18.4.07
17.4.07
20.3.07
The stupid are always with us
Study Finds One-Third in D.C. Illiterate
This, via Matt Drudge, who one can rest assured isn't making race an issue by highlighting D.C.'s functional illiteracy rate.
Fact is, one-fifth of the country is functionally illiterate. Personally, I'd love to see a "literacy comprehension" rate; that is, the percentage of the American adult population that can read day-to-day necessities - things like instructions on automated tellers, bill payment machines and the like - but choose to play stupid and screw something up for themselves.
I bet we'd find more than half of this country in that group.
But a one-fifth functional illiteracy rate is embarrassing enough.
This, via Matt Drudge, who one can rest assured isn't making race an issue by highlighting D.C.'s functional illiteracy rate.
Fact is, one-fifth of the country is functionally illiterate. Personally, I'd love to see a "literacy comprehension" rate; that is, the percentage of the American adult population that can read day-to-day necessities - things like instructions on automated tellers, bill payment machines and the like - but choose to play stupid and screw something up for themselves.
I bet we'd find more than half of this country in that group.
But a one-fifth functional illiteracy rate is embarrassing enough.
19.3.07
Enjoy it while it lasts, punk
High court hears 'Bong hits 4 Jesus' case - CNN.com
Snips:
"The Supreme Court Monday debated the case of a high school principal who suspended a student over a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus," banner displayed at a school-sponsored event.
"The free-speech case tests the limits of student messages officials could try to suppress.
"Joseph Frederick, then 18, unveiled the 14-foot paper sign on a public sidewalk outside his Juneau, Alaska, high school. Principal Deborah Morse confiscated it and later suspended the young man.
"At issue was whether Frederick's free-speech rights were violated and the discretion schools should be allowed to limit messages that appear to advocate illegal drug use."
The day you leave the cover of school and take a job, you can cash in your free-speech rights. I can't display "controversial" stickers on my vehicle (since it's parked in a work parking space), can't say what I want to in the workplace or even outside the workplace if someone knows where I am employed, I can't take advantage of my state's decriminalization of marijuana use because my company has random drug tests that can force a one-weekend-a-month pot smoker out of work.
Fight on, brother, but later in life, you'll lose more than you gain: America is money, not freedom.
Snips:
"The Supreme Court Monday debated the case of a high school principal who suspended a student over a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus," banner displayed at a school-sponsored event.
"The free-speech case tests the limits of student messages officials could try to suppress.
"Joseph Frederick, then 18, unveiled the 14-foot paper sign on a public sidewalk outside his Juneau, Alaska, high school. Principal Deborah Morse confiscated it and later suspended the young man.
"At issue was whether Frederick's free-speech rights were violated and the discretion schools should be allowed to limit messages that appear to advocate illegal drug use."
The day you leave the cover of school and take a job, you can cash in your free-speech rights. I can't display "controversial" stickers on my vehicle (since it's parked in a work parking space), can't say what I want to in the workplace or even outside the workplace if someone knows where I am employed, I can't take advantage of my state's decriminalization of marijuana use because my company has random drug tests that can force a one-weekend-a-month pot smoker out of work.
Fight on, brother, but later in life, you'll lose more than you gain: America is money, not freedom.
What more do we want?
US troops in Iraq want out
Some excerpts:
"We just want to get out of here as soon as possible," said one vehicle commander in one of his few printable comments.
"It's because the Iraqi army is so scared that we have to come here to die," he added, asking not to be named.
"Ninety-five percent of Iraqis are good but five percent are bad. But the 95 percent are too weak to stand up to the five percent."
The majority of civilian Americans want out. Many US soldiers want out. Why are we still there? We've wasted enough lives on Halliburton-sponsored nation-building.
Some excerpts:
"We just want to get out of here as soon as possible," said one vehicle commander in one of his few printable comments.
"It's because the Iraqi army is so scared that we have to come here to die," he added, asking not to be named.
"Ninety-five percent of Iraqis are good but five percent are bad. But the 95 percent are too weak to stand up to the five percent."
