On Education

The average teacher in America earns $46,000 a year in salary. The average American with a college degree earns $57,000 a year in salary. 75% of all Americans will complete high school on time, earning diplomas. According to the PISA International Education rankings, the United States ranks below average in Math and Literature scores. We're supposedly the most technologically, socially, and industrially advanced nations in the world. How long is that supposed to last?

I like starting my little editorials off like this, with statistics. It makes me sound more scholarly.

The first grievance I have is regarding pay scale. We live in a capitalist system where the goal is to earn the most money by the end of the game, apparently. But that's another issue. I'm not hatin' the players, I'm hatin' the game. We have scholarly professors teaching our college students, I understand this. But when 3/4ths of Americans will pass High School with even less actually going to college, is it even worth boasting? Where's the incentive to become a teacher? Why would anyone want to shape the young minds of our nation at such with such a deplorable salary? In all honesty, I applaud those who choose to go into the teaching profession. (Okay, that's a bit strong, not all teachers are good, and some definitely don't deserve applause)

With tuition of colleges nearing $20,000/year on average, it is fiscally irresponsible to go into teaching. The average starting pay for a teacher in America is $25,000 - $30,000. So unless you're already well off or you're lucky enough to find a school that will pay you more, you're going to be in debt fast.

In my opinion, our education system should be a monument to our advances. We're only as strong as our weakest link, and it's abhorrent to think that our weakest link could be our education system. We should have the best of the best of shapers of young minds teaching the next generation. And I don't mean have Bill Gates or Warren Buffett eaching Advanced Econ at Harvard. I mean Bill Gates and Warren Buffett teaching arithmetic or algebra at an inner city elementary school in New York City. I mean Bruce Springsteen teaching music. I mean Colin Powell teaching political science. We need to improve our education system from the ground up.

Furthermore, teachers should be paid more than the average American with a college degree. Much more. $50,000 starting salaries. $150,000 average salaries. We need college students to work their asses off so that they can get a good job working as a high school or middle school teacher. Well, ideally speaking...

I don't think that this is too much to ask for. We are a leading first world nation and our international rankings for education are barely on par with third world nations. And it's a self-perpetuating system. We get better teachers who have more financial incentive to teach, we get more qualified students. We get more people completing high school and going to college. We get more quality teachers, who teach higher quality students.

