The Republicans in the House pass a bill that extends the payroll tax cut for a year and unemployment benefits for a year.
The Democrats in the Senate pass a bill that extends the payroll tax cut for two months and unemployment for two years.
The President is widely reported as criticizing the House Republicans for attacking the middle class by refusing to pass a payroll tax cut. (As noted above, his criticisms are an absolute lie.)
The House Republicans cave and pass the Senate bill at the last second, after being mercilessly hammered in the media for a solid week. John Boehner, given an opportunity to explain the Republican position and the truth, gives a weak speech about how doing the right thing is difficult and never mentions the lies the President told.
Sometimes I feel like Moses in the wilderness. How many years must conservatives have the sensible ideas and the moral high ground, and get their figurative tails handed to them every single time by the Democrats and the media? When will these politicians learn to actually attempt to communicate their ideas to the public instead of caving at the first opportunity.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
No One Can Say "Rubbish" Except the Teacher
Really, I had to have that rule in my classroom. One of the students said he didn't know how to solve a simple math problem. I knew better so my response was "Rubbish, of course you do, answer the question". Those of you who are thinking I was being mean, relax. I knew he could do it, and sure enough, he did. However, the response caught on and the whole class was saying "Rubbish" every other word. Finally I had to make a rule: No one can say "rubbish" except me, it's my word and mine alone.
Teaching can be a blast, some days.
Teaching can be a blast, some days.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Payton Manning for MVP
it may be a little early to start talking NFL MVP but I wanted to get my vote in early.
The Manning era in Indianapolis looks something like this"
11 playoff trips in 13 seasons as the starter
11/13 seasons with ten or more wins (one of the less than seasons was his rookie year)
9 seasons in a row with ten or more wins
1/2 in Superbowls
Since Manning's rookie season they have never scored fewer than 349 points in a season and only twice have they scored fewer than 400.
This year,without Manning, they are 0-12 and have scored 174 points through twelve games, so are on pace to score 232 points for the season.
No one has ever won MVP without ever playing a down during the season but I think it might be time to make an exception.
Full disclosure: I am not a Colts fan and have no financial interest in either Manning, the Colts, or the NFL MVP award.
The Manning era in Indianapolis looks something like this"
11 playoff trips in 13 seasons as the starter
11/13 seasons with ten or more wins (one of the less than seasons was his rookie year)
9 seasons in a row with ten or more wins
1/2 in Superbowls
Since Manning's rookie season they have never scored fewer than 349 points in a season and only twice have they scored fewer than 400.
This year,without Manning, they are 0-12 and have scored 174 points through twelve games, so are on pace to score 232 points for the season.
No one has ever won MVP without ever playing a down during the season but I think it might be time to make an exception.
Full disclosure: I am not a Colts fan and have no financial interest in either Manning, the Colts, or the NFL MVP award.
Lemon Curd Serendipity
Doing a little digging on Lemon Curd so that I can make tarts and I discover that lemon curd was originally a topping that was spread on toast or scones. Never knew that. Interesting.
Two days later I pick up the latest Alan Bradley novel I Am Half Sick of Shadows. The books are set in post WWII England. No sooner do I start reading than Flavia, the main character, spreads some lemon curd on toast. I wonder if I had read this before in books and just never noticed or is this the first time I've read a book with a reference to lemon curd.
The series is excellent, by the way.
Two days later I pick up the latest Alan Bradley novel I Am Half Sick of Shadows. The books are set in post WWII England. No sooner do I start reading than Flavia, the main character, spreads some lemon curd on toast. I wonder if I had read this before in books and just never noticed or is this the first time I've read a book with a reference to lemon curd.
The series is excellent, by the way.
Rise vs Raise
So I was typing up my Sticky Bun recipe and my mum says that you should let the dough raise til double. Didn't sound quite right so I thought I'd do some checking. Turns out the correct phrase would be to let the dough "rise til double". I never really knew the difference, just that sometimes one would sound right and sometimes the other (For some reason I have an ear for grammar, can't tell you what the rule is, but I usually know the correct usage.)
Here's what I found.
Rise -to go to a higher position - intransitive - never has an object
Raise - to lift to a higher position - transitive - almost always has an object
Does bread "rise" ie lifts itself? or does it "raise" because it is lifted by the action of the yeast? Is the suspense killing you? Are you starting to wonder if I have too much time on my hands and probably should be spending time looking for a girlfriend instead of researching obscure grammatical points?
Well, the answer is that the yeast is a part of the bread so bread "rises" and you let the bread "rise". You never "raise" dough or bread (unless you are moving it to a higher place in your kitchen).
Whew. I feel better now.
Here's what I found.
Rise -to go to a higher position - intransitive - never has an object
Raise - to lift to a higher position - transitive - almost always has an object
Does bread "rise" ie lifts itself? or does it "raise" because it is lifted by the action of the yeast? Is the suspense killing you? Are you starting to wonder if I have too much time on my hands and probably should be spending time looking for a girlfriend instead of researching obscure grammatical points?
Well, the answer is that the yeast is a part of the bread so bread "rises" and you let the bread "rise". You never "raise" dough or bread (unless you are moving it to a higher place in your kitchen).
Whew. I feel better now.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Posting vs Thinking
I think a lot. One of the reasons I can't stand jobs that don't keep my mind occupied, the main reason I left the Harley shop, too much time to think, nothing to keep my mind busy. As I ride or drive or do housework, I come up with brilliant blog posts, the kind of posts that would entertain and inspire my readers (as sparse as they are on the ground). The problem is, by the time I get back to the computer the idea is gone, and if the idea remains the words are no longer there. I know that in the past few days I have had all sorts of interesting ideas, but this is all you get.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Ten Things Capitalists REALLY Think
Yup. I'm constantly hearing from the uninformed about what I think and about how my ideas don't work in real life. Well, Dan Hannan, over at The Telegraph, has done a nice job of pointing out that the typical leftist caricature of capitalists is both inaccurate and demeaning. You can read it here.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100119741/memo-to-the-occupy-protesters-here-are-ten-things-we-evil-capitalists-really-think/
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100119741/memo-to-the-occupy-protesters-here-are-ten-things-we-evil-capitalists-really-think/
Lessons From OWS
Probably not what you expected:
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/11/30/life-lessons-learned-by-occupiers
My suspicion, however, is that most of the occupiers did not and will not, in fact, learn any of these lessons. They won't see their own hypocrisy because it gets in the way of their immature worldview.
- Down with public property
- Banks fulfill an essential function
- Law and order help when you’re being pushed around by criminals
- You need to work before you eat
- The leaders of the Left never practice what they preach
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/11/30/life-lessons-learned-by-occupiers
My suspicion, however, is that most of the occupiers did not and will not, in fact, learn any of these lessons. They won't see their own hypocrisy because it gets in the way of their immature worldview.
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