Within Reach

Sorry for the lack of posting. Work, grad classes, and family have kept me/us pretty busy.

As of this morning, I am signed up for the final two classes of my Master's Degree. I will officially be done in July and graduate in August with a Master's Degree in Education Administration emphasizing the Principalship. However, in order to become a licensed principal, I will need to complete a 12 credit-hour licensure program that includes a two-semester internship (as well as passing the Praxis principal examination). After graduating high school in 2001, I never would have imagined that I would have gotten to this point in my life so quickly. I'll just be glad when it is over :)

Educational Administration: The Principalship
Master's Program (Standard Program)

Required Coursework

The Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership offers a 30-hour Master’s Degree Program in the Principalship. With the help of an advisor and approval of the Graduate School, courses may be substituted and/or waived to create specialized options. Requirements of the Principalship Master’s Degree Program in Educational Administration are listed below.

Master’s Courses - 30 credits
5100:600 (3) Philosophies of Education (completed)
5100:624 (3) Educational Psychology (completed)
5100:604 (3) Topical Seminar: Cultural Foundations of Education (completed)
5100:640 (3) Techniques of Research (completed)
5170:601 (3) Organizational Leadership (completed)
5170:604 (3) School/Community Relations (Summer 2009)
5170:607 (3) School Law (Summer 2009)
5170:610 (3) Supervision of Instruction (completed)
5170:620 (3) School Culture and Governance (completed)
5170:615 (3) Disability Law (completed)

Total Principalship Master’s Program: 30

The candidate will be required to pass a portfolio assessment by a three-member full-time faculty panel in order to qualify for graduation.

The Principalship Licensure Program is an option in educational administration designed to prepare a candidate for an Ohio license to practice as a school principal and is built on two components: the Principalship master's degree and those post-master's courses listed below.

Post-Master’s Licensure Courses - 12 credits
5170:602 (3) Management of Physical Resources
5170:603 (3) Management of Human Resources
5170:695/696 (3+3) Principal Internship

Total Principalship Licensure Program: 12

To obtain a license to practice the work of a school principal through the College of Education, the candidate will have a total of 42 post-baccalaureate hours, a master’s degree, completion of a supervised two semester internship in the area in which the candidate seeks the license, successful passage of the state licensing examination, and completion of a statement of good moral character.

God Must Be Laughing

Scam, noun: a swindle, a fraudulent arrangement.

Over the next 40 years, the world (with the U.S. moronically leading the charge) will spend an estimated 45 TRILLION dollars in an attempt to "combat" global warming or "climate change." Most notably in the form of curbing Co2 emissions.

No wonder infomercials do so well.

People will buy into anything anyone tries to sell them. Except this time, our collective financial monies will support something that has never existed, does not exist today, and has given no evidence to suggest a future occurrence.

Once again, we've been duped.

Global Warming: The Cold, Hard Facts is an article by leading climatologist Dr. Timothy Ball. He is also the author of US being hoodwinked into draconian climate policies
, and Climate Extremism: the Real Threat to Civilization

By John Coleman, Founder of The Weather Channel

It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming; It is a SCAM. Some dastardly scientists with environmental and political motives manipulated long term scientific data to create an allusion of rapid global warming. Other scientists of the same environmental whacko type jumped into the circle to support and broaden the “research” to further enhance the totally slanted, bogus global warming claims. Their friends in government steered huge research grants their way to keep the movement going. Soon they claimed to be a consensus.
Environmental extremists, notable politicians among them, then teamed up with movie, media and other liberal, environmentalist journalists to create this wild “scientific” scenario of the civilization threatening environmental consequences from Global Warming unless we adhere to their radical agenda. Now their ridiculous manipulated science has been accepted as fact and become a cornerstone issue for CNN, CBS, NBC, the Democratic Political Party, the Governor of California, school teachers and, in many cases, well informed but very gullible environmentally conscientious citizens. Only one reporter at ABC has been allowed to counter the Global Warming frenzy with one 15 minute documentary segment.
I do not oppose environmentalism. I do not oppose the political positions of either party. However, Global Warming, i.e. Climate Change, is not about environmentalism or politics. It is not a religion. It is not something you “believe in.” It is science; the science of meteorology. This is my field of life-long expertise. And I am telling you Global Warming is a non-event, a manufactured crisis and a total scam. I say this knowing you probably won’t believe a me, a mere TV weatherman, challenging a Nobel Prize, Academy Award and Emmy Award winning former Vice President of United States. So be it.
I have read dozens of scientific papers. I have talked with numerous scientists. I have studied. I have thought about it. I know I am correct. There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril. I am incensed by the incredible media glamour, the politically correct silliness and rude dismissal of counter arguments by the high priest of Global Warming.
In time, a decade or two, the outrageous scam will be obvious. As the temperature rises, polar ice cap melting, coastal flooding and super storm pattern all fail to occur as predicted everyone will come to realize we have been duped. The sky is not falling. And, natural cycles and drifts in climate are as much if not more responsible for any climate changes underway. I strongly believe that the next twenty years are equally as likely to see a cooling trend as they are to see a warming trend.

