feeders and victims of capitalism

I live in a cul-de-sac and a neighbor who just sold their home put a clothes dryer on the curb.  Curious, I asked my neighbor, “How old is it?”  She said, “Only 4 years old; the heating element went out and why bother, we’ll just get another.”  I thought to myself, “Why not try to fit it to save money?”  (I tried to fix our washer machine that was only 6 years old.  That’s another story.)  But herein lies the problem with the area in which we live.  I have seen several extremes: homeowners will buy or lease a fancy/expensive car but have no furniture or curtains or food in the refrigerator.  These folks feed capitalism.  I have seen businesses jack the prices up because the assumption is that people in this area can afford it.  For example, a dad whose son plays football with my son, tells me that his auto repair shop has increased the price of parts over 70%.  Then there are folks like my neighbors who not only feed capitalism but the assumption of establishments like this auto repair shop.  Finally, there are people like us who don’t have a lot of money; we simply moved to this area 19 years ago because the school district is top notch and houses sale quickly.  We are victims of capitalism.

What recourse do I have:

1. Do I scream?
2. Do I tell my neighbors that they are not helping my cause? 
3. Do I write or boycott establishments like this auto repair shop?

I think the middle class is being so squeezed it may progress to oblivion.

beard challenged

I am growing a beard!  I have been clean shaved for years.  I am finally in a “context” where I can grow one.  And when I was an undergrad, I could not grow hair on my face; now I get my chance.  Younger friends (non baby boomers) don’t seem to mind; one couple said to me, “I like it.”  (The husband also has facial hair.)  I like the younger generation because they in general challenge the status quo.  With the older generation, I seem to have broken a rule or upset the status quo because “everyone” is giving me feedback.  Consider these comments:

1. “I have to get used to you with a beard.”  I am thinking to myself, “Why, you’re not my wife?” 
2. “I have a razor in the car.”  This comment from a clean shaved deacon.  I am thinking, “Have you said something to your pastor who has worn a beard since 2002?”
3. “Forget to shave this morning?”  I am thinking to myself, “No.”

As I said before, a beard, seems to be a social faux pas in some “circles”; I believe for these reasons:  one, most companies have an unwritten law of no excess hair on one’s face.  In fact, a gentleman told me recently that his company at one time did not allow any facial hair at all.  He works for the same company and now wears a gold-tee.  Second, look at folks on TV.  Take news reporters for example.  Enough said.  But there was Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes who not only wore a beard but later an earring.  Yeah, Ed!  Third, I have heard that a person wearing a beard was suspect.  I don’t know why.  Why do we judge people by their skin color, what they wear, by their tattoos, where they live, their hair length, and now what they have on their face?

that question

Okay, on my way back from Houston, TX several weeks ago, I was pulled over for speeding.  I was going 82 mph in a 65 mph speeding zone.  I was clearly speeding and guilty.  The police officer approaches the car and asked that question, “Sir, you were traveling at a speed well above the posted speed limit, can you tell me why?”  This is where wisdom comes in.  I thought for a moment: “What could I possibly say that he will let me go without a ticket?”  My initial conclusion was: “nothing.”  Then I started entertaining different responses: “I need to get my wife to the hospital because she is having a baby.”  (problem: I was traveling alone.) Or “No, stupid, I just was speeding and just give me a ticket.” (problem: I was traveling alone and the guy could have beaten me to a pulp.)  Or “I have a dead body in my trunk and I need to get it back in time for the mortuary to do its thing.”  (problem: I did not have a trunk.  But, my boss used this reason once because he did have a dead body in his trunk at one time and because he was a licensed mortician and he was rushing back to embalm the body in time for a funeral service.)  So, I jettisoned those responses and responded this way: “The 65 mph speeding zone just rushed upon me so suddenly and I didn’t have time to respond.”  I knew that this response would not earn me any sympathy but it was better than the other responses and that’s why I am alive to today!

imagine that

I am in Texas visting my grandfather; a man I love dearly.  He is leaving with my aunt, his daughter.  Yesterday, I commended my aunt for being ‘different.’  (Something I have told my sister too.)  My aunt told me that her mother (my grandmother) insisted that my aunt dress different than the other girls and don’t try to fit in or conform to the fashion of the day but rather to be fashion trend setter.  In other words, my aunt was encouraged to be a leader and not a tag along.  In fact, my aunt was disciplined by my grandmother for wanting to dress like the other girls.  Imagine that - being disciplined for wanting to be a conformist.  That discipline must have worked because my aunt is indeed a trend setter and is not satisfied trying to fit in.  Imagine if more mothers insisted on their daughters to be different (fashion wise).  Two things are certain we would not have so many copy cats or conformists and two, the clothing industry would be brought to its knees.  [By the way, this is what I love about my sister; she is so 'different' than other young ladies.  She is not a follower but a trend setter (=leader)].

