MON 3/19 Nebraska Fire Hazard + Historical Markers + L.O.L. E . . . A New Feature

MON 3/19  Today I'm blogging for the sake of my mental health by concentrating on what amuses or bemuses me. Sorry, but, as always, it helps to know that this is MY blog.

There Is No Place Like Nebraska:  Dept. of Unique Headlines

From Omaha World Herald (3/16):  Headline reads, "Cow pies, dry grass, wind feed pasture fire." COMMENT:  I challenge my plethora of out-of-state aficionadas to come up with a headline that would better describe their state than this headline describes Nebraska. [NOTE:  I did read the article. A manure spreader tipped over & sparks ignited the dry grass, fueled by manure. This just adds to the charm of Nebraska.]

Whatever WED . . . Special MON Edition

OWH (10/29):  "The quest to visit all 50 states has a growing following. I recently reached a goal that I've been working on for most of my life. I visited all 50 states. And I've been surprised by how many others I know who have been on the very same question. 'We're seeing more & more people with this goal,' said Alicia Rovey, founder of the All Fifty States Club, in an interview for AP Travel's 'Get Outta Her!' podcast. 'It seems like any room you go in, there's at least one person that is trying to get to all 50."  COMMENT:  Those of you who know me won't be surprised at what I would consider a worthwhile bucket list. That would be visiting & photographing every historical marker in Nebraska. Question:  Where do I find a list of all Nebraska's historical markers?

Dept. of Shameless Joke Stealing

From Norfolk Daily News late laughs (3/16):  "ABC is dropping plans for a live musical of 'The Little Mermaid' because of budget issues. Also, because nobody can hold their breath underwater for 2 hours."  SOURCE:  The Tonight Show w/Jimmy Fallon.

From Reader's Digest (Oct. 2017):  Astronomers using an Australian radio telescope believed they might have discovered evidence of alien life when they picked up a distinctive signal at the same time every day. Seventeen years later, in 2015, they learned its source:  The signal was coming from a microwave oven used by staff members to heat up their lunches."

LOL E * . . . A NEW FEATURE

I've been collecting clippings of articles that have a connection to education or religion. Since my almost 40-yr education career was accomplished in Lutheran schools, I see a connection between education & religion. The following news & commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of the blogger . . . Ha! Ha! Ha! Just kidding.

NDN (3/9):  "Free car offered. Please God, give me salvation--and a car. That prayer may have been uttered by more than a few people at a Maryland church on SUN. That's because Destiny Church in Columbia handed out 5 used cards to demonstrate God's goodness & to attract new members . . . ' INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW:

•  Winning a free car at church? That's a sign of God's goodness? It would be better just to admit that this is an attempt to manipulate people into attending church.
• WWJD . . . Would He have had more success attracting crowds to Him if He would have mixed in a few chariot giveaways among His sermons, miracles, etc.?

* What would Jesus do?

OWH (3/15):  "Walking out to speak out. Outrage over the Parkland, FL, massacre fueled student walkouts & demonstrations across NE & IA on WED as youth added their voices to the national debate over how to stop school violence."

• Not too long ago I engaged in a Facebook "conversation" in which I called the youth who were protesting naive [or at least words to that effect]. I questioned whether they were fully informed or whether they were being manipulated by anti-gun forces. I was taken to task for not giving these young people enough credit, & I plead "no contest."
• I still have a problem with these protests, & INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW.
• Who is providing these young people with a balanced view of gun control issues?
• Are these young people learning about the history of the 2nd Amendment?
• Are anti-gun partisans manipulating these students or genuinely trying to engage them in a national dialogue about guns & violence?
• I spent almost 40 yrs in Lutheran secondary education, & I knew students who were capable of taking a principled stand & effectively expressing their views & logic.
• I also knew students who were easily caught up in the emotions that accompany controversial issues & not apt to respond with rationale arguments.
• Schools that allowed and even encouraged such walkouts w/o consequences only served to advance a partisan agenda.

NDN (2/23):  "Philly school principal is paying for peace. The principal at a Philadelphia school is paying 8th graders to not fight. If all the kids make it to graduation with no physical violence, each will get $100. Principal Stephanie Andrewlevich said that so far this year only 8% of the students have been suspended. That's down from 17%. Andrewlevich says she'll put up the $3,300 unless a sponsor emerges."  COMMENTS:  Why stop with fighting?

• How about paying students for not copying each other's homework?
• Or paying them for resisting the urge to plagiarize reports & essays?
• Why not pay them to leave their cell phones at home?

* Loony Old Lutheran Educator . . . LOL E . . . Get it?