling through,' said the farmer. 'and needs a place
to stay for the night, so, I told him he could sleep in the barn.'
The daughter aid, 'Perhaps he is hungry.' So she prepared him a plate of food and took it out to the barn.
About an hour later the daughter returned, her clothing disheveled and straw in her hair. Straight up to bed she went.
The farmer's wife was very observant. She then suggested that perhaps the man was thirsty. So she fetched a bottle of wine, took it out to the barn, and she too did not return for an hour. Her clothing was askew, her blouse buttoned incorrectly. She also headed straight to bed.
The next morning at sunrise the man in the barn got up and continued on his journey, waving to the the farmer as he left.
When the daughter awoke and learned the visitor was gone she burst into tears. 'How could he leave without even saying goodbye?,' she cried. 'We made such passionate love last night!'
'What?', shouted the father, as he angrily ran out of the house looking for the man who by now was halfway up the mountain.
The farmer screamed up at him, 'I'm going to get you! You had sex with my daughter!'
The man looked back down from the mountainside, cupped his hand next to his mouth, and yelled out.....
'LAIDTHEOLADEETOO'
Have you ever wondered where and how yodeling began?
Many years ago a man was traveling through the mountains of Switzerland.
Nightfall was rapidly approaching and he had nowhere to sleep. He went up to a farmhouse and asked the farmer if he could spend the night.
The farmer told him that he could sleep in th e barn.
As the story goes, the farmer's daughter asked her father, 'Who is that man going into the barn?'
'That fellow is traveling through,' said the farmer. 'and needs a place
to stay for the night, so, I told him he could sleep in the barn.'
The daughter aid, 'Perhaps he is hungry.' So she prepared him a plate of food and took it out to the barn.
About an hour later the daughter returned, her clothing disheveled and straw in her hair. Straight up to bed she went.
The farmer's wife was very observant. She then suggested that perhaps the man was thirsty. So she fetched a bottle of wine, took it out to the barn, and she too did not return for an hour. Her clothing was askew, her blouse buttoned incorrectly. She also headed straight to bed.
The next morning at sunrise the man in the barn got up and continued on his journey, waving to the the farmer as he left.
When the daughter awoke and learned the visitor was gone she burst into tears. 'How could he leave without even saying goodbye?,' she cried. 'We made such passionate love last night!'
'What?', shouted the father, as he angrily ran out of the house looking for the man who by now was halfway up the mountain.
The farmer screamed up at him, 'I'm going to get you! You had sex with my daughter!'
The man looked back down from the mountainside, cupped his hand next to his mouth, and yelled out.....
'LAIDTHEOLADEETOO'
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