tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36242222011-07-28T08:45:27.827-05:00Rantings to no one in particular.Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.comBlogger671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1156548154965416292006-08-25T17:26:00.000-05:002006-08-25T18:22:35.083-05:00

Gordy over at IlliniPundit is busy declaring things improved over in Iraq. Apparently a poll came out showing that Iraqis think there shouldn't be a Civil War. And ... well ... that's really all there is.Meanwhile, the National Priorities Project came out with some interesting statistics recently. Apparently the Iraq War has now cost the American taxpayers $318,500,000,000. Locally, Champaign

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1155483263381997942006-08-13T10:09:00.000-05:002006-08-13T10:34:23.473-05:00

Well, it looks like the cursed New York Times has turned The Great Eye on Illinois for 500 words or so. Turns out the Anti-Gay-Marriage crowd was trying to get a referendum against same-sex marriage onto the November ballot. They failed:“It’s not near over,” said Peter LaBarbera, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute and Protect Marriage Illinois, a group that supports the

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1154358100070432392006-07-31T09:56:00.000-05:002006-07-31T10:01:40.100-05:00

Until further notice. Though I HAVE found a little cafe with wireless so if the weather goes bad I may post again. In the meantime, I'll be swimming.Cheers!

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1153494142402272352006-07-21T09:07:00.000-05:002006-07-21T11:03:58.410-05:00

This image of President Bush and a large group of parents holding their cute children caught my eye this week. If you aren't aware of the context, click here to learn more. Briefly, this is a shot of the President explaining the first veto of his presidency, which shot down expanded stem-cell research. The parents are folks who have used in vitro fertilization (IVF) successfully. They are

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1153115109341322152006-07-16T23:43:00.000-05:002006-07-17T08:44:25.630-05:00

The current United States House of Representatives seems to be one of the laziest on record. By the end of the 2005-2006 term, the House is scheduled to have met 241 times. No House has served fewer days since the 1955-56 session. Even the infamous 1947-48 "Do-Nothing Congress" met for 254 days.This is particularly strange considering the country is supposed to be in a state of war. I reckon

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1152716248712712972006-07-12T09:24:00.001-05:002006-07-12T09:57:28.716-05:00

These folks have a seriously problem with AllKids. Some of them have apparently downloaded my family budget and decided that I do not need AllKids. Something about me being "part of the problem". Yay!Perhaps it is useful to look at what the savings from using AllKids, the new State health insurance for children, can buy a family.Let's pretend that an employer offers his employees two plans:

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1152626922101142662006-07-11T08:49:00.000-05:002006-07-11T09:27:23.486-05:00

I am always nervous when an envelope from the State of Illinois lands in my box. These letters are always one of two things: a bill or some sort of bad news.Well last week's letter from the Governor was no exception. It was indeed a bill, for 40 (count 'em!) FORTY whole dollars. And for what service to I now owe the State? Comprehensive health insurance for my new daughter.Suddenly I don't

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1152026560386632572006-07-04T09:53:00.000-05:002006-07-04T10:39:27.203-05:00

It has been far too long between posts. I have several excuses, of course, mainly the birth of our first child. She has brought more joy, laughter, and googlie baby talk to our home than I ever thought possible. God is indeed a keeper of promises.That said, several interesting political thoughts have crossed my mind since Pinky (not her real name) was born. I'd like to blog for a while about

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1137181037679657012006-01-13T12:49:00.001-06:002006-01-13T13:39:44.516-06:00

Monday is the annual Martin Luther King Holiday, where folks from all over the country will get the day off from school (I hope), or perhaps from work. Like most holidays, we'll probably forget to take the time to think about King and his legacy, but just in case you're interested the story of this holiday is pretty good.It turns out the ratification of this holiday marks the official moment

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1134184210813283662005-12-12T20:58:00.000-06:002005-12-13T11:12:06.003-06:00

So let's pretend we have Citizen X, and his wife Citizen Y. This couple is pregnant, but all is not well in pregnant world. Though Citizen x+y (the baby) is fine, Citizen Y is miserable. Swollen ankles, pain in the arms, nausea, etc. - all with four months to go!Citizen X works for the local school district, who offers him standard health insurance that he declines on a yearly basis. The

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1134257562835475232005-12-10T17:22:00.002-06:002005-12-10T17:32:42.836-06:00

What a beautiful day for skiing at Allerton.Not a deer to be seen though. I reckon they've all figured out Allerton is in the middle of hunting season. Hopefully they'll be back after the new year.Either way, another gorgeous Illinois day.

