tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54185717254345763892024-02-18T21:11:25.111-07:00News New MexicoNews New Mexico - Once a statewide radio show providing state news aggregation and commentary, we have evolved. On this site we post political/cultural commentary, both domestic and international. At the top of the right hand sidebar there are links to discussions of the fundamental pillars of our world views. Click on these discussions and gain useful insights into our biases and how many of our views are formed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9693125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-65208515582630963862019-02-12T19:35:00.000-07:002019-02-12T19:35:53.726-07:00Swickard: President’s Day Best and Worst<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnDrrNeRDpXWLenEDuDJ6kKhOLFOebERHL7cIN44nuJgdiUJiX3A97ywmuKloXCC_f1n2w31SkP1ILBU275zQ-rFpI3Xk06yQdM_XffWPI8lzsrpiTNdIj5IivHG9807PeRd0O54LFTo/s1600/michael+and+conrad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="417" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnDrrNeRDpXWLenEDuDJ6kKhOLFOebERHL7cIN44nuJgdiUJiX3A97ywmuKloXCC_f1n2w31SkP1ILBU275zQ-rFpI3Xk06yQdM_XffWPI8lzsrpiTNdIj5IivHG9807PeRd0O54LFTo/s200/michael+and+conrad.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Swickard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<b><i>© 2019 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b><o:p> </o:p>February
is President’s Month. Recently I noticed on Social Media quite a few posts
about current and former United States Presidents. Over two-hundred thirty
years there are only forty-four men in that exclusive club.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One post proclaimed
Barack Obama worst president ever. There was as usual a vigorous battle of emotions.
I believe it takes at least thirty years to get a real historical feel for the
value of a President. The jury is still out for me on Bush 41 to Trump. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
My
response to that post: Lyndon Johnson was the worst president ever. There were some
good results during his presidency. However, his legacy is the damage to Social
Security for political purposes, micromanaging the Vietnam War including not
understanding our military technically won the war in 1968.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Additionally,
Johnson pushed a welfare system that incentivized single parents. Over his
political life he was very corrupt. Yes, many U. S. Presidents were corrupt in
one way or many. In my opinion, LBJ was worst. My post on LBJ was divided by
partisans so LBJ either sat on the right hand of God or of Satan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you study
U. S. Presidents, you find they are all flawed human beings. Some Presidents control
their flaws better. Question: what is the lasting good and lasting harm of each
of them?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Most
harmful: Polk, Bucannon, Wilson, both Roosevelts, LBJ and Carter. You might
have a different list. I can talk hours why those seven Presidents left our
nation much worse off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Best Presidents:
Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Coolidge, Truman, Eisenhower and Reagan. Each,
despite flaws, left our nation better for their time as president.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All must
grow into the job. Even George Washington had growing pains throughout his
presidency since he had to take each crisis as a new learning activity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>George
Washington previously served as General of the Army. Being President is vastly
different. He learned and left our nation better. The same can be said of
Eisenhower. However, President Grant did not leave a lasting good though he was
very popular in his lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Take
Abraham Lincoln, an awful President his first year but grew into the Presidency
and left our nation better off. Maybe one of Lincoln’s contemporaries would
have grown into the presidency like Lincoln but we will never know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Both Calvin
Coolidge and Harry Truman were trust into the Presidency and left the nation
better off. Both did not want the office but took it when the then President
died in office.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We can use
the same logic for Governors and Mayors but again about thirty years or so must
go by before any real historical decisions are appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At New Mexico
State University in 1970 I drew the ire of then President Roger Corbett while I
was in the Student Senate. At the time I thought him an awful president.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After years
of reflection I believe the top five NMSU President were Hadley, Foster, Kent,
Thomas and yes, Roger Corbett. The academic world of NMSU is ever so much
better for each of them being the President.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I cannot
make a judgement on my fellow Class of 1968 Alamogordo High School graduate
Danny Arvizu, who now leads NMSU. I liked him in high school, but I do not know
if he will lead NMSU in turbulent times to a better place than he finds it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk481353229;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When government
leaders are elected, and leaders of academic institutions are appointed it will
be decades before we really know the total results of that decision. However, we
can learn much by those who came before, if we want to learn. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Email:<i>
<a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a></i></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-1992331634502544422017-11-05T20:20:00.001-07:002017-11-05T20:20:42.339-07:00Swickard: Not in my backyard<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>Jet
engines make lots of noise, especially military jets. It seems several
communities in New Mexico are bothered by the thought that jets from Holloman
Air Force Base may fly over their towns and surrounding lands while they are
training for the role of combat pilot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The Air
Force leadership at Holloman has announced that the jet pilots they are
training need more area to practice what they do before they get into actual combat.
Naturally it goes without saying that when you are in combat is a bad time to
learn some things that should be taught before they get into combat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The rub is
that many people in these towns don’t want to hear military jets flying over
their homes. The very thought of it annoys some people. They are writing angry
letters and protesting having to hear the noise of jets. They say that the
pilots should fly somewhere else. What they are saying is don’t fly over my
backyard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
When I was
much younger I was working on a barbed wire fence one day about twenty miles
south of Carrizozo on my grandfather’s ranch. It was a warm quiet day and I was
almost falling asleep on my feet while I worked on this fence. Bees were
buzzing and birds were singing. Then it happened.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Four F-4
Phantom jets from Holloman AFB came over me doing about 400 knots at two
hundred feet above the terrain. Instantly I went from being almost asleep on my
feet to throwing the hammer and running over the fence in a panic. Then it was quiet
again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It is much
worse for those cowpokes on horseback. There can be quite a difficulty for a
rider when a horse is spooked this way. That said, I am not troubled by the military
jets. To me that is the sound of freedom and I normally look up appreciatively.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
syndrome is called, “Not in my backyard.” Be it jets overhead or highways or
power lines, people will object and demand that these things not be in their
backyard, they should be in someone else’s backyard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
How do we
decide who has a backyard that should be protected from things that annoy and
who does not? In 1965, I lived in Aurora Colorado under the landing and takeoff
pattern of Stapleton Airport. It was often very loud but we got used to it. The
airport moved after we left.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
What we
are dealing with is volunteers to our nation’s military who put their lives on
the line for our freedom. They must have a place to train. The rigors are such
that some pilots will not survive the training. And we should worry that the
noise bothers some people?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Every
effort should be taken to not annoy people up to the point that the pilots are
not able to get the very best training preparing them for real combat. At that
point, we should take their training as more important than our convenience.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-54193565025748427292017-10-29T21:48:00.002-06:002017-10-29T21:48:31.351-06:00Swickard: When the price is wrong<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>It happens
often that a local business closes. We have enjoyed years of that business in
our community but now it is closed. Rarely do we understand what happened.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
There is a
popular show, “The price is right” where contestants must know the correct
price of items. When a local company goes out of business one explainer is that
they didn’t charge enough for their products. Not always. There are other
explainers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Restaurants
are one type of business I notice when they close because several have closed
even though I was a regular customer. Businesses come and businesses go. It is
a natural happening in our free enterprise model of capitalism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
popular notion is that anyone in business for themselves are rich. Nothing
could be further from the truth. The one commonality is most local businesses
are started by risk-takers. They put up the money and their own time to see if we
will vote for their ideas with our wallets.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The first
danger for sustainable businesses is that their prices are too low for the cost
of doing business. So, they can be in business for a while before they run out
of money. If that happens then they go out of business.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The most
important issue is the return on investment for someone in business. There are
ways to change the bottom line such as quality and efficiency. But ultimately
the buyer is the judge and jury of that success. Except for when the government
gets involved.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
government regulations are a component in the price and bottom line. They
require the business to do things they may not want to do such as pay more for
employees than would allow for a profit. At times. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
This is
not good for either the employees or the customers when businesses close. Then
the businesses that are left leave less choice and price pressure to support
customers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Sometimes
the loss of profit is obscured by inventory only to eventually kill the
business. The patron of the business pays the asked price or they go somewhere
else. The lure of going to a bigger town means that money leaves which does kill
businesses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
economic pressures on local businesses include competition, cost of goods and
the changing needs of our population. In the computer business, it used to be a
value-added store where the customer knew little and the store experts were
needed to walk customers through getting a computer up and running.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Then it
all changed and those stores closed. The new online option for purchase makes
it harder to be in local business if you sell some items. The same is true for
local restaurants. But there is one thing that local businesses do that the big
ones do not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The local business
owners spend their money in the local economy. The nationals ship the money out
of your town quickly. Will losing money out-of-town close local businesses? Of
course. That price is always wrong for your town.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-40060541549566140692017-10-22T19:14:00.001-06:002017-10-22T19:14:14.496-06:00Swickard: Solving problems with guns<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>Every year
for decades there have been students bringing guns to school to “fix a problem.”
