Time to hang out the “Gone fishin’ sign once again
Last week, we were talking about having a soul-themed edition of Travelin’ Music, and I still think that’s a great idea. But not tonight. When we all step aboard the Soul Train, I want to be here. And tonight, I’m not.
In fact, as I mentioned in comments earlier, I’m not going to be around for the next two weeks. And unlike my recent cross-country “vacation,” this time I’m not bringing you with me. As Rick said to Ilsa, “Where I’m going, you can’t follow. What I’ve got to do, you can’t be any part of.” I’m headed out to the high desert of Oregon again for a couple of weeks of whitewater rafting, fishing and camping, and among that region’s many charms is the fact that cell phones and computers are utterly useless out there.
So for tonight, I’ll leave you with this, a piece that serves as the official theme song for the group of guys who have made this same trip annually for almost 20 years now. In fact, somebody at work asked me the other day whether I was ever going to get too old for this trip, given that we run the trip ourselves, without guides.
“Maybe someday,” I told her. “Someday when I’m dead and buried, that is.”
Be kind to each other while I’m gone.
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2,404 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
August 9th, 2010
7:37 am
BLAH BLAH BLAH…have another glass of kool-aid.
Erm, outhouse, “The State,” whose post you were quoting, that was one of your guys. From your team. Trying his hand at parody.
Fun Fact: Everyone thinks they can do what Redneck Convert does in here. Until they try it. And then they find out that a) being funny and b) remaining in character is a lot harder than it looks.
TaxPayer
August 9th, 2010
7:37 am
What! Reagan did not save the US with his tax policy! I thought he trickled down on us with his high nitrogen content yellow rain and we all just started growing like weeds.
Saul Good
August 9th, 2010
7:38 am
OH… I left out the BEST part (something Mr. Cheney is looking forward to when he gets out of his Iron Lung):
“And I do mean slash. The Tax Policy Center finds that the Ryan plan would cut taxes on the richest 1 percent of the population in half, giving them 117 percent of the plan’s total tax cuts. That’s not a misprint. Even as it slashed taxes at the top, the plan would raise taxes for 95 percent of the population.”
YAY…raising taxes for 95% of Americans and having the richest 1% pay only HALF of what they currently do… will that create the SAME amount of jobs that the tax cuts already have?
Is Dick Cheney hiring these days?
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
August 9th, 2010
7:38 am
Top Republican leaders in the House offered a fairly strong signal on Sunday that they would favor a down-the-road raising of the Social Security retirement age as part of an effort to revamp the entitlement program.
Morning everybody. By this time I hope Bookman’s looking and feeling like a drowned rat. Serves him right for leaving us with this boring thread.
Anyhow, I figure if we can’t get rid of Social Security we could raise the retirement age so that hardly anybody gets to draw it. 86 sounds about right. You make it to 86, you get a flat 200 bucks a month to live on. Social Security problem solved. We can use the rest of the money for a Tax Cut. You’re welcome. But keep the guvmint’s hands off of my Medicare.
Have a good day everybody.
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
7:42 am
“Everyone thinks they can do what Redneck Convert does in here. Until they try it.”
seriously. like him or not, RC rocks the satire.
Saul Good
August 9th, 2010
7:46 am
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=1115008
Just the kind of REAL TALIBANGELICAL we can use in Congress!
(that site “almost” as good as wnd… but wnd still adds a bit more fear and hate for their barely readers)…
popeye
August 9th, 2010
7:47 am
“BLAH BLAH BLAH…have another glass of kool-aid”.
Good golly miss Molly it’s too early in the morning for that sticky sh*t! But I’ll have another bloody mary, with salt on the rim of my glass please!
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
7:47 am
Saul – “The Tax Policy Center finds that the Ryan plan would cut taxes on the richest 1 percent of the population in half, giving them 117 percent of the plan’s total tax cuts. That’s not a misprint. Even as it slashed taxes at the top, the plan would raise taxes for 95 percent of the population.”
well, you know … it’s only fair … after all, they have had it SO hard over the last 30 years … I weep for them. daily.
http://www.visualizingeconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/nytimes_income_graph.png
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
7:50 am
“Hice has fought the American Civil Liberties Union over Ten Commandments displays in courthouses and dared the IRS to come after his Baptist church by endorsing John McCain in a sermon.”
tax ‘em. tax ‘em all.
TaxPayer
August 9th, 2010
7:50 am
… the top 5% of Americans by income account for 37% of all consumer outlays. Outlays include consumer spending, interest payments on installment debt and transfer payments.