Case of the Century

AetherPB (10:54:08 PM): let the case begin!
AetherPB (10:54:18 PM): Alisha vs the State of Unconciousness
AetherPB (10:54:53 PM): may we have the prosecutor's opening statement
hroswitha04 (10:55:12 PM): Order!
dasmith83 (10:55:14 PM): your honor and the honorable men and women of the court, the evidence against the accused is simple, yet obvious and compelling
dasmith83 (10:55:35 PM): I'll forgo a lengthy opening for the sake of brevity
micepudding (10:56:18 PM): *reporters notes: prosecution is stating the obvios*
AetherPB (10:56:53 PM): is that it, lawyer dan?
dasmith83 (10:57:17 PM): for the opening, yes
micepudding (10:57:28 PM): *reporters note: wosrst opening ever*
AetherPB (10:57:40 PM): can we have the defendent's opening statement?
cheatrawrz (10:57:47 PM): *coughs*
cheatrawrz (10:57:56 PM): Ladies and gentlemen of the court
micepudding (10:58:00 PM): *reporters note: that's a really ugly defense lawyer*
dasmith83 (10:58:06 PM): lol
cheatrawrz (10:58:30 PM): I am amazing and I have pants. The defendant is amazing as well.
cheatrawrz (10:58:34 PM): and so is the judge and jury
cheatrawrz (10:58:38 PM): that is all
hroswitha04 (10:58:54 PM): awww
micepudding (10:58:54 PM): *repolrters notes: this is a clash of the two worst lawyers inthe world*
AetherPB (10:58:55 PM): thank you
hroswitha04 (10:58:56 PM): that's my man up there!
AetherPB (10:59:11 PM): now, will the prosecutor offer a witness
SnwY812 (10:59:16 PM): snacks for sell...
AetherPB (10:59:33 PM): will the prosecutor call a witness to the stand?*
dasmith83 (10:59:37 PM): for the court, the prosecution offers into evidence exhibit A: "(10:33:51 PM) SnwY812: i dont like jonas brothers
(10:34:09 PM) hroswitha04: but they are so cuuute ^_^"
dasmith83 (11:00:05 PM): the defendant's own words condewn her, but there is more
SnwY812 (11:00:59 PM): snacks for sell
dasmith83 (11:01:13 PM): the matter of this trial is to decide if the accused is a fangirl of the Jonas Bros. the defendent is a girl, and a teen girl at that. guilt is self evident.
dasmith83 (11:01:23 PM): the prosecution rests
AetherPB (11:01:44 PM): i mean... does the defense have a rebuttal
cheatrawrz (11:01:59 PM): ladies and gentlemen of the court
cheatrawrz (11:02:11 PM): I am amazing and I have pants. The defendant is amazing too.
micepudding (11:02:16 PM): *reporters note: self evident to the prosecution may not be to the judge. perhaps the proscuection should have put a ibiit moer thought into that*
cheatrawrz (11:02:16 PM): and so is the judge and the jury.
cheatrawrz (11:02:18 PM): I rest my case
AetherPB (11:02:35 PM): >.<
dasmith83 (11:02:35 PM): lol
micepudding (11:02:37 PM): *fiels draft with office*
dasmith83 (11:02:42 PM): worst defense ever
micepudding (11:02:49 PM): says the worst prosecutor ever
AetherPB (11:02:51 PM): sorry alisha, it's not looking good for you
cheatrawrz (11:02:54 PM): haha
micepudding (11:02:59 PM): *reporters note: BIASED JUDGE*
AetherPB (11:03:10 PM): am not...
AetherPB (11:03:13 PM): common sense
SnwY812 (11:03:13 PM): snacks for sell
cheatrawrz (11:03:18 PM): I'd say, I called him amazing.. and this is how he's repaying us
SnwY812 (11:03:19 PM): popcorns, chips hot dogs and drinks
SnwY812 (11:03:30 PM): snacks for sell
micepudding (11:03:35 PM): judges arent allowed to give any indication like that during the hearin!
AetherPB (11:03:41 PM): will the defense call any witnesses to the stand?
cheatrawrz (11:03:56 PM): I call my main witness
cheatrawrz (11:03:59 PM): Dingo
SnwY812 (11:04:05 PM): dun dun dunnnnnnnnnn'
micepudding (11:04:10 PM): *a dingo apepars and bites aether*
AetherPB (11:04:15 PM): baliff, this is where you come in
SnwY812 (11:04:30 PM): Will Dingo please rise and come to the stand
AetherPB (11:04:31 PM): give the whole "do you swear to tell the truth" thing
hroswitha04 (11:04:41 PM): Hi.
SnwY812 (11:05:04 PM): raise your right hand
SnwY812 (11:05:14 PM): Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth or nothing but the truth
hroswitha04 (11:05:16 PM): Which one is my right?
hroswitha04 (11:05:17 PM): HOLD ON.
micepudding (11:05:27 PM): "or"?
micepudding (11:05:30 PM): did you mean and?
SnwY812 (11:05:41 PM): leave me alone
SnwY812 (11:06:00 PM): Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
micepudding (11:06:07 PM): this is live, there's no retakes
hroswitha04 (11:06:13 PM): yes
SnwY812 (11:06:18 PM): this isnt recorded
AetherPB (11:06:32 PM): okay, lawyer cheat, you may ask your questions
AetherPB (11:06:38 PM): baliff, go take a coffee break
cheatrawrz (11:06:43 PM): Mrs. Dingo
