Homophobia sucks...

A friend was fired for being gay... and I think it sucks.

The short story is that he was a really good college debater who had lined up a job teaching debate in Korea.

He was called by the person who hired him because it came to their attention that he's gay.

He was told he wasn't welcome.... later they called him back to tell him that he could take the job, but that the atmosphere would be hostile.

This sucks -- my friend was planning to leave in 7 weeks. He got rid of everything and had invested money in language lessons etc. It's also a simple fact that he'd have been a fantastic instructor. Their bigotry is their loss.

Also -- he's making a pretty public deal about this. I hope they can't get anybody to fill that position.

Another day at the pool...

Today was much better -- lots of girls and only two very quiet guys.

I need to remember to go earlier on Fridays, as NPR has "Science Fridays" at 1:00 -- and I had to listen to some really gross discussion of bacteria on our skin. They used the words "nostril", "moist" and "armpit" in one short period of time-- ick.

A new "normal"

Hubby's been home for two weeks -- and I think we've settled into a new 'normal'.

He tends to work better at the library -- so he goes off to big U on the bus.

I get up early and write most of the morning.

The cats don't seem to think that each time he goes out the door, he's never coming back.

This will all change soon enough, when Hubby goes off to Ph.D. summer camp. I like the fact that his absence will be weird... and not the old 'normal'.

RBO --Thoughts from the pool...

• Ladies -- if you are on the large side, please, please, please be considerate and keep your legs together. I'm in the pool, in the deep end, and your open legs are at eye level. The others can do it -- you can too.
• 19 year old boys aren't nearly as attractive as they seem to think they are. The occasion of your barbecue isn't a big deal to us -- please mind your manners.
• When guys talk about being too drunk to a) 'bang the skank', and b) drive her home, but you did it anyway - it isn't attractive. Look around the pool -- there are about 8 or so women hanging out and getting a tan. These ladies are attractive and there are no men around them... and they hear you talking. News flash, they think you're asshats.
  

And -- because I was listening to an NPR program about Muncie IN and poverty.. I have a lot of compassion for the folks they interviewed, but careful listening to the program made me ask the following questions --

• How is money for cigarettes more important than paying your electric bill?
• Why does your cell phone work, but the gas in your home gets shut off?
• How is it a good idea to have your boyfriend with a suspended driver's license pick up your kids -- when you aren't doing something more important, like giving birth?
• If you have enough in your 401K to pay off your house, why didn't that occur to you before it went into foreclosure?
• A woman 2 years younger than me is the only one in her immediate family to have a job -- She's functionally supporting her spouse, her daughter and son-in-law, and their three kids... She's 38 and has 3 grandchildren.
  

I suppose the thing that caught my attention most readily was that several of these folks said they made $100,000 with overtime in some years past years -- and they're completely uneducated. The program followed them to a job re-training center where they were taking assessment tests similar to the ones my CC students have to pass in order to get into my class. Yes -- these folks had a LOWER literacy level than my students -- really -- and they made $100,000, with overtime, in prior years.

I know couples with four to six degrees between them (BA, MA, Ph.D x 2) who would be happy with $100,000 between their TWO jobs. I know for certain that two professors work more hours together than this one person worked by himself. When a dude assembling transmissions is making more per hour than a college professor -- and that situation resolves itself -- I have to wonder if that's not an OK thing in the long run.

Folks, you decided to go to work in an industry that didn't require you to be competent at reading, writing or math. The world moved beyond you -- you didn't bother to actually do well in school -- or, even try.

I have compassion for you -- but not for the reasons NPR wants me too... I feel sorry for you that you chose not to get an education. It isn't too late, but it is more difficult and expensive now than it would have been if you'd done it 20 years ago. I feel really bad that you're having a hard time paying your bills -- and that things are more difficult now than they were before. I do wish you well, that you'll find a new career or an educational opportunity that appeals to you. Welcome to 2009... it's rough out here.

Making progress...

Chapter two is in 'percolation' -- it needs some time to brew before I can finish it. I think what I've written so far is pretty good, which probably means it's utter crap.

I'm also working out the kinks in my summer class. Normally, I'd whip up the syllabus a few days before the class starts -- but, I'm not really familiar with the on-line course mechanics, so I'm getting prepared early in case I need help... The course is a 'hybrid' course, so most of it is face to face, but I'm using on-line quizzes, exams and discussions and I don't want to screw it up.

In all, it's been a good day....

Dear Cats...

You are making me a bit crazy this morning.

You're fighting, yowling and rolling around and distracting me.

Your father will be home this evening -- and you'd better be on good behavior between now and then -- or, well, something will happen.

Seriously, can't you just sleep for a while, I have a chapter to work on.

thanks,
your cat mom

On Memorial Day

In many ways, Memorial Day is the reason I'm writing my dissertation.

It's about the ethics of warfare and the goal is to make the theory more relevant and coherent.

I really do think answering the question of what makes a war just or unjust is the best way to honor the folks who have served in the military.