Primary Language

Why is it so important to most of us to have a primary language? I thought long and hard about how I was going to write this post. I was going to raise hypothetical’s, approach the topic from the points made on the air, and also tried starting fresh with this topic. None of this worked for me. The reason I ended up writing this post about a “private” conversation is because during our last radio show, I was asked about this topic off the air. There was a “fly on the wall” who thought it would be a good idea to jump in while my co-host and I were discussing the next topic on “Live.”

Her argument was simply that the government should not change the constitution to make the people do anything. Specifically, she referenced having a primary language. She phrased her argument to say that the founding fathers intended the constitution to be a bit more open for the people, not to dictate to the citizens. For this reason, we should not amend the constitution to make English the primary language. She further stated that we, as American, are superior to other governments, and because we are better, we don’t need to have legislation to state our primary language. Her next key point was that if I get my ballot in English, then why am I complaining.

No, I did not unload on her with both barrels. I was actually quite polite about this, allowed her to state her case, and plainly answered her retorts with as few words as I could. To be honest, she didn’t really interest me, just annoyed me. I think she was more interested in finding an argument than a discussion.

As to her three main points, I agree with her first and second point. There is no reason for a constitutional amendment that states we must speak English here in the United States. Personally, I think that would be wrong. Etiquette should be the guiding light as to the language you speak while you are here in the United States. If you are in a room of people who speak only German and you turn to a friend and start talking in English, your being rude. Thus, socially acceptable behaviors should be the guiding factor here. Either you’re a rude jerk, or you’re a polite “socialite” who has chosen to speak with respect. No law should dictate manners. She and I seem to agree here, though she seemed to think she was arguing this point with me.

In my opinion, the founding fathers were not looking to dictate to the people of the United States. Honestly I think the founding fathers wanted a document to use as the skeleton for laws and guidelines to be build on. The idea that English is the primary language is not skeletal in nature; it is more of a supporting clause to our culture. By having everything done at the federal, state and local levels in one common language, you remove the cumbersome task of translation, and the mistakes of interpretation. For example, if a Senator from Washington State sets forth a bill in Mandarin, and a Senate office in Maine translates it to Spanish, then it is voted on in English, there is much room for error. Just ask a person in Iran about the English version of the Qur’an. See if they think the translation to English is pure enough to be used in their Mosque.

Now here is where she and I separate. I think the United States is a great country. I enjoy the fact that my ancestors came here to root their families. I am also pleased that the FIRST GENERATION of my family learned English and assimilated. Then again, immigrants of the early 1900’s came to America to be American, not to make America the country they left (as some people from specific cultures are trying to do). But I digress. We are not superior to anyone. There are things that we may be better at, and there are things that we enjoy about our country. But this doesn’t make us superior to anyone. Who makes the best electronics? Who makes the best car? Each of us has our own opinion in these matters, and one line of thinking is not superior to the other. So how can we, Americans, be superior to another culture?

To be honest, there are parts of other cultures that i feel are BETTER than ours! Go to Germany, speak English and you will be treated like a tourist. Now LIVE in Germany, speak English and try to survive… Not so easy. Fair enough, German is the language, and you must know German to BECOME a German. I also like Mexico’s immigration laws. If you steal into their country, they kill you. I think this is fair, don’t you? (Yes I am being facetious) But seriously, if you going to wage your argument on the premise that we are superior, maybe you should start thinking about Nazi Germany, or Stalin.

Superiority doesn’t even come into question here. This is all about consistency and efficiency. Do I care if you speak another language? Yes and no. Yes, because it shows me that you have a useful skill. No, because it doesn’t really matter to me unless I need a translator or tutor. Things should be consistent within the government. My president should not be addressing the country in any language other than English. If you want to hear the Presidents words in another language, then you should have it translated like they do on the Spanish channels. Congress should never address any proposal that is in any language other than English. You will NOT try to pass a law in MY NAME that I can not understand. Further, no ruling should be made in the name of the people in a language that can not be understood by its citizens.

