You Can't Always Apologize Later.....Tales of Adjunctivitis in California Schools

Out of the woodwark via Alaska FB, syracuse, MIAMi, and new Hampshire?

2009-09-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

Well, louise is up in alaska but, FB is everywhere and thus, i am too. So this guy Jason, who is turns out went to Syracuse with her, and was on the rowing team with her, and never spoke to her much...asked to be her friend. And, she isn't so excited about it right now. the reason being, he is adamantly against any form of government supported or designed health care program. He is a capitalist, he is wealthy, he is selfish and not afraid to say it. he doesn't want to pay one cent towards healthcare for anyone other than himself or his direct family members. Louise, her friend Joe and I have been in a dialogue with this fool for two days now. we shoot facts his way, he shoots opinion and heresay back at us. He reminds us of the long lines all over the world, and the fact that people can't always get an MRI when they 'want it,' in Canada. Then, we point out that the US residents spend over $7000 per person, per year on health care. That, the united states spends more money on health care than any other nation in the world and yet, we rank 37 in the world for health care. he told us that he works hard for his money and he doesn't want to share it. He is a landlord of a building in Miami...okay.
He noted that our founding fathers and the pilgrims before them didn't want to be told what to do so, they moved here. Taxing tea is a bit different than providing health care to help citizens pursue 'life, liberty, happiness and property.' which is what we are all supposed to be doing, right. He is from New Hampshire by the way, he noted the state motto on the liscence plates,' live free, or die.' well, guess what....that is just what is going to happen. we are going to die. people without health care will get sicker, get virus's and they will spread and the top 1% of the population, who controls 40% of the wealth in the US economy, will get just as sick as the lower 99% of us. This is what will happen and he deserves to be first in line. Tell you what...if he flees to canada, they will take care of him for free.

Teachers should be held accountable. A New Day Will Come...But, Joe is Still Gone

2009-09-07T21:43:00.000-07:00

I have a big deep hole in the middle of my soul where my dear friend Joe's heart used to live. I don't really or, rather I do really or, I just don't know or enjoy GRIEF! Dang...what happened. I keep thinking that I can come to terms with it. But, I can't. I just can't and won't. I keep waiting for him to call or, walk back in the door, or take me to a game. Penney is great. Joe would love him. New day...new pitcher with a heart of gold.

So, what am I going to do. I have another pit in my stomach...in my soul that needs to be filled....and it can only be filled by me. I need to find purpose. I keep wondering where and when to go. I keep hoping that I can figure it out. But, I am depressed and unmotivated. This is because I feel useless. I feel like a failure. I was laid off. I went back to school after sitting on the couch for a long year, and then I earned my BA finally. And then I earned and MA. I loved it. It was a challenge. But, a tremendously, fulfilling, extraordinary one.

But, the path I am trying to follow keeps closing me out and I don't know how to open it again. I can't play the games. I can't suck it up. But, I have to because there is no choice. There is no financial security for being a good teacher. There is emotional reward. But, that keeps getting tossed aside to. They take and they give take and give. This time perhaps forever.

Will the older, last of the tenured, ever retire? Can they? Unlike other professions, you don't age out of teaching. You can always do it. Especially if you are unable to be fired. So, you may do it; but there is no guarantee that you do it well.

I say 'last of the tenured,' because I really think that it is time to phase it out. I think of all the professions in the world, teaching is among the most important professions. Teachers need to be held accountable. We need to separate the teachers from the researchers from the writers...

We can all be scholars. But, we can be scholarly teachers OR researchers. Teachers can do research and continue to learn....but, should RESEARCHERS, who are not necessarily strong teachers be teaching?

I think this is the big conundrum.

So perhaps its time to start over AGAIN?

2009-09-06T17:53:00.000-07:00

i am not giving up; but it sure seems as though someone wants me too! not my friends of course. they support me every which way they can and it means SO MUCH TO ME! I guess that is what it really is all about. I can't say that I am happy to be laid off next semester and perhaps for many to come; but I can say without a doubt, that I have the best family and friends in the world. I am loved and I love. And, ultimately that is what really matters.

