Practically Speaking - All Comments

re: Our VP's nickname was Sarah Barracuda

Santa's Elf — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:03:50 GMT

Kyle, the former Miss Wasilla isn't just another salmon burner; she's the real thing! Wasilla - her home town - is a burg just north of Anchorage.

I'll have to stay up late tonight and call my Alaskan cousins to get the full story on her.

Johnny Mac may have just pulled off the coup of the decade!

re: Our VP's nickname was Sarah Barracuda

My Two Cents — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:37:51 GMT

What great news!!! I can't wait to see the bump McCain and Palin get today. It's a great day to be conservative. No more holding our noses at the polls. Now let's talk about pro-life issues! Sarah Palin personifies the sanctity of life.

Kyle's reply: I am so pleased. I just watched her acceptance speech. Wow!

Talk about timing, as she said in her speech, it is also the 88th anniversary (+ 3 days) of the 19th Amendment: Women's right to vote.

On a side note, today is Sarah and Todd Palin's 20th wedding anniversary and John McCain's 72nd birthday.

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Quote of the day 8-28-08 « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative

Quote of the day 8-28-08 « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:37:25 GMT

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re: Holding my breath in preparation for holding my nose

Santa's Elf — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:10:57 GMT

McCain to stave off cold war by naming Putin as running mate! :=)

Kyle's reply: Um, Elf, Putin isn't an American born citizen. :)

re: Holding my breath in preparation for holding my nose

Santa's Elf — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:15:46 GMT

Some folks will say the glass is half full. Others will say it's half empty. But a real engineer knows that the glass is twice as big as is needs to be!

If McCain were smart, he'd choose Biden too. That would effectively guarantee him the VP spot, and take him out of the race!

re: Have a Harley? Love bikes? Stop in at HOT TOPPERS

My Two Cents — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:10:43 GMT

Thanks for the tip, Kyle. I love these Harley anniversaries. It's so nice for the Milwaukee Metropolitan area to get some nation-wide GOOD press. Sometimes, I think the rest of the country only knows us for Jeffrey Dahmer and the Fonz. Hopefully our week-end guests will take back a lot of good memories of us. The bikers I've met are great!

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re: An enthusiastic Hillary talks about...Hillary!

Santa's Elf — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:47:14 GMT

Isn't it great when you are your own best friend?

Guess that's the one thing that has kept her and Bill together: they each love themselves, first, last and always.

re: The softer side of Michelle Obama

kathryn — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:51:51 GMT

"But it certainly does beg the question as to exactly why - if Obama was such a patriot - he wasn't in uniform while his brothers were off to war."

He was in school, elementary school. The man is 46 years old, give or take.

re: The softer side of Michelle Obama

mikeyd — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:38:34 GMT

It does speak volumes, and hopefully it will be the same for Mrs McCain, that Michelle Obama's speech is being spoken of in fairly glowing terms even by those on the other side of the aisle. Of course, it wasn't a political speech but did give insight into the people that the Obama's are, which was necessary after all the negative attacks on both of them recently.

Hopefully we have gotten past nitpicking about the color of the dress she wore, or the plagarism of a cookie recipe. Hopefully after these next couple of weeks, policitical ads will be more positive and informative and the mud throwing will also decrease (i know, my own fantasy). If you have seen the commercial for Barack Obama referring to how hands that build roofs could install solar panels, job creation from new technologies will boost the economy and help our energy crisis... I saw that and felt that it had to be the most positive political ad produced in decades and it really felt true and hit many of my important issues. Hopefully stuff like the radio commercial by McCain in low impending deathly tones about how Obama has big plans.... for Your Money.... filled with half baked heresay and funny math projections as if they are absolutes, will go away and maybe we will hear what is actually important to McCain.

re: Dr. Gibson flirts with 4K again to cure Elmbrook's budget woes

mikeyd — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:28:26 GMT

Hi Kathryn,

I completely agree, even as we went through the process of early enrollment, we were not certain we would go through with it quite yet since we were very happy with the situation our child was in at the time. But when we went to the test and he was in the room exploring with all the other children, most of whom were not early admission, he looked like he fit in perfectly. The fact that they kinda used the lack of reading ability to disqualify a 4.5 year old outright seemed wrong, even if they expect a bit more from early admission children(i guess that alone seems wrong, since they should expect the early admissions to be on level). We were on the fence about enrolling him worried that he would not be up to size/social interaction ability/intelligence of others in his age group. We have big families and he interacts with older cousins all the time, and his intelligence is what we would call above average, so we weren't sure. The reason we were thinking of early enrollment (again it was only a couple of weeks) is because we don't want him to be intellectually ahead of others (now he will probably be the oldest in his class) and end up bored in class throughout elementary school, which can lead to being distracted and other problems.