“everthing on my body is real”

My son and I were on our way to his last baseball game of the season and we were listening to 107.7 FM (St. Louis, MO).  The host, Ryan Seacrest, was “running down” America’s top 40 songs.  During commercial breaks, you often hear a ‘roll call’ of performers.  For instance, you will hear something like this, “Hey, America this is Jessica Simpson” or “Hey, this is Beyonce.”  I was struck when I heard Christina Aguilera (CA) say this, “This is Christina Aguilera  and ‘everything on my body is real’”.  Wow!  I know what she is referring to but isn’t it telling of our culture that some people like CA have to defend their God given anatomy or physique because of the many counterfeits on the scene?

‘grading on a curve’: pros and cons

I just completed teaching a 12 week business stats course!  Whew.  We covered normal distribution curves in the class.  Normal distribution curves are vitally important when analyzing a portion of the whole or population; a portion of the whole is called a sample.  Analyzing a sample is less expensive and takes less time; however, one must make sure he or she has a good sample to infer things about or make decisions regarding the whole or population.  Companies such as Coca-Cola rely on this type of data analysis; just think of those taste tests you have participated in (you are one of many samples).  After going through this course, I now realize what is meant by “grading on a curve” and I am no spring chicken (this means at least two things: 1) one is never too old to learn something and 2) one is never too old to have ‘aha’ moments).  I was often the beneficiary of a teacher’s kindness when he or she graded on a curve.  ”Grading on a curve” simply means that the teacher leveled the playing field.  Those who scored low on a test for example; their score was given a little boost.  Those who scored high on the test, no worries because they still had a high score.  I did not grade on a curve in this class.  And on the last day of class, a student commended me for not grading on a curve.  Again, one pro of grading on a curve is that all scores are normalized or ‘equalized’ so that every one is playing on the same field.  However, one con of grading on a curve as this student and I discussed is this: we give students a false sense of confidence that they are doing okay; when actually they are not.  If these students who have benefited from teachers that grade on a curve go to college, what if college teachers don’t grade on a curve?  College bound students are in store for a rude reality check!  I wonder if those countries that typically and historically out score the United States in math grade on a curve?

not so random thoughts

1. I heard an interview that featured the former prolific basketball great, Micheal Jordan, talking about how influential his dad was in his life.  Jordan’s dad was murdered.  Prior to his tragic death, Jordan’s dad was a regular at every Bulls’ game.  Because of his death, Jordan’s dad missed the big one: a NBA championship game.  However, Jordan said this about his dad, “I know my father was there.”  We hear this statement often and it brings comfort to many but is it true?
2. When you get close to a person who is admired by so many from afar, you wish you did not know the person so well because you see the good, the bad, and the ugly.  This situation is exacerbated when you know that just as much as the person who is admired.

unbelievably good and sad

Check this out:  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91371629.  It is hard to believe in the 21st century that this was ever a pending decision but I am glad it was affirmative.

war before peace

Like most or many Americans, I am a little skeptical of the war in Iraq.  Did we go to war because of 911 and/or the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)?  I suppose the answer to this question resides with President Bush and his inner circle.  However, I am a little baffled by bumper stickers that say things like, “War is unnecessary” or “Peace not war.”  Those who proudly and prominently display such stickers are apparently not married.  Before I continue, I am not making light of war; on the contrary, one simply has to look at the first few minutes of the movie, Saving Private Ryan, to see that war is no joke.  And I hate it when people say there is a lot of “collateral damage.”  Those who use such language mean that human lives have been lost; but in their effort to lessen the ugliness and tragedies of war, they instead appear to be dehumanizing people who are crowned with dignity and worth.

Now back to the statement, “Those who proudly and prominently display such stickers are apparently not married.”  For most married couples, “engaging in war” with each other is a precursor before peace or calm.   Failure to clear the air is a landmine waiting to explode.  I do know one lady who said she now regrets not fighting with her husband; she gave no resistance.  She believed if she had fought with our husband it might have saved her marriage.  I do know couples who say they never ‘fight or duke it out.’  (I say “wow”; and my cynical side says, “that is hard to believe.”)  For most fallen and broken husbands and wives, we must ‘go to blows’ to resolve conflicts.  After the gloves have been rested, peace ensues.

where are the men?

I heard this on NPR (National Public Radio) this morning, “It’s not unusual to find women in leading roles in Karachi’s development. At the city’s public universities, female students vastly outnumber the men in key fields like architecture.”  (see full length article, “Female Workers Break Stereotypes in Karachi” at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91181163).  Before continuing, I am not a male chauvinist and I have a great appreciation for the accomplishments of women.  In fact, I get angry when I hear that women with the same credentials get paid less than men who may have the same credentials but less experience.  However, I use the opening statement to ask, “where are the men?” in the United States?  At nearly every turn, I see women in leadership positions.  Here’s a sampling:

1. In many marriages ruined by divorce, men have not only abdicated their parental role but have also abandoned their former wife.
2. In many black families started by an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, fathers who did the impregnation are no where to be found.
3. In many colleges, women are in key leadership roles like dean positions.  And many colleges and/or universities are headed by women.
4. In several of my adult ed classrooms, women outnumber the men students.
5. In many churches of all denominations, women are stepping up and men are stepping back.
6. In many corporations, women are in key leadership positions.
7. And Hillary Clinton, an articulate and intelligent woman, made a serious bid for the White House.

Where are the men?