I will I will I will write the book. I will I will I will write the book.

Oi Vey...the mantra begins. But, first...the civic mirror, food for thought learning community, john locke, michael pollan and the US constitution await my wonderful class at CSM! And, I am going to love every minute of it!

Health Care Insurance Companies Keep Teachers Out of Work

2009-08-25T16:02:00.001-07:00

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?

2009-08-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-12T15:44:00.003-07:00

'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

2009-08-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-05T16:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-05T16:33:00.000-07:00

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!!

2009-08-01T21:43:00.000-07:00

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?

538 vs. 330 Million.....hmmmmmm

2009-07-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

i wonder, is there a reason that nobody reads my blog? could it be that there are a million other blogs out there and a million other pts of view to listen to? its funny out egocentric we humans are. i forgot about the ego last night or, perhaps rather celebrated it as I spoke with disdain about the top 1% of our us population who controls all of our policy decision with their money. a student asked me how we will convince the people who are going to be taxed already, by Obama's new policy: those making 250K a year or more mind you, to support the new deferred paying tax, to cover health care for every american. Well, i espoused my firm belief that health care is not a commodity but, a right and I would prefer to pay a tax than see my fellow man suffer in the gutter. Somewhere among the top 1-5 % of americans actually make 250 K or more a year. why is it that the 99% who don't are not speaking up! why are we not collectively outraged? why don't we demand that democracy be practiced in this nation! I am frustrated so, I share my concerns with others. I think that because they are concerns voiced by me, someone who is educated on the topic, that should matter. But, I don't have 250K in the bank and with a part time teaching gig, one class, this Fall...its doesn't look like i will anytime soon. The mythic American Dream doesn't exist for most of us. Just the 1%. The rest of us 99ers should get our act together. the 538 folks in the legislature should be scared of the 33o plus million of us who aren't. WHY AREN'T THEY?

another day in the pantomine of productive learning....

2009-07-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

i need to keep writing. i know that's the truth. criminey. weezie is off to alaska and i am sitting in my classroom. just saw two colleagues who are involved in this tangled web we weave. On of them: kk, thinks we need to get active but, kk is already active at another campus....so no go here. the next on RR, believes that life would be better with benefits and backs the movement. but, he like I know, that we have to show up in order to get anything done. hoping that will happen. school starts soon. the union meets soon. so, we ALL need to make a showing at the next meetings. we pay our dues. time to collect.

the governor cut a lot of money from our budget; but i simply cannot accept, nor will i accept that we will not be paid for office hours. too bad so sad. i am not sure what to do if they try to take them. they already have taken my soul. not the office hours ...no siree. granted this discussion is coming soon. the contract is up for renegotiation...so, let the games begin.

Can't Pay for Tenure; but a FUNHOUSE for disciplined teachers???!!!!

2009-06-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

AP – This May 2006 photo provided by art teacher Judith Cohen shows her sitting in front of cardboard boxes …

By KAREN MATTHEWS, Associated Press Writer Karen Matthews, Associated Press Writer – Mon Jun 22, 5:20 pm ET

NEW YORK – Hundreds of New York City public school teachers accused of offenses ranging from insubordination to sexual misconduct are being paid their full salaries to sit around all day playing Scrabble, surfing the Internet or just staring at the wall, if that's what they want to do.

Because their union contract makes it extremely difficult to fire them, the teachers have been banished by the school system to its "rubber rooms" — off-campus office space where they wait months, even years, for their disciplinary hearings.

The 700 or so teachers can practice yoga, work on their novels, paint portraits of their colleagues — pretty much anything but school work. They have summer vacation just like their classroom colleagues and enjoy weekends and holidays through the school year.

Okay ...this is disgusting. Talk about a waste of resources. Where in the world do you get paid more to do nothing than the banking industry and education! Mediocrity seems to be rewarded in many ways these days. So, our new American Dream is to do as little as nothing; and get paid for it.