The majority of civilian Americans want out. Many US soldiers want out. Why are we still there? We've wasted enough lives on Halliburton-sponsored nation-building.
Great art
Tootie poses by *14-bis on deviantART
This guy is working on a tattoo design for me. I love his work.
18.3.07
New tattoo
This is Russian for "Blessed are the peacemakers." Going on the underside of my left forearm. All black.
The Family
Vera can navigate with a computer mouse enough to start iTunes, the DVD player and Photo Booth. Here's her latest...
Wasted argument
This is a waste of time.
No, the Old Testament doesn't apply to Christians, hence, the Ten Commandments contained therein don't apply to Christians. Why did Jesus come to earth? To do away with the old law and to usher in a new kingdom. Bye-bye, Ten Commandments, hello salvation through grace, humility and servitude!
Many, if not most, Christian Americans hang on to the 10 C's because (a) many Americans hate critical thinking and a checklist gives them a pass on having to use the ol' noodle and (b) America isn't exactly a nation brimming over with humility and servitude. This country thrives on greed, waste and utter disregard for the needy.
The New Testament, the bedrock teachings of Christianity, is refreshingly free of lists and chock full of enough raw, undirected wisdom to make any pea-brained Christian zealot go running to the black-and-white of that old, out-dated and discarded Ten Commandments.
Holding on the 10 C's doesn't make a Christian more pious, rather, shows them as less able to be the Christian Christ asks them to be. They have neither the willingness nor desire to take Christ's hand and make the best of the long, convoluted and self-debasing path of humility that is Christianity.
No, the Old Testament doesn't apply to Christians, hence, the Ten Commandments contained therein don't apply to Christians. Why did Jesus come to earth? To do away with the old law and to usher in a new kingdom. Bye-bye, Ten Commandments, hello salvation through grace, humility and servitude!
Many, if not most, Christian Americans hang on to the 10 C's because (a) many Americans hate critical thinking and a checklist gives them a pass on having to use the ol' noodle and (b) America isn't exactly a nation brimming over with humility and servitude. This country thrives on greed, waste and utter disregard for the needy.
The New Testament, the bedrock teachings of Christianity, is refreshingly free of lists and chock full of enough raw, undirected wisdom to make any pea-brained Christian zealot go running to the black-and-white of that old, out-dated and discarded Ten Commandments.
Holding on the 10 C's doesn't make a Christian more pious, rather, shows them as less able to be the Christian Christ asks them to be. They have neither the willingness nor desire to take Christ's hand and make the best of the long, convoluted and self-debasing path of humility that is Christianity.
3.2.07
1.2.07
17.1.07
The vanity of Vera
Vera saw mama and daddy on the site, wondered why Vera wasn't there. How can I say no to that sweet smile?Это Вера и Джефф.
Speaking of truck wrecks...
From last Thursday. Damn neighborhood dogs make driving my road an obstacle course. Next time, I'm gonna hit the the little peckerhead. It's a testament to Nissan that this is the result of a 12-foot nose-dive into a cow pasture.
Starting at 10:02 with DirecTV
1-800-DirecTV. "Thank you for calling DirecTV. Calls may be monitored..."
To spare you the pain of staying on hold with me, I'll give you the short version. My family moved into a new house in June 2006. At the old house, we had DirecTV's Russian TV package - a real blessing to Katya. Since we moved, we've made 12 appointments with installers and countless phone calls with DirecTV to find someone to install an international dish. So far, we've got an assembled dish sitting in our side yard and a whole lot of apologies. We've also been promised free movie packages that we have yet to receive.
The last time I called, I begged them to send me instructions on how to install it. It can't be that hard.
Now I'm being told that they have no record of the dozen install appointments and I need to pay my past due before they can schedule another install. I'm reticent to give them another dime before getting the services I've requested time and again.
10:15. Still no closer to resolution. On hold again.
10:20. Transferred to International department.
Please wait.
Please wait.
We're sorry. Your call was unable to be completed. Please hang up and call the 800 number again.
