You May Never Work On Fridays Again
Here’s an interesting news item that may actually change your life. Last year Utah mandated that state employees would no longer work on Fridays. Instead, these workers would put in ten hours for four days. The Beehive State, also known as a Mormon wonderland, decided to restructure life in order to sa
ve money. Don’t look now, but the plan has been a revelation.
Lots of other cities in America and around the world have taken notice and are starting to ask questions. On top of that, the private sector is also starting to make the change. General Motors has already instituted the 4-10 plan at several factories. Could you handle a three day weekend every time? Your state or company may be making the change.
Time magazine’s Bryan Walsh breaks down this story in an article titled “Thank God It’s Thursday.” Walsh does a lot of writing about the environment and goes green more than Miss Piggy. The obvious benefits of this movement are lower energy costs and less traffic. After twelve months, employees have saved an estimated $6 million in gas. Most workers say the like the new schedule. Read more »
The Terminator’s Garage Sale
If you’re unfamiliar with how Arnold Schwarzenegger, A.K.A. The Terminator, became the Governator you have to go back to 2003. During that tumult
uous year in the state’s history, then Governor Gray Davis faced growing opposition in the early months of his second term. The voters decided they’d had enough of Davis. He was totally recalled and the star of Twins not named Danny DeVito mo
ved in.
Maybe Gray Davis should have had a garage sale. That’s one way the current administration is addressing the economic needs of The Golden State.
Lots of folks head to the attic or garage for stuff to sell when they need to scrape up some cash. Schwarzenegger decided to get behind the sale of loads of confiscated items collecting dust in a Sacramento warehouse. As the two day sale began yesterday, bargain-hunters snatched up watches, clothes, cars, collectibles, computers and more. Granted many of these items once belonged to criminals but on the flip side bad guys often have good taste.
Schwarzenegger is getting behind this sale in a way Gray Davis, or most governors, never could. “Ahnuld” even autographed 15 car visors and 4 patrol motorcycles to up the value at auction. The goal is ambitious. With hundreds of state-owned vehicles, thousands of furniture items, electronics, and more event planners hope to raise hundreds of thousands. Not bad pocket change for a little spring cleaning.
“Welcome to our garage sale,” the Kindergarten Cop told reporters as he stroked his pet ferret and denied suggestions that perhaps his headache was a tumor. Maybe for the next sale he can dress up as Conan the Barbarian and slash, slash, slash those prices! Read more »
Man Vs. Bear Grylls: Move Over Chuck Norris
Men of the world take notice: The bar has been raised. You will never be better than second best. EduClaytion’s Man of the Decade is officially Bear Grylls. This guy might just challenge Billy Guerin as President of Awesomeness. Perhaps you’ve never heard of Mr. Grylls. Time to get acquainted. 
This guy makes Chuck Norris look like Betty Crocker. Hey, I like Chuck Norris, but let’s see him bite the head off a live water snake for lunch before tackling a six foot alligator, “dispatching it humanely,” and lugging it through the swamp to make dinner. By the way, you can use the gator’s leathery skin in thin strips as cord for preparing a jungle bed. My schedule’s been tight and I have a hangnail, so I haven’t tried this yet but will report on how well it works at a later date.
For the uninitiated, Bear appears on the show of his creation, Man vs. Wild, on the Discovery Channel. I’ve always been intrigued by nature shows but not to the point of fascination. The Crocodile Hunter was okay, but Bear Grylls makes Steve Irwin look like H.R. Puff n Stuff. Make it a point to watch Man vs. Wild one time. I dare you not to be amazed.
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Grylls picked up many of his survival skills in the British Special Forces. While serving in the Special Air Service he broke his back during in a parachute acci
dent. The injury healed and in 1998, at age 23, Grylls became the youngest British climber to go up and down a little hill known as Mount Everest. The lifelong explorer spent the next decade accomplishing feats no one had ever attempted.
Over a billion viewers in 150 different countries have been hooked by the incredible communication skills of the 35 year old speaker/writer/TV host. He’s raised millions of dollars for a variety of charities as well. Imagine the softer side of Rambo with a sense of humor.
Grylls’ escapades often come at a cost. He recently recovered from a broken shoulder suffered in Antarctica. Earlier this summer, he severed part of a finger in Vietnam while chopping bamboo.
Bear isn’t the only tough member of the Grylls family. His wife Shara just gave birth to their third child (all boys). She didn’t bother with a hospital but gave birth at home. Oh yeah, she didn’t take pain killers either. Read more »
Who’s More Interesting: Michael Vick or Ron Paul?
It’s been a long, hot summer but autumn is coming, the season of my blogging muse when students fill my hallways and debate is always around the next corner. Welcome back to the halls of EduClaytion.
Today’s debate had me pondering which newsworthy figure to chronicle, Michael Vick or Ron Paul. I’ve decided to go with both in a new segment we’ll call “Who’s More Interesting.” This semi-regular feature is sure to be a huge hit by which I mean probably not. Nevertheless, let’s check out what’s gotten these two fellows on the page.
MICHAEL VICK
The Michael Vick thing was so beat to death that most of us barely budged when news broke that the Philadelphia Eagles had signed the ex-con and current target of the most fake, self-righteous, overblown hatred in America. Yes, what the former Falcon’s quarterback did with dogs in an illegal gambling ring was despicable. Yes, he got in trouble and paid heavily including a long stint in jail. No, he is not to be executed anytime soon nor is he the anti-christ as far as I can tell. (Although don’t be surprised if the AC emerges from Philly. Or Baltimore.)
So what’s got Vick back in the news today? Something he had nothing to do with.
Apparently you can buy officially NFL licensed jerseys on the league’s website. These pooch shirts can be personalized with the name of a football star. You see where this is going right? So God forbid the NFL allow such a thing. Didn’t they get the memo that only murderers and drug dealers are supposed to get second chances with few or no questions asked? Michael Vick shouldn’t get a second chance, and his name certainly shouldn’t be on an animal jersey.
Hmm… Am I missing something?
First of all, if you oppose violence against dogs then why would you put a shirt on them? That’s the quickest way to get them jumped by canine thugs at the dog park. Secondly, are these same people condemning the other criminals of the NFL. Hey, Ray Lewis helped kill a human and I see people putting those jerseys on
their kids all the time. Where’s the outcry? Moving on.
I doubt Mike Vick has ever met Ron Paul, but if he did he would probably say that RP is one hip dude. Here’s a big Happy Birthday Ron Paul! The wonderful libertarian with no chance of ever winning the American presidency turns 74 today but doesn’t look a day over 71.
Paul is most often known as the most senior revolutionary in America or just as the guy that wasn’t allowed to debate the big party politicians. His rejection was mostly due to the fact that both parties are afraid of him on account of how he wants to strip all their illegitimately attained power. Heck, even Chuck Norris respects Ron Paul so what more can you say. Read more »
Welcome To Here
In The Matrix, Morpheus tells Neo he can take the blue pill and go on believing whatever he wants to believe. Or he can take the red pill to stay in Wonderland and find out how deep the rabbit hole goes.
This is a red pill type site with a weekly column (and some extras in between) that provides information in an entertaining way. It’s about clear thinking and good writing. It’s about truth.
I’m a writer/speaker who teaches history and political science at a local college by day. Where is local, you say? Well, that would be Wonderland of course.
From pop culture to pop politics, this is my column.
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