bRight & Early » Education

Who Knew?

Jim Lynch — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:10:14 +0000

I remember the school lunch fare when I was growing up to be pretty bland and sadly predictable. Every Friday we had fish sticks. But as bad as those school lunches were (a sandwich and thermos of milk from home were much preferred) I didn’t realize they could be a threat to national security.

A new report being released Tuesday says more than 9 million young adults, or 27 percent of all Americans ages 17 to 24, are too overweight to join the military. Now, the officers are advocating for passage of a wide-ranging nutrition bill that aims to make the nation’s school lunches healthier.

The officers’ group, Mission: Readiness, was appearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday with Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The military group acknowledges that other things keep young adults out of the armed services, such as a criminal record or the lack of a high school diploma. But weight problems that have worsened over the past 15 years are now the leading medical reason that recruits are rejected.

Back in my school days we had the answer. Feed this stuff to the enemy.

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What do you know, I’m not as dumb as I look

Jim Lynch — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:01:20 +0000

At least according to this quiz. My Score: 31 out of 33 — 93.94%

The sad report is that so many of those taking this quiz know so little.

Some examples below the fold. Don’t look if you want to take the quiz without cheating:

Less than half can name all three branches of the government.

Only 21% know that the phrase “government of the people, by the people, for the people” comes from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Although Congress has voted twice in the last eight years to approve foreign wars, only 53% know that the power to declare war belongs to Congress. Almost 40% incorrectly believe it belongs to the president.

Only 55% know that Congress shares authority over U.S. foreign policy with the president. Almost a quarter incorrectly believe Congress shares this power with the United Nations.

Only 27% know the Bill of Rights expressly prohibits establishing an official religion for the United States.

Less than one in five know that the phrase “a wall of separation” between church and state comes from a letter by Thomas Jefferson. Almost half incorrectly believe it can be found in the Constitution.

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Hillary Clinton – Teacher’s Pet

Jim Lynch — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:14:18 +0000

In addition to touting her non-existent “experience“, Hillary Clinton told Iowa teachers that merit pay is a bad idea.

Merit pay for teachers “could be demeaning and discouraging, and who would decide” who would receive it, she said in a meeting with teachers at Cunningham Elementary. “It would open a whole lot of problems.”

Typical. No reason to excel. No need to strive to be the best. That could be “demeaning and discouraging”. Just like the junk they’re teaching now. Don’t feel bad, we’re not keeping score.

She also told the kids,

“I want to be president to help every boy and girl have a better future, have the health care they need and get a good education and live your dreams.”

As long as they are state approved dreams of course.

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You Did It!

Jim Lynch — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 04:20:51 +0000

You did it. All of that hard work and sacrifice has paid off. I wish you the very best in your new career.

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First Cup 11.15.06

Jim Lynch — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:35:47 +0000

Good communication is just as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after. ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Blue Crab Boulevard Ahmadinejad Issues Orders To Democrats — AFP buries it to the bottom of a story on Iran’s latest announcements on their nuclear plans. Those plans are quite chilling enough, mind you. Mad Mahmoud Ahmadinejad informed the world yesterday that they intend to put 60,000 centrifuges into operation. For those who don’t quite grasp what that means, it means a weapons program. There is no reason to have that capacity for civilian fuel. But that isn’t even the best part of the story. Waaaaaaaay down at the bottom, Ahmadinejad issues explicit instructions for the Democrats who just won the elections:”

Iowa Voice (Brian) Martinez: “I Won’t Be An Attack Dog” — “I tell you what’s going to happen in 2008 if this guy is running the show (while at the same time not running it, since he’s not leaving his job in the Senate): the Democrats will kick our teeth in AGAIN with their “attack dogs” (which is, basically, every liberal in America), and they won’t be doing any soul-searching as to whether or not they should do it.”

Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) And Now It Seems Withdrawal Is … Bad — “After leading the charge to retreat from Iraq and declare victory with our backup lights lit, the New York Times now discovers that most military experts — including critics of the Busg administration’s handling of post-war Iraq — believe a drawdown will touch off a civil war, not avoid one. While Carl Levin and Jack Reed try to fine-tune a Senate resolution so that retreat doesn’t sound like retreat, Anthony Zinni and John Batiste point out that lowering the security forces in Baghdad will make violence increase, not decrease:”

Michelle Malkin San Francisco kills JROTC program — “”San Francisco values” prevailed last night. Some 1,600 students of all backgrounds will now be robbed of a valuable training program that immunized them against the anti-military hatred that infests the Bay Area:”

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First Cup 05.13.06

Jim Lynch — Sat, 13 May 2006 11:39:17 +0000

Coffee is a beverage that puts one to sleep when not drank. ~ Alphonse Allais

Right Wing News (John Hawkins) Bush’s Upcoming Speech On Illegal Immigration — “If Bush really wants to stem the bleeding on illegal immigration, what he needs to do is announce that he changed his mind and believes that the immigration bill needs to be split up into two parts. Bush could say that he wants the Senate to split its work on illegal immigration into two parts. The first part, would be a bill that deals solely with border security and immigration enforcement. In other words, the Senate should put together a bill similar to one in the House.”

Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) No Sitting, Just No Dimes — “Instead of staying home, we need to get more involved. If your Representative or Senator votes for pork, bigger government, and ignores border security, look for a credible primary challenger to represent conservative values instead. Organize and speak out on behalf of candidates and politicians who do the right thing, even if they don’t represent your district or state.”

Stop The ACLU (Jay) Bush To Address Nation On Immigration Monday — “So, will it be more lip service, or will he actually address the issue with real action? Will it be more of the same, or has the public outcry finally been heard? Will the speech be in English or Spanish?”

Michelle Malkin WHO’S RUNNING AMERICA? — “President Bush may finally be coming around to beefing up the border with National Guard troops, but it’s not stopping foreign governments and activist judges from interfering in the enforcement of our immigration laws.”

BitsBlog (David L) California judge: Stupid is good — “The San Fransico Chronicle has a story on a California judge, Robert Freedman, has deemed that all California high school diploma shall be worthless, and that school work shall not be rewarded. Freedman has ruled that California must give diplomas to students who not fluent in English and can not do simple math.”

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