A.I. has decided to push
But it may take a kick to the tush
The Canadian nation
Feels no obligation
To arrest former President Bush
Headline: Human Rights Groups Ask Canada To Arrest President George W. Bush
Headline: Ottawa dismisses Amnesty International ‘stunt’
So close!
As mistakes in debates take their tolls
While the unblinking tv-cam rolls
Romney holds, Perry dives
Bachman barely survives
And Cain takes the lead in the polls.
Headline: NBC/WSJ poll: Cain now leads GOP pack
In keeping with tradition, I don’t mention Ron Paul. Paul supporters, you may consider that a kindness.
Don’t think about touching that dial
Though it looks like you’ll be here awhile
With the junk you might see
It is must-watch TV
With the underwear bomber on trial
Headline: ‘Underwear bomber’ judge won’t block genital photo or the word ‘bomb’
Me, I’m just looking forward to David Letterman’s fun saying the word “underpants”.
Philip Gardner was not a class cutter;
Didn’t sit in the back row and mutter
No, he spoke up in class!
But he did so, alas,
With a st-st-st-st-st-st-stutter
Headline: A Stutterer Faces Resistance, From the Front of the Class
A couple of thoughts. First, wow, what a great kid. Reminds me of a friend from a million years ago, freshman year at college. He had a profound stutter, which really got in the way of listening to his ideas. For about a week, until we all got used to it, slowed down, and did just fine. In his case, by our senior year his stutter was gone. In the meantime, he was a great friend with great ideas that were well worth waiting for.
Second… I used to stutter, and still… stammer. My students say they don’t notice it–take it as a sign of passion about the topic–but once in a while I get stuck on “the” or “but” or “and” and can’t get away for at least a half dozen repetitions or more. It’s part of who I am; I notice it, take a deep breath, and continue. I find myself identifying much more with the student than with the teacher in this story, despite having now spent more of my life as a teacher than as a student. Well, literally, anyway.
Third… I kinda feel sorry for the instructor in this case. The story, and the comments, make him out to be the villain. He’s not, really. I do disagree with how he handled it, but I really don’t think his choices were indefensible. Just not the best.
With Wall Street the part of the villain
There are thousands now gathered and chillin’
There are bongo groups drumming
Guitarists out strumming
But who will emerge as Bob Dylan?
Headline: 21st Century Protest Music: Will There Be Another Dylan? Should There Be?
My answers are No and Yes, respectively, and sadly.
Not the heaviest news, this I know,
But I’m happy to hear, even so
Two more years have been signed
So the stars have aligned
And the Simpsons are rolling in D’oh!
Headline: Fox renews ‘The Simpsons’ for two seasons
I just couldn’t do another headline about the G.O.P. today.
There’s a pastor whom Perry consults
And they talk about stuff like adults
Like how Jesus Christ chooses
Who wins, and who loses
And how other religions are cults
Headline: Perry Ally Calls Mormonism ‘A Cult’
The Baptist pastor endorsed Rick Perry, called Mitt Romney a non-Christian, and renounced his church’s tax-free status so that his political statements could be viewed as the campaign contribution they were intended as.
Do I need to tell you I’m just kidding about that last bit?
Oh–Jesus and Mo is, as so often, appropriate here.
It’s the end—though that’s hard to believe
There are millions now starting to grieve
With this loss, it appears
We’ll be shedding some tears
Oh, no, not for Sarah—for Steve
Headline: Apple Visionary Steve Jobs Dies At 56
Headline: Sarah Palin Says She Will Not Run For President In 2012 Election
Some goodbyes are harder than others.
Count me among those who wrote my dissertation on a Mac, who have gone through several generations of Jobs’s ideas. It’s too bad that the Mac/PC wars will inevitably rear its ugly head in the comment threads of Jobs’s obituaries. He will be missed.
Oh, and nobody important left the presidential race today.
It’s not fair! It’s not fair! It’s not fair!
Good TV is already too rare!
But now, it appears
After twenty-three years,
The Simpsons may go off the air!
Headline: Money dispute may halt ‘Simpsons’
Fox (the people who say millionaires can’t afford to be taxed) are trying to cut the pay for the Simpsons voice actors, from nearly 8 million to around 4 million per season. The Simpsons was, of course, a spinoff of the Tracey Ullman show, and Groening’s characters have been with the network from the start.
Speaking of battles for money, I thank those who have already donated to Donors Choose, and gently remind one and all that the widget is sitting there waiting for you. I’ve already heard back from one teacher with thanks. The way I figure it, I’m writing, you’re reading, we are the ones who ought to be thanking the teachers.
And now, you may argue over whether the Simpsons jumped the shark a decade ago….
The direction this country is heading
Is exactly what bigots are dreading!
What’s the danger they feared?
It’s that chaplains are cleared
To officiate at a gay wedding!
Headline: Military chaplains allowed to perform same-sex weddings
Headline: Military Chaplains May Perform Same-Sex Unions
Why two links? The first is CNN; the second is Fox. The stories are quite similar–there’s not much to do but report the facts–but the comment threads are clearly from two different planets.