Community | Piss and Moan

Small minority

Posted on March 27, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com

Why should a small minority dictate to the majority what is appropriate and acceptable, or what is not?

Case in point: schools are closed in WA and they are trying to figure out how to go forward as this corona virus thing continues. It was communicated out from OSPI (our state superintendent’s office) that districts couldn’t continue to educate their students if they couldn’t guarantee “equity” for all students it serves. Or, at least, they couldn’t require students to attend because of equity (lack of internet, ELL, SpEd, etc.).

OK, on the surface, that makes sense and it looks great on the PR side of things. However, it doesn’t make sense when you start looking at the numbers. That closer look ends up making the policy a complete “F” in my book.

The closer look:

So, we’re not going to educate 90% of the students because 10% can’t participate because of various challenges?

What if it was 50/50? Is that still too low to continue offering education to those who can participate? You can play with the numbers however you like, but at just about any point you can’t justify depriving a larger group of people from something because of a smaller group. It just doesn’t make any sense.

Do you scuttle the sailboat because there is no wind?

Do you throw out the baby with the bathwater?

Do you cut off your hand because you got a splinter in your little finger?

Do you cut off your foot because you broke a toe?

Do you demolish an entire building because a couple rooms in it aren’t or can’t be occupied?

Catch my drift?

Why do we let small groups of people dictate what happens with the larger groups? Seems a bit backwards, doesn’t it?

Remember the saying, “Greatest good for the greatest number“? Why doesn’t that apply these days? Or any day? How did we get so far away from an idea that mostly works?Sure, I know we have to make sure the “minority” group doesn’t get abused by those who are more powerful or has the most resources, but there is still something true about this thought:

What is the greater good when it comes to educating our students?

Cooped up & melting down

Posted on March 25, 2020 by backuphill

close up photo of man holding melting ice cream cone

Photo by Vincent Rivaud on Pexels.com

Being cooped up is tough.

Being cooped up with lots of people in a small space is possibly enough for some to consider “bodily harm” to others. As the crazy sets in, Jack Nicholson in “The Shining” comes to mind, you are gonna need an outlet to keep Ozzy Osborn’s “Crazy Train” from coming to get you.

So, I’m here for you!

Remember, this is a space to Piss and Moan about all the things (from large to small) that just drive you crazy, seems unfair, generally confuses the hell outta ya, or makes you wanna “redrum” someone…you get the idea.

Wanna vent? Wanna have a safe space for on online virtual meltdown? Contact me about submitting a guest post. I KNOW I am not the only one that could use this space. I’ve got blogger friends and I see what you post! LOL You all have a little sump’n sump’n to get off your chests. This space is for you!

Try not to have a meltdown today…but if you must, let me know!

Serial “like”r

Posted on March 24, 2020 by backuphill

close up photo of man wearing black suit jacket doing thumbs up gesture

Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

Are you a serial LIKEr?

You’re probably asking, “What does that even mean?”

Urban Dictionary

It’s not a perfect definition though. I think it should be adjusted to mean “people on social media platforms who ‘like’ posts or blogs to generate interest in their own accounts, never actually reading or interacting with the ‘liked’ post or account.”

Does that make more sense?

You have probably noticed it too. People who “like” your blog often but have never left a comment of any sort in the past, nor do they intend to in the future. I am not saying I haven’t been known to leave a like or two without comment, but I try to interact with every blog at some point. It might not be on a regular basis, but leaving a comment now and then (one that actually demonstrates that you read the blog) goes a long way for building loyal readers and followers.

If you just “like” with the hopes that someone visits your blog, well, your “like” is disingenuous and you didn’t really “like” it at all.

Leave a comment. Spark a conversation between you and the blogger, or other readers of the blog. Create some interaction. Then those “likes” at other times might be appropriate and actually considered genuine.

Otherwise you’re just a fake “like”r. Don’t be a fake.

Apathy

Posted on March 23, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Александр Македонский on Pexels.com

I don’t know about you, but I have felt a general sense of apathy set in as a result of all this “isolation.”

I am not all that isolated since there are people around (neighbors in their yards, and other family members in the house, co-workers via Teams and Zoom). BUT, the general assumption is that we shouldn’t be going out and about to run our normal errands unless it is necessary.

So, the normal routine of life is interrupted. I find myself sitting around (more than normal) with a general sense of apathy towards doing anything productive.

We had decent weather this last week/end and all I wanted to do was sit. I didn’t want to go out and do yard work. I didn’t want to go out and wash the car (I did). I don’t want to cook dinner (but I do). I don’t want to be productive at work (but I am). I don’t want to…*insert something here*.

To be clear, I am still grooming myself and still going about the daily routine of eating and showering and getting dressed, because my day doesn’t feel like it starts until I have had a shower. LOL I mean come on, I am not a lazy-ass slob (nor a teen)! But, after that, all bets are off.

