Yes we do listen and read opposing views but we prefer to be
told that we are right and the way that we have always done things and continue
to do them is the best way. Why, because it keeps us safe in our own little
worlds, we get mad or choose to argue in an effort to convert others for having
a different point of view than ourselves. If they don’t see things the way we
see or understand them, they must be “wrong.”
This issue is becoming increasingly relevant in the light of
recent events in our country: random gun violence, fiscal cliff issues, right
vs. left, rich vs. poor, gay vs. straight. In our efforts to grow as human
beings and develop our potential, we must increasingly reach out and up to
others that don’t just tell us “yes.” Surrounding ourselves only in these environments
delays our progression and retards our thoughts.
We must challenge our thought process in our home, our
workplace, and above all else in our society by placing ourselves with others
that can challenge our decision making and exposing us to different
perspectives and opinions. Next time you reach out for information; reach up
instead of out or down. Not only will we learn something new, we’ll have gone
somewhere different than if we had or decided to do it on our own.
Affirmation makes us feel good and is easy, information is
where growth occurs.
BIRTHDAYS
THIS WEEK – Birthday wishes and thoughts this week to: Chris
Evert (58), Jane Fonda (75), Al Kaline (78), Alyssa Milano (40), Ray Romano (55), Rita Thakur …famous Dean.
THE
TIMES ARE CHANGING - About 70 percent of the instructional faculty at
all colleges is off the tenure track, whether as part-timers or full-timers, a
proportion that has crept higher over the past decade.
Change has occurred more rapidly on some campuses,
particularly at regionally oriented public institutions and mid-tier private
universities like Saint Joseph's.
Community colleges have traditionally relied heavily on
nontenure-track faculty, with 85 percent of their instructors in 2010 not
eligible for tenure, according to the most recent federal data available. But
the trend has been increasingly evident at four-year institutions, where nearly
64 percent of the instructional faculty isn't eligible for tenure.
When professors in positions that offer no chance of earning
tenure begin to stack the faculty, campus dynamics start to change. Growing numbers
of adjuncts make themselves more visible. They push for roles in governance,
better pay and working conditions, and recognition for work well done. And they
do so at institutions where tenured faculty, although now in the minority, are
still the power brokers.
The changing nature of the professoriate affects tenured and
tenure-track faculty, too. Having more adjuncts doesn't provide the help they
need to run their departments, leaving them with more service work and seats on
more committees at the same time that research requirements, for some, have
also increased.
At many institutions with graduate programs, a shrinking
number of tenured and tenure-track faculty members are left to advise graduate
students—a task that typically does not fall to adjuncts. The shift can also
affect students. Studies show that they suffer when they are taught by
adjuncts, many of whom are good teachers but aren't supported on the job in the
ways that their tenured colleagues are. Many adjuncts don't have office space,
which means they have no place on campus to meet privately with students.
HOT
DOCUMENT: TREASURY FINDS BRETTON WOODS TRANSCRIPT - "A Treasury
economist rummaging in the department's library has stumbled on a historical
treasure hiding in plain sight: a transcript of the Bretton Woods conference in
1944 that cast the foundations of the modern international monetary system.
Historians had never known that a transcript existed for the event held in the
heat of World War II, when delegates from 44 allied nations fighting Hitler
gathered in the mountains of New Hampshire to create the [IMF] and the World
Bank. But there were three copies in archives and libraries around Washington
that had never been made public, until now."
2013
PREP
- "Inauguration-Record: Obama to match FDR's record of 4 swearing-ins,"
: "President Obama is poised to match Franklin Roosevelt's record of being
sworn in as the nation's leader four times. While FDR served four terms, Obama
is getting double swearing-in ceremonies for each of his two terms. He's
planning a private oath [with media access] at the White House on Jan. 20, when
the Constitution requires that his second term begin. But since presidential
inaugurations are not traditionally on Sundays, his public swearing-in is
scheduled Jan. 21. In 2009, Obama had a do-over of his oath the day after
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts accidentally mixed up the words in the
public ceremony. Presidential Inaugural Committee chief executive Steve
Kerrigan pointed out the tie at a briefing Wednesday, and the historical
distinction was confirmed by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural
Ceremonies."
57TH
INAUGURAL -- "2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee Launches,
Announces Preliminary Schedule of Events for Inaugural Weekend and Inauguration
Co-Chairs" - PIC release : "The ... weekend will kick off with a
National Day of Service ... [O]n Saturday, January 19th, to honor our shared
values and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. President Obama,
First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Biden, Dr. Jill Biden and members of
the President's Cabinet will participate in service projects in the Washington,
DC area. In keeping with tradition for Inauguration Days that fall on a Sunday,
the President will participate in a small private swearing-in ceremony on
January 20. The President's public swearing-in, the parade and the official
Inaugural balls will take place on Monday, January 21.
