At a time when the US Economy, employment, the housing market and health care are on the ropes and fading fast, there is one area where the good old US of A is excelling beyond all expectations – dumbed-down education!
Once the world leader in the percentage of young people with college degrees, the USA has fallen to 12th among 36 developed nations. In the key group of 25- to 34-year-olds with a college degree, the US ranks behind Canada, South Korea, Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Ireland, Norway, Israel, France, Belgium and Australia. And as America’s aging and highly educated work force moves into retirement, the nation will rely on young Americans to maintain and increase our standing in the world.
One generation ago, the US was No. 1 in the world in college graduations. Now we’re 12th at a time when a good education is critically important to getting a decent job. We read less and less and write like barbarians. These days, a child drops out of high school every 26 seconds and it is expected that the educational level of the younger generation of Americans will not approach their parents’ level of education.
In the 1950s, prior to the onset of one education “reform” initiative after another, America’s literacy rate was at an all-time high, and it’s interesting to note that, with rare exception, we early baby-boomers were not taught to read until first grade. Typically, our mothers made no effort whatsoever to teach us any literacy skills during our preschool years. Yet today’s parents are convinced, in the face of a growing amount of evidence to the contrary, that where reading and computers are concerned, earlier is better.
Unequivocal research indicates that television watching during the preschool years greatly increases the likelihood of attention problems, yet it is a rare preschool program that doesn’t have children watching the tube for 30 minutes or more a day. There is also a strong link between preschool computer time and later learning difficulties. Studies have found that screen time of any sort during preschool years actually changes the way the brain develops. And the research is clear that teaching reading before the age of 6 greatly increases the possibility of later learning problems and underachievement. (In my next blog, I’ll deal with this item – Author)
So, if we set out with education reform to dumb down America, we may have succeeded beyond our wildest expectations! But wait! Perhaps the nadir is still to come – the Institute for Justice, an organization that champions school choice, recently posted a revealing news report where a father commented that his daughter learned the alphabet, and only the alphabet, during her entire first-grade year in a local public school. To make matters worse, the teacher did not get all the way through the alphabet. The school year ended before they got beyond “W”! (No Shrub Jokes Please!)
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Obama birth certificate plot thickens ...
Okay, so Barack Obama got away with becoming President using an abridged Certificate of Live Birth instead of a vault copy of the original birth certificate. And Anderson Cooper says this is okay. Well a friend of mine, a born US Citizen of US parents, grandparents and whatever, went to apply for a US Passport, and took along her certificate of live birth. Guess what? The US Passport office refused to accept her certificate of live birth. Told her she needed her original vault copy. So, how come you can become President with a certificate of live birth, but for a passport you need a vault copy? mmmmmmmm!!!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Where have all our Presidents gone?
If you watched Anderson Cooper’s AC360 failed attempt to brow-beat Lt Col Terry Larkin on Friday 6 August 2010, http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/06/video-release-birth-certificate-military-doctor-demands-2/ , the plot becomes even thicker. If anything, Anderson Cooper raised even more doubts by pointedly refusing to allow Terry Larkin’s attorney to explain the issue. So let’s look at what Anderson Cooper did NOT KNOW or did NOT WANT you to know.
The certificate under discussion is Barack Obama’s Certificate of Live Birth, an electronically-issued computer generated abridged birth certificate which clearly states that “This copy serves as prima facie evidence of the fact of birth in any court proceedings”. See the certificate at http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/06/obama-birth.html . This Certificate of Live Birth is NOT the original birth certificate signed by the parents and the doctor who delivered the baby, but simply an abridged copy. Indeed, the certificate of live birth does not even allege that this certificate is absolute indisputable unquestionable proof – the words “prima facie” mean “on first appearance”, thus leaving the door open to a challenge as to accuracy and authenticity.
Notwithstanding Mr Cooper’s insistence that this is a legal document, recognized by the US Government, he is simply incorrect. In immigration matters, for example, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service does NOT accept abridged birth certificates (such as this Certificate of Live Birth). The USCIS demands a “vault copy” – a certified, notarized copy of the full, unabridged and signed ORIGINAL birth certificate which contains the handwritten entries of the parents and delivering doctor – names, dates, signatures and place of birth.
Now I figure that a person of Anderson Cooper’s intelligence would know this. So why did he so pointedly and aggressively shut the attorney down when he tried to explain that Terry Larkin is, as is his right, challenging the accuracy and authenticity of a certificate which is unsigned by the parents, unsigned by the delivery doctor, clearly an abridged copy and clearly identified as only prima facie evidence? And why did Mr Cooper not simply concur with Terry Larkin’s lawyer and say “Okay, if you cannot get a certified notarized vault copy of the original, I’m sure the power of CNN will have more luck.”
