Aug. 7: Jobs, TV and PE

*Jobs unprotected?
Here’s something else for Congress to take a look at; whether members of the National Guard – or others serving in Iraq, for that matter – are being fired when they finally do return home:

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/07/Opinion/Welcome_home__reservi.shtml

Yet another example in this Era of Job Insecurity, in which that Social
Darwinism – survival of the supposed fittest, but most
assuredly the richest – took hold. I haven’t heard
enough yet from most politicians in either party about
how they plan to help solve this.

*Accuracy, accuracy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution had an article about
running letters that are factually inaccurate:

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2007/08/03/inside_0804.html

Sorry, but I don’t agree with Cynthia Tucker.
Political polarization is no excuse. We only think
it’s more politically polarized today because we hear
so much, but there were previous times when
politicians were killed (Alexander Hamilton, Huey
Long) over differing beliefs. If we work for an entity
committed to finding the truth, that’s it. That
includes letters. Truth and accuracy are the same, at
least to me.


*I want my…digital TV
An article in USA Today discusses the looming deadline
for full conversion of televisions from analog to
digital:

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20070807/d_topstrip07.art.htm

At the end, there’s also a reference to those most
likely to be affected by the change: The poor, who
can’t run out and buy that new, gargantuan digital TV
set at the local store. And what about those people
who own the small Cort and other brands of televisions
you can buy for $40 at the discount store? Well, at least the
radio still works.

*Bonds reflects society (ugh to both)
Kurt Streeter of the Los Angeles Times wrote this
column:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-streeter7aug07,0,1830450.story?coll=la-home-sports

Agreed. It reminds me of an episode of the classic
sitcom “¿Que Pasa USA?” (classic if you have spent
your life in South Florida, where it was produced, but
also in some other parts of the U.S.) In the episode,
teenager Carmen Peña (Ana Margo now, Ana Margarita
Menendez then) is caught cheating on an exam at her
Catholic school. School administrator Sister Josepha
comes to the Peña home to talk to her parents, Pepe
(Manolo Villaverde) and Juana (Ana Margarita Martinez
Casado), about what to do. But only Juana seems to be
in the spirit of the conversation. Pepe is trying to
manipulate a business deal, Abuela (Velia Martinez)
takes towels and dishes from the Fontainebleau in
Miami Beach, etc. In other words, Carmen’s actions
correspond to those of much of her family. And that’s
what we’re seeing with Bonds.


*What’s OK for PE?
The Sun-Sentinel has an article about mandatory
physical education in Florida, and what the Palm Beach
County school district is doing to implement it:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-flpphysicaled0807pnaug07,0,4364513.story

Why does this have to be such a head-scratcher? I grew
up with phys ed classes from first grade through
ninth. There were exercises, laps, kickball, softball,
flag football, soccer, etc. They require a lot less
maintenance (and money) than hiring a dance teacher to
come in. A half-hour of good, old fashioned exercise
is what’s best to get the kids off their backsides.


*Anyone for Collins?
Good news for Bud Collins fans; ESPN has picked up the
man who is to tennis what Vin Scully is to baseball.
Collins, who was unceremoniously dumped by NBC last
month (They say he left, I say he was dumped), will call the shots
for ESPN2’s Grand Slam coverage:

http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/tennis/articles/2007/08/07/espn_collins_a_match_for_tennis_coverage/

I’m not a big tennis watcher, but I am a Collins fan.
And he’ll be reunited with another of my favorites:
Dick Enberg, who’s good at calling just about any
sport.