SHAFT!

Enough is enough!

Politicos et. al.

SHOW

THEM

THE

SHAFT!

Stop Hatemongering And Fingerpointing Today!

Happy Independence Day – Let Freedom Ring!

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

My site is The Canvas Grey. (www.thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com) The name was inspired by a dream.  I believe I was healed by God and wanted to let as many people know for His Glory.  It is difficult to imagine that I could ever, ever talk about it enough or be thankful enough.  So I blog about my experiences, both success and failure, to help others who may find themselves needing more information, guidance or just a laugh.   

God is so great, so much more than we can understand.  I believe He is more than any religion or book and He can speak to each of us as individuals in ways that are completely unique to each of us.  His Greatness cannot be hidden or bound.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?
I haven’t thought much about whether I’ve grown as a writer or that it was important to me.  I mostly feel compelled to write about something and then set about doing it.  There is no doubt that some of my posts are inspired and they are easy to see; my journey of learning, plowing around the stump for examples.  I’m a deep thinker and when God gives me insight I want to share that for others to let God work through it if He desires to do so.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
My memorable experiences are all about the inspiration and compelled writing plus the interaction with others.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?
Using the internet to get passed the two minute sound bites that the main media WANT us to see or hear.  I want to know in-depth information about past, present and plans for the future on all the political players.  I think the internet should remain uncensored and ungoverned to allow real freedom of speech and exchange of ideas.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
I think more people feel free to express themselves and have a place to say what they want and exchange ideas, thoughts, experiences, etc.  I think more than that the internet provides a platform for anyone who can get to the internet to tell their story or a story they believe is important AND to tell it without edit or censorship.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?
I am a unique individual that has much in common with other unique individuals.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
Believing the best of intentions from others and yourself.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
I speak of this in my Journey of Learning at my blog as they are both on the day I was healed.

Do you think [the use of Twitter and other social networking tools by politicians] is bandwagon jumping or what?
I have to say a direct YES to this question.  Unfortunately politicians seem to be nothing more than advertisers trying to grasp at every last pair of eyes and ears no matter what it takes or what avenue pop culture would have them travel.  That does NOT speak to me as “being a leader” but more as a follower of trends. 

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for – what would your top 3 choices be?
Alaska, South America, Europe and the rest of the world, then the moon, planets, other galaxies and beyond.

What is your favorite book and why?
There is no way I could ever pick a favorite book or favorite anything.  How could I pick just one of anything when God has made/inspired so much.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
Their expression.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?
No.  I was told at a young age by a teacher that I wasn’t an artist.  But she was wrong.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
I think others could answer this much better than I.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
If research is required or one keeps up a post a day (or more) then blogging can become time consuming.  I imagine the most successful blogs (that are more than pictures) are very time consuming as they must keep readers coming back AND attracting new readers.

What are your thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest advantages and disadvantages are?
It would depend upon the size but by far the biggest advantages for corporate blogs would be communications…easy, fast, far reaching; the disadvantage would be cumbersome, too many responses or ideas or the need to dedicate one person to the blog.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
Communicating with each other expecting, projecting the best intentions.  I think we as human beings will find that no matter what part of the world we live in the we are more alike than different; to make a way in this world for our family and friends to be together and rejoice in our love for one another and God.  We share a marvelous place in the universe and it is a privilege to share it together.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?
I really don’t mean to be obnoxious I just can’t pick favorites.  There are just too many favorites to list in just five. 

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
There are several but if you are interested to know which is the most read it would be about my experience in a multi-level-marketing company.  Closely followed by my experience discovering that depression and low iron (anemia) have very similar symptoms.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
I have a perception of the country and then my experience of the people here in the United States.  Since most of the perceptions are via people who have agendas (the media, the politicians, etc.) I base my facts on my own interactions.  I must say that I’ve found people of/from Pakistan to be more like me than different.  I also must tell you that one of my doctors is from Pakistan.  He is a doctor who I can say truly listens to me, treats me with great kindness and respect.  I pray for him to be happy as he is truly a great man in my eyes.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
Twice I could use the word stunned to describe my reaction to reading a blog and been interested reading/trying to understand them/their writings more in depth.  Disgusted is a word I’ve experienced more often than stunned.  BY FAR I’ve had completely positive experiences in blogging and reading other blogs.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?
The amount of food, clothing, shelter and ways to make a life for a family.