Perhaps this country does not want to face the consequences if Terry Larkin manages to prove something we don’t want to know? Can you imagine trying to undo and reverse every piece of legislation enacted since Barack Obama was elected? Indeed, would this not make this great country the laughing stock of the entire world, doing incalculable damage to us politically, economically and militarily? Perhaps this is a Pandora’s Box best left closed?
The certificate under discussion is Barack Obama’s Certificate of Live Birth, an electronically-issued computer generated abridged birth certificate which clearly states that “This copy serves as prima facie evidence of the fact of birth in any court proceedings”. See the certificate at http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/06/obama-birth.html . This Certificate of Live Birth is NOT the original birth certificate signed by the parents and the doctor who delivered the baby, but simply an abridged copy. Indeed, the certificate of live birth does not even allege that this certificate is absolute indisputable unquestionable proof – the words “prima facie” mean “on first appearance”, thus leaving the door open to a challenge as to accuracy and authenticity.
Notwithstanding Mr Cooper’s insistence that this is a legal document, recognized by the US Government, he is simply incorrect. In immigration matters, for example, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service does NOT accept abridged birth certificates (such as this Certificate of Live Birth). The USCIS demands a “vault copy” – a certified, notarized copy of the full, unabridged and signed ORIGINAL birth certificate which contains the handwritten entries of the parents and delivering doctor – names, dates, signatures and place of birth.
Now I figure that a person of Anderson Cooper’s intelligence would know this. So why did he so pointedly and aggressively shut the attorney down when he tried to explain that Terry Larkin is, as is his right, challenging the accuracy and authenticity of a certificate which is unsigned by the parents, unsigned by the delivery doctor, clearly an abridged copy and clearly identified as only prima facie evidence? And why did Mr Cooper not simply concur with Terry Larkin’s lawyer and say “Okay, if you cannot get a certified notarized vault copy of the original, I’m sure the power of CNN will have more luck.”
Perhaps this country does not want to face the consequences if Terry Larkin manages to prove something we don’t want to know? Can you imagine trying to undo and reverse every piece of legislation enacted since Barack Obama was elected? Indeed, would this not make this great country the laughing stock of the entire world, doing incalculable damage to us politically, economically and militarily? Perhaps this is a Pandora’s Box best left closed?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
"Fluffy" Pillows at Wingate by Wyndham??
Went to Fayetteville to teach some CPAs. Arrived at the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel. Great room promising "fluffy" pillows. I should have noticed that the 4 "fluffy" pillows were standing edge-up at attention side by side on the bed, like a full-dress Marine Honor Guard. After a 4-hour drive, I lay down and got consussion. OMG. The Washington Monument is fluffier than these pillows which are about 12 inches high and with the texture of concrete. This was obviously the artificially staged room used for shooting misleading advertising photographs. You know, like the plastic burgers and salads they use for advertising food that you can never actually experience. I called housekeeping to ask for some pillows that you can actually rest your head on. "Sorry, that's all we have," I was was told. "Has anyone actually managed to sleep on these torture-blocks," I asked. Obviously not - the last victims are still undergoing surgery for severe head and neck trauma. After two hours of torture, a blinding headache and neckache drove me across the street to the Courtyard by Marriott at 2am. "This is a strange request, but do you think I might borrow a couple of your pillows" I asked. "I'll return them in the morning IF I wake up." After convincing these folk that I wasn't a wino, hophead or total lunatic, I staggered back to the Wingate clutching my 2 pillows, trying to avoid the hard stare and raised eyebrows of a local trooper on his way home from the local coffee and donut emporium. Blissful sleep at last, albeit for just a couple of hours. Just another example of advertising sizzle without the steak. If some genie ever offered me a wish, I'd wish that every advertising and marketing agency were forced to actually use the products and services they so fervently and blindly promote.
Xidho ama xoola waa!
USA Today reports that we have so many Somali refugees living in the USA, that we have to start translating stuff. First is the "Click It or Ticket" seat-belt signs. Because Somalia has no government, the concept of getting a ticket is totally foreign to them, so a translation of "Click it or ticket" doesn't work. Instead, the warning is "Strap it or lose your livestock!" Not sure how effective a warning to Muslims to "Strap it or get 72 virgins!" would be.
Monday, June 29, 2009
CitySearch Sucks!
In January 2008, a CitySearch rep signed my business up for a CitySearch Charlotte website. As part of the “sales-pitch” he convinced me to cap the account at not less than $200 per month as “this would allow the full impact of CitySearch to be noticed.” Additionally he promised that a professional ad writer at CitySearch would be in touch with me to “extend their free ad writing service to help me create the best CitySearch page possible.” And finally he recommended my entry being placed in the “educational-Personal Development” category.
