3.12.2007

Help the Michigan Academic Decathlon champions get to nationals!

I'm a Quaker. Often people think I'm Quaker by faith. Instead, I'm Quaker via alumni status. That's right -- I graduated from Lansing Eastern High School in our fair and fabulous capital city.

But I'm throwing this out into the blogosphere as a request to my fellow Michiganians to support some of their own. Every year, Michigan has a small, but important State competition for high schoolers -- the State Academic Decathlon competition.

To explain: Academic Decathlon is a national 10-category competition, in which a team of 6-9 individuals compete. These kids compete in everything from Interview and Public Speech, to Music, Economics, Language and Literature, and a massive "Super Quiz" that encompasses either a natural or social science theme.

This competition truly changed my life in my high school years: you learn about Gauguin, Cassat, Wagner, Shakespeare, economic models, mathematical formulas, and beyond. The cirriculum always has a new theme every year keeping the subjects fresh and challenging.

The team of 9 Quakers at Lansing Eastern High School have won the competition, but due to hard economic times, only 6 of the team members will be able to go to the national competition to represent our state.

It's an important life experience, let me say. Nothing made me more proud than to be elected by my own team members to proudly carry our State Flag as we did a procession of all the states in attendance. Nothing!

My mom has created a request via "Help My Hometown" requesting $5,000 to help send the other three team members to this national academic competition. IT IS NOT A FUNDRAISER, but a request.

What I ask is for you to simply share your comments and support for the students in Lansing. This April, they will be our "One Michigan" -- and they should go as a team.

If you have time, please visit the following web site and leave a comment. Your support and kind words are more than enough. The link will open in a new window.

Hometown Project: State Champs to Participate in National USAD Competition.

I've always been a strong advocate for my "urban" alma mater, and for education. We were often overshadowed by athletics or forgotten in yearbook, even as we went to nationals ourselves.

That's all. I'll be back to politics shortly. ;)

To close, I'll add what my mother has written on the page:

The State of Michigan is currently suffering an enormous fiscal crisis with the decline of the US auto industry, and state schools struggle to provide the basics. In this climate, we find it difficult to locate monies for extracurricular activities even though we recognize the benefit to students.

At Lansing Eastern High School, the teachers and students have committed themselves to continuing the pursuit of academic excellence despite 'inner-city' stigma. This school year was particularly enobling, as Lansing Eastern H.S. attained the coveted International Baccalaureate Magnet status.

This year, one of our achievements was earning the State Championship for the US Academic Decathlon. During this competition, three 'A' students, three 'B' students, and three 'C' students work collaboratively as a team to answer questions in the categories of Art, Literature, Mathematics, Economics, Music, Social Science, Super Quiz, Interview, and Speech. It is a rigorous event requiring months of study and preparation beyond the required school work.

Needless to say, our students were overjoyed to receive the title of Michigan Academic Decathlon Champions on March 7, 2007. However, that joy was tinged with sadness when we learned that there was not enough funding for the entire team to participate in the National Competition to be held in Hawaii this year. Due to the high travel costs, only 6 members will be able to participate. This hardship will fracture a team which spent the last 6 months together, a team bonded in a common goal. We ask for your help.

Brr! What a draft! But I'm here! Promise!

I'mbackI'mbackI'mback.

Finals are killing me softly, like the Fugees. Back in Blogger mode. Almost... at... graduation! Then I shall have more time to blog, among other things. Like eat. And exercise.

At any rate: expect a lot more on the MI budget and other news soon. Sorry, all!

2.11.2007

Sound-Off Sunday: Condi Rap

I'm feeling a little sick, but this was pretty funny:

Condilicious:

2.08.2007

WK hits it out of the park.

I'm still re-adjusting to blog-style writing, but today Cathleen hits it out of the park. A snippet:


Perhaps it's time for a "Pundit Tax"- use a stale talking point or a proven false claim and you pay. Big time. Heck, we could make up the deficit on the Detroit News alone.


Read it all over on the Kitten.

Naysayers (Republicans): investment is not a ''permanent fix''

The Naysayers -- and I do mean Republicans -- sure are thick on the empty rhetoric. From today's South Bend Tribune:

On the House side, state Reps. Neal Nitz, R-Baroda, and Rick Shaffer, R-Three Rivers, both took shots at Granholm's tax hike proposals.

"Taxing our way out of the current budget crisis is not a permanent fix. We need to focus on reforming government bureaucracy to create a smaller, more efficient government," Shaffer said.


Let me repeat: State Government is the smallest it's been since the 1970's. State Government is the smallest it's been since the 1970's. State Government is the smallest it's been since the 1970's. State Government is the smallest it's been since the 1970's. State Government is the smallest it's been since the 1970's.

Hit the point home yet? We sure can make the government smaller, but I doubt we'll make it more efficient.

The concept of public investment wooshes over the heads of Republicans like Rick Shaffer. As the Governor said in the State of the State: the naysayers are already against any plan from the Governor before they've even read it.

Increasing revenues isn't a "permanent fix?" Neither is cutting the budget to Bostwana GDP levels, boyo. We need quality roads, neighborhoods, schools, prisons, and police. And we need revenue to do so.

2.07.2007

Boo HOO. Who need a floral arrangement NOW?!

I've been meaning to write on this for some time, and haven't had the opportunity. I'll cover it in greater detail later, but...

A Michigan Court of Appeals overruled Ingham County Judge Draganchuk regarding 2004's Proposal 2: same-sex partnership benefits are illegal in public employment, including state, municipal, and university level.

Sent me into a tailspin of furor, it did. But for right now, I can only take cathartic joy in the musings of comedienne Margaret Cho. So here's a YouTube for your viewing pleasure:

CAUTION: Some explicit language. Not Safe for Work.

My mom is SO Courtney Cox in the Bruce Springsteen Video.

Today Mi Mama saw JG herself at Sparrow Hospital in downtown Lansing, following up on her State of the State regarding educational policy.

Of course, being the dynamic diva she is, my mother had to go visit our own Gov. I mean, it's Granholm! A PR woman from the Rossman Group pushed her toward the Gov, and after a quick Quake shout-out, JG gave Mi Mama a super-hug and chatted for a bit. Infectious! Fabulous! A true woman of the people!

Funny thing is, Tom George spoke after Granholm to give the Republican POV. As with the crummy YouTube clip, no one bought it and the crowd dispersed! Ha!

Republicans, you're in for some stormy weather. No hot, middle-aged women want to give Tom George a hug. No sir-ee.