(Insert Your Name) Economic Stimulus Package

Ever bought something you didn't want?

If so, it usually leaves you with an uneasy, guilty feeling doesn't it?

If you haven't, after President Obama signs the economic stimulus package tomorrow, we/you/I will have bought $787 billion dollars of government debt.

Makes that credit card debt look pretty good now doesn't it?

As the stimulus package looks to socialize healthcare, nationalize banks, create pork-pet projects for Democratic Senators (Harry Reid's railroad and Nancy Pelosi's San Fransico wetlands), and do "more of the same" in education; we/you/I will financially pay for the government to fix what they have helped to destroy for the past 40 years (only now, with the reckless mentality of the Obama Administration).

Numbers to Live By:

Through a recent conversation via e-mail with John Lott, here are some surprising figures for you, me, and the Senate (who haven't even read the 1,000+ page stimulus bill)...

Economic Stimulus Package: $787 billion (which will increase the national debt by 2 trillion dollars)
Current Interest on Current Defecit: $500 billion

Stimulus Interest: 4.5% @ 30 years (estimate)
Projected Stimulus Interest: $716 billion
Total Economic Stimulus Cost w/ Interest: $1.5 trillion

How Will You Pay?:

The average working American will get a $13 tax "credit" for the remainder of the year per work week. That averages out to $676 per year (well, less than that since it is February). However, that number goes to $8 for 2010; therefore, we will receive $416 throughout the year.

However, this tax "credit" does not play into the fact that we will be splitting the bill for the massive stimulus package. The tax brackets and how much we will pay is listed below:

Tax Bracket

$25,000-35,000 (tax bill: $4,697)
$75,000-100,000 (tax bill: $26,250)
$100,000-200,000 (tax bill: $52,500)
$200,000-500,000 (tax bill: $168,750)

Current Deficit + Bank Bailout: 3.7 trillion dollars
Cost per household: $27,000
Cost per household with stimulus expense: $40,000

So, sure, Obama gave 95% of Americans a $676 tax cut for 2009 and a $416 tax cut for 2010 (along with the usual child credit and $500 single tax payer credit), but we are going to be paying off this stimulus debt for decades to come. Also, keep in mind that most of this stimulus spending will take place after almost 18 months.

Instead of looking like a mythical Greek god, Obama has looked more like a Greek tragedy during his first month of office. Hope is not a policy.

1/20/2013: Obama's Last Day

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! Megan and I are celebrating by going out to dinner at Bravo while Kayley stays with Meg's parents for a few hours. Kayley had fun opening and playing with a few of the Valentine's Day gifts Meg and I got for her. She got two books (Leap Frog alphabet book and a Strawberry Shortcake book), a little lady bug, and a rubber ducky that glows for the bathtub. Here are some pics:

Ryan's Reads

As an unbeliever I passionately disagree with Dinesh D'Souza on some of his positions. But he is a first-rate scholar whom I feel absolutely compelled to read. His thorough research and elegant prose have elevated him into the top ranks of those who champion liberty and individual responsibility. Now he adds Christianity to his formula for the good society, and although non-Christians and non-theists may disagree with some of his arguments, we ignore him at our peril. D'Souza's book takes the debate to a new level. Read it.

Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine

The great merit of this book is that it concedes nothing. Rather than engaging in the usual defensive ploys, D'Souza meets every anti-God argument head on and defeats it on its own terms. He subjects atheism and scientific materialism to sustained rigorous interrogation and shows that their claims are empty and incoherent. Infinitely more sophisticated than the rants produced by Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens, What's So Great About Christianity leaves those atheist books in the dust.

-Stanley Fish, author of How Milton Works

Rarely do I read a book that drastically enhances my intellect on a particular subject; however, What's So Great About Christianity?, by Dinesh D'Souza, has done just that. This book is a MUST READ for believers and non-believers alike. Unlike the increasingly popular yet cynical and intellectually degrading books by popular atheist authors, D'Souza delivers a book that answers every issue and question posed by those who seek to call Christianity fraudulent, destructive, and a rational handicap.