One last thing; I want to reiterate something I said to the “fly on the wall” that started this baseless argument:

It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL to pass a law, ruling, policy, or raise an issue in a language that the citizens can not understand. You must be proficient with English to be a citizen. THAT is why English should be the primary language.

Barack’s insane, oh my God!

Let’s start with an intelligent quote:

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American … There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag … We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language … and we have room for but one sole loyalty and the is a loyalty to the American people.”

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Now we delve into the stupidity spoken 101 years after:

“…you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish.
You should be thinking about how can your child become bilingual.”

 Barack Obama 2008 (video to follow)

Did Barack have an ice cream headache when he gave that speech in Powder Springs, GA.? I should be thinking about how my children can “become” bilingual? First off, don’t tell ME how to raise my kids. I have a sixteen year old honors student, a very bright eleven year old, and a precocious seven years old. Excuse me, Mr. Obama, but last I checked, we speak English here in the United States. If my child would like to take Spanish, that’s their choice.

Barack has slid, yet again, back into his comfort zone… The far left (even MSNBC admits Obama is SOLIDLY in the top 20 three years in a row). On July 8^th, he stated that he does not understand why people are calling for “English only” in the United States. Well Mr. Obama, we have something in common. IF people were calling for “English only,” I would not understand the sentiment either. Yet I believe you were talking about people like me. People who want the United States Government to operate in English. People who want to continue the requirement for citizenship that states you must learn English.

Well Barack, don’t forget where you are. This is the UNITED States of America, and, as much as you might hate to hear it, "applicants for naturalization must be able to read, write, speak, and understand words in ordinary usage in the English language." (Quoted from US Citizenship and Immigration Services website) Deal with it. We like it this way, and we want it to stay this way. Keep in mind, the key word was UNITED. People like me want legislation to define the official language as English simply to ensure that things remain united and uniform. I don’t care what language you speak in your own home. If “Xhosa” is your cup of tea, please, by all means.

Voting has become cumbersome with the various “language” ballots (Thank you for the example California), and it would be perfectly legal and justified to offer ballots in ONLY English. Remember the requirements for citizenship; must speak, read, and write English! Only citizens of the United States may vote in national elections and primaries. Now, Mr. Obama and friends, please tell me why I should allow ballots to be passed out in other languages? Do you NOT understand the difference between assisting and enabling?

Fact: ONLY US citizens may vote in the Presidential election.(thank you PA and TX)

Fact: To become a citizen you must speak English.

My last words on this:
As a private citizen, the Government should NEVER mandate that I must write or speak in ANY other language.

And one last opinion:
It is rude to speak another language in front of others if it is not the common language of the land. This is to those French people who sit on the stoop and talk “nineteen to the dozen” in French. (Yes I am French.)

I am going to ensure that you all can read and hear what raised my temperature. I don’t want anyone to second guess the words coming out of Barack’s mouth here, so not only did I put up a video, but the words have been written under the video. Please read along as you listen to this 1 minute clip from his speech.

"I ah I I don’t understand when, people are going around worrying about, we need to have English only.
They they wanna pass a law, we want just, ah, we want English only.
Now I agree that, immigrants should learn English.
I agree with that. But, but understand this.
Instead of worrying about whether, ah immigrants can learn English they’ll learn English you need to make sure, your child can speak Spanish.
You should be, thinking about how can, your child become bilingual.
We should have every child, speaking more than one language.
Yo its embarrassing, its embarrassing when when ah, eu when Europeans come over here.
They all speak English they speak French they speak German, and then we go over to Europe, an an ah wah ah all we’s can say is, merci beaucoup ... Right?"

Ok, if you haven’t found humor in Barack’s words say the title of this post with the same accent and "swing" that you say Barack’s full name with.

Temperature Gauge Live is on the air!

