Miscellaneous Missives

Today in class the students had a list of adjectives that they needed to label positive or negative. One of these words was elite. When I asked the class to show one finger if it was positive and two fingers if it was negative, the class was split. The definition stated elite was being the best (or similar wording). A discussion followed in which students defended their positive/negative. Elite should be positive. Someone works hard to be "the best" at something. They are elite. Those in class that found elite negative because those people who are elite think they are better than others (attitude). I played "devil's advocate" to each side, but my thoughts turned to the election. Obama is elite because he is the better candidate. McCain uses elitist to describe Obama to show an attitude. This is what makes politics crazy; it's a word game. McSame gets by calling Obama an elitist even though he lives a more elitist lifestyle than Obama while Obama...

I would like to apologize for posting another forwarded e-mail. The reasoning is two-fold. 1) As most of you know I am recovering from being ill, so my experiences have been limited to my computer. 2) Although I am recovering, I have still managed to be frustrated by the Presidential election which probably will be my focus until November. Yes, of course, I would like to have a less shallow life, but the truth is this is the best I have! I seem to be a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight…… If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different." Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers -- you're a Quintessential American Story. If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim. If you name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick. Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable. Attend five different small colleges before graduating, you're "well-grounded." If you spend three ...

Take the time to open this link and see what Alaska women think of Sarah Palin. Link If the link doesn't work take the time to copy and paste the link below into your web browser. http://bigshow.bigfolio.com/?s=000011662&t=0e6a8ae03101be65098418ccb735e4a1

I received this e-mail a week ago. Today as I was talking to someone who didn't realize Sarah Palin didn't have more than a BA, I decided to post it to my blog. Also keep in mind Barack Obama was Editor of the Harvard Law Review while McSame was fifth from the bottom in his class. You are The Boss... which team would you hire? With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar,all-time high prison population, skyrocketing federal spending, mortgage crises, bank failures, etc., this is an ***unusually critical*** election year. Let's look at the educational background of both tickets: - - - - - Obama - - - - - Occidental College - Two years. Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations. Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude - - - - - Biden - - - - - University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science. Syracuse University College ...

Tonight is the debate. As I turned on the television this afternoon, I heard Jim Vandehei of Politico say that America doesn't want a candidate in the debate that seems too intelligent. Really? If this is true McCain/Palin should do very well. Tonight's topic is foreign policy although I'm certain they'll also talk about the recent economic situation which is certainly frightening. I look forward to staying home (like I have another choice with my current health situation) and watching the first debate.

This afternoon I went to the doctor. It seems I really am sick... walking pneumonia (not super sick). While at the doctor, I was given two prescriptions. One was for an antibiotic and the other was for the cough. After a rather short conversation about me taking cough syrup, the doctor gave me a prescription for a pill to alleviate the cough. I was a bit excited... a miracle drug? Too good to be true? Yes, I think it's too good to be true. I took one fifteen minutes ago; the cough persists!

Our students this year are weird. Friday, after the school picnic, I was able to give examples: kids looking for holes, kids capturing grasshoppers, kids playing with toads, kids playing army and hiding behind bushes, kids wanting to look at moss, etc. These are somewhat weird behaviors for seventh grade boys. Although they are a weird group, for the most part they are nice. Yesterday I went home sick and didn't teach any of my classes. Today I sat atop of the computer cart with my water and box of tissues. Most of my time was spent coughing, sneezing, and blowing my nose. The students were great. They worked quietly and periodically said, "bless you."