The GAO report

Those who are leftist/progressive/Democrat or all 3 really got their panties in a wad over the recent GAO finding, yet never said a peep when GAO found Obama administration violated a law. They were using his race to absolve themselves of any guilt they had over something that ended years ago, so had to be silent over his faults. That way they wouldn't need to make any changes in how unborn black babies are treated by Democrats.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and United States Secret Service (USSS) were found to have violated section 503 of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, and the Antideficiency Act, in 2009.

The Department of the Treasury was found to have violated the Antideficiency Act in 2014 when it used the voluntary services of four individuals.

The Department of Defense was found to have violated the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2014 and the Antideficiency Act in the infamous Bowe Bergdahl swap.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development was found to have violated the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, and the Antideficiency Act in 2014.

The Environmental Protection Agency was found to have violated “publicity or propaganda and anti-lobbying provisions” in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act and the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act in 2015.

Two officials in the Department of Housing and Urban Development were found in 2016 to have violated Section 713 of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act by attempting to prevent a regional director within the agency from being interviewed by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The Federal Maritime Commission was found to have violated Section 711 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, as well as the Antideficiency Act, in 2016.

And even President Obama told us time after time that what became DACA was against the law. And what about Rice running around to the Sunday shows after Benghazi with all those lies, or at least the left now claim lying to the media is against the law.

And in DC, you probably can't get lawyers from opposing parties to agree on anything.

Hope it’s a false alarm

About 1:30 we were talking in my office—he needed to leave to set up for a quilt show at the church, and I planned to come over about 2:30 and take some photos.  Then I sneezed.  And then sneezed again, and again, and again, and again. Then I got a chill.  This is not the usual start of a cold for me, but I thought, between sneezes, maybe I should not go.  So I took and antihistamine and nap. Now listening to Vivaldi, sneezing and blowing my nose, drinking fluids.

Fortunately, I had everything ready for supper, and it will go in the oven for an hour. Sweet sour chicken from my new cookbook.

Last night I watched the Hallmark movie Love on Iceland.   Great scenery.  Main character Chloe gets her old college travel group together for a spectacular trip. Of course, her old boyfriend joins the group. Good acting, and fabulous setting.  I fell asleep at the end, but I know how these end. Happy ever after. https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/home-and-family/videos/kaitlin-doubleday-love-on-iceland-interview-home-and-family

The evidence is building—fat matters

If your New Year's Resolution was to walk more and eat less, you could be smarter at this time next year.

Auriel Willette and Brandon Klinedinst of Iowa State University discovered people mostly in their 40s and 50s who had higher amounts of fat in their mid-section had worse fluid intelligence as they got older. Greater muscle mass, by contrast, appeared to be a protective factor. These relationships stayed the same even after taking into account chronological age, level of education, and socioeconomic status.

Highlights https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159119306531

• Adiposity exacerbated cognitive aging.

• Greater muscle mass was protective against cognitive aging.

• The effect of muscle on cognition was more than adiposity.

• Lymphocytes, eosinophils, and basophils may link adiposity to cognitive outcomes.

• Sex-specific mechanisms of action were noted among eosinophils and basophils.

Also, Intermittent fasting could be added to medical school curricula alongside standard advice about healthy diets and exercise.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/intermittent-fasting-live-fast-live-longer

Interview with Roger Scruton, 2017

Sir Roger Scruton was an English writer and philosopher who passed away this last week on January 12. He was 75, born in 1944.  He has published more than fifty books in philosophy, aesthetics, and politics. His book discussed in this episode was How to Be a Conservative; it was published in 2014. He was a fellow of the British Academy and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He taught in both England and America and is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington. DC. He taught an MA in philosophy course for the University of Buckingham. Sir Scruton was knighted in 2016 by Queen Elizabeth II for his “services to philosophy, teaching and public education.”

https://www.hoover.org/research/how-be-conservative?  Watch the video interview.

https://www.rogerscruton.com/

Little Women the movies

My friend Bev and I took a break from our busy lives and took in a movie yesterday, Little Women (2019). We both enjoyed it, but wondered about the actor cast as Laurie, Timothée Hal Chalamet. He's 24 and looks 12. Saoirse Una Ronan who plays Jo is 25 and looks a little older. Both are not household names, I suppose because no one can pronounce them.  I had a problem seeing what's-his-name as a dissolute, worldly man and global traveler. Using Jo's messy hair to show her wokeness as a contrast to her more authentically correct sisters also struck me as tiresome, but overall it was a good movie.