You and I have been waiting for this day to come. Looks like it is just around the corner. Yes, Temperature Gauge is going live. I have been putting together advertising spots, and "learning my lines," (who knew there would be acting involved?!?) and it looks like we go live on the 6th of July. My show is going on every Sunday, and I look forward to talking with you all.

Just to clue you in as to why this is taking so long, I have to "sell" my show. Basically I have to convince local businesses to buy advertising on 1590am WSMN. The advertising pays for my air time. If I have had the pleasure to meet you before, you might know I am not a sales person. My own failings have been holding me back. But somehow I managed to do it thanks to you. You gave me the backbone I needed to get this done.

Either way, The important thing is that we are going live! I will update with air time later this week, (if I can get on the internet from my hotel) but it should be 7pm every Sunday. This is a basic trial for me. I am in it for 10 weeks, and longer if the live show takes off! I will be waiting on your phone calls at 883-9900.

Temperature Gauge Live on 1590am WSMN
Sunday evenings from 7-8
(603) 883-9900
Streaming at wsmnradio.com

Call or email me... What's your temperature?

The missing post... I weep for our country.

(This post was actually written on the 11th, but I lost it. I am also searching for one more)

In social circles, I try to never bring up politics or religion. Sooner or later, someone has an opinion about something political, and then they turn to me. “So what do you think, Myke?” Of course I can’t just ignore the question, and they want to know my feelings on the matter. So I sit back, take a breath and launch into a dissertation regarding the subject at hand. Unfortunately, the recent subject at hand was the attacks on 9-11, or should I say the “conspiracies of 9-11.” (put on you waders, this gets deep)

Let’s get this squared away from the beginning; you and I both know the attacks on 9-11 were terrorist attacks. If you think the U.S.A. attacked itself on that day, please stop reading and do not EVER reproduce (We can not afford anymore idiots in the world, we are over our quota). Science and common sense has proved that I am right about 9-11.

Why would an American ever claim that we attacked ourselves? Who in their right (or left as the case may be) mind could ever believe we could do something so horrific to anyone, never mind ourselves? What kind of sick and twisted person would ever want to crash a plane of civilians into a building of civilians? But then again, I did have this argument with a kid in his 20’s just a few weeks back. He swore up and down that we blew up our own buildings and murdered the people on the planes.

His take on it was that we “…used explosives in the World Trade Center buildings, and hijacked our own plane.” The proof was that “…the buildings fell straight down.” Of course my first question was “Are you a %&$*-ing moron?!?!” I followed such eloquence with the hard facts of the case. The buildings did NOT fall straight down, they toppled slightly. Second, we know that as the floors collapsed, they displaced what was ON those floors and sent it to the easiest exit; the window. The “plumes of smoke,” as he called them, were nothing more than dust particle, papers, and parts of building and furniture being forced out the windows.

The reason I bring this up is simple. This kids in his twenties, and he will be helping steer this country over the next few decades. His vote is going to affect how we live our lives. This ignorant fool, who doesn’t know the facts, and has no desire to be educated, is going to decide my future? If this doesn’t scary the hell out of you, let me try this; President Barack H. Obama. You see, this idiot… who plagues my nightmares… “will vote for Barack, because Barack stands for change.” (Yes, the moron even told me so.) He doesn’t know what Barack is going to do in Iraq, with healthcare, taxes, or any other political issue. But he knows Barack stands for change. Ahh, come again?

When did we lose track of our sanity? Was it just bad parenting that lead to this worldly ignorance? Was it too many drugs in the 60’s and 70’s (and apparently 80’s)? Could this be the product of single parent households? Or is it that we just don’t care about ourselves enough to educate ourselves on the world around us. Very few of my Democrat friends can explain to me what their party is going to do for our country if Barack wins the election this year. Even less can explain how the Democrats can be beneficial to the United States this election cycle. They all have learned the mantra, though. Change for ’08. I weep for our country.

