Talk about being Lost.....

The show is really getting complicated.

Last night's The Constant didn't disappoint in that respect.

The electromagnetic field that brought the plane down obviously causes some major weather situations around the island.

Desmond being in prison isn't really explained.

Did I see Penelope with a wedding ring on her hand?

Could Michael be the spy on the ship?

Anyone have any thoughts on this episode?




Check out Doc Jensen's EW.com recap


"Lost" '96 Tears     ç here

the Kahana





Penelope on the phone with Desmond,





Daniel's notebook...the constant






 

Picture returning to work from lunch, sitting in your office, not having had a chance to look at your email yet...

All of a sudden, a gunman bursts into the building, lines up all the employees against the wall and threatens to kill the employee who makes the highest wage.

Imagine how you would feel to later find out that it was all a "test" to see how you would handle the situation.

And, by the way, you were warned about it in an email....but, too bad if you didn't receive it before the experiment.

It just so happens, your office is on a second floor, and co-workers were thinking of jumping out of the windows.  

Others are so distraught they now need psychological counseling.  

The "fake gunman" could have been killed in the process.

Who knows if authorities might have shown up with real weapons.

Well, something like this did happened last Friday, in North Carolina.

What makes it worse is that it wasn't an office building.

It was a college campus; Elizabeth City State University.

And it happened just eight days after five killings by a gunman at Northern Illinois University.

"Anthony Brown, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the university was testing its response to shootings of the sort that have shaken campuses around the country. "The intent was not to frighten them but to test our system and also to test the response of the security that was on campus and the people that were notified," Brown said."

"I was prepared to die at that moment," Wang, [a political science teacher] said Tuesday."

The mock gunman broke into Wang's class.

Brown gets the honorary degree of  DUNCE.

Read the article in the The News & Observer

Mock Gunman Terrifies Students     ç here

 

 

         Hmmm...AAA or aa (afghan autoclub)?

A vote.

Is that too much to ask for?

Is it too much to ask for the Senate to do the right thing for the American people?

Just a vote.

No...instead, two weeks ago, Nancy Pelosi decided to let the Senate go into recess rather that take a vote on FISA legislation that would allow our spies to intercept foreign communications.


“Half of all the information we obtain on future attacks against our nation comes from electronic surveillance, according to National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell, who warned that failure to pass the Senate bill will degrade all intercepts by two-thirds. We can’t expect intelligence officials to connect the dots when they have one arm tied behind their back collecting them.”  This from Vito Fossella and Peter King, Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York.

Outrageous.....

They also say,

"Make no mistake — American is more vulnerable to attack today than it was just two weeks ago. In the Senate, Democrats and Republicans worked with the administration to pass a bipartisan bill. The question is, will the House stop playing politics and do the right thing for America?" 


The Democrats say they haven't had enough time to act on this legislation. 

But they have had since last April. 

This is serious.

Pelosi is reckless.

Pelosi and House Democrats do not care about protecting the citizens of the United States of America.

Read the entire article by Fossella and King in the Washington Times


A Big Bouquet for Al Qaeda   í  here

And remember...Pelosi can sleep tight...

If we have a national security risk, she is whisked off to a safe haven...

You on the other hand, should sleep with one eye open....





 

Usually when I need to get blood drawn, if the phlebotomist asks me if I'm nervous...I respond with, "No, are you?" 

Sometimes, I find when I am asked this question, it is an inexperienced person who is getting ready to insert that needle into my arm.

This happened just last month, which resulted in one tube of blood being accidentally thrown away, and an additional insertion of a needle, since the phlebotomist didn't have a clue...

I certainly don't mind having blood drawn, or watching the procedure. 

But, as most of us know, there are people who are afraid to have blood drawn and are afraid of the site of blood, and even faint.