In the days after the school shooting many people speculate on how the kid
obtained the gun and got it to school along with many more how-it-was-done
questions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I never
hear the question: why did this kid think using a gun would solve any problems?
Rather, it causes more problems than can be imagined. So where did that student
get the notion that bringing a gun would make things better?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
What this
something the child learned in school? Of course not. It is not part of the public
school curriculum. Further, it is not modeled behavior by teachers to shoot
problem students, regardless of how irritating students can be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Yet, students
are bringing guns to school apparently with the belief that the guns will solve
their problems. If they do not learn that notion in public school, they must
learn it somewhere else. Is it in the home?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Most
parents reject that premise. “I certainly do not teach my children that
shooting someone will solve problems.” But they do. The message is transmitted
repeatedly to their children. Under their supervision kids watch hour after
hour of television and movies where the solution to problems is to shoot
someone. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
average school age student watches hundreds of “shootings to solve a problem” a
week. Heroes as well as bad people, all larger than life, solve their problems
with guns.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Research strongly
suggests a correlation of behavior in children exposed to violence. Kids in one
research project were observed with fellow students for an hour. Then they
watched violent cartoons for an hour and were observed with students for the
hour afterwards.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
In the
second and third hours, the incidence of aggressive behavior increased
dramatically. The research is compelling that watching television influences behavior.
That is why advertisers spend millions on commercials. It influences behavior.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
responsibility lies with the parents to protect their children from these
influences. The copycat syndrome has been established by the police in some
types of crimes. It is seen on television and then replicated in society.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Television
and movie violence is so pervasive because it is the most easily created form
of drama, “Is someone going to die or not?” I’m not saying kids should be kept
completely away from all television, but it should be screened.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The issue
is not to stop television from showing the use of guns as a solution to a
person's problems, rather, the issue is that parents must stop letting
impressionable kids watch hour after hour of this guns will solve problems
message.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It is like
planting a tree. The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago, the next best
time to plant a tree is now. The best time to screen television programs was ten
years ago. The next best time is now. No, we do not need a law, we need a culture
that understands the influences on children.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-31262742561208321112017-10-15T20:10:00.001-06:002017-10-15T20:10:11.933-06:00Swickard: Assuming our way to school change<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>Let us
look at assumptions. They are the building blocks of change. American public
schools provide an example. Not everyone agrees that they are broken; some just
think they should be improved.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
As to
public schools: in the past and now, there are calls for educational change by
political leaders wanting to make political hay and get votes. Some say we need
to innovate while others say we must reform the schools. What is the
difference?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Innovation
assumes things can be better. Reform assumes things are so bad that they must
be changed. Now assumptions do no harm so long as no one acts upon them. Unfortunately,
people are acting. There are many attempts to reform schools when what is
needed is innovation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Worse yet,
many attempts to reform schools are not tied to research. One of the most
problematic assumptions people make is that educational research is not essential.
The truth is that any school change not research-based will be a disaster.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Want
proof? Every politically driven reform movement in the last fifty years has not
been research-based. Constantly some politician has an idea for changing
schools and everyone jumps on to the fad.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The change
may not make things better or the change will make things worse. It is like
when an airplane is flying along and the pilot finds something isn’t working
quite right. The pilot may fiddle with it to the point the aircraft quits flying
completely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
standards and accountability movement is not research-based. Someone thought,
hey, let’s try this. The public schools are busy accounting for themselves
without a clear notion what it means when the accountability numbers vary.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The general
assumption is that the schools did something wrong when the numbers are poor.
However, research assures us that schools can only teach students who want to
learn. No one is attending to this truth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
So, what
is the accountability movement really measuring? The school’s effect is comingled
with out-of-school influences. Do the people in the accountability reform
movement realize this? No, they assume poor scores are automatically the
school’s fault.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
A change
should be made in the way we change our schools. Since students ultimately
benefit or are harmed by educational change, those political leaders changing
the schools should have to put something in escrow before making sweeping
changes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Then, if
they are right, we should reward them well. If they are wrong, they should pay
a penalty. Make them risk their retirement. Then we will see how sold they are
on school uniforms or quarter hour math ladders or whatever new fad.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
There
would be a rush to use research. It would then be more dependable than just
driving down the road, running over a turtle, and thinking that Flat Turtle Math
Programs are the answer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
That is
not to say that the public schools are not ripe for innovation. Schools can be
made better or worse. It completely depends upon the research assumptions. And please
ignore the political school change fads.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-92193587545033860522017-10-08T20:27:00.002-06:002017-10-08T20:27:19.616-06:00Swickard: The need for vocational education<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>Imagine
that a wave of brown smelly sludge starts pouring over the edge of your toilet.
Oh no! That is not the textbook way brown sludge should be handled by the
toilet. When you press the handle the “product” should just disappear out of
sight, mind and smell.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
But it is overflowing
and coming down the hallway. There is the immediate necessity to find someone competent
in plumbing. We are not looking for conversations about academics. We need
plumbers, not professors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I was
thinking about this because many public schools, starting even in kindergarten,
are pushing all of their students to go to college. No exceptions. But someone needs
to be trained and ready to fix the biffy along with other repair professions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
If every
child goes to college there will be a huge problem. Millions of young adults can
look at the human waste coming down your hallway and comment on the Peloponnesian
War of 431 BC which had minor similarities to the crisis you are facing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
When they
are through talking about Greek history you still have a mess unless you find a
plumber. The brown stuff will just keep on keeping on down your hallway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
So many young
people will know right where to put the comma, but nothing vocational. When
trying to fix things you ask: what about using a screwdriver? No, not the
liquid kind. And plumbers are not the political leak finders in Washington,
they are those professionals who make the plumbing work as advertised.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I was
lucky that vocational education was for all students in the 1960s so that I am
mildly competent in most repair situations. Even better, I know when not to
tackle a problem other than tackle it with my wallet and someone who will fix
the problem correctly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
As a
society, we are looking down our academic noses at those people who work with
their hands and come home occasionally smelling like low tide at the swamp. The
only thing we will know in the future is what we know now: everything will
break at the least useful moment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We should
bring vocational education back and put every public-school student through
some of it so that minor things can be fixed by each of us. The wave of crud
backing up from the toilet will take a real plumber. I hope we still have them
in the future.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It is
wrong to push all students to college. Rather, we should make students aware of
the possibilities without pushing what we think and let them decide what interests
them. I understand colleges are worried by dropping enrollment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Partly
this is due to the incredible increase in college costs plus a stagnate job
market. They need skills that our world will support financially.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Many young
people do not want to go deeply in debt. Be a plumber first and then use those
dollars to explore other professions. When the brown sludge overflows you will
know what to do other than worry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-35748995743348142252017-10-01T21:01:00.001-06:002017-10-01T21:01:44.532-06:00Swickard: Taking money to lose games<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a
right to do and what is right to do.” Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p> On page C5
of the Sunday, October 1, 2017 <i>Albuquerque
Journal</i> is a headline: Aggie offense shows well in money game.” While some
weak football programs do it, I object to the ethics of selling losses in “money
games” to national powerhouses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It is certainly
the right of NMSU to engage year after year in this ethical morass of selling
losses. But it is not right for them to do so. The football team plays mostly
unwinnable games a couple times a season for money.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Over the
last forty years NMSU has sold losses in a sport entirely judged by the team’s
win-loss record. I have spent those forty years complaining about this to no
avail.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
In the
modern NCAA Football era comes an unethical practice of strong national teams spending
millions of dollars for an easy week while weak teams collect millions providing
a loss. This last week the University of Arkansas paid NMSU $1.35 million to go
there and lose.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Over that
forty years NMSU has won twice and lost more than a hundred times. Many Aggie
Football coaches have been fired because of their win-loss record.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Three
concerns: first, it appears giving two losses a season keeps the Aggies from going
to Bowl Games. NMSU hasn’t gone to a Bowl Game since Eisenhower was the
President in 1960. I see a trend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Secondly, smaller
teams playing physically larger teams often get players hurt. This is not a strong
team in your conference, these are national teams.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Finally,
