Spare and Spoil?

To spank or not? A new article affirms not. Spanking, it asserts, is ineffective. My generation (Gen X) was one that was hit-or-miss with spanking. My parent's generation, that was another story. Yet, my parents' generation was more respectful (on the whole) to their parents than mine. Was it because we weren't spanked? Not really. It was because our parents had that "question authority" period known as the '60s to change their minds. Is it any wonder their kids began to question their authority? "Who are you to tell me what to do?" The reaction was not, "because I'm the parent" but rather, "I guess I can't make them do what they don't want to, that's not fair/nice/reasonable." Over the years we've paid for it--just look at school discipline--when I was doing teaching practicum in college, a student at one of the practicum schools threw a desk (no kidding)! Would a spanking have helped? He probably would have called the authorities and accused the spanker of abuse. Resentful kids know all the tricks.
Here's a thought, though: If you aren't going to spank, DO SOMETHING. (Pardon the all caps, but there is still discipline between spanking and nothing.) Kids will not behave on their own. They need guidance. Not lectures, not empty threats, not letting it go until it gets to a point where it can't be ignored. Here's my shameless plug: try Love and Logic. My parents didn't know about it, but they followed many of the principals without knowing it. Sure, they spanked too, but they knew a spanking was not a cure-all for every misbehavior. Let me tell you about the pile of rocks we picked up because we were misbehaving--on second thought, maybe I shouldn't admit so much.

Vocation

I am not desirous of disparaging our brave military personnel. They put their lives on the line every day to protect freedom.
I will, however, bring up the question of women in the military. I think of the line from The Pirate Movie where the father says, "With women leading our armies, we'll never have another decent war again." I'm not saying women don't have the ability; however, is it something they should be doing? Take this case: why should women have to choose between family and military? I don't think we should point the finger at the military, however. One who enlists basically knows what they're getting in to, and families will have to be left behind. There seems to be a growing trend of single moms enlisting because of the economic benefits; yet, what about the children left with others while mom goes into potentially deadly situations. Sure, dads do that too, but usually there is a surviving parent. Not so with single moms (ok, sure the dad may be around somewhere, but obviously not involved with the child's life).
Those who push for women to be equal to men (not equality but EQUAL) would reject this antiquated notion, but just because "we girls can do anything" doesn't mean we should. Maybe that's just another sign that my thinking hasn't evolved.

My Pick for Oscar

I want Up in the Air to win. Mostly because it was filmed locally and has a story line apropos to the times. I have a feeling that Avatar will win because it has all the special effects and the story line leans more to the direction in which those voting for the awards prefer.

I can't truly say which movie has more cinema qualities like acting and story line and the like, as I have not actually gone to a movie in a theater since 500 Days of Summer, which was the first I'd seen since I don't remember when. Hence, I can only base my opinion on the reviews I have heard and read. Maybe that's a poor reason to pick a movie for an Oscar, but it seems that some of the best movies always just miss winning the Oscar. Perhaps Mr. Clooney can remember that when the largest grossing movie of all time takes the little statuette.

It's Called The Job, Sir

With all due respect, Mr. President, you might want to get used to the fact (or inform your media buddies) that you are not a private citizen for the remainder of your term. You can't always expect a restful Chrismas vacation. I know everyone hates comparing your administration to the the previous one, but do remember that even he couldn't go read stories to little Floridians without being interrupted with news about plane crashes. It's how the job goes.
I suppose I can give you the benefit of the doubt: it is not you complaining of no R & R on vacay, but your media buddies. Maybe they're the ones complaining that THEY couldn't get rest over the holidays because of some nut job trying to blow up a plane. Sorry guys, news happens when it happens. I know, maybe we can encourage the terrorists and idiots around the world who want to kill Americans to do it on a more convenient time frame, and not over the holidays. Maybe talk to Fox News and see if they can get that word out, as they're not really doing any real news coverage; therefore, they have time to work on that.
Now if you'll excuse me, the baby is crying, the washer is out-of-balance, and the phone is ringing, so I can't have a restful blog-typing session. Maybe next time.

Rememberies

November 10, 1483: Martin Luther's birthday.

November 10, 1975: The Edmund Fitzgerald sank.
These two incidents are completely unrelated, and I remember neither of them; however, it is good to reflect on their historicity.

Another anniversary is the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. I do remember this event fairly well, as well as its historical impact on the world. I met a German once who had photographs of the Wall coming down, as he lived in Berlin in 1989. The pictures were exactly like the magazine pictures, postcards, and news footage we saw in America. I pondered what it would be like to be at such an historical event.

There are pieces of the Berlin Wall everywhere these days. In the years after 1989, pieces were packaged and sold on the streets of Berlin. I purchased one when I was over there. Larger sections of the wall were sent around the world. A major section can be seen at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. Then there are these sections in Las Vegas. It is a tale of irony and sarcasm. The formidable wall which once meant death to those who attempted to cross it and symbolized the divide between communism and capitalism is now reduced to this.

There's a lesson in there somewhere. . .

Cover, Wash, Repeat

Our school has been getting emails about H1N1 and how to prevent the spread thereof. Part of prevention is covering one's sneezes. Crook of the arm, people--not the hand! Does there need to be a demonstration?

Part of prevention is handwashing. Okay, fine; I have a request: Make handwashing better for the public when it comes to public restrooms.
First, if proper handwashing is lather for 15-20 seconds, replace silly push-top or twist-and hold on faucets. A proper handwasher just gets soap all over the handle. Then if they don't stay on, the germs one has just lathered off gets right back on when the faucet has to be turned back on. In a similar vein, have spigots that are not all hot or all cold. Have a lukewarm setting. After 20 seconds of lathering, the hot often gets too hot, and then one has to germify the hands again to turn on the cold to keep from getting scalded.
Second, please replace the air dryers with paper towels. Proper handwashing indicates turning off the faucet with paper towels. It's difficult to do that when there are no paper towels. I don't care how many trees or landfills are saved. Try replacing the styrofoam containers instead of taking paper towels away.
Third, please make the door push on exiting the bathroom, not a handle to pull. It defeats the purpose of handwashing. Either that or put a trash can near the door so that a proper handwasher can pull the handle with a paper towel and then have a place to properly dispose of it without having to throw it on the floor or do some yoga-like stretching exercises to hold the door with one foot and reach the trash can.
Remember: Only you can prevent the flu. We need to eradicate H1N1 lest healthcare reform impact flu coverage.

The Illusion Shattered

I've come to the conclusion that Facebook can be--not a bad thing, not a negative thing--I guess it's a disillusioning tool. It is disillusioning in the sense that there are people from my youth who have become more or less characters; a person to be mentioned in a story the way Dave Barry might mention a kid on the block from his past. Characters don't grow up and have Facebook pages. They stay static. So when one comes across one of these characters and discover they have become an adult just like the rest of us and have an actual life, it's like finding out that Superman has become a flabby, middle-aged journalist and doesn't feel like running around saving the world when his allergies are flared up. I guess it happens to the best of us.