KOE At It Again

The KOE (King of Everything), Prez O, is at it again. Prez O says American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe, saying “ … the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom.” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a recent interview with The Associated Press, “Our school calendar is based upon the agrarian economy and not too many of our kids are working the fields today,” So, more daily hours and more days in the year. Of course, this is not new for students in other countries, such as Japan, where students attend year-round. But, dictating the length of attending classes seems secondary, to me, to defining standards of accomplishment needed for graduating to the next level of education. What does it matter how many hours I attend classes if I pass the tests?

Rumor has it that the KOE will next be regulating dog parks.

Iran fired long-range missiles a day after firing short-range missles. This comes after, a) making overtures about having conciliatory conversations regarding their nuclear program, and b) having Prez O, during his United Nations address, call them out on their “secret” underground nuclear facilities, which we’ve been monitoring for some years. It feels like, “Don’t mess with us, we’re prepared to play hardball, so play by our rules” to me. Especially in the context of the October 1 meetings scheduled. Speaking of Iran’s preparedness for defending itself in the event of military action against them, Alireza Ronaghi, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Tehran, said: “Iran will retaliate and it will not just limit itself to the countries that have led those attacks; it will be a wide range retaliation. This is the message that Iran is sending.” Sounds like an itchy trigger finger to me. For more, go here: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/09/2009928125148138562.html

On this day in history: 1542 – Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo “discovers” San Diego Bay; 1960 – Ted Williams, at 42 yrs old, ends 21 yr Boston Red Sox career by hitting home run for last at-bat, ending .316 season

On a positive note: How will you celebrate your 100th birthday? Astrid Thoenig reported, as usual, to work as Girl Friday at Thornton Insurance Co. in Parsippany, NJ, where she’s worked for more than 30 years. Good on you, Astrid!

Blessings.

Tags: Iran, Middle East, President