Just so you all know, I'm going to be protesting prop 8 on Monday. I'm going to be at Treat and Oak Grove in Concord. It's part of a larger deal that's being organized by some No on 8 folks, but I doubt that they'll turn down anybody who wants to stand there with a sign.
It'd be nice to see you there as well. (And no excuses those of you who live hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away.)
Oh, and bring a sign.
EDIT: We'll be there from 4:30-7:30.
Friday, October 31, 2008
End of Blog a Day Month
So, the weather is turning.
I had a kid pretty much threaten me today. (No, this is hardly a regular thing - first time in eight years of teaching - and he's no longer in my class now.)
I screwed up and didn't get all my units into the district office in time so I can get a raise - and I'll have to wait until next year for that.
But you know what? I'm feeling pretty good. I'm not letting the weather get me down. I feel like I'm prepared for it this time, and I'm determined not to get into a funk. While part of it is probably a biological reaction, much of it is mind over matter. Sure, I still have this sense of exhaustion as soon as I step outside, but dammit, I can't let this beat me. It's just one more problem for me to solve.
As for my little incident today, what's good is that I'm usually the type of person who blames himself for everything. The thought creeped into my head that maybe I did something wrong, but I was able to quickly obliterate that thought. With a little work, I won't even stew on it all weekend long.
So, everything is going swell. I'm wrapping up Blog a Day Month, and tomorrow begins Haiku a Day Month. You ready? All you have to do is write one haiku a day! How hard can it be?
Oh, and I also just sampled my Thanksgiving Ale. It needs another day or two to boost the carbonation a bit, but overall it's pretty damned nice, and it's going to go really well with a Turkey dinner (and even the pumpkin pie afterwards - as it has pumpkin spices in it - just enough to taste them, but it's not overwhelming).
I'm doing well. Ain't nothin' gonna breaka my stride.
I had a kid pretty much threaten me today. (No, this is hardly a regular thing - first time in eight years of teaching - and he's no longer in my class now.)
I screwed up and didn't get all my units into the district office in time so I can get a raise - and I'll have to wait until next year for that.
But you know what? I'm feeling pretty good. I'm not letting the weather get me down. I feel like I'm prepared for it this time, and I'm determined not to get into a funk. While part of it is probably a biological reaction, much of it is mind over matter. Sure, I still have this sense of exhaustion as soon as I step outside, but dammit, I can't let this beat me. It's just one more problem for me to solve.
As for my little incident today, what's good is that I'm usually the type of person who blames himself for everything. The thought creeped into my head that maybe I did something wrong, but I was able to quickly obliterate that thought. With a little work, I won't even stew on it all weekend long.
So, everything is going swell. I'm wrapping up Blog a Day Month, and tomorrow begins Haiku a Day Month. You ready? All you have to do is write one haiku a day! How hard can it be?
Oh, and I also just sampled my Thanksgiving Ale. It needs another day or two to boost the carbonation a bit, but overall it's pretty damned nice, and it's going to go really well with a Turkey dinner (and even the pumpkin pie afterwards - as it has pumpkin spices in it - just enough to taste them, but it's not overwhelming).
I'm doing well. Ain't nothin' gonna breaka my stride.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
It's not a piece of jewelry
Just a short one today, as it's the penultimate entry for Blog-a-day month (and I believe that I shall once again declare myself to be the winner).
I understand that the hands-free blue-tooth device is a useful invention. In fact, I realize that it's necessary considering California's ban on talking into a cell phone while driving. Kirsti has one. I don't, but it would be a waste since I rarely talk on the phone in the first place.
But dammit, when you're not using it, GET THAT FRIKKEN' THING OUT OF YOUR EAR!!!! You look like you're taking drive-through orders at Taco Bell.
What's wrong with you people?
I understand that the hands-free blue-tooth device is a useful invention. In fact, I realize that it's necessary considering California's ban on talking into a cell phone while driving. Kirsti has one. I don't, but it would be a waste since I rarely talk on the phone in the first place.
But dammit, when you're not using it, GET THAT FRIKKEN' THING OUT OF YOUR EAR!!!! You look like you're taking drive-through orders at Taco Bell.
What's wrong with you people?
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
And the problem is what, exactly?
