In a World full of Controversy?

Dear Blog Reader:

I hope this finds you doing well. I am fine. Better than fine, I must admit I am a bit giddy. This past week I was validated. Like a conspiracy theorist who has found out that the N ational S oda A ssociates really are listening to our phone calls and reading our emails; I have have been validated. No matter that the suborning perjurists lied to Congress, the theorists were validated. My validation came last week, I received my registration for the Hilly Hundred. Deep in the recesses of the information booklet, between the "Guidelines for safe cycling" and "In Case of Emergency" the following tidbit was hidden in the minutia. "Be alert for fast moving deer."

I told you so. Now the organizers of the Hilly Hundred have given voice to the assassin deer plague. "Be alert for fast moving deer." The assassin deer have infiltrated the bicycling tour circuit. And why not? Any assassin worth their salt has to have a target. Assassin deer are no different. Why wait along a deserted country road wondering when a group of cyclists may pass by the assassin trying to identify the weakest link for proper culling when you can have thousands of them stretched out before you on a brisk autumn afternoon?

This new approach in the assassin deer community has really taken hold. My spies found the following in a brochure in the DNR pavilion at the state fair. "Come to Monroe County and enjoy a convivial hunt. The Hilly Hundred provides a target rich environment with more that 5000 cyclists unwarily enjoying the fall scenery; an autumn palette of soothing hues. As the name implies, the terrain is challenging; inducing over 1/2 of the riders to abandon their rides to walk up the steep inclines. That is 2500 slow moving tasty morsels slowly perambulating into your target zone. So sharpen up those antlers, fill up those coolers and enjoy one of the last free weekends before the hunt starts. Vengeance is sweet." DNR spokespersons had no comment for this blog.

It has been a long week of controversy. First, it appears that a group of engineering students were intimidated into pulling a parody video from youtube. Who knew there were standards for parody or Youtube? Watch out Weird Al.  Whatever happened to if you don’t like it don’t watch it, don’t tune in. They are sophomore engineering students for goodness sake. Second, Ben Affleck has run into a maelstrom of criticism about playing the super hero Batman in Batman vs Superman. Really? Not to worry Batman fans, the franchise survived Michael Keaton. Besides, it’s acting--and Ben did a very good job “acting” like a true life superhero playing that dude who got the Iran hostages out in Argo.

The final controversy of the week struck a little close to home. Ben our son is a real live teacher now. He is working in Bloomington, his hometown. He has signed up for Adopt a Classroom. Adopt a Classroom helps connect those with disposable income with those who need to dispose of income for a good cause and help kids out at the same time. Ben’s page is

http://www.adoptaclassroom.org/classroomdonation/results_classrooms.aspx?x=classroom&desc=1&lname=Sharritt&fname=Ben

Ben sent out a note to those who had contributed that he had bought several dry erase boards, pens, and dry erase paper. This helps the children (it’s for the children) while they are doing math. They have more room to spread out their work. They can correct mistakes quickly and move on. It helps boost their confidence and with a boosted confidence and Ben’s fantastic teaching skills they will be doing calculus by the end of the year. (Please, there is no sarcasm in that. Ben is a very good teacher.)

That is not where the controversy started. There is no controversy in dry erase. Dry erase is universally loved and adored and recognized for the magic that it is. Controversy raised its ugly head in the last line of his post. “I got a three hole punch because it is a pain in the ass borrowing one from the other teachers.” Well the internet world erupted. You would have thought that he cast Ben Affleck to play Batman.

Here are some of the comments posted.

Ben Sharritt: I can’t believe you. Three hole punches are taking away work from one hole punch operators there by taking food out of the mouths of their children. Sure they can be retrained to operate the three hole punches but by definition you need 2/3 fewer operators. – the one hole punch Luddite.

One hole punch Luddite: dude get over it. The world is moving on. Everyone knows that this new technology is relieving the onerous one hole work that no one really wants to do. – three holes are better than one.

Three holes: Your industrialized hole making processes eliminate the artistry, the soul of whole punching. In your sterile environment, all holes are precisely placed. There is no nuance. The paper and student have no say in the placement of holes. The student learns nothing about the attention to detail that is needed to thrive in today’s world. - The one hole punch Luddite.

One hole: Thank you for making my points. Everyone knows that imprecisely placed holes from your artistic process is the slippery slope that has long proven to be the downfall of incalculable three ring binders in the past. The first two holes are fine but the last is a quarter of a hole out of place and the student has to put a little tear in the paper. A tear that will snag and rip with the repeated opening and closing of the binder. Soon the paper will be flapping in the wind catching the dog’s eye at home. The next thing you know the pup has eaten the homework. Also attention to detail is grossly overrated. The dictionary Luddites were up in arms with the advent of autocorrect. The corresponding fall in spelling skills has not predicated the end of the world. – three holes are better than one.

Three holes: You gaseous wind bag . . .

As you can see things have gotten personal and spiraled out of control. These things rarely get settled once they get personal. Either watch the video or not, either watch the movie or not, either donate or not, it really is up to you.

Take care.

Roger