cheatrawrz (11:06:48 PM): is it true that I am amazing?
SnwY812 (11:06:51 PM): isnt that my whole job? a break and sellign things? :P
hroswitha04 (11:06:52 PM): Of course it is
cheatrawrz (11:06:58 PM): Do I have pants?
hroswitha04 (11:07:12 PM): Sometimes.
hroswitha04 (11:07:22 PM): Define "have."
cheatrawrz (11:07:29 PM): right now
hroswitha04 (11:07:33 PM): Yes.
cheatrawrz (11:07:33 PM): am I wearing pants?
cheatrawrz (11:07:41 PM): okay
micepudding (11:07:44 PM): w're on the internet, so im guessing not
cheatrawrz (11:07:47 PM): is it true that you are amazing as well?
hroswitha04 (11:07:58 PM): Absolutely your honor :0
SnwY812 (11:08:07 PM): im surprised dan hasent yelled out objection
cheatrawrz (11:08:14 PM): who else in this courtroom is amazing?
hroswitha04 (11:08:28 PM): Just the cute reporter I guess.
micepudding (11:08:55 PM): *reportes note: a girl on the internet caleld me cute. she's probably realyl a guy so it doesnt matter*
cheatrawrz (11:08:56 PM): but what about the judge and jury?
dasmith83 (11:09:09 PM): *yawn, objection
hroswitha04 (11:09:13 PM): None of them, Cheat.
dasmith83 (11:09:20 PM): irrelevant to my interests
AetherPB (11:09:25 PM): sustained
micepudding (11:09:42 PM): an eco friendly objection!
cheatrawrz (11:09:42 PM): Mrs. Dingo, what is 2+2?
hroswitha04 (11:09:50 PM): 4
AetherPB (11:09:51 PM): may the jury strike the last 3 minutes from their notes
cheatrawrz (11:09:58 PM): and what is 4+4?
micepudding (11:10:00 PM): *riht click, clear*
SnwY812 (11:10:02 PM): *strikes the last 3 mins*
hroswitha04 (11:10:05 PM): 8
cheatrawrz (11:10:12 PM): and what is 8-8?
hroswitha04 (11:10:20 PM): Uhh.
hroswitha04 (11:10:22 PM): Give me a minute.
micepudding (11:10:41 PM): its two fat people fighting over spaghetti
micepudding (11:10:50 PM): or shaking hands
hroswitha04 (11:10:51 PM): 0.
cheatrawrz (11:10:59 PM): does that blow your mind?
hroswitha04 (11:11:09 PM): No.
SnwY812 (11:11:12 PM): *yawn*
cheatrawrz (11:11:14 PM): and for my final question
Sepafire2 (11:11:35 PM):
cheatrawrz (11:11:40 PM): where do the jonas brothers belong on a scale of fail to win?
AetherPB (11:12:27 PM): *blink*
dasmith83 (11:12:35 PM): *cough
hroswitha04 (11:12:35 PM): Fail.
AetherPB (11:12:39 PM): order in the court!
cheatrawrz (11:12:53 PM): ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have you note that the defendant is under oath
cheatrawrz (11:12:59 PM): and just said the jonas brothers fail
cheatrawrz (11:13:03 PM): I rest my case
AetherPB (11:13:12 PM): okay then. the prosecution, you may cross-examine
dasmith83 (11:13:44 PM): ms, for the court record, are you or are you not a girl?
hroswitha04 (11:13:50 PM): I am a girl.
dasmith83 (11:14:09 PM): and were you born after 1990?
SnwY812 (11:14:11 PM): *whispers to judge, thats a lie your honor*
hroswitha04 (11:14:14 PM): Yes.
AetherPB (11:14:37 PM): *whispers to snwy, can you get me a soda?*
dasmith83 (11:14:48 PM): have you ever stated "but they are so cuuute ^_^" in reference to the jonas bros?
hroswitha04 (11:14:57 PM): Yes, sarcastically.
SnwY812 (11:14:59 PM): *its already on the table your honor*
SnwY812 (11:15:07 PM): *i mean stand*
AetherPB (11:15:09 PM): *right*
dasmith83 (11:15:16 PM): ms, you just failed to add 2 +2. are you sure you known "sarcasm"?
dasmith83 (11:15:23 PM): *know
dasmith83 (11:15:25 PM): >.>
cheatrawrz (11:15:30 PM): I OBJECT!
hroswitha04 (11:15:30 PM): I am sure.
AetherPB (11:15:35 PM): on what grounds?
micepudding (11:15:36 PM): *reporters note: the prosecturo look shifty*
cheatrawrz (11:15:42 PM): she added 2+2 correctly
AetherPB (11:15:57 PM): may the scribe read back the transcript
AetherPB (11:16:06 PM): "cheatrawrz (11:09:42 PM): Mrs. Dingo, what is 2+2?
hroswitha04 (11:09:50 PM): 4"
AetherPB (11:16:11 PM): objection sustained
micepudding (11:16:25 PM): *lightening bolt hits daniel*
AetherPB (11:16:30 PM): the jury will disregard dan's shiftiness
cheatrawrz (11:16:40 PM): thank you your honor
AetherPB (11:17:04 PM): lawyer dan, you may procede
AetherPB (11:17:09 PM): proceed*?
AetherPB (11:17:35 PM): we'll go with the second one
dasmith83 (11:17:37 PM): your honor, the prosecution asks for the case to be dismissed on the grounds that the defendent has exhibited intelligence, a clear indication of not being a jonas bros fan
dasmith83 (11:18:06 PM): I've failed. :"(
AetherPB (11:18:11 PM): i concur. case dismissed. alisha is cleared of all charges
micepudding (11:18:18 PM): *reporters note: jonas brothers new album found in prosecution lawyer's bag8
cheatrawrz (11:18:21 PM): WOOHOO!

