Category: education

Right Wing – Wants to Destroy Public Education

On By Rick McIn bad news, books, economics, education, ethics, GOP USA, government, things getting worseLeave a comment

Recall one of Trump’s worst appointees — billionaire donor Betsy DeVos?

She wanted to disband public schools, giving those tax dollars to parents to spend on whatever they want ➙  school choice, school voucher programs, or charter schools, for example.

Those are programs used mostly by the rich.

IF you want to send your children to Muslim school, Jewish school, Christian school, or SPORT school — great! So long as they meet minimum standards, your child should be credentialed.

That decided … should the taxpayer subsidize your special education?

My short answer is NO.

Like health care, IF you want special treatment, pay for it yourself.

Government should ensure that BASIC education and health care are made available to EVERYONE.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS and PUBLIC HEALTH CARE.

If you choose to have the Mayo Clinic treat you for cancer, pay for it yourself.

That’s my short answer.

My longer answer is that governments with plenty of money should be allowed to subsidize special education IF it doesn’t lower the quality of public school.

The best discussion I’ve heard on this was on my favourite PODCAST ➙ ON THE MEDIA.

The Real Mission Behind Moms for Liberty

As an example, here’s the GOP nominee for the top job running public schools in North Carolina. An $11 billion budget.

In the past she’s called for executing top Democrats. Endorsed QAnon and other conspiracy theories. Anti-Muslim. Anti-LBGTQ.

She marched for Trump on Jan. 6th.

Michele Morrow is about as rightwing kooky as they get.

No educational experience other than homeschooling her own kids.

Burn Book by Kara Swisher

On By Rick McIn Amazon, Apple, audiocasts, books, economics, education, ethics, Facebook, government, internet, TwitterLeave a comment

Kara Swisher is today the reporter covering the business of the internet.

Her mentor, Walt Mossberg.

The first of her 2-book memoir is a hit.

An entertaining read, even if you care nothing about the history of the internet.

Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher

Almost everyone in Tech picks up the phone when Kara calls.

She’s a pugnacious interviewer who won’t back down to anyone.

I only follow Swisher because she launched Pivot, a semi-weekly news commentary podcast co-hosted by Swisher and Scott Galloway.

She’s a very hard worker. Extremely well connected. And a competent interviewer.

But Prof. Galloway is my guru in ALL things business. Swisher was smart — as well — to sign up Galloway.

In her new book, Swisher reflects back on some of the biggest stories she’s covered. And her opinions of some of the Tech giants.

John McLaughlin comes across worst. Also, Rupert Murdoch, her long time boss.

Mark Zuckerberg stories are embarrassing. Facebook evil.

She’s fascinated by Elon Musk — but entirely disappointed since he bought Twitter and made his legacy being something of a right wing troll.

I was surprised how much she admired Steve Jobs. A well known asshole, but one who slung less B.S. than the rest.

Cunk on Earth – Eat THIS, David Attenborough 😀

On By Rick McIn Art and beauty, education, humour, TVLeave a comment

Very. Funny.

On Rotten Tomatoes, 100%.

Cunk on Earth is British mockumentary TV, brilliantly skewering everything and everybody historical. 

… stars Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk, an ill-informed investigative reporter …

The series introduces subjects such as the development of agriculture and early civilization, the rise of Christianity and Islam, the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, the First and Second World Wars, the Cold War and the Space Race.

With an eye to the future, Cunk concludes the series with a speculative comment on the possibility of AI takeover. …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

When Abortion is Denied

On By Rick McIn economics, education, ethics, GOP USA, government, happiness, health & fitness, human rightsLeave a comment

Diana Greene Foster is a professor at the University of California, San Francisco.

She led the ten-year nationwide Turnaway Study analyzing the health and wellbeing of women who seek abortion in the United States — including those who do not receive one — and in 2020 published a book, The Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having—or Being Denied—an Abortion, on her findings.

In 2023, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in recognition of her scientific work, including the book and more than 120 scientific papers. …

In 2022, she was recognized as one of the ten people who shaped science that year by Nature.

One of the most expert in the field.

Here’s a fascinating new TED Talk. Unsurprisingly, the women forced to carry a child to term have worse consequences than those who have the freedom to make the choice to abort.

Anti-choice advocates in the USA often simultaneously deny raises in minimum wage, health care for children, maternity leave, and even free school lunch. Pro birth. But not pro life.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

My School Report Cards 😀

On By Rick McIn about Rick, education, McCharles family1 Comment

too talkative at times – has good ability – could be a very good student

I have most of my old school report cards.