Bev is a bit more techy than I and had managed to reserve seats for us on her smart phone.  We got to the theater right at 11, and by the time we got our tickets there were probably 50+ people in line—mostly retirees.  $5.00.

I found the 1949 version to compare. Elizabeth Taylor was Amy and Peter Lawford was Laurie, and June Allyson's hair was closer to the 1868 fashion (as Jo) than the 2019 version.  I wonder if the public library has it.  I saw it with my mother in Ocean Grove, NJ in 1949 when my brother and I travelled with her and my grandparents to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. I thought Elizabeth Taylor and Janet Leigh were the most beautiful women I’d ever seen.

https://youtu.be/kiI2hI1N9fQ

Then there’s also an interesting critique of the four movie versions, showing the development of the major characters and also changing their ages, nationalities, career challenges. I do wonder why today's (and the 90s) feminist critics think it's so wonderful for Jo to pursue money and career, but criticize men's empowerment to do the same thing. Always chasing men, I suppose.

https://youtu.be/nJGZoecSmrA

Also some interesting trivia.  During the 1949 making of Little Women, June Allyson was pregnant with her son, and then also her adoptive daughter Pamela arrived and she had to leave the set.

Michael Smith, guest blogger on who’s the liar?

"You'll forgive me for not getting a case of the vapors taking to my fainting couch over a person who
1) faked being a Native American to advance her career,
2) claimed to be a defender of the little people after lawyering for big corporations chasing big dollar settlements and
3) lied about getting fired for being pregnant, claiming that she was called a liar on national TV by an old guy who yells at clouds."

And let's not forget the one about her son attending public school when in fact he attended private schools while she's trying to close down charter schools.

Just 2 minutes to warm up

There’s something in my personality that’s very skeptical when I’m told something is easy or quick.  Like, buy blessings bags to end poverty (school packs) or it’s easy to lose 15 pounds for that new Easter outfit.  However, 2 minutes does sound doable, so I copied this from the Silver Sneaker newsletter and I don’t want to lose it, so I’m putting it in my blog. When I replace my ink cartridge, I may even print it.   Filing e-mail articles IS NOT easy, no matter what they tell you about Windows 10!  And why do they always give a handsome, muscular young man or woman to imitate.  I want someone about 75 to limp out to the limited space in a condo to do this!

https://youtu.be/2ECTHcjjL7M

Exercise # 1: March

Do the move for 15 seconds

How to do it: Stand tall, and engage your core by imagining you’re about to receive a punch in the gut. March in place, raising your knees as high as you comfortably can. Bend your arms, and let them swing naturally as you march.

Exercise #2: Step Over

Do the move for 15 seconds

How to do it: Stand tall, and engage your core. Visualize an imaginary line in front of your toes. Step over the line one foot at a time, and then step behind the line one foot at a time. Continue stepping forward and back, moving as smoothly as you can.

Exercise #3: Side Step

Do the move for 15 seconds

How to do it: Stand tall, and engage your core. Step out to the side with one foot, and follow it with your other foot, tapping the floor. Repeat in the opposite direction. Continue alternating, moving as smoothly as you can.

Exercise #4: Uppercut Reach

Do the move for 15 seconds

How to do it: Stand with your feet comfortably apart, toes forward, and knees and hips bent slightly in a shallow squat. Engage your core, and hold your arms at your sides with elbows bent.

Pulse up and down slightly, and push through your feet to stand up. At the same time, reach your right hand up and across your body to your left side in an uppercut motion. Allow your right foot to pivot.

