Last Call from ECCA for 2016

Giving exams today at this campus (ECCA) is bittersweet -- some of these students were so young, so jejune, that getting them to understand conceptual thinking was near impossible. Many of them were also socially arrested, incapable in doing research (outside of simple searches on Google), and lacked the perspicacity or background to function academically on the college level.

And the level of a Public Speaking class is low-level; it is a "basic skills" class. I am pretty sure only about 25% grasped the basic material of the course. Most of the others can't really study, or operate independently enough to keep up with the course. I feel sorry for them; but I will still grade them honestly (and that will not give them a good start on their college transcript).  And so it goes.

As Predicted, Hillary Won

People cannot be other than what they really are. And Donald J. Trump is, in effect, the faker he is. There is no substance there, only lies and self-aggrandizement.

Hillary is solid, if unspectacular -- like our best presidents: Truman, Lincoln, Jefferson. She is a "mensch" in ways that Donald could never be. She will be a good President for all of us.

Trump Zero, Hillary Won

It was no contest; Hillary beat Donald in their first debate. How could she possible lose?

The Campaign, the Economy, the World

Our Presidential campaign in the US needs to be "over" --- and quickly. It is assuredly "sinking" our hope, our economic plans, our national vitality, and our image/substance in the eyes of the rest of the world.

Donald is an embarrassment -- a foil to Putin's comments of "he's a genius" (huh?) and his own arrogant know-nothing but say anything style. Donal is dangerous -- he may indeed be a psychopath, but certainly he is a self-consumed narcissist. Ms. Clinton is a much better choice -- but she has fallen into the "trade barbs with the bully" mentality that characterized the primary season.

In so doing, she has unfortunately shown herself to be a "bad candidate" and a "poor campaigner." The way to beat a coarse bully is not to out-bully him, but rather to ignore him. She should not be characterizing Donald's supporters as anything but Americans -- perhaps who have lost their way -- but Americans nonetheless. The 911 heroes did not run the the burning trade towers just to save the people who  believed as they did -- they tried to save everyone. That should be the attitude of every loyal candidate -- and every loyal American.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being...Alive

Today was a good day in teaching -- perspective shifts (for students) all worked. Classes understood that time is running our.

Persuasive speeches are due now until the 13th of September -- the pressure is on. As usual. Keep on "truckin..."