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1133996770794500202005-12-08T16:50:00.000-06:002005-12-08T16:21:14.620-06:00

I had no idea anyone would care much about the Noodles & Co. post below, but it seems to have touched a small nerve of a few of us, for better or for worse.While there are many reasons to have a serious problem with the corporatization of our campustown, I originally began my dislike with the sober realization that corporate box restaurants are boring. No big political agenda point there. Just

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1133641362264721702005-12-03T13:21:00.000-06:002005-12-03T15:08:35.196-06:00

The wife and I went to the new, shiny, and super clean "Noodles and Company" last night to see if we have a good new restaurant in town.Well, that's why she went. I went along to see if I was wrong about the Hub (careful clicking - bad techno awaits!) article I dissed a few months ago. You remember, the one with this stellar quote:...With a name sounding much like a cable-access children's show

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1132603063307954722005-11-21T11:35:00.000-06:002005-11-21T13:57:53.513-06:00

I got that feeling this weekend. You know the one where you actually feel homesick for your church folk on Monday morning? It was a great weekend, filled with lots of laughter, hiking, etc. with our youth group. The kids even led worship Sunday morning and did a great job. Blessed.One of the them (a seeker, really) mentioned to me that it was great to be around Christians without feeling

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1131648653065757832005-11-10T08:26:00.000-06:002005-11-10T13:00:54.496-06:00

I am rather busy this days with the job, church and family stuff. Here are some upcoming events I hope to make it to:The WRFU Barnraising:Everyone who wishes to participate in this three-day-long set of workshops and work to get WRFU on the air should register immediately! The barnraising will be November 11th-13th, at the new IMC building in downtown Urbana, IL. The barnraising is being

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1130001929139288202005-10-22T11:59:00.000-05:002005-10-22T12:25:29.150-05:00

IlliniPundit hosted quite a back and forth this week on the War in Iraq. He asked a simple question, but couldn't get a simple answer. Turns out there are also some ex-Intel folk who post over there. Not surprisingly, they seem to have a favorable view about what is happening in the middle east.So I was surprised to see this speech from Lawrence Wilkerson this week. Colonel Wilkerson is the

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1129389870248730102005-10-15T09:58:00.000-05:002005-10-15T10:26:33.076-05:00

The Tribune reports this morning that President Bush's polling numbers in Illinois are down to 33 percent. More surprisingly ...Support for Bush has dropped 14 points in the last year among Republicans, and GOP officials fear that could complicate their efforts in next year's races for Congress and governor. For the first time in his presidency, half the voters in Chicago's Republican-rich collar

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1129170439758674312005-10-12T21:04:00.000-05:002005-10-12T21:27:19.766-05:00

A dear friend of mine is spending a year working for the people of Guatemala for the Presbyterian Church, USA. She has been in country for a little over a month as was gearing up for the move out to the country to work with a village. Unfortunately, a large hurricane hit Guatemala last week and has literally destroyed many of the villages where she was going to work. She writes:With whole

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1128449124567346332005-10-04T13:03:00.000-05:002005-10-06T21:49:46.740-05:00

I had a friend back in the bad-old-days who was apprehended selling LSD. He was the younger brother of a good friend of mine. A good looking white, suburban kid of privilege, he was not your typical drug dealer. I remember he brought a hell of a three-point shot to our pick up games on Sunday afternoon, and held down a couple of jobs during the week outside of school. I liked him a

