Category: Ideas & Views
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Funding for public education in Kentucky is imperiled
After seeing Kentucky Center for Economic Policy Director Jason Bailey on a recent TV interview program, a number of problems facing primary and secondary education in Kentucky became much clearer. Of course one of the greatest effects on education in the state is the interference of our legislature in so many facets of education policy,…
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Walt and Ram, chapter 16
It was a bright, clear day, late in the morning and the temperature had already climbed to the lower 70s. The only clouds hanging about were some cumulonimbus off to the northwest, which portended continuing good weather for the remainder of the day. Ram had arrived several minutes earlier at the park bench usually occupied…
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For the Recovering Perfectionists
As a recovering perfectionist, I am enamored with the idea of peace over perfectionism. Perfectionism is a trauma response and a completely valid reaction to a world seemingly gone mad, a way for us to (seemingly) exert a sense of control. It worked for me for many years. I studied my way into a 4.0…
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Answers in Genesis: an expensive violation of church and state separation
The Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky has developed into quite an enterprise. When it first opened it was granted numerous concessions from the Kentucky State Government despite the fact that it was never presented as anything but a religious endeavor. It also received numerous perks from Grant County and the city of Williamstown. The Ark…
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Just Rambling: Voices of Winchester
The Voices of Winchester: A Night of Storytelling was a great success by our measure. While attendance was not quite what I had hoped for, we did have a decent crowd. We may try to avoid scheduling against home Cardinal football games going forward! The folks in attendance seemed quite happy with the evening's entertainment.…
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Walt and Ram, chapter 15
“Say, Walt," injected Ram, “I wanted to ask you. Do you believe in UFOs?” Walt seemed somewhat startled by the question, coming as it did right out of the blue. After a brief pause, he responded. “Yep, sure do.” “Really?" responded Ram. “I would have thought that an old realist like you would have pooh-poohed any…
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The Great Balancing Act (or, Little Frogs Can’t Jump)
Have you ever heard of the pumpkin toadlet? It is a very, very small frog from Brazil (all toads are frogs; the two terms are taxonomically meaningless). These cuties, which could easily fit on your thumbnail, have the smallest vestibular system of any vertebrate on record. Because the bones in their ears are so small, the fluid…
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Why is recycling so difficult?
One answer to the question in the headline may be that recycling opportunities are not prolific enough. Another may be that facilities are not always convenient. While some waste haulers collect certain recyclables, not all do. And there may even be some skepticism that waste collected as recyclables ever makes it to a facility where…
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Walt and Ram, chapter 14
“I got something for you,” said Ram as he reached into his shirt pocket and withdrew a slip of paper, handing it over to his friend. “What’s this?” asked Walt. He accepted the piece of paper and unfolded it to find a page from a magazine advertising a group of canes, each shown with a…
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Just Rambling: Richard Jett
Before I retired from my previous career in IT, I started writing an occasional column here called “Five Things . . .” in which I wrote five brief notes about various observations and goings-on around town. I vowed to try to make it a weekly thing once I retired and “had more time on my…