Jim Putnam - Thinking Through My Fingers

Comments On Our Politics

In my experience, such as it is, the times in which what is actually occurring and what the public reads and sees, are rarely anyway close to being the same.  I'm not accusing the news agencies of not telling us everything, but it sure seems that way sometime. 

This is a large world, and at any time there are events that slip by the news.  And, there are usually several accurate interpretations of what is being done by our legislators.  But, it just seems to me that some news accounts deliberately warp how they present the facts. 

It should not require a PhD in Economics for a report to explain, or for me to understand, the murkiness that is working itself through the administration and Congress these days.  Likewise, it seems more than politics accounts for the differences and demagoguery through which our parties interpret proposed remedies.  It's pure unwillingness to present an explanation and trust the public to understand.  Without that trust, they are left with phrases without meaning, and lies repeated over and over.

Obama and his administration truly attempt to reach past the distortions and untruths.  At least in my opinion they do.  Republicans have become obstructionists, with only their constant refrain of worn and meaningless program of tax cuts to offer in honest opposition.

It's interesting how many news reports have Obama stumbling through some mistakes in his first month in office.  Too seldom does the news seem to dwell on the immense change in attitude of the public, overwhelmingly in support of his actions.  Republicans complain that he isn't bi-partisan enough, but their definition of bi-partisanship seems to be doing everything their way.  We tried that, and in a large part that is exactly why we are in this mess.

Rumors of My Demise Are Greatly Exaggerated

I am, actually, still around.  Unfortunately, this post will now have enough meat upon it to prove that, but it's true. 

I've had a nasty infection that has kept me extremely low.  The anti-bacterial that I began last Saturday is beginning to take control, and I am actually feeling almost normal.  Now, if I can only get my brain back into gear, I think all will be fine.

This has been a time to consider priorities.  Obviously, and for me, unfortunately, the blog has been shown not to be high priority.  I have found more time to quilt than blog.  It's easier to sit at the quilting table and let the fingers do their thing than to think.  I now know that I am a better quilter than thinker.

Lat evening was the first time in weeks I felt like being out.  I attended a lecture  by  the Rev. Marcia Mount Shoopm PhD at my church, where she is theologian in residence.   It was the second of a series of four. This is the title for last night's lecture.
:

 “The Wisdom of Emptiness and the Fullness of God: A
Christian Conversation with Buddhist Philosophy”

My first surprise was how many people were there.  Over 80 people filled the room.  There were several other surprises throughout the evening, but among the most interesting was her emphasizing that it was possible to be a Christian Buddhist.  I've believed that for some time, but was not sure that I would ever hear anyone, especially a PhD, make such a strong statement.

It was a very interesting lecture.  She has a book coming out in May that I think I will find interesting.

Checking In

I apologize for the complete lack of posting for well over a week.  This post isn't going to even attempt to fill in the spaces.  Sorry.

I've been ill with some undiagnosed disease for over two weeks.  I've been sleeping approximately 13-14 hours every day, and haven't felt like doing anything when I'm awake.  I incapable of thinking about anything more serious than how badly I feel.  I do have a doctor's appointment at UNC Family Practice tomorrow.  I'll try to find the energy to post late tomorrow thih the results.

For now, I going back into hibernation.

Mac

William McRostie left this world Monday, February 9, at 11:08, US Central Time.  For a person who I have actually seen only once, his death has affected me much more that I expected.

Mac is what I and a few internet friends called him.  He was sometimes exasperating, even sometimes deliberately argumentative, but always caring, interesting, and intelligent.  I know that I learned from him, and understand myself better because of him.

This world needs more William McRostie types, not less.  We are always in dire need of the kind of cutting intelligence, caring philosophy, and biting distrust of government while simultaneously believing that our system is as good as has ever been devised.  I'll miss him, and will probably rememmber him every time I write a blog piece.

Farewell Mac.  Go in Peace.

Bits and Pieces

As I mentioned in my post about Community Colleges, a large portion of my college education was at community colleges.  All of my college education was part -time, evening courses.  There are many good aspects of getting necessary courses for degrees in the institution's evening divisions.

Among them are the instructors.  I can't vouch for all part-time students, but most of my evening courses were taught by full-time professionals who taught in their specialties.  Many students were like me, full-time workers taking courses in the evening.

I remember one course while working towards a master's degree.  The course was Systems Analysis. This particular course was applicable as either a senior level computer science elective, or as a graduate level course.  I was working full-time as a systems analyst for General Electric Information Services.  A bit different, I was one of only two older students, the remainder were day students trying to finish their undergraduate courses.  The instructor was an active duty Army major working at the Unformed Services  University of the Health Sciences (USUHS).  He was in charge of that schools computer division, and I believe this was his very first University of Maryland University College (UMUC) teaching job.  UMUC is my alma mater for my BS and MGA/MIS degrees.  It is, or was in the 70's and 80's, also the military's most widely available college, with courses available on bases all over the world.

The first night of class, the instructor asked what were the qualities a systems analyst needed to be successful.  He went around the class, and most of the students gave sensible answers, math skills, communication, logic, etc.  He came to me, and my answer surprised him, and most of the rest of the class.  I said that a successful systems analyst was lazy.  He asked me what I meant.  I explained that a lazy person and a system analyst had very similar goals, to find the fastest, easiest way to do a job.  And that well over ninety percent of the time, the fastest, easiest manner, is probably also the best way.  And that's a systems analyst's job.  The other older student was sitting just behind me and agreed completely.

The next week the instructor said that he had gone back to his unit and asked what they thought, that they mostly agreed, and that while he wouldn't have put it exactly that way, it was a good answer.  it was a good course, though I really didn't learn much that I didn't already know.  It was interesting talking to the young day students and discovering how very different their perception of what their job was to be from what I was actually doing.  I got an A for the course.