"Looking at blood can be hard on anyone, but for some people, it can be a huge problem. Up to 30 percent of children are afraid of the sight of blood, a response that usually continues into adulthood, according to the definitive study on the topic, by Isaac Marks of the Institute of Psychiatry in London. That study also revealed that approximately 15 percent of the adult population faints when donating blood.

Fainting at the sight of blood generally comes from an overactive vasovagal response, an evolutionary fear reflex.

Read the rest of the article at PopSci.com  (don't faint...it has a graphic)

Why Does Blood Make Some People Squeamish, But Not Others?    í  here

O.K. sorry....because I was lost..I skipped some of my Lost commentary....

I'll try to catch up here....

The episode the "Economist" revealed that Sayid was working for Ben...and that Ben may possibly be one of the Oceanic six...

Lost producers promise to reveal all six by March 13th..episode 7.

They will also reveal who is in the coffin some time this season. (my guess is still Michael)

But the episode last week, "Eggtown," revealed that Kate is playing mom to Aaron...so Aaron should be counted as one of the Oceanic six, correct?

Is Aaron related to Jack? 

I recall Jack's father is Aaron's father....(remember his escapades in Australia)?


Check out EW.com for Lost:  Not What We Eggspected for a recap on last week's episode.



Tonight's episode is titled "The Constant" and at the end of last week's show we saw Sayid and Desmond in the helicopter.

Supposedly, they hit turbulence on the way to the freighter and Desmond experiences unexpected side effects.  

I didn't recall Desmond being in the helicopter when it originally took off from the island ....Did anyone else?

Check out EW.com and Doc Jensen's Tease regarding tonight's episode....

Is there a wormhole on the Island? Doc Jensen's thoughts. Plus: what to know for tonight's episode

Lost:  Checking The Time  í  here

Here are some cool shots from the last two episodes:

Who is R.G.?





Where is Sayid going?

   One of Ben's passports in the hidden room.     


         

From Wikipedia, this is the 2003 English Version of the book Sawyer is reading, The Invention of Morel, and is a Sci-Fi book about an island with the main character Morel creating a machine to reproduce reality.    

Book Locke gives to Ben to read.





These blocks on Aaron's dresser look just like the building in London from Charlie's flashback (the building from the Pink Floyd album cover). In the flashback, that building had a "Widmore Construction" sign on it.


See you by tomorrow night for analysis of tonight's episode......

 from the Wisconsin Historical Society

__________________________________________

In 1885, Wisconsinites must have been a little bit tougher than we are.

These La Crosse men formed a Toboggan Club and braved temperatures that dipped to over 25 degrees below zero while enjoying the sport.  They didn’t let a little bit of cold weather or fear of hypothermia slow them down a bit.  This club built a giant slide for toboggans next to a skating rink and included lighting.

I suppose any of us from the Franklin area interested in tobogganing will probably just stick to the toboggan run in Whitnall Park.  And, wouldn’t you know, we’ve got a little snow…so looks like it’s closed (what would those La Crosse men think)?:

Toboggan Slide Hours:  
(To build the iced track, we require several weeks of temperatures below 20F. We build the track as soon as conditions allow.)
2007-08 Hours
Feb. 19, 2008 - The track is temporarily closed
Thurs.–Fri 4–8pm
Saturday noon–8pm
Sunday noon–6pm

 

Some readers will remember Civil Defense drills from the mid 50’s through the mid 60’s during school hours.

I admit it…I was panic-stricken.

Things weren’t touchy~feely back then.

It was...what it was.

We were told there was a “bomb” and some day it might come.

The A-bomb.... 

I didn’t understand that bomb thing. 

I was in first grade when I was first told. 

This lasted through third grade. 

I just know my teachers were afraid, so I was afraid too.

In my school we were handed plastic I.D. tags on sliver chains to wear around our necks.  

They had our school pictures on them, along with our address, phone number, and parent information.

Does anyone of my generation recall this film? 

It is so blunt and terrifying…talk about reality programing.