Pause, return to starting position, and reset your balance. Repeat the pulse and uppercut reach with your left arm to your right side. Continue alternating, moving as smoothly as you can.

Exercise #5: Step Back

Do the move for 20 seconds

How to do it: Stand with your feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent, and engage your core.

Step your left foot back and slightly out to the side. Return to starting position, and repeat the movement for 10 seconds. As you step, move your arms naturally, but continue to keep your core strong.

Return to starting position, and repeat with your right leg for 10 seconds.

Exercise #6: Step In and Out

Do the move for 15 seconds

How to do it: Stand with your feet comfortably apart and knees slightly bent, and engage your core. Visualize an imaginary line between your feet. Step your feet in toward toward the line one foot at a time, and then step out from the line one foot at a time. Continue stepping in and out, moving as smoothly as you can.

Exercise #7: Squat to Curl

Do the move for 15 seconds

How to do it: Stand with your feet comfortably apart and toes forward. Engage your core, and hold your arms at your sides with elbows slightly bent.

Push your hips back and bend your knees to lower yourself into a shallow squat. Push through your feet to return to standing, and curl your hands to your shoulders, making sure to bend from your elbows and not your wrists.

Pulse back down into a shallow squat, lowering your arms. Continue alternating, moving as smoothly as you can.

Exercise #8: March

Do the move for 15 seconds

How to do it: Stand tall, and engage your core. March in place, raising your knees as high as you comfortably can. Bend your arms, and let them swing naturally as you march.

Illegal alien vs. gobbledygook, doublespeak and political correctness

The correct term is illegal alien because an undocumented immigrant is not factual. It's fiction. The illegal alien may have a lot of documents--driver's license, social security card, or any number of fake documents. He also is not an immigrant unless he's gone through the legal process or may be a permanent resident.

Illegal alien is the term in law; undocumented immigrant, or undocumented worker, or unauthorized worker, are just terms meant to soften the blow that they are here illegally. The made up terms are used by word police who don't like our system of law.

https://www.irli.org/post/2016/03/19/retired-immigration-judges-we-used-illegal-alien-and-got-axed

Presidential abuse of power

There really has been presidential abuse of power, but it was Obama, not Trump. It is called DACA. I'm so old I remember Obama saying he wasn't a king and couldn't do it. I'm paraphrasing his lie, of course, but maybe you remember, too.

https://humanevents.com/2019/12/12/daca-an-actual-abuse-of-power/

"Through DACA, President Obama usurped Congress’ legislative power. Solely by executive order, he implemented a program that Congress rejected dozens of times, and he refused to enforce immigration laws that Congress actually passed into law. In other words, President Obama “abused the powers of the Presidency” and “assumed to himself functions and judgments … vested by the Constitution in Congress.”

But it sure made him popular, didn't it? Part of his phony legacy.

How great was Obamacare?

The U.S. had 5 federal/state health insurance plans when Obama was elected; they weren't perfect, but better than what they were being sold--Medicaid, Indian, VA, Federal employees, and S-CHIP. Surely, a brilliant mind like Obama's and his advisors could have come up with something to insure those who didn't fit or didn't want those programs. But no. They wanted POWER. And how better to get it than through fear. 

Did you know millions who didn't have health insurance in 2008 didn't want it? They were very wealthy--could self insure, or were willing to gamble or negotiate with hospitals to lower the outrageous costs. Millions more were young and thought they were invincible and wouldn't pay the co-pay for employer's insurance. Others were eligible for Medicaid, but too proud to apply. So by disrupting the entire country's health insurance and making it all more expensive, the great-O manages to insure people who were already eligible under an existing plan. Big whoop!

https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/01/14/how-obamacare-made-things-worse-for-patients-with-preexisting-conditions

Popcorn from the Dollar Tree

I don't usually eat popcorn for breakfast, but I've just been to the dollar store (on Bethel). They had microwave popcorn 3 packs for $1.00, so I thought I'd try it. Not bad. I don't think I'd had it since I used to take my work break at the veterinary college lunch room at OSU. My microwave is fairly new so I did 1 min. 35 seconds instead of 1:45. One bag makes 9.5 cups popped which is quite a bit more than I would make from scratch. The company is Pop Weaver, manufactured in Van Buren, IN.

