Health Care Insurance Companies Keep Teachers Out of Work

Ultimately, there is little opportunity to get a full time job as a teacher as long as there is no system of universal health care in our country. Paying me to teach isn't the problem. Paying for limitless health care for the rest of my life is.

Yet another reason that I am considering a Canadian option!

Fair today Gone tomorrow: Who says the two-party system is here to stay?

Ed and I walked along the train tracks to the county fair yesterday. We spent a great day listening to excited, passionate musicians sing and play the guitar, keyboards and drums for hours and hours. The musicians were all from CSM! They included Helen sweet Helen who is always hard at work in the theater, on the dance stage, helping students create confident selves...SHE SURE CAN BELT OUT a SONG~! What a rich, deep, sexy voice. Ed and I were blown away. Rudy ...boy o' boy CAN HE PLAY A GUITAR! Watch out world...this man can jam with the best of them:) Although he jammed on the keyboards yesterday, our cool Prez Mike Claire can also play guitar and the drums! Who woulda thunk it!
We ate deep fried twinkies...what a decadent treat! Than we had a free grilled lamb chop followed by curly fries....at least three potatoes, peeled in an unending string of delight, placed in a basket and fried like any other...but, oh it was not any other! It was the size and shape of hat! SO DELICIOUS!~ Saw Megan and Jacquie too! And Heather and Bev and Mario and so many people. What a great treat. The CSM stage and booths were rocking ! Lots of fun in the sun! I also met Kathy Schwartz for the second time. She is President of our Trustees. What an amazing, passionate lady. She really loves her schools! And, I do think she will help us in anything she is able to.

Still no health care plan to think of. Bill Maher was great yesterday. The Democratic Deputy House Whip was on and she is soooooo part of the problem. She doesn't think we are doing anything wrong. GIVE ME A BREAK. The dems are acting like whimps and were letting them get away with it again. How much more can we take! Pluralism only works if it is allowed. The dems and reps won't let another party near their private one. It really is time to get our act together and branch off progressives! Its been done before...just not since the 17-1800's. "Stupid, is a pre-existing condition," and there seem to be a lot of people afflicted with it. Help me cure the nation - get rid of the two party system!!!

Roll over and have a great semester!

I am SO excited to be back at school during the day. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy teaching at night too but, I enjoy semester long classes. I have so much I want to introduce to my class. We are going to be part of the "Food for Thought," learning community this semester and examine our relationship to food. We are going to participate in the Civic Mirror nation building simulation and create, divide, perhaps conquer one another as we learn how to legislate, raise families, provide resources for ourselves and our communities. I met with the new co-President, CFO and two of my co-advisers for the Phi Theta Kappa honors fraternity on Tuesday after the Kick Off celebration. Everyone is so excited, organized and eagerly anticipating all of the lessons we will learn and the adventures we will take on our journey to learn them. What a great time of year. It doesn't matter if you are in 3rd grade, as our college Pres. Mike Claire said at 'kick-off' the other day or, in college: the first day of school ROCKS!

I am having a little controversy already. I seem to have some friction with an older adjunct who likes to control how the world works. Unfortunately, it interferes with how I work. I hadn't seen this person in 8 months, before this last Tuesday. I decided to try to initiate a new relationship with this person, because I really don't think we are that different. In fact, we have a lot of the same hopes for our students. However, that fell apart yesterday. I can't explain why right now. Just know that it kept Ed and I up talking until 1am. I contacted my Dean. I told this person I will sit down with him, if my Dean is there. But, really....I reminded myself last night; don't sweat the small stuff. And, to be honest this is a pea in the bed...its small and if you roll over it won't even touch you. So, guess what? I am going to roll over. Because, I love school, I love my students and this is going to be a great semester.

Coming to your Neighborhood soon! Death on a Doorstep with Sarah Palin

Tell me will you.....as Ashton Kutcher recently mentioned on Bill Maher, "why didn't we call the UK or CANADA Socialist when we wanted their help in our war," they have universal health care!

People without teeth are comparing Obama to Hitler for proposing that we all get health care. PEOPLE WHO NEED the health care have somehow been convinced, that health care programs overseen by the governement AND thus, the American People, thus, themselves.......is wrong. People who have no coverage wait until they get sick enough to go to the ERs before they seek help. These people wait until a blister on your finger becomes a staph infection. We could have used a bandaid, but now the PUBLIC is being charged 10s of 1000s of dollars.

Preventative care is the answer folks. Health insurance lobbyists have penetrated every corner of our universe. How in the world can we get it across to the public that this is all a crock of Health Insurance SHIT- They have their own interests in mind; not anyone elses. The companies want ot make money. THat is their job; not keeping any of healthy. They hire 40% administrative overhead personel...who are not medically trained to do nothing but, figure out how NOT to pay your claims and NOT to accept you as a client if you might get sick.

We won't provide end of life / hospice counseling because Sarah Palin claimed that it was a death panel, and they won't cover us....so watch where you step....there will be people dying in our communities with no place to go...except your front doorstep

adjunctivitis redo...this is a post from June...but, it sure seems to me that things have not changed!

