Protest signs with high qualifications

November 28, 2010

From John Stewart’s march for rational discussion, came this sign:

Protest sign: Evidence based change, after peer review

Protest sign from John Stewart's D.C. rally: Evidence based change, after peer review

That would take more than three cups of tea, certainly.

One of dozens of witty signs from that rally.

Tip of the old scrub brush to Kenny, near Beijing.

1 Comment | Dissent, Humor, Politics | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell

NJ Gov. Christie applauds video/cyber assault on special education teacher

November 28, 2010

You couldn’t make this stuff up.

Teachers, they hate you out there — some people do, at least.  Who?  Republicans.  The War on Education is getting pretty serious, now with Republican operatives using techniques of public shaming made famous in Moscow in the 1920s and in Mao’s China in the 1970s.  Consider this:

  1. Sleazeball political hack James O’Keefe, R-Sodom,  tried to get a New Jersey special education teacher drunk, to hit on her, to get her to dish on her colleagues.
  2. Not just any teacher — a special ed teacher commended by President Clinton for risking her life to save the lives of her students.
  3. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) then applauded the resulting video, saying it indicates a problem with teachers.  (Christie has his own anger management issues, it appears.)

Godwin’s law prevents us from making the obvious comparisons.

James O'Keefe, hired thug

James O'Keefe, undercover political hoaxster -- teachers, if you see this man and he asks you about education, call the police and your education association that provides your liability insurance, and do not talk to O'Keefe.

Details at The New Republic.

It’s Republicans Gone Wild, with all the depth of analysis and moral backbone such a title implies.

Tip of the old scrub brush to Ed Brayton at Dispatches on the Culture Wars.

7 Comments | Education, Hoaxes, Labor and unions, Political Smear, War on Education | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell

Tuba Christmas near you?

November 28, 2010

Did I mention I really like a good tuba melody?  No, not the oompah back-up — I love it when tubas take the lead, when they sing as only a tuba can.

It’s that time of year I get a chance to hear organized tuba playing for Tuba Christmas.

Like here, in Dallas, at Thanksgiving Square  — the 31st annual Tuba Christmas (2008):

In Texas, the first performance I know of is in Brenham (home of Blue Bell Ice Cream!) on December 3; Amarillo is December 4.   Dallas is set for December 24, at Thanksgiving Square once again.

Is there a Tuba Christmas peformance near you?  Check the website of the Harvey Phillips Foundation, which promotes and organizes the events.

Do you play tuba, or euphonium (baritone), or Sousaphone?

Is America a great place, or what?

2 Comments | Holidays, Music, Travel | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell