A Debt to Society

Only 14,000 people a year donate organs.
That's less than 1% of the incarcerated population in the US.


Last night in January's issue of Esquire magazine, I read a gruesome article about a man named Christian Longo and his sudden dissention into murderous insanity.


A word of caution; if you have a young family of your own, or are planning to start one, this article hits close to home and contains heartbreaking details.


Read the article here


The author circles around an idea he and Longo stumbled upon called G.A.V.E. - Gifts of Anatomical Value from the Executed. GAVE is a movement to change state policies on lethal injections that would allow organs from the executed to be donated to those in need. As it stands now, current injections make such donations impossible because they cause organ failure. If a method could be found that shuts down the brain as opposed to the other organs (kidneys, liver, lungs) we could greatly increase the number of available organs. My suggestion for a new method; 1 bullet, instant brain death.


Although it was born from a monster, I can get behind the idea.


Criminals owe this to us.


It's their debt to society. We as taxpayers pave the way to keep them alive (ie: prison food, clothing, shelter, etc) They should now return the favor and help keep us alive. I mean, isn't that what incarceration is all about? You stole the rights and liberties of other free citizens, so in turn you lose yours. At least death row inmates, right? The way the prison system has evolved it seems more and more like the American public is simply throwing away money to keep these criminals alive during endless, recycling appeal processes. Where's does society get paid back?


GAVE could be the place. If only %1 of inmates were able to donate their organs after execution, the number of usable organs in America would more than double. This means a %50 reduction to the 3 year waiting period to have a kidney replaced.


I say again, FIFTY PERCENT.


That's 547 days, which to me is A LOT OF LIVING. It's nearly the entire span of my daughter, Meredith's life. Twice that of my daughter, Brooklyn. Nearly a quarter of my marriage, a third of my teaching career, half of my time spent in college, more than a full pregnancy term, two full major league baseball seasons, 1,641 meals, 2 family reunions, Christmases, Easters, Thanksgivings, I could go on and on. To boil it down, just changing from an injection to a bullet would do leagues of good in the life of someone with a chronic illness.


Many in America are opposed to the death penalty. GAVE could even be applied on a less abrasive scale. Blood and plasma donations could be made on a regular basis from not only those serving on death row but all inmates. That in itself could change lives. Save lives. Think about the positive affect it will have on the new social healthcare laws that have been set forth. If social healthcare is as bad as I've heard, it looks like GAVE isn't going to be an option before long. We're going to need it. Some people might wince at the thought of receiving blood from a prison inmate but I believe the decision is probably much easier when made at death's doorstep.


If you honestly think about it, GAVE could really make a difference, one day even for yourself.


So what do we do?


Ratify the new policy into law? Write to our senators? Donate our time, energy or money to GAVE? To the monster Longo?


No.


If we get behind this, we donate to ourselves. To our neighbors. To our children.


Think about it. Then act on it.
www.gavelife.org


Thanks to Michael Finkel and Esquire Magazine for publishing the article.

Standardized Testing 2010

Students open your test booklets and answer documents to page ## (page numbers not listed for security purposes) Read the directions with me as I read them aloud. Does everyone understand? Complete the answers to the questions working until you see the STOP SIGN at the bottom of the page. When you finish raise your hand and I will pick up your test materials. Begin work now...

For the next two weeks at RMMS, we're doing the New Mexico Standards Based Assesment. This is the test that determines whether the teachers and students in our school system are performing at the level they should for their age (Annual Yearly Progress) and if they're not, then students are being left behind and the government will not stand to have it's students performing at different achievement levels and will take over your school. If the entire country was run this way, I believe it would be called (what's the word?) Oh yes, Socialist. The testing is highly structured with a strong focus on security, for example:

ABSOLUTELY NO...
talking
copying
sleeping
crying
posters on the wall that might help students
doors open
students in the hall
unscheduled/unsupervised bathroom breaks
eating
drinking
smiling
laughing
iPods
cell phones
cameras
computers
shirts untucked
smoking
thinking
hoping
wishing
dreaming
dancing
or creativity

during testing at all for ANY REASON.


Questions are to be answered in an Answer, Cite, Expand format. The student is to state the correct answer, cite where they found it, then expand on the answer with their own thoughts and observations. Sounds a bit like Larry King Live. The test booklets directing students to "Expand on that" from behind highly magnified glasses and a pair of strapping suspenders.


If students:

Complete all three parts they receive - 4 points.
Answer correctly, site correctly, don't expand - 3 pts.
Answer correctly, don't site or expand - 2 pts.
Answer incorrectly, do or don't site+expand - 1 pt.
Leave it blank - 0 pts.