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1128184280680032182005-10-01T11:09:00.000-05:002005-10-15T10:26:58.243-05:00

It happened at school while I was right outside the room. The last bell had rung, I was doing hall duty, came back in the room and it was gone. Whoosh! Just like that.Beyond the typical laptop withdrawal, I am of course concerned about the personal info on the laptop. Pictures, music, some financial stuff, etc. If anyone has any advice on how to best contain the damage from losing a laptop, I'd

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1126979735460021092005-09-17T12:33:00.000-05:002005-09-17T13:20:45.443-05:00

Recently some bloggers have been attempting to have a dialogue on the state of Christian Radio in America. Questions like "why is Christian Radio so lame?" and the ever present "who listens to this crap?" have come up again and again.In the interest of helping with this extremely serious problem (joking!) I have decided to irregularly compile a list of really, really good Christian artists that

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1126470160661258342005-09-11T15:13:00.000-05:002005-09-11T15:29:45.796-05:00

It is unbelievable to me that it has been four years since 9/11. Of course I still remember where I was, and all that, but what is truly unbelievable to me is that our "War on Terror" has been waged so incompetently. The questions are large and illogical: Why are we in Iraq? Why are we still in Iraq? Why is Bin Laden still roaming free? Why have we responded to a threat against our people by

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1126195213610099842005-09-08T10:57:00.000-05:002005-09-08T11:10:21.373-05:00

A friend stopped by the Illinois Terminal today (Wednesday) and spoke with Andrea Rundell, who is with the United Way and who is coordinating Champaign-Urbana's relief efforts for Gulf Coast evacuees, regarding immediate needs beginning tomorrow, Thursday, 8 September, and lasting for an indeterminate period (perhaps a couple of weeks??). Here are the legitimate needs that have arisen so far:1

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1125986392362568752005-09-06T00:42:00.000-05:002005-09-06T00:59:52.366-05:00

While it is undoubtedly important to donate and raise money for the victimes of Hurricane Katrina right now, sometimes we forget the long-term implications of losing everything. findshelter.org is attempting to deal with the realities that are now facing the evacuees.findshelter.org will be specializing in finding families in need and matching them up with churches and other Christian groups for

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1125680099644103322005-09-02T11:02:00.000-05:002005-09-02T11:57:40.706-05:00

I am still absolutely befuddled at how something like the scene in New Orleans could happen. Having done quite a bit of backpacking in my life, I am very respectful of Mother Nature's awesome power. But this situation has disintegrated into borderline genocide.Here's how Anthea Butler put it (emphasis mine):People are looting because they are tired of being at the bottom. If you don't have gas

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1125425610018452182005-08-30T12:58:00.000-05:002005-08-31T21:12:44.623-05:00

Shhh! It's all true, but no one is supposed to know!The Sears Tower: Long believed to be a product of un-hip Sears-Roebuck's success in mail order, the Sears Tower is, in fact, a result of the hippie (ie: hipster!) movement of the late 1960s. The building was topped off a mere 5 years after the '68 Democratic Convention in Chicago, when Creative Class types from all over the country converged

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1125117505427760342005-08-26T23:31:00.000-05:002005-08-26T23:40:22.210-05:00

If you haven't seen this yet, you should. Gutsy move by a good artist.Try this link for more info on how to help:http://www.itdg.org/Off to the city. God bless.

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1125023010319861712005-08-25T20:11:00.000-05:002005-08-25T21:52:37.700-05:00

Lots of criticism on this post, with the most specific being:1. Espresso is not locally owned.2. We don't need any new industry, we have the University (that rhymes!).3. Where are your sources, you nitwit!Well, I addressed the first two in this response, but here are some basic sources for creative class criticism (an illiteration!):City Journal - Winter 2004:...A generation of leftish

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1124896526542852982005-08-24T09:41:00.000-05:002005-08-24T10:15:26.550-05:00

The Times has a nice piece (subscription required) this morning on the NCAA's exemption of Florida State from the ban on "hostile and abusive" mascots and nicknames during postseason play. The U of I is still, obviously, on the list though the NCAA has agreed to hear appeals on a case-by-case basis.It appears that the reason for FSU's exemption is its close relationship with the original

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1124730077465679262005-08-22T10:35:00.000-05:002005-08-22T12:05:03.496-05:00

I'm not sure who Don Gerard is but he seems to be making an effort to become one of the worst reporters this town has ever seen. His recent synposis of the development of Green Street, "Developing Campustown with the 'Creative Class' in Mind" (Aug. 18 issue of Hub [website still useless - kind of ironic for a weekly dubbing itself "The Hub"]) is one of the silliest apologies for the

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1123257125653720412005-08-05T10:42:00.000-05:002005-08-05T10:52:05.660-05:00

We'll be in Upper Michigan for the next couple of weeks. Lots of swimming, reading, relaxing, eating, swimming, sleeping, etc. Not much blogging, though.I wish everyone a great last couple of weeks of summer. Labor Day will be here before we know it and then back into the full swing. Enjoy the summer while it lasts.Here are some good reads if anyone is desperate:Steve Amick's Editorial "Cold

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1123024795084594132005-08-02T18:00:00.000-05:002005-08-02T18:22:23.886-05:00

ABC News just did a powerful piece on the famine currently raging in Niger. Here's the link to WorldVision. Shouldn't we help?It's also been another bloody day in Iraq. Apparently six marine snipers from Ohio have been killed, driving the U.S. body count over 1800. This is, by far, the bloodiest conflict we have seen in this country since Vietnam. My prayers go out to these soldiers, and their

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1122908078338830102005-08-01T09:40:00.000-05:002005-08-02T09:46:16.623-05:00

Yesterday's Tribune has a feature story about the educational spending gap in Illinois. It seems things have never been worse: At the two extremes, the tiny Rondout elementary district in Lake County spent $23,799 per pupil in 2003-04, compared with $4,438 spent by Central School District 51, a grade school district in Tazewell County in the middle of the state.That's an almost $20,000

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1122840511024976762005-07-31T14:43:00.000-05:002005-07-31T15:08:31.030-05:00

So it turns out I was quoted in The Hub this week, along with Illinipundit, Champaign Common Sense, Old Guy, Chambana Community Livejournal, and Openingbands.com. The Hub took it's quote from this post regarding the NAEP results, which many conservatives have used to trumpet the President's NCLB legislation.It is flattering to be quoted, and I am humbled by the company, but I had absolutely no

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1122507696374039172005-07-27T18:30:00.000-05:002005-07-27T18:41:36.380-05:00

I am taking part in an institute run by these guys all week and will be blogging very little. After that it's back to Michigan for more fun in the sun, so this thing may be neglected for a while.But, it turns out Tim Johnson will be holding a "Town Hall Meeting" on Monday, August 1st in the Urbana Civic Center. Festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m.Johnson recently voted against the Patriot Act,

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1121994805344258612005-07-21T19:58:00.000-05:002005-07-22T17:23:46.516-05:00

I’ve been holed up in the Urbana Free Library’s Archives for the last two weeks doing background research for an upcoming teacher institute. I’ve learned much from flipping through the pages of old C/U newspapers like The Courier and the Champaign County News-Gazette, with their constant kudos and quips about business around town. I’m a big fan of local and Illinois history.One of the most

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1121702572598629972005-07-18T10:27:00.000-05:002005-07-18T11:02:52.606-05:00

That bastion of anti-truth, the New York Times, has a fascinating article in today's business section (subscription required) about Hollywood's new marketing approaches toward Christians. It's a good read, and I would consider it essential for any believer getting ready to enjoy the new crop of Christian-ese films. Here are some of the best quotes:"We decided to make the next-door neighbor, whose

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1121443224899053712005-07-15T10:30:00.000-05:002005-07-15T11:00:24.910-05:00