By contrast, the bottom 80% by income account for 39.5% of all consumer outlays…
Well, there’s your real problem. The poor peoples is tryin’ to save money and puttin’ all the spendin’ burden on the poor rich folk. We just gots to give the rich folks a tax break and maybe a apology too. And ifin’ them poor people is goin’ to keep behavin’ so poorly, we is just goin’ to have to charge them some more fees and take away some more of them undeserved services like roadwork and bridge repair and police pertection and other such stuff. The pack of ingrates.
Saul Good
August 9th, 2010
7:52 am
http://www.ajc.com/news/soldiers-accused-of-tossing-587814.html
Three of our nation’s FINEST acting in a way which…. well you’ll read it. I guess getting in to “Ranger Camp” just ain’t what it used to be…not if they allowed these three knuckle heads in. Nice that it took place here in my neck of the woods. My guess is that they’ll simply get a slap on the wrist…
stands for decibels
August 9th, 2010
7:53 am
Any old-timers here remember a regular Atlanta Journal column called “Georgia Rambler”, authored by one Charles Salter?
Reason I ask–the NPR show “This American Life” attempted to duplicate that column’s mission and sent its reporters out all over Georgia’s small towns in search of fascinating individuals. Including an elderly woman who was in a position to confirm or deny whether FDR drank local moonshine during Prohibition.
Anyway, it’s available for streaming (free podcast has expired, alas), here:
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/413/georgia-rambler
Saul Good
August 9th, 2010
7:54 am
USinUK…. remember…when posting charts and graphs….post a disclaimer that the “truth” just ain’t so until Rush or Beck says it is!
Outhouse GoKart
August 9th, 2010
7:55 am
http://www.ajc.com/news/soldiers-accused-of-tossing-587814.html
LOL…idiots.
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
7:55 am
Saul – I saw that article and nearly dropped my teeth this morning … wtf were those guys THINKING??
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
7:58 am
Saul … if only my handy-dandy blackboard could work on this blog …
Saul Good
August 9th, 2010
7:58 am
USinUK…in Dawsonville I’m surprised they didn’t get a simple salute from the crowd and a standing ovation.
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
8:01 am
Saul … 3 thoughts went through my head …
first, old-timers like my dad in the crowd – criminey, that could have given them a heart attack
second, moms with little ones in the crowd – stampedes + toddlers = tragedy
lastly, any recent Gulf vets with PTSD in the crowd – talk about a set-back
Saul Good
August 9th, 2010
8:05 am
USinUK… know what? If 3 Muslims did it…. this would be BREAKING NEWS on Fox 24/7 for the next few days… and it would be labeled as a “terrorist” attack (you know…causing FEAR). They did it to “scare” people…so they should be charged as terrorists.
stands for decibels
August 9th, 2010
8:05 am
Just the kind of REAL TALIBANGELICAL we can use in Congress!
I don’t, generally, approve of that term to describe American fundamentalist Christians, but in The Rev. Jody Hice’s case, it seems appropriate.
Should he actually win the run-off, a small part of me will be somewhat glad, because that’ll mean the Democratic challenger (a decent, if politically inexperienced, guy name a’ Doug Heckman, here’s his website) might have something better than snowball-in-hell chance to pull off an upset.
Hice has to have some pretty serious skeletons in his closet, and from what is already known about the man, he’s a raving loon. Perhaps GA-7th’s voters aren’t quite as crazy as one would think, even though these are the same folks who gave us 18 years of FairyTale Taxer John Linder…
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
8:06 am
Saul – 8:05 – good point.
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
8:07 am
dB – “from what is already known about the man, he’s a raving loon”
have you checked out some of the nutty-nut-nuts that inhabit the Dome? being a raving loon hasn’t seemed to be a detriment to their career …
TaxPayer
August 9th, 2010
8:16 am
Those trainees from Dawsonville way are just plain lucky that the toddlers in the crowd did not whip out their AK’s and pop off a few rounds. If it had not been their nappy time, they likely would have.
stands for decibels
August 9th, 2010
8:17 am
have you checked out some of the nutty-nut-nuts that inhabit the Dome? being a raving loon hasn’t seemed to be a detriment to their career …
While that’s a fair point (after all, Michelle Bachman is actually elected by actual voters), I’m just thinking that based on what I know of the GA-7th constituency–there has been a lot of demographic change in a lot of that district over the past decade–Hice may actually constitute a bridge too far, a classic case of playing to the base in the primary hurting a candidate in the general.
Like I said, if Hice wins the run-off, meaning John Linder’s hand-picked successor Rob Woodall loses, Doug Heckman might have a shot.
Time to go produce. Later, kids.
