If you have had the recent pleasure of talking to young women in their
20s you are,I am sure, delighted with how absolutely incredible they are. Amazingly smart,ambitious,and confident, they just seem to have it all together. However, in a recent conversation with several young college-age women I was shocked and bummed to find them in a not much better place in their relationships with men than we were ,years ago, or probably where our moms and maybe even our grandmas were. They are in relationships where they feel unappreciated,insecure, and where they put in 90% of the effort and compromise. Behavior they would refuse to accept, understand or shrug off in their jobs ,or from their girlfriends or family, they endure without complaint from their men. Agh! What can we tell them to change their ways, to demand to be treated better? Or will be be having the same conversation about our granddaughters?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Bill Moyers at Penn
Once again had the wonderful experience of accompanying my D to an Annenberg lecture, this one with Bill Moyers. His career has included press secretary to LBJ, best selling author and over 30 Emmys for his work with CBS news and his 40 years on PBS.
Listening to him talk is like having history come alive, especially with his amazing LBJ stories. His voice with it's wonderful folksy accent is just as wonderful in person as on TV and his mind is just as sharp. Here's some of the best of what he had to say...Anything in ( ) is mine!
-News is what people want to keep hidden, the rest is publicity. ( Makes me realize how little of what I'm getting is really news)
-Truth comes from hearing contrasting views and comments. (Rarer and rarer in today's fragmented and polarized media. Also makes me realize how nice it is to have a president who is interested in looking at all sides of an issue before making decisions) )
-NPR offers the finest reporting in journalism today, without spin. We would be a more poorly informed public without it. (thanks to Dad who made me an NPR addict!)
-I'm a journalist because I Don't know the answers ( how wonderfully refreshing from today's so called 'journalists' who fit their facts to prove their opinions)
Listening to him talk is like having history come alive, especially with his amazing LBJ stories. His voice with it's wonderful folksy accent is just as wonderful in person as on TV and his mind is just as sharp. Here's some of the best of what he had to say...Anything in ( ) is mine!
-News is what people want to keep hidden, the rest is publicity. ( Makes me realize how little of what I'm getting is really news)
-Truth comes from hearing contrasting views and comments. (Rarer and rarer in today's fragmented and polarized media. Also makes me realize how nice it is to have a president who is interested in looking at all sides of an issue before making decisions) )
-NPR offers the finest reporting in journalism today, without spin. We would be a more poorly informed public without it. (thanks to Dad who made me an NPR addict!)
-I'm a journalist because I Don't know the answers ( how wonderfully refreshing from today's so called 'journalists' who fit their facts to prove their opinions)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
this and that
Just heard that Michelle Bachman, the tea party darling, told a gathering in New Hampshire that they should be proud of being the state of the Battle of Lexington and Concord where 'the shot heard round the world' started the Revolutionary War. Too bad that was Massachusetts. Somewhere an elementary school teacher just blew his brains out.
So the boy went back to school after a Spring Break week that consisted of sleeping till noon, watching TV until 3pm, then hanging out with his friends until 3am. My suggestions/demands that he devote some small amount of that time to studying or reading or getting a jump on his school work were ignored. While it was great to see him, it's almost just as great to see him back. At least my blood pressure can go down, my hair can stop turning gray and I can sleep through the night.
Not that I needed a reason to not take a cruise. Yes, I know people love them, yada, yada, but not me. Anyway,daughter called from her ship yesterday (at $2.50 a minute) to tell us that the ship would be arriving a few hours late and she might miss her 1:15pm flight home. By the way, the ship arrived 12 hours late!
Three hours,and numerous phone calls to and from US Airways, we got her re-booked on a 7am flight the following day. Cost? The old, non-refundable flight, the new,last minute flight,the $25 baggage fee(pigs), the $150 change fee(double pigs),$22 for a sea(hogs),a hotel in New Orleans for the night, and numerous calls and texts to and from the Atlantic Ocean. Who thinks the insurance she bought will pay for any of that?
Sorry, I was away for so long!
So the boy went back to school after a Spring Break week that consisted of sleeping till noon, watching TV until 3pm, then hanging out with his friends until 3am. My suggestions/demands that he devote some small amount of that time to studying or reading or getting a jump on his school work were ignored. While it was great to see him, it's almost just as great to see him back. At least my blood pressure can go down, my hair can stop turning gray and I can sleep through the night.
Not that I needed a reason to not take a cruise. Yes, I know people love them, yada, yada, but not me. Anyway,daughter called from her ship yesterday (at $2.50 a minute) to tell us that the ship would be arriving a few hours late and she might miss her 1:15pm flight home. By the way, the ship arrived 12 hours late!
Three hours,and numerous phone calls to and from US Airways, we got her re-booked on a 7am flight the following day. Cost? The old, non-refundable flight, the new,last minute flight,the $25 baggage fee(pigs), the $150 change fee(double pigs),$22 for a sea(hogs),a hotel in New Orleans for the night, and numerous calls and texts to and from the Atlantic Ocean. Who thinks the insurance she bought will pay for any of that?