Much will be made of yesterday's report on the increase in reading and math scores for elementary and middle school students across the nation. We in Urbana actually took part in last years NAEP exam, and these results do in fact reflect the progress our own students have made.The crucial question will of course be whether or not the President's NCLB legislation is to be credited with these

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1121009166865543982005-07-10T10:13:00.000-05:002005-07-10T10:26:06.873-05:00

A recent article in the NG suggests that the City of Urbana will be pursuing large grants for the installation of bike paths in East Urbana. This is a great idea, far superior to the woefully inept Tram notion that has been floated for the last few years. Some conservatives seems to reject this idea as a spread of federal power. That might be true, but what would this power look like? A

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1117899637556707112005-06-04T10:36:00.000-05:002005-06-04T10:40:37.563-05:00

It’s been an interesting few weeks in the War on Terror. My interest was piqued in mid-May when George Galloway, a Member of Parliament, came to DC to dress down Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) for his “mother of all smokescreens,” ie: his investigation into the Oil for Food Program. Seems Mr. Coleman and his committee accused Galloway of profiting from oil sales under the Hussein regime. Here’s part

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1116797406903477812005-05-22T16:22:00.000-05:002005-05-22T22:00:04.086-05:00

During last week's media conference over at U of I several speakers bemoaned the death of investigative journalism. Apparently these folks believe that reporters don't have the sack to challenge the people in power with hard questions, and rabid fact finding.While I think this notion is generally true, I read one of the bravest interviews ever this morning in the Trib. Imagine the scene: Bono

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1116601238147229982005-05-20T08:24:00.000-05:002005-05-20T11:23:13.636-05:00

Yesterday's lead story in the News-Gazette, "Thousands Rally for Reform" touched on some important educational issues here in the State. It seems Senators Winkel (R-Urbana) and Meeks (I-Chicago) are proposing the following:The legislation would increase the personal income tax from 3 percent to 5 percent and raise the corporate income tax rate from 4.8 percent to 8 percent, raising a projected

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1116436940671287232005-05-18T12:05:00.000-05:002005-05-18T12:22:20.676-05:00

This story ran on Monday in the Trib, and has a good explanation of one of the fundamental problems with NCLB. Here's the good part:No Child Left Behind requires schools to test students annually in math and reading in 3rd through 8th grade and once in high school. By law, the entire school as well as specific subgroups of children--based on race, income and special education status--must meet

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1116034759599353552005-05-13T20:38:00.000-05:002005-05-13T20:57:22.540-05:00

Much has been written and said recently about the woe that is public education in this country. If one listens to the complaints of folks on both sides of the political spectrum one might become convinced that our schools are evil, godless, torture chambers where children are taught to be gay . Unless you are a black student, of course, then you are taught to be white. It is a pretty

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1115783265836003782005-05-10T22:27:00.000-05:002005-05-10T22:49:15.693-05:00

Last night's School Board meeting in Champaign found veteran teacher Kathleen Smith submitting her resignation in protest of the district's handling of the NCLB requirements. Mrs. Smith made it clear why she resigned:"Each year students come to me with different skills, different strengths and different weaknesses," Smith said. "It's always a learning process. They learn about me and I learn

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1114483443187372952005-04-25T21:41:00.000-05:002005-04-25T21:44:03.186-05:00

Democrats against people of faith! Next up: changing Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to Democrats, and do not throw your pearls before Democrats" After that we'll work on "Beware of false Republicans...You will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:15,16,20).At least these evangelicals are not allowing themselves to be manipulated by an entrenched, secular, political power. As we all

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1114283327469451932005-04-23T13:45:00.000-05:002005-04-23T14:28:15.023-05:00

I don't like to advocate for specific products, but the most recent issue of Harpers (May 2005) is essential for anyone striving to understand the growing divide between liberal and conservative Christians. Harpers is the legendary American publication that has grown into an effective voice of intellectual dissent over the last decade. Included in this issue:"Inside America's Most Powerful