And so I checked and yes, the Weavers have been popping corn for four generations right next door in Indiana. Other products too, plus they'll do private label.  http://weaverpopcornmfg.com/ptest.php?id=4&order=1

I like the Dollar Tree. Prices really are one dollar. I bought 20 Hallmark cards, a 3 pack of Palmolive soap, which I really like and can't usually find, a night light, a scented candle, a bottle of Dial liquid soap, and the popcorn--- for $18.00. There are do-gooders who want to shut these bargain store down because. . . they don't serve nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables. Well, neither do gas stations and shoe stores. https://www.dollartree.com/locations/oh/bethel/7501/

A saint who came late to the party, St. Claude la Colombiere, 1641-1682, beatified 1929

"I am resolved to put no limit to my trust, and to spread it out to everything. It seems to me that I ought to make use of Our Lord as an armor which covers me all about, by means of which I shall resist every device of my enemies. You shall then be my strength, my God! You shall be my guide, my director, my counselor, my patience, my knowledge, my peace, my justice, and my prudence. I will have recourse to you in my temptations, in my dryness, in my repugnances, in my weariness, in my fears; or rather I will no longer fear either the illusions or the tricks of the demon, nor my own weakness, my indiscretions, not even my mistrust of myself. For you must be my strength in all my crosses; you promise me that this you will be in proportion to my confidence. And wonderful indeed it is, my God, that at the same time that you impose this condition, it seems to me that you give me the confidence wherewith to fulfill it. May you be eternally loved and praised by all creatures, my very loving Lord! If you were not my strength, alas! what would I do? But since you are, you assure me that you are, what shall I not do for your glory? “Omnia possum in eo qui me confortat.” [Phil 4:13] You are everywhere in me, and I in you; then in whatever situation I may find myself, in whatever peril whatever enemy may rise up against me, I have my support always with me."

St. Claude la Colombiere, Jesuit, 1641-1682, beatified 1929 https://catholicsaints.info/saints-for-sinners-blessed-claude-de-la-colombiere/

I like "lists," although I don't make them. . .

God shall be . . .

my strength,

my guide,

my director,

my counselor,

my patience,

my knowledge,

my peace,

my justice and

my prudence.

This saint didn't have the usual qualities--no miracles, no great books, no apparitions, and was sick much of his life due to imprisonment, persecutions by the Protestants and bad climate of England. But I came across this in today's devotions  (Magnificat, vol. 21, no. 11) and liked it.

Thanks for the Christmas display

When we moved to Columbus in 1967, the area we live in now was farm woods and pasture—ravine, woods, and creek.  There was a 19th century farm house and old barn (now gone) on the property.  We had actually watched this area being built  and the firm Bob worked for, Urban Calabretta (now Brown Calabretta)  in the 1970s designed this very attractive 30 unit condominium community, a concept still rather new to Columbus 50 years ago. We had never driven back here until 2001 when we noticed several listings in the paper, and we fell in love with the setting.  So we have a lovely view north out our living room window of our neighbors on the next street “over the river and through the woods.”  They are close on this side, but about 1/2 mile to drive there.
 
We’ve been enjoying their Christmas lights in their back yard this season.  The colors change and rotate through the lights through a large tree. The other night Bob asked for a piece of stationery so he could write them a Thank You note for the enjoyment we’ve had every evening.  I thought it was a nice idea, but we don’t know their names, and the back of the house is 3 stories, yet the front appears to be a ranch—I’m not sure on that street if I could even identify it. Ten years ago when I was still walking in nice weather I’d noticed how difficult it was to identify the front of the homes I could only see from the rear.