D'Souza, in this 308 page book, rightfully defends Christianity and openly discusses the role atheism plays in our past, present, and future world. He genuinely opens the readers eyes to see how Christianity has influenced the world, especially the West in areas of government, science, the argument for design, philosophy, the cause of suffering, morality, and why Christianity works and why it will continue to influence our world for the good of society.

This wasn't a book that gives the believer reasons to say "I told you so." Rather, it gives the believer, and non-believer, a reason to say, "Wow, I never thought of it that way" or "This is something I need to further pursue." Although, the book strongly supports Christianity, it doesn't degrade atheist thinking as unintelligent, it's well-researched information and evidence actually leaves room for a conversation (unlike Sam Harris, Carl Sagan, Christopher Hitchens, and Richard Dawkins who unequivocally treat Christianity as if it were a circus act for the mentally inept).

Not only do I feel stronger in my faith for reading this book, but I feel enlightened in areas that I could not previously defend my faith in. D'Souza has given believers a voice in an era in which atheism has looked to silence it. I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a mediator between the Christianity v.s atheism debate. Until you have read this book, both the believer and non-believer are intellectually unprepared. This book will prepare you to enter the conversation rather than standing back and watching it unfold.

New Pro-Life Campaign

Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinkos, or at party supply stores. On the front, address it to:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C.

On the back, write the following message.

"This envelope represents one child who died in abortion.
It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception."

Put it in the mail, and send it. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president.

"Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry" - St. Padre Pio

CBO: Obama stimulus harmful over long haul

President Obama has only been "president" for 19 days, but I didn't think I would have to say "I told you so" so quickly. In 19 days, the Obama Administration has looked more like a bad episode of The West Wing, except we, the American people, cannot turn off the TV and delete the episode from our DVR memory bank. From nominated cabinet and advisory members who can't pay his or her taxes (now I understand why Democrats want to raise taxes...they don't pay them) to prematurely signing an executive order to close Gitmo without any clear plan or understanding of a judiciary process that involves Illegal Combatants as expressed in the Geneva Convention. Then, by reinstating an executive order that helps to fund abortions around the globe and the debacle that has become known as the "European Socialism Act" (a.k.a economic "stimulus" package). Obama's inexperience and lack of political common sense has created a presidential administration that appears to be "trigger happy" with no regard for future consequences.

Government: the act or process of governing ; specifically : authoritative direction or control.

Does this define our government? Do they REALLY govern, or is this just a big partisan chess game that rewards those who get to play? Our leaders couldn't be more oblivious to reality and common sense. With Obama not far behind, let's send everyone who has had any input on this economic "stimulus" package to Gitmo where they can govern people who have the same rational thinking as them...the destruction of America.

A report from the Congressional Budget Office by Stephen Dinan:

President Obama's economic recovery package will actually hurt the economy more in the long run than if he were to do nothing, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday.

CBO, the official scorekeepers for legislation, said the House and Senate bills will help in the short term but result in so much government debt that within a few years they would crowd out private investment, actually leading to a lower Gross Domestic Product over the next 10 years than if the government had done nothing.

CBO estimates that by 2019 the Senate legislation would reduce GDP by 0.1 percent to 0.3 percent on net. [The House bill] would have similar long-run effects, CBO said in a letter to Sen. Judd Gregg, New Hampshire Republican, who was tapped by Mr. Obama on Tuesday to be Commerce Secretary.

The House last week passed a bill totaling about $820 billion while the Senate is working on a proposal reaching about $900 billion in spending increases and tax cuts.

But Republicans and some moderate Democrats have balked at the size of the bill and at some of the spending items included in it, arguing they won't produce immediate jobs, which is the stated goal of the bill.

The budget office had previously estimated service the debt due to the new spending could add hundreds of millions of dollars to the cost of the bill -- forcing the crowd-out.

CBOs basic assumption is that, in the long run, each dollar of additional debt crowds out about a third of a dollars worth of private domestic capital, CBO said in its letter.

CBO said there is no crowding out in the short term, so the plan would succeed in boosting growth in 2009 and 2010.

The agency projected the Senate bill would produce between 1.4 percent and 4.1 percent higher growth in 2009 than if there was no action. For 2010, the plan would boost growth by 1.2 percent to 3.6 percent.

CBO did project the bill would create jobs, though by 2011 the effects would be minuscule.