What is the future of blogging?
My guess is it will stay the same for quite some time.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
There have been positive; expression, helping others, learning new things, connecting with others AND negative; some time away from family and other projects yet who doesn’t need a break every now and again?  🙂  Mostly I see the good of it when balanced.

What are your future plans?
To continue to seek what God has for me and my family because I know it is beyond my dreams, as He shows me consistently.  I plan to write more about that and to create a history of thought and pictures and understanding within my family, friends and others who touch my life as I touch their life.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
I can only see good from reaching out to one another in peace, understanding and our common bonds as people who are blessed to share the earth at the same time.  I believe that different cultures and diversity is a great thing in life.  We can  throw off hatred, apathy and indifference to enjoy one another.  Peace and happiness to you as you read.

Ringin IN 2010!

I’m looking forward to a great 2010! 

I’ve heard that from nearly everyone I’ve gotten email from, talked to and seen on FB.  The excitement in the air about 2010 is palpable. 

I can’t remember when …well, yes I can, I think many people were so worried about Y2K and working their butts off in 1999 to prevent “the unspeakable horrors” the clock turning to 2000 could bring that everyone was looking forward to the “end” of what nightmares COULD happen. 

Maybe that was the start of all this doom and end of the world talk that seems to dominate everything these days.  It is (of course) at the movies, in the news, on all my favorite channels, History, Discovery, Science; whether they are talking about Nostradamus, the Holy Bible, the Mayan calendar or other forseers they want to use to prove the “disaster looming” point. 

The positive lesson to take from all this is … MAYBE…  all we have is today.

Today is the PRESENT so maybe we should treat it like a GIFT and ENJOY!

Walking with God…He teaches me to…

Spend time in love!
Walk in GRACE!
Lead with compassion!
Follow with humility!

For Terror or Worse…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blBohrmyo-I

I don’t mind someone running my name through a computer to see if I’m a terrorist…a murderer… or anything else illegal…unless…it is illegal to speak out about something…long pause

But after reports that Google and many other search engines keep all data and searches… Facebook wanting to keep all my information even if I delete my stuff…Facebook actually deleting an unfavorable comment I made last week….finding those New World Order videos just the other day (out of the blue…NOT looking for them), the constant yakity yak about globalization and now a benign referral to this video…it really makes one pause and wonder…

WHERE EXACTLY ARE WE HEADED?

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE tech!  I think this is remarkable technology and can be used to all kinds of good.  If only we could trust one another, ah yes, the ever elusive Utopia.

Databases…data being held about you from the time of your birth, where you are, etc. have been in existence for a long time…HOWEVER…it is getting easier, more people are selling their “proverbial souls” for the love and greed of money or power… AND (it is a big and too) “we the people” are sleeping…soundly, passively in our peaceful little worlds…it has happened before… more than once… recently… I pray it doesn’t happen again.  Then I realize I live in reality.

I’m truly not trying to be a fear-monger, the media does that well enough.  However, it isn’t like I’m out there looking for this stuff.   It comes to me, I share what I believe I’m to share.  Peace, love and joy to you.

RAnDom ThOUgHt

Oh Tae…here is a thought:

 

The “ME” generation turned their kids into the “WE” socialist generation so the “ME” generation could do anything they wanted to do and then the “ME” generation would be taken care of by the “We” generation.

 

 

 

The Party is OVER…

The spending party is over…we need a stimulus package…hmm

Seems like a contadiction in terms to me.

I was slightly impressed with the questions asked by the media. I was impressed with some of the president’s answers. He eluded to the truth the most when he said the spending party is over.  Yet it sounds like it isn’t if things are continuing as usual and we are going to spend our way out with more credit, more debt.

I’d like to have heard where all the money for the package coming from? Maybe that will be answered today.  Will someone please explain it in detail?  Now, where is the website?  Why can’t we see what they are arguing about now in this package?  Details…we need them. 

Why didn’t the president have all these economist there with him to explain?  Why didn’t we just hear it all last night instead of having to wait until today…oh no upstaging anyone…even in a “crisis” isn’t allowed.