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1114092320755529012005-04-21T09:04:00.000-05:002005-04-21T09:08:50.386-05:00

I received a reply from IlliniPundit to a recent post about NCLB. IP (whose blog is essential reading for local politics) asked a series of questions, one of which focused on the federal funding of schools:If you had a choice between1. Accepting Federal Education money for your school district, but having it tied to NCLB2. removing the Federal Government's Education Funding (and lowering Federal

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1113879223769928722005-04-18T21:52:00.000-05:002005-04-19T08:26:41.656-05:00

A brief respite from NCLB to comment on the growing idolatry movement that is conservative Christendom:I liked Bill Clinton. I didn't love him, nor did I idolize him. I realized from the beginning ('92 - my first Democratic vote) that he was just a man. But he seemed pretty smart, and he seemed like he wanted to make a difference. Heck, he went to Clarksdale, Mississippi to see poverty. That

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1113364501402409882005-04-12T22:53:00.000-05:002005-04-12T22:58:33.266-05:00

Monday’s faculty meeting found me sitting next to an infamous conservative science teacher. An ex-marine and True Patriot, Mr. H has been known to hand out detentions for students who do not recite The Pledge, and was an ardent Bush supporter during the last election. We actually have a couple of these fellas in the building, and I tend to get along with them just fine. Which is to say we don’

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1112971019634198652005-04-08T09:36:00.000-05:002005-04-08T10:04:15.683-05:00

I’ve decided to start writing about the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation which was enacted at the beginning of 2002, and has transformed public education as we know it. I am a public school teacher, and have been teaching in Urbana District 116 for seven years. I have seen first hand the changes NCLB has brought to public education: some good, some bad.First the good. We are

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1112709865208112462005-04-05T09:01:00.000-05:002005-04-05T12:04:28.580-05:00

Oh, come on - it's a little funny.

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1112579121483300322005-04-03T20:43:00.000-05:002005-04-03T20:45:21.483-05:00

Am I the only one? I can't do this anymore. Time for a break - real life calls.Go Cubs!

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1112022927266378252005-03-28T09:04:00.000-06:002005-03-28T09:15:27.270-06:00

Harper's always seems a step or two ahead of the game. From Garret Kelzer's article in February's issue:But the alarms raised in America's ongoing right-to-die debate have always been characterized by a curious selectivity. You will notice, for example, how the fear of playing God operates exclusively on one side of the medical playground. Thus to help a patient end his or her life "prematurely"

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1111895121205007992005-03-26T21:11:00.000-06:002005-03-26T21:50:46.116-06:00

Bookie and I walked over to his "homies crib" to stop in an say hello. Four months out of Clarksdale, Bookie was back with our Habitat trip and I was doing him a favor.Z-Balls and Bird live in a run-down shack just off Poplar by the Clarksdale Habitat dorm. The front living room was devoid of furniture, white paint peeling off the walls. Z-Balls was in his bedroom watching Smack Down on an old

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1110938552904321842005-03-15T20:01:00.001-06:002005-03-15T21:13:21.483-06:00

In Bothel, Washington there lives a woman named Janelle. She is the wife of a biker, mom to three kids, and a good friend of my wife and I. She is also one-half Chippewa on her mother’s side. A social worker for the City of Seattle, Janelle has a teepee in her yard, authentic Chippewa jewelry around her neck, and an appreciation for the traditions of her ancestors in her heart. A few years ago

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1109723010303405732005-03-01T18:14:00.000-06:002005-03-01T19:08:41.833-06:00

Larry Rohter writes in today's New York Times about the rise of left-leaning leaders in South America. The article is another example of his extraordinary reporting from the continent and is illuminating for several reasons, mainly his explanation of the causes behind the new popularity of the left:At the outset of the 1990's, "The Washington Consensus" - the name given to the recipe of open

