We had eleven teachers get notices that they won't be back next year due to funding issues. PSS is apparently under a directive to cut fifteen percent of its payroll. Some schools are slightly overstaffed relative to others, so this doesn't seem to be designed in a fair or completely sensible way. I saw one faculty member in tears -- not just a sniffle, either -- tears. She will be replaced by someone to do the job cheaper. I can't really say more on that one without identifying people, which I don't want to do. One of these people deserved it in the sense that they had a ridiculous class with few students, and not much was done in that class. He is a nice guy, just not really appropriate as a high school teacher.
Seven, I believe, were non-HQTs meaning they had not completed Praxis -- at least at the high school level. Some had passed the Elementary Education Praxis and will be transferring. I've heard that some have found jobs elsewhere. My sense is that they were all good teachers with the one exception. Incidentally, there is more to HQT than Praxis. Certain education courses are required as is CNMI history and cultural seminar, but there is a singular focus on Praxis. Many others are not HQT if factoring in those things. I think Praxis is a good thing in that I think there have been a fair number of teachers without the intellectual capacity to be in those kinds of jobs. Few of my peers agree with me on this, but I have kids in the schools, and I frankly wouldn't want my children in class with someone who can't pass the Praxis. Praxis isn't a measure of how good a teacher is at teaching, but it measures knowledge of the subject, and it is very hard to teach what you don't know. Measuring communicative ability is much harder.
These school cuts are really a factor of the community and the legislature being unwilling to financially support the schools. Today I was asked to donate money to put gas in the school's bush cutter. I'm not doing that on general principle. It isn't my job to fund school operations. The chickens are really coming home to roost after years of piss poor management, ridiculous invented jobs, spending on nonsense and lack of will to institute any real taxes.
For next year, I'm not quite sure what will happen with all those students in all those classes. Most classes are packed with 30 plus students. Thirty is far too many students for a language arts classes and others. This is the first year, and the last I'm sure, with a preparation period, something that is helpful for you know, preparing. A teacher's job isn't just the time with students, there are papers to correct, assignments to evaluate and lessons to plan, not to mention clubs and activities to supervise. There are constant adjustments that need to be made to help students progress in their intellectual development. The net result for next year will be more students, more classes, more babysitting, less teaching, less one on one interaction with students, and fewer labor intensive projects like term papers. I talked to one teacher who has gone from three formal papers per quarter to one. I've pretty much done the same.
Through the years I've watched teachers sit idly by and say little about the system. They also seldom get asked, and if they are asked, are ignored. Ambrose Bennett was elected teacher representative three years ago when hardly anyone voted and there was no campaign. He has tried to do certain things, most of them good, but many teachers had issues with him personally and offered minimal support. I don't even know what he is doing up there anymore. He used to report on board happenings, but I've heard nothing for a long time. ACT tried to reform last August, and that went nowhere with indifference and infighting. There is another reformation right now that looks much more promising. Teachers never got together, and now there is no one to fight for them when they need it. The tenure proposal was pushed aside to argue about the Praxis issue.
The local culture here is to stay quiet for fear of your job. Among Filipinos, that factor is amplified. Teachers from the states come and go, so while they are more willing to take a stand, they are also more likely to come and go in short order. I had about 10 mainland teacher colleagues come and go in the last four years. Teachers should have enormous political influence due to their numbers, but have none for the reasons I just described. The net result is what is going on now. Teachers are being played with as this debate about not opening school until October rages. Teachers will have more students, no preparation time, probably less pay and more urging to shut up and deal with their overcrowded, lousy facilities with minimal support. This is not an equal issue at all schools. The newer schools have better facilities, and some schools are more overcrowded than others. There is really a divergence in issues from school to school.
Today was a depressing day on the job, and I expect many more depressing days. I expect next school year will be my last.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
Grass roots organizations
I went to two meetings this week of people concerned with the goings on in this community. I attended the ACT (Association of Commonwealth Teachers) meeting the other night. I've been to four or five of these this year. This is the first time I thought things were headed in a positive direction and that it was worth my time. ACT has a new president in Betty Miller, whom I've known since I arrived on island. Her daughter was my student and she was an involved parent. All year ACT has been sidetracked by the utter indifference to their own lives and careers by 98 percent of the teachers, and the two percent actively trying to help each other were engaging in personality conflicts and petty pissing matches. The net result is that ACT has been useless.
I get the sense, finally, that things are getting better. I think Betty and the new officers and the members might finally make something out of ACT. Given the number of teachers out there, we should have more political influence than we do, yet a lot of people tend to come and go from the system and can't be bothered, really.
Last night I went to Tina Sablan's Open Forum at the college, and this was a great experience. There were a lot of smart people making great comments and suggestions. Ninety percent plus of the things these people said made total sense. I've read the minutes to all the meetings, and everything in there with the rarest of exceptions makes total sense. I suggest you do the same and read them. This group is pushing hard for government accountability through a revision of the Open Government Act, setting up voters' guides that lays out the candidates actual views, thoughts and priorities, and generally laying out standards and challenges to fix the mess that is the CNMI. This will lead, I hope, to voting on actual issues, not on the number of signs a candidate has or how many people a candidate can get to wave at traffic.