Did anyone hear the reason why the taxpayers aren’t getting more tax cuts to spend it? They don’t trust us to “spend” it.  Did you hear our president say that? 

The reason being prudent thoughtful people would be saving it because it is going to get worse no matter what is done.  That is exactly why the banks aren’t spending their part.  Right now the banks are busy spending/defending why they aren’t spending the money and why they are spending money on their poor employees, for morale.  Wonder how that will make those that get laid off feel in a few months? 

What a mess!  It hasn’t happened over night and has been going on since the 1960s when credit was available to the masses and credit cards became the “in” thing to have and then usher in the hippies and the greed of the 1980s, 1990s the decade of salary explosion, add 15 years of health care cost crisis and what do you get?  

We are about to place a band aid on a large deep wound, just like we did in health care with HMOs.  It won’t work to solve the problem.  I doubt it will help in the short term either.

By the way, the fear mongering and the urgency factor are unbecoming to a person who campaigned against that very thing. 

I wish I could see a real change…thus far, not so much…unless you want to move deeper into socialism…which we’ve been in for a long, long time…now it will be even deeper.

I Want to Take You HIGHER….

Fade out Sly and the Family Stone…Fade in the sounds of an auction…

 

Gimme a bid, wanna bid, how much ya gimme a bid?

800 Billion

Bidder,bidder,bidder,bidder, ho now gotta bidder.
Canna getabid, gimme a bid, wanna bid a little higher now.

900 BILLION

Hey now, gimme a bid, bidder, higher now, bidder, bidder, bidder;

920 BILLION

Oh yeah now, gimme a, gimme a, bidder, bidder, bidder…

Bidder,bidder,bidder,bidder, ho now gotta bidder.
Canna getabid, gimme a bid, wanna bid a little higher now.

935 BILLION

SOLD? YET?

Do I laugh or cry?

SOLD to the highest bidder goes America, once know as HOME of the FREE and the BRAVE.  SOLD to those who brought her to her knees with smoke screens and a fan dance, oil prices, who knew scruples went to the wind for a dollar.  SOLD to those who will own all interests on the back side too.  We are for sell and those that seek to destroy us will buy us…that is the real terror of it all.  Where do you think this money will come from…not just taxes…look closer…our country has been sold.  Follow the money?  We’ve been selling out for decades. 

I think I need to cry and pray for all those that don’t know, all those that don’t get it, all those that think it doesn’t matter or are indifferent and all those who have spent or lost all their money.   Prepare yourself.

Letter to the President, Senate and all PoLITical Players

Dear Honorable Public Servants,

The changing of the guard has been noted.

Since you’ve been elected by ME; since you serve ME; I think it is about time you ANSWERED to ME!

 Are you lit?  Booze, smoke, drugs (legal or illegal)?

Why do you continue to bail out companies and the people who ran them instead of having them pay back the salaries that they didn’t earn when making bad decisions or supporting bad management or running a company into the ground and making too much money for the position they held in a company?

WHY am I paying taxes to help support businesses who have been run into the ground by greedy upper management and stock holders?

Why do I have to pay for it? 

 WHY? 

Is it because I’m a hard working American who pays over 1/4th of my income to taxes and I get NO SAY in what I’m taxed for?  I now have to pay for all the mistakes of people who make millions more in one year than I will ever see in my lifetime…and they walk away with NO CONSEQUENCES? 

WHY?

Why do we have to keep throwing money at it?  What ever, EVER happened to consequences?  Make the people who made the money and the mistakes PAY IT BACK in same!  Not jail time…money in fines and hold people ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS!!!!!   Just as I am holding YOU accountable for YOUR ACTIONS!   I AM WATCHING!  I AM LISTENING AND YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE I AM HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE!  You know, ME/WE the PEOPLE!

Greed and Corruption…that is what you call  it.  Whacky accounting practices…that’s what you call it.  Over paying top management and the ever increasing stock dividend for greedy stockholders…that’s what you call it.  “Thinking out of the box” accounting and removing all concrete thinking skills to make ungodly salaries…WHO needs 20 million a year to live on and WHO IS WORTH THAT AND WHY… are they pooping gold? 