Bartender… another shot please….

John who?

So I finally heard a commercial about Jean Shaheen that was not by Jean. I was had just took a left into traffic, and as I shifted my car, I must have hit the volume up button on the radio. An announcer comes on and states how Shaheen promised us that as Governor, she would not allow new taxes in New Hampshire. I rolled my eyes and shifted into 3^rd gear. I thought to my self, “Wow, already lying to the public…” But then the tone changed slightly, and the announcer starts to remind us of the truth. I was so surprised that I mis-shifted 4^th gear.

It outlined how Jean proposed new taxes, AND raised property taxes. I forgot that in New Hampshire we pay the third highest property taxes. The Announcer was kind enough to remind me of this while also stating that the taxes she proposed would have cost the New Hampshire business owners hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Say that 10 times fast!!) As interesting as this was, I started to think, “Why would John Sununu use this as his political add?” Then the final line of the commercial came, and it was NOT a John Sununu commercial. In fact, it wasn’t even a commercial from the Republican Party; it was a third party spot!

Now I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but where the hell is John in all of this. I really hope he is not intending to ride in at the last moment and scoop up all the votes he needs. His opponent has been out of sight long enough that many people forgot what she was like as Governor. There is no way he can pull this off unless he starts putting his name out there, and starts hitting the streets again. I am sorry John, you might be the incumbent, but you don’t have squat against Shaheen right now! Too many people have forgotten that you’re even in Washington at this point. You are about to lose us another chair in Washington.

Look, John, unless you intend to step aside and allow someone else to run in your place, get your rump out there and show us what you got! Just for the heck of it, I have asked some people what they thought about John Sununu. Too many times, people asked me, “Wasn’t he a congress person or something?” I don’t know John, does this sound good to you? It doesn’t sound good to me. If this was the political climate I was looking for, I would move to France and let the government have my paycheck (where you could be paying over 55% back in taxes). John, Stop sending ME emails and DO SOMETHING!

Lamenting

Bitter sweet feelings passed over me today as I recycled my "Mitt '08" signs. It was difficult for me to remove the eight foot long Romney banner from the side of my house, but I was tired of explaining that I still feel Mitt is the man for the job. I finally gave in and admited that I have little choice but to vote for John McCain yet again. It has been a few years since I was anticipating his name on a ballot, but this fall I will again be checking the McCain box.

To be honest, this is not a new revelation for me, I know I would vote for McCain this fall. I was indignant, the thought of voting for a man who I felt was second best. "Well, bite the bullet," I told myself. "John moved from third to second best after South Carolina..." I rationalized. "... then second to first once Romney dropped out." Yes, I know Huckabee was still in the race at that point, but I couldn't rationalize Mike as viable... for anything... even janitor. (harsh words, but not as harsh as Mike's words towards and against his fellow Republicans.

So here we are, with what appears to be an Obama VS McCain contest in a few short months. Now it's time to decide who would be the best candidate to lead our fair country. To me, the choice is clear; John McCain. Why, you ask? Let me highlight two key points:

1. Barack wants to... Damn, what does he want to do? Change... ok, got it! He wants to change Washington!!

2. Who cares about number one. Any new President is a change. Do you have anything else for us?

What is your plan for our future, Mr. Obama?
(insert dead air here)
How do you plan to spend my tax dollars?
(enter "ummm" sound here)
How do you plan to pay for the national health care your proposing?
(Enter the "well, you know" sound clip here)
If you pull out troops in Iraq, how do you plan to deal with the fallout cause by the vacuum we leave behind?
(Play cricket sounds here)
When the vacuum is filled with terrorist, how do you plan to protect us from your mistake?
(...... Thank you for coming everybody! And remember, together we can. Change you can believe in!! Have a good night!)

Ah, yeah... This guy wants to run my country... Like I said, Bitter sweet. I am going to have to vote for McC-amnesty instead of my man Mitt (bitter), but I know John is the best choice for '08 (sweet).