On the Psychology of Attractiveness

According to a survey by Guildhall University in London taken by 11,000 33-year-old people, unattractive men earn 15% less than attractive men. Unattractive women make 11% less money than their attractive counterpoints. According to a joint survey by economics professors from Texas University and Michigan State University, “plain” people make 5-10% less than people of average looks. While “average” people make 3-8% less than people considered attractive. According to Dr. Gordon Patzer, who spent 30 years studying physical attractiveness, people are more likely to be kind to attractive people. And he even found that babies will focus more intently on attractive faces than unattractive faces. He found that attractive people are judged to be more talented, kind, honest, and intelligent than their unattractive counterparts.

Now, forgive me for not giving a proper introduction. I discussed this with my muse before hand, and I found that for me to write about something like this, it would make me seem bitter about being unattractive. So I decided that I would lead off with empirical evidence. Other than that, it’s hard to disagree with the common sense that good looking people just have it better. As Jim Gaffigan once said, “If an attractive person smiles to you on the subway, you think to yourself, ‘aw, they’re nice’. If an unattractive person smiles at you, it’s creepy.”

I suppose there’s really nothing to argue. Anything else that I can say makes it personal. So I guess that’s where I’ll go. It really bothers me that such a trivia thing holds such weight in the life of a person. And it does. Sure, a few plain looking people are ridiculously successful. Let’s say there are one million alive right now. That’s one million out of seven billion, a small percentage.

Another thing that bothers me is the study that Dr. Patzer did. He says that attractive people are judged to be more talented, kind, honest, and intelligent. I’m talented at a lot of the activities I participate in. I wouldn’t say I’m kind, but that has come from years and years of cynicism and disdain for most people who treated me like crap. For me, it has always depended on how someone treats me. Honest, well I have no personal qualms about being dishonest. I lie because it’s fun. I tell the truth when I have to. Admittedly, it’s probably not the best idea. And intelligence… I won’t bother.

My point, which may be between the lines, is that people who judge others based solely on attractiveness are just bad people. Luckily for me though, they don’t go on the internet much. Because they’re the type of people who make me prefer the internet to the outside world that they chastise me for not seeing more.

On Feminism

Today when someone here's the word 'feminism', they think of a crazy, power hungry, man eating woman that's probably a lesbian. Okay, maybe not the lesbian part, but I think i nailed the other part. Anyway, where did this all begin? Feminists weren't always so chastised. Okay, maybe they were. But they weren't thought of as just plain crazy. The feminist "movement" really started before World War II when hussies would go around wearing skirts that showed their knees and when they decided not to marry. Back in those days, they were called spinsters, but it had the same connotation: whore.