Gale
August 9th, 2010
8:21 am
The topic seems to be floundering this morning. I agree with taxing churches. I wonder how long mega-churches would stay in business if they were taxed? And I don’t mean only the Southern Baptist variety. The chew up huge chucks of land and pay no tax. I think they do use community services, especially those that operate seven days with education and recreations services.
larry
August 9th, 2010
8:40 am
My Grandma’s comment whenever she goes by Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta;
Well, there’s Lockheed !!
Normal
August 9th, 2010
8:50 am
Good morning y’ll, checkin’ in late, I know, but I’ve been watching you…
UsinUK mentioned “Loon” and I had to come in with my weekend grandkid story. My “outatowner” left on a plane, back to O-hi-O yesterday. I had him Saturday night so that we could have a little one on one time.
As it was his “day”, I asked him what he would like to do and he said “Dixie Speedway!!!” Having never been there, I said, “Cool”.
Talk about your “Stranger in a Strange Land”…I won’t bore you with the details, I’ll just get to the “Loon” part. At an intermission they introduced Nathan Deal, “The next Governor of Geogia”…His “possie”
sat right (get it?) beside me. I was embarrassed, mortified even…I wanted to exit stage left (get it?). But I flashed onto that politician
in “Oh Brother Where Art Thou”, Pappy something and the biscuit hour…
I knew I was in an alternate universe, for sure…
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
8:51 am
aw, man … Patricia Neal died … she was FAB (loved her as the sugar mama in B’fast at Tiffanys)
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
8:53 am
Normal – good gravy … Dixie Speedway??? how DOES an elitist fit in?
Normal
August 9th, 2010
9:06 am
USinUK @ 8:51…That IS sad. I loved her in John Wayne’s “In Harms Way”
He got her the role after her first stroke.
As for Dixie, Never wear a Hawaiian shirt there and Never, ever…let your grandson wear an Ohio State shirt. As to Deal’s possie, when they asked me, if I would vote for Deal, I poked my grandson, and said I was from out of town. When my grandson later asked me why I lied, I told him it was to save our lives…I was about to give the uncut “Normal laying out the facts” on them when I looked around and saw the looks I was getting. But in the end, after Deal had finished dishing it out, and one of his possie up out his hand, I took it and quietly asked, “How’s that investigation going?”. Record time in taking the hand back and about facing for the exit, I tell you…
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
August 9th, 2010
9:08 am
Well, time for my third break of the morning and I see this blog is like a clogged old woman looking for some prune juice.
Anyways, you can tell who’s the real Southrener in this primary race for guvner. The Handel woman was asked if she would support Nathan Deal if he beat her tomorrow. She said sure. Meaning she’s a Northrener. Then old Nathan was asked if he’d support Handel if she beat him tomorrow. Well, Nathan hemmed and hawed and talked about how the wounds would take a long time to heal after the dirty way Handel run her race and talked about him. He never did come out and say he’d support her. That settles it. Old Nathan’s a true Southrener. Heck, we’re still holding grudges about a war that ended 145 years ago. So vote for a true Southrener tomorrow. Sure, he’s a crook. But he’s our crook.
Gale
August 9th, 2010
9:15 am
The clip I heard yesterday was something about Deal’s campaign criticizing Handel for her lack of a college degree. My first thought was Really? My second thought was and indignant So What!. Surely we have had plenty of examples of law degrees that cannot govern, and leaders with or without degrees. I do wish America would get past the notion that everyone must have a college degree. Is a degree a good thing? Probably. But it is neither a guarantee, nor an indicator of success or competence,
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
9:16 am
Gale – “I do wish America would get past the notion that everyone must have a college degree.”
no one is saying that EVERYone should have one … but I do believe an elected official should
Normal
August 9th, 2010
9:19 am
Gale,
Yeah, just look at Bush…sorry, my evil inner child made me say that…
Paul
August 9th, 2010
9:20 am
Finn 6:31
“Mr. Ryan’s plan calls for steep cuts in both spending and taxes. He’d have you believe that the combined effect would be much lower budget deficits,”
Mr.Krugman’s criticized the Obama Administration for not sending deficits higher. I don’t believe he’s ever advocated eliminating a single program, regardless of performance or cost. Congressman Ryan advocates increasing the retirement age for Social Security benefits. Why is that a bad idea?
TaxPayer 7:24
“Mr. Ryan’s plan calls for steep cuts in both spending and taxes. He’d have you believe that the combined effect would be much lower budget deficits,”
So much for the red herring mantra of “Republicans obstruct everything and bring no ideas” from Congressional Democrats.
Morning, USinUK
“ … it’s going to be a long 2 weeks …”
Yup.
