11th
January
2008
Perhaps I spent too long in school; along the way I determined that marks were secondary to learning. This was reinforced when I completed my own “teacher training”, because the whole science of testing was demystified. A test can be made to demonstrate whatever the tester (and testee) decide. What on earth, then, compelled the Island government to run “standardized tests” on their captive school population, and then release those results to the public earlier this week.
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posted in education |
10th
January
2008
Maybe our ancestors had the right models when it came to furniture; rocks and logs. One never wearing out, the other environmentally friendly in construction especially when felled by winds or amazing electrical displays. If you tipped over, you probably deserved it or were dodging a bear. If you were uncomfortable, you stood up and went back to doing something productive. No lollygagging around in front of the fire (one-channel TV, for those without the utility company).
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posted in environment |
9th
January
2008
Settle down; I’m not there and I don’t have the money to enjoy what has been introduced, but CES 2008 is underway. Neat new toys for the boys in about six months, when my local big box store will have some of the articles in stock. Until then, I can fantasize about how much better my life would be with a new 150 inch TV, running some neat Blu-ray movie in surround sound through 78 inch speaker stacks. Wait, my house isn’t even big enough!
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posted in technology |
8th
January
2008
No thanks, I’m fine right where I am. I’ve finished another great book by Paul Theroux, and it comes at the moment where the closest I’m likely to approach to the border of my country is, well, irrelevant. I’m not intending to travel any time soon.
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posted in politics |
7th
January
2008
Today was an epic battle between the party of the first part, known as “a victim of their own success” and the party of the second part, known as “persistently stubborn due to parsimony”. (All hyperbole, all the time). Two forces, locked into a conflict not of their own making. Now, several hours after the first stone was cast, I can finally report an outcome.
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posted in technology |
6th
January
2008
The preparations for changing the hot water tank are complete. Huge efforts by all involved (me, myself and I) to guarantee a path to all the critical points in the basement, when the experts finally arrive sometime early this week.
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posted in technology |
5th
January
2008
It’s the weekend, and I’ve just received a troubling long distance call from someone who has a complaint. He received a phishing message that is was redirected from my employer’s domain. One that invited him to log in and give his account information.
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posted in computing |
4th
January
2008
One of the filler pieces on the news this evening pointed out that around here, we spend too long on our break at Christmas. Apparently, two weeks off from “productive activities” is not good for the economy. Other provinces get their noses back to the grindstone with a shorter delay. They’re more closely tuned to the global economy (or at t least that of our economic partners in the paradise south of here. To the purveyors of such patent nonsense, phooey!
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posted in economy |
3rd
January
2008
The first of the primaries is over, and the official race to get in the race to be president is underway. Between now and November, the candidates will spend enough contribution cash to run a small country. At least it will give the average world citizen something to talk/blog about, and if CNN continues to explain the process, maybe those of us that though democracy was based on the one person one vote ideal will finally understand that it’s all about the money.
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posted in economy |
2nd
January
2008
Finally, the body that would like to be a government has chosen a topic for The Year Of that shouldn’t offend anybody. I’ve known about this one for a few months, and in fact showed a printout of the appropriate page to a friend from Mexico. She couldn’t imagine why a world wide body would be celebrating the Pope. Error in her dictionary: we are now officially celebrating the Year Of The Potato.
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posted in health |