I have to give props to Sen. Maria Pangelinan, the lone public official there last night. She is one of those recently elected leaders, like Cinta, that encourage me. Pangelinan really had to take the sins and anger about all the government mismanagement that has gone on through the years, and it was good of her to be there in a tough spot. She is a deficit hawk, which normally I appreciate, but I've read enough Keynes to agree that this would not be a bad time to run a deficit if ever there was one. I lay out the caveat that as long as the spending is going to important things like public education, public health, public safety, and something I'm certain needs more funding: Youth and Family Services because there is an astounding amount of verbal, physical and sexual abuse on this island that is making kids' lives hell.
The one thing these two meetings had in common were white people. I would like to see more indigenous people at both these meetings because I know they are as fed up with island happenings as the loud white people like me. There is an island habit, based on years I'm sure when this was a good idea, of just sitting quiet no matter what was done. Last year PSS violated the salary guide of about fifty of us in the Framingham Master's Program, yet I was the only one who would put my face and name to calling them on it, other than my one white friend I shamed into it. Incidentally, there were many white people upset about it who pussed out. I'm talking about you Ryan and Bryan. When the teachers got docked dramatically on the Praxis thing, an issue I was infinitely less sympathetic about, most said little.
The longest journey stars with one step, as the proverb goes, so it looks like we might be journeying in the right direction at least.
I get the sense, finally, that things are getting better. I think Betty and the new officers and the members might finally make something out of ACT. Given the number of teachers out there, we should have more political influence than we do, yet a lot of people tend to come and go from the system and can't be bothered, really.
Last night I went to Tina Sablan's Open Forum at the college, and this was a great experience. There were a lot of smart people making great comments and suggestions. Ninety percent plus of the things these people said made total sense. I've read the minutes to all the meetings, and everything in there with the rarest of exceptions makes total sense. I suggest you do the same and read them. This group is pushing hard for government accountability through a revision of the Open Government Act, setting up voters' guides that lays out the candidates actual views, thoughts and priorities, and generally laying out standards and challenges to fix the mess that is the CNMI. This will lead, I hope, to voting on actual issues, not on the number of signs a candidate has or how many people a candidate can get to wave at traffic.
I have to give props to Sen. Maria Pangelinan, the lone public official there last night. She is one of those recently elected leaders, like Cinta, that encourage me. Pangelinan really had to take the sins and anger about all the government mismanagement that has gone on through the years, and it was good of her to be there in a tough spot. She is a deficit hawk, which normally I appreciate, but I've read enough Keynes to agree that this would not be a bad time to run a deficit if ever there was one. I lay out the caveat that as long as the spending is going to important things like public education, public health, public safety, and something I'm certain needs more funding: Youth and Family Services because there is an astounding amount of verbal, physical and sexual abuse on this island that is making kids' lives hell.
The one thing these two meetings had in common were white people. I would like to see more indigenous people at both these meetings because I know they are as fed up with island happenings as the loud white people like me. There is an island habit, based on years I'm sure when this was a good idea, of just sitting quiet no matter what was done. Last year PSS violated the salary guide of about fifty of us in the Framingham Master's Program, yet I was the only one who would put my face and name to calling them on it, other than my one white friend I shamed into it. Incidentally, there were many white people upset about it who pussed out. I'm talking about you Ryan and Bryan. When the teachers got docked dramatically on the Praxis thing, an issue I was infinitely less sympathetic about, most said little.
The longest journey stars with one step, as the proverb goes, so it looks like we might be journeying in the right direction at least.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
The AG Cup speech
I'm reluctant to criticize a high school student, but I'm reading the winning AG Cup speech in our local paper and thinking wow this is really a good speech. I've coached this event twice and I've come to see that Galvin and Mt. Carmel have this thing down to a science. Last year in Rota -- heavily, heavily Chamorro -- as soon as the Mt. Carmel kid started with the embellished Chamorro accent, I knew we were cooked. Four years ago Harry Blalock's daughter got absolutely robbed. She was by far the best and didnt even place in the top five. She was not my student. Of course, the former Lt. Governor was one of the judges and Harry was relentless on Babauta, so I knew that kind of thing would happen. In fact, when I say she was robbed, I mean Gore to Bush or Marcellus Wallus to Butch style robbery.
Mt. Carmel picks the kid with the best dramatic skills who gives a speech playing up the emotional elements. This kid the other day was near tears, which I'm not picking on him about or suggesting was an inauthentic display. Mt. Carmel's speeches aren't always the best reasoned or the most eloquent, they are good don't get me wrong, but they are the most dramatic and that wins. This is his quote: "I wasn't expecting to win, but I knew that I had one of the most emotional speeches. I knew that I had an edge but I didn't want to assume that I would win.”
I would like to see the best reasoned speech get some props. Rewarding the most emotional all the time sets a standard for poor debate. I'm not saying this kid shouldn't have won. I am saying there are times when I've seen judgment at the AG Cup worse than judgment at the O.J. trial. Professionals under enormous scrutiny give professional sports players All Star and All Pro votes based on reputation, and sometimes I think Mt. Carmel benefits here. Again, I'm not referring to this specific case, but to the big picture.