it is a thumb in the eye of home fans. Not going to Bowl Games because of
selling losses makes selling season tickets harder.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Partly
personal: I have watched NMSU football for fifty years. My first year was with
legendary coach Warren Woodson in 1967. I have had season tickets most of the
time including this year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The NMSU Athletic
Department have spoken to me over the years due to my criticism. They say I
don’t understand Higher Education. I always respond I have a Ph.D. in Higher
Education from NMSU. But they don’t listen to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Former NFL
Head Coach Bill Parcells wrote, “The only way to change people is to tell them
in the clearest possible terms what they’re doing wrong. And if they don’t want
to listen they don’t belong on the team.” This is true at NMSU where the same
old strategy has failed for so many years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The way to
change the fortunes of the NMSU Football program is: first, never ever sell a
loss. Secondly, play teams you can beat. Finally, with enough wins go to Bowl
Games. Any Bowl Game The program will pick itself up and success will follow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
As Bill
Parcells said, “Success is never final, but failure can be.” The NMSU Football
Program will be shrouded in failure so long as they continue to sell losses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-27324760202082755502017-09-24T20:27:00.003-06:002017-09-24T20:27:42.895-06:00Swickard: Political disrespect and making positive change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b><o:p> </o:p>“I think Dr. King, if he were alive today, he wouldn’t
disrespect the flag or the anthem; he would use his words and his voice to send
a message for positive change.” Kimberly Guilfoyle</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p> The
National Football League has players who are taking a knee during the national
anthem. They are expressing their displeasure with American injustice. Worse,
young people who are just imitating these icons are being disrespectful to our
country without understanding the issues.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
My
response has been to shun them. For this reason, I am not watching NFL games
this year. Know this: if a high school or college team has players disrespect
our flag and anthem, I will be out of that stadium quickly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It is the
right of those athletes to make these gestures. And it is my right to not give
them any money or attention. Should there be a law against disrespecting our
country? No, each of us has free speech rights but we cannot exercise those
rights without responsibility for our actions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
There is
only one of me so just one person shunning the NFL will have no effect. Still,
it is my choice to respond. They don’t have to even acknowledge my actions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I am
curious why they think this will address their perceived injustices and make
changes. It would seem that we as a nation must make positive changes if our
nation is to prosper. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The world
is so much better because of our country and the leaders of our country
including the founders. As I wrote previously in this column they were all
imperfect people. However, we are better off because of them. But, of course,
we can always improve our country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
In the
above quote, there is the thought that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have
used his words, his voice to make a positive change. I like that. We do need
positive change in this society that has fallen into the grasp of hate speech
and fake news.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Dr. King
died in 1968. Unfortunately, his greatest thought seems to be forgotten: “I
have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where
they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their
character.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
These
protests and much of the politics of our society today is about the color of
skin and not the content of character. We do have voices telling us the way to
make our country better.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Morgan
Freeman said, “Dr. Martin Luther King is not a black hero. He is an American
hero.” He also said, “I am going to stop calling you a white man and I’m going
to ask you to stop calling me a black man.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
That is a
direction for change that will make a difference. Let us not divide our country
and the people of our county. Rather we need to come together as a nation. We
must do so one citizen at a time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-50054292556037472452017-09-17T23:01:00.000-06:002017-09-17T23:01:07.819-06:00Swickard: More money attracting festivals<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b> One
morning in my coffee shop, we convened our own Chamber of Commerce. Business
has been slow in our little slice of heaven so we needed to come up with some
ways to induce folks to come and spend dollars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We really
didn’t want lots of people to move here and clog up the roads and stores.
Rather, we would like people to come, spend money and then go home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I took out
a piece of paper to jot down ideas. One person said that the way to make money
was to have all sorts of festivals such that out-of-towners came and spread
cash around.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I
mentioned that Roswell had the Aliens Festival. We pondered that moneymaker. When
I mentioned to one of the leading citizens in Roswell that the alien story was
suspect, he said, “But they bring hundred-dollar bills.” Then he smirked. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Many years
ago I wrote a column about that Roswell Smirk. We could have that smirk if we could
just invent a good festival.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
First,
there could be Dust Day in March and April. Southern New Mexico is noted for
the dust storms, maybe we could get people to come. Probably not. I have
thought that instead of a Rain Meter, I should invent a Dust Meter. After a
two-day windstorm, it would show 1.3 inches of dust was in the air.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We were
going well and the ideas flowed like coffee. There was Waffle Days on the first
Tuesday of November to coincide with the elections. The agricultural members
offered: Pig Days, Chicken Days, Cow Days, Goat Days… the group paused.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
From one
table over a vegetarian offered Tofu Days which was followed by Road-Kill Days.
No interest in either. More practical was Rusty Old Cars Days, Bow Tie Days,
Halitosis Days which brought out Onion Days.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Two months
of every year about fifty percent of the onions consumed in our country come
from Southern New Mexico. That festival could be sponsored by one of the many
mouthwash companies. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Horned
Toad Days were offered along with Siesta Days. I was in favor of that. I have
never been disappointed in a good old afternoon nap. There was Nothing Much
Happening Days but that didn’t get a second. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
One of the
coffee drinkers pointed out, “We don’t need days, we need nights for festivals.
During the days, we are all working other than our coffee breaks.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
That
caused the conversation to slow down because one person pointed out that having
something at night was fine as long as they could get home by nine, which is
their bedtime. There was an early to bed, early to rise comment which we all
knew was true.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Let us
reason together as to more festivals in our area to pick up any stray tourist
dollars. Send me via this news outlet your ideas. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Something
like Geezer and Geezerette Days might just be the money ticket. I would fit in.
Consider that the fifty-yard amble could make the evening news.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-82008498019322181632017-09-10T22:22:00.001-06:002017-09-10T22:22:11.181-06:00Swickard: That fine barnyard smell<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b> American
agriculture, which a hundred years ago was where many people worked is now just
a very small sliver of the overall workforce. Consequently, many people occasionally
notice the smell of barnyard animals and find the smell objectionable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Likewise,
many agricultural colleges are shunted off to far corners of universities since
frankly those Ag Colleges have that fine barnyard smell which offends people
who are not from an agricultural background. Yet, everyone likes to eat.
Everyone needs agriculture.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
In the
year 1900, about a third of all Americans were living on farms and ranches. Those
people knew that fine barnyard smell and were not put off by it. In fact, if
you are like me who has spent plenty of time on ranches, cow flop smells just
fine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
petroleum industry says their smell is the smell of money. Well, the smell on farms
and ranches is organic and is in my humble opinion much better.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
You might
ask: what does this have to do with the price of steer manure? You see New
Mexico’s Land-Grant University, New Mexico State University, is fixing to
select a new president.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The very
real danger is that the NMSU Regents might select someone who doesn’t know and
like that fine barnyard smell. Don’t laugh, it has happened several times and
New Mexico State University suffered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
selection of University President establishes the identity of the University. Every
institution of higher learning has an identity and for Land-Grant institutions,
that identity is unique for their state.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
For more
than a hundred years NMSU was and is the Land-Grant institution in New Mexico. There
are five pillars of a Land-Grant institution: Agriculture, Engineering,
Military Science, Education and Service to New Mexico. No other institution of
higher learning in New Mexico has this mission.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
problem is that some sophisticates in the head shed have been appalled and
dismayed by the fine barnyard smells that’s just upwind of them. One NMSU
President was overcome with disgust by the smell and complained bitterly. Wrong
president and that person did leave.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
current NMSU President grew up on that fine barnyard smell and often has had
bits of organic material on his boots. It never has bothered him. This was true
for most of the other NMSU Presidents through the years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I have a
test to put potential NMSU Presidents through before we should take them
seriously as a replacement for outgoing NMSU President Garrey Carruthers. They
must be able to really talk agriculture before they talk anything else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
If they
can’t tell a steer from heifer I don’t want them anywhere around NMSU. Yes, the
hoity-toity sophisticated crowd would never participate in a cow-chip throwing
contest. So what?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
A real
agriculture person, male or female would. It is the identity of NMSU. I pray
that the NMSU Regents and the smarty-pants consultants understand the
difference between NMSU and all of the other institutions of higher learning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The next
NMSU President had better like that fine barnyard smell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-36828821246965235822017-09-03T22:17:00.002-06:002017-09-03T22:17:20.600-06:00Swickard: The God-Awful mess made in New Mexico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>“What the diary does not reveal… is the appalling fact that
from late 1945 until 1952 Japanese medical researchers were prohibited by U. S.