'Adjunctivitis' Part 3 or is it 4?

2009-06-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

Oops...I did it again...can't keep my mouth shut...

2009-06-04T17:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it again. I decided to face the facts. I contacted our Union rep. I actually sent a nice chart to the rep regarding part time health care benefits at a number of community colleges in california. i didn't include ours on the list, because well the rep. should know that already AND, they are pretty close to non existent anyway; 1000.00 a year. I pay 560 a month right now, so that isn't really helping us much. And, in November, when my husband turns 55, we will start paying $670 a month for my coverage. I am 42.

The chart of benefits showed some very generous benefit offerings at the school district to the North of us and the South of us. In some cases, the Districts pay for full coverage of part time employess. In others, they pay 50%. This is a heck of a lot more than we get.

My union rep tells me that more part time employees need to be involved. I wonder though, will it matter. I asked this rep, "will it matter?" My concern, is that the full time tenured faculty, who pay most of the union dues, will not want to lose any of their benefits and thus, they won't want part time faculty to compete in this terrible budgetary- black- hole called california.

But, whatever. I am going to wait until I hear back from our rep. He is a nice man and I don't mean to piss him off with my cynicism. I am just jaded. As are many people these days. But, I really love what I am doing so, this is worth it; RIGHT?

There is NO benefit to being a better teacher: 'Adjunctivitis: Part 2'

2009-06-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

A person who excels in most professions, receives aclaim, job security and rewards. Most teachers who excel, receive no paid time off, no health care benefits and no promise of employment from semester to semester. Take a look at this amazing video. I personally agree with these teachers. Are teachers Unions protective of both Full and Part-time Faculty? I think I think not. But, there may be something in between?

Although only 30-40% of teachers are tenured these days, the unions don't represent all teachers equally. Without supporting their full time teachers, the Union would not make any money. So, why should they support part time instructors. Part time instructors are made to believe that they are being supported by the union officials and tenured teachers. This is a farce. It is something like a Joe Plumber, fighting for the hard right libertarian or republicans, because he believes that he will be a multi millionaire with money to invest in offshore accounts someday. Part time teachers are made to believe that they will someday achieve the illusive tenure status. When in fact, they rarely do.

The person who was most recently hired in my department at the community college where I teach, came from 3 hours away. Instead of hiring one of the 10 or so part time adjuncts at the school already, the school opened up the hiring to a national search. There is no loyalty. This hire by the way, was the only new hire in the department in over 20 years.

I pay dues, they are deducted from my paycheck. Why? They don't help me. They don't get me health care. They don't get me any paid vacation days. This is ridiculous. My schedule is down to 3 hours a week this summer; and I am forced to support these people? I can't afford to do this!

http://www.takepart.com/videos/the-truth-about-teachers-unions/5026

GMs Apology Falls on Deaf Ears

2009-06-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

I am saddened for many of the employees and their families. But the GM Executives in the United States, brought the inevitable demise of their greedy, stagnant, ticky-tacky, automobile company, upon themselves. I know that GM has been successful outside of the US; that is why I say that. But, I think that too is only because the buyers in China for example, are not as concerned about electric or hybrid cars, as we are in the US. Michael Moore, who has tried to bring the truth about US automakers and their employee victims, to the public time and time again, said it best this morning in his Huffington Post Blog:

"It is with sad irony that the company which invented "planned obsolescence" -- the decision to build cars that would fall apart after a few years so that the customer would then have to buy a new one -- has now made itself obsolete. It refused to build automobiles that the public wanted, cars that got great gas mileage, were as safe as they could be, and were exceedingly comfortable to drive. Oh -- and that wouldn't start falling apart after two years. GM stubbornly fought environmental and safety regulations. Its executives arrogantly ignored the "inferior" Japanese and German cars, cars which would become the gold standard for automobile buyers. And it was hell-bent on punishing its unionized workforce, lopping off thousands of workers for no good reason other than to "improve" the short-term bottom line of the corporation. Beginning in the 1980s, when GM was posting record profits, it moved countless jobs to Mexico and elsewhere, thus destroying the lives of tens of thousands of hard-working Americans. The glaring stupidity of this policy was that, when they eliminated the income of so many middle class families, who did they think was going to be able to afford to buy their cars? History will record this blunder in the same way it now writes about the French building the Maginot Line or how the Romans cluelessly poisoned their own water system with lethal lead in its pipes.(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-moore/goodbye-gm_b_209603.html)"

Guns, Gays and Abortion: Can I say abuse of RELIGION SUCKS!