I will be holding YOU to the same principles I uphold myself; to be ACCOUNTABLE, RESPONSIBLE and accept CONSEQUENCES for better or worse.

And I’m just getting started…welcome to the world of CALLING YOUR BLUFF!  ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

With all DUE respect.

The Canvas Grey

Readers, please write your publicly elected officials and let them know that you hold them ACCOUNTABLE.  It is as easy as sending an email.

FIVE-YEAR-OLD DEMANDS TO KNOW WHO THE NEW PRESIDENT IS!

“Who is the new president?” 

“Voting is tomorrow.”

“WHO is the NEW presadent, Mom?”

“We go vote tomorrow and after that we will know.”

“When are we going to know who ‘it’ is?”

“Maybe late tomorrow evening, after you are in bed.”

“I need to know who the new president is because voting is important.”

“Yes, it is very important.  That is why Daddy and I take you with us when we go.”

“WHO IS THE NEW PRESDADENT?”

“We will know sometime on Wednesday, MAYBE.  That is all the information I can give you about when we will know who the new president will be, Young Son.”

“Well, I need to know who the new presadent is Mom.”

Ya know who this exchange reminded me of?  The media.

Hey Media, what does this mean…exactly?

It seems we’ve been upgrading computers and machines and downgrading our humanity and individuality for so long it is hard to spot until the finger is pointed at us.

Could any of us take the scrutiny that so many take in the media these days? 

From a mother disciplining her child in what she thought was private; to whether a FEMALE candidate should have her young family with her; to a mother so divided between so many duties, wife, mother, housekeeper, executive that she would forget her own newborn, these are ordinary people thrust into the limelight.  Being judged as if there was no humanity and that they should have never made a mistake or done that, shame on them.

Have you compared them with the Hollywood elite that all the media root for to do better, Brittany, Paris, Lindsey?  Seems they can make repeated mistakes, vowing to do something better with their lives and…well, you know the rest…they are rubber and we are glue.

Feel left out as an ordinary person?  What if it happened to you?  Which category would you fall into? 

It makes one wonder if “us worker bees” are being set up to work as computers with nary a mistake to be made and those that are deemed by the media as “queen bees” get passes for being “human.” 

Makes a difference as to how the media depits it all, doesn’t it?  Bias in the media?  Oh come on…they are all fair and balanced.

So which island will you land on?   THE ISLAND

VOTE NO!

It is down to begging, we are about to be sold down the river to every company that fails to use good management, judgement and feeds corporate fat cats!

Feel free to copy and paste to send to your senator:

PLEASE vote NO on this bill for $700B of burden on US!  We are barely making it now…we can’t take anymore.

I realize that the government “can” make money and has in the past doing this but the money NEVER came back TO US…the people that PAID for it…it goes to other things….EVERY TIME! 

PLEASE DON’T DO THIS TO US!

Some how I don’t find this funny,

I ACTUALLY LIKE THE IDEA!

 

I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG. 
Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.  
To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000 
bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.   Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.. 
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00. 
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a 

We Deserve It Dividend. 

 Of course, it would NOT be tax free.  So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%. 
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.  That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.   But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife has $595,000.00. 

  

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved! 

Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads!

Put away money for college – it’ll be there! 

Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs. 

Buy a new car – create jobs.

Invest in the market – capital drives growth!
Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves!
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else! 

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+  including the folks
who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces. If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it…instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( “vote buy” ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.  If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!  As for AIG – liquidate it.  Sell off its parts. 
Let American General go back to being American General.  Sell off the real estate. 
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.  

 

 

Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.  

Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.” But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!  How do you spell Economic Boom? I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion!  We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC. And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam. 
Ahhh…I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
Kindest personal regards,  
Birk
T. J. Birkenmeier,

A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic                                                                                                                                                                                             

 PS:  Feel free to pass this along to your pals as it’s either good for a laugh 
or a tear or a very sobering thought on how to best use $85 Billion!!

 

FIRE THEM ALL!