Occupation Authorities from publishing scientific articles on the effects of
the atomic bombs.” John W. Dower</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p> It wasn’t the
effects of the atomic bombs on Japan that prohibited Japanese medical
researchers from publishing on the effects of the atomic bombs. Rather, it was
how that information would be seen in New Mexico which never suspected a lurking
killer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Three
weeks before the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, a concept test was made at
New Mexico’s Trinity Site. This was an atomic device equal to what was used on
Japan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
There’s no
doubt that in Japan people were sickened by the resultant radiation. But there
wasn’t that realization in New Mexico, even to this day. In fact, there’s resistance
to that notion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
J. Robert
Oppenheimer was the head of the Los Alamos Laboratory that developed the first
nuclear weapons. The “Manhattan Project” initially produced three nuclear
devices.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The first,
a plutonium implosion device, was detonated July 16, 1945 at New Mexico’s Trinity
Site. Oppenheimer remarked the explosion brought to mind the words of the
Bhagavad Gita: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” I certainly
understand that thought.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
That
Plutonium scattered over New Mexico. Two nuclear devices were used as bombs in
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. On August 6, 1945, what was called “Little Boy”
a Uranium fueled bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Three days later “Fat Man” a
plutonium implosion bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
These
unconventional weapons allowed Emperor Hirohito to wrest control from the Army
and surrender to end World War Two. The Emperor had been trying to stop WWII
for years. The power and control in the 1930s and 1940s in Japan was the Army,
under General Hideki Tojo. The nation was not under the power of Hirohito who
was only a figurehead leader.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
One
positive for Japan was that the scientists saw how the New Mexico ground blast
spread so much contamination that they exploded the two nuclear bombs at 2,000
feet to get the blunt force trauma on the site but not contaminate it as had happened
in New Mexico.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
military send lots of scientists to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to monitor the
radiation but seem to have not done so in New Mexico. Or, perhaps they did and the
government authorities realized what a mess they made in New Mexico. Worse,
they didn’t want the role of cleaning up this God-Awful mess. Curious, eh?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
As the
decades have passed and the New Mexicans who were sickened by the plutonium
passed, the interest in this story has gone from very little interest to no
interest at all except for those people effected.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I don’t believe
there’s a risk now but government is supposed to protect the citizens. Our
government hasn’t even said they are sorry for the God-awful mess they made and
all of the people they sickened.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Michael Swickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10432374023798570123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-23839753102505007702017-08-27T21:39:00.002-06:002017-08-27T21:39:28.094-06:00Swickard column: It's not if, it's when<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b> Watching the
Hurricane Harvey disaster in Texas causes me to wonder why it came as such a surprise.
Yes, it was stronger than had hit for many years. And the way it hit caused
feet of water instead of just inches.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Still, that
is hurricane alley and there are many examples of hurricanes devastating the
area with storm surge water or just buckets and buckets of rain. What I really
wonder is why many people didn’t have any disaster supplies set aside. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Supplies
such as food, water and batteries are easy to store in case of a hurricane. And
again, they are in hurricane alley.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I’m not
talking about should they leave or not from where they live. That is their
minute by minute decision based on how the storm is tracking and how much risk
they care to take. But that is not my central concern.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Rather, my
concern is that so many people “flooded” the stores ahead of the storm trying
to get food and water with which to ride out the storm in their own houses. Why
were they just then trying to get supplies?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
They know
they are in a hurricane zone. Yet hours before the landfall of the big storm
people were just then starting to go to stores looking for water and food. Why
were they not prepared already?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Many
hurricanes have pounded their area in the past. Example: A Category 4 hurricane
hit Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900 causing perhaps ten thousand deaths.
Back then there were no systems in place to warn the residents.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Today we
have nonstop weather reports that warn of approaching storms. Yes, sometimes
they are wrong but if people prepare with food and water along with batteries
for radios and flashlights, they are not out that much money. Why not already
be prepared?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
But the
same could be said for any place in our country. A disaster will happen
wherever you are in some form like in New Mexico during a very cold spell in
February 2011. There was no electricity for days. Some people had a very hard
time because they had not prepared.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Unfortunately,
the answer often is that some people never prepare. They assume the electricity
will always work.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Likewise,
the same is true for people traveling in remote areas of our state who do not
bring water, food and blankets. Cars will break down. Sometimes there is no
cell service. Sad to say at that point there is going to be some suffering
people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We must
prepare in case of disaster. How? We need to have at least a week of food,
water and supplies for ourselves and family plus what we will give to neighbors
who didn’t prepare. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Why would
we give to our neighbors? Well, for one thing the lights will come back on so
you don’t want to deny your neighbors who will remember your wonderful charity
or how they were treated poorly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Again, you
have been warned to prepare. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
Michael Swickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10432374023798570123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-45258757199154091222017-08-20T23:35:00.005-06:002017-08-20T23:35:49.666-06:00Swickard: Looking at our imperfect historical leaders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>History is
the driver of culture. It’s the story of people and how they dealt with adversity.
Recently Confederate statues have been under attack which brings the issue of our
history.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Our
country is talking not only Civil War but the entire history of our nation. We search
for our “Authentic” history, not the propaganda of the winners. But the winners
write the history.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Statues
are a measure but they only reflect the feelings of a time but not for all time
and all people. In our search for our heroes we are struck by the fact that
everyone in the past was imperfect. Some were more imperfect than others but
all had blemishes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Yet over
the years this country has been a beacon to the rest of the world when it comes
to liberty. Our country was instrumental in many other countries becoming free
of dictators. That is our primary legacy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
But what
of our heroes? We have memorials and currency and a written history about
imperfect men. And we now see their blemishes. Example: George Washington
perhaps was the only man who could take the Continental Army to victory. Hence,
we have our freedom. But he had slaves as did Thomas Jefferson.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
When those
slave holders and others who tolerated slavery set forth this nation, they
started with “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
But not
all humans were equal then. Women and Blacks were not equal. In the war to end slavery
President Abraham Lincoln said, “Four score and seven years ago our fathers
brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and
dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Over the
last century and a half liberty has come to Americans. It wasn’t easy but it
was done. Now there are political factions trying to derive power from injustice
then and now. The history of our country is under attack.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Rather
than taking down statues and screaming about justice perhaps we need to really
understand our history with the blemishes. We cannot find any leaders without
blemishes then or now. But we can see that Americans are free and they inspire
freedom in other countries.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Our
country has brought liberty directly and indirectly to most of the world. No,
there is still slavery and injustice over much of the world but people all over
the world know that liberty is possible because we broke away from England in
1776.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Dennis
Prager said several years ago, “Our danger now is that we are not teaching our
children what it means to be an American.” I believe it is the core of this
problem of American identity also.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We must
resolve that the dead in our wars of freedom must not have died in vain. As
Lincoln said: “…that government of the people, by the people, for the people
shall not perish from the earth.” Only if we focus on our history will that
happen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Michael Swickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10432374023798570123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-32069170637693748122017-08-13T23:33:00.002-06:002017-08-13T23:33:27.976-06:00Swickard: War unseen on the horizon<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>“There never was a war more easy to stop (which wasn’t) than
that which has just wrecked what was left of the world from the previous
struggle.” Winston Churchill about World War Two</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It is good
that our world has not been in global military conflict since 1945. There have
been some very nasty regional conflicts, but it has been seventy-two years
since the entire world was at war.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Unfortunately,
in that time three generations of American leaders have emerged not steeped in
the horrors of WWII. That puts all Americans in danger now. We are seeing saber
rattling and belligerent talk out of today’s world leaders. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
These hot
hasty words may push our world into a global conflict. Worse, there is an
amnesia in our country as to the results of any real military conflict.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I was
speaking to a couple young men. The potential for global conflict came up and
they didn’t seem concerned. I said, “You realize that you young men will fight
the next war.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“No,” one countered,
“I don’t want to be in the military.” The other one also didn’t fancy serving
in the military. “But you signed up for the military,” I stated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“Did not,”
they both said. “You signed up for selective service when you turned eighteen.”
They were confused. “But we had to so that we could get student loans.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“Yes,” I
agreed. “But you signed up with selective service so you can be drafted into
the military if our country needs you to fight a war.” That got their attention.