How many kids do you figure couldn’t sleep at night after seeing this?





                            Duck and Cover Civil Defense Film



This is why we fight the War on Terror…..what you see on this film...fear  (besides 9-11, of course).

Think about your children or grandchildren or relatives.

This is what terrorists have caused in other countries…fear. 

I know...some of you will say we are causing this to children in other countries.

No...the "terrorists" are causing us to fight the War on Terror.

I don’t ever want my children to have their children feel the way I did during the early 60's on our own American soil. 

I don’t care how long the War on Terror lasts if it prevents this.

I do care who is leading our country….I want a leader who is strong enough to keep fighting the War on  Terror.

The Red Queen lecturing Alice, by John Tenniel

Red Queen's race

The Red Queen's race is an incident that appears in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass and involves the Red Queen, a representation of a Queen in chess, and Alice constantly running but remaining in the same spot."Well, in our country," said Alice, still panting a little, "you'd generally get to somewhere else — if you run very fast for a long time, as we've been doing."

"A slow sort of country!" said the Queen. "Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!"

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


I’ll only address the Red Queen’s Race this one time.  Amazingly, its example can be paralleled with countless life circumstances.  Among them….jobs, economic growth, and taxes. 

Here we are, well into the age of technology (yes, the information age – you must read this) finding that jobs here in the U.S. are disappearing and being outsourced to other countries.  At the same time, the cost of living is going up at a steady pace and we have less purchasing power.  The average citizen is running as fast as he can to stay in the same place he used to be.

Taxes….excessive government spending….tax the average citizen to near death….tax businesses until they leave the country.  Then, find cheap labor where those products are now being made.  Give us more to buy…then, we end up buying more.   So, we need to work more and we become multi-income families.  College students attend college longer and live home longer.  Marriage and family (if any) has been put off until the thirties or later. 

The government offers a multitude of social benefits, from our taxes, for those who are not as well off as those of us who are running as fast as we can to stay in the same place…. and most who are offered, take advantage of those benefits.  Most immigrants using benefits, who are working, make low wages.   This includes illegal immigrants.

There is talk of raising the minimum wage, which, in the end, will just cut jobs, raise prices, and make multi-income families have to work even harder when the cost of living goes up, yet again.  Increasing services to the public…increasing taxes…expanding our government….that’s what makes the race continue….

Currently, the pitch from Obama, Clinton and McCain is in support of virtual fencing to protect the border.  When, after the election, the dialogue reverts back to illegal immigrants being given amnesty, and if that becomes a reality, with more social services bestowed upon possibly 12 million illegal immigrants living in our country….

How much faster will we have to run to keep up then?

"Despite having hundreds of sonar contacts over the years, the trail has since gone cold and Rines believes that Nessie may be dead, a victim of global warming."

What's that?

Why, we're talking about the Loch Ness Monster, of course!

After 37 years of searching for "Nessie," 85-year-old American, Robert Rines is calling it a day.

It seems he is finally getting too old to continue his search for the Loch Ness Monster.

"World War II veteran Robert has devoted almost half his life to scouring Loch Ness."

"He started in 1971. The following year, he watched a 25ft-long hump with the texture of elephant skin gliding through the water."

"His original trip was to help another monster hunter with sonar equipment and quickly identified large moving targets."

"He was smitten and returned the next year, which is when, he says: "I had the misfortune of seeing one of these things with my own eyes."

Read the entire article from the Daily Record


Veteran Loch Ness Monster Hunter Gives Up   í  here

It would be a real shame if global warming is what finally did Nessie in.

Wouldn't you think some other critters in the pond would have had the same fate?

Maybe something would have washed up on shore somewhere?

I guess everything just sunk.

Yep.

Pity.

 

Good news!

The story from January, about the Spy Satellite that is supposed to fall from the sky in March; well it looks like the U.S. is here to save the day.

Our Navy is planning to shoot down the broken satellite, according to the Pentagon.