Why I Love the Democrats... Today

As a conservative, let me say thank you to Hillary Clinton. Your current course of action has been uplifting to me. Mathematically I could not see how you expected to win. Granted, a pledged delegate does not have to vote the way of the people they represent, but do you honestly think a “pledged delegate” would change their vote from Barack? True, he has no experience, and looks like an intern on the debate stage, but I think the Democrats are more interested in keeping the votes where they belong. There are many good reasons for the Democrats to “stay the course” and nominate Barak Obama. Here’s one off the top of my head… “To give the Republicans a better chance to win.”

Alright, let's consider this for a moment; Hillary is out because she does not have the delegate count necessary to win the nomination. After losing yesterday, she decides on some abhorrent speech about choosing the right leader and blah blah blah. Typical Hillary rhetoric that does not truly congratulate the obvious winner, and further divides the Democrat Party. (Oh and also makes me happy!)

I wish I could explain to you why she has not said those beautiful words; “It has been a great run, and I thank all my supporters for bringing me this far. Now it is time to stand as one and…. (Insert rhetoric here)” Is she going to drag this out to convention? This might work for her, but the only way she can steal this is to buy, bribe, and cheat votes out of Barack pledged delegates. On the other hand, what delegate in their right mind would ever vote against their pledge? Think about how bad a presidential candidate must be for a delegate to vote against their pledge! I can't think of a time when a pledged delegate has ever voted against their constituents’. I mean CRIPE!!! THEY PUT CARTER UP ON THE STAGE!!!!! (I rest my case)

So Barack is the nominee, and he will have to face John McC-amnesty. There are only two options for the conservatives; first the conservatives MIGHT fear another Jimmy Carter and come out in force. Second, we might just stay home and try to drink the next four years away. To be honest, I think I am going to do parts of both.

Let's get drunk and vote! Another shot there, bar tender!

Violated... In My Own Home!

I feel violated. I was just accosted by the putrid image of Jean Sheehan yet again. I knew the commercials were coming, but I was hoping I would be spared the constant reminder of her Governorship. I understand that she is trying to unseat an incumbent and reminding us that she was Governor is a great use of name recognition. The problem is that too many people who are hearing the name from years past may vote for her because they remember the former Governor (her name not her term). Not all of us actually research the candidates before we vote. I know some people who have voted for a candidate because the “signs were pretty,” or “he looked pretty rugged.” (Ok, I know, not the brightest bulbs.)

This is going to sound strange, but I knew the full name of the person I was NOT voting for the second I started writing. It took me about two lines before I could remember John’s first name. I don’t know what is worrying me more, the commercials of Jean Sheehan or the lack of commercials from John Sununu. Maybe it’s the fact that John’s name slipped my mind; not a good sign. How could I forget the name of my representative? Then again, how many advertisements have you heard for John Sununu?

In the advertising industry, “branding” is a term that basically refers to making an advertisers name stick in you head. This method of advertising basically puts a product (Jean) in your face, and repeats the facts they want you to remember (Jean did this or that… Governor). You would think the Republican Party would be sinking money into John’s campaign, posting his face on your T.V. every 15-20 minutes. Considering my slight memory lapse, the average voter probably forgot John is a Senator. Last time I saw his name in print was some energy bill 2-3 months ago!

So where are the radio commercials, flyers, and billboards? (Ok, I know flyers are for the recycle bin, and people don’t pay attention to billboards….) But there has not been any attempt to get his name out yet! Where are the Republicans, and why is Sununu asleep at the wheel? Is he running for reelection, or sitting this one out? At this point he’s about a lap down and loosing ground.