What a load of Bull!!!
It’s now June 2009 and this is how I’ve benefitted from CitySearch.
1. In spite of countless emails and phone calls to secure the free ad writer service, I’ve yet to receive this service or even speak to this person.
2. Over the past 18 months, CitySearch has billed my company a total of $2140 for clicks on my CitySearch website which has yield precisely nothing at all. Zip. Zilch. Nada!
3. When I’ve tried to access my account, the portal has been closed, down for repairs or simply not operational.
4. I’ve spoken to my rep on numerous occasions about this lack of performance from CitySearch. I’ve asked my rep to investigate the click-through logs to see where the click-throughs are being directed. After many promises to investigate this, with absolutely nothing forthcoming, my rep disappeared, most likely for a less frustrating and more honest job.
5. I made contact with a new rep. Told him my tale of woe. This is what he advised – “Ok, I checked into things and this is what I would recommend. Move to the basic package at $99.00 per month. Business consulting just isn’t one of our top categories and doesn’t receive a lot of relevant traffic. The reason you’re getting random clicks with no return is your page is appearing in several categories that aren’t necessarily core for you. This is done to enhance exposure but sometimes backfires and gets no return. I’m negotiating one month’s credit for you now. I can also add additional categories, (business consultants, productivity consultants), to help target your campaign more specifically.)
6. By what authority my page was listed under “several categories that aren’t necessarily core for” my business, I have no idea. All I can guess is that CitySearch decided that because they could not bill me for $200 in click-throughs in the “Educational-Personal Development category” they could increase the click-throughs by listing me in other categories. As I’ve never been able to access my account, these new categories could possibly include nose-picking, stomach-scratching and jay-walking. And the promise of a month’s credit is REALLY generous, especially after I’ve spent $2140 with these rip-off artists. Yes, the category-padding DID backfire. I received the blast!! CitySearch took the profits!!
7. I’ve just been billed a further $183.45 for another month of these highly-suspect click-throughs, which again have yielded zero results. I wrote the following to my rep : “I've not seen the credit you indicated and I now see that CitySearch has just billed me another $183.45 on 06/24/2009, once again for zero noticeable traffic. Please look into this. I'd like this latest charge reversed. Also the credit of $196.45 charged on 6/1/2009. And also the account suspended. Please get back to me with a date when this will be done.”
8. And here’s the response : I had your account cancelled on Friday, June 5th, 2 minutes after I received your email request to do so. Your billing cycle runs through the 21st of each month with billing occurring in arrears. The invoice you received on 6/24/09 was for your last month of service. I tried negotiating for a credit but a credit can only be issued on a live account. I was denied my request for a refund.
9. Don’t you just love the gall of these people? Instead of working to fix the problem, they obviously figure that they’ve fleeced enough from me and rather than spend a bit of time and effort in retaining a customer and building some loyalty, it’s off to fleece some other sucker. After all, they’ve already billed me for $2140 worth of bull-shit click-throughs. Surely a couple of months of free service while they get their act together is not too much to ask for. But no, it’s cherry-picking time. Time to fleece another sucker - there’re 300 million in this country and a new one born every minute!
Bottom line? CitySearch really does suck! Total rip-off!
What a load of Bull!!!
It’s now June 2009 and this is how I’ve benefitted from CitySearch.
1. In spite of countless emails and phone calls to secure the free ad writer service, I’ve yet to receive this service or even speak to this person.
2. Over the past 18 months, CitySearch has billed my company a total of $2140 for clicks on my CitySearch website which has yield precisely nothing at all. Zip. Zilch. Nada!
3. When I’ve tried to access my account, the portal has been closed, down for repairs or simply not operational.
4. I’ve spoken to my rep on numerous occasions about this lack of performance from CitySearch. I’ve asked my rep to investigate the click-through logs to see where the click-throughs are being directed. After many promises to investigate this, with absolutely nothing forthcoming, my rep disappeared, most likely for a less frustrating and more honest job.
5. I made contact with a new rep. Told him my tale of woe. This is what he advised – “Ok, I checked into things and this is what I would recommend. Move to the basic package at $99.00 per month. Business consulting just isn’t one of our top categories and doesn’t receive a lot of relevant traffic. The reason you’re getting random clicks with no return is your page is appearing in several categories that aren’t necessarily core for you. This is done to enhance exposure but sometimes backfires and gets no return. I’m negotiating one month’s credit for you now. I can also add additional categories, (business consultants, productivity consultants), to help target your campaign more specifically.)