2009-05-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

First the Congress and the President passed a bill that sets new rules for credit card companies; but they also tacked on a rule that gives us the right to carry CONCEALED weapons into our National Parks.

YET ANOTHER hero from our armed services, was told that he was being discharged from the armed forces because, HE IS GAY. Forget the men he commanded who want him back. Forget the medals he earned and the people he saved; he must not be allowed to protect and serve our nation. Why? Because the religious right says so.

Tuesday morning, I stood on the steps of the California Supreme Court in San Francisco, to hear the decision re: Californians Gay and Lesbian couples to call their civil unions MARRIAGE. I was disappointed. While the Court found that the couples who were married already, can remain so; no new couples can marry; because the California State Constitution allows a simple majority of voters to legalize inequality by voting. The US Supreme Court decided in Brown vs. Board of education that, separate but, equal is inherently NOT EQUAL!

Where do these people find the audacity to justify this decision in the first place? They find it in the ignorant masses,that I call my fellow citizens. The ones who value their right to vote, their right to go to church, their right to voice their opinions about guns and abortion. And yet, they don't value my right to disagree with them.

Tales and Woes of 'Layoffs': How I Came Down With Adjunctivitis PART 1

2009-05-29T17:21:00.000-07:00

Being laid off is never fun. The first time I was laid off, I spent a year or so on the couch watching soap operas. I finally came out of my slump, when I saw one of those commercials for Zoloft, and started balling my eyes out. You know the one, the ball jumps across the screen asking if you are a loser and all; of course I related. All I did was watch All My Children. Who better to relate to a depressed little snowball bouncing on a screen. My reality was needless to say, warped. I called Kaiser right away and soon I was happy as a clam; though I am not too sure why they are happy. Perhaps it's because they spend their lives in mud and sea water? But, I digress. Prozac to the rescue! I enrolled in college, earned two degrees and pursued the next chapter of my life; teaching. I was certain that this was the greatest thing that ever happened to me...next to my wonderful family of course...and the Grateful Dead. But, this too had its problems. In fact I have in the last year come down with an ailment common to us folks trying to educate America: Adjunctivitis. The symptoms include something akin to a 'layoff,' but, can you really call it that when you periodically get the chance to teach? There is no cure; though the temporary classroom assignments help alleviate the pain. But, in all, I think that until they rid the Community College system in California, of a little thing called Tenure, I do not think there will ever be a cure.

Think Before You Post: A response to the Huffington Post Photo Montage from one Prop 8 Protest

2009-05-27T14:50:00.001-07:00

Erin Scholnick-Lee Why is it necessary to show pictures of the more extreme persons in the crowd who gathered to protest the decision to uphold Prop 8 in California, on Tuesday. For example,why was one of the only pictures I saw of a drag queen on a police car?

This issue at hand, is the right to be treated equally. It is about regular people, not just the stereotypical drag-queen, that right wingers label as examples of ALL GAY persons. While I personally love the drag queens of the world, I am disappointed that you fed the flames of Prop 8 crew, by showing the extreme protesters for the most part. Rather than showing, for example, two loving parents with their children, dressed in a polo or t-shirt and jeans and eating an ice-cream.

My friend James, who along with his partner and two women, who are also a couple are married and have 2 children who they love and care for, and will for the rest of their lives. James, is a college professor. He was arrested in San Francisco yesterday sitting on the ground in a peaceful demonstration against inequality. He wasn't wearing a dress and he didn't jump on a police car. He stood up and walked to the paddy wagon!

