A chronicle of daily life in America from a high school social studies teacher/father/husband. Just your average individual going on about, what amounts to, an average day.
Football season is in full swing. Two weeks are in the books, and the third is nearly complete, which means that the yearly tradition, fantasy football, is as frustrating as ever. If you don't know fantasy football, unlike any other fantasy sports game it has higher highs and lower lows. At this point, those of you who do not play fantasy sports are saying to yourself, "how can you get so emotional over a silly game about football players on different teams?" I was anticipating your question. In fantasy football, you are the head coach. You plan your players based on who their real team is playing that week. You make trade, drop players, add new ones, and angst over which players will get you team the most points that week. When Sunday comes, and unless you have the football package on your satellite TV, you are limited to watching, at most two games at 1pm and two games at 4pm (and sometimes only one 4pm game). So, if your team isn't local and doesn't get any air time in your local area, it doesn't matter, you can still get excited about any game you watch because you have players playing in that game. Fantasy football makes every game, every week relevant, not just you favorite team's. So when your favorite team has a horrible day (which mine usually does - Cleveland Browns) you still have the excitement of your fantasy team performing well. On the other hand, when your fantasy team doesn't do well, it is even more heartbreaking because of all the time and energy spent on putting together the best team for that day. The football fan have more invested each week in football than in the past. Needless to say, I wouldn't be writing about this if I had made the correct choices for my players this week. My best players are, of course, on the bench. Grrrr.
Yesterday was as busy as I anticipated and we did not get home until after 11pm. We were all exhausted but we managed to go to the Hibernian to listen to the band play. Michelle agreed, they weren't very good. We missed their first set, but the second set we could have done without. Apparently, Evan wasn't too thrilled either, he slept through the second set.
Despite how tired we were at the end of it all, it was a nice day. We hung out with Michelle's co-worker/friend Nicole, her husband John, and her sister, Danielle, as well as our friend Rebecca from New Hampshire. That was a nice treat, she was down here in North Carolina to sing in a concert.
Today was a pretty laid back day. We went to breakfast at Brig's and then I went over to Mercer and Keith's and played a little Dungeons and Dragons but mostly watched football, and complained about my fantasy football team.
101, and counting. What a busy day today is. This morning, first thing, we had to get ready for Evan's soccer game at 9:00. There was no time to relax before going anywhere, it was up, eat, get dressed, and go. Evan played well today when he was not fussing with the drawstring on his shorts. He got into the middle of things from time. He understands defense better than offense, it is clear that when on offense he is still not completely sure where to go or be. We'll work on it. Right now we a have a little bit of down time before the first birthday party I am taking him to. One of his friends from school is having her party at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham at 1:00pm. Then Aidan is having his birthday party at 4:00pm at Pullen Park Pool. And finally, later this evening, we are going to the Hibernian to listen to a band, Bull City Syndicate, play. Michelle and Evan heard them at a festival a few weeks back and they like the group. Rebecca is also coming with us. She is in town from New Hampshire so we are going to take some time to say "hi." So, yeah, a busy day. If I have time, I will fill in details about the day later, if not, I will post again tomorrow.
Today's Headlines:
Feds Target Blackwater in Weapons Probe (Yahoo!News) What did I say? Earlier this week (September 19, 2007) I suspected that there was a connection between Blackwater and the smuggling of weapons into Iraq (which connected a story I wrote about from August 12, 2007). I don't understand what sense that makes. Blackwater's logic, if it is true, of smuggling weapons into Iraq, which would put their own employees in harms way, not to mention, of course, US soldiers. Unless, of course, the company realizes that the longer the conflict in Iraq persists, the longer they will receive funds from the US government to provide security there. Remember, according to estimates 40% of the BILLIONS of US dollars being spent there is going to private security companies. That is a huge chunk of change. See the problem of corporate finance of political campaigns and a society that is run by corporations?
Doctors Lose in Execution Ruling (Newsobserver.com) The state of North Carolina ruled that doctors can no long stall executions by threatening discipline from the NC Medical Board. The logic of the judge's ruling makes sense, the state law supersedes the NC Medical Board's decisions. On that logic, I would have to agree with the state's decision. However, I think there are bigger problems that make the system of executions unfair. And I do see the conflict between a doctor's Hippocratic oath, to "do no harm" and their duty to oversee executions. At this time, I am not really sure how I feel about the death penalty. But I do know one thing, I know the system is not a fair system and until the legal system can eliminate bias from the system itself, then executions will never be fair or justified. The simple fact remains, the more money a defendant has, the more "justice" they receive. That is to say, if you can afford a better attorney, then you can avoid some of the stiffer penalties, of which capital punishment is the most "stiff." On the other hand, I still have a problem with the death penalty's conflict with the 8th Amendment protection against "cruel and unusual punishment."