Neither of them believed me but I could see they were thinking about this and
would get to the truth shortly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Prior to
the first and second world wars, America had a small professional military.
That was exhausted in a few months and then came the push for civilians. In
WWII about sixteen million Americans served in the military. Most were civilian
volunteers and draftees.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
What to do
about this possible war unseen on the horizon: Ronald Reagan said, “Of the four
wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U. S. was too strong.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
For our
country to stay out of war requires three interconnected actions: first, our
country needs a very robust well-trained professional military. Second, we need
political and military leaders who can make tough decisions. Finally, a firm
strategy for winning conflicts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
More so,
we need to know at what point do we wave our flags, our bands play and we come
home. We experienced the lack of this in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It is what
our country had in WWII and what it has lacked ever since, with the exception
of the Persian Gulf War. America must have a firm grasp of the end in mind when
it gets into shooting conflicts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
If history
is any guide, a larger rule is to take the politics out of military action.
Hard to do but never use a political solution for a military problem. Never.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Michael Swickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10432374023798570123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-21832271724718930142017-08-06T22:05:00.001-06:002017-08-06T22:05:12.686-06:00Swickard: Contradicting ourselves many times over<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>“Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict
myself...” Walt Whitman</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p> We are living
in times of contradiction and most people ignore these contradictions. Example:
a major push is on to deal with head injuries in sports while television programs
feature the biggest hits.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Years ago,
I went to Dallas to visit friends. They decided I should see the famous Book
Depository from where Lee Harvey Oswald shot President John Kennedy November 1963.
There is a tourist attraction where once an assassin perched.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The level of security surprised me. Armed
guards were everywhere. The money taker sat behind bullet-proof glass. We were
herded through metal detectors while protectors watched.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Maybe I got there at the wrong time
but it looked like a crowd of Mom and Pop tourists to me. Then we took the
elevator which only went to the sixth floor. Much of the exhibit was the story
of the assassination of President Kennedy from the assassin’s point of view.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It answered questions of how Oswald
brought the gun up to the window where he fired. The older tourists were somber.
I suspect the younger visitors didn’t have the personal emotional attachment to
that time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I wasn’t the only person who was peeved
at the people who stood in the southeast corner and looked from the assassin’s
perspective down to the street below mentally sighting the rifle. It was when
they said loudly, “BANG,” that I began to think the exhibit was ill-conceived.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
On our way back to my host’s house we
stopped by the Irving Mall. I don’t know exactly what happened, but apparently just
minutes before we arrived a gang fight broke out next to the food court.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Some unlucky guy was just sitting
down to a piece of pizza with his wife and two small children when he was
killed by a stray shot. We walked in just after the smoke cleared. The security
guards stood in groups looking like a bunch of chickens in a barnyard right
after the farmer has culled out a couple for Sunday lunch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
There were some people who lamented
that there were not more armed security guards when the shooting occurred. With
more people shooting the perpetrator might have been caught. But the armed
guards were all back at the Dallas Book Depository.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Since I paid my way into the Book
Depository Memorial on the sixth floor I have the right to say that it should
be razed like was done with the Cleveland apartment building when a man used it
in the course of a cannibalistic crime spree.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We Americans are contradictory. We
celebrate a fallen president from where the assassin sat. The assassin should
not be the attraction. And even better, it would be nice if they were able to
change the local shooting gallery back into a shopping mall.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
And for heaven’s sake, don’t get me
started on the lunacy of celebrating the outlaw Billy the Kid while completely forgetting
New Mexico’s own Sheriff Pat Garret.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Swickard’s novel, Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Michael Swickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10432374023798570123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-58969216833006580642017-07-30T20:39:00.001-06:002017-07-30T20:39:14.920-06:00Swickard: Do homeschoolers have summer vacations?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtw8hExzqX4rGVlNV9pdnwd8vxxIsOh8bq9mtZBNue7Q4TBs6utRNTNyOWDxy-y2u9tcOe_qe68xTisPpZ-U-HUCImAs1tZdDqWnZO9BQGVnN9FNNEIZ-cyJm-rtjOYuwpLSPjY8O2Ts/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>At the
coffee shop someone asked an interesting question: Do home schoolers take
summer vacations like students in public schools? My reaction was that home-schooled
children do not take three months off from learning and camp out on the couch
with their smart phones.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Over several
days I thought about the question. I know several home schooler parents. All
indicated there was no summer vacation for their kids, but some learning tasks
are focused on summer opportunities.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Obviously,
going to Yellowstone National Park is a learning activity. And Yellowstone is
closed during the winter so you must go in the summer. Importantly, none of the
home schooler parents said that when summer comes they just turn the kids loose
to vegetate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Home
schooling is one of the most contentious issues in our country. The public
receives conflicting messages. On the one hand, they hear that parents are the
most influential force in children learning. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
But, on
the other hand, many education leaders say that learning at home is different
and inferior to “real” education. Especially that education done by
professional educators who have teaching degrees from college. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Also,
education is different in a school setting. That I agree with but I do not
agree that public school education in and of itself is superior.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Home
school parents forego the benefits of a tax-supported education for diverse
reasons including religious, social and achievement concerns. Additionally,
there are people in rural areas where the trip to the nearest school is too far
a journey for young children.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
For most
people, outside of those with strictly religious concerns, the primary reason
to home school is a concern about the culture of public education. Currently it
is almost entirely focused on taking tests to check on teachers. What a waste
for students.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Others say
the pace of instruction in schools is focused on the entire class rather than
on any one individual. Home school parents pace their instruction specifically
to their children.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
One
objection to home schooling is that parents are usually not professional
educators. How then do we ensure that their children are learning? What should
be done if a home-schooled child reaches majority without sufficient academic
skills? Discipline the parents? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Is it the
parent’s right not to educate their children? Sticky questions. We already face
the same questions with public school graduates. Shall we dock the teacher’s
pension if the students do not learn?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Some
parents are not suited for teaching just as some students are not good
candidates for home learning. Sometimes, the combination of parents not willing
to work hard at teaching, and students not driven to learn can lead to bad
situations. Overall, this is not the case. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Home
schoolers do not turn off their minds when they leave school. Learning occurs
at all hours of the day and night. I like home schooling when it is done
correctly. Public schools can learn more from the methods used by home
schoolers than home schoolers can learn from public schools.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Swickard’s novel, Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Michael Swickardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10432374023798570123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-24532316516800675612017-07-23T22:25:00.003-06:002017-07-23T22:25:34.794-06:00Swickard: Racing ducks, how about Llamas?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>“A peasant has to stand on a hillside for a very long time
before a roast duck flies into his mouth.” Chinese proverb quoted by Paul
Theroux in <i>Riding the Iron Rooster</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
New Mexico
has the challenge of a falling economy. Many New Mexicans are standing around
waiting for something good to happen. It might or might not. Other people have
looked at tourists as a way to perk up the New Mexico economy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It’s a
place to get new money. Especially if New Mexico appeals to tourists with lots
of money to spend. Problem: some New Mexicans don’t want more people in our
state. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
There is a
conflict between bringing people into the state and people who don’t want New Mexico
to grow at all. These people like the lonesome feeling and don’t want any more people
coming here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
My
grandfather wanted to live far enough away from his neighbors so as to not hear
their dogs bark. And he did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
First
there was Lincoln, the little town that developed a great Billy-the-Kid festival.