So if you can bullshit your way through an answer you could receive as much or more credit as the person who just gets the thing done. I've never done a good job, paid a bill, got to work on time, or cooked a meal as an adult and had someone ask me, "Where did you obtain the ___(noun)___ to ___(verb)___ this ___(noun)___, and tell me your thoughts on ___(noun/verb)___"
Wait, yes I have. You know who I get this line of questioning from?
MY GRANDMOTHER. Not my boss, business partner, clients, debtors, or waiters. What usually works best is less talk, more action.


Individualized Instruction vs. Standardized Testing

Ladies & Gentlemen, in todays bout of deep understanding, theoretical comprehension, content application, and assesment of learning driven instruction, we have two seriously overestimated contenders. In the red corner, weighing in at worthless to everyone unless you want to produce a generation of helpless drones; Individualized Instruction.

Individualized instruction: curriculum content and instructional materials, media, and activities designed for individual learning. The pace, interests, and abilities of the learner determine the curriculum.

If you can't write, I won't make you write. You can speak instead. If you can't read, I won't make you read. I'll tell you instead.

Which translates to:

If you can't speak, I won't make you speak. We'll hire someone to translate for you or pay to have a sign printed in the language you speak. If you can't pay, I won't make you pay. I'll create a program that uses tax dollars to fulfill your needs. You do whatever you want, we'll make sure your taken care of.

If everyone is taught this way, and everyone ends up living on tax dollars, who is going to provide those dollars?

...and in the blue corner coming in at a modification shattering, tell us everything you know about everything you've learned and even if you don't know it put something anyway and we'll give you credit but don't cheat cause this test is the thing that will determine the quality of your entire life and no you can't use your notes; Standardized Testing.


Now that we've met everyone's indivdual needs for education so that they can be the best learners they can be, let's measure them all by

ONE

SINGLE

MEASURE.

No, no, no, for the test you CAN'T speak the answers. You MUST write them. I CAN'T tell you the question or answer. You MUST read it. It's like owning a restaurant, Welcome to McPublik's what can we get you? Then taking everyone's order, suited to their tastes, made just how they like it. Except when it comes time to eat, we only serve the McStandard with cheese. Take it or else. Hmmmmmmm.... does it smell like irony in here? The stench is going to be awefully bad when it leaves the classroom and enters US commerce, the US household, and starts reproducing.


Conclusion

"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not..."

Thomas H. Huxley

Are we teaching our kids content? Or future work habits? In my experience it's work habits. I can't tell you what I learned in Mr. Bramlett's Algebra 2 class, or Mogford's Language Arts class, except that I had 5,000 better things to do and yet I HAD to go to their classes. I HAD to do 50 problems correctly or I didn't pass. I HAD to write a 10 page essay on Brutus vs. Caesar. Because of it, I know that I HAVE to pay my bills, I HAVE to feed my kids, and I HAVE to go to work. Under the current eductation system students believe that someone else will DO IT FOR THEM. If we ever want to get out of this recession, we'd better practice a little tough love. Failure to do so, in my opinion, will ultimately result in The Greater Depression.

Wildcat Scramble 2010

This year's Wildcat Scramble was a lot of fun. Twenty-seven Wildcat golfers showed up to host the tourney out at RMCC. The putting green was inadvertently converted into an ice-skating rink overnight so the morning warm-up fell nothing short of eventful. Our team (sponsored by Hofacket & Kretek Law) was comprised of Kelly Gannaway, Chuck Kretek, Brandon Hofacket, Ashley Strong, and myself. We pulled out a shocking 66 after 18 well-played holes. It was a nice bit of nostalgia playing old number three as they've made improvements to number two and closed it to allow new grass to grow out.

Sunday was the first chance I got to use my newly acquired antique clubs. Striking the ball with wooden-shaft leather gripped clubs is definitely something every golfer should do in their lifetime. I picked them up on ebay for about 10 bucks a club. The set once belonged to a Scotsman named Dave Ferguson who designed golf courses in South Carolina. A big thank you to rgarnergolf for the quality sale.

The burritos provided by team mothers were awesome. I think Pennie Gallosa made mine and I'm sure she did so without the help of her outspoken daughter Rebecca. Buffalo Wild Wings of Las Cruces provided free wings and burgers that were off the hook. My sincerest apologies go out to the ladies running the refreshment trailer off of old number 3; I wasn't aiming for you guys, really.

At the end of the day when the scores were tallied, I think we ended up taking about %80 of Ashley's shots. She crushes the ball off the tee. We didn't want her to feel overworked so we did about %98 of the talking in exchange for her efforts on the fairway. I don't think she said as many words as she took swings. Unfortunately, 66 wasn't enough to win the scramble so we settled for good conversation and refreshment in the RMCC clubhouse. The clubhouse is always a good place to reconnect with old friends. Had the chance to catch up with Jake Skelton, Trevor Milburn, and John Jenkins while I was there.