I am sure he will do great either way! As I can tell both of you know, one of life's best treasures is the pleasure of watching our children learn, explore, make new observations on their own and develop that self-knowledge and to see that look in their eye that says 'I learned that, I understand that, i figured that out, that is so cool!'

Kyle's reply: Even though you were addressing Kathryn, I am chiming in here with a BIG yes to your last paragraph. Just as it is a special moment in a parent's life to catch your child's first words or steps, experiencing them learning other new things firsthand is exciting too. It is what keeps homeschoolers going day in and day out. It kept me going until high school graduation day.

re: The softer side of Michelle Obama

Santa's Elf — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:00:23 GMT

Yea, I here that Eva Braun had a soft side too! But that doesn't make her Princess Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring. And I know that Hitler liked puppy's! But he was no Mr. Rogers!

She said: "we committed ourselves to building the world as it should be"

Is the world "as it should be" anything like the one acted out in the late 1960's by long-time Obama croney William Ayers, founder of the Weather Underground and his wife Bernadette Dorn? Obama and Ayers seem to have a history in 60's and 70's South Chicago. Oh, and did she mention that in the 80's she worked with Bernadette at a Chicago law firm?

Now, all of that doesn't indict Obama of Weather Underground bombings, and I don't mean to imply that it does. But it certainly does beg the question as to exactly why - if Obama was such a patriot - he wasn't in uniform while his brothers were off to war.

Let's hear more about the real Obama. Perhaps we will come to realize that his original choice of churches fit him to a tee.

Kyle, I too liked her speech. But it was just that: nothing but a speech. Like the little old lady used to ask: "Where's the beef?".

Kyle's reply: Oh, Santa's Elf, don't sugar coat it, tell it to us straight!

re: The softer side of Michelle Obama

kathryn — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:35:09 GMT

I'm sure the softer Michelle is as true as the edgy outspoken Michelle--we are multifaceted beings--but the whole ritual bugs me, this remaking of the candidates' wives into June Cleaver First Ladies. Rodham became Clinton when Bill was running. Mrs. McCain is publishing recipes. Mrs. Obama has to look more mom and less attorney. It's wrongheaded.

re: Dr. Gibson flirts with 4K again to cure Elmbrook's budget woes

kathryn — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:23:33 GMT

Kyle, I thought I recognized Raymond Moore in your comments!

I've homeschooled some of mine and schooled others. Also did the early enrollment testing with one. MickeyD you are correct in that more is expected from early admission candidates. Early reading would be a readiness indicator, but isn't supposed to be the only factor. My child wasn't reading, but did qualify. I ultimately decided against early enrollment. When in doubt, school is better late than early (apologies to Kyle and the Moores.)

re: The softer side of Michelle Obama

contrarian — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:42:45 GMT

You won't be surprized to learn that I, too, thought Michelle Obama did a fine job.

In the big picture, this speech actually gives us a reason to watch either party's convention. One one level, these are highly biased bashfests, so predictable, so boring. At another level, there are moments that may give insight to the humans running for office. You stated that "she presented a very different side of herself." Could it be that the image of a pushy, angry Michelle Obama is more a creation of her opposition's image machine than any reality? There is no doubt that Michelle Obama's speech was crafted to a certain message, but I think it is also possible that for the first time we saw the real Michelle Obama.

Political campaigns are extremely negative, and the real people in these public events are lost in the fog of incrimination and distortion.

I am glad we got a real glimpse of Mrs. Obama.

Kyle's reply: Sorry I did not post your comment sooner. The more recent ones were long so yours did not show up.

I don't think the image of a pushy, angry Michelle Obama is a creation of the opposition but rather reflects her views on topics other than her own family. Last night she was primarily speaking about her parents, her childhood, her children and life with Barack. She did seem to have wonderful, sacrificing parents. Her south side of Chicago girl makes it big story is the American dream, so she could speak of it in glowing, positive terms.