Morning, stands for decibels
I’ll nominate for the bonehead comment of the day something I heard on the radio. Was scanning the FM stations when I came across Sean Hannity. Seems the local AM station has gone FM, too. Anyhow, Mr. Hannity said words to the effect of “Pres Obama said he wouldn’t raise taxes on households making less than a quarter million a year. Well, he’s raising taxes on businesses and they pass on their costs to consumers. So consumers will pay those tax costs, and that’s a tax increase.”
I think he’s been talking to the White Rabbit……
Option for Mr. Hannity: what if the top folks at some megacorporations ate the value of the tax increase by reducing their compensation packages?
Saul Good 8:05
“USinUK… know what? If 3 Muslims did it…. this would be BREAKING NEWS on Fox 24/7 for the next few days… and it would be labeled as a “terrorist” attack (you know…causing FEAR). They did it to “scare” people…so they should be charged as terrorists.”
Well, if people hear call the death of a doctor a terrorist attack…..
But didn’t you get the memo? Obama Administration doesn’t consider the ‘war’ we’re involved in to have anything to do with Islam while Gen Petraeus says understanding it is is an essential part of combating it –
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jul/11/obama-at-odds-with-petraeus-doctrine-on-islam/
(PS I think the Obama Administration knows full well it is but is just saying that for overseas and domestic political advantage. Saying one thing while knowing another – is that a lie?)
In other news, Pres Obama’s in Texas today on a fundraiser. There’s a gubernatorial election underway here and the Democratic challenger Bill White – who has the best chance of anyone in a long time of replacing that political whacko we now have as governor – won’t meet with the Pres. Ouch.
There’s a practical side to it, though. Obama wasn’t real popular in the general election here. White needs some of those voters who aren’t happy with Gov Perry to vote for him. Glad-handing with the Pres isn’t a good strategy to woo them.
larry
August 9th, 2010
9:22 am
Well, both Handel or Deal are ethically challenged. I did have a good laugh over there on another blog suggesting that Casey Cagle is endorsing Deal so if Deal gets indicted and if Cagle holds off Carol Porter, he becomes govenor without having to spend all of that money.
Paul
August 9th, 2010
9:26 am
Gale
“I agree with taxing churches. ”
Tax policy is used for buying and selling political favors and to reward or punish certain parties. It’s also used to advance ’social justice’ – which translates to a lot of power for Congress. Which is why we’ll never see a Flat Tax or Fair Tax. Congress would lose power.
Anyhow, wouldn’t taxing churches lead to even more instances of politicians attempting to use religion to advance their cause, as Democratic Speaker Pelosi recently did?
There may be shysters in the religions world, but the ‘no tax’ option seems to me to lead to less problems.
Gale
August 9th, 2010
9:26 am
USinUK, I am not convinced a college degree is necessary for governor, not that I know this is true about Handel. I have not checked the facts. I think the governor needs to be a good administrator and I think years of experience and a track record show me more than a degree.
However, on the subject of EVERYone having a degree, I also heard a lament the other day that “only 40% of Americans have college degrees”. Really? Did the study expect that everyone in the service industries, all the electricians, mechanics and plumbers, butchers and bakers, should have college degrees?? Baloney! Is a degree a good thing? It depends. It obviously does not guarantee a high salary. It does not guarantee a well rounded education, nor even a good citizen. We would do much better to improve our public school system to produce well educated young adults and decrease the dropout rate.
A degree costs lots of money. In many cases, the degree costs more than the grad can pay back over more than ten years of a young career, assuming he/she can get a job.
TaxPayer
August 9th, 2010
9:30 am
Paul,
You lost me on that 9:20 quote.
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
9:33 am
Hi Paul!
Gale – “I think the governor needs to be a good administrator and I think years of experience and a track record show me more than a degree.”
in most jobs, a degree doesn’t matter after you’ve had about 5 or so years of experience … but, you at least need to have a basic understanding of how “industry x” works to get the job in the first place (keep in mind, I’m talking about white-collar jobs)
with the governor, it’s not just “industry x” you should have a basic understanding about – it’s pretty much any industry that operates in the state, as well as health care, education, bond markets, budgeting, transportation, agriculture, trade, etc.
I understand where you’re coming from that much of the job is “administrative”, but I think a GOOD governor needs to look to the future of the state, not just administring the 4-8 years of his tenure
TaxPayer
August 9th, 2010
9:33 am
Gale,
Do you think everyone should be educated enough to be able to balance a checkbook, calculate percentages, read and understand a loan agreement, read and understand an insurance policy… .
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
9:33 am
Paul – “Anyhow, wouldn’t taxing churches lead to even more instances of politicians attempting to use religion to advance their cause, as Democratic Speaker Pelosi recently did?”
it just means that the Dems can use it as often as the GOP currently does.