Please think about the messages you send with these photos. I am sure there were a lot more photos to post; and that the drag queen on the car was just more colorful.

Gay Rights Supporters Take To Streets (SLIDESHOW)

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
On Tuesday, the California Supreme Court upheld the state\'s Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage in a 6-1 decision; the ruling left intact the union of over 18,000 same-sex couples who married before Prop 8 passed in November. The night of the ruling, gay marriage advocates took to the streets across California and in major cities throughout the country. The court\'s ruling marked the next phase in the battle over marriage, with gay rights activists vowing to take the fight..

WAKE UP CALIFORNIA! If you think your safe...check again!

2009-05-26T19:43:00.001-07:00

Erin Scholnick-Lee

I am disturbed to find, that many of the articles that I have been reading tonight, about the California Supreme Ct. decision which upheld Proposition 8, get it ALL WRONG. I waited in line this morning to get my copy when the decision was released. So, I know what it says!

While the ct. ruled that in fact, the simple majority of voters who supported Proposition 8, had the right to amend the California constitution, based on the current law/rules for amending the California Constitution, they also ruled that the 18,000 couples who are already married, shall have their marriages continue to be recognized.

Some people, such as MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER, writing for TIME magazine, at Yahoo.com (http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090526/us_time/08599190100600) claim that, "George (chief justice Ronald George) and five other justices ruled on Tuesday that there is nothing so special about gay-marriage rights that make them exempt from the state's famously disruptive and pliable constitutional-amendment process." .

I do not agree that this is the case at all! In fact, I would argue that the court was in many ways frustrated by their inability to do anything about this negligent, hateful measure. It was after all, this same court who determined that banning gay couples from marriage violates these persons fundamental civil rights!

I believe that the justices understood that, the question being asked was a narrow question regarding procedural issue. Rather than, the true issue; the enormous issue, that they have already decided on in the past, which would require them to answer, yet again, whether denying same sex couples the right to be married in California, is a violation of their civil rights, their right to privacy and due process.

The suit claimed that the authors and supporters of prop 8 didn't have the right to amend/revise the constitution with a simple majority. When in fact, according to the Calif. constitution they do.

The justices determined, that it is not the role of the court to CHANGE the rules. But, to uphold the laws/ rules. Indeed, it they noted that it is OUR role as voters to do this. They made the decision based on what they had at hand. I firmly suggest that the justices don't think Marriage should be kept from the Gay community. Lindenberger, and others like him, got it WRONG in my opinion.

I believe the ct. wished it could uphold the right to marry. Their decision to uphold the validity of the 18,000 marriages is proof of this.

But, the justices could not do this, because WE the people of California, have not changed the rules about revising the constitution in California. Most state constitutions already state for example, that there shall be no laws that violate the civil rights of the minority according to the Bill of Rights in the Federal constitution. They also require a 2/3's majority; not a simple majority. Are we too independent to think this way in California. I suggest that if someone agrees with this, that they need to move to Alaska, where the governor and her husband have favored succeeding from the nation.

We can change the law. WE MUST CHANGE THE LAWS ! We must have a super-majority to amend the constitution. It is difficult if not near impossible to amend our federal constitution. That is why there are only 27 amendments. California has over 500 amendments to the State constitution. This seems to mean that we don't care as much about the law. It demeans us.

This simple majority, combined with the out of state money really is wrong. SHAME ON ALL THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED YES ON 8. Proposition 8 was full of hate. SHAME on the lawyers for filing the WRONG lawsuit. DO NOT FOCUS ON PROCEDURE! Focus on the ISSUE! CIVIL RIGHTS! Equality!

We are a nation of laws. If certain religions want to deny some individuals from being married in their 'churches,' than so be it. But, in order to be considered a legal marriage, it must be sanctified by the state. Should we in turn deny them the ability to receive a marriage license from the state. All, is truly fair in Love and War.

We the people, live in a nation of laws, by the people and for the people. Separate but equal IS NOT EQUAL.

