Tuesday, February 17, 2009

A Time & a Place

I have a few free periods during my day, time which I may use grading or working on lesson plans, or other projects. Occasionally, I will use them for a real break from the day, and do nothing productive whatsoever with them. Today, during one of my free periods, I chose to watch this...and the laughter would not stop. If you don't find this absolutely hilarious, perhaps I just relate too well with making justifications for eating cake...but I struggled for 5 minutes not to disrupt the class that was going on while I watched this video...


Tuesday, February 10, 2009

A Glamorous White House

Politico has this story today.

I am of two minds regarding this issue.

First, I think it is a shrewd move on Mr. Obama's part, to use the influence of his perks to help him lead. He has made several mis-steps in his first month+ in office, but this might not necessarily be one. Leading a divided nation requires the ability to both aggressive and alluring. I think this may work as his attempt to lure opponents.

Second, I think this could back-fire unless it is done with razor-like percision. Too many pictures of the leaders of Washington at parties during a recession, and with the headlines of Drudge making more and more people think about robbing a bank or hiding under a rock could be disaster. It is one thing to project confidence in the nation...it is something else to tell the people to eat cake, which could be the interpretation of too many parties in Washington as millions lose jobs and stimlus packages are discussed while the stock market bleeds out.

So we'll see...I think he is trying to thread a very dangerous needle. Not impossible, but incredibly dangerous.