Then Albuquerque adopted the balloons. Roswell got the aliens celebration
going. I asked someone from Roswell about the aliens. He smirked, “The tourists
come bringing hundred dollar bills.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Years ago,
some people in Deming were looking for something to increase the money in their
town. Using alliteration, it turned into the Deming Duck Races. If they were in
Lordsburg, I wonder if it would have been the Lordsburg Llama Races?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Perhaps
next the Raton Rat Races, the Taos Tuttle Races, the Alamogordo Alpaca Races,
the Carlsbad Camel Races, the Artesia Ant Races… well, I could go.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Again,
part of the problem involves the people already in New Mexico who don’t want
the state to grow in size. Many people in New Mexico like what Oregon Governor
Tom McCall said back in the 1970s. Eric Cain in <i>OPB.org</i> wrote about this in 2013: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
His (Governor
Tom McCall) focus was quality of life and so in a 1971 speech said to the
people who come to Oregon, “Come visit, don’t stay.” He added, “I urge them to
come and come many, many times to enjoy the beauty of Oregon. But I also ask
them, for heaven’s sake, don’t move here to live.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
While some
people might think that rude, I understood. Tourism is a nice relatively clean
industry. But come, look, take pictures, eat Green Chile, go home. How
pleasant. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
And truth
be known, I really don’t mind more people coming here. I would just like them
to take a pledge:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“I (state
your name) promise never to tell anyone in New Mexico how we did things back
home and that it was so much better back home.” Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Maybe we
can think of some more festivals: Dust Days in March comes to mind. A
celebration of people baking on their car dash would be interesting. There are
plenty of possible celebrations. Consider a Snake Racing in Springer
celebration. Then we have lunch. Tastes like Chicken, eh?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-50377042434427629932017-07-16T20:50:00.001-06:002017-07-16T20:50:06.951-06:00Swickard: We are addicted to our addictions<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>“We aren’t addicted to oil, but our cars are.” James
Woolsey </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
While that
sounds good, it’s wrong. Our cars are inanimate so they can’t be addicted to
anything. It is we, ourselves, who are addicted to transportation. This is not
a bad addiction like to drugs, speeding or ignoring railroad warning lights
which can get you killed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
transportation industry is addicted to energy. Electric transportation is more
addicted to coal than oil but all transportation other than sailboats are done
with energy. They only work for us when the energy is abundant, dependable and
cheap.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Most people
are unaware of how important energy is in our lives. But know this: without energy,
there would be little available food or water and most people on Earth would
die.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We are so
accustomed to having energy at our fingertips that we do not normally think about
it. Flip the switch and the light comes on. Maybe some few people living out
off the grid could survive for a while. The rest of us will perish without
energy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
There are
more addictions in our society that we do not think of often. Driving much of
our society is the entertainment industry. It is so pervasive that we, as a
society, are ignoring great threats to our society because we are enmeshed in
our entertainment society.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Many
people are more concerned about the fortunes of the Dallas Cowboys than the
threat of a huge asteroid killing off life on our planet. Or global thermonuclear
war. Or some disease with no cure extinguishing the human race.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The social
networks all run on devices that are operated using electricity. Many people
are so addicted to these social connections that they will risk death while
driving rather than put off looking at the device for a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Imagine the
day that the electricity quits. Millions of people will stare at their dead cellphones
in confusion. There’s no way to lodge a complaint without electricity. They
will have to speak to real people around them instead of being in their own
world online. How awful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
My Great
Grandfather came from Sweden to New York and then New Mexico at a snail’s pace.
However, I could get on an airplane and be home in New Mexico in one day.
Amazing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
People are
very concerned about whom is dancing with whom but not how redundant are the
systems protecting our electrical grid. Or with the environmental push against
coal and oil what we would do instead of coal and oil?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The first
thing we must do is admit our addictions and if they are good addictions make
sure every effort is made to protect those energy resources. The point is that
we should not look down our noses at those people who work in the oil patch. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Especially
just because they are covered in black gold and are a bit wiffy after working
all week. We should thank our lucky stars that someone is making our addictions
work.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-25398331563590539222017-07-10T01:02:00.004-06:002017-07-10T01:02:55.507-06:00Swickard: The surprise of that surprised look<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b> It seems
odd to me that some of the most learned people in our society should look
surprised when in New Mexico over the last six years college enrollment has dropped
fourteen percent. What bothers me is the look of surprise on their faces.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Instead, they
should have a knowing looking, “Yeah, that makes sense that fewer students are
enrolling.” After all, they are a big part of why college enrollment dropped.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It isn’t
just one thing that is changing the enrollment. Let us count the reasons enrollment
is dropping: first, tuition in New Mexico’s colleges and universities has risen
steadily for twenty years. We are talking dramatically.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Twenty
years ago, when I was at New Mexico State University, it was about $600 a
semester for tuition and fees. Now it is more than $3,500 a semester for
tuition and fees. In the old days, you could pay the tuition and fees out of a
part-time job during the semester. No longer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Yet the
wages for college graduates have not risen. So, it costs more to get a professional
job that pays the same. And, colleges don’t discourage students taking coursing
in majors where there are few if any jobs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Graduates
are ending up with tens of thousands of dollars of debt in a slowing economy. There
are less jobs. Recent college graduates are finding themselves living back at home
because no one has a professional job for them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Some graduates
have taken minimum wage jobs but with the minimum wage rising businesses are
cutting back which further makes get a job harder, especially that first
professional job. It is somewhat a spiral of problems: it costs more to graduate
and pays the same or less today or even worse, there are no jobs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Now it
might surprise you or me that the rising tuition prices and a falling job
market could influence college enrollment but the wise people in our society at
those institutions of higher learning had to know that pushing the tuition up
would cause a drop in enrollment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Which is
why I wonder about that surprised look. The retailer J. C. Penny recently had a
great commercial, Dog House. It showed men who thought that a vacuum cleaner
was a great birthday gift for their wife. They found themselves in a Dog House
with other clueless men, all of them having a surprised look on their faces.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Not that I
will give love advise often, but if I was to buy a vacuum cleaner for a woman
it would only be if I had a note from said woman indicating the brand and model
with instruction to bring one home. Otherwise it is flowers, chocolate and
jewelry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
You can do
as you like. Just don’t look surprised if you end up in the Dog House like the
commercial shows. Especially don’t stand there with a surprised look on your
face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
But here
we are with our colleges acting surprised right after they raised tuition - again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-55114454368917512992017-07-02T22:56:00.003-06:002017-07-02T22:56:27.275-06:00Swickard: They will insure you lose on insurance<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>“Most of the great problems we face are caused by
politicians creating solutions to problems they created in the first place.”
Walter E. Williams</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p> Healthcare
is the battleground today because one set of politicians today are creating
solutions to problems Congress caused in 2009. Shall we fix those problems or
create even more problems?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Caught in
the middle are the American public who pays more and get less service. Why?
Because the political healthcare plans are financial redistribution plans, not
actual healthcare plans intending to provide better service for less money.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
current healthcare plan in our country known as Obamacare came into being
promising to lower costs. But the first action was to hire millions of lawyers,
consultants, account managers, technical directors and bureaucrats to run the healthcare
system. It suddenly costs more for healthcare.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Who can
possible looked surprised when healthcare cost much more because of it being the
feeding bucket for millions of political people who are creating solutions to problems
they created in the first place. They will insure you lose on insurance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
One fact
about healthcare not being discussed is that the political pushers of these new
plans have and are making out well. When we have dysfunction in our country we
should note who is making out well in the chaos. Namely: the politicians of
both political parties.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
So, let me
ask: why would either political party come to the aid of the country when both
sides are doing well themselves with the chaos they are creating? They will
not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
My older
brother Bill was born at home. The home in question was twenty miles south of
Carrizozo on my Grandfather’s ranch. He was born in the front bedroom with Dr.
Klump attending. The bill in 1947 for Bill was forty dollars. It paid for the
doctor to attend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
There was
nothing in the bill for any account managers, tax consultants, primary
attorney, secondary attorney, the lead consultant on births, the yada yada
yada. Just what it cost the doctor to attend the birth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
What I have
is Dental Unsurance. It looks like insurance but doesn’t work. But there is
millions of people in the company making money while not doing anything of
value for the customers. Why? Because the politicians have set this system up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
How to
make healthcare better? First, stop making it worse for political gain. If you
are in a hole and don’t like it first stop digging. That is what America must
do. Rather than come up with a more involved system of bookkeeping and rules
and regulations, we must step back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The media
will make every step toward less government sound like the Black Death of 1346.