I hate to sound like such a one-issue guy, but I have a tendency to be a bit obsessive/compulsive, so I have a hard time not being baffled by the pro-prop 8 crowd.
Today I received a pro-8 flyer in the mail. It was the flyer version of the ad that talks about how kids will be "taught gay marriage" in school. Their evidence of this is that there was a couple in Massachusetts whose son was taught that not only do girls marry boys, but sometimes boys marry boys and girls marry girls. Well, in the state of Massachusetts, isn't that true? The ad then went on to say, as though you should be gravely alarmed, HE WAS IN SECOND GRADE!
Okay, if there are any pro-prop 8 people out there, can you at least be honest enough to admit that they're engaging in fear-mongering? I mean, assuming that this would even happen in California (which doesn't sound like it's being "taught" so much as the teacher was just stating something that's a fact. I guess I "taught" regicide when we read Macbeth), what exactly is the big deal? What do you think is going to happen to your second-grader? Is he going to go, "Hey! I'm gonna marry a guy too!" (Actually, the really little kids probably would say that, as it's a known fact that girls carry cooties. Still, for the majority of them, once those hormones kick in, they'll quickly lose that idea.)
What exactly is going to happen? Does anybody really out there believe that somebody who's not already inclined towards homosexual tendencies is going to engage in them if they hear that? Or that somebody who is inclined would not get the idea if they never hear it? You're attracted to whom you're attracted to, and that's it.
I'm starting to think that there are a lot more people out there with homosexual tendencies than even the most liberal people would have us believe. You can believe me or not believe me, but I'm being totally honest when I say that I never once considered having a sexual relationship with a man. And I went to San Francisco State University. I'm sure that if I really wanted to make that sort of a thing happen, I could have. The thought never even entered my mind.
I believe it when gay people say that they knew when they were little that they were gay. I knew that I liked the opposite sex ever since I was a little kid - even though I'd deny it out loud. (I wonder why kids do that?) You could have shown me gay porn and I wouldn't have changed my mind. (Watch, somebody's going to take me out of context and say that I advocate showing children gay porn! Well, it's only a matter of time, since those "nature" shows have animal porn on all the time.)
Anyway, just in case there are some pro-8 people out there, I'd really like you to think of what you're doing when you go into the voting booth. You might personally not think of yourself as hateful and homophobic, but that's exactly who you're siding with. Not to mention the fact that you're siding with a side that has to lie to make their case - you know, the whole bit about churches being forced to marry gays and losing tax-exempt status? If you actually believe that, you're sorely ignorant as to what the Constitution guarantees us in this country.
So, on your side are the liars and fear-mongers. And who are you potentially hurting? Families. Maybe not a family like yours, but a family nonetheless. Whether you like it or not, there are kids out there being raised by same-sex couples, and you'd deny them the same rights that you'd deny the children of straight couples. No matter how you feel about homosexuality, are you going to hold them responsible? (And I've recently done some reading on this issue - the American Psychological Association's research shows that these kids aren't any less well-adjusted than kids with more traditional parents.) Of course, there are those who'd say that kids will tease them and bully them because of their parents. Well, you could make the same argument about kids of mixed race, couldn't you? Are we going to make that illegal again?
Anyway, I have to keep reminding myself that even if this does go through, it is only a matter of time before there are enough Californians who are willing to re-amend the Constitution. And fifty years from now, what do you want to say to the youth of America? Which side do you think you'll be more proud to have been a part of? How do you think history will judge you?
As a student of history, I gotta say that it's not looking good for you.
Today I received a pro-8 flyer in the mail. It was the flyer version of the ad that talks about how kids will be "taught gay marriage" in school. Their evidence of this is that there was a couple in Massachusetts whose son was taught that not only do girls marry boys, but sometimes boys marry boys and girls marry girls. Well, in the state of Massachusetts, isn't that true? The ad then went on to say, as though you should be gravely alarmed, HE WAS IN SECOND GRADE!
Okay, if there are any pro-prop 8 people out there, can you at least be honest enough to admit that they're engaging in fear-mongering? I mean, assuming that this would even happen in California (which doesn't sound like it's being "taught" so much as the teacher was just stating something that's a fact. I guess I "taught" regicide when we read Macbeth), what exactly is the big deal? What do you think is going to happen to your second-grader? Is he going to go, "Hey! I'm gonna marry a guy too!" (Actually, the really little kids probably would say that, as it's a known fact that girls carry cooties. Still, for the majority of them, once those hormones kick in, they'll quickly lose that idea.)
