I have a radio in my bathroom. It's tuned to NPR, which I generally find informative and reasonably balanced. I listen to it while taking showers that I can best describe as environmentally unfriendly in their duration. You now know far more about me than you ever wanted to, but it’s important for context. Last … Continue reading Long Showers and Racist Rants
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Fun Photos Are Back!
Time magazine is printed on pretty thin paper these days. Thin enough that if you happen to read it with a little backlight, images from the back side of the page you're reading show through. The June 7 issue (Pope on the cover) included a photo of Kentucky senate candidate (also ex-ophthalmologist, libertarian scion, Tea … Continue reading Fun Photos Are Back!
Canada – Part Deux
OK, I used the Part Deux thing once before. A little latitude, please. The Canadians speak French. On our way back from the family road trip, we spent another very enjoyable day in Canada. Here are three more observations from the trip: 1) We crossed the border four times – twice out and twice back … Continue reading Canada – Part Deux
A Quiet Bit of Good News
A wonderful thing happened two days ago. Lou Dobbs left CNN. I'd like to claim credit for this. A couple of years ago, I emailed CNN begging them to get Dobbs off the air. I offered up the only leverage I could, telling them that as soon as he came on the air, they immediately … Continue reading A Quiet Bit of Good News
Africa – Questioning My Own Values
Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending a terrific conference on Africa at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Naperville. The conference focused on ways that churches and individuals who have a passion for addressing needs in Africa can get started – translating passion into response. I found myself sitting next to a pastor … Continue reading Africa – Questioning My Own Values
At Least Now They Can Concentrate On Baseball
I shamelessly stole the title for this entry from my friend John Muller, who is one of the funniest people I know. For my part, I'm just glad I didn't see the hit-by-a-pitch incident that led to this unfortunate outage.
Vice Squad!
Interesting story on the radio this morning - it seems that theft of car stereos, which was rampant in the 1980s and 1990s, pretty much doesn't happen anymore. Why? Because most cars now come with excellent built-in sound systems. These cars don't need an upgrade, and the stereos in them, if stolen, won't fit anywhere … Continue reading Vice Squad!
More on Education
Last week, I said that I'm not sure the standardized tests our kids take today help very much, and suggested that maybe we should go on strike - simply not send our kids to school to take them. Well, today, my daughter started taking hers (no, I didn’t keep her home). I was surprised to … Continue reading More on Education
Education: Just Say No?
I got an email from our school district the other day. It was a rundown of all the standardized tests that are coming up in the next few weeks. ISATs, COGATs, ITBSs, and NAEPs. Three things about this email jumped out at me, and they got me to thinking. First, these tests are being “administered,” … Continue reading Education: Just Say No?
Tribune Bankruptcy – Early Warning Sign
The Tribune Company filed for bankruptcy early this week. I wasn't surprised because I saw an early warning sign that they were in trouble. If you're in Chicago, you may have noticed that the Tribune underwent a major format change a few weeks ago. Essentially, they turned it into the Redeye. This is another way … Continue reading Tribune Bankruptcy – Early Warning Sign
Carp Diem 