No problem.  He wrote the note and then drove there, knocked on their door, and introduced himself.  They had a brief visit, and he told them how much we had enjoyed their lights.  Bob thought they were very nice, and they were quite surprised to get a personal and written thank you.

Samuel on a shower curtain

Today I was reading from 1 Samuel 1 and decided to look up various translations.  The internet allows some surprises, and I found Reynolds’ classic painting of the child Samuel available on shower curtains, I-phone covers, and tote bags.  Kitschy. I remember this on the little Sunday School bulletins we received each Sunday when it was popular to teach children art along with Bible. 

Barren, elderly or grieving mothers is a Biblical theme--it's the story of Jacob, Rachel (who was barren) and Leah, how Moses was adopted into a royal family, how the story of John's mother Elizabeth, Mary's cousin, is told, the massacred babies at the time of Jesus' birth, and Mary at the Cross. Samuel's mother, Hannah, did a lot of begging and pleading to bring him to life--so much so Eli thought she might be drunk. And when her prayers were answered, she gave him back to God.

"I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28.

It seems I do a lot of begging and pleading these days, but God is used to it.

Soleimani is irreplaceable

"Soleimani is irreplaceable. You rarely replace a ruthless leader like him with the brains to pull off what he has done, which was to change the world over 20 years. He built the proxy armies, he engineered the takeover of Lebanon, almost the takeover of Iraq and Syria and Yemen. He created the situation that led to Obama-Biden handing over $150 billion to fund his terror network and military buildup. Pretty incredible feat, and not anyone else can do that.

He was the true evil genius, with a state and $150 billion US Obama-Biden dollars behind him. A few years ago, John Kerry even admitted publicly that some of the money would probably go to terror groups. Focus on that statement from the secretary of state. US money would be used to fund terror. A press spokesman for Obama said the same at a White House press conference at the time. And the Dems want to attack Trump!!! And Biden defends the JCPOA.

More importantly, Soleimani had conned Obama-Biden [into] providing not only the funding, but the naïve and stupid belief that Iran would act nice no matter how many dead bodies were strewn across the world." (Ross Rant, 1-10-20)

And then from American Thinker https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/01/trump_is_toto.html

"If you remember The Wizard of Oz you will recall that Toto, Dorothy’s dog, pulled back the curtain, revealing that the wizard was just a little guy working a panel of sound and light gimmicks to fool people into thinking he was more omnipotent than he really was. In the same way, the President’s killing of Qassem Soleimani and the aftermath reveals the four-decades-long treatment of Iranian terrorism and Israel by the foreign-policy establishment -- our presidents from Jimmy Carter up to now and Congress -- was based on myths. . .

Trump isn't Mussolini or Hitler. Neither is he Abe Lincoln or Daniel come to judgment. Donald Trump is Toto. "

I’ll never be an organist, but . . .

I'll probably only make it through lesson one of thirty since I'm neither a pianist nor an organist, but it certainly is interesting. AOG Lessons for the New Organist. https://www.agohq.org/lessons-for-the-new-organist/

How lifers make a living in Congress—Bernie Sanders

Some of my regular readers are old enough to remember the Jimmy Carter years; he was ousted by Ronald Reagan because people were so upset by the economy. It was a terrible recession, and I didn't have a job in my regular field, library science, but found one being alert to gossip in my aerobic class.

Through my aerobics instructor, Corey, I got a temporary government contract job through JTPA (formerly CETA)  This is where the federal government takes your tax money, filters it through all the DC bureaucrats, then sends it to the states which employ a lot of people to fill out the forms to get it, where it is filtered through the state (Ohio) bureaucracy, then smaller programs are developed, where it is further spread out among local agencies and non-profits.

I worked for STEPS, Senior Training and Employment Program. Senior workers (over 50) had been hit particularly hard by that recession, so our little group of 5 or 6 went around the state putting on workshops and developing publications. It was a dream job for me, and I was employed. I even was able to write speeches for the head of the Bureau of Employment.