What exactly is going to happen? Does anybody really out there believe that somebody who's not already inclined towards homosexual tendencies is going to engage in them if they hear that? Or that somebody who is inclined would not get the idea if they never hear it? You're attracted to whom you're attracted to, and that's it.
I'm starting to think that there are a lot more people out there with homosexual tendencies than even the most liberal people would have us believe. You can believe me or not believe me, but I'm being totally honest when I say that I never once considered having a sexual relationship with a man. And I went to San Francisco State University. I'm sure that if I really wanted to make that sort of a thing happen, I could have. The thought never even entered my mind.
I believe it when gay people say that they knew when they were little that they were gay. I knew that I liked the opposite sex ever since I was a little kid - even though I'd deny it out loud. (I wonder why kids do that?) You could have shown me gay porn and I wouldn't have changed my mind. (Watch, somebody's going to take me out of context and say that I advocate showing children gay porn! Well, it's only a matter of time, since those "nature" shows have animal porn on all the time.)
Anyway, just in case there are some pro-8 people out there, I'd really like you to think of what you're doing when you go into the voting booth. You might personally not think of yourself as hateful and homophobic, but that's exactly who you're siding with. Not to mention the fact that you're siding with a side that has to lie to make their case - you know, the whole bit about churches being forced to marry gays and losing tax-exempt status? If you actually believe that, you're sorely ignorant as to what the Constitution guarantees us in this country.
So, on your side are the liars and fear-mongers. And who are you potentially hurting? Families. Maybe not a family like yours, but a family nonetheless. Whether you like it or not, there are kids out there being raised by same-sex couples, and you'd deny them the same rights that you'd deny the children of straight couples. No matter how you feel about homosexuality, are you going to hold them responsible? (And I've recently done some reading on this issue - the American Psychological Association's research shows that these kids aren't any less well-adjusted than kids with more traditional parents.) Of course, there are those who'd say that kids will tease them and bully them because of their parents. Well, you could make the same argument about kids of mixed race, couldn't you? Are we going to make that illegal again?
Anyway, I have to keep reminding myself that even if this does go through, it is only a matter of time before there are enough Californians who are willing to re-amend the Constitution. And fifty years from now, what do you want to say to the youth of America? Which side do you think you'll be more proud to have been a part of? How do you think history will judge you?
As a student of history, I gotta say that it's not looking good for you.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Whitmarsh and Eberhart
I realize that I've blogged many times on Prop. 8 (and I probably still have a few more left in me), and that's the sort of thing that only applies to the Californians who read this. This time, I'm getting even more specific, and I'm appealing to everybody who lives within the Mt. Diablo School District to vote for Gary Eberhart and Sherry Whitmarsh for the school board. (Alas, I'm not in the district myself, as I live in Martinez - which has its own school district. However, I do teach in the district, so that's why I care.)
Honestly, I've been putting this one off for a while now. While I believe that I have good reasons for wanting them to get in office (Eberhart is already in office and is running as an incumbent - Whitmarsh is a new face to replace April Treece), I don't always feel confident as to how I can make my case for them.
So, let's just stick with some basic facts. Teachers in Mt. Diablo are amongst the lowest paid in Contra Costa County. Many of them have been leaving for surrounding districts, and if you take the average numbers of years experience of our teachers, it has dropped significantly over the past few years. (That's an awfully convoluted sentence, but I can't seem to work it out right now. Let's just say that a lot of experienced teachers are leaving.)
While times are certainly tough, the leadership at the district has been proven to be incompetent at best, and downright masters of skullduggery at worst. They have not engaged in fair negotations with the union, and there is evidence of some pretty serious mishandling of funds. I don't have a head for this sort of a thing (can't remember numbers to save my life) but you can get some details here.
