Here it is, my first baseball post. You knew it was coming didn't you?
Well now that the Cardinals have added Gerald Laird, the team appears to be set for 2011. And what a team it is. Let's break it down shall we?
Cards acquire Ryan Theriot. Pretty decent 2B, looks like a good pickup. Wait, he isn't going to be playing 2B but SS? But, but..........oh wait I forgot, the Cardinals have Skip Schumaker the best non second baseman in the league. You know that guy who is really an outfielder but has been playing second base because.........well that story would take a day and a half and a gallon of coffee to write about. So, Ryan Theriot is going to play SS, that position where we already have another Ryan, Brendan that is, that guy who made all the web gem highlights on ESPN and who the Fielding Bible says is the best defensive SS in the league? What do we do? I know, let's trade him away for a 21 year old A ball pitcher who has control issues and is milleniums away from sniffing the major leagues, if ever. Done. Now we have a better hitting SS but possibly the worst middle infield defensively in the majors. Heck, defense isn't important right? So what if we have a stable of ground ball pitchers? They can adjust. Strike em all out boys. I'm happy, aren't you? Moving on.
Cardinals sign Lance Berkman. Wow, I didn't see that one coming. A good impact bat. Wait, doesn't he play 1B? What about Albert Pujols? Eureka! The answer is staring us right in the face. We will play him in the outfield. So what if he hasn't played the outfield since 2007 and then he was really really bad at it? He can hit that ball, and well there is that knee issue, but I'm sure it is nothing to be concerned about. He should still be able to catch those fly balls that are hit to the exact spot where he is standing. No worries. Besides we have a couple of Gold Glove outfielders already to take up the slack. What? We don't? Oops, must have been thinking of some other team. My bad. Looks like the defense is not looking so good in the outfield either.
Now we come to our final acquisition. Gerald Laird our new backup catcher. We have really been improving that offense so this last acquisition should be our final triumph. Oh no, Laird hit .207 for the Tigers last year? No offense there. But he is great at defense! Threw out 34% of would be basestealers last year! Yes! We finally have that defense we need! Except we already had that at catcher and Laird probably won't play more than 20 games all year. Gee, just when I thought we had the perfect team. But we have the best player in baseball so that solves all our problems. At least for 2011. Maybe.
Well we have that future Hall of Fame manager, Tony LaRussa to lead this gang to the World Series. He can do it. He has the tools he needs. Those guys who make him happy those guys who will do anything for him. Those guys I just mentioned.
Hey did you hear the Phillies signed Cliff Lee?
A blog by a very opinionated woman
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The Young and the Clueless
I have been substitute teaching for the past two months in order to earn some additional income. So far I have worked at every level, elementary, middle school and high school. Today I subbed for 8th grade Science. The analysis below is a generalization; there are exceptions that I have observed.
What I have learned so far is this. There are problems at every level, but the problems are different. For the very young kids it is mostly the kinds of things you would expect: too much energy, lack of focus, lack of impulse control. Nothing really surprising to me there. They are the most exhausting however.
Now on to Middle School (or what in my day was called Junior High). The problems with these kids are mostly behavioral and attitudinal. They love to flaunt authority; they don't respect their teachers nor do they care about the consequences of their actions. They are unconcerned that they may be missing the opportunity to learn skills to aid them in making a decent future for themselves. They live only in the present and only for their self gratification. Lack of maturity may be a part of the problem but it is hard to know for sure at that level because maturity is an individual characteristic.
In High School the problems are very similar to those in Middle School. The difference, at least as I see it, is the high schoolers don't have the maturity excuse. These young people (not children) know what the right path is, they just choose not to follow it. Instead, life in high school is just something to get through so they can graduate and then go on to screw up their lives. I know I am painting with a wide brush here, but this is what I am seeing.
At both the Middle School and High School levels I see only a handful of students doing their work diligently, asking intelligent questions, and appearing to care about getting a good education. The rest are just various sizes and shapes of human protoplasm taking up space. I know I sound harsh here. I have only my own experiences growing up to guide me. There were kids in my school that had behavior and attitude problems, but they were by far in the minority. What I saw today and have seen in the last two months has been quite an eye-opener.