It will not be but the scaremongers will point out that any reduction of
government intrusion will kill at least 700 Billion people this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
There’s
only 7.5 Billion people alive now, should I react to politicians saying 700
Billion people will die if we pull back on government intrusion? Nope.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-71736779051067869342017-06-27T15:21:00.000-06:002017-06-27T15:21:05.419-06:00Democrats are Looking for Mr. Goodbar<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MpMhDI2akyRHlBtJ5yFT1m53N14KRWZt2Ay8zUdTFCuS6GTZJUXtLf20ajdwn_2kPXInA0ovi7os23m328o7DQDHdxiZWW_rNRpmjfAfmGrrY7QOJGBODWQoSVDzwf8zdxFJKEPOcME/s1600/Jim+Spence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MpMhDI2akyRHlBtJ5yFT1m53N14KRWZt2Ay8zUdTFCuS6GTZJUXtLf20ajdwn_2kPXInA0ovi7os23m328o7DQDHdxiZWW_rNRpmjfAfmGrrY7QOJGBODWQoSVDzwf8zdxFJKEPOcME/s1600/Jim+Spence.JPG" /></a><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">© 2016 Jim Spence - </b>The Democrats loved the Clinton presidency, but most blindly
loyal Democrats still don’t know why they loved the Clinton years beyond the fact that
he won two consecutive terms. Clinton did something that had not been done by
any Democrat since FDR. He won not once, but twice. When you experience that
sort of a drought, you just want to win.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What history does not teach, because
history is taught mostly by Democrats, is that Clinton’s success was based on
his unique ability to REJECT all the dumb ideas that Democrats tend to coalesce
around. We are talking about the kind of ideas that are now creating chaos in
Venezuela, where the citizens are finding out what it is like when the
government runs everything and makes promises it can’t possibly keep. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bill Clinton and Newt
Gingrich worked together to pass welfare reform. Clinton said, “the era of big
government is over,” as he signed the bill. Well not quite. He never believed it was over, he just said it. And
when the end of big government policies worked, Clinton took most of the credit, without mentioning that the private sector was scoring all of the points.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still, it is important to consider all the one term
Democrats since WWII. Harry Truman, who drove himself home to Missouri after leaving the
White House, never cashed in on his fame like the Clintons or the Obamas.
Kennedy was killed by a socialist. LBJ and the hapless Jimmy Carter were both one-term guys.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why have there been so many one term Democrats since WWII?
The Democrats always screw things up more than the GOP when they take the reins
of power. And people get mad as hell until they forget and try them one more time. Democrats punish hard workers and they reward those who don’t produce. This
explains why after Obama’s two terms were completed, the Democrats had been
decimated by the voters. Democrats lost 1,000 legislative seats nationwide, a slew
of governor posts, the White House, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of
Representatives. Oh and by the way, they lost all chances to dominate the Supreme Court for
the next thirty years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you get away from the dysfunctional cities that line
both coasts and the big cities that support gang and drug cultures in the heartland (Chicago, Houston, St. Louis, etc.) most of
America flatly rejects what the Democrats peddle. In 2017, Democrat leaders are older than
dirt. Pelosi, Sanders, Schumer, Warren, and Feinstein all look like they are
ready for adult diapers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What has been the reaction of the Democrats as they have lost one
special election after another with Trump hatred flowing like lava? They are dreaming of another Watergate. In fact Democrats are wishing so hard for a Trump impeachment they are trying to manufacture the required scandal. It isn’t working. Three CNN employees were forced to resign earlier this
week for publishing gross lies. All three CNN employees were committed Democrats, which seems
to be the sole mindset of journalists these days.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Democrats conduct is
mindful of the role Diane Keaton played in the 1970's film, Looking for Mr. Goodbar. The film
depicts a young teacher looking for excitement outside her ordinary life. Keaton’s
character flirts with dangerous partners, which is a metaphor for the Democrats
flirtation with groups like the cop killing advocates in the Black Lives Matter crowd. She has an affair
with an aging married college professor as did the Democrats with Bernie
Sanders. The one-night stands went on and on for Keaton in the film, and the
coalitions she formed got very seedy. Eventually, Keaton's character wound up engaging in alliances with violent people.
It is mindful of the way too many Democrats tried to rationalize the shooting of GOP
House Whip Steve Scalise a couple of weeks ago. More than a few Democrats were caught on
camera or tape suggesting Scalise got what he deserved. This sort of reckless attitude towards violence is dangerous to
everyone. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eventually, Keaton’s character in Looking for Mr. Goodbar
crossed the danger line one too many times, just as Democrats are doing with opposing border security and making open-ended promises to refugees from Christian-hating
countries. Democrats flirt with disaster when they demand ZERO enforcement of our immigration laws. Keaton’s
character wound up with an ex-convict who attacked her. He didn’t just beat
her, he raped her, and then stabbed her until she was dead. The Democrat’s coalition,
which contains millions of violent Black Lives Matter types, millions of angry entitlement-oriented
socialists like the one who shot Steve Scalise, millions of illegal alien gang member types, and tens of thousands
of Islamic radicals disguised as refugees, are a perfect metaphor for what lies
ahead. As Democrats search endlessly for Mr. Goodbar……er…..a 21<sup>st</sup>
Century Watergate scandal, their coalition includes people who are threatening to kill others. Lots of others.<o:p></o:p></div>
Jim Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593654051651693422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-79964610339058828112017-06-26T03:53:00.000-06:002017-06-26T05:55:39.272-06:00Swickard: Funny is all around us<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b><o:p> </o:p>“Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.” Peter
Ustinov</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p> No matter
where I am I find funny things all around me. While I have a serious side, it’s
connected to my comedy side. I should have a sign on the back of my head,
“Clown on board.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
At the
hospital for a blood test I was asked, “When and where were you born?” I answered,
“I was born August 24, 1950 at 11:35 a.m. in Delivery Room B, Holloman Air
Force Base Hospital with Capitan Wilbur Anderson attending.” Yep, they looked
up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I find so
much funny day to day. Example: one day when I was doing talk radio I found a newspaper
story that workers at the Federal Mint were striking. I read the headline,
“Union workers at the Federal Mint strike demanding to make less money.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
My motto
is: blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to
be amused. At a Sonic, there was a gap of time between when I pushed the button
and the order taker answered. She said, “Sorry for the wait…” I immediately
said, “I’m not sorry, I got this extra weight here and enjoyed every bite of it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The order
takers said, “What?” I replied, “Never mind.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I love two
story buildings with an elevator. When someone walks in I ask, “Which floor?”
They look confused and say, “Two.” I punch the button and reply, “Good choice.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I have
always admired cartoonists so much so that many years ago I started a cartoon
strip and actually got one newspaper to carry it. The name was: <i>In The Dark</i>. All that was shown was the
talking bubbles on a dark background. The dialog was funny such as: Why are the
classroom lights off… budget cuts… what are we studying? The Dark Ages.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Several
months into the run the newspaper editor asked me, “What do your characters
look like?” I replied, “They look like they are standing in the dark.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
He got a puzzled
look on his face and asked, “You don’t know how to draw, do you?” I smiled,
“Not even a stick figure so that’s why they are in the dark.” Go figure, he
cancelled the strip and called it the stupidest thing he had ever seen. Perhaps
it was, but I can put cartoonist on my writing credits.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
A couple
of sayings: Doing it the hard way is always easier. And, easy money is always
the hardest. Lead me not into temptation… I can find it myself. If you keep
your feet firmly on the ground, you’ll have trouble putting on your pants.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
There was
a question sent to some electrical workers in a neighborhood after a resident called
management to report that they were cursing. The reply was, “Me and Amos was
climbing up a pole when Amos dropped all his tools on my head so I said to him ‘Please
be more careful’ or words to that effect.” I find that funny. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSrsXBrJDnMxhda1WKKyZmkig7d1LQ57F6V2KtoUSqkrKQSAve9Dyr6_kch2n2Pw3VlNi2r2PAr9OvlpUzcLMJoduAYW68mLwlEBGxQPVKLEGdu2EtD3OznK1li8kX6I-pPAEKObaoco/s1600/michael83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="1600" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSrsXBrJDnMxhda1WKKyZmkig7d1LQ57F6V2KtoUSqkrKQSAve9Dyr6_kch2n2Pw3VlNi2r2PAr9OvlpUzcLMJoduAYW68mLwlEBGxQPVKLEGdu2EtD3OznK1li8kX6I-pPAEKObaoco/s400/michael83.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The NMSU Aggie Football team was on a 17 game losing streak</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><br /></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-65497239808438794642017-06-19T00:32:00.001-06:002017-06-19T00:32:09.806-06:00Swickard: The smoking hot days of summer<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIFXIDgFmkyEsGQsNljZTAz0CZYUfhV5jnEtdS97G2JyJ518HxTSwoFJrIV_g9gk26vReF-Nx4T0U2dRvk-S1uC7zCqc2W2ggtlFUmJvreXe29YTizmS2T8mmq4ve7VGGTqWxJ1zblGo/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>For some of
our fellow residents here in New Mexico there has been surprise that the
daytime temperatures have suddenly been in the triple digits. And it is real
dry here, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The answer
is simple: New Mexico has been in a drought for 280 million years, come next
August so it should not come as a surprise, but it does for many of our
residents.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Newcomers