Currently, there are two members of the board, Paul Strange and Gary Eberhart, who are vocal critics of the current superintendent, Gary McHenry - even to the point of calling for his resignation. The other members just continue to make excuses for him. I once attended an informal question/answer session with incumbent April Treece and Dick Allen, and I think that if you brought Squealer himself, monacle and all (from Animal Farm) to make the case for McHenry, it would have been even less Orwellian than the shuck-and-jive dog and pony show that you'd get from them. When asked, point-blank by a teacher why it is that we're all so wrong in our criticism of McHenry, they both gave a really long, convoluted explanation that involved "data" but made little actual sense. To say that I felt my intelligence being insulted would be an understatement.
So, if you live in the Mt. Diablo District, and you think that we need a change, vote Gary and Sherry.
Honestly, I've been putting this one off for a while now. While I believe that I have good reasons for wanting them to get in office (Eberhart is already in office and is running as an incumbent - Whitmarsh is a new face to replace April Treece), I don't always feel confident as to how I can make my case for them.
So, let's just stick with some basic facts. Teachers in Mt. Diablo are amongst the lowest paid in Contra Costa County. Many of them have been leaving for surrounding districts, and if you take the average numbers of years experience of our teachers, it has dropped significantly over the past few years. (That's an awfully convoluted sentence, but I can't seem to work it out right now. Let's just say that a lot of experienced teachers are leaving.)
While times are certainly tough, the leadership at the district has been proven to be incompetent at best, and downright masters of skullduggery at worst. They have not engaged in fair negotations with the union, and there is evidence of some pretty serious mishandling of funds. I don't have a head for this sort of a thing (can't remember numbers to save my life) but you can get some details here.
Currently, there are two members of the board, Paul Strange and Gary Eberhart, who are vocal critics of the current superintendent, Gary McHenry - even to the point of calling for his resignation. The other members just continue to make excuses for him. I once attended an informal question/answer session with incumbent April Treece and Dick Allen, and I think that if you brought Squealer himself, monacle and all (from Animal Farm) to make the case for McHenry, it would have been even less Orwellian than the shuck-and-jive dog and pony show that you'd get from them. When asked, point-blank by a teacher why it is that we're all so wrong in our criticism of McHenry, they both gave a really long, convoluted explanation that involved "data" but made little actual sense. To say that I felt my intelligence being insulted would be an understatement.
So, if you live in the Mt. Diablo District, and you think that we need a change, vote Gary and Sherry.
Monday, October 27, 2008
I guess that we've got a ways to go...
Recently, somebody told me of a conversation that they had with somebody who described Obama as a "nigger" and a "terrorist". This person was not being ironic; that's how she really felt. Of course, as one of my friends pointed out, it would be interesting to compare IQ scores and education level with Obama and the person who said that. I wonder who'd be the "nigger" then, huh?
While it does not surprise me that there are still people like that in this world, I have to wonder how the hell they are the way that they are. I mean, are they really so isolated that they can't accept the idea of a black man as President? Luckily, as I've noticed and as many of my colleagues have pointed out, the younger generation (in general) doesn't even factor in his race when deciding what they think of him. Hardly a scientific survey, but that's the impression, and it's promising.
Of course, then you have some white supremecists who planned to assasinate Obama (and were, thankfully, recently caught). I guess we still have a ways to go if people like that are out there.
Not that it's exactly the same thing, but I want to get back to this whole "Obama is a terrorist" thing. Apparently, there are people out there who REALLY think that. What evidence do they have? Evidence, shmevidence. As I've said before though, I think that part of the blame for this lies at the hands of various right-wing pundits and Sarah Palin, who says things like how Obama likes to "pal around" with terrorists.
Is it completely their fault that the uninformed masses are so quick to put two and two together and come up with five? Of course not - but they're certainly not helping matters.
While it does not surprise me that there are still people like that in this world, I have to wonder how the hell they are the way that they are. I mean, are they really so isolated that they can't accept the idea of a black man as President? Luckily, as I've noticed and as many of my colleagues have pointed out, the younger generation (in general) doesn't even factor in his race when deciding what they think of him. Hardly a scientific survey, but that's the impression, and it's promising.
Of course, then you have some white supremecists who planned to assasinate Obama (and were, thankfully, recently caught). I guess we still have a ways to go if people like that are out there.
Not that it's exactly the same thing, but I want to get back to this whole "Obama is a terrorist" thing. Apparently, there are people out there who REALLY think that. What evidence do they have? Evidence, shmevidence. As I've said before though, I think that part of the blame for this lies at the hands of various right-wing pundits and Sarah Palin, who says things like how Obama likes to "pal around" with terrorists.