What is it that accounts for such a dramatic difference? Is it the parents of these kids? Is it the school system? Is it popular culture influences? Is it all of the above? I don't know. But what I do know is that these kids are the future of this country and I am not liking the future one bit. Something needs to be fixed and fixed yesterday. I am not kidding. These kids are scary.
What I have learned so far is this. There are problems at every level, but the problems are different. For the very young kids it is mostly the kinds of things you would expect: too much energy, lack of focus, lack of impulse control. Nothing really surprising to me there. They are the most exhausting however.
Now on to Middle School (or what in my day was called Junior High). The problems with these kids are mostly behavioral and attitudinal. They love to flaunt authority; they don't respect their teachers nor do they care about the consequences of their actions. They are unconcerned that they may be missing the opportunity to learn skills to aid them in making a decent future for themselves. They live only in the present and only for their self gratification. Lack of maturity may be a part of the problem but it is hard to know for sure at that level because maturity is an individual characteristic.
In High School the problems are very similar to those in Middle School. The difference, at least as I see it, is the high schoolers don't have the maturity excuse. These young people (not children) know what the right path is, they just choose not to follow it. Instead, life in high school is just something to get through so they can graduate and then go on to screw up their lives. I know I am painting with a wide brush here, but this is what I am seeing.
At both the Middle School and High School levels I see only a handful of students doing their work diligently, asking intelligent questions, and appearing to care about getting a good education. The rest are just various sizes and shapes of human protoplasm taking up space. I know I sound harsh here. I have only my own experiences growing up to guide me. There were kids in my school that had behavior and attitude problems, but they were by far in the minority. What I saw today and have seen in the last two months has been quite an eye-opener.
What is it that accounts for such a dramatic difference? Is it the parents of these kids? Is it the school system? Is it popular culture influences? Is it all of the above? I don't know. But what I do know is that these kids are the future of this country and I am not liking the future one bit. Something needs to be fixed and fixed yesterday. I am not kidding. These kids are scary.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Tell Me What You Want (what you really, really want).
What do the political parties really want? And I mean REALLY. Not what they say they want, not what the media says they want not what one party says the other wants. I want to know the truth.
The Democrats say they are on the side of the working person, the little guy. They have had the majority in the house for the past two years yet what have they really done for the working person? As far as this currently non-working person thinks, very little. They have made attempts to pass bills to help create jobs and extend unemployment benefits. The Republicans have made their efforts to block those bills and have succeeded for the most part. Why? Because for some reason the Democrats don't seem to want to do it badly enough. They have the power, they just won't use it. So, do they REALLY want to help the working person or just help themselves?
The Republicans on the other hand are a curious bunch. It seems clear, at least to me, that their number one priority is to cause the President to fail so that they can win back the White House. So far they are succeeding. They say want to fix the deficit, yet they support doing things that increase the deficit, such as extending the Bush tax cuts. The tax cuts were never paid for to begin with so how does extending them pay for them? I guess cutting spending would help but they refuse to say what spending they want to cut. It seems to me that if they want to convince the American people that they are serious about cutting the deficit then they would tell us what their plan is. I haven't heard one yet. Again, I question whether the Republicans REALLY want to fix the deficit or just use it as a tool to help themselves.
I am beginning to see a pattern here. Don't you? I think I know what they REALLY want.
The Democrats say they are on the side of the working person, the little guy. They have had the majority in the house for the past two years yet what have they really done for the working person? As far as this currently non-working person thinks, very little. They have made attempts to pass bills to help create jobs and extend unemployment benefits. The Republicans have made their efforts to block those bills and have succeeded for the most part. Why? Because for some reason the Democrats don't seem to want to do it badly enough. They have the power, they just won't use it. So, do they REALLY want to help the working person or just help themselves?