This winning speech was playing both sides of the fence like a politician, but it was human, reasonably well reasoned, and I am thinking, this is pretty good. Then I hit this section:
First, the demonizing of Nancy Pelosi, like the demonizing of Hillary Clinton and the word "liberal", is an effort elicit negative emotion, which is not much of an argument. There are many things you can criticize about Hillary without making her the boogiewoman. I would have docked him for this flimsy piece of reasoning and lame buzzword appeal. He is doing the same thing presidential candidates or Bill O'Reilly would do, and teenagers couldn't have sold out to polemics of this sort already, could they?
What witch are they hunting? How has the federal government neglected the unique nature of this place? You mean they, like me, find it absurd to expect people to pay for the highest fuel, power and food prices in America on the lowest wages in America. Per capita the federal government dumps more goodies here than probably any place in America. This place plays the American taxpayer for a sucker and then complains. It sickens me and puts me in the rare position of defending the U.S. government. I read that and think, here we go again with the weak, tired and thoroughly lame "unique place" argument.
Next, if there is partisan bickering it is because corrupt Republicans (Tom DeLay) sold out thousands of poor Filipinos and Chinese for a free golf trip and a few nights at the Hyatt, and now someone -- especially Dengre and George Miller -- wants some justice for people like this kid's parents. The nature of partisan bickering is name calling on a nonsense issue -- like John Edwards haircut, not a two tiered economy in which a certain group is left out of any say in the community and paid meager wages.
Finally, if anyone has ignored the "insights, wisdom and aspirations" of local people it is this government. We are setting up a debate in class and one of the topics was the federalization issue, and not one one of my high school seniors out of ninety would argue against federalization. Not one thought the local government should maintain control over the minimum wage because they are smart enough to see what local control over minimum wage has meant. Yet every time the bill is blocked, such as Bush last week, the Tribune and the Chamber trumpet the "good news." Read the minutes of Tina Sablan's public forums. Most everything in there makes perfect sense and would turn this place around, real ordinary folks getting together making sensible suggestions, yet it is ignored.
Good speech overall, but some of this tried to play off both sides of the issue and give me a break on the graph above. Don't get mad Galvin, still love ya.
Mt. Carmel picks the kid with the best dramatic skills who gives a speech playing up the emotional elements. This kid the other day was near tears, which I'm not picking on him about or suggesting was an inauthentic display. Mt. Carmel's speeches aren't always the best reasoned or the most eloquent, they are good don't get me wrong, but they are the most dramatic and that wins. This is his quote: "I wasn't expecting to win, but I knew that I had one of the most emotional speeches. I knew that I had an edge but I didn't want to assume that I would win.”
I would like to see the best reasoned speech get some props. Rewarding the most emotional all the time sets a standard for poor debate. I'm not saying this kid shouldn't have won. I am saying there are times when I've seen judgment at the AG Cup worse than judgment at the O.J. trial. Professionals under enormous scrutiny give professional sports players All Star and All Pro votes based on reputation, and sometimes I think Mt. Carmel benefits here. Again, I'm not referring to this specific case, but to the big picture.
This winning speech was playing both sides of the fence like a politician, but it was human, reasonably well reasoned, and I am thinking, this is pretty good. Then I hit this section:
"A second mistake was to subject us to the whims of partisan politics. Granted,
by hiring a lobbyist, we share in the blame. But that does not excuse
politicians like Nancy Pelosi from dragging us through partisan bickering as
part of her political witch hunt. We may be small islands, but might should not
make right.The third and worst mistake made by the United States has been to
neglect the unique nature of our islands. As David Cohen has argued, “A better
future for the CNMI cannot be imposed unilaterally from Washington D. C.,
ignoring the insights, wisdom, and aspirations of those to whom this future
belongs.”
First, the demonizing of Nancy Pelosi, like the demonizing of Hillary Clinton and the word "liberal", is an effort elicit negative emotion, which is not much of an argument. There are many things you can criticize about Hillary without making her the boogiewoman. I would have docked him for this flimsy piece of reasoning and lame buzzword appeal. He is doing the same thing presidential candidates or Bill O'Reilly would do, and teenagers couldn't have sold out to polemics of this sort already, could they?
What witch are they hunting? How has the federal government neglected the unique nature of this place? You mean they, like me, find it absurd to expect people to pay for the highest fuel, power and food prices in America on the lowest wages in America. Per capita the federal government dumps more goodies here than probably any place in America. This place plays the American taxpayer for a sucker and then complains. It sickens me and puts me in the rare position of defending the U.S. government. I read that and think, here we go again with the weak, tired and thoroughly lame "unique place" argument.
Next, if there is partisan bickering it is because corrupt Republicans (Tom DeLay) sold out thousands of poor Filipinos and Chinese for a free golf trip and a few nights at the Hyatt, and now someone -- especially Dengre and George Miller -- wants some justice for people like this kid's parents. The nature of partisan bickering is name calling on a nonsense issue -- like John Edwards haircut, not a two tiered economy in which a certain group is left out of any say in the community and paid meager wages.
Finally, if anyone has ignored the "insights, wisdom and aspirations" of local people it is this government. We are setting up a debate in class and one of the topics was the federalization issue, and not one one of my high school seniors out of ninety would argue against federalization. Not one thought the local government should maintain control over the minimum wage because they are smart enough to see what local control over minimum wage has meant. Yet every time the bill is blocked, such as Bush last week, the Tribune and the Chamber trumpet the "good news." Read the minutes of Tina Sablan's public forums. Most everything in there makes perfect sense and would turn this place around, real ordinary folks getting together making sensible suggestions, yet it is ignored.