6. By what authority my page was listed under “several categories that aren’t necessarily core for” my business, I have no idea. All I can guess is that CitySearch decided that because they could not bill me for $200 in click-throughs in the “Educational-Personal Development category” they could increase the click-throughs by listing me in other categories. As I’ve never been able to access my account, these new categories could possibly include nose-picking, stomach-scratching and jay-walking. And the promise of a month’s credit is REALLY generous, especially after I’ve spent $2140 with these rip-off artists. Yes, the category-padding DID backfire. I received the blast!! CitySearch took the profits!!
7. I’ve just been billed a further $183.45 for another month of these highly-suspect click-throughs, which again have yielded zero results. I wrote the following to my rep : “I've not seen the credit you indicated and I now see that CitySearch has just billed me another $183.45 on 06/24/2009, once again for zero noticeable traffic. Please look into this. I'd like this latest charge reversed. Also the credit of $196.45 charged on 6/1/2009. And also the account suspended. Please get back to me with a date when this will be done.”
8. And here’s the response : I had your account cancelled on Friday, June 5th, 2 minutes after I received your email request to do so. Your billing cycle runs through the 21st of each month with billing occurring in arrears. The invoice you received on 6/24/09 was for your last month of service. I tried negotiating for a credit but a credit can only be issued on a live account. I was denied my request for a refund.
9. Don’t you just love the gall of these people? Instead of working to fix the problem, they obviously figure that they’ve fleeced enough from me and rather than spend a bit of time and effort in retaining a customer and building some loyalty, it’s off to fleece some other sucker. After all, they’ve already billed me for $2140 worth of bull-shit click-throughs. Surely a couple of months of free service while they get their act together is not too much to ask for. But no, it’s cherry-picking time. Time to fleece another sucker - there’re 300 million in this country and a new one born every minute!
Bottom line? CitySearch really does suck! Total rip-off!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Caveat Emptor in ‘Scamerica’
Last week, one of my students drew my attention to a radio advertisement touting a “revolutionary” new speed reading course. “In just 7 minutes you could be reading up to 1000 percent faster, enabling you to read 10 books in the time it presently takes you to read one book. And you can try out this course absolutely free. Call now for your free trial.”
First of all, nothing about reading is “revolutionary” – reading is like breathing – you either do it well or you do it badly. Then they don’t tell you that, for the free trial, you will need to pay a bundle for the shipping (which is pretty standard) and handling (which is where they cover the cost of the free trial!). Nor do they tell you that they will need your credit card details to bill you 5 easy payments of $50 if you forget to cancel your order before the free trial ends.
And they don’t tell you that you could also invest the shipping and handling money in the lottery where you COULD win $300 million, enabling you to run for President of the United States and never have to read a book or newspaper again!
The critical consumer will see through this marketing ploy. “In just 7 minutes you COULD be …” does not mean you WILL be. In fact, the word COULD means everything and nothing. Ask those who COULD have made a fortune investing in the stock market. Similarly, “…. reading up to 1000 percent faster” covers everything between 0 percent and 1000 percent.
But since the critical consumer is about as commonly found as geographically-savvy Republican vice-presidential nominees, I suppose I should try for a bit of one-upmanship with my latest advertising proposal … which is infinitely more accurate. “In just ONE minute, you WILL be reading 50 percent to 20,000 percent faster without losing comprehension. Guaranteed or your money back. Send your payment of $595 now!” You don’t believe this? Try me!
First of all, nothing about reading is “revolutionary” – reading is like breathing – you either do it well or you do it badly. Then they don’t tell you that, for the free trial, you will need to pay a bundle for the shipping (which is pretty standard) and handling (which is where they cover the cost of the free trial!). Nor do they tell you that they will need your credit card details to bill you 5 easy payments of $50 if you forget to cancel your order before the free trial ends.
And they don’t tell you that you could also invest the shipping and handling money in the lottery where you COULD win $300 million, enabling you to run for President of the United States and never have to read a book or newspaper again!
The critical consumer will see through this marketing ploy. “In just 7 minutes you COULD be …” does not mean you WILL be. In fact, the word COULD means everything and nothing. Ask those who COULD have made a fortune investing in the stock market. Similarly, “…. reading up to 1000 percent faster” covers everything between 0 percent and 1000 percent.
But since the critical consumer is about as commonly found as geographically-savvy Republican vice-presidential nominees, I suppose I should try for a bit of one-upmanship with my latest advertising proposal … which is infinitely more accurate. “In just ONE minute, you WILL be reading 50 percent to 20,000 percent faster without losing comprehension. Guaranteed or your money back. Send your payment of $595 now!” You don’t believe this? Try me!
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