I have an admission.  I recently received two requests to be individuals' Facebook Friend.  I knew both of them, so I accepted.  Now what do I do?  I have a Facebook account of my own, set up at the request of two friends, mother and grandfather, so they can send me photos of their kids and grandkids.  So I am friends with four people, and have absolutely no idea how to use Facebook.  I feel completely ignorant.  Think about it.  I just wrote about receiving a BS and a MGA/MIS, I worked in computer systems from 1967 to 2005, and am unable to use something as simple as Facebook.  There's something wrong with this picture.

I know a senior lady, a member of my quilting group, who recently missed a couple of meetings.  She lives in the next county east, and was taking lessons at her county's Senior Citizen Center on how to use Photoshop.  I need those lessons, and to learn a whole list of other computer skills.  If Typepad weren't so simple, I wouldn't be able to blog.  And they have recently brought out enhancements that I could use to improve the blog, but don't.  I am more than lazy; I am ignorant, and too passive and lazy to get off my rear and learn new methods.

I am going out with a rant about politics.  The Senate is about to pass a much needed, stimulus bill after working it over to the point that it probably will not do the job.  It was too small before, and with the cuts will certainly be inadequate.  Paul Krugman writes these same thoughts today.  I recommend this column to you.

I am cynical enough to believe that the Republicans want this to fail.  They want the nation to go off the deep end into a full-scale depression.  Their only hope of ever regaining power is that it does fail.  They remove aid to the states, school construction, and other real stimulus.  It is just short of being criminal, and it is certainly stupid.  Our only hope is in the reconciliation process with the House bill, but I don't see that providing much help.  This nation is in for a very long, hard period, and the shame of it is that they could have done something sensible last year and we would not be in this fix today.  I am afraid we are governed by fools.

A Day At A Community College

Yesterday was among the nicest days I have had recently.  Marrianna volunteered to assist in a book sale at Alamance Community College (ACC).  The English department, in which Marrianna's sister is a professor, has a yearly book sale to raise funds for scholarships.  Since the teachers are in and out between classes, Marrianna provides continuity, and takes care of the moneybox and recieving payments.  I go for transportation, and because I enjoy watching the people.

I sat in the lounge area where students study, meet between classes, and nap watching people for much of the morning.  That is always an interesting way to pass time, partly because of the multide of different kinds, races, ages, and obvious career interests of the students passing through.  But, also for the difference in students of my time, admittedly ancient history, and those of ACC.

I have two Associate of Arts degrees from separate community colleges, and several hours at three others across the nation.  So I do have some experience in them.  Most community colleges were then, and are now, a place for students who cannot afford University to begin getting an education.  At a community college they can specialize in career specific studies such as nursing, police work, automobile maintenance, and many, many more.  There are also many older students, such as I was at those schools I attended, building hours prior to finishing at a four-year institution.  Some are working to learn new skills to change careers, or simply taking courses they consider interesting just for the experience, or that they simply enjoy being around young people.

The variety in people extends to the faculty.  Many faculty are professors who have doctorates in their field, and choose to teach in a community college.  Marriana's sister is one, who I believe teaches three courses each semester.  There are also professionals who teach part-time.  Nursing is usually one such area.  Teachers vary almost as much as their students.

Among the courses ACC teaches is culinary arts.  Each time I go with Marrianna, I have lunch at their presentation dinners.  There is usually a theme to the menu, yesterday was Cajun, and a full range of well prepared, excellent dishes.

I had the pleasure of sitting at table with one of the college staff.  We talked a lot about community college increased student load in this time of economic stress.  My comment was that Congress doesn't seem to understand the role a community college plays in such times.  They put education funds in for schools, and some for increased loan monies for University students, but they often slight community colleges, and these are the ones who can do more to assist in turning the economy around.  The man I was across the table from said that was because most of the congresspeople's experience is in University, and they don't think of community colleges when considering funding.  I think he has a point.

Someone else seems to be thinking along the same lines.  This morning, I read a blog titled "Stimulus for Community Colleges".  The comments are, for me, particularly interesting.  I read them after beginning this post, and many reflect exactly what I am trying to say.

It's gratifying that there are people like Harry Brighouse of Crooked Timber and his colleague, Sara Goldrick-Rab with the article linked in Harry's piece.  I would like to say I am adding my voice to theirs, but the truth is that mine, while in complete agreement, doesn't have nearly the gravitas of theirs.  Still, every little bit helps, I suppose.

The Art of Racing In The Rain

For some reason I've been thinking about a book I read late last year, "The Art of Racing In the Rain."  I think I wrote about it.  No, I didn't write about it, merely mentioned it twice in passing, here and here.

Let me begin with repeating that Garth Stein has written a wonderful book, the best that I read in 2008.  The book's narrator is a dog, Enzo, and he tells the story of his master, Denny, with humor, insight, and with a depth that is possibly within every person's dog.  Quoting the cover flap:

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life ... as only a dog could tell it.

Denny is a race car driver, thus the title.  He speaks of exactly what is necessary to drive fast in bad conditions.  I have no idea whether Garth Stein has ever driven race cars ar their very limit, but he certainly has an insight about it.

Toward the end of the book, (page 270) Denny is working at a track teaching other drivers.  One day, a Ferrari F430 comes to the track.  The driver speaks to the track owner, and they call Denny over.  Denny is asked to drive the Ferrari representative in the f430 around the track.  The description of that drive, remember from the perspective of the dog, is fascinating.  It is what has been on my mind these past few days.

The book is, as the flap says, beautifully crafted.  Its craft reveals much about life and how to live it.  I think the measure of a great book is what it leaves within us.  This one left a lot.  I revisit it regularly.