Good speech overall, but some of this tried to play off both sides of the issue and give me a break on the graph above. Don't get mad Galvin, still love ya.
Note to potential garment workers
I realize rural Chinese workers desperate to flee Mao's paradise by ponying up their life savings to work for $3.05 in the dying Saipan sweatshops probably don't have internet, if they did probably not an uncensored one, are able to read English, or if they can, read Saipan and Other Random Hypercritical Thoughts, but if even one does and avoids coming here to work in the garment factories, this post will be worth it.
Dear Potential Garment Worker:
Our garment factories are on their very last legs and will cease to exist entirely before the Olympics make it to Beijing. Do not give all your money to a Chinese loan shark probably kicking some money back to the local sweatshop magnate to operate this scam. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of unemployed factory workers roaming our streets. Why would they need to bring you in? The factory will close, not might close, and this arrangement will not work out favorably for you. Fifteen factories have closed in the last two and a half years. Read about these people and heed their warning. Don't come here unless you are on vacation.
***
For the record, the fact that we (meaning our government) (meaning the garment factories) (meaning I just repeated myself since those two things are synonymous) let new garment workers in during the last six months screams, "Federalize me, we're corrupt, incompetent, idiots with zero concern for our fellow human."
Dear Potential Garment Worker:
Our garment factories are on their very last legs and will cease to exist entirely before the Olympics make it to Beijing. Do not give all your money to a Chinese loan shark probably kicking some money back to the local sweatshop magnate to operate this scam. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of unemployed factory workers roaming our streets. Why would they need to bring you in? The factory will close, not might close, and this arrangement will not work out favorably for you. Fifteen factories have closed in the last two and a half years. Read about these people and heed their warning. Don't come here unless you are on vacation.
***
For the record, the fact that we (meaning our government) (meaning the garment factories) (meaning I just repeated myself since those two things are synonymous) let new garment workers in during the last six months screams, "Federalize me, we're corrupt, incompetent, idiots with zero concern for our fellow human."
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
The bitching about Lost
First, here is the news on Lost, abridged from the NY Daily News.
I don't watch many shows. I watch The Sopranos, Real Time with Bill Maher, the Daily Show, The Office sometimes, and that is about it. I watched CSI for a while, but long ago had enough of that. I loved the West Wing, liked Six Feet Under and was sorry they both ended.
Lost is one of the few shows that I really like and would never miss. I've read the bitching about Lost, and I don't get it. The Others are about the best bunch of villains out there. This is the best season ever as far as I'm concerned, at least on par with season one and much better than season two. Yes, the long hiatus in the middle of this year was a mistake, but it seems they are rectifying that problem. I think dragging it out over three years is probably a mistake, but oh well. What I object to is the talk that the show isn't any good anymore. I would say it is by far the best show on tv. The main characters are interesting. They've wiped out some of the boring ones. And the bad guys are fascinating. This show is free, compelling, and better than 95 percent of the crap that makes it to Wallace Theaters.
ABC has renewed the show for 48 episodes to be spread over several years, ending
during the 2009-10 season. The show will air uninterrupted in 16-episode
seasons. "Lost," which has suffered some ratings erosion this season, has come
under fire for weak story lines and episodes that seemed to lead nowhere. In
recent weeks, the content has rebounded, according to some critics. For the
season, "Lost" is averaging 15.1 million viewers, down from 15.4 for all of last
season.
I don't watch many shows. I watch The Sopranos, Real Time with Bill Maher, the Daily Show, The Office sometimes, and that is about it. I watched CSI for a while, but long ago had enough of that. I loved the West Wing, liked Six Feet Under and was sorry they both ended.
Lost is one of the few shows that I really like and would never miss. I've read the bitching about Lost, and I don't get it. The Others are about the best bunch of villains out there. This is the best season ever as far as I'm concerned, at least on par with season one and much better than season two. Yes, the long hiatus in the middle of this year was a mistake, but it seems they are rectifying that problem. I think dragging it out over three years is probably a mistake, but oh well. What I object to is the talk that the show isn't any good anymore. I would say it is by far the best show on tv. The main characters are interesting. They've wiped out some of the boring ones. And the bad guys are fascinating. This show is free, compelling, and better than 95 percent of the crap that makes it to Wallace Theaters.
Monday, May 07, 2007
The Clemens Signing
I don't know what is the most ridiculous part of the Yankees signing of Roger Clemens. First, the guy turns 45 this year and signed a pro-rated $28 million contract, the highest ever for a pitcher, to pitch now in the much tougher American League. He'll be making about $1 million per start if he is healthy. Second, he'll probably win more games over the next four months than Carl Pavano will in four years costing $40 million. Pavano made two starts this year before breaking down and is now heading for Tommy John surgery and out for eighteen months plus. This after five other injuries had him out for a year and a half. Aren't you supposed to go to jail for stealing $40 million dollars? Third Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa can't get me out every other start and he cost about $50 million. Fourth, a team that spends this much money still desperately needs Clemens. The Yankees were the only major league team to lose money last year because of this crap. Not that I'm worried about George Steinbrenner's bank account. The team is worth like a billion and he paid like 20 million for it thirty years ago.
