March 30, 2010

Towards second place . . .

Large Hadron Collider Sets Record

We used to be the first in such matters.

March 29, 2010

Health Care Reform Law: Ah, the surprises begin (#1)…..

AT&T to Take $1 Billion Charge for Health Care

Consequences of the new health care reform: Are we to lose some our current health benefits?

March 19, 2010

Once upon a time in America…

We the people loan (give?) the banks money at 0% interest. They loan it back to us at 20 %.

March 18, 2010

USA Today Article: Education Secretary and Hoops

Education Secretary Duncan: Ban NCAA teams with low grad rates

You want schools with less than 40% graduation rate be banned from NCAA post-season play. Very wimpy, Respected Mr. Secretary. What will that really do, for the athlete, if that is who you are worried about?

Why not 80, 90, or, can we get bold and say even a 100% rate? While you are at it, how about a decent quality of education, so that these athletes can get a decent job, when they graduate in a good economy. I have been in university academia long enough to know that, if you pass that rule, there will be a 40% graduation rate overnight in all NCAA schools- sort of the Lake Woebegone effect- where all children are above average. Or being in Washington, would you prefer the “smoke and mirror” analogy?

I looked at some graduation rate numbers- only your neighbor Maryland with an 8% (USA Today is my source for this and other numbers I provide) is well below your expectation; next is CA with 20%; others AR-Pine Bluff (29%), Baylor (36%), Clemson (37%), GA Tech (38%), KY (31%), Louisville (38%), Missouri (36%), Tennessee (30%), and Washington (29%) are close. So, a bump in graduation rate to 40% would be “statistically” insignificant.

Your turn.

By the way, that 40%, where did it come from? baseball – Ted Williams batting average?

Oh, what fun…

it is to be rich these days! We have $ (obviously), have power (always did), and now the government is giving us the poor people’s money. Life is sweet, indeed! Unfortunately, I belong to the working class.

March 14, 2010

Feds- your top 10?

I feel more like what the Feds are doing “to” me than “for” me. How about you?

I call for each agency to list its top 10 priorities on its website home page. The language should be in plain English under a simple heading “Our top 10 priorities”, so that every visitor can readily find this information and understand how each Agency is working to improve the lives of Americans. Now, that is a change we all can believe in:The Feds telling its citizen what it is doing for them in an understandable way. This way, we the people can hold them accountable or change the list, if we do not like the priorities.

Perhaps, the health care reform bill would have had more public support if it is made clear to them how it will benefit them in a few “bullet point” headings (1or 2 Powerpoint slides, max). Einstein said it best: Keep it simple. After all, he did give us: E = mC2.

“Obama Calls for Sweeping Overhaul in Education” NYTimes 3/14/10

1. Education has too many “moving” parts for the Feds to fix. It is like trying to mold jello with your hands.
2. The Feds ability to fix anything has been dismal, especially of late.
3. The more “touchy feely” the mandate is, the more elusive is its successful implementation. Here is partial quote from this NY Times piece: “In addition, President Obama would replace the law’s requirement that every American child reach proficiency in reading and math, which administration officials have called utopian, with a new national target that could prove equally elusive: that all students should graduate from high school prepared for college and a career. “ (emphasis added).

I have been an university educator for more than 30 years.

March 12, 2010

Obama to Delay Pacific Trip by Three Days (NY times, 3/12/2010)

I thought the President could run the country from Air Force One.

March 5, 2010

Re-post: A pre-presidency message to President Obama

Entry for November 9, 2008

Dear Barack,
Your job is to serve the people. It looks like our government has largely forgotten this central mission.

Real issues often get obscured by “smart” people rhetoric. Please do not let that happen to your Presidency.
I wish you well, as a supporter.

“Obama Calls Jobs Report Better Than Expected”, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, March 5, 2010

Naturally, he is employed!