Is it completely their fault that the uninformed masses are so quick to put two and two together and come up with five? Of course not - but they're certainly not helping matters.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sake it to me!
Man, I always feel like I'll have a chance to write a really long blog entry on the weekends, but I always find myself up to my eyeballs in stuff to do - most of it self-imposed (like brewing and bottling beer in the same evening). So, I'm going to keep this as a short one as well.
Recently, I've taken a liking to sake. There's an Oriental Foods grocery store near me, and every now and then I check it out to get some Thai curry paste, seaweed for sushi, and various hot sauces. One weekend, when I was going to be making some sushi for myself, I checked out the liquor department and noticed all of the varieties of sake that they had. I had never tried it before, because as you all know, I'm more of a beer man.
Why am I a beer man? It's not so much that I don't like wine, it's that wine doesn't agree with me. I get really flushed and start to sweat almost immediately after drinking it. I enjoy the taste, but I've never been able to have enough of it to really appreciate it on the level that I do beer. Of course, there's still a stigma about beer, where many people think that there's something better or more sophisticated about wine. Well, that's horse-crap, but whattayagonnado?
So, I thought I'd try the Japanese "rice wine," even though since it's made with rice, and rice is a grain, it's technically "rice beer" if you think about it. I bought a small bottle - not the cheapest one, but not the most expensive. I enjoyed it - enough to buy it the next time I was at that supermarket.
In fact, the last time, I liked the one that I got so much that I started to seek out some sake at my local Trader Joe's. They had a sparkling variety that was pretty darned good (and relatively low in alchohol) and a regular variety that's pretty enjoyable as well.
I'm liking sake so much (particularly with my home-made sushi) that I'm looking into making my own. Turns out that it's not so tough to do, and the initial set-up kit (including the ingredients for my first batch) only runs about $25. I also like the idea that you only make the batches one gallon at a time. I like it, but it's not an every day kind of drink for me, and I don't know what I'd do with five gallons of sake lying around the house.
Perhaps if I get enough gift cards from Beer, Beer and More Beer (HINT, HINT) for my birthday (November 24!) and Christmas, I'll be giving out some Holiday Sake along with my Holiday Beer. (That's right, Bill O'Reilly - HOLIDAY Beer! Suck it, Santa!)
Recently, I've taken a liking to sake. There's an Oriental Foods grocery store near me, and every now and then I check it out to get some Thai curry paste, seaweed for sushi, and various hot sauces. One weekend, when I was going to be making some sushi for myself, I checked out the liquor department and noticed all of the varieties of sake that they had. I had never tried it before, because as you all know, I'm more of a beer man.
Why am I a beer man? It's not so much that I don't like wine, it's that wine doesn't agree with me. I get really flushed and start to sweat almost immediately after drinking it. I enjoy the taste, but I've never been able to have enough of it to really appreciate it on the level that I do beer. Of course, there's still a stigma about beer, where many people think that there's something better or more sophisticated about wine. Well, that's horse-crap, but whattayagonnado?
So, I thought I'd try the Japanese "rice wine," even though since it's made with rice, and rice is a grain, it's technically "rice beer" if you think about it. I bought a small bottle - not the cheapest one, but not the most expensive. I enjoyed it - enough to buy it the next time I was at that supermarket.
In fact, the last time, I liked the one that I got so much that I started to seek out some sake at my local Trader Joe's. They had a sparkling variety that was pretty darned good (and relatively low in alchohol) and a regular variety that's pretty enjoyable as well.
I'm liking sake so much (particularly with my home-made sushi) that I'm looking into making my own. Turns out that it's not so tough to do, and the initial set-up kit (including the ingredients for my first batch) only runs about $25. I also like the idea that you only make the batches one gallon at a time. I like it, but it's not an every day kind of drink for me, and I don't know what I'd do with five gallons of sake lying around the house.
Perhaps if I get enough gift cards from Beer, Beer and More Beer (HINT, HINT) for my birthday (November 24!) and Christmas, I'll be giving out some Holiday Sake along with my Holiday Beer. (That's right, Bill O'Reilly - HOLIDAY Beer! Suck it, Santa!)
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