TaxPayer
August 9th, 2010
9:35 am
Should a Republican politician have enough education to be able to explain trickle-down or how the laffer curve came to be… .
Paul
August 9th, 2010
9:35 am
Gale – USinUK
Yet Pres Obama’s remarks and funding proposals for education – leading to post high school jobs – are about college. I’m not sure he’s ever mention vo-tech, which is a big shame.
Disgusted
August 9th, 2010
9:38 am
If Handel becomes governor and Cagle remains lieutenant governor, we will be the only state in the nation in which both the governor and the lieutenant governor do not have college degrees.
@@
August 9th, 2010
9:41 am
“How lucky you are that God tells you you don’t have to take a plea?”–Charlie Rangel @ Columbia University
it just means that the Dems can use it as often as the GOP currently does.
And I fully expect left-wingers to be as critical of dems as they are of the gop.
‘Scuse me, I have to go tinkle….I’ll be right back.
NOT!
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
9:42 am
Paul – the most I’ve seen him mention is community schools … I’m with you – bring back vo-tech … but there should also be a corresponding apprenticeship, as well, so that people can learn in the classroom as well as on the job (while they’re learning, they can be paid lower than minimum for a period of time – helping the business as well as the employee)
Paul
August 9th, 2010
9:42 am
Hi USinUK!
Morning, TaxPayer
When I posted about the mantra of “Republicans obstruct everything and bring no ideas from Congressional Democrats” I meant Rep Ryan’s offered ideas on fiscal reform. Democrats and Republicans may not like those ideas, but it puts a hole in the “everything” and “never offer” and “always obstruct” mantra. Heck, we even heard one of the Congressional Democratic leaders say, regarding health care, they’d included hundreds of Republican suggestions. Do Republicans obstruct a lot of stuff? Sure. Do they ‘always’ do it and ‘never’ offer ideas and ‘refuse’ to compromise? Nope.
USinUK 9:33
Again, why Democrats want to embrace doing that which they criticize Republicans for doing….
Taxpayer 9:35
“Should a Republican politician have enough education to be able to explain trickle-down ”
Bathroom humor comes to mind…. but I’m heading out for a while -
Paul
August 9th, 2010
9:45 am
USinUK 9:42
Sounds good to me. I never understood the short shrift such programs get. Seems to me with the idea of “Democrats are for the working class and Republicans are for the elites” stereotypes that we still wouldn’t see more of the continuing emphasis on college for everything. Remember when Doggone/GA posted she was aware of a job opening for an administrative assistant but a college degree was required? geez -
larry
August 9th, 2010
9:51 am
Requiring people to carry health inusrance is/was orginally a Republican idea from the early 1990’s. And i feel the president compromised by not bring single-payer to the table.
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
9:53 am
Paul – “Again, why Democrats want to embrace doing that which they criticize Republicans for doing…”
depends on the speech … if it’s a “why you should vote for me” speech, then have it in a church / Scout meeting / Krispey Kreme, I don’t care. if it’s a “look at me! see how godly I am!!”, then they deserve all the criticism they get. gah.
as for vo-tech, I never understood the short shrift, either. we need plumbers. we need electricians. we need mechanics. having a reputable place where they can get top training – this is a bad thing?
In Virginia, they start it in high school – one of their high schools teaches kids construction – they build a house as part of their senior project, selling it and using the funds for the next year.
larry
August 9th, 2010
9:59 am
Georgia used to have a real good vo-tech program in high school, i dont know how it is now. But our high school used to not only have construction, but also auto mechanics, machine and metal, VICA and other programs. Unless all of this concentration of passing all of these tests children take had elminated those programs.
TaxPayer
August 9th, 2010
10:02 am
Paul,
I’d be happy if the Republicans would simply support their own legislation. The tax cuts that they passed in 2001 and 2003 had an expiration date included and the reason for the expiration date was to allow taxes to increase in order to pay for the Republican spending and borrowing. Republicans are instead trying to once again distort the truth and treat their expiration of their tax cuts as a Democrat tax hike. Lies, lies and more lies from the GOP. I have absolutely no use for a Republican and I certainly do not trust or respect any of them. Neither should Obama. However, he should play them every chance he gets and treat them the same way that they treat him.
Curious Observer
August 9th, 2010
10:06 am
Sounds good to me. I never understood the short shrift such programs get. Seems to me with the idea of “Democrats are for the working class and Republicans are for the elites” stereotypes that we still wouldn’t see more of the continuing emphasis on college for everything.