Sorry, I was away for so long!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
My Best of Awards: The State of the Union
Loved the speech last night. Here are my fav parts
Best Shout Out: The one to teachers, and future teachers.
Here in America, it's time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect. In fact, to every young person listening tonight who's contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if you want to make a difference in the life of a child - become a teacher. Your country needs you.
Best Smile: Joe Biden grinning like a proud parent listening to his kid give the valedictorian speech.
Best Metaphor: Sputnik. Brilliant. Would love to know who came up with that one.
Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we’d beat them to the moon. The science wasn’t there yet. NASA didn’t even exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn’t just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.
This is our generation’s Sputnik moment.
Best Joke: The lox joke! The President made a lox joke! Unless he was implying that the Interior and Commerce Departments are getting high?
The Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they’re in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them in when they’re in saltwater. And I hear it gets even more complicated once they’re smoked.
Best Way to watch the Speech: While playing State of the Union bingo. You win when he says certain phrases like tough, efficient, or bipartisan. Good job Penn.
Best Shout Out: The one to teachers, and future teachers.
Here in America, it's time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect. In fact, to every young person listening tonight who's contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if you want to make a difference in the life of a child - become a teacher. Your country needs you.
Best Smile: Joe Biden grinning like a proud parent listening to his kid give the valedictorian speech.
Best Metaphor: Sputnik. Brilliant. Would love to know who came up with that one.
Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we’d beat them to the moon. The science wasn’t there yet. NASA didn’t even exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn’t just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.
This is our generation’s Sputnik moment.
Best Joke: The lox joke! The President made a lox joke! Unless he was implying that the Interior and Commerce Departments are getting high?
The Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they’re in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them in when they’re in saltwater. And I hear it gets even more complicated once they’re smoked.
Best Way to watch the Speech: While playing State of the Union bingo. You win when he says certain phrases like tough, efficient, or bipartisan. Good job Penn.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
How you know you are not a genius
Want an example of the the difference between genius and the rest of us just regular smart people?
Everyday kids come home from school and answer the question, what did you do in school today? One day a boy told his dad that he had taken the Salk vaccine that day. Was it bad the dad asked? No, the boy replied. They put the medicine in a sugar cube and put it in a spoon. Then we just took it.
A thousand parents got told that story. Only one, Dick Sherman, sat down and wrote "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" for Mary Poppins.
Everyday kids come home from school and answer the question, what did you do in school today? One day a boy told his dad that he had taken the Salk vaccine that day. Was it bad the dad asked? No, the boy replied. They put the medicine in a sugar cube and put it in a spoon. Then we just took it.
A thousand parents got told that story. Only one, Dick Sherman, sat down and wrote "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" for Mary Poppins.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
FDR, Steve and me
My daughter takes a class on Presidential Rhetoric. As the (only) grade for the class each student picks a president, a speech and then travels to that President's library to do research. She decided to do a Presidential press secretary rather than a President and chose Steve Early who was FDR's press secretary for all four terms. He was also the first Press secretary ever and set the mold for all others. She asked if I would like to go along as her research assistant which took me all of two seconds to say yes. So early Wednesday morning we headed off to Hyde Park New York, arriving around noon at FDR's library.There we spent the next three days, arriving at our desk at 8:45am and leaving at 5pm when they closed the library.
It was pretty amazing. Early it turns out was a bit of an obsessive and a pack rat. He kept a daily diary for all four terms which Melissa poured over. He also kept scrapbooks ,huge, heavy scrapbooks, approximately two a year. They were my territory. In them he kept every newspaper clipping in which he was mentioned, which was a minimum of several a day all across the country, photos of every trip he took, menus and seating charts from any important dinner he attended, and every Christmas and birthday card he received over the four terms. He also ,of course, kept every handwritten note from FDR and Eleanor. It was overwhelming and absorbing.
What was amazing, in addition to the sheer amount of stuff, was that fact that we were allowed to handle it all. There I was holding drafts of FDR's speech to Congress with his handwritten notes all over them, personal handwritten notes from Eleanor, and letters from every famous person who passed through the administration.I found myself lost in their world,laughing at their inside jokes, worrying when Early's son was injured in the war, terribly sad when FDR passed and moved by the hundreds of condolence cards sent to Mrs. Early from every boldface name at the passing of 'Steve'.
Most everyone who worked at the library was super nice and helpful but of course there was the one archivist on a power trip. She spent every minute criticizing or correcting us on some weird issue which didn't seem to bother any of the other staff. For example, I couldn't carry papers from my desk to the copier which was about 2 feet away. She wanted me to place the paper on a cart and then wheel it to the copier. When I pointed out that the cart was larger than the space between my desk and the copier she 'compromised' by making me a cardboard tray out of a box lid on which I could carry the paper. She also freaked out every time I took my sweater off,insisting that I either had to wear it or put it in the locker. Since I was constantly taking it of and on (I got cold when sitting for hours but hot when lifting the scrapbooks) I would try and sit on it or hid it on the floor under my desk. She also objected to Melissa when she leaned over a folder or when her folder was not perfectly lined up on the desk. Won't miss her.