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1109634249552695832005-02-28T17:43:00.000-06:002005-02-28T20:59:48.133-06:00

stephenhoy's excellent blog over at xanga has a nice post today about the neo-con strategy to tame the middle east. It's good reading, and I recommend it. The main point seems to be the following (and I paraphrase):The Bush team's strategy for defeating terrorism is to invade Iraq, and set up a stable democracy in order to apply pressure to neighboring countries. The pressure will be applied

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1109534587831926122005-02-27T13:29:00.000-06:002005-02-27T14:08:06.160-06:00

Talk about a rollercoaster ride. On Saturday I presented my work on the Potawatomi Trail of Death to the First Annual Teaching American History Conference in Bloomington. The presentation went way better than I expected, with a full room and an interested audience (what else can one expect?). They laughed at my jokes, and my increasing distance from reality did not seem a distraction.During

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1109217286586617772005-02-23T21:45:00.000-06:002005-02-23T21:54:46.586-06:00

That's the way I would describe the election of Laurel Prussing to the office of Mayor in our little town. Interesting is good. It is possible that she will be as bad as they say, and ruin everything good about Urbana, but somehow I doubt it. In my opinion, ruining Urbana looks like making Urbana more like Champaign. We need to get back to our roots, reject the tides of capitalist conformity,

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1109124267823319152005-02-22T19:29:00.000-06:002005-02-22T20:29:23.506-06:00

Though I don't yet know the winner of today's Mayoral primary, one thing has become clear during this election: development has become THE issue for Urbana.Listening to the Mayoral forum on WILL last week, I was struck by the consensus on development. According to all the candidates, we need more of it and we need it NOW!But a careful look at what Urbana has been doing to attract developers has

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1109005815696098042005-02-21T10:40:00.000-06:002005-02-21T11:14:00.510-06:00

Republicans in Urbana are up in arms over the legal fight for voters in the upcoming Mayoral primary. The self-proclaimed Moral Compasses of our community are now encouraging Republican voters to commit election fraud on February 22, by voting in the Democrat's primary. This is acceptable if the voter in question has not committed themselves to the Republican party, but is technically against

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1108481570732747802005-02-15T09:06:00.000-06:002005-02-15T09:34:01.826-06:00

A lot of the folks on the Right are applauding the President's cuts in the new budget. Citing "wasteful" spending, and programs that "just don't work", Conservatives are gleeful that their President is finally showing fiscal restraint.If conservatives were truly intellectuals dedicated to their cause, one would think they would be outraged at the continuation of the national missle defense

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1108401891829462932005-02-14T10:52:00.000-06:002005-02-14T11:24:51.833-06:00

The conservatives that I know continue to believe they are smarter than the rest of us. We see fossil fuels as the cause of Global Warming, they declare the jury is "still out" (at best). We see tax cuts for the rich as placing a burden on lower income workers, they declare these tax cuts will benefit the poor by, uh, giving rich people more money. We saw the Iraq War as a mission to stop a

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1107872679835839272005-02-08T07:58:00.000-06:002005-02-08T08:24:39.836-06:00

For pregnant women, Illinois continues to be one of this country's worst states. I won't go into the messy details, but suffice it to say the prevalence of impatient doctors, uncomfortable settings, unnecessary medications, and the all-too-common c-sections have created a hostile environment for women who want to birth their babies naturally. One of the remedies for the generally negative

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1107720276452282982005-02-06T14:03:00.000-06:002005-02-06T14:04:36.453-06:00

A recent furor has been raised over a Prof name of Ward L. Churchill, the now former chair of the Ethnic Studies Department at Colorado University in Boulder. Mr. Churchill declared the attacks of Sept. 11 were "a natural and inevitable consequence of what happens as a result of business as usual in the United States." That the victims in the WTC were not innocents but instead "Little Eichmanns

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624222.post-1107715113871469642005-02-06T13:33:00.000-06:002005-02-06T14:03:23.070-06:00

I like it over here at blogger so I will be posting here from now on. You can check out the old writing from the xanga days below: foleyma's xanga site Cheers!

Pinky Winkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273517890557365591noreply@blogger.com0