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
How is a death sentence not a cruel punishment? Where is the convict's chance to rehabilitate? Isn't the system suppose to be a Department of Corrections? Are we saying that these people can not be "corrected" that they will always be violent offenders and will always kill people? In everything else we give people a second chance, but not this? On the other hand, would I want to see myself, or family member, or friend be the next victim of someone the system thought could be corrected? But again, when else do we punish people because they may be dangerous in the future? Isn't that what the movie Minority Reportwas about? Not easy questions, and definitely no easy answers - the requisites for an Average Day.
Unbelievable, I have persevered long enough to produce my 100th post on this blog! No, I don't have a celebration planned, but, I guess it is kinda cool. When I started this back in the spring, I wasn't sure if I would keep up with it, and for the most part, I have. Sure I have missed a day here and there, but no body's perfect.
It is sometimes more difficult to be out of school than in school. As a teacher, in order to miss a day I have to make lesson plans for the students that keep up with the lessons we are learning but do not require the substitute to actually teach. And then I have to worry about which students won't bring their textbook, or their behavior while I am not there. And when I get back on Monday, I have to clean up from the fall out of a day missed. It is a hassle, but every once in a while we need a day off. Unfortunately, my day off was not for leisure, I accompanied Michelle to a doctor's appointment and drove her home because of the lagging effects of the anesthesia (she had a test done - don't worry, she is fine). I wasn't too bright about it either, I must say. First, I was up until 1:30am this morning knowing that I had the day off today. Of course, I had to be up early enough so we could get Evan to school and to the doctor. For some strange reason that I have not yet figured out, I decided not to eat breakfast (I ALWAYS eat breakfast). By the time we got home, 2:00pm, it was lunch time and we didn't have anything in the house and I wasn't ready to leave Michelle, although she would not have known if I had left to get some lunch. Needless, to say, I am tired and cranky, but trying my best to be nice.
I don't know if I should feel guilty but despite the water shortage in North Carolina, I am still allowed to water my lawn, and I am. My August 10, 2007 post reveals that North Carolina is suffering from a drought. I should also add that it has rained 2 times since then. Both time were this week. On the other hand, if you recall (September 15, 2007), I spent $249 to have my lawn service slit seed the yard, so I am going to make sure to water it. Today's Headlines:
New Schools May Cut Some Extras (Newsobserver.com) I must continue my protest against the rate of growth in Wake County and how little the county government is doing to cope with it. Wake County has fallen behind in its ability to build schools in order to keep up with the rate of growth (thanks to a failed bond initiative back in 2000 - I think that was the year). Developers are being allowed to build subdivisions, apartment complexes, and town homes with reckless abandon. The strain this puts on the infrastructure continues to grow, much faster than Wake County can keep up. The latest effort to try to keep up with growth is to make cuts to schools being construction. OK, that sounds a little misleading, allow me to clarify. They are not proposing build fewer schools, the are proposing to build less into each school that will be built in order to cut construction costs. The irony here is nobody is proposing any cuts or restrictions on developers and their plans for construction. One of the things that draws families to the Triangle, particularly Wake County, is the quality of education. Now they want sacrifice that quality in order to build more homes. If such a proposal is allowed to be successful student opportunities for extracurricular and co-curricular activities will be compromised. Studies have shown that such programs, from the arts to sports, enrich the student's experience, as well as increase cognitive and social development. Why would that be something to sacrifice? Do I, or would you, want your children to have their experience and development limited to appease big building contractor and the clear cutting of the wooded areas of your neighborhood?
Oh, and don't think I am ignoring the events in Jena, LA. I am reading up on it to find out more before I write about it. I will tell you this, there sure are a wide array of opinions about the subject. Check out YouTube and you will find videos from DemocracyNow! and from the National Socialist Workers party. You talk about a difference of opinion!
Whew, Monday's blog took a lot out of me, I needed to take yesterday off from blogging! It seems many of you have discovered that the Blackwater website is back online. I guess they had to take it down for a day to make sure that nothing was presented that could incriminate the company in anyway. How many of you looked at employment opportunities or training? I know I did! Think, to carry high-tech weaponry and be above the law, who wouldn't?! Allow me to attempt to connect some dots here. In this blog on August 12, 2007, it was reported that weapons were finding their way into Iraq through "shady" channels that were discovered by Italian anti-mafia agency. I wouldn't be surprised if the source of these weapons were the private security companies in Iraq in the employ of the United States.