It was also good meeting new people, an occasion that is not often enjoyable. Although Chuck and I knew of each other through the small town connection, we had never actually been introduced. I think he and Ashley were competing to see which of the two could say the least during the round. An awkward time and venue for the quiet game, I felt.

You couldn't have asked for better weather and all and all, it was a good time that lives on during today's painful recovery. I hope everyone else who played had as much fun as us.

Student Loans

Was flipping through this months Kiplinger's and came across an article on How to Shed Student Loan Debt. As of late, this has been one of my chief concerns when I lay head to pillow and contemplate the future. How the hell am I going to get rid of this college debt? It makes me wonder about the generations passed who are the ones making all this money off of rising education costs. "Here you go boy, head off to college. We'll give you a nice shiny degree (which you'll need to get a job anywhere excluding The Hatcreek or Keeler Farms) then all you have to do is pay $75,000 for it, including interest. No sweat right? Sign at the bottom...

Will my generation be as quick to dig a gigantic hole under it's children and grandchildren? Or will we just pass the hole we're in on to them? People wonder why there's no class movement. I don't. Most certainly, if I was on the receiving end of all the cash that's generated from the interest on the debt college grads stay in, I wouldn't give it up either.

"Kick 'em when they're down kick 'em when they're up." - Don Henley
(their music)

Anyways, it never does any good to bring up problems and never mention any solutions which is why I posted the link to the article above. Looks like there are a select few out there who are willing to give college grads the leg up they deserve.

"I'll tighten my belt before I ask for help." - Jay-Z
(ours)

I'm not big on asking for help myself but maybe if I swallow my pride now, It'll mean a better future for my kids down the road. I'll still pay my taxes, which means that many in this country will still eat (and have a cell phone and drive a new car but that's a whole other story) In conclusion, I guess I shouldn't complain. I don't live in New Orleans, Haiti, Chile, or a dumpster. Doesn't mean some circumstances don't get to me from time to time.

Small Town PR

Just read Are You Budgeting/Planning “Let’s Help Out” PR a blog by Brent Diggins about setting aside "Helping Out" PR funds for your business. In the event of a crisis your business can be there to help out with a donation. I thought it sounded like a really good idea, something that would be extremely effective in a small market (i.e. Deming) A post to my blog will serve as a personal reminder to that purpose. Doesn't really seem effective to put "Set Aside "Helping Out" Money" on a weekly cycle in my Google Calendar. Then again, that may be exactly the thing to do that will ensure that the funds are actually put aside. Either way, I'm going to give it a shot this year. Hopefully this blog post doesn't surface and turn the population against me in a rage of "HE JUST GIVES MONEY TO SUPPORT HIMSELF!!!" riot. We'll see...

First New Thought

The thing about fragmentary blogs is...

Back, back, to blogging, blogging.

It's been a day or two, I know. I've decided to start blogging again. Hopefully my creativity will start making some key strokes soon...

The Quiet Township

As the wind whistles through the empty buildings and the dust rides it's currents leaving a irreplaceable mark upon the streets, a lonely tumbleweed meanders by, all is dry and alone. The stench of fatigue is rampant as the sun sets behind the clouds to the west. A storm builds to the east, but the rain will only dampen spirits and fill this place with darkness and loathing. As a crack of thunder breaks the masthead of the storm open, pouring the icy sludge into the air, Allentown cries out for the fruits of commerce to defend it's broken community. While the storm consumes the rooftops of the small township, dispair is burned into the souls of all here. Retribution? Rebirth? Not today I fear. Not today. The ground begins to break, and the borough is all but swallowed by this predator of time and space. As the storm slowly passes, Allentown embraces the cold mud in which it rests. All that remains is the warrant of tomorrow. Left only alive enough to endure the strife to come, the quiet township carries on.

F.O.D.F.'s

The world of debits and credits is not one I am good with. The long list of pluses, minuses, and numbers that make up my checking account balance, daily beckons my mind's door; beating it down with F.O.D.F's. I can't even creatively denote my feelings on the matter, it infuriates me more and more as I try to write about it. If the acronym that makes up the title doesn't make sense to you, then I can only assume that you've never had the pleasure of finding one on your list and that you are an extremely intelligent and responsible person and you are too intelligent to be reading this blog. I hate F.O.D.F's Plain and simple. I hate them for their cost and for the fact that they put a dollar amount on my stupidity. "Nice move jackass- that'll be $33 dollars" they seem to say. "Oh wait, we ring the meal as one purchase and the tip as another- $66 please. We know it's only $2 difference, but that's the price you pay for being a fool. Oh you don't have $66 to cover the fees no problem you can pay them whenever you get the money, it'll only cost you $4 a day. Thanks, see you again next time. Jackass." Though I hate them, I enjoy their humorous reality checks. I'm grateful to have their help getting to the next stage.