The Republicans on the other hand are a curious bunch. It seems clear, at least to me, that their number one priority is to cause the President to fail so that they can win back the White House. So far they are succeeding. They say want to fix the deficit, yet they support doing things that increase the deficit, such as extending the Bush tax cuts. The tax cuts were never paid for to begin with so how does extending them pay for them? I guess cutting spending would help but they refuse to say what spending they want to cut. It seems to me that if they want to convince the American people that they are serious about cutting the deficit then they would tell us what their plan is. I haven't heard one yet. Again, I question whether the Republicans REALLY want to fix the deficit or just use it as a tool to help themselves.
I am beginning to see a pattern here. Don't you? I think I know what they REALLY want.
Monday, November 29, 2010
A Face To The Unemployment Crisis
I have stated in a prior post that I am one of the 15 million unemployed people in this country. With the issue of extending unemployment benefits looming I thought I would take the time to explain some things about the unemployed. This is not a political rant. I am not going to talk about who or what caused the economy to tank thus putting this country into the worst recession since the Great Depression. I am not going to argue about the deficit or who is or isn't responsible for fixing this mess, or even how to fix it. I could do all those things. I certainly have opinions about them, and with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics, somewhat more knowledge about it than the average person. Perhaps another post. This post is just for the purpose of putting a face on the problem. My problem.
I lost my job with state government in January 2009. It was a job I had held for 18 years. Although I was not a political appointee, I was removed by the new governor for reasons only he can explain. I did nothing wrong. I was simply not wanted any longer. Since that time I have fruitlessly searched for another job. My unemployment benefits run out next week if no extension is passed. That is my problem.
Who am I? I am a 51 year old professional woman. I have two college degrees, one a law degree. I am the face of the unemployed in this country. According to the U.S Department of Labor the demographics of the long term unemployed during this current economic crisis has changed dramatically from what it has been historically. Long term unemployment has increased 185% for those age 45 and older; 289% for those possessing at least a bachelor's degree; and 125% for women. I obtained these numbers here: http://stats.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2010/10/art1full.pdf I, ladies and gentleman, AM the unemployed. What I am NOT is lazy. What I am NOT is a whiner. Yet I have been called that, and worse.
The face of the long term unemployed has changed, but the treatment of them has not. Employers still look at them negatively, despite the enormity of the current economic crisis. Employers use credit checks, and advertisements stating blatantly that applicants not currently employed will not be considered, to weed them out. Today we are looking at an epidemic of highly educated and highly experienced people being thrown under the bus. No longer is that unemployed person a welfare mother or a deadbeat. He or she is an engineer, an accountant, and yes, an attorney.
Still people just don't get it. Get a job at McDonald's I am told, they are hiring. Does any remotely sensible person really believe that McDonald's is going to hire an attorney to make Big Macs? I have applied at McDonald's as well as other restaurants and retail establishments, only to be ignored. I applied for a job at Lowe's online only to be rejected by email in less than 24 hours. I was actually given an interview by Target, but again, quick email rejection. Now, I am not blaming these employers, not really. Why would a retail establishment hire an attorney with no retail experience? Training is expensive and there would be no guarantee I would stick around long enough to recoup that investment.
And there is also the inevitable question that I get. Why not start my own practice? Because it takes serious financial resources to do that. Malpractice insurance itself would be cost prohibitive for me in my current financial straits. Without a job, no bank would make me a loan. An established law firm will not hire me because I have no private practice experience, and have no client base to bring to the firm. Remember, I have worked in the government sector my entire career. I am, as they say, up the proverbial creek.
I continue to press on however. I continue to apply at those restaurants and retail establishments. I do occasionally get interviews for attorney jobs, though I have yet to be hired for one. I am substitute teaching for a small modicum of income when those unemployment benefits run out. The last of my savings is dwindling.
I am the face of the unemployed make no mistake about that. If you have a job count your blessings. And try to keep an open mind when you hear the politicians and the pundits and the attention seekers take shots at the unemployed. They will continue to do so. You see we don't count. And when I and 4.99 million other people run out of unemployment benefits next week we will not count literally. Not in those unemployment figures you see thrown around in the media. We will be under the bus.
