They walk (and, worse, drive) among us: sleep-starved teens

Image via WikipediaAmerica has a huge problem with sleep -- as in not enough of it.

We've got a weird puritanical bias against people who get enough sleep, calling them lazy. Worse, we begin bringing kids into the sleep-deprived cult just as soon as possible, ignoring the mounting evidence that all we're doing is wasting everyone's time.

One of the biggest indictments about the quality of public education today is that the schools seem impervious to any research that suggests that changes to the status quo are required. Read this book and be astounded and depressed at how carefully calculated the standard public school model seems to be in ignoring and breaking every single one of these Brain Rules.

Zero tolerance for "Zero Tolerance" policies

Image by ralphrepo via FlickrAny person of authority who announces and insists on a "zero tolerance" policy -- a policy that treats all infractions as having the same severity and deserving of the same punishment -- should either resign or have their pay reduced to minimum wage (on the theory that minimum wage is all that anyone who engages is mindless, unthinking work is worth).

The barrage of nightmare stories about the horrific effects of ZT increases daily, as more and more so-called adults attempt to maintain the power that comes with authority while doing everything possible to evade the responsibility for exercising that authority judiciously.

Here's a policy to try instead: if you can't stand the heat that comes with treating people as individuals, get the hell out of the kitchen.

"Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" —G.W. Bush, Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000

Image via WikipediaGood thing too, because, alas, the answer is "No, not much." The single most-serious sign pointing to a massive failure in public education is the dismal state of public understanding concerning climate destabilization:

A nationwide global warming quiz last fall from Yale University concluded that many Americans are failures when it comes to climate science. More than half of those who took the quiz got an F. Little wonder there's confusion: uncertainties remain about climate change even among scientists; there have been misleading arguments; and global warming has become hotly debated and politicized. . . .

What Salem needs most

Image via WikipediaCitizen re-engagement. Stat! The toys for making it easy aren't essential, but they do take government's excuses away.

Genius is looking at the same old problems

. . . and being able to see something entirely different.

To-Do: Stand up FOR real people and AGAINST Corporate Personhood

URGE THE OREGON LEGISLATURE TO OPPOSE 'CORPORATE PERSONHOOD'

Representative Phil Barnhart, along with Reps. Jeff Barker and Michael Dembrow, has submitted House Joint Memorial 9 which calls for the Oregon Legislature to:
"...respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to pass and send to the several states for ratification a constitutional amendment to restore the First Amendment and fair elections to the people." (full document is attached)

Please contact members of the Rules Committee (where it has been stuck since February 21st) and urge them to pass HJM9 through the Rules Committee.

If you are contacting a Democratic State Representative, you can let them know that HJM9 is supported by two Legislative Action Items adopted at the 2010 Democratic Party of Oregon Platform Convention. These can be found in the attached document (LAI 4-3 on page 9 and LAI 4-1 on page 11).

House Rules Committee

Membership:
Dave Hunt (Dem), Co-Chair
Andy Olson (Rep), Co-Chair
Vicki Berger (Rep), Co-Vice Chair
Paul Holvey (Dem), Co-Vice Chair
Phil Barnhart (Dem)
Tim Freeman (Rep)
Chris Garrett (Dem)
Matt Wingard Rep)

More on Minto (of Minto-Brown fame)

Image via WikipediaEnrich and Beautify the Earth

From the book titled John Minto: Man of Courage 1822-1915:

John returned jubilant from the 1849 gold strike with enough 'yellow dirt' to make it possible to buy the finest in rare fruits and flowers to plant on his acreage. When a Methodist minister came upon him three years later as he was loosening the graft bands of a crabapple tree on which he had worked six varieties of popular apples and he was singing at his work, the minister remarked: "You seem happy, Brother John." Yes, Brother Roberts," he answered. "Just now I would not swap with Adam before his fall," the preacher made no reply.

"Perhaps he thought me irreverent," John remarked later, "but I had no such thought, and that had been the experience of my life when working to enrich and beautify the earth."

John Minto lived to 93 and he was a poet who wrote the following to fill a need for songs for the Salem Grange:

A GRANGER'S LOVE SONG

Come to the grange with me, Love
Come to the farm with me
Where the birds are singing and the flowers are springing
And life is happy and free.

To thee, Ceres her bounties shall bring, love
Promona and Flore shall give
Of their fruits and their flowers, to crown the hours
Of the life on the farm thou shalt live.

While the bread-grain is in the field, Love
And the fuel is cut from the grove,
Neither cold nor want shall thy night dreams haunt;
Only plenty and comfort and love.

We'll build our home by the hill, Love,
Whence the spring to the brooket flows;
On the gentle slope where the lambklins play
In the scent of the sweet wild rose.

In the labors, joys and cares of the grange, Love
In the shelter and shade of the grove,
Life's duties we'll meet in companionship sweet,
And there rest from our labours in love.

John Minto was an innovator in agriculture with some firsts in grafting fruit trees and sheep ranching, and served prominently in the Oregon Legislature.

Speaking of the Grange, don't forget tonight's dance to benefit the Grange!

Great new find: Cog-itate

A new blog I hadn't seen before -- excellent. With this VERY sad and sobering message.



Note that you are NO SAFER if you are driving while using a hands-free cellphone than with a handheld. IT'S NOT YOUR HANDS THAT ARE THE PROBLEM, it's your divided attention. Cellphone conversations are nearly as bad as texting, because the person you are talking to demands your attention without being able to see what you're seeing (road conditions etc.)

Here's the message for a lifetime: HANG UP AND DRIVE. Period.

Another look at getting around

From the wonderful folks at Straub Environmental Learning Center:

Tuesday, March 29, 2011, 6:30-8:00pm
Sustainability Workshop

Transportation: The Alternatives!

We’re kicking off this year’s workshop series with a lesson on alternative transportation. With the price of gas continually climbing, the need for other, more sustainable modes of transportation is becoming exceedingly important.

This workshop will highlight some available modes of transportation in Salem: biking, busing, walking and carpooling. Representatives from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), the City of Salem and Cherriots will be present to give some helpful tips on sustainable commuting. The Sustainability Workshop series is open to the public.

Classes are free, but registration is required due to limited space. RSVP to Alexandra at 503-391-4145 or email fselc@fselc.org.

All workshops will be held at Straub Environmental Learning Center, 6:30-8:00 pm, unless otherwise noted. For a schedule of the entire series, click here.

Late but in earnest! Help rid Minto-Brown of invasive Scotch Broom

Sorry for the late posting, but here's a great effort worthy of support.