I was richly rewarded as a Yankee fan between 1996 and 2001, but this team has lost its soul. Last year they didn't even compete in the playoffs against the Tigers, and we have yet another mercenary joining up for a ridiculous amount of money. As horrible as that 2004 playoff was against the Red Sox, they at least played, good close games that could have gone either way in games 4, 5 and 6. I could live with that, but not the Tiger debacle last year. The only good news is that Red Sox fans will be foaming at the mouth. Feel free to vent Angelo.
I was richly rewarded as a Yankee fan between 1996 and 2001, but this team has lost its soul. Last year they didn't even compete in the playoffs against the Tigers, and we have yet another mercenary joining up for a ridiculous amount of money. As horrible as that 2004 playoff was against the Red Sox, they at least played, good close games that could have gone either way in games 4, 5 and 6. I could live with that, but not the Tiger debacle last year. The only good news is that Red Sox fans will be foaming at the mouth. Feel free to vent Angelo.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
On the Dr. Tudor debate
Let me be the voice of moderation in all the acrimony being hurled about regarding Dr. Tudor, our lone private veterinarian on island. I have been using Dr. Tudor's services since I got here four years ago. I think he is a fabulous vet who knows his way around the many unique health issues facing animals here in Saipan. I have no intention at all of switching to a public clinic, and I seriously doubt people like me, CNMI expats obsessed with the well being of their pets, who I'm sure make up the crux of his business, plan to do so, either.
Dr. Tudor, you are a fine doctor offering a great service, and I hope you don't get angered by all the hostility being hurled over this issue and leave this island. We need you more than you need us. I'm sure the existence of the public clinic allows for a few animals, who for financial reasons will never see a vet the chance to get some basic care. In 2000 the census reported that 46 percent of the people here live in poverty. That number has gotten worse I'm sure with all the well documented economic issues we read about each day. People living in poverty are never going to drop a couple hundred of dollars per year on a pet. Like a lot of things, maintaining a healthy pet is expensive here, which is why I'm sure there are so many dogs living miserable lives. I also know you do a lot of pro bono work and have been a supporter of the arts. Pet care on island is a giant problem, and if someone else can help a bit, then good for the animals.
I personally would rather gouge my own eye out than watch my own pet suffer for lack of medical care to save a few bucks. I would imagine your clinic is full of pet owners who feel the same. Not everyone can get the money together to get private medical care for their pets, and I feel sorry for them and the animals. The doting on animals that is becoming an increasing part of American culture isn't very established here. Given that you are the first vet here, going to the vet probably isn't an ingrained part of the culture. In time I'm sure it will be. Dr. Dela Cruz's practice will help some animals. As a customer and animal lover, I implore you to please bear with the situation as best you can. You are needed here. The dogs and cats of the island need you. The children and adults who love those dogs and cats need you.
Dr. Tudor, you are a fine doctor offering a great service, and I hope you don't get angered by all the hostility being hurled over this issue and leave this island. We need you more than you need us. I'm sure the existence of the public clinic allows for a few animals, who for financial reasons will never see a vet the chance to get some basic care. In 2000 the census reported that 46 percent of the people here live in poverty. That number has gotten worse I'm sure with all the well documented economic issues we read about each day. People living in poverty are never going to drop a couple hundred of dollars per year on a pet. Like a lot of things, maintaining a healthy pet is expensive here, which is why I'm sure there are so many dogs living miserable lives. I also know you do a lot of pro bono work and have been a supporter of the arts. Pet care on island is a giant problem, and if someone else can help a bit, then good for the animals.
I personally would rather gouge my own eye out than watch my own pet suffer for lack of medical care to save a few bucks. I would imagine your clinic is full of pet owners who feel the same. Not everyone can get the money together to get private medical care for their pets, and I feel sorry for them and the animals. The doting on animals that is becoming an increasing part of American culture isn't very established here. Given that you are the first vet here, going to the vet probably isn't an ingrained part of the culture. In time I'm sure it will be. Dr. Dela Cruz's practice will help some animals. As a customer and animal lover, I implore you to please bear with the situation as best you can. You are needed here. The dogs and cats of the island need you. The children and adults who love those dogs and cats need you.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Religious extremists aren't worth American lives
Editor's note: This post is occasionally profane.
In living and traveling overseas I've gotten to know a lot of military guys. I happen to like them for their general aversion to BS, and the fact that they've been places and done things. They also tend to have something to say, which is a plus in a world full of too many boring people. One thing that is common is that they all tend to be anti-Democrat, which I can understand in some ways as Democrats tend to be pussies, but at the same time Republicans tend to send them places to make massive sacrifices unworthy of the national interest, such as Iraq now. Yet soldiers tend to be the one and only demographic, other than Bush himself, who still want America in Iraq.
I'm a liberal, but not an easily offended, watch what you say liberal, more of a stop shoveling religion and corporate bullshit at me anti-Republican liberal. I'm very sympathetic to the poor, but I believe in personal responsibility and that merit should be rewarded. If categorized, I'm really kind of a Green, progressive with a libertarian streak.
When this whole Iraq thing started, I thought the goal was to remove Hussein and get out, and I thought that part wouldn't be too hard, which it wasn't. I agreed with that idea. I never bought the nonsense about WMD's, and I wasn't stupid enough to confuse Iraq with 9/11, which Republicans were successful in doing.