That's what most of these employment programs do--they employ the people who work in them. I don't know if a single person over 50 ever found a job due to our efforts, but probably thousands of government workers, either civil service, or grant temporary like me, or Area Agency on Aging employees, or the many training centers set up for teaching and skill development (private), the landlords who rented the space, or the small caterers who provided the lunches we served at the workshops managed to get through that recession. Plus, I met great people (state employees are fantastic) and had a good time--learned so much about how government works and why so many people sat alone in offices with nothing to do while we temporary workers were very busy.

This is a tiny picture of what Bernie and others in Congress have been doing for a living for their entire lives. They live well, but not much changes for the people who really need help.

Comparing terrorism charges

June 14, 2016 at 1:57 p.m. EDT
Update: On Tuesday, President Obama sharply dismissed Donald Trump's critiques of the fight against terror in a brief statement. "If there is anyone out there who thinks we are confused about who our enemies are," Obama said, "that would come as a surprise to the thousands of terrorists who we have taken off the battlefield." Last December, we tried to quantify those "thousands." Washington Post

Obama killed thousands of terrorists by his own account, and perhaps every one was necessary and had the proper advice from the military and approval of the appropriate committees. All the T's were crossed and the I's were dotted according to proper regulations. But then why with only a few strategic terrorist leaders taken out, men who'd been declared war criminals by previous administrations, is Trump criticized? Because Democrats are out of their minds with Trump Derangement Syndrome.

Truly, can we believe anything we read in the media or any Democrat in Congress if they are this biased?

The Baptism of the Lord

Today I was prepared to celebrate the Baptism of the Lord with other traditional and liturgical churches, but it didn't happen. So I'll post a reminder here as a heads up:

The Baptism of the Lord 2020: Sunday, January 12, 2020

The Baptism of the Lord 2021: Sunday, January 10, 2021

The Baptism of the Lord 2022: Sunday, January 9, 2022

The Baptism of the Lord 2023: Sunday, January 8, 2023 (transferred to Monday, January 9, in the United States and other countries where the celebration of Epiphany was transferred to Sunday, January 8)

The Baptism of the Lord 2024: Sunday, January 7, 2024 (transferred to Monday, January 8, in the United States and other countries where the celebration of Epiphany was transferred to Sunday, January 7)

The Baptism of the Lord 2025: Sunday, January 12, 2025

The Baptism of the Lord 2026: Sunday, January 11, 2026

The Baptism of the Lord 2027: Sunday, January 10, 2027

The Baptism of the Lord 2028: Sunday, January 9, 2028

The Baptism of the Lord 2029: Sunday, January 7, 2029 (transferred to Monday, January 8, in the United States and other countries where the celebration of Epiphany was transferred to Sunday, January 7)

The Baptism of the Lord 2030: Sunday, January 13, 2030

Matt. 3:13-17

Acts 10:34-38

John 3:22-30

Mr. Smith goes to sixth grade

A certain man in my life (for his protection I’ve made up a name) decided he’d try substitute teaching in his school district. We’re about the same age, so right away, you know he’s too old to take on such a dangerous assignment. It reminds me of the years my father was taking temporary jobs in his retirement, such as night watchman at a prison or driving a school bus.  The bus driver job was the tougher one he said.

Things are different these days, Smithy told me.  He first logged on to his computer at home and entered a password, and found the list of available spots for the day.

“Ah, that one looks good for a first try.  Only half day, and at a near by smaller school.  Sixth grade math.  I should be able to handle that.”

When he found the school he was buzzed in (all doors were locked) and Smithy says the look on the receptionist’s face when she saw a 78 year old should have clued him in there was trouble ahead. He walked about half a mile down the hall to the classroom. The regular teacher was probably late-20s and had a well prepared lesson plan for the afternoon.  She  met with him about 15 minutes and explained that at 11:57 he would open the door (to the outside) where the students would be lined up.  At the correct time he opened the door and led the students in, and they all started to run to different locations, but most took seats in his classroom.