Ah, the mind of a teenager. It never fails. Today, second period teachers were asked distribute a survey to their classes for yearbook. These surveys are used by yearbook when they want to find students to interview for small inserts on the pages throughout the book. Amazingly, the students were more focused today while filling out the survey than on our review of the structure of the Constitution. I guess if I were a teenager I would be more interested in getting multiple pictures in the yearbook than something I could find in the textbook.
Today's Headlines:
Volunteers to Help Philadelphia Police Keep Peace (NPR.org) Philadelphia Police Commissioner, Sylvester Johnson is responding to requests from residents of the city to take back the streets. Many citizens are asking to volunteer to take to the streets in large groups to act as a deterrent to the violence that plagues their hometown. Johnson is asking for some 10,000 volunteers to gain training in non-violent patrolling. The groups are to be strictly peaceful, and not vigilante groups. Weapons will not be part of this program. I, for one, am skeptical. These are angry citizens who are seeing their families be destroyed by criminal violence and drug abuse/addiction. Who could blame them for wanting revenge on the groups or people responsible for their troubles? Such an organization could easily devolve into vigilantism. Although the groups are not to be trained in weapons or issued weapons, how will the city account for those citizens who already own their own weapons and will want to carry them for protection on the night streets? Or, how will the city protect against the groups being infiltrated by the gang organizations that the City Watch is attempting to thwart? Although this is a valiant effort, it seems too difficult to safely manage.
Just another manic Monday. Why was I filled with such enthusiasm today, you ask? Test day! That's right, all my classes were taking tests today which means a pretty easy day for me. Sure, I will have to grade those tests, but since they are all "scantron" I simply run them through the scanner and the results are printed for me. This year, or at least this semester, I have decided to not put essays and written components on standard type multiple choice tests. Instead, the students get their essay's and short answers separate form their tests and will be able to write their responses in a much less stressful environment. My hope is that I will get better results from the students.
Evan and I went to the park today after school. The weather was beautiful so we decided to take advantage. We played on the swings, Evan climbed the jungle gym, jumped, slid, and had a good time while I tried to take some pics with my phone. It was nice, I am glad we did it. Afterwards, we went home before meeting Michelle, Dan and Aidan at Olive Garden - just one of those spur of the moment dinner plans we make 15 to 30 minutes before dinner time. My after work phone call with Michelle usually goes something like this:
Michelle: So, what do you want to do about dinner? Matt: I dunno, what do you want to do about dinner? Michelle: I dunno. I just got of the phone with Dan, he said if we do anything to call him. Matt: OK, any suggestions? Michelle: Not really, I was thinking maybe about ______. How does that sound? Matt: Sounds OK, hang on . . . [Matt calls out in the background "Evan, do you want to go to ______ for dinner?" Matt: Yeah, ______ sounds good. Michelle: Well, I hope to finished here by about 6:00, so we'll meet there at about 6:15-6:30? Matt: Sounds good.
Yeah, it is like that every afternoon, believe it or not. Not too exciting, I know, but since neither of us really want to cook when we get home, that is how dinner is decided. From time to time I try to be good and cook something, or plan out a few day in the week, but undoubtedly I get lazy before it is all said and done.
Today's Headlines:
Iraq Revokes US Security Contractor Licence (Reuters.com) I have wondered about this private security company, Blackwater, for quite sometime now, but never bothered to do a search. Well, it seems that all the major news organizations have done the research for me, and lucky thing too, because all the links to any part of their website comes up "Service Unavailable" after today's news that Iraq has expelled the agents of this company from the country after an incident that left 11 Iraqis dead. According to information I have obtained today, there are roughly 100,000 Blackwater security workers in Iraq, in addition to the 150,000 US military personnel. This security force is financed by sources greater than those supporting our troops. Blackwater has the money and facilities to train their agents in the backwoods of North Carolina. It also has the money to buy supplies, weapons, and equipment more advanced and expensive that can be afforded US military troops in Iraq. Check out the links to Blackwater yourself, or do a google search and try to connect from there:
I have several problems with this. Estimates are at about 40¢ per dollar for the war in Iraq is being spent on Blackwater and other private security firms, leaving 60¢ per dollar for all other spending in Iraq, including supplying our regular military forces there. Additional estimates show that only about 800 Blackwater agents have died in Iraq compared to the roughly 3,000 US regular military personnel. It sounds to me that 40% of money earmarked for Iraq is going to a private company (whose chairman is a major contributor to Bush campaigns) and their mercenary soldiers are not doing their fair share of the dying. (Not that any dying is fair, of course). Right, our tax dollars are going to protect these mercenaries, who were hired to kill and protect without as much of the danger of being killed as our regular military who volunteer to fight for the United States and our ideals abroad.
