Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Everybody Has a Story - Take Time to Listen and Find Out
It's always interesting to strike up a conversation with someone and to be amazed at their story. Some of the most unassuming people I have met have turned out to have some incredibly interesting things in their lives. Recently, we were having our beach place painted. The painter and his team arrived and after a short briefing, went to work on the task at hand. As they were working my wife and I struck up a conversation with the painter. Jody was an older man, and we learned that he had been the original painter of many of our neighbors places. He had seen alot of changes over the years. As we talked, his phone rang; but this wasn't your typical ring tone. No, this was the sound of a horse neighing. That's right, a horse. Jody laughed and said that ring tone had gotten him in trouble at a couple of funerals, but everyone eventually had a good laugh over it. Then he mentioned that he and his wife show a Tennessee Walking Horse in competitions all over the country. "Mr. Gamecock" is his name. I then noticed his hat. It had a picture of a horse and the words Mr. Gamecock on it. Of course. Well, it seems Mr.Gamecock is a true champion horse.Jody showed us several pictures and articles about the horse. He, his wife and their son take turns riding him in the shows. Jody beamed with pride as he talked about first buying this horse that no one thought would turn out to be much; and how at some point the light switch came on, and Mr. Gamecock began developing into a champion. He now is one of the best, and is owned by Jody the house painter. Bottom line: don't assume someone doesn't have a great story to tell. You might be amazed!
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Could Neckties Be Making a Comeback?
Lately, there have been several articles about how GenZ'ers have discovered that wearing a necktie makes them feel more professional and gains them more respect. The Wall Street Journal recently reported "Some 20-somethings are embracing the necktie to project gravitas and show personality with a pattern or pop of color."
As someone who wears a suit and tie to work every day, I get it. Almost daily as I frequent businesses someone comments about my attire.
"Nice suit, sir."
"How are you, sir?"
"What do you do that requires you to wear a suit?"
"So nice to see a man in a suit."
I've been referred to by everything from "distinguished" to "business-like" or "professional". People ask me if I am a lawyer, a judge or a politician.
I think this says something about our society. Growing up, many of us saw our fathers leave for work each day wearing a coat and tie and just took that as the norm.
Gosh, my grandfather owned a general store and many times he wore a tie with his apron when he was working.
Over the last few decades, we have evolved into a more casual society. Casual Fridays became business-casual every day. The pandemic and Zoom led us down the path of working remotely wearing a T-shirt.
Now it seems a new generation is discovering the necktie. Maybe it's just that cycle of not wanting to be like everyone else. Whatever it is, if it means men upping their game, I'm all for it.
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Drones Over New Jersey?
The reports of drones over New Jersey are intriguing. The government says they aren't ours, are not from a foreign adversary, and don't pose any danger. Others speculate that they are indeed from the U.S. government; testing new technology such as battery life, mobility, etc. Another camp suspects Iran or China (remember the spy balloon?). And then there are the traditionalists who suggest they are Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena,formerly known as Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), formerly known as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Aliens coming to check us out. Whatever they are, they have certainly captured the fascination of the country. What is puzzling is the lack of transparency by the government to help quell the rampent rumors of what they may actually be. If they are indeed a government project (as I suspect they are), why not just admit it and put the people in New Jersey and other states at ease. I expect that after January 20, we will know much more than we do now.
Saturday, November 30, 2024
Getting a Mule's Attention
There is an old joke about a farmer with a stubborn mule who would not go forward or backward let alone respond to his owner's command. So the old man picks up a 2x4 and hits the mule right between the eyes. The mule then responds to his command. Onlookers are outraged that the man punished the animal so harshly. The farmer explains that "first he had to get the mules attention".
That's exactly what President-elect Donald Trump has done with Canada and Mexico. His 2x4? The threat of a 25% tariff on all products coming into the U.S. from those two countries. Those opposing the plan were quick with their outrage and predicted that it would lead to higher prices for consumers. However, the result has been exactly what Donald Trump intended in the first place. On Friday, Canandian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travelled to West Palm Beach, Florida for a dinner meeting with President-elect Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate to discuss the proposal. Prime Minister Truedeau had already called the President-elect but felt it was important to meet with him in person to discuss the proposal.
Earlier in the week, President-elect Trump and new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke on the phone to discuss the tariffs proposal. While the two differ on the outcome of the call, one thing is certain: Trump got Mexico's attention.
The final outcome between the two countries and the U.S. are still to be determined, but it is clear that leading up to his inauguration on January 20, Donald Trump has gotten the mule's attention.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Banning the "Zero" in Grades. Dog Ate Your Homework? No Problem!
The Wake County (NC) public school system is evaluating whether to eliminate giving students a "zero" grade when work is not turned in on time. Students would be guaranteed the right to turn in late work for credit and retake exams to get higher scores. The logic behind this thought is that the current system allowing students to get zeros is "too punitive." The lowest score students would be able to receive under the proposed guidelines would be a 50, even if they don't turn in the work. Fortunately, some members of the Wake County School Board don't think it's a good idea. Member Jim Martin was quoted in the (Raleigh) News & Observer that "not giving a zero protects a slacker." Hear hear Mr. Martin! What kind of signals are we sending to students who will have to face deadlines and expectations once they enter the workforce? Mr. Martin is also quoted saying “Turning in your work is frankly a behavior of your job that you need to do.” Sure a zero can wreck a grade average really quickly, but if students don't face the consequences of not turning work in on time, instead turning it in "when I feel like it," is not teaching them what they need to know later in life. I know that if I had received a zero on an assignment in school, it would have been my first and only one! let's teach our kids some responsibility and make them accountable. They will thank us later.
Labels:
assignments,
dropouts,
education,
grades,
responsibility,
school,
students,
Wake County Schools
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Oreos Addicting? Oh Brother!
So a team of researchers at Connecticut College has determined that Oreo Cookies are as addictive as cocaine. The study, which will be presented at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual conference next month, also made another discovery: Rats, like humans, like to eat Oreo’s creamy center first. In the study, laboratory rats were put in a maze and given the choice of Oreos or rice cakes, and the rats chose the Oreo. Duh! Maybe that just shows the rats like things that taste good! The research reports that the cookies activated the same pleasure sensors in the brain as cocaine or morphine. Actually, the pleasure from the Oreo was more intense. I wonder who funded this study, and why we care? The researchers say it was to determine why some people can't resist high fat/high sugar foods even if they know the foods aren't good for them. At least we found out the rats wanted to eat the cream filling first, so they know where the good part is. As for me, pass the milk,please!
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
More Nanny State News: School bans footballs, tag and cartwheels from recess to keep kids from getting hurt
In the latest nanny-state move to keep kids from being kids, a Long Island middle school has decided that playing games at recess can be dangerous. News reports say that Weber Middle School has instituted a ban on footballs, baseballs, lacrosse balls. Games of tag or cartwheels must be supervised by a coach, or they are not allowed. Tag, really?
Nerf balls are allowed, because "The Port Washington district said the softer foam balls put students in the best situation to cut down the chance of getting injured."
Port Washington schools Supt. Kathleen Maloney said the change in policy is warranted due to a rash of playground injuries. One news report goes on to say "Without helmets and pads, children are much more susceptible to getting hurt, experts said."
Wow! I always thought one of the rites of passage from childhood was that broken arm or scar on the chin or knee. Somehow I survived my childhood with out bike helmets, knee pads or Nerf balls.
I am waiting for the day when parents are required to send their kids to school wrapped in bubble-wrap. Don't laugh, that day is coming.
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