Long ago I had it with Iraq, and I wish this albatross around America's neck would end. A war should have everyone sacrificing something. No non-military families are contributing to this thing. If there is any winner in this war it is Exxon and Haliburton. The sacrifice is disproportionately on the troops' shoulders. Already the Republicans are doing a good job at the spin game in calling for a "surrender date" regarding the Democrats feeble attempt to set a date to start removing troops as a condition for war funding. Democrats never do enough fighting back. Just once I'd like one of them to say, "How could we be surrendering if it was "Mission Accomplished" three years ago, jackass." Democrats are still merely the much lesser of two evils, with Bush and his ilk wearing horns and torturing souls -- and "enemy combatants."
From day one I loathed Bush with every fiber in my being. He was always a connected, mediocre, frat boy being overly rewarded because he was stupid enough to be easily controlled by monied interests. I'm offended by his lack of intellectual curiousity. I have been only slightly comforted that the world now gets that he is worthless. It should have been crystal during the last election, yet he won. I stood in amazement for the first couple years when people supported this idiot, who probably never even got legitimately elected. I am astonished that issue was swept under the rug as easily as it was. The fact that the Supreme Court installed this guy into office is a national disgrace. That decision damages America's prestige more than an Iraqi pullout would.
But all those things happend, and we're in Iraq and the debate is out there on how to solve this problem in "politically acceptable" way. All problems in Washington are political problems. To appeal to the bellicose instincts of Americans, and to the general American antipathy to ingrates, I feel the Democratic response should be something along the lines of "Screw Iraq, they're not worth American lives, and it's not the troops' fault." Bill Maher, just about the person I most admire on the planet right now, says as much on his great show Real Time on Friday nights. This is one smart and funny show -- much edgier than Jon Stewart, who I also like. I think that would be about all they would need to say for a palatable withdrawal. Some are going to talk about "America's prestige" or their "credibility" and other nonsense, but did the loss in Vietnam really matter looking back now? Did we not have the roaring 80s, win the Cold War, the Internet boom and four Yankee world series wins in five years even with the pull out in Vietnam? Is there anyone who watched Iraq and Afghanistan fall in a week and think the American military is overrated? Cmon. Nation building we're not so good, but we have the nation destroying thing down pretty well.
When I think about all the sacrifices soldiers are asked to make, the goal has to be very worthwhile. The goal in Iraq shifts regularly. For any war, there should be a clear threat to the homeland or an attack against you, such as Pearl Harbor. I think what the Taliban did qualifies. I don't think I'd want myself, my friends or my kids involved in most all American wars in history other than the Revolution, the Civil War, WWII and Afghanistan now. I'm not sure there was a war we fought otherwise that was worth casualties on the battlefield. Certainly none that involved a direct threat to the United States.
All the other stuff, I would have probably thought, you people weren't worth me dying over. Why would a soldier support the idea, for instance, that they should go to Vietnam to stop people you don't know, poor peasant farmers, who are no threat to you, from being Communist? I know they went with the whole cold war, Russia could be a threat leap, but it seems like a big leap for a lot of people to die in Vietnam. Vietnam went communist and it didn't matter. If we leave Iraq, one of the slightly different views on Allah will win out, and our not having stayed there to take all the errant bombs won't matter.
I'm hardly a pacifist. I just can't imagine wanting to see any fellow American stay without end in the middle of that hole in Iraq and possibly die because those idiots have a different view on Allah. Iraq isn't a threat now or ever, and I'm at the point where I don't care much if they all just kill each other, though I hate to see kids over there suffer from all that religious intolerance. I'm sick of suicide bombers killing innocent people to support a theocracy. I think most of those people want a theocracy, which is what all the middle east is for a long time.
So, that is my take. I've had it with those people. Why are we wasting our men, money and focus on some place that is no threat to us in a place with a tradition of religious hatred and theocratic government. How many people have to die in the future because 3,300 died in the past?
In living and traveling overseas I've gotten to know a lot of military guys. I happen to like them for their general aversion to BS, and the fact that they've been places and done things. They also tend to have something to say, which is a plus in a world full of too many boring people. One thing that is common is that they all tend to be anti-Democrat, which I can understand in some ways as Democrats tend to be pussies, but at the same time Republicans tend to send them places to make massive sacrifices unworthy of the national interest, such as Iraq now. Yet soldiers tend to be the one and only demographic, other than Bush himself, who still want America in Iraq.
I'm a liberal, but not an easily offended, watch what you say liberal, more of a stop shoveling religion and corporate bullshit at me anti-Republican liberal. I'm very sympathetic to the poor, but I believe in personal responsibility and that merit should be rewarded. If categorized, I'm really kind of a Green, progressive with a libertarian streak.
When this whole Iraq thing started, I thought the goal was to remove Hussein and get out, and I thought that part wouldn't be too hard, which it wasn't. I agreed with that idea. I never bought the nonsense about WMD's, and I wasn't stupid enough to confuse Iraq with 9/11, which Republicans were successful in doing.
Long ago I had it with Iraq, and I wish this albatross around America's neck would end. A war should have everyone sacrificing something. No non-military families are contributing to this thing. If there is any winner in this war it is Exxon and Haliburton. The sacrifice is disproportionately on the troops' shoulders. Already the Republicans are doing a good job at the spin game in calling for a "surrender date" regarding the Democrats feeble attempt to set a date to start removing troops as a condition for war funding. Democrats never do enough fighting back. Just once I'd like one of them to say, "How could we be surrendering if it was "Mission Accomplished" three years ago, jackass." Democrats are still merely the much lesser of two evils, with Bush and his ilk wearing horns and torturing souls -- and "enemy combatants."
From day one I loathed Bush with every fiber in my being. He was always a connected, mediocre, frat boy being overly rewarded because he was stupid enough to be easily controlled by monied interests. I'm offended by his lack of intellectual curiousity. I have been only slightly comforted that the world now gets that he is worthless. It should have been crystal during the last election, yet he won. I stood in amazement for the first couple years when people supported this idiot, who probably never even got legitimately elected. I am astonished that issue was swept under the rug as easily as it was. The fact that the Supreme Court installed this guy into office is a national disgrace. That decision damages America's prestige more than an Iraqi pullout would.
But all those things happend, and we're in Iraq and the debate is out there on how to solve this problem in "politically acceptable" way. All problems in Washington are political problems. To appeal to the bellicose instincts of Americans, and to the general American antipathy to ingrates, I feel the Democratic response should be something along the lines of "Screw Iraq, they're not worth American lives, and it's not the troops' fault." Bill Maher, just about the person I most admire on the planet right now, says as much on his great show Real Time on Friday nights. This is one smart and funny show -- much edgier than Jon Stewart, who I also like. I think that would be about all they would need to say for a palatable withdrawal. Some are going to talk about "America's prestige" or their "credibility" and other nonsense, but did the loss in Vietnam really matter looking back now? Did we not have the roaring 80s, win the Cold War, the Internet boom and four Yankee world series wins in five years even with the pull out in Vietnam? Is there anyone who watched Iraq and Afghanistan fall in a week and think the American military is overrated? Cmon. Nation building we're not so good, but we have the nation destroying thing down pretty well.
When I think about all the sacrifices soldiers are asked to make, the goal has to be very worthwhile. The goal in Iraq shifts regularly. For any war, there should be a clear threat to the homeland or an attack against you, such as Pearl Harbor. I think what the Taliban did qualifies. I don't think I'd want myself, my friends or my kids involved in most all American wars in history other than the Revolution, the Civil War, WWII and Afghanistan now. I'm not sure there was a war we fought otherwise that was worth casualties on the battlefield. Certainly none that involved a direct threat to the United States.
All the other stuff, I would have probably thought, you people weren't worth me dying over. Why would a soldier support the idea, for instance, that they should go to Vietnam to stop people you don't know, poor peasant farmers, who are no threat to you, from being Communist? I know they went with the whole cold war, Russia could be a threat leap, but it seems like a big leap for a lot of people to die in Vietnam. Vietnam went communist and it didn't matter. If we leave Iraq, one of the slightly different views on Allah will win out, and our not having stayed there to take all the errant bombs won't matter.
I'm hardly a pacifist. I just can't imagine wanting to see any fellow American stay without end in the middle of that hole in Iraq and possibly die because those idiots have a different view on Allah. Iraq isn't a threat now or ever, and I'm at the point where I don't care much if they all just kill each other, though I hate to see kids over there suffer from all that religious intolerance. I'm sick of suicide bombers killing innocent people to support a theocracy. I think most of those people want a theocracy, which is what all the middle east is for a long time.
So, that is my take. I've had it with those people. Why are we wasting our men, money and focus on some place that is no threat to us in a place with a tradition of religious hatred and theocratic government. How many people have to die in the future because 3,300 died in the past?
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Short takes on government, graduation, movies and travel
How could this governor give another State of the Commonwealth and not mention the schools -- especially given the talk about not even opening schools on time next year? Is this guy the leader of the island or Captain of the Titanic (the economy)? If his deal is investing in the future, how about actually doing that and investing in education. On that topic, how about a few words on law enforcement, public health, the environment, etc. His idea to violate every one's contract and not pay anyone on holidays is a stupid approach hatched from his half baked ten percent scheme. Keep eliminating the needless jobs, of which there are plenty, and stop the ten percent thing overall. What a lame speech.
***
Why is it we are always waiting for foreign investors to ride in and save us? Are we that incapable as a people to not have our own quality businesses here on island. Do we know this place well enough not to want to invest in it. I can think of a few things this island could use, yet I'm not about to open these businesses for various reasons. The fly by night nature of the government's finances, the power situation and Article XII, whose time has very much passed, are key reasons for that.
A few things that come to mind: A decent French or Italian Bistro in the style of Cafe Urashima. That is a good restaurant with a pretty limited menu, but at least it isn't a noisy, gorge yourself buffet common in the hotels. What is served at Urashima is at least quality. It is quiet and dignified enough for actual conversation. I want a place with decent food, decent service, not as much as Giovianni's in price, but I'm not expecting cheap, and I think it would work. Now that Taste of India is no more, the decent restaurant options on island just reduced by about one third.
It would be great to have a decent space for things like comedy, live theater, live music, alternative film, book readings, lectures and so on. The theater in the park museum would be a place to do these things. I'm sure a place that caters to these interests would be profitable and would help the vibe and atmosphere of this island.