I lost my job with state government in January 2009. It was a job I had held for 18 years. Although I was not a political appointee, I was removed by the new governor for reasons only he can explain. I did nothing wrong. I was simply not wanted any longer. Since that time I have fruitlessly searched for another job. My unemployment benefits run out next week if no extension is passed. That is my problem.
Who am I? I am a 51 year old professional woman. I have two college degrees, one a law degree. I am the face of the unemployed in this country. According to the U.S Department of Labor the demographics of the long term unemployed during this current economic crisis has changed dramatically from what it has been historically. Long term unemployment has increased 185% for those age 45 and older; 289% for those possessing at least a bachelor's degree; and 125% for women. I obtained these numbers here: http://stats.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2010/10/art1full.pdf I, ladies and gentleman, AM the unemployed. What I am NOT is lazy. What I am NOT is a whiner. Yet I have been called that, and worse.
The face of the long term unemployed has changed, but the treatment of them has not. Employers still look at them negatively, despite the enormity of the current economic crisis. Employers use credit checks, and advertisements stating blatantly that applicants not currently employed will not be considered, to weed them out. Today we are looking at an epidemic of highly educated and highly experienced people being thrown under the bus. No longer is that unemployed person a welfare mother or a deadbeat. He or she is an engineer, an accountant, and yes, an attorney.
Still people just don't get it. Get a job at McDonald's I am told, they are hiring. Does any remotely sensible person really believe that McDonald's is going to hire an attorney to make Big Macs? I have applied at McDonald's as well as other restaurants and retail establishments, only to be ignored. I applied for a job at Lowe's online only to be rejected by email in less than 24 hours. I was actually given an interview by Target, but again, quick email rejection. Now, I am not blaming these employers, not really. Why would a retail establishment hire an attorney with no retail experience? Training is expensive and there would be no guarantee I would stick around long enough to recoup that investment.
And there is also the inevitable question that I get. Why not start my own practice? Because it takes serious financial resources to do that. Malpractice insurance itself would be cost prohibitive for me in my current financial straits. Without a job, no bank would make me a loan. An established law firm will not hire me because I have no private practice experience, and have no client base to bring to the firm. Remember, I have worked in the government sector my entire career. I am, as they say, up the proverbial creek.
I continue to press on however. I continue to apply at those restaurants and retail establishments. I do occasionally get interviews for attorney jobs, though I have yet to be hired for one. I am substitute teaching for a small modicum of income when those unemployment benefits run out. The last of my savings is dwindling.
I am the face of the unemployed make no mistake about that. If you have a job count your blessings. And try to keep an open mind when you hear the politicians and the pundits and the attention seekers take shots at the unemployed. They will continue to do so. You see we don't count. And when I and 4.99 million other people run out of unemployment benefits next week we will not count literally. Not in those unemployment figures you see thrown around in the media. We will be under the bus.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Reality Killed the TV Star
Last night while I was perusing Twitter looking for baseball arbitration news, I discovered that there was all this buzz about this TV show called Dancing With the Stars. I know of the show though I don't watch it (the video of Tom Delay shaking his booty almost made me hurl). In fact I don't watch reality TV at all, though I will admit to a brief fascination for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy because I got some great tips on there. Seems one Bristol Palin of the Alaska Palins was a contestant. What caught my attention, and my disappointment was the sheer volume of Tweets concerning Ms. Palin's 3rd place finish in this contest. Tucked amid the torrent of #DWTS tweets there was the occasional tweet about the conflict between North Korea and South Korea and the terrible plight of the unemployed (a group of which I am a member), and of course some baseball arbitration news.