'Adjunctivitis' Part 3 or is it 4?

Wow... California is in deep trouble. Summer classes started today at the California Community Colleges. Apparently, a lot of classes are being cut and thus, adjuncts will too. I hear that this is only the beginning and that times will worsen come fall. YOU WOULD THINK that people would place a higher priority on education when our nations ability too compete in the world economy is at its lowest rate ever and perhaps in complete demise?
Community college classes are filled to the rim with people who have recently, or in the past year, been laid off from their jobs. But, unlike in past years when we just added classes to fill the need, students will be turned away. Which, I don't get. If there are enough students to fill the classroom, than isn't the money to pay the instructor going to be there. I am told that it takes 20 students enrolled to employ the adjunct for the semester. If there are 45 students or more, in many of the "required to transfer to a four year" classes, it would seem to me that this is not the viable answer to the problem. Why on earth are we turning away people who want to be educated! Tell me that?
Some good news to share, though. Since we last met...or I last wrote, I have been communicating with a number of part time faculty who are sympathetic to my concerns and want to do something about it! I am hoping others join. I was just told by one such person, that they will be cutting the pay we receive to hold 'office hours.' Go figure. Well, not cutting, getting rid of it. Demise of the office hour pay. Would you work an hour for free each week? I didn't think so. I already work upwards of 20 hours a week at times....that I get the one hour of it paid....is the saving grace. What an idiot I have become. Oh, but not really. This predicament we adjuncts are experiencing has only placed more fuel on the fire. I am hopeful that it will help us add to our numbers and than come fall, we will have a huge contingent ready to sit down and talk about how teachers should be paid. I for one, hope that we can create enough interest that the lawmakers listen. I would hope that a strike would not be necessary; but if it gets bad enough...pandemic in scope, this adjunctivitis may just spread up and down the state. Take you vitamins! We need to keep fighting this thing!

can it get any worse...oh yea...it sure will

OK...so, our country is falling apart and I don't know what to do. I want to sleep alot lately. I am really sad, frightened...you name it.

The American Heritage Foundation thinktank reported that outlawing child rape is 'overcriminilizing' that action. Yes, you can excuse yourself and puke too.

The conservatives are having a 're-education' camp.

And, while they are at it; 54% OF REPUBLICANS THINK THAT President Obama WAS BORN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY!~

I JUST DON'T KNOW. What can we do. I don't have the mouthpiece of fox to support the truth; nor can we count on any other mainstream 'media' outlet apparently. With the exception of Rachel Maddow, and a few other prominent JOURNALISTS ...we have lost our access to the truth.

Why aren't they calling one another out. Aren't the media ashamed of one another? What happened to integrity and idealism? I am so sick about it. Just sick.

They should all be thrown in Guantanamo to learn about what really happens when you are an enemy of the state. Because, you know what? THEY ARE!

SH aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIItttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

so, i can't figure it out and i am frustrated. i think that maybe i don't belong at the school i think i do. has anyone ever thought that? : i don' t belong. well it sucks. i have an idea...a HUGE idea....but, it has nothing to do with teaching or not teaching. i love teaching. i am just frustrated because a lot of the people i work with are not the type of persons i would want teaching me; therefore, i wonder WHY would i get this upset about not being able to be part of the 'inner circle.?' i am not entirely wrong to say, that there are so many bad teachers out there. there are also a LOT OF GOOD TEACHERS. But, they both have tenure. I really am disgusted with the public. How did we get manipulated into thinking that, anyone who wants to teach, and sticks it out, should get tenure? It is simply wrong. Tenure is wrong. I am pissed off. I am tired of mediocrity. I am bittter tonight. I admit it. I am human. How odd. I have always smiled. I was an optimist. I think that if I feel this way; I should not be doing what I am doing. This sucks. This means that I followed my dreams and failed. Dang. I guess I don't what to do. I need your suggestions. I need some guidance. Because I really give up. I am so sad. I cry a lot. I feel like I screwed up my life last year. I had one interview. It came up a week after I found my best friend dead. And, two days after my mom was diagnosed with lung caner. My mentor told me they would never hire me anyway because I don't have a PhD. But, I know he is wrong. I fucked up; I blanked on the theory shit. But, you know what, I know this is for a reason right? I couldnt' get ahold of joe for three days. His car was in the back. He did taxes. It was the day after tax day. The return envelopes were on the seat of his car even though it was Wednesday. I knew it. We called the police. they broke in. I identified him. And, I am so happy I did. Because, I would never see him again. I am his family. I had to find his family; call them in LA. I cleaned his home with my friend; i helped with the wake and the funeral. And then my mom got sick. And, then I screwed up my life? Or, did I? My cup is still half full...I am just sad alot. I miss Joe. But, my mom is doing good!

DO DO DO ..READ JULIE/JULIA

I was up till 2am last night for the second night in a row, in fact, finishing Julie/Julia. What a terrific story and something I would so love to do myself. My only problem is, or problems are rather; its been done. And, i don't think I could ever eat cold poached egg in aspic. Her description of the preparation was just too good, I guess. You boil a calf hoof until all the gelatin comes off. Than you let is set. Than refrigerate. You poach and egg. Than you warm the gelatin part that you strained from the water, and pour it over the egg. Than you refrigerate again...than serve with some tarragon or something like that.