Officials said we would most likely shoot it down before it re-enters the atmosphere, using a special missile modified for the task.

The last time the U.S. attempted to do such a thing was 20 years ago. 

China did the same sort of thing just last year.

If the mission should fail, the satellite would fall to earth as anticipated.

Read the story from the International Herald Tribune

U.S. Officials Say Broken Satellite Will Be Shot Down   ¡ here


______________________________


Remember Skylab?

Do you know where you were when it fell in 1979?

I remember where I was.

There was so much hype about Skylab falling...

No one was sure where it would fall.

For some reason I was up visiting the Cave of the Mounds.

Don't know if that was on purpose. 

I do love looking at caves.

I remember they were selling novelty spray cans of Skylab repellent!

Guess what?

There's a new kid in town....


U.S. Spy Satellite Falling To Earth   ç  here

P.S.

An Australian municipality, the Shire of Esperance, fined the United States $400 for littering when Skylab fell.  In 2004, the History Channel documentary "History Rocks" stated, in an episode covering major events of 1979, that this fine has never been paid.

 

I read Monday, in the paper, that postage rates will be going up AGAIN, in May.

Another penny, to 42 cents for a letter.

I went to the Franklin Post Office on Tuesday.

As I was standing in line, waiting to pick up a package, an elderly woman was at the counter, trying to buy postage for the many stamps she already had, so she would be prepared for the postage rate increase.

The clerk at the desk had no clue as to what she was talking about.

She said, "They never tell us anything."

Hmmm.....

-----------------------------------------------------

Well, to why I was writing this post in the first place....

With all this snow, it seems like Christmas was so long ago...which was the last time I reminded people to think about our troops and the need to send them care packages.

Have you ever done that?

Such a simple thing to do.

While the postage rates will be going up for citizens, they will actually be going down for you to send a flat rate box to troops overseas. 

Read the U.S. Department of Defense News Bulletin below, and please, think about sending something to our troops now, or at Easter, which is early this year.


And here is a photo showing how happy a simple letter can make a soldier:




VALENTINE'S DAY SURPRISE - U.S. Air Force Airmen
1st Class Kathleen Sullivan and Lindsay Judkins are surprised
to receive Valentine's Day cards from Texas elementary school
students, Feb. 13, 2008, at a Southwest Asia air base. Both
airmen are assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces.
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Domonique Simmons   



Happy Valentine's Day to our Troops! 





 

America Supports You: Postal Service Offers Discount By Samantha L. Quigley American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2008 – Military families have long used the U.S. Postal Service’s flat-rate shipping boxes to send care packages around the globe. Beginning March 3, they’ll get a price break. The discount applies only to the new “Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box,” which normally carries a $12.95 price tag for shipping. However, when the 12-by-12-by-5.5-inch box is sent to an AFO or FPO address, a $2 discount applies, dropping the cost to $10.95. “This is the first time the Postal Service has offered a special price for our armed forces serving overseas,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “We’re proud that family and friends will be able to use the new, larger-sized box to send much-appreciated packages from home to our dedicated troops overseas.” The new boxes will be available in post offices nationwide on March 3. Those who can’t wait to start packing the boxes, however, can order them from www.usps.com/supplies beginning Feb. 20. They’re also available by calling 1-800-610-8734. Some of the new boxes carry the America Supports You logo. America Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with service members and their families serving at home and abroad. “It’s terrific that the Postal Service continues to think of ways to help Americans support our troops and their families,” said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communication, community relations and public liaison. “Postage is always a concern when shipping care packages, and this new flat-rate box means our home-front groups and supportive citizens can do more with their resources. “We’re especially pleased that some of the boxes will bear the America Supports You logo, reminding our service members that they have our nation’s support,” she added. The boxes bearing the America Supports You logo will be available only online or at select post offices near military bases. All flat-rate boxes are available for international shipping, though the discount applies only to the large flat-rate box, and only if it’s being shipped to an APO or FPO address.