"The co-chairs for the 2013 Presidential Inaugural
Committee are: Ambassador Matthew Barzun, National Finance Chair of President
Obama's reelection campaign and former Ambassador to Sweden ... Eva Longoria,
Actress, Obama for America Campaign Co-Chair and Founder of the Eva Longoria
Foundation ... Jane Stetson, National Finance Chair of the Democratic National
Committee ... Frank White, former member of the National Advisory Council on
Minority Business Enterprises. ...
"PIC announced the following positions: Jim Messina,
Chair, Inaugural Parade ... Stephanie Cutter, Chair, PIC Board of Directors ...
Jen O'Malley Dillon, Chair, National Day of Service ... Julianna Smoot, Chair,
Inaugural Balls and Receptions ... Rufus Gifford, Chair, PIC Finance ...
Patrick Gaspard, Chair, National Mall. The staff for the 57th Presidential
Inauguration will be led by Stephen J. Kerrigan, who will serve as Chief Executive
Officer, and David J. Cusack, who will serve as Executive Director. ... More
information on the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee can be found at
www.2013pic.org and on Twitter @obamainaugural."
FISCAL
CLIFF UPDATE: PROCEEDING AS EXPECTED - Talks to avoid the cliff
continue along a path we laid out here weeks ago: Both sides would start off
with fairly ludicrous initial offers (they did), Republicans would ultimately
cave on top rates (they have), Democrats would balk at the initial price-tag
for those rate increases (they are) and some kind of final deal would emerge to
eliminate or delay mostly of the nearly $600 billion cliff. What will the final
product look like? Hard to say. But it is not likely to include an increase in
the Medicare retirement age, which Democrats (and most voters) hate and won't
accept. Means testing and chained CPI for entitlement programs are much more
likely fixes, as we have said here before.
And the sweet spot for rate increases remains $500,000. Even
some Democrats (Sen. Chuck Schumer among them) balk at $250,000. And the $1
million threshold proposed by House Speaker John Boehner is too high and does
not provide enough revenue for the White House. Will there be a deal this week?
Certainly possible. Some hurdles remain, but neither side wants to drag a
conflict-weary America through dismal, Christmas-week Beltway brinksmanship.
Hard to imagine anything we need less as a nation right now. Could well drag
congressional approval ratings to less than zero. The deal is there for the
taking.
COLLEGE
FOOTBALL BOWL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 12/22, 3:30 PM ET –
Las Vegas Bowl; Boise State Broncos (10-2) vs. University of Washington Huskies
(7-5). On paper the Broncos have an easy one but Washington has a good offense
that could pull an upset, not: Boise State 45 Washington 28. Season
to date (11-5)
SMALL
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Congratulations to the Mt.
Union Purple Raiders for winning
the D-III National Title. The 11th
national title for the Ohio school. How about this Rink Rats record this year
in D-III, 15 -1 – impressive! (Season to date (15-1)
NFL
FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Sunday 12/22. 8:00 PM ET, NBC;
Seattle Seahawks (9-5) entertain the San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1). Two hot
teams, but the game is in the Northwest, thus the edge to Seattle. Seahawks 17
San Francisco 14. Season to date (8-7)
THE
SWAMI’S TOP PICKS – Boise State 45 Washington 28, Seattle 17 San
Francisco 14, Season to date (41-22)
DRIVING
THE WEEK - The fiscal cliff has quite rightly taken a secondary spot
in the headlines and national consciousness to the horrific massacre in
Newtown, Conn. But the work towards a deal goes on and should show significant
movement toward resolution this week. If it does not, forget that desperately
needed break between Christmas and New Year's ... Empire State survey today at
8:30 a.m. EST expected to drop to -10 from -5.2 ... Housing starts at 8:30 a.m.
EST on Wednesday expected to dip to 873,000 pace from 894,000 ... Third
estimate of third-quarter GDP out Thursday at 8:30 a.m. EST expected to
increase to 2.8 percent from 2.7 percent ... Existing home sales at 10 a.m. EST
on Thursday expected to rise to 4.9 million from 4.79 million.
Next week; a Rink Rats Christmas.
Until Next Monday, Adios.
Claremont, CA
December 17, 2012
#III-35, 140
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