We did it to ourselves by swallowing the bilge that everybody needs a college education and that the only post-secondary education worth anything is a college education. As a result, we are currently doing great damage to our secondary and post-secondary educational system. People who have no real aptitude for nor interest in college are pursuing college degrees because society has swallowed the notion that a college degree is a guarantee of superior employment. Our high schools are inflating grades like so many party balloons because of the great parental pressure for little Johnny to achieve at least a B average so that he can qualify for a Hope scholarship. Our colleges are lowering the academic bar and putting pressure on the faculty to pass more students so that tuition revenue will remain high. If Johnny doesn’t have the academic skills to perform even minimally in college courses, they’ll offer remedial—pardon me, developmental—courses to run Johnny through high school again. It’s a little late in the game to be talking about a return to a vo-tech emphasis.
Scout
August 9th, 2010
10:08 am
popeye:
From last night …………..
The reason we are now allies with Japan and German is because “they” changed not us.
We may someday be good allies with Vietnam if they continue to change.
Bosch
August 9th, 2010
10:10 am
My middle son is in “Intermediate Construction” in HS right now. I told him they could use our kitchen as a “project” if they wanted. It would probably scare me to death to see what was nestled back behind those 100 year old cabinets.
Scout
August 9th, 2010
10:10 am
barking frog:
From last night ………….
If I ever ran into a North Vietnamese draftee from their 324B Division (whom we fought a lot up in the DMZ) I would hug his neck for what he had to go through.
P.S. Why did you choose “barking frog” for your handle ?
Rightwing Troll
August 9th, 2010
10:12 am
Ummm… and we also ran any manufacturing jobs we had off shore, so a college education is required for anything good that’s left …
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
10:14 am
hey Bosch! brave man to let them loose in the kitchen!
Bosch
August 9th, 2010
10:18 am
USinUK,
I was joking. But I think it would be neat as a project to build a house like someone mentioned — or renovate a house — seems very real world, and worthwhile. I’m all gung ho on the whole voc-ed thing. If I had it to re-do, I’d be an electrician — still paying on student loans almost a decade after my last degree. I like what I do, and have certain conveniences I wouldn’t otherwise have, but I certainly do not think traditional college is for everyone.
Doggone/GA
August 9th, 2010
10:20 am
“Remember when Doggone/GA posted she was aware of a job opening for an administrative assistant but a college degree was required? ”
That wasn’t me. The only “college degree required” story I ever tell actually happened to me. I worked on a job running a computer for over 10 years, but when it came time to get a new supervisor I wasn’t “eligible” because I didn’t have a college degree. So they hired someone off the street – who had a degree in MUSIC!
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
10:24 am
Bosch – from what I’ve heard about the UK’s previous education system, they really had a good one (until they started the EVERYone needs to go to university! mantra) … you would test a few times between 7 and 13, then you would be put into a going-to-university program or a not-going-to-university program, which would then feed into a really good apprenticeship program for everything from hairdressing to plumbing to construction, etc.
I think the other good thing is that it’s good for kids in the classroom – if you’re not going to post-secondary, then let the kids who ARE go to their accelerated classes and sit through lectures without interruptions by kids who don’t want to be there because they don’t see the point.
larry
August 9th, 2010
10:30 am
To everyone who thought HCR was going to provide free health care ………
http://www.thestate.com/2010/08/09/1409938/insurance-for-those-with-pre-existing.html#RSS=breaking
Gale
August 9th, 2010
10:42 am
Taxpayer, from 9:33 – to answer your question, Balance a checkbook – sure, it takes a grade school education for that. Percentages – ditto. Reading comprehension for loans and insurance, PLUS maturity and experience.
No college needed for a happy, successful life, unless some HR department believes the college degree mantra and will not let you through the door without one, whether the job needs it or not.
Paulo977
August 9th, 2010
10:42 am
USinUK ..L.o..n…g Interesting info though. OFF topic ..So under 5yr olds in your part of the world will still have free milk?
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
10:46 am
Paulo – yeah – free milk for nurseries / nursery schools
Gale
August 9th, 2010
10:47 am
So who is keeping vo-ed from the public schools? The education system or parents who have bought the college mantra?
Gale
August 9th, 2010
10:48 am
USinUK, re the free milk program. Do they provide soy or goat milk for children wil lactose intolerance? Just curious.
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
10:53 am
Gale – I don’t have kids, so I don’t know what kind of milk / milk alternatives they offer.
Bosch
August 9th, 2010
10:53 am
USinUK,
That seems like how it is in Germany as well — but the only problem I have with that is if the kid changes their minds and decides they want to go to college, but I’m sure they have things in place to do that if needed.
Normal
August 9th, 2010
11:03 am
Bosch,
Good Morning!