Smithy hadn’t taken “Education” courses in college like I did (he had taught college level), but I remember the first instruction in Education 101 is “Don’t smile until Thanksgiving” or they’ll think you’re a push over.  Yup. He smiled.  Immediately 5 or 6 boys began to act out and take advantage of the old dude, fresh meat. There was a boy in the class who was “mainstream” and had an IEP and wanted a pass to leave. All was lost after that. He completely disrupted things and the other boys began with the smart aleck remarks teasing the challenged student. 

One boy was so disruptive Smithy decided to escort him back to his seat (they were running around the classroom).  Smithy didn’t know the rules, but the students did. “You can’t touch me—take your hand off my arm,” the little snot told the man old enough to be his great grandfather.

That class was 12 to 1.  Then the 2nd period was about 25 minutes, time to prepare.  At 2:02 there was a time period called “Social Emotional Learning, SEL.   During this time they were to concentrate on the book, “Who moved my cheese.” Not sure how that applies to math, but apparently  it is something about anticipating change and time management. The book was published over 20 years ago and has sold over 26 million copies in 37 languages.  The main characters are two mice and two quasi-humans called Hem and Haw.

The third period was 2:30-3:11 (school dismisses at 3:11, teachers stay until 3:30) and Smithy only had about half a classroom. This seemed to be a time out/study hall period for people who were in trouble.  Some one had quit band, and someone else had been kicked out of choir, and so forth.  The librarian saved the day.  The kids were so disruptive that she entered the classroom and told them they were being too loud and to quiet down.  Smithy was stunned.  The class came to attention immediately and were quiet when she showed up.  They were angels.

And through it all, one little Asian boy worked diligently on his studies. Nothing the rowdy gang did distracted him.  Smithy said, “He’ll be the class valedictorian.”  The boys were the disrupters, the girls mostly tried to help. They provided directions to the correct locations, but to the boys, he was just fresh meat.

Smithy was so thankful it was just 3 hours, but he still had a fairly long evaluation to complete.  He offered his advice on how the day could have gone better, like more time with the classroom teacher, and who had been helpful.  He asked if he could come back as an observer and watch how the regular teacher handled the discipline and instruction.

But he particularly wanted to shadow that librarian and see what her tricks were.

Update: January 19, 2022.

Mr. Smith remembers that day as yesterday. When he went in to talk to the Principal about the situations he faced that dreadful afternoon, and he was given a facial expression of "heard this all before". The reason was given that the school district, upon consolidation with another district, had to accept students (poor white trash) from the trailer court just outside the city. OH MY, WHAT LOGIC!!!

The other memory of that fateful day has been finally put to bed with my check for $6.47 from the TRS (teacher retirement system) and the State of Illinois. Yesterday, after 2 years on my part to save that system $$ by not sending out reports and other correspondence quarterly, I was allowed to close my TRS account. It took numerous phone calls (the first informed me I could not close this wonderful cushion for retirement) and other negative comments about why I would be foolish to "CASH" out and the last being an 8-page notice regarding what the IRS is going to do to me if I took a "LUMP SUM DISTRIBUTION". The final threat was that if I pulled out of the union, I would never be allowed to re-up again!!!! PRAISE THE LORD

Mr. Smith holds a Substitute Teaching License through 2025 through the Regional Office of Education #47 for the Counties of X, Y, and Z after submitting and passing the following:

• 1-9 Employment Eligibility Verification,
• Illinois teaching certificate, 
• College Transcript,
• Mandated Reporter Status for Child Abuse,
• Physical exam,
• TB Test,
• Fingerprint based criminal history,
• Successful check of the Illinois Statewide Sex Offender Data Base,
• Successful check of the Illinois Statewide Child Murderer and Violent Crimes Against Children Data Base.

MY-O- MY, them times are a changing!!!! Last night on a local TV channel they spoke about the dire need for SUBS, but the requirements are down to a high school education now. Maybe a few of those Trailer kids (poor white trash) can now try to escort the unruly boys back to their seats!! But thanks to WOKE, I'm sure the same rules hold fast.

SMITTY