Economic Stimulus Package

BAILOUT! Here's a breakdown of the economic stimulus package submitted by President Obama and his Democratic leadership. Moderate Democrats and Republicans are currently trying to "cut the fat" out of the current package (an estimated 90 billion). Already, the top 8 banking institutions have been given 165 billion to help "mend" the problem. They have failed miserably and are now close to becoming nationalized by the U.S. government. I would LOVE to see a further breakdown in regards to some of the intended spending. Pork and political kickbacks probably never looked so good.

On a side note, a good read on Obama's leadership regarding the financial crisis.

(as of 1/15/09)

Energy
$32 billion: Funding for "smart electricity grid" to reduce waste
$16 billion: Renewable energy tax cuts and a tax credit for research and development on energy-related work, and a multiyear extension of renewable energy production tax credit
$6 billion: Funding to weatherize modest-income homes

Science and Technology
$10 billion: Science facilities
$6 billion: High-speed Internet access for rural and underserved areas

Infrastructure
$30 billion: Transportation projects
$31 billion: Construction and repair of federal buildings and other public infrastructure
$19 billion: Water projects
$10 billion: Rail and mass transit projects

Education
$41 billion: Grants to local school districts
$79 billion: State fiscal relief to prevent cuts in state aid
$21 billion: School modernization ($15.6 billion to increase the Pell grant by $500; $6 billion for higher education modernization)

Health Care
$39 billion: Subsidies to health insurance for unemployed; providing coverage through Medicaid
$87 billion: Help to states with Medicaid
$20 billion: Modernization of health-information technology systems
$4.1 billion: Preventative care

Jobless Benefits
$43 billion for increased unemployment benefits and job training.
$39 billion to support those who lose their jobs by helping them to pay the cost of keeping their employer provided healthcare under COBRA and providing short-term options to be covered by Medicaid.
$20 billion to increase the food stamp benefit by over 13% in order to help defray rising food costs.

Taxes

Individuals:

*$500 per worker, $1,000 per couple tax cut for two years, costing about $140 billion.
*Greater access to the $1,000-per-child tax credit for the working poor.
*Expansion of the earned-income tax credit to include families with three children
*A $2,500 college tuition tax credit.
*Repeal of a requirement that a $7,500 first-time homebuyer tax credit be paid back over time.

Businesses:

*An infusion of cash into money-losing companies by allowing them to claim tax credits on past profits dating back five years instead of two.
*Bonus depreciation for businesses investing in new plants and equipment
*Doubling of the amount small businesses can write off for capital investments and new equipment purchases.
*Allowing businesses to claim a tax credit for hiring disconnected youth and veterans

[Sources: Associated Press: Highlights of Senate economic stimulus plan; January 23, 2009; WSJ: Stimulus Package Unveiled; January 16, 2009; Committee on Appropriations: January 15, 2009]

Dear Governor Strickland...

Make your voice heard in Columbus!

Obviously, for many, the economy has affected our lives to some degree. Even as a teacher in the education field, my job is never secure. However, there is a way to help. Education is the foundation of our free society. It always has been and it needs to always be. However, underfunding and cuts in the budget threaten to place education in the backseat of the political vehicle. Please join me in supporting education in the state of Ohio. Let Governor Strickland know how much our educational values mean and how important it is to uphold. Less than 5 minutes of your time could keep education as an important priority in Ohio. If you go to the link below, you can copy, paste, and fill in YOUR information (or write your own) in order to express your concern(s) as an Ohio educator or citizen. Someone on Mr. Strickland's staff will read this; and from my working knowledge of government, compiles a list of those in FAVOR, those OPPOSED to any such legislation/policy; so at least you will be “heard” in this way. Thanks for taking the time to make our voices heard.

Governor
Contact Governor Strickland

Also, in the spirit of big financial bailouts, let President Obama know how much you value education. Instead of saving the greedy, let's pump money into our public schools system. You can contact the White House below:

President Obama
Contact President Obama

My name is ____________ and I am from __________, Ohio. Due to the current economic status, Ohio has some challenging times ahead of it. However, I am asking you, as the Governor, to spare the drastic cuts in education. Our education system cannot afford a reduction in funding or highly-qualified teachers. Now, with the intended cuts, so many families could possibly face a dramatic change in their standard of living.

You have outlined three distinct scenarios for your two year budget. A 95%, 90% and 75% budget change in regards to education. Please spare education when you make these final decisions as Ohio's governor. Education is the one service, the one tool, and the one resource that can better our communities and our society. I would hate for thousands of hard working teachers to lose his or her job because of a few percentage points decided by a state entity. I understand that the budget has to be balanced, but please do not hurt the future of Ohio's children and the hard working professionals who guide them in the classrooms on a daily basis.

Thoughtfully,