Now I am a fierce believer in freedom of speech. I tweet my share of trivia as well. Let's face it, baseball, though a particular passion of mine, is not going to decide the fate of the world. However, the obsession with Ms. Palin and Dancing With the Stars disturbed me. I realize that Ms. Palin's competition in this contest is newsworthy to a certain degree, being who she is the daughter of and all. But I see this as a burgeoning symptom of a disease that has been growing in this country over the last decade----Ignorance Related Apathy Syndrome---a/k/a I Don't Know What Is Going On In The World And I Don't Care. This disease is spreading and is threatening the well-being of every person on this planet. It is potentially fatal.
Our society and societies everywhere are threatened because Ignorance and Apathy are two of the Deadly Sins (not the biblical ones, but those other ones). Our way of living in the US is controlled by the people of the US (at least that is what the Constitution says). And when a large majority of those people know who Kate Gosselin is, but not who the Vice President of the United States is, Houston, we have a problem. Ignorance is a cancer that is eating away at the organs of our society. Okay, so I like metaphors, but the point is, Americans have become lazy. They make decisions based on little or no factual information. Instead they rely on political pundits or TV and radio "entertainers" who tell them what to think. Yes, we are becoming a nation of pod people.
So, WAKE UP AMERICA. Try this concept. There is still objective journalism out there. Find it. Educate yourself. Deduce. Reason. It's really not that hard, trust me.
And for God's sake, find out who the Vice President of the United States is.
Now I am a fierce believer in freedom of speech. I tweet my share of trivia as well. Let's face it, baseball, though a particular passion of mine, is not going to decide the fate of the world. However, the obsession with Ms. Palin and Dancing With the Stars disturbed me. I realize that Ms. Palin's competition in this contest is newsworthy to a certain degree, being who she is the daughter of and all. But I see this as a burgeoning symptom of a disease that has been growing in this country over the last decade----Ignorance Related Apathy Syndrome---a/k/a I Don't Know What Is Going On In The World And I Don't Care. This disease is spreading and is threatening the well-being of every person on this planet. It is potentially fatal.
Our society and societies everywhere are threatened because Ignorance and Apathy are two of the Deadly Sins (not the biblical ones, but those other ones). Our way of living in the US is controlled by the people of the US (at least that is what the Constitution says). And when a large majority of those people know who Kate Gosselin is, but not who the Vice President of the United States is, Houston, we have a problem. Ignorance is a cancer that is eating away at the organs of our society. Okay, so I like metaphors, but the point is, Americans have become lazy. They make decisions based on little or no factual information. Instead they rely on political pundits or TV and radio "entertainers" who tell them what to think. Yes, we are becoming a nation of pod people.
So, WAKE UP AMERICA. Try this concept. There is still objective journalism out there. Find it. Educate yourself. Deduce. Reason. It's really not that hard, trust me.
And for God's sake, find out who the Vice President of the United States is.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Why I Am Here
I always wanted to have a blog of my own, but I could never think of a subject to blog about. Politics and Baseball are my favorite subjects but the blogosphere is littered with blogs on those subjects. Then one day I realized that one of the things about me that anyone who knows me will readily tell you is that I have opinions about almost everything, and I don't hesitate to express them. I am a lawyer and I like to argue. Give me a topic that I have an opinion about and I will argue it until I lapse into a coma. Why not share my talent with the world I thought? I know there are others who like to argue as fiercely as I do. I've met them. I've argued with them. So this blog was born.
My format is simple. If I find something in the news or anywhere else that I have an opinion on that I want to share I will post it here. There will be no timetable, I will do it as topics are found and time permits. I have a Twitter account and a Facebook account and any new blog post will be announced there.
All comments that are civilized and clean are welcome. I may respond to a commenter from time to time, but I mostly want to hear what others think of my opinion.
Let the arguing begin.
My format is simple. If I find something in the news or anywhere else that I have an opinion on that I want to share I will post it here. There will be no timetable, I will do it as topics are found and time permits. I have a Twitter account and a Facebook account and any new blog post will be announced there.
All comments that are civilized and clean are welcome. I may respond to a commenter from time to time, but I mostly want to hear what others think of my opinion.
Let the arguing begin.
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