Now, this may seem like a travesty to some. And on the face of it, it does appear as such. But, if there are 250,000 soldiers (US military and mercenary), in Iraq getting the job done, and 100,000 are no longer going to be allowed to operate there, how will the US government make up the difference? Is a military draft in order? Whose children will be forced to continue a war that was ill conceived but cannot be abandoned? Check out this video below on Youtube, maybe you will begin to see some problems by allowing such mercenary armies to operate.
After breakfast with Jeff, Rae, Charlotte, and Jack, Evan and I went to the Caniac Carnival with Mercer. It wasn't all that exciting, well, for me. I think Evan was very excited going in, considering we were hoping to get our hands on some of the free tickets to today's preseason game against the Washington Capitals. Needless to say, the tickets were all long gone before we got there and Evan began to mope. Fortunately we were able to buy tickets for the opening day against the Montreal Canadians on October 3. So his mood greatly improved. We really didn't do too much, Evan enjoyed the bounce house and some face painting (Hurricanes logo). We also hit the Eye to buy a few things - Evan got a foam hand and a hockey puck, I got a hat. I priced the sweaters. I was prepared to drop about $100 on a sweater today, hoping for an authentic, not replica. Well, the replicas were $120 and the authentics were $250. I don't have a new sweater.
Today's Headlines:
O.J. Simpson arrested, faces multiple felony charges (USA Today) I think this is the end of the road for OJ. For more than a decade the OJ Simpson saga has become comedic and now, it seems, OJ has hit rock bottom to attempt to steal his own memorabilia from a dealer. If he is convicted on the more serious offenses he can serve from 3 to 25 years. Maybe we can finally put the OJ saga to rest after all this. I do remember the day the verdict in the OJ Simpson murder trial was announced. I was a student teacher and the entire school stopped - everyone fixed on the radio report. Being a very diverse and ethnically balanced school, it was a very tense moment. But when the verdict was announced, there was a combination of cheers and jeers, on racial lines. Needless to say, there was a collective sigh of relief from the faculty. What is sad is that a verdict in a murder trial could result in such racial tension. I would hope that regardless of the race or ethnicity of the defendant that everyone would want justice done and that the right decision be made.
Yesterday was, pretty much, business as usual, save I taught an additional class during my planning period. I went over some homework, gave a quiz, gave some notes, all on a topic that my classes haven't gotten to yet - we will be there by the end of this coming week. That usually leads to a very long day - no planning on a Friday. But it also makes the day go by quicker. In my World History classes we played a game to review for a test on Monday. In my Civics & Economics class we finished up the era in US History between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I feel pretty confident that they will do will on Monday's test as well.
I signed up for a course about the Holocaust and Genocide. It is mostly a work from home course, but there are two required meetings, one to kick it off and one to wrap it all up. I am looking forward to it, it seems that it will be a very interesting topic.
It rained yesterday!!! It was amazing, truly. It rained from about 1:15pm into the night. It was really exciting. So much so that my class actually began to cheer when they heard it coming down on the roof of the trailer. I was pretty excited myself, although I did not cheer out loud with them. I am glad for the rain but am going to call my lawn service to suggest they come out again to seed since the heavy rains may have washed away much of the seed they put down on Thursday. And for $249, I definitely want to have some grass next year!
Today Evan had a soccer game. It was not quite as hot, so he enjoyed it a bit more, but he still doesn't want to exert himself quite enough to really consider himself dedicated to soccer. He will either figure out that if he wants to get better he will have to try harder or he will know enough to play around with his friends but find that playing on an organized team isn't for him. Either way is just fine, I just don't want him to be disappointed. We also went to a 2nd anniversary party for Michelle's work. It has been 2 years since Carolina Endocrine opened - It has been two years since Michelle has had to change jobs! (Sorry hon, but it got to the point where nobody could keep up!) It was really nice, there were plenty of kids and Evan was definitely occupied. He enjoyed himself so much that he did not want to come home, he cried the entire drive home. Not too loud though. So since he was carrying on and forcing himself to cry, Michelle and I were able to carry on our own conversation.
Tomorrow Evan and I are planning to go to the Caniac Carnival to kick off the hockey season. There will be rides, music, games, food and they will be giving away free tickets and bracelets to go and get autographs as well. We would like to get some free tickets for tomorrows preseason game against Washington, but I don't plan on being there from before 10am to be there until the end of a game beginning at 3pm, I may not make it, let alone Evan. We'll see. I told Evan not to be disappointed if there aren't any tickets left by the time we get there, he said it would OK.
Despite how tired we were at the end of it all, it was a nice day. We hung out with Michelle's co-worker/friend Nicole, her husband John, and her sister, Danielle, as well as our friend Rebecca from New Hampshire. That was a nice treat, she was down here in North Carolina to sing in a concert.