Remember this when we call you to support our efforts to change these laws. The time is now! What is happening to the Gay and Lesbian community can as easily happen to the heterosexual, African- American, asian, european, Finish, Danish, Anglo, beer drinking, fox viewing, donut eating, card playing, hopscotch loving public including YOU~

The WHITE OUT in MINNESOTA

2008-09-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Did you notice that there was one black man, there were three Asian women and two hispanic women at the Republican convention? Oh yes, and Piper licking her fingers to smooth the babies head AND, lets not forget the magic of the baby turning into mcCains mom!
That was one heck of a WHITE out in Minn last night.

But, lets talk Palin:
Yes, I thought she was good; for what it was. She was confident and she spoke well.

I do not agree with her politics however, so much of what she said, made me laugh or cry.....there were some pretty silly mistakes and attempts at sticking it to Barack Obama...that didn't quite work.

But, there were some frightening reminders of the world that she 'hasn't lived in, EVER..." too: these made me cry.

A friend of mine at the college where I teach who responded to this event by writing that 'Watching Palin's speech, I felt like I was an extra in a real-life gender-bending version of the movie "Dave". We want a gun-toting SOCCER MOM for a veep? How on Earth is she going to handle tea with a Saudi Arabian Prince? They'd stone her white-as-Alaska-snow ass before the cup stopped steaming.'

I think she is going to represent many people in the Republican Party who are still alienated by John McCain, because of his past liberal leanings. I must say, her candidacy worries me after last night. The evangelical, religious right winger is the person who is going to show up at the polls. George Bush was elected twice and I never thought that would happen. He appealed to them by speaking out against Gay Marriage and Abortion. She will do the same. It kills me. But, the President and VP don't amend the constitution. Bush was spouting hot air. Yes, he gets a lot of airtime, but it takes the congress to get an amendment rolling along. There are only 27 amendments to the constitution. None of them written or proposed by GW Bush.

Nevertheless, Palin actually claims that Global Warming is not caused by humans. She says that it is the will of God that we are in Iraq. She supports abstinence education (lot of good that did in her house...lucky her daughter does not have STDs,)she cut programming for pregnant teens in Alaska, she doesn't support sex education, she has a 17 year old daughter who is pregnant, wants to teach creationism in school, doesn't believe in evolution, she fired someone for not firing her ex brother in law, she supports drilling in the Alaskan frontier (could this be because she gets a big check for this every year....as do all Alaskans) MY GOODNESS.

McCain has a life expectancy of 10 years or less according to unofficial statistics on life expectancy i found while searching the web for life expectancy of men who have had cancer THREE TIMES.

Cindy McCain is John McCain's second wife. They were married in 1980. He admits to having an affair with her while still married to his first wife, Carol.

BUT THAT WAS THE OLD MCCAIN:

He now denies having an affair that was announced in the NYTimes and hinted at in the Washington Post. Cindy says he has integrity and wouldn't do that...my how we forget.

Does any of this matter? That is what we should be thinking about. Yes and no. It matters because some people won't like his integrity. But, he has more experience being locked in a box, than Barack Obama. That is the tough one. Yes, he is a patriot. But, he did what he did so that others would not have to EVER. And, look where we are IRAQ, Afghanistan....

Another hippocra- Mc-Cain :
He has been meeting on a regular basis with volunteers from the nations larges corporations/ and lobbyists to plan his campaign strategy. This is a contradiction to his so called 'fight' against lobbyists.

Oi....I tell ya!
But, realistically speaking: she won't get creationism taught in schools, she won't get rid of sex education, she can believe what she wants about global warming.. even if she wins, VPs don't do a lot (unless they are Dick Cheney....who did it all)

This may be a closer race that I previously expected. But, I am going to be pushing for everyone to get out the vote. I think it would be great to visit college campuses and do this. young people gave barack the nomination, now they have to show up again! Youn g people should be able to vote ON THEIR CAMPUS. They are residents of the campus. They register for school and we know who is a citizen when they do. So, they should all be registered as a rule.

e