This is my point; with John down in the “polls,” Jean running adds every 30 minutes on Comcast, John and his staff really need to get on the ball. If they don’t act quickly, proposes some prolific legislation, or…. ANYTHING!!!!!, this is over before it even begins. Today, if you ask people who they would vote for Jean Sheehan, or John Sununu, you might get an answer, but you might also get a “John who?” The problem for John is what I call the “What have you done for me….lately?” syndrome.

In this “ADHD” style political world, I can not help but ask these questions; “Where is the Republican Party?” ” When is John going to run?” and the all important, “Is it already too late?”

I hate to say it, but it may already be over for John. Cheer up though; I was wrong about Hillary and Rudy….

The Weapon of Choice

So your down at a pub off Main Street, when in comes a Yankee’s fan. What is the proper response?

a. Talk sports

b. State the facts that prove the Red Sox are a better team

c. Run the bastard over with your car

Well, after last week, we all know the correct answer is “C,” run the bastard over. Nashua has just received its new summer past-time thanks to Ivonne Hernandez. It’s a simple way to waste some excessive time (like life in prison at the taxpayers’ expense). Just go to a bar, have four beers, then get in your car and “scare” a fan of another team by running them down with your car. Then you can claim it was an accident in court (though you already have a record) and face second degree murder charges…

If you can’t tell, I am a bit upset with this. I don’t care if alcohol impaired her judgment, this woman got into her car with the intention of aiming her 4-5,000 lb car at pedestrians. Seems to me she also left the area she was arguing in, retrieved her car, and then hunted down the people she didn’t agree with TO RUN THEM OVER! Sounds like intent to me. This is first degree in my book. I may be wrong, but I thought New Hampshire law states that the charges go up then the driver is intoxicated, not down. Unfortunately, the prosecutors decided that because she “didn’t mean” to rundown her victims, this is second degree.

Now here is a creepy though; I think I have had a run in with Ms. Hernandez. If here maroon Dodge Intrepid is the one that had the Yankee symbol on the back window, she is the same one who cut me off then told me I was “number one,” if you know what I mean (finger gestures). I feel lucky today knowing I might have saved my life by ignoring her and letting her act the fool. Who knows, she might have thought I was a Red Sox fan and started ramming my car if I beeped at her.

Basically, what I am getting at is this. We have some very unstable, immature, ignorant people we must share the world with. Therefore we must gauge our actions cautiously. This does not mean we must cower from every shadow, but more that we must think about EVER possible consequence before we act. The two poor people who were run down by this lunatic probably thought they were having a typical Boston VS New York sports debate. Little did they know that they were messing with a ticking time bomb.

When Intelligence Fails...

The whole Reverend Wright situation made me think again about the whole “race” issue. I don’t really think about “race relations” all that much because I never see the “race” part of it. I have friends of many different races, religions, and other “defining” markers. I don’t think of my friends as being one attribute. My friend Garret is Garret, not black or homosexual. Do the attributes of my friends really matter in the whole scheme of things? Yes, because some characteristics design the person, and other no, because some characteristics would not change the person if they were altered.

We all wish that race was not an issue for anyone in this day and age. I personally do not understand why it is an issue now or ever. I may be naive, but the human mind is generally the same from on person to the next, and the blood that courses through our veins created in the same manner. Skin “color” is simply pigmentation of the skin, not a measure of the person.

Cultivation of the person (morals, values, etc.) is what I have found to be important in life. So why do so many things seem to revolve around skin color? Is there a certain lineage that makes one being better than another? Is there a purer bloodline in one race or culture? I found these questions easy to field, the answer is no. There is no “birthright” that makes one person superior to another. Each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses that help shape who we are.

So going back to the good Reverend, I can not help but wonder why he must interject race into the equation. Congratulations, your skin color is different than mine. I fail to see how you could state that I am somehow evil due to my skin tone. What if I was the same person, but my skin tone was darker? Would I still be evil, or would you change your opinion of me? What is the defining line you use when you judge my character? Is it my personality, my education? Could it be that you prejudge who I am simply because of the amount of pigmentation in my skin? I mean no disrespect, but that does seem a bit shallow and dim witted to me. Then again, I could be missing something. Could the good Reverend be correct? Maybe race is a factor and I have not received enough education to understand this concept. Perhaps the amount of or lack of skin pigmentation affects the body adversely.