Related Sites: U.S. Postal Service

Rebecca Mader plays Charlotte
Lostpedia


Tonight's episode is titled "The Economist"


From Doc Jensen at EW.com  a "Tease" Word Jumble:

This week, I'm going to tell you 10 things you will definitely see in the episode. The twist?

They're presented in the form of five cryptic questions — each contains a word jumble, and each holds two teases. The presented form playfully suggests a character, object, or event you'll see tonight. And if you rearrange the letters of each jumble just right, you'll get another clue about the episode.

Hint: Each clue from the jumble begins with ''A,'' as in ''A really lame game.'' Good luck!

Where is the ''arcane lock hut''?

Whose ''aghast sap woe'' will cause him to rethink an alliance?

Will ''a cabal armor entity'' ever get off the ground?

Who will benefit from a ''crucial sore purged''?

Is there more romantic tension in store for the ''leached pier trio''?



Good luck with the game and read the rest of Doc's article at EW.com

 

 The Tease!   ç here



And Doc reveals that tonight will be the first birds-eye view of the Island! 

What will it look like?

What shape will it be?

Check back by tomorrow night for analysis of tonight's show.

 

"Love means never having to say you’re sorry."

Who could forget that line from the 1970 movie and novel
Love Story...






The novel tells the story of Oliver Barrett IV, who comes from a long line of wealthy and well-respected Harvard University graduates. Partly to break the traditional Ivy League mold, the Harvard student meets and falls in love with Jennifer Cavilleri, a working-class, quick-witted Radcliffe College student. Upon graduation from college, the two decide to marry against the wishes of Oliver's father, who thereupon severs ties with his son.

Without his father's financial support, the couple struggles to pay Oliver's way through Harvard Law School with Jenny working as a private school teacher. Graduating third in his class, Oliver takes a position at a respectable New York law firm.

With Oliver's new income, the pair of 24-year-olds decide to have a child. After failing to conceive, they consult a medical specialist, who, after repeated tests, informs Oliver that Jenny is ill and will soon die. While not stated explicitly, she appears to have leukemia.

As instructed by his doctor, Oliver attempts to live a "normal life" without telling Jenny of her condition. Jenny nevertheless discovers her ailment after confronting her doctor about her recent illness. With their days together numbered, Jenny begins costly cancer therapy, and Oliver soon becomes unable to afford the multiplying hospital expenses. Desperate, he seeks financial relief from his father. Instead of telling his father what the money is truly for, Oliver leads him to believe that he needs it because he has had an affair which led to a pregnancy.

From her hospital bed, Jenny speaks with her father about funeral arrangements, and then asks for Oliver. She tells him to avoid blaming himself, and asks him to embrace her tightly before she dies.

The novel also includes the double meaning of a love story between Oliver and his father, highlighted by the scene between Oliver and his father at the end of the book. When Mr. Barrett realizes that Jenny is ill and that his son borrowed the money for her, he immediately sets out for New York. By the time he reaches the hospital, Jenny is dead.

Mr. Barrett apologizes to his son, who replies with something Jenny once told him:           

"Love means never having to say you're sorry."
                                                                           

Wikipedia





first few minutes of “Love Story”


Ryan O’Neil....heartthrob straight out of Peyton Place.

Ali MacGraw....boring, but fit the role.


       
    
   Happy
Valentine’s
    Day!    

Researcher, Professor Paul L. Dawson, from Clemson University, got the idea from the famous Seinfeld episode where George is caught "double dipping" his chip... taking two servings of dip with one chip. Some (most) would think that's just offensive.


"That's like putting your whole mouth right in the dip!" George Costanza was scolded while at a wake, and dipping his chip twice in the dip.  That's pretty close to the truth, according to Professor Dawson.