Who on earth, every came up with this horrific creation. Sure, we all have a different sense of taste...but, that takes a lot of work. I really do not think anyone woke up one day and said, "gee, i want to boil a calf hoof," then get the gelatin and pour it over a poached egg...which also takes time, and than eat it cold! Please. I haven't perused the actual Julia Child book in awhile...bible o' foodies, MtAoFC (Mastering the Art of French Cooking) but, didn't she wonder why the French eat that. I kind of get the foie gras. I don't like it; but it is rich and creamy and a lot of people do. Organ meat...well, its there, if you are hungry you eat it. BUT ASPIC. ICK.

So, Friday I plan to see the film with Tony. He was / is/??? enrolled in the pastry program at the CCA in SF. Where by chance my brother took at Chef program. Maybe I should ask him about the origins of aspic.

Saw Harry Potter...Loved it TOO! Had a great lunch with my aunt and uncle, ed and meg at the ferry plaza. We dined at the Slanted Door. Followed by gelato...maple, ginger snap at Ciao Bella and then, got a few loaves of rustic bread. We were the only viewers at the IMAX theater eating a baguette....crunchy yummy chewy...wow....love a nice sf day!

Another Day of Forgetable but, not forgiveable news

All it took was a visit from the Bill man himself:) Poor Hillary. But, really folks, Hillary can't just hand N. Korea our promise to negotiate....she can't but, Bill can. He is a private citizen. He actually had relations with KJ when he was the Prez. In fact, he had opened up a dialogue that took years in the making. Which in turn was abruptly slammed shut as GW Jr. took office and declare the N. Koreans enemies of our state. GW sure did f-k up a lot things in his day. And, his actions continue to haunt us. My students and I watched a few documenaries of late which reminded me of why, my stomach turns at the sight of GW J, Rummy and Dick head cheney and always will. We invaded iraq to show 'daddy' GW that little prick GW j. is a big boy now and can play with big toys. We had no plan for rebuilding the nation after we destroyed it in our search for Sadaam. We provided no assistance to the Iraqi people when their streets, homes, offices and museums were being looted...we stood by and watched. An GW Jr.s pal Bremer, put the nail in our coffin when he fired the army, and all of the members of the Bathist party....teachers, lawyers, doctors, government officials who might have helped Iraq recover. Who better to have access to 100s of 1000s of weapons left behind by the regime. New enemies of our state!

We watched a great Morgan Spurlock documentary, "Where in the World is Bin Laden." He traces the relationship of the US to the Middle East and to Sadaam from its inception during the Afghan/Russian war and beyond. He visited our 'allies' the totalitarian states of Saudi Arabia dn Egypt. He visited Israel and the Gaza to find that they didn't give a hoot about Sadaam or the US for that matter. They had greater concerns. Our alliance with Israel sure has upset a lot of people. Why don't people get upset about our alliance with Saudi Arabia and Egypt. These totalitarian, police states are home to some of the most stringent, abusive lawmakers in the world!

Dang...i tell ya. That Ling and Lee are home; I am happy. That I still have no chance of getting a job, that the American public sits silently at home eating cheese curls, drinking budweiser and playing wii or watching wrestling shows; while the government steals our money and makes us believe that its all hunky dory; this is what upsets me. Citibank traders getting 100 million dollar bonus's AFTER THIS PAST YEAR! For -----sake! Where is the OUTRAGE! We need to remove this entire government. They are all to blame if not by action than by inaction. Don't even get me started on Arnold and his f-king 126 Million or is it billion, dollar Death Row that Marin doesn't even want AND his suit against the feds for their demanding adquate housing and care or a release to the non violent offenders in our nation. He thinks we need more prisons....guess he needs the guards union to support his future political aspirations!

Jack and Jill can't read, so they don't know why they want to go up the hill anyway....if they tumble down, they won't have health care and their will live in comas on the public's dime. We could have just paid for their education!!

Silly me.....I keep thinking that maybe I will get a full time job some day. I might get to teach. But, meanwhile....

another day in paradise...another day i am stunned by how apathetic our public are when it comes to the actions of our political leaders....who WE the PEOPLE, place in office.

Governor Terminator, is giving something like 126 million dollars to build a new death row at San Quentin prison...while at the same time cutting our education budget by billions of dollars in California. supervisor du jour in SF this week is non other than Chris Daly. He claims to still live in sf but, recently purchased two, not one, two homes in Fairfield. his wife and children are living in in one of them. he has a Fairfield transit pass. He paid cash for the homes. Tell me; how difficult is it to pay the gas and water bill and claim to live in a home? oi vey. He has 3 roomies, so he says. So, the water and power are being used. It isn't as though his name is Ed Jew-

thennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn....there is the C street religious center for wayward, 'chosen' ones who happen to end up in the Federal Government. I am truly at my wits end. What to do? How to do it. I feel powerless some days. Does nobody else care at all?