I think it is OUTRAGEOUS what our government is doing and we might as well say we are socialists looking to become communists.  I think it is time for a revolution and I think that Ron Paul is the only sane thinking politician.  If government would just leave the market alone, it will correct itself…PERIOD.  They have created this false mountain, false economic boon and the ONLY way out is to tumble head over heals and let the world markets follow until it is corrected.  Otherwise we are rewarding criminals (who the hell needs $54 MILLION dollars a year salary, no one is worth that).  I saw it coming in the 1990s in compensation, greedy people at the top feeding greedy people and everyone around “had to” stay up to be competitive.  All the government (both sides) does any more is ramp it all up, pointing out each other’s posturing, and keeps what is really going on behind closed doors.  I used to think comedian George Carlin was exaggerating when he’d say that the US is “making the last round of the drain before it goes down,” now I think he was prophetic. Yank them all out and let the terms be only two four year terms, for president, for senate, for congress, for any political office!  FIRE THEM ALL!

And then there were NONE

WHERE ARE OUR LEADERS?????

We need a leader:  a person who has commanding authority or influence;  who is forbearing: To be tolerant or patient in the face of provocation; with a clear vision (recited orally and written): Unusual competence in discernment or perception; intelligent foresight.

In other words a presidential candidate who can actually lead us with forbearance and vision.  I’ve not seen this in either Dem or Rep candidate because they are so busy cowering to whichever way the media wind blows…is there anyone who can stand up to be their own person and say what they mean and mean what they say without apology?  Seems the answer is NO, because they will get into the position and do whatever they want.  Let’s see…how far back do we need to go to find a president who held high ideals without the ego of high office? 

Then I ask myself, ‘Who leads this country?’  Apparently the mainstream media and those that own it. 

How do we get it back from them? 

Taking Action

I’ve had it up to my proverbial HERE!!!!!

 

Politicians and financial institutions are getting fired left and right, no bias here ;-D! 

 

I’m writing everyone about everything, the good, the bad and the ugly. 

 

That means people who’ve made a positive difference will be getting some good letters, emails and thank you notes.

 

The bad financial institutions will be getting a form of this:

 

 

 

Dear Sir or Madam:

 

We received cards on this account recently that were not activated and have been destroyed.  Please close this account and send us confirmation that it has been closed.

 

We do not want our information shared with any companies whether in or out of the affiliated/family of companies which are related or unrelated to your company, your financial institution or this retail card.

 

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.  If you have any questions please contact…

 

And last but not least; I’m resolved to make a difference by writing government officials at the local, state and national level. 

Join me by making your voice heard by taking the actions required to make a difference. 

 

****

Blogger buddies:  Thanks again for all your spiritual support.  I’m putting you in God’s cross-hairs in prayers too.  Hugs to all! Deb

 

OOPS!

I just found a new favorite place!  Post was changed…so it isn’t your eyes, it was me.

 Okay, I admit it….I didn’t scroll down far enough or look hard enough…ick. 

I saw some Coexist stickers and “Ask your doctor if medical advise from a TV is right for you.”  

That one got my attention and funny bone.

I had no idea of the political slant at the bottom

I still love the thought of being a peacemonger.

Just not from that direction. 

 PEACE!

 

 

The Outcry for CHANGE!

FightingWindmills turned me on to a post at CheeseSlave.

After reading through I just had to ask some questions of us all:

I’ve read something like this on more than a few topics and not just about Monsanto (see the open letter to Hillary at Cheeseslave).

Cheeseslave says “I’ll have to learn more about Obama but I have a sense that he is the latest Prius they are trying to roll out to keep us in the dark.”

Cheese, you are right about this.  It is all a smoke screen.  This open letter is just the TIP of a huge iceberg on so many things it makes my stomach churn.

Deb, you are right about the FDA.  Pressure for drugs to make us live forever, you know.  **wink, wink, nudge, nudge**

And there is NO truth in advertising anymore…okay, there is half truth in advertising, leaving out critical information that could steer you to um, EATING YOUR VEGIES or a VITAMIN deficiency…and away from their product du jour.

I could go on and on about what is wrong because there is so much.  Unfortunately ONE PERSON (a new president) isn’t going to fix it all. 

It has to be a huge change across our nation, it has to be an outcry so long and so loud from millions upon millions before the kind of change needed is going to happen.  A wave of change has started, it needs nurturing and growth.  So that 4 to 8 years (or even 12) from now the people who caught the wave can be in positions (legislative, judicial) to support and uphold the changes that NEED to be made in the STATES and in FEDERAL governments. 