About a year ago, food microbiologist undergraduates examined the effects of double dipping using volunteers, wheat crackers and sample dips. It was found that that three to six double dips transferred about 10,000 bacteria from a person's mouth to the bowl of dip sample.

"I was very surprised by the results," Dawson said.  "I thought there would be very minimal transfer. I didn't think we would be able to detect it."

"I like to say it's like kissing everybody at the party — if you're double dipping, you're putting some of your bacteria in that dip," Dawson said.

The results of the research are scheduled to be published in the journal Food Safety within the next six months, he said.

Read the study from Clemson University



Double Dipping Does Transfer Bacteria - George Was Wrong!       í  here

Seinfeld - Double Dipped

		[George, attending a wake, takes a large tortilla chip, dips it into a bowl of what appears to be sour cream, takes a bite, dips it into the bowl again, and then eats the remainder of the chip.]
Timmy:		What are you doing?
George Costanza:		What?
Timmy:		Did, did you just double dip that chip?
George Costanza:		Excuse me?
Timmy:		You double dipped a chip!
George Costanza:		Double dipped? What, what, what are you talking about?
Timmy:		You dipped a chip. You took a bite. And you dipped again.
George Costanza:		So?
Timmy:		That's like putting your whole mouth right in the dip. From now on, when you take a chip, just take one dip and end it.
George Costanza:		Well, I'm sorry, Timmy, but I don't dip that way.
Timmy:		Oh, you don't, huh?
George Costanza:		You dip the way you want to dip. I'll dip the way I want to dip.
		[George grabs another chip, dips it, takes a bite and begins to reach for the dip as Timmy grabs his hand.]
Timmy:		Gimme the chip!
		[An all-out brawl breaks out between George and Timmy.]

 

For those of you who watch Prime Time television shows and are interested in the fact that the writer's strike is over, I'm sure you are happy.

While I like watching a couple shows once in a while (The Office and 24) the only one I have been bothered about is Lost.

When I heard the strike was over, and looked to see what the schedule might be for "new" shows to start coming back, I was pretty surprised.

I guess actors don't work overtime for all of that cash they make....






Sheesh....24 won't be back until January 2009!

Some shows won't come back at all.

I'm glad I like listening/glancing at Fox News in the background while I'm blogging....

At least the news never went on strike...

But it might as well have...since the election coverage has been pretty depressing....


Check out the schedule to see if your favorite show is coming back "soon" on


TV Guide Editor's Blog   É  here

 

I'm surprised....

University of Colorado at Boulder students protesting a ban on concealed weapons in an orderly fashion?

I've been to Boulder...

Boulder is full of liberals.

So, even if there are fifty students protesting this ban...that's really amazing.

And no matter what your beliefs on students being able to carry concealed weapons on campus,  or concealed weapons in general, personally, after seeing how a dysfunctional group like Code Pink manages their protests (Berkeley) I have to give these students a lot of credit.

Let's hope as this protest continues, those that may oppose the protest, will manage their issues in the same way.



The CU Boulder campus                                        Wikipedia

Read the story in the Campus Press


A Protest of a Different Caliber    à here

This was my favorite commercial during the Super Bowl…..

Which leads me to this ….






Hmmm ….I can actually picture him doing this ad .... can't you?



and seriously.... have you ever been so tired, whether it be from a cold and medication thing going on , or a late night out, or whatever, that you nodded off like that?  I mean with your head bobbing? 

Come on...admit it....

Why is it when some people screw up and make poor decisions....they come out with the statement....

"It's time to move on" or

"Let's move forward."

In other words....

Hurry up and forget about it.

Well, Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner screwed up....

And City Councilman Tom Waniewski says, "It's time to move on."

It seems Finkbeiner says he stands behind his decision to deny permission for Marines to practice in downtown Toledo, even amid protests that are going on.

Remember, he said the Marines would be too "frightening."

The mayor suggests that anyone who believes he is not loyal to his country is, just, well, a "baboon."

