Cultivating Relationships

Your name is Toby!

Gothamist: Fail: Upstate Teacher's History Lesson on Slavery

Oh.

Should forcing a black student to have their legs and feet bound and crawl under classroom desks be part of a lesson plan? Apparently that's what Rockland County middle school teacher Eileen Bernstein did last month to simulate what it was like on a slave ship.

From WCBS...

In a social studies class at Haverstraw Middle School, teacher Eileen Bernstein chose Gaby and another girl for a demonstration of conditions on ships that carried slaves out of Africa.

One African-American student raised her hand to volunteer for the demonstration. Gaby did not volunteer, but was chosen anyway.

"She taped their hands together, taped their feet together, and she had them crawl under the desk as if they were on a slave ship," her mother told CBS 2.

But...it's ok, because the teacher is now "sorry".

The NAACP weighed in...(NY Daily News)

"Are you telling me when you do a section on the Holocaust, it's okay to simulate an oven and have a grandchild of someone who was a survivor just get in the oven?" asked Wilbur Aldridge, head of the local NAACP chapter. "That makes (n)o sense."

Sooner or Later

Nazis...time travel...and the belief that "all this has happened before"

This is more than worth the ten minutes it takes to watch.

via io9

Canada's crazy constitutional crisis. - By Karim Bardeesy - Slate Magazine

Canada's crazy constitutional crisis. - By Karim Bardeesy - Slate Magazine

As Is It Happens covered this well last night.

From the Slate article:

There has been one positive, unintended consequence: Canadians have rediscovered their appetite for democracy. Old constitutional precedents are being unearthed and discussed; invitations are going out for competing rallies across Canada to be held this weekend. The backroom dealers have failed the electorate, and the public, as in previous crises, has gone "from deference to defiance."

This is a couple of days old...

and everyone has already covered it...

but...

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Paranoid and Conservative? Say it ain't so!

A radio show (locally or nationally) that draws just 5% of the available audience can achieve notable success in ratings and revenue, but a conservatism that connects with only a disgruntled, paranoid 5% of the public will wither and die."

Who said this?

Michael Medved.
 
Medved, who has said things like..."A quick glance at the American left reveals a movement in the midst of a nervous breakdown, displaying behavior that goes beyond inconsistency into the realm of bipolar moods and multiple personality disorders."

Via Wonkette*, via HuffPo, via USA Today

*Which has the best headline...Michael Medved Becomes Sentient, Self-Aware, Will Soon Turn Against Creators

Not good at all.

FiveThirtyEight.com: Politics Done Right: Quick Thoughts from Kansas

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

4. Sarah Palin is, for the time being, the public face of the Republican Party.
4a. This is not necessarily a good thing for the Republican Party.

Happy Holidays

The Personal Becoming the Political

On October 27th of this year, I was struck with Bell's Palsy.

This isn't normally a big deal.  People get it.  They look ugly for a while and have some other deficits.  In my case, these included being unable to close my left eye, loss of my full swallow reflex, loss of taste and smell, and a sensitivity to loud noises including voices in a certain pitch range in my left ear.

I saw a neurologist. I saw an ophthalmologist.  I had a whole series of blood work and tests done.  I severely cut back on my smoking and drinking, and brought my diet back to a very healthy state.  I became more proactive about stress reduction and I got the sleep my body required of me.  I waited to do the exercises that would help until I saw a Physical Therapist because that was what was recommended.  I even left my house wearing an eye-patch, because even though it looked ridiculous, I didn't want to have any complications and I wanted to give me the best shot for an one hundred percent recovery.

The only thing that is attractive about my physically is my slightly off-center and goofy grin.  That's all I have going for me.

I started PT yesterday and was slated for eight more visits over the next three and a half weeks. 

Now, I only have three visits left.

Why?

Because my insurance company believes they understand my situation better than the physical therapist who I saw AND better than the neurologist who I have seen a number of times.

Because my ability to eat "really" is not impaired, they are not going to cover any more than three additional visits.

Not because the PT recognized that I was developing TMJ (which means a whole lot more in coverable expenses) and not because everyone (personally, professionally, medically, and psychiatricly) understands that this paralysis of my face is exacerbating my already considerable self-esteem issues.

I can always appeal (which I will) however, does it not strike you absurd that this organization can without informing the patient deny coverage for something that was recommended by their personal medical professional?  Did they speak to me regarding this?  No.  Did they speak to my neurologist regarding this?  No.  The called the PT to inform her that I was only getting three more visits, not to discuss with her, to inform her.

