Food For Thought

Forbes lists 5 reasons not to go to college. (via Phi Beta Cons)

I'm not sure about discouraging college, but I would definitely like to see Mia graduate from high school early, or do some AP/college course work while in high school to make college a 3 year (instead of a 4+ year) experience. It would also help if she had some direction, a reason for going to college besides it being a socially acceptable way to avoid getting a job.

Couple charged for not using lawyers

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The Cleveland Bar Association is threatening to fine the parents of an autistic boy $10,000 for not hiring a lawyer when they brought, and largely won, a court case on their son's behalf four years ago.

After a long court battle, Brian and Susan Woods settled their case with the Akron school district in 2002 when the district agreed to send Daniel, now 11, to a private school.

But in February, the Cleveland Bar Association took issue with the Woodses' handling parts of that case themselves and not through a lawyer.

The bar charged them with unauthorized practice of law and threatened a $10,000 fine, saying that although the Woodses were allowed to represent themselves, they could not act as lawyers for their son. The charge is normally filed against nonlawyers who provide legal services for pay, but is rare against parents.

So rare, in fact, that no one the reporter asked, including the American Bar Association and the Ohio bar's Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, could recall a single case.

Read on and discover that the Cleveland Bar Association is already involved in a legal battle with Mr. Woods on the separate matter of allegedly advising another family at their son's school in their lawsuit. But I'm sure the unheard of charge being leveled against Mr. Woods has nothing to do with getting some leverage in their other case, and absolutely nothing to do with the lucrative fees generated by winning suits against school districts. No, I'm sure they're all about the good of the children.

The Perpetual Move

Moving is always a trial, but Brian and I have managed to turn it into a never-ending ordeal. Living in both houses to keep Mia in school is like constantly packing for vacation. Plus, with spring here, the yard work for two houses is sapping my will to blog. Hopefully, we'll be rid of the old house soon and I'll be able to keep up again.

The Church Of Whatever

I heard the strangest add for a local church on the radio yesterday. They had a bunch of young people saying why they go to this church: It's fun, It's cool etc. Then a young lady said "I go for the hot guys." I thought they were going to make some kind of joke, though I couldn't imagine what it would be. Then the next girl said "Yeah, the hot guys." That, apparently, was the real reason they went to this church. They followed this up with a promise that you would be "out in an hour" and never miss a Chiefs game. Why, you can go to church with almost no inconvenience to yourself at all.

Do you know what would be even more convenient? Not going at all. Maybe it's an introvert thing, but if all you've got for me is hot guys and a quickie, platitudinous service, I think I'll just sleep in.

Update: Flashback to Ace's post on the Top Ten Mandated Changes to Make Christianity More Politically Correct and "Inclusive":

6. The requirement that an actual belief in Christ is required to be a Christian ruled discriminatory; churches must offer alternative methods of qualification, such as "celebrating the magical joy of a baby's smile" or "just sitting in the park, thinking about Nature and shit"

(via Demure Thoughts)

Protest Against Illegal Immigration In KC

About 400 people demonstrated in support of tougher immigration laws in Kansas City today. Not a big turn out, but at least our politicians can be sure that, unlike the pro-illegal marchers, all 400 are eligible to vote. The rally was held on tax day to point out the high cost of caring for illegals who may or may not be paying taxes.

Tales from the Cul-de-sac

Because Mia is still in school in the old district, we're still living in the old house, but we will be spending the weekends at the new house. This was our first weekend there and my poor, brave, long-suffering husband spent half of it toting around a dead 'possum.

My mom was visiting, so on Friday, we invited Brian's parents out to dinner and then back to the new house to try out the deck. Alas, just before they arrived, we discovered an expired 'possum and a large compliment of flies under the deck. Flies and dead 'possum smell not being conducive to engaging conversation, I convinced Brian to "get rid of it." I asked no questions about how he got rid of it, but the next day, our neighbors over the back fence saw me outside and waved me over to introduce themselves. Our conversation:

Them: "Hi, I'm Jim. This is Susan and, dear God, what is that smell?"
Me: (feigning surprise)"Where on earth could that have come from?"

So the bulk of my first conversation with the new neighbors involved discussion of small animal disposal.