We didn't get to do any sightseeing. I've been in this area before and there's tons to see. I recommend a
weekend trip if you have never been. We did get out to two meals. One at a local restaurant, Twist, which was decent and the other night at the Italian restaurant in the CIA ( the Culinary Institute of America). which was awesome and so much fun. Everyone, front and back of the house is a student and are very happy to talk to you about their schooling and career plans.
We
It was pretty amazing. Early it turns out was a bit of an obsessive and a pack rat. He kept a daily diary for all four terms which Melissa poured over. He also kept scrapbooks ,huge, heavy scrapbooks, approximately two a year. They were my territory. In them he kept every newspaper clipping in which he was mentioned, which was a minimum of several a day all across the country, photos of every trip he took, menus and seating charts from any important dinner he attended, and every Christmas and birthday card he received over the four terms. He also ,of course, kept every handwritten note from FDR and Eleanor. It was overwhelming and absorbing.
What was amazing, in addition to the sheer amount of stuff, was that fact that we were allowed to handle it all. There I was holding drafts of FDR's speech to Congress with his handwritten notes all over them, personal handwritten notes from Eleanor, and letters from every famous person who passed through the administration.I found myself lost in their world,laughing at their inside jokes, worrying when Early's son was injured in the war, terribly sad when FDR passed and moved by the hundreds of condolence cards sent to Mrs. Early from every boldface name at the passing of 'Steve'.
Most everyone who worked at the library was super nice and helpful but of course there was the one archivist on a power trip. She spent every minute criticizing or correcting us on some weird issue which didn't seem to bother any of the other staff. For example, I couldn't carry papers from my desk to the copier which was about 2 feet away. She wanted me to place the paper on a cart and then wheel it to the copier. When I pointed out that the cart was larger than the space between my desk and the copier she 'compromised' by making me a cardboard tray out of a box lid on which I could carry the paper. She also freaked out every time I took my sweater off,insisting that I either had to wear it or put it in the locker. Since I was constantly taking it of and on (I got cold when sitting for hours but hot when lifting the scrapbooks) I would try and sit on it or hid it on the floor under my desk. She also objected to Melissa when she leaned over a folder or when her folder was not perfectly lined up on the desk. Won't miss her.
We didn't get to do any sightseeing. I've been in this area before and there's tons to see. I recommend a
weekend trip if you have never been. We did get out to two meals. One at a local restaurant, Twist, which was decent and the other night at the Italian restaurant in the CIA ( the Culinary Institute of America). which was awesome and so much fun. Everyone, front and back of the house is a student and are very happy to talk to you about their schooling and career plans. We
Saturday, November 13, 2010
bits and pieces
A few random thoughts
Although my H is a long way from retirement the few conversions I had today made me realize he needs to begin preparing. No not financially, though that would be nice, but hobby-wise. While visiting my cousin's photography show at a local craft show we ran into a few men who were retired. One was planning the perfect way to rob a bank and seemed to have given the matter way too much thought. Another had purchased 50 Roman pillars and was planning to build a Chinese pagoda house as soon as he found the right piece of land. He mentioned his wife was less than pleased. Time to encourage the taking up of golf?
In a 'did I read that sign correctly' moment I saw the Gwynedd Mercy Academy's fall musical is Fiddler on the Roof. Worth the price of admission to see the lovely Catholic girl playing Tevya.
Supposedly the Dean of Harvard Law calls applicants on the phone for a 5 minute interview before final decisions are made. First there is the question of whether the Dean has something better to do with 42 hours ( Harvard accepts 500 kids; no idea how many phone calls are made).The question he uses his valuable time to ask? Why Harvard? Is you must be f-ing kidding me an acceptable answer?
Although my H is a long way from retirement the few conversions I had today made me realize he needs to begin preparing. No not financially, though that would be nice, but hobby-wise. While visiting my cousin's photography show at a local craft show we ran into a few men who were retired. One was planning the perfect way to rob a bank and seemed to have given the matter way too much thought. Another had purchased 50 Roman pillars and was planning to build a Chinese pagoda house as soon as he found the right piece of land. He mentioned his wife was less than pleased. Time to encourage the taking up of golf?
In a 'did I read that sign correctly' moment I saw the Gwynedd Mercy Academy's fall musical is Fiddler on the Roof. Worth the price of admission to see the lovely Catholic girl playing Tevya.
Supposedly the Dean of Harvard Law calls applicants on the phone for a 5 minute interview before final decisions are made. First there is the question of whether the Dean has something better to do with 42 hours ( Harvard accepts 500 kids; no idea how many phone calls are made).The question he uses his valuable time to ask? Why Harvard? Is you must be f-ing kidding me an acceptable answer?
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