A(nother) place to write

Double Post

The editorial page: This may be interesting, but in LJ is it cut for length for my friend’s, friend’s page. Topics covered include education, outsourcing, and the media.

I wanted to write about two events that happened yesterday but when I read a paper lying around I had to comment on that as well. Some would say that I shouldn’t be writing when I’ve got many other things that I should be doing. I should be cleaning house. I should be managing our money. I should be exercising. I should be doing things for my volunteer and paying jobs. But I like to write and this seems to be the only kind of writing that I’m able to manage between those other things.

In the midst of making calls for the craft fair and paying bills I got a call from an Indian/Pakistani sounding man who offered me Internet service for $10.95 a month. He was very insistent. I had heard of the company, Earthlink, and it sounded like a good offer. We have a policy in our home not to accept offers over the phone. The reason for this is that we have been burned many times. So I insisted to the caller that I was interested, but I needed a number that I could call back and confirm his identity before giving him ANY information. I wouldn’t even give him my name or location, even though that is accessible with my phone number. He finally gave me to the supervisor who explained that they were calling from Asia. Asia! I flipped out. No wonder my husband and daughter cannot get a job. (Although fair is fair, my daughter hasn’t tried very hard to find a job.) Hubby and daughter were amused and seemed surprised that I didn’t know that things were outsourced. I knew that anything I buy from Wal-Mart probably came from outside the U.S., despite their claims, but I didn’t realize that telemarketers were outsourced. While the guy was talking to me I realized that he was foreign but I thought that he must have been new to this country. It did not occur to me that he was calling from outside our borders. Of course this is very presumptuous of me I realize. I mean Earthlink could be an international company, in which case this is not a case of outsourcing but international marketing. No matter, it just struck me wrong.

After writing the checks for my bills I took T-bill and we went to mail them and to the grocery. While there I ran into one of my students. This student has a horrible attendance record. As a matter of fact she had not been at school that day. Before I was able to ask her about this she comments to me about how she got her baby’s pictures taken and that is why she was absent from school. (This student is 14 and has a 2-month-old baby—who wasn’t with her at the store.) I commented, “Well, I guess that tells me what your priorities are.” And she happily agreed. It was all I could do not to roll my eyes. Her mother came up and scooted her away before any more conversation could take place. I so wished I could have had them both arrested. And I wonder who was watching the baby? Where was the baby? And what is that baby’s life going to be like with that girl for a mom and that woman for a grandmother?

Now for the op-ed page! There was a letter criticizing the recent forum on development that Trash Force sponsored recently. The writer did not really make his point other than to say that the speakers were clueless and only interested in telling others how to live, while living the lives they want. He quoted from and recommended a book called “The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy”, by Thomas Sowell. The author of the letter said, “if you are open-minded, you’ll read it”. I’m intrigued, but I won’t buy it, I might read it if I am able find it at the library.

There were letters debating the proposed arena, letters criticizing jockeys for their double standards. There were editorials on local air pollution, and worksheet school instruction. Other letters claim that the newspaper did not reflect Kentucky values, as proven by the recent election, where the marriage amendment won by a three-quarters margin yet the paper was against it. Of course another letter hoped that every Kentuckian who voted in favor of the amendment should get an early Christmas present of a gay child.

Why is the media so liberal? Why does it seem that so many of the bloggers are liberal? Perhaps it has to do with reading and education. The more educated someone is, the more liberal he/she is. Is this because upper level instruction is liberal? Or is this because there is something inherent in liberal or freethinkers that make them seek an education? Do members of the press become liberal because of what they see, or because of whom they associate with? Does the media represent the upper, lower or middle class? Who listens to them anyway?

Hubby went to interview for a job this morning. I hope he was not late. He sure cut it close. He told me of a job possibility in Lexington this morning. He said they are looking for 10 entry level programmers. I asked him how much it paid. He said that at this point he didn’t care, because it was something in his field. The interview was to be an apprentice electrician. That seems only a step up from welder, but I don’t know.

And from a comment… What is Christmas to you?
I have this fantasy that I could make all of the Christmas gifts I give.
Yeah Right.
What is Christmas to me? It is too many things. It is media hype. It is secular crap. It is Jesus' fake birthday-- so celebrate with birthday cake. It is shopping frenzy (but not this year-- I'm abstaining due to finances). It is party time with friends. It is eating and gaining weight. It is time off from work!!!YAH! It is Solstice and green and the coming of the light. It is eight gifts for Hanukkah and seven principles of Kwanzaa. It's Santa Clause! HO HO HO Merry Christmas. It's a New Year ALREADY? It is snow, and paper 6-sided snowflakes. It is pure JOY with some bittersweets added in.