For some reason, even writing such idiotic statements has made me feel less intelligent. So let us get back to the heart of my argument. The amount of pigmentation in ones skin does not affect the function of the mind, nor the morals and values of the individual. Therefore, to bring race into a conversation about the merits of a person is to be racist. Simply put, I do not care what “color” you are, if you are judging people (group or individual) due to their skin pigmentation, you are shallow indeed. I venture to say you may be racist.

Climate Control (part 1,2&3 combined)

The teacher’s contract issue has been the center of much turmoil for a number of months. With a quick stroke of the pen, it all went away with the exuberance of a snail. Mayor Donnalee Lozeau signed the latest proposed contract without fanfare, a very mature decision.

The atmosphere within the schools has changed dramatically, and the teachers are actually taking kids out for field trip now. Teachers have made themselves more accessible to the students, and there has been talk about the extra curriculum activities for next year. Every student I have talked to has stated that the teachers seem more relaxed that they had been one month ago. In the school, you never would know how recently things have changed.

I have been there, and I have worked there. I have seen the changes taking place. I may have only seen the teachers for a short period of time prior to the contract being signed, but it was long enough to notice the change.

Before the contract was signed, I found it fairly easy to slip into the teachers areas unnoticed. While “eavesdropping,” I heard some interesting conversations. One of the most memorable went a little something like this:

T1: So. Do you think they will sign?
T2: I hope so. I don’t want to strike.
T1: Yeah. Gotta do what you gotta do.
-pause-
T2: So… ahh… How do we do this?
T1: Do what?
T2: Shhhhh… (whispered) here comes a sub.
-pause-(another substitute entered the room then left)
T2: Okay, now how do we do the strike thing.
T1: I don’t know, I’ve never done this before either.
-pause-
T2: Well, hopefully they sign it
T1: If they don’t, we strike until they give us everything we want…
T2: Yeah…(then while walking away) whatever…

Because I carry the same badge the teachers carry, I have found that they don’t notice me quite as often as I thought they would. Sometimes I hear things that I shouldn’t. But right along I have been telling people that not all the teachers wanted to strike. This does not mean that those teachers are innocent I am just restating what I have said in private conversation. If a teacher acted against our children (like I have listed so many time before) then it does not matter if they wanted to strike or not, they are still guilty.

So do I cut the teachers a little more slack now that the contract negotiations are finished? No, I just allow them a little more breathing room. There are good teachers and there are bad teachers. Now that the teachers are not acting as one to destroy our children’s future, I will only be ripping into those who continue to be a waste of tax dollars.

A Stupid Mistake

Due to an error on my part, nothing has been posted on my site for a few weeks. I just wanted to say thank you to the person who finally sent me this email:

Myke,

I was just wondering if you were ok. You’re not sick again, are you? I noticed you haven’t written in a month and I know that’s weird. You always seem to have an opinion on everything. I never saw anything about the teacher’s contract and was wondering how it panned out. Drop me a line and if you need some help just ask.

Thank you for the concern, but I am alright. It seems my new software has not been functioning properly. I do not actually look at my web page, and everything is done via publishing program. It was my own fault for not checking my page.

Much of what I wrote will not make sense if I just repost it. I will be rewriting my previous blogs, and combining a couple of them. I think I can weave most of my work in with very few glitches.

Again, I am sorry for not looking at my own page. I assumed my programs were posting and reporting to me correctly. Starting right now, 8:22pm on Monday April 21, 2008, I am going over my previous (non)posts and revamping them. I think I can sum it all up in three posts.

Crossing my fingers and thanking you all for the support (even when I let you down),

Myke