He must have animals on the brain, because he has offered the 200 Marines tickets to the local zoo.

I bet if there had been a parade planned in downtown Toledo, the mayor would have made arrangements to accommodate that.

Read the latest story in the Toledo Blade

Toledo Mayor Stands by his Decision to Cancel Marines Training   à here


______________________________________________________

from February 10th


In the past couple weeks California has shown its true colors regarding our Troops.  The Berkeley City Council ordered the Marines Recruiting Office there to close and they allowed Code Pink to protest and illegally block the entry of citizens to the office.

That, besides the denial of San Francisco last year to allow the Marines to film their commercial and Oakland International Airport a year ago denying Troops entry into the terminal to buy food and use restrooms. 

Where does it end? 

Evidently, not in California....

Now the Mayor of Toledo, Ohio, Carty Finkbeiner, kicked out 200 members of Company A, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

These Marines were coming to Toledo to to spend their weekend training in urban patrol exercises on the downtown streets.  This is something they have done in the past.

It seems Mayor Finkbeiner believes the citizens of Toledo will now be "frightened."

Mayor Finkbeiner.....

The only thing frightening about all of this is YOU.

Let's hope Toledo is never in need of the services of of the Marines.

Because if Toledo is in need, you should be ashamed.

Ashamed because the Marines will come to Toledo with their heads held high.

Proudly, with courage and honor. 

To serve.

Shame on you Mayor Finkbeiner.

Let's hope it will be ex-Mayor Finkbeiner as soon as possible.


Read the story in the Toledo Blade


Vacate the Premises:  Mayor to Marines:  Leave Downtown    à here



And here is an update on the Berkeley situation  from the Mercury News


Lawmakers aim to punish Berkeley over anti-Marines stance   à here

Part of me is angry at him when he was a child.

Why didn't he just say, "I need help!"

But part of me is compassionate because, in thinking back to my childhood in the sixties, and things I witnessed, I can imagine how it might have been for him and why he kept silent "then."

All of me is angry at the system in the fifties...the same as I would have been angry in the sixties, the seventies, and the eighties....  How dare they turn a blind eye to children out of laziness. 

Out of stupidity on their part. 

Pure ignorance. 

They didn't do their jobs.

My mind is boggled regarding his parents....

Were they just hard working and didn't have time for him?

Didn't notice?

Didn't care?

What was wrong with them?

I say, as a child he was failed.

A big fat "F" to the system.

But my opinion changes when he is an adult.



First, the story from San Diego News and then they'll be more discussion

Read here   Ã

Such a thing most likely won't happen in this day and age.

Not with the testing we have.

A reading problem should be caught early on and a child held back.

And parents....If you don't know whether your child is reading or not by the time he or she is seven years old then you have a major problem.

I won't feel sorry for Mr. Corcoran as a college student or as an adult.

He learned well to be a cheat. 

He manipulated.

An athletic scholarship?

I'm sure many athletes have gone through college without being able to read.

Why didn't Mr. Corcoran EVER, on his own admit to himself, he needed help?

Why didn't he EVER get a tutor?

Why didn't he EVER, after high school, learn to read?

Even when he was a teacher...

The "embarrassment" should have ended then.

Why couldn't he take a reading class...in another town where no one knew him?

He had to wait until he was 48 years old?

This man may have been compassionate with students.

He may have been a wonderful teacher.

So now he is the founder of an organization that provides tutoring for students.

Well, good for you, Mr. Corcoran.

From the video you seem like a nice man.

"I believe that illiteracy in America is a form of child neglect and child abuse and the child is blamed and they carry the shame, if we just teach our people how to read we'd give them a fair chance," Corcoran said.


You have a lot of blame.

And rightly so...for when you were a child.

I'll even give you some of the time you were in college.

But I won't give you until you were 48 years old.

I didn't once hear you say YOU were sorry for that.