Up to this point, I was fairly neutral when it came to the health care wars, but now, I am for any plan, by any one, that eliminates (and hopefully punishes the executives of) the insurance industry from American health care, with the ulitmate goal being to eliminate the insurance industry from American life.

What helped cause the current trainwreck of the world economy?  The insurance industry. (Look at what AIG did)

Just sayin'...is all...

I am angry now.  I am saddened too.  I know how much my company and I pay for my insurance.  I have a fairly good idea of the payments that they make to my medical providers (because I ask) and I know how much I have used medical services in the five years I have been with this plan.

Based on my math, which is more than fairly accuarte, my company and I have paid roughly $15,000.00 more in payments than I have received in services.  Does this seem fair?  Does this seem right? 

 

Winter Is Ruined

"I'll tell you what Winter is all about, Governor Paterson.  It's about giving, and sharing, and the laughter of children, and skating among some of the ugliest buildings in the northeast.  That's what Winter is all about." - Anonymous Blogger

Via WAMC, All Over Albany, and the Times Union

From the TU:

The state's economic crisis will deprive Albany of one of the few reasons to venture out on the windswept Empire State Plaza this winter: The Office of General Services announced Wednesday that the plaza's skating rink will be closed this season.

From WAMC:

Popular demand by tourists and New Yorkers alike did not sway Governor David Paterson, who says the state's skating rink in Albany won't open this season because of budget deficits.

 

From 11thWardDem on the TU's Cap Conf Blog:

This is pathetic…

While the vast majority of those who use the rink are children (those not responsible for this mess) - those who are responsible for this mess aren't losing their toys or perks.

The Governor is still flying around the country (and not "coach" I imagine), the rugs are still in the mansion, employees are still being hired, portraits are being hung, bonuses are being handed out, overtime is being worked, corporate welfare is being handed out…

But the kids can't have their friggin ice rink? Sheesh!

Sometimes I hate this state...

 

 

President Elect Obama on Line One, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen

Via NPR, Wonkette, & Gawker...

In brief, Illena Ros-Lehtinen (House Site, Wikipedia, Campaign Site) got a "prank phone call" from President Elect Obama, hangs up on that prankster, then got a followup prank call from Rep. Emanuel, who also happens to be the Chief of Staff Select for President, hangs up on that prankster, gets a call from Rep. Berman telling her (only after having to prove who he was) that she had, in fact, hung up twice on the President Elect.

How do we know this?

Because she had a press release about it...

Please remember this when it is time for her to be re-elected.

There are no jokes that I can make that would be any funnier than what I just wrote.  The absurdity of this...and...

It's all Sarah Palin's fault...or Gawker thinks it is...

Wait...what?

Facebook | OFFICIAL HUG A JEW DAY

OK? Seriously?

Really?

This is incredibly awful on a variety of levels.

The comments set me off.

Matthew Thomas Williams (Poole Grammar School) wrote
at 6:11pm
After I have hugged the allocated Jew, can I burn it afterwards like usual?

Joey Angel Bennett (Phoenix, AZ) wrote
at 2:48pm
i rather kick a jew in the nuts....whichever i feel fit...

T.L. Steinbroner (Ventura County, CA) wrote
at 2:47pm
To all the uptight jerks who actually finds this offensive, kindly remove the the stick for your ass.

Maybe it's me. I am a fairly offensive human being, but...

The first rule of this event is...

*Every Jew that you see you must address with a hug

Seriously? Really?

I can see people running through the Diamond District trying to hug someone and getting shot...

I am curious about what someone like WordWeaverLynn would say about this...

Link Dump

Ohes Noes!  Sen. Clinton may not be eligible for Secretary of State (Gawker, Wonkette)

But, the Secretary of Labor may be a lesbian, making the first out LGBT Cabinet Secretary. (Gawker)

David Paterson feels like a "Prom Queen" (which may make him America's first Gay, Blind, and African American Governor) ( CityRoom via All Over Albany)

And the weirdest thing I have read today...

Doctors Discover Rise in "Self-Embedding" Disorder...which I thought was about Geraldo in Afghanistan, but...no...it's about...

...an actual disorder where people, especially teens, embed objects in their bodies.

And not cool things like cell phone receptors nor bionic eyes, like some of Gibson or Stephenson's Otaku...

Things like...paperclips.  (io9)

On a personal note

I really love my friends, because we can joke about Sec. of State Rice retiring to a life of leisure and starting to date someone like Larry Elder with the horrible revelation of a sex tape staring to two.

Or...

Referring to UN Ambassador Select Susan Rice as Skipper because the joke is that she is Condi's little sister.

Do Slaves Enjoy the Attention?

