This Ain't Rocket Science 2.6.2004

2004-06-02

Enuf is enuf!

There are plenty of things worth protesting out there, but do we really need to protest the spelling bee of all things?

Protester Elizabeth Kuizenga, 56, is such a good speller she teaches English as a second language in San Francisco. She said she got involved in the protest after seeing how much time was wasted teaching spelling in her class.

See now to me, learning the proper spelling of your language isn't really a waste of time. Yes, it can take a bit of work but with enough practice from doing things like reading, just about anyone can grasp enough of the basics to avoid being functionally illiterate. The solution isn't new rules for spelling, it's getting people to read and write more rather than complaining that it's too hard.

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"Fair and Balanced": Who Else But Dennis Miller?

Orson Scott Card has an article up on The Ornery American about various political commentators and why Dennis Miller is the best of the bunch.

I watched him interview a charming spokesperson for PETA and, while Miller made it clear that he was unpersuaded by her, he did the unthinkable: He let her speak her piece.

His questions were, if sometimes underinformed, never toadying, and often quite pointed. They were not easy to answer, and when he disagreed, he said so.

But she had her say. There was no entrapment. Conservatives, liberals, libertarians, and those of even less savory political persuasions are not "grilled" or "skewered" a la O'Reilly; nor does Miller try to show off that he's more of an expert than the experts, as Van Susteren does.

He admits he's a regular guy. And, well, he's right -- he is. Sometimes he's right, sometimes he's wrong. Sometimes he gets it, sometimes he doesn't. But he states his opinions cleverly and entertainingly -- even if they're unpopular -- while allowing his guests the same courtesy.

The whole thing is worth a good read.

Source: The Ornery American
posted at 13:59:12    #    comment []    trackback []
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My take on all things not rocket science, and a few things that are.

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© 2004, Bray