The feminist movement didn't REALLY kick off until the 1950s and '60s with Betty Freidan's Feminine Mystique, Helen Brown's Sex and the Single Girl and Gloria Steinham. Friedan did for Women's rights what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr did for Afro-American rights. She took a moderate approach and advocated for equal rights, emphasizing on the equality of all humans. Friedan wanted women to get out of the role of domesticated house wife and servant to the family and do what they wanted.

Now, if Friedan was to Woman's rights as Martin Luther King Jr was to Afro-American rights, then Helen Brown was Malcolm X. Brown emphasized femininity in a way to use as a weapon against "male overlords". She would go on to revitalize Cosmopolitan magazine (the magazine was actually founded in 1886). She advocated for women to do as men were taught to do at a young age, sow their wild oats and when they're good and ready, to get married.

Gloria Steinham is the founder of today's leading woman's rights organization, National Organization for Women (NOW). In the 1960s, she was most popular for her impassioned speeches, her devout involvement in the fight for women's rights, and her co-founding of the first women's rights oriented magazine, Ms.

Now that you have the background. Where do you think the common perception of feminism came from? No, you're wrong! Unless you guessed Helen Brown. Then you're right. Today, feminism has taken a pejorative connotation which has pretty much eliminated the movement's credibility.

What feminism truly is, is more than woman empowerment and more than equal rights. It's just the right to live. The beginning of the movement came at a time when women were the suburban slaves. They cooked, they cleaned, they loved, and that was it. A woman was allowed to go to college to learn a trade that would enable them to better themselves in cooking, cleaning, and loving. What the movement did to women was open their eyes, remove their shackles and be provided with the basic right to a free life

In today's intellectual world, we must revisit the roots of equality among all humans. We have the progression of Afro-Americans, with Barack Obama and Colin Powell. We have the progression of Homosexual rights, with Sir Ian McKellen and Tom Cruise. Now we must accept the true progression of Woman's rights. Rights that secure integrity among the ranks of women, and rights that are equal to that of men.

Grocery List

1. Something to stand for.
2. A goal to achieve
3. popcorn

Frost/Nixon

So I saw this movie yesterday, and I am very impressed. I'm always interested in historical dramas like this, and this story is very interesting. Plus I've psyched myself up for a few of the lines I was bound to hear and it didn't disappoint. For already knowing how it ends, this movie was very intense. The last 30 minutes especially. Very well done

Lamdba Sigma

Today I got an e-mail saying that I was accepted into the Lambda Sigma National Honor Society. I'm pretty excited about that.

An Update from yours truely.

So in lieu of my friend, Laura, getting a blog, I've decided to update so she has something to read. It'll be something awesome, too, so that she can appreciate it. I guess I'll update all the readers about my life for those who don't really care enough to call (it's better that you don't) or check in.

My spring break is next week and I'm psyched about that. I get to go down to Philadelphia after I interview for a job I hope to get this summer. Today I had an interview for the Lambda Sigma National Honor Society. Based on the reactions of my interviewers, I have a great chance of getting in. I basically talked about my role in my student government for 10 minutes and they ate that up.

This is tougher than I thought. I don't really like talking about my life because it's always boring for me to talk about. Maybe I'll go back to posting about politics and society or my current entertainment. I'm currently listening to P.O.S. who is by far the best rapper today that no one will ever hear about. And he makes listeners remember that rap is not about the beat but the message!

My Grievances part. I

This is going to be a multi post segment depending on when I find something new to complain about. I figure that in real life I make a habit of vocalizing my grievances to the dismay of people I don't even really care about, so I figure that "vocalizing" my grievances on this blog might reach a lot of people I don't really care about. And hopefully those who I do like will read this blog and empathize with me.

Wet Socks.

This is probably my greatest grievance against the world today. There is nothing so substantially annoying than having wet socks. It will ruin one's day, and it has certainly ruined mine on many, many occasions.

Webcomics

1. Least I Could Do
2. Cyanide and Happiness
3. Questionable Content
4. Ctrl Alt Del

Any suggestions for new ones?