Via Balk

BBC Presenter Apologizes for Sex Slave Gaffe

Amnesty's Fiona Smith had been explaining to the presenter how human trafficking was big business throughout Northern Ireland and the UK in general.

She said victims were arriving at the UK's borders where they were being "auctioned off at airports" for a lifetime of misery.

However, she was taken aback when the presenter, speaking on his BBC Radio Ulster Nolan show, asked her:

"Would you not say that these girls enjoy the sex?" She told him that the victims of human trafficking had to endure being raped multiple times a day because they had not consented to sex and were being used as slaves.

...

Nolan later apologised for his remarks as it emerged that listeners had complained to the BBC about his comments.

He said: "I got confused earlier in the show when I asked if these women ever enjoy their job and if they enjoy the sex.

"Of course they don't enjoy if if it is forced upon them and I just want to say sorry."

 

A Day Without Gays

12/10/2008 - A Day Without A Gay : Join On Facebook

I mentioned this to some people while at the rally a couple of weeks ago and they were intrigued by the idea.

Gawker (as is their wont) picked up on it and provided this commentary

Duh! No One Can Get Haircuts!
There Would Be No Celebrity Gossip
Your Children Will Not Be Having Gym Class Today

And Northampton, MA will just wink out of existence entirely. Goodbye, Seven Sisters!

All Of These Dumb Stereotypes Will Be Proven False

Or, you know, people will see that nice gay and lesbian folk are everywhere around them. Stopping traffic for their kids, delivering mail, folding t-shirts, baking bread, teaching maths, governing cities, practicing medicine, hilariously defending your civil rights in courts of law, fighting impossible wars so you don't have to, and so and so on, forever and ever

Meet the New Senator

Yes, I talked about this before my hiatus. (My pick was/is Cuomo.)

All Over Albany is addressing it again...

Andrew Cuomo

Current job: NY Attorney General

Why he would be picked: He's a big name. He has experience in the federal government (he was HUD Secretary during the Clinton admin). People in NY seem to be OK with the idea of a Senator Cuomo. It might help Paterson because Cuomo's had his eye on Paterson's job.

Why he wouldn't be picked: He doesn't fit the profile that Paterson reportedly is using. Sure, people polled say they're in favor of him, but maybe that's because they don't recognize the other names. And Paterson might be annoyed that Cuomo's people seem to be spreading rumors that Cuomo is the front runner.

And the Washington Post is talking about a "Rush for Clinton's Senate Seat"

tend to favor a well-known Democrat who has name recognition and proven fundraising ability -- specifically Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, a Cabinet official under President Bill Clinton and son of a former governor.

So?

Who is it going to be?

From Dan Savage's Savage Love Podcast

To a woman who does not her pubic hair nor the removal methods available...

Savage: so, you don't like shaving, waxing, Nair or Lasers...

Well...there is always chemo

A Headline that makes me think, "Really?"

Bush: ‘I Was Unprepared for War’ - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com

Favorite part...

I’ll be frank with you. I don’t spend a lot of time really worrying about short-term history. I guess I don’t worry about long-term history, either, since I’m not going to be around to read it — but, look, in this job you just do what you can.

I am glad that he wasn't worried about his legacy...

"History. We don't know. We'll all be dead."

Magazines: Mystery of Tina Fey's Scar Solved

Magazines: Mystery of Tina Fey's Scar Solved

As a huge 30 Rock fan, as well as Mean Girls, et cetera...I had always wondered what the secret of the scar was...

Now I know...

Liz Lemon favors her right side. That’s because a faint scar runs across Tina Fey’s left cheek, the result of a violent cutting attack by a stranger when Fey was five. Her husband says, “It was in, like, the front yard of her house, and somebody who just came up, and she just thought somebody marked her with a pen.” You can hardly see the scar in person. But I agree with Richmond that it makes Fey more lovely, like a hint of Marlene Dietrich noir glamour in a Preston Sturges heroine.

And the New Yorker thinks that Fey is "not so good" on 30 Rock

Something that I Missed

Wonkette : Russian Expert: America To Separate Into Breakaway Republics

Which came from Drudge

Asked why he expected the U.S. to break up into separate parts, he said: "A whole range of reasons. Firstly, the financial problems in the U.S. will get worse. Millions of citizens there have lost their savings. Prices and unemployment are on the rise. General Motors and Ford are on the verge of collapse, and this means that whole cities will be left without work. Governors are already insistently demanding money from the federal center. Dissatisfaction is growing, and at the moment it is only being held back by the elections and the hope that Obama can work miracles. But by spring, it will be clear that there are no miracles."

He also cited the "vulnerable political setup", "lack of unified national laws", and "divisions among the elite, which have become clear in these crisis conditions."