Are you feeling apathetic at all too?

If you are feeling it, how are you combating it? Are you combating it or are you just giving in too?

No reminder needed

Posted on March 19, 2020 by backuphill

Anyone else tired of being reminded to wash their hands? ME TOO!

I was watching “The Ranch” on Netflix and this came on. It seemed rather appropriate considering the news and the inundation of the message to wash your hands.

How many of you have seen the paper of “songs you can sing” while washing your hands go up at work? Annoying. Really. How many of you have actually witnessed someone singing while washing? Even MORE annoying!

The way I see it, you are either a hand washer or you aren’t. There isn’t any amount of pleading that will change it. It might change habits in the short term (if at all) but I highly doubt it.

A little humor will get you a long way in a crisis.

Sorry for the language, but it was unavoidable.

**All rights belong to Netflix and no profit is being gained from this blog…but I wish there was.**

Why fight?

Posted on March 18, 2020 by backuphill

No need for combat shopping…

No need to brawl over anything. Just cough.

Need more space? Cough.

Want a little more “social distancing”? Cough.

Don’t wanna talk to people about their problems? Cough.

Suddenly, the cough has become the cure to society’s problems. Weird.

National Treasure

Posted on March 17, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by David Bartus on Pexels.com

Tom Hanks.

I’m sure you’ve heard by now. I mean, this is big news. Top Story stuff right here.

How can our national treasure, Tom Hanks, have COVID-19?

There has to be some conspiracy going on here. Aliens. For sure aliens.

Hear me out here. They could easily land in the Australian outback undetected and bring COVID-19 to Tom and his lovely wife (I assume she is lovely. I haven’t met her, but Tom picked her so there must be something to her. Oh, I haven’t met Tom either. I’m just saying.)

Of course, I am kidding. He’s not our only national treasure…

Betty White! What about Betty White?

Apparently she has checked in and is doing just fine. Whew! National crisis averted.

BUT SERIOUSLY….

While I enjoy both of these actors, can we get away from covering the celebrities? Not to be callous or anything, but I am. I don’t care about their status. They don’t actually warrant “top story” headlines or an international outpouring of love and concern (you can count Kobe in on this if you want too).

They are just people and quite frankly they aren’t people we should care about any more than people in our families or our neighbors. Actually, those last two – family and neighbors – should get more care and concern than celebrities and athletes who have money to take care of themselves just fine.

Your family and neighbors need your care and concern. Pay attention to them. Stop and visit. Say, “Hi!” when you walk by. Shop local and support small business who employ the people you should be caring about.

Put your focus back on the people who actually deserve it.

Expenses and new adulthood

Posted on March 6, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Craig Adderley on Pexels.com

Here’s a TOUGH question for you?

At what point do you have your adult children fend for themselves?

Specifically, a child has graduated from high school almost a year ago and is now 19. Oh, and I’ll add that the child is not currently living in your home. Said child has college expenses covered already (tuition and housing), but has no job.

What do you think?

What do you continue to support/provide and what do you not? What would you consider “extra” versus necessary?

There are some difficult discussions coming up and I am curious how you see this topic. I realize this is a bit of an open ended question and can be taken in a lot of different directions, so I am open to any and all responses.

Cute dealers of addiction

Posted on February 21, 2020 by backuphill

These are not Girl Scout cookies. Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

It’s that time of year folks!

There are dealers of addiction in front of every store in the evenings and weekends and they are dressed in little brown uniforms with a green vest.

The Girl Scouts are pushing their addictive cookies again.

They stand there looking all cute, or sad, or whatever and ask if you would like to buy a box – or three.

When you finally relent and agree to buy one you somehow end up walking away with more because, you know, they’re only $5 a box (never mind the box is smaller, the cookies are smaller, and there are fewer in the box than there used to be).

Dang dealers of my cookie addiction.

Walk-in

Posted on February 19, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com

Wish me luck. I’ll probably need it.

I am headed to the walk-in clinic early this afternoon to see if there is anything they can do about the sinuses and deep lung coughing. Sleep last night was tough to come by and with a vacation coming in less than a week I am looking to kick this thing rather quickly.

Why do I need luck? Have you been to a walk-in? LOL

It takes a demonstration of extreme patience and tolerance.

It takes forever (typically) to get seen by a doc and, when you actually do see a doc it typically isn’t even a doc but a PA (physician’s assistant). I have found that care is a little suspect at that point. Plus, add in that a walk-in generally tries to rush you out once you’re in (it seems to take forever to see anyone and then once you do, you wonder why it took so long based on how long you actually got to see someone).

So, I am going to be brave and endure with the hope of some relief.