can be excused because they have not lived somewhere that the seatbelt buckle
in their car can be used as a branding iron if it was in the sun. And coins
left on the seat of the car will leave an impression if they are in the sun. People
bump their heads on the inside car roof when the pain travels from posterior to
head.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
But these
last few days people have been talking incessantly about the triple digit heat
in New Mexico and other states. Entertainer George Burns was asked, “George,
how is your wife?” He answered, “Compared to what?” That’s the answer for the heat
wave.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Some say
wryly, “It’s a dry heat.” New Mexico is less noteworthy than Phoenix where 120
degrees is their fate. And that temperature in Phoenix doesn’t warrant more
than a passing notice by their news media. “We see here where a highway has
melted, details at six.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
What to do
here in New Mexico when it is broiling hot? We can prepare a couple pans of
cookies to bake on the dash of the car which has two values: you get cookies
and it functions as a car air freshener.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Obviously,
we should stay in a cool place and not be out mowing the lawn. Well, I say
obviously because some New Mexicans are out mowing the lawn in the heat and
with the sweat pouring off of them they ask, “Hot enough for ya?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Mostly
what I have noticed these last few days is the look of surprise that somehow it
got this hot. It does pretty much every year but the last time was about one
year ago. We need to do something about that short-term memory loss, eh?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It is similar
to when the New Mexico winds start in March which they do start every March
around these parts. People look surprised that parts of Arizona are moving to
Texas by air over around and through us. It does so every year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
What to
do? Enjoy the scenic New Mexico vistas, even if they are hot. And enjoy the
taste of hot green chile. Not the garbage from New York City, but real New
Mexico Green Chile that announced its presence with authority.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Remember,
we are a friendly people so don’t be troubled that we wave hello in our car. We’re
just being friendly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Likewise,
we are averse to anyone telling us how they did things back where they came
from. Just suggest whatever without mentioning back home. Especially, don’t
tell us how hot it is back home, you are here now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-86468611326269691352017-06-11T21:44:00.000-06:002017-06-11T21:44:02.229-06:00Swickard: Use lottery to fund math education<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkiECQAq7uLl3fbPnghDEEOJr21CX852D5kym8PhXgZwQfe33BrT3u47TbBSa4Zth4TMw6hoCxNvdv1LNtC5nabd-MPSGVmv_MpM5EnMeaz5oujRdn5VwMPTZtcZ5RNgwiwdn4xIMLr0/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkiECQAq7uLl3fbPnghDEEOJr21CX852D5kym8PhXgZwQfe33BrT3u47TbBSa4Zth4TMw6hoCxNvdv1LNtC5nabd-MPSGVmv_MpM5EnMeaz5oujRdn5VwMPTZtcZ5RNgwiwdn4xIMLr0/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b>Surveys on
American saving and investing indicates many Americans have no investments. Their
plan for old age is to win the lottery. While I agree: “No dreamer too small,
no dream too big,” there are limits to what society should encourage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
People who
understand math do not believe in the lottery. It’s like someone jumping out of
an airplane without a parachute with the intention of landing on something
soft. An action slightly possible but not probable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The New Mexico
Lottery, under the guise of raising money for education, preys upon math
challenged people. The ads suggest riches will shower down if you buy a lottery
ticket.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
proceeds from this tax on people who don’t understand math does go to education.
However, it goes to general education, in fact, anything students wants to
study. The tobacco settlement has the tobacco companies funding anti-smoking
campaigns.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Likewise,
the New Mexico Lottery should go directly and entirely to math education. Every
dollar should be channeled to making New Mexico students the envy of the nation
when it comes to math.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The first
time I voiced this position I admit I was just trying to get a rise out of people,
which I did. Upon reflection, I believe I stumbled onto something. If people
can buy lottery tickets with the expectation of winning, they are showing their
lack of math education.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We should take their lack of numerate ability
and use it constructively so that future generations don’t end up in the same
condition. That’s the tobacco settlement method and it applies to people who
lack numerate ability to the point that they think buying two lottery tickets
significantly improves their chances of winning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
operational concept most lacking in people who are not numerate appears to be
the ability to think in scale, to judge two things as they relate to each other
in mathematical terms. People can buy a lottery ticket occasionally if the mood
strikes. But at those odds, don’t expect anything but dreams.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Once I was
flying out of Chicago on a commercial airliner. We were on the ground in a long
line of jets waiting to take off. The man next to me confessed that he was
petrified of flying but had to make this trip.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I pointed
out the window. “There are over a hundred jets ready to take off just right here.
Thousands of airplanes are in the air.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“Gosh,” he
said, “I hope we don’t run into any of them.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I
continued, “The scale of airline dysfunction (I didn’t want to use the word
‘crash’) is about one plane in two million flights. Not bad odds.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The guy
next to me brightened slightly. “But what if this airplane is the one in two
million?” he questioned.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“Then
whoever has a window seat gets a good look at it coming.” That sent him back
into gloom. I forgot to ask if he had a lottery ticket, but I bet he did. He needed
some math education.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418571725434576389.post-35752292906833488122017-06-04T22:57:00.005-06:002017-06-04T22:57:57.342-06:00Swickard: Harming students with summer vacation<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkiECQAq7uLl3fbPnghDEEOJr21CX852D5kym8PhXgZwQfe33BrT3u47TbBSa4Zth4TMw6hoCxNvdv1LNtC5nabd-MPSGVmv_MpM5EnMeaz5oujRdn5VwMPTZtcZ5RNgwiwdn4xIMLr0/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkiECQAq7uLl3fbPnghDEEOJr21CX852D5kym8PhXgZwQfe33BrT3u47TbBSa4Zth4TMw6hoCxNvdv1LNtC5nabd-MPSGVmv_MpM5EnMeaz5oujRdn5VwMPTZtcZ5RNgwiwdn4xIMLr0/s1600/michaelconradpicture.jpg" /></a><b><i>© 2017 Michael
Swickard, Ph.D. </i></b> If we know
allowing academic skills to go unused causes those skills to atrophy, why have three-month
summer vacations in public schools? And, why is there the notion that after high
school graduation people don’t need to use their academic skills to retain
them?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The reason
some high school graduates cannot read, write coherently or do math to an
adequate level is not because they haven’t been taught these skills. Rather, it
is that the students have allowed their academic skills to degenerate by not
using those skills.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
students are victims of the gap between being able to use a skill and the
subsequent loss of the skill. If a skill such as writing or math is not used in
a certain amount of time it will be lost. Some lose their skills slowly, but
everyone will lose their skills if enough time passes without the skills being
used.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Summer
vacations are harmful to students since most do not continue to use their
academic skills, in fact, most do not open a book the entire vacation. When the
students come back to school, the first two months are getting back to where
the students were before the summer vacation. What a waste of academic time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
benefits of three months off are: janitors can leisurely wax floors, teachers
get summer jobs or return to college and parents can send the kids to
relatives. Students work on their tans, play video games late at night and
sleep until noon. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The three
months off looks like everyone gets what they want. In the short term that is
true, but the tragedy is that in the long term, students are short changed
their proper education by these summer vacations. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
At high
school graduation, students are told in glowing terms that they have achieved a
great wisdom. They are finished developing their skills and no longer have to
use these skills regularly. Many high school graduates believe those graduation
speeches.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The truth
is they will achieve wisdom when their kids graduate from high school and not
before. Their high school skills have a shelf life, like bread has a shelf
life. They must use the skills regularly to retain those skills. If, at age twenty-five,
the former students lack skills, most often these skills were lost from lack of
use rather than never having been developed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Students
must use their academic skills during their days in school and during the rest
of their life. Summer vacations are one of the biggest threats to their ability
to progress in school. It isn’t the vacation per se that harms the student, it
is any time that months pass without the person using their academic skills.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
When that
happens some people ask, “Why didn’t those darn schools teach them anything?” The
answer doesn’t matter. Whether they had those academic skills and then lost
them for lack of use or never had those skills, it’s all the same in the end.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
They do
not have those skills.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p> </o:p>Email:<i> <a href="mailto:drswickard@comcast.net">drswickard@comcast.net</a>
</i>- Swickard’s novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hideaway-Hills-Michael-Swickard/dp/1530820103?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20swickard&qid=1460950916&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">Hideaway Hills,is available at Amazon.com </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0