Grade 4. I’m the one with the … ears.

Note how every boy has worn out knees. 😀

PROOF I graduated High School. Check those English and Typing marks!

I was excellent at P.E. BUT our teacher — Humper Humphries — didn’t like me for some reason.

Surprisingly, I was one of two valedictorians with these grades.

Abbott Elementary – season 2

On By Rick McIn economics, education, GOP USA, government, humour, TVLeave a comment

Hilarious mockumentary sitcom.

Season 2 is still charming.

Abbott Elementary stars 4 ft 11 inch (149.9 cm)​​ Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, a perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher at the underfunded Abbott Elementary, a predominantly Black school in Philadelphia. 

William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, the school’s eccentric, overqualified and talented, custodian is my favourite character.

It’s an insight into the American public school system. ReTrumplicans insist on reducing funding for public education, while subsidizing rich kids in private schools.

The GOP later complains about crime when these same underfunded kids can’t make it in a nation with poor health care and a $7.25 / hour minimum wage.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

For kids, this is a silly show making fun of teachers.

For adults, there are many funny little details. This typical school group photo, for example. 😀

Charlie Chaplin’s Great Dictator speech

On By Rick McIn education, ethics, government, moviesLeave a comment

The Great Dictator is a 1940 American anti-war political satire black comedy film written, directed, produced, scored by, and starring British comedian Charlie Chaplin …

Chaplin’s film advanced a stirring condemnation of the German and Italian dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, as well as fascism, antisemitism, and the Nazis.

Mocking Hitler

At the time of its first release, the United States was still formally at peace with Nazi Germany and neutral during what were the early days of World War II.

Chaplin plays both leading roles: a ruthless fascist dictator and a persecuted Jewish barber.

It’s best remembered for this speech.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I Voted NDP by Mail

On By Rick McIn economics, education, ethics, GOP USA, government, human rightsLeave a comment

As I was going to be out of town on Alberta election day — May 29, 2023 — I voted by mail. Early.

And It was easy to vote by mail. I could write in the candidate running in my riding, or the Party.

I was voting against the unelected premier Danielle Smith as she’s untrustworthy and a rightwing whacko. The NDP is the only alternative that MIGHT form the next government so I voted for Rachel Notley.

I joined the provincial Party, as well.

IF unelected whacko Danielle Smith manages to lose in historically conservative Alberta, she’ll certainly claim a BIG LIE as she’s a fan of Trump and DeSantis.

Of course Trump voted by mail multiple times in recent years, while simultaneously claiming mail fraud in any state he lost. 😀

Here’s my putting my ballot in the mailbox.

Carbon Capture in 2023

On By Rick McIn climate change, economics, education, good news, health & fitness, things getting betterLeave a comment

Optimists like me keep hoping smart people will figure out how to start reducing the CO2 in the atmosphere.

There is hope.

And Carbon Capture looks to be a huge future business. Young people should be studying this technology in University.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Three Pines – season 1

On By Rick McIn books, education, ethics, government, human rights, TVLeave a comment

It’s very good. One of my favourite TV series of 2022.

Of course there are many things that fans of the books will criticize, especially the cast.

Too few francophones for a village in Quebec.

Most miscast was Tamara Brown as Myrna Landers.  Myrna should be bigger, happier, and older. 

Initially, I was disappointed in British-American actor Alfred Molina as Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Too anglo. And he doesn’t look how I picture Gamache — BUT I was wrong.

Molina really does convey the unique philosophical approach to solving murders that we read in the books. Warmth and gravitas.

As many agree, Sarah Booth as Yvette Nichol is BETTER on screen than the character in the books. Comic relief.

Yes this TV series has absurd, ridiculous plot lines. There are no grizzly bears in Quebec — but that’s my main complaint with the books, as well. The book plots are absurd. The show consistent with that.

If you are generous, you could say there are traces of magic realism.

Of the many insights I’ve seen into the horrors of the Canadian Indian residential school crimes, this was the one that moved me most.

Of 150,000 children placed in those by the Canadian government over 100 years, estimates range from 3200 to over 30,000 who died there.

Many more lived having been abused. During a penitential pilgrimage to Canada in July 2022, Pope Francis reiterated the apologies of the Catholic Church who administered many of them, including the fictional one in Three Pines, Quebec.

First Nations Canadians are still suffering from that evil legacy. And that’s spelled out in this show.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.