Sigh.
10:22.
To spare you the pain of staying on hold with me, I'll give you the short version. My family moved into a new house in June 2006. At the old house, we had DirecTV's Russian TV package - a real blessing to Katya. Since we moved, we've made 12 appointments with installers and countless phone calls with DirecTV to find someone to install an international dish. So far, we've got an assembled dish sitting in our side yard and a whole lot of apologies. We've also been promised free movie packages that we have yet to receive.
The last time I called, I begged them to send me instructions on how to install it. It can't be that hard.
Now I'm being told that they have no record of the dozen install appointments and I need to pay my past due before they can schedule another install. I'm reticent to give them another dime before getting the services I've requested time and again.
10:15. Still no closer to resolution. On hold again.
10:20. Transferred to International department.
Please wait.
Please wait.
We're sorry. Your call was unable to be completed. Please hang up and call the 800 number again.
Sigh.
10:22.
To the North Carolina Department of Revenue
North Carolina Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 25000
Raleigh, North Carolina 27640-0002
Dear North Carolina,
Glad to hear from you again! I’m disappointed that the letter was all money, money, money, but hey, I’ve finally come to terms about that being the focus of our relationship.
I wish you had been around yesterday; I really needed some help. I was driving to Lowe’s (going to shop at your friends’ places – even though you haven’t spent much in my neighborhood!) when a little dog ran out in front of me. I swerved to miss him and ran off a 10-foot embankment into a cow pasture. Fortunately, it was only my truck that suffered. I called 911 right after the wreck. No one showed up except for a kindly neighbor and the owner of the pasture.
At my doctor’s behest, I went to the emergency room that evening. During my intake, I finally got to speak to one of your highway patrolmen – a full five hours after the accident! He asked me mostly about drinking. I suppose he went to my house to look at my truck.
But I digress. Regarding your tax assessment dated October 10, 2006, your records show that I paid nothing in income tax. I asked my then-employer why you said I paid no taxes and they couldn’t figure out why. They found a piece of paper showing that they had indeed sent you $1,015.08. Comparing your letter of October 10 with the W-2 from my old employer, it seems I owe you 329.92.
I also recall filing state taxes that year, but being buried in mounds of my wife’s immigration paperwork that year, I suppose my copy got misplaced.
If it will make you happy, I’ll send you the $329.92. It will have to wait for a while, though – got that truck wreck to pay for.
Katya, my wife, and Vera, my daughter, send their best.
Sincerely,
Jeff Redman
P.O. Box 25000
Raleigh, North Carolina 27640-0002
Dear North Carolina,
Glad to hear from you again! I’m disappointed that the letter was all money, money, money, but hey, I’ve finally come to terms about that being the focus of our relationship.
I wish you had been around yesterday; I really needed some help. I was driving to Lowe’s (going to shop at your friends’ places – even though you haven’t spent much in my neighborhood!) when a little dog ran out in front of me. I swerved to miss him and ran off a 10-foot embankment into a cow pasture. Fortunately, it was only my truck that suffered. I called 911 right after the wreck. No one showed up except for a kindly neighbor and the owner of the pasture.
At my doctor’s behest, I went to the emergency room that evening. During my intake, I finally got to speak to one of your highway patrolmen – a full five hours after the accident! He asked me mostly about drinking. I suppose he went to my house to look at my truck.
But I digress. Regarding your tax assessment dated October 10, 2006, your records show that I paid nothing in income tax. I asked my then-employer why you said I paid no taxes and they couldn’t figure out why. They found a piece of paper showing that they had indeed sent you $1,015.08. Comparing your letter of October 10 with the W-2 from my old employer, it seems I owe you 329.92.
I also recall filing state taxes that year, but being buried in mounds of my wife’s immigration paperwork that year, I suppose my copy got misplaced.
If it will make you happy, I’ll send you the $329.92. It will have to wait for a while, though – got that truck wreck to pay for.
Katya, my wife, and Vera, my daughter, send their best.
Sincerely,
Jeff Redman
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