But when I have heard her speak of how women wake up every day full of dread and despair and how unfair it is that she must care for a sick child or is stuck taking the kids to the doctor while Barack goes off to work or how single mothers shouldn't try harder, her own words make her sound angry.

re: The softer side of Michelle Obama

mikeyd — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:51:09 GMT

Hi Kyle,

You don't share in Obama's vision? I never would have guessed. ;)

It is a bit too late to dig into the Obama's as being rich and out of touch now that the cat has been let out of the bag by McCain.

McCain was not able to answer the question of how many houses he owns (at least 7), and in response to a question stated that someone has to make $5 million a year to be rich. The Obamas? One house. Barack responded to the same question of how to define rich, and he said any family that makes $250K or more a year is well off. It seems the Obama's are much closer to mainstream in family situation and wealth and much more in touch with middle class or upper middle class people like some of us, rather than multimillionaire Washington policitians. Yes, McCain is very wealthy, though most is in his wife's name.

It also seemed to me, and based on your excerpts, that Mrs. Obama's speech was about her and her husband as people, about values and beliefs, not about politics.

Like you mention, she spoke from the heart, and seem to hit the mark perfectly.

Kyle's reply: I did not mean to insinuate that he was rich and out of touch, just that they were not living the life of a church mouse serving the public.

I have no doubts that she loves her children and parents deeply. She presented a very different side of herself.

re: Dr. Gibson flirts with 4K again to cure Elmbrook's budget woes

mikeyd — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:37:39 GMT

Hi Kyle and Kathryn,

Kyle, i agree that being able to read at 4 or 5 bears little correlation with intelligence much later in life. If it is about 'readiness', then 4K would be a great tool. I think the most beneficial thing about 4K would be to increase 'readiness' in some 4 year olds and get them prepared for the next few years by starting a slightly structured education while getting them acquainted with school, teachers, learning social cues and how to deal in a larger social context. Hopefully Elmbrook, in an effort to save taxdollars, won't cut out reading lessons until 11 years of age because one person who didn't read until he was 11 still excelled and became president! ;) I would not recommend cutting out 1st and 2nd grade since Finland does, would you? It is hard to extrapolate results based on one person or one other country. always be expected to provide learning experiences to their children whether they are in school or not, and whether the parents both work full time as most do nowadays or some other situation. Again, if 4K brought in more dollars (ultimately they all come from taxpayers of course, but if most of them come from federal funds then we win on the balance sheet) than it used, while providing a valuable and well regarded service to the community, than we probably should have the program because our community benefits overall, even if the older population doesn't directly use that service.

Kathryn, I don't think it was a miscommunication, it was actually quite clear. My child was weeks 'late' based on birthdate for admission into 5K. He has all the intellectual and social abilities (the social aspect should not be overlooked, it is very important to learning to deal with others and getting along in the real world), and recently read a complete starter book to me. My child was rejected early admission because he could not read when tested. Many kids are home schooled, so of course there is no absolute connection between one year of schooling and the ability to read. They expected him to read months before admission to 5K during a spring term meeting session. If they require a 4.5 year old to read, I was surprised but not unhappy that he was denied admission because I don't want him to feel behind or out of place and struggle.

Maybe they expect More from an early admission just to be 'on the safe side'.

Kyle's reply: Actually, if I had it to do all over again (schooling my son) I would not have started school as early as I did. Although he does not like school, at least I did not totally kill his love of learning. He went on to study many complicated subjects such as electronics all on his own and has excelled at them. I am in the Raymond and Dorothy Moore camp: later school, not earlier! Too bad I did not know about them when it mattered.

4Ks funding by the way is primarily from local tax dollars and state aid as far as I know.

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re: Dr. Gibson flirts with 4K again to cure Elmbrook's budget woes

kathryn — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:38:59 GMT

"what do you all think about a 4-5 year old being able to read and write on his/her own?"

MikeyD, I wonder if there was a miscommunication when this was discussed. I too was startled when my non-reader brought home a book to "read." Turns out it was more about getting going than presumed ability. Certainly some children do enter kindergarten already reading and writing; in that sense it is "expected." Many other children enter unable to read and write, and that too is "expected."

Kyle's reply: Thanks, Kathryn, for sharing your experience. It certainly makes sense since 4K is not a prerequisite for 5K, and our Wisconsin does not require school attendance until 1st grade.