That is a lot of people needed to ride the wave much less keep the energy of the wave high…is it YOU?  Are you willing to commit to politics, start in your community, local, state levels?  Holding offices of change in your area?  Are you willing to get into politics at the state or national level to support a person in a presidency that will need the support to really change things? 

A president can’t do it alone.  Are you willing?

I’m asking these questions thoughtfully…not antagonistically. 

Cahoots or Conspiracy Part Trois!

Original post:  Cahoots or Conspiracy?

Follow up post:  Cahoots or Conspiracy Part Deux

The saga continues:

Oh so much to catch up on, Obama gets support of the entire Kennedy clan, liberal left endorses Obama.  Hillary can’t control Bill?!?  People are dropping out of the race like flies BEFORE “Super Tuesday” and can we just cut to the chase please. 

***rolling eyes***

The Dems have made history already and America is still itching to make some more history.  The best the Repubs can offer will be two “old school” men (sorry to disappoint but I don’t think Paul and Huck can hang much longer) so that leaves them out of history making possibilities.  

So it boils down to the Dems.  Since their policies are already left wing all the other factors would come into play; personality, likability, the favored, the beloved, strong, either a black man or a white woman. 

Although Obama is handsome and charismatic it would be a miracle to overcome this former president’s spouse.  After all Bill is equally charismatic and handsome to some (obviously not me).  😉  And as painful as it is to write this, there is still too much bigotry in this world/America (from all sides) to hope against hope that a black person could hold this office…just yet…I do believe (KNOW) it will be in my lifetime.  Plus his name is Obama…dag nab the fates! 

So the only conclusion THIS grey canvas can come to is that Hillary is our first woman President who is also married to a former President. 

Obama will continue to be popular…maybe Vice Pres. or the first black Pres. but definitely not against THE CLINTONS, not in 2008.  Make no mistake, Hillary and Bill are running together (no matter what they say in public).  There is an historic legacy to obtain, and they will by God.  The Kennedys were a diversion. 

Do you feel like a pawn?  It’s okay, we will soon take up our knight and bishop status it just won’t be for another 8 to 12 years but we (the people) will get the power back!

I’m done now.  😉

Junk the SOLs…find a different way to test our youth!

A friend and fellow blogger, Fighting Windmills, talked about IQ on her blog the awhile back and got me to thinking and we know how dangerous that is!!!  HA!

Junk the SOLs, they are touted as the equal to SATs, ACTs and pass/fail tests.  Too much emphasis on the test and NOT what kids are actually learning…they are learning to memorize answers.  The pressure on the teachers, schools, kids is UNBELIEVABLE.  If you have school aged kids you’d know what I’m talking about.  Walk the halls the weeks before and during testing and you can cut the tension with a knife.

Check out the clip from The Colbert Report featuring a chat with Malcolm Gladwell who explains why IQ tests don’t really tell us about intelligent.  Gladwell said that IQ tests may show that Abe Lincoln wasn’t too bright.  So there is one point for dumping tests, in my book!  I wish this segment was longer.  Gladwell has captured my interest in his thought process and I want to know more…I know, I’m a brainiac!!!
 
I think there are different type of IQ/brain types.  I think EVERYONE has a place and a talent/IQ for something…even if it is teaching us how to understand them.  Everyone has something to contribute, everyone has a gift or special purpose, it takes us all to make the world go round!  How boring would it be if we were all the same, liked the same things, wanted the same things, discussed the same things, constantly fought with everyone that was different…what a waste of our most valuable commodities…time and energy!

Tests never tell the whole story nor is everyone great at expressing themselves through tests.  Tests don’t tell the whole story about the capabilities, capacity or quality of learning, it is a snapshot of who can remember something and regurgitate in under pressure.  It’s proven that those that didn’t get good sleep, feel well or eat well before a test perform lower than a “good” day.  Testing isn’t a true representation of the TOTAL picture. 

The SOLs should be removed because the pressure on everyone isn’t worth the false sense of “No Child Left Behind” (I do like the thought…not the process designed to promote the thought).

I’m done now!  😉