Flotsam and jetsam

IDIOCRACY IN THE NEWS

Martin Luther King statue:

I was trying to explain to an acquaintance why it wasn’t proper for such a statue to be built outside of the U.S.  What kind of national greatness is that?!  She said, “But I heard the Chinese are great sculptors.” So I’m looking for some good granite around here to bang my head into.

Carrier skipper will be retained in USN:

Meet Captain (CAPT) Owen Honors.  If you don't live in Awfulk, or don't follow the military, you may not have heard of CAPT Honors, the former executive officer (#2 guy) of the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier.  Running a naval unit or shore facility is a big deal, but the carrier guys are kind of a big deal.  That is a lot of steel to possibly run aground.  So the standards for the naval officer are to be "beyond reproach."  So the good captain made a series of humorous short videos to show on the ship CCTV to promote good hygiene, etc., poking fun at himself and others to drive home his points and connect with the modern audience.  So stuffy as we are, many people in and out of the military prejudged the captain, said it should end his career, that he must have zero defects and be sacrificed to the altar of political correctness.  And now today, we learned that a panel of admirals (men with God-like status in the Navy, tantamount to Generals in the Army, etc.) will spare him the ignominy of a forced "out."  We also heard of the danger of stifling thought.
“Misconduct?” said CAPT Honors' lawyer, Gittins. “That’s crap.” Speaking after the admirals’ decision, “The surface warfare community – they just don’t do that.”

Gittins said he thinks the real take-away from the case is that the Navy prefers safe, conservative leaders who don’t push the envelope or try out-of-the-box methods.

URL: http://hamptonroads.com/2011/08/navy-panel-officer-raunchy-video-case-should-stay-navy


Article:  Student ranks thinning for blogging Pa. teacher
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — More than 200 parents have told a Pennsylvania school district they don't want their children taught by a teacher who called students "frightfully dim" and "disengaged, lazy whiners" on her personal blog.

Comments (like diamonds from coal, the gems are always buried at the bottom of the article):

Ever seen the movie "Idiocracy"? That is where we are headed... I have 4 of them.... all dumber than a post. Hate to say it, but it's true. I worked my #$%$ off to teach them better... they chose differently. I was "too strict" according to them. Now not one of them can hold a job. When they do work, it's for peanuts and mostly temporary work. Range in age from 18 to 26. Lazy, dumb as hell every one. `knuckleheadjim
I have said many, many times "Idiocracy" is not a movie, it is a preview.... What happens when government intervenes between parents and their children... Their interference works equally well in the financial field, equal lawsfield, immigration field, etc., etc....If I were a teacher, I am SURE I would feel the same way..

All you have to do is read Facebook posts and comments on Yahoo news articles to see the truth. More and more people are graduating from school with serious deficiencies in grammar, spelling, history and government, and critical thinking skills, but ask them about sports and entertainment and they can "skewl you". I believe that the fault for this is shared by both parents and teachers, but I also believe that the teachers would be better able to teach the kids if the government got the hell out of the education system. Teachers spend about 50% of their time with administrative issues, conforming to the #$%$ government regulations, another 25% socializing the kids (as ordered by the government), and only 25% of the time actually teaching the subjects needed to survive in the world. It's time to eliminate the unconstitutional U.S. Department of Education from the federal budget and return those powers and tax dollars to the individual school districts, teachers, and parents. Then, we need to return the disciplinary method to the schools and homes. Yes, this means corporal punishment. Better to bust their butts than to turn them over to the cops and the justice system, which is the current method. It's pathetic to see students graduating with a lifelong criminal record for schoolyard behavior. But that's another argument for another day..
URL: http://news.yahoo.com/student-ranks-thinning-blogging-pa-teacher-105622659.html


WEATHER

Poopa-cane 2011 preparations underway

Having sortied the entire Second Fleet for
hurricane avoidance,  LT Poopers takes
shelter some two days early from
the impending U.S. East Coast
atmospheric event "Irene".

I just finished a quick meteorology seminar, and feel I know a little bit more about how hurricanes work.  Well, the weather-guessers are saying this is gonna be the big one.  Have been stocking up on pork & beans and ammo.  The CDC recommends 3 days worth of clean water (1 gal./day), dry stores, etc.  I have checklist upon checklist.  I guess I won't joke about shooting looters since this the era of political correctness.  Twain would, however.

CIVICS

"THE PROGRAM"

On Thursday, September 11th, 2011, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States . Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this tenth anniversary of one our country's worst tragedies. We do this honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.

ART

The Fixx and artist George Underwood

Discussion ongoing regarding album cover selection for The Fixx's upcoming album:  Here's a gallery of George Underwood's album art: http://www.georgeunderwood.com/pages/album-covers/93 - Underwood did 'Reach the Beach', 'Pharoahs' and 'Calm Animals'.  Not being an art guy, is it safe to say his work is Surrealist? Surprises me that I hadn't looked into the artwork before, given the amount of time I've spent peering into nooks and crannies on album art origins, especially a ton of contemplation on China Crisis pairing of art and music. Cover art, and the humble liner pages are aspects of the finished music 'product', which need to remain relevant and valued!

FEATURE


ADULT SITUATIONS, ADULT LANGUAGE

I'm not the LEAST bit hippie, but I like to think I can achieve peace of mind like a kid who can get lost in the azure sky from time to time, filtering out the world below.  From bills to no more snow days, check out this blog article about the unpleasant realities of adulthood.
URL: http://www.iheartchaos.com/post/9336308534/list-soup-11-things-that-suck-about-being-an-adult