They gave us two fifty gallon trash bags and suggested we put him out with the trash on Monday. Perhaps that would have worked, had it not been for the unseasonably warm weather we've been having recently.

After Brian had dutifully hauled our late friend to the curb, I began to worry. After he'd spent 24 hours in a plastic bag in the hot sun, I was concerned that the garbage men wouldn't take him. I'm not sure, but I suspect you aren't allowed to dispose of dead animals in the trash. The stench was unbearable and unmistakable. So Brian suggested that we toss him in the bed of the truck and deposit him in one of those remote woody areas where people dump their old couches. So, two more dead 'possum tosses and we'd finally smelled the last of him.

After long, hot showers, we're back at the old house, hoping this isn't a bad omen.

Builders vs. Destroyers

According to The Skeptical Optimist, an optimist is "one who believes that humans, on net balance, are builders rather than destroyers." In support of that theory, he has produced The Best Debt Clock in the USA. Everyone knows that the the national debt is rising so fast the number has to be updated several times a second. But did you know (I didn't) that the GDP is rising at pretty much the same rate. Thus the debt-to-GDP ratio remains the same. Yes, we're spending fast, but we're creating fast, too.

That happy factoid was found via the Gates of Vienna. However, if your more inclined to the pessimistic view that humanity's periodic bouts of destructiveness eventually overwhelm what it has built, Gates of Vienna also has a post for you. Read all about how Islamists take the inventions of others and use them to destroy.

He Who Blocks The Traffic Wins

That's just not a good philosophy of government. It was unfortunate for our demonstrators that their marching happened to coincide with the French government caving in to the petty demands of French demonstrators. Now we're watching our politicians to see how they react to the implicit threat of hundreds of thousands of people in the streets.

From the NY Sun:

That trial of strength was no longer mainly about the hiring and firing of young employees, which the government wanted to make easier and the unions opposed. The conflict was about a much more fundamental question: Who has the right to exercise authority in a democratic society? That question leads directly to another: Who has a monopoly on violence? The French state has now given its answer to both: "Not us."

I doubt that most Americans want to turn over authority to the type of people who have the time and inclination to form mobs and run around in the streets. That, is after all, why we have elected officials. If, on May 1, illegals demonstrate themselves to be a credible threat to our economy, my guess is that the American people will begin to wonder, not how we can give into their demands, but how we can become less dependent on them.

"No Weapons"

Is this a nation-wide phenomena? Ever since Missouri passed a concealed carry law, public places (restaurants, etc.) have been putting little paper signs in their window the say "No Weapons." It is their right under the new law to ban weapons from their establishments, yet the signs always make me smile. Surely, no one with criminal intent would dare to walk past that little sign.

But now I have a reason to be annoyed by them. My 4-year-old read the sign at the public library and asked what it meant. I stupidly told her that it meant no one could bring a gun into the library. Well, apparently all she heard was "gun", because now she's afraid to go into the library.

I don't know where she developed a fear of guns. Finding Nemo was too scary for her, so you know she never watches anything violent on TV. I finally coaxed her in, but we had to stop for a long philosophical discussion at each sign (they have two). Sigh.

New Blog Alert

I just discovered (via a commenter at Samizdata) that Bruce Bawer, author of While Europe Slept, has a blog. Good stuff.

If Texas Were In Mexico

The post I've been meaning to write, only better:

Maybe you have to be Hispanic to figure out this kind of logic: You've broken the law and risked your life to get the hell out of the land of your birth, but when the country you've sneaked into considers sending you back home, you rush into the streets in protest -- GET THIS! -- proudly carrying the flag of the country you'd rather die than live in. Some of you even carry signs suggesting that the poor failed country you've escaped from should possess the land you've fled to.

Really. I don't mean to be rude, but let's face it. Most Mexicans aren't coming here to reclaim their birthright. They're coming for jobs. If Texas was in Mexico, Mexicans would be escaping to Oklahoma. If Oklahoma was in Mexico, they'd be escaping to Kansas. If Kansas were in Mexico....

Reminds me of the refugees from Islamic theocracies who say America would be the perfect country...if only it were an Islamic theocracy. Ay carramba.