When my youngest daughter was in high school, she took auto shop. I was rebuilding a ‘65 Mustang at the time. I bought the ‘Stang sight un seen and found out it wasn’t worth restoring, so I decided to make a “Hot Rod” out of her. She had a 289cid engine (standard) which I wanted blueprinted, which means brought to specs. I told the shop teacher I’d buy the parts and they could rebuild the plant. They had to send the block out for the blueprinting, but when it came back in they calipered it all to ensure the work. Then we had fun, 3/4 race cam, polished and ported heads, Cobra pack (special manifold and two four barrel carbs). The transmission was a four speed I bought from a junk dealer, but it came off of a high performance Shelby. It also had the Hurst “Mystery Shifter”, and the chrome barefoot gas pedal. The kids did it all and it was fantastic. They did a great job. We took it up to the Canton Airport and each student got to run it up the runway. I was pleased. What I’m trying to say is the kids would do a good job for you, I believe…
Bosch
August 9th, 2010
11:10 am
Normal,
Hi ya! I hope you had a great weekend. That’s a great story — I think the kids would do a good job too, and if we lived under different circumstances — I’d certainly let them have their way. But it also depends on the teacher too, and I don’t know him that well.
Curious Observer
August 9th, 2010
11:11 am
That seems like how it is in Germany as well — but the only problem I have with that is if the kid changes their minds and decides they want to go to college, but I’m sure they have things in place to do that if needed.
It’s happening right here in Georgia’s schools and you don’t know it. Students in high school are allowed to take a vocational track, whereby they don’t have to take college prep courses. They graduate and then immediately apply to state colleges, where they are accepted. They’ve earned their B average by taking easier courses and thereby have qualified for the Hope scholarship. If you don’t understand that this is happening in a high school near you, you need to get a little more closely acquainted with your local secondary school system.
Gale
August 9th, 2010
11:16 am
Curious Observer, so is the problem that kids still have not learned a trade they can earn a living with, or enter a valid apprenticeship, or that they or their parents glom onto the Hope funding to enable them to slack off in college courses like they did in high school apparently. It is my opinion that college should offer college level classes and NO remedial of prep classes. You are ready for college or you don’t get accepted, tuition funded or not.
Don't Forget
August 9th, 2010
11:23 am
Gale
August 9th, 2010
10:48 am
USinUK, re the free milk program. Do they provide soy or goat milk for children wil lactose intolerance? Just curious.
Few children have lactose intolerance.
Bosch
August 9th, 2010
11:28 am
Curious Observer,
I have two kids in high school — so yeah, I know the secondary system pretty well, and yes, I know they have a vocational track as well.
And to be honest, I don’t have a problem with the scenario you offered. I think the HOPE scholarship program needs some overhaul, and I see that happening soon — it’s been highly successful, but like most programs, needs an update which is a good thing. Anything it takes to keep kids in school, either in traditional college or vocational college, or community college — whatever — the best fit for them to get the resources they need to be successful.
When I said earlier that I don’t think all kids need to go to college, I meant like your traditional 4-year college, but I certainly think kids need access to training programs, so again, to me, it doesn’t matter how they go about getting there, just that they try to get there.
Gale
August 9th, 2010
11:37 am
Don’t Forget, I have a friend who provides goat milk to hospitals for children.
USinUK
August 9th, 2010
11:52 am
Gale – the little boy of a good friend had cow’s milk intolerance when he was about 1 … she waited 4 months, then let him try it again and he was fine with it.
there is a theory that a lot of the sinus/ear infections little ones’ get are actually due to a dairy allergy … it definitely held true for Evan
Normal
August 9th, 2010
11:59 am
Enter your comments here
Normal
August 9th, 2010
12:00 pm
Couldn’t think of anything else to say, sorry…
larry
August 9th, 2010
12:15 pm
I cant believe Jay left for Oregon when he knew that Palin woman was coming to town. Its hilarous that they are playing Outkast. What kind of message is that sending? That we are two hip white women? And then playing Twisted Sister ? This is so funny.
Don't Forget
August 9th, 2010
12:18 pm
Gale
August 9th, 2010
11:37 am
Don’t Forget, I have a friend who provides goat milk to hospitals for children.
So, you’re saying that goat’s milk doesn’t have lactose?????
Primary lactase deficiency develops over time and begins after about age 2 when the body begins to produce less lactase. Most children who have lactase deficiency do not experience symptoms of lactose intolerance until late adolescence or adulthood. From NIH
Paul
August 9th, 2010
12:19 pm
TaxPayer 10:02
“The tax cuts that they passed in 2001 and 2003 had an expiration date included and the reason for the expiration date was to allow taxes to increase in order to pay for the Republican spending and borrowing.”
That’s gotta go down as contender as post of the day. Excellent point!
G’morning Doggone/GA
That wasn’t you about the college for admin position? Sorry ‘bout that. But I gotta admit, I like your story much better.