***
U.S. immigration fees relating to the I-130, I-485 and so on are scheduled to triple in June. Those of you with a foreign spouse blowing this off, as I was doing over the paperwork supernova it entails, are best advised to move quickly before it costs a lot more. We have one clinic to do the medical portion of the forms, and it costs more for the medical than everything else combined. This is typical with limited competition. I think my wife needed like three different shots at like $100 each. Health coverage means nothing with this. I filed my wife's green card papers yesterday, not to mention my application for a teacher's license in the states, in case this whole sh**house goes up in flames next year -- a distinct possibility.
***
Comedians often talk about the crowd, or distinctly the lack of personality in a crowd, as something that impacts them onstage. I have all seniors in their last month of high school, and their senioritis is infecting me. The prom is Saturday. Graduation is in a few weeks. One of the hardest parts of teaching, especially in a high school, is getting them to care about learning. I always wanted to know things, so indifference is not something I relate to very well. I routinely feel like I'm more concerned with the futures of my students than they are themselves. The counselors can't even get them to fill out applications for free college money. The parents are no help. The military is here regularly. I have several former students in Iraq right now. There are very few young people here I feel are ready to be in a globally competitive economy, and worse, I don't feel any sense of urgency from them about fixing the situation.
***
I saw the film Children of Men, which got a 90 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and I couldn't believe how atrocious this movie was. The plot revolves around the fact that women can't have babies anymore for reasons not explained, at least before I turned it off after a wasted hour, and the world just seems very unhappy. Everyone is killing each other, and the whole world in the movie looks like the Sunni Triangle. Two characters no one cares about, one is pregnant so I'm supposed to care, run around trying to get somewhere to have the baby as people get killed all around them for no particularly good reason. What an abysmal piece of garbage. You'd be better off watching Twelve Monkeys again instead of this nonsense.
***
Northwest, at least so far, hasn't run any kind of deal to the mainland in the summer, which they've done every summer since I've been here. I find Summer in this place miserable, and I'm eager to get out for a month. I miss things like decent restaurants, comedy clubs, concerts, museums, large book stores, alternative cinema, major league baseball stadiums (even if the Yankees stink) and all the cultural things I like about the states. I'm not in a "We Love Saipan" kind of mood right now.
***
Why is it we are always waiting for foreign investors to ride in and save us? Are we that incapable as a people to not have our own quality businesses here on island. Do we know this place well enough not to want to invest in it. I can think of a few things this island could use, yet I'm not about to open these businesses for various reasons. The fly by night nature of the government's finances, the power situation and Article XII, whose time has very much passed, are key reasons for that.
A few things that come to mind: A decent French or Italian Bistro in the style of Cafe Urashima. That is a good restaurant with a pretty limited menu, but at least it isn't a noisy, gorge yourself buffet common in the hotels. What is served at Urashima is at least quality. It is quiet and dignified enough for actual conversation. I want a place with decent food, decent service, not as much as Giovianni's in price, but I'm not expecting cheap, and I think it would work. Now that Taste of India is no more, the decent restaurant options on island just reduced by about one third.
It would be great to have a decent space for things like comedy, live theater, live music, alternative film, book readings, lectures and so on. The theater in the park museum would be a place to do these things. I'm sure a place that caters to these interests would be profitable and would help the vibe and atmosphere of this island.
***
U.S. immigration fees relating to the I-130, I-485 and so on are scheduled to triple in June. Those of you with a foreign spouse blowing this off, as I was doing over the paperwork supernova it entails, are best advised to move quickly before it costs a lot more. We have one clinic to do the medical portion of the forms, and it costs more for the medical than everything else combined. This is typical with limited competition. I think my wife needed like three different shots at like $100 each. Health coverage means nothing with this. I filed my wife's green card papers yesterday, not to mention my application for a teacher's license in the states, in case this whole sh**house goes up in flames next year -- a distinct possibility.
***
Comedians often talk about the crowd, or distinctly the lack of personality in a crowd, as something that impacts them onstage. I have all seniors in their last month of high school, and their senioritis is infecting me. The prom is Saturday. Graduation is in a few weeks. One of the hardest parts of teaching, especially in a high school, is getting them to care about learning. I always wanted to know things, so indifference is not something I relate to very well. I routinely feel like I'm more concerned with the futures of my students than they are themselves. The counselors can't even get them to fill out applications for free college money. The parents are no help. The military is here regularly. I have several former students in Iraq right now. There are very few young people here I feel are ready to be in a globally competitive economy, and worse, I don't feel any sense of urgency from them about fixing the situation.
***
I saw the film Children of Men, which got a 90 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and I couldn't believe how atrocious this movie was. The plot revolves around the fact that women can't have babies anymore for reasons not explained, at least before I turned it off after a wasted hour, and the world just seems very unhappy. Everyone is killing each other, and the whole world in the movie looks like the Sunni Triangle. Two characters no one cares about, one is pregnant so I'm supposed to care, run around trying to get somewhere to have the baby as people get killed all around them for no particularly good reason. What an abysmal piece of garbage. You'd be better off watching Twelve Monkeys again instead of this nonsense.
***
Northwest, at least so far, hasn't run any kind of deal to the mainland in the summer, which they've done every summer since I've been here. I find Summer in this place miserable, and I'm eager to get out for a month. I miss things like decent restaurants, comedy clubs, concerts, museums, large book stores, alternative cinema, major league baseball stadiums (even if the Yankees stink) and all the cultural things I like about the states. I'm not in a "We Love Saipan" kind of mood right now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