Hi Bosch! Hi Normal! Hi Faithful Bloggers!
Doggone/GA
August 9th, 2010
12:23 pm
Hi Paul…nope, that wasn’t me, but MY story has always amused me big time!
Gale
August 9th, 2010
12:27 pm
Don’t forget, I don’t know about goat’s milk and lactose. I just know the hospital used goat’s milk for children who could not digest cow’s milk.
popeye
August 9th, 2010
12:40 pm
USinUK…”Saul – I saw that article and nearly dropped my teeth this morning … wtf were those guys THINKING??
Puh–leeze use your Poligrip before you read the blog it helps you retain your wonderful smile…
Just sayin’
Normal
August 9th, 2010
12:42 pm
Hi Paul,
Hope all is well with you and yours…
popeye
August 9th, 2010
12:43 pm
Jay left for Oregon, Where all the heathen, pagans reside…When will his sanity return, and he’ll return to the land of god, and patriotic real americans….
Paul
August 9th, 2010
12:47 pm
Hey Normal
Yeah, just got a call from one of the kids and they’re expecting then I got a call from his brother and they said they’re expecting, too. Twins.
Gonna be a busy February.
Hey Bosch – when it rains, it pours!
popeye
August 9th, 2010
12:54 pm
As anyone here who has read my harping about being an Oregonian, when I was a young lad I would be put on a train, and sent off to work on my uncle’s farm in North Dakota….His farm was loaded with animals, and as a young lad I found goats to be a constant delight…Much rather see these gentle guys as milk producers rather then being butchered.
Normal
August 9th, 2010
1:01 pm
Paul,
That’s great!
We need more Aquarius’s is the world. I’m one…who’d a thunk it?
theyeshaveit
August 9th, 2010
1:02 pm
It is my opinion that college should offer college level classes and NO remedial of prep classes. You are ready for college or you don’t get accepted, tuition funded or not.
Gale,
I would agree with you that bona fide colleges and universities should not be offering remedial courses, tracks or so called trade courses. There are a number of for profit “colleges” out there now that offer trade programs. These include Walden, Phoenix, Westwood and Everest. The problem is, as I found out watching C-SPAN last week is that Congress is investigating that industry for fraud on FAFSA loan applications and other indiscretions. The GAO investigated 15 of these “colleges” in June/July and all 15 had violated some regulation or other. Four had committed fraud.
Bosch
August 9th, 2010
1:22 pm
Normal,
Depends on when in February for the Aquarius status — I’m a February b-day and color me Pisces!
Congrats Paul!!! It’s gonna be a boring two weeks, huh…….
Bosch
August 9th, 2010
1:23 pm
And Paul, dude, your kids seem to be doing a whole lot for the world’s population these days, or am I imagining that?
Normal
August 9th, 2010
1:24 pm
Bosch,
Mine’s the 16th…yours from 22-28. I’ll guess 25th.
Normal
August 9th, 2010
1:26 pm
Copy and send to the Department of Education, c/o JF
Dear Jessica Finkel:
Career education programs that receive federal student aid funds must be held accountable for training students for good jobs without saddling them with unmanageable debt. The proposed rules on gainful employment are a good first step, but they should be strengthened to provide more meaningful protection for students and taxpayers starting next year.
Ensuring access to affordable higher education is incredibly important for our economy, but for-profit programs that over-charge and under-deliver do more harm than good, and should not be subsidized by taxpayer financed student aid.
Saul Good
August 9th, 2010
1:34 pm
http://www.ajc.com/news/ga-pastor-arrested-protesting-588135.html
Can’t this guy finding BETTER and more worthwhile to do with his time? Something that will make a difference in kids lives?? Something that will BENEFIT society at large??? Something that is a TRUE threat to humanity and our very existence as a civilization???? Ya know… like protest Teletubbies!
Doggone/GA
August 9th, 2010
1:37 pm
“Can’t this guy finding BETTER and more worthwhile to do with his time?”
I actually graduated from that school. And no, he apparently doesn’t have anything better to do…like teach his son that symbols have nothing to do with REALITY.
Saul Good
August 9th, 2010
1:53 pm
Doggone, Perhaps if he’s so offended by the demon… he can send his kid to a private school, or teach him at home. That way when he grows up…they can’t both do battle with ALL the demons who come out on Oct. 31st! (when they usually just hide under their beds that entire day/night)…
Warning
August 9th, 2010
1:55 pm
When the majority of black & brown HS grads end up in vocational training, the white knights in DC will ride in to rescue the oppressed, carrying their banner of IT’S JUST NOT FAIR. The war of the classes will wage on.
Word!